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savage-rhi · 11 months ago

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Mending Shadows // Chapter 28

Summary:

Y/N was a simple Scavenger of Lucis, until meeting a deadly blow at the hands of an infected creature. At the crossroads of death, they are found by Niflheim’s cryptic Chancellor with his own agenda. Now bonded to Ardyn Izunia, and tossed into the world of Niflheim, Y/N struggles to cope with their new life as an Imperial Icon all the while battling their feelings toward their fate and that of Ardyn’s.

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While Y/N admired Loqui for his grit, it became obvious throughout the night that it was a handicap.

It all started once Y/N had their fill of dancing and conversation. Loqui was challenged by Accordo soldiers to a drinking game. Of course he bragged about his intelligence regarding Altissa's flora and fauna. And of course, he had been lying.

Several drinks down the hatch, and Loqui's face was redder than the Vixen itself. He humorously attempted to apologize for his inhibition, but his words were so mangled that his manner of speaking was on par with a newborn babe grasping babble. Y/N was prepared to escort Loqui back to the residence, until the same soldiers who created this mess offered a hand. The argument being that it was only fair because they had unintentionally ruined Loqui's date. As a precaution, Tuti also joined the group.

Y/N didn’t know how to feel about that, nor how to deal with Loqui's confession from earlier. It made them more thankful that their plan to return Loqui home wasn’t seen through. Though Loqui didn’t give the impression he’d perform anything nefarious, Y/N didn’t want to take the risk. Not when emotions were high, and certainly not when he was drunker than a skunk.

Not long after Loqui had been tended to, Y/N snuck out of the Ceremony House and ventured into the night. The glow of lanterns and the full moon above led them down a road that eventually sprawled into a dirt path. The salty pungent odor of the beach drifted through their nostrils as the sound of waves crashing along the shore beckoned them close. At the end of the dirt path, Y/N took in the sight. The moon shimmered against the oceans surface, and highlighted the small grains of sand on the beach. It was as if the sun had never set, but instead covered itself in a dark veil. A cool wind drifted through Y/N’s hair, and they smiled.

Bending down to their shoes, Y/N slid out of them. The relief they felt when the sand hit their feet was indescribable. They closed their eyes, letting their toes wiggle through the soft texture. It almost felt like they were back in Galdin Quay. As Y/N opened their eyes, it dawned on them how quick time had passed since they left their apartment. It contrasted with how living in Niflheim felt like an eternity.

Y/N paid no more heed to their thoughts and began to walk toward the tide. The coast was warm, and Y/N felt the temperature welcome them via the humid whisps that the surf pulled in and out. As soon as Y/N’s feet splashed in the water, they heard a snap. They faintly gasped and their head whisked around. At first Y/N couldn’t see anything, and had to squint. Heavy steps soon followed, and then the silhouette of messy hair came into light followed by a pair of golden eyes.

“Ardyn?”

“It would appear you escaped,” Ardyn mused. He stepped out of the shadows, now fully cast under the moon. Much of the wrinkles on his face were hidden, smoothed out by the cool palette of the night. His lips quirked into a smile as he approached Y/N and watched their feet card through the sand.

“Speak for yourself!” Y/N laughed in surprise. “I thought you were going to spoil Betrys for the night?”

“Hmm?” Ardyn blinked, caught off guard for a moment. “Nothing scandalous occurred, I assure you.”

“Then what happened? It’s only been two hours since I last saw you!"

Ardyn shrugged. “She decided to call it off.”

Y/N’s eyes widened before they scoffed. “I'm not buying that, given her persistence.”

“Would I lie to you?”

“On numerous occasions.” Y/N quipped.

Ardyn let out a laugh. He sighed and admired the stars before answering further.

“She called it an act of mercy," He began. "She said and I quote, ‘you have bigger problems than dealing with me tonight’.”

It took Y/N a second to ponder on the meaning behind Betrys's statement. Their pulse began to rise at the implication.

“So Y/N,” The softness of Ardyn's tone carried in the wind. “Do I have a problem to contend with this evening?”

“Not unless you’re looking for one.” Y/N shivered, and quelled their nerves with a small laugh.

Ardyn raised his brows. It was obvious this wasn’t the answer he was seeking, but he chuckled nonetheless. He calmly stepped closer to Y/N, then gestured with his head for them to follow his side as they walked along the beach together.

"Are you feeling better?"

"Pardon?"

"During the wedding when you squeezed my hand, you looked upset. Are you better now?"

“In many ways, I’m relieved.” Ardyn breathed. “I was ambushed from the past.”

Y/N nodded. “I could feel through the scourge that something hit you hard.”

Ardyn regarded Y/N for a moment. He could see the lights of the city from afar, looking like small fireflies in the distance. The image of Aera briefly crossed his path, and he averted his gaze to the sand at his shoes.

“I was thinking of my wedding day. How Aera and I exchanged vows before the six.” He murmured bittersweetly, bending down to pick up a pebble. He tossed it up and down in his right palm. His eyes fixated on the object as a rare and genuine smile fell upon his lips. “It was a beautiful affair, the whole thing. Probably the most joyous day of my life. So simple. So weightless like this stone. The burdens of gods and men couldn't touch us. Nothing could."

As quickly as the smile came, it left. Snuffed out like a candle that had been pinched by fast fingers. The frown on Ardyn's mouth and the sorrow in his eyes had Y/N let out a breath they had been holding. They watched as he tossed the pebble one last time into the air before throwing it out for the ocean to swallow.

“Our union was over in just a few skips. All because of my hesitation. If I hadn't shown up to the damned citadel, and hadn't been easy on Somnus...if I hadn't been merciful in our duel, she would've..." Ardyn sighed. Unable to finish the sorrowful incantation.

Feeling Y/N's touch suddenly upon his shoulder, Ardyn furrowed his brows. He tensed for a second, and then his own right hand reached up to settle upon Y/N's. Both soothed and incensed, mixed feelings pooled in Ardyn's stomach.

“Am I crossing a line?” Y/N murmured.

“No,” Ardyn replied. He could feel the fear that hung in Y/N’s voice, and his fingers gently touched over theirs. “Not in this circumstance.”

Y/N--still unsure of themself and of his answer--slowly retreated their hand away.

Ardyn adjusted so he was fully facing Y/N. He lingered on their gown, admiring the way the moonlight above seemed to make it glow. For the briefest of moments, he was reminded of the crystal. The damned relic of the gods. He hated how this moment was tainted by his disgust, and frowned.

“I’m sorry,” Y/N spoke up. “For kissing you at the springs.”

“Why?”

Y/N blinked. He sounded so calm, it was almost uncharacteristic of him.

“I don’t know..."

“I think you do, otherwise you wouldn’t have said anything.” Ardyn stated. He glanced over their eyes and lips, softly smirking. “We have all night. So speak, and I shall listen.”

Damn it…

He sounded so smug yet understanding, and made Y/N that much more nervous. Y/N's eyes drifted to the sand, then met the waves in the distance before getting the courage to look at Ardyn. To really look at him. So that he'd know there were no other layers that needed peeling back.

“I’ve been feeling so much during these last months,” Y/N started. “And even though you're the one that dragged me into the heap of this mess, you're the only thing keeping me from losing what I have left."

Ardyn’s curiosity was piqued. “What do you mean by that, losing what you have left?”

“My spirit or whatever is keeping me from walking into the ocean so I can drown.” Y/N replied. “I hate this. I hate living with the scourge inside of me. How painful it is, and knowing one day I might kill people again. Yet I hold on. It's all your fault for giving me the courage to keep fighting."

Ardyn let Y/N’s words sink. He was unsure how to truly feel--given what he knew that Y/N didn’t--but he allowed himself to ravish in the little joy that sparked in him.

“And here I thought you loathed the very nature of my being.”

Y/N suppressed a laugh. “Don’t get it wrong, I still think you’re an asshole but…I like you.”

“Yet another feeling you and I have in common.” He huffed in amusement.

“You like me?”

Ardyn nodded. “I have for a while now.”

“In what manner?”

“Finish what you started first.” He teased.

“Oh,” It dawned on Y/N they had gone off on a small tangent. Although they could argue it was Ardyn’s fault, Y/N didn’t bully him for it. They gathered up their wits before speaking.

“I feel something toward you. It’s always been there since we bonded through the scourge. And when you talk about Aera, how much you loved her, I feel so guilty for it. I’ve been inside your head. I know what she meant to you, and I felt that when I kissed you, I spat on her memory--your memories--that you have buried underneath all that,” Y/N gestured at Ardyn’s body, emphasizing nonverbally how he was the embodiment of the scourge itself. “That’s why I’m apologizing. Does any of this make sense?”

“Not in the slightest,” Ardyn replied. He gave Y/N a smile upon catching them furrow their brows, a subtle reassurance he was jesting before he sighed. “This was bound to happen at some point.”

“What do you mean?”

“Well,” Ardyn made a face, trying to find his words. “You and I share an intimacy through the scourge that can't be accounted anywhere else on this star. With the hivemind at play, and the scourge wanting unity, it's only natural that we'd feel...overwhelmed by the other at some point in time. Hence, what transpired in the bedroom. ”

Y/N’s heart dropped. From what it sounded like, everything about their feelings toward Ardyn had been artificial. A byproduct of the scourge attempting to return to its master. The sad thing was, it made sense to Y/N. The timing, the bleed throughs, it was all connected.

“So the scourge is feeding off our emotions just so it can become whole again.”

“More like feeding into them,” Ardyn corrected. “But you seem to understand the gist.”

“Into them?”

Ardyn glared as if he had been confronted by a nemesis from the past. Someone who had left him to bleed out. To Y/N, he looked as if he wanted to both confront and flee from his rival, but had no strength to perform either. It surprised them when he pushed through the silence and spoke.

“This whole week I’ve pondered the enigma between us. Each time I’ve examined the facts, I always reach the same conclusion.” Ardyn paused. Whisps of his wine colored hair drifted across his face. The cool drop in temperature offered him solace if only for a minute. “Even with how putrid my soul has become, there’s still a root buried underneath the tainted soil. It begs to sprout though aware the rays of the sun can’t pierce the veil. Yet somehow, a little light made it’s way through the cracks. And slowly, tiny leaves have grown. Reaching out through the nothing to grasp at a morning sun.”

Ardyn’s voice trailed as he finally stared at Y/N. The glow in his amber eyes increased, adding a ethereal presence to him that kept Y/N grounded while they stared right back. He bit the inside of his bottom lip.

“No one has bewitched me in ages. Not like this."

Y/N felt as if every blood vessel in their body had opened to the fullest extent possible. His words trudged them through the thick of their feelings. Somehow through the explosion, they fell back to Eos and replied with a whisper of uncertainty.

“So what do we do now?"

Ardyn’s eyes drifted over Y/N’s, drinking in what he’d allow himself to behold before capping. He had lost his vigor as the reality of his and Y/N's fate breached the surface.

“I'm contractually bound to the vengeance I seek, just as I am bound to one day relieve you of suffering." His voice had all the confidence in the world, but the root he had spoken of refused to let go. It refused to stop sprouting for his sake. Not when it was being nurtured by hope.

Hope…

It was such a fragile thing, yet it burdened Ardyn. No matter how hard he tried to strangle it, it couldn’t be snuffed away. Not when Y/N’s eyes regarded him. Peering at him with not the wonder of Eos, but as a human who saw through his masks and could see the man that hid in wait to be cut loose.

“I don’t need a partner,” Ardyn confessed bitterly. He was too craven to make such a bold request, but he allowed himself one little morsel of reverie. “But...I do desire a friend.”

A woe curtly wandered into Y/N's heart, and was extinguished by joy at hearing his request. This was enough for now. It had to be.

“I can be that for you.”

Ardyn smiled genuinely as he shook his head. “You already have. I just blinded myself. Not wanting to acknowledge it.”

Y/N smiled so hard it hurt, only to frown curiously when Ardyn cleared his throat.

“I’ve noticed Commander Pierce’s boy has had an eye on you,” Ardyn began. He felt his body tense with apprehension at his own words, but proceeded. “Should you choose to pursue him, I wouldn’t hold any ill regard toward a union.”

Y/N shook their head with a grimace. “That’s…kind of the last thing on my mind right now, but thanks.”

Even though Ardyn tried to hide it, Y/N noticed the small victorious smile that formed upon his lips.

"So...we're friends, right?" Y/N asked to clarify.

"It would appear so." Ardyn mused with a faint smile.

"Is that what you want?"

Ardyn swallowed. "Yes."

Be it the weight of the conversation, or emotions simmering down, Ardyn and Y/N proceeded to once more tread along the beach. Both were reticent while their minds settled on what had been discussed. Y/N felt that a mass had been unburdened, but through the scourge, they still felt there was unfinished business. However, it could wait. There was no sense of urgency to pry anything more out of Ardyn. Not when he looked at peace. Y/N reveled in the sight, knowing from shared memories that he hadn't felt he could let his guard down in centuries.

“I’ve been ruminating on an idea,” Ardyn hummed. “I believe it would benefit us both if I taught you how to heal. To learn the tools of the trade of my maternal line."

With the near smug look Ardyn wore, Y/N was uncertain if he was pulling their leg or not.

“Are you being serious?"

“But of course!” He chortled.

“But why?" Y/N questioned. "With how you talked about the tradition, it sounded like a closed practice."

“I believe my mother broke the mold when she taught me, therefore, it’s not something to fret about.” Ardyn chuckled. He could see Y/N was still apprehensive and proceeded to explain further. “Here is my thought process: I can't feed off you for strength and risk bleed throughs, and now we are sharing wounds through the scourge. Therefore, it would be wise if not one, but both parties were well versed in medicinal magic and it's propriety. Should circumstances go astray in future altercations, we can count on each other for back up."

“I can't argue when you put it like that.” Y/N murmured, finding themself warming up to the idea. “To be honest, having more use than being a prized medal for Niflheim would feel great.”

“I’m relieved we're on the same page,” Ardyn said. “When we cross back into Niflheim, we’ll begin study. I must forewarn that I’ll be more stringent with you than I have been in lessons of etiquette. Medicinal knowledge can be quite dangerous, especially in regards to plants. If you aren’t precise, it’s a sure path to death.”

“Given the circumstances with you being immortal and me having a death wish, I didn’t think that would be an issue.” Y/N couldn’t help but quip, adding light to the conversation. They offered a nervous grin when Ardyn glared initially, before he too found humor in the jest and scoffed while playfully swiping at their shoulder.

“I can’t afford to perish and respawn. Not when so much is lying on the table.” Ardyn admitted before he slyly added. “And for the record, you aren’t useless.”

“That was very tender of you.” Y/N goaded.

“Don’t go getting too attached now. As Chancellor, I can’t afford to have favorites among adoring citizens. No matter how charming they try to be.” Ardyn darkly teased. He took delight in the quibble fear that crossed Y/N’s face as he chuckled.

“You can be a jerk sometimes, you know that?” Y/N sighed.

“I aim to please!”

Y/N bit the inside of their lip, trying not to laugh. The conversation at large felt childlike--idiotic in ways--but it felt right between them, and only them.

As Y/N prepared change the subject, they stopped. Their right hand stretched to the side, blocking Ardyn at his waist. He let out a grunt, raising a concerned brow while Y/N gestured out to the waves.

“Look!”

At first, Ardyn didn’t see anything. From how Y/N sounded, it seemed it should’ve been obvious something was afoot. Nevertheless he couldn’t decipher what was going on. He blamed his damned vision, and regretted not having his glasses handy. He blinked a few times, and then caught it. Astonishment graced his features and his mouth fell open.

Along the surf and into the shoreline, the ocean began to spark with little blue lights. In clusters of hundreds, they swayed through the waters and glowed with the same shine as the stars above. Like Y/N, Ardyn felt captivated by the sight.

“It’s a plankton bloom,” Y/N whispered. Their eyes widened with childlike fascination as the waves became more illuminated by cerulean hues. “I heard about it in Lucis. These little creatures glow to attract mates or ward off predators.”

“Messengers of Leviathan,” Ardyn murmured. He could feel Y/N’s gaze upon him as he smiled nostalgically. “That’s what we called this phenomena in my time. It’s a sign that the goddess of the sea is near, and listening to devotions.”

In a split of a second, Y/N began to disrobe out of their formal attire. Ardyn did a double take, feeling his pulse rise into his throat. Eyes widening, he was both impressed at how quickly Y/N discarded their clothes, and felt embarrassed for suddenly gawking at them.

“Y/N, what are you--” Before he could protest, Ardyn watched in horror as Y/N rushed toward the water. Their earlier words of fighting temptation to toss themselves into the waves and drown echoed in his mind. He felt fear grapple in his chest as he began to sprint after them and shouted.

“Y/N!”

“I always wanted to do this!” Y/N gleefully exclaimed like a kid who had discovered magic again in the world.

The euphoria in their voice had Ardyn stop in his tracks once his boots hit the foam of the shoreline. Startled, he observed Y/N dived into the waves, and watched them rise. The plankton surrounding them disappeared, and then returned in a captivating swirl of blues as Y/N chased down the specks. Ardyn sighed in relief once the adrenaline died down.

He watched the spectacle for a time, finding delight in Y/N’s bliss. There was a moment where Ardyn could've sworn he heard Aera's laugh. Fear traveled through him. Perhaps Leviathan was near--messing with his mind. He felt paralyzed as darkness began to dwell in his heart. As quick as it came, Ardyn felt his anger dwindle when he saw Y/N stop in their tracks.

Standing waist deep in the water, Ardyn watched Y/N extend a hand out in welcome with the biggest of grins anyone could muster.

"Come join me!"

"I don't think so!" Ardyn shouted.

"Why not?" Y/N hollered back with a laugh.

Ardyn made a face. "Remember our conversation about large bodies of water?"

"Oh yeah, that's right!" Y/N laughed. "You're terrified!"

Ardyn stumbled. He growled under his breath. "I'm not frightened!"

"Then what's stopping you?" Y/N countered as a wave knocked them forward.

Ardyn had to admit Y/N had him there. He wasn't sure what it was, but the compulsion to join grew more and more with each passing second. It was maybe a minute before Ardyn made his choice. He began to disrobe out of his layers, tossing his articles of clothing on top of Y/N's. Down to his pants, Ardyn took in a deep breath, and bolted toward Y/N. He ignored how both refreshing and cold the water was as the ocean began to hug his torso the further he went.

Upon meeting Y/N, Ardyn grabbed a hold of Y/N's hand to stabilize himself. A laugh was shared as he jumped from a small wave pushing him to the left.

"See? Not so bad!" Y/N exclaimed. "I owe you one for this!"

"In that case," Ardyn shot Y/N a devious grin. He was absolutely eating up the dread that crossed over Y/N's eyes. "Allow me to take you dancing again!"

“What do you mean by aga--ahh!”

Ardyn snickered as he flung Y/N headfirst into the water. Y/N rose to the surface and attempted to return the favor but with little luck. The two laughed as Ardyn struggled against Y/N's grasp before he fell backwards; taking himself and Y/N down with him. Their bodies tumbled as the current pulled them further into the sea. It took them a moment to register they had gone into deeper territory, and on instinct they held hands and remained close.

Holding their breaths, Ardyn and Y/N glanced through the darkness. The ocean felt like another universe, where gravity and the world of men held no bounds. The ambience of such feelings were further inflamed when the plankton once more made their presence known. Thousands of small bodies lit up like city lights and illuminated both Ardyn and Y/N while they swam together. Both admired witnessing such a natural majesty for a time, until Y/N pulled from Ardyn and caught a handful of the plankton in their hands. A pure glow surrounded their fingertips and highlighted their features.

As Ardyn floated near in awe, he had an epiphany. Had he been the once pious man he was known for, he would've felt the six shining through Y/N. There was something magical about this moment that stunned him. Almost as if Eos had forgiven him of all trespass.

Y/N turned their head and smiled at him. Ardyn returned a soft expression as he saw small bubbles leave their nostrils. He hoped that when he died, if there was an afterlife that awaited, he could take this snapshot with him to the grave. With that thought having left, he swam forward. The two encircled the other as they kicked through the plankton and followed the light back to the beach.

Gasping for air upon rising, Y/N relied on Ardyn as he coaxed both their bodies into shallow waters. Once they were in water that was up to their knees, they stopped to catch their bearings.

In between breaths, Y/N met Ardyn's eyes as he moved his hair out from his face. He smiled at them with a sincerity that had unintentionally caused the dams in Y/N to break. Their throat clutched as they started to sob.

“Y/N?”

“I’m sorry,”

“Y/N…” He began to look them over, checking for any signs of wounds. When Ardyn found nothing, it dawned on him that Y/N was suffering from injuries of the heart. Though concerned, he remained neutral. "What's wrong?"

"Nothing," Y/N shook their head with a sniffle. They smiled at him, trying to tamper down whatever this was. “This is the happiest I’ve been in a long time. That's all.”

Ardyn frowned as the scourge told him everything he needed to know. The emotions were fleeting, but Ardyn honed in. He hadn't felt the fear of mortality in ages, and through Y/N, he could feel how it slowly breathed along their neck; reminding them that this was it, and to cherish what little happiness had come their way. Being immortal, Ardyn himself longed for death, and up to this point, assumed Y/N held no qualms regarding their fate. He couldn't have been more wrong, and in a way it hurt him, but in a matter that felt even foreign to the likes of himself.

With no further words, Ardyn pulled Y/N into his chest and embraced them. His heart stammered as he felt Y/N hold onto him as if the gods would strike them down at any time. Burying his face some into Y/N's dampened hair, he whispered all the comforts one could give. All the things he would've said to Aera had she been in the throes of existential dread.

“Shhh..." Ardyn murmured throughout. He let out a small grunt, feeling Y/N's cheek against his chest. “What may come of us, we’ll be alright. Do you trust me?”

Y/N nodded weakly. They shuddered as Ardyn continued to soothe them, and managed to peer up into his gaze.

“There you are!” He smiled.

Y/N didn't know what was so funny, but they grinned as a laugh came and went. They felt one of Ardyn's hands retreat from their waist as he settled it upon their cheek. His touch was cold, but the warmth he emitted made up for it. As the panic began to dwindle, Y/N let out a breath as they gazed over him.

“Friends don’t hug each other like this.” Y/N murmured

“True, but we're an exception.” Ardyn mused. He felt a tremor run through Y/N’s body, and chuckled darkly. “Do you have regrets now, about your little stunt to swim out here?"

“Maybe a bit,” Y/N admitted with a tired laugh. They could feel their body growing colder by the second. “Maybe we should get out.”

“I think that’s an excellent idea,” Ardyn smiled. He gave the side of Y/N’s face a gentle squeeze with his palm before taking them by the hand and leading them back to the beach.

“Let’s get you warm."

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crystalninjaphoenix · 2 years ago

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MerMay 2023 Day Seven Murky Memories

Jameson was not scared of the open ocean. That was one thing that he and Marvin didn’t have in common.

Of course, Marvin would deny being “scared,” it was just that anything could come from any direction and it got super dark and that made him a little nervous. He was perfectly capable of going out there if he wanted, as long as it wasn’t too deep. But if Jameson wanted to go instead, Marvin wasn’t about to stop him... And while Marvin rambled, Jameson would stare at him, listening and nodding, and then he would say That sounds a lot like being scared to me, and Marvin would glare, and the two of them would smile.

Jameson was not scared of the open ocean. But the journey through the river to get there always made him uneasy.

Ironic, really, considering he’d lived most of his life in rivers with no problem. But then... well, you couldn’t change the past. You could only change how you let it affect you. So Jameson worked on not being uneasy in rivers anymore. He was making progress! Until TridentCorp came around and started kidnapping merms. Now, the rivers full of humans once again seemed unfriendly.

Today, he’d made it down the river just fine. He had spent a while in the ocean, gathering plants and other materials. Marvin’s guardians were coming to visit soon, and so Marvin and Jameson were planning on making the place a little nicer for them. Now, the sun was starting to set, its rays slanting through the water. And Jameson hovered in the ocean water, staring at the mouth of the river, trying to convince himself to go inside.

There was always a faint current in this area. Very faint, but it was there, pushing Jameson ever so slightly backwards. As if saying, Go away. You’re not welcome here anymore. Which was ridiculous. It was just his imagination. Just like the way he was interpreting the shadows cast by the riverbanks as hiding places for nets.

He kept staring. It was a short journey through the river to the safety of the lake. The relative safety. Because there were many humans there as well. No, no. He was being silly. Humans had never caused any trouble for the lake other than dumping trash. They didn’t... hunt... or anything.

“Jameson?”

The voice came from behind him. Jameson spun around, clutching his bag to his chest, swinging his tail in a wide arc—but he hit nothing. Because the source of the voice knew better than to swim too close.

“Whoa! Just me!” Jackie raised his hands. He gave Jameson a smile. “What’re you doing out here?”

What are YOU doing out here? Jameson asked.

“I was on my way to see you and Marvin, actually. I-I know you guys invited me for the life friend ceremony, but you know... what’s the harm in checking in on you before then?” Jackie shrugged. “So. Your turn.”

Jameson sighed, gills fluttering. It’s nothing. I was just picking up some stuff.

“Oh cool.” Jackie hesitated, clearly wanting to ask more, but then decided not to. “So... do you want to swim together?”

Yes, that would be great! Jameson nodded, trying not to seem too eager.

“Alright, then.” Jackie swam forward, passing Jameson as he headed towards the mouth of the river. Jameson quickly hurried to follow. “So... last I remember, you were about to work on your talisman. How’d that go?”

It went well. Do you want to see? Jameson reached into his bag and pulled out what looked like a small rock, unnaturally smooth, round, and flat. And then he opened it, revealing a circle of orange sea glass inside. There was also a loop sticking out from one side with a small rope threaded through it.

“Oh cool!” Jackie swam closer. “It works like a clam, huh? Reminds me of this thing Stacy has, it’s like... a... a ‘com—com-backed.’ No, wait.” He went silent for a moment, struggling with the human word. “A ‘compact.’ That’s it.”

Jameson put the talisman back in his bag. I was actually thinking of this human thing called a ‘watch’ while I was making it. The last human he’d seen, before meeting Chase’s family, had carried a watch. She let him hold it while she worked on the ropes—

He shouldn’t have thought of that.

