#each pair uses similar stuff so i'm not sure which i'll pick

[dravidious]

Happy "Tell Dravid they're amazing day"! (Every day)

Yay! What a lovely celebration, there's cake and cookies and-

Oh no! Some dastardly fiends have stolen the confections!

And leading the crew is an adorable troublemaker!

[authorautumnbanks]

Accidentally Dating (15)

Summary: A series of accidental dates and meetings between Kagome and Satoru over the years.

Pairing: KagomexGojo

Series Master list

Read Chapter 19 of the Side Stories First!

"Suguru!" Kagome yells, waving a hand in the air as she runs over to him. He stops and watches her with tired eyes. She really does not care for how down Suguru looks. Not that she sees him all that often, but he used to have a little more light to him. A little more umph. "Did you just get done with a mission?"

He presses his lips together and then dips his head. "Yeah, I took care of the curse." He stuffs his hands in his pockets as though he isn't quite sure how to act without Satoru there as a buffer.

This is the first time she has seen Suguru without Satoru.

"So, are you all done, then?"

"Uh..."

"Come on!" Kagome grabs his arm and tugs him along. She sniffs. His cologne is similar to the brand Satoru wears, but cheaper? "Do you like games?" There should be some crane games around the block or maybe Suguru would prefer an arcade?

"Uh..." Suguru coughs. "Yes, I like games, but... uh... Satoru isn't around."

"Hm? Oh yeah, Satoru is still busy with his missions. He texted me not too long ago. InuYasha is with him." Kagome rolls her eyes. Those two are always at each other's throats, but whenever Satoru has a mission—which is all the time these days— and InuYasha is around, then InuYasha insists on going with him because Satoru is allegedly lonely without InuYasha's company.

"And you still want to hang out with me?"

"You're Satoru's best friend," she says, confused by what the problem is.

"Ah, but Satoru doesn't want us hanging out together alone."

He doesn't? Kagome frowns. This is the first she's ever heard of this. Okay, well, Satoru complains a lot about Suguru and other men, but he also complains to complain. Still, Suguru's words don't match what Satoru told her. He's worried about Suguru and with all these missions being thrown at him, Satoru hasn't been spending that much time with Suguru.

"I'll send him a message and let him know we're hanging out. And Satoru is just being silly. He thinks you like me." Kagome laughs. Satoru thinks everyone wants her when that is not true. "Besides, you look like you need a pick me up." Kagome drags Suguru along because he drags his feet when she's not tugging on his arm. Whatever is going on with Suguru needs to be resolved like asap.

When they get to the arcade, Kagome promptly drops her hold on Suguru's arm and sends a quick message to Satoru.

Satoru: ? What do you mean you and Suguru are at an arcade?

Kagome: You can't be serious.

Satoru: Which one? I'll be there after this mission.

Kagome: You're not even in Tokyo. No way we'll gonna stay here that long.

Satoru: I can teleport.

Kagome rolls her eyes and shakes her head. Why is he always like this?

Kagome: Last time you teleported, you crashed into Goshinboku. I'm just trying to cheer Suguru up. He looks really down.

Satoru: That was one time and fine. I guess. But if he starts acting strange, you get out of there. He's my friend, but you're my girl, alright?

His girl.

Kagome bites her lip. Her cheeks flush pink in remembrance of that Satoru. Adult Satoru. She wonders what she looks like in the future. Does she look the same? Taller? As long as she doesn't look more like Kikyo, then it doesn't matter.

Kagome: Let me know when you're done with that mission.

She tucks her phone into her pink and gold Sailor Moon purse. Papa got it for her when he and Mom came back from their trip to Italy. Kagome flashes Suguru a smile bright enough for both of them. He turns his head away and rubs the back of his neck.

"So, when will Satoru be here?"

"He's not," Kagome replies, leading them over to a crane game. These games are soooo addicting. "Well, he wanted to teleport to us, but last time he tried that, he hit one of the trees at the shrine. Besides, he's got InuYasha with him and he can't exactly leave him behind. InuYasha left alone to his own devices here, is a terrible idea." She huffs. Dang it! She wanted that fox plushie for Shippo. "Ugh! I can't get it."

"Here, let me try." Suguru stares at the machine with such attention that it's as if he is staring down a curse and not a crane machine. He moves the control with a precision that gives Kagome a small spark of jealousy, because why does he make it look so easy? It's not fair. "You know these are rigged, right? It's not you." He bends down and pulls the fox, a gray one, plushie from the machine and deposits it into her hands. "So, Satoru is making progress with teleporting, huh? He'll be teleporting around in no time. He's gotten even stronger now."

Kagome holds the plushie to her chest. Is that what this is about? Satoru getting stronger and Suguru becoming stagnant? Her shoulders droop for a moment. No, this will not do. Kagome reaches out and squeezes his arm. "We don't have to play games if you don't want. I could help you train instead."

He blinks. Once. Twice. Five more times.

"What? You're worried about Satoru getting stronger without you, right? I know how to train." She leans in forward and lowers her voice. "I mainly fight demons, but I can handle curses, too. We can go to the shrine. I'd rather not go to the school if I can help it."

"... You fight demons?" His brows are taunt, but there's a hint of curiosity on his face now. "I can't imagine you fighting anything. Satoru is so..."

"He's always been like that." Kagome leans back and drops her hand. "He didn't tell you how I saved him when we were younger. It was a curse user."

Suguru looks around the arcade and then back to her. "Is there anyone else at the shrine?"

What a weird question. Kagome shrugs. "Maybe. Sometimes Mama spends time at the clan house, but she was at the shrine when I left. Why?"

"No reason," he says slowly. "I... I need to talk to Satoru. Give me a moment." He pulls out his phone and walks away from her.

Why does he need to talk to Satoru? Is it really that big of a deal? OH! Suguru probably wants to train with both of them. She nods to herself. That makes more sense. Kagome clutches the plushie and waits for Suguru to get off the phone.

"Hey there, beautiful," a man says with a slur. He staggers over to her with his jacket unbuttoned and grease stains in the middle of his white shirt. He smells like burgers and beer. Kagome wrinkles her nose and takes a step to the side. "Don't fuckin ignore me!" He darts a hand out and then screams. Suguru twists his hand back until there's an audible crack.

"Fuck off," Suguru says, letting the man's hand go, and then shoves him back. "We're leaving."

Kagome glances at the man with his balding hair and how he cries while cradling his hand with his other. The man would have never hit her, or rather he would have hit the barrier she put up and eventually moved on. He's not the first creep she's dealt with and she doubts he'll be the last.

"Kagome," Suguru says sharply. "Let's go."

Oh right.

"You know, he would have moved on," she points out. "I put a barrier around myself. I wasn't in any danger."

"A barrier? Like what you put up that one time?" Suguru sucks his teeth and then blows out a breath. "Sorry, you had to see that."

"Oh, that's nothing. Quite tame, really. I mean, I've seen InuYasha with a hole in his stomach and guts out. Lots of guts out. It was such a mess." She holds the plushie with one hand and on to the purse strap with her other. "And Satoru would have done way worse. He can be a bit unhinged at times."

"A hole in his stomach? Does he have rct?"

"No," Kagome says slowly. "That's something sorcerers have, but InuYasha is a half-demon, so his healing is pretty good." She assesses him. "Do you have rct?"

"No," he replies sharply. "It's not something I can do."

"Ah, you mean it's not something you know how to do, but you could do it. Maybe you need another life or death situation to really trigger it?" She presses her lips together in contemplation. "I won't kill you, obviously, but maybe training will jump start something for you. Nothing like a couple of arrows to the gut to get you thinking of new ways to survive."

"Uh... maybe I'll just end up dead," he says with a laugh. "If the arrows don't do me in, then Satoru will surely kill me for laying a finger on you."

"He wouldn't kill you."

"It's Satoru."

"I'd tell him not to," Kagome stresses. "He listens to me for the most part." She frowns. Does he listen to her? Kind of. Maybe. Okay, so he doesn't listen to her all that much, but he won't kill Suguru if she begs him not to, and if he tries, then she'll just threaten him with his own subjugation beads. "Don't worry about it. We're just training and besides, even if you come at me with a special grade, it's no problem. They're not much compared to demons." She stops and then gives Suguru a sheepish grin. "Let's keep that between us. Satoru doesn't know I've taken care of some curses here and there."

"A secret between friends, then."

----

Kagome gives Suguru a thumbs up to proceed with training. Her hair is pulled into a high ponytail, and for the sake of training, she's now wearing her priestess outfit instead of a skirt. "Ready when you are," she says when Suguru hesitates. Ookay, guess she's gonna have to start this off since Suguru seems reluctant. No worries, even if she hits Suguru with an arrow, it won't be enough to kill him.

"This feels wrong," Suguru admits. "Like I'm fighting a—shit!" He jumps back. The arrow lies on the ground, but there's smoke coming from the head. Suguru stiffens and stares at her with something she can't quite put her finger on. It doesn't look like fear. Maybe some wariness? Either way, if Suguru wants to catch back up to Satoru, then he needs to take this seriously.

"That was a warning shot. The next one will hit you," Kagome says, notching another arrow.

"W-wait!" He holds his hands out in front of him, takes a step towards her, and then winces when his foot touches the arrow. "I didn't think you were serious about this. I can't—"

Kagome shoots the arrow, hitting Suguru in the leg. She sighs and lowers the bow. Okay, now what? Suguru doesn't want to train... he doesn't want to train with her and the arcade was a dud. How the heck is she supposed to cheer this guy up?

"Don't pull that out," Kagome says, walking over to him. She squats and wraps her fingers around the arrow. "I'm going to pull it out, and I want you to at least try to heal it."

"You shot me!"

"Ready?"

He closes his mouth and nods his head. "You're just as insane as Satoru." His jaw ticks. The only reaction to Kagome pulling the arrow free. "Focus on healing. You make it seem like it's so easy to do," he mutters, holding his leg with both hands.

"I feel my energy in my gut. Concentrate on yours and push it towards your leg."

Suguru huffs. "So, you fight demons, huh? What's the difference between them and a curse?"

"A demon can be born in a number of ways. Like you and me, or you could have someone that offers their body up to several low-level demons, which would create a half-demon. InuYasha is a half-demon, but he has a demon father and a human mother. A curse is born from negative human emotions." Kagome eyes Suguru's leg. How the blood slows down. "Both are another form of the cycle, I guess. Curses prey on humans and sorcerers take out the curses. Demons prey on humans if they want or curses. They're similar to humans in the sense they have their own personalities, wants, and desires. A curse just wants to kill like a bear would in search of food."

Suguru lifts his head. "And what are you?"

"A priestess." Kagome gasps and snaps her fingers. She's been going about this all wrong. "You take in the curses, right? I was half-listening when Satoru was explaining. He tends to geek out on jujutsu and sometimes it's a little overwhelming."

"Uh... yeah. I swallow the curses in order to make them mine. Why?" He drops his hands and stretches his leg out. "That actually worked."

"Of course, it worked." Kagome sniffs. "Come on, I've got another idea. This one will work for sure." She holds out a hand and pulls him up. "Sorry, I didn't think about this before. It's not something I..." she trails off. What she wants to say is that blessing others and purifying them is not something she typically does in the modern world, but it's probably best to leave that can of worms alone. Suguru knows about the multiverse now, but telling him she travels to the past might be too much. She wrinkles her nose. Wait, does he know she can time travel? There was so much going on when that other Satoru dropped in.

"It's not something, you what?" Suguru prompts, following her into the house. He stands awkwardly in the kitchen while Kagome ruffles through the cabinets.

"Aha! Found it." She holds up a bag of suckers. "Okay, this will have to do for now until I can make you some kind of charm to help counteract all that negative energy you are taking in."

"Suckers are going to help me?"

"I'm going to bless them." She rolls her eyes. "Honestly, if you weren't Satoru's best friend." She places the bag on the counter. "Do you mind asking him to bring some more of these when he comes home while I bless this bag?"

"Okay," Suguru says slowly. "Is he on his way back?"

"Last I messaged him; he said he was almost done." Kagome places her hand on the bag and closes her eyes. She doesn't need to close her eyes to bless the bag, but it's easier to drown out everything around her so she can focus on the task at hand.

Crash!

Huh?

She opens her eyes and blinks at the mess on the floor. Dust. So much dust. And the cabinets are gone. Destroyed. There's no amount of glueing that will put them back together. Not to mention the wall. It has a hole in the middle, shaped like Satoru and InuYasha. Kagome pinches the bridge of her nose and counts to ten. Satoru stands and dusts his pants off while InuYasha lies on the floor passed out.

"Yo!" Satoru chuckles. "I was—"

"I TOLD YOU NOT TO TELEPORT HERE!"

Satoru shrinks and then turns his attention to Suguru. "Oi! What are you still doing here? And that's my candy."

Suguru makes a show of looking at the ruined kitchen. At InuYasha, who is still passed out from the trip or maybe from the dust. He opens the bag and pulls out a sucker. "Kagome-chan blessed these for me," he says with a quirk of his lips. He unwraps the sucker and plops it in his mouth. His eyes widen and then dart over to her.

"That's just temporary," Kagome says. "I'm going to make you a proper charm to offset the cons of your curse technique." She turns to Satoru and plants her hands on her hips. "And you! Stop teleporting from far away before you end up hurting yourself."

Satoru pokes out his bottom lip. "Sorry. I wanted to see you." He steps over InuYasha and pulls her into a hug. "Promise to stick to short distances for now." He brushes his lips across her forehead. "Missed you."

She should be mad, but Kagome leans into Satoru. Her fingers clutch the back of his jacket. "Why do you feel harder?"

Suguru coughs loudly. Satoru squeezes Kagome tighter, but his body is shaking. Was it something she said? He does feel harder, like he's been hitting the weights.

"Did Suguru do anything? I can kick his ass."

"No, he didn't—"

"She shot me!"

"Heh. Well, you deserved it." Satoru pulls back but keeps an arm wrapped around her. "Shoot him again so I can laugh."

"You two are insane," Suguru mutters, reaching into the bag for another sucker. There's color to his cheeks now.

Huh, turns out, Suguru needed Satoru to cheer up. Kagome rests her head against Satoru. Everything is going to be fine now...well, at least until Mom and Dad come back and see the kitchen.

----

Suguru looks up at the sky. It's dark out now and Kagome's mom never came back to the house. A shame, since he wanted to see someone else yell at Satoru. He tightens his fingers around the bag of suckers and various other candies. Blessed candy. He laughs. The absurdity of this day is getting to him.

"Oi! Suguru, wait up."

Suguru turns and waits for Satoru. "Walking me down the steps?"

"Yeah, let's have a talk." Satoru takes his shades off and hangs them on his white shirt. "Something different about you."

Different?

Suguru stares at his feet as he takes one step. Two steps. If he counts all the steps and ignores Satoru, maybe Satoru will drop it.

"Oi!"

Or not.

"I figured out how to use rct." He peeks at Satoru from the corner of his eyes. "Kagome helped me. That's why she shot me with an arrow. How long have you known... that she could neutralize cursed energy?"

"The first day we met, she hit this curse user so hard, his cursed energy vanished. I found him later. Tracked him down, and it's not a permanent effect." Satoru shrugs. "But I wasn't asking about that. I meant you. How are you?"

Suguru nearly trips on the next step. Satoru's words are clumsy, but it sounds as though Satoru is concerned about him?

"I'm fine—"

"Bullshit."

Suguru plasters a smile on his face and stops on the 50th step. "Satoru, I am fine. Better now, really." He holds up the bag of goods and jostles it. "Why doesn't Kagome help Jujutsu? She can bless candy," he says with a laugh. The despair from eating that curse earlier today is gone, replaced with the warm feeling of basking in the sun. "She can disrupt curse energy, so surely she could take out a curse or two."

Satoru's upper lift curls up before smoothing over. It happens so quickly, Suguru doubts Satoru is aware of the reaction.

"It's not about helping Jujutsu. It's about keeping her away from the higher ups. They're a pain and shitty." Satoru crosses his arms and then exhales. "But more importantly, Kagome doesn't want it. She likes that." He motions to the bag. "She reaches more people blessing items for the shrine than if she were to go on a mission."

Suguru nods. "And yet she fights demons."

Satoru shrugs again. "Trust me, you don't want to fight one. Actually, you should fight InuYasha. If Kagome shooting you helped you, then surely fighting InuYasha would do more for you." He punches Suguru's arm. "There's always going to be someone or something stronger than us, so we gotta do what we can and keep pushing ourselves harder."

Stronger than them?

"I can't believe you, of all people, would admit something like that."

"Next mission, either I or InuYasha will come with," Satoru says, ignoring Suguru's last comment. "We're the strongest trio."

"Now we're a trio?" Suguru shakes his head. When they get to the last step, Suguru glances over his shoulder in the direction of Jujutsu high and then back at Satoru.

"InuYasha's party is on Saturday. You should—I want you there."

Satoru must have knocked something loose when he hit the side of the house.

"I have missions all week, Satoru. Like you. There's no guarantee I'll be able to."

"Let me handle that. I want you there." Satoru smiles and then jerks his thumb back at the stairs. "Oh, and Suguru, no more dates with my girl. Got it."

Date?

Suguru huffs. "I was taken as a hostage. It wasn't a date." He waves goodbye and heads back to the school and away from Satoru. It's only when he's alone in his room that his shoulders slump and the bag full of candy drops to the floor. He slides his hands down his face and muffles the sigh.

This is a problem.

***

A/N: If you're confused, please go back and read chapter 19 of the side stories.

"Does that mean Kagome is Benzaiten's priestess?" - I'm not sure if I will introduce any more gods...okay maybe Inari, but other than that there probably won't be any more gods introduced because then it would just be the gods fighting lol.

"Is there a celestial maiden Kagome that falls in love with Satoru?" - Can you imagine the ego on that Satoru? Bragging about how he has a celestial maiden as his girl?

"Have you seen Noein: To Your Other Self?" - I have not, but I bookmarked it so I won't forget.

"Is Naoya invited to that party?" - We just might get a spar between Naoya and InuYasha.

This chapter ended up being a bit longer than I thought. Still working on the next chapter of Brat Tamer. I thought I was going to get way more writing done this week, but I guess my body needed the rest more. Thanks for the honey garlic remedy, I'll have to pick up some garlic the next time I go the store. We've been getting hit hard this year with colds. My kid got a double ear infection this week.

Take care and have a wonderful week ahead! Get plenty of rest and stay hydrated! I'll be back to updating the Christmas Wish since Christmas is next month.

[hobipaint]

Graffiti and Chalk- two

summary: You thought you knew him. You thought him gone. Kim Taehyung was part of you that you had carefully suppressed, keeping his memories to one box near the wall of your mind. That was your fault, though - empty walls demand for art. And who other than your own neighbourhood vandal?

