#bora imagines

[dark-night-insomniac]

|Dreamcatcher reaction ~ them being clingy to you

| No warnings! Just fluff

| I hope you all enjoy this lovelies! Remember to take care and rest <3

| After a long day at work, all your girlfriend wanted was to be next to you

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Minji yawned as she stepped through the front door. After taking off her shoes and her jacket, she looked around for you downstairs.

She saw some food on the counter but still no sign of you so she decided on calling for you.

She frowned when she didn't hear any reply. She looked at her phone confused. No text from you and it was 6 pm, you should have been home by now. She pressed your name on her contact list and called.

You immediately picked up

‘’Hi baby!’’

‘’Where are you?’’ You could hear the slight pout in her voice

‘’Why, is everything okay?’’

‘’Yes I was just thinking you’d be home by now’’ she said defeated.

‘’Oh babe I’m just upstairs, I was listening to music and studying, I'm sorry I didn’t hear you!’’

Jiu hung up and raced upstairs, slowly down before opening the door.

‘’Hey, baby!’’ You exclaimed before glancing back down at your notebook

‘’How was your day?’’ You added

‘’Hmm I missed you’’ she said while walking closer to the bed before sitting down.

‘’I missed you too honey, I’ll just finish these quickly’’

She looked over your shoulder, seeing you busy writing a few notes.

After a minute you noticed her closing in on you. Letting her chest press against your back and her head lay on your shoulders.

‘’Im sorry I'm almost done’’ she simply hummed before leaving a soft peck on your neck. She just couldn't help it. She had been thinking about you all day, and now that your soft kissable skin was right in front of her, she had to give it attention.

You giggled at her action, noticing her getting a bit impatient for your attention. You closed your notebook and looked down at her, noticing her slight pout.

‘’You want a hug that bad?’’ You teased her, making her whine

‘’Come here’’ you completely turned to face her, opening your arms wide for her. She immediately let her body rest on yours, head snuggling closer to your heart.

You rocked her from side to side, leaving sweet kisses on her temples. ‘’How was your day baby?’’

‘’Can we just cuddle for now’’ she mumbled against your skin, making you giggle again

‘’Of course baby’’ you replied with another kiss, this time on her lips.

You let yourself completely fall against the pillows, bringing Minji in with you. She let her arms lay on your stomach and her head on your chest.

You placed a blanket over the both of you before reaching for the tv remote.

But before you could reach it, you felt her nudge her head against you repeatedly, even adding a small whine to her plea. ‘’Please play with my hair’’

You could do nothing but obey your wonderful girlfriend, quickly lulling her to sleep after her long day

As soon as Sua finished dance practice, she hurried home. The both of you had been too busy this week to spend more time together than the time you slept. She stepped through the front door and immediately called for you.

It was finally Friday and the both of you had ended early, it was a perfect night to spend time together after a long week.

You heard her and made your way to the entry. You smiled as soon as you saw her. As for Sua, she ran towards you without any warning and engulfed you in a hug. After saving yourself from falling, you spun her around laughing. She clung onto you and let her head rest on your shoulder.

Once you settled her down, she placed one behind your neck to bring you closer before kissing you. She cupped your face and deepened the kiss even more, leaving you smiling.

‘’Missed me?’’ You teased when she pulled back

‘’Yah!’’ She lightly slapped your shoulder ‘’I haven't seen you all week’’ and all in one sentence she had turned from offended to pouting.

‘’I know I'm sorry baby’’

When she clung onto you again that's when you realized her clothes were a bit wet.

‘’Do you come from dance practice’’ you asked still holding onto her

She nodded in your embrace. You didn’t mind the situation, warm, cold, damp, your girlfriend was still your girlfriend and you loved to be in her arms… but you sure wouldn’t pass the occasion to tease her.

You gently pushed her off of you ‘’Ah you’re all sweaty Sua’’ trying your best to look disgusted although a smile was clearly peeking through. Your girlfriend picked up on your teasing and immediately retaliated.

‘’Oh, you don't like this?’’ She grinned before she grabbed you and pushed herself onto you in a hug.

You faked being in distress and tried getting away but she caught you in her arms again. ‘’You’re not going anywhere y/n’’ she giggled

‘’Help!’’ You shouted before giggling along with her

She pushed you to the nearest sofa and made the both of you fall onto it before nuzzling closer to you.

You faked an escape once again, slightly moving your leg closer to the floor. Sua didn’t stop you this time, simply warning you,

‘’Keep up this act and you’ll regret it y/n’’ she said before slightly tickling you, making you squirm under her.

‘’I was joking jagi, I love you so much’’ you kissed her lips again.

‘’I love you too, trouble maker’’

Siyeon texted you as soon as her day was over. She had been eager to see you all day. With the comeback approaching she had been busy for most of the week and she was looking forward to simply relaxing with you.

She drove to your apartment before letting herself in with the key you had given to her.

She spotted you looking out onto the balcony. After taking her shoes off she silently made her way to you before hugging you from behind.

You slightly jumped. ‘’Ah! Siyeon, you scared me’’

‘’I'm sorry baby’’ she pouted before resting her chin on your shoulder

‘’It's okay honey’’ you giggled before turning back to look at her. You placed a few strands of hair behind her ear before placing your arms around her waist.

She simply stared at you, a smile drawn on her lips. She would often zone out while staring at you, but it always had the same heartwarming effect on you, one that reminded you of just how much you loved her.

‘’The earth calling Siyeon’’ you joked with a teasing grin

‘’Ah! Sorry’’ she giggled ‘’I just missed you so much’’

‘’So did I but we should go inside before my baby gets cold’’ you explained with a grin, to which she responded with a nod and her signature pout.

You took her hand and guided her to your bedroom before laying down on your bed. She wasted no time in joining you, letting her head rest against your clothed armpit.

‘’How was your day baby?’’ You asked while she put both her arm and leg above your body.

‘’It’s better now’’ she mumbled happily

‘’Same here but is that all about your day?’’ You questioned with a grin

She nodded against your arm, making you giggle. She grabbed your hand and interlaced her fingers with yours before playing with the skin on the back of your hand.

You loved when she was clingy, you’d never get enough of her warm embrace.

After an exhausting day at work, Handong was excited to go back home to you.

She had been recording her special clip for her fans all day and was now ready to rest for the evening.

She came straight back home to you. Not stopping back at the studio to review the footage or change.

The crew found it unusual for her to not want to do so but she just really wanted to be with you at the moment.She knocked at your door, thinking about hiding away to prank you, but ultimately not doing so, anticipation to see you being too strong.

When you opened the door, you were stunned. You didn't expect Handong to be back so early, but definitely not dressed so majestically after her long day at work.

She slightly smirked at your awe.

‘’So can I come in?’’ She teased

‘’Oh! Yes of course babe’’ you let her in and before you could put another word in she lifted you off your feet, in a secure embrace while she spun you around.

‘’Ah y/n I missed you’’ she admitted, letting her head rest within the crooks of your neck, where she could smell the recomforting scent of your perfume.

You wanted to tease her, but it was rare for you to see Handong so clingy so you opted to tell her just how much you missed her too.

She was like an exhausted child hanging on to a parent. You giggled when you looked down to see her face squished against you. You rubbed her head and squeezed her tight.

‘’Wanna go get changed, my love?’’ You suggested while still holding on to her. She simply nodded.

You led her to the bathroom where she asked you to take off her makeup for her with a pout.

‘’Okay princess’’ you giggled

She sat on the counter, her legs pulling you closer to her body. You gently wiped away the makeup from her face. Reminding her with each wipe just how truly beautiful she was, makeup or not.

Once done, you were to turn around to get her clean clothes but she pulled you back by your collar, enticing you with a sweet kiss you wouldn't be pulling out of just yet.

Yoohyeon called you as soon as she was done in the studio. She told you to join her at the dorm because she wanted to spend the rest of her day with you.

You obviously couldn't say no to your girlfriend. You teased her on the phone, saying you’d consider it, only resulting in her whining even more. Truth be told, you had been done with work for a while now and you were only waiting on her call.

You dressed in your coziest clothes before walking a few blocks out to join Yoohyeon at the dorm. You weren't sure if the girls had arrived yet, so you looked at your phone to see if she texted you again.

Before you could even get to the messaging app, the door was slammed open and the next thing you knew, a 5’6 foot puppy was hanging on to you.

‘’Im so happy to see you’’ she mumbled against your skin

You giggled, finding her adorable as always.

‘’I miss you to jagi’’ you kissed her forehead.

She pulled on your arm and guided you to her room quickly.

‘’I prepared a bunch of blankets on my bed for us!’’ She said excitingly

‘’And what would those blankets be for?’’ You faked being unaware of want she wanted

‘’Well...I thought we could spend the night cuddling with a movie’’ she looked down at your intertwined hands

You softly giggled before lifting up her chin for her eyes to meet yours ‘’I know my love, I would love that, anything to stay close to my beautiful partner’’ You smiled at her, making her own lips curve into a beautiful smile.

She quickly pecked your lips before pulling you onto the bed. She acted as if you were a plushie for her to cuddle. She guided you to sit against the pillow, then cuddled your side before pulling both your arm and leg over her.

You looked down at her with an amused face while she nuzzled her face within your shirt.

After a few seconds of admiring how incredibly adorable she was, she looked up at you.

You lifted one brow, a smirk plastering your face at how clingy Yoohyeon was to you. When she saw your teasing expression, she whined, gently hitting your chest

‘’cuddle me back, don't just stare’’ she mumbled

‘’Oh yes, of course, I'm sorry love’’ you smiled before bringing her even closer.

You had stayed over the night at the girl’s dorm. You and Dami were planning to watch one of your favorite series together this weekend.

Unfortunately, she was called in along with jiu and yoohyeon to record a few more lines in the studio. So she had left early this morning and it was now a little after 2 pm.

You slept most of the day off, waiting for your girlfriend to come back.

But since you had woken up at 1 and couldn't fall back asleep, you decided on writing in your journal for a bit. You were entranced by whatever you were writing that you hadn’t noticed that Dami had entered the dorm, only finding out when she entered her room.

‘’Hi my love’’ she grinned, placing her bag down before making her way towards you.

She plopped down on the bed onto her stomach before turning her head towards you.

You smiled at how adorable she was. ‘’How was it at work baby?’’

‘’It was fine, but I wanted to come back here with you’’ you could see a glimpse of a pout on her lips while her cheek was gently squished against the mattress.

‘’Well we're here together now’’ you smiled

‘’Hmmm’’ She nodded

She pulled herself up before moving behind you. You had been sitting close to the bed rest but not exactly against it, leaving a place for Dami to cuddle up against you like she usually would.

She pulled you closer to her, letting her arms and legs wrap around you.

‘’Ah there's my little panda’’ You giggled, you always loved when she would let herself be clingy this way, clinging like a panda to a tree.

‘’Can we watch our series?’’ She asked, placing her chin on your shoulder

‘’Yes of course babe’’ you replied

As you grabbed the remote, Dami let her hand snake up to your jaw, turning you towards her so she could kiss your lips

‘’I missed you’’

‘’I can tell’’ you teased, making you both giggle

The both of you stayed this way for a while, Dami did not let go of you for the rest of the day.

She seemed to sometimes try to not make it obvious though, following a bit late after you. And you’d always end up with her arms around you if you took too much time outside her room.

Gahyeon was so stressed for today. The music video recording would finally end after 3 consecutive days but her final scene, where a stunt was planned, would be recorded today.

Luckily, everything went well and the filming ended quite early, against all expectations.

Finally feeling the stress leaving her body, she let herself flop on the backstage lounge’s sofa. She breathed out and drank some water. She looked over at her phone and saw your name, remembering her that you were on your way to pick her up.

With all the stress she had been through, she almost forgot the sole reason why she had been motivated to get up this morning~ the fact that she’d spend the night at your place tonight.

Although she was exhausted after filming, she felt excitement brew inside of her. She grabbed her phone but before she could reply to you, she heard a knock.

She looked over to the already open door to see you standing there with a proud smile.

‘’Y/n!’’ She whined ‘’come here’’ she pouted, making you giggle

You made your way to the love chair, sitting down next to her before intertwining your hand with hers.

‘’How did it go baby?’’ You looked down at her, eyes full of love

‘’It went well’’ she replied, still with a pout

‘’Im glad, I'm so proud of you’’ you hugged her tired figure.

She stayed in your arms and felt herself relax even more.

‘’You want to go home now?’’ You asked, gently cupping her face, she nodded before following you. You grabbed her things while she changed and the both of you left in your car.

She wouldn’t let go of your hand during the ride, admiring you from the side while trying not to fall asleep.

Once you arrived at your apartment. You noticed that she was sleeping. You decided on bringing her bags inside before waking her up to go in. But when you did, she whined, asking for you to carry her. You laughed before picking up and bringing her inside.

You laid her on your bed before making your way out of the room to get some water. But Gahyeon whined at you once again, obligating you to lay down next to her and offer her all the cuddles she yearned for.

[insomniakisses]

Sometimes you have to learn to share

Requested? no

Warnings/Notes: jealousy, drama in friendships, jennie being a smol sassy bean, Sua lowkey jennie bashes, kind of ooc but i feel like pissed of and jealous Sua is lowkey a bitch.

Note 2: i spent days on this bc i have minimal time to dedicate a day to wrote so i thing it may flick between tenses.

Fic type: fluff, slightly angst

Reader: fem reader

You’d been Boras best friend for what felt like a lifetime. The two of you having met when you were trainees eventually debuting in different companies. Her in Happy face, later DCC and you in YG entertainment. Which was were you had originally met Jennie, finding her having some extra practice in on of the practice rooms.

You fondly remember how she had been so on guard about you interrupting her, assuming you were some crazy fan that had walked in rather than what you were; a trainee who had booked the practice room for extra practice the before before your debut.

That night the two of you had decided to share the room, intending to practice together as one was preparing for debut and the other a solo comeback. However the night took a turn when you fell trying to do a flip and Jennie managed to keep you from falling flat on your face. After that the two of you spent the night talking and getting to know each other, only realising how much of a fuck up that was when the morning staff entered the room and you were both very late for your schedules.

It was 2 months after that day that you two saw each other again, your schedules aligning and you running into each other in the YG canteen. Well she was running you were daydreaming. Regardless, it ended in her ice coffee all over your white shirt and her “helping” by rubbing it in even more. You proposed changing while she went to the studio since she seemed so desperate to get there fast but you never would of guessed leaving with her number.

She laughed at your shocked face when she had asked if she could give you her number, giving the excuse of replacing your shirt. Taking the opportunity to grab your wrist and pull out a marker, scribbling something down before skipping away.

“X-X-X-X-X-X-X-X-X-X-X, Jennie x”

It was the weekend when you finally text her, filled with nerves and slight embarrassment at your awkwardness. Fearing she might not remember you at all.

Unknown 10:23 am: Hey! Its y/n

Unknown 10:26 am: realised you probably don’t know my name, we met in the practice room.. then you spilt your coffee on me

Jennie 🫢 12:34 pm: Oh hey sorry, i was recording!! I’m free in an hour if you want to go shopping and replace that hideous shirt

Clumsy Girl 12:34 pm: So my shirts hideous now 🤨 I’m not good enough for the likes of miss Jennie Kim of BLACKPINK? I see i see 😂

Jennie 🫢 12:35 pm: Well… it was a nice colour?? 😂 AND i didn’t even mention your shoes 😉

Clumsy Girl☺️ 12:35 pm: So i guess ill meet you outside the building in 10, should i dress up for u little miss Chanel?

Chanel Princess 👑 12:36 pm: Like you could 😂😉

Chanel Princess 👑 12:36 pm: See you in 5! ☺️ I wait for no one 😌

You remember having to sprint half way there just to be on time, only for her to record your out of breath half walk half jog when you arrived. Claiming it was the best thing she had scene all day. And although you had planned on going on a shopping spree you had seen an arcade and practically dragged the girl in claiming she had to play at least one game.

Having spent the day playing game after game, you ended the night with a go on the claw machines winning her a dumpling plush and claiming it looked just like her. You could see the red taint her cheeks and how her gummy smile practically lit up the whole street and in that moment you couldn’t understand why anyone could possibly hate her.

Though the sky was dark and the air has began to get chilly, you decided to walk her home talking about anything and everything until you saw her starting to get a bit cold. Stopping you had attempted to take off your jacket only for her to raise a brow at you,

“If you think your going to go all knight in shining armour on me and give me that flimsy hoodie to ‘keep me warm’ then your dead wrong” she huffed pulling out a designer jacked from her bag and slipping it on.

“I am prepared and stylish!” She flicks her hair dramatically with a wink, “besides, it takes more than a half ripped hoodie that smells of arcade and practice room to woo me miss lover girl” she gives you a light shove.

Raising your hands in defence you nod approvingly “noted.” Smiling softly you pick up your conversation once more, unaware to the buzzing of your phone in your pocket.

Walking her up the drive to her house you could help but smile when she stopped at the door to give you a shy wave, holding back her grin before she all but skipped inside leaving you a giddy mess as you made your way back to your own house, finally fishing your phone out of your hoodie.

27 miss calls from Dancing Queen 💃🏻

23 messages from Drancing Queen 💃🏻

112 messages from Dreamcatcher and Y/N 💖

Gasping you quickly dialled Boras number going straight to answer machine, which was expected given it seemed like you had been ignoring her. Trying her phone again, this time it picked up,

~on the phone~

You: Bora Hey! I’m so sorry i was out and-

Siyeon: She doesn’t want to talk to you.

You: W-What? But she called me? Many times i might add

Siyeon: Maybe because you missed out weekly film night and didn’t even give us a reason why… we were all worried you know.

You: I’m so sorry! I can come round now? With ice cream and more stuff and-

Beeeeeeep

Sighing you decided to just go home figuring your friends would talk when they felt less hurt. Walking inside your bedroom you went straight to bed feeling incredibly guilty.

For the next few weeks you got radio silence from dreamcatcher, bar Jiu who had called a few times to check you were okay. Feeling alone you leaned on your members a lot more and made many new friends in the company. Eventually regularly having lunch with ur band mates, Blackpink and even some of the soloists and BTS members.

With all the radio silence on dreamcatchers end you felt your friendship with them drifting away to the point you figured they didn’t want to be around you any more. It hurt more that bora, a long time friend you saw as an older sister was leaving you out also.

But with all the lunch time hangouts around friends you and Jennie were only growing closer and closer and maybe you were so focused on your new routine and daily life you forgot to check in with dreamcatcher as much, missed some of there calls and even declined a few while hanging out with them.

It had been 4 months since your first date with Jennie and you could honestly say you were head over heals in love with her. She was the cutest person you’d ever met with twice as much sass. But despite her walls to protect her self deep inside was a shy and caring person who wouldn’t harm a fly, unless your names Lisa and you wear her clothes.

So caught up in your conversation with Jennie you failed to notice Bora, Gahyeon and Yoohyeon coming into the canteen planning to have lunch with you since they figured you still ate alone being to shy to talk to anyone. But there you were on a massive table of boisterous idols laughing and joking with your eyes locked on Jennie’s both of you smiling so wide as you conversed. Giggling and laughing about something nothing but love in your eyes. The boiling point being when she leaned in to peck your lips before winking and scurrying off with the rest of her group leaving you a bright red mess. The boys all cheering and making kissing noises at you while you sat still in shock.

Huffing she stormed off throwing the lunch she had made for you in the trash and angrily texting you to meet her at your dorm later, claiming you had to talk. Which leads you to now. Standing in your groups kitchen awkwardly as the older girl prepares food for you girls, the girls in questing hiding in there rooms from fear of Boras rage never having seen her so pissed.

“So,” she starts cutting the pepper way more harshly than needed causing you to wince “I hear you and Blackpink’s Jennie Kim are very… close”

Laughing awkwardly you hum, “w-well we are kind of close I guess..” you back away slightly as her chopping speeds up sparing a glance to the girls who were peering out their doors, silently asking for help but receiving doors shutting as an answer..

“Look Bora, Jen just-“ the chopping stops but she doesn’t turn to face you, but you can feel the way her face screws up and eyes harden. The air turning cold and tense around you.

“I mean, Jennie, she’s just so nice and sweet. Jennie is a caring person and we got close while around the company, Jennie even likes the show i wanted you to watch and-“

“Jennie this! Jennie that! WHO CARES ABOUT JENNIE!?” She turns around knife pointing at you.

“Bora.. i.. do..?” You chuckle awkwardly eyes flicking between her and the knife until she slams it down. “I like her a lot actually!”

“But does that dumb bitch spare a thought for you! Or is it all money and sex for her, wouldn’t put it past her“ she laughs “probably just using you because she’s bored and your such an easy target for a slut like he-“

“Don’t even finish that sentence!” You growl turning around to get the door intending to tell her to leave but freezing when u see Jennie standing there, silent tears rolling down her face as she begins to back up.

“Jennie! No don’t leave please!” You pull her into your arms as she cries, feeling Bora glare daggers at you from the kitchen.

“Well she should, There isn’t any room for her or food” she huffs with a laugh “Go on little miss big shot idol, leave!”

“No.” Tightening your arms around a shaking Jennie you glare at your old friend. “She stays. You go! You can come back when you learn some fucking manners”

She storms out telling you how Jennie will be bored of you in a week and not to come crawling back to her when that happens. But you couldn’t give a shit about that right now. Kissing jennies head you pull her to the couch and wipe her tears as she sniffles. “Y-you know none of thats true right, i would never-“

“I know” you smile, rubbing her back as she leans into you. “Why would you do that for me, loose a friend I mean?” You look at her like she had grown another head, “because bora was out of line and i care about you… i care about you a lot”

You feel her smile into your chest. “Does that mean were dating?” You let out a shocked laugh before exclaiming “was that not clear the last 3 times we made out!”

“Oh shush” she huffs curling into you as she turns on a movie to watch, rearranging herself till she was basically tucked into you like a baby kitten. Your baby kitten.

A/n: i accept no dreamcatcher or blackpink bashing tho!

Anyway! I hope you like it ;)

ps. originally was a male reader but i changed it sooo

[minjiarchive]

“until you can't anymore” | sua x fem!reader

more more bora! @belongtodeukae

warning / smut, light degradation, restraints, forced orgasm (vibrator, punishment blah blah)

“You look so pathetic right now.”

Ridiculous even.

Bora thinks she's good at keeping her relationship steady, always at your service, and willing to try new things she's never experienced before. It's all very welcoming to her. Some kinks or punishments do bother her and aren't very suiting for Bora.

But one thing that's always stuck with her since the first time you tried it is leaving you tied up and at her will to do whatever she pleases.

She punishes you without trying because all you can and would do is take and take – even if it comes down to force it out of you.

“A vibrator on your dripping cunt and all because you didn't want to listen...” Bora whispers, circling the toy lazily against your clit that's slicked in arousal.

Bora is trying to make this a lesson to learn but she doesn't have to try much.

She could've been stern and tell you to, 'fix your attitude before I fix it for you' and you'd listen right away, but it's not all fun when you aren't spread out, used for her.

“I'm disappointed in what you did.”

Oh, she's very disappointed in you.

She loves to exaggerate, make excuses to have you end up like this, call her a sadist for it even. In her mind though, you look so cute like this.

A red silky rope tied messily around your wrists, her free hand pushing your thigh open, and her dominant hand occupied by the wand she presses to your clit.

Bora smiles as she looks down your pretty frame, “do you know why you're tied up like this?”