He shouldn’t have remembered that.

The shadows were back to looking like nets.

Jameson froze, eyes darting around, slowly sinking through the water to the bottom of the river.

“Jameson? Hey.” Jackie reached out, gently grabbing his arm and pulling him back up. “Are you alright? You look pale.” He looked him in the eyes and gave him a soft smile. “It’s okay. Everything is okay.”

A solid minute passed before Jameson answered. He closed his eyes, holding his bag close to his chest. Jackie swam closer and put an arm around him. Then another, holding him close in a tight embrace. Unconsciously, Jameson’s tail wrapped around his. He focused on the feeling of his closeness. Then he pulled back. I’m sorry, he said. I know I’m a mess recently. He gave a silent little laugh. Sometimes I wonder if Marvin would want to cancel the ceremony.

“Marvin would never do that, mess or not,” Jackie said firmly. “And you’re not a mess, anyway. Everyone’s been freaking out about... things lately. A-and you and Schneep, you have more reason to freak out than any of us. Having a reasonable reaction doesn’t make you a mess.”

Jameson stared at him. Then he nodded. Thank you. That does help a little. He straightened the strap of his bag. Now, let’s keep going.

“Do you want me to swim in front?” Jackie asked.

No. Let’s swim together.

#jacksepticeye fanfiction #jacksepticegos #jacksepticeye #septic egos #septic egos au #jacksepticeye au #jameson jackson #jackieboy man #brigid writes fanfiction #mermay snippets

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sunflowervolvimp3 · 4 years ago

Text

changes (best friend!harry)

Warnings: language, nsfw content, drugs (marijuana) and alcohol

Pairing: best friend!Harry x reader

Word Count: 17k (holy shit)

A/N: So this started as two requests I had in my inbox that I got way too into and then it became this. this may be the longest stand-alone fic I’ve ever written, and it, like watermelon sugar, is dedicated to touching!!!! I spent so long on this so as always. feedback is appreciated. and if you like it, please reblog it!!! reblogging is the best way to show fic writers your appreciation <3

{masterlist}

Unless she’s reminded otherwise, Y/N always thinks of herself as a teenager.

This, of course, isn’t true. She turned twenty-six a month ago, works as a media producer for an online clothing company, and lives alone in a one bedroom apartment in London. However, unless she physically has something in front of her to remind her of her real age and the passing of time, Y/N disregards this information.

Usually, the reminder is a bill in the mail, or a phone call to remind her that she needs to book an appointment with her doctor. Usually, the reminder is an ache in her back, her glasses prescription getting worse, or realizing that she has no idea what her teenage cousins are talking about when she sees them at Christmas. Usually, the reminder is enough to give her pause, but not enough to throw her for a loop.

This time, however, the reminder is her childhood best friend naked in her bathroom.

Y/N and Harry had been friends since they were in primary school, after Y/N had moved to London with her mother. Their new house just happened to be next to Harry’s, and Anne and Y/N’s mother had quickly hit it off. Anne had been quick to volunteer her son to be Y/N’s tour guide at school, and despite not being enthusiastic about each other in the beginning, the two began to grow closer by the end of Y/N’s first week there. Within a month, the two were inseparable, and that didn’t change as they entered their teen years, started secondary school, and Harry left London to become a member of the most famous boyband in the world. Just typical teen things.

However, despite their distance, Y/N and Harry had remained as close as ever. They constantly texted, called, and video chatted with each other, and Y/N even joined Harry on tour a few times (with permission from her mother). Although both of them had been worried when Harry left, their worries and fears never came to fruition. Just as they balanced each other in personality, they balanced each other in lifestyle—when Y/N needed a break from high school and university, Harry brought her to shows, award ceremonies, and parties, and when Harry felt like his fame was overwhelming, Y/N sent him reminders of home, hosted countless movie nights for him, and told him story after story of university life.

They were so perfectly matched that, when they were younger, many people—and tabloids—suspected that they were dating. Even their mothers had asked them, on occasion, if one of them had any interest in the other. However, their answers were always the same. Y/N and Harry were best friends, and nothing more. Sure, they were touchy, affectionate, called each other pet names, and had even kissed on a few occasions during truth or dare at parties, but none of it actually meant anything. Y/N had watched Harry grow from a cute kid to an awkward teen to a self-assured man, and her feelings for him had never changed, and an attraction to him had never developed.

Until now.

Harry’s facing away from her, his towel in his hand as he dries his chest. His entire body glistens with water from the shower. Y/N can’t stop herself from letting her eyes canvas over every inch of his smooth arms, toned back, down lower to his—

Her breath catches in her throat. Yeah. His ass is toned, too, she thinks to herself, and only has another moment to think that she shouldn’t be looking before Harry glances over his shoulder, alarmed by the small sound she had made.

“Y/N—” His eyes widen a bit, but he doesn’t make an effort to cover himself with his towel very quickly.

Her eyes automatically follow his movement for a moment before she realizes what she’s about to see. “Sorry!” Y/N turns around quickly, her face heated. “Sorry, I—the door was unlocked, I didn’t realize you were—”

“It’s fine.” Harry fixes his towel around his waist. “Don’t worry about—”

Y/N leaves the bathroom before he can finish his sentence, walking to her bedroom quickly and shutting the door tightly behind her.

Harry, it seems, is today’s reminder that she’s no longer a teenager, because his body is that of a man.

It’s not like you haven’t seen him shirtless before, she tells herself, walking to her dresser to pick out a change of clothes. Y/N’s seen him half naked countless times. The whole world has seen Harry half naked countless times. But she’s never seen him like that.

When did Harry grow up? Somehow, between movie nights and pool parties and going away to school, Y/N had failed to notice that her childhood best friend is no longer a child. Harry had grown into his features, developed muscles in his arms and chest, tattooed designs all over his skin, and had become an incredibly attractive adult without her noticing.

Y/N pulls her pajamas off quickly, stopping to glance at herself in her full length mirror. She, like Harry, is also no longer a child. She had grown into her features like he had, had gotten a few tattoos, made her share of mistakes, and became an adult the same way he did. Neither her nor Harry’s growth had happened overnight.

As she runs her hand between her chest, down her stomach, brushing her hip, Y/N can’t help but wonder: has Harry noticed that they’ve grown up? Does he still look at her and see the shy little girl, the developing teenager, or does he look at her and see a grown woman? Is she the only one who’s been late to the party?

Y/N feels a flutter in the pit of her stomach. Is it possible that, at some point, Harry looked at her and had the same realization that she had a moment ago? That not only had she grown into a woman, but that she had grown into an attractive woman?

The sound of the bathroom door opening distracts Y/N from her thoughts, and she hurries to finish getting dressed. Her shirt, she finds when she pulls it on, smells a bit like Harry’s cologne, as she had set it on the side of the bed that he slept on the night before. She likes it more than she should.

After she’s dressed, she debates just staying in her bedroom to avoid facing Harry again for a bit longer. However, she can hear him working her coffee maker in the kitchen, and knows she can’t hide in her bedroom like a child. She isn’t a child.

Neither is he, she thinks to herself as she touches her bedroom doorknob. Which is the problem.

Still, Y/N shakes herself from her thoughts and walks out to her kitchen.

Harry, now dressed in wide leg jeans and a plain white t-shirt, is leaning against her kitchen counter, a cup of coffee in his hand. His hair is still wet from his shower, but other than that, he looks normal. Completely normal.

And yet, Y/N can’t manage to meet his eyes.

“Good morning.” Harry’s voice is low, a bit of amusement in it as he notices her demeanor. “How did you sleep?”

“Fine.” Y/N hates how tight her voice is as she grabs a mug from the kitchen cabinet. “I slept fine. Did you?”

Harry nods, his eyes still tracing her every move as her own eyes avoid him. “I did. Woke up a bit early, though. Thought I’d shower before brunch.”

Right. Brunch. They’re having brunch that day with a few old friends, at a place just down the street from Y/N’s apartment, which is why Harry had stayed over the night before. Y/N was going to have to act normal around their other friends, which means she can’t avoid looking at him for much longer.

“I’m sorry.” She says as she pours a cup of coffee. “I am, I—I should’ve knocked. I forgot you slept over, and—”

“It’s fine, Y/N. I should’ve locked the door.” Harry says easily, the corner of his lips tugging up. “It’s not a big deal. Besides, it’s not like you haven’t seen me naked before.”

At that comment, Y/N pauses. “Except…I haven’t seen you naked before?”

Harry shakes his head adamantly. “No. You have. There’s no way we’ve been friends for almost twenty years, and you haven’t.”

“Harry, believe me. I’ve seen you in a lot of weird positions over the years, but I’ve never seen you completely nude.” Y/N feels her regular ease with him begin to return, just a little bit. “I would remember that.”

“Would you?” Harry cocks an eyebrow, his coffee cup half raised to his lips.

The bit of ease that returned disappears immediately. “I—” Y/N’s cheeks heat up again. “Shut up, you know what I meant.”

Harry tries to hide his laugh behind his coffee, but fails. “I’m just teasing you, love. It’s fine, promise. I don’t mind that you saw. I’m very comfortable in my body.”

Y/N rolls her eyes. “Too comfortable, I think.”

“Is there such a thing as being too comfortable in your body?” Harry asks in a teasing voice, crossing his arms.

“When your best friend walks in on you naked and you don’t bother to cover yourself?” Despite the blush on her cheeks, Y/N manages to laugh. “Yes. There is.”

“I don’t know…” Harry finishes his coffee and sets the mug in the kitchen sink. “It sounds like there’s issues with your comfort, not mine.”

Before Y/N can form a reply, Harry shoots her a smirk and walks out of the kitchen.

For the rest of the day, Y/N does her best not to think about that morning’s awkward encounter. Brunch with her friends is normal, and she just lets herself enjoy having Harry home, and catching up with everyone. The afternoon also passes in an unremarkable way, as does that night. Over the next few days, however, things begin to change.

Within two weeks, the atmosphere of the country has shifted. There’s a virus that’s highly contagious and can be fatal, Y/N’s work tells her to work from home, and soon the entire country is being told to stay home to avoid catching Coronavirus.

And then Harry texts her two days later, without any warning or leeway for her to disagree.

I’m on the last flight back to London. Pack a bag and bring some groceries to my place, so we can isolate together. You’ll go crazy alone in your flat.

Y/N tries to reply that it’s not necessary, but her message doesn’t go through. Harry’s already on the plane. So she does what he says, and packs a bag of clothes, her work bag, some alcohol, and her favourite snacks, and drives over to his house.

Letting herself in with her key, Y/N begins to bring the house back to life. She lights Harry’s candles and orders some dinner, as well as groceries for the next couple weeks. She makes sure she gets his favourite foods, and the weird snacks that only he likes. She calls her mum to tell her she’ll be with Harry, and Anne, to tell her the same thing. And then she waits.

When Harry finally walks through the front door, he looks more like the tired seventeen year old on his first tour than the grown man she had seen a few weeks ago. The bags under his eyes are evidence of his jetlag and stress, his jacket is rumpled from the plane, his hair just as messy, and he looks like he could collapse the second the door closes behind him.

“H.” Y/N walks towards him and gives him a tight hug. One hand goes to his back and the other to his hair, playing with it as she always does. “Are you alright?”

“Long flight.” Harry mutters in reply, eyes closed as he holds her tight. “Everyone’s going insane in the States. I’m lucky I got a flight back to London.”

“Why did you?” Y/N pulls back, brushing his messy hair from his eyes. “You could’ve stayed in LA.”

“Yeah, but…” Harry shrugs a bit. “I knew you’d be alone. And I wanted to be with you.”

Y/N can’t help the soft smile that creeps onto her face. “C’mon. I have dinner ready.”

Harry barely makes it through dinner with his eyes open, but still insists on watching a movie after. Y/N tries to tell him that he should just go to sleep, but he won’t hear it.

“We can watch it in my bed, like we used to when we were little.” Harry gives her his best puppy dog eyes. “Please?”

Y/N shoves his shoulder. “You’re twenty-six. Stop pouting to get what you want.”

“I’ll stop pouting when it stops working.”

Y/N laughs in spite of herself. “Fine, but shower first. You smell like a plane.”

Of course, as predicted, Harry starts to drift to sleep within the first half hour of the movie. He slips down in the bed more and more, until his head is in Y/N’s lap completely. Out of habit, Y/N begins to play with his damp curls, running her fingers through them at a steady pace as she watches the movie.

Harry’s breathing begins to even out as she does, and Y/N begins to pay more attention to him than the TV. When they spend the night with each other, Y/N always falls asleep first. It’s rare she gets to see him completely relaxed.

As much as she loves his green eyes, his eyelashes may be a close second. They’re so long and dark that they almost make Y/N jealous. And his cheeks…she brings one hand up to gently touch them. They’re stubbled from his long day of travel, but the skin underneath feels soft. Despite having lost his baby fat years ago, there’s still a layer of tenderness in his body.

Y/N is so distracted by him that she doesn’t realize that she’s stopped playing with his hair, not until Harry speaks up.

“Why’d you stop?” His voice is groggy with exhaustion, lower, with a thicker accent. His words slur together as well

“Hm?” Y/N hums in her throat in response. “I thought you were asleep.”

“Not really.” Harry’s eyes stay closed as he shifts his position a bit. “Will you play with my hair a bit longer? Feels nice.”

The movie credits roll in the background as Y/N does what he says. Harry sighs contently, relaxing back into her again.

Y/N turns the TV off, so the only light in the room comes from the moon through the open curtains. It shines over half of Harry’s face, catching the ends of his eyelashes. Somehow, the moonlight makes his cheeks and lips even more pink.

“You’re really pretty, y’know that?” Y/N says it absentmindedly, her fingers still combing through Harry’s curls.

“Thanks.” He has just enough energy to mumble a response. “’M, not as pretty as you, though.”

Y/N’s stomach flutters when he says it, so quiet that she’s not even certain she heard him correctly. “Liar.”

“’S true.” Harry’s reply is even less audible than before. “So pretty.”

If Harry was awake and more present in the conversation, Y/N might tease him. She might try to make him blush, or roll his eyes, or laugh. Maybe, just maybe, she’d even ask him to elaborate, just enough that she could figure out what the fluttering in her stomach means.

But Harry is hardly awake right now. And it wouldn’t be fair.

“Go to sleep, H,” is all Y/N says, shifting to lay down a bit more without pausing the movement of her fingers.

…

It takes Harry a few days to readjust to London time. While Y/N spends her weekdays working from the kitchen table, Harry naps and fiddles with his guitar and journal. While she can tell he’s working on something, Y/N can also tell that he’s not making much process.

A week after coming back from LA, Harry half stomps into the kitchen during the afternoon, frustration clear on his face as he opens the fridge and grabs an apple. He bites into it angrily and leans against the counter, the irritation still on his face.

Y/N glances at him from behind her laptop. “Everything alright?”

Harry gives half a shrug. “Trying to write.”

“And how’s that going?”

“Fucking sucks.” Harry takes another bite of the apple. “I thought I’d feel more inspired, being at home and not having deadlines, but I can’t get anything out. Not anything good, anyways.”

“I know the feeling.” Y/N sighs as she closes her laptop. “There’s been a huge surge in online orders, and my boss wants me to create more promo material, but it’s hard to focus on anything right now.”

Harry nods and glances out the window. “Doesn’t help that it’s a beautiful day, but we can’t go out.”

“We can go out. We just can’t leave the property.” Y/N replies. “You have a giant backyard. Why don’t you use it?”

“Yeah. Maybe I’ll go for a swim.” Harry takes another bite of his apple. “You want to come?”

Y/N laughs a bit. “Unlike you, H, I have a real nine to five job. I’m on the clock for another two hours.”

“After, then.” Harry tosses his apple core in the compost and gives her a grin. “I hope you packed that yellow bikini.”

Y/N crumples a piece of scrap paper in her hand and throws it at him. “Piss off.”

Y/N did, in fact, pack her yellow bikini. However, when she’s changing from her clothes into a swimsuit, she chooses her blue bikini instead, just to have a bit of agency. Every instinct in her is telling her to wear what Harry said to, and it’s a little concerning. She’s never cared about dressing for him before, and she isn’t prepared to start.

Despite the different colour, Harry still grins from the edge of the pool when he sees her walk out. “Look at you. Should’ve put you in the Watermelon Sugar music video.”

“Shut up.” Y/N sits on the edge of the pool, dangling her lets in the water. Harry rests his head on his arms, his cheeky grin still on his face as he looks up at her.

“I’m serious.” He says innocently. “It was a fun day. You really would’ve liked it.”

“Of course you thought it was fun; you had a bunch of beautiful girls fawning over you and feeding you fruit.” Y/N rolls her eyes from behind her sunglasses. “You’re such a narcissist.”

“All musicians are narcissists, love. At least, the best ones are.” Harry’s grin grows as he pushes away from the ledge. “Are you going to just sit there and look pretty, or are you actually going to swim?”

“I’m going to tan.” Y/N leans her head back, enjoying the feeling of the warm sun.

Harry shakes his head. “No, sorry. The pool is for swimming only.”

“Says who?”

“Says me.”

In hindsight, Y/N should’ve known what Harry was about to do. She’s been friends with him long enough that she knows how his brain works. However, Y/N is enjoying the sun so much that she lets her guard down for one moment, and that one moment is all Harry needs.

She feels his hands grip her legs, and before she can stop him, he pulls her into the pool. Her entire body submerges, and when she finally rises, gasping for air, the only thing she can hear is Harry’s snickering.

“You’re such an ass!” Y/N hits his shoulder hard, not caring about leaving a mark on him. “That’s not funny!”

“The pool is for swimming only. I told you.” Harry can’t stop laughing long enough to make it through his sentence clearly. “Them’s the rules.”

“Them’s the rules.” Y/N repeats in a mocking voice, hitting him one more time. “You’re the worst.”

“Maybe, but you’re stuck with me.” Harry runs a hand through his wet hair. “At least until quarantine is done.”

“I should’ve stayed alone in my apartment.” Y/N mutters, tossing her wet sunglasses on the pool ledge. “Would’ve been so much more peaceful.”

“And boring.” Harry points out. “And you wouldn’t get to take relaxing swims like this!”

“Right. Relaxing.” Y/N splashes him playfully. “Jerk.”

Harry just grins at you.

…

“Want one?”

Y/N glances at Harry as he packs loose marijuana into a wrapper, concentration clear on his face as he rolls it.

“You learn how to roll those in LA?” Y/N asks, taking a sip of her wine.

Harry chuckles lightly, his skin illuminated by the fire burning in front of them and the moon above them. “Yeah. I’m not very good, though. Usually I have somebody else to roll them for me.”

“So high maintenance.”

Another low laugh rolls out of Harry’s mouth. “Ha. High maintenance.”

Y/N rolls her eyes, but an endearing smile is on her face. “It’s still illegal in the U.K., you know.”

“I doubt the police are going to break social distancing rules to arrest me for it.” Harry’s tongue pokes out of his mouth as he tries his best to roll the joint tightly.

Y/N watches as Harry brings the wrapper to his mouth, licking it lightly. To her dismay, her attraction to Harry had yet to fade, and spending every moment of the day together wasn’t helping.

“I’m not an eighteen year old girl on your tour bus anymore, Harry.” Y/N raises her wine glass. “I drink red wine now. I’m sophisticated.”

Harry snorts, his eyes flickering to her before looking back down at the joint. “Sophisticated, right. Like you didn’t do body shots off the bartender at your birthday party this year.”

Y/N’s cheeks burn. “Birthdays don’t count.”

“Neither did tour buses, and neither does my backyard in the middle of a pandemic.” Harry seals the joint as best he can. “You may have a fancy job now, but you’re still my Y/N.”

His Y/N. That phrase ignites the now familiar flutter in her stomach and, over the last few days, her core. Something about Harry identifying her as his drives Y/N insane, even if it’s nothing new.

“And what exactly does your Y/N do?” She manages to say after a moment.

“She doesn’t take shit from anyone. She gets drunk fast and high faster. She’s always down for a laugh. And, although she won’t admit it, she has a tendency to make bad decisions that she tries to suppress, but can’t always manage to do so.” Harry sparks his lighter and sticks the joint between his lips, lighting it and puffing it quickly.

“Then you should know that your Y/N can’t have a joint of her own.” Y/N steals the joint from Harry’s lips, taking a few puffs of her own from it before handing it back.

The smoke curls in her lungs, forcing a few coughs from her.

“Alright?” Harry asks, concern in his eyes.

Y/N nods, her hand pressed to her chest like she can stop the burn. “Yeah. Just haven’t done that in a while.”

“You always cough so much. It would be cute if it wasn’t so bloody concerning.” Harry says casually, lifting the joint to his lips and inhaling.

Y/N watches as he exhales smoke slowly. She wonders if she looks as attractive as he does when she blows out smoke.

Harry grins at her with just the corner of his mouth, like there’s a secret tugging at the edge of his lips.

Y/N really doubts it.

“Here.” Harry places the joint between her lips. “Inhale slowly.”

Y/N does as he says, doing her best to keep from coughing until the joint and his hand is away from her face. Her eyes burn a bit, both from the smoke and the oncoming high that’s starting to twist through her body.

“That’s a good girl.” Harry praises her before leaning back, placing the joint back between his own lips. “You’ve gotten better at that. Thought you were going to pass out the first time we smoked, remember?”

“I remember I almost did.” Y/N giggles to herself as she settles down into the couch more. “I coughed so much that I thought I was going to die on that tour bus.”

“Niall was certain you had.” Harry laughs too, and Y/N known they’re both playing back the same memory. “Wasn’t quite sure how we were going to explain that one to Paul. Neither was I, honestly.”

“You don’t give me enough credit.” Despite the feeling coming over her, YN still takes another sip of her wine. “I was fine.”

Harry nods as he finishes the joint, setting the butt down into his ash tray. “Still…we had some fun nights on the bus when you were there.”

“That was a fun summer.” Y/N agrees, her eyes fixed on the fire before them. “Lots of good memories.”

As Y/N watches the fire, Harry watches her. He lets another moment or two pass before speaking again.

“When you were on tour with us that summer…” He rubs his lips absentmindedly. “You and Niall. Did you two ever…?”

“What? Fuck?” The weed and the alcohol take away the careful tone of Y/N’s regular speech, leaving honesty and bluntness behind.

Harry laughs once. “I was going to say date, but yeah. I guess so.”

“We didn’t date. We fooled around a few times.” Y/N shrugs, tucking a loose strand of hair behind her ear. “He was fun. But we both knew it wasn’t anything serious, just something to do while I was on tour with you.”

Harry nods a bit, reaching for his own drink and taking a sip. Y/N watches the movement with heavy lidded eyes. His arm muscles flex underneath his tattooed skin when he moves, and the way his fingers wrap around his glass is fascinating to her.

“I figured he would have told you.” Y/N pulls her sweater around her tighter. Now that the sun has set completely, a chill has appeared. “You guys always talked about girls together.”

“No, he didn’t tell me. And I didn’t ask.” Harry keeps his glass in his hand, looking down at it with an unreadable expression. “I thought you might tell me, but you didn’t, either.”

The substances in Y/N’s system are clouding her mind, but she does her best to focus on Harry’s words. As a way to ground herself, she pulls her sweater away from her body, hoping that the cold air will help.

“I’m sorry.” She says slowly, like it takes all her effort to get the words out. “I didn’t mean to…hurt your feelings.”

“You didn’t.”

“Oh.” Confusion fogs Y/N’s mind. “Then…why is it bothering you?”

“It’s not bothering me.” Harry denies, finishing off his drink. “I was just wondering why. You usually tell me everything. You always have.”

Y/N bites her lip. “I don’t tell you about every person I sleep with.”

Harry hums low in the back of his throat, but offers no other response.

After a few minutes, Y/N stands up. “I think I’m going to head to bed.”

Twisting his empty glass around in his hands, Harry nods. “Alright. I’ll be up in a little bit.”

“You know, you have a guest room.” Y/N pauses, fiddling with the bottom of her sweater. Her skin feels unsettled, and the fabric against it isn’t helping. “I should probably start using it. Social distancing, and all that.”

Harry looks up at her, a stubborn look reflecting in his eyes. “No. I sleep better with you beside me.”

When Harry finally comes up to bed an hour later, Y/N is still awake, eyes closed, with her back away from the door and head toward the wall. She doesn’t turn over when she hears the door creak open, and instead just listens to the rustling sounds of Harry changing, going to the bathroom, washing his hands, and returning to the bedroom.

Y/N feels his weight on the bed, but doesn’t hear him slide in next to her. Instead, she does her best to stay completely relaxed when she feels his fingers brush against her hairline, pushing back a few loose strands.

Staying completely relaxed, it turns out, is easier thought than done. The moment Harry touches her, Y/N feels the nerves in her face burst to life. It’s like electricity, like nothing she’s ever felt before from any previous touches from Harry. Behind her closed eyes, Y/N feels her head spinning, but she’s certain it must be the weed and the alcohol in her system.

Finally, the sheets are pulled back, and Harry gets under the covers. He pulls Y/N back against him, and Y/N can feel the hot skin of his chest pressed against her shoulders. Harry takes a moment to adjust before sighing, almost in content, and then he presses a gentle kiss to the back of her shoulder.

The tender action leaves Y/N speechless. The action itself isn’t new; they had always been very physically affectionate with each other. But there’s something about the moment that Y/N can’t quite place a finger on. Perhaps she would be able to if she was sober, or less tired, but with her brain in its current state, the words she needs are lost, and she’s certain she won’t remember the feeling in the morning.

Harry inhales deeply, his nose buried in her hair, and sighs again. Y/N can feel him relaxing back against her, but his arms stay wrapped around her tightly. It’s a comforting embrace, and makes it easy for Y/N’s mind to finally quiet and drift off.

…

“You’re still working?”

Y/N looks up from her laptop to see Harry standing above her, sweaty from his workout. His hair is tied up in a little ponytail on top of his head, and he has a towel wrapped around his shoulders that he uses to wipe sweat from his face. His body is literally glistening in the sunlight, and Y/N suddenly finds it very hard to focus on her work.

“I am.” She says finally, closing the lid of her laptop and stretching out on the beach chair. “Or I was. I’m done for today.”