↳ pairing: ex police student turned vandal! taehyung x officer! female reader

↳ genres: angst, fluff

↳ word count: 9.6K

↳ disclaimers: pg15!, vandalism, police officers, criminal past and heavy discussion of it, mentions of character deaths.

one | two

a/n: FINALLY AFTER A MONTH IT'S HERE! This took me really long to write but I'm pretty satisfied with how it turned out : it's my longest work yet, and I feel like it would be among my best as well hehe. a massive thank you to @kookiestarlight because i swear i completed this in the first place because of tasha, @swcetnight who pointed out exactly where I need to elaborate stuff and places in which I was loosing parts of the plot because did I forget the whole storyline while writing this 🤡, @vaekth because this bby is absolutely amazing. she's supported me throughout the process of writing this, thank you so much!! thank you to @taecup-fics for beta reading this at the last minute and pointing out a bunch of grammatical errors because otherwise this would be a mess to read 😭 to everyone who has waited - I'm so sorry that it came this late, I suddenly had a bunch of exams that were announced and had to focus on those. Hopefully this lives up to your expectations!! Enjoy reading :)

Morning often dawns with a feeling of hope. With wistful sights of sunrise. Flowers open up to the golden haze that thaws the frost of the night. Birds roam the skies that had been but mysterious domains in the dark. People wake up with groans about the impending day, hopeful for it to end soon. You hoped for your mornings to always be similar to this- some constants were needed in places where you had cases as bewildering as missing pumpkin plushies piling up in your office. 

Your morning today, though, was much different. Much to your annoyance. 

You held the coffee you had brewed for yourself - another espresso, the universe knows you needed it - and handed one to Taehyung just as the cuckoo perching on the clock shrilly announced that it was eight in the morning. 

"Do you still have no answers for me, Y/N?" Taehyung looked at you. His eyes were sullen - no signs of the cheekiness that had peeked at you last night. Scattered rays fell across his body, highlighting the sunken cheeks, brooding eyes and tight smiles you could now see better in the daylight. 

You sighed- probably for the millionth time this night. "I do not understand your question, Taehyung." 

"You remember it. I've asked you thrice since I saw you again, Y/N. Do you not remember anymore? Do you not care for me? Was our idea of us nothing for you?" He looked at you with a myriad of emotions written all over his face- you looked away, not wanting to see them. 

Sighing, you gathered your thoughts the best you could. "Like I said, Taehyung." You looked at him- looking at the person you once fell in love with. The feeling you felt today, though, was much different. There was a feeling of running towards him, taking him in your arms and remembering who he was to you all over again, but it was overwhelmed by the confusion you felt - should you prioritize a past that wanted answers, or a future that was unsure? For now, you chose none pushing the time to make that decision further ahead. "We were an 'us' for only a few hours. Until you stood me up."

He rolled his eyes."That wasn't intentional, Y/N." 

"And how was I supposed to know that, Taehyung? I thought it was, since you had never told me anything beforehand."

Taehyung's eyebrows bunched together, as if coming to hear the stories that his eyes longed to tell- stories of events that you had never seen and never known. "Would you not hear me out, even once? For the sake of our old love?"

You bristled. "What love, Taehyung?" You got up to stretch your legs out, looking at the patchwork blanket that was stuffed in the corner. You had taken that for your first date with Taehyung, planning to cuddle with him and watch the stars - a date that never happened. "What love? A love where you don't speak to me for weeks, and then vanish for some crime? We were young then, and I got hurt then as it is. There's no need to go over this right now." 

"That was not my fault, Y/N. You know that." Taehyung seemingly sunk back into his chair, eyes downcast. "I had said I loved you. Before I ever went out with you." 

"Like that matters,” you scoffed, “what's the point in reminiscing promises from an old love?"

"At least, hear me out?" He looked up at you with hope sprinkled in the abyss of his eyes. "I don't want you to forget me."

You turned back to your chair, tearing your eyes away from the blanket that was now a pale blue in the sunlight - a few shades lighter than the cerulean colour it would be in the afternoon. "Not now, Taehyung." 

Taehyung sighed, looking at the floor, tension exhaled into the room. He sat silently for a few seconds, the ticking clock announcing each moment clearly to you. "That's fair. It's just.." He looked back at you. "I'm used to thinking of you as the person I loved." He nervously let his eyes pan around the windows, gazing at the sunshine that streamed through the window, before turning back towards your gaze. "I'm sorry if I made you uncomfortable, I'm just really grateful for your presence-" 

"Taehyung." You sharply interrupted him. "Two years ago, when your case was reopened for investigation. Who did that?" 

"They told me that it was a well wisher in the neighbourhood. Another jailor said it was for good behaviour." He shrugged. 

You scoffed aloud, more loudly than you would have liked him to hear. 

He frowned, lips drawn in a tight line in annoyance. "Don't believe me? I'll have you know, Y/N, I was among the most well behaved at prison. Absolutely no tantrums. I even ate the salt-less, disgusting food they'd give there. No crying. Nothing. I can show you later on if you want, I think I have a report stuffed somewhere here," He got up, shuffled towards his bag and checked the last zip, hunting for a report you had never heard of. 

"It was me." 

Taehyung whirled around to face you, unruly hair swinging like the seats of a carousel at a carnival, and raised an eyebrow. "What were you?" 

"I was the one who insisted on opening the case for reinvestigation, the case of your stepfather's assault. Went around collecting evidence, searching for people who knew about your family better, getting their voices recorded, finding about the whole deal to frame you and stuff. Nearly got fired." You shrugged, sipping your espresso and wincing- too bitter. "You're welcome, by the way. The coffee is getting cold." 

"I don't care about the coffee." He moved the cup aside - nearly spilling the liquid, roughly settling back into the seat he had been occupying for the last few hours. "You were the one who asked for re-opening the case?" 

"Just said that." 

He slumped back in his seat, and your eyes took in how he spread himself out on the chair, tiredness lacing his figure. "I didn't know that." 

"Now you do." You said, sipping your coffee and watching Taehyung do the same. 

Taehyung stared blankly at you, and you couldn't fathom what was swirling in those ebony orbs of his. "Why did you do that, Y/N?"

"Honestly," you smile softly at him, "I was expecting a thank you."

"You should have expected questions, Y/N. Why did you help me?" Taehyung's blank expression made way for a confused one, eyebrows furrowing and lips pouting. 

"I did what I had to do as a-" You paused here, unsure of what to say. "As a friend, Taehyung, nothing more. I knew you were innocent-"

"How were you so assured?" He pressed on."I could be a complete 180 from the man I met you as. I could be fake. I could be an impostor. I could-"

"You could do a bunch of things, Taehyung." You stared him straight in the eye, trying to keep your emotions at bay. "But you could never tell a lie." 

Taehyung scoffed. "You sound like one of the wishy-washy pick-me kind of girls in the movie. No, I don't lie, but I could." 

You sighed. As much as you cared for Taehyung, you had never really cared for his argumentative attitude. "I went with the assumption that you were the same person I knew, Taehyung. The one whom I respected and trusted. I acted on that feeling." 

"That wasn't trust, Y/N. It was naivety. You were naive to believe me." Taehyung paused, uncertainty lining his forehead as he spoke. "You shouldn't have trusted me." 

You rolled your eyes- you couldn't understand why he was so desperate to make sure that you remained aloof from him. What had you done to be treated like that? What had he done to force everyone away from him? 

You tried to play off his remaining doubts and frustrations as insecurities he developed while in jail, and moved on."Alright then, you impostor. I was naive to trust you. And even more naive to believe you. Happy? Now shush. I don't want to talk about this." You tried to clear your mind of any doubts you had about Taehyung, but his behaviour, the way he interacted with you - it couldn't help but increase the worry and confusion in your mind.

Taehyung leaned forward to look you in the eye before smiling softly at you - you couldn't understand why. You were going to give him a criminal record, maybe arrest him. You were potentially ruining his life again, and he smiled at you. "If you say so, officer." Taehyung said, settling into the chair - leaving your mind reeling with questions you weren't sure you wanted the answers to. 

You opened the laptop again, wearily. "Let's get back to the questions; the sooner we finish this, the better. Where did you source the paint from?" 

"You mean the graffiti? And chalk?" You nodded. Taehyung sighed."Terminology, Officer, terminology. Make no errors." He raised a finger to wave at you, as if to say no. You rolled your eyes -it seemed that you were the only one concerned about what would happen to him after this, because Taehyung quite clearly was not. "I bought it with the allowance money that was kept for me in the bank- as much as I hated that man, his cards proved to be useful."

You raised an eyebrow, skeptical. "You didn't steal it." 

"No. Took it from my step-father's account. Technically, now mine. Apparently he left everything to his children, and I'm the only one alive that I know of. Maybe he had other children- I wouldn't doubt it for a moment if he had, but that doesn't change my right to his money either." 

"Any other members of your family who had been granted access to that account?" You asked, wanting to make sure that there were no loopholes - you didn't want a future possibility of Taehyung being entangled with the wrong side of the law again. 

He rolled his eyes, leaning further. "Curious little thing, aren't you? Like I'd told you last night, most of them are dead. Mom had died a few months before I was arrested - thanks to my stepfather being an alcoholic and taking everything out on her. Grandmother already had massive health issues - she passed away after two years of me being in jail - they had let me come out for her funeral."

"My siblings - a brother and sister, if you remember - were taken in by a distant relative, and the last time I spoke to them was three years ago. I'm not allowed to contact them because I might end up being a 'bad influence'," he air quoted the words, laughing mirthlessly. "Guess they won't be too delighted to see me again. You probably know about my stepfather - got drunk and passed out. Permanently. But yeah, that's all. I'm pretty much the sole benefactor from that account."

Hearing how nonchalantly he spoke about it, you were forced to maintain a strong face and be professional. You couldn't possibly think of even wanting to comfort him in any way. "So, you were absolutely not stealing."

"Nope. No. Not at all. Want any further repetitions?" 

"That won't be necessary," You said, having typed out the information - tracking his expenditures would also be necessary now, apparently. "Any expenditure you make shall be monitored, now. Be careful."

"Always have been." He chuckled, getting back to spinning the glass on the table. "You know me." 

You ignored him. "Your cards will be tracked, and any loose cash will be checked by us. If we feel that there's any room for suspicion, you will have reason to be monitored." 

An odd silence filled the room while you tapped away at your laptop, filling in more details about the incident. Taehyung would be having a criminal record again, you thought to yourself. It was the only thought that echoed in your mind. It made you feel uneasy in a way, but you swallowed your unease down. There's a promotion to focus on. 

"Taehyung, something has been bugging me since I caught you vandalising." You shifted a little bit, before deciding to spit out the question. "Why did you do it?" You leaned forwards on the table, elbows digging into the wood as you tried to grasp the answers from him. 

Taehyung looked you in the eyes, and then looked away. "I don't know."

"You don't know." You raised your eyebrows, leaning back incredulously. "Taehyung, that's not an answer." 

"I did it because I wanted to. It was fun. I'd see kids in the morning pointing at my graffiti work and they would like it. There would be people claiming it looked good. I felt acknowledged and I just-" He pleaded, unable to continue without pausing to recollect his calm. "I felt like doing it. After years of having questions raised at me for committing a crime I never did, I finally had people talking about the work I did. Even if it was just chalk drawings." 

You exhaled in confusion. The Taehyung you had known - he was never like this. Confident, assured, independent. That was what he seemed to you when you were younger. And now, to see him want to be validated by others who never even cared for him- it felt ridiculous to you. Why was his only way of feeling validated involving something against the law? "Okay, then." 

You went through the complaints that had been registered against him, hand resting against your forehead as you asked him the most commonly asked question. "Why the insignia 'V'?" 

"V for victory?" He made a 'V' sign with his fingers, "I liked to think that I won against the world by rebelling against its sense of black and white. I saw everyone talk about it, and I felt like the same people who had once pointed fingers at me, blaming me for something I hadn't done, were now pointing fingers at something I had done - I felt victorious. I didn't need to show myself and possibly want more than I had already let myself have - this was enough for me." 

You pulled your lips in a tight line, and hummed in response - there were two places that together had put in about twenty complaints, so you had to respond to all of them. You kept reminding yourself that neither did you have the space to feel sorry for him, nor did you have the power to say sorry to him. You simply kept your head turned to the screen, typing in answers to all the complaints. 

Taehyung leaned forward after a few seconds. "What punishment do you think I'll get, Officer?" 

"If the chief is feeling good, maybe you'll get community service, with a fine," You looked up at him. "Or maybe some time in jail." 

"How much time?"

"Maybe a month or two?" 

"Oh." Taehyung slumped back into his seat nonchalantly. "Cool then." 

How was he this calm? You thought to yourself. He might be going to jail. For a second time.

"Yup." You shut the laptop, finally, after hours of typing information and recording it. Sighing, you lifted the porcelain mug once again to absolutely drain it of coffee, your rather loud gulps echoing in the silence of your office. 

Taehyung tapped his fingers on the table- probably some old tune he had learnt before. You remembered that he played the saxophone - from nights of serenading tunes that he had played for you with his beloved instrument. "How long do you think the chief will take to reach here?" 

"A few hours, maybe? I'd expect him around ten, to be honest. Nevertheless, let me check." You quickly called the chief on your phone, hearing his ringtone play some old Korean trot song before it was picked up. 

"Hello, yes, yes, Y/N. I expected your call." A gravely, rather rough voice responded to you- like it hadn't been used for a few hours. "I shall be reaching the office around eleven. Keep Taehyung with you." 

"Yes sir," you said, keeping the phone on your table and turning to Taehyung.  "The chief said he'll be here by eleven." 

Taehyung nodded in acknowledgement. 

"It's nearly eight thirty now." You looked at the cuckoo clock again. "Would you like to freshen up?" 

"Where?" Taehyung asked, eyes widening. "Shouldn't I just be at the office?" 

"Yeah, you should. My place is right here- the back of this office is where I live, so you'll be fine." You look down at his clothes, grease, paint and metal shrapnel all over them. "Besides, you look like you need a change of clothes." 

Taehyung stepped into your house with an air of curiosity, to see how his once classmate was living. His head stooped low to enter through the small door you had, eyes widening in surprise when he found that the hall of your house was larger than he had anticipated. 

The house was quaint, a hall with an old couch which doubled as a bed when needed. There was a table in the middle of the room, too low to be a dining table and too high to be a center table. For coffee, maybe? There were maybe five or six magazines scattered haphazardly over it, covering nearly every inch- except for one corner, where Taehyung spotted a shining acrylic blue. 

You, however, spotted what page you had left a magazine open at. Squeaking, "I'm sorry!" you ran to shut the booklet close, afraid that Taehyung would spot your love for shirtless men. 

Picking up the magazines, you grinned sheepishly at him. "Just a moment! I'll be back, a bit of cleaning to be done, sit right here!" You patted the couch, trying to convince Taehyung. 

Taehyung turned away from the pictures he had been observing- was there one of you both? - and nodded, eyes widening in surprise as he saw how you scuttled away to hide the magazines. He looked around again, taking a feel of your house- it seemed like the old you. There was some patchwork embroidery you had left in a corner, atop what seemed to be a showpiece? Taehyung stepped closer to see it in detail, and was amazed at the way you had managed to drag the red thread over and over the pink fabric to make floral designs. It reminded him of the rose he had been trying to complete the previous night, and he grit his teeth. He shouldn't be thinking about that now. That shouldn't be what he does anymore. No more.

You came back, looking quizzically at him. "Take a seat, Taehyung! It's alright." 

"Uh, yeah." He shuffled over to the couch again. "Did you make that?" 

You looked in the direction his finger pointed to. "Yeah. Tried doing embroidery for stress release purposes." 

Taehyung grinned at you. "Stress release?" He asked, bemused. 

"Yup." You said while making sure that the magazines were well hidden. "The department I wanted to be in was forensics, you know?" Taehyung nodded, he had been privy to most of your discussions about the advances in forensic technology and analysis - even if he didn't understand anything, he knew your love for it. "Well, they didn't allow me. So the whole 'stress' thing began." You walked back to him, making air quotes as you emphasized on stress. "My mother suggested embroidery would take my mind off it. So, that incomplete piece you see there?" Taehyung nodded, concentrating on every word that left your mouth. "That started a few days ago." 

"It looks like it's complete, though- are you really good at it?" Taehyung looked at you again, turning back from the embroidery you were now rising to get. 

"Pretty much? It's easy once you get the hang of it." 

"Ah." Taehyung said, a dull silence settling into the room for a few moments as Taehyung looked around your room.  

"That picture." He pointed, and you turned your head around. The picture he was focusing on was on your mantelpiece, resting happily. The frame had butterflies stuck on its corners, two large and two small. The border was white, now off white, and had pink dots in certain places. It was a picture of fireworks- red, yellow and blue mixing together in a dull sky to breathe life into the picture. And right in the middle, surrounded by this liveliness, were you and Taehyung. Beaming. 

Taehyung turned to, finger still pointing at the picture. "That's our picture, right?" 

You hummed in affirmation. "That's us, freshman party. We had known each other for a few weeks at this time."

"And I had stopped someone from asking you out, right?" Taehyung reminisced. "That was fun." 

You snort. "You had punched him in the face when he asked for my name, Taehyung." 

Taehyung smiled. "I didn't want anyone to harm you, Y/N, and he seemed like he would harm you." He spread out his arms and grinned smugly at you. "In a way, I rescued you. That night." 

And so many other nights, you wanted to say. For all the time you had known Taehyung, he had been fiercely protective of you - for reasons he never truly told you. You didn't question it either, basking in the feeling of being wanted by someone. 

You cleared your throat, hoping to clear your mind as well. "You should go take a shower, Taehyung." Glancing at the clock, you noted the time and motioned towards the washroom. "It's nearly nine. Go take a shower, call for me if you need anything. I'll go get some clothes for you."

Taehyung nodded, rising up slowly to go in the direction you pointed. "Towels are inside," you shouted after him, and he yelled in response to say he understood. In some ways, too many ways, he felt like the Taehyung you once knew. 

You went to your room to pick out some clothes, opening your meager collection to salvage something that would fit Taehyung. Your eyes scanned over your uniforms, jumpsuits, jeans, t-shirts and finally landed on the hoodies- probably the largest collection in your wardrobe. Thankfully, you loved large, loose hoodies. You started pulling them out, holding each one up and imagining Taehyung's proportions in them. 

The red one, with blue paw prints. "Nah. Too tight." 

The black plain one. "That's mine, I'm not sharing that." 

The grey ones- nearly three. You skipped over all of them, not understanding how none of these oversized hoodies would seemingly fit Taehyung. He'd gotten humongous, broad shoulders and everything. 

You picked out a few more, trying to see whether it would be a fit. None worked. 

