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Phantom Pursuit- YJW
Jungwon is cocky, confident, and easily one of the most skilled world class spies in the world. Nothing seems to bother him and his impulse is his most deadliest weapon. His partner was skilled, capable, and detail oriented- aka you. Something big goes down on an unassuming mission. But little did you know this one mission could change the fate of the world as you knew it.
PAIRING: — Spy Jungwon ✩ Spy reader (f)
GENRE: fluff, she’s angsty TT, slow burn, spy au
WARNINGS: making out, petnames, skinship, slow burn, I hate to say but there is angst, mentions of alcohol, guns, blood, fighting, cursing, near death experiences, mentions of death, dark haired Jungwon!, two ocs , there’s probably wayyy more but idk how to do this
WC: 21.110 words
Yuni Says: hihi, this is my first fic ever. And I mean like on any writing platform. So I’m completely new to writing- pls bear with me. I’ve been lurking on here for a while but I never published anything. I’m not going to be very very consistent with my writing but I will try my best. Pls feel free to chat with me and give me any feedback to improve. But I’m really really excited to start my journey on here!! Comments and reblogs are rlly appreciated. Anyway I hope you enjoy~ bye lovelies
The mission was simple- get into the gala and do some profiling on the high end criminals there. Although there was a stir of something else. Something big was happening at this gala of the underworld. That is precisely the reason that you were standing here. Underneath these opulent chandeliers in this glittering ballroom in Paris. The soft hum of classical music and whispers of the crooked floated through the air. The gala was filled with champagne fueled conversations that some could only decrypt as devious plans. You adjusted the slit of your deep sea blue dress and scanned the room observing the shadowy and mysterious figures. The earpiece buzzed faintly as you picked up a champagne flute from a waiter passing by.
“Hear anything interesting?” Jungwon’s voice crackled in her ear through the comm system. His annoying voice was smug as always
You suppressed a sigh trying to keep your expression neutral. “If by interesting, you mean potential intel, then no. Just the usual crowd of criminals pretending to be philanthropists.”
“Come on, ___” Jungwon replied. “You need to lighten up a bit. This is just a profiling mission. Its the easiest one we’ve been on in a while. So just relax and try to have some fun will you?”
“Jungwon no matter how easy this is its a mission. We aren’t here to have fun” you say in a focused manner like always.
You scanned around the room noticing him. Jungwon was leaning against the bar in his sharp black tuxedo. His hair was slicked back and he had that air of confidence and easiness he carried. No matter how much you hate to admit it, his broad shoulders, lean build, and small waist looked damn good in that tux. His eyes met yours from across the room. They were deep brown and mysterious, yet they still had that longing look. Those eyes that hide a deeper emotion, something that you couldn’t quite decipher. Even after all that training and those missions where you read people to a tee, you still couldn’t quite read him. Yet, those eyes always lured you in and never failed to bring that slight flush up your neck despite how damn annoying he was. And that damn smile. That charming one he gave with both his dimples poking out. It had already attracted two women who were all up on Jungwon. It was pathetic and honestly infuriating how his simple smile had such an impact on anyone. What’s more pathetic is the way your own heart ached in the slightest way at the sight. Now wasn’t the time for that though. You rolled your eyes as you set the champagne down.
“Are you flirting with civilians again??”
“Would you prefer if I flirted with you instead?” Jungwon teased as he raised his glass in your direction.
“Focus Jungwon,” you hissed. “We are here for intel, not your dating life” you reprimand him as you eye the host of the party, he was new on the scene and your agency needed more information on said man.
“And yet,” he said, taking a sip of his drink, “I’m the one who’s about to make progress.”
Before you could say anything in return he had already slipped away from the bar. He excused himself from the two pretty girls who pouted as he said he needed to leave. The criminal was named Bryan Cavellott, he was new on the high end criminal scene. He had made his grand debut by stealing some jewels from a museum in Russia and now rumor says he has something else thats far more important than some pink diamonds. Something so valuable that he had attracted all the high-level criminals in europe to his gala. As Jungwon made a beeline towards the older man with the crisp white suit and shaped beard, he shot you a sly look.
You narrowed your eyes as you followed him from a distance. You slipped through the crowds as you kept your gaze trained on Jungwon. He had already begun his usual act: leaning in slightly, charming but conspiratorial smile playing on his lips, and a trustworthy tone of voice.
You spoke through the comm system again, “Don’t blow our cover.”
“When have I ever blown our cover?” he whispered with a confident smile as he made his way closer to Cavellott.
“Do you want me to give you the list alphabetically or in order of how many times we almost died?”
Jungwon didn’t say anything but the smirk on his face was answer enough. Instead he finally approached the old man. “Mr. Cavellott?” he said his voice smooth. “Quite a gathering tonight. A man like you must have something truly extraordinary to share with us.”
Cavellott’s smile was thin and practiced but it held a hint of amusement too. “Ah, and you are?”
“Jung Park” he said easily, extending a hand. “Investor, entrepreneur, and lover of all things valuable and rare.”
You groaned into the earpiece quietly as you decided that you needed to make sure Jungwon didn’t get one of his brilliant ideas again. So you approached the two smoothly.
“And who is your lovely companion?” Cavellott asked, his gaze sharp and shifting to meet yours as you slid up next to Jungwon.
“___ Nakamura” you say with a charming smile of your own. “Jung’s business partner.”
Of course Jungwon couldn’t help but add with a stupid grin, “among other things.” which earned him a well deserved but subtle jab to his ribs from your elbow.
Cavellott seemed to have deemed you two trustworthy as he openly chuckled enjoying the dynamic between you two. “Well, Mr. Park and Miss Nakamura, I assure you that tonight’s main attractions is unlike anything you’ve encountered before. An artifact of immense… potential.”
Jungwon tilted his head playing along, “intriguing. I assume this artifact isn’t something you can pick up at a local auction house?”
Cavellott smiled wider. “Hardly. It’s something far more elusive- something that has been hidden for centuries and only recently resurfaced.”
You leaned in slight, your tone cautious but curious. You preceded carefully but you couldn’t help but think- is this what all the stir was about? “Oh? And what exactly makes it so special?”
Cavellott’s eyes sparkled with a mixture of pride and secrecy. “Ah, but that is the question isn’t it? Its value lies not just in what it is but what it could do. That’s what everyone’s here for”
“Sounds dangerous,” you said.
“All things of great power are,” Cavellott replied smoothly. “But that’s why it must be handled by someone who understands its worth. Plus I’m sure a lovely and confident lady like yourself wouldn’t mind a little game of danger?”
You sent Jungwon a quick glance but you both knew what it meant. This was it. It wasn’t just a rumor, whatever this… artifact is, its dangerous and with the way Cavellott is speaking of it- everyone here seems to understand its value. You sent a calm but pleased glance towards Cavellott despite the way your nerves were on edge.
“And this artifact…” Jungwon said his voice steady but probing, “does it have a name?”
Cavellott’s smile thinned as his eyes darted around nervously before he leaned in closer. “I shouldn’t even be discussing this, but I suppose you’ll find out sooner or later. The artifact is known as the Phantom Codex.”
The name itself sent a shiver down your spine although your expression remained neutral. The Phantom Codex… it was something significant. The way Cavellott spoke about it was too unsettling itself.
“And what does it do?” Jungwon asked his tone light but calculating.
Cavellott chuckled lightly but with a hint of knowing. “That, my friend, is the question that everyone here tonight is asking. And the answer… is far more than you could ever imagine.”
Before the two of you could press him any farther a woman on the other end of the ballroom caught his eye. She gave him a sly smile before turning away and walking to the balcony. The challenge in her eye was unmistakable. Cavellott offered the two of you a rushed excuse. “If you’ll excuse me, I must attend to my other guests. Enjoy the evening you two.”
And just like that he disappeared into the crowd. Jungwon leaned in closer to you, his voice was low and calculating. “Phantom Codex. Sound like the title of a bad action movie.”
“Focus Jungwon.” you snapped back at him. Your pulse was calm but your thoughts were racing. “Whatever it is, people are willing to kill for it. I mean some of these criminals hate each other but look at the way they’re playing so nice tonight. Whatever this is we can’t ignore it.”
Jungown’s playful expression faded as he took on a rare serious one instead. “Then I guess it’s time to figure out who else here knows something about it- and what they are willing to do to get it.”
You nodded and scanned the room. This always happened to the two of you, not a single mission where the stakes hadn’t risen. You were playing a game where one wrong move could cost you everything, even your life. In this room surrounded by throngs of dangerous people, you knew the importance of this mission.
“Lets split up,” you said, your tone sharp. You gave him one last look over your shoulder. “And Jungwon? Try not to flirt with anyone.”
“No promises,” he replied with a poor attempt at a wink before disappearing into the crowd. Despite yourself a small smile formed on your lips. You just sighed as you shook your head.
˚₊‧꒰ა ♱ ໒꒱ ‧₊˚
The party shifted into a quieter, more exclusive phase as the night deepened. The glittering and glamorous crowd thinned, leaving behind only those with the wealth, power, and influence to justify their presence at this gala in the heart of Paris. You and Jungwon moved through the crowd, your ears sharp, ready to catch any piece of information about this mysterious artifact.
“Anything?” you whispered your voice barely audible over the classical tunes.
Jungwon, who was on the other side of the opulent room turned to find your eyes as he smiled teasingly. “A lot of people talking about a lot of things. Art deals, offshore accounts… oh and Lady Pennington’s pomeranian apparently needs a personal chef and maid.”
You shot him a sharp look.
“Relax Miss Nakamura,” he teased with a cocky smile as he made his way towards you. “But seriously, everyone’s buzzing about something being revealed soon. I’m betting its our mysterious Codex.”
You nodded, “we need to find out what it is and when its going to be revealed.”
As if on cue two men walked by. One of them was some normal small town criminal. The other one though… It was him, Ebony Lloyd. To say that the pair of you and Lloyd had a history would be an understatement. Whenever there was any trouble he was always there. He had a rich history himself… robberies, head of a notorious organization, bomb and arms dealing, drug trafficking. He was a tall and burly man with sleek black hair and eyes of a wolf always searching for his next prey. Of course someone like him was at a gala like this. He didn’t seem to recognize you as he strolled right by. He was talking in hushed tones with the man but you heard bits of what they were saying. Something that sounded like: “Air strip..” “Vienna” “no mistakes this time”. Great- he was on the move again. You would deal with him later, right now the Codex is what mattered.
Jungwon’s expression soured as he laid his eyes on Lloyd. “Would you look at that? Its our best friend! And he’s conspiring again. I swear he can’t ever keep still for even a few days.” Jungwon sneered quietly as he ran his hand through his styled hair in annoyance.
“We’ll have to deal with him later. Right now we need to find out about the Codex.” you say with a bit of an annoyed expression yourself.
Everyone’s attention got drawn up to the front as a man strode up onto stage. The conversation died down as the man turned to face the crowd, commanding the attention of the room. He started smoothly and with confidence. “Ladies and gentlemen, thank you for joining us this fine night. As many of you know, tonight’s gathering is more than a celebration– its an unveiling.” he declared
A murmur spread through the crowd as excitement rippled through the room.
“The artifact you are about to see,” the man continued. “Has been the subject speculation and legend for centuries. Its origins are as elusive as its true potential. But tonight, it is here, in this very room, for the first time in generations this precious artifact has been unearthed again.”
Jungwon leaned a bit too close to murmur in your ear, “I have a bad feeling about this.” With the shiver running down your spine all you could do was nod.
Two heavily armed men appeared on stage, wheeling a steel reinforced case onto the stage. The man gestured towards the case with a flourish, his tone turned reverent “Ladies and gentlemen, I present to you… the Phantom Codex.”
The case opened with a hiss and steam being emitted from inside. There it was.. The ever elusive Phantom Codex. It looked unsuspecting at first glance. Just a small black piece of tech that was shaped like that of a diamond. You had to take a closer look to realize that there were weird symbols and letters etched onto the surface. They didn’t look like any language you recognized.. In fact the looked almost alien. Whats more is that they didn’t seem to ever hold still, they shifted everytime you blinked. The tech emitted an eerie blue glow from the cracks in it as well. It truly was mysterious and a marvel of tech. You couldn’t help but think- how old is this really? Why is this tech so important if its so old??
Jungwon’s breath caught too as he looked at the object. As you looked around the room- no one seemed to be able to look away. They all had the same blue glow in their eyes. This small little black diamond had stunned the hardest of criminals as the crowd gravitated towards it. You could see Jungwon lean closer to the stage himself.
Snapping your finger in front of his eyes you pulled him out of his trance. “Jungwon.” you whispered in a hushed tone. “Stop looking at it. Its like that Codex is pulling you in- like everyone else here.”
He blinked rapidly as he looked around the room like he was finally gaining his senses again. He quickly masked his entrancement, “the only thing pulling me in is you cherie..” He brushed his hand against yours as a little tease. Your heart rate spiked but before you could come back with a witty comment the lights suddenly went out.
“Stay close,” you say as you place your hand on the hilt of the knife concealed under your dress. Panic rose even more when a deafening shattering sound echoed through the room. Yells and cries followed closely as Jungwon muttered to himself “damnit..”
When the lights flickered on there wasn’t a Phantom Codex to marvel at. “It’s gone” you hissed. The armed men were gone and the man who unveiled the Codex was on the floor, a pool of his own crimson blood surrounding him.
“We need to move. The person who stole it isn’t planning to stick around for long,” Jungwon rushed as he grabbed your arm. His grip firm but comforting as you two ran through the panicked crowd towards the nearest exit. Cavellott’s men were starting to close the exits. But in a quick series moves you rendered them unconscious as you ran through the gates.
“Where’d they go?” you demanded, your pulse racing with a mixture adrenaline and frustration. Alas, whoever it was, was long gone. The midnight streets of Paris were completely empty. There wasn’t even a trace of them. “We lost it!” you said, your jaw tight.
You pulled your hand away from Jungwon as you smoothened your dress out with a look of frustration. Jungwon’s teasing personality dimmed as he placed a warm hand on your shoulder providing comfort in the cold night. “We’ll figure this out. You know we always do,” he said his voice steady despite the tension.
It was concerning how fast he could manipulate your emotions with just a few words. You unclenched your jaw as you gave him a curt nod. Still though your mind raced. What exactly was this Phantom Codex? Why were people going to the end of the world for that little diamond? And why did you have a sneaking feeling that this was just the beginning??
˚₊‧꒰ა ♱ ໒꒱ ‧₊˚
Back at their hotel, you sat crossed legged on the bed, a tablet in your lap as you compiled all the information you had picked up- which wasn’t much. Jungwon on the other hand paced around the room with his tie loose, hair messed up with the way he ran his hands through it, and his shirt untucked. It was a sign of his restlessness.
Reviewing the security camera footage and guest list was of no use. Whoever this was- and you had a suspecting feeling- they were good. They were professional. Not a trace of them anywhere, just a shadow in the darkness.
“I think we both know who caused all this.” You said with a long exasperated sigh, falling back on the bed with a hand covering your eyes.
Jungwon groaned as he threw himself on the other side of the bed with the same hatred in his voice. “Ebony Lloyd. I swear when I get my hands on him I’m going to-”
Before Jungwon could continue his pleasant words a blue light shone from the tablet. The two of you quickly stood up and straightened out your outfits and you slapped the back of Jungwon’s head mouthing to him to straighten his tie before turning the video on. It was a call from your superior, Mrs. Kwon. She chuckled noticing your slightly disheveled appearance. Then Mrs. Kwon spoke with an easy tone, “agent ___, agent Yang. Nice to see you two so relaxed after a mission. Report to me.”
You spoke up first, “quite the opposite Mrs. Kwon. The mission didn’t go as well as we planned.” you say with a slightly ashamed tone but keeping your expressions professional.
“We profiled on Cavellott, but there was something else. The rumors were true ma’am. There was something big at this gala. Its called the Phantom Codex. We think its something we should be worried about” Jungwon reported. It was a bit unsettling how his personality changed to professional and obedient the moment he was under the hard gaze of our superior. What caught you off guard was the way that Mrs. Kwon’s easy and laid back demeanor dropped immediately the moment she heard the artifact’s name. There was some shuffling on her side- it sounded like she moved rooms.
Her voice came out in a whisper, “the Phantom Codex?? Are you two out of your mind?”
You and Jungwon shared a confused glance before looking back at her. “No ma’am. It's true. We saw it, it was at the gala tonight. But its gone now. Stolen.” you spoke up your tone sincere. Her nervous expression was making you uneasy. Mrs. Kwon was never nervous. “Ma’am if you don’t mind me asking. What is it? What does do?”
Her expression darkened as her tone was now dead serious. “Its dangerous. Every single criminal no matter how big or small is pursuing it. It can hack into anything and manipulate data in ways that humans never though possible. Things like government agencies, federal banks, military systems, nuclear codes, databases of civilians of whole countries.” she spoke, her seriousness making the hairs on the back of your neck stand up. “You two listen carefully. No one. And I mean absolutely no one else should know about this. Is that clear? I don’t care what mission you’re on right now, now your one and only mission is securing the Codex. Is that clear?”
Jungwon could hear her deadly tone too as he gulped softly. You both nodded as she wished you luck before cutting communication. You let your stiff posture relax as you met Jungwon’s gaze. Both of you knew. This wasn’t just some tech, it was powerful, dangerous, and deathly. “I’ve never seen Mrs. Kwon that serious… Something isn’t right.” you observe quietly. You tried to read Jungwon’s gaze but his eyes were too complicated.
“Well no pressure right?” Jungwon sighed as he leaned back into an armchair his hands behind his head.
“This is serious Jungwon, did you see Mrs. Kwon??” you shot him a glare as you bristled at the way his posture was so relaxed so easily.
“I know,” he interrupted, his usual smirk replaced by a grim expression. “And we’re gonna find it okay?”
For a moment your eyes met, a flicker of understanding and something else passed through you. That something else made you look away as you sighed- even with the weight of this serious mission Jungwon’s gaze could make your heart flutter. “Just.. sleep soon. We have a long day ahead of us.” you say as you go to change into something more apt for sleep.
Jungwon let a faint smile grace his lips as he called out to you from the bed, “aww are you worried for me darling~?” he teased as he watched you come back from the bathroom after changing.
“Shut up. I just don’t want your work to be sloppy Jungwon” you say with an annoyed tone meeting his light gaze with a serious one. Although you knew that he was just trying to lighten the mood and tension. You silently thanked him for it before getting under the sheets.
˚₊‧꒰ა ♱ ໒꒱ ‧₊˚
The morning light filtered through the heavy drapes of their hotel room, neither you nor Jungwon was in the mood for sunshine. The air was thick with tension as you reviewed every scrap of information you had gathered the night prior.
You sat on the couch, your legs tucked under you as you sifted through endless digital files, recordings, and articles. Your hair was in a messy bun and the cup of coffee in your hand trembled slightly from too much caffeine and not enough sleep. Jungwon on the other hand was sprawled in an arm chair. He had seemed to made the decision to not be bothered by any of the events from last night. It frustrated you a bit that you were here busting your ass trying to find something- anything to help the mission and he just sat there. Tossing a stress ball in the air and catching it with a relaxed motion as if the fate of the world wasn’t hanging by a thread.
“Geez you’ve been hunched over that computer for hours” he drawled as he caught the stress ball lazily and looked up from his impromptu game, “have you even found anything?”
“Well maybe I wouldn’t have to be breaking my back for hours if you just decided to help.” you snapped, your patience wearing dangerously thin.
“Touchy this morning,” he teased as you clenched your jaw with frustration and annoyance. God- you swore he was the spawn of the devil- “what? Didn’t sleep well huh?”
“How could I? With you snoring like a chainsaw the entire damn night??” you spat back your head practically fuming by now.
“I do not snore”
“Whatever helps you sleep at night,” you muttered scrolling through yet another document.
Jungwon finally decides that he’s done pushing at your limits. He snickers as he stands up stretching like he had been doing some serious work this entire time. “Well maybe if you used common sense you wouldn’t have to be working so hard.” he stated as you were about at the end of your patience and your hands were itching to grab him by his pretty little neck and- “Vienna. Lloyd. Last night. I have to say- I thought with those witty comebacks I thought you would be sharper ___”
Your expression faltered as your mind raced through last night. He’s right.. Lloyd was there. He was whispering about Vienna and not long after the Codex had disappeared into thin air. It was him again. You sighed exasperated, finally getting up from the couch. You wanted to wipe that smirk off his face- you absolutely despised when he was right, “maybe your constant stupidity is starting to rub off on me. Just stop smiling and pack your bags”
As he stood up too he moved to stand behind you as he placed his hands deliberately on your waist. His voice was low and smug as his breath fanned your skin, “Whatever you say babe… but just once.. Admit I was right sweetheart.”
The only response he got was a deathly glare from you and his own yelp as you twisted his hands in an awkward angle behind his back, “try something like that again and you won’t live to see next time you’re right.” you scowled with a dangerous voice as he just grinned like an idiot.
˚₊‧꒰ა ♱ ໒꒱ ‧₊˚
The airstrip was alive with activity even in the dead of the night. The soft whine of jet engines and distant echoes of shouted instructions blended with the cold Austrian night. You had surveyed the area already so your movements were calculated. Lloyd had been clear- the Phantom codex was being transported through Vianna tonight, possibly by air. This was your chance to intercept it.
“We have to move quickly and quietly” you reminded him as you two sneaked through the grounds. You both blended seamlessly into the dark landscape- just like shadows.
“I know sweetheart, don’t worry I got it” Jungwon replied and you could hear the teasing smirk in his voice. You groaned internally at the way his sweet nicknames made your cheeks warm. Thank god for the cover of the night.
As you two approached the dimly lit hangar at the far end of the airstrip, your sharp eyes caught movement- a group of armed men were unloading a sleek black case from a private jet. Your heart rate sped up. The Codex.
“Bingo,” you whispered, pointing towards the hangar. But before you could say anything further, Jungwon covered your mouth pulling you behind the metal walls of a storage unit. You let out a muffed protest as your eyes widened.
You couldn’t help but notice the way that Jungwon was pressed flush against you. He had you pinned to the wall as he held a finger to your lips. You could hear his heart beat and his warmth reached you through the gear you both wore. His scent was a subtle one but comforting in a way. “Shhh, look-” Jungwon said in a hushed tone as you followed his gaze. There he was. Ebony Lloyd. He was getting off the jet that had been parked in the same hangar from where the codex had been extracted. He had tall burly men flanking both his sides as he made his way to a black van. He was close- way too close. You could practically smell his strong and obnoxious cologne from all the way over here.
If you two just stayed quiet and didn’t make a sound- CRUNCH!!. Shit. You accidentally shifted against Jungwon as you boots made a small sound on the gravel that was far too loud for the quiet night. Lloyd had a sickening smirk on his face as he made his way over to the two of you. You cursed under your breath as Jungwon stepped away from you, now facing him.
“Well well, would you look at that? The lovebirds and the world’s most dysfunctional duo!!” Lloyd drawled on as he voice was low and condescending.
You hated him too- not to misunderstand. But Jungwon had an entirely different fight to pick with him. Lloyd had a way of getting under his skin just like how Jungwon gets under yours. Jungwon was proud no matter how much he protested it. Lloyd had bruised his ego way too many times. You had to give it to him he was smart- that’s the only reason you ever lost. Its because he was always one step ahead. Jungwon detested him entirely. You could already see his rigid body language and clenched fists. Jungwon was practically fuming- this was something both Lloyd and you could see. And Lloyd took great pleasure in it.
“Jungwon… don’t. He’s testing you.” you clenched your own fists. You knew Lloyd and his love for mind games. But tonight the two of you had no time for his little game. The Codex was right there- so close.
But Jungwon ignored you. His teeth clenched as he stormed forward before you could stop him. “And you-” he seethed with his eyes cold and hard, “you little bastard. Got your sights on the Codex huh? Needed something more to show off to your pathetic little mistress? Couldn’t please her or your wife?”
“Oh stop acting so high and mighty jungwon. You can’t seem to win over your pretty little partner’s heart so don’t go insulting my love life.” He chuckled arrogantly. The statement really seemed to strike a chord in Jungwon. “These harsh words aren’t from lingering feelings about Milan right? Or was it Budapest? Or maybe… Dubai? You’ve lost so many times I’ve lost track.”
“Jungwon no-” you say your voice firm and hard as you eyed the four bodyguards trying to plan your escape.
But it was far too late. Jungwon snapped. Without a word he surged even closer towards Lloyd.
“Dammit it Jungwon.” you hissed desperately as you scrambled to follow him.
The two men collided, Jungwon’s fist connected with Lloyd’s jaw as a sickening crack rang out. The criminal staggered backwards and his bodyguards were quick to react as they rained down punches on Jungwon. You quickly lept into action kicking one of them square in the head while landing an uppercut to another ones jaw. You fired two quick shots incapacitating the other two.
Meanwhile, Jungwon freed himself only to launch back at Lloyd with more rage than before. But the criminal had more tricks up his sleeve. Quite literally!! He pulled a knife from his coat as they grappled. The fight was taking the two dangerously close to another jet’s running engines. Jungwon’s back thudded onto the flight’s metal body. Lloyd landed another strike but this time slashing Jungwon with his knife- drawing blood. Jungwon was too far gone to care at that moment. Lloyd landed one final cut to his abdomen as Jungwon fell to the tarmac.