“Good.” Harry sits down on the chair next to her. “I’m going to have a shower, but I was thinking we should try baking something later.”

Y/N raises an eyebrow. “Why?”

“Because I want cupcakes, and homemade are way better than store bought.” Harry says easily, stealing Y/N’s water and taking a gulp from it.

Y/N watches his throat move as he swallows the water, how his Adam’s apple bobs, how he licks his lips when he finally pulls the glass away from his mouth.

Y/N’s own mouth suddenly feels very dry.

“Alright, yeah.” Y/N nods weakly. “We can bake something later. It’ll be fun.”

…

“It’ll be fun.” Y/N shakes her head in disbelief. “God, I can’t believe I said that.”

“It was fun!” Harry argues, holding up a red velvet cupcake. “And we did it!”

“And we made a mess.” Y/N gestures to the kitchen around them, which looks like a warzone. Flour, powdered sugar, and cocoa powder cover every counter surface. There are broken eggshells on the counter, splatters of batter everywhere, and both Y/N and Harry have dyed red hands from food colouring.

“It could be worse.” Harry shrugs, clearly untroubled. “C’mon. Try a cupcake.”

Y/N reaches for one, but Harry simply lifts the one in his hand to her mouth. She locks eyes with him as she takes a bite, the icing smearing across her top lip.

Y/N chews slowly and swallows hard. “Yeah. They’re good.”

Harry extends a hand, and his finger runs along her lip, collecting the icing. He pops it into his mouth, sucking for a moment before humming in agreement. “Yeah. Sweet.”

The cupcakes, it turns out, pair well with watermelon cocktails, and soon Y/N and Harry are sitting on the couch, takeout and cupcakes in front of them and drinks in their hands as they giggle and talk. They’re intoxicated, but not just from the alcohol in the strong drinks that Harry makes.

“Honestly, working from home isn’t ideal, but it’s not that bad.” Y/N pops a bite of food into her mouth, chewing thoughtfully. “Definitely not the worst part of quarantine.”

“Yeah?” Harry leans back on the couch. “What’s the worst part?”

Y/N shrugs. “It sucks being away from people, cooped up inside.”

Harry nods, but his face looks wistful. “I miss sex.”

Y/N laughs, but she nods in agreement as well. “Fuck, I know. I miss sex so much.”

“It’s nice, you know? A good way to burn some energy…always sleep so well after…” Harry sighs, taking a sip of his drink between his phrases. “I feel like I’m back on a tour bus again, with no one around but my hand.”

A giggle escapes Y/N’s mouth. “How tragic.” She also takes a sip of her drink, and tries to stop herself from making a face. Harry really does make them strong. “I just miss touching. I haven’t been this touch starved since I was seventeen.”

Harry makes a scoffing noise in the back of his throat. “We touch.”

“That’s different.” Y/N finishes her drink. “That’s friendly touching. It’s not what I meant.”

“What did you mean, then?” Harry challenges her, a glint in his eyes that Y/N’s come to recognize as a sign of trouble.

She refuses to take the bait. “You know what I meant.”

“I don’t.” Harry says it innocently, and he reaches forward to take her glass from her. “How about I get us some refills while you think of how to say it?”

Y/N lets him take the glass (she loves his drinks, despite how strong they are), but shakes her head. “Stop being an ass. You know exactly what I meant.”

A low laugh rolls out of Harry as he walks to the built-in bar he has in the lounge. He begins to recreate the drinks, muddling this, adding a splash of that. If Harry wasn’t already a rock star, she’d suggest he become a mixologist.

“Maybe I do know what you meant.” Harry shakes the cocktail shaker with ease before straining the liquid out over their glasses, which he’s filled with fresh ice. “But I want to hear you say it.”

Y/N runs a hand through her hair. She feels warm from the alcohol, and the lit candles around them aren’t helping. The food and cupcakes sit on the table, all but forgotten in their new conversation. “Say what?”

Harry’s lips pull up in a smirk, but his eyes show something else. He walks back over and hands her the drink before taking a seat next to her again. “The kind of touching you miss.”

Their fingers touch as Y/N takes the glass from him, and suddenly the warmth of the room feels ten times hotter. “You want me to say it?”

Harry lifts his glass to his lips, but keeps his eyes on her. “I do.”

“I…” Y/N takes a sip of the drink (which is stronger than the one before) and then presses the cold glass to her cheek. “I miss touching. Intimate touching. And…being touched intimately.”

Harry inhales deeply, stretching out his shoulders before responding. “Yeah. I miss that too. Holding hands, touching someone’s stomach, chest, legs…having them play with my hair…”

“I play with your hair.” Y/N says defensively, a crease appearing between her eyebrows.

Harry laughs once. “Right, but like you said…that’s different.”

Y/N clears her throat. “Right.”

Harry takes a long sip from his drink. “’S still nice, though.” Harry adds after a moment, licking his lips. “I love when you play with my hair. You know that.”

Nodding softly, Y/N begins to trail a finger over the rim of her glass. Whenever she begins to get tipsy, she begins to fidget more, and feel freer in her actions. And when Y/N glances back at Harry, she can tell he recognizes the sign as well.

“What about you?” He asks, bringing her back from her thoughts. “What do you miss having people do?”

Y/N drinks again, pulling her knees to her chest as she leans against the couch’s armrest. “I miss…having my hair played with, too. That’s always nice. I miss having my fingers played with…neck kisses…I like when people, like, rub my arms or thighs, just absentmindedly…” She leans her head against her arm. “Your turn.”

“My turn?” Harry rubs his nose lightly, and Y/N can tell he’s feeling the alcohol, too. “What’s my turn?”

“Tell me what else you like.” Y/N smiles softly, a small laugh just barely bubbling out from her. “We’ve never actually talked about it, H. Isn’t that strange?”

Harry turns to face her more, pausing to think for a moment. “I suppose we’ve never been specific before, yeah.” He taps his thumb against his H ring. “I like being in control, usually. Telling them what to do, where to touch me…” His eyes get a faraway look in them. “But sometimes it’s nice to give up control. Have someone else…”

“Decide.” Y/N finishes his sentence for him when he trails off. “Yeah. I’m more like that, I think. I usually let someone else decide. But I like the in-between, too. Like…both exploring each other.”

“What do you mean?” Harry cocks his head to the side curiously.

Y/N shrugs loosely, her finger still tracing her glass. “’S hard to explain.”

Harry’s voice is low when he replies, almost like he’s somewhere else. “Try.”

“Well…” Y/N takes a drink before setting her glass down. “It’s like…do you remember your first time?”

Harry blinks, surprised at the question, but nods. “Yeah. I do.”

“And remember how nervous you were?”

“Yeah.”

“And like…” Y/N plays with her fingers as she ponders her next words. “You were nervous, yeah, but there was also this excitement in you. Kind of like…a breathlessness. And you looked at the other person and knew they…”

Harry closes his eyes for a moment. “Felt the same.”

“Yeah.” Y/N tucks her hair behind her ears. “And just, like, being comfortable with them, and knowing you could both explore, and ask questions, and you were both together…” Y/N feels heat rise to her cheeks as she trails off. “I don’t know. I feel like that’s rare, but I—it’s nice. I like it.”

“Yeah.” Harry rubs his thumb over his lip as he shifts his position on the couch. “It’s nice, yeah. Rare, usually. But nice.”

“I think it’s rare, because, like—” The alcohol makes it harder for Y/N to gather her thoughts, but also harder to sensor them. “I don’t know, I feel like when I was younger, and hadn’t had sex yet, I took more time with, like, finding the right person? Like I wanted it to be with someone who loved me for the first time, and someone I was comfortable with, and it was. And then after, the love part didn’t matter so much for me.” Y/N glances at Harry, who seems to be hanging on her every word. “Which, like, was fine. What mattered to me the most was that whoever I had sex with respected me. And they did, so that was…good. But it’s different.” Y/N rubs her arms. “I don’t know if that makes sense…”

“It does.” Harry assures her, placing a light hand on her knee. He begins to rub small circles. “Keep going.”

“I just think that, like, that in-between, breathless, exploring each other kind of thing…the comfort…that’s rare because it only really happens with someone you love.” Y/N murmurs. “At least, that’s how it is for me. And I haven’t really been in love much in my life.”

“I’ve been in love probably too much.” Harry admits, his hand still on Y/N’s knee. “Too much to be good for me.”

Y/N shakes her head adamantly. “No, H. That’s good. That’s…brave. You’re not afraid of how you feel. Most people are.”

“Maybe.” Harry finishes his drink again with one long gulp.

Y/N watches as he does, seeing a little drip of liquid slip from the corner of his mouth. She can’t stop herself from leaning forward and wiping it away with her thumb, feeling the stubble of Harry’s chin scratch against her.

Harry watches her with hooded eyes as she leans back to her previous position. His hand slips a bit higher, from her knee to her lower thigh, but she doesn’t say anything.

“Who have you been in love with?” He asks. His words are slurred a bit, and his accent seems thicker.

“My first boyfriend, Parker. You remember him.” Y/N sighs, closing her eyes as she herself remembers. “And…Christian, from university. We were together for two years. That’s it, I think.”

Despite the alcohol, Harry’s face still shows some surprise. “Really? No one else? No one since Christian?”

Y/N shrugs. “I’ve dated, yeah, and had relationships, but…I don’t know. I didn’t love any of them. I was…infatuated. But I never…it was intense, but like—intense like a spark. Nothing prolonged.”

Harry hums in response. “Thought you were going to say Niall for a moment. He was pretty torn up when you went back to school after that summer.”

Y/N’s face mimics Harry’s surprise from a moment ago. “Was he?”

“Yeah. Moped around a bit, spent time by himself, on his phone every two minutes…” Harry’s expression shows the difficulty it’s taking him to think back eight years while drunk. “I knew it was because you left. Thought you two had an…agreement, or something.”

“An agreement?” A giggle escapes Y/N. “This isn’t a Jane Austen book, Harry. We didn’t have an agreement.” Once she gets her laughter out, she sighs. “He was that upset?”

“Yeah.” Harry scratches the back of his neck. “So I thought…he must be in love with you. And you were…”

“No, I wasn’t.” Y/N says softly. “He was so upset that you thought he was in love with me?”

“Yeah.”

Y/N bites her lip. “Was he more upset than you?”

Harry takes a moment to reply, looking at her with a serious expression. His lips are so red, and his eyes are so green, and both of them are so drunk that neither of them can sense the meaning behind what they’re saying.

“No.” Harry finally responds. “He wasn’t.”

…

“Good morning.”

“Shhh.” Y/N covers her eyes with her arm. “Don’t yell in my ear.”

“I whispered.” Harry counters, but his voice is a bit quieter this time. “Do you have a headache?”

“I didn’t know something flavoured with watermelon could make me feel so shitty.” Y/N groans a bit, shifting on the bed without opening her eyes. “What did you do to me?”

When Harry laughs, it’s not audible, but Y/N can feel it through his chest pressed against her side.

“How are you completely fine right now?” She asks, rubbing her eyes.

“I’m used to it. I’ve always been way better with hangovers than you.” Harry presses a small kiss to her shoulder before getting up. “How does breakfast in bed sound?”

“Normally amazing, but I can’t eat right now.” Y/N mutters. “How about coffee in bed?”

“Sure.” Harry smiles a bit. “You look cute like this.”

“Shut up.”

Harry returns ten minutes later with a tray of coffee, toast, and eggs, of which he manages to coax Y/N to take a few bites. She doesn’t really want it, but she knows it’s easier to do as he says instead of arguing.

“How about we have a movie day today?” Harry suggests after breakfast. “In bed, since it seems like you won’t be moving anytime soon.”

“And who’s fault is that?” Y/N glares at him from the top of her coffee cup.

Harry raises his hands in defense. “Hey, I didn’t make you drink. You chose to.”

“I know, but it’s easier to blame you.”

Harry rolls his eyes. “Is that why you’ve been doing it for twenty years?”

“Exactly.”

Harry carefully lifts the empty tray to the ground before holding up the remote. “You can pick the movies.”

Y/N bites her lip. “If we watch Titanic, will you make fun of me when I cry?”

“Of course not. I’ll even cry with you out of solidarity.”

“Alright.” Y/N settles back into the blankets. “Put it on, then.”

It’s easy for them to be like this, Y/N thinks, as Harry pulls her into his arms when the movie starts. It’s always been so natural for them to be physical and affectionate with each other. They’ve never acted any other way.

Except this doesn’t feel like any other way.

Yes, Y/N has watched countless movies while cuddling in bed with Harry. But has he ever whispered in her ear like that before? Has he ever rubbed her sides so carefully before? Has he ever let his lips rest on the bare skin of her shoulder, almost at the base of her neck?

Y/N can’t recall. However, she’s certain that if he had, it hasn’t felt so electric.

“Look at them. Look at how Jack watches her.” Harry murmurs his words directly in Y/N’s ear as they watch Jack draw Rose. Y/N can feel his lips brushing against her, and the heat of his breath and tone of his voice makes her shiver.

“She’s very pretty.” Y/N nods, shifting in Harry’s arms. She likes how warm he feels.

“I suppose, but that’s not what I meant.” Harry traces shapes on her arm. “I meant look at how he looks at her. Do you think they have the kind of love you talked about last night?”

Y/N glances over her shoulder at him, surprised he remembers their conversation. “I think so. Do you?”

“Yeah.” Harry says in a low voice. He says no more, so Y/N turns back to face the television.

They continue to watch in silence, gripping each other a bit tighter as the Titanic begins to sink. As they watch a mother reading to her two young children in bed, Y/N begins to lose her composure, like always. Tears well in her eyes, and she lets out a quiet hitched breath, a single sniffle.

“It’s alright, love.” Harry’s hands move to her stomach, holding her tighter to comfort her. “Don’t cry.”

Y/N can hear the tears in his voice, just as they’re in her own. “Can’t help it. This part and the band and the old couple in bed—they always get me.”

“I know.” Harry rubs his thumb along your side.

Y/N reaches behind her without turning around, threading her fingers through Harry’s messy curls. She plays with them absentmindedly as she watches, and tries to ignore how right it feels to be close to him like this. She wonders if he notices it, too.

Harry presses a chaste kiss to her shoulder.

…

The day they hit the one month mark of quarantine, Harry sits across from Y/N at breakfast with a determined look on his face.

“I have a proposition for you.”

Y/N glances up at him, her attention barely shifting from her book. “A proposition?”

“Yeah.”

“What kind of proposition?” Y/N tilts her head to the side. What she first thought was just determination on Harry’s face, she realizes, is actually determination and mischief, and she knows it won’t end well.

“I haven’t had a tattoo in a while.” Harry steals a strawberry from Y/N’s plate. “And I have a machine here, so I was thinking you could give me one.”

Y/N stares at Harry incredulously as he pops the strawberry in his mouth. “Are you out of your mind?”

“Probably.”

“I’m a terrible artist, Harry. You know that.” Y/N shakes her head. “And even if I wasn’t, I have no idea how to tattoo someone!”

“You can watch a YouTube tutorial, or read a WikiHow.” Harry sighs loudly. “I’m so bored in isolation!”

“What do you even want tattooed?” Y/N eyes the intricate tattoos on his arms suspiciously. “I doubt I could do something like your ship.”

“Something simple.” He shrugs. “Probably lettering.”

“Probably?” Y/N says suspiciously.

“That’s why I want you to do it. I want it in your handwriting.”

Harry’s tone is easy, but it makes her breathing shallow.

“You do?”

“Yeah. I was thinking of something to remind me of this time, because of how weird it is.”

Despite her increased heartbeat, Y/N laughs. “What, do you want me to tattoo COVID-19 on you?”

“No. Be a little more creative than that.” Harry scoffs.

“Why do I have to be creative?”

“Because I want you to decide what I get.”

Y/N’s eyes widen. “You’re not serious.”

“I am! Why is that so hard to believe?” Harry asks. “I trust you. And you’re good with words.”

“No. Absolutely not.”

…

“Make sure my drink has two shots in it.” Y/N calls to Harry as she looks over the tattoo supplies on the living room table.

Harry laughs. “I’m not sure I want my tattoo artist to be drunk.”

“The only way I’ll even be your tattoo artist is if I’m drunk.” She counters. “I still think this is an awful idea.”

Harry hands Y/N a tall glass with a light pink liquid in it. “Drink this, and you’ll change your mind.”

Y/N takes the glass and takes a large gulp, not focusing on the taste of the mixers, but the liquid courage behind them.

Harry grins, lifting his own glass. “Cheers.”

“Shut up and sit down.” Y/N mutters. She ties her hair back before grabbing the disinfectant wipes. “Where do you want this?”

“My upper inner arm. I already shaved it for you.” Harry smirks as he points to the area, which is easily exposed in his loose tank top.

“And you’re sure I can write it with pen?” Y/N asks nervously as she disinfects the area.

“Mhmm.” Harry leans back comfortably in his chair. “What did you decide on?”

“It’s a secret.” Y/N uncaps the pen, getting closer to him.

“So I can’t know until after it’s on me permanently?”

“Is that a problem?” Y/N asks innocently. “I thought you trusted me?”

Harry chuckles. “I did say that, didn’t I?”

“Also that I’m good with words.” Y/N makes sure Harry’s head is turned away before she carefully writes the phrase she chose. Then she snaps on gloves and starts the machine like she watched in videos early that day.

“You’re fine, love.” Harry assures her, seeing the nervous look on her face. “It’s a small tattoo. It’ll only take a few minutes.”

“Quiet.” Y/N mutters. “I need to focus.”

True to Harry’s word, the small tattoo only takes a few minutes to finish. When it’s done, Y/N gives it one final wipe before setting the machine down and taking off her gloves.

“Alright.” She picks up her glass and drains it completely. “You can look.”

Harry peers at his arm, curiosity clear on his face. There, in Y/N’s loopy handwriting is the phrase “touch me.”

“It looks so fucking good, Y/N.” Harry grins at her. “You did amazing!”

“I didn’t fuck it up?” She asks, chewing on her lip anxiously. “Is it alright?”

“You did a lovely job.” Harry smiles. “Wrap it for me?”

Y/N does as he asks, carefully wrapping the fresh tattoo in plastic wrap and taping it to his arm. “I think I’ll accept my tip in the form of another drink.”

Harry snickers. “Coming right up.”

Two drinks later, they’re both back in the honest and loose headspace that they’ve grown familiar with. It’s not enough that they’re unaware of their actions, but both Y/N and Harry know that their lips are looser because of the liquor in their systems.

They’ve migrated to the bedroom to get comfier, but took a few items from the bar with them. It’s with these items that Harry tops up Y/N’s glass again as he speaks.

“So tell me…” He sets the cocktail shaker on his bedside table. “Why ‘touch me’?”

“You said you wanted something to remind you of isolation.” Y/N takes a long sip of her drink. “And that’s what we both miss the most, right? Being touched?”

Harry nods slowly, his rings clinking against his glass. “Yeah. I’m probably going to go straight to the bars after this is all done. Find someone there.”

He laughs lightly, showing that what he says it half a joke, but Y/N sighs wistfully and shakes her head in disagreement. “I won’t.”

“You won’t?” Harry is surprised, his laughter fading. “Why not?”

Her shrug almost causes her to spill her drink on the bed. “I don’t know.” Y/N sighs again. “I don’t really—I’m not a hookup fan. Not right now, at least. It’s not what I…want.”

“What do you want, then?” Harry finishes his drink, but sets the glass down instead of refilling it. “If not sex?”

“I want sex.” Y/N says defensively. “But I want—I don’t want it to be someone random. I want sex, but I want to be…intimate. Like, I want to know that person cares about me, and I care about them.”

Harry licks the last of his drink from his lips. “Like that breathless feeling?”

“No. It would be nice, but no. That takes time.” Y/N brushes her hair behind her ear. “Just…someone who cares. I don’t want a quick fuck, I just—”

“You want to be touched. Intimately touched.” Harry takes the empty glass from Y/N’s hand and sets it down on the table next to the bed.

Y/N nods gently, her limbs feeling loose. “Yeah. Intimately touched.”

“You know, I could…” Harry trails off, pursing his lips. “We could…do that.”

The alcohol makes Y/N slow to recognize the meaning of his words. “What?”

“I’ve noticed you…the way you look at me, it’s…different than it was.” Harry says carefully, his eyes gauging her reaction. “For the last few weeks. And I—I know that I’m…attracted to you, too.”

“We…” Y/N struggles to think of what to say as she finally registers what’s happening. “We’re friends.”

“I know, but that doesn’t mean I can’t see you as attractive.” Harry looks down at his hands. “Don’t you…? I mean…”

“I—yeah. I think you’re—” Y/N laughs a bit nervously. “You’re attractive, H, you know that. We’ve just never…discussed it.”

“I’m not saying we have to fuck, or—we don’t have to do anything.” Harry straightens his shoulders and looks you in the eye. “Just—when we touch, it’s mild. If you want to be touched intimately, we could…”

“Like, a hand job?” Y/N says slowly, her words blunt with confusion.

Harry goes a bit red, but he shakes his head quickly. “No, Christ, that’s not what I meant, I—just—can I show you?”

“Um,” Y/N swallows hard. “Sure.”

“Okay.” Harry nods slightly, taking carefully measured breaths. “If this feels weird, or anything seems wrong, just tell me to stop, alright?”

Y/N replies faintly. “Alright.”

Nodding again, Harry moves closer on the bed, sitting on his knees so he can get closer to Y/N, who sits cross-legged. His hands rest lightly on her bare thighs, and his rings are a cool contrast to his warm skin.

Harry begins to rub his hands up and down her thighs slowly. His movements are measured, and he watches Y/N’s reaction carefully for a sign of her disliking his actions. However, what he finds is a nervous but interested girl staring back at him.

“Like this. Like, what you like.” Harry says lowly. His hands move more to her inner thighs, but they don’t creep higher. “And…”

“And…?” Y/N asks, her heart rate increasing even more.

Harry moves one hand to the hem of Y/N’s tank top, pushing it up a bit so his hand can rest on her waist. He rubs over her warm skin, marvelling in how smooth and soft it is to his touch. His fingers graze the lace of her bra, but he goes no higher.

“How—how’s that?” Harry asks quietly.

“It’s, um, it’s good.” Y/N replies as she struggles to keep her voice normal. “Yeah. Good. But, um, can you…” Harry’s movements pause at her words, and Y/N feels her cheeks get even warmer. “Maybe touch my, uh, my neck. If you’d like.”

Harry nods, and the hand on her thigh moves to her neck. He traces his fingers across her shoulder and over her collarbone, delighting in feeling the curves of her body. Y/N’s breath hitches when his fingers travel up her neck, and Harry swears he can feel her pulse increase under his fingers.

Y/N’s not sure if it’s the fact that she’s touch starved from self isolating that makes Harry’s touches feel so good, or if it’s the fact that it’s Harry touching her, but she doesn’t dwell on it. Instead, she closes her eyes and tilts her head back, allowing him better access.

She feels Harry’s breath before she feels his lips, but she’s still surprised when she feels him begin to sponge light kisses across her neck.

“H…”

“Is this alright?” He asks the question right below her ear, and yet she can barely hear him because he’s so quiet.

“Yes.” Y/N breathes. “Yeah.”

“Good.” Harry returns to pressing light kisses to her skin, his hands still rubbing over her sides and hips.

For the first time since seeing Harry naked in her bathroom, Y/N can’t deny or explain away her attraction to him. She can’t convince herself that she doesn’t want him to touch her, because she does, and she can’t tell herself that she doesn’t need him, because she does. Every fibre of her being is telling her that she needs Harry, and she needs him now. Her heart is pounding, her skin is on fire, and her core feels like she’d going to explode if he doesn’t do something. And yet, Y/N can’t tell him to touch her more. She’s frozen, mind blank, and she can only register what Harry is doing at the moment as what she wants.

Harry continues to kiss her neck, never lingering too long in one spot, never sucking too hard. Every kiss is gentle and chaste, except the few rare ones that include the tip of his tongue running over her skin.

After what feels like an eternity, Harry pulls away from her neck, face flushed. Despite his hands still on her body, Y/N makes an involuntary sound in the back of her throat.

“Is that better?” He asks lowly, rubbing his thumb against your hip.

“I—kind of.” Y/N says softly. If anything, she thinks, it’s worse. She needs to satisfy the burn inside her, but she doesn’t know how.

“Good.” Harry replies, but he doesn’t take his hands off her.

Y/N’s own hands have been sitting at her sides as his moved over her body, but she raises one now, as hesitant as Harry was. She extends it towards his arm, but pauses with her fingers right over his skin.

“Is it okay if I…?”

The corner of Harry’s lips lifts up, just barely. “Yeah, love. Go ahead.”

Harry’s skin is warm beneath her touch. Y/N traces the outline of his mermaid tattoo carefully before moving onto others. She loves how his arm curves under her touch, how he stays still and lets her explore. She appreciates it, thinking that if Harry made any sudden movements, she’d force herself to pull away.

Soon, her fingers move from tracing his tattoos to tracing the lines of his muscles. She moves down his forearm to his hand, running her fingers over the veins that show through his tan skin, over his knuckles, down the tips of his calloused fingers and back.

Harry sucks in a breath, and Y/N’s trance flickers for a moment as her eyes move to his face to see what’s wrong.

“Sorry, just—surprised me.” Harry says, voice low yet sheepish. He nods down to his thigh, where Y/N realizes her own hand is resting.

“Oh—” She moves to pull her hand away, but Harry places his own on top.

“It’s fine.” He says quickly. “Keep going.”

Y/N bites her lip as she turns her attention back to his arm. Her fingers move slowly and carefully back up his forearm to his upper arm. She traces over his tattoos while she rubs her thumb gently against the muscle, and stops her fingers at the edge of his t-shirt sleeve. With a quick glance at Harry, she pushes the sleeve up, tucking it up on his shoulder so she can run her fingers over his ship tattoo, which is one of her favourites.

“Feels nice.” Harry murmurs, his eyes following her movements.

Y/N glances back at his face, taking in his appearance. His lips are red from the time he spent kissing her neck, and his cheeks are still flushed. His eyes are darker than usual, and she’s not certain if it’s the candlelight or something else causing it. There’s a light sheen of sweat on his forehead, with a few loose curls hanging down. Out of reflex, Y/N reaches up and pushes his hair back out of his eyes.

