#cardiac fairy

[fairytailfanatic]

I figured out why I love Soldier, Poet, King by the Oh Hellos so much, it has very big Fairy Tail energy. Like I can picture Mira singing it and all the guild members dancing

[madmanwonder]

Type: Prompt

Natsu x Levy; Natsu listening to Levy's heartbeat as she rewrites the book of E.N.D; E.N.D markings spreading to her heart as she does so

Thump—! Thump—! Thump—! Thumb—! Thump—! Thump—! Thump—! Thump—!

The hard, rapid heartbeat of Levy was grave concern for the pink-haired dragonslayer as he stared at the pale, sweaty face of the letter-Magic mage who was rewriting the book of E.N.D despite the risk of holding and rewriting the book written by the legendary dark mage himself.

Thump—! Thump—! Thump—! Thumb—! Thump—! Thump—! Thump—! Thump—!

“Lev���,” Natsu said gravely as he felt himself frozen in shock at the increasing pace of the heartbeats that made him flinched in horror and pain at the unnatural speed of her heartbeat.

Thump—! Thump—! Thump—! Thumb—! Thump—! Thump—! Thump—! Thump—!

And she give him gentle smile as if she telling her she was going to be okay and everything will be alright…despite how much pain she was in.

[tsuutarr]

Yandere!Fairy x Reader

“Ack! You scared me!” you exclaim as Cot suddenly appears in front of your face. His laugh sounds like twinkling bells as he settles himself on your shoulder. “Seriously… How do you keep popping out of nowhere?”

Cot tries to talk to you, he does, but all you hear is the sound of bells as he chatters on. Though you’re insanely curious to know what he’s saying, it looks like you won’t be able to know how he’s able to appear everywhere you are.

With a small huff of laughter, you ruffle his hair with your fingers. “At least give me a warning the next time you appear. I swear you’re going to make me go into cardiac arrest.”

Cot lets out a series of chimes that sound like an apology as he nuzzles your hand. You can’t help but smile – your little fairy friend is adorable.

Your days continue rather peacefully, your most frequent company being Cot. Though you can’t talk to him, just having him around is fun.

On a particularly sunny day, you’re picking strawberries from your garden, which Cot is assisting you with. You thank him as he hands you a glass of water (he’s only a little bigger than the cup, which is such a cute sight). Once you’re done drinking your water, you let out a small sigh of contentment. “Seriously, thanks, Cot. I don’t know how you knew when to appear, but I couldn’t have harvested all these strawberries without you.”

“It’s no problem!”

You freeze, eyes widening. “...Did you just… speak?”

He smiles, eyes twinkling. “Mhm!”

Your mind is unable to process your little fairy friend’s voice, making you stumble over your words. “H–how?!”

With a small hum that sounds like bells, he says, “Hm… I guess you can say that I cast a spell on you!”

(And by spell, he means that he’s slowly given you food from the Fae Realm, eager to whisk you away once you’re more fae than human. But until then, the only real spell he’s cast on you is one that allows him to know exactly where you are. After all, he needs to make sure you’re safe until he can take you to his home.)

[hamburgerndsprite]

Sprite's Favourite Fics {Bangtan Fics} Part 4

Note: Part 1, Part 2, Part 3, Part 5, Part 6, Part 7, Part 8, Part 9, Part 10, Part 11, Part 12, Part 13 (completed)

(Also, all the moodboards are edited by me therefore I request everyone not to repost them as theirs)

[OT7]

{ONE SHOT}

➺ Yellow Lights by minniepetals

— pairing: bts x reader — genre: fluff, poly!au, office!au, established relationship — word count: 7.0k — summary: who would have thought your coworkers would mean more to you than you initially thought a year later?

➺ Love-Starved by Hollyhomburg

Pairing: OT7 x Reader, Jeon Junkook x Reader W/c: 7.0k Genre: Fluff, Smut Synopsis: "It's the little things that often lead people to fall headfirst into love. Jungkook's already fallen, hard. And the boys? they might not have fallen yet, but they can feel the pull of gravity."

➺ BTS Yandere Masterlist [M] by Aris-ink

Genre: nsfw, dark content, Smut oneshots of each member

➺ One Wish by youarejesting

Pairing: BTS x Friend!Reader Genre: Fluff Words: 7.8K  Synopsis: “Hello, I think I have been kidnapped!”

{SERIES}

➺ Black Mamba by hoebii [ONGOING]

Pairing : OT7 x Hybrid! Reader Genre : Angst, fluff, Hybrid!Au  Rating: nc-17 Warning : Violence, swearing, mental breakdowns, weapons (mentioned), toxic thoughts, blood Parts: [12 Parts posted]

➺ Fairy Good by hoebii

Pairing: Tiny Fairy BTS x Reader Genre: Fluff, CRACK x100 Parts: 3/3

➺ Tiny Tan - Limited Edition ML by youarejesting

Pairing: Bts x Friend!Reader Genre: Fantasy, Comedy, Fluffy Fluff, Adventure. Summary: It is your first time buying proper merchandise, there are new chibi figurines and the first person to order will recieve a limited edition set. But what happens when BTS have gone missing without a trace and a few days later you receive your package. The box says congratulations, you open to find your limited edition figures, they look so lifelike. OH WAIT! it’s cause they are.

➺ No Doubt About It by hoebii

Pairing: CEO! BTS x gf! Reader Genre: Angst, Fluff Summary: They have doubts about your intentions and believe you may be a gold digger, prompting them to put you to the test. Parts: 3/3

{REACTION}

Asking for a threesome prank by dreamescapeswriting

Cockwarming by dreamescapeswriting

[KIM NAMJOON]

{ONE SHOT}

➺ Heaven Can Wait by bangtan-spells

Pairing: Namjoon x girlfriend reader Genre: Romance, drama, Accident Au, Idol au Synopsis: Namjoon is devastated when his girlfriend is seriously injured in a car accident while he is on tour. A week later, he and his bandmates visit her in the hospital, only to learn that she is in the ICU so they cannot meet her. Tragically, that night, she suffers a cardiac arrest, leaving Namjoon and her loved ones in despair.

➺ Fishy Business by hoebii

Pairing: Jin x Reader (Platonic), Namjoon x Reader, Jimin x Yoongi Genre: Fluff, Crack, Hogwarts au Warning: Jin is a blobfish Synopsis: Amused, Namjoon asked Jin “Oh? And what might she be talking about all day then?” “You of course. She never shuts up about you, your pretty face, smart brain, sexy b-”  “OKAY THAT’S ENOUGH.” You quickly snatch up the small bowl you keep Jin in before you dart out of the class and speed walk away, face now beet red.

➺ Mall Santa by youarejesting

Pairing: Namjoon x Reader x Jimin Genre: Soft boy Joon, Fluff, mistletoe kiss, cute baby bangtan visits Santa, Santa Joon, Elf Jimin. Words: 2.7k Summary: Being a mall Santa was hard so each Santa had two assistant elves, checking the schedule Namjoon saw he was working with two of the kindest and cutest elves that all the Santas wished they were paired with Y/n and Jimin. He is scared of tripping over his boots, knocking off his wig and beard and confessing his huge crush on the two of you.

[KIM SEOKJIN]

{ONE SHOT}

➺ Soft by hoebii

Pairing: Kim Seokjin x Reader Genre: Fluff, Crack, Established Relationship!Au Wc: 853 Synopsis: “I wanna touch your cheeks, they look really soft"

➺ The Devil's Advocate by jimlingss

➜ Pairing: Kim Seokjin x Reader ➜ Words: 11.8k ➜ Genres: 98% Fluff, 2% Smut, Devil!AU ➜ Summary: The devil is a lazy. selfish. bastard. He never shows up for work and forces you to take his place at the gates of Hell. But when he follows you on your vacation — you have an inkling of his intentions. After all, you are his advocate.

➺ Kitchen Romance by jimlingss

➜ Pairing: Kim Seokjin x Reader ➜ Words: 11.1k ➜ Genres: 95% Fluff, 5% Angst, Chef!AU ➜ Summary: You come from a long line of matchmakers. Your ancestors' ancestors were matchmakers and it's all because of a special, inborn gift. A gift that allows you to see each person's fated ones above their heads. But it's not so much a gift when one day, your boss walks in with YOU above him.

➺ Business Affairs by magicalsalamander

Pairing: BTS Jin x Reader Genre: Fluff/ Angst/ Smut/ Office worker/ Humor/ Enemies to lovers Summary: When the unexpected happens and here you are hours away from home your professionalism is put to the test. Jin, long time rival, always shows up at your worst moments. What happens when the world seems to be against you and the only one you know is Jin? 

[MIN YOONGI]

{ONE SHOT}

➺ The Sugar Wars by Hollyhomburg

Pairing: Min Yoongi x Intern! Reader W/C: 5.3k Genre: Soulmate au, Fluff, Brief Angst Summary: Maybe tasting everything his soulmate eats wouldn't be so bad if Yoongi’s soulmate didn't have the largest sweet tooth Ever. Maybe you wouldn't need to sweeten everything if he didn't drink his coffee so bitter. 

➺ Penguins, Concussions and Swear Words: A Love Story by dinoyoongi

PAIRING: Yoongi x Reader GENRE: Romance WORD COUNT: 7099 SYNOPSIS: You’re the mascot for your university’s hockey team - The Ulsan Penguins, and pathetically infatuated with a player from your team’s biggest rival. 

➺ Eight by cupofteaguk

pairing: yoongi x fem!reader genre: idol au, friends to lovers au | fluff word count: 5k summary: eight times Min Yoongi tells you he loves you 

➺ Bouquet by yooniivrse

pairing: yoongi x reader genre: established relationsip au, fluff word count: 1.3k content: oc buys yoongi flowers / my man is whipped summary. every day with you serves as a reminder that you are, in fact, the best thing that has happened to him

{SERIES}

➺ Stellar Behavior by lo1k-diamonds

PAIRING: Officer!Yoongi x Mafia (f)reader WORD COUNT: 44.3k GENRE:  Gangster AU, Law AU, enemies to lovers, smut PARTS: 8/8 SUMMARY: Yoongi has been in the police force for long enough to know that the system isn’t perfect, so when an injustice is about to put his protégé in jail, he has no other choice but to go to you. You’re the devil, but you’re hard to resist, and he needs to decide between falling into temptation or showing you that two can play the game.

[JUNG HOSEOK]

{ONE SHOT}

➺ Learning Flights by bts-ot-7

Pair: Hobi x reader  Genre: Established relationship, angst, fluff, idol! au, BTS on a world tour WC: 1155 Summary: Tour life can be difficult and even the strongest relationships can be broken down when one is overwhelmed. Your attempts to voice your concerns about Hobi’s well-being were quickly shot down by the man himself. 

➺ Hot Rod [M] by kinktae

pairing: greaser! hoseok x waitress! reader word count: 10k genre: 1950s au, smut, fluff warnings: VIRGIN KINK, semi-public fingering, oral (f), brief handjob, unprotected sex, lots of banter summary: a 1950′s inspired fic where greaser Hoseok can’t keep his eyes, or hands, off the new waitress at his and his boys’ favorite diner.

➺ Love at First Snow by vanaera

Pairing: dance major (and “academically challenged”)!Hoseok x Genius! female reader (College AU) Prompt | “You know, you remind me a lot of the Grinch. The only difference is in the end, his heart grows three sizes, but you stay an asshole.” Genre | Fluff, Humor, Angst Wordcount | 16.9k Synopsis | It is during the first snow Hoseok first meets Y/N. It is also during the first snow he prepares to put a ring on her. Little does he know, fate has other plans. (OR: As Hoseok relishes in the spirit of the Holiday season, he cannot help but also reminisce how you two, though entire polar opposites of each other, ended up together.

{SERIES}

➺ Jungle Park Series by jimlingss

► Pairing: CEO! hoseok x HR! reader ► Genre: Fluff, Slice of Life, Slow Burn, Workplace Romance!AU ► Summary: The equation is simple. Hoseok needs to hire someone. You need a job. Except like any actual equation, it’s not fucking simple at all! Not when you have to add the fact that he was forced to hire someone he doesn’t want in his office, he has little respect for your job in general, and oh yeah...once upon a time you might have—*CENSORED*.

[PARK JIMIN]

{ONE SHOT}

➺ Drabble by indgio

↳ genre: established relationship / implied idol!au ig? / fluff & comfort / a lil angst and a lil humour ↳ wc - approx. 700+ ↳ Summary: the one where jimin is not supposed to freak out but he freaks out anyway. ↳ Alternatively, jimin does not enjoy getting calls that let him know you’re in hospital, even if they give you chocolate pudding.

➺ Drown with me [M] by hoebii

Pairing: Park Jimin x Reader Genre: Lifeguard!Au, Smut, Fluff Wc: 2.9k Rating: 18+ (Minors DNI!!) Warning: Cunnilingus, Fingering, unprotected sex, swearing, oc almost low-key drowns

➺ Antifreeze by winetae

—pairing: jimin x female! reader —genre: smut, pwp | college!au, ballet/Christmas au, alpha/beta/omega-verse —word count: 11.7k —summary: ‘Don’t sleep with your dance partners.’  For three years, Jimin has followed the above rule religiously. Who knew it would take a vengeful ex, a Christmas fundraiser, and a pair of torn tights for his resolve to crumble?   ↳ alternatively, Jimin participates in the school’s adaption of The Nutcracker for extra credit but doesn’t expect his new dance partner to a) be this bad at dancing and b) be this fucking cute

➺ A Work of Art [M] by missgeniality

➺ Pairing: Jimin x Female Reader ➺ Genre: PWP, Smut, Slightest Angst ➺ Rating: 18+ ➺ Word Count: 7.3k ➺ Summary: You surprise Jimin with his Filter outfit; and then some.

➺ Blessing and a Curse by btsmosphere

~pairing: Jimin x reader ~word count: 12.7k ~genre: college!au, magic!au, fluff, angst ~warnings: nightmares, house fire, knife injury, and blood, mentioned homophobia/biphobia, swearing ~summary: You are the unluckiest person you know. Park Jimin seems to be the exception to the rule. But when strange dreams start haunting you, Jimin begins to piece together the events that have followed you your whole life…

➺ Eleven by hongcherry

🕚 Pairing: Jimin x exGirlfriend!Reader(f) 🕚 Rating/Genres: NC-17; Angst, song-inspired, exes to lovers  🕚 Word Count: 5.0k 🕚 Warnings: Major character death, brief description of death scene (blood, body position, scene itself), pet names (kitten), car crash, not happy ending 🕚 Summary: “After you and Jimin break up to pursue your separate goals to achieve life’s success, Jimin tries to rekindle the spark that’s been flickering ever since the split.”

