#and i think that's why i had a dream 2 days ago the featured the ex of a celebrity crush. all adjacent. to the yearning.

[youremyonlyhope]

I really should know better than to watch dumb romcoms while I'm 90% sure I'm ovulating.

This time it was Netflix's Love in the Villa trying to make me cry.

[diorcities]

an essay on dreams

pairing: haechan (donghyuck) x reader, jeno x reader. genre: angst, smut, fantasy ya. hyudior's halloween stories. content: morally grey characters, slow burn, heavy plot. smut flashes (blowjob, missionary.) riding, fingering (fem receiving), oral sex (fem receiving), mating press, missionary, manhandling, slight handjob. sandman references. prose w poetry. wc: 20k, (but bear w me, it is worth it)

there is a dream you always dream of.

where you fall, infinitely. towards the void, towards space, towards the immensity of the ocean. you don't know. you never know, because you never reach the bottom. that dream you always dream about, about falling without knowing what awaits you is more recurrent than you would like to admit; it scares you more than you'd like to admit. but the most disturbing thing is that the hands that keep you suspended, those who prevent you from falling into the void are the ones that throw you in the first place.

a stranger. a friend. a lover. an enemy.

yet, it was intriguing.

your body shakes off its lethargy and you soon realize that you've been dozing off for a while when you're supposed to study. you find yourself slightly disoriented even though it's still 2 a.m., as if a whole lifetime has passed between the now and a couple of minutes ago; the sensation takes a little bit to wash off when your mouth stretches into an involuntary yawn, too potent to resist your exhaustion. every one of you is in the same dire state.

you embarked on what was meant to be a night of tranquil study, a forlorn endeavor to conquer an all-nighter. yet, at this moment, renjun reclines against jaemin's sturdy shoulder who nods over his notes, struggling to keep his eyes open. chenle has long departed for some ethereal realm where souls find solace while their earthly vessels rest. even there, he's not alone, jisung's always present sporadically responding too fatigued to discern that chenle's not with him, but in the cosmos.

“i was waiting for you” he mumbles at one point, getting no response from his murmuring partner.

and him. why is he here, among all the past nights? scattered on the sofa with no signs of being tired, walks his eyes along the lines of the book before his gaze falls on you and catches you sneaking a glance at him. you clear your throat feeling a rush of energy and turn your attention to the heavy tome on your lap, but the letters change places due to fatigue, and one more second looking at it will cause a migraine. so, you close the heavy book that almost threatens to wake up renjun who startles next to you but remains dreaming peacefully, now with jaemin laying his head on his, as you can no longer hear the meaningless conversation that jisung and chenle are having a few moments ago.

“i think it's just you and me,” you say, seeing how his way of responding to you is by pulling his head to the side, as if he knows something you don’t know yet.

the haze that has fallen on your eyes barely allows you to see his features clearly, but there's no need for that; messy honeycomb hair that he brushes every now and then, delicate hands that surely caress like a lover, brown sugar eyes that now are still on you “why don't you go to sleep?” he asks, and his voice sounds soft and slippery like a warm feeling that drips through your mind. “i can't,” you hear yourself say.

“why?”

he looks really interested. but why does he care so much? it's him who disappears at the moment when everyone else is asleep and appears days later, leaning against the brick wall of the university on any given cold morning, smoking a cigarette with the rest as if he had never left. as if you're the only one who's noticed he wasn't there.

“why don't you go to sleep?” you replicate, and you feel your heart beat slower. “besides, will you be able to study tomorrow with us, anyway?”

he just shrugs his shoulders, “why?”.

where will he go, when he's not around, when you didn't know each other, years ago? will he go to his place? will he tour the city because he has insomnia, like you? because he has nightmares, like you?

“because you'll be behind with us and we'll have to help you keep up.”

“is that so terrible?” he asks now with a composed tone, and due to deprivation, you can't turn back time so you haven't been so insensitive. “sorry,” you apologize, “i'm irritated by this test, that's why i must stay awake,” you finally confess, but is it the truth? doesn't wanting to know if he's going to leave that time have anything to do with the desire of not want to go to bed?

“everyone's asleep,” he points out. but you. the words burn in your tongue when he speaks again, “there's no point in studying while being tired.”

“i'm not tired.” but he knows you're lying, and your cheeks burn at the thought of him knowing that. you are, in the way your eyes stay closed longer than necessary when you blink, startling when an apex of desolate darkness comes and tries to lurks you in., you're too busy trying to soothe the dizzy spell to notice that he has come closer to you.

“go to sleep, star.”

“maybe if you... sleep with me.” donghyuck laughs briefly, shaking his head slightly, and you simply stay there, unable to look away, because one of the strands of his soft hair has moved slightly out of place, and you fight the urge to run your fingers between them. he doesn't lose his composure for a second, even though his cheeks are flushed. “would that be a good dream?”

“ask me tomorrow.”

your eyes close and open heavily, feeling the thick fog of sleep take possession of your mind while his figure seems to change the further you lose the battle. “i'll stay a few more minutes” you grumble in disadvantage of this weird sensation taking over your body, feeling his face being swallowed by the darkness that envelops you, casting shadows over his delicate, angular features. “now, yn.”

“i'm afraid i'll have nightmares about letters changing places if i do,” you say in an exhale.

he raises the corners of his lips, “i'll keep them away.”

his voice vibrates and passes through you in waves, resonating and expanding within you, injecting a silky sedative into your bloodstream. you are not in control of your body. the calming effect that his voice has is hard to battle, letting your head pull back and your arms fall inert on either side of your body, feeling the weight of the book slip like liquid out of your lap, feeling that every second you spend unsuccessfully in regaining control of your body is another second that slips from your fingers until it becomes an unstoppable retreat.

no matter how hard you strive to resist, slumber proves an unyielding force, and gradually, you sink deeper into morpheus domain. your body offers no resistance, your consciousness scatters throughout the boundless universe, wandering towards the endless expanse of the cosmos as the battle, both unfair and treacherous, dissipates.

as the world blurs, he's looking at you. it's his docile and magnanimous voice resounding in every bone that makes your voyage to the gloomy stars less terrible. and as you go there, you were looking at him.

time passes differently on the rem. you don't know how to explain it. it's hard to put into words. there is no activity at instance, only unconsciousness. nothing. and then... the entire universe formed with one pulse. time shrinks and cracks like a wormhole, and you're passing right through it.

your screams are barely a muffled sound in the immense darkness that rushes past you. your lungs fill with frigid air, and each frightened exhalation feels like a stab. fear tightens your stomach as you plummet through the hole. this is the moment when you remember a forgotten detail; it's just a nightmare, despite your emotions being real, despite feeling the terror emanating from your body.

there's always a mist clouding your dreams. something you dread when you close your eyes and find yourself alone for a moment in that darkness. thick, volatile, arcane. a piece of a starless sky, which weaves its own mantle that extinguishes sunlight. it smells like a thunderstorm, like the dark part of the moon. and yet, the terrors that fright the long nights are easily dissolve in liquid twilight when golden threads intervene, transforming the matter into a meteor shower.

and you're falling once again, into the stars. no. you're floating among them.

you are dreaming.

was this a fragment that belonged to the ether before it got lost in the darkness? was it yours? the matter becomes so thin that your unconscious body can pass through it. stranded in the endless void between the stars. but now everything glows.

a cozy bedroom. a café opened at midnight. a party. a city at night. a meadow. a black hole. a beach.

all happening, in the same fraction of time.

the wheat your fingers touch. the rock music that envelops your body not so different from the one that comes out of a jukebox at midnight while you dance slowly. your feet buried in the sand.

your gaze lowers to your feet before looking at the expanse of sea. little by little the sounds come back, and you're listening to the seagulls over the sound of the waves crashing against the rocks.

“are you going to stand there?” chenle startles you as he passes by your side, smiling so openly while he walks away toward the shore, that makes you smile too.

your eyes water from looking straight at him, waiting for an answer, and you find yourself thinking what to say, when someone else does it. “no,” jisung answers with a light laugh.

a sense of unease settles in your stomach. you slice your head for memories of how you ended up in that place when all of a sudden you remember that you haven't woken up yet.

you keep dreaming, but why this dream? where are the others?

why do you seem to be an intruder in your own dream?

“chenle, where are w-…?” your words are cut off. you cut them yourself. your voice…. sounds different; it echoes through space before returning to you in waves, until all that's left is the sound of your pulse pumping behind your ears.

you witness something unusual. jisung and chenle watch you. their faces reveal nothing, frozen in a neutral expression. all of humanity torn from their jovial faces and leaving only a shell that shows no emotion whatsoever.

a thunder strikes the sky, and jisung's face transforms. “what are you doing here?” you hesitate before speaking because you remember how your voice sounded a few moments ago; just like how his sounds like now. “i don't like this dream.” you ask, and everything is unsettling for you. a smile disfigures the boy's pale face, “i do.”

within that inner space, the corner of the universe residing within you, something stirs.

you've never been able to dream. and he often slumbers eternally when you're conscious, only to awaken for fleeting moments, like the ones when you do dream, to play with them. a riddle of ivory and hair as dark as night, celestial as a sculpted statue, perfectly chiseled, with skin as pale as lunar dust, as frigid as thee. you refer to him as nightmare.

nightmare, like the ones that torment you in the long nights. like the monsters that inhabit your head. nightmare, like this one. 

you don't know anything about it, only that it dwells in you. in the immensity of your nightmares. he. who is so wary of the touch of morpheus that takes you out of the rem, where you wake up, breathing erratically.

it's still dark. the room is darkened and you feel that someone is lurking in it. wrap its hands around you, feeling your heart skip a beat as the fear crawls inside, failing to escape the dreaming. “it's me, star. it's donghyuck, it's donghyuck,” his voice tinted with sedative calmness even though you sense your own desperation in it.

you feel his fingers in your hair, as if he can untangle the bad dreams from your head, while his voice continues to feel serene, having an effect on your runaway pulse. you allow yourself to be influenced. it's always this needs to find warmth even in a place on fire. letting your guard down even when your gut says something is wrong, that he feels wrong. “you can't have good dreams.” your breath gets stuck in your throat when you hear his nocturnal voice, “he'll make sure of that.”

your body sits up, and a thud rumble causes jisung to stir in his sleep. the dim light of a forgotten lamp reveals his features in deep sleep. chenle sobs beside you, in trouble. the world becomes silent as his mouth opens but nothing comes out of it, and suddenly his chest becomes still.

jisung mutters something when you're halfway from chenle. you don't hear it until he repeats it, this time more pressing, “wake— up.” your eyes travel to the boy, breathless at jisung's twisted features in a grimace of anguish.

“chenle, wake up.” your hands shake it, but there's no answer. there's nothing.  he's not breathing. “chenle,” you say more urgently, slapping his face a couple of times, “you need to breathe.” your face moves closer to his chest to try to feel his heartbeat; you don't like the revelation at all. “chenle, now!” jisung frets under your attempts to awaken chenle; his murmurs begin to become more frequent and yours more desperate.

“it's just a dream.”

jisung keeps repeating «wake up», and you start to get impatient. in one last attempt, you shift your attention to him. your hands hesitate, suspended in the path it takes you to reach his shoulders, before you do, taking a breath of air. “wake up, now!”

chenle takes a long breath of oxygen behind you, sitting up in the sleeping bag almost as jisung's eyes widen in stupefaction. you feel your head lighter, forcing you to rest your weight on your elbows while catching your breath.

“what the hell was that?” chenle asks in a hoarse voice, casting a glance at jisung before you.

you deny shortly. “you stopped breathing.”

“i know… i was— drowning,” he mentions with a shallow tone.

“what were you dreaming?” you hear yourself asking even though you don't want to know the answer.

his eyes pull away from his friend to answer you. “a beach.”

( ✶ )

donghyuck has disappeared, as usual. and you can't come to the conclusion whether that's bad or good. but it is inevitable to go around the courtyard in search of his presence. try to find him in the cafeteria with the others, or in the library where you thought he would be with jaemin that day. but it is useless, and trying to contact him is even more so. you know you shouldn't worry too much about his absence; donghyuck always comes back. even when it takes days or weeks. and feeling that you would expect it all that time does not end up seeming hopeful or pathetic. because he just doesn't care. he makes no excuses. he gives no explanation. he just appears, as if only one day had passed, as if you had said goodbye yesterday.

and every time, the lapses in which he disappears become larger. at first, it was days; he always came with an excuse about being busy. then weeks. and so on, the lapses will grow wider, until you forget his features. until you forget him.

“don't think too hard, bug.” his voice takes you out of the planet of thoughts, but his eyes remain on the book in his hand, “it's no use.” then his gaze lands on you, and it feels like he can see through you.

“what are we searching for?” jaemin lets you change the subject and focus on the stall. “art project,” he absentmindedly informs, “my teacher wants us to investigate not-so-ordinary things.”

“thats why we're in the fantasy section?” renjun arrives unexpectedly and joins in the casual chat while leaving a pile of books on the shelf where jaemin had left his attention.

“urban fantasy, little bird,” jaemin corrects under the shared chuckles of you and renjun. “troubles with sleeping?” he asks, taking notice of the books renjun had had in his possession just minutes ago.

“per usual. is either i finish my midterms or my midterms finishes me.” he pats his shoulder before taking a seat at the study table designated by the science student committee to chat during breaks.

“nightmares?” jaemin inquires before renjun shakes his head and scares away his words with his hand in a relaxed gesture. “cute, but no.”

your countenance shadows by thoughts entangling as they form, “drowning?” the word escapes from your subconscious before you can stop your mouth and renjun looks at you strangely. “dreaming apnea.”

“you found that in your little search?” jaemin praises with a smug smile that causes renjun to roll his eyes. “are you having dreaming apnea?” he wonders looking at you.

you shake your head. “i—” no. just your taciturn nightmare, until that night. of all of them the one where he was there, and you dreamed. a few seconds of glory before falling down the hole that always waits below, “see you at the red door.” jaemin and renjun say goodbye to you smiling slightly before watching you walk away from the study table towards the exit.

you can't tell them about chenle yet. not without knowing what it means. your mind is fragmented in the fateful night moment when his heart stopped beating and the moment before your nightmare triggered a metamorphosis.

a sharp pain goes through your head just thinking about it. all those dreams, could they be yours? you find yourself trying to calm the drill that slices your brain at the little hint of dreaming when you hear their voices.

“... finds out.”

“... she's not...”

they abruptly shut up as if they feel like you're listening.

jisung's gaze looks sterner than usual when chenle speaks, “d'you think you're safer?”

“no.” his voice is barely a whisper.

chenle sighs audibly, “we can make mistakes, just… don't kill me in one of those.”

jisung laughs.

“it never turned into a nightmare before...”

his words keep echoing in your head for a long time later.

( ✶ )

“an essay on dreams.”

“you must be kidding!” renjun exclaims, throwing his head back to show his annoyance.

“what does that mean anyway?” jisung asks with his mouth full of popcorn, “like, to prove your point you'll fall asleep in front of everyone?” chenle laughs at the other end of the couch.

“hear me out for a second.”

“oh, not again,” replies chenle.

jaemin ignores chenle to answer the confused boy, “i'm doing research about the rem.”

“so dreams and nightmares, then,” mutters renjun.

“the spectrum.”

everyone looks at him, dumbfounded. “how does our brain process dreams? why can't we remember some? is there a fragmented consciousness?...”

you feel donghyuck gaze on you, and when you return it, you discover that he is looking at you strangely. “entertained?”

“very,” you say, feeling the word slide down your tongue and leave a strange aftertaste. you've been feeling weird this week. it's been a few days since you eavesdropped on chenle and jisung, and you don't know how to feel about it. you haven't talked about it; you've kept your distance while the waters calm down. in the meantime, dreaming and having mental lapses in identical proportions are taking your mind lately. dreams that now belong to you. dreams that you can't seem to have enough of. you wake up from them and spend the whole day waiting to go back to bed and dream. this time, what?

a terrace in milan. night walks in new york. a piano in a london theater.

your eyes close under the premise of rem and a thousand and one dreams, but you find yourself unable to fall asleep as you feel commotion in the small living room where everyone is asleep.

but donghyuck.

the bewilderment crawls into your skin, “what…?” but donghyuck presses a finger over his mouth. silence.

your eyes sweep the place, travel to chenle; his chest rises and falls.

another rumble is heard.

“where's renjun?” you question without making a sound.

kitchen.

you get there before him because he has to cross the entire room to catch up with you when you've already changed rooms. the lights are off, and yet the silvery light that trickles through the window is extinguished when it stumbles upon his stretched figure.

even when everything is dark, you can feel his gaze.

“going somewhere?”

you feel him smile. “this late?” your eyes squint to see in more detail. you feel donghyuck get closer. renjun's voice sounds different when he speaks, “i like the night better.”

renjun opens the door, and the light coming in from the moon reveals his closed eyes.

donghyuck gets in the way when you make a pretense of going to renjun. “he's asleep—” you intervene, watching him debate. renjun disappears through the door he has opened before going into the long night “i'll go.”

what he did. what he did to you. the words he said when you thought you were out of the nightmare; you start to think that all of this is happening because of him.

he can see it in the way you look at him.

“i'll bring him back, yn,” he says before letting you go with slight reluctance. his dark eyes are the last thing you see before he disappears in pursuit of renjun.

your breath condenses in your throat as you turn around and hit jisung's sleepy figure squarely. “where are they going?”

you find yourself in the dilemma of whether or not to tell him, when in the end your bad judgment wins out “donghyuck… he, renjun, he's…”

“sleepwalking.” jaemin's yawns as he passes the two of you to close the door. you both stare at him in surprise before he stiffens slightly and speaks, “one of the terrors of the rem spectrum.”

“terrors?”

“nightmares.”

chenle enters the kitchen scratching his stomach, “well, that doesn't sound silly anymore.”

“shouldn't we go after him?” you ask, “what if he gets hurt?” you add after watching jaemin shakes his head.

“donghyuck's with him,” jaemin persuades.

“and magically we should relax?” chenle says incredulously under the eldest's gaze.

after a few long seconds where everyone waits for an elaborate answer, jaemin takes a breath of air and lets out “yes.” with nothing else before heading to the leaving room.

“wait a fucking minute.” chenle goes after him, and consequently, jisung and you too. “that's it? are we leaving the safety of our friend to someone we see every forty days?” he utters without a hint of sleep, watching jaemin shrug his shoulders, “what if he's a werewolf?”

“oh, my god.”

“we're in the middle of halloween, he might as well just be reaching out to us to become one of his kind.”

“okay, kid, enough tv before going to bed.” jaemin lets go, shaking off the chenle's grip, “you too,” he adds, looking at jisung.

due to chenle's heavy gaze, reluctant to give his arm to twist, jaemin snorts, “he's not a fucking werewolf.”

“vampire?”

“no.”

“why do you trust him?” jaemin is surprised at the contrast between his conversation and yours, but when he responds, you feel like he's grateful that you asked.

“i have sleep paralysis.”

“at first i thought it was because of having to work at that bar so i could pay rent and college...” he remains silent and lets himself be swallowed up by his mind going at a thousand revolutions.

“but they turned longer and longer, until i couldn't close my eyes without the fear that i'd be imprisoned in my own body again.”

“he offered to wake me up when that happened. he stayed in my place for a few nights and helped me.”

“did you dream about him?” everyone looks at jisung before jaemin shakes his head.

“why would i dream about him?” chenle adds under his breath before deciding it was good time go back to sleep.

“i mean, has anyone ever?” jisung goes behind him, answering in low volume, leaving you with his words causing swirls in your head.

“have you?” jisung looks over his shoulder at your face, but is only met with a neutral gaze that doesn't reveal the dead-end labyrinths that build up every time you try to reveal a moon phase of donghyuck. “no.” when he's everywhere.

when he knew jaemin for longer and never appeared in his dreams. nor chenle or jisung. no one has ever dreamed of him, and you couldn't dream before that night.

monday comes by, and so tuesday. all at once, the sounds come back to you until they become a swarm from which you have no escape, pulling out of your small universe. the night continues its constant rhythm, forcing you to stay agile, waiting tables in a bar on some forgotten street.

“still don't know why we come here all the time,” chenle says, taking a sip from this beer the moment you left it in front of him as his gaze swept the seedy place where you work half a shift. you smile unapologetically as you leave another one in front of jisung. “cheaper beers,” he answers for you, “and jaemin and yn work here.”

“what's up with the frown?” jaemin's voice blends in with the rest of the chatter, coming in your direction with a sad grimace on his face, mockingly. chenle rolls his eyes, “i'm just saying that we might as well get out of here drunk or dead.”

“it's not that bad, lele,” jisung tries to appease unsuccessfully when chenle scoffs in response. “say that when we get matching stabs in our way out,” he adds with sulkiness.

jaemin clicks his tongue, “stabs are friday's special, don't worry about it today, little prince.”

“ha,ha.”

jaemin stops smiling to adress you, “hey, can you take out the trash?”

your steps guide you towards the door designated for staff, and the voices of the group fade into the distance, swallowed by the sea of souls in that overcrowded establishment. it's quite a challenge to navigate among swaying bodies and avoid the occasional vomit stains; a typical night at the red door. frankly, you have no idea how you ended up there, in that dim corner of the city's harbor, where the majority of the clientele appears to be a curious mix of fishermen and shady characters.

before braving the cold night outside, you cast one final look at the group, attempting to soothe chenle's mood as the icy wind lashes at your face.

a chill envelops the outside, causing the nearest souls to huddle indoors, even though it's bursting at the seams. your breath escapes in ethereal clouds as you step through the door; a single bulb intermittently lights the desolate alley. it flickers in a constant dance of light and darkness, and it's not until the third flicker that you realize you're not alone. three silhouettes wrap themselves in the cold of the night as you put the bags in the bin. it's the midst of october, and the city seems trapped in an endless cycle of rain and snow. the fishermen seek refuge inside that cozy bar before the first light of dawn breaks, prepared for their maritime journey.

they seem to have a pleasant conversation as you redo the march toward the cozy interior of the seedy bar when his laughter reaches you with the wind. 

“tell me, sleepwalker.” his voice, so different from the one he uses with you, is the embodiment of the dark side of the moon, deep as the endless night. “there's a price for our knowledge, my dream,” whispers one of them, his companions barely whisper to each other with a seductive tone, appearing indifferent to the shadowy nuance with which donghyuck addresses them as if they were accustomed to hearing him that way, and you are the only one taken aback by witnessing it for the first time.

the bulb flickers and plunges you into darkness as they continue talking. in one flash, you see his broad back turning towards you. another flicker, and the features of his companions start to emerge as if they are being shaped in the dark time it takes for the bulb to light up the alley once more. your breath freezes in your throat.

“good dreaming, perhaps?” you find yourself considering that the entities he converses with might not be entirely of this world, and that donghyuck is not perturbed, but rather accustomed to their presence.

“doesn't work like that,” he replies with a hint of humor under the fog that causes his voice in you.  “you've done it before,” appeals the other one starting to look more like a woman with each dark flicker. you see donghyuck leaning toward her, and it's impossible to discern when he turns his back to you. you feel the seconds pass with two beats of your heart, as donghyuck regains his composure, and the figure releases a laugh that indicates donghyuck's actions have affected her. your mind undergoes a revolution, not knowing what he has done, filling your head with ideas you don't want to let affect you.

a can blocks your path, disrupting the piercing silence of the alley as you struggle to increase the distance between him and you, while simultaneously shortening the one separating you from the door. suddenly, a dizziness envelops you as his eyes meet yours.

your elusive figure slips back into the bar after having listened to their entire conversation, having gone unnoticed by their radar. donghyuck turns his gaze back to the two women, consumed by dreams, appearing more like specters than humans due to the time they've spent traversing the dream realm. completely stripped of amusement when his eyes lock onto them, one of the women dares to speak, “look at you, so far from home. chasing a myth.”

“what would morpheus think if he sees you?” donghyuck nods in acknowledgment. both figures smile, mirroring each other in a shared consciousness. he remains silent as each passing second takes a toll on the women, now reduced to little more than shadows and uncertainty. their eyes narrow once again as donghyuck addresses them, “ask him yourselves. you're now, awakened.” his voice, brimming with power, issues a gentle reprimand for their roundabout approach. donghyuck watches them dissolve into the cold night, carried away by the wind to their ensnared bodies in the dreaming, before he figures out what to do with you. his eyes trace back to the spot where you vanished before he follows your trail within. 

the darkness envelops the surroundings, weaving a perfect nest for nightmares and terrors. he can hear them, his dreams and nightmares, those dark and eager thoughts yearning to break free from his mind, craving to run wild in the world. his eyes catch the faint golden threads that barely endure; the realm of sweet dreams clings as a fragile inhabitant in that place overrun by nightmares. he sees your figure moving through the crowd, approaching the group of boys who seem to have stepped out of a fairy tale to which you feel you don't quite belong, always yearning to reach the sun and bask in its warmth, despite being destined to settle for shadows and cold. feeling confined and punished by the terrors, yet perceiving a spark in your eyes capable of kindling your own fire if that's what you need to stay warm.

a sturdy arm intercepts the space between your body and that of the group. your eyes follow the limb until they meet a face weathered by the storm, bloodshot eyes, and a repulsive smile. “another round of beer for this table, darling,” he grumbles. his companions cheer as you nod hesitantly, getting ready to go for the drinks, but the arm hasn't budged an inch. “what's wrong? i saw you smiling at that group over there. is there no smile for me?” the beer-stained breath wafts into your nostrils, reminding you to be cautious. the men exchange glances at your lack of reaction, allowing the arm that holds you captive to linger another second with them. you exhale and resume your walk when a jolt rocks your world, and a hand lands on your rear unceremoniously. “give us a smile!” unrestrained chaos erupts due to the man's audacious move, taking you by surprise. laughter erupts at their table as you break free from his grasp with force, the motion propelling you forward until you collide with a solid surface.

you gasp for breath, determined to untangle yourself from the arms that envelop you and keep you captive when your eyes meet donghyuck's gentle gaze before it shifts behind you. you see his eyes cloud over, and you recall the encounter with those specters from a moment ago, prompting you to break free from his grip and put as much distance between him and you as allowed, escaping to the boys who talk about dreams and nightmares.

thanks to jaemin's discoveries from his essay, everyone is more aware of the spectrum, as he often calls it. how nightmares influence sleepers, causing terrors such as apnoea, sleep paralysis, narcolepsy, and sleepwalking; all the things that have been affecting you these past nights.

apnoea. the decease of holding your breath while diving in the ocean of dreaming. sleep paralysis. being conscious while being in the ether. nightmares. darkness that slips into your dreams and turns golden threads into liquid shadows. narcolepsy. the state of the consciousness that gets trapped in the ether. insomnia. inability to enter the dream spectrum, unwelcome.

“...morpheus and the dreamcatcher. how morpheus loved his dreams so much he turned them real.” you hear as you come closer.

“finally,” jaemin greets you before you realize he's talking to someone else. donghyuck has appeared behind you after you left him with those guys; his gaze has darkened. “shall we leave?”

“wait a minute.” chenle's voice interrupts donghyuck's, “is he coming?”

“why wouldn't he?” jaemin replies.

chenle scoffs graceless, “i don't know, jaems, maybe for the fact that all of this is happening when he's around,” he points out, sweeping his glare for approval, “besides, where the fuck is renjun, huh? bet he killed him and…”

“he, what?” renjun arrives without prior notice and places his hand on chenle's shoulder, who startles at the unexpected arrival of the boy. “ren!” jisung hugs the eldest under chenle's gaze.

“oh my god, tell me i'm not the only one who thinks this is a bad idea.”

“you've been thinking bad ideas since we arrived,” mocks jisung.

“whatever.”

your eyes take record of him, as much to everything. how chenle has big blue bags under his eyes, how jisung yawns every now and then, how jaemin seems barely here with you while renjun tries to pretend to be calm while he hasn't stopped fidgeting around.

nothing is said for a long time, but the aura remains the same, kneading the words and connecting them, failing to stay awake in class, being in a complete state of abstinence, being physically but absent. they being unable to sleep without the fear of facing their worst nightmares again, growing with each hopeless exhale, taking more space, becoming more ferocious, annihilating any iota of good dreaming.

“hey.” you blink repeatedly under jaemin's concerned gaze and offer him a reassuring smile before your gaze meets donghyuck's.

and how he looks more tired than ever.

with his bright eyes completely dull, distant expressions and a mind working at high speed behind his gaze lost somewhere in the universe that inhabits his head. he, has been having bad dreams? what will he dream of? what will his taste like? more worrying, how did he do it? making you neglect your duties for the simple fact of making you dream of outer space.

“it's dawning,” you comment, “we should probably get going.”

time fades away as they gather their belongings and venture into the dark night. your mind gets lost in a sea of thoughts before you remember that you've forgotten something, and you quickly retrace your steps back to the bar. you follow your steps automatically to the staff door, and your eyes find the piece of cloth on the coat rack. you take it in your hands, ready to return to your friends, when something catches your attention. the service door is slightly ajar, maybe due to the cold wind, maybe due to unknown hands.

your fingers brush against the doorknob to close it, but in a final breath, you decide to step out into the alley, guided by a hunch.

a thick, dark fog swirls on the wet ground of the alley, while the light bulb in your heart flickers to the rhythm of the sharp whistles in the air. the light reveals their figures, and darkness envelops them as you hear the sounds they make. the light shows the glint of their blades, while the darkness makes you feel more than hear the steel cutting through skin. the light reveals their sinister self-inflicted smiles, and darkness enshrouds them once again.

the dark mist rises and condenses in the spot behind them, taking shape, molding a pair of shoulders draped in black garments, hair as dark as the night, and two eyes that gaze at you with depth. you hear his vicious laughter resonating within you.

( ✶ )

another night descends upon all, and each one tries to find sleep. however, you find yourself willing to stay awake, trying to keep yourself at bay from the clutches of morpheus. you toss and turn on the sofa unable to find rest and choose to remain in the room's dimness.

the memories of that night haunt your thoughts, like persistent shadows refusing to fade. the images of what happened seem to replay in your mind again and again, giving you no respite.

as you're immersed in your thoughts, you sense chenle stirring in his dreams; the dreaming heads of everyone scattered in jaemin's small room like stars, and it all seems to happen again. it feels like an eternity has passed since they were all like this, every laugh, every conversation, every shared look and gesture of camaraderie among them, whose only concern was passing exams. but it's only been two weeks. two weeks without him.

your eyes begin to close unexpectedly. “enough,” you demand from the boy hidden in the shadows. “i'm not doing anything, star.” his eyes look like daydream pools when he looks at you, “you're just tired.”

you struggle against the lethargy that fills your body, reluctant to close your eyes after what you've seen, after witnessing what the darkness conceals. dreams, on the other side of the room, so far out of your reach. nightmares, your recurring companion when you shut your eyes. his tattooed on your subconscious, brimming with ruthless coldness against the specters, ingrained in the alley where the men cut off their own smiles.

“they were evil.” his voice yanks you from your reverie, “they use human bodies to wander through worlds while they sleep,” calm and warm, explains. your gaze darts toward renjun, sleeping. “yes,” he responds as though he'd anticipated your query. “you should’ve come sooner,” you reproach. donghyuck remains reticent as you unload your grievances upon him and allows you to vent until you feel hollow inside, while everything whirls around him. “i couldn't.”

“why?”

the words burn at the tip of your tongue, despite knowing the answer. despite having seen the lines of reality blur and worlds collapse. you can't decide whether to feel fear or relief; you can’t trust him anymore.

you leave donghyuck with the word in his mouth, rolling over on the couch. whatever half-truth he wants to tell you, you don't want to hear it.

it's faster that time. dreams don't put up resistance when you insert yourself into them. and again, you dream the same thing.

the sand you feel between your fingers as real as in the city, with jaemin. in the meadow, with renjun. in a black hole, alone.

you always resort to the same fragment of dream. and even though you stay out of it, the sleep is disturbed. it mutates.

“are you going to stand there?” chenle passes by your side,  smiling so bright, completely ignoring what you see.

your eyes go to the expanse of sea behind them, which now rises in a wave until it blends with the blue of the sky; a sand island caught in the middle. the sounds of seagulls reverberate in the sky until you realize that it is not them but dolphins, using the clouds as waves.

“no,” jisung answers with a light laugh.

“don't make me drown this time,” chenle jokes, and you wonder.

is this chenle's dream or jisung's dream? or perhaps, something in between?

a thunderclap rumbles in every nerve joint at the same time as it does in the ground, forming the wake of the lightning in fingers that protrude from the sand and form rings that touch the sea. your eyes close dejectedly. it's the beginning of the denouement. no matter how you decide to appear, the result is always the same.

“it's a vortex.” you are startled to hear his well-known voice behind you, before you finally see him. his face… almost lights up even though it's shadowed with concern. but there's no doubt he could be containing a sun within. “it's bringing the walls down, so the dream glitches.”

“are you dreaming this too?”

you see the flutter of a strange smile that brightens up his face more, “i'm not dreaming, neither are you.” donghyuck scans the surroundings before taking note of you taking note of him. “this is chenle's dream,” he explains, “and jisung's,” he finally adds.

“they're both dreaming the same dream because of the vortex.”

“what's a vortex?”

“a sleep phenomenon,” he says, meditating. “what happens if it brings the walls down?”

a few seconds pass when your heart stops beating in the wake of his response, “the dreaming will collapse.” and that'll mean there will be no barrier between what is real and what is ethereal, so dreams will run free. and nightmares.

“their whole nature is dangerous. vortex cannot dream so they enters other's people,” donghyuck explains to you, “by doing this, the lines between dreams blurries, and two people dream about each other.” but it's impossible to look at him for long when you have secrets in your eyes. “it must be eradicated.”

“i thought people could dream about other people.”

“chenle is not dreaming about jisung, he is dreaming with jisung,” he remarks, “they're both consciously dreaming together because jisung is causing it.”

your eyes turn to donghyuck. “jisung is the vortex?”

he nods while something heavy settles in your stomach. it all makes sense now. all the inexplicable. everything out of the ordinary. their conversation. the day at the library where chenle was worried that someone would find out. all this time you thought they were talking about you, but they were actually talking about him. they were afraid of him.

what is he?

“what if you're wrong?” you question, wanting to get as far away from him as possible.

“i'm not.” his voice is tinged with regret, as if he were aware that you know he must do something irremediable, at any cost. “i have the entire collective unconscious.”

dreams. conveyed by threads to the planet of dreams, a labyrinth of interwoven strands that shape the entirety of existence, a web spun from something finer than mere dust. exquisitely delicate, suspended in the ethereal air, poised to glide through your fingers and move with the grace of otherworldly tendrils. able to knot and twine, whirl, and stretch, yet they remain unbroken, eternally binding the rem.

some of them are thinner or more delicate. they are malleable. vulnerable. easily influenced if pulled in the right way. they are susceptible to corruption.

sorrow settles on his countenance, “i need to protect the dreaming.”

“by eradicating him. that's your answer for all?”

restlessness. distrust. both emotions intertwine, and you can only sense the unfamiliar essence of something fluttering within you, exploring this place and awakening once more.

“star…,” donghyuck appeals, but you're deep enough. “if he's not dreaming he's not a threat.” you try to convince him back, but his eyes shun yours as if they might cast a spell on him against his will. “don't do this to me.”

“asking you a favor?”

as the sun sinks below the horizon, so does chenle and jisung. a glow casts shadows on his angular features, his eyes encapsulating the sunset as he responds, “because you already know the answer.”

nightmare contorts and twists its form. donghyuck senses that something is amiss when he sees your features contort with what appears to be annoyance and fear. he tries to reach you, but the ground beneath his feet trembles, and before he knows it, the earth beneath your feet splits open, a boulder begins to collapse into the sea that now wets your feet.

his hands reach out to you desperately, you feel them almost touching, keeping you suspended from the abysm.

“let go.” donghyuck's eyes are covered with astonishment, “the dream is collapsing itself.” your voice manages to sound convincing over the sound of the raging sea swallowing the rock. he denies, and you discover that it's not distrust that moves him to keep you in the dream with him, it's panic. “i can protect them, but i can't protect you if you let go.”

for the first time you see hesitation cloud his eyes. uncertainty. wherever you're going, he can't. and it terrifies him.

you were there before. often. “i'll be fine,” you nod, and the movement causes your cheeks to soak wet. “it's just a dream.”

you manage to dispel the uncertainty just a little. enough for him to grant. “you'll have to wake him up,” he informs. his gaze shifts to your clasped hands before you can nod, and your heart prepares under your ribs for the imminent moment of your dream. you see him hesitate. something clouding his mind.

his lips part but you notice the words freeze in his throat; resignation tinges his features as if he is giving up something, before letting you go.

you are reduced to nothing before you expand again and your lungs begin to fill with air. your body only has a few seconds to adjust to the change of states before you go towards the sleeping figure of chenle.

his chest rises and falls, and your pulse resets in relief. wake him up is easier this time. his sleepy eyes open before closing again. the rem state restarting into a new sleep cycle. you're pleased with it before heading to the other dreamer but he's gone.

you look for him in the dark room, before you give up and your body unconsciously heads towards donghyuck's. “donghyuck,” you call him as your hands carefully shake him.

his hair is wet. “hyuck, wake up.” fear grips your insides and begins to climb up your spine when you see him arising.

your face get soaked, feeling his body tense up when you wrap your arms around him, feeling you self-aware of it before you sense his hand resting awkwardly on your back.

your body still has the memory of the night gone by. you must separate yourself from him to make sure that he is the real donghyuck, and not one of the tricks of your mind; when you look at him, his gaze melts into yours. and you have no doubt left.

your close without you being able to help it, “no more nightmares,” he pronounces watching you nod;  the world is already cruel as it is.

you're too tired to fight the tiredness, so you let yourself be deposited on the still warm surface of his sleeping bag. “don’t be afraid of me,” he whispers, and you think he's longing for it.

your hands meet his face blindly. donghyuck holds his breath the moment your fingers brush his lips.

sleep gains more ground, and your hands slide out of his face unwillingly, before he takes them between his.

“star…” he calls, but there's no answer from you.

the seconds go by more slowly, and you have to wait forever to feel his lashes tickling your cheeks. your lips being brushed softly. register in your memory.

you find donghyuck's slightly frozen gaze crumbling when a smile betrays you. “it'd be a good dream,” you say with your voice muffled in his embrace. you sense him nuzzling into you. “if i sleep with you?” he asks, surprising you for even remembering it.

the vortex, the sleepwalkers, his secrets, and your nightmares. all of them can wait, because everything takes a back seat that night. you no longer fear the dark, because you have known his eyes, and you can only feel warmth. an old worship.

“alright, then.”

( ✶ )

renjun plops down on the study table full of papers and coffee, turning cold. jaemin looks away from the book for a few seconds before going back into his reading as chenle is startled by the clatter of the tomes falling against the wood, casting a furtive glance at the boy before continuing to sleep and jisung appears running through the halls as he arrives late for the afternoon of study. everything goes back on track, but something's missing. he's missing.

you navigate oceans of time and hourglasses, listening to conversations that you don't feel like being part of, admiring the perfect picture that makes up their figures trying to solve puzzles and mini-games, once plagued by terrors, forgotten in the back of their minds. because dreams last, nightmares don't.

“what are we looking for, exactly?” a deja vú sentation even though you remember it. back in the library, jaemin is too busy gazing at the bookshelf to pay attention of you staring at him before pronouncing with certain doubt. “the dreamcatcher.”

jaemin looks at you with some amusement, “having bad dreams again?” you shake your head absently under his gaze. “having any.”

where did your nightmares go?

the nightmare sorter possesses a dark and mysterious power. what were once comforting and pleasant dreams for chenle were transformed into terrifying nightmares. for him, his safe haven was always a dream of the infinite sea, where calm waves and the endless horizon filled him with peace. but irony loomed over his mind, as his worst nightmare involved precisely what he loves the most: facing his own death amidst the waters, a victim of the depths that once provided him solace.

in jaemin's dream, his greatest desire has always been to be everywhere, to experience every corner of the world and absorb every possible experience. but the nightmare sorter toyed with his wish and paralysis became his worst enemy, and being trapped in one place tormented him.

after discovering that jisung had been breaking down sleep barriers to dream about his best friend, he barely spends time with any of you. chenle hasn't dreamed of drowning anymore, but the cost of that is mourning jisung's absence. and you can't help but feel responsible for that.

as these dreams turn into nightmares, you realize that space, in its vastness and mystery, has become the recurring theme of your nighttime fears. you didn't know you loved space so much until your nightmares of falling into the void turned into a journey among the stars.

what was his? vanishing? losing track of time? has he ever tell you?

you're afraid to know the answer. you extend the time of acknowledgment and ignore it as you grab your things in a hurry, hearing jaemin's short good luck when you go out in search of him.

you fear that he has vanished again. you fear having to wait another eternity. you fear that everything will go bad. as your pulse ticks an hourglass in countdown, you try to recompose your runaway heart, hoping that so will time, slipping through your fingers. eternity has always been cruel to you, so do knowledge. time is never enough and you've taken so long, so long to realize it, that you're afraid it's too late.

you've always known where to find him.

you lose the memory of how you end up in front of him, and you're aware that the time you've taken hasn't been kind to him.

“you came.” maybe, just maybe you knew all along because he was calling.

“i know.” but not in the sense of always knowing what the other person has said. to recognize a spoken fact. to gain knowledge. no. to know. you now do.

how the cosmos is his most precious asset. the thing for his entire existence.

“let me look out for you.”

“my narcolepsy...,” he appeals. now you can see him. you've always been able to see him for what he really is and that terrifies him.

the night of the vortex, he was afraid of being trapped in the ether. he was afraid you wouldn't wake him up. the nights he refused to sleep because the threat of being trapped in the rem kept him awake. hasn't he had a rest without fear?

“i know, and i still want to.”

he shakes his head. you terrifies him, and the more he immerses himself in you, the harder it will be to do what he has to do. dreams..., dreams are his most precious asset. the cosmos is what he most desires. there are a hundred million dreamers whose dreams he must collect, for they are as fragile as a crystal sphere, and on him depends the balance of the ethereal world, and that balance has been cracking since he began to let his guard down, for you.

yet he's so selfish, that now he sees you barely here with him, inside your head before turning around his bed and landing your eyes on his dark onyx, fixed on you. “go to sleep,” you say to him in a whisper, “i'll keep them away.”

even though it is dark, you see a flash of a smile. “what if i take too long?” he asks, closing his eyes as he faces the ceiling, as if he could see the moon from there. his hand stops feeling his heartbeat under his ribs, dropping it to the side of his body, inches from yours. “i'll bring you back.” to me.

“how will you know where to find me?”

even though it is dark, he can sense your smile.

“i'll always know where to find you.”

he doesn't say anything for a while, and for a moment you think he has already gone. his body suffers a small involuntary spasm as if struggling to stay awake for a few more minutes, before he rolls towards you and his breath combs loose strands of your hair. “come with me,” he says in a sleepy voice. you manage not to look restless when his fingers brush caresses on yours. your senses beat with the same intensity as your heart, and you fear that he can hear them by being so close. “where?” you wonder, stargazing at his eyes, “to my dreams.”

his words remain suspended longer in your head, resonating until they imitate your pulse, until they expand and get under your skin. a mist settles over your mind, and his voice reciting that invitation is diluted as a sedative effect that does not take long to take effect. there is no point in fighting morpheus. it feels like falling down an abyss and your fingers are squeezed harder between donghyuck's by inertia. you're falling, and falling. 

at first, you only feel the beginning of everything. you feel your heartbeats, you feel your fingers, you feel the place where you are; you are aware of yourself. your eyes record the world unfolding before you, evolving as you become more conscious, like a thinking being, and you know you are in the ether. more than knowledge, you can feel it.

and before you can register it, you plunge into the abyss. like layers, you see worlds and spirals passing in a blur before your eyes. your voice sounds strange as an involuntary sound of awe escapes you, gazing at the hundreds of thousands of golden lights adorning the realm. the existence of the whole being a stark contrast to what you usually see when you fall. so many dreams, so many people coexisting in one place, that you'll never manage to grasp or take them all in.

you feel it before you can see it. your body stops falling and remains suspended, and as donghyuck's face shines through the mist, you think: «not a stranger. friend, lover, enemy.» holding your hands, preventing you from continuing to fall. “let me tell you a story,” he finally say, his raspy voice resonating among the realm, “about the great fall.” seconds pass, or maybe an entire eternity, where his gaze reveals nothing, but you fear that yours might show something: betrayal, before his hands release you from yours without reconsideration, and this time you fall...

towards his dreams.

when you find yourself in that place, you feel as ancient as the stars themselves, and a profound comprehension of everything dawns upon you.

in the realm of divinity, there resided a god whose face remained under a veil. you fear that such beauty is only seen by worthy souls. a being so mighty, yet lonely, who found solace amidst the clouds, weaving worlds, weaving dreams. this god had a love for his dreams so profound that he willed them into existence. two catchers, gatherers of the essence, were crafted to shape the rem, threading benevolent dreams into the very fabric of each slumbering mind. and thus, the cosmos came to life.

you watch the universe unfold before your eyes, creating itself, evolving on the fly, revealing a story, and you're almost certain you can hear donghyuck narrating it.

the dreamcatchers executed their duties and responsibilities with unwavering devotion, protecting the dream world of their creator. the very essence of dreaming hinged on their meticulous craftsmanship, with golden dreams as their finest creations. yet, a peculiar injustice prevailed: they could bestow dreams upon others but were forbidden from experiencing their own. this rule kindled a deep dissatisfaction in the elder of the two. it gazed upon the world from its lofty cloud, bestowing dreams with jealousy, and in secret, it harbored a desire to reshape its reality.

its face, beautiful and eternal, reflects discontent. shrouded in jealousy, the dreamcatcher laments feeling such emotions. it senses the injustice every time it's compelled to bestow good dreams and envies the dreamers whose fate is to protect. its visage grows more withered as it lets these emotions swirl within, losing its luster as they grow to poison its soul. its once delicate hands, which once found solace in crafting shimmering desires, now clench into fists when it departs the serene realm and ventures into the unknown, into the vast universe still destined to expand. and it creates.

however, the dreams it planted in their minds transformed into something else, something it couldn't contain within. they turned dark, malevolent and seeped out of its mind into the universe. morpheus soon noticed that something was amiss. the dreamers had been plagued by dreams whose trail was as dark as the nighttime mist. he called them nightmares.

the dreamcatcher pleaded for its forgiveness, but as a great god, mighty and solitary, morpheus could only sympathize with the dreamers. he banished the dreamcatcher from the dream world, the very dream it had once loved with all its heart. thus, unable to create golden conjectures, unable to dream, and forever plagued by its own creations as punishment for what it had done, the dreamcatcher fell, and fell…

towards the void, towards space, towards the immensity of the ocean.

there is a single door in front of you, and behind it, a bright haze seizes your eyes. your fingers brush against the cold knob before you pass through it. covering your eyes in reflex when a bright light scans you before everything returns to normal, and suddenly you are in a café, at night.

the lights are dim and warm, bathing the space where two dancing figures live. it is then that you hear the soft melody; familiar at the behest, as if you had worshipped it in another lifetime. they do not realize that you are there, observing in detail, because the boy looks singularly like someone whose features you never tend to forget.

