#because fuck me right!!! i stand with the cook!!!! justice for the kitchen maids!!!!

[livvyofthelake]

hm. private dinner with arthur arc is off to a rough start considering he has merely gotten servants to bring food to a different room than the normal dining room instead of a true romantic gesture like cooking for her. does he even know how to cook. what do you pay your servants arthur. do you give them bonuses for extra tasks such as these. how far from the kitchen is this room we’re in. how far did this poor kitchen maid have to walk so you could have a private dinner with your girl. does the kitchen maid sleep on a mattress or the floor. do you even know the living and working conditions of your staff. and why don’t we ever talk to them. why don’t you ever name them. do you not know the name of your cook. what about your maids. who washes your clothes arthur. who cleans your stupid little private bath. answer quickly.

[scatter-the-stars]

K&B Criminal/detective AU

Please read the author’s note I posted before the story.

Author’s Note: although short, this story deals with murder and child abuse.  Both of these are tough and sensitive subject matters.  If that is something you can’t read, I understand you passing this up.  If you do continue, know I allude to the abuse and nothing else.  Although I wanted a dark subject matter for this fic, I am not the kind of person who can, or will ever, write something like that.

"Hey, hot shot, over here."  Martinez shoots him a grin that says he's teasing while waving him over to the back room.

Blaine rolls his eyes at the name.  "Fuck off, Martinez." 

"What?  I can't tease the man of the hour?"

"I didn't do shit.  You should be thanking Marla."  Blaine thinks of the petrified thirteen year old girl he spotted by the luck of the fucking universe a month ago in a grocery store.  He knew her face.  Remembered seeing it splashed all over the news the year before when she had been taken.  Those wide green eyes and raven black hair that framed her face were something he could never forget.

Her long hair had been cut short.  Like a boy's.  She wore glasses she didn't need.  But none of that mattered.  Because he knew her.  That same sense of familiarity struck him the moment he saw her in that aisle just like it did the first time he saw her picture.  When he saw someone who reminded him so much of Penny.  Of his little sister.

Where he couldn’t save one, he rescued the other.

He can still remember the way Marla clung to him like a baby monkey clinging to its mother.  He can still her soft sobs, and see her anguished face.  What he remembers most is the look of pure happiness in her eyes when she saw her parents for the first time in over fourteen months.

“That girl is a fighter,” Martinez states with pride in his voice.

Blaine agrees with a nod of his head.  Thinks of how that one word, fighter, perfectly describes Marla and what she survived through.

The smell is the first thing that hits him when he steps into the bedroom.  That putrid, unmistakable smell of death.  That smell he will never get used to no matter how many times he encounters it.

"Where's the body?"

Martinez jerks his thumb to what looks like a bathroom.  "It's a fucking mess, man.  This guy makes Jack the Ripper look like the fucking Tooth Fairy."

No truer statement has been spoken.  Blaine has been there since they found the first body.  Or what was left of it.  Saw the mangled, tortured remains of what was left of Jacob Mills.  And he's seen every body that has followed.  Each crime scene is like an ugly reality of the boogeyman's imagination come to life.

"Who's the vic?"  He keeps away from the bathroom for the moment.  Wants to know who he's about to see butchered like an animal.

Martinez scratches the back of his head.  "Elijah Cooke."

"Fuck."  Blaine drops his head back and lets out a long exhale of breath.

"Yeah."  Martinez agrees.  "Can't say I'm not all upset about this one."

Blaine lifts his head and eyes his partner.  "You say that about all of them."

Martinez gives a small shrug of his shoulders.  Pops a piece of gum into his mouth.  "They all deserve it.  If you ask me-"

"I didn't."

"-I want to meet this guy and shake his hand."

Blaine eyes Martinez.  "You want to shake a serial killer's hand?"

Martinez pops his gum.  "I want to shake the hand of the guy taking care of these monsters."

"You're fucked up, Martinez," he says with a short chuckle, not outright disagreeing with his partner.

"That's what the wife tells me all the time."  Martinez grins.

Blaine shakes his head.

"I'm gonna go check out the scene."

