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pnutbutter-n-j-elyy · 2 days

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When You Need Me Most | Part 4

Jeongin x Reader (implied female but can be read as gn!)

Pt1 Pt2 Pt3

MASTERLIST

It seemed that Jeongin hadn’t realized it only took the bare minimum to kickstart your fall.

And it seemed he took after the most dramatic hyung; thinking grand over the top displays of romance were the key to your fragile heart.

It started with the billboard.

You were on your way to the doctors, your tired eyes staring at the street ahead as you sipped on an iced coffee. You heard honking and looked at what the commotion was about. You realized someone a dozen cars up in the morning traffic was leaning out their window to take a picture of a billboard.

A billboard with your face on it.

Or a painting of your face. A pretty damn accurate one at that.

Damn you Hwang Hyunjin. Can’t you say no to your [precious little baby once in a while?

You felt a flash of embarrassment as you read the words adorning the billboard.

I love you, my nabi - YJ

You moved up in the sea of traffic at the pace of a snail as more and more people were taking pictures.

“Ahhh.” You said honking, feeling frustrated at the weird warmth rising in your chest.

Next it was a flash mob.

You were innocently walking towards the JYP building to bring the boys coffee when you heard familiar music echoing through the streets.

There were people crowded around the building which made sense since it was a hub of activity for many’s favorite idols. But there were way more people than usual.

Confused, you pulled out your earbuds and pushed through the crowd to find a group of masked people that looked oddly familiar in front of the building.

Once you came into sight the music immediately started- some gushy american pop song about love you loved blaring from three separate stereo systems.

Your eyes widened when you realized why these dancers seemed so familiar- ITZY, TWICE, NEXZ, Day6 - the kids obviously.

Your heart sank when you spotted Jeongin in the center, dancing with an infectious smile by the look of his eyes above the mask, his energy radiating as he led the group through your favorite song. As they finished, the crowd erupted into applause, and you felt your face flush with embarrassment.

“What do you think?” he asked, breathless and grinning from ear to ear as he rushed over.

“Think? Jeongin, you can’t just do things like that!” you protested, shaking your head, desperate to maintain your composure. “What the hell are you thinking?!” You grit through your teeth as you hide your face from people who were taking pictures. You were upset; but grateful at the TWICE girls for blocking the cameras that were pointing towards you and I.N. - they had quickly noticed that you were uncomfortable and being girls girls helped out. Your heart was pounding in your chest as you glared at Jeongin.

It's pounding because you're angry Y/N. Not because you’re totally swooning over this. Not because the crowd thinks we’re cute together and keeps chanting for me to accept…not because this is the most romantic thing I’ve experienced. It's because I’m angry. You tried to convince yourself.

“But I wanted you to know how much you mean to me!” he argued, eyes sparkling with excitement. “Now basically the entire company knows. And they support.” He said stubbornly.

“You’re insufferable, Yang Jeongin.” You said. He grabbed the coffee carriers from your hands and let out a soft giggle, the moment he turned away a smile resting on your face for a split second.

Days turned into weeks, and Jeongin’s antics only escalated. There was the movie theater rental. Then the 1000 roses.

The fucking blimp.

“Why do you keep doing this?” you demanded one evening, arms crossed and lips pressed tightly together. “This is ridiculous!”

Your cheeks were burning with embarrassment. Jeongin had invited you out to dinner and you were surprised by a serenade from the waiting staff. The attention from everyone made you feel like a bug under a microscope.

“Because I love you!” he shot back, a mix of frustration and affection in his voice. “Why can’t you see that?”

You huffed, trying to hold your ground. “Love isn’t supposed to be all...this! It’s supposed to be normal! I mean, you could just text me like a normal person! Or like take me on a normal date where I don’t have an entire restaurant singing me Frank Sinatra.”

“I want everyone to know how I feel! Especially you. Which is why I do it in public.” he responded, seemingly oblivious to your embarrassment.

“Your public image is at stake! What do you think people will say?”

His eyes dimmed momentarily but then brightened again with determination. “I don’t care what they say if it means making you smile! Which believe it or not Y/N I know you like these romantic gestures.”

“What’s next, Jeongin? A plane with a message?” you snapped.

“Would you like that?” he teased, his playful nature unyielding.

“My point is when is it going to stop?”

“When you become my girlfriend. So the ball is in your court Nabi-”

“Jeongin!” you groaned, frustrated. “This needs to stop! You’re making it impossible for me to breathe!”

He looked at you, genuine hurt in his eyes. “But Y/N-ah.” He whined. “I just wanted to make you feel loved.”

“No more Jeongin or the deal is off. You’re going to ruin your public image if you-”

You watched Jeongin shake his head at something behind you and when you turned you saw someone with a shocked and regretful face watching as a small heard of tiny dogs rushed at you. All with flowers in their mouths, and wagging tails as they dropped them at your feet and jumping up on their hind legs like circus performers.