You saw it happed with your own two eyes. The Codex. It had been loaded onto the plane. Lloyd smiled satisfied at the way Jungwon was trying hard to recover. “Jungwon!!” your voice rang out as you lunged for him. You caught him just in time. The two of you scrambled out of the way as the jet made its way down the runway.
There it was- gone once again, and that too in the hands of Lloyd.
˚₊‧꒰ა ♱ ໒꒱ ‧₊˚
The tension in your vienna hotel room was suffocating. You paced in front of the window, your arms crossed, your face the mask of frustration. Jungwon sat on the bed, one hand on his cut arm and the other on his abdomen, both trying to nurse the gashes on his body. You were fuming and it only added fuel to the fire that your heart was telling you to help Jungwon with his injuries.
“You completely lost control!!” you snapped instead, whirling around to face him. “We had the Codex right there, and you threw it away- for what?!? A grudge match?”
Jungwon sighed leaning against the the headboard. He was tired and annoyed himself, you could tell. “Lloyd needed to be dealt with. He–”
“He got under your skin,” you interrupted, with your voice rising. “And now we’re back to square one because of your ego!!”
Jungwon met your glare with his expression softening which only annoyed you more. There was a silence that was filled with tension and something else that was better it remained unspoken. You clenched your teeth as you saw the slight hint of a smile playing at the corner his lips. You scoffed to yourself. Why the hell was he smiling?? You just lost one of the most dangerous artifacts to a notorious criminal. This was most definitely not the time to be smiling. “What???” you snapped at him crossing your arms once again.
“Hm? Oh nothing.. You’re just really cute when you’re mad.” he said in a matter of factly tone. You hated yourself for the way your brain went blank for a good few seconds. You hated the way your cheeks felt warm and your breath hitched for just a moment.
You groaned loudly throwing up your hands in frustration. “Don’t do that! Don’t try to charm your way out of this.”
“Who says I’m trying to charm you? But even if I was.. It looks like its working- no?” he smirks despite the blood trickling from a cut on his lips. His damn lips that curled up even more when he saw your gaze on them. His damn lips that your just wanted to feel against yours- No!! You weren’t distracted by his idiotically plump, soft, and full lips.
You shot him a look after tearing your gaze away from his lips. Your sharp retort died on your lips when you saw the gash on his arm and abs. Your frustration warred with concern, but, with a heavy sigh, you grabbed the first aid kit from the desk.
“Take off the gear” you ordered your voice clipped.
Jungwon had the nerve to raise his eyebrows in mock surprise. “If you wanted to see me shirtless, you could've just asked babe.”
You shot him another deathly glare as you advanced towards him. The faint pink in your cheeks betrayed you as you made him put down the gauze he had in his hands and took his shirt off. Well I mean- you were just a girl after all. His toned muscles and hard lines of his chest and abs. The slight glisten of sweat and the scars that littered his body were so hot… well shit. “Getting distracted sweetheart?” Jungwon teased. You snapped your eyes back up to his face and made sure your gaze was sharp.
“Just hold still” you muttered, dabbing at the cut with disinfectant. Jungwon winced but he didn’t dare pull away. His gaze was trained on you as you worked with your movements precise and efficient. But your hands lingered on his skin for a few too moments too long. The tension was palpable in the air, the unspoken words and heat between the two of you was at its peak. You met his gaze and this time you could read it- but you didn’t want to. You were his partner it was strictly professional. The way your heart beat way too fast gave you away though.
He sliced the tension with a knife when he uttered your name out softly. It lacked any of his arrogance or its usual teasing edge to it. You didn’t look up. Too scared to see what you find if you looked up again. “Don’t Jungwon. Just… don’t.”
He reached out, his fingers gently brushing against your wrist. “I’m sorry,” he said, and for once he sounded sincere. There was undertones of something else too. “I screwed up.”
You froze, your breath catching at the unexpected vulnerability in his tone. You shivered at his gently touch, it melted away your anger and replaced it with something warmer, something neither of you could name. You took in a shaky breath as you replied, your voice lacking the earlier bite “you did.”
Jungwon’s lips curved into a faint smile. “But you’re still patching me up. Guess that means you care.”
You rolled your eyes, but the corners of your moth twitched up- fighting back a smile. “Don’t push it.” you warned but your voice had gone soft.
You fell into a charged silence, the air between you thick with unspoken words. Jungwon’s hand lingered on your wrist, but for once you didn’t pull away. It was dangerous the way your heart raced at his touch. “You’re too reckless,” you whispered, your voice barely audible.
“And you’re too stubborn,” he replies, his gaze dropping briefly to your lips before returning to your eyes. At that moment you knew you couldn’t lose him. You hate to finally admit it but it was true. All the times he had risked his life to save you from near death situations, his stupid jokes that lightened up any situation, and his dumb pet names that made you smile every time. You knew you couldn’t lose him- so the least you could do for all those times was forgive him. Just this once.
You finished patching up his gashes silently before abruptly standing up. You walked to the other side of the hotel room as you set the first aid kit down once again. It was your pathetic attempt at trying your heart to beat normally once again. You turned back to face him- relieving yourself of the weight of your own gear as Jungwon spoke again. “So just to be clear. You weren’t staring at my lips or my abs right? Because then that would mean that you find me-”
“Jungwon!” you cut him off with a stern gaze. But his infuriating, smug, dimple filled smile still remained on his lips as he just shrugs.
˚₊‧꒰ა ♱ ໒꒱ ‧₊˚
After that night in Vienna you couldn’t stop thinking about him- well you always had him on your mind anyway- but something else nagged at you. This Phantom Codex… you knew what it was supposed to do, but it still had a mysterious aura about it. There was something so elusive about this simple piece of tech, and you were determined to find out what.
That is exactly how you ended up here. In your shared hotel room with your glasses forming dents on your nose, your hands trembling from too much caffeine, and your eyes had deep circles under them that showed how you had been up for far too long.
I mean you can’t blame yourself- you tried to sleep. You swear you did. But Jungwon’s words and gaze and touch just wouldn’t let you rest. Jungwon groaned as he blinked his eyes open- the bright light of the screen blinding his eyes. “___? You’re kidding me” he stated in a rough and groggy voice. He turned his head as he squinted towards the digital clock. “It’s five A.M. Did you even sleep?”
“Couldn’t” you replied short and distant. “I was too busy doing your job.”
“Ah, there it is- the sharp tongue of my favorite partner” he said with a smile in his tone as he heaved his body- still marred with the gashes from before- into a sitting position. “Morning to you too, sweetheart”
You gave him a glare over your shoulder, but the deep circles under your eyes betrayed your exhaustion. “Don’t even start with me Jungwon. I’ve been piecing intel while you’ve been snoring away again.”
“I do not snore,” he insisted indignantly, crossing his arms as he leaned against the headboard.
“Oh, trust me you do. After all these years of sharing a hotel room, you most definitely do.” You turned back to your screen, muttering under your breath, “it’s like trying to sleep next to a freight train.”
He just rubbed the back of his neck as he sighed in fake and exaggerated. He watched as you typed away, the sounds of your fingers dancing along the keys an insistent sound in the room. In an amused but concerned tone he prodded, “What are you even looking at?”
“The Codex.” your voice was clipped. But there was an edge of something else— anxiety and nervousness. “I hacked into one of Lloyd’s encrypted files. I think I found a list of targets who apparently know something about the Codex.”
He nodded as he shifter closer to look over your shoulder at the screen. “Okay, thats progress. But… why do you look like you’ve seen a ghost?” he questioned carefully.
Your fingers stilled on the keyboard and your body tensed. You took a deep breath before meeting his eyes, your expression guarded but your voice trembling just slightly, “My… My sister.. Her name is on his list.” you declare. Your brain was a mess even if you didn’t let it show. She was your sister, the few people in this cutthroat world that you loved and trusted blindly.
The air in the room seemed to thickened. Jungwon’s teasing smirk disappeared as he processed your shaky words. “Your sister?”
“She’s a target,” you said, your voice cracking despite an effort to stay composed. “I don’t know why or- or what they want from her, but–” you stopped, shaking your head as you pinched the bridge of your nose. Scared of just the thought or Lloyd targeting your sister or losing her entirely. “If we don’t get the Codex back, she’s in danger. I can’t– I can’t let that happen” you looked at him with scared and vulnerable eyes. This was the first time you let this happen. The first time you opened up to him.
He moved closer to you as he placed a comforting hand on your shoulder. “___, hey. Listen to me.”
Reluctantly, you lifted your eyes to his.
“We’ll get it back,” he said firmly, his voice steady and unwavering. “I swear to you. We’ll find the Code, and we’ll protect your sister.”
“You don’t understand,” you said, your voice barely above a whisper. Your eyes distant as you thought about the horrifying possibilities of what might happen. “This isn’t just another mission anymore. Its personal.”
“I know,” Jungwon said, his tone softening. “And that’s why we’re going to win this. Because when it comes to you and the people you care about.. I swear to you- I would rather die than fail.”
You blinked at him, caught off guard by the rare sincerity in his voice. For a moment time slowed and the truth behind his voice rang clearer. The unspoken weight of his words weighed heavy on your shoulders. It was nice. It was nice to know that he would be there, even when times were tough or uncertain. He spoke with a promise that didn’t waver at all. His presence was firm and steady. It grounded you even as doubt filled your mind. You knew that from the countless successful missions you two had accomplished, that with him- anything was possible.
“You’re such an idiot,” you muttered, brushing past the lump in your throat and rapidly blinking trying not to show your vulnerability even more.
“Then its a shame that you’re stuck with me isn’t it?” Jungwon replied with a smile tugging at his lips. “Now, come on. You need to sleep before you collapse on me.”
“I’m fine.” you insisted stubbornly, standing up and brushing past him.
“‘I’m fine’ my ass,” Jungwon drawled, following you despite the pain his body faced when he moved. “Just like I’m the best hacker in this partnership.”
“You? Hacker? Yeah right- since when??” you show back with your usual sharpness returning to your voice.
He grinned like an idiot and his dreamy dimples made another appearance. “There she is. I was worried the all-nighter had turned you into a zombie.”
You rolled your eyes but the hint of a smile on your lips was still clear as day.
Later that evening, after hours of futile attempts to trace the codex’s whereabouts and Jungwon’s incessant nagging, you finally slumped onto the hotel bed, your exhaustion catching up to you. Jungwon walked to you from the kitchen a glass of water in his hand.
“Drink,” he said, holding it out to you.
“I’m fine,” you protested though your voice was hoarse. As much as you silently appreciated his comfort and care, you didn’t need to be coddled by your annoyance of a partner.
He said said your name in a stern tone of voice that left no room for argument. You sighed but took the glass of water, considering your pounding headache from looking at the computer screen all day, it was the right thing to do. Your fingers brushed his for just a moment too long. “Thanks” you muttered out.
He sat next to you, his usual cockiness replaced by a quiet concern. “You know” he started, “for someone who calls me reckless, you’re not exactly great at taking care of yourself.”
You scoffed, “Takes one to know one.”
He chuckled lightly his head shaking at your retort even with the pounding in your head. “Fair.”
The silence that followed wasn’t really uncomfortable, but it was definitely charged with something you both refused to acknowledge. You stared down at the glass in your hands. Your mind still running in overdrive with worry for your sister, the Codex, and the precarious line that you and Jungwon seem to be walking on. This dangerous pull that lulled you both towards one another that you just danced around.
“You’re too good at this,” you said your tone suddenly softer and quieter. “At making me feel like everything’s gonna be okay,” you admit with your cheeks warming as you turn your head, avoiding his gaze. You sigh as you continued on, trying to lighten the mood, “I guess there is one single thing that you’re good at. Sweet talking your way out of messes?”
“Out of messes? Oh please darling- my sweet talking has a much greater purpose- like sweet talking my way into sitting on the same bed as you.” he pretending to sigh dreamily as the sparkle of amusement didn’t leave his eye, “wow~ what an honor.”
This led to you pushing him off the edge of the bed and trying to contain your laughter as he landed with a big thud. He let out a yelp as he rubbed his back, the big boba eyes he gave you only worked on those girls at parties. “How about you start trying to sweet talk your way into me not beating your ass?” you say with an amused but genuine smile. He huffed in defeat as he stalked his way over to the couch. You couldn’t help but let out a small chuckle.
“Goodnight sweetheart~” you mocked him as he silently flipped you off.
˚₊‧꒰ა ♱ ໒꒱ ‧₊˚
The streets of Tokyo buzzed with life, the neon lights casting a kaleidoscope of colors over the bustling city. The air was filled with noises of children, adults, and automobiles. It was freezing cold in the night and you could see your breath in front of you, coming out in a cold white fog. You trailed a step behind Jungwon, your arms crossed as you watched him survey the surroundings with an air of practiced nonchalance. The two of you made your way to the looming but sleek and modern hotel. Of course it was a five star experience in Tokyo, only the best for the two best agents.
“You’re unusually quiet,” Jungwon remarked, glancing over his shoulder at you. You couldn’t help but groan internally at the situation. And also at the fact that no man should look that ridiculously good with his hair messy and blowing in the wind.
“Just trying to figure out how we ended up in this situation,” you muttered with annoyance as you shifted the bag on your shoulder.
“Acting like a couple?” he smirked, pushing the tall glass door open for you. “Don’t pretend like you’re not enjoying it.”
You stepped into the threshold with a sharp glare pointed at him. You had to hide the fast pace of your heart somehow, “You’re delusional.”
The hotel lobby was elegant and the chandelier shimmered in all the hotel’s elegance. The ambient lighting and soft jazz music filled the space. You took note of the huge glass windows that could be a possible threat. The receptionist looked at the two of you with a practiced smile which widened when she laid eyes on Jungwon. You didn’t really know why but it made you roll your eyes.
“Reservation under Park and Nakamura,” Jungwon said in his usual arrogant and cocky tone of voice. You couldn’t help but be more pissed at his voice but also find it a bit endearing as well. It was something you looked up to, he had a certain way with his words and it always worked somehow.
“Ah yes of course, I’ll be sure to get your bags up to your room. Anything else you needed help with?” the girl at the desk batted her long eyelashes at Jungwon and it made you annoyed even more. Why, though? It's not like you had some weird feelings for your idiotic spy partner or something.
“Oh no that’s quite alright, me and my boyfriend can carry our bags up to the room ourselves.” you smiled at her patronizingly. You had to try really hard to ignore Jungwon’s stupid smirk as you lugged the bags to the elevator.
“Boyfriend? Staking your claim sweetheart?” he asked smugly as he struggled to carry the bigger bag towards the elevator. “Besides, why did you stop her?? Now we have to break our backs trying to get these bags into our rooms.” he said as he huffed, putting the bag down for a second to catch his breath.
“Did you want her to discover the Glock 19 stowed in our bags?” you asked in a mocking tone. You didn’t know exactly why you were so on edge from just a simple look Jungwon had received, but you felt as though from recent events.. You and Jungwon had started to walk down a dangerous path that none of you were ready to acknowledge.
You opened the lock with a bit more force than necessary. The hotel suite was spacious, with a panoramic view of the Tokyo skyline. But your heart truly dropped as your bags slipped out of your hands when your view zeroed-in on the centerpiece of the room. The king-sized bed. You shook your head immediately as you spun to face his already wide grinning face. “No way. Absolutely not. There is no way in hell I am sharing that.”
Jungwon with the most aggravating smile quirked one of his eyebrows, “What’s the problem? Afraid you’ll be tempted?” he asked with a hint of a laugh in his voice.
“In your dreams,” you shot back. You were not just about to expose yourself completely by sleeping in the same bed as him and then failing miserably to contain your idiotic emotions. No damn way.
“I’m just saying,” he said as he tossed his bags to the side. He jumped onto the pristine sheets, ruining them completely. “We need to look convincing, even in the hotel. The staff might be watching.”
You scowled. He was right, you both were well aware of the fact that Lloyd had his men lurking everywhere. “Fine. But if you so much as cross to my side of the bed, I swear-”
“Relax,” Jungwon interrupted, his hands up in a mock display of surrender. “I’ll stay on my side of the bed. Unless you wanted me to-”
“Don’t finish that sentence.”
˚₊‧꒰ა ♱ ໒꒱ ‧₊˚
You two were in Tokyo just because Mrs. Kwon had heard some rumors of the Codex here. There wasn’t any real evidence, but Mrs. Kwon was desperate. So for now the two of you just had to lay low and try to find anything more about the whereabouts of the dangerous piece of tech. That's the reason you couldn’t quite wrap your head around why Jungwon was parading the two of you around the hotel with his hand resting gently on your waist. Well you couldn’t really wrap your head around anything at the moment with how Jungwon’s fingers were softly brushing against your skin. “Remind me why I agreed to this?” you sighed as you forced the warmth in your cheeks to retreat.
“To keep up appearances sweetheart,” Jungwon whispered with his tone low and teasing, as his thumb rubbed absent minded circles on your skin, which only made your mind spiral even more. He had insisted that being stuck in your room all day reviewing the same five documents wouldn’t do you any good. So now you are here doing ‘bonding activities’ with your despised partner.
“I’m going to kill you one day,” you murmured through a tight lipped grin.
“Is that a challenge princess?” Jungwon asked a bit too loudly as you passed the receptionist once more. For some twisted reason this gave you satisfaction as you continued walking through the lobby. You couldn’t resist shooting her a devilish glance.
Still though, you forced yourself to keep up your act. “Lay it on any thicker and they’ll drown in it.” you hissed through gritted teeth.
You spent the entire rest of the day ‘bonding’ with Jungwon. But it was the small moments that caught you off guard. One of them was when you two were playing pool. He insisted that your posture was just offensive to the game. So he made a show of holding your arm as his strong chest pressed against your back. His breath lingered on your neck as his other hand rested on your waist once again. “Like this sweetie,” he muttered, his voice deep and velvety, as he paid no attention to the pool, his eyes only on your face, as if trying to memorize every little scar and contour. Your heart and mind were both unwell. They were working overtime trying desperately to process any of what was happening.
Another time he had you on your toes was when you were mid reach about to strangle him. The two of you were spending time in the arcade and as both of your personalities would permit it. The competitive streak was at another level entirely. So you were at your wit’s end when he interrupted your focus again as you concentrated on smashing the moles wherever they popped up. You had given him a fair amount of warning but you were running out of patience and points because you insisted on a rematch every time. A couple had strolled in and they were just about to take in the sight of you committing homicide. But before you could move you were pressed back against the machine with your arms unknowingly wrapped around his neck. “Play along if you don’t want to get caught ___.” he whispered, tightening his grip around your torso. You tried not to let the hammering of your heart and heat in your skin give you away.
The moment the couple had left you pushed him off but the smirk on his face didn’t budge.
When dinner came around you two had decided to eat at a fancy restaurant. But you cursed Jungwon as he smiled smugly at you. Obviously he was the center of attention for everyone there, so you couldn’t even curse him out without blowing your cover. He was taking full advantage of it though. “Say ‘ahh’ babe~” he cooed, holding up the spoon to your mouth. You rolled your eyes discreetly before you let him feed you. But before he could get too smug you sharply stepped on his foot from under the table. After all, you couldn’t let him think you were succumbing to his stupid flirting. You hid the smirk behind a glass of wine as you sipped it innocently while he glared at you from across the table.
It was late at night now. Even the beautiful city of Tokyo had dimmed its lights and gone to sleep. But you and Jungwon just couldn’t rest. Mrs. Kwon wanted answers and she wanted the Codex even faster. But after Jungwon had tired you out the entire day, the documents looked like they were from some other alien language. Your eyes were half lidded and bleary from the need to sleep.
You were just about to reach for the jug of coffee when Jungwon’s own sleepy voice called out to you. “Absolutely not. Hands off. Do you want a caffeine overdose?” he asked as he got up and took the jug away from you. You let a loud whine fall from your lips as you shot him a glare. You hate when he was right. But before you could shoot back at him with a snarky response, it all happened.
Both of you heard the footsteps from outside the door. Your head snapped up mid scroll. “Did you hear that?” you asked in a hushed whisper. The two of you were already in action though. You shoved the important files, weapons, and gear into your bag. Jungwon tossed you your gun as the two of you crouched behind the bed. The footfalls of the people outside were far too heavy and far too deliberate to be of normal guests.
“How did they find us??” Jungwon hissed as he reloaded his gun quietly. The footsteps paused and you took a deep breath before the chaos started.
The explosion rattled the room as the heavy wooden door came flying down. Splinters flew across the room like shrapnel, and you barely managed to miss the lamp that flew past you, shattering on the ground.
“Down!!” Jungwon yelled as the hail of bullets followed quickly. He dove towards you just in time before the air filled with gunfire.
Lloyd’s men poured into the room by the dozen. Their movements were swift and calculated but you two were like a well oiled machine. Nothing could stop Jungwon’s instinct and your precise aim.
Jungwon fired the shots, taking out the lead man with two clean hits to the chest. You rolled out from behind the bed, your gun steady in your hands as you aimed at the intruders. You picked the men off like birds on a wire, one by one with deadly accuracy.
“Left!” you shouted, and Jungwon pivoted, shooting the man who was trying to flank you.
“Nice call,” he said, his voice tight before he ducked for cover again.
You didn’t respond., your focus entirely on the men in front of you. One of them charged at you, his gun jammed, but you dropped him like a fly with one well placed kick to the chest, before you finished him off entirely with a shot.
“Watch out!!” Jungwon’s voice cut through the chaos and you turn just in time to see a man tossing a grenade towards the center of the room.
Your heart froze. You thought this was the end.
But Jungwon was faster.
He lunged, grabbing your arm and pulling you against his chest as your back hit the wall of the far corner of the room. The grenade exploded a second later, the blast shaking the entire suite. Glass shattered, furniture splintered, and a cloud of smoke and debris filled the air.
Your ears rang, and your vision blurred with tears as you struggled to breathe through the dust. You realized your head was pressed against Jungwon’s chest as he wrapped his arms tightly around you. When you looked up to see his distressed expression it's like you were looking at an angel. The sparks and gunshots whizzed behind him, there was a bleeding cut on his cheek, and his heart was racing. But in this life threatening moment all you could see was him.
“Jungwon…” you said, your voice barely audible over the ringing in your ears.
“I’m fine,” he said, though his voice was strained. But in all the chaos, you could see the bullet that was lodged in his arm. He grimaced as he moved to shoot more men that tried to advance.
“You’re hit,” you said with a trembling voice as the sight of his blood made you sick to the stomach.
“It’s nothing,” he replied, wincing as he moved, pulling you up to your feet. “We’re not done yet.”
More men surged into the room, but your initial shock and fear quickly transformed into fury. God when you got your hands on Lloyd… You grabbed your gun that had slid out of reach when the explosion rattled. You fired with precision, covering him as he pressed his hand to the wound. He winced at the sight of his own crimson blood as you shot down three more men. The room was a mess of bodies, blood, and debris.
“We need to move!” you shouted, helping Jungwon up as he grabbed the bag.
Jungwon scanned the room. The floor was unstable because of the explosion, more of Lloyd’s men just kept filling in through the door, so the only escape was.. “Window,” he said.
You both ran towards the large glass pane just as another explosion rocked the suite. Jungwon kicked out the window, the glass shattered into a million pieces. “Out,” he ordered.
“What abou-”
“Now!!”
You hesitated but still climbed onto the narrow ledge. Jungwon followed, his movements slower but determined despite his injury. You both got out just in time before another explosion rocked the building. The rain was pouring down in sheets. The slick surface of the ledge made every step even more treacherous than the last. But you two made your way to the emergency fire escape.
You two raced down the long dangerous steps as you covered Jungwon, shooting at the men who tried to pursue and pulling Jungwon when bullets whizzed onto the metal of the staircase. As soon as you were on the wet pavement, your hotel room burst into flames.
Bullets licked your heels as you narrowly avoided death, making a run towards a bike parked on the side of the road. You immediately got to work, hotwiring the bike as fast as you could. While Jungwon clutched his arm but still covered you with fierce determination.
“Get on!” you yelled, though you couldn’t hear much over your heart racing in your ears. You and Jungwon quickly sped away into the maze of streets. You rode like a maniac, avoiding cars by just small fractions of millimeters. The shouts echoed behind you but before Lloyd’s men could even rev the engine of their cars, you were gone.
˚₊‧꒰ა ♱ ໒꒱ ‧₊˚
The rain still lashed against the window of the safe house, the dim light of a single lamp casting long shadows across the room. The air was quiet but filled to the brim with tension. You sat on the edge of the couch, your hands tightly clasped in your lap. Your mind swirled with worry. Your sister’s face flashed in your thoughts- innocent, unsuspecting, completely unaware of the danger the Phantom Codex posed to her. She was a high ranking government official, both of your lives were forced to be kept secrets from each other. Yet the bond you shared with her was unbreakable and eternal. And she was only in more and more danger, if anything, the ambush today showed just how open Lloyd was being with his attempts. It showed… just how ruthless he could be.
And Jungwon… he had risked his life, gotten shot all for you. He sat across from you, his injured arm freshly bandaged after extracting the bullet and disinfecting the wound. His posture was more relaxed, the chaos had taken a toll on him too but he handled it like it was a normal Tuesday. His eyes watch you, sharp gaze softened by concern.
