#been a while since i built a set and yeah. i really love doing small contained sets instead of big builds lmao

[edmunderson]

*new guy alert for @gloomiegalaxie's femboy friday*

[transforming-transformer]

Call Me Chad

Charlie never thought that a beautiful girl like Rachel would show any real interest in a geek like him, but to use him just to get to Jack? His dumb musclehead roommate who he also had to tutor to get paid enough by his football coach? He felt heartbroken, trying to find the right words to say to her to not leave him. 

“I just can’t see a future between us, especially if you’re not hot like Jack,” Rachel said, as Jack wrapped his arm around her slender waist.

“Bro, she’ll never continue dating a nerdy loser like you,” Jack scoffed, cutting Charlie off.

The small, twig-like nerd lips quivered and his reddened eyes burst into tears as he ran out of the frat party, only to be caught by a few of Jack’s douchebag posse to be stripped till he was completely naked and eventually dunked into the swimming pool. It left him embarrassed, vulnerable and overwhelmed, as he was surrounded by pompous, superficial jerks that kept laughing and sneering at him. All of it turned his shame and guilt into anger and vengeance—

———

“CHARLIE! Wake up, man. The library’s gonna close in half an hour.”

Charlie woke up disgruntled and deeply frustrated. Fuck, he’d dreamt about the set-up. Again. It’d been a few weeks since he got dumped, and it still consumed his mind like crazy. He rubbed his eyes softly and looked up to see his good friend William waving his hand in front of Charlie’s face. 

“Hey, you okay? You’ve been dozing off quite a bit during study group,” William asked, looking concerned.

Charlie sighed. “Yeah, yeah, I’m good, I’m awake. Just…”

“The set-up?” William replied. Charlie froze.

“Was it that obvious?” 

“Charlie, it’s the only thing that’s been on your mind for three months, and with the way things happened, I wouldn’t blame you for being so fixated on it,” William rubbed Charlie’s back caringly as he spoke, his hand pushing his glasses back up to position. 

Charlie sighed again, and sunk his head down. “But I shouldn’t be. I should have moved on by now, found someone new—”

William cut him off. “Don’t you dare go into what-ifs. That’ll only keep you miserable.”

“I know… it’s just… I wanna be someone’s special someone, but I can’t when I look like a stick and have to compete with huge muscle guys like Jack and his friends…” Charlie shook his head, frustrated and exasperated, while William gave him a comforting bro hug…

But William wished he could be more than just a friend to Charlie. See, William had been there for Charlie pretty much all their lives, growing up together and being very close. Hell, William had especially been there for him that night too: picking him up from the frat house; sitting with and comforting Charlie in his dorm; making sure he ate well and didn’t binge or starve himself; if anything, William would’ve made a great, loving boyfriend to Charlie… if only Charlie wasn’t so painfully straight and thought this was just a good friend looking out for a friend in pain. He, too, was frustrated by Charlie’s situation and constant thinking of the past.

Charlie rose from his chair and looked at William, smiling softly. “Thanks for being here for me, Will. It really means a lot to have a friend like you,” he said before walking away.

“L-likewise, Charlie. I’ll see you later,” Will replied, a smile forced onto his lips as he watched Charlie leave the library. Fuck, if only there was something he could do to make both his and Charlie’s situations ease up, but also align so they could be together.

Just as William was about to leave, he noticed a shimmer out of the corner of his eye. Turning to see where it came from, he noticed an old, rickety door with an oddly polished handle built in between the bookshelves. “Huh, I’d not seen that there before…” he mumbled as he walked over to it and turned the handle. The door swiftly opened, and Will stepped into what looked like a dusty, abandoned storage room, covered in cobwebs, rags and dust. He was intrigued at first, but screamed when he heard the door slam behind him without warning.

“WHAT THE FUCK WAS THAT??” he shouted, grabbing his phone and turning its flashlight on to look around for the source of the door closing. As he kept searching, a bunch of lanterns mysteriously flared up, suddenly illuminating the room to reveal an ancient-looking book on a cobwebbed lectern. After taking a few breaths to calm down, Will blew the dust off the book, to see its title: “The Jock Bible”. An Ancient Greek-style illustration of a hot, muscular guy adorned the cover.

“Hmm, interesting name for a book…” he pursed his lips, intrigued as he lifted the cover. He was suddenly overwhelmed when a golden aura emerged from the pages and blinded him, filling him with immense knowledge, knowledge that could play to both his benefit, as well as Charlie’s. The thoughts swirling in his mind made him smirk. Perhaps there could be a way to make Charlie his after all… though he himself might want to use it for his own needs too.

The next morning, Charlie waited in line at the cafeteria, concealing himself in a purple hoodie to not draw any attention from people. The party had made him embarrassingly and overwhelmingly visible, which gnawed at him and forced the poor nerd to resort to wearing more and more hoodies, just to hide. As he neared the trays and plates on the way to the buffet, he felt a firm, thick-fingered hand grab his shoulder, which sent shivers down his spine.

“Hey there, Chad, man you’re looking more huge every day,” a deep voice spoke.

“Wait, that voice is familiar,” Charlie thought, and turned around to see a handsome hunk standing there, in a blue tank top and grey sweatpants, which threw him off so much he jumped. The jock in front of him chuckled, while Charlie gripped his tray.

“Bro, chill, looks like you’ve seen a ghost or something,” he smirked as he eyed Charlie up and down. Another shiver ran down the nerd’s spine, and he felt strangely… comfortable.  Charlie took a few steps back as he still felt nervous around this guy, even if he was more chill about it, but the musclehead sauntered over and slapped the nerd’s back.

“Come on, let’s sit together and chat, Chad,” he said.

Charlie replied back, firmly, “My name’s not Chad! It’s Charlie!”

The jock shook his head and smirked. “Nah, dude, you’re Chad alright. One of the biggest dudes I’d ever seen.”

Afraid of this guy and what he was saying, Charlie threw his tray at the jock and made a run for it. He ran past the building he was supposed to have class in in an hour, past his residence hall, he even ran past the fraternity quad. When he stopped and took a breath, he looked around to see he was in the athletics area of campus, which spooked him. He could see the gym and the football field in front of him, and as he took a step back to wonder what the hell was going on, that slight shiver that ran down his spine tingled once more, and all of a sudden, his shirt felt extremely tight on him, as if compressing him.

“What the fuck is happening?” he asked, panting as he peeled off his shirt to no avail, the fabric tearing at his growing body. The buttons on his shirt bounced off as he felt his muscles grow at a rapid rate, which made him almost scream, while his shirt finally fell to the ground in a pile of shredded rags, to reveal a shocking surprise: rounded shoulders, defined pecs, washboard abs, toned arms, and a pair of legs strong enough to crush watermelons.

“H-holy shit, I’m buff??” he asked himself, and as he curled his arm into a flex, his bicep vein popped out, showing just how lean he was. His eyes went wide in horror. “What the fuck is going on??”

“Chad, Bro, I told you, you’re looking more huge everyday,” the jock from the canteen said, appearing as if out of nowhere. Charlie jumped and stepped back.

“Who the fuck are you?” Charlie asked, shutting his mouth as he heard a deep, bovine voice emerge from his mouth. “What the fuck is happening to me? What are you doing to me?” he cried, cowering in fear.

“That’s not the Chad I know. Dude, you’re the cockiest, most confident sigma jock on campus, not some wussy nerd,” the jock responded with a chuckle.

“I keep telling you, my name’s not Chad! It’s Chad—” Charlie tried to say his own name, but the name Chad slipped out of his lips instead. No matter how hard he tried, the name Chad stuck to his tongue like honey. “What the hell is going on?”

“You’ll see when we’re done, Chad.” The jock winked and sauntered away, his muscles defined by the sunlight above while Charlie watched, confused and terrified altogether. What did that musclehead mean by “you’ll see when we’re done”?

Walking back to his dorm, Charlie felt exposed. Embarrassed. He tried to cover up his body, but his hands, large as they were, were unable to fully cover his massively ripped chest, which bounced with every step he took. The now-lean muscular nerd, glasses still on, kept his head hung low to avoid attracting any more attention. However, when he was a few feet away from the front door, he heard giggles and whistles from the other side of the street. Charlie looked up, and noticed a trio of sorority girls looking at him. No, not just looking. Ogling him. Licking their lips and blowing kisses at him. As they did, his spine tingled… and he thought his dick was getting hard too. He smirked back at them with a confident grin, flexing one of his arms. The girls giggled even more, which made the nerd blush, until he realized his dick was still soft and limp. 

His face went pale at the realization, and before he could even try to process what the hell was going on, Charlie ran off into his residence hall, until he was finally in the comfort of his own room. Not at all realizing that he’d dropped and broken his glasses on the way.

———

It had been an intense two days since that strange jock pestered Charlie, and since he… well, got the body of one. He was still confused as to how he could just magically buff up like he did, especially since it looked like he’d been working out since he was thirteen and played football at the same time. Scouring through Google to find answers, there seemed to be no solution to changing himself back to his normal nerdy self. Not just that, he knew he couldn’t keep hiding like this - he was bound to step outside and run into people.

“Ughhhh, what do I do?” he asked himself.

Then, he realized there was one person he hadn’t seen since his change. William.

Charlie grabbed his phone and, with his meaty fingers, sent a message to his best friend, hoping he could have someone to trust with his secret.

CHARLIE: <<William, I need your help>>

The nerd-in-a-jock’s-body held his breath, waiting for a response, and sure enough, the text bubble showed up as William typed out his reply… one that poor Charlie was not expecting.

WILLIAM: <<sup chad? i was wondering where u went>>

Charlie was baffled, and in his shock, dropped his phone. Did that jock steal William’s phone? Was this some sort of elaborate prank that Jack and his buddies were pulling? His phone buzzed again, and he picked it up to see a new message from whoever had his bestie’s phone.

WILLIAM: <<earth to chad, bruh sometimes you can be so thick huhuhu>>

As he read this, he felt an intense fog fill his mind, obscuring his panic and attempts to make sense of the situation. A chuckle left his lips, and his hand covered them in waning concern. Charlie wasn’t dumb… was he? 

He put the phone down on his bed, and looked around the mess of a bedroom he was in: empty packs of chips, half-full bottles of soda and water, clothes strewn in every corner. Well, less clothes, more like shredded pieces of fabric that were once clothes that used to fit his lanky frame. All that survived were some of his oversized t-shirts and baggy jeans, which were more form-fitting on his now-muscular physique, leaving little to the imagination. That, and a set of gym clothes he found outside his door the night after his sudden second puberty. A tight grey Under Armour compression shirt that showed off his massive pecs, a pair of black five-inch inseam shorts that hugged his thighs, and a jockstrap.

If anything, his room resembled what he thought a douchey jock’s dorm would look like.

Charlie stood up, and he felt his head go woozy, the fog in his mind intensifying and concealing more of his usual train of thought. He sniffed like a dog, sensing there was an awful stench coming from inside his room. He first thought it was his clothes - sure, they had some cheesy scent to them, but not as intense as this one was. His shoes? Rank, but not what he was looking—OH, it was himself. Charlie’s pits reeked like crazy, his B.O. filling up the room and replacing the oxygen in it. Normally, he would wrinkle his nose in disgust, but with his mind in a daze, he let out another chuckle.

“Bruh, I reek,” he said, in a low, bovine tone reminiscent of Jack.

Fuck, Jack. That sexy motherfucker, with muscles that glistened with sweat, a handsome face that he could just kiss, and a dick worth sucking—

Wait, what??

Charlie quickly got dressed in the new gym clothes he got, not even bothering to shower or clean himself up, grabbed his phone and bag, and ran out of his dorm, pushing some of his fellow nerds out of the way. He made it outside, the sun shining on his chiseled face, and he began to saunter over to…

Wait, where was he going again?

He pulled out his phone, and looked through his calendar to see what class he had. He’d already missed his degree-required Python Coding class at 8:30 AM, History of Japan at 11:30 AM, and now it was past 2:00 PM. Charlie had… Physiology of Exercise at 3:00 PM followed by HIT DA GYM at 6:00 PM? As he regained some of his composure, Charlie was shaken. These two things on his roster were stuff a jock would study and do. He usually had Study Group with his friends at six… what the fuck was going on with him?

As the nerd felt some of the mind fog ease and dissipate, he noticed the same trio of girls from two days back, the ones Charlie flexed for, but this time they were accompanied by their frat bro boyfriends - all looked like they were cut from the same cloth: white, chiseled jawlines, built bodies. Charlie’s jaw dropped at the sight of these men, his cock was getting hard just by ogling them, and tenting visibly in his tight shorts. He was straight! Into girls! He wasn’t gay. He… he couldn’t be. He grabbed his bag and covered his obscene bulge, waddling over to the library to calm himself down and figure out what was happening to him.

———

William, meanwhile, was returning to his room at the Eta Theta Tau frat house, locking the door behind him as he pulled out The Jock Bible from his backpack. He smirked as he flexed his biceps in front of the full-length mirror on the wall, before sitting down and opening the magical tome that had granted him not only the body and life he’d dreamt of. He charmed his way, literally and figuratively, into Eta Theta Tau, the college football team, and even the Honors Society. He became insanely popular, grew in strength as he did bicep curls with 28-kilogram dumbbells, gained a rugged handsomeness by stealing some traits from his fellow frat bros, all of which made William more visible and prominent in the social fabric of campus life. 

The Jock Bible also gave the new frat bro, actually more like the Frat President, immense power to reshape reality and whoever he wanted to fit his new life. That included his crush on Charlie, soon to be his dumb boyfriend Chad. He laughed as he remembered scaring the shit out of his skinny nerd friend, taunting him into growing his muscles. They were getting big enough for William’s, or rather Will’s, taste, but he wasn’t so much into Charlie’s intellect. It kinda drove an unseen wedge between the two of them, and made Will feel dumb sometimes.

Well, with this next phase of the plan, that was about to change, and now he wondered what Charlie was doing with his text messages from earlier.

“Charlie, I can’t wait to make you my blissfully dumb muscle slut,” he chuckled as he turned the pages of the book to see what else he could pull off.

———

Charlie stumbled out of the library two hours later. It was fine, he thought, I can skip this class, it’s not even a class I remember signing up for. As he walked around, the golden rays of sunlight hitting his perfectly-tanned skin, he saw the jock who’d made him into an oaf of a man strutting in his direction. Charlie hid behind a tree, his breath picking up as he shivered nervously. His mind felt somewhat the same, but also felt a bit slower than usual.

“Who is this dude, and what does he want with me?” he asked himself.

He suddenly gasped as he felt a bunch of hands grab his arm, yanking him from his very obvious hiding place. Charlie’s eyes went wide when he saw who pulled him out - it was Jack and his group of bros, smirks on their faces as they looked at him.

“Yo, Chad, why’re you hiding from us dude?” Jack chuckled, patting the nerd’s back.

One of his posse, Dan, smirked. “Bruh, we got push day at six, you’ll be there, right?” he asked.

Charlie was even more confused, seeing his tormentors treat him as if he were like one of them. No, they were treating him as one of them. Panic rose inside Charlie, as it was quite the shift. Something felt really off, but before he could even speak his mind, his mouth spoke for him. “You know it, my man. Gotta get this chest so huge it’ll break a bra in half,” Charlie grinned back involuntarily, his hand cupping his pecs, which caused him to moan.

The group of jocks laughed out loud, as Jack held onto Charlie’s shoulder. “Man, you gotta control yourself, no one’s gotta know you turn yourself on,” he replied. Charlie stared at Jack, noticing that he was taller and bulkier than his bully. That was a welcome sight for him, considering he wanted revenge for the set-up, but there was something about Jack being smaller yet still muscular that Charlie was starting to find… hot. The posse sauntered off, cackling amongst themselves as the jock-nerd ogled them, feeling more confused than he did earlier. Poor Charlie, if only he knew…

The hours flew by, and before Charlie knew it, it was nearly six. He sat down on a rock by the lake, tears in his eyes as he watched the sun set, the sky filled with gold and the water crashing against the rocks below him. “What’s the matter with me?” he asked himself, rubbing his reddened eyes with his bear-like paws.

“Bro, chillax, you’re a jock now,” a voice bellowed in his head. Charlie turned around, trying to figure out where this jock-voice came from.

“Let go, man. No need for smarts anymore when you’re this jacked.”

His breath got heavier as he realized it was coming from his own head. “But… this isn’t me! I’m not a musclehead. I’m not friends with Jack. I’m not…” he paused.

“What, gay as a three dollar bill?” the voice, which he assumed must be the Chad everyone thought he was, asked. Charlie nodded.

“I’m straight, I’m into girls,” he stuttered out, feeling even more confused as his mind conjured up an image of the jock who’d started all this.

Chad chuckled dumbly. “Dude, chicks don’t really care about our muscles, but the bros? Man, do they want a piece of the action. Don’t you wanna finally enjoy life and get to fuck someone?”

Charlie gulped. This jock persona was right, even though it was hard to listen to an oaf, even if he was in his own mind. “I… I guess…”

“Then let go man, don’t be such a pussy. You’ll get everything you ever dreamed of,” Chad replied, and Charlie felt his lips curl into a jock-like smirk. One full of confidence, as if he knew he was the shit.

Charlie was now, though, now that he really, really thought about it. He had muscles now, and big ones too. He looked like he could play for the college football team as a tight end or a quarterback with his size. His face looked like it’d been carved by the ancient Greeks or Michelangelo, with how sharp his features were.`As for the python swinging between his legs? Well, I bet Jack’s couldn’t even compare.

“I just don’t wanna be—”

“What, an asshole? An arrogant douchebag?”

“Bingo,” Charlie sighed. “It all feels so surreal, but I don’t wanna betray who I am.”

Chad laughed. “Bruh, trust me, I’m just as dopey and curious as you are. I’m you, just hotter, more confident… maybe dumber, but at least I use my body and my mind for what actually matters.”

“So I’m just supposed to let go—what the fuck??”

Charlie screamed, as he suddenly found himself in the middle of the campus gym, and in the middle of a rep on the incline bench. His arms lifted the barbell with ease.

“How’d I get here?” he asked himself.

“You talked too much, little dude, had to get to the gym in time,” Chad replied as Charlie watched his body betray him, pushing and grunting through a few more reps on the bench press before setting the barbell down and sitting upright. “Trust me man, you, me, we can be happy if we choose to be.” Charlie stood up and saw his humongous body in one of the mirrors on the wall, his mouth agape in wonder while he flexed his biceps. They were the size of his former head. As he flexed, he felt… content. Strong as fuck. Happy, even.

“There we go, little dude, you and I are gonna become one sexy Chad by the end of tonight,” Chad spoke with Charlie’s mouth, and Charlie… well, he understood now. Maybe this was just what he needed.

———

Chad kept up the push day workout, grueling through incline bench presses, cable flys, weighted tricep dips, dumbbell skull crushers… the list went on. Grinding through each rep, Charlie felt his muscles pump up even more, sending a thrill of strength and cockiness through him, while Chad grunted, fixing his bulge every now and again. As the pair-in-one-body sauntered around each machine, they felt eyes staring at them - some girls found him hot, others found him disgusting when his B.O. wafted into their noses, while the other dudes… they thirsted over his physique, complimenting him.

“Holy shit, bro, you look huge!” one gym bro said.

Another one replied, “Dude, you’re the real alpha here.” 

Chadlie smirked when a cute twink named Jamie came up to him and asked, “Um… excuse me, how do I work out to look just like you?” The twink’s bubble butt bounced, and Chad just wanted to plow his fuckstick inside that cute boy’s hole. Charlie stammered as he tried to give some tips, but he felt his hand cup the boy’s ass, squeezing that soft flesh between his fingers.

Jamie blushed scarlet. “W-would you wanna head to the showers?”

Chadie nodded, a sly grin on his face as he picked up the cutie and strutted to the locker room, grabbing a pair of towels and carrying Jamie into one of the private shower cubicles. Charlie couldn’t believe this was actually happening, but Chad could. The jock ripped off Jamie’s gym clothes off his slender body, while the very slutty twink got to work, peeling the stud’s shorts and jockstrap to the floor and getting onto his knees. Jamie licked the tip of Chadie’s cock, the jock shuddering in pleasure as his little boy guided his ten-inch monster through his dick-sucking lips and into his oh-so-perfectly-tight mouth. 

“Fuckkkkk bro,” Chad and Charlie both moaned, their body’s hand grabbing Jamie’s soft, curly hair, letting his fingers run through each lock before gripping the twink’s head, then slamming his cock further down his throat, his lips meeting the base of his jock cock. Every inch of Charlie’s resistance to becoming Chad was wearing down with each thrust of his hips, precum dripping into Jamie’s throat as the twink cupped his baseball-sized nuts and massaged them so nicely, he almost busted one. But they kept going, and once he felt like his dick had been lubed up enough by the amazing sloppy he was getting, he pulled Jamie’s head off and lifted the twink up, turning him around and bending his sweet ass over.

“I’m gonna fuck you so hard, slut,” Charlie whispered seductively into Jamie’s ear. Or was it Chad? It was unclear now who was who, as the nerd began to let the jock into him, letting go as he plowed Jamie’s ass raw. The twink whined like a bitch in heat as he couldn’t hold on for much longer, as Charlie kept ramming his cock against Jamie’s prostate so hard that he could only see stars. Jamie came from his tiny nub, but Chad kept going, fucking the cutie as if he were just a plaything, grunting like a beast as he neared his own climax.

“Holy shit bro, I’m gonna CUMMMMMM!” the jock shouted, as he blew a massive load inside Jamie’s tight ass, filling it up to the brim and letting it leak a bit out of the twink’s hole as he slid out. In his mind, Charlie’s and Chad’s minds melted together in orgasmic bliss, blending together to create a cocky yet dopey, dumb yet curious, straight-passing yet gay-as-fuck jock - the Chad everyone knew him to be. He took a deep breath as he turned the shower on, washing Jamie’s lithe body, while the cutie lathered up his huge muscles, kissing a few times, before drying each other up.

Jamie grabbed Chad’s phone and blushed as he typed in his number. “Call me, Chad.” The twink’s ass bounced hypnotically as he ran to his locker, got dressed, and headed out. Chad chuckled, cupping his bulge. He left a missed call for Jamie to save his contact, then got dressed in his gym clothes again, his scent barely erased by the shower he just had.

As Chad made his way back to his room, Will bumped into him, a slight blush on his frat-bro face. He looked up into Chad’s empty eyes and dumb grin, and noted them down in his head. “So, gave in to the jock life, Chad?” he asked.

“Dude, it’s soooo chill. No thoughts, just lifting, fucking, sleeping. I mean, I still have some smarts, but like, they’re all workout and nutrition shit, you feel me?” Chad replied, chuckling like the typical himbo he now was, as his fingers ran through his hair.

Will smirked. It worked. Charlie, or Chad now, could finally be his. But not just that, he seemed taller and bigger than ever. He moved closer to the jock he made, and smiled. “I get you, bro. Though, I have a question. You still into chicks?”

