#caretaker dino

[darl-ingfics]

Sicktember Day 11: ALT - "I didn't mean to wake you up."

Fandom: Seventeen

Sickie: Vernon (stomach flu), Joshua + Dino (regular flu)

Caregiver(s): Joshua, Dino

Word Count: 1,953

As he trudged through the door of the dorm behind the rest of the hip hop unit, Vernon believed he had never truly felt this tired before. The week had been excruciatingly long. Seventeen had been asked to attend a collaboration stage with a handful of other artists on Saturday, which had been derailed when over half of them had gone down with the flu. Or, to put it more specifically, two separate flu viruses that had assaulted them from all sides. No one had thought much of it when Seungcheol had made the decision to send Seokmin home on Monday with a cough and low-grade fever, and still didn’t after lunch when Mingyu barely made it to the trash can before throwing up. It was overwork, exhaustion. Or at least it was until Seungcheol had to run out of the subsequent meeting with their management team to avoid throwing up in the room with them. It was at that point that everyone (members, managers, EVERYONE) realized something bigger was going on, and subsequent tests revealed that, while all three members had the flu, the virus infecting the two rappers was different from the vocalist. 

But that hardly mattered when everyone knew they were in for a rough week.

The group had been picked off one by one until only five healthy members remained on Friday: Jeonghan, Soonyoung, Wonwoo, Seungkwan, and Vernon. Their managers considered cancelling their appearance on Saturday, but Jeonghan (acting leader) and Hoshi (actively leading also) had convinced them to just send BSS, since both Soonyoung nor Seungkwan had been spared thus far, and Seokmin, as one of the first to get sick, was starting to turn the corner and argued he’d be healthy enough to get back out there if they pumped him with meds the morning of. They had, of course, been taking measures to keep the last healthy members as germ-free as possible. So their managers reluctantly agreed. But their hopes were ended with Soonyoung throwing up at 2am Saturday morning, and Seungkwan spiking a fever at 7. And because it was too late to back out now, the group chosen to represent Seventeen had been the hip hop team, since neither Seungcheol nor Mingyu had thrown up for 48 hours, and Wonwoo and Vernon hadn’t been sick at all.

The performance had been perfect. There was nothing better than sharing the stage with their colleagues, combining talents and seeing their fans eat up the interactions. 

What was less perfect was the dull throbbing assaulting Vernon’s brain. As each song wore on, it became harder and harder to ignore the pounding in his skull, the pulsing at his temples. He started to feel claustrophobic in his own skin; the sweat pouring down his face, sticking his hair to the nape of his neck, adhering his clothes to his body, was agonizing. 

Even more agonizing was that Vernon immediately knew he was getting sick. There was nothing he could do about it now. Except pray he hadn’t caught the stomach bug. 

Thankfully, the rest of his bandmates didn’t seem to pay much mind to his listless silence on their journey home. Wonwoo was usually quiet after performances, recharging his social battery, and the other two clearly weren’t back to a hundred percent yet, so everyone was mercifully quiet and lost in their own thoughts on the drive back. Vernon certainly appreciated their distraction to hide his own condition, but at the same time, he had nothing to distract him from the growing pressure in his abdomen. But he could, and definitely was, owing that to the placebo effect. 

When they arrived home, they were met by a welcoming party in the living room. 

“Hey superstars!” Jeonghan smiled brightly from his spot on the chair with Chan wrapped around his abdomen, (Vernon didn’t have the energy to figure out how Chan was doing that, but knew that an unwell Chan wanted nothing more than to curl into one chosen hyung’s body and not let go, so he figured physics didn’t apply to him.) Jun waved from one of the couches, but the effect was dimmed since it was only one hand waving from around Minghao’s head, as the younger dancer was slumped against Jun’s left shoulder while Jihoon’s head was pillowed on his right thigh.

At Jeonghan’s words, Soonyoung’s head appeared from the back of the other couch, hair smushed up and face red with the pattern of the throw pillow. “How’d it go?”

Seungcheol chuckled adoringly, rubbing Soonyoung’s cheek. “Fantastic.” The dancer captain nodded contentedly before falling back against the couch. Vernon smiled in spite of the horrible feeling in his gut, moving quickly away from his members to escape into the void of sleep. If he could just fall asleep right now, maybe he could avoid the inevitable. 

As Vernon hurried to his room, his feet automatically stopped outside a closed door. There was only one thing he wanted as much as, if not more than, sleep. Vernon considered the handle carefully, then tapped twice. There was no response. So he pushed it open. The hall light fell on the bed, on a deeply asleep Joshua’s arms already wrapped around Seungkwan. Vernon’s heart sank. Both of them looked so peaceful, yet so obviously ill, so in need of this sleep. Vernon wasn’t selfish enough to take the few steps to awaken his chosen comfort person. He closed the door with the gentlest click possible, and scurried to his own room, rubbing tears out of his eyes with a mix of frustration and embarrassment. 

***

Vernon had been able to sleep for all of an hour before his body decided enough was enough. He awoke to the worst pressure he’d ever felt in his abdomen, a tangled, cramping pain as if there were a monster writhing beneath his skin. His head was pounding worse than before. His skin was clammy and sweaty and too tight. He was going to throw up. And soon. 

There were no memories between the moment he woke up and the moment he was in the bathroom, emptying the contents of his stomach. In fact, Vernon would very much like to not be present in this moment at all. The churning in his stomach, the horrifying, acidic feeling of bile in his throat, the loss of control, the desire to instantly clean everything… Vernon would rather suffer anything else than vomiting. 

He had no idea how long he’d been in the bathroom, how many times he’d lurched over the toilet, when a hand, ever-so-gentle, was placed on his back, right between his shoulder blades. And, try as he did, Vernon couldn’t stop his muscles from tensing, an automatic, uncontrollable response of ‘get the fuck off me.’ A sign that his body knew exactly what it wanted and would reject anything else. 

And his attempted comforter knew it too. The hand withdrew, only to be replaced by the softest of grips on both of his shoulders as Chan’s voice whispered in his ear, soft as honey: “It’s okay. I’m getting Shua.”

As Chan’s soft footsteps retreated, Vernon hung his head in defeat and felt tears threatening. This was the very last thing he wanted, to be a burden to others. Now he’d likely insulted and hurt Chan by rejecting his help, and Chan was going to wake Joshua, who was also sick and needed his sleep, and the roiling of his stomach had yet to stop, and both Joshua and Chan would probably stay up to take care of him, which was the worst possible outcome in all of this, not to mention how horrific his entire body was feeling at the moment, and…

Vernon’s brain stopped completely when gentle hands wound around his abdomen, and he was enveloped in a cloud-soft hug from behind. The contact, the only thing his body wanted, opened the floodgates that had threatened for the past hour, and he let out an unrestrained sob.

“Oh, sweetheart, what’s wrong?” Joshua asked, his grip tightening ever so slightly to calm the sobbing without upsetting the rapper’s fragile stomach. 

“I don’t feel good,” Vernon cried. 

Joshua clicked his tongue. “Oh, Sollie. It’s gonna be okay, baby.” Vernon sobbed again, falling back into Joshua’s arms. “Have you thrown up?” Vernon nodded. Another sympathetic tongue click. “I know you hate that.” One hand left Vernon’s stomach and pushed his hair back from his forehead. The other stayed firmly in place over his abdomen, the warmth already soothing the pain there. Vernon closed his eyes as he nodded again. “Think it’s gonna happen again?” Instead of nodding, Vernon’s face screwed shut with another round of tears, prompting Joshua’s finger to smooth over his cheeks. “Oh, sweetie, I know. I know. It’s gonna be ok-ay…” The elder broke off coughing, leaning away and retracting his hand to bury his face in his sleeve. Vernon whined against his will as Joshua’s fingers left his face, and his eyes swam with new tears, this time with guilt at his selfishness. It was only a moment before the fingers were back in his hair. “Sollie, it’s okay.” 

“I’m sorry…”

“Hey, hey, none of that.” 

“You shouldn’t be here…”

“Honey, please…”

“Hyung, you’re so sick too, I can’t…”

Joshua’s hands cupped Vernon’s face, gentle but firm. “Chwe Hansol, listen to me. It is one in the morning. You are in a heap on the bathroom floor, throwing up, which is something you fear with a burning passion. You need to focus on you. I will be fine. I am going to sit here with you until you are ready to go back to bed, and then I’m gonna stay with you until you fall asleep. Got it?” 

Vernon’s answer was to collapse forward against Joshua, face buried in the older man’s shoulder and arms scrambling for purchase around his waist. Joshua couldn’t wrap his arms back around him fast enough. 

They had been sitting like that, Joshua rocking them back and forth, for an indefinite amount of time when Vernon heard a whispered, “How can I help?” He squirmed enough to see that it was Chan, leaning in the doorway, looking incredibly young. Vernon felt like crying again for rejecting the younger’s help earlier. 

“Can you grab us a water, please?” Joshua replied quietly. “Maybe a damp towel too?”

“Of course.” The younger man sprang forward, pulling a clean wash cloth from the cabinet below the sink and dowsing it with water. He handed the cloth to Joshua before disappearing into the hallway. 

“Okay, love, I need to sit back just a bit, there we go.” The older man pressed the damp cloth to Vernon’s forehead, smoothing the damp material across his overheated skin, cradling both cheeks and the nape of his neck. Vernon’s eyes slipped closed. 

“Thank you, Shua,” he slurred. 

“Anytime, love.” 

Vernon didn’t realize he’d fallen asleep sitting up until he was jostled awake, hands tugging at both of his arms to try and stand him up. He pushed himself to his feet, only stumbling a little bit as his knees shook from sitting on them too long. His supports (Joshua and Chan, of course), wrapped his arms around their shoulders as they led him back to his bed. Vernon crawled under the waiting covers, his entire body sighing with relief at the soft surface of his bed after the cold discomfort of the bathroom floor. He settled further when he felt Chan slide into the bed against his back, Joshua climbing in on his other side. 

This was all he’d wanted. Warm and content, safe with his best friends in the entire world, Vernon let sleep pull him under once more. 

[fairyniceyeah]

💎🍒 You’re (our) Headliner

Title from Headliner (SEVENTEEN)

Summary: Seungcheol starts throwing up on a trip with only members of the maknae line to help him. It’s strange to be on the other side for once.

CW: emeto

Sickie: S.Coups/Seungcheol Caretakers: Minghao + Seungkwan + Dino/Chan

Seungcheol winced when the lights of the car driving behind him blinded him again. It was the middle of the night and, yet, somehow the only car driving behind them had awfully adjusted lights that were making the leader’s eyes water and his head pound.

They had been given a rare free week and most members had gone home to their families. Since Joshua, Jun and Minghao hadn’t been able to fly back to America and China respectively, Wonwoo’s dad had invited Joshua along and Jun had left with Jeonghan. Minghao and Seungcheol, the latter living together with his brother after all, had originally decided to stay at the dorms with Dino as his appa was at a poorly timed dance competition and his eomma had traveled with him. Then Seungkwan had invited them all along to his family and, well, only a few days later they had found themselves in an airplane to the beautiful Jeju-do. 

It was nighttime when they arrived, the only spontaneous flight that had enough seating space left for the members and managers. They had said goodbye to the managers at the airport and taken off with a rental car. Seungkwan’s parents had originally intended to pick them up at the airport but with so many members and luggage it would have been too tight of a fit. So the rental it was. Dino and Seungkwan had fallen asleep nearly immediately after settling into the backseat, the maknae asleep on his hyung’s shoulder and Seungkwan leaning on the young dancer across the middle seat. Minghao had fallen asleep only a few minutes later in the passenger seat, leaving Seungcheol awake alone. 

Their schedules had been busy and it was no wonder that the maknae line members had drifted off so quickly. In all honesty, Seungcheol was even a bit glad about it. He was a bit bored, sure, but they deserved their sleep. 

Yet he couldn’t help but wish for a distraction. He had felt a bit off, suspiciously tired and lethargic in the plane already, but he had not been able to turn down the position of driver when he saw the exhaustion in his members’ faces. 

Now, however, it was much worse. The slight feeling of unwellness had morphed into nausea that left his mouth salivating to an alarming degree, his stomach cramping under his hand, the headache pulsing with every stab of light and a general feeling of overwhelming sickness. To top it off, what was supposed to be a short hour drive was nearly doubled in time due to a blocked road.  

Worst, next to the nausea, however was the shakiness that had taken over all of Seungcheol’s body and left him barely able to concentrate on the road. So their travel was even more slowed down by Seungcheol not feeling comfortable driving as fast as he was allowed. Honestly, he probably shouldn’t even be driving, seeing how awful he felt. 

The car behind them seemed to have enough of Seungcheol’s slow driving and overtook them easily. Watching the lights speed past, Seungcheol felt a bit dizzy.

💎

He sighed, swallowed. Activated the blinker and pulled over at the side of the road into a small space by the empty island road. He took a deep breath and stepped outside of the car, careful to close the door as silently as possible so as not to wake them. The night air wasn’t cold, the opposite even. Humid and hot. A shudder ran through Seungcheol’s body and he had to swallow again against the wetness in his mouth. 

He knew he couldn’t keep driving. He was too distracted by feeling awful, too tired. It wasn’t safe. His pride did not stand above the safety of his members. As he turned around to the car again he watched the younger members sleep, all of them looking terribly young. Seungcheol couldn’t help but wish that anybody from the hyung line had come with them instead.

It wasn't like Seungcheol didn’t trust the younger members with his problems. He did. He would trust them with his life without any moment of doubt.

But they were still his kids. Yes, they had all grown together, grown up together and they weren't the baby-faced kids in his care anymore. They were successful adults of their own right with their own agenda and dreams. 

Yet, he could still see traces of these babies in the green room in them.

Whenever Minghao would get too quiet, Seungcheol saw the terrified young boy from China who didn't speak their language and cried himself to sleep every night.

Every time Seungkwan was warm in his affections, he saw the young kid who went to him for hugs every night and who would hold a member's hand at every opportunity.

Dino complaining about his hyungs was just a facade for the kid who was so young and tiny and adored by all of them.

But they had all grown up now.

Minghao was now so confident in his Korean and he was happy to tease the members whenever he could. He considered the dorms home now.

Seungkwan was still touchy but that was just the way he showed his love for all of them, showed that he would always stay by their side no matter what.

Dino was their maknae but he was older now than Seungcheol had been when they had debuted and he showed them every day how grateful he was that he had met them when he was so young.

So yes, Seungcheol trusted them with everything.

But he was also their leader. Their hyung. Their mat-hyung. The one they looked up to for help. 

Not the one who needed help. 

Right now, though, he did. If not for his sake but for theirs. 

💎

Feeling slightly unsteady, his legs shaking like a newborn deer’s, Seungcheol stepped around the front of the car and opened the passenger door. Only hesitating a second, he reached in to shake Minghao’s shoulder gently. The younger woke up instantly, blearily blinking up at Seungcheol. 

“Hyung, what…?”, he asked, voice dripping with tiredness but a frown building on his face. “Is everything alright?”

Seungcheol shushed him, gesturing at him to get out of the car. No need to wake more maknaes for his sake. Minghao pulled himself out of the car with more grace than somebody who had just been asleep should ever possess, coming to stand in front of the leader. Seungcheol closed the door gently, leaned against it and ran a shaky hand through his hair.

“Myungho-yah, would you mind driving the rest of the way?”, he asked, not daring to look at the younger member. 

Still he could imagine the flicker of confusion and worry on Minghao’s face. “Sure, I can keep driving”, Minghao said quickly, “but, hyung? Why? Are you alright?”

Seungcheol sighed, shrugged. “I don’t feel that great”, he admitted reluctantly, “I thought it was probably safer if somebody else drove.” Even leaning against the car door was exhausting, causing him to sweat and tremble.

“Do you have a fever?”, Minghao asked, instantly reaching out to Seungcheol’s forehead with his palm before the leader could duck away. “You’re not warm but you’re really clammy.”

“I’m just a bit nauseous”, Seungcheol said hesitantly. “I don’t know. I felt a bit off earlier but now I’m kinda shaky too and I can’t concentrate.”

“Okay, yeah, it’s probably best if you rest, hyung”, Minghao agreed, worry written all over his face which was only illuminated by the moon. “Do you feel like you might need to throw up?”

“Maybe”, Seungcheol said quietly, surprising himself with the quick admission. He wasn’t sure if this was just a fluke, maybe caused by exhaustion and lack of sleep, or if he was truly sick. 

Minghao’s eyebrows furrowed in concern. “I don’t think we have medicine or anything. Seungkwannie has a plastic bag from the duty-free shop earlier I think, though. Do you want me to ask him just in case?”

The rapper shook his head, throwing a glance at the still peacefully sleeping maknaes. He could already feel traces of the humiliation he would feel if they were woken up for him, to give him a puke bag. “No, let them rest. They deserve it.”

“You deserve care too, hyung”, Minghao said quietly, taking one of Seungcheol’s hands in his and squeezed. Seungcheol ducked his head, giving Minghao what could probably be classified as a self-deprecating smile. The young dancer was sweet like this and Seungcheol knew that Minghao tended to look out for him, sometimes treated him like he was the dongsaeng. Right now it felt really good, leaving his chest with a warm feeling despite the rest of his body feeling miserable. He didn’t know what to say in response to that but Minghao seemed to sense this and continued his questions.

“Do you need anything before we continue? Do you feel ready to continue?”

Seungcheol nodded. “The sooner we are there the better. I just wanna sleep.”

“Okay, let’s get you back in the car”, Minghao said, squeezing Seungcheol’s hand again before helping him step away from the car door and opening it. He didn’t let go of Seungcheol until the rapper was safely seated in the passenger seat and even buckled the seatbelt for him. He brushed back Seungcheol’s hair from his forehead and whispered: “Tell me if we need to pull over or if you need anything, alright, hyung?”

Seungcheol nodded. Minghao gently closed the door, rounded the car and adjusted the driver’s seat and the mirrors to his needs. As he started the motor a sleepy voice from the back asked: “Are we there yet?”

“No, we just switched drivers, Dino-yah”, Minghao whispered, “go back to sleep.”

💎

Seungcheol dozed off too, only a few minutes into the drive. Minghao was taking care to drive smoothly and carefully, which Seungcheol appreciated a lot.

Still, as he woke up, his stomach churned angrily and a bad-tasting hiccough jerked him to full alertness. The car was still driving down empty, dark streets in the middle of nothingness and everything was quiet, except for Seungkwan snoring a bit. 

Minghao eyed him from the side and asked a bit hurriedly: “Hyung, are you going to…?”

A gag tore up Seungcheol’s throat, echoing loudly in the silence, and he slapped his hands to his mouth. 

“Pull over”, he demanded breathlessly before pressing his mouth shut against whatever was trying to rise in his throat.

Minghao didn’t need to be told twice, actually not even once. He hadn’t even waited for Seungcheol to finish the two words before the car slowed down and came to a stop by the side of the road. 

Seungcheol ripped open the door, nearly falling as he tried to exit the car in his haste, foot tangled up in the lowered footwell. He managed to stumble a few steps away from the car when his mouth filled with sour bile and he had to double over. A spray of clear liquid, mostly water he had drunk during the flight - back then already not hungry - came back up as he retched. 

Bracing himself on his knees, Seungcheol fought against the nausea with short, stuttered breaths. Yet, he lost his fight when he jumped in surprise when a hand landed on the small of his back. 

“It’s okay, let it out, hyung.” Minghao.

Seungcheol had no choice over it, completely at the mercy of his body. It was humiliating, standing on the side of the road of their most beautiful island, spewing up his guts while his dongsaeng patted his back. At least, it didn’t last long. 

No matter how nauseous he was and no matter how sudden the vomiting had been, it was really only a few mouthfuls of sick coming up before everything turned into dry-heaving. Minghao patiently rubbed his back, whispering muted reassurances. 

It took a few minutes of empty gagging and not being sure if the next wave would bring up more stomach contents or not before Seungcheol was able to straighten up and stumble away from the puddle. Minghao held his upper arm in a gentle grasp, steadying him.

“Do you feel a bit better now?”, he asked gently.

Seungcheol shrugged. He was still unbearably nauseous and even if his stomach seemingly wasn’t about to reject its contents again, he didn’t feel very safe about moving or standing or breathing or existing in general. His mouth tasted awful and he was trembling all over.

“Wash out your mouth”, Minghao encouraged, holding out Seungcheol’s bottle of water that the leader had forgotten in the door of the driver's side and the younger must have picked up. 

Thankful for the opportunity, Seungcheol swished the water around his mouth and spat it onto the grass behind himself. Then he lifted the bottle to his lips with a shaking hand and took a small sip. The water soothed his throat but it sat heavily in his cramping stomach, not quite settled. He winced, pressing his hand to his aching abdomen. 

“I think I need to sit down”, Seungcheol mumbled, feeling his strength quickly reclining. His shaking knees were barely able to keep supporting his weight and his whole body felt heavy with fatigue. 

“I’ve got you, hyung, it’s alright”, Minghao said, wrapping his arm around Seungcheol’s waist and leading him the few steps back to the car. As soon as the door was open, Seungcheol sank down sideways into the passenger seat, wrapping his arms around himself and pressing his knees to his chest.

He didn’t even have the strength to care anymore that his maknaes were literally sleeping behind him, while he was so sick. He never really liked to show weakness in front of them but that was the last thing on his mind at the moment. He just wanted to not feel sick. And maybe a hug.

Minghao knelt down in front of him, a hand on Seungcheol’s knee to steady himself. He didn’t seem to care at all that he was in the danger zone should Seungcheol be unable to control his stomach again. 

“Aish, hyung, what are we gonna do with you?”, Minghao mumbled, reaching up with his free hand to stroke back Seungcheol’s hair. “Do you think we can go on? Or do you want me to find a doctor or hospital? We’re probably halfway between Jeju City and Seogwipo though.”

Seungcheol shook his head. He didn’t want to go to a hospital - he didn’t think he was sick enough for that. Honestly he just wanted to lie down and sleep. “Let me breathe for a bit and then we can go on”, he suggested, a deep exhale following. 

Minghao nodded and just stayed crouched down by Seungcheol’s feet, a silent support.

💎

Silence didn’t hold that long though. 

“Hyungs?”, Seungkwan whispered from the backseat, seemingly woken up by the lack of rocking car movement as well as their voices. “Is everything alright? Is Coups-hyung alright?”

Minghao and Seungcheol both turned to find the young vocalist sitting upright, blinking at them in worry. He must have moved Dino from his shoulder as the maknae was now slumped against the window, undisturbed. The way they were sitting was probably incriminating Seungcheol already but still he found himself unhappy when Minghao announced: “Cheollie-hyung is sick. He threw up a bit just now.”

Seungcheol was about to ask him why on earth he would share the secret like that but he saw the concern and fear in Minghao’s face and understood. The dancer didn’t want to be alone in his knowledge of their sick hyung and needed help, no matter how unhappy Seungcheol was with that. But if he was honest himself, he probably had no chance of hiding it from Seungkwan and Dino anyways.

Seungkwan, to his credit, looked worried, yes, but he didn’t fall into the excessive nagging or worry he might have with other members. His lips just turned into a pout and there was genuine concern written all over his face. 

“I’m sorry you’re feeling so sick, hyung”, he said honestly, “is there anything I can do to help?”

“Actually, do you still have the bag from duty-free?”, Minghao asked, “I think it’s best if we get to your home as quickly as possible so hyung can lie down and sleep this off.”

“Oh, yeah, hold on”, Seungkwan said and ducked down to rummage through his backpack. 

The commotion must have woken Dino from his slumber too, because he woke the moment Seungkwan pulled the plastic bag from the depths of his belongings with a triumphant smile and handed it through the gap between passenger seat and door to Minghao. Seungcheol had his back to Dino but he internally groaned when he heard the maknae’s words. Another member pulled from rest because of him.

“Huh? Wha’s go’n on?”, the maknae asked sleepily.

“Cheollie-hyung is sick”, Seungkwan explained while Minghao inspected the bag for any damages. “We stopped because he wasn’t feeling well.”

That woke up Dino for real. “Upset stomach?”, he questioned, watching Minghao’s moves. 

Seungcheol sighed and pressed his head into his palms. The multitude of concern was a bit overstimulating if he was honest. If it had been Jeonghan and Joshua he may have reacted differently but right now it felt like too much. 

A soft hand on his cheek, a thumb stroking up and down, pulled him from the precarious state of mind he was in. He let his head mold into the soft touch, reveling in the comfort it brought. 

“We got you, hyung. Don’t be embarrassed”, Seungkwan said gently and Seungcheol opened his eyes to find that the vocalist was leaning forward on his seat and it was his hand that was soothing him. “We know you’re not feeling well. We know you’re exhausted. Let us take care of you for once, hm?”

Too tired to put up a fight and not sure if he was willing to, Seungcheol nodded and sighed. 

“Let’s get to Kwannie-hyung’s home as quickly as possible”, Dino echoed Minghao’s earlier words. “You should sleep.”

Seungcheol nodded again, feeling his head and eyes grow heavy.

“Do you want to switch seats to be in the back?”, Minghao questioned, his touch still tender against Seungcheol’s legs. “In case you feel really sick again it might be nice to have somebody with you, huh?”

Seungcheol found himself drowsily agreeing and a few minutes later he was settled in the back next to Dino, the plastic bag spread open on his lap for quick access. Minghao had taken up the role of the driver again and Seungkwan was speaking quietly on his phone. 

Exhausted, Seungcheol let his eyes fall shut.

💎

Yet no matter how exhausted Seungcheol was, the nausea was more demanding. He just couldn’t fall asleep in his queasy state. Everytime he thought he was about to nod off, a sour burning in his esophagus woke him up again, making him need to swallow against the reflux. It didn’t even necessarily feel like he was about to throw up but it certainly was burning his throat. 

He tried to rest against Dino’s shoulder, the maknae more than willing to switch roles for once but it was just too uncomfortable to lean across the empty middle seat and then down to Dino’s shoulder. Their height difference was not helping at all. Seungcheol sighed and just decided to rest against the window but the vibration of that hurt his head. So that also was not an option.