“that's my favorite song,” you hear your voice say, but your lips remain sealed. “i know,” he answered, his voice muffled by your hair, and you could recognize that voice anywhere, in any version. “it reminds me of you,” you speak again, through the great hall. a version of yourself, close on the spectrum. you watch her look up until she meets donghyuck's and you hear him ask your other version: “what other things remind you of me?” with curiosity. “brown. and chocolate,” you said.

“mhmm...” the scene blurs. it overlaps with another one that occurred later that night. you keep hearing your voice but now you don't see yourself, you're seeing through. he's so close now, you can sense his warmth colliding against your body as colliding stars. “a teddy bear and a museum.” your eyes close when you feel him pushing inside, filling you with him, drinking his moans that he slowly lets out against your lips. “wood and trees. sunsets and sunny days.” your foreheads presses together when he spread your legs and bring them to his waist, rocking in and out in brief strokes, as his features contort into an struggled frown. “fuck... i'm so close,” he whines biting his lips that you kiss right away.

“milk and pearls. a field of grass and sunflowers, and horses running free.”

you sought his gaze, “so am i”.

your whole world shakes and you are short of breath when you are squeezed and spit elsewhere. you're in a cozy hall, but you're not alone. even agitated and dazed, you can hear it. the sounds he accompanies with guttural exhalations that cause your breathing to get stuck in your throat.

it is revealed before you his body scattered on the sofa, with his head pulled back while his wet and swollen mouth lets out gasps that you want to taste on your tongue. completely vulnerable, at the mercy of someone kneeling in front of him, tasting him. “what other things you can do with that mouth?” he whispers to you, now looking at you from above as his cock twitch in your grip. he rolls his eyes and lolls his head back when you bob down to the base of his girth, and back to the tip, circling the sensitive zone with your tongue. he exhales a chuckle, “fu—ck, star.”

star. as in you. this dream, this particular dream doesn't feel like the others. the others looked real, a piece of collective memory of something greater. a collection that crossed barriers and universes to meet in one place: his head. but why don't you have access to it? why is this the first time you have witnessed them? and is this dream his, or is it yours? before you can take registration you are wrapped in an ethereal mantle, turned into nothingness and returning materially elsewhere.

a party.

you see a version of yourself being dragged by donghyuck away from a boy with puppy eyes and someone else whose gaze shine so brightly that he seems to contain the starry night of that evening in his eyes. “i can find my way out on my own, cretin,” you hear you hissed at him, trying to get rid of him to no avail. “you are a jerk. i want you to know that.” you kept ranting as he led you both to the exit, “you bumbling buffoon, always have to mess things up. how i hate you,” you blurted out, seeing that they were past the exit.

“the exit is that…”

“shut the fuck up,” it seems like a deja vú now, when his eyes finally look at you, becoming a witness and not a watcher anymore. “what is going o...?” you say, before he interrupts you, “what were you doing kissing mark?” he asks, fuming.

your laughter fill the air but it doesn't feel like you “you don't tell me what to do, idiot,” you finally say. “do what you want,” he muttered, his face coming dangerously close to yours, a contest of who murdered the other with a stare began. “but do it out of my damn party,” he whispered. his breath tickling your cheeks.

“you're like this because i kissed mark instead of you?” the boy looks at you with surprise and concern in his eyes, staring at you eternally as you're now in control of your body. “w-what?” stutter, before you grab him by the neck and bring him closer to you, joining your lips with his.

the scene evaporates, and their bodies swirl like thick haze spilling into a dark room, where your bodies lay, intertwine. donghyuck's lips devours your mouth fervently with hungry kisses. wanting to appease a long-held desire. wanting to stop a flood of suppressed emotions. his movements becoming erratic, clumsy, desperate. trying to melt into each other, trying to kiss everywhere, touch everywhere. his hips thrusting into your hips in an unexpected movement. feeling his erection against your belly.

your hands run through his chest, shoulders, and neck, until getting into his dark hair, hearing a moan die in your half-open mouth. his body hovers over yours, legs wrapping around his waist as a flame burning in your chest, numbing your common sense, letting yourself be carried away by desire.

“say my name,” you whisper in his ear, “please.”

he towers over you, in all its glory, flexing the muscles that jump under his smooth cinnamon skin. looking at you affectionately with his brown orbs, you can't help but soften you as your hand goes to his cheek, urgent. “yn,” he pronounces.

his voice has always caused you to have mixed feelings, but this time something was missing. it wasn't his voice. it was him. someone else's donghyuck. of some version of you that you wish you could be. better, kinder, less broken.

his lips deposit a kiss on your wrist. brown locks tickling you in instances before wrapping you in his warm gaze, full of cherish that in some inexplicable way has traveled through entire cosmos and has been shared, passed and given to each one of them, to look at you the way they looked at you in every parallels. but you can't stay with him.

“i promised him i'd find him.”

“who?”

“my donghyuck.”

how much time passes, in which you are nothing and everything? in which you see yourself in all your versions, while you vanish like sea foam and slip between his consciousness.

crossing the limbo that inhabits the cosmos in its search, you find the blurred line that separates this world. just a fragile and brittle barrier that houses the dense core of nightmares, containing the thick essence of terrors trapped, far, far away from his dreaming. nightmares from all places, collected from all the sleepers trapped in the one place he thought they'd be out of the reach of the dreamers, in his little ether, having to carry them, for how long?

there is no way to see through it. your breath condenses in the air between as the black mist lashes against the barrier, before stirring until it petrifies again due to the low temperatures. darkness and shadow reigning at the touch of your fingers, its eerie dance a mimicry of something unsettling, moving strangely, as if imitating…

“a black hole.”

your dream. your nightmare. your taciturn lover.

converted in front of you into what you fear most, having self-consciousness to be able to see within, taking your deepest fears and making them its own. the tick essence moves when you touch the barrier. it contracts against itself before evaporating and vanishing into nothing, forming a wormhole where you can see through donghyuck standing on the other side.

your body reacts on its own.

your hands sting when they impact against the cold frozen glass that eats the skin of your palms. “donghyuck.” it's too cold there. your breath condenses in front of you when you call his name, the awakening of knowledge when you notice it comes from the other side. cold, vast, arid. “donghyuck!” the shadow retracts, the haze disperses, and you know it's him. however, it gives in immediately and the dark essence regains strength. it has a will of its own, and you're terrified to know that it has more power than you think. a glorious creation out of control, impossible to contain.

you despair with every passing second and your efforts are futile. breaking the glass is not possible. You're afraid you're not really there. unable to alter the ethereal world, you are just a projection in the space.

your mind races at a thousand revolutions, quickly grasping what that means. you look into the darkness, and the darkness seems to look back at you, before it seems to call you to it, and you respond by becoming more than dust.

your senses stretch and intertwine in a spiral that lulls you into semi-unconsciousness as you stir in your dreams. present, not present. materially, fleetingly. all. nothing. before the icy touch on your arm pulls you out of the planet of dreams. you blink adjusting your sight just to watch a small figure at the foot of your bed.

“mommy.” it takes a while to get used to the environment, completely dizzy and confused, pulling you out of your slumber almost immediately and shooting your body upright the moment you sense him whimpering. “jisoo, sweetheart...” how do you know his name? how are you so certain that you know him, taking him in your arms and comforting him as if you were made created solely for that purpose. to protect him. “i dreamt bad things,” he confesses, rubbing his eyes as you bring him with you under the covers.

you remain silent, stroking his back and hair, lost in your head. with the feeling that you're forgetting something. you look over your shoulder and only find the space next to you empty. your lips leave a small kiss on the crown of his head. “don't worry, love.”

jisoo stands still in your arms as his words linger in your head, echoing in every recessed corner of your soul, gnawing at your insides, and you can't help but feel devastated. you want, you fervently desire to take his nightmares out of him, take them with you, carry them on you. you could use your own soul as a shield, if it meant he never knew that sorrow. “what was your nightmare about, darling?” you whisper in his ear, promising to seek for it in every corner of the cosmos, until it is reduced to little less than nothing.

his little deer eyes glow in the dark like two shiny stars, bright. his sweet little voice speaks, and all your nerve endings tighten so tightly that it hurts when he pronounces, “about you.”

the room fades away, and you're unsure if it's by your will or that of the terrors. someone screams in the distance as your eyes remain closed, reluctant to look further, all the while sensing that your fear is no longer yours but belongs to it. how can it know? how is it so aware? the space grows cold, and you huddle against it to keep its cold fingers at bay, but it envelops you in its arms, and grief and despair settle in your stomach as it takes you with it. it smells of night, of a sky stripped of stars, of endless darkness. you feel a certain comfort, a certain familiarity. the screams cease when you discover it was you in the beginning, now reduced to barely audible sobs that find solace as it shushes you.

the mist solidifies, and you sense the change as your face now presses against a soft yet firm surface, feeling the weight of their arms supporting you. nightmare carries you with it, and your terrors dissipate. you hear a snort followed by a chuckle as you feel your arms wrapping around him, tighter. “tired of screaming, sweetheart? too bad, i'd rather hear them some other time.” their voice is like a liquid storm, like the nocturnal wind. it resembles nothing you've heard before; a night in wakefulness, but above all, it's not like his.

“there's a great feast here, don't you think?” he asks, feeling him permeate everywhere but holding you close to make sure you stay with him.  when you look at him, vague memories start to take shape in your mind, like fragments of a forgotten dream. an uncomfortable feeling envelops you, and recognition grows, crystallizing into a solid image. you've seen this figure before, in the alley, amidst darkness and shadows. you vividly remember what he did to those men, the terror that emanated from him. “time to wake up.”

you're on the verge of letting him take you along, on the verge of allowing yourself to wake up.

“no!” your voice comes out stronger than you expect, causing the nightmare to recoil and look at you with subtle surprise. his hair sways unrealistically like the waves of a sea entirely of the cosmos, and his head tilts back as he listens to you. “he won't mind. he's trapped.” it would be so easy to just leave, to leave him at the mercy of the night terrors. but you can't be surprised when you shake your head, and he shrugs, showing indifference, “your loss.” and vanishes.

the mist stirs as though it greets your return with eager delight. you willingly descend into the unruly tempest, offering yourself as sacrificial allure. donghyuck missed a crucial chapter in the tale. of how the nightmares rebelled against the nightmare sorter, an unceasing thirst for its very essence, an unrelenting, perpetual duty to purvey dreams stolen with a reluctant hand from dreamers, bereft of alternatives. all in the relentless pursuit of quelling its own terrors, to appease its nightmares and prevent them from consuming it.

the swirl of bad dreams roars around you, making your way through the indomitable, self-aware blackness. a creature created out of darkness. no vestiges of giving truce and claiming their new trophy. your trophy. a gold mine compared to the rest. golden dreams as its bearer. you can almost feel the hunger of your peers, awake. you can almost feel your own. the sensations that come back like poison clouding your judgment. it hovers over you almost imposible to see the light, calling you from the depths.

inside the matter is different. your body barely manages to stay on land, even your hair moves like the waves of a dark wave. above, high above your head, you observe his body disturbingly still, and your feet stop skimming the ground to close the space between both.

he casts a golden light almost extinguished. he sleeps where dreams run awake.

“hyuck.” his face seems to have aged a thousand years. your hands brush against his dull and lifeless features, and you are afraid that you are late. “hyuck, wake up.” the dark scenery reveals itself ecstatic, and a tingle rises up your spine as it falls into the realization of what it meant. “no.” it is too late. you've taken too long to find him, and nightmares have claimed him as theirs.

you have broken your promise.

he now belongs to us.

they have overpowered you. they've beaten you in numbers. that being who mocks you cannot be right. it's not; that conscious darkness belongs to you.

“i made you.”

“we are more.”

“no, you're not,” you reply with mockery, “you are what i tell you to be.” the voices fall silent, and the scent they emit clouds your sense of smell. disappointment. sadness. mourning. fear. “you're not here.”

the darkness disperses into a scream that echoes to the ends of the realm as you feel the warm wake of donghyuck's hand perching on yours. his fingers tangle in yours, just as his presence. his breath hits the hidden place on your neck when you hug him for an eternity. inmersed in each other.

“is this where you go, when you're asleep?” you inquire, helping him to get up. “i need to stay here as long as i'm need to,” he explains, too distracted to let go of your hand.

“you shouldn't have entered here,” he adds, reproachfully.

“why did you?”

“i have duties,” he says with an uncommon tone. mortified. hopeless. imprinting a wild emotion, he enunciates every word with them, “i have dreams to take care of.”

“and who takes care of you?”

“i'm fine.” but he's not. when his eyes close to your touch, and his eyebrows gather in a restrained emotion pressing his cheek against your palm for more contact you know he's not. “i made a promise.”

“so did i.” as his gaze spills into yours, his lips burn for saying that he has been looking for you all over the universe. in all parallels. that he would never have dared to enter the tangle of nightmares if he had not believed you were inside it. that you weren't the only one who fell that instance, lost now in the eternal realm, because he followed you. but he keeps it to himself, and instead, he lets himself be carried away by the cooing of your touch, by the softness of your voice, telling him to go home.

as the ethereal shroud unfurls from around you, you're unsure whether mere hours have passed or an entire eternity. you feel the world spin, and it takes a significant effort to pry your eyes open. despite having slept, you're weary as if a thief has stolen your sleep. “the effect will linger for a bit,” you hear his drowsy voice instructing, pulling you from your reverie. how long were you inside his mind? how many days have passed since you went to sleep?

“don't dwell on it too much. it's better not to know.” your eyes open slowly, reinvigorated by his voice rousing you from slumber. it's then that you notice his fingers tracing through the strands of your hair.

the line that once stood wavering is now too blurred to tell when it was crossed, an eternity ago, as you inhale the comforting scent of home that emanates from his body, cradling yours. “how did you do it?” you hear yourself ask, too exhausted to feel intrusive. the dream you now cradle like a relic, forged by his golden threads, turning the darkness into something less than a place where the stars would shine brighter. you sense his chest vibrate as he makes a brief sound in his throat, a sign that he is listening despite being more in the realm of dreams than there with you. “i've known you since i was born.”

he watches you with a multitude of suppressed emotions as you ascend his body and hover above him, your hair cascading like the nightly cloak that always envelops him when he's lost in his dreams. his gaze weaves stars and conjectures as he forms two crescents while smiling with weariness, and longing clouds your judgment.

“how did you know where to find me?” he asks.

as though the constellations themselves had liquefied, trickling into his gaze, your responds “i've known it since i was born.”

your lips spill your essence onto his in a cautious yet passionate encounter. the world recedes, and all at once, the kiss assumes the flavors of countless others, a collective memory. and yet, his lips are the only ones you've been craving all along. your heart beats with a more deliberate cadence, mirroring the unhurried rhythm of the universe as his hands echo the gentle contours of your face feeling his lips parting slightly upon yours, each kiss becoming deeper, each kiss becoming eternal. your mouths unite in the obscurity, an unceasing communion, causing time to unravel and elongate until the boundary between you and him becomes an indistinct, boundless continuum.

donghyuck deposits you back into the comfort of his bed, descending on you until his body is mated to yours. lips and teeth taste your mouth. the elixir of liquid stars savored on your tongue. you cling to his body completely drunk on his longing-flavored kisses. hands tangling in his hair pulling him closer to you, mouths merging in a metamorphosis of tongues and gasps, willing to safeguard each other's sigh rather than break the kiss for air.

his tresses tickle your cheeks, his eyelashes caress your cheekbones and his hands have not left your face. you fear you are being devoured with each kiss deposited on your lips, with the taste of his tongue on yours. you fear that you could become nothing.

you feel his body melt over yours. a gasp leaves his lips extinguished in your mouth as your hands venture down his broad shoulders and arms, firm yet delicate. you hold your breath as his body moves over yours, taking your hands in his above your head as his hips sink against yours. he presses down, rocking against you in an involuntary motion while still kissing you. “star.” his voice wreaks havoc on you, causing a pit to appear in your belly, pushing you down.

clothes begin to get in the way and become scarce. his fingers leave trails wherever he roams, your chest, your belly, until they hover around your legs, touching the inside of your thighs as he drinks your moans from your mouth, bristling your skin. feeling his silky chiseled body move over you, mingling with yours, permeating every corner of you with his presence.

your breath catches as you hear him growl as he rolls onto the bed, pulling away from you. your body burns in the places where he no longer touches you, your lips burn in protest against his.

“what is it?” his shortness of breath mingles with the anguish that assails you when he doesn't speak to you.

meditative, lost, tormented. he's never only in one place. he's everywhere. scattered in other heads, aware of all of them. in vigil. and sometimes, they don't leave him alone, unable to get rid of them, destined always to carry the conscience of dreams, and so, nightmares.

as a struggle takes place in the universe where he's conscious, your hands cradle his face and for an instant, “focus on me.” he hides like a moon phase in the hidden place of your neck, drawing you to him like an anchor that keeps him with you, pulling you onto his lap, you end up sitting in each other's embrace. “hyuck, stay with me.” until his worries become as small as an applesauce that you can push away from his shoulder.

until he finds his way back to you.

and so his mouth.

entangled. a jumble of gasps and glances that seem to repeat each other's name. a religion founded on his lips pressing against your collarbone and his fingers burying themselves in your waist. sucking the bristling skin of his shoulders, the soft skin of his neck, the sweet and comforting scent of his lips, drinking in the other's panting as his length presses against the hot zone of your core. lifting you above him as you feel him venture beneath you, as you feel his fingers wrap around your girth and guide it to brush against you, as you feel yourself spreading up, giving him room as you lower yourself onto it all the way to the base.

both of you furrow your brows at the pleasurable sensation. sensing his member fit snugly wrapped around your silky walls. the hole tingles from you and you bite your lip, feeling full and blissful as donghyuck's hand presses into your belly. you arch involuntarily pushing back your hips. and consequently, moving forth over his lap.

a hiss departs from his lips before his features relax and a pant follows your name that you taste from his mouth open. 

the sounds emerge and fill the room. the touch of your bodies mixes with the gasps. the stars in the sky mingle with the stars in your eyes, and your mouths speak each other's name between kisses until the vast infinity remembers you. little moans and whimpers that you bite from his mouth, that die in yours. precious, like him. tinged with adoration, with need. your body vibrates and enjoys his beneath you, burying itself with each thrust of your hips, stealing your breath as his find yours first, touching the sweet spot inside that give their purpose when your head tilts back and it is impossible to keep your eyes on his daydream eyes.

the firmness of his erection presses against your walls as you rock back and forth, stiff but so soft it slides out before your fingers guide it back into you. you revel in his face fading into the raw pleasure that splices his body. pink lips and bitten a thousand and one times by your mouth. silent guttural sounds you've been deprived of for an eternity.

enernity. eternity.

the world is shrinking. it ends. it resurfaces in the same way that your exhalations soak your mouths. in which your hands are lost in his silky hair and his in your intimacy. suffering a spasm when his graceful fingers begin to trace circles in the swelling of your clitoris, and his warm tongue wraps around one of your erect nipples.

no needs for words. there isn't a language yet invented that can encapsulate the feeling the way your mouths do, nor another way to talk than your eyes, gazing at each other.

you comb his hair, untangling dreams from his head, drugged in the delight of his touch to the beat of your hips riding him. the silky sounds of your dilated pussy coating his cock, ramming completely enraptured by the sensation generated by the liquid sound of your ecstasy sliding and lubricating his length, feeling it hit the soft wall inside you when you go down completely and begin to ride him with short strokes that he controls with his hands on your waist.

you try to suppress the unconscious sounds you let out every time he sinks into you at his pick-up pace accompanied by the liquid splash of your crotch lubricating his cock. donghyuck notices the struggle that blurs your gaze just by looking at you.  “keep doing like that, precious,” he exhales and your hands go to his on your waist, suddenly dazed by his mere voice. “mm-hm, like that.” his voice cuts off at the end of the sentence into a strangled vowel when your insides squeeze around him in a spasm.

you squeal and hold tighter on his hands sensing your whole insides glow. “baby.” the hole in your belly expands and shot euphoria through your bloodstream, and donghyuck holds you closer, til you can hear his heartbeat, or is it yours? a desperate sound leaves your mouth parted open as your legs go numb and your mind spreads in the space. and his grip becomes tighter, “h-hyuck.” your body jolts back and forth along his length buried in your walls and a tingle bathes your limbs. and as the sensation expands towards the edge of the universe, and the stars spills into you as he lets out your name caught between one last exhausted moan, and you fall, asleep.

and it happens. all at once. at the same time.

the memories you've been deprived of as punishment. to be completely alone in the vast infinity, now filled with extracts of essence collected from different places from a shared conscious of you, in all alternate universes with his presence. feeling completely comforted that there are other stories, where everything is simpler, where love prevails in most of them. where there are a thousand and one scenarios where you and donghyuck always manage to find each other.

this piece of consciousness that was long stripped of you, as if morpheus knew that leaving you alone with your own nightmares wouldn't punish enough, he also took away your memories with donghyuck. he let you forget him and distrust him, and you couldn't conceive which part of the punishment was worse: to be the one who forgets, or to be the one who is forgotten.

it takes you a while to get used to the uncovering of memories from a collective memory. as you are now aware of everything around you. and yet, the dilemma of whether it's a dream or a reality still remains.

“dream?” you ask him, so close to his face you can see his moles forming a little constellation. your little constellation.

“dreamlike.”

you bet his dreams taste exquisite but his lips taste more so.

( ✶ )

you feel it before you can hear it. the change in matter that floats around you. join in total alertness, while you continue your work as if you don't notice the way your hairs on the back of your neck stand on end. humming a stray song while trying to sharpen what your subconscious tells you to pay attention to, but only a fraction of a second has passed, and the intruder is gone again.

he's been coming for three nights now. at first, you felt something detach from your chest, the absence where it once was now with a hole that threatened to eat itself. a silky, cold sensation that slips away into the starless night. you can't help but think it's due to a collateral action after donghyuck showed you the dreaming, and stole you from his embrace that never failed to rip you from morpheus, so you could rest on his instead.

your steps take you back to the cozy room and to the tangle of legs and sheets in which you had managed to emerge victorious a few hours ago. something flutters in your chest as you watch him sleep peacefully, oblivious to the anguish that grips your insides as you imagine this same scenario without you. sleeping, trapped in the ether. you're not capable of aging, you doubt that you're not eternal, but time has always been your rival. and while he sleeps, time narrows, expands, moves.

all this time he's been away, he's only been asleep. and you don't find anything sadder than that, you don't find any comfort in knowing it either. because without him, the cosmos protector, dreams run wild. affordable, manipulable, fragile. tender, like the soft skin exposed by his sweatpants, golden as his touch. tempting, like his wet mouth, part open. vulnerable, such as the area behind his ears.

all this time, you were looking out for his dreams.

your lips sit on the warm skin of his stomach and it takes all your willpower not to venture out, just far enough away to go up to his chest and caress his collarbones. kisses deposited in the valley of his neck until you reach his cheeks.

“wake up.” the room stay still. you hold your breath.

before your eyes register the awakening. slowly coming out of the ether, his eyelashes fluttering with the laziness of someone who is still drowsy. you leave a chaste kiss on his cheeks, suddenly pink-tinged and find yourself doubting whether he's able to stay aware of what's going on with his body when he's lost somewhere else.

it takes seconds for him to recover from his trip to the stars, where he receives everything you give him: water, in case he gets thirsty, a half-finished sandwich and headache pills. you look at him with urgency as the sandwich is finished and you can't find his movements so endearing, especially when he grabs you by the cheeks and his lips leave a tender kiss on your mouth.

his body returns to the cozy nest that the sheets form with you. he kisses you urgently, eyes darkening at the sight of you, out of breath because, you had spent so much time fearing darkness when now it only reminds you of him. “how's the dreaming?,” you ask, cradling his face. “so fucking long,” he mutters before you're kissed again.

your body is trapped underneath his and you can't help but melt with every caress his fingers leave as he settles between your legs while slowly kissing you. lips splitting in a moan to make room for his silky tongue sliding into your needy mouth. your senses are wriggled in a bundle of sensations that explode after a long time without him. your skin crawls. and he slides his fingers along your stomach.

you're embarrassed that he knows how much you've missed him. how ecstatic you are just for a few kisses because you've been without them for a fraction of eternity. he suppresses a curse when you feel so silky, “so wet.” fingers smoothly sliding down your folds as his lips drift off to your exposed neck. your mouth opens in a silent gasp as you feel his digits move in circles in the swollen area of your pussy.

a sweet sensation forms there where he touches. you're out of breath. a smile forming in your lips that he tastes later with this mouth. your feelings are wired at the destructive kiss, melting you entirely. you couldn't resist the moans, coming from your mouth as a prayer that only he could fulfill. as your body twirled from his touch, wanting more.

“hyuck.” your stomach feels on fire. your whole body buzzes to his fingers slowly stimulating your clit. “keep saying my name like that.” your body arches involuntarily as you feel the embers come down to your crotch and slide into your legs, completely devastated.

dying moans as dying stars. needy. eager. your hands fisted in his chest while his fingers venture dangerously down before feeling them inserting inside.

his fingers expanding you as he adjusts them within your walls release a pleasant sensation that makes your eyes roll behind your eyelids. “so tight, star.” a hiss assails you when you feel your skin tingling the moment he starts to pump his digits in you, “i can't wait to fuck you.”

he exhales when your fingers travel to your clit. hands now touching while his are inside you. the brief touches of your skins cause a shiver to run through your entire body. his voice is ten times darker than before, deep and filled with raw desire, “feels good?” fingers curling gently while constantly stroking your sensitive wall. “too— good.”

you missed him. you missed him an entire lifetime. as his fingers wreak havoc on you and his voice tells you how pretty you are, your whole body reacts in electricity, shooting on your bloodstream, reaching your belly. “you take my fingers so well, mhm?” donghyuck feels the waves on his fingers still moving inside while you pass your high.

he lets out a hearty laugh when your fingers travel to his body, needily removing his clothes. you don't really care that he knows how much you crave him. how much your body calls his name. how much it hurts you to want him inside. he rejoices to see you undress him and take off your pajamas and panties yourself, how willing you are for him to fuck you.

he spreads your legs and enjoys the sight of your swollen and flushed pussy soaking his fingers.

you hear him moaning under his breath, “i want to taste you, baby. fuck, i need it so bad.” his words wreak havoc on your lower belly, and you find yourself squeezing nothing; you want it too.

he devours you completely, and your breath is choppy only with his mouth working miracles on your already sensitive folds. his breath hits the right area that makes your eyes close tightly, and exhale with difficulty, “you taste so good after i fingered you.” his tongue moves over the hard skin of your clit and you swear you're about to combust.

your hands tangle in his hair as the lashes of his tongue take your breath away. his warm breath flushes all over your skin as he opens his mouth and starts sucking gently. your throat feels pasty when a moan reverberates in your chest as you feel a sharp tingle in your belly. “shit,” you pant, feeling your stomach tighten and your whole body sinking into the mattress. senses going numb to donghyuck humming in delight against your skin before he feels your body convulse slightly, and quickly using his warm palm to keep your legs from closing when a sharp sensation rip you apart. “take it. take me.”

a strangled sound comes out of your mouth before you feel your body sink into violent spasms. the raw desire injected into your bloodstream is too much for you to process in one go, leaving you completely light and inebriated, tense and contorted under his heavy gaze, drinking the sight of your naked body still suffering the aftermath of his acts on you.

something glows behind his dilated pupils when you recover your blurry sight. watching him hovering over you, you looked in his eyes, two dark orbs, consumed entirely by the pupil; a black hole that you wouldn't mind falling into.

a guttural grunt escapes his lips as he feels your fingers curl around his wet girth. you stifle a gasp as you feel it hard. hands moving up and down, stroking his dick as exerting pressure. feeling his delicate cock warm and soft, you gently stimulate it. donghyuck's head falls forward, and you bite your lip, delighting in the sight of his blushing penis, glistening with precum pearls.

“say that you want me,” he utters, “that i'm yours.”

words get stuck in your throat, you feel a rush of ecstasy when you guide him in, watching him being affected by you when he slides fully. “we belong to each other.”

you can only let yourself be carried away by the uncontrolled sensation caused by his cock deliciously entering inside. a sweet burn takes your breath away as you feel him so thick, settling inside you, pressing against your aroused walls. a tremor shakes your legs when he stands still for you to adjust around him; his lips are part open absorbing the way your nerves clenched around him, your fingers squeeze around the tender skin of his arms when you feel him push inward.

you feel so overwhelmed that your legs don't respond to your stimuli, completely, irrevocably, eagerly at his will.

a deep moan escapes from his lips. “you feel good,” he whispers as you feel him starting to thrust you. a hiss assails you, still sore from his fingers, “i'll be gentle.”

his mouth leaves moist kisses on yours half-open, unable to generate a single coherent thought other than the arcane pleasure that welcomes you every time you feel him sliding in and out, steady. sharply. “so good for me.” he adds in a moan, a hidden feeling of belonging while passionately pounding you: «just for me». “soaking my dick so g-good, taking me so good— oh,” he murmurs, twitching his face, “always wet and tight no matter how much i fuck you, huh?” he breathes heavily against you open mouth before he traps your lower lip in his teeth.

his tongue enters your mouth and makes you feel all the voracious desire he has to make you his, imprinted in his kisses, in the way his fingers bury themselves in your soft skin while his girth is buried into you over and over, leaving you breathless.

your voice, clouded by the euphoria that is unleashed in your stomach, can barely hiss with a deep groan “f-feels good.” your cheeks are wet, eyes under the haze of tears of pleasure that involuntarily shake you when he pushes against your intimacy. your eyes open only to take record of him, looking so hauntingly beautiful. holy. eyes clouded by the simmering desire in his dilated pupils as he admires you take his cock, letting out all these emotions he feels at the same time in moans and grunts that delight your ears every time he sinks into you.

“mine.”

“always—, my yn.”

a pride catches you knowing that you are his.

his tongue enters your mouth and makes you feel all the voracious desire he has to make you his, imprinted in his kisses, in the way his fingers bury themselves in your soft skin while his girth is buried into you over and over, leaving you breathless.

a demolished feeling shaking your body under his heavy gaze when he wraps his arm under your thighs and brings them to your ribs. your whole self fixed in the way he fucks you deeper. “o-oh shit,” you shudder. “you're d-doing so good.” he hovers over you with an exhale, “soaking wet for me,” pressing you against the mattress, his dick hammers your cunt sharply, causing your eyes to slam shut. your drenched pussy accompanies his thrusts with the lascivious sound of your arousal coating his girth every time it goes in and out. feeling his warm breath in your ear as he slams his pelvis rhythmically into you, taking exhales with each thrust. “oh— fuck.” it feels so good. he feels so good. you're a whole mess of thoughts, speechless. a jumble of gasping and sobbing and yet the only thing that comes from your mouth is his name in your shaky voice.

“you're making me feel so— good calling my name.” donghyuck opens his mouth to let out a wild growl that causes your legs to tremble. his eyes are two pools that take you to the abyss. blushing with labored breathing, your neck burns when you are aware that it is because of you. feeling your swollen pussy throbbing with sharp pleasure, which tears your belly at him constantly hitting every nerve in you.

his expert moves shift your body with ease. he puts you in different positions that cause screams in you. completely carried away by the crushing of his pelvis pounding you, rough and raw. “hyuck!” a pant of surprise assails you at the simple thought of him shifting you in a heartbeat before your thoughts get messy and lose the thread when you sense the warm feeling of him inside you again, stretching you with smoothness every time. arching your back as a silent moan burns in your throat.

you want him closer. you want him to shatter you.

your fingers tangle in his hair as you feel his hands hug your waist. your legs roll up slightly at his hips, pelvis suspended inches from the mattress.  you roll your eyes when you feel him still erect slipping inside you and pressing his tip against a weird but delicious angle. you're completely numb. your fingers go to the base of his penis, wetting your fingers with the creamy ring that formed the constant hammering on you. staying in the same position when you feel him insert it all the way in, the rubbing of your fingers sending shivers down your spine.

“just like that, baby,” you whisper under your breath as donghyuck penetrates you again and again, slowly, passionately, hissing under the pressure of your fingers wrapped around his circumference. “fucking me so g-good.” you feel his body buzz with each powerful stroke. every second he takes between thrusts, feeling it the pleasure runs through his length.

his mouth lets out a beautiful strangled growl. so possessed, so bewitched. the purest ecstasy fluttering in his eyes as he sees the point where your bodies meet. you're imprisoned under his heavy gaze drinking the sight of your naked body still suffering the aftermath of his actions on you while sharply stroking his dick in and out, watching your tits bouncing with each move.

“so gorgeous. you're so gorgeous.”

moans died and were reborn into stars twinkling in your vision, leaving in their wake your broken body as donghyuck turned up the intensity. his movements rougher by having more stability, bending you until your thighs touch his hips and your head lolls back into the mattress.

“let me fuck you right, star” his unwrapping thrusts drove you to edge of your sanity. a silky-smooth feeling filling your mind, the melody of your voices, a feeling of delight took root in your abdomen, tightening, wanting to be released from you.

you clenched and grithe your teeth. your walls pulsating each time he comes in and out, steady, consistent while you're a mess of tears and sighs. “hold it, love,” he coaxes, and no matter how tired you were, it wouldn't be enough. there was no end to your satisfaction when it comes to him. you'd burn your body to keep him warm if he asks you to.

his deep thrusts feel delicious. a tingling runs through you and embalms your body with a numbing sensation. the space absorbed your essence as your stomach tightened and your back arched into a frenzy. flushed, he rocks his cock back and forth into you as he puts pressure on the grip that holds your legs spread when you try to pull away because you feel a lot, everything, like you're carrying the weight of the world on your shoulders. letting out a whimper when you're overpowered by him.

“h-hyuck, p-please. i'm cumming.”

you're so close, a thousand emotions going through your mind. feeling him reaching out your spot, over and over, causing an explosion of suppressed pleasure. feeling the mixture of both arousal causing damp sounds every time he hammers you, joining your breathy moans in the steamy air between your bodies. “i want to cum with you.” his body tenses and your body shake, “tell me when, love.” you make a fist the sheets in your hands, arching your back closer to him. “f-fuck!” your eyes close tightly and your pasty throat let out a scream, legs closing around his hips as his thick grith grinds inside you until he brakes suddenly and his cock twitch wrapped by your walls before it starts to pulsate erratically along your nerves.

his mouth leaves a trail of bites and kisses down your stomach until it goes up your chest. he stays still inside you until you stop pulsating around his cock coated in your arousal, and then, he slides out before he pumps it back and forth a few times more. your body jolts and vibrates as he finishes covering your body with marks from his lips. his hands tangle behind your waist, drawing you towards him, leaving your legs to fall sore around his waist.

you feel his cum slide along to his cock when he pulls it out. breath bathing your face when you join your foreheads and catch your breath. delighting in the full sensation left by your bodies together, intertwined, merged into each other. a gentle caress brushes your tummy when he draws circles with his thumb. pressing a kiss on your shoulder as he drift down. mouth replacing hands, caresses turning into kisses. you sense him fixed on your intimacy before he lifts from the bed.

“hyuck.”

“right here, star.” you feel coming back again, a slight touch in your body, and him disappearing again. you don't know how much time has passed till you come back to your senses, in a bathtub, drunk and sleepy. “tired?” he says, suddenly blushing. “mhm.” your eyes close involuntarily, but you open them again when you feel his mouth pressing against yours. “sorry,” you say hesitantly, taking notice of his messy hair traced by your fingers and his neck marked by your mouth. he kisses you softly, exhaling when he feels your hands on his nape, bringing him closer. “aren't you coming?”

“i wish i could…” but he's been asleep for so long. his life paused while he was away. you can't expect him to leave his life aside just so you can have waking moments with him. “don't think that.”

you laugh.

“think, what?”

“that i want to be somewhere else but with you when i'm awake.” you deny.

“i love being with you while you sleep,” you assure him, “you don't owe me anything.”

“jisung is out there.” he murmurs. “would you be okay for a few hours?” he wants to know.

you don't know if you have to tell him about nightmare. he's never posed a real threat, but not having him with you can't mean anything good. you've been cautious, hoping that next time he'll stay longer, allow you to put him back in the empty place of the small cosmos where he belongs, but he remains just as cautious, and his ephemeral visits only bring with them the promise of being able to consume golden dreams.

golden dreams that you've been watching while their wearer is vulnerable.

your fingers run their moles over the golden skin of his face, gliding down to his neck where the constellation continues. you nod absentmindedly, soothing yourself with his now bright eyes.  “something's wrong?”

his eyes are worried, and you see him watching you more closely to find out what's troubling you. “it's just... it must be tiring. lonely,” you correct later, “i wish i could give you dreams like you do with me because... it must feel lonely.”

his lips curl up with fondness. “it doesn't.” he muses. “i get to see the dreams of other dreamers, i can see the dreams of every version of me, and when i do, i don't feel so alone, because you are always there, with me.”

where you put this grief, this guilt, where there is a room to contain it.

you can't. there isn't.

“be careful.”

you watch him disappear through the bathroom door, his essence slowly fading into the light air as you sink your head under the water to chase away the evil thoughts swirling around your head.

warm water numbs your muscles stiff with worry. everything becomes silent underwater. even your head. as the seconds of oxygen run out, your mind clears.

jaemin has been studying rem for months now, if there's anyone who knows about this besides donghyuck it's him. you'll ask him about nightmare. there won't be need to involve donghyuck into this.

there a shift in the water, you sense a subtle change in the warm water wrapping you. your hands take a foothold on the slippery ceramic of the tub to get out underwater. eyes opening in a strange instinct, encountering nothing but darkness staying still above you, before it attacks you. panic takes hold as a viscous substance infiltrates your nostrils, constricting your airways in a suffocating grip. a coiling serpent of fear, constricting your muscles as it winds its way down your throat.

but just as it seems that darkness might claim you, the sensation of drowning vanishes. you burst forth from beneath the water's surface, gasping for breath, your chest heaving with the urgency of survival. your wide eyes search the water's depths, yet all you find is the undisturbed and tranquil surface, bearing no trace of the harrowing struggle that unfolded below.

you feel trapped in a whirlwind of emotions as you watch everything unfold automatically. your body moves on its own, as if it's disconnected from your consciousness. consternation consumes you from within, and you know jisung must be dreaming again, blurring the lines between reality and nightmares. and now donghyuck goes straight to it. your steps quicken, resonating like the racing pulse under your ribs as you glide through the bookstore's corridors.

no one pays attention to you; they’re either asleep in their table or too busy to watch the girl almost running as she turns in a corner. you come across jaemin standing in front of chenle’s sleeping figure at the table. his eyes dart away as if they've detected your presence, and a smile forms on his face. however, your eyes fail to see it because they travel towards the creature beside him, eclipsing the dim light of the bookstore with its smile. you feel ancestral panic inject into your bloodstream when you realize jaemin can see it too, “oh, this is jeno.” all the blood migrates from your face, and his smile widens further.

you see him take a few steps, closing the gap between you without being able to do anything about it, frozen in anticipation. his hand reaches out to you. “a pleasure,” he says in a husky voice. he's here. really, physically. “you shouldn't be here...” you whisper, causing his eyebrows to shoot up, showing his surprise. his hand rests on his chest, “i'm just helping a friend with his nightmare problem.”

his countenance exudes a sense of contentment, while yours surrenders abruptly to the bitter taste of defeat. you watch as he takes his place, engaged in casual conversation with jaemin, a scenario that strains your credulity. jeno assumes the mantle of an ordinary young man, laughter and jests flowing freely, a potent elixir of mirth that might, under different circumstances, have coaxed laughter from your lips if it weren't for the incessant pounding of your heart, staying alert to his movements. when his hands move suddenly, but only to pick up a pencil. when his body makes an unexpected movement, but only to settle into his seat. your breath oscillates in agony, measured in agonizing intervals just before jaemin goes for a book and leave you both alone.

a chuckle ripples through his chest as you guide him toward a desolate corner. “one of my dreams,” you hear him jest.

“stay away from him.”

“don't let jealousy cloud your judgment, my dearest,” he coos, his hand daring to cradle his chin, only to meet your swift rebuff and unyielding gaze. “i'm deadly serious, you... should not be here,” you insist, observing as he takes a contemplative pause, morphing his countenance into an unsettling neutrality that sends involuntary shivers down your spine. yet, the sight of his sardonic grin strangely lulls your unease.

“i've missed you as well... drinking dreams together…, being inside you.”

he takes your silence as embarrassment. fangs peeking through his lips, yet a hint of annoyance flickers in his nighttime eyes when he discerns the truth behind your silence. “doesn't work that way, mastermind," he intones, emphasizing each syllable as he gently taps his index finger against your forehead.

“what are you?”

“a thought, an invention, a dream.” he recites, coming closer. your steps take you away from him, a shadow stirs in his gaze, like a crow's wings, sending shivers down your spine. “are you afraid of me now, after all i've done?”

your brow furrows and his wicked grin widens even more. “why?” you ask confused by his intentions. you can't believe that someone wickedly evil has been saving you on several occasions.

“i owe you,” he simply say, “thanks to you, i exist. and... thanks to you, i am free.”

“i can do whatever i want,” he says with sly enthusiasm.

“you killed those men.” your voice sounds raspy and pasty when you speak. and he finds it, delightful.

he spills joy tinted in every word when he pronounces, “you did.”

the ground beneath you quivers beneath the gravity of his revelation, an undeniable truth crashing over you. “of course not.” but a sliver of doubt lingers in your mind. could you? would you? his enigmatic gaze descends to floor as if he could feel it too.

when his eyes find yours again, a fierce struggle unfolds within their depths. “or maybe someone else did.”

you get his implication,“he wouldn’t do something like that.”

a smile as sharp as a knife. “oh, you have no idea what things he’d willing to do to protect his little dreams.”

the ground quakes once more, and this time, you're certain it's not your doing.

“enough,” you declare, although you can't decide what you mean.

“i'm not doing anything, darling,” the subtle roll of his eyes doesn't escape your notice, yet your attention remains firmly planted on the floor. confusion knits your brow as you observe a puddle encroaching on the soles of your shoes.

your gaze traces the meandering path, eventually leading to the study table. chenle’s name becomes lodged in your throat as a deafening shatter assaults your ears; the shelves flanking both jeno and you teeter precariously. the library is about to collapse.

jeno's hands spring out toward you reflexively, but you deftly evade them and instead utter, “chenle.” there's a hint of reluctance in jeno's response before he resigns himself to approach the slumbering boy.

books start to tumble to the floor as the crowd erupts into collective hysteria. this isn't a dream. it's happening again. water splashes as you approach the table where jeno is trying to wake chenle with limited success. “this doesn't look good at all.”

another crash rends the air as the earth cracks, and the world shudders when a rocky spire erupts from the ground, puncturing the vaulted library ceiling. debris begins to rain down. “you don't expect me to carry him, do you?” he asks rhetorically.  “never, you're not strong enough.” a few seconds pass before your words have an impact. “okay, fine. mastermind.”

the water begins to rise, creeping up their knees and weaving its way through the books, meandering around the crystal spires jutting from all sides. the place starts to fold in on itself, morphing as it seeks an escape amidst the chaos and hysteria. the water climbs higher and higher along their limbs as the ceiling crumbles, revealing a sky filled with meteorites.

“keep moving, darling.” you hear jeno’s voice under your bewilderment. “this is…” not chenle’s dream. something morphed. this is his dream, but also yours.

not dreams. nightmares. they are taking possession while people dream.

“jeno.” your voice trembles more than you'd like. all those people, in the same state as chenle despite making a thousand attempts to wake him, remain ensnared in the realm as their dreams turn to nightmares and escape from the ether into reality.

your eyes dart to him when you receive no response, but you're met with the cruel revelation that he's gone. you sweep hastily in all directions in his search as you call his name, almost in desperation, too absorbed in the panic that paralyzes you that you barely register the marble figure sinking into the depths. the water reaches your chest, and it's only now that you came across the fact that you've long since ceased to touch solid ground.

you take a breath before submerging yourself, swimming down as the ever-widening expanse separates you further. his frozen, pale hand stretches toward yours, unable to make contact, sinking alongside chenle. a sharp pain explodes in your chest as you look at each other, his face trapped in eternal agony, as he vanishes into the depths, until only chenle and you remain, drifting in the endless expanse of the cerulean sea.

your lungs rebel, their desperate gasps clinging to the dwindling reserves of oxygen, while your outstretched fingers ache as if they could grasp the very essence of chenle. fiercely holding onto that lifeline, you initiate your ascent as your body falters beneath the relentless depths.

the world swirls in a dizzying frenzy. first, the embrace of the ocean's frigid depths envelopes you while your outstretched fingers ache as they grasp chenle, then the warmth of another's taking hold of you. in this tumultuous surge, you sense your very being's resistance against the relentless sea, as it compels you to expel the intruding water, your throat erupting in a violent symphony of coughs.

gradually, your ears resurface, attuned to the cacophony of a world that had been submerged in silence. amidst the crackling sounds of your awakening senses, chenle's cough reaches you.

you're too catatonic to initially register his presence, warming your insides, but once your being recognizes his, you wrap your arms around him and meld into him. donghyuck embraces you, and you blur your own fear of losing him with his. after an eternity passes during which it seems like you both don’t want to break each other's embrace, you become aware of the world falling apart.

“i thought i'd lost you,” you sob. your hands cradle his warm face, and his eyes tightly shut. you see his celestial countenance marred by fears as the stone where he placed your bodies begins to tremble. “jisung... what happened with him?” you ask.

his eyes finally open, wet with lament. “he's not doing this, star.” confusion roots itself in your stomach as a sensation tightens in your chest. “it's you.”

“the nightmares…,” he mentions while you find yourself slowly denying. an unwanted feeling winds through you, a presence you refuse to acknowledge. as he talks, as he accuses you for actions you cannot truly comprehend, delving into your consciousness that unravels your misguided decisions, compelling you to confront the uncomfortable truth unfolding before you. “you took them from me.”

despair creeps in, “so you could sleep.”

“so you could free them.”

you couldn't carry out such an act. it wasn't for that reason that you did it, yet you’re the only one who refuses to believe it. his shoulders slump under the weight of defeat, and you, you've lost your voice; all the things you’ve done, all the things you could’ve done, dancing in the space.

he seizes your daze to hold you tighter, and you feel it. every sensation that assails him with each rapid heartbeat. reluctance. fear. love. resignation. “i've been searching for you since you fell, my star,” his voice is tinged with sorrow, and you hear him sob. “i fell for you.”

boulders start to tumble into the deluge. the ground beneath you quakes as it crumbles away. “he vanished me from the dreaming until i was worthy once more. until i found the nightmare sorter.” your arms hang limp, feeling defeat coursing through your veins. every part of you burning. your heart breaking in tandem with the world while his arms continue to embrace you.

a sob overtakes you, “sorry for taking too long, my star. i would have loved to spend an eternity with you.”

