#father/son duo forced to act like they’ve never met each other before so they don’t lose each other again

[pixelaves]

hey guys it’s me, your uncle who works at fairly oddparents. quick take these very real season 2 leaks before they find m

[agrestenoir]

origins (role reversal au)

i.

When Marinette is eleven, her mother goes missing.

There’s a major media presence that sweeps across the country as a result, local police and government officials coming out in droves to help locate the prolific Sabine Dupain-Cheng. As one half of the famous fashion designing duo, the Dupain-Cheng’s, her case elicits a strong following.

When Adrien is eleven, his mother goes missing.

No one comments on the baker’s wife. There are more important things to worry about.

*

ii.

At fifteen, Marinette is one of the most sought after girls in Paris. With a famous fashion designer as a father, and a model for many of his latest pieces, there’s not a soul in the city that hasn’t heard of her. Most might think she has the perfect life—full of fame and money—but they don’t know what it’s like to be a lonely, little girl with a mourning father living in a huge house with no one else to turn to.

 Marinette spends her days with her father’s assistant, Theo, and her tutors, and in her free time, she stitches designs of her own, staring out the window of the mansion, which is becoming more like a prison with each passing day than the home her parents had raised her in.

(She tries not to think about the time before everything changed. When public school was a part of her present, her friends were numerous, and her mother was still there. It was a time when she was happy, and now, she doesn’t know what to feel.)

At fifteen, Adrien comes to school with flour streaks on his cheeks and frosting-stained fingers fumbling for his chair. Tardy again due to his father’s late morning, he prays for the day his father will wake up, drop the bottle, and go on living. (It’s been four years though, and he thinks it’s time to give up hope.)

His life goes like this: wake up, bake while his father puts himself together, go to school, close up, and go to sleep. So long as habit and routine dictate his life, nothing new will ever happen, and for Adrien, that’s the biggest shame of all. He wants change, he wants his father back, he wants his mother.

(He tries not to think of the time before when everything was perfect. When togetherness and laughter were the building blocks of the bakery, when his father didn’t spend most of his time in the attic, and his mother was still here. It was a time when he was happy, and now, he just feels hopeless.)

*

iii.

Wayzz senses the evil before it strikes, and Master Fu is on a mission.

His search leads him to the quiet corner of a bustling Paris street and to a young boy who’s rushing off to his first day of school. One heart-stopping moment later, there’s a car, a rescue, and a thank-you as the boy rushes off to class. Even if he needs an act of kindness to prove it, Master Fu made his decision long ago.

“He’s looks like his mother,” Wayzz tells him.

Master Fu only nods.

It’s fitting, he decides, that the past holder of the Peacock Miraculous, the guardian of protection and watchfulness, had a son with a heart big enough and kind enough to handle the Miraculous of chaos.

Perhaps Adrien Agreste was always meant to be the Black Cat.

(If he senses the strong evil presence above the bakery, he chooses to ignore it. Destiny works in mysterious ways, as he learned long ago.)

Marinette has always been quick on her feet.

She leaves through her window, slips down the tangled branches of the old maple tree near her bedroom, and climbs over the black iron gate that borders her property. It takes approximately fifteen minutes, and it’s long before Tom Dupain-Cheng notices his only daughter’s absence.

She almost makes it too, standing at the steps of the public school, where her friends eagerly await her arrival, if it isn’t for the old man who collapses at the end of the street. The way Marinette sees it, there’s not really a decision at all. She bolts to the man without a second thought, offering a hand and a smile.

“Are you alright?” she asks, even as she hears Theo pull up alongside the curb.

The old man stares at her with a twinkle in his eye. “I’m fine,” he says, “And thank you.”

With a hand on her shoulder, Theo leads her away, already dialing Tom’s number, even with Marinette’s breathless plea of, “Please don’t tell Papa.” Her father only wants the best, she knows, and she’s seen the tired look in his eyes, the heavy bags he carries around, the hunched shoulders and quiet voice. He doesn’t want to lose her too, but he doesn’t understand that the more he locks her away, the more she slowly withers away, until he finally does lose the daughter he’s trying so desperately to protect.

“Her father seems a bit protective,” Wayzz remarks.

Master Fu nods. “They’ve always been a close family. I think it was her mother’s influence. Bees tend to look after their hive quite closely, you know.”

“Do you really think she’s the best choice then?”

Master Fu looks at the worn box in his hand and smiles to himself, knowing that perhaps all Marinette Dupain-Cheng needs is a little luck in her life.

*

iv.

“Nooroo, dark wings rise!”

For Adrien, for his mother, Gabriel Agreste tells himself. We’ve suffered enough. It’s time for others to have a taste.