[KIM TAEHYUNG]

{ONE SHOT}

➺ Making Time by borathae

Pairing: CEO! Taehyung x f. CEO! Reader Genre: Slice of Life, Fluff, married life! AU Wordcount: 772 Summary: “Christmas time has been pretty stressful for you and Taehyung. And so he decides that you and he should make time for some much needed tranquility.”

➺ Ruined [M] by taegularities

⋙ pairing: Taehyung x female reader ⋙ rating: 18+ ⋙ genre: strangers to lovers; angst, fluff, smut ⋙Summary: “Does forever sound too long?” You first see Kim Taehyung at the office you’ve just started working at – and his eyes draw you in immediately. Quiet, powerful, and confident; yet he’s wrapped in a suit of secrets. A suit you want to take off layer by layer.

➺ You should see me in a crown by shining-on-a-sunday

pairing: prince/king Taehyung x servant reader warnings: yandere behaviors, sexual content, obsessive behavior wc: 3.5k synopsis: “You are going to hide anywhere you want in the castle, and I’m going to try and find you.”

➺ Under Wraps [M] by jungkxook

⟶ pairing: taehyung x fem!reader ⟶ words: 15,062 ⟶ rating: 18+ ⟶ genre: enemies-to-lovers / fake dating / fluff / smut ⟶ summary: there’s nothing you and taehyung seem to hate more than each other - except for christmas. having recently been dumped by your (now ex) boyfriend only seems to make this holiday even worse. but when taehyung suggests that you should pretend to be dating each other to save you both the embarrassment, pity, and bothersome questions from family and friends alike for a fun carefree month of celebrations, you can’t possibly say no.

[JEON JUNGKOOK]

{ONE SHOT}

➺ The Probability Of Us by Jiminrings

pairing: college professor! jungkook x pretty student! reader wordcount: 6k glimpse: jungkook’s the son of the university’s president, y/n’s cardigan is everyone’s favorite, and adjacent walls mean shared victories. 

➺ How Long Will We Fall by Jiminrings

pairing: jungkook x reader wordcount: 14k genre: soulmate au, painful f2l, unrequited love (at first), a lot of angst, more fluff n wholesome moments, emotional constipation, yearning, jealousy, swearing, reverse cards that make u cheer, redemption arc, glimpse: if it’s fate, it should already be set onto your skin — that’s why jungkook’s initials are already on your finger. he’s always there for you, but not only for you. if you’re his fate, he’d rather not have it. alternatively, jungkook’s your soulmate, but he doesn’t want to be.

➺ Staged For The Season by voyter

pairing. jeon jungkook x fem!reader word count. 18.3k words genre: Fake Dating Au, Angst, Friends to Lovers, Fluff, Smut summary: Going back home for the holidays meant facing his ex — the one he still couldn’t let go of. Determined to win her back and spark a little jealousy, he brought you along… as his fake girlfriend.

➺ Down and Down by kkukverse

pairing: MMA fighter! jeon jungkook x fem!reader genre: fluff,angst synopsis: “I would kill to see her again, but I would die if that ever happened because I broke her, Jimin. How could I see her when I’m the last person she would ever want to see?”

{SERIES}

➺ Four-seven-eight by Jiminrings

pairing: jungkook x reader glimpse: you’re secure when it comes to loving jungkook, knowing that your husband loves you beyond words. what you aren’t so secure about is his first love — someone who isn’t you. alternatively, jungkook’s married to you, but he still celebrates his anniversary with his ex out of sentimentality.

➺ Beauty & The Geek by smoljimjim

Pairing: Geeky fastfood worker JJK x Rich barbie girl OC named Siri Genre: College AU, sort of strangers/friends to lovers, funny, fluff, angst, smut, happy ending (I plan on this fic being more funny and cute rather than angsty, but there will still be some angst of course) Parts: 20/20 Description: What’s an unpopular geeky guy to do when one of the most popular rich girls on campus starts trying to vie for his attention? Reject her, of course, ‘cause it must be some kind of joke and there’s no way they would work. Oh, and there’s also the fact that he can’t stand her.

[milkmejae]

Heartstring 1998─ p.sh, n.rk

sypnosis: in 1998, a misdirected confession letter meant for your long time crush, Riki, lands in the hands of his best friend, Sunghoon. turning your life into a relentless game of servitude, but just as everyone realizes their feelings, maybe it's already too late. genre: romance, angst, fluff, comedy (?) pairing: classmate!p.sh x female!reader x crush!n.rk word count: 10.1k warnings: mentions of death, medical themes, distressing content, angst, dubious dynamics, bullying

playlist: kiss kiss - mgk, - tiger la flor, super8 - tiger la flor, genius - ravyn lenae, paranormal - enhypen, mr. loverman - ricky montgomery, heartbreak girl - 5sos, ghost of you - 5sos, lasso the moon - tiger la flor

a/n: this fic is from last year, i originally decided to discontinue this since i don't really like it, but i changed my mind so... yeah, i hope y'all like this <3 not proofread

Senior Year, 1998

For most kids, high school was about prom, last-minute cramming, and hoping their moms didn’t accidentally wash their favorite Nirvana shirt with the whites. For you, it was about making it to graduation before your heart gave out.

You never thought your senior year would be defined by cardiac failure and romantic failure in equal measure, but here you were.

Dilated cardiomyopathy. That was the term. It meant your heart was working overtime just to do the basics, pumping blood, keeping you alive, making sure you didn’t pass out from climbing a single flight of stairs. It wasn’t ideal. Yeah, it sucks.

Neither was the fact that you were still pathetically single.

Sure, you had an excuse. Being terminally exhausted wasn’t exactly attractive. But was it too much to ask to experience at least one romantic moment before you kicked the bucket?

But you had dreams.

Dreams like not dying single.

And that’s where Riki came in.

Oh Riki, your Riki.

An angel sent from above, the one that makes your heart hurt, both in a good and bad way. You didn't even know why and how you caught feelings. It was just sudden and it’s not even funny—if angels wore Chrome Hearts, had a mean three-pointer, and called you dude way too much for your fragile, lovesick heart to handle. He once told you his goal in life was to be “dripped out even in the afterlife,” which honestly? Respect.

Riki was the kind of guy who made high school bearable. He was your first and longest crush, the reason you sometimes bothered showing up to class despite your heart doing the absolute most just to keep you conscious. He had this stupidly perfect laugh, an attitude that danced between cocky and charming, and a way of making everything seem fun. A normal person might have confessed ages ago, but you? You waited until you were on the verge of death to take action.

He was the reason you dragged yourself to class even when your heart was acting like a dial-up modem on a stormy night. The reason, you, a known mediocre, somehow maintained perfect attendance in exactly one class: Physics. Not because you cared about Newton’s laws, but because Riki sat next to you, smelled like expensive cologne and teenage recklessness, and occasionally let you borrow his hoodie when you looked cold and pale which was often, because obviously you're dying. It’s like he’s the gravity, pulling you towards him.

And oh, he was everything you weren’t. Tall, athletic, and effortlessly cool, he had this laugh, the kind that made your stomach do backflips and your heart forget it was terminal. He was one of those guys who made high school look easy, a movie protagonist who actually liked being here. While you were just trying not to die in the middle of AP Literature, Riki was out there making everything look like an MTV music video.

Confessing your feelings should’ve been simple.

People did it all the time. Girls slipped notes into lockers, guys made mixtapes with carefully chosen love songs, couples slow danced at prom under the cheesy glow of twinkling fairy lights. It wasn’t hard.

So why did it feel like you were about to commit a crime? Maybe because you were.

The crime of embarrassing yourself beyond repair.

You stood at the edge of the school courtyard, gripping the folded confession letter like it was your last will and testament. This was it. This was the moment you’d tell the guy how you felt after years of—

Oh.

Oh, no.

He wasn’t alone.

He was sprawled out on one of the stone benches, his signature skateboard lying next to him, chatting with a few guys from his friend group. His stupid friend group.

The school’s unofficial boyband without the instruments, except Jay sometimes carried his Taylor 114CE around for no reason. A group so effortlessly cool that it made even normal social interactions feel nerve-wracking, let alone whatever the hell you were about to do. You despise that.

Panic settled deep in your chest.

You had imagined this moment a million times. But not once had you imagined doing it with an audience.

You tried to gather your courage. Maybe they won’t even notice me. Maybe you could just walk up, say what you needed to say, and leave before anyone processed what was happening.

It was a good thought.

A comforting thought.

And then—

Someone cracked a joke, and all of them burst into laughter. The kind of laughter that made you feel like an intruder just for standing there.

You were kidding yourself. This wasn’t some cute, romcom-worthy confession. You weren’t that kind of girl, and this wasn’t that kind of story.

This was real life.

And in real life?

You had no business walking into that circle, let alone confess to one of them. Your feet were already moving before your brain caught up.

One second, you were standing there, gripping your letter for dear life. The next, you were walking—no, speed-walking—straight past them, making a very dramatic beeline for anywhere but here.

And in your rush to flee the scene of the crime you never committed, you didn’t notice.

The letter slipping from your fingers.

──────────────────

The man had been having an okay day.

Which, by his standards, meant a tolerable day.

He had survived calculus without wanting to throw himself into traffic, avoided being dragged into yet another unnecessary argument between Jay and Jake (about whether or not socks with sandals were ever acceptable), and had, so far, successfully avoided unnecessary social interaction.

So when he caught a glimpse of a crumpled piece of paper tumbling across the pavement, he almost ignored it.

Almost.

But then he saw something that made him pause.

A number.

Or, more specifically—

A beeper number.

He sighed, bending down to pick it up. It was a letter.

He unfolded it, gaze flicking over the words then he stopped.

Because this wasn’t just some random note.

This was a confession letter.

A very specific, very earnest confession letter.

“To Riki,

He exhaled sharply through his nose, gaze flicking up just in time to see you—the girl from his class who always looked like she was one bad day away from dropping out—power-walking away like you had just committed arson.

I like you. A lot. Probably more than I should. Just thought you should know. If, by some miracle, you feel the same, page me. [xxxx-xxxx]. If not, let’s pretend this never happened.”

The guy sighed again, tucking the letter into his pocket. This was not his problem.

And yet.

He glanced at the beeper number.

Then back at you, now just a fast-disappearing blur in the distance.

He didn’t know why he did it but he did it anyways.

You didn’t realize your letter was missing. Not until you got home, tore your bag apart, and found nothing. And that was when you started panicking. No, that wasn’t just any letter. That was the letter.

The one where you had detailed in embarrassingly specific language, how much you fancy Riki. How you thought he was funny and talented, how his laugh made your heart do that weird fluttery thing, how your heart would ache for him (which may or may not have been an actual symptom of your condition, but whatever).

BEEP.

Fuck.

Please no.

Somewhere, wherever you had ended up, your beeper went off.

You wanted to die.

Where was it? Who had it? Did Riki have it?

And when you checked the message, all it said was:

"You dropped something. Meet me, back of building 2 tomorrow."

Oh, fuck me.

──────────────────

You weren’t easily rattled. Life had already handed you an unfair deck of cards—one defective heart, one painfully obvious crush, and one misdirected confession that now haunted your every waking moment—so at this point, you thought you had developed a decent threshold for embarrassment. You had learned how to roll with things. Keep your head down. Survive.

But there was something about the way Park Sunghoon was staring at you that made you want to combust.

It started the moment you stepped into the classroom that morning. The feeling crept up your spine, that unmistakable sense of being watched, and when you finally stole a glance, you found Sunghoon already looking at you, his posture relaxed, arms crossed, his expression unreadable. He didn’t flinch, didn’t pretend to look away like a normal person who had just been caught staring. No. Instead, he held your gaze, cold and steady, as if he were analyzing something, measuring something before deciding it wasn’t worth reacting to.

You immediately turned away, heart thumping in your chest, pulse stuttering slightly in a way that may or may not have been a symptom of your condition. Fine. Whatever. Maybe he had just been spacing out. Maybe this was nothing. You weren’t about to let Sunghoon of all people ruin your day.

But then, the minutes crawled by.

And he didn’t stop.

At first, you tried to ignore it. Sunghoon wasn’t actively bothering you, right? He wasn’t whispering your name, wasn’t nudging your shoulder, wasn’t throwing notes onto your desk like some annoying childhood crush. He was just… watching.

And yet, somehow, that was worse.

Because Sunghoon had the kind of presence that demanded to be acknowledged. He wasn’t the loudest guy in the room, far from it. He didn’t need to be. His silence carried weight, his indifference practically tangible, like he existed just slightly out of sync with everyone else. So when someone like that stared at you, it meant something.

The worst part?

You couldn’t even tell what that something was.

You spent most of the class pointedly looking at anything but him, your notebook, the clock, the water stains on the ceiling—each second stretching into eternity as his gaze bore into the side of your head. Maybe if you ignored him long enough, he’d get bored. Maybe if you pretended this wasn’t happening, it would stop.

But it didn’t.

Not when the teacher droned on about quadratic equations. Not when students shuffled papers and tapped their pencils in absentminded rhythms. Not when the morning sunlight filtered through the windows, spilling across desks and highlighting the faint scratch of chalk on the blackboard.

Through it all, he didn’t move.

He remained effortlessly composed, his elbow propped against the desk, fingers loosely curled near his chin, eyes never once leaving your form. He wasn’t even pretending to focus on class. It was almost insulting how casual he was about it, like you were some mildly interesting puzzle he had no real intention of solving.

By the time the final bell rang, you had reached your limit. You shoved your books into your bag, gripping the straps a little too tightly as you all but launched yourself from your seat. You needed to get out of there before your brain short-circuited completely.

But Sunghoon?

He still didn’t say a word.

Didn’t move.

Just let his gaze follow you all the way to the door, like this wasn’t over yet.

And maybe—just maybe—it wasn’t.

You should’ve gone straight home. That would have been the rational thing to do. But your beeper still sat heavy in your pocket, the message from last night burning in the back of your mind.

"You dropped something. Meet me, back at Building 2 tomorrow."

