#enjoy this while i finish the next chapter for the soulmate au

[silawastaken]

a valentine's tradition (for @woklaza)

[lividstar]

ㅤ‎‎‎‎‎‎‎‎ㅤ‎‎‎‎‎‎‎‎ㅤ‎‎‎‎‎‎‎‎ㅤ‎‎‎‎‎‎‎‎ㅤTHE CITY OF LOVE

ㅤ‎‎‎‎‎‎‎‎ ㅤ‎‎‎‎‎‎‎‎ㅤ‎‎‎‎‎‎‎‎ㅤ‎‎‎‎‎‎‎‎ Chapter Nine: May I Have This Dance?

ㅤ‎‎‎‎‎‎‎‎ ㅤ‎‎‎‎‎‎‎‎ ㅤ‎‎‎‎‎‎‎‎ ㅤ‎‎‎‎‎‎‎‎ㅤ ㅤ‎‎‎‎‎‎ ㅤ‎‎‎‎‎‎‎‎ ㅤ‎‎‎‎‎‎‎‎ㅤ‎‎‎‎‎‎‎‎ < previous | next >

masterpost

៚ wc: 10.3k (total: ???)

៚ fluff, angst, fashion designer!hongjoong x model!reader (ft. personal assistant!seonghwa & photographer!wooyoung), slowburn, strangers to lovers, soulmates au if you squint, do french people actually say bonjour irl?

៚ playlist !

៚ The initial plan was to stay the night in Hongjoong’s art studio to finish one of his designs, but as one thread tangled itself into another and kept the chain going, a series of unexpectedly charming experiences began to unfold, one of which contains running an errand to buy flowers for Madame Dupont’s vases—the very event that led to you and Hongjoong enjoying a little sophisticated dancing session while moving to the soft melody of La Vie En Rose.

a/n: this took so long i’m so sorry 😭 these past few weeks have been so hectic and i had little time to write but i finally pulled through! lmk what you guys think about this one hehe

tags: @beabatiny @babymbbatinygirl

The room was filled with the warm, ambient light of late-night lamps, casting soft shadows on the walls. The hum of the city outside was faint, muffled by the closed windows of Hongjoong’s studio. You both had decided to work late, wanting to finish the third design for his autumn collection before dawn. The atmosphere was relaxed as the hours passed.

“And then, when he pulled the green ribbon off her neck... her head fell to the ground!” you concluded the tale with a dramatic flair.

Hongjoong let out a startled gasp, his eyes wide with shock. “No way!” he exclaimed, causing you to burst into a fit of laughter. The sight of his genuine reaction, so vulnerable and out of character, had you clutching your stomach, tears forming in your eyes.

“Don’t laugh at me like that!” Hongjoong protested, his cheeks flushing slightly. “I’m sure you reacted just the same when you first heard that story.”

Still giggling, you wiped away your tears. “Actually, I did not. And come on, how can I not laugh? Seeing you so scared is just, I don’t know, uncharacteristically priceless?”

Hongjoong crossed his arms, a mock pout on his lips. “I don’t usually react like that, you know. It’s just that… that story... caught me off guard.”

You grinned, teasing him further. “Guess I’ll give you the benefit of the doubt, then. So, are you always this easily frightened? Or was there a particular incident that made you this way?”

He hesitated, a shadow passing over his features. “Well, there was one major event,” he admitted, his tone softening.

Intrigued, you leaned forward, eager to hear more. “What happened?”

Hongjoong looked thoughtful, as if weighing his words carefully. “When I was younger, I had this experience... It was late at night, and I was at home alone. The power went out, and there was this eerie silence, you know? The kind that makes you hear things that aren’t really there. Suddenly, there was this loud crash from the kitchen. I thought someone had broken in. I grabbed the nearest thing I could find—a baseball bat—and slowly made my way there, heart pounding. But when I got to the kitchen, there was nothing. No sign of anyone. Just an open window that I knew I had closed earlier.”

He paused, taking a deep breath. “Ever since then, I’ve been quite jumpy, especially when I’m alone at night. It’s silly, really, but it left a mark on me.”

You listened intently, feeling a pang of sympathy. “That sounds terrifying. I can’t imagine going through something like that alone—at a young age, too.”

Hongjoong smiled sheepishly. “Yeah, it honestly still creeps me out a little when I remember it. But enough about me, what about you? Any fears?”

You hesitated, then sighed. “It’s not exactly spooky, but my biggest fear is being left alone. Not just physically alone, but emotionally. The idea of someone I care about just disappearing without a word... It terrifies me.”

Hongjoong’s expression softened, a hint of understanding in his eyes. “That’s understandable. It’s a fear many people have, I think. The fear of abandonment.”

You nodded, feeling a bit vulnerable yet also comforted by his empathetic response. So far, Hongjoong has proven himself to be very empathetic, and it’s a trait of his that you hold deep appreciation for. “Have you ever felt that way? Worried that someone might just leave without any explanation?”

A contemplative look crossed Hongjoong’s face, and he sighed softly. “It’s not exactly my biggest fear, but... yes, it’s happened to me before.”

Surprised, you looked at him, sensing there was more to the story. However, you also sensed his reluctance to delve deeper, so you decided to shift the topic. “Then... what is your biggest fear?”

Hongjoong glanced away, his gaze distant as he seemed to search for the right words. The studio fell silent, save for the ticking of a clock on the wall. Finally, he spoke, his voice barely above a whisper. “My biggest fear... is losing myself. Losing who I am, what I believe in, what I love. It’s easy to get lost in this industry, to become someone you’re not just to please others. Sometimes, I worry that in trying to be everything for everyone, I might end up being nothing at all.”

His words hung in the air, heavy with the weight of his confession. You felt a deep empathy for him, understanding the struggle of maintaining one’s identity in a world that often demands conformity. “That’s really deep,” you said softly. “But from what I’ve seen, you’ve always stayed true to yourself. That’s something to admire.”

Hongjoong gave you a small, grateful smile. “Thanks. It’s not always easy, but I try. And it helps having people around who remind me of who I am.”

The conversation left both of you in a pensive mood, the laughter from earlier replaced by a contemplative silence. “You’re one of those people, you know,” Hongjoong says after a few seconds, his voice soft and sincere, a hint of a smile showing up on his lips.

His words caught you off guard, a warm feeling spreading through your chest. You smiled back at him, a mixture of gratitude and affection in your eyes. “I’m glad I am.”

The quiet moment between you was filled with an unspoken understanding, a deeper connection that had blossomed unexpectedly. The soft hum of the city outside seemed to fade away, leaving just the two of you in this shared space. However, the peaceful silence was soon interrupted by a soft hiss from Hongjoong, followed by a muttered curse.

Concern immediately washed over you as you noticed him cradling his hand, a thin line of blood trickling down from his finger to the floor. “Are you alright? What happened?” you asked, quickly moving closer to him.

“It’s fine, just a small scratch,” he dismissed, waving his injured hand nonchalantly. “I’m used to it.”

You shook your head, not convinced. “Where do you keep your first aid supplies?”

He hesitated for a moment, then relented under your determined gaze. “Top drawer of my desk.”

“Stay put,” you instructed, getting up and heading to the desk. You rummaged through the drawer, pulling out a small first aid kit. Kneeling beside him, you opened the kit and carefully took out the necessary supplies. “Let’s get this cleaned up,” you said, your voice gentle but firm.

Hongjoong watched as you worked in silent awe. You cleaned the wound with a delicate touch, your brows furrowed in concentration. As all your attention was poured on his small wound, a stray strand of your hair fell into your line of sight. Before you could brush it away, Hongjoong reached out and gently tucked the hair behind your ear. The brief contact made your breath hitch, a small, almost imperceptible gasp escaping your lips. You felt a flutter in your chest, but you quickly pushed it aside, reminding yourself there was something you needed to get done.

Hongjoong’s gaze lingered on your face, taking in the soft curve of your features, the gentle way your lips pressed together as you concentrated. Up close, he noticed things he hadn’t before—the delicate lines around your eyes when you smiled, the way your lashes cast faint shadows on your cheeks. There was a quiet beauty to you, one that he found himself increasingly drawn to. He shook his head slightly, trying to clear his thoughts, but the feeling remained—a growing awareness of the attraction he felt toward you.

“There,” you murmured, your voice barely above a whisper as you leaned back, inspecting your handiwork. The wound was now clean and bandaged, and you held his hand gently, your fingers still wrapped around his.

Hongjoong’s eyes twinkled with amusement as he looked down at your hands. “You know, you’re still holding my hand,” he teased, a playful smile tugging at the corners of his lips.

Startled, you quickly released his hand, a flush creeping up your cheeks. “Oh, right. Sorry,” you mumbled, standing up and hastily putting the first aid supplies back in their place. You could hear Hongjoong’s soft laughter behind you, a sound that sent a pleasant warmth through you, despite your embarrassment.

As you turned back to face him, you found him still smiling, a look of fondness in his eyes that made your heart skip a beat. He seemed different tonight—more open, more... vulnerable? It was as if the late hour and the intimacy of the shared space had stripped away some of his usual guardedness, revealing a side of him you hadn’t seen before.

“What’s so funny?” you asked, trying to sound annoyed but failing to hide the smile in your own voice.

“Nothing,” he replied, shaking his head. “Just... I’m not used to being shown any concern. It felt nice having you clean my wound, since I usually do that myself.”

You felt a pang of sympathy for him, wondering what his life must be like, always busy, always under pressure—and on top of that, always being his own savior. “Well, someone’s got to look out for you,” you said lightly, trying to ease the sudden heaviness in the air.

He nodded, his expression turning more serious. “I suppose you’re right.”

For a moment, the two of you just looked at each other, a silent conversation passing between you. There was so much you wanted to say, so many questions you wanted to ask, but the words seemed to stick in your throat. Instead, you just smiled, hoping that your expression conveyed the warmth and support you felt for him.

“Thank you,” he said quietly, breaking the silence. “For everything.”

You nodded, not trusting your voice. The moment felt fragile, like a bubble that could burst at any second, and you were afraid that saying too much might shatter the delicate balance between you.

As the room settled into a comfortable silence, you both resumed your tasks. The design for the autumn collection was nearing completion, but there were still some intricate details that needed attention. Hongjoong broke the silence, his voice cutting through the quiet like a soft melody. “Hey, could you help me with something?” he asked, his tone gentle.

You looked up, meeting his gaze. “Of course,” you replied, setting aside the fabric you had been working on. “What do you need help with?”

He gestured towards the piece he was working on, a delicate embroidery that required precision. “I’m struggling with this part,” he admitted, a hint of frustration in his voice. “The stitches need to be tighter, but my hands aren’t steady enough right now.”

You nodded, understanding the predicament. “Let me see,” you said, scooting closer to him on the floor. As you took the fabric from him, your fingers brushed against his, sending a small jolt through you. You tried to ignore the flutter in your chest coming back as you focused on the task.

Hongjoong leaned in to guide you, his breath warm against your cheek. “Here, you need to pull the thread like this,” he instructed, his voice low and soft. His proximity made your heart race, and you could feel the heat of his body close to yours. The scent of his cologne, subtle and earthy, filled the air between you.

You nodded, trying to keep your focus. The embroidery required delicate handling, and the small, detailed work was challenging. As you worked, your hands occasionally brushed against his, sending small electric shocks through your skin. Hongjoong seemed oblivious to the effect his closeness was having on you, or perhaps he was just as affected but hid it well.

“Your studio’s so awfully quiet,” you murmured, breaking the silence. The quiet had become almost oppressive, making you hyper-aware of every small sound and movement.

Hongjoong chuckled softly. “I usually play music when I’m working,” he admitted. “I don’t like the silence. It can feel... lonely.”

“Then why haven’t you played any songs so far?” you asked, genuinely curious. The thought of him working alone in silence, surrounded by the tools of his craft, seemed sad.

He paused for a moment, considering his response. A small smile played on his lips as he looked at you. “Your presence alone is enough to drown it all out,” he said simply, his eyes meeting yours. There was a sincerity in his voice that made your heart skip a beat.

The room felt suddenly smaller, the air charged with something unspoken as you felt warmth spread through you. Hongjoong’s words were unexpected, and they left you feeling both flattered and slightly overwhelmed. You returned his smile, unable to think of a response that could adequately express what you were feeling. It’s mildly frustrating how you could never seem to be able to trust the words wanting to come out of your mouth whenever he was around.

Once you were finally done with the task Hongjoong assigned you, you leaned back, a satisfied smile spreading across your face. It was a small victory, perhaps, but it felt like a significant one. Hongjoong noticed your expression and tilted his head in curiosity. “What’s the matter?” he asked, a soft chuckle escaping his lips.

You shrugged, still smiling. “Nothing, really. It’s just... you asked me for help. I mean, you don’t usually do that, so it’s kind of a surprise.”

He mirrored your smile, a thoughtful look crossing his face. “I guess you’re right,” he admitted, a hint of amusement in his voice. “I don’t usually ask for help. But... I don’t know. I felt comfortable enough to ask you.”

There was a brief silence as he contemplated his own words, realizing at that moment just how much he had let his guard down around you. It was a strange feeling, one that left him feeling both vulnerable and relieved. It was dangerous, he knew, to let someone in so easily, especially in a world where trust was a rare commodity. But somehow, despite the potential risks, he found that he couldn’t bring himself to care. There was something about you that made him feel at ease, something that made the usual walls he kept up around himself feel unnecessary.

Just as the thought crossed his mind, his phone, which had been lying on the floor atop a piece of fabric, lit up with a notification. You glanced over and immediately recognized the wallpaper: a candid photo of Hongjoong with Pompidou, the one you had taken and sent him right before bed that night. You smiled, a soft, heartfelt expression. “You set that as your lockscreen?”

Hongjoong picked up the phone, a gentle smile gracing his lips as he looked at the image. “Yeah,” he admitted, glancing at you before reading the notification—a message from Wooyoung. It was one that demanded a response, but in that moment, he decided to just set his phone aside for now, his attention fully on you. “It’s only fair enough if I do the same thing you did, right?”

You chuckled, the sound light and airy. “I guess so,” you replied, the atmosphere between you warm and comfortable.

As the hours passed, you both became so engrossed in your work that time seemed to slip away unnoticed. It wasn’t until you both finally finished the design that you realized just how late—or rather, how early—it was. You stood up, stretching your arms above your head, feeling the satisfying ache of a long night’s work. The outfit you had both labored over was stunning—a perfect blend of deep, earthy tones and detailed embroidery, capturing the essence of autumn with its rich textures and warm hues. The fabric was soft yet structured, the design elegant yet grounded, reflecting the beauty of the season in every stitch.

You turned to Hongjoong, a wide grin on your face, and held both your hands up. He looked at you, confused for a moment, before realizing what you wanted. With a laugh, he raised his hands and high-fived you, the sound echoing in the quiet studio.

“Great job,” you both said almost simultaneously, laughter bubbling up between you. You glanced around the studio, the mess of fabrics and tools evidence of the hard work you had put in.

As the adrenaline of the work began to fade, you pulled your phone from your pocket, intending to check the time. When you saw the display, your eyes widened in shock. “It’s 4 in the morning already?” you gasped, incredulous.

Hongjoong glanced at the clock, a look of surprise crossing his face. “Wow, I didn’t even notice,” he said, running a hand through his hair. The fatigue was beginning to set in, but there was also a contentness in the air, a satisfaction over a job well done.

As the realization of the late hour settled in, both you and Hongjoong decided it was time to clean up the studio before heading home. The room was a testament to your hard work: sketches strewn about, fabrics piled in corners, and various tools scattered across the desks. Hongjoong paused, glancing at you with a gentle smile. “I’m just going to use the restroom real quick,” he said, his voice soft yet a little slurred.

“Go ahead,” you replied, waving him off with a tired smile of your own. As he left, you turned your attention to one of the desks, starting to gather the scattered mess. Your movements were slow, each task requiring more effort as exhaustion began to weigh heavily on you. Feeling your body grow weary, you dragged a chair over to the desk and sat down, intending to sort through the papers and materials.

But as soon as you rested your head on your folded arms, the world around you started to blur. The soft hum of the city outside, the quiet ticking of a clock somewhere in the studio—all these sounds faded into the background as your eyes fluttered shut. You hadn’t intended to fall asleep, but the comfort of the moment and the sheer exhaustion from the long night overcame you.

Just as you drifted off, Hongjoong returned to the studio, ready to continue cleaning. “Let’s—” he began, only to stop mid-sentence as his gaze fell upon you. You were peacefully asleep, your head resting on the desk, breathing softly. A tender smile crept onto his lips as he observed you, taking in the serene expression on your face. An unexpected gentle warmth in his chest then came by, yet it felt so on-brand with his nature that he didn’t even notice it.

Without a second thought, Hongjoong quietly crossed the room and scooped you up into his arms, carrying you bridal style out of the studio. You were light and fragile in his embrace, and he was careful not to jostle you. The hallway was quiet, the early morning light just beginning to seep through the windows, casting a soft glow on the scene.

Hongjoong carried you into his office, where he gently laid you down on the couch. He adjusted a pillow beneath your head, ensuring you were comfortable. Glancing around, he looked for something to cover you with, wanting to keep you warm. When he couldn’t find any spare fabric or blanket, he hesitated for a moment before pulling off his sweater, revealing the plain black shirt he wore underneath. He draped the sweater over you, its warmth and the faint scent of his cologne enveloping you.

He took a step back, his eyes lingering on your peaceful form. There was something intimate about the scene, a quiet moment of care that felt oddly significant. Hongjoong shook his head with a soft chuckle, feeling a strange mix of affection and concern.

With a sigh, he walked over to his office chair and sat down, glancing at the stack of papers and sketches on his desk. If he was still awake at this hour, he might as well get some work done. But as he picked up a pencil and began to sketch, his thoughts kept drifting back to you, sleeping soundly on the couch. The room was quiet, the only sound being the faint scratch of pencil on paper and your steady breathing.

You seemed to have already weaved the threads of your veins in the fabric of his mind, and it was dangerous.

—

Your eyelids flutter open, the soft murmur of voices slowly pulling you from sleep. You blink against the light filtering through the room, momentarily disoriented by your unfamiliar surroundings. As your vision clears, you see two figures across the room, engaged in a hushed conversation.

“I know you can only be quiet once a year, so why not use that trial card now and keep your voice down?” Hongjoong’s voice, though hushed, came off irritated.

“I’m not being loud!” came Wooyoung’s indignant reply, his voice just a tad louder than a whisper.

Their exchange halted abruptly as you sat up on the couch, instinctively pulling the sweater around you closer. The room was spacious, filled with a blend of modern and personal touches, but what caught your eye was the two men now looking at you, their conversation forgotten.

Hongjoong was the first to speak, “See? I told you not to be so loud,” he chided Wooyoung, who threw his hands up in mock defeat.

“Hongjoong?” you murmured, still groggy and a bit confused. Hongjoong was quick to leave his chair, grabbing a cup of coffee as he approached you. The rich aroma of the brew filled your senses as he placed the cup gently on the glass table in front of you.

“Good morning,” he greeted, his voice soft and soothing. “You fell asleep earlier at dawn while we were cleaning up the studio. I didn’t want to wake you, so I brought you here to my office.”

You nodded slowly, the events of the night starting to come back to you. As your consciousness fully returned, you noticed Wooyoung sitting comfortably in a chair across from Hongjoong’s desk. He offered you a friendly smile, his dimples deepening. “Hey there—didn’t mean to wake you up, sorry about that.”

“Oh, it’s fine,” you assured him, smiling back before turning your attention to Hongjoong, who had now taken a seat across from you. The atmosphere felt unexpectedly cozy, almost domestic.

“Did you end up cleaning the whole studio by yourself?” you asked, a hint of guilt in your voice.

Hongjoong shook his head, a small smile playing on his lips. “No, I just left it as it was when I brought you here. I finished cleaning up an hour ago.”

Wooyoung, not being able to hold back his curiosity, leaned forward slightly, “So, why were you here all night?” He figured it should be in his best interest to always throw out inquiries about your relationship with Hongjoong here and there whenever you were around, because 1. He and Seonghwa genuinely believe the details are their necessities, and 2. He will never be able to gather any intel from Hongjoong.

You chuckled lightly, the memory of the previous night making you feel both amused and sheepish. “We got too caught up finishing one of Hongjoong’s designs. We didn’t even realize how late it was until we were done.”

Wooyoung made a mental note to share this little tidbit with Seonghwa later while he gave you a playful grin, as if to say he knew something was up, but he didn’t press further.

Hongjoong then turned his attention back to you, his expression sincere. “Do you want to go home now? I can drive you to your apartment.”

You shook your head, remembering the errand you needed to run. “No, I actually have something to do today. My landlord asked me to pick up some flowers from a shop for her. She wants to change the arrangements in her vases.”

Hongjoong looked intrigued. “Does she have a specific flower shop in mind?”

“Yeah, she does,” you replied, nodding. “I know the address, but I’m not exactly sure how to get there.”

Without missing a beat, Hongjoong offered, “I can drive you there.”

You glanced between him and Wooyoung, feeling a bit hesitant. “Are you sure? I mean, I don’t want to leave Wooyoung here…”

Little did you know, Wooyoung was already picturing you and Hongjoong at a wedding venue, the image making him inwardly chuckle. He waved a dismissive hand, grinning. “Don’t worry about me. I’ll be fine.”

Hongjoong turned back to you, his eyes warm and reassuring. You sighed softly, finally giving in to his offer. He smiled, clearly pleased. As you stood up from the couch, you realized you were still clutching his sweater. You blushed, holding it out to him apologetically.

He shook his head, a gentle smile on his lips. “You should keep it and put it on. The weather forecast said it would be a bit windy today.”

You hesitated for a moment before slipping the sweater on, the fabric feeling warm and comforting against your skin. It hung loosely on you, a stark contrast to how it fit Hongjoong. The sight seemed to catch him off guard; his eyes lingered on you for a moment longer than necessary, a look of something akin to awe crossing his features. Wooyoung cleared his throat, pretending to cough, snapping Hongjoong out of his thoughts. He sent Wooyoung an annoyed glare, which only made the younger man grin wider.

A few minutes later, you found yourself in Hongjoong’s car, the morning air crisp and slightly chilly. Despite the warmth of the sweater, you shivered a little, the coolness seeping in. Hongjoong noticed immediately, reaching over to turn off the air conditioner. You glanced at him, smiling gratefully. “Thank you,” you murmured, appreciating the small gesture.

As he drove, the city slowly waking up around you, the car ride was filled with a comfortable silence, broken occasionally by small talk. The earlier events played in your mind, the way Hongjoong had looked at you, the warmth in his voice, the care he showed. It was all so… unexpected, yet it felt oddly right. As the car moved smoothly through the streets, you felt a strange sense of contentment, a warmth that had nothing to do with the sweater or the car’s heater.

After a few more minutes of driving, the soft chime of bells greeted you as you and Hongjoong stepped into the quaint flower shop. The air was filled with the delicate fragrance of blooms, creating an atmosphere of calm and serenity. You couldn’t help but marvel at the array of flowers on display, each one vibrant and inviting in its own way.

“All the flowers look so beautiful,” you murmured, your eyes wandering over the petals and leaves.

Hongjoong glanced at you, a small smile tugging at his lips before he turned his attention back to the shop. “They sure do.”

A young woman behind the counter greeted you both with a warm smile, her voice cheerful. “Good morning! Please let me know if you need any assistance.”

You returned her smile, nodding politely. “Thank you, we will.”

As you and Hongjoong wandered through the aisles, the colors and scents enveloped you, making it feel like you were walking through a garden in full bloom. You turned to him, a playful glint in your eyes. “Hey, if you were a sweet old lady, what flowers would you like to put in your vases?”

He chuckled softly, considering the question with surprising seriousness. After a moment, he replied, “I think I’d choose peonies. They’re elegant, with layers of petals that unfold like a story. And they symbolize prosperity and good fortune—qualities any old lady would appreciate.”