Chad let out a boastful laugh. “Nah man, dudes are the only ones who can appreciate all this,” he said as he gestured to his muscular body, his right arm flexed to show off.

“Is that so?” Will asked, flexing his own pecs to show off. “Then, mind if I say, I find you fucking hot, dude,” he whispered, cupping Chad’s bulge sexily. However, shock flooded his face when the jock pushed him off.

“Sorry, dude. I mean, you’re hot and all, but I’m only into cute twinks,” Chad replied with a firm frown, before sauntering off.

Will was confused as fuck. The Jock Bible promised him that anyone he turned into a jock would worship him, become his boyfriend and servant. Maybe that’s because he hadn’t read the footnotes - the fine print stated that whoever the converted jock would fuck first would be his desired lover. That was Jamie the twink. Now, Chad was dumb as a pile of rocks, but clearly, Will was dumber for missing this, and the Jock Bible weaved its magic into his mind, making sure he was dumb enough to forget about its existence and its powers, leaving him powerless and too dumb for college, that he soon dropped out.

And as for Chad? Well, with Jamie as his lover, and with his dopey confidence in life, who wouldn’t want to be like him?

———

Hello, Tumblr! I'm back with a new story after a long while - this one's a commission I'd been working on for some time now, though life had thrown me a few obstacles in getting it finished. Hope y'all enjoy this one!

If you're interested in commissioning a story from me, see my post on commissions here! If you can't or don't want to commission any stories, you can also tip me over on ko-fi.

[hwaslayer]

the space between us three (jyh) | seven.

⇢series masterlist | series playlist

⇢summary: while juggling the demands of life, yunho continues to do his best to raise his independent 11 yr old daughter, seora. throughout the years, they've built a strong foundation, an unbreakable bond— one that consists of late night talks and food runs, father/daughter dates, and sideline cheerleading at her basketball games. so when you unexpectedly come into their world, things shift. despite the uncertainty and the fear of stepping outside of their comfort zone, yunho and seora eventually learn how to open their hearts and learn how to rebuild a home where three can thrive together.

⇢pairing: single dad!yunho x f. reader

⇢genre: (18+ - minors dni) strangers to lovers, single dad au | fluff, angst, smut

⇢word count: 7.8k

⇢chapter content/warnings: cussing, mature language/sexually implied content, just hella cute moments between these two 😭, lots of kisses, dancing, alcohol consumption and intoxication, making out lol, good vibes and good company, feelings are deep af so we get a glimpse as to how they're both feeling about the future of their relationship, yunho is hella sweet bro fAWK, we also get a glimpse of seonghwa’s ‘afraid of commitment’ headass

When you get into the office, there's a brand new desktop setup waiting for you, along with a cup of coffee, the shop's new sticker for the week and a tiny bouquet. You slowly set your stuff down and smile to yourself, picking up the post-it on top of the coffee cup.

i had to create a temporary password to set up your account on this comp - it's 'yunhoisthebest01' 😊 feel free to change it when you log in (or not)! have a good day today, pretty.  - yunho

You nibble on your bottom lip, afraid someone will catch you smiling too big at the note. Since your date with Yunho, all your time has been occupied by him in one way or another. It was lunch. Small walks. Breaks to grab snacks together. Quick dinner dates. It was either texting all day in between running errands and other obligations, responding to each other through Instagram stories or even late night calls.

⇢FLASHBACK

yunho: are you awake?

you: sure am!

yunho: oh snap, what? lol catching miss pretty during the late night hours?

you: haha stoppp i'm not tired yet!

yunho: can i call you then?

You quickly finish up your night time routine and throw yourself in bed, getting ready to look presentable even though Yunho isn't physically here.

you: yes ofc!

It doesn't take long before Yunho's ringing your phone, the heat creeping up to your cheeks when you settle in bed and hear his deep voice on the other line.

"Hello?"

"Hey cutie. Did you just get in bed?"

"Just about, yup. What about you?"

"Yeah. Seora and I just wrapped up our show for tonight."

"Cute. Is she asleep already?"

"Seora? God, no. She's actually on the phone with her friends right now, too. They're hehe-haha'ing away as we speak." Yunho listens to his daughter's voice raise on the phone before laughing loudly. He typically doesn't mind but when it gets too late for his liking, that's when he'll get into father mode and knock on her door.

"That's so cute. Love that for the girlies."

"Yeah well, if she keeps it up, I'm gonna have to tell her to get off and sleep."

"Yunho." You giggle. "It's the weekend. I'm sure they won't be on for long. Besides, at least I can keep you occupied in the meantime."

"Yeah?" Yunho chuckles. "How are you gonna keep me occupied, hm?" His voice is low. You can tell he's wearing that smirk he always wears, and you can't help but bite your lip at the image in your head.

"Yapping your head off." He laughs.

"I like that." He adjusts his position on the bed, sheets rustling in the background. "What'd you do today, pretty girl? We didn't get to talk much."

"I know, I'm sorry. I ran some errands and met up with Sian really quickly. Came home, deep cleaned my apartment and changed my sheets. Was apparently exhausted at one point and fell asleep while watching my show. Then, I realized it was dinner! So I whipped something up, rewatched the episodes I missed and now I'm here."

"Busy bee. Sounds productive, though."

"Yeah, been needing to get these done. What about you?"

"She had a game again, but we ended up hanging out with some of her friends and their parents afterward. It was a later game so we weren't up too early."

"Did she win?"

"Mhm. I think they might make the playoffs this year, they've been doing really well."

"That's amazing."

"You should watch her play one day."

"Of course." You chuckle a bit.

"Would you think I'm weird if I said I kinda miss you?"

"No, never. I kinda miss you, too. But, you'll see me at work next week." You smile to yourself as you softly respond.

"I don't wanna see you just at work, though."

"Then, what do you wanna do, Yunho? You know I'm always down to go out."

"Wish I could have you here, is all."

"Yeah, I know the feeling." You mean it. You really do. You know the feeling all too well, but you know the circumstances are different. It's not easy. And it's something you and Yunho will have to confront at some point— should this continue going the way it is.

Cause you like him. A lot. The feelings are mutual.

"I'll make it happen."

"Will you?"

"Mhm." 

"That determined, hm?" You tease.

"I am. You know I don't do this unless I'm serious about you."

"So, are you saying you're serious about me?"

"And if I am?" Yunho chuckles a bit.

"Yunho." You whine playfully.

"You smiling, baby?" His voice is low, husky, and it immediately does things to you.

"I'm hanging up on you."

"No, don't." He laughs. "I don't take it back, though."

"Good, I was hoping you wouldn't." He smiles and bites his lip, his need for you growing at a tremendously fast rate and it is scary. But, he enjoys it. He enjoys you.

"You're cute."

⇢END

"Y/N, shut up." Noeul says as she trails in, her eyes widening at the sight in front of her. "He did not."

"Yeah, he did."

"He's so fucking sweet. You better give him all that ass and more."

"Okay, Noeul. It's so early." You laugh.

"Is he coming tomorrow?"

"I dunno, he said he was gonna try to swing by if he could. Depending on whether or not Seora would sleepover at her bestfriend's house and if his friends wanted to go."

"I hope so. I'd love to see you two in action even though I already get glimpses of it." You let out a content breath.

"We'll see." You sit and look up at her. "Anyway, are we still on to get our nails done after work?"

"Mhm. Sian said she's gonna have to skip because she promised she'd take her niece out while she's sleeping over at her parents' house."

"Yeah, she should spend time with her. It's been a minute since they've had some quality time."

"We have all weekend with you, though."

"Woo!" You cheer, making her laugh.

"Are you seeing Yunho at some point today?"

"Mm, gonna see if he can grab lunch or something."

"So cute." She giggles. "Full day today?"

"Not too bad, but we'll see if anything pressing comes up during the day."

"Yeah, same. Well let me know if you wanna take a quick walk later. Just text me." You nod. "Have a good day. See you later, babe." You wave her off before returning your attention to your phone and pulling up Yunho's text thread.

you: thank you, yunho. 🥰

yunho: course, cutie. you can finally work productively now!

you: love that for me. hahaha

you: free for lunch later?

yunho: always. i'll come get you around 12:15pm or so.

you: okeeee ☺️ 

You start working away on your new desktop, following up on a lot of pending items before answering new emails coming in. You've hopped in a few 30-min meetings throughout the hours, exchanging updates on the wider progress of the new clinical department already on its way in the main hospital, along with the pediatric end. You've got a few new things to check on, along with new groups to work with to make sure things continue moving. But, for the first time in awhile these past weeks, you feel like you can take a breath of fresh air. Most of the complicated, loose ends have been closed off, and the rest is just figuring out little details— where certain furniture is going, how a typical set up would be, what color blinds they'd like in the department.

The more fun, creative tasks.

Yunho is included in one of the meetings and it's crazy how giddy you feel the moment you see him. This doesn't even have anything to do with you and him, but you love the way he carries himself. You love the way he talks, you love the way he presents and answers questions so confidently. His energy is so undefeated and you can't even begin to understand how someone like him has feelings for someone like you.

You just feel lucky, and you aren't even official. Was that too much?

It's something about him, real talk.

When it gets close to lunch, you're checking off things on your list— giving you to a nice moment to sit back and scroll through social media mindlessly. 

"Hey." Yunho's tall figure pops into your cubicle and sits onto the free chair nearby. "I see you're putting this to good use." He points at your split screen on the desktop— one for your calendar on the browser, one for emails.

"Very much so. Thank you for this. I thought I was gonna have to wait a bit longer. I know provisioning is crazy busy right now."

"Not if I'm around." You laugh. 

"Well, thank you. Life saver."

"You're welcome." He leans forward and gives you a quick kiss on the lips, hidden well in your cubicle. "Ready to eat?"

"Yes, I'm hungry." You stand and begin to follow him out. "By the way, you did great during the meeting, Yu."

"You think so? I winged the fuck out of it." You playfully push him while he laughs.

"So, was it bullshit?!"

"I mean, not necessarily! Whatever I said will work, I just haven't tried it in this case in particular."

"Jeong Yunho."

"That's my name." He swings his arm around you and kisses your temple. "Nah, don't sweat. I always find ways to make it work." He turns to you as you both walk out of the elevator. "So.. I was thinking. If you aren't too swamped today, maybe we can get lunch off campus." Which, isn't unusual coming from Yunho. You and him have gone off campus to grab lunch together. But, that also means you get Yunho alone for a bit and you can already feel the butterflies building in your stomach. Not that you didn't enjoy people's company whenever they joined you two for lunch— it just feels nice to have your time with him, too.

"Yeah, I'm down. It's pretty light for a Friday."

"Good." He slips his hand into yours, leading you to his car in the main staff garage. 

"Yunho, are you sure it's okay?"

"Mhm. Our new hires are starting to get more hands-on with Taehyun and Jihoon. They're actually really good about jumping in and taking initiative."

"Oh, nice! That's great to hear they're doing well."

"Yup! Works out perfectly." He swings your door open and lets you get settled in before sliding into the driver's seat. The conversation immediately picks back up to the meeting you both were in today, Yunho asking about your progress and what else you needed to get done now that the foundation was pretty much solidified. The entire time, Yunho has his free hand in yours— pressing sweet kisses to the top in between conversation at the red lights. You feel the heat rise to your cheeks every single time, shying away when he teases you about it in his usual Yunho manner.

The both of you decide on grabbing sushi from a popular, affordable mom & pop shop near the hospitals. Yunho finds a spot and asks for your specifics before walking in to place an order. It takes about 15 minutes before Yunho is walking back to the car with a full container and a smaller one on top in a plastic bag, setting it gently on your lap before he drives over to a nearby walking trail near a lake that you two can eat and relax for a bit at.

"You excited for your birthday?" Yunho asks as you both dig in and begin to eat, watching the geese flock at the lake in front of you. 

"Mm, I dunno. The age is a little too serious for my liking but we'll see."

"Are you trying to say I'm a fossil? Pre-historic?" You laugh loudly and shake your head.

"No, of course not!"

"You're only a year younger than me." Yunho chuckles. "Still young, still thriving, as Seora says."

"She's so cute. I like her thinking."

"Are you really not excited?"

"I am. I just.. I hope you can come. But, like, I know it's hard so no pressure—" You start to stumble over your words and Yunho smiles at you.

"Just know that I'll always try, okay? I'm sure it'll work out, and then we can celebrate you together."

"It'd be fun."

"When's the last time you've gone out like this?" You shrug.

"Awhile. We've definitely gone to bars with coworkers and do the whole happy hour thing, but it's been a long time since I've gone out to the club and celebrated this way."

"Your brother and his friends are coming along?" You nod.

"Yup! And a few more people from work that we're all close to."

"See, it'll be a fun time regardless."

"Yeah. I guess I am excited. I haven't gone out with my brother like this in awhile either."

"When you guys go on vacation, do you explore and do things together or stay put at the hotel?"

"We always explore. Always." You chuckle.

"A fun duo."

"We try to be." 

"What else are you doing for your birthday, pretty girl?"

"Mm. Sian and Noeul are coming over right at midnight." You laugh. "Then, I think they planned a few things. They didn't give me any specifics but they said brunch and a spa date thingy."

"Cute."

"Me and Noeul are getting our nails done after work."

"Sian isn't coming?"

"Her niece is staying at her parents' house for the weekend so she wants to go spend some time with her while she can."

"Ah, I see. Makes sense." Yunho takes a sip of his water. "Seora would've loved to tag along even if she wasn't able to do anything."

"Aw. Well, I can take her along with me one day." Yunho silently nods with a tiny smile etched on the corner of his lips. He'd love that, and he can already see how well you two would get along.

It's just the fact of how long it'll take to get there.

Kinda makes him sad, but Seora deserves everything and he is always gonna put her first. He knows it won't be easy, and he knows she won't put down her walls immediately. In fact, he knows she'll have a hard time with this and she'll have a hard time with you.

He's so conflicted on what to do. He obviously doesn't wanna lose you and let all of this go. It's been ages since he felt this way and for the first time in a long time, he can genuinely and truly say his feelings run deep for you. He feels comfortable and he feels safe, despite the fears still lingering in the back of his mind. He can't let this go.

He knows life is short and he'll probably never come across something like this again.

But, Seora.

Oh, he hopes she'll understand. He swallows the anxiety that's slowly building every time he thinks about it— afraid to ruin your lunch or even your birthday. He'll continue to go with the flow and keep you happy, and he'll face it when the time comes.

Which, is probably soon with how quick he's falling for you.

"Mm, yeah." Is all he manages to respond with, also feeling stuffed from lunch as you both sit back and enjoy the peace while basking in the sun. Yunho has his arm draped against the back of the bench while you scoot closer and remove the trash from in between. The stillness, the quiet, is nice. You like being able to do this with Yunho.

You are comfortable, and you are safe.

You don't have to do much with him and he still manages to make you feel lucky. To make you feel wanted.

"Thank you again for saving my butt with the desktop." He chuckles.

"Yeah, of course."

"When did you even set it up?"

"This morning."

"You made Seora get up early just to fix my computer?"

"She didn't mind. Her bestfriend is always at school early anyway because her parents have pretty strict early shifts."

"Mm." I hum. "Okay, fair enough."

"C'mere." He looks down at you with a smile. His hand comes down to lift your chin up, kissing you on the lips with nothing but a sweet gentleness behind his actions. Yunho has been nothing short of gentle with you— sharing sweet, tiny moments like this. Nothing more, nothing less.

He doesn't expect anything out of it. Doesn't rush or force you, even though the need for him is slowly growing day by day; the more you spend time with him.

But, it's all in the motions. All in time. This pace works for you two.

You smile against his lips, pressing another few repeated kisses on him before you're walking back to the car hand in hand— ready to tackle the rest of the day before you're off for pre-birthday festivities with one of your bestfriends.

Once the clock hit midnight, you heard a knock on your door before footsteps rushed down the front steps of your apartment complex. You peeked through the peephole, only able to catch an unfamiliar car driving off. Your focus quickly strayed when you noticed the huge flower bouquet and balloons on your doorstep. You gasped to yourself, slowly swinging your door open before taking in the sight of it all. You dragged the balloons in gently, making sure none of them popped as you relocated them safely inside of your apartment. You placed the huge bouquet into a vase before grabbing the small card wedged in between two baby pink roses:

happy birthday, beautiful. - yunho

You snapped a photo and sent it to Yunho with a crying emoji, barely able to send a follow up message before your loud ass bestfriends barged through your door with confetti and all sorts of celebratory items in hand.

Now, you were exhausted and waking up close to noon because of all the drinking and late night talks that happened last night. When Noeul and Sian saw the balloons and the flowers, they wouldn't let the conversation about Yunho go even if your eyes were closing more and more by the second. 

"Birthday girl is awake!" Sian says at your kitchen, already preparing coffee.

"Barely." You sit up and dig your head into your hands. "My head kinda hurts."

"Your birthday barely started, there's more where that came from."

"Please. You guys did so much planning for the club tonight, I need to at least make it inside." Noeul laughs next to you.

"You haven't heard from Yunho yet about tonight?"

"No." You sigh. "But either way, we'll enjoy whether or not they come. He's not obligated to show up and he shouldn't force it if he can't."

"You're right. I'm still praying and crossing my fingers, though." Noeul says before getting up. "Come on, get up. We're gonna enjoy this coffee prepared by yours truly—" She turns to Sian for a quick moment. "Before we take you out for a full day of birthday goodness and see your family for brunch!"

"Then, we get back in time to get ready for tonight's festivities!" Sian adds, making you shake your head as Noeul literally drags you out of bed to throw you in the shower.

Meanwhile, Yunho is at some café downtown after dropping off Seora at Chan-mi's house. He's poking at his food while Mingi and Seonghwa argue in front of him, completely unaware of what said argument is even about.

"Aye, tell him he's wrong." Mingi hits him on the chest, pulling Yunho out of his thoughts.

"About what?"

"He wasn't even listening." Seonghwa cuts eyes at Yunho before sliding in his seat even more.

"Sorry, I'm just—"

"Thinking about Y/N? We know."

"No— well, yeah, but no." Yunho sighs and looks at his friends. "What the fuck do I even wear? I haven't gone out like this in so long, I can't even remember."

"You mean, you haven't gone out for someone you really like in so long?"

"Yeah, that."

"Let's head to the mall really quickly after this." Seonghwa adds. "You can still look good for your girl without doing too much."

"You're right for once." Seonghwa kicks Mingi's foot under the table, causing him to groan.

"I'm always right, you fucking prick."

"That's why I'm the favorite uncle. Cause you're always so grumpy. Besides, who the fuck accidentally spills the beans about his date?"

"It just slipped! I wasn't paying attention."

"Yeah, the hell." Yunho laughs. "You're lucky she didn't bring it up again after that." Yunho takes the last bite of his food before he throws in a crumpled napkin and sits back. "Ready to head to the mall? Do you guys have something to wear or are you buying stuff, too?"

"I'm gonna grab some things."

"Same." The three stand and gather their trash before heading out to the mall. Yunho had picked up Seonghwa and Mingi in exchange for Seora's presence, the two planning to stay the night post-club festivities. Mingi decided he'd be the designated driver tonight with Yunho's car, only coming for the vibes and to support his bestfriend. On the other hand, Yoori wasn't too happy to know Seonghwa wouldn't be getting his time tonight, but he had been spending a lot of time with her lately that he felt the need to give himself some space.

Some me time.

And he's not gonna lie, he's pretty excited for it. So is Mingi, so is Yunho.

The three walk around their favorite stores, grabbing a few key pieces they can throw into their closet rotation. Tonight, Yunho's gonna wear something simple, but enough to [hopefully] keep your attention. He's planning on a black button up and slacks, while Mingi is deciding to throw on a white tee and some slacks. Seonghwa bought a new leather jacket to go with his black top and black jeans. They don't spend too much time at the mall— the three quickly satisfied and calling it a day early on so they can chill until tonight.

Yunho just realized he never told you if he was going or not.

But, he also realizes he can take this and run with it. Surprise you, be with you all night.

He's fucking excited.

For him, the day feels excruciatingly long and stretched out, but for you, the day moves too fast for your liking. The first stop is a popular Thai eatery that is booked for months on end for brunch. When you walk in, your parents, Wonwoo and a few other good friends from work are already sitting at a long table near the back, happily greeting you with their birthday wishes when you approach the table. You automatically feel complete seeing the people you love the most all in one place, eating away at all the delicious food your group ordered while sipping on mimosas. The restaurant has a 2-hr limit due to its popularity, so by the time 2-hrs is up, you're full, you're content, you're ready to walk it off. Your parents smother you in kisses before handing you an envelope with some birthday money, waving goodbye as your brother whisks them away and takes them back home. Wonwoo gives you a quick hug before he's reminding you him and his friends will be over at your place to pre-game for tonight, causing you to nod and shoo him away in return.

You were starting to get excited.

But, Noeul and Sian take you to the next stop: a spa. The three of you indulge in a 90-min hot stone massage— something you truly needed from these grueling weeks at work. As you lay on the table while your massage is on the way, your thoughts hover to Yunho and how much you miss him. He hadn't sent many messages today, and you know he's only doing it to let you enjoy your day with the girls. But, you wish he was here. Or, that he's around.

Or, that you'd see him tonight.

You really hope the universe would align on this one with you. 

All in all, post-massage you feel relaxed. Cool, calm and collected. You, Noeul and Sian grab takeout to eat at the ease of your home— excited to sit around and take a little break before your brother and all your other friends, his friends, come over before the club.

The pre-party before the party.

Time really does fly when you're genuinely enjoying yourself. So much that it's hard to grasp just how fast it's been going.

You slip into your black dress and start working on your hair and makeup with Sian and Noeul. Your other friends trickle in one by one, touching up their hair and makeup while blasting music. Sooner or later, there's loud talking and footsteps hurrying up the stairs to your unit— a familiar voice coming through on the opposite side of the door:

"Yo!" Wonwoo yells, pounding on your door. You hurry to the door and let your brother and his friends in, all of them loudly greeting you and your friends as they come in and fill your space. "Let's get this going so we can head out!"

"Line up the shots!" Soonyoung yells. "Birthday girl, I'm connecting my phone to your speakers!" You nod and give him the thumbs up, doing the final touches to your makeup before heading to the kitchen and whipping out the alcohol for the pre-game session. You bounce along to the music while everyone hypes themselves up for the night, checking your phone for any new texts from Yunho.

There hadn't been any since you responded to him earlier in the day, and it makes you feel a little sad.

Maybe he was busy? Maybe he wanted you to be present on your birthday?

You would've really enjoyed with him around.

Guess the universe wasn't aligning for this one.

"Why are you all quiet? Is your man not coming tonight?" Wonwoo's voice pulls you out of your thoughts. Your brother leans back against the counter as you pop open the Don Julio and start pouring the shots quietly. 

"He's not my man." You shrug. "And I don't know. He never said anything after he said he'd try and I don't wanna ask or make him feel guilty about it."