The first akuma slips out of the skylight and flies over the Paris streets.

*

v.

The first day of school is quite eventful.

Ivan turns into rock giant, Nino runs after him with the new girl, Alya, on his heels, and Adrien is at a loss of how to proceed. His classmate turning into a monster is not part of his carefully crafted routine, so he heads home as it’s the only option.

Marinette watches from her bedroom, tear tracks still drying from her father’s soft I just want you to be safe the moment she returned home.

“The police can’t stop it,” the news anchor is saying, and she wishes there was something she could do.

Both look down at the worn boxes in front of them, curiosity spiking. There’s flashes of light, and kwamis appear, and a few seconds of shock are allowed. They leap into action as easily as they fall in love, easy to get into but hard to give up. (They still can’t get over their mothers, even though it’s been four years.)

Clad in a red and black-spotted suit, Marinette zips through the city with a smile on her face, glad she can finally do something. With his black leather armor, Adrien slips out the back door of the bakery, following the shadows to the arena as something finally sparks in his chest, like he’s finally got something to fight for.

Neither know what they’re doing, and it shows in the way they fight, but at the end of the day, they have each other.

“Call me Chat Noir,” he says, making stupid puns and oozing charisma, and after a while, his laughter doesn’t sound as hollow.

“I guess that makes me Ladybug,” she tells him, forcing a smile onto her face, and after a while, it finally feels real.

(It’s the first time in a long while neither feel alone.)

*

vi.

“I just want you to be safe and happy,” Tom tells her later that night once the akuma has settled.

“I know,” Marinette says, voice thick with tears, and slips into his open arms, squeezing her father tightly. “But I’m not happy here.”

So Marinette finally gets to go to public school where her old friend, Chloe, begrudgingly offers her a soft hello (Marinette is sure that Chloe still hasn’t forever her for leaving in the first place) and meets a new friend named Alya, whose eyes are fire and whose smile hangs the sun.

“We’re both new,” Alya says, “We need to stick together, girl.”

“That sounds great,” Marinette tells her, just happy to be with a friend.

Alya grips her hand and points across the classroom. “I can introduce you to Nino later. He’s really cool, and he loves superheroes like me. Now that Paris has its own Ladybug and Chat Noir, I think me and him are going to start up a blog together.”

At this point, Marinette is only half listening as she locks eyes with the boy she used to know (quite, quite well), offering him a tentative wave when he glances her way, and he returns it with a soft smile.

(Some things, she tells herself, you just don’t give up.)

When she catches sight of the boy next to him, with tousled blonde hair and bright green eyes, she nudges Alya with her elbow. ‘Who’s that?” she asks, pointing to the other kid.

“Oh?” Alya cocks her head. “That’s Adrien Agreste. I just met him yesterday, but he seems pretty quiet. Nino’s like… his only friend, I guess.”

Suddenly Adrien raises his gaze, meets her eyes, and she waves to him and mouths a silent hello. He prompts ignores her, turning back to his tablet instead. Inside, a bubble of frustration pops in Marinette’s chest, and she whips around to the board.

(Some things, she tells herself, aren’t worth fighting for.)

Adrien is buried in his tablet as Nino nudges his side, a concerned expression on his face. “Dude, what’s with the new girl? You not like her or something?”

Biting his bottom lips, Adrien can only shrug. “I guess I’m just not in the mood to meet new people.”

(And he isn’t, he really isn’t. When the people you love leave you, it’s hard to put yourself out there and find people who want to stay. Nino, frankly, is the only one who’s ever tried, and Adrien’s afraid to try again.)

“Well don’t be an asshole about it, dude,” Nino tells him.

“I wasn’t being an—”

Nino cuts him off. “Yes, you kinda were.”

Oh no, Adrien thinks to himself.

*

vii.

The akuma is back, and Marinette feels like she’s failed.

Chat Noir puts his hands on her shoulders and whispers the right words in her ear because he never wants anyone to feel as hopeless as he always does. “You can do this,” he says, “Even if no one believes you can, I do. Okay, so just trust me, Ladybug.”

Marinette can only think of her father, who keeps trying, of her missing mother, who everyone has given up on, and of Adrien Agreste, who won’t give anyone a chance. “Okay,” she tells him, “I will.”

(Chat Noir, she decides, is worth fighting for.)

Soon the akuma is defeated, and Marinette is almost sad. She doesn’t want to leave her new partner, but she carries with her the promise that she’ll see him again soon.

*

viii.

Adrien watches Ladybug cast her Miraculous Cure and can’t help but smile. “I knew you could do it, bugaboo.”

“Don’t call me that.” She slugs him on the arm, but there’s a warm smile on her face. “Maybe I should start calling you chaton.”