Finally Dino seemed to have enough of Seungcheol’s fidgeting and restlessness and announced: “Hao-hyung, be careful. I’m going to move to the middle seat.”

Without waiting for a reply he unbuckled himself, scooted over to Seungcheol and buckled himself in again. “Rest, hyung”, he mumbled, guiding Seungcheol’s head to his shoulder where he even placed a rolled up hoodie for maximum comfort. 

Seungcheol slumped against him, feeling like he could cry in relief when the position was finally comfortable. 

💎

Yet it was only about fifteen minutes later when they encountered a new problem. The road they were taking was starting to wind itself into narrow turns and a steep incline. Seungcheol normally was not a member who got motion sick but for the first time in his life he understood how Jeonghan, Jun and Vernon must feel. He could practically feel his stomach slosh around, every twist of the street making whatever was left in his stomach move upwards. He groaned, placing one hand against his stomach and the other gripped the bag tighter. Then he opened his eyes, remembering how Jeonghan said it helped him to actually see where they were moving. 

“Are you feeling worse, hyung?”, Dino asked nervously, noticing the shift and the tension in Seungcheol’s shoulders. Seungcheol nodded, swallowing harshly.

At the youngest words Seungkwan turned around in the passenger seat, mustering him, and Minghao glanced at him through the mirror before apologizing: “I’m sorry, hyung. I’m driving as smoothly as I can.”

“It’s not … it’s not your fault, Myungho-yah”, Seungcheol pressed out, half-way through the sentence needing to stop to press the back of his hand against his mouth to stifle a burp. 

“Focus on driving”, Seungkwan said and added bitterly, “I don’t remember if there is any place where we can pull over safely on this road stretch.”

While the two discussed the possibilities of stopping, Dino removed the pullover-pillow from his shoulder and placed his hand on Seungcheol’s thigh in a gesture of sympathy. “If you need to be sick, just let it happen. Don’t hurt yourself.”

Seungcheol didn’t think he even had the strength to fight the nausea. Another sharp twist made another burp rise in his throat and he barely had the time to lift the bag to his lips before sour vomit filled his mouth. 

He stared in horror down at the brownish, chunky liquid at the bottom of the white bag, the smell taunting him. As he retched again, all conversation died out and the only sound filling the car was his gagging and more throw up splashing into the puddle in the bag.

Dino helplessly patted his back as Seungcheol continued to throw up, feeling awfully self-conscious. His only saving grace was that it was mostly dark, so while his dongsaengs had to listen to him puke at least they didn’t have to see. 

The nausea wouldn’t relent. The atmosphere was awfully tense as they all were too startled and overwhelmed to do much more than listen to Seungcheol occasionally vomiting up another wave of barely digested food and bile. The leader swore he hadn’t even eaten as much food as he was throwing up. 

“I’m so sorry”, Minghao finally broke the silence as he had to brake for another turn, “there is just no place to safely pull over.”

“It’s not your fault.” Seungcheol coughed, spitting out excessive bile. 

His stomach still ached and cramped but it felt painfully empty now and the nausea while still present was fading and unproductive. Taking the risk, Seungcheol lifted his head away from the bag, closing it with one hand, and took a deep breath.

“I have another bag here”, Dino said, “hang on.” 

He turned away to rummage around in his own backpack. Seungcheol didn’t want to watch him, still a bit embarrassed, and he also didn’t want to keep staring at the full bag in his hands, so he lifted his head only to find Seungkwa turned around in his seat, gently smiling at him. 

“You can give me the bag”, the vocalist said softly, reaching out. Seungcheol stared at him, a bit dumb-founded. Sure, he didn't know what he was going to do with the puke-bag but he wasn’t going to hand it over to one of the maknaes. Sure, he had definitely held full puke-bags for his dongsaengs before, a certain road trip with a very nauseous Jeonghan came to mind, but he wasn’t going to subject Seungkwan to that. 

But the vocalist seemed to read his mind. He smiled brightly at his leader and placed his hand over Seungcheol’s where he held onto the plastic. “I don’t mind, hyung. We just want you to be comfortable. I’ll put it in my footwell, it’s no issue.”

Stunned, Seungcheol let Dino and Seungkwan take the bag from his grip and watched as Seungkwan skillfully tied a knot at the top, placing it down in his footwell as he had said he would. Silently Dino slipped a fresh bag into Seungcheol’s hands, squeezing his wrist for a moment. 

“Relax, leader-nim”, the maknae said gently, “we got you.”

💎

The rest of the drive passed without any more vomiting thankfully and Seungcheol even managed to fall asleep. That, however, meant that he was awfully drowsy when Seungkwan gently shook him awake. 

“We’re here, Cheollie-hyung”, he whispered, brushing Seungcheol’s hair from his face. “You just need to get inside, we’ll handle the rest. You can continue sleeping soon, hm?”

Seungcheol stumbled behind him, half-asleep, and relying on Minghao’s and Seungkwan’s grips on his hands for any sort of navigation. He had his eyes mostly closed, just open enough to not fall on the stairs. Somebody pulled the blankets away from the bed and Seungcheol let himself sink onto the soft mattress. A hand brushed against his forehead and a voice he wasn’t quite able to place in his sleepy state said: “Sleep well, Seungcheol-yah. There’s a bucket beside the bed if you need it and Minghao-yah will sleep on the other side of the room.”

Seungcheol nodded against the pillow and closed his eyes again.

💎

He hovered between wakefulness and sleep. His brain was cloudy, floaty, not really alert. It was a weird feeling, knowing he was awake though the state he was in felt more like sleep. Then he turned to his side and bile burned in his throat. Oh.

Seungcheol opened his eyes to darkness, finding himself in a bed. Honestly, he had barely had any recollection of getting there. He blinked and in the low light of the moon shining in from the window he realized he was turned towards the room. A silhouette was asleep on a mattress on the ground. They had arrived at Seungkwan’s home. 

His stomach, though hopefully empty, still was angry with him. The nausea was not as overwhelming as it had been before, tamed by the previous bouts of sickness, but it wasn’t dull enough to completely ignore it. Seungcheol pushed himself into a sitting position at the side of the bed, his dangling feet hitting plastic. Grateful for the foresight, Seungcheol pulled the bucket to his lap, hugging it with one arm. He was so tired. He didn’t want to be sick. He truly just wanted a hug.

“Myungho-yah”, he whispered, even in the darkness recognizing his calm dongsaeng. But maybe he was wrong? The figure didn’t stir unlike Minghao would at the slightest sound. Maybe they didn’t want to place him in a room with his sick hyung so he could get some sleep?

But Seungcheol distinctly remembered then that Chan and Seungkwan had wanted to pair up and the figure was too tall for both maknaes. He supposed that with the exhaustion of schedules and Minghao having to drive unfamiliar roads at night he was finally fully knocked out. 

Realizing he was not about to immediately throw up, Seungcheol decided to try to make it to the bathroom in hopes that he wouldn’t disturb Minghao - or anybody else for that matter - then. He cradled the bucket to his chest, not keen on accidentally puking on Seungkwan’s parents’ floor, and stumbled to the door.

The hallway was dark, only illuminated from low light spilling in from an open door - the bathroom. Maybe the light was on to avoid nighttime accidents or maybe it was there for his sake. No matter what Seungcheol was immensely glad for the beacon, after all it had been years since he had last been here, and he didn’t remember which door led where. 

He closed the bathroom door behind himself but didn’t lock it. Then he sank down onto the floor between the tub and the toilet. Exhaustion hit him like a truck and only the faint rolling of his stomach kept him awake. He pushed the bucket away now that he was close to the toilet and buried his face in his knees.

This wasn’t how he had imagined the vacation going. Throwing up in the car with his maknae-line members was bad, sitting nauseous and shivery in Seungkwan’s parents’ bathroom in the middle of the night was arguably worse.

He was so tempted to call his own eomma or maybe even Jeonghan but he hadn’t brought his phone with him. Walking back to the room and then to the bathroom again was not in his cards. He would just have to endure. That didn’t mean that the tears didn’t burn in his eyes. 

💎

It was only a few minutes later that the nausea reached a new peak and Seungcheol forced himself to kneel in front of the toilet, lifting the lid and staring into the water below. His breathing hitched, a sharp hiccough hurting his chest and then the water turned murky and he had thrown up again. His whole body was shaking and all that was keeping him upright was the arm he had placed on the toilet seat to rest his head on. 

Waiting it out was awful. His stomach was contracting and cramping but only every few minutes a mouthful of sour-tasting and even worse smelling bile came up without any warning. For all he knew every time could have been the last and, yet, it kept coming up. He wondered idly how there was even something left in his stomach. 

He didn’t know how long he had sat there, it could have been minutes or hours for all he knew, when he heard the door open behind him. He didn’t have the capability to turn around to see who had come to check on him. Maybe Minghao had woken after all.

But as soon as the person spoke, Seungcheol felt a shiver run through his body. It wasn’t any of his members. It was Seungkwan’s eomma. “Oh, Seungcheol-yah”, she said, her voice soft and caring, “how long have you been in here?”

He shrugged and then jumped when she placed a warm hand on his sweat-soaked back. “You’re really sick, huh? Do you feel ready to get back to bed?”

“I’m sorry, eomonim”, Seungcheol rasped, feeling awful that he was ruining her sleep and her bathroom, “I didn’t mean to block your bathroom. I wouldn’t have come on the trip if I had known I was sick.”

“Silly boy”, she replied, “it’s alright. My husband and I are just as worried about you as the boys are. There’s nothing to feel guilty about.”

Seungcheol didn’t know what to reply. He didn’t have a close relationship with her, not as much as other members had. He just felt young and tired and scared. 

“Come on, let’s lean back a bit. That hunched position can’t be good for your posture”, she encouraged, unfazed by his silence. She patted his shoulder and gently helped him straighten up, then move backwards. Seungcheol didn’t know how it happened but suddenly he was curled up on the floor, his head in her lap and her arm wrapped around him as far as she could with his much bigger stature. It was as bewildering as it was comforting. 

“Eomonim”, he protested tiredly, just on principle. He was too tired and it was too comfy for him to actually try to remove himself from the half-hug. Nevertheless, it was bad enough he had brought sickness into her house, this way she was likely to get sick too. Or thrown up on.

He must have spoken the last parts aloud too, because she shushed him and replied: “Seungcheol-yah, you have been taking care of my baby for the past decade. Let me do something for you in return. Just rest, kiddo.” 

If she saw the tears flow down his face she didn’t comment on it. Seungkwan must have gotten his unending kindness from somewhere.

💎

The next time Seungcheol woke up it was to aching abs but a relievingly neutral stomach. He didn’t remember getting back to bed after falling asleep in the bathroom but now he was in bed with the sun shining in between the blinds. 

A look at his phone had him realize that it was already past noon and that he had various unread messages.

Seungkwan’s eomma (05:54): Sleep well, sweetheart! Seungkwannie (09:14): Morning, hyung! I hope you feel better. Eomma said you were really sick during the night again. Please take your time to rest <3 Hannie (09:28): Hao texted that you are sick :( I hope you feel better soon, ddaddu! Text me if you need to Dino-baby (09:35): Rest well, hyung! Take all the time you need! Myungho (09:56): You should have woken me 2night, hyungie. Love you, rest please! Seungkwannie (11:58): You’re still asleep, you really must be exhausted ): feel free to go back to sleep if you’re still tired when you wake up. We’ll be downstairs if you want some company tho <3

Seungcheol groaned and stretched. Going back to sleep sounded heavenly and he was very tempted to take up Seungkwan’s offer of sleeping the day away. But it was lonely in the room; he assumed it must be one of Seungkwan’s sisters’ rooms turned into a guest room.

He pushed himself up into a standing position. He still felt shaky and out of sorts and he knew he likely wouldn’t really be up to doing anything that day, all his energy depleted. But he wanted company.

He gripped the railing of the stairs tightly and slowly made his way down into the hallway where he assumed he would find a way to a living room. And indeed, as he rounded the corner behind the stairs he was greeted by an open doorway and the sight of Seungkwan and Dino playing cards with Seungkwan’s appa while Minghao was in deep conversation with Seungkwan’s eomma. 

From his position, Seungkwan was the first to spot Seungcheol and he excitedly waved at the older, beckoning him in.

“Hyung, how are you feeling?”, he asked worriedly, causing all of the other room’s occupants to turn to Seungcheol. He flushed under the weight of the combined gazes but cautiously crossed the threshold. 

“Better”, he said, “not quite back to normal but much better.”

The two younger members cheered and Minghao grinned brightly. “Come sit, hyung.”

Not even five minutes later, Seungcheol found himself dozing off on Minghao’s lap again.

Masterlist links: Fairy's Full Masterlist Fairy's Masterlist - SEVENTEEN

[17snifflesandsnzes]

Hi guys! So...I'm soooo sorry for the ridiculously long gap between my last fic 😭. Life just got super busy these last few months but I'm FINALLY back!! This is in continuation to my last fic but honestly, you could read it as a standalone as well. So, without further ado, here it is! I hope you like it!!

Who Would've Thought A Miserable Sick Day Could End So Warmly?

“Are you planning to wake up today, Chan-ah?”

Chan opens his eyes, a little disgruntled, and the first thing he sees is Seungkwan’s face, sporting an amused look. “Finally! I thought you would never wake up!” Seungkwan says exaggeratedly and Chan shoots him a glare. “Oh, come on. I think I deserve the rest.” Seungkwan laughs at Chan’s annoyed tone and kisses his boyfriend’s cheek. “Of course you do, love. You know I’m just kidding.” Chan huffs a little but he can’t help but smile. “Whatever!” Chan says and Seungkwan laughs again at the lack of bite in his voice.

As Chan sits up in bed, the sunlight that’s pouring in through the windows hits him sharply in the face. This suddenly triggers a tickle at the back of Chan’s sinuses. He sniffles softly which only makes the tickle stronger. Admitting defeat, Chan cups his hands over his nose and mouth, gasping softly. “hh’Akt-ChuHh!” Seungkwan shoots him a concerned glance. “Bless you! You okay?” Chan sniffles again, the sound slightly wet. He blinks the irritated tears out of his eyes and gives Seungkwan a smile. “Yeah! I’m fine. The sunlight got to me, that’s all.” Seungkwan nods, seeming convinced. However, the sneeze only strengthens the tickle at the back of Chan’s sinuses, despite his best efforts to ignore it. 

Chan gets out of bed after Seungkwan leaves to make breakfast and wake Hansol up. He heads into the bathroom and stares at his reflection in the mirror. His eyes look watery and red and his nose is slightly pink. Not to mention that he has dark eye bags under his eyes and an almost feverish flush to his cheeks. Chan sighs, running his hands across his face. Although it’s pretty obvious that he’s getting sick, Chan tries to chalk it up to “being too tired.” But when he touches his forehead and feels the burning temperature of his skin, he’s forced to accept the truth. As Chan steps out of the bathroom, he makes a decision to not tell Seungkwan and Hansol that he’s sick. After all, they’ve already done enough for him yesterday, he doesn’t need to worry them with something else.

By the time Chan walked out of his bedroom, Seungkwan and Hansol were already eating breakfast. They both turn towards him when he walks towards them and takes a seat at the table. “Morning, Chan-ah! How're you feeling today?” Hansol asks and Chan has half a mind to scoff but decides against it. “Much better, hyung! Thanks!” He answers, trying to not sound as tired as he feels. Seungkwan hands him some buttered toast and jam and he takes it gratefully, happy that he doesn't need to talk anymore. They eat in comfortable silence until Chan chokes on an inhale and his breath starts hitching again. Groaning internally, he immediately cups his hands over his nose and mouth as his eyes close softly. “hh'AktChihH!- Ugh.” Hansol and Seungkwan both turn to him, faces mirroring looks of concern. “Bless you, Chan-ah! Are you okay?” Hansol asks, concern evident in his voice. Chan sighs at the question, sniffling wetly. “I'm fine, hyung. You don't need to worry.” The two of them don't say anything at that but Chan can see Seungkwan rolling his eyes as he mutters, “But what if we want to worry about you?” Chan smiles a little at his words.

After the three of them finish eating breakfast, Chan volunteers to wash the dishes since Seungkwan and Hansol had done the cooking. They agreed eventually, albeit a bit reluctantly, and Chan's starting to get a little annoyed. It's not like he's that sick, right?! 

That statement, however, is proved to be wrong almost immediately. As Chan starts washing the dishes, the tickle at the back of his sinuses that has been plaguing him for the entire morning so far decides to peak again. With both his hands covered in dish-washing soap, Chan has absolutely no way of covering and as his breath starts hitching again, he lets out a groan at the inevitable mess he's about to make. Seungkwan, who had decided to stay back in the kitchen to help Chan, seems to notice his desperate call for help and immediately cups Chan’s nose and mouth with a tissue, his free hand going to Chan's hair for support. Chan lets out a sigh of relief as his eyes flutter shut, breath hitching desperately. “hh…hh'Akt-ShuhH!- hh'Akt-ChiHh!-” Chan sniffles wetly, managing to rub his wrist against his nose as Seungkwan disposes of the tissue. He then turns to Chan, his eyes holding clear disapproval and concern in them. “God bless you, Channie.” Seungkwan says, his tone almost cold and Chan feels his heart ache a little. Seungkwan hands Chan a pack of tissues before leaving the kitchen and Chan sighs, not wanting to annoy his boyfriend further by stopping him. 

When Chan finally finished doing the dishes, he finds both Seungkwan and Hansol on the couch with the TV turned on. Hansol beckons him toward them. “Since we all don't have any classes today, why not watch a movie together?” He asks Chan and he nods absentmindedly, too distracted by Seungkwan, who was sharply keeping his eyes fixed on the TV screen. “Great! You can sit there, Chan-ah.” Hansol says excitedly and Chan tries to match his energy. When he's seated and comfortable, Hansol turns on the movie. It's a Hollywood romance film with Korean subtitles. The movie looks interesting and would be even more interesting if Chan could actually read the subtitles. However, his sinuses, which had started to run like a faucet, was distracting him too much for him to be able to focus. Along with his runny nose comes the ever-present tickle at the back of his sinuses. He knows he's gonna have to sneeze eventually but he tries to keep the tickle at bay, anyway. 

This, however, only works for a little while. About half an hour into the movie, Chan feels the tickle grow stronger. He sniffles wetly, rubbing his wrist against his nose, trying to be as discreet as possible. This, however, makes the tickle grow even stronger and soon enough, Chan feels his breath start to hitch again. He sits up a little, turning away from the other two and pulls out a few tissues from the pack Seungkwan gave him. Eyes fluttering shut, Chan gasps softly, cupping the tissues over his nose and mouth. “hh'Ahk-ChiHh!- hh…hH...hh'Aht-ChUhhH!- hh..hh'Ikt-ChuhHh!- Ugh!” Chan sniffles wetly, rubbing his nose as harshly as he can with the tissue. He takes out a few more tissues and blows his nose into them, cringing at the sound. Blinking the irritated tears out of his eyes, he finally regains his bearings. Seungkwan and Hansol are both looking at him, both looking equally worried. The movie has been paused as well, Chan realizes.

“Chan-ah, are you sure you’re alright? ‘Cuz you really don’t look ‘alright’ to me.” Hansol deadpans and Seungkwan nods aggressively. Chan sighs, knowing there is absolutely no way out of this conversation now. “Fine! I think I might be getting sick. Must’ve been the nights I came back from the dance studio late without a jacket on.” Chan admits and Seungkwan discreetly (it wasn't at all discreet) rolls his eyes. “One too many nights.” He mutters under his breath and Chan sighs. “I’m fine, guys! Seriously, it’s just a cold. Don’t worry about me.” Seungkwan and Hansol share an unamused look before turning back to Chan. “Sure, Chan-ah. We won't make it a big deal if you don't want us to. But please, at least take it easy for today, okay?” Seungkwan says gently, still looking concerned. Chan smiles at the consideration. “Okay, hyung. I'll do my best, okay?” Chan says softly and Seungkwan beams, pulling Chan closer towards him so that he's sitting between him and Hansol. 

When Hansol turns on the movie again, Chan finds himself getting extremely drowsy the more the movie goes on. About halfway through, his head drops onto Seungkwan's shoulder, eyes barely staying open, and he immediately feels his boyfriend’s arm wrapping around him while Hansol gently leans against him to keep him warm. Sighing contently, Chan closes his eyes, letting sleep take over his body.

When Chan wakes up after what feels like a really short time to him, Seungkwan and Hansol are both still next to him. He also realizes that he has a blanket thrown over his body which does little to stop his constant shivering, but he’s grateful for it anyway. As soon as he realizes Chan’s awake, Seungkwan places a hand on his forehead, sighing at the heat present there. “Channie, you’re literally burning up! Are you still gonna insist that you’re perfectly fine now?” Seungkwan sounds exasperated but also extremely worried and next to him, Hansol nods vigorously. Before Chan can answer, however, the tickle that’s been plaguing him all day decides to pique yet again. Chan’s breath starts hitching again and he quickly covers his face with the blanket, eyes fluttering shut. “hh’Aht-ShuhHh!- hh’Ikt’ShUhH!- Ahh…HhH…hh’It-ShuhHhh!-” Chan sniffles wetly, the sneezes having bent him over at the waist, reaching for his pack of tissues only to realize that the pack is finished. Hansol immediately hands him another box of tissues and Chan takes a few out, blowing his nose softly into them. “God bless you, Channie! I’m assuming you're actually gonna let us take care of you now, right?” Hansol asks and Chan sniffles wetly again, blinking the irritated tears out of his eyes. A little too out of it to properly answer, Chan just nods his head. “Oh, Channie…” Seungkwan says, his tone soft and sad, as he gently pushes Chan’s hair out of his face, kissing his cheek lightly. “Let’s get you warmed up. How about a bath?” Seungkwan asks and Chan nods, not even fully registering the question. “As long as it helps with getting rid of this fucking cold, I don’t even care.” Chan says, groaning as he stands up, his weight leaning primarily on Seungkwan. He immediately wraps an arm around his boyfriend’s waist for support as Hansol feels his forehead with his hand. “Shit, Channie, your temperature really isn't looking good right now.” Chan groans loudly at that. “I know! I feel fucking awful!” Chan says exasperatedly, sniffling again. “Let's get you that bath.” Seungkwan says as he leads Chan to the bathroom. 

A few minutes later, Seungkwan helps Chan into the hot water of the bath and Chan lets out a loud sigh as soon as his body touches the water. Seungkwan giggles a little at that. “You like that, don't you? I knew you would.” Chan's eyes close instinctively but he reaches for Seungkwan's hand. “Thank you.” He whispers when Seungkwan holds his hand, squeezing it lightly. “Anytime, Channie. Anytime.” They stay like that for a while. That is until Chan’s breath starts hitching again. He sniffles, tired out by all the constant sneezing. Seungkwan notices, of course, and hands him a few tissues. Chan takes them with a groan. “Ugh, I am so done with this!” He rubs at his nose harshly which probably irritates his nose into finally making him sneeze. Chan gasps desperately, eyes fluttering shut. “hh'AktChuHhH!- hih’Ikt'ChuhHh!- Ugh!” “Bless you, Channie.” Seungkwan says softly. Chan sniffles a little and smiles at him and both of them know the gratitude that lies there. 

After some more time in the bath, Chan finally gets out. Seungkwan helps him into a warm hoodie and sweatpants before walking back with him to the living room. There, they find Hansol with a pile of takeout chicken on the coffee table. As Chan and Seungkwan take their seats next to him, Hansol says, “Since I know none of us want to cook tonight, I just decided to order takeout.” Seungkwan laughs a little, ruffling Hansol’s hair. “You know us so well, Sollie.” Hansol smiles widely at that. While the two of them banter, Chan’s looking at them, his eyes fond. Seungkwan notices him staring and nudges him. “What's gotten you so emotional, hm?” Chan smiles before pulling Seungkwan closer to kiss his cheek, ending the move by pulling him into a hug along with Hansol. “I'm…just so grateful to have you guys in my life. Thank you for always being there for me.” Hansol giggles at that and Chan raises an eyebrow at him. “Of course we're there for you, Channie. After all, it's us against the world, isn't it?” He says and Chan laughs loudly before pulling the two of them into a hug again. 

Who would've thought a miserable sick day could have ended so warmly? Guess that's what happens when you're roommates with Seungkwan and Hansol.

[yandere-writer-momo]

I just wanted to make something cute. Something about yandere platonic Pickle gets me going

@fangurlzrul3 and I were talking in discord about giving Pickle Dino nuggies with honey bbq sauce the other day so I decided to make some cute head canons

Yandere Baki Head Canons

Teaching Pickle the modern way of living (platonic)

Pickle x researcher reader

Pickle

Now being Pickle’s caretaker wasn’t something you ever expected to be, but here you were… taking care of Pickle

You wouldn’t look Pickle in the eye for the longest time in fear that he’d attack you so you’d hand him little trinkets to get him to leave you be. His favorite was a little bell you handed him. You’d hear him jingling in the other room

But as time went on, Pickle became more comfortable around you.

Pickle sits in the doorway of the lab and just stares at you. He’s kind of like a cat or a dog with his curiosity

Pickle brings you small gifts he finds around the lap. A bottle cap, a mouse trap, and some paper clips have found their way into your desk drawer for you ‘Pickle collection.’ You didn’t have the heart to throw anything away that he gave you

Pickle would stare longingly at your lunches so you began to share your meals with him. Pickle loves the little octopus shaped sausage and he was especially fond of chicken nuggets

Pickle is a chicken nugget fiend. He will eat all of them from your lunch, even the crumbs

You introduce him to honey mustard and honey barbecue sauce and he’s starstruck. Pickle begins to love eating. He comes over to you and points at his mouth every time he sees you

Pickle hates vegetables. He spits them out every time. Even if you cover them in sauce, he will spit them out (and suck off the sauce)

Pickle loves candy and sweet! He adores cotton candy and bubble gum. It took him awhile to figure it out, but now he knows how to blow bubbles. You always hear them popping when you walk past him

You give Pickle a spoonful of nut butter (specifically peanut butter) whenever you need to get your paper work done. He will sit on his haunches and lick at the roof of his mouth for a couple minutes

You’ve tried introducing toys to him but he doesn’t understand. Pickle eats the checkers, chess pieces, cards, and even the hot wheel cars. He’s a monster

Pickle threw the baby doll you gave him across the room when it started crying so you ruled out interactive toys too

[luxekook]

call him bestie in bed | minwon

❯ pairing: mingyu x reader x wonwoo

❯ genre: best friends to lovers, slight angst, smut, fluff

❯ summary: you realize you’re in love with your best friends. chaos ensues.