"Not your man, yet." He teases. "He's probably coming. It's all a part of the surprise."

"Don't get my hopes up, Wonu." Your brother pinches your cheek.

"Simp."

"You're annoying." You shove a shot in his face. "Here. Start passing them out." Wonwoo does as he's told like the good brother he is, calling everyone to start gathering around with their shots. Once you've poured enough, Wonwoo leads the whole birthday speech nonsense before you're all taking the shots straight— many faces being made [groans being let out] at the taste and burn of tequila.

One turns to two.

Two turns to four.

Four turns to you're tipsy as hell.

You leave your studio as is when its time to head out the club, squishing in the backseat of Wonwoo's car with Noeul and Sian. Wonwoo's friend, Seokmin, takes the front seat, helping your brother keep the last bit of sanity he has left with his company during the drive over.

"You guys ready?" Wonwoo looks at the rearview mirror, watching as you and the girls drunkly respond and yell in excitement. He looks at Seokmin in the front seat, laughing while he hears the chaos echo from the back to the front. It's late in the evening, so the roads aren't as packed anymore. This makes the drive over to the club only about 25 minutes long down South. 

It's a fuckin' breeze when you're tipsy and having fun with your bestfriends in the backseat of your brother's nice ass car.

When you arrive and reunite with the other half of the group, you walk to the club together and skip through the tremendously long line down the block. You head straight to the VIP table everyone chipped in for, giving you a good corner of the club to claim as your own.

"Let's go!" Seokmin yells, leading the guys over to the bar to start ordering on everyone's behalf. The night is already off to an incredibly strong start with more shots to take— all your friends living life on the edge by chasing with cocktails.

It feels good to let loose. 

You haven't in a long time.

You begin to dance and have fun with the group, almost completely forgetting Yunho's absence until:

"Bitch, excuse me!" Sian rushes over to you after visiting the bar. "He's here! With his friends!" 

"What?" You squint and lean towards Sian's ear, unable to hear her properly.

"Yunho! He's here with his friends!" She points towards the door, finding the three walking in as they search the crowd for you and the group. 

"See! I knew he wouldn't miss out!" Noeul adds. You smile, waving Yunho over when he finally locks eyes with you in the sea of people, the excitement running through your veins.

He's here.

"You made it!" You say to him as he comes face to face. He chuckles and pulls you into a nice, big hug— his cologne filling your senses when he holds you tight. 

"Course I did. You think I'd miss this?"

"Well, I dunno. Seora?"

"She would never miss an opportunity to sleep over at her bestfriend's house." You look at him, his hands still around your waist. "I wouldn't miss an opportunity to be with you, either."

"Stop." He shakes his head while he watches you shy away.

"Happy birthday, baby." He says in your ear before placing a tender kiss on your forehead. Seonghwa greets you next, pulling you into a hug before greeting your friends. Mingi comes after, also pulling you into a hug even though you hadn't formally met until tonight.

"So, we finally meet!" He says while laughing.

"I know, it's so good to see you! I'm glad you guys made it out!"

"Of course, why not? Plus, we're celebrating you. It's a good reason to be out and having fun." You smile at him before pulling them over to the group sitting at a nearby table. Yunho and your brother have already greeted each other, and now, he's making his rounds for meet and greets with everyone else. 

"Take a shot with us?" Yunho comes back to you after he's done mingling and saying his hello's. "On me." You nod. He takes your hand as Seonghwa and Mingi lead the way to the bar, Yunho guiding you from behind as he tightly laces his fingers with yours. Seonghwa orders more shots, asking you what your preference is.

"I'm only gonna taking this one for you though because I'm driving."

"More than enough for me." You smile at Mingi, grabbing your glass while the other three wait for theirs. The moment their hands are full, you clink your glass against theirs, cheering loudly before you take the shot down the neck— the tequila burning the column of your throat as it travels down. "I don't know how much more I have left in me." You wince at the taste, making Yunho chuckle.

"I just got here. We've gotta keep going." He squeezes your hand.

"By the way, glad your bouquet and balloons made it inside safely." Seonghwa smiles.

"Wait, you dropped it off for him?"

"Sure did! I was on my way home, anyway."

"Thank you." You look at the both of them before the bartender slides down three more shots for you, Seonghwa and Yunho, claiming it was on the house for your birthday.

Once you've taken the shot and sipped on a cocktail to wash away the after taste, you've gotten yourself to a really good level with the alcohol and you don't think you wanna push yourself any further. The DJ starts hitting a good point of his set— you and your group bouncing and dancing along to the music. The entire time, though, you find yourself clinging to Yunho the more you feel the alcohol seeping in.

The more the world spins.

And he enjoys that.

"You okay?" He asks, his arm coming around you.

"Yeah. I'm just happy you're here." He smiles.

"I am, too." He kisses your forehead again. It all starts off cute— with Yunho grabbing you by the hand so you could both sing or rap along to the songs with each other. From time to time, he switches it up; hugging you from behind and swaying along to the beat. Other times, he's got you pressed up against him; hands gently digging into your hips as you work your ass on him. At one point, he's found himself backed up against the wall, watching intently as you dance on him. He's guiding your movements to the beat, keeping up as you continue. Every time you press your back against him, he leaves a kiss on your neck, hands threatening to roam up your chest and give it a good squeeze.

But, he has to remind himself that he's in public.

That this is all the alcohol getting to him and making him act on his thoughts.

That he's gotta do right by you. 

Just.. fuck. It doesn't make it any easier when he gets front row seats to a perfect view of your outfit and everything else about you. He can't help but continue to eye the way your tight, black one-shoulder longsleeve dress falls right below the curve of your ass and the way those strappy heels wrap around your ankles. Yunho keeps thinking about how sexy you look right now, and how much of a goddamn goddess you are.

The way you work him so well.

Your perfume.

Your pretty nail polish.

The way your energy is a match-made in heaven with his.

It's such a turn on.

Especially when the song finishes and you giggle, throwing your arms around his neck lazily while you plant repeated kisses to his lips. One second, he's enjoying the cute intimacy. You've managed to stray a bit from the group, making Yunho feel like he can finally focus on you and you only. His hands are still placed on your hips while you tease away— pecking him sweetly.

The next second, your lips are crashing onto his in a more intense, heated manner; arms still wrapped around his neck while his large hands are now resting on the small of your back to keep you close. He might be drunk, and you might be drunk— the surroundings might not mean shit and this might not make sense at the moment, but what you do know is that it feels like pure bliss to be kissing Yunho. To have him like this.

And he feels the same.

Which is why his hands pull you flush against his body, deepening the moment with every second that passes. His tongue lines your lower lip as a way of asking for permission, smirking into kiss when you push forward and kiss him more eagerly. 

With hunger, an edge with desire.

Right now, you two probably look like a bunch of high schoolers just making out at a party cause it's the thing to do. But to you, to Yunho, the outside world and the extra noise doesn't fucking matter.

It's just you and him.

"You're so fucking pretty." He breaks the kiss briefly to say in your ear. "Prettiest birthday girl I've ever seen." He plants hot, open-mouthed kisses below your ear and right down your neck.

"Yunho." The way you softly moan his name is driving him crazy, he can't help but lower his lips down to your neck— leaving a trail of kisses and soft nips against your skin.

"Wish I could take you back with me tonight."

"You could." You bite your lip when you meet his eyes. He cups your cheek and rubs the surface.

"Gotta do this right, love." He places a kiss to your cheek before slipping his hand back in yours. "Wanna head back to the group? We kinda moved pretty far." You laugh and nod.

"Yeah. It was nice to have the alone time, though."

"No lie about that." He follows behind as you lead the way through the crowd, getting back to your brother and all your friends. Your brother and his rowdy ass friends are all loudly singing along, a couple of new faces joining your group to dance along with them. Yunho plops onto the free space next to Mingi on the couch, while Wonwoo comes around to hand you another drink.

"Drink up, sis. The night is young and so are you." You laugh, taking the glass from his hand. "I see you're enjoying yourself." Wonwoo's cheeks are flushed red and he's smirking, throwing an arm around you to speak clearly in your ear. "Just make sure he takes good care of you, okay?"

"Yeah." You nod. "Just feels kinda complicated."

"Why?"

"Seora. Mom." Is all you say. Because yeah, you don't know how Seora or your mom would feel and you'd hate to make them upset. Wonwoo shakes his head and leans forward again.

"Don't worry about it. I'm sure it'll all work out. It'll all play out the way it should." He looks at you. "Let's not worry about that right now, hm? It's your birthday. Keep enjoying yourself." You laugh.

"Thanks, Wonu." Your brother ruffles your hair and begins to dance, causing everyone around you to join in and hype you up. While you're busy with the girls, Wonwoo plops next to Yunho in the free space, sipping on some water while people-watching.

"Thanks for making it out tonight. You made her really happy." He says, turning to Yunho with a smirk. "She was all sad and quiet because she hadn't heard from you today." Yunho laughs.

"Wouldn't miss it."

"Please take care of her and be good to her, alright? Just doing my brotherly duties."

"Course. You have my word." Wonwoo nods before giving his shoulder a squeeze and standing to join his friends again. It isn't long before you find yourself getting tired from all the dancing— plopping onto Yunho's lap when he signals for you to do so. He has his arms wrapped around you while the both of you begin to laugh and flirt around with each other, Mingi and Sian in deep, drunk conversation next to you.

"Where's Noeul?" You gently nudge Sian.

"Girl, I haven't seen her in a minute. Probably out at sea trying to find a man for the night." Sian laughs before returning her attention to Mingi, and now, one of Wonwoo's other friends who has joined the conversation. You continue to look out at the crowd, hoping you can spot Noeul just to make sure she's okay. And, it only takes you about a few seconds before you find a familiar figure.

But, you were not prepared to see her up on Seonghwa like that. Director Yoori's Seonghwa.

"Oh shit." You say, causing Yunho to furrow his brows at you. He squeezes your thigh, making you shift your attention back to him momentarily. 

"What's wrong?"

"Noeul." You nod towards her and Seonghwa. Initially, she was dancing on him and it looked pretty harmless. All for fun. Until her hand starts to snake up to his neck while he holds her close. She's dancing against him, their hips moving in synchronized movements; in harmony. 

"Oh." Yunho says. "Oh shit." He repeats after you when Noeul walks away, but Seonghwa is quick to pull her back in his arms. This time, she's facing him. He's talking in her ear and she's giggling. Then, she's making the first move and kissing him.

He takes it.

"Uh." Mingi leans forward to catch Yunho's eyes and all they can do is laugh it off, shake their heads. But, yeah. Seonghwa's fucked.

"Okay, atta girl!" Sian yells, cheering them on. Sian is obviously more carefree, goes with the flow. Doesn't think much about any repercussions. Doesn't really care much for them overall. She is good at hyping you up, at being a wing woman, at helping you remember who the fuck you are; but, she could also mean trouble.

There is no grey area, it is either black and white with her.

"Are Seonghwa and Yoori official?" You ask Yunho and he shakes his head.

"No."

"Mm." You hum.

"See, then it's a free for all! It's all for the fun of it!" You all shift your attention back to the two, still handsy with each other. Still playfully locking lips before Noeul pulls back and leads him to the group. She avoids eye contact even though she's subtly nibbling on her lip and blushing, Seonghwa instantly pulling her down on his lap.

Yeah, this was gonna be some shit later on.

But, you guess you can worry about that later. It was still your birthday, and quite frankly, all the fucks you could give were temporarily out the window for the day.

The awkward tension settles and everyone is back to minding their own business and having fun. The bottle girls come over to greet you one more 'happy birthday' with the group, giving you energy to party it out for the last two hours of the night. When everything comes to an end, your feet are hurting, your calves are on fire, and you're reaching the sleepy level of drunk.

But, your heart is full and you're ending your birthday happily having spent it with your loved ones. With Yunho. 

"Aye, Y/N! Noeul, Sian! Rally up, ladies!" Your brother says, calling for you and your friends while him and Seokmin stand near the front of the club. Yunho, Seonghwa and Mingi guide you through the crowd, the rest of your friends and Wonwoo's friends already out the door and off to satisfy their drunchies while waving their goodbyes. "Y/N, Sian, Noeul! Roll call!"

"I'm here! Stop yelling!" You yell at Wonwoo, making him and Seokmin laugh while they wait off to the side. "Sure I can't go home with you?" You drunkly pout up at Yunho and he laughs.

"Soon, baby. Plus, you've got the girls and I got them." He quickly looks at the two behind him before turning back to you. "Hope you had fun."

"I did. Thank you guys for coming." You tippy-toe and kiss him on the lips. He continues with repeated soft, sweet kisses to your lips before your brother does another roll-call:

"Yo, for real? In front of me? Come on, now." Yunho laughs a bit and apologizes before kissing you one last time and letting your hand slip from his. Yeah, he hates having to leave you.

"All up in my business for what?!" You playfully push your brother as the five of you make your way to the car. Once everyone is settled, your brother offers to drive to the nearest McDonalds to cure your drunchies. When Wonwoo drops you and the girls off at home, you make an immediate bee-line to the bathroom and take a quick shower before throwing on your pajamas and getting the living room area ready for Noeul and Sian. As soon as everyone is done showering and finally relaxing, the three of you relive the night— making sure to press on Noeul about Seonghwa. She's clearly still drunk and out of it, brushing it off as if it were something that just happened in passing.

But, you know your bestfriend.

You know she'll wake up tomorrow, she'll remember all of this, and she'll already be attached to him. 

So, you let her be. You let her live in this moment, you let her take it. But, when the time comes, just like yours will, you'll be there to help her face it. Figure it out together with Sian. You just hope it doesn't backfire terribly on her. At work. 

And Yunho is thinking the same when he reads into the situation a bit, too. 

They get home, and he quickly peeks over at your parents' home to make sure all looks well. The three of them step in and take their showers to get comfortable and ready for bed. When it's time for them to relax and do their own debriefing, Yunho stands in the kitchen chugging water while Seonghwa and Mingi are getting their blankets onto the couch and the air mattress.

"You and Y/N are cute." Mingi says with a smile. "Like for real. It's nice to see you happy."

"I am happy. She makes me happy."

"Sounds like it's time to make it official."

"Mm." Yunho hums. "Yeah, maybe. I just—" Yunho sighs. "I don't come alone. I come with a package deal. I don't know how she'd feel, and most importantly, I don't know how Seora would take it."

"Ace will be fine. I'm sure it'll be an adjustment, but she'll eventually learn to open her heart to it, too. She wants you to be happy."

"I know. But, it won't be that easy. It can never be that easy." Yunho almost says defeatedly. "Anyway, sorry. I don't really wanna think about it right now. What was up with that?" Him and Mingi look at Seonghwa, causing him to raise a brow.

"Uh, yeah." Mingi laughs and looks at Seonghwa. "What was all that about? With Noeul?"

"I don't know how you're gonna explain this and get out of it." Yunho adds with a tiny chuckle.

"Yeah, I kinda fucked up." Seonghwa rubs his face. "Fuck. Whatever."

"Iono my guy, you looked like you enjoyed it."

"I mean, yeah. I'm not gonna lie about that."

"Time to get your priorities straight." Yunho snorts, taking another big sip of his water to avoid a hangover potentially creeping in tomorrow. "Can't just whatever your way out of this." Seonghwa looks at his phone to the unread texts from Yoori and he feels his heart sink. He's just not sure why, though.

What was the exact reason?

Did his heart sink because he felt bad and he knew he fucked up, or did his heart sink because he felt guilty and knew he was guilty for enjoying it?

"Have you been plotting on her since we walked into the club?"

"I mean, I see her around work, too. She's always been cute."

"Seonghwa." Yunho says with a small chuckle. "You can't keep doing this back and forth with Yoori."

"You're gonna have to decide cause even though you don't have a strict title to whatever you and Yoori have going on, it's clearly pretty deep. You've been spending a lot of time with her, sleeping over. Taking her out on dates."

"I didn't ask to be lectured, okay. I know." Seonghwa scoffs a bit before plopping into the couch and getting comfortable. "Tonight was just for fun."

"What if Noeul didn't feel that way?"

"Well." Is all he says before shutting his eyes.

"This guy." Yunho laughs. "Anyway, goodnight. Thanks for coming along tonight."

"Gonna go text your girl?"

"Yup! The one and only." Yunho teases before heading to his room and shutting the door. The mattress feels divine against his body, sheets keeping him warm and comfortable when he tucks it tightly around his body. He decides to shoot you a quick text, hoping you're resting after a successful and productive birthday.

yunho: you safe and comfortable at home?

you: i am. you? ☺️

yunho: yeah. just wish you were here. maybe i should've whisked you away.

you: yeah. ☹️ 

you: but i'm glad you came & we made the most out of it. thank you, yunho. ❤️

yunho: you're welcome, beautiful. sleep tight, okay? i'll try and see you before i pick up seora.

you: okay. goodnight, yu.

Yunho smiles to himself, setting his phone on the charger. Just as he's about to lie down and get some shut eye, his eyes land on the photo of him, Eunha and Seora on the nightstand, his smile slowly turning to a frown. His heart drops a bit when he lets out a sigh, but this time, it feels a little different. It doesn't ache and clench like it used to, it doesn't make him feel incredibly empty.

"She makes me happy. Really happy." He says as if Eunha could hear. Maybe she can, maybe she can't. But, all Yunho knows is that maybe, he's making progress.

Maybe, this was the beginning of healing.

Maybe, he'll be ready to let go sooner than later.

⇢taglist: @asjkdk @interweab @woojirang @svintsandghosts @cheolliehugs @persphonesorchid @mxnsxngie @jycas @cowboydk @nopension @curse-of-art @thechaotictheoryy @likexaxdaydream @dalsuwaha @enha-stars @yasuraokaa @professormingisglasses @yunyunrin @pommelex @astral-trashcan @laura1399 @domfikeluva @tournesol155 @hwaskookies @yusalterego @hwa-stars @hyukssunflower @chngbnwf @jaytheatiny @lucid-galaxys-world @chaotic-floral @sofkloster @honeyrecommends @hwashua-luv @luvv4bby @spicxbnny @pandyandy71 @sanniesaurus @angel-hyuckie @wolviejex @purpleyou7x

[bytemee]

chapter seven. | WHERE DO YOU SLEEP? — yu jimin.

𝘀𝗵𝗼𝗿𝘁𝗲𝗻𝗲𝗱 𝘀𝘆𝗻𝗼𝗽𝘀𝗶𝘀 — y/n, a rising music producer, has built her dream career while keeping her personal life under wraps. karina, aespa’s leader, is preparing for a huge comeback with a mini album produced and written by the one and only y/n.

karina knows this is the opportunity of a lifetime, and she has to nail it. the only problem is, she may be a bit distracted by her producer.

something about their connection feels different—like maybe it's worth the risk of prying eyes. but how much will they give up to chase after what they want?

𝘄𝗮𝗿𝗻𝗶𝗻𝗴𝘀 — just really fluffy, they take a little risk, kissing, let me know if there's more!

𝘄𝗼𝗿𝗱𝘀 — 4.1k

𝗮𝘂𝘁𝗵𝗼𝗿𝘀 𝗻𝗼𝘁𝗲— they're so cute i love them

taglist (open) — @sunshinez4 @gtfoiydlyj @yuyuy90 @liaponderstings @rinapomu @bimkayd

series masterlist. main masterlist. prev. next.

again, the universe seems to be on jimin's side, as it's currently raining in la, meaning the shoot for the music video is delayed until the late evening. it's a small blessing, one that's welcomed by all, but most especially by the two of you. it means she and the entire group will have the day off, and the two of you can spend it together.

your first thought is to take her out somewhere nice, and you almost suggest the beach or the pier before realizing how stupid that would be. it's raining. instead, the two of you decide to cook breakfast together before deciding that later you're going to spend the rest of the day doing what you love most—binging netflix.

there's a sense of domesticity, cooking together, as if the two of you have been doing this for years. you move around the kitchen with ease, like two well-oiled machines. every so often, her arm brushes against yours, and she offers you a small, apologetic smile, but neither of you is really sorry. you don't mind the physical contact, the casual touches, the way her presence puts you at ease.

she wonders if you've ever thought of moving to korea. if you'd consider it.

it's crossed jimin's mind before. that you moving to korea would mean being closer to her and your grandma. that you could go from being an international artist to a soloist in korea without any dent to your career. she knows that there are a million different factors that go into that decision, but she can't help but hope that you'll at least consider it.

to imagine more moments like this, just the two of you. moments that aren't limited to a few days, weeks, or months. moments that could become routine, part of everyday life. she wants that so badly, more than anything, but it's a pipe dream, a fantasy. she can't ask that of you. she can't expect you to move to korea, especially since your entire career has taken place in the us. she's being selfish, and she knows it.

and maybe it's too early to bring up such a serious topic.

you're chopping some veggies, and she's scrambling eggs when she clears her throat, breaking the comfortable silence. "y/n."

"hmm?"

she doesn't answer right away, and for a moment, you're worried, but then she sighs, a hint of a smile playing at her lips. "can i ask you something?"

you glance up, a curious expression on your face. "mhm."

"do you wanna go out tonight?"

you blink, caught off guard by the question. "go out?"

"yeah," she says, setting the spatula down and leaning against the counter. she takes in the sight of you, a faint blush coloring her cheeks, and bites her lip, considering her next words carefully. "like… dinner. somewhere nice. just us."

for a moment, you're quiet, processing her words. it's not that the idea of going out with her feels odd—it doesn't. the two of you have shared countless meals together at cozy cafes, diners, and restaurants, and those moments have always been a lot of fun. but those outings could easily pass as casual, as something platonic to anyone watching. besides, you've always gone out in disguises, hiding behind caps, masks, and oversized hoodies.

you've worked so hard to keep your personal life yours. after everything—your career, your family, your past relationships—you've learned how important it is to keep certain pieces of yourself guarded.

but then there's jimin, standing across from you, looking at you like she's waiting for the ground to swallow her up because you still haven't said anything.

and suddenly, all those reasons to stay quiet feel like excuses.

"won't that… i don't know, get us caught?" you finally say, the words leaving your mouth slowly, cautiously.

her expression falters for just a second before she shrugs, a small, almost defiant smile tugging at her lips. "maybe. but maybe not. maybe, if we're lucky, no one will even notice. or maybe they will, but who cares?"

"jimin…"

she shakes her head before you can finish, pushing off the counter and moving closer, close enough that she has to tilt her head up slightly to meet your eyes. "i'm serious, y/n. i know we've been careful so far, and it's been great. but… don't you want to stop hiding? just for one night? don't you want to just be able to sit across from me and hold my hand and talk without worrying about anyone catching us? doesn't that sound nice?"

the thought of it—of sitting across from her in a restaurant, a normal, unbothered, romantic restaurant, the two of you dressed up, your eyes only on each other, not caring who sees, not worrying about the consequences—it makes your heart swell. to hold her hand in public, to laugh too loud at a joke she tells over dinner without worrying who might be watching.

you want it. you do. so badly.

but why risk something so perfect and pure for a fleeting moment of freedom? what if it all goes wrong?