You heard Jeongin groan in embarrassment.

You felt a mix of warmth and irritation flood you like a tidal wave. Such powerful emotions you felt tears fall from your eyes. “It’s too much! I love you, but I can’t handle this! You’re insane Yang Jeongin.” You couldn’t help but smile as the tears continued to fall, squatting down to pet the dogs as they happily yipped and lapped up your tears.

He blinked, confusion clouding his expression. “What did you say?”

You laughed and started wiping at your tears, not knowing what you were feeling.

“What?” You laughed out, not able to control the smile on your face, as you watched the dogs make their way back to who you assumed to be their trainer.

“You…said you loved me.”

You looked up at Jeongin, his face a mixture of shock and hope and excitement.

You quickly replayed the words you had said and your eyes widened in surprise. “I didn’t mean- I meant-”

Before you could finish, he stepped closer, cupping your face in his hands, his sincerity palpable. “You love me?” His eyes were wide and curious.

You felt your heart flutter, torn between annoyance and the undeniable warmth swelling within you. You had never been one to slip up your words badly, rather you said what was constantly on your mind.

But you were stubborn. Even though you knew you were so undoubtedly in love with him.

“Jeongin, you can’t just-”

His lips brushed against yours, soft and tentative, igniting a spark that made you forget your stubborn resolve. When he pulled away, his eyes searched yours, hopeful yet vulnerable. “This is the happiest moment in my entire life.”

You sighed, a rueful laugh bubbling up in your chest. “Me saying I love you is the happiest moment in your life?” You asked in disbelief.

“Hm.” He said with a sharp nod, eyes twinkling.

“What about your debut?”

“No. Nothing compared to this.” His energy was infectious, and before you could say anything else, Jeongin started bouncing up and down like a little kid who had just received the best gift in the world. His excitement was so intense that it became less of a bounce and more of a shake, his whole body trembling with joy.

You couldn’t help the smile that tugged at your lips as you watched him. “Jeongin, stop. You look ridiculous,” you said, though the fondness in your voice was undeniable.

He grinned wider, shaking even harder. “I don’t care. You love me, Y/N. You said it. That’s all I care about!”

You rolled your eyes, trying to suppress the warmth that flooded your chest. “You’re seriously acting like a child right now.”

"Then I guess I’m a child in love," he shot back with a wink, still practically vibrating with excitement. "You don’t understand, Y/N. You saying that… it means everything to me." His voice wavered, growing softer.

Suddenly, the bravado slipped away, and his eyes started to gloss over with tears. “I’m so happy, Nabi,” he whispered, his lips trembling as he pouted, struggling to hold back his emotions. His usually bright, mischievous demeanor melted into something raw, something unguarded, and the sight of it made your chest tighten.

You swallowed hard, caught between wanting to comfort him and feeling overwhelmed by the weight of it all. “Jeongin, I…”

He took a shaky breath, blinking rapidly as if trying to fight off the tears, but they brimmed at the corners of his eyes. “I know I’m ridiculous,” he laughed softly, the sound shaky. “I know the billboard, the roses, the flash mobs… all of it was too much. But I didn’t know how else to show you. I wanted you to see how much I-”

“Stop,” you cut him off gently, your heart aching as you reached out to grab his hand, squeezing it tight. “It’s not that I don’t see it, Jeongin. I see it. But…” you gestured vaguely in the air, your voice trembling. “You’re risking everything- your career, your image- all for me. I don’t want you to jeopardize all of that because of some grand gestures.”

His face fell, and for a moment, you feared you’d broken something fragile between you. He pulled his hand away from yours, running it through his hair in frustration. “I don’t care about my image, Y/N. I care about you. How many times do I have to tell you? You’re not listening!”

“I am listening. But you’re not being reasonable. You should care!” you blurted, your frustration finally spilling out. “You’ve worked your whole life to get here, to be where you are. And I’m just-”

“Don’t you dare say you’re just anyone,” Jeongin interrupted, his voice sharper now, filled with emotion. “You’re not just someone, Y/N. You’re my someone.”

You stared at him, your pulse racing, feeling the weight of his words between you. His eyes were wide, shining with sincerity.

“I don’t care what anyone says about us. About me. I don’t care what I have to give up, because you-” he stepped closer, his hands cupping your face so gently, his thumbs brushing away a tear that you didn’t even realize had fallen, “-are worth more than any career, any public image, or any of this.”

You felt your breath catch in your throat as his words settled into your heart, breaking through the walls you had tried to keep up. It was terrifying, knowing he was willing to sacrifice so much, just for you.

“Jeongin…” you whispered, shaking your head. “I love you. So much I’m scared sometimes.”

His eyes softened, and he gave you a bittersweet smile. “I love you too.” He said it so casually, like it was the easiest thing in the world for him, but it hit you like a tidal wave.