“we're bond forever. our souls come from the same star. i'll find you again, in another universe, in other lifetime. and i promise i'll find you sooner next time.”

you look at him with nothing left inside you, consumed by betrayal, unwilling to do anything because your heart is broken. his dreams are his most precious possession, and he would do anything for them, just as you would do anything for him. “i love you.” he shatters when you shake your head. no, you don't.

you feel your body move under his influence, his eyes closing, unwilling to look. “look at me.” his face contorts in agony as he does as you ask.

the words burn on your tongue, “i would never have done this to you.” your feet slip off the ledge, and you make no attempt to hold onto anything.

the voracious pain in your chest tightens as you fall, numbed by the spreading malaise within you. not sensing at first the shift in the substance around you; how it becomes denser. your body shivers from the cold touch, so different from his warm hands. this time, he doesn't laugh, but you know it's him, enveloping you in his midnight cloak. you've been descending for a time without end with the ocean as your downfall.

but you never reach the bottom. he transforms your being like his, nighttime mist that dissipates into the darkness.

you are startled awake from your reverie. it feels like you've been dozing for a lifetime. in a dream you always dream of.

where you fall, infinitely. towards the void, towards space, towards the immensity of the ocean. you don't know. you never know, because you never reach the bottom. pushed by a stranger. a friend. a lover. an enemy. a lost boy.

his gaze falls on you and catches you sneaking a glance at him; a lot of time has passed. “i think it's just you and me,” you say, his eyes as dark as two black holes capable of devouring entire stars, with secrets yearning to escape as if he knows something you don’t know yet.

[writemekpop]

Puppy Love (Part 3) | Lee Jeno

Summary: When your boyfriend Jeno wakes up cuddly and affectionate, you know something is wrong - he's switched bodies with your dog Lucky! You finally realise why he's been so cold. Can you forgive him?

Genre: Established relationship AU, body switch AU, angst, fluff, featuring samoyed Jeno

Word Count: 2k

A/N: This one's a little wackier than our usual fics... (it's similar to a hybrid AU)

Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 💚

When you woke up the next morning, you were alone.

You rubbed your eyes sleepily. “Jeno? Lucky?” you called, with no response.

Maybe yesterday was all a dream. But then, you touched your chest and felt the beginnings of a love bite – one that your dog in your boyfriend’s body had given you. You shuddered at the memory.

You put on your silk robe and went downstairs.

You went straight to the doggie crate and saw Lucky, fast asleep. You frowned, was Lucky back to normal, or was Jeno still stuck there?

You walked into the living room, and that’s when you spotted Jeno. He was standing on the other end of the room, arms crossed, staring out into the garden.

“Jeno?” you called.

---

Three months ago. 

“Y/n, I’m home!” He called, shrugging off his jacket. “You will not believe the day I’ve had.”

All Jeno wanted to do was get into bed and hold you tight. Jeno knew that if he was craving that, then he was having an especially bad day. 

There was no response. 

He heard the shower running, and your singing coming from the bathroom. 

Smirking, Jeno pulled off his T shirt and sat down on the bed. He figured he’d surprise you out here. 

He started to get hot and bothered, thinking about how sexy you looked when you came out of the shower, with your wet hair dripping down your naked chest. 

Your phone buzzing snapped him out of it. 

Jeno glanced at your phone, which was lying face up on the bedside table.  

He knew he shouldn’t read it, but curiosity got the better of him.

He read the first message. It was from someone called Haechan. 

“We can’t do this anymore. It’s not right.” 

Jeno dropped the phone, feeling dizzy. Were you cheating on him? Of course, it was too good to be true. He should have known better than to trust you. 

You came out of the shower, humming happily.

You spotted Jeno sitting on the bed, facing away from you. You admired his naked muscled back.

“Hey Jeno! I-” When you caught sight of his expression, you frowned. “Is everything okay?” 

Jeno glanced up at you, scowling. He turned away, without speaking. 

You came up behind him and wrapped your arms around his shoulder. Jeno shrugged you off. He stormed into the bathroom, slamming the door behind him.

You had no idea what was bothering Jeno.   

 ---

“Jeno?” you called.

The sound of your voice made him turn around.

Jeno’s face was serious, his black eyes trained on you. He is face was no longer flushed, and he wasn’t sticking his tongue out or jumping on you.

Jeno’s expression was stern, and of course, devastatingly, breathtakingly, earth-shatteringly handsome. Jeno’s looks were one thing about him that you couldn’t fault. Perhaps they were the only thing that had made you stay with him all these years.

Your breath caught in your throat.

“Y/n, it’s me!” Jeno said, sounding decidedly human.

“Oh my god!” you squealed. You ran towards your boyfriend, whacking into his muscled body with a thud as you wrapped your arms around him.

Jeno froze. His instinct was to push you off. But this time, he didn’t push you away, he just stood there, awkwardly, arms hanging limp by his side.

You noticed his reaction and immediately let go of him, cheeks warming at your sudden outburst. But before you could pull away, Jeno grabbed your hands and wrapped them back around his shoulders.

Then Jeno tentatively wrapped his own arms around your waist. He rested his head on your shoulder. When his lips brushed your neck, you jolted and pushed him away.

Your skin tingled from Jeno’s lips. What the hell was that?

Jeno cleared his throat. “Lucky’s back to normal too, I already took him for his walk.”

You nodded. “Jeno, I’m glad you’re human again. I’ve… been thinking about us.”

Jeno sat down and patted the couch next to him. “Me too. I had a lot of time to think, you know, when I was chained to the post in the garden all day.”

You sat down beside him. “Yeah… sorry about that.”

Jeno shook his head, smiling. “It’s okay, I would have done the same. Probably worse.”

You hummed. “That brings me to what I wanted to say. I think-“

“Wait!” Jeno held his hand up. “Please. Let’s say it at the same time.”

You frowned. “Okay…”

“I think we should break up.”

“Will you marry me?”

You both stared at each other, unblinking.

Jeno’s brows furrowed. “Did you just say… you want to break up?”

You gulped. “Did you just say you want to marry me?”

Jeno nodded. “Being a dog for a day made me realise that I’ve been a shitty boyfriend, and I’ve taking you for granted. Heck, what kind of man lets a mutt be his girl’s greatest confidant? I’m an idiot.”

You scoffed. “That’s rich. Do you realise that this is the longest conversation we’ve had in weeks? I don’t even know why I’m with you!”

You jumped off the couch, but Jeno pulled you back down. “Wait! I really love you, Y/n. I’m sorry I don’t tell you that enough.”

Even though Jeno was going out of his way to be kind – and for Jeno, kindness was really a long way out of his way – you couldn’t help but get more and more angry.

“Why do you even like me, Jeno?” you spat. “Do you even know me? When’s my birthday?”

Jeno scratched his head. “Err… I know it’s the same month as mine, so… April twenty ninth?”

“Not even close!”

Jeno frowned. “Look, Y/n. What I’m saying is, let’s have a clean slate. Not just for me, but you, too.” 

“What is that supposed to mean?” 

Jeno’s jaw clenched. “I know… about your affair. I didn’t say anything at the time, but I’m willing to let it go.” 

“What affair? What the hell are you on about?” You were beginning to wonder if switching into a dog’s body had messed with Jeno’s brain too. 

Jeno stood up, crossing his muscled arms. “Just before Christmas, I saw your phone… the guy saying we can’t do this anymore? Any of this ring a bell?”

You narrowed your eyes. “You mean… the texts from Haechan?” 

Jeno scowled. “That was his name, yeah.” 

You couldn’t believe what you were hearing. You laughed incredulously. “Jeno… that’s my brother! We were talking about a family issue.” 

Jeno frowned. “I… thought your brother’s name was Donghyuck.” 

“It is! Haechan is his nickname. You’d know that if you actually listened, or ever agreed to meet him” you spat.  

Jeno sat down, staring off into the distance. “So you really weren’t cheating…” 

Jeno was never the most affectionate person, even when you first started dating. But coming to think of it,  ever since Christmas, Jeno had been especially cold. You don’t think he’d even touched you since then. 

“Hold on,” you said. “If you thought I was cheating, why didn’t you say anything?”

Jeno stared at you darkly. “I figured out I could live with it… if I knew it was over.” 

You couldn’t tell if you wanted to laugh or cry. 

“You could have just talked to me, Jen.” The pet name you used to use for him felt foreign in your mouth. Jeno’s ears perked up. 

Before Jeno could say anything more, you ran out into the garden.

Your dog Lucky bounded towards you, tail wagging. You knelt down and pulled him close. It felt nice to have your best friend back. 

You heard footsteps behind you. Jeno’s shadow – tall and human – stretched out on the grass in front of you. You didn’t turn around, choosing to keep your eyes on Lucky.

Jeno crouched down beside you. He placed a gentle hand on your shoulder.

“Please, Y/n. Just give me some time to prove to you that I can be a good boyfriend. Just a month! If you’re not happy, then… I promise, I’ll… I’ll disappear from your life forever.”

You shrugged his arm off you. “Go away, Jeno.”

What happened next was something you’d never have expected.

Jeno started to cry.

You realised you’d never seen him cry before.

His eyes were puffy, scrunched into almost straight lines, and wet tears rolled down his flushed cheeks. He looked almost… beautiful.

You placed your hand on his cheek and brushed away a tear.

“I’m so sorry, Y/n. About everything.” Jeno said, voice cracking. “Please, just give me one more chance.”

You shushed him. As much as you hated his behaviour lately, you couldn’t imagine a life without Jeno. 

You leaned in for a kiss. Jeno’s lips were salty, but the kiss was warm, intense, and made your entire body tingle.

A loud bark made you both jump apart. Lucky was staring at you, tongue hanging out of his mouth. Jeno and you caught each other’s eyes, and burst into laughter.

---

One month later… 

“Good morning, beautiful.”

Jeno’s head rested on your naked chest, and his hand was wrapped around your waist.

You hummed your greeting, utterly content and completely worn out from last night’s lovemaking.

Over the last month, Jeno had been working hard on being a good boyfriend. He asked about your day, he made an effort to befriend your brother, he even put his arm around you in public.

It was true, Jeno was no Romeo, and he never would be. He refused to let you shower together, and he still mostly dodged your kisses, but he was trying, and each day, you grew closer and closer. You hadn’t accepted his proposal yet, but you were starting to see a real future with him.

“Shall I cook us some breakfast, honey?” You asked, running your fingers through Jeno’s wavy black hair.

Jeno pushed himself onto his elbows and locked eyes with you. “Nuh uh, got all I could ever need to eat right…” Jeno lowered his lips to the hem of your panties. “Here.”

Your cheeks warmed. “If you say so…”

Jeno’s eyes scrunched up as he grinned. He pulled your underwear down to your knees.

Just then, Lucky, who was resting on his doggy bed in the corner, leapt onto the bed and pushed himself in between you and Jeno.

Jeno growled playfully and shoved the dog away.

“She’s mine!” Jeno said, baring his teeth. The dog yelped.

You struggled to hold in your laughter.

A large grin erupted onto Jeno’s handsome face as he pulled you towards him.

You could get used to this.

—

MAIN MASTERLIST

Let us know what you thought in the comments or on anon! 💋

[desmon1995]

Female Warriors, Broadway, and the American Dream.

The Warriors have been out for about 2 weeks now and it's slowly but steadily building up a pretty passionate following.

I think one of the biggest changes that have been rough for some long time over years 79 fans is that the Warriors are now female, which some argue ruins the point of the original and or softens the story too much.

While I do respect everybody's opinion when it comes to artistic criticism, I do think that dismissing the concept album just because it features women is a little short-sighted IMHO.

Regurgitating the original male cast just in musical album form would not only be repetitive but would make it no different than other Broadway show that focus on gang violence like West Side story or now The Outsiders.

We have so many shows that focus on brotherhood, kinship, and just masculinity not even within film but also on Broadway, but we hardly ever see the same for female characters.

The Female Warriors are very rough around the edges, foul-mouthed, violent at times, and in the case of cowgirl, lustful.

They're also different body types, present themselves differently, and are all played by BIPOC.

I've seen a lot of Broadway shows in my 30 years of living, and we just don't get diverse female characters like this a lot if at all.

If any female character had the above traits they would likely be presented as being the less than ideal woman or flat out villainous.

The girls have flaws, but these are just things they picked up because of how rough the world has been to them, and at the end of the day they're not only friends but a family.

That's a big difference between the female warriors and their male counterparts from the movie and novel.

The Male Warriors are supposed to be seen as what ends up happening when youths get tangled up in gang culture and how it turns them into monsters.

When the police arrest Ajax in the film it's because of how unruly and savage he was acting and likewise Fox getting killed along with Cleon is supposed to be seen as a consequence of them even being a part of this culture to begin with.

I've said it before, but I think while the intentions may be good it's viewing these marginalized groups through a very White and conservative lens.

Nobody wants to be a part of a gang or run away from home but sometimes living in poverty, an abusive household, or just being crushed by the system forces people to do desperate things and more often than not that's banding together with like-minded people.

Another thing is that most of the Warriors in the original film are White and that's largely just due to the fact that an audience back in the 1970s would be less willing to watch something that didn't at least feature several white main leads otherwise they'd be uncomfortable and uninterested.

From a modern-day perspective, a person like male Ajax would likely get away with his sexually aggressive behavior because of the color of the skin ( you can look at a certain orange politician to see that in present day) and we now know thanks to things like BLM that the police do not always operate in good faith nor to protect the people.

I think that's why the concept album is so good and culturally relevant despite having being created nearly a few years ago.

The Warriors consisting of a group of marginalized women that banded together to support one another to conduct a world that really doesn't care for them is a story you really get to hear not just on Broadway but in Hollywood in general.

Luther being a white gang leader and killing a black cultural figure like Cyrus in cold blood to stop any semblance of progress is the tale as all this time and how he mocks the AAVE the non-white groups he surrounds himself with after making life hell for them is especially painful.

Luther and Crosby literally don't have to worry about ever being hounded by the police because of how they look which allows them to get away with literal murder, but it is very telling that he ends up crumbling the moment he's confronted and called out for his misdeeds.

The cops themselves are also completely reworked for the concept album as opposed to them just being the boys in blue doing their job to get rid of the trash that is the Warriors like the original film, they're essentially the biggest antagonist even more so than the Rogues.

Both police officers that appear in the album have a cat calling motif which doubles as sounding like police sirens just to illustrate how dangerous and cancerous they are not just to the Warriors but to the community as a whole.

Captain Victor and Barnes abuse their power and end up nearly subduing the Warriors by killing Fox and sexually a harassing and later arresting Ajax.

In Derailed Victor even tries to kill the warriors with his squadron before they run away to the cemetery and all of this is done because they can.

The fact that these two are portrayed by people from the 1979 Warriors film sort of acts as a double entender because in the original, the Warriors themselves are supposed to be seen as monsters and what happens when kids fall too deep into the sins of the world, so the cops view the women as nothing more than street rats who need to be exterminated .

The Warriors are guilty because they're marginalized women and that's enough for them to be blown away as far as society and the system is concerned.

I think in some ways, the Warriors is basically the reverse of LMM's other work Hamilton because it shows that the American dream isn't really for everybody and that sometimes you have to find another means to live by.

The system very much failed the Warriors so they had to rely on themselves to make it through the world because nobody else would bother with them.

It's for this reason why I'm sort of against the idea that this album needs to be radically changed in order for it to move the Broadway.

Doing things like giving Luther more complex feelings, adding in things to help the predominantly white audience and critics understand how Urban culture works, and rewriting the characters themselves just to be more stage appropriate seems like it undoes what the musical was trying to say.

I think this story as it is is one worth telling and beyond maybe a bit of polish I don't really think it should be tempered with too much.

If Lin and Eisa were to doll the Warriors up too much it would basically be a completely different story altogether and what we would have is just another Broadway musical that allows the audience to digest certain things that they may not understand nor possibly want to hear.

I think we as a society have moved beyond watering down things so that people who aren't even from the community that these stories come from can sleep better at night.

I think that's why this album and the original movie have dedicated fan bases to them because it does speak to a generation of people.

[littleliterarylesbian]

Dear James - 3

| part 1 part 2

(cw for: accidental misgendering, prob the last part that will include this)

Hatred fills every part of him for almost no reason most times. He looks at James, his best friend in the whole world, and sees the last person who saw his sister alive. The person who she reached out to before she died and he didn't respond. And Sirius hates that. Hates him.

Sirius looks at Moony, the love of his life, and can't help the rage that bubbles up in him and he has no idea why. Maybe it's because Sirius doesn't understand how someone can love him after everything he's done, the words he's said, maybe it's because Remus was simply just a friend of hers once upon a time ago.

Sirius just hates Peter in general. How dare that man breathe in this universe after what he's done, after the friends he's killed. Sirius and Peter used to be close, but now every time Sirius sees him, in the newspaper, in old pictures of them, he wants to claw Peter's eyes out before shoving them so far up his arse they reach his intestines.

Sirius doesn't say anything though, he keeps it bottled up, it's better this way. He only unscrews the cap slightly with Remus, during sex mainly, when he can claw and scratch and bite without worry.

He doesn't tell anyone of the dreams, the dreams of a little boy with his sisters eyes and sharp angles and James' hair and smile, a boy that grows up happy and loved.

Sirius still remembers how the face became prominent in his dreams.

Sirius and Remus got into a row again, Sirius stomping out of the flat with harsh words and a 'don't wait up.'

He huffed down the street and does what he does every time he storms out. He stops at the local park. Sitting on a bench and watching children play, like he does so often; too often.

Sirius had always wished that he could be here with another purpose for once, maybe if his sister were still alive he would be here as an uncle, watching a little sprong run around with a big smile and a loud laugh.

He was lost in his day dreams when a body slammed into his leg.

Sirius blinked in shock when small arms wound around him and a small voice, one that clearly has a smile, spoke and Sirius was rendered speechless as he looked down. Dark skin and messy brown hair.

"Papa!" The little voice was French, or at least had a slight accent and Sirius' heart squeezed, "You're back early! How did you-" The little body looked up finally and froze.

Sirius' breath left him. Those eyes were so similar, eyes that Sirius had always hoped to see again.

The boy stepped away with a small frown, one that looked so cute with the baby fat on his face, round cheeks that made Sirius just want the small boy to continue hugging his legs because he wanted to bottle up those eyes, those familiar features, forever.

"You're not Papa." When the boy furrowed his eyebrows in an act that so reminiscent of the dead he once cared for so much he felt like screaming.

He tried to keep it together.

"Who is your Papa?" Sirius asked, and he pretended that his voice didn't crack. The boy didn't notice, or if he did he didn't say anything.

Instead, the boy squinted at him, tilting his head like a dog, like James, "I dunno if I should tell you." the boy said, "Papa isn't very pop-u-lar."

Sirius still couldn't stop looking. Looking at the grey eyes that seemed a bit too big for his face, and the baby fat covering what seemed to be pointed features, and messy hair in a familiar dark brown, and dark skin that seemed to be only slightly lighter then James'. Though it was a cloudy day, so what did Sirius know. It could all just be his mind, playing dirty tricks on him like it always does.

But Sirius still forced a smile, he thinks he was too shocked- haunted maybe- to cry.

"That's alright." Sirius shrugged, "I'm not too popular either."

The boy shook his head, "I dunno. Papa doesn't want strangers to know."

Sirius felt like his skin was crawling. An itch he couldn't escape, because now he has to know.

"How about I tell you my name, then you tell me yours. Then we won't be strangers."

The boy thought about it, but clearly didn't see a problem with Sirius' logic when he puffed up his cheeks and nodded.

"My name is Harry"

Sirius smiled, it was wobbly and his face felt heavy, but now he had a name to attach to the boy's face, a face that he knew he will use in daydreams and sleepless nights.

Sirius is aware of how weird that sounds.

"My name is Sirius."

He watched as the boy's toothy smile turned into a frown, Sirius watched as the boy looked him over before Harry's eyes widened and he took a step back.

Sirius watched as the boy looked to the sidewalk, almost in fear, and Sirius doesn't know what he did wrong.

Harry looked back, "Oh, um, I-" His eyes flicked back to the sidewalk and he cut himself off, eyes widening further and Sirius couldn't look away when the smile bloomed on Harry's face again. The boy started to run away, vaguely shouting back an apology. Sirius was sure he was already forgotten in the boy's mind.

Sirius watched him go. He watched as the small body slammed into a short man, he watched as the man looked down before he leaned down and picked the boy up.

Sirius was too far away to see the man properly, and even if he moved closer all he would see was a vague side profile, but he couldn't help but watch.

Sirius still couldn't be sure as he walked a few steps forward anyway, but the nose looked similar. Like the one he saw every day in the mirror, like the one he saw in memories.

Sirius watched the man walk away with Harry and he felt crushed. Like something was taken from him with no reason for why.

He went home to Remus that day stumbling through the door, alcohol on his breath, and holding back tears.

James looks similar now, as he trips out of the floo, clutching a now wrinkled letter in his hand.

[itsnotgray]

Matching | A One Soul Three Hearts Fic

I think growing up Mrs.Fantilli would’ve dressed Adam and Gianna in matching/correlating clothes.

Until eventually a young, 6 year old Adam was so frustrated with matching/being coordinated with his sister, that he threw a fit.

Except Gianna was so upset that Adam didn’t want to match with her. She’s so silent the whole day after his fit, and sneaks her way into their parents bed that night.

~

Julia wakes up, confused at the feeling of small feet stepping on her leg. “Gi what’re you doing in here? Are you okay?”

Giuliano stirs next to her, but he stays silent, hoping it’s a one parent problem that can be solved quickly, having seen that the clock read 2:16am, and knowing he had work in about 6 hours.

Gianna flops her body in between her parents, curling her body into her mom’s. “Ad- Ad doesn’t love me no more,” she sniffles into Julia’s pajamas, her body being wracked with small sobs.

“What do you mean baby? Of course Adam loves you. And Luca, and me, and Daddy, we all love you.”

“Not Adam,” she insists sadly, shaking her head in rebuttal.

“What made you think that Gi?” Giuliano questioned tiredly, rolling over to join the conversation happening between mother and daughter.

Gianna untucks her head from Julia’s neck, turning to face her dad with a pout on her face, tears making their way down her cheeks. “He no want to match with me,” she puffs out, before throwing herself into Giuliano’s arms, her small arms latching themselves around his neck as she cried into the crook of his neck.

The parents glanced at each other, unsure of how to handle the situation. Giuliano brought a hand up to her hair, running his fingers through the strands that matched her mother’s. He nodded towards the clock, sleep evident in features. After the silent conversation, they came to the agreement to let the girl stay with them for the night, and the debacle was something they’d solve tomorrow.

Julia reached over, rubbing her hand up and down Gianna’s back softly, “How about you sleep with me and Daddy tonight, and then me, you, Adam, and Daddy can talk tomorrow after he gets done working? Is that okay?”

Gianna turned her head in acknowledgment, nodding her head tiredly while making eye contact with her mom.

Giuliano slowly unlatched the small girl from his body, moving her to the middle of the bed, both for comfort, as well as making sure he didn’t disturb her in the morning when he had to get up for work.

Minutes after being moved, the young girl was fast asleep, a hand clutched at Julia’s pajama shirt. Giuliano and Julia soon followed, joining their daughter in the land of dreams.

~

Around an hour later, another pair of small footsteps “quietly” make their way into their parents room.

It’s 7 year old Luca Fantilli, who had woken up from a bad dream, a dream where the only thing he remembered is that his little sister went missing. And when he woke up, it’s as if his dreams had come to fruition, his sister’s bed barren of the girl he was searching for. The sight of her empty bed had sent him into a hysterical fit.

“Mom,” Luca’s shaky voice echoed out into the night as he carefully shook his mother, eyes clouded with tears.

The sight of another one of her children woke Julia instantly. “What’s up Lu,” she questioned, voice riddled with sleep.

“I can’t find Gigi,” his young voice shook as he uttered the words, his concern for his sister evident. The mom couldn’t help but laugh a little, the sound making a pout appear on the boys face. “I’m serious,” he said, throwing out the word he learned a few weeks ago, stumbling over the syllables as his words became more frantic. “She’s gone!” He exclaimed, tears slowly making their way down his face.

“She’s right here baby,” Julia quietly spoke, carefully drawing back the covers to reveal the girl, still sleeping soundly, now sprawled on her back in the middle of the bed. “She was upset and came in here with us. Now why were you looking for Gi?” She asked, careful with her words, hoping not to upset the boy any further.

“Had a bad dream,” he stuttered out, a scared look making its way back across his face at the sheer mention of the images that plagued his slumbering conscience.

The woman sighed, glancing at the bed, and the little space left between the two adults, before glancing back to her son. “I don’t think Dad while mind if you crawl in here for the night,” she offered to the boy, scooting over to the edge of the bed in preparation of a yes.

A small grin made its way onto his face, not even bothering to respond as he rose up to his tiptoes, launching himself into the bed, crawling into the space beside his sister.

Julia pulled the blankets back up, throwing out a, “Comfortable?” To which she received a hum in response, the boy drifting off to sleep near instantaneously, Julia following close behind.

~

By the time Giuliano woke up for work, all he knew was that he was uncomfortable. There was a foot against his ribcage, and an elbow in his sternum… and a hand on his calf?

He glanced down, only to see Adam, almost curled into a ball at the foot of the bed, in the place he knew to be the spot his children took refuge in when they were too scared to try and wake up the slumbering adults. Then he glanced to his right, only to see an extra head than what he remembered, realizing Luca had also made his way into their room sometime that night.

And for a moment he paused, soaking in the silence, as well as the comfort of his little family, and revealed in the nostalgia of having all three kids back in their bed for a night, remembering when they used to do the same thing a little over 3 years ago, a time period that felt a lifetime away with just how fast they had grown in the timespan.

But alas reality came, and he carefully crawled out bed, getting ready for the work day ahead, already nervous for the “talk” him and his wife were to have with their twins, who had clearly hurt each other’s feelings in some way, hoping the conflict wasn’t unresolvable.

[notsogoodphotographer]

Hi i want to talk about my all time favorite camera 📸

pls ignore all my grammar mistakes, i’m not professional reviewer 😂 i just wanna talk about this camera.

This is the Sony RX1Rii, this is the third and “most recent” version of this camera. i put “most recent” in quotes because this camera is almost 10 years old. don’t like the old age fool you because this camera can keep up with the newest cameras in its niche.

This little point and shoot sports a 42mp full frame sensor. YES, F U L L F R A M E!! This tiny camera is actually smaller than all the x100 series (minus the lens on it). The camera has an incredibly sharp Zeiss Sonnar 35mm f2 glued to. This camera has 399 af points, with eye AF. The camera is incredibly fast and accurate!! the camera is pretty much a tiny packaged Sony A7Rii!

One of my favorite features of this camera is the pop-up EVF! This is a feature that was added to only this version of the camera and it’s a feature that i wish sony continued to incorporate into some of their other smaller cameras like the A7c or a6k series!

The camera does shoot video up to 1080 120fps, but does not have picture profiles such has S-log or HLG. This was a camera made strictly for photos, which is probably for the best because the battery life on this camera is terrible, any kind of prolong video shooting would absolutely burn through these batteries in minutes.

That brings me to my next point, my cons. There’s not many but i figured i’d point them out anyways for those who are interested in this camera. these aren’t make it or break it cons, these are just issues that hinder it from being the greatest camera ever released (IMO)

1) battery life, i believe it’s rated for like 220 shots. Ive definitely gotten it to last twice than that. That tiny body processing all that data on some of the tiniest batteries makes sense why it’s so bad. Luckily batteries are cheap and like i said they’re tiny, so they’re pretty easy to carry around!

2) no picture profiles in video. i know i touched on it briefly up above and this camera is mainly a photo camera AAAAAND hybrid cameras were just beginning to grow in popularity around the time this camera came out but it would’ve been amazing to have s-log in this camera for little snippets here and there. i know at the time IG and other photo sharing apps were mainly photo sharing apps, and a camera that was built strictly for photo has no business having usable picture profiles in video.

3) no crop mode in RAW. this one is weird to me because i know the A7Rii has an APS-C mode where you can shoot RAW photos with an inbody crop and there’s times that i’d love to shoot something at 50mm (35mm + sony’s 1.5x aps-c crop). there is a digital zoom option but that’s for jpg only.

4) PRICE!!!! why the fuck is this camera still being sold for $3200??!! this is a 10 year old camera with outdated tech. i bought mine used for $1900 (which is about the price of the fuji x100V at the time of purchase) and i still think that’s a little too much.

that’s really about it aside from minor complaints of not having tele/ wide converters. i’m also sure all of those cons stem from the small battery. I’d love to see all of these corrected in a Mk3 one day, but as of a couple weeks ago sony just discontinued the Rx1rii’s production. I’m being a little hopeful but maybe that means we’re getting a successor, i doubt it but a boy can dream.

I don’t really do reviews or anything but this camera has had my heart for the past 9 months so i had to show it off/ talk about it. this to me in the perfect everyday camera. it never leaves my side and comes with me to any and every trip! Im always blown away by the photos i create with this little camera and i know whenever a mk3 comes out im going to hop on the chance to buy on immediately!

[girlgroupshots]

The Producer - PART ONE

pairing: male oc x jessica jung word count: 3.3k summary: An unproven producer is tasked with creating a successful group. Shenanigans ensue.

When you answered the phone in the middle of the night only a few hours ago the last thing you expected was to be standing in front of an office building. The call had come from your uncle saying he had an opportunity for you and that you needed to catch a train to Seoul in the morning. Now as you waited for him to arrive you could only guess at what kind of ideas had popped into his head. As far as successful businessmen went he was certainly on the – well, eccentric side. On the other hand, you had little to your name other than a business degree, a shitty office job and dreams of one day being a successful producer.

"Nephew!"

Before you could contemplate any further a familiar voice interrupted your thoughts. You turned to greet your uncle who you hadn't seen in some months only to be slapped on the shoulder and pulled into a hug before you could even extend your hand.

"How are you, my boy?"

Park Jongmin. A man in his sixties who could have retired in his forties if he wanted to. He made a fortune in the early years of the South Korean technology boom and hadn't looked back since. However, for all his wealth and success he was largely known as an enigma or just strange depending on who you asked. Adding to that image was the fact that he decided to create a music label a few years back despite having no expertise in the field. Truth be told he wouldn't be the first to do such a thing.

"I'm good, uncle" you responded once you had finally managed to free yourself from his grasp. "I was surprised to get your call, I thought something bad had happened."

He laughed off the concern, apparently not seeing the problem with receiving a vague call at 2 a.m. in the morning.

"You know me; once the wheels in my brain start turning I can't rest until I see it through to the end."

"Have you…slept yet Uncle Min?"

"Of course not! In fact, I'm only on my fourth cup of coffee."

You could only shake your head in response. This was who Uncle Min had always been so it shouldn't be surprising that old age hadn't changed his demeanor. If anything he seemed a bit more loose than he was back in the day. A man who said and did what he wanted with little care for the judging eyes of society. Though perhaps that was a luxury of wealth. It was an enviable disposition to have, especially these days. Not to mention it had always made for entertaining holidays with the family.

"So, uh, is this your label building?" you questioned, bringing the conversation back to the matter at hand.

"Why yes, yes it is. It's beautiful isn't it? I like to think it has a quaint, personal feeling."

You looked back to the building and you couldn't say you disagreed. By the same token though, it didn't seem to be anything too special. A three story building with a decent amount of width to it. It's key features were the tall glass windows that framed parts of the building. It was certainly quaint but not exactly holding a candle to the grand designs of some of the bigger companies.

"Not everything has to be grandiose" as if reading your thoughts your uncle interjected. "If there's forty-floors how are people going to connect? It's the interwoven relationships that build a good company."

As a business major and officer worker with far too many hours logged you were tempted to disagree with that notion. But then again who were you to disagree with someone who had made millions?

"Well, are we going to stand out here all day or shall we head in? I can give you the tour, you'll love it."

You nodded and led the way to the double door entrance. Your uncle was still being coy about why he had asked you to meet him hear of all places instead of his regular offices or his home; in fact he hadn't addressed it at all. Definitely not suspicious. For now you'd just have to go along with this ride and find out what was waiting for you at the end of the tunnel. Whatever it was he certainly seemed excited about it. Or maybe that was just the four cups of coffee coming through.

"...Our building is separated into three levels" you tuned back into your uncle's speech as he took the lead, "The first is where all the music production takes place. Recording booths, mixing rooms, anything a producer might need to get that perfect sound is available at your finger tips. I'm sure you'd find more than a few toys to your liking in there."

Producer? Recording booths?

"The second floor is where our artist spend a lot of their time. There's a lounge and kitchen for anyone to use and we have our practice room there as well. We also have two free rooms if anyone wants to use it for homework or whatever the kids get up to."

Way to sound your age, uncle.

"Lastly, the third floor is where we have all our offices for staff and management. That's where you'll be spending most of your time. Now I know – "

"Wait, what?"

"-- it mind sound a little weird being at the top but trust me it's a great space."

"Wait, Uncle, what do you mean where I'll be spending most of my time?"

"Please, nephew, save all your questions for the end of the tour."

You could see the mischievous glint out of the corner of his eyes and knew he was getting a kick out of this. He wasn't going to let you get a word in and even if you did it seemed he was intent on ignoring any questions you had. Meanwhile your anxiety was rising by the second. Just what had this old man done?!

Anxiety aside, the building was impressive. Everything was state of the art when it came to the technology and all of the furnishings were modern and neat. That said you did notice the building felt particularly...empty. If you remembered correctly from what your mother had told you, Uncle founded this label a few years back. One would think by now it'd be brimming with staff and artist coming in and out. Maybe he had given them day off so he could give the tour? As flattering as it was that seemed like a complete waste of a work day. And of course asking about it now would net you no answers.

The tour finally came to an end on the third floor, the management floor as he had put it; which was also void of any personnel.

Your uncle led you into a rather spacious office that you assumed to be his. He gestured for you to take a seat in one of the plush chairs against the wall and seated himself next to you. His eccentric demeanor seemed to fade a bit and It seemed like now was the time to finally get some answers.

"I know you have a number of questions for me" Uncle Min started, "But I also know you're a very smart young man. I'm sure you've begun to piece together why I asked you to come here today."

Not really, no, but I could take a swing in the dark.

"You want me to work here for you? Uncle, I appreciate the thought really, but honestly...I don't want to take any handouts."

You remembered when he was first starting the company your mother suggested asking for a position. Any reasonable individual would have jumped at the opportunity, hell there were a number of college graduates that would kill for such a connection. For you though, it had just left a weird taste in your mouth. You could call it pride or stupidity, it was likely a mix of both. Now, despite having questions as to whether that had been the right decision, you felt obligated to stick to your original sentiment.

"You're a stubborn man, just like your father was" he chuckled softly as he patted your hand, his tone wistful as if recalling an old memory, "But you should know I didn't make my fortune by taking no for an answer."

"I'll be honest with you, this hasn't been my most successful venture. In fact, everything thus far has been a net loss. Fortunately, I've funded everything myself, there's no board of directors or investors to answer to. But even I have to acknowledge when something is a lost cause."

Your jaw had loosened a bit, your ears not quite believing what they were hearing. You had always had a vision of your uncle as the supreme businessman, a genius who made no missteps. Yet here he was admitting that something he had poured who knows how much of his own money into possibly being a failure. In a way it was surreal.

"But the people that do work here, the trainees who have trusted us with their dream, they deserve a real shot. A chance to see it through before I call it quits" Uncle Min focused his gaze on you and you couldn’t remember ever seeing him quite so serious. More than that he seemed genuine, even vulnerable as though he were speaking from the heart. "I don't want you to simply work for me. In fact, in a way you won't be. I want you to run this company. Produce a successful group and help fulfill their dreams."

"..."

"I know what you're thinking. Why me? Why not someone more qualified? Now I could tell you it's because of your work ethic, I know you won't take this lightly. And your potential both as a businessman and a producer; both of which are true. However if you really want to know why I'm offering it to you it's because it's what my gut is telling me to do."

"Uncle, I'll be honest with you, I’m starting to think that might be why you lost so much money in this."

You both shared a laugh, the tension in the air easing slightly. Leave it to Park Jongmin to hand a company over to his nephew on a gut feeling.

"I know I'm asking a lot of you so you don't have to give me an answer now. But think about it. I'd like you to meet the staff and girls as well; they really are good people."

You could only nod your head in acceptance despite your apprehension. After all, this was my uncle and he was offering an incredible opportunity, even if misguided. If nothing else you owed it to him to give this your full consideration.

"Alright! That's enough of the serious stuff!" Uncle Min abruptly stood up, "Do you want a coffee? I could go for one myself."

You laughed, "Uncle, I don't think you should be drinking anymore coffee today. It can't be good for your health."

"Bah, you sound like your mother. If I only did what was good for my health I'd get nowhere in life!"

Now that was the uncle you were familiar with.

"Mister Park!"

You had just exited the building when you heard someone calling out. You turned my head to see a petite brunette, dressed in a blazer and cream skirt walking towards you with a couple of binders in her grasp. You were fairly certain you didn't know her. You’d definitely remember seeing a woman like that.

"Miss Jung! You have impeccable timing as always."

"Oh? And you're flattering me, you must have had your third cup of coffee."

"Fourth, actually."

"You know you really need to cut down on that."

As the two conversed you couldn’t help but feel like a ghost, or worse: an awkward third wheel between two good friends. At the risk of making things worse you cleared your throat to make your presence known. As if he had actually forgotten about you, your uncle's attention was jump started.

"Ah, right! Jessica I'd like you to meet my nephew. Nephew, this is Jessica Jung; she's been in charge of this project for me. No one knows our trainees better than her."

"Uh, it's a pleasure to meet you" you extended your hand to her.

"Likewise. You should know Mr. Park has talked you up quite a bit. I hope you decide to join us."

Oh, she was good.

Her tone and demeanor alone mixed just the right amount of professional and personable. Unlike yourself, you could see why uncle would hire someone like her.

"This is perfect. I was going to contact you later and ask if you could introduce him to our girls. He hasn't made a decision yet but I want to let him get a feeling for everything we have to offer."

A pearl smile was offered in response as Jessica nodded, "I'd love to. We can set something up tomorrow if you like. Or we can get started tonight if you’re free for drinks?"

It took you a second to realize that you had been brought into the conversation. Straightening your posture you nodded, “Uh, yeah. I’m free for sure. We can definitely do drinks.”

“It’s a date then.”

As you watched her pencil you into her calendar, you couldn’t help but wonder just what you were getting yourself into.

“What I can’t figure out is why you don’t just throw your hat in the pile. You clearly have this down pat.”

You voice was raised as you spoke to your ‘date’. Partially to be heard over the music that was currently playing, partially because you were already two drinks in and feeling a slight buzz. Thus far you hadn’t actually learned much about the business. If anything, the two of you had spent more time getting to know each other. Which wasn’t the worst thing, especially if you were going to potentially be working alongside her.

“There’s a difference between managing people and producing a group. Or even running a company,” Jessica said, drink in her hand. “I’m good at what I do.”

“But you had to have thought about it? Doesn’t it piss you off my uncle just brining me in off the street.”

“Well it didn’t but now that you mention it…”

“Okay, wait, wait. I take it back,” you put your hands up in surrender. “But still, you’ve got to feel over-qualified for your job, no? From everything you told me it sounds like my uncle would be lost without you.”

Jessica gave a slight shrug of her shoulders and took a sip of her drink. “In his defense, he pays me my worth. Besides, it’s not all about power and status. I’ve got a soft spot for those girls as much as I hate to admit it.”

You wondered if the alcohol was making her sentimental or if it was making you dense. Maybe it was a bit of both because you still found yourself asking questions. “But –”

“Do you want to keep asking questions or do you want to get out of here?”

You stopped short, the question practically evaporating out of your mind. Jessica raised her eyebrow, looking at you expectantly.

Well then.

Jessica had barely gotten the key out of her door before you were on her. You cupped her face, kissing her – or at least trying to kiss her. There were times when you kissed her nose or landed on her chin, eventually settling for attacking her neck as she kicked the door shut behind the two of you. Immediately, you pressed her up against it; her skirt riding up her slender thighs as they parted for you.

“This is…probably going to be bad…for our potential work relationship…”

“Stop talking about work and start fucking me.”

Her bluntness caught you off guard but you’d be damned if it wasn’t attractive. And she said she couldn’t be a boss? If she gave orders like that she’d have a whole office in line in no time. She certainly had you standing at full attention in more ways than one. Following her orders your hands moved, fumbling with your pants to get them out of the way as quickly as possible. The cab ride back to her place had been heated to say the least, to the point that your fingers had slipped inside her pussy and your cock was practically begging to be freed from its constraints.

As you finally obliged it, Jessica hooked a leg around your hip, drawing you closer so that your tip was pushing against her soaked entrance. Needing no further invitation you pushed forward, your mushroom head pushing past her folds. Immediately you felt her walls constricting around your cock deliciously.

“Fucking tight,” you panted.

“Did you expect otherwise?” Jessica taunted.

A taunt you knew better than to respond to, even after a few drinks. Instead you focused on stuffing her with the rest of your length. Her leg flexed tighter around you the more you pushed in until you were buried to the hilt inside of her. You wallowed in the sensation for a moment because, wow. It might’ve been a while since you had any action but you didn’t remember anything like this. Slowly you began pumping in rhythm, fucking her against her apartment door.

“That stretch…it’s so good…” Jessica’s arms clung to you, her head falling forward.

Any thought of maintaining a professional relationship to avoid problems in the future had gone out of your mind. All that remained was pleasure, or rather the pleasure you were getting from sliding in and out of your potential co-worker. A mindset that Jessica clearly shared. She lifted her other leg, locking it around your waist and giving you the freedom to fuck her harder and faster. Incoherent words began falling from her lips but you were too focused on your task to try to decipher them. You had one job and that was driving her over the edge before you inevitably blew your load.

Jessica’s nails dug into your bicep and if it weren’t for the fact that you hadn’t even taken off your jacket she’d undoubtedly be leaving red marks all over your skin. If this was how she relieved stress from her job then maybe you’d have to second guess your hesitation. Although, when you were balls deep inside of her, waking the neighbors each time her ass hit the door, it likely wasn’t the best time to be making such decisions.

“Cum…Going to cum…” Jessica managed to get out.

You increased your efforts, pounding into her to make sure she went well and truly over the edge. The way every limb clung to you as her body shuttered in orgasm told you that you had succeeded in your task. Her pussy clenched around your length as you fucked her through her orgasm; inviting you to join her in euphoria. It was an invitation you’d soon take her up on.

“Jess…where do you want me to…?”

“Inside…” she muttered, barely coming down from her high and still clinging to you.

That was all the okay you needed. You slammed your hips into hers, her back hitting the wall as your release surged through you. You were fairly certain you were seeing stars as you spilled your seed inside of her. In that moment you weren’t two professionals. You weren’t even two potential co-workers. You were just two well-fucked strangers who had unloaded a pound of stress.

When your cock finally stopped twitching your let go of the breath you were holding. Jessica was already breathing deeply, clinging to you for a moment longer before she finally unraveled herself from you, the mixture of juices seeping out of her.

“If that was an interview you would’ve gotten the job.”

“...Wait, that wasn’t an interview though, right?”

Jessica let out an airy laugh, running a hand through your hair. “No, that wasn’t an interview.”

author’s note: another series so this is a fic i never published from a while back. originally it was meant to be a more wholesome series but we’re putting that aside from now bc fck it. if it seems a bit wonky it’s because i’m editing it from being a first person POV to second person as well as doing updates to my old writing. WITH ALL THAT SAID if you’re just looking for smut there will be plenty.

[the-badger-mole]

Any steambaby headcanons?

I don't spend a ton of time thinking about Katara and Zuko's kids, but actually do have a run down of the 5 kids I see them having (the last two were unexpected and twins), and one or two other posts about their dynamics. Unfortunately, since I wrote it at least 2 years ago, and Tumblr would rather waste their time trying to look like Twitter instead of fixing their archive feature, I can't find it. I won't be able to recreate it exactly, and I don't really want to try. If someone happens to stumble on any of my steambaby headcanon posts, please, puh-lease interact so they'll show up in my notifs, and I can try to aggregate them. I don't think there's more than 4 of those posts.

I will, however give you a fresh headcanon, hot from the oven of my mind. It's not specifically about the steambaby in question, but I hope you enjoy it anyway.

Everyone thought that Zuko would be the one who was afraid of becoming a parent- and he did have a few pretty good freakouts- but what caught everyone off guard was Katara being afraid of parenthood. Half-way through her pregnancy, she began having these intense dreams of her mother, and how well Kya took care of her, and worse, how well she would've taken care of her had she not died, and Katara became certain that she wouldn't be able to live up to that. She doesn't tell any one. They've all been telling her for years at this point what a naturally mothering person she is- and not always as a compliment- and she knows she wouldn't be able to take them "paying lip service". So, her insecurities fester until one day, towards the end of her pregnancy, Zuko finds her sobbing in their bathroom. He freaks out, but then pulls it together, because his wife is in need of some serious bucking up. He finally gets her to tell him what's been bothering her, but instead of laughing off her fears and assuring her that she's going to be the best mother in the world, he sits with her and tells her he completely understands why she's afraid. Then he tells her just what she told him- that they were going to make mistakes, lots of mistakes as parents, but that ultimately, they already loved this child and that was all that mattered in the end. Then he goes on to remind her what a terrific job she did with Aang, Toph and Sokka, and that despite everything they went through, they were remarkably well adjusted, mostly due to her efforts. Everything isn't 100% okay after that, but Katara calms down enough to leave the bathroom. She still has her insecurities about motherhood, but she's now even more sure that she made the right choice of a father for her kids.

[filmofhybe]

The perfect blend - YJW

part 3 of “IN EVERY MULTIVERSE”

In which..

can you ever imagine in this multiverse, you having the biggest fattest crush on your best friend - Yang jungwon, however knowing he already has a “girlfriend” hurts more than just a sting from a bee.

💌 PAIRING : yjw x reader

GENRE : friends to lovers , fluff

WARNING : angst , fluff , kissing , CHAPTER 2 NOT PROOF-READ!!

🗯️ FEATURING : huh yunjin - LE SSERAFIM

word count : 2,066

MASTERLIST to “IN EVERY MULTIVERSE”.

I strolled into the cozy book café, the familiar scent of freshly brewed coffee enveloping me. Jungwon, my best friend and crush, was already there, immersed in a book. With a grin, he looked up and waved me over, marking the beginning of another one of our countless hangouts. “Y/n! Quick I’m on the next book already!” He cheered causing the owner to shush him up. I giggles as I quickly walked towards him ans sit beside him

As we spent hours laughing, discussing literature, and losing ourselves in the melodies of shared playlists, the warm atmosphere making his features and his personality stand out. I found my heart entwining with his in the multiverse we were building together within those walls. The atmosphere crackled with unspoken emotions, creating a bond that transcended the pages of the novels surrounding us. That was 2 weeks ago.

“Yah Jungwon why aren’t you joining my hang outs anymore?” I said with a annoyed tone, yet I was joking around. “Is nothing y/n just school okay? I’ll hangout with you soon.” And before I could reply, he hang out. I sighed, disappointedly walking towards the closet and picking out a outfit a planned out for other next reunion. I guess I’ll just wear it today to return to our sanctuary, hoping to catch him at our usual spot.

To my dismay, as I pushed open the café door, I witnessed Jungwon passionately kissing a girl in the corner we had claimed as ours. The world crumbled beneath my feet as I grappled with the realization that our connection might have existed only in my dreams. Heartache and confusion overwhelmed me. Confusion spread across my face. “Y/nnie~ your here!” My hearing was blurred in that heartbreaking moment, I felt like a character in a tragic novel, betrayed by the person I thought knew me best. The emotions were so vivid that it became unbearable. Just as the pain peaked, I snapped out of the dream, gasping for air. Tears streaming down my face.