"i don't know, jimin. are you sure? we could just go somewhere else, somewhere—"

"somewhere with masks and hats and sweatshirts, yeah," she says, an edge to her tone.

you frown, feeling your own frustration building.

"we always do that. i don't want to. for once, i want it to just be the two of us."

"but—"

"please, y/n. don't you want to see me dressed up?" she asks, a hint of teasing in her voice.

you stare at her, words caught in your throat. of course you do. who wouldn't? but the risk…

"if it makes you uncomfortable, we don't have to. but i think it'll be worth it."

"okay," you murmur, barely audible.

her brows lift, her lips parting slightly. "okay?"

you take a deep breath and try again, this time louder, steadier. "okay. let's do it."

the smile that spreads across her face is so bright it almost makes you forget why you were hesitating in the first place. almost.

her excitement is contagious, though, and when she steps forward to loop her arms around your neck, a giddy feeling blooms in your chest. she leans up on her tiptoes and presses a quick kiss to your lips before pulling back, her hands slipping down to your shoulders.

"okay," she echoes, her eyes glittering.

"i just hope i won't embarrass you," you joke, earning an eye roll from her.

"trust me, there's nothing embarrassing about you." she says, a playful glint in her eyes.

"that's debatable." you grin, kissing her forehead, the tip of her nose, and then her lips.

her giggle is muffled by your lips, but her grip on your shirt tightens, keeping you in place.

your doorbell rings, and you raise an eyebrow, confused. you're not expecting anyone. you let go of her, stepping aside, and cautiously make your way to the door, wondering who could be interrupting this early.

jimin turns her focus back to the stove. it smells amazing.

"you've got to be kidding me!" you yell from the entryway.

her head snaps up, her eyes widening in surprise; for a moment, panic surges—who's at the door? what happened? but before she can move, she hears footsteps and sees you returning to the kitchen, practically dragging a man in a headlock.

"ah! y/n…s..top! i can't breathe!" he exclaims, and it's not until you hear his voice that she recognizes him. it's jamie, your manager, who's currently being held hostage by you. he hits your arm, trying to break free, but you only tighten your grip, an annoyed expression on your face.

"what the hell are you doing here?" you demand, and he groans, struggling against your hold.

"i need you to sign some papers," he says, his words muffled as you tighten your hold on his neck.

"no. now go away."

he manages to break free, and he staggers back, gasping for air, his hands on his knees. "jesus, y/n. can't you give me a break?"

"i'm on vacation, remember?" you remind him.

he sighs, standing up straight and straightening his shirt. "i know, and i'm sorry. it's just—" then he glances around, and the moment his eyes land on jimin, he freezes. "k-karina?"

she waves, giving him a shy smile. he's completely frozen in shock, his mouth hanging open. jamie's gaze darts between the two of you—the sight of your clothes on her body, the breakfast, the casualness of the entire situation.

"hi," she greets him with a small wave, her cheeks tinted pink.

"hi," he repeats, his voice strained.

he presses his lips together, humming a familiar tune under his breath as if trying to block out whatever he's thinking. you and jimin exchange a look, both fighting the urge to laugh. jamie, however, seems determined to play it cool, though his attempts are anything but subtle. he takes a deep breath, pulling out a folder from his bag and holding it out to you.

"here," he says, "these need your signature. i would've emailed, but—"

"you know i don't check emails," you cut him off, and he lets out a long-suffering sigh.

"exactly. and your phone's been going straight to voicemail."

"oh…" you frown, glancing at the stairs. "it's probably dead. be right back."

you dart off, sliding across the wood floor in your socks as you head to your room. jamie watches you disappear, then turns to jimin, who's trying her best to focus on plating the eggs but is clearly dying of embarrassment.

"so," he starts, his voice low but not unfriendly. "how long has this been a thing?"

jimin stiffens, her hands stilling for a moment before she sets the spatula down and turns to him. "um… for a bit," she admits, tucking a strand of hair behind her ear.

jamie hums, nodding. he takes a few steps closer, leaning against the counter and folding his arms over his chest. jamie hums, nodding. he takes a few steps closer, leaning against the counter and folding his arms over his chest.

"look," he says, his tone softening. "y/n's like a little sister to me. and she's…"

he pauses, choosing his words carefully. "she's an emotional kid. not in a bad way," he adds quickly, seeing jimin's expression shift. "she's just…she can be a lot to handle sometimes. it's just her nature. she feels everything so deeply. and that's great for her music, but in her personal life? it can be a lot."

jimin nods slowly, unsure of where he's going with this.

"she's been through so much," jamie continues. "she never really got to be a kid, y'know? always working, always under pressure. she's finally allowing herself to have some fun. and i'm glad. she deserves it."

jimin swallows thickly, her heart pounding in her chest. "so…what are you saying?" she says quietly. it feels like she's being lectured by a parent. a parent whose daughter is dating a bad influence.

"look, i'm not saying this to scare you off," jamie says, his voice gentle. "i just…i need to know you're serious. because the last thing she needs right now, in the middle of working on her album, is something she can't handle."

"i am serious," she says softly. "i care about her. a lot."

jamie studies her for a moment, then nods, seemingly satisfied. "alright," he says, pushing off the counter. "i'll take your word for it. for now."

before jimin can respond, you come barreling back into the kitchen, your phone in hand. "it was dead," you announce, waving it in the air. "happy now?"

jamie smirks, holding out the folder again. "ecstatic. now, sign these so i can leave you two lovebirds alone."

you groan, snatching the folder from him and shooting him a glare. "you're the worst." you sit at the kitchen island flipping through the papers, skimming over them. most of it is just legal stuff, terms and conditions for upcoming projects. you skim over the pages, signing and dating where needed.

"and yet, you'd be lost without me," he shoots back, a smug grin on his face.

jimin laughs quietly, the tension in her chest easing as she watches the two of you bicker. despite his earlier words, it's clear jamie cares deeply for you, and she can't help but feel grateful for that.

as she watches you argue, her mind wanders, and her smile fades. does everyone think that about you? that you're some fragile little girl who can't handle a relationship?

you glance at her, noticing her pensive expression, and immediately, your irritation dissipates. your brow furrows, and you shoot her a concerned look, which only makes her look away, embarrassed.

"alright," jamie sighs, taking the folder from you and flipping it closed. "i should get going. i'm sure you two have… plans. he wiggles his eyebrows, earning a glare from you.

"get out," you huff, but there's no bite to your words.

"see you soon, y/n," he says, giving you a wave. "it was nice seeing you again, karina."

she gives him a small smile. "you too."

with that, he turns and heads for the front door, his footsteps echoing as he makes his way through the house. once he's gone, the two of you turn to each other, an awkward silence settling between you.

"i'm sorry about him," you say, breaking the silence first. "he can be a bit much."

she shakes her head, laughing softly. "it's okay. i know he's just looking out for you."

"yeah, but still," you mutter, frowning. "i just hate that people feel the need to meddle," you continue, running a hand through your hair, frustrated. "i'm fine. i can handle myself."

jimin watches you carefully, her eyes softening. "i know you can," she says, her voice gentle. "but i also know how much pressure you put on yourself. and i just… i want to make sure you're okay, y/n."

your heart clenches, and you swallow hard, the lump in your throat refusing to budge. the fact that she's worried about you, the fact that she's putting your well-being above everything else, it's… it's more than you could've asked for.

"i am," you finally say, clearing your throat. "really. i'm fine."

she smiles, the corners of her eyes crinkling as she reaches for you. her hand finds yours, her fingers intertwining with yours.

after breakfast, jimin decided it'd be best for her to check on her members before your plans later that evening. you watched her gather her things, her delicate fingers brushing through her hair as she hummed softly. before she left, she leaned down to press a gentle kiss to your forehead, a small smile playing at her lips.

"i'll see you tonight."

you waved goodbye to her, and before the door even closed, a warmth spread through you. it was a feeling you had grown accustomed to, a feeling that only grew the more you got to know her. a feeling that was becoming more and more familiar the more time you spent together. a feeling that, in spite of everything, seemed to be getting stronger.

and then, when the time finally came, the two of you made your way down the streets of los angeles, the evening sun setting over the city. it was a short drive from your home to the restaurant, the two of you sitting comfortably in the backseat while your driver navigated the evening traffic. occasionally, your eyes would meet, and the shy smiles that followed betrayed just how nervous yet exhilarated you both were.

the restaurant itself was tucked away, the entrance hidden among a row of shops and restaurants. as your car pulled up, a valet opened the door, and you and jimin exited the vehicle. as you stood there, her hand wrapped around your elbow, the two of you looked at each other, both smiling at how perfect the night was.

you led her inside, her arm still hooked in yours, and you were immediately greeted by a host, who promptly guided you to a secluded table in the back of the restaurant. it was a private space, one that afforded you both the luxury of not having to hide.

"you're ordering for the both of us," you said with a sly grin, not looking up from the menu.

her eyes widened. "me? why me?"

"because," you shrugged, "you're the guest, which means you get the honor of ordering. plus, your english is good. don't act like it's not."

she narrowed her eyes, clutching the menu as if it might shield her from your teasing. "i hate you," she muttered under her breath, her voice barely audible but still eliciting a laugh from you. she raised her fist in a half-hearted threat but quickly put it down when the waiter appeared, a friendly smile on his face.

jimin glanced over the menu, her brows furrowed in concentration as she took her time deciding. she ordered two dishes—one a pasta dish and the other a seafood soup—both of which sounded amazing. she kept glancing at you between sentences, like she was checking if she was doing okay, and every time, you gave her a little smile to let her know she was.

she handled it perfectly—not that you expected anything less—and when the waiter left, you couldn't hide the proud grin on your face.

"you nailed it," you said casually, and she just gave a small shrug, but you could tell she was pleased with herself.

from there, the night flowed so easily it almost felt unreal. the appetizers came out, and before you knew it, you were both sharing stories, laughing over little things, and swapping bites of food like it was the most natural thing in the world. you didn't have to worry about who was listening or what anyone thought—it was just the two of you, and that was all you needed.

"oh my god," she exclaimed, her mouth full of food, her cheeks puffed up like a chipmunk.

you couldn't help but laugh, feeling that flutter in your chest that always seemed to happen when she was around. you had been in the middle of telling a funny story, but as you watched her, the punchline completely slipped your mind.

her laugh filled the quiet space of the restaurant, the sound light and infectious. it made her throw her head back just a little, her eyes crinkling in that adorable way you loved. the smile on her face was so contagious you couldn't stop yourself from grinning too.

and then there was the way she looked at you—like you were the only person in the world, like whatever you were saying was the most important thing she'd ever heard, even if it wasn't.

you tried to keep going, taking a sip of water to clear your head, but your words started to blur together. she was still staring at you, her lips curling into that lopsided grin of hers.

as the night went on and the restaurant quieted down, the two of you found yourselves at the bar, nursing cocktails neither of you had ordered but happily accepted because they looked pretty. it was a cozy little bar, dimly lit with soft music playing in the background. jimin stood beside you, her fingers brushing absentmindedly against the edge of the counter.

neither of you were drunk—just a little tipsy, a warm buzz spreading through you. the atmosphere was calm, relaxed. the bartender kept an eye on you two but didn't interrupt, letting you enjoy your space.

it was nice. soothing, even.

you sat there, watching her with a smile tugging at your lips. you loved seeing her like this, relaxed and being herself, not performing or trying to impress anyone. she wasn't trying to be anything she wasn't. you loved the way her hair fell over her shoulder and how she kept running her fingers through it, the little things that made her, well, her.

she looked like she was about to say something, but instead, she took a step closer to you, wrapping her arms around your shoulders, pulling you in. slowly, almost hesitantly, she leaned down and kissed you softly on the lips. the sweet taste of the cocktail lingered on her tongue, and when her lips parted against yours, it felt like everything around you faded away.

the only thing that mattered was her, the taste of her, and the warmth of her breath on your skin.

she pulled away first, her eyes meeting yours, and she smiled. the way her eyes sparkled made it clear she knew exactly how you felt—because you were thinking the same thing.

the night went on, and the city outside continued to hum, but the two of you stayed wrapped in your own little bubble, where nothing else seemed to matter but the magic of the moment.

eventually, the night came to an end, and the two of you walked back to the car, hand in hand. the soft glow of the streetlights reflected off the wet pavement, the rain now just a drizzle. the streets were nearly empty, the nightlife long gone.

it was a rare quiet moment—just the two of you, no cameras, no crowds, no distractions. the rain had slowed to a light mist, and the clouds had parted enough for the moon to peek out, casting a faint silver light on the sidewalk.

you were lost in your thoughts, replaying the night in your head. your heart felt lighter, the weight of the day gone, replaced with a calmness you hadn't expected.

jimin squeezed your hand, snapping you out of it.

you turned to look at her, the light casting shadows across her face, and she was glowing. her eyes sparkled, and there was this soft, content smile on her lips. she was radiant, and in that moment, you couldn't help but think how lucky you were to be with her.

she was so beautiful, almost ethereal, like you were walking beside a goddess.

"penny for your thoughts?" she asked, her voice soft, almost a whisper.

you smiled, your heart skipping a beat. "just thinking about you."

"is that so?" she asked, raising an eyebrow, amused.

you nodded, not even trying to hide the grin on your face. "mhm."

she waited for you to say more, and though you wanted to stay quiet and savor the simplicity of the night, you couldn't resist.

"i was just thinking about how lucky i am. to be here with you, walking like this."

she blushed, looking away for a second.

"and," you added, taking a deep breath, "how lucky i am that you came into my life. i didn't think i could feel this happy again."

her cheeks turned even redder, and she reached for your hand, lacing her fingers with yours.

"i'm the lucky one," she said quietly, her voice barely audible, the faintest smile pulling at her lips.

"we'll have to agree to disagree," you replied, squeezing her hand, the two of you falling into a comfortable silence.

the car pulled up, and the driver jumped out, opening the door for both of you.

on the ride back to the hotel, you were both laughing, and the whole time, you were acutely aware of how close jimin was to you. her head rested on your shoulder, her arm around yours, her fingers tracing gentle circles on your forearm.

when the car pulled up to the hotel, the two of you didn't move, and the driver cleared his throat, a hint of amusement in his voice. "we're here."

reluctantly, she pulled away from you a pout on her lips, and you chuckled, placing a soft kiss on her forehead. her eyes fluttered closed, and her nose scrunched up as if she were trying not to laugh. you couldn't help but think about how cute she was.

slowly, she opened her eyes, a small, shy smile on her lips.

"thanks," she murmured, her cheeks flushed.

"always," you replied, the word slipping out before you could stop it.

her smile widened, and she pressed a kiss to your lips, her hands resting gently on either side of your face. it was quick, soft, and tender, and it left your lips tingling. and when she pulled away, she pressed her lips to your again, and again, and again.

you giggled, breaking the kiss. "alright, alright. you need to get some sleep."

she sighed, but there was a playfulness in her eyes, the corners of her mouth curling upwards.

"you're right," she said, reaching for the door handle, the door swinging open. you continued watching her as she stepped out of the car, the cool night air making her hair flutter slightly. she turned back, giving you one last smile before she started walking toward the hotel entrance.

your chest tightened a little, not wanting the moment to end just yet. before you could fully process the thought, you rolled down the window on the other side of the car.

"jimin," you called softly.

she stopped immediately and turned around and without hesitation, she jogged back to the car. her hands found your face again, and she leaned in, pressing another kiss to your lips. this one was longer as if she were trying to capture the feeling of the night and keep it forever.

"i'll call you later, okay?"

you nodded, leaning into her touch, a small sigh escaping your lips.

"okay," she said softly, her eyes lingering on yours.

"bye."

you smiled, and her hand fell from your face as she turned to walk back toward the hotel.

"goodnight, y/n," she called over her shoulder.

"night, love."

series masterlist. main masterlist. prev. next.

[cosmowgyral]

With You through every Season ~

(5th Anniversary Story Event - Me and You, Always)

▪︎ Gilbert von Obsidian

this is a fan translation so please don't expect it to be 100% accurate. creative liberties have been taken. all content belongs to cybird. reblogs are appreciated but do not repost. hope you enjoy!

the story is from gilbert's pov

~chapter 1

Emma: Come to think of it… it’s hard to feel the seasons here in Obsidian.

One day, while helping with some work, Emma quietly muttered those words as she looked up at the clear summer sky.

It was summertime—yet she was still wearing a long-sleeved blouse.

Gilbert: Unlike Rhodolite, we don’t really have much of a seasonal shift here.

Gilbert: Do you miss home?

Emma: It’s not quite that I miss it, but…

Emma: I just think… I’d like to do things that you can only do in summer, and things you can only do in autumn, you know?

(Ah… she’s the kind of girl who treasures the seasons.)

It brought back memories of the people in the town back when she once stayed in Rhodolite—how they held festivals with each passing season.

For someone like Emma, who was once part of that, the seasonless air of Obsidian might feel a little lacking.

(Especially since this country tends to reflect the royal family’s preferences.)

(And since I never paid much attention to the changing seasons, we don’t hold festivals outside of the ones rooted in tradition.)

(…Honestly, I’ve always hated the very concept of seasons.)

(Every time one passed, it was just another reminder—my time limit creeping closer, tick by tick.)

--flashback--

Albert: Hey, Gil. Summer’s here! What should we do this year?

--flashback ends--

Emma: Oh, yeah!

That cheerful voice shattered the ruins of the past.

Emma: Gil, why don’t we do something summery together?

Gilbert: …Like what?

Emma: Let’s see—

A few days later, the brilliant sun gleamed down, reflecting off the small pool set up in the research lab.

Emma: Alright, here I go.

She slipped off her shoes, gathered up her long skirt, and dipped her feet into the water.

(To think she actually went and built a pool herself...)

It was a simple, shallow pool—just a wooden frame lined with waterproof sheets.

But remembering how Emma had worked on it so earnestly, day after day, giving it her all…

It felt more precious than any facility in the entire district.

Emma: It feels so nice… Gil, won’t you try it too?

Gilbert: I’m fine just watching.

Emma: But it’s fun, you know?

Gilber: …You want me to join?

Emma: I made it, after all—so I’d love for you to.

Gilbert: Guess I don’t have much of a choice then.

(Let’s just hope I don’t catch a cold.)

I took off my shoes and, letting myself be led by her invitation, dipped my feet into the water.

(Huh...)

Gilbert: It’s warm.

Emma: I thought cold water might be bad for the body in Obsidian’s climate, so I made it warm.

(She really thought it through for my sake. Emma doesn’t miss a thing, does she...)

Gilbert: This feels more like a foot bath than a pool, doesn’t it?

Emma: As long as you like it, that’s all that matters.

Gilbert: Heehee… You haven’t changed at all, Emma. Still as sweet and devoted as ever.

Gilbert: So… we’ve soaked our feet—what now?

Emma: ....

Gilbert: You didn’t think that far, did you.

Emma: …A scary story...

Emma: That’s it! Summer means ghost stories!

Gilbert: You sure about that? My scary stories are really scary.

Emma: ...Let’s not, after all.

Gilbert: Let’s see… I’ve got a whole collection of spine-chilling tales. The real question is—which one should I share with my little rabbit first...?

Emma: Nope! Absolutely not!

She quickly swatted away the hand reaching toward her just in time. So close.

The splash of water echoed with a refreshing sound—it felt undeniably like summer.

Gilbert: Alright then, let me hear your scary story, little rabbit.

Emma: Hmm, let me think…

Emma: Well… I do know a lot of ghost stories, but…

Emma: None of them compare to the fears I’ve actually experienced myself.

Gilbert: Scarier than ghost stories? Who in the world could’ve put you through something so awful?

She gave me a long, pointed stare—so heavy with unspoken words that I couldn’t help but laugh.

(Though… it’s probably no laughing matter to her.)

Even Emma, who’d been forcing an exaggerated scowl, couldn’t hold it in anymore—and finally broke into a smile.

Emma: It’s strange, isn’t it? Back then, I was so scared it made my blood run cold…

Emma: I never imagined I’d end up falling for you like this.

When she suddenly threw herself into my arms, I caught her without thinking. Around us, jewel-like droplets of water scattered through the air.

Gilbert: Ahaha… in a way, that might be the scariest story of all.

Emma: If I told it to anyone other than you, I bet it’d be pretty effective.

Gilbert: Other than me, huh?

Emma: ...I just felt a chill run down my spine.

Gilbert: Now that’s what a proper summer ghost story should do.

(She gets angry, laughs, panics… she’s always so busy reacting—and so cute.)

As she lifted her face, Emma gently placed her hand on my cheek.

Emma: If I’m going to make your heart skip a beat—

[Masterlist] [Chapter 2]

[cailinsblog]

The Café by the Rink-Nico hischer

Nico hischer x reader

Masterlist

It was an ordinary Tuesday morning in Newark, New Jersey, when Nico Hischier first walked into *Maggie’s Corner Café*—a quaint, family-owned spot nestled just down the street from the Prudential Center. The place had an old-school charm, with mismatched furniture, the hum of indie music in the background, and the comforting aroma of freshly brewed coffee filling the air. It was a cozy hideaway, a far cry from the bustling streets just outside.

Y/N had been working there for a few months, ever since she moved to the city. She loved the routine—the familiar faces who came in for their daily fix of caffeine and conversation. Then, one day, Nico Hischier walked in.

He wasn’t wearing his Devils jersey, just a hoodie and a baseball cap, trying to blend in with the regulars. He ordered a black coffee with a shot of espresso. Simple. Direct.

"Coming right up," Y/N said, smiling at him without thinking too much of it. He was just another customer.

But the next day, Nico was back. And the next. Every morning, at exactly the same time, he’d walk in, and she’d already know what to make for him.

“Good morning, Neeks, your usual?” she’d say, her voice light and familiar.

Nico would chuckle, his eyes sparkling as he leaned against the counter. “You know it.”

It became their unspoken routine. While Nico’s fame followed him everywhere else, in the café, he was just a guy who loved a good cup of coffee. He’d sip it slowly, chat about the weather or the team, and then slip out just as quietly as he came.

But one morning, everything changed.

Nico walked in with an entourage. His teammates. They filled up the small café, taking seats at the corner booth and laughing amongst themselves. Y/N’s eyes widened in surprise, but she didn’t let it show. She greeted them all with a friendly smile, jotting down their coffee orders.

Nico leaned over the counter, his voice lowered but full of intention. “We’re getting coffee for the whole team today.”

Y/N raised an eyebrow, her smile still warm. “Okay... what can I get for you guys?”

Each player had their own preferences—lattes, cappuccinos, iced coffees—and Y/N moved quickly to get their orders just right. Nico stayed close, watching her work, a hint of pride in his eyes.

When she handed them their drinks, Nico pushed a stack of bills toward her. “For the team. They’ll be back. Keep doing what you’re doing.”

Y/N glanced down at the money, a little stunned. “You’re... seriously?”