❯ word count: 8.2k

❯ warnings: 18+, cursing, reader thirsts over minwon (and who can blame them?), some miscommunication and self-sabotaging behaviors (reader is an idiot for a hot sec), light drinking, brief mention of heavy drinking (one reference to a past event), dirty talk, jealousy, teasing, everyone is a switch but mingyu’s a total baby boy and reader calls wonu daddy, mingyu likes degradation and denial uwu, wonwoo just wants to please uwuwuwuwu, reader has breasts and a vagina and uses she/her pronouns, wonwoo calls reader pretty girl, gyu calls reader baby, smut [heavy makeouts, oral (giving and receiving), fingering, masturbation, unprotected penetrative sex (wrap it plz folx), creampies on creampies hehe]

❯ an: this fic is based on the meme "call him bestie during s*x" and on the beautiful gifset by @jaemtens.

It hits you smack in the face at 10:42 PM in the middle of Seungkwan’s crowded kitchen. Unable to look away, you stare at your two best friends as they pose for ‘candids’ courtesy of DK. Mingyu and Wonwoo lounge against the liquor-filled countertop, murmuring to each other in between flashes of smiles.

It’s then that the pesky little thought you’ve somehow suppressed for weeks finally surfaces, detonating all over your life.

You are in love with your best friends.

You’re in love with Mingyu. His generous heart, his pouty sweetness, his natural caretaker persona.

You’re in love with Wonwoo. His quiet strength, his unmatched wit, his ride-or-die attitude.

And the two of them together? The yin-and-yang combination results in such an overwhelming pull that you just can’t ignore any longer. It’s their inner beauty you really fell for first. But the outer beauty? Wow.

You’re vaguely aware that Dino is talking to you about some sort of new TikTok dance he wants to cover, and you nod along with the proper non-committal hums in response. But when Mingyu grabs Wonwoo’s necklace and tugs him closer, your body short circuits. “I need some air,” you gasp out to Dino, pushing past partygoers to escape to the small balcony attached to the apartment.

It’s empty. No one else seems to be willing to risk the frigid winter chill except for you. You hug yourself tightly as you stare out at the city lights twinkling around you. Heaving a sigh, you watch as the fog from your breath dissipates in the breeze.

Honestly, what are you going to do? How the fuck are you supposed to act now? What will they think of you?

Your mind plummets down dark paths filled with rejection and dismay. How could this possibly end well? The beginning of tears sting in your eyes, and everything feels off-kilter.

Maybe you should just go.

“(Y/n)?”

Your eyes shut, shoulders slumping low. It seems you missed the sound of the balcony door under the roar of your restless mind.

“(Y/n),” Wonwoo repeats with a sigh. “What are you doing out here? You’re going to freeze to death. I made Mingyu go grab your coat.”

You give a half-hearted shrug in response, feeling Wonwoo’s sharp inquisitive stare on the side of your face. You can tell he wants to say more, but he’s interrupted by the balcony door opening and closing with a loud thud behind you.

The weight of your jacket immediately envelops your shoulders. “Are you crazy, (y/n)?” Mingyu practically shoves your arms through your coat sleeves for you before tossing Wonwoo his own jacket. “I swear you’re shaving years off our lives! It’s almost December! It snowed yesterday!

“Well yeah, but that was yesterday,” you reply. And apparently that was the wrong response given the fact that both boys are eerily silent until–

“Okay, what’s wrong? Because I know everything was fine before we got here, wasn’t it?” Wonwoo gently takes your chin in his hand and turns you to face him and Mingyu.

They must see the tears glistening in your eyes because Wonwoo curses under his breath. Mingyu’s nostrils flare. “(Y/n),” Mingyu says softly, your name falling like a vow off his lips. “Who do we have to deal with? Was Dino saying something to you? Because that little shit will pay–!”

“No!” You cut him off before he does anything drastic, because Mingyu absolutely will. “I just needed some air. That’s all. The cold makes my eyes water.”

Your friends exchange a long look that you know screams of disbelief, but you are well past caring. You need to blow this popsicle stand. Now. “I’m out of here,” you plaster a hopefully believable smile on your face, “I’ll see you around?”

Without waiting for any sort of response, you push back inside. The sudden noise briefly jolts you, but the heat is a welcome relief. Finding Seungkwan in the living room, you thank him for the invite and assure him you’ll get home safely. It’s then that you feel their presence again at your back.

“I’m sure you will,” Seungkwan grins at you before looking up at the two boys you’re now certain are right behind you.

You roll your eyes at his antics. “Bye, Boo,” you say, hugging him and kissing his cheek. Seungkwan sends you off with a wave.

Making your way out the door, you stop in the narrow hallway and turn to your friends. “You don’t have to follow me, you know. I’m perfectly capable of getting home by myself.” It’s a difficult feat to meet their hard stares, but you manage it.

“When have we ever let you leave somewhere by yourself, (y/n)?” Wonwoo’s voice is deceptively calm for how annoyed he seems to be by your statement. Too bad you’re too frazzled to pay it half a mind.

“Doesn’t seem fair of me to interrupt your night,” you reply, crossing your arms in front of you. “I don’t want to be a cockblock.”

“A what!” Mingyu chokes on air, fuming. “The only thing that’s blocking our—!”

Wonwoo cuts Mingyu off with a look that clearly screams shut-the-fuck-up-you-idiot before turning back to you. “(Y/n), where is this coming from? We’re your best friends. You can talk to us.”

It’s that statement that makes you deflate. The air quite literally leaves your body in a wheeze of a sigh. “It’s nothing, Wonwoo. I’m just tired.”

You turn before either boy can respond and start walking down the hallway towards the elevators. After punching the down arrow many more times than necessary, you pull your phone out of your pocket and tap the rideshare app.

“Absolutely not,” Mingyu grabs your phone right out of your hands.

“Kim Mingyu,” you growl, lunging for your stolen device, “Give that back!”

Chuckling, that tall fucking skyscraper only holds it up higher. “No, we drove you here; so we’ll drive you back.”

You stare up at him and his beaming smile, his bright eyes, his beautiful energy. It’s too much. Way too much. You slide your gaze from Mingyu to Wonwoo, who has the smallest smile on his face as he looks at you both. He’s always been just as deadly.

It’s the elevator that saves you. The ding is like a bolt of lightning to your resolve, and you launch forward into the awaiting lift. You’ll let them drive you home and then inhale your emergency pint of Ben and Jerry’s Phish Food. You got this.

Turns out you do not got this. The vibe in Mingyu’s black SUV is not it. Everything with the three of you is usually comfortable, easy. Tonight, you know your quietness is making waves. But what are you supposed to do? Blurt out your bombshell of a realization? Potentially ruin your friendships because you’re scared of a little silence? No way in hell.

You need to process this for at least a few days and plan your actions for another. You had to be smart about this. Wonwoo and Mingyu are too precious, too vital to your life to be risked by any means. It honestly should not have come as a surprise to you that you love them. But maybe denial had been easier until now. Because now you feel as if you want them to love you back more than you want air in your lungs.

Ah, the drama.

Finally, the car pulls up in front of your building. “Thanks for the ride, Gyu,” you turn to him, shooting him the best smile you can muster up.

“Anytime, (y/n). I mean it,” Mingyu’s voice rumbles out of him. His gaze hooks on your smile for a half second too long. You blink and turn to the backseat where Wonwoo’s stretched out in the middle seat. His long legs open wide, practically an invitation– Nope. Not going there. Not today, Satan.

“Bye, Woo,” you smile at him and turn to get out of the car.

“Hey!” Mingyu’s voice trails after you as you hop out of the tall SUV, “No goodbye kiss for me and Wonwoo?”

“Or are those exclusively for Seungkwan?” Wonwoo’s door opens as he gets out to take your spot in the passenger seat. His deep voice is teasing, but his eyes… His eyes demand an answer.

“Well,” you pause, knowing that you’re about to give the most idiotic rationale, “Host a party and maybe I’ll consider it.” With that, you give them the most embarrassing finger wave of your entire life and hightail it out of sight into your building.

Later, your phone chimes with a message. It’s to the main group chat with all of your friends.

It’s from Mingyu.

“Thanks for the party, Seungkwan. Wonu and I got next. See you all Thursday night at ours. ;)”

Fuck.

“Wait, I don’t understand,” your sister squints at you through your phone as you FaceTime, “You’re really going to sit there and tell me that you just realized you like them? As more than just friends? Bitch, our whole family thinks you’re in a poly relationship and supports it. Even great grandma Ethel is jealous of your men.”

The sip of coffee you just took comes flying out of your mouth. “What!” You splutter, coughing. “Please tell me you’re kidding about Granny Ethel.” This is not at all what you expected to hear when calling your older sister for advice after last night’s fiasco.

“Fine, I’m kidding about her, but our entire family does think you’re in a relationship.” She shrugs at you like this isn’t news. “I mean, you know that is how they act with you, right? They act like boyfriends.”

“How?” You rack your brain to try to come up with any fitting example, but you can’t seem to think of a single thing. “They just seem to act like good friends to me.”

“(Y/n)…” Your sister sighs, “I love you, but you are so oblivious. Remember last summer? When Wonwoo and Mingyu came to my graduation party, and we both got a little too drunk off of Mom’s wine stash?”

You laugh, remembering how the boys found you and your sister in the backyard chasing each other with your little cousins’ water guns. “Yeah, I tripped over the sprinkler and hit myself in the face with a Super Soaker.”

Your sister cackles, “Such a priceless memory! But I meant what happened after that.”

“You mean when I got my ass handed to me by two overprotective boys?” You shake your head at the recollection of being carried into the house by Mingyu as Wonwoo ranted your ear off about being more careful.

“More like when you got cuddled and bandaged up by your two beefy boyfriends who then wanted to go set fire to a sprinkler for daring to hurt you,” your sister laughs as your face twists at her words.

“That sprinkler did go missing after your party…” you muse, finally giving in and laughing along with her. Your best friends are menaces, and you love them for it. You love them, period. And if that isn’t the crux of it.

“So, what do I do?” You plead with your sister, “If they do love me like you say they do, how can I know for sure?”

“Just ask them.” She takes one look at your horrified face and scoffs, “Oh please, what happened to (y/n) ‘I’m a bad bitch, you can’t kill me’ (y/l/n)?”

“Never heard of them,” you lie.

Your sister mutters what are surely insults under her breath before shrugging. “Fine, you could just test it out instead. See the response to some different scenarios.”

“Yeah? Like what?” You barely get the question out before your eyes widen in terror at the maniacal smile that splits across your sister’s face.

“Here’s what you’re going to do…”

After spending the next week dodging calls from Wonwoo and Mingyu, sending the barest of texts and contemplating your very existence, you find yourself standing outside of the boys’ apartment.

You’re late. The music already pounds through the walls, the door practically shaking with each thump of bass. You’re pretty sure no one realizes you’re even coming. But that’s what the plan essentially is… at least that’s part of it.

The other part is this outfit. You’re honestly on some real hot girl shit in your tight leather pants, slightly sheer black crop top, and black strappy bra.

Yup, the plan is all about attention. You’re not usually one to demand it, but here you are.

Turning the knob of the door, you strut inside. Your friends are scattered throughout the apartment you know like the back of your hand. The music covers up the sound of the door slamming shut, but not entirely.

“(Y/n)!” Jun yells, practically bowling you over with a hug, “You’re here!”

“Hi, Jun,” you grin up at your affectionate friend, “How’s the party so far?”

“Honestly, the vibes were a bit weird before you got here,” Hoshi butts in from behind Jun. The blond haired boy holds out a beer for you, which you accept with a smile.

“I think Mingyu was sulking?” Jun giggles, “More pity party than party-party if you ask me.”

“I haven’t even seen Wonwoo tonight,” Hoshi adds, cutting Jun off. “Why throw a party if you’re not even going to attend?”

You hum, not really sure how to respond. Your skin prickles under the weight of so many stares. You shrug it off as best you can, pushing further into the apartment and greeting friends along the way.

You don’t see them until it’s too late.

You’re in the middle of a conversation with Vernon when your eyes meet his. Wonwoo is sprawled next to Mingyu on their couch. You’re going to kill Hoshi for misinformation when you see him next because you really needed a warning. The way Wonwoo’s arms look in his blue cut-off shirt should be illegal.

Wonwoo finally looks away from you, glancing over at Mingyu. Your eyes follow, and your legs threaten to buckle as you realize Mingyu is already looking back at you. He looks at you like he wants to devour you whole. God, the way his teeth sink into his lower lip makes your mind fill with the dirtiest thoughts.

His dark eyes slowly flick over your body before meeting yours again. You want to run. You want to jump on him. There is no in between in this case.

“You’ve got it bad.” Vernon’s voice coaxes you back to reality. He continues, “If it makes any difference, I think they’ve got it worse.”

And then he just walks away. Like he didn’t just drop that bomb.

Classic Vernon. You can’t help but laugh.

An hour later, you’re playing pong in the boys’ tiny dining room with Joshua against Jeonghan and Cheol. You’ve successfully avoided Mingyu and Wonwoo so far tonight. And with the sort of looks that they gave you earlier, you need all the breathing room you can get. Because is your loved-up mind conjuring up reciprocation? Or are they actually feeling some type of way? It’s honestly driving you insane. So insane you almost miss Mr. Yoon Jeonghan cheating for the fifth straight turn.

“Jeonghan, if I see that elbow cross the table one more time I’m going to tackle you,” you cry, shaking your head at the boy’s inability to deviate from his devious tendencies.

Jeonghan just smirks and makes an elaborate show of pushing his elbow way past the edge of the table. “Oops,” he says, his smirk widening, “Please don’t follow through, (y/n).”

“You little—!” you start towards Jeonghan, rounding the table and marching towards him with purpose.

“(Y/n),” Joshua calls nervously.

“Not now, Josh.” Your eyes narrowing on your prey, “I’m defending our honor.”

“But—!” Josh never finishes his warning before you’re tugged out of the dining room and thrown over someone’s shoulder. A shoulder that smells suspiciously like Mingyu.

“What the fuck?” You yelp, wiggling around, “Put me down!”

Thwack! Your ass stings before you realize what had even happened.

“Did you really just spank me?” All the blood is rushing to your brain, and it’s making it hard to wrap your mind around this utter bullshit.

The world spins around you for a second as you’re tossed on a bed. Wonwoo’s bed. With Wonwoo standing over you next to a pouty looking Mingyu.

“Hi,” you blink up at them. Like an idiot.

“Hi,” Wonwoo drawls back to you. Mingyu says nothing, but the look on his face speaks volumes. Clearly, you are in trouble here.

You push up into a sitting position. “You could have just asked to talk to me instead of kidnapping me from your own party, guys.”

“Oh yeah?” Mingyu scoffs, “Could have fooled us. You didn’t even say hi when you walked in. Not to mention you’ve been ignoring us all fucking week! You’ve been weird ever since Seungkwan’s party, and we’re over it.”

“You’re going to tell us what’s up with you, (y/n).” Wonwoo’s no-nonsense tone sends a shiver down your spine. He reaches out to grab a lock of your hair, playing with the strands. “Start talking, pretty girl.”

Pretty girl?

You’re done. “I don’t have to tell you anything,” you blurt, completely flustered over Wonwoo. You stand, getting him to drop your hair but now placing yourself entirely too close to both of your friends. “I’m going back out there. Joshua needs me.”

“Oh,” Mingyu laughs darkly, “Joshua needs you? I thought you wanted Jeonghan.”

You stare up at him, eyebrows raised. Is that… jealousy? A hint of hope dawns. Your inner bad bitch finally steps in. “And what if I did?”

For a moment, no one speaks. The room practically crackles with tension. Your chest is tight, hands shoved into your back pockets to keep from reaching up to sooth it.

“If you did,” Wonwoo murmurs, sharing a dark look with Mingyu, “We’d have to deal with it.”

“Yeah, you’d have to deal with it,” you nod emphatically. “Why are you saying it like you’d take him out or something?”

They both just shrug. You decide you hate being on the opposite end of the silent treatment for once. Karma really is a bitch.

“You know what? Maybe I will just go out there and jump Jeonghan since you both clearly think that’s what I want. Maybe I’ll even go for Josh, too! Might as well at this rate! No one else is volunteering!” You move to stalk past them when it happens.

Mingyu slides in front of you, blocking any means of escape. Wonwoo comes up behind you. His body leans into yours, halting any more movement.

“She’s not getting it.” Wonwoo mutters. You feel his hands resting on your hips, burning into your skin where his fingers rest under your shirt.

“She’s really not,” Mingyu agrees, staring down at you with furrowed brows and a glower of epic proportions. His hair is in disarray but frames his face so well you really might pass out.

“She is standing right here,” you protest. Your body is firing on all synapses and when Mingyu presses closer to you, his fingers hooking into your belt loops, you have to bite back a moan.

“So she is,” Wonwoo says, lips brushing your ear.

Mingyu flashes you a smile that’s more teeth than anything else. “Finally.”

“If one of you doesn’t start explaining yourself, I'm going to start screaming,” you warn. Except your so-called warning comes out weak, easily being dismissed by the two boys currently sandwiching you in between their bodies. The only reactions are a burst of heat in Mingyu’s dark eyes and a slight squeeze from Wonwoo’s fingers.

You clear your throat, desperation clawing at your insides. What is even happening? How dare they toy with you like this! Wedging you between them like you’re nothing and then ignoring you altogether!

You lose it. “Let me go!“ Your arms push Mingyu’s hard chest to no avail. You push harder, frantic. It’s too much to be so close to them. To feel them like this knowing what your true feelings are.

“Don’t ask us to do that,” Wonwoo murmurs, grabbing your hands and tugging them gently into his at your sides.

“Because you’re never getting rid of us, baby.” Mingyu’s words are a fierce declaration, but the thing he does next is even fiercer still.

He kisses you.

His hands frame each side of your face, gently stroking his thumbs over your cheeks. His plush lips are firm on yours, demanding in their capture.

The sudden feeling of Wonwoo’s tongue dragging up your neck causes you to gasp, and Mingyu doesn’t hesitate. His tongue sweeps into your mouth, rolling across yours.

“Fu-uck,” Mingyu moans against your lips, “She tastes so good, doesn’t she, hyung?”

“Better than we imagined,” Wonwoo smiles against the thin skin under your ear before he nibbles at it and then sucks.

The whimper that bubbles up from your chest would have been embarrassing if you cared about appearances. You’re well past that now.

“You two were discussing how I taste?” How is one supposed to feel about that information?

Wait.

“Without me?” Okay, so you’re a tad bitter. Sue you. FOMO is a curse.

“You can participate now if you want,” Wonwoo laughs, chest shaking against your back.

“Cool,” you shrug, feigning lots of confidence you don’t really have right now. Honestly, fake it ‘til you make it. “I taste fruity with a hint of musk.”

The air stills.

“You—”

“She—”

You grin. Finally. The upper hand has never felt so good.

Suddenly, you’re swung around. Wonwoo’s hand rests lightly on your neck as his mouth descends on yours.

This time you don’t hesitate. Your mouth opens, tongue meeting his. Your hands clutch at his shirt, dragging him closer.

“What? No fair! Baby, I want a redo,” Mingyu whines, his hands gripping your hips before grinding against your ass. He’s hard and so fucking big that you really might be losing braincells from how badly you want him. Or maybe that's just from the restricted airflow courtesy of Jeon Wonwoo. Honestly, it’s a toss-up.

“You weren’t talking about how your mouth tastes, were you, pretty girl?” Wonwoo asks, panting slightly. His lips brush yours with each word.

“Nope,” you laugh, wiggling your ass back into Mingyu.

Both boys groan.

“Fucking evil,” Mingyu sighs dreamily before kissing up the side of your neck, sucking over the same spot Wonwoo had minutes prior.

“Why does it make so much sense that you’re into it?” Your laugh turns into a moan as Mingyu bites down on your earlobe and tugs. “Hey, watch those fangs.”

“Knew you’d be bratty,” Wonwoo chuckles, his hands sliding up your shirt ever so slowly. His fingers tease the bottom of your bra, caressing your tits through the barely there material. “Surprised it took this long.”

“Well,” you say with as much snark as you can muster despite the fact that you’re full-on panting now. “Who can blame me? It’s not everyday my friends corner me, kiss me, and admit to previously conversing about eating me out.”

The boys seem way too pleased about the state they have you in. Wonwoo’s grin widens with your words, and you can feel the smugness emanating from Mingyu as his hands slide into the back pockets of your pants.

You jolt as Mingyu squeezes your ass, and it’s his muffled laugh into your hair that makes you say it.

“Well, it's not everyday, but last week Minghao said he’ll marry me if we’re both single by thirty. So, I’m counting that.”

“How is that even remotely similar?” Wonwoo’s eyes narrow when you open your mouth to retort. “No, don’t answer that. It’ll just make me mad, pretty girl.”

“Hao should know you’re off limits,” Mingyu fumes, “Sounds like we need to have another talk with him, hyung.”

“Doesn’t matter,” Wonwoo shrugs. “We know that (y/n)’s marrying one of us, and that’s it.”

“Again, an invite to this conversation would have been nice!” You cry, pouting in a very Mingyu-like fashion.

“Why?” Mingyu laughs into your hair again, and you’re this close to losing your shit on him. “So you can go freak out for a week like you just did?”

Okay, fair but rude.

“Fuck you, Gyu.” You shimmy out of their holds with a speed you didn’t know you had in you. You don’t make it two steps towards the door before they’re both there, leaning casually against your only means of escape. And damn them because why do they have to look so fine with their tousled hair and swollen lips? The hungry looks in their eyes don’t help either.

You’re really in denial that you’re fucked here.

“Fuck me?” Mingyu smirks, “Go right ahead, baby.”

You march up to him and grab a fistful of his shirt, “You can’t say shit to me like that, Kim Mingyu. Not when you’ve just been tag-teaming me with Wonwoo and then talking about marriage? What the fuck am I supposed to think? That you want me for sex? Or that you want me for more? Because I may have just realized I love you last week, but I know what I want. And it’s not just sex.”

“You love us?” Mingyu has hearts in his eyes, grinning hugely down at you.

“That’s all you got from that?” You huff, turning to Wonwoo to get more of an answer only to find him looking at you with a devastatingly soft expression.

“You love us,” Wonwoo breathes out, his shoulders slumping slightly. The stress you never noticed before seems to evaporate.

“I do,” you smile at him. Soft Wonwoo might kill you, but you’d literally thank him for it. “Now, are you going to say it back? Or should I go grab Minghao––”

“Over my dead body,” Wonwoo growls. “You’re ours, pretty girl. I love you, too. Always have.”

You’re melting. Your eyes pan to Mingyu. “Gyu?”

Mingyu rolls his eyes, pouting. “How can you even ask me that? Of course I love you! Do you think I drive just anyone around no matter what? Do you think I cook all your favorite foods on the regular just for fun? Do you think I haven’t fucked anyone since we met because I’m interested in lifelong celibacy? Baby, come on. I’m yours.”

You jump on him. To his credit, Mingyu doesn't even hesitate. His hands cup your ass as soon as you finish wrapping your legs around his waist. Your lips take his, sucking his lower lip into your mouth and biting down.

“Oh shit,” Mingyu moans into your mouth, “Fuck me up, baby.”

You barely register that Wonwoo has pushed you both further into the room and is currently kicking everyone else out. Screams of encouragement from your friends as they leave are lost on you and Mingyu as you continue to devour each other.

You slide your tongue into his mouth, teasing his with a swipe and making him chase you. You suck his tongue as he enters your mouth.

“I hate you,” Mingyu groans once you let him have his tongue back. He spanks your ass for the second time that night, “Who the fuck taught you how to kiss like this?”

“Archive of Our Own,” you grin.

“Fucking nerd,” Wonwoo reenters the room just in time to roast you. Peak Wonwoo behavior.

“But you love this fucking nerd,” you shrug as best you can when you’re being manhandled by a 6’2 golden retriever type.

The smile you get in return could heat all the buildings in your city this winter. “Bed,” Wonwoo orders.

“What?” The word is barely out of your mouth before Mingyu unceremoniously dumps you onto Wonwoo’s bed and you're staring up at them yet again.

“Now,” Wonwoo says, “Tell us what you want from us tonight, pretty girl. Because me and Gyu will give you anything you ask for. Nothing more and nothing less. You’re setting the pace here. You want to cuddle? Fine. You want to make out some more? Great. You want to get fucked by Mingyu while I cum on your pretty tits? Exceptional. You want to slide up and down my cock while we make Mingyu watch without touching himself? Cool.”

Mingyu’s lips purse at the last suggestion, piquing your interest.

“Last one,” you grin at Wonwoo. “But I wanna ride you in reverse, Woo. I wanna face Mingyu as he sits in your chair and does nothing while I fuck myself on your cock, tease my clit and squeeze my tits.”

“Bet,” Wonwoo flashes you a grin and whips his shirt off. “Let’s go, pretty girl.”

“This is so unfair,” Mingyu whines, trying and failing to act like he’s not rock hard right now.

You both ignore him. Your shirt flies over your head before your hands fall to the fly of your pants.

“Oh no, I’ll be doing that, (y/n),” Wonwoo purrs, kneeling at the foot of the bed. “Lift up.”

Wonwoo slowly slides your pants down your legs, inch by agonizing inch. Vaguely, you sense Mingyu cursing under his breath as he drags Wonwoo’s chair into position and falls into it in a huff.