“What if-” you stammered, your heart racing. “What if-”

If this ends badly. You wanted to say. But you had no room because he leaned down without hesitation and kissed you.

It was soft, hesitant, and full of every unsaid word that had been hanging between you for so long.

Well, unsaid on your end.

The world seemed to slow around you, the chaos fading as his lips moved gently against yours, and for the first time in a while, you felt like everything made sense.

When he pulled back, his forehead rested against yours, his breath coming out shaky. “You keep trying to say you didn’t mean to say it,” he whispered, his voice barely audible. “But I’m glad you did. Even if its not true…”

You opened your eyes slowly, looking up at him, completely disarmed. “It is true. It’s the truest thing I’ve ever said.” Your voice was barely audible, and Jeongin let out a relieved laugh.

“Thank God,” he said, placing his forehead on yours with a soft smile. “I’ll stop the blimps, the billboards, the flash mobs.” His hands slid from your face, falling to rest gently on your waist, his grip warm and steady. “I’ll stop all of it, if that’s what you want.” His nose brushed against your cheek, eliciting a soft giggle from you as he gave you feather light kisses.

You stared at him, your heart aching, unsure of how to respond. He was offering you everything, offering to quiet the chaos he had created, just for you. And yet, there was a part of you that realized something.

It wasn’t the grand gestures that overwhelmed you- it was the fact that they were for you.

“I didn’t need all of that,” you said softly, your voice barely above a whisper. “I didn’t need the blimp or the roses or the billboard to know how you feel. I’ve known for a while…I was just too afraid to admit it.”

Jeongin’s brows furrowed in confusion.

You sighed, shaking your head. “It scared me. Loving you- being loved by you- it scared me. I was afraid that we’d lose everything we had if we…if we crossed that line. That we would end up like…” You frowned. “You're special to me, Innie. I didn’t want love to ruin anything.”

He let out a small, incredulous laugh, his eyes filled with so much warmth it nearly broke you. His eyes crinkled into those cute mischievous ones you loved oh so much. “Y/N, love isn’t what ruins things. It’s not love that causes the problems. It’s fear. Fear of messing up, fear of losing control. Fear that we’ll get hurt. And it’s not even really the fear. Its letting that fear control you.”

You swallowed hard, his words hitting too close to home. “But what if we do mess up? What if we ruin everything?”

He smiled gently, brushing a strand of hair behind your ear. “We probably will. But that’s life, isn’t it? We’re going to mess up, we’re going to make mistakes. But that doesn’t mean we should stop loving each other. Or that we’re going to. You just have to push past those fears; those mistakes made, arguments had. You push past them and then your love grows stronger.”

Tears stung at the back of your eyes as you met his gaze, feeling the sincerity in his every word. He was right- love wasn’t the problem. It was the fear of it, the fear of losing something so good that kept you from truly letting go.

“You’re strangely profound tonight, Jeongin.” You giggled, more tears threatening to go. You cupped his cheek and caressed it, as he leaned into your touch looking you in the eyes. “Where’d my Innie go?”

“He grew up so he could take better care of you.” He responded softly. “I love you,” he said again, his voice full of quiet conviction. “And I don’t need a thousand roses or a flashing billboard to prove it. I just need you to trust me. Trust that we’ll figure it out together. Trust me that I’m not going to hurt you like everyone else. Trust me that I’m going to be there for you when you need me most.”

You bit your lip, nodding as a tear finally slipped down your cheek. “I do. I trust you.”

Jeongin smiled, his thumb brushing away your tears. “Good. Because I’m all in, Nabi. No more over-the-top gestures. Just…you and me.”

You let out a shaky laugh, leaning into him as he pulled you into his arms. “Just you and me,” you whispered, finally feeling the weight you thought would never leave lift from your chest.

(xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx)

Two Years Later

The stadium was alive with the kind of energy only a sold-out show could create. The crowd roared with excitement, thousands of fans screaming as Stray Kids performed their final song of the night. You watched from backstage, your heart racing with pride as Jeongin worked the stage like the pro he was, every movement precise and electric.

He caught your eye for a brief second from across the stage and flashed that familiar grin, the one that still made your stomach flip even after all these years. You smiled back, knowing that even after everything, he was still the same Jeongin- your Jeongin. The one who would text you random memes at 2 a.m., who would bring you snacks even when you didn’t ask, who had once rented out an entire billboard just to make sure you knew how much he loved you.

It had been quiet since then. After that night two years ago, the grand gestures stopped. No more blimps, no more flash mobs, no more roses delivered in bulk to your door. It was just the two of you now, living a quieter kind of love- a love that didn’t need to shout to be heard.

But something in the way he looked at you tonight was different. His eyes sparkled with that familiar mischief, and you felt a twinge of curiosity in your gut.

