#and at least i was assured when he got frustrated with all the errors and hoops he had to jump through so it wasn't just me

[moseslikellamas]

Thorn of Winterfell

Pairing - Stark!OC x Benjicot Blackwood

Summary - The prince of Dragonstone has arrived in Winterfell to negotiate a pact with Cregan Stark, the lord of Winterfell. Syana Stark the sister to the Lord weasels her way into joining them when they march off to war.

Warnings - some depictions of violence but mostly nothing crazy right now.

Word count- 2k

This is sooooo rushed bc I got sentenced to opening shift at work. So sorry for any spelling mistakes or errors I missed. Anyway, enjoy my slow descent into madness for benji.

Syana Stark watched her brother pack his horse for the journey north. Creagan was taking the crown prince Jacaerys Velaryon to see the wall. Her brother got on well with the prince, and she found herself more endeared to him after his long stay. Her brother had agreed to honor his pledge to support Rhaenyra’s claim to the iron throne. After he had struck a deal of course, to marry her cute little nephew Rickon to a future daughter of Jacaerys. Creagan had tried to betroth her first to the prince. She had bared her teeth at her brother and drawn a dagger, threatening him to try. But the prince had stepped in looking concerned and assured them it wasn’t an issue as he was already betrothed to the lady Baela. Since then, the three of them had spent many weeks together.

Her brother's wife had died in childbirth and he was lonely. Their own brother was long dead, his bones resting in the crypts. A stone likeness of him all that remained to them. It was not easy to live in the north. The weather was harsh and the people were stern as a result. They took their responsibility of guarding the north seriously. Syana's father had always claimed the Starks had wolf blood in them that kept them warm through the long winter when others would die. She couldn’t deny the Stark proclivity for sticking their noses where it didn’t belong if it seemed an injustice was occurring. But she figured it was likely the hot springs that flowed through the walls of Winterfell that kept them alive in the cold. Their father was also long dead and she could remember the day Creagan had risen up to take his rightful place as heir.

It had been no easy feat. Their greedy, slovenly uncles hadn’t been keen to turn over the power of Warden in the North. But in the end her brother had defeated them both, leaving them to rot in the cells under Winterfell. Their bones remained where they fell, no likeness of them carved in the crypts. Syana had been ready to hang them then but she remembered the way her brother had taken control immediately. And her uncles were forgotten in the dungeons below. That was three years ago and now her brother was only twenty one, still a young man and she thought it was him who ought to be looking for a wife. Syana was only two years younger than him but in Creagan’s eyes she was ready to marry. Hence him trying to sell her off to the crown prince.

“Try not to fall off the wall, my prince. Tis a very long fall.” She called out before he could mount Vermax.

“Ah Syana, Vermax would catch me before I hit the ground.”

“Tis not that long my prince.”

“Could you stop bothering the heir to the throne sister?”

“Could you stop trying to sell me off to strange men?” She countered.

“I said I was sorry!”

Jace and Synan laughed at Creagan’s frustrated rebuttal.

“Have fun brother! Tell cousin Elric his last carving was delightful, baby Rickon has covered it drool at least a dozen times.”

Their cousin had been chosen at random to join the wall, a Stark tradition no one was exempt from. Elric took it upon himself to become a ranger but he’d ended up working as a lumber workhorse. As a result he had become exceptionally good at wood carving.

“Stay inside.” Her brother had commanded simply in return as way of a reply.

She stuck her tongue out at him, watching as they left the gates and grabbing her sword the moment her brother was out of sight. He hadn’t expressly forbidden her from revealing that she was sword trained but she didn’t want to start swinging it around the crown prince. So she had been itching to get to it, when Jace had asked to see the wall she had almost jumped with joy. He’d been here for weeks and while she enjoyed his company, she was relieved to have her home back to herself. She expected at least a week of solitude and planned to spend that time honing her sword skills. War was upon them and she did not intend to be left behind.

She’d already had that argument with her brother. It was one of the worst they’d ever had. Both screaming and throwing things. That was not like her brother, who was mostly a level headed man. But she had promptly promised him she would follow him to war. No matter where he tried to ship her off. She’d grab the first sword in her reach and slay any guard that stopped her. He had raged for days calling her a reckless, simpleton but given up in the end. She suspected he was still plotting ways to keep her out of it and was probably asking the prince if he knew of any single lords looking for a pain in the ass. That was another reason to hone her sword skills. She wasn’t going to marry any man who couldn’t best her in a sword fight, and that was to say she did not intend to marry at all.

It was ambitious of her or perhaps foolish, to think she could avoid marriage forever. A daughter of her name, it was a shock to anyone she wasn’t already betrothed to some lord or another. It wasn’t for lack of trying on her brother's part. He would invite them in and threaten her to treat them well. And she would walk intellectual circles around them and then knock them over in the yard. None of them wanted to marry her after that routine. It continued to work and her brother continued to seethe about it. She did feel bad for her brother, he was so young to have to deal with so much. But she wouldn’t get married just to lighten his already heavy load.

Syana eventually managed to talk one of the guards into sparring with her. They were routinely forbidden by her brother from engaging with her unsupervised. But she knew what made northern men tick and extended taunts always worked to goad at least one of them.

“Well Wyllem, are you ready to have the grass rise up to meet you?”

“Tis bad luck to boast my lady.”

“Gods I hope so. A little bad luck might make things interesting for me.”

***

Syana did not get her week of solitude. Instead ahe was granted three very nice days before the raven arrived bearing the seal of Dragonstone. Her heart had sank as she opened it to find the most horrible news back to back. The prince’s brother Lucaerys was dead and the first battle of the war had broken out in the Riverlands. Rhaenyra was summoning all of the great lords to Harrenhal which had been seized in her name by her husband the King consort, Daemon. Syana had ridden out herself to deliver the news against a chorus of voices that warned her against it.

The prince had known the moment he saw her, that much she felt in her bones. Jace had wanted to fly out right then but they’d managed to convince him he would be a better asset helping them guide the northmen to the rendezvous point.

It had only taken them a day to pack up and ship out. The men in Winterfell had been pledge more than a moon and were eager to get out. Autumn was fast approaching and there were too many mouths to feed as always. This would thin them out. A morbid concept to feel alright about but Syana had seen starving men. The desperate guilty look on their faces before they wandered out into the snow to freeze to death. It was better to let them die in battle with their blood roaring and the taste of glory in their mouths.

Syana had cursed the Blackwoods and Bracken for their pathetic feud. It was their fault the war had kicked off so soon. And it likely had nothing to do with the Black queen’s claim. The bloodthirsty riverlanders were always warring. Always had some petty complaint to brawl over. She thought it was probably all of that thick humid air. Summer was a miserable affair in the riverlands, like wading in soup and trying to breathe riverwater.

The march was long and terrible. Every little late summer storm caught them, throwing wind and rain sideways into her eyes and ears. Today the rain stung like tiny needles as it hit her face. Her hood was pulled tight around her but it did little to keep her from getting soaked. They were camped in the neck while her brother talked to the head of House Reed. They’d been camped here in the raging storms for days. Greywater watch moved through the swamp and found you, not the other way around. So when her brother had finally disappeared in the night, she had assured the prince he was having the meeting and not to worry.

Most of the great houses didn’t care for the Crannogmen but Syana had spent her childhood growing up with the supposed “mudsuckers” and loved them deepy. Myrian Reed had been fostered at Winterfell with Syana from the tender age of eight to twelve. And she hoped to see the girl again now before setting off to a war she might not return from. Her hopes were answered early that morning when she had woken to a queer sound near the sunken bog their camp was set around. Quiet and swiftly she had risen from her bed roll and crept towards it, bow pulled taunt. She looked everywhere around her, taking care to thoroughly scan the trees.

That’s when the water had exploded outward beneath her, knocking her on her ass and causing her to drop the bow. Frightened momentarily by childrens tales of swamp monsters who ate human skin, she lay there shocked. Then Myrian had started a booming laugh that had her doubled over.

“Oh that’s too rich. Seriously.” She gasped in between laughs, tears streaming down her face.

Syana scowled before launching herself at Myrian. The two women fell to the mud, fighting like a band of cats. After getting muddier than seemed possible, they were falling over each other trying to stand. Now both of them were laughing much to the displeasure of the camp who had been woken by the commotion and had come to defend the Winterfell girl from whatever swamp creature had grabbed her. Only to find her wrestling the mud with a Crannogman. Mass grumbling went on but Syana paid it no mind.

It wasn’t long that her brother showed up, the afternoon sun was trying its best to bake them all and Syana envied a frog basking in the swamp water. The Crannogmen did not officially declare for anyone, ever. House Reed did not command the people of the neck but Harry, the current lord of Greywater watch, had spread the news through the swamp. And soon they were inundated with small, slippery Crannogmen coming and going. That’s when Syana’s luck began to look up again. As Myrian pledged to follow them into war and she was glad to have her. Myrian was the best spear fighter she’d ever had the pleasure to know and her skills with camouflage were legendary.

They had camped in the neck another week, waiting for all of the various swamp peoples to have a chance to join their host. Next they would stop by the twins before heading to Harrenhal. The Frey’s had already added their numbers to the King Consorts, a lucky break for them as the needed to pass through the twins to reach the riverlands. If Forest Frey had declared for the pretender, the Crannogmen would’ve had to sneak them through the neck. A most unpleasant experience even to Syana who loved the Crannogmen. She gazed around the camp, soaking in the quiet conversation and the sometimes raucous laughter that broke into the night air. And her brother had thought to deprive her of coming. What an idiot.

[duhragonball]

Dragon Ball Super 105

Master Roshi belongs in jail. 

So this is the first of a couple of Master Roshi episodes.  After Kale blew up the place, Gohan decided to abandon their original strategy of sticking together, and so they split up.  Roshi’s been using this time to scout the competition, watching them fight and figuring out who has what powers.  Like this little blue guy, Xiangca from U4,  who saves himself from elimination by shooting some sort of propellant out of his back.

This this green lady, Caway, also of Universe 4, tries to brain him with a big energy hammer. 

When that doesn’t work, she tries a seduction routine.  From the bleachers, Krillin assures everyone that this is what Roshi trained for, and it’ll have no effect on him.

Yeah, that’s what I thought.

Oh, right, the Elder Kai’s a big horndog too.  We can’t forget that.

So Caway thinks she’s got him and tries to spear him, but Roshi stops her.  So I guess it was just a ruse.

Roshi then explains why he would have fallen for her feminine wiles once before, but not this time.  He tells her about how he trained to ignore those foolish distractions, and now he’s become stronger.  I’m pretty sure the subs have him imply that he’s going to take out his pent-up sexual frustrations out on her, but at least the dub doesn’t go that way. 

I’m just saying that Caway throws her cloak over herself and jumps out of the ring in terror, and I don’t think it was because she was worried about getting beaten up. 

But, just like all the others who eliminated themselves out of fear or stupidity, Caway soon realizes the error of her ways.  There’s no safety on the bleachers. All she’s done is bring Universe 4 one step closer to oblivion.

Another fighter steps out to confront Roshi, and he seems to have been aware of her presence the whole time.  This is Dercori, Caway’s teammate.  You’d think she would have saved Caway earlier, but I get the impression that the U4 team doesn’t think in those terms.  Dercori is an illusionist, using talismans made of her own energy to confuse and bewilder her opponents.

She claims to be stronger in the shadows, and Roshi realizes that she plans to weed out the weaker fighters first and slowly work her way up to the rest.  She’s too subtle and tricky for the likes of Goku and the others, so it’s up to him to take her down.   Fortunately, he’s got just the thing.

Get Mafuba’ed, idiot!  Once she’s in the bottle, Roshi caps it and tosses it over the side.  Two up, two down.

Quitela cries foul because Roshi used a bottle to execute the technique.  Beerus says it’s fine because it’s an accessory, not a weapon. 

But the Zenos quickly rule that it’s legal, because it was “fun”.  There’s a definitive “rule of cool” with this tournament, and that works for me.

Next up is Ganos, another U4 guy who wants revenge for his eliminated teammates.  He angrily transforms....

... Into this buff bird guy.  Well, okay.

Roshi holds his own, despite being at a disadvantage in power and speed.  But his vast experience can only get him so far, and when Ganos does hit him, he makes it count.

This is enough to make Goku and Krillin worried, but Goku’s got his hands full with another opponent, and Krillin’s not allowed back in the ring. 

He hears their pleas for him to stay down, but he refuses.  As Roshi puts it, it was because of Goku and Krillin constantly pushing past their limits that he found the inspiration to keep pushing his own abilities further and further.  So he isn’t about to stop now. 

So instead, he puts everything he’s got into one last Kamehameha and goes for broke.

And it works!  Ganos falls out of the ring and gets eliminated.

But Roshi passes out, and Krillin and Goku panic.  Shin has to hold Krillin back...

... While Goku powers up to Super Saiyan Blue to break away from his dance partner.

He teleports to Roshi and starts doing that thing Piccolo did to Gohan after Frieza almost killed him in Res F.  And it works, Roshi survives.

I’m kind of torn on this episode.  On the one hand, it was worth showing how useful Roshi was for the team, since it’s not exactly obvious to anyone who saw him in action against King Piccolo or Tien back in the day.  Sure, Roshi knows a lot of tricks, but the only U7 guy who needed to worry about Caway was Roshi himself.  And Goku learned the Mafuba himself, so I’m not so sure Dercori would have posed that much of a problem.  As for Ganos, Roshi’s reason for taking him on was that he feared Ganos would only get stronger and stronger as the tournament progressed, so he needed to take him out early before that happened.  Okay, but Goku’s literally allowing Caulifla and Kale to get stronger, so I’m not sure it matters?

My point is that Master Roshi is only solving problems that his own presence created.  I guess you can argue that he’s still a better choice for the team than Yamcha or Majin Buu, but I’m not convinced. 

Also, while it’s touching to see how emotional Goku gets over Roshi nearly dying, it kind of feels awkward after seeing Goku be so cavalier towards his own family.  Goku made his own sons watch Hit kill him, and he didn’t seem to care about that at all.  But Roshi collapses and he’s in tears?  But that’s really an Episode 72 problem, not an Episode 105 problem.

Say that Dercori lady was pretty spooky, huh?  In fact, all of those Universe 4 guys are pretty scary.  You might say that they’re.... Creatures of the Night!

[ifidiedinadream]

1, 2, 6, 29?

hello dear! thank you for the ask 🥰 i already answered 6 and 29 but i'm gonna choose another passage for 29!

How many words have you written this year?

120,248 🫣

2. How many works did you publish this year?

46...

29. Favorite line/passage you wrote this year?

have this super cute and domestic (t)twins moment from love never wanted me 🥰

"Joonas? Joonas! " 

Joel doesn't know what he got himself into. He didn't think it'd be so hard - all he had to do was follow some simple instructions. Yet there's the smell of something burning permeating the entire kitchen and he's starting to panic. He really didn't want to ask for Joonas' help again but he's over anyway, sprawled on Joel's couch as he scrolls TikTok and finishes yet another bag of candies. 

"Porko!" Joel yells, since he can't hear him come and the oven is starting to fume. 

"What the hell, dude -" Joonas says and coughs when he enters the kitchen. "What are you doing?!" 

"The cake, I - this motherfucker wouldn't get fluffy so I kept it in the oven for longer than I should've but now I think I fucking burned it." 

"Wait, move." 

Joonas steps in between Joel and the oven and hastily opens it, freeing a black, huge cloud of smoke that makes Joel's eyes water. 

With an oven glove, Joonas pulls what was supposed to be a cake out of the oven and rests it on the table. Then he quickly opens the window and it's instantly relieving for Joel's lungs. 

"I told you to keep it at 180 degrees. 220 is too much," Joonas says upon inspecting the settings of the oven. 

Joel lowers his gaze, embarrassed, then looks at Joonas through his lashes. 

"I know," he says. "But it wasn't rising so -" 

"Did you put baking powder in it?" 

Joel halts, the gears struggling to rotate in his brain. He lets himself fall into a nearby chair with a loud thud. 

"No," he mutters, looking away. 

"It's okay," Joonas assures him. "Maybe we can save some of it." 

Joel doesn't even want to see what's left of his poor cake, ashamed that he can't do anything right. 

He's supposed to have their friends over today, and he felt like doing something cute for them because he's been a bitch at the studio these days and he feels incredibly sorry for taking his frustration out on them (it's not their fault that he's dissatisfied with his performance at the moment and that his personal life is empty and dry. Not that they would know about it). At first, he wanted to make dinner for them, so he called Joonas but he straight up told him to opt for something easier. We can order take out , he said. Why don't you think of the dessert? And he had facts to back this suggestion up, even. Desserts are easier to make than regular food. All you have to do is follow some instructions and you're done, there's little room for error, really. Whereas when it comes to cooking there are way too many variables you have to take into account and it's a mess. Just trust your bro Joonas on this. 

Well, it didn't go as planned, but at least he didn't waste any meat and fish and vegetables on this. They're expensive these days, with the inflation and everything. 

(When did Joel start to sound like a fucking old man ?!) 

"Actually, I don't know how you managed it, but it's only burned at the top. If we cut that part out, then it's perfectly edible." 

"But it's already super thin like this," Joel whines. "And it probably tastes like shit too." 

Joonas gives him a piece of (unburned) cake. Skeptical, Joel ingests it, and it's actually not half bad. 

"We can put Nutella on top to conceal it's been cut. Everybody loves Nutella," Joonas says and Joel smiles, thinking back to that time they brought one of those 500g Nutella jars to the studio and it disappeared under mysterious circumstances while Joel was focused on a track. There were suspicious brown spots adorning Olli's and Aleksi's mouth areas later but they only laughed when Niko confronted them about it.  

(Joel couldn't complain. Joonas had fed him a couple of spoonfuls while he was sorting out chords earlier, so his sugar craving was satisfied.) 

Joel nods, getting up to find Nutella in the cupboard. Joonas already took the burned part out, and Joel would say he did a master job at it (but when isn't Joonas doing master jobs anyway?). With a knife, he spreads the Nutella all over the cake, and it does indeed look pretty inviting after all. 

[ronearoundblindly]

The First Eighty-Three Hours (4)

CEO!Steve Rogers x CEO!reader

Dinner (see previous or series)

Summary: The most nerve-racking part of your official first day isn't what you expect.

Warnings for frustrating gossip and misogynist behavior, as well as light and suggestive language. This one is a bit of a rollercoaster, FYI. WC 3.5k

You never believed it more than today: Mondays are the fucking worst.

It started normally. You woke, dressed, and came to work early. You exchanged a few texts with Steve, all sweet but about real business, and you looked forward to ticking off lots of things on the to-do list, especially since as co-CEOs, you both can split up the top-level tasks.

It goes to shit almost immediately.

Security hasn’t updated your badge clearance for the building but has managed to delete your old security details in preparation for the change in title. You know a few of the front desk guards, but not all of them, not the ones working this morning, and since the building houses multiple company corporate offices, they see a lot of people come and go. Topaz has to come down and escort you up as if you are her visitor.

You can’t get mad—though you are fuming—because it’s a simple tech error that one call can correct. It’s about the most pleasant call of your whole day.

Each of the other companies you call has been in contract with American Capsules for at least a year. Some CEOs, some COOs, one CFO, you know every man (and they are all men) you speak to, and at a point in every single call, a variation of “are you sure? Put Rogers on” gets thrown in.

You have a headache from rolling your eyes so hard. You come up with highly creative ways to say that you have been on the line for most, if not all, of their previous discussions with Mr. Rogers, and that he, in fact, asked you for final assurance that his information was correct during most, if not all, of those calls. To some extent, you know this company better than Steve Rogers.

No one seems to fucking care. It’s a Monday. You’re a woman. You were just an assistant.

“I’d feel better if I hear that from him.”

That’s the kicker.

God forbid you get emotional, but baby-boy over here really needs to feel reassured. At least that man did not refer to you as some sort of dessert.

My name is not ‘sugar,’ it is not ‘cupcake,’ and it is not ‘gumdrop,’ you old farts. However, the nicknames come from men aged 31 to 63, so…woohoo, consistency.

The fun doesn’t end there. Your only in-person meeting decides to regale you with a story of how he’s more qualified than you.

“It’s a shame I never got to apply,” he scoffs in what he probably thinks is a casual way but it’s just derogatory. “Guess you had the inside track, huh? You and Rogers spend so much time together…”

Do not scream ‘fuck off.’ Don’t do it.

“Steve saw my dedication to this company, yes.” You fake-laugh to the door to get him to leave. “You’d hate the hours anyway, Paul. I know how much you love those Napa Valley vacations, and I’m afraid that just wouldn’t work here.”

You managed to not make the door hit him on the way out. Now you kinda want a cupcake.

At lunch—which you eat at nearly three in the afternoon—Topaz tosses out a comment about how you must be excited to spend some of that raise money, freshen up your wardrobe, maybe buy a new car or upgrade your apartment. You do not have fucking time for her shit.

Steve comes in to check a few things with you, dedicated to his professional persona, which is great because you need to feel like work is work and home is home right now.  The lines cannot be blurred when everyone around you thinks they already are.

Plus, you’d likely bite his head clean off if he dared say the word ‘precious’ after the morning you’ve had.

Keeping to work only is not that difficult because you’ve been ignoring how delicious Mr. Rogers looks in a suit for years, except there may be a few random phrases he accidentally says that make your thighs clench. Most of them are mild threats to the men who’d behaved badly towards you, but Steve doesn’t seem to know what they did. He’s simply annoyed that they insisted on speaking to him instead of confirming details with you.

The most peaceful part of the whole day is about seven minutes between two calls. You drink a whole glass of water with the door shut and get to stare out the window. The cityscape should remind you of sex. Good sex. Great sex. But no, all you really think about is chatting with Steve whilst having that morning coffee. You hated to replace the scent of his soap with your body wash after going home, and you washed your hair thinking of how to describe the ritual to him.

Other than that seven minutes in heaven, you never calm down. You end up still at the office until 6:20. There’s no chance to run home and change. You’ll have to go to dinner with Pepper and Tony in what you’re wearing.

Steve holds your coat up in the hall. He jokes that the perk of having a driver is that you can both leave your workbags in the car. He doesn’t sense anything is really wrong, and he says it again.

“You were amazing today.”

You don’t fucking feel like it.

During the ride to the restaurant, you are on the verge of rage tears. If tomorrow goes just as badly, you may break your desk phone. Employees knowing about (or acknowledging) your heightened status is hit-and-miss. Some offered congratulations while a fair few—shockingly all men—still rampantly demeaned you in hopes of getting a second with ‘your boss.’ It felt like high school all over again to hear girls whispering about ‘sleeping her way to the top’ in the bathroom. Bitter is not a heavy enough sentiment for how you feel in this stupid fucking car going to a stupid fucking meal while you still have a stupid fucking amount of—

“We’re here,” Steve says softly, a hand grasping your thigh briefly, telling you to wait while he gets your door.

You’re distracted on the walk inside, automatically letting him take your coat and check them in the lobby. Your mind is elsewhere when you step up to the hostess desk.

“It’s…I’m sorry, I don’t know who the reservation is under, but party of four—“

Damn. You think of something you need to tell Topaz and an amendment for a contract stipulation tomorrow.

As you scurry to pull out your phone, the maitre d’ clears his throat.

“Ma’am, this establishment has a dress code.”

It hardly registers. You have on a blouse and trousers with broken-in heels that don’t blister your feet. Your tits and ass aren’t hanging out. Mission accomplished. Let’s get on with it.

“I’m covered,” you mutter, texting Topaz.

“I’m afraid I can’t allow you to dine with us in that.”

You finally look up and see the clear disdain on the man’s angular face. Even the host is in a full tuxedo.

“Rogers!”

Tony yells from the doorway of a private room far beyond the main dining room and bar. He’s oblivious to disturbing anyone else’s meal, but it’s possible half of these people eat here explicitly to see Tony Stark and say they eat where he does.

Steve returns to your side, and while The Tony Stark and The Steve Rogers exchange a brief hug, you stare right into the maître d’s eyes and purse your lips.

“M’Lady,” Tony coos, leaning forward to kiss your cheek, “or should I say ‘my hero?’” He smiles and turns excitedly. “Hope you brought your appetites. I ordered one of everything. This way—“

“One moment,” you halt, lifting a finger, looking the angular man square in the face with your head held high. “Do we have a problem?”

Sheet-white, the host has a new pallor. Good.

“What’s this,” Steve asks quietly.

“No, ma’am,” the maitre d’ gulps, pure terror flashing in his brown eyes.

Your own eyes drop to his name tag. “Thank you, Lyle.” Smiling as you slowly rotate to your date, you let out a tense breath.

“After you,” Steve offers, smiling too.

You don’t want to start the night off on the wrong foot by explaining that exchange, but your hands smooth any piece of fabric they can get to nervously.

Tech guys in Silicon Valley go everywhere in ratty tees and cargo pants, and they’re probably openly welcomed into the nicest places. Steve’s in a perfectly nice suit, but nothing fancy. Hell, Tony wears a Black Sabbath shirt under a blazer. Why just you?

Your clothes are fine, not haute couture, but you have no desire to maintain a wardrobe that requires more time and effort than your day job. You know what Steve spends on dry cleaning and tailoring. When would you find the time? Plus, there’s a thin line between fashionable, functional, and cumbersome—

Whatever. Pepper will understand if it’s brought up…except she’s in a gorgeous sheath dress and Louboutins. Pep’s always been like that though, impeccable taste, and she’s the reason you found that gala gown from a store you wouldn’t have set foot in otherwise.

Dinner does start out well. Tony is beyond appreciative (about the weekend), and Pep is gracious and sympathetic (about your long day, no details). There’s a bit of discussion about the differences between Tony/Pepper’s setup and yours/Steve’s.

Pepper is the CEO and the only CEO of Stark Industries because Tony’s the innovator. Steve, who has always been the actual and active leader of his company, now shares those responsibilities with you. He makes an off-hand remark about still being crazy busy today, and your hands tremble faintly. You move them to your lap, trying to calm down. You’re finding it hard to jump into conversation—since you’ve spent years as a silent observer to Steve’s meetings—and transitioning to full participant isn’t natural yet.

Tony wasn’t joking about the food. Five appetizers show up and litter the table. Everyone tries everything they fancy and nothing they don’t. The not-empty plates are replaced by eight entrees laid in their wake.

This is weird. Delicious, yes, but wasteful and formal, and you’ve hit your limit. You open your mouth to excuse yourself for the ladies’ room, but the double door opens again. The chef has arrived with an off-menu addition. Tony is thrilled.

The plate, however, is placed directly in front of you.

“Something special,” the chef beams, “for you, Señorita Cappy.”

You recognize the dish and the man suddenly.

“Oh gosh, Maximus!” You take his outstretched hand, and he kisses the back of it. “I had no idea you—it’s been so long. You’re here now?”

“Yes, ma’am,” he says in a thick accent, “thanks to yourself.”

“Consider me put in my place,” Tony grumbles playfully while Pepper and Steve look at you with curiosity.

“Ah,” you flounder to take the lead in speaking, “well, for one of the first catered events after I started at AmCap, Chef Maximus was part of the staff—but not a cook! I remember—a tragedy really, because he wanted so badly to debut this—“ you showcase the plate before you with a flick of your hand “—traditional meal from his hometown. I put him in touch with a client—Bonterouss, if you remember him,” you toss to Steve. “He’s an entrepreneur that had mentioned cuisine as a passion, and…”

You shrug the rest off.

Maximus is effusive beyond reason, and after quite a few “you’re welcome”s and “you earned it”s in hopes that he knows you’re very happy for him (but need this to be done), he wishes the group a fantastic meal, excusing himself.

It’s nice to see him, of course, and it’s so wonderful he’s doing well.

Tony grabs a fork and reaches to try the new addition on the table.

Steve and Pepper say some nice things about how nice you are and how wonderful you’ve done since they all met you. Nice and wonderful. You feel anything but nice and wonderful.

Your façade crumbles. The rollercoaster of the day has wrung you dry and now it wrings actual tears from you.

Tony doesn’t skip a beat and says to let it out or drink up. Steve rubs across your shoulders and tries to tell you again how amazing you are, but that brings on a few sobs. Pepper, bless her, helps you both to the restroom like you wanted to do before the dam broke.

In addition to pauper’s clothing—apparently—you have no makeup left after as quick of a recap and cry as you can manage in the loo.

“Sweetheart, you’ve done exceptional work, and you’ll continue to do so.” Pepper trashes the last of the cloth-like paper towels in the bathroom lit by two chandeliers.

One last sniffle. You’re allotted only one more sniffle, you tell yourself.

“And what about the rest?”

Her smile is sweet. “If you want, you know I’m always willing to go shopping with you, but if you don’t care, then fuck them.”

You quickly consider what Pep might spend on hair and makeup and clothing and cleaning that clothing…since you know what half that costs for Steve. You can’t decide if your stomach wants to wretch or to binge the feelings away.

“As for…men?” Pepper braces herself on the marble vanity and meets your eye in the mirror. “It takes a lot of time. Too much time. It’s a complete waste of time, and some of the jerks never learn. You will put in far more effort than Rogers needs to, and frankly, he may never understand.” She turns to you and questioningly reaches for the exit’s handle. “He’s a good guy though. He may be one of the few who listens at very least.”

That’s an exhausting thought in and of itself, but you nod.

Back at the table, Steve immediately asks if you’d prefer to leave. It’s too dismissive to answer that it was only ‘women’s issues’ because the cause was men. You struggled to do your job today because men seemingly could not accomplish their own jobs with a woman anywhere in the mix, even one they’ve all dealt with before.

But she’s got authority now? Inconceivable. They need to speak to Rogers.

That is horrifyingly inefficient. Also, of course, it’s not all men. Some will be perfectly professional around you while wondering if you’ll blow them for some more authority. Others will use any excuse to claim your accomplishments just aren’t the same as theirs. The exact same men who will say you fucked for your job will bemoan that you don’t try a little harder with your appearance, which is just—just—

You have to arrest that train of thought.

“No, I’m fine. Just tired,” you assure Steve.

Tired of everyone’s shit.

Breathe. Calm. Sip your wine. Don’t kill Stark when he asks what the hot gossip is from the toilet. First-day jitters stories are exchanged around the table. It’s supportive but unhelpful.

You weren’t nervous. You were sabotaged.

That isn’t what you want to talk about though, and you frown at Steve hoping he takes the hint.

He slyly puts his hand on your knee and squeezes gently. In his deep, commanding voice, Steve deliberately cuts into a moment of side bickering between the other couple.

“Anyway…”

Everyone straightens in their chair a little. There’s that press of your thighs again. How very Captain-ly of him, you think.

“Right,” Tony blurts, “now it’s my turn to be sad-sack.” He fishes around for another bite of something. “Who wants to hear about Galmira?”