Adrien throws his head back and laughs, body shaking. “You know, I could get used to that!”

“No, n-no, this isn’t how this works,” Marinette sputters, eyes wide.

But Adrien keeps laughing until his cheeks hurt, his shoulders ache, and his heart feels like it’s grown two sizes.

He can’t remember the last time he was so happy.

*

ix.

It’s raining when her first day of school ends.

She holds a hand up to the stormy sky, water droplets dripping from her cold fingers, and lets out a sigh. Theo isn’t the most responsible person her father has ever hired, but at this point, he’s family and you don’t let family go. So as she debates whether to call Theo up and remind him to pick her up or make a run for it, she leans against the brick entrance of the school, jumping when she hears the front door opening.

Turning on her heels, she goes to flash the person a warm smile, freezing when she catches sight of Adrien Agreste. Ducking her head instead, she turns back to the rain and hopes that the storm will wash him away and that he’ll leave soon.

But he doesn’t leave.

He shifts his weight slightly, a black umbrella at his side. “So,” he announces suddenly, flashing her a soft smile. “It’s been brought to my attention that I was kind of an asshole this morning.”

Marinette snorts, turning her gaze to her shoes. There’s a short moment of silence between them, the span of a single heartbeat, and then Adrien is handing his umbrella to her.

“An apology,” he offers.

Marinette scans the streets, looking for a car that wasn’t there, looking at the streets that are drenched in the downpour. “You need it, don’t you?” she questions, brows furrowed in confusion.

“I owe you though.”

They stare at one another, blue eyes and green locked, and for a moment, time stands still. “Why are you being so nice to me?” Marinette finally finds the courage to ask. “Alya said you… Well, I thought you didn’t… like… people.”

Sighing to himself, Adrien can only shrug helplessly. “I don’t make a lot of friends. It’s not that easy for me.”

Marinette nods in understanding. “Trust me, I know the feeling.”

“Well,” Adrien pauses, unsure of how to continue. But then he presses the umbrella into her hands, the warmth of his skin lighting a buzz against hers, and her breath catches in her throat. “Maybe I can be yours. I mean, I’d… like to. I’d like to be your friend, Marinette, if you’ll give me a second chance.”

And there she is, Marinette Dupain-Cheng, the girl who’s always been lonely finally making a friend. And there he is, Adrien Agreste, the boy who’s always given up finally taking a chance. The two are silent for a few more seconds, but then Marinette takes the umbrella and walks down the stairs.

She pauses midway, turning on her heel and flashing Adrien a small smile. “You know, if you want to apologize, you could walk me home. That way none of us have to get wet.”

Adrien only nods, returning her warm smile. “O-Of course, yeah, let’s do that.”

(Both of their hearts pound a little bit harder in their chests.)

*

x.

“Excellent choice, Master,” Wayzz tells the old man, who watches the two walk away under a black umbrella.

Master Fu can only laugh. “Those two are made for each other.”

[clevernewdimension]

Exhaulted Part Eighteen

Parts: Prologue, One, Two, Three (M), Four, Five, Six (M), Seven, Eight, Nine, Ten, Eleven, Twelve, Thirteen, Fourteen, Fifteen, Sixteen, Seventeen, Eighteen, Nineteen (Coming Soon!)

Genre: Drama, Romance, Violence, etc.

Pairing: SehunxReaderxMinseok

Word Count: 5.2K

A/N: Sorry if this seems disjointed. Trying my best. Now? NAP TIME~!

The next few days flew by in the blink of an eye. Jiyeong was shocked to hear my decision but supported it since he knew it was coming from a good place. Apprehensively, though. Thankfully, since I was just going to be an acting princess, the duties required of me are very limited. Just be there for balls and dinners. Meetings are a no go since, apparently, ‘princesses aren’t fit to be in them’. I was assured by Junmyeon that it was just me, not all women. There are plenty of women in the meetings, just never female royalty. Which, he agreed with me, was still fairly fucked up. What I learned from Junmyeon was that Princes are given duties to perform and things to look over. Princesses are just candy to look at and things to trade. Needless to say, it made me very, VERY, angry that for the foreseeable future I was going to be some sort of doll on display.

I’m allowed to live in my old apartment, but the security has been boosted for the building. Now you need a password to even open the doors, and if you don’t live there someone who knows you have to buzz you in. Thankfully, since the landlady has been skyrocketing the rent, only three people lived in the building now. One was Mrs. Riss and her two dogs, the other is a couple. I don’t know their names, but they’ve always been very kind to me. I won’t have to worry about them letting people in who shouldn’t be there. Not to mention the password to use the elevator and passwords for the stairwell, too. This change didn’t bother me as much because I know Daejung has some friends that are shady. I managed to talk my father out of a 24/7 bodyguard, thankfully. However, I am having to take self-defense courses, that requirement was suggested by Sehun in the super brief moment I saw once him four days ago.