As the final notes of the song faded out, Jeongin took a step forward, raising his hand to signal for the crowd to quiet down. His bandmates exchanged glances, a few of them smiling knowingly, and you furrowed your brows.

Something was definitely up.

“Thank you for tonight!” Jeongin shouted into the mic, in English his voice echoing through the stadium. His accent made you smile and you wanted to pinch his cheeks like the cute little baby bread he was- even if the way he looked now made him seem like “daddy toast” as Stay had put it oh so perfectly. The crowd cheered wildly in response, and you chuckled to yourself, always amazed at how much love and support he had.

But then, his voice softened. "Before we go...I, um...I have something I want to say. Or, well, maybe something I need to do." He glanced backstage, locking eyes with you again, and your stomach flipped for an entirely different reason this time.

Your eyes widened as he waved you over, the spotlight suddenly shifting in your direction. The crowd let out a collective gasp as they realized who he was looking at, murmurs of recognition rippling through the audience.

“Y/N-ah,” he called, his smile growing impossibly wider and his dimple showing. “Can you come out here for a second?”

Your heart pounded in your chest, and your feet felt glued to the floor. The staff nudged you forward, and you hesitated for a moment before stepping onto the stage. As you approached, Jeongin held out his hand, his eyes glowing with something beyond excitement- something deeper, more vulnerable.

Once you reached him, he took your hand in his, his grip steady and warm despite the fact that the stadium was roaring with thousands of fans. You could feel the eyes of every person in the room on you, but all you could focus on was him- Jeongin, standing there with that look in his eyes that made you feel like you were the only person in the world.

“I know I promised no more grand gestures,” he began, his voice soft but steady. “And I’ve been good, haven’t I?”

You chuckled nervously, nodding. “Yeah, you have.”

Jeongin grinned, but then his expression shifted, becoming more serious. “But the thing is…I lied.”

The crowd erupted in laughter, but you stood there, frozen in place, not sure what to expect.

He took a deep breath, his gaze never leaving yours. “A few nights ago, I was drunk- like, really drunk- and I was crying. Like full-on sobbing to the guys. And you walked in and saw me crying and the guys recording me…?” He looked at you with an expectant gaze.

And it clicked.

You felt tears starting to form.

Jeongin spoke again, turning to Stay for just a moment. “For context I was crying because I was so drunk that I saw a picture of Y/N and I and was sad because I thought the person I loved most had a boyfriend.” He chuckled. “Even thought I was literally looking at a picture of us- and I am Y/N’s boyfriend.”

The crowd bursted out laughing again, knowing that was on point for their precious maknae.

Jeongin bit his lip, his eyes glistening with emotion. “But then my hyungs started recording again because I started crying again. Harder this time.” He swallowed. “Because I realized that I’m not your husband.”

Your breath hitched, and your heart felt like it was about to leap out of your chest. The crowd gasped, murmurs sweeping through the stadium again, but all you could focus on was Jeongin- his trembling lips, the way his hands shook just slightly as he held yours.

“I kept telling myself that I didn’t need to do something crazy to prove how much I love you. But then I realized…I want to. I want to do one last grand gesture.”

With that, he slowly dropped to one knee.

Your hands flew to your mouth, your eyes filling with tears as you realized what was happening. Deep down you knew he was going to propose once he brought up that story, but for some reason you didn’t believe it. But now there was no denying it.

The entire stadium fell silent, the weight of the moment settling in like a wave crashing down.

Jeongin looked up at you, his smile trembling as he pulled a small velvet box from his pocket. “Baby…I know I’ve been over the top before. I know I’ve done a lot of wild, stupid things. But this isn’t one of them. This-” he opened the box to reveal a stunning ring, the lights catching the diamonds in a way that made it sparkle like a star, “ - is the one thing I’m doing because I’ve never been more certain about anything in my life.”

Your breath hitched, your vision blurring as tears streamed down your cheeks.

“Will you marry me, Nabi?” His voice cracked slightly, the vulnerability in his words breaking your heart in the best way possible. “Because I can’t imagine a life where I’m not the one by your side. I don’t need blimps or billboards. I just need you.”

The silence in the stadium was deafening, every single person holding their breath as they waited for your answer.

You swallowed hard, your voice shaking as you whispered, “Yes. Yes, Innie.”

The crowd exploded in cheers, the noise so loud it felt like the stadium itself might burst apart. But all you could hear was the sound of your heartbeat rising in your ears, pounding in your chest as Jeongin stood up, pulling you into his arms.

He kissed you then, in front of thousands of screaming fans, in the middle of the most important moment of both your lives. It was soft, gentle, and filled with so much love that it made your knees weak.

When you finally pulled away, breathless and laughing through your tears, Jeongin looked down at you with the same adoring smile he’d always had. “I guess I broke my promise about no more grand gestures, huh?”

You chuckled, wiping at your tears. “I think I’ll let this one slide.”