The irony is that you did a lot better at dinner once the discussion became work related but not related to your experience of work. You catch Steve eyeing you once or twice, he half-heartedly mentions that they could talk about something else, but you lean to whisper “whatever gets me through this, ok” in his ear as a plea for the night to end without you looking like the awkward duckling.

There were four desserts and another special thing sent out from Maximus. Tony, of course, paid.

Steve is quiet during the car ride to drop you off at your apartment. He fidgets with his phone and seems to be checking and rechecking for emails that aren’t arriving.

“May I come up so we can talk,” he mumbles, setting the phone screen down in his lap.

You take a big breath and scratch at your eyebrow. “Steve, my place is not like yours.” The day is getting to you, and all you want is to wash it away or drown out how you felt like you weren’t good enough even though nothing really changed. You don’t think you can handle commentary about your actual home. “I don’t have a doorman that will bring me a swag bag or whatever. I don’t have two bathrooms…or bedrooms, for that matter, or a massive kitchen or giant windows.”

Steve picks at a bit of lint on his pant leg.

“Do you want those things?”

At first, you think it’s some sort of bizarre proposal, not completely out of the question for a man who told you he’s in love with you before your first date. Still, you peer at him with harsh condemnation.

“Because if you don’t want those things, then why would I care if you have them? Aside from being a biohazard or full of rats, I don’t see any reason that I’d be bothered.” Steve pockets his phone. “There are no rats, right?”

Those rage tears are starting a slow surge forward. “I mean it. I don’t live like you.”

“Precious, for most of my life, I didn’t live like I do now.” He turns to face you as best he can on the back seat. “Ma and I had just this side of nothing after my dad passed. She still lives more like you than me—or, I’m assuming closer—but I know she likes it that way. She’s comfortable. I’m comfortable. Are you?”

That all sounds sweet, but you don’t trust it. Everything feels precariously balanced on keeping any semblance of Steve’s respect since you felt an overall backslide at the office today. Work is work and home is home. What you need is home to still be the place you believe Steve Rogers wants you, a place where you are precious not indigent.

The car pulls up before you can truly respond.

“At least let me walk you to your door?” He makes no move to touch you, respectfully.

While you gather your briefcase and purse, you make a decision.

“No, you can come up.”

It sounds less than sure, but that’s just it. Of all the things in life that you are not sure about right now, Steve Rogers is the one thing you are sure of.

Steve isn’t asking to come up with any expectations (other than to ascend a staircase and have a door unlocked). He simply asks to let you know you have options to choose from to feel better: alone or company.

He’s also—in his own hyper-efficient, maddeningly puppy-dog way—telling you that you deserve to feel better, to feel confident, to feel comfortable.

He confirms morning pick-up for the two of you with his driver. He politely follows you to your door, three steps behind. He says exactly zero words in response to laying eyes on your living space. He takes your coat again to hang his and yours by your door.

For some reason, it strikes you that they look good together, your coats, right there in your apartment, and you release an enormous sigh as you plop your bags down at the dinette.

“Don’t fret,” he soothes, finally closing the distance between you to cup your face and kiss your forehead, “I’ll be honored to smell like you tomorrow.”

Your thighs clench and you swallow loudly.

Steve backs up, beet red at the collar of his shirt. “Soap,” he yells. “I meant your—“ He pinches the bridge of his nose and squeezes his eyes shut, muttering, “real question is whether I need another drink or if that means I’ve had too many…”

He rubs the nape of his neck, jutting a thick, veiny forearm close to your face, and it wafts that damn air of comfort right at you. A lock of hair dislodges and tickles his forehead. He bites at his pink bottom lip. He’s magically confident and shy, thorough but clueless, too grand and too adorable all in one ripped, muscular package dropped off neatly in your living room where it visibly does not belong.

Today was hard, but this guy makes the night look easy.

So you just fling yourself on him, cheap-but-not-cheap clothing and all.

Fuck it. Earn that cupcake.

Oooooo, big shock, I couldn't keep it to the estimated number of chapters...again. There will be at least one more. Fairly certain it will just be the one if my outline holds (she says with absolutely zero confidence while thinking of three other side-plots) and will probably have a bit of smut. Who knows. I sure as shit don't. These two just lead me around blindly...

I see what I did there, whoops. Makes sense now.

[Last Part]

[Main Masterlist; Ko-Fi]

@bucky-fricking-barnes-reads @whiskeytangofoxtrot555 @fallinallinmendes @deandreamernp @rach2602 @patzammit

[hobipaint]

Graffiti and Chalk- two

summary: You thought you knew him. You thought him gone. Kim Taehyung was part of you that you had carefully suppressed, keeping his memories to one box near the wall of your mind. That was your fault, though - empty walls demand for art. And who other than your own neighbourhood vandal?

↳ pairing: ex police student turned vandal! taehyung x officer! female reader

↳ genres: angst, fluff

↳ word count: 9.6K

↳ disclaimers: pg15!, vandalism, police officers, criminal past and heavy discussion of it, mentions of character deaths.

one | two

a/n: FINALLY AFTER A MONTH IT'S HERE! This took me really long to write but I'm pretty satisfied with how it turned out : it's my longest work yet, and I feel like it would be among my best as well hehe. a massive thank you to @kookiestarlight because i swear i completed this in the first place because of tasha, @swcetnight who pointed out exactly where I need to elaborate stuff and places in which I was loosing parts of the plot because did I forget the whole storyline while writing this 🤡, @vaekth because this bby is absolutely amazing. she's supported me throughout the process of writing this, thank you so much!! thank you to @taecup-fics for beta reading this at the last minute and pointing out a bunch of grammatical errors because otherwise this would be a mess to read 😭 to everyone who has waited - I'm so sorry that it came this late, I suddenly had a bunch of exams that were announced and had to focus on those. Hopefully this lives up to your expectations!! Enjoy reading :)

Morning often dawns with a feeling of hope. With wistful sights of sunrise. Flowers open up to the golden haze that thaws the frost of the night. Birds roam the skies that had been but mysterious domains in the dark. People wake up with groans about the impending day, hopeful for it to end soon. You hoped for your mornings to always be similar to this- some constants were needed in places where you had cases as bewildering as missing pumpkin plushies piling up in your office. 

Your morning today, though, was much different. Much to your annoyance. 

You held the coffee you had brewed for yourself - another espresso, the universe knows you needed it - and handed one to Taehyung just as the cuckoo perching on the clock shrilly announced that it was eight in the morning. 

"Do you still have no answers for me, Y/N?" Taehyung looked at you. His eyes were sullen - no signs of the cheekiness that had peeked at you last night. Scattered rays fell across his body, highlighting the sunken cheeks, brooding eyes and tight smiles you could now see better in the daylight. 

You sighed- probably for the millionth time this night. "I do not understand your question, Taehyung." 

"You remember it. I've asked you thrice since I saw you again, Y/N. Do you not remember anymore? Do you not care for me? Was our idea of us nothing for you?" He looked at you with a myriad of emotions written all over his face- you looked away, not wanting to see them. 

Sighing, you gathered your thoughts the best you could. "Like I said, Taehyung." You looked at him- looking at the person you once fell in love with. The feeling you felt today, though, was much different. There was a feeling of running towards him, taking him in your arms and remembering who he was to you all over again, but it was overwhelmed by the confusion you felt - should you prioritize a past that wanted answers, or a future that was unsure? For now, you chose none pushing the time to make that decision further ahead. "We were an 'us' for only a few hours. Until you stood me up."

He rolled his eyes."That wasn't intentional, Y/N." 

"And how was I supposed to know that, Taehyung? I thought it was, since you had never told me anything beforehand."

Taehyung's eyebrows bunched together, as if coming to hear the stories that his eyes longed to tell- stories of events that you had never seen and never known. "Would you not hear me out, even once? For the sake of our old love?"

You bristled. "What love, Taehyung?" You got up to stretch your legs out, looking at the patchwork blanket that was stuffed in the corner. You had taken that for your first date with Taehyung, planning to cuddle with him and watch the stars - a date that never happened. "What love? A love where you don't speak to me for weeks, and then vanish for some crime? We were young then, and I got hurt then as it is. There's no need to go over this right now." 

"That was not my fault, Y/N. You know that." Taehyung seemingly sunk back into his chair, eyes downcast. "I had said I loved you. Before I ever went out with you." 

"Like that matters,” you scoffed, “what's the point in reminiscing promises from an old love?"

"At least, hear me out?" He looked up at you with hope sprinkled in the abyss of his eyes. "I don't want you to forget me."

You turned back to your chair, tearing your eyes away from the blanket that was now a pale blue in the sunlight - a few shades lighter than the cerulean colour it would be in the afternoon. "Not now, Taehyung." 

Taehyung sighed, looking at the floor, tension exhaled into the room. He sat silently for a few seconds, the ticking clock announcing each moment clearly to you. "That's fair. It's just.." He looked back at you. "I'm used to thinking of you as the person I loved." He nervously let his eyes pan around the windows, gazing at the sunshine that streamed through the window, before turning back towards your gaze. "I'm sorry if I made you uncomfortable, I'm just really grateful for your presence-" 

"Taehyung." You sharply interrupted him. "Two years ago, when your case was reopened for investigation. Who did that?" 

"They told me that it was a well wisher in the neighbourhood. Another jailor said it was for good behaviour." He shrugged. 

You scoffed aloud, more loudly than you would have liked him to hear. 

He frowned, lips drawn in a tight line in annoyance. "Don't believe me? I'll have you know, Y/N, I was among the most well behaved at prison. Absolutely no tantrums. I even ate the salt-less, disgusting food they'd give there. No crying. Nothing. I can show you later on if you want, I think I have a report stuffed somewhere here," He got up, shuffled towards his bag and checked the last zip, hunting for a report you had never heard of. 

"It was me." 

Taehyung whirled around to face you, unruly hair swinging like the seats of a carousel at a carnival, and raised an eyebrow. "What were you?" 

"I was the one who insisted on opening the case for reinvestigation, the case of your stepfather's assault. Went around collecting evidence, searching for people who knew about your family better, getting their voices recorded, finding about the whole deal to frame you and stuff. Nearly got fired." You shrugged, sipping your espresso and wincing- too bitter. "You're welcome, by the way. The coffee is getting cold." 

"I don't care about the coffee." He moved the cup aside - nearly spilling the liquid, roughly settling back into the seat he had been occupying for the last few hours. "You were the one who asked for re-opening the case?" 

"Just said that." 

He slumped back in his seat, and your eyes took in how he spread himself out on the chair, tiredness lacing his figure. "I didn't know that." 

"Now you do." You said, sipping your coffee and watching Taehyung do the same. 

Taehyung stared blankly at you, and you couldn't fathom what was swirling in those ebony orbs of his. "Why did you do that, Y/N?"

"Honestly," you smile softly at him, "I was expecting a thank you."

"You should have expected questions, Y/N. Why did you help me?" Taehyung's blank expression made way for a confused one, eyebrows furrowing and lips pouting. 

"I did what I had to do as a-" You paused here, unsure of what to say. "As a friend, Taehyung, nothing more. I knew you were innocent-"

"How were you so assured?" He pressed on."I could be a complete 180 from the man I met you as. I could be fake. I could be an impostor. I could-"

"You could do a bunch of things, Taehyung." You stared him straight in the eye, trying to keep your emotions at bay. "But you could never tell a lie." 

Taehyung scoffed. "You sound like one of the wishy-washy pick-me kind of girls in the movie. No, I don't lie, but I could." 

You sighed. As much as you cared for Taehyung, you had never really cared for his argumentative attitude. "I went with the assumption that you were the same person I knew, Taehyung. The one whom I respected and trusted. I acted on that feeling." 

"That wasn't trust, Y/N. It was naivety. You were naive to believe me." Taehyung paused, uncertainty lining his forehead as he spoke. "You shouldn't have trusted me." 

You rolled your eyes- you couldn't understand why he was so desperate to make sure that you remained aloof from him. What had you done to be treated like that? What had he done to force everyone away from him? 

You tried to play off his remaining doubts and frustrations as insecurities he developed while in jail, and moved on."Alright then, you impostor. I was naive to trust you. And even more naive to believe you. Happy? Now shush. I don't want to talk about this." You tried to clear your mind of any doubts you had about Taehyung, but his behaviour, the way he interacted with you - it couldn't help but increase the worry and confusion in your mind.

Taehyung leaned forward to look you in the eye before smiling softly at you - you couldn't understand why. You were going to give him a criminal record, maybe arrest him. You were potentially ruining his life again, and he smiled at you. "If you say so, officer." Taehyung said, settling into the chair - leaving your mind reeling with questions you weren't sure you wanted the answers to. 

You opened the laptop again, wearily. "Let's get back to the questions; the sooner we finish this, the better. Where did you source the paint from?" 

"You mean the graffiti? And chalk?" You nodded. Taehyung sighed."Terminology, Officer, terminology. Make no errors." He raised a finger to wave at you, as if to say no. You rolled your eyes -it seemed that you were the only one concerned about what would happen to him after this, because Taehyung quite clearly was not. "I bought it with the allowance money that was kept for me in the bank- as much as I hated that man, his cards proved to be useful."

You raised an eyebrow, skeptical. "You didn't steal it." 

"No. Took it from my step-father's account. Technically, now mine. Apparently he left everything to his children, and I'm the only one alive that I know of. Maybe he had other children- I wouldn't doubt it for a moment if he had, but that doesn't change my right to his money either." 

"Any other members of your family who had been granted access to that account?" You asked, wanting to make sure that there were no loopholes - you didn't want a future possibility of Taehyung being entangled with the wrong side of the law again. 

He rolled his eyes, leaning further. "Curious little thing, aren't you? Like I'd told you last night, most of them are dead. Mom had died a few months before I was arrested - thanks to my stepfather being an alcoholic and taking everything out on her. Grandmother already had massive health issues - she passed away after two years of me being in jail - they had let me come out for her funeral."

"My siblings - a brother and sister, if you remember - were taken in by a distant relative, and the last time I spoke to them was three years ago. I'm not allowed to contact them because I might end up being a 'bad influence'," he air quoted the words, laughing mirthlessly. "Guess they won't be too delighted to see me again. You probably know about my stepfather - got drunk and passed out. Permanently. But yeah, that's all. I'm pretty much the sole benefactor from that account."

Hearing how nonchalantly he spoke about it, you were forced to maintain a strong face and be professional. You couldn't possibly think of even wanting to comfort him in any way. "So, you were absolutely not stealing."

"Nope. No. Not at all. Want any further repetitions?" 

"That won't be necessary," You said, having typed out the information - tracking his expenditures would also be necessary now, apparently. "Any expenditure you make shall be monitored, now. Be careful."

"Always have been." He chuckled, getting back to spinning the glass on the table. "You know me." 

You ignored him. "Your cards will be tracked, and any loose cash will be checked by us. If we feel that there's any room for suspicion, you will have reason to be monitored." 

An odd silence filled the room while you tapped away at your laptop, filling in more details about the incident. Taehyung would be having a criminal record again, you thought to yourself. It was the only thought that echoed in your mind. It made you feel uneasy in a way, but you swallowed your unease down. There's a promotion to focus on. 

"Taehyung, something has been bugging me since I caught you vandalising." You shifted a little bit, before deciding to spit out the question. "Why did you do it?" You leaned forwards on the table, elbows digging into the wood as you tried to grasp the answers from him. 

Taehyung looked you in the eyes, and then looked away. "I don't know."

"You don't know." You raised your eyebrows, leaning back incredulously. "Taehyung, that's not an answer." 

"I did it because I wanted to. It was fun. I'd see kids in the morning pointing at my graffiti work and they would like it. There would be people claiming it looked good. I felt acknowledged and I just-" He pleaded, unable to continue without pausing to recollect his calm. "I felt like doing it. After years of having questions raised at me for committing a crime I never did, I finally had people talking about the work I did. Even if it was just chalk drawings." 

You exhaled in confusion. The Taehyung you had known - he was never like this. Confident, assured, independent. That was what he seemed to you when you were younger. And now, to see him want to be validated by others who never even cared for him- it felt ridiculous to you. Why was his only way of feeling validated involving something against the law? "Okay, then." 

You went through the complaints that had been registered against him, hand resting against your forehead as you asked him the most commonly asked question. "Why the insignia 'V'?" 

"V for victory?" He made a 'V' sign with his fingers, "I liked to think that I won against the world by rebelling against its sense of black and white. I saw everyone talk about it, and I felt like the same people who had once pointed fingers at me, blaming me for something I hadn't done, were now pointing fingers at something I had done - I felt victorious. I didn't need to show myself and possibly want more than I had already let myself have - this was enough for me." 

You pulled your lips in a tight line, and hummed in response - there were two places that together had put in about twenty complaints, so you had to respond to all of them. You kept reminding yourself that neither did you have the space to feel sorry for him, nor did you have the power to say sorry to him. You simply kept your head turned to the screen, typing in answers to all the complaints. 

Taehyung leaned forward after a few seconds. "What punishment do you think I'll get, Officer?" 

"If the chief is feeling good, maybe you'll get community service, with a fine," You looked up at him. "Or maybe some time in jail." 

"How much time?"

"Maybe a month or two?" 

"Oh." Taehyung slumped back into his seat nonchalantly. "Cool then." 

How was he this calm? You thought to yourself. He might be going to jail. For a second time.

"Yup." You shut the laptop, finally, after hours of typing information and recording it. Sighing, you lifted the porcelain mug once again to absolutely drain it of coffee, your rather loud gulps echoing in the silence of your office. 

Taehyung tapped his fingers on the table- probably some old tune he had learnt before. You remembered that he played the saxophone - from nights of serenading tunes that he had played for you with his beloved instrument. "How long do you think the chief will take to reach here?" 

"A few hours, maybe? I'd expect him around ten, to be honest. Nevertheless, let me check." You quickly called the chief on your phone, hearing his ringtone play some old Korean trot song before it was picked up. 

"Hello, yes, yes, Y/N. I expected your call." A gravely, rather rough voice responded to you- like it hadn't been used for a few hours. "I shall be reaching the office around eleven. Keep Taehyung with you." 

"Yes sir," you said, keeping the phone on your table and turning to Taehyung.  "The chief said he'll be here by eleven." 

Taehyung nodded in acknowledgement. 

"It's nearly eight thirty now." You looked at the cuckoo clock again. "Would you like to freshen up?"��

"Where?" Taehyung asked, eyes widening. "Shouldn't I just be at the office?" 

"Yeah, you should. My place is right here- the back of this office is where I live, so you'll be fine." You look down at his clothes, grease, paint and metal shrapnel all over them. "Besides, you look like you need a change of clothes." 

Taehyung stepped into your house with an air of curiosity, to see how his once classmate was living. His head stooped low to enter through the small door you had, eyes widening in surprise when he found that the hall of your house was larger than he had anticipated. 

The house was quaint, a hall with an old couch which doubled as a bed when needed. There was a table in the middle of the room, too low to be a dining table and too high to be a center table. For coffee, maybe? There were maybe five or six magazines scattered haphazardly over it, covering nearly every inch- except for one corner, where Taehyung spotted a shining acrylic blue. 

You, however, spotted what page you had left a magazine open at. Squeaking, "I'm sorry!" you ran to shut the booklet close, afraid that Taehyung would spot your love for shirtless men. 

Picking up the magazines, you grinned sheepishly at him. "Just a moment! I'll be back, a bit of cleaning to be done, sit right here!" You patted the couch, trying to convince Taehyung. 

Taehyung turned away from the pictures he had been observing- was there one of you both? - and nodded, eyes widening in surprise as he saw how you scuttled away to hide the magazines. He looked around again, taking a feel of your house- it seemed like the old you. There was some patchwork embroidery you had left in a corner, atop what seemed to be a showpiece? Taehyung stepped closer to see it in detail, and was amazed at the way you had managed to drag the red thread over and over the pink fabric to make floral designs. It reminded him of the rose he had been trying to complete the previous night, and he grit his teeth. He shouldn't be thinking about that now. That shouldn't be what he does anymore. No more.

You came back, looking quizzically at him. "Take a seat, Taehyung! It's alright." 

"Uh, yeah." He shuffled over to the couch again. "Did you make that?" 

You looked in the direction his finger pointed to. "Yeah. Tried doing embroidery for stress release purposes." 

Taehyung grinned at you. "Stress release?" He asked, bemused. 

"Yup." You said while making sure that the magazines were well hidden. "The department I wanted to be in was forensics, you know?" Taehyung nodded, he had been privy to most of your discussions about the advances in forensic technology and analysis - even if he didn't understand anything, he knew your love for it. "Well, they didn't allow me. So the whole 'stress' thing began." You walked back to him, making air quotes as you emphasized on stress. "My mother suggested embroidery would take my mind off it. So, that incomplete piece you see there?" Taehyung nodded, concentrating on every word that left your mouth. "That started a few days ago." 

"It looks like it's complete, though- are you really good at it?" Taehyung looked at you again, turning back from the embroidery you were now rising to get. 

"Pretty much? It's easy once you get the hang of it." 

"Ah." Taehyung said, a dull silence settling into the room for a few moments as Taehyung looked around your room.  

"That picture." He pointed, and you turned your head around. The picture he was focusing on was on your mantelpiece, resting happily. The frame had butterflies stuck on its corners, two large and two small. The border was white, now off white, and had pink dots in certain places. It was a picture of fireworks- red, yellow and blue mixing together in a dull sky to breathe life into the picture. And right in the middle, surrounded by this liveliness, were you and Taehyung. Beaming. 

Taehyung turned to, finger still pointing at the picture. "That's our picture, right?" 

You hummed in affirmation. "That's us, freshman party. We had known each other for a few weeks at this time."

"And I had stopped someone from asking you out, right?" Taehyung reminisced. "That was fun." 

You snort. "You had punched him in the face when he asked for my name, Taehyung." 

Taehyung smiled. "I didn't want anyone to harm you, Y/N, and he seemed like he would harm you." He spread out his arms and grinned smugly at you. "In a way, I rescued you. That night." 

And so many other nights, you wanted to say. For all the time you had known Taehyung, he had been fiercely protective of you - for reasons he never truly told you. You didn't question it either, basking in the feeling of being wanted by someone. 

You cleared your throat, hoping to clear your mind as well. "You should go take a shower, Taehyung." Glancing at the clock, you noted the time and motioned towards the washroom. "It's nearly nine. Go take a shower, call for me if you need anything. I'll go get some clothes for you."

Taehyung nodded, rising up slowly to go in the direction you pointed. "Towels are inside," you shouted after him, and he yelled in response to say he understood. In some ways, too many ways, he felt like the Taehyung you once knew. 

You went to your room to pick out some clothes, opening your meager collection to salvage something that would fit Taehyung. Your eyes scanned over your uniforms, jumpsuits, jeans, t-shirts and finally landed on the hoodies- probably the largest collection in your wardrobe. Thankfully, you loved large, loose hoodies. You started pulling them out, holding each one up and imagining Taehyung's proportions in them. 

The red one, with blue paw prints. "Nah. Too tight." 

The black plain one. "That's mine, I'm not sharing that." 

The grey ones- nearly three. You skipped over all of them, not understanding how none of these oversized hoodies would seemingly fit Taehyung. He'd gotten humongous, broad shoulders and everything. 

You picked out a few more, trying to see whether it would be a fit. None worked. 

When you picked up the next one, you could already picture him wearing it. It was the hoodie you had taken from Taehyung during the first year you knew each other. You looked at its loose sleeves, stretchy from you tugging Taehyung behind you with it way back then. The green fabric of the hoodie was slightly pale in a certain spot - you had spilled soda all over him in a fit of anger.

During your forensic chemistry class,  the teacher didn't recognise their mistakes in the procedure (they used the wrong test for detecting the sample, and blamed it on you), and you were pretty miffed the whole day. Taehyung had bought sodas for the two of you, having planned to go stargazing later on. And you, in a terrible mood, flipped him off in a way that had the soda spilling over him. You cried, Taehyung laughed, but the hoodie was still stained. You took it with you later on to clean it - but the stubborn stain never left. You were agonized, Taehyung amused, but the hoodie- it was still stained. Taehyung had laughed it off, telling you to keep it with you for as long as you wanted- he could buy a dozen more hoodies to last him till then. 

When you left to head home that winter break, you had taken the hoodie with you. You had taken it on your date, crying on its sleeves when you were stood up. And when you came back, Taehyung was suddenly a criminal. 

You shook your head to remove the memories of that time, holding the hoodie in your hand and gently caressing its sleeves. So many memories were held in these threads that meshed together to form the fabric of your youth. Good or bad? You didn't want to dwell on that. 

"Y/N? Could I get the clothes now?" Taehyung called from the washroom. You picked up a extra large pair of cotton shorts and a hoodie, and passed it to him without really thinking- you'd done it before when he got drunk at college too, having him come over at your place, shower, change, and practically behave like a couple- at least, that's what you had thought of it then. 

Get it together, Y/N, why are you thinking about that? 

"Thanks!" he shouted again, grasping the clothes with his fingers and whisking them away to the confines of the washroom. 

You gripped at your hair and pinched your cheeks. You couldn't keep thinking about the old Taehyung. You didn't know if it was truly him anymore. 

"Uh, Y/N?" Taehyung stepped out of the washroom, the previously oversized shorts clinging to his thighs for dear life and the hoodie snugly fitting his figure. "I think it's a bit tight, but I'll make do." 

Your eyes widened in horror; Taehyung looked like he was moments away from bursting the shorts. "I'll get you new pants, wait a second. These ones don't fit." 

You turned back to your cupboard, looking for the loosest bottoms you could find. "I think the hoodie still fits though, right?" 

"Yeah." You heard Taehyung right over your shoulder, scaring you. 

"Jeez, when did you get this close to me?" You turned to face him, crossing your arms, looking at his hair which still had droplets sticking to its edges. 

"When did you get this far from me, Y/N?" His eyes bore into yours, sweetly intense eyes gazing at you like it was the first time he saw you. "What happened?" 

You shrugged, not wanting to answer it. You picked up a loose pair of denim jeans that you had found stuffed away at the back of your closet. Pushing it into his hands, you told him to go change. 

Apparently, your instructions fell on deaf ears. "What happened, Y/N? Answer me. Please."

You moved your gaze to his clothes, not wanting to focus on the thoughts that rushed back when you thought of him. What had happened? You moved your hands to your sides, resisting the need to hold him and know him all over again. "The hoodie looks good on you. Would you-" 

"So do our hands." He held yours, snugly fitting his palm- your calloused fingers against his calloused ones, heat burning in the sleeping embers of your palm. His eyes gazed at the joint fingertips almost reverently. "They fit well."

"Taehyung, now is not the time-" You begin, cut off by his frantic breathing.

"When is the time, Y/N? When will I get to live? When will I get to feel like a human? When will I be innocent?"

His hand caressed your palm, touching your forearm, your elbow, your shoulder, and your cheek -leaving a burning trail behind him everywhere he touched. You shivered. "Do you know how long I have wanted you, Y/N? Years. Seven years, now. I have loved you for years. I have wanted you for years. I did all sorts of things to remember you while in jail- kept asking for you, kept calling for you. I didn't want to forget you, Y/N. Not you. I couldn't forget you, no." 

He pressed your palm to his chest, and you could feel a dull thump echo through the clothes, reverberate in your palms. "That fire, Y/N. My passion in the promises I'd made to you. It never went anywhere. I always loved you. I always will. You can't make me leave again, not again. Please, no." 

He held your palm up to his cheeks, not regarding the tears that were streaking your cheeks and his. "You feel me, right? It's me. Taehyung. I am the one you trusted. I'm the same. Trust me again. Please." 

You tried to hold back the tears that threatened to slide down your cheeks, not wanting to pain Taehyung anymore. He held your forehead to his, pressing on the back of your head to meet his - upclose, you could see the redness that clouded the shine that his eyes would normally have. You couldn't hold back your tears anymore, nearly whimpering when you saw how broken he was- sirens swimming in the whirlpool of his eyes, singing songs of misery. "You know me, right? Do you know me? Do you recognize me? Kim Taehyung, police cadet. Your friend. Your classmate. You know me, right?" He asked, nose nearly brushing yours. "Do you know me?"He cried, eyes washing over the fire that ignited behind his pupils. You didn't see a vandal, or a criminal, or a friend. You saw a broken man. 

"Taehyung, oh, Tae," you cried, putting your hands on his shoulders, watching him slink down to the ground as his body trembled and shivered. You wrapped your arms close around his figure, unable to understand his pain but just wanting it to go away. 

You sat like that for a while, coaxing the tears and short whimpers out of him as he held onto your fingers, wanting to remember something he once had: you. 

"I always asked for you, you know that?" Taehyung shivered as he spoke, even if the chills of the weather outside barely seeped into your home. "I always loved you. I don't know why they kept me there for so long, Y/N. I didn't do anything wrong. I don't know why I'm made to feel like this…" he trailed away, tears gathering at his chin as they endlessly flowed down his cheeks. 

You glanced a nervous eye at the clock, wanting to make sure that you get to the station- no matter what happens. The bubbling of water distracted you from the ticking of the clock, and you turned off the stove. Scouring your cabinets for a chamomile tea bag was hard, but you knew you needed it. Taehyung always seemed to calm down with tea - you had used it multiple times before. Times of which you have multiple memories. Times you wish to forget. 

Why did I ever love Taehyung? The question kept echoing in your mind as you leaned on top of the kitchen counter top. Things would have been so much simpler if simply looking at him wasn't so hard. His smile, his behaviour, his tears - it was all but a painful reminder of what you could have been if things had gone different. If only. 

You poured the hot water into the mug you had settled on the kitchen top, watching the water bloom into a serene shade of yellow as you dipped the tea bag into it repeatedly. You prepared one mug, then another, hearing the soft declarations Taehyung kept repeating while he was seated. 

All you had wanted to study was forensic science, and that was simply for one reason: you didn't want to interact with people. 

People are complicated, over emotional beings. and you couldn't help but feel helpless every time you had to encounter a suspect. You would constantly be told by your professors to see them as lawbreakers - but all you tried finding was signs of humanity in them. That even the most vicious killers had scope for reform. That's why you stuck to the subjects you wanted - you were good at finding signs of life, not squashing them. You consistently failed those classes, without any doubt. And today, it seemed like all those classes were laughing at you. 

"Here." You handed the mug to Taehyung, who muttered thanks. He rubbed his hands once or twice on the pants you told him to change into and took a sip from the warm tea. You resisted the urge to reach out and wipe the tears that lined his face, and try and wipe the scars of the past that had scarred him so badly - but you couldn't. You were a mere spectator in the game of his life. You couldn't possibly do anything other than hurt him more. 