Before she can return her hand to his arm, Harry captures it in his own. Y/N watches as he brings it to his lips, inhaling as her wrist passes underneath his nose. Although she’s not sure why, there’s something about seeing how much smaller her hand is in Harry’s that delights her.

Harry presses a soft kiss to her wrist, following it up with another on her palm. Y/N’s eyelids flutter at the tender sensation.

“It’s my turn to touch you.” She says softly, her voice strained.

Harry hums in reply. “I know.” He kisses your wrist once more before looking at you. “I’ll help.”

Lifting his hand from his thigh (your hand, which was underneath, stays where it is), he pulls up his shirt just enough that he can sneak your hand underneath. He rests it on his lower chest, and even though his shirt is still partially covering him, Y/N knows she’s touching his butterfly tattoo.

“I like to be touched here.” Harry says in the same low voice.

“Okay.” Y/N bites her lip, her head swimming with alcohol and the smell of the candles and Harry’s cologne and Harry. “It…would be easier without your shirt.”

Without breaking eye contact, save for the moment fabric covers him, Harry pulls his shirt over his head and tosses it to the side. “Better?”

Y/N’s eyes drift down to his tanned stomach. His body is familiar and a stranger to her all at once. She knows his tattoos, scars, every mark on his skin from a distance, but seeing it like this—touching it like this—makes her feel like she’s never truly seen him before.

“Better.” She manages to say, her hand brushing across his ribs.

Y/N spends a while exploring the planes of his stomach, the contours of his body. When she gets to his v-lines, and runs her fingers over the ferns tattooed there, Harry shivers a bit, his hand gripping her knee tighter.

Y/N massages his thigh gently. “Alright?”

“Yeah.” Harry clears his throat. “I’m good.”

“Okay.” Y/N nods, but moves her hand further up again, over his chest and over his collar bones. She takes a moment to trace the lines of his neck, feel the beat if his pulse underneath her fingers, and then tangles her fingers in his hair. She uses the leverage to tilt his head back a bit, and presses her lips to the base of his neck.

Harry’s cologne smells better up close, and Y/N adores the heat of his skin on her sensitive lips. She presses small kisses over the curve of his neck, pausing over his jugular. Her tongue darts out and she carefully licks along it before ending the motion with a kiss.

“Christ…” Harry exhales slowly, the tips of his fingers digging into her knee slightly.

Y/N knows they’re crossing the threshold of just touching each other for the sake of touching. She can feel herself dripping in her panties, and when her eyes flicker down, she can see the outline of Harry’s half hard cock in his shorts. Together, they’ve reached the border of friends helping each other out, and she’s certain that she wants to cross it with him. However, she’s not sure if they should.

Pulling back enough to look Harry in the eyes, Y/N clears her throat. “H, we—what are we doing?”

Harry waits a moment to answer. “I…I don’t know. I have no fucking clue.”

“This isn’t friendly anymore.” Y/N’s voice drops to a whisper. “It’s not just—it’s intimate, yeah, but it’s more…” Her eyes move to the outline of his hardening cock once more before looking back up at his face. “It’s more.”

“Yeah. It’s more.” Harry moves his hand further up her thigh again, rubbing slow circles. “But I don’t want to stop.”

Y/N sucks in a breath. “You don’t?”

“It’s been so long since…” Harry trails off, his gaze drifting down to your lips before returning to your eyes. “And it’s you. I’ve always wondered if—we—”

“I’ve wondered, too.” Y/N admits, her voice filled with nerves. Are they really discussing this? “Especially since that day, in the bathroom—”

“I wondered if you looked then.” Harry’s voice drops lower (which Y/N didn’t think was possible). “I thought about it later that day. I—fuck, I wanted you to look.”

A small noise escapes the back of Y/N’s throat. “This—we’ve been drinking, and—it’s the alcohol, H. Neither of us is thinking straight.”

“This isn’t the alcohol talking. I’ve thought about—when we’re in the pool, when we cuddle, when we flirt, I—I can’t help it.” Harry closes his eyes for a brief moment, like he’s collecting himself. “I need you. And I think…I think you need me too.”

“I do. I need you.” Y/N touches his stubbled jaw with careful fingers. “But we’re friends. This is going to change that.”

“We don’t know that.” Harry leans into her touch. “You said before that you wanted someone you’re comfortable with, something intimate, something breathless. You and I are comfortable, and intimate, and—I don’t know. All I know for sure is that I want you.”

Y/N isn’t sure if he means he wants her in a purely physical way or something more, and while she knows she should clarify that, all she can focus on is his voice and the way it’s going straight to her core.

“I want you, too.” She says simply.

Harry brings his hand to Y/N’s hip. “Can I kiss you?”

Y/N nods. She’s not sure she’s capable of giving a verbal response.

Harry takes it upon himself to lean closer, his fingertips digging into Y/N’s skin in a way she adores. He pauses, hovering just above her lips for a moment, as if to give her time to pull away. Instead, Y/N just waits in anticipation, delighting in the feeling of his breath running over her skin.

When he kisses her, Y/N tastes alcohol, mint, and what she swears is her own heart in the back of her throat.

Any previous kisses she’s shared with Harry have been half kisses, given in teenage games of truth or dare and in a friend’s parent’s basement. Those kisses were safe, guarded, and an obligation. This kiss is the exact opposite.

Although it starts chaste, it quickly grows more passionate. Y/N can’t stop herself from tugging on Harry’s hair more than she imagines Harry can stop himself from rucking up the hem of her tank top. His fingers dip under the band of her lace bralette as she nips at his lip, tugging slightly, delighted when a strangled sound echoes from the back of his throat.

Within minutes, Y/N’s allowed Harry to pull her to straddle his lap, his hands grabbing at her hips with a neediness she’s never seen him exhibit before. Of course, she feels the same way, and she lets her hand run down his chest over and over, using her nails a little more each time. Although there’s no one around to see, no party to return to, nowhere to go, Y/N wants to leave a mark. She wants anyone who sees his chest to know that he belongs to her.

Harry breaks away from her, lips red, eyes frenzied, and breathing heavy. “Can I—?” His hands tug on the hem of her top, tugging in question.

Y/N lifts her arms in response, letting him pull it off and toss it to the side. Harry moves back in to kiss her again, but she keeps her arms up, giving him a long look.

“You’re not done.” She says simply.

He understands right away, and his fingers find the band of her bralette again. This time, however, he removes it slower, almost as if the removal is ritual itself, and his hands are less frantic when they return to your skin.

Harry looks at Y/Nu with wide eyes, and she understands the meaning in them: this is so much more than just touching, and so much more than two friends using each other for mutual pleasure. With every touch, they further cross a line, and neither of them can stop.

With this realization, Harry’s movements become more cautious. His hands come to rest on her sides, his thumbs just brushing the side of her breast.

“You’re fine.” Y/N assures him in a soothing voice. “Keep going.”

“Are you fine?” He counters, his voice an equal mix of concern and need.

“H.” Y/N takes his hands in her own and places them over her breasts. “Like that. Touch me like that.”

Harry sucks in a short breath as she manipulates his hands, showing him how to rub her and touch her. After a few moments, she lets her hands move to his neck, pulling him in for another kiss.

Y/N begins to grind against him, desperate for a bit of friction. Their kisses are soon accented with their moans as they each pull the other closer in lust and need.

Still, underneath the physical desires, there’s a current running between them. Y/N knows it’s been there for the last few weeks, humming quietly in the back of her mind, but being here, now, with Harry touching her, it’s come alive like an electric fence. She can’t turn it off, and she doesn’t want to. She doesn’t want to in the slightest.

Harry begins to kiss down her neck like before, but this time his kisses are anything but chaste. When he reaches her breast, he kisses around them before taking one of her nipples into his mouth.

“Oh fuck—” Y/N arches her back, fingers tangling in his hair to pull him closer. “Harry…”

He hums against her, and his spare hand rubs her back like he does when they get ready to sleep. Usually, the motion is calming, but right now, Y/N feels anything but calm.

Harry continues until he’s satisfied with his work, and then he kisses his way to her other breast, wrapping his lips against her other nipple. He spends just as much time on that one, letting his teeth graze it ever so slightly before soothing the action with his tongue.

When he pulls back, there’s a little line of spit connecting Harry’s mouth to her nipple, and Y/N whimpers at the sight.

“H…” She runs her finger through the line before gripping his chin with her thumb and forefinger. The need inside her builds, as does her fondness for the man in front of her. “God…”

Harry tweaks her hard nipple with his finger, gentle enough so as not to hurt her, but enough to make a gasp fall from her mouth. He offers no response in the form of words, but the hungry look in his eyes has only increased.

“Let me…” Y/N climbs off of his lap, gently pushing him to lay back on the bed. “Yeah?”

Harry runs a hand through his messy curls, nodding quickly. “You want that?”

“Yeah.” Y/N nods too, pressing a wet kiss to his swollen lips. “So bad. Yeah.”

Her hands move to the waistband of his shorts, and Harry lifts his hips off the bed. Y/N tugs down his boxers in the same movement, and tosses both articles of clothing to the side before looking back at him.

Harry’s cock is just as beautiful as she remembers it being the morning she accidentally walked in on him. Even more so, she thinks, because now he’s hard, and the head is the most appetizing shade of pink, with drops of precum pearling at the top. When Y/N wraps her hand around his girth, she adores the heat that she feels.

“So pretty…” She says the words almost to herself, and strokes him lightly to get used to the feeling of him in her hand. “I just want to…”

Y/N leans down and flicks her tongue over his tip, collecting the precum gathered there. In return, a strangled moan leaves Harry’s throat as his arm moves to cover his eyes for a moment.

Y/N presses a kiss to the head of his cock before she continues licking, reveling in the sounds Harry makes. She had no doubt, with a voice as angelic as his, that his moans and whines and whimpers would be just as beautiful.

When she wraps her lips around the head and sucks, she feels Harry’s hand move to her hair. She looks up at him without lifting off of his cock, staring him in the eye as she takes more and more of him into her mouth.

“Fuck—” Another moan leaves Harry’s lips, more strained than the last. “That’s it…” He tugs on her hair, but doesn’t push her down. Even when lost in pleasure, he’s careful with her.

Y/N loves him for it.

Pacing herself, she takes more and more of him into her mouth until her nose is pressed to the base of his stomach, brushing against his (neatly trimmed) pubic hair. She stays down for just a moment before pulling up completely to breathe, but keeps her hand on him, stroking him slowly.

“You look so good.” Harry mutters, running his hands over her hair in a soothing motion. “I imagined it, but didn’t think…so much better…”

Y/N moves to push her head back down, but Harry stops her, bringing her up for a kiss instead.

“I want to taste you, now.” He tells her, laying her down on the pillows. “Is that alright?”

Y/N nods desperately, feeling even more heat rush to her core and pool there. “Mhmm.”

Harry kisses his way down her body again, slipping his fingers into the waistband of her shorts. He leaves her panties on as he pulls the shorts down, and lets out a low groan at the sight of her pink Calvin Klein panties, and more specifically, the dark pink spot that’s apparent on them.

“You’re soaked…” He presses a kiss to her sensitive inner thigh before brushing a finger over the wet spot.

Y/N jumps a bit, making a sound in the back of her throat. “Harry!”

“Sorry.” He kisses her thigh again. “I’m sorry. Just relax, yeah? It’s just me. I got you.”

Harry continues to kiss along her inner thighs, moving closer and closer to the thin cloth covering her center. When he presses his first kiss to the fabric, Y/N grasps the sheets in her hands.

“God…” She whispers, fists clenched.

Harry reaches up and takes one of her hands, placing it in his hair wordlessly before kissing over her again, his tongue peaking out just a bit.

The torture continues for what feels like forever, with Harry teasing her over the soaked fabric of her panties. Finally, Y/N sighs in relief as she feels his hands grip the fabric, and she lifts her hips eagerly as he tugs the article of clothing down.

The first thing she feels is his hot breath hitting her core, which is enough to make her legs reflexively close with pleasure. Harry’s hand grips her leg, pushing them back open as he takes in the sight of her dripping cunt before him.

“Fuck…” He inhales deeply, committing her scent to memory. “Your pussy is so gorgeous.”

Y/N whimpers at his words and tugs on his curls. “Please, H…I need you.”

“Need me?” Harry asks in a husky voice, his finger touching her outer lips just barely.

“Yes!” Y/N whines, not caring how she sounds. “Never needed anything more…”

Harry runs his finger over her slit, collecting the wetness dripping from her. YN moans loudly at the contact, not fully relieved but grateful for the light touch.

“So fucking wet.” Harry’s voice sounds not completely his own. “Fuck, Y/N, how are you so wet?”

Y/N feels heat rush to her cheeks, and she mumbles her reply in what’s almost an embarrassed voice. “You know exactly how.”

“Don’t even know what to do first.” Harry ignores her reply, lost in his own world as he continues stroking her slit. “Just want…”

He presses into her without warning, and Y/N arches her back off the bed as Harry’s finger slips into her cunt. His cold rings touch the top of her entrance as Harry pauses inside her, his eyes heavy with lust.

“And so tight.” He moans, biting his lip hard enough to leave a mark. “Oh my God…”

He curves his finger inside her, wanting to feel every inch of her that he can. Y/N continues to whimper above him.

“More.” She begs him, pushing back against his finger. “I can take more, Harry, please.”

Harry easily slips enough finger in, repeating his motion as she pushes back on him. However, the pressure building inside Y/N disappears abruptly as his fingers do, and she’s just about to get angry at him when she feels his tongue replace his fingers.

“Fuck!” She exclaims loudly, her eyes closing as she throws her head back. “Harry—!”

Harry moves his tongue in and out of her, loving the taste of her juices in his mouth. He moves further up to her clit, licking and sucking over the sensitive bundle of nerves as Y/N writhes above him.

“Taste so good.” He growls from between her thighs. “Fuck, Y/N…you’re going to cum for me, yeah?” He asks as he reaches up and grips her hands in his, interlocking their fingers. “Tell me you’re going to cum for me.”

Another strangled moan leaves Y/N’s mouth as he speaks. “I-I’m so close, Harry. Keep going, please.”

“Tell me.” He demands, licking over her clit again. “Tell me you’re going to cum for me.”

Y/N grinds against his tongue as she grips his hands tighter. “I’m going—fuck—I’m going to cum for you, H. I’m going—”

Harry sucks hard on her clit, and Y/N throws her head back as an orgasm hits her harder than ever before. Her thighs clench shut, trapping Harry’s head between them, but he just continues to lap at the juices flowing from her cunt while making the most obscene sounds Y/N has ever heard.

Harry doesn’t pull back until Y/N unclenches her thighs, and before he does, he presses one last kiss to her clit, making her flinch.

Y/N is so exhausted she can barely open her eyes. Once she does, however, and sees Harry, she feels all the exhaustion fade.

Harry’s lips are, somehow, even more red than before, and his whole chin is slick with her wetness. He keeps licking his lips, like he can’t get enough of the taste, and Y/N feels like her whole body is on fire.

“Harry…” She whispers, squeezing his hand again. She doesn’t know what else to say.

Harry lifts himself over her body, which is still shaking from her orgasm, and kisses her gently. She can taste herself on his mouth, and she adores it.

“You taste so fucking good.” He murmurs, pressing his sweaty forehead against hers. “Like candy.”

Y/N swallows hard. “I haven’t—no one’s done that in a long time.”

“I’ll be glad to do it again.” Harry replies, brushing her hair back. “But right now…all I want to do is make love to you.” He looks at her with sincere eyes. “Will you let me?”

The tenderness of him asking almost brings tears to her eyes, and Y/N nods, her hands coming up to cup his rosy cheeks. “Yeah, H. I’m…” She bites her lip as she realizes the truth of her words. “I’m yours. Always.”

Harry inhales sharply before kissing her softly, his hands stroking her hair in a comforting fashion again. “How do you want to…?”

“I want you on top.” Y/N replies, touching his swallow tattoos. “I-I want to feel you. Feel your weight. Feel you close.”

With a nod, Harry positions himself over her, spreading her legs wide enough that his body can fit between. He holds himself up with one hand and uses the other to guide his cock to Y/N’s folds, just brushing the head over them. He’s teasing himself just as much as her.

“Harry…” Y/N leans her head back at the sensation. “Please, H…”

“I don’t—wait—” Harry pauses his movements, and Y/N can see on his face the strength and discipline it takes for him to do so. “I—a condom—”

“I’m clean, and I have an IUD.” Y/N assures him, running her hand along his shoulders. “Are you?”

Harry nods. “Yeah, I am, but—are you sure?”

As Y/N looks into his eyes, the love and concern and want written all over them, she knows she’s never been more sure of anything in her life. “I want to feel you, without anything in between. I—” She takes a deep breath and presses a kiss to his jaw. “Yeah. I’m sure.”

Harry presses a kiss to her forehead, and the tender action makes Y/N close her eyes as she revels in the feeling. A moment later, Harry moves down again and puts his forehead against hers as he pushes into her.

The moment he enters her, Y/N feels a fullness she’s never experienced before. Not only is Harry stretching her cunt in a way that feels euphoric, but she feels complete. He’s as close to her as he’s ever been, his breath is mingling with hers, his body weight is held over her carefully, and Y/N thinks she could die in the pleasure of this moment happily.

“Y/N…baby…” The pet name seems to fall easily from Harry’s lips as he bottoms out, holding himself still to adjust to the feeling. “Oh my God…”

Y/N digs her fingernails into Harry’s shoulders, pressing kisses to his lips between gasps for breath. “Move, H, please.”

Harry begins to thrust his hips, setting a slow but deep pace before gradually speeding up. While part of Y/N wishes he would thrust as fast as he can, a deeper part of her is grateful that Harry is taking his time with her. This feeling, now that she has it, is better than anything she’d ever felt before, and Y/N doesn’t want it to end anytime soon.

Harry kisses Y/N again as he moves inside her. Although they’re as close as they’ve ever been, each of them keeps pulling the other closer. As Harry thrusts deeper, Y/N pulls more of his weight down on her. As Y/N scratches her nails down his back, Harry kisses her jaw. Neither of them can process exactly what they’re doing, but neither of them can stop. Each touch is tender, each kiss is passionate, and each moment brings them closer together in so many more ways than just physical.

They don’t speak except for the occasional whisper from Y/N for Harry to move faster, or the occasional moan of Y/N’s name falling from Harry’s lips. The only constant sounds in the room are of the slickness between Y/N’s thighs as Harry moves between them, the sound of his skin meeting hers, both of them panting and moaning, and a few whispers of “please” that are barely audible. Despite the lack of speech, however, the two are in constant communication. Kissing, biting, scratching, and squeezing have become the vocabulary of their new language. When Harry looks into Y/N’s wet eyes, he knows that she feels something running through the very depths of her being. When Y/N feels Harry tuck his head between her neck and her shoulder as he whimpers, she knows that he trusts her to comfort him and hold him there.

Soon, Y/N feels the waves of pleasure begin to build, and she knows that when they finally break, they’ll pull her under. “H, I—fuck—I—” She can’t manage to form the sentence she needs to.

Harry, however, can tell exactly what she’s going to say. “Please.” He pants, adoring how she buries her head into his shoulder. “Please, love, cum for me…” He kisses over the shell of her ear as he thrusts deeper. “Need you.”

Y/N whimpers, biting down on Harry’s shoulder as her orgasm rolls over her. Harry feels her walls tighten around his cock, but he doesn’t slow down, and he works her through her climax until she whines in his ear.

“So good, H…” Y/N can barely find the strength to whisper the phrase.

Hearing her sound so fucked out, feeling her cunt squeezing him, and seeing the euphoria on her face is enough to bring Harry to the edge. He slows his thrusts, about to pull out, but Y/N presses on his back to keep him close.

Harry groans as a shiver rolls through his body. “I’m about to cum, Y/N—”

“Stay inside me.” She pleads, pressing the pads of her fingers between his shoulder blades. “I-I’m yours, Harry, I told you. Yours.”

Y/N looks up at him with such trusting and vulnerable eyes that Harry can’t make himself argue with her. He nods instead, his thrusts increasing in speed again until he feels himself reach the edge of pleasure.

As he freefalls into Y/N, his hips stutter, and he presses deep inside her while her name falls from his lips over and over again. He can’t think of anything else to say. He can’t think of anything else worth saying.

When Harry finally manages to pull himself together enough to pull out, Y/N instantly feels the emptiness inside her. She wishes he would stay, but knows that it’s not practical, and instead just relishes in the feeling of his cum dripping from her entrance. It’s like he’s claimed her as his, left a physical mark of himself, and Y/N doesn’t have the strength to stop herself from loving it.

They lay in silence for a few moments, trying to catch their breath and regain a sense of where they are. Both Harry and Y/N are sweaty, exhausted, and covered in each other in more ways than one. The wrap on Harry’s tattoo has slipped from his arm. Somewhere in their pleasure, Y/N has lost an earring. And yet, the only thing each of them cares about is looking at the other.

Out of instinct, Harry pulls Y/N’s shivering body into his, wrapping his arms around her tightly. He can’t imagine she’s cold, and Y/N can’t bring herself to tell him she’s shivering because of the feeling of being so close to him, but neither of them denies the other of the affectionate gesture.

Y/N loses track of how long they lay there until Harry breaks the silence.

“I—” His voice cracks, and he clears it quickly before trying again. “I’ll get you a cloth to—to clean you up.”

Y/N nods, and Harry gently untangles himself from her before going to the bathroom. Y/N can hear the running of water, and turns her head to see what he’s doing, but when she spots his naked silhouette, she closes her eyes. Despite what they just did, there’s a shyness in her still when she sees him completely stripped.

Her eyes stay closed, and she only detects his return from feeling his weight return to the bed. He places a gentle hand on her trembling knee, pulling her open ever so slightly.

“’M just cleaning you up.” Harry says in a quiet tone. “Is that okay?”

Y/N nods again. She’s not certain she has enough strength to say anything.

Harry wipes between her legs with a gentle touch, watching how she flinches at the slightest of pressure. “I’m sorry.” He says sincerely, kissing her knee tenderly before continuing. “You’re sensitive, I know. Almost done.”

Once he finishes wiping away the cum dripping out of her (his cum dripping out of her), Harry tosses the cloth onto his pile of clothes on the ground, deciding it can be dealt with later. His most pressing concern at the moment is Y/N.

He lays back down on his side so he can face her, and pushes a lock of hair away from her closed eyes.

“Y/N.” Harry murmurs, hand resting on her waist carefully. “Talk to me. Are you okay?”

“Yeah.” Her voice is rough when she answers, and Harry can hear the echo of her moans in her words. “I-I’m fine, H. Just…tired.”

“Do you…” Harry bites his lip. “Do you want to talk about it?”

Y/N gives a slight shake of her head. “Maybe—maybe tomorrow, yeah?” She does her best to open one eye, but quickly shuts it again when she sees how Harry is looking at her. “Can’t right now.”

“Okay.” Harry lays his arm over her side as he moves closer. “Tomorrow.”

Y/N presses her head into his shoulder and commits the scent of his skin to memory.

…

The first thing Y/N registers when she wakes up is the feeling of someone touching her hair.

She doesn’t need to open her eyes to know it’s Harry. Of course it’s Harry. It’s always been Harry. In every way.

Y/N sighs and readjusts her position in bed, moving a bit closer to Harry. She shivers once from the cold, still naked from last night’s activities, and that’s the only hint Harry needs before he pulls the sheet up around her more.

“Are you awake?” He asks softly, careful in case she’s still lost deep in sleep.

Y/N moves her head in a passable nodding motion, and her voice is thick with sleep when she answers. “Mhmm. Barely.”

A low chuckle escapes from Harry’s mouth, and the next thing Y/N feels are his warm lips against her cheek. “How are you feeling?”

“A little hungover. A little sore.” Y/N finally opens her eyes as she speaks, and almost wishes she hadn’t.

Harry’s hair is a mess from both sex and sleep, messy and wild and haphazardly pushed out of his eyes. His cheeks are flushed, and his neck and chest are covered in marks from both Y/N’s lips and fingers. She knows that if he turned over, his back would be the same, and it embarrasses her and delights her at the same time. He looks completely fucked and content, and more relaxed than she’s seen him in ages.

Y/N wonders if she looks the same. If she looks as pretty.

“Sorry.” Harry says, his tone a bit sheepish.

“It’s not your fault.” Y/N replies, shrugging a bit.

“Well…it is, actually. I made your drinks. And I…” He trails off, brushing his fingers down her bare hip to her thigh.

“Yeah.” Y/N feels her face get warm. “I guess it is your fault.”

Harry laughs lightly, but it fades away as he looks into her eyes. “We, uh…we should probably talk about what happened.”

Y/N purses her lips. “Yeah. We should.”

“So…first question, I guess.” Harry props his head up on his arm, but keeps running his fingers over Y/N’s hip gently. “Do you regret it?”

Y/N sits up a bit more in bed, clutching the sheet to her bare chest. “No. I don’t. Do you?”

“No.” Harry replies instantly. “I don’t regret it.”

“Okay.” Y/N is so aware of Harry’s eyes on her as she thinks of her question. “Did…did you enjoy it?”

A snort falls from Harry’s mouth, and he shakes his head incredulously. “Christ, Y/N, of course I enjoyed it. It felt—you felt like heaven.”

Y/N flushes at the comment. “I’ve never…I’ve always made my partners wear condoms. So that was a first for me.”

Harry’s fingers pause over her hip, but only for a moment. It looks as though he’s deciding whether or not he should comment on that, but changes his mind at the last moment. “Did you enjoy it?” He asks instead, echoing your question.

“I did.”

“You said you were mine.”

Y/N swallows hard. This conversation is less incriminating than making love to him last night, but it seems infinitely more powerful. Probably because they’re both sober, she thinks.

“That—” She clears her throat. “That’s not a question.”

Harry sighs, but there’s an endeared smile tugging at the corner of his lips. “You said you were mine. Did you mean that?”