“Y/n wait please let me explai-” pushing the café door, rain mixed with my salty tears. The café that was once filled with love and warmth, was now just a feeling of coldness and bittersweet memories. Feeling the world absolutely crumbling beneath my feet-

“Fuck omg…” i jumped, snapping out of my crazy multiverse that felt a bit too real. Realizing I’m in my boyfriend - jungwon’s arm calmed me down. “Hey baby you alright? A bad dream again?” The word “again” felt like a knife to my heart. How many times have that multiverse must torture my thoughts. As we lay there, I couldn't shake off the echoes of the dream. The emotions lingered, haunting me like shadows from an alternate reality. It made me appreciate the tangible moments with Jungwon even more, cherishing the genuine connection we had built together. His hands softly massage my hair as he tries to calm me down by whispering sweet nothings. “Is okay if you don’t want to tell me but I wish I could beat those demons and monster in your dreams.” I don’t think you want to beat yourself up… “maybe a little date to your café would work?” He asked. Not sure would I really want to go after the so called dream. I just nodded as we held each others hands, walking towards the café that’s filled with bad memories in our next universe.

The book café remained our haven, but now with an added layer of vulnerability. We continued to share laughter and music, our bond deepening with each passing day. The dream served as a reminder of the fragility of emotions, urging me to embrace the reality of our connection.

I know he knows something was off the moment I step inside the café. I didn’t bother to read our normal series nor even listen to the music we always dance to. I just sat there thinking, I know he would not do such a thing in this life. But it scares me. And for what?

jungwon’s multiverse POV

I couldn't shake off the feeling of guilt that settled in my chest every time he canceled plans with y/n. The temptation to see the mysterious girl from school, whose name I had heard whispered in hushed tones, proved to be too strong. Me and y/n’s café, tucked away in a quiet corner, became our secret haven.

I grappled with the conflict between my feelings for y/n and the magnetic pull I felt toward the enigmatic girl from school. The thrill of secret meetings with her overshadowed his sense of responsibility. Despite the guilt gnawing at him,I found himself canceling hangouts with y/n more often, weaving a web of lies to conceal his true motives.

“jungwon should we hang out again today?”

“I’m sorry I can’t y/n..”

“You never hang out with me anymore.”

“I will next time ok?”

“Fine..”

One day, I met up with the girl, at the café, sharing a stolen moment in our café, we both leaning in, her arms around my neck, pulling me closer to her as our lips connect like a perfect puzzle. I felt a knot tighten in my stomach. The café owner's excited voice echoed through the air, calling out a familiar name. "Y/N!" The realization hit me like a tidal wave as I turned his head towards the entrance, only to find Y/N standing there, eyes filled with tears.

In the most beautiful outfit I had ever seen her wear, she looked like a vision. Panic set in as I tried to explain, don’t know how to explain to her, why he kept canceling their hang outs, why he decided to take another person to their secret hang out spot. "No, Y/N, it's not what you think it is." But the words hung in the air, too late to catch her as she ran out, leaving me helpless in my remorse.

Desperation fueled my actions as I attempted to reach her, but before my fingertips could brush against her, I felt the world breaking down below my feet.

The bustling café faded away, and Jungwon found himself in y/n’s arms, realizing that this vivid scenario was just a cruel illusion. Relief washed over him, and he embraced the solitude, grateful that y/n was in his this reality.

The weight of the dream lingered, prompting Jungwon to reassess his priorities. The guilt he felt was a stark reminder of the potential consequences of his actions. Determined to make amends, he resolved to be honest with Y/N and prioritize their relationship.

“Hey you alright? You slept for like 45 minutes while reading the book.” She chuckled.. the girl that makes him cold Just by his laugh.”

“Yeah I’m fine baby. I’m sorry I fell asleep…” he sighed rubbing his eyes

“No is okay, maybe we should go home now.” Grabbing his hand, and pulling him out of the store. Jungwon felt lucky to be able to have his arms around his beautiful girlfriend in this universe. He made a conscious effort to be present for y/n. In this reality, y/n and Jungwon's bond strengthened, proving that sometimes, even in the face of temptation and mistakes, true love can prevail. Jungwon, grateful for the second chance, cherished every moment with her. ensuring that their story unfolded authentically, free from the shadows of secrecy that once threatened to tear them apart.

; AUTHORS NOTE : omg part 3?!? We are almost coming to the end of jungwon’s series!! (2 more to go!! I’ll be posting twice a week soon🤭)

series taglist : @enhaz1 @dubuii @in-somnias-world @ultimatestayandminoronce @yenqa @euncsace @hoondiors @yannew @mrchweeee @ariadores @oldjws @frukkoneeeeg @dimplewonie @seobstarr @asteria-wood (white = i cant tag)

[bitchlessdino]

hey nana, just had this thought. how do you think chan would react for seeing you braless? like hear me out. it's just one month since you're relationship and you're too busy to spend time together or be intimate with eachother. recently you've had long 2 weeks going out on many occasions, wearing all tight formal attires. and finally both of you had a leave, deciding to spend it with him. you're tired as hell and even wearing bra made you feel so suffocating, so you decided to remove it and wear nothing but tank top. how do you think he'd react?

(ignore this if i made it seem uncomfortable or anything. anyways have a great day, thank you)

(warning: suggestive, heavy making out, yearning, insinuates sex)

Chan likes you, like really likes you. That's why he tolerated all the time apart. After all this waiting time for you to come around, you've finally been able to define the relationship. It didn't take long for him to count the reasons why it took you so long in the first place.

The job forces you to be social, creating countless networking opportunities, many of which occur late at night during weekdays and weekends. Safe to say you haven't had a lot of time together, but for the first time in a while, you had a free weekend, and who better to spend it with than your boyfriend.

He smells just as good as you remember. His embrace was warm and welcoming like a warm cup of your favorite herbal tea and you can't help but inhale him the moment you arrive. "I missed you so much."

"I missed you too. This weekend was all I was looking forward to this week. I was starting to think I dreamt we got together a month ago."

You chuckle into his chest and pulled away briefly to admire his features, "Definitely not a dream. I'm all yours. I can't wait to spend all weekend with you. Speaking of which, I made us some popcorn and later we can maybe door dash some takeout? I am really sick of tiny little appetizers that would only really fill up an ant."

Chan's giggles were soft and light, a fluttering feeling in your stomach as his hand comes up to pet the top of your head. "All the food you want. Ready to let it all go with you."

You were relieved to hear that and press a kiss to the tip of his nose before guiding him to the couch and getting him comfortable before you break out the snacks. He put on a little comedy action for you both to watch, remembering how you said that was your favorite genre, and grins from ear to ear seeing you return with a tray full of movie theater style treats.

You scoot yourself close to him, lacing your hand through his, testing out the intimacy levels as the familiar 20th Century studio introduction sounds off on Television. Early on, you're already enjoying yourselves, laughing, making your own small inside jokes, and reenacting some of the lines already told on screen. It was nice and relaxed for once. at some point in the night, Chan decides to put his arm over your shoulders, pulling you in closer. You flush at the closer proximity but are reminded by the jabbing feeling of the underwire confining the flesh mounted on your chest and can't help but shrug him off. Chan festers up this guilty, thinking maybe he went too far. "D-did I make you uncomfortable? Sorry."

"Oh, no. It's just, this bra sucks. I was wearing it for errands earlier and should've taken it off. Give me a sec."

You scoot over to the side, giving yourself space. You part the buttons from your cardigan and you tug it right off, your shoulders and arms exposed. Chan gets faint blush realizing what you're about to do and before he could suggest giving you some privacy, you do that magical thing people with breasts do and slip it right from the tank top, revealing a cute nude patterned bra in your grasp he then can't help but notice your breasts naturally dropping from the power of gravity, your nipples plump and poking through the thin material and automatically, he crosses his legs, unable to meet your eyes.

"I'm just gonna put this away. I'll be right back. Keep watching the movie."

You leave him briefly to be alone in his thoughts, thinking how probably soft they would be in his hands or how warm they are pressed up against his face. He twitches in his sweatpants, clenching his legs tighter against each other. "Dead puppies, burning buildings, the Holocaust."

He mumbles to himself distasteful, horrific, and unpleasant things, begging and pleading for this boner to go away. He would have nothing more than to have a relaxed night after all the tiring work both of you have gone through these past few weeks but it had a mind of its own. He had no choice but to use to throw a pillow on his lap, seeing as you've already come back, still in only a tank top nonetheless. You take his arm and throw it back on your shoulders like nothing's happened, attention back on the movie, while Chan could think of anything but the movie.

You notice the tension in his body all too quickly, watching how hard he clutches that pillow or how he blatantly avoids contact with your chest. You grin to yourself, thinking your little act has caused him to malfunction. You draw lips closer to his ear, hearing him gulp the moment your breast brushed up against his arm, and whispered, "Something wrong?"

To which, he ferociously shakes his head, tight-lining his smile no less awkward than you expected him to. You then take your hand to cup the side of his face and press your lips to his, moving it gentle and slow. He eagerly reciprocates, kissing your lips with the vigor of a horny teenager but the hesitancy of a respectful partner, parting as soon he got a taste and returning to not overstepping invisible boundaries he's set for himself, leaving your kiss sweet but curt. You couldn't have it. You reconnect your lips as soon as possible and even run your fingers through his undone hair, unwilling to let go. Chan takes the hint soon enough and comes undone from your touch, hands falling to your hips and pulling you towards him.

Your body heats at the raw intensity Chan unleashes, crawling on top of his lap and bordering either of his sides with your knees, pushing your chest back against him and feeling his moans vibrate throughout your mouth. His hands roam through your body, tracing over your shape, drawing it out in his head, and in a second take away that control to cup your hands over his against your breasts, encouraging him to feel you, savor you, want even the most intimate part of you and how can he say no?

He fondles them gently in his hands, clenching and unclenching to grasp their weight and pillowy sensation, all for him to have them pool between his fingers, teasing your perky nipple between the crevices. You softly whimper, grinding against the constricted snake in his pants like your own personal toy, feeling him grow only bigger every passing second. Chan grunts in every break of the kiss, containing himself as humanly possible, before breaking your liplock and looking into your eyes, a look for approval. "Bedroom?"

"No," You smile shaking your head, "I want you to take me here, on the couch."

[yuujism]

Tainted Promises (geto suguru x reader)

Part 1: Tainted

| PAIRINGS: gojo satoru x gn!reader x getou suguru

| WARNINGS: suggestive, explicit language, smut soon (next chapter will have tags) woo plot, established relationship, cheating, toxic, revenge, angst, kinda modified so it can fit the story (implied to be set after riko's death and geto's spiralling but uhh...), reader's sex and physical appearance is never mentioned, grammar errors

| WORD COUNT: 2.1k

| A/N: i'm back but im not really back lol this is the first part of a small series I started writing like 2 years ago and found in my notes app so... why not publish it and let people read it even if i am not currently writing? anyway idk if people remember me but thank u for supporting my works even after all this time and liking them :) see you in 2 more years LOL (jk ... unless...)

They were the strongest.

Those words resonated as an echo in Suguru’s mind since that day, the meaning behind those words still a total mystery. Perhaps it was meant as a responsibility. An inevitable fate. 

An implicit promise. 

He didn’t think much of it before Satoru’s serious words struck him like a lightning inside the eye of the storm, coming back to Suguru in form of dreams. Nightmares. Images of welcoming bloody hands spread towards him, an invitation, perhaps even a threat, to join a lawless world dictated by the untouchable. The strongest.

No. That wasn’t Suguru’s ideal.

Who cared about being the strongest among all? Rules were necessary. Listen to the higher-ups, complete missions, save and protect humans, swallow curses, taint yourself. Swallow, taint, conserve the peace. That was the job of a jujutsu sorcerer. That was the job of Geto Suguru.

Responsible, dutiful, diplomatic and strong.

So why was Satoru—his teammate, his accomplice, his best friend—different from him? A rule breaker, a rebellious soul with god complex issues, an idiot, incapable of seriousness and apathetic.

Why, even with all those flaws to Suguru’s eyes, could Satoru get someone like you in his life?

You, just like Suguru, followed the rules. A professional sorcerer that cared for the weak, getting out of their way to protect the smallest and even the biggest. Top of the class after him, Yaga’s right hand, the favourite of the higher-ups, probably even more trustable than Suguru himself. However, now with your brand new relationship with Satoru? Not that much. He knew that way too well.

Tainted. Making a promise with Satoru would get anyone tainted. 

The probelms seemed to have started one month after the beginning of your story together. A few weeks later, they were too obvious for Suguru -or anyone- to ignore. Hints of sleepless nights appeared on your features and the memories of an unknown scent that followed Satoru’s clothes kept haunting you along with the jealousy and hurt in your body. Missed calls, ditched dates and  a small bruise on your lover’s neck. It quickly became toxic. Almost unbearable. Suguru knew it. You knew it. 

And you both played dumb.

Responsible. You had to be responsible for your actions. You made a promise after all, and, ever the diplomatic sorcerer, you were intending to keep it. Swallowing the pain and hatred, the sadness and sorrow, the embarrassment and anger, you decided to keep living with the lie that was Gojo Satoru as proudly as your shattered dignity allowed you. You were better than him but for how long? 

Rules were necessary. You followed the rules as a religion. But what good did that ever bring you? 

Suguru could already sense it, perhaps even before you noticed. The corruption that anger and impotence could bring you. It was unstoppable once it started spreading, taking over your thoughts and ideals to then consume your actions. Satoru was the strongest in almost every sense that he became a poisonous time bomb for the ones surrounding him. It just happened to explode in your face to suffer the majority of the consequences. 

But were you the only one living them? You certainly weren’t the only one ignoring the menace that Satoru was. And definitely not the only one involved closely with said sorcerer. 

Suguru vividly remembers the shared laughs between him and his best friend after the story of how Satoru cheated on you. Repeatedly. A good fuck, he described you, his favourite toy so far. But Suguru knew him too well, right? He understood him better than anyone to even expect him to get in a serious relationship, right? That’s why they were best friends, the strongest, the rulers of the new to come sorcery world. Right? 

Right. Satoru was right. Even if Suguru’s brain didn’t stop replaying images of you with clenched teeth and hands closed in a tight fist, angry eyes staring at Satoru’s figure from afar to quickly change into your usual loving and submissive demeanour when he turned to look at you, he agreed. Even if Suguru felt himself become worse than he ever was when you gave him the sweetest of smiles even after laughing at you with Satoru for the nth time behind your back, he agreed. 

Because Satoru was hard-to-swallow for Suguru, yet he kept indulging himself into the bittersweet taste that was that friendship over and over again. 

Rules, responsibilities, strength, empathy. None of that mattered when Satoru was in the picture. The only thing that mattered was a promise. At the end of the day, they were best friends for a reason and you were with him for a reason.

That didn’t change the fact Suguru could treat you so much better. Be so much better. His heart dropped at the thought. Was he in the position to even think that after being accomplice of Satoru’s actions? After playing along and laughing at you? At this point, he was as guilty as your current cheat of a lover. But he could still have a chance, could he not? He was strong, responsible and professional. Would he be any better than Satoru? He thought he would. He hoped he would. 

Suguru’s mind started flooding with questions once again, self-doubt dripping from every single one of them until his thoughts were flooded with insecurities and rage. Rage? Strange yet oddly familiar. The warmth travelling over his body felt nice for once. No longer suppressed and set free to quickly come down from that high to feel guilty once again. Why would he feel rage towards Satoru? He was his best friend.

Was he?

Oh, how Suguru missed that little voice inside his head. A voice that he silenced long ago. The one that told him to commit the unbelievable, that went against all his morals and ideals, the one that ordered him to swallow and swallow, not for the greater good but for him to become stronger. Because he could. Because he wanted to. The voice that was as tainted as his thoughts were right now.

And now, as his chest tightened with anger and his body ached with hunger of power, Suguru never felt more as himself as he did now. Strong and capable, the maker of his own rules and own world. A perfect world. He was right back then when he thought of the weak as simple as that: weak. And he was right to feel what he avoided to feel all that time.

Power.

Suguru had the power to ignore the responsibility that came along with it. He had the power to follow his own path with his own decisions without having to live behind someone else’s shadow. To get what he wanted whenever he wanted. 

Responsible, dutiful, diplomatic and strong. 

That was Geto Suguru. And right now, he wanted you.

And nobody noticed. Not Satoru, his proclaimed best friend, who kept playing around lost in the pleasure of both you and the freedom of being the strongest. Not the higher-ups who kept relying on him to keep an eye on the threat that was Satoru. Not his acquaintances that followed him mindlessly into a slowly growing empire. His empire.

Nobody noticed the power growth in Suguru. Nobody except you. 

Strong. Suguru was strong in your eyes. With sly movements, smug smile and a powerful stance. Completely overshadowed by the confidence of your current lover until the day he looked at you from above. Both figuratively and literally. His eyes held a promise, a completely different kind from Satoru’s that you understood way too well it scared you. 

Carnal, passionate and angry. That was his promise. A shiver ran down your spine at the mere sight of Suguru, responsible and respectful Suguru, smirking at you. Dark and dangerous. A different Suguru. Because you both shared the same ideal. Rules were necessary. And this time he was the one who made the rules. 

You weren’t interested. At least you tried to convince yourself you weren’t. Rules weren’t meant to be broken nor renewed, not by Suguru, not by you, not by anyone. So why did you feel excited at the thought of going against your own morals? To break, destroy and betray everything and everyone along with your lover’s best friend? It shouldn’t surprise you, in fact, you were not surprised. 

Your promise to Satoru started losing importance when you considered meeting with Suguru. You lied to yourself by thinking it would be to have a small talk, to ask for an explanation behind the meaning of that moment between the two of you and kindly reject whatever he wanted to propose. It sure didn’t matter anymore when you were under his dark gaze at the step of his door, mouth open in a silent gasp at the power Suguru, overshadowed Suguru, radiated, never losing his gentle and highly demanour as he let you in with a soft smile on his face and the smooth sound of your name leaving his mouth. 

A treacherous silence filled the room as time seemed to freeze between the two of you, staring at each other seconds after closing the door. 

You wanted to yell at him for even thinking he could get away with whatever he had in mind. For deeming you so low to think you would break the promise to Satoru and betray him when you were better than that. But were you when excitement was making your legs shake when Suguru’s eyes landed on your lips for a small second? Were you better when you couldn’t stop thinking in the way his large hands would feel on your body?

The answer was crystal clear: you weren’t. You never were. 

And realisation hit you. It hit you harder than Satoru’s cheating. And it sure hit you harder than the surprise you felt when you threw yourself at Suguru’s arms, lips crashing in a desperate kiss.  

Because all those times, Suguru could see through you and he was a great pretender too. He saw your hatred and your thirst for revenge, the constant fight within you to stop yourself from breaking the rules. To disobey the higher-ups. To betray Yaga. To hurt Satoru. They all deserved it. How pretentious of you to even think you were any better than any of them.

You and Suguru were the same. Responsible, dutiful, diplomatic and strong. Suguru just happened to be stronger.

As Suguru’s large hands roamed over your waist to push you closer to his own body as his tongue entered the warmth of your own mouth, you realised something else. You didn’t want Suguru and neither did he want you. What you both wanted was the power taht was long taken away from you. 

Power over a certain sorcerer.

It seemed Suguru noticed your change in demanour as your tangled your hand in his long silky hair and slightly pulled, the aggressiveness of your tongue along with his making him let out a groan that you swallowed with a whimper before he pulled away, a sly smirk on his face.

“You sure didn’t need any explanation, did you?” Suguru muttered as one of his hands traveled to your cheek, his thumb caressing your now wet lips as he eyed you. Such a gentle move yet so dominant. Expected from someone like Suguru. “Finally grew tired of Satoru cheating on you?”

That was unexpected.

Rage filled your body once again as you slapped his hand away from your face, glaring at him just the same way you’ve glared at Satoru when he wasn’t looking. Suguru chuckled as he grabbed your face once again, this time a little rougher as he turned you to face him again, other hand sneaking under your shirt to feel the soft skin under it. You held back a moan.

“Oh, come on. It was a small joke.” He playfully stated, long fingers drawing circles on the side of your waist as you grew impatient and angry. At what? You weren’t sure.

“An unfunny one at that.” You finally spoke and Suguru raised an eyebrow at the unknown and new stern tone your voice held. The sweet, professional and kind goody two shoes forsaken under his influence. “I didn’t come here for a stand-up show.” 

Your hands made their move again, landing on the collar of his shirt as you got closer again, anticipation giving you the confidence you lost before.

“I can see that.”

And just like that, your mouths crashes again, this time angrier, hungrier. Suguru’s comment about Satoru cheating on you lit an agressive fire within you that you tried to extinguish. But here, between Suguru’s arms and the feeling of his mouth now travelling down your neck, you finally felt free.

Next chapter (spicy) preview: "Your boyfriend likes sloppy seconds, did you know that? Should I just cum inside you and send you off to him dripping with my seed? Hm?"

[blizzardfluffykpop]

Bedroom Talks

Summary: At the end of summer before your junior year of high school. Your friend group reduces from a quartet to a trio. After college, the trio reduces to one and you’re left to face the city alone. On a lunch break you find yourself in a coffee shop, where you run into the first person you ever lost. And from there, your life turns upside down and he helps you through it all. He holds your hand and keeps you safe and makes sure you’re never alone. After all, that’s what best friends do, right?

Long Fic (Oneshot)

Fluff, Hurt/Comfort, Slight Angst, Slow burn, Reunited! Childhood Best Friends to Lovers au

TW: In the beginning the reader is in a toxic relationship

Word Count: 40,163

Changkyun (I.M) X Reader

[Features: Best Friends! Hoseok & Hyungwon & the rest of OT7]

[Long A/n: Three things; firstly, Hoseok & Hyungwon are only a year older than Changkyun & the reader- but they went to school at the same time. Secondly, some rules will be explained in the fic but if you don’t know how to play Bullshit card game: The rules are simple. In order you lay the cards in turn face down from Ace to King on top of each other. When you lay a card down you say their ‘value’ whether or not that is the actual card. If you think someone is lying about the card they placed you call bullshit. And make them flip their card, if you were correct they pick up the pile. If you were wrong you take the pile. The goal of the game is to get rid of all of your cards. (It usually takes 3 players but you can play with 2- It’s a really fun game, if you ever get the chance to play, please do) Lastly, this was only supposed to be 3k and here we are- enjoy! Also, I hope you guys enjoyed Overdrive- I know I have!].

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Several years ago, you were a sophomore in high school. Your life was great. You have had three best friends since kindergarten: Changkyun, Hyungwon, and Hoseok. You did everything together, and they were always by your side. You always shared a class with one of them, so you were never alone. The four of you were always together, from doing homework to having dinner at each other's houses. It was the friendship of dreams. Sure, you had made other friends, but none of them compared to them. And you wouldn’t have it any other way. 

On the first day of summer, you were all hanging out in Changkyun's treehouse. When you guys finally fell into a comfortable silence, Changkyun cleared his throat. You all looked at him, and he said that he’d be moving away at the end of summer, and he wouldn’t be graduating with you three. You all waited with bated breath, hoping he'd say it was a joke. When it became clear it wasn't. The four of you were trembling with tears as you held each other. When you all stopped crying, you guys made a promise that no matter what happened, you'd stay together even if you were apart. The four of you would do your damnedest to make the most of your last summer together. From days at the beach to camping out, to movie nights, you made it a summer to remember. And when the day came for him to leave, you guys saw him off, and that was the last time you saw him in person.

Entering your junior year without him felt like you were all missing a piece. You’d find yourself looking for him in the halls. And you'd think you'd hear him calling your name. But he never was there, and you cry into your phone as you'd tell him how much you missed him, and he’d exchange the sentiment. The other two missed him just as much. And you three did your best to comfort each other, but it never filled that gap. At least, in your case, it didn’t.

It never clicked why you missed him more than your best friends did until you entered your senior year. You fell for him, but by then, the calls became fewer and fewer until they stopped. Hyungwon, Hoseok, and you graduated together. And you moved on, or at least you thought you did. You three moved into an apartment and went to college together. Something that the four of you had always dreamed of doing. It hurt realizing that what once was a quartet became the three musketeers. And by the time you got used to being three. They were off to pursue a mixture of everything on top of their modeling careers. And you were so proud of them, but you were left alone in the big city. Cities never sleep, and it never seemed daunting until that moment. And for the first time, since you were in kindergarten, you were completely alone, left to fend for yourself. You always had someone to lean on, while yeah, you could call them, it wasn't the same. It wasn't when Changkyun left and wasn't any different when they did. 

It wasn’t long before you found yourself in a toxic relationship. You were craving some attention and affection. Neither of which you found through him. But it was better than going to bed at night alone. At least, that’s what you told yourself. You missed your friends immensely, and nothing you did could fill the hole they left. You'd call them all the time, but that wasn't enough. Even surrounded by someone, you felt so alone.

He made you feel like you weren't good enough and that you couldn't do better. In your heart, you knew you could, but hearing it all the time made you believe it. All you wanted was to be held and to be told you were doing your best. But you never received that. All you got was cigarette smoke blown in your face. It was an allusion to the whole ordeal. That this was something you should be running away from. But the fog got harder and harder to cut through until you saw him again, Im Changkyun.

You met him on a day like the rest. You were leaving your job for lunch and stood waiting in line at this little coffee shop. When you heard the person in front of you whisper, “Fuck, where is it…” as they patted their pockets. Without a second thought, you came up and paid for them. You didn’t know you were paying for an old friend until you ordered your drink and looked over at him. “No fucking way,” you whispered, and he gasped as he got a good look at you, “(N/n)?” You couldn’t stop the tears from falling from your eyes as you looked at him for the first time in several years. He roped you up in a hug, and you held him tightly in your arms, and he scooted you both out of the line. You both pull back to grab your coffee, and he finds a booth where you sit across from each other. Through tears, you whisper, “I never thought I’d hear your voice, let alone see you again.” 

You look up to see him crying too. You reach over and grab his hand. He whispers, “I can’t believe it’s you… Why are you here? Aren’t you supposed to be managing Hoho and Wonnie?” You laugh through your tears, “That dream changed years ago, Kyunnie. You know I could never let you guys go.” He shakes his head, “You stayed in the apartment when they left, didn’t you?” You nodded, “It’s what we always talked about. I couldn't leave it.” He nods, “I’m so sorry I had to leave.” You shake your head, “Don’t be. You have no reason to be.” You look at the clock, “I only have forty minutes until I have to head back.” He nods, “That’s about the time I should return too.”

“Are you producing now?” He nods, “Yeah, are you managing finances somewhere?” You grin and nod, and he smiles, “I guess we made it then.” You smile, “I suppose so.” He asks, “So, are you with anyone now?” You make a face as you nod, and he gives you a stern look, “Why did you make that type of face?” You gulp, “Well, um… It’s not a perfect relationship.” He nods and rubs his thumb over the back of your hand. “You can talk to me about it. You know that, right?” You shake your head, “There's not enough time. Let me hear about you.” He nods before telling you how he works in a studio with his close friend. And how he remembered where he left his wallet. It was on his desk, and you laughed as you told him you had done that before. As the last ten minutes approached, you asked, “Do you have a new number?” He nods, and you exchange phones and put in your numbers. He walks out of the shop with you, and you head towards the left, and he goes right. “Text me!” You cheer, and he goes, “I will!” 

Like it was old times, you found yourself texting and talking with him all the time. He reminded you what it was like to laugh. You hadn’t laughed in such a long time. It was like a foreign feeling, a feeling that you readily welcomed. One that reminded you that you were so much more than what you had. Your guys' time coincided so well. While you texted Hoseok and Hyungwon every once and a blue moon. You were texting Changkyun all the time. A part of you came back when you found him again. It's when you start to see through the smoke. The smoke that was clouding your vision before is lying beside you.

Changkyun texts you one morning, “Hey, do you wanna hang out?” And you readily agreed, excited to see your best friend again, “Yeah, I can do lunch?” You told your boyfriend where you were going and told him with whom as you got ready for lunch. Even though you explained it well, he kept asking numerous questions. By the fiftieth one, you just wanted to roll your eyes as you put your shoes on. 

And when Changkyun rang the doorbell, that’s when he exploded. It wasn’t the first time you argued, but it was the first time you had done so in front of someone you cared about. You texted Changkyun you’d be another few minutes hoping he couldn’t hear what was happening behind the door. “You’re cheating on me, aren’t you!?” He accused you, and you were so confused, does rekindling with old friends equal cheating? And you said, “No.” And he called you all the names in the book. If you had more care in your system and didn’t have somewhere to be. You would be arguing back. He stops, and you tell him, “I’ll see you later.” With that, you open the door. What you didn’t expect to see was Changkyun standing right there. He immediately puts you behind him as your boyfriend exclaims, “Oh! So, this is who you’re with now?!” 

With a gruff voice, he said, “I don’t know what you’re fucking problem is. But yelling at your partner before they leave isn’t a way to get them to come back.” You could hear him shout something at you both as Changkyun shuts the door. He asks you to lock it, and when you make it inside the elevator, he asks softly, “You okay?” You nodded, not processing what just happened. You numbly followed after him until he asked, “What do you want for dinner?” You thought for a moment before saying, “Ramen.” He smiles, “Like old times, then?” You nodded and said cheerily, “I know a good place to get some!” He smiled and went, “Lead the way,” and you did. 

You took him to your favorite ramen place. It was down the street from where you lived. It opened up after the two moved out. You loved going there whenever you missed your trio of friends. It brought you comfort, but since you always ate alone there. You ended up imagining the three of them with you. Your boyfriend hated ramen, and you suppose that should have been the first red flag. 

Millie greeted you two with a smile, “(Y/n), you never bring anyone with you! Who’s this?” You smile, “This is Changkyun, my old friend!” She grins, “Well, Changkyun, you're about to eat the best ramen in town.” He nods, “Cool.” She leads you to your favorite table, the booth in the back. “Do you like anything special in yours?” He tells her, and she nods, “Okay, I’ll get your guys' order ready.” She grabs your drinks and places them in front of you before leaving to the back.

That’s when he asks, “Are you ready to talk about him now?” You gulp and look down at the table, “I never thought I’d talk about this with you or either of them. I was supposed to be rid of this before I saw any of you.” He nods and waits for you to continue, “You know it’s funny... The whole reason I dated him in the first place was for some attention and affection. And I never found either through him. It sucks that I do the chores by myself. I can't even ask for his help. If the sink gets full, he’ll maybe wash the one he needs. If something's broken, he’ll fix it after bitching about it. He’s a glorified bed warmer at this point.” He sighs, “I'm sorry you have had to deal with someone like him. You deserve someone who will be there for you and split everything with you." He pauses as you nod, "You know, for all that hassle, you could have gotten a dog instead.” You laugh and shake your head, “I never thought about it like that.” 

Millie brings over your bowls of ramen, “Here you go!” You smile, “Thanks, Millie!” And with that, she leaves, and you both chow down. And he whines, “Oh, how I’ve missed ramen.” You laugh and slurp your noodles before saying, “That’s a conversation I want to have!” He laughs, and you both contentedly eat your noodles. You finish your first bowl, and Kyun asks for another bowl for both of you. You wait for the next one, and he asks, “Do Hyungwon and Hoseok know?” You shake your head, and he sighs. You bow your head in shame, and you feel him lift your chin, “It’s okay. I just wanted to ask.” You look into his eyes, “I didn’t intend for this.” He nods, “I know. We all make mistakes. But it’s okay, 'cause I got your back again, and I’m not letting you fall through the cracks.” He slowly releases your chin from his palm as your next bowl arrives. 

You didn’t even realize you had damage from the relationship. The smoke was so thick it took a while to see through. But Changkyun was with you every step of the way. Which made you realize it wasn’t as hard as you made it out to be. You started to piece yourself back together. And before you knew it, you found the part of you that you were missing. But to change and move on and continue catering to the missing piece of you. You had to let go of the guy who no longer served you. 

When you realized you were more than what you were when you were with him. One thing led to another, and you were in a screaming match with your boyfriend. Things were ending fast. Your whole world was full of burning flames. You didn’t even notice the fire closing in on you. After all, you were getting rid of the spark. So, you didn't worry about the flames as you watched him pack his last box into his truck. He shouted to you that he had found someone anyways and didn't need you. He called you a few names as he hopped into his car. You rolled your eyes as he burned his tires off and out of the lot.

As you were about to turn in and fix everything disarranged, your landlord came up to you, “Hey, Mrs. Springer.” She sighed, “I know you’ve been a loyal tenant all these years. But considering what just went down, I have to ask you to move out by the end of next week.” You blinked at her, not believing your ears, “Wh-what?” She looks at you with ‘sorrowful eyes’ and says, “I don’t want any more disturbances of peace. And with you still living here, you may take him back. And we don’t need any more trouble like that here.” After everything, you wanted to crawl into your bed and cry in relief.

And now your landlord is adding another grievance onto your soul. “Okay,” is all you say before heading inside your apartment and slamming the door in her face. All the memories you tried to preserve here will be nothing more than memories of better times. You slink back to your room and redo your bed before finally breaking down and sobbing. After everything, that seemed to be your most reasonable decision. When you broke up with your so-called boyfriend, you thought that was the end of the fire. Little did you know that you only put out the spark, not the fire.

The next afternoon, Changkyun told you he had let Hyungwon and Hoseok know about your now ex. It was one thing to have a shitty ex. But you couldn’t bear to tell them you were out of a home too. You decided it was too early for ramen before you bit the bullet and decided to call around for a place to stay. At least for a week until you found something. You worked your way up from acquaintances to Hyungwon and Hoseok. Who are currently in two separate countries. You already knew it was useless to call them, but it was nice to hear their voices anyway. They promised to support you in any way they could, thousands of miles away. And the two of them scolded you for not calling them about your ex. They could have made accommodations for you by now. But on such short notice, they couldn't provide you with a roof over your head. 

So, with no options left, you held your finger over the dial button of the man who made you realize you were on fire in the first place. With a weary heart, you clicked it. Not giving yourself any more time to think about it. “Yeah?” He answers, and you sigh, “Um,... Well, you know how I broke up with him?” He hums, and you continue, “Well, um, he’s out of my life as he burned his tires off when my landlord approached me...” You stare at the carpet as you work your way up to say, “She wanted to end any disturbances of the peace. And because I'm associated with him. I uh will be out of a place to live at the end of the week.” You hear him say a soft, ‘oh’. You quickly follow up, “I don’t need a place for long, just enough to get another lease some-.” He cuts you off, “You’re welcome to stay with me as long as you like.” Maybe it was because of the smoke in your eyes, but you started crying as you hiccupped a “Thank you.” And with that, he asked, “Do you want to get ice cream?” 

And you agreed he picked you up for ice cream. He held you as you cried into your dessert. Your tears weren't for the jerk you left. They were for losing the apartment you had shared with your friends in college. When your cries became sniffles, he released you and checked that you didn’t need anything else. “You okay, big baby?” You nodded, and you both finished your treats, “You wanna go home?” You nodded to that too, too exhausted to speak. He held you as you walked back to his car. And when he got in the car, you reached for his hand, still wanting comfort. And he smiled and locked your hands together, “I’ll help you pack tomorrow.” You nod, “You don’t need anything before I leave?” You shake your head, ‘no’, “Do you want me to walk you up?” You nodded again, and he smiled, “Okay.” 

He walked you up, kissed the top of your head, and let go of your hand, “Have good dreams.” You whisper, “You too.” He nods, “Later, gator.” You muster up a smile, “Bye-bye, butterfly.” You unlock your door and clean up a few things before falling asleep. 

Without a second thought, he saved you from the flames. Holding you up as you cried, taking off all the decorations you put in your apartment to make it home. “You still have this photo?” He asks about the one Hoseok’s mom took of the four of you. You’re doing a handstand with both Changkyun and Hyungwon’s help. Hoseok is pointing and laughing at you three. His mom thought it was the funniest thing and printed multiple copies of it. You smile, “I have one more in a photo album.” He nods, “I still have mine. It's on my wall.” You point to the one the day before he left, “You have that one?” He nods, “I didn’t expect you to keep that one out.” You shake your head, “It was the last memory I got to have with you. I had to keep it close.” He nods, “Reasonable.” And carefully you put them into a box. 

You sigh as you reach the last one, “You’ve never seen this one.” He tilts his head, and you say, “It’s the day we signed our lease.” All three of you were holding the lease papers with bright smiles. “You guys looked so happy.” You nod, “Yeah. Remember how we always talked about sharing a place together? We were supposed to move into this apartment together...” He nods as he whispers, “I wanted to go to college with you three too.” You tell him, “We never stopped missing you. It was painful to lose connection with you. You were always a part of our conversations. We never let your memory fade.” He looks down at the carpet, “I'd always talk about you guys too. I always find a way to bring you three up, even if it wasn't intentional.” You grab his arm and bring him close, “How can I miss you even though you're right next to me?” He whispers, “I don't know... I still miss you even though you’re right here.” You stand there looking at that last photo for a while. Imagining what it'd be like if it went according to plan until you felt like moving again. 

And from there, it got easier, both physically and mentally. Because you had each other again, everything else didn’t have as many memories as those photos had. You put the boxes into the living room until you were ready to put them into your cars. You put away the last box in your car and went to see if you missed anything. After checking all the rooms, you found a mirror under the sink and brought it with you. While you were busy with that, Changkyun got your deposit back, stating that they were evicting you without proper notice. She grumbled as she wrote the check out for you, and with that, he walked back over to your apartment. 

You were looking up at the ceiling fixture, trying to take it all in for one last time. In a place that held so many good memories, it also held just as many bad ones. Yet, it's odd to leave it now until you spot Changkyun waving something with glee in his hands. “Look what I got~” He cheered, and you came over and looked, and you gasped at the sight. And you hugged him, “Oh, Kyun, I don’t know what I would have done without you. Thank you.” He grins and holds you, “It’s no problem. Now let’s get you to your new home.” You put the mirror on your passenger seat. And on the way over, you cashed the check, finally cutting another loss out of your life as you did. You split and wired the money between the two models before pocketing your third. 

With a box in hand, you both went up to his apartment. He unlocked it, and you followed him in, “I never really got around to decorating the place. But feel free to decorate and make yourself at home. After all, this is your home now too.” He had talked you into staying with him. After showing you the bathroom, he showed you the three bedrooms: one containing his studio setup, his room, and your new room. He let you take in your living quarters and smiled as he left to grab more boxes. You spun around the room, feeling free but also at home. You needed a change of scenery more than you realized. Without a second thought, you threw yourself back onto the bed. And when it squished beneath you instead of squeaked. You felt like a royal with a bed that welcomed you in rather than sprung you away. You giggled to yourself and heard someone else laugh, and you looked up to see him again. 

“Is the bed that squishy?” You nod, “Yeah, it’s so soft and welcoming… My last mattress was all springs and no filter.” He nods, “Ahh yeah. When I got this apartment, I made sure to buy squishy beds. Spring beds are not good for my back.” You laugh, “Mine neither.” You get up, follow him downstairs and grab the last few boxes. And put them up in your room. He looks at the clock, “You wanna order out?” You nod and pay for delivery, typing in a different address felt weird. But you shook it off as your stomach grumbled to enter everything faster. 

In less than fifteen minutes, it arrives. And Changkyun shows you the dining table, “Man, your apartment has all the amenities, huh?” He laughs, “Why do you say that?” You gesture to the table, “You were in it. We had a small kitchen and no dining room. I haven’t eaten at a table other than at a restaurant in years.” He lets out an ‘oh’ as he nods, “Well, now you can eat here whenever you like.” You nod. It doesn’t even feel real to think that this apartment is now yours too. You have a quiet dinner, both of you thinking, and once you both finish. You get ready to throw it out. Before he shakes his head, “You bought, so I’ll clean up. It’s only fair. We’ll split things as evenly as we can, okay?” Your jaw drops, forgetting that was an option. “But Kyun…” He shrugs, “No buts, don’t make me call Hoho and Won.” And with that, he steps on the lid opener and throws it away, and you don’t complain. 

He sits back across from you as you take it in. It's shell-shocking to be an equal to someone else again. You shake your head before he asks, “We never got to do this before, so how would you like to split the chores?” And you both discuss it for a while until it’s time to retire to bed, and you’re both satisfied with what you choose. You both bid each other good night. 

It surprised you how, after finding your clothes and getting ready for the night. You settled into bed and fell right to sleep. You woke up feeling well-rested and better than you had in the past year. The sun was glimmering through the curtains, and you felt at ease. You get up and go to the kitchen to make some coffee just to see Changkyun up and already making a pot of it. “You read my mind,” you rasp out, and he laughs, “It’s a good way to start the morning.”

You do the finishing touches to your coffee with things you brought from your old fridge. Changkyun asks, “You still make it the same?” You nod and ask, “Is it still two lumps of sugar in yours?” He nods, “Yeah.” You smile, “Some things never change.” You sit in your now designated chair and fall into a comfortable silence. You take in the birds chirping in the distance and feel at peace. After you finish your mug, you finally go, “Thank you.” He shrugs, “It’s no problem.” 

With a stretch, you get up and change for the day in the comfort of your new room. ‘I could get used to this,’ you think as you fix your outfit. You grab your things and head out the door, “I’ll see you later?” He nods, “You got the key, right?” And you pat your keys to notice only your car key on the ring, having returned your old apartment keys yesterday. You shake your head, and he gets up and heads to his keyset, “I meant to give you yours yesterday. But here’s your key! I’ll probably be home around 10 pm? Depending on when it all wraps up.” You nod, “I’ll see you later then.” 

Your drive is a bit longer to work but comparing where you live now to where you once lived. It was worth the extra gas mileage. Things are looking up. It seems like the flames are finally at bay, and maybe you'll see beautiful flowers bloom. Your day finishes with ease, and you drive back. You find yourself rushing up the stairs to your apartment. It’s been a long time since you felt excited to return home. You get home around 6 pm, unlock the door and put your shoes away. Make yourself a bowl of ramen and get comfortable on the couch. 

After eating and watching an episode or two, you head to your room, change and start decorating your room. Once you finish your second box, the clock strikes eleven-thirty, and Changkyun rolls in, “(N/n), you home?” You poke your head out, “Yeah!” You head out of your room and into the living room to see him placing a bag on the counter. You hear cans settle in the bag as you ask, “What'd you bring home?” He smiles, “Chicken and beer!” You grin, “Hell yeah!” He smiles, and you find the plates and get one for each of you. You set up your dishes and sit down at the table. 

“I don’t know if you have ever had this beer, but it’s my favorite, and I hope you like it too.” You smile, “I’ve never, but I’m sure it’s good if you’re recommending it.” He smiles, and you crack it open and try it, “Oh! I wasn’t expecting that!” He grins, “It’s kind of sweet, right?” You nod, “The pear and grape flavors are nice hints in it.” He agrees, and you both eat and drink your meal. You tell him, “This is wonderful.” He shakes his head, ‘Yes’, “It’s my favorite way to end my day.”

You finish your chicken as he does and take the plates and wash your dishes from earlier. Before coming over to see him still sitting there playing on his phone. He smiles when he notices you, and you melt into the chair and trace circles onto the tabletop. The beer starts to hit as you say, “I hope this table becomes a new constant in my life.” He laughs, putting down his phone for the moment, “Why’s that?” You shrug, “I don’t know, it’s just so nice and reminds me of what it’s like to have nice things.” He nods, “I hope it does, too, then.” You pick up your phone, and you both fall into a comfortable silence as you unwind from your days. 

“Do you want to see what I’ve done so far to my room?” He nods, “Sure.” He slips his phone into his pocket, and you lead him to the door and open it for him to go in. He takes in all the picture frames you set up and the change of bedding too. “You arranged them very nicely on the wall” You smile, “Thanks.” He laughs at a few photos before he points to a picture of Hyungwon and Hoseok, “Damn, can you really believe they’re models now?” You laugh, “Not at all. I still remember them eating crayons.” He shakes his head and laughs, “I was thinking of the time Hoseok cried to his mom about Hyungwon ‘bullying him’. All because he wasn't giving him pretzels.” You chuckle, “And then you and I stole Hyungwon’s pretzels and ate ‘em! Which in turn made Hyungwon cry to his mom.” He laughs, “Yeah! We were little meanies.” You nod, “But we were the youngest, so it’s only fair.”

He grins and goes, “Aw, look, it’s us!” It was a photo from your freshman year. You were both posing with your backs against each other for the first day of school. You whine, “We were almost late, and the two didn’t let it go all day!” He laughs, “They were just as despicable as we were.” You nod, “That’s what made us the perfect quartet.” He agrees, “Yeah.” He takes in your new bedspread, “That's very pretty.” You thank him and look at the clock, “It’s almost one.” He looks over at it, too, “That it is. Well, we should both go to bed then.” You nod. And he exits your room, and you think of the other half of the quartet as you tuck in for the night. 

The rest of the week is so peaceful. It's hard to think that at one time, you used to go to bed not feeling safe or comfortable. And now, you go to bed feeling at ease. It sucks that you went through that. You shake the thought away as you head into the kitchen and make a cup of coffee for both of you. You get ready to pour the coffee into your mugs when Changkyun comes flying in, “I’ll have to take it to go today. Joo needs me soon!” He tells you quickly as he throws on his hoodie. “Oh, okay!” “Sorry to break tradition.” You shrug, “It’s alright. It’s only a week old. Plus, I know that the record is reaching its due date. So let me get the to-go cup.” He nods, and you pull it out and make sure it’s clean before pouring him his cup. He adds his two lumps of sugar and hugs you before bidding you a good day at work. And you wish him luck on the record as he rushes out. You take your coffee into the living room and drink it while watching the news. 

For some reason, you don’t want to go to work, almost as if your gut knew something before you did. You shrug it off but drive carefully to work just in case. But that wasn't why you were feeling an ick as you punched in for the day, but you still can't shrug off the feeling. Because in a fire, if you don't watch the flames, they'll burn you when you least expect it. Your boss comes over, and you greet them kindly even though your gut is retching, “Good morning!” They smile before saying, “Good morning, (Y/n). Would you mind seeing me in my office?” You nod and follow them back.

You start praying that your feeling in your gut is because you sense a promotion. “I’m so sorry to inform you of this. I know you just got back on your feet. But you were one of the last ones hired here. And, well, there have been cutbacks, and I’m sorry, but you’re one of the firsts I have to tell this to.” You wish you could curl under their desk, wail, and refuse to leave until they say you can keep your job. But you know in your heart if you do you’d have a police escort out. You nod, “Until when?” They sigh, “The furthest out I can give you is until this next paycheck is out in five days.”

“What?!” They nod, “You couldn’t inform me sooner?! When did you know?” They gulp, “Last week, but you were just moving into that new place, so I didn’t want you fretting over this too.” You do your best to stay calm as you go, “But, this is my job, my livelihood. I can’t just-” They shake their head, “I’m sorry, Mx. (L/n), but there is nothing I can do.” If you didn’t need the money, you would have told them you quit in that instance. You grit your teeth and say, “Okay. I’ll stay until the next check is issued.” They nod, “Thank you for your cooperation. I’m sorry this must come at such a bad time, but I hope you can understand.” You nod and head out of the office, fuming. 

In a rage, you clock for your lunch early and rush out to your car to scream. You didn’t realize you were crying until your phone alerts you that you’ve been out in your car for thirty minutes. You wipe your tears of frustration, shake your head, and sigh. With your last thirty, you eat what you can of your lunch. You knew you could find another job. But you didn't want to burden Changkyun with all your problems. With haste, you decide you’ll do whatever you can to keep yourself afloat. So that you could continue to live in that lovely apartment with Kyun, even if it meant risking good rest. 