“B-Because I decided to not listen,” you stutter, feeling another orgasm come in waves, “and touched you like I'm the one in control.”

“See, you are such a smart girl.”

She leans in and presses her knee to your sensitive cunt, adding pressure to the vibrator against you. You cry even louder, red splotches forming on your cheeks as more tears fall. Your efforts to keep yourself quiet are gone because you want Bora proud of you, rewarding you another time for being good when your body isn't so numb right now.

Bora runs her tongue along your breasts, taking one nipple in while her thumb lightly strokes across the other one. Every part of your body tastes so good to her and she can't help but let out a groan herself.

With a busy Bora marking up your chest, you start to crash down weaker, “I'm getting so close... please, baby.”

Your body trembles and your legs start to close around the toy but she stops you, her nails denting in your thigh as a warning. You tug around the silky rope, hips slowly jerking up toward her, but it doesn't sit with Bora. She lets go of your nipple, a string of saliva clinging to her lips.

“You're close? So?”

You try to push away from the sensation but she taps the vibrator against your swollen clit, choking out a whine. Your body can't take it anymore but you still push your cunt against her, contradicting every thought you had of wanting to stop.

“I can't hold it any longer,” you cry out.

“Cum for me and watch what will happen if you do,” Bora threatens and she's serious. She's aware that she's been holding a vibrator to your clit for the past hour, pulling as many orgasms as she can, it's the entire purpose of this. She makes you hold out your climax until you're nothing but begging and desperate to cum.

She knows you won't be able to last longer but it's so fun to push you to your limits – even pushing you further for something you can't control.

“Come on, you don't want to be a bad girl for me, do you?”

Bora dares to slip her two fingers inside, your walls have never pulsed harder in your life. Your head hits the headboard as you try to create as much distance away from the toy.

You attempt to speak through your own gags, “I can't, Bora plea-”

“For me?” She says, her fingers slipping out as she sucks down on them, “until you can't anymore.”

[mashup-writing]

How Suyaeon would react to Y/N feeling left out of the relationship

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Summary: It's not always sunshine and rainbows in a relationship, there's a close bond between Sua and Siyeon which comes from them being cut from the same cloth- Y/N can't help but feel like an outlier.

"Ikaw pa rin ang pipiliin ko."

"You're still the one I'll choose."

Requested? ☑

Genre: Fluff, Smidge of Angst

Warnings: Insecurities, Self-doubt

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At the start you simply assumed that it'll take time for her to bombard you with energy like she does Siyeon.

Time passes but you're proven wrong, as four months in and she still doesn't get as hyper with you as she does with Siyeon.

You can't help but feel as if there's a barrier between you and Sua that you'll never manage to overcome.

At first it stings your skin when she touches you, lacking the energy that she does with Siyeon.

Eventually the sting deepens into your heart, and it collects instead of fading.

Siyeon is the first to notice.

For a while the wolf thinks that it's just her overthinking tendencies that's playing tricks on her.

Then Sua jumps her with a hug only to pull away and gently hug you, Siyeon doesn't fail to notice how your shoulders are sagged after the hug ends.

That doesn't mean that Sua is unatentive towards you.

She just has the tendency to believe that people have the courage she does when it comes to being up front.

In Sua's eyes, she's making it easier for you to be around her.

She knows that her hyperactivity has the tendency to tire people out regardless of whether they're introverted or extroverted.

One day after practice, Siyeon tells the rest of the members that she and Sua need to stay behind to polish up some moves.

Sua thinks nothing of it. She's always happy to get a bit more practice in.

She is after all one of the main dancers for the group.

She's confused when Siyeon doesn't move towards the speakers but towards her instead.

Siyeon wraps her up in a tight hug and something about it feels off. She's about to shrug the intuition off when Siyeon breaks away and something in the other girl's eyes proves her feeling right.

Sua's senses could never have predicted what she was about to hear.

------------------------------------------------------

Y/N steps out of the bathroom feeling tired but refreshed. Gahyeon waves at the youngest member from the couch with a cup of instant ramen in her hands, the other girl scoots over as You roll your eyes while making your way over to her.

"Unnie, what are you doing eating that when Handong unnie made dinner for tonight?"

Gahyeon blushes before scrambling to defend herself.

"Hey! I'll have you know that I asked her if it's okay if I have this for dinner tonight! It's human nature to crave something you like you know!"

You stand up with a shake of your head, preparing to run away as soon as you can before ruffling her damp hair with a laugh. "That's for rejecting Handong unnie's food!" You turn around to run as Gahyeon's shriek fills the living room but you're not fast enough to avoid Gahyeon's revenge seeking hand, which yanks the towel wrapping your hair off your head before she throws it back at you.

The girl's got spectacularly bad aim however, as the balled up towel soars past your head and hits Yoohyeon's face instead. The blonde haired member shrieks, demanding to know why there was suddenly rendered blind with a damp thing clinging to her face.

Jiu laughs at what has transpired before Handong peeks out from the kitchen and announces that dinner's ready. Leading to your leader to clap her hands and announce that she's going to go call the other members to the dining area.

Gahyeon saunters to the kitchen on high alert, Yoohyeon keeping an eye on the younger member with your offending towel in her hands.

"You wouldn't swing at someone with ramen soup in theur hand, would you?" Asks Gahyeon before she brandishes the ramen cup infront of her. Yoohyeon squints, seeming to consider her next words before she eventually says no.

You shake your head in mirth before following behind the two, paying Handong a compliment and your thanks for the dinner. Your mood brightened and your insecurities forgotten for a while.

------------------------------------------------------

"... Hello?"

"... Hi..."

"What is all this?"

You're tackled from the side in a hug. You turn your head to see Sua clinging to your side with a squeal, you're definitely not complaining but you also definitely want an explanation.

Siyeon tapes the last remaining length of fairy lights onto the top of your bunk before she crawls out of the tiny space, looking like she doesn't know what to say to explain what's happening.

Sua kicks the door behind you closed before breaking your hug and taking a breath to calm herself down. She transforms from the excitable puppy you see her as when she's with Siyeon, so a sheepish and apologetic looking version of herself. She surveys the room for a moment, before steeling her nerves. She holds a hand out and it takes you a moment to realize that she's reaching for your hand, not Siyeon's.

Sua tries to mask the hurt in her eyes when she realizes your conclusion.

You know people though, a performer she might be but the people you take the time to know can never hope to hide emotions from you when you look at their eyes. So you take her hand and place a kiss on each of her knuckles before gesturing for her to speak.

"I'm sorry for hurting you-"

You open your mouth to assure her that you know she didn't really mean to, but she beats you to the punch.

"I may not have meant to, but that doesn't excuse the fact that I did anyways. You're not always quiet, but you're a calm person and I thought you would've preferred me to be subdued around you for lack of a better word."

Siyeon wraps her arms around you from behind, resting her chin on your shoulder and you're glad she did. The tension in your body that you didn't know was there dissipates with the presence of her touch.

"I realise now that I should've asked you at the start if you'd prefer that I be calm around you or if you'd like me to just be as chaotic as I normally am instead of assuming what you would've wanted for yourself and in our relationship. I was out of place and I'm sorry it took me a long time to realise that."

Sua's hand in yours tightens its hold and you drop your gaze to find that her free hand is trembling by her side. You reach for it, pulling her close to you and placing a lingering kiss on her cheek before wrapping her up in a hug and peppering her face in short kisses.

Sua laughs, shrill and breaking in her excitement. She lets go of your hands to enclose both you and Siyeon in a bear hug, lifting you both off of the floor for a moment before her hug tightens even more.

You laugh along with your girlfriends as the irony hits you when Siyeon tells Sua to calm down unless she wishes to snap both your spines.

------------------------------------------------------

"This isn't working, is it?"

Silence greets your question for a moment, then Siyeon moves from her spot on your right.

"No, half my ass is hanging off of the bed."

You and Sua share a laugh before three of you immediately get up from your bunk. Sua moves the laptop off your lap, pausing the movie before getting to work on moving the snacks to a safe area as Siyeon takes the job of laying a blanket down on the floor of your shared room while you take all the pillows from your beds to lay them on the blanket.

Jiu cracks your door open the next morning to find the three of you sound asleep and cuddling on the floor.

----------------------٩(◕‿◕｡)۶-----------------------

A/N: This took me a whole day. To the anon who requested this, I accidentally deleted your ask in a draft (Of all things) that I published before proof reading so I apologize for that!

I hope y'all will like this work despite it being written an exercise for me to get back into the swing of things.

Song Insp. for this work: Cup of Joe - Ikaw Parin Ang Pipiliin Ko

[panda-writes-kpop]

who you gonna call? (winchesters!) ~ k. br.

a/n: raaaahhh happy SuA day!!! a little late on the international end of things but it's better late than never, right? anyways enjoy this fic, I had so much fun writing it that I may get back into watching supernatural. :) also the title is based on an edit of the winchesters brothers to 'ghostbusters' by ray parker jr!

I normally don't do a separate trigger warning for specific triggers, but since this is the first time that a piece of work has touched on such a serious topic, I wanted to put a big disclaimer out there. There is a scene in the fic where suicide is discussed as a possible cause of death. There's isn't any more graphic of a description than the word being thrown around once or twice; however, I feel it is my responsibility as an author to inform you of this. That being said, if you or a loved one are struggling, here's a list of international suicide hotlines that can help you if you need them. take care of yourselves, my loves, and remember that you all are beloved by me. ❤️

tw: BRIEF MENTION OF SUICIDE, main character death, lots of blood and gore in this one, not accurate to the Supernatural episode (Season 1, Episode 5) that it is based on, reader's parents died at an early age, it's a mixed bag of angst, fluff, and hurt/comfort with an open ending

summary: after one of the worst nights of your life, a pair of "reporters" roll into town and ask you questions about your dead friend. unfortunately, one of the girls, SuA, is a bit too charming for her own good. your curiosity towards the girl brings you closer to her, and it brings SuA closer to solving your friend's death, as well as the death of your parents.

♡ Masterlist ♡

“Bloody Mary, Bloody Mary, Bloody-”

“Stop!” You cry out before shutting your eyes. “Don’t do this!”

“You know it’s not real, right?” Ryujin looks at you as concern laces into her voice. “We can leave, if you’re uncomfortable-”

“You’re both chickens!” Yuna teases you before turning back to the bathroom mirror. “O’ spooky mirror ghost, tell these losers to go back home!”

She cackles as you open your eyes and place a steady hand on the counter.

“Yuna, I’m sorry, I can’t do this.” You bite your lip as tears start to form in your eyes.

Yuna’s smile immediately fades as she pushes Ryujin aside to pull you into a hug.

“I’m so sorry! I was just playing around, and I didn’t mean to make you cry.” She whines before placing her head on your chest. “Please forgive me!”

With pleading eyes, Yuna looks like a wounded puppy as you gently comb your fingers through her hair.

“It’s alright, Yuna,” You reassure her as your free hand wraps around her side, “I know you didn’t mean any harm. I’ve just been sensitive to these things since people started spreading those haunting rumors after my parents died.”

“Those people are assholes,” Ryujin injects, “and you shouldn’t pay them any mind.”

Yuna bobs her head up and down before letting you out of her arms.

“That’s why you’ve got us!” She proudly says before looking in the mirror. “We’ll protect you from anything, ghost-related or not.”

You let go of Yuna before heading towards the bathroom door.

“Thank you, to the both of you.” You wipe away the tears that threaten to fall as Ryujin grabs your hand and guides you away from the bathroom.

“C’mon, I’ll make you some hot chocolate and we can talk about those cute girls you’ve been seeing at college.” She teases as you smile back at her.

“Girls? What girls?” You play dumb, which causes Ryujin to laugh.

“You know exactly what I mean.”

Your other hand catches the door frame as you look back at Yuna.

“You coming?”

“In a minute!” She gleefully says as you remove your hand from the doorway.

A second later, and it would’ve been crushed by Yuna slamming the door shut. You allow Ryujin to drag you to the kitchen as your thoughts begin to wander.

It’s silly to believe those rumors, right? Maybe I should be brave like Yuna and face them head on.

~

After Yuna slams the door shut, she turns the light off and grabs the candle from the sink. With a spare match that she stowed away in her pocket, she lights the candle and sets it back onto the counter.

Yuna looks at herself in the mirror, locking eyes with the reflection that looks back at her, as she smiles to herself.

“It’s just a child’s game - what harm could it do?”

She leans close to the mirror before whispering, “Bloody Mary.”

A single shiver runs up her spine - fear? adrenaline? panic? fate?

She sighs to herself. 

This is stupid.

“Bloody Mary.” Her voice rings out again, and this time, the candle wavers in the wind.

Yuna looks out to the window in the bathroom, but it isn’t wide open or slightly cracked. It’s completely shut, with no holes to be seen.

A new shiver runs down her spine - this one she identifies as pure terror.

What’s going on?

“Bloody Mary.” 

The words leave her lips before she can stop herself. Yuna immediately turns on the lights and looks around.

There’s nothing here - you’re just a scaredy-cat!

She breathes out before wiping a tear from her eye.

I must’ve really scared myself if I started crying.

She looks down at her hand, expecting to see nothing but a teardrop, but she sees blood.

Her blood.

A scream is caught in her throat, threatening to escape as she looks in the mirror.

This time, she sees blood falling from both of her eyes, and a shadowy figure in the back.

A woman.

Bloody Mary.

~

You grab the warm mug from Ryujin’s hands before taking a sip of the hot chocolate. Like an impatient child, you take a sip and are immediately reminded why doing so is a terrible idea. You quickly set the mug back down as the liquid in your mouth is scolding your tongue and throat as it travels down to your stomach.

“Fuck,” You wipe your lips, “that’s hot.”

“It’s hot chocolate, you know.” She nudges your arm before taking a seat next to you in the dining room.

You roll your eyes as she laughs at her own bad joke.

“Thanks, Einstein.”

Her mug sits on the table, right next to yours, as her hand grabs your arm.

“How’s college life? Meet anyone special?”

“Not yet. I’m focused on my studies.” You shrug off her nosiness, but Ryujin’s persistent.

“You can’t just spend the rest of your life slaving away at work, you know.” 

“You can’t just spend the rest of your life working at a shitty cafe, Ryujin.” You mimic her voice as she loudly gasps.

“Excuse you! My caramel macchiatos are anything but shitty!”

You both laugh before falling into a comfortable silence.

Her fingers run up and down your arm, and you find comfort in the gesture. She’s been your closest friend since your parents died, back during your first year of high school. Through her, you met Yuna, her neighbor and childhood best friend, who had the biggest house on the block.

It was easy to escape the pain of being in a home with no parents when you could simply spend every night at a friend’s house. It wasn’t like their parents complained - you all got decent grades and stayed out of trouble, so what was the harm?

“It was nice of Yuna to offer her house to me since I’m in town for the week.” You say, as Ryujin nods.

“Her house is always open to me. The benefits of being neighbors, I suppose.” She looks over to the hallway where the bathroom is. “Yuna, come out here before your hot chocolate gets cold! I don’t want to hear any complaints if it already is!”

You laugh before looking out to the hallway.

“That’s odd. She’d usually have some sort of smartass comment to say by now.” You glance at Ryujin, who seems perplexed by Yuna’s odd behavior.

“You’re right. She’s never this quiet. Do you want to check in on her, or should I do so?”

“I’ll do it.” You quickly get out of your chair and head towards the bathroom.

“Yuna!” You call out to her as you slowly approach the bathroom door. Nearly every light in the house is on, yet you feel some sort of darkness around you.

C’mon, Yuna, now is not the time for jokes.

“Yuna, please come out! Ryujin and I, we’re worried about you!” You stop before the door, fist raised to knock against it.

You knock once, twice, thrice.

No response.

“Yuna, please!” Your voice becomes more desperate as you continue to knock. “This isn’t funny!”

You try to open the door, you’re past the social politeness of knocking in case she’s taking care of private business. You’re worried that she slipped and fell, or maybe she hurt herself and didn’t want to say anything-

A key. There has to be a key somewhere.

You look down to see if you can spot a key, but your eyes widen at the sight in front of you.

Blood soaks into your shoes and the carpet below your feet.

You shriek in terror.

“What’s wrong?” Ryujin races around the corner as you start sobbing.

“Call an ambulance! I think Yuna’s, she’s-” 

You choke on your own tears as Ryujin scrambles to find her phone to call for help.

Your mind can’t help but to make a terrible comparison, one that you thought you would never have to relive.

This was exactly how you found your parents, all those years ago.

~

“Mom! Dad!” You call out from your bedroom. “You guys forgot to turn off the hallway light!”

You tightly hug your stuffed rabbit as you wait for one of your parents to respond. They were the two people you trusted most in the world, even though you were a young teenager.

Making friends didn’t come easy to you, especially not in high school, when most of the friend groups had already been decided.

You did talk to this one girl in your math class - Ryujin - but she was more of a study buddy than anything. A friend that simply saw you as a means to an end.

How tragic.

“Mom! Dad!” You call out for them again, wait for a response, and then get out of bed. “I wanted to stay curled up in bed, but I can’t do that when you guys are ignoring me!”

You sigh before putting on your slippers and trudging towards the hallway.

You exit your bedroom and turn to the left as you find the lightswitch with ease. That, however, isn’t what peaks your interest.

It’s the steady stream of a red liquid coming from the master bathroom.

“Mom…” You trail off before walking towards the door. “Dad?”

As you approach, a metal tang hits your nose. It isn’t any red liquid - it’s blood.

~

Red and white lights consume your vision as you sit on the steps of the front porch. In the distance, you can hear Ryujin talking with one of the paramedics, but it all feels like white noise to you.

Could it really be? Could the same entity that killed my parents really have done this to Yuna?

It’s all a jumble of lights, endless questioning, and paranoia until a hand meets your shoulder.

You look up at Ryujin, who tries to give you a forced smile.

“What did they say?” You softly ask as Ryujin takes a seat next to you.

“They think it was a stroke, or some other heart condition. That’s the only thing that could’ve caused her eyes to be like that.”

“Her eyes were liquified, just like my parents.” You quietly say. “Paramedics said they died of strokes, too.”

“But I don’t get it. Yuna ate healthy, exercised regularly, and didn’t seem stressed at all. That’s why they’re looking into suicide as a cause of death too.”

“You can’t be serious, Ryujin,” You glare at her. “Suicide?”

“We never really know what’s going on in someone’s head.” She shrugs before letting her head fall between her knees. “How are we going to tell her family about this? We should’ve been in there with her, maybe we could’ve caught the signs sooner-”

You lean your head against her shoulder and offer her a bit of comfort.

“Trust me, dreading the past doesn’t help at all.”

“What are we supposed to do, then?” 

When Ryujin lifts her head to meet your eyes, she hides her face in a valiant effort to hide her red eyes and quiet sniffles. You gently rub circles into her back as she grabs your shoulders and pulls you closer to her.

“We grieve, we remember, and we move forward with our lives.”

~

“Hustling for pool money again?” Siyeon asks, not daring to lift her eyes from the newspaper.

“Uh-huh.” SuA tosses a stack of cash on the bar table. “What do you think?”

“That it’s better than the credit card scams, but worse than an actual job.” Siyeon bluntly says before SuA grabs a chair, spins it around, and takes a seat.

“Think what you want, but it’s money and it’s right there.” She proudly smiles before looking at Siyeon. “Speaking of jobs, have you found anything?”

“This might interest you.” Siyeon grabs a pen and circles an article in the paper before tossing it to SuA.

“What am I looking at?”

“A girl from a prominent family died about a month ago. Shin Yuna was her name.” Siyeon explains.

“What’s so special about her that requires our… unique expertise?”

“Read the autopsy report in the paper. Her eyes were completely liquified, and they found most of the blood in her body within her skull. They claim that her cause of death was a stroke.”

“No shit.” SuA bites her lips as her eyes gloss over the page. “Are we dealing with a pissed-off spirit, a deranged vampire, or something else?”

“I say that we give it a look before those men over there get mad at you for your hustling.” Siyeon grabs her jacket as SuA takes a sip of beer from the stein in front of her.

“Hustling is an underappreciated art form.” SuA argues before putting on her leather jacket. “Let’s go.”

Siyeon shrugs before grabbing the newspaper from SuA.

“Let’s go.”

~

“This feels wrong.” Siyeon raises her fist to the door before looking back to SuA’s ‘67 Chevy Impala. “Are you sure there isn’t anyone else we can talk to first?”

“Family and next of kin is always the best source.” SuA adjusts the aviators on her face as she admires her reflection in a side view mirror. “We have to rule out witchcraft and demonic possession, just so we can be sure that we’re dealing with a pissed-off spirit.”

“Yuna’s family… her parents have been through enough. Should we really not start anywhere else?” Siyeon’s hesitation causes SuA to sigh and walk towards the house.

“Where has this hesitation come from? It’s not like you.” SuA places her sunglasses on the top of her head before knocking on the door.

Siyeon crinkles her nose in disapproval before moving to the side.

“Mr. and Mrs. Shin, a moment of your time!” SuA calls out while banging on their front door.

She stops for a moment and waits for an answer, but no one responds or comes to the door.

“They must be out of town.” Siyeon shrugs before watching SuA grab a bobby pin from her hair. “Don’t tell me you’re going to-”

“You said they weren’t home,” She argues, “and we have to learn about our victim one way or another.”

She places one knee on the ground as she lowers herself to be eye-level with the door. One hand grabs the door knob while the other takes the bobby pin and begins to mess with the lock and-

Easy does it, baby.

“Hey, I’m pretty sure trespassing is illegal in all parts of the world!” A voice yells, which breaks SuA’s concentration.

Startled, she launches herself to her feet before Siyeon walks backwards and falls into SuA, sending them both to the ground.

“Nice one.” SuA grumbles before Siyeon scoots aside.

“You tried breaking in!”

“You encouraged it!”

“You two have to be the worst thieves I’ve ever seen.” A pink-haired girl walks from the next-door house to greet them at Yuna’s home. “Or you’re the next Nancy Drew in-training.”

“Who are you?” SuA quickly stands up before offering a hand to Siyeon.

Siyeon takes the hand and quickly reaches for her wallet in her back pocket, most likely looking for whatever fake ID will get them out of a potential cop car ride.

“Shouldn’t I be asking you that question?” She innocently tilts her head as her piercing gaze makes SuA sweat under her leather jacket. “The nearest police station is five minutes away, and I know the deputy’s daughter-”

“Ryujin, that’s enough!”

SuA lets out a heavy breath as her knight in shining pajamas appears at Ryujin’s side. With messy bed hair and a kind smile, they look much less terrifying (and much cuter) than Ryujin.

~

“Ryujin, that’s enough!” You march towards Yuna’s house as Ryujin sheepishly backs down from the two women in front of her. “They’re probably interns at a newspaper who were sent to look into Yuna’s death.”

“Yeah, sorry we forgot to mention that to you.” The taller one rubs her neck before putting her wallet away. “I left my college ID in my car, I can go get it for you if you’d like-”

“Nah, don’t worry about it,” You shrug before looking at her, “Names are enough for me.”

“Siyeon.” The taller girl sticks out her hand, which you gladly shake.

“And you?” You look over to the smaller girl, who simply smirks.

“You can call me the woman of your dreams.” She flashes you a charming smile before Siyeon elbows her in the gut. “Fuck! What was that for?”

“Her name’s SuA.” Siyeon apologetically says as SuA grabs her stomach in pain. “She can be a bit… much at times.”

You simply smile at SuA, who leans against the doorframe to look tougher.