"Hey, wait."  Martinez takes a step forward.  A serious expression taking over his face.

"What?"  Worry begins to grow heavy in the pit of Blaine's stomach.

"Before you go in, I need to tell you."  Martinez takes a breath.  "He mentioned you."

Blaine's brows furrow in confusion.  "Who?  Him him?

Martinez nods his head.

"What did he say?"

"See for yourself."  Martinez tips his head in the direction of the bathroom.

The deep breath Blaine pulls in is slowly let out before he steps into the master bathroom.

The mutilated body in the tub stands out amongst the pristine white walls and floors.  Or what he can see of the floors, as pictures are scattered all over the tile.  Pictures he knows are of innocent victims.  Red stains the white porcelain of the tub.  One of the victim's hands—missing a few fingers Blaine notes—hangs over the edge of the tub.  His legs are stretched out in the tub.  Head hanging over the edge.  He's naked.  Slices cover his entire body.  Cuts that were meant to inflict pain and not bring about death.  That along with the fact the guy has been surgically cut open and is most likely missing his heart only reassures Blaine he's right in thinking their killer is a medical professional of some kind.

"Fucked up, right?"  Martinez says when he comes to stand beside him.

"Yeah."  Blaine takes a step closer to the tub.  Leans in a bit to get a better view of the body.  "Did he..."

"Yup," Martinez answers his unfinished question with a grin.  "Pretty sure the coroner is gonna tell us he did that while this piece of shit was alive."

Blaine doesn't scold Martinez for the name.  Because Elijah Cooke is...was a piece of shit.  Worse than.  Anyone who did what he did and enjoyed it is deserving of the name.  And the means in which he died.

He may be a detective and seek justice for the victims of the criminals he captures.  But there’s always that small part of him that wants the kind of justice that Elijah Cooke was served.

"How did he not fight?"  Blaine questions, although he suspects he knows the answer.  The same one Martinez and him had been given the six previous times.

Their guy seems to have a knowledge of drugs.  Uses a cocktail mixture to paralyze his victims before torturing them while they're alive and can feel everything.

"You know how," Martinez replies.  He pops his gum.

“Maid found the body?”

“Yep.  She’s in the kitchen.  Is in quite a state of shock right now.”

Blaine can’t blame her.  Any normal citizen doesn’t stumble on a scene like this and not be affected.

“You talk to her yet?”

“Was waiting for you,” Martinez replies.

Blaine stands back up.  Continues to eye the victim's inner thighs that have been skinned and carved to the bone.

"Did you see your message?"

That grabs Blaine's attention.  He steps away from the tub and over to the mirror, where he knows a message is written.  And just like before, written in the victim's blood, are the words he's memorized by now.  But it's what's underneath them, the new part to the otherwise same message that grabs his attention.

No one should escape justice.

P. S. Tell Detective Anderson thank you

"What do you think he means?"  Martinez asks.

"I don't know," Blaine replies, though he suspects he has a suspicion as to what their guy is referring to.

"This will be a shit show once the news gets ahold of this."

Blaine agrees.  Not only is this another victim of The Advocator, as he's been dubbed by the media, but add to the fact that the victim is Elijah Cooke, a well known man in high society, and journalists will be clambering all over this like flies on shit.

"Fuck!"  He groans again.

This is the last thing Martinez and him need.  They already deal with enough crap from the higher ups.  Add in the media and this is about an even crazier circus show.

"Come on."  Martinez lightly pats his shoulder.  "We've got a maid to interview."

Blaine rubs the back of his neck and nods his head.

He tries to help Martinez with interviewing the still shaken up maid, but he’s no help.  Not when his mind keeps going back to the message that was left for him.  Thankfully, Martinez picks up his slack.

“You okay?”  Martinez asks after they’ve freed themselves of the journalists demanding to know what happened and are safely in his car.

“I don’t know.”  Blaine rests his head back against the headrest.  He lets out a tired, heavy breath.  “That message has me fucked up.”

“Understandable.”  Martinez pops his gum.  “Not every day a serial killer signals you out.”

“No, it’s not.”

“You know what else it could be?”