Jeongin grinned, his eyes sparkling as he slid the ring onto your finger. “Good. Because this is the only one that really mattered.”

You looked at the ring then up at Jeongin who was crying now too. Suddenly, it all became too much. The adrenaline, the disbelief, the overwhelming joy- it hit you like a tidal wave. You turned away from Jeongin, your chest rising and falling with uneven breaths, and squatted down, covering your face with your hands. The tears came pouring out uncontrollably, your entire body trembling as you tried to process everything that had just happened.

The cheers from the crowd were deafening, but you could still hear the boys- your boys; you family -in the background, reacting to what had just unfolded.

Lee Know tried to maintain his composure, but even he couldn’t stop the flood of emotions that broke through. He was crying, full fledged crying and clinging to Changbin which was a strange and unfamiliar sight to you. Changbin’s grin was impossibly wide, despite the tears rolling down his face. He leaned into Lee Know, giving him a hard smack on the back as if to say, “Can you believe this? Our maknae - our little baby did it.”

Chan, had crumbled into a full sob as well, his shoulders shaking as he wiped furiously at his eyes, looking at Jeongin with a mixture of pride and disbelief. He was holding onto Han, who was also crying but trying to comfort his hyung at the same time, patting his back as tears streamed down his own cheeks.

Felix, Hyunjin and Seungmin were all huddled up crying as well, trying to pull someone up onto the stage. You couldn’t help but let out an excited squeal as your favorite Aussie - sorry Channie, sorry Lix - came running to you from the crowd.

She didn’t care as she pushed Jeongin out of the way to fall onto the ground and hug her best friend.

“Oh my GOD!! Y/N, my love!!” Hannah cried as she clung to you, pulling back to look at your face.

All of them - every single one of them - were crying, their hearts bursting with happiness for the youngest member of their group, the boy they’d watched grow from a shy teenager into a man who was standing on stage, proposing to the love of his life.

And Stay…Stay was losing their minds.

It was as if they didn’t know whether to cheer, cry, or scream. Some fans had tears streaming down their faces, waving their lightsticks in support. A collective wave of emotion washed through the crowd as the realization hit- Jeongin, their precious maknae, was in love. Truly, deeply in love. And it wasn’t just some fleeting romance; it was real, profound, the kind of love you could only dream about.

Some fans covered their faces in disbelief, others jumped up and down in pure joy, and more than a few had collapsed into sobs, overwhelmed by the moment. Their phones were held high in the air, capturing every second of this life-altering event. They knew this wasn’t just a regular concert anymore- it was history in the making. Probably the most elaborate proposal one had seen. A story that would be told for years to come.

Jeongin stood there, watching you cling to Hannah with a soft, tender smile, and then, without saying a word, he crouched down beside you. He didn’t pull you up immediately, just rested a gentle hand on your back, giving you the space you needed to breathe, to process. After a moment, you peeked up at him through your fingers, a half-sob, half-laugh escaping your lips as you took in his watery smile.

“I’m really sorry for this,” Jeongin murmured, his voice still shaky with emotion, “but I couldn’t wait any longer.”

You shook your head, laughing through your tears as you wiped at your face. “I should’ve known you’d find a way to break your promise.”

He chuckled softly, his hand still rubbing comforting circles on your back. “Just this one time. I couldn’t help it, Nabi.”

Finally, you stood up, still feeling weak in the knees, Hannah letting you use her as a crutch, and Jeongin pulled you into his arms. He held you so tight it was as if he was afraid you might slip away, his chin resting on top of your head as you both soaked in the moment. He pet your hair as the rest of the boys crowded around, not caring about the stage or the cameras. One by one, they pulled you and Jeongin into the tightest, warmest group hug you’d ever been a part of - Hannah stubbornly pushing past her brother to join - each of them sniffling and wiping their eyes as they squeezed you both.

Lee Know, still crying, ruffled Jeongin’s hair with a grin, “I can’t believe you actually did it.”

“I can’t believe I’m crying,” Han muttered through his tears, which made everyone laugh.

“I can you’re a crybaby.” Seungmin said through his now quieted tears, which only made everyone laugh even harder.

Chan gave you a squeeze, patting your head, his voice thick with emotion. “I’m so proud of you, Jeongin.”

You glanced up at Jeongin through the sea of arms wrapped around you, his face still glowing with pure happiness. As the boys and your best friend slowly pulled away, Jeongin took a deep breath, turning to face the crowd one last time. He was still holding your hand, his fingers laced tightly with yours as he raised your joined hands in the air.

“I just have one last thing to say,” he began, his voice resonating through the stadium as the audience quieted down. He looked at you with so much love, his eyes soft and bright. “A message for Stays.”

He looked at you and you nodded, having a sixth sense to what he would say.

