#and i tried to read it and immediately was like oh

[currentfandomkick]

Atm too much on plate to personally, but can add more Chaos Options for everyone’s amusement

Dan is mentioned by Jazz and Danny on occasion. No one gets why the two won’t answer questions about him until a green stickynote covers a camera when asked in an interview and said stickynote states ‘stop invoking supernatural timeline criminals’. Danny’s only response when asked to elaborate is ‘oh, dude went omnicidal after his fright was slaughtered in a GZ part of IR specific political assassination by the Eyeball brigade. And if those idiots haven’t forgotten, i beat his ass and got amity to the correct dimension, place in time, and location in said aspect of spacetime on my first try no training. I can and will switch from IR anthropology track to learning magic out of spite if they start up on assassinations again. Yes that is a threat because you already know what I’m like with basic sigils. Do you really want me to be aware of what i’m capable of, or are you going to leave me to my timeline as is?”

The responding stickynote in a pale green read ‘we agreed to the cease and desist. Cease invoking your corrupt kin.’

Jazz’s only comment on the matter is to hum and go ‘IR denizens have more intrapolitical drama than expected. And the seers are horrified since my brother is a possible candidate as the United Zone’s next leader. Which he’s refused multiple times. And as a reminder to the eternal voyeurs? I watch back’

Dani and Danny going over their relationship and Dani/Ellie slowly growing into the same Ellie for her human form as she starts identifying not as Danny’s Clone or Vlad’s Failed Experiment but as another menace in the Lex Gen Sibs.

Let jazz be the truly terrifying one and let her go after lionel mentally. Girl deserves an apprenticeship with Nocturne and is allowed to use Lionel as her gineua pig after he tries to target her siblings

Arguments during Uno Revenge between the Extended Luthor Family (add Mercy and Lena. Possibly Kara—depends on version you like). Show the messy alliances and Jazz’s nightmare competitive streak with Kon’s ‘i don’t need to win—i need x to lose!’. Have this be what JL bug catches. Bonus if Dani is there and the JL catches Luthor checking on both Dannies form ‘stability’ and asking if either wants to do a check after or not. Danny rolls with being tested while Dani asks if they’re taking core difference into account as ‘my doc said my water core means i can reform from goop form as long as there’s emotions nearby.’

Luthor’s Alarmed Dad Face is caught and him immediately bulldozing to find ways to help her and theorizing aloud is oddly comforting to the kids. Especially as Danny is shown to mother hen Dani instead of Jazz as the JL expected.

Kon rambling about Tim is similarly caught on the bug as he discusses Tim with Danny while Danny is seen visibly tinkering and muttering about ‘ethics of checking Library Of Possible for a cure to varied illnesses unsolved in this timeline. Tim is fixated on kon’s portion. And Bi Crisis continues.

Steph and Tim being in the phase of their relationship where they are both doubting their romantic feelings for the other. Tim is aware he’s attracted to Kon and Danny (to his own horror). Steph is debating if she likes Tim better as a friend (shit is MessyTM)

Paulina turns into a dragon at a gala when a rogue has the brightest idea to try and take her necklace. It is returned by a sighing Danny publicly with a ‘hey, Paulie, Paulie! I got it back, can we do a big yell at the sky and then look at me? Great, do you want me to put it on you?’

Oddly this works. Paulina is seen grumbling about idiots taking from Her Hoarde. Danny is seen as openly sympathetic while Billy Batson asks Paulina if she wants any help getting in touch with the dragon community in Fawcett.

Danny and Kon hate a lot of reporters (Clark Kent is at the top of the list for Ignores Them Reasons) but genuinely like Billy and only let him handle interviews

Danny is publicly reminded he is not allowed in Gotham without escort after they found out instead of having a fear response or any normal response to Gotham Specific biological warfare, his body processes it and the corrupt ecto combined as Ghostnip. He requires a minder or else he WILL find Mr. Freeze, and give the guy a summon for Frostbite. The goal is to avoid him giving out Overgrowth to Ivy.

Kon is caught rough housing with Jazz and Danny and Dani regularly. When the paparazzi tries to spin it as ‘evil signs’ Kon is seen raising an eyebrow and stating ‘holy fuck, i forgot how many flavors of bigot there are.’

Danny and Jazz then casually dropping ‘oh, yeah, because our mad scientist bios forgot lab safety in the IR we qualify as denizens around blob ghosts level. danny is worse since the accident, but oops’d into being bi-dimensional on top of being oops kids two times over.’ ‘Kon was planned by dad. Ellie was planned with her late brothers and still had health complications, but she’s liminal too.’

Kon is out here ready to rumble if you insult his siblings, thanks.

Jazz can and has been seen taking out multiple people and disarming guns before handing them to Danny. Who disassembles them to scrap metal in moments with a manic glint in his eyes. Jazz openly states she’s not allowed long distance weapons as she has her birth father’s aim. Danny is caught taking out aliens with their own tech as a civilian when one of them had the audacity to call Lex ‘the shiny one’

Public learned Danny did not get his bio father’s aim, and can understand multiple alien languages as ‘liminal thing. I suck at speaking them unless its the fun words or sayings. Russian and Catonese are more my speed for speaking day to day.’ When asked about his skills fighting, he reports ‘i’m still waiting for invasion drills at school. We had them bi-weekly in Amity and everyone learned what roles we do best. Lead three counterattacks for my year during a few major invasions when Phantom was handling GZ things.’

Dani routinely caught climbing her siblings like a squirrel while Danny is always fiddling with Something.

When asked why danny is good at drawing he actually looks confused as he states ‘no? I’m pretty awful since this is supposed to be a scientific sketch and i’m way off scale.’ Danny is only off by millimeters.

Kon is the most ‘adjusted’ as he has a lack of life experience, and harasses Sam, Tucker and Paukina’s crew for information. Asking Jazz gives him a headache.

Dani is asked her age at one point in a Live and answers with ‘uh, in months i think I’m 13 and a half now?’

Public loses it as Ellie is now a Confirmed Clone (she never hid it? Was that a thing to hide?) while all of Amity Park tags pics from the day Dani visited Casper High with a tag of ‘literally everyone clocked that. Why is this news?’

Lex is seen with people demanding he explain why he cloned Danny.

Lex denies cloning Danny.

Clark is about to jump on ‘but you cloned someone!’ Route when an overwhelmed Dani goes ‘should i not have been made?’ In a confused-scared-vulnerable tone that hits clark with a Guilt Brick.

Danny ruffles her hair while Kon hops in with “ask vlad masters. He’s the one who cloned Danny Senior over here.”

Danny and Jazz answer with ‘Danny/my evil godfather obsessed with our bio mom. And Danny since he met him at a college reunion.’

Danny points out he met his clones and watched them die, rates it as ‘-100/10’ and carries Dani off stage while Kon raises an eyebrow at the press and looks So Damn Luthor it hurts before stating congratulations, you made a child who has less than two years of existence under her belt cry. Hope you’re all so proud of how Lionel you all are,” before escorting jazz and Lex off stage.

Let Tim’s only interaction with this be ‘i am batman’s emotional support robin, your turn to handle Clark wrangling… hey greta? Can you check on our little buddy? Thanks.’

Greta and Dani solidarity. This extends to any liminal they run into.

Kon being asked about the villains in his family and responding with ‘legally or vibes wise?’ Repeatedly throws off everyone. As which one has evil vibes is now hotly debated. Kon slips off and texts his friends a ‘so Jazz is the true Drama Queen of our family and terrifies me. She refuses to go Villian on principle but tell me how else she can get Grandpa Kidnapper to shut up with glance in trial? She owns it and uses it for good. For now anyways.’

Casper high commenting asking about the ‘sentient hotdog army’

Danny responds by sending an update video to social media (public, posted under wrong one) of the sentient hotdog drawer and him gifting the hotdogs more chicken wire and feeding them cooked carrots and onion.

The hotdogs are Pleased with Danny and Do Not Attack him. In the video he is heard stating ‘its been seven years since my bio parents fucked up so hard that not only could they not use our fridge without being attacked by their own oops creation, but that my ass imprinted on these violent terrors at pet shaped. Tomorrow is pretzel day as they are low on salt, but their teeth suck. Will be making gross oversoaked pretzels to make them happy.’ One is seen climbing into Danny hand and climbing up his arm. ‘Hey, i told you i cant give you my current phone. Don’t worry, touch screens suck… yes stabby, that’s my face. Do you want more blueberry mush?’

Public Loses It when they find out Fentons made abominations. And Danny adopted them in first grade.

Amity park just wants vids and calls most of public ‘weak sauce’ ‘cringefail’ and ‘lemmings’ in response

Danny and Sampson the Gorilla article resurfaces. Jazz is seen teasing Danny for overshadowing her interview. Danny’s defense of ‘i do not control the idiocy of researchers for not using sign and making clear approaches and following basic boundaries.’

‘Didnt sampson threaten to adopt you after that?’

‘In the GZ i think she’s got partial custody still—lemme ask wulf.’

Wulf seen showing up at Luthor Residence as he pleases to check up on Danny

Paulina and Sam arguing about safety standards for beauty products ans ethics of animal testing (Paulina and Sam know less than they thought. Luthor asks if they want to see the process and decide for themselves what alternatives there are.)

Tucker and Danny are a Know Tech Terror Team. Tim often joins to Bruce’s amusement and horror. They feed each other’s ideas in horrifying ways.

Tucker is a technomage. Tim makes apps that speedrun summoning. Danny is in call with Kon ans his friends when the two get too deep into coding magic. Kon cackles at Danny’s misery as ‘your not-boyfriend is stealing my bestie. Make him stop’

Kon refuses. It is good enrichment for their gothamite skater boy.

Danny is seen with a number of Infinite Realms Denizens, often with sparing. Superman keeps trying to intervene only he cant touch the ghosts and they find him Rude.

Combat = core communication aspect for Infinite Realms Denizens. Danny is asked to explain it and only says ‘you do realize they’re infinite and combat is fairly universal, right?’

Let Dani be a little shit. And prank Damian.

Bruce has decided he and Lex are in Tired Dad to Many Adoptive Kids solidarity.

Former Bruce, Lex and Oliver roommates. This is part of why Bruce and Oliver know Lex isn’t 1000% evil but can see through his BS.

fenton portal is brought to Metropolis against JL wishes. Danny stating ‘my grave my call’ haunts many JL members, especially as the magically inclined clocked Danny’s core latching onto Lex as ‘New FrightMate ElderMentorParent’ bond and Danny’s anxiety being far from the machine that killed him and leaving it in unknown hands.

Lex is openly called Dad by his kids. Liminals started it and Kon rolled with it

The fun of Pandora rocking up calling Danny Elipsis and Lex having a ‘did i adopt a demi-god’ panic

He did not (for now?) but Pandora is a Ghostly Parent to Dani and Danny. Danny has Frostbite as MentorElderFamilial bond too, but its more Uncle or Fave Adult Cousin than parental. Danny is not a god or godling, but is a symbol of Hope for the IR as the first out and about Veilborn/halfa since their genocide under Pariah.

Vlad vs Amanda Waller over GIW and the fake gov organization Legal Battle.

Metropolis demanding Amity return their ‘feral raccoon boy’ when Danny visits (he visits to check on the city spirit)

Mitten, amity’s city spirit, and Gotham have Unexplained Beef (gotham is Cursed. Amity is a master at creative curse application into blessings. Mitten is not explaining shit as Gotham keeps almost killing her favorite human.)

Babs, Tim, and Tucker are hacking buddies but unaware of it.

Realistic overturn of Anti-Ecto Acts with Waller leading the charge (JL is side eyeing this So Hard until Tucker and Danny are seen together and someone realizes Tucker is Waller’s youngest son. Then its ‘oh, Oh!’)

Kon, Tucker and Sam are required to have a fourth in the room. No one has worked out why Danny counts, but he does chill the trio out from their ego trips.

Main ships to sail/endgame? Danny and Val (romantic) with qpr everlasting trio, TimKon, Let Jazz Have A Love Interest (legit, anyone she has good chemistry with. I love her with Jason but idk if that works as well here given her direction so far, and too big of an age gap with Dick. Maybe an OC at this point or Other DC character. Tag your ideas or drop somewhere on post).

Let Lex go through a rollercoaster character arc and be the main thing stopping his kids from hunting Clark and Superman down.

Tim’s internal pain with realizing Kon is a rescue hero in training and hates Robin for spying hur has a crush in him as Tim. As a teen angst treat.

Clark is not Evil but the Antagonist for a long time. Also keeps trying to get Danny to move portal to Safer Place. Danny keeps it in a Luthor Lab, and public knows it’s Legally Danny’s but not why.

Danny makes Lex pay off loans, debts and housing/bills on gofundme. Dani/Ellie enjoys having Lex buy and forgive international debt.

Jazz makes him start up an insurance company non profit that doesn’t deny coverage for any reason. If you pay, you are covered. She refuses to let him close it unless there’s universal health car that’s both affordable and not prone to denting people their healthcare. Especially mental, psychological AND prescriptions! And disability accommodations dad! Fund it if youre going to be a stupid billionaire!

They keep this hidden from the public until Clark runs a story about the strange funds. Kids return with receipts for the exact amounts to their organizations.

Lex being liked by public for many of these with him citing his kids at each turn as ‘its important to give credit where it is due’

Clark realizing the change is Real and Sticking. Max confusion.

DC X DP PROMPT

Lex Luthor after years of r&d stumbles upon ectoplasm. He then uses this experimental fuel source to power his machines for years.

The GIW gets wind of this, the GIW who currently have both Jazz and Danny in containment after Maddie and Jack handed them over.

Lex finds these two children and for a moment he’s back in his childhood, remembering his father. His horrible drunkard of a father, and he sees red. When he calms down the GIW base is nothing more than a smoking crater and he is carrying the two children.

[mapis-putellas]

𝑩𝒖𝒕𝒕 𝒐𝒇 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒋𝒐𝒌𝒆/𝑩.𝒎𝒆𝒂𝒅

Autistic!reader. I tried my best to make this as realistic as possible. Hopefully it came out okay.

It was supposed to be a good day. A nice, relaxed afternoon with Beth and her friends; Leah, Kyra, Alessia, and Katie. Beth had convinced you it would be fun, saying they all liked you and wanted to get to know you better. You had been hesitant at first, the idea of socializing with a group of people you weren’t entirely comfortable with making your stomach twist in unease. But Beth’s insistence, paired with her reassuring smile, had eventually won you over.

It had started off well enough. You had sat next to Beth on the couch, her hand resting lightly on your thigh as the others chatted animatedly around you. Occasionally, they’d turn their attention to you, asking questions about your interests. At first, you answered earnestly, your voice soft but steady. Alessia asked about your favorite book, and you’d immediately launched into an enthusiastic explanation about the most recent book you’d read that had become your favourite.

After that, the questions kept coming, and you kept answering. And it was okay, at first. Until you started noticing a pattern. A pattern that made your stomach twist further. Every time you finished talking, both Leah and Katie, laughed.

At first, you thought they were laughing because they found your answers amusing or endearing. Beth always said your enthusiasm was one of her favorite things about you. But as the conversation continued, the laughter didn’t feel warm anymore. It felt pointed. Katie and Leah especially seemed to find every answer you gave funny, even when you weren’t trying to be.

Your confusion began to morph into something heavier; something cold and sharp that settled in your chest. You were used to people misunderstanding you or finding your honesty a little jarring. It wasn’t new. But this felt different. You weren’t sure why at first, but then it hit you: they weren’t laughing with you. They were laughing at you.

You felt the humiliation rise in your throat like bile. You weren’t stupid. Naïve, maybe. Socially awkward, definitely. But you weren’t stupid. And yet, the way they looked at you, the way they giggled and shared glances after every response you gave, made you feel small.

Beth hadn’t noticed. She was too busy chatting with Kyra about something else. You glanced at her, silently willing her to look your way and see the discomfort etched across your face. But she didn’t.

“I’m just going to the bathroom,” you murmured, standing abruptly.

No one seemed to notice except Beth, who glanced at you with a small smile. “You okay, love?”

You nodded quickly, not trusting your voice, and hurried down the hallway. Once you reached the bathroom, you shut the door behind you and leaned heavily against it for a second before beginning to pace.

The humiliation was suffocating now, and you couldn’t stop the way your hands flapped slightly at your sides as you tried to calm the storm brewing inside you. Your chest ached with frustration and hurt, and you felt tears prick at the corners of your eyes.

Beth had said they liked you. She’d promised they liked you. But clearly, that wasn’t true.

There was a soft knock at the door a few minutes later, and you froze.

“Love? It’s me.” Beth’s voice was gentle, but you didn’t respond. You didn’t trust yourself to speak.

The door creaked open slowly, and Beth stepped inside, her eyes immediately landing on you. Her expression shifted to one of concern as she took you in.

“Oh, babe,” she said softly, stepping closer.

You wanted to push her away, to tell her to leave you alone. You were mad at her. She’d lied to you. But when she wrapped her arms around you, the familiar pressure was grounding, and you couldn’t stop yourself from leaning into her.

Beth leaned back against the sink, letting your weight rest against her as she held you tightly. One of her hands stroked your back in slow, soothing circles, while the other rested on the back of your head, cradling you gently.

“What happened?” she asked after a while, her voice low and careful. “Talk to me.”

For a moment, you didn’t say anything, focusing instead on grazing your fingers over the soft skin of her back. The repetitive motion calmed you, anchoring you as you tried to sort through your thoughts.

“They laughed at me,” you said finally, your voice barely above a whisper.

Beth’s hand stilled against your back. “What?”

“Your friends.” You pulled back just enough to look at her, though your gaze didn’t meet hers. It hovered somewhere over her shoulder instead. “They were laughing at me. They think I’m stupid.”

Beth frowned, her eyes searching your face. “Why would you think that?”

“Because it’s true,” you said bluntly. “They laughed after every answer I gave. Even when I wasn’t trying to be funny.”

Beth’s arms tightened around you, her expression shifting to one of anger; not at you, but at the situation. “They don’t think you’re stupid,” she said firmly. “I promise you that.”

You shook your head, your hands still grazing over her skin. “You lied to me. You said they liked me.”

“They do like you,” Beth insisted.

“They don’t,” you replied, your voice breaking slightly. “If they did, they wouldn’t have laughed at me.”

Beth sighed, her forehead resting against yours as she tried to figure out what to say. “They’re just…they don’t know you like I do,” she said after a moment. “Sometimes people laugh because they don’t know how else to react. It doesn’t mean they think you’re stupid.”

You didn’t respond, your fingers continuing their gentle exploration of her back.

“I’m so sorry, love,” Beth whispered, pressing a kiss to your forehead. “I should’ve noticed. I should’ve said something.”

You shrugged slightly, still not meeting her gaze. “It’s fine.”