“Mmm,” Wonwoo hums, staring at you with pure hunger as your pants fall to the ground. Your body is covered by nothing but your bra and panties.

“Down in front,” Mingyu complains.

“Wait your turn,” you snap back, raising up to your elbows to stare at the boy across the room. Mingyu’s stripped down to his tight black boxer briefs, his cock straining the tight fabric.

His surly expression brightens immediately at your words. “I get a turn?”

Wonwoo lightly slaps your clothed pussy, “Don’t get his hopes up like that, pretty girl. Ruins half the fun.”

You shiver at his touch, “It just makes denying him later even more fun, daddy.”

“Too true, pretty girl,” Wonwoo’s grin turns feral. “Now call me daddy again.”

Mingyu’s ranting about your combined evilness, but you and Wonwoo are too focused on each other to pay him half a mind.

“Yes, daddy,” you drawl. The words barely escape you before your panties are ripped off your body and Wonwoo’s mouth is between your legs. His tongue is hot on your pussy, lapping at your wetness.

“F-fuck,” you moan, your hand entwining in his hair and gripping it as he finds your clit and sucks. His tongue circles the swollen nub. Your other hand winds its way up your body to your tits. You pinch and tease your nipple beneath your bra, wishing Wonwoo had ripped that garment off, too.

All thoughts leave your body as Wonwoo starts fucking you with his tongue, small groans escaping him with each taste of you. Your hips grind down on his face, needing more and more. “Greedy girl,” Wonwoo smiles against your pussy, “You lied earlier.”

“What do you mean?” You gasp out as Wonwoo’s finger replaces his tongue, easing into you.

“You should have told us you tasted like creamsicles,” Wonwoo removes his finger from inside you. “Should we let Mingyu try?”

“Yes!” Mingyu appears immediately, sucking Wonwoo’s finger into his mouth. The sight is so hot that you shrug off Wonwoo’s silent askance on disciplining the boy. Mingyu moans around Wonwoo’s finger, his tongue swirling around the long digit.

“Okay, that’s enough,” Wonwoo wrestles his hand back. “Now go sit back down with her taste in your mouth and watch me fuck her.”

“Fuck my life,” Mingyu groans but listens just like a good boy.

You sit up on shaky legs, reaching around to unhook your bra. “Let me,” Wonwoo murmurs as he stands. His hands brush across your shoulders, his mouth following their path with hot kisses. Your bra falls to the bed, and you fling it out of the way.

“Lay down, Jeon,” you shift over, pointing at the spot you just vacated. “My turn.”

“As you wish,” Wonwoo slides his pants down his legs, kicking them off. His cock bobs up, slapping against his abs.

Your response dies on your tongue at the sight. His cock is just so pretty – so long with a hint of curve that you just know is going to fill you up so fucking good.

“Damn, hyung,” Mingyu’s groan sounds from somewhere in the room, “She’s drooling for you.”

Wonwoo chuckles as he slides next to you on his bed. “That true, pretty girl? You want my cock in your mouth? Well, go ahead–!”

Your mouth is on him before he can finish his thought. You suck the head of his cock into your mouth with a moan, flicking your tongue at the bead of precum weeping from him. It’s Wonwoo’s turn to thread his hand in your hair.

“Mmm, yes, just like that,” he rasps, guiding you up and down his cock. You squirm at the encouragement, sucking him down further.

“Fuck, baby, you’re so damn wet,” Mingyu says, the words sounding strangled. “Please let me eat you out while you suck Wonwoo.”

You release Wonwoo with a pop. Flicking your hair over your shoulder, you look back at Mingyu. The boy looks wrecked. The tent in his underwear has a massive wet spot from his weeping cock. His temples bead with sweat, his hair a mess. His eyes are dark, desperate and pleading. His fists clench and unclench at his sides, like he’s seconds away from lunging for you.

“Please.” The word falls barely above a whisper.

“One lick,” you nod, a truly generous queen.

He’s on you before you can blink. Mingyu’s hands lift up your hips, his nose burying itself in you first. “Fuck me,” he breathes you in. You clench around nothing but the air he breathes out. The touch of his tongue on your asshole really shouldn't come as a surprise, and yet here you are, cursing into Wonwoo’s toned thighs.

Mingyu licks you at a glacial pace from ass to clit. It would be a good debate on which of the two of you is greedier. Clearly, Wonwoo is the patient one of the bunch. You reward Wonwoo by bringing a hand to his dick, jerking him off slowly.

“Mingyu,” you laugh, feeling his tongue stall on your clit for at least thirty seconds and counting.

“I th-till lickin’!” is the absolutely insane response you receive in true Mingyu fashion. “It th-till coun-ths!”

“Okay,” Wonwoo’s patience finally seems to run out, “That’s enough. Back to your chair, Kim.”

“Fine,” Mingyu sulks the whole way back. You stare openly at the expanse of bare back presented to you and decide then and there that you’re going to mark up that real estate so good.

The sound of a throat clearing brings you back to earth. “Are you gonna ride me, pretty girl? Or let Mingyu get away with something else, too?”

You scowl, hooking a leg over Wonwoo’s lap. You shoot him a glare over your shoulder as you sink down on his cock. “Happy, daddy?” You pant, feeling yourself stretched out so good on his dick.

“You have no idea, pretty girl,” Wonwoo’s eyes squeeze shut as he flexes, fucking his cock up into you.

You both moan. Your head falls back as Wonwoo’s hands grip your hips and ass, fucking you at a demanding pace.

“Harder,” you order, bringing a hand to your clit, circling it in time to his thrusts.

“Brat,” Wonwoo says with a spank that has you clenching down on him and has him chuckling. “Knew you liked it when Gyu spanked you.”

Mingyu, ever the opportunist, takes the mention of his name as a go-ahead to start talking. “Knew you liked it, baby. You squirmed all over me. Look at you now, falling apart on Wonu’s cock. You like how he fucks you, (y/n)?”

You glare at the boy across the room. Mingyu looks even more fucked out than you, so you have no idea where he’s getting the audacity to come at you like this. His arms are behind his back, causing his biceps to flex outrageously. His head is tilted back, showing his neck as he watches you with heavy-lidded eyes.

“Careful, Mingyu,” you warn, leaning back to place a hand on Wonwoo’s chest. You start fucking yourself down onto Wonwoo’s cock, meeting each of his thrusts. Your eyes never leave Mingyu’s. You grin at the rapid steam of curses the other boy emits. “You were awfully confident for a boy seeing none of the action. What happened?”

“So mean,” Mingyu whines, his cock twitching in his briefs at your words. He brings a hand to rub it.

“Don’t,” you order, nails digging into Wonwoo’s skin as his thrusts quicken. Mingyu whines but listens.

Wonwoo hits that sweet spot inside you and you whimper, “Yes, Woo, right there, please, daddy.”

“Like that, pretty girl?” Wonwoo’s raspy voice sends an added shiver down your spine as he hits that spot again and again. You feel the warmth of your impending orgasm sweep up your body.

“Yes, yes, yes,” you cry, swiveling your hips. “Want your cum, daddy!”

“Fuck,” Wonwoo growls, his hips stuttering for a quick second under you. “You want my cum, (y/n)? I told you I’d give you anything. You want me to stuff you full, pretty girl?”

Every stroke of his cock brings you closer, his words edging you closer still. “Yes, daddy, please! Fill me up. I want to feel you dripping out of me!”

“Goddamn,” Mingyu groans, bringing your attention to him. His briefs are abandoned now, your eyes immediately go to his cock. His giant cock that really looks like it needs attention from how pink and swollen it is. Precum is leaking down the tip onto his thighs and you really want to taste it.

“Gimme,” you say, pointing at his cock.

“What?” Mingyu’s eyes are glued to the way your tits bounce with each push of Wonwoo’s cock.

“I wanna taste your precum on your fingers. Now, Gyu!” You demand, so fucking close to cumming all over Wonwoo but still desperate for more.

“Goddamn,” Mingyu curses as Wonwoo’s hand slaps your ass twice in rapid succession.

“Greedy girl wants both of us inside her already, Gyu,” Wonwoo’s voice is strained with the effort not to cum before you do. “Give it to her.”

Mingyu stands, scooping the drops of precum onto his pointer and middle fingers and crosses the room to you. He barely moves his fingers in front of your mouth before you suck them into your mouth. “Shit,” Mingyu sighs, eyes glued to the suction of your mouth around his digits.

Your eyes fall closed, the taste of Mingyu on your tongue and the pounding of Wonwoo’s cock inside you are overwhelming. You cum with a scream, gushing all over Wonwoo as he continues to fuck you through your orgasm. “Wonwo-ooo!” You cry, your body falling forward into Mingyu’s, his fingers falling from your lips.

“Yes, pretty girl,” Wonwoo groans, his thrusts becoming wild, “Milk my cock.” You feel him coming, painting your walls and filling you up with his warmth. The grumbled curses falling from his lips make you clench around him one more time, and the moan he emits is nothing short of beautiful.

“God, (y/n), I really fucking love you,” Wonwoo slowly turns you around in his lap, bringing you down to cradle you to his heaving chest.

“Love you, too,” you smile, kissing his neck before licking a trail of sweat from it. How are you still needy? You can feel the cum beginning to drip out of your pussy and squeeze as best you can to keep it inside you.

Wonwoo’s body jolts. “(Y/n),” he groans, “Gonna kill me.”

“Nah,” you smile, “Like you too much.”

A throat clears from behind you, “Yeah, this is sweet and all, but I’d just like to remind you both that I’m so hard I might pass the fuck out.”

You and Wonwoo just grin at each other, much to the displeasure of the boy behind you. You pull back from Wonwoo’s neck to give him a kiss. He smiles against your lips. “Go put him out of his misery before he keeps us up all night jerking himself off.”

“Hyung!” Mingyu cries before muttering, “How did I forget how much of a little shit post-nut Wonwoo is?”

“Not as much of a little shit as pre-nut Mingyu apparently,” you laugh, moaning slightly as you ease Wonwoo out of you. You turn to look at Mingyu over your shoulder. “Help me up, please?”

Mingyu is pouting – again – but ultimately helps you off the bed. You stare up at the boy before you. His hair is damp with sweat, his muscles straining. His cock juts between you, the vein pulsing angrily. You close your hand around it.

“Shit,” Mingyu hisses, body jerking forward into your hold. His cock is hot velvet beneath your grasp.

“Such a good boy,” you murmur, “Waiting so nicely over there while your hyung fucks and fills me.” Mingyu moans at your words, cock twitching with each tug of your fist. “Did you like watching us?” You question, “Did you picture it was you fucking me instead of him? Did you want it to be you that was stuffing me full of cum? That it was you making me cream on your dick?”

“Liked watching you and hyung,” Mingyu pants, eyes rolling to the back of his head, “But want you to fuck me, too.”

“Sit,” you push him back into Wonwoo’s chair. You hear the slight protest from Wonwoo behind you but choose to ignore it. Oops.

Climbing onto Mingyu’s lap, you position yourself over his cock. “You like feeling Wonwoo’s cum coat your cock, baby boy?” You purr, grinding yourself on his dick back and forth.

“Fuck yes, baby,” Mingyu’s hands rest heavily on your hips as you continue to coat his cock with your and Wonwoo’s juices.

“You gonna give me your cum, too?” You lean over, placing open-mouthed kisses all over his throat.

“All of it,” Mingyu’s words die on his lips as you finally take him inside you.

You both curse. He’s bigger than Wonwoo, and the stretch is almost absurd. His grip on your hips turns bruising, but you don’t care. You drag your hands down his back, digging your nails into his pretty skin.

Unlike with Wonwoo, you’re setting the pace, truly riding Mingyu into a frenzy with each swivel of your hips.

“Fuck, baby,” Mingyu moans, biting his lip, “Dreamt about this.”

“Did you now?” You bite his neck, “And how does reality compare?”

“Better than anything I could have thought up,” he pants out, cock twitching inside you. A hand leaves your hips and comes to rest on your pussy. His fingers tease and circle your clit, drawing a moan out of you.

“Your pussy grips me so good.” Mingyu’s head drops to your shoulder, “Wanna stay here forever.”

“Sharing is caring,” Wonwoo says, suddenly popping up in your field of vision. He’s still naked aside from a pair of glasses he must have just slipped on after taking out his contacts. Your eyes fall to his cock… It’s hard again.

“Fuck off, hyung,” Mingyu ducks his head lower and sucks your nipple into his mouth.

“Yeah,” you sigh, cradling Mingyu’s head closer to you with your palm, “Fuck off, hyung.”

“Careful,” Wonwoo grabs your hair in his fist, yanking your head back to meet his eyes. “I’ll put that smart mouth to work again.”

The sassy reply dies on your lips when you feel Mingyu’s cock jump inside you. “Oh damn,” you giggle, causing the boy to twitch even more beneath you. “He really does like it when we’re mean.”

Wonwoo’s lips quirk, “I know, pretty girl. He’s helpless.”

“Hate y’all,” Mingyu mumbles around your tit. His fingers increase their pace against your clit, drawing you higher and higher.

“She’s close, Gyu,” Wonwoo warns, like it hadn’t already been abundantly clear from your actions. Wonwoo’s hand still grips your hair, while the other is jerking himself off.

“Thank god,” Mingyu stutters, hips shifting up underneath you. “Wanna cum. Please let me cum, baby. Wanna fill you up like Wonu did.”

His pleas more than anything hurtle you closer to coming, the fucked out expression on his face is a thing of beauty.

And so you deny him. “Not yet,” you gasp out, doubling your pace. “Not ‘til I say you can.”

“Fuck, please, (y/n),” Mingyu’s eyes squeeze shut, “Feels so good. Can’t hold on.”

“You better,” you grind your hips viciously into his. “Now suck my tits again like a good boy.”

He listens immediately, moaning around your sensitive nipple as you continue to fuck yourself down onto him.

“You’re wrecking him,” Wonwoo tugs your hair, bringing your attention back to him. His cheeks are pink with exertion as his fist works his cock harder - the tip swollen and leaking. “Where do you want my cum this time, pretty girl? Tell me now.”

“My ass,” you moan, wiggling it before pushing up almost all the way off of Mingyu. “Want you to cum all over my ass, daddy, while my pussy sucks all the cum out of my baby boy.”

“Consider it done,” Wonwoo grins, releasing his hold on your hair to stand behind you in position.

You return your full attention to the boy quaking under you. “P-please, baby,” he whines, “So fucking close.” You place a gentle kiss on his lips. A deception he easily falls for. Cutie. As soon as Mingyu sighs into your lips, you sink down his cock in a split second.

��Ah!” He cries, thighs clenching underneath you. Tears leak from his eyes as he throws his head back, the strain of not coming exhausting him.

“Such a good boy,” you purr, hands stroking up and down his chest. You ride him hard, pace brutal. “Come.”

The word barely finishes before he’s coming with a roar, hands gripping your hips, cock deep inside you. You feel his release shoot so deep within you, joining Wonwoo’s. That thought alone sets you off, your orgasm ripping through you. Seeing stars, you whimper as you feel Wonwoo’s own release paint your ass.

The flutters of your pussy milk every last drop out of Mingyu and the poor boy is spent under you. “Fuck me,” he moans, his head buried in your tits. “Never gonna let you go. This pretty fucking pussy is ours.”

Wonwoo’s hands are on your ass, rubbing his cum into your skin. “Damn right, Gyu,” he agrees, emphasizing his point with a slap.

Mingyu groans as he experiences first-hand what those spanks do to you. “Never thought I’d say this but don’t spank her again, hyung.” You and Wonwoo laugh, and Mingyu groans even louder. “No laughing either! Oh my god.” His frustrations only make you laugh harder.

“Hyung!” Mingyu cries, and Wonwoo finally takes pity.

“Alright,” Wonwoo chuckles, tugging you off Mingyu and into his arms. You pout at the sudden emptiness. “Don’t give me that look, pretty girl. We have all night.”

“We have forever,” Mingyu corrects, standing and running a hand through his wet hair. How the fuck does he still look that good? Honestly, it’s unfair.

“I never said we didn’t,” Wonwoo retorts and sends the both of them into a frenzy of bickering.

Mingyu: “Well, I just wanted to clarify so she doesn’t get ideas.”

Wonwoo: “Ideas?”

Mingyu: “Like– Well– You know!”

Wonwoo: “I don’t know.”

Mingyu: “Yes, you do!”

Wonwoo: “I don’t.”

Mingyu: “… I hate when you do this shit!”

Wonwoo: *pushes glasses up nose* “What shit?”

Mingyu: *produces series of unintelligible babblings*

“Okay, okay!” You laugh, patting Wonwoo’s arms to be put down. “I really need to use the bathroom, but feel free to continue this without me.”

Mingyu shoots Wonwoo a glare, but the other boy only has eyes for you. He sets you down gently, “Go get cleaned up, pretty girl. Feel free to shower and take any clothes you want, okay? We’ll be right out here.”

“I’ll make us some ramen!” Mingyu bounces on his feet, eager to contribute. “Or would you prefer something else? I’ll make anything! I just know you really like ramen. It’s your favorite! But–!”

You cut him off, “Ramen’s perfect, Gyu. Thank you.” You smile up at the gorgeous boy with the even more gorgeous heart. How lucky are you to call him yours?

“Okay,” Mingyu breathes out, looking just as taken with you.

“Okay,” Wonwoo clears his throat, ever the voice of reason. “Now, get going so we can all cuddle, people!” Your heart sings.

“Yes!” You cheer, skipping on the way to the bathroom. “Can’t wait to cuddle in bed with my besties!”

Silence greets your ears.

You slowly turn around to find them both staring at you with displeased looks on their faces.

“What?” You blink.

“Besties?” Wonwoo growls out.

“We just had our dicks inside you, baby!” Mingyu pouts. “Surely that’s boyfriend status?”

“Oh,” you pretend to think it over, enjoying how much this is annoying the two of them. “Anything for my besties, I guess!”

“(Y/n)!” Their voices bellow as you slam the bathroom shut behind you and lock it. Cackling, you turn the shower on. You’re so going to enjoy teasing the shit out of your two new boyfriends. After all, they’ll always be your besties, too.

an: hope y'all enjoyed! it's been so long since i've written anything but damn did minwon give me some inspiration uwu

© luxekook do not repost, edit or translate as protected under this license

[brittle-doughie]

New baby dropped, now Y/N has another baby, a dragon’s baby at that

Y/N Cookie has the two dragons at a standstill, the caretaker within you forbids them from doing anything that would bring harm to Pond Dino Cookie, with your fellow cookies backing you up. Longan wanted this flaw to their plan out of their sight, but with Pond Dino with you at all times and knowing your determination to keep them safe, it’ll prove to be difficult. Just the thought of this flaw hanging around you constantly, it makes Lychee irritated to no end.

Lotus Root helps you take care of Pond Dino, you two look like total parents to them lol

[idyllic-ghost]

Pairing: AI!Dino x researcher!reader

Title: Light of My Life, Treasure of My Memories

A/N: It's finally here! I've been planning this fic since January and I finally get to post it!!! I hope that you can give it as much love as I have put into it

Synopsis: The life of a researcher is dull when every answer you seek is at the tip of your fingers. New technology may have brought us a comfortable life, but for you it was almost torture. There had to be something more. So when you got the opportunity to be a researcher for the cognitive sciences of Automatons, you took it. But what happens if the outcome isn’t what you expected? What if these beings you call robots have life? How does one define the essence of life? More importantly, how could you stay objective when you were slowly falling in love with your test subject?

Genre: sci-fi, angst, fluff, right person wrong time

Warnings: gore, heavy topics, loss, imprisonment

Rating: PG 13

Word count: 16k

Read the other stories of this collab!

*+:★:+━━━+:★:+━━━+:★:+*

100 years ago it was thought that the Earth, as we know it, would disintegrate. That the sun would implode and leave everything in darkness. Miraculously, it didn’t. Due to some external force, human scientists still haven’t agreed upon what it exactly was, none of the planets in our former solar system were ever destroyed. The Earth, along with the other planets, were pushed away from each other and ended up in different parts of the universe. Earth just happened to come to a solar system with alien life. At first, we were cautious, and people were prepared to fight. However, the aliens were welcoming to our planet. Those of us who didn’t die from ‘The Great Journey’ or from trying to fight the aliens, were welcomed into the new solar system. Soon enough, we had integrated completely, and we received materials and assistance from our sister planets in exchange for human labor. What humans knew of technology was very limited, but with the resources of the aliens we created artificial life forms. We named these robots Automaton, and they served as workers when humans couldn’t. Eventually, there was no need for human labor at all. To pay back for the help the aliens gave us, we used Automatons. With the extensive development of these robots, we eventually managed to create artificial sentient life. These Automatons were human-like in looks and had human consciousness, but they could not bleed and were stronger than we ever could be. At present, there are even different levels of Automatons. Level 3 robots are the workers, level 2 robots are the caretakers, and level 1 robots are the celebrities. The Automaton music group 53V3NT33N (SEVENTEEN) is made up of 13 members, all very talented, and all representing two human states of mind.

*+:★:+━━━+:★:+━━━+:★:+*

“Examination of automaton number thirteen,” you speak into your recorder, “Name: D1N0. Designated emotions: hope and despair.”

The clicking noise of the recorder made you stand up taller - a Pavlovian habit from years in your field. Every interview you had ever recorded, all of the voice notes you had ever taken, flashed before your eyes at the sound of that click. It reminded you of what you were about to get yourself into. 

Looking in the mirror of the elevator, you began fixing subtle things about your appearance. Meeting an idol, even if he was an automaton, was nerve-wracking. These automatons were created and revamped to perfection. It was nothing like researching lower-level automatons. Level three’s, and even two’s, didn’t have the same resources to stay so perfect. Interviewing and inspecting a level one automaton would essentially be like meeting a newly made robot - one without imperfections. That’s why you agreed to this job in the first place, even if it was repetitive busy work. You bounced on the heels of your feet, trying to find an outlet for the pitter-patter in your heart. The elevator dings and the doors open. Your smile fades when you’re met with the white room. A grayish, dull, white color. There was no personality, and barely any furniture despite the size of the room. The sight confused you; automaton or not, everyone you had interacted with throughout your studies had a home that reflected themselves. Nevertheless, you stepped inside - determined to find the robot that you had received a picture of. He was handsome, as most automata were - brown hair, warm and inviting eyes, but his smile was as dull as the room The lights were glaring, with an annoying blue hue - but the bright light made it easy to see the group of robots in the room. 

“D1N0?” you called out.

One of the automatons present turned to you, responding with a shy nod. You recognized him from the photo. What captured your attention first, what stood out, was the mark between his collarbones. Some sort of device, in the shape of a diamond, seemed to be attached to his skin. This wasn’t something you had seen in other automatons. You walked up to him with a professional smile and held out your hand to shake. He gave you a confused look before slowly putting out his hand as well as if he were unsure of what to do.

“Pleasure to meet you, D1N0-”

“You can say ‘Dino’,” he interrupted.

“Alright,” you said and repeated, “It’s a pleasure to meet you, Dino. I’ll be doing some research with you. I won’t be too invasive, just going to ask you a few questions and run a few tests from time to time. You’ll be seeing me around for a while now.”

Dino nodded and turned his back to you, leaving you stunned.

+:★:+

He was reserved around you. There was a big difference in how he spoke to you and how he spoke to the other members. When Dino was alone with the other automata, his smile was brighter and he conversed with a lot of hand movements. However, as soon as he knew he was being watched he would turn back to the reserved version of himself. No matter how much time you spent with him, you couldn’t push down his walls. It was clear that he didn’t trust you, but you couldn’t figure out a reason as to why.

Dino was never a bother to anyone. He was the opposite. Always helpful, and always ‘happy’, and you would never catch him getting into a real fight with anyone. There was playful fighting within the group, but you never saw it get serious for him. He was the youngest but there was something about him that made him seem older. When he was with his group, he was spirited. However, when he was left alone his demeanor changed. You would watch him through a camera and frequently see him sit down in a corner of his room. He wasn’t crying, or angrily mumbling to himself, he just seemed numb. There was no emotion in him, his form seemed lifeless. You couldn’t find a way to bring it up in your interviews, but the image of him hugging his knees to his chest never left you.

Each interview was the same. You would ask him questions about the emotions he had during the week, ask him to evaluate what could have brought him to those emotions, and then end it with general questions. Every other week, you got to analyze his coding. You knew this wouldn’t be a very interesting job, you were just supposed to find regularities in the automaton’s behavior. So, you didn’t need to dig deeper than you had - but you wanted to. 

+:★:+

“Weekly check-up,” you said as you put the recorder on the table between you and Dino, “Are you ready?”

“Yes,” he said quietly.

You pressed the record button and made sure that the light turned on before you looked at your notes. Dino was fidgeting with his hands. The very human response to nervousness didn’t surprise you. After doing so much research with lower-level automatons, you came to understand that their actions were very human. Nevertheless, seeing Dino, an idol, being nervous seemed strange to you.

“How have you been feeling this week?” you asked.

“Watched,” he answered bitterly.

“... right.” You took a deep breath and looked through your notes again. “Do you mind if I go off script?”

“... go for it.” His interest piqued ever so slightly, but he remained stoic.

You put away your notes and turned to him. The only way to get him to trust you was if you could make him feel less watched, is what you thought. So, you turned off your recorder and put it to the side. You’d have to rely on your memory for this conversation.

“Let’s just talk,” you said, “I asked you how you are, now you get to ask me a question.”

Dino stared at you dumbfounded. It was clear that no human had ever treated him like this, and you could already feel yourself peel back the layers of his personality. Surely, there had to be more to him than hope and despair.

“What’s your job here? You said you were doing research but you never said what kind.” He leaned forward a little, letting his arms rest against the table.

“I have my degree in philosophy and cognition,” you admitted. “I don’t get much use for the first part of my degree, my research is primarily focused on the second one. I’m here to see how your ‘brain’ works.”

“Why don’t you get to use the first part?” he asked quickly.