The moment you had seen those words flash across the tiny screen, your stomach had dropped. You had torn your bag apart, desperate to find anything that could’ve been misplaced, but it wasn’t until way later that it hit you.

The letter.

The one you had written for Riki. The one you had spent actual time on, pouring out feelings you never thought you’d have the courage to say out loud. The letter that had, in the most unfortunate turn of events, never even made it to him.

Instead, it had landed in the hands of someone else.

And now, you were going to find out who.

With each step, your heartbeat picked up your pace slow but deliberate as you cut across campus, sneakers scuffing against the pavement. The late afternoon air was thick, the distant sounds of students laughing and packing up for the day fading behind you as you rounded the corner of Building 2.

And then,

You stopped.

Because standing there, leaning against the wall like he had been waiting all along, was Park Sunghoon.

Your stomach sank.

For a split second, you tried to rationalize it. Maybe he just hangs out here. Maybe this is a coincidence. But then—

Sunghoon reached into his pocket.

And pulled out your letter.

He flicked it between his fingers, gaze steady, unreadable, completely indifferent, except for the slight tilt of his head, like he was considering something. The afternoon light cut sharp shadows across his features, making his already blank expression even more unreadable. He looked calm. Collected. Bored, even.

Like this entire situation barely even registered as interesting.

You, on the other hand, were short-circuiting.

Your pulse hammered against your ribs, not from exertion but from sheer mortification. Because this was so much worse than Riki finding it.

This was Sunghoon.

And Sunghoon?

He had no reason to be holding that letter.

He shouldn’t have cared. He shouldn’t have picked it up. He shouldn’t have read it.

But he had.

And now, standing there, twirling it between his fingers like it was nothing, he finally spoke.

"Looking for this?"

His voice was light. Almost amused.

You could only stare.

You didn’t have time to be embarrassed. Didn’t have the luxury of panicking, of stammering out some half-baked excuse and sprinting in the opposite direction like a complete coward. No, you had to deal with this. Immediately. Swiftly. Before making your life a waking nightmare.

So, you did what any rational person would do.

You square your shoulders, inhaled sharply, and cut straight to the point.

"What do you want?" you demanded, arms crossed, words sharp enough to slice through the thick tension hanging between you.

You should have been prepared for the absurdity. You really should’ve. But after everything that had gone down in the past twenty-four hours, the beeper message, the letter fiasco, the absolutely humiliating confession, you had already reached your limit of surreal, embarrassing moments. You had told yourself, no more surprises.

But then came Sunghoon, with his deadpan expression, leaning against the wall like the entire world was a joke, and the punchline was you. And when he said it, when he casually tossed out the words, "Be my school dog," it felt like the universe had finally decided it was done messing with you and had moved on to full-scale mockery.

You just blinked at him.

"What?" you asked, voice hoarse, as though you needed to clear the fog in your brain before you processed the sheer absurdity of his demand. "Are you serious?"

Sunghoon didn’t flinch, didn’t even shift his posture. He stood there like the picture of aloofness, arms crossed, lips slightly tilted in the barest semblance of a smirk, eyes unwavering. He looked like he was having the most normal conversation of his life, while you were actively dying inside.

"Relax," he repeated, his voice dripping with nonchalance as if this was an everyday occurrence. "It’s really not that complicated."

Oh, it wasn’t complicated?

You wanted to scream.

You wanted to march right up to him, slap that stupid smirk off his face, and demand that he take it back, but you were at the mercy of his overwhelming indifference, the kind of indifference that breathed confidence into his words. No sweat. No hesitation. Nothing but cold calculation in the way he leaned there, as if his proposition were the most casual thing in the world.

"What does that even mean?" You couldn’t help but ask, your voice thick with a mix of disbelief and frustration. "Am I supposed to fetch your textbooks? Your coffee? Should I start doing your homework too? Or maybe you want me to do what? sit at your feet while you nap?"

You knew you were being ridiculous, but it was hard to hold it together when this was the price you had to pay for your own heartfelt (and now totally ruined) confession.

Sunghoon’s lips quirked into an almost imperceptible smile, the kind of smile that didn’t reach his eyes but was still full of something, something that made your skin crawl. "Something like that," he said, his voice smooth and utterly calm, like he was the one in control of the situation, like you didn’t have a say in this at all. "I mean, think about it. You’re already here, asking me what you can do for me. You’re not exactly in a position to make demands."

You froze.

This was it. This was where he trapped you, where the ridiculousness of it all became so real you couldn’t deny it anymore. You wanted to fight back, to argue, to find some way to get out of it, but the reality was clear: If you didn’t play along with this, if you didn’t accept this weird, humiliating deal, he would ruin you.

He would ruin the last shred of your dignity, and you knew it.

So, you swallowed your pride. Your heart felt like it was going to stop, a painful flutter settling in your chest as you stared at him. "And if I refuse?" you asked, knowing the answer before he even gave it.

Sunghoon didn’t need to think about it. He didn’t even look surprised. "Then Riki gets the letter," he said simply. "and you can’t be mad at me for it. You dropped it. You gave it to me. That’s your choice."

It was the coldest, most efficient power move you had ever experienced. And in that moment, it hit you—he had already won.

He didn’t need to ask for much. All he wanted was control, and you were about to hand it to him on a silver platter.

You sighed. There was no escaping it now. You had no choice. You didn’t want to be here, bargaining your way through this twisted mess, but Sunghoon’s eyes were so deadpan, so assured, that you couldn’t summon the strength to push back anymore.

"Fine," you muttered, feeling your skin burn with the embarrassment of it all. "I'll do whatever you want. Just please don’t tell anyone about the letter." You want to tell your feelings to Riki personally.

Sunghoon’s smirk grew wider, like he had expected you to cave all along. He pushed himself off the wall and took a slow step forward, narrowing the space between you two.

You swallowed, trying to steady your breathing. You had no idea what was coming. He lowered his voice as if it were some sort of weird consolation prize. "I’ll let you eat lunch with me, at least."

You wanted to disappear, to evaporate, to never show your face in this school again. But the look in Sunghoon’s eyes told you that wasn’t an option. This was real. This was happening. And you?

You were officially Park Sunghoon’s school dog.

──────────────────

By now, you had accepted your fate. It had been months since you sold your soul, no, your dignity to Park Sunghoon in exchange for him keeping quiet about The letter. Months of being yanked around like some poor, lost soul who had wandered into a contractual nightmare with no exit clause.

You weren’t sure which part was worse: the daily humiliation, the psychological warfare, or the fact that you were getting used to it.

Sunghoon hadn’t wasted a single second of his power over you. From the moment you agreed to be his so-called school dog, he had ensured that your life became one long, never-ending exercise in absolute servitude.

And the worst part? No one even questioned it anymore. It had gone on for so long that people just… accepted it.

Your descent into scholarly servitude had begun subtly. Small things, little requests that felt more like casual favors than public degradation.

"Hold my bag."

"Get me water."

"Wake me up if I fall asleep in class."

Easy. Manageable.

You could do those things without completely hating yourself. But then it escalated.

Suddenly, you were running across campus to buy him snacks during break, you were saving a seat for him in the cafeteria like some pitiful placeholder, he was flicking your forehead when you weren’t quick enough with his demands, like you were some personal assistant from hell.

You tried to push back at first. You really did. But Sunghoon had a way of making you comply, without even trying that hard.

"You could just quit," he’d say with a careless shrug, tossing your own words back at you. "But if you do, I guess Riki might finally find out about that letter. I’m sure he’d find it... interesting."

Checkmate. Again.

And so, you stayed. You obeyed. You suffered. It got so bad that even the teachers stopped questioning why you were always lingering near Sunghoon like some overworked intern.

"Oh, are you running another errand for Sunghoon?" one of them had asked once, completely unbothered.

"Good teamwork!" GOOD TEAMWORK? This was not a team. This was indentured servitude.

It had been months, and the horrors you had endured were starting to take permanent residence in your psyche. There was no low too low.

No request is too ridiculous. You had been sent to retrieve his lost pencil case from the third-floor library (which he could have easily done himself). You had been forced to lend him your notebook for three consecutive weeks because he couldn’t be bothered to take his own notes.

You had once… once been made to stand in line for 45 minutes just to buy him a stupid limited-edition drink from the vending machine because he didn’t feel like waiting. And, in what might have been the most humiliating moment of all, you had been coerced into tying his shoelaces in the middle of the hallway.

Right in front of everyone. It had happened so fast you hadn’t even processed it. One second, you were walking side by side (well, more like you were dragging your feet behind him like a loyal hound), and the next, he had come to a stop, looking down at his undone laces with the slowest, most deliberate sigh of all time.

And then—he had looked at you. No words. Just a look. You had known exactly what he wanted. But you had still dared to hope.

"No," you had whispered, a desperate plea for mercy. Sunghoon had simply raised an eyebrow.

"Yes."

And that was how you had found yourself squatting on the floor, tying the laces of Park Sunghoon’s expensive sneakers like some medieval servant in an empire that thrived off unpaid labor. Sunoo had walked past and actually choked on his drink.

Jungwon had muttered something about "power dynamics" under his breath. Jay had snapped a photo and laughed until he fell onto a bench. And Sunghoon?

Sunghoon had stood there, hands in his pockets, watching your soul leave your body, before saying in the driest tone possible: "Good job. You missed a loop, though."

You could have murdered him.

At some point, you stopped actively resisting. It wasn’t acceptance. It wasn't a resignation. It was just... easier to do what Sunghoon wanted than to fight it. You still complained.

You still insulted him under your breath whenever he wasn’t looking. But you did the tasks. You showed up when he called (because he always called). You got his things without arguing (because arguing never worked).

You were losing yourself. And what was worse? Sunghoon knew.

He knew.

Because these days, he doesn't even have to say anything. He’d just look at you. A small, expectant tilt of the head. A faint lift of his eyebrows. Maybe a little smirk if he was feeling particularly cruel. And you’d immediately know what he wanted. There was no escape. There was no winning against Park Sunghoon.

You were his school dog.

And he was never letting you go.

──────────────────

It started like any other day. Another miserable, exhausting, Sunghoon-infested day where you were being dragged around like a personal errand runner with no salary, no benefits, and no escape clause.

You had long since abandoned the idea of rebellion—fighting back never worked, ignoring him never worked, and outright running away just resulted in more work. At this point, it was muscle memory. Sunghoon beckoned, and like a well-trained idiot, you responded.

And, as always, you obeyed, because what other choice did you have? You were trapped in this unwritten contract, and until he got bored (which, knowing Sunghoon, was never), you were stuck. Today’s mission was simple—carry his books. Because, apparently, carrying his own books was beneath him.

God, if only you weren't that down bad to Riki.

You weren’t sure when you had fully transitioned from human being to glorified pack mule, but here you were, arms full, dragging your feet behind him as he strolled through the hallways like some entitled monarch surveying his kingdom.

"You know, you could carry at least one of these yourself," you muttered, shifting the weight of the books so they wouldn’t snap your spine in half. Sunghoon barely spared you a glance. "I could." There was a pause before he added, almost lazily, "But I won’t." You wanted to throw one of the books at his head.

The hallways were suffocating, the walls pressing in on you with their peeling paint and the distant hum of old fluorescent lights. You could hear students laughing somewhere nearby, the sound muffled under the pounding in your skull.

You weren’t sure if it was from frustration or actual physical strain, but each step felt heavier than the last. Your breath came shorter, your limbs tingling with that annoying, familiar numbness you had long since learned to ignore.

By the time you reached the courtyard, the sun was brutal, the heat pressing down on your already exhausted body like a physical weight. Your chest felt tight, your breath uneven, and your vision had started getting that weird blurry quality, like everything was just slightly out of focus. You were used to pushing through it, used to ignoring the warning signs, but today—it felt worse. Heavier. Like something was seriously off.

"Hurry up," Sunghoon drawled, glancing back when he noticed you lagging. "At this rate, we’ll be here all day." You wanted to snap at him, tell him to shut up, to carry his own damn books for once, but the words got caught somewhere in your throat. Your head was pounding. Your breathing was shallow. And then—

A warm trickle ran down your upper lip.

You lifted a hand to your face, confused, dazed—and when you pulled it away, your fingers were stained red.

Oh. Shit.

For a moment, everything slowed down. Your brain struggled to catch up, to make sense of it—because, sure, nosebleeds weren’t uncommon. You’d had them before. But this one felt... different. It wasn’t just a few drops—it was flowing, fast and unrelenting, staining your uniform, dripping onto the pavement. The alarm in your chest flickered into panic.

Sunghoon���s voice cut through the haze, sharp but still laced with boredom. "What are you doing? Keep moving—" But when you didn’t respond, when you didn’t immediately snap back at him with some sarcastic remark, he actually turned to look at you.

His entire expression shifted.

His smirk dropped, his usual detached amusement flickering into something sharper, more focused. He stared, his gaze flicking between your face, your hand, the growing stain on your sleeve. "What the—"

Your body swayed.

The heat, the exhaustion, the struggle to breathe, it all crashed over you at once. The books in your arms slipped from your grasp, the sound of them hitting the pavement barely registering in your ears. The world around you tilted, the sun overhead blurring into streaks of white, the ground rising to meet you in a slow, dizzying spiral.

Sunghoon’s voice, usually so calm, so infuriatingly composed, suddenly wasn’t.

"Hey—"

But you didn’t hear the rest.

Because by then,

Everything had gone black.

──────────────────

The first thing you registered was the beeping.

Slow, steady, rhythmic. A sound that felt both familiar and foreign, like something from a dream you couldn’t quite place. It was a gentle, persistent pulse in the distance, matching the sluggish, heavy thrum of your own heart—a reminder that, against all odds, you were still here.

Then came the sensation of weightlessness, a strange, floating feeling in your limbs that told you there was an IV in your arm, delivering whatever miracle fluids were keeping you tethered to consciousness. The air smelled clean, too clean, that sterile hospital scent that made your stomach churn with something uneasy.

The sheets beneath your fingers were stiff, scratchy, tucked too tightly around your legs, the kind of impersonal discomfort that made everything feel foreign. And when you finally managed to peel your eyes open, the world revealed itself in harsh, clinical lighting, white walls, white sheets, white curtains, the kind of blinding brightness that made everything feel too real.

You were in a hospital.

And, judging by the disapproving expression on the doctor standing beside your bed, this wasn’t just a precautionary visit.

The weight of it settled on your chest before she even spoke.