“You’re too quiet,” he said finally, his voice breaking the heavy silence.
You looked up at him, your lips pressing into a thin line. “What do you want me to say, Jungwon? That I’m fine? That everything’s okay?” you shook your head, your hands tightening into fists. “Because it’s not. My sister is in danger, we just got ambushed by Lloyd’s men, and you–” your voice caught and you looked away.
“Me?” Jungwon prompted, leaning forward despite the strain it put on his arm.
You couldn’t live with the thought. The horrifying thought that… you could have lost him. You stupid, idiotic, funny, loyal, and annoyingly handsome partner. How could you live with yourself if his dimpled smile wasn’t there to brighten any situation? How could you live with yourself if his grounding presence wasn’t there to calm you before missions? How could you… live without him?
Your voice was trembling now. “You could have died. Do you even understand that? If you hadn’t pulled me away from that grenade–” you cut yourself off, exhaling sharply.
He whispered your name, but you wouldn’t hear it.
“No, let me finish,” you said, your voice rising. “You threw yourself in harm’s way without even thinking, and I–” you buried your face in your hands, your body quivering like you had been reduced to some little girl- not a world class spy. “I can’t lose you. Not like this. Not when we’re so close, and when I still–”
He was in front of you before you could finish, he was crouching despite the sharp pain in his arm. He placed his hands gently on yours as he pried them away from your face. You met his gaze and it was sharp, like he could see to the depths of your soul.
“Hey,” he said softly, his voice steady. “I’m not going anywhere. Do you hear me? I’m right here, and we’re going to get that Codex. For your sister. For you. For us. But you’ve got to stop thinking the worst, or you’re going to drive yourself crazy.”
Your lower lip quivered but you nodded still. He was trying his hardest to comfort you, so despite the gnawing fear and doubt in your mind you believed him. Because when he was here with you, it felt like nothing in this world was impossible. Your eyes shimmered with tears, you refused to let fall, “You can't keep scaring me like this Jungwon.”
“I’ll try,” he said, his signature smirk softening into something more vulnerable and sincere. “But I’m not going to apologize for keeping you safe.”
You stared at him for a long moment, the weight of his words sinking in. He had done what he did, to protect you, he put his life on the line because he cared for you. Then something inside you broke– no, shifted. Before you could process what you were doing and meticulously overthink the consequences, your hands gripped the front of his shirt, and you kissed him.
It wasn’t soft or hesitant like the previous brushes of affection the two of you had. This kiss was deep, desperate, and full of the emotions that they two of you had buried for years. It was full of that desire that the two of you had danced around for so long. Your fingers curled tighter into his shirt, as though afraid he might disappear. He responded just as fiercely, his hands coming up to cradle your face, careful to avoid the still-tender bruises.
You couldn’t pull back from him- not until your last breath. Just like he had stood by your side promising to protect you till his last breath. But you had to when the air in your lungs ran out. Your forehead rested against each other as your breath came out in pants, mingling with his in the quiet room.
“I can’t lose you Jungwon.” you whispered out between pants. And this time when you looked into his deep brown eyes, you could finally decipher what they said. They declared his love and fear of losing you. But this time you didn’t dance around it. You faced the emotions head on, because now you finally had someone to love.
“Don’t get all mushy on me now sweetheart,” he said with a hint of his signature smirk in his voice, that now seemed to be something you could rely on no matter what.
Whatever this is, it isn’t perfect- far from it. But it's something that has been inevitable since you first saw the black haired man with his big boba eyes. And for a moment the tension lifted, and neither of you pulled away. You two stayed like that- close, vulnerable, and finally honest. It wasn’t easy and it definitely wasn’t perfect but it was real. And you knew that whatever came next, you would face it together.
˚₊‧꒰ა ♱ ໒꒱ ‧₊˚
Whispers of the underworld led you to this shining city. Monaco. But it wasn’t a whispering voice that had threatened you. No- Lloyd’s voice was firm and dangerous. ’You think your petty little agency will be able to protect your precious sister? I know where she is, I will get her- so have fun with your little lover boy while it lasts.’ and that's when the radio message had cut off.
Your agency was keeping your sister in lockdown. Apparently she knew something about a key? The key to unlock the Phantom Codex. Not just Lloyd but every criminal was racing to find her. You weren’t naive though. You knew there was only so much the agency could do. Criminals had their resources and they would stop at nothing for power.
That’s the reason your body was so tense as you leaned against the railing of the balcony. The shimmering city with its population of only the world’s most elite was alive this evening. The luxury and sports cars were lined up in front of the Casino de Monte Carlo. You had a clear view of the location where the Phantom Codex would be held. Lloyd apparently hadn’t let it out of his sight since the moment he got his hands on it. He had kept moving so no one could track him and steal his prized possession. Tonight he was here, and you had your sights set on it. Lloyd had no business with your sister and her information about the key if he didn’t have the Codex itself.
You practically jumped out of your skin when you felt his hands snaking around your waist. You grew even tenser before letting yourself bask in the way his lips moved slowly down your neck towards your shoulder. You weren’t accustomed to his affection but you had to say you weren’t complaining.
“You’re tense sweetheart,” he murmured when his mouth was right next to your ear. His breath fanning your skin, sent shivers down your spine.
“You were there Jungwon, he’s threatening her. My sister’s life is on the line..” you say as you stop his roaming hands. You had a really important mission to complete tonight. But he looked so damn irresistible when he stepped in front of you with the top buttons of his shirt undone, his sleeves rolled up to his elbow, and his smirk on his pretty lips.
“Baby, you have to trust that the agency will do their part,” he said as his hands remained on your hips, his thumbs tracing small soothing circles.
“You know that bastard Jungwon. He has the resources and the nerve, if we don’t get the Codex this time then its not only going to be my sister-”
Jungwon rested his hands on your cheeks as he tilted your head so you looked him in the eyes. “Hey. We’re not losing. Not yet. And not ever. You’ve got me, okay? I won’t let anything happen to her– or you.”
The rational part of you wanted to argue, to remind him that you’d already failed too many times, but the way he looked at you, so steady so sure. It made the rational side of you crumble as you believed his promise. Before you could say another word, he leaned down, pressing a soft reassuring kiss to your lips.
You stiffened in surprise once again, still not used to this gentler side of Jungwon. It was worlds apart from the cocky, aggravating partner you had grown used to. And yet, you resolve softened as you kissed him back, a reluctant smile tugging at your lips when he pulled away.
“I’m telling you, I should be handed an award or something- no normal person can get you to shut up as fast as me,” he teased, his familiar grin returning.
You rolled your eyes but the faint color in your cheeks gave you away. “You’re insufferable.”
“And yet, you kissed me anyway.”
Before you could retort, the shrill beeping of the burner phone you’d been using for intercepting communication interrupted you. Jungwon let his hands drop from your cheeks as he grabbed it. His face grew serious as he watched the small screen.
He held up the phone for you to see, “Lloyd is on the move,” he muttered, snapping the phone shut. “Looks like our Codex is on the move too.”
You nodded, already slipping into your professional mode. “Let’s go.”
˚₊‧꒰ა ♱ ໒꒱ ‧₊˚
The two of you were past all of the excitement and precarious bets of the casino, instead you were pressed behind a pillar. Lloyd and another criminal seemed to be having a meeting, maybe an alliance over the most powerful artifact in the world?
The air was filled with quiet but incriminating chatter as the two gave practiced smiles to each other. This was obviously going to end badly. So you planned to get the Codex and slip out before either of them noticed it was gone. It was almost time that the two powerful men would get up from the table to move to the bar. There was a sliver of opportunity when the Codex would be brought out by one of Lloyd’s men. Like you mentioned before- he wouldn’t let it out of his sight.
That would be the prime time where you could steal it right out of his dangerous hands and he wouldn’t even know till much later. That was the plan. The easiest, most simple plan. But there went Jungwon, with his killer instinct.
Right as the two men were about to move to the bar, some idiot criminal from the smaller leagues decided to get involved. You almost jumped in joy, this was perfect. All the focus was trained on that idiot and you and Jungwon could just slip in, get the Codex, and get out. You turned to tell Jungwon about the new plan- but when you turned to face him he was gone.
You cursed internally, you knew this would happen. Jungwon and his instinct, his need to do the right thing, his stupid moral compass. The criminal’s legs shook as he realized what a grave mistake he had made storming into the lion’s den. Jungwon though, didn’t seem to see the bigger picture. He stepped out from behind the marble pillar, his gun poised, he shot the two bodyguards that had the criminal in their grasp.
The criminal made a run for it but now the bullets rained onto you two. You forgot all about the Codex, in your mind now only one thought rang clear. Protect Jungwon. You lunged for him, pulling him back behind the pillar to shield him from the shower of hurt.
The men started making their way up the stairs but you were too fast. You grabbed Jungwon’s hand and pulled him behind you as you two ran for the window. The fall hurt, but not enough to forget the imminent danger the two of you would be in if you stayed here for any longer. You made a run for it and Jungwon wasn’t far behind. You were already fuming, this lead was very hard to find. It might even be your last one. Your last chance to protect your sister… After today’s events you knew Lloyd would try even harder to get to your sister. He didn’t want anything to hinder his progress to harness the power of the Codex.
˚₊‧꒰ა ♱ ໒꒱ ‧₊˚
In the hotel room you were done. You had worked night and day for that lead, for what?? For Jungwon to help some charity case of a criminal? The tension followed the two of you inside like an unwanted guest. Every inch of you was radiating fury. Jungwon walked in behind you, quiet for once, knowing that the storm was about to hit.
“You have got to be kidding me,” you snapped, spinning around to face him. Your voice was sharp and your eyes set ablaze. “What were you thinking, Jungwon?!?”
He sighed, running a hand through his disheveled hair. “I couldn’t just leave him there. He would’ve been killed.”
“And because of that, we lost the Codex. Again!” you shot back, your voice ringing. The fear of losing your sister was becoming far too real for your liking and right now- the only person to blame in your mind was Jungwon. “Do you even realize what’s at stake here? Do you even care?”
“Of course I care!” he said, his voice finally rising to meet yours. “But I’m not going to stand by and watch someone die if I can stop it.”
You laughed bitterly, throwing your hands into the air. “Great! You’re a hero. Congratulations!! Meanwhile Lloyd’s probably halfway across the world with the Codex. And you say that you can’t stand by and watch someone die?? Well that’s about to be my sister, and while you play the hero, I can’t even be there to save her life!”
Jungwon stepped closer, his jaw tight. “You think I don’t care about your sister? About the Codex? About you?”
“Actions speak louder than words Jungwon,” you said, your voice trembling with anger. “And your actions tonight told me that you’d rather play savior than focus on what actually matters.”
“Don’t you dare,” he said, his voice low and dangerous now. “Don’t you dare stand there and act like I don’t care. I’ve been right here with you, every step of the way. I’m the one who pulled you out of that explosion last week. I’m the one who's been patching you up after every mission.”
“And I’m the one who’s trying to keep us focused,” you snapped back. “You think I don’t see how reckless you are? How every time you're the one lets something slip, who makes us lose our lead?”
Jungwon took a step back, your words hitting him like a physical punch to the gut. “I’m doing my best, ___” he said, his voice quieter now but no less tense than before. “I’m not perfect, but I’m trying.”
“Trying isn’t good enough,” you said, your voice cracking. “We take so many lives everyday, it's our job. But you couldn’t let this one criminal die?? Even when my sister’s life is on the line??!”
There was a long pause, the weight of your words settling heavily between you two.
“You think I don’t know that?” he said finally. His voice was painstakingly raw. “You think I don’t feel that pressure every second of every day? That I don’t know if I screw up one more time, it’s all over?”
“Then why the hell do you keep screwing up?” you asked, your voice breaking now. You knew you were being unfair but you couldn't really bring yourself to care at the moment.
Jungwon looked away, his hands clenching at his sides. “Because I’m human, ___. I make mistakes. And yeah maybe I let my heart get in the way sometimes, but I’m not going to apologize for that.”
You laughed bitterly, shaking your head. “Your heart? Is that what we’re calling it now??”
“Yes,” he said firmly, stepping closer again. “Because whether you want to admit it or not, I care about people. I care about you. And I’m sorry if that gets messy sometimes, but it's the truth.”
You froze, your breath catching. He cared… he cared for you. For a moment, you looked like you might say something but instead, you turned away, pressing your hands to your face. Rubbing your temple in frustration.
“This isn’t about me,” you said after a long pause, your voice muffled.
“No, it’s not,” he agreed. “It’s about us. About the mission. About everything we’ve been through together. And if you think for one second that I don’t care as much as you do, then you don’t know me at all.”
You dropped your hands, turning back once again to face him. Your eyes were glossy, your anger had faded away into something more vulnerable. “I don’t know if I did the right thing. I don’t know if kissing you was right. And I don’t know if I can keep doing this,” you said quietly.
Jungwon was stunned for a bit, but he spoke again, his voice softer now. “You can. And you will. Because you’re the strongest person I know. And because I’ve got your back, no matter what.”
You shook your head, a stray tear escaping and slipping down your cheek. “You could’ve died tonight Jungwon. And for what? A stranger?”
“No, for doing the right thing.” He said simply.
You stared at him for a long moment, your emotions warred within you. Your undeniable care and love for Jungwon, and your worry for your sister and the millions of lives at stake. Finally you sighed, your shoulders slumping. “I don’t even know what to say to you right now.”
“Then don’t say anything,” he said, stepping closer and gently reaching out to take your hand in his own. “Just trust me. Please.”
You couldn’t help the way your breath hitched yet again at his touch. You didn’t pull away, but you didn’t look at him either, closing your eyes and breathing slowly. “I’m tired of losing, Jungwon.”
His grip on your hand tightened. He felt some hope flicker within him. “We’re not going to lose. Not you, not your sister, not this mission. I promise you.”
You finally opened your eyes and met his eyes. They were desperate and apologetic. Your heart made your gaze soften and the tension eased for just a moment. But just as fast, you pulled your hand away, your brain taking over now. You were never too good at thinking with your heart anyway.
“Get some rest,” you said, your voice steadier but colder now. “We’ve got some serious work to do.”
You could almost see his heart shatter. But he didn’t say anything, he just watched as you walked farther away. Farther away from whatever you two had started, farther away from his grasp, farther from these complicated emotions. He sighed, running a hand through his hair again.
“Good talk,” he muttered to himself before slumping onto the couch, the weight of the mission— and your fractured partnership– weighing heavily on him.
˚₊‧꒰ა ♱ ໒꒱ ‧₊˚
You woke up in a daze as the incessant ringing of your laptop startled you out of your subconscious. You groaned as you sat up, the digital clock showed 4 A.M. You heaved your laptop from the bedside table and opened it. It showed a contact that looked suspiciously like… your sister??
You were suddenly wide awake as you accepted the call. “Hello? Sora? Is that you..?” you whispered. It looked like your sister, but her surroundings were dimly lit and she looked pale. Concern shot up inside you. “A-are you okay? Where is the agency keeping you?”
She was breathing hard, she looked around agitated, “Hey sis, slow down slow down. I’m okay- but I don’t have much time. I found something… about your Mrs. Kwon.”
You furrowed your eyebrows, Mrs. Kwon? Well she had been acting a bit on edge but this was a huge mission. Your voice wavered at her cautious tone and your chest tightened. “What’s wrong? And Sora, where are you? Did something happen?”
Sora hesitated before whispering, “I’m okay, I’m escaping from where the agency kept me. But Mrs. Kwon.. she’s planning to use it for herself.. I heard her talking about how the Codex would give her leverage over every agency in the world. She’s going to blackmail people, threaten them, and use it as a weapon to gain power. She doesn’t have the right intentions and she’s a dangerous woman with all that power already.”
Your mind reeled from the information, “No… that doesn’t make any sense. The agency, we’re supposed to stop people like Lloyd, not become like him. Mrs. Kwon hates people like him. She.. she wouldn’t do that.” But you knew that she could pull something like this off. Still.. It hurt. It hurt to finally find out that the organization you dedicated half your life to, thinking you were helping people, it actually was all a fluke.
Sora saw the confusion and the pit that was forming in your stomach. She sensed it through the screen. Her voice broke slightly. “I don’t think you know what’s really happening, _____. You can’t trust them, you can’t trust anyone. Please be careful. I’m scared for you.”
You swallowed hard, your throat tight. Still you manage to give her a reassuring smile that seemed uneasy anyway. “I’ll figure this out, Sora. Stay safe okay? I’ll take care of myself, I promise, and I’ll protect you too no matter what.”
Sora nodded and returned your smile before the screen went dark. You sat frozen, still stunned at the revelation, your mind spinning. The betrayal felt like a knife twisting in your gut. How could the place- no, the person you put so much trust into stab you in the back like this?? It was done, years of your life had been wasted away but you wouldn’t let Mrs. Kwon do this. You wouldn’t blatantly let her harm innocent people. In two quick actions, you grabbed the burner phone and took out the chip, crushing the feeble metal in your hand. Betrayal burned in the pit that had formed in your stomach, you would stop that crazy lady. No matter what.
You pushed open the adjoining door to Jungwon’s room. He was sprawled out on the bed, his chest rising and falling steadily, the faint glow of the moonlight casting soft shadows on his face. For a moment your breath hitched, he looked so peaceful, so ethereal, almost like an angel- but the memories from a few days ago started to rush in again. Your gaze went from starstruck to cold once more as you stepped closer to his bed.
“Jungwon,” you said quietly, but he didn’t stir.
You took a step closer as you gently nudged his shoulder. “Jungwon, wake up.”
He groaned as he rolled over to face you. His eyes were still closed though. “_____, if this is about my snoring again-”
“Get up,” you snapped, your voice cutting through his grogginess. How could he be talking about his obnoxious snoring right now?
He blinked up at you, his confusion quickly replaced with concern when he saw your expression. He was so attuned to your feelings… “What’s wrong?”
You crossed your arms, your jaw tight. “Sora called. She overheard something about the Codex and Mrs. Kwon.” you say as you sigh softly, the dread and betrayal still fresh in your mind.
Hearing about the Codex woke Jungwon up completely. He swung his legs over the edge of the bed, his expression serious now. “What did she say?”
You hesitated, your voice quieter now. God- even you couldn’t believe it yourself. “Mrs Kwon, she doesn’t want to destroy the Codex. She wants to use it— for blackmail, for power. Everything we’ve been through, risking our lives…. It's all been for nothing. It’s a lie Jungwon.”
Jungwon was shocked for a moment just as you were. His mouth opened but no words came out. You could see the gears turning in his head. Despite your recent… differences, you knew he had risked his life for it too. You knew he had been through what you had for the Codex. He felt the same way you did. He ran a hand through his hair, his brows furrowed, “are you sure about this?”
“She overheard it directly,” you say as you start pacing around the room, feeling restless. “And she told me not to trust anyone. Not the agency, not anyone.”
He leaned back against his hands, exhaling sharply. “Well that’s just great. So, we’re completely on our own now? I mean we can’t just go back there and ask Mrs. Kwon to stop being evil nicely right?”
You rolled your eyes at his childish words, you stopped pacing to shoot him a glare. “Pretty much. Which means we need to figure out what to do next.”
Jungwon observed you carefully. Your shoulders tensed, your eyes absolutely refusing to meet his voluntarily, and your not so gentle bite of your lip. “You’re still mad.” Jungwon voiced, softly.
You turned away from him but your shoulders were still tense. “Mad doesn’t even begin to cover it.”
“Hey,” he said, his voice impossibly softer now, “I get it. I messed up. But right now, we’ve got bigger problems than my poor decision-making skills.”
“You think I don’t know that??” you snapped, spinning to face him. The fire now present in your eyes as you met his. “But I can’t just pretend everything’s fine when it’s not. You almost got us killed for some random criminal. And now Sora is out of any semblance of protection because of our stupid agency.”
He stood up. His expression was unreadable but a hint of determination lingered in his eyes as he approached you. “You’re right. I screwed up. But if there’s one thing you should know by now, it's that I’m not going to give up. Not on the mission. Not on people. And definitely not on you.”
Your breath hitched, damnit, he was making those stupid unnecessary nagging feelings bubble in your chest. But you quickly looked away as you spoke in an ice cold tone. “Don’t do this. Don’t make this about us Jungwon. This is about the mission. About Sora. About—”
“This is about everything,” he didn’t back down. Instead his tone was firm as he continued. “And whether you like it or not, we’re in this together. So, you can stay mad at me if you want, but I’m not going anywhere.”
You clenched your fists. You hated this, the way you even had to choose between your anger and the comfort his words provided. But even after all of what had happened- you could never bring yourself to hate him. “Fine. But don’t expect me to trust you like I used to.”
“I’ll earn it back” he said easily like it was the simplest thing in the world. His gaze never faltered either. And as much as you hated to admit it, in this uncertain time you were glad to have Jungwon there. At least you knew you had someone who would never tire of you. Who was there even if he made your blood boil.
You held his gaze as you challenged him silently. But he never backed down.. He never gave up on you. You broke away from his eyes as you sighed deeply. “We need a plan.”
Jungwon nodded. “Then let’s make one, yeah? Together.”
You didn’t respond but still silently sat down at the small desk to start mapping out your next move. You couldn’t help but glance at him from the corner of your eye. For all his flaws, you knew one thing for certain— Jungwon would fight for you, for Sora, for this mission. And no matter how angry you were, part of you couldn’t help but feel grateful for that.
After destroying the chip in Jungwon’s burner phone too, you both sat down with your own laptops. It was time to dig, for a lead, for a radio message, for anything that would help.
It took a while, but after multiple hours of trying to find something- anything a lead popped up. Lloyd had become sloppy with one of his radio messages. He had said something about going underground for a while. His estate in Russia, no one would be idiotic enough to penetrate his heavily guarded and almost unreachable mansion…. Except the two of you of course.
˚₊‧꒰ა ♱ ໒꒱ ‧₊˚
The storm raged over the sprawling Russian estate, casting an ominous shadow over the towering walls and wrought iron gates. Lightning illuminated the sprawling mansion, its sharp spires cutting into the dark sky. Dark walls with crawling vines seemed to threaten and ward off anyone who dared to enter. Icy rain poured down in sheets as it soaked through the gear that adorned your body. The sound of thunder masked the faint rustle of movement as you and Jungwon crouched in the dense shadows near the perimeter.
“This place screams ‘villain lair’” Jungwon mutters, his breath annoyingly warming up the back of your neck. He adjusted the hood of his black jacket against the freezing rain.
“Focus,” You said sharply, your voice barely audible over the wind. You didn’t spare him a glance, your gaze fixed on the towering structure ahead. More specifically on the armed men who were about to exchange shifts in just a matter of minutes.
Jungwon sighed, casting a sidelong glance at you. “Wow you sound like you’re going to bite my head off. Personally, I think you should wait until after we grab the Codex to kill me, yeah?”
You didn’t respond. Pressing on to the side entrance you were going to infiltrate. It didn’t help that this was the most important mission of your life. The Codex was finally in your sight again. Not to mention that Sora was still on the move. No place was safe for her as long as the Codex was at large. It was also absurdly hard to get here after you had gone MIA from the agency. Mrs. Kwon seemed to have gone crazy because she stopped some of the most important missions to employ the agents to search for you and Jungwon.
But what was worse was the ever annoying tension. It was cold and biting like the air that howled around you two. You didn’t like to say that you held a grudge, but your anger still lingered like a storm of its own. And though Jungwon tried to break through it with his normal flattery and charm, you wouldn’t budge. Not yet.
You moved once again the moment the men turned their backs to change shifts. Stopping by the gate, you pressed yourself against the wall as you were met with the high tech digital lock. “This is it,” you whispered as you nodded to the door. The lock looked a bit advanced but it's nothing you couldn't handle. You knelt as you connected your hacking device into the lock. Your fingers were steady despite the icy rain that soaked through your gloves.
Jungwon knelt beside you, watchful eyes scanning their surroundings. “Still can’t believe you stayed mad this long. You know, if we die here, it’ll make for a tragic love story.”
You shot him a glare for bringing your personal relationships (or lack thereof) into the conversation. “If we die here, it’ll be because you can’t stop running your mouth.”
Not even a minute after the lock clicked. You pushed the door open and closed it just as the next guards arrived for their patrol.
The interior of the mansion was cold and dark, the air heavy with the scent of damp stone and expensive leather. You moved in silence, your footsteps muffled by the thick carpet as you made your way towards the vault. You had to snicker at the hideous pictures of Lloyd that decorated the walls. Him in nothing but leopard fur, him showing off his (nonexistent) muscles, one with two girls fawning over him, and yet another where he was sitting on a pony?? Goes to show just how self centered he was.
You kept your focus sharp as you two sneaked silently towards the vault. You were blatantly ignoring how Jungwon’s presence at your side felt like both a comfort and an annoyance . You couldn’t afford to be distracted right now anyways.
Jungwon, for his part, stole glances at you whenever he could. The tension between you was eating away at him. He hated the thought that you didn’t trust him anymore. He thought about this every time, but today it felt more real. This mission could be your last, and he would hate to have that happen with you still angry at him.