When you came home, you were determined to act like everything was fine, even if it felt like you were being scorched alive. But Changkyun saw right through you. He always has and always will. He sat next to you on the couch and waited until you were ready to open up. Telling him had to be the worst punishment because he understood. You may have known him since you were three. But how could he still accept you after all the problems you’ve brought recently? But Changkyun never saw it that way. He knew that if he were in the same situation, you would do everything to keep him safe. And while that was true, it didn’t make you feel any better. 

He opened his arms for you to lay in, and you laid into his chest and sobbed. It broke his heart. He never wanted you to feel this way. If he had the opportunity, he’d trade with you without a second thought. When you stopped crying, you sighed and whispered into his chest, “I promise you won’t have to worry about me. I’ll get a job at the restaurant two buildings down. And I’ll bartend. But don't worry when my last check comes in. I’ll have enough for this month. But I’ll be prepared for the next ones. You don’t have to worry, I promise. I just needed to cry about it.” All he did was hum. And you took that as an ‘okay' since he was probably tired from his production. 

What you didn’t know was that he was devising another plan. One that he was sure Jooheon would agree with. Considering they've been wanting to have someone take over the finances. You were the perfect fit for the bill. However, he knew you’d be stubborn. That was his biggest problem to face. But he knew with Hoseok’s and Hyungwon’s help. It’d be easy too. You stayed in his arms until you started feeling sleepy. He whispered, “You tired?” You nodded, and without a second word, he carried you up to the bathroom and brushed his teeth with you. 

You didn’t even get a chance to walk tiredly to your room before you were up in his arms again. When he pulls the covers over you, you whisper, “You know I’m grateful to you, right?” He nods, “I’ve known that for a long time.” You smile, “Good.” He kisses your forehead and gets up before walking out of your room. He says, “Whatever you decide to do, I’ll be behind you every step of the way.” You nod, and with that, you fall asleep. 

You go to work bummed out the next few days, and on company time, you apply to the bar and restaurant. Sadly, you wanted this last paycheck, so you had to show up. You show up but all the work you do is push your pencil back and forth as you count the ceiling tiles. Even if you were to work your ass off to keep this job, they would still fire you at the end of the week. So, it didn't matter, might as well spend it looking at cat memes. After all, they can't fire you again.

You come home, not wanting to be awake, and shower in the dark. You rinse away your troubles before drying off and changing into pajamas. You drag your feet to the kitchen and look in the fridge, hoping a beer could solve all your problems. Even though you knew it wouldn’t, the thought was comforting. You crack it open, and you don’t notice Changkyun sitting in his chair until you take your first sip. You close the door and look over at the table. Your mind takes a second to register he’s there. “Damn, I hope this isn’t a mirage.” 

He shakes his head and laughs, “Nope, very much real.” You sigh, sit across from him and put your head on the table. And let out a groan before greeting Changkyun. And he asks, “Do you want some pizza?” You nod, and he says, “Good,” and gets up from his seat and brings the box over. “So, how did applying to those jobs feel?” You sigh, “Uh,... nice.” He opens the box and pulls out a slice, “Do you think they would make you happy?” You’re at a loss for words because neither of those jobs would bring you joy. And you don’t have the energy to fabricate such a blatant lie, so you’re stuck to shaking your head no. 

You reach for a slice and munch on it, not knowing what to say. It takes everything in you not to break down and cry in front of Kyun again. You drink some of your beer as he asks, “If you had a better option, would you choose it?” You shrug, “I’m not sure, but I guess anything would be better than waiting on customers.” He goes, “I’m going to take that as a yes.” And that’s when he says, “Call off work tomorrow.” You blink at him, and he continues, “You have an interview at my studio.” You gasp, “What?” He smiles, “Well, the studio always needs help. You could sort the finances of the company. I know you were good at that. If not, I have more than enough to support us until you find something more suited to your tastes.” You can’t hold your tears back as you start sobbing. “I don’t know how I’ll ever repay you.” He shakes his head at you, “As long as you’re happy, that’s the best repayment.” 

You get up from your chair and wrap yourself around him, and he carefully wraps his arms around you. He whispers, “This mirrors the other day.” And through your tears, you say, “Yeah, but this time it’s out of joy.” He holds you close until you’re sniffling. “You, okay?” You shrug, “I guess I’ll find out tomorrow.” He nods, “Let’s finish our pizza, yeah?” You wipe your tears and eat the other three slices. “Also... Hoho and Won called me to tell you to call them more.” You give him a small smile, “I’ll call them tomorrow.” He smiles, “Okay.” The two of you clean up your mess before retiring to bed. 

Early in the morning, you called your boss before going back to bed. After an hour, you got up and took a shower. You got dressed as you realized the flames were diminishing. You smiled before heading into the living room to find Changkyun sitting on the couch waiting for you, “You look nice.” You thank him, and he asks, “We got half an hour before your interview with the big bad boss.” You gasp, “He’s mean?” He laughs and shakes his head ‘no’, and you sigh in relief. He asks, “Do you want a tour of the place?” You nod, and he has you follow him out, and he tells you, “It’s just a five-minute walk there.” You say, “I always wondered why you never took your car to work.” He grins, “Best commute ever.” 

You smile, “What’s it like to produce music?” He smiles, “I get to express my deepest thoughts. But I also live my biggest dream. It’s more wonderful than I ever imagined.” You grin, “I always hoped you’d make it. I’m glad. Then is the studio you’re working at nice?” He nods, “Of course. I wouldn’t trade it for the world.” “Will you ever let me hear your pieces?” He teases, “You sure you haven’t already~” You roll your eyes, “Kyun-” He sighs, “Of course, I will.” You smirk, “Good.”

When you reach the building, the sign above says, ‘Honeycat Records,’ and you tell him, “That is the cutest name ever!” He smiles, “I’m glad you think so!” He opens the door, and you walk in, “Woah.” He holds out his hand for you to grab to show you around. And you link your fingers together as he shows you around the building. From the different practice rooms to the recording studios and even the bathrooms. “Oh, and my favorite place to be is here!” And it’s a little common area filled with vending machines and massive windows to take in the view of the city. “It’s beautiful, Kyun.” He smiles, “I'm glad you think the same. I come up with a lot of my ideas out here.” He looks at the clock, “It looks like it’s time to take you to meet the bosses.” You nod, not quite catching he said ‘bosses’ this time. 

Past the common area is a hallway with a door at the end that leads to an office. Instead of Changkyun showing you the door, he walks inside too. You shrug. He probably needs to see his boss for something too. And after peeking out from Changkyun’s back, you find the boss. He gets up from his chair, “Hey, Kyun. And you must be, (Y/n)?” You smile and shake his hand, “That’s me!” He gestures for you to sit down, and that’s when Kyun puts his glasses on. You start to sense something fishy as he sits across from you too. 

Jooheon smiles as he asks, “So, Mx. (L/n), what makes you qualified to apply here?” You smile as you tell him about your experiences and what qualifies you to be applying. And he hums, and Changkyun asks, "What type of work environment do you work best in?" You take a moment to think, not only is your best friend interviewing you, but he could also be tricking you. "I prefer calm work environments, but I can work well under pressure if needed." 

He takes a moment before nodding and turning to Jooheon, “This may be biased, Joo. But I think we found someone to take over our finances.” And Jooheon looks over at him and smirks, “Really? Because, funnily enough, I was thinking the exact same thing.” It starts to click before your eyes. You had the job before you even walked in. He pulls out your paper, “Well if you look here: at (Y/n)’s resume, you’d see that they used to be an accountant at a firm twenty minutes from here.” Jooheon nods, “Huh, and would you look at that? There’s a lot of experience here. We could use someone like that.” 

That’s when they both lock eyes on you, and Kyun asks, “So (Y/n), what do you say? Would you like to work here?” You blink and go, “Yes.” They exchange a look, “Well, looks like we won’t need to discuss further.” No interview could have prepared you for this one. When Joo says, “Welcome to Honeycat Records.” You nod your head and shake both of their hands. 

That’s when you three laugh, two from a job well done and you from relief. When the three of you stop laughing, Jooheon goes, “Kyun told me about you a long time ago.” You tilt your head, and he goes, “He talked about Hoseok, Hyungwon, and you all the time when we were teenagers. And when he ran into you while getting coffee. It’s like destiny made sure you guys would always be together.” You grin as he continues, “And then he told me about how you were always good at math and that you went to college for finances… And then that leads to now.” 

You nod, “Yeah.” He grins, “It’s sad to lose a job, don’t get me wrong. But it was like a gift for me because finally, a person in finance was looking for work. And someone I could trust already? Kyun told me, and I was already on board.” Changkyun laughs, “We hate doing finances, but it's a necessary evil.” You laugh and ask, “Any particular parts you find difficult?” Jooheon groans, “I had to come in early last week so everyone got their paycheck on time. It was my turn.” You laughed, “Oh, that’s like the easiest part of the job!” They gape at you, and you nod, “It’s making sure everyone has the right amount and that funds are going to the right spots on time that is the hardest part.” They exchange a look, “You mean like bills, right?” You nod, “A bit. Don’t worry. From here on out, I’ll take care of it.” They both sigh in relief, “Cool.” 

You tell them, “I want to thank you both. Kyun, thank you for always helping me. I promise to go above and beyond here. And Jooheon, thank you for approving me to work here too.” Jooheon smiles, “It's no problem. We needed an accountant. So you were perfect for the bill.” Changkyun smiles, “So, would you like to see your office?” Jooheon hops up as you nod, and the two of them lead you out. They walk out of the hallway to the common area, and on the left is a door. Jooheon goes, "Right beyond this door is your office.” And Changkyun hands you a new key, “Here’s your key.” You smile as you take it and see it’s not gold or silver. It’s in your favorite color. “You really think of everything, don’t you?” Changkyun smirks, “Always have.” 

They wait for you to open the door. And the first thing that catches your eye is a plaque with your name on it. You take it all in before Jooheon goes, “What do you think?” You look at the ceiling and then back towards them, “I couldn’t have dreamed of something better.” You turn around and capture Changkyun in a hug. And you look over his shoulder and ask Jooheon, “Can I hug you?” He grins, “Of course!” Kyun rubs your back before letting you go, and you hug Jooheon. He pats your back, and you release him from the hug. And Jooheon goes, “We'll show you how to access the program and like the passwords and whatnot.” You smile, “Cool.” 

They show you the basics and write down the passwords for you. And it’s like your old programming. The only difference is the names, salaries, and colors. But the same process, so that made for an easy transition. You ask a few more questions before going to figure out the programming. They sit back and let you do your thing. If you were to imagine what you would be doing after graduating with your bachelor's. Working at a record label that your best friend owns? That would not have been your first thought. Of course, it made sense because you were about to be their accountant. But it was odd to think that this is where you ended up. You always thought you'd work at a firm or an insurance company. But you couldn't be happier as you maneuvered through the site. 

Jooheon interrupts your thoughts with, “Looks like it’s time for lunch!” He says while looking towards his watch, and you ask, “Already?” He nods, “Come on, my treat, you two.” You smile, “Okay.” Things in your life have changed so fast it’s hard to comprehend what it once was. You close the door behind the three of you. And follow them down and out of the complex, where they lead you to a little restaurant next to it. The second you three enter, the host goes, “Jooheon! Changkyun! Welcome back! And who would this be?” You introduce yourself, “Well, welcome to Son’s, (Y/n)!” You thank them as they lead you three to a booth, where you scoot in. Kyun sits next to you as the host hands you a menu. 

You look at their menu-less hands and ask, “You guys have been here a few times, huh?” The two laugh, “Yeah.” They point out various things for you to try, “We’ve had pretty much everything on the menu. But we pretty much get the same thing nowadays.” You laugh, and the waiter comes over, “Hey guys! Oh, hello, who is this?” You smile as Changkyun introduces you as his best friend from the old days. You smile at him before looking at the cook, “I’ve heard a bit about you. It’s nice to meet you. I’m Hyunwoo.” You smile, “All good things, I hope? And it’s nice to meet you too, Hyunwoo.” He nods as he asks, “Do you need more time?” You shake your head ‘no’ before telling him your order, and he writes it down. “Are you not gonna ask us~” Joo teases and Hyunwoo blinks at him, causing the two to laugh as Hyunwoo heads back to the kitchen with a shake of his head. 

“You may recognize Hyunwoo’s singing voice~” Joo cheers, “Really?�� You ask, and he nods, “Kyun said you watched the show a while back. It features his song, Now I Know.” You gasp, “No way.” The two grin, “Yeah, we produced it.” You nod, “Holy shit.” The three of you laugh. “We manage a lot of artists, and even if they only release a song or two, it’s still fun.” You nod, “No wonder you need an accountant.” They agree as you smile. You three talk for a while before Hyunwoo comes back with three plates. And you say, “I loved your OST. You have a beautiful voice.” He blushes as he puts your plate down, “You told them?” They nod, and Jooheon tells him, “We’re very proud of you.” His ears are red as he says, “Thank you.” And you smile, “It’s no problem.” He leaves, and you three eat your lunch. 

Hyunwoo calls from the kitchen, “What do you kids want for dessert?” Jooheon goes, “What do you have?” “Cheesecake and Brownies.” You gasp and go, “Both sound good.” And they cheer, “A slice of each for all three of us!” “Okay!” You smile, “This is the best meal ever.” They grin as he comes out of the kitchen and brings the plates. He gestures for Jooheon to move over, “Breaktime.” He takes off his apron and hangs it over the booth end.

“So, are you a new artist under Honeycat?” You shake your head, “No. I’m going to do their finances.” He smiles, “They’ve been looking for someone to take over that job for a little while now.” Jooheon nods, “I’m so glad. I don’t ever have to touch those numbers again.” The three of you laugh, and you go, “I’m excited to touch those numbers.” They grin, and Hyunwoo goes, “That means you're perfect for the job then.” You thank him as you dig into your dessert. “Oh, this is lovely,” you say after trying both. Hyunwoo lets out a ‘thank you' as he eats his dessert away. 

Jooheon and Changkyun have no work since they met their deadline. So they decide that the three of you should go home early instead of returning. Once you reach home with a full stomach and two new friends. You change into pajamas, lie on your bed, and call Hyungwon and Hoseok. “You won’t believe my day.” You can almost hear Hyungwon’s smirk, “I bet I can.” Hoseok laughs, “Yeah, Kyunnie told us his plans already.” You roll your eyes, “Can I tell you anyways?” In unison, they say, “Of course.” And you tell them about your wonderful day. And then they tell you about theirs, “Paris is so nice, but nothing can beat Vienna if you ask me.” And Hoseok goes, “I don’t think it can beat Glasgow, but sure.” You laugh at the two, “I don’t think any of that could beat here right now.” 

The two snicker, “Yeah, we’ll have to make a quartet reunion soon.” You nod and remember they can’t see it and go, “I miss you guys.” The two agree, and Hyungwon goes, “Well, why don’t we try to make plans for next month? The agency told me I had some time off next month.” Hoseok says, “I should have at least a week off next month. Maybe we can try to make it work?” “You guys finally have a coinciding schedule!?” The two laugh and Hyungwon goes, “Yeah, first time since graduating. Do you think next month will work out for you two?” You smile, “Let me see!” 

You hop out of bed, open your door and shout to Kyun, “Hey, do you think you want to see Tweedle-dee and Tweedle-dum for a week next month?” You hear, “Hey!” On the line, you can’t help but snicker as Kyun shouts back, “Tell them hell yeah!” You smile, “You heard the man. I’m sure Jooheon will agree. Especially if I finish my work for that month early by streamlining it.” You head back into your room and flop onto the bed as Hoseok says, “That sounds lovely, and now I have to go. But I’ll text you three about the days I'm available?” You go, “Sounds good to me!” And Hyungwon agrees, and the two of you say, “Take care, Polar bear.” 

And when he hangs up, Hyungwon asks, “So when were you going to tell us about that jerk? If you had told us, we could have taken you in if you were in such a dangerous situation.” You look down at your carpet, “Honestly, I was so in my head about everything, I kind of even forgot I was there.” You can hear Hyungwon grumble, “I should have known.” You shake your head, “You know you wouldn’t have. Hell, Kyun found out by accident.” 

He groans, “I know. The only reason I'm happy you stayed there is because you found him again, for us. And I'm glad that he took you in. But we’re seeing each other more often to make up for it. I think I’ve missed your guys' physical contact.” You gasp, “Chae Hyungwon admits he misses the three of us and our physical affection. All on the same day?” You can almost see his eye roll as he goes, “Yes, so, before my manager comes and gets me out of this supply closet. Promise me you’ll tell us when something’s happening in your love life and in general?” You sigh, “I promise. You too.” And he asks, “Pinky swear?” You hold out your pinky and go, “Pinky swear.” And with that, you hear his manager open the door and find him. He says, “See you later, gator.” “Till then, Penguin.”

When the flames clear and the ashes settle down. You begin to see flowers sprouting up around you. Things were working out, and you stopped worrying. You leave your room and meet Changkyun on the couch, “Anything good on?” He nods, “There’s a documentary on wolves. You wanna watch it?” You nod, “Sounds good to me.” You grab your throw blanket from the couch. And wrap yourself in it and lean on the armrest. When the commercial cuts in, he asks, “Were you surprised?” You nod, “Yeah, but it was a pleasant surprise. I’m proud of you, Kyun.” He smiles, and you continue, “I always knew you’d do something cool with your music.” He says a small thank you and asks, “Do you think you’ll like it there too?” You agree, “Yeah, I think I will. Thank you for everything.” He grins and curls into his blanket, and the documentary comes back on. 

You guys talk about next month and what it’ll be like to have the gang back together for a week. “You know, I never meant to lose connection with you guys, right?” You wait for him to continue, “In my senior year, my phone was stolen, and I was devastated. I think I cried the whole night. We never needed to write our phone numbers down. And there wasn’t a possibility I could leave everything and go see you guys to get them...” He doesn’t notice the tears streaking down his face until you're holding him in your arms, “When we lost contact with you, it was like something inside of us died. And there was nothing we could do. The three of us didn’t have enough money to catch a flight. So, we were stuck too. I’m so sorry you went through all that.” He hides his face into your shoulder as he tells you, “It was hell spending my last two high school years with none of you. Yeah. I had Jooheon, but he couldn’t fill the spaces you guys left. But I guess he held me together until I could reunite with one of you.” You run your hands through his hair. 

“It was wild to leave what I had known. And then to come here after completing college and start-up in a city that was towns away from my hometown. It was like my heart was being tugged to go back. I didn’t even know if one of you stayed. After all, I thought you’d be managing Wonnie or Hoho by now, not doing this.” You hum, and he continues, “Joo was the one to suggest this city in the first place. But I agreed because it meant I could be closer to where I wanted to be.” You let out a shaky sigh as your tears start to flow, “I’m so glad you came back. Honestly, I was afraid I’d never see you again. I don’t know why I stayed here, but even if it meant pain, I’m glad I stayed. Because it means I got to be with you all over again.” 

He sighs, and you lean down and kiss his head, “You’re still using that rose shampoo?” He laughs, “Yeah.” You smile and sniff his head, “It reminds me of home.” He pulls back, and you look him in the eyes, “We have each other now. We don’t have to worry. It’s all going to work out.” He agrees and repeats, “We have each other.”

You release him from your arms, and he lies on his side of the couch again. You both finish watching the documentary on wolves, even though you missed a good portion of it. You and Changkyun yawn at the same time, which makes you both giggle. “Bedtime?” He nods and gets up from the couch, folding his blanket before throwing it over the backrest. You follow suit, and both of you tiredly walk to the bathroom. You brush your teeth together before going your separate ways. You flop down on your bed and fall asleep with ease. 

The next day, you call your job and tell them you won’t be coming in anymore and that they can mail you your last check. You felt free as you finished up the call. You sigh and notice the flowers in your heart are small. But they’re growing, and you couldn’t feel more proud. 

You walk out of your room to see Changkyun getting up at the same time as you, “Coffee?” He nods tiredly, and together you make a pot. You both make your cups before sitting and taking in the morning light. You rest your head on the table, and he asks, “Has it become your constant?” “Mmhm.” You make it halfway through your mug, “So, what are you doing at work today?” You smile, “Oh, some number calculations to see if everything is running proficiently. What are your plans?” He nods, “Cool. I hope you enjoy it. I'm making guides for a few songs to give to one of our idols.” You tell him, “I have no idea what that is, but neat.” He smiles as he explains, “It’s just a ‘how to sing to this song’ tutorial, and then they can improve or change it.” You nod, “That is nice, then.” He smiles and drinks the last sip of his coffee. He gets up and sees you finished yours too. And puts both cups into the sink, “I’ll meet you back here in thirty to walk over?” You nod, “Yeah, that sounds good.” 

You get up from your chair and stretch before looking out the window at the city. Even early in the morning, the hustle and bustle never stops. It's one of your favorite things that life is still moving on, and for once, it’s moving with you. You’re glad your life has changed, but it’s wild to think that over a month ago, you were with someone you didn’t love. In a place that no longer served you, everything was doom and gloom until he showed up again. 

And something else showed up too, your old feelings, ones you buried away years ago. After all, they were for someone you weren’t sure you'd see again. And now, you see him all the time. It’s hard to grasp that change. And that’s why it has taken you so long to realize you still like him more than a best friend should. You sigh as you move away from the pane of glass. Maybe you missed him and were trying to catch up on lost time. Yeah, that’s probably it. With a shrug, you head to your room to change into regular clothes and brush your teeth. As you walk back into the living room, you see him playing on his phone. And you smile as he gets up the second he sees you. The two of you put on your shoes before heading out. 

You unlock your new office with your key. And settle in and start on your calculations and deductions for the day. It goes smoothly as if you had worked on this same computer for years. There were a few bugs in the system. But you sorted them out by finally updating and restarting the computer. The poor thing probably hadn’t had proper rest since they bought it. You promise it that you'll take care of it. You give it a few minutes of rest before changing the background and color settings. You finally have to where you like it, and you can't help but smile at it. 

You do a few more things before you hear a knock on your door. “Yes?” “Can I come in?” You recognize Changkyun’s voice from a mile away. And you go, “Yeah.” He opens the door and groans, “I wanna go home!” You laugh, “Why?” “I’m tired.” “You only woke up three hours ago.” He pouts, and you laugh, “Does someone want lunch?” He keeps his pout on as he nods, and you laugh, “Cute, alright. I brought two packs of ramen with me for lunch.” He finally grins, “I figured you’d want it too.” He nods, and you lock up your office and head down to the breakroom.

Together you both make Ramen, and he goes, “Remember when Hyungwon made us some?” You shake your head, “Oh, please don’t remind me.” He cackles, “It was the worst!” Hoseok, Changkyun, and you vowed to never let him cook for you guys again. It took you until you were a senior in college to try something he made. And it was surprisingly good, you gave him a few more chances before you trusted him to cook for you again. Hoseok lets him but still watches him cook. 

"You'd like his cooking now." You say as you split the noodles into two different bowls and pour the broth over them. "Really?" He asks as he turns on the mini tv. And you nod, "He makes good tofu soup." He nods, "Interesting, ramen?" You shake your head, "I would rather not try that adventure again." He laughs, and you both watch the reruns of a cartoon while eating. 

You whisper, “This is some good ramen.” He slurps his noodles and says, “Hell yeah, it is.” You grin, and you say, “I want ramen~” “I really want ramen~” “You know what would be good right now?” In unison, you say, “Ramen.” And you two burst out laughing, “Man’s every other word when we wanted food back then was ramen.” He smirks, “Do you know what this ramen would be really good with?” You smirk back, “More ramen?” Which causes you both to giggle even harder. Once your laughter dies down, you both finish up your bowls and clean up. 

You part ways you go to your office, and he heads to his studio. And that’s how you spend the rest of your day. Since you started on a Thursday, it meant tomorrow was the weekend, and you were ready to spend it relaxing. You wake up and find a note on the table. “I’ll be back by 6 pm, depending on how long it takes to record today. See you later, gator!” Alas, Changkyun had to work. You smile and whisper, “Bye-bye, butterfly.” You go about your day by doing your chores before curling up and relaxing to one of your favorite shows.

Your month leading up to Hyungwon and Hoseok coming to visit was just like that. Working, hanging out, and relaxing; things that used to be too strenuous to do all on the same day. Now it came with ease, and you couldn’t feel happier. When it was late, and you probably shouldn’t be awake, you’d find Changkyun in his office, and he’d let you listen to some demos. And if you both grew tired of that, you’d call up the other two. Of course, whichever was up in the morning.

And as you laid your head against him and listened to Hoseok talk about the buttercup flowers he saw. You noticed the flowers blooming inside of you. And the butterflies that started to rise in your stomach. But for someone who you thought you had gotten over years ago. A guy who would lock arms with you as you walked to work. That would sit across from you at your dining table. Who laughed at all your silly jokes. The flowers were in bloom before you even knew. 

You fell in love with the little moments first, but your brain still second-guessed all your feelings. Because how could you move on so quickly? But to your gut, it made perfect sense. You never loved the last person you were with, but you always loved Kyun. It was just hard for you to see. The smoke had clouded your vision, but now you could see clearly. The only problem was you didn’t know if he felt the same, but you'd settle for being his best friend. Because your inner high schooler only ever wanted Changkyun back. Whether it was romantic or not. And you were still content with that, you supposed. At least in the way that you kept your feelings hidden away in the pages of your journal. 

You have three days before Hyungwon and Hoseok show up. During your break, Changkyun comes into your office. “Joo asked me what I was doing here and told me we shouldn't be here but out preparing for our best friends to visit.” You laugh, “You were out bossed?” He rolls his eyes before giving you a nod, and you pack up your pieces of paper and shut down your computer. You grab your things and say, “I’ll drive us.” He nods, and you both head back down and over to your car, “This is a first.” He says as he hops into your car. You both buckle in before you pull out of the lot and drive to the grocery store. Your radio plays oldies as you travel, and you hear him hum to them. It gives you a sense of peace and before long, you find you’re humming along to them too. In the corner of your eye, you notice how effortlessly beautiful he looks as he stares out the window. It almost makes you choke as you take him in as if looking at him for the first time. 

The grocery store wasn’t that far away but carrying that many groceries over a mile sounded like torture. When you get inside the store, you ask, “What do you think about a reunion cake?” As you see the sign for the bakery, he grins, “That sounds good.” You both head over and ask him, “What should it say?” He thinks before saying, “Maybe, ‘We’ve missed you’ or ‘Welcome back’ or something along those lines?” You go, “What about both?” He smiles, “That sounds perfect.” You make it over to the bakery and when the baker comes over. You tell them how you’d like the cake decorated: “Welcome back, Hoseok and Hyungwon. We’ve missed you both.” They nod as they write it down. They ask, “When would you like it for?” “Two days from now.” They continue, “What time?” He says a reasonable time for you two to get it before you pick them up. After that, you both walk around buying things like ramen, candles, streamers, and ice cream. 

He asks, “Oh, what was that thing we’d always get at Lolo’s before they closed?” You think back before going, “Their breadsticks! It was so cheap but so filling!” He grins, and you search for breadsticks that look like the ones you used to eat. You whine, “I wish they never closed down.” He nods, “That was the second worst winter of our lives.” You groan, “Yeah.” And you finish picking things up in your grocery cart. 

“Get on the end!” He cheers, and you rush and get on the front of the cart, and he takes off towards your car and rides it the rest of the way. Your giggle fills the air and don't stop until you both hop off the cart. You unlock the back and put the groceries into the car, and he takes away the cart and puts it into the cart corral. He comes back with a smile on his face as he clicks his seatbelt in, “Can you believe it?” You smile as you realize what he's talking about and shake your head, “No, honestly, it feels like a dream come true. Reuniting with them feels magical.” He grins, “It’s like the sun was on the horizon when we met back up, and now it’s shining upon us since we’re seeing them soon.” You nod, “I’m so glad it is.” Before you can shift it into gear, he puts his hand over yours and squeezes it, “This is real, right?” You smile, “Yeah,” and squeeze his hand back to make sure for yourself. You pull your hand away to shift into gear before holding his hand again. In the corner of your eye, you can see his brilliant smile as he squeezes your hands together. And you can’t help but smile all the way home. You both let go once you park the car in the lot. 

You hop out of the car, unload the groceries, and carry them to your shared apartment. You put everything away, leaving out the decorations. He picks up the first bag and looks inside, “Balloons or streamers? What do you want to do first?” You point to the streamers, and he finds a chair to stand on while you find some tape. 

After you both finish hanging up the streamers and blowing up the balloons. You turn to look at him after taking in all the decorations you’ve done so far, “It’s so pretty.” He nods, “I think so too.” You look above the tv and go, “Maybe we should make a sign for them? Like we bring it to the airport and hang it up when we get home?” He smiles, “That sounds lovely.” You grin and say, “Let’s do that tomorrow.” He laughs and agrees before asking, “Wanna make stir fry together?” You nod, and you both get up.

He cleans the rice while you start chopping up vegetables. He puts on a pot of water and cooks the rice. While he waits for that, he finds the wok, “Chicken or beef?” You hum, “Beef?” He nods, brings it out, and pulls out another knife and cutting board. You finish up the vegetables and put the rest away. He finishes cutting up the beef and puts it into the wok. He turns the other burner on and cooks them for a minute. And you scrape the first bit of veggies into it and turn off the rice. You put the last bit of veggies in and grab plates for the two of you. He finishes cooking the rest, and after you drain the rice, he mixes them and puts them into your bowls. You hand him his utensils, and you both head over to the table.

You go to eat before realizing what's missing, “Pop?” He nods, and you grab it, and he thanks you as you sit back down across from him. You pop open your can and finally wind down for the day. “What are you most excited about?” He smiles, “Talking to them about old times and catching up and showing them Son’s.” You grin as he gestures for you to answer, “That’s going to be so fun! I can’t wait to take them to the ramen shop. They've never been because it opened after they left. And I want them to experience it too.” He nods, “They’re going to love it.” You smile, and you finish up your meal. He takes your plate, and you get up and help him do the dishes. He asks, “Together again?” You nod, “Naturally.” 

You both go to work the next day, only making it an eighth way through before Jooheon comes in and kicks you both out. “What are you doing here!?” He asks as he spots you both in the break room, “Working?” And he pouts, “You should be preparing and getting lots of rest!” And you both laugh as he adds, “You also have to introduce me!” You nod, and Changkyun goes, “Of course.” You pat his head, “We’ll see you later then, Joo?” He nods, “Later. I don’t want to see you two unless there are two more with you.” You both laugh as he pushes you both out the door. 

You head home and make signs before relaxing for the rest of the day. You're playing on your phone while Changkyun plays games on the tv. You have your feet kicked up on the ottoman when Changkyun whines. You look up to see him lose in his game. And you do everything to hold back your snicker as you ask, “Oh did you lose, baby?” He nods with a pout, and you go, “It’s okay! You’ll get them next time!” He nods and goes back to his game, more determined to win. And you return to your phone looking through your different social media. You hear him cheer, and you give him a high five. After a while, you give up looking at your phone because Kyun is much more interesting to look at. His concentration, paired with his gaming, was fun to watch. You cheered him on as he played. When the chart comes up that tells the high scores, you both catch he’s in first. You jump up as he does, and you both cheer and smack your hands together.

You sit closer beside him and lay your head on his shoulder. As you both wait for the next round to start, you ask, “Want some victory delivery?” He nods, and you pull your phone back out and look over his shoulders. You scroll through your phone and ask which place he’d like and what he wants as you look through the options. After a bit, you place the order, “About twenty minutes until it gets here.” “Perfect, that means three more rounds!” He cheers, and you curl closer to him as you watch him shoot and hide. 

Three rounds pass, and he texts the chat that he’s leaving for the night. And he’ll see them when he sees them, you unfurl and get the delivery. Thanking the person with a few dollars before rushing over to the table and opening it all up. In unison, you both whine, “I’m so hungry!” Which causes you both to laugh before divining it up. You sink into your chair as you both eat your dinners. “Do you think they’ll like having dinners at our table like we do? Well, I mean... how I do?” And he nods, “I like our dinners at our table. And I’m sure they’ll like it. I’m not positive they’ll like it as much, though?” He finishes speaking with a shrug, and you whisper, “Well, as long as we like it, that’s all that matters.” He smiles and agrees, and you two go back to eating in comfortable silence. 

He throws away the containers, mirroring the first night you were here. You smile as he sits back down before it hits you, “Uh, how are we all sleeping?” He blinks and goes, “I didn’t exactly think about that?” You groan, “You know they’ll make us sleep on the floor, right? Because they’re like princes now...” He laughs, “I don’t think they’re like that-” You raise your eyebrow at him, “Well, maybe Hyungwon.” And you both laugh at that before he goes, “You could always sleep in my room?” You give him a look and whine, “And let the prince charmings have my room?” He laughs, and before you can say anything else his phone rings. 

He opens the video call and positions it so you’re both in the camera's view. Hyungwon greets you both when the phones ring and Hoseok joins in on the call. Hyungwon says, “I was just calling to say I’m on my way, but it seems like it's a reunion already.” And the three of you laugh, and Hoseok says, “Same here. What time do you land, Wonnie?” “About 9 am, you?” You pull out your phone and write that down as Hoseok answers, “9:15.” Changkyun goes, “About the same time, which means we all got an early morning.” The rest of you nod, “I’m going to nap the whole ride. We’ll see you guys soon!” “Later, gator!” “Bye-bye, butterfly!” “Till then, Penguin!” “Take care, Polar bear!” The four of you cheer your sendoffs before hanging up. “I guess that means we should head to bed now?” He nods, and you both head to the bathroom and brush your teeth together before heading to your rooms. You bid each other a good night, and with butterflies in your stomach, you do your best to rest. 

Before your alarm can even wake you up, you’re awake. You get up, knock on Kyun's door and scuff your feet until you reach the coffee pot. You put it on and grab two travel mugs, and that’s when you hear him scuffle along and drag himself into the kitchen. You whisper to him, “Next time, I hope they pick a later flight.” Not wanting to talk any louder in the morning light. He nods as you both make your cups. After you take your first sip, you look down at your pajamas and ask, “Do you think we should dress nicer?” He shakes his head, “Considering they’ll be in comfy clothes from a long flight? No.” You nod, “Cool.” You head back to your room and put on some socks and a hoodie before coming back down. He pulls on his socks and shoes by the door, and you put on your shoes. He hands you your mug as he picks up his keys. He leads you both downstairs, and you pull your hood over your head, not wanting to see the fluorescent lights so early. It's two hours before your usual time to get up and all you want to do is sleep. Even if it was to see your other two best friends that you both haven't seen in forever.

You get into his car and instantly melt into the seat. If it wasn’t for you sipping on your coffee, you’d be back to sleep. His radio kicks on at a louder volume than either of you were ready for, causing you both to gasp as he turns it down, “Sorry!” You laugh, “It’s alright.” And with that, he drives you both to pick up the cake. Once back, you put it away in the fridge and rush back down. Changkyun drives you to the airport and you finish your coffees on the way. 

He parks close to Hyungwon's gate, so you guys can drive quickly to Hoseok's gate. You check the time and say, “It’s 8:45, about fifteen before we see Wonnie.” Thankfully, you both had already placed the signs in his car. You grab the first sign as you get out and head toward the entrance where Hyungwon’s flight is landing. You see others waiting for their friends and family and see some signs too. Your energy finally comes up as you wait, and you turn to him, and he grins just as wide. And you both excitedly shake each other before catching your cool again. 

You both start seeing everyone begin to brim with happiness. And that’s when Kyun points to the flight landing, and you grab his hand in excitement and squeeze it. He squeezes yours right back before you both let go so you can hold the sign up. “Welcome back, Penguin! It’s so (n)ice to see you!!” It was short, simple, and a little funny. You both drew little snowflakes and penguins on it. And that’s when you see your best friend after two years. He’s dragging his suitcase along behind him. He has his coat draped over his arm and headphones around his neck. He looks into the crowd before you both wave at him, and he sees the sign and stops to laugh. And both of you grin, “It worked!” You whisper, and he smiles as you both meet in the middle and wrap your arms around him. “It’s so good to see you again!” You cheer, and Changkyun cries, “I’ve missed you!” And he holds you both as he says, “I’m so glad to see you both! I’ve missed you guys so much!” You grin, and you take his suitcase as Changkyun takes his coat. You both gesture for him to follow you so you can pick up Hoseok. 

Changkyun drives you three over after getting Hyungwon’s stuff in the back. It’s five minutes until Hoseok arrives when you get past the entrance. The three of you excitedly wait for your last friend, and you three catch the flight landing. And the three of you hold the sign this time. It’s like Hyungwon’s sign, but just as genuine, “Welcome back, Polar Bear! We’re beary excited to see you!” It has little polar bears and snowflake drawings on it too. You see a few people meet up with their families when Hyungwon catches a glimpse of him over the crowd. And he gestures for you guys to look around the family in front of you. That’s when you see Hoseok. He has a backpack strapped over his shoulders and a suitcase that follows him. His cap covers his eyes, almost making him unrecognizable. You three move over to be in his line of vision. And he sees the three of you, and you meet in the middle. He drops the handle and scoops each of you into a hug before pulling you three into a group hug, “Oh, how I’ve missed you three!” You laugh into his chest, “We’ve missed you too!” Hyungwon and Changkyun iterate something similar before separating from the hug. When Hoseok says, “The sign was so cute!” He sniffles before pulling you guys into another tight hug. You can’t help but sniffle too, and before you know it, you four are a pile of mush and tears. 

It takes the four of you a few minutes to recoup and wipe your eyes. Like before, you grab Hoseok’s suitcase, and Changkyun makes him take his backpack off as he takes it from him. You put his stuff next to Hyungwon’s things in the trunk. You all settle into the car and stare at each other, which causes laughter to erupt from you guys. Hoseok mutters, “It’s wild to see the whole gang back together.” And you all agree, and Changkyun goes, “I wasn't sure I’d see any of you again, and now? Here we are.” You nod, “I’m glad.” The other two agree, and Hyungwon whispers, “It only took. What? Seven years? But we’re back. How does that old saying go?” You smile and begin, “If you love someone, let them go,” Changkyun continues, “If they come back, it was meant to be,” Hoseok finishes, “If they never do, it never was.” Hyungwon nods, “That couldn’t be a truer statement to our friendship.” You all agree and sit there and bask in each other's presence. 

It takes a bit before Changkyun starts the car and drives the four of you back to the apartment. While you were excited to see each other, you were too tired to talk about everything. The four of you decided to rest and catch up after your naps. He parks, and you all get out and head back to the tailgate, and without another word, you’re all wrapped up in another hug. It felt so right to be together again like all the pieces of the puzzle were finally together. You stay like that for a couple of minutes before separating. Hoseok opens the tailgate, and you each grab something to take to the apartment. 

Hyungwon asks, “What does it look like?” And in unison, Changkyun and you say, “Home.” Which causes you four to laugh, and they follow you up. “It’s rather spacious and nice here.” Hoseok says as soon as he enters, and Hyungwon looks up and asks, “You did this for us?” You both nod, “We wanted you guys to feel welcomed.” The two grin and say, “We do.” You show them around while Changkyun hangs up the signs over the tv. He joins you three as you show off his office. “So, which room are we sleeping in?” Hyungwon asks, and you turn to Changkyun, not knowing what to say. He asks, “How do you want to?” They shrug, and Hoseok says, “Well, why don't we do it the way we had when we were younger?” He nods, “Yeah, we could do that. Which room looks nicer to you two?” They share a glance, “(Y/n)’s.” You groan, “I knew you two were going to say that!” The three laugh and Changkyun asks, “Alright, we’ll nap and get lunch together?” Hyungwon nods with a stretch, “Couldn’t ask for more.” 

You bid your room goodbye for the week. Mentally telling it how much you’ll miss your luscious blankets and pillows. When you reach Changkyun’s room, he asks, “Are you still okay sharing a bed with me? I could always sleep on the couch if you feel more comfortable. I know we haven’t slept together in quite a few years, so…” You think for a moment and think back to all the times you’d sleep over. And how you'd whisper secrets as Hyungwon and Hoseok were fast asleep on the air mattress below. Neither of you would get much sleep, but it was worth it. Those conversations were something you’d look forward to when you were younger. You nod, “Yeah, I’m fine with it. It’ll be like old times.” He grins, “Okay.” 

He rolls into bed first and lays closest to the wall. You join him and notice how much room you both have. While yes, you had a queen in your room, you didn’t share, so you never paid attention to it before. You ask, “Remember how we used to share your twin-sized mattress?” He laughs, “You’d always kick me in your sleep!” You laugh, “Yeah, but you’d also push me to the side until you had as much room as possible!” He shakes his head, “It was only fair!” You roll your eyes, “Sure, whatever you say.” You both laugh before falling into a comfortable silence. You close your eyes, grab your new pillow and snuggle into it. “See you in a bit.” He hums, and you fall back to sleep. 

You wake up before Changkyun, and a minute later, you shake him a little to wake him up. He blinks up at you, “Already?” You nod, and he groans, “I hope those two are ready to wake up.” You agree, “Me too.” Feeling refreshed after your nap, you get out of bed, head over to their door and wait for him to join you. 

You knock on your door and don’t hear anything. You groan, “Which one do you wanna wake?” “Hoseok.” “If you become his teddy bear, I will laugh.” He laughs, “You act as if Hyungwon won’t do the same.” You nod, “I know.” You slowly open the door and walk in. 

You walk to Hyungwon’s side while he walks over to Hoseok’s, “Hey, it’s time to wake up.” You whisper and shake Hyungwon’s shoulder, who groans, “Five more minutes.” You roll your eyes, “Of course.” You sigh, knowing if you don't let him, you’d get pouty Hyungwon. So, you sit back in your chair to hear Hoseok groan and make grabby hands at Changkyun. He does his best to avoid them before Hoseok reaches up and brings him in, which makes you laugh. You patiently wait the five minutes before returning to irritate Hyungwon awake. “Come on! You said five minutes!” He groans again, and you hear Changkyun rustling, trying to shimmy out of Hoseok's hold. You hold back your snickers as you shake Hyungwon some more. He grumbles, “Fine, you win.” And you cheer before noticing his eyes are closed and watch as he nestles back into his pillow.

You groan, “But you promised!” He opens one eye and says, “No, I did not. I just said five more minutes.” You gape at him as Changkyun finally wiggles out of Hoseok’s hold. You exchange a look with him, realizing what you have to do. You both grab the edge of the blanket and rip it from them before they can take hold of it. Hoseok whines and Changkyun goes, “Come on! I promise lunch will be good if you get up!” Hyungwon shakes his head and shoves his face deeper into his pillow, and Hoseok opens his eyes, “What kind?” “Ramen~” And with that, he’s up and out of bed. 

He gives you two a smirk before pushing Hyungwon off the bed. “Let’s get Ramen!” Hyungwon shakes his head and glares, “It’s always for Ramen and never for nap time.” The three of you laugh before you lend your hand to help him up. “If I have bruises by the end of the week, I am totally telling my manager who gave them to me.” Hoseok mimics him before exiting the room with his suitcase to change. You look at Hyungwon and say, “Out of my room!” Hyungwon gives you a look, “This is my room now.” You glare, “It was mine first.” “And?” “Changkyun said I could have it.” He raises a brow, “And it’s Mine and Hoseok’s until the end of the week.” You whine, and both of you turn to Changkyun, and he holds his hands up. “Uh, well, I’ll be getting dressed in my room.” You whine, “Fine. I’ll grab my clothes and leave.” He smirks and pats your head, “I win.” You mutter as you grab your clothes, “This was my room… I’ll miss you, baby.” And he laughs as he waits for you to leave. When you leave the room, Hoseok’s ready to go, so you change in the bathroom. “This feels demeaning, that damn man.”

You finish and join Hoseok on the couch, “How did you deal with him alone?” Which causes Hoseok to laugh, “We had very different schedules. I would see him like twice a week for breakfast.” You nod, “Fair enough. How often have you seen each other since you moved out of our old apartment?” “Once every three months. The first few months, we lived together until our managers started booking us in different countries.” You nod, “That sucks. We’ve lived in separation for so long.” He nods and pats your leg, “But we’re together again, and that’s what counts.” You smile, “Yeah.” “Let’s make the most of it.” “Okay.” With that, Changkyun comes in, Hyungwon follows, and you go, “You’re going to love the ramen shop. They opened up shortly after you guys moved out.” They nod, and you drive them over to the restaurant, talking about a bit of everything. 

You come in, and Millie goes, “Two more? You’re making friends like a bandit now!” You laugh, “They’re old friends, so not really.” She shrugs, “Good enough for me.” She shows you to the booth. And once you settle in, with you across from Hyungwon and next to Changkyun. Hoseok says, “I like the ambiance here.” Hyungwon hums in agreement, “I’m glad.” Millie asks them what they like in their noodles before ordering all four of your bowls from the kitchen. Changkyun says, “I can’t believe she remembered my order so fast.” You nod, “She’s the best.” He grins, and you four spend time catching up on each other’s lives. 

How Hyungwon’s next stop from here is Marseille, and Hoseok’s next stop is Berlin. Changkyun tells them about the artists he’s working with, Minhyuk and Kihyun. And the two gasps, “Oh my god, you work with them?” He nods happily, and Hoseok cheers, “We’re close with those two!” You gasp, you haven't heard those names in a while, “You’re close?!” They smile, and Hoseok says, “Oh gosh, it’s a small world." Hyungwon continues, "Next, you’re gonna tell us you've worked with Shownu.” Changkyun smirks, “Yes, we have. We go to his restaurant every week.” The two gasp, “No way…” 

You laugh, “How did you meet those guys?” Hyungwon smiles, “Hyunwoo was visiting Madrid at the same time as us. Shortly after making that OST, we had to talk to him about it.” Hoseok nods, “And Minhyuk and Kihyun perform at our shows every once and a while.” They ask if you met them before, “I only met them once and in passing.” They nod before realizing, “Didn’t you used to like-” You glare, “We do not talk about that.” Changkyun raises an eyebrow, and you try to shut them up as the bowls of ramen come back. 

You shake your head and go, “Don’t.” Hyungwon smirks, “Is it because of some old feelings coming up that you don’t want us to tell?” You gasp and think, ‘How the fuck did he figure that out,’ and he continues to smirk, “Well, you see…” He pauses to eat some of his noodles, “In college, this one here used to be a big fan of theirs.” You glare and kick him under the table, which causes him to groan. And Hoseok continues after finishing his bowl, “Yeah, they used to talk about how-” “I hate you.” “-much they looked up to them and how attractive they were.” Changkyun nods, “And you never said anything?” You quickly shove some noodles into your mouth to avoid talking about it. “I um- I kind of forgot? It hasn't really been relevant to my life? Other than listening to their music... And well, when we saw them last week... I didn’t want them to feel uncomfortable, and I uh…” Hyungwon continues for you as if he knew what you’d say, “I uh didn’t want you to know.” You glare and mutter ‘motherfucker’ under your breath as you eat your noodles. “And why’s that?” You look at him, “Because after I found out they worked underneath you. And since I had liked them prior, I thought it would make me lose my job.” He shrugs, “How would that make you lose your job?” “Isn’t it like a power thing? Like I work there?” And he shakes his head, “I was a fan of their music before they joined our label, too.” You gasp, “No way.” He nods, “Yeah. But probably not the same way you had liked them though.” You blush and finish your bowl. Hoseok already calling for another round. 