"You gave us quite the scare," the doctor started, her voice calm but carrying that particular tone that meant she was about to tell you something you didn’t want to hear. "Your friend said you just collapsed out of nowhere. A nosebleed first, then loss of consciousness. Does that happen often?"

You swallowed, your throat dry, like you had swallowed sandpaper instead of oxygen. You didn’t answer right away, because what were you supposed to say? That you had been ignoring every warning sign your body had been throwing at you? That the fatigue, the dizzy spells, the sudden shortness of breath had all become so normal that you just… stopped paying attention?

You could lie. You could wave it off, pretend it was nothing. But it wasn’t nothing, was it? It was everything.

"I’m fine," you muttered instead, voice hoarse. "It was just the heat."

The doctor didn’t look amused.

"It wasn’t just the heat," she corrected. "It’s your heart."

There it was.

That single, unrelenting truth that you had spent so much time pretending didn’t exist.

You could feel your pulse in your ears, too slow, too uneven, like it was struggling to keep up. Dilated cardiomyopathy. A fancy way of saying your heart was weak, failing, not doing its job. And right now, that heart was betraying you, beating with the fragility of a thing that wasn’t meant to last.

The doctor sighed, softer this time. "Your condition is worsening."

Again, there it was.

The words hung in the air, settling over you like a weight too heavy to shake off. You had known, deep down, that things had been getting worse. You had felt it in the exhaustion that never quite went away, the way your body lagged behind your will, the increasing difficulty in simply existing.

But hearing it out loud made it real in a way that knocked the breath from your lungs.

"We’re going to run more tests," the doctor continued, her voice gentler now, like she was trying to ease you into something inevitable. "But you need to start taking this seriously. You can’t keep pushing yourself like this. If you do..." She hesitated, and that hesitation was the most terrifying thing of all.

"If I do?" you prompted, though you already knew the answer.

The doctor exhaled. "If you do, your heart might not be able to handle it."

Again.

The quiet, clinical, devastating way she was telling you what you had been trying to outrun all this time.

If you kept pushing, if you kept acting like you were fine, if you didn’t start taking this seriously—

You wouldn’t make it.

The room was too quiet. The only sound was the slow, mechanical beeping of the heart monitor, filling the space with its eerie, measured certainty. Each beep felt like a countdown, a cruel reminder that time was moving forward whether you wanted it to or not.

You turned your head, staring at the ceiling, feeling the slow, methodical rhythm of your own heartbeat. It felt wrong. Weak. Like it wasn’t yours anymore. Like it belonged to someone else, someone who had always been meant to break.

You thought about school. About walking through the halls, about Sunghoon ordering you around, about the months you had spent running yourself into the ground for things that, in the end, didn’t even matter. You thought about Riki, about that stupid letter, about how ridiculous it was that all of this started because you just didn’t want to die single.

But as your thoughts spiraled, as your mind traced back over every little moment, every order you had obeyed, every ridiculous task you had completed without hesitation, a quiet, terrifying realization settled in your chest.

You hadn’t just been doing it to keep Sunghoon from telling Riki.

Somewhere along the way, somewhere between the eye rolls and the reluctant errands, between the lazy smirks and the stupid tasks, between the way he always knew when you were tired and the way his gaze lingered just a little too long.

You had started doing it for him.

Because somewhere along the way, you had started falling for him.

And now, lying in this too-white, too-quiet hospital room, with the reality of your own failing body settling over you like a suffocating weight, you felt something that had nothing to do with your heart condition.

You felt scared.

Not just of dying, but of leaving before you could figure out what this feeling even meant.

Before you could figure out what he meant to you.

Before you could figure out what you meant to him.

Because if you meant anything at all…

Wouldn’t he be here?

Wouldn't he have stayed?

The thought made your throat tighten, your fingers curling into the stiff sheets beneath you.

Maybe it was better this way. Maybe it was easier if nothing changed.

Because if Sunghoon knew, if he found out just how much he had started to matter.

You weren’t sure if your heart could handle it.

And this time, that wasn’t just a metaphor.

──────────────────

Sunghoon noticed the silence first.

It wasn’t obvious at first glance, the hallways were still loud, the students still restless, the usual chaos of high school life carrying on like always. But something was off. Something that made his stomach twist in a way that had nothing to do with hunger.

You weren’t there.

It should’ve been relief. You being gone should’ve meant peace and quiet, a break from having to summon you with a lazy flick of his fingers, a break from your sighs and sarcastic quips whenever he told you to do something. A break from your presence, that sharp, undeniable force that had somehow embedded itself into his life before he could even stop it.

But it wasn’t relief.

It was just wrong.

Sunghoon sat in his usual seat, elbow propped on his desk, fingers tapping against the smooth surface in slow, restless beats. He wasn’t the type to notice small things. He didn’t care when people switched seats, didn’t pay attention when someone got a new haircut, didn’t really bother keeping track of who was absent or present.

But you?

He noticed everything about you.

And now, all he could notice was that you were gone.

The silence in the classroom seemed to stretch out, growing heavier as he sat there, barely hearing the teacher’s voice. He kept looking toward the door, half-expecting you to walk through it, your usual nonchalant self, but you never did.

And every minute you were gone felt like an eternity.

Sunghoon wasn’t an idiot. He knew how people saw him as cold, detached, and impossible to read. And he let them believe it, because that was easier. It was easier to pretend nothing mattered than to admit that some things did.

And you?

You had always mattered.

It started long before the letter incident. Long before the school dog nonsense. Long before he even had a reason to interact with you. It had started in small moments, in fleeting glances, in the way his eyes always seemed to find you without meaning to.

He had watched you from a distance.

Always.

Not in a weird way, not in a way that would make anyone think too hard about it—but in a way that stuck. You had a presence that was impossible to ignore, no matter how hard he tried. You weren’t loud, you weren’t dramatic, you weren’t someone who demanded attention.

And yet.

Somehow, you had his.

You had it when you sat in class, twirling your pencil between your fingers, staring out the window like you were anywhere but here. You had it when you walked through the halls, always a little aloof, always just a little removed, like there was some part of you that wasn’t fully tethered to this place.

You had it before you even knew you had it.

And then, the letter.

The stupid, poorly timed, completely accidental letter.

Sunghoon still didn’t know what possessed him to pick it up that day. Maybe it was curiosity. Maybe it was instinct. Maybe it was just the excuse he had been waiting for.

Because the moment he held that letter, the moment he saw your handwriting, your words, your stupid beeper number he knew he was never going to give it back.

Not to Riki.

Not to anyone.

And instead of letting it go, instead of forgetting about it like he should have.

He used it.

He made up some ridiculous excuse, a power play, a way to keep you close.

School dog, my ass.

It had been so stupid. So immature, so unnecessary. But it had worked. It had kept you there. And that was all that mattered.

Because Sunghoon, despite everything, despite how he acted, despite how much he tried to deny it.

He just wanted to be near you.

Now, sitting in class without you, the emptiness in his chest gnawed at him. It wasn’t a sense of relief or peace that he felt—no, it was longing. It was the kind of ache he couldn’t explain, couldn’t ignore, no matter how much he tried to bury it under layers of apathy.

It wasn’t just about the tasks anymore, about the way he made you fetch his books or run his errands. It wasn’t even about the control he thought he had over you, the power he wielded just by making you his school dog. It was something deeper. Something far more unsettling.

He had tried to keep things casual, tried to convince himself that he was just messing with you, just finding a way to pass time, but that was a lie.

A damn lie.

The truth was that he had been watching you from the shadows for so long that when the opportunity to pull you into his orbit had arrived, he had taken it without thinking. He had dragged you into his little game because, in some twisted way, he thought it would make him feel better. But instead, it made him feel like a fraud.

Because every time he made you do something, every time you ran after him like some obedient pet, every time he saw you slumping with exhaustion after hours of doing his bidding, he wasn’t feeling triumphant.

He was feeling guilty.

And now, here he was sitting in a classroom, a half-empty desk across from him, with nothing but regret and desire burning through him like a flame that he couldn’t extinguish.

The guilt was suffocating.

Because he had made you into something you weren’t, something you didn’t deserve to be. He had used the letter as an excuse to get closer to you, to feed into this weird, unhealthy dynamic between the two of you, and now you were probably gone.

Now, you weren’t there to push around anymore.

And the truth? The truth was, Sunghoon didn’t care about the tasks or the commands. He didn’t care about having someone to do his bidding. He cared about you. He cared about your presence in his life, about the way your eyes would roll whenever he made a stupid request, about the way you would sigh and do it anyway, your silent, reluctant obedience making something twist inside him.

Now, without you, everything felt empty.

At lunch, the others noticed. They always did.

"You’re quieter than usual," Jay said, taking a bite of his sandwich. "Something up?"

Sunghoon didn’t answer.

Jake nudged him with his foot under the table. "Missing your little school dog?"

The comment was supposed to be a joke. Lighthearted. Something to tease him with, like always.

But it made something in Sunghoon clench.

Because yes.

Yes, he missed you.

But not the way they thought. Not because he didn’t have anyone to carry his books or fetch his drinks.

He missed you because it was you.

Because even when you rolled your eyes, even when you groaned, even when you called him an annoying tyrant under your breath.

You were still there.

And now, you weren’t.

And it was his fault.

Sunghoon stood up abruptly, ignoring the looks the others gave him.

"Where are you going?" Sunoo asked, raising an eyebrow.

Sunghoon didn’t answer.

Because, honestly?

He didn’t know.

All he knew was that he needed a plan to fix this.

The truth was Sunghoon had never wanted a school dog.

He had just wanted you.

──────────────────

The hospital room was quiet except for the steady beeping of the monitor beside you. The sterile white walls, the sharp scent of antiseptic, the cold metal of the IV stand—all of it blurred together in the background as you stared at the doctor standing at the foot of your bed.

His expression was careful, the kind of practiced neutrality doctors wore when they were about to deliver news that would change your life.

"We’ve reviewed your latest test results," he began, his voice calm but firm. "And I won’t sugarcoat it, you need a heart transplant. Immediately."

You knew this was coming. You had known for a long time that your condition was getting worse, that the fatigue and dizzy spells weren’t just bad days but signs of something irreversible. Still, hearing it out loud, the finality of it made something inside you cave.

"We’ve already put you on the transplant list," the doctor continued, flipping through your chart. "But," He stopped, hesitating for a moment before looking at you again. "You’re lucky. We found a donor a few days ago. A perfect match."

You blinked. "A donor?"

The words didn’t make sense at first. You had been bracing for months, years even, for an indefinite wait. For the uncertainty. For the possibility that a match wouldn’t come in time. But now, now it was here? Just like that?

"Yes," the doctor said. "The heart is in excellent condition. We’ve already done all the necessary compatibility tests, and if everything goes well, we’ll be scheduling your surgery soon."

Your hands tightened around the thin hospital blanket. There was a strange weight to this news, something you couldn’t quite place. It was relief, yes, but also something else, something heavier.

"Who?" You hesitated, licking your dry lips. "Who was the donor?"

The doctor’s face remained unreadable. "I’m afraid I can’t disclose that information."

Your heart stuttered.

It's just that someone had died a few days ago. Someone young enough, healthy enough, for their heart to be a perfect match for yours. And now it was yours for the taking.

You swallowed hard, trying to push down the strange unease creeping into your chest. This was good news. It was supposed to be good news.

You were recovering. Slowly, but surely. It had taken time, more than you wanted to admit, but you were on the mend. The doctors were hopeful.

You hadn’t been told about the donor. They didn’t tell you much. You didn’t ask too many questions. The only thing that mattered was that you were going to be okay. The rest of it felt like background noise to you.

And so, you recovered. You were still you just a little weaker, a little more fragile than before but you were back. Back to school, back to seeing people, back to facing the world. The hardest part had been getting back into the rhythm of everything, pretending like the last few weeks hadn’t happened.

You walked through the halls like you always had, but something was missing. It wasn’t just the way the world felt different after being so close to death. It was the way everything had changed without you even realizing it. There were new faces, new conversations, but something about this place seemed quieter than it used to be.

You didn’t see Sunghoon.

And that was... unsettling.

It was during lunch when it happened. You were sitting with some friends, nibbling on your food, when Riki approached. You didn’t expect it, but you should’ve. Riki had been around, had been supportive, and it wasn’t the first time he’d checked in on you. But this time, something felt different about his presence. There was a look in his eyes, a sadness you hadn’t seen before.

"Hey," Riki said quietly, standing beside your table, his hands stuffed into his pockets. He had a letter in his hand, folded neatly, looking so out of place in the cafeteria.

You frowned, noticing the way his eyes wouldn’t quite meet yours. "What’s this?"

He hesitated for a long moment, glancing over his shoulder before sitting down across from you. He unfolded the letter, and his voice softened. "I don’t know how to say this, but... I think you should read this. It’s from Sunghoon."

You blinked, confused. "Sunghoon? What’s going on?"

Riki didn’t answer right away. He just handed you the letter, the words scrawled in that familiar handwriting you had long since associated with his teasing and laziness. But this was different. This was more than just some casual note or school business.

You opened the letter carefully, feeling the weight of it, his words pressing against you like a secret you weren’t sure you were ready for.

And as you read, you could feel your chest tighten with each line. The letter was long, longer than any note he’d written you before, and it was more than an apology. It was a confession.

"I’ve been thinking about this for a while, and I don’t even know if I’m brave enough to send this to you, but here goes. I want you to know that I’m sorry. For everything. I’m sorry for making you feel like you had no choice but to do what I said. I’m sorry for dragging you into this mess. I never meant for things to go this way."

You stopped for a second, feeling something stir in your chest, confusion, guilt, maybe even relief. This was Sunghoon. The Sunghoon you had never expected to say anything like this.

The next words hit harder.

I know you must hate me by now. I wouldn’t blame you. But please hear me out. When I made you my 'school dog,' I never meant for it to be like this. I just didn’t know how else to be around you. You were always so far away, so different from everyone else. I couldn’t stand it. I couldn’t stand that you didn’t need me. But I needed you. I don’t know when it happened, but I fell for you. I did. And I didn’t know how to deal with it. I thought maybe I could just have you close, even if I had to make you do stupid things for me. I thought it was funny at first. But the more I did it, the more I realized I was hurting you.

Your breath caught in your throat. His words were like a quiet storm, and every sentence felt like it was cracking something deep inside of you.