“It’s not fine,” she said, her voice firm but still gentle. “You shouldn’t have to feel like that. Not ever.”

You didn’t know what to say to that, so you stayed quiet. Beth’s hand moved to cup your cheek, tilting your head up slightly so you had no choice but to look at her.

“I love you,” she said, her blue eyes earnest. “And I think you’re brilliant. If they can’t see that, that’s their problem, not yours.”

Her words made your chest ache in a different way, and you felt your lip wobble slightly as you fought back tears. “I’m mad at you,” you said, your voice small.

Beth nodded. “I know.

“You lied to me.”

“I know,” she repeated. “And I’m sorry.”

You studied her for a moment, searching her face for any sign of insincerity. But there was nothing there.

“I just…I wanted you to feel comfortable,” Beth continued. “I didn’t think…I didn’t think they’d act like that.”

You nodded slowly, your fingers trailing up to her shoulder. “It’s okay. But I don’t think I want to hang out with them again.”

“Okay,” Beth said without hesitation. “You don’t have to.”

The weight in your chest eased slightly at her words, and you let out a small sigh as your lips quirked up into a tentative smile. “Thank you.”

Beth smiled softly, her thumb brushing over your cheek. “Anything for you, love.” Even though you were still a little mad at her, you couldn’t help but lean in and brush your lips against her own. Beth’s smile widened just slightly as she cupped your jaw to lightly coax you forward into a proper kiss. Your eyes fluttered closed at the sensation, your fingers toying with the baby hairs at the nape of her neck.

After a few quiet moments, you leaned back into her embrace, letting her warmth and steady presence soothe the lingering hurt. You pressed a kiss to her neck, feeling the way she squeezed you tightly in response.

After a while, she pulled back, pressing a playful kiss to your nose. You couldn’t help but smile in response, and Beth retuned it as she lead you back through to the bedroom with the promise she’d be back in just a few minutes, and you nod, curling up on her side of the bed with your book, just as you always did.

You trusted Beth to handle it. If there was one thing you knew about her, it was that she never let anyone disrespect you. But even that thought wasn’t enough to soothe the turmoil in your mind completely. But I would ease. It always did.

In the living room, Beth stood in front of her friends, her arms crossed over her chest, her lips pressed into a tight line. Alessia and Kyra sat quietly on the couch, their expressions uneasy, while Katie and Leah leaned back in their seats, clearly not expecting what was coming.

“I hope you’re happy with yourselves,” Beth began, her accent more pronounced in her frustration. “Do you have any idea how upset you made her?”

Leah tilted her head, a half-smile playing on her lips. “Come on, Beth. We were just joking around. It’s not that deep.”

Beth’s eyes narrowed. “Not that deep? Leah, she left the room practically in tears because of the way you two were laughing at her. How is that not deep?”

Katie leaned forward, resting her elbows on her knees. “We weren’t being mean. She’s just-well, she’s a bit literal, isn’t she? It’s not like we said anythin’ bad.”

“That’s not the point!” Beth snapped, her voice rising. “She’s literal because she’s autistic. Did either of you even stop to think about that? Or did you just decide to laugh at her for being different?”

The room went silent. Leah blinked, the words hitting her like a sudden gust of wind. Katie opened her mouth to respond but closed it again, for once unsure of what to say.

Kyra shifted uncomfortably, her gaze flicking between Beth and the others. “Beth, we didn’t mean to upset her. Alessia and I didn’t even say anything…”

“But you didn’t stop them, did you?” Beth shot back, her glare moving to Kyra and Alessia. “You sat there and let it happen. You know what those two are like. You could have said something, but you didn’t.”

Alessia’s cheeks flushed with guilt, and Kyra nodded solemnly, their silence a quiet admission of responsibility.

Beth turned her focus back to Katie and Leah, her voice colder now. “Because of the two of you, she doesn’t want to see any of you again. Do you realize how much that hurts her? How much that hurts me?”

Katie frowned, her arms crossing defensively. “She’s being a bit dramatic, don’t you think? It was just banter, Beth. She’ll get over it.”

Beth’s hand slammed against the back of a chair, startling all of them. “Don’t you dare call her dramatic,” she seethed. “Do you even hear yourselves? She’s not dramatic. She processes things differently. She doesn’t understand your so-called banter the way you think she does. And instead of making her feel included, you made her feel like a joke.”

Leah leaned forward, her voice softer now. “We didn’t know…about her being autistic. You’ve never mentioned it before.”

“I shouldn’t have to mention it!” Beth exclaimed, her voice breaking slightly. “You should treat her with respect regardless. But now that you do know, you better think long and hard about how you’re going to make this right.”

The weight of Beth’s words settled heavily in the room. Leah ran a hand through her hair, looking genuinely remorseful, while Katie’s defensive posture began to soften.

Beth took a deep breath, her shoulders dropping slightly. “I love you guys, but I also love her,” she said quietly but firmly. “And I will not tolerate anyone making her feel less than. If you can’t understand that, then you’re not welcome in our lives.”

The room remained silent as Beth turned on her heel and left, not sparing them another glance.

*

Tags:

@ceesimz @marysfics @girlgenius1111 @codiemarin @simp4panos @silentwolfsstuff @goldenempyrean @xxnaiaxx @liloandstitchstan @ktgoodmorning @chelseacult

[levanterhaze]

GAMEBOY — BANGCHAN

♡  ― 󠀬󠀬 fratboy!bangchan x f!reader this one is just pure angst and drama, no smut, just teasing each other like two idiots.

♡ synopsis ― Bangchan is the campus playboy—charming, cocky, and infuriatingly irresistible. One reckless, drunken night leads to a secret you swore you'd never have. Now, hating him is harder than keeping him your dirty little secret.

[ 5.7k words ]♡― i had to continue this fic in a 2nd part, i felt necessary. maybe i'll continue it in a few more chapters (PLEASE DON'T GIVE UP ON ME) and thank you thank you thank you to everyone who has commented and appreciated this piece. it means a lot to a person who is non-native english wrt. without further ado, have a good read, loves!

♡ [part one]

you’re so indecisive of what I’m saying tryna catch the beat, make up your heart don't know if you're happy or complaining don't want for us to end, where do I start?

The pounding in your head was a testament to last night’s choices. Aspirin was non-negotiable. You could hear Eunji and Sohee's voices from the living room and were surprised that both of them were already awake after their all-nighter.

After leaving the room with Bangchan—because, of course, that happened—you ducked into the bathroom, shot off a text about vomiting and existential regret, and decided to make a graceful exit. Well, as graceful as one could manage after wild sex with the person you’d sworn to hate forever. Pride was nowhere in the equation, but who cared?

As soon as your eyes saw daylight, Eunji and Sohee looked at you judgmentally. You froze in your tracks, still wearing pink Hello Kitty jammies like a monument to your shame. Their judgment was immediate, sharp as a blade. Your heart sped up.

“You’re alive,” Sohee deadpanned, taking a bite of a cinnamon roll. “And looking like shit.”

“Appreciate it,” you shot back, throwing yourself into a chair. “Really warms the soul.”

Eunji’s smoothie slurp was unnecessarily loud, drilling straight into your skull. “We thought about waking you for breakfast but figured you’d need the recovery time.”

You dismissed the idea with a hand wave. "That's okay. Wouldn’t have gotten up anyway.”

"We can have lunch together, if you like. I really need a detox after last night." Sohee curled her lips into a grimace and you almost smiled. Detox advice from Sohee was peak irony.

But then Eunji, ever the chaos-bringer, dropped the bomb. “Oh my God, you guys, I heard the craziest thing last night! Jiwoon—my lit classmate—said he walked in on someone having super loud sex at the party. Guess who it was? Bangchan!”

Your heart plummeted straight into your stomach.

Silence remained and Sohee raised her eyebrows at Eunji.

“Apparently, the guy is a structural hazard,” Sohee chimed in, amused. “Minho said he once broke a floorboard. Who even does that?” Your red-haired friend says giggling.

Eunji giggled. “The girl’s lucky. If Bangchan wrecked me, I’d consider it an honor.”

You summoned your most convincing disdain, rolling your eyes with the energy of someone deeply unimpressed. “Honestly, can we not make him sound like some sort of deity?”

But guilt clung to you like a second skin, mingling with vivid flashes of last night—the furniture banging against the wall, Bangchan’s muscles taut as he tried to steady it. The memory burned, searing and humiliating, until Eunji’s voice yanked you back to reality.

The memory faded like mist when Eunji said it again. "Anyway, the girl’s lucky. I wish I was knocked down by Bangchan."

Lucky. That’s what they’d call you if they knew. Lucky—and a traitor to everything you’d loudly professed about hating him. They didn’t know it was you, and you intended to keep it that way.

From the tone of the chat, Jiwoon didn't see who was in the room with Bangchan, which means he didn't know you were the girl. Trying to ignore the talking and the sweat growing on your hands, you got up and declared that you were going to take a shower and maybe run some laps around the athletics track, because you really needed some fresh air.

The dorm felt claustrophobic. Eunji and Sohee were your best friends and you felt awful for not telling them the truth.

These were your best friends, but the truth felt like a grenade you couldn’t risk dropping. For months, you’d built your personality around despising Bangchan, and now? One night had unraveled it all.

Worst of all? You couldn’t stop replaying every second of it—and how much you’d loved it.

Sex had always been an exercise in mediocrity. Your exes? Predictably average, hitting the bare minimum on their way to their own finish line. As for finding the clitoris? Let’s just say they navigated like someone using a map upside down—an unsurprising disappointment every single time.

Now, though, Bangchan was something else entirely. A campus legend with a reputation as vast as it was unshakable. Everyone knew about his conquests—more women than you had fingers to count. Every rumor you’d rolled your eyes at turned out to be painfully, thrillingly true. He was better than anything you could have imagined.

Even after a long shower, his touch lingered, like phantom fingerprints etched into your skin. You could still feel him, every moment replaying in a maddening loop. No one had ever made you come twice in one night. No one. That fact alone made him unforgettable—and insufferably smug, no doubt.

Pulling on comfortable clothes, you grabbed a bag, stuffed in some essentials, and checked your phone. The group chat was overflowing with photos and messages from last night’s chaos, but you scrolled past all of it. There was only one person you needed right now.

You: Up for a morning run?

The reply came in under two minutes.

Hyunjin: It’s two in the afternoon. You: Morning for me. Hyunjin: Fine. Be there in five.

You tossed your phone into your bag and took a deep breath. A run was exactly what you needed—to burn off this restless energy and, hopefully, forget how guilty you felt.

You found Hyunjin on the running track near the outdoor field, surrounded by lush greenery and bursts of flowers the campus meticulously maintained. He looked effortlessly good, of course—baggy clothes hanging just right, dark hair falling over his face like it had been styled by the gods.

You started running side by side, silence settling between you. It was comfortable but heavy, like a bubble that needed popping. The kiss was the unspoken elephant on the track, but Hyunjin, ever observant, didn’t push. Not yet.

The day was crisp, the kind of weather that made you feel invincible. You poured your focus into your pace, and before you knew it, you’d pulled ahead. “Okay, okay—hold up,” Hyunjin called, his voice carrying just enough humor to make you smirk.

You stopped a few strides ahead, spinning on your heel to face him. He sauntered toward you, not even winded, like running was merely a mild inconvenience.

“There’s something you’re not telling me,” he said, his tone playful but probing.

“There’s nothing to tell,” you countered, already feeling your resolve falter.

“Uh-huh.” He stopped in front of you, his gaze narrowing. “Then why, exactly, did you ask me to kiss you last night?”

Well. There it was. No escaping now.

You shrugged, trying to play it cool as you grabbed the water bottle from your bag. “I was... needy, I guess.”

Hyunjin raised a brow, crossing his arms like he wasn’t buying it. “Needy, huh?”

“Look,” you said, exhaling sharply, “I’m sorry if it made things weird. You’re my best friend, and the last thing I want is for that to get messed up.”

“Relax,” he said, grinning as he ran a hand through his hair. “A kiss isn’t going to scare me off. You’re stuck with me.”

His easy laugh melted some of your tension, but before you could respond, he clapped his hands together with mock seriousness. “Tell you what—first one to the other side of campus owes the winner a banana milk.”

The sudden challenge caught you off guard, and you raised a brow. “Seriously?”

“Seriously,” he said, already turning on his heel to start jogging backward. “Unless you’re too scared.”

You couldn’t help but laugh as you bolted after him. “You’re so on.”

You lost the run, but of course, Hyunjin still paid for the drink. That summed him up as a friend.

After he dashed off to rehearse with Felix—because apparently, everyone else was rehearsing but you—a thought hit you like a lightbulb flickering to life. Rumors? Easy to spread. But if you wanted to get ahead of them, you had to go straight to the source.

With a mission in mind, you swaggered toward the gym where the basketball team was practicing. It wasn’t exactly classified info—every girl on campus could probably tell you when and where their training sessions were. You zipped your jacket up to your chin like it was some sort of emotional armor, grabbed your water bottle for moral support, and marched down the corridors. The door to the gym was already cracked open, and as you pushed it, everything seemed to slow down in the most dramatic way.

The guys were running drills, their shoes squeaking on the court like a broken record. The noise grated on your nerves, but you weren’t here for the sound; you were here for the spectacle. The stands were dotted with girls, some wrapped up in their player-boyfriend fantasies, while others... Well, who knows what they were thinking. You didn’t care. You had your eyes on the real prize today.

There he was, standing out like a sore thumb. His black and white uniform somehow looked too good on him. Focus, girl. You hid behind the staircase, crouched like a sneaky little spy, waiting for the game to wrap up.

It took nearly ten minutes, but eventually, the whistle blew. You adjusted your posture, trying to act casual, though you were definitely still paying attention to how the sweat trickled down Bangchan's forehead. It brought you war flashbacks. When the players scattered to grab towels and water, you took your cue to appear from behind the bleachers, giving a quick, awkward wave before ducking back again.

Bangchan's eyes scanned the area, and when they landed on you, his brows shot up in surprise.  In the meantime, he did the inevitable: he took off his shirt and used it to get dry. Great. Just great.

"Did you come to watch?" He smirked, that cocky grin of his. "Didn't know you were into basketball."

You rolled your eyes. His ability to flirt in every situation was almost impressive.

"Ha-ha. No." You sucked in a breath, desperately trying to obey your brain's commands. Don't look down. Don’t you dare look down. "Actually, I came to ask for a favor."

He leaned against the wall, eyebrow quirked, looking amused. "Okay...?"

“Right. I want what happened yesterday to stay a secret.”

Bangchan's eyebrow arched higher, an expression of entertained disbelief crossing his face. He crossed his arms, flexing those muscles in a way that made the mission of not looking at them impossible.

“'You think I'm going around saying we fucked?"

You roll your eyes, frustration building up, and clench your hand into a fist. Sure, say it louder, let the world know.

“Isn't that exactly what you do? Brag about your sexual life?”

The boy nodded, puffing out his chest, he shot back. "Ever heard me brag about it?"

“I don't need to hear it from you. The campus does it for you.” It was infuriating how this worked out. Everyone thought Bangchan was the type of guy, praising his victories and glorifying him every time he got between some girl's pants. 

Meanwhile, girls were severely censured for even kissing a guy at a party.

"Right. So you're just going off what people say about me?" His tone was challenging, like he couldn’t care less.

In a long drawn-out sigh, you fidgeted with your hands, intending to put the matter to one side. "Can you just keep this between us? I don't want anyone to know."

"Whatever, it's no big deal," he replied nonchalantly, shrugging. "If it's that important to you."

The words stung more than they should have. It wasn’t just the lack of care, it was the way he made it sound like it didn’t matter. No big deal. It hurt your pride, even if you didn’t mean it to. But that was Bangchan, wasn’t it? Haughty and self-righteous. Yeah, he was great in bed, but his attitude? Utterly shitty.

“Thanks.” You said it briefly, biting down your pride and leaving the scene as fast as you could. Speaking to him seemed like a fool's errand, but you couldn't risk it.

Behind you, Bangchan pursed his lips into a thin line, watching you go. To him, you were hopeless—always on guard, never letting your walls down. He knew he was right, even if it was a thin line. Sure, it was fun to rile you up, but it was maddening that you hated him for things he hadn’t even done.

Getting you to change your mind, though? That was the challenge. But if that’s what it took, he was more than willing to play the long game.

Early next week. Only Tuesday, and auditions loomed just a day away. You’d been agonizing over the perfect solo—one that wouldn’t just get you a role but the role. Monday was a blur of brainstorming with Hyunjin and Seungmin, your trusted theater comrades. Between swapping notes, debating song choices, and plenty of eye rolls, you managed to help each other refine your audition pieces. It was productive. Chaotic, but productive.

Your last hour of the day belonged to the theater, and it was sacred. The stage wasn’t just a place; it was a state of mind. The second the music hit, the world faded. Bills, homework, exes who ghosted you—it all melted away. Up there, you weren’t just alive; you were electric. It wasn’t just a hobby; it was instinct.

Your mom used to say you were born for the stage. She loved telling the story of how, as a kid, you’d belt out The Little Mermaid soundtrack so often the neighbors probably debated filing a noise complaint. Singing “Part of Your World” at the top of your lungs? A daily ritual. But the first time you sang for real—no plastic microphone, no stuffed animal audience—it clicked.

This was more than a passion. It was home.

Since high school, your hunger for the stage—and the spotlight—was insatiable. If there was a club, you wanted in. University was no different. People noticed you, not just for your knack for hitting sharp, glass-shattering high notes, but for your versatility. You could slip from sweet soprano to soulful belter faster than a drama major running late to class. On stage, you were magnetic.

Everyone gathered on stage, and Mrs. Baek appeared a few moments later with her round glasses and wavy hair around her face. Her figure was solid and powerful, as was her voice and knowledge.

But today, something was off. The crease on her forehead gave her away before she said a word. It was like a ripple of unease spread across the stage, and you didn’t miss a beat. You were already bracing for the bad news.

Then, a slim figure in a long skirt and boots strode into the center of the circle, sighing like she’d just carried the weight of the world—and maybe she had. “Okay, kids. Listen up.” Every pair of eyes locked onto her as if she were delivering the prophecy of doom. “We’re postponing the auditions. Indefinitely.”

Her announcement hit like a gut punch, and the stage erupted into chaos. Whispers turned to complaints, and complaints turned to full-blown outrage. Seungmin cast a skeptical glance at Mrs. Baek, then at you and Hyunjin, his eyes narrowing in suspicion.

What the hell was going on?

“All right, settle down,” Mrs. Baek said, slipping her glasses off and pinching the bridge of her nose with that practiced mix of authority and exhaustion only she could pull off. “Jun-ho, our sound engineer, has officially dropped out of college. And to make matters worse, the university has decided to cut funding for the theater department in favor of... sports.”

