#four walls and an amplifier

[toms-cherry-trees]

Cracked || Jacaerys Velaryon x Twin!Wife! Reader

Summary: No one ever said duty would hurt like this

Word count: 3.3k

Warnings: Twincest targcest (Velaryoncest?), angst, spoilers if you haven't watched S2E2, for anti hating purposes is not explicitly stated but all characters are above 18.

Author's note: Won't you look at me, 7 months since my last HOTD fic! That scene with Jace tearing up definitely did something to me. My very first time writing for Jace, hopefully won't be the last!

Also a massive massive thank you and all my devotion to @moris-auri for beta reading this!

No one welcomes him when he lands in the Dragonmont. 

The flapping of Vermax's leathery wings is amplified, booming throughout the massive cavern, swirls of steam rising from the cracks on the dark stone. The only ones to witness his arrival are the dragon keepers, but even they are distracted, their focus on the exhausted dragon and not his equally drained rider. When they stride past him, they don’t acknowledge him at all, almost as if he doesn’t exist. Jace wonders if he is a ghost, because only in death could someone feel the agony that seeps from his bones and still be standing. 

He feels like a foreigner in this place. 

Even though he has lived on Dragonstone half his life, he feels like a foreigner. The fortress is not theirs. He doubts it never truly has been. They are just keepers of these ancient walls and the history they carry within. Dragonstone is a relic that will stand on that island for a thousand years to come, as welcoming as a gush of Northern wind on bare skin. The only warmth comes from its very core, from those who habit it and who've made the great fortress a home. 

But the home he left weeks prior is not the one he now returns to. The warmth has been snuffed and the hearth has been shattered. 

He walks with his head held high and his back straight, gaze always ahead and chin lifted in a gesture of near arrogance. He walks like an heir, because he is. He is now his mother’s heir and he must play his part, even if all he wants to do is lay his head on her lap and weep like a boy of ten. 

A moon ago he was just Jacaerys Velaryon. He was a son, a firstborn son, but with no more responsibility than studying and learning, mastering skills that would serve him purpose in 30 or 40 years. His greatest concerns were training Vermax properly, what desserts would be served after supper, and how to avoid falling into another of his siblings’ silly pranks. He had been betrothed long ago, but marriage itself was something distant, something that could wait out a few more years.

He was a brother of five with another sibling on the way; a sister. While most in the castle pined for a son, another boy, he secretly supported his mother’s longing for a little girl.

And now he is Jacaerys, Prince of Dragonstone and heir to his mother’s throne and crown. He is more Targaryen than Velaryon now. He is an envoy, a messenger, a warrior if needed be. He is a strategist and a politician. He is an asset and a threat; someone who has forged great alliances, but also has found strong enemies, their weapons aimed directly at the target behind his head, target painted there by his grandsire many a year before his birth. A wedding , hastily arranged, to strengthen their cause and their line of inheritance. 

He is a brother to just four now, and the crib has been left empty. 

Cregan Stark had been the one to break the news to him. Standing on a cramped lookout on the edge of the world, nothing but whiteness as far as the eye reached, Lord Stark had said that the Wall did more than keep savages and ice at bay. It held back death.

But death came nonetheless.

Jacaerys had managed to maintain his stance as a man and a Prince, receiving the news with unyielding stoicism, even when his knees felt weak and his body chilled, like ice had spread down his spine. But this ice was nothing like the one surrounding him, there on the edge of the North. This one burned, burned like dragonfire while stabbing him with a thousand knives, leaving him to bleed out while not allowing him to die. It stole the air from his lungs and the blood from his veins, and filled him with snow. His lungs couldn’t breathe, his heart couldn’t beat yet somehow he didn’t drop dead right there where he stood.

He recalls little of what occurred after, nothing more than brief, precise memories. Receiving Cregan’s condolences, and feeling the firm squeeze of the older man’s hand on his shoulder. Northerners parting silently to make way for him in the courtyard, where a restless Vermax awaited, his screeches rattling the windows of the nearby towers. Someone handing him a parcel, hastily wrapped, containing a sleek wolf pelt as a present for their Queen. The thunderstorm he traversed in the Riverlands, and the toll it took on Vermax to fly through it. 

The painful tightening on his throat as he wondered if he had encountered a similar one, not far from home.

Servants and courtiers make way for him, as he approaches his mother’s chambers. They bow and curtsy, and offer words of courtesy, lamenting the loss of the young Prince. Some stare out of the corner of their eye as he passes, waiting to see if the new Prince of Dragonstone will crumble like sand before their very eyes. But he never betrays himself; not a tear brimming in his eyes, not a wobble of his lips. The occasional flaring of his nostrils is the single telltale of the sorrow that simmers just beneath his skin. 

He hesitates briefly, pausing at the end of the vast hallway where the royal apartments are. Up the winding staircase, past the single set of double doors to the left, his mother awaits. No, not his mother, the Queen. She stopped being his mother the day the crown was placed atop her head, and the court of Dragonstone bent the knee before her. Grief and loss shaped her, morphing her into the leader and ruler she had been born to be. Jace can only admire her, and hope that he will be able to embrace his new role as effortlessly as she has done hers.

The double doors are pushed open by Ser Erryk. The Queen sits alone, gaze downcast and thoughts troubled, that much Jace can tell by the nervous fidgeting of her hands, twisting her rings almost compulsively. When her eyes rise to meet his, Jacerys sees in them a mirror of himself, the same exhaustion, the effort to push back and bury the wrenching misery, the bleeding wound left behind by their loss.

They are alone, just the two of them in that silent alcove. Jace could break down, weep like he hasn’t done in years and lay his head across her lap; let her slender, motherly fingers card through his hair as she assures him that all will be well in the end. But he can’t, he can’t because she’s more Queen than mother now and she’s grieving too, grieving deeper than he is and if she can keep it together then so can he, because he is her heir and he has to make her proud and be a man worthy of respect. 

The Prince doesn’t cry; the heir doesn’t cry. 

A man remains immovable and imperturbable.

He straightens his back, head held high and hands laced before him as he recounts his triumphs, the Houses he convinced to pledge for them and what each one has offered and asked them in return. This moment should have been his shining glory, with himself striding through the castle with pride and confidence, ready to announce to the council how he had secured the allegiance of the Vale and the North for their cause. He would bask in his wife’s admiration, drink the praises from her lips and show her he was ready to one day be a great King, with a great Queen by his side. 

Instead it is just them two, hidden behind doors, picking up the pieces falling from their carefully built masks before they completely fall apart. He brings good news, great news, but they matter little and now taste like ash in his mouth, burning and bitter. His victories mean nothing to him because his little brother is dead, gone 60 years before his time, and they don’t even have a body to burn and Jacaerys feels it should have been him, because he is the eldest and he should have protected him better. He should have faced their rageful uncle and died instead, but he didn’t and now he stands there, moving and doing because if he stays still the grief will swallow him whole and bury him in a pit of sand.

And then his voice breaks, the facade cracks and they both stop pretending, because pretending hurts, like gripping a white hot rod with both hands and refusing to let go even if it’s hurting you.

Her embrace is warm; her arms feel like home. With his head tucked under her chin, his cheek pressed against her chest, he feels young again. He feels the sobs racking her body, the tears dampening her face and his hair, her fingers digging on the fabric of his cloak. They sway slightly, rocking from side to side like when he was a babe of just a few days old, fussy and restless, keeping the whole holdfast awake at night because he refused to settle anywhere but on his mother’s arms. 

But now Jace suspects the motion is meant for her more than for him, to transport her to days past when she held her babes in her arms and they were safe under her wing and no one could harm them because she would sooner tear the world to pieces. Discreetly the places shift, now it's her forehead against his shoulder and his arms holding her steady. Jace feels the tears stinging his eyes and the lump blocking his throat, but he cannot break down because his mother is broken and someone must stand strong and whole and it has to be him. 

Soon, too soon,  his mother has dismissed him, sending him to his chambers to bathe and rest because they will have the funeral at sunset and they must not show weakness before the court. The cracks must be patched and hidden, no matter how deep they run. Not a single piece can fall out of place.

He drags his feet now; the weight on top of him has grown heavy. His posture slackens, his shoulders slump, the pretence is harder to hold. Sunset feels like a death sentence, because a funeral makes it real. It makes it true. Burning what they have because there is not even a body left behind to burn. That way he can no longer pretend that is not happening, that is all just a tale. And then, he will crack. No willpower will keep him whole because his brother, his little brother is dead and he has to face a future where Lucerys will not be a part of it.

He pushes his chamber door open with one shoulder, his mind blank of any thought; the encounter with his mother affected him deeper than he had anticipated, because even she is cracking and now is just him holding it together because he has to. 

And then he sees her. 

His wife sits before the hearth, so ethereal with the glow of the fire illuminating her face. Her head turns as soon as the door opens, and he immediately notices the red around her swollen eyes. At first he thinks she’s mourning, but she’s had her time to mourn and Jace knows she’s crying for him, crying because she feels the agony straining to break through his flesh. Just like they have felt each other’s every emotion for as long as they have lived, have anticipated each other’s words and read their thoughts. Connected by a bond that runs deeper than marriage, because they are of the same blood, come into the world together.

The last time he saw her before his departure, they had an ugly fight. Jacaerys had convinced their mother to keep her at Dragonstone rather than allow her to fly as an envoy, claiming they could not leave the fortress unguarded and with the larger dragons going in and out on their missions, they had to pile up their remaining strength. The Queen had agreed, and her word was final. 