Y/N can’t look him in the eyes, so she looks down instead. Harry’s hand lies between them, and she intertwines their fingers, playing with his rings as she carefully formulates her answer. “I’ve—I’ve always been yours, H. Ever since we were kids, I’ve belonged to you.” She runs a finger over his H ring. “Even when you were gone.”

Harry frowns a bit at the tone of her voice. “I’ve been yours too, Y/N. I belong to you just as much as you belong to me.”

“You’ve always been further out of reach.” Y/N pulls her hand from his, until their fingertips are just barely touching. “Always just…a little out of reach.”

Harry intertwines their fingers again. “I’m not out of reach. Not right now. And I’ve never—if you ever called me and said you needed me, I would’ve been on the first flight back home to you. I would’ve dropped everything for you, Y/N. I still would, and I always will.”

Tears prick Y/N’s eyes, and although she hurries to close them, one slips out. Harry catches it on his finger before it can run off her cheek, and when she looks at him again, there’s a concerned look on his face.

“C’mere.” Harry mumbles, pulling Y/N into a tight hug. He rubs her back like he always does, and the motion is so comforting that she almost forgets the vulnerable position they’re both in. “You’re my girl. You’re always going to be my girl.” He murmurs in her ear, voice low and soothing. “Always. Don’t you know that?”

Y/N nods, not trusting her voice at the moment.

“If this is too much for you…” Harry traces his fingers between her shoulder blades. Y/N thinks he’s tracing words, like they used to as children, but she can’t tell what words he may be tracing. “I understand. We can just—we can pretend it didn’t happen.”

“I—” Y/N shakes her head, looking up at Harry. “I don’t want to do that.”

“Then what do you want, Y/N?” Harry asks, his tone as pleading as it was last night. “All I’ve ever tried to do is give you what you want, and usually I’m pretty good at telling what that is, but right now, I’m lost. I don’t want things to go back to how they were, but I don’t—I can’t lose you, so just—if you just tell me what you want, I’ll do it. I’ll make it work. I promise that I won’t be mad, or hurt, or anything.”

Y/N sits up as best she can, her fingers combing through Harry’s messy curls on reflex, as she always does it when he gets upset. “I can’t pretend that I don’t want you, H. I do. I need you. I told you that last night.”

“But you’re crying.” Harry cups her wet cheek gently, rubbing his thumb along her cheekbone. “I hate that.”

Y/N leans into his touch. “It just feels…strange.” She says after a moment. “All of this. I spent so long trying to stop myself from thinking of you like this, and now that I am, I feel like—like it’s wrong.”

Harry tugs on his bottom lip with his teeth. “Does it feel wrong?”

His low voice makes her shiver. “No. It feels right. Really right.”

“I feel like…” Harry’s eyes flicker between Y/N’s own eyes and their intertwined hands. “I feel like we’re both dancing around saying it.”

Y/N sucks in a breath. “Saying what?”

“Saying…” Harry leans in and presses a soft kiss to her lips. “Saying that we’re in love with each other.”

Y/N feels breathless at the words coming from his mouth. “You’re in love with me?”

“Are you not in love with me?” He replies, moving so he’s leaning over her more. “We’ve said I love you so many times before.”

“That’s a different kind of love.” Y/N mumbles, touching the chain dangling from Harry’s neck.

“But we were both meaning something different when we were saying it. At least, I was.” Harry inhales deeply, like he’s centering himself. “I’ve known…for a while, but I’ve felt it for longer than I’ve known it. And I thought that you might…”

“I think I do.” Y/N whispers. “But saying it feels so—so permanent. Like we can’t go back to being friends if it blows up in our faces.”

Harry traces a finger down Y/N’s cheek, her neck, between her breasts, to her side, touching just below her ribs. “Maybe we can’t. But I don’t think we’ll want to, Y/N. I think we’re perfect for each other.”

Y/N’s heart pounds in her chest. “Yeah?”

“Yeah.” Harry nods. “This last month, it’s been like we’ve been…playing house, or something. I’ve loved it. I keep hearing from friends saying that they’re so sick of the person they’re living with, so tired of them, but I’ve never felt that way about you, and I don’t think I ever will. I’ll never get sick of you.”

Y/N laughs a bit. “That’s romantic.”

“Shut up.” Harry can’t help but smile slightly. “It is romantic.”

“Yeah. It is.” Y/N says softly, her hand rubbing over Harry’s tattooed arm. “You’re really in love with me?”

Harry nods. “I am.”

“Huh.” Y/N bites her lip. “So I guess we’ve been lying to our moms, haven’t we?”

Harry laughs loudly, collapsing on the bed next to Y/N. “Jesus, can you not mention our mums when we’re naked in bed?”

“I’m just saying! We’ve been saying for years that you’re not in love with me, and it’s all been a lie.”

“What about when they ask if you’re in love with me?” Harry’s tone is joking, but there’s a hint of nervousness in the back of his voice. “Has that been a lie, too?”

Y/N’s heart pounds as she nods. “Yeah. We’ll have to get them something really good for Mother’s Day this year to help make up for it.”

A grin spreads over Harry’s face, almost triumphant, as he leans down to kiss her. “Agreed.” He moves to cage himself over Y/N. “But I want to hear you say it.”

“Say what?”

“I want to hear you say that you’re in love with me.” Harry’s grin turns into a smirk.

Y/N flushes as she shakes her head. “You say it first.”

“I’ve already admitted it!”

“So have I!”

“Not as well as I have!”

“Oh, so it’s a competition now?” Y/N scoffs. “What a wonderful start to our relationship.”

“I’m just saying, Y/N, admitting it is the first step to—”

“Are you seriously going to say that to get me to say that I love you?”

“Just—”

“You’re so irritating—”

“I’m irritating? You—”

“You’re the worst!”

“And yet you’re in my bed with no clothes on!”

“Okay. Nope. Relationship over.” Y/N pushes Harry off of her and wraps the sheet around herself as she gets out of bed. “You blew it, Styles.”

“Y/N.” Laughter falls from Harry’s lips as he leans over the edge of the bed. “Love. Come back to bed.”

“I think a minute and thirty-seven seconds may be the record for the world’s shortest relationship.” Y/N searches her bag for some clean clothes.

“Come here!”

“Another world record for Harry Styles.” Y/N calls to him without turning around. “You must be so proud—”

Her words are cut off in a shriek as Harry picks her up, throwing her over his shoulder as he brings her back to his bed.

“Harry!” She yells, hitting his arm. “Put me down!”

Harry tosses her on the bed, gentle enough so as not to hurt her, and cages himself over her sheet-covered body. He’s still completely bare. “Take it back.”

Y/N rolls her eyes. “Fine. We’re still together. One less record for you.”

“Good. Now…” Harry brushes a finger over her lips. “Say you’re in love with me.”

Y/N’s laughter fades a bit as the nerves set back in. “I…”

“Please, Y/N?” Harry murmurs, leaning down to kiss her neck. “Please say it.”

“I’m—” Y/N sucks in a quick breath, and all of her protest leaves her body as she exhales. “I’m in love with you, Harry.”

She can feel Harry’s lips forming a grin against her neck. “Yeah?”

“Yeah.” Y/N tugs on his hair gently, just enough so she can pull his head back to look in his eyes. “Now you say it.”

“Y/N.” Harry says her name like it’s something precious. “I’m in love with you.”

A flush of pleasure crawls up Y/N’s spine at his words, but she does her best to keep her tone light-hearted. “So are you calling our moms, or am I?”

“I’ll do it.” Harry reaches for his phone on the bedside table. “And I’ll be sure to mention how it took us getting drunk and having sex to realize—”

“Harry!”

“Don’t worry, I’ll tell your mum we used a condom—”

“I’ll kill you, Styles, and I’ll make it look like an accident.” Y/N shoves his shoulder hard.

Harry grins at her. “Now that’s romantic.”

#feedback is appreciated and use a condom kids #harry styles oneshot #bestfriend!harry #harry styles x reader #harry styles x you #harry styles x y/n #harry styles fanfiction #harry styles imagine #harry styles fic #harry styles preference #one direction imagine #one direction preference #one direction fic #one direction fanfiction #one direction #best friend!harry sty;es #watermelon sugar #watermelon sugar music video #fine line album

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tricksters-captain · 4 years ago

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Bucky Barnes imagines - Some Sunny Day Part 4

AN: What a crazy episode! I definitely think this episode was one of the best so far and I cannot wait to see what happens next after that insane ending!

Overall Summary: Before the Blip, you and Bucky were close. After you both returning and Tony’s funeral, you decided to go back to your home town to spend time with your family. When duty calls, you return.

In this chapter: Now in Latvia, you and the boys must find Karli before the Dora take Zemo away (Based on S1 EP4)

(PART 1) (PART 2) (PART 3)

Pairing(s): Bucky Barnes x Fem!Reader, Sam Wilson x Platonic!Reader

Word Count: 6,123

Warnings: Spoilers for episode 4, violence, strong language.

Once inside Zemo’s apartment, you started to look through the cupboards.

Zemo had excused himself to take a bath but you felt starved.

Even with the limited stock you managed to whip something up for you and Sam.

“Thank you.” Sam took the bowl from you gratefully. The food Zemo had given you on his private plane wasn’t exactly edible and you were still feeling the affects of the Nagel fail in your body.

“Well, the Wakandans are here.” Bucky announced as he entered the apartment; having returned from his walk. “They want Zemo. Bought us some more time.”

“”Were you followed?” Sam looked up at him.

“No.” Bucky made his way over to you and Sam by the kitchen island.

“How can you be so sure?” Zemo pondered.

“Cause I know when I’m being followed.” Bucky sent an unimpressed glance to the man in the bathrobe.

You pushed a bowl of pasta towards Bucky but he shook his head and pulled out his phone.

“It was sweet of you to defend me at least.” Zemo stated.

“Hey, you shut it.” Sam quipped. “No one’s defending you. You killed Nagel.”

“You gotta eat.” You whispered to Bucky.

“Do we really have to litigate what may or may not have happened?” Zemo rounded the island so he was closer to you all.

“I’ll eat later.” Bucky mumbled back to you as he furrowed his brow at twitter.

“There’s nothing to litigate. You straight shot the man.” Sam argued with Zemo.

“Sam.” Bucky had found something.

“What?” Sam turned his attention to Bucky and away from Zemo.

“Karli bombed a GRC supply depot.” Bucky showed you his phone screen so you could read.

“What? What’s the damage?” Sam’s concern grew quickly.

“Eleven injured, three dead.” You said after skimming over the article.

“They have a list of demands and are promising more attacks if those demands aren’t met.” Bucky added as Sam sighed.

“She’s getting worse.” Zemo spoke up. “I have the will to complete this mission. Do the three of you?”

“She’s just a kid.” Sam was right. She was only young, she reminded you of you when you first joined the avengers. Desperate to fight for a cause.

“You’re seeing something in her that isn’t there.” Zemo disagreed. “You’re clouded by it. She’s a supremacist. The very concept of a Super Soldier will always trouble people. It’s that warped aspiration that led to Nazis, to Ultron, to the Avengers.”

“You’re talking about our friends.” You felt the need to remind Zemo that you were actually apart of the Avengers as you placed your empty bowl in the sink.

“The Avengers, not the Nazis.” Bucky felt the need to clarify.

“So, Karli is radicalised, but there has to be a peaceful way to stop her.” Sam was determined there wasn’t a need for a fight.

“The desire to become a superhuman cannot be separated from supremacist ideals. Anyone with that serum is inherently on that path. She will not stop. She will escalate until you kill her.” Zemo explained as he reached for the bowl you had originally offered Bucky. “Or she kills you.”

You swatted his hand away to which he frowned at.

“Maybe you’re wrong, Zemo. The serum never corrupted Steve.” Bucky argued his point.

“Touché.” Zemo picked up a biscuit instead. Holding it on his finger as he spoke. “But there has never been another Steve Rogers, has there?”

“Well, maybe we should give him to the Wakandans right now.” Bucky suggested to you and Sam as he moved over to the couch.

“And you’ll give up your tour guide?” Zemo asked as he opened the cupboards to look for some food.

“Yes.” Bucky didn’t hesitate.

“From my understanding, Donya is like a pillar of the community, right?” Sam interrupted with a new thought. “So, when I was a kid, my TT passed away.”

“Your TT?” Bucky asked, unsure of what Sam had meant.

“Yeah, my TT, yeah.” Sam nodded.

“Who is your TT?” Bucky asked as you sat down beside him.

“Fine. When I was a kid, my aunt passed away and the entire neighborhood got together for a ceremony. It was like a week long. Maybe they’re doing the same thing for Donya.” Sam proposed. He could be right.

“Worth a shot.” You proclaimed.

“Your TT would be proud of you.” Zemo sounded more awkward at the use of the phrase before he pulled out a fancy looking tin. “Turkish delight? Irresistible.”

Sam caught the small sweet that Zemo had thrown.

“I say Zemo put’s some clothes on and we head over to the refugee camp that Donya was staying. See if anyone knows anything about a funeral or ceremony for her.” You ignored Zemo as he looked down at the sweets.

“Sounds like a plan.” Sam stood from his seat at the island and looked over at Zemo.

Zemo nodded before disappearing into a bedroom to change.

It didn't take long to get to the camp from Zemo’s apartment.

“Shame what’s become of this place. When I was young, we used to come here for fabulous dinners and parties. I knew nothing of the politics of the time, of course, but I remember it being beautiful.” Zemo seemed saddened by the state of the buildings being used as the camp.

“I’m gonna take a look around upstairs. See what you can find out here. And keep an eye on him.” Sam told Bucky as he gestured to Zemo.

“I’ll stay out of your way.” Zemo promised.

“(Y/n), you look around through there. See if you can... You know.” Sam pointed down through one of the ground floor doors. You nodded and left the men.

Most of the adults fled when you entered the building but you noticed a young girl who looked too busy with what she was doing to notice. She had looked maybe 16 or 17 years old and she was embroidering an old silk scarf.

“That’s beautiful.” You knelt down beside her but as you spoke, her eyes shot up and widened with shock and fear.

“T-t-thank you.” She stuttered as her eyes flittered around the room for help.

“It’s okay. I was just wondering if I could have a look at it.” You smiled softly at the girl as you held your hand out.

She reluctantly gave it to you.

“This truly is beautiful. You are very talented. May I buy it from you?” You placed your hand in your pocket and pulled out a note that you had previously stolen from Zemo’s jacket.

“You c-c-can have it.” She whispered as she stood. You rose with her as you folded the scarf to place into your pocket.

“I insist.” You took her hand gently and cautiously and placed the money in her palm. She smiled but she still was nervous and full of worry. You figured she knew who you were.

You folded your hands over hers and that’s when you unplugged the cork on your powers.

You closed your eyes and within seconds all the girls memories flooded into your head.

You tried not to react as it happened.

You tried your best to filter through the memories quickly. When you reached the time after the blip, you slowed down. You saw the horrors of them being rejected, being abandoned and then you saw Mama Donya and Karli.

You focused on Karli.

You watched Karli smile and laugh with all the children, she’d play and look after them as Donya looked after Karli.

Closer memories brought what seemed like events that only just happened. Karli visiting with supplies.

You saw the mourning of Mama Donya from everyone and then you saw the arrangements for the funeral.

You opened your eyes and let go of the girls hand. She thanked you again and left. She would have never realised what you had seen as the memories are shown to you within a matter of seconds.

You leant against the table and inhaled deeply.

You felt weak again.

You pushed yourself off the table and headed back out to Bucky.

Zemo was surrounded by a bunch of small children.

“You okay?”Bucky asked. The second you reappeared he immediately noticed a change in you.

“I’m okay.” You lied. “I spoke to one of the teenagers inside. I looked inside her head. You were right, Sam. They are having a funeral but she only knew that she would be taken to it later this afternoon.” You explained as Sam joined you both.

“Good work.” Sam wrapped his arm around you and gave you a small squeeze of appreciation.

They both knew how hard it must've been for you to use your powers after the Nagel incident.

The toll of touching the dead had knocked you for six in the past and in a matter of forty eight hours you had touched the dead and looked into the memories of a live person.

You’ll need an energy boost before you can do this again.

Zemo turned back to you and you all returned to the apartment.

“Well, I got nothin’. No one’s talkin’ about Donya.” Bucky slouched down on the couch in defeat.

“Yeah, it’s because Karli is the only one fighting for them.” Sam joined him on the couch. “And she’s not wrong.”

“What do you mean?” Bucky asked.

“For five years, people have been welcomed into countries that have kept them out using barbwire. There were houses and jobs. Folks were happy to have people around to help them rebuild. It wasn’t just one community coming together, it was the entire world coming together. And then, boom. Just like that, it goes right back to the way it used to be. To them, at least Karli’s doin’ somethin’.” Sam explained himself.

“You really think her ends justify her means? Then, she’s no different than him or anybody else we’ve fought.” Bucky pointed over to Zemo.

“She’s different. She’s not motivated by the same things.” Sam argued with Bucky.

“Sam’s right.” You spoke up. “When I looked into that girls head I saw a lot of Karli. She means a lot to those people, she is their light, their Captain America. But she’s just a kid. From what I saw she has a whole lot of love in her heart and I'm not saying that hurting and killing people is right but she sees it as the only way to help her people.”

Zemo had walked over from the kitchen with a tray as you spoke.

“That little girl. What’d she tell you?” Bucky questioned him.

“The funeral is this afternoon.” Zemo only said what you already knew.

“We know that. Now you know the Dora’s coming for you any minute. In fact, they’re probably lurking outside right now. Keep talking.” Bucky demanded.

“Leaving you to turn on me once we get to Karli. Hmm. I prefer to keep my leverage.” Zemo sure knew how to push someone’s buttons.

Bucky shot up and threw Zemo’s cup against the wall. The crashing of the glass made both you and Sam jump to your feet.

“You wanna see what someone can do with leverage?” Bucky threatened Zemo.

“Take it easy. Don’t engage him. He’s just gonna extort you and do that stupid head tilt thing.” Sam tried to de-elevate the situation. “Let me make a call.”

“You want some cherry blossom tea?” Zemo offered Bucky as Sam walked away.

“No, you go ahead.” Bucky grumbled, scowling at the Baron.

“Come on.” You took Bucky’s hand and pulled him away from Zemo.

You headed into the bathroom and started to fill up the tub with some cold water.

“Will you get me some ice?” You asked Bucky to which he complied.

Once the tub was full of ice water, you stripped and climbed inside.

Bucky had taken a stool and faced the door to give you some privacy.

“You shouldn’t let him get to you.” You said as you settled into the water. Your body was screaming at you as the ice touched it but you knew it’d give you the wake up call you and your muscles needed.

“I don’t.” Bucky grimaced.

“You don’t? Oh, so the shattered cup in the other room was just a scare tactic?” You mused.

“Yep.” Bucky grumbled.

“Okay.” You sighed before going under.

The cold water hit your brain and you immediately sat back up.

“Feel better?” Bucky had heard the splashing of the water.

“Yeah.” You admitted, running your hands over your face and hair. “Can I have my towel?”

Bucky kept his back to you as he passed you the towel.

You wrapped it around you and stepped out.

“You can look.” You told him.

Bucky turned and his eyes went straight to the bruises that covered your legs and arms.

“I’m okay, Buck.” You assured him as you watched the cogs turning in his head.

“I forget you aren’t...” Bucky’s words dropped off as he stepped closer and lightly took your arm, examining the damage.

“That I’m not a super soldier?” You smirked. “I may bruise but I can hold a lot more than most, Buck.”

“Doesn’t stop me worrying.” Bucky admitted as he lowered your arm.

“I know.” You whispered, looking up at the man’s deep blue eyes.

“You better get dressed. You already know what Sam is thinking with us both being gone right now.” Bucky went to go towards the door when you stopped him.

“I had a dream about Wakanda on the plane ride here.” You confessed.

Bucky stopped and looked back at you.

“It was the day you finally beat the Winter Soldier.” You told him.

*Flashback*

“These are incredible, Shuri.” You smiled widely as you threw the new high tech Vibranium knives that Shuri had made for you.

“I know. I know.” Shuri was well aware of her awesome brain.

Shuri pressed the combat button on the wall which simulated attackers for intense weapon training.

You inhaled as you closed your eyes.

A footstep gave away your first attacker. You threw the knives to the holograms and the attackers were down. You ducked and dodged and jumped around the room as you practised with the knives.

Shuri cheered you when you finished. You smiled through your heavy breaths and Shuri jogged towards you to give you a fist bump.

“You are something else, my friend.” Shuri praised you.

The doors opening behind you made both you and Shuri turn to see who had entered.

It was Bucky.

He rushed towards you with a bright smile. His lips seemed to quiver and his eyes were glassy. Something had happened.

It had happened.

He embraced you tightly and you returned it. Your fingers gripped onto Bucky’s long hair as he buried his face in your neck.

You looked back at Ayo (who had followed Bucky) and Shuri and mouthed a ‘Thank you’.

Ayo bowed her head at you before leaving the hall.

Bucky had finally gotten over HYDRA’s programming after all these years of being held prisoner by a few words.

You and Bucky stayed like that for what felt like hours. The relief from Bucky washed over you and bound him to you until he was ready to part.

It was an incredible day.

*End of Flashback*

“Maybe you could sense that the Dora’s were close on our tails.” Bucky suggested.

“No, we all knew that they’d come for Zemo eventually.” You dismissed the idea. “I think it was after seeing Zemo treat you like him again.”

Bucky remained silent.

“I don’t think I ever told you how proud I was of you that day.” You folded your arms over your chest as you leant back on the tub.

“You didn't need to.” Bucky assured you. “I already knew.”

You watched Bucky leave the bathroom so you could change.

When you had returned to the main space again it was just about time to head out again.

You felt a little nervous as you didn’t really want a fight with Karli since you weren’t 100% but you figured you had felt a hell of a lot worse before.

As you left the apartment, a voice and face you didn’t particularly wanna see called out.

“Karli Morgenthau is too dangerous for you guys to be pulling this shit.” John Walker and his little side kick were walking down some stairs towards you.

“Ah! How’d you find us now?” Bucky called back.

“Come on. You think three Avengers can walk around Latvia without drawing attention?” Lemar, Walker’s partner, scoffed.

“No more keeping us in the dark. You could start by telling us why you broke him out of prison.” Walker pointed out Zemo.

“He did that himself, technically.” Bucky corrected Walker.

“This better be an unbelievable explana––”

“––Hey, take it easy before it gets weird.” Sam interrupted Walker before things could get heated in front of civilians.

“I know where Karli is.” Zemo kept walking as the others stopped.

“Well, where?” Walker asked, stopping Zemo by stepping in his way.

“All we know is it’s a memorial. So, we’re gonna intercept her there.” Sam informed them.

“That means civilians. High risk of casualties.” Lemar relaid to his partner as you continued to walk.

“All right, good, we’ll move in fast. Take her by surprise.” Walker started to talk through his plan when Sam stopped him.

“No, I wanna talk to her alone.”

“I’m not losing her again.” Walker argued with Sam.

“Look, the person closest to her died, she’s vulnerable. Now is the best time to reason with her.” Sam was trying to defend his reasoning but Walker wasn’t having it.

“What? No. Wait, no! No! Stop. Hold on. Stop, okay?” Walker ran up ahead to stop everyone again. “I think we’re way past reasoning with her, unless you forgot that she blew up a building with people still in it.”

“Sam, you walk in there cold, she could kill you, man.”Lemar tried backing up his partner.

“If I go in hot and the op goes wrong, more people will die.” Sam handed over the other scenario.

“You’ll let him do this?” Walker looked between you and Bucky. “Are you gonna let your partner walk into a room with a Super Soldier alone?”

“He’s dealt with worse.” Bucky told him flatly. “And he’s not my partner.”

“I used to counsel soldiers dealing with trauma, okay? This is in my wheelhouse.” Sam walked past you and Bucky to face Walker.

“I know. And I know those soldiers, which is why I know this is a bad idea.” Walker still wasn't on board.

“Wait, John.” Lemar stopped Walker. “If he can talk her down, it might be worth a try.”

“Thank god Battle-scar here has some sense.” You declared.

“It’s Battle Star actually.”Lemar smiled at you but you ignored him.

“We’ll deal with you later.” Walker told Zemo as he caved in.

“I’m sure it will all come to an agreeable conclusion. My associate is just up ahead.” Zemo lead you towards the young girl he had spoken to earlier that day.

“Hello, my friend. This is for your family. Can you show us the way?” Zemo handed her some money and the girl beckoned for you all to follow.

“What the hell?” Walker seemed a little confused by Zemo’s ‘associate’ being 12.

The girl lead you to the building where the funeral was being held and you all waited for a signal.

“Karli’s in there.” Zemo announced as the girl ran off.

Sam went in whilst Walker cuffed Zemo.

“You got 10 minutes. Then we are doing things my way.” Walker told Sam before he left.

“Aggressive.” Zemo mumbled after being handcuffed. “But I get it.”

You rolled your eyes subtly at both Walker and Zemo.

You took up a position by the door with Bucky.

You watched Walker sit down, his grip on the shield was tight as he slowly huffed in and out.

You frowned as you studied the man. Your eyes glanced over to Zemo who was also watching Walker.

You shared a look before you let your eyes fall back down to your feet.

“Uh-uh. No, no, no. This is a bad idea.” Walker started to pace as he let his impatience get the best of him.

“It hasn’t been ten minutes, John. Just sit tight.” Bucky sighed unimpressed by the young solder.

“Don’t do that. Don’t patronise me.” Walker glared back at Bucky.

“Sam knows what he’s doing.” You backed Bucky up.

You all watched Walker stop as he thought. His heavy breathes causing his chest to rise up and down quickly.

“I’m goin’ in.” Walker didn’t want to listen anymore. He stormed towards the door but both you and Bucky stepped in his way.

“This is all really easy for you, isn’t it? All that serum runnin’ through your veins.” Walker didn’t even look at you as he squared up to Bucky.

That really bothered you.

You took hold of the man’s upper arm and yanked him to look at you.

“You may be Captain America right now but we don’t follow you. We said we’d give him 10 minutes. So, he’s getting 10 minutes.” You glowered at the man.

“Your partner needs backup in there. Do you really want his blood on your hands?” Walker leant towards you, trying to be intimidating but it wasn’t working.