Jeongin stood there, his voice steady but full of emotion, addressing not just you but every single person in the crowd. His hand, still holding yours, gave a reassuring squeeze, but his eyes drifted over the sea of fans- his Stays. His heart was laid bare, his words filled with a kind of truth that could only come from experiencing love in its rawest form.

“The problem is never that you loved someone or someone loved you…” he continued, his voice resonating across the stadium. “It’s how you choose to handle that love. How you react when it gets hard, when it feels overwhelming, when you’re scared of it. But love itself? Love doesn’t hurt you. People do. Choices do. But love…love heals.”

He took a deep breath, his gaze now sweeping the audience as if speaking to each of them personally. “I know some of you might feel like love is scary. That it’s a risk, that it can break you, or ruin things, or mess with everything you’ve worked for. But love doesn’t destroy. It builds you up. It pushes you to be the best version of yourself. It’s what makes life worth it.”

The crowd, which had been buzzing with excitement, grew silent, every word sinking into the hearts of those watching. Tears filled the eyes of fans as Jeongin’s vulnerability hit them all at once. The sincerity in his voice made it impossible not to feel the weight of his message.

“I know sometimes it feels easier to give up on love, to protect yourself from the possibility of getting hurt. But the truth is…love will always be there, waiting for you to embrace it. When you shut it out, you’re shutting out the best parts of yourself.” His voice softened, but the emotion behind it was more powerful than ever. “When you need someone the most, when you feel like you can’t do it alone, love will always be there. That’s what love is for.”

A gentle breeze seemed to sweep through the arena, carrying his words like a warm hug. He glanced at you, a soft smile tugging at his lips as he turned back to the crowd.

“So, don’t be afraid of it. Don’t run from it. Don’t think it’ll ruin things, because love will only ruin you if you don’t give it a chance. Trust me, I’ve had to teach that to people firsthand.” He turned to you and kissed your forehead.

“And I thought that I had to prove that fact with grand gestures, but in the end, all that matters is being there. When someone needs you most.”

He whispered to you.

“When you need me most, I’ll be there. That’s love.”

With that, he leaned down, pressing a soft, lingering kiss to your lips, sealing the promise that he had made- not just to you, but to everyone who believed in love.

You smiled through your tears, reaching up to touch his cheek gently as you two kissed.

When you had needed him most he had shown up.

You had always needed him. And he had always been there.

And you knew he’d always would be.

(xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx)

@abovenyx @wolfs-archive @oddracha

@iyeeeverydee @parisanmorovati @seungmincenteric

@panbish-1209 @fxiry-vtt @sseawavee

@shuporanporang @amarecerasus @softkisshyunjin

@whoa-jo @meanergreener @rikibun

@ayyonoona @shinywombatcrusade @y4yayael

@skzstan12345 @mariteez @allys-reads

@jazziwritesthings @skzstannie @yongbokkiesworld

@kkkeopi @neverendingstay @moony-9

@minsungsthirdwheel @everlastingspring143 @joyofbebbanburg

@leezanetheofficial @tr-mha-fan @bubbly-moon

@night-storm7 @missmajdastark @0325tiny @mademoisellebruce

@stressymessyana @axel-skz-main @desi2go

@adirajackson @hyunjinsbelovedamericano @yaniiiiism

(i tagged those who had commented, just so they could know the final part was up since its been a minute since this fic was updated :3)

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heartiis · 15 hours

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the big apple ꩜ .ᐟ

pairing - ellie x reader

synopsis - you've just moved to nyc and ellie's your new neighbor. she hates you though and you don't know why :((

cw - mean ellie, eventual side gig dealer ellie, eventual weed, eventual tattoo artist ellie, cigs, drinking, no smut this time but there will be eventually, swearing, reader is feminine, descriptions of outfits, uhh can't think of what else I'm new to this

a/n - this is my first fanfic and english isn't my first language so yea !! there's going to be multiple parts, I'm not sure how many yet. I hope u like it. lots of wish fulfillment here bc I'm not american and would love to live in nyc. I tried to imagine what ellie, jesse and dina would be like irl but I also just did what I wanted to do loll

Your new apartment in New York was dingy, run down and just the slightest bit smelly. But that didn’t matter. You loved it because it was yours, just yours. You were going to pay the rent and everything, and you already had a job at a coffee shop lined up for when your savings ran out.

Then there was the matter of the neighbor. You see, very often, the smell of weed crept under their doorway and made it’s way into your apartment, and into your nose. It wasn’t that you hated it. No, unfortunately for you, you loved it. You wanted so desperately to know who it was that was stinking up your apartment, and what they must be doing every time they got high.

Did they listen to music, the same kind you did? Or did they just lay there, thinking about life? Where they talking to someone? Touching someone…?

You wouldn’t be so nosy, you imagined, if you had your own weed. But moving to a city where you knew no one was complicated. Finding a plug was complicated, even if it was in New York, and it would be great if you could befriend your neighbor and ask them for a referral.