She could not argue with Her Grace, but she certainly made Jacaerys know how she felt about what she perceived as a betrayal and lack of trust in herself and her abilities. Jace pleaded with her to see reason, to see things from his perspective. It wasn’t that he didn’t believe in her, he would never dare to doubt her strength. But he didn’t trust the men she would encounter on her journey, nor did he want her to risk taking a long flight on her dragon and run into danger. She, always the hot headed one, had called him every name under the sun and refused to see him off, choosing instead to sulk in her chamber. It left a bitter taste in his mouth, to leave on bad terms with her, but he trusted they would talk it out upon his arrival. That all would be well and their problems would be solved.

He stands silently before her, and for the first time he feels small. So small and diminished, unwilling to look her in the eyes. His gaze is fixed on the floor because the tears are winning the battle and if they do he will crack open like a dragon egg, but no great beast will emerge, only his insecurities and his failures.

His lower lip wobbles, and he bites it so hard he leaves the imprint of his teeth. His nails dig deep in his palms in his attempt to steady their accusatory trembling. He breathes in and out, slow and steady, his eyes squeezed shut as he feels himself losing control. He cannot allow himself to lose it, not in front of her of all people, not when he is supposed to be her pride, not her embarrassment.

He hears the sharp drag of the chair as she stands, the thud of the heavy tome she had been reading being thrown rather carelessly over a table. Her steps are slow and calculated as she moves across the stone, approaching him cautiously like he is some wild beast ready to lash out. Like he is some fragile thing, so fragile that a gush of wind could break him apart.

Her hands are soft and warm as they cradle his face, gently coaxing him to look up, to meet her eyes. But he can’t, he fears he will see disappointment in them, he will see accusation, he will see her blame him for Luke’s death, for forcing her to remain back when it was their little brother who needed his protection the most. 

For failing the family.

He succumbs in the end, brown eyes gingerly rising to meet her own, bracing himself for the worst. But he sees nothing of what he expected. He sees no anger, no resentment, no pity. Just worry and tenderness, and a desolation that matches his own.

The first tears he has been holding back since Winterfell finally escape the barrier of his willpower and roll down his cheeks. He attempts to blink them away but they cannot be stopped, nor does he have the strength to stop them no more. His wife brushes some away with her thumbs, and smoothes back his hair in a tender gesture

“Jace.”

That little world, the call of his own name coming from her lips is all that it needs for the dam inside him to burst. The violent sobs rack his body, tears blurring his vision and he chokes on them, while also feeling like he’s breathing for the first time since that raven arrived at the Wall. He tries to hide his face but she won’t let him, and tears shine in her eyes too and that only makes the crying worse, because his wife is suffering and he cannot console her because he’s also suffering.

“I’m sorry, I’m sorry, I’m so sorry.”

His legs weaken and his stance falters. The same apology falls from his mouth, the small words tumbling over each other and getting lost in the incessant weeping. His knees falter and he drops down; his forehead rests against her body and his hands are on her hips, fearing he will lose her if he lets go. He sobs onto her dress, not caring anymore about being the perfect Prince and heir, about being the man everyone will respect and be proud of.

His wife drops to her knees too and holds him close, allowing his head to lay against her shoulder. The scent of her body fills his nostrils, aroma of camellias and toasted sugar. It smells of happy memories and easier days, and it evokes a sense of safety in him, of tenderness, of the happiest days of his short life. His cry doesn’t stop, but it is not only for Lucerys now. It is for his mother, for his younger brothers, for himself and for all the losses to come. He cries for his twin, his wife, for now the fear of harm coming her way has increased tenfold, and the mere idea of her being cruelly ripped from his side tears a gash on his heart.

He cries until he’s sure there are no tears left to cry. Until the weight has been lifted from his chest and he is sure he can breathe again. They remain there for what feels like mere seconds and a lifetime at the same time, locked in each other’s embrace. Her fingers card through his hair and her lips press tender kisses to his temple; his arms wrapped around her, hands pressed against her back to keep her close, as close as he can to his own heart. He would gladly stay there forever, spend the rest of his days encased in her warmth and basking in her love. But the moment is broken all too soon when a servant knocks on the door to let them know that courtiers are already gathering in the outskirts of the castle for the funeral.

Jace lets himself be guided by the hand like an obedient child to sit before her vanity. She moves around him silently; unneeded words would only break the feeble spell of calmness surrounding them.

She takes care of everything for him. Wipes his face clean with a damp cloth, presses a cool spoon to his eyes so they will not appear swollen and bloodshot. He changes into a fresh tunic, and allows her to comb his hair and powder his face to disguise the redness of his cheeks and nose. 

They stand together before the ornate mirror, both of them dressed in matching red and black. She helps him pin the cloak onto his tunic, fastening it to his right shoulder with a silver dragon brooch. Jace holds her gaze in their reflection, hoping to convey with gestures the emotions words fail to do. She understands; she always does.

He is rewarded with a kiss on the cheek, and while it does not manage to coax a smile out of him, it fills his veins with a pleasant tickling warmth, the same he felt after their first kiss and the one he hopes to feel until his last breath. 

Her fingers run up his arms gently, tracing the embroiders and trimmings of the doublet. They come to rest on his shoulders and gently push them back, straightening his posture and puffing out his chest. The right index continues the ascent, tracing the curve of the neck and the still sharpening line of the jawline before settling under his chin, pushing upwards ever so slightly to lift his head. Urging him to hold himself with pride. To unapologetically show the world that he is cracked, but not broken.

She comes to stand before him at last, smoothing down nonexistent creases from his clothes until nothing but pure perfection remains. They hold each others’ gaze for a few moments, before she reaches up to steal from him a gentle kiss.  

“All ready, My Prince.” 

This time, he smiles.

[uchispeach]

Killer

Dark! Bully! Rafe Cameron x Fem! Reader

Warnings: NON CON, SMUT, rough sex, manhandling & degradation, choking, breeding kink, bullying, violent & abusive behavior, Mean! Rafe, Bully! Rafe…

A/N: Sorry for disappearing, I’ve just had a shit ton of family problems. I hope I can update a bit faster from now on! ALSO lmk if you want this to become a series! 💕

A laugh, dripping with mockery, echoed through the vast room, sparking a ripple of chuckles and whispered insults from the nearby group of boys.

Rafe Cameron’s body stretched lazily in the chair, making it seem almost comically small under his heavy frame. Even with his limbs sprawled out in complete relaxation, the outline of his hard muscles pressed against his shirt, as if daring to break free at any moment. You couldn't deny he looked attractive, exuding an undeniable magnetism in that confident, almost predatory pose, his new buzz cut only amplifying the arrogance that oozed from him. But that ugly, smug smirk? It made your bones ache and your throat dry up in ways you couldn’t explain.

His eyes, the color of storm clouds, lingered on yours with a deliberate intensity, delighting in your discomfort, relishing in every flinch and subtle shift of your gaze. You turned away, hoping your disinterest would bore him eventually, but you knew it wouldn’t.

No matter how hard you focused on the lecture, his presence was like an intrusive, constant drill on your brain—his burning gaze a distraction that gnawed at your senses. How naive had you been to think he'd ever leave you alone? Every time you raised your hand in class, you could count on him to whisper some stupid joke under his breath. How foolish had you been to think he would ever stop tormenting you? This sick dynamic between you two had been a game since childhood, and if anything, he seemed to thrive on it.

His once-small fingers had grown long and strong -now covered in silver rings. Those same digits that used to tangle on your hair and pull from it until your scalp burned in pain. His legs were now far longer, but they had always been longer than yours, outpacing you as they chased you through the school halls in all infant and adolescent years, always with the aim of making you stumble and fall to your knees. But his mouth had never changed. It had only sharpened, evolving into something far more dangerous.

You’d convinced yourself you were above all of it. Charleston had felt like a fresh start, and you’d thought the Pogue curse might finally be something you could outrun. But when Rafe Cameron showed up once more, everything you’d built: your confidence, your peace of mind—began to crumble, piece by piece, until there was nothing left but the raw, unresolved tension between you.

You were studying to be a teacher, the first in your family to receive a scholarship that promised a brighter future. Your days were filled with lesson plans, textbooks, and the weight of academic expectation. Every second of your time was accounted for as you worked tirelessly to carve out a new path for yourself, one that didn't involve being brought back to the past or the memories of him. You didn’t have time for distractions, certainly not for him. But here he was, always lurking just at the edges of your life, a dark cloud you couldn’t escape.

Rafe was studying for an MBA, the complete opposite of you, and yet fate had forced you into a shared class. You would’ve done anything to avoid him, but trapped in between those fours walls, mere meters away from him - it just seemed impossible.

And there he was, at your left, staring with a look of sick pleasure every time he found you trying to focus. His presence was suffocating, like the air itself became dense with his attention. His words, the snide remarks whispered under his breath, were like a weight on your chest, making every breath harder to take.

He harassed you constantly in that class—every. single. time. Without fail. No matter how much you tried to bury yourself in your notes, no matter how hard you tried to ignore his mocking chuckles, his eyes always found you, always zeroed in on your every move. He’d challenge you with pointless questions, make stupid comments about your work, his voice dripping with condescension. But it didn’t stop there. His reach extended beyond the classroom, following you into the hallways, his tall frame casting a shadow that would make your stomach turn. He would appear out of nowhere, as though drawn to you by some sick fixation, and make his presence known with a smirk or a taunt, forcing you to look up from your books, to meet those stormy eyes full of wickedness.

He would ‘accidentally’ bump into you, making your school supplies fall over. He licked his lower lip when you bent over to pick the mess up. His front would get dangerously close to your back in any queue, sometimes getting bold enough to grind slightly against you. He would move you around like a rag doll, always putting his huge palm on your ass to push you to the side. Still, there was nothing as uncomfortable as having his dirty eyes scanning you from head to toe at any given time - he licked his lower lip in amusement, making your cheeks grow hotter.