“Yeah.” Nico smiled, his tone serious but kind. “The boys love your coffee. Trust me, it’s not just the caffeine.”

The team’s visits became more frequent after that. The café buzzed with excitement, not just from the regulars, but from the growing crowd of fans who started coming in, hoping to catch a glimpse of a player or hear an inside joke. As word spread, the New Jersey Devils started supporting the café, covering the costs to help it stay afloat. The little family-run café that once struggled to keep the doors open was now thriving, thanks to Nico’s quiet generosity.

One afternoon, as Nico sat by the window, Y/N came over to check on him, setting down a fresh cup of coffee.

“You’re always here,” she teased, a smile tugging at the corner of her lips. “Don’t you have a game to get to?”

“I do,” Nico replied, his voice low, “but I had to stop by. Got something for you.”

He handed her a small envelope. She took it, surprised. Inside was a note with the Devils logo on it.

“We’re sponsoring the café now,” he explained, watching her face as she processed the words. “The team wants to make sure you stay here for a long time.”

Y/N’s heart skipped. “Wait, really? You—you did this?”

Nico shrugged, a modest smile crossing his face. “It’s nothing. You’ve built something great here. We just wanted to help.”

A wave of emotion hit her. It wasn’t just about the business—it was about Nico’s belief in her, in the place she’d built with her own two hands. She couldn’t find the words to thank him, so she just nodded, touched.

And then, one evening, after another high-energy game, Nico found her sitting at the café, the place quieter than usual as the evening rush had passed. The lights above the counter were warm, the late-night hum of the city outside making everything feel a little more intimate.

“Hey,” Nico said, his voice soft. “Did you enjoy the game?”

“It was amazing,” she replied, smiling at him. “I never thought I’d be sitting courtside, watching you score.”

Nico grinned, his gaze lingering on her a moment longer than usual. “I think I made a goal just for you.”

Y/N laughed, shaking her head. “You didn’t have to. But thank you. It was... special.”

There was a quiet pause, and then, without another word, Nico stepped closer. His hand gently brushed against hers on the counter. The touch was electric, simple, but full of intent.

“Y/N,” he said, his voice a little unsure, like he was testing the waters. “I know this is a little crazy, but... I like spending time with you. More than just coffee and small talk.”

Y/N’s breath caught in her throat, her heart racing. “I like it too, Neeks.”

His name was a soft whisper on her lips. And that was all it took. The distance between them vanished in an instant, and Nico’s lips found hers in a kiss that was slow at first, almost tentative, as if they were both savoring the moment. It was gentle but filled with all the words neither of them had said yet—the unspoken truth of what had been building for months.

When they pulled apart, both of them were smiling, their eyes locking in a way that felt new but also familiar.

“Good morning, Neeks,” Y/N whispered, her voice soft and full of meaning. “Your usual?”

Nico chuckled, his thumb gently tracing her hand. “You know it,” he replied, his voice low, but there was no mistaking the smile on his lips.

And just like that, the coffee shop where it all began had become the place where everything changed. Where the ordinary became extraordinary. And where two people, brought together by a cup of coffee, found something more than either of them could have expected.

[inlovewithfionaapple]

just a few nights

warnings:

wc: 948

they were back in vegas by the second week of august. heat shimmered off the pavement, the city buzzing in that late-summer, late-night way only vegas could manage. kelsey’s apartment had never felt so… full.

y/n had been crashing there ever since they got back from tahoe. it started with a “just for a few nights” thing—kelsey had said it casually while unlocking her door, and y/n had nodded like it wasn’t a big deal.

but then y/n’s toothbrush appeared next to kelsey’s. her hoodie lived on the back of a kitchen chair. a pair of socks mysteriously stayed in the dryer for three days. and suddenly kelsey realized her place smelled like y/n’s shampoo.

she liked it.

she loved it.

but she hadn’t said it out loud. not yet.

—

it happened one night after a grocery run.

they were unloading bags in the kitchen, the kind of quiet rhythm that only comes with familiarity. kelsey was halfway through slicing strawberries when she looked over and just… watched y/n. hair in a messy bun. barefoot. arguing with the oven like it was personally disrespecting her.

and something clicked.

“hey.”

y/n looked up. “yeah?”

kelsey hesitated, holding a strawberry like it might answer for her. “i was thinking… maybe you should just move in.”

the words hit the air like a missed shot in a silent gym.

y/n blinked. “wait—like, officially?”

kelsey nodded slowly, setting the knife down. “yeah. i mean, your stuff’s already here. you’re already here.”

y/n’s mouth opened, then closed, then opened again. “are you sure?”

“do i look like i’m not sure?” kelsey stepped around the counter and wrapped her arms around y/n’s waist. “i like waking up next to you. i like your weird music in the shower. i like that you drink all my almond milk and then blame the cat we don’t have.”

y/n grinned, her voice small. “i didn’t know you noticed.”

“i notice everything about you.”

there was a pause, soft and full of something unspoken.

“okay,” y/n said, eyes shining a little. “let’s do it.”

kelsey smiled, relief loosening her chest. “yeah?”

“yeah. but i’m not putting my diploma in the hallway. it’s ugly.”

“it’s literally a piece of paper.”

“it’s the piece of paper.”

“i’m framing it next to my championship ring.”

“oh my god.”

—

they spent the next week moving boxes from y/n’s old apartment into kelsey’s.

it wasn’t glamorous. it was dusty and full of mismatched mugs and chaotic piles of shoes and one long debate over whether they really needed five throw blankets.

but it was also laughter. takeout on the floor. music playing from a phone speaker while kelsey built shelves and y/n danced like an idiot behind her.

and on the first night everything was finally in place, they sat on the couch in silence, legs tangled, sharing a bowl of cereal at midnight.

y/n leaned her head on kelsey’s shoulder. “this feels weird.”

“weird bad?”

“weird good. like… this is our place now.”

kelsey kissed the top of her head. “it always was.”

the next morning, the first rays of sunlight filtered through the blinds, casting soft patterns on the living room floor. kelsey was already awake, stretched out on the couch with a coffee cup cradled in her hands. she watched as y/n shuffled into the room, hair still tousled from sleep, her feet bare against the cool floor.

y/n paused, her eyes flicking over the space—a mix of their things, settled in a way that felt right, that felt like home in a way she hadn’t realized she needed.

“you look like you’re thinking too hard,” kelsey teased, her voice low and lazy, still warm from the sleep she hadn’t fully shaken off. “what’s up?”

y/n let out a soft laugh, but there was a glimmer of something else behind her eyes—something more vulnerable, a bit unsure. she sat next to kelsey on the couch, tucking her feet under herself. “just… this. it’s a lot.”

“i get it,” kelsey said, reaching over to squeeze y/n’s hand. “i think i’m still processing it, too. but it’s okay.”

y/n smiled at her, the kind of smile that reached her eyes, and then she leaned into kelsey’s side, letting the warmth of her presence fill the quiet space between them.

“i never thought i’d be this happy,” y/n admitted softly.

kelsey’s heart beat a little faster. she tucked her arm around y/n’s shoulders, pulling her closer. “yeah?” she asked, her voice barely above a whisper, though the words felt like they were written just for this moment.

“yeah,” y/n murmured. “this is… everything i’ve wanted. i just didn’t know it.”

kelsey kissed the top of her head again, savoring the feeling of y/n’s softness, of the easy, unspoken promise between them.

for a long moment, neither of them spoke. they just sat together, surrounded by the mess of boxes, mismatched furniture, and the kind of stillness that only comes with being exactly where you’re meant to be.

finally, y/n broke the silence with a playful grin, nudging kelsey with her shoulder. “so, are we actually going to eat the cereal? or just stare at it like it’s some profound statement about our new life?”

kelsey laughed, reaching for the bowl. “we can start with breakfast and see where it takes us. maybe to a kitchen full of new stuff we don’t need to buy.”

“deal.” y/n took a spoonful, and they fell into their new rhythm—small moments, big feelings, and the understanding that this was just the beginning.

[cozzzynook]

A bittersweet ending for Humanformer Megarod

It had been a year since that day and while Rodimus still thought what could have happened if his father didn't disown him however at the same time he couldn't help but feel like he deserved it. Thankfully a set of small paws quickly pulled him out of his thoughts as a small black cat hopped onto his lap, softly purring.

"Morning to you too, Ravage" Rodimus smiled as he began to gently pet the feline's head. Despite Ravage's grumpy personality the cat did love his head pats.

"I see your up early" Megatron softly smiled as he leaned down placing a tiny kiss on Rodimus's head. "I make you some coffee"

Rodimus took the mug and with a soft hum he took a light sip. He then snuggled closer on the sofa to his husband, being careful not to jostle Ravage too much. "Thanks, you really do make the best coffee"

Megatron softly chuckled using a free arm to pull the two closer to place even more kisses. The past year had been hard on them both but now that their cabin was fully built these quiet moment have become more frequent and he wouldn't have it any other way. "Say, Ravage has really been clinging to you these pass few weeks. Are you sure you're not coming down with a cold?"

"No, not really" Rodimus giggled. "But I have been feeling a bit mushy"

"Mushy?" Megatron raised a brow.

"Y'know feeling warm, fuzzy and soft all the time"

"Ah, I see" Megatron smiled as he nuzzled those freckled cheeks. "Well I would be happy to keep making you feel this way, my love"

"You're a real sap sometimes" Rodimus smiled as he leaned into the warm touch. His heart fluttering in his chest as warmth bloomed on his cheeks.

Despite the hardships they faced and the slight worry on what the future will hold, Rodimus was sure of one thing. That he wouldn't trade this love for anything else, even if he had to travel to the ends of the galaxy to find it. But there was one thing he still hadn't told Megatron, something that will change both of their lives forever. He just hoped his stomach and Ravage wouldn't spoil the surprise so soon.

Oh my gosh i knew it!!!!!!

Kakaodiospqpqosix

Aaahhhhh i love this!!!!

I wonder if optimus runs into rodimus while he’s out shopping with a ring on his finger and baby clothes in his basket.

Maybe bee even?

I can see rodimus & bee still keeping contact and knowing everything about each other with sibling fights as usual. They stay connected through phone and frequent web chats but optimus?

He hasn’t seen since and i wonder if optimus sees his former best friend looking super ecstatic holding a little toy for his and roddy’s baby would he change his mind.

Maybe realize he was wrong to completed disown his son and learn his other son bee & his other best friend ratchet & his husband drift new about the baby and saw the wedding.

…yeah he’s..definitely going through a meltdown

[friendship-test]

The making of Friendship Test:

I have always wanted to make a RPG Maker game. Throughout the years I have played several games with small pixel sprites as characters, as worlds, and I have always been fascinated that you can create a beautiful, funny and interesting story through them. I can not code and I do not have any 3d art skills, the chances of me ever making a videogame were very limited, but I have always wanted to make one. RPG Maker always seemed like the most available objective I could achieve, but I was never motivated enough to try anything cause I never had any good concept in mind for a videogame.

The year of 2024 started with a big robot obsession for me. Robot Dreams had recently came out and I did not stop thinking about it ever since, and soon after I started playing Toontown Corporate Clash, needless to say I adored those corporative robots too. I have always loved robot characters and thought it would be fun to create a story with them, I had several OC projects in mind but none of them included robot characters, so I thought I should change that.

I daydreamed about the concept of a story with robots, suddenly came with an idea: “what if an army of robots turned ‘good’ and only one of them was still ‘bad’?”

A very simple concept, one that would change and develop a lot, but an idea that I really liked. Of course, I like writing character dynamics, so it could not be a solo story, I gave the corrupted robot a companion in their journey. It was the story of a robot that was built to be kind turning ‘mean’ and a robot that was built to be a weapon turning ‘good’, traveling through a laboratory of abandoned robots that had all turned ‘good’, but how maybe that’s not as nice as it sounds.

I had that idea in mind, but I wasn’t planning on doing much with it. Perhaps a quick drawing, post it on tumblr and move on to other projects for now. But an image showed up in my brain that I could not shake off: I imagined this game as a rpg maker game. I imagined the sprite of the protagonist walking around this abandoned lab. And the strangest thing? It looked good. It looked promising. At least, it did in my brain.

The story was nothing but a mere simple concept, but it was good enough to give me enough motivation to look up tutorials on how to use GameMaker. Yeah, you read that right, GameMaker, not RPG Maker. I wanted to try out a more complicated engine, spent three days learning how to build one single room. I followed the steps, but somehow, I ran into a bunch of issues and it was not working properly. It did not feel great to waste three days for nothing, I was ready to give up and just go back to drawing simple drawings, go back to something I already knew how to do just fine.

But the image of the little robot still roamed around in my brain. So I decided to look up tutorials for RPG Maker.

Needless to say, I should have done that from the beginning.

I didn’t become an expert immediately, I still am not an expert whatsoever, but even if it took time and effort, RPG Maker was easy to use. No wonder so many use it to make videogames.

Again, the concept of this game was still very limited, I had a lot of ideas in my mind on how the story could go, drew a lot of concept art, wrote a few lines of dialogues, but nothing was set and stone yet. I decided to make one short area at the very least, and while I was creating it, I could think on the story some more.

I did just that, the first area is basically exactly what I had in mind since the beginning: a dark, empty abandoned lab. FriendProgram’s character design was very stuck on my brain too, they did not require a lot of concept art, their final design was very clear to me.

I made a couple of rooms, learned the basics on how to move from one room to another, how to change the character’s speed, how to make them interact with things, how sprites worked, all that stuff. But I needed to make FriendProgram interact with SOMEONE at some point. I needed a couple of funny NPCs for them to interact with. That’s how I came up with FUN and GAMES.

Now, I already had a few ideas for characters we would meet later on the story, but these two were not planned ahead, I just needed a funny duo to introduce us to the test ‘battle’ mechanic and to showcase the overall humor and dialogue style this game has.

However, I ended up liking them so much that they became part of the main cast of characters, even if their role is smaller than others.

When it comes to the tests, I was a bit concerned with that aspect. I knew that was the main gameplay of this game, the friendship tests you are put through, but I was not certain how I was going to pull that off. Would it be boring? Would it be repetitive? Would I not be able to program it? As flawed as they are, I am pretty satisfied with the results.

You have only seen a pretty simple friendship test, they get a bit more creative later on.

When it comes to the ‘battles’, I wanted them to be short and simple, nothing that takes too much time and nothing too complicated either. It’s the reason why there are so many, cause they are all meant to be pretty short, and the game allows you to save whenever you want. I hoped that getting a game over would not be too punishing to the player, since I’m aware some battles can be a little difficult to figure out what you are exactly supposed to say. Game overs are a bit essential to the point the game is trying to make.

Still, I am aware the battles can hurt the pacing a little in the first act, which is why they are better distributed in later acts, instead of getting 5 consecutive battles at once.

The mechanics of the battles change a little in each act, with act 2’s probably being the most complicated. But battles are not the main point of the game, which is why you might see less of them as the story progresses. Still, I’m okay to have a flawed ‘battle’ system, at least I have one at all, which I was worried I might not have been able to have.

The other gameplay ‘mechanic’ are of course, the friend_test_mode. They are however meant to be more story-focused than anything else, the first one is very simple, the other one can be a bit more annoying to get to the correct answers, but both of them do not punish you with game overs and are not meant to be anything too complicated. It’s presentation, part of the story, less a gameplay mechanic.

But enough about gameplay! This is a videogame that is more about characters and stories.

Before arriving to the new location this act takes place in, you find yourself with two experiments and learn all about the battle system. One of the two experiments is Exe, a strange mysterious rabbit. Exe was originally not part of the story, I adore characters like Exe, the funny annoying comedic relief characters, I tend to include them a lot in my stories. But so far, I hadn’t included any characters like that, I thought that maybe they would annoy people and it wasn’t necessary to the story. This changed however, I realized that if I’m making a game that I would like to play myself I had to include a character I would love, even if there were people who wouldn’t like them. So I included Exe, who serves as a tutorial and overall guide to the player. She started out as a small funny character, but as I wrote the story she became so essential that now I can not imagine the game without her. Sometimes the annoying comic relief character can save your story.

But now we arrive to the Reprogram Town! Very early on I knew that the first real area of the game should be a place full of nature, a huge contrast to the rest of the lab. It’s not just the nature, but the people are also very different from what you will see in this lab. The reprograms have sealed themselves away from everyone else, which means they can live in peace, away from the rules of BestFriendProgram, the program in charge of the lab.

The concept I had for this first area was to evoke something familiar: a cute little town with fun and kind NPCs, a bunch of simple quests, a bunch of simple battles and a story that ends with a nice lesson and with the characters being happy and loving each other very much, all thanks to you, the protagonist. I think it’s something we have seen in plenty of games, you play this area and you have an idea on what to expect, it is something pretty simple and easy to swallow. You are a nice protagonist that helps others and becomes friends with everyone, this is a game where you will meet a lot of programs and become friends with all of them and make everything better through kindness! This is what you are meant to believe.

The protagonists of Reprogram Town are Hammer, Keys and Wrench. The story is all about them, you are helping them but you are not part of their story. You are just a kind silent protagonist that doesn’t steal the spotlight from the story we are witnessing.

I knew from the beginning I wanted a simple but emotional conflict between these new characters, something that you could solve in one episode, but still has meaning to it. Just because you are a little deceived into thinking this game is going to be one way and then it turns out to be a little different than expected, doesn’t mean that the emotional conflicts have no meaning. What these three go through is real and they still have a lot to go through, specially Keys, who will get more things to do later on.

Something I really like about Keys is that he is a character that has kind of already went through his big character arc, there isn’t really much you can help him with when he has already grown as a person on his own and with the people he is close with. It doesn’t mean his journey is over, but it makes his interactions a lot of fun.

His asexual side plot is the first aspec-related story we see in the game and it is very essential to the character, at first I mostly implied it but I wanted to make it very obvious, this is not the ‘implied aspec’ game, this is the ‘stated aspec stories’ game after all. Keys is asexual and is a huge part of his story, as we will see later on.

Kindness is a big theme in this game too, and I really like the story of Hammer choosing to be a kind person despite everything. I like Wrench a lot too, even if he doesn’t show up as much I wanted his personality to be so vibrant that you will forget he has very little screentime. I really like when stories focus on siblings so of course I wanted two of the main cast of characters to be siblings and this is the act where they get to shine.

This first act establishes a lot of world-building as well. There is still a lot of things to find out about, but little by little you learn how this world is supposed to work. The mandatory tests, the water damage, the reliance on metal, the unconscious days, the data corruption, the old organisms… So much information in what appears to be a very silly and cute chapter of a bigger story.

Speaking of a bigger story, seems like that’s where FriendProgram and Waterbottle will truly get to shine. Waterbottle shows up very little in this act, and FriendProgram barely acts like a character, but this changes completely after the ending the demo. The rest of the game is very different from these first few hours and it’s all because of this program duo, especially FriendProgram, but it is also not different enough that it’d feel like a completely different game. The demo gives you a very clear idea of how the tone, pacing and dialogue of this game is usually like, even if there will be improvements later on.

Waterbottle is, in my opinion, probably the best character in the game. They are very fun to write and I enjoy every moment they are on screen, I think this character genuinely makes my game way better, which is why the demo is one of the weakest parts of the story, simply because Waterbottle is barely in it. Not for any other reason, it’s just cause Waterbottle doesn’t have enough screentime.

Now when it comes to FriendProgram, I did not want Friendship Test to be a cynical story where I “criticize” games that “force” you to be kind just to get what you want, I thought that would be very dumb and against everything that I am. FT offers a funny scenario of a character that has no other option than to be a really good friend to be able to advance the story, but it doesn’t mean they are not a complex person with no kindness in their heart. It doesn’t mean that helping other programs is meaningless, it doesn’t mean that FriendProgram hates everyone and would kill everyone if they could. There is a lot of layers to this story and this character.

You might be wondering however: ‘Where are the aspec themes? You said this game was about lovelessness!’ To that I say, patience! Don’t worry, the rest of the game does NOT shut up for a second about the main message of the story, but it was very important to establish the world building and characters first before fully focusing in the main themes. Besides that, the demo is also meant to trick you into thinking this is another story about the power of love, there is a reason why it is not really discussed at the beginning. There is more to the story and to FriendProgram than you might think.

I am very proud of my game, despite the flaws, I’m happy that I finally had the motivation to make the rpg maker game I have always wanted to make. Perhaps this game will help me make a better game one day, who knows, for now I am very happy with the result so far.

The first update was more about the making of the demo, but the next ones will all be about previews and presentations for the rest of the game! Next month I will talk about the next area of the game: The Emulation Area!

Thank you for reading and supporting, see you!

-------

Get your updates 1 week earlier and extra posts in Patreon!

[changingplumbob]

Chatting about Dating Deanna - Shay Edition

Shay: So a little birdie told me you wanted a sneak peek of the villa?

Deanna: I may have been worried about living conditions

Shay: Oh honey you've not seen extreme living conditions until you've lived in my job. Don't worry, I may have been on Mad About Dodo but I used none of that in this build

Deanna: You built this yourself?

Shay: *remembers how the last time she tried to explain that she's living in a simulation the sim kept resetting* Yes?

Deanna: Well it looks like it belongs in Tartosa

Shay: YES! Let me tell you one time I was in Africa and asked where the wood was and everyone on the crew looked at me like I had two heads *shudders* apparently bricks were the better option

Deanna: So can I see inside?

Shay: Sure! Follow me!

Shay: This is the entryway. Felt like some nice green touches by the stairs. Then near the entrance to the hall to your room and a couple of contestant rooms we have some modern art with some more... historical pieces

Deanna: Is that a chinchilla by a skull?

Shay: Dire chinchilla I believe. Responsible for unspeakable amounts of death

Deanna: Is this my room?

Shay: I know it's a bit simple but you really won't be spending much time here beyond sleeping. Now, do you want to see the watcher's favourite part?

Shay: Did someone say split level kitchen and lounge???

Deanna: No

Shay: Well the watcher did! Isn't it glorious? I love the amount of light we were able to get in here. And the modular couch *squeals*

Deanna: It does look spacious

Shay: Well in the bigger rounds we will need to fit in you and six contestants at a time. Pus Devin and whoever is proposing the challenge

Shay: So the lawn on the right is... under construction? I mean there is a small area for when you do some group hangouts but the other side of it is empty so we can fit in some of the larger equipment for challenges

Deanna: Larger equipment being?

Shay: Oh you know, things the watcher can't be bothered building another lot for. Now back inside beyond the lounge we have what I like to call the wiggle room

Deanna: Wiggle room?

Shay: Not all the solo challenges need large equipment so this space is going to be swapped around for whatever it needs to be. Some might say the watcher just hates building but meh, this is why she has me

Shay: To the left of the lounge of course we have-

Deanna: THE POOL

Shay: Correct. Now there isn't any swimming challenges but there will be down time between the weeks where everyone needs to relax so we wanted a nice space. Don't tell anyone but the watcher is actually over the moon about how it came out

Deanna: Is that a contestants room I can see through the windows?