And less like a child who got their hand stuck in the cookie jar.

Cute.

“SuA, Siyeon, it’s nice to meet you,” You say before quickly introducing yourself, “and this is Ryujin.”

“You still didn’t tell me why you’re knocking at our dead friend’s front door.” She deadpans as you place a hand on her shoulder.

“It’s better that they bug us instead of her parents,” You say, “who have been out of town since the funeral. Rumor is that they’re going to sell the place, but it’ll most likely get torn down.”

“Right. No one wants to live in a house where a woman died.” Siyeon looks at the door for a moment. “Is there any way we could look inside? For our article, we need a full biography of the victim, and we thought her childhood home might fill in the pieces that we don’t know.”

“Yuna.” Ryujin sternly corrects Siyeon. “Her name is Yuna.”

“I-” Siyeon pauses, rethinking her answer. “Yuna, of course. Apologies.”

Ryujin scoffs before nodding. 

“I wouldn’t feel comfortable being in there without her parents’ permission, but we can talk to you in Ryujin’s house.” You clarify before Ryujin can say something argumentative in response.

That, however, does not completely stop her from responding as Ryujin’s head snaps towards you.

“You can’t be serious! They’re strangers-”

“-Yet, they’re much better than the other reporters and photographs that have come around here.” You say before beckoning SuA and Siyeon towards Ryujin’s house. “C’mon, we can tell you everything you need to know. We were her closest friends, and we were there when she died.”

You don’t miss the way that SuA’s eyes light up when you say the last part.

She must be really invested in this case.

~

“This hot chocolate is really good.” SuA remarks before offering her glass to you. “Want some?”

“No, I’m alright,” You lean towards SuA with a smile, “but Ryujin’s coffees are so much better.”

“Are you shit-talking my hot chocolate?” Ryujin yells from the kitchen as you slide into the stool next to SuA.

“I thought you said it was okay to do so, as long as you said your coffees were better!” You holler back as Siyeon takes a seat next to SuA.

“My coffee is fantastic, by the way!” Ryujin says as you chuckle to yourself.

Never change, Ryujin.

“Maybe I could buy you some, as a treat for your hospitality?” SuA gives you a wide grin before nudging your shoulder.

“Maybe.” You teasingly shrug before looking at Siyeon. “Are you sure you don’t want anything besides water?”

“No, I’m alright. I feel like we’re imposing on you already.” Siyeon gives SuA a sharp glare before looking back at you. “Do you mind if we ask you some questions about Yuna? It’s not exactly surface-level stuff, and if we cross any boundaries, be sure t-”

“-Did you notice anything weird going on with Yuna before she died?” SuA enters the conversation with the gracefulness of a one-ton elephant. “Any flickering lights, sulfur around window sills, increasing or decreasing temperatures…”

“No, none of that,” You shake your head before thinking, “but there was one thing that she did say, before she died.”

“What was it?” SuA looks deep into your eyes, and you’d blush under any other circumstance.

“The three of us - me, Ryujin, and Yuna - were in the bathroom a few minutes before she died. When we were in there, Yuna was teasing me and she started chanting Bloody Mary in the mirror. I stopped her before she got to the third one, but I can’t help but wonder…”

You bow your head for a moment to recollect yourself before speaking again.

“...I’m sorry, you didn’t come for speculation. So no, there wasn’t anything weird with Yuna before she died.”

You glance over at Siyeon, then to SuA. The two girls are staring at each other with an intrigued look on their faces.

They can’t actually believe this story, right?

“Have there been any other deaths like this in town?” Siyeon asks.

Here we go.

“Two, actually,” You start to chew on your lip, “my parents.”

“I’m sorry for your loss.” 

The words fly out of Siyeon’s mouth as she tries to pick her jaw up off the table. 

“Don’t be, it was seven years ago. But yes, when I found them, their eyes were liquified, just like Yuna’s.” You offer a weak smile to your companions, both of which look like they’d rather be five feet under the ground than right next to you.

And everyone wonders why I don’t like to talk about my parents - the response is always similar to this.

“Can I ask a stupid question?” SuA takes a sip from her mug after responding.

“Shoot.”

“Did you play Bloody Mary before your parents died?”

Your eyes widen as SuA’s bluntness.

“I-”

“SuA!” Siyeon reaches behind you to smack SuA on the shoulder. “Why would you ask something like that?”

“I’m forming a theory on what’s happened here,” She pauses for dramatic effect, “a damn good one if you ask me.”

Siyeon clears her throat before grabbing her water and standing up.

“Alright, we’re done here. Pardon my partner’s rudeness.” Siyeon walks over to SuA and hauls her onto her feet.

“But my hot cocoa-” SuA whines, which causes you to laugh.

“It’ll be here if you have any more questions.” You wave at the two girls as they bicker and exit the house at the same time.

Ryujin slowly approaches from the kitchen with her eyebrows furrowed.

“Why’d you tell them all that? You know they’re not reporters, right?”

“I don’t know, Ryujin,” You say before patting the vacant stool on your left, “there was something different about those two. They might just be nosy tourists, but I think they might be able to find something in connection with Yuna and my parents.”

“Be honest - you just let them in because SuA was eye-fucking you-”

“RYUJIN!”

~

“Alright, SuA, what’s your theory?” Siyeon places her feet on the dashboard before SuA swats them away in disapproval.

“We’re not dealing with a demon or a vampire or a werewolf. This is just a seriously pissed-off spirit. One that looks like Blood Mary, apparently.” SuA says before turning the car to the left. “We need to look into unsolved murders in the area. Perhaps one that has to do with eyes?”

“Spirits do like to kill their victims in ways that resemble how their murderer killed them. A twisted sort of revenge.” Siyeon nods along. “What would cause the spirit to attack once, and then not attack until seven years later? Usually, these sort of killings happen in rapid succession.”

“That’s the part that has me stumped, too.” SuA pulls into the motel parking lot with ease before putting the car into park. “Let’s get some sleep and see what we can figure out in the morning.”

~

“Shit.”

SuA runs her fingers through her hair as she stares at the headline for the morning news broadcast on TV.

A Deadly Sleepover: Three Teens Found Dead in Local Home!

“You think it’s our spirit?” Siyeon asks as SuA places her head into her hands.

“They said that the girls had their eyes liquified.” SuA absentmindedly looks up to the ceiling.

Why does there always have to be more deaths before we catch our murderer?

SuA watches Siyeon sort through a few newspaper clips while looking at her computer.

“Tell me you’ve got a lead.” SuA taps her foot against the motel flooring as Siyeon nods.

“I do. I cross-referenced local unsolved murders with any autopsy reports of eye gouging or similar injuries, but I couldn’t find anything on the victim’s side.”

“What’s that supposed to mean?” SuA asks as Siyeon hands the computer to her.

“Look here. Lucinda Brown, 25 years old. She was murdered in her home by an older man who had his eyes gouged out at the scene of the crime.”

“Jesus.” SuA scrolls through the autopsy reports. “You think this is our girl?”

“Timeline matches up. Lucinda was murdered twenty years before any murders occurred here. That’s enough time to drive any person, living or dead, to insanity. Speaking of, her murderer managed to escape jail time by pleading that he was mentally unwell at the time of the murder.” Siyeon replies.

“Alright, so what do we do now? Dig up some old bones and give them a communion in fire?” SuA suggests, which is quickly shot down by Siyeon.

“The woman was cremated, so that’s a no-go. There must be something else tying her to the mortal world.” Siyeon ponders for a moment. “Let me see the laptop again.”

“Sure.” SuA hands it back to Siyeon before looking at the TV.

The reporter’s interviewing a neighbor who had heard nothing of the incident, except that the girls had been playing Bloody Mary with a handheld mirror in the backyard.

“Bingo,” With a satisfying click, Siyeon turns the laptop to face SuA, "we've got our object of interest.”

On the laptop monitor is a picture of the crime scene from Lucinda Brown’s home. It’s obvious that this was a home invasion - a dresser was knocked down in the background, sheets were tangled with each other on the floor, and blood was splattered across every possible surface in the room.

No wonder the family cremated the poor girl.

SuA’s eyes drift up towards the middle of the picture, where a floor-length mirror stares back at her. In the middle of the mirror, written in blood, is a simple message: Help Me.

“She knew she was going to die there.” SuA softly says. “One last act of rebellion against her killer. I think we’ve got our ghost, but the question remains: where’s that mirror?”

~

“I can’t believe you still kept the thrift store, after all of these years.” Ryujin adjusts the cap on her head before leaning over the counter. “I know it’s your parents, but that place gives me the creeps.”

“I know.” You nod as you stare out of the cafe window. “There’s just a part of me that would hate to see it go to ruin.”

“So you just leave it in limbo?”

“So I just leave it in limbo.” You answer as she looks over to the register. 

“You could always come work with me, y’know. I might own this place one day.” Ryujin’s eyes sparkle with ambition, and you can’t help but laugh at her goals.

“You work on that, Ryujin.” You take a step back before the door opens. “Well, if it isn’t our reporter friends.”

“Friends?” SuA scoffs before walking in. “I thought I left a better impression than friends.”

“Maybe I want you to make a better impression now.” You tease before grabbing your coffee. “Order something first, and then we’ll talk.”

“Don’t have to tell me twice.” SuA rushes over to talk with Ryujin, which causes laughter to fall from your lips.

Wonder if she’s like this with every person she meets…

“Siyeon.” You greet her as she admires the display of baked goods. “You should try the donuts so Ryujin doesn’t have to burn anything in the oven.”

“It was one time!” Ryujin yells as she writes SuA’s order on a cup.

“I’ll get something in a minute, but I wanted to ask you if you saw the news this morning.” Siyeon places her hand on the display case as her eyes look through the different options.

“I did, yes,” You lower your voice before asking, “do you think it’s related to the other deaths?”

“Given that the girls had the same wounds that Yuna did, I’d say there’s a strong chance that it is.” Siyeon quietly answers.

“Do you know how to stop them?”

“We have a strong idea. Have you seen a mirror like this?” Siyeon grabs a folded-up piece of paper and hands it to you.

You grab the paper and carefully unfold it, and you gasp as you stare at the crime scene in front of you.

“I-” You pause as you notice the mirror in the corner, “I think I’ve seen that mirror before. My parents used to have one just like it in the thrift shop that they owned.”

Siyeon’s eyes widen as she looks over at SuA.

“I’m listening, hold on.” SuA hands her card to Ryujin before walking over to the two of you. “Mind if we take a look around there?”

“I thought you wanted to have a coffee shop date.” You smile as she bashfully looks away for a moment.

“Ah, so now it’s a date.” SuA chuckles before leaning against the counter. “We can change plans, as long as you don’t mind having a third wheel.”

“As long as you two aren’t making out in the back of the Impala, I don’t really care.” Siyeon shrugs before Ryujin hands her a baked good.

“Here’s one slightly toasted-but-not-burnt donut.” Ryujin says before grabbing a coffee from the back. “And your black coffee, you heathen.”

“I prefer my coffee black instead of liquid sugar, thanks.” SuA remarks before taking a sip. “Perfect.”

“Whatever.” Ryujin rolls her eyes before looking out of the window. “Hey, did you see that woman?”

“What woman?” You look out to the road, but there’s not one car or person outside except the Chevy Impala.

You notice the visible panic on Siyeon’s face as she walks over to Ryujin. 

“What does she look like?”

“Well, she had pretty blonde hair, but her face was a little messed up. It almost looked like she was dead or something…” Ryujin confesses.

“Fuck.” SuA sets her coffee aside before grabbing Ryujin. 

“What are you doing?” She frantically looks around as SuA drags her to the car.

“If you want to live, you have to come with us.” 

The door slams shut as Siyeon follows after her.

“We’ll explain in the car, I swear.”

~

“Are you serious?” Ryujin breathes deeply through her nose as Siyeon covers the rearview mirror with a small towel. “If so, I’m fucked.”

“But she didn’t say Bloody Mary three times!” You try to reason with SuA as she steps on the gas after pulling out from the parking spot.

“It doesn’t seem to matter who said it.” SuA runs a red light in town as you fumble with the keys in your hand. “What can you tell us about that mirror in your parents’ thrift shop?”

“I remember that they sold it to a woman in our neighborhood, a few weeks before they…” You trail off. “You’re telling me that this mirror killed my mom and dad?”

“Not the mirror as much as the spirit attached to this.” Siyeon says as she lowers the passenger seat window.

“This is insane, right?” Ryujin looks over to you with a look of fear that doesn’t normally sit on her face. “I can’t believe that you believe this!”

“I mean… I’ve always felt that there was something wrong about their deaths, but I didn’t think it was a literal haunting. I just thought it was a mean rumor that the neighborhood kids saw.”

“The same kids that would play Bloody Mary with that mirror?” SuA asks as you point out the thrift shop in the distance.

“You guys have done more to solve my parents murder in the last twenty-four hours than the police have done in seven years.” You shake your head. “I don’t know how I could thank you.”

“Let’s save your friend first, and then let’s talk about thank you’s, alright?” SuA pulls into a nearby parking spot as you hand Siyeon the keys.

“Are you positive that the mirror is here?” Ryujin looks over to you as you nod.

“The woman who bought that mirror had died a few weeks later, of an actual stroke, and one of her children took it with them when they moved out of her house.” You explain as SuA nods along.

“That explains the lack of murders in seven years, but that means someone brought it back to your town.” 

“I’ve used the thrift shop as a storage unit since my parents’ house was torn down two years ago. A few weeks ago, I saw that someone placed a floor-length mirror outside of the back door, so I brought it inside so it wouldn’t get smashed.” You hand the picture back to Siyeon. “The same mirror in that photo, minus the bloody message.”

“I hate to rush the exposition, but I’ve seen Bloody Mary in your side mirror.” Ryujin says before slapping a hand over your eyes. “Can we please get this show on the road?”

“Right. You get the hammer, I’ll get the shotgun.” Siyeon says as she and SuA exit the car at the same time.

“I’m fucked, aren’t I?” Ryujin whimpers as you rub her shoulder. 

“They hunt ghosts, or whatever they tried to explain to us. We have to keep you alive long enough for them to deal with this.” You attempt to comfort her as you hear the trunk of the car slam shut.

You roll down the window as SuA approaches your side of the car.

“Hey, be careful out there. I still want to get coffee with you sometime.” You offer her a cheerful smile as she runs a hand through her hair.

“You don’t have to worry about me, babe, I’ve got you. Both of you.” SuA winks at you before walking towards the thrift shop.

You shyly look away as Ryujin punches your shoulder.

“Can you flirt with her when I’m not near certain death?”

~

“Of course there isn’t any electricity.” SuA quietly grumbles before flipping the light switch off. “Where did they say the mirrors were?”

“Up ahead, and to the left.” Siyeon says before following your instructions. “Here we are.”

“How many mirrors are there?” SuA says as she looks at the collection of floor-length mirrors. “Do we start smashing, or…?”

“Maybe if we summon her, she will appear from the mirror that was in her house.” Siyeon says before turning to a mirror hung on the wall.

“That’s a terrible idea that will get us both killed.” SuA tries to pull Siyeon away, but Siyeon pushes her aside. “Don’t do this, I’m warning you.”

“Too late.” Siyeon locks eyes with the reflection in the mirror. “Bloody Mary, Blood Mary, Bloody Mary.”

The lights above them flicker as SuA approaches the first set of mirrors. The reflection of the flashing lights nearly blinds her, but she manages to smash the first one with little difficulty.

“Do you see her?” SuA yells before smashing another mirror.

“Not yet!” Siyeon calls out before turning to the side. “Keep going!”

The lights flash with increasing frequency as SuA continues to break every floor-length mirror that crosses her path.

Why would anyone ever have so many mirrors?

Again and again, SuA smashes every mirror that she sees. And again, none of them seem to stop the flashing lights. She travels deeper and deeper as her hammer strikes every mirror in her path.

SuA’s deep into the back of the thrift shop when Siyeon screams in pain.

“Siyeon-ah!” SuA yells out before running through a different part of the store.

How many different types of mirrors are there?

“She’s… here!” Siyeon manages to get out before another scream escapes her.

SuA doesn’t have time to smash every mirror she sees - she has to find the mirror, and fast.

She flies through the store, to the musical accompaniment of Siyeon’s sounds of terror and pain, until she spots a mirror with the tiniest bloodstain on it.

“Guess the mirror wasn’t totally clean, huh.” She says to herself before the hammer connects to the mirror.

It shatters instantly, just as Siyeon goes quiet. 

“Siyeon!” SuA backtracks quickly, only to find Siyeon laying on the floor with blood coming from her eyes. “You okay?”

“I’ll live,” She mutters before slowly getting off of the floor, “but she won’t.”

Siyeon weakly points ahead of her, where a woman that matches Ryujin’s descriptions and the autopsy report disappears into a cloud of black smoke.

“You think she’s gone for good?” Siyeon quietly asks.

“As long as the mirror stays shattered, I’d say so.”

~

“I suppose I should say thank you.” You say as you approach the Chevy Impala.

SuA leans against the driver’s side door with a smirk.

“I suppose I should say that you’re welcome, but I think an apology is in order.”

She sheepishly looks away as you wave off her concerns.

“Don’t worry about the mirrors. They’re not worth the price of someone’s life.” You look over to the thrift shop. “Besides, it’s time that I let that place go. It’s just a collection of bad memories and poor decisions. Something more positive and welcoming should take its place.”

“You’re selling it?” 

“No, I’m giving it to Ryujin. She’s dreamed of owning her own coffee shop since she started working at that little cafe uptown.” You gaze at the keys in your hand. “She’ll make better use of the space, I know it.”

SuA tilts her head at you.

“How is she?”

“Fine. Nothing that a pint of beer and a bit of therapy won’t fix.” You laugh to yourself. “How’s Siyeon?”

“A bit shaken up, but nothing major. Brushes with death are pretty common in our line of work.” 

“Well, for your sake and mine, I hope you’ll be a bit safer through your travels.” You bite your lip as SuA takes a step toward you.

“You’ll be thinking of me, even after we leave? How sweet.” SuA teases you before you retaliate.

“It’s not every day that I meet a girl as forthcoming, kind, and attractive as you.” You flirt back before taking a step towards SuA.

It’s in this moment that you realize how close you are to one another, and another step from one of you will cause your bodies (and hopefully your lips) to collide.

“If you keep sweet-talking me, I might not be able to leave.”

There’s a shred of honesty behind SuA’s flirting - she’s seriously considering staying for another night or two.

“Maybe that’s the idea,” You take a half-step forward, and you place a quick peck on her cheek, “but you have more people to save, no?”

“Unfortunately, I do, but I’m not ruining this moment.”

SuA pulls you closer by grabbing your hips, and before you have time to relax, her lips collide with yours. You immediately kiss her back as your hands land on her shoulders.

You only break off when you need air, and SuA looks at you with a proud smile.

“Maybe I’ll come back some day.” She lets go of you before pulling her aviators off of her head.

“Maybe.” You softly repeat as SuA climbs into the car.

Siyeon offers you a friendly wave before rolling down her window and handing you a piece of paper.

“For later, when you miss SuA.” She says before the Impala pulls out of the parking spot and heads back onto the road.

After the car leaves your field of vision, you look at the note in your hand.

Written in pen is SuA’s phone number, followed by a brief message:

For when you miss SuA, or if anything in this town ever requires our area of expertise. - Siyeon.

You smile to yourself.

Maybe you’ll call the Winchester girl and see if she’s free for a week or two in the future. Maybe you’ll call just to hear her voice and ask about her adventures. Maybe you’ll wait for her to track down your phone number and call you first.

maybe, maybe, maybe.

[kuebandungs]

Duty After School Imagine : 01

☆ Jo Jangsoo x Reader ☆

a/n: this is my first time writing a fanfic in English language, so let me know if there's anything wrong in my sentence or else. and, hope you all like it <3

"Take it, it's your share."

Someone's voice manages to make you turn your head. It's Jangsoo.

He handed you a canned food.

You stare at the canned food without interest, then turn your gaze back up. Staring up at the clear night sky, decorated with stars and also some purple balls that if observed is actually so beautiful.

"I'm not hungry," you reply.

Jangsoo seems to understand your attitude, so he chooses to sit next to you in front of the building where you're resting with all of your friends. Or as the Class President calls it 'home'.

"If things were different, I would have taken a picture of the current sky with my phone." These word just flowed from your lips.

Jangsoo smiled, relieved that you had started the conversation. This man had been worried about you being quiet and expressionless since the Lieutenant Lee incident.

"I like it."

Jangsoo's reply makes you look back at him. Your eyes blink a few times as you realize that Jangsoo is looking at you with a faint smile.

"Every photo you takes was always nice and beautiful."

Jangsoo wasn't lying. Since 11th grade, you and him have been in the same class. So every time you upload your pictures on social media, it always manages to make Jangsoo smile. Apart from taking the right angle of photos, he also always imagines your face when taking pictures. Jangsoo feels stunned by your expression every time you see the sky view. You're so beautiful.

"Thank you."

After that, there was only the sound of the breeze, as you and Jangsoo were busy looking at the night sky with your own thoughts.

"Let's go back inside. You should rest," Jangsoo said, breaking the silence.

"I'm not sleepy yet, Jangsoo. If you want to go in first, that's fine."

Jangsoo sighed softly, "If you feel cold, come in immediately," he said which you nodded.

--------------------------

"Alright, now that we've got our assignments, let's go."

As soon as they heard the class president's words, the students of class 12-2 immediately went to the destination according to their respective teams.

Jangsoo who was standing next to you then invited you to walk directly with the others towards the prison.

"Are you okay?" he asked when he turned around and found your face looking a bit pale.

You looked at him with a little doubt. "I just feel— it's okay. Don't mind me," you say, unable to express your feeling.

"No need to worry, we'll all be fine while we're together," Jangsoo replies, trying to calm you down.

And it works, because now you feel a little less worried. You nodded slowly, making Jangsoo smile slightly.

After a while, all of you finally arrived at the prison that Taeman had seen yesterday while cleaning the purple balls.

"Look for a circuit board-shaped device for the protophone. If you find it, give it to me or Soyoon," said Youngshin, immediately nodded by the others.

"Let's split up from here," he continued.

Jangsoo looks at you and invites you to follow him towards the building on the left side. With a wary look and weapons ready in each hand, Jangsoo and you begin to walk into the deserted building.

"This is my first time in here," Taeman says quietly in a horrified tone.

You turn around and found that Taeman dan Soyoon are behind you.

"You think it's my second time?" replies Soyoon in a lazy tone, but she still keeps a vigilant eyes on her surroundings.

After wandering around and confirming that this place was safe from orbs, they quickly searched for tools to repair the protophone as well as any objects they could utilize.

Until suddenly, there was a strange sound that was quite loud. It makes you and the others pause and look at each other confused.

"Let's go back to the first place." Jangsoo said.

After that, you and your friend left the building and gathered with the others.

"Did you guys hear it too?" Soyoon asked.

"What's that sound?"

"Is it a ball?" You asked.

"Wait, listen carefully," Heerak said.

"It's like an SOS code. Listen again," he continued.

"That's right! Is looks like someone else is here. Let's go find them!"

Then they walked in the direction the sounds came from, until they reached the basement.

You, who had been in front of Jangsoo, immediately moved closer to him.

"Is this a dungeon?" You ask quietly.

"I think so," Jangsoo replies.

You feel scared because the atmosphere in this room is kind of quiet and creepy.

"Hey! Help us!"