When you picked up the next one, you could already picture him wearing it. It was the hoodie you had taken from Taehyung during the first year you knew each other. You looked at its loose sleeves, stretchy from you tugging Taehyung behind you with it way back then. The green fabric of the hoodie was slightly pale in a certain spot - you had spilled soda all over him in a fit of anger.

During your forensic chemistry class,  the teacher didn't recognise their mistakes in the procedure (they used the wrong test for detecting the sample, and blamed it on you), and you were pretty miffed the whole day. Taehyung had bought sodas for the two of you, having planned to go stargazing later on. And you, in a terrible mood, flipped him off in a way that had the soda spilling over him. You cried, Taehyung laughed, but the hoodie was still stained. You took it with you later on to clean it - but the stubborn stain never left. You were agonized, Taehyung amused, but the hoodie- it was still stained. Taehyung had laughed it off, telling you to keep it with you for as long as you wanted- he could buy a dozen more hoodies to last him till then. 

When you left to head home that winter break, you had taken the hoodie with you. You had taken it on your date, crying on its sleeves when you were stood up. And when you came back, Taehyung was suddenly a criminal. 

You shook your head to remove the memories of that time, holding the hoodie in your hand and gently caressing its sleeves. So many memories were held in these threads that meshed together to form the fabric of your youth. Good or bad? You didn't want to dwell on that. 

"Y/N? Could I get the clothes now?" Taehyung called from the washroom. You picked up a extra large pair of cotton shorts and a hoodie, and passed it to him without really thinking- you'd done it before when he got drunk at college too, having him come over at your place, shower, change, and practically behave like a couple- at least, that's what you had thought of it then. 

Get it together, Y/N, why are you thinking about that? 

"Thanks!" he shouted again, grasping the clothes with his fingers and whisking them away to the confines of the washroom. 

You gripped at your hair and pinched your cheeks. You couldn't keep thinking about the old Taehyung. You didn't know if it was truly him anymore. 

"Uh, Y/N?" Taehyung stepped out of the washroom, the previously oversized shorts clinging to his thighs for dear life and the hoodie snugly fitting his figure. "I think it's a bit tight, but I'll make do." 

Your eyes widened in horror; Taehyung looked like he was moments away from bursting the shorts. "I'll get you new pants, wait a second. These ones don't fit." 

You turned back to your cupboard, looking for the loosest bottoms you could find. "I think the hoodie still fits though, right?" 

"Yeah." You heard Taehyung right over your shoulder, scaring you. 

"Jeez, when did you get this close to me?" You turned to face him, crossing your arms, looking at his hair which still had droplets sticking to its edges. 

"When did you get this far from me, Y/N?" His eyes bore into yours, sweetly intense eyes gazing at you like it was the first time he saw you. "What happened?" 

You shrugged, not wanting to answer it. You picked up a loose pair of denim jeans that you had found stuffed away at the back of your closet. Pushing it into his hands, you told him to go change. 

Apparently, your instructions fell on deaf ears. "What happened, Y/N? Answer me. Please."

You moved your gaze to his clothes, not wanting to focus on the thoughts that rushed back when you thought of him. What had happened? You moved your hands to your sides, resisting the need to hold him and know him all over again. "The hoodie looks good on you. Would you-" 

"So do our hands." He held yours, snugly fitting his palm- your calloused fingers against his calloused ones, heat burning in the sleeping embers of your palm. His eyes gazed at the joint fingertips almost reverently. "They fit well."

"Taehyung, now is not the time-" You begin, cut off by his frantic breathing.

"When is the time, Y/N? When will I get to live? When will I get to feel like a human? When will I be innocent?"

His hand caressed your palm, touching your forearm, your elbow, your shoulder, and your cheek -leaving a burning trail behind him everywhere he touched. You shivered. "Do you know how long I have wanted you, Y/N? Years. Seven years, now. I have loved you for years. I have wanted you for years. I did all sorts of things to remember you while in jail- kept asking for you, kept calling for you. I didn't want to forget you, Y/N. Not you. I couldn't forget you, no." 

He pressed your palm to his chest, and you could feel a dull thump echo through the clothes, reverberate in your palms. "That fire, Y/N. My passion in the promises I'd made to you. It never went anywhere. I always loved you. I always will. You can't make me leave again, not again. Please, no." 

He held your palm up to his cheeks, not regarding the tears that were streaking your cheeks and his. "You feel me, right? It's me. Taehyung. I am the one you trusted. I'm the same. Trust me again. Please." 

You tried to hold back the tears that threatened to slide down your cheeks, not wanting to pain Taehyung anymore. He held your forehead to his, pressing on the back of your head to meet his - upclose, you could see the redness that clouded the shine that his eyes would normally have. You couldn't hold back your tears anymore, nearly whimpering when you saw how broken he was- sirens swimming in the whirlpool of his eyes, singing songs of misery. "You know me, right? Do you know me? Do you recognize me? Kim Taehyung, police cadet. Your friend. Your classmate. You know me, right?" He asked, nose nearly brushing yours. "Do you know me?"He cried, eyes washing over the fire that ignited behind his pupils. You didn't see a vandal, or a criminal, or a friend. You saw a broken man. 

"Taehyung, oh, Tae," you cried, putting your hands on his shoulders, watching him slink down to the ground as his body trembled and shivered. You wrapped your arms close around his figure, unable to understand his pain but just wanting it to go away. 

You sat like that for a while, coaxing the tears and short whimpers out of him as he held onto your fingers, wanting to remember something he once had: you. 

"I always asked for you, you know that?" Taehyung shivered as he spoke, even if the chills of the weather outside barely seeped into your home. "I always loved you. I don't know why they kept me there for so long, Y/N. I didn't do anything wrong. I don't know why I'm made to feel like this…" he trailed away, tears gathering at his chin as they endlessly flowed down his cheeks. 

You glanced a nervous eye at the clock, wanting to make sure that you get to the station- no matter what happens. The bubbling of water distracted you from the ticking of the clock, and you turned off the stove. Scouring your cabinets for a chamomile tea bag was hard, but you knew you needed it. Taehyung always seemed to calm down with tea - you had used it multiple times before. Times of which you have multiple memories. Times you wish to forget. 

Why did I ever love Taehyung? The question kept echoing in your mind as you leaned on top of the kitchen counter top. Things would have been so much simpler if simply looking at him wasn't so hard. His smile, his behaviour, his tears - it was all but a painful reminder of what you could have been if things had gone different. If only. 

You poured the hot water into the mug you had settled on the kitchen top, watching the water bloom into a serene shade of yellow as you dipped the tea bag into it repeatedly. You prepared one mug, then another, hearing the soft declarations Taehyung kept repeating while he was seated. 

All you had wanted to study was forensic science, and that was simply for one reason: you didn't want to interact with people. 

People are complicated, over emotional beings. and you couldn't help but feel helpless every time you had to encounter a suspect. You would constantly be told by your professors to see them as lawbreakers - but all you tried finding was signs of humanity in them. That even the most vicious killers had scope for reform. That's why you stuck to the subjects you wanted - you were good at finding signs of life, not squashing them. You consistently failed those classes, without any doubt. And today, it seemed like all those classes were laughing at you. 

"Here." You handed the mug to Taehyung, who muttered thanks. He rubbed his hands once or twice on the pants you told him to change into and took a sip from the warm tea. You resisted the urge to reach out and wipe the tears that lined his face, and try and wipe the scars of the past that had scarred him so badly - but you couldn't. You were a mere spectator in the game of his life. You couldn't possibly do anything other than hurt him more. 

"Thank you. For letting me express all of it. I could finally say everything that I wanted to before I was forbidden from speaking about it again." Taehyung tapped against the mug, fingernails resting on ceramic as the sun slowly headed westward. "I'm sorry that I've been such a burden to you, Y/N. I wonder if I can do anything to reduce the pain and confusion I put you through - I doubt I can." He looked at you carefully, though you couldn't tell what he was thinking. "Thank you." 

You let his words echo in the room, preoccupied with your thoughts. It hurt you to see him so broken, and you couldn't help but worry about him. 

"Taehyung, I-" You opened your mouth to respond, watching Taehyung pay attention to every move you made - only to be interrupted by your phone loudly ringing. 

"Sorry, this must be important." You got up to get your phone, watching Taehyung slump in his seat from the edge of your vision. 

"It's the chief," you announced, picking up the phone. 

He got straight to the point. "Come to the station, soon. Bring Taehyung with you." he told, his voice laced with a rather sharp edge- a tone that you had recognized in the years you had worked under him. Things were- most probably- not good. 

You responded with a simple "yes", mind dwelling on the impending result that Taehyung would get. You felt that it would be unlikely that he would be going to jail- at least, you hoped so.

Turning to Taehyung, you tried to hide the fear and shakiness that lined your voice. "Let's go." 

Taehyung sighed, playing with the mug as he rose up. "It's time, isn't it?"

"Good morning, Sir." You greeted the chief as he hurried into the small office, giving Taehyung a glance and then facing you. 

"Morning." He gruffly responded, turning to your laptop. "We found an eyewitness for the vandalism, so we are getting them for the interrogation as well." 

"Another interrogation? We've already done it, sir, and all the information is recorded here. I doubt it will be necessary-"

"Please, Y/N," He calmly said. "Leave the decision about it being necessary to me." 

You stepped back, subconsciously edging closer to Taehyung - a move noticed by the chief as well. 

"Y/N," he began, "I need to speak to you. In private. Step outside for a few moments, please." 

You nodded, briskly walking towards the doors and yanking them open. There was a warm gust of wind that blew across your face, and you turned to face the chief. 

"Y/N," the chief began, before pausing for a moment, "Officer Y/N. I'm going to need you to think clearly now." 

"Yes." You set your features as tightly as you could, not wanting to seem distracted in any way. 

"Do you have any type of bias in this case, perhaps due to your past relation with him?" he looked quizzically at you, as if trying to decipher an enigma scribbled onto your face. 

Your blood chilled, for some reason. Were you having any bias? "No, sir." 

The chief hummed - you couldn't make head or tail of his reaction. He kicked at a pebble before continuing. "From the recordings I heard the previous night in the office, and the way you let him come with you to freshen up a bit, one particular thing has struck me: you were trying to find reasons for Taehyung to be justified as a victim, weren't you?" 

You gulped before responding. "Yes, sir. I believe the culprit committed vandalism as a coping mechanism to get over the hurt caused over the years." 

The chief sighed heavily. "Well then," he said, "I suggest we continue with our investigation, and find a way to make sure the culprit in the matter is stable as well. We can't have repeated cases like these - we have a reputation to uphold for the police as well." 

You nodded stiffly. "Yes, sir." 

The chief sighed again, glancing at the street. "Our witness should be here soon." He turned to you again. "Funnily enough, she volunteered as a witness with CCTV backup to claim that Taehyung had vandalized her shop too. Apparently she heard you arrest him last night - so we have to hear her out." 

The chief turned again to the road, eyes narrowing in hopes of spotting the witness soon. "The investigator whom she contacted has said she is a reliable witness, but I'm going to need to verify her statement nonetheless." He turned back, heading into the office.

You stared at the road that the chief was looking at before - the direction from which the supposedly reliable eyewitness would come, before heading back inside. 

Taehyung was still slumped in his seat, fingers tracing drawings all over the pants you had given him. The chief was shuffling around behind the desk, pulling two spare chairs ahead - one for Taehyung, you presumed, and one for the eyewitness - whoever that would be. 

"Mr. Kim Taehyung," the chief began, "there has been an eyewitness who has offered their testimony - whether it is to defend you, or further establish evidence of you vandalizing public spaces, I'm not yet aware. We shall be interrogating them - and maybe you, as well, now." 

Taehyung rose up from the corner he had settled into, and shuffled into the seat the chief had set for him, wordlessly. 

The door opened to reveal an older lady, dressed in a purple shaded hanbok, hair delicately pulled back into a tight bun and eyes peering around the whole office in curiosity. She found the chief, walking closer to the desk where he was arranging the records. "I'm here as the eyewitness..?"She said, looking at both you and the chief. 

"Ah, yes. I presume you're Ms. Park?" The chief asked, pulling the chair out for her to settle into it. Under the light that shined across her face, you could make out the wrinkles that lined her skin and the greys in her hair - not that that was relevant to what would happen. 

"I saw him vandalize the outside of my store a few days ago," she earnestly began, pulling out pictures that she had taken of the design on her window.  "I'm a florist, you see. His designs are clearly inspired by that, aren't they?" She pushed the pictures in front of your vision, and you could see what she meant - the designs of orchids, hibiscus and asters stared back at you, intricately painted onto the glass windows of the florist's shop. 

She pulled out more pictures. "There's been similar instances all over the neighbourhood- the other florist had a rose, the school received drawings full of children's stories and fairy tales, and had their walls painted with similar stories. In fact, the restaurants around here even said that their menus were drawn onto the streets, right in front of their doorstep." 

The chief looked at the pictures carefully, with you peering at them as well, taking in the detail that Taehyung had while he worked while making each of his works- no, vandalising, you corrected yourself. He raised an eyebrow at the eyewitness, who seemed to shrink into her seat. "What does this bring forward as evidence for or against the culprit? We already know what the crime is, and its details. We just have to determine a punishment- either a hefty fine or jail. Do you have anything that can justify him getting exempted from either?"

Ms. Park looked at you and the chief before turning to Taehyung apologetically, placing a hand on his knee - as if consoling him. "I think that at the end of the day, all he was doing was beautifying the neighbourhood, wasn't he? And most of the residents here don't have a problem with it-" the chief looked at her incredulously- "so please, don't punish him or something. A lot of people appreciate his work in our neighborhood, you know?" 

"But we have been receiving complaints about him since the past few days," the chief said. "Why the sudden change in opinion?"

Ms. Park fidgeted with the hem of her hanbok for a few moments, shaking her head nervously. "Some of us shopkeepers were really bothered by it at first, yes, but we also had some customers come over to inquire about the artwork. It looked professional to them. So we came to an ultimatum : we will let this young man paint and draw for us, on our walls, as much as he wants - as long as it's pretty," she emphasized, one hand patting her chest, "we'll pay him to do it." 

You held back a sob as you saw Taehyung's eyes glimmer - a ray of hope shining in them.His knee bounced up and down- a habit you knew was something he had had since years - and he smiled softly when Ms. Park squeezed his hand. You felt like things were finally going to go well. The chief exhaled roughly before rubbing his forehead, glancing at Ms. Park, who smiled at him in the hope that he would understand her reasoning. 

"The law, honestly, doesn't care about intentions- I don't think I really understand why I should even let him go. Vandalism is a punishable offence, and the perpetrator has been aware of its consequences. Why the sudden feeling to save him?" The chief questioned, eyes steely and tough. 

Ms. Park hesitated for a few moments. "I believe he deserves a second chance." She pulled her chair ahead, the metal ends scraping against the tiles, and pleaded once again. "He was arrested for years for something he hadn't even done - and now, might face a few more months in the same place for simply being artistic. I don't think it deserves punishment."

"That's for the law to decide, not you, madam." The chief sternly said. "I suggest you leave such decisions to us."

The room remained tense and quiet for the next few moments, and your eyes were trained on Taehyung. You noticed the quiver in his hands, the way he shrunk into his chair - as if to hide away from whatever the upcoming decision would be. 

Ms. Park was the first to interrupt the loud silence. "Oh, come on. Let me just pay for the boy's bail." 

The clock chose that moment to loudly announce the next hour: was it eleven? Twelve? You weren't paying attention. You only saw the way Taehyung rose up from his seat - in happiness, you thought - with fists sticking to his sides. "No. I won't accept it." 

You felt the chief look with just as much disbelief as you did. Why was he so hellbent on being a perpetrator when he could be free? 

Ms. Park laughed. "No. I'm not listening to that whole self righteous thing that you probably have," she swatted the air with her hand, as if to push away any explanations Taehyung could give.

"Look, ma'am. I have the money to get a bail, or even pay the fine. I don't want you to pay for me and then hold it above my head like a massive favour you have done for me." Fire blazed in his eyes as he spoke up, rather indignantly. "I can take care of myself." 

"To hell with that attitude," Ms. Park said. "I decided to help you because I didn't want you to suffer once again because of misunderstandings." She pulled Taehyung back to sit on his chair, clasping his hand between her wrinkled ones. "You had to go through so much pain at such a young age - no one deserves that. I was a mere bystander at the time you were arrested, and I regretted it then. I still regret it now." 

She sighed before caressing the back of his hand lovingly, thumb gently pressing on the skin- as if to feel the pain those hands had to go through, and you thought you saw a hint of a tear on his cheeks. "So don't question me for 'saving' you, or something - what you did was perfectly fine for me. I love the way my street looks now, and so do the neighbours. All that really remained was the artist's identity- and now that I know it's you, I don't feel any sort of guilt in justifying what you did." 

You were right. Taehyung was crying. It wasn't silent tears that rained gently down his cheeks, it was a whole thunderstorm. You saw the chief turn away, from the corner of your vision, but you couldn't bring yourself to do the same. He was biting on his bottom lip to hold back any of the sobs or whimpers that came, head lowering to hide the tears. 

Ms. Park simply caressed his hand, over and over, till he calmed down enough to wipe his tears with his free hand. And when he raised his head up, you saw him like a new person. The wound up Taehyung you had met again a few hours ago was slowly vanishing - in his stead, there was a free Taehyung who smiled like the world's burden had been lifted off his shoulders. "Thank you," he murmured. 

The chief sighed again. "I still don't understand how it came to this." 

"Neither do I," Ms. Park laughed. "But it is what it is. We'll pay the fine."

"I'll do it," Taehyung started, only to be shushed by the elder lady. "I want to do it. Let me do it." She turned again to the chief, the bubbly happiness giving way to seriousness. "You can make sure he pays the fine, right? Withdraw the complaints for us too." 

The chief looked at you and nodded, and you got to work - carefully opening the laptop again and making sure that you transferred the report from 'investigation' to 'resolved', and that the complaint was withdrawn. 

The chief, meanwhile, made physical records of it, and informed Taehyung of the fine - which, despite his insistence, Ms. Park paid off, whipping out a cheque she had kept ready, somehow. You added the details to his resolved record as the chief dictated them to you, keeping them for future references - which you hoped would only be needed to prove his innocence in any situation. 

Nearly twenty minutes of details, questioning, and a written assurance from Taehyung that he would be liable to arrest if he continued illegal activities, it was done. Taehyung was free. 

The chief read over the details once again, thoroughly, eyes getting heavier and softer with every document he checked. Once it was all done, filed, and you had stacked the records back in the drawers they were placed in, the chief sagged into the chair, hands clutching the steel arms for support. 