Junmyeon spends days with me, teaching me manners and how to bow properly. All the etiquette one needed. I was good at it, apparently, but he always said that I did have to focus on when to speak and when to remain silent. I don’t blame him, anyone who knows me knows I have a fucking mouth and I don’t really back down. Junmyeon shrugs, in the middle of the lesson on how to sit properly. Yes, sit. “You have a mouth on you, Y/N. Royalty from other countries can and will use just the smallest insult to start an international affair. Some are just drooling for the slightest chance to go to war with us.”

“That’s fucked up,” I mutter, taking a sip of my tea. I was uncomfortable, my back straight and my legs crossed at the ankles. Junmyeon just sighed at my choice of words before tapping on one my shoulders back into place.

Every day for the past five days I had lessons like this. He was very patient with me and helped me learn how to act. “Being royalty is just an act”, he told me, “an act you have to perfect.”

All we’ve covered so far was just walking, sitting and standing and I was already tired of it. I wanted to lean back in my chair and quit sitting like I have a stick up my ass. Next week we have to go through the proper way to eat and drink since there’s going to be some sort of dinner to celebrate this announcement. The Dukes and Duchesses from Exdria will be there, ready to judge my every movement. Jihae was certainly getting her wish of making my life hell.

The self-defense lessons were given to me by Kyungsoo, which makes sense. He is, after all, the son of the general of the military. He’s been trained how to fight in every way since he was small. Kyungsoo knows what he’s doing and takes it very seriously. After my first lesson, that was very evident. Apparently, these are not a ‘this is what you do when someone gets you into a hold’ kind of lessons. Sure, I learned those too, but he taught me some basic punches and kicks. He’s thankfully very patient with me. I’ve never hit someone. Not like, really hit them. So, our first lesson, he taught me how to make a fist and instructed me to punch him in the face. Two and a half hours later, my fist met his face. It bruised, but he told me it was overall really weak.

From then on, we worked on how to get out of grabs and holds. The first time he grabbed me in real time and not slowly pretending, my mind flooded with memories of Daejung. My previous natural instinct kicked in and I just… went limp. I didn’t fight him, I let Kyungsoo sling me around. He was expecting me to put up some sort of a fight, so there was some force. After, when I finally realized what happened, he apologized over and over. It is a hard habit to break. I’d freeze and just stand there, or, now, hesitate slightly before I do what I need in order to break his grasp. It was progress. Tiny and slow, but still there.

I was exhausted. After the fifth etiquette and self-defense duo lessons, I had my tattoo appointment and added the sunflower for Lina. It was more painful than I remember, but the result was stunning. It itched, but after five days, it will be mostly normal. Now, a whole week into these lessons, the news broke out and now I was officially Song Y/N, Acting Princess of Exdria. The first time I stepped foot out of the palace, I was swarmed by people holding microphones and cameras to my face, asking for answers for why I was hidden so long. Thankfully, my father was there and answered the questions. Some lies are thrown into the mix, but overall, it was very positive. I was nervous as I went to my place. My face is all over social media, the news talking about me, and my face all over magazines and newspapers. I was the hot topic of every daytime television show. Already it was all overwhelming.

But I have to do this. This isn’t for me. It’s for the good of the country.

After another long day of lessons with Junmyeon and Kyungsoo, meeting with my father and receiving gifts of congratulations from royals of other countries, I was finally about two feet from my apartment. My hands filled with bags of overpriced gifts that I’ll never use, I was content to know that I was now allowed to just resume my life as close to normal as possible. I check my mail, seeing the results of my previous year in school. All A’s, top 1% of the country. Somehow that part felt just… hollow. My final painting graded, and out of 250 points, it was 244. 97 percent. I was thrilled, and my professor chose it to feature in a gallery. I can’t wait to see it hanging in all its glory. People also go there to bid on students work too, which is awesome, not that I have to worry about money for a while.

I unlocked my door, walking in and setting the bags next to the door. There’s nothing perishable in them, it can wait. I turn, looking towards the living room. My eyes widen at what I see.

Sehun was on the bean bag, waving at me with a blushing, embarrassed face. Minseok was standing, turned to me once I walked in. My heart was frozen glancing at them. Minseok looks tired, bags under his eyes. His suit jacket was on the couch, his tie loose and his sleeves rolled up. A few folders were beside his jacket along with his glasses. Sehun was the opposite. He was dressed in pajamas pants, a sleeveless tee. His hoodie was beside Minseok’s on the couch and his shoes and socks by the door. Where Minseok’s hair was neat and perfectly placed, Sehun’s looked like bedhead from hell.