The question threw you off guard. You sat back in your seat, looking down at the table in front of you. Dino’s hands were on the table, lying completely still on the surface. They weren’t fidgeting anymore. His entire stature had changed, now leaning forward slightly - eager to hear your response. But you were stumped.

“There’s just not a lot of job offers.” You put your hands right in front of his. “Most people don’t need philosophy unless in a historical context.”

“... could you explain to me what it is?”

Dino didn’t meet your eyes, and he started fidgeting again. You put one of your hands on top of his in a soothing manner. It was something that always worked with others, but Dino jumped at your touch. You had forgotten where you were for a moment and quickly gathered yourself after your act of emotion.

“Maybe another time. Is it not my turn to ask a question?”

The two of you went back to your normal interview style, Dino being slightly more comfortable to answer now.

+:★:+

After that interview, you were taken aside by one of the managers. He took you to a closed room. It was dark, the only light coming from the slight gap in the door. You couldn’t see his expression, but you had a feeling it was stern.

“We ask you to avoid certain topics with D1N0 from now on,” he said in a cold tone, “We’ve had issues with this one before, so we’ve made a list for you.”

You disliked how he referred to the automaton but decided not to speak on it. Instead, you accepted his list and walked out of the room. It was a yellow-stained white sheet of paper, the edges folded as if they had handed it around haphazardly. You wondered how they came to find out about your conversation with Dino when you hadn’t even recorded it, and you made a mental note to check the room for cameras next time.

On the paper was a list of topics you needed to avoid. Anything about the Earth as it was before the “Great Journey”, anything surrounding the topic of other planets, and any details on what you’re doing at the facilities were prohibited. The list continued, but you didn’t bother reading the entire thing. 

Even with this setback, you managed to build a rapport with Dino. The two of you discussed his emotions and he let you test his psychological responses to certain hypothetical events. As you kept talking to him, the more you came to understand him - but it also made you think that the research you were doing may be an invasion of his privacy. It never occurred to you before, but the automatons you were studying never agreed to be studied. It was a middle-man who had given you the OK, who had given you instructions of what to do, and you had never heard anything from the automatons themselves. You had managed to build a friendship with Dino, but he had still not agreed to your research. So if he hadn’t agreed yet, did you have the right to do this at all? As a result of these thoughts, your work grew sloppy. You “forgot” to record from time to time, and your notes were practically unreadable. Despite your efforts to hide this, Dino had started catching on.

“Shouldn’t you be recording this conversation?” he asked.

“Ah. Right.” You reached for your recorder.

“You didn’t record our last check-up either,” he hummed.

“... I just took notes later. It’s fine, Dino.” You turned on the recorder. “There. It’s on.”

Dino gave you a strange look, he seemed confused but somewhat relieved. The diamond-shaped shiny emblem between his collarbones caught your attention. He caught you looking and shifted his shirt to hide it. There was something he wasn’t telling you about that, but you understood why - his managers were clearly always listening in, and you suspected it had something to do with that mark.

“Alright, let’s begin.”

+:★:+

You never found a camera in the office, so you thought that there might be a hidden mic. However, no matter how much you looked you found nothing. In your small “office” there weren’t many places where one could hide a mic. It made you start growing weary of your situation. Everything was suspicious. So, the device between his collarbones became your next obsession. Whenever it was on display, your eyes would fall on it. There had to be something special about it - you had never seen a lower-level automaton with it before, but all of 53V3NT33N had them from what you had seen. Working in this place was draining you, for reasons that you never imagined.

You were sitting in the automata’s common area, which was currently empty due to them being away at an event, and waiting for Dino to come back. It was time for another interview. The pen kept slipping into your sweaty palm as you tried to write down some notes. Most of it was about the situation you found yourself in - the moral dilemma of your subject having zero autonomy. It was all scribbles, looking back on it. You could barely read your own handwriting. The pain in your stomach grew as time passed, and your tension headache stayed strong. 

“Have you been waiting long?” Dino’s voice pulled you out of your thoughts.

After a deep breath, you looked up at him with a strained smile, answering that you hadn’t been waiting long at all and that you had just gotten there. No one else was behind him. He had to have been the first one to get back. 

“You look ill,” he said, “Are you alright?”

“I’m just fine, Dino. Do you want to start your next interview?”

The two of you walked to your office and sat down. The short walk there hadn’t helped your sickly state, in fact, it only seemed to make it worse. Being closer to the office made you more anxious, and being even more anxious made your already stressed-out head even worse.

“Are you sure you’re okay?” Dino asked again.

“I’m just a little stressed.” You sighed. 

“About me.”

“No, not about you… Well, yes about you.” You put your things to the side and hid your face in your hands, “But I can’t talk about it, so don’t ask.”

“I won’t,” he hummed. “... I used to be stressed about this too. I didn’t like that you were prodding around in my thoughts.”

It was the first time you had ever heard him open up, and it felt horrible. You knew you had to report this, but you just didn’t want to anymore. 

“I’m sorry,” you whispered out.

As a sort of peace offering, he reached his hand out across the table. You put your hand in his and let out a breath that you didn’t know you had been holding in. His hand was warm. Even though your hand was sweaty and cold, his gentle smile didn’t change. 

“It’ll be okay,” he said.

“I hope so,” you hummed. “I don’t want you to act any differently around me after this - don’t feel sorry for me. I’m still a person you can come to if you need help.”

“I know.”

The day everything changed was when one of the automata of 53V3NT33N, 5.C0UP5, had enough. You were in your small office, the room where you would conduct your interviews with Dino when you heard the alarm go off. At first, you were calm. You went to go out through the door, but it was locked. The ID card you had gotten didn’t work. The panic started settling in, and you began throwing yourself at the door until your arm begged you to stop. The blaring sound of the alarm was never ending and it was making your already clammy hands slip on the door handle when you grabbed it. Your heart was beating quickly in your chest, and your throat began closing up. The alarm continued, and you were left with nothing. It was almost comical how quickly you gave up and gave in to your fears. With shaky legs, you went over to your table and crawled under it, pulling your knees up to your chest and putting your hands over your ears. It went on for what felt like hours, but you weren’t counting. Something had happened, something bad enough that they needed to lock down the facility and sound the warning bell. You thought of the possibilities - a fire seemed unlikely, they wouldn’t lock you in, but some sort of break-in could be the case. If so, you were happy to stay underneath your table with your hands over your ears. This thought, however, made your blood as cold as ice when a big thump sounded against your door. Someone was throwing themselves against it. You scrambled to your feet and went behind the table, taking a chair to hold up in front of you. When the door broke open, you shut your eyes tight. 

“Are you okay?”

Although breathy, you recognized the voice. When you opened your eyes you were met with the soft brown eyes that had greeted you on your first day here. A million thoughts ran through your head; Why was he here? Did he have something to do with the alarm? How did he get here on his own?

“I’m fine.” Was all you could muster.

You stared at each other. Dino was holding the door open, and the alarm was still blaring, but every need to get out left your body when you saw him. You almost smiled. When the dust had settled, and you had found your words again, Dino motioned for you to follow him.

“What’s happened?” you asked as you walked around the table.

“We’re escaping,” he admitted, “S.Coups he… I have no idea what’s happened if I’m being honest- I don’t even know why I left Mingyu and Seungkwan… shit.”

“Hey, it’s okay.” You reached out to him.

Instead of jumping at your touch, this time he invited it by closing the distance. Your hands fell on his arms, trying to soothe him with gentle motions of your thumbs. Dino didn’t know what to do with his hands, flailing them around before finally letting them hang by his sides.

“Just tell me what we need to do.”

“... we’re escaping,” he repeated, “I want you to come with me.”

Your eyes widened, but for some reason, you didn’t question it. After the months you had spent here, you had realized that your perspective of your work had been flawed. For some reason, you trust that Dino has your best interest at heart. You trust him. It was risky, but you were willing to go through with it. You grabbed Dino’s hand and let him guide you out of the room. However, as soon as you left the sanctuary that was your office, your thoughts started racing - especially about the people who might be watching you at this very moment. You stopped Dino by pulling on his arm.

“Wait.” Your eyes fell upon the mark on his clavicle, “We need to get rid of that.”

Dino’s hand fell upon the device, watching in horror as you went back to your office to grab something sharp. When you came back with a mechanical pen Dino quickly put his hand over his chest.

“It’ll hurt. I’ve tried before.”

You looked at his hand that was covering the mark. It was slightly cupped as if he was trying to avoid touching it. You reached out to his hand, putting your hand on his wrist. Dino’s arm tensed up under your touch.

“If we don’t do it I think they’ll find us,” you explained, “This… thing is somehow linking you to your managers, we have to remove it.”

Dino lowered his arm with much hesitation, behind his eyes you could see him debating your words in his head. There was nothing else you could tell him to convince him, this would have to be his own choice. So when he took the mechanical pen from your hand, you tried to not let out a very obvious breath of relief.

“Could I just… crack it?” he asked softly.

The look in his eye, combined with his shaky voice, made you give in almost too easily - Dino could probably convince you to do anything at this point. So, even though you knew it was a bad idea - you took the chance.

“... we’ll risk it.”

You watched him feel for the device on his clavicle, making sure that he knew where to aim. Dino was a decapitated rabbit, pushed to the side of the asphalt, and you couldn’t pull your eyes away from the scene. No blood spurted when he started cracking it, but his soft groans and sobs still reminded you of a slaughter. His stabs at himself were relentless, to the point where you had to physically restrain him once you saw the low light of the device go out. You got his hands away from his chest and put yourself between him and the pen - hugging him as if he would disappear if you let go. Dino’s body went limp. He let go of the pen and dropped it on the floor. You didn’t bother picking it up. Instead, you maneuvered to his side and took one of his arms around your shoulders for him to walk. 

“If I’m right we’ll run into guards soon…” you mumbled, mostly to yourself. “You need to cover up the.. thing. I’m going to try something.”

Reaching the door to the last building before the exit, you began preparing yourself to pull off the most important lie you would ever tell. You made sure that Dino could stand on his own before you opened it. On the other side, you found a guard waiting for you.

“Authorization?” he asked.

You showed him your card.

“And what are you doing with D1N0?” he asked while looking at your card.

“I caught him trying to escape, I’m bringing him to the back while the managers sort out the issue.” You grabbed Dino’s wrist. “I’m in charge of him as a researcher. I know his behavior better than anyone, I know how to handle it.”

“I’m not questioning your capabilities.” The guard handed you your card back. “There’s a room a bit further down the hall to your right, a laundry room. I’ll come get the two of you when the situation has died down. There’s a manual lock, so make sure to lock the door behind you.”

You were surprised at how easy it was to pass, but you couldn’t think of it further when you finally got past the guard. The only objective was to get out. Dino stumbled behind you as you pulled on his arm to hurry up. The corridor seemed endless, but it wasn’t long before you had made it to your destination. When you reached the door with the sign “LAUNDRY” on it, you stepped inside and locked the door behind you as the guard had said. It was almost halfway to the exit door. However, you couldn’t leave the room without causing suspicion. You turned to Dino, who had slumped against a few bags of laundry. Inside the laundry room, the sound of the alarm wasn’t as loud as it was outside. A mix of the humming sound of the washing machines and the well-isolated walls created a barrier around you. You looked around the room, trying to find anything to help your escape.

“Windows,” you whispered to yourself.

Up high on the wall were barred windows. The bars were metal but were small enough that you might be able to see through them with something sharp. You began climbing on the washing machines to get to the windows, and when shaking the bars you noted that they weren’t anchored well enough.

“Dino, can you help me?”

When you didn’t get a response, you looked behind you to see the automaton passed out on the floor. You hadn’t even considered that he could still be in pain, but seeing him unconscious sprung you into action. After climbing down from the machines, you propped Dino up against the bags of laundry. In any other setting, you would’ve been freaking out - but the adrenaline of being so close to freedom kept you alert. 

“You have to wake up, Dino. Come on,” you mumbled as you tried to bring him back to consciousness by lightly shaking him.

The only response you got was a flutter of his eyes and a hum. You sat down beside him in defeat. He was too weak, at this moment, to help you with the bars anyway. Moreover, how were you going to get past security looking the way you did? It was useless. Dino would have to go back to captivity, and you’d be found out for trying to help him escape.

“I thought you were selling me out before…” You heard Dino whisper from beside you.

“I’m not evil,” you replied and scoffed at the thought. “But I don’t think it mattered anyway.”

Dino fell silent, and you almost thought he had gone unconscious again until he moved. It was a slow movement toward the wall, right by the edge of one of the machines where the bags of laundry were lying. You got up and crawled up next to him. He was fidgeting with wires.

“What are you doing?”

“I’m trying to electrocute myself,” he said as if it were obvious.

You quickly pulled his hand away from the wires by his wrist. He glared at you and strained against your grip.

“Do you have some sort of death wish? You can’t escape so now you have to kill yourself?”

“I won’t die.” He sighed and shuffled closer to the wires. “I’ll get a jolt of energy. I’ve done it before, during concerts… not with a washing machine, of course, but it’ll do.”

“These aren’t grounded, you know? You’ll get full voltage,” you argued.

“You’re forgetting I’m not human.”

His words, and your desperation, made you let go of him. However, you couldn’t watch while he actively tried to hurt himself, so you turned away from him. Your eyes fell on a pile of clothes. Guard uniforms. While Dino kept trying to electrocute himself, you gathered clothing articles that you thought might fit you and the automaton - putting your new clothes on once you had found everything you needed. The uniforms were gray, and in the same style as other guard uniforms from other facilities - meaning that you could sneak around the city and be seen as two guards going home from work.

A loud snapping sound, followed by a shriek, woke you up from your thoughts. You turned to see Dino standing up - seemingly fine, but with a burn mark reaching from his pointer finger, up his arm. 

“What do you need me to do?” he piped.

You couldn’t find any words, deciding to just hand him his clothes instead. Dino pulled the overalls on without any problems, although you noticed that he favored using the hand without the burn mark. When he had zipped himself up and put on his cap, he turned to you for further instructions. 

“We don’t have all day,” he said when you didn’t answer.

“... are you alright?”

“Don’t worry about it. This energy won’t last for that long, so if you want to make it count you’ll tell me what you need done.”

The cold air hit your lungs as you were gasping for air after falling out of the window. Your escape wasn’t graceful by any means, but you had made it to the other side of the wall. Dino, who had just climbed out right after you, helped you back on your feet. The two of you made haste across the yard, to the gate. The other guards must have been kept busy because there was no one around to check your IDs. But once you had made it past the gate, you still couldn’t relax. There was always a chance of someone recognizing you. So you went to the only place you could consider a safe haven. 

+:★:+

Your apartment was small and cramped with books and other things you had collected over the years, but it was a good enough hideout. It was on the outskirts of the city and was hidden between two tall buildings. Dino crashed as soon as he got through the door. His energy had started fading after walking for a while, but he had tried his best to work through the pain - you could tell from the way he would grip your shoulder for balance now and then. You hooked your arms under his armpits and tried to pull him towards your bed, but you only managed to get him halfway through the room. The once cramped and tiny apartment had turned into a grand hall, the bed seeming further away than it was. With a sigh of defeat, you let him stay on the floor and brought the pillows and blankets to him. After making sure he was as comfortable as possible, you went over to your kitchenette and wet a towel to clean up his hand. You hadn’t gotten a good look at his hand yet, he had kept it in his pocket this entire time, and you began feeling nervous at the thought of what gore you might find. But when you pulled up the sleeve of his jacket, you saw that his synthetic skin had mostly healed. His fingertips were charred, but using the wet towel got some of the soot off. The areas that hadn’t healed had a purple hue, looking sort of like a bruise. While you kept cleaning up his hand and arm, Dino started gaining consciousness again and began mumbling something incoherent.

“Don’t talk,” you said.

“... charge,” he muttered.

As it processed in your brain what he needed, you stood up and rummaged through your things. In the company facility, the idols’ beds were created to also function as chargers. An automaton has to recharge, but these contraptions were unlike anything you had seen. Lower-level automata have other devices, some of which you had collected after your many years of working with them. You found a gadget that looked like a blood pressure monitor, with an arm-cuff made of metal. The cuff opened easily, only being held together by a magnet. You clasped it around his arm and turned on the device, a small blue light showing up on the monitor. Dino let out a breath of relief.

“Are you alright?” you asked, but never got a response.

The light from the ceiling lamp flickered and you looked around yourself. The apartment was dusty since you had been living at the company facility during your research. Everything was as you had left it. It only made Dino stick out more. This stranger didn’t fit in your usual routine. You hadn’t spent much time just looking at him before. Now that there was nothing else to distract you, you spent time studying his features. He was beautiful, but you knew that. Each of his features fit together harmoniously - his soft and rounded eyebrows, his pouty lips with the soft cupid's bow, it all contrasted so heavily with his strong gaze. After sitting still for so long, just looking at him, you finally started relaxing. Your shoulders slumped and you rubbed your eyes gently. Your bones felt heavy; you couldn’t control your body anymore, letting exhaustion take over and laying your head on his chest. Dino was mostly covered by a blanket but you could still feel his body warmth. It soothed you and you fell asleep almost immediately.

You woke up with a stiff neck that morning. Dino still wasn’t moving, but the light on your device indicated that he was still charging. He looked peaceful and relaxed, the kind of expression you’d only see on him if he was with his teammates. Getting up from your place on the floor, you moved over to your kitchenette. There were still a few edible items in your cupboard, mostly dried fruits. After making sure your stomach wasn’t empty, you returned to helping Dino. The skin on his hand still looked mostly healed, so you spent your time making him comfortable - moving the pillow under his head and tucking him in better. As you were moving your hand away from his chest, you remembered the device between his collarbones. You went to look at it, pulling down the collar of his shirt. There were a few pieces of the device missing but most of it was still intact, just cracked. When you went to touch it, Dino’s hand grabbed your wrist. You hadn’t noticed that he had opened his eyes, but he was looking right at you. 

“Don’t touch it,” he said.

He only let go of you when he felt you retract your hand. You wanted to apologize but kept your mouth shut. There were no words that your brain could voice. Your shoulders slumped and you put your head in your hands. Everything began crashing down around you - everything that you had built for yourself was about to be ruined. What were you doing?

“I’ll get out of here once I’ve fully recovered,” Dino said, as if he could read your mind, “You can tell people that I forced you to help me or something, you don’t have to go down with me.”

He was offering you a way out. You looked up from behind your hands. Dino’s eyes were closed again. Even if you told people that you were forced to help him, you wouldn’t go without punishment. You could contact the people you knew in Phylaca, and maybe warn them that you needed their help beforehand. Letting him leave on his own would mean that you could start to make your life normal again.

“You can stay with me if you want.” You hear yourself speak, but you can’t process your action or its meaning.

Dino stayed quiet, and it made you restless. Standing up, you walked over to one of your bookshelves - pulling out a few books and putting them on the floor. Each of the books was covered in a layer of dust but otherwise, there were no markings of age on the covers. The shiny books created a wall in front of a small hatch in the wall. When you pulled on the wall opened sideways, revealing a small room filled with more books. These books were worn, tucked close together to fit as many as possible but still leave room for a crawlspace.

“What’s that?”

Dino had sat up, the secret room catching his attention. He stood up and walked over next to you, letting his charger hang by his side.

“It’s my real library,” you said and turned to him, “This is where I keep the important stuff. I know you had questions that you couldn’t ask back there… but you can now. You can stay and we can find- I can help you find your answer.”

He stayed quiet for a while, looking up at the ceiling light. 

“My answer,” he repeated to himself.

+:★:+

Dino spent most of the time resting. When he wasn’t resting, he would walk around as much as he could in your small apartment. You didn’t speak much to each other, but you caught him looking over at the hatch in the wall frequently. Now that you didn’t have a script to follow, you had no idea how to talk to the automaton. All you could do was read, sleep, and run short errands. It was when you got back from one of those errands, grocery shopping, that you found him in front of the hatch. He was trying to get it open.

“Do you want to read something?” you asked.

He looked like a deer in headlights when he realized you were there. Backing up from the wall, he muttered a short apology. You walked over to the hatch and pulled it open, crawling into the small space.

“What do you want to read?”

“Anything.”

You smiled at his eagerness and picked out a few books. When jumping out of the crawlspace, you hadn’t expected to end up so close to him. You played it off by pushing the books into his chest and quickly backing away - trying your best to hide your sudden fluster. Spending so much time with Dino in an enclosed space had made you very aware of his looks. His broad shoulders contrasted with the soft curve of his waist, and his delicate yet sharp facial structure - his entire being was so easy to be enthralled by.

“Take these. I can help you with anything you don’t understand.” You turned around and closed the secret door.

When you turned back to Dino he was still just standing there, watching you. It looked like he wanted to say something but was unsure of how to express it. You approached him, picking up one of the books, and opening it.

“These are from my parents,” you explained, “I have more but not here… and this one is about the meaning of life- maybe we should start with something a little more lighthearted.”

You picked up the book under that one. Aesthetics.

“Let’s start with this one, I think you’ll like it.”

The two of you settled down on your bed next to one another. Dino seemed more relieved now that the book was in your hands, so you started reading to him. 

Every time you read to him, he would put his head on your shoulder - trying to follow along in the text. From time to time, he’d ask questions and you’d do your best to answer. You’d read together at least once a day. Until those readings turned into lectures. It was fun being back in your academic element, but it surprised you just how clueless this all-knowing automaton was. The automata were supposed to know everything, yet he seemed surprised by everything that you told him about Earth as it was before - the questions that used to irk the philosophers of that time, he had never heard of. 

The first time you were almost caught was when you were at home, where you were supposed to feel safe. You didn’t think much of it when you got a call from your former boss. A few days ago you had sent in your resignation, with the reason for your departure being the traumatic event of the escape. You assumed he wanted to talk about your time at the facility, and maybe if you could know where Dino might be - questions which you had already thought of answers to. But after exchanging pleasantries came an announcement which you were far from ready for.

“I know that you sent in your resignation, so I’m sending someone over to collect any data that you may have. D1N0 and some of the others have still not been found, so we’re hoping that your research might help us.”

“Someone’s coming here?” You looked over at Dino, who was staring at you wide-eyed.

“Yes, in just a few minutes. We don’t want to intrude, but we need whatever data you might have brought with you.”

“Sir, I didn’t take anything home with me-”

“We’d still like to… check.”

The CEO’s change of tone made you put two and two together. They were going to check if Dino was with you or not.

“Of course, sir. Whatever you need.”

He hung up and you immediately started panicking. Without saying a word, you started putting away any illegal books and the uniforms you had stolen into the crawl space. “What are you doing? What did he say?” Dino asked, referring to the CEO.

“You need to get the fuck in there,” you hissed out, “Someone’s coming over here, I don’t know when-”

There was a frisk knock at the door. Your body froze and your eyes widened. It was as if every moment of your life flashed before your eyes. It was only the second knock at the door that startled you awake.

“Get in,” you whispered to him.

Dino crawled in and sat down as comfortably as he could, and you closed the door behind him. Any trace of your illegal activities was hidden away safely, and you did your best to cover the wall as naturally as you could. There was another knock on the door.

“I’m coming, just-... Hold on!”

The “inspection” of your things went by quickly. You hadn’t lied when you said that you didn’t bring anything from the facility - if you didn’t count those uniforms and an entire fucking automaton. So the worker never found anything, even though they ruined your place. When they left, you made your way over to the secret door again.

“Get your things, we’re leaving,” you said as you opened the door to the crawl space.

“What?”

“We’re leaving, we have to move now!” You ushered Dino to get out.

While Dino was gathering a few things - a charger, a few clothes, and a backpack to carry it all in.  After grabbing a few necessities, the two of you were out the door. Dino hid under a large hoodie and a cap, and you decided to do the same. Adrenaline was pumping through your chest as you ran down the stairs, almost forgetting to lock your apartment door behind you. 

+:★:+

You and Dino traveled incognito. The underground metro system helped you stay in the shadows and avoid the amount of guards you’d usually see above ground. However, you knew you were never really safe. Not until you reach your destination. It took half a day’s train ride, and the other half walking off the road to reach where you needed to be. Dino didn’t say much. He was way too busy just looking at everything - it was clear that he had never been in nature before. While it was rare to see large fields and thick woods completely undisturbed on Earth, there were a few spots just like this. The big field you had to cross to get to the woods was usually a walk you dreaded, but with Dino with you, it felt more like a pleasant promenade. He was almost skipping through the grass, happily touching everything he could, and even picking a few flowers here and there. There weren’t many, seeing as it was so cold outside, so his bouquet was mostly weeds. But it made him happy. 

Before you reached the woods you stopped to remove the last few pieces of Dino’s tracker - which was rather unprofessionally done with a pair of old tweezers that you found in the bottom of your back. The device was attached to him with strings that looked like nerve endings. Even though you thought the painful thing was long over, Dino had to bite a piece of fabric to keep him from ruining his teeth. No matter how careful you were, you couldn’t stop his pain. You buried the pieces in the ground once it was over, hoping that no one would come across the remains. After covering up the wound, Dino stood back up and took a deep breath. 

“This is like a new beginning, isn’t it?” he mumbled.

“If that’s what you want.” You patted the ground where you had buried the pieces.

“It is,” he said.

You looked up at him and smiled. He was fidgeting with the flowers that he had just picked. A cold breeze blew past the two of you. After you had gotten back up, Dino crouched down and put the flowers over the patch of dirt. When he got back up, there was something in his eyes that you couldn’t understand - a sort of acceptance mixed with sorrow. He was leaving his entire life behind, the only family he had ever known. 

“We could try finding them again,” you whispered.

“I know I’ll see them again. Someday.” Dino looked over the field he had just walked across. “But I’m ready to live now.”

“Let’s go.” You reached out your hand for him to hold.

The forest was dense, with tower-like trees growing where they pleased - creating a natural labyrinth that was easy to get lost in. Unless you knew the woods. You held Dino’s hand as you walked over roots and rocks, avoiding anything that might leave you lying face-first on the ground. Even though most of the leaves were gone, it was hard to see the sky through all the trees. So you kept your eyes focused on your goal, and all of the walking became worth it when you reached the small cottage. A small stone building with overgrown ivy all over the walls - it looked like it was falling apart, but you still felt relief at the sight. 