You nodded thoughtfully, impressed by his choice and the sentiment behind it. As you pondered his suggestion, the soft melody of “La Vie en Rose” began to play through the shop’s speakers, filling the space with a romantic, timeless charm. You hummed along, the familiar tune bringing a smile to your face.

Suddenly, you felt a gentle tap on your shoulder. Turning around, you found Hongjoong holding out a single rose, his expression playful. “For you, my lady,” he said with a dramatic flair.

You laughed, delighted by his unexpected gesture. Placing a hand over your heart, you accepted the rose with a mock curtsy. “Why, thank you, kind sir.”

The two of you shared a light-hearted laugh, the atmosphere between you warm and easy. The woman at the counter, watching your interaction with a knowing smile, subtly turned up the volume of the music, as if encouraging the moment. As the music swelled, Hongjoong offered his hand to you, a glint of amusement and sincerity in his eyes. “May I have this dance?” he asked, his voice low and inviting.

A smile spread across your face, the offer too delightful to refuse. Placing your hand in his, you allowed him to lead you into an impromptu dance. The two of you moved into the open space between the aisles, surrounded by the vibrant colors and fragrances of the flowers. Hongjoong began by twirling you gently, the world around you blurring as you spun, the music carrying you both into a rhythm that felt natural and unforced.

As he twirled you back toward him, you found yourself closer than before, your steps in sync as you followed his lead. Hongjoong’s movements were confident yet gentle, his hands guiding you with a surety that spoke of trust. He spun you out again, your skirts flaring slightly, and then pulled you back, his hand resting lightly on your waist as you moved together.

The dance took on a playful tone, with Hongjoong adding little flourishes—an extra twirl here, a playful dip there. You laughed, the joy of the moment bubbling up uncontrollably. Each movement felt like a conversation, unspoken yet understood, the two of you communicating through the language of dance. The flowers around you blurred into a vibrant backdrop, the soft hues of roses, daisies, and peonies blending together as you spun and swayed.

Hongjoong led you into a classic ballroom move, his hand firm on your back as he guided you into a dip. As you leaned back, your eyes locked onto his, the room seeming to narrow until it contained only the two of you. There was a shared breath, a moment suspended in time where the music, the shop, and the world outside ceased to exist. The dip was graceful, his hold secure, and for a brief moment, you felt as though you were floating, supported entirely by him.

As he pulled you back up, the song reached its crescendo, the final notes lingering in the air like a whispered secret. The two of you stood there, breathless and grinning, the joy of the dance and the unexpected intimacy of the moment lingering between you. The corners of your mouth lifted into a teasing smile as you remarked, “Didn’t know you had that whimsy in you.”

Hongjoong laughed in return, a sound that felt warm and familiar now, like a melody that lingered long after the music had ended. He shook his head, eyes crinkling with amusement. “And here I thought I was full of surprises.” He then paused, tilting his head slightly as he regarded you with curiosity. “But, I have to ask—have you ever taken ballroom dance lessons? You moved like you knew exactly what you were doing.”

You found yourself laughing again, shaking your head at the suggestion. “Not at all,” you replied, your voice light and amused. Unconsciously, you twirled the single rose he had given you during your playful dance, its soft petals brushing against your fingers. You hadn’t even realized you were still holding it, the delicate flower becoming an extension of the moment you had just shared.

Hongjoong’s eyes followed the movement of the rose, his expression thoughtful as you continued. “Dancing was just something I did for fun,” you explained, your tone growing a bit more nostalgic. “Back when I worked at the diner in Arcadia Bay, I’d sometimes be left alone to close up after a long shift. If it got really late, and the place was empty, I’d turn up the speakers and play whatever music I could find. The freshly cleaned floors made it easy to glide around, so I’d dance while I cleaned. It was my way of winding down, I guess.”

He leaned against the wall beside him, his posture relaxed yet attentive. A fond smile played on his lips as he listened, and you couldn’t help but notice the way his gaze softened. “I never would have guessed,” he said quietly, almost as if the thought was meant more for himself than for you.

You tilted your head, curiosity piqued by the tone of his voice. “Really?” you asked, your voice dropping slightly, matching the intimacy of the moment.

For a long, quiet moment, the two of you just looked at each other. It was one of those instances where words felt unnecessary, where the silence between you spoke volumes. The connection that had sparked during your dance now hung between you, a quiet understanding that neither of you was quite ready to acknowledge fully.

Hongjoong’s eyes held yours, the intensity of his gaze making the world around you blur into insignificance. The soft hum of the flower shop, the vibrant colors of the blooms, even the scent of fresh petals—all of it faded away until there was only him, standing just a few feet away, yet feeling impossibly close.

But then, the gentle chime of the shop’s doorbell rang out, breaking the spell. The sound was like a pin pricking the bubble that had formed around the two of you, pulling you both back to the reality of where you were. The moment shattered, and you blinked, the trance broken.

You cleared your throat, a slight flush of embarrassment coloring your cheeks as you tore your gaze away from Hongjoong’s. He straightened up, pushing himself off the wall, his own expression a mix of awkwardness and something else—something you couldn’t quite place.

“We should probably keep looking around,” you said, your voice sounding a little more hurried than you intended. You needed to anchor yourself back into the present, to remember why you were here in the first place.

“Yeah,” Hongjoong agreed, his tone softer now, almost subdued. His eyes flickered briefly to the floor before he glanced back up at you. “We should.”

After what felt like a careful, almost meditative process of choosing the right flowers, you and Hongjoong finally settled on a selection that seemed to embody the essence of Madame Dupont’s home. The bouquet was a harmonious blend of soft, pale pink peonies that spoke of tenderness and nostalgia, interspersed with the rich, deep purples of lilacs that exuded a subtle yet undeniable elegance. You added delicate sprigs of baby’s breath to weave through the arrangement, creating an ethereal touch that seemed to float among the other flowers. Finally, a few stems of white freesia were tucked in, their graceful blooms adding a layer of purity and lightness to the ensemble. It was a bouquet that, even in its stillness, seemed to tell a story—one of warmth, beauty, and timeless grace.

Satisfied with your choices, you and Hongjoong made your way to the counter to finalize the purchase. The young woman behind the register rang up your selection, and as the transaction was completed, you stepped away from the counter, your mind suddenly jolted with the realization that you had left your phone somewhere in the aisles.

“Oh, I think I left my phone in one of the aisles,” you said, turning to Hongjoong with a small, sheepish smile. “You can go ahead; I’ll just grab it and meet you outside.”

He gave a nod, a relaxed smile on his lips. “Sure, I’ll wait by the car.”

With that, you watched as he made his way toward the exit, the sunlight catching in his hair as he pushed the door open and stepped outside. You quickly retraced your steps through the aisles, scanning the shelves until your eyes finally landed on the familiar shape of your phone, resting innocently among the vibrant blooms. You let out a soft sigh of relief, the tension in your shoulders easing as you picked it up.

Just as you were about to head out, the florist’s voice called out to you, halting your steps mere moments before you could reach the door. You turned to face her, curiosity piqued by the sudden interruption.

“Can I ask you something?” she began, a playful glint in her eyes as she nodded toward the window, where Hongjoong was now leaning casually against his car, his attention elsewhere as he waited for you. “Are you two dating?”

The question caught you off guard, and you instinctively waved your hand dismissively, shaking your head with a quick, almost flustered laugh. “Oh, no, we’re just good friends,” you explained, the words tumbling out in an attempt to clarify. “He’s just helping me out with buying flowers for my landlord today.”

The florist nodded in understanding, though a knowing smile played on her lips. She leaned in slightly, her voice dropping to a conspiratorial whisper. “I think you two would look cute together, though.”

You blinked in surprise, your eyes widening at her unexpected comment. Before you could form a response, she leaned in even closer, her tone even more hushed as she added, “The security cameras actually caught footage of your cute little dance together. Do you wanna see it, by any chance?”

Do you?

The question hung in the air, wrapping itself around your thoughts as you considered the offer. Why would you want to see it? You told yourself it was just a silly moment, a fleeting bit of fun that didn’t hold any deeper meaning. But the more you thought about it, the more a strange, inexplicable curiosity began to take hold. The idea of watching that moment from an outsider’s perspective, of seeing the way you and Hongjoong moved together, felt oddly compelling. You couldn’t quite put your finger on why it mattered—or why you were even hesitating—but the thought lingered, tugging at the edges of your mind.

Finally, after what felt like an eternity of internal deliberation, you found yourself nodding. “Sure, I guess I’d like to see it.”

But then, a new thought occurred to you, and your gaze flickered to the door where Hongjoong was still waiting. “But he’s waiting outside,” you murmured, the conflict between curiosity and courtesy evident in your voice.

The florist seemed to catch on immediately, her expression softening with understanding. “No worries,” she said, her tone light and reassuring. “I can send it to you. Here,” she quickly jotted down her contact number and handed it to you with a smile. “Maybe you’ll change your mind later, but if you ever get curious, I’m just a message away.”

Her words were punctuated by a knowing smile, one that hinted at an understanding beyond the surface of your interaction. You returned her smile, feeling a mix of gratitude and a strange sense of anticipation as you tucked the number away.

“Thank you,” you said, your voice sincere as you bid her farewell.

As you stepped outside, the warmth of the setting greeting your skin, you saw Hongjoong look up from his spot by the car. The brief exchange with the florist still lingered in your mind, but you pushed it aside, focusing instead on the simple pleasure of being in his company.

“There you are.” The look in his eyes was fond as he pushed himself off from his car, rounding it to open the passenger seat’s door for you.

You muttered a silent comment of gratitude with a smile, ducking your head as you went inside and shuffled in your seat for about a couple times until you felt comfortable. As Hongjoong went inside the car seconds later, he turned towards you. “What were you two talking about?”

“Oh, the florist?” You tilted your head, and he nodded. It took you a short while to respond as you looked down on your lap. Eventually, you decided to finally meet his gaze. “She was just… asking me who we bought flowers for.”

The look on Hongjoong’s face seemed like an implication that he wasn’t satisfied with your answer, but he decided not to press further, settling with a small smile as he leaned back on his seat and began driving on the way to your apartment. As you and Hongjoong settled into the comforting ambience of his car while admiring the scenery of the warm sky outside, on the flip side, Seonghwa and Wooyoung, who were now snooping around Hongjoong’s studio, were having the time of their lives psychoanalyzing whatever’s going on between the two of you.

“Oh—speaking of, when I was on my way to my office, I crossed paths with one of your fellow photographers and they asked me about her relationship with Hongjoong. Asked him why they were suddenly curious about it and apparently they saw her wearing the sweater Hongjoong would usually wear to work on his lazier days…” Seonghwa trailed off, and Wooyoung’s eyes widened at his words.

Wooyoung snapped his fingers in the air, getting lost in the moment and slamming his hands on one of the tables in Hongjoong’s studio. “Right! I forgot to tell you, but, see, here’s the thing. So, you already know she stayed the night here with the willingness to help Hongjoong finish one of his designs, right?”

Wooyoung waited for a silent nod from Seonghwa, seeing it as a sign for him to continue. When he got what he wanted with the older man, he cleared his throat and leaned forward. “I can’t be too sure about this, but when I visited his office earlier in the morning, she was there, laying down on his couch with his sweater draped over her.”

“I think some sort of seismic activity from my jaw hitting the floor just occured,” Seonghwa whispered to himself. “So, what else is there for me to know about the sweater?”

Wooyoung clasped his hands together, leaning back on his seat slightly. “She told him her landlord asked her to buy some new flowers for her vases today, and he offered to drive her there. At that moment, she realized she was still holding onto his sweater and held it out to him. But, much to the surprise of all of us in the room except for Hongjoong, he told her to not only keep it, but he also told her to wear it because the weather’s cloudy outside! I’m telling you, there has to be something going on between them!”

“I wouldn’t say that…” Seonghwa muttered in a low tone while rubbing his chin. “They’re definitely not dating yet, that’s for sure, but somehow… I feel like Hongjoong’s got heart eyes for her yet is blissfully unaware of it. I mean, you know how he is.”

Just as Wooyoung was about to contribute his own theories to the gossip session, his phone rang in his pocket. Pulling it out, he was greeted by a message notification from Hongjoong flashed on his lockscreen.

It might take a while before I can get back there. The traffic on the way to her apartment is horrible right now.

“...”

“Yep, he’s definitely unaware of it.”

—

“Um…”

You didn’t exactly have the capability to own up to your words, were you to ever say that you’re used to having guests come over your house. The first and last person who’s ever done such a thing was Chloe, and most of the time, she’d only wish to bask in the silence of your house when she felt like hers was becoming too loud to bear.

Now, here you were, feet swaying slightly to the sides as you fiddled with the hem of Hongjoong’s sweater that you haven’t noticed you still haven’t taken off, while he was settled comfortably on the couch, looking at you with a soft gaze—as always…?

“Is everything alright? It’s alright if you’ve changed your mind about having me stay over for dinner, just say the word and I’ll—”

“No, no, that’s not, um…” You were quick to wave your hands off, shaking your head and instinctively moving one step forward, as if to stop him from leaving your abode. “I just… Would you like some water? Or coffee, perhaps? Wait, no, sorry, that sounded so stupid, there’s no way you would want coffee at 7PM in the evening—”

His gentle laugh stopped your mouth from running even faster, and you looked at him with a confused gaze. “Is that why you’ve been silently staring at me for the past few seconds?”

“Well,” you began as you looked around the room, pressing your lips together, making it form a thin line. “I mean, I’m not used to having guests come over, so I just didn’t know what the appropriate thing to say was…”

“A glass of water would be lovely.”

“Right. A glass of water. Gotcha.”

His gaze followed you as you rounded the couch and made your way to the kitchen by your fridge, yet he turned his eyes back to the television in front of him the moment your head subtly moved to the side. Having a nice conversation with the carpet on the floor as he patiently waited for you to come back, he finally turned his head back up with a look of gratitude as you placed a glass of water on the table in front of him. “Thank you,” he said before chugging it all down in one go.

You settled down on the empty spot beside him, making the cushion underneath you sink. You turned your body slightly towards him, the fabric of his loose denim pants rubbing against the skin of your thigh lightly. “Is there anything you’d like to have for dinner? Any favorite dishes, maybe?”

“Actually,” he began, settling his palms on his thighs. “I was thinking we could cook dinner together. It wouldn’t be fair for you to do all the work, especially after a long day.”

You were quick to shake your head in protest. “Hongjoong, I’m the one who invited you over for dinner. It’s my responsibility to make sure everything’s taken care of. You’ve had a long day yourself, and I wouldn’t want to—”

“Let me.”

“...Please?” he soon added, looking at you with a mildly pleading gaze. After a few seconds of contemplation, you finally gave in, responding to his offer with a nod of resignation, which made him smile. It’s endearing how you never have to do anything alone, as long as he’s around. Just how much longer would it take until the idea of doing things without his aid becomes unimaginable?

As you and Hongjoong stood up and made your way to the kitchen, you decided to keep the conversation light and breezy, your earlier question slipping out again as you searched for a starting point. “So… is there any favorite dish you’d like to eat tonight?” you asked out of curiosity.

Hongjoong hummed thoughtfully, leaning against the counter as he crossed his arms. He tilted his head slightly, as if searching through the vaults of his memory. “Hmm… there is one dish that comes to mind, actually. It’s something my mother used to make for me all the time when I was a kid. It’s kind of a comfort food for me, I guess.”

Your interest piqued as you looked at him with anticipation. “Oh? What dish is that?”

He smiled warmly, the light in his eyes softening with nostalgia. “It’s a type of kimchi jjigae, but not just any kind. My mom would make it with extra soft tofu, lots of garlic, and a touch of sweetness from a bit of sugar or honey. She’d add in some pork belly, but the real kicker was the homemade anchovy broth she’d use. It gave the stew this deep, rich flavor that I haven’t been able to replicate on my own. And she always served it with freshly steamed rice and a side of crunchy radish kimchi.”

You could almost taste the dish as he described it, and you nodded along. “That sounds amazing. I’d love to try making it together—if you’re up for it?”

Hongjoong’s face brightened, and he smiled in excitement. “I’d love that too. I’ll do my best to guide you through it, but fair warning, my cooking skills aren’t nearly as good as my mom’s,” he joked while raising his hands in mock surrender.

“I literally worked at a diner for a good long while before I got fired for the most ridiculous reason ever. I’ve got you,” you reassured him with a smile.

You both began the process, starting with reaching for the tofu from the fridge. As you turned back, you nearly collided with Hongjoong. His hand was just inches from yours, holding the green onions, and the proximity caught both of you off guard. For a moment, you were both still, the space between you charged with something electric. His eyes met yours, and you saw a flicker of surprise there. Your breath hitched slightly, feeling your nerves go haywire until Hongjoong cleared his throat softly and took a step back.

“Sorry about that,” he murmured, his voice a little lower than before.

“No, it’s okay,” you replied quickly, your cheeks warming as you placed the tofu on the counter. The lingering closeness left your skin tingling, and you tried to focus on what you were supposed to do, but your thoughts kept drifting back to the way he had looked at you.

Hongjoong began instructing you on how to make the anchovy broth, and you both worked together, cleaning the dried anchovies and preparing the kelp, your hands occasionally reaching for the same ingredient at the same time. At one point, when you both reached for the soy sauce, his fingers wrapped around the bottle just as yours brushed against the cool glass. The brief contact made you both pause, and you glanced up to find him already looking at you, his expression annoyingly soft.

The moment stretched out, a silent exchange passing between you before he finally released the bottle, allowing you to take it. As you poured the soy sauce into the pot, you couldn’t help but wonder what was going through his mind—and if it mirrored the thoughts swirling in your own.

As you leaned over to check the pot on the stove, you felt Hongjoong’s presence close behind you. He didn’t touch you, but you could feel the warmth of his body just inches away, and the awareness of how close he was made your pulse quicken. His breath fanned lightly against your neck as he leaned in to adjust the heat, and for a split second, you thought he might press closer, but he didn’t. Instead, he lingered there, close enough that you could feel the energy between you, almost tangible in the small space.

“You’re really good at this,” he commented, his voice close to your ear, making your heart skip a beat. The compliment was simple, but for some reason, you felt something different due to the way the words came out of his mouth.

“Thanks,” you replied, your voice nearly hushed as you turned slightly to meet his gaze. “I just hope it turns out the way you remember.”

He smiled, the corners of his eyes crinkling slightly. “I’m sure it will.”

The moment lingered longer than it probably should have, and you found yourself staring at him, your thoughts racing. His eyes were warm and inviting, and for a second, you wondered if he might be thinking the same thing you were. But before you could dwell on it, he stepped back, giving you room to breathe.

As you continued cooking, the conversation shifted to lighter topics—his favorite childhood memories, your own cooking mishaps, and the occasional joke that had you both laughing. At one point, when the time to add the garlic and kimchi to the pot came, you reached for a knife just as he did, your fingers accidentally grazing the back of his hand. You both froze for a moment, and when you pulled your hand back, he did the same, a soft laugh escaping his lips.

“Sorry,” he murmured, his gaze lingering on your hand for just a moment longer before he returned to his task.

“No problem,” you replied, feeling a bit flustered as you resumed chopping the garlic.

A little later, while you were stirring the pot, Hongjoong came up behind you, his hands gently guiding yours on the ladle. His touch was light, but the effect was immediate. Your heart skipped a beat as his fingers rested over yours, and you felt the warmth of his breath against your temple as he leaned in closer.

“You’re doing great,” he whispered gently.

As the stew continued to simmer, you found yourselves moving in closer proximity, your movements almost synchronized as you prepared the final touches. You were reaching for the lid of the pot, intending to cover it, when you suddenly felt Hongjoong’s hand on your lower back, a light touch that made you pause. He was standing behind you, his body just inches from yours, and you could feel the warmth of him seeping through your clothes.

You turned your head slightly to look at him, and the closeness of his face to yours caught you off guard. For a split second, you thought he might lean in and close the distance between you. The air was thick with anticipation, your breath caught in your throat as his gaze dropped to your lips.

But then, just as quickly as the moment had come, it passed. He stepped back, his hand leaving your back as he cleared his throat. “Let’s not overcook it,” he said lightly, but there was some sort of hesitance in his voice that hadn’t been there before.

You nodded, feeling a mix of relief and somewhat disappointment as you placed the lid on the pot.

As the final moments of cooking approached, when you reached for the soup bowls at the same time, your fingers brushed against his once more, but this time, neither of you pulled away immediately. You both laughed softly, but the way his hand lingered over yours told you there was more to this moment than just a little joke.

“Sorry,” you mumbled, your cheeks heating up as you finally withdrew your hand.

“It’s okay,” he replied, his voice soft, almost tender. “Really.”

When you both finally sat down to eat, the tension from earlier hung in the air like a weight you couldn’t quite shake. Hongjoong tried to focus on the meal, making small talk about the dish. “This really turned out well,” he said, breaking the silence with a warm smile. “You did a great job with the broth.”

You nodded, returning his smile, but you could feel your mind drifting back to those moments in the kitchen—the closeness, the way he felt so close, yet so far away. “Thanks,” you replied, trying to sound casual. “It’s all because you knew exactly what to do.”

Despite the light conversation, your thoughts kept slipping away from the food in front of you and back to the way his fingers had lingered on yours, how his breath had warmed your skin when he leaned in. You could hardly focus on anything else, and the awkwardness you felt only seemed to grow with each passing moment.

Hongjoong, on the other hand, seemed more composed, as if the closeness had been as natural to him as breathing. You could tell that the only unease he felt was a reflection of your own, a mirror to the nerves that were slowly tying you up in knots. But even so, there was something in his eyes—something just beneath the surface that told you he wasn’t completely unaffected either.

“This is really good,” you commented after a few bites, desperate to fill the silence with anything other than your racing thoughts. “I’d love to eat this more often.”

He looked up at you, a small, pleased smile forming on his lips. “I’m glad you like it. It’s one of my favorites.”

You hesitated for a moment, your mind scrambling for something else to say, something to ease the tension, even if only slightly. “You’ll have to come over more from now on,” you joked. “So we can make it again.”

As soon as the words left your mouth, you realized how they might have sounded, and your heart skipped a beat. You hadn’t meant it to come out that way, but now it was too late to take it back.

Hongjoong paused, his fork hovering in midair as he glanced up at you. For a moment, he just stared, and you could feel the heat rising in your cheeks as his gaze lingered on your lips.

You tried to focus on your food, your grip on the utensils slowly loosening as you found yourself getting lost in his eyes. It was as if everything around you had faded away, leaving only the two of you in that quiet, dimly lit room. Not even the warm lights scattered all over your living room were able to help. You glanced down at his lips, and for a second, you thought he might be leaning in closer, that maybe this time he wouldn’t hesitate.

But then you quickly tore your gaze away, trying to steady your breathing. “Your food’s getting cold,” you muttered, the words coming out softer than you intended.

Hongjoong blinked, as if snapping out of a trance, and he quickly looked away, clearing his throat. “Right, sorry,” he replied, a touch of embarrassment in his voice as he rubbed the back of his neck. You noticed his hand ghost over his face, as if trying to hide the rosy tint that had crept into his cheeks.

Fortunately, before you knew it, dinner was already over, and you found yourselves standing at your front door, the cool evening air slipping in from the hallway. Hongjoong shifted slightly, his hand lingering on the doorframe as he turned to face you.

“Thanks for inviting me over today,” he said with a gentle smile. “I had a really great time.”

You smiled back, though you couldn’t quite meet his eyes. “No, thank you for coming with me to buy those flowers. I probably would’ve been lost without your help.” You let out a light laugh, hoping to ease the tension you both felt, but it only seemed to make it more palpable.

As the conversation lulled, you became acutely aware of just how close he was standing, the space between you shrinking as the seconds ticked by. You could feel your pulse quickening, a soft flutter in your chest that made it hard to breathe normally. There was a moment of silence, just the two of you standing there, lost in each other’s eyes.