My mood from finding out about my painting fell immediately. My heart was hurting, knowing what was about to happen. I didn’t want to hear the rejection, never mind hearing it twice back to back.

“We owe you an explanation,” Minseok says, nodding. He looked nervous as he started to fidget a bit. “Um…”

Sehun stands, now being the calm one. “Minseok and I have been in a weird ‘on and off’ thing for two years. Mostly off when he’s SUPER busy or back down in the South. No one knows about it. We kept it to ourselves. It was our secret thing just for us.”

My throat felt tight as I remained silent for a few seconds until it was clear to me they were waiting for me to reply. I nod, “Oh… well, I’m happy for you both. I-I just want you both to be h-happy.”

“We were going to tell you,” Minseok says, running a hand through his hair, finally messing it up. “We just… we don’t know how to explain it, really.”

“We love each other,” Sehun says, not nervous at all.

The way Sehun said it so nonchalantly broke my heart like he wasn’t even considering my feelings. I nod, “Alright, well… um. Thank you for telling me.” I turn towards my room, walking quickly as my eyes started to fill with tears. I am happy for them, truly. I want them to be happy because they’re two amazing and lovely people. I’m just sad my heart had to be stupid.

“Y/N, wait-” Minseok says as I shut the door behind me, locking it.

“I understand and I’m happy for you. Really, I just need some time to myself, ok?” I explain as the silent tears finally fell.

“You didn’t let us finish,” Sehun mutters as his voice is now next to the door. The knob rattles a bit. “Come on, please face us!”

“No, it’s fine, I understand really,” I say, just standing by the door. “I hope you and Minseok are happy. I want you both to just… be fine.”

Minseok sighs, “But-”

“Please,” I say, “This is hard enough as it is. Princess lessons, being the newest hot topic and plastered all over the news, the whole trial with Daejung… I don’t need to add heartbreak to the list, ok? Rejection hurts so if we could just get this over with that would be ideal.”

“I love you too,” Sehun says, his voice loud as if he couldn’t take it anymore. “I love Minseok, but I love you too. Minseok loves me, but he loves you too!” The handle rattles again before he sighs. “Minseok is fine, but I didn’t want to say anything to you. I mean, doesn’t it sound stupid?” It was quiet for a moment before his voice softly says, “I felt like an idiot. I love Minseok for so long that falling for you felt like I was betraying him. I thought I was a broken idiot. Who the fuck falls for two people? All the love stories are about two people who love each other and then happily ever whatever bullshit. I was scared to tell Minseok. When I did, I didn’t expect him to be so understanding. He told me that it’s ok to love more than one person.” Sehun said, his voice becoming more and softer at his speech went on. “It’s uncommon, sure, but it does exist. And it’s weird, I know, but… all I know is I love the both of you.”

“And you’re not broken either, Y/N,” Minseok’s voice says through the door. “I know you love the two of us too. But we aren’t here to make you decide. We’re not standing here saying now or never. We just don’t want your heart broken. We never wanted that. Sehunnie told me when he finally realized you saw us, why you looked just so defeated.” Minseok says through the door, his voice softer than before. “I can’t imagine how you must have felt, seeing what happened in the courtroom, standing up to Daejung because of me… only to see us do that.”

“We didn’t want you to felt like we were leading you on or anything,” Sehun voice rings out. “We just… Seeing him hurt like that for just wanting to help people? It hurt so badly. But in the process of helping Minnie, I hurt you. I can’t tell you how fucking awful I feel about that.”

It was silent for a moment as I was leaning against my door, listening to the two of them, my mind swimming. It was like the conversation I had with Chanyeol and Baekhyun, about loving more than one person. They thought it was fine too. Is it fine?

“We’re not here to make you choose or anything,” Minseok says, “We just wanted to explain and say that… it’s ok, Y/N. We don’t care if you love both of us, one of us or even neither of us. We’re just glad you’re safe and want to make sure you know you can still trust us.”

I turn, unlocking the door. Opening it slowly, I see the two men taking a small step back. It was kind of funny, seeing them side by side. Minseok was smaller than Sehun, and yet still fairly taller than I am.

“Oh Y/N,” Minseok says as he sees my face, reaching over and wiping the tears.

“It’s just… God, I’m so fucking stressed,” I mutter. “Between princess lessons, self-defense shit, now having the eyes of a whole country on me… I just thought you both were here just to explain and I just… didn’t want to deal with it all right now.”

“I can’t imagine how stressed you are,” Minseok says as he pats my shoulder.