"Thank you. For letting me express all of it. I could finally say everything that I wanted to before I was forbidden from speaking about it again." Taehyung tapped against the mug, fingernails resting on ceramic as the sun slowly headed westward. "I'm sorry that I've been such a burden to you, Y/N. I wonder if I can do anything to reduce the pain and confusion I put you through - I doubt I can." He looked at you carefully, though you couldn't tell what he was thinking. "Thank you." 

You let his words echo in the room, preoccupied with your thoughts. It hurt you to see him so broken, and you couldn't help but worry about him. 

"Taehyung, I-" You opened your mouth to respond, watching Taehyung pay attention to every move you made - only to be interrupted by your phone loudly ringing. 

"Sorry, this must be important." You got up to get your phone, watching Taehyung slump in his seat from the edge of your vision. 

"It's the chief," you announced, picking up the phone. 

He got straight to the point. "Come to the station, soon. Bring Taehyung with you." he told, his voice laced with a rather sharp edge- a tone that you had recognized in the years you had worked under him. Things were- most probably- not good. 

You responded with a simple "yes", mind dwelling on the impending result that Taehyung would get. You felt that it would be unlikely that he would be going to jail- at least, you hoped so.

Turning to Taehyung, you tried to hide the fear and shakiness that lined your voice. "Let's go." 

Taehyung sighed, playing with the mug as he rose up. "It's time, isn't it?"

"Good morning, Sir." You greeted the chief as he hurried into the small office, giving Taehyung a glance and then facing you. 

"Morning." He gruffly responded, turning to your laptop. "We found an eyewitness for the vandalism, so we are getting them for the interrogation as well." 

"Another interrogation? We've already done it, sir, and all the information is recorded here. I doubt it will be necessary-"

"Please, Y/N," He calmly said. "Leave the decision about it being necessary to me." 

You stepped back, subconsciously edging closer to Taehyung - a move noticed by the chief as well. 

"Y/N," he began, "I need to speak to you. In private. Step outside for a few moments, please." 

You nodded, briskly walking towards the doors and yanking them open. There was a warm gust of wind that blew across your face, and you turned to face the chief. 

"Y/N," the chief began, before pausing for a moment, "Officer Y/N. I'm going to need you to think clearly now." 

"Yes." You set your features as tightly as you could, not wanting to seem distracted in any way. 

"Do you have any type of bias in this case, perhaps due to your past relation with him?" he looked quizzically at you, as if trying to decipher an enigma scribbled onto your face. 

Your blood chilled, for some reason. Were you having any bias? "No, sir." 

The chief hummed - you couldn't make head or tail of his reaction. He kicked at a pebble before continuing. "From the recordings I heard the previous night in the office, and the way you let him come with you to freshen up a bit, one particular thing has struck me: you were trying to find reasons for Taehyung to be justified as a victim, weren't you?" 

You gulped before responding. "Yes, sir. I believe the culprit committed vandalism as a coping mechanism to get over the hurt caused over the years." 

The chief sighed heavily. "Well then," he said, "I suggest we continue with our investigation, and find a way to make sure the culprit in the matter is stable as well. We can't have repeated cases like these - we have a reputation to uphold for the police as well." 

You nodded stiffly. "Yes, sir." 

The chief sighed again, glancing at the street. "Our witness should be here soon." He turned to you again. "Funnily enough, she volunteered as a witness with CCTV backup to claim that Taehyung had vandalized her shop too. Apparently she heard you arrest him last night - so we have to hear her out." 

The chief turned again to the road, eyes narrowing in hopes of spotting the witness soon. "The investigator whom she contacted has said she is a reliable witness, but I'm going to need to verify her statement nonetheless." He turned back, heading into the office.

You stared at the road that the chief was looking at before - the direction from which the supposedly reliable eyewitness would come, before heading back inside. 

Taehyung was still slumped in his seat, fingers tracing drawings all over the pants you had given him. The chief was shuffling around behind the desk, pulling two spare chairs ahead - one for Taehyung, you presumed, and one for the eyewitness - whoever that would be. 

"Mr. Kim Taehyung," the chief began, "there has been an eyewitness who has offered their testimony - whether it is to defend you, or further establish evidence of you vandalizing public spaces, I'm not yet aware. We shall be interrogating them - and maybe you, as well, now." 

Taehyung rose up from the corner he had settled into, and shuffled into the seat the chief had set for him, wordlessly. 

The door opened to reveal an older lady, dressed in a purple shaded hanbok, hair delicately pulled back into a tight bun and eyes peering around the whole office in curiosity. She found the chief, walking closer to the desk where he was arranging the records. "I'm here as the eyewitness..?"She said, looking at both you and the chief. 

"Ah, yes. I presume you're Ms. Park?" The chief asked, pulling the chair out for her to settle into it. Under the light that shined across her face, you could make out the wrinkles that lined her skin and the greys in her hair - not that that was relevant to what would happen. 

"I saw him vandalize the outside of my store a few days ago," she earnestly began, pulling out pictures that she had taken of the design on her window.  "I'm a florist, you see. His designs are clearly inspired by that, aren't they?" She pushed the pictures in front of your vision, and you could see what she meant - the designs of orchids, hibiscus and asters stared back at you, intricately painted onto the glass windows of the florist's shop. 

She pulled out more pictures. "There's been similar instances all over the neighbourhood- the other florist had a rose, the school received drawings full of children's stories and fairy tales, and had their walls painted with similar stories. In fact, the restaurants around here even said that their menus were drawn onto the streets, right in front of their doorstep." 

The chief looked at the pictures carefully, with you peering at them as well, taking in the detail that Taehyung had while he worked while making each of his works- no, vandalising, you corrected yourself. He raised an eyebrow at the eyewitness, who seemed to shrink into her seat. "What does this bring forward as evidence for or against the culprit? We already know what the crime is, and its details. We just have to determine a punishment- either a hefty fine or jail. Do you have anything that can justify him getting exempted from either?"

Ms. Park looked at you and the chief before turning to Taehyung apologetically, placing a hand on his knee - as if consoling him. "I think that at the end of the day, all he was doing was beautifying the neighbourhood, wasn't he? And most of the residents here don't have a problem with it-" the chief looked at her incredulously- "so please, don't punish him or something. A lot of people appreciate his work in our neighborhood, you know?" 

"But we have been receiving complaints about him since the past few days," the chief said. "Why the sudden change in opinion?"

Ms. Park fidgeted with the hem of her hanbok for a few moments, shaking her head nervously. "Some of us shopkeepers were really bothered by it at first, yes, but we also had some customers come over to inquire about the artwork. It looked professional to them. So we came to an ultimatum : we will let this young man paint and draw for us, on our walls, as much as he wants - as long as it's pretty," she emphasized, one hand patting her chest, "we'll pay him to do it." 

You held back a sob as you saw Taehyung's eyes glimmer - a ray of hope shining in them.His knee bounced up and down- a habit you knew was something he had had since years - and he smiled softly when Ms. Park squeezed his hand. You felt like things were finally going to go well. The chief exhaled roughly before rubbing his forehead, glancing at Ms. Park, who smiled at him in the hope that he would understand her reasoning. 

"The law, honestly, doesn't care about intentions- I don't think I really understand why I should even let him go. Vandalism is a punishable offence, and the perpetrator has been aware of its consequences. Why the sudden feeling to save him?" The chief questioned, eyes steely and tough. 

Ms. Park hesitated for a few moments. "I believe he deserves a second chance." She pulled her chair ahead, the metal ends scraping against the tiles, and pleaded once again. "He was arrested for years for something he hadn't even done - and now, might face a few more months in the same place for simply being artistic. I don't think it deserves punishment."

"That's for the law to decide, not you, madam." The chief sternly said. "I suggest you leave such decisions to us."

The room remained tense and quiet for the next few moments, and your eyes were trained on Taehyung. You noticed the quiver in his hands, the way he shrunk into his chair - as if to hide away from whatever the upcoming decision would be. 

Ms. Park was the first to interrupt the loud silence. "Oh, come on. Let me just pay for the boy's bail." 

The clock chose that moment to loudly announce the next hour: was it eleven? Twelve? You weren't paying attention. You only saw the way Taehyung rose up from his seat - in happiness, you thought - with fists sticking to his sides. "No. I won't accept it." 

You felt the chief look with just as much disbelief as you did. Why was he so hellbent on being a perpetrator when he could be free? 

Ms. Park laughed. "No. I'm not listening to that whole self righteous thing that you probably have," she swatted the air with her hand, as if to push away any explanations Taehyung could give.

"Look, ma'am. I have the money to get a bail, or even pay the fine. I don't want you to pay for me and then hold it above my head like a massive favour you have done for me." Fire blazed in his eyes as he spoke up, rather indignantly. "I can take care of myself." 

"To hell with that attitude," Ms. Park said. "I decided to help you because I didn't want you to suffer once again because of misunderstandings." She pulled Taehyung back to sit on his chair, clasping his hand between her wrinkled ones. "You had to go through so much pain at such a young age - no one deserves that. I was a mere bystander at the time you were arrested, and I regretted it then. I still regret it now." 

She sighed before caressing the back of his hand lovingly, thumb gently pressing on the skin- as if to feel the pain those hands had to go through, and you thought you saw a hint of a tear on his cheeks. "So don't question me for 'saving' you, or something - what you did was perfectly fine for me. I love the way my street looks now, and so do the neighbours. All that really remained was the artist's identity- and now that I know it's you, I don't feel any sort of guilt in justifying what you did." 

You were right. Taehyung was crying. It wasn't silent tears that rained gently down his cheeks, it was a whole thunderstorm. You saw the chief turn away, from the corner of your vision, but you couldn't bring yourself to do the same. He was biting on his bottom lip to hold back any of the sobs or whimpers that came, head lowering to hide the tears. 

Ms. Park simply caressed his hand, over and over, till he calmed down enough to wipe his tears with his free hand. And when he raised his head up, you saw him like a new person. The wound up Taehyung you had met again a few hours ago was slowly vanishing - in his stead, there was a free Taehyung who smiled like the world's burden had been lifted off his shoulders. "Thank you," he murmured. 

The chief sighed again. "I still don't understand how it came to this." 

"Neither do I," Ms. Park laughed. "But it is what it is. We'll pay the fine."

"I'll do it," Taehyung started, only to be shushed by the elder lady. "I want to do it. Let me do it." She turned again to the chief, the bubbly happiness giving way to seriousness. "You can make sure he pays the fine, right? Withdraw the complaints for us too." 

The chief looked at you and nodded, and you got to work - carefully opening the laptop again and making sure that you transferred the report from 'investigation' to 'resolved', and that the complaint was withdrawn. 

The chief, meanwhile, made physical records of it, and informed Taehyung of the fine - which, despite his insistence, Ms. Park paid off, whipping out a cheque she had kept ready, somehow. You added the details to his resolved record as the chief dictated them to you, keeping them for future references - which you hoped would only be needed to prove his innocence in any situation. 

Nearly twenty minutes of details, questioning, and a written assurance from Taehyung that he would be liable to arrest if he continued illegal activities, it was done. Taehyung was free. 

The chief read over the details once again, thoroughly, eyes getting heavier and softer with every document he checked. Once it was all done, filed, and you had stacked the records back in the drawers they were placed in, the chief sagged into the chair, hands clutching the steel arms for support. 

"Thank God," he whispered, eyes closed. "You're fine now." He got up shakily, hands wiping at his eyes to erase any traces of the tears that had possibly leaked out. He walked around the table, reaching for Taehyung - as if beyond the lines of that desk, his duties as an officer stopped and those as a teacher resumed. "Don't you dare do that again, Taehyung. Never again." He held his student by the shoulder tightly, gripping him and shaking him a little - like a parent would scold a kid. "Live a good life, please." 

Taehyung nodded frantically, eyes still wide in disbelief as he ignored the grubby tear streaks on his face. "I will, sir." He had his hands placed politely in front of him, trembling fingers clutching onto the rough denim fabric of the old, loose jeans you had made him wear. 

"Live well," the chief repeated again, thumping Taehyung's shoulder once and then turning around to collect the documents he would need to take with him. He bowed to Ms. Park, who acknowledged him before something at a corner of the small office caught her eye, and turned sharply to you. "Officer Y/N," he began, and you tensed a little bit more. "There was an opening last night in the forensic science department that I got notice of," he said, a smile tugging on the edges of his lips when he saw how your demeanor brightened. "Reach the head office tomorrow in the morning at ten, and I'll give you the details. All the best." 

You hastily held back the sudden smile that threatened to split on your face, smartly saluting your senior before he turned around to leave the office. As he opened the door, you felt a burst of warmth all over your body - the heat of the sunshine rushing into the room. 

Ms. Park walked from her corner to Taehyung, taking his palm between hers and squeezing. "I'm happy that you're free now, Taehyung." She looked carefully at his face - sternness making way for soft concern, and said, "Live wisely. If you need money, or a job to get you started, come to my shop - it's the one you painted with orchids. You remember it, right?" 

Taehyung responded with a rather choked 'yes', nodding his head frantically. He placed his other, trembling hand upon the lady's hands, and solemnly thanked her. 

"That's not needed, I told you." She smiled, before patting his cheek. "You deserve to let yourself live, so use this chance well. Work hard." She turned her head to look through the window behind her, groaning a bit at the sight of the brightly burning sun. "I better leave now - it seems that I'll end up getting a sunburn the nearer to twelve it is." She turned back to Taehyung, smiling softly, and patting his cheek. "Turn up at the shop tomorrow morning, we'll figure something out." 

"Oh, and officer?" she faced you, pointing in the corner where she was standing a few moments before. "I think my grandson had left his plushie over here a few days ago - it's this one, right?" You followed where her hand was pointing, finding a pumpkin plushie left casually on top of a table. "Sungwoo told me he had lost it some time ago, so I just thought it was this one," she laughed awkwardly. 

"I think it is his, he had come yesterday to file a missing complaint for it too," you said, causing Ms. Park to laugh. "He really loves it, doesn't he?" 

"He's not slept well since it went missing. Anyways, I better take it with me, if that's all."

"Just a moment, ma'am," you stopped her hastily. "He'd left a note for the plushie too - I believe Peter?" 

The elderly woman laughed at her grandson's antics, taking the note you offered her and grinning as she read it. "Yes, yes, Peter. I'll take the note with me. Thank you so much for everything, officer."

Thank you, you wish to say - unable to understand how she volunteered to be an eyewitness and defend the one person you cared so much for. Maybe words wouldn't be enough for you to convey how grateful you were to her, so you simply bowed to the woman. 

She took Taehyung's hand again, gently pressing on the back of his hand. "Your mother used to help me out in the shop, you know." Taehyung nodded, and she smiled. "Your hands are like hers. Delicate, yet strong. You can craft beauty with this hand, Taehyung." She squeezed his hand, smiling. "Don't just let that beauty slip away from you." 

She patted his hand again, before turning to you and smiling, and heading out. The sunlight bounced off her gray hair to shine on Taehyung as you looked at him - even with a tired expression, he looked more alive than you had seen him in the last few hours. 

"I'm free," he said, saying it aloud and letting himself feel the sensation for a few moments. 

He turned to you, watching the way your eyes told him that you understood everything you wanted to tell him - even the things he himself didn't understand. "I'm free, Y/N," he repeated, carefully examining his wrists that were once bound with handcuffs - no. There were no restraints there. 

His eyes panned around the room. There was no investigator who questioned him about why he simply couldn't admit his crime. No one who made fun of him for seeking comfort in his art - even if it was illegal. "I'm really free," he murmured again.

Taehyung leaped towards you, pulling you close and holding you tight, as if unable to believe that you were there with him: and that he was here with you for as long as he wanted to be. You let your arms circle around his neck, one curling through the hair at his nape and pulling him further into your embrace, and the other spread out over his back - trying to remind yourself that yes, he was here, with you. 

"Thank you," you felt him murmur into your shoulder. 

"For what?"

"Just being here. With me." He sighed, further tightening the hands that rested around your waist. "After so many unfamiliar faces over the years, seeing yours feels like a reward of sorts for behaving well." 

You laughed at him, slapping his back light heartedly. "Don't talk like you did anything wrong all those years ago. It's not good." You let your hands pane across the expanse of his skin, feeling him cling on to you as you tried to calm him down. "I'm happy for you, Tae." 

He held you like that, for a few more moments - like you were slowly pulling him back into what could be his new normal life. Waking up every day in a room that doesn't have steel bars as a door. Not having to crash at the old house that had haunted him for years. Not having to hide his face in the fear that someone would taunt him for his past. Actually doing something that made him feel happy, confident, and alive. 

"I'm happy too," he murmured into your shoulder. You hummed as he looked beyond your frame to see the streets outside the window - seeing how they were illuminated in daylight. How animatedly people were talking about what their plans for the day were. A kid kept hopping on a chalk drawing of hopscotch he had drawn on the footpath, clutching onto a plushie that oddly seemed like a pumpkin. Someone walked around their stall, setting things up for the day. 

You pulled him away from your grip to look at him again - not wanting to forget any part of him in any way. "I still care for you as much as I did all those years ago, you know." You put your hands on his biceps, just as you used to do when you had to knock sense into your friend. "You better not hide anything from me now." 

"I have no intentions of," he grinned. "Thank you very much." 

You giggled, a feeling you hadn't felt in years fluttering around your stomach like butterflies. 

"About us," Taehyung began, holding your hands in his, "You know that I love you, right?" You felt yourself tense up, and probably Taehyung did too, as he squeezed your hands. "I'm not in any hurry. I want to take some time to understand myself and what I want to do before I think of anything with you. But when I'm settled, and I'm someone I can be proud of, I want to come back to you. Be with you forever." He let go of your hands to hold your cheeks, smiling as he saw your big eyes peer at him. "You'll let me, right?" 

Your eyes softened. "Of course, Taehyung."

"Tae." He corrected you, coming closer to press a kiss on your forehead. 

You smiled when he moved back, glancing down at all of him and laughing. "For beginners, how about we get you clothes to change into?" 

He looked down at his clothes, laughing with you. "Let's go, then?" 

You nodded at him, pulling him out of the office, and locking it securely before turning to a widely grinning Taehyung. "I have a feeling I'm going to love the daytime. It's just so positive, and nice, don't you think? Really warm all over." 

"You're just saying that because you lived like a night owl," you laughed at him, watching his eyes sparkle in the sunshine. 

"Yeah, that wasn't the best way to live, was it?" He clicked his tongue and frowned. "Guess I better start living well now. To new beginnings, then, Officer!!" He grinned and poked your forehead. 

You watched Taehyung skip over the pebbles that were lined outside the office, walking freely on the streets, feeling the dread that you had let build up in your heart for so long slowly drain out of you. "Wait for me!" You screamed behind him, running to catch up to him. To new beginnings, you thought. 

a/n: hopefully, this piece of writing was worth your time 😊 thank you so much for reading graffiti and chalk!! I'd love to hear any feedback you have. Feel free to send it in as a comment, reblog, or as an ask! love, hazel 💞

taglist: @taejinnies (the torture is over bahaha), @xiaokoo, @thedarkwinterrose, @shatzkrinslinzki

masterlist

[azucanela]

being zuko’s s/o would include hcs?

BEING ZUKO’S S/O [GENDER NEUTRAL!READER]

BEING KORRA’S S/O | BEING SOKKA’S S/O

SUMMARY: being zuko’s s/o from the confession to the weddin’ [say this but make it rhyme the way those singers do ya know]

WORD COUNT: 2.5k

WARNINGS: kissing, very mildly implied nsfw, soft zuko, a dragon

A/N: these are gonna be extensive bc there is no scenario but if you want whole fics there are like 6342 zuko fics coming since everyone is a zuko simp. also wow this is really long um i hope its what you wanted!

GETTING INTO THE RELATIONSHIP

you guys have probably known each other a long time, because homebody does not fall for just anyone, so if you become the object of his affections, you better feel HONORED. hehe honored 

i feel like it takes him a lot of time to actually accept his feelings for you are beyond platonic. the main reason he falls for you is probably your consistency in his life since thats something he tends to lack. like his mom? gone. his dad? kicked him out of the only place he ever knew. his life is filled with major changes so if you guys have known each other since childhood then consistency is key

once he realizes he likes you he kinda panics because what if you don’t accept him? what if you leave? even worse, what if you leave because he likes you? so now he’s panicking, and naturally, as one does, Zuko avoids his problems. You, being the problem. And his emotions, but he is in denial so

definitely talks to his uncle about the two of you A LOT, especially when he is first figuring out his feelings and trying to figure out what to do about them

his uncle is an elite wingman, constantly tries to get the two of you to be alone in the same space or get information out of you in regards to you

when it comes to confessing i can see a few situations

situation one is that zuko confesses completely by accident, freaks out, disappears, avoids you even more, like homie is a mess. after you get fatally injured, or maybe when he thinks you are asleep, or he just kinda blurts it out in conversation when you guys are doing something domestic. regardless, it is entirely by accident, and now zuko is freaking the heck out. 

“i really like this tea.”

“i really like you.”

“excuse me-”

“i goTTA GO FEED MY DRAGOn Y/N!”

“you don’t have a dragon!”

so that’s how zuko gets his dragon from LOK, storytime over

you kinda have to find him and get a word in before he runs off because he is really scared of rejection, he doesn’t want you to leave and assumes that if the situation is never addressed then you can’t leave woohoo problem solved. 

his uncle yells at him lol

when you corner him you gotta confess super fast and handle his anxieties because he is super worried about you hating him now even though it is the opposite. 

“please don’t leave me.”

“i’m not gonna leave my boyfriend.”

“your- your what?”

“we are dating now. i like you, you like me, so we are dating.”

situation two is equally chaotic, but far less dancing around the feelings since you confess! congrats! you have more balls than me! im so proud! good job bb!

when you confess, its probably late at night, a comfortable silence between the two of you, or maybe he’s ranting about something, like how dumb the concept of tea is idk. regardless this is DOMESTIC, so it’s soft and cute and you are just like you know what screw it this nerd is so easily flustered by me maybe he likes me back! look at us cuddling like a couple! might as well make it official!

zuko.exe error, not working

you broke him good job. 

he externally panics and internally congratulates himself while panicking. he is very shocked you feel that way for him because he is an oblivious boy. 

“honestly, i don’t understand why my uncle likes those flavored water leaves so much-”

“i don’t understand why i’m in love with you.”

“WHAT.”

if y’all were cuddling on a bed or smth he THROWS YOU OFF BY ACCIDENT SKJDHJFHKHWJKF oopsie, he just gets up so quickly that you kinda go tumbling.

homie literally asks you why so naturally you gotta start listing all of these reasons why because hes like perfect and beautiful and yeah we all love him a lot :D marry me zuko <3

you gotta give him a hot minute to process all the information you just gave him, he is in shock for a short while, kinda just sitting there confused. once it gets through his thick skull that you like him he’s gonna thank you 💀

then he’ll ask you how you wanna handle this and boom you have a boyfriend now good job! 

DURING THE RELATIONSHIP

dating during a war is hard so when y’all first start dating, probably towards the end of the war when he finally joins the Gaang, its gonna be really chaotic and you guys are still gonna be sorting through everything, like what kinda couple do you wanna be? neither of you know

kisses are rare during this time, especially since zuko is a generally private person who doesn’t really do PDA much, especially since he wants to avoid teasing and judgement from others. he’s a real people pleaser at the end of the day, he literally spent three years of his life looking for someone the world thought just disappeared permanently because he wanted his dad’s validation.

when you two do kiss, it tends to be a night in your shared tent, even then Zuko is weary of Toph’s seismic senses.

his kisses tend to be soft and sensual, he really just wants to take his time and enjoy it. however, bb does have a temper so you can expect some spice on occasion when he gets frustrated.

this comes later on in the relationship, once the war is resolved, but that just brings about new problems! like having to deal with the new fire lord who is always busy as your boyfriend!

especially at the beginning, when he’s newly crowned and everything is busy and new and he’s struggling with being organized, he rarely has time for you. however, you are likely his right hand, main advisor, general, whatever your area of expertise is he will find you a position in the castle, unless you tell him you want to stay out of politics. though, deep down, he wants to give you a position so he can spend time with you

once things calm down and he’s got being fire lord in the bag, he starts blocking in time during his day to actually take you out on dates and stuff

at one point just disappears for the whole day with you and everyone thinks he’s been kidnapped until they realize you aren’t around either

that’s not very responsible of you guys smh you have a nation to run 

is soft with you, though zuko’s temper definitely lessened when he became Fire Lord, but it no doubt shows itself sometimes, but never with you

well need your assurance sometimes because he gets insecure

like why is the beautiful amazing intelligent woman dating me i do not understand what the heck why have you not left me yet

knock some sense into him

also gets worried that he is a horrible ruler and wants you to tell him that he in fact does his job very well

did you forget you helped end a war zuko?

kiss. his. scar. give him love, its one of few physical parts of himself that he is insecure about and if you kiss him there he might start crying because wow intimacy didn’t know what that was

speaking of intimacy, he is a touch starved boy so when you start giving him love do not stop, never deprive him of cuddles he gets grumpy

lol play volleyball with him

very domestic??? like his parents highkey did not like eachother so now he just wants to hold your hand, lay with you in the morning, wake up to your pretty face, and just cuddle with you while you read aloud 

overall you two are a power couple and zuko simps for you 25/8 you rule as a team and he values you and your opinion VERY much, tries to take you out as often as he can despite his VERY demanding job, and expresses his love to the best of his ability

MARRIAGE N STUFF

zuko took the throne YOUNG he was like 16, so he is not proposing until y’all are at least adults, but i imagine that he is probably gonna wanna date you for like at least three years before proposing

he wants to make sure you are there to stay even if you’ve been around since childhood

there are two ways he is gonna propose here

situation one is where he kinda just does it,,, randomly? like out of nowhere he realizes that w o w he wants to marry you, he wants to spend the rest of his life with you and dedicate everything to you because you are HIS forever person

so he’s kinda just laying with you in the morning, nice soft kisses here and there, will not let you leave the bed and you are definitely complaining, especially if you have a position in the palace and need to get to work

regardless its a soft moment, there’s light filtering in through the window in your shared room, and its shining on your face, and yeah you are lowkey a mess because its the morning but you are just,, so,, beautiful??

and you start telling him about your plans for the, playing with his hair and stuff, and he’s listening to his heartbeat when he breaks from your hold and looks up at you and is just like

“marry me.”

“we also need to feed your dragon- wait what”

you are kinda just in shock for a moment, so you sit up and look at him, mouth gaping open like

“are you serious?”

he suddenly realizes he doesn’t have a ring and it is 7AM in the morning and it is not the best time for this

“...yes”

now you are laughing, falling back onto the pillows, and maybe there’s a tear in your eye as you nod rapidly, “okay, yes.”

now you are thinking of the fake story you are gonna tell people when they asked how he proposed because you are NOT saying it was in bed at 7AM while you were looking like a whole mess

“yes? yes as in yes you will marry me? are you serious?” 

such an idiot, but he’s cute its okay

you kiss him and its passionate and adorable, and he kisses back but he quickly breaks apart and is like “you’re sure? because i don’t have a ring-”

“how have you successfully run a country.”

“good thing you are gonna join me on the throne i suppose.”

“oh my god you’re right-”

“you aren’t reconsidering are you?”

“NO.”

have fun being the fire god woo

now y’all go back to making out and traumatize whatever advisor comes to check on you because they’re like where are the people who rule this country??? 

situation two is where he has been carrying around the ring for MONTHS but is looking for the perfect time to propose because you are perfect so this must be perfect

he couldn’t sleep and in the middle of the night he was like WELP I WANNA GET ENGAGED and kinda just decided he was gonna marry you

since you were asleep he couldn’t ask you right then and these

confides in the gaang and everyone is super excited

now he’s been walking around with this ring for months and what is he supposed to do now oh god

the gaang is like stop procrastinating bro, just ASK HER, and hes like NO IT NEEDS TO BE PERFECT

they help him set up the palace courtyard and make it all nice, there are lanterns, and candles, and a path of rose petals, and this time around he does have a ring so yes its great

he’s like hey let’s go for a walk! and you’re like okay??? lol

so you two are walking around the palace, holding hands, when he leads you to the courtyard and you are just like DAMN this is romantic AND pretty

“i think we are interrupting Zuko let’s leave”

“what do you mean interrupting-”

“well someone clearly put in a lot of effort!”

“that someone is me!”

:O

its not that he isn’t romantic its just that he’s never done something like this so now you’re confused

“did i forget our anniversary?”

“no.”

NOW you understand, looking around, you turn back to him to find that he’s on one knee, you two are in front of the pond with the turtleducks and wow it must be raining why is there water on your face? haha...

he tells you he loves you and that he wants to spend the rest of his life with you, and how he hopes he never loses you because you are just so vital to his life and his being and everything he’s done to make this world a better place has been for you and damn zuko you wonder if he got possessed

obviously you agree

and obviously something goes wrong

when he stands you tackle him with a hug and you two fall into the pond

oops 

the wedding[disclaimer: i have never been to a wedding so i do not know what happens in weddings, feel free to educate me pls] is either REALLY intimate and private, or really big and stuff, since you gotta go through that whole coronation process now and like public weddings n stuff

no matter what his uncle is the one who walks you down the aisle.

change my mind.

you cant. 

the intimate one is almost similar to eloping, probably happens in the court yard where he proposed, and you are wearing a AMAZING outfit, whether its a tux, an amazing dress, a jumpsuit, you gonna look FIRE

hehe fire

anyways it’ll probably be the people who fought with him in the war, the gaang, the white lotus, kyoshi warriors, maybe a few others, 

its a really nice ceremony, and the courtyard is decorated so beautifully, though Zuko considered putting a fence around the pond considering what happened when he proposed lol

if its a more public wedding, then its going to feel like the entire Fire Nation came to watch y’all get married, much more flashy, there’s a band performance, a banquet, y’all gotta use the ballroom so that everyone can dance 

kinda nerve wracking ngl

regardless, after you two get married nothing really changes because you always acted like an old married couple, and even as the other ruler of the fire nation, you always had an important job in the palace so its kinda just the same but more official

its a vibe

moral of the story is zuko is a simp for you and your marriage is mutual simping, that is all

A/N: i kinda went off ngl, also im about to hit 200 followers and i feel as though i should do something special so i am taking suggestions pls

taglists[lmk if you wanna be added or removed :D]

zuko: @shawni-h @lil-lex1 @boxofteenageideas @izzieserra @eridanuswave @bigbuckyenergy @outerxorbit

permanent: @chewymoustachio

[interstellarflare]

Bend and Break || Homelander

-PART FOUR-

Warnings: Gore, violence, course language, angst.

Summary: People can only bend their morales so far before they break. Homelander is the world’s greatest superhero, and you, a tech analyst, somehow become entangled in his world when he learns that you provide intel to The Boys. He makes it his personal mission to find out exactly what you know, but he never expected such resistance from someone as damaged as you. But broken things can be mended, sometimes in the most unexpected ways possible.