The vault was hidden behind a bookshelf in one of the many studies this estate had. You had thoroughly researched beforehand. There shouldn’t be any people in this part of the estate right now. You turned to Jungwon abruptly as both of you got in place. Your tone was just the slightest bit accusatory as you gave him an unreadable look. “Once we are inside, you know the plan. No distractions, no detours.”
“Understood boss,” Jungwon said, his hands raising in mock surrender. The two of you tugged at the two dark blue books on each side of the study. There was some mechanical whirring behind the door, as it opened with a hiss. The huge metal vault sparkled at you, just the menacing door stood before you and the Codex now.
You ignored the jab and turned back to the vault door. It was protected by an intricate keypad and a biometric scanner. You pulled out the small device again as you started working once again. The gloves you wore would bypass the scanner no problem.
“Time’s ticking..” Jungwon murmured, his ears on high alert for any sound outside the closed study door.
“Almost… there” you said your voice tight with concentration.
The lock disengaged with a heavy click, and the vault door creaked open. Inside, the metal room glimmered with Lloyd’s wealth. Gold bars, stacks of cash, priceless artifacts, ancient jewelry, huge jewels. But at the center of the room, bathed in the glow of a single overhead light, was the long behold Phantom Codex.
The codex was exactly as you had remembered it. How could you forget the piece of tech that had basically ruined your life anyway? Obsidian black, diamond shaped, etched with glowing cerulean symbols. It seemed alive, faintly humming as you listened carefully. You had to shake your head so you didn’t get entranced like everyone had at the gala in Paris.
“There it is,” you whispered, your breath catching.
“Finally,” Jungwon said, carelessly stepping forward. But before he could even take a single step closer the floor detected his weight. In an instant, lasers shot from the walls as ear blasting sirens rang through the sound of the storm.
“MOVE!!” you shouted, as you dodged the lasers skilfully but Jungwon beat you to it. He snatched the Codex from the pedestal.
“I’ve got it, lets go!!” he yelled as the both of you could hear the thunder of the probably hundreds of guards all swarming to your location.
You both made your way outside the study. You could taste the adrenaline as the window in front of you taunted you. But this time you would do it. This was your escape, your victory.
Jungwon ran as fast as he could, his focus was on the window just the same as you. The pounding of boots and shouting of the men spurred the two of you to go even faster. You were just a few steps behind him.
That’s when you stopped. The bullet flew through the air as you felt time stop. Your eyes darted to Jungwon’s retreating figure, then to the guards that grew closer. The bullet pierced your abdomen. You felt the stinging pain, not from the blood that stained your gear– no. It was from the realization that this was it.
Still you didn’t care. Jungwon had secured the Codex, he would do what’s right. And you had to protect him no matter what. Instead of running to Jungwon, you turned your back to him. Facing the absurd amount of guards that closed in onto you. For Jungwon.
But while you tackled one guard to the floor, you knew it. There were way too many. You still placed a kick to another one as they surrounded you. You were sloppy, your movements too slow. Another guard grabbed your arm as suddenly, someone else lifted the butt of their rifle, bringing it down onto your back harshly. You felt pain through your entire being as you inevitably blacked out, watching the window shatter just like your freedom.
You fell unconscious. Your body crumpled.
˚₊‧꒰ა ♱ ໒꒱ ‧₊˚
Jungwon jumped through the window. The glass shards cutting his face as the rain immediately greeted him in the courtyard. He clutched the Codex tightly against his chest. He turned back, adrenaline and victory coursing through him. He expected to see you, standing victoriously beside him. That satisfactory smirk gracing your lips anytime you both succeeded in a mission.
But his heart dropped. There was no sight of you. He felt his blood run cold as his chest felt like it was caving in on him. No! This couldn’t be happening. He didn’t feel the tears stream down his face because of the rain that poured down onto him.
You were captured. Gone from his protection into Lloyd’s demonic hands. His hands shook as he held onto the Codex. He promised himself that he would get it for you. But not like this. Not at this cost. “DAMNIT!!” He yelled your name as his brain finally caught up with the events happening.
Fear for you clawed in Jungwon’s chest, but more than that white hot rage burned through him. So much so that it threatened to consume his whole being. The what-ifs of what Lloyd could do lingered in his mind for just a moment, but they disappeared the moment he imagined you at that bastard’s mercy. His hands clenched and his jaw set as he stared back at the estate. No rational thought in his mind. He couldn’t think of anything else– didn’t want to. The mission, the Codex, everything else blurred into insignificance. You were all that mattered.
Jungwon moved through the stone halls like a man possessed. He was soaked to the core but he didn’t once shiver. He let himself think with his instinct and his instinct alone. Something you probably would have reprimanded him for. But it was his instinct that was guiding him to you.
The guards who crossed his path didn’t stand a chance. Anyone who dared to move towards him was struck with precision and speed. His movements were raw and fueled by a fire that burned hot inside him. A punch to the throat, a kick to the ribs, a quick disarm— he left them crumpled in his wake, barely sparing them a second glance.
The Codex was clutched tightly in his hand. The dark obsidian surface shone with rain. Every time some stupid guard tried to grab it, he twisted away, taking them down before they could make a move. Like the big burly men were some flies he needed to flick away.
He was there, he was at the inner sanctum now. He was breathing hard and his gaze deathly. His focus never wavering.
The room where you were being held was flanked by at least ten guards. They stiffened at the sight of Jungwon, their weapons raised. But the sight of his gaze and rigid form struck fear into their hearts.
Jungwon didn’t slow down. “Get out of my way,” he growled out. His voice was low, dangerous, and shaking with rage.
The guards still stupidly didn’t budge.
Jungwon lifted the artifact that they all were after up high. “If you idiots don’t move. I’ll destroy this thing right here and now.”
The threat worked. The guards exchanged glances. Debating if they should really move and face Lloyd’s wrath or Jungwon’s. One of them moved and the others followed. Their eyes showed uncertainty but watching Jungwon move swiftly they knew they would have been done for if they hadn’t.
Jungwon almost broke the heavy wooden door down, his heart pounding as his eyes immediately sought you.
The room was dim, the occasional burst of lightning illuminating it. It was freezing cold and Jungwon observed how there were no guards inside. You were on your knees in the center of the room. Your hands tied behind your back in a rough grip that would leave your wrists red. Your hair was damp still, plastered to your forehead. But your expression remained fierce. Your head held high despite the position you were in. You refused to give in to Lloyd no matter what.
Your heart leaped in frustration and unbelievable relief as Jungwon burst through the door. It was so damn frustrating that he had done this, risked his life and the lives of so many others just for… you. Only for you. You couldn’t help but observe how rigid his form was. The moment he lifted his head to look at Lloyd, it scared you. You had never seen him this uncontrolled, this angry.
Lloyd was stood behind you with a gun pressed to the back of your head. His face split into a wicked, wide, mocking grin as Jungwon entered the room. The Codex sparkling blue in his grip.
“Well well,” he drawled, his voice oozing amusement. “The knight in shining armor returns. I must admit, I didn’t think you’d be stupid enough to come back for your little girlfriend.”
Jungwon’s gaze was locked on you. His fury only heightened once he saw how Lloyd was holding you at gunpoint. He shook his head as he straightened up. “You don’t understand what I’d do for her.” he said his voice barely audible but full of anger.
“Jungwon!! NO!!!” you shouted, finding your voice once again. “You shouldn’t be here!! Take the Codex and go!!” The shout made your bullet wound in your abdomen sting with unbearable pain, as you gritted your teeth.
Lloyd chuckled, amused by the little display. He menacingly nudged the barrel of the gun into your skull. “Listen to her boy. She’s smarter than you are.”
Jungwon ignored the both of you. His expression was hard, no one could tell what ran through his mind. His focus was entirely you. The grip he had on the Codex tightened. “Let her go, Lloyd!”
Lloyd almost laughed. He raised his eyebrows “and what position are you in to make that demand? Besides, why would I do that?? She’s quite the leverage. You hand over the Codex, or I blow her pretty little brains out.”
“Jungwon!!” you said in a warning tone, a certain urgency in your voice. “Don’t. Don’t give it to him. It’s not worth it. I did this so you could escape!! SO GO DAMMIT!!”
Jungwon’s heart clenched at the barely masked fear in your voice. His mind still pissed that you cared more about the stupid artifact more than yourself. How could you be so blind? You had to have known. To Jungwon, nothing mattered but you. “You want the Codex? Fine. Take it.”
“Jungwon no!!!” You yelled in vain.
He strode across the room and without hesitation, Jungwon tossed the Codex across the room. It landed at Lloyd’s feet, and the bastard’s grin widened.
“Ah~ the hero sacrifices everything for the damsel. How predictable.” Lloyd kicked the Codex aside and turned his evil eyes toward Jungwon again. “But you’re a fool if you think this ends well for you.”
He cocked the gun.
Jungwon moved before Lloyd could even think to pull the trigger.
With lightning speed, he lunged forward, grabbing a knife from his belt and throwing it with deadly accuracy. His fury at its peak, his vision completely red. The blade sank into Lloyd’s shoulder, forcing him to drop the gun and stagger back with a howl of pain.
You fell forward as the gun was wrenched away from him, landing hard on the cold stone tiles.
Jungwon couldn’t see anything but rage. He was already on Lloyd, tackling him to the ground and landing a flurry of punches. The sickening sound of flesh hitting flesh echoed through the empty chamber. The only other sounds being Lloyd’s groaning and Jungwon’s labored breathing.
“THIS IS FOR HER!!” Jungwon growled loudly, slamming Lloyd’s head into the floor. The crack of his skull was loud and clear, but Jungwon didn’t seem to hear it. “For all the people you’ve made suffer. For everyone you’ve hurt. For everything you’ve done!”
Lloyd was done. He was lifeless, his body limp but Jungwon didn’t stop. Jungwon didn’t think of any intel, of what use he could have been. All he could think of was slamming his skull into the floor over and over and-
“Jungwon stop!” your voice cut through his haze of rage.
His eyes seemed to finally refocus as the anger slowly dissipated. His heart clenched when he looked over his shoulder at how you were struggling to your feet, your hands still bound.
“He’s done..” you said in a soft whisper. “We need to go.”
Jungwon’s chest heaved as he stared down at Lloyd, who was lifeless. After he scowled at him, his eyes narrowing, he nodded and stood. Pocketing the gun that laid close to Lloyd. He picked up the damned Codex before making his way towards you.
No words were exchanged between the two of you as Jungwon untied your hands with surprising gentleness. Considering how angry he had just been it was astonishing how he handled you like a porcelain doll. The moment that your hands were free, you threw your arms around him, burying your face into his strong chest. You felt an inexplicable amount of relief and warmth as you were finally able to wrap your arms around him once again.
“You… you’re an idiot, Yang Jungwon.” you whispered, your voice shaking as Jungwon felt you wet his jacket that he wore. He hugged you back tightly. His hands wrapped around your whole body as he pulled you close to him. You cursed as the pain shot up in your abdomen once more.
He immediately pulled back as his hands rested carefully on your hips, “___?? What’s wrong?” he said with big boba eyes that showed nothing but concern.
“I’m okay won, just got shot.” you told him, the smile on your face looking like an idiotic grin. The tears still shone bright in your eyes. You ran your fingers through his soft locks as your eyes darted trying to memorize every single detail of his beautiful face.
“Just???-” he was about to tell you off, when the door flew open. The remaining guards poured into the room, guns drawn and shouting commands in Russian.
You and Jungwon immediately broke apart, your instincts kicking in. Jungwon reached for Lloyd’s gun in his pocket while you ducked behind him, your sharp eyes scanning for an opening.
“We’re not out of this yet,” Jungwon muttered, his tone laced with a mixture of irritation and exhilaration.
You smirked at him despite the chaos. The dynamic between you two undeniably felt right again, “thought you liked dramatic exits.”
Jungwon tilted his head, just barely dodging a bullet that whizzed past. “That I do.”
Jungwon fired a few warning shots wildly into the air. Forcing the guards to take cover as the two of you darted for the hallway. The storm still raged outside but there was a hint of blue skies not too far from the gray clouds. Thunder rumbled as the pair of you sprinted through the sprawling mansion. The ache in your abdomen was still present but you could bear it, because the taste of freedom was too sweet.
“You could’ve reminded me about the cavalry!” Jungwon called out over his shoulder as you rounded a corner, narrowly avoiding another group of guards.
You scoffed, breathless but focused. “I didn’t think you would be stupid enough to actually throw the Codex to Lloyd, but here we are.”
Jungwon laughed, his sweet stupid laugh. It rang out in your ears the sweetest melody you’d ever heard. “Anything for you babe! You know that.”
You couldn't afford the butterflies raging within you, but god you couldn’t stop them either. Just like the foolish grin that spread across your face.
The hallways seemed endless, a labyrinth of opulent decor and deadly ambushes. Guards spilled out from doorways, but you and Jungwon moved in a seamless unit. You kicked a marble bust, sending it crashing into the path of the pursuers, while Jungwon threw his knife that found its mark in another guard’s leg.
Finally, the mansion’s main entrance came into view, its grand double doors flanked by a pair of guards. You didn’t slow down one bit though, your mind racing. You didn’t have a plan sure, but you had Jungwon and his killer instinct. “Left or right?” you hissed at Jungwon.
“Both,” his eyes twinkled as he veered right.
You rolled your eyes, but couldn’t help the burst of joy as you saw the look in his eyes. You darted to the left, sliding low as you kicked one guard’s feet out from under him. Jungwon tackled the other, knocking his weapon away before landing a solid punch to his jaw.
The doors were pushed open by the two of you as the storm had seemed to ease up a bit. Rain still softly pelted you as you bolted down the stone steps toward the row of motorcycles parked outside. You flipped off the estate in the background, the grin not leaving your face. “HA!! You bastards!!”
You let out a breathless laugh as the two of you mounted the Kawasaki Ninjas. You grinned at Jungwon, for the first time in a while feeling the thrill of freedom and success. “How’d you know I’d have these ready?”
Jungwon revved the engine, smirking at you, “Because you’re you.”
“And what does that mean?”
“It means you're crazy detailed and brilliant as hell.”
Your stomach flipped at the unexpected sincerity in his tone, but there was no time to dwell on it. The two of you sped off into the night. Kicking back gravel and mud in your wake. Shots were being fired into the air but you were too far from the estate to worry about any of that.
˚₊‧꒰ა ♱ ໒꒱ ‧₊˚
The cool night air softly tousled your hair. The two roaring engines fell silent as the bikes came to a stop at a beach by the road. The two of you were far off the path of the storm and far enough away that Lloyd’s men weren’t catching up anytime soon. The air was biting at your skin but still it was calm. The only sound was the rhythmic crashing of the waves. The scene in front of you was truly breathtaking. Gray sands giving away to dark waves. Except the fact that the waves weren’t as black as they seemed. On occasion as some of them crashed onto the shore, they lit up to be an azure blue. Bioluminescence graced the waves curves and foam.
You had time to think. And while on the ride here you contemplated. Jungwon had done something foolish that had no guarantee of working out. But by some godly will it did. You couldn’t help but be just a bit pissed that you risked your life for him just for him to save you in the end. There was a small part of you that said to tell him off for it. Now that you were past the rush of adrenaline you could think clearly once more.
Jungwon had hopped off the bike shaking the water out of his hair. You couldn’t help but stop and stare for a second as he looked angelic. The moonlight illuminated his pale skin and the moon itself shone bright in his eyes. It’s like he was struck by the beauty of the moon. His broad shoulders tensed when he looked at you. Standing with your arms crossed and an unreadable expression on your face.
“I hope you know I’m not letting you off the hook. That was stupid what you did.” You say trying to sound stern but there was no real bite to your voice.
“I heard you loud and clear the first time.” He said with a chuckle leaning casually on his bike.
You huffed at his nonchalant attitude as you strode towards him. You poked his chest hard. “You threw the Codex at Lloyd like a fool! Do you realize how reckless that was?? You-“
“Saved your life?” He interrupted. His hand laced his fingers with yours as he leaned in closer. His voice dropped to something deeper, more serious.
You were frozen in place. It’s like your brain shut off once again when his hand was grasped in yours. He was way too close too. You could see the soft shadows so his eyelashes and his deep dimple poked out as he smirked. You opened your mouth to say something but the words died on your lips. He was right, he had saved your life. Again. You hated when he was right- you were supposed to be the smart one. You stared at him as your heart pounded for reasons you couldn’t entirely blame on anger.
“You put the entire world in danger,” you whispered, as if saying anything louder would break this perfect moment. “For me.”
His smirk softened into a smile as he brought his other hand up. Tucking a piece of damp hair behind your ear. His hand lingered for just a moment too long. He stared at you with so many emotions you couldn’t decipher them all. “Baby… you are my world.”
Your breath hitched. You were rendered completely speechless. The only sound was the waves beating on the shore and the thump of your heartbeat. The petname, the way his hand was still in yours, the way his eyes softened just for you. You didn’t think anymore, letting your instincts take over. Just like he would have done.
You grabbed him by the collar of his jacket as you stared into his moonlit eyes before your gaze landed on his lips. You shoved him against the side of his parked bike.
“You’re impossible.” You muttered, but the way your lips twitched threatening a smile betrayed your resolve.
“And you love it” jungwon managed to shoot back. His grin faltered the moment you pulled him down by his collar.
Your lips met in a collision of fire and fury, a kiss born of unspoken emotions and pent-up tension. It wasn’t soft or tentative; it was deep, desperate, and raw. The way your mouths moved in sync like they were trying to make up for lost time. The kiss was sure and firm.
His lips were soft, plump, and pillowy just as you had remembered them. You couldn’t lie and say that you hadn’t missed him. The way he slightly smiled into the kiss. His tongue darting out to trace the outline of your lower lip.
His hands found your waist. Making sure to be extra careful that he didn’t irritate the wound on your abdomen. But the way he slightly tightened his grip when his tongue finally entered your mouth, he was holding on like you might slip away again if he lets go.
Your hands were in his dark and damp locks as your knuckles curled around his soft hair. You tugged slightly, earning a low groan from him that vibrated against your mouth. The sound makes shivers run down your spine.
You pressed him harder against the bike. Your body molded to his in a way that felt like you were trying to crawl into his skin. His hands roamed over your back as he traced soft patterns, grounding you like an anchor in the moment.
“Jungwon-“ you whined when he pulled away for a breath. The sound only made him cup your cheek as he angled your head while he went in again. You couldn’t resist whimpering against his mouth when he caressed your cheeks with so much tenderness you could melt.
It wasn’t just a kiss— it was a release, a declaration, an unspoken promise. The world faded into the background, nothing seeming to matter more than the two of you right now. It only left the two of you, connected in a way that felt inevitable.
When you finally pulled apart, your breaths came in ragged gasps. Your forehead rested against his and your hands remained on his shoulder. You looked into his eyes. And you knew this was right, you’d never felt anything more intense than this. You needed Jungwon and the way he stared right back at you, you knew he needed you too.
“You drive me up a wall Jungwon. Don’t ever scare me like that again.” You whispered. Your voice breaking.
Jungwon chuckled softly as he ran his thumb over your cheek with love in his eyes. His own breathing uneven, “no promises.”
You stayed like that for a few moments. Wrapped up in each other. Just enjoying the other’s presence and touch. But you stepped back slowly, your hands trailing down Jungwon’s built chest before falling to your sides. Your gaze dropped to the object that stuck out of his pocket— the Phantom Codex, its dark, intricate surface glinting in the moonlight.
You slipped it out of his pocket. Staring at some stupid piece of tech that almost ruined your life and the lives of many more innocent people. The blue hue that it exuded along with the faint whisper of the symbols moving were almost trying to convince you to stop. But without hesitation you held it up in the air before slamming it against the asphalt with all your strength.
It was done. The Codex shattered into a million pieces, shards scattering across the sand. The sound echoed briefly before being swallowed by the night.
You straightened your posture as you turned to Jungwon. It was gone. Your sister was free and Mrs. Kwon’s evil plan had come to a halt. Your eyes were a mix of joy, fierceness, and determination.
“It’s over.” You stated simply.
Jungwon nodded, a small, proud smile tugging at his lips. He slipped his hand on your shoulder as he pulled you close once again. His lips brushed against the crown of your head. “It is.”
You had to gasp softly as the horizon began to blush with the first rays of dawn. Jungwon’s arm fell as he stared in awe at the world slowly emerging once again from the embrace of the night. The golden light stretched over the waves, illuminating the water in hues of pink and gold. The storm had long passed, and the gentle breeze carried the salty tang of the sea. The world was quiet, peaceful.
You felt the breeze nip at your skin as you hugged your arms around yourself. Jungwon noticed and he silently draped his jacket over your shoulders. You glanced at him, your lips curving into a small smile you didn’t bother hiding.
“You’re really laying it on thick aren’t you?” You teased, still pulling the jacket closer.
“Can you blame me?” Jungwon replied with a grin. He stepped closer to you standing by your side with his hands in his pocket like he wasn’t just making out with you a minute ago. “It’s not everyday I get to watch the sunrise with the love of my life who happens to be the woman who also saved the world.”
You tried to hide your blush but it crept up on you anyway. Your smile softened as your gaze returned to the horizon. The rising sun painting your face with warmth. You looked like you were glowing to Jungwon. But even with the warmth your thoughts were heavy. “We didn’t save the world- there is no saving it. We just stopped it from getting worse.”
“Same difference,” Jungwon said lightly. “And we’re not done yet.”
You nodded, your eyes scanning the open sea that stretched in front of you. “We’re on the run now. The agency won’t stop hunting us”
Jungwon smirked. Hid confident aura returning, “let them try princess. We’ve outsmarted Lloyd and destroyed the Codex. What’s a few corporate nerds?”
You rolled your eyes but you couldn’t suppress the laugh that escaped your lips. “You really don’t know how to take anything seriously, do you?”
“Not true,” he said, stepping even closer as his voice softened,. “I take us seriously.”
Your heart skipped a beat as you looked away desperately trying to hide the blush and idiotic grin that threatened to break. “Don’t get all sappy on me now.”
“Too late.” He grinned , reaching out to brush some hair out of your face. “____, we’re free now. No rules, no lies, no one pulling the strings but us. We can make a real difference, fight the way we want to fight.”
Your expression shifted, the weight of his words settling over you. For years, you had operated within a system that used people like tools. Simply sacrificing lives for power plays. Now, standing here with the man who had saved you from danger and yourself multiple times, you felt the stirrings of something your prior life hasn’t allowed: hope.
The sun crept higher. It’s light washing away the remnants of the night, and with it, the shadows of your past.
“If we are going into this chaotic world of crime, corrupt organizations, and horrible people. I’m glad you’re the one I’m doing this with.” Jungwon said suddenly.
You could hear your heart beating in your ears as you grinned like an idiot. “Good. Because you’re stuck with me Jungwon.” You wrapped your arms around his neck as you took him in again.
“No one I’d rather be with,” he whispered, his lips brushing against yours.
It was morning now. The sun had finally risen. The path ahead was clear despite the dangers that lurked at every turn. The rays washed both of you in warmth as your lips met for the nth time. Your life had only just begun, and it was going to be a wild ride.
#jungwon x reader#enhypen x reader#yang jungwon#jungwon scenarios#yang jungwon x reader#jungwon x you#jungwon x y/n#Jungwon smut#enha x reader#jungwon enhypen#Jake#heeseung#jay#Niki#jungwon fluff#enhypen au#enhypen oneshots#enhypen x y/n#enhypen x female reader#yang jungwon angst#Hoonjayke for inspo for the outline!!
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જ⁀♡⊹。° always picking a fight
( alexis ness x fem! reader )
♡ a/n — i love ness so here's ts i wrote at 1:30 AM ( MANGA SPOILERS FOR MOST RECENT CHAPTER )
♡ word count — 1.1k
♡ content — alexis ness x fem! reader, fem! reader, established relationship, hinted that ness and reader have known each other for a while, kaiser's an ass, kaiser and reader fighting, violence ( reader slaps kaiser )
♡ synopsis — There was only two ways to describe Alexis Ness—loyal to a fault, and yours completely.
Alexis Ness thinks you’re insane.
Because who in their right mind would walk up to the star of Bastard München, Michael Kaiser, and slap him? Who would storm past the press, security, and their own boyfriend to get in the face of The Emperor himself?
But here you are—eyes blazing, voice steady despite the storm brewing in your chest—standing toe-to-toe with Michael Kaiser like you’ve got nothing to lose.
And then your hand strikes his face, sharp enough to leave a faint red mark blooming across his cheek.
“What the hell is wrong with you?” you spit, words laced with venom. “How dare you talk to him like that?”
Kaiser barely flinches, though the press of his tongue to his cheek betrays his surprise. “Excuse me?” he says, voice dripping with condescension, his gaze flicking past you to where Ness is awkwardly hovering. “Ness, is this your girlfriend? You should teach her some manners.”
Your glare sharpens, and Ness stiffens behind you, already moving to intervene. “Kaiser, let’s not—”
“No, Alexis,” you cut him off, your voice slicing through the tension like a knife. “Let’s not pretend this is okay.” You take a step closer to Kaiser, finger pointed at his chest. “Do you think you’re untouchable? That you can just say whatever you want and everyone’s supposed to bow down and take it? You told him to quit soccer. Do you know how hard he’s worked for this? How much he’s given up just to stand on the same damn field as you?”