I never meant for you to feel this way. Never. And I hate myself for making you feel used. I didn’t realize how much I relied on you until I didn’t have you around anymore. I’m sorry. And I’ll never be able to make up for what I’ve done. I don’t know if I’ll get the chance to apologize to you in person, but I hope you can forgive me someday. I’m sorry. Please, just know this, it was always you. It was always you I was looking at, even when I wasn’t looking.

You stopped reading for a moment, trying to breathe through the rush of emotions. The weight of his words was too much. Too much for you to absorb all at once.

I’m not good at this, I wanna page your beeper, but I have a lot of things to say so it’s probably a bad idea to do, he had written, but if you need anything—if you ever need to talk or scream at me for being an idiot—I’m here. I promise you, I’ll be here.

And then came the final lines. They were short. Simple. And yet they carried the weight of everything you hadn’t realized you’d been hoping to hear.

I don’t expect you to forgive me. I don’t even know if I can forgive myself. But if you can, if you want to, please just know that I was trying to be better. I wanted to be better for you."

Your heart stopped for a moment, still clenching, as your hand shook around the letter. Riki, who had been quietly watching you, sighed and leaned forward slightly. "Sunghoon... he said that to me once, you know?"

You looked at Riki, trying to process the rush of feelings that were still swirling inside you.

He gave you a soft smile, one that didn’t quite reach his eyes, and reached for the letter in your hands. "He told me about everything. The letter, the deal you two had, before the accident."

You blinked. "What do you mean?"

Riki hesitated. His eyes grew dim as he looked down at the table. "He was on his way to visit you. He was going to apologize. He had flowers for you. He had this letter too… I’m sorry."

Your stomach dropped. The words didn’t make sense. "What do you mean? Was he okay?"

Riki’s voice cracked, and he looked away, taking a shaky breath before continuing. "He didn’t make it. he didn’t survive. He was hit, they tried to save him, but it was too late."

“He was your donor."

Your entire world tilted. The room felt like it was closing in on you. The beeping in your ears grew louder, drowning out everything else. No. It couldn’t be. It couldn’t have been him. Sunghoon had died. The person who had caused you so much pain, the person who had pushed you to your limits, had died... and somehow, you had his heart.

Riki stood up, his voice quiet but firm as he placed a hand on your shoulder. "I don’t know what to say, but... I know he would’ve wanted you to have it. His heart. Not in this way, he would’ve wanted you to be his dear, I think he was just too afraid to say it out loud."

You couldn’t speak. You couldn’t even think. The overwhelming weight of the truth, the reality that Sunghoon had been there for you in a way you never imagined tore through you. He had given you his heart, and now, in the cruelest twist of fate, it was the very thing that kept you alive.

You stared down at the letter in your hands, your fingers trembling, your vision blurred with tears you couldn’t quite hold back.

Riki’s voice was quiet as he placed the letter back in front of you. "He was trying to apologize. He was trying to make things right... and now you have his heart. I know it doesn’t make sense... but maybe, just maybe, this is how it was meant to be."

And as you sat there, still holding the letter, you realized one thing.

No matter how many apologies were written, no matter how much time passed, you would never be able to undo what had happened what you had never even understood. You had Sunghoon’s heart, but it would never be enough to fill the void he had left behind.

You just hoped that, somehow, wherever he was, Sunghoon had found the peace he never gave you while he’s still full of life.

──────────────────

In all honesty, Sunghoon had never been good at talking about his feelings. He had always preferred silence, preferred letting his actions speak for themselves, no matter how frustrating or cryptic they might have seemed to others. But that night, standing under the dim lights outside the convenience store, with Riki shoving a pack of chips into his hands like it was some kind of peace offering, he felt something heavy press against his chest.

Something that needed to be said.

Riki was already halfway through his drink, barely paying attention as he scrolled through his beeper messages. He looked up only when he noticed Sunghoon hadn’t moved in the past few minutes. "Dude, why do you look like you’re about to confess to me?"

Sunghoon scoffed, rolling his eyes, but the usual bite wasn’t there. "Shut up."

Riki grinned, but it faded when he caught the tension in Sunghoon’s expression. "Okay, seriously. What’s up?"

There was a beat of silence. Sunghoon exhaled through his nose, staring down at the condensation gathering on his drink can.

"You remember that letter?" he asked finally, his voice quieter than usual.

Riki frowned, setting his drink down. "What letter?"

Sunghoon clenched his jaw before forcing himself to say it. "The one that was meant for you."

It took a second, but then realization hit. Riki blinked, brows furrowing as he sat up straighter. "Wait. You mean—"

"Yeah," Sunghoon cut in before he could finish the thought. "That one."

Riki was staring now, full attention locked on him, his usual carefree demeanor slipping away. "Okay… And why are we bringing this up now?"

Sunghoon swallowed, fingers tightening around his drink. He had spent so long pretending like the letter hadn’t meant anything, like it had just been an opportunity to mess with you, to keep you close. But deep down, he knew that wasn’t true. He had kept the letter not because it was leverage, but because it had meant something to him because it had been about him, and for once, he had wanted to hold on to something that wasn’t fleeting.

"Because I should’ve told you sooner," he admitted, voice low. "It wasn’t a joke. It wasn’t some random crush. She actually liked you dude."

Riki didn’t say anything at first, just watching him carefully. And then, to Sunghoon’s surprise, he let out a small, quiet laugh one that held zero amusement.

"You’re an idiot," Riki muttered, shaking his head.

Sunghoon’s eyes snapped up. "What?"

Riki sighed, running a hand through his hair. "I knew."

Sunghoon stilled. "What do you mean, you knew?"

Riki exhaled through his nose. "I had a feeling. I just wasn’t sure. And besides, it never felt like she was into me like that, not after your deal with her."

Sunghoon’s fingers twitched. "Stop fucking around dude, it’s real, she liked you."

Riki gave him a dry look. "It wasn’t about me anymore, dumbass. It was about you."

Sunghoon opened his mouth, but nothing came out.

Riki continued, "She looked at you more than she ever looked at me. I don’t think she even realized it herself. But I saw it. I saw the way she followed you around, the way she complained but still did everything you told her to. I saw the way you looked at her too, by the way. You’re not as subtle as you think you are."

Sunghoon looked away, his grip tightening around the can. "It doesn’t matter now," he muttered. "I fucked it up. She probably hates me."

Riki didn’t deny it. He didn’t need to.

"What are you gonna do?" he asked instead.

Sunghoon let out a slow breath. "I’m going to see her. I need to fix this."

Riki studied him for a moment before nodding. "Good. You should give her everything she deserved because you are an idiot. "

And with that, Sunghoon tossed his drink in the trash, grabbed the bag of flowers and the letter from his pocket, and left, never knowing that he would never make it to you.

──────────────────

Present, 2024

"Ryoko, stop running. Your heart, my baby."

Your voice rang out through the warm summer air, but your daughter was already too far ahead, her tiny feet kicking up dust as she dashed across the grassy field.

Ryoko didn’t listen. She’s always full of life despite of her condition.

"Mama, I’m fine!" she called back, laughing breathlessly as she dodged between trees, her little white sneakers barely making a sound against the earth. "I’m super fast, see?”

You sighed, placing a hand over your chest as if that would ease the tight, familiar worry sitting in your ribcage. "That’s not the point, love. You know you have to be careful."

From beside you, Riki chuckled, reaching over to wrap an arm around your waist, pulling you into his side. "She’s fine," he murmured into your hair, pressing a kiss to your temple. "You worry too much."

You huffed, turning to glare at him, but there was no real fire behind it. "She’s six, Hun, she has my heart."

His expression softened, his grip around you tightening just a little. He knew what you meant. He always did.

"Our heart," he corrected gently, tucking a strand of hair behind your ear. "And it’s strong. Just like you."

You swallowed, nodding, but the unease never fully left your chest. Ryoko was so full of life, so free-spirited and wild, with that same stubborn spark you once had before hospitals, before surgeries, before the weight of things you couldn’t change settled into your bones.

Before him.

Before Sunghoon.

The thought crept in before you could stop it, uninvited yet lingering like a familiar ghost.

It had been years. So many years. Years filled with happiness, with love, with laughter, with Riki. Years where you had moved forward, built a life, a family.

But some nights, when the world was quiet and your heart beat a little too steadily in your chest, you would remember.

You would remember the way Sunghoon had looked at you from across the classroom. The way he had smirked at you in the hallways, so effortlessly confident. The way he had made your life miserable only for you to realize, too late, that it had been his way of keeping you close.

You would remember his letter. His words. The apology he had written but never got to say in person.

And you would wonder.

What if?

What if Sunghoon had made it to the hospital that day? What if he had never stepped onto that street? What if he had never picked up your letter in the first place? Would things have been different? Would you have loved him the way you loved Riki now? Would you have been happy?

Or would it have all ended the same way—him, gone. You, left behind.

The wind blew softly, rustling the leaves around you.

"Hey," Riki murmured, his voice pulling you back to the present. His fingers brushed against yours, anchoring you. "You’re thinking again."

You exhaled slowly, giving him a small smile. "I’m always thinking."

"Yeah, but you’re thinking about him." Riki didn’t sound upset. “I miss him too, baby. He was my bro.” Your husband chuckled, there was no jealousy, no resentment—just understanding. He had known you too long, loved you too long, to be threatened by a memory.

You lowered your gaze, squeezing his hand. "I think I always will."

Riki nodded, pulling you into him, resting his chin atop your head. "That’s okay."

A small giggle snapped you both out of the moment, and you turned just in time to see Ryoko running back toward you, her tiny hands clutching a handful of wildflowers. Her cheeks were flushed, her breath quick but steady and healthy. Alive.

"Look!" she beamed, holding out the flowers proudly. "I got these for you, Mama!"

Your heart clenched, and for a brief second, the world blurred not from sadness, not from grief, but from something softer. Something warmer.

You knelt down, brushing a strand of hair from her face, pressing a kiss to her forehead. "They’re beautiful, my love. Thank you."

Ryoko giggled again before running off toward the picnic blanket, already distracted by something else, her small body glowing under the golden afternoon sun.

Riki watched her go, then turned back to you, his eyes full of something deep, something steady.

"Are you happy?" he asked suddenly, his voice quieter now.

You met his gaze, really met it, letting the question settle between you.

Were you happy? Yes, very.

You thought of Ryoko’s laugh, of the warmth of Riki’s hand in yours, of the love that had carried you through everything, through grief, through healing, through the unfairness of it all.

And then, softly, you nodded.

"Yeah," you whispered. "I am."

Because this was your life now.

And even though the past would always be there, even though Sunghoon’s heart still beat inside of you, even though there would always be a small part of you that wondered what could have been—

You were happy, because a part of him is still alive within you.

And that was enough.

[msfcatlover]

The Dancer

Slay the Princess route where you insist there has to be a key, convince the Narrator to let you go back upstairs to retrieve the knife, and manage to escape the cabin to search outside of the window, where you find it half-buried in the garden. The Narrator tries everything to make you drop the key or give up the idea, every step back down into the basement is a different form of agony, before you finally drop to your knees at the Princess’s side (mid cardiac arrest) and unlock her cuff.

The Princess is delighted. She grabs her unshackled wrist with a brilliant smile, leaps to her feet and dances about the basement, revealing in her freedom. Then, suddenly, she realizes how bad off you are, and that joy melts away into panic as she tries to figure out a way to save you the same way you saved her.

She can’t, of course. You’re out of breath, wheezing, and can’t manage more than a single word before your heart finally gives out. Everything goes dark, and you die.

The Princess you meet in Chapter Two is a little bit ditzy, a bubbly attitude, and is already free. She has tiny fairy wings, thin antennae on either side of a crown of morning glories, ribbon-y ballet slippers (not proper pointe shoes, probably), and her dress is modeled after old-school ballerinas. You know, with the floofy bell skirts Edgar Degas so loved to paint.

(And here’s some lovely fairy ballerinas in somewhat similar dresses)

She’s protective & worried, and already out of her chains when you arrive. She cries out in joy when she hears you coming down the stairs and races over to meet you, giving the Narrator one hell of a fright. Because the last thing you saw was her staying in the cabin to try to save you, she prioritizes your health over her own freedom, fussing over you. Her cabin is much cozier, with a basement that actually looks like a livable room, right down to a little fire with a cook pot simmering underneath the window.

If you choose to stay & share a meal with her, you will eventually nod off beside the Dancer, her fingers gently brushing your feathers.

The Narrator says you don’t know how long you slept, and you will never know. Because you never wake up. You shirked your duties, and slept straight through the end of the world.

Any other route will inevitably lead to you two escaping together. Unless you kill her, in which case you get the Burned Grey.

(“This one is revelry, but she is also grieving. She never thought anyone would care enough to help, but you sacrificed everything for her. She will make for an effervescent heart. Do not mourn her, for she has found the love she longed for.)

.

Chapter 3: The Dream The Dream’s skirt is longer, back to floor-length, but also formed of wispy layers of torn silk, making it look almost smokey. Her tiny butterfly antenna have become big, feathery moth-y ones, and her wings now drape down her back like a cape. Her eyes are solid black, but refract light enough to look more like large gems than holes in her face. When she smiles, her teeth are sharp.

She is syrupy sweet, just as caring as the Dancer, just as clingy as the Damsel. But there’s an edge to her now. Your last thought was, after all, likely wondering if she had tricked you, to try to trap you down here. She now cares more about holding you at her side than she cares about her freedom, and would happily keep you trapped in that basement with her for eternity if she thought it would keep you with her. Her innocence is more manipulative than genuine—she will not hesitate to whip out the tears or feign hurt in order to get her way, and her protective affection is now borderline smothering.

It’s easy to fall under the Dream’s sway, but like the Nightmare, she really just wants to mold you into what she wants most. It will take a good deal of trickery of your own to coax her out of the cabin, or else the Shifting Mound will take her around when she clasps chains on you, insisting it’s for the best & that you’ll thank her later.

(“This one is shelter & desperation. She knew only captivity and so sought it as a means to protect the only person who ever cared. Her vulnerability is real, but she coveted your company more than your health or happiness. She will make for a passionate heart. Do not mourn her, for she has found the love she longed for.)

.

No original voices, I think. The Dancer & Dream strike me as Smitten & Paranoid routes, respectively. They are (probably obviously) basically alternate versions of the Damsel & Nightmare, after all.

And you know, I think it’d be interesting to see Paranoid deal with a Princess who just seems nice until things start to ramp up.