I scoff, wiping my eyes as I brush past them to get a paper towel. “Yes you can,” I mutter, “You’re THE Royal Lawyer now. You’re probably up to your eyes in paperwork and court shit. Nevermind the fact that people are hounding you for going after their friends.”

“To be fair,” Sehun says, walking over and leaning on the bar, “You being now an A.P. has drawn all the attention away from him. He’s old news. Everyone wants to know about you and who you are. From where you shop down to what brand of shampoo you use.”

“Ew,” I say, making both of the men in front of me laugh. I wipe my face before I blow my nose, disposing of it quickly. “I literally just get whatever’s cheapest…”

“What’s all the gifts,” Minseok asks, distracting from the still a bit uncomfortable topic.

“Foreign dignitaries and royals sending their congratulations and regards,” Sehun says, rolling his eyes. “They assume you’re like them. There are probably hundreds of thousands of dollars in jewelry and clothes sitting there that she’ll likely never want to wear but will have to wear other wise they’ll take it as an insult.”

“So fucking dumb,” I mutter. “There’s a necklace with an amethyst so large I could kill something with it.”

“Purple is a royal color.” Minseok smiled, “Well, Junmyeon did say that one of the Princesses from Rivorha seemed to have nailed your style spot on.”

I nod, “Apparently her country is known for its chocolate! Yum!”

Sehun just smiled, “Princess Selinya. Unlike others, she actually tried for something that people will actually like and use. For my birthday this year, she sent me a blanket that literally feels like a cloud.”

Minseok gives him a curious look, “Wasn’t that who Song tried to marry you off to?” He takes a few steps to the bags, searching for them.

“Really,” I ask, looking at him shocked before I turn to get something to drink from the fridge. The bottle of water cold in my hand as I turned to face them again.

Sehun nods, a smile on his face, “She and I are friends. When we have to visit we spent time together, so he thought it was a perfect match. What Song and her father don't know is that she has a secret lover. The people of her country are not open, so she has to hide her girlfriend.”

I frown, “That’s sad.”

“It is. Shame, really. Rivorha is beautiful, and their justice system is one I’d love to implement here.” Minseok was looking, before holding up a bottle, reading the label. “Damn, champagne. Great brand too!”

“Keep it,” I mutter, “After my first encounter with alcohol, I’m fine with never drinking it again. Ever.”

Minseok doesn’t need to be told twice, picking up the bag that contained three bottles of it. “If the person who sent it asks, tell them you had a get together of friends and drank it there. If you tell them you gave it away they’ll take offense.”

“Stupid Royals and their big fucking egos,” I mutter.

“Some of us have a reason for having big egos,” Sehun says with a smile.

“Arrogance isn’t a good look on you, Hun,” Minseok mutters, his voice playful.

I roll my eyes, “Well, how about you and your ego scram. I’m sore from the self-defense class and planning on spending a long time in the tub.”

“I’ve had Kyungsoo throw me around too, it isn’t pleasant.” Minseok smiles, “Um. We know you’re stressed right now, so don’t worry about us and relationship anything for now, ok? I know I speak for the both of us when we say we just want you to focus on what you need to. Think things through, ok?”

“Put what you need for once, will you,” Sehun says, crossing his arms. “It’s hard to see you like this. Let loose once in awhile, whatever way you can.” The smile on his face turned to a smirk as he practically sings his next words. “I know Jongin or even Junmyeon wouldn’t mind helping in that regard!”

“How did you-”

“Jongin is my best friend, Y/N,” Sehun says with a smile, “You left one nice hickey right on the side of his neck for everyone to see! Just asked and he’ll eventually spill. And don’t get me started on Jun! I just had to mention how pretty you are and his face gets so red that just one little prod and he’s spilling his secrets!”

I roll my eyes, “Shut it, will you!”

Minseok laughs, shaking his head, “Rest well, ok?” He wraps me in his embrace, being careful not to hug me too tightly. I nodded, hugging him back. It felt warm and comforting as it usually does. He gave me a small kiss on my forehead before he’s opening the front door. What was weird was he left, closing the door after him. Sehun stood for a moment before finally looking me in the eyes.

“Minseok has to go after the judges first. So, unfortunately, Daejung is out on bail. There’s a restraining order, so he can’t legally get close to you, but you know how that goes. Minseok thought it would be best if I told you,” He says, looking angry. “He feels guilty, and it’s eating at him. I wish he could go after him first. I don’t want him harassing you.”

I nod, biting my lip, “Thank you, for telling me.”

He nods, “If anything happens here and you don’t feel safe, you’re welcome to come back to my place. To have your own room again and not… you know. I don’t want to force you to... I just want to make sure you’re safe is all.”

I smile, seeing how awkward he felt as I watched his blushing cheeks turn a deeper shade of red. “Thank you, Sehun. If I feel uneasy, I’ll make sure to tell you, ok?”