You took a small step forward, and almost unconsciously, he did the same, the gap between you closing even further. His hand slowly began to rise, moving towards your neck but stopping just short of touching your face. You could see the conflict in his eyes, the way he hesitated as if unsure whether he should take that final step.

For a second, you convinced yourself that he wouldn’t actually do it, that he would pull back just like before. But then, to your surprise, his hand found its way to your face, his touch gentle as his fingers brushed against your cheek.

Almost without thinking, you nuzzled into his hand, welcoming the touch as if it were the most natural thing in the world. Your own hand came up to rest on top of his, your fingers curling around his as if to anchor yourself in the moment, to make sure it wasn’t just a dream.

But just as you were about to say something, to lean in just a bit closer, the shrill ring of his phone cut through the quiet, startling you both. You flinched slightly, pulling back as you glanced down at the screen, which displayed Wooyoung’s name.

The sudden interruption felt like a cold splash of reality, and you quickly stepped back, trying to regain your composure. “You might need to answer that,” you mumbled, turning your face to the side to hide the disappointment in your expression.

Hongjoong hesitated, clearly torn between ignoring the call and staying in the moment with you. But seeing how you had pulled away, he sighed softly and stepped back as well. “Yeah, I probably should,” he said, his voice tinged with regret. “He’s been trying to reach me all day.”

You let out a small, forced laugh, finally looking back at him. “See you when I see you?”

He nodded, a reassuring smile tugging at the corners of his lips. “Yeah, see you when I see you.”

With that, he turned and walked away, leaving you standing in the doorway, watching as he disappeared down the hall. The moment the door closed behind him, you let out a breath you didn’t realize you’d been holding, leaning against the door as you slid down onto the floor.

Your heart was still racing, the memory of his touch still lit aflame, and you couldn’t help but wonder what might have happened if Wooyoung hadn’t called—if that tension would have finally broken, or if you both would have continued to dance around it, pretending it wasn’t there.

It was all confusing, truly. The way his gaze kept traveling back and forth between your lips and your eyes, the way he kept initiating small touches here and there that seemed to still have been lingering on your skin even up till now, the way it felt like you two were separate threads tangled up in each other attempting to break free from the knot. What was most confusing was how you didn’t even mind any of it. Maybe it was all bound to happen, maybe the circumstances required the proximity, maybe he just couldn’t move around that much.

But your kitchen wasn’t even that small.

🪞 — lividstar.

[ashensgrotto]

Never Had a Friend (like Me) - Part 1

Original art piece by pfbatakopd on twitter (Used only for Header. Do NOT REPOST ORIGINAL ART)

Part 1 (You Are Here) Part 2 Part 3

YandereSoulmate! AU:

Part 1 (Am I Feeling Love?)

Part 2 (Protective)

Part 3A & Part 3B (Poor Unfortunate Souls)

Characters: Azul Ashengrotto X F!Reader

Word Count: 9,105

Synopsis: A chance for redemption comes in the form of a wish…

Author’s Notes: Ok, here we go. I received an anonymous message in my inbox for the next part of the Yandere!Soulmate series and I was actually going to work on it - but with the arrival of GloMas, working on the next part of ‘Raison D’être,’ wanting to finish “Weren’t You Aware, Angelfish?”, AND the holidays, time got away from me and I forgot about Scarabia’s segment for a short while. 

However, because you all seem to enjoy this and want to know if the tako has redeemed himself - I figured I would work to get this part done. Now, warning - Pompefiore’s part is going to take a bit of time to complete because I will have to wiggle my way through my memory bank and replay a few parts of it (which is approx 76 chapters in length for those players who haven’t made it that far into the game yet) since I’m working so deep into Ignihyde’s chapter right now (which is a doozy - I’m still in chapter 67-tower 1, oof help).

This one is also going to be split into three parts - I promise it will not be a long wait for the second & third parts as this is my Christmas gift to all of my readers <3

Thank you all for your continued support!

Warnings are as follows: yandere behaviors, manipulation, imprisonment, & hypnosis

***

I’m in the mood, to help you dude

You ain’t never had a friend like me.

***

It had been weeks since the last overblot incident… and just as long since Azul last saw you.

He sat in his office, looking over paperwork for the last quarter and rubbing his brow with worry.

The profits had started to steadily decrease following his overblot, causing the Monstro Lounge to slowly suffer the loss, like an infection slowly eating away a mer’s life. He had no one really to blame but himself for that… Azul had lost control, let his obsession get out of hand and had hurt the people closest to him.

Jade… Floyd… you.

Azul let out another large sigh and set the report down, taking his glasses off and rubbing his face. He had considered going back to the Coral Sea for holiday, but was unable to due to two reasons; one, the ice floes would’ve made the journey too dangerous to travel alone - especially since Jade and Floyd had already prepared to stay at NRC for the holidays, and two… you were still here.

Not in Octavinelle where Azul had wanted you to be, but in a rundown shack on the school property.

The building had been a dorm, once upon a time, but ghosts had moved in and scared the students to the point that the building was deemed ‘unsafe.’ However, with your charms and personality, the ghosts were easily persuaded and welcomed you in with open arms - though Azul had a sneaky suspicion that both the headwardens of Savanaclaw and Heartslabyul had likely persuaded the otherworldly spirits in exchange for access to both of their dorms. Regardless, with you no longer in Octavinelle and now at the mercy of the headmage’s “generous” nature, Azul could only watch from the shadows as you now tended to the school property in a janitorial role.

Azul leaned back in his chair, his thoughts plagued by you before an obnoxious ringing noise filled the office.

He grumbled, picking the phone up, “Monstor Lounge, this is Azul speaking.”

“Hello baby, how are you?” the familiar voice of his mother on the other end made Azul jump in surprise.

“Mother,” Azul coughed, “Hello - I apologize I hadn’t had a chance to call you. We’ve been busy lately.”

“Oh, I know, sweetheart,” his mother answered, “It’s been busy here too… but everything’s been calming down since the ice floes came - though I was surprised to see your letter that you were considering coming home for the holidays.”

‘Shit…’ Azul had completely forgotten about that - when (Y/N) had lived in the Octavinelle at the beginning of the year, Azul had entertained the idea of potentially inviting her to his home for the holiday, slowly and suringly getting her accustomed to the idea of staying with him - although it would prove to be a difficult task, especially now.

“However, I’m assuming that you changed plans at the last minute,” his mother continued.

“Y-yes, I was indeed planning on coming… however, Jade and Floyd both decided to stay behind so I chose to stay as well,” Azul answered, the lie slipping easily off his silver tongue, “Someone has to keep those two in line, after all.”

His mother snickered, “Don’t be saying that in front of their father though. Sevens knows what the moray will do if you say anything like that.”

Azul nodded, clearing his throat, “Um, well… What's going on with you, then? The restaurant still alright? How’s Finn?”

“Finn’s well - busy as always,” his mother answered, “Business has been getting better - hired several new staff members as well… a few sweet mers around your age, Zully.”

Azul rolled his eyes, “Mother… we’ve had this talk. I’m… not interested.”

“You might not be, but it will happen one day,” his mother’s voice was calm and soothing before she sighed on the end of the phone, “However… I have a sneaky feeling that you’re still upset about what I told you all those years ago.”

Azul bit his lip, answering, “Of course not… Soulmates? That’s ridiculous.”

“Azul…” his mother’s voice turned into a scolding tone, “There are plenty of fish out there - I know you’re still pretty young to be thinking about it, considering a mer’s life is longer than most, but shorter than a fae’s… but I only want you to be happy.”

“I am, mother,” Azul tried to smile, “I’m content where I am - I’ve gotten stronger, my business is growing, and… I’ve learned so much.”

“Perhaps, but allow me to give you a little insight - it’s something I learned long ago,” his mother prompted, “Happiness, though may be defined as ‘the state of joy or contentment,’ is typically filled by three main parts of life; success, dedication, and personal. Dedication and success go hand in hand with each other - if you work hard and are dedicated, you achieve success - even if the tasks prove to be difficult to the point that you might fail over and over again. Personal can mean time for yourself - spending time with your hobbies or doing what you love… spending time with those you care about even.”

Azul listened to his mother’s words, thinking.

“I know that you are successful and you’re dedicated,” his mother continued, “But you won’t achieve happiness if you just focus on those two things - take time for yourself now and again, look for stronger connections within your friendships… and look for someone that will want to support you and you support them.”

“I… I think I understand…” Azul answered, “I’ll… take your words into consideration.”

“I hope so - your grandmother taught me that when I was still a little octo fry many years ago,” his mother answered, a teasing tone caught in her voice.

Azul couldn’t help but smile, “Yes… Nanna always did know what was best.”

“Yes, she did, still does even… Well, I should probably let you go, then - you have a lot of stuff going on there,” his mother let out a sigh, “Just remember… I love you, baby. Merry Christmas.”

“I love you too… momma. Merry Christmas and I’ll see you at the end of the year.”

“I’ll hold you to that, Zully. Stay safe.”

Azul smiled and hung the phone up, sitting back in his chair and looking up at the ceiling. 

“Finding that so-called ‘other half’ is like - well - like the story of the mermaid princess and her longing to be with a human. It’s a rare occurrence that only happens once in a millennium if not longer. Anyone can be happy with or without their soulmate, Azul. There’s no reason you should go to such lengths to be with someone who may not even exist…”

Azul shook his head at the memory of that day years ago - he wanted to forget… but sevens knows he couldn’t forget you.

A sudden loud crash had Azul bolting upright, his features twisting in annoyance. As far as he knew, the only ones in the lounge were Jade and Floyd… which could only mean one thing. 

Trouble.

“Those two morons…” Azul gritted his teeth, standing from his chair, “If I catch the lounge in a disarray again…”

He grabbed his jacket, tossing it over his shoulders, before placing his hat upon his head, the magestone pen morphing into the headwarden’s silver octopus topped cane. He hurried from his office and headed into the lounge.

Entering the lounge, Azul’s eyes widened at the sight.

The lounge was damaged - several tables and chairs were overturned, marred by huge cracks and scratches while lamps lay in pieces on the floor, the glass orbs scattered into a thousand fragments on the carpeted flooring and the magestones cracked and shattered as well. Azul’s eyes narrowed on Jade and Floyd’s figures, but realized they weren’t alone after all. Several students from the Scarabia dorm were there as well, their wands out and at the ready - pointing them at Jade and Floyd, who seemed to be guarding something on the floor.

Azul’s eyes widened in surprise at seeing Kalim’s magic carpet as well as Grim hiding behind the remaining two members of Octavinelle - and they weren’t alone.

You were there as well, cowering behind Jade and Floyd’s intimidating heights as the Scarabia students glared daggers at you.

“There’s no escape for you now, thieves!” 

“Surrender quietly!”

“Mrow?!” Grim held his paws up, “You chased us all the way here?! You guys are seriously stubborn, you know that?”

Azul remained quiet for a moment, his eyes shifting to look you over - noticing how you had one arm close to your body. Were you hurt?

Azul’s eyes narrowed as he approached, his shoes echoing in the lounge as his stern voice addressed the situation, “What is all the commotion at this late hour?”

The students turned to look at Azul, one of them speaking quietly, “Y-you’re… Azul Ashengrotto, the housewarden of Octavinelle!”

“Would you care to explain what is going on?” Azul asked calmly, moving to stand in front of you with Jade and Floyd behind him.

“It’s none of Octavinelle’s business,” another student tsked, “Just hand over the two of them quietly.”

Azul crossed his arms over his chest, tilting his head as he eyed you and Grim out of the corner of his eye, “Now that I’m looking closer at it - it appears to be (Y/N) and Grim sprawled out on our floor, quivering and covered in dust. Heh - I almost thought they were a pair of dust cloths.”

“Azul, please,” Azul met your gaze, “save us with your spirit of benevolence.”

“Hmm…” Azul turned back to the group of Scarabia before him.

“If you refuse to hand them over, you’ll be blamed for their wrongdoings as well,” the student warned.

“Hey - are ya yankin’ my tail here?!” Floyd’s eyes widened dangerously, his teeth peering out from behind his lips, “Who do ya think yer talkin’ to?!”

“No fighting of any kind is permitted in the Monstro Lounge,” Azul kept his arms crossed over his chest, his focus reshifting to address the situation at hand, “This is a place for gentlemen.”

“What was that? Are you interfering?” one of the students asked, “Fine, we’ll just do this the hard way.”

“Hmph, I think it’s time we asked these ill-mannered patrons to leave,” Azul growled, clicking his tongue in annoyance, “Jade. Floyd. Show them the door.”

The eel twins grinned as they moved quickly, going after the Scarabia students like the set of predators that they were. Azul was quick to move and cover (Y/N), his overcoat covering your form to protect you from the fighting, “Don’t look, my dear, I do not wish for you to see such behavior.”

“Azul - I’ve seen worse,” your voice rattled him to the core as he huffed.

“I... don’t need the reminder.”

It didn’t take long for the Scarabia students to fall back, Jade and Floyd repocketing their pens.

“Go on an’ scatter, ya bunch of minnows!” Floyd laughed eagerly.

“We’ll be eagerly awaiting your next visit to our lounge,” Jade smiled.

As the last of the students disappeared, Grim jumped for joy, “Mya-haha! We did it! You see that?! That’s what you get, you bunch of jerks!”

“We, Grim? I think you mean they - Floyd and Jade - did it,” you ask before shaking your head and turning toward the trio, “Thank you, all three of you - I don’t want to think what they would’ve done if you hadn’t stepped in.”

“Thanks are unneeded, my dear,” Azul answered, standing and offering his hand, “However, I’m afraid we’ll have to bill you for repair fees for the tables and chairs - not to mention the lamps and assorted dishwear that was damaged in that fight. Not to mention our own labor rates, since we were dragged into this affair.”

“WHAT?! You’re charging us for that?!” Grim asked, throwing his paws up in the air.

“Surely it’s a small price to pay for us rescuing the both of you from the inky depths of peril? After all, (Y/N) did ask for my spirit of benevolence.”

“Azul, please,” you asked quietly, “There’s a reason that the Scarabia students were after us.”

“I’m assuming it has something to do with Kalim’s magic carpet.”

“... Not really,” you answer, “We were being held hostage.”

Azul frowned, not liking the word one bit, “Explain, (Y/N).”

***

Azul muddled over what you had just told him, Grim piping up every so often to include details about the Scarabia situation to add more information as the cunning octopus thought deeply. As Azul thought, his eyes kept shifting to you, his thoughts going deeper into self-loathing; if you had remained in Octavinelle, none of this would have happened - you would’ve been safe, not having to walk to an oasis down and back again every morning before even eating, or sleeping in a closet under lock and key, or even doing battles with other students of magic when you couldn’t even cast a spell yourself.

His poor little angelfish…

Azul’s eyes widened, an idea appearing in his mind… a chance of a lifetime had just been given to him and he would be damned to let it go to waste.

A knowning smile spread across his features, “...It sounds like we should go to their aid.”

“Myra?! Did you hit your head or something when I wasn’t looking?!” Grim asked.

“Of course not!” Azul feigned harm, lifting his gloved hand to his chest, “I’ll have you know, my dear Grimmy, that the last incident forced me to reflect on my greed. I came out a changed man!”

“Oh, really?” You asked, folding your arms across your chest, “Care to explain?”

“I decided to contribute to the school as a whole, in honor of the Sea Witch’s spirit of benevolence,” Azul explained, his features turning coy, “It’s common knowledge that the housewardens are typically the ones their students go to in times of need or struggle - even the vice wardens are responsible for that as well. However, the power has to be shared equally between both the house and vice wardens - and Scarabia’s all over the place. It’s faced with a crisis now and my own classmate is in need of help - I can hardly ignore them in their time of need.”

You watched Jade and Floyd give each other knowing smiles before the twins looked at Azul, Jade asking, “What is the plan?”

“Here’s my idea,” Azul proposed, “The five of us head to Scarabia tomorrow - we’ll go under the guise that we are returning Kalim’s carpet as well as offering assistance with the dorm’s studies, this will ensure our stay especially since Octavinelle did overwhelmingly well on their finals before break…”

“No thanks to your study guides,” Grim huffed.

“Grim,” You warned.

Azul coughed and continued, “Once we’ve secured our spot within Scarabia, we’ll be able to do a bit of sneaking around to figure out what’s really going on.”

“And I’m assuming you have an idea on how to do so?” Jade asked.

“Let’s get to that point before we make any rash decisions,” Azul answered.

“I think that is a wonderful idea,” you agreed.

“(Y/N)?! Are you crazy?!” Grim asked, “We can’t go back there!”

“Grim, we really have no other options,” you turned to the feline demon, “We’ve tried contacting the Headmage, the other students can’t get into the school because the dark mirror is closed off, we have no way of contacting Riddle or Leona either… Azul’s plan is the best we have right now. Personally, I’d rather not go back, but with the way things are looking for Kalim…”

“You’re afraid there’s going to be another overblot, aren’t you, pearl?” Jade asked.

Azul blinked, the thought hadn’t even crossed his mind. Yes, Kalim’s behavior was erratic, but it couldn’t be enough for the headwarden to go into an overblot… would it?

“I’m afraid so,” you admit, looking over at Azul, “I noticed that… when things got a little out of control, someone overblotted. I can’t bare to see another student go through that, much less a housewarden again. I’d like to try and prevent it from happening again, if possible.”

Azul nodded, “No worries, angelfish - I’ll make sure mine was the last one you saw.”

You give the housewarden a small smile of relief - thankful that he seemed to understand.

Azul remembered during his blot how the memories of his childhood came forward; the root cause of his pain and suffering that eventually became his thirst for power that festered and grew until it snapped - and you had seen it all. Whatever this strange magical gift was and how you received it, Azul was certain that it was your own form of unique magic - one that was so powerful that it may even make Malleus Draconia afraid if he knew about it; the power to look into one’s past and see everything that shaped them into who they eventually became was strong powerful magic indeed - but, of course, Azul didn’t want anyone else to know about it, considering he was victim number three to the overblot crisis that appeared to be happening this year.

Azul reaches out, offering his hand to you, “(Y/N), as headwarden of Octavinelle - allow myself and Jade and Floyd to help you and Grim solve the mystery of Kalim’s strange behavior. I’m certain the five of us plus Jamil will be able to ease Kalim’s troubles and bring back the peace Scarabia so desperately needs. Do we have a deal?”

You look at his hand, the memory of the first day you met him and the day you lost your legs both playing in your mind - but what choice did you have? You look at him and take his hand, squeezing it.

“Promise - this will make us even?”

“Indeed. I promise.”

[imagines--galore]

||The Thread of Fate|| Part Thirteen

Summary: Soulmate AU. They say the Thread of Fate connects you to your one true love. It may tangle. It may stretch. But it will never break. Wrapped around your little finger it tightens when it feels your soulmate is close and loosens when they are far. And becomes visible with the colors of your soulmate’s Nation when you finally fall in love with them.

Pairing: Zuko x OroraOC (ATLA)

Rating || Genres || Warnings: T+ Romance. Adventure.

Previous Chapters - Part One, Part Two, Part Three, Part Four, Part Five, Part Six, Part Seven, Part Eight, Part Nine, Part Ten, Part Eleven, Part Twelve

A/N: Gah! This was a tough one to write! But hopefully it'll be to your satisfaction my dear readers! And yeah, this chapter is gonna cover The Tales of Ba Sing Se but only Iroh's is covered in this. Zuko's will be next don't worry!

For once, Orora was the first one up.

Or at least, the first of the two youngsters.

Iroh's bed mat was empty, she noticed, tiptoeing her way out of the room, not wanting to wake Zuko. He was rather particular about his beauty sleep being disturbed, of course when she had observed so, using the same words, she'd received a cushion to the face.

Alright, so maybe teasing Zuko was fun. Then again it was only revenge since he didn't hold back either.

He'd actually laughed out loud when she had admitted to not understanding the use of a dustpan when she had swept the shop. That was back they had just started to work. Granted his laugh had been more of a HA sound, that was more haughty then playful, she had quickly shut him up by reminding him that there was no need for it where she was from since everything was made of ice.

Besides, just because the both of them had called truce, didn't mean that they were about to stop their arguing. Honestly, most of the time, they were the most interesting part of her day.

Moving to the stove, she picked up the spark rocks, only to stop at the sight of a scroll sitting in the middle of the table. Curious, she picked it up and unfolded it.

Dear Zuko and Orora,

Since there was to be no work today, I decided to spend it by myself. I will be back after sundown, so do not worry about me. Be on guard and stay safe. I expect to return to a clean house, with no broken furniture, and, hopefully, both of you with all your limbs intact.

Love, Uncle.

Smiling to herself, Orora set the letter aside. Honestly, with how much Iroh had to deal with it was good that he had a day off. Enjoy himself perhaps? He did have to work hard to make sure she and Zuko didn't get in trouble, or didn't kill one another.

Humming softly under her breath, she began to prepare breakfast, frowning slightly at the few ingredients that were left in the meager pantry. Deciding to perhaps go shopping later, she continued making breakfast. While normally she would have made something just for herself, she made sure to make some for Zuko as well. The young waterbender had only just put the finishing touches and was pouring some tea when Zuko emerged, tousle-haired, yawning and rubbing his neck from where he had slept wrong.

"Morning!" She greeted, smiling at him. Alright, so she was in a good mood. No work, and shopping later. What more could a girl want?

Zuko made a small sound in reply, probably a greeting back, as he looked around the apartment. "Where's Uncle?" He asked, his voice a little hoarser then usual since he had just woken up. Orora held up the letter. "He said he was taking the day by himself. I'm sure he got tired of us bickering all the time."

Holding up the pot of tea, she gestured for him to sit. "Eat while its still warm. I'm gonna go shopping for some stuff after this, we're almost out of food." Zuko settled onto the futon on the opposite side of the small table they would be sharing.

"You made breakfast?" Usually it was Uncle who made it, since he was the first one up. Orora frowned. "What? You don't think I know how to cook?" She asked, raising an eyebrow at him. Zuko was still looking at the meager yet appetizing bowl of food. "No, but I didn't think you would make breakfast for me. Only Uncle has ever done that."

Her face fell, that all too familiar squeeze in her heart making her nearly clench her chest, but she stopped just in time. Instead her hands tightened around her teacup.

"Spirits Zuko. Why do you have to go and make me sad so early in the day?" She muttered, to which he frowned from where he was already eating his breakfast.

"How is that sad?" It still astounded her how normal Zuko thought it was for people to not care about him. Small things like making him breakfast, or a cup of tea, helping him out with his work at the shop. During those first few days of their truce, when she had offered to help him, he had actually asked her what she wanted him to do in return.

Orora had been stunned to say the least. She assured him that she was doing it simply because she wanted to, a reply that had him frowning in confusion and asking why.

"Just eat your breakfast." She muttered, pointing at the food with her chopsticks and continuing with her own breakfast. "What're your plans for today then?" The girl spoke after a few moments of silence. "Will you actually be going out and enjoying a beautiful day, or are you going to find a dark corner to sulk and brood?"

The scowl he threw at her had her grinning into her cup as she finished up her tea. "I don't do that." He sulked, prompting her to bite her lower lip to keep herself from laughing out loud.

Finishing first, she quickly stood up, giving her utensils a quick wash using her waterbending. "You know its amazing how its the middle of Spring and we haven't had any rain yet." She observed. "I'm looking forward to it. Maybe I can try and waterbend some of the rain to use it as a weapon."

It had been so long since she'd practiced. Orora was actually making plans to go to the Outer Wall and practice at a Lake. One of the patrons at the tea shop had told her about Lake Laogai, maybe she would have a little fun there.

Behind her, Zuko barely heard what she said, his mind focusing on a rather insignificant detail she had just revealed.

Spring.

Mid Spring.

His face fell, his eyes widened, and his hand darted out to grab the letter where it rested on the table. "Wait?! What date is it today?" Zuko, looking around and letting out a frustrated sound when he saw no calendar in sight. Orora turned around, putting her now clean bowl in the small cupboard as she did.