“You're shitting me.” Nahee’s voice sliced through the commotion like a whip. She quickly caught herself, mumbling, “Sorry... but seriously—”

“That’s so unfair!” another voice chimed in from the back, frustration rippling through the group like a shockwave. “Basketball and soccer aren’t the only things this university has going for it.”

“I get it, kids. Believe me, I tried.” Mrs. Baek’s tone softened, but her words were anything but comforting. “I went to the administration, pleaded our case... But unless we can find enough volunteers and funding, I’m afraid auditions are canceled. Indefinitely.”

It felt like a cruel joke. The theater had always been your sanctuary, the one place where you could shed your armor and just be. And now? It was slipping through your fingers.

When Mrs. Baek dismissed the group, some students stormed out in anger, others lingered, trying to process what had just happened. For you, Hyunjin, and Seungmin, the next logical step was the canteen. Food couldn’t fix this, but it was something.

“This is absurd. Now we're all supposed to close our eyes and applaud this nonsense?” Seungmin boomed as the three of you walked to the canteen. It was packed every day, regardless of the time of the day.

At a table outside, you spotted Sohee and Minho. Eunji, Changbin, Felix and Bangchan.

Just when you thought your day couldn't get any worse...

“Tell me about it, I'm so pissed off!” Everyone looked at you, hearing loud and clear about your discontent. All three of you pulled up a chair and you sat down facing Changbin.

“Someone's jumpy.” Sohee leaned across the table. “What's wrong? You three look like shit.”

“It turns out the university cut the theater’s funding in favor of sports.” Your voice was sharp, and your glare shot directly at Bangchan, who was busy texting like the world wasn’t crumbling around him. He looked up, one eyebrow raised in confusion, as if you’d just accused him of single-handedly ruining the arts.

You looked away, rage bubbling in your veins.

“That sucks.” Felix shot back with a supportive smile. “I know how important the theater is to you guys.”

“Everyone’s been working so hard,” Seungmin muttered, sinking into his chair like the weight of the news had finally crushed him. “It’s just... unfair.”

A heavy silence settled over the table, broken only by the sound of Bangchan’s nails tapping on his phone screen. You glanced his way, the sight of him completely disengaged making your blood boil.

“Is there nothing we can do?” Eunji twisted her lips, hopeful.

“Car wash?” Changbin suggested with a mischievous grin. “Classic fundraiser, right?”

“Sure,” you shot back, deadpan, “let’s exploit women for the sake of art.” Your glare could’ve leveled him then and there. Changbin leaned back in his chair, raising his hands in mock surrender.

“Okay, fine. What about food?” Sohee jumped in, glancing at Minho for support. “Muffins, cupcakes, something simple. People love that stuff.”

Hyunjin's face lights up like a light bulb. “Felix makes brownies. Amazing brownies.”

Felix smirked, shrugging like it was no big deal. “I don’t wanna brag, but they’re basically legendary.”

“Alright, then.” Changbin grinned, pointing a finger gun between Felix and you. “You two make the brownies. And we,” he motioned to himself and Bangchan, “sell them.”

You and Bangchan exchange glances for a millisecond.

“I’ve got the perfect idea,”  he says, a wicked smile slipping from his lips.

You raise an eyebrow, laughing. “What? Are you going to sell brownies naked around campus?”

The grin widened, and that’s when you knew you should’ve kept your mouth shut.

“That’s exactly what we’re going to do.”

Felix had assured you he could handle everything, but your stubbornness wouldn’t let you sit this one out. If it was for the theater, you were all in. He handed over his famous brownie recipe like it was a national secret.

So, on Thursday, you got hands-on. Literally.

Eunji had come through with the shopping, and soon your dorm looked like a war zone—chocolate smudges on the counters, flour dusting the floor, and batter splattered in places you couldn’t quite explain. You only had a cramped space and a big dream of pulling this off.

You were just pouring the batter into a pan when a sharp knock at the door startled you. Wiping your hands on your skirt, you swung it open, expecting maybe Eunji or Hyunjin. Instead, there stood Bangchan, leaning casually against the door frame like he had nowhere else to be.

“Uh… hello?” You blinked, your brow furrowing. “What are you doing here?”

Bangchan stood back for a second, observing how exceptionally good you looked.

“So… newsflash,” he started, a smirk tugging at his lips. “You might wanna double that recipe.”

Confusion flashed across your eyes. “What do you mean?”

He straightened up, clearly enjoying your puzzled reaction. “I may have the entire basketball team to help out with the sale.”

Your jaw dropped as his words sank in. “You what?”

His grin widened at your disbelief. “You heard me. More hands, more sales. I figured we could use the hype.”

It was insane. But it was also brilliant. A rush of excitement shot through you, lighting up your face. “That’s… that’s fantastic!” you blurted, beaming before instinctively biting your lip to rein in your enthusiasm.

Bangchan tilted his head, his smirk softening into something almost genuine. “Thought you’d like that.”

“Oh, shit. I'll tell Felix, we're going to need an extra oven.” You walked over to the coffee table, where your phone was.

Before you could dial, Bangchan’s voice cut through your focus. “You shouldn’t go there.” He was still standing in the doorway, arms crossed, his expression surprisingly earnest. “It’s a mess. Like, biohazard-level chaos.” You lose heart, trying to think of another alternative. “You can use my dorm. If you want.” He quickly adds the last sentence.

Your stomach dropped at the suggestion. The idea of stepping into Bangchan’s dorm felt like walking into enemy territory. Risky. Dangerous. Not worth the potential fallout. “It’s fine,” you said, waving him off. “I’ll figure it out. Don’t worry about it.”

But Bangchan leaned against the doorframe, his smirk resurfacing. “You sure? There are a lot of brownies to bake, and I don’t think you’ve got all night.”

As much as you hated to admit it, he wasn’t wrong. Time was slipping through your fingers like sand, and with the entire basketball team now involved, efficiency was critical. “Fine,” you muttered, hating the way the word tasted in your mouth. “But only if you help.”

“You don't have to ask twice.”

It turned out Bangchan’s “help” involved more than just offering his kitchen. He insisted on carrying every utensil, baking sheet, and ingredient across campus himself, as though showing off how capable he was. By the time you arrived at his so-called dorm, you’d pieced together another puzzle about him.

Rich, but not obnoxiously so. Still, his “dorm” was more like a chic little apartment, complete with a full kitchen, two bedrooms, and sleek decor that screamed privilege. The space was annoyingly Bangchan—polished, put together, and just distant enough to be intriguing.

“Cool place.” You muttered after he closed the door behind you. Scanning the room and trying not to sound impressed.

“Thanks.” he gave you a smile. “So, this is the kitchen.” He motioned to a modern setup that looked like it belonged in a Food Network show. Top class stuff. “Make yourself at home.”

“Thanks,” you replied, slipping your hands into your pockets. “Not just for the space but… you know, for helping.”

It was obvious that he was making this effort because the theater was important to his friends Seungmin and Hyunjin. Why else would he do all this? Still, you appreciated it.

His lips twitched into a grin. “Wow. Didn’t think I’d ever hear you say that.” 

You rolled your eyes, biting back the retort bubbling at your tongue. Play nice. He’s helping. 

“Relax,” he added, holding up his hands in mock surrender. “Just kidding. There’s booze in the fridge, by the way. Help yourself.”

“I’m fine, thanks,” you said, sidestepping the offer.

“I’ve gotta sort something out with the coach,” he said, grabbing his phone. “I’ll be back in 20. Think you’ll survive here alone?”

Honestly, being in his apartment without him sounded like the best possible scenario. You gave a small nod. “Yeah, no worries.”

With that, he left, and the door clicked shut behind him. You exhaled, a long breath that carried the weight of the past few days. Now you were in enemy territory, surrounded by his world, and somehow, that felt far more personal than it should.

How had this become your life? Baking brownies in Bangchan’s kitchen? It was almost as absurd as sleeping with him—a mistake you’d promised yourself you’d never make. But here you were, crossing one forbidden line after another.

You weren’t exactly a disaster in the kitchen, but you weren’t a pro either. Somehow, though, in thirty minutes flat, four trays of brownies were baking away in Bangchan’s fancy oven. The rest of the kitchen, however, looked like a war zone. Eggshells piled in the sink. Flour scattered across the floor. Chocolate batter smeared on your shirt. Your skirt? A masterpiece of handprints from raw dough. But hey, it was all for the sake of art—and funding.

While you whisked and poured, you couldn’t resist turning on your favorite song, What Is This Feeling from Wicked. Singing along word for word, you hit every high note with a grin. That song had landed you the role of Glinda in high school, and the nostalgia hit you square in the chest. Those were good times. Simpler times.

The chorus was still ringing in your ears as you crouched to scrub a stubborn chocolate stain on the floor. That’s when the door swung open, and Bangchan walked in, freezing mid-step as he surveyed the chaos.

“Holy shit. Are you all right?” he asked, his tone somewhere between amusement and genuine concern.

Your heart nearly leaped out of your chest as you scrambled to turn off the music. In your rush, your phone slipped from your flour-dusted hands and landed on the counter with a soft thud. You straightened, cheeks flushing. “I’m fine,” you said quickly, brushing your hands on your already-ruined skirt. “Sorry about the mess. I’ll clean it up, I promise.”

He looked around, clearly trying to hold back a laugh. His eyes flicked from the chaotic kitchen to you, taking in the state of your clothes. “You’ve got something… there,” he said, gesturing vaguely at the chocolate smear on your shoulder.

“It’s fine,” you muttered, avoiding his gaze. “As soon as I’m done here, I’ll head back to the dorm and clean this up.”

Bangchan tilted his head, clearly unimpressed with your plan. “I can lend you a shirt. Might make you feel more comfortable.”

“No, no. I’m fine,” you said, waving him off. “But thanks.”

He rolled his eyes, muttering something under his breath. Then, without hesitation, he reached behind his neck and yanked off the black shirt he was wearing, leaving him in nothing but his jeans and a devilish grin. “Here,” he said, holding the shirt out to you like it was the most casual thing in the world.

You blinked, completely caught off guard. “You know you could’ve just grabbed another shirt, right? Like, one you’re not currently wearing?”

He leaned in slightly, the grin widening in a way that made your stomach flip. “And where’s the fun in that?”

For a moment, you just stood there, staring at him, equal parts annoyed and flustered. His shirt hung in the air between you, a silent dare. Finally, you snatched it from his hand, muttering, “You’re impossible.”

“I’ve been told,” he replied, unbothered, and strolled over to the counter like he hadn’t just walked into the kitchen half-dressed.

After a few minutes, you walked back into the kitchen, now wearing Bangchan’s shirt. It hung a little loose on you, the soft fabric brushing against your skin and carrying a mix of fresh laundry and whatever cologne he used. Not that you noticed. Much.

Bangchan was at the sink, scrubbing a mixing bowl. His back was to you at first, but when he turned around, his gaze lingered a second too long before he coughed and looked back down. “Did you know,” he started, shaking his head with a teasing grin, “that you’re officially the world’s clumsiest cook? There’s brownie batter... under the sink.”

You glanced at the cabinet beneath the counter, then back at him. “Hey, I said I’d clean up,” you defended, marching into the kitchen with your head held high. “And for the record, I never claimed to be a good cook. I’m just trying to help.”

Bangchan barked out a laugh, drying his hands on a towel. “Help? No fucking way. You’re a disaster, love.”

You froze, raising an eyebrow at him. “Excuse me?” You crossed your arms, the oversized sleeves of his shirt only slightly undermining your indignation. “I didn’t see you stepping up to bake anything.. Let’s see you handle a whisk without breaking something.”

He leaned back against the counter, arms crossed, clearly enjoying himself. “Trust me, I’d still be better than whatever chaos you’ve got going on here.”

Your lips quirked into a slow smirk, and you reached for the bag of flour on the counter. “Oh yeah? Well, let’s see you handle this.” Before he could react, you scooped a handful of flour and tossed it right at him, the fine powder exploding across his chest like a smoke bomb.

Bangchan froze for a second, blinking down at the mess. Then, his lips curved into a wicked grin that should have been your warning. “Oh, it’s on now.”

With your hands on your lip, you realized that you had fucked up. “I'm sorry, I...”

Too late. In the blink of an eye, Bangchan scooped up the sugar and poured it all over your hair. You stared, half-shocked, half-impressed by his audacity. You parted your lips to fire back, but before a word could escape, the sound of his laughter erupted from deep in his chest.

“Really? Is this how it’s gonna go?” You grabbed the cocoa powder with a grin. Oh, he wanted a war? You were so ready. “Bring it on,” you shot back, face lighting up with mischief. 

You were almost halfway to smearing him with chocolate when his hand shot out and stopped yours midair. The cocoa slipped through your fingers, and just like that, your plan hit the ground.

Then, you collided—chest to chest. Bangchan wasn’t laughing anymore, and you could feel the shift in the air, the heat between you two now undeniable. His lips curled into that damn smirk, the one that told you everything. Your heart was racing, but the thought of pulling away didn’t even cross your mind. The only question now was who was going to make the first move.

A silent battle passed between you two. His gaze locked onto yours, sensing the shift in your expression—less defiant, more... willing. And just like that, the tension morphed into something else, something undeniable.

Without hesitation, you leaned in, your lips brushing his. Bangchan’s breath hitched, a soft grunt escaping him at the sudden contact. Your hands, still coated with the remnants of your baking disaster, slid over his broad shoulders. You were a mess, sugar and flour everywhere, but somehow, it made everything feel a little more real. And Bangchan? He didn’t seem to mind one bit.

All he seemed to care about was having your lips on his. And fuck, you could feel how much he wanted it.

Bangchan grabbed your ass possessively, squeezing it and making a raspy moan escape your lips. You pushed him against the wall, without detaching your lips, savoring how the softness of his lips felt like cotton candy.

When you finally broke away, your chests heaving, your fingers still pressed into his skin, you met his gaze. His chest rose and fell beneath your touch, and you could feel the pull between you intensify again, magnetic.

“I should probably clean up this mess.” your voice broke the tension, but the realization hit harder than it should’ve. Bangchan was clearly fed up with your habit of diving in and then ghosting the consequences. 

“Don’t you dare.” his voice was low, the words like a command you weren’t about to ignore. His eyes locked with yours—intense. “You want this.” his lips brushed against yours, a tease that made your heart leap, while his words hung heavy in the air. “I know you do.”

Your pulse thundered in your ears, drowning out everything but him.

“Bangchan.” You whispered, barely able to breathe. The heat from his hardness spread like wildfire, and your body seemed to betray you. “We can’t.” you licked your lips—stupid, because he was already there, sealing your protest with a sloppy kiss, stealing that last ounce of restraint.

You were losing it. Why did he have to be so... goddamn good at this?

“Oh yeah?” he pulled away, just enough to make you regret the distance. “Tell me one good reason. Just one.”

You snorted, doing everything you could to hold it together, but the pull between you was undeniable. “Please.”

He tilted his head, lips twitching like he wanted to argue, but instead he closed his eyes and muttered a curse under his breath. “Fine,” he grumbled, walking away, but the air between you two still crackled.

The rest of the kitchen cleanup was like some strange form of punishment. You moved in sync, two people acting like they hadn’t just burned down every ounce of decorum in the room. The silence was deafening, the kind of awkward that made you wish you could pull the floor open and swallow you whole. But instead, you just scrubbed harder, hoping it’d drown out the thundering thoughts in your head.

He pulled away, no jokes, no teasing—just silence. It was like a switch had flipped, and the tension that had once sparked between you now lay dormant, suffocating. You didn't know if you hated the quiet or if you hated yourself more for letting things go as far as they had.

When everything was finally done, he still helped you carry your things to the dorm, his touch lingering just a little too long as he adjusted the bag over your shoulder. You were too busy battling the whirlwind of your own thoughts, replaying every moment, every look, and cursing both him and yourself for what you’d just crossed into.

You hated how easy it had been. How natural. And you hated even more that you couldn’t quite bring yourself to regret it—at least, not yet.

♡ taglist ― @kenia4 @chrizrizz @meerabmalik

[hyperfocusthusly]

Take me home

Day one of the @bucktommyfluffebruary - prompt ‘non sexual intimacy’

Notes: established relationship | words: 938 | rated: G

[Read on A03]

——-

Tommy doesn’t sit down on the bench as much as he collapses vaguely in its direction. He blinks slowly, eyes gritty with exhaustion. He gives up and just closes them, head tipped back against his locker. He can feel sleep pulling at the edges of his consciousness. He just wants to be able to click his fingers and be at home. He does not want to have to drive there.

The door to the locker room clangs as someone leaves and Tommy jerks upright. The fogginess of near sleep clouding his vision. Maybe driving would not be such a great idea. He twists and fumbles open the door of his locker, retrieving his phone. He scrubs his face with his palms and tries to concentrate long enough to find the right contact. He returns to his previous position, head tipped back on his locker, eyes closed as he listens to the phone ring.

“Hey love, everything okay?”

“Mmmm.” He tries to summon the energy to form real words.

“Bad shift?” Concern edges into Evan’s voice.

“No” Tommy can hear the roughness in his own voice. “Just long, didn’t get much sleep. Would you-” he falters momentarily, the feeling that he’s asking too much raising its head. He pushes it down, they’ve talked about this. “Would you come and pick me up? I don’t think me driving is a great idea right now.”

“Oh, yeah of course.” He can hear some movement on the other end of the phone as Evan moves through the house. Through their house. A smile pulls at Tommy’s lips at the thought.

“Give me twenty and I’ll be there.”

“Okay, thank you.”

“Love you.”

“Love you too.”

The phone clicks off and Tommy is left in silence again. He takes a deep breath and feels himself relax, he settles in to wait for Evan.

——-

What feels like moments later, there is a gentle hand on his shoulder. Tommy blinks awake, sluggishly sits up, his back protesting the position he had let himself stay in for the last twenty minutes.

Evan’s smile is as bright as ever as he looks up from where he is crouched down in front of Tommy.

“Hey love.”

“Hey.”

Evan is fiddling with something on the floor, Tommy feels his legs being gently moved around. He tilts forwards and realises that Evan is untying his boots, carefully taking them off and setting them aside. Tommy groans, he’s still in his flight suit, the thought of having to get dressed feels vaguely overwhelming. He lifts his arms and fumbles with the poppers. His movements are slow and uncoordinated, the tiny metal clasp proving much more difficult than it should. Evan is there immediately, gently pushing his hands aside and releasing the poppers.

“It’s okay, let me do it.”

Evan slides his hands under the shoulders of the suit and frees Tommy’s arms, peppering gentle kisses along his collarbone as he goes.

Tommy leans into him, presses their cheeks together for a moment. It feels nice, to be taken care of. He’s not happy they broke up, all that time ago, but he can’t help but be grateful for the things it brought about. He’s always been so afraid of letting himself be known, be vulnerable but here, in this moment, he’s grateful for having broken through that barrier. Allowing himself to be so completely seen by Evan, it feels so beautifully intimate.