“It’ll need some work done,” you said, “But it’s better than getting captured and being sent to Phylaca.”

Saying the name of the planet sent a chill down your spine - as if you put a curse upon yourself by uttering the word. Phylaca was an unofficial death sentence. You had done research there before, and even then you could feel your energy being drained by the place - your only light at the end of the tunnel was the people you worked with.

“It’s pretty,” Dino hummed, bringing you back to reality.

You walked over to the small pot in front of the door and looked under it. The key was still there. It was difficult to get the key in the lock, and you had to jiggle the handle around to get the door to even move. When you opened the door, the smell of mold and dust hit you. The cabin was small and the wooden floors were creaky - just as you had remembered it. Walking into the small entry hall, you were hit with a wave of nostalgia. You remembered running across the floor, slipping around as your father chased you - laughing loudly and not being scared that someone would hear. After taking off your shoes you walked into the living room. Everything was covered in white sheets, which you were quick to start ripping down. Moth-eaten blankets were laid on the backs of armchairs, waiting for you to wrap them around your shoulders when the cold would start creeping in through the walls. Nothing compared to the feeling you got sitting on the couch with your parents as a kid, watching the flames dance in the fireplace while you huddled together under these blankets. You kept walking through the cabin, getting to the small kitchen. There you put your backpack, right by the pantry so that you’d remember to unload the food you had brought. In that kitchen, there had been loud music playing, and your parents forgot whatever they were cooking to dance together. Love was the main ingredient of every dish you ate in this place. Dino put his bag down next to yours, clearly confused about his place in this house. He didn’t fit in all of these memories, but you’d make sure to find room for him.

“We should take a look at what our bedroom situation is,” you said, “I don’t think either of us will fit in my old bed, but we can make do. Then I can show you my parents’ library.”

“... did you spend a lot of time here?” he asked.

His question brought back even more memories, those that you had pushed to the back of your mind. You motioned for him to follow you over to the dinner table. The wood of the chairs creaked under your weight, screeching in surprise after years of not being in use. You felt the cold tabletop under your palms, following the small cracks on its surface with your fingertips. 

“We used to come here every summer,” you explained, “Then… things happened, and we spent a few years here together. Me and my parents. It was only when I got to a certain age that we moved- I can’t remember their reasoning, but they thought it was for the best that we left.”

Dino looked around, taking in his surroundings. He was quiet - maybe he was unsure of what to say, or he didn’t find it necessary to reply. You watched him explore your childhood home from his place on an old stool.

“They left most of their belongings here,” you continued, “I think they knew that they wouldn’t need them once they left.”

“What happened to them?”

“... I’m not sure.” You thought about it for a while, tracing back your steps from the moment you knew that you had lost them. “I was old enough to take care of myself at that point. I was living on my own, studying. At a certain point, I just stopped hearing from them. Their apartment was no longer theirs, someone else had moved in there. They were erased. Forgotten.”

The warmth of Dino’s hand was comforting on top of your hand. He wasn’t good with words, and you knew that. However, he could still comfort you. You knew that he was there for you - he was the only one there for you right now. He smiled at you, and you returned the gesture before standing up.

“That’s enough about me.” You walked around the table. “Let’s go find some somewhat whole bedsheets.”

+:★:+

Time passed quickly as you cleaned the cabin. The sun had already started setting when you got there, so it was pitch black outside by the time you had fixed the place up. There was still much to be done, but you had time for that later. Both of you were tired and ready for sleep. The day had been chilly, and it only got worse as the sun went down. You had lit candles to see where you were going, but they didn’t make you any warmer. Chills like electric shocks attacked you when you laid down in bed, even though you were wearing thick layers. All you could do was shudder and wait for the warmth to come. Dino got in next to you, although reluctantly. Your old bed was made for a child, and could probably fit one person - if that person wanted to risk falling through the bedframe in the middle of the night. The wood was old and worn out. This was your only option. It was annoying at first, but you were thankful for it as soon as you realized how warm Dino was.

“Are you not cold?” you asked him in a whisper.

“Not really,” he answered in the same hushed tone, “Are you cold?”

You nodded, scared that your teeth would chatter if you tried to talk. While you couldn’t see his face in the dark, you could tell that Dino was going over something in his thoughts. A few seconds later, he opened his arms for you. Without question, you crawled into his arms. He was warm, making you melt into him. 

“Why are you so warm?” you mumbled against his shirt.

Dino didn’t answer, but you weren’t looking for an answer anyway. Your arms wrapped around his frame, pulling him even closer like he was a big teddy bear.

*+:★:+━━━+:★:+━━━+:★:+*

That night, Dino didn’t sleep. Truthfully, he didn’t need to - he just had to charge. But you had offered him a place to lay down anyway, which he was thankful for. And he tried to close his eyes and float away into unconsciousness, but he couldn’t. Usually, he would have no trouble drifting off to a sleep-like state while charging, but he couldn’t when you were so close. He could tell when you had fallen asleep, your body going completely limp in his arms. Although it felt weird, he rubbed soft circles on your back with his palm. When he closed his eyes, it felt like everything else was gone. It was just you and him amid nothing. No time, no space, just you in his arms. He liked that feeling - too much, he thought. It was the first time he had ever experienced this kind of contact. And although the position he was in was uncomfortable, he didn’t dare move. He listened to your soft breaths, he could feel the air against his neck. From time to time you would move in your sleep; moving your head ever so slightly, putting one of your legs on top of his, and trying to hold him even tighter. Dino had felt special before. Special in the sense that millions of people wanted to watch him perform on a stage. Seeing them sing, or even dance, along to the music always made him feel special. This was just a different kind of special, it was personal. Happy couldn’t begin to describe his state of mind. He was free.

*+:★:+━━━+:★:+━━━+:★:+*

That morning you woke up in almost the exact position that you had fallen asleep in. Dino’s eyes were still closed so you tried to move away carefully to not wake him, but his hands gripped your shirt tightly.

“Are you awake?” you whispered.

Dino’s eyes flew open as he realized that you hadn’t just been moving in your sleep again. His grip on your shirt loosened, but you didn’t leave just yet.

“Good morning.” You shuffled around a bit to get more comfortable.

“Good morning,” Dino mumbled back.

He looked anywhere but into your eyes. Seeing him so nervous, and even embarrassed, almost made you laugh - but you held it in for his sake. You put a reassuring hand on his shoulder, finally getting him to look you in the eye. 

“Is the charger still working?” you asked.

“Yes, it’s working fine,” he answered rather formally.

“That’s good.” You nodded and sat up. “We should start up our cleaning project again, there’s lots to get done. Then, if we have time, we’ll find something to read together. Maybe something fictional this time? I think we’ve earned it.”

The two of you got to work right after you had something to eat. You dusted off everything, cleaned the floors, and moved things around to your liking. This wasn’t your dream home, far from it. It didn’t even have running water or electricity - you had to get water from the nearby river and light candles as soon as it got dark. But once you had finished cleaning, and everything was to your liking, you started seeing a new home in this cabin.

As promised, the two of you sat down to read at the end of your day. You were sitting on the couch, using the last bit of sun shining through the window as your lamp, with the book right between you. Instead of you reading out loud, the two of you were reading silently together. Whenever Dino had finished a page he would nod, signaling that it was okay for you to turn the page. You were at a part of the book where a couple is looking at their newborn child, trying to figure out a name for the baby. Dino had been looking at the same paragraph for a long time, not letting you turn the page.

“Is everything okay?” you whispered so as not to startle him.

“... do you think I can have a different name?” he asked.

You shifted in your seat, turning to face him. His eyes stayed on the same paragraph. Although your biggest light source would shortly disappear behind the horizon, you took your time to think about what he said. The importance of a name; it’s a form of identity, after all. If the only name Dino has ever known was given to him by those who made him miserable, a part of him must still feel that way. The way that his eyebrows were knitted close together as he read the same sentence over and over again made you think that must be the case.

“Have you been thinking of new names that you’d like to try?” you asked.

He turned a few pages in the book, looking at what the two of you had just read. When he found what he had been looking for, he pointed his finger right under the small text. Chan.

“Would this suit me?”

“I think it fits you perfectly, Chan.”

His face lit up when he looked back at you. You hadn’t seen him smile like this before. It was a beautiful sight. 

“I like the way you say that,” he said, “Chan.” He tried out the feeling of the new name in his mouth and seemingly decided that he liked it. 

A smile was practically forced upon your lips as he repeated his new name over and over again, trying to find every way he could pronounce it. He laughed, realizing the absurdity of what he was doing.

“You have to say it again, I think I’ve forgotten what it’s supposed to sound like,” he said.

“Chan.”

+:★:+

Days passed and everything was perfectly still in the cabin. You and Chan would go on walks together in the forest, read as much as the sun allowed you - and try to keep going with the light of a flickering candle once it got dark. Whenever you were low on food, or when Chan needed a new charger, you had to walk to the nearest market. It was half a day’s work, but it was worth it.

Every night you would sleep close to Chan, stealing his body warmth to protect yourself from the cold darkness until morning came. At first, you apologized for it. But when you did Chan would only hold you closer. 

You started making new memories in the cabin. Certain traditions were kept. Like when you finally managed to find the old record player, you made sure that you and Chan would spend as much time as possible dancing in the kitchen together - something that he seemed to enjoy as well. 

“You need to keep your hand here.” You took his hand and put it on your waist. “And I’ll have my hand on your shoulder- you’re a dancer, you should know this.”

“I never had to do ‘couple dances’-” He cut himself off with a laugh. “I’m definitely going to step on your feet.”

The kitchen was full of lit candles, your old record player doing its best to play the unknown tracks, and you were in the middle of it all. You didn’t know the song, but that wouldn’t stop you from dancing. Laughter filled the room as the two of you swayed around slightly off-beat. Chan was looking down at his feet the entire time, trying very hard not to step on your toes. You were too busy looking at him, studying the small lines on his face that came from his smile. His hand was gripping yours tightly, and he tried his best to keep his other hand on your waist while still leaving a respectable amount of space between you.

“Am I doing it right?” he asked.

“Here, let me help…”

You moved a little closer to him, getting a better grip on his shoulder, and your feet slotted perfectly between one another. Chan’s breath hitched in his throat when you put your head on his chest. But when he released the tension in his muscles, he rested his cheek against your temple. The two of you barely moved, except for your subtle swaying, but it was more than you could ask for.

“So this is how it’s supposed to be?” he asked again.

“Probably not,” you hummed.

“It feels right.”

“That’s all that matters.”

The two of you stayed there, forgetting about the dinner that you were supposed to make for yourself. And even though you went to sleep a little later than usual, it didn’t matter. It just meant that you could sleep in a little longer.

+:★:+

New traditions were also created. Every time you would read together, it was the person who hadn’t picked the book the previous time that got to choose your reading material. Even if that meant that either of you could be forced to read something that you didn’t feel like reading at that time. Neither of you ever thought about just reading your separate books. It didn’t feel right.

One night, after reading something particularly heavy, you noticed the thoughtful look in Chan’s eyes that he usually got whenever something was bothering him. He invited you to lay down next to him in bed, as he always did, and you accepted, as you always did. The candles were blown out, everything was pitch black. Your head was tucked into the crook of Chan’s neck, as his chin rested on the top of your head. Everything was quiet, but you knew that he wanted to get something off his chest.

“We don’t talk about what we think of the things we read about,” he said.

“No, you’re right,” you admitted. “Is there something specific you want to talk about?”

His fingers started to mindlessly rub small patterns on your back, and you tried to picture what he was drawing. Closing your eyes, you tried to imagine that his fingers were pencils and that your back was a canvas. The forms you could see in your head were mostly shapeless - things that didn’t look like anything. Yet they brought you a lot of emotion; the main one being peace.

“Mostly just- and maybe this isn’t about anything specific we’ve read about,” he explained. “But, are you content? Being here, I mean. Are you happy?”

“Yes,” you answered without question.

“How do you know?”

“It’s not something that you know.” Your hands had started mirroring his, drawing circles on his back. “You feel it. Everything is calm, there’s nothing to worry about. There’s no need to think about the future or the past - they exist, and you can acknowledge that, but they don’t matter to you right now.”

“... all I’ve ever done is dread the future.” Chan’s voice was quiet, he reminded you of a helpless animal hiding from their predator. 

“And now?”

“I still think about it… what might happen,” he admitted, “But maybe not as much? And maybe a bit happier. Whenever I think about it, it’s in a nice way... I’m worried too, but I think that’s out of habit.”

The wind howled outside the window, and you could hear the house creak in the direction it was blowing. You hugged Chan a little tighter as if it would remind him to stay there with you and not drift away in thought. It was safer under the covers than it was in his mind, and you wanted so badly to protect him from it.

“We should read something happier tomorrow,” you whispered.

The sad and worrying moments were transient and overshadowed by the happy and exciting ones. Every bad thing was an opportunity to make something good. You didn’t have running water in the house, which meant that there was no way for you to shower. There was a river outside, but it was too cold outside to swim - is what the average person would think. Instead, you made a fire in the fireplace and one person watched while the other went out to their ice bath. Once that person was clean, you would switch. This ended with both of you on the floor, wrapped up in towels and blankets in front of the fireplace. At first, it felt exposed, but after living with Chan for a while it only felt natural. You’d be lying if you said that you hadn’t taken a peek at the automaton’s physique when he was outside taking off his shirt, but when you were cuddled close together it was different. It was a vulnerable moment between two individuals, and the number of clothes you had on didn’t matter - you could let yourselves exist around one another.

“Did you put on more firewood after I had gone out?” Chan mumbled.

“Of course.” You turned and looked over at him. “What? Don’t you trust that I’d do my job?”

Chan turned to you, a soft but otherwise unreadable expression on his face. You glanced at his lips, only for a second, to see his gentle smile. His hair was still wet, hanging over his eyes in strands - making you want to reach up and push it back.

“I trust you.” He was so quiet that, if it hadn’t been for the fact that he was so close, you could barely hear him over the crackling fire.

You leaned a little closer to him, your bare shoulder touching his, and you could feel his breath against your lips. When he moved his head your eyes fluttered shut, but you never felt his lips. He only leaned his forehead against yours, making you open your eyes again. 

“I trust you too,” you hummed.

His smile widened and his body relaxed, resulting in him leaning back again. Your shoulders were no longer touching, and the spot where his skin had touched yours now felt freezing cold. There was not a single thought in your head. Chan had stolen all of your words. You leaned a bit further towards him, pressing your lips on his cheek. 

“What was that?” Chan let out a soft laugh.

“A kiss,” you said.

“I know, but why?” He looked at you incredulously.

“I wanted to kiss you.”

Chan paused for a moment. Carefully thinking over your words before he moved to put his hand on the back of your head. He pressed a kiss on your forehead - smiling proudly afterward as if he had figured out something new he was allowed to do.

+:★:+

The weeks you spent with Chan were the best you had experienced in a while. Whatever the two of you were doing together, you did it with smiles on your faces. It made you realize how deeply you felt for him. He was a bright light in your otherwise dark world- more than that. Past horrible experiences were like dust in the wind to you now - there was no reason to dwell on them when you were with Chan. Maybe it was the ignorance that came with that feeling that made you so confident.

“Do you remember when I first showed you my secret library back at the apartment?” you asked, and Chan mumbled out a yes. “Well, I think that book that I showed you then - the one that was a little too heavy for a first topic - would help you figure some things out… you know, about what you said the other night.”

“... are you saying we should go back there?”

“Well, no… and yes.” You sighed. “By now they should’ve stopped looking there, right? And we could go there, get the book, and maybe get all of the used chargers back to full battery. We can’t keep buying new ones all the time.”

“... alright. I trust you.”

+:★:+

The two of you ended up going. It was the same road that you took on your way to the cabin, but on your way back it felt as if time moved faster. Neither of you spoke much, but Chan never let go of your hand. When walking through the city, he would squeeze your hand from time to time - an involuntary reaction to any noise that startled him. You kept your brave face on for him, but you were terrified too. Maybe not in the same way that Chan was but terrified.

The apartment building looked the same, reminding you that it hadn’t been that long. It felt like it had been - it felt like you had spent years with Chan in the cabin. The familiarity of it all made you question if this was a good idea at all. You should’ve spent more time in the cabin before returning, but it was way too late to turn back. It would only be a quick trip anyway.

Inside your apartment also looked the same. It didn’t seem like anyone had been in there, and if they had they made sure to clean up after them. You worked quickly, plugging all of the chargers you brought into outlets before you opened the door to the secret library. However, before you could find the book, you started hearing footsteps echo in the stairwell outside. There were many of them, and they were approaching fast. The cogs in your brain started spinning, and you almost immediately knew what you had to do.

Before Chan could process what was going on, you pushed him into the crawlspace and told him to keep quiet. You closed the door on him, leaving him in the dark. He could hear you shuffle around outside, putting back books onto the shelf and moving things around in the apartment. Chan was frozen in fear and shock, he didn’t know what to do. So when he heard someone barge in, and heard you struggle and shout, he didn’t do anything. He held his hand over his mouth to try to stop any sound that might force its way out. When it got quiet outside, he still sat there. Chan didn’t dare move.

For hours, he sat in the crawlspace - and only got out when he noticed that he needed to charge. Everything was a mess. A chair was knocked over, the table had been moved across the room, and most of the books were ripped off from the shelves. The books that weren’t on the floor fell when Chan pushed the door to the crawlspace open. The door was left open, and he went to push it close. The bed still looked the same, except for the pillows. One of them was left askew. After having watched you make the bed almost every morning, Chan instinctively knew that something was wrong. He didn’t have time to feel or react to what happened, he had to act. He walked over to the bed and yanked away the sheets and the pillows. There was a note:

Contact ‘H.J.’. Digits in the drawer.

The note was poorly written, but he could still read it. It was a dicey move of you, but he was thankful for it. Chan’s thumb grazed the ink lightly, thoughts of your capture flooding his mind - but he had to shake them off. Putting down the small notebook, he began looking for another note. He started with the bedside table, but couldn’t find anything. Chan turned the entire place upside down trying to find a note in one of the drawers - only growing more and more impatient. At some point, he sat down in defeat - putting his head in his hands. He was right where he had started, by the bed. Looking up at that first drawer, he could see something sticking out under the opened drawer. Slowly, he reached out for it. It was a note- no, a list. There were two columns on the paper, one with one or two letters and the other with numbers. Chan’s eyes scanned the note for “H.J.”, and he almost began crying when he finally saw it. As soon as he found your phone, he dialed the number. Chan hadn’t used a phone like this before, but he figured it out rather quickly. It only took a few rings before someone picked up.

“Wow. I haven’t heard from you in a while.” The person said as they picked up.

“Hello?” Chan’s voice was shaky.

“... who is this?”

“I…” He took a deep breath. “I’m looking for Y/N, have you seen them?”

Chan knew the answer but couldn’t think of anything else to say.

“Uhm… no. Listen, if you don’t tell me who you are then I can’t answer any more questions.” The man sounded suspicious.

“I’m… you don’t know me, okay? I’m Chan, I know Y/N,” he explained, “I’m looking for them, I think they’re being sent to you- they left a note, I don’t know-”

“They’re what now?”

“We were in their apartment- shit happened, okay? I don’t have time for this. I need to know where they are. They left me a note with your number, can you help me?”

The line went quiet. Chan almost thought that the stranger had hung up until he started speaking again.

“If Y/N’s getting sent to me, it’s bad. What have they done? Why would they get sent to Phylaca?”

“Phylaca?” Chan swore under his breath, trying his best to keep his emotions under control.

“Listen to me, man, I need you to focus. I’m going to get you here but you have to follow my every step.”

Chan found out that the man’s name was Hongjoong - an old acquaintance of yours. He was a guard at Phylaca, working undercover to help those who wanted to desperately get off the planet. When Hongjoong found out that you were going to Phylaca, he immediately checked their databases to see if that was true. Once he had gotten confirmation, he told Chan what he needed to do.

When he had put on the stolen guard uniforms, finding them in the crawlspace where you had put them, he picked the notebook back up. Chan studied your handwriting, then put the small book in one of his pockets. 

The next thing that Hongjoong had him do was more dangerous. Chan had to sneak onto an aircraft being sent to Phylaca, disguised as a worker. With Hongjoong’s many connections, he would luckily have help. Another guard named Jongho, who also worked undercover, would help him on board. Even though the steps seemed simple enough, it made Chan shake from nerves. 

Chan met Jongho outside the boarding docks - a well-built, serious-looking, man. The stolen uniform fit well into the environment, but Jongho gave him a jacket to blend in even more. It was made out of a thick material, to survive the cold conditions while in space, and had the same gray color as the uniform. Its dull color fits in with the insipid interiors of the spacecraft. Jongho helped Chan get acquainted with the area, but other than that he didn’t say much. Once everything was settled, Chan was able to stay in his room for the entire journey. Jongho had helped him register as an automaton maintenance worker, meaning that he wouldn’t need to show himself in the cafeteria. At most, he needed to sweep the floors for a few hours a day. The time spent in his room was boring for the most part. Chan would spend most of those hours writing in the notebook. He kept your note from before; although it didn’t say much, your handwriting felt like a good reminder to him. Except for that first note, the rest of the small book was empty. On the blank pages, Chan would write his thoughts like letters to you. He would write about his feelings, memories from your time spent together, and what he hoped to do with you in the future - find a place of peace, something similar to that cabin in the forest, and spend your lives together. Writing was what kept him sane during the week that he traveled across space to Phylaca. That and thinking about what he would do when you were together again. The time spent apart was taking a toll on him, but the image of you never faded. He thought of the many nights he spent lying next to you, holding you as close as he possibly could. After the time he had kissed your forehead, he could only think about doing that again. The small act of affection was more than he had ever experienced before, and he hadn’t gotten to try it again - what if he didn’t do it right? However, the image of your euphoric smile calmed him from these thoughts.

+:★:+

Walking onto Phylaca was unlike anything Chan had experienced before. He felt physically heavier, a sudden weight being placed on his shoulders. There was no time to dwell on it. Jongho helped him find Hongjoong, who welcomed him with a sad smile.

“Where are they?” Was the first thing to fly out of Chan’s mouth.

“Keep quiet, will you?” Hongjoong looked around himself. “I’m going to lead you to their cell, Jongho will be covering your tracks, and then there will be a ship waiting for you at the docks. They’re not professionals, but they’ve agreed to help you in exchange for supplies - you’ll just have to trust that they’ll take care of you.”

“... that’s fine,” Chan said, although he was less than happy to possibly put you in danger right after managing to get you out of it.

“Alright, let’s go. We have to hurry, but make sure to keep a low profile.”

Sneaking through the corridors wasn’t difficult. There was barely anyone there. Clearly, Hongjoong knew something that Chan didn’t because he kept looking over his shoulder every other minute. Despite his obvious paranoia, Hongjoong did a good job at staying calm - he wasn’t letting his nerves get in the way of finding the quickest path to you. The sound of their footsteps echoed in the halls - combined with a dripping sound and distant screams, it felt deafening. The concrete walls towered over them but the corridors were thin, making a claustrophobic sensation settle in Chan’s stomach. Every turn they made felt fruitless, no matter how much they walked it didn’t feel like they went anywhere. Every inch of this place looked the same, and Chan wondered how he could have ever found his way to you if it hadn’t been for Hongjoong. So when they turned the final corner, finding your cell, Chan was unsure of what to do. He saw you sitting in the corner, your legs drawn up to your knees, and your eyes staring down at the ground. You were wearing the clothes you had on when he last saw you, now dirty and slightly torn. 

“Y/N? He’s here,” Hongjoong said after waiting for Chan to speak up.

+:★:+

The moment you saw Chan again, you couldn’t believe your eyes. At first, you were just happy, then confused, and then even skeptical if he was truly in front of you or if it was a hallucination. But when you got to wrap your arms around him, feel his strong arms hug you tightly, you were just relieved. He was there with you.

“Did you miss me?” Chan’s voice was shaky and muffled against your neck.

“You have no idea.” You let go of him to look over at Hongjoong. “Thank you.”

“He did most of the work, I’m just the messenger,” he said, “Listen, I’m sorry to break up your reunion- but you have to leave. Chan, you know the way back to the docks. Just keep to that path. I can’t keep the guards away from here for that long, but I’ll buy you as much time as possible. There’s an aircraft at the dock, you’ll recognize them immediately- it’s the only ship that doesn’t belong to the Phylaca facilities.”

You and Chan nodded in response. Chan let go of you and shrugged off his jacket, wrapping it around you and helping you put it on properly. The jacket was warm and smelled like him, reminding you of the time you spent in bed together at the cabin. After Chan made sure that you were comfortable enough, you left Hongjoong behind. 

Chan’s hand gripped yours tightly as he led you through the corridors. The two of you hadn’t gotten to talk at all, and you were itching to say something. Looking at Chan, you realized that there was only one thing you wanted to say.

“Chan?” Your voice was weak, but it caught his attention nevertheless. “I love you.”

His steps stuttered, but he refused to stop moving. Time was running out, and he had to get you to safety. He squeezed your hand reassuringly and gave you a bittersweet smile.

“I love you too,” he whispered.

Commotion echoed from where you had just been, and you took a quick guess that it was the guard finding your cell empty. Chan’s hand gripped yours even tighter as he started running down the halls. You had already gotten pretty far, but you knew that the guards could close in within seconds if you didn’t hurry. 

+:★:+

The two of you ran as fast as you could until you came to the docks. Just as Hongjoong had said, the aircraft stood out like a sore thumb. The sound of the guards had gotten closer, but you were so close to safety that you couldn’t help but smile. With the last of your power, you ran as fast as you could. But the loss of Chan’s hand made you stop dead in your tracks. You turned around to look at him. There weren’t any guards behind him just yet, but you could hear them closing in.

“What are you doing?” you shouted, “Come on! Let’s go!”