He glanced up, looking at me before looking away, one hand scratching his head. His voice was low as he mumbled,  “How in the hell do the others do this?”

“Do what,” I ask, smirking.

His face got even redder, “You know. Talk to someone when they’re in… when they have some sort of feelings for them. Now you know and it just makes me more nervous than it did before.”

I giggle a bit, “Did you do this with Minseok too?”

“Yes,” He blurts out quickly. He runs a hand through his hair nervously. “For like… six goddamn months! It was humiliating, even after we slept together I was still a stuttering mess!”

I laugh, before leaning forward and hugging him. “You have nothing to be worried about, I assure you. Hell, you probably know me better than anyone by now.”

He hugged me, wrapping his tall frame around me and enveloping me easily. I rest my head on his chest, hearing his heart beating quickly. He was nervous, I couldn’t help but notice. All of our hugs before have come from talking about some awful shit or when we’re freaking out. A hug just for the sake of it felt like a very welcomed change of pace. His arms wrapped around my shoulders and I wrap mine around his thin waist. Minseok’s hug was quick, but I could tell Sehun just wanted to savor the moment. He sighed before pulling away, looking down into my eyes. His brown eyes staring into my green ones. “Fuck it,” He mutters, before placing his hands on either side of my face. They were warm as he held me there softly. He just smiled as he leaned down, his lips meeting mine softly.

The kiss was soft and just as quick as it started it was done. I looked at him, to see him smiling down. “I just… I wanted to know what it was like,” He mutters, “Goodbye. Lock your door!” His face once again becoming red as he quickly presses his lips to my forehead. He practically bolted for the exit, looking so nervous. He was gone before I could even process what just happened, much less tell him goodbye.

“There are so many goddamn glasses, what the absolute fuck,” I mutter, trying to lean forward only for the scarf keeping my head back stopping me. I groan, pouting and crossing my arms.

Junmyeon and my father sat at the same table, both eating lunch. Junmyeon sighs, trying to hide the smile from my words. My father was a bit less pleased.

“You signed up for this,” He says, eating a bite of his steak.

“Well, I didn’t know that royalty apparently can’t just have one damn fork,” I mutter, reaching over for my water glass. It was just out of my reach since my waist was also tied to the chair in order to stop me slouching.

Junmyeon reached over, pushing the glass forward in order for me to reach it. He finished his meal quickly, waiting. I barely ate any of mine as I struggled. This is one of the few things I’m still having trouble with.

“Thank you,” I say, taking a sip.

“I’ll make sure to tell the staff to place your glasses a bit forward,” He says, smiling. Junmyeon turns to Jiyeong, “I hear Minseok has already had a few people convicted already. Are they going to prison?”

“Treason is punished with death,” He says, finishing off his last bite of food. He takes the napkin, wiping as he finished his meal. “Seems to me there are going to be some mass executions.”

“He’ll have to be there for all of them,” Junmyeon says, “You will too, I take it? How many so far?”

“I will,” He says, taking a sip of his red wine. “Minseok works fast, he’s already proven the involvement of over eighty people, and that was yesterday. Today he’s probably over a hundred by now.”

The door to the side opens, revealing Kyungsoo and Jongin. They bowed respectfully to Jiyeong. They waited in the door until Junmyeon nodded, giving them permission to walk in.

Kyungsoo looks at me, tied to the chair. He gives me a weird look before looking at Junmyeon. “She’s late,” He says, glancing at me as I cut off a piece of my steak and eating it. I didn’t really care for steak, but with all the self-defense lessons late I’ve been eating more.

“Table manners seem to be a weak spot,” Junmyeon says as my father stood up.

“I have some business to attend to. I’ll see you later, your highness,” Jiyeong says to Junmyeon. He pats my shoulder as he went by, “You only need to learn this for the dinner soon. After you can go back to eating pizza and cheeseburgers.”

I smirked, “And they’ll be the best damn ones ever after all this!”

My father tried to keep the smile off his face. It was small, but it was there. He’s still a fairly closed off and cold person, but he’s opening up bit by bit.

Kyungsoo sat at one of the empty chairs as Jongin looked at me, ruffling my hair. “You looked like a child trying to learn all of this!”

“Don’t make me stab you with my salad fork,” I mutter, holding it over to him in a threatening manner. If it was anyone else, I wouldn’t joke like this, but after getting my ass handed to me daily, I knew even if I actually tried he could handle it.

Junmyeon shakes his head, snatching the fork from me, “That’s the dessert fork, Y/N. It's supposed to be over here.”

“I don’t even have dessert so what’s the fucking point,” I whine, putting another piece of food in my mouth.