Shay: Yes. Except of course sims don't peer through windows so no one will actually notice during the challenge

*Deanna resets*

Shay: Fudge! Yes, contestants rooms. All are the same since they'll be swapping around a bunch. But they've got a bed, wardrobe and mirror. Computer of course for the skill building times

Deanna: Do we all have to share bathrooms?

Shay: With a villa this size? No. Ensuites for everyone! Now come inside and see the upstairs. It has my favourite view

Shay: Oh wait, do you like the kitchen?

Deanna: I like the idea of other people cooking for us

Shay: Sorry honey. While the contestants skill build you'll be on cooking and repair duty

Deanna: Really?

Shay: No pain no gain. Okay see the balcony up there? That's where we're going, using the stairs from the entry

Deanna: Okay, this view is nice

Shay: The watcher, I mean production company, still need to think of some scenes that can be up here. But yeah through the arch is more contestant rooms

Shay: So what's the verdict?

Deanna: It's cute! But... what if the contestants don't think I'm cute enough to stop watching tv for?

Shay: Are you kidding? You're adorable. It's going to be fine. There will be set times for socialising but yeah here and there it will just be up to contestants as to if they want to talk to you. We can't make them chat but... we can lock them out of their rooms for a bit

Deanna: *laughing* Let's not do anything that could get us sued

Dating Deanna has 5 spots left!

Interested in joining the chaos? Check out the below links for all the details and register interest by Christmas!

Contestant List, Challenge Overview, Joey's Contestant Creation Walkthrough, F.A.Q, All In Guide

@daedriyth, @cawthorntales, @igglemouse, @corrienteallita please let me know if you will be a couple of days late. On my 26th/USA's 25th I will be contacting those who have offered to do filler sims for empty slots and don't want to give away the spot for your sim if your game is just playing up (like the game does). But you are of course allowed to submit your sims up until then, so you still have a week for final touches. @abbysimsfun you have told me your sim is queued so don't worry, I know she's coming.

[welldonebeca]

bloodbrothers (1)

Summary: Jace meets Cregan Stark at a party in Winterfell and gets swiped off his feet. He always loved playing with fire. Set in 2023; Pairing: Jacaerys Targaryen x Cregan Stark WC: 3k words. Warnings: Modern AU. Flirting. Tension. A little of angst. Comfort. Quick burn relationship. Fluff. Family dynamics. Canon bending.

Set in March 2023.

masterlist

Jace rubbed his hands down his jeans, feeling every little bit of his body tense as he looked into the rear mirror, adjusting his hair, the sight of it dark still foreign after those two years of bleaching it.

Everyone from school would be there. Would anyone notice the change? Harwin had.

He stared at his phone, waiting for Arya to pick up, waiting at the gate.

Maybe he should just go back.

She wouldn’t miss him there. He could say he got sick! Everyone knew he didn’t do well up North.

It was cold!

“Dude,” she groaned.

It was her birthday. Arya was turning 18, and it’d been a month since they broke up and they’d found out they had a cousin in common.

And yes, that had brought them into a nicer place and a… kind of friendship.

But this was her birthday party, and Gendry was coming, and he was so fucking anxious about it.

“Please tell me you’re not calling to ask if you really should come,” Arya requested, her patience already gone.

Not that she had a lot of it to start.

He bit his lip. Well, what did she expect? For him to be happy and thrilled to be attend a party where her will-they-won’t-they-hot-ex was going to be after they’d broken up, at a place he’d barely just arrived and only knew maybe three people, and two of them were her and her little brother?

“No?” he lied, his word so slow he knew she could pick it up. “I’m… at the gate?”

Arya sighed.

“Yeah, just say your name and they’ll let you in and show you where the garage is, you’ve been at Winterfell already, dude.”

“Okay,” Jace breathed out. “But are you really sure it won’t be awkward?”

“Just get the fuck in, Jace!” she groaned. “I swear to the old gods and the new, if you ask me that one more time I’ll just tell them to not let you in.”

His face burned in shame.

“Sorry,” he mumbled.

But Arya had already hung up.

He drove into the place, stopping by the first gate and being directed to the garage, past the second gate, and he could already her the music playing the moment he left his car, shivering in his jacket when he did so.

Did they not believe in heating up rooms?

He tried to make the way to the hall quick.

Winterfell, the true castle – not just the extension to include modern stuff – was built over hot springs and they kept the castle kind of warm. Well, warm for a Northerner. It was huge, as well, he supposed it as the size of the Red Keep. Maybe bigger?

Arya lived all the way inside. It felt like walking through a maze when he tried to visit her, worse than when he was a boy and he got lost in the old part of the keep while playing hide and seek with Luke.

Jace rushed his way away from the cold and into the great hall, trying not to look like he was shivering and about to freeze to death to the people at the party.

The place wasn’t packed, maybe because the hall was the size of a whole average house, but it was certainly filled with a lot of people.

He greeted everyone he knew with waves and nods, thankfully not freezing but also not comfortable.

Bran was gonna be there, right? He… talked to Bran? A little?

Kinda. Bran would do much better as Luke’s friend, not Jace’s. But he was nice.

He wandered around the room, taking a glass from a waiter and some… finger food thing?

Jace was still holding the drink, untouched, as he looked around the room for Arya, pushing the food into his mouth when he heard a small chant, somewhere, growing louder as it filled the room.

“Kiss, kiss, kiss.”

Jace turned around to where it was coming from. There was a tall platform at the end of the room, probably something that was once for important people, but it now had food spread around for people to just take.

And Arya. With a tall and really strong guy he could only suppose was Gendry.

They obeyed the chant very happily, apparently, because Gendry dipped her like this was some sort of movie, and kissed her very dramatically as everyone cheered.

Jace swallowed down, his discomfort fully settling in as he chewed through the finger-snack.

“Yeah,” he sighed. “I really shouldn’t have done this.”

And he was ready to turn around and go back to where he’d come from and maybe chill in a parking lot of a fast food chain so Harwin would think he had enjoyed the party, when a deep voice interrupted him.

“Done what?”

Jace… wasn’t ready. He turned around and any thought of Arya left his brain as fast he could blink.

That was… that was a man.

He swallowed down hard, feeling his mouth dry. That was a tall man. Really tall. Broad.

The dude raised his eyebrows, as if he was waiting for-

Oh, he had asked him something. What was it?

“What?” Jace managed to blurt out.

He laughed, deep grey eyes closing for a brief moment as he blinked, and Jace swallowed again.

“What shouldn’t you have done?” he asked, grinning.

Jace couldn’t stop staring at his face.

How did he speak Westerosi again?

Words. He knew words. He was supposed to know words.

Simple words would be easier, he should start with them.

“A… food?” he decided.

"Food?” the guy echoed, looking completely amused, and his legs felt like jelly.

“Finger food,” Jace raised his hand. “Dry. It was dry.”

Another laugh.

“Was it, now?” he asked, smirking.

Jace’s heart raced in his chest as his face burnt. He was making a fucking fool of himself.

“Jace,” he blurted out.

The guy raised his eyebrows.

“My name,” he added quickly. “Sorry, my name is Jace. Well it’s not, it’s Jacaerys. Targaryen. Velaryon. With a dash. But everyone calls me Jace.”

“Jace,” the man repeated, as if testing it in his mouth.

It sounded good in his mouth.

“Well, nice to meet you Jace, Jacaerys Targaryen-Velaryon with a dash,” he spoke it slowly. “I’m Cregan Stark.”

Jace nodded slowly, wordlessly. Yeah, his name sounded really good on his mouth.

“Hi,” he answered back.

“Hi,” Cregan answered.

“Hi,” Jace repeated.

But he had already said that.

“Sorry,” he spoke up quickly. “I… sorry.”

Cregan laughed at his face again.

“It’s fine, take you time,” he teased him, his voice as smooth as his brain felt.

Jace’s face burnt even more, and he turned to the side suddenly when someone touched his arm.

“Oh, you two have met!” Sansa exclaimed. “Cregan, this is the… friend I was talking about.”

Cregan simply nodded.

“The cousin,” he remarked. “Who happens to be a model as well.”

Jace raised his eyebrows. Oh, he modelled too?

Well, he absolutely had the face and body for modelling.

“Jace, this is cousin Cregan,” she told him.

He nodded. Well, that made sense, with the name.

“It’s great to meet him,” Cregan declared, sipping his drink.

Jace felt those words in his bones.

They all kept silence for a moment, until Sansa cleared her throat, looking at them both with side eyed.

“I can’t take a second one of these sober,” she decided, clapping her hands. “I’ll leave you to it,”

Jace didn’t even look at her as she walked away, and Cregan just stepped closer to him.

“The cousin’s cousin,” he remarked. “Robb told me about it.”

He nodded along.

“Yeah, it was… nice?” he guessed. “It’s… complicated, my family is complicated.”

Cregan smirked.

“You have a dashed name. Those usually come with complicated,” he shrugged.

Jace looked away. Well, he wasn’t at all interested in talking about his family’s story right now.

“Sansa said you modelled,” Cregan remarked. “You’re with Castleblack?”

He turned back to look at him.

“Yeah,” he confirmed, running a hand up to adjust his hair, suddenly anxious about it.

Did it look good? Did Cregan think his hair looked good.

“Me too,” Cregan agreed. “What a shame they haven’t put us on anything together.”

Jace opened and closed his mouth for a moment.

“Well, I was blonde before,” he told him. “Bleached. Maybe we’ve met out there?”

He hoped they hadn’t. Jace would be really ashamed if he had completely forgotten about him.

“No, I don’t think so,” Cregan disagreed. “I wouldn’t forget you.”

Jace felt his cheeks and ears burning like a volcano.

“You have a very unforgettable face,” he added, sipping his drink.

All the words escaped his minds completely, so Jace sipped his drink too so he wouldn’t look like he didn’t have anything to say.

“How old did you say you were again?” Cregan asked suddenly.

Jace raised his head quickly.

“I didn't. I mean... Eighteen,” he corrected himself. “In January. You?”

That stupid mouth of his running quicker than his brain.

“Eighteen,” he answered back. “Nineteen in the end of the year.”

Jace nodded slowly, hesitant for a moment. Would he think he was too young?

"Good thing," Cregan said simply. "Aunt Cat would be terribly unhappy if Arya was giving booze to a kid."

He couldn't help his nervous chuckle, relaxing his shoulders a bit.

Cregan looked around the room briefly before looking to his side and setting his empty cup down on the nearest table.

"And do you dance, Jace with a dash?" he moved closer to him. "Or do you just stand around and look pretty?"

His eyes widened. Wait, he thought he looked pretty?

"Yeah!" Jace blurted out quickly. "Yeah, I do!"

Cregan menaced with his head and Jace just brought his cup up, downing the whole thing quickly.

Bad idea, yeah.

It was strong. And it wasn't just strong, it was as fucking cold as the weather outside, with two ice cubes that were happily freezing the way down his poor oesophagus while the alcohol burnt his tongue and his head hurt from brainfreeze, and he couldn't help wincing.

He could hear Cregan’s laugher as music started playing, and his hand reached for Jace’s before he even opened his eyes.

And… well, they danced. Together.

Cregan was a good dancer, Jace supposed. He moved. It was hard to look away from how the top buttons of his shirt slipped opened and he could see so much skin it was… distracting.

Jace had never wanted to kiss someone’s exposed skin so much in his life.

He could see his chest hair. Jace never knew he liked chest hair before.

Gods, his mouth was terribly dry.

Maybe he was warm for the first time in ages in this damn icey place. The way Cregan looked at him absolutely made his brain melt.

For the first time in his whole goddamn life Jacaerys had cursed how fucking short he was.

He wanted to kiss him. He wanted to kiss him so bad.

So he tried his best to show him he wanted to kiss him, because he couldn't do it himself.

Cregan had to know, right?

The way he looked at him - the way he fucking looked at him.

Like he wanted to take a piece of him.

But they danced, and that was what they did, until Jace found a spot they could get to and he could sit that boy down and fucking kiss him already.

He was the one to tug Cregan along with him to the bar with the high chair, and maybe he was the one to push him to sit down, but in the end he was seated and they were on similar heights.

A bartended looked right to them, staring at them up and down for a moment, striding to them quietly.

"What can I get for you, gentlemen?"

Jace had to think quick. Cause if he thought quick, then he would find something to do do impress it.

But Jace couldn't mix drinks. Nor he knew some fancy drink name or... anything that could surprise Cregan, so-

Oh!

"Do you have anything with a cherry?" Jace asked the bartender. "Please?"

The man straight up rolled his eyes to him, as if he knew exactly what he was doing.

"Coming right up. Cherry drink."

He slipped away, and Jace could see how Cregan's lips were curled in half smirk.

Still, he said nothing as the bartender slipped two glasses in front of them.

"A Pop My Cherry and a Cherry Mojito," he introduced. "You decide which one you're gonna be enjoying."

And he stepped away.

Jace reached for the Pop My Cherry, orange with a red top and ice. And a cherry on the top.

"There this really cool party trick," Jace told him, picking the cherry up.

Cregan tilted his head.

"Yeah?" he asked.

Jace nodded, picking the fruit up.

He could do it. All he had to do was calm down, and be smooth.

Smooth and... sexy. Sexy, he could be sexy.

"Yeah," Jace told him. "And... uh..."

Cregan leaned in a bit more.

"Yeah?" he asked.

Jace nodded, taking the stem and putting it in his mouth. It was really simple, all he had to do was hold it down with his tongue and make it curl up-

Well, he didn't quite have the chance, there was something else right there on his way.

Cregan. And Cregan's mouth, with Cregan's tongue, and Cregan's hands holding onto his waist and pushing under his shirt and against his back, and Cregan's teeth and Cregan's smell...

And the cherry stem was irrelevant.

Jace pulled him closer, settling right between his legs and leaning in, kissing him back and clinging him the best he could.

He didn't want to let him go at all.

Jace pushed his fingers into his hair as he felt his fingers hooking on the loops of his pants to hold him in place.

He was breathless when Cregan pulled back from his mouth, and yet it ended way too fucking soon.

Jace chased right after him, and Cregan just ran his nose over his, but didn't let him kiss him again.

"What a nice trick," he chuckled, grinning teasingly right at him as his thighs kept him in place.

Jace tried to lean into him again, but Cregan leaneed back, holding the stem in between his teeth, tied into a knot Jace was sure he hadn't been responsible for.

Cregan lifted his hand, taking it and holding it between them, like he was holding a flower.

"You managed to put it in my mouth," he spoke, completely serious. "How did you do that?"

Jace swallowed down.

"I can do it again," he mumbled.

Cregan just smirked, pushing his fingers under his shirt once more, caressing his lower back with one hand and pushing his free hand right into his pocket, squeezing his ass with his full hand.

"Why don't you keep it safe?" he told him. "And show me what else you can do with those pretty lips?"

Jace didn't lose his chance, pushing his fingers into his dark hair and tugging on it as he kissed Cregan again, hard, as hungry as he could show himself to be.

They kissed the whole fucking night, right there on that spot. There wasn't any finger food, drink, cake or natural disaster that could pull Jacaerys away from Cregan Stark.

Except. His fucking. Phone.

Jace had a shoot to attend tomorrow at one, he couldn't miss it.

"What's that?" Cregan clenched his hands on his back pocket, speaking right against his lips.

Jace didn't remember how to say his own name, and there he was, asking him questions.

"Hm?" he hummed back, trying to fish for his phone without pulling away from Cregan.

It couldn't be four already, right?

Jace unlocked it without thinking, feeling his teeth biting and tugging on his lower lip.

Four in the morning, on the dot.

He just moved to kiss Cregan again.

"What's that?"

Gods, Jace wanted to shut him up with his mouth.

"Got work tomorrow," he groaned. "Videoclip for some band."

Cregan kissed him again, both os his hands pulling from his pockets and up his shirt.

"Yeah?" he moved his hand around his waist, his thumbs caressing Jace's abs, and gods forbid him, he wanted him to push them lower.

He could just bring him home with him. Harwin wouldn't mind.

"You gotta go look pretty for a band?" Cregan bit his lower lip again.

That... that was making it all much harder.

It was good pay. And Jace wanted his own money to buy a good car and not just use Harwin's old car.

Dammit... Harwin was waiting up for him. And he had promised to leave.

"My father's up waiting for me," he groaned.

Cregan's lips curled in a grin.

"Poor Mr Targaryen-Velaryon with a dash," he taunted him. "Being kept up cause his boy can't stop kissing."

Jace tugged on his hair, kissing him right away again.

That fucking tease.

But Cregan pulled away from him, standing up and stopping him from chasing him.

"I'll walk to your car," he told him.

And what else could Jace do but walk along with him to the fucking garage, stopping at every possible spot to steal another kiss from him, and then let himself be pushed against the fucking door and kissed more?

He wanted Cregan to push his body against his, but that wasn't much of a chance.

Damn tall man.

"Good night, pretty boy," he pulled back from him, unlocking the door by his side. "Don't stay up too late, you can't miss your shoot."

And he walked fucking off.

It took Jace at least five minutes to calm the fuck down and not drive home with the hardest boner he had ever fucking had in his life.

When he locked himself into his room and looked at his jeans, he had a pre-cum stain on them. On his jeans, not just his underwear.

Of course, it was only after he'd gotten himself off that he realised he never got Cregan Stark's number.

. . .

"bloodbrothers" is a Jacegan modern AU, part of my Keeping Up with the Targaryens series. To have early access to each chapter 3 months before they are posted her and on AO3, consider subscribing to my Patreon. It's just $2 and I promise you won't regret it. Chapter 12 is just up 😉.

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[lilimonarch]

The little ways I learned I loved you in this little paradise - Haikyu!! Oneshot

WC: ~4686

Daichi is a flower shop owner desperately trying to get his business off the ground. Sugawara is wedding-planner in desperate need of flower arrangements and a reliable business partner. Slowly, Daichi realizes their bond may be more than just business partners.

https://archiveofourown.org/works/58839904

~

“Please be open, please be open, please!”

This was the final chance Daichi would have to make his dreams come true, he figured as much while he fidgeted with the bucket of roses in the front of the flower shop which he affectionately called his pride and joy. Opening only a few months earlier, he was already faced with the troubles of owning a small business.

Particularly, the solitude which came from starting it alone.

He had previously worked in larger flower businesses in the city, but he strived for so much more than that. Daichi wanted that personal connection with his customers, not to be another face in the crowd. Yet, the world had not been kind, and the business of The Flower Patch had been much too slow to reasonably keep up for much longer.

His head perked up at the pleading voice, the familiarity of the doorbell ringing on entrance. “Welcome to The Flower Patch, yes, we are open. How can I help you?” He turned his head to see a man slightly shorter than himself, ashen gray hair, and an exasperated smile.

“Oh, thank goodness. Hi, do you do wedding arrangements?”

“Yeah, I can do that.”

Daichi was not too sure how to describe the feeling, but it appeared the stranger who randomly entered his flower shop was going to change everything, he could feel it. “Well, it’s just me, but I can assure you I have experience making flower arrangements from arches to centerpieces,” Daichi started, internally praying the man did not look down on his newness to the business owner world and rush out the door the second Daichi took out his portfolio. “My name is Sawamura Daichi, and it’s a pleasure to meet you.”

“Thank you, Sawamura. Sugawara Koushi, or just the wedding planner,” the man smiled and held out his hand for a handshake. Daichi handed Sugawara a book full of images from flowers he had arranged from since he was sixteen to now, well into his twenties. While Sugawara flipped through the book (a good sign he was not planning on simply marching out of the store just yet), Daichi could not stop from analyzing the man across the counter.

Despite the gray hair, Sugawara seemed so young and bright, other than the eyebags under his eyes. They were hardly noticeable, but Daichi was always a stickler for those characteristics. “Oh my gosh, is this you?” Sugawara piped up, and Daichi looked at the page his current-almost-customer was looking at.

A teenage Daichi sitting in front of a wedding arc, a mixture of flowers blending into an almost sunset-like gradient. It was one of his first successful arches, an arc he had set on doing for his sister. One of the few arches full of color, compared to the white and pale arrangements he was used to.

Daichi kept forgetting to remove the picture due to his own appearance in it and will forever internally curse at himself for not getting a sole picture of the arch for portfolio. “Aww, look at you. Just a little guy, very sweet,” Sugawara commented, and Daichi covered his face to hide the flush. “And this arrangement? It’s absolutely gorgeous, and I need one just like it.”

“Really?”

Sugawara looked at him with eyes practically aglow, the face people get when they are too excited about a plan which has barely come together in their own heads, let alone a plan built enough to share with friends, not including Daichi who just so happened to be a stranger to Sugawara up until this point. “Yes, my florist bailed on me, but she was such a jerk. You, my friend, how would you be interested in a partnership? You do my flowers; I bring you business.”

Daichi must have been right; this was just the turnaround he needed for this business. “Yes!” He grinned, shaking Sugawara’s hand which was too soft for even his own sanity and wellbeing. “Absolutely, yes!”

~

The arc Sugawara had briefly mentioned in their first encounter had not been too far off from what he needed ordered for a lovely couple getting married… today, right now. The original plan was for Daichi to have everything set for Sugawara to pick up, but one thing led to another, and here Daichi was, standing at the venue with his pickup truck full of flowers.

It was awkward, seeing decorators and venue organizers bustling around the site trying to get everything ready, and Daichi stood outside his truck waiting for Sugawara.

“Hey, Sawamura?”

Daichi looks up to see Sugawara, clipboard in hand with a black button-up and dress pants which flow to the bottom of his ankles. His heart skipped a beat, but he shook his head in attempts to stay focused. “Right, your flowers?”

“Thank you so much,” Sugawara grinned, not waiting a second until the trunk door was down to climb in and start handing the flowers to decorator assistance. “I’m so sorry I couldn’t come get them, it’s pretty busy around here and I got busy.”

“It’s completely fine!” Daichi reassures him, helping to move the flowers into other people's hands and clear his truck. It has been ages since Daichi had actively seen a wedding being put together, another truck pulling in with a large three-tiered cake. “I can tell. Don’t worry, I’ll get out of your way.”

“You’re never going to be in my way,” Sugawara rolls his eyes, slamming the pickup trunk closed. “I’ll make it up to you, I promise.”

“Again, I don’t mind it at all. I’d deliver them much further for you,” the last comment slips out of his mouth and catches him off guard just as much as it does Sugawara, Daichi immediately moving to cover his face before the blush grows. “I’m heading out now. If you need anything, just call.”

“Right. Thanks!”

The encounter and sudden flirtatious comment keeps Daichi on his toes for the rest of his busy hours at the flower shop, and it continues to plague his mind when he’s cleaning up in the quiet hours. “God, what am I doing?” He shakes his head, rearranging some roses potted near the front counter. At least the night would be able to calm him, his busy hours were over and hardly anyone popped in past 6 pm.

“Sawamura!”

Well, anyone except Sugawara. “Welcome to The Flower Patch, what can I do for you?”