You’d always hoped, prayed, that once the class ended, he’d disappear—vanish into his own world and leave you to yours. But you were wrong. Every time the teacher dismissed you, and you gathered your things to leave, he’d be right there, waiting. It was like clockwork. His long, strong fingers would slide into the pockets of navy trousers, the scent of his manly cologne wafting over you in an intoxicating way. His gaze would follow you as you tried to make a clumsy exit, his footsteps closing the distance between you with every passing second. You hated that you could never outrun him. Hated how he always found a way to corner you.

And just as you thought you might make it out of the door, safe, free—he’d appear at the threshold, standing in your way with that damn smirk of his, a look that seemed to promise nothing but trouble.

“Leaving so soon?” His voice would slither through the air like poison.

Your heart would pound in your chest, but you’d force your eyes to look anywhere but at him, hoping and praying, that maybe, just maybe, today would be the day he’d leave you alone. But you knew better. You always knew better.

And now, you could feel it again; the familiar pressure of his presence, creeping closer, dark and inevitable.

“What’s that I’ve heard?” He scratched his head while pressing his brows together, pretending to be deep in thought. “…Oh, right” Now, enlightened; he stepped forward. Your almost wobbly legs did their best on distancing themselves -though, they weren’t allowed much movement after hitting a desk.

The back of your knees stung against the protruding piece of wood. “You tryna leave…study abroad, right?” Your eyes peeled in horror, and you hid in yourself as much as you could when his tall frame overpowered yours. “No, no. Look me right in the eye.” He clicked his tongue in disapproval. Without any hesitation, his cold rings found their place under your chin, burying in your skin when lifting up your face. “How-how do you know?” Your stuttering made him smile -predatory grin adorning his harsh features. “Everyone thinks you’re smart…” The pain on your neck amplified at the uncomfortable position.

“…But I think you’re just a dumb bitch.” He spat at you. Tone as rough as the domineering grip on your jaw. “…Bragging left and right - you really thought I wouldn’t find out?” He shook you with erratic movement. The pain you felt under his digits distracted you from a perverted knee slowly opening its way between your legs.

His unruly eyes took a break from tormenting yours as he admired your skirt’s fabric draping over your thighs. The blond snob flashed you his hungry canines while biting into his lower lip.

The horror only amplified when a sharp thrust attacked your clothed sex. His impatient knee continued to roughly rub against the cotton underwear, cruelty reflected on the fast pace. “Ha. Would you look at that? The dirty slut is getting wet!” You whined in disgust when Rafe pressed harder on the soaked circle.

The scarce dignity you thought you held was harshly stripped from you. On his arms you were nothing but a squeaky toy he got to bite and squeeze whenever he desired, and little by little you felt victim to a raw resignation.

The next thing you sensed was his palm abandoning your neck and moving onto your meaty thighs. He gave the flesh a squeeze, followed by a lusty groan leaving his pinkish lips.

Your mind tried to wander away, but the situation was just too much; too much stimulation everywhere, too much heat coming from his larger body, too much degradation directed your way in mean words and touches, too much torturous pressure applied to your virgin cunt and too much pawing at your unexplored parts.

The next thing your brain registered was a rip. The sound of something being torn apart, and if you didn’t see the light fabric pooling around your feet, you could’ve almost swear it was the noise your spirit made when breaking in half. “And I was thinking about making it nice for you…fucking you on a bed of roses or some corny shit.” He talked with nothing but mockery, while leaning onto your chest. “But I guess you prefer it when I treat you like a cheap whore.” The Cameron boy finished it off with a chuckle, his muscles flexing hard under the rumbling laugh.

You wanted to contradict him, defend your honor and pull him off of you, but all protests got stuck in your throat when he took you by it and slammed your upper body against the desk. The rigid wood wasn’t welcoming. Your head spinned uncontrollably at the beast-like hit.

The lack of oxygen didn’t stop you from hearing him unbuckling his pants. Panic grew louder as you heard his clothes falling to the Classroom’s floor. Worries clouded you in a tumultuous storm, and you did your best to cover yourself up when the only layer covering your vulnerable hole was pushed to the side. “Open your fucking legs or I’ll break your useless skull!” He demanded in a crazied tone, ripping your limbs apart and throwing them over his shoulders.

“Please, don’t.” Your eyelids squeezed together, shielding your irises from looking at the violating scene. “That’s right, beg me” Warm breath imposed itself above your slit, followed by a warmer liquid dripping down your folds. “Gotta make it wetter…I don’t want you breaking at the first use.” Even though your sight was all black, you could imagine his satisfied grin decorating that diabolically handsome face.

You tried pulling away when a foreign limb rubbed against your sex, desperate to be let in. “Rafe, no-” You were cut short by your own screams, eyes peeled open at the feeling of his cock entering all at once.

“Fuck! Tight ass pussy.” He sounded in heaven, palms manhandling your knees to your chest while pounding ruthlessly into you.

The rest of your body went numb, being rocked up and down at the bestiality of the boy’s attack. His groans and moans overpowered your miserable sobs. Your withering form contrasted his blessed expressions, pure passion exuding from his now sweaty body.

“Your whorish cunt is squeezing the shit out of me…she doesn’t want me to leave!” He continued to talk while creating some deeply loud wet noises.

Your neck and waist’s skin burned under his cutting rings and the unsolicited friction of his grip that kept you still. Your ears got lost at the multiple pet names he called you, as well as the dirty sentences of encouragement he occasionally threw your way.

After almost an hour of feeling him impale you on his dick, you grew tired of screaming and crying, now reduced to quiet whimpers and even quieter pleas. “Stop-” He did the opposite to that, toned pelvis slapping hard against you as his tip bruised your cervix in persistent thrusts.

The cries that left your esophagus were now primal and raw, long nails holding onto his huge back. “That’s right, cry for me. You fucking deserve it!” That only made the tears fall faster down your cheeks, reaching your mouth on a salty taste.

And when his movements finally went sloppy and his member felt softer, your suffering only sharpened. “Tell me you love me” He barked at your face, drops of unintentional spit hitting your distressed face.

You thought you heard wrong, that between his chocking, and suffocating weight your brain had imagined the unimaginable. “Tell me you love me!” His features tensed, making a vein pop on his front.

Was Rafe Cameron asking for words of affirmation from you? Was the same guy who just butchered your purity asking you for your heart? Or was it just another inhumane prank? Another limit of yours he wanted to cross?

Clearly you took to much time thinking and not acting because the next thing you felt was the blond burying impossibly deeper into your core and making you know a new level of uncomfortability. “Tell me you fucking love or I’ll come inside you.” The light on the room was vast, you were sure of it. Such an elite university could only have the best illumination for its elitist students; still, his burly body completely covered yours.

His sharp jaw and eyes were enhanced by the darkness found in his stare. “I-” He trembled lightly in excitement at your shaky voice. “I love you.” You finally decreed, unknowingly sealing your fate.

His smile was like nothing you saw before, too devilish and twisted you actually doubted smiling was ever a nice gesture. And when you felt a dense liquid flooding your womb in overwhelming warmth, you swore you could see the devil in his eyes.

.

.

.

[anantaru]

DAY 7 — MONSTERFUCKING

kinktober 2023. — masterlist | ao3

𖧡 — including — zhongli, neuvillette

𖧡 — warnings — fem! reader, monsterfucking, dragons >, size kink/size difference, big men who absolutely love you

𖧡 — ZHONGLI

you've adapted quickly and zhongli never failed to witness it first hand, how you're tending to learn and pick up on the smallest, tiniest indications which you knew would make it a lot more comfortable with him— because obviously given his size being quite exceptional, it's challenging to keep him in at times, or have him inside of you at all for that matter.

even whenever he's placing both his thumbs against your puffed up pussy to spread you apart before ultimately lining himself up, your thighs begin to burn heavily whilst keeping them all nicely split for him, knowing that he'll never hurt you and will always go slow at first, instantly grabbing your attention when he rubs his fat cockhead along your oozing slit— and those golden eyes of his, full of need and want, yet withstanding the craving to stuff you fuller, his mind warning him that it won't fit in right away.

"how do you feel?" his kind voice was now— sheltered behind gravel, his utters thundering deep from his chest as he rotates his hips a little with— currently, only half of him being pressed inside. it's sweet when he asks you, sometimes even three to four times before he'll get to it properly and fucks you like he means it from the bottom of his heart.

subsequently, you hum in approval when he kisses your cheeks and adds small ruts on your cunt, recognizably becoming excited to finally please his angel darling just like you ever so much deserved, "it feels.. so.." your words suddenly get pulled back into your throat with a hitch when zhongli inches his weight on top of you to lay more comfortably himself, forgetting that with that particular movement, he'll target your pussy with another inch, which you never went beyond that, yet the wet lips of your cunt easily slip him in despite the delicious burn piercing your skin, your walls drumming around his thick shaft.

"fuck—" you gasp out, hiccuping, roughly catching your breath and scratching against his shoulders before arching your back into his hooking touch;

"more, fuck.. more, please more!"

the worry of him going to break you had long since melted away or must’ve teleported itself into the abyss because right now, your entire body was at his unwavering power when he granted you your tasteful wish at last, each of his thrusts driving you deeper into the mattress underneath, the bed scratching against the wooden floor, your tight walls twitching and rippling just the right amount as zhongli groans out against your parted lips, throat rumbling softly around him with that devoted smile on his face.