Author’s Note: As a bit of a disclaimer, I have only seen snippets of The Boys. I haven’t actually watched all of it, so forgive me if there are some details that are wrong, as well as the many spelling errors that will undoubtedly be in this series. There is a tag list open for those who wish to be added. I apologise for the long chapters. Gif by @itisa-profoundbond-sarandom

|PART ONE| |PART TWO| |PART THREE|

“Where do you think you’re going?” You asked angrily, as you followed Homelander up the large staircase of your apartment complex and onto the roof. He hovered a few metres away from the edge, whilst you stood as close to the edge of the roof as you could. Homelander turned to face you, his hair gently rustling in the wind. “I’m going to confront Stillwell. I want answers, and she is going to give them to me”.

“We need to be smart about this...” You persisted throwing you arms out in annoyance “if you go charging in there all high and mighty and demand answers, she’s going to know that something is wrong. We need to do this discreetly, otherwise you’re going to fuck this up for everyone”.

“Excuse me?” Homelander growled, flying down so that he was hovering just away from the edge “I’m the Homelander. And I can do whatever the fuck I want. Nothing goes on at Vought without me knowing about it. You have no powers, you’re not special, no one would give a damn if something happened to you. So what makes you think you can help me?” he asked angrily, his eyes once again beginning to glow a dangerous red. You didn’t know why his words hurt so much, you didn’t understand why your chest tightened painfully. But you stood tall, clenching your hands into fists as you shouted “I don’t care who the fuck you are! What I care about is doing this right. If you go to Stillwell and demand answers, there’s a likely chance you will put The Seven in danger, and likely anyone else involved. I might not have powers, but at least one of us has to have some common fucking sense!”.

When no response came from The World’s Greatest Hero, you scoffed shrugging your shoulders as you stepped away from the edge of the roof “Then again, what do I know. I’m not special. But if I hadn’t hacked into your servers, you wouldn’t have known about this, and you would have been covering Vought’s arse for all the wrong reasons, not that you don’t do that anyway”. You turned on your heel and headed back towards the door, hugging your arms close to your body as you suddenly felt cold. You shivered, reaching out to grasp the door handle as a firm hand was placed on your shoulder. Homelander spun you around, glaring down at your form with his eyebrows furrowed as he stepped closer to you. “What makes you think I don’t have any common sense?” he asked loudly, throwing his arms out in exasperation as he waited for your response. As you forcefully pushed him away from you, you ignored how surprised you were to see him stumble. He never stumbled. Then again, he didn’t let just anyone punch him either. Rolling your eyes, you scoffed loudly and stepped toward him “Classic Homelander tactic, you always rush in first. You act without thinking it through. You think that just because you are ‘The World’s Greatest Superhero’, that everyone will automatically grovel at your feet and beg for mercy!...” you shouted, your voice breaking as your tone became angrier “well guess what, even superheroes get screwed over. That’s just how the world works. And you’re angry. You’re angry because you got played-”

“Just shut up!” Homelander cried, his eyes glowing a menacing red before firing one large beam directly beside where you were standing. You shrieked, falling over onto your backside with a fearful gasp. The gravel atop the roof smouldered, grey smoke rising into the air in a steady pillar. That was it, this was the last straw. You quickly stood to your feet, rage surging through your blood as you shouted so loud, that you were certain that the entire neighbourhood could hear you. “Fine! If you want to go and fuck things up for yourself, then by all means go ahead. I’m not going to stop you! But you don’t get to come back to me and beg for my help when things go wrong. I’ve dealt with enough of this shit to last me a lifetime, and I don’t need more of it. Especially, not from someone like you!”. With one final glare, you stormed off the roof, slamming the door to the stairwell behind you hard enough that the sound echoed throughout the entire building. The walk to your apartment became a blur, so much so that you don’t even remember walking through the door, or hearing Max’s pestering questions about where Homelander had gone.

Instead, you stormed straight to your bedroom, closing the door behind you with a harsh bang before leaning back against it. You buried your head in your hands, collapsing to the floor as you brought your knees up to your chest. And for all the wrong reasons, you cried. You cried, because the fucking bastard didn’t care about anyone else but himself. You cried, because he couldn’t see what he was doing to the people around him. What he was doing to you. A small part of you still wanted to believe that there was still some good in him, after he had saved your life from a car accident all those years ago. The accident had happened just before Max had been born. You were on your way to the hospital to meet Michael when your car collided with that of an intoxicated driver. You car flipped several times, trapping you inside the wreckage upside down as it caught fire. You still wonder what had possessed him to save your life that night, what made him decide that you were worth saving? How could someone with such extraordinary gifts, abuse them in such a way?

You sighed heavily, wiping the tears from your face as your wrapped your arms around your form, giving yourself what little comfort you could. Unknown to you, or anyone within the apartment complex, Homelander had never left. He could hear your faint sobs through the layered walls, your heartfelt cries and awkward sniffles as you tried so desperately to assure your nephew that you were fine. He could see you hiding in your bedroom, alone and hurting. And a small part of him felt guilty for causing you to feel this way. But he couldn’t talk to you, not now. He needed answers, and he would get them by whatever means necessary. But your words stuck with him the entire flight back to Vought International, ‘We need to be smart about this...at least one of us has to have some common fucking sense’.

Maybe you were right. Maybe you weren’t. But he would never know now, as he instead changed his direction and flew about the city, trying to clear his head of tonights events.

Two weeks. It had been two weeks since your argument with Homelander, and nothing had changed.

It had been quiet for the most part, except for when Max stopped by every afternoon after school as your apartment was within walking distance. More often than not, Black Noir stopped by as well. He often sat outside on the fire escape, perched either reading a book or casually watching you as you went about your daily activities. So at some point, and you’re still unsure as to why, but you invited him inside.

You started to leave your window unlocked again for whenever he came by, and he didn’t talk much. Which surprisingly made him a very good listener. He listened to your every word with some sort of interest, and it felt good to have another adult around, one that actually listened to you and didn’t argue. In those two weeks, you managed to get a new phone, a new number, and managed to establish all your old contacts again. Butcher was the only one you couldn’t make contact with. He hadn’t stopped by your apartment either, which left you a little disheartened. You figured that the CIA considered you a loose end, and that Homelander had or would likely kill you when he was done with you. An unpleasant shiver ran down your spine at the thought.

You sat at the dining room table, trying to weave your way through Vought’s servers for a second time. But you hadn’t expected such resistance. They had definitely upgraded their technology, their firewalls were practically impenetrable. You cursed under your breath, slamming your hands against the table’s surface out of frustration. Noir looked up from the book he was reading on your couch, his head tilting to the side out of confusion and questioning. You groaned, running a stressed hand through your hair “When did Vought upgrade their servers?” You asked him, not really expecting a helpful answer from him at all. When Noir shrugged and returned his gaze back to his book, you poked your tongue out childishly in his direction. “Thanks a lot, arsehole” You grumbled, rolling your eyes as he gave you a sarcastic thumbs up. Before you could respond with a disrespectful quip, there was a loud knock at the door.

Again, you groan, muttering a few jumbled incoherent phrases under your breath as you approached. You swung the door open without thinking, and almost choked on air when you eyes landed on the person on the other side. Homelander stood with his eyes downcast, his hues a darker and sadder shade of blue than they usually were. His right arm leaned against the doorframe, his usually combed back fair hair in slight disarray. You looked him up and down, swallowing thickly as a heavy silence filled the hallway. You cleared your throat, folding your arms over your chest as you opened your mouth to speak.

“I want to try it your way...” Homelander suddenly spoke, his voice low and devoid of his usual sarcastic and pompous tone. Your eyes widened as you were taken aback by his sudden sincereness. You bit your bottom lip, raising an eyebrow in challenge “Did demanding answers not do it for you?-”

“I didn’t...ask Stillwell about Project Cerberus...” He snapped bitterly, gritting his teeth as he lifted his eyes to meet your own. You nodded slowly, hating the way you so easily gave in and stepped aside, allowing the man before you to step into your apartment. But before he could walk past you, you reach out and grabbed his upper arm with your hand, looking up at the Supe from the corner of your eye. “Yell at me like you did two weeks ago again, and I’m done. Understand?” You spoke seriously, your grip tightening around his bicep as a silent promise. Homelander nodded wordlessly, and you released him from your hold. You closed the door to your apartment and headed back towards the living room, where Homelander nodded a curt greeting to the other Supe sitting on the couch. “Just out of curiosity, is there something else I can call you other than Homelander? Otherwise I’m just going to call you prick or arsehole” you stated blatantly, smirking tauntingly as the man before you turned to face your figure with a stern and harsh expression. With his eyes narrowed and his nostrils flaring in anger, you held your hands up in defence “Okay then, baby steps...baby steps”.

Your eyes widened in shock as Noir released a huff sounding close enough to a laugh. After making eye contact with Homelander out of bewilderment, and after seeing that he wore a similar expression, you shook your head. After deciding that Noir possibly laughing wasn’t as weird as having two of The Seven currently situated in you apartment, you motioned Homelander over to your laptop, where the two of you set about breaking into Vought’s servers.

Tag List: @tardis-23​ @freshmakertaco​

[scary-lasagna]

A Different Kind of Fear || Toby Rogers

[TW: Depressive themes, social anxiety, family death]

The scratchy pillow agitated Toby’s skin as tears rubbed into the fabric. The sickly feeling of sticky tears and a hot, puffy face caused the teen to hide away in his new corner of the manor and curl up under the standard white quilt. The bland feeling of the fabric did nothing to comfort his loneliness. All it did was torment him of sadness from the previous nights with a reminder of tearstains blotching the cloth.

It was barely his first week at the manor, and adjusting has not gone well. Everyone seemed to have little to no interest in his presence; And if they did, it was always negative attention. Slender tried to assure this this was all part of a “initiation process” that the boys did, but Toby begged to differ after he received a crude error message on his phone from the blonde sitting across from him. 

Any and all conversations have lead to him either being ignored or belittled by his new peers. They’ve asked crudely about his stutter and all of his tics that he accidentally brought to the table in a fit of anxious nerves. Their amused chuckles reminded him all too well of the shadowing laughs of foul-play in high school. His tics were shameful, he was ugly, and no one cared about him anymore. The only person he’s sure who loves him is Lyra. And she’s dead.

And just the way Jeff grimaced at him for mentioning his interests muted Toby for the rest of the day entirely. It caused a silent but deadly rejection that spiraled until he couldn’t take it. Something as simple as being looked at the wrong way triggered him into a sense of worthlessness and indescribable shame. All he required now was to hide his face from the world and pretend he didn’t exist.

They’ve finally shut him off, and he’s preparing to hoard food and spend the next few days in his room to isolate himself from any social contact and reboot. That’s all he needed for now. A safe space, and somewhere to hide away from the scary, judgmental world outside of his room.

“Hey! Dinner’s ready, kid.” A harsh thump on the wooden door jolted Toby’s anxiety, and he nearly started another crying spell again. He was late for dinner, what would they think? That he’s a lazy piece of shit that sleeps all day? Or he finally caved in and realized his hatred for the kind people and creatures who took him under their wing when he needed it most? Slender would be disappointed in him and-

“Hey kid, didya’ hear me?” Tim rattled the door again with his fist. Toby waited for the shuffle of fading footsteps that would descend the nearby flight of stairs. But they never surfaced over the deafening silence. The brunette buried his quivering lip into the pillow that was due for a much needed heap of laundry softener. “Tobias?” 

The oppressing guilt finally got to him, and a choked sob slipped his puffy lips. Toby couldn’t believe how much of a pain he was being to everyone. Now Tim has to ruin his day and his precious time to drag him out of a depression cocoon. He’s being such a fucking a child; Why not just suck it up and go to dinner? 

The brass doorknob jostled and clicked. A memory of Slender mentioned there’s a spare key on the archway of the door flickered through his vision. God! How could he forget? The boy clawed into the pillow with a frustrated whine, praying to any god that he’d do something right for once in his miserable life. Failure, rejection, and being a dumbass seemed to be his constant specialty.

“Are you okay?” Even if Toby hadn’t heard his voice, he knew the unique sound of Tim’s rustling cargo jacket. When Toby stayed silent, Tim didn’t falter, and he stared at the brunette’s lame form under the covers while Toby swallowed his pride. He refused to answer, and held his breath in hopes Tim would think he’s peacefully asleep.

“Even if you were asleep, I hope you know I’m an asshole and would wake you up for fun.” 

No response. 

Tim coughed and shuffled, “I hope you’re alive, at least?” A large hand grasped his shoulder, and Toby couldn’t stop the reaction of sitting up with an inward hiss from the unwanted touch.

Toby couldn’t bare to meet his eyes. After all he’s been through? He’s crying at bullshit like this?

“Did someone hurt you?” Tim’s gruff voice lowered, and he invited himself on Toby’s bed. The boy silently shook his head, and pulled the top of his hood over his eyebrows. Tim paused in thought before speaking, “Did...someone say something mean?” We’re they actually being mean? Or did he just perceive it that way from overreacting like he’s always done? Toby shrugged, for he didn’t know. 

“Do you wanna know a secret?” Tim scooted closer, and the warmth on his leg radiated through Toby’s sweatpants onto his cold skin. Or at least that’s what he thought it was. Temperature has always been strange to him. “They’re doing this bull on purpose so they can make you depend on them when the week’s up. They do it to everyone and it’s really fucked.”

“W-What?” Toby turned his head slightly, not enough to meet Tim’s eyes, but just enough to get a glimpse of his dark locks. 

“Don’t beat yourself up.” His breath hitched and all of his muscled cramped at once as Tim removed the hood from his eyes. “It seems a lot worse than it really is, trust me.” A thick, cigarette smelling finger wiped away a hot tear traveling the length of Toby’s cheek. “There’s more people around here than you think that are willing to help you, Tob.” 

Toby finally met his eyes. There was no upturned pity eyebrows, but instead Tim held a welcoming smile.

“I-I’m sorry. Just...t-th-there’s a lot of fail-failure shit that I’ve been putting up with my whole life. I-I-I feel fucking wor-worthless at times and-and-”

“Alright, I hope ya don’t mind but I’m stopping you there. First, don’t ever let me catch you fucking apologizing for feeling emotions. Crying is good, you gotta get that shit you, y’know?” Tim’s hand moved to pull Toby’s shoulder towards his friendly warmth. “Second of all, if you were a complete failure you’d probably be dead by now. I mean, you escape a car cash, an abusive asshole, people who wanna kill you, and first-degree arson. I’d say you’re pretty fucking accomplished for a 17 year old. ”

Toby merely shrugged, and locked his gaze on a nail sticking out from a floorboard. 

“Tobias. You’re worth a lot more than you think you are. I have no clue who you are but I can still see a hell of a lot of potential in you. All you need is confidence and a little help finding it. I’m proud that you made it this far. And I believe in you, kid.” The rough pat on his shoulder reminded him of a loving fatherly touch he’s never received. It eased his nerves, and his emotions finally started to soften.

Someone believed in him. He hasn’t heard those words in at least a year since his sister departed. It was a bittersweet, familiar feeling to hear that from someone else. Toby stole a shaky breath and vented with a sigh of relief. “I guess we should go eat now.”

[just-someone-who-likes-to-write]

Nuada x Abused!Reader

(Requested by @athywinchester​ :Hello! May I have a Nuada x Abused Reader. So Reader works with Reds team, and she was in a very abusive past relationship. So Prince Nuada joining the team and Reader is jumpy tense and distant from him for the reason that he always looks intimidating, so Nuada gets frustrated that she aviods him but seems fine with Abe and Red and when he demands to know why Red explains her past. Nuada becomes intranced and both fall in love! Fluff and implied smut, protective Red and Abe! Thank you! ♥️)

(A/N): This honestly took longer than I expected and its probably the longest story I have wrote so far, but I liked the challenge and i hope all of your like the result!

Warning: Angst, Talk of abuse, fluff, implied smut, Grammatical Error.

Word Count: 6,587

Nuada and his sister were walking down one of the hallways in the B.P.R.D, talking about various thinks, simply enjoying the company of one another as if it was the old days before the war with the humans and them separate.

 "Brother, I assure you Abraham is treating me well." Said Nuala with a small smile.

 "Just keep reminding him that he will be punished for any wrong act he commits against you." Replied Nuada sternly. Nuala just nodded.

 Nuala is happy that her brother finally accepted her relationship with Abraham, but him being overprotective of her can be a bit troubling. Nevertheless, she enjoyed having her brother back. She was pulled out of her thoughts when she saw a familiar face walk opposite them, with her hand full of files and a troubled look on her face.

"(Y/n)!" She called with a smile, earning the agent's attention who smiled back at her.

 "Nuala, Hey!"

 (Y/n) called back moving closer to the princess but slowed down and the troubled look was back. Nuala was confused by the sudden hesitation to approach her, following her eyes she realized that she was staring at her brother who looked neutral, not showing disdain or hate towards the human agent, which Nuala couldn't helo but feel proud of that he is trying his best. However, her brother wasn't her main concern.

 "(Y/n)." She called again catching the girl's attention.

 "O…Oh!..hmm.." (Y/n) stammered not knowing what to say, she held tight to the files in her arms and started marching forward with her eyes averted to the side. "Sorry I have a lot of work to do, bye!"

 Nuala didn't get the chance to stop the female human as she went past her. The Elven princess blinked a couple of times at what just happened, confused by (Y/n) behavior.

 "What was…Strange." She said breaking the silence. Nuada sighed before he continued walking.

 "It is not your fault sister, its mine." He stated. Nuala's eyes furrowed and she followed him.

 "What do you mean brother?" She kept her eyes on him. His eyes seemed neutral as always but she could see that there was something else.

 "That human is scared of me for some reason." He answered.

 "Aren't all humans in here afraid of you?" She asked casual causing her brother to chuckle at her choice of words.

 "Some are, but they don't cower away as she does." He replied. "When I was first given my freedom all the humans feard me including her, but now, they all mustered the courage to approach me, except for her."

 Nuala was surprised by how bothered her brother looked at the idea of (Y/n) avoiding and fearing him.

 "Maybe she is just intimidated by other creatures." Nuala said trying to assure him but he only shook his head.

 "She isn't." he answered. "If she was then she would be terrified of Hellboy and Abraham but she seems very close with them."

 Nuala stayed silenced for a while not sure of what else to say to assure her dear brother that he wasn’t in the wrong. She bit her lower lip and looked down at her hands with a thoughtful stare. Then an idea came to her.

 "I can figure out the real reason." She said and her brother looked at her with a raised brow. She continued. "We spend a lot of time together in the library maybe I could ask her, or at least touch her skin and-"

 She stopped when Nuada held up his hand stopping her. He turned fully to face her.

 "I appreciate you willing to use your powers for me, sister." He started. "But I know how much you dislike using your powers on others, even if it was for me, I don't wish for you to do it."

 Nuala wanted to say something but only smiled at her brother.

 "Very well brother, if that is what you wish." She said with a nod.

 "It is." He nodded back.

 They resumed walking together for a while but Nuada broke the silence.

 "Although, I wouldn't mind telling her that I am not as bad as I look."

 Nuala just nodded as she smiled knowingly at him.

 ---

 Swinging his blade swiftly Nuada was able to decapitate the last creature they were sent to kill, but he didn't care for that. The Elven prince was more concerned for the little human who joined them on this mission. He tried to keep close in order to protect her and to show her that he meant wished no harm to her. However, while he was distracted with the piled up creatures the human must have slipped away because when he turned back she wasn't there. It frustrated him. He started to make his way out of the hallway from the second floor, wondering if the little human was safe when he heard shouting from the foyer on the first floor. Nuada walked slower as he peaked down and saw that the source of the noises was Hellboy, with him were you and Abraham.

 "Great work shrimp!" Exclaimed Hellboy with a laugh.

 "Thanks, Red!" She shouted back with a big smile. Nuada's eyes slightly widened at the sight of your smile.

 Hellboy then picked you up with his stone hand, causing you to let out a sound of surprise. Nuada was about to step forward and stop the demon but stopped when he heard you let out a series of laughter.

 "Let me down, you red abe!" You shouted hitting his back playfully.

 Nuada looked at the scene folding in front of him with almost a pained look when he confirmed that you feard only him and not just other mythical creatures.

 When they finally got out of the ruined manor that was a nest to those creatures they just killed, Nuada stayed a safe distance and he kept watching your interaction with Hellboy and Abraham and you didn't cower at her touch, voice or even sight. Nuada wouldn't admit it out loud but his appearance almost resembled a human's, if his eyes and skin were in a different color, compared to the demon and the fish he didn't look intimidating a lot. Nuada looked up when he noticed that you had to leave the two to join the other humans, that was his chance to approach. He walked a beeline towards Hellboy catching his attention and before he could question what the Elf wanted Nuada spoke.

 "Why does (Y/n) fear me?" He asked bluntly, his face and voice calm and neutral.

 "Uh…what?" Asked Hellboy who seemed taken it back by the sudden question. Abraham just blinked and watched.

 "The female Human named (Y/n)." He started to explain. "She has been avoiding me since the day I joined the Organization. At first, I thought because she fears mythical creatures like any other human, but I always see her acting so friendly to you both, so I am why does she fear me?... and how can I…stop it?..."

 Nuada didn't want to result in asking anyone for help, not wanting to seem desperate or weak in front of anyone. But the human girl made him reach his limits and just wanting answers. Hellboy just looked at him with a raised brow confused, then his eyes narrowed dangerously at the young prince. He placed his stone hand on his shoulder and squeezed, not enough to crush the elf's shoulder but enough to make him wince in pain. Hellboy leaned forward to the prince.

 "Are you planning to hurt (Y/n)?" He asked in a harsh whisper, "Cause I promise to make you regret the thought of it."

 "Red stop!" Said Abraham panicking as he released Hellboy's hold on Nuada. "You are going to hurt Nuala!"

 Despite knowing that Abraham can't stand a chance against the demon's strength, Hellboy let go of Nuada for his friend's sake. Nuada brought his hand up to massage his shoulder knowing full well that it will bruise. He will have to check on Nuala when her returns. Hellboy was going to say something else to the elf but Abraham came between them facing the demon.

 "Why are ya stopping me blue?" Hellboy asked with furrowed brows.

 "Because you misunderstood Nuada's intention, he means no harm for sister (Y/n). In fact, he wishes to befriend her." Abraham said carefully when he turned to look at the surprised prince he explained. "Nuala told me of what was happening."

 "And what is happening?" Asked Hellboy confused.  He looked between Abraham and Nuada.

 "It appears that sister (Y/n) is… intimidated by Nuada." Abraham explained. Hellboy's glare was back to the prince but Abraham quickly continued earning the attention back to him.

 "Red…I think she is ….still…hmm…" He struggled with what he wanted to say, but then found it better to just whisper what he wants to say to his friend.

 Nuada observed as Hellboy's eyes widened in realization. He pulled away and looked down at his friend with a look of concern.

 "But I thought she got over it." He whispered back but Nuada could hear him. Abraham shook his head.

 "No one truly gets over such thing Red." He started to explain. "They either let the pain consume them forever or cope with it or learn from it. (Y/n) got better not because she was strong but also because she had us by her side at all times until she was free again... or at least that what it seems."

 "What do you mean?" Asked Hellboy as calmly as he could.

 "Deep down (Y/n) is still affected by what happened and I believe that prince Nuada's presence somehow triggered those feelings back."

 Nuada frowned at his words. It's true that he still didn't understand what they were speaking of but he heard enough to know that (Y/n) was hurt in some way and he somehow is making her reliving it.

 "What are you doing still standing here?" They all turned and saw it was a displeased Manning. "Get in that truck and return to HQ, we already have enough in our hands."

 Without another word Hellboy, Abraham and Nuada aborded the vehicle and stayed silent throughout the entire way back. There were a lot of moments that Nuada wanted to say something, his mind was filled with questions that he demanded answers to, but he can sense the tension around Hellboy, for apparently whatever you have been through it angered him greatly. When they finally reached HQ Nuada was planning to talk to Abraham and get answers from him, even if the idea angered him.

 "Hey…"

 Nuada looked up and saw that it was Hellboy looking down at him with no previous malic.

 "Come to my room tomorrow morning, but not too early."

 He said simply before walking away not giving a chance to the Elvin prince to say or ask anything. Deciding that this will be better than being alone with Abraham Nuada went back to his room unable to sleep waiting for the next morning anxiously, through it his mind kept imagining the many possibilities of what he will learn tomorrow, of you, of your past.

 ---

 Standing in front of the giant heavy Iron door or Hellboy and his spouse's room. He reached for the small keyboard on the side with the screen and camera and pushed a button to form the demon that there is someone who wishes to enter. From what Nuada learned, Hellboy used to be locked in his room until one of the agents opened the door for him but after defeating him, his army and learning of the human Liz's pregnancy the organization allowed them the freedom to roam around without a schedule. The heavy door started to unlock and Nuada took a cautious step back allowing the door to slowly swing open, but it didn't need to open all the way for Nuada to see A shirtless Hellboy standing behind it.

 "Good morning." Nuada greeted first. His relationship with Hellboy might still be rocky but he never forgets his etiquettes

 "….morning." Mumbles Hellboy before turning around and walked back into the room, Nuada didn't what for an invitation as he walked in after him.

 Nuada was genuinely surprised when he found the room clean and organized. Sounds of purring caught his attention, he looked down to see a couple of cats rubbing on his legs when he followed the trails of other cats he saw in the corner a placed filled with cat toys, cat food, toward scratchers, and the opposite side the letterbox. Nuada furrowed his brows in disgust.

 "I maybe succeeded in cleaning this room, but I can never be able to talk him into giving up those cats." A feminine voice called.

 Nuada turned a saw a heavily pregnant Liz carrying a plat of food which Hellboy quickly took from, and started setting up the small table.

 "The same way I can't talk you out of not moving too much." He said making Liz roll her eyes. She turned to the prince and greeted him good morning which he returned.

 "I was honestly surprised when Red told me that you are joining us for breakfast." She said as she made her way to the table and sat down with a small groan. Nuada followed.

 "He isn't here to just join us for breakfast." Said Hellboy almost disgruntledly, causing Liz to look at him with a confused look.

 "I asked for Hellboy's help last night and he told me to come to him in the morning." Informed Nuada.

 "Problem?" Questioned Liz and she looked between the two beings. "What problem?... What is going on red?"

 He stayed silenced for a while thinking his words carefully, before setting down across from Nuada. He licked his lips nervously.

 "(Y/n) is… terrified from Nuada." He started. When seeing the hint of flame starting to spark from her skin in anger he continued. "Because she is still hurt from what happened before?"

 Her flames died down in realization and the angry look was replaced with one of sadness.

 "Oh no…" Was all that she could say.

 "I came to Hellboy in hopes of knowing the reason for her fear of me." Said Nuada hiding the irritation he felt for being still left in the dark.

 Hellboy and Liz shared a look before he let out a sigh.

 "Its something that happened to her a few years ago, Before you came along." Started Hellboy. "(Y/n) was a new agent and one of the few who didn't judge someone easily by the way they looked or what others said about them. which made her a great asset and a cool person to be around. However, Because of her kind self, it also can make her… A target to some…lowlife, manipulative bastard!.. who deserves to be-"

 "Red!" Called Liz putting her hand over her lover's to calm him, Hlleboy squeezed her hand and released a sigh before looking.

 "She started seeing someone." He continued. "They went out a few times and seemed like a decent guy. He made her laugh, feel appreciated and loved, gave her attention, it wasn't long until they started living together, which if I was being honesty felt jealous of… Anyway, after they started living together something…changed."

 "Changed?" repeated Nuada as he unconsciously leaned forward. Hellboy nodded finding it a little difficult to continue.

 "She started keeping her distance from us." Interrupted Liz giving her lover a reassuring look that she will take over.

 "She stopped visiting Abe and Red or even be around them, she started ignoring me and would exit any room I enter immediately. We noticed the change but thought nothing of it for it wasn't the first time someone tries to befriend us only to fear us in the end… But then I heard from other girls how her body was… filled… with bruises. I ignored it at first thinking it was only from practice or missions, but then we find her every now and then doing paperwork because one of her legs or arms were broken."

 "One of?" Nuada questions with a displeased look.

 "Yes." Confirmed Liz. "It happens every few months, when one of her arms heals, then we find one of her legs is broken. After having 3 limps broken in the span on months the B.P.R.D assigned her for paperwork, pulling her completely from field missions."

 Nuada listened silently with a dark look, he already knew what was happening but he still wanted to hear the end.

 "Then what happened?" he asked, urging for her to continue.

 "Then the disappearing started." Hellboy took over. "She wouldn't show up for days sometimes a whole week, and when she did show up she looked…deranged… If he wasn't around for her to follow she would be lost, not that he ever gave her space."

 "How did you find out?" Nuada asked feeling his blood boil the more he listened, but kept a calm façade.

 "I found him hit her in one of the empty hallways." Said Liz bitterly, the table under her hand started to show black spots of fire she tries to suppress. "She was pleading him to stop, she was crying but he kept going while degrading her. I was so angry that I don't remember a lot of what happened, all I know is that I marched out of there with (Y/n) while he was screaming in the background, I found out later from manning that I burned his entire right arm disfiguring it."

 "That's the least of what he deserved." Muttered Hellboy angrily.

 "And then?" Asked Nuada, his voice filled with malice no longer hiding his anger.

 "I took her to the library knowing that the bastard won't dare come closer to anywhere near Abe or Red." She continued. "I tried to make her talk but she couldn't, she was too petrified by what he would do to her later."

 "She didn't need to say anything." Said Hellboy. "Blue told us everything that she had suffered through. It started with the drunk rages, he would break things, slam his fist on the wall and slap her. Then he demanded that she breaks contact with us, but when she refused he would hit her some more but resulted in breaking her limps because he knew that she will still be around us even through missions."

 "Why didn't she fight back?" Nuada almost yelled. "I saw her fight, I saw how she deals with others idiocy, she is a strong woman who fears nothing, how can she allow that!"

 Liz and Hellboy were taken it back by his sudden outburst, surprised that he actually cares about a human, about you.

 "… Because back then she wasn't the same strong woman today." Explained Liz. "He manipulated her made her feel as if she needed him and how she will be lost without him. There are those times when she did fight back…but… He would …"

 "He would what?" Asked Nuada. "What worst can he possibly do?"

 "Whenever she fought back he would lock her up in the basement, with no light, food, or water for several days."

 Nuada's eyes widened at what he heard. Humans can truly be disgusting and selfish creatures, but to go as far as destroying an innocent person both mentally and physically just for the idea that they can, disgust him greatly. His vision turned red with bloodlust, he wanted more than to find that human and make him pay for everything he had done. His hand unconsciously traveled to the blade resting on his side, which Hellboy noticed.