Blaine turns his head and looks at his partner.  At almost twenty years older than him, with brown hair that is starting to gray at the temples, lines on his face that show a life lived, and a small belly gained from years of “wife’s delicious cooking” as he says, he has nothing but respect for the guy who has shown him everything in this job.

Martinez grins.  “You need to get laid.”

Blaine groans.  “Fuck off, Martinez.”  It’s said in a playful manner.

Martinez chuckles and starts his car.

The entire drive back to the station, his mind lingers on the message he received.  On who left it for him.

As much as he's against personal justice being handed out, he wants to find this guy.  To ask him what makes him think he can do what he's been doing.

                                                     ••••

Hot water runs down his naked, tired body.  The shower a great welcome after the long night he had.  The memory of which doesn't bring him joy as it would a certain type of person.

This isn't some scripted television show where he finds relief in taking someone's life.  He isn't a monster that needs to kill to satisfy some inner beast.  No, he's a normal guy dealing justice while trying to outrun his demons.

He's not fucked-up or crazy.  Not like Bundy or Manson or Dahmer.  He lives a completely normal life.  He has a job he worked hard to obtain.  He has friends.  Has had boyfriends and lovers.

He's normal.

That didn't stop that black spot on his soul to fester and grow.  The spot that was put there by the monster who promised to care for him after both his parents died.  The monster who took his innocence.  The monster he watched struggle for his last breath when he was seventeen and held him under the water in the tub.

The memory of killing Charles Hummel sends a surge of joy through him that no other kill of his gives him.  Some fucked up part of him wishes he could go back and do it again.  Wishes he could make Charles hurt the way he hurt him.  Wishes he could inflict hours and days of pain on that monster.

Kurt pours body wash on the loofa sponge and runs it all over his body.  His fingers pass over the scar on his right side just above his kidney.  Tries to suppress the memory of how he got it.

Not now.

He can't let the memory take over his mind.  It'll only bring a cloud of darkness he can't get out from under.

He thinks of good things.  Of graduating top of his class from medical school.  Of saving a six year old boy a week ago with a punctured lung and broken leg after being in a car crash.

He thinks of him.

The image of Detective Anderson flashes in his mind.  Desire streaks through him like a set off firework climbing into the sky.  Once it beautifully explodes it lights him up.  Heat floods him.  He skims a hand down his chest and torso.  Teases his fingers at the base of his cock.

Eyes fall closed and he thinks of Blaine.  Thinks of him as he runs the palm of his hand along his stiff cock. Wonders how it would feel to run his fingers through his thick curls.  To kiss and lick and bite his tanned skin.  To see him naked, and to ride his cock until he exploded between them.

He grips his cock as he imagines that.  Strokes as he pictures straddling Blaine's trim waist and riding him without a thought or worry.

His orgasm hits him sooner than he likes.  He comes all over his fist and the wall.  Watches his cum slide down and disappear into the drain.  Feels his cock give a twitch as he imagines fucking Blaine's mouth and coming down his throat.

He doesn't touch himself again.  Can't.  Even though he wants to.  Knows he needs to finish his shower and get ready for work.

In his kitchen making a cup of coffee, bread toasting, a grin breaks across his face as he hears the news break about Elijah Cooke.

"Law enforcement is not saying much about the murder of Elijah Cooke.  But what we do know is that he's the latest victim of The Advocator."

Kurt snorts at the ridiculous name given to him.  If he had a say, he would pick something less judicial sounding.

A picture of Elijah Cooke popping up on screen standing in front of one of his high rises has a surge of anger growing in Kurt over everything that man got away with.

Not anymore.

He smiles at the thought.  Remembers how he put an end to Elijah's deeds permanently the night before.

The memory of Elijah's eyes going wide as he silently screamed behind his closed mouth while he cut off one of his fingers pushes away that anger.  The anger over the injustice that while alive Elijah never paid for what he did to his innocent victims.

"Detective Anderson, lead investigator on the case, was asked about the murder but gave no reply."