The answer she received pulled an instant reaction from Zuko. His hand flew to his forehead, before sliding down his face as he muttered. "Spirits! How could I forget?!"

She frowned. "Forget what?" It was strange seeing Zuko act like that. Usually he was either annoyed or angry. Though lately even those emotions had been few and far in-between. Sighing deeply, the young Prince removed his hand from his face, gripping the letter with the other as he replied.

"Its............today's Lu Ten's birthday." He muttered. An aching sadness clenched his heart as memories of his beloved cousin rose tot he forefront of his mind.

Orora blinked. "Who's Lu Ten?" She asked, wandering what kind of person would have Zuko reacting in such a manner. Another sigh, before his gaze lifted to meet her's

"Lu Ten is......was my cousin. Uncle's son."

The way he spoke, the sadness in his very expression and eyes had a sickening feeling settle in her chest. And her suspicions were confirmed true when he spoke the next few words.

"He died a few years ago. While he and Uncle were trying to conquer Ba Sing Se."

A startled gasp fell from her lips, a hand rising to cover her mouth as her eyes darted to the letter he still held. "Oh my Spirits, I didn't....you never......he didn't tell........"

Zuko shook his head, putting the letter on the table. "He doesn't like to talk about it. Its still painful for him." The young girl gave a small nod. "I get it, its never easy to loose a loved one. And its never easy for a parent to loose a child."

Silence fell between them, both of them lost in their own thoughts. Orora's were filled with the smiling visage of her Master, and how, despite the tremendous loss he had faced, he was always smiling, ready with the right words of wisdom, not to mention how kind he was.

Zuko was lost in his own memories of his cousin. While he had never been close to Azula, Lu Ten, despite the age difference, had been more of a sibling to him then she had. He had always been ready to play with him, show him a new firebending move.

Orora finally glanced up at Zuko, her expression soft. Clearly the day was just as hard for Zuko as it probably was for Iroh. What should've been a day of celebration, would be a day of mourning for both of them.

Suddenly an idea began to form in her mind, one that could either work out really well, or would go wrong. She hoped it would be the former.

Standing up, the girl quickly made her way over to the small wardrobe where she kept her shopping bag. Slinging both it and her water satchel over her shoulder, she made sure she had enough money before moving to stand beside Zuko.

He hadn't even moved from his spot, opting to simply stare at the wall in front of him, his half-eaten food now cold on the table. Reaching out she rested a hand on his shoulder, an act that he barely acknowledged, other then the slight tenseness in his shoulders.

"Why don't you stay at home today, I'll be back in a couple of hours. I can shop alone."

Receiving no response, and really she hadn't been expecting one, the young waterbender rose to her feet, and with one final glance in his direction, she slipped out of the apartment.

                                          ————————–

Slumping onto one of the many benches littered in the shopping market, Orora wiped her brow as she dropped the food she had bought in the last half hour, next to her. Once she had caught her breath, the young girl did a mental headcount of everything she had bought so far. She had splurged a little to get a few ingredients they normally wouldn't buy, but for her plan to work, all of her purchase was crucial.

Digging into one of the bags, she brought out a moon peach, a fruit she had grown quite fond of since coming to Ba Sing Se. Munching on her snack, she took a few minutes to catch her breath before she was to make the trek back home.

It was amazing how people were going about their lives, as if nothing was happening beyond the borders of their Walls. Then again, maybe for them nothing was going on. The were safe in here. And were so used to it that they didn't think the Fire Nation could reach them.

She hoped it would remain that way.

Finishing the fruit, she quickly stood, pursing her lips as she tried to figure out how she would carry all her purchase home.

She was so lost in her contemplation that she barely felt a familiar figure walk up to stand next to her.

"You've been staring for so long people are actually starting to point at you." That all too familiar husky voice cut through her thoughts, prompting her to turn in his direction.

"Zuko! What're you doing here? I thought you were back home?" He remained silent, cutting quite the imposing figure with his swords at his side and the serious expression on his face. Then it occurred to her. "Have you been following me?" She asked, her tone sounding more then a little accusatory as she glared at him. Zuko glanced at her out of the corner of his eyes.

"Following you and keeping you safe from a distance are two different things Orora." He stated. Ice blue eyes blinked at him disbelief. She stared at him long enough for him to grow uncomfortable.

"What?" He demanded sounding defensive, prompting Orora to give him a bright smile. "Awww, Zuko, were you worried about me?" She all but cooed, her tone teasing, albeit carrying a pleasing undertone. A bright blush spread across the Prince's cheeks, prompting her smile to grow even wider.

If that was even possible.

"Uncle asked me to keep an eye on you in the city." He quickly stated, pinning it all on his absent Uncle.

She couldn't help it.

A warm bubble of affection for the scowling, annoyed, flustered looking Prince prompted her to throw her arms around his shoulders.

And while Zuko's entire being froze, his golden eyes widening in disbelief, Orora allowed herself those few seconds of embrace to enjoy the presence of another person. She'd barely gotten any expressions of affection as a child, and she was intent on not passing up any chance to showcase her affection for her new family. Once Iroh returned, he would be getting a hug from her as well. For now, not wanting Zuko to combust into flames from embarrassment, she simply let out a small laugh. "You're a big old softie Zuko, and you know it." She stated as she pulled back. He was staring at her as if she had grown a second head.

Smiling to herself, the young waterbender quickly turned around and hefting one of the heavier bags, pushed it into Zuko's hands. He fumbled with it briefly, still a little lost at what had just happened, but he adjusted quickly.

"Now, come on! We have a lot of work to do if we want everything to be ready for tonight." She stated before gathering the rest of the bags and starting the walk back home.

Zuko, having regained his normal thought process, started after her. "Wait! Ready for what?!" He called out, his embarrassment ebbing away to be replaced by a sense of elation and tranquility.

All because Orora had hugged him.

Between the both of them, their string flickered again, though neither of then noticed.

                                          ————————–

"Remind me again, how I got roped into doing this with you?"

"Because I threatened to ice you to the wall if you didn't help."

"Argh, I can't believe I'm being reduced to helping you."

"Its called doing something nice for someone Zuko. Now get back to your task. You still have to peel the carrots after this."

An annoyed huff was her only response, but Orora didn't pay any mind to it as she continued to cut the many fruits she had bought.

On their trip home, she had told Zuko of her plan. One that included making delicious food, all ready and waiting for Iroh whenever he would come back, to celebrate Lu Ten's birthday.

Zuko had tried to protest, but had shut up, when she had reasoned that since Iroh had spent the entire day by himself, he would love a little dinner to celebrate the life his son had lived.

As short as it may have been.

Glancing at Orora out of the corner of his eyes, something he noticed he did quite a lot, Zuko couldn't help but be envious of her. He would never have thought of coming up with an idea like that, let alone have the common sense to pull it off. Sure he was a good strategist and all, and could come up with a plan of escape or evasion when the situation called for it, but it would seem Orora had the upper hand when it came to dealing with people in a more compassionate way.

Almost as if they were two halves of a whole.

Shaking his head, he turned his attention back to the dough she had ordered him to knead. So far all he had managed to do was get himself covered in flour, and his fingers sticky. He made a face, pulling his hand away and watching the dough stretch as he did. "How long do I have to knead it for?" He asked. "You can stop once its smooth." She replied, not bothering to take her eyes away from her cutting.

As he began to knead the dough once more, he couldn't help but ask. "So, how does the daughter of a noble know how to cook?" It was a little strange for him since back at the Fire Nation, daughters of noblemen didn't learn to do so. Instead they hired servants to cook for them.

"Well like I've told you, my father believed a woman's place was at home. And while I hated the endless sewing that was of no use, as well as the etiquette lessons, I did enjoy learning how to cook."

Indeed, the way she had taken charge of preparing everything and ordering him about, anyone would think she had done this before. Even her tea making skills had been alright before Uncle had begun teaching her. Now she brewed tea just as well as his Uncle. Though he would never tell the old man that for fear of breaking his heart. He still fancied himself the best tea maker in the world.

Thankfully, the dough had started to attain a more normal shape and texture. It wasn't sticking to his fingers much, and was becoming soft and pliable. "Is that enough kneading?" He asked over his shoulder, accidentally swiping at his forehead.

Putting her knife down she quickly walked over, eyes assessing the now perfect dough. "Looks good, now start on the carrots." Her eyes shifted from the dough to his face.

A small giggle fell from her lips, one that promptly turned into a full laugh that had her clapping her hand over her mouth and her shoulders to shake.

Zuko frowned. "What?" He asked, looking bemused. Not bothering to answer, and still smiling from ear to ear, the girl grasped his shoulders and turned him in the direction of the small mirror Iroh had installed just beside the front door.

He was truly a sight to behold.

And not in a good way.

Somehow, he had managed to get flour in his hair, and on his cheek. That was nothing to say of the sticky dough that hung from his hair where he had wiped his hand not even a few moments ago.

"Why don't you go wash yourself up before the next task?" Orora offered, patting him gently on the back in a reassuring manner, though she was still laughing softly. He just looked so utterly ridiculous like that.

Normally, Zuko would be embarrassed at such a state, but something about the way Orora's carefree laughter followed him to the wash basin, where he quickly scrubbed his face clean, he found he didn't mind looking like that.

Not when it made Orora laugh like he had never heard her laugh before.

Maybe Orora was right. Maybe he was getting soft.

Or maybe, he was allowing himself to accept her as a friend and letting himself not be defensive around her like he normally was with people.

It wasn't long before almost everything was cooking away on the stoves. "You know its convenient to have a firebender around while you're cooking." Orora mused as she came to sit down beside Zuko where he was struggling to make dumplings. "Why do you say that?" He asked, making a dejected face at the lumpy dumpling he had made.

She smiled, as she began to create her own dumpling with practiced ease, though she did go a little slower so that Zuko could pick up on her steps and follow suit. "Because I can always ask you to lower the intensity of the flame, or increase it without having to struggle with the wood and smoke."

He gave her a look, though he did wave his hand and the fire beneath the stove lessened in intensity. Orora grinned at him, while he allowed himself a smile in return as well.

The both of them continued to make dumplings in a companionable silence for a few minutes.

"Were you close to your cousin?" Orora asked, her curiosity getting the best of her as she glanced at Zuko. "Well, I was more close to him then Azula, so yeah, I guess I was." He responded after a brief moment of hesitation.

Suddenly he smiled. "He was actually the one who gave me my first set of Dao Swords. It was just before he left with Uncle to the war front. Told me he expected to train with me once he returned." Placing another dumpling on the plate, he shrugged. "That last part didn't happen, but I did get really good at it."

She nodded in agreement, smiling softly at him. "Well from what I've seen, you are good." He sounded so proud and eager about his accomplishment. "I'm sure he would be proud of the person you've become." Finishing the last of her dumpling and setting it in the steamer she waited for him to finish up before putting it on the pot of water she had bubbling away to start the steaming process.

"Why don't you go get cleaned up. Its just the dessert left so I'll finish up." Nodding, he walked off to the next room, eager to get out of his flour covered clothes. Humming to herself, Orora quickly fixed up the final touches on her dessert. A little treat with a little help from her bending when the time would come. For now though she simply prepped everything before moving to check on the rest of the dishes. It was nearing sunset now, and hopefully Iroh would be returning soon.

Zuko came out after ten minutes, looking much cleaner in his new green Earth Kingdom clothes. Iroh had insisted they buy nicer clothes for some formal engagement they might have. The two teenagers had been a little skeptical at first, and while Zuko had to be convinced to buy new clothes, he still didn't like the colors, Orora had been quick to pick out a rather pretty light green robe for herself.

"Just keep an eye on the dumplings, and set out the table." She instructed, walking past him. Zuko rolled his eyes at her slightly bossy nature, though he did move to obey her.

Once the table was set, he moved to check on the food. The small apartment smelled amazing, and he couldn't wait to actually start eating. Though when he checked on the broth for the noodles, he did decide to do a little taste test.

Picking up a spoon he scooped up some of the broth. It tasted good, just needed a little more spice.

Spotting the container that held the red flakes, he quickly unscrewed the lid and dropped in a couple spoons. Waiting a couple of minutes to allow the spices to dissolve properly, he tasted it again.

Still a little too bland for his liking. And Uncle's too, he was sure.

So he added another spoonful.

And this time, it was perfect.

Nodding in satisfaction, he allowed himself one more taste of the broth before being startled by Orora. "Zuko!" He quickly put the spoon down, pivoting on his heel, and raising his hands as if to defend himself. "I was only tasting!"

Orora frowned from where she stood. "You just had a couple of fruits, leave some room in your stomach for the actual food." She scolded, reaching up to push her blue dragon hair comb back in place behind her head to keep her hair away from her face.

It was then that Zuko noticed what she was wearing. A long light green robe, that was tied around her waist with a satin sash. The edges of the robe was a lighter green, the same shade as the sash. Her sleeves were snug along her arms. The entire dress was covered in swirling deigns in gold as well as the darkest shade of green.

As she straightened the neckline of her dress, he briefly wandered how she would look were she to wear the clothes of his nation.

He couldn't help but look at her now, he would certainly not be able to look away if she ever wore red. Shaking his head to push away the thoughts, he moved to put the finishing touches on his table set-up. And only turned around in time to see her lifting the same spoon he had been using to give the broth a taste.

His eyes widened. "No, Orora! Wait!"

                                          ————————–

Iroh had seen many strange things over the course of his life. But nothing could prepare him for the scene that greeted him when he opened to door to his home.

There was his pupil, fanning her hands with her tongue hanging out, while his nephew was laughing his head off. A strange but not at all unwelcome sight since he had not heard his nephew laugh like that in a long time.

"I wilth kilth thu Thuko!" Came Orora's voice, slightly distorted since she had her tongue hanging out. Her words only caused Zuko to laugh that much harder, clutching his stomach and nearly staggering where he stood. Still fanning her tongue, Iroh watched as his young pupil quickly picked up the entire bucket of their drinking water and empty it completely.

Granted it was not even half full, but still that was a lot of water.

Once done, Orora set the bucket aside and touched her still tingling lips. "Spirits Zuko! Why'd you go and make it so spicy?!" She demanded of his nephew who was grinning from ear to ear. "Because it's how Uncle and I like it."

The young girl only huffed. "Yeah well that spice level nearly had me breathing fire. You're gonna burn your own tongue off if you're not careful."

Picking up the now empty bucket, she chucked it in his direction, which he caught.

It was then that Zuko realized his Uncle was back. Orora, too, caught sight of him standing in the doorway just then. Despite the sadness that he had felt the entire day, coming home to this, to both of them, lightened his heart more then he had thought possible.

"Mind telling me what is going on?" He asked.

                                          ————————–

The small table was laden with all the food the two teenagers, coughOroracough, had prepared throughout the day. There were fresh dumplings, steaming roast duck, udon noodles, a fruit platter and a selection of vegetables to top the noodles with.

Iroh was frowning in amusement from his seat of honor at the head of the table, as he watched Zuko settle on his right and Orora on his left, on either sides of the table.

Clearing her throat, Orora lifted her gaze to meet her Teacher's. "Zuko, told me what today was." She finally revealed. Iroh glanced briefly in his nephew's direction. "I suppose you would've known eventually, given how close we have gotten over the past few months."

Orora smiled at his words before continuing. "And I know that its a very sad day, but I thought that perhaps we should also celebrate today together. In honor of your son's memory. I'm sure he would not want to see you sad." She couldn't help but reach out and place her hand atop Iroh's.

"I....I hope you do not find our efforts offending in anyway."

She truly looked and felt nervous as she waited for her Teacher to react. Zuko looked at his Uncle and saw the reaction before it came. Iroh gently gripped Orora's hand in both his own and, despite the tears in his eyes, he smiled.

"You have too kind and pure a heart for this world, my dear." He said, his voice laced with emotion. "You have truly been a bright light in our lives since you have come." And though he could never have voiced it like his Uncle had, Zuko did give a small nod of agreement when Orora's blue eyes flitted in his direction.

As if seeking confirmation and reassurance.

She smiled back, wiping away the tears that escaped her with the back of her hand. Reaching into the bag he had taken with him for the day, Iroh pulled out the portrait he had of his son. "Place it on the futon Zuko." He tasked his nephew, who quickly obeyed, setting the portrait so that it would take up the final place at the table.

"Before we begin, I would like to propose a toast." Iroh stated, raising his glass of tea. Orora and Zuko gripped theirs as well, after the former had poured a cup for Lu Ten's portrait.

"A toast to my beloved son, in honor of his birthday." Iroh stated, a sad yet proud smile on his lips as he gazed at his son's portrait.

"A toast to Zuko." He turned the cup to his nephew, who looked a little startled to being addressed like that. "For always remaining vigilant and keeping us all safe, for it is his nature to protect." Orora smiled brightly at the flustered Prince.

"A toast to Orora, for showing my nephew and I the compassion we sorely needed, trusting us when no one else would and making us smile again." A please blush crept across her tanned cheeks as she laughed shyly.

"And to myself." Iroh raised his free hand to press against his chest. "For being the best tea maker in all of Ba Sing Se." He stated in a jovial tone. Zuko shook his head, an affectionate look on his face as he regarded his Uncle. "And for getting us safely to Ba Sing Se." The Prince added. "And for always being ready with a word of wisdom to help the both of us out whenever we need it." Orora beamed.

Their cups held aloft, they toasted one last time before drinking the warm beverage. "Now let us eat."

It was truly a night to remember. With easy conversation and stories shared between the three of them. The highlight of the evening had to be the food, though when Orora brought out dessert it overshadowed everything else.

Using her waterbending abilities, she was able to use the cream and milk to create ice cream. Iroh decided to use jasmine tea as his flavor, while Zuko opted for cherries from the fruit platter. Orora herself added strawberries to her own. She even put on a little show by creating small ice sculptures of different animals and having them move around. Zuko added to the fun by creating small fire obstacles she had to maneuver her ice animals through without melting them.

That was a night none of them would be forgetting for a long long time.

                                          ————————–

Tag List - @wavesofchaos​ @violet-potter​ @rennysketch​ @emma-andrea1 @lovesammikinzz @fuzzyfestcat @msrawog @notsaelty @lust-for-pan @aces-tattooartist @jinxxangel13 @lotr-got @bitterspoons @realrintaro @gatorgirl151 @inutheangel @heartfully10 @lucaaahhh @juniper-july19 @anuttellaa @gfksz

[therentyoupay]

Hi Kris! I just wanted to say that after reading chapter 7 you and Callie have left me in utter SHAMBLES and AWE with how devastatingly gorgeous the pictures you can paint with literature are. I’m desperately excited to see how you two will be continuing the story although I do have a question that I’m unsure if you’ve answered before. After this broadway oscar winning fanfic has been completed are you and Callie thinking of possibly doing more collaborations or simply just yourself doing more collaborations with other artists and bringing more delicious stories to life?👀👀💞💞

thank you so much for taking the time to leave such a lovely message in my askbox, for saying SUCH NICE AND LOVELY THINGS, and for sharing with us the impact this story has had on you!! 🥹🥹🥹🥹🥹 calli and i have been working so hard on this project for two months, and it really means a lot to hear how much you're enjoying it. 💕💕💕

future kriscallicollabs??? we haven't answered this question before, and it's a lovely question!! currently, calli and i are 1000% focused on finishing more than you know and getting part ii of the jelsa video ready to post (SO MANY GIFS), so we haven't actively started planning any other collabs! however, when this idea was first planted back in the summer of 2023 or whatever, we braindumped SEVERAL ideas into the original majestic KrisCalliCollab google doc... (more than you know was actually only one of several ideas! 🤣)

there's a jelsa!wildward collab that we really wanted to do but didn't have time to do fully, so we made a bunch of LORE, and i made a baby fic, and some edits: one of our other ideas that we really wanted to do was a jelsa!prequel to her wildward series and establish some lore for the first aegis users! we definitely did not have time to create a full-fledged fic, but LORE WAS HAD (pages and pages on the google doc), and in the end, i made two edits and wrote a little micro-fic for it! in the time of the first keeper... maybe one day we'll expand? 🤣

when?? oof, not anytime soon, because life is upon us 🤣🤣🤣 BUT, calli and i are creative counterparts for life (TWIN FLAMES), so who's to say??? maybe sometime within the next five years?? FIFTY YEARS?? to be determined, but i do not doubt that it shall happen eventually! calli has also been pushing for a zelda/link!jelsa AU for ages and i have not forgotten 🤣🤣 in the meantime, we'll just keep supporting and devouring each other's other projects!!

(also, not sure how many people know this, but i beta-read for wildward! i have been beta-ing the series since its early chapters!!)

other collabs? i've been super lucky to be able to collab with @knightsquall (my name twin) for our kris/xris edit+fic soulmate!AU creation, not in so many words! we made it for the prompt: “the first words your soulmate will say to you will appear as a tattoo on your body at a certain age.” that two-shot is still one of my favorites. 🥹🥹🥹🥹

i haven't done any other collabs, though!! i feel like both collabs just happened organically because i was already friends with both xris and calli before we actually started working on our projects! collabs definitely require a lot of trust, for me, and so while it's possible that other future collabs might happen, i'm not actively seeking any out. 💕💕💕 there are SO MANY TALENTED fanartists out here!! so it's definitely not for lack of good company, haha, but rather just that i'd already gotten to know both people really well, so doing a collab was just, like, the natural thing to do, once we had time for it. 🤣 fic fanart? i am, however, so so so fortunate that so many fanartists have been inspired by my stories 🥰🥰🥰🥰🥰 i am really lucky and grateful to have been gifted so many gorgeous fanarts, fanvideos/AMVs, gifs, and doujinshi comics across multiple fics and fandoms.🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏 😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭💕💕💕 you can find (most of) them here, or on my tumblr tag (therentyoupay fic fanart) but BE WARNED, there are massive spoilers. 🙏🙏🙏🙏 proceed with caution, haha! i also desperately need to update the fic fanart page with all the new mtyk art, too!

🥰🥰🥰🥰🥰🙏🙏🙏🙏 thank you so much for this ask!!! we hope you enjoy the final installments of more than you know and part ii of the jelsa video!! 🥹🥹🥹 thank you!!! 😭💕💕

[nickfowlerrr]

keeping secrets - chapter four

series masterlist / chapter five

pairing: bucky barnes x curvy!reader (dark!soulmate au)

warnings: super short chapter. i don’t think there’s any warnings necessary.

words: 2.6k

notes: ten thousand years later - here’s less than half a chapter. but buckle up because the next update is going to be intense. and i can promise it won’t take me two months to post lol. but thank you to the majority of you who have been really patient with me. and sorry to the one anon who told me not to split this chapter up hope you don’t hate me 🫣 i just feel like if i don’t post this now - i’m never gonna finish it. anyway! thank you for reading. comments are always welcome and reblogs are always appreciated. hope you enjoy.

The flight was grueling. The tension between you and Bucky was so palpable it was nearly suffocating. You refused to break the silence, and he had no plans to initiate a conversation either so you stayed in your seats and the only thing exchanged between the two of you were the sneaking glances you both took every so often, hoping the other wouldn’t notice. As if a super soldier and a highly trained spy wouldn’t notice when someone was looking at them. It was juvenile and ridiculous. You knew that, but it didn’t stop you.

Five hours into the flight, you were fighting to keep your eyes open and slouching forward in the seat you had forgone buckling into. You hadn’t even realized you’d closed your eyes again until your body jerked awake, saving you from completely falling forward onto your face. The jolting wasn’t missed by Bucky who turned to look at you, eyes narrowed and annoyance clear on his face.

“Can you just go lay down already? I don’t need you fucking up this mission because you’re sleep deprived,” he groused.

You didn’t respond, simply rolled your eyes and got up. You were too tired to argue and honestly couldn’t think of anything clever to say back. He was right. You walked to one of the bunk beds in the back and crawled on it. As you let your eyes fall shut once more, you heard him talk again.

“Was that so damn hard?” he grumbled.

“Oh, fuck off,” you mumbled, annoyed but too tired to use your full voice.