 "Calm down there, big guy." Said Hellboy putting his left hand on his shoulder in a comforting manner. "I can understand your anger, but I'm both glad and sad to say that he no longer works here anymore."

 "Where is he?" Asked Nuasda with narrowed eyes.

 "It's kind of a long story but I will shorten it. After Lizzy burned his hand Manning came to confront her, which lead to us telling him everything that he had done, there was a lot of camera footage and clinical files to show that he was a rotten man, but the nail on the coffin was (Y/n)'s confession and the evidence in their home. The bastard made a lot of commission when they transferred him to who knows where, but they fired him completely when he tried to expose the B.P.R.D in anger of what we did to him. But they… Shut him up."

 Hellboy said the last part with a dark chuckle,

 "What about (Y/n)?"

 The chuckle died and a sad look crossed Hellboy's eyes.

 "It was a long journey for (Y/n) to reach what she is today." He began. "She kept waking up screaming at night thinking he was at the door, she cried, doubted herself and nearly quit her job. They wanted to send her away saying how she wasn't mentally stable, no longer fit to work for the organization but… My Father kept her around fighting them back every time they tried to fire (Y/n)."

 "If it wasn't for him (Y/n) wouldn't have been here with us." Said Liz with a soft smile. "With people who would care and love her."

 There was a long silence between them before Nuada finally spoke.

 "She fears me because I remind her of that disgusting being."

 The couple shared a look, silently conversing on what should they say or do next because Nuada seemed genuinely upset that you fear him so much. Then Hellboy finally said.

 "Did you try talking to her?" He asked.

 "I did but she always runs away before I'm even able to say "Hello" to her." Answered Nuada.

 "Maybe show her that you mean no harm and wish her good?" Said Liz, Nuada shook his head at her words.

 "When we go on missions I try my best to protect her but when I turn around she is already gone."

 "Tell Nuala to talk to her for you, they seem pretty close." Siad Hellboy thinking he got it.

 "I already told Nuala to tell her that I mean no harm but nothing came up yet."

 Hellboy and Liz looked at each other again troubled by what to say next, Hellboy was mostly annoyed. They both struggled to find a solution and Nuada could read it clearly in their faces, he released a defeated sigh and stood up, surprising them both.

 "Thank you for your hospitality and help, I have to excuse myself now." He bowed slightly to them before turning around to leave.

 "Hey, what are you going to do with (Y/n)?" Asked Hellboy, Nuada shrugged.

 "I think I will just do my best to avoid her." He said almost nonchalantly but the hurt is in his eyes. "The last thing I want is to make her relive her nightmare."

 He started walking away contemplating what he had just learned of you. His mind filled with memories from he first saw you, back when he was still trying to kill humans, he was filled with so much anger and hate. Maybe that's what caused her to fear him.

 "Wait!" Called Liz pulling him out of his thoughts. He turned to face her.

 "Next week there will be a party everyone will be there including (Y/n), take that chance in talking to her." Nuada looked at her with a raised brow.

 "But she runs away at the mere sight of me." He reminded.

 "But maybe she will be more confident knowing that we are around her and stay around." From her voice alone Nuada can tell that she as well wasn't sure about that idea but it was worth a try. He released a defeated sigh.

 "Very well, I will be at that party." He said with a nod and thanked them again before exiting the room.

 ---

 When Liz told him that there will be a party he expected people in fancy attire, a dance floor with couples waltzing, And the air filled with classic music. He did not expect the disaster he saw. The room was flashing with colorful, blinding lights, the music was too loud and disturbing that he can even hear his thoughts. The humans wearing ragged clothes calling it "Fashionable", making him regret wearing his formal wear not because he stuck out but because he thought they don't deserve seeing him at his best look. And lastly, their dancing, it made Nuada's spine with how they were all rubbing at each other as if they were an animal in heat. He shook his head and cleared his thoughts ignoring everything around him. He reminded himself that him coming here and wearing his best wasn't for the humans' sake. It was for him to get a chance at impressing the human named (Y/n). He scanned the room frowning at the sight of anything that displeased him, he tried finding The demon and his spouse, he wanted to confirm that they are there for him when he did decide to talk to (Y/n).

 Nuada froze and his eyes widened when his eyes fill on none other than her and he was taken it back with what he saw. He saw your smile before, a beautiful smile that warmed his heart and made him smile unconsciously. But wasn't prepared to see how radiating you were tonight. Your (H/c) hair was styled in a way that showed you face and wore a beautiful knee-length (F/c) dress, it was off-shoulder with sleeves that reached your elbows, the upper part hugged your waist and the lower part flowed making you look elegant. Seeing you made him glad that he did wear formally. He couldn't take his eyes from you, you were talking to other agents and laughing at whatever they were saying making him feel a little jealous that he wasn't the cause of that smile. He didn't know for how long he was staring at your direction but he was snapped back to reality when he saw your friends leave you to dance.

 He looked around him one last time hooping to spot either Hellboy or Liz but he saw no one, with a huff he decided that he couldn't wait anymore. He marched up to you avoiding the humans that didn't notice him walk by, he followed you to the table with the beverages and when he finally was close enough he realized that he didn't know what to say. But it was too late and to make it worst the deafening music died down, playing soft music. Biting the inside of his check he mustered up the courage to walk closer and took a deep calming breath. Your back was to him so he coughed lightly to catch your attention. You jumped at that.

 "Oh sorry!... I didn't mean to hog the drinks I will move right now-" Your words stopped when you turned around and saw him.

 He could see how your eyes widened in horror, but he still tried to give a charming smile, and before he could say anything you spoke first.

 "Sorry." You muttered before trying to move away and escape his presence.

 "Please wait!" He called not liking how desperate it came out but in a way grateful because you stopped and turned to him.

 "Yes?" You said still clenching your cup nervously. Nuada noticed how tense you are.

 "Did you read anything interesting?" He asked and when the question left his lips he wanted to punch himself in the face from how stupid the question was. Why am I nervous?

 "Excuse me?" You asked confused making your shoulder slump slightly losing previous tension.

 "Hmm… My sister told me a lot about how the two of you would spend most of your time together reading." He explained. You gave him an odd look.

 "You… told Nuala to spy on me?" You asked almost panicking, Nuada's eyes widened at your accusation.

 "What?..No…I…" He struggled. "I .. I might have asked her to tell me about you… But not spying!"

 The more Nuada tried to explain the more intimidated you looked by him.

 "I should have waited for Hellboy."

 "Good evening (Y/n)." A familiar voice called, and when they both turned they saw Nuala in a blue dress smiling at them both.

 "Hey, Nuala." You greeted back awkwardly. She came forward standing between both of you.

 "What were you talking about?" She asked innocently that Nuada didn't fall to unlike you, he knew his sister is here with a purpose.

 "We were… walking about how … Nuada… asked you to.. spy?...  on me?" You answered questioning her if that was true. Nuala laughed lightly.

 "He never asked me to spy on you silly." She replied Nuada gave his sister an odd look.

 "He didn't?"

 "No, of course not." She said causing both you and Nuada to let out a sigh of relief that the misunderstanding was cleared.

 "But he always asking me about you." That made Nuada tense and stare at his sister with wide eyes, and he wasn’t the only one as.

 "H..He does?" You stuttered. Nuada saw how tense you were being again, and he was ready to turn around, giving up on the whole ordeal, but his sister wrapped her arm around his forbidding him from leaving.

 "Yes." She answered with a smile. "My brother found you interesting and wished to know more about you, but unfortunately there never seems to be enough time or the right place, thus seeking me for answers."

 "Oh… hmm…" You blushed in embarrassment because you knew you were avoiding him on purpose, but you didn't know that they already knew. "I'm… sorry, your… your highness?..."

 "Please stop." He said when he saw you attempting a bow. "And call by my name Nuada, I am sorry for not introducing myself properly."

 "No it's alright, I already know your name we work together after all." You quickly reassured him.

  "I'm Glad." Nuada was relieved to see you attempting a smile, causing him to smile.

 Although the tension between the two of you was still there, Nuala was the one to bring topics to discuss between you. She would bring something about her brother that she knew would interest (Y/n) and she would do the same thing with her brother for (Y/n). As the conversation was going smoothly Nuala started to pull herself away when seeing how engrossed the two of you become with each other without you two noticing. She had seen her how her brother was staring at you, and when she witnessed his failed attempt to talking to you she decided to come forward and save him.

 Nuala glanced over her shoulder and saw how you were talking excitedly with a smile while her brother listened to you with pure interest. She could tell that something was going to blossom between the two of you and she can't wait for it to be.

 ---

 "Sorry for forcing you to say with me (Y/n) I knew how you wanted to go on that mission." Said Liz as she was rocking the bundle in her arm.

 "Don't say that Lizzy, I love spending time with you and the twins and besides…" You avoided the fire that the baby you were carrying burped making you laugh. "Helping you take care of these two is a mission itself."

 Hellboy, abe, and Nuada on a mission leaving you with Liz and Nuala, you could have gone with them but when you saw how Liz and Nuala were struggling with the twins recently you decided to stay and give a helping hand. Nuala comes beside you and reached out to rub the little red plump cheek causing them to smile and for the both of you to go "Awww" over how cute they looked. You looked back at Liz.

 "I'm always ready to help with them." You said with a smile.

 "This one is gonna need to change soon." Said Nuala calmly. Your eyes slightly widened and your smile became weary.

 "Ok, maybe not …one-hundred percent there..."

 That made the two girls laugh as you handed the child to Nuala and kept your distance. Just then the heavy door of the room opened slowly signaling that they have returned. You turned and saw Hellboy, abe, and Nuada, your eyes softened at the sight of the Elven prince and when his eyes fell on you, you shared a knowing look.

 "Where is my family." Called Hellboy as he rushed to his wife and children. Abraham went for Nuala, and Nuada stood between you and his sister.

 Although he was keeping a calm façad you could feel his eyes staring at you, and you glanced up at him when your eyes met again he smiled at you and you smiled back trying not to blush heavily. You had to avert your eyes so no one would notice you.

 "How was your mission?" Asked Liz breaking you out from whatever you were lost in.

 "It was easy." Said Red not breaking his play with his kids. "I finished as fast as I can to come back here."

 "Well, I think I will have to excuse myself." You said with a smile, Hellboy snapped his head up at you.

 "Where are you going we just got here."

 "Red leave her, she has been helping me none stop with the kids she probably wants to rest." Said Liz with a warning look. He nodded his head and looked back to you.

 "Thanks (Y/n) you can go if you want." He smiled at you and you smiled back with a nod.

 "It's alright Red, good night everyone." You said and they all replied.

 But before you left you tucked your hair behind your ear and Hellboy's eyes widened at what he saw. There was a bruise in your neck.

 "Stop." He commanded causing you to freeze. He layed his child gently down before marching up to you. He was focused on you that he didn't notice Nuada's hard stare. He stopped in front of you and pointed at your neck. "What is that?"

 "What?" You instinctively reached for your neck.

 "There is a bruise!" He said almost too loudly.

 He could see the panic in your eyes but that was the only thing he was focused on because if he wasn't so filled with rage he would have noticed your heavy blush. His eyes narrowed at the bruise.

 "Is someone hurting you again?" He asked but he didn't wait for your answer for the moment your eyes quickly glanced at Nuada then back at him he turned to the Elven prince. "You!?"

 He marched to him and was about to reach for the prince's neck before you came between them protecting Nuada.

 "Move aside (Y/n), so I can snap his neck." He ordered still glaring at the elf who was staring at you with awe.

 "No Red, Nuada didn't do anything." You defended.

 "You can't lie to me!... He caused that bruise." Exclaimed Hellboy while pointing at the "Bruise".

 "He didn't!... I..I mean… H.. he did but..." You stammered.

 "But what?!"

 "It's not a bruise!"

 "Then what is it!?

 "It's Hecky!" You finally screamed out with your face beat red and eyes shut.

 You can feel how the room became dead silence except for the twin's whimpering. You felt a hand on your shoulder and when you looked around you saw Nuada giving your shoulder a reassuring squeeze that he was with you, which you smiled at. When you turned to look back to the rest you saw that shocked look of everyone especially Red's.

 "A…Hecky?" Repeated Hellboy still not believing what he just heard. You looked away embarrassed.

 "Y..Yeah.."

 "…With him?" Asked Hellboy as he pointed at Nuada.

 "Y..Y...Yeah." You bit your lower lip nervously. "We have been… meeting "

 "I knew it!" Exclaimed Liz joyfully.

 "It was about time you finally tell us." Said abe with a grin that matched Nuala's. Hellboy looked confused at everyone in the room.

 "Am I the only one who didn't know!?" He questioned, His eyes widened as he watched Nuada wrapped his arms around your waist and buried his face in your neck.

 "It was obvious Red." Said Liz with an eye roll. "They always eat together."

 "Talk every day for hours an end, only  separated when they are forced too." Continued abe.

 "Disappear together, and show up together." Finished Nuala with wink making you blush.

 Hellboy looked at you almost hurt. You gently pushed yourself away from Nuada who let go willingly.

 "Why didn't you tell me kiddo?" He asked.

 "I.. was afraid you would overreact…because of… what happened last time." You answered looking down.

 There was a pause before you felt his stone hand petting your head ruffling your hair in the process. When you looked up you saw a soft smile.

 "Don't be afraid kiddo." He informed. "I can understand your fear of telling me, and to be honest I would have reacted the same way even if you did tell me eventually."

 You giggled at that.

 "…But to see you finally truly happy makes me happy, and if that happiness is from princy here then it's alright. At least he treats you like a gentleman…" Hellboy then leaned down and whispered. "He does treat you like a gentleman doesn't he?"

 You laughed at his question pushing him away playfully.

 "Of course he does." You said before wrapping your arms around Hellboy pulling him for a hug. "Thanks, Red, for everything."

 "No problem." He returned the hug. And when you pulled away he gently pushed you aside to stand before Nuada who looked unfazed. He pointed a stone finger o his face.

 "If you hurt her in any way I will break your bones." He said threateningly.

 "Red!" Exclaimed Abraham panicking.

 "It alright, I will allow it." Said Nuala calmly with a smile.

 "Nuala!" Exclaimed Abe at her, which made everyone laugh at him.

 It wasn't long before everyone departed to their rooms and instead of waiting until you were alone, you were happy to leave while holding your lover's hand. You sighed exhaustedly.

 "That was scary." You said.

 "It honestly went better than I expected." Replied Nuada as he let go of your hand to wrap his arm around you to bring you closer, you chuckled.

 "I thought he would end up chasing you around, trying to kill you."

 "I believe if you didn't intervene he would have"

 Both of you shared a laugh as you continued your walk to your room. when you got closer you could feel Nuada's hands travel down your body that his hand now rested on your hip, causing a shiver to travel down your spine and your face to slightly flush. He leaned over that he was close to your ear and whispered heatedly.

 "May I spend the night again with you?"

 Your heart was beating fast at this part. Every night since you started being intimate he would ask for your consent first before he could go any further, it was thoughtful of him to ask first you thought but it was still very embarrassing. Nuada of course would stop if you said "No"…But you honestly never could. You looked up to him from your lashed while biting your lower lip.

 "You may."

 At your answer, his hand squeezed your hip gently and his eyes stared at you in a predatory way that made your body shiver with excitement.

 Correction, you never Want to say "No" to him.

--- 

I hope you all enjoyed this story, and be excited for more in the future.

[kurlyfrasier]

Terrified: Part 9 (final)

Raph x Reader

Synopsis: Raph saves you from ruffians one night in an alley after watching out for you for weeks without you knowing. Which leads you to getting to know the guys and becoming part of the family. But Raph keeps a distance and you don’t understand why. 

Word Count: 1364

Warnings: happy, happy, happy!

*A/N: I just realized I made an error....reader has a roommate and I wrote somewhere that reader lost their apartment. Let’s all pretend reader’s friend had no choice but to find a roommate so friend had to kick them out since reader lost their job. (hopefully that all made sense) Please and thank you! 

Also, this fic got so outta hand! It was originally supposed to be a one-shot, then it morphed, then it became a black hole, and now...well this is the end! I’m sorry if this feels rushed for any of you, I needed to stop before I ended up killing somebody off and had them haunting the lair lol Granted, that would be a good fic...

PLEASE ENJOY & THANK YOU FOR READING THIS ROLLER COASTER OF A FIC! :D you have all been fantastic.

“Okay,” you chirped, playing with the ends of Raph’s bandana. You sounded happy. Too happy. Especially considering you had looked a little frightened a moment ago.

Raph raised his head to find a toothy grin on your face. He squinted up at you suspiciously.

You noticed and let your face fall like it was minutes ago.

“What?”

He didn’t respond as he thought over everything he had said. What was it that made you smile?

“Ya seem…,” Raph switched tactics. “I expected ya ta argue.”

“About?”

“Gettin’ good sleep-”

“Well, I do feel exhausted. I couldn’t sleep cos I was worried something bad might happen to you,” you explained.

“Eatin’ betta-”

“I promise I will try. But I’m really not hungry. And food hurts,” you pouted.

“Bein’ glued ta my side.”

Silence. Your eyes flitted up to the tv as you pretended not to hear him.

“Y/n,” Raph shook you slightly to get your attention, but you only gave him a quick glance. He stood, bringing you with him as he blocked your view of the tv. “I don’ think ya understand wha’ that entails, Swee’heart.”

“What, what entails?” You muttered quietly, looking down at the floor.

“Stickin’ to my side,” he gently lifted your chin, forcing eye contact. 

“Oh.”

“Yeah,” Raph continued to hold your gaze. “It means no video games with Mikey unless I’m there. No science experiments with Donnie unless I’m in the room with ya. No meditating for hours with Leo, cos we both know I don’ do long meditation.”

“What about tea with Splinter?”

“I figure ya can drink tea with Sensei while I take care of personal needs.”

You nodded your understanding. Well, as much as Raph would allow with his finger under your chin.

“And last, but not least; hours upon hours of sittin’ in the dojo while I get back inta fightin’ shape.”

A flash of fear crossed over your features before you could hide it from him. If he hadn’t been boring into your eyes, looking for any tell tale sign of what was really going on in your pretty little head, he would have missed it. 

“And ya still not gonna argue ‘bout it, huh?” He continued as the gears turned in his head. Which word, exactly, had you scared?

Then it clicked.

Fighting.

You were afraid of him going topside again.

“Is that what this is all about?” Raph questioned, still not letting go even though his grip tightened a tad.

It all started to make sense.

“What is wha-”

Why you didn’t argue.

“No, Princess,” he seethed. “Tell me you didn’t.”

Why you stopped eating.

“Didn’t wha-”

If you were glued to him.

“Stop eatin’ cos a me,” he growled.

Then he couldn’t go topside.

“Well- I, uh- I- No?” You slammed your eyes closed and a tear rolled down your sunken cheek.

And if he couldn’t go topside.

“Ya put yerself in danger!” He finally ripped his hand out from under your chin as his voice echoed beyond the room.

Then he was stuck in the lair. 

“I’m not in dange-” He shook your hand away when you reached for his arm.

Where he couldn’t get hurt.

~~~~~~~~~~~ 

To say I was scared was an understatement. Terrified didn’t even cover it. Petrified did. 

I was petrified. 

Raph had figured it out. Somehow. Some way. I could tell the moment it all clicked together. My plan failed. Utterly and completely. It didn’t even last a whole day! How was I supposed to keep him safe now?

“Yes, ya are!” Raph shouted, exasperated.

“No! I’m fine! See?” I sobbed out, motioning to myself as if I hadn’t lost the weight. As if I had been sleeping fine.

“Ya not fine!” He started pacing like earlier, fists clenched. “Ya sick! Ya hurtin’ yerself!” Raph boomed louder than I had ever heard. “Yer killin’ yerself, Y/n,” he choked out, his back facing me as I watched him fall to his knees, head in his hands.

It broke my heart.

I never meant for this.

I never meant to-

“Don’tcha see?” He mumbled through his hands, a tremble to his normally confident voice. 

I quickly made my way in front of him to wrap my arms around his neck. 

“Yer my life,” he pulled me so close it hurt, soaking my shirt with his silent tears. “Yer everything. I couldn’ live without ya. I couldn’ bear it. There’d be no point in fightin’ if ya weren’ around, Swee’heart.”

“Then what about me?” I sniffled, unable to stop my own tears- happy- sad- frustrated tears- from flowing. “You almost died! If you had-”

“Don’t say it,” he rasped, sqeezing me a little tighter, effectively shutting me up.

“You think I could live without you?” I asked him, lightly pulling on his bandana tails, silently asking him to look at me. 

He did. And those glassy eyes tore at my heart once more.

“I know ya can,” he whispered roughly. “Ya don’ need a freak like me in ya life.”

“Yes I do!” I bawled out. “Quite literally, Raph. Those guys would’ve killed me the night we met.”

His gaze hardened at the memory.

“You literally saved my life,” I gave him my most tender smile. “Who else is going to protect me, if not you?”

~~~~~~~~~~

Your words were like music to Raph’s ears. His heart soared at the thought of you even feeling an inkling about him the way he did about you. Vaguely, he knew you felt the same, especially with that spark in your eye and that little smile tugging at your lips. His heart melted at the realization.

“I though-” he cleared his throat before continuing. “I thought I scared ya tha’ night in the alley.”

“What gave you that idea?” You asked gently, rubbing small circles on his shoulder.

“Yer were always so fidgety ‘round me,” he shrugged, trying to hide how much that really hurt all those months.

“That’s because you hardly said a word to me! Not to mention you only looked at me to check for injuries-”

“Ya really think tha’s what I was really doin?” Raph smirked up at your shocked expression.