"Thank God," he whispered, eyes closed. "You're fine now." He got up shakily, hands wiping at his eyes to erase any traces of the tears that had possibly leaked out. He walked around the table, reaching for Taehyung - as if beyond the lines of that desk, his duties as an officer stopped and those as a teacher resumed. "Don't you dare do that again, Taehyung. Never again." He held his student by the shoulder tightly, gripping him and shaking him a little - like a parent would scold a kid. "Live a good life, please." 

Taehyung nodded frantically, eyes still wide in disbelief as he ignored the grubby tear streaks on his face. "I will, sir." He had his hands placed politely in front of him, trembling fingers clutching onto the rough denim fabric of the old, loose jeans you had made him wear. 

"Live well," the chief repeated again, thumping Taehyung's shoulder once and then turning around to collect the documents he would need to take with him. He bowed to Ms. Park, who acknowledged him before something at a corner of the small office caught her eye, and turned sharply to you. "Officer Y/N," he began, and you tensed a little bit more. "There was an opening last night in the forensic science department that I got notice of," he said, a smile tugging on the edges of his lips when he saw how your demeanor brightened. "Reach the head office tomorrow in the morning at ten, and I'll give you the details. All the best." 

You hastily held back the sudden smile that threatened to split on your face, smartly saluting your senior before he turned around to leave the office. As he opened the door, you felt a burst of warmth all over your body - the heat of the sunshine rushing into the room. 

Ms. Park walked from her corner to Taehyung, taking his palm between hers and squeezing. "I'm happy that you're free now, Taehyung." She looked carefully at his face - sternness making way for soft concern, and said, "Live wisely. If you need money, or a job to get you started, come to my shop - it's the one you painted with orchids. You remember it, right?" 

Taehyung responded with a rather choked 'yes', nodding his head frantically. He placed his other, trembling hand upon the lady's hands, and solemnly thanked her. 

"That's not needed, I told you." She smiled, before patting his cheek. "You deserve to let yourself live, so use this chance well. Work hard." She turned her head to look through the window behind her, groaning a bit at the sight of the brightly burning sun. "I better leave now - it seems that I'll end up getting a sunburn the nearer to twelve it is." She turned back to Taehyung, smiling softly, and patting his cheek. "Turn up at the shop tomorrow morning, we'll figure something out." 

"Oh, and officer?" she faced you, pointing in the corner where she was standing a few moments before. "I think my grandson had left his plushie over here a few days ago - it's this one, right?" You followed where her hand was pointing, finding a pumpkin plushie left casually on top of a table. "Sungwoo told me he had lost it some time ago, so I just thought it was this one," she laughed awkwardly. 

"I think it is his, he had come yesterday to file a missing complaint for it too," you said, causing Ms. Park to laugh. "He really loves it, doesn't he?" 

"He's not slept well since it went missing. Anyways, I better take it with me, if that's all."

"Just a moment, ma'am," you stopped her hastily. "He'd left a note for the plushie too - I believe Peter?" 

The elderly woman laughed at her grandson's antics, taking the note you offered her and grinning as she read it. "Yes, yes, Peter. I'll take the note with me. Thank you so much for everything, officer."

Thank you, you wish to say - unable to understand how she volunteered to be an eyewitness and defend the one person you cared so much for. Maybe words wouldn't be enough for you to convey how grateful you were to her, so you simply bowed to the woman. 

She took Taehyung's hand again, gently pressing on the back of his hand. "Your mother used to help me out in the shop, you know." Taehyung nodded, and she smiled. "Your hands are like hers. Delicate, yet strong. You can craft beauty with this hand, Taehyung." She squeezed his hand, smiling. "Don't just let that beauty slip away from you." 

She patted his hand again, before turning to you and smiling, and heading out. The sunlight bounced off her gray hair to shine on Taehyung as you looked at him - even with a tired expression, he looked more alive than you had seen him in the last few hours. 

"I'm free," he said, saying it aloud and letting himself feel the sensation for a few moments. 

He turned to you, watching the way your eyes told him that you understood everything you wanted to tell him - even the things he himself didn't understand. "I'm free, Y/N," he repeated, carefully examining his wrists that were once bound with handcuffs - no. There were no restraints there. 

His eyes panned around the room. There was no investigator who questioned him about why he simply couldn't admit his crime. No one who made fun of him for seeking comfort in his art - even if it was illegal. "I'm really free," he murmured again.

Taehyung leaped towards you, pulling you close and holding you tight, as if unable to believe that you were there with him: and that he was here with you for as long as he wanted to be. You let your arms circle around his neck, one curling through the hair at his nape and pulling him further into your embrace, and the other spread out over his back - trying to remind yourself that yes, he was here, with you. 

"Thank you," you felt him murmur into your shoulder. 

"For what?"

"Just being here. With me." He sighed, further tightening the hands that rested around your waist. "After so many unfamiliar faces over the years, seeing yours feels like a reward of sorts for behaving well." 

You laughed at him, slapping his back light heartedly. "Don't talk like you did anything wrong all those years ago. It's not good." You let your hands pane across the expanse of his skin, feeling him cling on to you as you tried to calm him down. "I'm happy for you, Tae." 

He held you like that, for a few more moments - like you were slowly pulling him back into what could be his new normal life. Waking up every day in a room that doesn't have steel bars as a door. Not having to crash at the old house that had haunted him for years. Not having to hide his face in the fear that someone would taunt him for his past. Actually doing something that made him feel happy, confident, and alive. 

"I'm happy too," he murmured into your shoulder. You hummed as he looked beyond your frame to see the streets outside the window - seeing how they were illuminated in daylight. How animatedly people were talking about what their plans for the day were. A kid kept hopping on a chalk drawing of hopscotch he had drawn on the footpath, clutching onto a plushie that oddly seemed like a pumpkin. Someone walked around their stall, setting things up for the day. 

You pulled him away from your grip to look at him again - not wanting to forget any part of him in any way. "I still care for you as much as I did all those years ago, you know." You put your hands on his biceps, just as you used to do when you had to knock sense into your friend. "You better not hide anything from me now." 

"I have no intentions of," he grinned. "Thank you very much." 

You giggled, a feeling you hadn't felt in years fluttering around your stomach like butterflies. 

"About us," Taehyung began, holding your hands in his, "You know that I love you, right?" You felt yourself tense up, and probably Taehyung did too, as he squeezed your hands. "I'm not in any hurry. I want to take some time to understand myself and what I want to do before I think of anything with you. But when I'm settled, and I'm someone I can be proud of, I want to come back to you. Be with you forever." He let go of your hands to hold your cheeks, smiling as he saw your big eyes peer at him. "You'll let me, right?" 

Your eyes softened. "Of course, Taehyung."

"Tae." He corrected you, coming closer to press a kiss on your forehead. 

You smiled when he moved back, glancing down at all of him and laughing. "For beginners, how about we get you clothes to change into?" 

He looked down at his clothes, laughing with you. "Let's go, then?" 

You nodded at him, pulling him out of the office, and locking it securely before turning to a widely grinning Taehyung. "I have a feeling I'm going to love the daytime. It's just so positive, and nice, don't you think? Really warm all over." 

"You're just saying that because you lived like a night owl," you laughed at him, watching his eyes sparkle in the sunshine. 

"Yeah, that wasn't the best way to live, was it?" He clicked his tongue and frowned. "Guess I better start living well now. To new beginnings, then, Officer!!" He grinned and poked your forehead. 

You watched Taehyung skip over the pebbles that were lined outside the office, walking freely on the streets, feeling the dread that you had let build up in your heart for so long slowly drain out of you. "Wait for me!" You screamed behind him, running to catch up to him. To new beginnings, you thought. 

a/n: hopefully, this piece of writing was worth your time 😊 thank you so much for reading graffiti and chalk!! I'd love to hear any feedback you have. Feel free to send it in as a comment, reblog, or as an ask! love, hazel 💞

taglist: @taejinnies (the torture is over bahaha), @xiaokoo, @thedarkwinterrose, @shatzkrinslinzki

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750 Followers Celebration - Q&A

Thank you so much for supporting me through this journey! You guys don't know how much this means to me. Every single one of you is amazing.

Below the cut are my answers to the questions that you all submitted.

Q: Do you think Jay is going to become Sergeant this season? A: There has been a lot of debate over this question because of the past few seasons and all of the "Easter eggs", like the sergeant exam poster hanging in the background of the show. In my opinion, I do not believe Jay will become Sergeant. Yet. I think it won't be until the beginning of next season because, if this is a possible storyline, I would expect that the producers and writers would make the finale of season 9 about Voight stepping down/getting promoted, etc.

Q: Did Chicago Justice deserve more episodes? A: I'm sort of split with this question. I loved the fact that there was a big episode involving Kevin, and they always included people from Med, Fire, and PD in some of the episodes. However, the whole plot of the episodes was kind of slow because it wasn't like they were police officers and could go out and chase suspects and arrest people and what not. Their job was just to gather the evidence and then present it in court. I think for many, the show fell flat because there wasn't much action, and part of me does agree with that, but the whole idea of the show itself was kind of cool.

Q: What would make you stop watching each Chicago show? A: This is a tough question because I've only ever dropped one show that I can think of, and it was only because the plotline got really dumb. Maybe if some major characters died in each show I'd stop watching it? But then again, I love the One Chicago universe so much that I don't think even that would stop me from watching. So yeah. I really don't know.

Q: Do you believe in magic? A: As much as I would love for magic to be real, I don't believe it is. But I feel like everyone thinks that way. Cause lets be honest, Harry Potter and Disney make magic look so cool. However, we all know deep down somewhere that it's almost impossible for certain things to be real, and magic just so happens to be one of them.

Q: Are you superstitious? A: I'm not the most superstitious person out there, but I do somewhat follow a few superstitions. Whenever I find a penny on the ground with heads facing up, I pick it up because I believe I'll get good luck. Doing the whole "fingers crossed" thing is something I do a lot. I believe you shouldn't open an umbrella in the house or else you'll receive bad luck. Broken mirrors are bad omens. Those are the top 4 I believe in, but other than that, I'm not really too superstitious.

Q: Is your perception of yourself similar or the same to how others perceive you? A: I mean, I would hope so. I appreciate my level of smarts, and whenever my friends acknowledge them or compliment me on them it makes my day. However, with that, people think that I'm always only doing things to boost my intelligence. For example, I love to read. So whenever I say that I didn't do much over the weekend, people always assume that I read a bunch, when I really didn't. Or that I always study for tests or do homework like a week before it's do. That is not the case. But for the most part, I believe my perception of myself is the same as how other people perceive me.

Q: Who is your favorite couple on each One Chicago show? A: Okay, so for Med, there aren't really any couples at the moment besides Maggie and Ben, whom I love but they aren't my favorite, so I'm gonna pick a past couple. When I first started Med, Manstead was my prime ship, so I'll choose them. Will had been pining after Natalie for so long so I was glad when they finally got together. For Fire, it's gotta be Kelly and Stella. They were literally made for each other, and they support each other with everything. Also, they are so cute together and all of Firehouse 51 ships them as well! And for PD, while I do love Burzek, Upstead is my favorite ship at the moment. I've seen the connection between Hailey and Jay since season 5. You don't understand how angry I was in season 7 when Hailey was so close to confessing her feelings. So season 8 made me very happy when Jay and Hailey finally got together.

Q: Jay and Lindsey or Jay and Hailey? A: I respect everyone's opinions on this matter, so hopefully you all respect mine. I thought that Erin was almost toxic in a way for Jay. She continuously broke his heart when all he wanted to do was help him. But what really does it for me is that she left Chicago without telling him goodbye. Hailey, on the other hand, has pushed Jay to seek out help when he needed it, like when she recommended he take seeing a therapist seriously to help with his PTSD, and she is always there for him, no matter what. That's why I believe Hailey and Jay are the better pairing.

Q: Which character death got to you the most? A: There have been too many sad deaths in the One Chicago world. But if I had to pick one, I've gotta go with Otis on Chicago Fire. Otis was always one of my favorite characters, even way back when I watched Fire with my dad when it was first coming out. He was witty and funny, and his friendship with Cruz was everything. So, when I watched the episode where he died, I was full on balling. I had to pause the episode for 10 minutes because I couldn't stop.

Q: Who is your favorite character on each show and why? A: I'm gonna do favorite male and female character because I've got too many favorites from each show. On Med, my favorites are Will and Natalie. Will has been my favorite since day one, and I like that he will go out of his way to help patients, even if it means he could get in serious trouble. Natalie, even though she's not in the show, always pushes for the best of care for her patients, and whenever she dealt with kids it was always the sweetest thing. On Fire, I like Kelly and Sylvie. Kelly is so headstrong and driven, and he will do anything to protect the other members of Squad 3. Sylvie is such a hard worker and you can tell she is passionate about her job. I feel so bad that she's had to go through so many partners. On PD I love Jay and Hailey. Jay has not always been my favorite male character. Back when I watched the show for the first time, I adored Adam. However, I love that Jay has such good morals and is always pushing to do the right thing even when Voight disagreed. Now, it took a few episodes for me to warm up to Hailey, but after seeing her be so badass, it was hard not to like her.

Q: Where do you get inspiration for your stories?/How do you get inspiration when there's not a request? A: This question is always hard to answer because I really don't know. Most of the time I'm fulfilling requests sent in by you guys and I just write what comes to the top of my mind. If there are requests that are not requested and I come up with them on my own, chances are I saw the plot somewhere else, like in a book or show or movie, and I just tweaked it a bit to fit the One Chicago universe. Either that happens, or while I'm trying to fall asleep, I make up random scenarios in my head, and if I find one that I really like, I'll make a note of it on my phone so I don't forget it, and then I'll write about it.

Q: Do you think Brett and Casey are endgame? Why or why not? A: I'm gonna go with yes on this one. Now, Brettsey is not one of my top ships in the universe. However, they are cute together, and I've been expecting them to get together for a while. The two of them, even when Gabby was around, had a great relationship and always cared for each other. Plus, Matt jumped out of a firetruck to go help Sylvie when the ambulance flipped. He was willing to risk an injury just to make sure she was okay. And now that they are officially together in Chicago Fire, you can see that they really love and care for each other.

Q: What inspired you to start writing? A: I always seem to get this question whenever I do a q&a, but that's okay because I don't mind talking about it. I first got into stuff like this as a reader. Basically, I went on to Wattpad and Tumblr to read other people's stories. I had no intention of creating my own. And then, one day, I started imagining myself in some of the fandoms I was apart of, and I thought, "If I'm imagining myself in these fandoms, chances are others are too," and I began creating stories that followed the plots of movies and shows exactly, just adding Y/n in it. However, that got tiring after a while because I wasn't able to have much freedom because I was following a set script, and that's when I remembered I had a Tumblr account I never used. So, I revamped my account just a little bit and started posting story ideas I had that I couldn't post on Wattpad because either they didn't fit with the stories or they were for someone I didn't write for on Wattpad. And now, here we are. For anyone interested, I've posted this before but I'll post it again, my Wattpad handle is @Writer_Reader05.

Q: Jay or Will Halstead? A: I'm sorry, but I really can't choose between the two of them. I love them both so much. Will and Jay are two of my favorite characters in the whole One Chicago universe. While they do have some qualities that I'm not the fondest of, at the end of the day, I adore the both of them, and I could never choose between them.

Q: Who would you rather date: Jay or Will Halstead? A: Why do you guys do this to me? I love them both so much! But, if I have to choose, I'm gonna pick Jay. The only reason is because I like the characters in PD more than Med, so if I'm dating Jay, chances are I'm friends with Hailey and Adam and all of Intelligence. Will is just as awesome as Jay though and I feel like sometimes people sleep on that.

Q: Which of the requested fics you’ve written is your favorite? A: I think I'm gonna have to go with a Jay Halstead x reader I wrote titled Two Becomes Three. Something about the plot just makes me smile. And to think of Jay being a father......So yeah, while I have so many amazing requested fics thanks to you all, that one has to be one of my favorites.

Q: What’s your favorite series you’ve written so far? A: I love all of the series I have written. Something about creating a whole story that's more than just one part is always fun. If I have to pick one series, I'm gonna pick On the Loose. It was the first series I wrote on Tumblr and the plot of it is something I'm really proud of. However, From the Big Apple to the Windy City, Identity Loss, and Difference of Opinion are all amazing! The first two are finished series and the last one still has a few chapters left to go. Go check them out if you haven't already.

Q: What's your favorite imagine you've come up with and why? A: I don't have a lot of fics that are solely my ideas. Most of my stories have plots that were sent in by you all. However, if I had to pick a favorite out of my stories, it'd be Back Home for Christmas, a Halstead Sister fic I released when I was somewhat new to the platform. Something about writing sibling fics always makes me happy because I get to express the familial side to the characters.

Q: If you had to be roommates with 5 of your mutuals/fellow writers, who would you pick and why? A: I love all of my fellow writers/mutuals so much! I know how much work we put into whatever we post, and most of us are very active on this site. As for who I would pick to be my roommates, I'd choose @hereforhalstead @fighterkimburgess @halsteadlover @resanoona @sylviebrettsey because I feel like we'd all have great conversations, mainly over One Chicago. And every Wednesday night we'd all watch the episodes live together and experience them as a group and then freak out over what happened..........Now watch me fantasize about this all day.

Q: Do you listen to music when you write? A: It depends. On some days when I plan that I'm gonna write, then yes, I do put on some music. When there are days that I have a few minutes to spare, I don't put on music just because I'm only writing for a few minutes and I don't want to waste time. But mostly when I'm writing I do play music in the background.

Q: Do you know how your fics/stories end before you finish writing it? A: This is a really interesting question. The answer is no, I do not know how I'm gonna end a fic before I finish writing it. The only story I had a set ending for was my series On the Loose, but that one wasn't even fully planned out until I got a chapter or two in. Obviously, if I get a request that includes a set ending, like two characters get together or something like that, then I know what the ending will be. Otherwise, I have no clue.

Q: Have you ever met someone who had a very similar personality to your own? Did you get along? A: You know, I can't say that I have. Everyone is different in their own way, and that's what makes us all unique. I would imagine if I did meet someone with a similar personality we'd get along because we'd basically be a carbon copy of each other, but who knows. Maybe our similar personalities would cause us to clash.

Q: Do you hold yourself to higher standards than you hold others? A: Not really. I know myself more than anyone else so I know what my limits are and when I've reached them. With people, on the other hand, I always feel like they can be doing more with themselves and their lives. So I do not hold myself to higher standards than others.

Thank you to all of you who sent in questions! I never thought I'd reach 750 followers on this platform. The only reason I have is all thanks to you wonderful people out there!