He is pulled from his thoughts by a gentle tap on his elbow,

“Lift your arms up for me, let’s get you into some clean clothes.”

Evan reaches over the top of him and pulls his bag out of the locker. Rummages through and pulls free a new set of clothes.

Before he knows it he is being pulled up off the bench, sweat pants secured around his waist. He lets himself fall into the crook of Evan’s neck.

“Thank you.” He mumbles into the soft skin there.

A hand runs up his back, holds him close.

“No problem darling, I’m always going to be here to help.”

Warmth stirs up in Tommy’s chest as he lets himself be guided out of the door.

——-

As they approach the jeep, Evan starts to rummage around in the bag over his shoulder, it’s awkward given that his other arm is being used to keep Tommy from sliding down onto the floor. He eyes the concrete, he could sleep there, it would probably be fine.

“Where are your keys?”

Tommy frowns,

“They are in the side pocket. I’m exhausted Evan, not drunk, you don’t have to confiscate them.”

Evan laughs, the sound is nice, drifting through Tommy’s ever slowing thoughts.

“I’m driving you home remember?”

Tommys sluggish mind fails to process what Evan is saying.

“But then you’ll have to leave your car here.”

Evan chuckles again. He is increasingly aware that Tommy looks like he’s about to collapse. But he can’t help but take a moment to look at his boyfriend, brows scrunched down adorably, trying to figure through Evan’s words.

Evan pulls out the keys and guides Tommy round to the passenger door. He opens it and helps Tommy in, who is, by this point, a bundle of uncoordinated limbs.

He smiles patiently as Tommy gets comfortable.

“My car is at home, I took an uber here, I am going to drive your car home. Then both of our cars will be at home.”

“Oh.”

Evan chuckles, Tommy is hardly awake anymore, his head dropping to rest on his shoulder.

Evan runs his fingers gently through his hair, presses a feather light kiss to his cheek

“Let’s get you home.”

Tagging some beloveds (as always let me know if you want to be added/removed): @leashybebes @livelaughlou @loucifersbitch @dark-alice-lilith @mmso-notlikethat @laundryandtaxesworld @hippolotamus @bucksaiga @littlepaws9 @sad-girl-hours23 @evansbuck-ley @jamieroyjamieroy @typicalopposite

@moonydanny @teenmaximoff @bucksboobs @ohithankyou @bi-bi-buckleys @rubydaiquiri @hellion-child @aringofsalt @sweaters-and-silly @theotherbuckley @comfortingevanbuckley @epiphainie @wikiangela @bidisasterevankinard

@sunnywithachanceofbi @desert--moonchild @blitzynatural @actuallyitsellie @big-urchin-energy @fyrehose @buckleyskinards @owlgirl495 @honeyloulou @setmeatopthepyre @salty-autistic-writer @thecarrott

[gottencents]

My Humps - Winter

pairing. idol!winter x aespa!addmember!reader

synopsis. during a casual weverse live, winter stands up to grab something, unknowingly turning her back to y/n. y/n playfully “covers” their eyes but quickly sneaks a glance, which fans instantly catch—leading to chaos in the comments and a flustered reaction from both.

[Weverse Live Stream - Winter & Y/N]

The chat was buzzing with excitement as fans flooded into the live stream, excited to see both Winter and Y/N. The two idols sat comfortably on the couch, both laughing and chatting with the fans. Y/N was leaning back, a soft smile on her face as she read through the comments, while Winter was sitting upright, her attention divided between responding to fans and relaxing.

“Thank you for all your love, guys!” Winter smiled warmly at the screen. “You all are so sweet! Let’s keep reading your messages.” She looked at the screen for a moment, then turned to Y/N, nudging her with her shoulder playfully. “What do you think, Y/N? Should we answer a few more questions before we sign off?”

Y/N chuckled softly, glancing at Winter. “Yeah, of course. We can’t leave without giving them a little more time.”

As Winter settled back down, she suddenly stood up to grab something off the coffee table in front of them. Y/N watched her for a moment, looking around for the item Winter was reaching for. As Winter bent down to pick up the item, her back was now to Y/N, and her posture gave way to a view that sent Y/N’s heart racing—a perfect view of Winter’s curves.

Flustered, Y/N quickly raised her hand to cover her eyes, embarrassed by the accidental peek. “Uhh, nope! Not looking!” she stammered, her face going slightly red.

Winter turned to look over her shoulder, noticing Y/N’s reaction. She paused, giving Y/N a teasing look. “Are you hiding from me?” Winter chuckled, raising an eyebrow. “I thought you were already used to being around me by now.”

Y/N, realizing how silly she must have looked, quickly tried to play it cool. “I… uh… no, I wasn’t hiding! Just, uh… making sure I wasn’t being too obvious.” She glanced at the screen nervously, her cheeks flushed. “I was just, you know, being polite!”

But when Y/N lowered her hand, the fans in the chat immediately took notice, their eyes going wide.

Chat:

gays4aespa: “Wait, why did Y/N cover her eyes though? 😳”

wiplash: “Y/N is hiding something!! 😏”

karinaismother: “I saw that! She was definitely looking. 😂”

summerintowinter: “Did Y/N just peek at Winter’s… 👀”

Y/N froze, realizing her mistake too late. She could feel the eyes of the fans through the screen. “Oh my god,” she muttered under her breath, trying to avoid looking directly at the chat.

Winter, ever the tease, turned back to Y/N with a smirk. “What’s wrong, Y/N? Are you embarrassed?” she asked, clearly enjoying Y/N’s discomfort.

Y/N let out a small laugh, trying to hide her face in her hands. “I’m not embarrassed! I… I didn’t mean to stare, okay?”

Winter crossed her arms, still smiling. “You don’t have to hide it. I’m sure they all saw,” she said, motioning to the chat. “Looks like you got caught.”

The chat exploded with reactions, fans loving the playful banter between the two.

Chat:

#1aespashooter: “Winter caught Y/N red-handed! 😂”

y/nbraincell: “I can’t believe this is happening. Y/N, you’re so obvious! 😜”

WinterBaby: “Y/N totally checked out Winter, and Winter knows it. 😏”

Y/N sighed dramatically, throwing her head back. “Okay, okay. You got me. I wasn’t trying to hide it! It just… happened!” She looked at Winter, who was still standing in front of her, looking far too pleased with herself.

Winter leaned over slightly, a playful gleam in her eyes. “I didn’t know you were so shy, Y/N,” she teased. “You can stare all you want, you know.”

Y/N’s eyes widened. “Winter!” she protested, though her tone was more flustered than serious. “Stop making it worse!”

Winter only grinned, brushing her hair over her shoulder as she leaned back into the couch. “Don’t worry, Y/N,” she said, her voice lowering a bit with a teasing lilt. “I don’t mind. You can check me out anytime.”

The chat went wild at Winter’s bold comment, fans loving every second of the exchange between the two.

Chat:

asepamygay: “Wait, now Winter is encouraging Y/N? 😱”

winnersluvwinter: “THEY’RE FLIRTING, I CAN’T!! 😳”

My4Ever: “I’m loving this! Winter and Y/N are giving us all the feels! 😍”

Y/N laughed nervously, shaking her head. “Okay, okay, let’s get back to the questions before I embarrass myself further,” she said quickly, trying to steer the conversation away from the teasing.

Winter, still smiling, sat back down beside Y/N, nudging her playfully with her elbow. “You’re cute when you’re flustered,” she said softly, keeping her voice light.

Y/N blinked, her heart skipping a beat. “Stop,” she said softly, a shy smile creeping onto her lips.

The fans in the chat were eating it up.

Chat:

polyforwiny/n: “Winter calling Y/N cute?! THEY’RE SO CUTE TOGETHER. 😭”

aespa2028: “Honestly, Y/N and Winter have the best chemistry”

Y/N and Winter shared a brief, quiet moment before Winter nudged Y/N again, causing her to laugh.

“Alright,” Y/N said, catching her breath. “No more distractions. We’re here for the fans, not to make a spectacle of myself.”

Winter grinned and raised her hands in mock surrender. “Fine, fine. But I think the fans liked it more than you think.”

As the live stream continued, the banter between Y/N and Winter carried on, and the fans couldn’t stop commenting on their chemistry. Despite the teasing, it was clear to everyone watching that there was a deep, playful connection between the two idols—one that only seemed to grow stronger the more they interacted.

[lukazade]

Your honour.... your honour please it's raining... it's raining.. let them have a little romance...... come on your honour please.....

Snippet of the fic you're never going to see (but that this art is based on) below!

It's just a fluff piece, timkon, nothing exciting happens, you lack the context. They're just making up after an argument. Oh also it's a bit cringe. But if you've read any of my writing (it's not often, but it's on the page here and there) you'll know I'm very cringe.. 😔

After he's showered, Tim comes to sit with him on the bed, the air of the van still a bit too quiet. Things got too heated, even the unrelenting downpour couldn't douse them. Tim's hand sets upon Kon's, tentative, and Kon doesn't push him aside. After all, on the way back, they both realised it was a pretty stupid argument. But then again, weren't they always. "Sorry I rushed you." Tim's voice is a sigh, barely audible over the rain against the window. "I'll make it up to you, I'm the reason things went wrong today." Of course he's blaming himself, Kon thinks; that's their favourite couple's activity. He gives Tim a strained smile, fighting the urge to begin another circle of no, it was my fault more, and get them into another argument. They're both too stubborn - it'd help more to do something productive now that they both feel more inclined to listen and apologise. So instead of that, he takes the towel from Tim's shoulders, lifting it to his still-soaked hair, gently rubbing the water from it. He could use TTK, to dry them both immediately, but Tim likes this sort of thing. He acts like he could live without it, but Kon really doesn't think he could. And, just as expected, Tim's shoulders steadily deflate. Kon feels his own do the same, relieved. "I wasn't mad, Tim. I just get overwhelmed sometimes- you know that- and I don't think things through very well once I'm in that zone. I just mean, well, I don't mean to-" "I can't believe you're stealing my lines." Tim cuts him off, with a small, sorry face. "You don't need to overexplain. I really am sorry." "Me, too." He nods. "And I think I was just mad because it's rained for a week straight, actually. No sun makes me cranky." He offers a cheeky grin. "You're annoying, but not that bad." Tim rolls his eyes, and leans just a touch forward. "You're an idiot." Kon doesn't really want to take the bait, but how can he avoid it if Tim adores cliché? "I'm your idiot." Tim brushes a hand up his arm, the room feeling warm and cosy again. "And if it wasn't the sun's fault that you got upset, I-" "Tim." "What?" He snorts. He can never just accept Kon's easy outs, can he? "Fine, fine. I'm--" He stops himself before he says he's sorry again, flushing. Kon tries not to laugh.

[yunholic-jongholic]

Paused for Passion | J.WY x Reader

SUMMARY | You and Wooyoung are watching a movie when a sex scene appears on screen. Wooyoung glances down at you, resting comfortably on his shoulder. Without a word, he pauses the movie, leaving you confused—until he pulls you into a passionate kiss. One thing leads to another, and soon, the two of you are tangled together on the couch.

PAIRINGS | Wooyoung x Fem!Reader

RATING | Mature, 18+, NSFW, MDNI!!!

CONTENT WARNINGS | One Shot, SMUT, NSFW, Explicit Content, Dirty Talk, Cursing, Hair pulling, Oral sex, Unprotected sex (don't do that), Orgasms, Creampie, Teasing, Porn-watching, Praise Kink (I might be missing some, sorry if I am...)

WORD COUNT | 1.2k

AUTHOR NOTE | Wow, I keep feeding Atiny.. Anyways this is to all the Wommys out there! I was going for some soft hours at first as you read, but I hope you all enjoy! Thank you again for supporting me! <3

•

You and your boyfriend, Wooyoung, were cuddled up on the couch, watching TV together. As the night went on, you started feeling drowsy—it was getting late, and you had work in the morning. Noticing your sleepiness, Wooyoung tried to keep you awake by chatting during the show and explaining what was happening. Eventually, his efforts worked, and you perked up, deciding to keep watching with him.

"Anyway, when the main character decides to be with his girl, you can tell he’s really happy," Wooyoung says with a smile, his words carrying a subtle hint that he feels the same way about you. You smile and blush a tiny bit calling him cute.

"Me or him?" Wooyoung teases, pointing at the TV with a grin. "Obviously him!" you joke back, causing Wooyoung to pout dramatically at your response. "Why do you like a TV guy more than me?" he whines, playfully slapping your arm in mock offense, his touch gentle and harmless. You laugh at his attempt to hit you, and you hit back same pain level. Wooyoung lets out an exaggerated whine and clutches his arm like he’s in pain, even though you both know your playful hit was barely a tap.

"Oh, you’re so dramatic, Wooyoung," you say, rolling your eyes and tsking at his over-the-top reaction.

He grins and leans in to kiss your cheek before you settle back down, resting your head on his shoulder. As the show continues, Wooyoung shifts, lying down across your lap. You smile softly, running your fingers through his hair and twirling it gently, enjoying the comfortable closeness.

At some point during the show, a scene unfolds where the couple starts making out, escalating into a heated moment. You notice Wooyoung sit up straight, his attention now fully locked on the screen. The couple on screen is now taking their clothes off and it full blown turns into a sex scene. You continue watching not really caring about your surroundings, but you lean your head back on Wooyoung's shoulder as you both continue watching.

The sex scene gets too heated for Wooyoung which you don't notice, who is now shifting oddly on the sofa. Wooyoung lets out a soft, deep exhale and suddenly pauses the show. You glance at him, confused, as he shifts his gaze down to meet yours, a look in his eyes you can’t quite read.

"Are... You okay Woo?" You ask him, lifting your head up from his shoulder. He doesn't say anything and immediately attaches his lips onto yours. You pull away for a second trying to examine what just happened and Wooyoung just pulls your body onto his lap as he goes back to kiss you passionately. You are confused yet aroused sort of knowing that the show was turning him on.

"I need you right now." he huffs out dis-attaching both of your lips again. He kind of laughs it off as you can tell he might be slightly embarrassed of how turned on he is. You wrap your arms around his neck, pulling him closer as the kiss deepens, fully giving in to him. Wooyoung's hands move with purpose, lifting your shirt and unhooking your bra in one smooth motion.

Gently but firmly, he presses you down onto the sofa, laying you on your back. Your cheeks flush with warmth as you look at him, and without hesitation, he begins sliding your pants and underwear off, his gaze never leaving yours. He softly caresses your inner thigh and leaves feathery kisses on your skin. Wooyoung does soft kitten licks on your cunt causing you to moan very lightly. You tangle your fingers in his hair gripping it softly as he fully dives into you.

"Wooyoung!" you moan, your head falling to the side as his tongue works magic on you, teasing and twirling in all the right ways. Lost in his own desire, Wooyoung starts grinding his hips into the sofa while continuing to devour you. A soft whimper escapes your lips when he presses his thumb against your clit, circling and rubbing it gently, sending waves of pleasure through you. You grip onto his hair tighter as he lifts your leg over his shoulder and pulls away for a second to catch his breath.

"You taste so good," Wooyoung breathes, his voice raspy, and eyes dark with arousal. He’s completely lost in the moment, clearly enjoying every second. Without hesitation, he sits up, quickly pulling off his pants and tossing them carelessly onto the floor, his movements full of urgency. He moves upwards towards you as he slowly pushes himself inside you. You whimper at the feeling and grip onto his arms as he rests one hand over your neck softly grazing it.

"Woo..." you moan his name as he thrusts into you. You felt your body slowly melt on the sofa as he was working on you. "You are practically melting on the sofa darling..." Wooyoung let out a soft chuckle as he leaned in, his lips gently meeting yours. You instinctively wrapped your arms around his neck, pulling him closer, feeling the warmth of his breath and the arousal closeness between you.

"Shut up..." You hissed at his remark, as he went down to your neck and started kissing your chest. You felt his tongue twirl around your nipple and popped it in his mouth sucking on the sensitive bud. You moans got higher, your arms still wrapped around his neck, tangling your fingers in his hair. He moaned thrusting deeper into you feeling your walls getting tighter around him.

"You are going to kill me Y/N..." he moaned out hot breathing on your body. He sat up again adjusting your legs to his waist wrapping them around him. You finally felt his tip hit your sensitive spot, which caused you to moan even louder now. Once he realized he found the sweet spot he didn't stop. thrusting harder and watching you from above, his eyes practically drooling and so deeply aroused.

"You are so beautiful..." Wooyoung groaned caressing your body as he rammed his hips into you. "Fuck." he cursed as he felt his cock twitch inside you.

"I am so close Woo..." you moan throwing your head to the side moaning nonstop slightly letting small whimpers out due to sensitivity. "Then come with me." Wooyoung groaned giving one final thrust before pushing you both onto the edge. You both reach your highs together. Wooyoung was panting like crazy as he flopped down beside you pulling himself out. You whine at the loss of his touch, but your body is trembling with how sensitive you are anyways.

"Can we watch the show now?" You pant out trying to sit up, but you can't. "It will just want me want to have a second round with you if we continue the sex scene." Wooyoung giggled kissing your cheek. You roll your eyes and sigh, "then I will just skip the scene." Wooyoung whines clearly suggesting he wants a second round.

You see him sit up ready to pull you onto his lap again. "I promise, this will be the last one and I can still do all the work!" Wooyoung held your hand caressing it softly smiling at you already too far too deep into his lusty head space.

•

Wow I am INSANE. that is all. Good night!

[ni-idea-07]

you will never be alone again.

Platonic Yandere Jason Todd X Reader.

TW: illegitimate siblings, cheating, mild yandere, mutilation threats, non-graphic mutilation, paranoia, threats. English is not my first language, sorry if there are mistakes

Somehow Jason found out he had a younger sister. It didn't really matter how he found out, but he was excited and panicked at the same time. Well, he had a lot more emotions on his mind.

He had to find you and see you for the first time in person which touched him the most.

You weren't of age yet and you weren't a baby, you could take care of yourself, but he wouldn't allow you to be alone like he was in the past.

–"Hey, brat, how much for a candy?"

You were surprised when he asked you, after all he was twice your size and he didn't seem like the kind of person who would buy the ugly and cheap candy you sold out of obligation.

Once you told him the price, he pulled out his wallet, a rather full one, you threw away the box of candy and took his wallet from him, leaving him with a smile.

He wouldn't chase you, he already knew where you would go.

Like every night you returned to the shelter where they let you sleep, that night you slept well, when you gave the money to the "Madam" - as everyone called her - she let you sleep in a bed and gave you decent food. She always took in children and forced them to sell candy so they would bring money, if they didn't bring anything at the end of the day they wouldn't eat, but those who brought enough money could eat and sleep well for a week.