𖧡 — NEUVILLETTE

a naked whine amplifies the rhythmic thrusts of neuvillette on top of you before you're gritting your teeth together in concentration, holding yourself tight against his massive shoulders as his huge, dripping cock continues to indulge into your warm pussy guzzling him in all sweetly— and you feel crowded inside, stuffed full and so warm, your legs too, spreading a little wider, evidently attempting to make room for him whilst hiccuping into his neck.

you can tell how close you both were to relishing in your orgasm, with his cock nudging inside of you in a way which you never felt before, because tonight— it's been the first time you allowed him to slide more of him past your tight, little pussy. hitting so far inside of you while you're messily soiling his girth, gushing all around his shaft and experiencing a new feeling of sensitivity judging by your ragged heaves and hiccups, his hips never faltering and pounding in and out of you so fast— bulging and crowding you, making you taste how it felt to relish in being fucked by a thick cock reaching all the bristling, wanting places inside.

"are you alright?" he suddenly asks, as if he wasn't just in the midst of something, like fucking the broad daylight out of your skull, idly holding his hips stilled before observing your fucked out expression— it's when you realize that you might've winced a little too loud, screamed his name as if in pain when in reality it was the most delicious pleasure someone ever graced you with, though you probably scared neuvillette into thinking that he's being way too rough with you tonight.

whilst unbeknownst to him, you adored whenever he revealed this hidden side of him, it makes his eyes and horns glow— most notably embarrass him when he suddenly realises.

ah, you're just so utterly and undoubtedly in love with neuvillette, your sweet and handsome neuvillette, how he's always asking you, many times, if he's doing it correctly— pleasing your pussy until you're cumming, but the right way. on top of that, he'll never put the word "fuck" into his mouth, despising such route of phraseology;

for the man, it was simply making love to you;

whilst funnily enough, if you think about it— how he's amplifying the blows on your cunt with as much strength as he believed you could handle, bottling the entire thing inside of him before ultimately adding into each of his sloppy thrusts, especially the loud, drilling slapping sounds of skin against skin penetrating your ears as you fuck yourself up against him, bracing yourself on every last drag of his drenched erection.

without a doubt, it doesn't look like "making love", not when he was insatiable without realizing it, filling the room inside your pussy as his eyes glow a light blue, signalizing how emotionally involved he was in this, how this had to be the pinnacle of getting to know ones body and soul.

and neuvillette, he never fails to leave his fingers gently around your own, tranquilizing your skin with his large palm radiating warmth, his tongue then melting into your mouth, kissing you at last.

©2023 anantaru's kinktober do not repost, copy, translate, modify

[thepencilnerd]

take a slice

Summary: No one could imagine a more cunning or manipulative player than Shuntaro Chishiya—until he meets you. complete fic on my ao3 here <3 Word Count: 3.8k Contains: Depictions of violence, unresolved sexual tension, emotional constipation

A/N: because I binge-watched Alice In Borderland in the span of two days and I am very late to the party (but never too late for self-indulgent fan service)

Chishiya spots you across the same floor, your black silhouette nearly lost in the shadows of the night. It’s only your movement that catches his attention, the dark outerwear a sharp contrast to his bright white jacket. You and he are the only players scouting from this vantage point, watching from above while the chaos brews below.

The night is eerily quiet—the calm before the storm, as they say. Your gaze locks onto his, and for a moment, time seems to freeze. Chishiya feels his heartbeat falter, a fleeting hitch he quickly tamps down.

Before he can fully process it, you’ve already vanished around a corner, just as a rain of bullets peppers the area behind you.

A boy’s voice echoes from below, frantic. "The only way to clear this game is to work together!"

Bullshit , you think.

There must be a reason behind the attacker's anchoring position, Chishiya muses.

Of course.

When you finally make your way to the safe room, you’re welcomed by four unfamiliar figures: the spree-killing horse, the brunette boy from earlier, a girl with a bob, and the blonde. 

Chishiya strikes swiftly, the crackle of his taser breaking the stillness. The masked attacker crumples to the floor, their face hitting the ground with a muffled thud. You waste no time, stomping down hard on their wrist, sending the gun skittering from their hand. Before they can recover, you grab the weapon and fire a single round into the crown of their skull. 

When you glance up, you catch the faintest trace of a smirk ghosting across the blonde’s face, but it’s gone just as quickly.

In the seconds that follow, the two other players in the room hastily slam their hands on the red buttons lining the walls.

GAME COMPLETE. CONGRATULATIONS WINNERS. 

Turning around, a pair of wide eyes greets you. 

“Thank you,” the boy finally speaks, addressing you and the blonde in a shaky voice. 

You respond with a nod, glancing over at the girl and seeing her return the acknowledgement. 

“Don’t mention it.” The blonde’s condescending tone from behind you is paralleled only by his burning gaze, locking onto you immediately. He almost misses seeing you slip something from the dead body into your pocket. 

You feel his focus linger on you as you leave the room. 

The night air is thick with tension, the distant cries from nearby arenas only amplifying the silence with each footstep behind you. You don’t bother turning around; you already know who it is.

Chishiya steps into your peripheral vision, his pace unhurried, like a cat stalking in the shadows. The forest buzzes with the threat of unseen dangers, but all his attention is locked on you.

"You didn’t have to kill him," he says, his voice casual, almost amused, as though discussing the weather.

You don’t stop walking. "You didn’t stop me."

A quiet chuckle escapes him, barely more than a breath. "True." His tone remains light, but there’s an edge beneath it, like he’s testing you, challenging you. "Still, you’ve got a certain efficiency. Impressive."

Your expression stays neutral. And yet, Chishiya’s presence beside you stirs something strange—a shared awareness, as if you’re both circling an invisible boundary neither of you are quite ready to cross—yet.

"You took something," he says, breaking the silence again, his voice calm but probing. His gaze stays forward, unreadable. "From the body."

You glance at him briefly, just enough to meet his eyes, which glint with curiosity under the moonlight. He’s trying to figure you out.

"And what if I did?" There’s a challenge in your voice now.

Chishiya’s smirk returns, faint but unmistakable. "Nothing. For now."

The tension between you tightens, pulling you closer in the silence. The game isn’t over. Not between the two of you.

As you continue walking, he trails behind, but soon loses sight of you in the dense trees. Shadows shift, swallowing you whole. He barely has time to catch his breath before a sudden force slams him to the ground, knocking the wind from his lungs. The disturbed soil and decaying leaves soften his fall, but his back still hits the earth with a solid thud.

Your knee digs sharply into his sternum, pinning him down. One hand tightens around his throat, not enough to choke him but enough to strain his breath. The cold, unforgiving edge of a blade presses against his cheek—a silent threat.

Chishiya’s indifferent expression makes your skin crawl, yet his stoic, unflinching gaze cuts through the moment like a dagger—piercing both hot and cold at once. Neither of you speak. It’s a game of cat and cat, both of you testing the other's resolve in this tense, silent standoff.

For a fleeting moment, he wonders if you can read each other’s thoughts.

You feel him gulp beneath your hand, his pulse quickening under your fingers. Both of his hands remain raised in surrender by his ears, calm, unwavering, and empty of any weapon or defense. His eyes flicker to the deep scar on your neck, lingering there for just a moment.

The air between you thickens. What feels like minutes pass in the span of heartbeats.

Without warning, you spring up and disappear into the night.

Chishiya stays on the ground for a moment, catching his breath. He sits up slowly, eyes tracing the path you took into the darkness. His chest rises and falls unevenly, the phantom cold of the blade still lingering on his skin. Silence wraps around him like a fog, but his pulse betrays him—racing, driven by more than just adrenaline.

For the first time in longer than he can remember, he feels something—a strange tug deep in his core, like something vital slipped away the moment you left. A curiosity stirs, mingling with the remnants of tension, a silent acknowledgment that this game isn’t over.

It’s only just begun.

Chishiya’s lips twitch into a faint smirk. Your piercing gaze and the scar on your neck are seared into his mind. He knows he’ll see you again. And next time, he won’t be caught off guard.

“You look like you have something on your mind.”

Kuina sits down across from Chishiya, her curiosity piqued as she watches him stare off into the distance. The evening air is still, a rare calmness settling over the Beach after a chaotic night.

Chishiya leans back, crossing his arms, a faint hum escaping his lips. “Just an interesting game tonight,” he replies casually, but there’s a lingering spark in his gaze that betrays more.

Kuina raises an eyebrow. “Must’ve been some game, then.”

“Perhaps,” Chishiya says, his voice smooth and unhurried. The rush of endorphins from the near-death experience still thrums faintly through his veins. 

The cause? A player whose actions were as cunning and unpredictable as his own. The thrill of narrowing down their motivations felt like a puzzle finally worth solving.

His mind drifts back to the game, replaying each moment like scenes in a movie. The chaos, the desperate shouts, and the blaring alarms all felt distant—mere background noise compared to the razor-sharp focus he'd found himself drawn to. That focus was centered on one person.

You had been an anomaly from the start. There was a precision in the way you moved, calculated and unfazed by the panic unraveling around you. It was as if you thrived on the chaos, embraced it even, letting it fuel each step you took. While the other players were scrambling to find shelter or allies, you seemed to anticipate every move, predicting the patterns before they even unfolded.

And then, the moment that had truly hooked him: the kill. Cold, efficient, and executed without a trace of hesitation. You weren’t just surviving; you were playing the game in its purest form—adapting, evolving, always a step ahead. There was no hesitation in your actions, no unnecessary flourish—just the unyielding will to end a threat. It wasn’t just about self-preservation; it was about winning. And that’s what made you different.

Chishiya’s curiosity flared the instant your eyes met his in the aftermath. For the briefest moment, he’d seen a flicker of something—recognition, maybe even a hint of challenge. Like you were silently asking him if he had what it took to keep up.