“So, who was your favorite?” Changkyun asks, “Uh, I was supposed to choose between them?” He nods, “Usually.” You shake your head, “I liked them both equally.” He gasps, “No way.” You gulp and grab your drink from the table and sip on it. Nothing is getting you out of these conversations, “That’s cute.” He says, and Hoseok giggles, “Right!?” As the two of them talk for a second, Hyungwon mouths, “Am I right?” You look over at Kyun before giving him a slight nod. He smirks and mouths, “Wicked.” You shake your head at him before Changkyun turns to you, “You want to get their signature sometime? I’m sure they would love to hear you were a fan too.” You blush, “Maybe?” He smiles, “I’ll take that as a yes.” 

The second bowl of noodles and you dive in, excited to be out of the conversation as Changkyun says, “Oh, Joo probably wants to meet you both tomorrow.” Hyungwon tilts his head and continues, “I became friends with him when I moved away. And we started Honeycat Records together. I'd always talk to him about you three, and since he’s already met (N/n), it’s your guys' turn.” They smile, “Sure!” You guys eat in peace from there until you receive another bowl. And you ask, “Can I get some more crackers?” Millie nods, “Yeah, sure!” She brings them over, and you pour them over your noodles. Hoseok says, “Like mom made!” You nod, “Your mom always makes the best ramen. How is she?” He grins, “You remember how she always wanted to own a ramen shop?” You nod, “With my first big paycheck, I got her a place to make it happen.” Changkyun asks, “Is she happy?” He grins, “Yeah, she loves it! She calls me all the time and tells me about her customers. It makes me so happy to hear her joy. Someday we have to visit. Maybe next time we hang out?” You grin, “I’d love that.” The other two agree, and you finish your bowl. 

After the fourth round, Hyungwon and you are full. Changkyun got through a fifth bowl before he tapped out. And Hoseok happily finishes a seventh bowl. Millie goes, “A man after my heart.” He smiles, “You guys make amazing ramen!” And she grins, “I’ll be sure to tell the chef!” He nods, and after sitting there and emptying your glasses. You go to leave and before you can stick your card in, Hyungwon has already tapped his card to the reader. “You devil, you’re our guest!” He shrugs, “Yeah, and I make more.” You gasp, “Changkyun pays me very well. Well, I mean, in a way, I pay myself, but I digress.” The three laugh, and he goes, “You do my taxes. You know I make more.” You exit the restaurant and grumble, “Yeah, and?” Changkyun gasps, “You do taxes too?” You nod and offer, “If you want me to do the label's I could?” He nods, “You do everything in finances, huh?” You smile, “I like numbers.” He grins before giving you puppy dog eyes, “Would you do mine?” You sigh before nodding. He cheers, and the two high-five him. And the three cheer, “We love a money-wise best friend!” You shake your head at them as you get in your car and head back home. 

Once you get out, Changkyun asks, “What do you guys say to cake and ice cream?” You speak for the trees as you say, “Oh fuck yeah!” The four of you rush up to the apartment, and you fix up the cake with candles which he lights. You turn off the lights, and the four of you gather in front of it and take photos of the cake. Together, you blow out the candles after making your wishes. Hyungwon cuts it up, Changkyun serves it, and Hoseok and you serve the ice cream. With your dessert in one hand and a drink in another, you gesture for them to follow you two to the table. You sit in your seats, Hoseok sits beside you, and you dig into your desert. You pick up your can and go, “This is the life.” And the four of you clink your cans together as Hoseok says, “To many more days like these.” And in no time, you guys finish your dessert and clean up after yourselves. 

Hoseok runs to his room and returns with a deck of cards, “What do you guys say to a few rounds of Bullshit?” You all nod in agreement. He shuffles the deck, “These cards aren’t marked, are they?” You ask with pointed eyes towards Hyungwon, “What?” The three of you glance at him, and you say, “We played so much with your deck that the eights ended up being an easy tell.” He puts his hands up, “Not my deck.” And Hoseok adds, “I bought this deck in Madrid.” You nod and see the letters ‘Madrid’ on the back of the cards. “Fair enough.” He splits it between the four of you. “Who’s first?” Changkyun quickly places his card down, “Ace,” and Hyungwon smirks, “Two,” and it goes on. Surprisingly, you have a four and eight. But you also have all four jacks, so when Hoseok goes, “Jack.” You smirk at him, “Bullshit,” before he smirks back and flips over his card, revealing a joker. Your jaw drops as you exclaim, “You didn’t tell me we were playing with jokers!” And Hyungwon gasps, “That means Changkyun has the other one.” He smirks, “Yeah.” You sigh as you pick up the deck, “Motherfucker.” The rest laugh as you angrily put the eleven cards in your hand. 

You put down the queen you now had in your deck. And find out Hyungwon and Changkyun lied too, and you glare at them. When Hyungwon lays down the Ace, Hoseok calls bullshit. He grumbles and flips over the card, revealing a ten, “It has a one in it…” You laugh a little, but not hard cause he only had to collect three cards to your eleven. It goes well after that, the four of you staring at each other to see if you had the same tells. Changkyun had changed a bit with a smirk every time he bullshitted. It isn't until he’s down to his last card that the three of you gang up on him as he smirks. The three of you chime, “Bullshit.” It isn’t until he has the final laugh as he flips his card over. Revealing the joker, making you all gasp, “You didn’t use it until the end?” He nods, sticking his tongue out as puts an “L” over his forehead, “Losersss!” You all groan as you split the deck into threes and battle it out.

Hyungwon calls your bullshit out, and before you can take the pile, Changkyun joins in again and takes your loss. “Thanks, Kyunnie~” He smiles, “No problem, (N/n)~” The other two roll their eyes, “You lying, little brats.” He whines as he realizes every turn you’ve been lying your ass off, not having any of the cards for the pile. You were hoping for the deck he picked up to save your consciousness a bit. But then again, it also helped you not collect more cards. 

You move through the game, and when you put down your last card. Changkyun quickly lays down a card so no one can call you out on your bullshit. Even though he knows you're lying through your teeth as you say, “Queen.” “King!” Hoseok gasps at him and throws his cards down, “You two are in it together, aren’t you!?” You smirk, “In it to win it, loser~ Second is the best.” Hyungwon groans, “Yeah, first is the worst.” You give Changkyun a smirky smile, and without a second thought, you blow him a kiss. He smiles and catches it, and puts it on his cheek. Hyungwon grumbles, “Sickening, really.” The three of them battle it out, and you ask if they want another round of beer, to which they all agree. 

You get them each a new can. And when it’s time for Changkyun to pick up his lies. He makes ‘pleading eyes’ at you, and you snatch up the cards. Hyungwon gasps, “You two are the biggest cheats.” You smirk, “You’re mad 'cause you didn’t think of it first, aren’t you, Wonnie?” He glares, “Yes.” With Hoseok’s help, he wins the next round, pulling the same move that Changkyun pulled for you. “Thanks, Hoho~” He pouts, “No kiss for me?” Hyungwon rolls his eyes and blows him a kiss, “Better?” “Way.” 

You played a few more rounds. Changing the order and going counterclockwise meant saving Changkyun’s ass. You'd call him out on his bullshit when the risks and rewards were low. But that didn't spare you from the other two. They both became ruthless. Hoseok comes in first, fair and square, and Changkyun, with your help, comes in second. The two of them let you battle it out, calling bullshit every other move until you both call for a truce. Hyungwon lets out a yawn which causes the three of you to yawn too. “Well, I don’t know about you kids, but it’s time for my beauty rest.” You sigh as the other two get up, “Yeah, like you need it." He shrugs, "I may not need it, but I like to have it." You yawn again, "I have no comeback for that." He laughs as he stretches, "You're just jealous cause you don't get to sleep on your mattress." You squint, "My bed loves me most. You keep talking. I'm putting peas under it, princess." He laughs, "You're not supposed to tell your evil plans before you execute them." You mimic him and follow him down the hall. 

You grab your clothes from your room before leaving him to it. As Hoseok exits, he gives you a cheeky smile, "You might not wanna go in there~" You groan, "Did you use the spray?" He nods, "Yeah, but give it some time to air out." You sigh, "I remember why I don't miss living with you two." He pouts, "But I thought you loved us." You squint, and he laughs, "I'm just kidding." Before running off, with a shake of your head into the bathroom to find he really was joking. You sigh and change into comfy clothes, and brush your teeth. As you do, you realize you'll be sleeping next to Kyun again. 

While earlier it was just a little nap, who knows what your sleepy self would do? Will you wake up tangled in Kyun's arms? No, he’s your friend, that wouldn't be possible. You shake your head at that thought. And with a sigh, you enter his room to find him already on his side of the bed. You climb in next to him, and he throws the blanket over the two of you. 

When you’ve settled into your pillow, he says, “I’ve missed hanging out with them.” You agree, “Me too. What was the best part of today?” He thinks for a minute, “Um well,... Probably picking them up.” You raise a brow, “Why?” He smiles, “For lots of reasons, but as that one song says, ‘Reunited and it feels so good.’” You giggle, “Yeah, it did feel like that.” He asks, “What about you?” You smile, “Eating ramen with them.” He nods, “Speaking of, do you still like Min and Ki?” You shake your head, “No, it was college me's fantasy, but I still like their music and whatnot.” He nods, “Oh, cool. Their music is pretty good if I do say so myself.” You say, “Why do you ask?” You see his cheeks turn a bit red, “No reason… I was just... wondering.” You nod, “Don’t worry, that crush came and went.” He smiles, “Cool.” You reach and turn off the bedside lamp, “Goodnight, Kyun.” “Goodnight, (N/n).” 

The sunlight filters in through the curtains in his room and wakes you up. It was just as you thought. It wasn't possible. You woke up on your side of the bed and him on his. You get up first and make coffee for the three of them, deciding that'd be an easier way to wake them. With the smell of coffee permeating everyone’s room, Changkyun wakes up first. He groggily goes, “Good morning.” And you greet him back as you pour coffee into four mugs. Hoseok comes in as you put your coffee together. Hyungwon follows shortly after tiredly wiping his eyes. The three finish their coffees their way and join you at the kitchen table. It’s too early to talk other than a simple greeting. Once you all have finished your coffee, Changkyun says, “Do you guys want to get a real breakfast?” You all nod eagerly, “Cool.” You get up from your spots and put your mugs in the sink. You grab your clothes from your room, not without muttering a few complaints. Which Hyungwon laughs at after Hoseok changes in the bathroom, you change too. 

Once you’re all in the car, Hoseok asks Hyungwon, “Remember when we used to drive them everywhere? How the times have changed.” You smirk, “Yeah, now we get to take care of our elders~” Hoseok gasps, “You wound me!” The four of you laugh and talk about various things as Changkyun continues to drive. Curiosity gets the best of you as you ask, “Where are you taking us?” He smiles, “Joo’s dad owns this pancake house. It's kind of far from where we live, but I think the three of you will like it.” You all agree that it sounds good, and before long, he turns and pulls in. “Alright, we’re here!” He cheers, and you all get out, and he gets a pager. “He doesn’t work here anymore. But he does own it.” He tells you three, and you all nod. And wait for your number to ring. 

When it does, the host leads you to a table and hands everyone a menu. You groan, “It all looks so good.” Hoseok goes, “Oh, I know what I want!” And he excitedly tells you three. Changkyun tells you what he’s getting, followed by Hyungwon. You take a few minutes to decide, and before the waiter comes over, you figure it out and tell the other three. They write down your orders, and they bring out your drinks first. Hyungwon asks, “So are we going to meet Jooheon today?” And you both nod, “What’s he like?” And Changkyun explains him best, and you add in your two cents. Hoseok cheers, “He seems lovely. No wonder you're friends with him!” You smile. And the waiter brings your food out, and you dig in. Hyungwon says between bites, “Yeah, I see why you recommended this. Not because Jooheon’s dad owns it. But because the food comes out quick, and it’s also delicious.” He nods, “It’s all his own recipes.” Hoseok says, “His dad and my mom have to become friends. Imagine the creations those two could make!” You grin and tell him, “That would be heavenly.” You finish your plates and order some muffins. Hyungwon gasps, “These are mammoth-sized!” You quickly butter it and try it, “Oh, and they taste as good as they look. My god.” You guys eat happily, and you slide your card over to Changkyun. And he quickly splits it between you two before either of them can pay. 

With a stomach full of a hearty breakfast, you head over to the studio. “You’re going to love it!” You cheer. Kyun tells them about restoring the building to what it was like now. Hyungwon goes, “Damn, that's amazing, Kyun.” He smiles, “Thanks.” They nod, and Hoseok says, “I’m sure we will. After all, if Kyun made it what it is today. It's sure to blow our minds.” You nod, and Changkyun thanks them again. He parks on the side of the street, and you all get out. 

You head in, and together you show them everything. When you reach the common area, you get excited, “Okay, Kyun’s room is nice, but I’d like to believe mine is cuter!” Kyun laughs as you excitedly show them the key and placard he made for you. “Oh! And look! I took a picture from home and put it here!” They all gather behind you, and Changkyun says, “I didn’t know you had this back here.” You smile, “Yeah.” Hoseok laughs, “That’s the treehouse! Oh, how I miss that place!” Hyungwon grins, “Was this the day where we staking out the best candy houses and ended up falling asleep up there?” You nod, “Yeah, and Kyun’s dad came out later that night and carried us all in.” Changkyun smiles, “Yeah, and by the time the four of us were back in. We were wide awake. And so we all made cookies together. With my parent's help, of course.” You laugh, “It was so much fun! I had just gotten my camera and was documenting everything.” Hoseok laughs, “You couldn’t stop taking photos. I’m sure our parents were grateful they had you.” You laugh, “I think we were what? Nine in this?” They nod, and you grin, “That’s why my studio is cooler. I have a cute photo of us in mine.” Changkyun rolls his eyes, “I have one taped to my computer.” Hyungwon shakes his head, “But this one is nicely framed.” You smirk, “Exactly!” 

You lock up your office, and he knocks on Jooheon’s door. “Joo, you in here?” You hear a rustle behind the door, and out comes Jooheon. You all scoot back, and he looks over you two, “Are these the last of the famous quartet?” You both nod and move over to the common area. You go to introduce them when Jooheon gasps, “Wait, your Hyungwon and Hoseok-! Are thee Hoseok and Hyungwon!?” You both laugh, “The ones and only.” He gasps, “When Minhyuk and Kihyun started out here, I booked them for your events a few times!” They grin, and Hoseok goes, “Yeah! You have! We’re actually friends with them!” That makes Kyun look at you, and you shake your head, and Jooheon goes, “I’m Jooheon. Sometimes they call me Honey or Joo. But feel free to call me whatever. It’s nice to meet such dear friends and lovely models.” Hyungwon says, “It’s nice to meet you too! We’ve heard lots about you.” You grin, and Joo goes, “All good things?” They nod, and he sighs in relief. Changkyun rolls his eyes, “Why would I ever say anything bad about you?” He pouts, “I don’t know, I worry.” You shake your head, “You’re too sweet.”

The five of you go over and sit down. Jooheon is next to Changkyun, who's next to you. A table away, on the opposite couch, are Hoseok and Hyungwon, “Do you guys do anything other than modeling?” Hoseok grins, “When I have the time, I draw.” And Hyungwon goes, “I like to take photos, rarely, but sometimes if the scenery is right, I do. And also for my social media.” He nods, and the two of you watch as they converse, and you grin. It’s so wonderful seeing your best friends like your other friends. You both join the conversation as they talk about their childhoods. Jooheon talks about his first phone and goes, “Do you think kids these days even know about slider phones?” You laugh, “Probably, only if it’s a hand-me-down. Hell, I didn’t even have one. I only had a flip phone. The cool kids had the sliders.” Hyungwon smirks, “I was a cool kid.” You shake your head at him. 

And that’s when Jooheon mentions, “Oh, Min and Ki are coming in today.” That causes the two across to eye you. And while the other two can’t see it, you flip them off, which makes them cackle. Changkyun furrows his brows at him, “I thought they weren’t supposed to be in for another two weeks?” Jooheon goes, “There’s a drama that requested their vocals, and so we should be seeing them any time soon. But don’t worry. They already know you’re not in for work.” Changkyun looks at you before he says anything, “That’s not a first but man... I wish the producers would alert us in advance.” Jooheon laughs and shrugs, “You know how they are.” And he nods. 

Speak of the devil, and the devil will appear. You hear their footsteps coming up the stairs. And you want to disappear. You hear one of them call, “Joo, you in here?” Jooheon goes, “Yeah, I'm in the common area! Come on in!” They agree, and you look at the two across from you in horror. They smirk at you, and all you want to do is curl up and hide. And turn invisible until you feel Changkyun’s thumb rubbing circles into the palm of your hand. You don’t know when he grabbed your hand, but it eased your nerves. 

Jooheon gets up and gives them both a hug which they return. That’s when they see the rest of you. And Minhyuk says, “Joo mentioned something about you meeting your friends this week. But you didn’t tell us you were friends with these two!?” Minhyuk instantly hugs Hoseok, and you think, 'Okay, I can slip out of here while they're distracted... I can make a break for it.' Watching as the four exchange greetings, Jooheon says, “It’s a small world, isn’t it?” You laugh, “Wait till you find out they know Hyunwoo.” He gasps, “No way.” You nod. That’s when all the attention is on you, and you realize you fucked up. You catch Hyungwon’s dastardly smirk before you catch what he says, “I think you would love to meet our best friend, (Y/n). They used to be a big fan of yours.” 

The two gasp and Minhyuk goes, “Really? We met you before. Why didn't you say anything?” You gulp and watch as they circle the couch in front of you. They sit down beside your two best friends. You feel Changkyun’s hand squeeze yours, and you squeeze it back for reassurance. And you say, “I didn’t want you two to feel uncomfortable.” Kihyun shrugs, “Kyun was a fan of ours. It didn’t bother us none.” You shake your head, “I uh but-.” Hoseok goes, “They used to like you~” If you could kill those two, you would… Which causes the two to smirk, “Really?” And Kihyun smirks, “Which one of us did you like more?” Trying to start a little competition, you look at your shoes wishing the ground would swallow you up whole now. “I liked both of you equally. I’d carry around your unit pcs.” Minhyuk gasps, “I didn’t expect that.” You nod, “Yeah. I was a big fan, and both of you were super cool. You guys are like the only idol group I ever followed.” 

Hyungwon goes, “Remember how we said we watched you perform when we were in college?” The two nod, “It was because of them.” Minhyuk looks at you, and you smile, “Your music was inspiring, and I was very thankful for it. So, I tried to see every show I could back then.” They thank you, and Kihyun asks, “Do you still like our music?” You nod, “I think it’s even greater now. And knowing you have these two in your corner. It made you guys gain incredible fame.” They grin, and Kihyun says, “Well, our new album won’t be coming out for a while… But would you like our last release signed?” Jooheon gets up as you gasp and clench Changkyun’s hand. “Um yeah… If that’s okay?” And after a moment, Jooheon returns with a white album and hands it to them. “Always prepared.” The three of you thank him. 

“You never signed anything for us.” Hoseok whines and Minhyuk gives him a look, “You said you didn’t want one.” Hoseok shrugs, “You have me there.” As Kihyun grabs a sharpie from the jar on the table, you go, “Don’t let them fool you. They were both excited when they saw you two perform at their runaway. And they even filmed it for me.” You smile over at your friends, and they grin back. Minhyuk smiles, “I’m glad you guys enjoyed our performance. Even if you won’t admit it.” Hyungwon shrugs as Kihyun finishes writing his message after signing the cover. He hands it over to Minhyuk. 

Kihyun asks, “Do you have a favorite song we’ve performed?” You nod, “I really liked your recent solo Youth and Minhyuk’s Ongshimi.” And Minhyuk looks up, “You know Honey made that song for me?” Jooheon grins, “It’s one of my favorites too.” You look over at Jooheon and high-five him for good taste. “I remember reading that Joohoney was the producer. It wasn’t until I was doing the payroll that I realized Jooheon and him were the same person.” That causes the six of them to laugh, and you smile, and Minhyuk finishes signing it. He lets it sit for a moment so it doesn’t smear before they both hand it over to you. 

And without a second thought, you immediately hold it close, “I’m going to cherish this forever.” Kihyun nods, “I had a feeling.” Minhyuk smiles, “Well, there’s more where that came from.” Kihyun smiles, “And considering you are friends with all these guys, I bet we’ll be friends too.” You blush and feel your Changkyun squeeze your hand. “I’m honored just to be your guy’s acquaintance.” You smile and look down at Kyun’s and your hands. 

That’s when Jooheon goes, “I’d hate to interrupt, but if we don’t get into the studio now. Minhyuk will miss his cologne photoshoot.” Minhyuk groans, “I forgot about that.” And the other six of you whine to Jooheon, “I’m sorry, I really want to talk to you all too. But we have work today, and you guys don’t.” You all pout at him, and he musters the cutest pout right back. You all gasp at him, and Hoseok says, “You didn’t tell me he was a master at being cute.” You shake your head, “I didn’t know!” Changkyun apologizes, “I forgot.” Which causes Jooheon to pout more and speak in the cutest voice, “How could you forget how cute I am?” Which causes Kyun to pinch his bridge with his free hand. You all laugh, and the three get up, and Kihyun says, “It’s nice to meet a loyal fan.” You hold out your free hand, and they both shake it. If you were unhygienic, you’d never wash your hand again. You thank them for everything. And your best friends tell them it was good to see them again before they’re off to the studio. 

The three of them shoot a look at you as you hold your album tightly. And Changkyun speaks up, “So are you going to read the messages they wrote, or?” You nod. And feel him let go of your hand, and you immediately miss the contact. “I know we talked about it before, but honestly... I never expected to meet them more than in passing. I was planning to lock my studio or make a run for the door whenever they came in for recordings and whatnot.” The three laugh and shake their heads at you. 

You sigh, “This is surreal.” You trace around their signatures before flipping through to find Kihyun’s first. “To (Y/n), one of our first fans! Thank you for your continued support. We appreciate it! We hope we can continue to inspire you. And please support our next album too! I hope our friendship blossoms like our friendship with your best friends. Anyway, until then, please take care, and know you’re doing well, even now.” You resist the tears that spring up. And the three coo at the message, and Hoseok goes, “Oh, that was so cute.” You nod, and Hyungwon goes, “I hope they become your friends too.” You gulp, “I could have never imagined this was a possibility when we were in college.” They sympathize with you, and you continue looking through the album. Admiring each photo as you decide to display this next to your photo frames.

You finally make it to the page Minhyuk signed and see his message, “To (Y/n); thank you for supporting us all these years. It’s nice to have loyal fans. We appreciate it. I’m sure Kihyun has already said it, but maybe someday we can be friends too. Anyway, we’ll do our best to continue to inspire you! So, I hope you enjoy our next album too! Until then, fighting!” You wish to cry as you read it aloud, and they coo at this message too. You flip through the rest of the pages before finding the photocards in the back. You grin at all three, two solo and one unit. And you can’t help but hold the unit card to your chest. “This is so cute.” You say before showing them all three. Changkyun tells you they’re cute. And you take time to look at the CD’s art too. 

You close the album after keeping the unit card out. It’s unreal to believe you just met your idols. You pull out your wallet, and the three of them look at you questionably. And you pull out your driver's license and pull out a picture of the three of them lying on top of each other. And bring out an old Minhyuk and Kihyun pc. Hoseok asks, “I thought you said you didn’t like them like that anymore?” You sigh, “Um, I don’t, but... I used to look at their photocard and think, if they could make it and be okay. Then so could I.” And Changkyun smiles, “Oh, that’s so cute.” You blush, “I guess.” And you put the newest pc in front of the old one before putting the rest back in order into your wallet.

You hold the album close to you, and Hyungwon asks, “Are you okay?” And you shake your head, “I can’t believe you guys told them all that.” And Kyun goes, “I didn’t.” You roll your eyes, “Yeah, but those two devils told my secrets. I was going to take those to my grave.” Hyungwon smirks, “Yeah, but it helped you get a personally signed album~” You glare, “I thought about murdering you both.” Hoseok shrugs, “Fair enough.” You shake your head at them, “But seriously, thank you. It's all thanks to you three. I lived college me's dream." You sigh, "I can’t believe I met and talked to them.” They grin, and Changkyun nudges you, “And they want to be your friend too! That means someday we can all go to lunch together.” You put your head on the table, “Too soon. That’s too wild for me to process.” The three of them pat your head, and when you get up, Hyungwon asks, “Anyone else hungry for dinner?” 

You nod, “That sounds lovely right about now.” You hold the album tightly to your chest, and the three of you walk down the stairs when a door to a studio opens. And you hear three, Bye-byes, and you all cheer your goodbyes. And your heart nearly beats out of your chest. The four of you make it into the car as you strap yourself in. Changkyun asks, “Where to?” And Hoho goes, “Do they still have that steakhouse on 57th Street?” You shrug, “I don’t know. I haven’t been there since you two moved out.” Won says, “We can always try.” Kyun nods, “If not, there is always the franchise one.” You all agree and head over to 57th Street, which to your surprise, is still open. “I wonder if it’s just as good now.” Changkyun says, “I would have no idea.” You all look at him, “You’ve never been?” He shakes his head no, “Well, you’ll enjoy it.” He smiles, “Okay.” You carefully hide your album under the seat before joining the other three waiting to be seated. 

After about twenty minutes, you're seated at a table. You take time to look over the menus, and Changkyun asks questions about each. And Hyungwon tells him the best options and Hoseok mouths, “I saw your hands earlier.” You look at him in shock, “Is Hyungwon correct?” You tilt your head, “that you still like him?” You spare a glance, “How do you figure that?” Instead of continuing your silent conversation, he laughs. Which causes the other two to look over, and you blush a deep red but cover it up with a shrug. They go back to conversing about the cuts of steaks. And he mouths, “You made sure he knew you only loved Min and Ki in the past~.” You shake your head and mouth back, “It’s the truth.” He smirks, “Ah, but not denying you reassured him.” He continues as you glare, “The way you two played last night. I think he feels the same.” You roll your eyes, “That’s just how friends play.” He looks at Hyungwon, “Really? Because did you see me saving his ass?” You roll your eyes, “Whatever.” He shrugs, and you do too, and that’s when Changkyun tells you he’s going to get the New York strip steak. 

After the waiter takes your drink order, you guys fall back into a regular conversation. You say, “It hasn’t changed much since we first started coming here.” And the two across from you agree, and Hoseok goes, “I just hope they didn’t change their seasoning recipe.” You nod, “Oh, Kyun, wait till you try their seasoning. It’s delicious!” He grins, “I can’t wait.” Your drinks arrive, and you order your food. Once the waiter leaves, Hyungwon cheers, “To a great meal!” And you all clink your glasses before taking a sip. You ask, “So what did you think of Joo?” Hoseok grins, “He seems friendly. He’s cute and also a great conversationalist.” And Hyungwon continues, “He is also very professional. But he knows how to separate those things. I admire that.” Changkyun smiles, “What did you think of our building?” Hoseok smiles, “It’s so nice. You guys really take care of it.” And Hyungwon says, “It seems very comfortable too. Especially the common area. I like that it looks over the city.” You both grin, and Won tells you, “My favorite office was yours.” You smile, and Hoho tells Kyun that he likes his studio best. “Always evenly split.” 

And that’s as far you guys into your conversation before your food comes out. You wait for the steak sauce, and you guys eat your meal peacefully, and Hoseok says, “It’s just as delicious as I remember.” The two of you agree, and Changkyun goes, “This is really good.” You three nod, and you continue eating, and the waiter comes back to check on you. And without anyone noticing, Hoseok passed along his card to pay for the meal. When the waiter comes back after five minutes with it, that’s when you all notice. You gasp, “You little-” He smirks, “I’m quick.” Which makes the rest of you grumble. And to settle it, Hyungwon goes, “How about next time we split it between us?” You all agree and finish up your food. 

You make it to the car, pull your album back out, and lay it on your lap before asking, “You know what sounds good right now?” And Changkyun goes, “Cake and ice cream?” You nod, “You read my mind.” And the other two agree as he drives you all back after cake and ice cream on full stomachs. The four of you retire to bed early. Of course, after putting your album on display in your room. You join him in bed, and he asks, “Was it fun?” You stretch as you ask him, “What?” He smiles, “Meeting your idols?” You shrug, “Kind of, but more terrifying than fun. I’m glad you held my hand back there.” He nods, “That makes sense. I could tell you were about to jump out of your skin, so I wanted to comfort you.” You laugh as you shake your head, “Thank you.” You nestle into your pillow and ask, “Have you ever met any idols that left you stunned like that?” He shrugs, “I don’t think any idol has ever left me stunned.” You let out an “Oh.” He smiles, “But there have been people that have stunned me.” You ask, “Really? Like whom?” He smiles, “Joo, he stuns me with his cute acts. Won stuns me with his effortlessness. Hoho with his genuineness. And you stun me a lot too.” You nod with a yawn, and he tells you, “Go to bed. We can talk about this some other day.” You give him a tired smile and turn off the light. And once your head hits the pillow, you’re out like the light. He stays up for a few making sure you're asleep before he says, “You’ve stunned me in ways I couldn’t describe until I was older. And now, you still do, in every way possible.” 

You’re shaken awake by Changkyun when you open your eyes. He says, “Hey, sleepyhead.” You smile, “Hi, Kyun.” He smiles, “Sorry I didn’t wake you up until after the three of us had coffee, but you seemed too peaceful to wake up.” You shrug, “It’s okay, thank you, I needed the extra rest. Plus, you guys need your separate time to catch up too.” He nods, “Hoseok wants to have a movie marathon. Are you up for it?” You give him a smile and nod, and he hands you a mug of coffee. “I made this a moment ago and figured you’d want some before you got up. You can join us when you’re ready.” You smile and thank him. And with that, he leaves you alone in his room. You take it all in, from the smell of his comforter to the photos on the wall. His closet is a mess, but you smile as you sip your coffee and wonder what it'd be like to sleep with him in here all the time. You think about waking up to him kissing your forehead and waking up curled in his arms. And before you know it, you’ve finished your cup of coffee. 

You get up and shower before joining them in a new pair of PJs, “You missed the first Spiderverse movie.” You shrug, “That’s alright. I've seen it before.” And they all pout, “Without us?” You roll your eyes, “Uh, was I not supposed to watch my favorite superhero when he comes out with a new movie?” Hoseok nods, “Valid points, but without us?” You shake your head at them before settling between Hoseok and Hyungwon. Changkyun hands you a bowl of popcorn, and Hyungwon picks the second movie. “The Notebook?” He nods, “It’s my favorite.” You three groan, “We know.” He grins, “You guys like it too.” The three of you nod, “Yeah.” And you all get comfortable watching the movie. It’s so beautiful and perfect until it isn’t, and you’re all crying and handing each other tissues. Changkyun whines, “Hyungwon, how do you convince us to watch this every time?!” When the ending credits finally come on, you’re all sniffling and wiping your eyes. 

Hoseok, the worst of you all, you all hold him and wait until he’s recovered. Before you ask, “Are we all good?” You hear hums of agreement, and Changkyun grabs the remote and picks Ice Age. “Something nice for all of us to reminisce on.” The three of you laugh and agree that's exactly what you need after that movie. You stretch out and put the empty bowl of popcorn on the coffee table. The three of you kick back, relax, and speak the lines as you remember them. You go first with, “A dandelion? Must be the last of the season!” And Hoseok goes, “Carl,” And Hyungwon chimes in, “Frank, calm down.” And Hoseok says, “He’s ruined our salad.” And you do your best to reiterate the pinecone speech, which causes them to burst out laughing. 

Changkyun narrating all of Diego’s lines had to be the highlight of the movie. “Do we have to get a newsflash every time your body does something?” "Sid!?" When it ends, the two of you decide to tease him, and you say, “The big bad tigey-wigey knows all the lines?” Hyungwon goes, “Oh, poor tigey-wigey.” And he rolls his eyes, “You guys are just jealous that I know more lines!” You shake your head, “Am not.” Hoseok shakes his head and says, “I’m going to pee. You three sort yourselves out.” You laugh, and Changkyun goes, “This tigey-wigey bites- and remember, Jumbo won’t always be there to protect you.” You squint, “Is that a threat, Diego?” He smirks, and before you can even register it. He’s pulled you towards him, acting like he’s going to bite your neck, “A promise.” And you whine out to Hyungwon, “A tiger, help! Help! He’s got me.” And Hyungwon bursts out into laughter, which causes you both to laugh. “Hoseok, you missed it!” That’s when you hear him from the hall, “No, I didn’t! I got it all on film.” You both gasp as he smirks, “I really had to pee, but I knew I couldn’t miss this.” You all laugh, and Hyungwon goes, “Send me!” “Already done!” 

You hear a ping, and he smirks, not checking his notifications, “You guys will see it someday~.” You both groan as Changkyun releases you. You sit up but don’t move from your spot next to him. After Hoseok returns from the restroom Hyungwon refills his popcorn bowl. You choose Men In Black, which leaves you all giggling and watching in suspense as if seeing it for the first time. Changkyun goes, “Oh, you know what would be good after this?” And the three of you say in unison, “Rush Hour.” He nods, “Exactly.” 

And seamlessly, you transition to that movie. You lay your head on Changkyun’s shoulder and are surprised to find how comfortable they are. And you sigh, without a second thought, you snuggle in. You hear him whisper, “Comfortable?” And you nod and watch as Carter meets up for a deal on some C4. The movie ends before you know it, and that’s when you all notice how dark it is in the living room. Hyungwon and Changkyun both turn on the lamps beside them. And you get out of your comfortable position, and Hoseok says, “What do guys say to pizza and wings?” You all agree and pool your cash to pay together for once. 

Hyungwon chooses the next movie before joining in and filling up his plate as he grabs his last slice of pizza. He asks, “Do you remember when we stayed up all night playing video games on Changkyun’s new console?” Changkyun laughs, “We ordered so much pizza that night.” You groan, “I never thought I could get tired of pizza until then.” Hoseok whines, “I couldn’t eat pepperoni pizza for months.” You all laugh, and Hyungwon says as he had back then, “Let’s never do that again.” And you all agreed as if it were sophomores in high school again. 

You guys arrange so both you and Hoseok get an armrest with Changkyun and Hyungwon between you both. Hyungwon asks, “Toy Story?” And Hoseok nods as he starts the movie. You ask, “It’s a good movie. But it has its sad parts. Do you guys want to cry or something today?” You see Hyungwon shrug over Changkyun’s shoulders, “Not really, I just like these movies.” Hoseok nods, “They’re classics.” “Exactly.” 

At the mention of pizza planet, you all hold up your pizzas, which makes the four of you cackle. Hyungwon repeats the little alien toys' lines, “A stranger! From the outside!” You all ‘ooohhh’ and Hoseok does his best impression of Buzz until you all start chanting, “The Claw!” As the claw reaches down and grabs the aliens. 

Hoseok picks out the next movie after you all clean up. You see the preview of Wallace and Gromit: The Curse of the Were-Rabbit. You grin, “Now, this is right up my alley.” Hoseok smirks, huffs on his hand, and rubs his hand on his chest as if he was polishing off his idea. You shake your head at him before settling into the seats you had before, with you next to Changkyun. You’re halfway through the movie when Hyungwon stretches over the three of you. “Oh yeah, this is way more comfortable.” The three of you shake your head at him, “Really?” He shrugs, “You guys are just as comfortable as I remember.” You roll your eyes, “You’re only saying that, so we’ll let you lay on us.” He shrugs again, “Maybe.” You let out a collective sigh before going along with it. 

It takes a while before you decide to get comfy too. And lay your head against Kyun’s shoulders. And you agree with Won’s earlier sentiment that this is way more comfortable. You catch Hoseok scooting the ottoman closer to kick his feet onto it before settling back. After a while, you feel Changkyun’s head on yours. You smile and reiterate his earlier question, “Comfortable?” And he hums in agreement. Hoho hands him the remote as the movie comes to an end. He chooses “Black Panther” before handing the remote over to you, which you lay beside your lap. 

You hear Hyungwon yawn, and you all look over at him. And he shrugs before turning back to watch the movie as he says, “I’ve always loved this movie.” You all agree, and it’s not long before you notice Hyungwon sleeping peacefully on top of the three of you. He seems too content, and you watch as signs of sleep start to hit Hoseok, but he fights it until the end of Black Panther. You decide on Tinker Bell, click it on, and watch the beginning with earnest. 

After the beginning, Changkyun gestures for you to look over. And you watch as Hoseok’s head falls forward before he regains consciousness. Just for sleep to win him over, and he falls asleep. You both snicker, “Those two could never make it the whole night.” He laughs, “What do you say we put those two to bed after this?” You nod, “Sounds like a plan.” You both watch as Tinker Bell falls in love with her gift. You whisper, “Oh, it’s my favorite part.” He smiles, “Tink going to the mainland?” You nod, and you both watch and hum along to the song that plays as the fairies travel to the mainland. And you grin as Tinker Bell delivers the tiny dancer to Wendy. 

Once the ending credits come up, you lift Hyungwon’s legs so you can get up. “Do you think we’ll have to lug him?” With a sigh, you both nod. He carefully grabs him off of Hoseok, and you carry his legs. Thankfully, their room (your room) was the closest to the living room. You both let out a sigh of relief when you get to drop him on the bed. Hyungwon mumbles, “Your delivery service was a four out of ten.” You glare before turning to Changkyun, “Next time, I’m dropping him.” The two of you laugh as Hyungwon flips you off and snuggles into his pillows. You both come back to see Hoseok starting to blink awake. You both help him up and lead the tired man to his bed, “You okay, buddy?” He nods and thanks you both before curling under the blanket. 

You both come in and plop down next to each other on the couch, “What sounds good?” He shrugs, grabs the remote, scrolls through, and points out, “Howl’s Moving Castle?” You nod, and he clicks it on. And you turn off the lamp closest to you, and he does the same. You grab your blanket, and he pulls his quilt over him. When you look over at Kyun, you let out a yawn which causes him to yawn. And you both snuggle into your blankets, slowly snuggling into your sides of the couch. You make it halfway through another movie before you start drifting off. You wake up and catch a few glimpses of A Knight’s Tale every time. You try to stay awake each time your eyes open because it’s one of your favorites. But the sandman succeeds again as you fall into a deep rest.

Surprisingly, you wake up with your head on a pillow and find yourself in Kyun’s room. You blink over and catch the time on the clock, three am. You turn over and notice Kyun’s eyes are open. “Hi,” He smiles, “Hi.” You ask, “Did you carry me in here?” He nods and whispers, “I couldn’t believe you fell asleep through A Knight’s Tale.” You softly groan, “I know. I missed the part where he’s taught to dance and then dances at the ball.” He laughs, “We can always watch it again.” You pout, “Not the same.” He raises his eyebrow, “How? You’d still be watching it with me.” You whisper, “I wanted to watch it with you tonight.” He does his best to hold in his laugh as he runs his hands through your hair, “It’s okay. There’s always next time.” You nod, a little defeated, “Okay.” He rolls his eyes, “It’s okay, big baby.” And you still pout a bit, and he barely whispers, “Your lips look kissable.” You think you mishear him. You have to have misheard him. After all, it's three am. He couldn't have said what you thought he did. As you blink at him, he gulps, “Can you believe how dismissible Won was of us?” That makes more sense to your tired mind, “Yeah, he’s a meanie.” He laughs, “At least Hoho accepted our help.” You nod, “Yeah, he’s a sweetie.” You settle more into your pillow and try to stay awake again as you look over Kyun’s features. You fail again, and Changkyun lets out a sigh of relief and mentally pats himself on the back, “Good save. Good save.” 

It’s eight in the morning when you wake up again. You’re facing away from Changkyun. You sit up, look over and see how peaceful he looks sleeping. Your heart flutters for a few moments before you get up and watch as Changkyun reaches out as if he was looking for you. You let out an “Ooh,” before placing your pillow in his searching arms. He instantly nuzzles into the pillow and goes back to sleep. Your heart can’t take the cuteness. You shake your head and walk to the kitchen to see Hoseok drinking a glass of orange juice. You whisper, “You’re up early.” He startles a bit, which makes you snicker, and he rolls his eyes, “I should have known it was you and not a ghost.” You laugh even harder as you pour a glass of orange juice for yourself.

You sit beside him and ask, “Do you like this table?” He nods, “It’s nice.” You grin after you drink some of your juice, “Cool.” He asks, “Do you and Kyunnie always sit in the same spots?” You nod, “It’s kind of our tradition. This table became a constant before I knew it.” He smiles, “That’s sweet.” You’re surprised when you hear someone start to slink in. Both of you turn to see Hyungwon, “You guys have chocolate syrup?” You nod, “Pantry, 2nd shelf.” He grabs a glass, the bottle of syrup, and the milk. “What are you two talking about?” You tap your finger on the table and say, “This table.” He smiles and looks back, “Well, it is a very nice table, mahogany, right?” You nod as he turns to stir his drink together. He joins you in his seat, “Kyunnie was saying how you hoped we’d like the table.” You laugh, “Yeah, it’s my favorite place.” He nods, “Make sense.” 

The three of you relax in the peaceful morning. It felt right being with the two again. You break the silence, “It’s weird to be with you two at a breakfast table in the morning and not doing homework.” The two laugh and Won goes, “I was thinking the same thing.” Hoho says, “I was thinking about how no one is rushing around as they eat breakfast.” The three of you laugh, and you go, “But it feels right.” They nod, and Hoho smiles, “It’s nice to be with you guys and not working on a silly project.” You both smile, and Hoseok reaches his hands out to the both of you, and you both hold them. Hyungwon tells you both with a smile, “I’m glad we’re together again. And I’m glad we have Kyun now too.” You smile, “All the wrongs are now right.” He grins, and you hear Changkyun come into the kitchen. It now feels complete, as if you discovered the missing puzzle piece. And put it in the empty space. 

When he sits down with his apple juice, he raises an eyebrow. And Hyungwon and you both reach out for his hands after puts his glass down. You say, “You’re our missing last piece.” He gives you three a faint smile as he links your hands. Hoseok adds, “Yeah, I think college would have been better with you.” And Hyungwon says, “We’ve missed you.” Changkyun’s tears fall as he says, “I’ve missed you guys so much. I know we’ve held and talked to each other about it. But I feel so much better with you guys at my side.” You nod and use the sleeve on your shoulder to wipe your tears. You look up and whisper, “I can’t believe you two will leave in three days.” Which causes the rest of them to groan, “It’s unfair.” Hoseok whispers, “We have each other now, and that’s what matters.” Changkyun nods, "I’m never letting go.” You all echo his sentiment and stay like that for a while. 

It’s real. You’re back together again. Maybe not for as long as you’d like, but after a long separation, it means more than words could express. And at that moment, you four agree to see each other at least once every month. Even if it was only for an hour: that would be enough. When you guys finally recoup and let go of each other’s hands. You drink your refreshments in peace. 

Hyungwon looks at the weather, “Do you guys want to go bowling later?” Changkyun nods, “Yeah! We haven’t done that in forever.” You and Hoseok agree too. Which causes you to ask, “Who wants ramen for breakfast?” The three of them cheer, “Me!” The four of you laugh as everyone helps out. Changkyun and Hyungwon set the table, and Hoseok and you make a big pot of ramen. 

Once the two of you finish up the ramen, Hoseok sets the pot on the trivet, and you all serve yourselves. Hyungwon says, “Your mom still makes the best ramen, but your guys' is a close second.” Changkyun hums in agreement, and you both thank them. And you tell them, “Can’t outdo the queen.” And Hoseok nods as he eats his food. You grab some more, and Changkyun asks, “Are there any shops you want to go to?” After Hoseok finishes his next bite, he says, “You know that record store across from the coffee shop you two met again at?” You shake your head, “I’ve never been.” And the other two agree, and he tsks, “And you people say you like music.” You all roll your eyes at that as you scrape your bowl. “Won, you remember that Silk Sonic record I got for you?” He hums, and Hoseok says, “That’s where I got it from.” He lets out an ‘oh’ as he grabs more ramen from the pot. You shrug, “That sounds fun. What about you, Won?” He thinks for a moment, “The film developing store.” You smile, “You took photos?” He nods, “You weren’t. So I stepped up.” You laugh and Changkyun goes, “(N/n)?” You shrug, and you ask him, and he shrugs back. You both laugh at having the same answer. You finish your bowl before getting up to change. 

Once you’re all set, you and Changkyun play rock paper scissors to see who’ll drive. And you win! So, you all hop into your car, and Hoseok directs you to the record store. You park in the lot across from the coffee shop, and you all head in. The worker greets you, and you split up as if you four were looking for clues. You weren’t interested in the albums, having enough under your bed collecting dust. In the back of the store, you find shelves full of cassettes. They were more compact and easier to play on the go. While not as convenient as CDs, they were portable. Unlike the vinyls, the other three were digging through.

It isn’t long before you’re sitting in front of the shelving unit. Shortly after sitting, you find one that catches your eye. An old artist that your parents would always play. You check out the cover art and see a few tracks you know. You put it beside you before looking at the rest of the shelves. You dig through the fifty-cent bin. And find another one you'd like so you put it into your pile. Hoseok waves to you as he heads upstairs to where the more prolific vinyls are, and you continue your search. You've added a few more to your pile. As you continue to look, you realize you've worn out the shelves of artists you like. But continue looking in case you passed over one you might want. You come up empty as you hear someone clear their throat and look up to see Changkyun. He bends down and asks, “Do you want to get a pastry with me while they look for vinyls?” You smile, “You read my mind.” You grab his hand, and he helps you up. You pick your tapes up off the floor as you show him your finds. He shows you the two vinyls he found. You pay for your items. And you both check to see if they would catch you two sneaking out. With Hoseok upstairs and Hyungwon lost in his own world listening to an album on the record player. You were free to sneak off.

And as soon as you’re out of the store, you’re giggling like two teenagers sneaking out to see each other. You walk across the street together, and you both get a pastry and before you can pay, he already has. You go to object about it, and he winks, which makes butterflies erupt in a storm in your stomach. So, you let it slide, and unlike the last time you were here, you felt like you were on a date. And your heart gets all giddy at the thought, but your brain quickly rationalizes it. Once the barista serves them up, you sit at a table across from each other. You ask, “Can I have some of yours for some of mine?” He nods, and you split your pastries down the middle before exchanging them. 

You whisper to him, “I feel like a teenager sneaking out of my parent's house to be with you.” He whispers, “I feel the same way.” You both blush as you eat your desserts. At the idea he might like you too, you go to speak up, “I think-” Just to get cut off by Hyungwon, “I had a feeling we’d find you two here.” You sigh. Of course, the interruptions would find you. You shoot them a glare as they scoot you both into the booth. Hoseok pouts, “Thanks for the invitation, meanies! You could have asked if we wanted pastries too!” You both roll your eyes and watch as they cut your delicious pastries into fourths. You mutter, “You’re lucky we’ve been sharing since preschool,” Hyungwon smirks, “Or what?” He whispers to you, “Your boyfriend would get me~?” You twitch and kick him underneath the table. And see Hoseok and him both wince at the same time. You two laugh at their reactions. You don’t know what brought him to hit Hoseok, just like he doesn’t know why you kicked Hyungwon. And Hoseok goes, “I see we’re wanted here.” Changkyun rolls his eyes, “Yeah, you’re wanted, alright… Just not for the right reasons, Hoho.” You snicker, and Hyungwon laughs, “The same goes for you, pretty boy.” He immediately pouts, “You make the term pretty boy sound mean.” You smirk, “It was my intention.” Which causes him to pout even more, and you both apologize to them before finishing up your halved treats. 