Kaiser smirks, the kind of infuriating grin that makes your blood boil. “Oh, please. If he’s so delicate that one comment from me shakes him, maybe he should quit. I don’t have time to babysit dead weight.”
“Dead weight?” you echo, incredulous. “You’re one to talk. You’d be nothing without someone to pass you the ball. Or did you forget that soccer is a team sport, Your Highness?” The tone you spoke the nickname full of nothing but sarcasm and distain.
Ness steps forward, his voice soft and pleading. “(Y/N), please, it’s fine. I—”
“It’s not fine!” you snap, turning briefly to look at him, your expression softening for a fraction of a second before you whip back around to face Kaiser.
“You’re not fine. You’re allowed to make mistakes, Alexis. You’re human, no matter how much this prick thinks he’s better than everyone else.”
Kaiser raises an eyebrow, clearly amused. “Wow, Ness, you’ve got yourself a firecracker. Tell me, do you keep her on a leash, or does she just run wild?”
' Oh. ' Ness thinks.
" Oh ?" You say, your eyes narrowing and before you can think twice, your hand raises again, but Ness catches your wrist just in time. “(Y/N), stop,” he murmurs, his voice strained but gentle. “It’s over. Let’s go.”
For a moment, you’re frozen, chest heaving with anger, your glare still locked on Kaiser. But then you see the way Ness’s shoulders are hunched, how his eyes are darting to the ground as if he’s trying to make himself smaller.
And just like that, the fight drains out of you.
You let Ness guide you away, your hand still trembling in his. You can feel Kaiser’s smug gaze burning into your back, but you don’t look back.
The walk back to your shared apartment is silent, the tension thick enough to choke on. Ness doesn’t say a word, and neither do you. You’re still fuming, but the anger isn’t directed at him.
When you finally step inside, the silence feels suffocating. Ness closes the door softly, setting his bag down by the wall, and you shrug off your coat with more force than necessary.
“Do you want to talk about it?” Ness asks quietly, his voice cautious, like he’s testing the waters.
You shake your head, avoiding his gaze. “No.” Your voice is thick with emotion, the one syllable wavering as you hid your face from him.
But he knows you better than that. He always has.
He’s seen this pattern too many times—how your fiery outbursts always burn brightest when you’re protecting someone you love, and how the aftermath leaves you raw and vulnerable. He knows you’re trying to hold it together, but the cracks are already showing.
“(Y/N)...” Ness starts, his voice hesitant. He takes a tentative step closer, watching you carefully, like you might break if he moves too fast.
“I’m not crying,” you blurt out, your voice shaky.
His lips press into a thin line. “I didn’t say you were.”
You let out a bitter laugh, and that’s when the tears start to spill, hot and unrelenting. “He shouldn’t talk to you like that,” you choke out, your voice trembling with the weight of your emotions. “You don’t deserve it. You don’t deserve any of it.”
Ness is by your side in an instant, his arms wrapping around you in a gentle but firm embrace. “Hey, hey,” he murmurs, his voice soothing. “It’s okay. I’m okay.”
“No, you’re not,” you whisper, burying your face in his chest. “You just don’t want to say it. You’ve always been too nice, too... loyal. Even when people don’t deserve it.”
He sighs softly, resting his chin on top of your head. “I’m sorry,” he says, and the sincerity in his voice makes your heart ache. “I didn’t mean to make you so upset.”
You pull back slightly, just enough to look up at him through tear-filled eyes. “You didn’t do anything wrong. You never do. That’s the problem, Alexis. You let people like that shaggy haired fuck walk all over you, and it’s not fair.”
He brushes a tear from your cheek with his thumb, his touch impossibly gentle. “I don’t care what Kaiser thinks of me,” he says softly. A lie, and you both know it.
“I care about you. And seeing you like this... it hurts more than anything he could ever say to me.” Alexis Ness had taken many verbal lashings from Kaiser, but nothing would hurt him more than seeing you hurt because of him.
You sniffle, a fresh wave of tears threatening to spill over. “I just... I hate seeing people treat you like you’re nothing. Because you’re everything to me, Alexis. You always have been.”
For a moment, he doesn’t say anything, his eyes searching yours. Then he pulls you close again, holding you like you’re the most precious thing in the world.
“I don’t deserve you,” he whispers, his voice barely audible.
“Yes, you do,” you reply fiercely, your words muffled against his chest. “You deserve everything, Alexis.”
The two of you stand there in the quiet of your apartment, holding each other as the weight of the day slowly starts to fade. You know the fight isn’t over—not with Kaiser, not with the world—but in this moment, it doesn’t matter.
All that matters is the way Alexis holds you, steady and unwavering, as if he’s trying to absorb all your pain and make it his own.
And maybe he is. Because that’s just who Alexis Ness is—loyal to a fault, and yours completely.
is ness also batshit crazy? sometimes, but i think he'd be more vulnerable with a gf
likes, comments, and reblogs are appreciated!
#★ · airybcbyy#blue lock x you#blue lock x reader#blue lock#bllk x y/n#bllk fluff#bllk imagines#bllk x reader#bllk manga#alexis ness#alexis ness x reader#alexis ness x you#ness x reader#bllk x you#airy posts#alexis x reader#bllk#airy answers asks :)#blue lock x reader angst#micheal kaiser#kaiser
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The Wayne Twins
Twin!Damian Wayne x Twin!Reader
Summary: a requested story on how Damian and Reader are twins. Talia gave up reader to Bruce, but kept Damian secretly. Damian arrives in and finally meets his father and sister.
A/n: Honestly I was so stuck with this request so I kinda just left it with an abrupt end, I tried my darnedest.
Damian has a strong held belief that his family dynamic is incredibly messy. Future psychologists will use the Al Ghul Family as a case study in their research�� figuratively of course, no one can know of the Al Ghul family- let alone their issues.
Damians swears he’s not just some angsty pre-teen cursing his family for being the worst. His grandfather is the head of an elite assassination and expects him to take over the family business… killing people. Try having a narcissistic mother who started training her newborn before the umbilical cord was even cut and kills you at any given point as part of your training only to bring you back to life in the Lazarus pit... yeah, it’s messy.
Even worse. Try having a father, who no one dares to speak of. Did Damian’s father abandon him? Or is he dead? Does he even know about Damian? Does he even care?
Damian wasn’t sure. And it was clear that no one was going to supply any answers.
If Damian wanted to meet his father, he’ll have no choice but to seek him out. It was evident his mother was never intending to share any information for the foreseeable future.
Finally.
After months of unrelenting search, Damian finally uncovered the truth.
Bruce Wayne, Gothams wealthiest man is his biological father. And really, Damian isn’t surprised his father is so accomplished, it’s all simple genetics.
But the real cut-throat realisation came when Damian realised that Bruce was unaware of Damian’s existence, and that Bruce had other adopted children in his place.
Dick Grayson, Jason Todd, Tim Drake and Y/n Wayne.
As the rightful heir, there’s nothing more frustrating than seeing others gain what is rightfully yours.
But it wasn’t until Damian stood at the front door of Wayne Manner had he realised with great certainty that Y/n might actually be a blood relative.
Ignoring the fact they look nothing alike, Y/n had similar features to Bruce, or maybe it’s that Y/n had the same mannerisms as her father. Considering she was pictured with Bruce since a baby, it’s natural to pick up the same behavioural mannerisms as the person who raised you.
“Okay kid- how’d you get over the electric fence, laser sensors and bypass security cameras?” You drawl taking a slurp of your boxed juice as you stare out boredly at the unexpected visitor.
“Kid?! We are the same age!” Damian defends as you look down at him from the tip of your nose.
“Hmmm- sureeee…” Your condescending tone grates irritably on Damian’s nerves.
“I am here to reinstate my rightful place as father’s legitimate blood-son.” Your face sours as you stare down at Damian.
“Oh yeah? Who’s your mother?” You snort decisively. There’s no fucking way you’d even entertain such a claim.
“Tahlia Al Ghul.”
Well shit.
#dc imagine#dc x reader#batboys x reader#batboys imagine#damian wayne x reader#platonic!Damian Wayne#Twin!Damian Wayne#robin x reader#damian wayne imagine
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running in circles, now look what you’ve done.
synopsis — tension grows between you and daniela as you’re faced with newfound feelings.
friends with benefits, suggestive, fluff, angst, swearing, jealous!reader, lesserafim 6th member!reader
now playing: friends, chase atlantic.
a/n: continuation of this. reader & dani need to get their shit together, reader is also kinda an asshole :/ she’s really trying tho !!! this is like lowk sad-ish WHOOPS. the previous imagine focused mainly on dani, so this one will showcase reader’s feelings :)
++ in honor of reaching 111 followers i wrote this longer than i planned for <3
the week flies by, and before you know it, you’re in LA for a couple days, busying yourself with scheduled photoshoots. you’re jet lagged by the time you’ve landed, wanting to only crawl into bed and sleep for hours. the friday comes and goes, and you’re exhausted by the end of it from the rigorous routine of changing into different outfits and fittings, having your makeup retouched constantly.
currently, you were sitting at the dinner table of your apartment here in LA, impulsively buying it after hearing the complaints of yunjin about staying in hotels every time lesserafim came to the states. your hair was damp from the shower you’d had half an hour ago, and you were nursing a warm cup of tea.
the sound of the face time ringing echoed around the room, leaning back against the chair as you waited for daniela to pick up.
the chiming notes alerted you that your face time was answered, and you smiled immediately seeing the curly haired girl come into frame.
“hey.” you said quietly, but your voice was filled with clear enthusiasm.
daniela shuffled around, her room door closing in the background. “shit, sorry. lara wouldn’t leave me alone.” she leaned back against the headboard, balancing her phone on her knees. “what’s up?”
at the mention of her member, you felt your chest tighten. it wasn’t a secret that all katseye girls were close, and while you were mostly fine with it, something about daniela and lara’s friendship irked you.
you shrugged the feeling off, focusing on the latina in front of you through the screen. “nothing, really. the shoots went well, and i got here about an hour ago.”
daniela nodded, listening intently. “were the outfits any good?”
you grinned, humming loudly. “yep, i think you’ll like them a lot when they’re posted. but fair warning, i looked really hot, so try not to fall in love with me or anything.”
the blonde rolled her eyes in a light hearted manner, “oh please. never in a million years.”
you chuckled, loving the teasing game between you and her. it was times like this when you really enjoyed your friendship, being able to match one another’s energy despite your agreement.
“ouch,” you dramatically placed a hand over your heart, clutching at your chest. “you wound me, dani.”
daniela giggled noisily, smiling so wide that her dimples showed. “i’m excited to see you tomorrow.”
you swallowed down some of your tea, the taste nice and sweet. adjusting yourself in the dining room chair, you propped up your leg to lean your head against it. “me too.”
without realizing it, daniela’s hand reached to play with your necklace around her neck. the action caused you to follow her movements, stomach fluttering.
“so, are you going to tell me about this surprise or what?” she attempted to get it out of you, like she’d been doing for the past week.
“ah uh,” you tutted and cheekily wagged a finger at her. “that’s not how surprises work.”
“pleaseee.” she begged, whining as she threw her head back. daniela looked at you a moment later, trying her best to coax you with her eyes.
“you know your charms don’t work on me like that.” you clicked your tongue, the tug of you slips never leaving.
daniela squinted at you, her voice dropping an octave. “they worked enough to get you into bed with me.”
your reaction was comical, looking gobsmacked at her, mouth hanging open. a second later, a sheepish laughed escaped you as you ducked your head down, trying to hide your blush.
“now we’re shy all of a sudden?” she added on, her teasing grin still in place.
“shut up!” you hollered at her. your body felt warm, and you were sure your cheeks were redder than ever by now.
“i think it’s cute.” daniela told you, beaming at you. her eyes crinkled at the sides as happiness ran through her like electricity.
when you finally recomposed yourself, and daniela decided you’d had enough of her teasing, the conversation flowed easily between you two, going from the different work schedules to shows you were recently into.
time seemed to pass by quickly, and it wasn’t long before telling daniela was telling you her goodbyes after seeing you let out yawn for the second time.
after hanging up and bidding her a goodnight, the remnants of the call lingered with you. though you were tired a second ago, your mind was filled with the thoughts of daniela. a warmth spread from your heart, and you could tell you were carefully threading on the line of thinking her as more than a friend.
the realization scared you, knowing that what was going on between you and her was strictly fun and games.
you were never good with feelings, it was why most of your relationships had ended up in flames, the only exception being kazuha. romantic entanglements always left you feeling empty — whether that was because of the way you saw yourself, pushing others away for self preservation, or the way you’s seen love around you crash and burn, you weren’t sure.
so, with a heavy sigh, you buried it deep inside, deciding to deal with it another day.
you were rarely an angry person, you prided yourself on that. but now, staring at daniela’s instagram story of her and lara, the dark feeling coursed through your veins.
it was a simple photo, one that wouldn’t bother any other person. but what had you clamping your teeth together was the hand placement of lara. her fingers wrapped around daniela’s waist lowly, hugging her close against her body as they stood side by side.
you scoffed, trying to get the image out of your head. daniela would be at your apartment soon, you’d texted her the address earlier in the day, and you didn’t want to ruin your little surprise with your sour mood.
twenty minutes passed by — daniela was late. you usually didn’t fret much on people being on time, especially if it was for a casual hangout, but knowing who the girl was with at the moment blurred your rational thinking.
when she finally reached your place, the door was quickly being closed behind her and she barely had a chance to register her surroundings before you were pressing her against the door, lips attaching to hers.
daniela gasped, startled by your sudden movements. her body melted into yours, fingers digging into the waistband of your pants. your hands fell to her hips, gripping them harshly in the same place lara’s hands were, squeezing the flesh delicately, as if staking your claim. your tongue dipped out to run along her bottom lip, asking for entrance. daniela denied you, leaning her head away as you chased after her.
her hands left your waistband and she placed them on your chest, “someone’s eager.” she chuckled, her lipstick now a mess.
“just missed you,” mumbling hazily, you breathed out in heavy pants. “and i had a really long day yesterday.”
daniela smirked and leaned up until we lips were touching the shell of your ear, whispering lowly. “planning to fuck your frustrations out on me?” she was teasing you, drawing out a deep rumble from you.
one of your hands released the grip on her hip, cupping her jaw as you moved her back to face you and closing the tiny gap between you two.
“you talk too much.”
whatever daniela wanted to say next was swallowed down as you pressed a harsh kiss to her lips once again. you tasted hints of caramel on them, feeling like you addicted and she was your fix.
your body pressed further into hers until your hips rocked together, and your hand made its way into her hair, wrapping your fingers around her curls. daniela’s hands on your chest trailed over until they were gripping your bicep, digging her nails into them. she sighed heavenly, kissing you back with just as much force.
when the need for air was too much, you both parted, breathing heavily. your mind was still reeling from the jealousy you felt, so you hung you head low as your forehead was placed on the junction between daniela’s neck and shoulder.
her body slumped against the door, skin tingling as your hands snuck under her shirt, holding onto her torso.
you were breathing together now, as if you were one person. chest to chest, daniela’s heart beat rapidly against her rib cage. she couldn’t tell that your eyes were closed, trying to recollect yourself, and when you pulled away from, the silver chain of your necklace caught your attention.
at the sight of it, your mind cleared. the jealousy faded away and all that was left was a warm glow in your chest.
your fingers delicately took hold of the necklace, smiling gently. “you’re wearing it.”
daniela gazed at you, pupils dilating. “of course.” she said quietly, “it feels like i have a part of you with me.”
your breath hitched at her words, stuttering for a moment. her hand reached for yours, the necklace dropping around her neck as your fingers locked together.
“tell me about the surprise now.” daniela peered at you, pouting lightly.
you chuckled, finally stepping away from her and pulled her along with you, your hands never letting go of one another.
gesturing around you with your free hand, your lips tugging into a smile seeing the fully furnished place. it was an open floor plan, big enough to have two couches in place, a coffee table, an entertainment system with a flat screen tv, and a dining room on the other end of the room.
daniela looked around, taking in the place though her confusion was visible. you quietly snickered to yourself, running your thumb along the back of her hand.
“i bought it a while ago so that whenever the girls and i come to the states we have a place to crash.” you briefly explained, a gentle smile gracing your features as you observed daniela’s reaction.
“i wanted you to be the first to see it.”
in an instant, her stare shot from looking at the decor to yours. her grip tightened, squeezing your hand for a short second.
and there it was, the stars in her eyes.
hanging in air was the unspoken feelings between you and daniela. the atmosphere around you was soft and intimate, falling deeper into one another.
“yn…” she laughed breathlessly, “this place is amazing.”
you shrugged, keeping your gaze on her as she looked around for a second time. “i figured a hotel would be too risky, especially with paparazzi, so i thought we could spend the night here.”
daniela looked at you again, her grin widening. she used your intertwined hands to pull you closer until your body crashed into hers. she kissed you gently, with such passion and intimacy it made your head spin.
you stopped the kiss for a brief moment, tugging her into the direction of the hallway, a dark glint in yours eyes.
“come on,” you faced her, walking backwards. “the rest of the surprise is in the bedroom.”
daniela giggled, kissing you once again. you laughed together as you made your way to the bedroom in a flurry of kisses, yanking on one another’s clothes and almost tripping over your own feet in your rushed movements.
soft music echoed around the apartment, you and daniela sitting together on couch cushions by the coffee table. takeout boxes were littered on the glass surface, the food half eaten.
there’s a certain comforting feeling surrounding the both of you. daniela was wearing one of your oversized shirts, the sleeve reaching her elbow.
you sighed contentedly, wiping your hands on a napkin and tossing it into the table. “i forgot how hungry sex makes you.”
daniela chortled, “what a romantic thing to say.”
“i try.” you shrugged lightly, grinning like a cat.
she shoved your arm softly, mumbling something incoherent under her breath. you broke into a fit of giggles at her faux angry look. her eyebrows were scrunched together cutely, and her lips were pressed together in a thin line.
you softly nudged on her frown lines, earning a swat on your hand from the latina. she tried to seem annoyed, but the smile you had caused for her own to form.
the two of you settle in a pleasant silence, enjoying one another’s presence. you felt content, thinking you could get used to nights like this with daniela.
“can i ask you something?” her voice breaks the peacefulness. you hummed, leaning your back against the couch and looked at her, tilting your head towards her.
daniela paused, contemplating if she really wanted to ask this. it’d been on her mind for weeks now, ever since the conversation with megan, and the curiosity was killing her. her fingers were wringing together in nervous. she spoke so softly, you had to strain your ear in order to hear her.
“why didn’t you tell me about kazuha?”
the question hangs in the air. you hadn’t expected her to ask this, you weren’t even aware she knew about your and your group member.
“mmh?” your eyebrows creased together, now facing daneila.
“you and kazuha.” she repeated, voice firm. “why didn’t you mention it?”
the latina watched you carefully as you sighed and sat up, staring in front of you. the sudden shift in the room weighed on her, and she feared she had said something wrong. she opened her mouth to tell you never mind, to forget she even asked, but your voice stopped her.
“i didn’t say anything because i didn’t think it was important.” you shrugged carelessly, longingly looking ahead of you. “kazuha and i were together around the time of our debut. she and i were getting closer, and it just sorta… happened.”
you swallowed down a lump that formed at the memories briefly playing in your head. “but it’s over. it was over long before you and i started this.”
in a flash, the memories left your mind. your chest felt heavy, but the lingering scent of daniela’s perfume brought you back. you reminded yourself that kazuha was in the past, and you were better off as friends in any case.
daniela couldn’t stop herself from staring at you, your body language now closed off. it was clear that her question had changed the mood.
“okay.” she mumbled, hushed and quiet.
as you struggled between your past and present, you wet your bottom lip, suddenly becoming aware that you had never spoken about kazuha before, so how did daniela hear about it?
you looked her at in suspicion, “how did you know about that, anyways?”
“does it matter how i know?” daniela retorted quickly, eyebrow raised in defense.
“yes.” you stated, your voice indicating that you were beginning to feel annoyed. “because the only people who’re aware about kazuha and i are my members, and if you knew then you must be talking to one of them, or something.”
“i’m not talking to any of your members, yn.” daniela denied, feeling as if your accusing tone was uncalled for.
“good.” finally turning to look into her eyes, you gave her a pointed gaze. “we agreed to keep this a secret, remember?”
“how can i not remember? you never let me forget it.” she countered bitterly, folding her arms on her lap tightly.
the gravity of the situation took a turn, you could sense it. what was once calm waters was now turning into a high tide. the feelings you and daniela kept hidden beneath the surface came bubbling out in the worst way possible.
daniela was getting defensive and rightfully so, while you had displeasure overpowering your emotions, acting irrationally, spewing out words without giving it an ounce of thought.
“dani, our members can’t know.” you stressed, sitting up to face her fully. “they’ll just try and get involved, ask all sorts of questions, worry about us.”
the blonde squinted at you in disbelief, waving her hand around. “obviously they’ll worry, they’re our friends.”
“it doesn’t matter!” you screeched out, face contorting into one of anger. “it’s better for the both of us to be a secret.”
you got up from your position on the floor, setting the couch cushion back in its place on the furniture. daniela followed your movements, standing across from you, and even though you were right in front of her, it suddenly felt as if you were miles apart.
“right, a secret.” daniela scoffed, looking off to the side. her arms were rigid at her side, clicking her tongue over her teeth.
“or are you just worried how a certain member will react if she finds out?” she questioned, using the same accusing tone you had on her.
you brushed your fingers through your hair, messing it up even more. all you could do was stare at her, jaw clenched at this unbelievable impression she had of you and kazuha.
you blinked, gaze now glaring at her. “don’t do that..” you sighed, shaking your head.
“do what?” she asked, titling her head mockingly.
“say things like that and expect me to read between the lines!” you yelled out, the anger you felt now being put out in the open.
it was alarming how quickly daniela’s demeanor changed. in a split second, her look of wrath and jealousy turned into a blank expression. she swallowed, her throat bobbing up and down. the latina looked around the room, her body feeling exhausted from her rise in temper.
“i think i should go.” she announced, gesturing to the door.
“fine.” you waved, shutting yourself away from her. your voice was cold, “go.”
daniela huffed, not sparing you a second glance as she hurriedly collected her things. when she exited the bedroom, coming out from the hallway fully dressed, you were still standing the place she left you.
a part of her wanted you to stop her, tell her to stay, tell her that everything would be alright. but her desires weren’t met as you stood rooted in your spot. her heart clenched, wondering if this was the end.
with final look, she took her leave.
the door shutting behind her had you gasping for air, the little argument taking its toll on you. you screwed your eyes shut, your mind spiraling with thoughts.
what the fuck just happened? you asked yourself, the takeout on the coffee table reminding of how quickly the night took a turn.
falling back onto the couch and slumping into the softness of it, your hand reached to rub the back of your neck. guilt consumed you, regret taking its hold over you. your hands trembled, stuffing your face into them as you replayed the quarrel in your head.
daniela was long gone from the apartment building, and your heart was taken with her.
it wasn’t the end, at least not yet.
you and daniela didn’t talk for days, the last conversation being the one in your apartment. even when you’d left to go back to south korea, you contemplated texting her, but ultimately decided against it.
you were both feeling the aftermath of everything, coping in your own ways. and how that worked for you, was to binge watch your favorite comfort show. your members joined here and there, they could tell something was up with you but they didn’t ask any questions, knowing that you needed the space and you would talk when you were ready.
it didn’t stop them from speculating, though. yunjin had a feeling that it was to do with daniela, hearing from megan and sophia that the latina wasn’t doing well either. she voiced her concerns to the members, and it was kazuha who promised she’d talk to you when the time was right.
as you got up from your bed to get a drink from the fridge, your phone began to ring. slugging yourself towards it, daniela’s name was clear and bright on your screen.
your heart quickened and your throat felt constricted. why was she calling? what did she have to say to you? when you answered the call, the last thing you expected was for her to be sounding angry, again.
“what fucking shit are you trying to pull?”
you frowned, sitting down on at the foot of the bed. feeling ticked off at her, you matched her fiery tone. “i’m sorry? you don’t talk to me for days and now you’re calling, yelling at me?”
on the other end, daniela rolled her eyes. the rest of the kats were all pilled into the lounge, planning for a movie marathon to cheer up their friend. they could hear her yells from the other room, glancing around at one another in concern.
“shut it,” she barked out. daniela’s hand was on her hip, visibly enraged. “what’s with the gift, huh?”
confusion was etched onto your face. “what are you talking about?”
daniela grumbled, “the gift, yn.” she hollered out, staring at a black box that sat on the kitchen island. the lid of the box lay next to it, while a silver bracelet delicately resting inside. “why is there a gift at the house with my name on it?”
hearing this, you slumped your shoulders and pressed a hand to your forehead. “shit.” you mumbled, the matching bracelet of your necklace slipped your mind once you came back home.
“i ordered it last week while i was in cali. it would take a couple days to get to you, but i forgot about it, dani.” you offered an explanation for the situation. “it was meant to be a surprise.”
daniela’s anger faded. she looked at the silver bracelet and reached out to touch it, gently. her emotions were all over the place, feeling confusion and resentment, but she also couldn’t deny the butterflies that swarmed in her stomach at the gesture.