“Oh…”

~~~~~~~~~~~

Raph had done exactly what he had promised over the next several weeks. He never let you out of his sight. He made sure you slept a good eight hours each night. He cooked and fed you- making doubly sure you didn’t go retch it up.

It was a long, arduous journey to get your appetite back, but you did your best. Every great once in a while you couldn’t help but empty your stomach. Raph stuck with you through it all. Held your hair back, wiped you down with a cool cloth, and made sure you knew it was going to get better- that it just takes time- as he rocked you to sleep. 

Most of your time was spent in the dojo as Raph got back into “fighting shape,” just like he said. He even made you train with him once you started eating better. He said it would be good for you. That it was healthy for you- more than just physically. After each session he would assure you that he would be more careful when he got to go topside again. That he would try not to do anything too stupid. You believed him. You really did. But that didn’t mean you worried any less. Plus, you were coming to terms with the fact that he would never stop his vigilante work. You couldn’t blame him, not really. His brothers needed him. The city needed him. It was part of who he was and you wouldn’t change that for the world.

Even if the thought of him going topside did still terrify you deep in your bones.

Needless to say, you were happier than you’ve ever been.You were in the best shape of your life. You got your job back and chose to stay living in the lair with the man of your dreams. When your demons came back to haunt you, your new family chased them away.

You were loved.

You were happy.

And you couldn’t imagine anything better.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

To those who have an eating disorder,

You are beautiful. You are loved. Please eat! Your friends and family worry about you. They love you, even if they don’t show it well. I worry about you! I love you! Please stop hurting yourself! Please! Fight those demons! YOU ARE STRONG. YOU ARE BEAUTIFUL. YOU ARE WONDERFUL.

Those people who made you believe you were anything less than what you are, are WRONG. They are jealous and petty and cruel. If people told you what you are doing won’t hurt you- that it’s healthy- they are WRONG. DO NOT LISTEN TO THEM. You may not know this, but this disorder- this demon- can KILL you. I, personally, do not want you to die.

Please, I beg of you to listen to that tiny voice in the back of your mind that whispers you will beat this. That you will win. That you are gorgeous. That you will be happy again.

If you can’t hear that voice then listen to your family and friends who are there for you. Who care about you. Who encourage you. Who love you.

If you can’t fight for yourself, then fight for them until you can.

With all my love,

KurlyFrasier

P.S. If you ever need an ear, I’m here. Please, do not be afraid to ask for help. We all have our demons to fight.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Want to read more by me? Masterlist

[barid-bel-medar]

More of a real life ramble than anything else but...

This year has been weird. At the start of the year it did not look like it would be a good one. I’m not going to touch on shit like the Capital Riots, but more in light of the fact I had a goddamn seizure through my medication. That was theorized to be a result of me just being so stressed out over things like the pandemic, and the fact that at that point I’d been out of work since June 2020. Pandemic paranoia to some extent started to drop once both me and my grandma got vaccinated (I qualified pretty early due to the epilepsy; I actually got a weird look when I arrived for my appointment due to how young I am and then mentioned the epilepsy and got an understanding nod). The only good thing was with the Pandemic Unemployment Act for once I qualified for unemployment insurance (since my previous jobs had been contractor positions I didn’t which is BS), since it had been changed so that contractors/temps could qualify. None of my job applications seemed to be working, I was barely getting interviews, and it was just frustrating.

Then one day in March I get an email from an employment agency I’d sent my resume to in the past but never heard from. It was an email to ask me about if I would be interested in a two month temp contract to work at a small bank helping process PPP loans. I said yes, curious and frankly bored if nothing else. To be honest I wasn’t even entirely sure it was legitimate, since that does happen at times. That discussion went well, and I was then set up to do an actual interview with the bank the next morning.

I was given a verbal offer by the bank within five minutes of my interview. Two thirds of my interview was the HR person going over what my specific duties would be. I had the official offer letter in my email the following morning, did all sorts of paperwork, and by Friday of that week I was working at the bank (remotely). Did my one day training, and then started to process loans. 

So initially I was on one team, that dealt directly with applicants, and being supervised by someone from the credit division. It seems however, that I was not supposed to be on that team. To some extent it had been a matter of me getting some degree of experience (I assume), but I’d actually been supposed to be on the team run by the head of risk management that dealt with brokers rather than direct clients. My previous supervisor tried to convince HR not to move me in terms of teams (she was very satisfied with my work), even offering up another team member. HR said ‘no’ and the following week (my third week at the bank), I was now on the brokerage team.

Now for that first week my boss actually wasn’t there (he’d been on vacation), and I was under the supervision of the CFO. Lovely man, did enjoy working with him and I get along well with him. Made a few errors, but I picked up quickly what I was doing wrong and fixed it. Actually lead to the semi-irritating aspect of realizing some of the temps/interns who’d been there months still hadn’t picked up some of that shit...But next week my actual boss came back.

First thing Monday morning was a meeting with him. He’d gotten progress reports on me from both the prior supervisors and HR and had been pleased. I’d demonstrated that I could pick things up quickly and fix errors. I was also willing to reach out if I felt I was missing something or needed help. So I chat with him and make the off handed reference to how I was looking for full time, permanent employment. Didn’t really think much of saying it, more was as a forewarning that if I found something I’d take it and likely be leaving very quickly. He got a very interested look at his face, but at that moment didn’t say anything else. It made me wonder, and there had been a part of me already wondering that if I did good enough job with the loans if they’d keep me on long term. I figured though if that did happen, I wouldn’t be asked anything until basically the end of my two month contract. 

So here’s what I didn’t realize. My boss had recently convince the bank president to let him hire on an assistant/team member. Previously the bank president didn’t really believe him on just how overworked he was, but PPP (where everyone at the bank basically had to do it on top of their regular duties) made the president realize just how bad it was. So boss now has approval, but hadn’t yet been allowed to post the job.

And that’s apparently where I came in.

Again, I’d been getting praise, demonstrated interest in what my boss’s regular job was, and also had a skill set that could easily be transitioned to doing risk management (my background is in libraries/archives/information governance). I also proved over the course of that week I could easily handle the PPP workload and that again, I picked up new skills easily. I got along well with my boss, and did things also like give him heads up when I thought something was going weird.

So Friday of that week comes, and my boss, maybe a half an hour before my work day was over asks me the question I was not expecting. “What would your expected salary be for a full time position?” Again, I’m figuring even if heard something, I’d be hearing it closer to the end of my contract. Not barely a month into it. I spent the weekend figuring out the salary range I should ask for, asking my sister’s partner what he thought I should ask (he works risk management at a much larger bank but still had an idea on what I should ask for). Monday comes, I give the range, and from there my boss spends like the next two weeks practically chasing down the president to set things up.

Did have to do an ‘interview’ for the job with the CFO and my boss, but honestly the interview with my boss was mostly us chatting about random shit, and the meeting with CFO was more just verifying certain things (also he was nice and took the generous look at my previous work history as ‘they may just like doing short term jobs’ [I in fact very much do not]). A few days later I got my verbal job offer, and a few days after that my official letter. Part of why it took a bit was due to the temp contract and there were some things there apparently. But I now had a full time, perm job that gave me a salary I was very happy with and basically all the benefits I wanted (the only one I didn’t get is tuition reimbursement and I know HR is trying to convince the President and bank owner they should do it too; also I admittedly already have a Masters degree, but depending on how much I like this job [which I am] I may try to do either a Masters of Legal Studies or an MBA).

Part of also why was apparently due to PPP. They didn’t exactly want to transition me over to the permanent job until it was closer to over, which they expected to happen by late month. Then, as some of my may know, PPP ran out of funds faster than expected. My boss and I had chatted about it, but both of us were still expecting at least a week longer than what ended up happening. Which then lead to a different issue at that point; HR wasn’t quite ready for me to do all my paperwork stuff, but since they’d done my offer and the like what ended up happening was I was kept on the temp contract, but started my new duties. Also there was apparently a certain ‘we get hit by a fee’ thing there, if they took a temp ‘too soon’.

In a very technically sense there was still PPP stuff going on. They were starting to set up things like the forgiveness program, and dealing with applicants complaining over rejections or that they had applied and gotten nothing since the funds had run out (and there wasn’t much we could do there). However my boss didn’t want me doing that. He wanted me to focus on figuring out how to do my new job, which meant reading up on a bunch of stuff. Which was nice since I didn’t have to deal with applicant complaints, of which there were a lot.

So I started to transition over to doing risk stuff, learning, training and like experimenting with writing policies and procedural stuff (though looking back at that I still don’t really get why he was having me do that but whatever). He started me doing the real reason he’d hired me in June, doing IT due diligence reviews. The reviews on average take me at least a day and a half (there’s generally a lot of information and I have to read all of it and write up a report). First time I did one he assured me ‘don’t worry if you mess up, this is your first time’. Did it, spent a day or so paranoid, and then we had a meeting to discuss it. Apparently I did it perfectly which delighted him since it meant I could start doing it seriously.

And it’s just been nice. I’m working something I find interesting. I have a boss who  has the view of ‘work to live, not live to work’ which he views as an incredibly unhealthy mindset. Meaning if something comes up like say, visiting my parents and I’ve been able to do half days so I can get to their house, including this past Friday (thought that was also partially a result of how messed up public transit due to Ida but that’s a different matter); he actually said I could head out Thursday but since public transit was such a mess it wasn’t viable (my train line was down). Back during PPP the one broker kept annoying him by emailing/calling him at fuck o’clock and not respecting that it was after work hours. My boss also trusts me to attend things like meetings that are with senior management, and I suspect he’s starting to groom me to take over his position (especially based on a comment from last week).

It’s just very weird to realize this year started so shitty, showed no signs it would really get better and yet now all this. And it’s just really nice.

[starr-fall-knight-rise]

Humans are Space Orcs “Duct Tape”

I was challenged and the challenge was accepted. Thank you  @cyberstrikebeast​ for the suggestion! Also thanks and credit to @impalalord​ for the original post where the idea was suggested to me, and the original inspiration. 

https://impalalord.tumblr.com/post/187591145361/finds-duct-tape-humans-were-here

The intergalactic technology summit was an annual event, or at least it happened once every agreed cycle. Members of the GA excitedly brought forward their best advances in the past year to share with the convention center. This was the first year that the humans had been invited. Of course, at such short notice the humans had only been able to send a few delegates, who were ordered to ‘pay attention, take notes, and most of all, see if there is anyone who would be willing to let us test it out.

For that reason, Commander Vir of the UNSC accompanied Earth’s representative rocket scientist. At first, the two humans had been a bit wary of each other one being primarily a military man and the other being primarily a rocket scientist. First impressions were a bit deflated as the scientist assumed the big, muscular soldier would be bored, stuffy, and kind of dumb, while the soldier assumed the small, tweed-wearing scientist would be boring, stuffy, and kind of condescending. Of course, upon spending the next ten minutes with each other it turned out that geeks come from all walks of life, and by the time they reached the summit, a friendship was forming.

They stepped through the doors with their badges on and allowed both of their mouths to drop open. It was no secret that humans were not far on the end of the technology spectrum. In fact most of their gear was rudimentary if not laughable to other species like the Vrul or the Runid who used anti gravity systems instead of engines to propel their rockets into the sky. There were entire rows dedicated to the advancement of medical science which made humans look like an automobile chop shop where people go to get sequentially dismembered by rusty saw blades.

The Geek fest that followed would have been laughable for an outsider, but with the two of them it was simply a reason for excitement. They pranced about the convention, the rocket scientist asking dozens of questions in an attempt to understand the technology, while the soldier took every opportunity he could to test the object personally no matter how dangerous it may have been. Generally, together, they made a decent team, and the scientist came to find that the soldier was not, as it originally seemed, and idiot. Any technology involving aviation, despite him being a rocket scientist, was quickly overshadowed by the knowledge of this man, who had operated, fixed and MacGyvered most machines without a comprehensive knowledge of physics.

They were sitting down to lunch as the soldier was explaining, “And that’s why the T-8 doesnt work despite being good on paper simply because of human error. Its counter-intuitive and unless trained out of old habits, the pilot is going to crash it.”

The scientist frowned, “Well alright, but the T-8 system is the perfect model. It works with the least amount of energy drop-off, and can be cooled faster and more efficiently than other systems. Its use would revolutionize space flight.”

“And I get that obviously, its super awesome in theory, but I’m telling you the T-8 is not compatible to the way that pilots think, especially under stressful situations. The brain sort of goes back to its original programming while the T-8 forces you to do internal calculations, which is the reason that they constantly crash. I flew one once for like ten minutes and wanted to smash my head into wall after using it.”

“Well…. I suppose-”

“Try to automate the thing, and I bet a computer will fly it just fine, but keep out the human component-” At that moment, the scientist opened his mouth to speak when a group of aliens walked up from ne of the isles, a vrul, a rundi, a tesraki, and a finnari.

“Good morning humans, we are pleased to see that you were able to arrive today.”

The scientist squirmed in his seat nervous and out of sorts, but the soldier simply smiled and launched into his greeting with the ease of a born extrovert, “And it’s a pleasure to be here. I have to say that we are beyond impressed at what we have seen today.”

Together the aliens hummed in appreciation, “we are pleased to find that there is something we can do that you humans haven't already mastered.” 

With a wave of his hand the human brushed off the complement returning it, “Please, you give us too much credit. Our science is practically in its infancy in comparison.”

They spoke for a few more minutes before the aliens paused looking at them expectantly. The scientists glanced over at the soldier with a confused expression which was unnervingly returned in equal measure. 

“Well?” The Vrul wondered.

“Well what?” 

“Well, where is your piece of technology. That is what this conference is for after all, to share your inventions with the world.”

Together the human’s hearts dropped into their stomachs and they glanced at each other with wide panicked eyes, “We were supposed to bring an invention?”

“Of course….” The aliens glanced at each other, “Do you no have one.”

“Well I n-”

“Of course we do! Just messing with you, obviously.” The scientist turned to look at the soldier with a panicked expression of warning eyebrows raised almost to his hairline.

“Don’t tell me you forgot about our invention, Dr. I mean it is one of the most important pieces of technology in human history.”  He continued to glower in panic, what was this blabbermouth doing. It was like watching a man stand with a shovel in a hole seven feet deep and insist he wasn’t digging his own grave.

This was going to be the single most embarrassing moment of his career.

The soldier nudged his ribs, “You know, THAT technology.”

He cleared his throat in frustration and nodded, “Oh yes of course….. I’m sorry I just got so….. Excited that I blanked for a moment. Why don’t YOU show them. You are so much better at  these things than me.”

“Er….” The soldier began, “Of course I will. Hold on and let me grab it real quick.” He stood up setting his bag on the table and then began rummaging through it.

The scientist put his head in his hands, unless he had an antimatter core shoved in his bag they were fucked.

The human held up a finger as the aliens looked on expectantly, “Hold on just have to find it first…..” The scientist felt as if he was about to puke. Then the soldier’s eyes lit up, and his face was crossed with a massive grin. “Ah there it is.” The scientist looked on in confusion

The aliens leaned forward as the human stood taller hand still shoved in his bag.

“What I am about to show you may well be one of the most important inventions is the history of humanity, Nay! The history of the galaxy, single handedly responsible for human innovation 

Beyond the warp core, beyond life support and anti gravity, this is the single most important invention to ever grace the field of human scientific knowledge. Its application is endless as a multipurpose tool and is so adaptable it can be used for ANY, and I mean ANY application.”

The aliens sat wide eyed and the scientist leaned forward with bated breath. What could be so grand that the soldier could spin a lie like that and get away with it. He didn't appear to even be breaking a sweat.

“Ladies, gentlemen, and distinguished others, I present to you the….. The multifunctional Universal Unilateral Bonding Strop.” With a theatrical flourish worthy of a magician pulling a rabbit out of a hat, the soldier withdrew his arm from the bag and raised his hand high into the air, where light from the ceiling caught and reflected off its shiny silver surface….

“Duct-tape.” The scientist blurted in consternation. Voice cracking with near laughter and disbelief. 

The soldier gave him a warning look and then nodded, “Yes, of course, Dr. More formally known as duct tape.”

The aliens gathered closer in curiosity, “It doesn’t look like much.” One of them pointed out

But the soldier looked at him with an expression of hurt consternation, “I assure you, it's everything I said it is and more, originally invented in 1943 by a Vesta Stoudt, who was trying to find an acceptable replacement for less durable cloth tape. It was originally intended for use in sealing ammunition boxes, but soldiers later determined that this little miracle could fix anything from achinery to boots, to weaponry. I guarantee you wont find a human that doesn't have some.”

He stepped forward proffering the material for closer inspection.

“What is it made from.” One of the aliens wondered.

The soldier paused then stammered, “Well I…. Um its made of.”

“Well it can actually be made of any number of things.” The scientists piped up, “It is very versatile that way. The woven fabric base can be made of anything from cotton to nylon to fiberglass, specifically designed for flexibility. The back was originally coated with waterproof polyurethane and then coated with the adhesive. The same process is generally used though there are many different varieties. The more plastic the adhesive backing, the more water tight and so can be used to stop leakes, repair pipes, seal gaps and any number of other applications. They even make a more durable reflective variety that is heat resistant, so can be utilized at high temperatures.” 

He turned to glance at the soldier who was beaming openly at him, winking his one remaining eye before turning to the aliens.

“You said it can be used in all applications. Explain.”

“Well I am glad you asked.” The soldier began taking a deep breath, “I've personally seen it used to repair shoes, cars, machinery, pipes, clothing. It has the ability to incapacitate a human ...” He paused there to let that sink in, “It is used to make art, and clothing, hold things together, seal packages. In large concentration it is strong enough to hold a grown man off the ground. I’ve seen it used to make a boat, and once, an entire airplane, with additional equipment of course. Pretty sure someone made a cannon using it once, but that could just be a myth.”

“Point is.” Said the scientists, “Humans use this for everything, and though it is an old invention it is one that deserves to be shared across the galaxy.”

The Vrul crossed his arms, “That is a big claim to make for such an object.”

“Yes.” A Tesraki piped in, “You sell well, but business is business. If the product isn’t up to scratch than how can we trust it.”

“We must have a demonstration.”

The human grinned in response, “Well, I am glad you asked.” He held the roll of tape up picking at the edge with a fingernail before withdrawing a long strip. The sound it made was a satisfying sccriiiitch and then tear as he pulled a piece off sliding the roll over his hand to hold it on his wrist. He held the two ends between his fingers and flexed the strip between his fingers, “See completely and entirely flexible.  

One of the aliens frowned, “I thought you said it was supposed to be durable, but you just tore it in half.”

The human frowned, “Well that is one of the great parts of this tape, tear it just right, and anyone can use it, but exposed to pulling or twisting forces it is difficult to break. Let me demonstrate.” He grabbed the piece of tape by either end and then began to wrestle with it. Instead of breaking the tape stretched and strained slowly pulling apart until eventually it snapped causing the human to stagger a bit.

“See now imagine multiple strips all working together.” 

The aliens muttered. The scientist stared on in awe, they were actually coming around. He glanced towards the soldier with a look of disbelief. The bastard had done it, he had actually done it. Sold a 2,000 year old invention as the most important piece of technology in human history.

The soldier was grinning as he tore a few more strips from the tape handing them out, “Here take a pice, try it out for yourself.”

The aliens tentatively did as told and what ensued was an amusing spectacle of aliens confusedly trying to unstick the tape from their fingers, accidentally sticking it to themselves, and then begging for help in getting it off. A Vrul danced around in circle shaking his hand but the tape wouldn’t let go . This little show had drawn a crowd, and others came forward to curiously sample the strange human invention.

Warp reactors, and medical science was ignored in favor of the humans and their single roll of tape.

When they finally got the hang of using the sticky one sided adhesive the aliens suddenly became obsessed with what they could stick together. Chairs were hung upside down to tables, people’s hands were tied together. One of the Vrul was taped to the floor. The front doors to the convention were sealed shut.

Pandemonium ensued as tape was wrapped around anything that seemed even mildly broken.

To everyone’s surprise, a vrul who had recently received an injury to his helium sack, sealed the hole with a piece of tape, and was able to return to floating within a matter of seconds.

Somewhere in there the Commander and the rocket scientist lost sight of the role, only to find a rundi taped to the wall looking slightly beleaguered a few minutes later.

They stood together at the center of the convention floor staring around as aliens stuck things to other things, waved their hands about, and generally turned the center into a house of complete chaos.

The rocket scientist leaned in, “What have you done.”

Wide eyed the soldier turned to look at him with a grimace, “Er….. I have no idea.”

They looked around surveying the carnage made by one role of tape. There was a slight ripping noise and they turned to see the doors finally opening strings of cut tape billowing in the air rushing out onto the street. Drev security walked in accompanied by a Rundi oversee who paused in the doorway in consternation staring at the carnage. 

Aliens everywhere, and two well-behaved humans standing in the middle of it.

He rubbed his eyes and rechecked as if he was seeing things. Generally when something like this happens you would expect to find the humans being destructive, not the other, generally mild species. 

The soldier shrugged raising his hands in a ‘we had nothing to do with this’ sort of gesture. The rundi didn’t seem convinced.  

It took several hours to deal with the aftermath, and it only stopped when a Tesraki returned to the soldier holding the cardboard center of the role looking saddened by it’s loss, “Do you have more.”

The soldier rubbed the back of his head, “Afraid you used my whole role, but I am sure we could come to an agreement about getting you some.” The Tesraki nodded in a subdued sort of way, handed him the used up role and then slunk away. The Rundi overseer glowered at him with  an ‘i knew it’ sort of expression.

Walking out of the convention well into the night after being forced to help clean things up, the scientist looked over at his companion, “That was some serious silver tongue shit back there. How did you do it.”

The soldier simply smiled and shrugged, “Sort of just came to me.”

“If that hadn't worked, we would have been screwed.”

He waved a hand, “Nah, I wasn't worried.”

“Speak for yourself. I was close to pissing myself.

Just then the scientists phone began to ring. He was getting a patched in transmission from his superior back on earth and motioned the soldier to stay quiet. He answer the call and put it on speaker, “Yes sir.”

“I’m just calling to see how the convention went?”

“Uh….. well it went fine considering the circumstances.” The scientist stuttered.

There was a pause over the other end of the line, “What does that mean.”

He shuffled his feet nervously not entirely sure how to say this, “Well, as it turns out that being invited to this thing meant we were expected to bring an invention.”  

He heard shuffling on the other end of the line and some muffled cursing, “Shit, I had no idea. I’m so sorry. How did you handle that mess?”

He scratched the back of his head feeling a smile broke out across his face, “Ur…. well lets just say we should make a note to the UN that, if anyone asks, duct tape is the most important piece of technology ever invented.” 

[flooffybits]

Enough

Idol: Loona

Request: Yes

Anon: i really like your works! i admire you a lot ^^ and also i wanna request a scenario where the 13th member of loona has been overworking herself, causing her to be very tired. but she never really mentions whenever she’s hurt or anything like that bc she doesn’t want to worry the members. so when the members find out they become very worried

You stare at yourself in the reflection, panting heavily with sweat running down the side of your face. You’ve been practicing the choreography of the new song since morning and you still couldn’t seem to get it right.

It was frustrating.

Every time you did the dance, you felt like you could do better because you thought your movements were too sloppy. It was irritating you because it’s been three days already. In between practicing the dance steps, you were also finishing up some of your studying. Your Korean had gotten better over the months and your members were extremely happy and proud of you as they watched from the side. Of course, there was a bit of error here and there, it wasn’t as bad as the first month.

While you were struggling, you didn’t want to ask your members for help because you saw that they were all working hard, too. If they weren’t practicing, they were studying for school so you didn’t want to be a nuisance, and luckily, no one seemed to notice when you took a few extra hours just to practice by yourself.

You rehearsed your solo song a few times for the Meet and Up, which would be your very first live performance, so it fueled you to do better. You wanted Orbits to see that you were worthy of being a member of Loona and that it wasn’t a mistake for you to be there even though no one has really said anything about it or that people were just good at blocking it out.

“Will do!”

But just like the other nights, you come back to the dorm at midnight, your body aching from the multiple times you had to redo the dance and practice your lines.

The day for the dry run, your nervously stare at the big stage and nibble on your lower lip. Your picture flashed along with the other girls and your heart jumped to your chest. The anxiety wad building up inside of you because you were still worrying about the choreography.

The dance for Butterfly really required you with being in sync with your members or else it wouldn’t be as good as it was supposed to. And even with the praise and compliments your members and instructor gave you, it didn’t help ease your worries of not doing things properly.

Your solo would be right after Yeojin, so you were already standing nearby, watching as she sang and danced perfectly well. It made you smile to see her performing so well, your natural protective instincts over the maknae making you grin while watching over her like a mother would to her child.

Quietly giving yourself a pep talk, the staff finally signaled for you on stage and you quickly made your way to the marker while the lights dimmed. Taking in a deep breath, you calmed your wildly beating heart and then lifted your head when you heard the music start along with the light flashing on.

Trapped in this cage you left behind

Every surface is a reminder of what I had

In front of the stage, all twelve of your members were watching you intently, wanting to see your performance before the actual stage, the camera for Loona tv recording them as they all took their seats. “We want to see how well Y/n will do.” Sooyung said while she looked to the stage. “This is her first stage, so we want to support her as much as we can.” Jungeun added when the lights finally came on.

“Oh, she looks scary.” Kahei mumbled while your demeanor changed on stage, your eyes looking sharper and your whole body movements were sharp and precise.

By the end of your rehearsals, the twelve other girls were smiling and clapping. “She did really good.” Heejin said with a bright smile. “I was actually a bit worried because unnie has been really nervous for this.” Yeojin commented, leaning back in her seat. “But I think there’s nothing for us to worry about.”

It was safe to say that the show was going well. You watched all the girls’ performance and smiled as they all performed perfectly. You stayed in one place just so your nerves wouldn’t get too bad, but Hyunjin noticed you right away when she came back to change and Yyxy was performing their songs.

“Y/n, are you okay?” She asked softly while taking a seat next to you and you brought your eyes away from the four girls and offered a small smile. “Yeah, just my nerves acting up.” You say with a light laugh to at least calm your racing heart.

The younger girl took your hand and gave it a squeeze while giving you a reassuring smile. “You’ll do fine. Just do what you did during rehearsals and it’ll be over soon.” She assures you and you nod your head before resting it against her shoulder while you waited for your cue.

“Unnie, you’re up next!” Yerim called you when she skipped over, giving your outfit a once over and then quickly adjusting your top and beaming when she pulled away. “Ready to go!” She cheered while Haseul looked at you and smiled while Jinsoul squished your cheeks. “Y/n, fighting!”

You grinned at all of them before quickly heading out and getting ready. Yeojin hugged you when she passed by while Chaewon and Hyejoo smiled while you waved at them.

“Why can’t my clothes be like unnie’s?” Hyejoo asked when they headed back to the dressing room and Sooyoung shook her head at the younger girl. “Ask our stylist. I’m sure they can adjust it.” She tells her while she quickly shrugged off the blouse they had to wear.

While they were busy getting ready, the girls that were already done were watching your live performance, keeping a critical eye just in case something happened, which, they were thankful that everything went smoothly until your song came to an end and you bowed to the audience.

For the final stage, you would all be performing your newest song and you bit your nail while looking around. Jiwoo, who was closest to you, quickly took your hand away from your mouth and smiled warmly. “Relax. You’ll be okay.” She whispered before leading you on stage.

Adrenaline was coursing through your veins and as soon as Sooyoung started singing, your body moved on auto-pilot, listening to the beat and melody of the song as your body worked as practiced due to the exhaustion you’ve been pushing back. Slowly, your body started to relax because the event was close to ending and nothing bad had happened to any of you and you believe that you did good, at least.

However, near the end of the first chorus, once you took a step, your shoe slipped a bit and pain shot through your leg when it gave out a bit. Wincing, you tried your best to keep a neutral expression on while you went on with the performance. Since no one seemed to notice, you did your best with pushing through and thanks to the adrenaline, you were able to ignore the pain for most of the time. But with how much you were applying pressure to your foot, it was becoming less and less tolerable.

When the song was slowly ending, you could feel relief wash over you until the audience started screaming by the time you finished with the last formation. Your breathing was heavy and your leg was basically screaming at you when you stood up to bow and thank your fans.

Heading back to the dressing room proved to be a struggle because you had to grip one of the boxes to keep you upright while limping and your manager quickly went to your side when he saw the state you were in. “What’s wrong?” He quickly asked while he assisted you with walking and you couldn’t help but whimper when you squeezed his arm. “M-My ankle hurts.” You told him and he quickly nodded while bringing you to the room.

All of the girls were already inside and happily chatting, changing their clothes and wiping the sweat off them. But as soon as the staff started clearing space in the corner and your manager walked in with you, all chatter stopped and Haseul shot up before she was dashing over to where you were.

Your manager sat you down while one of the medics carefully took off your shoe, causing you to shut your eyes tightly. You didn’t think that it would be this painful, but as they went to check on trying to move your foot, tears started to spill from your eyes.

“What happened?” Heejin asked worriedly when she and the rest of the girls gathered around you, noting how pale you looked. “Girls, you need to give her some space.” Your manager tells them and they all reluctantly step back, though still looking at you while your foot was being tended to.

“Y/n got hurt during the performance. We aren’t sure how bad it is, but walking is a bit of a struggle for her.” Your manager explained and Haseul sat beside you and took your hand in hers.

Your crying broke their hearts and the leader made sure to hold you tight, letting you squeeze her hand when the pain was too much for you and Sooyoung went to the other side so she could wipe your face. “Unnie, it hurts.” You whimpered and Haseul shushed you while holding you against her chest. “It’s okay, it’s okay. We’re here.” She tried soothing you while Sooyoung rubbed your back. “We’ll make it feel better. Just endure it for a little bit.” Sooyoung whispers.

They all watched, Kahei fetching a bottle of water while Chaewon grabbed a face towel to wipe your face. The medic ended up wrapping your ankle just so it wouldn’t move too much and then the girls soon sat around you, making sure not to touch your foot, though Hyejoo kept ice on it just so it would soothe the swelling, she hopes.

“It isn’t broken, but it is best to have it checked further in case it isn’t just a sprain.” The staff explained to your manager while Jinsoul and Jungeun listened intently from the side. “Make sure to put ice on it so the swelling goes down. For now, I think it’s best to not irritate it too much or else it could get worse. Since she moved it a lot more during the dance, it’s better to be safe than sorry.”

When you were given some painkillers, the staff finally left and your manager went to make a call to fix an appointment for you. The girls were all watching you with worried looks in their eyes while Haseul kept her arms around you.

“Y/n, what happened?” Jiwoo asked gently as she took your hand. “What’s wrong?” Yeojin looked at you as you looked up to meet all of their concerned faces, feeling guilty for having them worry about you like this as you shrank further in Haseul’s arms.

“It’s okay, we aren’t mad. We just want to know what happened.” Sooyoung tells you in a gentle tone and you look down at your lap. “My leg gave out when I missed a step.” You said quietly and Heejin frowned while looking at you. “When?”

“Was that when you suddenly touched my back?” Yerim asked in surprise and you nodded your head. “Unnie, why didn’t you say anything?” She suddenly asked. “I didn’t want to disappoint anyone because I got hurt. I’ve been practicing so much just to get the dance right.” But the girl shook her head, her frown deepening and this has been the most you’ve seen the younger girl go without smiling.

“You went through half of the performance while you were hurt. We know that you don’t want to disappoint anyone, but you should be careful with yourself.” Hearing this made the other eleven look at you. “Y/n, you may not have wanted to disappoint anyone, but you getting hurt is concerning. What if it was worse than this?” Sooyoung scolded.

“Was this why you’ve been staying long at the company?” Kahei asked softly and you grimace while nodding your head, making them sigh. “Unnie, there’s nothing wrong with asking for help. You ask us when you’re studying.” Hyejoo told you and you looked up. “I know, but I didn’t want to be more of a bother than I already was. You were all practicing, too so I didn’t want to be a distraction.”