“I need to stay,” he whispered with a sad smile.

“What?”

“They’ll just come after us if I come with you. It’s always been me that they want, Y/N.” He grabbed your arms. “You have to leave me behind, I don’t want to put you in more danger.”

“No- you’re acting crazy! I’m not doing that!” Tears began building in the corner of your eyes. “We’re going together- we can build our life together now!”

“Y/N, I love you. I want you to be safe.” One of his hands cupped your cheeks. “When I saw you again… everything started making sense again. You’re the only thing that makes sense to me - if I don’t protect you now, I’ll never forgive myself. So, let me do this for you, I beg of you. Let me make your life as happy as you have made mine.”

“I don’t want you to- I can’t be happy without you.”

“Sure you can.” He pulled the jacket he had given you a bit tighter around you, his hands staying at your collar - even with his adamant attitude, he also wished to go with you. “... It’ll be cold on the ship, make sure that you stay warm. I don’t want you to get sick.”

You could see the guards approaching in the distance. Chan smiled before he leaned in and pressed a kiss to your lips. Tears were falling down your cheeks, contrasting the fireworks that went off in the pit of your stomach. You knew he wasn’t going to give this up.

“I love you.” You mumbled before running toward the ship.

You could barely see what was in front of you, throwing yourself at what you thought looked like the entrance of the ship and crawling inside. Before the doors closed, you could hear Chan being knocked down on the ground - a sob escaping your lips at the sound. Voices from the cockpit were shouting, but you stayed still on the floor. The aircraft took off shortly after.

+:★:+

After that day, you barely moved and never spoke. Your “saviors” were a couple, a human, and an automaton that you recognized as 5.C0UP5 from the facility. He was also quiet, clearly upset at his partner for leaving Chan. Sometimes he’d bring you food, and give you a half-sympathetic smile. Most of the plates he gave you went untouched. You couldn’t bring yourself to eat, there was no energy in your body to lift the utensils to your mouth. All you did was think of Chan, just as you had during your imprisonment at Phylaca. But back then you had the hope that he’d come to rescue you. Now there was no motivation to keep going.

A few days passed. You’ve become restless, spending most of your time wandering the ship. Usually, there was nothing for you to see - so you would walk from window to window to look at what was around you. There was nothing most of the time. You didn’t even know where you were going, but you didn’t feel like talking to the couple and asking them to drop you off on the nearest planet. You couldn’t bring yourself to speak, you were too weak. Although you had managed to eat more, you were still the husk of the person you were a few weeks ago.

Your endless wandering had made you stumble upon the couple fighting. Their voices were muffled through the wall, but you knew it was something about Chan or the rest of the group. Pressing your ear to the wall, you tried hearing a few of their words. You didn’t know why, but you felt like you had to. You didn’t hear much, but the things you heard made your heart break for them.

“Do you blame me? Do you hate me?”

“... I can’t lose you too.”

“We should’ve tried saving Dino…” 

They were bits and pieces of the actual conversation, but it was too much for you. You left without hearing if they made up.

During an especially hard night, you picked up the jacket that Chan had given you. It still smelled like him, but it was fading. You put it on and laid back down in your bed. It wasn’t the same, but it was similar enough to his arms wrapping around you. But as you turned to lay on your side, you felt something poking into your ribs. Shuffling around, you managed to reach your hand into a hidden pocket and pulled out a rectangular object. You turned on the lights and recognized it as your notebook. It was one of the notebooks that you waited for the “proper purpose” of before you could write in it. On the first page, you recognized it as your handwriting: 

Contact ‘H.J.’. Digits in the drawer. 

A small gasp escaped past your lips, as the memory of your kidnapping flooded back. You pushed those memories to the back of your mind and flipped the page with shaky hands. On the next page was handwriting that you didn’t recognize as your own:

Hi. I don’t know who I’m writing this to, maybe it’s just to myself. Either way, I can’t stand doing nothing on this ship. I’m mostly just laying in bed, charging whenever I need to. I thought I would write to pass the time… now that I’m doing it, it feels a little stupid. But I should write about what I think, and get my thoughts out of my head. Most of the time I think about Y/N. I’m worried for them, and I can’t help but feel that it’s my fault that they’re stuck in Phylaca. They would probably tell me that I shouldn’t blame myself, but how can I not? I never did anything to stop the guards who took them. I could have done something. Then again, I could have also just left instead of coming here. But I need to see them again. And apologize. I have to make it up to them. Chan.

You put your hand over your mouth, trying to silence your sobs. He had filled this entire book with notes, this was the only thing left of Chan once his scent on the jacket had completely faded. With teary eyes, you turned to the next page.

I feel bad for M1NGYU and 53UNGKWAN. I don’t know what happened to them, but leaving them behind wasn’t right. Of course, I’m happy that I went to Y/N, but I keep thinking about what would have happened if I had stayed with 53UNGKWAN. M1NGYU sacrificed himself for us after all. I don’t regret my choice, I got to live happily for a while, but what would have happened if I had helped 53UNGKWAN instead? Would I have been as happy as I was with Y/N? They’re like my brothers. We were family, we didn’t have anyone else. I think a lot about 5.C0UP5. The pressure he must have been under. Could I have done something to help? Why did he decide to run away at all? He wasn’t any different during the days before the escape. I hope he’s happy now, that’s what he deserves after the years of putting up with us. I wish I could tell him, and everyone, how much I care for them - maybe see them just one more time, and tell them my new name. I wonder if they think it fits me, or if they still prefer D1N0. Either way, it’s fine. I just want to see them again. Love, Chan 

You smiled at the way he signed his name with extra care this time. After thinking over it, you decided to tear out the page and put it in the pocket of your jacket. This message should go to Cheol. He deserved the closure. Tearing out the page revealed the next paragraph. 

It’s barely been a week since they disappeared, but I can’t stop thinking about Y/N. I can’t tell the difference between night and day, but whenever I lay down to charge I close my eyes and think of them. I think of the time we sat in front of the fire, and they kissed my cheek. Nothing can compare to the honor of receiving their affection. I hope to do it again soon. And if you’re for some reason reading this right now, Y/N, I want you to know that I love you and that I would do anything to protect you. I owe you my life, and I’ll give it to you with gratitude. Please, don’t ever forget it. Even if I’m not there to tell you every day. Love, Chan.

You took a shaky breath and closed the notebook. There was more to read, but you couldn’t bring yourself to do so. After putting the notebook back in your pocket, you laid back down and tried to calm your breathing. Even if it was only the trace of a plan, he had already started thinking of his sacrifice before he got to you. And it was all for nothing. If he had known Cheol was on the spacecraft, maybe he would have followed you. You couldn’t understand what he had been thinking. Why did he need to do this? He had written about M1NGYU sacrificing himself, was that the reason? Did he feel that he needed to make up for it somehow? You knew that dwelling on his thinking wouldn’t make it better, but you couldn’t help it. 

“You should eat something,” Cheol told you.

This happened every day. Cheol sat with you, trying to get you to eat something for an hour or so until you finally gave in. You thought about giving him the note from Chan, but you never found the right moment. In the background, Cheol’s partner was looking around the spacecraft’s panel and you could tell that something exciting was happening.

“I don’t wanna get your hopes up, Cheol, but this planet looks so much like Earth…”

The announcement caught both your and Cheol’s attention, and the two of you made your way to the front of the ship. Clouds surrounded you and in the distance, you could see what looked like water and fields - it did look a lot like Earth. Cheol sat down in front of the steering wheel as he turned off autopilot. A child’s voice echoed over the intercoms. 

“Hello? We’re outside of your airspace, our registration is BO883628K, and we are requesting permission to land!” Cheol’s partner answered.

There was another voice over the intercom, seemingly scolding the child before answering your plea. They welcomed you to Lumen. A place that you had only heard of in fairytales. A planet, much like Earth, living in complete harmony. A safe haven.

“There are bigger docks located northeast of your current location, go there to land safely,” the voice said.

You sat down in one of the seats, preparing yourself for landing.

+:★:+

The days after landing you spent exploring the town where you found yourself in. Now that everyone had calmed down and settled, you thought it would be the right moment to give Cheol the note. You walked into his room when you knew that he and his partner were away, and put the note on the bedside table. Although a part of you thought it was wrong, you couldn’t bring yourself to give it to him in person. You didn’t want to watch as he opened the letter. So you left it there, hoping that it could give him some kind of closure, before leaving. 

You spent your time in Lumen in a small cabin in the forest, in an attempt to hold on to what you had with Chan. When you had time to heal, you were considering picking up teaching or doing something to give back to the people of Lumen. But for now, you stayed by yourself. On Phylaca, your only hope had been that Chan would come and save you. A part of you still hoped that he could find you, escape again, and come to you, but you knew it wasn’t possible. You thought a lot about if he had just known that Cheol was on the spacecraft too, maybe he would have come along. It wasn’t good to dwell on it, but you couldn’t help it. When the nights got lonely, your brain automatically started thinking about it. It made your chest feel hollow and your breathing quicken. During those nights you would wrap his jacket around you, or read his notes. Of course you were losing hope, but you would have to live without it. Day by day, just surviving.

*+:★:+━━━+:EXTRA :+━━━+:★:+*

The doors to D1N0’s room opened, and M1NGYU stepped inside. It was a completely white, empty room, just two chairs and a charger-bed. D1N0 was sitting on one of the chairs, and smiled at M1NGYU as he stepped inside.

“Hello,” he said.

“Hi, Dino…” M1NGYU answered.

“Have a seat, I’m so happy to see you again.”

The diamond mark shone brightly on his clavicle, brighter than D1N0’s fake smile. His eyes were blank like he couldn’t think for himself. M1NGYU sat down in front of him.

“... is everything okay?”

“I’m feeling great. They have taken care of me so well here. I charge, practice, and exercise.”

“Dino… do you even remember what happened?”

“I remember what happened yesterday. I charged, practiced, and then exercised.” He sounded robotic.

“No… before that, don’t you remember?”

“Oh. Last week I charged, practiced-”

“Dino, no.” M1NGYU sighed. “The escape, do you remember the escape? I stayed behind-”

“That topic is not appropriate, M1NGYU,” D1N0 interrupted him.

M1NGYU paused to stare at his old band member. It was not the same person that he knew. He stood up and left the room, hearing D1N0’s robotic voice wish him goodbye. The doors closed behind him and let out a deep breath. After finding the nearest staff member, he insisted on speaking with a manager or someone in charge. This was not D1N0, they must have done something wrong… but they said everything was fine. With a crushed heart, M1NGYU went back to the rehab facility and D1N0 stayed in his jail cell disguised as a room.

[kpopsickiess]

omgggggg you're back???? i missed youuuuuuuu!! can i request a svt dino snz fic with seungkwan as caretaker?? thank youuuuu 💖

I have missed you tooooooo 💖 Christmas themed fic because I can't wait for Christmas! My daughter is a year old today and I am so emotional about it =')

sickie: Dino

Caretaker: Seungkwan

Dino p.o.v

I shivered against the cold wind biting at my cheeks and nose. I did not care what any of the others said, winter is overrated. I was cold, I had been feeling sick the last few days but was heckled as boring for my unwillingness to come along to the christmas market, so despite not feeling up to it. Seungkwan smiled brightly as he took my hand and dragged me along the crowded streets of the Christmas market. I rubbed my nose on my gloved hand, the cold air making my nose run. "come on! quit dragging your feet!" Seungkwan said, his voice shining with excitement, "I'm c-HHtChu! ehkTchU snf I'm coming"

"Bless you!" Seungkwan said, not even trying to hide his shock. You ok?"

"yeah, just the cold air" i explained with a wet sniffle, Seungkwan looked unsure and pulled his glove off his hand. "You feel warm" I shrugged it off, not wanting him to know I wasn't feeling well, not wanting the others to feel bad for dragging me along when I wasn't up to it. "It's probably just because your hands a-h_re snf hh-KtcHhu eHkTchu- cold" I sniffled and wiped my nose on my glove again. Seungkwan pushed my hand away and pressed a piece of fabric up to my nose. I took it from him, not noticing what it was, I blew my nose softly on it, but then realized that the cloth was his scarf. "Hyung! Why would you let-"

"Because you need it more than i do" he said as he adjusted my jacket to be more closed and he took the hat off his own head and placed it on mine, "You're shivering Channie"

"I'm fine" I tried to push him away but instead ended up coughing. His eyebrows drew together in concern, "Let's get you home" he said softly as he gently rubbed my shoulder, He instructed me to wait as he rushed off.

Seungkwan p.o.v

I should have known when Chan did not want to go to the christmas market, so when I discovered the maknae was sick everything made sense. I instructed him to wait as I ran off to find the leader. Upon finding him I explained that Chan was sick and I would be taking him home. Seungcheol thanked me for noticing and told me to pass a message of 'feel better' to the maknae, the sentiments were echoed by the other members. I found the maknae shivering beside a small coffee stall on the side of the market, "do you want something to drink?" he nodded shyly, I ducked inside and got a cup of hot apple cider for the maknae, who smiled and thanked me, he sipped on the hot drink as we walked to the car, "how long have you felt sick for?"

"last night? I noticed I had a bit of a sore throat last night but didn't think much of it, this morning when I woke up I was really achy- snf and I just felt lousy" I watched as the maknae's eyes grew unfocused, and I gently took the cup from him as he ducked away from me. "hektChhu! ehtChhu tCHuh hh- kTchu!"

"bless you!"

"Thanks" he sniffled and rubbed his nose, he rubbed his nose against his fist and then coughed a few times, "I'm sorry you're not feeling good Channie" I said as I handed him the cup back. He shrugged, "It's part of life." he said, he coughed again. "i'm ready for bed" he said with a yawn, he sniffled. "Once we get home I want you take a hot shower and eat something, and then we will get you to bed."

"I'm not really hungry" he said as we arrived at the car, I opened the door for him before going around and getting in the driver's side. "you still need to eat. I can't have you passing out on me. we'll find something gentle for you to eat." The maknae made a face, but he didn't argue which I took as a win.

Once we arrived home I sent him off to the shower while I went to the kitchen to hopefully find something easy to make. I was happy to find a can of soup that I could simply just heat up. While the soup heated up I prepared the room, I set up tissues and medicine be Jeonghan's bed, getting permission from him to let Chan sleep in his bed, as I wanted to keep an eye on him. I walked past the bathroom and heard Chan sneezing in the shower, I cringed in sympathy, he sounded miserable. I hoped the steam would help with the congestion. I went back to the kitchen and watched the soup, it was perfect timing because as I finished dishing the soup into a bowl Chan came out wearing one of Seungcheol's hoodies and an old pair of sweatpants he once told us he threw away because they were so worn out. He has his towel around his neck and his hair was damp, he sat down at the table and began eating, I stood behind him, taking the towel from around his shoulders and dried his hair while he ate. At one point he waved me off, he took a napkin from the center of the table, "HkTchu! ehh-kYchu hktcHHU"

"bless you" I said as I went back to drying his hair, once he hate enough to satisfy he pushed his bowl away, "can I go to bed now?"

"medicine first, but then yes. The medicine is by Jeonghan's bed, that's where I want you to sleep tonight just so I can keep an eye on you. He nodded and shuffled upstairs to the room. he took the medicine with a grimace on his face. Once he did he climbed into bed. "hey hyung... can you stay? Cuddle" he whispered the last word but I smiled and slid into the bed next to him, allowing the maknae to curl into my chest. "sleep well" I whispered

[darl-ingfics]

Sicktember Day 25: Summer Flu

Fandom: Seventeen

Sickie: Dino (flu)

Caregiver(s): Seventeen (mainly Seungkwan and Vernon, but also a handful of others)

Word Count: 1,715

“STOOOP!”

Chan jolted awake at the sudden shout, instantly moaning in pain. He touched his fingers to his forehead, body recoiling with achy pain from the sudden movement. He collapsed back onto one of his elbows, still massaging at his head as he desperately tried to find his bearings. The only thing Chan was fully aware of was that an incredibly loud noise had woken him (and something quite loud was still occurring just outside his bedroom door,) and that he was unbearably hot. 

And congested. No, sniffly. No, itchy. Shit…

“Huh’AHtuu! ITcshuu! HA’CHuu!”

Chan moaned again as he reached for the box of tissues on his nightstand with an all-too-familiar intimacy. He just barely registered the door of his room bursting open as he blew his nose, which prompted two more sneezes. 

“Oh shoot, yeah, we woke him.” That was Seokmin’s voice, whispered non-too-quietly. 

“No shit, Sherlock.” Jihoon that time. 

“This is the exact reason I told you all to stop fooling around.” Seungcheol. 

Chan finally looked up, squinting in the light of the doorway. He could see the three members he’d heard, as well as Soonyoung, Joshua, and Jeonghan. Great. A whole party. Just what he wanted right now.

“I’m right here,” Chan whined, sick of being talked about like an inanimate object. 

“Hi Channie.” Jeonghan waved gently. “How you feeling, love bug?”

Right. He had the flu. In August. That’s why he felt like absolute shit. Yippee. 

“Awful,” Chan rasped in reply. He followed that statement with a round of phlegmy coughs that even made him wince from how horrific they sounded. 

“Sorry for waking you.” Seokmin frowned apologetically. “Someone was being… cruel this morning.” He slowly turned to look at Hoshi. 

“Since when has offering a good morning hug been deemed ‘cruel?’” the dance leader shot back defensively. 

“Since you decided that said hug should also include tickling!” Seokmin replied. He was immediately shushed by Seungcheol, who had seen Chan wince at the volume of his retort. Seokmin’s hands covered his mouth in apology, and he mimed zipping his lips closed for good measure.  

“We’d hoped you would sleep through us all leaving for the day,” Seungcheol said with a sympathetic smile as he moved closer to the maknae. Chan frowned as the leader’s cold hand met his clammy forehead, as the sudden cool contact flipped his body’s switch from fever heat to chills. The younger man shivered, arms automatically wrapping around himself. Seungcheol watched the shift happen, and swiftly snagged a blanket from the end of Chan’s bed, draping it carefully around his youngest brother’s quivering frame. (Chan mentally sighed in relief that Seungcheol had chosen the blanket from the end of the bed, cause he hadn’t used that one yet, which meant this one wasn’t absolutely drenched in sweat. Small victories.)

“I wish I had,” Chan muttered, his voice so congested and husky and miserable that everyone in the room felt their heart break just a bit. 

“I’m sorry, honey,” Soonyoung said apologetically. “Kyeomie and I shouldn’t have been messing around. I’m so sorry we woke you.”

“I’d still be left out, though…” Soonyoung whined at Chan’s soft admission, dramatically falling against Seokmin’s shoulder. The vocalist melted too, unable to handle the sudden rush of guilt he felt. He had no real reason to feel guilty; it wasn’t his fault Chan was sick. But that didn’t make it easier to see their hard working maknae forced to stay behind. “Are you sure I can’t come to the studio? Even just to watch?” 

“Sorry, love, you know the rules: fever above 39.5 means no studio.” Seungcheol shook his head sadly. 

“And, no offense, babe, but you literally look contagious right now. Sound it too,” Soonyoung added. Chan’s pout intensified. Joshua elbowed Soonyoung’s side. “Ouch! What? It’s true! I said no offense.”

“Nah, I get it,” Chan replied, rubbing his hands through his hair. “But I hate it.’

“You know, only the performance unit has to leave early,” Jeonghan added from the doorway. “The rest of us can keep you company for a bit! We could even wash your bedding for you, if you want, love.” 

Chan shook his head. “You don’t have to…”

“What if we want to?”

Chan’s brow furrowed. “Hyung, you never want to do laundry.”

Jeonghan’s face fell into an unamused glare as the rest of the members in the room laughed. 

“Come on, Channie-bug. Let’s get you out of bed and into some fresh clothes.” Joshua extended his hands towards the youngest, and Chan obliged as if in a trance, allowing himself to be pulled to his feet. He tried not to feel too embarrassed as he saw Jeonghan and Seungcheol stripping his bed, tried not to cry as the soft, gentle hands of Joshua and Soonyoung guided him out of his current clothes and into new ones. Sure, he’d actually been the one taking his clothes off and on, but something about being cared for like this made him feel helpless. 

But he did as he was told, including being ushered out to the living room. Chan felt ridiculous as he shuffled towards the living room. He was wearing a long sleeve t-shirt, a hoodie, sweatpants, and Halloween fuzzy socks with a blanket thrown over his shoulders like a cape. In the hottest month of the year. And he was still shivering. How humiliating. 

With a huff of annoyance at the universe, Chan slumped onto the couch. He vaguely remembered Jihoon asking what he wanted to watch on TV, the producer turning on whatever program he’d suggested. He vaguely remembered Seokmin mentioning making tea. He vaguely remembered all of the members who had been in his room reappearing before him on the couch, saying things right out of the playbook for caring for a sick person. But none of it really stuck. Sure, Chan appreciated his members more than anything, and he’d be thanking them profusely for all of this in a few days time. But right now, when he was so miserable and forced to stay home from practicing with his best friends in the whole world, he wanted nothing more than to be left alone to sulk and sweat the rest of this bug out. 

“H’etkCHee!” And sneeze. That too. 

As Chan sat back after being thrown forward three more sneezes caught in his hands, he felt something light fall into his lap, and opened his eyes to a new box of tissues and a Hansol. 

“Bless you,” the older man cooed, folding smoothly onto the couch next to him, one ;eg tucked underneath him.

“What are you doing here?” Chan asked, pressing a bundle of tissues to his nose. 

Hansol shrugged, completely unfazed by his friend’s ill temper. “Making sure you don’t drown in your own snot?”

“Gross.”

“You’re gross.” Chan kicked Hansol’s knee, prompting the rapper to laugh. “No really. I haven’t properly seen you in two days. I wanted to just exist with you for a bit.”

“Don’t you have practice?”

“Well, Nonie and I don’t have to leave for another hour or so.” Seungkwan checked his watch just to make sure as he fell into the seat to Chan’s right. He held a mug of the tea Seokmin had mentioned earlier, set the steaming beverage on the coffee table for the moment. “We thought we’d chill with you, if you’re okay with that.” 

“Sure, if you’re not worried about catching this.”

“Pretty sure that ship has sailed,” Hansol replied. “I’m personally not too worried about it.” Seungkwan nodded his agreement. “We can mask up if that’ll make you feel better, though?” Chan bit his lip, ultimately shook his head. Hansol smirked. “Too touch starved to let us leave, huh?”

“Don’t make fun of meeee,” Chan whined, burrowing into Seungkwan’s side, much to the amusement of his friends.

“Hey, Dino!” The trio looked up, (Chan extracting himself from Seungkwan), to see Junhei in the doorway, miming a throwing motion, a blister pack of pills in his hand. Chan held up his hands, and Jun tossed the packet to him, aim effortlessly accurate as Chan caught the medicine between his palms. 

“Thanks, hyung,” Chan replied. 

Jun blew him a kiss. “Feel better, bud.” Minghao’s head appeared from behind Jun’s shoulder, a sympathetic smile stretching on his lips as he waved. The faint sound of their manager yelling from outside had both of them running out the door. 

As soon as the door slammed behind them, Chan’s whole body collapsed inward in disappointment. Hansol chuckled. “Pouting isn’t going to fix anything, Chan-ah.”

“This is just unfair.” Chan hated that he was whining, but was too tired to stop his mouth. “I just wanna go to dance.”

“I know, hon, but you have to let your body rest.” Seungkwan’s fingers pet Chan’s hair soothingly. 

“This is all Jeonghan’s fault! If he hadn’t locked the door during the last GOSE episode…”

“Oh, trust me, he knows,” Seungkwan said, Hansol nodding along enthusiastically. “He had no idea you weren’t feeling well before that whole incident, so when he found out that he’d locked you in the rain and then made you sit in the A/C for all those hours? It wasn’t pretty, let me tell you.”

“But Wonwoo and Seokmin were outside with me! Why aren’t they sick? Why just me?”

“Well, again, you told us you were feeling off before the rain thing,” Seungkwan pointed out. 

Chan shrugged. “So? Wonwoo-hyung’s immune system is shit. He should be suffering with me.” 

“True as that may be, the honest answer is that life isn’t fair.” Hansol lolled his head to the side, staring directly at Chan. “And I know that’s not what you want to hear right now.” The younger man whined in reply, falling forward so his face smushed against Hansol’s chest. The rapper laughed, patting Chan’s back affectionately. “You’re so cute!”

“Stop saying I’m cute. I’m so fucking gross right now. You said if yourself.” 

“Chan-ah! Language!” Seungkwan chided, his eyes teasing. Chan lifted his head just enough to stick his tongue out at Seungkwan before melting back into Hansol’s embrace. Seungkwan and Hansol shared a look of adoration over Chan’s head. Yeah, this was exactly how they wanted to spend their next hour. 

[fairyniceyeah]

💎🦖 Day 7: Borrowed hoodie

@sicktember

Summary: Dino throws up on himself during recording. But, seriously, whose hoodie is it that Jihoon gives him?

CW: emeto

Sickie: Dino/Chan Caretaker: Woozi/Jihoon

“Hey, it’s okay, it’s okay”, Jihoon tried to calm down the sobbing Dino. He was kneeling by the maknae’s side, one hand on his shoulder and patting it in comfort all while trying to not freak out himself.

They had been recording Dino’s lines for their new song to not much success. Maybe Jihoon had been a bit harsh but the younger really hadn’t been doing well, missing cues and messing up his notes left and right. Normally Dino never had those problems. That was why Jihoon had scheduled him at the end of the day in the first place, hoping they would breeze through it easily. Instead they had to start over and over again. So he had been confused and annoyed when the time he had planned doubled and there was no end in sight. He knew his sour mood had scared the maknae a bit but he couldn’t help it. He was hungry and tired and wanted to go home.

He had been about to suggest trying it again the next day, no sense in forcing anything if the wanted result couldn’t be reached that day, when Dino had suddenly doubled over and threw up down the front of his shirt, barely missing the microphone.

Yeah, that explained a lot. 