@winterberryfox @maximeevansblog @scarletsoldierrr @i-like-sparkly-things @dreamingmanip @soph0864 @ryliegh8 @lorenakaspersen @wanniiieeee @nevertoofarfromivar @securityfriendly-jay @pinkbay-love @stephie123

[neptunetheplanet7]

𝐜𝐡𝐚𝐩𝐭𝐞𝐫 𝐭𝐰𝐨 - 𝐢𝐜𝐞 𝐜𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐦

DM ME IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO BE PUT ON THE TAGLIST!!

;mikasa ackerman x fem!lesbian!reader

;modern au, band au

word count: 2.1k

warnings: swearing, floch’s bad flirting

bold italics is a text conversation

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disclaimer again!! i wrote this a long time ago. i know there are things that need to be fixed and things that don’t fit right. i plan to edit this story more in the future but today is not that day :)

You took a shaky breath in as you stopped midway of putting a clean sheet on the bed Mikasa would be sleeping in. The room still had some of her old stuff in it, it's just no one ever came in here after she left. You looked around at all the items she left behind. Smiling fondly at an old picture of you two, you noticed a small figure crossed out in the background. Glancing at the rest of the photos on the shelf, you noticed that every photo had something crossed out.

After looking at each picture, you came to the conclusion the figure was Jean. She must have only taken the photos without him and did this to the rest. You frowned and walked back to the bed. Carefully, you climbed onto it and propped a few pillows up to support you as you leaned back.

For the first time in two years, you got a good look around the room. On the side of the room with the door, there was a large glass window overlooking the balcony above the living room. You always found it strange that she chose a room like that when she usually kept those blinds shut. Her bed was in the middle of the room with a tv mounted on the wall across from it. On the other side of her bed, there were a couple of bean bags below the bay window that looked out on the driveway.

You sighed and took out your phone, pulling up old texts with Mikasa. The last time you texted her was three months ago when you got too drunk at one of Reiner's ragers.

mikasa

mikasas pleasdse

come home

i miss you

i miss you so much

we all miss you so much

come home to me.

She didn't respond to that and you wouldn't know if she even looked at it. She turned her read receipts off for everyone after the first week of trying to contact her. The only time she had ever contacted anyone was two weeks after she left the house.

Don't look for me. Don't contact me.

You got a lot of your friends asking if you got the same message. She sent the same thing to everyone who tried to get in contact with her. You still didn't know where she was or what she was doing. The only thing you knew was that she was coming home the next day. You sighed. Suddenly, you didn't feel like cleaning anything else. You briskly walked out of her room and dialed the number of your best friend.

"Hey, Y/n! What's going on?" Sasha's cheery voice rang through the line.

"Hey hey, Sasha. I'm doing great. At least, I think I am. Do you wanna go somewhere? You can pick me up? Or I can pick you up if you like."

"I'll come to pick you up, honey bunny, don't you worry." You heard her struggling with her keys on the other side of the line and snorted at the noise.

"Need some help, Sash?" You grinned while skipping steps.

"Fine, thanks." She grumbled. "I'll be there in fifteen! You stay put!" She briskly hung up.

Sasha had been your best friend ever since Eren's nineteenth birthday party. She caught you and Eren coming back inside just as she was about to leave, with half the pantry in her arms. She asked for your number to make plans to hang out and chat sometime. You happily obliged, which was probably the happiest thing you had done that night.

You tossed your phone onto your bed as you walked into your room. Your room was on the first floor. You got first pick since you were the one who inherited the house. The house was big and beautiful. It was also on a lake. Perfect for the parties Eren and Jean loved to host. Perfect escape from paparazzi.

Your room had big glass doors that opened to the balcony that wrapped around the back of the house. You had a great view of the lake. The room was painted white. There was a black marble fireplace in one wall with a small wardrobe you used for storing memorable items to the band. You didn't need to use it for clothes since you had a walk-in closet in the big bathroom you partly shared with your bandmates. Jean liked to use the large bathtub.

You collapsed onto the bed and stared into the vanity mirror next to it. It was then when you realized you were still in your pajamas. "Oh shit." Your eyes widened as you hurriedly stumbled over to the closet, falling over once.

You grabbed a pair of baggy sweats and a big t-shirt. With duck socks, of course. The outfit didn't look much different than your pajamas but Sasha would probably be wearing something similar.

You threw your hair into the easiest hairstyle you could muster. You grabbed your boots and hopped up and down while trying to put them on while also leaving the room. "Jesus." You muttered.

Your phone vibrated, signaling that Sasha was here. "I'm heading out with Sasha! You're on your lonesome!" You called out to wherever Armin was in the house.

"Okay! Don't be back too late!" He shouted back.

You laughed aloud as you realized how much he sounded like a dad. You opened the front door and ran to Sasha's car. "Let me in!" You knocked on the passenger window as she reached around to find the button that unlocks the door. Once it was unlocked, you swung open the door and hopped inside.

"Nice outfit," was the first thing she said to you. You glanced at her outfit and scoffed. Your predictions were correct, she was wearing something similar.

"Gee, thanks." You gave a lopsided smile and rolled your eyes.

"Where to, honey bunny?" Sasha said, giving a mock salute while her other hand rested firmly on the steering wheel. You giggled and thought about it. You called her on such a whim that you forgot to even plan anything.

"Uh how about Brain Freezes? I could really use a catch-up with Connie right about now." You suggested.

"That sounds like a great idea! Turns out you do have a brain up there." Sasha snickered.

"Oh good one, because you're the real genius here, clearly."

After a lot of lighthearted banter, you arrived at Connie's workplace. Sasha aggressively grabbed the door handle and slammed it open, causing the bell to fall off its perch and land on your face. "Oops." You grimaced and bent down to pick up the bell. You rang it in front of her face.

"Sasha! Y/n! My two favorite customers!" Connie jumped up and down on the other side of the counter. "How can I assist you ladies today?"

"I'll have the usual." You gave a half-hearted smile, head still impaired from the bell. Sasha had quite the habit of accidentally hurting you.

Sasha snatched the bell from your grasp and started ringing it. She announced her very long order that you could barely keep up with, but Connie was used to this kind of thing, especially with her.

You noticed one of his coworkers scowling at Sasha. You didn't like Floch, to say the least. He was always inviting himself to your parties but he was rude to all of your friends at the same time. He noticed your gaze and smirked.

He strutted over to where you stood, pretending to become very interested in toppings. "How are you, Y/n? It's been a while huh?" He leaned over your shoulder in a way that workers shouldn't with their customers. You made a hasty effort to slip away from his presence.

"It really hasn't. I came here last week. I come here every week and you say that every time." You usually tried to be nice to Floch, but today you didn't feel like being nice.

"Well, even a day without you feels like an eternity." He flirted horridly. You stared blankly at him until he awkwardly cleared his throat and traded spots with Connie at the register.

Connie took off his apron and handed you and Sasha your orders. "Sorry about him. That guy really can't take a hint even if it's right in front of his face." He shot Floch a venomous glare. "Luckily, you guys got here right as my shift ended! Wanna get out of here?" His previous anger seemed to dissipate in an instant.

"Yeah, I do! Where should we go?" Sasha beamed with her spoon still in her mouth.

"Can we just drive around? I've got something I wanna tell you guys." You played with your spoon in the ice cream, averting eye contact.

"Sure thing, Y/n. Let's go." Sasha and Connie said in unison.

Sasha let you drive her car since she was preoccupied with her mountain of ice cream. Connie didn't have a car, he failed his driver's test every time he took it. You'd think he'd learn most of the material by now. "Hey, Y/n?" He asked from the backseat.

"Yeah?" You nodded to him.

"Are you gonna finish that?" He said, referring to your cup of ice cream in the front cupholder. You sighed.

"Go ahead." He thanked you over and over as he leaned over and snatched it.

"So, Y/n? What was it you wanted to tell us?" Sasha wiped her hands on her pants and set the empty container in an extra cupholder.

You gripped the steering wheel harder then relaxed. You took a shaky breath in. "Mikasa is coming home tomorrow."

Connie started choking on your ice cream. "I know, I had the same reaction." You quipped.

"Mikasa..is...WHAT?" Connie managed between coughs.

"After all this time? It's been two years. Tomorrow? That's so sudden! Are you even ready to see her?" Sasha's mouth was gaping open. You leaned over and shut it for her.

"Yes, tomorrow. I still have to get the house ready. I couldn't even make it through her old room without calling you. Jean told us this morning. I don't think we should be worried about me being ready to see her. I think we should be more concerned about her and Jean." You informed. "But, then again, she told Jean about her return first. Plus he's picking her up tomorrow at the airport. So based on that, I think they're on better terms."

"You don't think they'll get back together, do you?" Connie said, his eyebrows furrowing.

You snorted. "Of course not. You know Jean is with Marco now, and he seems pretty happy with him. They've been together for two years now, probably longer if I'm being honest."

"Then what do you have to worry about?" Sasha asked, confused.

"Are you joking? I mean, what if she has found someone? What then? What if she quits the band forever? What if we argue? She dropped off the map two years ago. Completely. She stopped responding to me, to all of us. For two years I thought she lost her interest in everything and went to live a new life, with people better than me. And now she's coming back, out of the blue! It's too much." You stressed.

Connie and Sasha made quick eye contact. "Y/n, I think you're reading too far into it. I doubt anyone could lose interest in you. You're too cool! Let's look on the bright side, she's ready to come home and you finally get to see her again," Sasha said in an attempt to lift your spirits. You smiled graciously. You really were lucky to have a friend like her. "Right, Connie?" She gestured to Connie who looked very deep in thought.

"Didn't you and Mikasa go out in high school?" You almost crashed the car from the shock of the question.

"Briefly, yes. But we weren't 'going out' so to speak. We just, like, made out a couple of times." You could feel your face grow hot at the subject. You thought you were over your crush on Mikasa, but after hearing that she was coming home, the familiar feeling was coming back.

"You're going red, Y/n. I think it was more to you than just a make-out." Connie grinned while Sasha wiggled her eyebrows.

"You're totally in love with Mikasa!" Sasha sang.

"Shut up, you two. I don't wanna get into the details right now." You couldn't even try to hide your heated face since you were the one driving the vehicle.

"Not right now? So maybe somewhere down the line, you will?" Sasha raised her eyebrows and broke out into another infectious grin.

"Whatever, Sash. Enough about Mikasa and me. I really wanna hear about you and Niccolo." You gave her a similar grin while she slowly turned red.

"Nice one, Y/n!" Connie cheered.

"You idiots should just shut it!"

posted: 8/24/21

neptunetheplanet7© 2021

no reposts, edits, or modification to my work by anyone other than me.

[lovemalecforever]

Chapter 22

Demons only reside in hell.

Magnus slowly stirred and fluttered open his eyes when he felt the warm rays of sun soaking his body. He never felt this happy and relieved at the same time. The couple were completely naked, their clothes were scattered on the floor and he was caged in his husband's arms. He looked at him adoringly. Last night was a hell of an adventure. He had finally let his emotions out in the open, told him the truth and his husband was still there with him, still loved him the same. He couldn't be happier. He slightly shifted in his place and reached his hands to play with Alec's locks falling on his temple.

Alec smiled inwardly. "Stop staring, love. I see that you love doing that a lot." Alec said in his morning husky voice, then slowly opened his eyes. The shade of red creeping over his warlock's face was beautiful. He smiled and kissed those red cheeks.

"Morning, love."

"Good Morning! How long were you awake?"

"Not long, but I was enjoying the feeling of holding my husband in my arms."

Magnus pouted. "Not fair!"

Alec chuckled and kissed his warlock softly tasting his morning breath, the one he loves so much.

Magnus kissed him back with full passion, not wanting to let him go. But something was nudging him at that moment, he felt a weird sense of Deja Vu. It suddenly struck him and he froze in his place.

Alec looked worriedly at his husband when he suddenly backed off. "Mags? What's wrong?"

"Alexander! It's... It's exactly like my dream. This happened in my dream. You.. you were right. What if that was precognition and.. and Camille.."

Alec shushed him and kissed the frowns forming on his forehead. "Magnus, calm down. Nothing's gonna happen, okay? Stop worrying."

"But.. but, Alexander.."

"Oh, hush you, don't ruin the mood." He scooted closer to Magnus and caged him in his arms again.

Magnus sighed and relaxed in his husband's arms. "Okay!" He whispered.

They lay like that for some time enjoying the feel of their skin touching together, leaving no inch between them. Then Alec got up and picked his clothes from the floor. "I'm going to make breakfast for us, you go get freshen up till then." He said and kissed him again.

He then got dressed and left for the kitchen. He prepared a breakfast of pancakes, two fried eggs, crispy bacon, butter toast, a bowl of diced fruits, a glass of orange juice for Magnus, and a cup of coffee for himself. Just as he was placing everything on the tray, his husband walked into the kitchen.

Alec frowned when he saw his husband advancing him only in his wine silk robe, black boxers, and home slippers. And he looked worried yet again.

"Magnus, what happened? Why aren't you dressed?"

"I... I did get dressed, but, it.. it was the same as my dream, Alexander. So, I removed them and worn my robe instead. I'm worried, Alexander. Everything's happening like my dream, even this breakfast." He pointed towards the tray, and he wasn't wrong, everything was the same except the pancakes had 'Happy anniversary' written on them with whipped cream and chocolate syrup.

Alec sighed and wrapped his husband in a tight hug.

"I believe you, Mags. But stop worrying, okay? Nothing bad will happen." He kissed him on his forehead and rubbed gentle circles on his back, the best way to calm his warlock, and he did calm down and relaxed in his arms.

"Breakfast?" He asked and Magnus nodded.

They walked towards the coffee table where Alec had placed their breakfast and they sat on their respective chairs eating in comfortable silence until Alec decided to break it.

"Magnus, I have to leave early today, and I won't beat around the bush since you already know it. I'm planning something special for our anniversary, so I'll be gone the whole day, I'll be back by around six. But, if you need me, just text me or call me, okay. I'm only a portal away."

Magnus' eyes widened at that. "You did what? Alexander, I'm grateful that you thought so much, but there's no need for anything. I just want us to stay in and be with each other. Nothing more."

Alec reached his hand out to intertwine with Magnus's and smiled softly. "I know you want simple, love, but I've already planned everything, so it can't be undone now. Also, if I don't reach the location on time Izzy and Clary will kick my ass."

"Wait, what? Isabelle and Clary? Are they involved? But, how?"

Alec cleared his throat. "Umm.. why do you think I went to New York or was coming home late for a few days?"

Magnus looked at him dumbfounded. "Alexander, you were seriously not planning our anniversary this whole time? And you said you were going to New York-"

"Magnus, the meeting was still there, I just extended my stay to plan everything. And, before you ask, everyone knows even Catarina. So you can't cancel it, believe me, you're gonna love it."

Magnus sighed, his eyes watered with overwhelming emotions. He couldn't believe his shadowhunter was thinking so much about him. He squeezed their intertwined hands tightly. "Thank you, Alexander. I don't know what I did to deserve someone like you. I love you so much, Alexander."

"I love you too, Magnus."

They finished the rest of the breakfast in silence. Then Alec cleaned the dishes and they went back into the bedroom. Magnus went to do his makeup and Alec started dressing up.

While Alec was getting dressed up he noticed that Magnus was looking at his reflection in the mirror with a blank expression on his face. He quickly got dressed up then walked towards his husband and hugged him from behind.

"Penny for your thoughts?" He asked and kissed him on top of his head.

Magnus looked at his husband from the mirror and sighed. He relaxed a little when the grip of his shadowhunter's arms tightened around a waist.

"Nothing, I really want you to stay, Alexander. Can't this whatever you are planning shift here? I just want you to be here with me."

Alec sighed. "Mags, please stop worrying. And no, it can't be shifted here. I need to leave before Izzy decides to hijack my phone. Just relax and rest if you're not feeling well, okay?"

"Okay, fine." He whispered. They said their goodbyes and Alec left the loft to reach the lakeside park. He was already late.

***************************

Alec reached the location as soon as he could and saw Izzy and Clary decorating a gazebo situation near the lake.

The gazebo was square-shaped with a conical top, made up of white marbles. It was beautiful in itself and the decorations made it stand out. The four pillars of the gazebo were decorated with spirals of white, red, and black roses, white in the center of black and red. There was a circular table in the center which had several things spread out on it, including his gifts and his sisters were indulged in decorating the pillars. Izzy was standing on the top rail of the chair, tiptoeing to reach the top part of it. Clary was working opposite hers, her back was towards Izzy.

Alec noticed that the chair was shaking and his sister was trying to keep her balance, obviously forgot to activate her balancing rune. She tiptoed more to reach the upper part of the pillar, which caused the chair to lose balance and it fell, resulting in a loud shriek from her. His wings snapped open and he quickly raced towards her, catching her in his arms.

Izzy was trying to decorate every inch of the pillar when the chair betrayed her and she fell with a loud shriek and covered her face, ready to hit the concrete floor but it never came, instead, a pair of strong familiar hands caught her and she heard a loud flap of wings. She peeked from her fingers and saw her brother looking at her worriedly.

Clary's eyes were wide open and she was looking at the Lightwood siblings. Everything happened in the blink of an eye that she didn't have the time to react. "Oh my god! Izzy! Are you okay?" She finally asked when she got out of the shock.

Alec put his sister down and she looked between both her brother and Clary, embarrassed.

"You okay, Izzy?"

"Yeah, I'm fine." Then she looked at the now fluttering wings with awe. "They're beautiful, Alec." She traced her pointed nails over the biggest feather, causing the wings to curl and uncurl in a quick motion. She looked at them jaw dropped.

"Izzy! It's tickling! Stop!"

"Are wings supposed to do that?"

"I don't know Izzy, but mine are!" He sent his wings back into the wing scars without focusing on them this time and looked at both his sisters. "Now, how's the planning going?"

"Do you want to look at the frame before I gift wrap it?" Clary asked excitedly.

"Yeah, sure. But before that.." he focused on the remaining roses causing them to float in the air, then decorated them on the remaining part of the pillars similar to how they were doing.

"Not fair, big brother!"

Alec shrugged. "I wanted to practice!"

******************************

It was afternoon and Clary had brought lunch for the three of them from their favorite restaurant in New York. They were sitting on the ground because all the chairs and tables were occupied with the stuff. They were trying to eat in peace but Alec's phone wasn't letting them.

"Can you shut down your phone, big brother? We're trying to enjoy nature and our lunch." She said, clearly frustrated.

"Sorry, Izzy. It's Magnus. I'll just quickly go home and come back. Clary, can you create a portal?"

"Sure." She created a portal and Alec vanished into it. He came back after an hour and saw that his sisters were now decorating the circular table with scented candles and rose petals. Clary was the first one to notice him.

"Hey Alec, how's it looking?"

"Yeah, fine." He said in a low voice.

Both the girls exchanged a look and looked at Alec.

"What's wrong, big brother? Is Magnus okay?"