[dfortrafalgar]

I'm Losing You

Having a family isn't always as easy as fairy tales make it seem.

PLEASE READ THE WARNINGS AND DISCLAIMER ON CHAPTER 1 BEFORE PROCEEDING!!!!!!

Chapter 2

[Prev] [Next]

Law knew his eye bags were heavier than they usually were, so it came as absolutely no surprise when one of his nurses expressed deep concern for his unusually tired appearance.  And that was saying a lot.

“Room 305 is doing well on aspirin, their blood pressure has improved dramatically since yesterday morning– Dr. Trafalgar, do you need another coffee?  You look like you’re about to fall asleep,” she expressed, her eyes heavy with worry.

“I’m alright, Rebecca, but thank you,” he responded without a single fluctuation of his tone.  Though, he was definitely a tad embarrassed that his lack of sleep from the night prior was that evident.

His pink-haired coworker continued walking alongside him, flipping through her charts from her latest rounds in the cardiac care unit.  Not wanting to press further and risk upsetting him, she simply continued catching her supervisor up to speed with the patients in his ward.  “Room 306 has been slightly unstable since his triple bypass surgery, so he was on extra monitoring overnight but hasn’t shown any significant signs of distress.  Room 307 however is still intubated, with arrhythmia that comes and goes at random.  He has both you and Dr. Tony overseeing his care today.”

Law nodded along with Rebecca’s words, and he truly was trying to absorb them as best he could, but he couldn’t get his mind off of you at home.  He knew Shachi and Penguin would be good company, but he truthfully wanted nothing more than to be home with you at every waking moment, making sure you were okay.  The constant thoughts of you from the night previous made his entire chest ache, the sounds of your distraught sobs echoing in his brain constantly.

“Dr. Trafalgar?” Rebecca once again questioned.  She had stopped walking and Law hadn’t even noticed.  He turned around, startled at his lack of awareness, and turned to face her.  This time, her brown eyes were profoundly concerned.  “If something is seriously wrong–”

“I’m fine, I swear,” he urged, briskly cutting off her statement.  “Thank you for your concern, but I’m fine.  I apologize for my lack of attention, please continue with your notes.”

After a few brief moments, Rebecca sighed through her nose and flipped to the next page on her clipboard, continuing her briefing.

In a way, he was partially thankful for an unassuming round.  He really needed to clear his head in time for his next surgery in an hour.  This wasn’t like him.

—

It was around 9:00 PM when the front door to your apartment opened and closed softly.  You were on the couch with Bepo, barely keeping your eyes open at the mindless television program in front of you when your husband walked through the door and hung his jacket on the coat rack, kicking his shoes off of his feet.  Bepo seemed to know the drill, quickly hopping off of the couch and trying to make it seem like he hadn’t been lying there for an hour.  You watched with a faint smile as Law exhaustedly trudged over to where you sat, flopping down next to you and resting his head in your lap.  His nose was nestled into the plush of your belly, making you suppress a giggle at the ticklish feeling.  Your hand immediately gravitated to his mop of thick, black hair.

“Busy day?” you asked, already knowing the answer.

Law groaned.  “It wouldn’t have been so bad if I wasn’t thinking about you all day.”

You frowned.  “I know… I’m sorry.”

“Don’t be, I just can’t help but be nervous for you.  It’s not your fault.”  Law’s hand trailed to your hip, rubbing lazy circles into the skin below your pajama shorts.

“If it helps ease your worries, Shachi and Penguin took a huge load off today, they spent the entire day with Bepo.  They even did your laundry, if you could believe it,” you stated with a dry chuckle, thinking back to a few hours prior when Shachi was boldly making fun of the gaudy pattern on a pair of Law’s boxers.

“That instills some confidence,” he joked back at you.

Your fingers continued to comb through his hair, making his eyes close with the content feeling.  “Any interesting cases today?” you asked, desperate for a way to distract him from what was on his mind.  Frankly, you needed the distraction too.

Law hummed, thinking back to the morning.  “When I arrived this morning I had a patient in the OR for Carotid Artery Disease, so we did a carotid endarterectomy to help him with that.  Very pleasant man, I spoke to his family during my final round when he was moved to recovery.  He had suffered a very minor stroke a few years prior, so hopefully this surgery greatly reduces his risk for another.”

You nodded along with Law’s words.  You were always allured at the way he could talk about his work for hours if you let him, and with the weight hanging over both of you, you desperately wanted him to.  You could listen to him talk about cardiovascular diseases for the rest of your life if it meant not having to deal with the reality of your situation.

“What’s Carotid Artery Disease?” you asked, hoping he couldn’t catch on to the way you silently begged him to keep talking to distract your fuzzy mind.

“It’s a condition where a plaque builds up in the carotid arteries in your neck,” he explained, picking up his hand and trailing his tattooed fingers along the side of your neck, demonstrating where the vessel was.  “It’s sort of similar to the way certain blockages can cause heart attacks, but because the plaque builds up in your neck, it could cause strokes.”

You continued nodding.  “That’s interesting… any other surgeries today?”

Unbeknownst to you, Law was most definitely catching on to the way you urged him to continue speaking, using his voice to block out the anxious radio static in your head.  He slowly sat up, leaving your lap feeling cold and vacant before pulling you into his chest.  Bepo came to sit at the base of the couch, resting his fluffy head on Law’s thigh.

“I know you don’t want to talk about it right now…” Law began.

You closed your eyes and sharply inhaled through your nose.

“But I did call a urologist today to set me up with a brief fertility examination,” he continued.

You were scared to look up at him.  “What will they do?”

Law idly trailed his fingers up and down your sides.  “Most likely a semen analysis, blood test to detect hormone levels, or an ultrasound,” he explained.  He paused, anticipating your reaction, but got none.  With a sigh, he placed a hand on the back of your head, holding you close.  “I know it’s really hard to talk about it, but I want to rule out every possibility.  You don’t have to call so quickly, but I think it would be good to get in contact with your gynecologist again.”

You feebly nodded into his shoulder, your forehead resting where you now knew his carotid artery lay.  “I know… I will.  I promise I will.”

Law encouraged you to pick your head up to look at him.  “You know I’m not the best with words,” he blankly stated, bringing a very small smile to your lips as you nodded.  His calloused hand caressed the skin of your cheek.  “But I’m going to be with you through this entire journey, no matter how long it takes.  I’m your husband, I’m not going to leave you over something so…” he trailed off, looking for the appropriate word.

“Pointless?” you offered.

He quickly shook his head.  “No, not pointless.  Far from that.  Maybe ‘idle’ is a decent word.  An idle issue.  An idle issue that will resolve with time.”

“Might resolve,” you countered.

“No.  Will resolve.”  Law was steadfast in correcting you.  You could tell it was taking an incredible amount of energy for him to keep a positive head.  As much as the entire fertility situation greatly upset you, you found a spark of hope and joy in the way Law was, surprisingly, keeping optimism.  It wasn’t near enough for both of you, but it was better than nothing.

“I’ll call my OB-GYN tomorrow morning when her office opens…” you muttered, dropping your head back down.  Law hummed in response, now taking the time to pet your hair with his fingers.  

The room fell into moderate silence before Bepo huffed, demanding to go outside.  You snorted at the sound, picking your head up and looking at your husband.  “I’ll take Bepo to pee, there’s leftover lasagna in the fridge if you’re hungry.”

Law lifted an eyebrow.  “Lasagna?”

You finally stood, stretching and popping your back.  Bepo excitedly ran toward the door, eagerly bouncing on his paws for you to hurry up and follow him.  “Penguin was cooking all day today.”

Law grinned.  “Nice, I’ll make myself a plate.”

He watched as you slipped on a light jacket and pulled Bepo’s harness over his body, looping his leash and exiting the apartment.  With a groan, Law stood up and meandered to the kitchen towards the refrigerator.  

You didn’t have many decorations or magnets, a few small sticky note reminders here and there, but a gift-shop magnet from a trip you took while still dating was stuck to the metal, holding up a candid picture of you and Law on your wedding night.  Law still had no idea who took the image, but every time he looked at it sent butterflies through his stomach.  You were both in the middle of dancing to an energetic song, you happily clinging to his arms with the brightest smile on your face.  Your eyes were creased with unparalleled glee as you stared up at Law, who was looking back down at you with his own cheerful grin.  The lights had blurred around you with the motion of whoever took the photo, but it made an ethereal golden glow surround your dancing figures.  Your wedding night, albeit cliche, was the happiest night of Law’s life.

His stomach grumbled, interrupting his thoughts.  He mindlessly reached for the leftovers in the fridge.

[pandorasworkshop]

💀Pick a Poisonous Flower - Pick a Card

Pandorasworkshop

Pick a poisonous flower to find out who's your hidden enemy?

Datura Foxglove Belladonna

Datura

Datura is a hellish plant that can bring about nightmarish hallucinations and dehydrate your body past no return.

Cards: queen of cups, devil, death, king of pentacles, moon, eight of pentacles .

Readings: Be careful of a blonde? women who you may work with or go to school with. She is highly manipulative and has a sweet girl act down to every last detail. She's convinced the people around her of this act as well. This person may be jealous of your success, hard work, talent and patience. They may want to push you out of your position, get you fired in the worst case scenario, get your promotion or steal your light. Be careful not to tell people too much jealous eyes can give you bad luck. Your advice is king of pentacles which means someone in your higher up will help you but first you need to balance yourself. Do not react to anything. I can see this person using your anxiety/depression/paranoia against you. Stay calm and collected. This person is really obsessive. She may even try to take your ideas and pass them off as hers. Make sure things are in writing always. Be very careful. These cards are heavy major arcana.

Signs: rainbows, number 8, magic 8 ball, masquerade mask, growing pains, scones, chai tea, wanting to cut your hair, police sirens, cold beer.

Foxglove

Foxglove is a poisonous plant that it's affects are similar to that of a cardiac arrest. It's called foxgloves because it was thought to be fairies gloves.

Cards: Seven of pentacles, three of cups reversed, nine of swords, nine of cups

Reading: You have a lot of envy for simply being yourself. Someone in your friend group is really jealous of you and may be unintentionally sending you negative energy your way through the evil eye. All the cards in this reading are minor arcana so I feel like this person won't do anything really impactful? Or anything that will make a dent in you. They are jealous of how happy you seem in yourself and how you seem to persevere through things. You have confidence that they don't have and it causes them to be self conscious. Your energy may be picking up on this if you are highly intuitive and it makes you feel worried almost but don't be. Your advice is to cleanse yourself and any gifts you may get and stay protected however you may do that. Your guides got yoy

Signs: gigs, snow, thunderstorms, starting your period, icicles, haunted houses, fairy themed stuff, feeling sick to your stomach, warm cup of tea, brown boots, brown sugar, angel statues.

Belladonna

Belladonna is a poisonous plant that if ingested can cause lethargy and comas if ingested. It got it's name from 'beautiful' and 'woman' because it used to be made into a topical cosmetic foundation and increased pupil size. Obviously this has been out of practice now.

Cards: Three of cups, three of swords, judgement and five of pentacles

Reading: You may have broken someone's heart or broken off a friendship. This person feels veryyy resentful of you. Even if you were just asserting your boundaries. You may actively know this person dislikes you but may not think they are wanting to see your downfall but this person is very much in their emotions and feels very hurt by just your presence. They may try to use your past against you like past trauma, occupations or things you've done when you were younger. They are beating a dead horse and I feel as if this person will get tired of it eventually. They could even be a step sibling? Whoever this person is they can't take no for an answer and aren't the type person you want in your life.

Signs: Romeo and Juliet, Wattpad fanfics, opera, Chocolate cake, crepes, feeling really hungry, parrots, 421, 444, journaling, listening to classical or instrumental music.

[lirarey]

See you again (chapter 4 — ending)

That evening, Jane anxiously sorted through her things, trying to put her thoughts in order. The girl is frankly not used to talking about such difficult topics. What if everything goes badly and everyone decides that she's crazy?..

"You're not crazy," it sounded behind her, "but I still wonder what's going on."

Jane turned around with a start. The last phrase happened to be spoken out loud. Carlos was standing in the doorway of her room.

"I understand that everyone sometimes wants to be alone..." The guy broke off, and she remembered that one of his fears had always been loneliness. Without realizing it, Jane was hurting him even more. "But you weren't even here at your own birthday party. And you stopped practicing magic altogether. Something happened?"

"Magic is dangerous. Even for me," she replied quietly. "Mom was right."

"You never thought that. What happened?"

"I was in reality where you're dead!" Blue flames flared up from the surge of strong emotions on her fingertips, and Jane abruptly clenched her hands into fists, calming down. "Because of this, the magic is completely out of control. What kind of fairy am I if I can't even figure out my essence?"

"Did I dead?.." He took a tentative step forward. "Another reality? Little star, what are you talking about?"

"I've been living in another one all this year. The reality where you died shortly after my birthday. One day you didn't wake up. Cardiac arrest in sleep caused by a decrease in heart rate." Turning away, Jane ran her palm over the frame of the floor mirror, but pulled her hand away, feeling the familiar tingling in her fingers. "I've never seen more mourning in Auradon in my entire life. Even those who didn’t fully approve of the opening of the barrier expressed regret. So many people gathered... Mal tried to hide her tears, but there was a tremor in her voice. Evie came without makeup for the first time. She was visibly shaking, and Doug was holding her elbow. Jay and Lonnie came up later: they couldn't find Dude anywhere. Who would have thought that he would jump into my arms. He whined so quietly. He didn't want to talk to anyone. Even Ben didn't finish his speech. Everyone was shocked."

Carlos froze, listening intently to her every word. Now he looked strangely like a Dalmatian, which his mother disliked so much. All the muscles were tense, except for the wide-open eyes. She talked and talked, recalling the smallest details, not shutting up, afraid to stumble and see disbelief in his reaction. The fire in her hands flared up every now and then, but she had to restrain himself.

"Jane," Carlos crossed the small distance between them and took the tips of his fingers, still hot from the magical fire, in his palms, "Take a deep breath. I believe you."

It's amazing how just three words can affect a person. A wave of relief swept through her body.

"I really felt bad that day. You know, it feels like your heart is falling down... I woke up because of Dude." A grin broke through the serious tone. "He said that he was hungry and offered to have a snack. I didn't feel like sleeping anymore, so I agreed. In the morning, I didn't even remember what had happened. Considering your words, the picture is starting to take shape."