“Just wait.” You looked the man in the eye with a subtle threat in your stare. His jaw clenched as he tugged his arm away from you.

Walker went back to look at the clock again.

After a couple more minutes, he tried once more.

“Time’s up! Our turn.” Walker didn’t hesitate to push past you as he charged ahead.

Bucky kept his tongue in his cheek as he watched it happen.

You and Bucky stayed behind Walker and his partner as they marched ahead.

“Karli Morgenthau, you’re under arrest.” Walker announced as he entered the room.

“This is what that was?” Betrayal flashed across Karli’s face as she looked at Sam.

“No, wait––” Sam didn’t have a chance now that Walker had intervened.

“––Tricking me until help came?” Karli started to back away.

“We had enough time to talk.” Walker exclaimed as he headed straight for Karli.

“Nazi! “ Karli wasn't going the easy way. She hit Walker back and he went straight into a table.

Lemar tried to keep you and Bucky back but you had easily managed to get round him to chase after Karli.

Bucky being what he was managed to get ahead of you but you were close on their trail.

Sam had found his own way but ultimately you all lost Karli.

“I lost her.” Bucky sighed.

“This place is a maze.” Sam looked around at the several doorways with a frown.

The sound of gunshots is what caught your attention next.

“Come on.” You rushed through the building trying to get to the source.

You didn’t manage to get there before Walker did.

Zemo was unconscious on the floor and vials of the serum were smashed around the concrete floor.

“What happened?” You asked as you looked down at the mess.

“He was shooting at Karli. I stopped him but she got away.” Walker lifted his shield a little to symbol how he had stopped Zemo.

“Let’s get him up.” Sam started down the stairs and you followed.

Zemo woke up after a little encouragement and some smelling salts. You had decided it was best if you split up on your way back to the apartment.

You and Sam were going to stay with Zemo and see if you can dig up anything on socials and the computer and Bucky was going to do a round and see if she had holed up anywhere familiar.

Sam sat at his computer, he was contacting Sharon whilst you stood with your phone searching Twitter to see if any Flag Smashers appearances or Karli were popping up in recent tweets.

Zemo laid down on the couch with a wet towel and a strong glass of scotch.

“You got anything?” Sam asked you.

“Nothing. I don’t think we’ll find her this time if she doesn’t want us too.” You put your phone down in defeat. It wasn't usual for people to give her Karli’s location anyway.

“I think you’re right.” Sam hated to agree but this was the first time you had come close to actually talking Karli down and it failed.

“And now with the serum’s gone. Who knows what her next move will be.” You knew that Karli didn’t have the option to create more super soldiers now and that gives her a disadvantage. The idea of an army is gone now and she would only have her current foot soldiers to help her.

Zemo moved for the first time in ten minutes as he lifted his cold compress.

“Were you ever offered it?" He asked aloud.

“What?” Sam furrowed his brow at the man.

“The serum.” Zemo replied.

“No.” Sam smirked at the idea.

“If you had been, hypothetically, that is, would you have taken it?” Zemo inquired.

“No.” Sam answered instantly, his smile dropping.

“No hesitation. That’s impressive.” Zemo nodded before removing his towel. “Sam. (Y/n). You can’t hold out hope for Karli. No matter what you saw in her, she’s gone. And we cannot allow that she and her acolytes become yet another faction of gods amongst real people. Super Soldiers cannot be allowed to exist.”

“Isn’t that how gods talk?” Sam queried. “And if that’s how you feel, what about Bucky?” There was a silence from Zemo. “Blood isn’t always the solution.”

Before the conversation could continue, the door opened and Bucky strode inside.

“Something’s not right about Walker.” Bucky stated as he removed his jacket.

“You don’t say.” Sam huffed with amusement. It was clear as day that Walker was at his wits end with the pressure on him.

“Well, I know a crazy when I see one. Because I am crazy.” Bucky poured himself a glass of whiskey. You rolled your eyes at his statement.

“Can’t argue with that.” Sam retorted.

“Shouldn’t have given him the shield.” Bucky was back on this topic again.

“I didn’t give him the shield.” Sam rose to his feet to face Bucky.

“Well, Steve definitely didn’t.” Bucky sipped on his drink just as the doors flew open.

All right. That’s it. Let’s go. I’m now ordering you to turn him over.” Walker commanded, his face red and his ears steaming.

“Hey, slow your roll. Shield or no shield, the only thing you’re runnin’ in here is your mouth. Now, I had Karli and you overstepped. He’s actually proven himself useful today. We’ll need all hands on deck for whatever’s comin’ next.” Sam approached Walker to try and pump his breaks.

“How do you want the rest of this conversation to go, Sam, huh?” Walker chuckled softly as Sam remained silent. “Yeah. Should I put down the shield? Make it fair?”

Sam scoffed, shaking his head at the man’s antics.

Walker put down the shield but the only thing flying next was a spear that struck the pillar by Walker’s head.

It was the Dora Milaje.

They had come for Zemo.

From your time in Wakanda you understood the language as Ayo spoke to Bucky.

“Even if he is a means to an end. Your time is up.” Ayo reverted back to English. “Release him to us now.”

Walker introduced himself to Ayo, not that she cared for him.

“Well let’s, uh, put the pointy sticks down and we can talk this through, huh?” Walker suggested, only to be met, yet again, by silence from the Dora’s.

“Hey, John, take it easy. You might wanna fight Bucky before you tangle with the Dora Milaje.” Sam tried to warn him but he wasn’t backing down.

“They don’t have jurisdiction here––”

“––The Dora Milaje have jurisdiction wherever the Dora Milaje find themselves to be.” Ayo cut Walker short.

“Okay.” John chuckled lightly. “Look, I think we got off on the wrong foot.” Walker made the mistake of putting his hand on Ayo’s shoulder.

Ayo responded with an attack.

The surrounding Dora’s fell into defence positions as Ayo and Walker fought. Lemar bounced into action, trying to help his partner out but it only warranted in more fighting. Or more asses getting kicked by the Dora Milaje.

“We should do something.” Sam said as you, him and Bucky stood together watching.

“Looking strong, John.” Bucky called out.

“Bucky!” You tried not to laugh as you scolded the man.

“Guys...” Sam nodded to Ayo about to strike John with her spear which made Bucky reluctantly intervene.

“Ayo, let’s talk about this.” Bucky only landed himself directly in the mess.

You realised how serious this was as Ayo didn’t hold back and went ahead to help Bucky. Sam went over to help Lemar but was met by more Dora's.

You grunted as one of the women attacked you. You had almost forgotten just how incredible they were at combat. Almost.

You were backed against a wall with the spear to your chest when the room fell silent.

You looked over at Bucky to see his arm was on the floor.

You wanted to move towards him but you were stuck until orders were given to release you.

“He is gone. Leave it.” Ayo had opened the bathroom doors to reveal the manhole had been opened. Zemo had escaped.

You were trying to slow your breathing when finally the Dora’s fell back.

She retracted her spear and left with Ayo and the others.

“Did you know they could do that?” Sam asked Bucky as he pushed himself off the floor.

Bucky reattached his arm. He groaned as he swung it round to adjust it.

“No.” He said but the shock on his face from before had already given away that answer.

You looked past Bucky to where Walker was still on the floor.

“You all right, man?” Lemar offered his hand to help him up.

“They weren’t even Super Soldiers.” You heard Walker mutter.

“Come on.” Lemar tugged him to his feet.

“I can’t believe he pulled an El Chapo.” Sam walked over to the bathroom and stared at the hole.

“I can.” Bucky wasn’t really that surprised and neither were you truthfully.

“Come on.” You beckoned the boys out of the apartment so you could talk.

You got down to the streets and away from Walker before you spoke again.

“Walker isn’t stable. He’s on the brink of cracking.” You kept your voice low as you spoke to the boys.

“What do you mean?” Sam asked.

“We may not like him but he’s not stupid. He knows that he can’t be Steve, do the things Steve did and it’s killing him. He's so obviously trying to win this fight by himself and it’s going to drive him insane if he isn’t the one to beat Karli.”

“But he can’t beat Karli. You saw her kick him across the room like he was a cardboard box.” Sam reminded you of what happened earlier.

“We have to get to Karli before he does because he’s either gonna stop her or kill himself trying.” You weren't worried for the man but worried about what would happen if he finally snapped.

Suddenly, Sam’s phone started to ring. It was his sister.

“She said what? Right. Hold on, hold on. I know, I know. Listen, pack an overnight bag and take the boys...” Sam sounded worried.

“What happened?” Bucky asked.

“Karli called Sarah. She threatened my nephews.” Sam told you both. “Okay. Go somewhere safe. Only pay cash. All right? Tell me when you arrive. I know. Look, I love you. I’ll never let anything happen to you and the boys. Okay. Bye.” He hung up and then immediately texted an unknown number.

“What does she want?” You knew Karli was desperate but threatening kids was a different story.

“Karli wants to meet. She left a contact number.” Sam’s phone buzzed with a new text. “She said come alone.”

“We’re coming with you.” Bucky wasn’t going to take no for an answer.

“Alright but keep your distance.” Sam didn’t bother to fight you on it. “We better suit up.”

You suited up by adding a few more weapons to your body. You placed your favourite thigh holsters on that held your Vibranium knives out on display.

Sam got his wings and soon you were at the location.

“Karli!” Sam bellowed as you entered the building.

Karli leant over a balcony to make herself seen. You remained on the ground floor but looked up at the girl. Bucky followed Sam.

“You called my sister? That’s how we’re gonna play this?” Sam was upset and understandably so.

“Sam, I would never hurt her. I just wanted to understand you better.” Karli confessed.“I see you, um, didn’t come alone.”Karli peered down at you then up at Bucky.

“You have to end this now.” Sam told her.

“I don’t wanna hurt you. You’re a tool in the regimes I’m looking to destroy. You’re not hiding behind a shield. If I were to kill you, it’d be meaningless. I was gonna ask you to join me. Or do the world a favour and let me go.” Karli spoke pretty boldly for someone who seemed to be alone. Super Soldier or not.

“Hey, Sam, new Cap is moving, looks like he’s found them, or maybe they found him.” Sharon’s voice came through on Sam’s intercom.

“It’s Walker.” Sam looked down at you and then Bucky.

Karli jumped from the balcony at the realisation the jig was up but Bucky was quick to jump too.

Karli kicked Bucky back but you managed to weaken Karli as you flipped over and kicked her in the jaw.

Sam put her down momentarily as he flew down and kicked her also.

“I’ll send you the location. Go!” Sam ordered both you and Bucky before he took off.

You knew Bucky would be fast enough to run there but you didn’t have that luxury.

You crossed the street to a parked motorbike and opened up it’s wiring. Just as you managed to get it running, Sam’s coordinates came through.

You docked your phone and set off.

You dodged through the narrow streets and traffic to arrive at another large building. Karli must have a favour for buildings you could get lost in.

You drove through the doors and skidded to a stop.

Bucky had gotten there before you. You could hear his grunts from a flight or two up.

You raced up them only to be met by a super soldier fighting Bucky.

You sent a knife forward, it embedded itself into the man’s soldier, he cried out which gave Bucky some time to throw him down the stairs.

You tucked up, over the tumbling body, holding onto the railing and the wall.

Bucky jumped over the rails and with one final blow knocked the soldier unconscious.

“Stay there.” Bucky told him before climbing back up to you. He thanked you for the help, handing you back the knife that had been in the man’s shoulder.

You then both went ahead to find Sam and Walker.

They were fighting more super soldiers a floor up.

You didn’t hesitate to go in for the attack.

You pulled a knife and threw it to Bucky for help; he caught it midair.

You screamed with frustration as the soldier you were fighting, pulled your arm behind you and slammed you into the pillar. You managed to swivel around, taking out the soldiers legs as you freed your arm.

You threw a knife into both his biceps. You only intended to injure, not kill, them anyway.

He groaned as he pulled them and tried to use them against you.

All at once, the fighting stopped when you all witnessed Karli kick Lemar into one of the concrete pillars.

Lemar’s body slumped down with blood painted across his lips.

John broke free from his attacker and slowly made his way over to Lemar.

From the sight of the body, you already knew he wasn’t walking out of there.

Walker desperately tried to wake him up.

That’s when Karli took her chance to flee.

You and the boys took off after her but lost her again pretty quickly.

When you rounded the building, you saw a crowd gathering.

What you saw next made you feel psychically sick.

John Walker stood above Karli’s right hand man, blood splattered up Steve’s shield and across his uniform.

He had killed the man in front of all these civilians. He had killed a man as Captain America.

(PART 5 HERE)

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lachimolala-is-love-and-life · 3 years ago

Text

THE CORPSE GROOM 💖💀

Genre: Horror!Au, Soulmate!Au Fantasy!Au, Romance, Angst, Death themes

Pairing: Namjoon x Reader, Jin x Reader

Words: 10K

Summary: Lee Y/n's and Kim Namjoon's families have arranged their marriage. Though they like each other at the first sight, Y/n is nervous about the ceremony. While she's in a forest practicing her lines for the wedding, a tree branch becomes a hand that drags her to the land of the dead. It belongs to Kim Seokjin, who was murdered after eloping with his love and now he wants to marry Y/n to find his happy ending. Y/n has another problem. She must get back aboveground before Namjoon marries the villainous Choi Yuna because his parent think his future bride run away from him...forever.

(Story inspired by the plot of “The Corpse Bride” with some modification and addictions. Enjoy it 💖)

(Photo edit is my work, give me my credit if you wanna use. Thank you❤)

“I spent so long in the darkness....I'd almost forgotten how beautiful the moonlight is!”

Do you know when you are quiet in your homes, with loving parents, a dog that just feels your presence does nothing but worship you? A companion you love with all your heart, willing to sacrifice anything to make you happy, grow old with you... Till death do us part?

Good, because I don’t. You don’t have the luck to have these privileges... My house was made of stone and tended not to emanate any kind of heat, especially the emotional one. My parents at least the people I had to consider as such, but now I didn’t care anymore.

You see, we were humble people, but in order to make room for ourselves in high society, they had decided to arrange a marriage for me with a young Lord of the country that I had never seen and never before known. They were giving my hand as a bride to a complete stranger just to satisfy their selfish desires. I didn’t even know his first name, I just knew his last name. Kim, if I’m not mistaken.

Now, sitting on my little bed of second-hand textiles, I was intent on portraying a delicate butterfly of purple hues. I loved cataloging all kinds of information from an early age, even of the smallest living being, but what I loved the most was being able to draw it. It gave me a kind of freedom from the cruel reality I was destined for, even for just a few minutes.

I watched the little creature that I had locked up in a glass case, so I could study it closely and grasp with ink every little detail of it. I saw myself in her at this moment. Young and full of life, but without any escape...

"Y/n, hurry up! The Kims don’t want to wait any longer and don’t tolerate the delay. The carriage is already here!" my mother shouted from the ground floor. I sighed and freed the butterfly, which escaped without hesitation as soon as she saw a small opening to escape.

I envied her because unlike her, I had to meet my future husband with his family today.

"There will be wedding trials the day before the great ceremony," my father continued to repeat incessantly these last days. It made me laugh to have to marry a stranger in a few hours of knowledge and not be able to rebel...

I took my dusty coat and a little picture of Yeontan. He was my puppy, my only friend, but he died early due to a serious illness. I missed him every day...

I left the house and the first thing I found was the carriage that would take us to our destination with my impatient parents inside.

"Hello Hoseok" I greeted the boy who had been ordered to take us to the Kim. Jung Hoseok was a young man of 26 years. Beauty and a smile that could light up any room in darkness. His family was very poor and it was he who had to provide for everyone, bearing even the harassment of my parents.

"Good morning, Lady Y/n. If we leave right away, we’ll be at the Kim mansion in no time," he said smiling. I gave back a fake smile, but I felt dead inside.

Climbing inside the carriage, I decided to sit in front of my mother and my father laughing. They noticed my presence and their expression changed in seconds.

"Finally, my daughter. It took you long enough"

"Sorry, Mother," I lowered my head as a sign of submission.

My father sighed and began to speak "You caught a big fish hook, Y/n"

"Now all you have to do is pull it into the boat," added my excited mother.

Be happy for my life now ruined thanks to you? Certainly...

"Young Kim should not marry a young Lady, mother? Rich and surrounded by high nobility?"

"Don’t talk nonsense. We are no less than the Kim. I always knew I deserved more than a simpleton life. Being a miserable merchant wasn’t for me.”

"But I never spoke to him" I tried to defend myself from his words. I was disgusted that she used me only for her own interests.

"Pff. At least we have one thing in our favor. The less you talk, the better," she arrogantly said. But I did not have time to say that the carriage stopped and Hoseok opened the door.

"Madam and Gentlemen Lee. We have arrived at our destination"

We went down and gave a little thank-you smile to the young coachman.

The home of the Kim was something magnificent and immense. A real palace.

Why would such a wealthy family marry their son to a simple country girl like me...

We knocked and immediately a butler with a suspicious and reckless look opened the great wooden door.

"Oh, my goodness. Oh, how wonderful. A really impeccable taste" exclaimed my mother while the servant made us sit inside the house.

"It seems obvious to me. Our family has honorable roots in this country and deserves only the best"

We turned to the mysterious voice and a couple stopped in front of us.

"You must be the Lee family, I presume? Is this neglected damsel and little grace would she be my son’s bride?" said the woman in front of me. What kind of haughty and primadonna witch.

"Come. Tea will be served in the west wing of the house. So we can discuss this wedding and wait for rehearsal time for tomorrow’s ceremony."

"Of course, Mrs. Kim. Your house is lovely. What kind of upholstery do you use?"

But as my parents and the one of my future husband were about to have tea, my eyes met at the sight of a beautiful black piano. I approached and began to press some keys. I smiled when I heard the familiar sound. I missed playing it. It was since I was little, since my grandmother taught me how to play it died, I didn’t touch it anymore. In fact, my parents considered it a useless object and decided to have it demolished.

I sat on the small chair and started playing it. A sweet melody began to be heard. I loved him and I missed those days when my grandmother and I spent whole afternoons playing. I admired her very much as a woman and she was the only one who took me seriously, who appreciated my strengths and weaknesses.

I let myself be carried away by the melody so deeply that I did not notice the noise of some steps that were slowly approaching me.

"You play beautifully, Lady Lee"

A deep voice spoke out of the blue, frightening me so much that I fell out of my chair.

"I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to scare you. I was in my room enjoying a good book, until the most beautiful music I’ve ever heard enchanted me. I was curious to find out where it came from and I discovered you. Not only is the melody wonderful, but even those who played it are no exception. In fact, an angel is standing right in front of me right now."

I looked at the boy who was in front of me.

He was... beautiful.

Tall and with a toned and strong covering, hidden by a velvet shirt.

Two small dimples appeared on his cheeks as he smiled at me. They were adorable and his eyes were simply indescribable brown.

He looked like a Greek god just escaped from a myth written in an art book.

My heart trembled because of his presence and my cheeks turned red in a few moments.

Why did I feel that way?

I only saw him for a moment, but he had already enchanted me.

Was this... love at first sight?

"Excuse me, Mr Kim," I said as I quickly grabbed the little vase above the piano that was about to fall to the ground because of my fright, "I am so clumsy and I apologize for touching your instrument. I used to play it when I was a kid but my parents took it away from me because they think music is not a lady’s business. I am good for nothing and I can do practically nothing because of my clumsiness except playing the piano and studying on books. But maybe I’m talking too much. I’m sorry. My mom knew that I was too talkative and I should shut up to be a good wife but..." I was interrupted by Namjoon who laid a finger on my lips.

"Hey, don’t worry. I loved hearing you talk and you have a persuasive voice. I don’t see any harm to talk about your passions, and I see that the things you do are done with love, so..."

"You’re so sweet Lord Kim. You don’t have to be nice just because we have to get married tomorrow..." I said to him with a little voice.

"I’m not doing this because we have to get married but I think you’re already interesting at first sight. We share the same passions, and then you’re a wonderful, intelligent woman. I can see you’re not like those ladies who only think about looks and beauty. And under the circumstances, why don’t you just call me Namjoon, Lady Y/n?" said he took my hand gently in his and carried it on his mouth to give a chaste and small kiss. Her lips were so soft. I wonder how they felt about mine?

Wait? What was I thinking? I just met him...

"Nam. .Namjoom. Tomorrow we will be mar...mar...marr ..."

"Married, my dear? Of course," he said as he sat down and played a sweet melody with the piano "You know? When I was a child, I dreamed of the day of my wedding.I always hoped to find someone to fall madly in love with, to spend the rest of my life with. Silly, is not it?"

"Not at all. In fact, I’m of the same mind as you. I’ve always been the lonely girl and different from my peers. They plunged from every dress and make-up of various kinds and surrounded by suitors. The only one who ever courted me was my baby Tannie before he died. No one wants a library guy surrounded only by books as a wife," I said as my eyes turned to the floor.

I don’t know why I was telling him all this to a complete stranger, but I know there’s something about him that tells me I can trust him. Then in a few hours he’ll be my husband. It’s a good feeling, right?

But a couple of fingers took my chin and brought me to meet his gaze.

"People are blind if they can’t see the incredible qualities you possess. You are beautiful and your intelligence and clumsiness make you even more enchanting. All I’d wait for is to flirt and make you mine." He whispers.

I kept looking him in the eye and I got lost in it. I noticed that he stared at my lips intensely and immediately after I saw that he tried to get close to mine. I wanted her mouth on mine, and like a magnet, I was trying to get her close as fast as I could. My heart was pounding so hard that it came out of my chest, and when I put one of my hands on Namjoon’s chest, I noticed that even his heartbeat was going crazy. Was it really love at first sight? My soul mate?

Our lips almost touched when a voice made us suddenly move away from the embrace of one and the other.

"What indecency is this? You shouldn’t be alone together!!" Namjoon’s mother shouted at us.

"There is only one minute left at 5:00 PM and you are not at rehearsals. The priest is waiting for you. Come and hurry!".

He continued to scold us as he was heading to the chapel where the wedding rehearsals would take place shortly thereafter.

Namjoon looked at me with a small smile that immediately reciprocates and then gently take my hand to warn us at the place of rehearsal.

..................................................................................................................

Three hours later...

"Lady Lee, let’s start again. Again!" cried the priest.

We were at the altar repeating our wedding vows. At least, I tried to repeat because I kept forgetting the words.

"With this hand I will take away your worries. Your cup will never be empty because I will be your wine. With this candle will illuminate your path in darkness. With this ring I ask you to be mine. Let’s try again," he told me by looking them severely in the eye.

I grabbed the candle in my hand and approached it to the little flame in front of me.

"With this candle" but did not light. I brought it closer "With this candle..." still nothing.

"To hell. I’ll do it if you want. We’ve been here forever," my mom said. You were making a fool of yourself in front of everyone. Tears began to form in my eyes but I tried to hold them back.

When I tried to light it again for the umpteenth time, this time the flame managed to light it and I continued with the promise.

"With this candle" but a small breath shines and made me feel even more mortified by the embarrassing situation that was being created because of me.

"Continue!" the priest told me, but as soon as he finished talking, the doorbell rang and Namjoon’s father sent the butler to open.

"Go on" Namjoon whispered to me, trying to give me courage.

While I was trying to remember the words, I saw that the guest who played was a young girl of noble origins. A beautiful red velvet dress embraced her graceful shapes. She was wonderful. Not like me...

"I am Choi Yuna and I am here to attend the reception or at least if it happens. The bride seems to me quite unprepared and clumsy"

How dare this woman speak in this way of me? Even if she was right.

"Come on. Let’s not waste any more time and take the side of the "hand"" said the parish priest.

I raised my right hand while holding the candle with the other.

"With this... this..."

"HAND! What’s wrong with you? Don’t want to get married? At least you brought the ring with you"

Reprimanded for the umpteenth time...

"Of course..." I answered as he pulled it out of his pocket.

"With this ring..." but I did not have time to finish the sentence that the jewel slipped from my hands and began to roll up to the door of the chapel.

"He dropped it. This girl doesn’t want to get married at all". Until that morning I could confirm those words, but after I met Namjoon...

"Enough! Until the girl is ready the marriage will not happen. And you." said the priest pointing to me "learn your oath"

The heart was beating fast, but this time for shame. I was just useless. Now I didn’t even know how to learn two simple sentences. The tears came back, but before I could cry...

"I apologize. Tomorrow there will be no mistakes" and I ran away while the crying took over. I wanted to get away from those people and that house as soon as possible.

But when I ran away I didn’t notice the worried look of my future husband and how the girl who arrived a few moments before ironically whispered in his ear "A very good match, isn’t she?"

.................................................................................................................

I ran out of that house. You couldn’t spend an extra minute in there. I went into the little biscuit that flanked the house to look for some quiet and think about what had just happened.

"Namjoon... you must think I’m stupid now" I looked up to the moon "It couldn’t get any worse".

"Yet, it shouldn’t be difficult. It’s just a stupid oath! Let’s see how it was? With this hand I’ll take your wine? It wasn’t so..."

I tried to repeat myself as you went deeper and deeper into the woods.

"With this hand... will I drink your cup? But what the hell do I say..." slapping myself on the cheek to punish me of the error.

"I.. I... am a complete dork. It’s all for nothing" I said to myself as I sat on a small fallen log.

I pulled the ring out of my pocket and started staring at it. How could I be equal to a man like Kim Namjoon? He didn’t deserve me... but I wanted it so much. If I try to make an effort to be better, maybe...

I took a long sigh and got up quickly, I began to speak with a solemn voice.

"With this hand I will take away your worries. Your cup will never be empty because I will be your wine. With this candle will light your way into darkness." I took the ring between my thumb and index finger and watched as I continued to speak "With this ring I ask you to be mine".

Successfully concluded the oath by putting the small ring in what seemed to me a dry branch. But how wrong I was...

The moment I put it in, a dark, spooky aura rose around me. A cold wind appeared and made my skin crawl and the crows were watching me from the oars with a look of death. I had to go back...

And the moment I tried to get the ring back, one hand grabbed me out of nowhere, causing my body painfully to slam into the ground.

"Help!! Help" I called desperately as I tried to free myself from that grip on my arm.