Kurt feels his insides go all warm when they show a video of Blaine walking with his partner out of the building while all media types yell questions at him.  The stoic, unwavering look of strength on his face makes his heart jump.  The way he seems to bite his inner cheek makes him smile.  He wonders what words sit on Blaine's tongue.  Wonders what he would say if he could.

From the first moment he saw Blaine after his second murder three years ago, he's been intrigued by him.  Wanted to get closer to the man doing everything to stop him.  But he's played it safe.  Has kept his distance.

Last month, though, things changed for him.  He saw the story break when Blaine saved Marla Hilsom.  The desire to meet Blaine in person grew to an almost uncontrollable urge.  He wanted to know about the man who saved others.  Who sought out the monsters of this world.

Like me.

No!

He's not a monster.  He's not like his uncle.  Not like Elijah Cooke.  Or any of the other men he's killed.

Victim.

He's a victim of his past.  A victim of a situation he couldn't control.  None of those men he killed are the victims.  They're the monsters.  The dark spots that take away happiness and hope.  Dark spots that ruin childhoods and dreams.

He's the victim.

Coffee and toast forgotten, television shut off, he leaves his apartment and starts his walk to work.  A big yawn has him stopping at a Starbucks he usually wouldn't step into.  But seeing as he had a long night and didn't have his cup of coffee, he needs the much needed caffeine if he's going to get through his next shift.

The smell of coffee and vanilla and sugar is almost overwhelming when he steps into the store.  He almost turns around and leaves.  Considers just suffering through the terrible coffee in the break room at the hospital.  But the thought of that black sludge they try to pass off as coffee has him stepping into line behind a young girl.

It takes a few minutes before he reaches the counter.  He orders a simple large black coffee.

He grabs his cup when his name is called out.  Goes over to the station to make his coffee as he likes.  Pops the lid off and reaches for the sugar packets.

A hand brushing his has him jerking away.  He looks to see who it is and feels his mouth go dry and eyes go wide when he looks at the man who's been a constant in his fantasizes for a few years now.

Blaine smiles a brilliant, beautiful smile.  "Sorry," he says.  "You first."  He gestures to the sugar.

Kurt stands struck motionless and speechless as he stares at Blaine.  His mind screams at him to say something.  To open his mouth and speak anything.  But that seems impossible at the moment.

"You okay?"  Concern mars Blaine's face.

That snaps Kurt out of his moment of stupidity.  "Yeah."  He smiles and shakes his head.  "I'm sorry."

Blaine's smile returns.  "It's okay."

Kurt decides he likes Blaine's smile.  Wants to see more of it.

He often wondered in the last few years what Blaine would be like in person.  And he can say without a doubt that he's more stunning in the flesh.  From his dark curls and eyelashes that frame his hazel eyes.  To his straight nose and full lips.  Everything about him is better in person.  And up close, he can see the flecks of color in his eyes.  The yellows and greens and browns that make up his eyes that look like a painter flung paint to a canvas and his eyes are the result.

"Blaine."  He says the name with shock and awe, and an underlying hint of need.

Blaine face screws-up in shock and confusion.  "How do you know my name?"

"The news," he quickly replies.  "They were talking about you this morning."

"Right."  Blaine seems relieved by that answer.

"I'm not some crazy stalker, like you thought," he teases.

Blaine chuckles as splotches of red stain his cheeks and neck.

Kurt wants to feel those spots under his lips.  Wants to find out how hot the areas are.  What his flushed skin tastes like under his tongue.

"Sorry," Blaine says.  "Bad habit of being a detective.  I assume the worst of things."

"No need to apologize."  Kurt offers his hand.  "I'm Kurt, by the way."

There's no denying the sharp jolt that runs through him when Blaine's hand slips into his.

By the surprised intake of breath he hears from Blaine, it’s clear he experienced the same thing as him.

"It's nice to meet you."

Blaine shakes his hand.

Kurt hates when he pulls his hand back.  Wants to take it back in his hand.  To pull him close and press their mouths together.  Wants to invite him into his dark, fucked up world.

He doesn't.  He busies himself with pouring sugar into his coffee.  Tries not to think of how close Blaine is to him.  Tries to do the right thing, the safe thing, and block him out.