It was absurd, really, to feel anything in the Borderlands beyond the mechanical urge to survive. But something had shifted tonight. For the first time in what felt like forever, the game had become more than a series of calculated risks and rewards: it had become interesting.

Chishiya’s gaze shifts back to the window where lights scatter the sky. His fingers tap idly on the armrest of his chair, a rhythm betraying the restlessness he tries to mask. He’s always prided himself on being detached, keeping emotions and sentiment far from his calculations. Yet here he is, preoccupied with thoughts that don't have a place in his carefully constructed logic.

"You're quiet," Kuina observes, her tone carrying a hint of amusement. "More than usual, I mean."

Chishiya’s smirk is faint, barely there. “Am I?”

She shrugs, leaning back in her seat. “You’ve been lost in your own head since you got back.” 

Chishiya’s expression doesn’t falter, but there’s a slight shift in his demeanor—a barely perceptible sign of vulnerability, quickly smoothed over. “Maybe I’m just considering... possibilities,” he replies, the words coming slower than usual, as if he’s testing how they sound. 

Kuina’s eyes narrow thoughtfully. “Possibilities, huh?” She tilts her head, studying him. “That’s one way of putting it. Or maybe… a person?”

Chishiya’s silence is uncharacteristic. He feels the pull to dismiss the notion immediately, to scoff at the idea of being distracted by a person, much less affected by them. But instead, he pauses. It’s enough for Kuina to catch on, her curiosity piqued.

“Interesting,” she murmurs, a teasing smile curling on her lips. “You’re actually thinking about someone, aren’t you?” When he doesn’t respond, she presses further. “It’s a girl, right? Did she do something to catch your eye?”

Chishiya finally meets her gaze, his own guarded but not entirely dismissive. “She’s... unusual,” he admits, the words coming out almost reluctantly. “Not like the others.”

Kuina arches an eyebrow. “Unusual how? Smart? Dangerous?”

“Both,” he replies without hesitation. “Efficient, focused. But there’s something else.” He uncrosses his arms, feeling oddly exposed, as though admitting to these thoughts makes them more real, more tangible. “It’s like she’s not playing the same game as the rest of them.”

Kuina studies him for a moment, then lets out a soft laugh. “You’ve got it bad,” she says, shaking her head. “I never thought I’d see the day you’d be drawn to someone for more than their utility.”

He scoffs, a ghost of his usual arrogance returning. “Don’t get carried away. I’m only interested because she might be useful.”

“Sure,” Kuina says with a knowing grin. “Keep telling yourself that.”

Chishiya falls silent again, but the truth gnaws at him. He knows it’s more than just her utility in the grand scheme of escaping this hellhole. It’s the way she challenges him—forces him to reevaluate his strategies and makes him wonder if there’s more to this game than just surviving.

He hates how that thought clings to him, even as he tries to push it away.

Chishiya shifts in his chair, feeling a dull ache radiate from his chest. He’s been operating on a different level since encountering you, and the physical reminder feels almost like an anchor to what he’s been trying to navigate.

He glances at Kuina, who’s still watching him with an amused expression, still probing. “You look like you’re plotting something.”

“Just considering my next move,” he replies, a hint of a smirk returning to his lips. “The game is full of variables, and I need to prepare for them.”

“Variables, huh? Is that what you call her now?” Kuina teases, leaning forward, her elbows resting on the table.

“Focus,” he snaps lightly, but there’s no real heat in his voice. Instead, his mind races ahead to the next game, and how he can draw you in, maybe even observe you more closely. He’s already picturing the scenarios—the players, the setting, the stakes.

What he really wants is a way to see you again. To understand the force that pulls him toward you, the complexity that makes you more than just another player. The anticipation churns within him, exciting yet unnerving.

“What if I made a move to recruit her?” he muses aloud, considering the prospect. “She could be an asset. If she operates outside the norm, that could change the dynamics of our strategies.”

“Or it could blow up in your face,” Kuina counters, her tone light but her gaze serious. “You’re not exactly known for your emotionality, Chishiya. What if she doesn’t want to play?”

“Doesn’t matter,” he replies, brushing off her concern. “I’ll figure it out. I always do.”

But the truth is, he knows that this isn’t merely about the game anymore. It’s about the way you make him feel—like a player in a game he thought he understood, now suddenly complex and exhilarating. Chishiya can’t shake the thought that if he wants to unlock the potential you represent, he’ll have to make a move soon.

He allows himself a moment of vulnerability, resting his chin on his hand as he reflects. “What if I want to see her again, Kuina? What if it’s not just about strategy anymore?”

Kuina’s eyes widen, clearly surprised by his admission. “Wow. You’re actually admitting you care.”

Chishiya rolls his eyes but can’t help the smirk tugging at his lips. “Don’t get carried away.”

“Sure,” she says, leaning back with a satisfied grin. “Just remember, sometimes the best strategies are the ones that come from the heart.”

With that, Chishiya’s mind drifts again, calculating and assessing. He’ll be ready for the next game. He’ll be prepared to take any risk to find you again, to unravel the mystery of what you truly are: a partner, a rival, or perhaps something more. As the night draws to a close, the shadows deepen, but a flicker of determination ignites within him.

He will see you again.

A few days have passed since the last game, but the adrenaline still courses through your veins, lingering like a ghost. You survived, but the victory feels hollow, overshadowed by the memory of the indifferent blonde boy who’s drawn you in more than you care to admit.

Your thoughts drift back to that game—its intensity still vivid in your mind. It was like no other you’d experienced, where survival felt more like a dance with death than a struggle against it. And he was at the center of it, moving through the chaos with a calculated grace that caught your attention long before you understood why.

It wasn’t just that he was calm under pressure. Plenty of players had nerves of steel. It was his indifference, the way he seemed detached from the dangers around him, as though nothing could touch him. Where others flinched or panicked, he merely observed, as if the unfolding chaos was a puzzle to solve rather than a life-or-death situation. That kind of control was rare in the Borderlands, and in some strange way, it felt like a dare, an unspoken challenge that made you want to test him, to see if there was anything that could shatter that composure.

You remember the moment you locked eyes across the chaos, the way the world seemed to fade into the background. It was brief, but in that instant, it felt like a silent conversation—an understanding that went beyond words. There was something sharp in his gaze, a spark of curiosity that mirrored your own. It was as if he was evaluating you, sizing you up just as you were doing to him. For a fleeting moment, you wondered if you were seeing a part of yourself reflected back in those cold, calculating eyes.

But it wasn’t just his composure or his gaze that drew you in. It was the way he acted in those crucial seconds when lives hung in the balance. While others scrambled to save themselves, he made moves that seemed almost playful, like he was toying with the danger rather than simply evading it. There was a thrill in watching him maneuver through the madness with an ease that bordered on arrogance, as though he was always three steps ahead of everyone else—including you.

And then there was the moment when the game ended. You had both survived, of course, but there was something in the way he looked at you afterward, something that lingered, a faint smirk that hinted he had seen more than you’d intended to reveal. It wasn’t pity; it was as if he recognized a kindred spirit, someone who understood the game on a different level. For the first time in what felt like ages, you felt truly seen. 

That feeling unsettles you even now, as you sit by the fire, staring into the flames. It’s not that you seek validation in the Borderlands; you’ve learned long ago that the only approval that matters is your own. But there’s something about his quiet confidence, the way he seemed to acknowledge you without saying a word, that’s hard to shake. It makes you wonder if he was as unaffected as he appeared or if there was more beneath the surface, something hidden behind that cool exterior.

You clench your jaw, frustrated with yourself for even thinking about him this much. He was just another player—albeit a skilled one—and you’ve dealt with plenty of them before. But there’s a part of you that can’t ignore the way his presence lingers, like a splinter in your mind, a question that refuses to be answered.

Why did he make such an impression on you? Was it his composure, his intelligence, or the quiet thrill of crossing paths with someone who didn’t play by the same rules as everyone else? Or was it the way he seemed to see you in return, as if you were more than just a piece on the board?

You realize that you don’t know the answers—and perhaps that’s what’s most intriguing of all. There’s an unfinished quality to your last encounter, a feeling that your story with him isn’t over yet. It’s as if the game itself has drawn a line between you, daring you to cross it again.

You shake your head, trying to dismiss the thoughts that have become stubborn visitors in your mind. Why does he occupy your thoughts so much? Is it his calm indifference, the way he moved with calculated grace? Or is it something more that stirs a curiosity you can’t quite define?

Pushing the thoughts aside, you focus on your routine, an independent existence in the Borderlands, where survival means mastering skills few have the patience to learn. You've carved out a small camp nestled within the trees, camouflaged by foliage, a sanctuary of sorts amidst the chaos.

Every morning, you rise before dawn, the cool air biting at your skin as you check your traps. The gentle sounds of the forest waking around you are a familiar symphony, one you find solace in. You harvest small game—rabbits, birds, whatever you can catch—and meticulously prepare them, savoring the simple act of cooking over a small fire.

Hunting and foraging have become second nature. You collect wild herbs and edible plants, storing them in makeshift pouches crafted from scavenged materials. Each successful hunt reminds you of your resilience and strength. 

But even as you focus on these tasks, your mind drifts back to him—the blonde boy from the game. The way his piercing gaze seemed to see right through you, as if he was calculating your every move. It’s unsettling yet exhilarating, a contradiction you can’t wrap your head around.

The sun climbs higher, and you take a break from your chores to wash your hands in a nearby stream, the water refreshing against your skin. As you splash your face, you catch your reflection in the rippling surface, a mix of determination and uncertainty staring back at you.