Your question about what they looked like was suddenly answered when you came out on Monday morning for your first official shift at the coffee shop. On that day, your neighbor who you’d never seen before just happened to leave their apartment at the same time as you, and as soon as you saw her, you were struck by how hot she was.

Dressed in baggy, stylish clothes, with auburn hair cut to her shoulders and tied back in a haphazard bun, she was your idea of walking sex. The place you’d be working at didn’t have a uniform except for an apron with its logo, and suddenly you felt sheepish in your dainty goodwill floral dress and sneakers.

Everyone in New York was so cool, with studded belts and graphic tees from bands you obviously wouldn’t know, that your style which had suited you so well living in your small hometown now felt boring. You’d run away to the big apple to be where the action was, to meet cool people and live a full life. But it was growing increasingly clear to you that maybe those people wouldn’t be as eager to meet you.

You turned your head to look at your neighbor, who was exactly the type of person you’d envisioned would be a part of your new amazing life. She had freckles all over her nose and cheeks, creeping down her neck. And she had a beautiful tattoo on her arm. A tattoo! The grand majority of people in your hometown were too conservative to have those, even the young ones. You found yourself wanting to trace it with your fingers…

You realized you were staring, and tried to snap yourself back to reality. Work. You were in the elevator because you needed to go to work.

You straightened up as the elevator bell dinged, then started to walk out—and tripped. The stupid old machine had stopped just below floor level, making it so that you had to step up a bit as if climbing stairs, which you hadn’t done.

Right in front of your extremely hot, extremely-your-type-neighbor. Except it didn’t matter, did it? You didn’t want a complicated relationship with your neighbor (not that you had any confidence she’d be interested in you like that) and there were so many other hot women in New York.

But when you looked back, she was smirking, and it was the sexiest thing ever. So it did matter, a lot.

At least you’d managed not to fall.

You tried to gain back composure, laughing slightly so it was less awkward. But she just kept that same shit-eating grin on her face. Then she scoffed. Actually scoffed. Goddamn. What made it worse was that her distaste for you only made her hotter, more desirable, in your eyes. You were screwed.

You realized you weren’t moving when she walked past you with her hand reaching into her back pocket. She pulled out a pack of cigarettes and did not look back at you as she walked out of the building. You wondered were she was going.

The rest of your day was anxiety inducing. You felt a growing swarm of nerves in your stomach as you were introduced to your co-workers and taught the ropes of your job. You were just thankful they didn’t have you dealing with clients yet. During the early hours of your shift, there had been a steady line at the cash register full of all kinds of people, some of them nice and patient, others not so much. You’d clearly chosen a busy spot to work in.

Then again, wasn’t that most places in New York? You smiled to yourself. Things were indeed nerve-racking, but they were also so very exciting.

As the week went on, you began to settle into the motions of your job. Making more complicated drinks was still very hard, but there were simpler manual tasks you would do were you didn’t have to think much about what your body was doing. And in those quieter moments, your mind would wander to that elevator, and the embarrassing moment you’d had.

After the inner panic at the thought of it would fade, you’d think about your neighbor. You wondered what her life was like here. What she did for a living, what her weekends looked like, if she participated in the nightlife of the city you had no friends to explore with yet. You wanted to know her name, and who her friends were, and if she had a girlfriend (because you were pretty damn sure she liked girls). But unluckily for you, you received very little hints.

After that first day on Monday, you hadn’t seen her in the mornings, nor in the afternoons when you came back home. All you had of her were those moments where the slight smell of weed rose up in your apartment, making you wish you could just knock on her door and join in on the smoke sesh.

Then Friday night came. You were spent from your busy first week and decided to stop by the supermarket on the way home to get yourself some cheap wine and a single wine glass.

It was a warm summer night, so you sat on the fire escape window in your little pajama shorts and tank top, setting down the things you’d bought next to you. You’d already opened the wine, so you poured it in the glass and took to sipping. When the first glass was done you poured yourself another, already starting to feel a little tipsy. You had just begun to drink it when you heard the sound of your neighbor’s window roll up, accompanied with a man’s laughter.

He stepped out onto the fire escape with a beer bottle and leaned against the railing. He wore clothes with a similar, baggy style to your neighbor’s. Then came out a pretty girl with dark hair pulled into a ponytail and heeled black leather boots.

“Come on, slowpoke!” she said, extending a hand.

“Alright, alright I’m coming! I was just checking my phone.” Your neighbor grabbed the girl’s hand and stepped onto the fire escape.

Girlfriend? You thought, feeling like you were deflating.

“You got a message from one of your little fuck buddies?” The girl teased.