“I can hear you even when you’re talking under your breath,”

“Good, now shut up,” you muttered, turning over on the bunk to bury your face in the pillow.

You fell asleep relatively quickly and didn’t wake up until you heard thrashing coming from the front of the jet. You bolted up and climbed off the bunk as you heard Bucky cursing under his breath. You went toward where he was still sitting and watched him drag his flesh hand down his face, breathing heavily.

You wanted to ask him if he was okay, but something told you doing so’d be less than helpful.

It seemed like he’d just woken up when you had. You thought maybe he had a nightmare, but you knew it was none of your business. You saw he was fine, at least physically, so figured you’d keep your distance.

“Two hours til we land,” he said quietly, stopping you in your tracks as you were walking away.

“Already?”

“Well you just slept a whole eight hours,”

“Oh…” you weren’t sure you should ask but you wanted to know, “and you? How long did you sleep?”

“Long enough,” he answered shortly.

“Did you read the mission files?”

“I looked 'em over, got the picture.”

You scoffed at his dismissal as you turned back away, but you weren’t sure what else you should have expected from him. As long as he watched your back while you were inside, you supposed it didn’t matter much he knew the details. Maybe it was better, even. Can’t be judged by someone who doesn’t know what went down and despite yourself, you hated the thought of him judging you, thinking any less of you than he clearly already did. Knowing he already thought badly of you had a pit in your stomach. It made you feel terrible, but you didn’t want to acknowledge it. So you pushed it down. You had a mission you needed to be focused on, you didn’t need to be worrying about Bucky.

Two hours later and the jet was landing. It was dark out, a little past 8 o'clock. You were slightly annoyed that Bucky hadn’t bothered to wake you up earlier knowing the drastic time difference, but that wasn’t his problem. You should’ve set an alarm. You huffed as you grabbed your bags and got out your flashlight. Bucky landed the jet a few miles away from the safehouse, the nearest you guys could get, so you’d have to walk the rest of the way. You got off the jet and started walking without waiting for him. He was taking so long and was obviously avoiding you once again, so you figured he was trying to get you to go ahead without him. Though about twenty seconds later, you were proven wrong.

“What the hell are you doing?” he yelled to you from the door of the jet, causing you to turn around, your brows furrowed.

“Walking,” you called back as if it was obvious.

You watched as he closed up the jet and grabbed his bags off the ground before he started walking down the path toward you.

“You think walking alone in a forested area at night in a place you’ve never been is a good idea?” he called out as he walked.

“Please,” you scoffed. “I’ve been in worse situations alone,” you said as you continued walking, not waiting for him to catch up.

“You say that now,” he spoke. You hadn’t heard him get closer so when his voice came from right next to you, you jumped slightly and dropped the flashlight.

He stifled a chuckle and you shot him a glare as you bent down to retrieve your light.

“Sorry, didn’t know you scared easy,”

“You didn’t scare me,” you denied. “I just wasn’t expecting you to catch up so fast.” you tried to play off. It was a little unnerving that he’d gotten up behind you without you noticing. You thought you were on top of your game, but it was apparent you were letting your guard down with Bucky around and you didn’t know why. Well, you guessed you did. You’d unconsciously relaxed when you realized he wasn’t trying to separate and the zing of protectiveness you felt from him warmed you despite the biting cold of the wind.

You readjusted the straps of your bags you had on your shoulder and kept walking further into the dark.

“I’m not scared walking alone,” you assured him.

“Sure,” he said, “until you cross paths with a wolf.” You looked to him with furrowed brows.

“There’s no wolves out here,” you say as you stop walking. Briefly taking a look around you, shining your light through the trees. As you turn to look at Bucky, expecting him to have stopped when you did, you instead found him still walking.

“Are there wolves out here?” you asked incredulously as you hurried to catch up to him.

“You’re in a forest, Bambi, what do you think,” he said sarcastically.

“Well, I don’t often find myself in forests,” you defended. “It didn’t cross my mind,”

“Scared of wolves?” He glanced over at you. You took a breath and kept your eyes ahead of you, set on your path. You didn’t want to admit you were a bit nervous now, but the thought of a wolf appearing from out of the trees had you bristling. There was something so intimidating about them. Not that you’d ever seen one in person, but even just from pictures and videos, their eyes were so intense, knowing. They’re beautiful creatures and you admired them, but you couldn’t imagine coming face to face with one in the middle of a dark forest.

It was quiet for a bit as you walked in silence. Bucky’s presence was comforting you without you really realizing it as you continued on.

“I wouldn’t worry too much about the wolves, anyway,” he said, breaking the silence. You looked over to him, raising a brow.

“The lynxes are the ones you need to keep an eye out for.”

You stared at him for a moment before you let out a breathy laugh, shaking your head fighting your smile. He tried to fight his own, but couldn’t help his grin in return as you continued down the path side by side.

“Alright, good to know,” you nodded.

“I’m serious,” he said. “The Eurasian Lynx, they’re nocturnal, too. And they’re quiet, you’d never hear ‘em coming.”

“Well you have like, super hearing, don’t you?”

“Yeah, I’d hear it, but I’m saying if you were walking alone,-”

“I’d be bested by a wild animal?” you finished for him.

“You’re scared of wolves but you think you could take a lynx?” he laughed.

“First off, I’m not scared of wolves, okay. And secondly, I know I could,” you said confidently. “I’m not saying I’d come out completely unscathed, but I could absolutely hold my own. It’s just a big cat,”

“Never underestimate your opponent,”

“Don’t underestimate me,” you said. “If I can handle my own hand to hand against the main players of the avengers, I don’t think a lynx would be much of a problem.”

He sized you up for a moment as if he was assessing you, it wasn’t for a second or two but still you felt your skin heat up under his gaze.

“You’ve never taken on me,” he countered.

“Never had the opportunity,” you contested swiftly.

“Don't ask for opportunities, just take ‘em when you see ‘em.”

You thought you heard a twig snap off to the side of the path and your head shot in that direction. In a second you found your flashlight being taken from you as Bucky disarmed you from behind, his right arm winding under yours as he pulled it behind you, forcing your body to turn with the motion. Your bags fell from your left shoulder as you were shoved up against the tall trunk of a giant oak tree. Your flashlight was still on but rolled away from you when he dropped it, lighting up the left side of the path you’d just walked up and shining into the forest across you. Your breathing was labored as your eyes shot from the light to find Bucky’s. The moon was the only thing helping you see his face, it was little illumination but it was enough. You had no words as you stared at him in surprise, his arms pinning you to the trunk while he held your gaze. Nothing but breathing could be heard from either of you, the ambient noise of the critters and creatures alive around you but hidden by the night filled the silence.

Everything in you told you to break his hold and strike out where he was vulnerable, play the offensive and -

“Fight back,” he breathed heavily as he kept you pressed firmly against the tree. You could imagine it. You wanted to show him you were more than capable of holding your own, even against him.. But you quickly realized that wasn’t going to be possible.

Your breathing was verging on shaky and you had to force yourself to keep his stare. Scared what you’d see when he realized what you did. Or more aptly, remembered what seemed to have been so easily forgotten by the two of you so quickly.

“I don’t think I can,” you whispered.

Silence returned as you felt his gaze piercing through you, no further words exchanged aloud, but so much was being told as you looked into his eyes. Intense. Pained. Sorry?

What was happening? How the hell did you get here? It was like the last few weeks never happened. And yet it felt like you’d known each other forever. You were just so uninhibited moments ago. Sharing playful banter and comfortable silences, walking side by side. The harsh glares, attempts at distance and complete avoidance of each other were forgotten in no time at all. Like it never happened. But now as you stood face to face with the truth, you were forced to remember. Not only what had happened, but why. And that “why” was the same reason you'd forgotten so easily. Bucky Barnes was your soulmate. And it was so easy to be around him when he wasn’t trying to refuse that. The insecurity telling you that you were better off alone and the worry that you weren't wanted just dissipated. And things were light. And you didn’t have to think or worry about anything, not even the connection itself. But when you were reminded of it, reminded that neither of you had a choice in the matter, that dark cloud came right back around. Because he didn’t have a choice. And he didn’t want to want you.

He didn’t want you.

Breaking your stare, your eyes shot to the left of you, just past the trail to where your flashlight was shining as you could have sworn you heard movement. Your breath caught in your throat at the sight you were met with, your eyes growing wide as you stared. Frozen as you looked into the yellow eyes of the wolf just across the trail from you.

Your hand came up to Bucky’s arm still across your chest, holding you against the tree.

“Bucky,” you breathed, trying to stay as still as possible, “Wolf.”

His brows furrowed before he slowly looked away from you, turning his head in the direction you were still staring. He made to turn around completely but you stopped him by quickly grabbing his arm, possibly holding onto him a little too tightly.

“Don’t freak out,” he said quietly, taking your hand off his arm gently before he turned to face the trail. “I thought you weren’t worried about being ‘bested by a wild animal’,” he tried to joke.

“I said I could take a lynx, I never said I could take a wolf,” you responded, trying to keep your composure, though it was slowly slipping as the wolf continued staring down the two of you. On the outside you were still but on the inside you were freaking out.

“Calm down, it's alright,” Bucky assured you, feeling your fear.

“You say that, but we’re literally being stared down by a fucking wolf. And they’re a hell of a lot bigger in person,” you stressed quietly.

“It’s not gonna do anything, just… don't break eye contact..and we’re gonna slowly walk back on the path. It's more scared of you than you are of it,”

“Beg to fucking differ,” you muttered.

Bucky was standing tall as he stood in front of you, both of you slowly stepping away from the tree and back onto the path with the wolf watching your every move.

As you were retreating, a slightly smaller wolf emerged from behind the first.

“You’ve gotta be fuckin’ joking,” you quipped.

The first wolf seemed to stand more defensively…protectively when the second one made its presence known, both of them watching the both of you as you continued walking backwards. After a moment, when you were far enough away, the pair continued across the path into the trees once again. You let out a shaky sigh of relief, Bucky turning around to face you again.

“See,” he said. “We’re fine.”

You didn't return his gaze, instead staring past him to where your bags laid on the ground, walking to go back and grab them. He followed suit and ended up grabbing them all before you could pick yours up, only handing you one of your two bags before he started walking again. You adjusted the strap on your shoulder as you slung it on and followed, not questioning it. Still not entirely sure what, if anything, to say now.

You looked back into the trees surrounding you, taking a breath. With that you continued on. Silence returned. But not as comfortable as it was before. This was charged and the energy between you was building with each minute that passed. Like you were waiting for a kettle to boil. Knowing it’d bubble up and whistle out any moment.

Neither of you seemed to want to address what had just happened.. what had been confirmed, no room for any lingering doubts. But you had to know it wouldn’t just go away. No matter how you might wish it would.

You could try to avoid it, though. Until you couldn’t any longer.

[onemeangreenbean]

Anything Ch 2

SUMMARY: On the precipice of death Wynter does the only thing she can think to do to save herself. Something that is forbidden in her practice….to summon a demon and make a deal. The demon that answers her call ask what Wynter is offering  and in her delirious state she answers with the only thing she can think of  “Anything”.

PAIRING: Demon!Yoongi x BlackWitch OC 

GENRE: Demon AU, Mystery, Strangers to Lovers, Soulmates, Smut, Fluff, Angst, slowburn

WARNINGS: violence, gore, murder (maybe), eventual smut, panic attacks, honestly my brain has stopped but promise each chapter with have individual warnings!

WORDCOUNT: 6,717

Previous | Next

Anything Masterlist | Masterlist

Yoongi kept Wynter cornered against the counter, not because he was still interested in intimidating her, but because he was finding it difficult to remove himself from her aura. “Um, if you don’t mind, Yoongi,” she spoke his name carefully, unsure if she was pronouncing it correctly. “ Can you please move? I need to get ready for work.”

He just hummed and reluctantly moved back. Wynter took the opportunity to move around him and into the small bathroom on the other side of the apartment. She took off her pajamas and put her big shower cap on, if she was being honest she had achieved the perfect messy bun, and for a Black girl that was a miracle that must be protected at all cost. It wasn’t a long shower just enough to wash the ache from almost dying from her bones and at least figure out what her next step was going to be. 

Wynter would obviously need to redo her protection wards, though with a demon living with her now she wondered if she would need to come up with new ones that allowed him to come and go as he pleased without having to bother her. Fuck! A demon was going to be living with her. In her small ass studio apartment. No more privacy. While she loved her small place, from the front door you could see the whole thing! 

Choosing to save that problem for future Wynter to solve, she quickly finished getting done in the bathroom only to realize halfway through her skincare routine she didn’t bring in any clothes. Used to just walking around her apartment naked she didn’t think to grab anything. God, this is embarrassing. Making sure her towel was around her extra tight she opened up the bathroom door letting out a puff of steam. Poking her head out took in her small space noting that Yoongi was nowhere to be found. 

Maybe he was just joking when he said he was staying with her? Maybe his version of staying was being some specter that only came when Wynter needed him? Either way she was free to get dressed in peace. She stood in front of her clothing rack after putting on her bra and panties debating if she should wear more layers than normal due to how heavy it was raining. 

“Do you always walk around without clothes on with strange men in your home” Yoongi’s voice resounded in the quiet apartment causing Wynter to jump. 

She tried to cover up as much of herself as possible by hiding behind the side of her bed. “I thought you were gone!” She hissed. 

“I was,” Yoongi suppressed the smirk that was playing on his lips. When he had left to canvas the neighborhood he didn’t expect to come back to Wynter’s nearly naked form, while he wasn’t complaining at all it was just surprising. He enjoyed the way her rich sepia skin looked soft to the touch. Her chest full and the way her hips flared out to her even fuller ass, the lilac lace stretched across it. . He adjusted himself as he sat on a small sofa. “I went to make sure the area was safe and to mark it as taken.” 

Wynter yanked open her chest of drawers that she used as a makeshift nightstand and pulled out the first t-shirt and jeans her hands found. “What are you a dog who needs to mark his territory?” She decided that in order to preserve her modesty she would just get dressed on the floor since there was no way she was giving Yoongi a free show. 

“It’s not as crude as you’re making it sound,” Yoongi scoffed, “It’s just a way for me to make sure there aren’t any threats and that anyone who comes within a one mile radius of this apartment better have a death wish.” Yoongi had found some low level demons hanging around but they weren’t even worth his energy to try and kill. He should probably set an example out of one just to be on the safe side but from what he could see Wynter’s wards had done a good job of keeping things out. 

Popping up fully dressed Wynter went and got her lunch together for work. “Seems like overkill to be frank. I’ve never had a problem before.” She had decided on something light since the June humidity was bound to drain her. A simple salad and some of her homemade sweet tea would have to do. 

“You’ve never had a demon at my level before in this area. I’m bound to attract attention. That's why I don’t come up in the first place.” Yoongi mumbled the last part. As good as he was at fighting – and in turn winning – he didn’t like to expend the energy if he could help it. Plus he was now in hiding and he needed to stay that way. 

While Wynter wanted to say something smart back she just quirked a brow. Yoongi seemed so full of himself but she did owe him her life – both literally and figuratively – either way she was now running behind. “Besides, someone went through a lot of trouble to try and kill you and it’s worth taking the extra precautions–” Yoongi noticed that Wynter was putting on her orange raincoat and her matching rainboots about to leave. “Where are you going? I wasn’t done speaking.”

“To work.” Grabbing her umbrella Wynter got the door slightly opened before it slammed shut. Trying again this time it only opened a crack before slamming shut. “Is there a reason you’re not letting me leave?” Wynter peered over her shoulder at Yoongi who was still sitting on the couch looking smug that his little containment spell around the apartment was working as planned. 

“I wasn’t done speaking.”

“Well, that sucks for you but I need to get to work.” Focusing her energy she found a slight opening in Yoongi’s spell and created a hole big enough for her to open the door and slip out of the apartment. Something that Wynter found surprising considering the “level” that Yoongi claimed he was at, either he must be out of practice or she was just better than he thought. Wynter felt a small sense of pride as she watched the condescending smirk drop from his face as she waved goodbye and started off down the hall. 

The small bookshop she worked at was only a 15 minute walk from her apartment, something she usually enjoyed but didn’t realize that monsoon season was going to make a nightmare. While her bubble umbrella protected her for the most part she knew that by the time she made it to the storefront that her pants were going to be absolutely soaked. “What part of I was still speaking to you did you not understand?” Wynter plowed right into Yoongi’s chest as he appeared in front of her. 

He reached out to steady her, sparing a fleeting touch on her arms, taking his hands back as quickly as possible. Yoongi wasn’t used to people just walking away from him – ever. The rain seemed to be getting heavier and Wynter seemed to be getting more irritated that he was in her path. “What part of I’m late to work did you not understand?” Moving around him gracefully, Wynter continued on her way, forcing Yoongi to follow her. 

“I’ll come with then.”

“Don’t you have better things to do like marking more of your territory?” Wynter couldn’t even bother to hide her eyeroll. “Besides you really shouldn’t come to work with me.” While the bookshop she worked at was pretty normal selling the usual suspects, they also specialized in rare occult writings. She had gotten lucky when she found out that they were hiring, well less hiring more so that she frequented the store so often in search of information that the owner offered her a job. 

Yoongi kept up with Wynter’s pace easily, she was considerably shorter than him – two of her strides equated to one of his. They weaved in and out of the other early morning commuters as they continued their conversation. “And why is that?” 

“Mostly cause I’m sure my boss won’t appreciate a demon in his store. It would be bad for business,” Wynter hummed. Knowing her boss, he already knew that Yoongi was nearby. “Besides I don’t need an escort to live my damn life.” Stopping to turn and look at Yoongi, Wynter stopped short at the fact that he was completely bone dry. “Why aren’t you wet?”

“What?” Furrowing his brows Yoongi tried to keep up with the abrupt change in topics. “A personal ward. What do you mean your boss wouldn’t want a demon at his shop?”

Wynter hummed in appreciation, she had never thought to use wards on her person. “I mean just that! What warlock do you know wants demons around their business? Also, will you teach me how to do that?”

“ No. You work for a warlock? Are you sure he isn’t the one that tried to kill you? Also if he isn’t wouldn’t he understand you taking some time off?”

Scoffing Wynter turned around, “For your information, he wouldn’t pull anything like that death curse. Also yes, I work for a warlock, a shaman to be more exact. And I only get paid if I actually show up and it’s just the two of us and I won’t leave him without his only employee because I almost died.”

Grabbing Wynter’s arm and yanking her around to face him, Yoongi's eyes darkened. “That’s the point you almost died. You should be dead. While I appreciate your loyalty, the only person you can trust right now is me, no matter how much you don’t seem to like that fact. You summoned me to save you and that’s what I’m doing.” 

“No. What you’re doing is protecting your investment.” Wynter matched his piercing gaze. The sound of the rain hitting her umbrella was the only noise between them. His silence response enough. “That’s what I thought. If you’re so worried about it then canvas the fucking area.” Ripping her arm out of his grasp, she stomped off. Who in the hell did he think he was to dictate if she went to work or not? To manhandle her in public? He must have lost his damn mind! Wynter wasn’t stupid, she understood the gravity of the situation and was determined to correct the situation. She fully expected Yoongi to yell after her again, but when he didn’t she figured he got the hint a left. 

Mikrokosmos was still dark when Wynter walked up to the front door. Taking out her shop key she tried to push open the door but stopped short. Sighing deeply she braced herself before she rammed into the door with all her weight. Tripping over her own feet as she stumbled into the store. “Fuck!” Wynter rubbed her shoulder as she kicked the door back shut, locking it. 

Placing her umbrella in the corner and turning on the lights, Wynter went through with getting the store ready for opening. She counted the drawer, made sure everything was where it was supposed to be, and beefed up the wards protecting the shop. While she had told Yoongi to stay away she wasn’t all that sure he would, which if she was being honest with herself made her feel conflicted. On one hand she was still reeling and coming to terms that she was basically owned by this demon; and on the other she thought it was kind of cute that he seemed so worried. 

A loud smack filled the small space as Wynter tried to slap that stupid ass thought from her clearly lonely brain. “Is there a reason you’re slapping yourself this early in the morning?” Wynter turned quickly, knocking a book off the counter. 

“Namjoon!” Her boss peeked his head out of his back work room, the soft glow of his lamp making his silver hair look like a small cloud. He adjusted his horn-rimmed glasses as he stood waiting for her answer. “Just trying to wake up. Had a really rough night,” Wynter tried to keep her voice as even as possible. While she was fully intent on asking Namjoon to help her with the whole death curse, demon deal situation she wanted to have a few hours where her life felt semi-together. Plus she knew that if she told Namjoon now that he would shut the store down until he could fix it. 

“Is everything okay?” Namjoon brows furrowed in concern as he rounded the counter to come closer to Wynter. “You know you can tell me anything and I’ll do anything in my power to help.” 

“I know, Joonie.” She could see the sincerity in his eyes and she could also sense something a little deeper, though she couldn’t put her finger on it. “I promise that if it gets out of my control I will come to you for help.” Wynter put on a fake smile hoping Namjoon was buying the shit she was spewing. She was totally and completely out of her depth and in need of help, but telling him about Yoongi seemed like a bad idea. “Though I will say that we should keep an eye on Jiyeon.”

Wynter watched several emotions flit through Namjoons expression from confusion to worry to curiosity before it settled on a neutral expression. “Why? She’s one of our best customers, besides I thought you two were becoming friends.” Checking his watch he began to turn on the lights in the shop. Following his lead Wynter walked over to the other side and began opening the blinds.

“We were,” she hesitated as she tried to find the right wording. “But she seemed to have other ideas. Either way I am asking you as your friend and your only employee and helper that we just watch her. I have a feeling.” Clasping her hands together she gave him her best puppy dog eyes. 

“Okay?” He drew out the syllables slightly confused. “Though I have to ask does whatever happened between you two have to do with you making all these wards extra strong?” Wynter watched him tap the glass and pull his hand back with a small “ow” when he got shocked. “I don’t even think I could get through them and I own the shop.” Namjoon let out a nervous chuckle. 

“Um, I just had a weird dream and just wanted to be safe.” Wynter stated as innocently as possible and slid her work apron over her head, making sure to avoid her puff. 

Her mentioning a dream seemed to grab Namjoon’s full attention as he turned towards her, “What was your dre–” 

“Oh, would you look at that our first patron of the day!” She had never been more excited to hear that damn bell above the door ring. 

The day had seemed to move by at a steady pace. Even though it was a rainy and gloomy day the bookshop stayed consistent for the most part; with customers either coming in to look at books or seeking Namjoon for this or that. Wynter was actually surprised they were so busy, and that Namjoon in particular was busy cause it meant she could do some research without his questions. 

    She scoured the books about death curses and ones that matched her symptoms in between customers but couldn’t find anything. All the passages Wynter read about death curses were surface level and would barely kill a fly if done correctly. Magic for dummies as she liked to call it; a little something to make non witches feel like they’re powerful. Wynter knew what she needed; the books in the back but in order to get to those she needed to get through Namjoon. 

While Wynter was great and avoiding topics of conversation she didn’t think she’d get very far before Namjoon figured out what was wrong. She knew he would help her without question, but she just felt that she really needed to at least figure out the first part herself. Which was what type of death curse and who placed it. One lead to the other and she was here in Seoul to become a better, a stronger witch. She could at least do this one fucking thing. Wynter decided that she was gonna give it a few days and if she made no headway then she would ask Namjoon, 

Yoongi had been watching Wynter from a cafe across the street from the bookshop. Through the large windows he could see her as she maneuvered through the shop with practiced ease, helping costumers, rearranging books, cleaning. Couldn’t help but notice her bright smile that graced her face when she was helping someone. Yoongi watched as she climbed one of the many bookshelf ladders to clean and rearrange the very top shelf, still out of reach from her petite stature. He watched the way she tried to extend her reach standing on her toes, the way her jeans stretched out over the curves of her ass, and how her shirt rode up a bit showing the slightest sliver of brown skin at her waist. 