The shouts makes you and your friends gasp in shock. It turns out that inside there are several detention rooms filled with prisoners.

"Weren't the prisoners released this time?" You ask.

"I heard that only prisoners with minor crimes were released. In that case... those here are prisoners who have committed major mistakes, possibly receiving life imprisonment or death," says Taeman.

"Then let's just go! Don't deal with them or we'll get hurt," said Bora.

"But, it would be a shame to leave them here." Aeseol said hesitantly.

Prang!!

"Hey, damn it! Hurry up and open it! Do you have the heart to let us rot to death here?!" shouted one of the prisoners.

"Then you're just as bad as us! Sh*t!"

"Hey, shut the f*ck up! You're scaring them!"

The shouts from the prisoners scared you and the others, but you didn't show it openly, because that would make you even more threatened.

"Let's go, we can't deal with them," Jangsoo says to the others.

Staying here too long could put all of you in danger. Therefore, Jangsoo must darw to make a decision.

"Damn it!"

"Hey, let's us go!"

The shouts of disapproval from the prisoners could be heard clearly as Jangsoo, you, and your friends walked out of the room.

Once outside, you stop and look at each other. On the one hand, you feel that you can't release the prisoners, but on the other hand, you feel guilty for leaving them there to starve to death.

You deliberate, discussing with each other to get rid of the ambiguity in your feelings. Finally, you and others decide to go back inside and give the prisoners the food and drinks you bought with you all.

After that, with shouts and curses from the prisoners you come back out. All of you have decided to give your provisions, not to free the prisoners. Of course, this makes the prisoners who were initially happy because you and others came back in, now cursing because they will not be released.

--------------------------

DUTY AFTER SCHOOL IMAGINE

--------------------------

"Oh, you guys are back?"

Hana, who was guarding the basecamp, greeted the search teams with an inexplicable expression.

You walked languidly to the sofa in the room, then flopped down on the sofa. A long sigh escapes your lips.

It had been a very long day. You and your fellow search team members almost lost their lives dealing with the criminals. Suddenly you realize that there is something more terrifying than purple balls: human.

Seeing Jangsoo approaching, you change your position to sit down. He sits next to you, and you lean on his shoulder.

"I'm glad we're okay," you said.

"Yeah. How about you? Are you feeling better?" He asks, making you raise your head to look at Jangsoo's face.

"Not as scared as I was," you said softly.

"Hey, what about the protophone? You guys found it, right?" asks Joonhee.

"Damn! I forgot!" Heerak hissed.

"Huh? How come you didn't get it!" exclaimed Hana.

"Shut up! You don't know, we almost lost our lives there!" retorted Soyoon.

Hearing the commotion of Heerak, Hana, and Soyoon makes you sigh in frustration. Too dizzy with the events of earlier, you didn't realize that the man you were now leaning on was secretly harboring guilt.

-------------------------

"So, you've been manipulating the vote all this time?"

"Why are you hiding this from us!"

"I can't trust anyone anymore."

The noise caused by your friends' protests is ignored. The only thing you were paying attention to right now was the tall man who had always protected you looking down guilty in front of you.

Jangsoo, Yoojung, Ilha, and even the now-deceased Soocheol had been lying to you and your friends. They had manipulated the vote to 'survive' and 'carried out cleanup operations' until you radio/protophone were working again.

Every time they held a vote, the 'defense' succeed. But it wasn't a collective decision, it was manipulated by your four friends.

Of course, you felt very disappointed in them, especially Jangsoo. He didn't tell you about it. Obviously it makes you feel that he doesn't trust you.

Finally your friends leave, leaving Jangsoo, Yoojung, and Ilha that still looking down guilty. With slow steps, you approach Jangsoo.

"Can I talk to you?" You asked.

The three look up and stare at you. But you're only focused on Jangsoo. Without waiting for Jangsoo's reply, you immediately took his hand and led him to the front of the building.

"Explain." You stare at him with mixed feelings.

Jangsoo who had been lowering his head, is now looking right into your eyes. There is a feeling of disappointment and anger that Jangsoo can see.

"I'm sorry, I did this to protect you and the others."

You remain silent, waiting him to continue.

"We don't know if it's safe in Seoul, so we decided to keep us all here for the time being."

However, that answer did not satisfy you.

"Don't you trust me?" you ask with a sad smile.

Jangsoo rounded his eyes in surprise. Of course he trusted you, but why would you say something like that.

"Of course I trust you," he said firmly.

"But you didn't tell me anything that important."

Your defenses are broken. The tears you've been trying to hold back finally fall. Jangsoo immediately pulled you into his warm embrace.

"I'm sorry, I didn't want you to get involved and end up disappointing others like me. I'm sorry, I just wanted to protect you," Jangsoo said.

"You're really bad, Jangsoo."

You hug him back tightly while shedding your tears. You're disappointed, but you're also touched because of him.

[ ✓ ]

02. Soocheol >

DUTY AFTER SCHOOL IMAGINE Masterlist

[isipin]

manny jacinto in cora bora (2023)

[gahyunlovers]

★ — sua (dreamcatcher) lockscreens

｡⠀⠀˙⠀⠀⠀୨ৎ　⠀⠀˖⠀⠀⠀𓈒　⠀ ೇ　⠀˙⠀⠀꒱｡⠀⠀˙⠀⠀⠀୨ৎ　⠀⠀˖⠀⠀⠀𓈒　

｡⠀⠀˙⠀⠀⠀୨ৎ　⠀⠀˖⠀⠀⠀𓈒　⠀ ೇ　⠀˙⠀⠀꒱｡⠀⠀˙⠀⠀⠀୨ৎ　⠀⠀˖⠀⠀⠀𓈒　

[51faces]

From Shadows to Shining Moments

Dreamcatcher's Kim Bora (SuA) x Female Reader

One late afternoon, sunlight filtered through the tall windows of Dreamcatcher's practice room, casting long shadows across the polished wooden floor. SuA sat alone on a bench, her gaze fixed on the mirror in front of her, but her mind was far from the routine practice she had been so dedicated to. The announcement from the company had come just hours ago: Siyeon, her best friend and cherished groupmate, was taking a hiatus due to severe stress and exhaustion.

The room was silent except for the faint hum of the air conditioning and the occasional distant sound of a passing car. SuA’s heart felt heavy with a mix of guilt and frustration. She had always considered herself to be in tune with her members' needs, but this time, the signs had eluded her. The pang of guilt settled in her chest like a stone. She replayed conversations and interactions in her mind, searching for clues she might have missed.

Her phone buzzed on the bench beside her, snapping her out of her thoughts. It was a message from the company, reminding her of the upcoming schedule changes due to Siyeon's absence. SuA sighed, her shoulders slumping. She felt like she was being crushed under the weight of responsibilities and emotions that she couldn’t seem to manage. 

With a sense of frustration, she stood up and paced the room. The usual energizing atmosphere of the studio now felt stifling, the walls pressing in on her as if they were closing in with every step. SuA needed a distraction, something to take her mind off the turmoil that was consuming her.

She grabbed her bag and decided to visit a local art supply store. Art had been her new sanctuary, a place where she could express emotions that words couldn’t quite capture. Maybe losing herself in the world of sketches and colors would offer some respite from the relentless anxiety she was feeling.

As she walked out of the studio and into the crisp evening air, SuA hoped that immersing herself in drawing might help her process her feelings. She found herself walking faster than usual, driven by an urgency to escape her own mind and the suffocating silence of the practice room. The art supply store was only a short drive away, but it felt like a journey toward a semblance of normalcy.

The store was a cozy haven, filled with shelves of colorful materials and bathed in the warm glow of overhead lights. The gentle instrumental music playing in the background added to the store’s serene atmosphere. The smell of fresh paper and paint hung in the air, offering a sense of calm.

SuA entered the store, the soft chime of the bell signaling her arrival. She paused for a moment to take in the comforting environment, hoping that the act of picking out new supplies would provide a temporary escape from the turmoil she felt over Siyeon’s hiatus.

She wandered through the aisles, her mind preoccupied. As she reached for a set of high-quality graphite pencils, she accidentally bumped into a display of sketchbooks. The resulting clatter drew the attention of Y/N, a young woman who was arranging some supplies behind the counter.

Y/N looked up from her work, her eyes bright with curiosity. “Oh, are you alright?” she asked, her voice warm and friendly. She moved toward SuA to assist, her smile never wavering.

SuA, slightly taken aback, glanced at Y/N with a mix of surprise and irritation. “Yeah, I’m fine. Just a bit clumsy,” she replied tersely, trying to brush off the incident.

Y/N, unfazed by SuA’s curt tone, continued to approach with a helpful demeanor. “No worries. If you need any recommendations or help finding something, just let me know. I’m Y/N, by the way.” she says pointing at her name tag

SuA gave a small, non-committal nod, her gaze returning to the pencils she had initially been interested in. “Just looking for some supplies,” she said, her voice lacking warmth.

Y/N’s cheerful persistence remained undiminished. “I can totally help with that! We have a great selection of sketchbooks and pencils. Are you working on a particular project or just stocking up?”

SuA, feeling a bit of her frustration softened despite herself, replied, “Just stocking up. It’s been a long day.”

Y/N picked up on the subtle hint of weariness in SuA’s voice. “I hear you. Art can be a good way to unwind, though. Sometimes it’s nice to just focus on creating and forget about everything else for a while.”

SuA glanced at Y/N, surprised by her genuine empathy. Despite the store’s calming atmosphere, she found it hard to fully relax. She continued to browse, trying to ignore the fact that Y/N’s friendly demeanor was starting to chip away at her emotional walls.

As Y/N continued to assist other customers, she made sure to periodically check on SuA, offering helpful tips and engaging in brief conversations about different art supplies. Though SuA tried to maintain her distance, Y/N’s unwavering kindness began to create a small, unexpected sense of comfort.

The interaction was brief but left a mark on SuA. The warmth of Y/N’s presence, though initially met with resistance, began to offer a glimmer of solace amidst her turbulent emotions.

The days had passed, each blending into the next, with moments of quiet reflection and subtle healing. The late afternoon sun now cast a serene glow over the art supply store, a stark contrast to the storm SuA had weathered. Y/N moved with practiced ease, arranging a fresh shipment of sketchbooks on the shelves, her movements rhythmic and calm.

As she placed the last sketchbook on the display, the soft chime of the doorbell broke the stillness of the store. Y/N glanced up, expecting another routine visit. Instead, she saw SuA standing in the doorway.

The warm light filtering through the windows caught on her tired features, highlighting the vulnerability that had become part of her recent days. Y/N’s heart ached at the sight, recognizing the depth of the struggle that lingered behind the idols weary eyes.

Y/N greeted her with a warm smile. “Hey, It’s nice to see you. Are you looking for more supplies today?”

SuA returned a faint, tired smile that didn’t quite reach her eyes. “Yeah, just picking up a few things. I’ve got a lot going on right now.”

Noticing the strain in SuA’s voice and the weariness in her posture, Y/N gently extended her offer. “If you need any help finding something or just want to talk, I’m here. Sometimes, talking can be a good distraction.”

SuA hesitated, her eyes scanning the art supplies but not really focusing on them. Finally, she sighed deeply, a sound filled with heaviness. “Actually, I could use someone to talk to. It’s been… really tough lately.”

Y/N led SuA to a quieter corner of the store, away from the usual traffic. As they stood by a shelf lined with art materials, Y/N spoke softly, “I’m here to listen. What’s been going on?”

SuA’s composure began to crack as she spoke, her voice trembling. “My friend, is taking a break from work. She’s been struggling with stress and exhaustion, and it’s been taking a toll on me, I feel like I’ve failed her. I should have been more aware, more supportive.”

Y/N listened with empathy, her heart aching for SuA. “It sounds like you’re carrying a lot of responsibility. It’s hard when you feel like you haven’t done enough for someone you care about.”

SuA’s eyes filled with tears as she continued, her voice breaking. “I’ve always been the mood maker at my job, the one who lifts everyone’s spirits. I feel like I’m supposed to be strong and keep everyone positive, but now… now I’m the one who feels like I’m falling apart. It makes me feel like I’ve lost my value as a person. If I can’t even support my friend when she needs me the most, then what good am I?”

Her voice trembled with raw emotion, and Y/N gently placed a comforting hand on her arm. “You’ve been doing your best, and that’s all anyone can ask for. Sometimes, even when we try hard to help, we can’t control everything. It’s okay to feel overwhelmed and to admit that you’re struggling.”

SuA looked at Y/N, her face a mixture of sadness and relief. “I feel so guilty for not being able to handle everything. I’ve always been the one everyone relies on, It’s hard to accept that I can’t always be the strong one.”

Y/N’s voice was soft but reassuring. “It’s important to remember that you’re human, too. You have limits, and it’s okay to acknowledge that. Taking care of yourself doesn’t mean you’re failing anyone. It means you’re being honest about what you can handle.”

SuA’s tears finally spilled over, and she wiped them away with the back of her hand. “Thank you for listening. I didn’t expect to break down like this, especially not to someone I barely know. But it helps to have someone who’s willing to listen and understand.”

Y/N smiled gently, her eyes full of understanding. “Sometimes, just sharing what you’re going through can make a huge difference. I’m glad I could be here for you. If you ever need to talk more or just need a distraction, don’t hesitate to come by.”

As Y/N rang up SuA’s supplies, the atmosphere between them felt lighter, though SuA still carried the weight of her struggles. SuA offered a small, appreciative smile. “Thanks, Y/N. I really needed this. It feels like a weight has been lifted, even if just a little. I'm SuA by the way, I should have mentioned it sooner, I'm also an idol”

Y/N chuckles, "Ah that's why you look so familiar, I've probably seen you on TV or something, Thank you for trusting me with that information."

She watched SuA leave, feeling a deep sense of fulfillment. The connection they had made, even in such a brief encounter, was significant. Y/N was glad to have offered some comfort and understanding during SuA’s difficult time.

A few weeks had passed since SuA’s last visit to the art supply store. The rain had been replaced by crisp autumn air, and the store had a fresh, vibrant feel with seasonal displays. Y/N was busy arranging new canvases when the doorbell chimed, signaling SuA’s arrival.

Y/N looked up and smiled warmly. “Hey, SuA! It’s good to see you again. How have you been?”

SuA returned the smile, though it didn’t quite reach her eyes. “Hi, Y/N. I’ve been okay. Just… trying to manage. I came by for some more supplies and, well, I guess I could use a bit of company.”

Y/N guided SuA to the art supplies, noting the tiredness in her eyes and the way her shoulders seemed to carry a heavy burden. “Of course. Feel free to take your time. If you want to talk, I’m here.”

As they walked through the aisles, SuA seemed to be seeking a moment of normalcy amidst her ongoing struggles. Y/N watched her with concern, sensing that SuA was wrestling with something deeper.

SuA finally picked out a few items, her hands lingering on a set of pastels. “I’ve been performing and doing interviews without Siyeon, and it’s been really hard. It feels like a part of me is missing.”

Y/N listened intently, giving SuA the space to share her feelings. “I can imagine how difficult that must be. Siyeon must have been such an important part of your performances and interviews. How are you managing without her?”

SuA’s gaze was distant as she spoke. “It’s not just the performances or interviews; it’s the little things too. The inside jokes, the shared glances that we used to have. It’s like a void that nothing can fill. When we’re on stage or in interviews, it feels like a piece of me is left behind.”

Y/N nodded, trying to empathize with SuA’s experience. “It must be incredibly tough to navigate those moments without her support. It’s hard when someone who understands you so well isn’t there by your side.”

SuA sighed deeply, her frustration evident. “I feel like I’m constantly putting on a brave face, but it’s exhausting. The fans expect us to be the same as always, but behind the scenes, it feels like everything is falling apart. I’m trying to hold it together, but it’s hard to ignore the emptiness.”

Y/N reached out, placing a reassuring hand on SuA’s arm. “It’s okay to acknowledge that it’s hard. You don’t have to be perfect all the time, and it’s understandable to feel a sense of loss when someone so important isn’t there.”

SuA’s eyes welled up with tears, her vulnerability surfacing. “I’ve been trying to stay strong for the group and for the fans, but inside, I’m struggling. I miss the comfort and support that Siyeon brought into my life. It’s like I’m performing half of myself.”

Y/N gave SuA a comforting smile. “It’s important to take care of yourself too. It’s okay to grieve the changes and feel the loss. Your emotions are valid, and expressing them is a great start to heal.”

SuA’s shoulders relaxed slightly as she absorbed Y/N’s words. “Thank you for understanding. It’s hard to find someone who really listens and gets what I’m going through. Talking with you helps me see that I’m not alone in this.”

Y/N’s voice was gentle but encouraging. “I’m glad I can be here for you. My door will always be open, feel free to come by. You don’t have to face this alone.”

SuA nodded, her expression softening. “I really appreciate your support. It means more than you know.”

As SuA prepared to leave, Y/N felt a renewed sense of connection. The bond they had forged was deeper, and Y/N was grateful for the opportunity to offer comfort and understanding during SuA’s challenging time.

With a final smile and a promise to stay in touch, SuA left the store, feeling a bit lighter. Y/N watched her go, hoping that their conversation had made a meaningful difference.

Raindrops beat steadily against the window, creating a soothing rhythm that contrasted with the warmth inside the store. SuA stepped in, her rain-drenched coat clinging to her, and the gentle jingle of the doorbell marked her arrival. Y/N glanced up from behind the counter, her eyes lighting up at the sight of SuA.

“Hi, SuA,” Y/N greeted with a smile. “It’s really coming down out there. What brings you in today?”

SuA attempted to sound casual, though the anxiety in her voice betrayed her. “Just needed to pick up some art supplies. I’ve run low on a few things and thought I’d get them now.”

Y/N nodded, setting aside her tasks to help. “Sure thing. Let me get that for you.”

As Y/N gathered the requested items, SuA watched the rain streaming down the window, feeling a mix of nervousness and determination. She wasn’t really here for the supplies; she was here to see Y/N. The past few conversations they had made SuA realize just how much she had come to rely on their interactions for comfort and distraction from her mounting stress.

Once Y/N had prepared the supplies, she offered, “We still have some time before closing. How about a cup of tea? It’s been a quiet day, and it might be nice to relax for a bit.”

SuA smiled faintly, feeling a flicker of hope. “I’d like that. Thank you.”

They moved to the small kitchenette, the aroma of brewing tea mingling with the sound of rain. As they sat together, the warm tea in their hands, SuA felt a rising tide of emotions. The cozy ambiance of the store was a stark contrast to the turmoil she was feeling inside.

“You know,” SuA began hesitantly, “I’ve been feeling a lot of things lately, and talking with you has become one of the few things that helps me deal with everything.”

Y/N’s eyes softened. “I’m glad to hear that. Sometimes just having someone to talk to makes a big difference.”

SuA took a deep breath, her heart pounding. “It’s more than just talking. I didn’t realize how much I’d come to look forward to our time together. It’s been comforting, but it’s also made me realize something more...”

Y/N leaned in, her heart racing as she hoped that SuA's words would reveal something she had been longing to hear. “What is it?” she asked softly, her voice tinged with a mixture of anticipation and hope.

SuA’s voice wavered, and she looked away, unable to find the right words. “I... I don’t know how to say this. I’m normally good at expressing my feelings, but when it comes to you, it’s different. I’ve been feeling something more, but I can’t...”

Before she could finish, SuA felt overwhelmed. Her emotions were swirling, and she felt like she was on the verge of breaking down. She stood abruptly, her chair scraping against the floor. “I’m sorry. I can’t do this right now.”

With that, she hurried out of the store, the rain soaking her through as she dashed into the stormy night. Y/N was left standing in the kitchenette, her heart racing and her mind reeling from the abrupt end to their conversation.

As Y/N prepared to close up the shop, she noticed the rain outside had intensified. She was finishing up her tasks when she heard a knock at the door. She opened it to find SuA, drenched and holding her art book. The sight was both surprising and heart-wrenching.

“SuA?” Y/N called out, her concern evident. “What are you doing here?”

SuA, shivering from the cold and wet, stepped inside. “I had to come back,” she said, her voice trembling. “I’ve been thinking about what I wanted to say, and I realized I needed to be honest.”

Y/N led her to the counter, quickly grabbing a towel to help dry her off. SuA took a deep breath, her emotions laid bare.

“I’m usually good at talking to people,” SuA began, her voice steadying. “But with you, it’s different. I didn’t want to admit it, but I’ve been struggling with how to express my feelings. I think I’ve developed feelings for you—feelings that go beyond just friendship.”

She opened her art book, revealing a sketch she had made earlier. It was a drawing of the two of them, their figures intertwined with delicate lines and soft shades, a visual representation of the bond she felt.

“This drawing,” SuA said softly, “is my way of showing how much you mean to me. It’s not just about the art. It’s about how you’ve come to occupy such a special place in my life, and how much I care about you.”

Y/N looked at the drawing, her heart swelling with emotion. “SuA, this is beautiful. I’m really touched.”

SuA took Y/N’s hand in hers, her eyes filled with sincerity. “I know it’s been confusing, we've only talked a handful of times but I wanted you to know how much you’ve come to mean to me. I hope we can find a way to navigate this together.”

Y/N smiled, her own feelings mirroring SuA’s. “I’m glad you came back and shared this with me because, I feel the same about you.

Y/N and SuA walked side by side, their hands brushing gently against each other as they left the store. The rain poured down heavily, soaking their clothes and making their skin cling to the fabric. Yet, despite the chill of the downpour, they felt warm inside, comforted by the closeness they shared and the warmth in their hearts.

The lights dimmed, and the roar of the crowd surged like a wave. As the opening notes of their first song filled the venue, SuA stood center stage, her heart pounding with exhilaration. The moment was more than just a performance; it was a celebration of perseverance, friendship, and a return to something deeply cherished. Siyeon had finally returned.

SuA’s movements were filled with a vibrant energy, her passion shining through every step. Her smile was radiant, and her voice carried the strength of someone who had overcome obstacles and rediscovered her joy in performing. The stage lights illuminated her with a warm glow, and the connection she shared with the other members was palpable.

In the front row, Y/N watched with a mixture of pride and awe. As SuA danced and sang with renewed vigor, Y/N’s eyes sparkled with admiration and her heart swelled seeing SuA so alive on stage. The bond they had forged was significant, though the nature of their relationship remained somewhat veiled.

As the concert reached its peak, SuA’s gaze swept over the crowd. Amidst the sea of fans, her eyes caught sight of a poster being held up. The poster depicted an intricate, beautifully detailed drawing of the seven Dreamcatcher members, capturing their essence and the vibrant energy of the group. The drawing was stunning, and SuA was struck by the familiarity of the style.

She followed the line of the poster to its source, and a smile slowly spread across her face as she recognized the person holding it. There, in the front row, stood Y/N, holding the poster proudly. The drawing was Y/N’s work, a testament to their shared journey and a visual echo of the connection they had.

During a brief pause in the performance, SuA’s eyes met Y/N’s across the crowd. The recognition and silent communication between them spoke volumes but remained subtle and open to interpretation. SuA’s smile widened, and a wave of emotion surged through her. The support and love from Y/N had been a constant source of strength, though the nature of their relationship was left to the imagination of the audience.

As the adrenaline of the concert faded, the energy backstage remained electric. Amid the buzz, SuA and Y/N found themselves tucked away in a quiet corner. The distant hum of staff moving equipment and fans screaming from outside the venue created a backdrop to their own world, one where everything else melted away.