Blaine can't be a part of his life.  It's not logical or reasonable.  Being with Blaine will only bring out problems he doesn't need to deal with.  Will make life more difficult for him.

That's what he tells himself.  That he should just walk away from the trouble Blaine could bring.

He doesn't listen.

Instead, he turns to Blaine and smiles.  "Would you like to sit at a table together?"

Blaine returns his smile.  "That sounds great."

They sit and talk and get to know each other.  They talk until he has to leave before he's late.  Then they talk for another fifteen minutes.

"I'm sorry," Blaine apologizes as they step out of the Starbucks.

"It's fine," Kurt assures him.  "It's only a few minutes."

"At least let me give you a ride," Blaine offers.  "Where do you work?"

Kurt considers the offer for all of two seconds before agreeing to it.  "At the downtown hospital."

"A doctor.  Sexy."  Blaine smirks and winks to only show he's playing.

Kurt laughs.  He checks the time on his phone.  "Shit.  I really need to go."

They climb into Blaine's car.  He finds himself in front of the hospital less than ten minutes later.

"Thank you."  He opens the door.

"Wait."  Blaine shoots an arm out to grab his wrist.  He stiffens at the touch until he remembers this isn't his uncle.  That he's not about to be dragged to a dark room.

Blaine must notice because he quickly lets him go.  "Sorry."

"No.  It's not you."  Kurt wills his heart to stop hammering and breathing to even out.  "W-What were you going to say?"

Focus.

Breathe.

He thinks.  Thinks of the warm sun on his skin.  Thinks of strong coffee on his tongue.  Thinks of Blaine.

His eyes drift to the man who calms and rattles him at the same time.  The man who feels like the sun on his skin when he's near him.  Who looks as strong as the coffee he drinks.  And he wants to drink Blaine in.  To open himself up and let Blaine give him that strength he seeks out.

"Can I see you again?"  Blaine sounds so hopeful that it cracks the armor Kurt always puts up to protect himself.

No.

He should listen to his head.  Should tell Blaine that he's not dating right now.  That his life is a mess he doesn't want to invite anyone in to witness.

He listens to his heart.

"Yes."

A beautiful smile spreads across Blaine's face.  It's more beautiful than any wonder Kurt has personally witnessed.

"I'm off Friday," he tells Blaine.

"Dinner?"

"Okay."

Blaine reaches in his pocket and pulls out a card.  He hands it to Kurt.  "This has my number.  Call me so we can work out the details."

Kurt clutches the card like a lifeline.  "Will do.  Bye, Blaine."

"Bye, Kurt."

He climbs out of Blaine's car and walks into the hospital where he works.  It seems as if he floats on a cloud the entire day.

By the time his shift ends and he's back in his apartment kicking off his shoes, he's exhausted.  The combination of the night before and hectic day at the hospital has drained him.

He pours himself a tall glass of red wine.  Drinks half of it before pulling out the card Blaine gave him.  Ponders for a moment if he's doing the right thing.

He turns the card over and over again.  Drinks his wine.  Debates.  Argues.  Reasons.

For the first time in a long time a piece of happiness could be his for the taking.  And he wants to greedily take.  Because he felt what Blaine stirred inside him when they talked that morning.  There's no denying that.  No denying the feelings he never felt before.  That weightlessness he's sought out for years but didn't think existed. 

Blaine made him feel normal for the first time since he lost his parents.

Safe.

He'll be safe.  Will make no mistakes. Will do his damnedest to keep his secret from Blaine.  Blaine who is pure and wonderful, and everything a great man should be.

Who his uncle should have been.

Kurt dials the number.

Blaine answers on the second ring.  "Detective Anderson.  Who is calling?"

He smiles at the way Blaine answers the phone.  Full of authority and power.

"Forgotten me already?" he teases.

"Kurt."  Blaine sounds breathless and happy saying his name.  "I didn't know it was you."

"I know."  He laughs.  "Now you do for the next time I call."

"Oh.  So you're going to call me again?"

Kurt pours himself another glass of wine.  He walks to his living room and turns on his laptop.  The screen immediately lights up.  He sets his glass aside and sits on his couch with his laptop.