Hyunjin shook her head while fixing you with a pointed stare. “You aren’t a distraction. You’ve been doing a great job since the beginning and there’s no reason for you to worry so much with your performance.” She explained. “We’re a group for a reason. So if you ever feel like something is troubling you, don’t be afraid to come to us.” Chaewon smiled at you and the rest nodded in agreement.

“The next time you feel like this, you come to us, okay?” Haseul told you and you slowly nodded your head before they were helping you get up. Sooyoung took over with helping you and the girls helped you get changed before your manager came back.

“Come on, girls. Let’s get you home.” He tells you and Hyejoo sidles up next to you to put your arm around her shoulders then put her own arm around your waist. “Gowon and I will make sure to come with you to the hospital, tomorrow.” She says calmly, and even with her blank expression, you could tell by her eyes that she was not taking no for an answer.

Even when you felt like there was so much room for improvement, the girls would always make sure to remind you that you were more than enough and that you had no reason to feel insecure about yourself. From that day onward, the girls made sure that you didn’t feel like you had to carry the whole weight for yourself because no matter what, they would have your back.

[baekhypnotized]

my love

ღ Genre: fluff, romance, slightangst

ღ Pairing: Baekhyun x You/Reader (First POV)

ღ Summary: “I will be with you. Always, my love for you.”— My Love, Baekhyun (2020). Going through all the hardships and beautiful moments together with Baekhyun will always be the special ones in you life. From an annoying strangers to best friends, to lovers and finally as married couple. He’s the love of your life, the one’s that will bright up you day with his light. No other guy like him can do the same thing. My one and only, Byun Baekhyun. Always, my love for you. 

ღ A/N: A Baekhyunee birthday fic from me is up!! I came out with this idea as an initiative for me to do at least something for him and for the readers too. I asked the prompts at my friends and I compiled it into a one shot story!! Please ignore minor errors because I didn’t proofread them properly. Do give a lot of support and endless love to our forever light, Byun Baekhyun✴

ღ  Word count: 10,027

19 years old…

It has been days that an annoying person came to disturb me at school. I don’t even know why he chose me among the others but I’m really pissed off with him. Well, I’ll be fine if he only bothers me a few times. Instead, he bothers me every single time. From the very first step that I enter the school compound, our classroom and even during the lunch hour. And guess who is this guy?

Byun Baekhyun. The highschool’s delinquent despite having an attractive face that makes almost all the girls gone crazy over with his charms. Almost. Not all of them since I hate him for pestering my life right now. 

“Hey,” He jogs from behind to catch me up as I’m trying to get away from him. Despite that, I failed to do so since Baekhyun blocks my way by standing right in front of me, leaning over the locker with both of his hands tucked in his pocket. “Where are you going? The cafeteria? How about we go there together?” He throws endless questions, making me sigh in frustration. 

“Baekhyun, how many times should I tell you that I’m tired of your games? Go away and stop interrupting me, please.” This time, I request him and at the same time, I was begging him silently. I may look really upset with Baekhyun right now so when I think that he finally understands, I walk away and leave him. 

Two steps. He’s not following.

Four steps. Still not following.

A satisfied smile stretches on my face when there’s no sign of Baekhyun. As I breathe in relief because he finally obeys to my instructions but then, he comes again, walking backwards right beside me. Sighing once again, I give him a fiery glare straight into his eyes, hoping it will knock him off, at least. 

Instead, Baekhyun flashes a smirk once he notices and succeeds to make me annoyed with his endless teases as he trails me everywhere. I really don’t like being around people especially him because obviously, there would be a quite amount of eyes witnessing me with a troublesome boy. As we arrived at the cafeteria, I went straight to buy food and I simply bought egg sandwiches and a carton of milk. 

I don’t bother to ask him even though he’s been following me everywhere but when it’s his turn to buy his food, I quickly try to run away from him. As fast as I can, I head upstairs until I reach the rooftop. No one really knows that I love hanging out here during lunch hour and I do hope that I get to make him lose his way to find me. After assuring that he’s not coming, I take a seat on the floor and unwrap the plastic in order to eat the sandwich. 

As I was about to take my first bite, suddenly the door flies open and reveals the one and only Baekhyun. I give him an unbelievable expression because how on Earth did he know where I am? Rolling my eyes at him, I ignore Baekhyun and finally take a bite of the egg sandwich. He walks towards me with a smug smile on his face. 

“What? You really think that I don’t know about you hanging around at the rooftop? Absurd,” He chuckles, taking a seat right beside me. Baekhyun busies staring at me eating silently that makes me feel uncomfortable with his presence. I was about to scold him but I don’t know why I almost choke myself right at the moment. He panics for a few seconds and when he sees the milk, he opens it and offers it to me. Quickly, I grab and gulp it right away. 

“You okay?” Baekhyun asks me in a worried tone. I nod my head as a reply. “You sure?” 

“Yeah. Thanks,” I thank him for the first time for trying to save myself from choking. Instead of replying to me with words, his lips quirk upwards into a soft smile. I look into his eyes, I suddenly feel my heart skip a beat. Then, it starts to beat faster. My whole body starts to heat up when realising that Baekhyun’s staring at me adoringly and before risking myself into anything, I scoff lightly to break the silence. 

I continue to indulge the sandwich but his stare continues to burn my skin and makes me nervous. “Baekhyun, what are you doing here? If you don’t have any matter here, just leave.” I say at him with a stern voice. 

“Well, I do have one. And it’s you.”

I scoff lightly at him and suddenly he takes out a plastic container that is filled with fresh strawberries. “Let’s share this together!” Baekhyun takes one of it as he bites onto the small fruit, offering them to me. At first, I was hesitating to accept it but his adorable eyes successfully hypnotized me to take one. 

“Thank you…” While I was busy finishing up my sandwich and milk, the school’s bell suddenly rings as it indicates that our break finally ends. In which, we’re gonna be very late for the next class plus the journey to the classroom is quite an adventure. 

“Baekhyun, we’re gonna be late!! Hurry!!” I eat the whole strawberry and gather all the rubbishes, throwing them into the nearest bin. I rush to the classroom when a hand slides to grab onto mine, he pulls us to run to the classroom together. I couldn’t believe it’s quite fun hanging around with Baekhyun even for a while. And thank God we get to arrive at our seats before our homeroom teacher comes. Then a few moments later, Mrs Kim finally enters the class. 

She abruptly starts the class with the new syllabus as the whole classroom begins silence. But, I’m still annoyed that Baekhyun and his friends are currently peeking, laughing silently at me as if there is something funny or odd happening at me. I decide to ignore those dorks, trying to search for a textbook in the drawer when suddenly I feel something squishy and moist. As I take it out, it’s a freaking LIZARD.

“SHIT!!” I curse loudly, jump away from my desk and also make my chair fall on the floor. Everyone in the room including Mrs Kim averts their attention on me. I am extremely shaking right now because I really hate lizards so much.

“What’s the problem?” My teacher asks me, her gaze turns into a stare. All of us know that she really hates when someone is disturbing her during her class which most of them will end up in the detention room. I gulp nervously, knowing that I’ll probably be one of them now when I realised that the ‘lizard’ is a fake one. 

“I-I…” Stuttering, I still couldn’t bring myself to answer her in words because if I do explain her about the lizard, the whole class would think it’s just a childish matter but to me, it’s not. They would definitely laugh at me and later, I need to think where I should hide my face from humiliation. “N-Nothing, Mrs Kim… I f-forgot to bring the textbook today.” Then, I decide to lie.

“You know that you can share with your deskmate instead of cursing loudly, right miss?” She emphasizes the word as her voice indeed sounds like she’s irritated with me. I nod my head slowly, trying to not fight her back because it is obviously rude for a student to do such a thing. 

“Detention room. Leave now,” Mrs Kim commands and I obey her without saying anything. I pack my stuff with me, tidying up my desk as she continues her teaching back. When I’m about to leave, I can see that Baekhyun’s friends are laughing with each other and I guess this is all their work. I leave the class silently, grudging on them because why do they need to prank people just like that. And why Baekhyun didn’t stop them? 

Sigh. The detention room for a first-timer and here we go. 

“Dude, did you see her face when she saw the fake lizard? Damn ugly,” Joohyuk asks Baekhyun, laughing with the scenario still wandering in his head. On the other hand, Baekhyun still keeps his mouth shut, staring outside at the hallway. 

“Well, no she’s not ugly.” He says, eyes still checking on the hallway. Joohyuk realises that Baekhyun is being extremely strange right now and most probably checking on me. 

“So, you’re saying that she’s pretty?”

“Yes,” Baekhyun confesses right away. Joohyuk was surprised with his answer and started to speculate that Baekhyun likes her. 

“No. I mean yes but you kno- Whatever. I’m not in the mood for today’s class. See you later, bro,” Baekhyun bids goodbye to him before leaving the classroom quietly as all the teachers know how problematic the student is and they can’t stop him from doing that. He goes straight to the detention room, feeling quite giddy to meet the person he’s searching for. 

And I’m all alone, sitting by the empty desk while staring blankly at the window. I was shocked when suddenly the door’s wide open, revealing the guy that I hope he disappears from my life one day. Baekhyun comes inside the class, a smug smile etched on his face. 

I roll my eyes at him, placing my head back on the desk. Why does he need to be here wherever I go? Obviously that I’m still mad at him for putting a prank on me and got me into detention. But then here he is, effortlessly trying to annoy me still. He pulls and turns a chair, taking a seat right in front of my desk. I continue to ignore him. 

“Hey, are you asleep?” He pokes lightly his index finger on my skin, poking it by following every syllable word he says. Flinching away, I groan softly.

“Go away, Baekhyun. You and your friends made me end up here so why are you bothering me?” 

Baekhyun senses that I’m angry with him but he continues to disturb me as he places his face right in front of me. As I open my eyes, his charming face with the soft smile appears. Once again, my heartbeat quickens realising that our faces are only a few inches away. My cheeks start to burn up, probably flushes with some red hues on it. 

He brings his hand to tuck a strand of my hair that has been covering my face slightly behind my ear. He chuckles softly as Baekhyun slowly brushes his knuckles on my cheek that makes my heart drop right away. 

“Are you blushing?” He questions and at the same time he teases. I shake my head to deny it, gulping a large lump in my throat. I don’t know that having the most problematic person here can actually turn me into a nervous state. I swear, out of all guys I’ve met, Baekhyun’s the first one that successfully makes me feel all jittery. 

“Go away, Baekhyun. I don’t want you here.”

“But I want to be here with you!” He grins widely at me, as I thought he must be hoping that I allow him to stay with me here. “Since this sweetheart got frightened by a fake lizard, let me accompany you throughout your detention hours.”

And guess what happens next? Baekhyun and I end up conversing throughout the time until my detention time is finally over. He tells me about his dreams and a little about his family too. I never thought he insists to open up about himself to a complete stranger like me. But, after hearing the story of his life, I don’t really think he’s that bad. As time passes by, I’ve realised that the way he’s been smiling at me differently.

Silently, my heart grows fonder to him.

22 years old...

No one ever thought that Baekhyun and I would end up being best friends ever since high school. The most problematic student with a normal girl. Well, we don’t have any special relationship aside from the best friends title. We haven’t really talked about our feelings to each other but I’m just glad I get to be with him this long. 

Baekhyun has become a trainee in music entertainment, counting days to debut as an artist in a group while I continue my study in which I enrol into a good university. Also, I’ve been living with my boyfriend in a small studio apartment in thoughts that we both will end up together.

But shits happened. 

The day I went back home from a group discussion, I found out my boyfriend’s cheating on me as they made out on the bed that we shared. The moment I witness the scene, my whole mind went blank. I couldn’t do anything and I feel that I can’t move at all. 

“Babe, listen to me. I swear that this is all a mista-” As he tried to explain, I ran away from the house with such a heavy pain on my chest. I dig out my phone quickly and dial for Baekhyun’s number. It’s almost 12 AM but I hope that he’s still awake.

“Hello? Why are you calling me at this h-” Baekhyun doesn’t get to finish his sentence when he senses that something’s wrong. “Where are you?” He asks.

“Can you m-meet me at the park near my apartment? Please?...” I beg him softly, stuttering while trying so badly to not cry. Baekhyun says that he will be there right away before he ends the call. I arrive at the park, taking a seat on the unoccupied wooden bench. The park is eerily silent and there’s only me, all alone with a heartbreak. 

A few minutes later, Baekhyun finally arrives and quickly sits right beside me without hesitating. The two of us don’t utter anything when he suddenly pulls me closer to him, hiding my face in his coat. Unconsciously, my tears start to flow like an overflowing sink. 

“H-he he…” Sobbing like a mess, the words aren’t able to come into a sentence. Baekhyun just simply caresses my hair to soothe me while he hushes softly. “He cheated on me, Baekhyun… They fuck on our bed…” 

I can feel that his body gets a bit tense but I grip his shirt tightly, hoping he will never leave me to do anything at him. I don’t want him to end up in a fight. I don’t want Baekhyun to get hurt too. 

Baekhyun wraps his arms around my body, he places his chin on my crown. “Let it all out… I’m here and no one will see your ugly face. Don’t worry.” He tries to comfort me with his words and at the same time, he mocks. 

“Hey!! That’s rude of you, Baekhyun!!” I move away to smack his chest lightly, causing him to laugh. Baekhyun plasters a wide smile at me, satisfied that he is able to make me smile at least as I do. Then, I have myself back in his warm embrace as I think. 

I never thought to have Baekhyun in my life would make me feel like my life is finally complete. He was always there with me especially at my worst and basically, he was there as I went through various episodes of life. 

He always makes me smile with his jokes, calms me down when I’m in a mess and provides protection. Baekhyun is like a light that has been shining my gloomy days and also my knight and shining armour. 

And I’m in love with him. Deeply in love with him. 

Hearing his calm heartbeat that helps to soothe me, I finally realised that Baekhyun has been extremely transparent with his feelings towards me. He sometimes confesses ‘I love you’ even when he says that he only loves me as his best friend. But, this time, I’m pretty sure that he loves me more than that. 

Since the incident when my ex cheated on me, I moved out of the apartment and Baekhyun let me move in with him. It was really awkward at first but after a few months after that, he finally confessed his feelings towards me. I never thought I could recover that fast from my heartbreak and decided to just date with him. Because of deep down inside, I know that he will cherish, protect and love me unconditionally. 

I joined a dance club because I love to dance even though I’m not as good as Baekhyun (since he’s a trainee in music entertainment). Our club will be holding an end semester performance and we’re inviting the entire college to come and watch it. Speaking of performance, almost all the practices end late nights which at first, my boyfriend dislikes about it. 

I convince him slowly about letting me join it and at the end, he does. But, he insists on picking me up in the practice room because he is scared of my safety if I go back home all alone. 

As the members are trying to take part in the performances, I will have to do a duet performance with Sihyeon, the so-called cute guy that everyone has labelled him. Honestly, he is cute but obviously, my cheek Baekhyun is the cutest among all the guys. I go back home that night, informing him about it and his reaction is extremely, should I say adorable?

“Babe, can you ask anyone else to replace you instead?” 

“Wait, there might be some steps that he will have his touches on you… Am I right, baby?”

Baekhyun has been trying to make me change my mind. And he fails. I assure him that he doesn’t need to feel jealous because I will never avert my attention to Sihyeon. Well, I do tease him a bit. “You know, my friends told me that I’m lucky that I got to duet with the cutest guy in the dance club.” His eyes dilate bigger after listening to me as I continue, “I’m just saying though.” I giggle. 

And there’s one night, he’s being super jealous and annoying. I think he saw me talking to Sihyeon while I’m on my way to his car after my practice and as I call for his name, he doesn’t answer at all. His grips on the steering wheel are tighter than usual, his face looks extremely mad. I guess that he’s upset seeing me get along with Sihyeon. 

I’m definitely right about it.

Baekhyun hasn’t talked to me at all since that night. Even on our bed, he had his back facing me for several nights and when I tried to approach him, he simply ignores me. In which I’m super annoyed with him for being such a baby. But since I’m his favourite girl, I still do good things in the hope that it will coax him from sulking. The result? Nothing.

“Baekhyun,” I call him. “I cook lunch for us so let’s eat, hmm?” 

He doesn’t say or nod his head at me even though it has been a week. I’m getting out of control and patience when suddenly I burst it out at him. “You know what, Baekhyun? Fine. I’ll quit from the dance club if you dislike me so much being around guys. Now, happy?” Then, I head straight into the room, slam the door and practically lock myself the whole day. A few hours later, waiting for him to coax me, Baekhyun doesn’t come. Instead, he sent me a message.

I’m going out to meet the others for practice.

After I guarantee he’s not home, I head out to have a quick lunch and right after eating, I come back into the room without doing anything. Laying on the empty bed with mixed feelings, I realised I’ve been missing him so much. Baekhyun never fails to make me smile and laugh but since he’s giving me a silent treatment, I can only dream of it.

Baekhyun arrives home around 10 pm and I was still in the room, wrapping my body securely with the duvet. I can hear a few faint knocks on the door before the door is open with a creaking sound. His footsteps can be heard coming towards me, the bed sinks a bit when he sits at the edge of the bed. 

“Babe…” He brings his hand on top of my body, caressing me slowly. Then, he shows me a box of chocolates which is my most favourite ones. “I brought you your favourite chocolate!...” 

Later, he finally says the word that I’ve been waiting for. “I’m really sorry, babe…” Baekhyun hops off from the bed, kneeling right in front of me and he slowly pulls the duvet from covering my face. I purposely act like I’m asleep but truthfully, after I saw the chocolates and also I miss him, my lips stretch into a smile. 

“So, my baby girlfriend isn’t actually sleeping, huh?” Baekhyun mocks me, caressing my cheek with his hand that makes me moves away slowly from his touches. The touches are cold and it makes me tickle. 

“Stop, go away, Baekhyun. I’m still not talking to you,” I say, turning myself to face the other side but as I halfway turn, Baekhyun hovers on top of me. He attacks my tummy with his tickles that make me gone wild with waves of laughter. “Okay, Baekhyun! Stop! Stop!!” 

I beg, trying to push him away but he’s much stronger than me so the tickles continue for a few more minutes. Later on, Baekhyun leans over to pepper my face with sloppy and wet kisses. And when he finally stops, he smashes his plump lips onto mine, sliding his tongue into my wet cavern. I extend my arms to wrap around his neck, pulling him closer to me so I can kiss him deeper. 

“Gosh, I miss you so much, babe. Sorry for being such a dick.” He apologises between the kisses.

“Apology accepted because you do have one,” I bite my lower lip, feeling satisfied when I mock him. Baekhyun scoffs lightly, continues to devour my lips as he nibbles onto my bottom lip. 

“Can I have you?” Baekhyun politely asks.

“Then take me.”

He doesn’t wait any longer when his lips start trailing on my jawline, slowly down to my collarbone. In a glimpse, the two of us are already naked, feeling all wild and in love all over again. We make love in the bed, recover back the moment that the two of us missed for the past days. 

Baekhyun shows me the love he has on me and I never thought I feel alive again to have him. 

"Baekhyun, I’m studying…”

It's the weekend but that doesn’t mean I should not study since my exam is literally next week. Even though my friends said that I’m fully prepared for it, I feel really uneasy and it’s worrying me to death. The qualms make me have no appetite to eat or even to have some good sleep. But, as I’m trying so hard to focus, Baekhyun insists to disturb me.

“Babe, let’s make popcorn and binge Netflix!!” Baekhyun’s being a kid he is, he invites me. Shaking my head to resist his invitation, I continue to focus my attention on the study materials on the table. My study table right now doesn’t look like one. Papers scattered everywhere. 

“Then, how about we eat a tub of ice cream together! We can eat your favourite flavour this time,” He tries again to lure me to stop studying. Baekhyun then comes closer, softly placing his hands on my shoulders as he starts to massage the tense muscles that are cramping. 

As I insist on ignoring him this time, Baekhyun tries again and most probably he wouldn’t stop until I give in. “Okay, but can we at least cud-”

“I swear to God, Baekhyun. Can’t you see that I’m trying to focus here??” Swatting his hands away, I finally lash it out at him as I’m really fuming in anger. Why can’t he understand that I don’t want him to disturb me especially at this crucial time? It’s a simple thing but Baekhyun’s being such a childish one right now and I couldn’t stop myself from getting mad at him. 

Baekhyun flinches away after hearing me increasing my tone. He slowly marches out from the study room and leaves me finally alone in peace with a sad puppy-like face. This time it’s a success to me that I get to actually kick him out from here because my examination is really important at this moment. Sighing in half-relief, I get back to the exercises and past year questions without wasting any time. 

After approximately an hour, there’s really no sign of his presence at all. The apartment is really silent as if there’s no one at home except me. When I suddenly remember about Baekhyun, I feel really bad at him. I didn’t think that my actions and words can actually hurt him because if he’s giving me a silent treatment, it really means that I did hurt him. 

I put my laptop to sleep mode, deciding to search for him. As I leave the room, I can see Baekhyun's sitting on the couch while watching Netflix with such a low volume. He must have lowered it down since he didn’t want to annoy me again. 

Again, I feel awful and guilty. 

After taking a seat right beside him, it seems that Baekhyun scoots away from me. He's pouting his lips and this time he’s trying to ignore me. I slowly get to hold one of his hands but as he tries to pull away, I grab on it strongly. 

“Baekhyun…” I call his name, my other hand cups his cheek. “Look at me, hmm?” I coo. He’s attempting to avoid my eye contact but I force him to look at me. He gives in but he still rolls his eyes at me since he’s probably upset that I lashed out at him previously.

“I’m sorry…” I apologise.

“I’m really, truly sorry for scolding you. I was just too scared and worried about my upcoming exam. What if I fail? I don’t want to disappoint my parents and you too… I’m sorry…” Putting my feelings into words, I explain to him slowly as my eyes start to swell in tears. I was stuttering to hide from sobbing and when I feel a tear fall on my cheeks, I quickly hide my face as I look down on the couch. Crying silently, I hope that Baekhyun’s able to forgive me for being mad at him. 

Baekhyun cups my chin as he lifts up my head. His gazes are comforting and adoring. “Babe, don’t cry…” He wipes off the tears away with his thumb. “It’s okay… I forgive you.” Humming softly, he lifts me up and places me on his lap. I land my head on his broad chest, sobbing silently with his hand caressing my hair as he soothes me. 

The guiltiness towards Baekhyun was still there creeping in my heart but when he’s assuring me that he’s fine, I feel calm. It takes a while for me to calm as the two of us stay in this position. He secures me tightly with his hands wrap around my waist. His chin rests on the top of my head while he caresses my back continuously. 

“I’m sorry too if I annoyed and disturbed you, baby. But I was about to invite you for a rest. You’re gonna be fine with your exam too. You’re worrying too much,” He lands a kiss on the top of my crown. I silently smile because Baekhyun knows that I’ll always be stressing too much when the exam season is coming. 

“You’ll do well. You’re gonna ace it like you always do, right?” Baekhyun speaks as he tries to comfort me with his supportive words. Slowly, I lift my head to see his face as I nod my head for a few times. 

He leans over to give an affectionate kiss on my lips. “Now, that’s my girl.”

Baekhyun questions me whether I have any plan to do for today but all I want is to cuddle him throughout the day. Because he gives me comfort and I feel so much safe being in his embrace and also it’s like a way of gesture for me to ask him forgiveness since I still feel guilty. 

And yes, we do end up cuddling until we go to bed.

24 years old...

I jolt in surprise when a pair of arms suddenly wrap around my frame from behind as the person lands his chin softly on my shoulder, kissing my hair. Smiling in contentment, I continue to stir the chicken soup while Baekhyun back hugs me. Finally, he’s home. He doesn’t utter any words but his breathing is audible enough to indicate that he’s tired after a long day. And of course, I’m worried about him. As long as he’s here, I’m grateful enough. 

“You’re home, baby?” My hand is lifted to cup his cheek and Baekhyun just simply hums. I chuckle softly and while waiting for the soup to sim for a while, I lift and turn my head a bit to face him. His hair is dishevelled and even from this limited view, his dark circles and eye bags can be clearly seen. A comforting smile appears across my face, jutting out my lips to him.

Baekhyun upon seeing it, he chuckles in disbelief before leaning on to peck his plump lips onto mine. After I’m satisfied with the kiss, I turn around back to stir the soup for the final round. Without any warning, his lips land a kiss on my sensitive spot in between my neck and collarbone that makes me shiver. His one hand starts to roam freely from the waist, trailing down to my buttcheek as he massages one of them. His touches are addictive and if I give in, we would probably end up for a quick session here.

Turning around, I stop him by pushing an index finger on his chest to warn him. “You need to take a shower, mister. We’re not gonna do it here,” I say. He plasters a pair of pleading eyes as he continues to seduce me with the touches. Despite that, he fails this time when I shake my head a few times to resist it. Baekhyun sighs in surrender and before he’s leaving for his shower, he gives a peck on my cheek.

While he takes his quick bath in order to freshen him up after such a hectic day, I busy preparing the table by serving the chicken soup and also put the rice into small bowls. I cook chicken soup purposely to help him to regain strength and calmness as this recipe was shared by Kyungsoo since he’s an expert in cooking too. Even the other members agree that he’s a professional chef among them. 

Right on time, Baekhyun comes closer when I finish setting up the table. “Let’s eat so that we can go to bed early tonight, hmm?” I request and a single hum can be heard from him as he takes a seat at his usual chair. I take a seat right beside him and when he begins to dig in the food, I watch him diligently, hoping that he likes it.

“How was it? Is it good?”

“Of course it is. My sweetheart’s cooking is always delicious,” He praises, taking another bite of the rice. My face flushes a bit after hearing his appraisal before he starts eating my own part. Since I know that Baekhyun had a tough day, I decide to not ask him regarding his activities because I’m afraid it will spoil his mood. Instead, the two of us end up eating without creating any topic to converse. 

On the other hand, I’m happy that his appetite for tonight is unbelievable. He asks for more rice and chicken soup which causes me to smile in amusement and satisfaction. I’m already full even by witnessing him eating deliciously. Right after the two of us (technically him) done eating, we help each other to clean up the mess which he offers to give his hands to wash the dishes while I clear up the dining table. 

Then, we head straight to bed as I switch off the lights before throwing myself to lay right beside him. Baekhyun pulls the thick duvet to cover our body and being such a clingy baby, he pulls me closer to him. I offer myself to pat him to sleep when he caresses my hair at the same time. I begin to feel sleepy but he is still wide awake while his face is plastering all his qualms. 

“Hey…” Bringing my hand to brush his puffy cheek, a worrying question escapes from my mouth. “Do you have anything to share with me, Baekhyun?” I softly ask him, hoping it successfully makes him confess.

He sighs lightly. “I’m so afraid…” 

“Afraid of what, Baek?”

“A lot of things…” He continues as he sighs again. “What if I’ve become a failure? Fail to achieve my dreams, fail to make everyone proud, fans, my family and even you?”

His eyes begin to brim with tears when he looks at me. “What if one day, I’m gonna lose you?”

I hush him right away. It has become the moment where his mind has filled with negative thoughts that make him worry on his own. But despite all of that, Baekhyun never fails to make people amaze with him. Being the main vocalist in the group makes him shine brighter, being the soloist who managed to secure every chart has made him who he is right now. He is such a talented one and everyone is grateful for his presence in their lives including mine. 

“Baekhyun, listen here. You will never lose me and I will never leave you. I promise you that.”

I try to make him trust me with my words as he nods his head. “And everyone is already proud of you, Baekhyun. Okay, it’s absurd if your family isn't proud of you because you’re such a childish, puppy-like person. Even Mongryong is much more mature than you.” 

“Hey!! I’m not childish, okay??” Baekhyun denies it and I only giggle at him.

“Yes, you are!! Anyway, as I said, everyone is proud of you, Baekhyun. Don’t let your fears overtake your confidence. This is not the Baekhyun that I know. You told me to be cool, happy, strong and fearless. You make every impossible possible, baby. And I love you for who you are right now.” I express everything to him as long as it can help to comfort him. He replies to me with a soft and endearing smile. 

“Gosh, why am I so lucky to have you, babe?” Baekhyun’s peppering kisses continuously on my lips makes me giggle with happiness. 

“I love you so much,” He confesses. Even if it’s a simple confession, I know that it brings thousands of feelings. His love for me is beyond words and only by the way he treats me throughout our relationship, I really know that we are meant to be together until eternity. 

I was about to doze off to sleep slowly when Baekhyun suddenly calls, “Babe.” I hum to him as a reply. “Marry me.”

Abruptly, I’m stupefied with his impromptu proposal. “W-What?”

“Marry me, would you?” He proposes again.

“Babe, don’t you have anything to say or wish at me?” Baekhyun curiously asks, caressing my hand as he drives the car. I shake my head to deny it. I can hear clearly he’s sighing and probably disappointed which makes me laugh silently.  

Today is finally Baekhyun’s 24th birthday and he will arrive at the airport from his solo oversea schedules. And since I don’t have any work for today, I offer myself to pick him up. Also, I’ve planned a surprise birthday party where I invite his family and also the other members. The guys offer to set up the party because his flight arrived around 7 pm. 

Also tonight, I’m gonna give my answer to his proposal too. 

The journey back to our apartment didn’t take that long. Baekhyun became extremely upset as he didn’t talk much. After receiving a text from Chanyeol that they are already hiding, I do my part which makes Baekhyun go straight into the bedroom without stopping anywhere. He then goes straight into the bathroom to take a shower which I run to the living room, greeting his family and friends softly. 

When everything is finally set up, I head back to the bedroom and see Baekhyun strides out from the bathroom. He goes into his closet to choose short pants and a plain T-shirt to wear before he throws himself on the bed with a soft grunt. I chuckle, laying right beside him as I scoot closer to be in his embrace. 

“Tired?” I ask him. Baekhyun nods his had while his eyes are shut. I give him a soft peck on his cheek and when my phone vibrates, it’s a sign. “I’m going to the kitchen to grab a glass of water,” I say as he hums. I head out to the living room slowly. All of us wait almost 10 minutes to finally listen to Baekhyun’s calling for me.

“Baby? What took you so long?” And when he opens the door as he walks towards the living room, all of us shout.

“Surprise!! Happy Birthday, Baekhyun!!” 

Baekhyun’s face was expressionless. He was really shocked by the surprise and now he knows why I didn’t wish for him at all. We sing a happy birthday song, letting Baekhyun make a wish before he blows the candles. All of us cheers in excitement as we clap our hands too. 

“Now, it’s time for you to unbox your presents.” Baekhyun obeys to our instruction as he opens one by one. He receives various types of gifts from the members and family and when he’s finally done unboxing everything, it’s finally my turn to give my present to him.

I cuddle closer to Baekhyun on the couch as the tv’s screen turns on. It’s showing a compilation video I’ve made and there were all of our beautiful moments that we have created. From day one we became friends, best friends and into lovers. Baekhyun has become an amazing and special person in my life as I’m really grateful to have him. As I peek at him who’s watching the video diligently, I can see that his eyes are already swelling with tears.

“To Byun Baekhyun, happiest birthday to you, baby!! You’ve made me the luckiest girl on Earth to have you by my side and we’ve gone through such a roller coaster ride together as one. You always protect me, cherish me and give all your love to me. I love every part of you even though you were pretty annoying back then in high school. So Baekhyun, it’s a yes.”

The video ends right away after my speech as all of us including Baekhyun look at me curiously. It takes him a few moments when he finally gets the idea. “OMG fuck… Baby, it’s a yes???? I’m not delusional, right?” Baekhyun asks for my confirmation and I nod my head. His face has brightened and the tears finally escape from his eyes. He lifts me up in the air, twirling me around in happiness in which it makes me giggle. The others are happy too as they congratulate us for the engagement because they know, the two of us are meant to be together.

Baekhyun places me on the floor back, cradling me in his arms before he gives a long and passionate kiss on my lips. The kiss is overwhelming us too much and when he breaks the kiss, he whispers to my ears. “Gosh, my wish finally came true and this is the best birthday gift I’ve ever had.”

25 years old…

That night when I accepted his proposal to be his wife, everyone is beyond excited especially Baekhyun. As I say excited, we got married a month later because he was too eager to make me as his legal wife. I didn’t object since we’ve been waiting too long to finally have the title, husband and wife. Our wedding day turned out to be pretty sorrow thanks to him though. He cried when he saw me walked down through the aisle and he made me teared up too with his wedding vow. 

Then in October, I found out that I’m carrying not one, but two beans inside my womb. Well, we didn’t actually plan to have kids right away but yeah, things happen when we’re talking about Byun Baekhyun. How did I found out? Basically, we’re moving out of the apartment to our new house as he bought it for our future big family. As we’re on our way to the new house, my throat felt really uncomfortable in which I asked him to stop by the roadside because I’m getting a headache. When I’m feeling much better, he continued to drive but with a faster speed. 

After the car stopped right in front of the main door, I quickly unlocked it, finding the nearest toilet as I threw up everything into the toilet bowl. Kneeling in front of it as I continued to puke, Baekhyun came to me a few minutes later, caressing my back. Since he was really worried about me, he brought me to the clinic to get a check-up. So that’s the day when we knew the two of us became parents.

The first trimester was really like a hell. Morning sickness almost every time and I really didn’t have any appetite to eat. But, Baekhyun took care of me throughout my suffering moments, always reminding me that these were my sacrifices for the twins. 

I’m now 34 weeks and my tummy is really huge. Please don’t compare it with a watermelon because it is bigger than that. My feet are all swollen, backaches and I could go to the toilet almost every second. At the same time, I still cannot believe that the 25 years old me and Baekhyun are going to have kids within a few weeks. It’s undeniable that a childish guy like him is ready to be a father, right?

We are currently hanging out at the living room, I lay on my back on the couch while Baekhyun extends his hand to caress my bulging tummy. “Am I the only one who thinks that our beans are quite active today?” He averts his attention from the television screen to me and his question sounds a little bit of worry. 

“Yeah, I think so too?” Placing my hand on top of his hand, I caress our hands together when suddenly we receive a strong kick. I grunt softly because it gives me quite a pain. The two of us decide it’s just a normal movement came from one of the twins. After a few minutes, my lower part feels gushy and wet. As I try to touch it with my fingers, I assume I peed myself a bit. 

“Baekhyun, I’m gonna go to the toilet since I think I peed a bit at here,” I giggle, acting innocently as he replies me with chuckles. The moment I stand up, more liquid flows out, trailing down to my thighs and instantly, I clutch my stomach because it hurts. 

Baekhyun’s being the overprotective one, he grabs me in his arms. “Hey, you okay?”

I shake my head slowly, looking down when I finally see a small pool of liquid on the floor as I gulp nervously. “I think it’s time, Baekhyun…”

Baekhyun brings us to the hospital right away and I get to admit into our private room where at first, the doctor came for our last check-up before I finally going into labour. As Dr Kim spreads the gel all over my tummy, she then brings the probe to start the ultrasound. 