The next morning you woke up feeling strangely satisfied. You had brought more money than usual and you hadn't had to run too much to get it. The "Madam" had given you a decent bed and a hot meal, which was a luxury in your daily life. But that feeling of security didn't last long.

As you stepped out onto the street with your box of candy in hand, you ran into the same man from the night before.

Jason Todd.

You didn't know his name yet, but his presence was impossible to ignore. Tall, muscular, and with an expression that seemed a mix of amusement and something more... dark.

–"Morning, little thief"– he greeted you with a sly smile, leaning against a lamppost. I hope you slept well with my money.

Your body tensed. It wasn't the first time you'd stolen, but you'd never encountered someone who came back for what was theirs. Or worse, who seemed to enjoy the game.

–"I don't know what you're talking about" – you muttered, feigning disinterest as you tried to walk away.

Jason chuckled, but his hand moved quickly, catching your wrist with ease. He didn't hurt you, but his grip was firm.

–"Oh, come on. Don't worry about it."

–"Consider it a gift."– He leaned in a little, his voice dropping to a whisper. –"But tell me, do you like that place?"

Your expression hardened. You didn't understand what he meant.

–"I mean, the 'Madam' and her cute way of treating children. Making them work for their own food... that doesn't sound very fair, does it?"

Your stomach clenched. You didn't know why, but something about the way he said it made you feel uncomfortable.

–"It's none of your business"– you muttered, trying to let go of your wrist.

Jason didn't budge. His eyes, a deep blue, shone with something you couldn't figure out.

–"It is. And even more now that I know you're my sister...."

Your breathing stopped.

–"What... what did you say?"– you whispered, feeling the world around you shake.

Jason smirked, as if he'd been waiting for that reaction.

–"Yes. You're my little sister. I looked into it."

–"Don't worry about the details, the important thing is that I found you."

His other hand rose to ruffle your hair with a strange tenderness-. And now that I know you exist, I'm not leaving you alone in this hole.

Your instinct told you to run. To flee immediately. But Jason's grip tightened a little more, as if he could read your mind.

–"Calm down. You don't have to decide anything now."

His smile turned a little colder. –"But I'll make one thing clear to you..."

He leaned in, his breath brushing your ear.

–"If that woman ever lays her hands on you again or forces you to work one more day... I'll cut off her fingers, one by one."

A chill ran down your spine. There was no anger in his tone. There were no screams or empty threats. Just a promise said with the calmness of someone who would really do it without thinking twice.

And for some reason you knew he meant it.

Things went on as usual for the next few days... or at least, that's what you tried to convince yourself. But the feeling that someone was watching you never went away. Sometimes, when you turned a corner, you saw a silhouette that disappeared too quickly. Other times, you felt a presence nearby when you were selling candy, as if someone was making sure everything went well.

And worst of all: every time you brought money to the shelter, the Madam would You looked more closely. Something had changed in her attitude.

One night, when you returned after a particularly long day, you found her waiting for you with her arms crossed and a tight smile.

–"You've been bringing too much money lately."– Her voice sounded sweeter than usual, which only put you more on alert. –Who have you been kidding, sweetheart?"

Your jaw clenched. You knew any wrong answer could cost you dearly.

–"I'm just selling well"– you replied calmly.

The Madam clicked her tongue, approaching with slow steps.

–"Don't lie to me. I've seen that man following you. Tall, leather jacket... too well dressed to be a common customer."

Your stomach churned. You couldn't deny the obvious.

–"I don't know what you're talking about."

The slap came before you could react. Your cheek burned, but you didn't make a sound. It wouldn't be the first time this happened, and you knew that reacting would only make her continue.

–"Listen to me, you little shit"– her voice sounded icy. "If you're saving money or if you're thinking of leaving, you'll regret it."

You didn't answer. You knew you didn't need to.

That night, as you lay down on the bed you'd won, fear settled in your chest. Not just because of the Madam, but because you knew Jason was right. You weren't going to last much longer here.

And sure enough, the next day, Jason stopped watching from the shadows and took matters into his own hands.

When you left the shelter, you found him waiting for you right outside, leaning against his bike with a bored expression.

–"Good morning, sis. Ready to move in with me?"

You opened your mouth to refuse, but he just held up a hand, stopping you.

–"I don't want to hear excuses. I know what that witch did to you last night."

His gaze hardened for a moment. –"I made sure she never touches you again."

Your body tensed.

–"What did you do?"

Jason shrugged nonchalantly.

–"Nothing too drastic... yet. I just made it clear that if she tried to hurt you again, she'd lose more than just her fingers."

You didn't know what that meant exactly. You didn't want to know.

But when you looked back at the shelter, you saw the Madam peering through the window, her face pale as a ghost.

Your chest tightened. You didn't want to admit it... but being with Jason seemed safer than staying here.

The days with Jason in his apartment were... strange.

The place was horrible, unkempt and almost empty.

There was no decoration, just some functional furniture and a couple of guns lying around, as if they were decorations. The smell of gunpowder, cigarettes and old coffee permeated the air. Still, everything was in perfect order. Jason had made an effort to clean the apartment because he was afraid that you were allergic to dust.

Still, the real danger was him.

Jason was not normal.

From the first day, he behaved intensely. He wouldn't let you go out alone, always having an excuse to accompany you. He insisted on knowing what you were doing all the time and, if you took longer than expected in the bathroom or kitchen, he called your name impatiently, as if he was afraid that you would disappear.

And when you didn't get an answer right away... well, you'd learned that Jason didn't have much patience

One time, you locked yourself in the bathroom for a few minutes longer than usual because you wanted some peace. You hadn't thought it would be a problem... until you heard a loud BANG and the sound of the door being smashed in.

Jason walked in with his gun drawn, his eyes red with fury and his breathing ragged.

–"What the hell were you doing!?"– he demanded.

Your heart stopped.

–"I... I was just in the bathroom..."

Jason stared at you for a second, then let out a shaky breath.

–"Don't do that. Don't make me worry like that."

And then, without warning, he hugged you.

It wasn't a warm, comforting hug. It was tight, suffocating, almost desperate.

–"You can't leave me alone. Not again."

His words made your blood run cold.

Again.

You had no idea who he was referring to. But in that moment, you knew it didn't matter.

Jason wasn't sane.

And you were stuck with him.

==================================

Thanks for reading.

Interactions and reblogs are encouraged and appreciated.

Regards.🫠

[pwblant]

24. the end

it’s the next day. yesterday, you were terrified to open your phone, dreading the harsh reality you expected from the fans. the whole time, you couldn’t shake off the terrible thoughts about the future of the café, but you tried to keep your cool. you spent the night at wonbin’s place, and he kept you company, constantly reassuring you that everything would be okay. but if things went wrong, then what? what happens next?

while eating breakfast, you glance at wonbin, who’s sitting next to you, and finally ask the question that’s been weighing on your mind. “bin, your company would force us to break up if they don’t approve of me, right?”

he barely hesitates. “y/n,” he says firmly, looking at you. “we’ve already talked about this before. stop thinking about it because it’s not going to happen.” then, as if to emphasize his point, he pulls the hair tie off his wrist and gathers your messy hair into a ponytail.

“whatever happens, we. are. not. breaking. up. i wont let it happen.” his voice is steady, full of determination.

the room goes silent for a few seconds until you reach over to pick up your phone on the counter.

“this is killing me,” you let out a shaky breath. “i’m going to check twitter.”

wonbin exhales deeply. “alright, but remember y/n, i’m always going to be here by your side no matter what the result is. i’m really just hoping for the best at this point.”

with a lump in your throat, you open the app, expecting to see nothing but harsh words. except… they aren’t there. instead, you’re met with an overwhelming amount of kindness.

your hand flies up to cover your mouth. “oh.”

wonbin immediately tenses. “what? what’s happening? is it bad?” his voice laced with concern.

shaking your head, you stand up, barely able to contain your excitement. before you know it, you’re throwing your arms around him. “i’m so happy, i’m so happy.” your words come out muffled against his shoulder.

he lets out a breath of relief, hugging you tighter. “so i’m guessing it’s good?”

you pull back just enough to look at him, eyes shining. “there’s still a few bad ones, but i saw so many positive responses. does this mean….”

he studies your face, smiling as he wipes away the stray tears that escaped your shiny eyes. then, as if he can’t help himself, he leans in, closing the space between you. his lips brush softly against yours—gentle, but full of relief and love. warmth spreads through your chest, and you smile into the kiss, your heart melting.

this is it. no more hiding. no more fear. it’s just the two of you, together, just as you should be.

when you pull away, he rests his forehead against yours, a breathy chuckle escaping him. “yes. yes it does mean what you think it does. i’m so excited,” he murmurs, his thumb grazing your cheek.

his eyes soften as he cups your face. “we don’t have to hide anymore. i can hold your hand in public, take you on dates, and post you without worrying about what people will say.” he pauses, his lips curling into a small grin. “rrr y/n. i’m glad you’re stuck with me now. i’m never letting you go.”

you roll your eyes, but your heart flutters all the same. “i wouldn’t want to be stuck with any other black cat anyway.” with a smirk, you pinch his cheek in return.

masterlist | previous

TAGLIST : CLOSED

@binoyu @sqh3e @antosaurius @yoursyuno @jvngw0nlvr @dorritoni @dudekiss3r @tadadw @choc0br3ad @kukkurookkoo @haobubbles @aruzhananas @holyhaech

a/n : aaaand this marks the end of Can’t Get You! thank you to everyone who came to support this fic and i’m looking forward to create even more things for you guys to read in the future. it’s kind of sad that it finally came to an end, but i hope that everyone enjoyed it like how i enjoyed making it🫧 boynextdoor fics next?? jkjk, unless…. 👀

[cheshireliam]

"My Ideal Life of A Doting Love" Story Event: Chapter 1

Azel Radwan

This is a fan-made translation solely for entertainment purposes with no guaranteed perfection; expect mistakes, grammatical errors, and some creative liberties. All original content and media used belongs to Cybird. Please support the game by buying their stories and playing their games. Reblogs appreciated.

Read this before interacting

After some time of living together with Tanzanite's Living God in a isolated castle in the desert—

I noticed something strange about my lover.

…

Emma: Prince Aze— I mean, Azel. Lunch is ready…

Emma: … What are you doing?

Despite having retired from his duties as Living God and supposedly enjoying a peaceful life, Azel was sitting at his desk and reading a book upside down.

Azel: Isn't it obvious?

Emma: No, it's not. Is that how that book is meant to be read?

Azel: Oh.

As if he had only just realised that the book was upside down, he nonchalantly flipped it right side up and cleared his throat.

(Something's not right. He was definitely up to something before I came, wasn't he?)

Azel: Wrong.

Emma: What kind of excuse is that?

Azel: More importantly, I'm hungry. I thank the ever-dedicated Emma for today's meal.

(… It's bothering me.)

…

On another night,—

(… Mm… I'm awake…)

When I woke up while it was still dark outside, I noticed Azel wasn't next to me.

I sat up and looked around to see that the balcony window was left slightly ajar.

Sitting by the window, illuminated by the massive moon worshipped by the people of Tanzanite, Azel was engrossed in reading a book. He was dressed in his familiar divine robes because as he always said, "it's best to wear comfortable clothes at night".

He didn't to seem to notice I was awake.

(He looks so serious.)

Although I was mesmerised by his beautiful profile under the moonlight, I quietly slipped out of bed.

I crept closer to him silently, but right when I was about to reach him, Azel turned to face me.

Azel: Are you an assassin or something?

Emma: You noticed.

Azel: Of course I did.

He claimed that he noticed me approaching, but he hurriedly shut the book and hid it behind his back.

Regardless of whether he realised this or not, his behaviour only made me all the more suspicious.

Emma: What book were you reading?

Azel: … A highly classified document related to national secrets. If an outsider saw it, I couldn't let them live.

Emma: Reading something so important at this late hour?

Azel: Is there a problem?

Emma: Azel… has anyone ever told you you're bad at keeping secrets?

Azel: Never. If anyone dared to, they'd be thrown into a nightmare so torturous they'll never wake again.

Azel stood, effortlessly scooped me up in his arms and tossed me onto the bed.

I tried protesting that our conversation wasn't over, but before I knew it, I was swiftly wrapped in a blanket and completely immobilised.

Azel: Go to sleep. You will sleep right now. Immediately.

Emma: I'm wide awake.

Emma: … Maybe I'll fall asleep if you sing me a lullaby.

Azel: What age toddler are you?

Emma: There are adults who fall asleep to music too, you know?

Azel: … Why would a god bother to know the customs of mere human beings?

(If I say this, he'll definitely get annoyed and give up on making me sleep.)

(Then I can press him further about that book—)

Just as I was getting ready to interrogate him, Azel started singing with an awful facial expression.

The lyrics didn't sound like they belonged to any modern language, so I couldn't understand them, but his deep and calm voice sang so beautifully and soothingly it felt almost magical.

(I didn't think he'd actually sing. He's surprisingly good at it too.)

(… He looks really embarrassed… but this is exactly what makes him so…)

(Oh well. I guess I'll let him off the hook tonight because of this song.)

…

However, Azel's suspicious behaviour continued.

… To the point where I began to worry he might be dealing with a serious problem.

…

Emma: You're coming clean about everything today, Azel.

Azel was acting strange that day too, sneaking around in the hallway.

Determined not to let him slip away, I spread my arms wide and blocked his path.

Azel: What's this about…? "Come clean"? I haven't done anything.

Emma: That's a lie. You threw something out of the window the moment you saw me, didn't you?

Azel: It was trash.

Emma: Then I'll go pick it up.

Azel: No need.

Emma: …

Azel: …

(We're just going in circles at this rate.)

Emma: Azel—

At the same time I opened my mouth to put an end to this, Azel grabbed my hand and pushed me against the wall.

(!?)

With both my hands pinned, I was caught between Azel and the wall.

(… What's this all of a sudden?)

His mysterious eyes resembling a night sky full of stars gazed deep into mine.

His beautiful hair, shimmering dreamily under the sunlight, gently brushed against my cheek.

(He might be able to hear my heartbeat from this close…)

Azel: …

Emma: … Uhh…

Azel: …

Emma: Azel?

Azel: …

Emma: "Damn it… I pinned her against the wall without thinking, and now I have no idea how to explain myself."

Azel: That's not it. Stop doing that annoyingly accurate impersonation.

Emma: Yeowch!

After giving my cheek a hard pinch, Azel gently rested his forehead against mine and sighed.

Azel: It's just—…

[aventurineswife]

I'm loving this SAHSR au of an artist player! It's so good.

I want to add something, like what if the characters hear player singing? It could be any type of genre, from laufey to MSI or even Robin's songs. I wanna know their reaction to hearing the player sing, whether player has good or bad singing voice.

Anyway, remember to take care!

-🪽 anon

I gave up on editing this.

It happens by accident.

The stars are quiet. The Museum of Divinity has no new paintings today. The characters, scattered across their worlds, are going about their business.

And then—

A voice.

Echoing through the universe like a whisper from the divine.

At first, they think they're imagining it. A trick of the wind. A malfunction in the stars.

But then they realize—

It’s you.

And everything stops.

Welt was reading, but the second he hears your voice, his book slips from his hands.

Himeko’s coffee cup nearly overflows. She grips the table, trying to process what she’s hearing.

Welt: “This is… unprecedented.”

Himeko: “Unprecedented? We are hearing the Creator’s voice. You expect me to analyze this rationally?”

They try to remain professional, but they’re both completely in awe.

Blade’s grip on his sword tightens. His breath stills. His heart (what’s left of it) aches.

Dan Heng stops mid-movement. His entire body tenses.

If your voice is soft and melancholic → They feel a strange, aching longing.

If your voice is powerful and emotional → They feel as if they’ve been struck by lightning.

They memorize every second. Every note. Every breath.

If they never hear you again, they will still remember it forever.

Sunday? He is GONE.

Immediately kneels, hands clasped as if in prayer.

“The voice of the divine—resonating through the cosmos! Ahh, what a BLESSED day this is!”

Aventurine? He plays it cool.

Casually leans against a wall, smirking.

"Didn’t expect you to sound so… charming, dear Painter."

But internally? He is obsessed.

Sunday writes poetry about it. Aventurine never stops thinking about it.

Kafka smiles immediately. "Oh? What a lovely surprise."

If your voice is soft and sweet → Kafka closes her eyes, swaying slightly. Like she’s letting herself drown in it.

If your voice is raw and emotional → Black Swan literally stops breathing.

Black Swan murmurs, “To leave behind only images was not enough… now you bless us with sound as well.”

They both want to hear more. Even if it means hunting for echoes of your voice in the stars.

Luocha listens in complete silence. He places a hand over his heart.

"The artist who paints with colors… now paints with sound as well."

Jing Yuan exhales slowly. His usually lazy demeanor shifts into something far more serious.

"I could listen to this for eternity."

They don’t just hear your voice. They feel it.

March 7th: SCREAMS.

Sparkle: ALSO SCREAMS.

“OH MY GOD THEY CAN SING???”

March tries to record it. (Fails. The audio is impossible to capture.)

Sparkle is immediately writing lyrics down. "If they ever sing again, I’ll be ready to write it down word for word!"

They both talk about it for WEEKS.

The moment your voice fades, they feel it deeply.

Some search desperately for ways to hear you again.

Some simply sit in silence, trying to preserve the moment forever.

And some—

Well.

Some would do anything to make you sing for them again.

I better not see anymore SAHSRAU after the last one.

[mik4elas]

GOODBYE I LOVE THEM SO MUCH THEY'RE SO SWEET UEUEUEU

Anways- here's some things I noticed throughout the 6th episode (MAJOR SPOILER WARNING):

Cheng Xiaoshi's WeChat background is a photo of him with Xia Fei they're so cute omg...

This line... oh my god. Lu Guang's eyes reflecting his hands, paralleling the way that Lu Guang saw his hands bloody with Cheng Xiaoshi's in the past timeline, when Vein had killed him- CHILLS. The soft, confident smile, knowing how his actions and words will effect the future- oh my god

Before the whole debacle with Cheng Xiaoshi's mother calling out Xiao Weiying (which is Vein's Chinese name according to the wiki?) there's two very quick, split second frames that almost feels like it's Lu Guang influencing what was happening, since the moment Vein doubles over, we see Lu Guang's hand forming a fist

There's also this frame where Cheng Xiaoshi's mom's eyes turn blue (we can assume that Lu Guang is somewhat in control here?) and Vein seems to immediately recognize what was happening.

This definitely shows how Lu Guang had influence in the scenario unfolding, yet I'm not completely convinced he's the one who ended up "killing" Vein. Lu Guang certainly seems to have more powers than just time travel at this point.