“what does it mean?” she asked, afraid of the answer.
you stilled, breath being caught in your throat. now would be your chance to tell everything you’d been feeling the past month and a half, but something was stopping you.
what if daniela didn’t feel the same way? what if everything thats been happening was nothing her? what if, when you finally showed all yourself, daniela wouldn’t like what she saw?
as if on instinct, you shut your eyes and did what you do best — shoving your feelings deep inside, locking it away.
“nothing.”
daniela dropped the bracelet back in its place inside the box. hurt washed over her, reality had finally set in. “are you being for real?”
“the gift means nothing, dani.” you told her, even if your heart was screaming at you. “i saw it and thought you’d like it. i don’t know what else you want me to say.”
daniela stood in the katseye dorm, her walls finally crashing down. you both knew that this wasn’t the kind of gift you’d get someone for it to mean nothing, especially when it involved a relationship like yours and daniela’s.
much like the last time you’d seen one another, daniela did her best to mask her feelings. if you could see her now, you’d notice the tears that welled in her eyes, threatening to fall. she took in a deep breath, her voice wavering.
“don’t talk to me again.” daniela uttered, her vision blurry. “ever.”
she hang up from the call, and the second she did a cry ripped from her chest. her stomach was churning, throat feeling blocked as she choked out a sob.
the katseye girls rushed into the space where she was, watching as daniela’s whole world crumbled around her. manon took her into her arms, and daniela knew then she’d finally have to let her members in on her secret arrangement with you.
she definitely wasn’t looking forward to that.
the end of the call left a ringing in your ears, you barely registered how your phone fell from you hands and dropped onto the floor, the thud reverberating around you.
your eyes were beginning to sting. unblinking, you felt your hands shake. everything was spilling out all at once.
a knock was heard at the door, and then kazuha came into the room, noticing your vacant look. you didn’t take any note of her, continuing to stare ahead of you.
she walked towards you, cautiously, slowly, and it was only once kazuha kneeled in front of you did she see the millions of emotions in your eyes.
“yn, are you okay?” her voice broke your daze.
you gasped, chest aching. “zuha…” you called, choking on your words. “i think i really fucked things up with daniela.”
“what do you mean?” kazuha frowned, her hand being placed on your thigh. the weight of the her hand made it feel as if you were being awakened from a dream.
wiping away a stray tear that fell, you wet your lips, finally revealing what had been going on behind the curtains. “dani and i — ahem — we were hooking up. for the past several months, she and i would meet each other secretly. and… i-i couldn’t stop it, zuha. i kept having all these the feelings. and- and i didn’t know what to do.”
kazuha’s eyes widened at your state, seeing the walls around you break down. you were gasping for breath, clutching at your chest. your stomach felt as if it was being twisted, like you would throw up at any moment.
the japanese struggled to find the words to comfort you, but she didn’t need to as you began to speak again.
your voice shook, blinking slowly. “i got her this gift, and i told her it meant nothing.”
kazuha got off her knees, sitting besides you. the bed dipped, “did it?” she questioned.
you shook your head faintly, “no.” your hands grasped at kazuha’s, desperately holding on to them. “i don’t know. fuck, i’ve probably ruined our entire friendship too.”
the dark haired girl pulled your hands onto her lap, forcing you to look at her. it was a sight to behold — seeing her usually stoic member breaking down, eyes red and body shaking.
“hey, listen to me.” she leaned her head down until you were looking into her eyes. “you hid your arrangement pretty well, y’know. but i’ve seen the way you talk about her, the way you look at her. i know how you get when you have feelings for someone.”
she smiled gently, cupping your cheek as she wiped away your tears. kazuha had a warmth about her that made it easy to fall into her touch.
“she told me to never talk to her again.” you mumbled, a few more tears seeped out.
“so what?” kauzha shrugged. her eyes were gentle, furrowing her eyebrows together as she cradled your face in her hands. “you can’t push her away just because you think you’re unloveable.”
this was a delicate situation, and your emotions were at its highest. she needed to tread with caution, but her blunt honesty was necessary to realize your mistakes.
“everything i touch breaks, zuha.” your voice cracked, pain evident in it. you whispered it to her, “even with you and me.”
kazuha muttered no’s under her breath, denying you the opportunity to blame yourself even for a second. “we only ended because we were better off as friends, you know that.”
she spoke with conviction, but the soft features of her face lightened her words. “i get the past hasn’t been kind to you, but you can’t let it ruin your relationships anymore.” kazuha looked deep your eyes as they shone with heartache. “i can tell you really, really like her.”
you nodded, heart pounding. “more than anything.”
kazuha smiled at the quick response, “then let her know.”
her words made your lips tremble, knowing that your relationship with daniela had already crumbled. “she’s not going to want to speak to me after that call. i mean, how do i— wh- what am i even supposed to say?”
the girl pulled you closer, speaking in a rushed manner. “everything. tell her how you feel, why you acted like that. why you were so scared. you have to let her in, yn.”
your eyes were darting around, trying to regain control of yourself. your bottom lip was caught between your teeth, breathing fitfully.
kazuha could tell you were close to a panic attack at all the emotions you were feeling. you’d been carrying this weight on your shoulders for so long, hiding your feelings for daniela since the very first night you stayed at her place.
she rested her forehead against yours, reminding you to breathe. your eyes squeezed shut, as you listened to her mutter sweet nothings, running a hand through your hair to calm you down.
when the worst of it had passed, your head rested in the crook of her neck, falling into her. your breathing had evened out, and your body ached with exhaustion of the emotional breakthrough.
you lips brushed against her skin, “thank you, zuha.” the girl smiled, patting your back until you eyes began to feel droopy.
PLEASE DONT HATE ME Y’ALL 💔 it gets worse before it gets better :/
i MIGHT publish a fluffy lara fic to heal from this lmao, but the next part yn & dani are happy again gang :)
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¡! orbiting pluto ❞
osamu miya x fem!reader
m.list word count! 1.6k warnings! osamu and reader meet, a lot of awkwardness, mentions of guilt, poor osamu :(, parent pressure (?), bokuto attack hehe, really cute though I love osamuyn.
❛ I love everybody because I love you, when you stood up, walked away, barefoot, and the grass where you lay left a bed in your shape, I looked over it and I ached.❜ - strawberry blonde by mitski
he liked being with her staring into her eyes and think about what it'd be like to wake up to the hum of her breath and the sound of her love
chapter 3.00 - quiet offerings beneath the moon !
THE night air was a frigid caress. It was cold—way too cold for her own liking. The sky looked like a canvas smeared with inky black and peppered with tiny, icy stars all through. The skin of her thighs shivered when it made contact with the chilly, plastic swing seat that was coloured with scratches, sending a shiver down the small of her back. Somehow, she thought it was a good idea to leave the house with mid-thigh shorts that did little to nothing to protect her from the bite of the cold and a relatively thick, olive green hoodie on a random Tuesday night.
It was eerily quiet, set aside the occasional rustle of the trees and the sound of a rusty screech accompanied by each arc of the swing. Her foot pushed slightly against the ground and her hands were wrapped around the brownish metal chains. She brought a hand up to her nose and allowed the smell to infiltrate her nostrils, her face unconsciously switching to disgust with her nose scrunching up due to the repulsing smell of damp, moist metal. She slightly regretted arriving early.
The sound of not very distant footsteps danced into her ears. “Oh, I thought I was early, but never mind,” she heard his voice and jumped a little. He let out a chuckle.
“Do you always like to pop out of nowhere?” she asked, narrowing her eyes slightly as a small, accusing smile formed on her lips. “Or is just for me?”
“didn’t mean to scare you,” he chuckled, now standing in front of her sitting figure, hands stuffed in the pockets of his hoodie. She had to tilt her head slightly up to see his face.
“Yeah, totally,” her eyes roll. Heat climbed up her neck despite the cold nibbling at her skin, creating a curious mixture of warmth and icy indifference. she didn’t understand why her body reacted that way.
Osamu outstretched his hand, revealing her wallet clutched between his long fingers. “Here,” he states. His eyes stared into hers for a whole second, and he felt the earth slightly tilt from its axis. They unbiddenly moved to her slightly parted lips, and he felt his throat go dry. He thought about what his lips would feel against hers, and he felt his heartbeat in a menacing manner, he thought his ribcage might break. Her voice brought him back to his senses.
“Oh! Thank you,” she opened the palm of her hand allowing him to drop the wallet into it. She stuffed the wallet into her pocket.
“No worries, just make sure you don’t drop it next time,” he teased, smirking slightly as he took a seat on the swing next to hers.
It was silent. Silence knew its way around them. But this time, it was a silence that shimmered with unspoken words and racing hearts. He stole a glance at her. The moon was a full moon tonight, casting a silver mist on her skin. The sight made his heart stutter with want. He gulped, wetting his dry mouth a bit before deciding on disrupting the bubble of silence.
His cold hand rubbed the nape of his neck in an attempt to calm his nerves. “Uh, so, what do you study?”
“Oh—I do architecture,” she replied, making eye contact for a moment then averting her gaze elsewhere.
“Cool, any reason why you picked it?”
She shrugged. She wanted to say no, not really. She wanted to say that it was the only major, out of her options, that her parents reluctantly approved of. After weeks of arguments, yells and some tears. But she opted for not doing so.
“Uh, kind of? Like, I’m good with maths, I guess. I like drawing as well, so I thought it’d be nice if I combined both and did arch,”
“Mhm,” he hummed. “You strike me as an art kind of person,”
“Oh really, I’ll take that as a compliment then,” she smiled. “But what about you, though? What do you study? I mean, everyone knows you play volleyball, but no one really knows what you study,”
“Oh, me?” he asked. He debated on whether he should answer the question as Osamu or as atsumu. His heart tugged at him a little. He decided to answer it as Osamu. “I, uh, I do food science,”
“Food science?”
“Not what you expected, huh? I honestly don’t know why I picked it. I actually kinda regret, didn’t expect it to be that hard, y’know?” he chuckled.
For some reason, a poignant ache resided within his chest. Echoes of guilt, like ghostly fingers, tapped against the closed doors of his heart. He desperately wanted to keep the insidious whispers of guilt from seeping in. he thought it wasn’t the time to feel guilty yet.
“Oh,” her mouth formed an O shape. “I heard that it was okay for people with—”
“—a solid background in chemistry,” he cut her off, a deadpan expression decorating his face. “Do I look like I have a solid background in chemistry?”
“Hm, I suppose not, you definitely don’t look like a chemistry person, that’s for sure,” she let out a dry, awkward chuckle, her grip on the rough, rusty chains tightening.
Awkward or not, his heart skipped a beat. Or two. Frankly, he’d lost count after the first time. But, he could feel the doors to his heart, which had long been tightly sealed, slowly begin to shift—cracking under the faint pressure of something he couldn’t fully resist. A single crack that would prove pernicious in the near future.
“I have a friend who’s really good at chemistry if you’d ever like help.” Her words pulled him out of his thoughts.
“As far as I remember, neither Akaashi nor Bokuto have a single chem related class for their degrees.” A sly smirk threatened to creep onto his face, “though I’m not even sure Bokuto knows a thing about anything.”
“Oh yeah,” she muttered, before straightening up and narrowing her eyes at him. She leaned away from him, kicking at the rubber mulch beneath her causing her to swing just a little. “Wait, how do you know about them? I don’t remember telling you about them.”
“How do you think I got your number?”
She groaned, the metal chains clinking as she moved her hands to her face.
“That’s so embarrassing. *Please* tell me you didn’t read the back.”
“Unfortunately.”
“Oh my god, I would love the ground to swallow me whole right now. You better not tell them ever, Miya.” A threatening edge to her voice.
“My mouth is sealed.” The smirk was now etched all over his face. It was silent again, yet it felt different; the earlier awkwardness had dissipated into thin air, replaced by two pairs of flushed cheeks.
A moment passed between them, the chilly December air engulfing them before she turned her head to look at him. She studied his features. Atsumu Miya, who knew he’d be so different from his reputation? Maybe he was a doppelgänger, an alien that had come and taken the form of the infamous volleyball player.
He felt small under her unwavering gaze and the way her eyes studied every feature of his face with laser point focus. Her eyes trailed up to his hair, before a confusion etched her face.
“Hm, when did you die your hair grey?”
“When did I dye my hair…?”
“Yeah, I could’ve sworn you were blond.”
His throat went dry, it felt as if the air had been sucked out of his lungs, the winter air felt suffocating. Realisation finally hit him; it hit him like a rogue wave crashing against a solitary lighthouse on a rainy day. His pupils dilated and then shrunk back. Subconsciously, he took a single lock of his grey—almost silver in the moonlight—hair between his fingertips. Right, Atsumu hair is blond, and his is grey. Blond to grey.
“Ha yeah, I dyed a few days ago, maybe a week? I don’t really remember.” He mumbled, his fingers still grasping at the same lock. Blond to grey.
“You don’t like it?”
“No— no, it’s not like that.” She stumbled over her words, waving her hands in denial.
“I think it suits you more, actually. Better than that piss yellow.”
Her voice was low, nearly inaudible, but in the silence it was loud. The lock of grey previously stretched between his index and thumb….bounced back as he release it, neck snapping towards her.
“is that so,” he smirked teasingly, though in reality, beneath that façade, his heart thundered against his chest, a betraying flush creeping up his neck.
“yeah” she replied sheepishly. “well—anyway, um—i might have to go now, i promised kou i’d be back in time for the movie,” she stood up, slightly dusting her clothes
“the movie?”
“yeah, it’s movie night day today,”
“oh okay,” he doesn’t want to admit that he’s disappointed. he doesn’t want to admit that he wants to spend more time with her. he doesn’t want to admit that he wants to continue listening to her voice. it tickles his senses. he won’t admit that, though. “do you want me to walk you home?” he stood up as well, knees buckling a little.
“no it’s fine, i live around the corner so i’ll be fine, you take care though,” she shook her head a little, a small, grateful smile on her lips.
“yeah, that’s fine. enjoy,” he stuffed his hands into his pockets, returning the smile. she turned around and started walking away.
“thank you for the wallet again,” she yelled, her voice seeming like a distant echo now. he turned his heels, and began walking away as well, his heart performing a set of frantic dances within his chest.
thank u @solarvrses for beta reading and helping me with the dialogue!
taglist ! [taglist is open, ask or comment to be added !]
@cherrysurf @heartmaddie @kawoala @tanuki-tanuki @brireblogs @luvfromtoni @makiglazer @jpegarchives @sagejin @loveyislost @gumims @bunichuu @wyrcan @angeleilee @chemicalsnoopy @blueballslock @nobodybutnnoorr @saturns-satellites @shoyofroyoyoyo @frootloopscos @thecallofmedusa
enjoy <333
#¡! orbiting pluto ❞#haikyuu x reader#haikyuu x you#haikyuu x y/n#haikyuu!! y/n#haikyuu!! x y/n#haikyuu!! x you#haikyuu!! x reader#haikyuu!!#osamu smau#haikyuu osamu miya#miya osamu x reader#osamu miya#osamu miya x reader#hq osamu#haikyuu osamu#miya osamu#osamu x reader#miya osamu x you#miya osamu x y/n#osamu x y/n#osamu x you
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"Rodger! Rodger! I found the records you asked me to search for! I actually found four of them." Toodles dashed over to Rodger, cradling the records in her arms and making sure not to drop them. She came to a halt right in front of him, excitedly lifting up the classical music records. "Is this what you were looking for, Dad?"
[ @ask-detective-toodles ]
*Rodger initially didn't even look at the records, he started looking at the Toodles, as if worried if she had any injuries after a small task. After making sure that everything was fine, Magnifier’s eye twisted into a smile, looking at the very music discs that he needed so much. Patting dear girl on the head.. that is, a Little detective, Rodger finally picked up the records and began to read out the name of the music to himself.*
” Beautiful specimens, Toodles! I knew that no one could do this better than you. That is, mm. ” *Rodger abruptly quieted down his joy, and began to speak extremely seriously, as if he were talking not to his daughter, but to an adult.* ”Your investigation has come to an end, Detective Toodles. Summing up results and observing some of your actions, I can say with confidence that you did extremely well! Therefore, as the head of the detective management department, I am ready to present you with an award for your help in finding things.” *Magnifier turns to the table to look at the plate of cookies he has set out. Rodger barely snatched the last batch of cookies for the day from Cosmo, so it was a really valuable reward for Toodles, in his opinion.* ” Here are the cook— … ”
*The plate was almost empty! Only small crumbs remained.. Someone brutally ate the cookies that Rodger carefully stored. The man's detective instincts abruptly turned on and he began to analyze the place of the attack with his eye. In less than a few seconds, he abruptly made a verdict.* ” It's definitely not Pebble. Also, the cookies were eaten very carefully, which proves that they were eaten by a more than well-mannered toon. The only thing I'm not sure about is why they were eaten.. with a fork. ”*Then Rodger abruptly remembers that there are still Toodles next to him. It seems that the man now looks very upset. It's just not clear anymore because of what: because of the fact that cookies were actually eaten under his nose, or because his child will not receive a reward.*
”I'm sorry.. I... oh.. ”
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[AFTER ACTION REPORT]
[UPLOAD DELAYED BY: {29}DAYS]
[NOTIFYING COMMAND OF OPERATION: @albatross-lancer]
[GREETINGS. I AM OMA, ONBOARD MEDICAL ASSISTANT TO CALLISIGN {SINGED WHISKERS}. WHILE DOING ROUTINE MAINTENANCE, I HAVE PARTIALLY RECOVERED {1} FILES DAMAGED BY REACTOR STRESS DURING OPERATION {SIEGE OF ERDAF}. DESPITE THE DELAY, I AM REQUIRED BY MY DIRECTIVE TO RELAY THIS REPORT TO COMMAND {ALBATROSS}. NOTE, INFORMATION ON PILOT AND MECH STATUS IS OUT OF DATE AS OF NOW. PLEASE STAND BY FOR FILE UPLOAD...]
[CALLSIGN: SINGED WHISKERS; STATUS: ALIVE]
[MECH DESIGNATION: SLAG KITTY, ENKIDU UNIT; STATUS: DAMAGED, STRUCTURE FULL, REACTOR STRESSED {1} TIMES, SINCE STABILIZED]
...<UPLOADING MISSION RECORDING>
[An ever growing view of the side of Pirate Vessel "Direption." Its hull has been punctured by some manner of breach charge. More and more debris floating around the massive hole becomes clear as the mech rapidly moves closer. SLAG KITTY appears to be carried by another, mounted mech, boosting to build speed.]
Callsign Photon: Releasing you in T-15 seconds. Ready?
[RELEASING COMBAT STIMS DOSE ONE]
Callsign SINGED WHISKERS: HHRRRHMMMM fucking KILL!!!
Callsign Photon: That... sounds like a yes. Dropping. Slowing myself and covering your six. The rest are just behind us.
[CALCULATING TIME TO IMPACT...]
[10 SECONDS...]
[5...]
[4...]
[3...]
[2...]
[The vacuum devours the sound of impact. Metal silently bends, rips, tears. SLAG KITTY lands claws first on a pirate chassis with the speed of a missile. With the momentum, SINGED is able to halfway bisect the mech vertically as she crunches it against the ground.]
SINGED: HEY, HEY!!! AHAHAHAHAHEHEHEHE!!!
[A hail of gunfire rains in both directions as Albatross forces begin landing in her wake.]
Photon: Three hostiles pointed your direction, SINGED. Covering ya. Pick 'em off.
[Sparks shower the deck as SLAG KITTY and the remains of the destroyed chassis scrape along and bounce back up in the zero g. The enkidu leaps from the wreckage towards an incoming pirate mech armed with some sort of integrated chainsaw. The weapon is torn from the chassis in seconds as plasma claws rip across the machine's arm.]
SINGED: GRaAAHH!!!
[As the mech's arm is shredded, a war pike streaks past SLAG KITTY'S head, striking one of the remaining two in the shoulder and knocking the aim of its rifle off target from SINGED. She takes the opportunity to latch her claws under the head of the chassis and pull upward, tearing it from the body.]
Photon: Seems we scared them off.
[SLAG KITTY digs its claws into the deck to bring its momentum to a screeching halt and keep from floating off. SINGED turns to see the remaining two attackers fleeing towards a set of hanger doors.]
Photon: I say we pursue. If they call for reinforcements, that pulls guns away from our folks working towards the bridge.
SINGED: Aye aye! HeheHEE!!
[SLAG KITTY grips its claw into the deck of the ship and throws itself, floating in pursuit of the targets. The pair of pirates stop at the doors. An emergency light flashes yellow when the first of the two slams its fist onto the chassis-scale console. The door does not open immediately.]
Photon: It's depressurizing. There'll be two sets of doors. Looks like we have time to pick one of- t---- o-- f-- f-- f
[A pair of antennae atop one of the pirate chassis produce a series of blinks, and the sensors of the SLAG KITTY are occasionally interrupted by static.]
[REACTOR HEAT CAPACITY {16%}.]
SINGED: PPFFFT AHAHAHAHAAHHAHAAHAA!!!! U FUCKIN CALL THAT HEAT??? I BURN MY REACTOR HARDER THAN THAT CUZ ITS FUNNY!!!! WATCH THIS!!!
[SINGED gives a triumphant roar: the only thing audible over coms as there's a single, brief flash from the muzzle of SLAG KITTY. In an instant, the entire middle of the tech mech simply ceases to be, cockpit and all. The legs of the doomed machine begin to drift in either direction, just in time for the door to begin slowly opening behind them.]
[WARNING: REACTOR HEAT CAPACITY {97.8%}. STABILIZATION RECOMMENDED.]
Photon: Nice shot, kid.
SINGED: HEHEHAHA!! BYE BYE!!!
[The remaining pirate flees through the barely open doors, which close behind them. As they do so, SLAG KITTY pursues.]
[ENGAGING RAPID HEAT VENTING...]
[SLAG KITTY reaches the doors as it cools, immediately throwing itself against them and clawing like a caged animal.]
SINGED: Let me IN!! LET ME IIINNNN!!!!
[A Nelson, presumably Callsign Photon's mech, flies into frame on its mount.]
Photon: Kid. You just need to hit the button.
SINGED: Oh.
[Photon does so, and the yellow light begins flashing again. Eventually, they begin to open once more.]
SINGED: Hrrgh... Hmm... HRRGH GRRRR.
Photon: What are you doing?
SINGED: It's too SLOW!! My PREY'S gonna get away!!
Photon: Patience. We want them to get help, remember?
[SINGED growls again but says nothing, the enkidu staring at the doors like a cat staring through a window at a bird. After about twenty seconds, the door opens wide enough for the duo to get through, and SLAG KITTY immediately slams the next button. As the first set of doors seals behind them, SINGED begins clawing at the next set.]
SINGED: OPEN OPEN OPEN OPEN OPEN
Photon: SINGED. The chamber has to depressurize before that'll happen.
SINGED: I CANN MAKE IT GO FASTER!!!
[Before Photon can protest, SLAG KITTY has backed up, and another flash escapes the displacer in its maw. A large circular portion of the doorway is erased. Both mechs stagger backwards as the vacuum rips air from the next corridor into the chamber. With the doors behind the pair sealed, this lasts only a moment.]
SINGED: NO MORE FLOAT!!!
[She quickly scurries through the hole.]
Photon: Well, if it works it w-
...<ERROR. FILE DAMAGED. SCRUBBING VIDEO FILE FOR INTACT FOOTAGE>
[A number of short, disjointed clips follow, ranging on average from 1 to fifteen seconds. They show Photon and SINGED working through the ship, chasing the fleeing pirate, and SINGED subsequently tearing through mechs like a rabid beast. It seems that at some point in the chaos they engaged their second round of stims. Photon's plan was to draw fire from the main team, and the two certainly seem to have succeeded by that measure.]
[Finally, the footage begins to come in longer intact clips again. SLAG KITTY appears to have have just reached the end of a catwalk, before...]
Photon: LOOK OUT!!!
[Photon's mech slams into SLAG KITTY, bringing it out of the line of fire of a shotgun at the last second. There's hardly time to make out the shape of the mech rounding the corner before more gunfire sprays the catwalk from elsewhere.]
Photon: Intercepting long ranged hostile.
[Photon leaps over the side and into flight. More gunfire follows. SINGED's focus returns to the shotgunner. Examining the frame, it appears to be a modified blackbeard.]
SINGED: HeheEE. Get in CLOSE so I ca- AAUGH!!
[The blackbeard obliges, too quickly for the SLAG KITTY to tear into it with Primal Fury. The pirate slams the shotgun into her like a club, sending her flying a great distance backward. She claws into the ground to gain traction and retain her footing.]
SINGED: GRRRRrRR!!!
Blackbeard: Heheh.
[The pirate, looking over the SLAG KITTY, drops his shotgun, pulling from his back a long, two-handed axe.]
SINGED: OHhhh I like u. IM GONNA EA- GAHH!!!
[The pirate's grapple catches SLAG KITTY and reels him in close. AS SINGED takes a step back, caught of guard by the speed, the axe is brought down into the enkidu's shoulder.]
SINGED: AUGH!! GRRRRRAAA!!
[The pirate twists his axe, using the leverage to throw SLAG KITTY to the side and off of the catwalk. SINGED does her best to tuck and roll, but from the crunching sound of the impact, it's clear she isn't able to avoid damage entirely.]