 The sound of steam being let out in the cafe was jarring enough to break Yoongi of his gawking. Clearing his throat he scanned the street to make sure everything was still going okay. There wasn’t really anything for him to check if he was being honest, between Wynter’s protection wards, which made it damn near impossible for him to even get within a five mile radius of the shop, and his own boundary wards nothing was getting in or out. 

Yoongi would say that he was bored but watching Wynter wasn’t boring, and this fact irked him. Here he was a powerful upper demon, known for his ruthless lack of mercy on anyone who dare summon him, playing bodyguard to an unknown foreigner, no matter how pretty she happens to be. Though playing bodyguard to a pretty woman was much better than trying to sort out whatever mess he had gotten himself, and in turn Hoseok, into. 

He did feel bad for just up and disappearing but he knew the Hoseok would find him eventually. When Yoongi had left him he had been trying to convince Yoongi that he should take up the mantel of leader of the unintentional rebellion he had started. Though how him just ignoring Jungsoo’s orders and abandoning his post lead to hundreds of other demons doing the same still baffled him; but Hobi was convinced that it was the beginning of the end of Jungsoo reign.

            Running his hand over his face, Yoongi took a sip of his iced americano and turned his attention back to his pretty charge. He hadn’t seen the shaman that owned the bookstore, but Wynter’s unwavering defense of the man set Yoongi on edge. He was unsure if he could trust the shaman with Wynter’s care until he could get a read on him, himself.  Yoongi sat there ready to escort Wynter home after her shift. Watching her close the shop down and wave towards the back curtain to who he assumes is the shaman.

            Yoongi locked eyes with Wynter when she walked out of the door. She wanted to ignore him and walked pass like he didn’t exist, but he caught up to her pretty quickly. “Have you been staring at me all day?” The thought of him just creepily staring at her through the shop sent a shiver up her spine. Was this what her life was going to be like until he inevitably whisked her away into some unknown plane of existence. He simply grunted in the affirmative and continued to walk with her silently.

            Wynter was happy it stopped raining, opting to walk to the small hole in the wall restaurant that was next to her apartment. She was slightly surprised by how hungry she was, but almost dying may do that to a person. All she knew was that there was a bowl of ramen waiting for her, maybe even two. “Where are we going?” Yoongi’s deep voice pulled Wynter from her thoughts of food and back to the fact that she had this pale ass demon following her around.

            “To get dinner,” Wynter said playfully. She snuck a glance at him, “Don’t you eat?”   

            “Only the souls of unsuspecting innocents,” he deadpanned. Wynter stopped walking and stared at him. Yoongi stared back, face unwavering before he lips pulled up into a smirk and he continued walking.

            “Was that sarcasm?” Wynter jogged slightly to catch up to him.

Kwon’s was a small and cozy ramen shop that reminded Wynter of the one she used to go to back home that was owned by the only Korean folks in her small town. The tiny bell dinged as Wynter and Yoongi entered. “Hello- oh hello Wynter!” Mrs. Kwon greeted as she continued to roll gimbap. Taking her normal seat in the booth in the corner, Wynter dropped her raincoat and bag next to her. Yoongi set across from her and grabbed a menu.

 “Did you want your normal, dear?” Mrs. Kwon walked over patting her pocket looking for her notepad. “Oh, also my son is in town and as I was saying the other day I think you two would-“  Mrs. Kwon stopped short as she took in the fact that Wynter wasn’t sitting alone like normal, but that a handsome young man was across from her. She stared owlishly at Yoongi. “I’m sorry young man I didn’t even notice you, what can I get for you?”

Wynter glanced at Yoongi over the top of her menu to see him staring over at her like a little lost demon puppy. His tongue darted out to lick his lips nervously as he tried to construct a sentence in his head. He wasn’t one to be left speechless often but between the old lady who was obviously staring holes into the side of his head and Wynter who looked like she was taking great pleasure in watching him suffer, his mind blanked. 

“He’ll take my usual. Mrs. Kwon this is my new roommate, Yoongi.” Wynter decided to be nice and save him. “I’m just showing him the best places to eat.” She could see Yoongi visible relax after her brief introduction. 

“You flatter me too much Wynter,” Mrs. Kwon waved her hand in the air and ran off to the kitchen to prepare the food. They sat in silence for a bit. It wasn’t awkward or unpleasant, just silent. Yoongi seemed to be looking at anything but her and Wynter seemed to be more interested in the chopsticks in front of her. Neither really knowing what to say to the other. 

“So,” Wynter started, figuring that Yoongi wasn’t. “ How long have you’ve been a demon for?” The look that Yoongi gave her was a cross between incredulous and amused. 

“That’s your first question?” When Wynter just kept staring at him expectantly he rolled his eyes and answered, “I don’t know I guess it’s been almost 300 years.”

“Damn!” Wynter cringed at her initial response. If Yoongi was offended his face gave nothing away. “My bad.” Mrs. Kwon came back with their food giving Wynter a moment to figure out how she was gonna revive the conversation. She had questions and if Yoongi was gonna be with her for the foreseeable future it would probably be best to have a little information on him. “Um, you don’t look a day over 30 so that good.” Trailing off she stuffed her mouth with ramen before she could say anything further to embarrass herself. 

“Hmm. Dying does that I guess.” Wynter didn’t really know how to respond to his answer so she didn’t figuring he didn’t want to talk about it. She guessed if she died and became a demon she wouldn’t want to talk about it either. But really how does one even become a demon. Like do you  just die or do you like make a deal. Yoongi watched Wynter as she ate. Her thoughts going a mile a minute in the foreign language. He knew that it was gonna irk him that he couldn’t understand her thoughts. Guess he was just gonna have to learn a new language. 

“Why are you here in Korea?” His baritone voice jolted Wynter out of her thought spiral. “Not to be rude or anything but clearly you don’t belong in this country.”

What the actual fuck? Who just says that to people? Wynter’s face pulled itself into a deep scowl cause how dare he says she doesn’t belong. “Well excuse me for wanting to see the world. I know you’re ancient and all but this country is slightly more diverse this millennium.” Yoongi scoffed as he continued to eat. “If you must know I’m here as part of my final test.”

Wynter watched Yoongi quirk an eyebrow waiting for her to elaborate. Heaving a sigh Wynter elaborated, “So I don’t know how they do stuff here, but where I’m from when a rootworker starts coming into themselves they have to leave home to establish themself in a community. It’s essentially kicking them out the proverbial nest and forcing them to learn how to fly on their own.” She slurped the rest of her ramen up as she thought about home and how much she missed it. 

“Do most rootworkers choose to go this far? Also what is a rootworker even?” Yoongi had been around for longer than he cared to admit and he had never heard that word before. He was used to dealing with your run of the mill witches, warlocks, shamans, which is the category most magic users fell into in Korea, with some outliers.

Wynter laughed softly as she tried to think of the most comparable thing. “It’s kind of like,” she placed her chopsticks against her lips as she thought. Yoongi tried, and failed not to stare at them. “It’s kind of like a shaman here I guess. We mostly work with herbs and different types of plant roots. Thus the term rootworker, but we also work in the spirit realm to dig up the root of different problems or ailments. My family specializes in exorcisms and cleansings.”

Interesting enough that made perfect sense to Yoongi. Her protection wards were some of the strongest he had seen in a while. Anyone can make ward to stop demons or ghost from getting in, you only get as good as Wynter was if you’re trying to keep something from getting out. “As far as how far we venture out, most folks just go to the next town over, sometimes the next state, but I’m ambitious.” Wynter leaned back as she drunk some of the soju. The sweet tasting alcohol making her feel a bit more at ease in Yoongi’s intimidating presence. “I understand that there is more magical knowledge in the world than I can even begin to fathom and I want to learn as much of it as I can.”

Wynter smiled to herself, remembering how both her mom and nana tried to talk her out of leaving. They both thought that it was too far away after what had happened. That she needed to be close to home, to family, to the ancestors. Clearly she didn’t agree since she was halfway around the world. 

“What happens if you fail?” Yoongi ventured to ask. Wynter tensed up a bit at his question. Her mind going suspiciously quiet at the inquiry. It only ever happened when someone was actively trying not to think of something. Yoongi filed away asking what she was hiding for later. He was going to be spending a lot of time with her for the foreseeable future. He didn’t need to know all of her secrets yet. 

“Um, you go back home until you’re ready to try again. Home is always welcoming. Always there. It’s not meant to punish failure. It’s meant to help the practitioner grow.” Wynter paused trying to not remember her failure. “This is my second attempt.” She downed another shot of her soju before changing the subject. “I feel like I’ve just been talking about myself. What about you?”

“What about me?” Yoongi gave her the out. He would have plenty of time to pry whatever secrets she was hiding out of her. 

“You know? Any cool powers or like background? I didn’t really get to research you, for obvious reasons.” She laughed out. Yoongi hated how nice her laugh sounded. It was deep and rich and it made you want to keep hearing it. 

“Pyromancy and telekinesis, plus some other ones I’ve collected over the years,” he shrugged as he finished eating his food. 

“I’m sorry you can read minds,” Yoongi looked up to see Wynter staring at him in awe. Her brown eyes big and wide with interest. “Ooo! What am I thinking about?” All Yoongi heard was a bunch of gibberish and saw some random scenes. 

“I don’t know? I don’t speak your language.” 

“Well that makes sense.” Wynter mumbled. “Oh! What about this?” Yoongi watched Wynter pick up a glass of ice water and throw it on him. The water running down his face and onto the table. It wasn’t until he seen himself as a wet grumpy cat did he realize what she had done. It was rare for someone to be able to place such a vivid thought in his mind. 

Closing his eyes, Yoongi took a deep breathe. “First off, don’t do that again,” Wynter shivered at the slight chill of energy coming off of Yoongi. “Second off, I am not a cat.” There was a slight blush on his face as he said the last part. It was cute but Wynter choose to ignore the urge to coo at him. Feeling as though he wouldn’t be really receptive of it. 

“Duly noted. I’ll only use it in cases of emergencies. Like if I get kidnapped or fall down a well or something and you need to find me.” She nodded her head before making eye contact with Mrs. Kwon to grab the check. Wynter paid as she figured that Yoongi would have no money. Mrs. Kwon reminded Wynter that her son would be helping her out for the next few days and that she would love to introduce them. Wynter told her that she would swing by if she could but she made no promises. 

Luckily they made it home before the rain picked back up for the night. The sound of the raindrops bouncing off the windows made for wonderful white noise. “Make yourself at home I guess,” Wynter waved around to her small studio as she made her way to the bathroom yawning. She was absolutely exhausted. Her body feeling as though it was dragging through mud as she went through her night routine. She put her hair in a pineapple, hoping that the curls wouldn’t become too frizzy during the night. 

“Yoongi,” Wynter called out as she rummaged underneath her cabinet. She was sure she had an extra toothbrush and stuff under there. While she didn’t have people over often, she was always taught to be prepared cause you never knew who was gonna drop by. 

“Yeah.” Yoongi stifled a laugh as Wynter hit her head on the cabinet. He hadn’t meant to startle her but her sitting on the floor rubbing the back of her head was kind of amusing. 

“I’m gonna have to get you a fucking bell,”she mumbled as she stood up. Wynter adjusted her sleep shorts as she turned to hand Yoongi the small toiletries bag she had made. “Here, I’m unsure of what all you need to do to take care of yourself as a demon but I figured you probably didn’t have anything so,” Wynter cut herself off after  feeling herself start to ramble. 

Yoongi looked down at the little bag in his hands. It was a deep green and had little cartoon cats sleeping on it. He didn’t really need to do anything if he didn’t want to. His demonic energy purifying him on a loop. It was a neat trick to stay clean when showers where few and far between that Yoongi had just always kept up cause he was in heart of hearts lazy. “Thanks. Do you mind if I use the bathroom?” She simply smiled and nodded as she left the small bathroom. 

Something about Wynter taking the time to make him feel comfortable made him want to put in some effort. He waited until the water became warm in the shower before he hopped in. It had been a long time since he had gotten to take one, something the aches in his body reminded him of. The way that Jungsoo had him running around Yoongi barely had anytime to relax. He tried not to think of the massive amount of shit he was in for accidentally starting a rebellion. He was just so tired of being a puppet. He honestly didn’t expect people to follow him out though.

In truth he was glad for the reprieve that Wynter calling him brought. He could hide out here until the fanfare died down or Jungsoo forgot about him. Though he doubted the last one would happen. Skipping out on a demonic contract was a big no-no. Wynter’s wards were strong enough to hide his presence for the time being. Finishing up he conjured up a pair of soft gray pajama pants and a matching cotton t-shirt. Yoongi walked out to Wynter putting some blankets and pillows on her couch. 

She was bent over the couch fluffing the pillows to make sure that they were nice and comfy for him. Her ass on full display in her tiny pink sleep shorts. Wynter looked over her shoulder to find that Yoongi had left the bathroom. “So you can make clothes?” She noted that he was currently in some, what looked like comfy, pjs. Wynter walked over to him with her hand on her hip. 

“Yeah,” Yoongi cleared his throat. “Cloths are easy to make.” 

Wynter hmm in response. “Well I tried to make the couch as comfy as I could for you, but I’m not sure how good I did.” They both looked at the couch recognizing that the dingy couch she salvaged off the street was way to small to hold Yoongi comfortably. Normally she would just offer her bed but if he wanted to butt his way into her life he got to deal with the uncomfy consequences. Patting him on the shoulder she made her way to her bed, turning off the bedside lamp,  and climbing under peach comforter. 

Yoongi stared down at where her hand had touched him. Unuse to anyone touching him so causally he tried not to let the warmth that she had linger on him for too long, shaking the odd feeling off. Making his way over to the couch he laid down. The springs groaning at his weight as he sunk further down into the cushions. The blankets were soft and warm and he pulled them up, tucking them underneath his chin. Yoongi couldn’t fathom why he didn’t do this more often. Demons didn’t need sleep and he knows he hasn’t slept in over a century; his mind to preoccupied with thoughts of past mistakes.  He doubted that he would sleep at all tonight but it at least felt nice to rest. 

“Did you find anything out today about who may have cursed you?” They had been sitting there for over an hour in the dark. The only sounds the monsoon raging outside the apartment windows. Yoongi could tell Wynter hadn’t fallen asleep, the smell of her fear filling the apartment like a gas leak. He decided that he didn’t care for the scent of dead roses, it made his nose itch. 

Wynter continued to stare at the ceiling as she tried to calm herself. She could feel a panic attack forming deep in her chest. The feeling of the walls closing in around her as she kept telling herself that she was safe and that everything was okay. She faintly heard Yoongi’s questions. Struggling to take in enough air speak. His face appeared over hers as she tried to get enough breath. Yoongi’s eyes full of indifference as he spoke. “You’re fine. Try to match my breathing.” They took deep breathes for a bit as Yoongi rubbed her arms knowing that she needed something to ground her. His hands messaging her upper arms trying to get her body to relax. 

It took awhile but Wynter finally felt herself come back into her body. Yoongi helping her to slowly sit up in the bed. He let go of her as soon as she was stable enough. Wynter felt herself heating up in embarrassment, cause she hasn’t had a panic attack like that in years. With shaking hands she reached up to wipe the tears that had escaped. “Thanks,” she whispered into the darkness of the apartment, unable to look Yoongi in the eye. 

“It’s normal after a death curse,” Yoongi was just as quiet as Wynter. “They have long term effects on the victims if they don’t work.” Once completed the curse needed to complete it’s mission. If averted it’ll keeping trying to kill the victim but most times it just turns back onto the one who placed the curse. If it was effecting Wynter this much it just meant that whoever placed the death curse knew what they were doing.

A laugh of disbelief escaped Wynter’s plush lips as tried to wrap her head around the fact that she was gonna have to deal with  long term effects of this bullshit. Just another layer of shit on this already shitty situation. “Do you have any idea who would do this to you?” Yoongi’s question gently pulled Wynter back to the present.

Sniffling Wynter cleared her throat, “Um - the only person I can think of would be Jiyeon. She’s one of the regulars at the bookstore.” Wynter’s face scrunched as she tried to think of a reason the woman would want to hurt her. “I thought we were becoming friends,” She whispered to herself. “I don’t know what her motive would be. I don’t even have any hard evidence to prove that it was her only this sinking feeling.” Wynter placed her hand on her stomach where a weight had settled, pinning her to the truth of her words. 

“That’s good. You should trust you instincts.” Yoongi assured her. While unusual for someone to place a death curse on someone unwarranted, it wasn’t outside the realm of possibility. He would have to some digging into this Jiyeon’s past and see if she was hiding something. In order to dispel the curse someone had to die so they had to be sure that this was the right person. 

“Keep looking into the curse. Find any and everything you can about death curses. Go on as normal, cause if it is her we don’t want to give away that we’re on to her.” Yoongi knew a lot of things but this particular death curse was one he hadn’t seen before and he had honestly just gotten lucky he could avert it. If a lesser demon had come Wynter would be dead and that made Yoongi feel an emotion that he promptly buried deep. “Look we can strategize tomorrow. Get some rest.” 

Yoongi watched Wynter as she nodded numbly with a far away look in her eyes. He placed his hand lightly on her forehead forcing her to sleep cause he knew she wasn’t going to. Tucking her back into bed he took her in -  glad he could get the crease that worried the space between her brows to smooth out. The gentle way her nose sloped before it flared out. How soft her lips looked.  She looked peaceful in that moment, her bold features relaxed. He felt a pull in his chest. It was light but it was there, Yoongi rubbed his hand over his heart that had long since stopped beating confused.

[darkstaria]

Your first chapter of the soulmate au is SO GOOOOOD!!!! I love soulmate aus and I love yandere fics, so this is literally right up my alley. Your writing is skillful and your world building feels natural 💛 I love it so much 😍 I look forward to whenever you post the next chapter 💕❤️🦇

Thank you so much! I really appreciate your words, it's so encouraging to have readers like you! Glad you enjoyed the world building, finding a balance between Batfam and writing about the au has been an interesting challenge. I just have so many ideas!

Chapter 2 is of course in the works, and I can only hope that you'll enjoy it as much as I enjoy writing it ^ ^

Also, my first ask! Hehe, lovely to meet you.

And yeah, Yandere Soulmate Au's have been my favourite thing ever for quite a while now. Once I finish the Soulmate Animal series, I actually have another idea for a different type of Yandere Soulmate Au with the Batfam. It'll be fun! I'll probably write a different Au first though, for the sake of variety haha.

[chaotictarlos]

With love, your soulmate

ship: Tarlos | fandom: 911 Lone Star | author: chaotictarlos | read on ao3

Rating: Mature | Warnings: Alternative Universe, Tarlos AU, Brooklyn Love Stories AU, Alternate Timelines, long-distance relationship, fluff, soulmate au, pen pal au, mentions of police cruelty 

Authors Note: I have no excuse for how long this has taken me to update. I wanted this chapter to be good, is all, and I have a hard time saying goodbye to stories lasting this long. There is only one more chapter after this one. To those of you who have continued to read, followed the journey this fic has taken, and left even a single comment I want you to know that I appreciate you a lot. I don't write many chapter fics because I'm always afraid I won't be able to finish them, but this one is one that I know I will see to the end. The last chapter, as long as life is kind to me, will be posted next Sunday. I hope you enjoy the end. As always, thank you Noxy for being my beta for this. Comments are always nice to get.

It’s been a week since TK has gotten a letter from Carlos.

TK doesn’t freak out, not now that he knows the universe is shifting their timelines and bringing them closer together. Still, it’s odd that a week has gone by and Carlos hasn’t sent anything.

Since they figured out that time is shifting, Carlos made sure that only a few days pass between letters. How he’s able to manage it, TK isn’t sure but he doesn’t question it too much because he likes getting letters from Carlos.

Besides, the longer a letter takes to reach him, the closer he gets to being with Carlos.

TK doesn’t really feel like he’s getting closer to Carlos, the days move the same for him and nothing seems to change but he knows that he’s getting closer. It’s odd how it works and it always makes TK’s brain hurt if he thinks about it too much.

So he just lets it happen, not that he has much choice, and waits for the day that he gets to see Carlos in person and really see if this soulmate thing between them is really going to work out.

He doesn’t realize just how close he’s gotten until he’s watching the news that night and wondering why he hasn’t heard from him. It’s been a little bit longer than their typically few days in between letters and while TK is a little worried, he’s trying to shrug it off and remind himself that the more days in between getting letters, the closer he is to catching up with Carlos.

Or, that’s what he hopes it means.

TK is half-paying attention to the TV, playing on his phone and debating about whether or not he should send another letter to Carlos. He worries that another letter would be too annoying but reminds himself that Carlos has told him several times that he enjoys getting all of TK’s letters and that it never annoys him when TK sends multiple ones.

Still, TK has that anxiety.

He’s just convinced himself to write a letter when the news catches his attention. They’re talking about a cop from Texas that has been severally hurt while saving a teenager from being shot. TK goes still, eyes trained on the TV because he has this feeling he knows who it is.

He really hopes it’s not.

His heart drops in the next moment when he hears “Carlos Reyes” and sees the picture of him on the screen.

READ THE REST ON AO3

tags: @strangefurychaos @sapphire11 @first-kanaphan @noxsoulmate @rangergurlgleek1211 @detective-giggles @tarlos-spain @lonestardust @bubblesandroses8 @thebumblecee @mooshkat @importantbailiffpaperpony @cowlos-reyes @meditating-honey-badger @paperstorm @otter-love-asl @kiloskywalker

[emmie-writes-stuff]

I proposed a silly AU idea of mafia king Reo and trophy husband Nagi to Esztell, and now I’m cooking a new AU series-

As if I didn’t have one already goin with Unsad lmao (that one’s gonna link to a Hiorin fic I have and a Ryusae fic too, as well as a few other Itoshi brother fics)

Anyways, I’m using this post as a way to share my ideas rn

So we’ve got Six Months to Get Better, or I Destroy Myself, which is almost done

It’s currently being extended because I got a new idea and decided to fit it into a chapter, which is why the update is taking forever lmao

I estimate about 3 more chapters to go (depending on if I get new ideas or not) and the epilogue

For those who don’t know, this fic is rated E but not for nsfw, but instead for depictions of depression, self harm, and suicide

It’s lowkey a vent fic focused on Reo, but it will have a happy ending because I can’t write sad endings for fanfics

Then there’s In The Next Room, which is also almost finished and has 3 chapters left

This is an E rated fic (this time for nsfw reasons) featuring ReoNagi, thin walls, streamer Nagi, and a strangers to lovers plot line

It has a planned sequel of the story from Reo’s perspective (that one is called Feel Good)

Both of the titles are from Neon Trees songs because they’re one of my favourite bands and oftentimes my ideas come to me while listening to music

After that, I’ve got a Hiorin fic where Rin has insomnia

I haven’t worked on it in a while and I’m not sure when it’ll be posted because it’s a long fic and I’ve already got two going, but it’s special to me and it will eventually be posted, I swear-

It’s in the same universe as Unsad (my Itoshi brothers oneshot) and goes into Rin’s mind after Sae is out of the picture

It starts right before the U-20 match and majority of it will take place over the break from bllk

I also got a Ryusae fic that’s in the same universe, which takes place at the same time as the insomnia AU

Shidou and Sae actually get to know each other over the break and Shidou inadvertently helps Sae with the Rin situation

There’s a few other baby plot ideas I have for Itoshi brother stories from their childhood, but I’ve gotta reconsider a lot of them with the new chapters that came out (new flashbacks give me new ideas) so imma stay quiet about those ones for now

I got a sequel to my sfw omegaverse storyline in the works-

Idk how many people actually were interested in that one, but I liked writing it and I can’t shut off my brain when it has an idea

I ALSO got a vampire Kainess fic cooking too!!!