SuA’s eyes locked onto Y/N's, her gaze soft but filled with an intensity that sent Y/N's heart racing. There was a tenderness there, but also something deeper—an affection that had grown over the weeks they spent together, a longing neither of them had dared to voice aloud. SuA’s lips parted slightly as if she were about to say something, but the words caught in her throat. Instead, she simply smiled, the kind of smile that could break a thousand hearts.

"I can't wait any longer," SuA murmured, her voice barely above a whisper, almost drowned out by the distant sounds of the post-concert chaos.

Y/N’s breath hitched, unsure whether SuA’s words were meant for her to hear. But before she could respond, SuA took a step closer, closing the already minimal distance between them. The next thing Y/N knew, SuA leaned in, her warm breath brushing against Y/N's skin. And then, their lips met.

It was a soft, tentative kiss at first, both of them testing the waters, as if asking for permission without words. But as the seconds passed, the kiss deepened, becoming a sweet, heartfelt affirmation of everything they had shared—every late-night conversation, every stolen glance, every moment they had secretly cherished.

The world seemed to fall away entirely, leaving only the two of them wrapped in the glow of this long-awaited moment. SuA’s hand gently cupped Y/N's face, her thumb brushing softly against her cheek. Y/N responded, her fingers curling into the fabric of SuA’s jacket, pulling her just a little closer.

But just as they pulled apart, breathless and wide-eyed from the kiss, the door to the backstage room swung open with a loud creak.

"Oh," a voice gasped.

Both of them whipped their heads around, startled, to find the rest of Dreamcatcher standing frozen in the doorway. JiU was the first to react, her eyes widening comically as she took in the sight of SuA and Y/N standing so close, their faces still flushed from the kiss. Siyeon blinked, visibly confused, while Handong’s gaze shifted back and forth between SuA and Y/N, trying to process the scene. Gahyun’s jaw dropped open, and Yoohyeon exchanged a wide-eyed look with Dami.

“Uh… what’s happening here?” Yoohyeon finally blurted out, breaking the stunned silence, her voice filled with disbelief and curiosity.

SuA’s face turned crimson, her embarrassment as palpable as the tension hanging in the air. But beneath the blush was a flicker of resolve. She inhaled sharply, steeling herself for what was about to come.

"This isn’t how I planned to tell you all,” she began, her voice trembling slightly but growing stronger with every word, “but since you’re here…”

Y/N's heart pounded in her chest. She shot SuA a glance, silently asking if she was sure. SuA gave a small, reassuring nod before turning back to her bandmates.

"Everyone,” she said, her voice clear and firm now, “I’d like you to meet Y/N. She’s... she’s my girlfriend."

The room fell into a momentary silence as the members absorbed the information. JiU was the first to break it, her surprise melting into a wide grin. “SuA, seriously? You’ve had a girlfriend this whole time, and you didn’t tell us?” She let out a playful huff but then immediately stepped forward to embrace SuA. “I’m so happy for you.”

Siyeon, recovering from her shock, smirked. “You’re sneaky, SuA. I didn’t think you could keep a secret like this.” She crossed her arms but the warmth in her eyes was unmistakable. “But if Y/N makes you happy, that’s all that matters.”

Handong stepped closer, her smile soft and genuine. “It’s nice to meet you, Y/N,” she said warmly. “We’re happy for both of you.”

Gahyun, still a little dazed, finally spoke up, her voice full of excitement. “This is amazing! I had no idea, but… you two are so cute together!” She giggled, her joy contagious.

Yoohyeon grinned widely, nudging SuA with her elbow. “You really surprised us! But to be fair I kind of had an idea you had someone”

Dami, who had been quietly observing, gave Y/N a small, genuine smile. She stepped forward and extended her hand. “Hi, Y/N. I’m Dami. Welcome to our little family.”

Y/N smiled shyly, shaking her hand, appreciating the warmth in Dami's gesture. “Thank you… it's really nice to meet all of you.”

The group exchanged supportive glances before JiU spoke again, her tone serious yet gentle. “SuA, this is your life. Whether you want to keep this between us or tell the world, we’ll stand by you. You don’t have to decide now, but just know we’ve got your back no matter what.”

SuA’s eyes glossed over with emotion as she took in her members’ words, the overwhelming sense of support filling her heart. “Thank you… all of you,” she whispered, her voice thick with gratitude. She turned to Y/N, her hand squeezing hers tightly. “I don’t know what I want yet, but it means the world to me to know that whatever I decide, you’re all here.”

Siyeon stepped forward, placing a hand on SuA’s shoulder. “We’re your family. And Y/N’s part of that family now too. Whatever you choose, we’ll help you through it.”

Y/N, touched by the girls' support, smiled shyly. “Thank you… really. I wasn’t sure how this would go, but… I’m so glad you’re all okay with it.”

Gahyun beamed, practically bouncing on her toes. “Okay with it? We’re excited! You’re one of us now, Y/N.”

Handong laughed softly. “No pressure though. Just take your time.”

SuA chuckled, the tension finally melting away completely. She turned to Y/N with a loving gaze, her heart swelling with warmth. “I don’t know what the future holds,” SuA whispered, her eyes never leaving Y/N’s. “But whatever happens, I’m glad we’re in this together.”

Y/N smiled, her eyes reflecting the depth of her feelings. “I’m excited for whatever comes next.

Later that evening, as they walked back to their cars, SuA paused and took Y/N’s hand in hers, gazing up at the starlit sky. “No matter where we go from here, we’ve made it through so much together,” SuA said softly. “And that gives me so much hope for the future.”

Y/N squeezed SuA’s hand, her heart brimming with love and hope. “I feel the same way,” she replied, her voice filled with warmth. “I’ve never felt so supported and understood. Thank you for letting me be a part of your world.”

SuA smiled, her eyes shining with a mix of relief and affection. “I want to thank you too, Y/N. When we first met, you were my comfort when I needed it most. Your kindness and understanding helped me through some of my toughest moments. I’ll always be grateful for that.”

Y/N’s heart swelled at SuA’s words. “I’m just glad I could be there for you. You’ve given me so much in return—love, friendship, and a place where I truly belong.”

SuA leaned in, resting her forehead against Y/N’s. “We’ve come so far together,” she murmured. “And whatever comes next, we’ll face it together, with the same strength and love that got us here.”

Y/N nodded, her eyes closing as she savored the closeness. “Together,” she agreed softly.

The sound of distant laughter and the soft hum of the city around them created a comforting backdrop as SuA and Y/N stood in their own little bubble of happiness. The challenges and uncertainties of the future seemed distant and manageable, overshadowed by the love and support that surrounded them.

As they finally parted, a sense of peace settled between them. They both knew that no matter how the world changed, their bond would remain a source of strength and joy. 

With their hearts intertwined SuA and Y/N walked towards their future with confidence and hope. The night air was crisp and refreshing, a promise of new beginnings and endless possibilities.

As they approached their car, SuA turned to Y/N, a playful smile on her lips. “So, how about we celebrate tonight? We can get some food, just the two of us.”

Y/N laughed, the sound full of happiness and anticipation. “That sounds perfect. I’d love that.”

With their hands clasped together, they headed off into the night, ready to embrace the next chapter of their lives with each other by their side. The future was uncertain, but they faced it with a heart full of love and a sense of belonging that made every challenge seem conquerable.

[blooming-smiles]

imagine prompt: what would kamal do if he was actually Self Aware self aware instead of Weird Deja Vu And Leaning On The Fourth Wall self aware

(cw: unreality, dark topics- read with caution!)

🪷 - kamal if he was self aware of the game

- i think waking up back on the bench after the big event would be kamal’s moment of realization that something is Not Right.

- which only gets strengthened when he has the relive the same days leading up to the big event. and then again. and again.

- at first he hopes he’s dreaming. or going through some groundhog day-esk loop that requires him to reach some kind of moral lesson until everything is back to normal again,

- but it feels like no matter what he tells flower kid before or after the big event he doesn’t have any control over what happens. flower kid determines what happens to habit. and kamal has to watch the aftermath of their choice every choice over and over and over and over and

- the more he thinks about it the more he wonders. what role does flower kid play in this? this complete stranger comes and all of a sudden he has to witness the consequences of their actions over and over again. walking down the terrace past all of the object-ified habiticians, smelling nothing but coins, hearing that gut wrenching crash after the punch-

- and it begins to set in that he’s going to have to relive it all. over and over. and his stomach drops.

- but what else is he supposed to do? flower kid did help the habiticians after all, at least in some of the loops. that means that there’s good in them. and anybody with good in them doesn’t deserve to carry the guilt of what kamal is going through, he thinks.

- and if flower kid /is/ the source of the unreality… then that might explain a lot. and i think him realizing that might connect the dots to him and everyone else being an npc in flower kid’s world

- but what is he supposed to do? just stand up and tell fk that the jig is up? there was no way he make himself responsible for confronting habit especially after the seeing the state of the habit before he left… the cryptic murals on the walls, the blood on habit’s coat… god, all of the teeth in his mouth…. he might be even more avoidant of confronting habit than the possibility that he’s not real

- he was really stressed out before it happened, you know? and i think coming to terms with the idea that this whole situation he’s got himself caught in isn’t grounded in reality wouldn’t take away from his worldly problems taking priority. like sure, maybe he’s not real. but his problems are. very, uncomfortably real.

- and even with the horror of the situation i dont think it would really corrupt him per se? i mean. he /is/ strangely casual at the end of the punch ending considering the gravity of that situation.

- i think he would almost fall into a sense of normalcy over time, even if it would sicken him how horrific of a situation it is but he kinda has to just laugh it off for flower kid’s sake. he isn’t one to go against the grain (edit: in this context)

- at the end of the day i dont think he would fight against it. i think he would be more likely to just sit with knowing that his existence might be centered around being an npc kinda just. accept it. if he was created just to be trapped in the habitat for all existence, then well. clinging to the routine is the only way for him to stay grounded

- and if that means that he’ll never get to escape, then at least it gives him infinite attempts to point flower kid in the right direction… even if they don’t listen. it’s all that he gets.

(edit: i missed an opportunity to mention this but also. his whole stand up high and think about not existing thing. yeeeaaaahhh)

(asks open for requests!)

[let-them-read-fics]

You Again?

Pairing: Jiu x Fem!Reader

AU: Non-Idol

Warnings / Misc. -- Some Angst, Smut, Fluff, Happy Ending :)

Word Count: 9,955

Summary: Y/N and Jiu have history. Unresolved tension, unanswered questions, lingering desire: the inconvenient kind. But when they both unwittingly agree to attend a mutual friend's vacation trip, they're forced to confront their feelings head on and learn to live with one another again.

Why, exactly?

Because they just so happen to be rooming together.

Disclaimer: This writing is a work of fiction, and no disrespect is meant for those mentioned herein.

A/N: Hi everyone! I apologize for my absence, but I hope you enjoy this piece :) I have more stories coming, so stay tuned! 💖 Make sure to eat something good today and drink plenty of water.

💖 Happy Reading 🌹

◂ ❚ ⊱ꕥ⊰ ❚ ▸◂ ❚ ⊱ꕥ⊰ ❚ ▸◂ ❚ ⊱ꕥ⊰ ❚ ▸◂ ❚ ⊱ꕥ⊰ ❚

This has got to be a day for the record books. One of the worst, most unfair in all of human history. 

Well, let’s be realistic: one of the worst in your life. Maybe “human history” is a bit of a stretch – though you can’t exactly blame yourself for giving into the dramatics at a time like this.

The sound of your best friend sighing in frustration brings you out of your annoyed daze, pulling your attention back to her. 

“Y/N, you’re acting like a child. It’s only for one night.”

“Exactly, Y/BFFs/N; one night is far too long for the two of us to be around each other.”

She scoffs, but you don't budge. There's no way you're accepting this without a fight. 

"Why don't we have somebody else switch?" You suggest. 

She shakes her head, dismissing you. "Most of the girls already went up," she explains, motioning behind herself to the cabin. Sure enough, you can see shadows moving within the rooms – forms hidden behind pulled curtains, almost taunting as they shift around in the visible lamplight.

“And I’ve already told Jiu about it.”

You roll your eyes.

"Plus we all sorted this out beforehand." She shrugs. "Since you both joined at the last minute, it only makes sense to put you together."

Now it's your turn to sigh. Suddenly, an idea pops into your head. 

"How about I sleep in the car?" You brighten at the thought of your own scheme; quite literally anything would be better than being trapped between four walls with Jiu. 

"Ha ha, very funny," Y/BFFs/N mocks, clearly not amused. "You can't stay out here. You'll either freeze to death or waste all of our gas trying not to, and I don't think you really wanna do that." 

A disappointed tut leaves you; your warm breath turns to a puff of white air before dissipating into the night. 

Alright, maybe it's colder than you thought. Maybe.

"I'll talk to the others tomorrow morning and see what I can do, okay?" She offers, bringing a hand up to rub the back of her neck. She looks tired, and a pang of guilt washes over you when you notice it.

"Okay. I'm sorry." Regret shines in your eyes, but it's quickly eased by the growing, sleepy smile on her face. 

"Don't worry about it," she reassures you, looping an arm with yours. The two of you fall in step together, heading back to the cabin. 

"I know it's difficult, after everything. But it's just a few hours. I'm sure you can survive that, no?" 

You shake your head, though you're grinning. 

"We'll have to see. I'm sure she'll make it hard." 

Y/BFFs/N slides her free hand along the polished oak handle of the porch's glass door, opening it for the two of you. 

"Just be civil and it'll all be fine. You don't even have to talk." 

The resulting glare you send her makes her laugh. 

Tonight will definitely be the death of you. 

–

Across the first floor, tucked away in the kitchen, Jiu is hard at work. She stands in a pair of shorts and an oversized sweatshirt, cleaning the grill she helped prepare dinner on earlier. A few strands of her hair have evaded the grasp of her ponytail holder, coming down to frame her face as she scrubs away. 

“Why don’t you just save that for the morning?” Someone unseen inquires, sounding half asleep. 

She turns around to find one of your friend’s other invites moseying over to the center island, bottle of water in hand. Her face is scrunched up some, and the small bags under her eyes immediately remind Jiu of who she is.

It’s Sua, the person who pre-gamed too early and overexerted herself when the group first arrived at the cabin earlier this morning. She’s been nursing a headache for the past few hours as a result. 

The low groan that she lets out as she hauls herself onto the high-top chair makes Jiu giggle, but she stifles it to the best of her ability. The younger girl has managed to brighten everybody’s moods all day long despite feeling how she does; she's truly a gift. 

“I want to get it done so I can rest easy,” Jiu finally answers. 

Sua rolls her eyes. “Sleep now, clean later. This is a vacation for a reason, you know? We deserve to procrastinate.” She raises her bottle to her lips, taking a long drink. 

“You do that, I’ll clean,” Jiu resolves, nodding to herself. 

“Suit yourself, pabo.” 

Sua folds her arms on the countertop and lays her head down, yawning as she nuzzles her cheek against the soft material of her sweater. Jiu glances at her and smiles, amused. She appreciates her nonchalance likely more than anyone else on this trip; it’s distracted her from her worries.  

Namely, you: her biggest inconvenience. 

When news reached her of Y/BFFs/N’s plans for a week-long getaway, she was intrigued. Work had been a hassle, she was stressed, and all in all she just needed a break. So, she pulled some strings, got her shifts covered, and took the time off.

All was well for the first few hours, when everyone was at Y/BFFs/N’s house, readying up to make the long drive to the forest resort; but then you made a surprise appearance there, busting in and looking just as good as you did the last time Jiu saw you. 

Effectively, it ruined her mood.

You’d glanced at her, then, when you first walked through the door. She was the one closest to you, having been on her way to get a refill of the drink she had in hand. Truthfully, it felt like slow motion; for a second, it was like the two of you were back to where you had been all that time ago. 

When you were still together.

You crossed the threshold with an eager smile, luggage bags weighing heavy in your hands before you allowed them to slip off your fingertips and land on the ground with a soft noise of impact. She met your eye for a fleeting moment, and she unconsciously took a small step toward you. Her lips began to pull back in the soft grin that you always told her you loved, mimicking the happy expression on your face. For that foolish second, she was transfixed. Foolish.

It was as if you were looking through her; you hadn’t actually perceived her at all, really. She was a passing face as you searched for Y/BFFs/N’s, only caring to register hers. 

Just before Jiu could utter a word or reach you, a loud cheer rang out from behind her. The entirety of the group had picked up on your arrival, word spreading fast throughout the living room once one of them caught a glimpse of you. 

She cursed quietly and retreated a few steps, allowing the excited crowd to gather around you and visit. 

You happily shared the story of how your boss – who’s always regarded you with a distant indifference – finally showed her humanity and adjusted the schedules so that you could have some time off. Not the entire week, of course, but a few days to go and be with your friends. Everyone seemed genuinely happy to see you; even the ones who barely knew you, having only heard of your existence through the stories that Y/BFFs/N had told them. It all made Jiu feel like the odd one out.

But she could remember a time when just hearing your name made her heart flutter, too, so she couldn’t exactly fault them. 

From a distance, she watched you. How you moved. How your hands danced around as you explained your stories. The way your lips pouted and pursed with every syllable, almost taunting her. 

She thought she had gotten over you months ago, after things ended. She thought she was stronger than this; but clearly, moving on would be impossible with you around. That was to be done separate, no more strings attached. The idea of having to look at you, to hear your laugh, to be near you in such a way and pretend like everything was fine seemed unfathomable. With every trace of you gone, maybe, maybe then she could move on. 

Anything less destroyed even the chance of closure for her. But, she supposed, closure would just have to wait a week or so. 

—

25 Minutes Later

Put lightly, Jiu is avoiding you. 

After washing the grill and dishes, she took her time with leading a groggy Sua back to her room and making sure she got settled fine. She made some small talk with some of the other girls in passing, but nothing as serious as she was looking for.

She’d be happy to debate the meaning of life right now if it kept the two of you apart for a little longer.

But with lights out rapidly approaching and everyone dragging themselves to their respective rooms, she knows the chances of that are nearing zero. So, begrudgingly, she makes her way up to the suite. 

With every step she takes, she wonders what you’re doing in there. Are you already asleep? Reading? Watching television? Maybe you’re scrolling mindlessly on your phone. Maybe you’re not even in there at all. 

The questions pile up in her mind until she eventually gets fed up and decides to be unaffected for once. Or, at least, to appear that way. She shouldn’t care regardless, and she reminds herself of that fact. All the two of you have to do is make it through the night, and then something can be arranged so that you can stay far, far away from one another. Not so hard, right?

Wrong. Certifiably, absolutely, unequivocally wrong. 

When Jiu opens the bedroom door, she finds you fresh out of the shower. A lacy bra adorns your upper half, while a towel is wrapped around your waist; you’re bent over your suitcase in search of some shorts to wear.

She looks away quickly, but it’s too little too late; even as she shuts the door and turns around, pressing her forehead to the wooden surface, she can picture your body. 

She mentally curses the water droplets that run their paths down your chest and abdomen, free as they edge closer and closer to where the towel meets your waist. They touch you in a way that she never can again, and she hates that.

More specifically, she hates the fact that she wants to.

Your eyes land on her as you stand up, shorts in hand. A heavy feeling of embarrassment settles over you. 

“Uh, sorry,” you mumble, not knowing what to do. 

She turns back around to face you after a moment, but she refuses to meet your gaze. If she does, her resolve will surely falter and crumble.

“There should still be plenty of hot water left if you’d like to take a shower,” you offer, extending an olive branch of sorts. From the angle you have of her face, you can see relief spread across it. 

She wastes no time in sending you a quick thank you and slipping off to the safety of the bathroom, leaving you to question what the hell just happened.

Most of the time, she’s engaging and bold; her liveliness is one of the things that made you fall in love with her. Even at the end of your relationship, when things were falling apart, it was never like this; she never refused to look at you as many times as she had today, or been so weary anytime you entered a room. She never used to despise you so much, and as that sinks in you realize just how much it hurts.

Despite everything, you hate how unbothered she is. 

While you’ve watched her from afar all day, agonizing over the curl of her lip when someone said something witty or the sound of her easy banter with the other girls, she’s clearly been fine. Paying you no mind doesn’t seem to be a challenge for her anymore, and you dislike that more than you thought you would. 

Truth be told, you hadn’t prepared yourself for that. With the scope of your relationship and the lack of closure you received, it only made sense for you to assume she’d miss you as much as you miss her. To be just as affected now, by it all, as you have been. 

But that’s clearly not the case. 

—

Once she’s alone, Jiu takes the opportunity to steady herself. Her hands find their way to the cool marble countertop of the sink, and she draws in a deep breath. 

She can’t stand you. 

Now, from just that small interaction, all she can think about is you. The subdued lighting of the room only brought out your features more, leaving shadows to fall across the parts of you that were untouched by it. Your muscles pulled and strained as you sifted through your bag, parting clothes left and right in search of your shorts. She could see your face, too, looking just as kissable as always. 

She really can’t stand you. 

Defeatedly, she turns the water on. The cold streams down, unaccompanied by any real heat whatsoever; this will be a freezing shower, she’s decided. She doesn’t trust what she might do otherwise, alone in here with her thoughts of you and steam clouding her judgement. 

The subtle throb between her legs is enough to warn her; she knows she’ll do something stupid if she doesn’t stop herself now, before it has the chance to start. 

When she strips out of her clothes, she does her best to think of anything other than the way you used to undress her. How you sat on your knees before her, slowly inching her pants down as your warm lips left kisses in their wake. How you’d take your time with her panties afterward, holding eye contact with her and stopping your motions anytime she looked away. 

Even now, goosebumps rise to her skin at the memory. It was torture then, but for entirely different reasons. 

She was promised sweet release then, no matter how much you may have edged or tested her. Now she'd consider herself lucky to even be rewarded with a conversation. 

Shaking the thoughts from her head, she steps into the tub. The frigid water makes contact with her back, and she has to sink her teeth into her lower lip to keep from shouting. But if this is what it takes to keep you out of her mind, then so be it. 

–

The muscles of your neck and shoulders ache as you sit at the mahogany desk on the far side of the room, half-heartedly working on the report your boss asked you to start. It was what you had to give in order to take the time off, which is only reasonable. Even still, you're having a hard time staying focused. 

The desk faces one of the large bay windows of the room, overlooking the forest and mountains that surround you. Darkness completely envelops the land, save for the occasional house light far off in the distance. Moonbeams hit the treetops, coating them in a sparkle that contrasts with the midnight sky. 

Nearby, an electric fireplace crackles, reminding you of its presence. It's situated as the centerpiece of the lounge area of the suite, providing the room with some additional warmth and light from its place beneath the television. Faux flames waver within it, vibrant as they mingle with one another. Some burn brightly while others glow dimly; the wild versus the tamed.

Despite everything, maybe this trip will do you some good. Escaping the hustle and bustle of your life back home is always a plus, and being in nature never fails to ground you again. Some circumstances might be unsatisfactory, sure, but you're determined to not let that stop you from enjoying this time away. You deserve it, after all.

Just as you find the inspiration to start your reporting again, another one of your distractions makes herself known. 

From the bathroom, a pleasant humming fades in; it's Jiu, reciting the chorus to one of her favorite songs. She breaks into vocals occasionally, switching between the two. 

No matter how much you wish you could, you can't deny that it sounds perfect, coupled with the atmosphere that surrounds you. Given its range and ease, her voice has always been a comfort; getting sick of it is simply impossible. That fact annoys you, but at the same time you give up trying to fight it; you know there's no use.