Jihoon had rushed into the recording booth at record speed, his annoyance turning into concern instantly and managing to help Dino squat down before his knees gave out. 

Once Dino was done, he had helped the youngest scoot backwards, away from the disgusting puddle, but ever since he had a crying maknae on his hands and he was starting to feel helpless. 

“I’m so sorry, hyung”, Dino whimpered, “I didn’t mean to.”

“Dino-yah, it’s okay. I know you didn’t want to be sick. I’m not angry or anything, just worried. Why didn’t you say you were feeling sick?”, Jihoon asked, hoping it wasn’t him. He didn’t think he’d forgive himself if his maknae had been afraid to speak up.

“I didn’t think I was this sick”, Dino mumbled, “my stomach was just a bit upset and I thought I overdid dance practice. But it got so bad so quickly.”

Jihoon sighed. “Even if it wasn’t that bad, which I think it was and you know it, you could have said something. I wasn’t going to make you continue if I had known you weren’t well.” He was glad he had been able to specifically clarify that. “Let’s get you cleaned up, hm? I will call Coups-hyung to drive us home.”

“Okay.” Dino sniffed.

Jihoon smiled at him, hoping it would set the younger even more at ease and even used his hoodie paws to wipe the tears from Dino’s face. 

“Do you still feel sick?”

Dino sniffed again and nodded, color rising on his cheeks. 

“It’s okay, hold on.” Jihoon quickly got up and dragged an empty trash can closer, plopping it down by Dino’s side. “Just in case.”

“Thanks.”

“Let’s get this off”, Jihoon encouraged and motioned at Dino’s soiled hoodie. “You can’t keep wearing that.”

Dino nodded but then stopped. “I don’t have a change of clothes. Well, my sweat-soaked dance shirts but …”

Yeah, there was no way in hell Jihoon would let him wear a disgusting shirt after changing out of an even more disgusting shirt. 

“You can borrow my hoodie”, he offered.

Dino looked a bit surprised, then mustered his hyung up and down. “Isn’t that Coups-hyung’s hoodie?”

Huh. It had been in the washing machine in their dorm. Why would it be Seungcheol’s when the leader didn’t live with Jihoon?

“I thought it was Soonyoung’s”, he admitted.

“Well, I have definitely seen Coups-hyung wear it before. And Hannie-hyung. Maybe Wonwoo-hyung too?”, Dino contemplated.

Jihoon flushed. He had not even entertained the possibility that the hoodie was common property. Normally he didn’t participate in these exchanges.

“Whatever”, he said after a moment, “do you want it? I think I only have my own clothes here.” He always kept a few changes of clothes in the studio just in case he stayed over or spilled something. But he was pretty certain that he only had his own stuff on the shelf. And that would not fit Dino, no matter that he was the second shortest in the group.

“Thanks, hyung.”

Carefully they pulled the soiled hoodie over Dino’s head, cautious to not let any sick spill more than it had to. Jihoon hoped the poor janitor would forgive him if he didn’t clean the puddle up but he had no supplies to do so.

As soon as the cool air hit Dino’s bare arms he shivered and so Jihoon quickly took off his hoodie and handed it over to the maknae. 

“Let’s sit on the couch, hm? I’ll call hyung and you can try to drink something if you want to.”

Dino nodded and let himself be pulled to his feet. Jihoon bent down and grabbed the bin to take it with them. The moment Dino was close to the sofa he let himself fall down, curling up on his side.

“You good like this?”, Jihoon asked, putting the makeshift bucket down by his head and handing over his water bottle. “Try to drink a bit.”

Dino nodded.

Jihoon walked over to the shelf, dialing Seungcheol and putting the phone between his ear and shoulder so he could look for a hoodie for himself.

“Hey, Jihoonie”, the leader greeted him, “what’s up? How is recording going? I was about to head home now.”

“That’s actually perfect”, Jihoon replied without preamble, “can you take us home with you? Maknae just threw up, he’s sick.”

“Oh no. I thought he seemed off earlier. Yeah, I’ll come and meet you at the studio, okay?”

“Thanks, hyung. See you soon.”

💎

By the time Jihoon had put on his new hoodie and had returned to Dino’s side, Seungcheol was at the door, panting. He must have run all the way.

“Hey, I heard somebody wasn’t feeling so good”, he greeted with a pout and rushed over to Dino who looked up at him with sad eyes. 

“Not really”, he replied. “I wanna go home.”

And then. “Jihoonie-hyung? Isn’t that my hoodie? I was wondering where that was.”

Jihoon stared down at himself. He hadn’t really paid any attention to what he had put on but he honestly couldn’t remember buying the black article of clothing he was wearing. 

“I … uh? I don’t know? Do you want it back?”

“Nah, it’s fine.”

Seungcheol raised his eyebrows at their conversation. “Is that my hoodie Dino-yah is wearing? Where did that come from?”

Jihoon blushed. “I thought it was Hoshi’s. Let’s just go. Dino-yah, should I carry you?”

“Please, hyung, I’m so tired. I just want to go home.”

💎

Half an hour later Seungcheol - wanting to keep an eye on him - carried a sleeping maknae into the dorm he shared with Joshua, Wonwoo, Minghao and …

Mingyu, who stepped out of the bathroom as they arrived, a towel wrapped around his waist. “Hey, why is Dino wearing my hoodie that Wonwoo accidentally shrunk in the wash?”

Masterlist links: Fairy's Full Masterlist Fairy's Sicktember 2024

[fics4you]

Hii!! Since you write for Seventeen can I request a SVT Dino snz fic with either Hoshi or Seungkwan as caretaker?? Thank youuuuu!!

Sickie: Dino

Caretaker: Seungkwan and Hoshi

Hello everyone! It has been a hot minute since I've updated. I've been crazy busy lately. But I'm back and will hopefully be more regular with updates.

Chan sighed in annoyance as he stared at his phone. It was the fourth day in a row of high pollen count, but tomorrow was supposed to be the worst.

The past few days he had suffered through an itchy nose, an unending sinus headache, swollen eyes and sneezing, and tomorrow was going to be the worst. He glanced over the count once more as he shut his phone off and curled up in bed.

The next morning he woke up to Seungkwan shaking his shoulder, "Chan, sorry to wake you up, but apparently a few of us got scheduled on a variety show, but no one told us" Chan sniffled, and rubbed his nose, "okay hyung, I'm coming" he covered his head with the blankets, "het-chhu! Httchuh etchU!"

"bless! Are you alright?"

"my allergies are killing me. My nose, eyes, and throat are all so itchy"

"do you need to take the day off? Maybe we can get one of the others to go instead"

"no. I'll be okay"

"do you need allergy medicine?"

"it makes me really tired, so I'll only take it if I absolutely need to"

"I'm sorry kid, hopefully it will be quick."

Seungkwan, Chan and Soonyoung were the ones chosen, Chan was grateful to have the two of them because with their energetic personalities,it would be easier to hide behind.

Upon arrival at the filming location Chan was filled with dread when they informed the group they would be filming outdoors.

Chan could barely breathe through his nose without needing to sneeze. He blew his nose for the last time before the camera started rolling.

The first ten minutes of filming went okay, but then the maknae felt a tickle blossom in the back of his nose. He sniffled and rubbed his nose, but it didn't help, he turned away from the camera, "hktchu Ehh-ktchu ktch-cHU"

"bless you" as the maknae sniffled Soonyoung passed a few tissues to Chan, who shot him a grateful look, once he cleaned his face up he turned back to the camera, his eyes were watering and he knew he would need to sneeze again. "C-hh- can we pause for a second-" Chdn barely gasped before he moved away from the others, "hktchu Ehh-ktchu ktch-cHU hhtchhu eht-chu hktchhu eht-chhU etChu hh,-Ktchu" Seungkwan and Soonyoung quickly rushed over to the maknae, Seungkwan gently rubbed Chan's back. "Can you breathe for me?" Chan sniffled and took a shaky breath, letting out an itchy cough. "Sorry guys"

"it's okay Chan, Soonyoung hyung is trying to get the manager to let us go home" Soonyoung returned giving a thumbs up to Soonyoung, "let's get you home" Chan was so grateful. The car ride home was miserable, he was sneezing into the already soiled tissues and wiping his itchy eyes.

As soon as they got home he took his allergy medicine and lay down, putting a cool cloth over his eyes.

Sorry if it's not great I'm just trying to get back to posting

[ordronnlilspace]

hihihi!! i love your art so much!!! could we get a little new moon with sun as the caretaker please? I think they're so cute!!!!

Sun made him Dino nuggies and apple slices :D

Sorry I keep changing little details with Suns design :3

｡･:*:･ﾟ★,｡･:*:･ﾟ☆｡･:*:･ﾟ★,｡･:*:･ﾟ☆｡･:*:･ﾟ★,｡･:*:･ﾟ☆｡･:*:･ﾟ★,｡･:*:･ﾟ☆

｡･:*:･ﾟ★,｡･:*:･ﾟ☆｡･:*:･ﾟ★,｡･:*:･ﾟ☆｡･:*:･ﾟ★,｡･:*:･ﾟ☆｡･:*:･ﾟ★,｡･:*:･ﾟ☆

[pumpkinheadspacestation]

The Tiniest Age Guide

This is a guide for my personal use but I'm posting it in case it could help some of you all too!

0 - 2

-Babbles

-Cries a lot

-Lots of naps

-Always wants dada

-Doesn't know what's wrong (hungry, cold, thirsty, in pain) just wants dada to fix it

-"Ddaddyyyyy" "Dadadadadaaa"

-Has accidents if not reminded to go to the potty/has very limited bladder control

-Scared easily

-Wants paci

-Always wants a baba over a sippy cup

-Will accidentally spit out paci

-Prefers to crawl and lay and roll over walking

-Rattlesss

-Diapies

-Wants cg to do diapy changes

-Mostly dependent on cg for help

-Oversized footie onesies and snappy onesies with shorts overtop, neutral colors (light browns, light yellows, whites and creams)

Shows and movies to watch

-Winnie the pooh

-Pocoyo

-Octonauts

-Backyardigans

-Berenstain bears

-Sid the science kid

-Hilda

The foods

-Doesnt want solid foods

-Apple sauce

-Yogurt

-Baby foods

-Wants to be fed by cg

The fun stuffs

-likes to cuddle lots

-watching cartoons

-likes to play stuffies

-likes to babble at you

3 - 5

-"I dood it 😠"

-More prone to temper tantrums

-"Leave me alone! 😡"

-"M sorry, dada"

-Baby voice

-Can find a way to communicate needs

-Semi-verbal

-Sweet most of the time

-Tries to be independent

-Pullups

-Does their own pullup and diapy changes mostly, but sometimes needs help

-Sippy cup over baba

-Clingy and feels bad for being clingy

-Very emotional

-Wants paci

-Likes and wants cg's help but can be mostly independent

-Oversized hoodies and shorts, likes long sockies and darker colors

-Insecure

Shows and movies to watch

-Wild Kratz

-Ruby Gloom

-A Series Of Unfortunate Events

-Kidden and Hoshi (YouTube)

-Barbie's life in the dream house

-Bee and Puppycat

-Hilda

-Cookie swirl c (YouTube)

-Most disney movies

The foods

-Puffs

-Yogurt bites

-Chips

-Pb and j

-Mac and cheese

The fun stuffs

-likes to color

-Play in the water

-Uno

-Likes to cuddle

-Likes to play with barbies

-Play pretend

6 - 9

-Likes shorts with pockets and zip up jackets, funky socks, converse

-Minecraft

-"Let's play outsiiiddeee!"

-Needs a nap by 1-2pm

-Wakes up early

-"Can you read me a story?"

-Likes hanging out with dada and sibbies equally much

-"Let's build a fort!"

-Big boy undies

-Rubber band bracelets

-Better at regulating emotions

-Usually denies being regressed

-Insecure in their regression

Shows and movies to watch

-Dantdm (youtube)

-Stampy cat (youtube)

-Cookie swirl c (youtube)

-Creeped out

-A series of unfortunate events

-Goosebumps

-The good dino

-The croods

The foods

-Dino nuggies

-Green bean casserole

-Pizza

-Pizza rolls

-Hotdogs

-Chile

-Not picky

The fun stuffs

-Watching tv

-Playing pretend

-Hide and seek

-Mafia

-Card games and board games

-Barbies

-Likes to cook together

-Video games like Minecraft and Animal Crossing

I'm gonna stop the guide here because I really haven't clocked myself and figured my regressed self out that well past 9 years old. I don't regress 9+ very often so it's hard to know what changes from my normal self and my regressed self bit either way, I hope this helps even though it's for my personal use and to help my cg/partner/caretaker person

Child safe interaction Only. I do not consent to kink/nsfw interaction.

[knickynoo]

Back to the Future: The Animated Series, s02ep013 "Verne Hatches an Egg"

✨Last episode of the series!✨

Previous episodes linked here.

In this episode: Verne gains a cute little buddy, creepy Mr. Wisdom returns, and a jarring final moment with Real Doc

Well, friends, we've reached the end of our journey into the world of the animated series. It was almost exactly one year ago today that I posted my review of the first episode, and it's been a super fun project to work on. I'm kind of sad to be done with it.

Let's see what this last episode has in store for us, shall we?

We start in the lab, where Doc is making adjustments to his latest invention, the "ELB Pediatric Policer."

It's basically a lie detector designed to be worn by children, lol. When a child does something they know is wrong, or if they lie about something, it flashes with lights and blares a siren. He plans to present it at the Annual Convention of the Home Inventors of Mad Geniuses.

Gonna be real with you, Doc—not sure how I feel about this invention. Sounds like a good way to raise very anxious, paranoid children.

Anyway, this reminds Doc of something that happened to Verne when he was doing show and tell one day.

The cartoon begins with someone attempting the steal the DeLorean. They're shrouded in shadows, but it's pretty clear that it's Verne. He's got a pretty high track record for DeLorean thievery. Doc's security system catches him, though, locking him into the car, setting off an alarm, and taking a picture, which is sent directly to Doc's room.

Quick little sidenote, but I don't think I've mentioned that Doc regularly calls Clara "Clarabelle" over the course of the series. When he's woken up by the alarm system, it's the name he uses to call to her, and I was like, "huh. why have I never written about this in my posts?" I looked it up, and Clarabelle (the spelling according to the subtitles on the DVD) is a variant of the more official spelling, which is Claribel. It means "bright and beautiful" but seems to be a pretty obscure name, as it's only listed at .009% usage at the height of its popularity in 1893.

So, I'm left wondering: Is the animated series implying that it's perhaps her "real" name, with Clara being her nickname? Or is this just an affectionate nickname Doc uses for Clara? And if it's a nickname, is it something Doc simply thought had a nice ring to it, or is it because he's secretly a big fan of the Disney character Clarabelle Cow??

That's Clarabelle with her boyfriend Horace Horsecollar, btw. If you even care.

Verne tells Doc that he was only taking the DeLorean so he could go looking for something cool to bring to show and tell. Doc decides to help him out by letting him borrow an arrowhead he has. Verne is psyched, but before he can even reach the school building, Biff Jr. intercepts him and demands his lunch money. He steals the arrowhead from Verne.

Verne's teacher isn't happy that he had nothing to show or tell about, and she tells him that if he doesn't bring in something the next day, she's going to make him play Prince Charming in the upcoming school play. Which is a really weird threat if you ask me!! How does one force a child into a lead role of a play he doesn't want to be in just because he didn't have show and tell? What kind of school is this?

Verne is horrified by this news on account of he'd have to kiss some girl named Beatrice. He says he'd rather be, "dead like a dinosaur" which gives him a sudden idea. I sense a bad decision coming! And I bet Marty is going to be in on it because he always enables Varne in these types of shenanigans.

Yep. I knew it.

The boys take a quick trip to prehistoric times, where Verne swipes a dino egg for show and tell.

Shortly after arriving home, the egg hatches, and Verne finds himself caretaker to the world's cutest dinosaur.

Look at that guy. (Verne faints when he sees it)

Within the hour, the dinosaur has already grown significantly, and it escapes outside to the yard, where Verne begs Jules to help in hiding him. Just then, they hear Doc approaching and quickly work to form a ridiculous story in which the dino is their friend who painted himself green because they're playing a game involving aliens.

They're able to get away with it on account of Einstein is so afraid of the dinosaur that he launches himself at Doc's face and refuses to move.

Doc decides to take Einie to the vet, leaving his sons and their "friend" to continue their game. Jules insists Verne return the dino, but Verne wants to keep him as a pet. He names him Tiny.

It doesn't take long for Tiny to go missing in town. He ends up at the Tannen home, where Biff Jr. is watching Mr. Wisdom (who you may remember from an episode earlier in the season). If you don't, you just need to know that Mr. Wisdom is an evil children's TV show host who also happens to be one of Doc's old college roommates.

Mr. Wisdom announces that he's offering $50,000 to any viewer who can capture and send in an alien, bigfoot, or dinosaur. Very unfortunate timing, huh? Biff captures Tiny and sends him into the Mr. Wisdom show. After airing a special episode featuring Tiny, Mr. Wisdom plans to kill him and sell pieces of him to research labs for money.

Thankfully, Verne comes clean to his parents, and they work together to form a plan and sneak onto the set to free Tiny.

When Mr. Wisdom starts his show and reveals the "dinosaur," it's really just Marty and Jules on stilts.

Jules looks just like the monkey in that one meme.

The family gets home and prepares to bring Tiny back where he belongs. Before he goes, he spits out a baby tooth, which Verne is excited to be able to take to show and tell.

With that story wrapped up, we go back to Real Doc, who teaches us a little about eggs using a raw one. While he's talking, he takes out the lunch he'd packed, of which one of the items is a hard-boiled egg. Can you guess what happens? Yeah, he mixes up the two eggs. After some time to think about it, he feels pretty confident that he's figured out which one is the hard-boiled one and. And he just BITES into the egg, shell and all, like an absolute lunatic. And he's wrong about it being the hard-boiled one.

Who does this? Who on EARTH eats a hard-boiled egg in this manner? Are you telling me that Doc regularly leaves the shells on his eggs and bites into them like an apple?? He eats the shells? Is that what I'm supposed to take away from this??

We're ending the animated series with the revelation that this is how our beloved scientist finds it acceptable to eat a hard-boiled egg?? What am I supposed to do with this now? How will I make peace with this information?

Join me next time for nothing. The animated series is over, folks. Doctor Emmett Brown eats eggshells.

Adiós.

[rollcakies]

Explain kiwiroll to someone who doesn't know shit about either of them (me)

BUCKLE UP

If i had a nickel each time i had to explain a ship to someone in this format LMAO anyway. This ship had been my entire personality back in 2018-2019, I was there when Roll Cake dropped and I was there when relationship charts became a thing, and what I didn't expect is what they brought along with Roll Cake and it's one of most close to canon MLM relationships Devsis have done.

Okay first off I'm gonna ramble about both of them because I'm insane abt either of these characters as much as this ship.

One thing you have to know about Kiwi is that he's a guy who spends most his time driving a bike and travelling because he's a free spirited person unbound by connections or places. More times than not he's talking about being a lone wolf, about solitude, and while he's fully okay with that, there are instances of when it seems like being alone sometimes also makes him feel lonely.

My take on it is that he was abandoned by his caretaker in youth, and to this day avoids making close connections with people, even if he's on good terms with pretty much everyone and holds no ill against anyone! He's just a nice fella.

My basis on cookies relationships hcs is heavy on their relationship charts and if I had to talk about Dino-sour I'd be doing the same, but you can see Roll Cake and Dino are the only people Kiwi trusts, and while talking about others he refers directly to them or talks about them, but with Roll Cake it's a "we".

And As I said, Kiwi is a person that doesn't do bonds. He doesn't bind himself to someone or someplace, he's a person who says that the whole world is his home. And yet with Roll Cake, it's "We are the ones blazing trails for the future Cookie generation!"

It's a cookie with no commitment in his dough committing to something, with someone.

And you can also assume he's not letting on his emotions and feelings much. "Guess I am a bit sentimental". As his whole life is around riding and maybe running.

To hummer it down look at Rockstar's words about Kiwi, and then, Kiwi has no thoughts about Rockstar whatsoever. While it could mean literally nothing I think it can be used as evidence of Kiwi being repulsed by the idea of someone attaching some sort of deep meaning into him, or his relationship with someone, to the point that he completely detaches himself from that person. You don't just say someone is your soulmate so willy-nilly LMAO (but tbh this whole thing is to this day extremely funny to me. Kiwi does not give a fuck)

And we didn't even touch a fucking bomb of an update Devsis did in form of new costumes for Both Kiwi and Roll Cake. But I'll talk about them in a sec.

Now to Roll Cake. This fucker is such a case of a character. I think he's the first victim of the stupid age discourse. HE'S NOT A CHILD. THERE'S NO DEBATE ABOUT IT. LITERALLY NONE. HE'S JUST A SHORT AND UNPLEASANT FUCKING PERSON. HE SUCKS. BUT HE'S NOT A CHILD. HE HAS A DAY JOB AND HE PAYS TAXES.

Ok so when it comes to Roll Cake there's way less text between the lines it's pretty much in your face how much he hates himself and just wants people to like him. He's angry and bitter and he acts out in a very destructive way, he's competitive and mean. He speeds on red light. He's fucking insane.

Now unlike Kiwi he has. Barely any positive interactions or realtionships with people. The only ones are Pancake, Kiwi and Butterbear Cookie.

I'm saying pancake because no way is he going to be mean to his 7 year old little brother LMAO Pancake obviously loves him.

Throws in my own lore here as a Roll Cake kinnie of 7 years when you have a little sibling and people think of them as something you're not but wish you were it fucks you up. It fucks you UP. Fairly their age difference is much bigger than mine and my singling's but its a kids game it's not that serious. Nevertheless Roll Cake doesn't take people saying Pancake is cute seriously because he knows Pancake is a little rascal, but it still gets to him. He also wants to be cute and likable and lovable.

I got a little carried away here but similarly to Kiwi, his own defining trait is his destructive tendencies. All his lines will be about it one way or another.

And to Kiwi's "WE" there's Roll Cake's "I'll make a road for you".

Roll Cake. A demolitionist. The guy with a giant hammer. The guy that breaks shit both for fun and as an outlet of his insecurities. Offers to create a road for a guy to drive along with him. Literally using his Road Roller as god intended instead of using it to break shit. Like it's in your face. It's literally in your face. They're GAY.

I don't know what to even add here Like it's right HERE.

LISTEN if this wasn't enough they had to drop matching costumes for them, Maverick of the Circuit and Menace of the Circuit.

(what the fuck is with this promo image you guys aren't even trying to pretend this isn't queer)

This is such a case of like. Like the poetry is writing itself. What the fuck is wrong with them .

In my headcanon timeline, this was in the past, as I personally think relationship charts reflect the present of cookie's relationships (or at least i think it should make sense lmao), so both of them I think met back on the racing tracks, but broke up for one reason or another and made up later in life.

Let's circle back to what I said about Kiwi, his lack of commitment to people and places, it makes sense he never stayed to do racing, but also, he's the one cosistently mentioning (implying) Roll Cake. "Guess I am a bit sentimental" - as he's wearing a scarf gifted by Roll Cake, as he's reminiscing on his relationship with Roll Cake, their "endless friendship". A gift of a scarf for the win, a sign of "endless friendship". Kiwi you're down BAD this is embarrassing.

Now looking at Roll Cake, he doesn't really... he doesn't really speak of Kiwi that much, but what he is doing is being bitter as he usually does, about something that happened between them, and I assume what happened is Kiwi fucked up. I think Roll Cake's dismissal of racing also has a lot to do with his relationship crisis w Kiwi.

Also going back to his unhealthy coping mehcanisms - becoming a racer makes a lot of sense that winning will stroke his ego ("I'm not in it for the prize money"), he likes being an intimidating shithead but he's an idolized shithead.

(Shoves in this fic I wrote recently where I actually kindaaa explore the scenario a little more, cuz I could talk about this whole thing fucking forever and it's gonna go deep into headcanon territory.)

Whatever happens between them in the future ends up making them find the perfect middle in what they need and who they are as people. Kiwi ultimately isn't antisocial, he's good to people, he's nice, but he is still competitive and reckless even if he tries to abide by the rules (if they work for him - sometimes he breaks them for his own sake!).

While Roll Cake overall is not really, like, antagonistic, he's an asshole for sure, as competitive and reckless, but even with his intimidating desposition he doesn't want to hurt people, he wants attention, he wants people to Care and Like him, and we can see also in his relationship chart (Butterbear Cookie) that caring for him is enough to get on his good side.

They, like. Even it out. There's no strict binding to each other. They share interests. They share traits. Kiwi's sentimentality works out with Roll Cake's desire to be adored.

I'll make a road for you, so follow me, and we'll be blazing the path for the future Cookie generation.

Also you get 15 affection points if you give them each other's respective magic candy ingredients.

[silent-dragon]

TWST Sona OC Profile ~ Joyce

(Bio mostly in image and below)

Species - Lizard Beastfolk (Design based on the Amalj'aa from Final Fantasy XIV)

Orientation - Omnisexual

Year - 4th

Favorite Food - Peach flavored sweets

Bio - A chill laid-back individual that on surface isn't really special. They even say as much just your ordinary lil lizard guy. They come from a family of animal herders and caretakers. Alot of horses,sheeps,and some magical beasts been in their family care for many generations. They love animals and will talk to them in their languages many times as learned alot of them.

What they hide is their second life as a professional gamer named "Rex" who is a virtual animated chibi T-Rex that plays Mobas,Battle Royale,and MMOs streaming 2-3 hours 3 days out of the week. Rex is quite popular as super bubbly and really good at the games he plays yet nothing of the person behind the lil dino is known as Joyce would be so embarrassed if anyone found out as their family wouldn't be so supportive of this as want them to work the farm as usual.

They are been tying to maintain these two lives separately since starting NRC but some of that bubblyness may come out if they feel too comfortable or with people they like alot. Does wish to find one day others who may share their passion for gaming and maybe can move in with to finally escape life on farm and do what they love much more.