"Definitely."  He curls his legs under himself.  "What are you doing, Detective?"  His cock jumps at the title.  His mind running crazy with all the ways Blaine and him could have fun with that.

His body aches in a good way.

Blaine's next words send a chill down his spine.

"Working on the Advocator case," Blaine casually answers.

Kurt's glad they aren't talking in person, because he's sure he just went pale as a ghost.

"Oh.  Th-That's interesting."  He tries to come off as nonchalant and uncaring.

He's reminded who he's talking to with Blaine's next question.

"You okay?"

Of course Blaine would catch on quickly that something is wrong with him.  He's a detective after all.

A detective that could turn you in.

Kurt shakes the thought away.  Focuses on Blaine.

"I'm fine.  That whole thing is just scary."  The lie is easy coming off his tongue.

"I know.  If you ask me, though, I have to appreciate the guy."

Kurt's heart stops.  "W-Why?"

"You've seen who he kills.  Scumbags who deserved it."

"True."  He can't control the way his heart races.  Some part, some minuscule part, of Blaine understands why he does what he does.

"Anyways," Blaine huffs.  "Let's discuss something else besides a vigilante serial killer."

Kurt can't contain his grin.

"What would you like to discuss, then?"

"Our date Friday night."

"Okay."

While they talk, Kurt pulls up the information on Gary Edwards.  He plans his date with Blaine while starting a plan to give justice to all the victims of Gary Edwards.

He's a victim.

Not a monster.

"It's a date," Blaine says.

Things could get tangled bringing Blaine into his world.  But that's a risk worth taking.  One he'll happily take.

He smiles.  "It's a date." 

[flowerconcept-blog]

prince!hoshi

req’d by anon!!! 

truly just the sweetest softest kindest boy in the whole country, and incredibly humble considering he’s also THE PRINCE

growing up the country totally adored him because he was so mischievous and cute, he would attend public events with his parents and would always manage to wiggle his way out of his bodyguard’s line of sight and run into the crowds to play with a dog he saw or kiss a baby

like ……. his parents hired an extra secret service guard for him after each event but even when there were ten of them watching him he was able to goof off and make the public laugh

as he got older he didn’t get less mischievous, but in public he had to behave better and also he was too big to sneak away :-( so most of the mischief happened in the palace

soonyoung and his bff seokmin, the head of staff’s son, would wreak havoc

it’s not like soonyoung didn’t want to be a prince as a child…..but his etiquette lessons bored him and he didn’t like the idea of being “refined” and “regal”

because that wasn’t his personality!!!! and it never would be

the only class he liked at all was his dance class, because he liked the instructor a lot and he really loved dance itself, something that he grew more and more passionate about over the years

so he ditched a lot of his dumb classes, and he and seokmin would spook the butlers and leave whoopie cushions on seats in the council room and run away from the guards hooting and hollering

one time they tried to sneak off the palace grounds into the city w/o protection….. the guards at the gate nearly had an aneurism but finally got them back inside the palace

they gave a lot of people headaches but the staff of the castle loved them anyways

because no matter how silly he was, prince soonyoung would always help the maids carry sheets to guest rooms, bring carrots to the stables for the horses, set the dinner table alongside the staff, basically he would just be humble and lovely and helpful

he never ever thought he was better than them and he always wanted to learn how to do things, whether it was baking bread or grooming a horse or gardening

in particular he spent a lot of time in the kitchens with seokmin, sometimes trying to steal snacks (they always got caught) but also just hanging out with the cooks

the head chef, a middle aged woman, loved soonyoung to death!!!! and sometimes acted like more of a mother than his actual mom did, and if he ever scraped his knee or anything the first thing he would do would go crying to the kitchens

he never got good at cooking despite all of the chefs trying to teach him his favorite recipes, but it never stopped him from trying, bless his lil heart

by the time it was time for him to go to school his parents had gotten a tiny bit fed up with his dislike of his royal tutors, so they decided to send him to boarding school just outside the capital of the country

honestly high school wasn’t HORRIBLE for soonyoung, but he missed the palace and seokmin and being able to see his people, and when he graduated he really wanted to go to college in the capital …. and because he did well in school his parents let him apply to whatever school he wanted, which was only like 20 minutes walking from the palace

because soonyoung didn’t like acting superior to anyone he compromised with his parents (who wanted him to live in the palace w/ full security) and ended up living in a little apartment near his campus

which ……. is right next door to your little apartment!!!!