It's interesting how IMMEDIATELY after this scene, we're shown a scene of Liu Xiao's clapping hands, in front of a dead body (even though it's in a movie). We've now seen at least four (?) characters who utilize that to activate their powers- Lu Guang, Cheng Xiaoshi, Cheng Xiaoshi's mother and Li Tianxi and Li Tiancheng's holding hands for their powers to activate. I might be stretching a bit for this, but Vein's death- and resurrection at the end of the story- (which genuinely made me jump when his eyes snapped open), were definitely influenced by Liu Xiao.

This is further supported by this (↓) line in the image below. Liu Xiao is most likely having Vein's death influence Xia Fei's behavior going forward, especially since we see his response to Vein's death, talking about how he's going to find the answer on his death, no matter how ludicrous. I remember thinking about how innocent Xia Fei was, for somebody who was considered an antagonist of the Yingdu chapter but... I think I see why he's going to be now.

I also wanna touch on this line that Lu Guang speaks of, stating that this is the last time. I feel like this is sort of confirmation that this probably wasn't the first time Lu Guang has tried travelling back in time to save Cheng Xiaoshi. Not super important, just wanted to note that.

Lastly... this is Liu Xiao's hand. Near undeniably. No other character is known to wear rings or black clothing- which corroborates my theory that Liu Xiao had a hand in Vein's "death".

Anyways, thank you for reading my rambles!!

Look at the cuties :(

[nickeverdeen]

Fancy and Dusty | Powder x Kiramman fem!reader

Pairings: Powder x reader (mutual crush), Vi x Caitlyn (romantic), Vi x reader (platonic), Powder x Caitlyn (platonic), reader x Caitlyn (sisters), Vi x Powder (sisters)

Type of fic: Comedy, Fluff

Warnings: A bit of insecurity from Powder’s side

Summary: I tried so hard, but I have no idea how to put this into summary, I’m sorry

———————————

The Kiramman estate was unusually lively that afternoon. It wasn’t every day that all of you got together like this, but when it happened, it always felt like a mix of chaos and comfort.

Caitlyn and Powder were seated at a large oak table in the family’s private study, tools and materials sprawled across the surface. Powder was eagerly showing Caitlyn how her newest gadget worked—a small, birdlike contraption that fluttered its wings before sputtering out and landing in Caitlyn’s lap.

Meanwhile, you were in the garden sparring with Vi. It was more playful than serious, with Vi throwing slow punches and exaggerated feints, her grin never leaving her face.

“Come on, you’re gonna have to hit harder than that!” Vi teased, dodging one of your jabs effortlessly.

“Don’t tempt me!” you shot back, laughing as you lunged at her again.

Vi ducked under your swing, her hand gently tapping your shoulder as she sidestepped. “Careful, squirt. Don’t want to embarrass yourself in front of my sister.”

You rolled your eyes but couldn’t hide the blush that crept up your cheeks. “Shut up, Vi.”

Vi just smirked knowingly.

Back in the study, Caitlyn adjusted the scope of her rifle as Powder watched intently. “Alright, so you align this piece here…” Caitlyn explained, her tone patient as she demonstrated. Powder nodded along, her hands fiddling with one of her gadgets.

It was a quiet moment—until Caitlyn noticed the way Powder’s eyes kept drifting to the window, where you and Vi were sparring. Powder’s expression softened, her lips curling into a small, almost dreamy smile as she watched you laugh.

Caitlyn raised an eyebrow but said nothing for a moment. Instead, she finished adjusting the rifle and handed it to Powder. “Here. Try loading it now.”

Powder blinked, snapping out of her thoughts. “Oh, right. Yeah, okay.” She took the rifle and began loading it, her hands moving almost automatically.

After a beat, Caitlyn leaned back in her chair, her voice casual. “So… you and my sister?”

Powder froze, her hands fumbling with the rifle. “W-what?”

Caitlyn gave her a knowing look. “You’ve been staring at her for the past five minutes.”

Powder’s face turned bright red, and she quickly looked down at the rifle in her hands. “I wasn’t—okay, maybe I was, but it’s not like that! I mean, she’s—she’s your sister! And she’s… she’s out of my league.”

Caitlyn tilted her head. “Out of your league?”

“Yeah.” Powder shrugged, trying to sound nonchalant but failing miserably. “I mean, look at her. She’s got everyone wrapped around her finger. Boys, girls… she could have anyone she wants. And me? I’m just… not enough for that.”

Caitlyn’s expression softened. “You’re not “not enough”, Powder. You’re brilliant, kind, and—if I may say so—a lot less chaotic than I expected.”

Powder snorted. “Thanks, I think.”

Caitlyn smiled. “Listen, I can’t speak for her feelings, but I can tell you this: she doesn’t care about leagues. She likes people for who they are, not where they stand.”

Powder glanced up at Caitlyn, hesitant. “You really think so?”

“I know so,” Caitlyn said firmly, her tone leaving no room for doubt.

Meanwhile, you and Vi were taking a break, both of you sitting on the grass to catch your breath. Vi stretched her arms behind her head, a relaxed grin on her face.

“You’ve got a decent punch for someone who spends most of their time reading,” Vi teased.

“Gee, thanks,” you replied dryly, nudging her with your shoulder.

After a moment of comfortable silence, you glanced at her, a little hesitant but curious. “Hey, Vi?”

“Yeah?”

“Does Powder like girls?”

Vi’s laugh was immediate and loud, catching you off guard. “What kind of question is that?” she asked, still chuckling.

You shrugged, trying to play it cool. “I was just wondering.”

Vi raised an eyebrow at you, her grin turning a little smug. “Why? You thinking about making a move, squirt?”

Your face went red, and you shoved her playfully. “Shut up!”

Vi laughed harder, ruffling your hair affectionately. “Relax, kid. To answer your question—yeah, she does. But don’t tell her I told you that, or she’ll probably throw one of her gadgets at me.”

You tried to hide your smile, but Vi caught it anyway. “What?” she asked, her tone teasing. “You’ve got that look.”

“What look?”

“The look.”

You groaned, flopping back onto the grass as Vi laughed.

As the afternoon went on, the four of you eventually gathered back inside, the air filled with laughter and teasing. But every now and then, your eyes would meet Powder’s, and for just a moment, it felt like the rest of the world faded away.

[aciddrattboyy]

I Mυʂƚ Mαƙҽ Yσυ ƚԋҽ Pҽɾϝҽƈƚ Mσɾɳιɳɠ

┆ꜱʏɴᴏᴘꜱɪꜱ - "you have a hard time accepting help, your boyfriend toge is nothing if not patient."

ᴍᴏᴠɪᴇ ꜱᴛᴀᴛꜱ: ★ Starring: Toge I. x Gn! Reader ★ Run Time: 1.4k ★ Genre/Warnings: [Rated R: Drama/Comfort] not much tbh, mentions of injuries/blood, comfort, angst, i skimmed thru quickly and im pretty sure its gender neutral, toge uses sign language ★ older work !!

▶▶

it was late- way past midnight. yet inumaki was still awake, pacing around the common room of jujutsu tech. you hadn’t come back yet. having been sent on a mission earlier this evening you should have been back already. 

it’s not that he thought you weren’t capable of taking care of yourself. he knew you were more than capable of that. but it was already so late and you should be back. inumaki let out a groan of frustration, combing a hand through his hair as he stopped his pacing. 

realizing that staying here would eat him alive until you got back, he decided he would go take a stroll outside. with hopes that the cold air would distract him enough, he quietly walked down the halls. it was quiet, typical for the school this late at night, and dark as well. but one light caught his eye.

the door to the clinic shoko usually worked in was open just barely enough that the sliver out light that came spilling out was enough for inumaki to notice. his eyes widened as he thought of the worse, speed walking towards the door, 

“ah- shit-,” a hiss came from behind the door, following a long string of curses that inumaki immediately recognized to be coming from your mouth. with a shaky hand he pushed the door open, walking inside with his heart beating in his ears. 

there you were, sitting on top a stool as you tried to give yourself stitches. you were biting down hard on the collar of your shirt as you tried to get the needle through with trembling hands. inumaki’s eyes only seemed to bug out even more at the state you were in. there was a dark spot on the side of your shirt that was only getting darker. dried blood under your nose and on your lips. your legs were shaking sporadically and he could see tears forming against your lashes. the gash you were trying to stich up wasn’t too big, but it hurt like hell and you knew it would need to be closed manually. 

when you finally noticed inumaki you couldn’t bring yourself to move your now pounding head to look at him. you were also hoping he would leave, not really wanting him nor anyone you know to see you in such a state of what you thought was pure weakness. 

but inumaki either didn’t get the hint, or didn’t care. circling around to look at you head on you saw his eyes plead with yours. you were always so good at understanding him just by his expressions. and while inumaki was always grateful for that, you in this moment hated it, now feeling like you could physically see the unwanted pity he felt for you. 

he hovered over you for a while, not entirely sure what to do. but when your hand spasmed, causing you to cry out, it was like his instincts took over and he immediately grabbed your wrist. he held onto it tightly and it took several moments for you to even muster the strength to move your head to look at him. 

you felt embarrassed- weak and inumaki trying to help was only making you feel worse, no matter how irrational it was. you glared at him, tugging your hand away from him. 

“you cant just give yourself stitches,” his face was full of concern as he moved his hands to communicate with you. but you ignored it, reading your hand again to try once more. but he stopped you again,  swiftly taking the needle from you and throwing it on the tray by your side that was already filled with other bloody needles from your other attempts at stitching yourself up. 

“leave me alone,” you scoffed, reaching out for the tray. inumaki was quicker than you, snatching the tray off the table and walking it to a counter while he shot you a look. “oh fuck off,” you groaned loudly, staring daggers into him while he set the tray aside. despite the rudeness on your part, his expression stayed gentle as he walked back over to you. 

“you should call shoko,”

“no i should not,” your response was quick and your voice was defensive. “i’m not calling shoko at almost two in the morning,” although inumaki didn’t think it was the best idea, he nodded, having easily been able to tell what type of state you were in right now. he reached for a roll of gauze, getting ready to wrap it around the gash on your arm. “don’t touch me-,” you snapped, causing inumaki to jump slightly at your tone. “i can do it myself,” you mumbled, snatching the gauze from him with a weak arm. 

you clenched your jaw as you began to wrap your wound, feeling inumaki’s eyes on you the entire time. you tried not to let the events that unfolded a mere hour ago plague your mind. the horror and death you witnessed this night being the worse you’ve ever seen. but you couldn’t cry. you had to be strong. all of your other peers have seen and done so much and they are able to hold it together. so you needed to do the same. you felt a tap on your shoulder and jumped. the sudden movement causing tears you didnt even know were forming to fall down your cheeks. 

“y/n what’s going on? what happened? what else hurts?” inumaki was frantic while signing, frustration bubbling in his chest at the fact that he couldn’t just speak. his rapid fire of questions alongside your crying started to overwhelm you. 

“stop-,” your voice was harsh, shaking your head as you hastily finished tying the gauze before hurriedly trying to hop off the stool. “just fucking stop and leave me alone- i dont want your pity,” you stood on shaky legs as you tried to wobble out of the clinic, the urge to hide away practically consuming you at this point. inumaki could feel his eyebrows pinching together as he watched you stand on trembling legs. he felt himself hurting for you and wanting to help you anyway he could.

“you can’t walk,” he let out a frustrated sigh as you ignored him and tried to take another step forward. your knees almost instantly buckled under you, and within a few moments inumaki was holding you securely to his side with your arm strung over his shoulders. in this moment you wanted nothing to scream and cry and push him away. but when you felt his arm around you and saw the patient look on his face, you felt yourself started to cry once more. 

inumaki was quick to bring your head to his chest. cradling your head against him, he kept his other arm around your waist, holding you close to him as sobs wracked through your body. you grabbed fistfuls of his shirt as he tried to sooth you with soft hums. 

at some point the two of sank to the floor as you desperately clung on to inumaki. your mind felt blank as you let out all of your bottled up feelings in the form of tears. he smoothed his hand over your hair, rocking the two of you slowly. eventually your crying stopped and you let go of your vice grip on his shirt. your sniffling was quiet as you pushed back against him. you kept your eyes on the ground as he helped you stand back up.

“i need to go lay down, i’ll make it on my own,” your voice was hoarse as you tried to walk off on your own, already feeling more embarrassment and shame than you even thought was possible. you felt inumaki’s hand tighten on your waist in opposal but you shook your head. “inumaki let me go i’ll be fine,” he looked at you with desperation and concern in his eyes as he reluctantly let go. 

“you could barely even walk to the door,”  he was quick to step in front of you, blocking off the door and not letting you try to walk the halls to your dorm room.

“inumaki let me go-,” he shook his head vehemently, already moving his hands to try to reason with you. “inumaki please just leave me the fuck alone i dont want your help-” you shouted at him, your voice cracking slightly at the end. you felt bad when you saw inumaki’s face dropped but as soon as he moved out of the way you were stumbling out. 

he watched you walk out, eyes glassing over while he tried to figure out what he was doing wrong. why wouldn’t you let him help you. 

inumaki blinked rapidly, trying to keep himself from crying as he walked you disappear down the hall. then with a final sigh he stalked back off to his room, knowing he wouldn’t be able to sleep while knowing the state you were in.

i hope you enjoyed !! reblogs/comments are very appreciated <3 ʟᴏʙʙʏ ﹕ꜰɪʟᴍᴏɢʀᴀᴘʜʏ 𝄃𝄃𝄂𝄀𝄁𝄃𝄂𝄂𝄃

[bluebirdinhissky]

A best friend’s duty is to make you feel at home.

Hyunjin x Reader.

Bird note: This is a continuation of the Seollal celebration. Reminder, Reader is older than Hyunjin and not korean. Also WARNING, this is the longest I’ve written, so thank you so much if you read everything!!

[Masterlist]

The train ride to Hyunjin’s hometown had been peaceful, filled with easy conversation and stretches of comfortable silence. Now, as they stepped off the platform and into the crisp winter air, the reality of what was happening started to settle in: she was meeting his parents.

Hyunjin glanced over at her as they walked toward the station exit, her hands tucked into the pockets of her coat. She looked calm on the surface, but he knew her well enough to catch the tiny signs of nervousness: the way she pressed her lips together, the way she adjusted the strap of her bag even though it wasn’t slipping.

His parents had been excited when he told them she was coming. His mom had immediately started planning meals and didn’t hesitate to text Hyunjin after their call to ask what kind of meals she liked and just laughed when he told her she was as picky as him, or maybe even more; and his dad had casually mentioned how it would be nice to have “another artist in the house” for a few days. Still, he understood why she was worried. Meeting someone’s parents was a big deal, even if it was just as friends.

“Stop overthinking,” he murmured, nudging her lightly with his elbow.

“I’m not overthinking.” She shot him a look.

“You so are,” he teased, grinning when she huffed. “It’s gonna be fine. They already like you, remember?”

“That’s what you say, but what if…”

“Nope.” He cut her off before she could start listing possible disasters. “No ‘what ifs.’ Just relax, okay?”

She exhaled but nodded, adjusting her scarf as they stepped out of the station and took a taxi to his parent’s house. After some minutes of quiet ride, they arrived.

Hyunjin adjusted the strap of his bag as they stood outside his childhood home. He could still feel her nerves even without looking at her, her grip on her suitcase was a little too tight, her breathing just a bit more controlled than usual. He tried to act casual but her nervousness was getting to him, and he was starting to get nervous too but he was better at hiding it.

“You’re acting like you’re about to meet a king and queen.” He laughed.

“It’s your parents, Hyunjin.”

“Exactly.” He grinned. “Not royalty. Just two normal people who already like you.”

She exhaled unconvinced, but before she could talk herself into backing out, he opened the door and stepped inside.

The warmth of home wrapped around him instantly. The air smelled faintly of his mom’s cooking, and the space looked just as familiar as always, soft lighting, the hum of the heater, the cozy silence of a lived-in home.

“Hyunjin-ah!”

His mom appeared from the kitchen, her face lighting up the moment she saw him. And then her eyes landed on the woman beside him, and her expression softened with something closer to curiosity.

“You must be Y/N.”, she said in a heavy korean accent english. Hyunjin appreciated his mom’s effort to communicate with her.

“It’s nice to meet you.” She bowed politely.

“Oh, you’re even prettier than I expected.” His mom smiled, stepping closer. “Hyunjin only told me you were beautiful once, but I can see he was holding back.”

Hyunjin coughed. “Mom.”

Hyunjin barely had time to react before she continued, tilting her head as she studied her. “Now I think my son was lying. He told me you’re older than him, I still can’t believe you’re older than Hyunjin. You look his age.”

Hyunjin sighed. “Mom.”

“What? It’s true!” His mom laughed, turning back to her. “I thought he was joking at first, even now that I see you in person, I still don’t believe it.”

She smiled politely. “People usually think I’m younger.”

Hyunjin smirked. “She doesn’t just look younger. She acts younger too.”

She nudged him subtly, and he bit back a laugh.

His dad entered then, nodding in greeting as he took in the scene. “Welcome,” he said simply, his voice calm but kind. “I hope you had a good trip.”

She nodded. “Yes, thank you for having me.”

His mom beamed. “Of course! Any friend of Hyunjin’s is welcome here. I’ve been looking forward to meeting you. Hyunjin talks about you all the time, so it already feels like I know you.”

She glanced at Hyunjin, who gave her a smug little smirk.

His dad, standing just behind his mom, coughed and sensed his son’s nervousness. “I hope Hyunjin didn’t give you too much trouble on the way here.”

“Hey,” Hyunjin protested, but she just laughed.

“He was actually well-behaved this time,” she joked.

His dad chuckled. “That’s good to hear. Let’s move to the livingroom.” and so they walked towards the living space where Kkami was already waiting by the couch, tail wagging excitedly.

“Oh, that’s right,” his mom said as she walked to the near couch. “Kkami finally gets to meet you.”

Hyunjin smirked. “He’s gonna love you.”

“I wouldn’t be so sure. Dogs usually sense when someone isn’t a dog person.” She gave him a skeptical look.

“Dogs love you,” he corrected. “Even though you don’t love them.”

“I don’t hate them,” she muttered.

Before she could say more, Kkami trotted forward, then, without hesitation, he wagged his tail even harder and placed his front paws against her legs, looking up at her expectantly.

“Uh…” She blinked.

“Told you.” Hyunjin grinned.

“Oh, he really likes you! That’s a good sign.” His mom said.

With an amused sigh, she hesitantly reached down and gave Kkami a few pats on the head. He responded by circling her feet before sitting down beside her, content.

“Looks like you have a new shadow while you’re here.” Hyunjin’s dad laughed.

“I hope you’ll be comfortable here,” his mom said kindly. “If you need anything, just let me know.”

“Thank you,” she said sincerely. “I really appreciate it.”

For some hours, Hyunjin played with Kkami while she looked at them. He asked her if she could take some videos of them playing, so he could show them to Stay some other time.

“Dinner’s ready!” his mom told them from the kitchen. He missed his mom’s meals so he hurried up while grabbing her by the hand, and she let go of it just before his mom entered the dining room.