Not a girlfriend. Oh, and your neighbor had fuck buddies. You found it kind of hot, of course. Because you were always into the girls who might as well be walking around with the word “danger” written onto their foreheads. It also did makes you feel a little weird, because you knew she wouldn’t fuck you, and even if she did, you’d just be a fuck buddy. But what did it matter? It wasn’t like you even knew her enough to be able to want anything more. Still, you felt weird.

“Clients, actually,” she responded.

“Yeah, Dina, you think Ellie would even deign to give any of those girls her number?”

So, her name was Ellie.

“Asshole,” Ellie said as Dina laughed.

Your time spent staring at her was cut short when she noticed your presence, looking directly at you. You couldn’t help but notice her grin slide right off her face. You picked up the wine glass and tasted the drink nervously.

“Hey!” The guy said, with a bright smile on his mouth. “You must be the new neighbor.”

“Yeah,” you said, hesitating. You watched Ellie’s reaction to this closely. She seemed annoyed her friend was even making conversation with you.

“Much cuter than the last one,” Dina smiled. You smiled back softly.

“Well, it’s not really hard to compete with Stinky Steve,” Ellie said, and your smile faded.

“Dude.” The guy shot her a look. “Anyways, my name’s Jesse. I’m Ellie’s friend.”

“Nice to meet you. My name’s y/n.”

“So,” Dina cut in. “Are you living alone or have you got a roomate that’s cute like you?”

“Um, I’m living alone. I’m new to the city, actually, so I don’t really know anybody yet.”

Jesse leaned onto the railing closest to your side. “Well, you know us now.” He looked at Dina and Ellie, taking a swig of his beer. “You know what? We actually came here to pre-game. We’re going to this club in like an hour, if you want to come with.”

“Jesse.” Ellie looked like she wanted to deck him.

“What? She seems cool!”

“Yeah, Ellie, don’t be such a dick. Be nice to your neighbor.” Dina poked her. Ellie didn’t say anything else, just sat down on the window ledge and looked brooding.

“So, what do you say y/n?”

You thought about it. Maybe the wine was making you more confident, but you kind of wanted to say yes. Not just because you wanted to get closer to Ellie, but because Dina and Jesse seemed cool too, and you really wanted to go out partying in the city. You looked at Ellie, who was staring off into the distance. You’d feel uncomfortable saying yes, knowing she clearly didn’t want you to go. But then you thought it wasn’t fair for her to keep you from making friends. It didn’t make sense for her to hate you so much. You hadn’t even done anything to her.

Yeah, fuck her.

“Okay. I’m just going to get ready while you guys pre-game, is that good?”

“Hell yeah!” Jesse clapped his hands. “Knock on our door when you’re ready.”

“My door,” Ellie interjected. You thought to yourself that you were going to find some other hot girl to dance with, so you could forget about your rude neighbor.

“Oh, one thing,” Jesse said. “How old are you?”

“Nineteen.”

“Same as Ellie! You got a fake id?”

Ellie scoffed. “Definitely not..” She said it under her breath, but you heard it anyways.

“Of course.” You smiled.

“Attagirl.”

Dina smiled and looked pointedly at Ellie.

You climbed inside your apartment, heading straight to your room. Your excitement was taken down a notch when you opened your closet. Jesse, Dina and Ellie were all wearing stylish clothes. Dina had on a hot club girl outfit, while Jesse and Ellie looked like attractive people you’d see at the skate park. They all looked like they’d be stopped by one of those tiktok street interviewers who would ask them to talk about their outfits. You thought about Ellie’s clothes. She was wearing jorts and a shirt with the sides cut out, revealing her Calvin Klein sports bra at the sides. You bit your lip, then shook your head, turning to the task at hand.

Your floral dresses were out of the question. You had a few basic crop tops and tanks which would do for a top, but you didn’t want something that would just do. You were a resident of New York City now, and you wanted to look the part. Then you remembered something. One of the coolest girl friends you had back in your hometown had given you a dress because you’d said you thought it was hot.

You sifted through your things and fished it out. It was a simple black dress with thin straps, but it was quite short and meant to cling onto your body. You’d never worn it before, in part because you hadn’t had many occasions for it, and also in part because you were worried you’d feel self-conscious in it. Especially because it could easily ride up and expose your ass. Whatever. You took out from your closet some tights you could wear underneath and called it a day.

You slipped it on and put on a few rings and your favorite necklace, then went back to the bathroom to put on some makeup. You put on lots of eyeliner and eyeshadow around your eyes, creating a sort of smokey eye look, then stepped back to look at yourself. Finally, you sprayed on some of your favorite perfume. Perfect. You smiled and walked out of your apartment, knocking on Ellie’s door.

Dina answered. “Oh, shit, you look hot.”

“Thanks.” You tilted your head, a little shy but happy.

Jesse came up next to Dina. “Ready to go?”

“Yup,” you replied.

#ellie tlou #ellie williams #ellie x reader #fanfic #ellie x fem reader #dealer ellie #tlou2 #ellie x y/n

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