"To take shape?.."

"Yes. I can't know the exact reason, but it's not for nothing that many villains were brought back to life for the sake of being imprisoned on the Isle." Carlos smiled bitterly, closing his eyes. "Maybe no matter what I do, I'll always be a villain."

A villain. Of course. How Jane didn't figure it out before? There're almost no people left who would treat guests from the Isle badly, but after all, long-term habits aren't so easy to eradicate. To live for years in a place where you don't want to go back. To find salvation only in the company of the same unhappy children. Uma criticized Ben at the time for not fully fulfilling his intentions to study the villainous descendants in Auradon, but Jane didn't forget how many problems there were with Mal, Evie, Carlos and Jay. Local students seemed to enjoy the opportunity to mock those who didn't really touch others. And, oh, horror, she was once among the abusers. A wonderful continuation of the parents came out of them. Her own birthday came under the hot hand of Audrey, who decided to join the other side. But the girl didn't want to look for the culprits, although Ben apologized for a very long time when everything was resolved, and even allocated money for a new event.

"No, you're not a villain. Everyone chooses their own side." Jane finally hugged him tightly, feeling the gusts of magic subside. "But villains can also love."

"Yes... Yes, they can," the guy repeated absently. "Because I love you."

Her heart skipped a beat. The girl knew about the existence of different languages of love, and his was definitely somewhere between actions and gifts. However, he never talked about feelings just like that. Compliments were undoubtedly present, although Jane didn't believe that she deserved all of them, but declarations of love happened in the most valuable moments.

"To be honest," she said in a broken voice, "deep down I believed that this was how it should be. That I can't love, therefore... when you... as a punishment..."

"Shhh, hush." Carlos pulled away, kissed her gently on the forehead and touched her face with his palms. "If I can be a villain who loves a heroine, then you can't only create other people's stories, but also take part in your own."

"What a heroine I am... I was just doing what I had to do," Jane replied sheepishly, not looking at him.

"My heroine." His words made her skin crawl. "A heroine who also needs rest."

"Don’t go," escaped her lips. "I understand that this is very unwise, but..."

"I'm not leaving," the guy replied with a hint of a grin. "If you promise not to tell anyone about this. I don't even want to know what the Fairy Godmother will think of me."

"Mom already thinks only good things about you!"

"Everything can change!"

And so, with jokes and tears of joy, this long day ended. But it was worth waiting for its end, at least for the opportunity to fall asleep in Carlos's arms. Touch the black and white hair, look at all the freckles on the face and listen to the measured heartbeat. It was here, at this moment, that Jane felt she could trust him completely. Maybe fate really gave them a second chance at their future together? Now the girl really believed in the personal "and they lived happily ever after."

☆☆☆

Thank you for reading this fanfic. I can't help but think that these two deserve a happy ending. Just like Cameron deserved it. This is a bright, sincere star that is probably shining at us from the sky right now. Many actors spoke well of him, and this isn't surprising.

[sun-stricken]

More protective dragon slayers please? 🙏

Gray watching the slayers hang out and go on jobs together: :(

Gray after being ‘adopted’: :| (secretly loving it)

Sting considering putting a gps chip on Gray only to find Juvia’s one already there and getting mad.

Sting: How dare she!

Gray: how dare you!

Wendy being the most protective.

Slayers getting jealous of Gray hanging out with Lyon. (Just wait until Natsu tells them about Galuna island).

Rogue uses Frosch to trick Gray into therapy

Someone comments on Gray’s nudity/makes suggestive comments and Wendy gets mad. Wendy: He’s too young!

My personal headcannon is that memento mori made Gray more demon so he’s got a bit of a taste for blood. He was going to keep it secret but after defeating Avatar one of the members were like ‘they’ll never accept you. You’re a monster!’.

Also that Avatar messed Gray up. He just casually mentions his initiation (ie torture) or Briar and Jerome being a bit too friendly, or not being able to get out a blood stain. And everyone is just wtf?

Sorry for the ramble! It’s just nice to get these ideas out

don’t apologize! i love seeing other peoples hcs!

i refer to the dragon slayers dragon as it or they bc i classify it as kind of a separate entity? same with grays demon

More dragon slayers beinng protective of gray for the soul! (these are more just them and gray hcs i have, but the protectiveness is implied)

TW IMPLIED SEXUAL HARRASSMENT

its a lot so vv

Gray gets sick a lot, and its never just a simple cold or small fever, its always smth vaguely serious

and the dragons absolutely despise it, they also despise that its not something they can just destroy

Every time Gray gets sick all their inner dragons are immediately running in circles with the need to make him feel better

He sniffles once or gets a tiny scrape and theres a multitude of crashes and yelling to find blankets, med kits, and trying to find the best spot for him to sit down at

Wendy is extra feral and protective during these times

(which is saying a lot bc her dragon is definitely the most protective normally, whether bc its young or bc theyre a healer so thats their job to protect doesnt matter, it just is)

she has bitten people for getting too close (ie. within 40 ft) to them, even if theyre in a public place

Shes also forgotten shes a healer multiple times bc her dragon was so hellbent on the good old fashioned hands on approach

During one of the times he was bedridden at home, they found an book with Isvan style recipes in it, then proceeded to try and make something from it

they failed, they are complicated recipes and they probably wouldve failed home ec

but its the thought that counts and count it did bc Gray practically threw himself at them in a hug when they told him what they tried to do

GOING OFF THE HC OF DEVIL SLAYERS SLEEPING A LOT THING LIKE CATS (ty @bluneko91 for the idea) i think Gray in general has always been the type to sleep anywhere and everywhere

but now he can actually easily get to those hard to reach places and nap, and hes a menace with it

a weekly occurrence at the Fairy Tail guild is half the dragon slayers frantically searching for their demon slayer, looking in his past usual haunts (at the bar, on a table, under a table, makarovs office, on the stairs somewhere, the more random the more likely)

only for him to be found on the rafters 100 ft off the ground

when they find him they have about a good 7 seconds of peace before they verge yet another cardiac event bc holy shit oh god hes gonna fall!!

another common scene is Gray sleeping (in less dangerous places) and having various token dragon slayer clothes covering him

The dragons asking Gray if he wants to go on a job with them, only for him to (reluctantly) decline bc Lyon is in town and they have plans

then proceeding to sulk the whole job

Natsu was sulking the most, and spilt what happened on Galuna

and suddenly Lyon and Gray had 5 fuming dragons following them

(and if Lyon got graphic threats if he ever fucked up again he never said anything)

Gray is a hit of a wanderer, not in a ‘getting lost/bad at directions’ way, but in a ‘likes to see the scenery/has a feeling and doesnt voice it, just goes with it’ kinda way

Hes done this enough times and is quiet enough about it the others dont realize till hes gone

On one of the jobs he took with Rogue & Sting they half jokingly and half seriously threaten him with a tracker

and Gray says that Juvia probably already has one of him

Rogue and Sting not having a whole lot of context on that asks what he means, and then gets a disturbing account of some of the things shes done

Lets just say the feelings they harbor for her and for the people who let it continue are neither kind nor pretty

they probably ripped the other slayers a new one when they got back

Contrary to popular belief, ice mages can get cold, it takes a hell of a lot more than an average person but it does happen.

Gray probs mentioned this once and now when it rains or snows-

Laxus throws his coat at Gray, Natsu offers to share his scarf and using his fire to warm him up, Rogue drapes his cloak around him

its a very soft image and i needed to share it

Gray starting to push the other slayers away bc hes struggling with his demon instincts and because hes scared hes going to become a monster and hurt them

them not taking any of that shit

reassuring him that he would never become something cruel and evil

hes becoming a demon, hes not a monster, not a murderer

Ppl are frequently gross about Grays stripping habit

its one of the only things that made him genuinely try to stop

People tend to think since hes so obviously confident in his body that its okay to touch him whenever and however they want

the dragon slayers are inclined to disagree

Gajeel breaking some guys arm after he wouldnt keep his hands to himself

Laxus spilling water on someone whose personal dictionary didnt include ‘No’ then repeatedly shocked them until they werent in reach

Wendy having to be (reluctantly, they just dont want her to get in trouble tbh) held back when someone keeps making comments on his body after he told them to fuck off

that did not stop her from giving them the worst insults and threats anybody has ever heard

[if she went back to find them again nobody would know, i mean, and they were perfectly intact! not a scratch on them! and who was gonna believe that a sweet girl like her would harm anybody?:)]

Gray has been threatened with being wrapped in bubble wrap after being injured so many times, which is crazy considering its Natsu of all people who says it

They have gotten really comfortable with eachother

and i mentioned once smth abt the slayers having little private hang outs (jobs or normal get together or ‘meeting’ type things at guilds)

during one of these he casually mentioned what he had to endure to be accepted into Avatar

“yeah, they locked me in a kiln like room for hours every couple days”

jaw drops galore

“i beg your fucking pardon.”

“oh yeah, dw tho, it usually overlapped with the deprivations days so i wasnt fully aware of what was going on, didnt even hurt”

“THE FUCKING WHAT”

*increasing volume of worried and angry sounds*

I think Natsu is also a total cat magnet, so when Gray is having an off day he’ll go in search for a cat

when they approach him, he picks them up and drops them in Grays lap and waits

it always helps him feel better

im trying to imagine Gray getting a date and them all trying to discreetly spy on it

“Gaj, the pole doesnt exactly hide y—“

“SSHH THEYLL HEAR YOU—!”

OH MY GOD IMAGINE THE SHOVEL TALKS

sorry this took a minute!! i have a lot to say but not enough words

[amelee23]

Color of romance | Lee Minho

Info: Lee know x reader, fluff, suggestive, heavy use of kissing (making out?), hopeless romantic and dramatic stuff, reader is referred to as they/them, reader discretion advised, 400 words

In which lino rents a clear tent because his baby wants to star gaze. His baby, his lover, the pulse above the bones of his wrist - they want to look at the stars while he holds them safe to his chest. And he was made, constructed by the heavens to fulfil the wishes of those he loves. So he makes it happen; he strings fairy lights, he lays down to serve as a mere pillow, and enjoys the silence as they stare at the sky - but then he laughs. God, the laugh that escapes his chest and shakes the being of his lover. They've forgotten about the stars quite easily, and instead, they've attached to his lips, to his forehead, to the apples of his cheek, to his goddamn cardiac rhythm. He feels so high thinking of the power that he holds - that suddenly he was more interesting than something that they've had on their bucket list for years. But he doesn't complain – he never fights it - he kisses, and he kisses, and he lets himself be kissed. He circles their waist, grabs their clothes with the gentlest touch, pats their hair and combs it under the moon. Once in a while, they look like they want to say something, but they say nothing. They look into his eyes and dive back into his skin, and he knows without any words he is loved. He can tell it, from a gentle kiss to his nose, from a mess of mingled breaths, from a sigh so deep and so filled with content, from a nuzzle and a long intake of his scent adorning his neck. He never thought he'd fall in love with a romantic, but now he's addicted - he's addicted to their addiction to him, he's so deeply lost into the depth of their love. He'll never be able to go back to being loved normally; no, this daydream must remain eternal, and the stars must continue to shine to paint everything in the color of romance.

The stars reflect into his eyes, and his lover doesn't need to even glance at the sky to see the sparkles; he's only half alive, half his soul sold to love, and the other waiting to be sold once the love becomes eternal. And yet, he's never felt more lively.

©amelee23 do not copy or repost

[madmanwonder]

(Prompt) (Fusion/Crossover AU) (Bad End)

Natsu Dragneel x Rukia Kuchiki

Rukia suffers a heart attack/cardiac arrest and Natsu tries to resuscitate her to no avail

Rukia felt cold. She feel nothing but bitter coldness and numbness that made accurately aware of her body slowing shutting down.

“Rukia! Stay with me!”

She heard a familiar but muffled voice calling her name. Yet she was unable to properly hear the voice, all she could do is stare blankly into the darkened sky with a somber, resigned expression of regret and acceptance.

Slowly closing her eyes to take one last sleep. To sleep the pain away and dream about her life with her fire-breathing, thick-headed idiot who she loves more than life itself and—

“RUKIA! NO! STAY WITH ME!!!!”

—and the father of their first child who died with her and be carry to the afterlife….

[flower-often]

January 13

Today's flower is foxglove, or Digitalis Purpurea

It is native and widely spread in the temperate areas of europe, and has also naturalised to north america and other temperate regions.

Its leaves, flowers and seeds are all poisonous to humans and some animals and can be fatal if ingested.

Symptoms of Digitalis poisoning include a low pulse rate, nausea, vomiting, and uncoordinated contractions of different parts of the heart, leading to cardiac arrest and finally death.

Foxglove symbolises ambition for someone. It is also associated with folklores about fairies

[inspofromancientworld]

Flowers of Mythology - Foxglove

Foxglove, or Digitalis, is a genus of containing about 20 perennial or biennial shrubs that are native to Europe, Western Asia, and northwestern Africa. It produces tubular flowers that range from purple to pink to white and yellow sometimes with spotting or other marks. The flowers grow in dense raceme-like spikes of flowers that open downwards, which attract bees like the carpenter bee. Many of the plants are poisonous, lending them names like 'dead man's bells' and 'witch's gloves'.

Perhaps the best known information about foxglove is their creation of digoxin and other cardiac glycosides, which are compounds that cause the heart to beat slower and harder. It was used in the past to treat wounds, 'the King's Evil', which is an infection of the lymph nodes in the neck related to tuberculosis, and epilepsy as Nicholas Culpeper wrote in 1652. These are now known to be inappropriate to treat with foxglove. Additionally, the narrow range and uncertainty of the potency of digoxin in each plant have moved the production of the medication from herbalist to the pharmaceutical companies that can produce tablets that have an exact amount of medication in them, making the medication safe for the treatment of congestive heart failure and atrial fibrillation. These compounds are extracted from the leaves of the second year's growth.

source: https://www.puzzle-usa.com/josephine-wall-foxglove-fairy-1000-pieces-grafika

In northern Europe, woodland nymphs were believed to have spread fox gloves so that foxes could use them to quiet their footfalls as they hunt. Because of the association with the woodland nymphs, the flowers are also considered to be lucky as they are the 'flower of the faerie', especially when grown from seeds and not transplanted lest a gate of the fair folk be uncovered. It's also important not to pick any flowers without permission. Another story adds that foxglove also bows its flowers out of respect to the fairy.