You spend the afternoon working on camp, reinforcing the makeshift walls and clearing away debris that threatens your space. But even as you work to distract yourself, you can almost feel his presence lurking at the edge of your thoughts, his smirk dancing on your mind like a memory that refuses to fade.

Eventually, you settle on a log outside your camp, a piece of driftwood you dragged from the riverbank. Pulling out your small notebook, you begin to sketch the maps of the Borderlands, noting down resources and potential hideouts. It’s practical, a way to keep your mind sharp, but each mark on the page feels like a tether to the games, to the players who dance around you like shadows.

You reach into your pocket and pull out the small, crumpled piece of paper you took from the body during the game. You’ve looked at it countless times since then, trying to make sense of the chaotic scribbles. It’s a series of numbers and symbols—coordinates, perhaps, or some kind of code. Whatever it is, it’s not immediately clear, and that only deepens your curiosity.

You flatten the paper against the rough surface of the log, comparing it with your sketches. Could it be a location in the Borderlands? A clue to something hidden or an upcoming game? The patterns don’t align with any familiar maps, but something about the markings feels deliberate, as though there’s a message buried within them. You trace the lines with your finger, committing them to memory, trying to see what the original owner had seen. What was so important that they’d die with it?

Your mind drifts back to the moment you took it. The blonde boy’s eyes had flickered towards you—just for a heartbeat—when you pocketed the paper. Did he know what it meant, or had he noticed the same curiosity in you that you now feel?

As you draw, memories of the game resurface: his calculated moves, his indifferent demeanor, and the strange thrill of standing against him. There’s something magnetic about his presence, something that both fascinates and frustrates you.

In the fading light of dusk, you close your eyes for a moment, letting the sounds of the forest wash over you. The call of distant birds, the rustle of branches—each note a reminder that you’re alive, that you’re here, navigating a world filled with peril and unpredictability. But still, the thought lingers. Will your paths cross in the next game, or will you remain a ghost in his memory?

With a sigh, you shake your head and return to your sketches, determination settling in your chest. It doesn’t matter. Yet, in the depths of your mind, a part of you yearns for that inevitable meeting, that chance to unravel the enigma that is the blonde boy.

As darkness settles over the forest, you tuck your notebook away, the images of your maps a promise of the journey ahead. Tomorrow will bring new challenges, new games to navigate. And if fate has its way, perhaps it will also bring him back into your orbit once more.

[mononijikayu]

apt — fushiguro megumi.

Megumi looks down at you, his expression unreadable for a moment, but his eyes darken, understanding the suggestion beneath your words. His hand slides up your back, his touch slow and deliberate, sending a trail of warmth along your spine. You catch his eye, the music thrumming around you, and lean in closer. "Don't you want me like I want you, baby?" you ask, your voice playful and teasing. You feel him tense slightly, not because he's unsure, but because this is new to him—the intensity, the openness of your affection. You’re out in the open, letting your feelings show, and you can tell he’s still adjusting to this.

GENRE: Alternate Universe — Canon Convergence;

WARNING/s: AFAB!, Fluff, Romance, Aged Up! Megumi (he and reader are 20), Pet Names (Baby, Babe, Sweetie), Clubbing, Kissing, Making Out, Humor, Flirting, Teasing, Mention of Sexual Want, Mention of Body Parts, Mention of Sensual Touching, Depiction of Clubbing Experience, Depiction of Sensual Touching, Depiction of Kissing, Depiction of Making Out, Implied Sexual Content;

WORDS: 2.6k words.

AUTHOR'S NOTE: i like to think that megumi might end up dating his polar opposite. he's quiet and likes being a homebody and i really think that if he ends up, he'll end up with someone loud and someone who enjoys going out (cough cough thats itafushi kayu) and yes, i also think he's someone that loves and loves. he loves love. he's a wheezer fan. but anyway, i hope you enjoy this!!! i love you all <3

masterlist

if you want to, tip! <3

IT’S VERY RARE FOR MEGUMI TO WANNA GO OUT CLUBBING. When you’d suggested going out dancing, you weren’t sure how Megumi would react. He wasn’t exactly the clubbing type—always so composed, preferring quiet nights and calm spaces.

But when you flashed him your best doe-eyed look, teasing him with a playful smile, he couldn’t resist. It only took a moment for his resolve to waver, and before you knew it, the two of you were stepping into the pulsating energy of the club.

Now, as the music thumps loudly around you, lights flashing and casting shifting shadows across his face, you can’t help but be surprised by how relaxed he seems. His usual guarded exterior has softened, the hard edges of his stoic demeanor blurring in the haze of the neon glow.

He’s not as stiff or reserved as you’d expected; instead, he moves with you, his body attuned to yours as if the two of you have been doing this for years. The way you click—it’s undeniable, as if something magnetic has pulled you closer tonight.

You dance together in sync, the beat of the music reverberating in your chest. Every brush of your skin against his sends sparks of electricity through you. Megumi might not be as expressive with words, but the way he watches you now, his eyes following your every move, speaks volumes. There’s an intensity in his gaze, a quiet confidence that contrasts with the chaos around you, making your heart race even faster.

The rhythm carries you both, your bodies swaying together effortlessly, almost as if you’re the only two people in the room. The connection between you feels palpable tonight—charged and electric, as if the energy in the club has amplified the pull between you. It’s like the world outside these four walls has faded away, leaving only the two of you in the dim, flashing lights, lost in each other.

Megumi’s hands rest on your waist, steady and strong, guiding you closer to him. You lean into him, your lips brushing his ear as you speak over the music. "You’re enjoying this more than you thought, aren’t you?" you tease, grinning when you feel him tense slightly.

He chuckles, a sound so rare and low that it sends a pleasant shiver down your spine. "Maybe." he admits, his voice soft but unmistakably sincere. His hands tighten on your waist, pulling you even closer as the beat of the music pulses around you, almost syncing with the rhythm of your racing heart.

You turn your face towards his, close enough that you can feel his breath against your skin. There’s a moment where everything slows down, despite the chaos of the club around you, and you realize just how much you’ve wanted this closeness. Not just the dancing, but being with him like this—feeling the weight of his presence, the quiet strength in the way he holds you.

"Apartment, apartment." you sing softly into his ear, mimicking the lyrics of the song playing in the background, but with an unmistakable undertone.

It’s a playful invitation, laced with flirtation, but also something more. You don’t want this night to end with just dancing.

Megumi looks down at you, his expression unreadable for a moment, but his eyes darken, understanding the suggestion beneath your words. His hand slides up your back, his touch slow and deliberate, sending a trail of warmth along your spine.

You catch his eye, the music thrumming around you, and lean in closer. "Don't you want me like I want you, baby?" you ask, your voice playful and teasing.

You feel him tense slightly, not because he's unsure, but because this is new to him—the intensity, the openness of your affection. You’re out in the open, letting your feelings show, and you can tell he’s still adjusting to this.

As you sway together, your bodies in sync with the rhythm, you press your lips close to his ear. "Apartment, apartment." you hum, mimicking the song playing in the background. There's an invitation hidden in your words, the way you sing it softly into his ear like a secret only for him.

You pull back slightly to see his reaction, his eyes dark with something that makes your heart race. His usual calm exterior cracks just a bit, revealing a hint of amusement in his smirk. He knows what you’re asking. You’ve both been having a great time, but there’s an unspoken tension lingering between you, something that can only be released away from the crowd, in the privacy of your apartment.

“Kissy face, kissy face.” you remind him, thinking back to the flirtatious texts you sent before meeting up tonight. The playful hearts, the suggestive emojis—they all led up to this moment. “Sent to your phone, but I’m tryna kiss your lips for real.”

Megumi doesn’t say much, you know how your boyfriend is. He’s always been the quiet type—but the way his gaze locks onto yours tells you everything. His hand tightens around yours just slightly, as if he’s made his decision. He leans in, his voice low and just for you.

“Yeah.” he murmurs, his breath warm against your skin. “Let’s go, sweetie.”

Without another word, you take his hand and lead him through the packed club, weaving through people who seem oblivious to the magnetic pull between the two of you. The cool night air hits you as you step outside, a refreshing contrast to the heat inside. Your heart races, excitement buzzing under your skin as you both walk toward your apartment.

"Apartment, apartment." you sing softly again, the words echoing playfully between you. Megumi chuckles, something rare but beautiful, shaking his head at your antics. But there’s a warmth in his eyes that tells you he’s looking forward to whatever comes next.

As you reach your apartment door, there’s a shared anticipation, a quiet understanding of what’s about to happen. You unlock the door and step inside, immediately feeling the contrast between the lively, loud club and the intimate, quiet space of your home. The city lights outside cast a soft glow into the room, but everything else feels like it’s just the two of you.

"Turn this apartment into a club." you say with a grin, referencing the lyrics of the song still stuck in your head. Megumi just shakes his head again, but his eyes glint with something more mischievous.

You hit play on the stereo, and the familiar beat from the club fills the apartment, but it feels different here together. This was more personal, more intimate. There’s no one else, just you and him, swaying in the soft glow of the room. You twirl around him, pulling him closer, your hands finding their way to the back of his neck, fingers playing with the ends of his hair.

As the music fills the space between you, you lean in again. "Don't you need me like I need you now?" you whisper, your lips brushing against his ear.

His hands settle on your waist, pulling you in closer, his voice barely above a murmur. "I do, sweetie."

As the music pulses softly in the background, the intimacy between you and Megumi thickens in the air. Your bodies are already so close, the rhythm of your movements syncing naturally, but there's a shift—a deeper pull. His hands, resting on your waist, slide lower, fingers tightening slightly, as if he’s anchoring himself in the moment.