you don’t go to college, in fact you’ve actually just started to work in the palace kitchens because you’re saving up to go to college!!!! until then you’re capitalizing off of being an incredible baker and working in the palace

but you want to be able to take classes in business and start your own little cafe, which is a dream since you were young …… you figure that actually understanding business is necessary to own your own, but you don’t know ….. anything about it

anyways, when soonyoung moves in you’re surprised to walk out the elevator on a normal sunday morning and see ????? a bunch of secret service guards in the hallway ?????blocking the route to your home?????

at first you’re panicking because ur like “oh god they’re here because i took a cake home oh no what do i do” but then you realize that there must be something else going on!!!! for a moment you’re trying to figure it out but then you’re like. you’ve gotta get your groceries into your home before your ice cream melts

so you try to sneak past but the guards are stone faced and are like “you can’t go past here” and ur like ????um i live here ?????? and they’re like “provide proof of your residence”

at this point you’re truly confused and about to argue but then you hear a voice go “c’mon guys let them get to their apartment” and you turn and oh my god it’s the prince ??!??!!??!?!

you’ve never seen soonyoung in person despite working in the kitchens, the older staff always tell stories about the prince and talk about how well he’s grown up, but he’s understandably busy now that he’s older so he doesn’t stop by that much anymore

and the times that he has dropped into the kitchens you’ve been off shift

honestly you were sort of jealous of your co-worker friends because they would rave about how handsome and kind he was and u were like!!! i want to see the prince :-(

but seeing him in person you really don’t think your friends were doing him justice … his eyes are sparkling and his skin is practically glowing and his hair looks so soft and MAYBE you’re getting a little too starstruck, but soonyoung is even more handsome than the kitchen intern named mingyu who everyone thinks is a model

and when he smiles toothily at you, you’re like. oh my god. An Angel Is Right In Front Of My Eyes?

meanwhile soonyoung thinks your shocked expression is adorable and he’s excited to have such a cute neighbor, so he sticks his hand out nd introduces himself and you stutter out your name and then you stammer out “i’m sorry i don’t mean to be so rude i’ve just never seen a handsome prince in person”

which. is NOT what you meant to say but soonyoung laughs and his ears go a little pink and you’d probably happily stand there staring for another hour but... … one of the guards is like “your highness-” “PLEASE call me soonyoung” “-uhhh soonyoung you have a lot to unpack before your dinner with your parents” 

and the moment sort of fades away, you manage to get into your apartment but of course you can’t stop thinking about soonyoung (and how AWKWARD you are)

you think that even if he wasn’t the prince you would be excited for him to be living next door to you…...in fact you think him being the prince has almost nothing to do with the way you can’t stop thinking about his cheerful smile and kind eyes

little do you know :-) soonyoung is also thinking about you :-)

you wish that you could work up the courage to talk to him again, but you’re afraid of saying something embarrassing again and also he’s a prince!!! he’s surrounded by beautiful rich people that he could be friends or lovers with, so why would he want to be either of those things with you???

however your politeness and friendliness means that you have to give him a welcome gift, so a few days after he moves in, you bake him a cake and leave it at his door with a little note attached to it

and when soonyoung gets home from classes and sees your gift he blushes! he’s so happy!!!! he scrawls out a little thank you note (with a tiny drawing of himself eating cake!! cutie) and puts it on your door, and i’m not saying you stick it on your fridge but yeah you do that

you sort of get into a routine of passing notes between apartments, little things like “hope you have a good day” or “i liked the music you played last night haha,” but you never actually talk to each other :-(

because as famous as soonyoung is, he’s just as nervous to talk to his cute neighbor as you are!!!!