Alec sighed, he removed the stuff from one of the chairs and sat on it, resting his head on his palms.

"Yes, but not exactly. He's freaking out."

Both the girls did the same then pulled the chair near Alec and sat on it.

"What's wrong, big brother?"

"I don't know how to tell this, but, he had this weird dream last night about today, and... he's freaking out because of it. Because according to him, since this morning, everything's happening exactly like the dream he had."

"But, Alec?" Clary asked. "How is it a bad thing? That sounds like precognition to me, but it's your anniversary, so what could go wrong? What did he see?"

"Alec, you look worried, what is it?"

"What Magnus saw wasn't good. He.. he saw us breaking up."

"What!?" Both women gasped loudly.

"But why would he dream something like that, big brother? And, if it's a precognition.."

"I'm tired of telling him that nothing bad will happen, but he's freaking out like anything. When I went back home, he was shaking and crying badly. He said he had the same clients as his dream. He was doing the same things and he even summoned the same food, so he didn't even eat anything. I had to force-feed him because he wasn't ready to eat then put him to sleep. I didn't like the way he was in." He let out a deep breath.

Both women exchanged a worried look.

"Alec, why is he so bad? What exactly did he dream about?" Clary asked.

"What's going on, big brother?"

"Camille is back!" He said in one breath. They both looked at him wide-eyed.

"By the angel! And you people didn't tell us anything!" Izzy said.

"Wait, is that what he saw?" Clary asked.

"No!" He sighed. "He saw himself cheating on me with Camille, I walked in on them and left him for good. And now he's scared that it will come true, even after I've reassured him thousands of times till now that nothing like that will happen. That I'll never leave him. I know really well how evil that bloodsucking bitch is!"

"Hold on, she's a vampire again, big brother?" Izzy asked and Alec nodded.

"Doesn't that mean she's more vicious than before?" Clary asked.

"Yes, she definitely is. Magnus already met her and I saw what she did to him." He paused, took a deep breath, then continued. "When I was in New York, that's when she showed herself and.. they.. they kissed." He saw his sisters' reactions, and both of their jaws were hung open.

"I can't blame Magnus for anything, I knew he was vulnerable and that bitch took advantage of it. And he still is. I don't want him to go through any more pain than he already is in."

"Don't worry, big brother. I'm sure she won't be able to hurt him. And if she tries to, we'll be there to take her down!" She said fiercely.

"Thanks, Izzy!" He gave them a light smile, but little did they know that Alec already had something on his mind.

After the heavy conversation, they started working on the surprise again, being positive that nothing wrong will happen. It was around six in the evening when Alec started to leave.

"Okay, I'm going home now. You both, give the finishing touch to all the decorations and arrange the dinner as well. I just hope Magnus loves this."

"He will. Don't worry big brother!"

He pecked on both of their cheeks as thanks, then Clary created a portal for him and he left.

*********************************

When Magnus woke up he was alone in bed with no trace of his husband in the bedroom or in the loft for that matter. He sighed. It was already 4:30, meaning he slept for a long time. 'At least this didn't happen in my dream.' he thought.

He went into the living room and started watching some random mundane TV shows making himself comfortable on the couch. About an hour later the doorbell rang. At first, he was happy that his husband is finally home, but he quickly realized that he could just walk in and won't knock. He gulped, hard. 'No! It can't be Camille. There must be some clients. Yes, it has to be a client.' he thought. With that in mind, he clicked his fingers and opened the door. As soon as the door opened and he saw the person his expressions turned into anger and fear. He composed himself and started speaking in a flat and cold voice.

"What are you doing here, Camille? How are you here in the first place and how were you able to break my wards?"

Even though he knew what was coming, he didn't want Camille to win. He wanted to fight back as much as he could.

"Oh my love, so many questions. Relax. You blocked my number so I thought visiting you would be best. Aren't you surprised to see me?"

"No, I'm not Camille. And I'm asking again, how are you here?"

"I have my way, Magnus. I'm a vampire if you're forgetting." She smiled at him.

"No, I haven't forgotten that." He said coldly. "How did you break my wards?" Even though he knew the answer to that, he still asked.

"Oh, Magnus."  She smirked, "It's not hard to compel your clients, you know."

Magnus gave a pained expression at that, eyes wide."You.... encanto'd my regular client. That's why my wards... what do you want Camille?" He tried to keep his voice as cold as possible, not wanting to show that he's feeling weak.

"I already told you, Magnus!" She started walking towards him, Magnus quickly stood up from the couch and tried to back away from her but she used her vampiric powers and pinned him down on the couch. She traced her pointed fingers on his face. "I want you."

"Get your hands off me, Camille."

"Why so bitter Magnus? Didn't you enjoy our time? Why am I even asking, you kissed me yourself the first time Magnus. Willingly." She smirked.

Tears formed in Magnus' eyes remembering it. "That was a mistake. I hate you with every fiber of my being, Camille Belcourt!" He spat.

"No, you don't, my love." Using her vampiric strength, she pinned him down on the couch and got on top of him. Magnus tried to resist her, tried to gather his magic, center it on her, but it all went in vain. She was way too powerful, more than he had ever seen her.

She stroked his face with her pointed nails and looked him directly in the eyes. Her pupils became larger and wider, so large that her eyes went completely dull black and scary. "You love me and only me. You want me. I'm your only true love, Magnus."

It was at that moment he completely lost his senses, not knowing what he's saying or doing. He was completely under her control. "I love you."

"That's better, my love. Kiss me now, Magnus."

Magnus leaned in and brushed his lips with her blood-red ones. Camille smirked in between the kiss. When they broke the kiss, she looked directly into his eyes again with her largely dull black eyes. "Tell me, Magnus, are you doing it willingly?"

"No!" He whispered. The answer came quickly to him.

"Wrong!" She focused on his innocent brown eyes again. "You're doing it willingly, my love. This is not encanto, you're doing everything of your free will. You love me and only me. And you want to explore every part of my body. Make love to me Magnus. Just the way we used to do."

Magnus nodded. He was in total control of that heartless vampire. Camille smiled viciously. She licked her fangs and looked at the sweet warlock beneath her. She unbuttoned the first few buttons of his shirt and started kissing him on the neck. She traced her tongue over the perfect veins, licking and sucking them gently. Then she flashed her fangs, she was about to dig her fangs in those veins when a three-headed arrow shot past from just a centimeter away from her eyes and she jumped backward.

"Touch my husband and I'll rip you in pieces, Camille Belcourt!" Alec spat at her, his voice was completely different, deeper and colder than it could ever get.

Magnus jumped away from her and stood far away from the couch. He looked between his husband and Camille wide-eyed. His heart was racing badly. "You.. you encanto'd me, Camille! Again! You've gone so low, I don't even know now why I ever fell in love with a person like you!" He said in a disgusting tone.

Camille stood from the couch gracefully and looked at the shadowhunter, ignoring Magnus completely. She smirked and was in front of Alec standing headstrong within a second. Magnus's breath caught in his lungs as he witnessed the whole scenario.

"Oh! You poor nephilim, you think if you're married to him that means he's yours. Not even in your dreams, shadowhunter. Once your mortal ass life will be over, he'll come running back to me. To his true love. You are nothing but a toy for him. I'm immortal and I can provide him with whatever he wants, a good fuck, a forever young partner, who will never slow down as he grows up. A charisma which you'll never be able to provide him. I'm perfect for him, not you, you mortal, useless toy!" She had a malicious smirk on her face.

Alec tightened his fists in anger and looked at her disgustingly. He wanted to kill her then and there but that would be too easy on her, he wanted a cruel, merciless death for her which he had already planned.

He walked closer to her and looked directly into her eyes, not getting scared even for a second.

"He's not your property, Camille Belcourt! He has his own identity. Now, if you want to live, get the hell out of here, because I won't think before putting a stake through your heart!"

"Really, shadowhunter! Ooh, I'm scared!" She mocked at him but quickly backed away from him and looked at him with rage when he pulled out a wooden oak stake from his jacket.

"I'm still giving you a chance, Camille!"

She looked between both men with a vengeance and ran out of the house within seconds.

Alec threw away the stake on the floor, ran towards his husband, and caught him in his arms who was about to fall on the floor.

"Magnus! Are you okay?"

"Al... Alexander! She... I did it, didn't I? I.. I.." he trailed off, not wanting to say the word.

"Mags, look at me." He said softly. Magnus looked up at him, disappointed in himself. "You did nothing love. Nothing happened, okay. You were under her encanto, so don't you dare think that you did something." He said sternly, trying to put some sense in his husband. Right at that moment, his eyes landed on a light hickey on Magnus' neck and he was filled with rage and anger. He focused on the light bruise and made it disappear. He knew that if Magnus saw that, he'd start blaming himself, which wasn't true and he didn't want that.

"Hey, stop sulking!" He said when he saw his warlock's tear-filled golden eyes. Magnus wasn't even aware that his glamor had disappeared.

"Alexander, I don't think-"

"Shh!" He left feather-light kisses on his face, starting from his eyelids to his forehead to his nose and lastly his lips. He then kissed him softly. "Don't you dare cancel our anniversary date, Magnus Lightwood Bane! Now, get up and get ready. I want you to see my husband in that beautiful wine silk suit I gifted last year. And no use of magic for getting ready! Take as much time as you want!"

"But, Alexander.."

"No buts, Magnus. You know I love it when you put effort into getting dressed up. So, now, get up and go change." He kissed him on the forehead for assurance that he's there for him, always.

Magnus leaned into the touch and sighed loudly. He felt really lucky to have a person like him in his life. "Okay, Alexander, but you know it will take at least an hour, right?"

"Yes, and I don't care. I want my husband to look ravishingly hot today. Now, go!"

"Fine!" Magnus said and left the room.

When Alec was sure that Magnus was out of sight, he looked at the loft's door where Camille had left from. 'You'll pay for it, Camille.' he thought to himself. He looked at their bedroom to make sure it was locked then left the loft to search for Camille.

He found her exactly where he expected her to be, in the nearest alleyway from the Alicante Institute 'The Gard', trying to challenge the Clave by drinking from a mundane where she found from angel knows where.

"Really Camille, I thought you were smart!" Alec stated coldly.

Camille licked the blood from her fangs and looked at Alec with a vicious smirk, throwing away the poor mundane like trash. "Hello again Shadowhunter, were you stalking me? That's not a good thing, is it?"

"Don't worry Camille, I'm just stalking an escaped prisoner of the gard, who needs to know her place."

"So what are you going to do now, huh, put me in prison again? Never in your dreams, nephilim!" She laughed evilly.

Alec looked at her disgustingly. "Actually Camille, I have a better plan than that!"

"And what's that, shadowhunter?"

Alec didn't say anything. He kept looking at her when someone landed just behind her making her turn around.

"Long time no see, Camille Belcourt!" A deep silky voice said. But the voice was dipped with hatred and anger.

"Daniel Nightstorm! Really!" She looked at Alec. "So you found him shadowhunter. What now? Are you both going to try to capture me and turn me to clave?"

Alec simply smirked, making her question their intentions. She looked between both the men and ran using her vampiric speed but an invisible barrier blocked her way and she fell between both the men.

She looked around her in shock when different kinds of plants started appearing in the whole alleyway.

Alec and Daniel exchanged a look and Alec looked at the opposite road from them where Catarina was standing with a wide smile on her face. Alec nodded thanks to her. When the whole alleyway was filled with plants, Catarina looked at Camille with hatred and left her for her demise.

Camille looked at both the men and smirked evilly.

"What now? Are you both going to kill me and break the rules of the clave? Such dedicated shadowhunters!" She mocked them.

They both chuckled in unison.

"Are you seriously blind Camille, like your dark black eyes? Can't you see I'm still a young 23 years old!" Daniel said, amused with her stupidity.

"So you're immortal now? Tut! Tut! Never thought you'd be this stupid Daniel. So, what are you? Half warlock? Half seelie? Or a vampire? Like your brother Louis Nightstorm." She smiled innocently while saying the name making Daniel's blood boil with anger.

"DON'T YOU DARE SAY MY BROTHER'S NAME WITH YOUR DISGUSTING MOUTH, CAMILLE BELCOURT!!" He shouted and started advancing on her when Alec got in between them.

"Dan! Calm down! She'll get what she deserves, but you need to calm down first." He put his hand on his chest and Daniel took a few deep breaths before calming down completely.

"As for you, Camille." Alec turned towards her, "All the shadowhunters are ordered to catch the last of the prisoners alive or dead. And the Clave doesn't care about the reasons for the death as they all know how dangerous you people became after becoming downworlders again. If you had done your homework before showing up and torturing my husband in your cruel ways, you should have known what's coming for you. So, yes, we're going to kill you, but not that easily, Camille. You've played with my husband and Dan's brother enough, and you'll pay for that. You'll suffer, the same way you made Magnus suffer all these years."

Camille looked at both men with anger in her completely dull black eyes. "I never played them, I loved them. You know really well Daniel, how much I loved Lou."

"Shut up you bitch!" Daniel seethed with anger. "You killed my brother, Camille Belcourt! You were in a relationship with my brother when it used to be a crime for a Shadowhunter and downworlder to be together. You promised my brother that you'll be with him forever if he'll become a downworlder for you, and when he became a vampire, leaving his whole family behind, leaving us behind, you cheated on him and left him, not giving a fuck about him.

He was so devastated that he put a stake through his own heart in front of all of us. He killed himself, you killed him and you say you loved him! I've never seen a woman like you, you heartless bloodsucking bitch! I've been hunting for you since then, and now I finally got a chance to get my revenge!" His whole body was shaking with anger, his raven black hair suddenly got a few highlights of gold hairs, his soft green eyes turned into dark emerald with a hint of gold on its edges and his wings snapped open, a huge pair of 10-foot appendages, it's each feather was dark emerald on the base, merging into its tints of the same color ending with a light golden tip.

Camille backed away a few steps. Her eyes were wide with horror. "What the! What are you?"

"Your death, Camille!" Daniel said coldly.

"Don't even think of trying, Camille!" Alec said when he noticed that she was trying to find a way out.

"What you said to me, that, I'm nothing but a toy for him. You're immortal and you can provide him with whatever he wants, a good fuck, a forever young partner, who will never slow down as he grows up. A charisma which I'll never be able to provide him. I don't have any intentions of telling you about my sex life, but I can tell you one thing, Camille Belcourt, that I'm not a toy and I'm never leaving Magnus, do you know why?"

He stepped forward and produced his pair of 8-foot long silver appendages, his eyes turning icy silver, boring into Camille's horror-filled dull black ones.

"I love Magnus enough to sacrifice my mortality for him. Yes, Camille, I'm immortal now. And I did it for my husband. But you'll never know the meaning of sacrifice, the meaning of true love, because you don't have a heart. You just know how to play with people's hearts. And that's gonna end now. She's all yours, Dan."

Taking the powers from the plants, Daniel created a huge ball of nature's energy around himself making Camille scream in pain. She held her head tightly. Her dull black eyes started getting normal and reddish.

"What... are you... doing.. to me?"

"Giving you a merciless death Camille, as you did to my brother!" Daniel seethed.

She screamed loudly when a silver ball of energy hit her legs, making her now blackish-red blood drip down her legs. She looked at Alec with horror in her eyes.

"Really shadowhunter, forgotten your duties? What will your dear Clave do to you when they find out you are a murderer!"

"Don't worry about me, Camille. Worry about yourself!" He said coldly.

He advanced towards her and took her black bracelet from her hands as proof, then traced his pointed finger which had his magic dancing above it on her lips making them burn and she screamed in pain.

"You kissed my husband, made him think that he's cheating on me. Took advantage of him. You crossed your limits, Camille." He took out the wooden oak stake from his jacket and pointed it towards her heart.

"Wait, Alec. I'm not done with her!" Daniel flapped his wings producing a huge storm of his emerald magic and shot it towards Camille, making her whole body burn in fire and she screamed loudly.

"Wow! You need to teach me that, Dan!"

"Later, Alec. Now, do the honors"

Alec nodded and looked at Camille with pure disgust, then pierced the stake through her heart, making her vanish in flames.

"Goodbye, Camille Belcourt!" He looked at Daniel and nodded.

Daniel removed the barrier Catarina had formed and the plants disappeared as well, then glamoured himself as Magnus.

"Okay, let's get this over with!"

After some time they heard Jia's voice coming from the head of the alleyway.

"Alec! Magnus! Where are you?"

"In here, Jia!" He screamed back.

Jia quickly reached where they were standing and gasped when she saw the surroundings.

"What happened here?" There was a wooden oak stake lying on the ground with blackish-red blood on it, a body of no one knows whom and Alec was holding a shocked Magnus in his arms.

Alec handed her a black bracelet and sighed. "Camille Belcourt's! She attacked us from behind when we were going back to our home and tried to get to Magnus. I didn't have any option other than to kill her. Sorry, Jia."

"It doesn't matter, Alec. She already had a death sentence coming up if we would have found her alive. At least all the prisoners are in their right places now. But you both need to give a proper recorded statement of what happened. I'll send you both a formal message as well for it, and a proper time."

"Can it proceed tomorrow, Jia? Magnus isn't in the right condition right now and it's our anniversary too. We'll be there tomorrow morning to give the statement."

"Not a problem, enjoy your day and happy anniversary." She gave them a light smile. "Oh yes,  Aline and Helen had some parcels for you both."

"I'll collect it tomorrow. Thanks, Jia."

She smiled warmly at them then collected all the evidence and left.

Alec and Daniel sighed in unison and Daniel turned back into his original form.

"See you at the training, Alec! And, Happy anniversary."

"Thanks, Dan!" Alec gave him a gentle smile, they shook hands and left for their respective places, sending one more demon back to hell and making their heavy hearts lighter than before.

[papergirllife]

有缘再见

（If Fate Allows We'll Meet Again)

Liu Yang Yang

" What was the most impulsive thing you did before coming to SM ? "

It was another session of soju and wine among the wayv members on a typical Friday night.

All of them exchanged stories of their lives before wayv during these times, and now the question is directed at Yang Yang.

" I had a girlfriend for 4 hours and she's the only girl I dated. "

The mall was crowded as usual, both tourists and locals shop here in Germany.

All of Yang Yang's friends left him to hang out with their girlfriends.

' So much for the bro code ' , he thought.

He walked towards the entrance of the indoor amusement park in the mall.

' Nah it's ridiculous coming here on my own. ' , so he halted his tracks and prepared to leave.

That is until someone tapped him on the shoulder.

He turned his head to see a girl who's significantly shorter than himself, what surprised him was that she was Asian.

" Hi, I'm Y/N, and I'm here alone because my parents are in the concert hall next door. Their concert is going to end at 12, so I have nothing to do and I'm unfamiliar with this country. So I was just wondering if you wanted to be my boyfriend for the next 4 hours ? Show me around, stuff like that. This seems like a huge mall with lots of nice dating spots. "

" Sure. "

Next thing Yang Yang knew was that Y/N bolted towards the ticketing counter and bought back two entry tickets to the indoor amusement park.