[dearabby1990]

Chapter 41:The start of something new

The sound of gravel crunching beneath the limo tires as you all get closer to the lake. See Eddie thinks you’ve rented out a space for this special day when in all reality it’s being held on your very own new property when you purchased the property before breaking ground to build you made sure to buy enough space so that you & Eddie could literally do anything your hearts desire with the extra space. To the left of your new home is 20 acres that’s all yours loads of trees & hoping the pond & gazebo came out just as the contractor said it would on top of worrying that everything is decorated accordingly & that all is set. “Oh fuck!” Everyone looks at you “uh we gotta hide me somewhere or Eddie’s definitely gonna see me when the limo pulls up maybe someone can distract him while the rest of you huddle around?” Nancy puts her hand on your shoulder “Jamie don’t worry we got this it’s gonna go perfect” with a reassuring smile you nod you head in response as you pull into the driveway you see the boys and Eddie on the side lawn chatting before robin bolts out of the vehicle to be an obvious distraction “wow munson you clean up nice but I need you to follow me for a minute” “damn Buckley check you out hot stuff haha you look fkn great” she laughs slapping his arm “yeah right if you think I look good you’re gonna goto cardiac arrest seeing you’re bride because she looks smokin & if she wasn’t yours & she wasn’t my best friend you’d be a shit heap of trouble buddy” chuckling at each other deep in conversation the girls huddle around you as you all shuffle towards your new front door quickly getting inside before anyone could see. As you turn you hear a gasp you’re too afraid to turn “fuck please don’t tell me that’s Eddie” “no you’re in the clear it’s just gareth & dustin you turn & smile taking in how absolutely handsome they both look & knowing they’re doing it out of the pure love they have for both you & Eddie. Gareth gives you the most soft expression before stepping forward to engulf you into a hug “I told myself I wouldn’t cry but I can’t help it jame you’re like my sister… (hiccups) you look so beautiful” “thanks gare bear thank you for being here for us” he pulls back and smiles eyes tear stained & red as dustin approaches & you see that he’s crying too “aw dustin don’t cry bud” you wrap your arms around him “thank you” he looks at you confused “for?” “For always being there when it matters & for listening to Eddie & always staying true to yourself I love you like a little brother & I want the best for you too” he squeezes you before letting go “okay gare let’s go keep the dungeon master busy so we can get this thing started” you smile as they exit through the sliding back door. You peek out the window & it’s everything you could’ve wished for. Fairy lights covering every tree mason jars with candles inside surrounded by an array of lilies lantern lights & the 2 special lanterns you see burning beside two chairs there for a purpose it’s in memory of both of your mothers a way of having them there in spirit even making sure they had reserved seats out of love & respect. You feel a hand on your shoulder & hear a sniffle from behind you “well darlin I do believe your are the most beautiful bride I’ve ever laid eyes on you look like a pure angel” turning to see Wayne his blue eyes like sea glass brimming with tears “thank you Wayne & thank you for giving me away I really do appreciate it more then you’ll ever know” squeezing him “oh I know darlin that boy tells me everything about you because he loves you so much it’s how I knew you two were meant to be. There was never a woman to get that boy to settle down before you but when you showed up I seen change in him a beautiful one, one that reminds me of his mother more then ever & Elizabeth would’ve loved you I just know it but let’s get you married pretty lady I do believe it’s time to officially make you a Munson” you beam with pride linking arms heading towards everyone lining up at the back door.

The sounds of “I’ve seen all good people” by Yes softly plays as everyone starts slowly heading down the aisle of rose petals. In the front is Nancy & Gareth behind them is Rachel & Steve then Robin & Dustin they all end the aisle & step on their sides of the altar. You finally come into Eddie’s view the look of pure adoration on his face as a smile begins to grow across his features & yours too because his smile is so infectious. Halfway through walking you go to throw him a wink & see that he’s indeed crying & now you are thank goodness for waterproof makeup Wayne gets to the end with you before hopper speaks as your officiant “who hear gives this girl to Mr Edward Munson” Wayne smiles at you both “I do & you better not mess this up boy or I’ll whoop ya” he chuckles before taking a seat you & Eddie taking each others hands intertwining fingers he whispers “you look so beautiful sweetheart” you blush “speak for yourself munson you look like a dream love you handsome” “love you too” you smile at him scrunching your nose one of his favorites of your nervous habits. “We’re gathered here today to celebrate Eddie & Jamie & their holy union. Love is one of life’s most precious gifts & to find that in someone & want to have that with them for all eternity is something worth celebrating. Now they’ve gone ahead & written their own vows so with that being said Eddie take it away”. He pulls a folded up piece of paper from his suit jacket & clears his throat “before I met you I wasn’t even sure if Love was real let alone possible but the first time I laid eyes on you I could just feel that I’d be able to know what that was like if I could just get close to you your smile & laugh melting the thick layer of ice that was around my heart. It wasn’t easy by any means you definitely played hard to get but that’s the thing half the battle getting there I realized I wanted nothing else more in life then to be in your presence. From the moment I was able to feel what love from you was like I knew in my whole being I wouldn’t want that feeling with anyone else. You’re literally my reason you’re my rock I love you more then life itself & I’d give my life for you. I can’t wait to see what adventures we go on together make a home with you & grow old together I love you Jamie yesterday today tomorrow & for always” you squeeze his hand as Nancy hands you yours to read aloud “where do I begin…my beautiful Eddie before I met you I never knew what it was like to feel wanted truly wanted & loved & cared for. Losing my mom I had nothing left I felt like I was endlessly running to nowhere & then I met you & you gave me something to live for a reason for being & not only that but I’ve never in my life felt as safe as I do when I’m wrapped up in you. You Edward munson are an absolute angel & anyone who thinks otherwise it’s their loss not yours because they’re missing out on a once in a lifetime person. There’s nothing that makes me happier then seeing you smile, making you happy & loving you infinitely. I’d go through hell & high water to make sure you always feel that way & im so ready to take on life with you that’s my promise I give all of myself to you infinitely” hopper steps forward “does anyone here think that these two shouldn’t be wed speak now or forever hold your peace.. do you Edward Munson take Jamie Baker to be your lawfully wedded wife in sickness & in health for richer for poorer until death do you part?” “Fuck yeah I do!” Everyone laughs “Do you Jamie Baker take Edward Munson to be your lawfully wedded husband in sickness & in health for richer or poorer til death do you part?” “I do” “by the power invested in me by the state of Indiana I now pronounce you husband & wife you may now kiss the bride” & with that Eddie cups your face so gently like your gods most precious fragile gift softly pressing his lips to yours before really going for it & tilting you holding the small of your back tongues invited not needing an invitation as the crowd screams & whistles & dustin & Mike yell “GET A ROOM!”

[sincerely-sofie]

Hey Sophie ! I saw you accepted giftfics as well, so here is my attempt at it. This happens way after Opal first enters the picture. Here goes !

***

The night was well underway, and while a desperate Dusknoir was (fruitlessly) trying to stop Celebi from cooking her ‘world-famous mudpie’…

‘Celebi !’ he shouted, ‘Dead leaves do *not* a topping make !’

‘Why don’t you trust me for once, Dusknoir ?’ replied the Legendary. ‘I swear, you are no fun at all !’

Grovyle and Twig were busy cleaning the dishes, the two siblings-in-all-but-blood bantering all the while.

This left Kip with not a lot to do, other than twiddle his paws. Twig had told him that him bringing the main course was more than enough help, and that he was banned from doing so much as lifting a finger for the evening.

‘Here’ said Ark, suddenly appearing at his side, a steaming cup in hand. Kip was used to the Legend’s antics now, so he didn’t even flinch. ‘Cinnamon and mint infusion.’

‘Experimenting, are we ?’ said Kip, grateful for the cup and the conversation partner.

‘My usual chamomille stock, regrettably, is expired’ said Ark, shrugging. ‘And I didn’t have the time to go to the market today, alas.’

‘It’s all good’ soothed Kip. ‘I like it spicy, anyways.’

He took a sip, and was pleasantly surprised by how well the two flavours combined together, spicy but not too much so.

‘This is very good !’ he said emphatically. ‘You should keep this one !’

‘I am afraid Twig wouldn’t appreciate this particular blend’ replied Ark, his tone as even as always to someone who didn’t know him, but the hint of teasing was unmistakable to Kip’s trained mind.

‘She’s lucky to have you, looking out for her poor tongue like that’s teased Kip in return. However, unlike the agreement he expected to receive in return, Ark flinched at that, to Kip’s surprise. ‘Ark ? Did I… say anything wrong ?’ Anxiety was beginning its familiar build-up inside him.

‘No !’ hurriedly said Ark. ‘No, nothing wrong, I apologize, I was just…’ he paused for a moment, as if looking for the right words. ‘Do you… do you truly mean what you just said ?’ he settled on asking, hesitant, more withdrawn than Kip had ever seen him, and now, now he understood the problem.

‘Oh !’ he said. ‘I’m sorry, I didn’t realize-I mean yes I… I meant what I said. You two are good for each other.’ He waited for an answer, but none came. Kip turned around to fully look at Ark, and the Legend was still, a rigid statue, his lone eye looking back at the Marshtomp with shock. ‘I mean-’ said Kip in a nervous laugh, ‘you’ve been together for, what, half a decade now ? And you still look at each other like the other is Arceus’ second coming on earth.’

‘Which is honestly adorable’ said Celebi in a giggle.

‘Ack !’ shouted Kip, still not used to Celebi’s feats of appearing and disappearing out of nowhere. ‘Could you please stop that !?’

‘Whatever are you talking about, dear ?’ she said, all innocent, blinking her eyes.

‘Please refrain from giving my guests cardiac arrest, Celebi’ said Ark in the world’s smallest disappointed sigh.

‘Oh, nobody is any fun tonight’ replied the pink fairy. ‘First Dusknoir kicking me out of the kitchen, now you. Honestly, I wish Opal and Lucky didn’t have their playdate, they would have been fun to be around.’ She raised her arms in the air, making a show of her frustration, while she drifted back towards the kitchen counter, hoping Twig would take pity on her and humour her, no doubt.

‘…Man, I don’t know how Grovyle and Dusknoir can keep up with her’ said Kip.

‘A mystery for the ages’ replied Ark, unwilling to disclose that Celebi told him she was playing up her attitude to push her two partners to get out of their shells. The two men looked at each other for a moment, then another, before Kip erupted in giggles.

‘Man’ he said between two fits. ‘I just realized two of my best friends are Legends, but they’re also complete goofs.’ A new holler. ‘Sandslash would lose her mind learning about this.

‘I resent that’ replied Ark without any bite. ‘I am a very serious individual.’ Then, a seconde later : ‘…Did you say best friend ?’

‘Ark’ said Kip, wiping a tear out of his eyes, ‘I spend more time with you all than with anyone else but Lucky, and perhaps Sen, and I live hours away from here. I wouldn’t do this for everyone, you know ?’

Ark didn’t reply, and Kip first thought that he was looking for an answer to give, but a quick glance at the Legend dispelled him of this illusion : Ark’s lone blue eye was shining wetly, as if on the verge of tears, and when next he spoke, it was with a very noticeable break in his voice.

‘Thank you’ he said, solemn and quiet, and Kip couldn’t help but scoot closer to him.

‘Hey, whatever for ?’ said Kip, now slightly uneasy. ‘If you cry, I’ll end up crying too’ he sais in a weak chuckle.

‘I’ll endeavor not to, then’ replied Ark in a surprised laugh. ‘I just… to hear you, of all people, acknowledging me as your friend, after all I did…’ another wet laugh. ‘It’s more than I deserve.’

‘Oh, no, no, no !’ said Kip, shaking his head. ‘We are done with this self-hate period of yours ! Do you want me to call Twig over ?’

‘It is not necessary, I assure you-‘ tried to say Ark, but it was too late : the Charmeleon had heard her name.

‘What’s up, dudes ?’ she said, turning around to face the pair, before she immediately frowned. ‘Ark ? You okay, hun ?’

‘He’s doing the *Twig Special*’ replied Kip with utmost seriousness.

‘Whaaaaat ?’ said the Charmeleon. ‘Oh hell no, this ends right now. Everyone !´ she shouted. ‘Group hug time !’

‘Finally, something exciting !’ said Celebi, her eyes shining in excitement.

‘You do not need bother’ said Ark, ‘It was just a momentary lapse-´

But a Charmeleon shaped missile barraged into the pair, followed by a pink fairy, then by Grovyle and Dusknoir following soon after (despite the latter’s protests). You *never* refused group hug time in Twig’s home or so help her.

***

Celebi let out a formidable yawn, as the Future Trio made their way back home.

‘I don’t know about you two, but I feel like I could drop dead tired.’

‘You didn’t do anything but eat, Celebi’ replied Grovyle, a slight smirk in his lips.

‘And that was really taxing for me, my dear Grovyle’ dramatically sighed Celebi. ‘If only a knight in shining armor could carry me home, I feel like I could faint.’

Wordlessly, with a sigh, Grovyle extended his arms. Celebi gladly took the invitation, nuzzling herself into her partner.

‘Oh, thank you, Grovyle’ she said, playing the part of damsel in distress very well. ‘You are the kindest in all the land.’

‘I feel like I’m intruding here’ dryly interrupted Dusknoir.

‘You could carry me’ laughed Grovyle.

‘Never’ replied Dusknoir. ‘I’d rather eat Celebi’s mud pie.’

Celebi huffed at that, but said nothing else.

‘Speaking of you’ continued Dusknoir, ‘do we have you to thank for Twig calling a group hug tonight ?’

‘It’s not my fault if Kip and Ark had a big heart to heart tonight’ primly replied Celebi from her seat in Grovyle’s arms.

‘I’m sure you didn’t pester me on purpose then’ replied Dusknoir, ‘to leave the both of them alone.’

‘No one will ever believe you’ replied Celebi, smug as one could be. Grovyle merely laughed.

‘Please never change Celebi.’

I LOVE THIS SO MUCH.

The entire intro scene is adorable and hilarious. And then there’s Celebi giving everyone heart attacks, Kip dropping the emotional bombshell of best friendship, the mandatory group hugs, the entire exchange between the future trio at the end, all of these little character interactions— I just—

hnghhghgfgffhh EMOTIONS. This is gold!!! Thank you for making it!!!!