I pulled even harder until the hand let me fall down again with my butt on the floor. I didn’t have time to get up to run away when a rotting body in a wrinkled black tuxedo appearing before me.

Was he a man? You could consider him so? With pale skin from which you could see lack of skin and the leakage of some bones. His eyes had no pupils. White as milk...

I trembled at the sight in front of me. I would have died the cause of this being. I could not move. I was petrified.

The creature slowly approached me and handed him his hand as he said in a hoarse voice, "I want him..."

I screamed... I screamed so much in fear that my sight started getting smaller and my head getting lighter. But before I could pass out, his face came up to mine and "Now you may kiss the groom".

The darkness engulfed me.

....................................................................................................

When I opened my eyes with a blurred vision and a faint and comfortable voice started talking to me.

"Hey, baby girl. Are you okay?"

"Jin, she’s waking up after she passed out. Give her time to recover."

I slowly opened my eyes and the sight was returning to its place. I really wanted not to see what was in front of me. Skeletons and moldy-skinned people were on top of me.

"Hey, just breathe"

"Feel his skin. It’s still soft"

My eyes were wide open and I suddenly got up to get away from these monsters. What the hell was going on, but especially where did I happen to be?

He asked me as I began to look around. It looked like a huge crypt with dirt walls where monsters and skeletons drink a green substance and a disgusting smell.

A skeleton in a military uniform raised a chalice and shouted "To the newlyweds" and followed by other screams.

W-what?

I looked in front of me and the same being that suddenly appeared to me in the woods, took me in his dead and cold arms, but this time a smile appeared on his face.

"Oh, my love. In the woods you said so perfectly, I was right," "he said, and then he showed me the ring that was on his finger.

I was incredulous. I took the first rejection I had in my hand and began to beat it in my head "Wake up! Wake up! It must be a nightmare. Somebody wake me up!"

"You could get hurt, my love. Why don’t we start getting ready for the wedding feast?" I’m talking to that monster again. But as soon as he finished the sentence, he dropped an eye and he caught it in a hurry and then put it back. "Oh, these jumping eyes. Ahahah"

"AHHHHHH" could not be true. I had to leave this madhouse. I wanted to return in the arms of my lover Namjoon. I have to run away.

He starts to run and make room between those bone stains, but a dead end appeared before me blocking any escape attempt.

"Please! Let me go. I do not belong here".

"Oh my love" the creature "you can’t leave here. We’re married" approached me again.

"But, but.... give me answers. I DEMAND ANSWERS!!"

"Oh of the answers you will have "an unknown voice appeared. I looked around and saw in dim light a young man with black hair who lacked an arm.

"You... who are you?".

"O little mortal. I am Yoongi. I write remembers the fate of all the dead who are here. How their lives were taken from their bodies. Naturally or by the horrible killers"

"Dead? So you’re all dead here?"

"That’s right, dear. I’m Kim Seokjin, your wonderful husband," he said gently kissing my cheek. There was no warmth in his lips. They were as cold as... death.

"I am Lee Y/n and sorry if I am giving you false illusions but I am not your wife. They do not belong in this world. Why do you insist I be your consort!!!"

"He may not be able to answer you clearly, but I can. Let me tell you the story of his death".

Yoongi said, coming closer to me and Seokjin.

"This is a tragic tale of love, passion and brutal murder."

Suddenly everything got dark but soon after I found a young couple in front of me. She was faceless and he had to be Seokjin alive... Wow. He was so beautiful... alive.

Yoongi’s voice appeared again but no trace of him.

"Observe what you see, my mortal dear, and let me clear your mind" and he continued.

"He was very beautiful and envied by everyone. His family possessed unparalleled wealth. Every woman struggled to have him by her side but none could fill his heart with love. When a strange person appeared in his town. A young damsel whose name is unknown, she was beautiful and good-looking, but poor. She persuaded him to fall in love. He quickly collapsed at her advances, so much so that she asked him to run away together. But his parents were against this union. So they decided to organize themselves to escape and marry in secret. She gave him a place to meet and asked him to bring everything he had precious so that they could live peacefully. He as a puppet consented and found himself in the predetermined place" and the scenario before me changed.

Seokjin was alone in search of someone. Probably the girl in the story.

Yonngi continued " he anxiously awaited his beloved. As he wore his dress for the ceremony. He was looking for the damsel in a wedding dress but after a few hours nothing. When he was surrendering but suddenly from the darkness saw something and his little heart began to beat hard by the emotion..."

A shadow appeared behind Seokjin and was about to grab him.

"And then what...?"

"Everything became black" and so darkness reigned while Yoongi’s voice kept me company "and when he opened his eyes he found himself dead in the earth. The jewels and his heart were gone. So he swore that he would only give himself to a true and chaste love, not based on lies as she had done. He waited years for someone to propose to him, and now..."

A dazzling light blinded me and when I opened my eyes I found myself in the crypt with Jin and Yoongi looking at me.

"You have come. With that oath you have promised me eternal fidelity and unchallenged love. Now we will be together forever," Seokijin told me.

No. It couldn’t have been true.

"Now come with me, dear. I have something to give you".

......................................................................................................

Meanwhile at home Kim...

Namjoon and his bride-to-be’s parents were in the living room. He seemed the only one worried about the young bride and her safety. Hours had passed by and she had not yet returned home...

"That wretched daughter of ours. I thought her fear of the dark made her come back here with her tail between her legs like a dog. Instead, it’s who knows where" the spouses Lee complained.

Namjoon made a grimace of annoyance. How could a mother speak in this way of her only daughter?

But his thoughts were interrupted when the young guest who arrived at the reception made her appearance in the drawing room.

"Sorry to bother you, Mr and Mrs Kim, but I can’t help but think the bride-to-be hasn’t shown up yet." She said in a mocking tone.

Choi Yuna was a very attractive woman, but Namjoon had already realized that she could not be trusted.

"But some news" she continued, "it is said around the country that Lady Lee was seen with another man and fled together."

"A man? But she doesn’t know anyone," the father of Y/n.

"That’s what you think. But you can never trust a girl like that. They seem calm and innocent when I actually hide all sorts of relationships with different men." Yuna concluded.

"Well if you need my assistance, you can find me in my room kindly offered by Mr and Mrs Kim." And having said that, she left.

Namjoon was shocked. It couldn’t be true. She seemed so taken with him and he the same with her. She was soul mates, he was sure. That treacherous woman was lying. I was convinced.

"Good heavens. What do we do now? We were about to give the hand of a slut to our son. What can we do now?" that Mrs Kim told her husband.

"Give us a chance to find her. Please. She’ll be here in time for the wedding." She prayed desperately to Y/n. She didn’t care about her daughter, but only worried about losing a place in high society.

"They are disgusting people. I’ll find you Y/N and take you away from your horrible parents," Namjoon thought as he watched the scene in front of him.

"I give you until dawn. Not a minute more". Mrs. Kim proclaimed.

"Come back home, my love," Namjoom sadly thought, hoping that his future wife would magically appear before him.

..........................................................................................................

In the world of the dead...

"Light of my eyes, I have to give you my wedding present" Seokjin smiled. He was a... strange boy. Very special. Gia considered me the most important person in her entire life... at least symbolically.

He had taken me to the highest part of the realm of the dead, whose sight was breath-taking. This was only mine since his... well you understand. But he didn’t know even in my heart there was already someone special for me...

"Seokjin..."

"Call me Jin, dear. We’re married and you don’t have to be so formal."

"See... Jin. I’m very sorry for what happened to you. I really am. But I have to go home."

He caressed my cheek with love, but what I felt was just a cold touch.

"This is your home now. But I have to give you what you deserve for our wedding" and saying that he gave me a gift pack. All ruined and scruffy.

You have to be honest, I was curious to understand what was inside. You open it and instinctively I throws it on the ground.

BONES. THERE WERE BONES IN IT.

"What’s wrong, my love? "he asked me worried.

"Well... usually you don’t give bones in the world of living Jin. I got a bit 'of fear... that’s all"

"Oh but those aren’t just bones..." and having said that, that pile of bones started to move and join together.

Until a dog of only bones appeared before us and began to dazzle cheerfully. He stood right in front of my feet and began to dig as if he wanted to greet me. I only knew a dog that did so...

"Tannie? Is it you?" the "puppy" barked and jumped on my lap in search of cuddles. Tears of joy began to form in my eyes.

"I missed you so much, my puppy" I told him trying to pet him. Jin laughed at the sight of our reunion.

"He is cute"

"Well, Jin. You should have seen him when he was alive and had hair. He was the prettiest dog in the country. But my mother wouldn’t let me hold him. In fact, if I think about it she didn’t like anything. Good thing you don’t have to know"

"Y/n... do you think she would have liked me?"

I looked at him and a light bulb lit up in my head.

"Well maybe you should know her. Maybe... now?"

Jin gave me a huge smile and took my hands in his. "Well, what are we waiting for? We’re already going to his grave. I can’t wait to meet her!!"

"There’s a problem. She’s..."

"Is she still alive?"

Nod to his hypothesis.

"But I cannot go into the world of the living. I am forbidden" I look at myself sadly. I don’t know why, but I felt a slight pinch in my heart when I saw him like this.

"But maybe there would be a solution..." I looked at him puzzled. What was he talking about?

"There is the wise Park Jimin. He knows everything between the stable interaction our world with yours. Maybe something will do..?"

And that is how he is god we found ourselves on top of a huge tower, with a room covered in dusty books and flasks with strange substances.

A bluish-haired boy stood before us, incredulous at the request of the corpse groom.

"What Jin? Why should you go up there? Mortals are dying to get down here. Why is it so... absurd?"

"Wise Jimin. I solemnly ask for your help. It’s very important to me..." i looked at Jin "for us.."

"Please. There must be something. Even a small thing..." Jin looked at him with a desperate look. Did he have a great desire to come up with me? If he was really my lover, I would never meet him with my parents if I had a choice.

Jimin sighed and took from a shelf a gigantic book with a leather cover. I hope not human...

"Found" I saw him lean his index on a particular part of a page of the book. "An old Ukrainian spell. It is ideal for fast trips"

While he was reading, I noticed that he started to put together strange substances of dubious origin. Some of them had an unpleasant smell. Well, I’m in some kind of hell surrounded by the dead. How could they smell good?

There was a small explosion and a small ball came out of the chalice that Jimin was using.

"Good. When you want to come back here, shout "Bell Jumping" and in a few moments you will be in the world of the dead again. Understood?"

After nodding, Jimin broke the orb and a poor golden one came out of it. And in a few seconds I had and Jin went back to the woods where everybody started.

I turned to Jin and found him enchanted staring at the full moon.

"I’ve been in darkness so long, I’d forgotten how beautiful the moonlight is."

Jin began to stare at me taking his hands in his hands. " and being in your company under it. It makes me understand how many I love you. I want to spend my mortal life with you and see you always illuminated by the moon. It makes you even more beautiful".

I began to blush at his words. What was happening to me? I had never felt such feelings and in a short time already my heart could not stop beating in front of Namjoon and Jin... Namjoon.

NAMJOON! I MUST GO BACK TO HIM! HE WILL BE VERY WORRIED!

I’m sorry about Jin, but I have to act to convince him not to follow me to the Kim house.

I took his face in my hands and he leaned on it as soon as he felt my touch.

"My love. I have to pick up my parents to introduce you to them. I won’t be long. Will you wait for me?"

He smiled at me "I would make the world fall for you. I love you... my moon"

My moon... Jin... was considering me as beautiful as the moon. I felt slightly guilty to deceive me in this way but Namjoon climbed waiting... and I loved him...

I’m sorry.

"I’ll be back soon," and that takes me away from Jin’s body. Namjoon. I’m on my way.

I ran and ran until the gigantic mansion of the Kim appeared before me. I tried to open the entrance door but it had been sealed. There must be another entrance...

I look around and I saw a balcony an open window. Bingo

I began to climb the walls awkwardly and with great difficulty, but managed to reach it. Mo faces the window and notices Namjoon with a gloomy expression intent on reading.

I knocked on the glass and his head turned towards me. He ran towards me and as soon as he opened the window and entered, he welcomed me with a huge hug. So it must be the touch of a lover. Warm and comfortable and not icy...

"Y/n! I’m so happy to see you. I was so worried about you. I thought I’d lost you. There were strange rumors about you but I already knew they were false. And now you’re in my arms. Don’t ever leave me again, okay?"

He returns the love of my lover. I had missed... my soul mate...

After what seemed like an eternity, he let me go. "Where have you been? I was so afraid of losing you..."

I caressed his face. If Jin’s skin was cold and cadaveric, his was warm and soft.

"I admit it. I was terrified of marriage this morning. But even though we have only just met, I realized that I wanted to be with you all the time and that we had to get married as soon as possible. I think I love you..."

He backed his forehead with my "I feel the exact same thing. It was love at first sight and I never want to let you go again"

Having said that, his lips approached mine. Finally...

I also approached mine to kiss him passionately. His lips were warm and fleshy. Soft and with a spicy flavor. I could become addicted to them as attractive and magnetic as they are, and now they’re mine.

When they cut us off from the kiss, Namjoon smiled at me and hugged me again.

I abandoned myself to its warmth and perfume. But when I turned to the window, what I found made me paralyze on the spot.

Jin was climbing up the balcony and about to enter the room.

I took the face of Namjoon in my hands "Jonnie I’m already married"

"What?"

"It’s true but against my will. You have to believe me!!" And when Jin opened the window and came in.

"My love, you were making me wait a long time and so I decided to come all the way here." but his eyes opened wide to see me in the arms of another man.

Jin ripped me out of my lover’s arms.

"Baby, who is he?"

"Who am I? Who are you?" I could notice Namjoon’s anger from the veins of his neck that kept growing and his nervous grin.

"I am Kim Seokjin. Her husband" he said proudly showing the ring he wore on his finger.

"Namjoon, He is dead. A corpse. He forced me, I swear."

But I didn’t have time to finish talking that Jin’s gaze became fierce and deadly and taking me in his arms, he shouted "BELL JUMPING!"

And we were once again taken into the world of the dead.

"You lied to me" Jin pushed me hard.

"SHOULD YOU STAY IN THE ARMS OF ANOTHER MAN? REALLY? THE TREASON NOT FORESEEN IN THE OATH OF OUR MARRIAGE"

"JIN. ARE YOU THE OTHER MAN? DON’T YOU UNDERSTAND?"

If Jin could die again, they would definitely have had a heart attack.

"N..no. You are married to me! You are my wife. He is the other man." And tears began to come down from his white eyes...

I felt sorry for him... he had gone through hell and now that he could have some serenity, I was doing him even more harm. But I could not be with him...

"Jin... probably under other circumstances, who knows? But we’re too different. You’re dead."

"You should have thought of that before you proposed..."

I sighed, but I was starting to get nervous, "Why don’t you understand? It was a misunderstanding. I never would have married you if I knew I was in this situation."

Jin’s gaze became even darker and more melancholy...

"Thank you for letting me know... my moon" and disappeared before my eyes.

I didn’t want to hurt him, but it was the right thing to do. Or no? Then why did my heart ache to see his heart break (always in a symbolic sense)

"Jin..."

And without I noticing, a tear slipped on my face.

..............................................................................................................

Home of the Kim’s Family

"Mother! Father! YOU MUST BELIEVE ME. Y/N IS MARRIED TO A CORPSE. I SAW HIM WITH MY EYES! HE WAS HERE. IN THAT ROOM. WITH HER!"

He tried to explain Namjoon to his parents panicked. He could not believe that what had happened, well... IT HAD HAPPENED!

Since when do the dead marry the living and can return from the afterlife? Ninth. It couldn’t be true. It had to be a dream, right?!

"My son. I knew you were out of your mind, but not so much!" laughed Mr Kim.

"What a scandal! That girl is no good! Already married? Bah"

"I can promise you. They were here with me and in a moment "Poof"... disappeared into thin air..."

Hoseok was closely watching the scene in front of him. In addition to being a coachman, he was ordered to obey whatever requests both the family Lee and Kim. Then he knew Y/n...

She could not be married to another man. She rarely left her room and avoided any human contact. She was mocked and she preferred to isolate herself. So what was happening?

He approached the young Kim. He had noticed that compared to his parents, he was kind-hearted and the perfect companion for his lady. Then he was totally panicked and trembled like a leaf. Was it true... what had happened? He approached Namjoon with a blanket to wrap him up and give him some comfort.

"Here, my lord. I hope a blanket will be useful. You are shaking a lot" but Hoseok did not have time to hand it over to him that Mrs Kim threw it on the ground with arrogance.

"What a blanket! He needs a straitjacket. My son is completely crazy!"

And when he had said this, he grabbed Hoseok by the arm and threw him out of the room.

"You’re gonna stay here and think about what you just told us and thank me and your dad for not locking you up in an asylum again. Come on, dear. Let’s go" and when the two of them locked the door, they left Namjoon in a state of complete shock.

Did you know that what you saw was real? Why did you try to get help from your parents? They were just good-for-nothings who knew how to squander their money. That’s why we wanted him to get married. The Lees had managed to make their way among the families with a good economic reputation, and this marriage would only allow a profit interest. But he didn’t think he’d ever fall in love...

.................................................................................................................

Meanwhile, in the living room...

"My wretched son. He must only tell lies and lies. But it’s our last resort to get back into the richest part of the society," lamented Mrs Kim.

"Darling, time is running out, and soon everything will be taken from us if that girl doesn’t come back here. We only have a few family jewels to make a living for a short time... what do we do?"

As the Lee couple thought something to improve their condition, steps began to feel along the long corridor, until Choi Yuna made her appearance again.

"That girl is so unreliable. Throwing away a guy like Namjoon... is a real crime. If I had a man like your son by my side, I would cover him with love but also with riches worthy of him."

"Well...your husband must be a very lucky man to have a lover like you, Miss Choi," said Mrs Kim.

"Oh Mrs. Kim. I’m not married. I had a boyfriend a few years ago, but... a tragedy tore my lover from my arms. By now when you live alone... wealth is no longer worth anything," said Yuna trying to simulate a cry.

The two Kim spouses exchanged a gesture of understanding.

"Lady Choi. We have a request for you".

................................................................................................................

Meanwhile Namjoon was locked in his room looking for something open to be able to somehow unlock the lock. He had to leave that house of evil and selfish people. Look for her love and take her away from those cadaveric arms of that Seokjin.

But his search was abruptly interrupted when his room door opened and his parents again introduced themselves.

"Son! Good news. Indeed wonderful. A wedding there will be"

Namjoon had a puzzled look on her face. "Did you find her? Y/n came back?" she asked with a crumb of hope in her voice.

Namjoon’s mother approached Namjoon and began to fix his hair on his face.

"Get ready, my dear. Relatives will be here any minute. We must make you presentable for Miss Choi!"

"Mi... miss Choi? Mother? Are you kidding?" asked him upset.

"She’s gonna make a great wife, and there’s gonna be better prospects for our... uh... your future.”

No.. it couldn’t be. It couldn’t happen.

"But I don’t love her. You can’t force me to do this..."

There was a moment of silence, but soon after...

"PLEASE! I BEG YOU! THERE MUST BE ANOTHER WAY!" screamed in despair Namjoon. She could not marry that woman. She was treacherous and evil. Did you know that...

Mr Kim spoke up. "If you don’t marry her tomorrow, we’ll be forced to beg in the middle of the street. We’re close tolive under a bridge by now."

"But Y/n... she..."

"Resign yourself, Namjoon. She’s gone, and tomorrow you’ll marry Miss Choi. And that’s it."

And so they left Namjoon alone again in his room. Full of unhappy thoughts in fun marrying someone he doesn’t love....

But Y/n had disappeared in front of him along with a dead man.

So, um...

And the tears started flooding his face.

............................................................................................................

As the Kim spouses moved away from their son’s room, they did not realize that Yuna was hiding to enjoy the entire conversation.

He approached a small portrait of Namjoon and began to caress him.

"Oh my dear. Don’t look at me like that. You will have to endure this union until death do us part... And it will happen much sooner than you imagine as soon as I poison the drink during the wedding feast" and an evil laugh came out her mouth.

But a noise interrupted her. There was Hoseok who had witnessed what she had just said. But before the young boy could escape to warn his master, Miss Choi took a candlestick nearby and grabbed him by the collar, then to smash him in the head repeatedly... until she was sure that the young man was no longer breathing. His plan should have no mistakes and this was also true for the dead who was at his feet. It was time to get rid of the body.

..............................................................................................................

In the realm of the dead...

I was here alone with what was left of Tannie. I felt guilty for what I had said to Jin. I didn’t want my words to sound so harsh, but he had to know the truth. I had to marry another man I loved...

Then why... when I thought of Namjoon, Jin’s face appeared with him...

I thought back to what Yoongi showed me about his past. He had been murdered by the one he loved most... had to live a life away from everything and everyone and instead? He found himself dead and alone...

If only things had turned out differently...

My thoughts interrupted when Yeontan started pulling my dress with his teeth. "What’s small? You want me to follow you?" I did.

I started walking as Tannie led me to a mysterious place. After a few minutes, I found myself in front of a house, but what made me curious was the weak melody that came from inside.

It was introducing to the one my grandmother used to play... GRANDMA.

She was deceased a while back and she might have been on the inside.

He quickly opened the door to enter a small living room. But what amazed me was not the sight of my grandmother, but of a boy with purple hair and broad shoulders... Seokjin...

I slowly approached his figure while he was busy playing. I tried to get noticed but he seemed to ignore me completely.

"Jin... I’m sorry. I’m sorry I lied to you about my parents. It’s just that this day didn’t go well...." I sat next to him as his long sayings continued to press the piano keyboard. " as I had anticipated..."

Nothing. He was ignoring me. So I decided to start playing with him. Just some melody. He wanted him to know that I still cared about him.

He started playing and he stopped listening to me right away, but he wasn’t looking at me yet.

I pushed my fingers away and immediately after he started playing again.

And so I did also. A look of hate struck me down but it did not make me lose.

We begin to play together a beautiful melody and slowly I could notice a weak smile on his face. The same happens with me. Neither of them spoke but I was loving how we were starting to have fun just playing a musical instrument.

Immediately after that he began to laugh. He had a contagious and beautiful laugh. Why didn’t I notice until now? It was pleasant to be in his company. If only he were alive...

As soon as we finished playing, Jin looked at me gently in the eyes "Sorry... I got excited".

I took his hand in mine.

"I like your enthusiasm. Really..."

And we began to look into each other’s eyes. Although his eyes were white and had no pupils, I no longer feared them. Not anymore. On the contrary, they gave me a sort of comfort. I was getting lost, like Namjoon had.

I was admiring him too? Of a dead man? But what happened next was Jin who gently leaned his lips on my lips...

His lips were cold, but also soft. A feeling... different? But pleasant at the same time.

The kiss did not last very long especially since a euphoric Yoongi ran to us screaming "Run boys. A newcomer to the realm of the dead! Hurry up"

Jin took my hand and put a little kiss on top of it and then he took me with him and follow Yoongi.

The square was full but what made me jump with joy was to see a familiar figure. But why was he here? He was still young...

"Hoseok... is that you?" I asked as I approached.

"Lady Y/n. How nice to see you here. Then it was true what Namjoon said. Are you really married to a corpse??" He said, noting my firm grip with Jin’s hand

"Um... it’s a long story. But what are you doing here?"

"Well, my lady. I’m not sure what happened. I don’t remember. But it opens up to me that someone murdered me. But for now my face and name run away.

Argh... I don’t even remember if it was a man or a woman"said Hoseok hitting his head with small fists.

Yoongi approached "it’s normal. As soon as you die for a few moments you won’t remember what happened to how you died. Your moment will come sooner or later. Wait and see..."

"Thank you very much, Mr..."

"Min Yoongi. But just call me Yoongi". Hoseok smiled at the boy in front of him and then turned to me again.

"Hoseok... how is everybody up there? They must be so worried..."

"Well, they’re still wondering where you are. And young Kim..."

At the mention of Namjoon my eyes opened wide for concern, but I did not notice the handshake by Jin with his hand in mine.

"Well. He’s getting married. Tonight..."

The world was falling apart on me.

"How? What? WITH WHO?"

"Oh my God... she’s a stranger. Miss... Miss... I don’t really remember her name and surname. My death gave me a terrible amnesia. "

But... he told me he loved me. He was lying...?

"Well, you know. You disappeared and never showed up again... I guess they didn’t want to waste all the expenses for the ceremony."

"But... but how could he..." he didn’t feel the same way I did. Was he deceiving me all this time? He seemed so sincere... and instead...

Jin noticed that something in me was not going well after the news of her now ex-lover’s wedding.

"Y/n come with me" and so I was transported from Jin to who knows where... What was the point of living now? My living soul mate had betrayed me and the other... well... he was dead...

You take me to a roomy room of wooden bars. You couldn’t believe it again... why the love of doing so bad?

"Baby, don’t cry. You have to be strong and move on. I will always be there for you and you will always be my number one priority. My moon... I hope you can love me as I’m loving you in this memento," he said embracing me.

I abandoned myself completely in his arms. After everything you had told him, he still wanted me...

Maybe I deserved Namjoon to betray me. After all, you did it with Seokjin.

But despite his body was not hot, I don’t know. I felt good about it.

But we were interrupted by Jimin.

"Here you are. You were looking for yourself. I just found something interesting."

"What did you find?" Jin asked.

"Well... there is a complication with your marriage. The oath is only valid until death do you part.

"What are you trying to say?"

"Jinnie... death has already separated you. The only solution to be able to officiate everything requires a great sacrifice. "

"What do you mean?"

"She... must die"

Jin’s eyes opened wide and he kept hugging me as Jimin kept talking.

"Y/n should give up his life forever. She should repeat the oath on the land of the people who live and drink the wine of death".

"Jimin... I love her but I can’t ask her to give up her life for me. If I am to die, it must happen at the hands of fate and not mine," said Jin with tears in his eyes.

"I’m sorry but there is no other solution... Her heart must stop forever to be with you"

A tombal silence surrounded us. My life was at stake. But if I had nothing up there now. Nothing worth living for, maybe here...

"I will," I solemnly said.

Jin took my face in his dead hands and Jimin seemed amazed by my words.

"My girl, if you choose this path... you will never be able to return to the world above. Do you understand?"