Out the door, Hyungwon points to the film-developing store he was talking about, and you follow him in. He asks if he can send more in over the next few days, and the shopkeeper agrees. And Won gives him the film he has on him now. With a pickup for all his photos two hours before the flight takes off, you all head back to your car. Hoseok points out, “It’s 1 pm.” You smile, “Time flies when you’re having fun.” He nods, and you guys are off to the bowling alley when Changkyun spots a food vendor. And asks, “You guys still like cheese-filled bread?” Everyone cheers, “Hell yeah!” And you immediately pull over, and he hops out of the car and waits in line. You whine, “I haven’t had cheese-filled bread in so long.” Hyungwon groans, “It sounds so good.” You nod, and Changkyun bounds back with the treats in his hand. And Hoseok goes, “Last time we had this kind of bread, it was when we were kids visiting the city.” Changkyun gasps, “Oh my god, that was the day we lost our tour guide! And we wandered around the city because we knew where the bus was!” You laugh, “That was probably very dangerous for us to do,” Hyungwon shrugs, “We were kids. How were we supposed to know it was dangerous to leave the tour guide?” Changkyun laughs, “It's almost like our teachers told us never to stray too far behind our guides.” You shake your head, “Nah, we weren’t listening to that. We were too busy lollygagging and talking about, what was it?” Hoseok smiles as if it was yesterday once more, “Bunnies.” 

After taking your first bite of cheese bread, you check the traffic and pull onto the road. Hyungwon asks, “Weren't you obsessed with those for a month?” He nods, “I still like ‘em.” Changkyun says, “How did we make it to the bus without them noticing we were gone?” You go, “Oh, that’s easy. We saw the kids starting to line up. And because kids aren’t good at lining up in a straight line, we snuck into the middle.” Hoseok goes, “Cheese bread and bunnies are still worth getting sidetracked for.” You all agree, and at the red light, you concentrate on trying to eat the treat. And you finish it by the time you’re stopping at the next red light, and Kyun takes your wrapper away. You smile at him, “Is it two more streets before the bowling alley?” Hyungwon goes, “One, you took the shortcut.” You nod, “Oh, okay.” Changkyun goes, “Didn’t you work at the alley?” He nods, “Best winter of my life.” 

On the next light, you turn and see the bowling ball and pin signage and pull in. You park close to the door and ask, “Do you still have a custom ball?” He nods, “Yeah, I believe Michelle kept it the back for me 'cause she knew I wouldn’t need it while traveling the world.” He smiles as he opens the door for the three of you to enter. You walk in, and he goes, “Smells just like I remember, polishing cream and varnish.” He walks in front of you, and a little lady greets the four of you. She gasps when she sees Hyungwon, “I never thought you’d come back in!” He grins, “Hi, Shelly!” She tells him to give her a moment before she goes into the back and pulls out a red and black ball. “Your thirteen-pounder!” Engraved above the finger holes is “Won-won.” And you three giggle, “I haven’t seen you two in a long while.” She says as she points at Hoseok and you. She points at Changkyun and asks, “And who are you?” “I’m Changkyun.” She smiles, “I’ve heard a lot about you.” Hyungwon smiles, “You still remember those conversations?” She laughs with a nod, “I may be old, but I’m not that old.” 

She smiles and asks Kyun, “What’s your shoe size, dear? I already know these kids’ sizes.” He tells her, and she pulls out all four pairs. “Lane 7 work?” You all nod, and she smiles, “Alright, have fun, kids.” She sends you four off, and once you reach the lanes, the three of you look for your balls. And Hyungwon puts in everyone’s nicknames; Won-won, Bunny, Kitty, and Gator. You return with a green ball; you pout as you place your ball into the rack, “I’m going last… But at least the nickname is fair.” He grins, “You’re always our gator.” Changkyun goes, “Kitty?” He nods, “Not enough room for Butterfly or Polar Bear, so I went for some school nicknames.” He shrugs, “Okay, fine.” He puts his purple ball into the rack, and Hoseok shows off his pink pearled one as he returns. “I’m Bunny!” He cheers, the only one enthused by his name and placement on the board. 

Hyungwon bowls first, and with little effort, he gets a strike. And leaves the rest of you gawking, and he smirks, “You three are going to catch flies.” Changkyun mutters, “Way to show us up.” Hyungwon goes, “Want to repeat that to the class?” He coughs, ‘fucker’ and Hoseok does well with a spare as Hyungwon finishes gloating. Changkyun tries to spare his 7-10 split but only knocks one down and comes back pouting. It’s been a while since you’ve bowled, but you don’t do too bad. And without much effort, you're able to spare it.

Unsurprisingly, Hyungwon wins the first round. You barely beat Changkyun by a point with Hoseok in second. Knowing you'd play last, you get everyone a pop before sitting back down. Changkyun started sulking since he lost. You smile at him, and under the table, you squeeze his hand, “It’s okay.” He nods and gets up for his turn as you crack open your pop. And he strikes, and you all cheer for him, his first strike in twelve rounds. You all high-five him. And on your bowl, you get another spare. You’re happy with it, and Hyungwon continues striking you three out. Hoseok whispers while he’s up, “He wasn't this good when we'd bowl with him when he first started here.” You shake your head and whisper, “He probably watched pro bowlers and got tips from them.” Changkyun sighs, “Man’s gifted at nearly everything.” You both laugh, and Hyungwon returns after a spare, “I learned from Shelly.” You all, ‘ooh,’ and he smiles, “She’s been playing since she was five. She played in pro leagues until she opened her own bowling alley.” You ask, “You loved working here, didn’t you?” He nods with a fond smile, “Yeah.” 

You guys play a few rounds, and the results stay relatively the same with you and Hoseok switching between who's second and third every other game. It isn’t until a few rounds later that Changkyun pulls off an impossible feat. After some pointers from Shelly and Hyungwon: he comes in second. You all cheer, gather around him and lift him up. He immediately whines, “I’m not in first place, though!” And you three laugh, “Second is the best!” He shrugs before joining in with you guys, and Shelly calls from the back, “You did well, kid!” Hyungwon goes, “See, even Shelly agrees!” He grins before asking, “Can you put me down now?” You all nod and set him down, and ruffle his hair. 

You guys eat some fries before playing another round. Changkyun asks, “Why do bowling alley fries always taste better?” Hoseok shrugs, “Same reason food tastes better when eating with friends.” That answer satisfies the three of you, and you finish up your fries before playing another round. Hoseok beats Changkyun by a point, making him come in second and you in last. Which causes him to pout, and the three of you coo, “It’s okay. You did well, baby.” He nods, and you all hug him, and Hyungwon waits for his turn, the victory hug. You pull him in and cheer for him before deciding you're tired of bowling. After changing back to your shoes, you put your balls away, and Hyungwon hands his ball off to Shelly. You return your shoes, and she thanks you for the entertainment and charges you half of what you paid. Hyungwon doesn’t accept that and has her take the other half as money for a good meal out on the weekend. She smiles at him and thanks him as she pockets it. 

When you start driving back, it’s 10 pm, and Changkyun hooks his phone up to your radio and plays an old playlist. One that the three of you instantly recognize and start singing along to, and when pauses to transfer to the next song. Hoseok goes, “I haven’t heard this playlist in forever!” It was the playlist he made for the four of you. So you could enter high school with a soundtrack for your next four years together. Of course, it didn’t play out like that, but it was still well-intentioned. You roll down the windows, and Changkyun turns up the volume. And the four of you sing along to it loudly, even at red lights next to other cars. It felt so right as if the playlist had come full circle. The four of you scream, “If it makes you happy, it can’t be that bad!” Laughing as you pass through another green light. 

When you pull into the parking lot, you’re down to the last two songs on the playlist. You roll up the windows, turn off the car, and turn to face each other. And sing the songs softly, and as the last note rings out, you all unbuckle and get out. Changkyun says, “It’s come full circle now.” You all agree and head up to the apartment. It isn’t until you enter the living room that you feel the tiredness seep into your bones. Hoseok lets out the first yawn, and the rest of you follow. You lose the race to the bathroom and end up in third place, with you and Hoseok waiting for the other two to finish. You tell Hoho it’s sparkling clean for him on the way out, “Thanks for not stinking it up.” You roll your eyes, “How was a shower supposed to stink up the house?” He shrugs, “That’s not for me to know.” You laugh and shake your head at him before knocking on the door to Kyun’s room. 

He tells you to come in, and you yawn as you enter, stretching your arms out from you. “I’ve never been happier to see a bed in my life.” He laughs, “Really?” You yawn, “I’m so tired.” He smiles, “Too tired to talk?” You shake your head, 'no,' he smiles, “Cool.” And you crawl in after he moves over to his side. “What do you want to talk about?” He smiles, “I just wanted to thank you for encouraging me earlier.” You smile, “That was nothing, plus you did all the work.” He shrugs, “I suppose.” You move down until your head hits the pillow, “Thanks for getting me out of there. I was so bored looking at the cassettes I already looked over. I didn’t know how much longer I could feign interest.” He laughs, “That would have interested me when I was younger, but I own the music I want to hear on my phone already.” You laugh, “Right!?” He grins, “The physical media is nice, but as you said, I could only feign interest for so long. I’m so glad you were ready to leave too.” You laugh, “Your blueberry pastry was good, of course, what I got to eat of it.” He laughs, “Your strawberry tart was good too. Even if I only had a bite of it.” You shake your head, “They’re despicable.” He nods, “And they’re our best friends.” You grin, “Yeah, they are.” He smiles, and for some reason, when you turn to look him in his eyes. You can’t look away. 

When you do, you shift your eyes to the light and notice it’s still on, “Good night.” You say as you flick it off, and he says it back. In the dim moonlight, he asks, “Do you ever wonder if we lie past the line of best friends?” You look back in his direction at his question, “Yeah, but I don’t think there’s a perfect descriptor to explain it.” He nods, “When I figure out what that is, I’ll let you know.” You smile and agree, and he smiles back. And with that, you fall asleep facing each other. 

You wake up just before Changkyun, thinking about what you had talked about last night. If you were right, he meant what you thought. You guys have always laid past that. The lines between you have always been blurred. Always taking care of each other in ways you wouldn’t take care of Hoseok and Hyungwon. But did that mean he liked you the way you liked him? Or if it was just that? You’d always lay past the bounds of what being best friends meant, but never be anything more? You sigh and shake your head at that last thought, wanting to be hopeful. Changkyun wakes up with a yawn. “Good morning.” He says all groggily, and your heart skips a beat. Maybe you wished that what Hyungwon said yesterday was true, that he was your boyfriend. But what you feel for Kyun is more distinguished than that. You weren’t just seeing him to see if he worked out for you. You knew he was made for you as you were made for him: the perfect pair. You tell him, “Good morning.” As you stretch out, the word you were both looking for lays on the tip of your tongue. Just before you can say it, the door opens to reveal Hyungwon.

It leaves you as fast as Hyungwon sits at the foot of the bed. “Hoseok is talking to Kihyun and Minhyuk. I think Jooheon is on the line too? I don’t know. They’re being too loud for the morning. So, I came in here for some peace and quiet.” You both laugh. And you ask, “What are they on about?” And he goes, “I think they’re arranging dinner plans.” He lays back on the bed, and Changkyun pouts, “Without us?” He shakes his head, “Oh no, we’re definitely included.” You blink, “Uh, but I don’t even know Minhyuk and Kihyun that well.” Changkyun pats your shoulder, “It’s okay.” You nod, and Hyungwon says, “They told us they liked your first impression, and plus you’re one of us. That's good enough for them.” You give him a look, “I don’t think that’s how that works.” Hyungwon shrugs, “Friendship is weird.” You both shrug at that, knowing he was right since you were living testimonies to that statement. He continues, “Just because you like their music or liked them doesn’t mean you can’t be friends.” You nod, and he goes, “Can I rest now?” You both laugh and nod at him. 

Hoseok comes in thirty minutes later to find Hyungwon napping at the end of Changkyun's bed. And to you and Kyun sitting close together watching a video on your phone. He tilts his head as he asks, “Good morning?” The three of you look over towards him, “Morning.” He has you scoot in closer to Kyun as he sits beside you. “Kihyun called.” The three of you nod, “We heard.” He continues, “Minhyuk was in the same room, and they added Jooheon to the call. I guess Jooheon is our friend, too, now?” Hyungwon goes, “He’s our friend like Min and Ki are (N/n)’s.” He nods, “Yeah, that’s a good way to describe it.” Changkyun asks, “So, dinner?” He smiles, “Yeah, they want us to meet up at Son’s. If that’s okay? Hyunwoo isn’t working. So, he’ll be able to join us too.” Hyungwon smiles, “Like one big happy family, then?” He nods, and Changkyun looks at you, asking if that’s okay, and you nod. Kyun speaks for the two of you, “Okay, we’re in.” 

Hoseok gets up and holds his hand out to you, which you gladly accept, and he pulls you out of bed. Hyungwon groans as he gets pulled up by Hoseok. He offers his hand to Changkyun after he scoots closer. Once you’re all up, Hyungwon asks, “Do you guys have pop-tarts?” You nod, “I always keep ramen and pop-tarts in our pantry.” You follow them down the hall and pull out the variety box, “What flavor?” Kyun asks for blueberry, Won wants Cherry, and Hoho asks for Strawberry, and you pull out yours. Thankfully, you have a 4-slice toaster. So, you can make two packs at a time. 

Once they're finished you join the other three at the table. And slump into your chair and sigh, “It’s nice to be back in this chair.” The three smile, already knowing the reason. You eat your pop-tarts, and Changkyun asks, “What do you want to do in the meantime?” Hoseok goes, “Laze around?” Hyungwon lets out a yawn, “Sweet.” You agree that sounds perfect, and Hoseok puts the plates in the sink. You look over at Changkyun and look towards the sink, and he nods. While the two head to the living room to find something to watch, you clean the dishes together. As you put the plugs in, you say, “It’s surprising how many dishes we can go through even though we haven’t really been here all week.” He laughs as he fills up the sink with soapy water and agrees. 

You fill your sink with rinse water, and he hands you the soapy dishes, and you run them through the rinse water. And put them on the rack. Changkyun places his hands in his water, and soap flies up at you both, causing you two to splutter. You flick off the bubbles onto him, and he squints but shakes his head before handing you the next clean dish. You didn’t intend to splash him when you put the bowl into the water, but you did. “Oh, it’s on!” And he splashes you with his soapy water, and you spray him back with your water. 

You two childishly splash water at each other until you're both soaked. You sigh as you peel your shirt away from your skin. And notice Kyun doing the same thing. You laugh at each other before finishing up the dishes and draining the sinks. You leave them to dry as you drip water onto the floor. You pass through the living room. They both chuckle, and Hoseok goes, “Did you guys go through a tidal wave?” And you both point at each other and cry, “They started it!!” Which causes the two to laugh even harder as you both change in your separate rooms. 

With new shirts on, you join the two in the living room. Changkyun asks, “What are you watching?” Hyungwon shrugs, “I haven’t been watching.” And Hoseok goes, “I think it’s a cowboy show? But I haven’t figured it out. There is so much going on that I haven't caught on to it.” You nod as you both sit in between them. It’s the space bounty hunter cowboys, and you recognize it immediately, “It’s Cowboy Bebop!” Changkyun nods, “We watched this together.” Hyungwon raises an eyebrow, “When?” You smile, “Remember when you both went to the 8th-grade dance without us?” Hoseok nods at that, and Hyungwon raises an eyebrow, “You mean the one you two didn’t want to go to?” You shrug, “Tomayto, tomahto.” He shakes his head, “Whatever. Anyway?” Changkyun smiles, “I had rented the series, and since (N/n) was into anime then, I asked if they wanted to watch it with me.” You smile, “Yeah, we stayed up til one in the morning watching it.” Hoseok coos, “That’s so cute. But we liked anime then too!” You squint, “Would you have really missed a night of dancing?” Both of them shake their heads, and Changkyun goes, “See.” The two of you settle into watching the fourth episode, and the other two go back to their phones. 

The episode ends, and it starts playing a different series. So, you change the channel to something you can all watch: a museum mystery show. Hyungwon asks, “Is it really a mystery when the plague in front of the 'mysterious' object tells you all about it?” You laugh, “Do you really want to read that instead?” He shrugs, “You have me there.” It plays for another two episodes before Hoseok goes, “We should get ready to see them.” You all agree. You wait your turn to change after getting your clothes out of your room. Hoseok is taking longer than usual. You sigh as you wait by the door, and Changkyun comes out dressed nicely. “You wanna change in my room?” You nod, and he leaves you to sit on the couch. It feels different to change in his room. It felt as though you were more exposed than you were. Maybe it was because of the angle of the mirror? No, you shake your head, it was because you were changing in his room. And even though he wasn’t in there, it felt like a rather intimate act. 

You quickly change, shake the feeling away and throw your clothes into the hamper. You find Changkyun playing on his phone. And you sit down next to him, pulling out your phone. He looks over at you, “You look nice.” You give him a small smile as you compliment him back. “Nervous?” You nod a little, “I’m okay. I know they’re real people. But uh it feels unreal to believe I’d be sitting and eating with them.” He nods, “Yeah, I can understand.” He pats your thigh, “It’s going to be okay, though. I’ll sit beside you the whole time.” You smile, “Thanks.” He nods and pulls his hand away to type. Hoseok comes to join you guys next, “He’s still changing?” You both go 'uh-huh,' and he says, “He acts like he’s getting ready for a hot date.” You laugh, “Maybe he is~” Which makes them both laugh. “You guys are mean. Can’t someone look nice?” The three of you shrug as he exits your room, “If you’re wondering, I couldn’t find this shirt and dug through my suitcase three times just to find it on top.” You laugh, and he rolls his eyes. Kyun asks, “Did you have your contacts in?” He sighs, “That’s what I was forgetting.” He goes back into your room and comes back out shortly after. Hoseok asks, “See better?” He nods, and when you all get up, Changkyun asks, “You guys ready for the walkover?” You all agree, and Hoseok says, “I didn’t know Hyunwoo’s restaurant was so close!” 

Changkyun smiles, “When Jooheon and I bought Honeycat and started working inside it. We’d come here all the time. He asked us about our building, and we showed him around, and then he told us he sang a bit. And from there, it’s been history.” You all smile, and he grins as you pass the label out strolls Jooheon. You guys stop to greet him, “Good to see you guys!” And you all cheer, “Nice to see you again!” He grins, “I was just telling them about Son’s.” Jooheon goes, “Did you know it’s his family’s restaurant? It goes back several generations. He’s just running it for now. Until his cousins return from their long honeymoon.” Hyungwon, Hoseok, and you shake your heads, ‘no,’ and he smiles, “He’s the best for a reason.” You all hum in agreement and continue over to the restaurant. 

You fall behind as you realize you’re about to see people you used to dream of. Changkyun notices your absence and slips back, and you muster the best smile you can. He goes, “You’re alright. They’re not going to bite.” You look at him, “You sure?” He nods and gives you a hug which you gratefully accept. It eases your nerves a bit before you both catch up to the other three and before they can notice you’re both gone. The three waiting for the five of you are already sitting down. They wave and get up from their chairs to let you all file in. You gulp, and before you can choose where you’re sitting. Hyungwon puts you between him and Changkyun, with Minhyuk on his side. You let out a breath as you look at the table. Hyunwoo is across from Changkyun, next to Jooheon, and across from Minhyuk is Hoseok, leaving you sitting in front of Kihyun. He gives you a big friendly smile which you do your best to reciprocate. 

The table is split pretty evenly between those who have menus in their hands and those who don’t. You wait for someone to speak up after figuring out what you want. And Minhyuk starts the conversation up, “What's everyone eating?” After Hyunwoo and Kihyun give their answers, so do you, and everyone else follows. And before you know it, you’re in a conversation about what food is best and where with Kihyun and Hyunwoo. It was wild to think a few days ago that you never dreamed of even knowing him past a passing glance or two. And now here you were, conversing with him. You expected to have conversations with Hyunwoo, Jooheon, and your best friends. You didn't expect the same with Minhyuk and Kihyun. And now you are, and it feels nice. A few minutes pass before one of Hyunwoo’s coworkers comes over and asks, “Joo, Woo, Kyun; same thing?” They nod, and then they turn to ask each of you. You all pass your menus to the waiter, and they thank you before heading to the kitchen.

Changkyun is talking with Jooheon and Hyunwoo when Kihyun asks, “What got you into financing?” You smile, “A few things; when I was younger, I always said I was going to be Hoseok's and Hyungwon's acting manager. And then our dreams changed, and I was the only one good at math in the bunch. Don’t get me wrong. They passed their classes. But they didn't get A's without my help.” He laughs, “And lastly, I really like working with numbers. It just makes so much sense to me. What made you want to become an idol?” He smiles, “I always loved singing when I was younger. My brother did too, he was unsuccessful, so my parents worried I would be too. It dampened my outlook, but I always participated in choir. And when I met Minhyuk, we ran after our dreams together.” He looks at him and smiles, “I’m glad I met him.” You look at each of your best friends, “Yeah, I know what you mean.” 

The waiter brings your drinks out, and Jooheon gets up and cheers the eight of you, “To our future endeavors! And to our friendships, new and old; may they last forever.” You all clink your glasses together before taking a sip. It’s not long before your guy's food arrives. You look over at Changkyun to find him looking at you. He gives you an ‘I told you so’ type of look, and you smile at him, grateful for his comfort leading up to this night. You guys dig into your food, and you feel content. As Hyungwon said, having good food with friends makes the food more delicious. Hyunwoo asks you about pets you’ve had. And you happily tell him all about them and ask him about the pets he’s taken care of, which leads to Jooheon talking about the various animals he has kept. Which causes the rest of them to share their pets and experiences with animals too.

After you finish your meal, you watch everyone talking animatedly. And it brings joy to your heart. Hyungwon signals to you he's going to the restroom. And when he gets up, Minhyuk scoots over. “I haven’t got to have a proper conversation with you all night!” You laugh, and he asks, “Who was the worst boss you've ever had?” Of all the questions he could ask, you didn’t expect that one. But you give it some thought, “His name was Mr. McGee. I got the job after graduating high school at this ice cream shop. It was summer, right?” He nods, and thinking back on it makes you groan, “On Saturdays, one of the busiest days of summer. I’d be scheduled alone for the first two hours we were open. And since we opened at 3 pm, everyone was getting out of sports by four. I was struggling. And if I had ‘the audacity’ to request someone else to work with me. He’d have a conniption fit! Needless to say, I worked like three weekends before quitting and finding something else.” He laughs, “Damn, he sounded awful!” And you ask him, and he tells you, “I only worked two jobs before this one. But the first one, I quit pretty fast like you. I worked for Mrs. Robinson. She had me doing four jobs; delivering, serving, cooking, and counting money. But she only paid me for delivering! After a month, I quit without even a notice.” You gasp, “That’s rotten! I would have quit sooner!” 

He nods, “She wasn't as bad as Kihyun’s old boss, though.” Kihyun, hearing his name, looks up before he realizes what he uttered afterward. Which causes him to let out a groan, “Mr. Park!” You laugh, and he tells you how he ran ragged from getting this man's coffee and doing his paperwork. And after every time, he finished his last task instead of a thank you. Mr. Park would ask, “Can you do this for me, Mr. Yoo?” “Yes, sir. Right away, sir!” He sighs, “I was so good for the promotion, and for what? Just for me to get no thanks, no promotion, and measly paychecks?! Oh, that was awful.” You look at Jooheon and Changkyun before saying, “We have the best jobs in the world now, thanks to them.” The two look over and grin. And Jooheon goes, “Without you guys, we wouldn’t have a company to run.” You all smile, and Hyungwon coughs, “My chair, Minnie.” 

He pouts, “I was just getting to the fun part.” “Yeah, and I was just to the good part of my food.” Minhyuk rolls his eyes before moving back and letting Hyungwon have his seat back. Behind his back, you say, “We can always talk later!” He grins, and you both stick your tongue out at Hyungwon, which causes the rest of the table to laugh. Hyungwon squints at the two of you, “You guys are so nice to me.” And both of you mock him, causing you both to laugh. He rolls his eyes, and you find yourself talking with the three of them after Hyungwon finishes the 'best part' of his meal. 

You’re not sure how long you’ve spent in the restaurant, but your guy’s conversation never dies down. You only pause when one of his coworkers comes over, “Hyunwoo, you can lock it up, right?” And he nods, and you hear the door close for the last time. You continue talking about everything together. It feels like you’ve known them all for years rather than only knowing three of them for that long. It isn’t until Jooheon yawns that Hyunwoo says, “Maybe we should all head home. And try to meet up again? Of course, when we’re all in town.” You all agree before tidying up. While waiting for Hyunwoo to lock up, you guys start another conversation. The eight of you walk out of the restaurant laughing. You start saying your goodbyes and exchange phone numbers with Hyunwoo, Minhyuk, and Kihyun. All of you promising to keep in contact. “See you guys later!” Jooheon and Hyunwoo leave first after exchanging their number with Hyungwon and Hoseok. The five of you have one last conversation before both Minhyuk and Kihyun have to leave.

You walk home all giddy with your best friends. “So, do you feel comfortable with your idols?” You smile, “I can’t believe we’re friends now.” They ruffle your hair, “We always knew you would be!” You all laugh and make your way back up to the apartment. Changkyun asks, “You guys want some ice cream and cake?” You all cheer, and he goes to the freezer and serves up the ice cream onto the plates you grabbed. And Hoseok cuts up the cake that Hyungwon serves. 

As you eat, you realize the flowers in your heart are in full bloom, and you can see their colors. You felt healed in ways you couldn’t explain, but you could feel it to the nth degree as you laughed at Hyungwon. Who was growing tired by the moment with each bite he ate. He misses his mouth, which causes him to blink back awake. Hoseok wasn’t fairing much better as he leaned on his elbow, drooping to sleep with every other bite. You finish your ice cream to see Changkyun blinking back sleep. You don’t know why you feel so awake. Usually, after being around people you didn’t know, it would tire you out. But you feel energized, unlike your friends, who are about to pass out. You ‘ahem’ and everyone blinks their eyes open, “Finish your last bite and go to bed.” They nod tiredly, and you clean up after them. As they all drag themselves to bed, you look out the window. 

The sky is littered with thousands of stars, and the city is sparkling like a million suns. You look up and whisper a few thanks for how your friends came back. About all the friends you made, for the new job, and for the new life you got. It’s rare someone gets the opportunity to start anew, but you did. You continue watching the cars fly by, and the planes take off from the airport. You sigh in contentment; the ashes became the perfect fertilizer for your flowers. 

You must have stayed there for an hour watching the world turn. When you feel a blanket wrap around you, you finally feel tired. Changkyun asks, “What are you looking at?” You smile as you look over at him, “Everything and nothing at all.” He nods and looks out at it himself as you hold the blanket around you. “It’s pretty, you know?” You agree, “It is.” You stay like that for a while before he asks, “Are you ready to come to bed?” You give him a nod, and you both walk carefully in your shared blanket to his room. “Do you need to change?” You nod, and he heads to his drawers, “So you don’t have to wake them up.” You smile, thank him, and drag yourself to the bathroom. 

You hold his clothes in your hands, and it dawns on you that he gave you his clothes to wear to bed. While it meant nothing, it meant everything to your heart, just like looking out at the city. You change into his clothes and smile as you look in the mirror before doing the rest of your nightly routine. You come back and see him tiredly waiting for you to come in. He holds his arms open, and you tilt your head, “Come on, I’m tired and need my sleeping buddy.” You laugh, and without another word, you slip under the covers and into his arms. Sleep takes you at that moment. Yeah, the lines were blurred a long time ago, but you’ve both just come to accept them. 

You wake up to the sounds of two people snickering. But you don’t open your eyes as you hear Changkyun softly telling the two off. You can’t tell what they’re saying, but you know it probably has to do something with you lying in his arms. But you keep your eyes closed, hoping they'd grow quiet so you could go back to bed. Sleep doesn’t take you back, just as they don’t stop whispering. You sigh and open your eyes. “What are the three of you talking about?” You see Changkyun smiling at you, “Nothing in particular.” You sigh, “Could you have had this ‘nothing in particular’ conversation in the other room?” You hear Hoseok laugh, “Maybe, but it wouldn’t have been as fun as it is now.” Changkyun gives him a pointed look, and you shake your head, “Whatever.” 

You relish in Changkyun’s warmth for a little longer before you get up. You slip out of bed and look at the clock noticing the date, “Oh,... It’s our last full day together.” They nod, “Yeah, that’s why we were trying to wake you guys up.” You hear him grumble, “It worked,” from behind you, and you can’t help but laugh. You follow the two out, “Ooh~ You’re wearing his clothes. Did something happen?” You glare, not in the mood for their antics so early in the morning, “Yeah, you guys went to sleep too early for me to grab clothes from my room to change into.” Hoseok puts his hands up in defense, and you roll your eyes as Hyungwon goes, “If you say so.” With a shake of your head, you go to your room and change in there for once. 

You sigh and regain your ability to think as you head out of your room, “You wanna get coffee at the coffee shop?” You smile, that's something you can do so early in the morning. You nod, and the three of you head to Changkyun’s car since you drove you guys last. And listen to the three converse, too tired to engage with them. Maybe you shouldn’t have stayed up that late. But it felt so peaceful that you couldn’t pass up that moment of solitude. When you finally get your coffee and have your first bite of pastry. You finally feel your actions catch up to your mind. Changkyun sits diagonally across from you, and you lay your head on Hyungwon as you cover your mouth to yawn. He mouths, “Tired?” you nod, and Hoseok says, “You stayed up later than usual.” You raise your eyebrow, waiting for him to elaborate, “We got home at one am. You stayed up till three.” You go, “Oh.” And the three nod, and you finish your pastry and order another coffee. 

“Thanks for getting me last night.” He shrugs, “It’s no problem. It didn’t feel right without you.” You don’t see the eyebrows raise at that as you smile at him. You’re halfway through your second coffee when Hyungwon goes, “I’m going to drop off the last of the film. Just remind me to pick it up tomorrow morning.” You all nod at him as he gets up and heads to the photography store. Changkyun and Hoseok continue the conversation they were having once he leaves. And you readjust in your seat as you feel awake. “So, what are we talking about?” Hoseok smiles, “How long it would be for Hyungwon to return.” You nod, satisfied with that answer even though you had a feeling that wasn’t it. As you scroll through your phone, you hear the word. “Love,” and it clicks. That’s the word you were searching for! You don’t say anything, but you keep it in mind. Butterflies swarm in your stomach as you realize you're in love with Changkyun. And while you knew it, now you knew he loved you back once you put all the context clues together. You hide your smile as you continue to scroll through your phone. 

Hyungwon comes back, “What did I miss?” You shrug, and the two answer for you, “Nothing.” And he asks, “What do you guys wanna do today?” You smile and ask, “You guys want to look through old photo albums?” They nod, and Changkyun goes, “Breadsticks, takeout, and beer?” You agree, and Hyungwon adds, “Take out from a seafood place?” You all agree, and Hoseok says, “And a few rounds of cards?” You all nod, and Changkyun takes the three of you back home. Hyungwon places a scheduled delivery from a seafood place you all like. You pull out the breadsticks and get the oven ready. As you put them on a tray, Hoseok gasps, “Oh my god, you bought breadsticks that look like Lolo’s?” You nod and go, “I hope they taste as good!” 

While those bake, you go to your room and find your childhood photo album. Hyungwon grabs his college and travel photos. Hoseok finds his small traveler album. And Changkyun comes back with his solo adventures. You all pile them onto the living room ottoman and go, “Let’s look at the ones where we are all together first.” They all agree, and the oven dings. Hoseok pulls out the breadsticks, puts them on a plate, and brings them over. You thank him, and Hyungwon goes, “These look like one’s we’d order from Lolo’s!” You all nod as you each grab one and try it, and Hoseok continues, “They taste just as good too!” You all hum in agreement, and Changkyun opens up the album. You munch on the breadsticks as you look through the photo album, cooing at everyone’s kindergarten photos. Hoseok taps excitedly on the page, “This is the first day we all hung out!” You nod and flip the page revealing more from that day, “Hyungwon’s house was huge!” He nods, “I would get lost in there all the time. Grandpa’s house was confusing as a kid.” Changkyun laughs, “I was so thankful to run into your grandpa after using the restroom. I got lost going back to the living room that day!” You all laugh and continue looking through the pages. 

From school trips to park adventures to beach days. You guys were always together until that last day of summer. You don't know who sniffles first, but you shook with tears as you flipped the book closed. You sit there for a moment and cling to each other. Murmurs of, “It's okay...” “We have each other now” “It's alright...” “We've made it back to each other." When the four of you realize that's in the past, Hyungwon opens his photo album.

Changkyun is the first to speak up, “I didn’t expect you guys to look so sophisticated for your first day.” Hyungwon laughs, “It was our first day. Of course, we looked nice! It's the first impression that counts.” He shakes his head and pulls out his album, “I woke up late the first day, and Joo took a photo of me walking out the door! I look like a frazzled mess!” Hoseok gasps, “We should have never let you go out into this world alone!” You guys finish your breadsticks as he groans, “I looked nicer the second day!” He points to the outfit he has on the second page. Hyungwon shakes his head, “You look like a kid still learning how to dress.” He pouts, and you all coo, “It was nice!” He squints, and you go, “You look like a college kid!” Which makes him pout more, “That did not help.” 

After ruffling his hair, you continue flipping through your college adventures together. “No way you three went to a frat party?!” Hoseok laughs, “We had to carry this one home that night-” They both pointed at you, “No one told me that the punch was spiked! I just thought it was spicy.” Changkyun cackles, “How much did you drink?!” You groan as Hyungwon says, “You’d think a sponge had soaked up that punch.” You sigh, “I was really thirsty. And I couldn’t reach the kitchen because of all the bodies. So that was the next best thing. I didn’t drink alcohol for a month after that.” Changkyun pats your head, “Oh, poor baby.” You pout. And he tells you, “If it makes you feel any better, I puked my guts up after my first-time bar hopping.” You give him a smile and nod, “That helps a bit.” 

You finish your college days with your graduation photos and flip the book closed. And Changkyun continues with his. “We had originally lived in a dingy apartment together. When we finally started making money, we moved out and into the places we live now.” You all nod and listen to him as he shows the photos and all the renovations done to the building. He grins, “This is the day Joo and I opened the label to the public.” He flips to the next page showing a photo of Jooheon, Minhyuk, Kihyun, and him. He smiles, “Ki and Min were the first ones to sign to our label.” Hoseok asks, “How did you manage that?” He grins as he tells the story, “Joo was reaching out to everyone who didn’t have a label that he knew. We were having no luck. And then we got a call from Minhyuk. They were looking for a label that would push them to the next level.” You all nod as he continues, “So the next day, we talked it over... That was it. And soon, everyone wanted to sign with us.” Hyungwon goes, “And now, you guys are what? A multi-million dollar company?” He nods, “Most of it goes to our artists, though.” You agree, “If I were an aspiring artist, I’d be begging to get into Honeycat.” 

You guys move on from his album to Hyungwon’s and Hoseok’s adventures as models. Hoseok smiles, “This was my first shoot with Gucci.” And Hyungwon says, “And this was my first with Dior.” They turn to show you both, “And we posed for Chanel together!” You both nod as they show you various landmarks and forests, along with all the beautiful clothes they got to wear. Changkyun asks, “Didn't you guys both model for W?” They nod, and he cheers, “I own that magazine!” And you all gasp, “You do?” He nods, “I remember being stunned looking at the photo of you two. I picked it up and bought it- hold on!” He rushes to his room and returns with the magazine in his hand. And he shows the image, “I was so happy to see you guys again, even though it wasn’t physical. I was happy to see you guys made it.” They smile as they tease, “You want our signatures~” He shakes his head, “I don’t need that when I have the real deal.” The two wrap him up in a hug, and you smile at them, secretly taking a photo of them. 

You guys finish up their albums, and together you four clean up and go to the dining room to play cards. Hoseok and Changkyun grab snacks to eat while you play card games. You get everyone a beer and sit in your ‘assigned seats’ . Hoseok hands you the deck. After shuffling and debating what game you all were going to play. You start with a classic: Rummy. After an hour, Hoseok wins the first game with a perfect score of five hundred. You guys decide to play another game of Rummy. It takes several rounds, but Changkyun cheers as he wins. Hoseok comes in second, and Hyungwon and you tie for third place. And you whine, “Shouldn’t the scorekeeper be allowed to have fifty-five extra points?” The others laugh and shake their heads at you, “Well, can’t say I didn’t try.” 

Changkyun gets another round of beers, and Hyungwon asks, “Go fish?” You all nod, find the jokers, and put them aside, and he deals out five cards and spreads the rest on the table. You look through your hand and find an ace, a ten, one six, and two fours. You place your match down, and Hoseok lays two matching sixes down. Hoseok asks, “Kyun, do you have any sevens?” and Changkyun hands him his seven. After putting them down on the table. He asks, “(N/n), do you have any queens?” You shake your head and say, “Go fish!” You ask Hyungwon if he has any sixes, and he tells you to go fish, and you pick up another ten. Changkyun asks Hyungwon if he has any fours, and he hands his four over. He asks Hoseok if he has any fives, which he hands over. And then he asks you if you have any nines, and you tell him to go fish. 

Hoseok snickers as he asks, “Kyun, do you have any nines?” Changkyun groans as he hands it over. And then he asks Hyungwon if he has any queens and has to fish for a new card. Hyungwon smirks as he asks, “Kyun, do you have any twos?” He nods and hands it over to him, “I knew it.” He guffaws, “How?!” And he goes, “I saw you pick it up. (N/n), do you have any eights?” You shake your head, and he picks up another card. You put down your pair and ask Hoseok if he has any aces, and he tells you to go fish. Changkyun asks if you have any kings, and you just fished it from the pond. So, you sigh as you hand it to him, and he picks up five more cards. Hyungwon smirks at you when it's his turn again, “(N/n), do you have any aces?” You sigh and hand it over to him, and he asks Kyun if he has any jacks, to which he hands it over. He asks him again for any eights, and Kyun smiles as he can finally say go fish for the first time in a while. 

The game goes for a while, but for the first time all night, you win the game! You cheered as you counted up your eight pairs. Hyungwon came in second with seven, Changkyun was in third with six, and Hoseok ended with five matches. You guys finish another round of go fish when the doorbell rings. The four of you hopped up from your chairs; Hyungwon went and got the food, Hoseok got the plates, and you and Changkyun cleaned up the table. After serving up your meals, you all head to the table. And Changkyun shuffles the deck and splits it between the four of you. Hoseok goes, “Bullshit again?” He nods, “Best game to play while distracted~.” 

You start first, even though you don’t have an ace in your hand. No one ever suspects the first player. In reverse, Hoseok goes next, and you’re too busy eating to notice it’s your turn. “What number?” “Five” You nod and lay down a five. Hoseok goes next, and just before Hyungwon sets down his card, you notice him trying to hold back his grin. “Bullshit.” Hyungwon retracts his hand, and Hoseok flips over the ‘six,’ revealing a ten. You smirk as he looks through the cards. And he goes, “(N/n), lying even in the first round!?” You giggle with a nod, and you continue playing and eating. No one pays attention until the four of you notice the size of the pile. You eat your seafood, hoping no one will call your bullshit out as you lay a jack down and call out, “Queen,” and Hoseok places his card down. None of you are brave enough to call each other out until Hyungwon says the card he was putting down instead of Ace. He calls “four,” and you all giggle, “You mean Ace?” He blinks, “Fuck yeah, that’s an ace, I can assure you.” Changkyun smirks and bites the bullet, “Bullshit.” And he groans and flips over the card revealing the four. 

He picks up at least thirty cards, “Now. I’ll know if you’re lying.” He sorts them real fast between bites. “You guys are the worst… You were all lying to me, and the one time I didn’t lie, that’s when you caught me!?” You all laugh, and Changkyun goes to put down his ‘two,’ and Won says, “You better put that back.” You make eyes towards Kyun and place down your 'three'. “Bullshit.” You gulp, not even thinking about messing with the man with half of the deck, and grab it back up. Hoseok says, “Four,” Hyungwon squints before placing his verified five down. He finally lets you both off the hook. Until it reaches Hoseok again, he tries to place down an ‘eight’ and immediately gets a “Bullshit” call. He flips over his card, revealing a seven, “It was close.” Hyungwon squints, “Uh huh.” 

While Hyungwon is distracted, taking a sip of his beer and placing his card down: the three of you quickly lay your cards down in succession. Hyungwon questions, “Is that a Queen?” “Hell yeah, it is.” He takes the answer and places his card down as Hoseok lets out a sigh of relief. “Do you have any threes?” You nod and secretly switch your card out with his for your next hand. Changkyun holds in his laugh as he catches the two of you doing it. “But that’s clearly bullshit?!” Won whines as he has the monopoly of twos after Hoseok rapidly places his three on top of your ‘two.’ “I believe (N/n) wouldn’t lie. Would you, Kyun?” He shakes his head, and the three of you laugh. 

“I hate all three of you.” You laugh, “Uh-huh, and then you’ll be all over us when it’s time to go home.” He rolls his eyes and puts his card down. He finally gets to put his two down and mellows back out after you pick up the pile after trying to call him out on his lying. Hoseok goes, “I told you he was telling the truth.” You roll your eyes, “Just cause he has twenty cards does not mean he’s telling the truth.” He smirks, “Right you are. Look at your hand.” You gasp and point at him, “You-!?” And he cackles, “I knew calling you three out every other second would make it seem like I was telling the whole truth.” Hoseok groans and throws his cards face down. “You cheater!” Hyungwon cackles even harder, “Don’t hate the player~ Hate the game!” He sits back down, “Meanie- I know this is bullshit, but jeez.” Changkyun just shakes his head at the three of you.

You guys finish your plates and grab the snacks again after Changkyun wins. You all sigh in relief before cleaning up the cards. You ask, “What do you guys say to some old-fashioned video games?” They all nod, and you all pile into the living room. After a few rounds of Mario Kart, various Wii sports games. You are all shocked to find out that Hyungwon sucks at Wii Bowling, “Yeah, but this game doesn’t require skill!” Hoseok shakes his head, “Don’t be a sore loser.” And you laugh as he pouts, and you ruffle his hair. When he gets a strike, he takes a shot of whiskey. Which makes him do a silly little dance, and you all cheer for him with your beer cans. 

None of you wish to go to bed as you continue playing games throughout the night. Even after everyone has yawned more than a few times, you still don’t move from your position on the couch. None of you want the day to end because it would bring tomorrow's afternoon faster. Hoseok yawns and stretches his arms out. And wraps them around Changkyun and you; “What do you guys say to a blanket fort so we can stay together tonight?” You smile, “That sounds perfect!” And you guys drag your mattress into the living room and connect it to the couch’s pullout. You guys work hard putting it all together with blankets strewn all over it and pillows littered throughout it. Satisfied with your handy work, you all giggle and high-five. 

Hoseok whispers, “Last time we made a blanket fort was when we were fourteen.” You nod, and Hyungwon says, “We made cookies and stayed up all night watching anime and eating cookies.” And Changkyun asks, “What do you guys say to cake and ice cream in bed instead?” You all agree and get changed for bedtime. The four of you decide on a movie together before getting your dessert. You guys crawl in carefully, not wanting to have ice cream all over the blankets you just laid down. You sit on the end next to Hoseok, and Changkyun sits between him and Hyungwon. Changkyun unpauses the movie, and you all intently watch it. 

It had to be the perfect way to end your vacation with your best friends. Changkyun finishes his first and puts his plate at the end of the mattress. And the rest of you pile your plates and forks on top of his. Hoseok takes the trash in and asks if anyone needs anything while he is in there. And you all shake your heads as the tiredness finally takes over. He joins you guys, and you all lay down, grab your separate blankets, and cozy into them. You try to fight the sleep and stay in the moment, but it wins you over with only a quarter of the movie left to go. 

You wake up with a heavy feeling in your chest. As you sit up, you notice the other three waking up too. “Morning,” you whisper and hear whispers of it back. You all take a little while to come to your senses. And Hyungwon, with a rasp, asks, “Cake and coffee?” You all agree and make the awkward shuffle out of the fort. You smile as you look back over it. It held up well for such a late-night craft. You cut into the cake and serve it onto everyone's plates as Changkyun makes everyone a cup of coffee. 

You all make your way to the table. A somber feeling takes over the four of you as you realize today is the day of parting. Changkyun speaks up first, “So what are your plans in Berlin, Hoho?” Hoseok grins as he tells him, “First, I’m going to sleep the whole first day there, then take in the sites the next day. And then I’m off to model for Men’s Health.” You nod, and then Kyun asks, “What are your plans in Marseille, Won?” Hyungwon finishes his bite of cake before answering, “About the same as Hoho. But I’m going to be modeling for Single’s magazine.” You eat your cake before looking at the two of them, “What time are your flights?” Hoseok sighs, “2:15 pm.” You look over, and Hyungwon says, “2 pm.” You both nod. You see it’s 10 am, and you sigh, only four more hours with them physically. 

Hoseok puts the dishes in the sink after you all finish everything. “We have to pack…” You nod, and the two of you follow them to 'their' room, “You know, I’m going to miss you guys sleeping in my bed.” They nod, and Hoseok whispers, “It’s weird to think you guys were only a door away.” And Hyungwon continues softly, “And now we’re going to be hundreds of miles apart again.” You collectively gulp back your tears. You and Changkyun sit in front of the door watching the two of them pace around and collect all their things. Changkyun whispers, “I never thought I’d have to say goodbye to them again.” You nod, “I thought when we’d get back together. It’d go back to how it was and stay like that.” You put your head on his shoulder as he says, “I thought that’s how it would be too.” When they finish collecting their things, they come over and sit across from you guys. 

You all grab hands, and Hoseok goes, “Let’s promise to see each other every month.” You agree, and Changkyun says, “And to not lose connection, no matter what happens.” With sad smiles, you all nod. Trying not to cry, you whisper, “Let’s talk about everything with each other.” They all nod, and Hyungwon goes, “Let’s always be together even when we’re apart.” You all agree through sniffles and bring each other for a hug. No words are needed to express how much you'll miss each other. When all of your tears dry, they gather their bags, and you take them down together. 

You stare at the tailgate as you shut it, as though you were sending them off now. Hyungwon breaks the silence first, “We’ll have to get the last of my photos developed.” You all nod before getting into Changkyun’s car. The radio plays softly in the background. A comfortable silence envelopes the four of you like a sweater in December. He parks in front of the film place, and you all decide to wait in the building with him, not wanting to be apart from each other. It doesn’t take long as they return with a box of photographs. Hyungwon looks through them and smiles at a few before he nods and pays for them. He has them wrapped in a particular fashion. And once it's completed. He holds the bundle to his chest and thanks the person behind the counter. And they tell the four of you to have a good day. 

You look at the clock and whisper, “It’s almost twelve.” They all nod, and Changkyun drives you guys to the airport. They talk about where their gates are and realize they have the same entrance. That means you won’t have to separate before their time to depart. You all smile at that, and Changkyun waits until a car pulls out of the upfront parking space before parking in it. You all turn back, and Kyun sighs, “Do we have to?” You all pout, and Hoseok says, “If we didn’t have to, leaving would never cross my mind.” And Hyungwon agrees. You all sigh at the situation before getting out of the car one last time together. Hoseok pulls his backpack on as Hyungwon wraps his headphones around his neck. They both pull their suitcases out together before the four of you begin the short venture to the airport. 