You lean back just enough to catch his gaze, eyes meeting him in the dim light of your apartment. There’s something smoldering there, something that makes your breath catch in your throat.

You’ve both been dancing around this tension all night, but now it feels impossible to ignore. You feel bold, more playful, and you let your hand trail up from his chest to his neck, brushing the side of his jaw with your fingertips.

"Don’t you want me like I want you, baby?" you whisper again, voice low and teasing. It’s the same question you’ve asked before, but this time, it’s loaded with more than just a flirty tone. You lean in closer, lips brushing just the edge of his, a featherlight tease that leaves both of you on edge.

Megumi’s breath hitches, his usual calm exterior cracking just a little. He doesn’t respond with words this time. Instead, he closes the distance between you, his lips crashing into yours with a sudden intensity that takes your breath away. The kiss is hot, urgent—like he’s been holding back for too long and can’t anymore.

His hands grip your hips, pulling you flush against him as the kiss deepens, your lips moving in perfect sync, hungry for more. You respond with just as much intensity, your fingers tangling in his hair, pulling him closer as if you can’t get enough. His mouth moves with a confidence that sends heat coursing through your body, and you melt into him, giving in to the passion building between you.

You gasp slightly as he nips at your bottom lip, his hands sliding up your back, pressing you even closer. It’s hard to tell where your body ends and begins. The heat between you is overwhelming, but you don’t want it to stop. The kiss grows deeper, more desperate, as if neither of you can get close enough, fast enough.

His hands roam over your body, exploring, as yours do the same—tracing the lines of his shoulders, down his chest, feeling the taut muscles beneath the fabric of his shirt. Every touch feels like it ignites a fire, the air between you charged with tension that has finally snapped. You pull back for just a moment, both of you breathless, your lips swollen from the heat of the kiss.

You look up at him, eyes wide with desire, and he’s looking back at you with the same intensity. His usual composed, reserved expression is long gone, replaced by something darker, more primal. Without saying a word, he leans down and captures your lips again, this time rougher, hungrier, and you can’t help but moan softly into his mouth.

Your back hits the wall as he presses you against it, his body flush against yours, his hands now gripping your thighs as he lifts you slightly, urging you to wrap your legs around his waist. You do, pulling him even closer, deepening the kiss as your fingers grip the back of his neck, holding on tightly as if the world outside your apartment has ceased to exist.

His lips leave yours, trailing hot kisses down your jawline, to your neck, nipping and sucking at your skin in a way that makes your head spin. Each kiss sends a shiver down your spine, and you tilt your head back, giving him full access as you let out a breathy sigh. His lips are relentless, leaving a trail of heat in their wake, while his hands continue their journey over your body, setting every nerve on fire.

You pull him back to your lips, capturing him in another searing kiss, your bodies moving together in perfect, heated rhythm. There’s no hesitation, no uncertainty—just raw, unfiltered desire, consuming both of you.

You don’t even notice how long it’s been, how far you’ve let yourselves get lost in each other, but you don’t care. All you know is that you want more.

And from the way Fushiguro Megumi's hands tighten around you, pulling you impossibly closer, you can tell he feels the same.

The heat between you both only intensifies, each kiss growing deeper, more desperate as Megumi presses you harder against the wall. The air is thick with tension, each movement, each touch, fueling the fire that's been simmering all night. His lips leave yours again, but only to trail down your neck, sucking gently at your pulse point, making your breath hitch as your body responds instantly to his touch.

You let out a soft moan, feeling the way his hands roam up and down your sides, gripping you with possessive urgency. Every part of you is attuned to him—the feel of his body pressed tightly against yours, the way his fingers trace along your skin, igniting sparks everywhere he touches. Your legs stay wrapped around his waist, pulling him closer, craving the connection, the closeness that’s becoming overwhelming.

"You're driving me crazy, baby." you breathe against his ear, your lips grazing the skin just beneath it, and you feel him shudder in response. His usual restraint is gone, replaced by a hunger that matches your own.

He pulls back just enough to look at you, his eyes dark, half-lidded with desire. There’s something so intense about the way he looks at you now, as if he’s seeing you in a way no one else ever has.

It makes your heart race even faster, your body craving every bit of him. He leans in again, this time slower, but no less passionate, his lips meeting yours in a deep, heated kiss that feels like it's pulling you under.

His hands slide under your shirt, fingers brushing against bare skin, and you gasp at the contact, the coolness of his touch contrasting with the heat spreading through your body. Your own hands roam freely, tugging at his shirt, wanting to feel him, to be closer. His skin is warm beneath your fingers, and you can't get enough.

Suddenly, Megumi pulls you away from the wall and carries you toward the couch, the movement swift and smooth, as if he’s completely lost in the moment. He lowers you into it, his body pressing down on yours, his lips never leaving yours as you sink into the cushions together. The weight of him above you feels perfect, grounding you while also heightening the intensity of every kiss, every touch.

His mouth moves from yours to your collarbone, his kisses turning into soft bites that make you arch against him, every nerve in your body alive with sensation. You feel his breath hot against your skin as he whispers your name, his voice low and rough, sending a fresh wave of heat through you.

Your hands thread through his hair, tugging him closer, needing more of him as his mouth explores every inch of exposed skin. You tilt your head back, giving in to the sensation, your mind spinning with the sheer intensity of it all.

"Don’t stop, babe, oh—" you whisper, your voice breathless, and he responds by kissing you harder, his body pressing more insistently against yours. You can feel the tension building, the desire between you reaching a fever pitch as you lose yourselves completely in each other.

Megumi’s hands are everywhere and you loved that. You liked being consumed by him. On your waist, sliding up your back, holding you closer as if he can’t get enough of you. His kisses are hot, urgent, and you meet his intensity with your own, pulling him closer, your bodies moving in perfect, heated rhythm.

Every moment feels like a blur of passion—his lips, his hands, the way he touches you like you’re the only thing that matters in this moment. Time seems to slow down, the world outside fading away, until it’s just the two of you, tangled together, lost in the heat of the moment.

There’s a pause, just a brief one, where he pulls back slightly, his breathing heavy, and his eyes lock onto yours. His gaze is dark, filled with raw need, and it sends a shiver through you. Without a word, he leans in again, capturing your lips in another hot, searing kiss, as if he’s silently telling you there’s no going back now. And you don’t want to.

Everything about this moment feels perfect—electric, intense, and real. The way he touches you, the way he kisses you, it’s all-consuming, and you give yourself over to it completely, lettin’ the night take you wherever it leads, knowing that with him, this connection, this fire, is only just beginning.

[you-have-a-metal-arm]

‘Til The End of The Line

Pairing: Bucky x Avenger!Reader

Word Count: 1.7k

Warnings: Mentions of blood, shooting and getting hurt

Summary: You get injured in a mission, and Bucky cannot bear to see you in such state.

Author's Note: Please do not copy or translate my work. English is not my first language, so please understand grammar or spelling mistakes.

I am so sorry for being gone (school’s been killing me)

I appreciate every feedback! Thank you for reading, enjoy!

“Ready to kick some ass, kiddo?” Steve’s voice was calm, almost soothing, but you could hear the adrenaline beneath his words as the two of you adjusted your parachutes. The jet engines hummed around you, a subtle reminder of the mission ahead.

You grinned, giving your suit one last check and tightening your grip on the gun in your hand. “Yeah, I’m gonna beat the shit out of them.”

Steve smiled, not bothering to correct your language. With him, you were always an exception.

Moments later, the wind was whipping against your face as you both jumped from the jet, splitting off into the night sky. Steve took the left wing—the more dangerous side—leaving you the right. Tony had assured you it was safer, but as you slid through the narrow gap in the door, the freezing cold hit you like a wall. The air inside was frigid, bitterly reminding you of Bucky’s stories about the winters he hated so much.

“As far as I can see, it’s clear here. How’s the situation there?” Steve’s voice crackled through the comms, full of concern. You knew he cared for you deeply, saw you as the daughter he never had, and would have taken a bullet to ensure your safety.

“It’s clear here too, Cap,” you replied, trying to ease his worry.

“Let’s stick to the plan: I’ll draw out the agents while you head straight to the operations room and grab their file IV data.”

“Copy that. Be safe, Cap—and I mean it. If you need help, just call me.”

“I will, kiddo. Be safe yourself. And promise to call me if you need anything.”

“I promise. Let’s fucking go.”

You raced through the deserted corridors of the right wing, a dagger in one hand and a fully loaded gun tucked into your suit for emergencies. The cold air bit at your skin, the silence amplifying every footstep. Suddenly, a loud, thunderous noise echoed behind you. Instinctively, you thought it was Steve, but it wasn’t. The sound was coming from your side of the building.

Before you could react, you were ambushed by over twenty armed agents.

On the other side of the wing, Steve was facing his own battle. He tossed a grenade down a hallway, expecting a swarm of enemies, but only three agents rushed at him. Something was wrong. There should have been more.

“Shit,” you hissed into the comms, struggling against the overwhelming odds. Steve heard the panic in your voice, but he couldn’t respond—one of the agents had him in a chokehold. His grip tightened on the comms as he heard the unmistakable sound of gunfire, followed by a loud thud that made his blood run cold.

“Kiddo, you okay?” Steve managed to gasp out, but all he got in return was a pained groan.

“I’ll get to you in less than a minute, I promise,” he said, desperation creeping into his voice. He could hear your labored breathing through the comms, and it was tearing him apart.

“Steve…” Your voice was faint, each word a struggle.

“Hmm?” he replied, trying to sound reassuring despite the dread clawing at his chest.