At the table, the conversation flowed easily. His mom was full of questions, clearly eager to learn more about her.

“So, you and Hyunjin met through Hannah and Changbin, right?”

She nodded. “Yeah, I moved in with them when I first came to Korea, and Hyunjin was already living there.”

His mom smiled. “And now you two are best friends. It’s nice to see him so close with someone other than the ‘kids’.”

Hyunjin rolled his eyes. “Mom.”

She ignored him, turning back to his best friend. “You know, I was surprised when Hyunjin said you were older than him.”

She smiled, but there was a slight hesitation before she spoke. “Actually… I’m fourteen years older.”

There was a brief pause. His mom blinked, eyebrows lifting slightly. “Yeah, he said that, that’s why I didn’t believe it when I saw you”

His dad, unfazed, simply nodded. “Yes, you certainly don’t look it.”

His mom quickly recovered, nodding in agreement. “Exactly! You don’t look a day older than Hyunjin.”

“Told you.” Hyunjin smirked.

She exhaled in amusement.

His mom tilted her head curiously. “Is it ever awkward? The age gap?”

She glanced at Hyunjin before shaking her head. “Not really. He never makes me feel weird about it.”

His mom’s eyes softened. “That’s good. As long as you’re both comfortable.”

Hyunjin noticed the way she relaxed at his mom’s words, and for some reason, it made his chest feel lighter.

“So,” his mom began, setting down her glass, “Hyunjin told us you moved to Seoul for a change of environment. What made you choose Korea?”

Hyunjin just had mentioned bits to her mom about Hannah inviting her, but didn’t share the real reason. He noticed the small pause before she answered.

“I was heartbroken,” she admitted softly. “A relationship ended badly, and I fell into a really bad place. I was depressed, and I didn’t know how to move forward. Hannah suggested I move here, thinking a new environment would help me heal.”

Hyunjin’s fingers tightened around his cup.

He already knew this, of course. He had seen it, had watched her struggle, had held her when she broke down, had been there in all the moments she thought no one was watching. But hearing her say it aloud, to his parents, made his chest ache in a different way.

His mom’s expression softened. “That must have been difficult,” she said gently. “I’m sorry you went through that.”

She nodded. “It was. But… I had good people supporting me.” She glanced at Hyunjin. “And Hyunjin helped too. More than he probably realizes.”

“I did?” Hyunjin blinked.

“Yeah.” She smiled at him.

His mom watched the exchange with interest before turning to his dad. “See? Our son is sweeter than he pretends to be.”

“I don’t pretend!” Hyunjin huffed.

“It must be interesting, living together. Do you ever get tired of him?” His dad chuckled.

“Dad!” Hyunjin groaned.

“It’s a valid question. Hyunjin can be a lot.” His mom grinned, clearly amused.

She hesitated briefly before shaking her head. “I don’t get tired of him.” Hyunjin blinked, thrown off by how certain she sounded. She glanced at him before looking back at his mom. “He’s helped me a lot,” she continued. “More than he knows. He helped me be happier. Move on. Believe in myself again.” A small pause. Then, quieter, “Heal.”

Hyunjin felt something shift in his chest.

She had never said that before.

His throat tightened as he watched her, trying to process the weight of her words. He didn’t know what to say, so he said nothing, just letting the moment settle around them.

“That’s good to hear.” His mom smiled knowingly.

His dad, sensing the change in atmosphere, shifted the topic. “Hyunjin mentioned you like animals. Do you like dogs?”

“I’m more of a cat person.” She smiled nervously.

“She’s not scared of dogs, but she doesn’t get them.” Hyunjin smirked.

“That’s not true.” She protested.

“Well, Kkami will change your mind, I’m sure.” His mom laughed.

Right on cue, the sound of small paws tapping against the floor filled the room. Within seconds, Kkami came bounding in, tail wagging furiously.

“Looks like he already likes you.” Hyunjin grinned.

Kkami pushed against her hand, demanding attention. She hesitated before reaching out, and Kkami immediately leaned into her touch, tail wagging harder.

“Dogs always know good people.” His mom said the fact.

“So, you’ve been in Korea for a while now. Do you plan on staying long-term?” His dad asked curiously.

She nodded. “For now, I’m happy in Seoul. I don’t plan to move away.”

Hyunjin hadn’t realized how much he wanted to hear that until now. He had never considered the possibility of her actually moving away and he was glad he hadn’t think about it before.

His mom smiled, satisfied. “Then I hope this isn’t the last time we see you.”

Hyunjin smirked, nudging her lightly. “See? Told you they’d like you.”

She rolled her eyes, but her posture had relaxed, and for some reason, that made Hyunjin feel lighter, too.

The evening had passed more smoothly than Hyunjin expected. Dinner was warm and comforting, filled with laughter and easy conversation. His mom, as expected, had already taken a liking to her, and his dad, though more reserved, had seemed just as welcoming, but now, as the night settled in, the house was winding down.

His mom stretched as she stood from the dining table. “It’s getting late,” she said, suppressing a yawn. “We should all get some sleep.”

His dad nodded in agreement, already heading toward their bedroom. “Goodnight, you two.”

“Goodnight!” They both called after them.

She stood up as well, hesitating slightly before glancing at him. “Where am I going to sleep?”

“Oh, you’re staying in my room.” Hyunjin smirked, already enjoying this way too much.

Her eyes widened slightly, and for a split second, he saw real panic flash across her face. He barely managed to hold back his laughter before shaking his head. “I’m kidding. Relax.”

“Hyunjin!” She let out a sharp exhale.

“Come on, that was funny.” He grinned before grabbing her suitcase that stayed in the entrance ever since they arrived, forgotten. “I’ll show you.”

He led her down the hall, stopping in front of a door. Pushing it open, he flicked on the light, revealing a cozy, neatly arranged room. He rolled her suitcase inside before stepping aside to let her enter. “It’s not huge, but it’s comfortable.”

She took a few steps in, glancing around. The bed was neatly made, the blankets tucked in perfectly. A small nightstand held a lamp, and there was a window with thick curtains, keeping out the chill.

“This is nice.” She turned to him.

“Told you my parents would take care of you.” Hyunjin leaned against the doorway, watching her.

She smiled softly. For a moment, the silence between them stretched. The house was quiet now, his parents bedroom door already closed.

“You look cute when you’re shy.” He tilted his head slightly, gaze flickering over her.

“I… I’m not shy.” She stiffened.

Hyunjin smirked, stepping just a little closer. “Hmm, really?” His voice dropped, playful and teasing. “Then why are you blushing?”

“I’m not…”

“You are.” He leaned in just enough to make her flinch.

“Your parents are right down the hall,” she whispered, clearly flustered. She turned her face away, avoiding his gaze.

“And?” Hyunjin chuckled, thoroughly entertained.

“And they might hear you flirting and think something weird.”

“Something weird?” He bit his lip to stop himself from laughing.

“You know what I mean.” She huffed.

Hyunjin grinned. He could see her struggling, not because she didn’t want to flirt back, but because she was too shy with his parents so close.

It was cute.

He leaned against the doorframe, watching her as she nervously adjusted the sleeves of her sweater.

“Alright, alright,” he said finally, voice softer now. “I’ll be nice… for tonight.”

“For tonight?” She gave him a look.

“Yeah. Don’t think this means I’ll stop.” He smirked.

She rolled her eyes but didn’t argue.

Hyunjin chuckled as he pushed himself off the doorframe. “Sleep well, okay?”

She nodded. “You too.”

With that, he stepped back into the hallway, heading toward his old bedroom.

And as he walked away, he couldn’t wipe the grin off his face.

*The next morning*

Hyunjin was already up, dressed in a hanbok, an outfit that made him look even more regal than usual. He texted her asking if she was up already. As soon as she replied he went to her room, knocking on the door. She opened a few seconds later.

“Morning,” he said cheerfully, adjusting the collar of his hanbok. “You’re up early.”

“Yeah… it’s hard to sleep in when you’re not in your own bed,” she replied, stretching again.

He nodded, eyes lighting up. “It’s Seollal today, so you’ll get to experience a bunch of traditions. Get ready for some fun.”

“Fun?” she raised an eyebrow.

He winked, clearly enjoying teasing her. “Maybe not fun for you, but it’s going to be an experience, that’s for sure.”

Before she could ask what he meant by that, his mom appeared from behind him, hands on her hips as she smiled warmly at Y/N.

“Y/N-ssi, good morning! We’re going to wear hanbok today, so you’ll need to put one on too. It’s a part of the Seollal tradition. You’ll look beautiful in it!”

Hyunjin chuckled under his breath, his eyes glinting with amusement. “Don’t worry, I’ll help you pick one out.”

She shot him a playful glare. “What, you’re going to pick out my outfit?”

“Of course.” He crossed his arms, leaning back against the wall with a grin. “I’m a fashion expert.”

“Don’t let him fool you,” his mom chimed in, leading them over to the closet where they kept the hanboks. “He has no taste when it comes to picking out clothes. You’re better off picking your own.”

Hyunjin raised his hands in mock surrender. “Fine!”

His mom brought out a few hanboks, setting them down on the bed. The garments were beautiful, rich fabrics in shades of red, blue, and gold, with intricate embroidery that made them look like they belonged in a historical drama.

Hyunjin’s mom gently encouraged her to pick one that felt the most comfortable. “You’ll be wearing it for a while, so it’s best if it fits well.”

After a few minutes of careful choosing, she decided on a soft pink hanbok with delicate gold patterns that seemed to shimmer in the light. Hyunjin stood nearby, watching as she changed into the hanbok, his expression unreadable. When she was done, his eyes widened, and a soft smile spread across his face. “Wow,” he said, voice softer than before. “You look beautiful.”

Her cheeks flushed under his gaze, but she was saved by his mom, who came over with a small box of traditional accessories: a hairpin, a ribbon, and a decorative piece to hang on her waistband.

“Now, we’re ready,” his mom said with a smile, fastening the final touches. “We can begin the formal Seollal ceremony soon.”

Hyunjin, now standing beside her, explained the next steps. “The Seollal celebration involves a ritual called ‘Sebae,’ where we pay respects to our elders and ancestors. You’ll see us bow to them and make wishes for the upcoming year.”

She nodded, seemingly impressed by how seriously he took the tradition.

His mom looked over at them both, satisfied. “Let’s go. It’s time for the family ceremony.”

And so, with their hanboks carefully adjusted and the weight of tradition in the air, they joined his parents in the living room to prepare for the next part of the celebration.

*After the celebrations*

The house had fallen quiet, the celebration of Seollal a distant memory now. After the long day of traditional celebrations and catching up with his parents, Hyunjin found himself standing at the kitchen counter, putting away the last of the dishes. His mind wandered to the one thing that had been on his mind all evening: her.

She hadn’t been to his room yet. He wasn’t sure why, but it felt strange. Back home, she’d never hesitated to come into his room whenever she felt like it. But here, in his parents house, things were different. The tension from earlier in the day still hung in the air. They’d gotten along fine, of course, but he knew she was still adjusting. It wasn’t just the new environment; it was the feeling of being under his parents watchful eyes, and the worry of making a good impression.

He wiped his hands on a dish towel, his gaze drifting toward the living room. She was sitting on the couch, her phone in hand. She seemed a bit distant. He couldn’t help but feel a little curious, a little concerned, but mostly, he was just… impatient. He missed the easy comfort of their usual routine. Pushing the towel aside, Hyunjin walked over to the couch, leaning casually against the armrest.

“Hey,” he started with a teasing grin. “You’ve been here for two days already, and you still haven’t come to my room. What’s going on?”

She looked up from her phone, startled for a moment, and then she looked away quickly. He could tell she was uncomfortable, but he wasn’t sure why.

She cleared her throat, her fingers fiddling with the phone screen. “I didn’t want to intrude,” she said, her voice quiet.

“Intrude?” He raised an eyebrow, amused. “You’re not intruding. You’ve been to my room like a hundred times back home. What’s different now?”

She shifted slightly, her gaze still avoiding his. She seemed a little embarrassed, but it was the way she fidgeted that told him something else. It was like she wasn’t sure of the boundaries here.

“I don’t want to make anyone uncomfortable,” she murmured.

Hyunjin’s smile softened a little. He understood now, it wasn’t just about his room or his parents. It was the fact that they were here, under his parents roof, and maybe she was worried it would look… different.

He leaned in a little closer, his voice dropping into a more playful tone. “Hey, it’s just me and you. Nothing to worry about, right? Besides, we’re best friends. It’s not like we’re doing anything weird.”

She didn’t say anything at first, but he could tell she was still nervous. He wasn’t sure if it was because of his parents or something else, but he wasn’t going to push her.

After a few moments, he stood up straighter, brushing off his hanbok. “I’m just saying, you’re making it awkward by not coming over.” He glanced at the door. “Come on, let’s go. I’m not going to bite.”

She hesitated, looking at him as if she was weighing her options. He could tell she wasn’t completely convinced, but he also knew that if he kept teasing her, she wouldn’t be able to resist.

“You should probably keep your voice down,” she said finally, her tone quiet and careful.

Hyunjin’s grin returned, but he didn’t press her on it. Instead, he chuckled, his eyes twinkling with amusement. “You act like we’re sneaking around.” He reached out and gently tugged on her wrist, urging her to get up. “It’s just me, beastie. Relax.”

She finally stood, following him down the hall to his room. He could tell she was still a little unsure, but he was glad she was going along with it. He didn’t want her to feel awkward about being in his space, especially not here.

Once they were inside his room, Hyunjin turned on the light, revealing the familiar surroundings. The room felt a little different with her here.

He tossed himself on the bed “See? Not so bad, right?”

She gave him a small smile, but he could tell she was still a bit hesitant. He wondered if she was worried about his parents hearing them, or if she just wasn’t quite ready for the familiarity of being in his childhood room like this.

He sat now on the edge of the bed, leaning back a little. “It’s just us, no one else. Don’t worry about it,” he said, trying to reassure her. She stood near the door, not coming any closer, and Hyunjin raised an eyebrow. “What’s going on? You’re not usually so stiff around me.”

She shifted again, clearly unsure. “It’s just… I don’t want to make things weird”

After a beat of silence, Hyunjin patted the bed beside him, an invitation he hoped she wouldn’t resist. “Come on, you can sit here. Nothing to be shy about. Nothing weird will happen”

She looked at him for a moment, then finally, to his surprise, walked over and sat down beside him. There was still a little distance between them, but he could tell she was starting to relax.

Hyunjin couldn’t help but smile. This was all still a little different, but with her, everything felt just like it always had been, natural, easy. Even if they were in his parents house, everything felt right. For a while, it felt like everything was back to normal, just the two of them, their usual easy conversation, and the comfortable silence between them that had always made their time together feel effortless.

Kkami had been quietly lying on the floor, but soon, his presence was felt as he trotted over, his tail wagging energetically. He immediately jumped onto the bed, nudging her with his nose, as if inviting her to give him attention. She flinched at first, not used to having a dog so close, but she didn’t push him away. Hyunjin noticed the way her hand hesitated, and he grinned. “He’s harmless,” he reassured her

“Yeah, I can tell,” she murmured, her voice soft, as her hand gingerly reached out to pet Kkami. He let out a small, satisfied yip, nudging her hand with his nose and Hyunjin found it a bit amusing how his dog had taken a liking to someone who wasn’t particularly fond of dogs.

They spent a few more minutes just talking, Kkami curling up between them, occasionally nudging her for more attention. Hyunjin watched her interact with the dog, noting how she had warmed up a little, even if she was still a bit reserved. Her usual reserved nature around Kkami was endearing, and Hyunjin liked that he could see her letting her guard down, even just a little.

But after a while, Hyunjin noticed a change. She had started to lean back against the headboard of the bed, her eyelids growing heavy, the soft rhythm of her breathing a subtle sign that she was getting tired. He glanced over at her, noticing how she fought to stay awake, even though she was clearly exhausted. He couldn’t help but smile at the sight, her usual quiet determination, even in something as simple as staying up.

“You know, for someone who didn’t want to come into my room,” he said softly, trying not to startle her, “you look like you’re about to fall asleep right here.”

She looked at him, a soft blush creeping onto her cheeks as she sat up a bit straighter. “I didn’t mean to,” she muttered, rubbing her eyes tiredly. “I guess I didn’t realize how tired I was.”

Hyunjin chuckled, shaking his head. “I told you it’d be a long day. You should get some rest. You’ve been up since early this morning.”

She nodded, standing up slowly and giving Kkami one last pat on the head. “You’re right,” she said, her voice still sleepy. She glanced over at Hyunjin, her expression soft. “Thanks for letting me hang out with you for a while.”

He smiled, leaning back against the bed. “Of course. You can come back whenever you want.”

She hesitated for a moment, standing by the door as if she were deciding something. Her eyes met his briefly, then she quickly looked down, suddenly shy. “Goodnight, Hyunjin. I’ll see you tomorrow.”

“Goodnight, beastie,” he replied, his voice warm. “Sleep well.”

As she left the room, Hyunjin couldn’t help but feel a little strange. There was a kind of quiet sweetness to the way she said goodnight, a gentle vulnerability that made him think about how much he enjoyed just having her around, even in the silence.

When the door softly clicked shut behind her, he sat for a moment, thinking about how much things had changed, how much closer they had become since she moved to Seoul. The bond they shared had deepened in ways he hadn’t quite anticipated. He couldn’t put his finger on exactly when it had happened, but he knew that whatever was happening between them, it wasn’t just friendship anymore and he couldn’t keep ignoring he wasn’t fine with just being friends.

He leaned back against the pillow, a smile tugging at his lips. Despite everything that had changed, there was still something so comforting about having her around. He wasn’t sure where things were headed, but he knew one thing for sure: he was looking forward to whatever came next, something deep inside of him telling him she might actually feel the same.

With that thought, he drifted into sleep, the peaceful silence of his room enveloping him, leaving the thoughts of the day behind.

*The day after Seollal Celebrations*

The morning light poured through the window of Hyunjin’s room, waking him from his slumber. It had been a restful night, the warmth of the blankets and the quiet house making it easy to sleep soundly. He had gotten used to the comfort of his room, though the knowledge that his best friend was staying at his parents house still made him feel a little like things were on their way to become official. He tried to push those thoughts aside as he stretched out beneath the covers because he didn’t want to be more nervous, the day ahead promising to be a quiet continuation of the family celebration.

Hyunjin’s parents had already woken up, their voices sounding in the kitchen. His mom had started preparing breakfast, a traditional Korean meal of rice, kimchi, and side dishes, the smell of it wafting up through the house.

After getting dressed, Hyunjin opened the door and made his way downstairs, where the sounds of morning chatter and the sizzle of food greeted her. Y/N was already sitting at the table, talking animatedly to his dad while his mom arranged the food. She looked up when she saw him, her eyes softening into a smile.