You guys move to the side to talk and wish each other off. Hyungwon, having a little bit of an earlier departure, goes first. Out of his pocket, he pulls out two packets. He has you open your hands and places the packets into your palms. He tells you, “I got you double the copies 'cause I know you like to put them in photo albums and into frames.” You hold back your tears as you hold them close. You whisper with tears starting to fall, “I’m going to miss you, you know that, right?” With tears in his eyes, he nods, “But this time, we’ll only be a flight away. Our schedules are more flexible now, and we'll be able to see each other more.” You nod, wrap him up in your arms, cry into his chest, and do your best to tell him, “Thank you. I’ll see you soon. I promise.” He holds you close and runs his hands through your hair. You both let go before he moves over to Changkyun, and you wipe your eyes.

He hands him a packet of photos, “I can’t wait to see how you’ll decorate your walls with them.” Changkyun shakes his head as he looks down, “I don’t want you to leave. I want you to see my wall art in person.” He nods, and Changkyun pulls him into a tight hug, “I promise I’ll come back. And I'll see your wall art in person. We won't be separated for long ever again.” When they pull away, he walks over to Hoseok who’s already shedding his tears. And he hands him his pouch of photos, “I can’t wait to see how you collage this.” Hoseok wraps him up tightly, “I’ll see you in Paris?” Hyungwon hums a ‘yes’ as he puts him down. When they part, all of you wrap the tall man up into one last tearful hug, “We’ll see each other soon.” He nods as he starts to walk away. You all shout, “Till then, Penguin!” He smiles, and the four of you wave until you can no longer see each other. 

Hoseok stands in front of you both, “I sent you guys the video as a parting gift.” You both shake your head at him. And you whisper, “You didn't have to.” He smiles through his tears. And he nods, “I did, and I'm going to miss you guys so much more now.” He picks Changkyun up for a hug first as Kyun tells him how he wishes he would stay too. And Hoseok wraps him up tighter, “I won’t be gone for long, and nor will Hyungwon, I promise.” He sets him down and opens his arms, and you crash into them as he picks you up. He whispers, “I know you promised before, but please promise to talk to us about everything.” You promise him and tell him that you’ll miss him. And once he sets you down. He brings you both into a hug and tells you both, “We have each other, and we’ll see each other soon, I promise.” He pulls away and gets about a foot away when you two shout, “Take care, Polar Bear!” He leaves in the opposite direction, with you three waving until you can no longer see each other. 

You wipe your eyes again and look over at Changkyun to see him doing the same thing. Without another word, you grab his hand and squeeze, “Let’s go home, Kyun.” He smiles, and you both walk out of the airport. It’s so quiet on the walk back, but it's not uncomfortable it's unusual. You were so used to chatting with the other two that when it went back to just the two of you. It felt lonely. The rain in your flowery meadow starts pouring as you miss your friends dearly. You only release his hand to get in before he pulls your hand back into his. He whispers, “I can’t believe we won’t see them for another month.” You sigh but give him your bravest smile, “But it’s only a month this time.” He nods, “Yeah, it's only a month. We’ll have each other until then.” You squeeze his hand as he drives home. 

You come home to streamers, a blanket fort, and huge signs, and it hits you full throttle again. You put your head into Changkyun’s chest and cry. He wraps his arms around you as he cries into your shoulder. It was an intense feeling of longing and separation, even though you knew you'd be seeing them again soon. It still broke your heart. When both of your cries turn into sniffles, you part and walk over to the kitchen table. You guys don’t say anything as you move around to make ramen. As you eat the noodles, it comforts you endlessly in the ways only ramen can do. The rain in your heart turns to sunshine. And the flowers see their first rainbow as your heart comes to terms with it all. 

After an hour or so, you both work on dismantling the pillow fort, and you return your mattress to your room. You take time to redo your bed with fresh bedding. And place your two packets of photos on your dresser beside your signed album. You come back out to see Changkyun pushing in the couch’s pull-out. You pitch in and help him, and from there, you both take down the decorations. Once you finish, you sit beside each other. You guys watch an alligator documentary together. Your phone rings with a group call from the two you were missing. You answer and prop it up so you both can talk to them. You guys talk until it’s time for them to turn off their phones. Changkyun lays his head on your shoulder, “I know it’s not going to be long, but it doesn’t make me miss them any less.” You hum and reach your arm around and rub his shoulder. “Me too.” You guys watch a happy little cartoon to take your minds off it. 

When you both yawn and decide to go to bed. You get changed in your room and realize you can sleep here for the first time in seven days. And if you heard that seven days ago, you would have been ecstatic. But now, as you look down at your bed, you don’t wish to divulge in the plushness. It’s not the same, and you know it. You lay down and try to get comfortable. It feels as though rocks are underneath you. It causes you to toss and twist into uncomfortable positions to relax. But nothing is working: and you know it's because he's not there. You sigh and play on your phone to take your mind off of it. But after an hour, you’re done. You can't take it anymore. it’s not until you get to his door that you realize what you’re about to do. You shake your head, ‘It’s just for tonight,’ as you go to knock, the door opens. He blinks in surprise before smiling at you. And you ask, “Can I sleep in here?” He nods, “I was about to ask you to. It feels weird without you.” 

He lets you in, and you laugh, “I couldn’t get comfortable no matter how hard I tried to.” He nods before getting in first. You follow in after him and immediately feel at ease. You sigh and fluff up the pillow under your head. You stare at each other, and your brain races with tons of thoughts. You click the light off, and he reaches for your hand, which you give him. He intertwines your fingers, and you smile. And he says, “I figured it out.” You go, “Me too.” And with a deep breath, he tells you, “The word I was looking for is love. It knows no bounds. It has no time constraints, and it’s limitless. I think I’ve always loved you. I didn’t always have a name for what I felt, but I know that’s what I’ve always felt for you.” You bring his hand up and place a kiss on his knuckles before saying, “I think I've always loved you too. I realized that was the word we were looking for when you and Hoseok were talking.” He smiles, “I realized it as I came out of my room to find you looking at the cityscape.” You grin, and he pulls you closer to him. And like that night after looking at the cityscape together, you both wrap up in each other’s holds.

You whisper, “I love you,” and he whispers, “I love you too.” And you both fall asleep feeling at peace. In the morning, when you're still in bed, you both call up Hyungwon and Hoseok, who cheer. Hoseok yells, “I’ve been waiting for this moment for wayyy too long!” And you both laugh, and Hyungwon shouts, “The romance of the century!” You shake your head as the two chatter about you guys finally being together. You lean back against Changkyun’s chest, and he holds you in his arms and puts his chin over your shoulder. Hoseok goes, “Screenshotted babies!” And Kyun smirks before kissing your cheek, which causes them to coo and you to turn red. After a few more minutes, you hang up, and he asks, “Coffee at the café, baby?” You go, “Pet names already, Babe?” He giggles, and you grin before getting dressed. 

He drives you both to the cafe and holds your hand the whole way. You swing your arms back and forth as you walk in. As you wait in line, you ask him, seeing if he feels the same way, "This isn't our first date, is it?" He nods, "No, but officially it is." You smile as you get a tea and a pastry, and he gets the same. You head over to a table that looks out onto the street. You split your treats in half and exchange them as he says, "This is where we first saw each other again." You nod, "Do you consider the time we snuck off to be our first date, then?" He smiles, "Yeah, until those two interrupted us." You laugh as you continue, "Our first date has been here twice." You both grin and he says, "Few can say they went on a first date twice with the same person." You nod, "But we can." He agrees, and you eat in peace. 

When you finish your cherry pastry, Changkyun goes, "Joo is going to be so excited when he finds out." You laugh, "I can't wait to hear his reaction." That's when your phone dings with a new message. You unlock and laugh as you read it out loud to Kyun, "I knew you two liked each other! Kiki didn't believe me!" The two of you laugh as another message comes from Kihyun, "Minnie is lying. I told him you were holding hands when we met you. But he didn't believe me!" You both laugh, and he continues, "But congratulations! I'm glad you two are together!" You get another notification from Minhyuk, "Anyways, congrats, you two!" You text them your 'thank you's. You finish up as he calls up Jooheon and puts him on speaker. "Oh my god! I knew it was only a matter of time! He'd talk a lot about you and your best friends. But he didn't talk about them in the light he did about you." Changkyun turns bright red as he goes on, and you giggle. And Kyun whines, "I'll see you tomorrow, Joo?" Jooheon agrees, "I'll see you both tomorrow! Have a fun evening, you two love birds!" 

Once you guys leave the cafe and return home, he goes, "I can't believe this is all real." You nod as you set your things down, "Yeah, it's unreal. Isn't it?" You turn back to talk to him to see him standing right in front of you. He asks, "Usually, when something feels like a dream, you'd pinch someone, right?" You agree and look into his eyes as he goes, "Maybe instead of a pinch, just to make sure it's real..." He trails off as he looks down at your lips and back into your eyes, and you go, "We kiss?" He smiles, and you wrap your arms around him, and he leans in and captures your lips in his. 

When you pull away from each other, he whispers, "Yeah, this is real." Breathlessly you ask, "Wanna do it again?" He nods, and you kiss him for the second time. He leads you back to his room, and as Jooheon said, you had a fun evening together.

—---

On your first anniversary of being with Changkyun. Hoseok calls you two up and cheers, “We have a surprise for you two!” You tilt your head and look over at Kyun, asking him what could be in store for the two of you, and he shrugs, unsure. You hear a knock on your apartment, figuring the two of them delivered you guys something silly. You both get up to see what it is and see them standing before you. They wrap you both into a hug and when they release you, you ask, “I thought we weren’t seeing each other until the 15th?” Hyungwon smirks, “You’ll be seeing us more than that.” You give Changkyun a look, and he shrugs. Still not sure what they were hinting at. They gesture for the two of you to follow them over to the abandoned apartment next door. Changkyun catches on first and goes, “No way.” Hoseok smirks and flashes a key at the two of you before opening the door. In shock, you gasp, put a hand over your mouth and see Changkyun doing the same thing. 

Hoseok says, “Yes, way,” as he pushes the two of you in front of him into the newly opened apartment. “It looks like ours but opposite?” Hoseok says, “Yeah, our offices are connected. But that’s about it.” You nod with tears filling your eyes as you bring them into your arms. You cheer, “This is the greatest anniversary gift ever!” The four of you become a puddle-like mess as the four of you cry. Hyungwon tells you both, “We might be out and not here all the time, but this is home.” Changkyun says, “This is all younger me ever wished for.” Which makes the four of you cry harder. 

Being able to visit your best friends whenever your heart desired? Felt unbelievable but magical. It's something you always begged and wished for as a child. And now, you were living those dreams. Sure, they had work. And they'd be in other cities, but when they returned, it felt like a piece of you came back. Everything was right in the world, and the flowers in your garden blossomed. When you were a junior in high school, all you wanted was for Changkyun to be back. And when you graduated college, Hyungwon and Hoseok left. All you wanted was for them to be back in your life again. You prayed to stars that somehow, some way, you'd be together again. Not only did the stars grant your wish, but they also made it better than you dreamed of. And you wouldn't have it any other way.

"(N/n), you coming?!" You hear Hyungwon interrupt your thoughts. And you go back to the task at hand. You empty the popcorn into two big bowls and feel someone wrap their arms around your waist. "Hi, Kyun." He puts his face into your neck, "What are you thinking about?" You smile, "How lucky I am." He smiles and kisses your neck, "I think I'm luckier." You raise an eyebrow, "How so?" He smiles as he turns you around, "Because you came back to me." You grin and look into his eyes, "I guess you are pretty lucky." He laughs before kissing you, and you laugh as you kiss him back. You hear someone enter the kitchen, "Okay, love birds, very cute. But I'd like to eat my popcorn now." Hoseok sighs as he reaches behind you. And he walks into the living room as you both part, "Wonnie! They're kissing again!" Hoseok whines, and you both chuckle at him. And you kiss Kyun's nose and ask, "Wanna join them?" And hear Hyungwon cry, "Will you two come in here! I'm gonna start the movie without you!" He laughs and nods, "We can't miss movie night with our best friends." You agree, "You're right." And before you can leave the kitchen, he pulls you in for another kiss. You both giggle as he goes, "What? One kiss is simply not enough with you." You shake your head and kiss him again. Good thing the beginning of the movie was a credit sequence as you finally sit down next to your best friends. 

It felt right to be together again. Your relationship with Changkyun is like a summer breeze in your flower field. The lines between you blurred between lovers and friends. But now it was clear there were no limits on the love you held for each other, and there never would be. In the fire he held your hand and helped you until you escaped the flames. He watched as the ash settled, the smoke cleared, and the flowers bloomed. And you helped his heart do the same. His gray skies became colorful again when you came back into his life. Like a piece of watercolor work, going from a sketch to a beautiful painting. And reunited, your worlds blossomed and grew together. Before you knew it, your two best friends came back. And now live right next door. Well, most of the time. Everything that was wrong became right again.

[tbcanary]

arrowfam week day six: dream & comfortable!

(loosely set sometime around ga vol 7 #2)

—

Lian wakes with a start as a hand grasps her by the elbow. In the lingering fog of sleep, her brain supplies the familiar: chilly Gotham air, threats around every corner, the knowledge that she needs to run if she doesn’t want to end up dosed with Joker gas or dead on the docks.

Instinctively, she kicks a leg out in the direction of whoever is grabbing her. They grunt, and she uses the surprise to wriggle free just a little, vision still hazy and mind unclear.

And then the hand is back, joined by another, both holding her down by the shoulders.

“No!” Lian insists. “No, no, let me go!”

“Lian.”

She knows that voice, she thinks, but she won’t risk it. She’d picked a bad place to spend the night, too far from the streetlights, why can’t she see—

“Lian, dammit, it was just a dream! Stop kicking at me, kid!”

The voice slots into place and the fight rushes out of Lian all at once. She stills, blinking up at the dark shadow leaning over her.

“Uncle Ollie?” she asks, voice small.

He nods. “It’s just me. Promise.”

It comes back to her like smoke from a candle, wispy and uncertain. They’d been in the treehouse. There had been vegetarian chili, and they’d fought a woman who looked like a cat. She isn’t home, but she isn’t in danger, either. Probably.

She swallows past the terror gripping her throat. “What happened? Why’s it so dark?”

“I put out the campfire a little bit ago. Didn’t want anyone seeing us,” Oliver mutters. “Sorry. I didn’t realize you were afraid of the dark. Figured Gotham would have driven that out of you.”

Despite herself, Lian’s face burns hot with shame. “I’m not scared. I just… was surprised. That’s all.”

Slowly, Ollie releases her shoulders. He sits back with both his hands held up, an open and honest gesture. When she sits up and shakes the last of the sleep from her eyes, he sits a little more comfortably. Relaxed, somehow.

“I’d bet the nightmares didn’t help,” he offers. “They can be real disorienting.”

“I…” I wasn’t having a nightmare, is what she means to say. Instead, she finds her tongue betraying her: “I dreamt about dying, I think.”

Ollie nods. Wordlessly, he picks up a canteen and offers it to her. The water is warm and stale; she drinks until her stomach hurts.

“I hate those, myself. You’d think your mind would have had enough, after the real thing, but no,” he sighs. “You gotta keep watching the damn highlight reel.”

Lian plays with the cap of the canteen, avoiding Oliver’s eyes. Even if she can’t see them properly, she can feel them; they’re picking her apart, right down to the bone. She’s never known anyone with eyes like Ollie, not even Uncle Connor. He looks at her like he understands her, despite all the time apart.

“Did it… hurt.”

Ollie starts. His face is clearer now that her eyes have adjusted, but the features are still mostly shadow. She can’t tell if he’s surprised or hurt or horrified, or whatever else he might be.

“In the nightmares, I feel like it did,” he responds, slow and somewhat contemplative. “At the time… Well, I hate to say it, but I don’t really know. Sorry, sport.”

Lian nods. Swallows. “I think that’s how it is for me, too. I just… I don’t know what it was like. And I think part of me wishes it did. So… I dream about it. A lot.”

“You sure you’re Roy’s kid?”

The question startles a laugh out of her. “What?”

“Well, it just seems to me you spend a lot more time pondering and considering than he ever has,” Ollie says. “Not to say he isn’t smart. Of course he is. Just in a different way, I think.”

Lian rolls her eyes. “He hasn’t seen me since I was a toddler. I figured out a lot on my own.”

“That you did,” Ollie concedes. “That… you did.”

Again, he’s watching her. She can just barely see the stars reflected in the void of his pupils, and it makes him look almost spooky. Or maybe just powerful, like all the other superheroes his age. They have a knack for that kind of thing.

“What?” Lian demands.

Ollie shrugs and leans back against the tree he’s set up in front of. When Lian doesn’t budge, when she keeps staring, he caves.

“It’s just that it’s late,” Ollie explains. “And it’s pretty chilly up here. And I know you’re all grown up, and all, but I could use a hug and some company from a brave grown-up like yourself if I’m going to get comfortable.”

“…You aren’t a very good liar, Uncle Ollie.”

“So they tell me.”

But it is kind of cold in their treehouse hideout, and Lian’s hands are still shaking slightly where they hold the canteen. She rolls her eyes and shifts over, moving to curl into Ollie’s side.

He lets out a long, contented sigh and drapes an arm over her shoulder. For once, as she settles into sleep, she feels comfortable. Warm.

[just-some-random-blogger]

Songbird

Dream of the Endless x Musician!Reader

Summary: Ever since the Apollo incident, you haven't gotten a good night's sleep. It was not because of the anxiousness that came after that horrible encounter, it was by design. After all, you would not have to fall on your knees and beg to the King of Dreams again if you do not enter his domain. Boy, did that backfire.

Word Count: 5k+

Warnings: BRUH I WROTE 5k SMUT AGAIN BYE, no feminism in sight, themes of polytheism, fem!reader, egyptian goddess insert, possessive!dream, smut (dom!dream to soft!dream, hair pulling, begging, thigh riding ig, vaginal penetration, cock warming), typos, etc.

A/N: yeah so 🫶 today we get on our knees So this is a continuation to Left In Hell (p1) and Sounds Like Heaven (p2). You do not need to read them to understand, but I highly suggest you read part 2 at least to get the reference of the summary and to understand why dream's so mad HAHAHA I feel like i've made yn into this mystical, immortal-esque being but i dont actually know whats going on with her so just roll with it. who knows maybe i'll keep writing for musician!reader Also @aralezinspace gave me some ideas for this fic. TY LOVEY. And I'm tagging @rosaren2498 cause i said i would if i continued

"You look horrible," Meret judges.

I dart my tired eyes at her silky black hair and perfectly smooth skin. She crosses her toned arms and not a wrinkle interrupts her face as she knits her brows at me.

"I will always look horrible in comparison to you, my goddess," I retort as I press my hands together and mutter a solemn greeting to her.

She raises her nose, "no. Usually, the mere entrance in my shrine makes you glow," she nears me and places a hand on my cheek, "but you have damaged yourself, as you have clearly been avoiding the master of dreams."

The heat of her gaze makes me gulp.

Meret hums, "why is that, my love?"

"There is a reason why I have been more devoted to you these days," I force a smile on my tired features.

Meret pulls her hand away and raises a brow, "and here I thought you've finally grown tired of that bacchanal Apollo."

The goddess of rejoicing strides to her throne. I find some clarity at the sight of her swaying hips.

I clear my throat, "you are thinking of his brother, my lady."

Meret sits on her throne and waves a hand. She crosses her legs and her pale blue chiffon skirt slips to the side, revealing her shapely legs, "they are all the same to me." She drops her hands to her armrest and tilts her head, "did you not bring an instrument with you?"

I tent my hands in front of me and push away the face that springs up in my head, "I thought you would enjoy if I recounted the Songs of the Nile for you today instead."

"Oh," she smiles, "well, it has been a while since I have heard its tune."

I bow before her then lift up my voice with the song I had learned ages ago. I sing to her until her dwelling blooms with flowers by her own delight to the worship. My voice echoes in her chamber and time passes gently as I finish my tale.

Once I am done, Meret stands from her throne and applauds me, her entire being left with a glow, as, I find, is my own.

I am in a way revitalized, my eyelids don't feel as heavy, yet there is a lingering fog in my mind.

She praises me in ancient Egyptian, and I curtsy at the words, though I do not understand.

Meret walks over to me and places a joyous kiss on my lips. Once she pulls away, my head spins at her sentiment.

She grabs my face, "another song, my child."

I nod enthusiastically, "as you command, oh goddess."

By the time I finish my 10th song, I meekly decline her pleas to continue with another selection. Her encompassing essence in the snug realm had forced all my tiredness away after all the worship. But it was not because I had gotten reinvigorated now that I wanted to leave. It was because I knew the trickle of time may seem slow here, but that did not mean the same thing to the waking world.

"Will you have your goddess get on her knees for you to sing once more?" Meret offers.

I then me drop to my knees and I shake my hands in defeat, "I would not, oh Meret, I-"

"I understand," she sighs, waving her hands, "you fear the passing of time in your realm," she adds, "time is annoying, is it not?"

I merely nod.

She, who had gone back to the throne, walks back to me and pulls me to my feet, "it is a pity that you are so loyal that man."

I suck in a breath, "Apollo is-"

"But I do not mean the sun child," she presses a finger to my lips, "the Endless you are fleeing from has been whispering for me to release you after I declined his request to enter my domain."

"Dream..." I shiver, "has been calling for me," my shoulders tense.

Meret narrows her eyes, "if my daughter is being harassed by the King of Dreams, then I shall have you stay here with me until he tires."

I grab her hands. She feels me shudder as I say, "no! No!" I even my breathing, "that would not be necessary."

"But it is," she takes rubs her thumbs on my skin, "I am your patron, and I-"

"He is also my patron!" I quip nervously, "and I-" I blink rapidly and force out a smile, "-should not chose to anger him any more than I have already."

Meret's face begins to darken.

"The King of Dreams is why Apollo is stuck still in a void," I nervously chuckle, "I would not have another one of my precious divinities answer to the same fate," I choke on my saliva momentarily, "nor do I want to wake up in a darkness I cannot escape."

Before Meret could speak, I urge her with a shaky voice, "please let me go back home. Please. I beg of you."

She weighs the sincerity of my voice.

"My goddess, please," I drag out desperately.

She huffs, "as you wish."

With a wave of her hand, a portal appears to my side. I give her one last curtsy and step into the vortex.

A shiver runs down my spine when I make it to the cold hallway in front of the door to my apartment. The temperature was not a good sign.

I enter my home and immediately look for my phone and check my phone for the date.

I release a shudder at the sight of the digital calendar, "it's fine." I heave, "it's only been a month." I drop my phone to the coffee table and stretch my back, "I thought it would have been at least two, considering the one aria was so-"

"You have been avoiding me."

I turn behind me and gasp at darkness that suddenly cloaks my room. At the heart of it was Dream's pale and angered face, towering over me as though I was an ant, which would not be so far from how someone like him would see me anyway.

I tear my gaze away from him as he calls my name out in a warning.

I clear my throat, willing the fear out of my system, and point to nowhere in particular, "I had... errands."

I make the mistake of turning back to him and my very soul nearly leaves me.

When I tear away from him again, he stops me. His large hand traps my jaw and turns me back to him. He does not apply force, he does not need to. I do as he wishes as behold the searing heat of his glorious face.

My chew my lower lip as he steps forward and peers down at me with his cold blue eyes, "you will look at me when you are speaking to me and I am speaking to you," he lifts my head up higher that my lips nearly touch his as he leans forward, "am I understood?"

I nod.

"Good," he breathes out, sending a shiver down my spine.

Dream examines my expression and blinks before he speaks, "these errands of yours, they have forced you to lose sleep?"

"I-" I can't tell him the truth, "I am busy."

He tilts his head, "that does not answer my question."

I find great difficulty in keeping his gaze.

He calls out my name again, and I turn to him and freeze.

"These errands you have to your gods and goddesses," he words carefully, "have they forced you to lose sleep?"

My lack of better judgement gets the better of me, "y-yes."

He hums so gutturally I feel it echo in my thorax. Dream finally releases me then allows a fraction of space between us, "then I will exact a punishment to Meret, who-"

"NO!" I grab his coat and hang my head low in shame, "I-" I stutter and feel goosebumps rise on my skin when his hands find my arms.

I lift my head up to him and heave at the expectant and hard gaze he held.

"I-I... was lying," I mutter so lowly that the sound barely leaves my lips. I knew he heard it though, seeing how his lips pursed.

"The truth is, my lord," I gulp, "I have been avoiding you."

"Yes," he retorts, "as I said moments ago."

Dream prompts me to straighten myself up, and once I do, his hands travel to my sides and pulls me close to him.

As I am sure the sound of my pulse echos in his ears, he leans down and nearly chokes me with the look of his glassy blue eyes, "I wonder why you wasted great efforts in losing sleep, as though there is a realm I could not reach you-" his hands travel up my ribs, "-could not hear my songbird's sweet voice."

A sharp shudder escapes me when he bends down and sucks in a deep breath against my cheek. My hands instinctively dart to his own, and the moment I do so, he grabs my wrists and pulls away. He is disgusted, "you smell like your goddess."

I open my mouth but find no reply.

Dream's eyes dart down, "she even made it a point to stain your lips with her rouge," his eyes slowly dart back up, "or perhaps this was your scheme," he raises his brows.

I dawns upon me that there was most definitely lipstick stains on my lips.

I open my mouth, but speak not a single word when his fingers brush on my lips, "there is something to be done about this," he mutters, "don't you agree?"

I squeak an undiscernible response.

"I have just worn out your ears with my chastising, did I not?" Dream questions, "and your voice tired after repeating your pleas of mercy."

His fingers rake my back, just below my shoulder blades, "and yet," his other hand cups my jaw, "you insult me worse than you did before, in a way that tells me you do not place value to my words."

"My king, I- I-"

He raises his brows.

"I-"

I cannot continue.

He visibly does not enjoy this.

I whine, feeling tears cloud my eyes, "I-"

"Save your voice," he commands, swiftly drawing away from me, "you will need it when I wear out your entire body with my chastising."

I am sent reeling but his severe words, left as still as a statue.

I watch him as he walks over to my sofa and sits upon it, as though it was his throne. Dream turns to me and my frozen state, "have you any complaints, songbird?"

I choke on my spit and clear my throat.

He awaits my response and feel my palms sweat.

"Do you not think it is fair of me to seek retribution of your spite?"

I shake my head.

"Very good," he speaks plainly.

I fidget with my hands while Dream relaxes against the cushions.

"If your goddess can make her most devoted musician sing, then I expect nothing less for myself," the King of Dreams states with finality.

I release a breath and point a finger, "would you like me to bring out an instrument, my lord?"

He hums, "you are willing to play so suddenly?"

His tone was laced with an accusing knowledge, knowledge of the fact I did not bring any instruments to Meret's shrine, lest I trigger more jealousy out of him.

If I had played his Harp of Dreamlight, then he would hear me and demand audience, as it was his right. But if I had played any other instrument, say the Flute of the Desperation, or my Marimba of the Tides, then he would have still heard and made reason to scorn me over the fact I am not using the precious gift he mended with his bare hands.

I do not make the mistake of noting any of this.

"I am always willing to please my patrons," I curtsy.

He merely blinks, "then play Death's piano," the said piano materializes in front of me, "and sing me her lullaby?"

I turn to the seat in front of the instrument then back to Dream, "you want me to sing Death's Lullaby?"

"I have yet to hear your rendition of it."

I shudder under his gaze then turn to the piano, "as you command, Dream Lord."

I open the fallboard once I sit before the piano. I straighten my back as I close my eyes. I begin to play the chords and the melody of the song, giving myself a moment to recount all the lyrics as I do.

I feel agitation build inside me when I am unable to recount all the words in my head.

"Dream," I mutter, opening my eyes to look at the black and white keys under my fingers.

The hair on my nape rises when he speaks my name out in response.

"I don't think I remember all the words."

"I will not hold it against you if you hum the part you cannot recall."

With the reassurance, I start by humming the lullaby's tune before attempting to sing it. Once I do, I sway my head in beat and find myself finally relaxing even with the Endless' presence.

This does not last as I, not only cease my singing, but also my playing when I feel hands come upon my shoulders. With a shaky grunt, I regain composure and continue my performance, tensing against him before easing myself back to calmness.

"Very good," Dream praises, brushing my hair away before placing a kiss on the side of my neck.

I breathily rasp out the lyrics and forget the rest when he begins to suck and lick my skin.

He does not seem to mind that I only manage to play the tune on the piano while I shakily breathe when I feel him wrap his arms around me.

As far as lullabies go, this one was as short and briefly meets its end. I do not mention it to him however and decide to simply repeat the lullaby over and over again until he asks me to stop.

I press on a few wrong notes when Dream's hands begin to massage my breasts. I am unable to hold back my moan when he does.

He ceases his kisses then hotly whispers, "now play me the Ballad of Nightmares."

Like a true puppet, I quickly transpose and restraighten my back as my fingers climb up and down the keys.

He hums and pulls away from me fully, leaving my head spinning at the loss of his tender touches. I crane my neck up at him and feel my stomach tighten at the sight of his pleased expression.

Before I could reach the section where I would sing, Dream's deep voice causes me to freeze, "I would prefer if you only sang to me this time."

I immediately nod and stand from my seat.

The next moment, the piano is gone and Dream pulls me against him.

I look up at him, open mouthed, and blink rapidly at the sight of his moistened lips. I gulp when he leans closer.

"Well," Dream starts, hands taking my hips, "sing for me."

He begins to push me back, and so I walk backwards as he directs. I gasp when I am pushed on the sofa. I bounce slightly when Dream sits to my side.

I steal a quick look before turning away and closing my eyes. I begin to sing the first verse but choke on my words feel his fingers on my abdomen, tugging my top off.

He raises his brows at me when I turn to him, "you do not require clothes to sing, do you?"

My voice goes silent and my breathing quickens.

Dream's expectant look makes me stutter, "I- no-"

"Then do not stop on my account," he dismisses as he frees me off my top.

I continue the song, goosebumps and all, as Dream brushes his fingers on my collarbones and then works to rid of my bra. I try not to think about how warm and large his hands are when he frees my breasts and massages them. I especially try not to think of how my core throbs when he bends down in front of me and takes my pert nipple into his eager mouth.

My hand darts to his messy hair and my thighs press tightly against each other. I reach the chorus when he wordlessly instructs me to stand before him.

I am severely aware of how his eyes are glued on my chest as make my way between his legs. His hands grab my sensitive lumps before travelling down to pull my bottoms off.

I am proud of myself that I do not even hitch when the cool air hits my bare thighs. I do, however, not fault myself for needing a moment to gulp when he squeezes my thighs and brings a finger up to my soaking heat.

I stop all together when he stands before me and grabs my hands. I feel blood rise up my neck as he towers over me.

The king tilts his head, "did I tell you to stop?"

I shake my head quickly. I continue my song.

He guides my hands onto his shoulders, "you can sing and strip me, can you not?"

I nod eagerly as I continue with the second verse.

He places a quick kiss on the pulse point on my wrist, "very good."

I pull off his trench coat hastily and drop it to the floor. I then take my time brushing my fingers up his toned stomach as I rid him of his shirt. I am glad he does not deny me this pleasure.

When my hands grab onto his waistband, he moves away and grabs the area himself, "eyes on mine, pretty girl," he mutters, making me turn back to his crystal blue eyes.

"I will do this myself," he says undoing the button on his pants, "I do not need you more distracted than you already are."

It was a chore to keep my eyes on him when I could still see him in my peripherals.

When I begin to mess up the chorus, Dream clicks his tongue. My heart is too loud for me to even hear myself properly at this point, if I'm being honest. Once he is as bare as I am, he sits down on the couch and grabs me by the hips, forcing me in front of him.

This time, he pushes my legs apart with his knees and sneaks in between my soft thighs, "you sung so beautifully the words moments ago. I am disappointed you cannot remember them now."

I screw my eyes shut as I try to rejog my memory. It is futile when Dream grabs the back of my thighs and urges me toward him. My hands grab his shoulders as I climb on him.

I release a moan when my wetness lands against his toned thigh. He allows me the courtesy of continuing my lewd desires as I stammer over whatever the fuck I was singing in the first place.

The next moment, he reels me close to him and I hiss when I feel his hardened length rub against me.

His hands grip my sides tightly as he rocks against me, "I did not tell you to stop."

"D-Dream-"

"I did not ask you to beg," his voice falls deeper.

Heaving deeply, I test my voice before continuing with the rest of the song, but I rip my eyes open when and fall silent when Dream stills and blurts, "from the beginning."

I whine, chest inflating and deflating with reluctance.

"You are in no position to decline me," he leans in, pushing his pulsing hard-on against me, making me bite my lips to conceal my whine.

"I will burn traces of your devotion to others," he mutters as he brushes his nose on my neck. Dream feels bitterness rise up his throat as he speaks, "will you dare deny your king of this?"

"I-"

He pulls my head back by the roots of my hair, causing me to whimper and grip him tightly, "I will not have you agree, only to shirk me and pray tribute to your false gods."

"My lord, I-"

"You are my music maker," he mutters, "you owe your allegiance to whom gifted you your talents," he growls, biting the throbbing pulse on my neck, "I am your master."

His one hand moves to my core, "your maker," this thumb massages my sensitive nub, "who will make you come undone all over me."

"Morpheus, my lord, please!" I whine out.

He chuckles darkly, "you do not even know what you beg for."

"Exact your punishment on me, I swear I will not answer to anyone else's calls but yours."

He finally releases his grip on my hair and places both his hands on my waist, rubbing the surface up and down, "then sing for me," he grips my hips and elicits a whine from me once he sheathes himself in my slickened folds, "while I relieve my frustrations in your heat."

I catch my breath at the feel of the stretch, "Dream, please."

He purrs, hips barely rolling beneath me, "what are you begging for this time?"

"I-" I lean close to his face, "I don't think I can sing everything."

I bite my lips when he stills and looks at me, "then shall I stop?"

I shake my head furiously, causing him to chuckle, causing me to squeak at the feel of him.

"You must not fall mute while you sing," he brushes my hair behind my ear, "or else it would not be singing, would it?"

I whine in a mix of worry and need, "but what if I forget the words," I mutter, grabbing his wrists that were by my sides as I rut against him.

He growls in protest, hands flying off me before he seals me tightly against him, hindering any further movements, "you are too audacious for your own good, girl."

I pant against him heavily.

Dream eyes me darkly, "fine. In the nature of your punishment, for every time you fall silent, you will repeat the ballad from the top and I will not allow you relief until you finish every word."

I whine, "Morpheus-"

"Or," he cuts me of, "you can speak my name with every ounce of adoration in the moments you forget the lyrics."

I nod eagerly to his words.

"Do not be so quick to agree," he mutters, leaning back on the cushion as his hands find my hips again, "I can tell if you speak my name in vain."

"Morpheus," I drawl instinctively as he begins to move underneath me.

"Very good," he croons, leading my hips with his hands, "but that is not the opening words to the song, little one."

And so I draw in a deep breath and rack my brain for the start of the words, lest my Dream maker stop his ministrations.

I begin my singing and Dream rewards me by rocking more eagerly and allowing me to I rock in sync against him. For the most part, I manage my musings clear enough to make out the words and the tune. If it was your first time to hear the song though, I'm sure it would not have made sense to you.

There is a slight hitch in my voice when Dream begins to latch his lips on my collar bones and graze the area. My hands find his nape and my fingers dig into the roots of his hair.

I feel glorious on him, especially with how successful I am with my singing.

I persevere all the way to the chorus, but then that was when Morpheus shifts and flips us over. He pushes my back on the cushioned seat and my head props on the arm chest.

At this point, I struggle with my lyrics and he seems to enjoy it. I end up a sputtering mess and don't have the wits to say anything but his name.

He smiles as I grab his face and whine. He rolls his hips deliciously into my and my legs anchor him in the perfect position.

"Dream, oh, Dream, you feel so good."

His thrusts bring unholy sounds to my mouth.

"I don't remember that part of the song, pretty girl."

Fuck the song, I could care less about a stupid ass-

"Will you continue your tune, or shall I withdraw and use my hands instead of your throbbing-"

"No, please!" I whine and shake my head as I latch my fingers around his neck. "Morpheus, please, please, give me a chance."

"Well, when you say my name so sweetly," he sighs, quickening his actions, "I would hate to see my favorite songbird suffer," he grips my legs tightly, "not when she's submit to me willingly."

I moan out his name while I finally remember the next words to the song. I hit all the wrong notes and even modulate to a different key when he maneuvers me up. My body is trapped in the corner of the couch and he begins to brutally ram into me.

My head falls back and my voice strains as my tongue helplessly hangs out. I gasp for air as he grows relentless.

Oh Morpheus. Morpheus. Morpheus. Morpheus. Morpheus. Morpheus. Morpheus. Morpheus. Morpheus. Morpheus. Morpheus.

That's all that could come out of my lips at this point.

He hums and steals one gasp of his name from my lips. It does not end my holy mantra though.

Dream utters, "I quite like this song."

I do nothing but squirm, especially when one of his hands begin to fiddle with my sopping heat.

The sounds of me are absolutely obscene.

It is music to his ears.

"Do you think your beloved Meret or Apollo would enjoy this song as much as I?" he quips harshly, though his voice is not strained at all.

For once he does not enjoy the fact my only response is his name.

He snaps his hips particularly harshly, "I am asking you a question, my dear."

I dumbly whine as I gain the wits to look at him. My jaw hangs low at the sight of his dark gaze while he absolutely annihilates me.

"If that poses too hard to answer, then I'll ask something simpler," he leans his forehead against me, "who is making you feel this good?"

My legs tighten around him, "you."

"And what is my name, dearest?"

"Morpheus," I whine, "my- my Dream, my king of dreams and nightmares, my-" I squeal, "my king, my love, my -"

He hums and rewards me with a kiss on my jaw though my response is all very messy, "very good." He licks my throat as he thrusts, "and again-"

"Morpheus-"

"Again-

"Morpheus-"

Dream continues like this, making sport of burning his name on my throat, up until my words are muffled and my breathing escapes me.

All at once, I am wild with pleasure, burning from the core of my very being, as I coil tightly around him, both with my limbs and from within. I can barely make out any coherent sounds as I am blinded by my undoing. I come around him with a noise I'm sure my neighbors are not enjoying.

"Very good, my girl," he praises, "very good for me, indeed," he kisses my neck, "will you allow me a few moments to chase after release?"

I nod furiously and grab his face, "fuck, Morpheus, please, come inside me. Please, please, please."

He only groans in response as he chases his own high.

I cry out when I feel him spasm inside of me. He draws out a prolonged sigh as he thrashes his hips. I'm merely a moaning, boneless, mess as he draws every last grain of delight out of him and into me.

Even though I am helplessly shaking beneath him as his movements heavily persist, I am utterly pleased by the feel of him coming undone in me.

Once he finally slacks, I manage to catch my voice and my breath as my toes curl and my belly rolls.

I attack his neck, eager to mark him the way he surely marked me.

Dream moans and snakes his arms around my torso, pressing me closer against him, if that were possible, "pretty girl, this is your punishment, remember?"

"Wanna make you feel good," I mutter against his skin.

He lifts his head as he groans, raising a brow at me, "I can practically hear the aching of your core. You cannot possibly take me now."

I attempt to kiss him but end up pouting when he dodges me, "I thought you were punishing me, my king."

"You make me out to be so cruel," he croons, brushing his nose against mine, "I did not even hold true to my threats," he ghosts his lips on mine.

He rolls his lips against me and I am unable to mask my sharp whine.

"You've proved it to yourself, girl," he mutters, "you would break against me."

My stomach flutters at the idea, "then break me."

He draws my name out in a warning and feels the shiver that runs down my spine because of it. Dream lifts face to look down on me with disappointment, "you are more insolent than you have proved."

I nibble my lip, "I can be a good girl for you," I release my lip and offer a soft smile, "or a really, really bad girl."

"I wonder how much worse you can become."

"I can show-" I gasp and tighten my arms around him when he begins to move, "no wait, I'm sorry, please don't leave," I press my cheek on his shoulder and quickly beg, "please don't leave."

Dream shifts before he stills, "but is this not uncomfortable for you?"

"I like the way you feel," I admit, "I don't want you to pull away."

I relax when he rearranges me in his arms.

Effortlessly, Dream keeps me cradled in his arms as he rearranges us on the sofa. He is back beneath me and my legs are straddling his.

We both release a sigh of relief.

I lean back on the crook of his neck and begin to work on his hickies.

"Do not test me, girl," he warns so fervently I feel my womb quiver.

I whimper as he wraps his arms around me and moves his head to hinder my actions.

"I'm not testing you, my lord," I complain, taking his face in my hands, opting to kiss his face instead, "I'm worshiping you, adoring you, loving you."

Dream relaxes at the notion, then chuckles. The vibrations of his laugh leave me whining. He leans back and exposes his milky neck to me. I eagerly attack throat as he says, "very good."

[grits-galraisedinthesouth]

Meghan Markle Waves Goodbye To Her Rom-Com Dreams

We do? Rom-coms? I mean, yeah, it would be wonderful to have good movies again, of any genre. But with Meghan in charge, imagine the scripts she would commission. “When Harry Met Meghan, the Oppressed and Suicidal Actress.” “How to Lose a Prince in 10 Days.”  “10 Things I Hate About Kate.” “The Meghan Markle Story, Starring Meghan Markle.” 

That last one’s more of a tragicomedy than a rom-com, sorry. But I understand why she wants to make Julia Roberts-style romantic comedies. After all, just a few years ago, she was lurking on Hollywood Boulevard auditioning for her big break when a prince in an Aston Martin cruised by and whisked her away to his palace. She has lived a real-life Cinderella story. Only this one may not have quite the same ending.

Petty Woman: Meghan Markle Waves Goodbye To Her Rom-Com Dreams

BY: PEACHY KEENAN JULY 03, 2023

The latest chapter in the Meghan character arc is about the content she and hapless Harry are trying to pitch to their paymasters in Beverly Hills.

Not all fairy tales have happy endings, and for Princess Meghan the clock just chimed midnight and the spell has been broken. The coach is turning back into a pumpkin as we speak.

As a longtime Royal Family watcher, I admit to feeling shameless glee as I read the recent stories of Meghan and Harry striking out in Hollywood. It’s always fun to watch dire low-stakes predictions come true. Like many of you, I was appalled at the disrespect Meghan showed to her in-laws. Instead of respecting the Queen, Meghan, incredibly, seemed to be trying to compete with the Queen. She thought she was playing a game of “Survivor,” but she was the only one on the island who didn’t know how to make a fire.

A Long Way Down for the Duchess

For those not keeping track, Meghan and her nitwit ginger sidekick have been dropped by Spotify, reportedly losing half of the $50 million promised. She got $25 million for a measly 12 hours of a middling podcast featuring the richest and most famous women in the world complaining about how hard their lives are. Netflix is reportedly about to cut their $100 million deal short. They finished milking them dry of low-hanging tabloid family gossip, and just found out they have no Act 2.

Nothing is working out the way she dreamed it would. Meghan’s imagined billionaire lifestyle is turning into a mirage. Why? Because for some hilarious reason, the creative bigwigs in Hollywood believed Meghan when she promised that her and Harry would be able to provide oodles of monetizable entertainment content.  

I mean, yes, I am quite entertained by the spectacle, but schadenfreude is tough to monetize.

Meghan In Her Flop Era

Meghan’s predicament tells you everything about the people who run Hollywood. Imagine thinking that these two “f*cking grifters,” in the words of the Spotify exec who had to say no to Harry’s harebrained podcast ideas, would be a rich source of high-quality entertainment! 

I can’t help wondering how a D-list golddigger convinced these studio heads that her and the ginger mouth breather would somehow provide $150 million worth of streaming content. It turns out that they’re only good at providing piles of steaming content, if you know what I mean.

I suppose it’s true, as movie producer Jackie Trehorn tells the Dude in “The Big Lebowski,” standards have fallen in entertainment. Since the Sussexes first ditched their careers as legit royalty and started groping for ephemeral Hollywood royalty, my fellow Meghan hobbyists and I have enjoyed a goldmine of unintentional comedy. She’s the Benny Hill of pampered Montecito trophy wives, always running downhill chased by imaginary paparazzi. 

She’s been a source of delight since the early days when she was using a Sharpie to write inspirational messages on bananas to street prostitutes in England. “You are brave.” “You are loved.” Then the cringe-worthy trek through the thousand micro-aggressions she endured at the hands of her sister-in-law Catherine. Did she not realize everyone saw it for what it was: pure jealousy?

But now we come to the era of Meghan Markle, entertainment content creator. The latest chapter in the Meghan character arc is about the content she and hapless Harry are trying to pitch to their paymasters in Beverly Hills. It was clear that her long slide back into C-list obscurity had begun when I read an incredible tidbit in the trades earlier this year. Meghan was talking about her new content ideas she was working on for her “media production company.” See, it’s already funny! 

Meghan gushed to a Variety reporter: “For scripted, we want to think about how we can evolve from that same space and do something fun! It doesn’t always have to be so serious. Like a good rom-com. Don’t we miss them? I miss them so much. I’ve probably watched ‘When Harry Met Sally’ a million times. And all the Julia Roberts rom-coms. We need to see those again.”

We do? Rom-coms? I mean, yeah, it would be wonderful to have good movies again, of any genre. But with Meghan in charge, imagine the scripts she would commission. “When Harry Met Meghan, the Oppressed and Suicidal Actress.” “How to Lose a Prince in 10 Days.”  “10 Things I Hate About Kate.” “The Meghan Markle Story, Starring Meghan Markle.” 

That last one’s more of a tragicomedy than a rom-com, sorry. But I understand why she wants to make Julia Roberts-style romantic comedies. After all, just a few years ago, she was lurking on Hollywood Boulevard auditioning for her big break when a prince in an Aston Martin cruised by and whisked her away to his palace. She has lived a real-life Cinderella story. Only this one may not have quite the same ending.

As Jeremy Zimmer, the CEO of United Talent Agency, one of the largest Hollywood talent agencies dished during Cannes to every reporter within earshot: “It turns out that Meghan Markle wasn’t a great audio talent, or necessarily has some kind of talent. And you know, just because you’re famous doesn’t mean you’re good at something.” 

Ouch. I wonder if Jeremy Zimmer has seen the latest desperate pitch Meghan made to Netflix; a girlboss rom-com called “Bad Manners” starring … Miss Havisham. The show is “a prequel to Charles Dickens’s 1861 novel Great Expectations which will focus on the character Miss Havisham… [the show] aims to shine a feminist light on the spinster, showing her as a ‘strong woman living in a patriarchal society.’”

Who says comedy is dead? Sign me up for this one!

The article ends with the ominous “it is unclear whether the show will get a green light from Netflix.” 

Meghan is learning, finally, the hardest lesson of all: real royalty may be hereditary, but Hollywood royalty has to be earned. Popularity matters. Likeability, in the end, is the only currency that matters if you wear no crown.

Peachy Keenan is a senior contributor to The Federalist and a contributing editor and regular essayist for The American Mind, a publication of The Claremont Institute. She is the author of "Domestic Extremist: A Practical Guide to Winning the Culture War" (coming June 6 from Regnery). She also writes at peachykeenan.substack.com, and you can always find her on Twitter.