It takes you back in more ways than you know how to handle, but you don’t complain. For now, you’ll bottle up this feeling and store it away for later, when you part ways and return to the chaos of your own lives. 

Maybe then you could open such a Pandora’s Box.

-

A few minutes later, she finally emerges from the bathroom; you attempt to ignore the urge to perk up. It's difficult, no doubt, after being left to your own devices for so long. Knowing she's so close and yet so unattainable doesn't help either. 

You don't turn around, just in case she isn't fully clothed.

It isn't anything you haven't seen before, but you're afraid you don't have that kind of permission anymore. The last thing you want to do is overstep.

Jiu wishes you'd look at her.

One thing she misses the most about you is your attention. You always paid it so freely – so willingly – rarely taking it off of her. It was ready for her anytime she wanted it, mainly because she had you so enraptured. 

Just the same as you’d always watched her, she watched you. She lived for the way your eyes lit up whenever she smiled or laughed, shining beautifully in a way they never did otherwise. She ached over how they darkened when she'd strip, parting her legs for you and putting herself on display. 

She was the art and you were the beholder. The only one she ever wanted to share herself with.

But now is a totally different time. You don't even so much as glance in her direction when she comes out, with her towel draped precariously around her body in a way that she was sure would drive you crazy.

It’s disheartening, but it doesn't make her want you any less. As she opens her bag and retrieves her clothes, slipping them on, she keeps an eye on you through the standing mirror in the corner of the room. 

Your legs spread as you readjust in the chair, making an attempt to rid your muscles of the tension within them. They're tight with the culmination of all the stress you've felt lately. 

When you allow your head to loll back, rolling from one side to the other, Jiu has to stop her wandering hands. The angle of the mirror allows her to see the way your brows knit together, pain and pleasure intermingling. She doesn't know how much longer she can stand this. 

One of your hands finds its way to your shoulder, rubbing a knot there, and Jiu gets an idea. Is it wise? Not in the slightest. But is she going to give in and go with it? Absolutely. 

What was it that Sua said earlier? This is a vacation for a reason. She can escape sound judgement and reason for now. Surely they'll return in full once you're out of the equation again, anyway.

She deserves to be a little reckless for once.

"Y/N," she calls, getting your attention. You wordlessly turn to look at her.

A bottle of lotion rests in her hands; she nervously toys with it.

"You can use some of this for your shoulders, if you want. It works pretty well." 

You consider her offer. "Thanks, but I'm alright," you declare, turning her down. "I can't reach what really hurts anyway." 

A beat passes before her eyebrows gently raise. "I can help you," she says, trying to keep the eager tone of her voice at bay. 

You pull a face. "Are you sure? You don't have to do that."

I want to, she thinks to herself.

"It's not a problem." She shakes her head, cementing her decision. "Just come here and lay down." 

You stand and relent with a soft noise of acceptance, almost imperceptibly. She takes notice of the way your eyes track down her body before dropping to the floor, lingering just a second too long for innocence. 

She dismisses the thought at once, not wanting to give herself hope.

When you cross in front of her and pause, though, slipping your shirt over your head with a subtle glance at her, it’s all she can do to restrain herself. The fading sunburn that you received earlier in the day, stretching across your nose and cheeks, looks like a natural blush from this close. 

She wants to kiss it.

“Thank you in advance,” you say over your shoulder, carefully laying down on your stomach. The fluffy comforter welcomes you in full, partially distracting and preventing you from overthinking what you’re about to experience.

She takes a steadying breath and releases it, glancing up at the ceiling like she’s pleading with a higher power. 

"Don't mention it," she dismisses, getting on the bed after you. 

In her mind, she debates the best way to go about this. Where should she sit? Overstepping the unspoken boundaries you've established isn't something she wants to do. 

Her fingertips play with the hook of your bra, sliding over the material. "Can I…" she trails off, both of you aware of what she's asking. 

"Go ahead," you permit.

She unclips the fastener and watches as the two sides fall down, fully exposing your back to her. Once you slip it off of your arms and toss it towards your suitcase, her fingertips ghost over your skin, tracing the gentle curve of your spine. 

She dons a musing smile when she notices goosebumps appearing in their wake. 

Perhaps she was wrong. Maybe all along, you've been the art and she the beholder. 

Her knees go to either side of your waist as she moves to straddle you, settling down onto you. Once she's sure you're comfortable, she retrieves the bottle of lotion from its place on the bed and squeezes some out onto her fingertips. 

It's smooth as it slides against them, medicated and cool. Her favorite brand makes it, and she never leaves the house without it. She'll be thanking her lucky stars endlessly for that habit after tonight.

Something crossed between a hiss and sigh fights past your lips when she makes contact for the first time, spreading the chilly cream across your shoulders. The attempt she made to warm it beforehand clearly didn't work as well as she thought, and she has to stifle a laugh at your reaction. 

Beneath her fingers, your muscles tense and jump; you do your best to relax them as she pushes harder, kneading them with care. She does so with a steady rhythm, using the base of her hands to loosen you up first before focusing her fingers on the more persistent knots. Every circle of her hands against you warms the lotion up more, convincing you to relax and give into the relief she’s able to provide.

You close your eyes, wanting to focus on her motions. 

What you failed to prepare yourself for, though, is the notion that she’s closer to you than ever. Only separated by the material of your shorts and hers, she sits atop you, her warm thighs trembling slightly with effort anytime she has to push herself up to reach you better. 

When she steadies herself on your lower back, splaying a hand across it, you can feel the subtle way her hips rut against your ass as she readjusts her position. 

Maybe you're just imagining it.

Serious work is put into leaving that idea behind, but at every opportunity she gets, Jiu seems to enjoy feeding your delusion. 

When she accidentally gets too much lotion at once, her solution comes in the form of leaning down and running her hands up your outstretched arms, reaching as far as she can to further spread it. In the process, her front presses against the length of your body; her breathing is shuddered, too, just like yours. 

Did she do that to show you it’s mutual?

If only you knew.

Her eager eyes rake over your body, pleased to have you like this in front of her. At her mercy, reacting to the faintest of touches. Possessing this kind of power again makes her feel brave in a dangerous way; should things continue like this unchecked, she might do something impulsive.

But, is she to be blamed? No; she rejects that. 

The subtle rock of your hips is far guiltier than her, adding fuel to the fire of her imagination. The way your hands fist in the sheets, fingers twisting in a show of pain and pleasure whenever she hits a particularly sensitive spot, are in the wrong; the sight makes her wonder, for a desperate second, how they would feel in her hair. 

Her motions – now more wanton, unafraid of touching you – grow a little more rough, shying away from demurity. They’ve arrived at your waist now; a risky place to be. 

She can tell that the appropriate amount of time for two exes to spend doing something like this is dwindling fast; the window of propriety will be closing soon, leaving any further contact between the two of you up for suspicion. She’s aware of that, and yet she has no desire to stop.

In this game of yours, she’s merely a pawn; that’s something she realizes when the sound of a guttural, appreciative moan from you makes her heart flutter wildly. 

She freezes in place, taking a cautious breath; she shouldn’t have enjoyed it as much as she did.

A few beats pass… one…. another…. before you ultimately take her stunned reaction as a sign of discomfort.

“Uh, thanks again,” you say quietly, suddenly feeling ten times too exposed and five hundred degrees too hot. A couple taps to her leg gives her the memo, and she climbs off of you.

Embarrassed and upset with yourself for doing such a thing, you refuse to even so much as make eye contact with her again. 

An apology from you fizzles into the air, but she’s still too overwhelmed to fully process what just transpired. It all happened too fast; she wants to go back and relive it, but it’s too late. You’re already slipping your shirt back on and burying yourself under the covers, humiliated. When you cover your face with the pillow, debating on smothering yourself, she spares you by reaching over and turning the lamp off. 

She lifts her side of the covers afterward, getting in beside you. You face away from one another, back to back, establishing distance once again.

This night is proving to be anything but predictable.

—

2:07 AM

Insects perform their songs outside, languidly calling to one another from high above – nestled in the leaves of the tree tops – and far below, amid the grassy trails and branching networks of hills. All is calm… until it isn’t.

Suddenly, the stillness of the night is interrupted by a recurring, unintelligible noise. 

The first time you hear it, you ignore it, opting instead to bury your head a little deeper into your pillow. It's probably just the house settling or something outside, you reason.

The second time, you're annoyed enough to pause your attempt at restful sleep with the hopes of discovering its source and stopping it.

It comes again a little later, but from somewhere you never would've expected. Rather, you suppose, someone.

Your name takes the shape of a mumble as it slips through Jiu's lips, altered slightly from how her cheek is pressed to her pillow. Any other time you might find it exciting to hear her say it, but here and now, you can't say you do. 

Warmth spreads to your cheeks as your sleepy mind recalls what happened just a few hours ago, making you relive your embarrassment.

The noise comes again, and a little louder this time; an irritated groan leaves you as you take one of the throw pillows and nudge her, attempting to quiet her. It seems to work for a minute, but just as you settle back down to rest again, something even worse happens.

"Y/N… ah," she moans, her voice breathy and ragged. 

Is she...?

Your eyes open wide when you realize what's taking place right beside you.

Jiu is totally having a sex dream about you.

What a revelation to have.

She writhes in search of relief, causing the covers to fall down her body and expose more of it. Her pajama top, too, has ridden up and ruffled in her pursuit of friction. 

She looks an absolute mess, you realize, as you roll over to look at her. Her hair splays across the pillow in every which way, her chest rises and falls at a faster rate than normal, and her thighs push together to lessen the throbbing between them. Your blood runs cold when you notice that she isn’t wearing her shorts anymore. Only a pair of lacy, white panties conceal her, gleaming in the moonlight with a softness that begs to be touched.

Hot and bothered is the only way to describe her.

"Please," she whines, desperation hanging heavy on the tones of her voice. 

Selfishly, you don’t wake her right away. Seeing her like this, so close and beautiful, is something you don’t want to give up again. At least not yet.

Her full lips part as her head pushes into the pillow, exposing her neck. Her muscles are pulled taut as she squirms; her hands fisted in the sheets at her sides. A thin sheen of sweat is visible on her forehead, showing just how affected she is. 

Maybe you should play nice and put an end to her suffering…

Her hips begin to rock, slowly at first; the motion draws a soft sigh from her as she finally gets some relief. Your body begs you to touch her in some way, feeling your own desire grow at the sight of her. 

Unconsciously – and to prevent you from reaching out to her – your fingers thread themselves in the cover that's thrown haphazardly over you. You bite your lip to keep it busy; otherwise you'd be tempted to wake her up with your mouth, as she's asked you to before.

Only when your own arousal becomes too much to bear do you decide to end this little game. 

She whimpers when you move in closer, still a world away. Her hand falls on your thigh, however, making you falter for a moment. It's warm and dangerously close to your center, trembling slightly against you. Her nails threaten to leave indentations, should she flex her fingers the right way.

Unable to deny yourself such a simple pleasure, you allow it to stay where it is. 

"Jiu." 

She doesn't stir. If anything, the sound of your voice only drags her further under. Her breath hitches in time with another stutter of her hips.

You'll have to try harder.

“Jiu, wake up,” you whisper, leaving a kiss on her cheek. Your lips hover nearby to utter her name again, should they need to.

Gently, you bring a hand to her shoulder and shake it, hoping to coax her out of her dream and back to reality. After a moment, your plan works; her eyes open gingerly, blinking a few times to adjust from her daze. 

“Y/N?” Confusion is prevalent in her voice, coupled with her drowsiness. It’s cute, really, and it takes you back to all the mornings you would wake up by her side. 

“It’s me; I'm here,” you reassure her, moving your hand to her hip. Now with your arm stretched across her body, you can feel the warmth radiating from her. It starkly contrasts with the chilly air of the room, making you want to hide away under the covers and pull her in close. 

But, of course, you refrain. That’s not something you can do anymore.

Her dark eyes shine in what little light the room has to offer, gazing up at you with a sweet innocence that you find endearing. She's vulnerable in this state, and yet by the way she shifts closer in your arms, she makes it known that she trusts you. 

You watch as her gaze travels down your arm, towards where your hand still rests against her hip. Momentarily, she looks as if she's questioning something within her mind – attempting to piece something together. 

"Y/N, did we…?" She trails off, unsure. 

"Did we what?" You push, testing the waters. You have an idea of what she wants to know, but hearing her say it would be so much better. 

Surprisingly, she puts her hand over yours, keeping it in place. 

"Did we have sex?" The question comes out in a husky whisper as she makes an effort to be quiet.

You shake your head in reply as a slightly humored smile works its way onto your lips. 

The movement draws her attention to them; they're a beautiful shade, with the moonlight hitting them just right. She can't find it in herself to look away. 

A few seconds pass before you speak again; her hand grips yours a little tighter. 

"It was just a dream. You–"

Your explanation is cut short by her lips as they press to your own in a swift kiss. 

Reckless. 

You pull away at once, almost like you've been burned. Why would she do that? 

Both of you pause, regarding one another. Your eyes work hard to decipher her intentions – what she wants – through the darkness of the room, as if they have such a gift. Hers do the same, searching your face for the answer she wants.

She gets it in another form, however, as your hand slides higher on her waist. Her heart lurches in her chest, its rate increasing somehow. Part of her is afraid you can feel it; but, truthfully, that's exactly what she wants. If you could feel how badly she needs you in this moment, maybe you'd show some mercy and help her. 

Maybe.

Tension hangs heavy in the air of the room as she slips her hand higher, too, moving it between your thighs. The heat that's come to pool there encourages her, compelling her to cup you through your clothes. 

You gasp, earning a smile from her. You clearly aren't as over her as you pretend to be. 

Empowered, she rolls you over, trading your positions. Now she hovers over you as you lie on your back, waiting with bated breath to see what she'll do. 

Her hand slides up and over the waistband of your shorts slowly, edging closer and closer to your center with only your panties separating her from you. Your eyes flutter closed in response.

"I'm going to kiss you again," she whispers, sounding more confident than ever. "If you want me to stop, tell me. Okay?" 

You nod, trying to stay still. Fighting the urge to rock your hips into her hand is easier said than done.

She leans into you, letting her body mold into yours as she shuffles closer. She replaces the hand between your thighs with a leg, giving you something to grind against. You thank her by slipping your hands beneath her top and pulling it over her head.

"Beautiful," you whisper against her lips, as she presses them to yours again. You take her into your arms in a safe embrace, sighing into her mouth when her bare chest rubs against you. The thin material of your shirt does little to obstruct the feeling. 

Though the shadows hide it, a deep, crimson blush warms her cheeks. She can taste the cinnamon toothpaste that you used earlier and smell the familiar scent of your hair products. You still use the same ones, she realizes. 

Her leg flexes instinctively as you cup her cheek and deepen the kiss, tilting your head to the side. As you raise your hips to meet hers, she slides a hand up to your chest to offer it some attention. A pitiful noise leaves you when she makes contact, cupping your breasts. She pulls away from your lips to admire you, wanting to see the effect she has.

“Such a pretty thing,” she compliments, feeling arrogant when you bite your lip to stifle a moan. She toys with you like a plaything, switching her movements every so often to garner different reactions. You’re restoring her confidence without even trying; such sweet oblivion.

What she doesn’t fully grasp in the moment, though, is that your arrangement is very much so a two way street. You demonstrate the power you still have over her as you take hold of her hips, pulling them down as you thrust up to meet them. 

Just as her thigh is between your legs, so is yours between hers; the mutual relief you receive at the motion entices you, making you repeat it.

She curses into your ear, the sound so full of raw desire that you nearly lose all sense of reason right then and there. Her head falls against your shoulder in ecstasy as she revels a little longer, enjoying the heat that spreads throughout her body the more you touch her.

It’s just like it used to be in so many ways, but somehow new. Still exciting. Still everything she hoped for.

Her lips find their way to your cheek in the darkness, leaving a trail of kisses downward, along your jawline and neck. They’re desperate and needy, accompanied by her shuddered breaths as she attempts to convey everything you’re making her feel. She can only cross her fingers and hope that it’s mutual.

“Come here,” you instruct, tapping her leg. She understands in an instant, wordlessly repositioning herself so that she’s straddling your waist now. The new angle is even more comfortable, and she sits back to give you a better look at her body as a way of expressing her gratitude. Her perky breasts are on full display, looking absolutely divine above the lines of her abs. You run a finger over the latter, tracing the hard-earned muscles in admiration. 

Subtly, her hips begin to gyrate. She wants the movement to be tortuous, starting slow and building up until you can’t take it anymore. It’s only fair to give you a taste of your own medicine after all this time. 

“Shit, Jiu,” you exhale, glancing down to where you’re joined. Her panties glisten as she writhes, displaying the wet spot that you’ve caused; when her grinding becomes a little sloppier, you can feel her slick spread to your abdomen. 

"You like that, baby?" She muses, breathing heavy. You nod vehemently, not quite trusting your voice enough to speak yet. 

You splay a hand across her pelvis, using your thumb to tease her clit. 

She shakes as a surprised, broken moan slips out of her mouth. It’s louder than either of you expected it to be, and you find yourselves wanting to laugh for a moment.

“Play fair,” she warns, glaring at you. “...unless you want to wake everyone in the house up?” It’s posed as a question rather than a statement. 

“I wouldn’t be–” you pause, exhaling when she presses into you a little harder, cocking a brow, “...opposed to that, necessarily.” 

A sexy smile plays on her lips, making them look more kissable than ever. “No?” Something dangerous shines in her eyes.

“Try me.”

She bites her lip, weighing her options. You asked for it.

Her voice is whiny when she speaks again, and about five times louder than necessary at that. “I need you, Y/N. Please…” her hands thread into her hair exaggeratedly, playing into the show she’s giving. “Fuck me–”

You sit up at once, clasping a hand over her mouth and using the length of your body to push her backwards and pin her down against the bed. Adrenaline surges through your veins as you remain deathly still for a few tense seconds, trying to make sure her little stunt didn’t actually wake anybody up. 

You didn’t really think she’d do it.

The sound of distant footsteps fills the hall, a series of padding and waiting, before the latch of a bedroom door clicks. The floorboards creak… someone's weight shifting from one foot to the other as they peek into the hall. 

Jiu smiles against your palm, feeling every thump of your nervous heart. 

When she wraps her legs around your waist and slips a hand between your bodies, your eyes screw tightly shut. 

"Stop," you whisper, the noise like harsh wind on a calm night. 

Her wanting eyes peer up at you, observing. The situation is delicate, so that's exactly how she'll treat it. 

Slowly, she places her free hand beside her head on the bed and glances at it, inviting you to hold it. Upon hesitantly removing your own from her mouth, you thread your fingers with hers as you pin it down.

Innocently, she kisses your neck again, just above your pulse point. Her warm breath tickles your skin, only further stirring the fire within you. 

"Do you really want me to?" She asks, voice sinful and rich. Her lips still, full and tempting, awaiting your answer.

Another door opens somewhere else in the house, followed by heavy footsteps. Someone trekking to the kitchen, it seems. Your mouth runs dry.

Her fingers toy with the hem of your shorts, edging them down little by little. "Say it again and I will," she promises. "Tell me you don't want me and I'll stop." 

You sigh as she pulls your panties to the side, finally slipping her hand past the material. She finds your clit easily, with no real effort necessary; she knows your body now just the same as she did before. 

"I…" you start, fighting back a stutter. Two of her fingers dip down to your entrance, gathering up some of your wetness. "...I can't." 

"You can't what, Y/N?" She moves her fingers left and right, teasing. 

"I can't say I don't want you," you groan, annoyance bubbling up within you. 

"Why not?" You can tell she's smirking just by the sound of her voice. 

"Because I'm sick of lying," you admit. "I've always wanted you." 

Her cocky attitude falters. 

A beat passes.

All footsteps outside retreat back into their respective rooms, and closing doors resound shortly after. 

Effectively, the two of you are alone again.

Silence prevails following your confession – an eternal moment unbroken by any words of reciprocation from her. It lends your mind to chaos, filling it with worry.

You shouldn't have said anything. This was a mistake. 

Embarrassed, you sit up and remove yourself from Jiu, moving towards the edge of the bed. She reaches out for you, though you don't see it. 

"I'm sorry," your head shakes, discontent. "I shouldn't have–"

"Shush," she commands, surprising you. She refuses to let this end like before, with you retreating and shutting her out.

Your eyebrows raise as you turn to look at her; she still lays where you left her, only now she's propped up on her elbows. 

"Don't say you regret it. Please." Her voice sounds small. 

"But I thought…" 

Her eyes remain on you as she sits up, carefully moving to sit next to you on her knees. 

"I never stopped either, Y/N. I just couldn't believe you've felt the same all this time." She explains, not wanting you to misinterpret her silence any longer. 

Your fingers toy at your thighs, still jittery with nerves. She notices, and lays a comforting hand on top of them.

"I've missed you," she adds. Softly, quietly. So as to not disturb this process. Together, you're beginning to pick up the pieces of what you let slip through your fingers before. 

"Me too," you reassure her, bringing a hand up to caress her cheek. She leans into your touch, letting her eyes fall shut. 

The walls she so adamantly built around her heart are lowering, little by little, and the notion scares her. If she gives herself to you tonight and you end up walking away, she doesn’t know if she’ll be able to recover. 

“I’ve got you." The phrase sounds like a promise from your heart to hers; it’s as if you read her mind. “I won’t let things get in the way like before.”

She looks at you again, peeking her eyes open. The earnest look on your face is sincere enough to convince her of anything. “I’ll spend however long it takes proving it to you, Jiu.”

Her eyes shine with unshed tears. “I believe that.”

“Good,” you say, releasing a small breath of anticipation you hadn’t realized you were holding in.

She squeezes your hand three times, reminding you of the past. 

Nostalgia befalls you, both in good ways and bad. So much regret exists between the two of you, centering around the breakup that neither of you really wanted in the first place. Life got in the way, then, and you were both too naive to fight against what you thought were fate’s currents. 

It was decided that if you couldn’t be together, you’d have to settle for the ghost of one another. 

Jiu found you in midnight moonlight, shining brightly amid the darkest of hours. You ruled from high above, with your impact spanning further than you ever realized. 

She found you in the sound of laughter – the kind that starts by surprise, bubbling up from within and spilling out in a way that couldn’t not be contagious. The kind that everyone appreciates when they tell a joke with their fingers crossed, hoping it lands. 

In warm tea and fireside reading you resided; a comforting hug on winter’s coldest day.

But traces of you were left behind in unwanted places, too, like fingerprints on a window. No matter how many cycles of washing and drying her sheets went through, they still smelled like you. 

Her skin still remembered the way you touched her, igniting a fire that only you could put out. Her lips remembered your taste, knowing nothing could compare. She tried, for a time, to replace the imprints you left behind; but her efforts were in vain. 

You were her mirage in the desert; a distant, elusive dream. Glimmering with untapped potential, waiting to be caught. She ebbed, you flowed. That’s how you would be, then and forever.

Or so she thought.

Had she known that she was the Sun to you, perhaps her hope would’ve been restored. 

Or maybe she would have laughed, knowing that you found her in the strangest of places. Like seatbelts, for instance, and napkins; always necessary, and always staving off the bad that the world had to offer. 

She was the chilly blast of air provided by the AC on summer’s most humid day, greeting you at the door of every shop you entered. 

She was the sleepy delirium you slipped into on your days off, all pleasant dreams and comfortable positions.