" Come on ! We only have 4 hours. "

She took his hand and dragged him to the nearest ride.

" Don't worry, this is really safe. " Yang Yang said as they got into the roller coaster.

" Who says I'm scared ? "

And true to her words, she wasn't.

Yang Yang was surprised to see that she enjoyed every moment of the thrill of the exhilarating ride.

She even laughed aloud after they finished the ride. She truly was a girl Yang Yang had never encountered.

Yang Yang and Y/N got on all the rides that girls usually never go for, the ones that make your hair all messed up, the ones that get you a little wet, even the scary ones that his homies' girlfriends avoided like the plague.

When Yang Yang asked her why she said, " because the more scary they are, the more complicated the mechanism is, the more complicated the mechanism is, the more expensive the cost of the ride is. In conclusion, I'm making my money's worth instead of wasting it on the plastic ponies. "

She pointed at the carrousel which was filled with girls their age with full fledged make up, taking selfies in front of the magical lights.

That was when Yang Yang noticed that she wasn't wearing any make up, unlike all the German girls he's seen. The only thing she's wearing is probably coloured lip balm, a bright shade of orange red adorned on her lips.

Even her clothes were different, more eastern style he suspects.

Instead of the gym tights girls like to wear, she's wearing black skinny jeans and a silk button up. A tiny jade replica of a dragon dangles from a yarn necklace, similar to the one his mom has. Y/N's Chinese, just like him.

' That would explain her opinion on rides that are worth her money. ' Yang Yang lets out a smile at that thought.

" What are you laughing about ? Is it about my hair being messed up ? "

She reached her hand up to tame her messy hair.

" No I was just thinking about your theory on rides that are worth your money. "

" I should be eligible for Harvard for that. "

Yang Yang realised how much he truly enjoyed Y/N's presence, the way she jokes and the way she sees things differently.

Yang Yang shook his head of these thoughts.

' You only get to be her for a few hours, don't overthink this, just enjoy it while it lasts. '

" How about we grab something to eat ? My treat. "

" I'd love to. "

They arrived at a classic German cuisine restaurant.

" Are you sure about this, Yang Yang ? This place looks kinda pricey. "

" Don't worry, I bought extra money thinking my friends wouldn't bail me out on this. "

" You were with friends? "

" Yeah, they ditched me for their girlfriends. "

" My girls do that to me too, I'm always jealous of them, running off like that. They always say I'm too shy to date anyone. Y/N, the one who's never impulsive when it comes to dating. "

" How about we take a photo together ? You can brag about our little rendezvous here. "

" Your ideas are always appealing, Yang Yang. "

She scooted over her chair to Yang Yang whilst he asks for a waiter's aid in taking the photo.

After they finished their meal, they went to the clawing machines.

" You didn't seem like the type to like these. "

" I used to get them for my mom when I was young. I want you to have one too, something to remember me by or this moment. "

Yang Yang got it on his 5th try, which probably costs the same as if you bought one at a store.

' But it's the sentimental meaning that counts. ' Y/N thought to herself.

Yang Yang placed the plushie in her hands. It was a Stitch.

" Why the Stitch ? "

" You don't like it ? "

" I do. But I want to know the reason behind your choice of plushie for me. "

" In Hawaiian, Lilo and Stitch means lost and found. You were sort of lost tonight, but you found me. Now that I've given you a Stitch, I'll always be beside you wherever you are. Whenever you feel lost in life, give it a hug, think of it as me being there for you. "

Y/N enveloped Yang Yang into her tiny, but warm embrace.

" Thank you so much Yang Yang, I'll remember you forever and this moment we're having. "

Both Yang Yang and Y/N are tearing up now, both of them have never encountered such a special person in their lives, and the thought of separating after tonight seems to hollow out their hearts.

Yang Yang checked his watch, 11.30 p.m. .

" We only have thirty minutes left before your parents come back to fetch you and the mall closes. How about we break your rule about rides that are complicated only and take a ride on the ferris wheel ? "

" Sure. "

Yang Yang took Y/N's hand into his and led her to the queue of the ferris wheel, they didn't let go all the way throughout the waiting, even as they boarded the compartment.

The ride was silent, the both of them leaned into each other's embrace. Y/N's head on Yang Yang shoulder. Yang Yang's hand around her waist.

As they reached the top of the ride, Yang Yang broke the silence.

" This is going to be the most cliché thing you ever heard. But can I kiss you? "

Y/N had the biggest smile on her face as she put her hands behind his nape to lean in and connect their lips.

The happy couple was inseparable as they wandered through the flee market in the mall, Yang Yang's arm slung over Y/N's shoulder, keeping her by his side.

Y/N stopped her tracks at a jewelry stall. She picked up a pair of earrings that were placed on the table.

" How much is this ? "

" 8. "

She paid for the earrings and took off one of her own, and slipped it into her wallet

It was a star, the other was a crescent moon.

She handed the moon to Yang Yang.

" Wear this as long as you still like me, and take it off when you no longer like me. So when the next time if we ever meet again I'll know if we still share the same feelings. Deal ? "

" Deal. "

Yang Yang removed his earring to put on the one you have him.

" Dear shoppers, closing time is in two minutes. Please finish your shopping and proceed to the exits. We're opening at 10 a.m. tomorrow morning, we welcome you again then. And remember to drive home safely. "

" My parents should be waiting for me at the main exit about now. "

" I'll walk you there. "

Yang Yang wished this mall was when bigger than it is now, just so that he could spend more time with Y/N.

Y/N stopped her tracks at the side of the escalators at the first floor.

" Those are my parents. It's best that they don't see me with someone they don't know, they're rather protective. "

" So this is goodbye ? We could keep in touch, Instagram or Twitter or Snapchat ? "

" I live on the other side of the world, Yang Yang. But there's still a chance we'll meet again, let fate decide for us. "

She gave him one last kiss on the lips.

“ 有缘再见。”

“ 有缘再见。 ”

Yang Yang was starting to let her hand go, but he suddenly thought of something he hasn't asked.

" Wait. I still have one more thing I need to know. Why the moon and the star? Out of all the other ones. "

" Because in the vast night sky, the moon and the stars will always belong together, no matter where they are. "

She squeeze his hand for the last time, and let go.

Yang Yang watched her until she reached her family, he could see her smile from here.

Y/N turned back to look at Yang Yang one last time.

' I'll never forget you and I'll probably never move on. ' She thought to herself.

After Yang Yang finished the story, he grabbed the nearest soju bottle and downed the remaining of its contents.

" Thank goodness we don't have any schedules tomorrow. " Kun muttered to himself.

" So that's why you never take off this earring unless the stylists tell you to. " Ten said to the others.

" You never found this girl? Instagram, Twitter, Snapchat ? " Xiao Jun asked.

" No, she's like a ghost. "

" Get some sleep soon, Yang Yang. " Kun told him.

Yang Yang only nodded, too far down the memory lane to heed Kun's words.

One by one all of them retired back into their own rooms to rest for the day.

' Will I ever meet her again ? " Yang Yang asked himself.

A week has passed since Yang Yang retold his story. All the members avoided triggering his mood. He was still smiley Yang Yang in front of the fans, but he shut himself in his room more often than usual.

Yang Yang and Hendery were messing around in the dance studio while the rest of the members were doing their own things, Kun and Xiao Jun practicing a song, Ten and Winwin choreographing.

Suddenly, their manager popped his head in.

" Guys, I'd like you all to meet the members of SM's girl group that are going to promote in China along side wayv. Lee Soo Man said that you guys have to get to know each other in order to work alongside each other. "

He ushered in a group of girls and shut the door behind him.

Kun, being the dutiful leader he is started introducing the wayv members to the girls as they stood in a line.

Yang Yang was typing away on his phone to tell Jaemin when Kun told him to turn it off.

He slipped his phone into his pocket and looked up.

It's her, Y/N.

The both of them had shocked expressions on their face. Y/N's leader was telling her to introduce herself, but she couldn't hear or see anything else other than Yang Yang.

Yang Yang shifted his gaze to her ears, there it was, his star. Y/N did the same to him, seeing the moon made her breath a sigh of relief.

" Hi Stitch. Lilo's back. "

Yang Yang pulled her into himself, holding her close.

" Don't ever leave me again. "

" Never again. "

The rests of the people in the room carried on with their intros, letting the couple have some time to themselves.

Y/N pulled away slightly and looked into Yang Yang's eyes.

" I still have the Stitch you gave me. "

" I'd like to see it again. "

" Deal. "

[starlit-serenade]

Reflection | Chapter 2

🪞 Summary: Helping ONEUS learn and practice dancing wasn’t easy. But it would be easier if Yeo Hwanwoong would stop flirting with you.

🪞 Chapter 2: 1,626 words

🪞 Pairing: Reader x Yeo Hwanwoong (Hwanwoong) / Characters: GenderNeutral!Reader, DanceInstructor!Reader; Yeo Hwanwoong (Hwanwoong);

🪞 Rated: E, I think / Warnings: None, Hwanwoong being really flirty / Genre: Fluff

《 Series Masterlist // ONEUS Masterlist // Boy Group Masterlist 》

You return to RBW the following weekend. It's been a couple of days since you showed Hwanwoong the 'Regulus' choreography that you made. You had never imagined showing anyone your choreographies, much less teaching someone, and yet you did just that to Hwanwoong.

Today is all of ONEUS's day off. None of them should be here, unless they want to be. But it's days like this, when you have no one to teach, that you come in and develop your own choreographies.

You stretch and start playing another song. This is time, it's another song you've started creating an original choreography for.  This time, it's 'Ring On My Ears' by ONEWE. This choreography is much more upbeat than the one for 'Regulus' which makes sense. It's a slightly more upbeat song. This choreography is new. You'd only started choreographing it about a week ago, and haven't had much time since then to work on it.

You smile to yourself. This song would make for a nice group choreography. Or even a fun partner choreography with one other person.

The more you think about it, your mind focuses on one person. Yeo Hwanwoong. To dance with him, a partner dance, would be amazing.

You shake your head. You should focus more on making the choreography than daydreaming about Yeo Hwanwoong. 

You continue watching yourself in the mirror as you dance, circlirng around an invisible dance partner as you move. The song is energetic and fun, so you try to capture that energy in the dance as you skip and jump from one foot to the other.

After a while, you can hear a familiar song playing loudly from the next dance practice room. It's a much slower song, and curiously, you pause your own song to listen and confirm if it's the song you think it is. When you realize that it is, you exit your practice room and go over to the door of the other room, opening it slightly and peering inside to see who is in there.

You watch Hwanwoong dance to 'Regulus', copying the moves you taught him closely. He's doing very well, despite the fact that you only showed him a couple times a few days ago. Every time he senses a misstep or mistake, you see him wince.

As he reaches the end of what you taught him, he sighs. His eyes drift from himself in the mirror over to your own reflection, and his eyes widen. He turns around.

"Y/N! Hi," he says, laughing nervously. He scratches the back of his neck as he grins at you.

"Hey." You glance around. 'Regulus' is still playing in the background. "So it's your day off."

He nods. "Yeah. I wanted to come and practice."

"And not your own choreography?"

He shakes his head. "No. I've been practicing our choreographies so much, I wanted to take a small break from them. And I really enjoyed learning the one you made, so . . ."

"You're doing well. Really. It looked better than I ever imagined a choreography created by me could look," you say.

"I highly doubt that," Hwanwoong says. "Just watching you do it . . . I was blown away. Though I don't know if that's more because of the choreography or because of you."

You feel your face heat up in embarrassment and shyness. You're too flustered to try to respond with a better flirtatious commend. He wins this time.

And he knows it.

"I didn't realize you were here," he continues. "Were you in the next room?"

You nod.

"Ah. You know, I could have sworn I heard ONEWE's 'Ring On My Ears' playing through the wall," he remarks.

"Oh yes. I've been working on creating another choreography," you respond.

"Another choreography for ONEWE," he says, chuckling. "I'd almost think you prefer them to us."

"Oh, no. I mean, I do love ONEWE. I just find it easier to create choreographies for band songs, and since I'm acquainted with ONEWE, it makes it even easier."

He nods. "And how's it going? The choreography?"

You shrug your shoulders. "I've been working on it for a bit. But with working with you guys, I've been so busy and I haven't figured it out."

"Do you want me to help you? I can help you make and clean up the choreography," he says. "The way you help me with ours."

You nod, then frown to yourself.  "Actually . . ." you say. "I was considering making it a partner dance. If you'd like to be my partner."

He grins widely. "Absolutely!" he says overenthusiastically, then covers his mouth. "Sorry, that was loud. I'd love to be your dance partner."

You laugh. Now it's his turn to be flustered.

"Alright. Let me grab my stuff and I'll show you what I have so far, if you're okay with that."

He nods. "Okay!"

You grab your practice bag and water bottle from the other practice room. As you pick them up, slinging the bag strap over your shoulder, you pause to stare at your reflection.

Isn't it at least a little unprofessional to be flirting with your coworker Hwanwoong? You shake your head at yourself. First of all, this isn’t a typical job. It doesn't really matter. Besides, Hwanwoong started flirting with you first. You're two consenting adults, and there's nothing bad with flirting.

You leave the practice room, shutting the lights off as you exit, and open the door to Hwanwoong's practice room.

"So a partnered choreography for 'Ring On My Ears'," he says as you set your things down. "How much have you got done?"

"Only the first verse," you admit. "And a tiny bit of the pre-chorus and chorus."

"Can I see what you have?"

"Sure."

He plays the music, standing by the speakers as you dance in the center of the room. You feel a bit shy, dancing in front of him, and you know you're smiling widely. You even giggle a bit when your eyes meet his occasionally.

"It's not much," you say after you finish dancing.

"True. But it's a start. And a beautiful start, nonetheless."

You and him work through choreographing the dance together. You work together, side by side, dancing circles around each other elegantly, laughing and giggling at the dance you two are creating.

"I think this part is a good place to separate, and sort of face each other," Hwanwoong says. "Like we run away from each other, when he sings about running."

You nod. That was exactly what you were considering, too.

As you dance, your eyes meet the eyes of his reflection in the mirror.

You've worked with Hwanwoong for a long, long time. The more you think about it, the more you realize how similar you two are alike.

You, like Yeo Hwanwoong, were inspired to dance when you were very young. You would dance whenever possible, late at night and early in the morning. You and Hwanwoong share your passion for dance.

You and Hwanwoong have your similarities. You started on similar paths, you two took two took off in two different directions. You took to teaching and helping others who shared the same passion for dance, while Hwanwoong became an idol. But other than that, you and Hwanwoong are the same. You're each other's reflection.

After you two are tired out and finished with a rough choreography for the entire song, you two stop and lean against the wall of the practice room.

You look up at the ceiling. You can feel him watching you, and want to look back at him. But you know that if you do, your heart won't be able to handle it. You've really got yourself a crush on Yeo Hwanwoong.

"Y/N," Hwanwoong says. Gosh, his voice is calming. "I . . . oh, how do I say this? I admire you. A lot. Despite not being an idol, you have the potential--the skill--to be one. And you use that skill to help others. Trainees and us. And you're really inspiring. I've always liked that about you."

"Yeo Hwanwoong, I have to go home in ten minutes," you tease, looking at him. "What are you trying to say? Or are you just complimenting me?"

"I don't know," he admits. He hesitates before continuing. "I've always liked and admired you. And I feel that there's something more than just work friends going on between us."

"What do you mean?" you ask, though you already know. He nudges your shoulder.

"You know what I mean. The endless flirting. The teasing," he says. You nod. "What I'm trying to say is that there are feelings behind the flirting--at least from my point of view. I like you. And I'm interested in you. And if you're comfortable, I'd like to ask you out for dinner or something with me tomorrow after practice," he says hopefully.

You blink.

Pause.

"Like a date?"

"Yes. You don't have to say yes. If it was just flirting, that's alright, too," he says hurriedly, breaking eye contact with you. His ears are bright red from embarrassment.

"No, no! It wasn't just flirting to me," you say quickly. "I honestly felt it too. Something . . . more. I'd love to go on a date with you."

"Oh?" He stares at you shyly. Wow, he's not usually this shy. Sure, he gets giggly when you flirt with him, but not like this. "Really?" he asks. You nod.

"Really. But only if you promise to stay focused during practice tomorrow."

"Don't you get distracted, Yeo Hwanwoong. I'm still your dance instructor."

He smiles his usual, joyful smile. "Of course, teacher-nim."

You laugh and look at the mirror on the wall. You see yourself and Hwanwoong standing there, backs against the wall. Your reflections are smiling back at you.

[iamyoursinblog]

Find you

Pairing: Park Jinyoung x Im Jaebeom ( feat. You)

Genre: fluff

Word Count: 2,4 k

LIST

Part: [ 1] [ 2 ] [ 3 ] [ 3.5 ] [ 4 ] [ ]

_____________________________

POV Jaebeom

'And why did Mark insist that I go into this new coffee shop,' he thought of himself standing in the alley, looking at the black door without a sign. He checked the address again on the card to make sure he got there. Maybe Mark's just playing it. I wonder Jinyoung was here? He took the phone out of his pocket and dialed Jinyoung's number.

"What do you need?" answered the voice barely holding back the laughter.

"And for you hello too. Where are you?"

"At home, where else am I can be? Weren't we going to go to the training together?"

"We'll go. I'll be back soon. What are you laughing at?"

"Watching the movie, okay bye, because of you I miss the most interesting." Jinyoung hung up

He looked at the phone. Did Jinyoung just  hang up? He didn't even have time to ask  what he wanted. Whatever. He went to the door and opened it. Despite the fact that the sun was shining outside, it seemed that it was a deep night, and only a dim yellow light illuminated every table. Was it really a coffee shop? He saw a couple at the far table, who had a cute conversation with each other. What? Mark sent him to the coffee shop for the couples. He was approached by the waiter "Good afternoon. Are you alone or with  someone?"

"Alone" he replied, had long been since he was so embarrassing.

"Please follow me" the waiter turned around and strode and deep into the hall. He pushed the curtain, skipping him forward. It seemed here was even darker than before. It was a spacious hall on the perimeter of which were placed single soft vintage armchairs next to which were low bookcases on several shelves. At the end of the hall there was a bar. The hall was empty. Only one person at the end of the hall, read a book sitting in a armchair. Only now he noticed that near each armchair there was a small reading lamp, which stood on the coffee table.