“Not me, just the wedding planner. By the way, the flowers were beautiful,” Sugawara comes in, his shirt buttoned high now with its two top buttons unbuttoned, a much more relaxed and fitting appearance for Sugawara. “The couple was so pleased with how everything went, thank goodness. It was really stressing me out,” Sugawara admits before putting a small white box on the table.

“What’s this?”

“Me trying to make it up to you.”

Daichi shakes his head, slowly going to open the box. “Suga, you didn’t have to. Delivering the flowers is part of my job,” Daichi sighs before opening the box, a generous slice of chocolate cake sitting in it. He could already see Sugawara grinning at the way Daichi’s face lit up. “Aww, Sugawara.”

“You should call me Suga more often,” Sugawara smiles before leaning against the front counter. “And I insist, you were eyeing the cake earlier. Snuck a piece away, it’s the least I could do.” He looks up at Daichi, hands reaching across the counter while he sports a mischievous grin.

Daichi’s heart skips a beat. He has to put the box down on the counter before he drops it. Play it cool, play it cool. “Well, thanks. I really appreciate it, Sugawara.”

“No Suga?” Sugawara frowns, getting a nervous laugh out of Daichi.

Daichi takes a deep breath, trying to calm his heart which is on the border of heading out to the races. “Nice try, Sugawara. Thank you for the cake. I look forward to future business with you.”

The shop goes silent before both burst out in laughter. It starts with a small chuckle from Sugawara before he doubles against the counter in giggles, Daichi following suit until the wedding planner composes himself to get up. “Fine, fine. I’ll see you, Sawamura.”

“Yeah, see you.”

~

The store is technically closed when Daichi hears the familiar ring of the bell. A few months after the first wedding he did with Sugawara, and it appears that Sugawara was the second chance at his life as an independent businessowner. Nowadays, his flower shop is bustling with people, and there is no reason for Daichi to keep The Flower Patch open so late anymore.

Nowadays, he spends the extra hours on arrangement designs (if he is not working on wedding business). Flower combinations, color gradients he may not have considered before, it is all so much more freeing. He still does not leave for home until nine, because although the public would notice Daichi’s shop closes at six, it stays open for three extra hours for one single person.

“Welcome to The Flower Patch, what can I do for you?” Daichi responds to the bell.

“Not me, just the wedding planner and my dear Daichi, you are going to hate me for this one,” Sugawara bursts through the unlocked door, disturbing the silence of The Flower Patch, as he typically did.

Daichi stops arranging a bouquet of orange roses for the fifth time that minute, crossing his arms and looking Sugawara up and down. “Suga, I could never hate you. Any business is good business.”

Sugawara shakes his head, slapping down a file of papers on the front counter. “This really rich couple is getting married, small but expensive wedding. Picture it, the wealthy cosplay small country.”

Daichi lets out a small laugh, reaching out for the file, conveniently using orange roses. Orange rose centerpiece, twigs and sticks, almost resembling a campfire. “Suga… at this rate, every client of yours is wealthy,” he jokes, flipping through the pages. “This stuff is easy, shouldn’t take more than two months to get the job done.”

Silence.

Daichi looks at Sugawara.

“Sugawara?”

Sugawara blinks twice.

“About that…” Sugawara gulps and Daichi’s eyes narrow. “They are getting married in two weeks.”

“Two weeks?” Daichi’s eyes widen, and his sudden positivity is stripped away. “To go to the market, find the flowers, hydrate them, and arrange thirty centerpieces by hand? Are you crazy?” Daichi shakes his head. “Thirty? Market shopping typically takes three days, and you’re telling me I have two weeks to get the entire thing job?”

“Yeah, I know, but please!” Sugawara sighs, closing up the file for Daichi. “The wife, she’s an influencer. The couple offered to pay a 35% increase for the rush.”

Thirty-five? That is a lot of money.

“I can see it on your face. It is a lot of money,” Sugawara commented. “Daichi, I swear I’ll never ask you to do something like this again, but just this once. Heck, I’ll find some high school volunteer to help if you need it, but please.”

“No need for that,” Daichi looked at the orange rose bouquet in the front of his shop, Sugawara’s pleading face, and his hands, slightly coarse from his flower work. “I’ll do it.”

“Really?”

“Yeah!” Daichi said the words without hesitation, but he could already tell he would slightly regret his decision. The arranging part was the easy bit, all the prep-work was going to be the killer, not to mention still trying to keep his shop open.

Despite all that, he could not say no, not to Sugawara. Not to his pleading face, upbeat smile, not to him. Daichi looked at Sugawara from across the counter, the way his face lit up from a positive response, his grin stretching from ear to ear. “You’re amazing!” Sugawara grinned before jumping up and heading to the door. “If you have any questions, just message me. Thank you so much, you’re awesome!”

And then he left.

Daichi looked at the door and then at his hands, suddenly shaking. His heart was racing in his chest, and he almost admitted it to himself, the obvious elephant in the room. “You sure are something, Suga,” he shook his head and took the file, heading to the back of the shop to start scheduling purchases for the flower arrangements.

Daichi did not admit it that night.

A part of him wanted to, but he couldn’t.

~

There were about thirty centerpieces highlighting orange roses in the back of Daichi’s shop as he scrolled through his laptop for emails about other business, only about six in the morning. His hands shook as he clicked through digital folders of payment trackers, lists of pending orders, all the works. Nowadays, the shop is closed on Sundays, but Daichi stayed through the night to finish those arrangements for Sugawara.

He had not realized it as Sunday until Sugawara at around four in the morning messaged him a chirpy Good morning! I’ll be there around seven for the flowers.

Daichi was not the most used to pulling all-nighters, not even when school was at its hardest, but here he was. Essentially, for Sugawara. Maybe it was exhaustive delirium bringing all these thoughts to his brain, but Daichi knows he would never do this for anyone else.

The third yawn that hour slips out from under him, and he shakes his head to move to the back of his shop, making sure the flowers are correctly protected and hydrated, ready to go for when Sugawara gets here. Each organized, Sugawara’s order label named correctly, everything was finally set to go with about an hour to spare.

The back of the shop was quite a switch from the front, not many windows to be bright and comforting to possible customers, but functional enough for Daichi to work on his projects, not to mention, a slightly older velvet couch for when his back hurt from arrangement work standing or sitting on a stool in his workspace.

The exhaustion was truly getting the best of him as he subconsciously moved to the small velvet couch with his laptop to get a change of pace while checking emails on the laptop, now sitting on his laptop. Not too much later, he found his eyes slipping shut with only the sound of his laptop fan running disturbing the silence.

When he woke up, the flowers were gone, and his awkward sitting position on the couch with his laptop had been switched to him laying down with a hoodie covering his torso, laptop placed neatly down on the ground beside him. Daichi jumped up with a start, looking around to where his arrangements had gone. When he reached for his phone in his pocket, his first notification was a message from his favorite wedding planner.

Hi Daichi! You left the back door unlocked. You were completely knocked out when I came by, so I didn’t want to wake you up. I took them, don’t worry.

Daichi felt relieved.

You’re so amazing! Your favorite wedding planner falls in love with the flowers more and more every day! <3

Daichi eyed the last text, looking at how the sweater which covered him like a blanket was not even his, it was Sugawara’s. It was slightly small if Daichi were to actively put it on, and it had the smell of Sugawara’s signature cologne.

His heart sank to his stomach. “You really are something, Suga,” he shook his head, watching his hands to start to shake.

Finally, he decided to admit it to himself.

“I think I’m falling in love with you.”

~

“Welcome to the Flower Patch, how can I help you?” Daichi says on instinct, cleaning the counter from another busy day at the flower shop while Sugawara enters. Days have gotten busier, not that he was complaining. More work for him meant more money, which meant more flowers to work with.

Daichi waited for Sugawara’s usual “just the wedding planner!” Joke from his one and only wedding planner, but the quip never came as Sugawara pulled up a scarf to his face, sneezing into the fabric and looking absolutely miserable. “I’m checking in progress for the rose heart for the wedding next week,” and sounding even worse, his voice a wreck.

“Er… Suga? Are you okay?” Daichi stops to properly look at his wedding planner, dark circles under his eyes and pale skin. “You don’t sound too great.”

“Thanks, I think I’m coming down with something,” Sugawara sighed, rubbing his eyes and clearing his throat. “Hell, and I have two weddings and an anniversary ceremony to plan by the end of the month,” Sugawara goes to the front counter and leans his head against the cool granite.

“I thought you weren’t going to stress yourself out like that anymore,” Daichi looks at Sugawara, his head against the granite with only his fluffy gray hair to be seen. “You shouldn’t be out, let alone working.” As his professional partner, Daichi should send him home because professionalism and he did not even need to check to know the other was sporting a fever.

As his friend with questionable closeness, Daichi reached across the counter, running his fingers through Sugawara’s hand. “Suga, you’re running a fever. I mean it, you could’ve texted me,” he says, feeling his heart shatter as Sugawara groans at the touch. “Worry about the arrangement when you’re not burning up. You should go home.”

The silence is on the edge of something much more than platonic, Sugawara still having his head down against the counter, Daichi’s heart racing in his chest. The silence needs to be filled with something, anything to keep Daichi’s mind from wandering. Anything to keep him from saying the words he so desperately wants to say.

I’m in love with you.

Sugawara coughs twice, Daichi frowns and continues to run his fingers through his silky gray hair. “Am I… am I a good person?” Sugawara looks up at Daichi, his chin resting on the counter while his face is a fevered flush. There are tears in his eyes, starting to roll down his cheeks.

“What? Suga…” Daichi reaches to wipe his tears, hand traveling from the top of his cheek to holding Sugawara’s chin. “You’re an awesome person. You’re just not feeling well, that’s all.” And a little delirious, it appears.

“If I’m always working, I don’t have to worry about love,” Sugawara sniffles, and that’s the sentence which causes Daichi to move from across the counter to the side where Sugawara is standing, holding out his arms as his wedding-planner practically falls into Daichi’s embrace, burying his face into the crook of his neck. “But then I’m always alone, and I don’t want to go home alone. Please, Daichi.”

Daichi sighs and holds Sugawara close to him, slowly moving to sit on the linoleum floors with Sugawara leaning against his shoulder, coughs turning into quiet sobs. “Sugawara—”

“Nobody gets me like you do, Daichi,” Sugawara confesses, reaching for Daichi’s hand. It is intimate, and Daichi looks down at Sugawara who is clearly out of it. His voice is already dying in his throat, and the eyebags under his eyes are highlighted from fevered pallor.

Daichi knows now is not the right time.

“I’ll take you home. Come on, you deserve to rest, okay?” Daichi continues to wipe tears from a now empty dam. “Then we can worry about all the projects together,” he comments, slowly helping Sugawara up.

He looks Sugawara deep into his eyes, mouth going agape when Sugawara moves to wrap his arms around Daichi’s neck, staying in that hold. Daichi cautiously moves to bring his hands around Sugawara, lips hovering over Sugawara’s neck.

“I’m so tired…”

“Yeah, figured as much.”

Kiss him.

Don’t.

Daichi shakes his head and lowers, moving to carry Sugawara in his arms. “I got you, don’t worry,” he sighs, carrying his wedding-planner into his car, buckling his seatbelt, his gaze lands on Sugawara, almost half-way to passing out.

“I love you.”

The words tumble out of Daichi’s mouth, a whisper unheard by the entire world other than Daichi himself. He shuts the passenger’s door and moves to the drivers’ seat, starting to drive to Sugawara’s home.

~

Daichi was getting sick of weddings.

He was tired of seeing Sugawara run himself into the ground with work before bouncing back like nothing ever happened, and it’s not the easiest to be in the wedding business surrounded by love but never having any himself.

It’s even harder to be in the wedding business with the person who stole his heart.

Daichi has admitted it over and over again, whenever they spent late nights video chatting about work, or casually as of late, Daichi was so smitten over his wedding planner, it was not even fair. Especially since it seemed Sugawara, at least in Daichi’s mind, was definitely not looking for a romantic partner.

It’s still a bad memory, a fevered Sugawara sobbing into Daichi about his stressors on solitude. Why worry about love when there’s work, and they love their work.

It was Valentine’s Day rush, when every hour was rush hour, and days like these reminded Daichi that it may be time to hire extra help. “I’ll take the next person!” Daichi shouted from behind the counter as a teenager came with a bouquet of flowers and the most bashful expression on his face. Daichi let out a small chuckle. “You look a little flustered there—”

The boy nodded his head while pulling out his wallet. “Is it bad that I’m confessing on Valentine’s Day?” He looked up at Daichi, not that the flower shop owner was any more qualified to be giving advice.

Love advice? That’s probably more in Sugawara’s department. Daichi thought to himself. “Well, with flowers in hand is probably a good way to do it. I wish you luck,” Daichi smiles, handing the flowers all neatly arranged and returning the boy his change.

“Thanks! You too!”

Before Daichi could even question the comment, the teenager was out the door. “Flowers, huh? With flowers in hand, on Valentine’s Day,” Daichi looked at all the flowers in his shop, and then all the extra flowers in the back reserved for future arrangements.

The next customer came to the register, a bouquet of tulips in hand. “One second, I’ll be right with you,” Daichi gave a curt nod before rushing to the back of the shop for where he kept his cellphone, opening Sugawara’s contact.

He writes a text.

Hey— Can you come by the Flower Shop tonight around seven? If you’re not busy.

Hardly a second passes before he gets a response, his heart racing in his chest.

Like I’d be busy tonight. I was just about to ask if I could pop in. Funny, right? I’ll see you at seven!

Daichi cannot help the smitten sigh which escapes his throat as he puts away his phone to finish the rush day at his shop. Then? A flower arrangement, and to see why Sugawara wanted to pop in.

Daichi prays it’s not another rushed order. It was worth it for the money, at that point in time, but it was definitely no longer an option left on the table.

Actually, Daichi prays it’s nothing business related. He just wants to see Sugawara, for no business reason, just to be with him.

His inner monologue is interrupted by the bell on the register desk ringing. “Coming!” He rushes back to finish his day the best he can.

~

The rush of Valentine’s Day has ended, and it’s 6:45 in the evening. Daichi is standing by the register, fixated on the bell above the door. He’s exhausted, his hands are rough from all the flower work of the day, but nothing matters more than the bell above the door and the arrangement sitting on the counter.

The arrangement: the second Daichi shut his doors, he immediately went to work on the most heartfelt flower arrangement he could conjure up. It was less aesthetic than a lot of his newer pieces, but it was raw. A few flowers in warmer hues, a little homage to the first arrangements Daichi ever made for Sugawara, the first sample that caught Sugawara’s eye in the portfolio he showed him during their first meeting. Tulips, because Daichi had learned Sugawara adored Tulips and was saddened they were not used in weddings more often. There was one rose, a light pink hue, because it went with the sunset gradient, and it was the one thing that really gave the arrangement a more than friends look.

The bell rings, Daichi perks up. He’s grinning ear to ear and trying to hide the obvious blush on his face. “Welcome to The Flower Patch, how can I help you?” He jokes, getting a nervous chuckle out of Sugawara.

“Not me, just the wedding planner,” Sugawara said with a bit of a sigh. “Happy Valentine’s Day. Was it busy?”

“You have no idea.”

They both share a laugh, and Daichi’s eyes keep flipping between the gorgeous view of Sugawara and the flower arrangement on the counter. “Are there any business updates I should know about?”

Sugawara, for the first time in ages, shook his head. “No, I just didn’t want to be a loser and spend tonight in my apartment. This is nice, having your wedding planner over even after a busy day.”

“You’re more than a wedding planner.”

“Daichi?”

The words just tumble out of Daichi’s mouth before he realizes what he said, and now Sugawara is staring at him with doe eyes, staring for clarification. “I’m sorry if I’m being unprofessional, but I see you as so much more than the wedding planner I work with,” Daichi can feel his hands shaking in his sweater pockets. “You’re amazing, the most amazing person I’ve ever even been able to talk to and it kills me to think you aren’t capable of finding love because every time I look at you, I want to kiss you more and more.”

They both blush, Daichi lets out a stuttered breath. “With consent! Of course— I mean, that’s why I haven’t kissed you. Even when you were sick— okay, let me backtrack really quickly,” he shakes his head, nerves calming down when Sugawara laughs at his only slight disaster of a confession.

Daichi reaches for the arrangement on the counter, holding it in his hands. “I know this sounds like a marriage proposal, but I want to take care of you, give you that love you deserve, love better than the couples you see and work with every day,” he holds out the arrangement. “I didn’t think I was ever going to have a crush on someone ever again, let alone fall in love, but here we are. I…”

Daichi takes a deep breath and for the first time, he says the words he had been dwelling over for ages to Sugawara’s face.

“I love you.”

Daichi keeps his arms out with the flowers in hand, desperate for any answer at all as Sugawara stands there with wide eyes.

He starts to cry.

“Suga?” Daichi starts to panic, setting down the arrangement on the counter and rushing over to comfort his closest confidant. “Hey, what’s wrong? Was it something I said? I’m sorry if—”

Sugawara moves to bring his arms around Daichi’s neck, looking up with teary eyes and fluttery breaths. He’s smiling through the tears, flustered blush on his face. “Daichi, I came here to confess to you. Beat me to the punch, didn’t you?” The breath lands on Daichi’s lips, and he’s never been closer to kissing him. “It definitely wasn’t going to be as romantic as this, though.”

“You’re a wedding planner, aren’t you supposed to be the romantic one?” Daichi shakes his head, moving his arms around Sugawara’s waist as his grin spreads across his face.

“Fine, fine. I guess you’re right,” Sugawara rolls his eyes through the tears before pulling Daichi closer, leaning in so their lips meet. It is soft, sweet, and beyond their wildest dreams.

It is paradise.

[freelafan4life545]

2 fics in one day. Dang.

At this point, @shamandigi-blog is my assistant. BTW, congrats! You're now a part of my blog business. Just a least give me some ideas for fics once in a while or monthly. Which ever feels comfortable. And don't let the title go into your head.

All others, make sure you send your fic requests or ideas as I'm always taking those for consideration.

Enjoy reading!

In Their Spirit

The apartment was quiet, save for the soft hum of the fridge in the corner and the faint, rhythmic ticking of the wall clock. Fry stood by the window, gazing out at the New New York skyline. He absentmindedly twirled the ring on his finger, the light of the setting sun casting a warm glow on the city. His and Leela’s wedding anniversary should’ve been a celebration, but today, his thoughts were elsewhere.

Leela was in the kitchen, carefully arranging a small anniversary dinner for the two of them, humming a soft tune as she worked. She had prepared everything—Fry’s favorite meal, dessert, and a bottle of their favorite champagne. Yet, despite the effort, Fry couldn’t shake the feeling of emptiness that gnawed at him.

“Leela…” Fry’s voice was soft, almost hesitant.

She turned, setting the glass of champagne on the table before walking over to him. “Yeah, Fry? Something wrong?”

He let out a deep sigh, his voice thick with emotion. “I’ve just been thinking about my parents… I mean, it’s our anniversary, and I wish they could’ve been here. To see this. To see you.”

Leela’s heart ached at the pain in his eyes. She stepped forward and placed a hand on his arm, feeling the warmth of his skin beneath her touch. Fry hadn’t spoken much about his parents in the years since he was frozen, but moments like these brought the grief rushing back.

“I know, Fry,” she said gently, her voice steady and comforting. “I wish they could’ve been here too. But you know… they’re always with us. In spirit.”

Fry stared out the window, lost in thought. “I know. But I always wonder what they would’ve thought about you. I mean, my dad… I just can’t picture him being happy with me marrying you, Leela. I know he’d have said something awful. He was never kind, and the last thing I want is for him to have ruined something so perfect.”

Leela took a small step closer to him, her hand gently squeezing his arm. She could feel the pain that still lingered from his father’s harsh words, the memories that had shaped Fry into the person he was today.

“Fry…” she said softly. “I can’t change the past. I can’t undo the things your dad might’ve said. But I know one thing for sure: I love you, and I’m proud to be your wife. What matters is the life we’ve built together, and your parents would’ve seen that, too. They would’ve seen how happy you are, how happy we are.”

Fry’s eyes softened as he looked at her, the warmth of her presence grounding him. “You really think so?”

Leela smiled, her heart full of tenderness. “I do. Your parents may not have been here, but they’ve always been with us. In the way you look at me, in the way you laugh… in the way you love me. They’re here, Fry. In the best parts of you.”

Fry swallowed hard, his eyes glistening. “I… I never thought of it like that.”

Leela’s thumb traced the back of his hand, offering silent comfort. “It’s true. And I’m sure they would’ve loved me. Not because of who I am, but because of how much you love me.”

Fry chuckled softly, his voice shaky. “I’m glad you think so. It just feels like they missed out. They missed seeing you, seeing how perfect we are together.”

Leela leaned into him, resting her head on his shoulder. “Well, they’re still here. They’ll always be part of us.”

He wrapped his arm around her, pulling her close. The weight of the moment hung between them, but there was a calmness now, a sense of peace that he hadn’t felt earlier. He kissed the top of her head, his voice quiet but filled with gratitude.

“I don’t know what I’d do without you, Leela. Thank you for always being there for me. I just… I wish I could’ve shared this moment with them. I want them to know how happy you’ve made me.”

Leela smiled against his shoulder. “They know, Fry. Wherever they are, they know.”

The quiet comfort of the moment settled around them, and for the first time that day, Fry didn’t feel the ache of missing his parents quite as sharply. Leela was right. They were always with him, not in the form of memories or voices, but in the love they had given him.

And in that love, Fry found the strength to face the future.

The dinner was ready, but the warmth between them—the understanding, the unspoken bond of two people who had weathered so much together—was more than enough to celebrate their love.

“Happy anniversary, Leela,” Fry whispered, pulling her a little closer.

Leela looked up at him, her eyes sparkling with affection. “Happy anniversary, Fry. I love you.”

“I love you too,” he replied, kissing her gently.

And for that moment, Fry knew his parents were there, in spirit, watching over them with pride.

💜🧡

[cynical-mystic]

Commentary prompt!

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Not for the first time, Claude wonders just why Sylvain invited Felix to join their weekly tea and chess time, despite Sylvain’s explanation that he wants the two of them to get to know each other better. Instead of learning more about Felix, Claude’s guard has gone up tenfold, helped along by the fact that he soon realizes he can’t ever really know Felix, not like Sylvain does. The face of the one person he’d ever thought of as a friend as a child flashes behind his eyes and he has to focus on not breaking the teacup in his hands.

“That’s just because you don’t care about strategy,” Sylvain says, waving off Felix’s complaint as he studies the board. “You’re all go, go, go, you rarely stop and think.”

“Look who’s talking!” Felix snaps. “You’re the fool who’ll throw himself in front of anyone being attacked if there’s the slightest chance they might get hurt.”

Crack!