The flowers and blossoms of the world were all her kisses, like a goddess’s gift to the Earth. Elegant, sweet, perfect. Being showered in them was a good luck charm; they rode the air currents on spring days, fluttering greetings on their way.

Coming home. To you, that was her. The familiarity of the floorboards, knowing where to step to avoid them creaking; the refrigerator light against a pitch-black kitchen, its crescent shape holding the darkness at bay; the support of your bed, offering relief to the parts of you that needed it most.

Truth be told, both of you found each other in everything. Bits and pieces, all fragments far too small to equate to the immensity of what you shared. Glimpses would never do in the long run, and you knew that. But what else were you to do?

Perhaps that silent hope that you held out, all daydreams and utterances of what if, swayed the universe into this. Into giving you an in; an opportunity to right your wrongs. A chance to hold tighter, this time, and accept trials and tribulations as signs of growth to be handled together – not reasons to give up. 

You feel yourself smiling before you realize you’re even doing it. Her presence has a whole new meaning now, a whole slew of possible outcomes. Wherever the two of you decide to take things is up to you again; there’s nothing holding you back anymore. 

She brings a hand up to your cheek, brushing her thumb across your soft skin. Even just holding you like this, so simply, is something she’s been longing for. Since the day you walked into her life, you’ve ruled her world without even knowing it. Sweet oblivion, yet again.

“Kiss me,” she says, after a moment. It draws you from the hold of her spell, bringing you back down to Earth. 

You obey with a smile, but just before your lips meet hers, she stops you. She didn’t mean there.

“Here,” she corrects, as her hand guides yours back between her thighs. She’s wetter now than she was before, somehow, and you moan against her at the feeling. She muffles the noise with a kiss of her own, knowing how badly you need it. 

She bites your lip as she pulls away. “We’re not leaving this bed until you’ve made up for every night we’ve been apart. Do you understand me?”

You sigh, half-amused. “I’m fairly certain that the group is going hiking in the morning,” you inform, “...so I think it’s important that you’re still able to walk for that.”

“Who says we have to join them?” She raises a brow, pushing you down onto the bed and moving to straddle you again. 

You pull a face, feigning concern. “You wouldn’t want to be improper, now would you?” 

Her shoulders rise and fall in a shrug, accepting no blame. “What happens is up to you. Take me now or forever hold your peace.” She declares it proudly, posing herself before you. 

The view of her on top of you – nearly naked, her body humming with want, waiting for your touch – dispels any and all remnants of humor. Your shared desire wins out, filling the air of the room; she’s aware of her power over you, but she’d be a liar to act as if watching your eyes darken didn’t make her stomach flip just like it did the first time you ever took her. 

With a hushed curse, you capture her lips in a searing kiss. She gasps into it when you roughly pull her panties down, showing little care in being gentle now. Her response comes in a similar form, with her hastily tugging your shirt over your head; once you’re exposed to her, she can’t help but stare. She admires every curve like it’s the first time she’s seen it; every line like it’s her last. It’s adoration and desperation, all at once; appreciating it all is important to her, but so too is relearning it. 

Luckily for you, she happens to be best at a hands-on approach.

Her nails drag across your abdomen on their way downward, leaving faint marks on your sensitive skin; she can’t wait to see how many she can leave on you. It’s always been one of her favorite things to do.

In one fluid motion you flip her over, cradling her close in the process. Her hands cup your cheeks as she kisses you, and you hurriedly remove any remaining clothes from your bodies. 

She spreads her legs for you as you begin to slide down her body, leaving one final kiss to her lips. 

Her hands hold your hair up as you explore her abdomen, painting her fair skin with an array of love bites. Her nails dig into your scalp when her impatience hits a high, making you smile against her despite the sting. 

She hums appreciatively when you finally slide your hand down, ready to prepare her for what she wants most. She’s absolutely soaked, and by the whine that she lets out when you press your palm to her clit, it’s safe to say that she’ll only get worse. The bed sheets below her have already received some of her slick, proudly displaying a wet spot for you to bear witness to. 

“Enough teasing, jagi,” she groans, breathless and tired of your games. With shut eyes and furrowed brows, she pushes her head back into her pillow and takes up the writhing again that she had become so good at earlier. Her hands fall to your shoulders, pushing you down further.

You settle her thighs on your shoulders, basking in how smooth and warm they are around you. She’s perfection in human form; divinity personified.

“Keep it down, Jiu,” you command, taking control. “If you pull another stunt like earlier, I’m stopping altogether.”

She nods feverishly, lacking the desire to be a brat anymore. If playing nice is what it takes to have you, then so be it. That promise of release is finally back again, after all this time, and she can let herself get lost in you. 

These four walls – what she once loathed – are creating an oasis.

Her personal utopia.

—

The Next Morning

Overzealous birds work as your alarm clock of sorts, claiming the prize of waking you up. You blink the sleep from your eyes and stretch, feeling a pleasant soreness in parts of your body it hadn’t been before last night. The ache reminds you of everything you did just a few hours ago, and you find yourself smiling like an idiot as you roll over to greet the resident sadist next to you.

When your hand meets the cold, empty expanse of the bed instead, your expression sours.

The bedside table is void of any note or message, too, you discover, though your phone sits atop it, charging. At some point this morning she must’ve plugged it in for you. Sweet, but not enough. You wanted to wake up in her arms, or at the very least next to her. 

Grumbling, you sit up and head to the bathroom to get cleaned up.

You have no idea what the day will hold for the two of you.

–

Clean and dressed, you take a seat on the bed. Your fingertips mindlessly press to the hickey on your neck – one of the many, many that you discovered as you got ready – rubbing patterns against the abused skin there.

You unplug your phone and turn it on, mentally crossing your fingers as you scan through your message notifications for her name. 

Your pursuit proves fruitless. Not even a text.

You huff like a child, rolling your eyes. So much for a vacation; now you’re stressed all over again. 

When staring a hole into your phone doesn’t result in her notification magically popping up, you decide to give it a rest.

Standing up, you slip it into your back pocket and head for the door, ready to track Y/BFFs/N down and tell her everything.

However those plans, too, come to a screeching halt right before your eyes as you swing the door open to reveal a shocked Jiu. Your timing truly is impeccable.

“AHHH!” She shrieks, frightened. 

She hastily scrambles to keep the large tray in her hands upright and off of the floor. 

Spilling the spread of foods she just finished preparing for the two of you doesn’t sound too appealing to her, after all.

Immediately, you spring into action and successfully help steady it. Some fruits fell out of their separate containers and a bit of milk spilled over the side of its jar, but all of that is easily fixable. Jiu releases a tense breath as she realizes that the worst case scenario was avoided, but she glares at you as she pushes her way into the room.

“Pabo,” she mutters, striding over to the bed. The slight limp in her step makes you smile inwardly, proud of yourself.

Once the food is safely laid down and she cleans up what spilled, she turns to look at you. 

“Sorry,” you mitigate, grimacing. When you approach her and look at everything she put together, your annoyance from before gives way to guilt. A plethora of your favorite foods decorates the tray, assembled with love.

She regards you for a moment, pretending to be angry. When her eyes land on one of the darkening marks on your neck, pleased mischief comes to gleam in them.

“You’re lucky I like you,” she threatens, pointing a finger at you.

Playfully, you bite the tip of it. 

“I’m aware, jagi.”

Cautiously, you ease your arms around her waist, ready to pull away if need be. Although her lips still rest in an unamused pout, she doesn’t stop you. 

The jackhammering of her heart has eased now, and you can feel its pace returning to normal as you draw her into your arms. She loops hers around your neck and sweetly presses her cheek to yours, content with staying like that for a bit.

You sway gently, rocking from side to side. This definitely makes up for the rude awakening you received earlier.

Once you’re satisfied, you pull away enough to look at her. Your fingertips brush a few stray strands of hair out of her face, tucking them behind her ear. She leans in, finally kissing you good morning.

“Ready to eat?”

Your lips purse in mock contemplation as you scan the food again. 

"Mmm, five more minutes?" You suggest, leaning forward to kiss her again. She laughs into the embrace lightly, returning the gesture. 

Her lips taste of the strawberries and cherries that she stole bites of earlier, as she cooked. It's addicting, you find, when she deepens the kiss and wraps herself around you, melting into your arms. You hold her close, just like she wants. 

"Does this mean…" she mumbles between kisses, "we're still gonna room together?" 

You pause to laugh. "Yeah, jagi. We're still roommates. No getting rid of me now." 

She replaces her lips on yours, kissing them again and again as you attempt to control the growing smile on your face. She sweetly cups your cheeks, rubbing her thumbs across them as you continue.

Abruptly, jarring clapping resounds from the doorway. Fake sniffling can also be heard, and so the two of you look up to investigate. 

It's none other than Sua and Y/BFFs/N, standing side by side with their hands clasped tightly together like proud parents. 

"I told you it would happen," Sua wails, dabbing fake tears from the corner of her eye. Y/BFFs/N agrees, nodding enthusiastically. 

“Mission accomplished,” she quips, looking straight at you. 

It seems as though they had been playing Cupid all along…

Sneaky.

[dark-night-insomniac]

| Sua’s spin-off of The Crimson Prince and the Witch

| Genre: witch sua x bandit gn! reader, medieval au, fluff & angst + a lot of references/easter eggs from The Crimson prince and the witch

Word count: 3111

| Warning: blood, fighting, cuts, threats, stealing, cursing, suggestive tension, sadist Sua? historical inaccuracies

| Cast: Sua & You, royal guards

A/n; this photo of Sua is just *chef’s kiss*, after i saw people’s simping over Sua in the Crimson prince’s story, i decided to make that character its own story for you all to enjoy although im late

—----/—--------------------/—------------------

You who wandered at night…

adventures like no other, ones that would suffice your hunger for the time being,

Usually cold and lonely, the stars had another plan for this night

————-

In the Crimson Kingdom, witch hunt wasn’t something born from the last rain, although it was always a sport that was hidden from the public.

The King was very well aware of the plague that dispersed throughout his kingdom. Witches' covens kept appearing and children disappearing for what he only assumed was the conversion of their beliefs and maybe far worse.

You? You didn’t believe those rumors. Why would people with such powers be interested in the common mortal?

You were an orphan, abandoned at a young age and retrieved from a crumbling barn. Although grateful to them, you never liked your adoptive family, resulting in you wandering around at night. Never opting on staying in their home.

Stealing anything one could here and there to survive. Sometimes you’d bring some food to your adoptive family’s dog. You kept telling yourself that one day you’d be able to bring him with you, save him from the famine he would live on and off of.

Your life consisted of sleeping in abandoned buildings during the day and wandering at night for necessities. When necessary, you’d wash your dirty body and clothes in the small river near the village, drying your clothes on the tree branches around. Luckily, your leather cape was never one to require much cleaning, giving you something to keep warm while your clothes dried.

You laid by the roots of a tree. Leather cape caressing your bare body to hide it from any wandering eyes. After this long night, your eyes felt heavy, invisible weight attached to each of your eyelashes. You let yourself indulge in the tranquility of the night before drifting off. While the night would scare most away, you loved the darkness and the comfort it would bring you. Feeling as though the empty space around you was filled with loving entities whom you could only wish were from the physical realm.

Satisfied with your day, or night that is, you finally let your eyes close.

—-

You were woken up by distant shouts. Your body immediately shot up at the sound, quickly grabbing some of your clothes to cover.

You succeeded in dressing yourself in underwear before hearing another shout, this time closer. You squinted at the horizon before a small hooded figure ran past you.

Must be one of those bandits running away from the guards…

Realization hit you then

‘’Wait, I also am a bandit.’’ You cursed yourself before ducking under the roots of a tree.

‘’How lucky of me’’ you gritted through your teeth. Of course, another bandit had to cross your path and bring along some guards!

You hid and held your breath. You watched as a few men dressed in the Crimson’s palace color passed by. ‘’Why were they here anyway?’’ you wondered, your eyes never losing sight of the threat.

You felt something gently butt itself against your bare leg. Slightly turning around, you noticed the culprit. A black cat. Although it seemed to like you, you weren’t so sure about the creature. Opting to push it away from you, scared it would your position away.

‘’Psst, not now’’ you reprimanded the cat before it meowed at you. Your heart stopped. ‘’Why did you have to be so loud?’’ you cursed at it, whispering for it to leave you alone.

Once your attention was turned back to the guards, you noticed one wandering close to your hideout.

‘’I believe to have heard a cat around here sir’’ one exclaimed

‘’The witch might have transformed into a cat to escape us, you may now search for the small animal’’ What seemed to be the leader of the group replied.

‘’Witches?’’

*meow*

Your eyes went wide as you stared back at the nonchalant creature. You were about to scold it but were stopped by a loud voice ordering you to get out of hiding. You cursed under your breath, staring back at the guard.

You fainted surrendering before making a run for it.

You heard loud shouts following behind as you ran between the bushes and trees. Although you were quite agile, an unexpected obstacle seemed to have stopped you.

The unknown obstacle forced you to the ground, making you fall to then be pulled away.

You were pulled under a tree before a hand made its way onto your face. Your eyes were now filled with fear and panic, thinking you were caught and would be executed for all your crimes.

But at last, you were met with the reassuring gaze of an unknown woman. She shushed you, pinning you down to the ground to assure you wouldn't make any noises.

The both of you stayed hidden for a few minutes, her body above yours and her hand still stopping you from making any noise.

When she judged the coast was clear, she pushed herself off of you, finally letting you breathe.

You looked at her, still a bit shocked

‘’Who are you?’’

‘’I see, I suppose I shall present myself first’’ she smiled, ‘’You may call me Sua, although I believe we won't meet again’’ she harshly stated

You stayed silent, trying to analyze her attire. Your guess was for her to be a bandit, but she looked at you, and you noticed glyphs marked on her neck and hands.

‘’ You’re a Witch?’’

‘’And you’re half naked’’ she stated with a small smirk

The words made you jump, realizing you indeed had no more than a few pieces of clothing on. You quickly tried hiding with whatever was at your reach, making her laugh.

Her eyes wandered up and down your body before looking back to your eyes again. ‘’Well if you’d excuse me, I will be on my way…dear stranger’’ she winked before exiting from under the tree.

‘’It’s Y/n’’ you replied to her, still flustered from the encounter. She simply nodded at you with a smirk before completely disappearing.

You pulled yourself out from under the tree, covered with dirt on some of your freshly washed clothes. You dusted yourself before making your way back to where the rest of your clothes were hanging.

You pulled each piece from the branches before covering yourself with them.

As you did, you caught yourself thinking about your earlier encounter. ‘’Looks like there are some witches in town’’

You couldn't remember the last time you’d seen royal guards around these parts of town. The only reason they were ever sent here was for their so-called witch hunting, ordered by the king.

But the woman you crossed paths with did not seem to be much of a treat. Maybe she had been no more then a a bandit, like you.

—-

The sun having once again fallen, you prepared for your nightly excursion.

You gathered your dagger and a satchel before exiting your refuge from the night before, an abandoned farm not far from the river.

You entered the quiet streets of the village. Flames flickering, fire embers flying around and the unmistakable smell of booze was now surrounding you. Regardless of the few drunken villagers stumbling around, you weren’t to be stopped from your nightly errands. You were reminded of it when your stomach grumbled yet again.

You would usually stick to this part of town, one of the less enriched portions of it. But tonight, you felt like daring your luck as you stepped closer to the richer portion of town. You could usually find enough around here, but tonight you wanted to gather more, wanting to venture out of town the next day.

You notice a tall home in the distance. Its unnecessary amount of gold ornery covering the walls piqued your interest.

Making sure to not be seen, you rounded the home to finally find a slightly ajar window.

You let yourself into the house without a noise. Walking slowly to what you hoped would be this family’s food supply.

You taunted your way around, finally finding a small lock to break into. You kneeled before the box, reaching for your lockpick before inserting the small bronze piece into the lock.

You successfully opened the box and grabbed a few loaves of bread from it. But when you turned around, you were met with a small girl, sleepily staring at you.

‘’Oh, hi there, I'm your mom’s friend’’ you whispered to her, hoping your lies would be enough to get you out of there.

She didn’t seem to hear you, as she took a step back before screaming for help. You ran back to the window only to realize this wasn’t the same room. You tried thinking quickly as you heard more and more voices throughout the home. You looked up for an escape.

‘’That will do for now’’ You helped yourself up a wooden beam near the top of the cathedral ceiling. If you could hide long enough for them to go back to sleep, you’d be out without being hurt, which you couldn't afford to be. You lay flat on the wooden beam, trying to slow down your fastening heartbeat.

The door was heard slamming open and a new voice spoke up. He seemed to be questioning the little girl about the incident.

‘’Is it still in your home?’’ he questioned

‘’yes they were stealing from us’’ she sniffled

‘’I see’’

‘’Sir, I will ask you and your family to safely wait outside while we catch it’’ another explained

After a few footsteps, silence.

‘’I can’t believe witches are invading our citizens' homes now’’ one exclaimed, making the other laugh

‘’You should consider yourself lucky we got some action in these parts of town’’

They kept talking nonchalantly as they made their way around the house.

You breathed in, nervous as to what would be the outcome.

Hearing some shuffling, you looked around the candle-lit room. You were about to abandon the idea of finding the source when you felt something on your chest. You looked up to see that black cat once again. Although the creature probably wanted to be friendly, the action made you jump and fall off the beam, making you known to the other occupants of the house. You groaned, feeling your bones aching from the impact. the cat ran out of the room and you decided on following it. It thankfully leads you back to the open window, jumping first to go back outside.

As you made your way to the window, A man shouted at you

‘’Stay still witch!’’

You quickly jumped out only to be met with another guard outside. He tried impaling you, missing your chest by a few inches, leaving a nasty cut to your arm. You were about to retaliate when a few guards appeared behind him. That was your cue to run, disappearing into the woods.

—-

After running for what felt like an hour, you let yourself fall against the grass. You slightly turned to lay on your back before feeling up your arm. Your sleeve was bloodied. You could start feeling the adrenaline fading away and the pain let itself known.

You breathed out before sitting up. You looked around you and found yourself in a bizarre place. A well-lit village was before you in the distance. Flowers and cabins of all colors were bestowed upon you. You weren’t exactly sure how to feel at the sight of it. But you needed to rest.

You gently pushed yourself back up before walking further into the unknown village. The night was starting to get cold and you felt immensely tired after your escape. You wandered around, looking for any nooks to hide under.

That’s when you saw it, a wooden trap on the ground. You decided on opening it and let yourself in. A roof was better than what you imagined finding. You entered the small room which was very well decorated.

Content with your find, you laid down on the carpet that was covering the cold ground. You don't remember falling asleep, too exhausted to fight any doubt that was swimming through your mind.

—-

Whilst your slumber was quite peaceful, your awakening, not so much. You were presented with a dark hooded figure above you, compressing your chest to seemingly keep you in place. You tried moving but felt a blade against the skin of your neck, stopping you from wanting to move any further.

You could barely see your opponent.

‘’Who are you’’ the woman sternly asked

‘’I’m innocent’’ you pleaded, unsure of whom you were facing

The woman slapped you

‘’I asked, who are you’’ she repeated

‘’I promise I was not stealing from your place, I was simply looking for refuge’’ you tried explaining as she slowly pressed harder on your chest.

‘’How do I know your not a witch hunter?’’ she asked, letting her blade run up to your face, making your squirm

‘’I was chased here by witch hunters’’ you breathlessly explained

The weight was lifted from your chest at that moment. The woman brought light closer to your face only to gasp.

‘’I’ve seen you before’’ she exclaimed.

You hadn't noticed before but the woman was the same who had saved you a few days ago. You watched as a glint of amusement seemed to be reflecting through her eyes.

‘’What are you doing here?’’

‘’I told you already’’ you harshly replied

At your comment, you swore you could see flames rise within her eyes

‘’And I'm asking you again, what are you doing here’’ she glared at out, knife in hand

‘’I escaped the hunters, I needed a place to rest’’

she hummed in acknowledgment. ‘’Well at least now you're fully dressed’’ she teased before turning around to exit the room.

‘’Wait, where are you going’’ you exclaimed

She huffed before turning back to you. ‘’follow me’’

You hurriedly stood up to follow her steps. Exiting the room, she made her way down one of the many paths around. She approached a cabin painted an emerald green. She opened the door and made a sign for you to enter.

Once inside, you noticed a small animal laying on her bed. The black cat.

‘’Is this cat yours?’’ you asked curiously

‘’Yes she is’’ she smiled before pushing you down onto her bed.

You were confused by her actions

‘’What are you doing’’

‘’Well from what I assume, I may be saving your life’’ she simply explained before cutting your right sleeve off with her knife.

‘’Quite the nasty cut there’’ she added

You looked down to see what she was referring to. Your skin was turning black around the incisions the guard had left. You winced at the sight.

Without any warning, Sua poured what you assumed to be alcohol on the wound. The pain was unbearable as she kept pouring the content down your arm. You tried stopping her, reaching for the bottle with your left arm. But you weren’t quick enough. Making her grin teasingly at you.

‘’I'm helping you dear, stay still now’’ she commanded before pouring more onto the wound

You groaned, feeling every inch of your arms burning. A few seconds later, she pulled away, placing the bottle on a shelf before coming back with some tools and a thread. Your eyes turned wide and your breathing quickened.

‘’I will fix my arm once at home’’ you quickly jutted out, trying to stop her

‘’If I don't close the wound now, there might be other things getting under your skin during your travels’’ she explained

You looked between her eyes and the tools she was holding.

‘’You will be fine y/n’’, surprised by the mention of your name, you failed to notice picking at your wound, quickly pulling a wooden shard out from it.

‘’Owe, would you be careful with my arm’’ you expressed slightly angered

‘’I can be gentle with your face, as for your body…I cannot make any promises’’ she smiled

‘’right’’ you replied huffing, making her laugh

‘’Don’t worry I'll be quick’’ she smirked before pricking a needle into your skin. You looked down at your arm, watching her work, slowly sewing your skin back together. You gritted your teeth through the pain. Thankfully, the burn from the alcohol made your skin somewhat numb.

After a few movements, she approached the deepest part of your wound. Not able to stop yourself, you grabbed onto her arm to stop her. You were about to plead for her to stop again, but what happened next made you forget whatever pain she was inflicting on you.

She grabbed your face to lay an intoxicating kiss on your lips, letting her finish the stitching.

As she kept your attention on her, she quickly tried finishing the stitching, making you whimper within her hold, to which she simply hummed against your lips.

She let go of your face a few seconds later, retreating from your arm to bring some bandages to cover her work.

You sat there frozen, unsure of how to feel about what had just happened. Sua noticed and laughed all while applying the bandage.

Once she was done, you looked at your arm, now wrapped up.

‘’T-thank you’’ you expressed your gratitude, trying to hide your obvious flustered state.

‘’No problem dear’’ she smiled ‘’You should be healing from now on’’ she winked

Without another word, you stood up to make your way toward the door.

‘’I’ll be heading back home’’ you stated

‘’What home?’’ she asked curiously

You looked down, suddenly saddened by her question, realization hitting you. She was right…what home?

You looked back up, ‘’Wherever the winds brings me’’

‘’I hope the winds brings you here more often than’’ she smiled, finally letting the same feature draw itself onto your face

‘’So do I, Sua. Thank you again’’ you bowed

‘’You can come to me whenever you're injured y/n’’ she winked making you blush

‘’I’ll see you soon then Sua’’ you smiled before leaving her house.