“Good morning,” he greeted them, his voice a little more casual now that they were surrounded by his family.

“Good morning, Hyunjin.” They greeted him. He walked over and took a seat across from her. His mom joining with food not long after.

As they ate, the conversation flowed easily around the table. His mom asked about Y/N’s life in Seoul and how she had been adjusting, which was something she had mentioned the day before. “You are a brave woman,” his mom said, a warmth in her voice. “It takes courage to move to a new place on your own.”

Y/N gave a small smile. “It wasn’t easy, but I’m glad I came. It’s been… a good change.”

The rest of the morning was spent in a quiet, peaceful rhythm. After breakfast, they spent time playing a few traditional games. Hyunjin’s parents taught her how to play yutnori, a game involving a board and wooden sticks that is traditionally played during the New Year. Even though Y/N wasn’t very familiar with it, Hyunjin’s mom was patient, showing her the rules and laughing whenever Y/N made a mistake. Hyunjin, meanwhile, seemed to enjoy seeing Y/N try her best, though he also teased her when she got too competitive with his dad.

In the afternoon, after lunch, his parents took a nap, and Y/N was left to chat with Hyunjin in the living room. They sat on the couch together, Kkami curling up by her feet, occasionally glancing up at her as if waiting for her to pet him again.

“Do you want to go outside for a bit?” Hyunjin asked, stretching lazily. “Maybe get some fresh air?”

“Yeah, that sounds good.”

They walked outside into the yard behind the house, the cold air hitting them as they stepped out. The sky was clear, the sun still bright in the afternoon but already starting to dip lower. The house was set in a quiet neighborhood, the occasional sound of children playing or people calling to each other drifting through the air.

Hyunjin looked over at her, his hands stuffed into his jacket pockets. “So, we’re heading back to Seoul tonight, right?” She nodded, her gaze drifting to the horizon.

“Yeah. I don’t think I’m ready to go back just yet, though. I’m really enjoying being here, but I know it’s time to go home.”

He smiled at that, a little fondly. “Yeah. Me too. I’m glad you came, though. It feels… good, having you here.”

“I’m glad too.”

They stood there for a while, enjoying the calmness of the moment. Kkami, having followed them outside, was happily chasing his tail in the snow-covered yard. After a while, they went back inside to find that his parents were awake, and the evening was approaching.

The day had passed quickly, and before long, Hyunjin and Y/N were gathering their things, getting ready to head back to their apartment in Seoul. Hyunjin’s parents were already getting ready to go to bed, saying their goodbyes as they made their way to the living room to send them off.

“Thank you for having me,” Y/N said sincerely to his mom and dad, her voice quiet but appreciative.

His dad gave her a kind smile. “Of course. You’re always welcome here.”

As they left the house and took the train back to Seoul, the weight of the day seemed to lift. When they arrived, their driver was already waiting for them. The drive was quiet, just the soft hum of the car’s engine filling the space. Hyunjin glanced at Y/N every so often, wondering if she was thinking about the same things he was.

When the driver finally pulled into the driveway and parked, Hyunjin turned to her, the excitement in his eyes unmistakable. “We’re home,” he said with a playful grin. He couldn’t help but feel a little relieved. Having her at his side had become a normal part of his life here in Seoul, and even after the few days with his parents, he was happy to have her back in their shared space.

“Yeah. Feels good.”

Hyunjin’s eyes softened at her words, and he felt a pull to her. “I’m glad you came with me,” he said again, his voice casual but with a sincerity he couldn’t hide. It had been a little nerve-wracking, wondering how she’d feel about the whole family thing, meeting his parents, learning about the traditions. But seeing her hold her own with them, the way she opened up about herself, made him realize just how much she had become a part of his life here in Seoul.

They thanked the driver and headed inside the apartment, still empty, since Hannah and Changbin were not going to arrive until tomorrow

The silence stretched between them as Hyunjin tossed his jacket over a chair, the stillness almost too much without his friends around to fill it. He turned back to her, unable to keep the teasing tone out of his voice. “Hey, since it’s just us tonight, how about you stay in my room?” he asked, a playful smile tugging at the corners of his lips. “I missed having you there.”

“I guess… maybe just for tonight,” she finally said, her voice softer than usual, but she was playing along.

Hyunjin grinned. “What do you mean just for tonight? No, beastie, it’s where you belong.” The words came out almost too easily, and he could feel his chest tightening with something that was hard to name. He turned to lead the way to his room, already imagining the comfort of her presence next to him.

Once inside, the room felt more like his own. It had been strange, staying away for a few days, but now that she was with him, things felt… right. She set her things down by the dresser, glancing around the room like it was unfamiliar, though it wasn’t. It was as if something about the situation was putting her on edge, even though she had stayed with him many times.

Hyunjin leaned against the wall, his gaze following her as she moved around the room. He started to think about her words she’d said to his parents. He had been thinking about it all day, the way she had spoken so openly about him helping her heal. She had never said anything like that to him before, and it caught him off guard. He wanted to know more.

“I’ve been thinking about something all day.” He let the words linger between them, watching her as she stopped moving and turned her attention to him, her curiosity piqued.

“What’s that?” she asked, her tone just shy of cautious, like she wasn’t sure what he was going to say next.

Hyunjin took a small step toward her, his smirk never wavering. “That thing you said to my parents… about me helping you heal, about me helping you believe in yourself again,” he said, his voice softer now, almost teasing. “I didn’t know you thought that way about it.”

Her posture stiffened, and she fidgeted a bit, clearly uncomfortable with him bringing it up. Hyunjin could tell that she hadn’t meant for it to sound so significant, but there it was, hanging in the air.

“I didn’t mean to make it sound like a big deal,” she said, almost apologetically, her voice low and careful. Hyunjin took a small step closer, his eyes softening, a slight tilt to his head.

“But it is a big deal,” he said, his voice low and serious for a moment. “You don’t have to downplay it. I’m just glad you said it.”

Her lips parted as though she was about to respond, but instead, she simply glanced away, her hands shifting nervously in front of her. Hyunjin knew she wasn’t great at talking about feelings, at least not in such direct terms, but he didn’t mind. Her quiet sincerity spoke more than words could sometimes.

“I guess… I did mean it,” she finally admitted, her voice softer, almost like she was admitting something she hadn’t said out loud before.

Hyunjin didn’t say anything for a moment. Instead, he moved closer again, his gaze never leaving hers. There was something in her eyes, something unspoken, but it made his chest tighten all the same. He had always been used to joking around, to teasing her and flirt nonstop, but this felt like a deeper moment. He didn’t want to ruin it, so he let his smile return instead.

“You don’t have to explain it, Y/N,” he said, his tone light again, brushing his thumb across her hand in a slow, deliberate motion. “I’m just glad you said it.”

She looked up at him, offering a small, shy smile in return, and Hyunjin felt his heart beat a little faster. The tension was still there, thick and almost palpable, but there was something else too, something that felt too natural to ignore.

“Well, I guess we should sleep soon, huh?” he said, shifting the conversation to something else, making him ignore the thoughts of kissing her and maybe ruin the moment, though his words had a different tone. “Unless you’ve got other plans?”

She laughed softly, her smile reaching her eyes this time. “I guess we can sleep,” she said, the hint of humor in her voice easing the lingering tension.

She hesitated for just a moment, but then she climbed into bed. As they settled in, Hyunjin couldn’t help but feel the familiar warmth of having her close. The room was quieter now, the tension between them still there, but in a different way. He turned to face her, his voice quieter than before.

“I really missed having you here.”

She met his gaze, her eyes soft. “I missed you too,” she replied, and the weight of those words made something stir in his chest.

The silence between them grew comfortable again, and Hyunjin couldn’t shake the feeling that something was shifting between them, but for now, as the night stretched on, he let himself enjoy the closeness, knowing that whatever came next, they’d face it together.

[actuallyjustabiscuit]

Kinger is Cursed With the Consequences of His Actions, and That's What's Making Him Crazy

Oh yes! The character we've all officially designated as Pomni’s new papa has got me reminiscing about another silly crackpot monarch who is actually an intelligent man in his late forties, an identity that has been buried so deep within the recesses of his altered mind that it can only emerge through special circumstances of which he has no control. But I know I'm not the only one who's made connections between him and Simon Petrikov from Adventure Time.

Btw did you know that they're also nearly the same age?

Yeah, this comparison has already been made by plenty of people. But if I may, I'd like to point out one other similarity that I've noticed; the fact that both of these men tragically lost the love of their lives, yet even in their broken minds the love they felt for them is still remembered fondly.

But, what if Kinger was also indirectly responsible for losing Queenie?

So........what exactly causes someone to abstract?

Of course, this would be an important question considering it's baked into the premise of the show itself, but I find it to be particularly relevant when dissecting Kinger's character because if we only assume that abstraction occurs when a human loses their mind, then how is someone like him still hanging around the Circus?

He’s been trapped there the longest, how long exactly is yet to be confirmed, but it’s safe to say that all those years haven't been kind to him. In the pilot he’s characterized as extremely erratic and forgetful, getting easily startled because his spatial awareness and object permanence are practically nonexistent nor can he retain previously established information for very long. On top of that, he regularly spouts nonsense that seemingly has nothing to do with the current situation. Because of this, his general demeanor tends to range between ridiculous to downright frustrating to the other characters.

So it’s no wonder that his fellow humans have more or less dismissed him as just being insane.

But I think this is a completely reductive view of this poor man because Kinger’s got that “he’s a little confused, but he’s got the spirit” energy that I love about him.

I think this is one of the more adorable aspects of Kinger's character; he's always trying to help. He tries his absolute darndest.

And what makes me sad is that, with the way that he is, he has such little control over how much he can actually help the people he clearly cares a lot about.

In Mystery of Mildenhall Manor, it's revealed that Kinger's lucidity is apparently affected by his exposure to darkness. How this works exactly is a bit inconsistent as we've had scenes of him in complete darkness and still acting pretty goofy.

However, based on my observations, I believe the change is not instantaneous. Like, he doesn't immediately become the Kinger we see in the adventure with Pomni if he is suddenly enveloped in darkness. I think what primarily plays a part is the amount of time he spends in darker settings. The segments we get with Kinger and Pomni are significantly dimmer compared to the rest of the episode, and we even get hints of Kinger progressively becoming more logical before we get to the cellar.

I’ve also noticed a small pattern in which he prefaces these brief moments of clarity with “I think…”.

This could be completely unrelated, but I find it interesting that Kinger's big advice to Pomni on how to overcome something difficult is to try "not thinking about it". I may be reading too much into this specific bit of phrasing but I feel that it's worth noting if this really is the mentality he lives by, because this is the advice he gives her when he's in two totally different states of mind.

Anyway, it turns out that when this silly man finally gets a good grasp on himself again, he’s actually extremely competent. Kinger shooting down the angel is a pretty obvious example of him being a BAMF, but I want to give these two moments a bit of focus.

I like the idea that Kinger has been in the Circus long enough to become so familiar with his weird digital body that he uses his detachable parts and disembodied hands to his advantage. It’s just a neat little detail because we get a taste of just how capable Kinger can be in this world if it wasn’t for his handicap.

And what really sucks is that the amount of time it takes for him to regain his sanity in the dark is really disproportionate to the amount of time it takes for him to lose it when back in bright environments.

Take the scene where Kinger is having a conversation with Ragatha in Candy Carrier Chaos with the bucket on his head for example, which definitely foreshadows this detail since it's the first time we hear him speaking more sensibly.

and then this happens

Notice how he taps the handle of the bucket? Like he's realizing that he does, in fact, have a bucket on his head that's obscuring his vision, before lifting it off of his face and going right back to responding in the way we've come to expect from Kinger.

It makes me wonder if Kinger has ever tried to tell the other's about this, but just couldn't. Ragatha clearly isn't aware of it despite having known him the longest out of any of the current residents of the Circus. And Kinger himself can't seem to pinpoint when exactly he shifts between sane and insane. Like a man who blacks out and feeling ashamed of his drunken actions when he sobers up again, despite having no control or awareness in the moment.

Describing Kinger's usual behavior when not in darkness as a "blackout" is pretty ironic, but I think it fits beautifully because it perfectly explains his short-term memory loss. Or I guess it would be more accurate to call it a "brownout". Either way, the point is that his memory becomes more obscured when he's in the light.

As for what initially caused this impairment, we still don't know.

I also don't want to get too clinical with Kinger's "symptoms" because I am in no way schooled enough to diagnose a fictional character who has only had a single episode focused on him.

But even just one episode proved to be very enlightening (...heh...see...see what I did there? Enlight-eh forget it) because after comforting a freshly traumatized Pomni, our girl interacts with Kinger at his most coherent long enough to learn some very crucial information.

It seems that the abstracted humans are not inherently dangerous, at least not when secluded in darkness, which Kinger was fortunate enough to witness with his own wife before they were separated (not legally, divorce doesn't exist in the Circus).

I've made this connection in another post I made, but yeah I really do think that it's the Circus' garish lights that make the abstracted so aggressive. I mean when you have that many eyes, that shit would aggravate the hell out of you.

But now comes the real question, and I'm tying it back to the one I made at the start, what made Queenie abstract in the first place?

How very convenient, Kinger. How did Jax put it, "gotta keep the mystery alive"?

Well, I'm playing detective here and I say you're the key suspect!

That's right! I'm accusing you! But unlike Baron Moldydick's crime, it twasn't homicide.

Yeah, everyone has picked up on how Mildenhall killing his wife acts as a parallel to what Kinger may or may not have done to Queenie. But I don't think it's as cut and dry as Kinger losing his mind and then somehow putting Queenie in direct danger as a result.

No, I like to think that it's definitely a bit more complicated than that.

It's not clear when exactly Kinger began losing his mind, but I certainly believe it had everything to do with losing Queenie. And it would actually be a pretty fun bit of character design if it does because in chess the King becomes most vulnerable when the Queen is taken off the board.

I know we all want to imagine that Queenie had existed alongside the other characters sometime before Pomni's arrival, but based on what we're given in canon, I'm starting to think that was highly unlikely. Because if everyone knew who Queenie was, then they would also deduce that Kinger wasn't always the way that he is now. I just don't get the impression from everyone else that they know about Kinger's dual state of mind. Otherwise, it'd be kind of awful that they wouldn't do more to help him if they were aware of this fact.

Kinger has always been crazy to them because all they know is that he's been in the Circus longer than anyone else. Which really goes to show how little they truly understand one another despite having only each other for company.

And it's not like they don't care enough (well, except maybe Jax) to want to understand and be there for each other, but it's almost like they are never given enough opportunities to really...bond.

And yeah, unfortunately, a lot of it has to do with each of these characters having their own hang-ups that keep them from doing just that. It's not just Caine constantly shoving them into his adventures to distract them.

Ragatha is dishonest with her feelings

Gangle is insecure when her mask breaks

Jax hates being vulnerable

and Zooble is never comfortable in their own skin (or at least their body's equivalent of skin)

I don't want to downplay it either, these are real issues that need consistent work. These people need help and the only one really capable of supplying that is a little broken himself.

This is why it's so fortunate that Pomni was with Kinger when he started speaking more sensibly. She has already displayed a remarkable level of emotional maturity with Gummigoo, but that's because Gummigoo was the one in need of reassurance at that moment. When exposed to problems far worse than your own, your problems in some way appear much more manageable in comparison. Pomni may be trapped, but Gummigoo doesn't even get the luxury of existing outside of what he was made for. That alone gave Pomni the confidence to live in spite of her circumstances and inspire someone else to do the same.

But it's hard to maintain that confidence when your new support system gets literally deleted right in front of you.

It's ok tho! Thanks to participating in Kaufmo's funeral, Pomni begins to open herself up to the others more, which allows her to have...some faith in her new friends. This is especially good when she gets to finally break down for a minute with Kinger because honestly, it's amazing she's held herself marginally together this whole time without crying at least once.

Pomni experiences her (so far) all-time low, and this segues to Kinger sharing his.

It's pretty terrible, losing someone. The previous episode pretty much forced that onto Pomni. How exactly do you completely move on from something like that? Well see that's the neat part, you don’t. In fact, Kinger even alludes to how you shouldn't. Even though the memory of losing Queenie is painful, it's what anchors him. He lost Queenie, but he still has everyone else, and he refuses to give up on them. So despite his mind constantly working against him, he does what he can to help his friends. In his own clumsy and confused way, he's there for them.

To me, abstracting isn't going insane. It's giving up. Giving up on yourself and giving up on others. It's easy to get to that point without the occasional necessary affirmation that you shouldn't give up.

This was the hardest lesson Kinger had to learn in the Circus. And he's doing his best to get the others to understand as well. But Kaufmo's recent abstraction proves how unsuccessful he's been.

Thankfully, Pomni takes it immediately to heart.

This is crucial, not just for Pomni's development, but for everyone else. Kinger even assures that it's more important for Pomni to remember than for him to not forget. That's why her name is more than just an ironic punchline, it's meant to represent her purpose in the story. As long as she remembers, hold on to the good, she'll get through it. Kinger is putting just as much faith in her practicing what he just preached as she is in letting him lead her through hell.

Oh no I've made more biblical allegories! The Pomni is Jesus theories are winning!!!

Ok but in all seriousness, we see just how much Kinger's words influenced Pomni's actions in Fast Food Masquerade. It's all but said that Gangle was close to abstracting towards the end of the adventure.

Yeah she’s about to turn into an eldritch horror, but c’mon we’ve all been there after a long shift.

Trying to talk things out didn't work, so Pomni then took a more practical approach to helping her.

Something as simple as allowing Gangle to get some rest and verbally reminding her that she doesn't have to handle things on her own. It's almost poetic how although Pomni can't leave the Circus, she's constantly telling others that they can leave and she's going to help them.

And Pomni doesn't save Gangle all on her own either. It was Kinger's insistence to have Zooble take his spot in the adventure that allowed them to witness Gangle's manic-depressive decline. They also had a practical way of showing support by offering to stay past their designated shift and relieve Gangle of the burden of transporting a drunk Ragatha.

Episode 3 really was all about acts of service, wasn't it.

If Zooble wasn't present for that adventure, they wouldn't have had the full context of why Gangle feels like she's not wanted.

Zooble saying "I still like talking to you" carries far more weight than if they had said, "I like talking to you". Especially when Gangle already feels insecure about how honest Ragatha is with her. Zooble got to see Gangle spiral and still accepts her. On top of that they are adamant about calling her their friend despite her doubts. That means something. Everything really.

This is what cherishing someone looks like.

I think Queenie abstracted because, at some point, Kinger began to neglect her. Perhaps he became so obsessed with finding a way out that he forgot what was most important. It's too early to really say if that's how it went down, but it'd be a poignant bullet point to the tragedy that is Kinger.

So I guess the real question is: How does one lose their wife?

Well in the wise words of Cody Martin