Umber and vermilion eyes turn to him, but Claude is already grabbing for a napkin to wipe up the small amount of tea that was left in the cup he just broke. Thankfully it was his turn to provide the tea set, so he doesn’t have to worry too much about replacing the damn thing. Sylvain leans over to take the pieces from Claude while Felix watches, eyebrow raised.

“You okay, Claude?” Sylvain asks.

“Yeah, I’m fine,” he says, still not looking at him. “Just a stupid accident.”

Claude knows that the only reason why Sylvain accepts this as easily as he does is because Felix is there; otherwise, he’d press Claude for what actually happened.

Once everything is clean, he realizes his hands are shaking, so he clenches his fists.

“I think I’m going to have to bow out early,” Claude says, reaching out to knock over his king. “Sylvain, do you think you can take care of all of this?”

“Sure, but–”

Claude all but knocks his chair over getting up and walking away.

Jose, I love you, but did you really have to pick the one scene in that fic where I wrote it and was like "I'm not even quite sure why this is the way it is?" 😅😂🤣 Thanks for the submission! I love this fic so freaking much. I'm putting the rest under a cut because we get kind of long. Hope you enjoy!

This excerpt is from Chapter 9, "Proof of Pain," in Tangled Winds, the first entry in my Green Sarabhas series. I wrote this fic in a month and a half, and it's the longest thing I've ever written.

Not for the first time, Claude wonders just why Sylvain invited Felix to join their weekly tea and chess time, despite Sylvain’s explanation that he wants the two of them to get to know each other better. Instead of learning more about Felix, Claude’s guard has gone up tenfold, helped along by the fact that he soon realizes he can’t ever really know Felix, not like Sylvain does. The face of the one person he’d ever thought of as a friend as a child flashes behind his eyes and he has to focus on not breaking the teacup in his hands.

Okay, so you know that writing advice that says to write what you know? When I write, I put so much of myself into what I'm working on that sometimes I can go back and say "ah yes, I know exactly what I was trying to work through while I was writing this."

This is not one of those times!

In this fic, Claude is so insecure. There's this through line of this childhood friend that betrayed him and essentially ruined his ability to trust other people. For this scene specifically, Claude is struggling with the concept of letting Felix into his life. He's built a relationship with Sylvain to the point where he trusts him, but he knows next to nothing about Felix, and the one thing he does know is that Felix has been friends with Sylvain since they were children. Claude's assumption here is that, no matter how close he and Felix may wind up getting, Felix's first loyalty will always be to Sylvain.

For someone trying to build allies to help him when he takes the Almyran throne, that won't work.

For a scared, lonely boy who wants absolute assurance that he's the most important thing to the people he cares about, that won't work.

“That’s just because you don’t care about strategy,” Sylvain says, waving off Felix’s complaint as he studies the board. “You’re all go, go, go, you rarely stop and think.”

“Look who’s talking!” Felix snaps. “You’re the fool who’ll throw himself in front of anyone being attacked if there’s the slightest chance they might get hurt.”

Crack!

Correct me if I'm wrong, but Claude hasn't seen Sylvain in real battle yet, and has no idea how much of a self-sacrificing idiot the boy he loves is. The fact that this revelation comes from Felix reinforces the idea that Claude will never be enough for Sylvain, and that he'll always need Felix too.

While emotionally healthy, well-adjusted adults know that you can be the most important person to someone while they still have other friends who fill niches you can't, Claude is none of those things here.

The reminder that Sylvain could die and therefore leave Claude by doing something Claude can't really fathom doing himself at this point certainly doesn't help.

Umber and vermilion eyes turn to him, but Claude is already grabbing for a napkin to wipe up the small amount of tea that was left in the cup he just broke. Thankfully it was his turn to provide the tea set, so he doesn’t have to worry too much about replacing the damn thing. Sylvain leans over to take the pieces from Claude while Felix watches, eyebrow raised.

Okay, I will claim this paragraph as me protecting and not just being possessed by these idiots like I was while I wrote this entire series.

When I'm panicking, I tend to focus on mundane details as well, and when I try to remember things later, sometimes I'll pick out those mundane things instead of the thing that made me panic. It's a comfort thing, something I can relatively control.

“You okay, Claude?” Sylvain asks.

“Yeah, I’m fine,” he says, still not looking at him. “Just a stupid accident.”

Claude's thoughts here: Don't show weakness, don't show weakness, don't show- because in Claude's world, weakness is severely punished.

Claude knows that the only reason why Sylvain accepts this as easily as he does is because Felix is there; otherwise, he’d press Claude for what actually happened.

Anyone else use situations like this to their advantage? No, just me? 😅 Maybe there's more of myself in this scene than I thought.

Once everything is clean, he realizes his hands are shaking, so he clenches his fists.

“I think I’m going to have to bow out early,” Claude says, reaching out to knock over his king. “Sylvain, do you think you can take care of all of this?”

I'd like to focus on Claude's king for a moment. This fic was supposed to be "Sylvain and Claude get to know each other over chess after Claude harbors Sylvain for a night and gets curious," and while it spun widely out of my control, I went into this with no plan, so we're still clinging to the vestiges of that original idea here.

Also, I really don't think Claude would be able to stand leaving a game hanging like that.

Now that I think about it, it's also kind of symbolic of Claude's general submission in this situation. Instead of facing his fear and talking it out in the moment, he's leaving.

“Sure, but–”

Claude all but knocks his chair over getting up and walking away.

This is meant to portray the haste with which Claude gets up and flees. I'm not quite sure how exactly he would go about almost knocking his chair over while he stands, but that level of detail is typically irrelevant to me.

I love this ship, I love these three, and I love this entire series. Thanks again, @astaraxion, for the ask, and for being the best beta a person could ask for, and for being my friend. 🧡💜

[rust-bearer]

Ahhhhhhhh I got some childhood nostalgia and I just had to throw it onto the zombie apocalypse au. Probably could’ve just made a small post for this but I dunno, been a while since I did zombie stuff so I figured I’d let you in on it.

Was doing a little spring (?) cleaning and found my old Nintendo NES system I got a while back, cause y’know, absolute fucking nerd for most Mario games over here, and I was like… you know what. The zombie kids would probably love something like this.

I’d bet money that Swindle probably made sure their mansion farmhouse had solar panels built into it before everyone moved in. Based on where things take place, like, that might not be all that reasonable? I mean, where I live solar panels are common and highly encouraged if you can afford the original investment, and I’d bet he saw a way out of paying such high prices for utilities and just went all 🤑🤑!!!! with it because, well, of course he did.

Cue Swindle arguing with poor self-employed dude from Texas who’s explaining why they can’t just install solar panels where the house is, there’s little to no reliable sunlight and the trees would cover most of the rays and the house’s roof isn’t positioned right!! and—but Swindle is having NONE of it. He gets the solar panels, goes on to get into a whole debate with his bank to try to throw the charges off as fraud.

Anyway…. Solar panels kind of sort of mean somewhat reliable power? In the right circumstances maybe? OR. ORRRR you could do generators. Do both is what I’d do if I wasn’t broke but hey, it’s Swindle, he’s probably got more money than the fucking… whoever is the richest person or something.

SO. My overall hc is that Blast Off is the sort of resident techy person of the group, and I’d bet anything that on his occasional trips out to find good and interesting stuff to mess around with in his office/room/living quarters/etc, he brings back one of those old Nintendo consoles for the kids (and himself) to play with. The good thing is that he has one of those old-fashioned televisions as well, and it pairs really well with the NES console to give some nice sort of 80s vibes. Thank god for the solar panels, or… maybe the generators. Both?

Good news: the children love it! Blast Off gets a kick out of setting it up for them, and since it requires no internet, they’re good to go!

Bad news: once they get to a rather difficult level in one of the various Mario games Blast Off owns (projecting onto him because Mario is fucking AWESOME), nobody sleeps without hearing the cries of frustration from one of the few kids after they’ve lost the level for the umpteenth time. To everyone’s surprise, about three days’ into the struggle, Onslaught takes on the task of overcoming the problem level. Cue him sitting up at three am with all the kids snoozing around him, hunched over with glazed red eyes as he’s got a death grip on the controller and stares so hard at the tv as it depicts the whole “GAME OVER” title for the millionth time. He doesn’t get much sleep that night, and only stops trying to beat the game after Blast Off comes out and threatens to turn off the entire system because he “can hear the stupid machine from all the way across the house every single time Onslaught loses the level and it’s starting to get annoying.”

So yeah, I looovveeeee the old Nintendo games (specifically Mario games though) and I LOVE zombie headcanons, so I had to throw them both together! I think that’s it for now though.

God Swindle commits so much tax fraud. He does it, and does tons of it, but they can never make any of the charges stick if they ever even come up with a charge at all. Very mr sticky fingers, very ‘I donate a lot to the police every year…’ and whoops they just so happen to lose evidence and whoops, that ‘speeding ticket’ a new officer wrote up is all gone now. And so is the new officer. Though that’s also more inline with- everyone else in the family, too.

I think Swindle would be genuinely interested in casinos. He likes them on a financial level, of course, but he really has an interest in them on other levels too. If he cared enough he might’ve opened one himself, but that’s a lot of playing nice with people 24/7, too public facing. He’d definitely have friends who own them. ‘Friends’. Maybe visits them sometime, does some networking, the works. Vortex ironically is the one who might understand the ‘appeal’ of it the best, but he thinks it’s really boring; he’d rather ruin someone’s life and do it 1 on 1, not string hordes of people along for ever. Bleh.

I’d like to imagine it’s a combination of Blast Off AND First Aid coming up with the video games thing. Blast Off has a few, has a passing interest in them, but restoration as a hobby is the lowest on his list of interests. He initially balks, though, when the kids clamor to play too. Because they’ll get it dirty, or won’t play it right, or they’ll be too loud, really- but he eventually decides it’s not a bad idea. Lets them play Pong, of all things. Eventually he brings it up to First Aid, and First Aid mentions that he’d been trying to find some game consoles or the like, things they can play that won’t kill their power (handheld would be nice), but it’s- he never really cared a lot before, not since he was younger, and he doesn’t know what to look for anymore. So Blast Off goes with him next time they scavenge, despite Onslaught making a face about it.

First Aid hotly debates himself whether it would be psychologically harmful or helpful to bring the children games where they kill zombies.

[mannanoo]

Everybody has an origin story

Major Character Death (Previous event) Teen and Up Audiences Dream SMP Foolish Centric Word Count: 2,848 Completed

Everybody has an origin story. They don't always have to be bathed in blood, but sometimes there's no other option.

"Dream said to me once that every hero has an origin story." It was startling to Foolish to hear Tommy sound so quiet. The teen had been keeping him company and filling the silence with noise as Foolish decorated his summer home. He'd been sat on the base of the sphinx statue talking up a storm for most of the day, and Foolish had been happy to listen. At some point, Tommy had fallen quiet, after regaling Foolish with another story about how he saved Tubbo from... Something. Honestly, he wasn't quite sure what the teen had been on about in the last story, but he didn't want to burst Tommy's bubble as he seemed to be having one of his better days, especially since Wilbur had been revived.

But the quiet statement made Foolish pause and turn to look at him, only to see Tommy with his head bowed, brow furrowed as he stared at the sandstone floor beneath him. It took a moment for Foolish to answer.

"He did?"

"Yeah... When Tubbo and I were in his vault. Said if I wanted to be a hero, I'd need an origin story, before he threatened to kill Tubbo." If Foolish didn't know the teen better, he would've thought he didn't care, but Foolish could see the way Tommy's brow furrowed deeper, and the minute way his fists tightened to grip the loose fabric of his jacket that was thrown over his lap after he'd complained about the desert sun. He could almost see the cogs turning in the teen's brain as both of them thought of what to say next. There was silence, as Foolish gently put the glowstone back into his inventory and climbed down the scaffolding a bit, to jump down to the base of the sphinx, setting himself down next to Tommy. He was small, smaller than he'd been in a while, but he'd found it was easy to talk to people when he was at a more "human" height. They stayed in silence for a few moments longer before Tommy spoke up again.

"What did you do before this server? Like, before all the wars and fighting and stuff? Puffy thinks that my "origin story" doesn't have to be anything to do with L'Manberg, but I don't know."

Foolish stayed silent for a moment, before leaning back on his hands and looking up at his summer home with a large sigh. "I don't actually remember much before becoming a god. And as a god, I mostly just... Fought. Lots of wars and people killing each other, not I guess not much has changed in the grand scheme of things."

"I thought you were always a god."

"No, I was human once. Or... Shark hybrid maybe? I think I fused with a totem and became a god? I'm not really sure."

"So, was that your origin story then? You fused with a totem and forget shit?"

"Maybe. There's probably more to it than that, but I guess too long story, short; yeah, that's my origin story."

"So... You think Puffy's right?"

"That you're origin story doesn't have to be fighting in a war? Yeah, I mean, Puffy's right about most things. Besides, Dream's the bad guy right? He was probably just spouting some crap to make you give up hope, that's what the villains do. And the worst ones make you think about them after they're gone." He nudged Tommy's shoulder and gently smiled at him ad the teen looked up at him shyly. They stayed in companionable silence as the sun began to rise.

"Do you ever think about what you're life could've been if all the fighting didn't happen? Like... If you never got involved in wars and revolutions?"

"Sometimes. But I also know I probably wouldn't know anyone here if I didn't fight. I probably wouldn't know Eret, probably would never have met Puffy or got Finley and Foolish Jr. I wouldn't have had the chance to build this place, or anything else I've built, I probably wouldn't have even realised how much I love building if not for the fighting!" Foolish let out a small laugh. His face fell again as he saw Tommy's incredulous look. "I know all the fighting seems so much right now Tommy, but I promise it won't last forever. And I promise that you've got people on your side; you've got me, and Puffy and Eret, and you've got Tubbo and Ranboo. No matter what Tommy, you're not alone and we're gonna do everything we can to stop anymore wars and revolution. Or, at least keep you kids out of it. You've all done enough fighting for a few lifetimes." Tommy looked like he was about to argue, before he settled and just nodded at Foolish.

"Thanks Big Man." They continued sitting in silence as the final dregs of night lightened to day. Foolish jumped down from the base of the statue, slightly startling Tommy as his boots cracked against the floor.

"You can stay here and tell me more stories if you want Tommy. My home is yours. But I definitely need to continue decorating. It's pretty empty in here, don't ya think?" He smiled up at the teen, and Tommy grinned before starting off on another of his stories.

"Do you know how L'Manberg actually started?"

"Wasn't it just a drug van Wilbur owned?" Foolish smiled and Tommy barked out a laugh as Foolish climbed up the scaffolding to where he'd abandoned placing glowstone into a mural just to the side of the main entrance of his summer home.

"Well yeah, but first we had to liberate the server of all the dangerous drug stuff, like brewing stands and blaze rods! So we went to Tubbo first because obviously and then..." Tommy continued his story, not even focused of whether or not Foolish was listening, though he had no need to worry regardless.

*~~~*~~~*~~~*~~~*

After Tommy had left, Foolish stayed sat at the base of the sphinx, looking up at the mural he'd created around the entrance of his summer home. The picture in front of him, the two humans facing away from each other. Neither had any proper facial features and the details of their clothes were extremely minimal, but there was something so achingly familiar about both figures, and not just because he'd made the mural himself.

Truly, if Foolish thought about it, most of the designs he put into his personal builds, he never really thought about them. He'd just go through the motions, letting himself place blocks where he felt was right and it always worked, but it always left a void in his heart. Like something was missing just out of his reach.

He stared up at the right hand figure of the mural, taking in the curled hair that fell just over the face. The loose clothing of reds and whites pushed at Foolish's memories, leaving that void in his heart aching and widening.

He took a breath, leaning his head back against the statue's base, closing his eyes and letting the warmth of the setting sun lull him into comfort and sleep.

*~~~*~~~*~~~*~~~*

"Foolish! Come on, it's just a little further!" Foolish opened his eyes, taking in the dense trees surrounding him. He looked towards where the voice came from, seeing just a glance of a flowing red cloak. It was partially transparent, revealing the cropped white shirt and low riding black trousers underneath. He moved towards the figure, getting a better view of the person who knew him.

As he pushed a tree branch out of his way, he caught a glimpse of his hand. His human hand. Not a trace of gold anywhere on it. It lacked Foolish's usually rings and chains, as well as any trace of his totem side. He went to turn his hand around, but found his body wasn't moving the way he wanted. He continued on towards the figure, that was still partially obscured from his view. But now, he could see most of the persons figure, only his face hidden from him now. It was like there was a fog in front of this persons face, hiding his eyes away from Foolish's gaze. He tried to speak up, ask who was there, but his body still refused to answer. There was something familiar about this person, and the situation, but he just couldn't remember.

"I'm coming! Just wait a moment ____!" His mouth moved without him. The name that came from his lips, was jumbled and muffled, making it impossible to make out. A deep laugh came from the figure before him, a gentle hand lifting to cover his mouth as Foolish finally caught up. The fog didn't lift, but something about being around this person lifted Foolish's spirits, filling that hole he'd felt in his soul for quite some time. Gently and carefully, like a stream from... He didn't know the name, but he knew it, deep in his heart. This person was his friend, and he knew them. Like they were written directly on his heart and soul.

"You're so slow Foolish. Come on, they're just up ahead! I saw them a few days ago, and I followed them and found this place, and I thought you'd love it! It's such a cool looking place, and I think it's abandoned so you could probably do something with it!" They spoke quickly and excitedly, grabbing onto Foolish's hand-his ungilded hand, it was still so weird to see after so long-and pulling him along, easily weaving the two of them over bulging tree roots and underneath low hanging branches. Their excitement was contagious, spreading to Foolish as easily as water drops from leaves, leaving the both of them smiling and laughing.

Laughing enough that he didn't notice when jumping over tree roots quickly became hopping over red, pulsing vines.

Enough that he didn't notice when the forest grew silent, save from the gentle crackling of near fires.

Enough, that by the time they were in front of this abandoned temple, Foolish could do nothing to try to avert whatever was coming.

He couldn't speak. His panic was welling in his chest, overwhelming the sense of safety and comfort from before. The dread was overflowing, and he started trying to pull their hands backwards, trying everything he could to try and speak, to warn this person it wasn't safe. Anything to get them both away from there and back to safety.

But nothing happened.

He could feel himself still smiling, gazing wondrously at the temple before them, the vines weaving in and out of the marble pillars, blending into the crimson hyphae window frames. He screamed silently as his body moved forward of its own accord, bringing his friend along with him. He could feel their eyes on him as they moved forward, hands and fingers still intertwined. He watched as he free hand brushed over the vines wrapped around the closest pillar, and shivered inwardly as it pulsed beneath his fingers, quickly matching the rhythm of his own heart. He turned towards his faceless friend, and he could feel the grin splitting his face.

"Let's go inside! I want to see what else this place has!" He could feel his excitement, but it was overshadowed easily by his dread. He knew those vines, knew what they were, what they did to people.

He wanted to get away, but he was trapped. Trapped inside his own body and mind in a... Memory? Of before he was a god?

Whatever this was, he didn't want to see it.

He shut his eyes. He knew it would do no good for this past version of himself, but at least now he wouldn't have to see it again.

Their hands stayed together as they explored. He felt more aware of his surroundings. He could hear the far of footsteps, the fire crackling. He could feel the torches light up as they walked down corridors and through empty room after empty room. He could feel the cold sinking into his bones and chilling his skin as they descended together down stairwell after stairwell, curling around and around and leading them further into darkness and damp.

He could tell without looking they were in a basement. He could feel the oppressive force of the Blood Vines, knew that they had been growing and getting more concentrated as they delved further into the temple.

"Woah... What is that?" He heard his friend say, and against his better judgement, he opened his eyes. He knew what he'd see.

He was right. But, Prime how he wished he was wrong.

There in front of them, was the Egg. The Red Egg that had been tormenting the server, had changed his friends and torn people apart.

Had killed him. Had made people he thought were his friends, sacrifice him.

He couldn't move even if he wanted to, as his body and his friend stepped towards the Egg, brushing their hands over the vines. He could hear footsteps moving towards them both, but he knew that neither of them had actually heard them. Knew that neither of them were aware that they weren't alone in that room. That they weren't aware of the danger in front of them and quickly surrounding them.

Foolish's hand slipped from his friend's as they stepped towards the Egg, taking note of the swirling patterns on the Egg and the way the Vines curled around it protectively, reaching out towards their hands and ankles, curling around them possessively.

He felt hands snatch out and grab onto him tightly, yanking him backwards, away from the Egg and the Vines. He looked up and saw his friend suffering the same fate, and felt a knife press against his neck. Their face was still clouded by fog, by Foolish knew they were scared, he could practically feel the fear emanating of them, despite them not having a blade pressed into their neck. He wanted to scream out, to fight against the hands and blade keeping him trapped.

A new figure stepped out of the dark. Their face was clouded like Foolish's friend's, but so was most of his body. It was like he was looking at them through the heat haze and fog in the nether.

"A worthy sacrifice I should think. The Egg does seem to love it's hybrids. Continue with the sacrifice then dispose of the mortal. They're not worth the trouble." The voice seemed to weave and drift throughout the dungeon. Foolish could do nothing as he was pushed forward, chest and cheek pressed against the Egg, facing his trapped friend. The blade pressed deeper into his neck, and just as it cut straight through the flesh, he yelled out:

"Run! Get out of here E-"

*~~~*~~~*~~~*~~~*

Foolish woke with a start. He hunched over, hanging his head between his knees, panting as sweat dripped down his neck and forehead. His eyes were wide, the moon was high in the sky, shining down and illuminating the sphinx and his curled up form. He held his hands in front of him, flexing his fingers, counting the rings and moving the chains around so they sat properly. The gold tips of his fingers glittered in the moonlight and he focused on the shine they provided as he got his breathing under control.

There was silence in his summer home. No mobs would spawn within its boundaries, and there was no one he was sharing it with.

He felt... So alone. More alone than he'd felt in a long time.

The feeling of warmth from his dream had fled, leaving nothing but the cold reality.

He'd been a human-shark hybrid. He'd had a friend who looked out for him and for things that he'd like.

They'd looked out for him and been the last thing he'd seen.

He'd been sacrificed to The Egg that plagued the SMP now.

The Egg that was tearing his friends apart and poisoning their minds.

The Egg he'd been sacrificed to only a few weeks ago.

The Egg that dampened his god given powers.

He looked up at the mural in front of him, stared at the figure with the curled brown hair falling in front of their face. The warmth from his dream returned. It was small, and barely there, but it gave him some comfort as he slowed stood up and moved towards it. He held his head upwards, staring at the featureless face of the mural, reaching his hand out to brush against the gold detailing at the bottom of the mural.

A tear fell down his face, then another and another, until there were too many to even attempt to brush away. "I'm sorry... I'm so sorry. I'll remember you, I promise. I'll remember you and I won't forget you again. I'm so sorry." His whispers seemed to reverberate throughout the building. His cries and whispered promises seemed to echo as the moon fell and the sun began it's slow rise.

"I promise I won't leave you behind again, Eret."