And true to your words, you did see Sua not too long after this encounter. You’d visit her at first for some wounds to be treated, but as time went on, you let yourself visit her with the only reason being your want to become closer to her. Sua had also grown fonder of you, getting attached to that smile of yours as well as your lips. Eventually, she asked for you to stay with her. Finally, you had a place to call home.

Ironic after all, two outcasts falling for each other at last. A Bandit and a Witch.

[insomniakisses]

Your the Omega of the group and having pups

Requested? Yes

Reader type:  GN!reader, omega reader, Female anatomy

Warning/Notes; Omegaverse Au, Suggestive themes, Pregnancy, Polyamorous Dreamcatcher, Member x Member x Reader, fluff

For the past few weeks you had felt off. Having a sensitive neck and needing your alphas around practically 24/7. You had even snapped at your friend, growling slightly when they elbowed your stomach accidentally. And yet you assumes it was just stress.

You still hadn’t put two and two together until you started to feel nauseous in the mornings and your alpha friend pointed out that your scent seemed a little different. It was then u decided to take a test. Which led you to where you are now.

“SHIT!” You cursed as the test came up positive, unaware of Minji being just outside your bathroom door.

“Babe?” You heard her call from outside, confusion and worry lacing her voice followed by the sound of her opening the door.

You cursed yourself mentally for forgetting to lock it as she came face to face with you. Eyes softening when she catches sight of what was in your hands. “Is that, it it positive-“ she grabs your shaky hands as you nod and she can’t help but spin you around giggling in excitement. Your heart filling with joy at knowing that at least one of your Alphas was happy with the news. Just then the loud laughter of your second oldest girlfriend came down the hallway followed by the sight of her chasing yoohyeon into the room.

The over sized puppy stumbling and almost landing on you if it hadn’t been for Minji’s growl causing bora to pull her back. both staring at the eldest in utter shock at being growled at out of the blue. “I’m fineeeee” you laugh lightly leaning up to kiss her cheek as she huffs, the other two watching the interaction carefully.

Confused, the scan over you and their fellow alpha girlfriend carefully both their eyes landing on how Minji is caressing your belly ever so loving and careful. It was Yoohyeon who put two and two together.

“OMG-” she rushes to wrap you in her arms gently, “YOUR CARRYING ONE OF OUR PUPS!” Bora gasps not seconds later when she sees Yooh kneel down to nuzzle into your barely visible bump. going over to kiss you softly before nuzzling into your neck on the opposite side Jiu was currently doing the same. Both nipping and scenting slightly causing you to giggle.

After about five minutes of the four of you staying like that, all of you in complete bliss and hearts full of happiness there was a knock on the door despite it being wide open. you cant help but chuckle at the curious looks your remaining girlfriends were sporting, all four heads popped into the doorway slightly.

“Our little Omega has something to tell you” Yoohyeon muses kissing your stomach and essentially giving away the surprise. You nod happily when their curious yet excited eyes flick from you and your small bump. Getting engulfed in affections from all seven alphas just as quick.

You yelp in surprise when Yubin lifts you into her arms and takes of down the hallway shouting a fleeting, “Race you to the nest!”.

She carefully sets you down in the centre barely having time to wrap her arms around you and kiss your cheek softly before the rest of your girlfriends made their way in dotting on you just the same.

a/n: I forgot the interacting with pups part im sorry! lemmie know if u want that doin

[gahyunszn]

in good hands

genre : fluff

warning(s) : none

note : i can not breathe out of my nose.

you haven't been feeling the best lately. you would wake up hardly being able to breathe due to your nostrils being congested, every cough hurt your throat to the point of tears, and the endless amount of grossed out looks thrown your way by your girlfriend was unexplainable.

it was another day of being sick, you woke up at 4am due to coughing your lungs out. sua, who was asleep next to you, shot up out of bed as soon as she heard your coughing fit, quickly scrambling to turn the lamp on while grabbing a bottle of water that was on the nightstand next to her. she quickly untwisted the cap and helped you drink, rubbing circles on your back to soothe you. 

you thanked her weakly before laying back down and taking a deep breath in and out. sua looked at you as you slowly closed your eyes, her eyebrows turning upwards in a worried expression. sua brushed a strand of hair behind your ear before putting the water bottle back on the nightstand and turning the lamp off, settling back into bed as well.

morning came and sua opened her eyes to not see you next to her which worried her. she wanted to make sure you were alright especially after your coughing fit from a bit earlier. sua shot out of bed once again and began searching your shared apartment only to find you making breakfast while holding a tissue in one hand. sua let out a breath she didn’t realize she was holding while slowly making her way over to you, wrapping her arms around your waist once she was behind you. 

“what are you doing out of bed? you’re sick.” she said in her morning voice, kissing your exposed shoulder as she watched you flip a pancake.

“i wanted to make breakfast for you for once.” you chuckled quietly, a cough following your chuckle which thankfully, you managed to cough into the tissue that was in your hand before it could contaminate anything. sua reached around and turned off the stove, guiding your hand to place the spatula down before turning you around and holding you by your shoulders.

“you need to rest, let me take care of you.” she said with a small grin on her face. you shook your head, attempting to turn back around and finish the pancakes, but your actions were shut down. sua pulled you away from the stove completely, grabbing your hand and leading you to the bedroom where she gently pushed you on the bed. 

“get comfortable and you better be drowsy by the time i get back.” sua scolded, pointing a finger at you before leaving the room and closing the door behind her. you huffed, staring at the ceiling before touching your forehead. you didn’t think you were that sick, but when you touched your forehead, you quickly pulled your hand back since your forehead felt like you had just touched a metal pole that had been sitting out in the sun. 

you started to get comfortable, wiggling under the covers before pulling them over half your face. you sighed as you looked towards the door, wondering when your girlfriend would be back, but that thought was quickly dismissed when your eyes started to feel heavy and a yawn left your mouth. you attempted to keep your eyes from shutting, but sleep quickly won. sua was just in the kitchen, making some soup that she knew you’d like, just something that would be light for your stomach yet good for your throat. while the soup was boiling on the stove, she cleaned up the kitchen from your breakfast attempt while also searching the cabinets for medicine. when she couldn’t find any, she shook her head, mentally scolding herself and you for not being more prepared by having medicine in the cabinets. sua turned the stove off before making her way to the front door, slipping her shoes on and grabbing her purse before leaving to buy medicine. upon returning, she quietly made her way to the shared bedroom, medicine in hand. she hoped you’d be asleep, but with how slightly stubborn you were earlier, she had a doubt.

sua quietly opened the door, peeping into the room to see you asleep. as she continued to quietly walk into the room, she could hear your light snores with an occasional gentle cough. sua set the medicine down on the nightstand, her eyes never once leaving you. she brushed a strand of hair away from your face which caused you to stir for a second, but you fell back asleep, snuggling into the covers and pillow. sua bent down, kissing your exposed forehead before leaving the room and going back into the kitchen where she poured some soup into a bowl. afterwards, sua made her way back into the room, setting the bowl down on the nightstand next to the medicine before lightly shaking your shoulder.

“hey, i made some soup and got you some medicine.” sua said in a voice that was calming and soft. you mumbled, your eyes slowly opening before adjusting to your surroundings. you smiled at your girlfriend who mirrored the same smile. helping you sit up, she grabbed the bowl and insisted on feeding you.

“babe, i’m sick, my arms aren’t broken…” you playfully rolled your eyes.

“but what if you spill it because…because!” she struggled to find a reason which caused you to chuckle. you shook your head, opening your mouth so she could feed you. her eyes lit up as she fed you a spoonful of soup. 

at least you knew that any time you get sick, you’ll be in good hands.

[lynette-m-roses]

Serenity in Paradise

The sun-drenched beaches of Bora Bora stretched out before Henry and y/n, had their toes sinking into the soft sand as they strolled hand in hand. With laughter and joy in their hearts, they embarked on a much-needed family getaway, their children skipping along with excitement.

Henry couldn't help but marvel at the breathtaking scenery that surrounded them—the crystal-clear turquoise waters, gently swaying palm trees, and the tranquil ambiance that enveloped the island. It was a paradise that mirrored the love he felt for the reader, a love he wished to share with the world.

In a moment of pure adoration, Henry captured a photograph y/n standing by the water's edge, wearing a vibrant bikini that accentuated her natural beauty. Her smile radiated happiness and confidence, her eyes sparkling with love.

Unable to contain his awe, Henry decided to share this moment of pure bliss on his Instagram. Alongside the photo, he wrote a heartfelt caption, expressing his appreciation for the woman by his side.

"Lost in paradise with this incredible woman, Y/N," Henry's caption read. "Her beauty shines like the sun, and her love warms my soul. Feeling grateful for every moment spent in her presence. ❤️🏝️"

The photo resonated with followers around the world, not solely because of the y/n's appearance, but because it captured a genuine and profound love. Comments poured in, celebrating the couple's bond, their vacation, and the natural beauty of Bora Bora.

As the days unfolded, Henry and the y/n reveled in the tranquility of the island. They swam in the clear waters, indulged in delicious tropical cuisine, and created cherished memories with their children. The focus remained on their connection and the serenity of the surroundings.

Away from the public eye, they found solace in each other's arms, savoring stolen kisses beneath the starlit skies and sharing whispered promises of forever. Their love was a flame that burned fiercely, igniting their spirits and giving them the strength to face any challenges that lay ahead.

Eventually, the time came to bid farewell to the island paradise. But the memories they had woven into their hearts would forever be cherished. The photograph that Henry shared on Instagram would remain a testament to their love and the idyllic moments they shared in Bora Bora.

In the years to come, they would look back on that getaway—on the unbreakable bond they forged, the laughter they shared, and the love that enveloped them. And every time Henry's gaze fell upon the photograph, he would be reminded of the extraordinary woman who captured his heart, not just for her beauty but for the depth of her spirit.

For Henry Cavill and the y/n, Bora Bora would forever be a symbol of love, serenity, and the magic they created together—a reminder that true beauty radiates from within and that the love they shared would withstand the test of time.

[yoyeolears]

it's okay not to be lonely//chapter 1

zhang hao x sung hanbin

genre: angst & fluff

warnings: death, cursing, a bit suggestive

masterlist: summary | 1 | 2 | 3 pt. 1 | 3 pt. 2| 4 | 5 | 6 (final)

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chapter 1: you comforted me when i had no one

word count: 2,745

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1st of January 2024

Hao had been certain that he would be alone forever after his parents’ sudden and tragic passing.

In fact, his theory had initially proven to be right. Three years into his university life no one had really approached him. Maybe it was because he was a foreigner, or maybe because he never made himself available or was even open to making any potential new acquaintances.

He believed it was better this way. Being alone was better than getting attached to people only to lose them.

That’s what he had thought until he met Sung Hanbin.

Well, not exactly the second he met him. His thoughts then couldn’t have been more contrasting.

Three months earlier

Hao was never late. He couldn’t afford to be late. This scholarship was the only thing that certified his financial capability to continue his studies abroad.

He had never been late. Except for today. He blamed it on his neighbours, who loved to pick up a fight with each other at 3 am in the morning. Hao was not a violent person, but last night all kinds of thoughts crossed his head as he laid in his bed trying to finally get some rest.

The rest he never ended up getting, which has now led to his ultimate demise.

If only he was a good runner. If the lack of sleep didn’t kill him, it would be these stairs.

Hao let out a big puff of breath upon reaching the top of the stairwell. He took a look at the familiar double doors in front of him. He had never thought too much of them until this very moment. Now, these doors looked as if the entrance to hell had been relocated and had been re-established as his lecture hall. He was sure he wasn’t going to hear the end of it by Professor Park.

His shaky hands reached the door handle before giving it a push.

Taking a step into the auditorium when class had already started could easily compare to that one time his mum had hired a clown for his 8th birthday party. Poor Hao was so terrified when the clown reached to give him the balloon with that big red smile of his that he wet himself in front of all the other kids and their parents. One word. Mortifying. And yes, he is still terrified of clowns. Although he supposes he would pick them any day if it meant having his mum back.

“Mr. Zhang, nice of you to grace us with your presence at last.”

Hao’s ears turned bright pink, “I sincerely apologize Mr. Park. I barely had any sleep last night and I slept through my alarm. It won’t be happen again.”

The professor raised his eyebrows, “It better have been studying keeping you up and not some girl or party. I wouldn’t expect such thing from our top student after all.”

“As if any girl would go near him.”, the guy sitting in the front seats mumbled to his seatmate.

“Or guy.”, the latter replied, both silently laughing at the ‘humorous’ joke they’d made.

Hao felt humiliated. Not only was he being scolded for being late, but his own professor was also making unfair assumptions about his late-night activities. Sure, the way he worded it might have sounded off, but he never thought any of the academic staff would think of him that way. Even so, what if he did have someone over? It wasn’t realistic considering he didn’t even know a single person in any of his classes, but would it have been so wrong if he chose to? He was twenty-one after all.

Though, he supposed that guy was right. It’s not like any girl or guy would want him at the end of the day. Who would someone who ignores any advances in favor of protecting himself from inevitable loss?

“Actually, it was because my-“, he tried to defend himself.

Professor Park cut him off, “I don’t care about your after bed-time activities Zhang Hao. Kindly take a seat and this shall not be repeated. Don’t forget you are here on a scholarship.”

Hao bowed his head, “Yes sir.”

He didn’t need anyone. Being alone was better. But for this one moment he really wished someone was there for him. To give him a hug and tell him it’s alright. That his mistake was not significant and that he could still do this. To give him strength. But Hao had no one. He'd eliminated any chances of that happening.

Randomly picking a seat, Hao sat down in his chair for the day. He couldn’t be picky anyway. He was pretty sure his usual seat at the back had already been taken.

“That was quite harsh of him. This is like your first time ever being late.”, a soft male voice whispered next to him.

Hao’s hands paused while setting his notebook on the desk. Was someone talking to him?

“Huh?”, he turned around looking at the not-so-much of a stranger, which turned out be Sung Hanbin.

Hanbin repeated, “I said that was quite harsh of him. You didn’t deserve this. You’ve never been late anyway. Plus, who cares if you had a girl over? Isn’t that normal?”

Was Hao being comforted by the University's proclaimed sweetheart?

“What do you know?”

His eyes widened, “Nothing. I am not trying to make assumptions. I just noticed how defeated you looked. It wasn’t your fault.”

Hao felt bad. These were the exact words he had wanted to hear, yet the first thing that rolled out of his mouth was an unjustified insult.

“Thanks, I guess.”

His social skills were terrible. If Hanbin didn’t think he was already a freak, he probably believed it by now.

What happened next completely shocked him.

He smiled at him.

“No problem! Always happy to defend anyone who has been subjected to the unfair wrath of old cranky men. You are Hao, right?”

Hao dumbly nodded his head.

A hand reached out to shake his, “I am Hanbin. Sung Hanbin”.

He simply looked at Hanbin's hand almost bewildered. He hadn’t had any type of normal human contact in years. Let alone physical. He didn’t really know how to act. The gears in his head were turning and he could tell Hanbin was slowly coming to the realization that Hao was starting to feel uncomfortable.

Hanbin retracted his hand, giving him another smile, “It’s okay. Handshakes are not for everyone.”

Hao, not knowing how to properly respond, gave him an incredibly awkward smile before turning back to look at the board.

It’s not like he would talk to Hanbin again. He would just store this event in his ‘moments-to-forget’ box.

He couldn’t have possibly known how wrong he was.

15th of September 2023

Hao slumped in his seat at the cafeteria. After his humiliating public appearance at Professor Park’s class, he had made it his life mission to never be late again. Even if that meant setting dozens of alarms and going to class on no sleep.

He couldn’t possibly fathom how two people could fight so much. Surely if they were this unhappy, they should go their own separate ways. It didn’t seem like they could or wanted to find an alternative solution either, so what was the point? Unless they were doing this on purpose so Hao’s murderous instincts – poor boy wasn’t even aware his mind was capable of such despicable thoughts – could awaken, unleashing a whole new side of him. One that would land him in jail for murder most likely. Then, him being a lone freak would definitely become a reality. If that’s what they were trying to achieve, they were doing a pretty good job at it.

Hao groaned before taking a nibble from his apple. He grimaced at the sour taste of it. This might have been the most distasteful apple he has ever eaten. Despite this, he took another bite. It wasn’t like he could actually afford proper food at the cafeteria anyway. Damn you inflation!

“Hao, hey!”, a familiar male voice exclaimed.

Hao furrowed his eyebrows in confusion. Who in the world was talking to him and why?

He turned his head to look at the source of the noise, when he saw Hanbin waving at him excitedly. Next to him, Hanbin's friends were looking at him entirely clueless. What was he doing talking to someone like Hao?

He recognized all three of them.

On his left, Kim Jiwoong, a senior in the Performance department of the University, known for his cool and laid-back personality. On his right was Seok Matthew. He had been Hanbin’s best friend since kindergarten and he himself was quite well known amongst school peers due to his reputation on the football team. Lastly, across the table sat Sua. He didn’t know much about her, but guessing from the way she kept on affectionately slapping Matthew’s shoulder while giving heart eyes, she might have been his girlfriend. That or she had the fattest crush on him and the boy next to her was completely oblivious. They were all considered to belong in the popular crowd, which Hao thought was a bit silly since they were in University for God's sake. How do you even get so popular in University, where thousands of kids walk around and go about their everyday routine of endlessly boring lectures and uncountable hours of stress-induced cramming in the library? He supposed some people could gain some form of popularity from joining certain societies or clubs, but Hanbin and his friends were practically acquainted with more than half of the University to some extent. Even if someone had never talked to any of them, they had definitely heard of them. If they had talked to them, they were most likely acquainted with them in some form.

Hao didn’t talk to people, but people talked about other people and since he didn’t really have any friends, this was the closest he could get to human interactions. Hearing all the gossip. It was a bit pathetic if you asked him, but it gave him enough social satisfaction.

He looked at Hanbin, eyebrows still raised in confusion. He lifted his hand, pointing to himself as if to ask if he was talking to him.

Hanbin laughed, before pointing at him in confirmation. Right, there were probably not many people with the name Hao in the school anyway. How stupid of him.

He felt his face go red at the embarrassing moment. He shyly waved back and then turned back around to face his table. He assumed Hanbin had already left to get back to his friends after this awkward greeting. Why would he even bother starting a conversation with him after all?

“I can’t believe you just turned your back to me. I am deeply hurt.”

Hao almost fell off his seat. What was Hanbin doing?

“Huh?”

Hanbin laughed, “You seem to love that response”.

Hao objected, “You scared me. It was to be expected.”

“Apologies. Sometimes, I forget creeping up on people will emit fewer positive or unpredictable responses. Won’t happen again.”

Hao just stared at him. He didn’t know what he was supposed to do. Did he try and make conversation? Or just wait for him to finish his part so he could leave him alone with his now brownish apple?

Hanbin looked at the apple in his hands, “Is that all you are having after five hours of classes?”

“I am not hungry.”, he weakly protested.

“Fair enough.”, he admitted.

He didn’t expect that. But then again, he didn’t really expect anything from Hanbin. He had thought he would persist, trying to get something out of him, to make him feel less.

“I am not hungry either.”, Hanbin noted, “But I hate to let food go to waste, so do you mind if I give you my extra sandwich? I am going out for BBQ later, so I won’t be eating it.”

Hao was beyond perplexed. What was going on?

He bit his lip, “Erm, okay.”

It’s not like he could say no. It would have been extremely rude of him to. He could do with a sandwich as well.

“Great, here!”, Hanbin reached out to hand him over his sandwich, before alarmingly retracting.

Hao’s eyes widened. He thought he was making Hao uncomfortable again. He watched as Hanbin awkwardly laughed to himself, placing the sandwich in front him on the table.

Hannbin regained some of his confidence, “See you soon, Hao. Enjoy the sandwich for me.”

He weakly waved his hand, in an almost lazy manner.

“Bye.”, he almost whispered as Hanbin ran off back to his friends.

What the hell?

30th of September 2023

Hao thought that after the cafeteria interaction, Hanbin would go back to his life and leave Hao to attend to his own. He was incredibly wrong.

In fact, Hanbin wouldn’t leave him alone. All of a sudden he was everywhere. For the first few days, he would come and sit next to him in Professor’s Park class, using the excuse that sitting next to the top student was a good influence. Following that, he started paying Hao more visits during lunch. Hanbin would always wave at him and leave him his extra sandwich, making use of his initial explanation; he wasn't hungry, and he had plans to eat out anyway. Now, Hao was aware that university students ate out a lot, but he wasn’t that naive. He knew Hanbin was doing this because he himself never had that kind of food. He didn’t know whether Hanbin was doing it out of pity or if there was another reason, but he appreciated how he never directly touched on the subject. He was being cautious.

And then, he started seeing him around the convenience store he worked at. And no, he knew Hanbin hadn’t been there before their first interaction a fortnight ago. After all, he wasn’t blind. Hanbin was incredibly good-looking, which made him hard to miss.

“Hey Hao!”, he greeted Hao at the register.

He took a brief look at Hanbin's items. Strawberry ice cream and lemonade. The usual. He was about to scan the first object when his eyes did a double take. There were two of each. Hanbin never bought two of each. Did he have company with him? Maybe Matthew was somewhere strolling around the story and Hao hadn't noticed him. Or was this perhaps some sort of post break-up therapy method? He didn’t even know if Hanbin had been seeing anyone.

Hanbin chuckled at his thoughtful expression, “Something caught your eye?”

“Erm, you just usually only buy one of each.”, he hesitantly pointed out.

Hanbin shyly smiled at him, hands playing with the string of his black Adidas track jacket.

“I actually wondered if you wanted to share with me. I know you go on break around this time.”

“How do you know?”

“You know… just by passing by.”, Hanbin bit at his lower lip anxiously.

Hao raised an eyebrow.

“Sorry, I don’t mean to sound like a creep. I genuinely pass by almost every day since it’s on my way home. That’s how I found out you work here anyway. Saw you through the window.”, he confessed, pointing at the window on his right.

That made sense.

“So, what do you say?”

“I don’t know. Don’t you want to share it with one of your friends or something?”, he asked.

Hanbin cocked his head back, “What do you mean? Aren’t you my friend?”

Hao’s heart clenched. Hanbin thought of him as a friend. He hadn’t felt this joyful yet devastated in a long time. He knew he was entering dangerous waters. Letting him in his life was not part of the plan. He would lose him somehow. He just knew it.

Still, his mouth spoke for him entirely different words.

“Sure. I can come out in two minutes. Just, erm, let me tell my manager.”

Hanbin beamed at him. He had a beautiful smile.

Hao smiled back at him albeit in an almost robotic manner, before turning to go to his manager’s office.

“Aren’t you going to scan my items first?”

He faltered before finally stopping and taking a step back. His ears were a deep red. He just couldn’t stop embarrassing himself in front of him.

“Right! How could I forget?”

Hanbin giggled. He thought that might have been the most melodious sound he had ever heard.

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Author's Note: Hello again everyone!! I am finally back with my second piece of work. I am so excited to share this with the world! As mentioned this one is a bit on the darker side, but I have tried to make it as lightheared as possible! Kindly read the warnings and proceed at your own risk! Stay safe people!! As of right now I think this will be roughly 3-4 chapters with each roughly 1,000 to 2,000 words. I still don't feel ready to share a bigger piece of work, so small baby steps for me!! Anyway, I hope whoever reads this sincerely enjoys it! Please leave your feedback!! It is really important to me as it encourages me to keep writing and improving! sending lots of love your way!

-Jina