"You can choose any place you like" said the waiter before leaving. He once again inspected the hall before choosing a seat in the corner from which the whole hall is clearly visible. He sat down on armchair and smiled. It was like a little world that only he was in. He laughed softly. Jinyoung would have liked it here. This place was unique, no wonder it was hard to find. He drew attention to the wall of the locker, which was attached to a tablet with the inscription 'To order use a tablet'. Unlocked the tablet, he chose a drink and sent an order. He heard the sound of a slight vibration from the side of the bar. The person who was reading got up from his seat and walked towards the bar. Or rather it was a girl with long dark hair. She was wearing a red trouser suit and rabbit-slippers. He could barely contain his laughter. He wondered if this girl was the reason Mark insisted on coming here. You went to the bar, because the hall was big, he couldn't see your face. A few minutes later you took a glass of his drink, and headed in his direction. His heart started beating harder. For a long time no one worried his heart, perhaps the atmosphere of the coffee shop enhances the effect of anticipation. He took a deep breath returning his composure. Your skin was white, and your bright lips were immediately conspicuous. He couldn't take his eyes off you. You looked straight into his eyes, but why did he feel like he was sitting completely naked now under your glance. You came closer and smiled.

"Here, please, your order" you said by placing a glass on the coffee table next to it.

"Thank you" he quickly replied

"Hopefully you'll fully enjoy the time, what you'll spent here" you turned around and started to leave.

"Wait..." he grabbed you by the edge of your jacket, stopping you. You turned slowly, your eyes were glued to his hand. Gently with two fingers you took the sleeve of his shirt, removing his hand from your jacket. You turned your eyes on him, but he felt like you'd slapped him. "Sorry, I just wanted to ask you something," he said quickly as you let go of his sleeve.

"For this, people have such an organ as mouth. You don't have to touch them at all." you answered, still looking into his eyes. Why did your look make him feel defenseless.

"I'm sorry. I just wanted to know, here always so empty?" he asked, pointing to an empty hall. You came closer, looking at him from head to toe.

"People come here when they are tired and want to rest. If you need an overflow coffee shop with a lot of people or you want to chat, then you clearly got the wrong address."

"No, I think I've finally come, exactly where I've been dreaming to be for so long time" he smiled broadly at you without taking his gaze off your face.

You bent down on him, resting your hands on the armrests on either side of him. He had completely to leaned back. You looked at him with a glance that he would definitely call dangerous. "You're wasting your time. Don't try to find something here that doesn't exist" you turned around and left, this time he didn't have the courage to stop you. His heart was pounding at breakneck speed, and his back was covered with sweat. What was that? The feelings were all too familiar. He mentally returned at the time that he and Jinyoung left behind and decided not to remember again. He wanted to get up and only now realized that his whole body was tense. He got up and quickly walked towards the exit. Having paid off, he went outside. A bright light blinded him up for a few minutes, his eyes aching after the dark lighting in the coffee shop.

He came to training and only then realized that he had no belongings. He went to the side of the locker room. Going inside, he saw his bag next to his locker. Jinyoung. Despite the fact that Jinyoung always complains about him, still does everything to take care of him. He smiled broadly. After quickly changing, he ran towards the field. He found Jinyoung's eyes and ran in his direction. He jumped on Jinyoung and knocked him down, causing them to fall.

"Yay, gosh! I brought him a uniform, and he knocks me down. So do good to the people after that"Jinyoung resented.

He hugged him tightly from his back, wrapping his arms and legs around Jinyoung, while they lay on the grass. "Who is this grumbler here, who cares so much about me?" he laughed loudly.

"Jaebeom, confess to me honestly. Have you gone mad?" asked Jinyoung

"Yes" he got to his feet, helping to rise Jinyoung. "Come on, the training has already started" they ran towards the team, which already warmed up.

As always they were lying on the field when everyone left. He lay with his eyes closed, and still constantly felt the look of Jinyoung. Although after that drunken night Jinyoung never crossed the border again, even when he got drunk. In his memory a moment surfaced on the river bank. When Jinyoung lead hand down his cheek. He saw the exact same look today. A dangerous look. He wasn't sure if anything was worth changing when things went back to their seats. First he wanted to tell Jinyoung about the girl he met today. But now his resolve has not been so strong. Too many questions arose in his head. But the most important thing was: why was he so excited to meet the girl Jinyoung came up with?

"Are you not going to go home?" a Jinyoung voice snatched him from his thoughts. He opened his eyes and saw Jinyoung, who was standing beside him, reaching out his hand. He got up and they went to the locker room. After taking a shower, they quickly gathered and went home. "Did something good happen today? You looked happy when you came to practice."

"Something happened, but I don't know yet whether it's good or bad." replied Jaebeom

"If I ask what it is, will you answer me?"

"I'll answer, but not today"

"Okay" Jinyoung smiled "Tell me when I can ask you. What are we going to have at dinner?

"Usually when you ask me what we're going to have at dinner, you already have the answer to that question," Jaebeom laughed.

"You're damn right, my friend."

After a few days of deliberation, Jaebeom siting on the bedroom floor after dinner, looking at the coffee shop's black card in front of him. He decided that let fate make its choice. Jinyoung went into the bedroom and sat across from him, giving him a beer. Seeing the card on the floor, he picked it up, carefully scrutinizing.

"What is this?" asked Jinyoung with interest

"Answer"

"The answer? Which answer?"

"On the question you wanted to ask me a few days ago"

Jinyoung turned his eyes from business card at him, and stared intently for a few minutes before looking at the business card again. "Is that the answer? And which is this answer: good or bad?"

"You'll have to tell me that later, " replied Jaebeom, taking a few more sips of beer.

"You're not coming with me?"

"No, you have to go there alone"

"I get it. I'll go when I'll have time" he smiled and put business card on the nightstands near the bed.

After drinking beer, they went to bed.

POV Jinyoung

Today he was alone. He was very bored. What's he going to do? He was lying on the bed looking through the SNS. Jaebeom went to help Mark, he had to go with them. But he didn't want to plant trees. He got up abruptly because of what hit the nightstand with his knee. Half the stuff fell to the floor. He began to lift them off the floor until a black piece of paper caught his attention. He considered it for a long time, recalling the words of Jaebeom. Think he just had plans for tonight.

Why did Jaebeom send him here? What exactly should he find the answer to? He understood nothing while standing, in a narrow unlit alley looking at the black door and painted windows. He went inside, a few couples sat at tables, and there was dim lighting in the hall. The waiter appeared before him a moment later, "Good evening. Are you alone or with a couple?"

"I'll be alone" he smiled, representing Jaebeom to a similar dating spot. He looked around while following the waiter. They went to the second hall with single armchairs. Choosing a place, he considered everything around. There were about five other people besides him. Someone read, someone looked at the phone, someone listened to music with eyes closed. What is this place? Having made an order, he curiously examined everything around. He turned his eyes to the bar and saw a girl making a cocktail. She had fair skin and dark hair. You came out from behind the bar heading in his direction. You were wearing a red urban midi dress and instead of shoes, panda slippers. Your eyes were on him. Is it? No, it can't be truth! Wild! That's the first thing he thought of when watching your every move.

"Here, please," you said, and smiled. But the smile didn't touch your eyes, they kept scanning him.

"Who are you?" he asked

You tilted your head looking at him, "Hmm, this is the first time I've got a question like this. It's interesting."

"I'm sorry. I didn't mean to. It slipped out. Do you work here?"

"It can say like this." said you looking around the hall

"It seems that there are not many visitors. Interesting place" he took his glass "Thank for that" he said taking a sip.

"I think I've got deja vu. Well" you looked at him with a cold glance before you turn around. You took a step, but stopped, turning your head slightly, you said "Hope you fully enjoy your time here" you quickly walk to the side of the bar.

Cold passed through his back. You is the girl he made up himself. But why now he was scared, meeting you face to face. This is what Jaebeom wanted to show him. What for? It seemed to him that they had left everything behind. Why now. How does he must react to that. Good or bad, what of this he must choose. "Jaebeom what you're up to. Why did you want me to see her?" he whispered. He drank his drink and came out of that coffee shop without turning around he went home.

He sat in a dark room, looking at the amber liquid in his glass. He heard the sound of the front door when Jaebeom returned home. He took off his shoes and went into the living room

"God, you scared me! Why are you sitting in the dark?" said Jaebeom

He got up and headed towards Jaebeom. He was making slow steps. He came close, forcing Jaebeom to back down. "What's wrong with you? Are you drunk?"

Jinyoung did not respond by taking another step and Jaebeom crashed into the wall. He went up in tight to Jaebeom, approaching his face. Jaebeom tried to shove him away, but he pressed his hands against the wall.

"What's wrong with you today?" Jaebeom's breath became quicker.

He squeezed with the force of Jaebeom's forearm, he leaned to his ear, pressing his body. "Isn't that what you expected when you sent me to that coffee shop?" he whispered.

"I’m ... No... I don't know."

"Why would you want me to see her?"

"I don't know"

"Didn't you ask me to stop, so why are you doing this now?"

"I don't know"

"Don't you think you're repeating yourself? Who then should know the answers?" he felt the tremor emanating from Jaebeom's body.

"I couldn't think of anything, when I saw her. The girl you dream up. What else was I supposed to do?"

He put his head on Jaebeom's shoulder. Now he realizes Jaebeom was just as him scared and excited the day he met you.

"We found our girl, it left just to win her heart," he said, taking a few steps back and laughing.

"Have you seen her? I think we're going to have a problem with that," chuckled Jaebeom.

"We're going to have to try," Jinyoung said, "Is the game starting to be in our favor, but the chances of winning are still zero."

___________________________ 

Part: [ 1] [ 2 ] [ 3 ] [ 3.5 ] [ 4 ] [ ]

LIST

[punkscowardschampions]

Xander & Kara

theXeppo: Your screen name is ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ lesserknowncousin: that many? oh wow 😊 lesserknowncousin: could give you 🌌 if that doesn't reek of overkill theXeppo: who'd put enthusiasm down as a negative? lesserknowncousin: the potential alliteration with my name and the word keen has me 😰 lesserknowncousin: not that I'm getting to 'saving each other's #s' stage here often lesserknowncousin: (ever) theXeppo: Mine alliterates with 🃏 theXeppo: a sign you don't need to 😰 over me getting too serious lesserknowncousin: 🤔 hmm lesserknowncousin: we are next to each other in the alphabet, no need for the cheesy pickup line theXeppo: won't go there with 😘 cousins either theXeppo: very low blow lesserknowncousin: luckily I haven't got any not from Krypton so that doesn't sting too bad theXeppo: I figured lesserknowncousin: how'd you manage that? 🧐 theXeppo: 💪 and 🧠 lesserknowncousin: is that you or me? 🤭 theXeppo: why not us both? lesserknowncousin: got yourself a deal 🃏 lesserknowncousin: like that thinking theXeppo: 🤔🤔🤔 theXeppo: (me from now on) lesserknowncousin: you're very cute lesserknowncousin: very spherical, yellow theXeppo: 🌞 theXeppo: hey lesserknowncousin: the 🌍 says hello theXeppo: 👋🌍 lesserknowncousin: what brings you here, sector J? theXeppo: golden hour theXeppo: everyone wants that for their 📷 yeah? lesserknowncousin: oh, don't ask me lesserknowncousin: I'm AWFUL at selfies lesserknowncousin: considered getting a disguise that's more than a pair of specs theXeppo: maybe you've got skills behind it lesserknowncousin: I'd like to think I have skills in disguise as much as cosplay, but in looking like Liz Katz or Jessica Nigri whilst doing it, not so much theXeppo: whenever I've dressed up for conventions it seems like everyone got the memo a long time before I did and bought up the best stuff theXeppo: no 👑 with my name on it, in any sense lesserknowncousin: right! lesserknowncousin: have to convince myself and 🤞 anyone else that hopelessly homemade is more in the spirt of things anyway theXeppo: and keep the fail pics under 🔐 theXeppo: or that's just me HA lesserknowncousin: definitely not! lesserknowncousin: I have a picture of me and [some sci-fi actor] that has never seen the light of day because I can imagine the 🔥 wars from rabid fans on the state of me 😰 theXeppo: I have sisters who would love to release a cringe compilation irl theXeppo: your 🤕 is felt lesserknowncousin: never been gladder to be an only-child lesserknowncousin: that is horrifying! lesserknowncousin: my mammy's only threat is to bring it all out at my wedding but fat chance of that theXeppo: I'll 🤫 about 🎓 being a workable alternative theXeppo: never know who's 👀 over your shoulder lesserknowncousin: I'd 👂 if she was, don't worry lesserknowncousin: the lecture about spending too much time online, it not being real life and the people not being real friends yadda yadda etc for the zillionth time theXeppo: don't spare her the lecture that it's how people do everything now theXeppo: work & play lesserknowncousin: honestly! lesserknowncousin: she'd have me going to balls and tea party for my socialization,  I'm sure 🙄 theXeppo: which is chill if you're a secret 👸 & she wants you ready before she breaks it to you theXeppo: but if not lesserknowncousin: do you know something I don't know 🤔🤔🤔 lesserknowncousin: are you MY court 🃏 lesserknowncousin: it was a clue! theXeppo: 🥁 (that's a drum roll) theXeppo: I am, yeah lesserknowncousin: oh, mammy! lesserknowncousin: my catchphrase in this sitcom, side-eye to the camera, of course theXeppo: & I drop a 🃏 when I exit lesserknowncousin: when you 💀 someone theXeppo: I swear I'm no 🤡🔪 lesserknowncousin: that is what a killer clown WOULD say but lesserknowncousin: my schedule is pretty free so theXeppo: murder spree at 5pm theXeppo: gotcha lesserknowncousin: thanks for the invite theXeppo: we need someone to cut the 🎀 at the opening theXeppo: you're royalty, it works lesserknowncousin: be my honour lesserknowncousin: bring my best ⚔ theXeppo: what's his or her name? lesserknowncousin: mirabel lesserknowncousin: because I like it and it came to me just now lesserknowncousin: named itself or divine intervention 🤷 theXeppo: stemming from the Latin word mirabilis, meaning "wondrous" or "of wondrous beauty". It was used as both a male and female name in the Middle Ages, but is now almost exclusively female theXeppo: wikipedia approves of your spontaneity lesserknowncousin: that's perfect lesserknowncousin: I've impressed myself honestly lesserknowncousin: arguably not the point of this 💬 but it's a start, I think? 😊 theXeppo: if you aren't impressing yourself, other people will pick up on that theXeppo: even if they're not constantly 🤔🤔🤔 lesserknowncousin: I know 😕 theXeppo: the 👏 isn't purely because you have a 🗡 lesserknowncousin: my 🏹 and my 🪓 too lesserknowncousin: 👍 theXeppo: & your skill at naming things theXeppo: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐ every time lesserknowncousin: why thank you lesserknowncousin: your ability to compliment is definitely 🌌 theXeppo: cheers, I wouldn't want to say anything that'd end up in the cringe compilation lesserknowncousin: 🤞 you that even if my editing skills were up to it lesserknowncousin: no need theXeppo: Phew! theXeppo: a safety net lesserknowncousin: I'm intrigued by that proposition theXeppo: you are that proposition, protecting me from pitfalls with your 🗡🏹🪓 & ❤️ lesserknowncousin: could be a 📚 lesserknowncousin: or a REALLY good webcomic theXeppo: an overhyped and poorly cast 📽 that doesn't stick to the source 📚 lesserknowncousin: Scarlett Johansson WILL play me theXeppo: are you trans and a poc? theXeppo: it's personal but under the circumstances lesserknowncousin: not, so she won't be THRILLED to do it but safe to say our similarities lie at being assigned female at birth and 🤍 lesserknowncousin: end* theXeppo: it would make an interesting board game, like 🐍 & ladders theXeppo: I keep falling/doing things worthy of a cringe compilation & you have to catch me/prevent it theXeppo: the player loses when I go from 🤔🤔🤔 to 😳😳😳 theXeppo: & you have until the ☀ goes down lesserknowncousin: I'm in lesserknowncousin: 40/60 lesserknowncousin: how many sides on the dice, real question theXeppo: what's your lucky number? lesserknowncousin: 19 theXeppo: 👌 theXeppo: that'll happen lesserknowncousin: 💕 theXeppo: what colour piece do you want? lesserknowncousin: 💛 theXeppo: it's coming together lesserknowncousin: what does your character look like? theXeppo: like me, I guess, tall, dark hair & eyes that look a different shade in every 📷 theXeppo: but they're kinda 💚 lesserknowncousin: it'll 💸 theXeppo: Scarlett Johansson will want to play me but you offered her the role of you first lesserknowncousin: 🤭 lesserknowncousin: if you can 💬 it sounds like you could play yourself theXeppo: my mum's done some modelling and my dad's a photographer (not how they met) but none of us have done any acting theXeppo: I don't know how well I'd do there lesserknowncousin: wow lesserknowncousin: now I'm 😳😳😳 theXeppo: I look more like my dad theXeppo: & am without a modelling contract lesserknowncousin: still, better genes than a local councilor and a woman who works on the makeup counter theXeppo: not necessarily lesserknowncousin: I'll roll on it theXeppo: 🎲🎲 lesserknowncousin: ugh, talk of the 👿👿s lesserknowncousin: required to go talk about my day and 🍽 theXeppo: I'll get my own call to arms soon too lesserknowncousin: I've enjoyed talking to you though theXeppo: Yeah? It's been nice to talk to you theXeppo: plan our 💸 making franchise lesserknowncousin: of course! 😊 lesserknowncousin: you should definitely, you know, save my info lesserknowncousin: if you want to theXeppo: if you save mine, I'll do it too lesserknowncousin: done lesserknowncousin: [screenshot of proof] theXeppo: [one back] theXeppo: speak soon? lesserknowncousin: I'd like that theXeppo: I'll be around theXeppo: come find me before too long, okay? lesserknowncousin: If my parents weren't strictly caveman in their views, I could keep talking to you now but lesserknowncousin: they are and they need to critique all my life choices whilst I eat one of the five meals I eat every week, variety and all other spices of life not included lesserknowncousin: the alliteration can hang, I'll make it soon theXeppo: if I could win them over through the screen, I'd try but they don't think I'm real enough for that theXeppo: maybe don't mention the model mum, it doesn't help with the belief that I'm not fake lesserknowncousin: 🙄 they're so 2000s lesserknowncousin: if you aren't a 🤖 you're 👹 lesserknowncousin: they don't need to know everything, right lesserknowncousin: especially things they don't understand theXeppo: secret like your princess status lesserknowncousin: exactly lesserknowncousin: they're the kidnappers, if anyone is lesserknowncousin: I'll spare them 🗡🏹🪓 but still theXeppo: eat your food with them, so they know the 🗡🏹🪓 threat exists but it's not direct theXeppo: you could easily have just misplaced your knife & fork lesserknowncousin: 🤭 you're funny, sector J theXeppo: thanks Katy Keene