I’m so hyped about this one honestly, I gotta go back to writing it again because I fuckin love vampires and I have so much lore for them in my head that I can’t wait to share through this story

It’s got like, vampires obviously, and it’ll go in 7 stages I think of their relationship evolving and Kaiser growing into a better person over the course of the story

I have a couple of Bachisagi fics in my drafts, but none of them are really sound enough to share the plots of

Same with a couple of Sae centric fics I have in the drafts as well

Then there’s my request fics

I have a Hiorin fic that I’m working on where they go out shopping (I’m planning on having some inner child healing within that fic)

And I also have a Tabiori fic with the soulmate trope, still trying to decide which type of soulmate I’ll go with however

Aaaaand I have another one-

Kunigiri fic this time, and it takes place in the world of the TV show Supernatural

I don’t wanna say too much about this one because it has some plot twists I don’t wanna spoil, but I will say that I’ve been having fun making up lore for creatures that are based on Japanese folklore and yokai, because while I’m setting it in the United States, I really wanna incorporate more influence from Japan (and I’m lowkey obsessed with the kappa because I enjoy water and swamp creatures, and it spiraled from there)

I have a few ideas for Team Red centric fics

I also have another ReoNagi fic that’s already drafted, but that I haven’t fully fallen in love with yet so I might go back to fix it (it’s a childhood friends AU)

I also have an idea for a Hiorin fic, where they are serial killers because why not

It could be fun

This is same universe as that mafia king Reo idea all the way at the top-

AND THEN

I have a Percy Jackson AU idea that’s also somewhat drafted within discord messages to Esztell

This one is planned to be a LONG fic so it’ll be a while until I post this one-

I think that’s all my ideas soooooo yeah

If anyone wants to request a fic or a drawing, go right ahead and send me one in the inbox on my page :3

I’m always looking for new ideas because I hop between them whenever I get bored of one idea to give myself a refresh

[skzfairyy]

District 9: Chapter 8

Mafia!AU || skz x OC’s || PG-17 ||

Pairings: Bangchan x oc, Minsung x oc, other pairings to come!

Genre: Angst, Romance, Enemies to Lovers, Friends to Lovers, Humor, AU (& so much more lol)

Warnings: Graphic depictions of violence, weapons, language

Status: Ongoing

Wc: 1.5k words

AN: this is kinda late, our apologies!! It’s a short chapter, but a very IMPORTANT chapter.... EEEEE LOVE! enjoy! - Y2K

The escape plan has been set. As well as solid covers for why they took so long in this meeting room, surely people were looking for the twins by now. Yura made her exit first, mumbling about getting herself another solid drink before her life on the run. Minho did what he did best and disappeared, promising to meet Chan later after he finished some things up before their escape plan began.

 Bangchan and Rina exited the room together and were walking side by side down the empty hallway when he spoke up.

        “Forgive me if I’m being too forward but, are you okay?” His eyes glance at her briefly. Ever since he first approached the twins two hours ago, they seemed different from when he last saw them. As someone who (in the privacy of his own mind) believes himself to be Rina’s soulmate, he always knows when something isn’t right with the woman next to him. 

        “Ha! Am I that easy to read?” Rina sighs with a laugh, she halts her steps in the quiet hallway, the soft music from the rest of the party is faint as Chan stops in front of her, giving Rina all of his attention.

        “I just… Japan was a lot for both of us, I guess…in a way the mission changed me, as well as me and Yura’s relationship. Now that we’re home, we’ve just been trying to get into our old routines, while adjusting to the new versions of each other.”

       “Springing this plan on you didn’t help anything either I’m guessing?” Chan chuckles awkwardly, feeling bad for the abrupt plan, now that he has an idea of what's bothering the duo.

She smiles warmly at his attempt to make her laugh. Something Chan has always succeeded at is brightening her mood ever since they were small.

       “Not at all, if anything it helped! Believe it or not, we’ve always talked about leaving this place, so for this opportunity to come so early it’s hard to wrap our heads around the reality of it. Once we make it out of this hellhole, we can focus on healing ourselves without the prying eyes and ears of the academy.”

Chan nods in understanding and continues to lead them back to the party, he lets the silence engulf them before speaking again.

        “Do you mind considering something else while you’re… healing?”

Rina's eyebrow is raised at him, once again curious as to where he was going with this conversation. One of his hands slips into his pocket as the other reaches to scratch the back of his neck before continuing. 

       “Sorry, that sounded weird right?” his awkward laugh tumbles out yet again as his neck heats up with embarrassment. 

Despite the months of working on his confidence for this very moment, now that he’s here in front of her, it’s all gone out the window.

       “What I’m trying to say is… I’ve kinda been into you since we were kids.” His voice is a bit shaky and tone nervous, as he looks at their feet as he walks.

        “Since we were kids!? Didn’t I yell at you the first time we met? And get us kicked out of the gaming hall for the rest of the weekend?” Rina questions with a slight laugh.

Chan nods his head at her question before replying.

         “I obviously was never one to speak up back then, and when I finally got the nerve to confess, you were either with Jeno or Yuta… so I thought they were more your type.” His voice held a twang of jealousy which made her giggle. 

       “Yeah, no. They were just to pass the time. I had more important things to worry about besides boyfriends back then.” 

He stops walking and reaches for her hand gently, to his surprise and her own, she doesn’t flinch away. 

       “I always knew you had plans for something more, I was quiet but I always listened when you spoke.” He smiles at her before continuing. “I’m glad we can work toward this together as friends and colleagues. Honestly.”

Chan takes her other hand in his before taking a deep breath.

       “I know this timing might be entirely wrong, and it’s no one's fault but my own, but I’m afraid if I don’t say this now I never will.” He emphasizes the first part of his sentence, hoping to make light of the rather serious conversation they’re having. 

       “Fuck, even trying to describe how I feel about you in words is hard. I’d be a fool if I didn’t notice how incredible you are. You’re crazy smart, strong, and just…so beautiful. ”

As the words tumble out, Chan’s ears are tinted a slight red while his hands begin to sweat. Though he’s trying his hardest to stay confident at this moment, he hopes Rina can’t feel it.

       “You know, even despite your career path, it’s incredibly clear how driven and caring you are. If I’m being completely honest, I was kinda intimidated. You’re your own person who doesn’t need any help in getting what you want, and I’d never want to be the one that gets in the way of you and your aspirations. I always thought you were way out of my league, and that you deserve someone who is… worthy of you.”

He laughs nervously and shifts in place before continuing.

       “I know it’s been a while since we’ve last seen each other, but I’ve always thought of you as a good friend. Then when you just up and left… I didn't know what had happened, and… I kind of drove myself crazy only thinking about you. So now–” 

He pauses to scratch the back of his neck awkwardly as Rina does her best to hide her smile.

       “I know I want to be more than just friends with you. I want to be someone you can confide in, who will support you, and always have your back. Someone who will be there for the good days just as much as the bad. I don’t ever want you to feel what you felt in Japan again, Rina. Just hearing about it briefly makes me want to just… I don’t know, fly over there and handle whoever made you feel like this personally.”

Rina finally lets out her laughter at his words. Chan handling Hiroko would be quite a sight to see, but she says nothing, allowing him to continue his confession in confidence. 

       “I can be a safe place… a home for you… if you’ll let me.”     

She was silent for a moment as she observed his face. She's always been so preoccupied with her work and her own issues with her sister that she never noticed how Chan’s been a constant presence in her life. She’s never had to hide who she was with him and he’s always allowed her to be completely honest about any and everything.

He already had become someone she could trust, Rina was just too blind to notice.

Their work together was just getting started and now her heart chooses to make its feelings known? Very on-brand for Rina if she had to be honest with herself, but perhaps this is a change she'll be able to welcome?

Rina squeezes his hands in her own, it's late, she knows he has to disappear now and she has a ballroom of people to please for a little longer.

       “Chris, you really have to work on your timing.” They're able to share a short laugh before they hear the sound of a champagne bottle being opened, followed by muffled cheers quickly reminding them of where they are. 

       "Fuck! I really wish you didn’t have to leave so soon.” She pauses briefly, finding his gaze already on her own.

 Were his eyes always this pretty? 

       “Just… promise you’ll wait for me, yeah?” Her voice is gentle as she leans in and places a chaste kiss on his cheek, before pulling away.

Chris nods without saying a word as they pull apart, his brain processing her words as his eyes follow her now retreating figure.

       "I always knew you were too good for that academy." She calls out to him from the end of the hall. "You look really handsome, by the way!" Rina says over her shoulder with a wink.

With that said, she turned the corner to rejoin the Gala. 

       “OH MY GOD, SHE’S SO INTO YOU MAN! HOLY SHIT! It nearly brought tears to my eyes… "

A familiar voice screeches in his ear. Chan cringes and clutches his ear, reminded that he has no time to relish in this new information, but instead has to escape and get the next step of their plan ready to go.

       “Han! Quit screaming. Did you cut the cameras for the hallways?”

       “Shit, sorry hyung,” his volume adjusted slightly in Chan’s ear. “Cameras were looping the whole time. No one will know you guys were there.”

As Chan turns a corner he makes it to one of the back doors leading out to the garden. He rolls his shoulders back and straightens his jacket, a newfound confidence radiating off of him as he exits the building, walking away from the crowded and lively mansion and into the cruel and harsh reality of what awaits him and his team in the next phase of his plan.

        “Perfect. It’s time to get this show on the road boys.”

taglist: @toalltheunknown, @skzloveforever, @ryak14

Y2K masterlist || series masterlist || last || next

[ashensgrotto]

Never Had A Friend (Like Me) - Part 3

Original art piece by pfbatakopd on twitter (Used only for Header. Do NOT REPOST ORIGINAL ART)

Part 1 Part 2 Part 3 (You Are Here)

YandereSoulmate! AU:

Part 1 (Am I Feeling Love?)

Part 2 (Protective)

Part 3A & Part 3B (Poor Unfortunate Souls)

Characters: Azul Ashengrotto X F!Reader

Word Count: 9,105

Synopsis: A chance for redemption comes in the form of a wish…

Author’s Notes: Ok, here we go. I received an anonymous message in my inbox for the next part of the Yandere!Soulmate series and I was actually going to work on it - but with the arrival of GloMas, working on the next part of ‘Raison D’être,’ wanting to finish “Weren’t You Aware, Angelfish?”, AND the holidays, time got away from me and I forgot about Scarabia’s segment for a short while. 

However, because you all seem to enjoy this and want to know if the tako has redeemed himself - I figured I would work to get this part done. Now, warning - Pompefiore’s part is going to take a bit of time to complete because I will have to wiggle my way through my memory bank and replay a few parts of it (which is approx 76 chapters in length for those players who haven’t made it that far into the game yet) since I’m working so deep into Ignihyde’s chapter right now (which is a doozy - I’m still in chapter 67-tower 1, oof help).

This one is also going to be split into three parts - I promise it will not be a long wait for the second & third parts as this is my Christmas gift to all of my readers <3

Thank you all for your continued support!

Notes: Last part of 'A Friend like Me'!

Pompfiore's part will take some time to go through - I'm likely going to be busy up until the second or third week of January, hence I will be taking a short Hiatus from Yandere!Soulmate AU to focus on a few other projects. I will also be updating Raison D’être in the next few weeks after the holidays have passed.

Thank you everyone for your continued support and I will see you in the next story!

Warnings are as follows: yandere behaviors, manipulation, imprisonment, & hypnosis

***

Can your friends do this? Can your friends do that?

Can your friends pull this out their little hats?

Can your friends go - POOF!

***

Azul shook his head as he pulled himself up off the ground after landing, brushing himself off. He took in his surroundings, noticing that he still seemed to be within the Scarabia dorm, but unsure of where. Sands still surrounded him from all angles - making him feel more like a mer out of water than anything else - and a noticeable chill hung in the air, cold enough to make out the fiat traces of one’s breath as it hung in the air. Azl’s eyes shifted around as his mind began to refocus. Where was he? And… where were you?

“(Y/n)? (Y/n)!” he spun around before hearing your grunt as you pulled yourself up from under a pile of sand and fur.

“Owww…” Grim clutched at his head, his eyes screwed shut as he moaned softly, “I really can’t catch a break around here…”

“I feel that…” you sigh, sitting back on your knees, gripping your lower back as you wince in pain.

“(Y/n)! Are you alright?!” Azul moved quickly, his breath coming out in pants as he knelt beside you, his gloved hands tilting your head up to examine you. 

You were covered in sand and were shivering from the cold, your teeth chattering as you took in deep breaths. Your face had a cut on the forehead and your eyes seemed a little hazy, dazed from the landing. You steadied yourself against Azul’s hold, the warmth of his gloves warming your cheeks.

“I’m alive… barely. It felt like he knocked us into next week and then some.”

“It would appear that he flung us some distance. Are you two alright?”

“Fine - given that we were knocked to the ends of the earth,” you answer as Azul pulls you up with Grim in your arms, “Where’s Jade? Floyd? Kalim?”

“Over here, shrimpy!” the tuba voice of Floyd spoke a little ways away as he approached, his arms wrapped around himself, “Brr! It’s seriously cold here. It’s like we’re under the ice floes or somethin’.”

You feel a shudder rattle through you as Azul wrapped an arm around you, pulling you close to keep you semi-warm under the covering of his overcoat. The temperature here was noticeably different from when you were in the Scarabia dorm - it would seem that at the edge of the desert dorm was freezing like the inside of an icebox. 

Jade was crouched beside Kalim, the ex-headwarden of Scarabia, rubbing his forehead as the others approached, “Where am I?”

“Good, you’re awake,” Jade sighed in relief, “I believe we are at the edge of the dimension that contains the Scarbia dorm.”

“So… Jamil literally did send us to the ends of the earth,” Grim chirped in surprise, before glowering, “When we get back there, I’m going ta let ‘im have it-”

“How, though?” you asked, “We don’t have any carpets, or brooms.”

“And with this cold, I doubt Kalim and (Y/n) will last long out here,” Azul nodded in agreement.

“It’ll be a slog,” Floyd shrugged, “but walkin’s our only way back.”

“Floyd,” Azul growled, “we spent quite a bit of time in flight before we landed here. It could take hours - wait, more likely days at this rate - to trudge back on foot. And… I can’t take another minute of you with that voice. I’m tearing up the contract and annulling it.”

“O-oh c-come on, Azul,” you shiver, trying to be light-hearted, “H-he’s h-having f-fun.”

“Having fun, my ass, (Y/n),” Azul grumbled, “That voice is annoying me - even more so than his normal one. Back to the old voice, Floyd.”

“Aww… but I like bein’ all baritone.”

A snap of his fingers and the contract disintegrated, leaving Floyd clearing his throat as his normal voice returned to him.

Kalim let out a soft sniffle then, “Jamil… I trusted you.”

“Hey, you cryin’, sea otter? Your tears are gonna freeze over, ya know,” Floyd asked.

“It’s all my fault…” Kalim sobbed a little harder, “I drove Jamil to the brink without realizing it. The real Jamil would never do such things! He’s a good guy… always helping me… giving me a shoulder to lean on… and… and…”

Azul rolled his eyes. Before he could open his mouth however -

“Isn’t th-that the a-a-attitude r-right there what d-drove him to th-the b-brink?” you asked, your voice shaking still from the cold.

“Wh-what…?” Kalim looked at you in awe.

 “Yikes, (Y/n) - you do go for the jugular sometimes…” Grim spoke up from his spot.

“I’m with shrimpy on this,” Floyd agreed, turning toward Kalim, “Sea otter, you’re… TOO nice. It’s kinda grating.”

“Grating?”

“Yes,” Jade nodded in agreement, “If I were betrayed in the same way you were - I’d lash out with a torrent of unmitigated verbal abuse to break them down mentally, then bind them and drag them beneath the waves. The way you blame yourself and to excuse Jamil’s behavior is… a tad galling.”

“Galling? Really? Kalim asked this as if it was a compliment, “But… Jamil would never betray me…”

“News flash; he did,” Floyd shouted.

“A-And the w-way he w-was m-making you out to be the b-bad guy and get you expelled is even m-more nerve-wracking,” you explain, “H-However… I d-do understand why Jamil d-did it.”

“Huh?” Kalim and Grim looked at you in shock.

“Allow me to explain,” Azul adjusted his glasses, “Kalim - you carry yourself like a goody-two-shoes, laughing off conflict with a flippant word or two. Those remarks, however, are barbs on the skin to those that are calculating and twisted - Jamil and myself being prime examples. They might seem like nothing, but to us - it makes us go crazy and push harder to see you reach your breaking point.”

“And w-when you d-didn’t, Jamil t-took alternative m-measures,” you finish.

“You seem to really know the inner workings here, (Y/n),” Grim commented, looking up at you.

“T-Takes one t-to know one,” you answer, looking at Azul.

“I would argue, though, that in Kalim’s case,” Jade spoke, clasping his hands behind his back, “that it might be simply a case of naturally innocent disposition.”

“So… what you’re saying is… that Jamil’s… a bad guy?”

“Extremely,” everyone says in unison.

“In that case,” Kalim stands, resting his hands on his hips, “I’d better get back fast! I have to punch Jamil and yell ‘Traitor!’”

“You ought to make him march to the oasis and back ten times,” Grim growled, his ears falling behind his head.

“That, and we’ll need to bring him to his senses fast,” Azul agreed, “If we don’t, his magic reserves will run dry and his life could be in danger.”

“And thus that puts us back where this whole conversation started,” Floyd grumbled, “How’d we get back? Walkin’?”

“If there was a river, we could swim back,” Jade commented, looking around, “Though, it appears the rivers here are all dried out.”

“So, lack of water is the problem?” Kalim asked with a knowing smile.

“Of course,” Azul answered, “Floyd and Jade can easily outpace brooms and magic carpets for that matter when they’re in their true forms. However, we can’t exactly restore a river - even my own magic wouldn’t be able to -”

“Maybe you can’t, but I can!”

“What?!”

“‘Oasis Maker’!” your eyes widened, “Kalim! T-That’s it!”

“What do you mean?” Azul asked, looking down at you, “I thought Grim said it was only a glorified waterspout.”

“‘Oasis Maker’ allows me to produce an enormous volume of water with just a smidgen of magical power,” Kalim explained, “If I make you a river, you can get us back to the dorm, right?”

“T-that’s… your signature spell?! That’s insane!”

“It’s pretty useless when you have running water, though,” Kalim shrugged.

“Some countries don’t HAVE that sort of infrastructure!” Azul shouted, “Great Sevens, Kalim! Your power would make you nothing short of a HERO to those people! That’s… that’s… ABSURDLY marketable!”

“Azul!” you smack his cheek light, returning him to the task at hand.

“Kalim, if you would oblige us?” Jade asked.

“Of course! One river coming right up!” Kalim smiled, closing his eyes as magic began to encircle him, “Then water you shall have… and I’ll make it cool and refreshing for you! Respite in the scalding sands, a never ending party. Dance! Sing! Oasis Maker!”

***

The dorm was still cloaked in darkness by the time the group returned, sneaking into the lounge.

The students of the Scarabia dorm all encircled Jamil, who lounged before them in the headwarden’s chair as he ordered the students about, each of them still entrapped in a puppet-like state.

“The good thing is that he hasn’t gone too far to the point of no return yet,” Jade commented, looking over the banister before turning to the group, “Azul - do we have a plan?”

“We’ll have to snap Jamil out of his trance as you’ve done to me,” Azul answered, “But we also need to get close enough for both Kalim and (Y/n) to reach him.”

“Huh?” Grim asked, “What do you mean?”

“I agree, it would be too dangerous for (Y/n) to get involved with this,” Jade answered.

You looked over at Jamil, a feeling and the same urge slowly growing within you.

“You feel it, then?” Azul asked you softly.

You turn and give him a slow nod, “I do.”

Azul huffed - he had little choice in the matter. He turned to the others, “Here’s the plan - (Y/n) and Kalim will take this side of Jamil while Jade, Floyd, and I distract him. Grim - I’m expecting you to form a barrier to keep unwanted guards out of the way.”

“No worries, Azul,” Grim gave a mischievous smirk of confidence, “Grim the Great is at your service!”

“Do you think we’ll be able to pull it off?” you ask quietly.

“Trust me, angelfish,” Azul winked, “You know what to do.”

The group split, hiding themselves among the crowd of students, slowly inching forward toward Jamil.

“Haha! That’s it… go on,” Jamil’s twisted voice spoke as he sat back in his chair, closing his eyes, “keep singing my praises.”

“I never realized what a gallant figure you cut.”

“You oughta LIVE on a throne…”

“Your intelligence is beyond compare.”

“There’s royalty, then there’s you.”

“You look so strong and powerful!”

“Jamil, Jamil, he’s our man, if he can’t do it… GREAT!”

Jamil bolted upright at the sight of the five exiled students standing before him, “Wait, it’s YOU?! I sent you to the ends of this dimension! How did you get back so fast?!”

Kalim stepped forward, a hand in front of you while Scarabia’s headwarden staff was clutched in his hand, “I filled a dry river with water and we swam back.”

“Not that it was a cakewalk,” Floyd growled, “I’ll tell ya - I’m pretty worn out!”

“Tch,” Jamil tsked darkly, “Now I see… you used Kalim’s signature spell. And here I’d written it off as a worthless gift only good for watering plants or filling a pool.”

“Heh - you clearly don’t appreciate Kalim’s power for what it is then,” Azul shrugged, gripping his cane tighter.

“Jamil - I now see what you’ve thought of me all this time. There can be no question now - you are a coward and a traitor!” Kalim shouted, “Face me in combat! I’ll win back the housewarden seat you’ve stolen from me.”

“You accuse me of stealing?” Jamil stood, the overblot power growing around him, “You’re the one who stole everything from me! Now you shall witness my true power! Cower before my might! Phenomenal… cosmic… power!”

A fire bolt was flung and everyone ducked as the puppet dorm launched forward.

Grim blew a wall of fire up, preventing the students from getting involved and kept his guard up should any of them attempt to bypass the barrier. Floyd and Jade shot forward, pens at the ready and spewed fire and flora at Jamil’s attacks, Azul following close behind. Kalim worked from the side, keeping you behind him as he waited for his opening.

Azul dodged an attack, gritting his teeth, “Sevens! How much power has he been hiding all this time?!”

“I refuse to give up!” Kalim shouted, a wave of water mixing with Azul’s ice shield forced Jamil further back, the overblotted vice warden now taking on the defense. 

Suddenly, Jamil’s power made everyone lose their footing, the group falling to the ground, “You little fools… you thought you could defeat the most powerful being on Earth!”

“Jamil! Snap out of it!” Kalim begged, looking up at his friend-turned-enemy, “You have always been powerful! You don’t need that darkness to prove otherwise!”

“You don’t understand!” Jamil shouted, “You always had to be the best! You always had to be better than me! I could never outdo you! I. Wasn’t. ALLOWED. TO! I was FINALLY going to be free… to be number one…”

As Jamil raised his hand, a figure darted to him… and another resounding ‘smack!’ echoed in the room as Jamil fell back.

“Jamil!” Kalim rushed forward, but was held back by Azul.

“Kalim! Wait!” Azul shouted.

“Azul? What’s going on?” Jade asked as he and Floyd watched on.

You stood before Jamil - eyes locked on each other as tears suddenly began to appear in Jamil’s eyes. 

“Jamil…” your voice was soft, barely above a whisper, “I’m so sorry you had to endure that life… to be forced to hide your true self behind the pretense of incompetence, to always be… second-rate. I know that pain of wanting to be number one, too. Life… has truly been unfair to you - but this is not the way to fight back. You fight back… by simply being you - show your true strength in your magic… in your abilities. Then… you’ll get the recognition you want and deserve.”

Jamil’s features shifted before them, an arrangement of anger, frustration, fear… and sorrow. He bowed his head and the darkness slowly receded from his form.

Azul and Kalim moved quickly - Azul to your side and Kalim to Jamil’s. Kalim leaned over Jamil’s form as the vicewarden slowly reawoken.

“Ngh… Where am I?”

“Good,” Azul smiled as he sat with you at Jamil’s other side, “You’ve regained your senses.”

Kalim started to sniffle before large fat tears rolled down his cheeks - the regained housewarden pressing his face into the carpeting as he cried Jamil’s name, “I-I’m so glad you’re alive… so so glad…”

“Must you always be so dramatic?” Jamil sighed, sitting up, “I’m fine.”