Look Jin in the eye and I gave him a drink kiss on his lips.

"Yes. I’ll do it to be with you Jin".

He smiled at me, "Give up your life for me? My moon you don’t have to do that."

"But I want... we will be together for eternity Jin. I have no one up there now, but here? I have the love I’ve been looking for for years and I want to do it"

He kissed me again with more passion. Finally our lonely souls would find peace.

"Well, if you’ve decided so. I’ll prepare what it takes to rise to the surface again and the potion for you Y/n" and said that Jimin left.

"We are doing, my love."

"Yes, and i can’t wait to do it...with you".

............................................................................................................

Meanwhile at home Kim the wedding between Namjoon and Yuna had just ended and it was time for the wedding banquet. Namjoon was a sea, indeed an ocean of despair.

Not only did he lose the love of his life, but he had just married a woman who had nothing to do with him. His life was falling apart... completely.

Suddenly Yuna got up to make the toast "Namjoon found a golden wife. Perfect for him. With qualities of great level, worthy of a true woman. Destiny has united us and no one will ever be able to divide us"

Namjoon was beside himself. Destiny said? Lies.

Hoseok had disappeared and his beloved as well. The situation was starting to stink and he knew that she had something to do with it.

"Shut up! You don’t know one of me. I married you just to do my parents a favor but I don’t love you and I never will. My heart belongs only to one person and it’s not you."

Having said that, Namjoon got up from the table and ran away. That would not have been life. He had to run... away from here. From everything and everyone.

The only person who could understand it was missing, and nothing could happen to bring her back.

But as soon as it came out, a noise began to come from the church and a fluorescent green light came out of the windows.

Out of curiosity, Namjoon began to walk towards the sacred building to see what was happening.

...........................................................................................................

The church was decorated with blue and purple rose petals and each deceased occupied a small space to attend the wedding between Lee Y/n and Kim Seokjin.

I was wearing a white, white, elegant wedding dress. My heart was racing. The idea of dying scared me, but if I thought I will find myself in Jin’s arms right away and he will love me for eternity.. well... It was kind of comforting.

I fixed my veil and when Yoongi called me, I knew that moment was coming.

The church was in celebration and I observed the long failure that would lead me to what would be my future companion in death.

He was beautiful. His purple hair brought out his white eyes and fleshy lips. My heart trembled. I was doing the right thing? Sure. Namjoon had moved on and so I had to do it too. As soon as I got to the altar, Jin took my hands in his hands and stared at me with love. Yes, now I was sure to marry him and make him mine forever.

Jimin had proposed to be our priest to officiate the wedding and as soon as the organ music ended, he started talking.

"Dear friends. We are gathered here today to join this woman and this corpse in marriage."

But as he spoke, Jimin’s eye saw a living young man hiding behind a pillar of the church. It was Namjoon and he was attending the wedding of his beloved with another man. But he pretended nothing and continued.

"Now Y/n. You can start with your oath"

Look into Jin’s eyes with extreme love. I took a breath and started.

"With this hand I will take away your worries. Your chalice will never be empty because I will be your wine," I said as I grabbed the chalice with poison in it.

"It’s your turn, Seokjin." Jimin said.

"With this hand I will take away your worries. Your cup will never be empty because I will be yours..." but Jin interrupted the sentence suddenly. What was going on?

I didn’t know that Namjoon was hiding behind me, who slowly decided to approach the altar. Jin saw him and was surprised to see him there. In front of the people attending his wedding. With a shocked face.

"I... I will be..." he tried to continue

"Your cup will never be empty... because I... will be....." nothing. He couldn’t finish the sentence.

I understood his nervousness. I was like that too and decided to help him.

"... I will be your wine" I concluded the sentence for him while I carried the poison to my mouth.

But before I could take a sip, Jin took it out of my hands.

What was he so suddenly into?

"Y/n can’t do it..." he said in a weak voice.

"What’s wrong with Jin? What’s wrong with you?!" I asked him worried. Why did he change his mind?

Jin, I’m gonna start stroking my face.

"I was a groom, but they deprived me of my dream. Now... I am stealing someone else’s... I love you Y/n. My beautiful moon. Light of my eyes... but you are not mine." Immediately after he looked behind my back "Please. Come closer."

I looked behind me and was shocked to see Namjoon. What was he doing here?

He supposed to be married...

Young Kim slowly approached us. Jin grabbed my and his hand, making them intertwine with each other. I didn’t understand...

"But... you married someone else."

Namjoon took me to himself "my love, they forced me. I did not want to marry her, in fact I ran away to look for you. But now you’re here safe and sound in my arms. Don’t ever let me alone again." He hugs me back but at the same time I looked sadly at Jin. He was giving up his happiness again for me. He was too good... too good for this evil world...

"Jin... thank you," he smiled at me and stroked my head.

"I recommend Kim. Take care of her for me. Don’t hurt her or I’ll come find you. Okay?

Namjoon smiled at the rider’s words before him "Quiet. As you said. It will be my number one priority".

But before anyone could add anything else, a female voice appeared.

"Well, well. Finally our young lovers have gathered".

It was Yuna Choi. What the hell was she doing here?

"Now you can live happily ever after, can’t you? Have your happy ending. But you’ve forgotten one little thing." He forcefully seized Namjoon to bring him close to his side, ripping him from my arms. "He is still my husband and I will not go empty-handed!"

I tried to get close to Namjoon, but Jin’s expression make me stop. He had a look of full anguish on his face.

"You... are her."

Yuna I observe it and began to whiten at the sight of the corpse groom.

"Jinnie...? What are you doing here... I.. I had left you..."

"Dead..." he ended the sentence.

I took my hands to my mouth for surprise. It was her. She had killed him to take possession of his wealth and probably would have done the same with Namjoon.

"But ... leave me alone. You should be underground. Get away from me" She shout him.

But as soon as we tried to intervene, he pulled a knife out from under his skirt and brought it to Namjoon’s throat.

"Sorry, but we really have to go now. Come on, big guy. Let’s go," he said, trying to back off as he took Namjoon with her.

"Get your filthy hands off him! Bitch!" I yelled at her with all the rage I had. It was always her fault. And it was her fault if Jin had to suffer an eternity full of remorse. He did not deserve such a person.

"Oh, do you want to die girl? I’ll settle right away" and quickly she tooks off Namjoon’s neck blade to stab me.

Instinctively I put my arms around trying to protect myself but the pain never came. In fact, something had come between me and the blade.

I looked up and saw the figure of Jin. He protected me with his body...

Yuna was blown away.

"You can’t kill someone who’s already dead. Now get out of here before I kill you with my bare hands," his fury was almost palpable, and anyone inside the church could feel it.

"All right. I’m leaving, my dear," Yuna said, trying to get away, but not before she grabs the chalice that she found on the altar. My chalice...

"But first I wanna celebrate fo you, Kim Seokjin. He who will be remembered with a simple wedding witness and never as a groom. In fact, tell me if a heart can be beat even if you are dead. Ahahah."

Her laughter made me shiver but at the same time it made me angry. How could she behave so with him... that all his life he shared it is was love.

She nodded to Jin and took a sip of what was in the cup. The poison... the poison that had to kill me to be with Jin... and she had just been drinking it.

But in a few seconds she collapsed on the floor. I covered her with convulsions. I start moving blood out of her mouth as soon as she breathed her last breath, she fell on the floor, died.

I was shocked by the situation but my trance was interrupted by Namjoon’s embrace.

"I thought I’d never see you again, my love. I missed you." I turned to him and returned the gesture.

"When they told me that you had remarried, my heart was broken. I was willing to die as well. But now that I know you love me, everything will be fine, but first..." I walked away from him to get close to Jin. I approached him and gave him a little kiss on his lips, the last before I never saw him again.

He reciprocated with affection and when on detachment from them, he gave me another kiss on my forehead and then he said "Farewell my little moon. It was nice to love someone again. "And having said that, he tooks off the ring I put on him that night and he gave it to me. He smiled at me one last time before approaching the first window where the moonlight illuminated and immediately afterwards his body began to fade away.

Small purple butterflies appared while he was disappearing and they began to fly away, flying towards the moon. Jin wanted more than anything. Now he was free and would not only be known as "the corpse groom" but as the man who taught me to forgive and the true meaning of love.

I looked at Namjoon gently and before I could say anything, she kissed me passionately on the lips.

"It’s time to plan a wedding huh? But this time smoothly. I promise" I smile at his words. I missed him sp much.

I looked one last time at the window where Jin disappeared. The moon was immense and beautiful. Like him.

"Goodbye Kim Seokjin. I love you. I hope to see you again in the next life..."

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heejojo · 3 years ago

Text

Mr Hollywood

summary: Sim Jaeyun had made it, he had finally fulfilled his dream of being an artist but he had to leave the place he called he called home promising he would come back when everything was okay. He’s back now but are you sure it’s the same Jake you once knew?

genre: fluff, minor angst, childhood lovers turned exes to lovers again

pairing: Celebrity Sim Jaeyun x non-celebrity reader (with enhypen and treasure appearances)

warning: none

word count: 4.1k

a/n: although it has been proofread, I cannot guarantee no errors so please let me know if you see any! please let me know what you think. likes and reblogs are appreciated and I hope you have a good day.

listen to the playlist here

send an ask or fill out this form to be part of the taglist!

taglist (open): @enhyphun @jungwoniics @penny-quinn @ncthpen @fylithia @taecup-ontrack @renee1414@studioreader

“And the Artist Of The Year Award goes to none other than...” the announcer said, keeping you all at the edge of your seats. Everyone here had voted for Jake so many times so that he would win. The announcer looked at the folded card in his hand before smiling and saying.

“Jake Sim!” The screams of everyone in the beer parlour with you watching the award ceremony were probably louder than those in the venue itself. You all watched in pride as the look of shock was evident on his face and he shakily walked to the podium to collect the award. You smiled at how good he looked, he had come so far from the boy you once knew here.

Five years ago, Jake had left his hometown, where he grew up for 18 years to pursue his dream. Granted, not everyone is supposed to stay for the rest of their lives but he thought he was going to stay but he made up his mind to leave for his passion. You all supported him even if you weren’t able to talk to him because of his busy schedule. Being able to cheer him from the sidelines was what you were content with. He was the pride of the town and people did not hesitate to show him off.

He gave the announcer a bow and collected the award. You could see the way his hands shook as he collected the award as if it felt unreal that he won.

“I would like to thank God for the ability to get to this point today and to thank my parents for always teaching me the right way and having the courage to let their child pursue his dreams even if it meant that I would be very far away; almost out of reach even. I love you. To all those that have continuously supported me and listened to my music, thank you. To the staff that have worked so hard and everyone I've had the pleasure of meeting, a big thank you to you" he said and walked off.

The excitement of the crowd reduced and everyone eventually retired to their homes while chatting amongst themselves. You think about the award one more time, feeling happy for him and move on. After all, the same way Sim has a life to live is the same way you do also.

The next day, when you wake up you feel a shift in the atmosphere. The birds are still chirping, yes but something feels unusual. You brush off the paranoia you feel and decide to do your usual morning duties and carry on with your day. While other people your age wanted to have prestigious jobs(not like there was anything wrong with that), you wanted something simple and had decided on being either a cafe owner or a florist.

Sadly, the cafe owner agenda wasn't able to work out because everyone in the vicinity was now aware of the way you burned down a cafe trying to bake and collectively decided that you should not be allowed to make food for people. Flowers were better than running a cafe shop. You stayed with your flowers and you were able to give

someone a flower when they needed it.

Need a flower for your mother? You got it, a daylily was exactly what they needed. Wanted to attend a funeral? Take a bouquet of lilies. It was easy to understand and you didn't directly put anyone in harm’s way. Although your shop was hardly ever full, you were content with everything.

That's why you're shocked when you find a line of people waiting to be let into your shop at 9 am. You raised an eyebrow in confusion but you opened the door nevertheless. At the end of the day, you were the one earning the money. You had things to buy, didn't you?

You take your place at the counter and start attending to the customers. They didn't tell you to pick out one for them and just chose it themselves. The crowd slowly reduced till there was only one person left. When there remained a few people, you quietly moved to one person to ask for the reason why they were so cheerful today.

"Jungwon, do you know why everyone is so happy today? My shop was full today!"

"Are you complaining about it?" He asks. Jungwon was the son of the cafe shop owner. He came to your shop frequently when he was on his break and you would talk to each other.

“Of course, I’m not. I just want to know what’s making everyone come here all of a sudden. Even old man Jay came here and you know that man never leaves his house. He bought a red carnation and I’m confused because who does he have affection for that he’s getting them flowers”

“He has a wife you know”

“Please, the last time they had a conversation with each other was when he asked for a divorce” you deadpanned.

“Look Y/N, who’s the one person in this town anyone would do anything for?”

“Kim Junkyu?”

“Close but not him, I wouldn’t do anything for him” Jungwon stated making you roll your eyes.

“The only person left is Sim Jaeyun and we know it’s not possible”

“Ding Ding Ding! We have a winner”

You give him a shaky smile before asking him, “You’re joking right?”

“I’m not,” he says sincerely. You nod your head and go sit on the nearest stool. Placing a hand on your throat as you begin to scratch at it (something you did when you were nervous) and just sit in silence while Jungwon continues talking.

“After the award ceremony, his management released a statement on his Instagram saying that he would be going on hiatus for two months to visit his family. So we townsmen decided to get flowers to pave the road with because he would be coming back. We would have used gold leaves but it’s too expensive”

He continued talking and talking while you were still trying to process the fact that Jake would be coming back. Physically he was still going to be the same Jake you had a crush on before he left but personality-wise? You doubted that. You heard stories of the way fame had changed people; the love from others would get to their heads and make them overly egotistical. A part of you knew that he wouldn’t change but the other part was unsure. Before he left, you made him promise to not change and while you knew promises could be broken, you knew he wouldn’t break them.

“Jungwon, I want to close the shop for today. I’m not feeling too well and want to rest a bit”

“No problem Y/N! If you want, I can stay here and do business for you”

“Don’t worry about it, I’ve made enough money today to last me for next month” you say and shoo him away.

At home, you just sit and think for some time before getting up to make some tea and reminiscing about your high school memories. You hardly had feelings for people so when you did, you let them know immediately. When you told Jake that you liked him, he told you that he felt the same. You ignored him for a week after that because you didn’t think that far. After that, you met up with him and explained the reason why you avoided him. You went out with each other for less than 2 weeks and during that period, he had told you about his dreams of becoming an artist and you supported him wholeheartedly.

He would carry your books from school and you both would walk home together every day. He'd play the violin for you because he was good. You'd both pet stray cats and run when they started chasing you. All good things came to an end when he told you that he had to leave to pursue his dream. You both knew you were too young to even attempt a long-distance relationship so you let each other go even though it hurt. You’d watch his music videos and support his activities even though there was a possibility he would never return. Now that he was going to be here, how were you going to cope knowing that your feelings for him were still the same while his feelings could have gone, especially with all the beautiful people in the industry?

That night, while everyone was outside welcoming Mr Hollywood, you stayed in your house dreading the days that would come. The town was small so there was no way that you wouldn’t bump into him. The voices were loud when you tried to sleep. Seems like everyone was ecstatic that Jake had come back. The noise wasn’t able to let you sleep but deep down you knew it was because you were nervous.

You decide to bake cookies to reduce the stress you are currently feeling. You had learnt from your mistakes and no longer burnt kitchens (your kitchen being valid proof of that), but Jungwon’s dad still wouldn’t lift his ban. You baked cookies till 2 am before you were really tired enough to sleep. You had baked almost a hundred cookies that night.

The next morning, you made sure to wake up early so you wouldn’t run into anyone. Thankfully, the townspeople didn’t want to buy flowers that morning and got started on the orders that people out of town had placed. You brought cookies for Jungwon so he could test them. You were trying to fix the counter when someone walked in, making the bell jingle. Assuming it was Jungwon, you say, “Jungwon the cookies are on the counter. Test them and tell me what you think, don’t eat them and run away”

“I’m not a Jungwon but can I talk to Y/N?” You’re startled but you freeze, instantly recognizing the voice. Jake Sim.

“Hello, what would you like?” you asked with a forced smile. You were way too close, the proximity was making you uneasy. He looked a bit disappointed with the way you answered him but what did he expect to come to? It had been five years.

“I just wanted to tal-” he is cut off by Jungwon bursting through the door.

“Y/N, you will not believe who I saw. I saw Jake Sim with my very own two eyes. He looks so much hotter in real life. Do you think he’d sign my back if I asked-” he stopped instantly when he saw the person that was in the flower shop.

He looked like a fish out of water with the way his mouth was agape. Looking at you, then at Jake and then you again. He brought his hand to his head and he hit it hard making you startled.

“Sorry I will leave now,” Jungwon said.

“To cry” he murmured, making you chuckle. Jungwon was someone that cried when he did something embarrassing.

“Jungwon wait,” you say and walk to give him the cookies you had packed for him with a little note.

“Eat them and get back to me when you’re less you know...embarrassed” He snatches them from your hands and makes a run for the door. You giggle then you remember that Jake was still present. Turning to face him, you ask if he wants anything. “I want to talk to you”

You motion him to sit on the spare chair you had and he obliges. Before you even ask him a question, he begins, “Was that your boyfriend?”

“No, not that it concerns you though”

“Where you last night? I saw everyone but you. The Johnny kid said you were feeling ill. I doubt that wasn’t true as you made cookies. The last time I remembered, you were really bad at anything relating to the kitchen”

“Times change and people change, Jaeyun. It’s been 5 years since we last had a conversation with each other. I’m not the same and I’m sure you’re not the same either”

“Let’s get to know each other again. Do things the old fashioned way. Go on dates, paint, and bake with each other. Do some of the things we could have done 5 years ago.”

“And then when you have to leave and have no contact with each other again”

“I won’t do that, I promise. Never again.”

“How can you be so sure of that?”

“Let me prove it to you-”

He’s cut off by the entrance of another customer and stands up to leave but you don’t miss the longing look in his eyes. You hope he can see the same look in yours that’s covered by hurt and waiting for someone to return.

You were not expecting Jake to be at your store first thing on a Friday morning. He was even earlier than you and you're the boss.

“What are you doing here?” you ask. He was bouncing on his feet and looking cherry when you hadn’t even gotten enough sleep.

“I’m here to take you out. Do it like the old times where I’d wait for you so we could go to school together”

“I have work to do today and I’m going to be booked so another time”

“I have come to offer my assistance so tomorrow we can go out together”

“Don’t you have things to do?”

“I’m on a hiatus, I’m free for almost two months and if you want I can be free for more. Imagine all the things we could do in that time” he trails off, fantasizing when you hadn’t even told him that you still liked him. Meanwhile, you had opened the door and walked in.

"Aren't you going to come in and stop thinking of cute stuff?" you ask him and he quickly runs in, flustered.

He takes a look around and puts on a determined face and gets a broom and starts cleaning. For someone that's supposed to be a celebrity, he was cleaning like an employee. You take a rag and wipe all the surfaces and take care of the flowers. After an hour, the shop is ready to open. Customers come rolling in once they see a new help. Although they're surprised, they don't question it.

During your break, Jake picks up a chrysanthemum and hands it to you. "It's for you because you're beautiful," he says

"Hate to rain on your parade but if you gave me this in Italy, it means you wish I were dead" and with that, he takes back the flower instantly and brings a single red rose. You receive it with a small laugh, finding it funny when he doesn't want you misinterpreting him. You were having a sweet moment with him until Jungwon came in again.

"I'm getting tired of seeing you here Mr Sim. As much as I adore you, I need to meet my friend" he states and pulls you to the back. "Care to explain why Jake Sim is in your store again!?"

"Nope" you respond, popping the p. He brought his hand to his forehead and tried to relax his muscles because according to him, he doesn't want to look forty-five when he's thirty years old.

"Look, it's weird coming here and seeing you have company. I'm not against you having company seeing as you've been lonely the entire time I've known you but, I can't stay in his presence! Why must a man Look so gorgeous!? He's ruining my already broken esteem. Everybody saw him in real life and was wondering how a man could look that good."

"They saw him when he was seventeen years old," you tell him.

"And he's twenty-three now! He doesn't look the same and I don't even need to have known him then to know now"

"Jungwon, I want you to get to the point," you tell him, basically pleading at that point because your break would soon be over.

"I'll see you when I have enough confidence to meet him," he says and leaves the store. You shake your head at his overdramatic behaviour and continue with your day. Jake proves to be amazing assistance and you got things done quicker and even closed earlier.

"Thank you for offering help, you can go home now. See you tomorrow" you say in an attempt to shoo him out.

"I want to walk you home" he announces and goes with you home.

"Do you hate me for not talking to you?" he asks.

"I don't hate you. To be honest, I think we both did the right thing by not talking to each other. It was good we had each other in mind but I would have caused too much of a distraction for you. It was great you focused on your career and achieved your goals. I did well too"

"Johnny boy said you were lonely though," he said.

"Number one, I know you know his name is Jungwon but you're just being petty. Two, why were you eavesdropping on our conversation and three, I still had a bit of hope that one day you'd return. I didn't think that you'd come" you say truthfully. The night was making you vulnerable when answering his questions.

"I always asked my mum how you were doing when I called her, you know? I wanted to check up on you without doing so myself. I'd ask her to give you a pop tart because I knew they were your favourite"

Even though he was still far away, he still had kept you in his mind the same way you did for him.

You got home and stayed at the door before you took him by the shoulder and said, "Let's go out together and have fun". He gives you a soft smile and watches you go in before he retires to his own home.

The following day, you're waiting for him to come. You had tried to dress up for the date but didn't want to underdress or overdress since he hadn't told you where you were going. So you decided to wear a simple sundress and made yourself look nice. He arrived wearing something as casual as you in a car.

"Is this your dad's?" you questioned.

"Yup, I borrowed it to take you out,” he says and winks at you. You shake your head laughing and get in the passenger seat and he drives.

“Where are we going?” you ask, curious.

“You’ll see when we get there” you don’t respond but wind down the window and feel the wind on your face which makes you smile.

You catch Jake glancing at you while he’s driving and he doesn’t even try to hide it. “At least try to pretend you’re not starting”

“I can’t help it, you’re so pretty” This kid, he was making it too easy for you to fall for him.

“Do you still like me, Jaeyun?” you inquire.

“I do,” he said with certainty. Has he always been this bold? You don’t say anything and continue to look out so he reaches over and takes one of your hands in his while he uses his other one to drive. You look at him but just continue doing what you’re doing.

“You might not believe me but I mean it,” he says, lightly squeezing your hand as a form of reassurance.

He stops the car at an aquarium and you both come out. You have a wonderful time and although people recognize him and are surprised to see him with you, they don't say anything and leave you alone. You smiled that day more than you had ever smiled before.

"The fishes look good to eat" you whisper in his ear and he playfully smacks your arm and jokes.

"You monster! How can you say that!?" to which you jokingly shrug.

After the aquarium, he takes you to a flower field. "I did my research this time so I don't give you a wrong flower." He picked up a primrose and says, "I know this one means love is eternal so I'm giving it to you because no matter the distance between us, our love will be forever"

You feel warm this time and know that even if he were to leave again, the distance wouldn't matter because together, you both could overcome anything.

"You're all I need" you manage to say.

"When did you get all sentimental?" he teases and you chase after him in the flower field. When you get tired, you lie down on the grass and he lays next to you. Your hands find his hands amid all the grass and you squeeze it. Unknowingly, you fall asleep next to him.

The next weeks that follow include you two bonding and Jake having fun and being relaxed. He was able to write a song but wouldn't let you see the lyrics, saying it wasn't something he wants you to see yet. You met his parents and thanked his mum for taking care of you indirectly and conversed with his dad too. You could tell that he hadn't forgotten any of the values his parents had thought him. He grew up surrounded by a lot of love so he had more than enough to give.

He also met your parents and he was nervous even though you had tried to reassure him that they wouldn't do anything to him. Your father tried to act scary but deep down you knew he had a soft spot for him. Your mom was showering with more affection than she gave you and Jungwon tried stylishly asking him for his celebrity crush numbers.

"Jake, since you're dating my friend can you link me up with Han Sohee? You've worked with her before, help a friend out"

"I'll ask her but no promises" Jungwon was so happy the entire day.

A few days before Jake had to go back because his hiatus was over, you both were talking about how things would be while baking muffins.

"Y/N don't think I won’t talk to you when I go because I can already see the gears turning in your head."

"Pass me the butter Jaeyun"

"Are we back to the first-name basis? Call me the sweet names" he whined.

"Just pass the butter babe" and he passes it instantly.

"Now back to what you were saying, I know you won't forget me obviously and if you try I I can always take a flight to get to you." You tell him. You weren't going to wait around for him anymore. If you missed him, you'd go see him if he was unable to come to see you.

"Better, I was already worried," he says and gives you a back hug.

The day he left was bittersweet and you shed a few tears. It took a lot of willpower to not cry in front of him. You didn't want him to leave but you knew that he had a job to get to and you couldn't be in the way of that.

You both regularly kept in touch, calling each other at least twice a week to catch up on what had happened during each other's week. He hadn't told you that he released a new song and you found out through his fanboy Jungwon who was now the self-acclaimed president of his fan club.

"Y/N, have you heard Jake's new solo? I cried to it for an hour straight" You didn't have any time to check what was going on because someone had ordered flowers for their wedding and you had to get them done quickly.

"New solo?" you ask and Jungwon sits you down and plays the song for you. Truth be told, you cried as well. It felt like he was there with you telling you that he'd never change.

You watched the interview and when he was asked about the meaning or person behind the song, he said, "There's someone that I love and I wanted to let her know that no matter how famous I get, I won't ever change and she shouldn't change either". He looked directly at the camera then continued, "You're stuck with me forever".

That night, you called him and cried on the phone to him telling him about how you saw the interview.

"Y/N, you know I care about you" you sobbed even harder.

"I care about you too, forever"

"Forever baby, regardless of the distance"

#enhypen #enhypen imagines #ficscafe #enhypen angst #enhypen x reader #enhypen fluff #enhypen fanfics #enhypen scenarios #enhypen jake #jake sim #jake x reader #enhypenwriters

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