[The blackbeard leaps from the catwalk after her, engaging a jump jet and descending upon her. Seeing an opportunity, her burning claws engage, and like a cat with a bird she latches them into the flying opponent.]
SINGED: GRRR GET DOWN!!!
[The plasma talons rip through the chassis, but aren't enough to stop it from landing atop SLAG KITTY and pinning it to the ground.]
Blackbeard: Time to put ya down, ya feral fuckin dog.
[He swings the axe overhead towards the ground, and SLAG KITTY has just enough time to move its head aside before it can chop through. Instead, it embeds itself in the ground. As the pirate pulls, it's not released immediately.]
[RELEASING COMBAT STIMS DOSE {3}.]
SINGED: I. AM A CAT!!! MRRAAAAAAAAHH!!!!
[SLAG KITTY's maw wraps around the pole of the axe and bites with all its might. Heat builds in the frame's mouth, and metal softens as teeth rend. The axe-head is snapped violently from the pole.]
[WARNING: REACTOR HEAT CAPACITY {86.4%}. STABILIZATION RECOMMENDED.]
SINGED: I DOTN CAREE!!! RAAAAAGH!!!
Blackbeard: Oh fu-
[The jaws' next target is the leg of the frame, and the teeth sink in just as deep, producing even more slag. In short order, the blackbeard is wrestled to the ground, leg mangled to the point of near removal.]
[WARNING: REACTOR HEAT CAPACITY {EXCEEDED}. POWER PLANT DESTABILIZED.]
SINGED: I SAID I DONT CARRRE AAAAAAAAAAAHHHH!!!!!
[SLAG KITTY's claws rip into the chassis, leaving a wide, molten gash with each strike.]
...<ERROR. FILE DAMAGED. SCRUBBING VIDEO FILE FOR INTACT FOOTAGE>
Blackbeard: FUCK NO NO NO!!!
...<ERROR. FILE DAMAGED. SCRUBBING VIDEO FILE FOR INTACT FOOTAGE>
[The cockpit of the Blackbeard is torn open just enough for SLAG KITTY's head to fit through. SINGED gives a horrific roar, and the pirate inside goes ghostly white.]
...<ERROR. FILE DAMAGED. SCRUBBING VIDEO FILE FOR INTACT FOOTAGE>
SINGED: AHAHAHAHHHAAA
[SLAG KITTY looks over the unmoving wreckage of the blackbeard, then to Photon's side of the battlefield, which has gone quiet. Photon holds his lance trained on the remaining enemy frame, which was disarmed, raising its hands in surrender.]
Photon: Just got word, kid. We've taken the bridge. It's over.
SINGED: Wha? BUt. KILL. KILLLLL!!!!!
[RELEASING POST-COMBAT SEDATIVES]
SINGED: Wha... Wh... hrrn. eepy...
Photon: You did good, you little maniac. Get some rest. You've earned it.
...<RECORDING ENDS>
#ooc WOWIE im glad i could finally get this out! was more relevant nearly a month ago but thats how it is sometimes#also id like to point out that i used a license from the Corsair Gruntworks LCP for the blackbeard#the axe he used was a breidax from the Stamford license and i was also inspied by one of the Stamfords systems#so thanks to Pines! :D#lancer rp#oc rp#oc rp blog#lancer enkidu#sally screaming#OMA updating#tw drugs
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Assignment Bucky Barnes, Chapter 3 - The Gift
Summary: Bucky surprises Ariel with a gift, then admits he’s fallen quickly for her. Fearing for her objectivity, she consults Merton, her supervisor.
Length: 5.7 K
Characters: Ariel, named OFC, Bucky, Merton, Peri.
Warnings: Warning bells about Bucky’s intensity, concerns about Ariel’s objectivity.
Author notes: All sorts of foreshadowing here but good luck trying to figure it out, lol. We’re also peeling back the layers of Bucky Barnes, what he lets others see about him. Ariel has impressed him already which is one of the reasons he’s so open with her.
<<Chapter 2
Ariel laid in bed for some time the following morning. She could hear Merton get up and prepare breakfast. He knocked on the door and stuck his head in.
"I made some scrambled eggs," he said. "They're in the oven keeping warm. Come down whenever you're ready. It won't be busy until after lunch. I'll pick something up from the delicatessen for us."
As she watched the beams of the sun move across the room she revelled in the relative quiet of the room. Bucky was right about that, there was a distant hum of traffic but it was a rather calming sound, almost white noise-like. Her thoughts drifted towards all manner of things. She thought of the number of exceptional people born and raised in this time period considering how their abilities arose even with the limitations of the educational and health systems. For all the atrocities that would be uncovered by the coming war there were also signs of extraordinary growth and determination in this generation of people. After a while she decided to rouse herself and stepped out of the bed, going over to the window to look outside, finding a flower, a daisy, on her windowsill.
"That didn't get there by itself," she said out loud and looked around to see if her benefactor, presumably Bucky, was still around but there was no sign of him.
Smiling she brought it in and went to the kitchen, filling a glass with water and putting the daisy in it. She brought it back into the bedroom and placed it on her night stand, touched by the sentiment. Pulling a journal out of the nightstand drawer she entered a note about it, writing it as one would write a diary entry, in case someone from this time read it. She would ask Merton if he knew the symbolism of a daisy. Gathering her clothes together Ariel went to the bathroom and undressed, then turned on the shower, and stepped in to clean herself. When she finished she wrapped her hair in a towel and dried off, then dressed in the bathroom. Back in her room she put some lotion on her face then combed her hair out and pinned it in place. Prior to her arrival in this time her hair underwent a process that would allow the curls to remain in as her hair dried naturally. It was necessary considering that her hair was normally quite straight but the women of this time did their hair up on a regular basis to curl it, a skill not shared by Ariel. She rather liked how it looked and wondered if she could continue with the process after her return. Going into the kitchen she opened the oven and took out the food that Merton left for her. The eggs were still tasty and along with a couple of pieces of toast and a coffee were enough to satisfy her. After washing and drying the dishes she put them away then headed down to the shop where Merton was trying to repair a broken chair. He looked up at her as she entered the store.
"I found this the other day on my way to the garage," he said. "Just left out on the street. It's a perfectly good chair and I'm sure I can fix it enough for someone to buy it. Look at the carving on the wood."
She leaned in closer and smiled at him. Certainly in their time something like this was seen as a symbol of quality workmanship. She had a couple of pieces of furniture herself from an earlier time, an end table from the 1960s and a Bauhaus inspired chair.
"How well does this business do?" she asked.
"Not bad," he answered. "Enough to pay the bills for the space and the apartment, plus food. The van was bought with cash about three years after I got here. I get gold jewelry from time to time, that I sell to a dealer as it's worth more than trying to sell it as jewelry. What would you like to do?"
"Dusting?" she said, looking at some of the furniture for sale.
He nodded and took her into the back room where he half filled a pail with water, put some Lysol in it and gave her three rags, one to wash the dusty surfaces, the other to dry them, and the third to apply a few drops of liquid furniture polish to bring out the sheen of the wood.
"If you try to dust with just a dry cloth it all flies up in the air," he said. "The solution will clean the surface. You better put some rubber gloves on to protect your hands."
She began at the other end of the store, starting with the furniture that was on display in the window. At one point she came back to Merton and asked if he had a jacket or large shirt to protect her dress and he went into the back room again, returning with a large apron that tied around her neck and waist. After putting that on she resumed cleaning and was doing that when Bucky knocked on the front window to get her attention. She smiled and gestured for him to come inside.
"Hi," she said, as he walked in the door. "Is it lunch break already?"
"It is for me," he said. "I have something for you but you have to close your eyes and raise your hands."
She looked at Merton and he raised his eyebrows. After taking off her gloves she stood patiently, closed her eyes, and Bucky reached inside his coveralls bringing out a ginger coloured kitten. Gently placing it on her hands he stepped back to see her reaction. Immediately opening her eyes, she smiled.
"Oh my goodness, you brought me a kitten!" she said excitedly as she placed the kitten against her chest and began to stroke its head. "What is its name?"
"Whatever you want," he said. "It's a female. It reminded me of your hair."
Ariel continued making a fuss over it and Merton realized she wasn't acting. The act had truly touched her even though she was expecting it.
"Why don't you two go on up to the apartment," said Merton. "I'll go pick our lunch up at the delicatessen. Bucky, can I get you something there as well? My treat."
"Sure, a smoked meat sandwich would go down good," he replied. "Thank you."
Ariel and Bucky went up to the apartment while Merton locked the store up and put the Closed for Lunch sign out then headed for the delicatessen. Up in the apartment Ariel put a saucer out on the floor and poured a bit of milk in it for the kitten. She looked at Bucky with what he thought was a beautiful smile.
"Thank you," she said. "I'll have to think of a name."
She came close and beckoned him to bend over, putting a soft kiss on his cheek. He smiled at her and sat at the kitchen table while she put some fresh coffee on. Her apron was still on and Bucky watched her intently as she measured out the ground coffee in the pot and poured the boiling water on then let it sit. As she opened the cupboard she had to reach for some cups but they were too high up so Bucky came over and stood next to her, reaching above her outstretched hand then gave her the cups. His fingers reached for her hair again and he played with her curls.
"You're so beautiful," he said in a low voice.
"I'm sure you say that to a lot of girls," she said, looking away.
"It's true with you," he replied, then leaned down to her face again and kissed her softly, gently touching his tongue to hers, lingering longer than the kiss the previous day.
The cigarette taste was stronger this time but she didn't have a chance to ask him about it. They heard the sound of the door at the bottom of the stairs opening and he stopped the kiss, stepping back a little then sitting down at the table again. Ariel felt her cheeks go hot and turned away, wondering why she was reacting that way. She had been kissed before, harder and more passionately than that. What was it about this kiss that made her feel weak inside? Merton came in with the food and placed it on the table. If he noticed anything between them he didn't say. Ariel put some plates on the table while Merton brought out sandwiches for each of them, along with a pickle each. The coffee was ready and Ariel strained it into another pot then poured each of them a cup. She sat down and picked up the sandwich.
"We don't have these in Missoula," she said. "I've always wanted to try one." She bit into it and both Bucky and Merton watched her face as her eyes grew wide. She chewed for several moments before swallowing. "That is so good! I can't believe how tender and tasty the meat is."
Bucky took a bite and nodded his head in appreciation. For several minutes none of them spoke as they ate the meal. Keeping his eye on the clock Bucky ate quickly then suddenly finished his coffee.
"I have to go," he said. "It will take me a while to run back to the docks. Mr. Burnett, I'm more than happy to meet Ariel at the Library to get her home safely tonight."
Merton glanced at Ariel and then looked at Bucky with an appraising gaze. "It's out of your way, isn't it?" he asked.
"Not really," said Bucky. "I'm sparring at the gym tonight. It's only a couple of blocks from there."
"Well, I was hoping to begin restoring a painting that I acquired," he said. "It's badly stained from cigarette smoke and I wanted enough time to give it a preliminary cleaning this evening. Ariel, are you alright with Bucky walking you home?"
Ariel tried not to seem eager even though she felt a surge of anticipation in her stomach. "Yes, that would be kind of him," she said.
"Alright, thanks Bucky," said Merton. "Take your time. Looks like it will be a beautiful evening tonight."
Bucky stood up to go and Ariel offered to walk him down to the street. At the bottom of the stairwell he leaned over her again and this time the kiss was more forceful, as he gripped her arm and kissed her firmly, pressing his soft lips onto hers. When he was finished he caressed her face with his hand.
"So beautiful," he whispered. "I'll see you at nine."
"Bucky," she said, just as he was about to leave. "Thank you for the daisy."
He smiled softly. "I don't know what you're talking about." Then he was gone and she watched him run in the direction towards the docks.
Smiling she closed the door and went up the stairs. Merton was just finishing up his sandwich and looked appraisingly at her.
"He's moving fast," he said. "You sure you can remain detached enough to get impartial observations?"
"I have to admit that he is having an effect on me," she stated. "Is this normal behaviour for him ... buying a girl a kitten? I didn't tell you earlier but he left a daisy on my windowsill. He must have dropped it off before I woke up. I thanked him for it but he said he didn't know what I was talking about it."
Merton studied her. "A daisy?" he said. "That's something new. I have a book in the store about the language of flowers. I'll look it up. To be honest, he's not following his usual routine with you. He started out as he normally does, with the wolf whistle and calling you doll but since that first day he's been more respectful. Did you do anything that would have him change his opinion of you in any way?"
"What do you mean?" Her brow furrowed slightly as she struggled slightly to understand the meaning behind his question.
"What you saw of him on the afternoon we arrived here reflected his usual attitude towards women," said Merton. "Dominant, somewhat flippant in tone, like he knows exactly what he's doing. Yet, when he walked you home yesterday he had Steve with him, not a frequent occurrence when he's with a lady as many don't care for Steve. He kissed you but you said it was very respectful. Did he kiss you goodbye before he went back to work?"
"Yes, it was more intense but still not disrespectful," she said. "When we were walking after stopping at the pet store window yesterday I did take Steve's arm. Bucky thanked me for that, saying a lot of women don't like him. Steve is just shy but he's as much a gentleman as Bucky. He's been touching my hair as well. I should ask him why."
"Hmmm," said Merton. "Let me think on this for a bit. Come down to the shop when you've finished eating. I'll look up that flower in the book."
Ten minutes later Ariel joined Merton in the shop and he tossed the book towards her, opened to the page about daisies.
"New beginnings and true love," he said. "I think he has actual feelings for you."
"Is that alright? Or did you want it to be more of a physical relationship?" asked Ariel.
"It's unexpected," he said. "Historically we weren't aware of him having any significant relationships. It doesn't mean there weren't any just that nothing was ever noted down."
"Do you want me to turn him down and only observe from a distance?" she asked.
He considered her question for some time then made a decision. "No, let it progress," he said. "It could be an infatuation or it could be a brief and intense relationship that ends as quickly as it started. Keep yourself as detached and objective as possible without making it seem clinical. If it is something else then it's a new aspect to Bucky Barnes that was never noticed before and you will have contributed to a new line of research."
Satisfied with that answer Ariel returned to cleaning and dusting the furniture. A couple of hours before her start time at the Library she excused herself to get ready for an early meal and to change into something more professional. At 4:30 she left to walk to the Library. On the way there she passed the construction site and was somewhat mollified to get some respectful nods and no rude comments. She arrived at the Library with 5 minutes to spare and put her jacket and purse away in the back. Miss Warren was on with her along with another librarian, the assistant manager, Mrs. Houseman. They met in the back staff room where Mrs. Houseman told Ariel that she and Miss Warren were on the circulation desk, while reference work would be handled by herself.
Without the presence of Mr. Grayson it ended up being an enjoyable evening as the three women developed an excellent working rhythm. Both of the other women were witty and friendly to their patrons. It was obvious that the majority of people there were regulars by the relaxed familiarity they had with each other and the other two librarians. The evening progressed quickly and when closing time arrived the three of them were able to get the area straightened out quickly. Mrs. Houseman offered to drive Ariel but she told her that a gentleman was walking her home. When she saw who it was she came over with Ariel.
"Mr. Barnes," she said kindly. "It's been some time since we saw you here. I was worried that you were no longer a friend of this library."
"Never," he replied. "I was here during the day yesterday and walked Miss Black home then. I'm acquainted with her uncle and offered to walk her home this evening. You'll see me often, I hope."
"I'm glad to hear it," she said. "The latest Raymond Chandler book is in, Farewell My Lovely. Perhaps you can stop in and pick it up the next time you walk Miss Black home. Good evening both of you."
She walked off towards her car and Bucky stepped closer to Ariel gently taking her hands.
"How was work?" he asked.
"Fun," said Ariel. "Mrs. Houseman, Miss Warren and I got along well. We had a good time."
"She's a good egg," he said. "When Mr. Grayson retires I hope they make her manager. She's got a good head on her shoulders."
He turned and offered Ariel his right hand, which she took. He picked up a gym bag which had been resting on the ground. "How was sparring?" she asked.
"I had a good workout," he said.
They walked in the darkness between the small pools of light that the street lights gave off. It was warm out and a slight breeze kept the warm air from feeling stifling. There was no hurry and the couple walked silently for some time just enjoying the feel of the other's hand in theirs. Suddenly they both turned to say something and laughed nervously.
"You first," said Bucky.
"I decided to name the kitten Rosie," she said. "When I was getting ready for work she sprawled out on my bed and watched me get dressed. She's very sweet."
"I'm glad you like her," he replied. "Once she gets older you can have her in the shop to keep the mice down."
"That's a good idea," she said. "What did you want to say?"
He said nothing for some time but she could see he was formulating his thoughts in his head before he spoke. As she watched his face she studied his features, noticing his strong jaw, thick eyelashes and those piercing blue eyes. He turned to speak and noticed she had been gazing at him.
"I told you I have a bit of a reputation but that was an understatement," he said. "I have a big reputation as a ladies man. It's not that I try to be but it just seems that I've been looking for something that I haven't found in the past."
"What's that?" asked Ariel.
He stopped, put his gym bag down and took her other hand in his. "Someone to commit to," he said, looking steadily at her. "Someone that considers herself a man's equal and has more than frivolous thoughts in her head. Sounds terrible when I put it that way but it's true. I couldn't afford to go college but I've always read a lot and absorbed a lot of knowledge along the way. I like to think I'm an enlightened man but when I've tried to talk to most girls about art, or literature or anything of consequence they turn their nose up at it and I resort to treating them in the way my reputation says I will. I don't want to do that with you. You deserve better than that."
For a moment Ariel felt a sense of panic that she had portrayed herself as something other than a woman of this time but then she thought about it for a moment. Her persona had a college degree in library science, and she had already made the comment to Mr. Grayson that her accomplishment was with distinction. She was a modern woman of the 20th century in every sense of the term and had shown Bucky flashes of it from the start. Her panic was replaced by a sense of accomplishment that this handsome, intelligent 20th century man was telling this 22nd century woman that he found her interesting and not just for her physical attributes.
"I like you too, Bucky," she said. "Uncle Merton told me that you're a voracious reader and I admire that. I'm not a shrinking violet, which some people think librarians are. The profession is one of the few where a woman can be in control of her career, even if a man is her boss. Can I ask you a question, a personal one?"
"Sure," he said, looking intently at her.
"How many women are we talking about?" she asked. "Just an estimate."
She could see his face colour at her impertinence but he didn't shy away. "At least 50 since my first experience when I was 17."
"So, you're very experienced," she said then made an impulsive decision. "Would it shock you to know that for a woman I'm considered experienced as well? I've been with seven men and one woman, which was different but not as enjoyable as my experiences with the men were. If it shocks you that I would admit this to you, then I would say I don't care what you think. Do you still want to get to know me better?"
She looked defiantly at him, and even though she could hear her inner voice say she had revealed far too much she didn't care. Bucky Barnes was infinitely more interesting than any man she had ever known at any time and she was asking for herself now, not for the historian who was given this assignment. With deliberation he put his arms around her and drew her in close, looking down at her upturned face.
"I want you more than any woman I've ever met," he said with conviction. "Not just physically, but emotionally, and intellectually. I know it's only been a couple of days but I think you're the woman I've been looking for all along. We can dive in headfirst or we can take it slow. It's your decision and I will honour it."
"Then we take it slow. If it's real then we'll know because I don't want us to be a flash in the pan."
Slowly he smiled then he lowered his face down to hers and kissed her intensely. It was different from the other kisses they shared as those were like someone testing the water, checking the temperature first. This one was like dropping into the deep end of the pool and embracing the experience. After the kiss Ariel placed her head against his chest where she could feel the fast beat of his heart through his shirt. He had gambled a lot on his admission to her and it was evident he was entering new territory. So was she and that could be a problem. He sensed the shift in her and stroked her hair.
"What's wrong?" he asked softly. "I won't hurt you. You're safe with me."
"I don't want to hide this from Uncle Merton," she lied. "I think he'll understand but will you let me tell him in my own way and my own time?"
"Alright," he said, after a few moments. "I want to tell my parents about you. It doesn't have to be right away but I want you to meet them soon."
She took in a deep breath then nodded her head against his muscular chest and closed her eyes. No matter what happened in the future, at this moment she felt hopeful that this could be an important relationship for her in either century. After some time they resumed walking, still holding hands. When they arrived at the store front it was all dark and the steel gate was closed and locked. The exterior light beside the stairwell door was on and they stood under its glow gazing at each other. Once again he touched a section of her hair and played with it while a soft smile appeared on his face.
"What is it about my hair you like?" she asked playfully.
"How much like the dawn and the sunset it is," he said. "I envision waking up to it on the pillow next to me or caressing it before I fall asleep each night. I have always preferred red hair but have met few women who come by it naturally like you."
"How do you know it's natural?" She looked at him with a level of disbelief.
"Those that use dye to redden it have a different texture," he said sincerely. "Henna makes it too bright for a few days until it fades a little but the shade is the same on all the strands of the individual hairs. Yours has always been soft as silk and the colour of the strands are composed of different shades that combine to form the overall colour."
"You're very observant," she remarked then she looked at the door to the stairwell. "I should go up."
He nodded and placed his arms around her again, only this time he backed her up against the wall and kissed her passionately pressing his tongue deeply against hers. It surprised her in its intensity and she responded instinctively to it, running her hands up his back under his jacket and feeling the firmness of his muscles under her fingers. One of his hands reached for her neck and caressed it, his fingers slipping under her collar and touching her collar bone. As he removed it he brushed his hand down the front of her jacket before he stepped away from her.
"What happened to taking it slow?" she murmured.
"That was taking it slow," he whispered, leaning forward so his mouth was beside her ear. "Do you want me to stop? That's all you have to say." Ariel swallowed and looked up at him, his eyes now dark with desire. She tried to say something but her mouth couldn't form the words and he smiled at her. "I'll pick you up at 6:30 tomorrow. For our date, remember?"
She nodded and reached behind her for the door knob. His hand reached for it over hers and opened it behind her.
"My bounty is as boundless as the sea, My love as deep; the more I give to thee, The more I have, for both are infinite," he whispered.
Then he stepped back and watched as she went inside. She closed the door and could hear him whistling as he walked away. Shakespeare again ... he quoted from Romeo and Juliet. Merton opened the door at the top of the stairs and looked down at her. Surprisingly, she felt apprehensive about his inquisitive look.
"I sense you might need to talk," he said. "Come on, I have a bottle of scotch needing a couple of drinkers."
Slowly she went up the steps and dropped her purse and jacket off in her bedroom. She slipped her shoes off and undid her stockings then shrugged and took everything off, changing into her nightgown and a robe. Merton handed her a glass and gestured to the big armchair in the living room while he sat on the couch. Rosie curled up on Ariel's lap.
"I guessed something momentous happened when it took you more than an hour to walk home," he said. "What happened?"
"I made an impulsive decision to not be as objective as perhaps I should have," she admitted, "He's already falling in love with me and I might be feeling something for him. After telling him I wanted to take it slow he kissed me in a way that made it clear he wants more than just sex. He wants commitment."
The older man took a deep breath then sipped his scotch. He thought for some time then leaned forward.
"I don't see a problem with that," he stated. "History doesn't record him having a long term relationship. Whatever this is doesn't last, at least it's not recorded as lasting. Which means your relationship fizzled out quickly enough that it was regarded as just another one of his flings or ...."
"Or what?" said Ariel. "That I didn't publish it? Why would I go to all this trouble, risk my standing as an objective observer of history to get involved with him and then not publish? Why would I do that?"
"The future is fluid, even here in the past," said Merton, calmly. "We know historically that Bucky and Steve go back to art school in 1941 because that's where they were when they heard about Pearl Harbor. It's possible that could change without changing the timeline drastically if you're in a relationship. We know that Bucky registers for the draft in 1940 and he receives his notice in December 1941, then is shipped out to England in June of 1943. We know about that and about everything military that happens because it is a matter of already recorded history. We don't know if he was in a relationship with Ariel Black from July of 1940 until whenever because it was never written down, not in any official documentation."
Ariel took a drink of her scotch and grimaced as the liquid burned on its way down her throat. Then she rubbed her forehead while Merton watched her impassively.
"So you think I should jump into the deep end of the pool with Bucky Barnes and immerse myself in a relationship with him, and not just a sexual relationship, a full blown romantic all the bells and whistles relationship. I just want to clarify that before I begin to cry."
The tears started to come and Merton shifted so she could curl up with him on the couch. He put his arm around her and stroked her back. When her sobs began to lessen he squeezed her shoulder.
"Perhaps what has been missing from previous attempts at studying the man has been someone willing to take that step with him," he said softly. "Certainly, I've seen all the attempts and every one of those women historians wouldn't have been able to handle the intensity of the emotional commitment he seems willing to invest in you. The sex between them wasn't enough to sustain the relationship and he soon lost interest, relegating them to just observer from a distance status. I think Peri sent you here because she knew you were capable of being what he needed while still fulfilling your duty as an objective observer. Now, if that means that you don't publish then maybe that's what history shows and your love affair remains just between you two. Would that be such a bad thing?"
"To fall in love with a doomed man?" she asked. "Yes, it would hurt and I don't know if I would ever recover from that."