“I… I never knew… how miserable you were all this time *sniff* *hic*. A-All this time… I never knew *sniff* just how much I put you through… So, l-let’s just stop. We can stop holding back on account of our social status.”

“Um… what?”

You couldn’t help but chuckle softly as Kalim explained - relieved that the two could act as rivals for the spot of number one and - to be equals. Azul arched a brow at you in silent question.

“Azul - mind if I talk to you?”

“Not at all, angelfish.”

He followed you out into the hallway, away from mischievous eyes as you took a breath and gave the headwarden a small smile, “First and foremost - I want to thank you for your help. I know that it normally isn’t like you to poke your… tentacles in other people’s businesses unless there’s a deal to be had.”

“(Y/n),” Azul gave you a smirk, resting his hand on your shoulder, “If you recall when you first came here, I said I would take responsibility for you.”

“You also promised to get me home,” you reminded him.

“Yes - I did. The point I’m trying to make here is that… regardless of if you’re in Octavinelle or not, I will still want to protect you - to make sure you’re safe,” Azul answered, “Have I not done just that? Does this not prove that I’m more than willing to at least be there when you need it most?”

You let out a sigh and nod, “I suppose so.”

Azul nodded, tilting your head up to meet his gaze, “(Y/n), I want to be there for you, to help you… will you at least allow me a second chance to prove that I’m more than what I appear?”

You look at Azul wearily, your gaze shifting a bit before meeting his eyes again. 

His sea blue eyes, framed by the semi-rimmed glasses, still held a possessive desire within them - however, hope also burned within. He could have turned you away when you had initially asked for help, he could have ensnared you in a bubble - take away your voice - or even turn you into a mermaid again… and yet he didn’t. As you looked into his gaze, it seemed all Azul wanted… was another chance.

You let out a soft sigh and nod, “I think you should, and I believe you do. I would prefer to rewarm myself back up to you - which means I would like to stay in Ramshackle with Grim.”

Azul nodded, as much as he wanted to argue. He needed to get you to trust him again - which meant he would have to work extra hard to earn your favor again, “Very well. If you would like - I would be willing to help give you a few things that would help with the accommodations greatly. Whatever you wish, I will make it happen.”

“And what will you get out of it?” you ask, already knowing that Azul was looking for something.

“Your time,” Azul answered with a smile, “To be honest, the students of Octavinelle miss working with you. I know the headmage has you running ragged with janitorial duties, but if you could work a day or two in the lounge - I will consider it more than enough payment.”

“And, during my shifts, you’d be able to talk with me while we’re working.”

“Correct,” the headwarden nodded, “Does this seem like a fair deal to you?”

You nod in agreement, “More than, thank you.”

Azul offers a gloved hand, which you took with a shake.

The first steps to amending the bridge were in place… as well as the first steps toward an unknown trap.

[eddie-brii]

I'm sorry I haven't been posting headcanons for a bit guys. I've been trying to finish up my world building fics related to the ones I have up already. I have so many works in progress it's not even funny at this point.

On a side note, I am getting things together to post for the next few weeks. No idea if it's going to be Kisses or other things as of yet. I just know the fic roster is full at the moment and slow to empty while I'm in classes for summer.

So far I have a few to look forward to:

Soulmate au is in progress under the name Colors and Stars. (Thank you @myshiptrashcan for the inspiration.) just trying to determine how in depth I want to go with it. Debating on keeping it a couple chapters but it could also be fun to a full game fic for it.

There is a everyone lives au in progress as well, since I've seen very few people actually write out how they think Joey, Clarice and Merwin live.

Kisses will be of course on going for a bit. It's probably one that will never be officially "done".

An Interesting Guest in the Repository is being worked on and will probably only have two to three more short chapters. Honestly can't wait for you guys to see the twist for that one. This is also kinda of going to be a prequel into my everyone lives au and into the other games when I finally get in gear to write for them.

Of Temples and Worship is getting it's second part, just hitting a brick wall as far as inspiration.

Bonding is going to be my Joey and Merwin fic. So we can see how the your mama duo came to be.

Rocket Science is for Clarice, she needs more stuff for her.

Finding Home is going to be Jason and Nick bonding, someone needs to give Jason a safe space until he meets Salim.

So Much Alike, The Fallout and Father's Pride and Peace are all going to be Salim and Zain fics. Probably going to be on the shorter side but, again, the bonding!

Fuck ups and Fixings is going to be RoyalKay with MASSIVE acknowledgement to how much Nick fucked up. Well they all fucked up, but Nick is going to be the most gratifying for me to write apologizing.

I have several Jalim fics to write. Language Lessons, Electrodes and Showers, Avoid Saying DILF, Little things and Tactical Moves. All of them are going to be so much fun, I just have space out the spicy ones.

I also have some with my OC and Charlie with the HoA crew. Those are going to be a lot to do since the main fic is a game rewrite. I will actually be posting the prologue tonight at some point when I get the time. It's going be based off Addition so yes, it's a Polyamory ship with Jason and Salim. Definitely not everyone's cup of tea, but it's helped my brain work with everything else that's come up.

Anywho, this is all you guys will see from me within the next few months. Hope you guys enjoy them as I get them going.

[wishingforatypewriter]

Year in Review

Thanks @nyamadermont for tagging me!

1. Number of stories posted to Ao3: I posted and/or updated 20 stories in 2022.

2. Word count in 2022: 80,023

3. Fandoms I wrote for: Legend of Korra and Avatar: The Last Airbender

4. Pairings: Linzolt, Linzin, Baavira, and Tyzula

5. Stories with the most:

Kudos: The Weight of Empire (Baavira)

Bookmarks: The Successor (Kuvira & Opal)

Comment threads:  The Successor

Word count: The Successor

6. Work I’m most proud of (and why): I think I'm proudest—or at least fondest—of An Armada of Shoulds, It's probably my favorite Linzolt thing that I've written. I'm proud of it because it was my first attempt at writing from Zolt's point of view and I think I did a pretty good job with it, considering we only see him twice or so in the source material.

7.   Work I’m least proud of (and why): Agni Kais was supposed to be a grand, sweeping Tyzula reunion fic that touched upon the origins of the Republic City triads, but in the end I only wrote one chapter, and Azula wasn't even in it.

8.   Share or describe a favorite review you received: I adore every single comment that every single reader takes the time to write! It always makes my day when I see a notification for one in my email! But I guess my favorites lately have been the ones where readers tell me I've convinced them to ship something they either hadn't considered or were ambivalent towards before.

9.   A time when writing was really, really hard: Alwaysssss! But especially as I tried to work on Chapter 17 of The Successor (and still haven't succeeded in finishing it). I was trying to get inside Opal's head and write from her perspective, but it just wasn't working, so I decided to take a break from it for a while.

10. A scene or character you wrote that surprised you: I enjoyed writing Tenzin in Tether more than I thought I would! Also, if someone told me back in 2020 that I'd become a Zolt stan, I probably wouldn't have believed them.

11. A favorite excerpt of your writing:

"Lin and Tenzin were very different, but with work, they worked. He liked his curry puffs mild and with mung beans, and she liked hers filled with five-spice pigchicken, and it was fine—so long as she didn’t try to kiss him too soon after dinner. Sure, he wouldn’t come with her to Kwong’s Cuisine or the ostrich-horse racetracks, and she wouldn’t meditate on Air Temple Island or help brush the bison, but they met in the middle, with walks in the park and afternoon spars and simple meals at mom and pop restaurants. 

It was enough that most days Lin could forget the soulmark she’d been born with—a swirling flame on the fleshy pad at the base of her thumb—or the nonbender’s fingerprint that had appeared on his shoulder three years back. Most days the soul bond hummed faint as a song on the radio two rooms away, vaguely there, but not immediate enough to command her attention.

Today was not one of those days," from Marked, my Linzolt soulmate AU.

12. How did you grow as a writer this year: I tried to branch out a little by writing different tropes like a coffee shop au and a soulmate au.

13. How do you hope to grow next year: This year I'd like to work on my emotional range as a writer. I write a lot of fluff, and I'd like to branch out into some other fic categories like angst and hurt/comfort. In short, I'm trying to make y'all cry this year!

14. Who was your greatest positive influence this year as a writer (could be another writer or beta or cheerleader or muse etc etc):

@orangepanic is such a prolific and talented writer (and also really nice and supportive of other writers)! Reading her work always inspires me to get back to my wips!

15. Anything from your real life show up in your writing this year: I think my lifelong love of city life has shown up in some of my Linzolt fics.

16. Any new wisdom you can share with other writers: Write what honestly makes you happy, not what you think you should be writing, if that makes sense.

17. Any projects you’re looking forward to starting (or finishing) in the new year: I have about three more chapters planned for The Successor and they will get written this year! I'm also really excited to keep working on House of the Flaming Boar, my au story in which married Linzolt end up as Mako and Bolin's foster parents.

18. Tag some writers whose answers you’d like to read: Anyone who'd like to participate!

[steele-soulmate]

Tattooed Wings, CHAPTER 390, Peter Steele & OFC, Soulmate AU

SUMMARY: Mary Claire Bradley meets her soulmate- literally- the famous Peter Steele of metal group Type O Negative. But will obstacles including trauma, stalkers, and toxic family members get in the way of their life?

WARNING: mentions of child rape (nothing graphic) PTSD, milk kink, soft smut, grinding, assault, fingering, hand jobs, blow jobs, 69, P in V sex, blood, noncon rape, blood, violence, death, vandalism, graffiti, attempted kidnapping, break-ins, wild animal attacks, terrorist attack (sabotage)

WORDS: 1193

I chuckled as I walked back out into the backyard, having disappeared inside to do my motherly duties and change Baby Tommy’s diaper. Aaron was barbequing up burgers and hotdogs on the grill and little girl was on his godfather’s chest, kicking up a fuss anyone would try to remove her.

“Daddy!” Baby Tommy whine from my arms, holding out his little baby arms as he showed what he wanted. I settled him in next to his sister, pressing a sweet kiss onto Peter’s lips.

 “KISS KISS!” demanded little girl, getting affection from me as well. “Baby Tommy kiss kiss!” She mashed her face onto his cheek with a loud MWAH, still associating the sound with the show of affection rather than the actual gesture.

 “Food’s ready!” Aaron called out just then before beginning to plate up the burgers and hot dogs, grinning as he talked to Benjimen and Daphne, the newly engaged pair beaming happily as they wafted in a daze of happiness and bliss. Adam and Anna were both sitting underneath the big oak tree that provided shade  to much of the backyard, Daisy lying next to the blind woman, keeping an eye out for any danger at all. The girls were in a cluster giggling as they talked preteen girl talk. Ephriam was complaining about how Bob enjoyed making everything in the office much harder while Evan handed out special cookies that he had made for the event at hand.

 “Mommy?” Katie meeped, coming to stand in front of me with bright pink cheeks. “I peed myself.”

 “Okay, let’s go inside and I’ll take care of you, okay now?” I told her in a gentle voice as I steered her inside. While she was in the bathroom taking care of herself, I was in her bedroom picking out a fresh pair of underwear and jeans. I knocked on the twin’s Jack and Jill bathroom and exchanged them for her ruined clothes. I went down into the laundry room to toss the jeans and underwear into for a quick wash cycle.

 As I was setting the spin cycle, Peter came tearing inside, fury clear as day on his face as he half stomped half limped his way to the front door, which he yanked opened before stepping outside and tearing into whoever was outside.

 I quickly finished up before heading out to see what had irked my terrifying husband’s ire. I pulled back the curtains in the sunroom and saw Peter yelling at a tiny, wizarding woman in a light lilac power skirt suit and I felt my heart drop.

 “Hello Mrs. Bradshaw, to what do I owe this visit to?” I asked in a sweet voice as I came out behind Peter and wrapped my arms loosely around his hips.

 “Mary Claire dear.” My hackles raised at the affectionate way she said my name, as though we were long old friends. “I hired a private investigator a few months back to check into the wellbeing of my son… and I was told that he had a child. I want to meet my grandchild-”

 “Not fucking happening!” Peter snarled, snorting out through his nose as he took a lumbering step forward. “Leave. Now. You’re trespassing.”

 “Aaron doesn’t want to see you,” I added in. “As the mother of little girl, I can clearly say fuck the ever shitting hell off of the property or else the police will be called.”

 I tugged my husband back into the house just as Daniel wandered inside with the babies in his arms.

 “Hey, what’s going on?” he wondered as he handed over a happily squealing little girl.

 “Aaron’s mother came and was demanding to see little girl,” I grumbled.

 BANG-BANG-BANG-BANG

 “My love!” I latched onto his arm as Mrs. Bradshaw began banging on the front door. “Daniel-”

 “On it.” His eyes were spitting out determination as he tossed his head back. “WHOOT WHOOT!”

 My other six brothers stampeded into the house, clustering tightly around Adam as he laid out a plan of attack before they all left the house.

 “God bless having seven extremely overprotective brothers,” I chuckled as Mrs. Bradshaw was forced to leave the property before my brothers came back inside.

 “Problem taken care of MC,” Gideon told us, swooping in to grab at little girl’s foot.

 Little girl let out a tired giggle as she clung to her beloved godfather, clearly near sleep as she gripped at Peter’s green shirt with one hand and his loose hair with her other fist.

 “Ah, is little girl tired?” I cooed as I took Baby Tommy from my older husband’s arms and carried him outside to say goodbye to the party attendees. I smiled my thanks at Evan and Ephriam, who started to break down the food table and the girls carried the food inside to be bagged up to be taken home.

 “Gramacy you two!” I thanked my brother and his boyfriend as Baby Tommy fell asleep in my arms. “My love, I’m going to go up now and feed Baby Tommy, alright?”

 “Alright sweetheart,” he agreed as he watched the party disbanding.

 I kipped up to the master bedroom, where I arranged myself on the bed and undressed myself to allow Baby Tommy to latch onto me.

 I was humming with a gentle smile on my face when I looked up and saw Peter lumbering into through the doorway, leaning heavily onto his cane as he limped his way up to the bed and collapsed onto it. I giggled as I squeezed my nipple, making a thin stream of milk fly out and nail Peter in the eyelid and the corner of his mouth.

 “You hungry you, big baby you?” I asked with a giggle, welcoming him in to feed off of my healthy supply of motherly milk and letting out a lazy sigh as he began to greedily suck from me, giving me a rather perverse joy in me feeding my two best boys.

 I hummed softly as I cupped at the back of my husband’s head, just holding him as I drifted off to sleep.

  Gramercy, thank you, old French?

 TAGLISTS ARE OPEN/ ASK BOX IS OPEN/ REQUESTS ARE OPEN/ PLOT BUNNIES ARE WELCOMED

 If you liked this, then please consider buying me a coffee HERE It only costs $3!!!

 PETER STEELE TAGLIST

@starchild0985​

[sunlightwoo]

blooming days

✁ pairing: soulmate!wooyoung x g.n reader

✁ genre: h…hana….hanahaki au… childhood friends to almost lovers trope, angst, slight fluff, sad ending warnings: mentions of death, descriptions of blood but it’s not explicitly mentioned, reader throws/coughs up a lot of petals | rated: 16+

✁ wc: 2027

✁ plot: if you could be a flower, you wouldn’t be any but rather the thorns that are often adorned on the stems of beautiful scarlet roses. the thorn could symbolize anything, but for you, it’s a constant reminder of the unlucky bond that you have with your soulmate; especially when you can do nothing but cough out petals in secret.

✁ a/n: hello welcome to the halfway point of the desire [rewritten] collection!! this specific piece is actually my part in @th84u​‘s a sad smile collab i’m technically late on (i’m so sorry) however i hope you guys enjoyed this piece, even though it’s not a happy ending!! i hope to see you guys on the next part, and please be sure to check out the other authors participating in this collab also!!!

desire [rewritten] navi | ateez masterlist | main navi

“Y/N, hurry up! You’re gonna be late to your own graduation!”

The sound of your best friend’s voice rings out throughout the air as you are rushing out of your room with your cap barely hanging on at the ends of your fingertips. There was a lot of clamor going on in the small living room of your shared apartment, but you knew that it was because of the events that were going on today as you were all struggling to make sure that you would get to your college graduation on time. 

After years of struggling together in college, and even through the different phases that you each went through before that, you and your best friend, Wooyoung were finally getting your diplomas and getting away from the hellhole that would mark a new chapter in your lives. 

“I’m coming! Am I carpooling with you or what?” You say while putting on your cap for a moment, making sure that you’d look okay in the moment that you were about to head towards the large football field, but he gives you a look before shaking his head in response. 

“I’m taking Gaeul with me, but I know Mingi still has room in his car. Besides, we’ll still meet up to take pictures and get food after to celebrate, right?” He offers, making you nod in response as you grin at the very thought of finally being at the finish line of your academic career. 

“Of course! We always make sure to celebrate together!”

However, the next couple hours were adamant on proving you wrong as you must’ve lost him in the crowd. In the midst of cheering and celebrating with your mutual best friends such as San, Mingi, Yunho and Yeosang, you couldn’t find the dark haired male that you were dying to celebrate this big milestone in your life with. It wasn’t until your eyes scan across the field to see him embracing his girlfriend in his arms that makes your heart sink for a moment as you watch him spin her around before kissing her with all the love in him. 

There’s a bitter feeling that settles in your heart that you wished that maybe he had gone to you first since the two of you had always talked about this moment for as long as you could remember. All the memories building up to this moment such as sharing meals late at night, talking about the professors you had hated and the courses that you were so terribly suffering in; you felt some strange feeling in your heart as you could feel something heavy in your lungs. 

A petal falls from the sky as it lands onto the palm of your hand gently and you look to see that it was a petal of a white lily. Little did you know what that had meant for you, for the rest of your life.

You’ve always heard about the tales of the hanahaki disease. 

It was one in which you had always felt sadness, pain for those that had suffered because of this rare disease, that just so happened to be a soulmate bond. There were stories that you have heard where the only reason that you would have hanahaki is because your soulmate had not reciprocated the bond’s powers. You think that it could never be you in the chances that this happens, because you couldn’t be bothered to be in love with someone knowing the slim possibilities of them being your soulmate.

You think that it was absurd even, that a soulmate could have that much power over someone’s well being that it could cause for them to have some sort of flower rooting inside of their hearts. However, you were sadly a victim to the hanahaki disease, as sad as it may seem, and the younger version of you would’ve been ecstatic at the fact that you had finally found your soulmate. 

You and Wooyoung had always been you and Wooyoung, up until the point that he had gotten together with his now girlfriend in your third year of college. You weren’t sure when these feelings had existed in the first place, when you had always been fond of the said boy platonically. 

Was it when he had taken you home from a bad date that made your heart flutter, because it was so late in the night? Was it maybe during that time when you were suffering from a horrible sickness that he somehow was immune to, nursing you back to health when you were bed ridden for over a week? Or was it him always finding a way to take care of you when you were at the lowest points in life, because he knew the right things to say and do so that the smile would somehow still appear on your face at the end of the day. 

Whatever it was, you cursed yourself for it as you had slowly been suffering for the past four years of the hanahaki disease. 

You had found out that the night of your graduation was the first day that the roots were blossoming in your lungs. Every so often, you would cough up a petal or two of white lilies, it wasn’t until recently that the disease had gotten worse and that you could only take deep breaths in order to live properly. The only person that has ever known about this disease was San, however even with his encouragement these past few years had led to you never doing it, because now you were both sitting in the aisles of a wedding ceremony, watching the said individual get married. 

It seemed so torturous, as you were struggling to hold down the white lilies that were almost at full blossom, and you knew that at any given moment, you could die because you never treated the hanahaki. 

You watch painfully as the others have given your speech, a sad smile on your lips and you slightly turn to tug on San’s sleeve to point over towards where the bathroom was. He frowns at your state, seeing as though all the colors that were previously on your face were gone and he motions for you to wait for a moment, not realizing that it was your turn to finally give your speech to the happy couple.

“Here Y/N.” Yunho smiles softly, handing you the microphone gently as you take it into your hands. For a moment, you just stared at everyone who was staring back at you in the reception, until your eyes landed on Wooyoung’s calming ones. 

You pitied your own heart and the universe for this.  

“To the happy couple, I can only wish you the best from here on out. I’ve known you both since our college days, and I couldn’t even imagine how happy the two of you make each other,” You say breathlessly, feeling your own tears pool at the corners of your eyes but you looked at the ceiling to push them away, knowing that you could only blame yourself for never telling him. 

“I hope that Wooyoung treats you with all the love that the world has to offer, Gaeul. He’s the most loving, hardworking, but also amazing person in the world, and I’m even honored to call him my other half. I hope your marriage lives as long as the night stars in the sky.” 

You give the microphone back to Yunho and turn to leave the reception, heading for the gardens that were just outside of the glass windows. The moment that the night breeze hits your skin, so do the tears that you had been struggling to keep in as you start to cough up more white lily petals into your hands the moment that you found a bench to sit on. Ironically, you were surrounded by orchids and other arrangements of flowers, making you wonder if this was the universe’s cruel way of joking with you. 

You had just watched your best friend, and your soulmate, get married to someone else that wasn’t you. It was getting harder to breathe as there were stained lilies in your hands, but you couldn’t see anything else as your tears blurred your vision, and apparently your hearing too, because you didn’t even hear the footsteps that were slowly approaching your shaking figure. 

“Y/N…”

You instantly freeze before turning to see Wooyoung standing underneath the moonlight, noticing how he was frozen in his place as well just seconds until he approaches you slowly. His eyes trail down to the lily petals that were in your hands and it doesn’t take long for him to connect the dots, making him wonder how long you had kept this a secret from him. 

“I’ve loved you for five years, Wooyoung; five years that I’ve been in love with you from afar, and there wasn’t anything that I could do to prevent this without the factor that I would forget who you are if I got them removed.” You say, releasing the petals onto the ground in front of you and you couldn’t stop the tears that were streaming down your face. 

Wooyoung felt like he was slapped in the face as he took a seat on the bench beside you before taking your hands into his warm ones, but you removed them almost immediately, missing the pang of hurt that was obvious on his face. You couldn’t be like this with him, on today of all days, because he was now married, and there wasn’t anything you could do, except blame yourself for not telling him sooner. 

“Sometimes, I think about what we could be and what would’ve happened if we turned back time… Like what if I had told you that we were actually soulmates-”

“Y/N, stop.” 

His voice quivers for a moment and you turn your head for the first time tonight to look at him as you notice the tears that were pooling in his eyes. Had you been selfish keeping this information from him, knowing that the two of you were soulmates the whole time? Probably, but right now you had nothing else to lose as you knew that there was no other cure for you, because as you looked at the boy in front of you, you could feel the flowers slowly starting to burn in your chest, but not for the reason that you had liked. 

“Why… Why couldn’t you just tell me back when you knew?” He asks you in disbelief, standing up to look at you and you shrug for a moment as you thought about it as well, but you knew what the answer was anyways deep down. 

“Because I knew that you would never look at me then, the same way that you look at her now,” You bitterly smile, letting out a short laugh before standing up from the bench as if the hanahaki had never existed, “Wooyoung, you’re married now… I’ll be okay, I promise.” 

There’s another figure that enters the scenery unfolding in front of you, and you think that maybe the reason he had stuck by you was the same reason that you had been staying by Wooyoung the entire time. Maybe the feeling of your chest feeling lighter from the moment that you confessed to him about the truth was the universe’s second chance for you. You realized in this moment that maybe it was okay that you were now broken soulmates, because you didn’t lose the love that you had for him, nor did you forget about the memories that you two had. 

They’d just have to be filled with another soulmate that the universe will give to you, and you wonder if it was the male that had been watching you the whole time from afar; hoping that you don’t die on him the same way that he might on you if you didn’t realize it sooner.

“Maybe we weren’t meant to be soulmates, but deep down, I’ll still love you. Just not in the way that we might want it to be overall in the end.”

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