“The babies are very ready to meet the world,” She chuckles, followed by Baekhyun too. After the ultrasound, the nurse helps me to wear some sort of belt that detects the fetal movement and the whole room begins to fill with the heartbeats’ sound of our little babies. 

While I’m still inducing, I take some rest to prepare myself for the labour later. Baekhyun sits right beside my bed, holding and caressing my hand in his hold. I face him, a soft smile spreads across my face. “How are you feeling, daddy-to-be? Excited?” I brush my knuckles onto his bulgy cheek.

“Yeah and worry too…” He expresses it with a soft tone. 

“Hey, you don’t need to be worry, Baekhyun. Everything will be alright,” I try to comfort him because apart from the eagerness to see our little juniors, he’s so worried about the excruciate pain that I need to handle while in the process of giving birth. I admit it, I’m worried to death knowing that my life also depends on it but knowing that we’re gonna see our little angels, everything will be absolutely worth it. “And you’re gonna be by my side right?”

He nods his head, getting off from his seat to peck on my lips before landing a long yet endearing kiss on my forehead. Baekhyun lets me take a rest while waiting for my cervix to dilate. Legitly, I couldn’t sleep at all with the number of contractions that are attacking me. Tossing, laying and sitting on the bed, all the positions wouldn’t make rest at all. Instead, he offers to massage my back because it’s aching so much. 

Approximately 3 hours later, that’s the moment when everything’s gonna change. I was brought to the labour room with Baekhyun’s hand tightly in my hand while we’re on the way. The pain is beyond words. My forehead starts to sweat hard, tearing up with him comforting me by my sides. 

“You can do this, baby. I’m here, okay?”

His supports, his presence and his love help me a lot throughout the session. With endless pushing, a shrill sound of a baby crying makes the two of us smiling so bright to each other. “Our first princess is out, mommy. One more, hmm?”

Using my strength all out, I give a hard push and finally, our youngest daughter is born. Haerin and Hanbyul, our little angels. Baekhyun peppers my face with his kisses while he chants thousands of thank you. And now, our little family is finally completed with Baekhyun’s cute girls. I wouldn’t ask for anything but I only need them in my life.

Baekhyun whispers into my ears, “Thank you so much, babe. For carrying our girls and for the hard work to give birth to them. I love you and it’s always you, my love.”

My husband, Byun Baekhyun and the small princesses, Byun Haerin and Byun Hanbyul. 

30 years old...

“Promise me that my two little princesses will continue to behave until mommy’s come back home, okay?” I softly calm and ask the twins through the video call since Haerin and Hanyul have been missing me for days. I went for a business trip and Baekhyun was left to look for the twins while I’m gone but I’m grateful he can handle our 4 years old girls. The two of them simply nod their head at the same time, hugging their dolls in their arms. Some of the tears are still there in their adorable eyes that makes me laugh over their cuteness. 

“Be good girls to your daddy too, okay? Mommy loves you both so much!” Throwing flying kisses on the screen, hoping it will at least make the twins feel the love that I’m trying to convey. The two of them move their faces closer to the screen, taking turns to kiss on the screen with their cute small lips. While the girls are busy giving me kisses, I can hear Baekhyun’s chuckling behind the phone. Because for sure, he must be falling in love with the devastating scene of the twins’ crying as he’s holding his phone throughout the video call. 

Baekhyun brings the phone as he faces the screen and I finally get to see his face. “Bab- woah,” He was about to say something when suddenly the two princesses come to stand in between his thighs. I titter as I feel my heart is full right now seeing them together on the screen. Baekhyun shakes his head, chuckling before giving pecks on their heads. “Call or text me when you’re going back home tomorrow. Don’t leave anything behind and your meals too. We’ll wait for you, right babies?” 

He asks Haerin and Hanbyul as they nod their head. Then, he bends over to land kisses on their cheeks that cause them to giggle cutely. Once again, I’m falling in love with Baekhyun and no doubts that I will love him until the very end.

Haerin starts to yawn, eyes swelling in tears as she finally feels sleepy and it’s their bedtime. “Okay, it’s time for the princesses’ bedtime!! I’ll see you guys tomorrow. I love you guys.” I begin to bid goodbye and goodnight to the three of them. 

“Goodbye, mommy!! Hanbyul loves you so much!!” Hanbyul confesses as I nod my head. 

On the other hand, Haerin in a sleepy state wishes me goodnight with her droopy eyes. “Goodnight, mommy!...” 

Baekhyun brings his phone closer to him to look at your face clearer, “I’ll see you tomorrow, then. Goodnight, babe. Talk to you later.” 

“Thank you, Baekhyun, for taking care of them for me,” I thank him and he shakes his head as his reply. “I love you.”

“I love you too,” He replies. And after a few goodbyes, I end the call. Baekhyun puts his phone into the pocket of his pants before wrapping his arms around the twins. “It’s bedtime, babies. Let’s tuck you both in bed!” He announces but as he checks on Haerin, she’s half-awake.

Baekhyun lifts her up and carries her over his shoulder while Hanbyul holds onto his other free hand. They walk upstairs towards the master bedroom, which the girls had been overnight for days since I’m not around. When they finally arrive, he slowly places Haerin on the king-sized bed before he takes Hanbyul to lay right beside her sister. He tucks the two of them as he covers them with the duvet.

He lands kisses on their forehead before he slides to lay right beside Hanbyul and switches off the main lights. Haerin is already asleep and most probably in her sweet dreams while Hanbyul is still awake. Stretching his arm to wrap around the girls’ small bodies, he’s surprised when the still awake twin turns around to face him. Hanbyul places her small hands on his cheeks, revealing her sparkling eyes at him. 

“Aren’t you sleepy, baby?” Baekhyun concernedly asks her with his soft voice. 

“Daddy,” She calls as he hums. “Do you miss mommy?” She questions him. 

Baekhyun chuckles silently, leaning over to kiss her pouty lips. “So much. Does my little star miss mommy too?” It’s his turn to ask her and the little one nods her head.

“Now, Byullie needs to sleep so mommy can come home fast,” He tries to persuade her to sleep, which he succeeds since she complies. The little girl scoots closer to his chest, shutting her eyes close before she slowly dozes off to sleep. When Baekhyun checks on her, a soft smile spreads across his face seeing his princesses soundly asleep. 

He pulls Haerin slowly into his arms and it’s his turn to have a nice sleep after a tiring day taking care of the twins. “Daddy loves you both so much.” He whispers softly. Having them in his arms for tonight, Baekhyun will definitely have a good dream and will wake up with a very loving and adorable view. Digging out his phone from his pocket, he takes a few pictures of the girls’ sleeping with their dolls in their arms. A smile creeps upon his face.

- Baekhyun -

[attached pictures]

Mission accomplished for today, mommy!

- Me -

Good job, daddy!

:)

- Baekhyun -

Looks like they’re having a goodnight dream

I miss you already

Come home fast, okay?

- Me -

Awww Baekhyun

I miss you too

I’ll be back tomorrow okay?

Now go to sleep

Muah, I love you

Baekhyun doesn’t have to reply since honestly, he’s really exhausted after a tiring day. Trying to balance between the house chores and taking care of the twins’ were really another hard level. Also, he really can’t believe that a woman like me can actually handle them. And that’s why he’s proud of me being a wife and a mommy of two beautiful princesses.

His life has been beautiful and full of happiness with this small family.

The next day, Baekhyun wakes up early in the morning with such a beautiful sight of his daughters’ sleeping peacefully. Before he starts the day, he always leaves kisses on them. He still couldn’t believe that the two of us actually made such adorable princesses. He starts the day by working out in his private area and after that, he will take a quick shower before preparing breakfast for them. 

Since he can’t cook and prepare a special meal for breakfast, he is only able to make pancakes and it’s a bonus because of the twins’ super love with his pancakes. The process to prepare it didn’t take much longer and right on time he’s finally done, a soft and cute voice calls his name from upstairs. 

“Daddy? Where are you?”

Baekhyun rushes to check on her, smiling widely seeing his little Haerin searching for him while rubbing her eyes with her hand.  He walks upstairs, carries her in his arms and pecks onto her cheek. “I’m here, baby. Good morning, princess!”

“Good morning, daddy,” Haerin yawns cutely but he is able to cover her mouth with his hand. As he chuckles, they enter the master bedroom and realise the other twin is finally awake with such a bedridden hair. She tosses and turns her head on the pillow before she finally sits up to greet her other twin and her daddy.

“Good morning to my little star,” Baekhyun sits at the edge of the bed, inviting Hanbyul for a hug as she crawls slowly to her daddy. Once the two of them are finally in his embrace, he hugs them tightly and gives a kiss on top of their crown. 

“Mommy’s here?” Hanbyul asks him. He shakes his head to answer her question. As to avoid making her disappointed with his reply, Baekhyun lifts them up in surprise. 

“My two stinky monsters need to take a bath!!” Baekhyun imitates a cartoon voice and dashes properly to the bathroom that makes them giggle in amusement. Their petals of laughter surely make him the happiest person on Earth. He doesn’t realise that the three of them have been spending almost an hour in the bathroom. Right away, he brings the girls back to the room and drying them with the towels.

“So, what do my girls want to do today?” Baekhyun kneels in front of them, both bodies wrapped cutely with pink towels. He finds they are cute as they look so fresh and adorable. The two of them places their index finger o their cheeks, reenacting on how people in the cartoons behave when they were thinking. He chuckles softly, waiting patiently for their answers. 

“Can we have a tea party where Byullie and Rinnie be princesses, daddy?” Haerin cutely suggests an activity. Since Baekhyun has nothing to do today except taking care of them, he’s going to make all their wishes come true.

“You two are already daddy’s princesses!!” Baekhyun tickles their tummies that make them giggle loudly. “Let’s go and choose your princesses’ gowns then, shall we?” He lifts them abruptly, causing the girls squealing in excitement as he brings the two of them to their room. After he places both of them on the floor, they run cutely towards their closet and each of them chooses the gowns to wear. Soft pink for Rinnie and soft purple for Byullie. 

“My two princesses need to have their breakfast first or not you’re gonna get a tummy ache,” Baekhyun holds onto their hands, guiding them down the hall as they slowly walk downstairs and head to the dining table. He lifts them one by one and places them on their high chairs. 

“Byullie wants to eat!” Hanbyul says in exhilaration.

“Rinnie too!!” Then, Haerin follows. He’s chuckling softly while cutting the pancakes into pieces so that the girls can eat them easily. After placing them on the plates, Baekhyun brings the two plates to the table. The girls’ smiling widely when they see the pancakes with their sparkling eyes.

“Pancakes!!!” They squeal. 

Baekhyun places the plates in front of them and he can see that their cute legs are wiggling in the air. “Princesses, do you guys want daddy to put honey syrup on your pancakes?” He asks. They nod their head at the same time, showing their plates to him. Pouring the honey syrup around their pancakes, suddenly Haerin butts in. 

“Strawberries?” She tilts her head slightly on one side, waiting for the answer. Baekhyun chuckles, going to the fridge to grab the ones that his girl is searching for. Haerin and Hanbyul smile brightly. He proceeds to cut them into bite pieces then he brings it to them. All three of them begin to eat their breakfast together, but most of the time they’re playing around in which their giggles make the whole house alive. But, it’s still incomplete without my presence.

After breakfast, the girls straightly invite Baekhyun to play tea party right away as he complies. They bring out their tea party toys set, setting it on their cute small table. “Daddy!! Sit here!!” Hanbyul pats the empty seat and he slowly sits on it. The seat’s quite small for him but he will restrain it for the sake of the girls. 

“Daddy, daddy!! Can you braid our hair like mommy?” Baekhyun becomes clueless when Haerin requests something from him in which he doesn’t know how to braid their hair. But since he doesn’t want to make them upset, he spends a lot of tutorials on Youtube on how to braid. Almost an hour, he finally has done and believes that he can at least braid their hair even though it will turn out bad. 

Baekhyun takes turns in braiding their hair, inhaling the strawberry scent and assumes it came from their shampoo. I took him 30 minutes because they insist on having braids like how princesses have. He even used some clips to secure their hair neatly. And when all of them is finally satisfied, he places the twins’ crown on top of their head as they continue to play along with the tea party theme. 

I finally arrive home, smiling widely knowing that they will definitely wait for my arrival. I unlock the door and begin to search for them. “Baekhyun? Girls?” I call them but there’s no one answering. Pulling the luggage into the house and closing the door behind me, I walk straight to the living room. 

I have a view of my husband and my twins passed out on the couch, cuddling close to each other. By seeing the girls’ wearing dresses and crowns, they definitely had a fun tea party. Despite that, I just realised that their hair was braided messily and it must be his work. Baekhyun also has some hair clips on his hair.

As I chuckle softly and after seeing this beautiful sight, I married the right man that would love me endlessly and be the great yet loveable daddy to our princesses. 

And he’s my one and only, Byun Baekhyun. 

[aerynwrites]

The Hidden (8)

Chapter 8: What The Future Holds

Author’s Note: okay y’all so Tumblr’s being a little bitch and making formatting a living hell for me lol. first it wouldn’t recognize the paragraph breaks from my word document so u had to fix that and NOW it won’t let me add a read more cut-off so i’m frustrated lol. BUT, I am happy with how this chapter turned out and I hope you guys are too! As always feedback is greatly appreciated, and i hope you guys enjoy! <3 (Apologies for any grammar errors, I’m at work and didn’t have time to fully proofread!)

Word count: 3.1k

Warnings: fluff

Chapters: One, Two, Three, Four, Five, Six, Seven, Eight (here)

/////////

It had been almost two months since the whole commotion with the bounty hunters and your injury, and everyone seemed to be settled back in nicely. You were almost completely healed, but still felt some pain if you moved to violently, but with Dyn being by your side the whole time, it made things a lot easier. He had seemed more relaxed since that night, since you both kissed, and the following night when you did a bit more. You flushed at the memory of Dyn slipping the blindfold over your eyes. You were brought from your thoughts when the high pitched squeal of a child pierced the air. You quickly looked down from the pot of stew you were preparing over the fire and saw the child reaching his little hands towards you.

“What?” you asked, a smile adorning your features.

The child just smile up at you and babbles while vaguely grasping at the spoon in your hand, “Ah, you want to taste the food?” you chuckle and spoon out a small amount of soup from the pot and blow on it before leaning down and feeding him some, “here you go -hey!” you were not prepared for the child to take the spoon in his mouth and latch on like it was his life line.

He starts to toddle away as fast as his little legs will carry him. you have to stifle the giggle as you reach out your hand using the force to stop the child mid-step. You hear him let out a muffled noise of surprise as you hold him a few feet from the ground and walk towards him. you grab hold of him, releasing your invisible grip on him and tug the spoon from his mouth.

“It’s not going to disappear little one,” you assure as you sit him down once again to return to the stew, “It will be ready soon.”

You are about to return to stirring the meal when you feel something keeping you from moving the spoon any further. You furrow your brows together and go to move your hand again but it won’t budge. You look behind you to see the kid with his hand extended and eyes closed in concentration. You laugh at his antics and it seems to snap him out of his focus. He releases his grip on you and lets out a loud giggle as he falls back to the ground. You quickly scoop him up and let him watch as you continue to cook.

“He’s getting better,” a familiar voice speaks from behind you.

You turn around, a soft smile adorning your face as you see Dyn coming to crouch by you. you stop stirring and run your fingers over the child’s ears gently, “Yeah, he is. Since I’ve been trying to teach him he seems to have more endurance when it comes to using the Force.” You comment.

Since you had started to heal, and your secret was out to the other villagers since the attack you had been using your powers more flippantly, not feeling that you had to hide anymore. You had also been attempting to teach the child, which proved difficult when he couldn’t speak, but you were making progress. As you looked down at the large eyed child in your arms you were suddenly hyper aware of the fact he doesn’t have a name.

“We should give him a name,” you say looking over at Dyn.

You hear him heave a sigh, “I know, but I’ve never…done anything like this before.”

You chuckle and look back down at the green creature who is now tugging at you hair, “I was thinking the name Faylen, fits him well.” You say wincing slightly as he gives a particularly hard tug.

Dyn nods slowly, “Faylen,” he test out the name, “I like it,” he brushes a gloved finger along the child’s head which earns him a happy gurgle, “so now I guess I have to stop calling him womp rat?”

You let out a loud laugh head falling back slightly, “Yes, I think that would be best.”

You obviously can’t see him through the helmet, but Dyn’s features soften as you laugh, still entranced by each and every thing you do. Your laugh, your smile, the way you scrunch your nose when your frustrated, everything about you makes Dyn fall more in love each day. It also makes him dread the reason he came over here to speak with you. as if you read his thoughts you spoke up.

“Oh, did you need something love?” you turned to face him once again.

Dyn let out a soft sigh, “I think we need to leave,” he said finally, a hint of sadness behind his words.

Your eyebrows knit together and your heart clenches, “But why? It’s safe here, we’ve been fine here for the last few months and nothing has happened,” you tried to reason.

He shook his head and grasped your free hand in his own leather clad one, “I know but-“ he paused knowing that you liked it here, hell you had been living here for many years, “they know we’re here now and I’m just afraid that they won’t stop coming and they will come more prepared next time. I don’t want to put your people in danger any longer. And if-“ he has to force the lump in his throat away, “if you want to stay I understand, but I won’t put anyone else in danger because of my selfishness.”

You don’t say anything for a long time, you just look down at the child, and for a moment Dyn is worried that you won’t go with him, and all his plans for the future would turn to ashes. You finally look up at him a smile once again adorning your features and you squeeze his hand, “I’ve never truly felt at home here Dyn, I mean I have Ariah but she’s truly the only one who ever treated me as fully accepted here,” You glance around the small village as people mill about their days, you look back to the man you love and press a quick kiss to the metal of his helmet, “of course I’ll go with you Dyn.”

Dyn releases a huge breath as a giant smile crossed his face under his helmet, he pulls you into a tight hug causing you to let out a laugh once more, “I’m glad,” he says finally pulling away from you.

You squeeze his hand again before returning to stirring the stew, “When were you thinking we’d leave?”

“Within the week, at least give you time to say goodbye and pack.”

You nodded, a smile still stuck in your face, “Dinner will be ready soon, why don’t you go wash up? I don’t want stinky farm hands in my house.” You tease lightly.

A chuckle escapes Dyn’s lips and he stands sending you a mock salute, “Yes ma’am,” he says before retreating to the home.

You roll your eyes and look down at the child again, before grabbing the pot from above the fire and following Dyn to the house, “What am I going to do with him?” the child just lets out a curious sound, “Yeah I don’t know either.”

///

At first, after you and Dyn had finally confirmed your relationship, it was odd to eat in separate rooms or facing different directions. However now it was normal, as you and Dyn sat with your backs touching and facing opposite directions. You knew it took a lot of trust on his part to do this, to be in the same room with another person without his helmet and trusting that they won’t try to look. You both ate in silence only the occasional sound of clinking silverware and sounds from the child interrupting the silence, so you were surprised when you heard Dyn moving around behind you.

“Are you done eating already?” you had just dished out the stew so he must have been hungry.

The only response you received was two arms snaking around your waist. You gasped and quickly snapped your eyes shut as one of the hands took your bowl and set it aside, “Dyn, what are you doing?”

He doesn’t say anything as he lifts you up as if you weighed nothing and positioned you so you straddled his lap, “I just care about you so much,” he finally offers, voice cracking slightly.

With your eyes still shut you wrap your arms tightly around his midsection and lay your head in the crook of his neck, finally able to open your eyes. he speaks up again.

“I never thought that would have this,” he admits, pulling you tighter against him, “I never thought that I could wake up every day happy and excited to spend it with someone.”

You felt tears burn behind your eyes and you buried your face in his neck, “Oh Dyn,” you whispered leaving a chaste kiss to his neck, “I love you too.”

Dyn had yet to return the words, but he told you in other ways. In the words he said, or the things he did for you, or the quick kisses he would give you before you woke in the morning. You knew he loved you even if he didn’t say it directly. You continued to stay tangled together for several moments, relishing in the rare intimate moments you got to share before Faylen’s cooing brought you back to reality. You closed your eyes as he pulled away from you and donned his helmet once more. You frowned slightly as you opened your eyes and were met with the same beskar you had come to know. While you we’re not upset with him in anyway and you understood that it was The Way, you still longed to actually see the man you love. But you don’t push the subject. You look over to Faylen to see him holding his empty bowl out to you, you smiled and spooned a second helping into the small bowl and giggled as the child cooed happily.

“You know, for a tiny little thing he eats more than you do,” you comment.

Dyn lets out a chuckle and nods, “Yes he does, and I don’t even want to know what his appetite will look like when he gets older.”

You feign a shiver, “we’ll go broke trying to feed our kid,” you joked but stopped short when you say Dyn go rigid. You look to him questioningly.

“Our kid?”

Your eyes widen at the realization of what you said but then relaxed and you shrugged, “Well yeah. We’re together and we both take care of him, we’ve basically adopted him so…” you trailed off now self-conscious of your slip up.

But Dyn just hums lowly before picking up Faylen careful not to spill his food, “our kid…I could get used to the sound of that.”

You blush and duck to start cleaning up the dishes, silently admitting that you liked the sound of it as well.

///

The end of the week had come sooner than you had anticipated and you watched with a slightly heavy yet hopeful heart as Jaleer and some of the other villagers helped Dyn load up the razor crest with your belongings. You had donned your cloak, staff slung over your shoulder.

“I’m going to miss you so much!” Ariah nearly knocks you over as she throws her arms around you, squeezing the life out of you. you hug her back just as fiercely, “There’s nothing that says we won’t visit, or that you can’t visit us.” You assure.

You friend pulls away tears in her eyes, “I know…but now who’s going to help me put Jaleer in his place?” she whines.

You laugh and see Jaleer approach from the ship and sling an arm your shoulders, he had seemed to warm up to both you and Dyn after the whole Chroig ordeal.

“Well I for one am thankful for one less pest hanging around,” he jests rubbing your head playfully. You groan and shove his arms off of you, “Whatever you say Jaleer, I know you’re secretly going to cry when I leave.”

Jaleer rolled his eyes but brought you into a hug anyway, “You know you will always have a home here. If you ever need it.”

You nodded as you pulled away from Jaleer, not missing the newfound respect in his eyes, “I know.”

Dyn walks over and places a hand your waist, “Everything’s ready to go,” he looks over to Jaleer, “thank you again for letting me stay here, and I’m sorry for any ill I may have caused.”

Jaleer shook his head and shook the Mandalorians hand firmly, “Like I said, you both are welcome back anytime. Don’t be strangers.”

Dyn just nods before he looks to you, “You ready?”

You nod a smile creeping onto your face as you hug Ariah one last time before walking with Dyn onto the ship. You wave to the other villagers as they call out various well wishes before the ramp to the ship hisses closed, a certain finality behind it. You let out a small sigh and turn to see Dyn climbing up a ladder and you follow suit, you had never been on his ship until now surprisingly. You watched as he took a seat in the piolets chair and started up the ship. You looked around spotting Faylen sitting in one of the chairs and smiled before picking him up and placing him on your lap as you took his seat.

“So where are we headed? How long will it take us to get there?” you ask.

“It’s actually fairly close, but it’s a surprise.”

“Oh a surprise?” you wiggled your eyebrows, “What has come over you Dyn?”

The Mandalorian just shrugged his shoulders not giving you a definite answer before the ships lifts from the ground. You look out the window as the trees and landscape shrinks further and further away until you are among the stars. Even though you had been in space several times it never ceased to amaze you. You watched as the stars turned into blue-sliver streaks as the ship launched into hyperdrive and it felt like mere seconds before you were dropping out of it. When in reality it had been close to an hour, you were just too deep in though to realize. The planet you were approaching was not as green as you previous planet but it still had some green, with some brown and orange mixed in. And if you thought it couldn’t get any better your breath was sucked from your lungs as Dyn landed the ship near a small cottage nestled among rolling hills and plains. You held onto the child as Dyn grasped your hand and led you from the ship and towards the small, what looked to be a farm. As you approached the small cottage you felt tears well in your eyes, you had never seen a planet so beautiful and calm before. Apparently Faylen agreed because he seemed to let out and awe filled gasp.

“How did you – where did you-“you stumbled over your words, still In shock as you looked at the man beside you.

He shuffled nervously under your gaze, “I still have some connections with a friend that’s still with the Mandalorian’s and she was able to do this for me, for us.” You saw him raise his hands and grasp the rim of the helmet to remove it.

You once again close your eyes, confused as to why he was doing this now. You held Faylen tightly as you grasped for Dyn blindly, unable to find him.

“Dyn what are you doing?” You hear shuffling for a brief moment before a short stint of silence.

“Open your eyes.” his unmodulated voice meets your ears and confusion flow through you.

“But your helmet Dyn, I can’t-“

“Just open them,” he insists, “Please.”

You feel your heart racing, blood rushing in your ears. You were about to see Dyn, actually see him, and for a moment you were scared. This would ruin The Way. He wouldn’t be able to put the helmet back on again. But he’s asking you -no – begging you to look.

So you do.

You slowly peel your eyes open and your hand immediately shoots to your mouth to stifle the gasp that slips out. You quickly scan his face and immediately feel your heart flutter at the handsome man kneeling in front of you. His brown locks tousled from removing his helmet, and dark stubble adorning his face and warm brown eyes looking up at you, a nervous fear in his eyes – wait – Kneeling!

Your brain finally registers what is happening as you see the simple silver rings held delicately between two ungloved fingers. You look from the ring back to Dyn, your brain still trying to catch up with what is happening. But Dyn speaks before you can.

“(Y/N), I had a whole speech planned out, but as soon as you looked at me it flew out the window,” he chuckled nervously before clearing his throat, “You are the love of my life, you have brought me so much happiness and life since the day you saved me in those woods, and I know that we haven’t known each other that –“

“Oh shut up, you idiot, “ you blubber past your tears, “Of course I will!” you throw your free arm around him careful not to squish Faylen, as you nearly knock the man over.

Tears are streaming down your face as Dyn gently pulls away from you, his thumbs wiping away the wet tracks on your face. A watery smile crosses his face as he takes your hand in his own, slipping the ring over your finger.  You let out a breathy chuckle before looking at you future husband and crash your lips to his for what felt like the first time. Dyn smiles into the kiss as your lips move in sync, and it feels like fire is running through his veins. He pulls away from you somewhat reluctantly and rest his forehead on your own, and you rest your newly decorated hand on his cheek, a wide smile on your face once more.

“I love you Dyn Jarren.”

And for the first time Dyn says it back.

///// Tags: @readsalot73 @theforceofdarkandlight @stylelovechild @amazingiam00 @so-chee @candipuff​ @stillreadingfantasy​ @taman-a​ @kaelyn-lobrutto24​ @maryan028​ @cateyesinlove​ @dizzydazed​ @the-silentium​ @sinon36​ @somehow-lovable-trash​ @lirinchi​ @katialvi @junkersandroadies-son​ @osric-the-l3m0n-l0v3-demon​ @arwallace​ @tiredjedi @duckqueenzoe​ @mxrvel-fxnxtic​ @livasaurasrex​ (For some reason it won’t let me tag some people, I’m sorry!)

[keelywolfe]

FIC: Dadster #2 (Rules for Dating My Sons)

Notes: Couldn't resist adding on to it a little for Father's day! Tossing in some spicyhoney for flavor, come on, like I can resist?

Tags: Pre-Spicyhoney, Hurt/Comfort, Angst, Implied/Referenced Child Abuse, Found Family

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Sequel to: Dadster 

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Read it on AO3

or

Read it here!

~~*~~

"hey, pop, can you hand me the other spanner?"

Gaster looked up from the formula that was currently blurring before his eyes. There was an error in it somewhere and yet, the more he stared at the paper, the more the numbers floated in front of his vision defiantly.

A break was in order and this was a good excuse for one. He stood, pressing both hands into the cramped small of his back with a groan, then made his way to the other side of the lab. There was a hulking dropcloth-covered bulk in the furthest corner and around the backside, a skinny pair of legs poked out from under it. A tray was lying on the floor close by, tools lined up neatly, and Gaster crouched, considering them. A least three of them were spanners.

“Which one?” Gaster asked and when there wasn’t a reply, he sent two of his conjured hands beneath the…ah. The vehicle? He supposed that designation would do for now, deathtrap was likely closer, and he resigned himself to plenty of worries if and when Stretch got it working. He signed his question again beneath the troublesome thing and this time an answer floated out.

“three-eighths—” there was a loud clunking sound. “shit, no, seven-sixteenths.”

“Language,” Gaster said teasingly, even as he put the spanner into the grubby hand that appeared.

That hand vanished immediately, and scrabbling noises followed. “c’mon, pop, don’t you start. blue already has me by the balls, i don’t need you giving ‘em a squeeze.”

“I’ll thank you to spare me that mental imagery,” Gaster said dryly. But he didn’t bother to scold; Stretch was more engineer than scientist and there was a longstanding tradition of a certain amount of verbal vulgarity in that particular trade.

There was another clunking sound followed by an appropriately irritated curse. “sorry, sorry, this fu-friggin thing is stuck good.”

The loud bang of metal hitting metal was also traditional and Gaster shook his head. “Let me get you a lubricant, it may help.”

He ignored his son’s snicker, “sure, let’s lube it up, get it into a slippery situation, might be my saving grease.”

Gaster only shook his head, suppressing his own smile. To hear Stretch making puns and laughing warmed his soul, evaporating his frustrations over that silly equation. It didn’t seem that long ago that Stretch spoke only in biting sarcasm, mocking humor that never reached his eye lights. Little by little that tight shielding flaked away, cautiously revealing the gentle, vulnerable soul hidden beneath it and Gaster might tease, but he would never, ever do anything to take away Stretch’s little amusements.

Time and patience was all Gaster had on his side when it came to these boys, his boys. He should have been their father, wished fiercely that he could have been and spared them all the pain of their pasts. Lacking that, he’d do what he could and if a silly, vulgar pun helped, he’d listen to each and every one.

A light knock on the door halted him before he reached the cupboards. He paused, considering, then decided the lubricant could wait a moment.

"Come in," Gaster called. He already knew who it was, the only one of his boys who would ever knock.

Out of all of them, Edge was the one who resisted his overtures the most. Gaster didn't press, allowing him to find his own way and only hovered in the background, offering what meager encouragement that the thick armor of Edge’s pride would allow.

He stood in the doorway now, not quite passing the threshold. He couldn’t have been home for long, Edge’s sentry shift lasted well into the afternoon, but he’d taken the time to change out of his uniform and into a plain black t-shirt and jeans. Despite the more casual clothing, his speech was always formal, almost stilted, "Gaster, I was hoping to speak with you."

Edge was also the only one of the children who unironically called him by name. It was a step up, in a way. At least Edge stopped calling him 'sir'.

"Of course,” Gaster gestured to the chairs by the desk, settling into his own. “What can I do for you?"

Even sitting, Edge’s spine was ramrod straight and he folded his gloved hands into his lap as he said, bluntly. "It's about Stretch."

The silence from the far corner of the room was telling and Gaster very much hoped he wouldn't regret saying, "What about him?"

"It's just--" To Gaster’s astonishment, Edge faltered, looking down. There was none of his normal arrogant confidence on his twisting face and his hands knotted into his lap as he struggled for words. “He…that is…”

"Yes, I think you should ask him out," Gaster said baldly.

Bright crimson magic flooded Edge's face, settling high on his sharp cheekbones. When they’d first come to this world, Gaster had been privately worried for Edge and Red; their physiology was different than the other brothers and it was not an exaggeration to call their appearance fearsome. Never had he been more grateful for Asgore’s kindness than in those early days of their arrival when he not only agreed to allow Edge to join the guard, but introduced him personally around the Underground, particularly in Snowdin where Edge was stationed. As Gaster understood it, Edge was quite popular with the children there and protective as well.

The pride in his soul as he watched Edge slowly flourish was only diminished by one last concern and today it seemed to be coming to a head.

"I couldn’t,” Edge blurted. He did not fidget, but his crimson eye lights darted around. “I’ve always been grateful for your hospitality and—"

"You could," Gaster interrupted calmly. He left aside the comment about hospitality, pushed aside the faint frustration that came with it, "And I would approve. Stretch is a charming young man and handsome as well.”

One who did not lack for suitors and they both knew it. Stretch never lacked for company, although he’d never gone on more than one date with any of them. He still kept people outside of their family at arm’s length and was always clear about the casual nature of those relationships.

Gaster had his own suspicions on why that was.

"But I couldn’t,” Edge repeated doggedly, “it could ruin things for you, for all of us.” He looked up then, his eye lights imploring, “What if I ask and he turns me down, or if he didn't and things went terribly. It would change everything!”

"It could, that is true,” Gaster slouched back in his chair, lacing his hands over his middle, signing on with his conjured ones. “Life is change. My life changed when you and the others came here. Perhaps it will work out, perhaps it won't, but stagnation destroys growth. If you want to ask him out, then ask him, and if something comes of it, wonderful, and if it doesn’t, we’ll work past it.”

Edge nodded, swallowing hard. “Thank you, I appreciate your assurance. I didn’t want to presume.”

He stood abruptly and left without another word. Gaster idly wondered how much longer they’d all be waiting for him to ask. He hoped Edge at least waited until Sunday; that was his chosen day in the betting pool.

From the far corner of the room came words, no longer muffled by drop clothes and engines, "so do i really need to wait for him to ask or can i do it for him? ‘cause i've been waiting, he took forever to read the dating manual.”

Gaster looked over at his son, at his grease-covered clothes and the spanner in his filthy hand, the unrepentant grin on his dirty, delighted face.

"Stagnation is death, but patience is also a virtue," Gaster said dryly. "Wait for him, there’s time enough. And if you’re finished for today, I’ll thank you to clean up.”

"sir, yes, sir,” Stretch’s grin widened even as he turned back around, calling back slyly, “guess the lubricant will have to wait for another day.”

“Cheeky,” Gaster murmured, chuckling to himself and pulled his work back towards him. This time it took him less than a minute to find the error in the equation and he erased it, penciling in the correct number. Before he could finish, Stretch scooted around behind him and there was a light brush of teeth against the top of his skull.

“thanks, pop.” Soft, sincere words, and Gaster closed his sockets briefly, affection for this boy, for all his boys, swelling in his soul.

“You’re welcome. Now go get washed up for dinner.”

“uh huh, you better be heading up,” Stretch said, “blue’ll come drag you up if you don’t.”

“I’ll be right behind you,” Gaster assured him. He went back to work, absently hearing the door closing behind Stretch. He was almost finished and then he’d head upstairs, to what would surely be an interesting meal if nothing else, depending on who cooked today.

Either way, it would be a perfect dinner. So long as his boys were all there, it always was.

-finis-