"Or it could be the most glorious love affair you ever have," said Merton. "Something that you could look back on when you're old and grey, and remember as the best time of your life."
They talked back and forth for at least an hour, with Merton filling up her glass several times until she passed out. Then he carried her into her bedroom and tucked her into bed. He left a glass of water on the night table knowing she would need it for the hangover then he closed the door and stood outside. Going to the bathroom cabinet he pulled out the bottle of Carter Little Liver Pills and took out the key for the third floor.
Sitting in front of the ersatz radio set he opened up a communications channel and requested a video call with Peri Wayne. Her holographic image came up within moments and her face brightened.
"You have something to report," she said.
"Can you talk freely?" he asked. She nodded. "He wants a relationship with a commitment. She thinks she's fallen in love with him but she's torn about losing her objectivity if she enters into such a relationship. Are you sure you want her to do this? It could ruin her career, not to mention break her heart when he falls. She is still ...."
"I know what she is," said Peri, as she nodded with understanding. "You also know that I'm one of the few with deeper knowledge of his timeline. The signs were there that he did have an intense relationship that ended shortly before he left for England. We need to know who it was with, why it ended and more importantly why it wasn't recorded. I'm sure she's the one who can provide the answers. If she is then you'll make sure she returns here after the end of the relationship. I will support her and encourage her to publish the observations. Her career will unfold as it should without interference from any of us. We both care about her for good reason which I won't say out loud because one never knows who might be listening. She's an extraordinary woman for both past and future. Barnes senses it and it's likely why he is already committing to her. Support her in this Merton. It will work out, I promise you."
"Very well," he said. "I hope your deeper knowledge confirms that but I wanted it known that I'm already attached to her in a way I didn't anticipate."
Peri smiled at him. "She is something, isn't she? It will be alright, Merton."
He broke the communication and shut down the radio. Peri Wayne was the first historian to attempt observations on pre-war Bucky Barnes and although she failed to reach this state with him he knew she still had an emotional attachment to the man. It was also why she was regarded as the expert on his life as she directed all of the attempts since then, even risking her own career, not to mention his by their close association. He wondered if the fact she had personally recruited and prepared Ariel for this very assignment was known by others, not just him. It would make better sense if that was the case. Then again, the things about Ariel that were secret were that way for a reason.
Chapter 4>>
Series Masterlist
Reblogs and comments are always welcomed.
#bucky barnes#bucky barnes fanfiction#buckybarnes original female character#james buchanan barnes fanfiction#bucky barnes romance#bucky barnes x ofc#time travel
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Gonna have to project on Dragon a little bit to get by today (like I don’t already).
Sometimes he calls his mom because he’s just… tired. Bone deep, soul-crushingly, heartbreakingly tired. Wishing all of this could stop for a little while and let him rest. Wishing it had never started to begin with. Wishing he could pass this burden on to someone else and walk away. Wishing anybody else could have been the one to wage this war.
He doesn’t want to do this anymore…
He just wants to go home…
He knew no one would answer. He knew it but there was a comfort in it he couldn’t properly explain. Maybe it was cruel or even masochistic but hearing Blanca dial a little flicker of hope settled into his stomach, maybe, maybe she would pick up and be alive and give him the advice and comforted he so sorely needed. Of course all he got was the answer mechanism on the snail (that hadn’t been damaged much in that apparent raid). Maybe worst of all was that it was the family snail and so the voice that greeted him wasn’t just hers but his Tayta, his brother, his sister, him. His own voice startled him. It was lighter and full of a joy he could no longer claim as his own. He listens as the family that no longer existed told him that they were probably too busy to come to the snail currently but please do leave a message and they get right back to him!
“Probably.” His father's voice chimed in his usual gleeful but unhelpful manner. Dragon heard a little smack before his Mamay's voice came back.
“We will. I’ll make sure of it.”
BEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEP!
Shit, that was his cue to say something! He quickly cleared his throat (accidentally trigger a light coughing fit) before starting to speak.
“Ma- *Koff* Mamay it's me, Dragon. I, uh, could really use some help right now. I’m just…so tired of everything Mamay. That’s not to say I think what I did was a mistake! It’s just….the fight continues to wage on. Good people, scared people, they look to me for the answers that I don’t have. Sometimes I wonder if I should have just stayed home and been a farmer. I’m not nearly as good as you were but- are, I meant are. I-I'm sorry. I don’t think you’re- I’m sure you’re-.”
He sighed, heavy and worn from the world and its sadistic need to inflict every pain and sorrow on him. He quickly ran a hand down his face, wordlessly wiping the stray tears that found their way down. Outside, a light drizzle had begun.
“Sorry, sorry I just…sorry. I don’t intend to give up, not ever it’s just…I never realized you could be so tired. I wanna lie down and just once not worry about budget or deadlines or whatever crockshit the World Government has decided next. Did you get tired too? Somehow I get the feeling you bore it better than I ever could. If-…If I did run, would you be disappointed in me? You always told me to finish what you start but I feel so empty Mamay. I wish you were here, I wish we were all together again, so you could all look at me and tell me I’m being a silly little overthinker. I wish you could meet Sabo, you’d love him to bits I know. I wish…I wish I could have introduced you to Luffy-.”
*BEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEP*
A cool automated voice spoke out to him.
“End of message. If you are satisfied with your message click 1, if you wish to delete your message click 2.”
He came back into focus to the feeling of a watery eyed Blanca nuzzling his hand and cooing softly. He scratched her chin before hesitantly pressing 1.
#extra angsty plot twist: the answering machine (the Snaswering machine if you will) is already full of Dragon messages so this one doesn’t-#- even go through :’(((((((#one piece#monkey d family#monkey d dragon#monkey d urpi#Blanca the white den den Mushi
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I hc that AFO resents having to abide by tables manners to eat around others because he's used to eating with his bare hands and stuffing as much food into his mouth with no shame. He forces himself to abide by tables manners in public but he's internally gritting his teeth because he hates this. What's the point of doing all this when you can just pick up the food with your hands and eat it?
But when he's alone he resorts back the way he's normally used to eating. Which I picture to be similar the way Sofia Falcone eats in the gifs below.
I think Yoichi adjusts to using utensils faster because he hates how the food residue makes his fingers feel after eating with his hands. He's sensitive to textures.
#sensitive them because I do hc yoichi as autistic#don't judge my girl sofia for her poor manners she was framed for crimes she didn't commit then was institutionalized-#in a mental facility known for the abuse of its patients for 10 years so shes picked up some odd behaviors here and there
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OCs Speech Mannerisms | Tagged by @lilywatt
Sabrina Donovan:
NO. OF SPOKEN LANGUAGES: 1 / 2 / 3 (English, French and Latin - latter thanks to Candy)+
TONE OF VOICE: high / average / deep
ACCENT: yes / no
DEMEANOR: confident / shy / approachable / hostile / other
POSTURE: slumped / straight / stiff / relaxed
HABITS: head tilting / swaying / fidgeting / stuttering / gesturing / worrying her lip / arm crossing / strokes chin / er, um, or other interjections / plays with hair or clothing, earrings / hands at hips / inconsistent eye contact / maintains eye contact / frequent pausing / stands close / stands at a distance
— COMPLEXITY
VOCABULARY: ⚫️⚫️⚫️⚫️⚫️
EMOTION: ⚫️⚫️⚫️⚫️⚫️
SENTENCE STRUCTURE: ⚫️⚫️⚫️⚫️⚪️
— PROFANITY
FREQUENCY: ⚫️⚫️⚪️⚪️⚪️
CREATIVITY (in regards to profanity): ⚫️⚫️⚫️⚫️⚪️
BOLD ALL THAT APPLY: arse. ass. asshole. bastard. bitch. bloody. bugger. bollocks. chicken shit. crap. cunt. dick. frick. fuck. horseshit. motherfucker. piss. prick. screw. shit. shitass. son of a bitch. twat. wanker. pussy.
— THIS OR THAT
straightforward or cryptic? / finding the right word or using the first word that comes to mind? / masculinity / neutrality / or femininity? / formalities or with abrasiveness? / praise or equivocation? / frankness or lies? / excessive or minimal hand gestures? / name-calling (affectionate) or magnanimity? / friendly or blunt?
— IMPORTANT QUESTIONS
DO PEOPLE HAVE A HARD TIME HEARING OR UNDERSTANDING YOUR CHARACTER? - almost always / frequently / rarely / never
DOES YOUR CHARACTER’S POINT COME ACROSS EASILY WHEN THEY SPEAK? - almost always / frequently/ sometimes / rarely / never
WOULD YOUR CHARACTER INITIATE CONVERSATIONS? - almost always / frequently / sometimes / never
WOULD YOUR CHARACTER BE THE ONE TO END CONVERSATIONS? - almost always / frequently / sometimes / rarely / never.
WOULD YOUR CHARACTER USE ‘WHOM’ IN A SENTENCE? - yes / no / only ironically
YOUR CHARACTER WANTS TO MAKE A COUNTERPOINT. WHAT WORD DO THEY USE? - but / though / although / however / perhaps / mayhaps.
HOW DOES YOUR CHARACTER END CONVERSATIONS? - walk away / ask if that’s everything / say that’s everything / give a proper goodbye / tell their company they’re done here / remain quiet / they don’t.
WHAT SOCIAL CLASS WOULD OTHERS ASSUME YOUR CHARACTER BELONGS TO, HEARING THEM SPEAK? - upper (if she's around Candy, that need to fit in with her crowd raises) / middle / lower.
IN WHAT WAYS DOES THE WAY YOUR CHARACTER SPEAK STAND OUT TO OTHERS? - accent / vocabulary / tone / level / politeness / brusqueness / it doesn’t.
Eloise "Lou" Morello:
NO. OF SPOKEN LANGUAGES: 1 / 2 (English and Italian) / 3+
TONE OF VOICE: high / average (tends to get a tad higher when she's upset, which she hates bcs she refuses to appear weak) / deep
ACCENT: yes / no
DEMEANOR: confident / shy / approachable / hostile (i mean, it's a given) / other
POSTURE: slumped / straight / stiff / relaxed
HABITS: head tilting / swaying / fidgeting / stuttering / gesturing (when she's holding a weapon) / arm crossing / strokes chin / er, um, or other interjections / plays with hair or clothing / hands at hips / inconsistent eye contact / maintains eye contact / frequent pausing / stands close / stands at a distance / looms over you like a shadow
— COMPLEXITY
VOCABULARY: ⚫️⚫️⚫️⚫️⚪️
EMOTION: ⚫️⚫️⚫️⚪️⚪️
SENTENCE STRUCTURE: ⚫️⚫️⚫️⚫️⚪️
— PROFANITY
FREQUENCY: ⚫️⚪️⚪️⚪️⚪️
CREATIVITY (in regards to profanity): ⚫️⚫️⚫️⚫️⚪️
BOLD ALL THAT APPLY: arse. ass. asshole. bastard. bitch. bloody. bugger. bollocks. chicken shit. crap. cunt. dick. frick. fuck. horseshit. motherfucker. piss. prick. screw. shit. shitass. son of a bitch. twat. wanker. pussy.
— THIS OR THAT
straightforward or cryptic? / finding the right word or using the first word that comes to mind? / masculinity / neutrality / or femininity? / formalities or with abrasiveness? / praise or equivocation? / frankness or lies? / excessive or minimal hand gestures? / name-calling (affectionate) or magnanimity? / friendly or blunt?
— IMPORTANT QUESTIONS
DO PEOPLE HAVE A HARD TIME HEARING OR UNDERSTANDING YOUR CHARACTER? - almost always / frequently / rarely / never
DOES YOUR CHARACTER’S POINT COME ACROSS EASILY WHEN THEY SPEAK?- almost always / frequently / sometimes / rarely / never
WOULD YOUR CHARACTER INITIATE CONVERSATIONS? - almost always / frequently / sometimes / rarely / never
WOULD YOUR CHARACTER BE THE ONE TO END CONVERSATIONS? - almost always / frequently / sometimes / rarely / never.
WOULD YOUR CHARACTER USE ‘WHOM’ IN A SENTENCE? - yes / no / only ironically
YOUR CHARACTER WANTS TO MAKE A COUNTERPOINT. WHAT WORD DO THEY USE? - but / though / although / however / perhaps / mayhaps.
HOW DOES YOUR CHARACTER END CONVERSATIONS? - walk away (if they're so lucky) -> scares them away from the conversation / ask if that’s everything / say that’s everything / give a proper goodbye / tell their company they’re done here / remain quiet / they don’t.
WHAT SOCIAL CLASS WOULD OTHERS ASSUME YOUR CHARACTER BELONGS TO, HEARING THEM SPEAK? - upper / middle / lower.
IN WHAT WAYS DOES THE WAY YOUR CHARACTER SPEAK STAND OUT TO OTHERS? - accent / vocabulary / tone / level / politeness / brusqueness / it doesn’t.
Calahan Hartley:
NO. OF SPOKEN LANGUAGES: 1 / 2 (English and French) / 3+
TONE OF VOICE: high / average / deep
ACCENT: yes / no
DEMEANOR: confident / shy / approachable / hostile / other
POSTURE: slumped / straight / stiff / relaxed
HABITS: head tilting / swaying / fidgeting (with his lighter) / stuttering / gesturing / arm crossing / strokes chin / er, um, or other interjections / plays with hair or clothing / rubs neck / hands at hips / inconsistent eye contact / maintains eye contact / frequent pausing / stands close / stands at a distance
— COMPLEXITY
VOCABULARY: ⚫️⚫️⚫️⚫️⚪️
EMOTION: ⚫️⚫️⚫️⚫️⚪️
SENTENCE STRUCTURE: ⚫️⚫️⚫️⚫️⚪️
— PROFANITY
FREQUENCY: ⚫️⚫️⚫️⚫️⚪️
CREATIVITY (in regards to profanity): ⚫️⚫️⚫️⚫️⚫️⚫️
BOLD ALL THAT APPLY: arse. ass. asshole. bastard. bitch. bloody. bugger. bollocks. chicken shit. crap. cunt. dick. frick. fuck. horseshit. motherfucker. piss. prick. screw. shit. shitass. son of a bitch. twat. wanker. pussy.
— THIS OR THAT
straightforward or cryptic? / finding the right word or using the first word that comes to mind? / masculinity / neutrality / or femininity? / formalities or with abrasiveness? / praise or equivocation? / frankness or lies? / excessive or minimal hand gestures? / name-calling (affectionate) or magnanimity? / friendly or blunt?
— IMPORTANT QUESTIONS
DO PEOPLE HAVE A HARD TIME HEARING OR UNDERSTANDING YOUR CHARACTER? - almost always / frequently / rarely / never
DOES YOUR CHARACTER’S POINT COME ACROSS EASILY WHEN THEY SPEAK?- almost always / frequently / sometimes / rarely / never
WOULD YOUR CHARACTER INITIATE CONVERSATIONS? - almost always (social butterfly Cal) / frequently / sometimes / never
WOULD YOUR CHARACTER BE THE ONE TO END CONVERSATIONS? - almost always / frequently / sometimes / rarely / never.
WOULD YOUR CHARACTER USE ‘WHOM’ IN A SENTENCE? - yes / no / only ironically
YOUR CHARACTER WANTS TO MAKE A COUNTERPOINT. WHAT WORD DO THEY USE? - but / though / although / however / perhaps / mayhaps.
HOW DOES YOUR CHARACTER END CONVERSATIONS? - walk away (if he's pissed off) / ask if that’s everything / say that’s everything (if he barely tolerates the person) / give a proper goodbye / tell their company they’re done here / remain quiet / they don’t.
WHAT SOCIAL CLASS WOULD OTHERS ASSUME YOUR CHARACTER BELONGS TO, HEARING THEM SPEAK? - upper / middle / lower.
IN WHAT WAYS DOES THE WAY YOUR CHARACTER SPEAK STAND OUT TO OTHERS? - accent / vocabulary / tone / sweet-talk / level / politeness / brusqueness / it doesn’t.
Tagging, @socially-awkward-skeleton @strafethesesinners @strangefable @direwombat @aceghosts
@voidika @theelderhazelnut @raresvtm @dumbassdep @la-grosse-patate
@elligatorrex @simplegenius042 @imogenkol @purplehairsecretlair @cassietrn
@josephslittledeputy @josephseedismyfather @trench-rot @killyourrdarlingss @katsigian
@simonxriley @carlosoliveiraa @neonshrike @captastra @shellibisshe
@cloudofbutterflies92 @wrathfulrook @g0dspeeed @finding-comfort-in-rain
@derelictheretic @justasmolbard and anyone that would like to do the tag <3
#Calahan is PROUD of his French (and how he ACED it in HS) and will not shut up about it <3#Sabrina picked up Latin because of her mom and little did she know she'd impress a certain gremlin#Conversations with Lou = playing Russian Roulette#Lou's Italian comes in when she gets frustrated with people around her#off to stare at their gifs some more <3#tagged <3#oc: sabrina donovan#oc: eloise “lou” morello#oc: calahan hartley#wip: in hope of tomorrow#oc speech mannerisms tag#mygifs#character background#character analysis#far cry 5 oc#fc5 ocs#fc5 deputy#ocs tag#oc tag game#oc prompt#tag games#character reference#wip tag
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my favorite girl♡
ft. Eddie and a little Rosie <3 @xoxoalette
#I've been very busy dying from my uterus 🥰 but rest assured I've got some citrus kiss in the works as well#stellar#hot killer babes vn#i always see rosie in the comments cheering for star#i get it#she's definitely my fave to draw (no offense Yue it's just ghat you're a man amd i can't draw men 😔)#rambling ->#i was thinking about Starla and why i rhink she'd keep pursuing Eddie (in a fruendly manner) despite knowing he doesnt like her#and I'm thinking it's a validation thing#she feels like ahe newds tdo be validated by those she's in close proximity to#so she starts SPIRALLING when she picks up on the subtle signs that he doesn't like her#so she feels like she has to up the charm#wow look at all those spelling mistakes ♡ im not fixing that <3#oc: starla#damsel draws sometimes
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the whole. eshka and viago dynamic has its base in teach a very angry 12 year old how to use a knife
#eshka was picked up after a power + political grab over some slaves that were to be sent west got out of hand#it was a massacre and created no small amount of political turmoil for a bit#the older talons still go on about it sometimes as a warning when the infighting gets too intolerable#but eshka was passed around several crow houses before she ended up with de riva#some by her own hand and others were more political infighting#but de riva is sort of her last step so to speak#not as if she cared since she never asked to be a victim in the raid or be brought into the crows#but he gave her a knife and told her that this was her life now#and it was harsh. it hurt a lot. she cursed and swore his name up and down#but she can’t deny that it gave her purpose. there was something to do with her pain#a place to put her frustration and grief even if she didn’t have the words for it#her homesickness#there’s a lot of love between them#but there’s also viago’s temper. and her feelings of how she owes him for her life#you know now that I think about it idk how old viago is I was just assigning him an age#they are family. in some manner#oc: eshka
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phoebe litchfield really is meg lanning and rachael haynes' daughter
#phoebe litchfield#sometime's a family is two (mostly) retired cricketers and their prodigy daughter#they're in comms saying she has picked up some of meg's mannerisms in the field#and her technique is so much like rachael's
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Yes yes yes!!!! Even in the movies, the whole “at least he’s not on fire!” “What’s left of him isn’t on fire!” scene to me felt very much like a friendly/familial bickering, they weren’t being rude or mean to each other, they were both a little shocked at the state of everything and that’s how they communicate
They!!Are!!Friends!!And!!Love!!Each!!Other!!
Yes, exactly! Even when they're bickering, they're both very visibly enjoying themselves. Poe's barely restraining the urge to smile, you can see it in his eyes, and Rey doesn't even try to stop herself from smiling when she whips out the "you're difficult". Poe's also smiling when he approaches her, even as he starts being sarcastic??? Like...they like each other, they just bicker as a love language?
Like these are not the expressions of two people who hate each other. They're exasperated by each other right now, sure, but the banter is so familiar for them by this point that they're also enjoying it underneath the frustration.
It also irks me (but just goes to show how frankly astoundingly little the fandom actually pays attention to these characters/can't read them) because we know what Poe and Rey look like when they're interacting with characters they hate/cannot stand...and that energy is not here?
by contrast, think of poe's expression uh. any time he's dealing with the first order, or his anger with holdo when he believes she's just leading them to their deaths. think of rey's absolute fury at teedo or legitimately any interaction with ren (barring the five minutes she gave him the benefit of the doubt and he instead chose to be the one true dick) - Rey does not minimize her anger or frustration with people. She sure as hell doesn't smile smugly at people she hates and can't stand, she's a feral little sand gremlin and if she doesn't like you, you're gonna fucking know it.
And altho their banter/bickering match does deteriorate into a genuine argument, let's see what else happens here shall we? Poe puts his two cents in ("you're the best fighter we have, we need you. out there, not here") and walks away before it can get any worse, allowing them to cool off. And Rey is visibly okay with this, she doesn't look worried when Poe walks off, instead she just has that "fuck my friend rightfully called me out on my shit that I don't want to unpack yet" look. Like, Rey is the queen of abandonment issues - after knowing Finn for a day, him leaving in tfa was enough to hurtle her into a traumatic flashback turned Force vision; and there's no doubt the throne room made that worse.
And look, I'm also the queen of abandonment issues, it's one reason why I relate so heavily to Rey. Which is why Rey's lack of a reaction to Poe walking away strikes me so profoundly: because Rey isn't afraid he won't come back. It takes a seriously deep level of friendship to achieve that. I experience that with my qpps 99% of the time, and that other 1% is when my anxiety is really awful but even underneath that I know they won't leave me. Rey seems as confident in Poe not leaving her as a friend, as I am my committed platonic life partners. Let that sink in for a minute.
which is just another point for me for my qpp jedistormpilot hc tyvm
What happens after that, is that when Rey decides to leave to find the wayfinder, she isn't surprised when Poe shows up to (as far as she knows, tho we know he and finn were planning on going) say goodbye, and immediately makes sure they're on good terms before she leaves, just in case.
Poe also checks in on her before they leave because he notices she's acting strangely/drinking in the scenery like she won't see it again, and promptly spends...a lot of the movie worrying about her?
He grounds her several times in the novelization(s).......but is also one of the reasons Rey snaps in the desert with Ren and the transport. In the junior novelization (iirc), she thinks about all the horrible things Ren has done to her and her friends, and one of the things she thinks before she loses control is how he tortured Poe. And then (I can't remember in which novelization) it's Poe's voice who snaps her out of her shell-shocked daze following the transport blowing up. In the regular one, he also gently tells her in the ship to go take a minute and he'll take care of the flying so she can just....have a breather and process what happened and doesn't hold what happened against her in the least (which we also see in the movie).
And BONUS points he trusts her instinctively aboard the Steadfast when she gets a Force feeling (I think the line in the novel is something like "when she got that look, a fellow knew he ought just to follow"? Or it may have been another scene I can't remember). Like.....they're friends. I don't know how much more explicit the movie could have made it, unless folks wanted them sharing a secret handshake or wanted them to briefly pause the movie to add a powerpoint presentation text above their heads going "they're friends". They bicker and they argue and they get exasperated with each other, especially over their similarities (because Rey is a lot like Poe), but they genuinely love and care for one another, and to be quite honest saying otherwise is a huge fucking disservice to how much Daisy and Oscar put into crafting their dynamic.
#like rey even has picked up some of poe's mannerisms?#she gets WAY more reactive around him than anyone else#that was so deliberate#as is the fact that poe /never/ touches her skin to skin bc Rey canonically is touch averse#until the very end of the film when rey initiates the hug between them#i honestly just think the insistence that they hate each other is a byproduct of Two Certain Ships viewing their friendship as a threat#because Rey can't have any guy friends /obviously/ and Poe /can't/ have any friends that happen to be girls#(the poe comics era was the fucking /dark ages/ in the fandom)#so we wind up with the fanon that they despise each other#which is so far from the truth it's not even funny#ask box#nonnie nonnie#my meta#bc apparently i do this now rip sorry guys
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With all the DDVD talk feat. Baby Ik, how do you think an older teen Ik would be like? Just an ik raised in the devildom. Or do you think it ever occurs to Zhao or the brothers that Ik should have some level of interaction with her fellow humans and arrange some time for her to do some school in the human-realm?🤔
realistically, both diavolo and solomon would insist ik at least goes to school in the human world, and zhao would definitely want her to be familiar with it - so either ik would go to school up there and then just come back down to the devildom afterwards, or she'd be visiting regularly
once she grows up a little she'd be similar to how she is in baseline jtta, but definitely more confident and openly cheeky! talks back a lot more often, does more playful insulting, but her sense of humour would be the same, and she's still a very sweet kid at her core
she'd be a lot more casually affectionate too, since she'd have grown up being doted on, so she's very used to just picking a brother to curl up next to on the couch... probably also a lot better at talking about her feelings/problems, having grown up with a very robust support system
#answering asks#anon asks#dad in the devildom#her speech patterns would probably differ since the brothers all have pretty different cadences#which she'd mix and match with her dad's to end up with a sort of patchwork accent/mannerism#also i imagine she'd pick up on some of the brothers' habits more strongly#she already has a habit of copying mannerisms in jtta but it's a more recent development in terms of learning stuff from the brothers#whereas here she's been copying them since the beginning
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