“Small pieces, Y/N. Small, bite sized pieces,” Junmyeon scolds, “The dinner is in three days.”

“I promise you I’ll be the perfect picture of royalty then, but now I’m hungry,” I mutter, stabbing the steak in the middle and just holding the half that was still there to my face with the fork. I take a huge bite, eating it quickly.

“Eager to be thrown around again,” Kyungsoo asks, smiling.

“Fuck,” I mutter, causing everyone to burst out laughing. The rest of the day was quick. Kyungsoo easily countering everything I could throw at him and helping me learn how to get out of an attacker’s grasp. From holding my wrists to grabbing my hair, any possible way an attacker could try to keep you in their space Kyungsoo taught me to defend.

It was exhausting, and after Kyungsoo left, I went home and showered quickly. I made sure to wear some of the gifts today as paparazzi took some photos of me. Thankfully there are laws to stop them from getting directly in your face, so it was as peaceful as one could expect.

What I didn’t expect was to hear my door open. I had just gotten in pajamas when I saw Lina there, her eyes red as she looked at me. She looked angry, but not at me.

“My mom,” she says, “She… she’s one of the people who are corrupt! She was brought to court. Only a few people there, some lawyers, Sehun, and security. Minseok he told us those charges. But then others like drug distribution and manufacturing, blackmail and bribery and… and even rape, abuse of minors, both sexual and non-sexual!”

Tears of anger streamed down her face, “I just… I was confused. Who did she rape and sexually abuse? She’s hit me a few times, but she never did anything like that. My father told me he told Minseok about it, so that’s how he knew. Then my mom… she turned, looking around. She saw Sehun and just said the most disgusting things about him. Minseok asked him if she… if that was the woman who abused and raped her and he said yes and… oh god, Y/N! It was my mother! The one who hurt him was my mother! Sehun’s going to hate me-”

“No, he won’t,” I say, taking her hands and pulling her into a hug. “No, he won’t. That’s not you. He knows you’re not like her, ok? He knows that I swear! He was worried you’d hate him when you found out!”

She wipes her eyes, shaking her head. “How can I? Besides you, he’s my best friend…”

I held her as she cried, rubbing her back softly. Seeing strong, independent Lina like that was hard to take. She’s alway so put together, that seeing her break down like this was hard.

It didn’t last as her phone chimed. She glanced at it, wiping her eyes, “It’s my dad. I should go to help him.” She looked up, hugging me again. “You… you need to go to Sehun. I know things between you two have been rocky, but he was a mess when I left-”

“Where,” I ask, as I stand with her, going and getting my phone and keys. I didn’t even have to think about if I was going or not. Hearing that he was upset and hurt was enough for me to leave whatever I’m doing and go.

“Minseok’s,” She says, “He said he’d help him.” She hugged me once more, “Thank you. I’m going there after I and Dad have some time, ok?”

I nod, “Ok. Drive safe. Do you need me to drive you?”

She shakes her head, “I’ll take a taxi.”

I hug her tightly, “I’m so sorry, Lin. I wish I could make the pain go away.”

She just hugs me, “I love you, Y/N. You’re the sister I wish I had.” She just laughs, “I’ll just say you mom is my mom for now on. You always tell me she would have liked me, after all.”

“She would have fucking adored you,” I saw with a smile as I slip on shoes quickly.

My drive was quick. My heart hurt as I drove as quick as I could, cursing when I hit a red light. Finally, after what felt like a century, I pulled into the driveway. I ran to the door, losing one of my slippers in the process. I just kept going, my hand hitting the door over and over.

Minseok opened it, his eyes red and tears in his eyes. He opens it wider as he wipes his face again, trying to look strong. “He… he’s in my bedroom but he won’t talk about it and just tells me I wouldn’t understand. He’s just… I can’t help him, he won’t tell me. I just want to help him but I can’t.”

“It’ll be ok, Minseok,” I say as he leads me to his bedroom, his hand in mine. It was shaking as we walked quickly. “Sometimes you just can’t talk about it unless they know what it’s like.”

“I just want him to know that all that she said isn’t true and that I love him for who he is,” Minseok says as we stop in front of his door. He gives my hand a gentle squeeze, “I’m going to go make sure the case against her is foolproof. I can’t help him here, but I can help there. I just need to do something.”

I hugged him, “Sh, it’s ok. You do what you’re best at, ok? You make sure she’ll never go free again, got it?”

He nods, giving me the signature kiss on the forehead. He walked back down the hall before leaving my view. I spent a few moments to ready myself. No matter what, I have to be there for him and tell him it’s ok. Sehun needs to know what whatever she said is wrong and that people love for him.

I take a deep breath and open the door.