your schedules don’t line up at all so you don’t see each other either, but starting that night you’ll sometimes hear him laughing loudly with someone (seokmin!!!!) and sometimes you hear music playing (as he dances!!!) and it’s oddly comforting to know that he’s there

in fact you don’t see him until one slow day at the kitchens, you’re kneading dough and suddenly you hear the head chef exclaim “soonyoung!” and there he is in the flesh!!!!

many of the staff gravitate towards him, but you watch from afar, nervously trying to decide whether or not you should say hello or if you should just hide

but before you can slip away like a middle schooler with a crush soonyoung catches your eye!!! his smile grows at the sight of your floury apron and rosy cheeks and before you know it everyone’s going back to work and he makes his way over to your little baking station

seeing him in Prince Clothes honestly takes your breath away …. his hair is carefully done and he’s wearing a collared shirt and you don’t know how anyone is allowed to be this attractive?!?!?! especially when they’re also kind and rich !??!?!?!

soonyoung is like “i didn’t know you worked here or i would’ve come by sooner” and internally cringes at how cheesy he sounds…...

but when you duck your head and laugh shyly he figures it was worth sounding c*rny ;(

you talk for a couple of minutes before seokmin comes in and is like “soonyoung we gotta leave to go to this event rn” but before he leaves soonyoung asks if you’d like to come over for dinner on friday and your heart catches in your throat

and you say yes

as soon as he leaves the kitchen seokmin is like whom is that???? and soonyoung is like THAT Is The Most Amazing Person in the World and won’t shut up about how nice you are and how he can’t believe you said yes to getting dinner and seokmin regrets ever asking

friday you go next door to soonyoung’s for dinner………..except he sheepishly explains that he tried to cook and fucked it up ……….so you end up ordering chinese food but it feels more authentically soonyoung so you don’t really mind

and he’s genuinely interested in your interests and job and dreams so you end up talking until like midnight, he tells you about his fear of being king and his wish to help his people and make their lives better and his love of dancing

and as much as he’s interested in your dreams, you’re interested in his …… which is something that soonyoung doesn’t encounter that often ….. people are interested in his title or his image, but not necessarily what drives him and what he loves

and when he tells you he loves to dance and your eyes light up and you ask him to show you some time, he can’t help but lean in to kiss you

it’s only for a second before he realizes what he’s doing, and then he pulls away apologizing but you’re just like. soonyoung!!! don’t be sorry!!!!!!! and kiss him again

it’s your first kiss of many many many many many kisses

both you and soonyoung are always sort of in awe of the other, and for a while it’s difficult for either of you to believe that you’re dating, but slowly you get used to the movie nights and texting and cuddling and it stops being a fairytale

not that it isn’t still amazing!!! but soonyoung appreciates that you don’t expect a fairytale from him and understand that he’s just a normal guy who happens to be royalty, and you appreciate that he doesn’t want you to be royalty or famous, he loves you just the way you are

he starts stopping by the kitchens a lot more and the head chef totally knows and teases both of you about it, but also one day she tells you that she couldn’t have thought of a better fit for soonyoung and you can’t stop smiling for the rest of the day

despite soonyoung’s love of skinship, he wants your relationship to be private and intimate (because so much of his life has been public) so even after you’ve been together for a few years and the public knows about it your relationship the real affection is behind closed doors

but when ur in one of your apartments he will cuddle you until you overheat and literally need him to let go

he LOVES your baking and supports you wholeheartedly in your dream of opening a cafe!!!! it takes a long time but when you save up enough money and finally buy a little storefront near the castle he cuts the ribbon and obviously since prince soonyoung likes the cafe you do really well

but as he always tells you….. he made your talent known to the public but you’re the one who really made your dream come true, not him

he dances for you sometimes and you think it’s the most wonderful thing in the world!!!!! you encourage him to show people and it actually gets him to start teaching dance classes to underprivileged kids in the city !!!!!

when the two of you are wrapped under the covers and he whispers about his worries that  everyone sees him as “the prince” and not as soonyoung ….. you kiss his nose and tell him that there is no universe that you wouldn’t have fallen in love with him, prince or not