“Are the comms… still being recorded?”

Steve’s heart sank. He knew what you were doing, and he hated it. “Yes, kiddo, if there weren’t any changes to the plans, it’s on record.”

You exhaled shakily, the breath catching in your throat. There was only one person you needed to reach out to. “Buck…”

As soon as Steve heard the name, he knew the weight of what you were about to say. Even after four years of being together, Bucky’s name still brought shivers to your spine, thick with emotion.

“If by any chance you get to listen to this, Buck—”

“Y/N, kiddo, no, you’re not dying. I won’t let that happen.”

“You don’t know that…” Your voice was helpless, a reflection of your dwindling strength.

“Just stay there. I’m on my way. Please, don’t give up on us.”

But a part of Steve knew this might be your last moment. It was an instinct, a gut-wrenching feeling that he couldn’t shake. So he didn’t stop you from saying what you needed to.

“If you get a chance to listen to this…” You fought to keep your eyes open, tears mingling with the blood on the cold metal floor. Your mind flashed with the future you had imagined—a life with Bucky, growing old together, watching your children grow up. “In another life, we might—maybe we could have grown old together.”

Steve’s heart clenched as your voice wavered. He couldn’t bear the thought of losing you, but he knew there was nothing he could do except listen.

“I wish I could have given you babies,” you continued, your voice cracking with emotion. “Watched them grow in our backyard… I’m sorry that I can’t be the one to give you that life.”

Your vision blurred as sleepiness started to consume you. You fought against it with everything you had, but the darkness was closing in. “I’m sorry, I’m sorry that this is how it ends for us… I’m really sorry.”

“And if this is how it really ends… Promise me you’ll find someone else to love, to open up to. Find someone else… Call someone else ‘doll.’ And don’t grieve too much.”

The darkness was overwhelming now. You felt it pulling you under, felt the life draining from your body as blood poured from your wounds. “You deserve to be happy… And the past doesn’t—doesn’t define you.”

Your last words were barely a whisper. “I… Love you, Buck. And I’m sorry I couldn’t say that more often.”

And then… silence. The darkness consumed you, and Steve heard nothing but the empty static of the comms. He refused to believe it, refused to accept that you were gone. He sprinted through the hallways, throwing open every door until he found you, lying motionless on the floor, your suit stained crimson with blood.

He scooped you up as if you weighed nothing, his legs pumping with every ounce of energy he had left. The jet’s engines hummed steadily, but inside the cabin, chaos reigned. Steve knelt beside you, his hands trembling as he assessed your injuries. The bullets had done their damage—one near your heart, another through your stomach, and the last through your left arm. Blood pooled beneath you, soaking through your suit.

“Kiddo, hang in there, please,” Steve murmured, his voice tight with fear. He grabbed the medical kit from the overhead compartment, spilling its contents across the floor. His hands worked quickly, tearing open a pack of gauze and pressing it firmly against the wounds. The bleeding was relentless, and he knew he needed to act fast to save your life.

You were pale, your breathing shallow and irregular. It was a miracle you were still breathing at all. Steve knew he had to stabilize you before they landed, or you wouldn’t make it. His mind raced through the limited medical training he had received—enough to get through emergencies, but nothing like this.

He fumbled with an IV kit, his hands shaking as he tried to insert the needle into your arm. Your veins were fragile, but after what felt like an eternity, he got it in. He attached a bag of saline solution, knowing it was only a temporary measure.

“Stay with me, kiddo. Buck won’t be so happy about this,” Steve whispered, his voice trembling. Your pulse was faint, but still there. He applied more pressure to the wound, checking if you were breathing again. It was labored, but there were no signs of a collapsed lung, thank God.

He grabbed the portable oxygen mask and gently placed it over your mouth and nose, adjusting the flow to give you the support you desperately needed. Your chest rose and fell slightly more steadily—a small victory amid the chaos.

With one hand still applying pressure to the wound, Steve fumbled with the jet’s communications system. “Friday, please check if the team is ready for immediate surgery.”

“Yes, sir. Mr. Stark has everything prepared, and Dr. Cho is on standby.”

“Can you connect me directly to Tony?”

“Connecting now, sir.”

“Cap, how is she?” Tony’s voice crackled through, tense with concern.

“I think I stabilized her. We’re landing in three minutes, max. Thank God this jet has autopilot, or else… she wouldn’t have made it.”

Tony was silent for a moment. It wasn’t the time for pride or self-congratulation. He was kicking himself for not being more cautious, for not having medics onboard, for underestimating the mission. You were the youngest, the brightest member of the Avengers, and he couldn’t bear to lose you.

Steve checked the wound again. The bleeding had slowed, but it hadn’t stopped. He packed the wound with more gauze, securing it tightly. You needed a blood transfusion, surgery—everything he couldn’t provide here. All he could do was keep you stable until they landed.

“Tony, do me one favor,” Steve said, his voice thick as he wiped the blood from your cheeks. “Please… Don’t let Bucky see her like this. He won’t be able to handle it.”

But Tony’s response was firm. “Sorry, Cap. James already knows. He’s waiting at the airbase. And he has the right to see her.”

Steve nodded, though his heart ached at the thought. “Okay, Tony, thanks… We’re almost there.”

The jet descended, the lights of the airbase coming into view. Steve cradled you close, whispering words of comfort that he wasn’t sure you could hear. “We’re going to make it, kiddo. Just hold on a little longer.”

As the jet landed, the hatch opened to reveal Tony, Dr. Cho, and Bucky. Bucky’s face was ashen, his eyes wide with fear as he took in the sight of you. Steve gently handed you over to Dr. Cho and her team, who rushed you to the medical bay. Bucky stood frozen, staring at the blood that covered Steve’s hands and suit.

“She’s alive, Buck,” Steve said softly, his voice raw with exhaustion. “But she needs you now more than ever. Don’t lose hope.”

Bucky nodded, swallowing hard. He couldn’t speak, couldn’t think beyond the sight of you lying there so still. He followed the team as they wheeled you into surgery, praying with everything he had left that you would survive this.

THANK YOU FOR READING!

THERE’S GOING TO BE A PART 2 by Sunday

Part 2 is up y’all

[focusonkayjay]

between the ride and the roses (12)

Pairing: Jungkook x (f.) Reader

Genre/Tags: biker/ motorcycle shop owner! jungkook x flower shop owner! reader, enemies to lovers, opposites attract, slow burn, angst, smut, fluff

Word count: 8.4k+

Series summary: There's an insane turn of events when your calm and peaceful life is intruded by Jungkook, a biker boy who sets up his loud business right next to your own. Your paths cross under unlikely circumstances, starting with a clash of personalities but gradually you find yourself establishing a deeper connection with the annoyingly attractive biker jerk. You both have no idea what's in store for you guys as you try your best to put up with each other.

Chapter Warnings: protected sex, oral (f. receiving), fingering, so many emotions and feelings, jungkook is a SIMP

A/N: sorry for the late update. this is a longer chapter compared to the others to make up for it. hope you guys enjoy this part !! lmk your thoughts and stay tunedddd <3

part 12: high octane roses

Jungkook’s apartment feels warm and inviting, a reflection of him in every way. The dim lighting casts a golden glow across the room, highlighting the cozy furniture arranged in a way that makes the space feel so intimate.

You notice little details… a soft crocheted blanket draped over the couch, a small bookshelf lined with novels and motorcycle magazines, and a shelf filled with framed photographs.

You wander closer to the shelf, your curiosity piqued. The photos tell stories of a life filled with people he cares about. One picture shows him with his friends, all grinning wide, arms slung around each other’s shoulders.

Another captures a younger Jungkook with his family, his bunny-toothed smile as bright as ever. Then, there’s one of him as a child, maybe four or five, holding a tiny toy bike with a proud smile. You can’t help but smile as you take it all in… it’s a side of him you’ve never seen before, and it only makes you fall for him a little more.

As you linger by the photos, Jungkook’s voice pulls you back. “You’re shivering.” he observes, his tone laced with concern. You hadn’t even realized how cold you were, the damp clothes sticking to your skin, amplifying the chill.

“Come on.” he says, taking you to his room as he opens his closet. “You can take a shower and warm up. I’ll grab you something to wear.” He pulls out a soft brown hoodie and a pair of basketball shorts, handing them to you with an easy smile. “You can use the bathroom here. I’ll shower in the other bathroom and throw your clothes in the dryer.”

You nod, clutching the clothes to your chest and watch him leave. As you’re left alone in his bedroom, you’re immediately struck by how personal and cozy the space feels. The room is modest, yet it exudes Jungkook’s personality.

A row of miniature bike models lines the nightstand, and a few posters of sleek motorcycles decorate the walls. There’s even a helmet perched on a shelf, along with some trinkets and scattered books. It feels like a sanctuary… simple, warm, and utterly him.

You take a moment to run your fingers over the nightstand, marveling at the intricate details of the bike models. But the cold clinging to you is insistent, so you quickly head to the adjoining bathroom to shower.

The warm water is a blessing, washing away the chill and the remnants of the rain. After drying off, you slip into Jungkook’s hoodie. It’s oversized, the soft fabric reaching down to the middle of your thighs. You glance at the shorts but decide against them thinking the hoodie covers enough, and the thought of wearing something that smells so much like him is oddly comforting.

Once dressed, you return to his room, taking another look around. You find yourself drawn to the small details… another shelf with neatly arranged books, a picture of him at some biking event, and a pair of worn boots tucked in the corner. Eventually, you settle on the edge of his bed, fingers absentmindedly tracing the soft fabric of his comforter as you wait for him.

The sound of a door opening down the hall alerts you, and moments later, the door to his room swings open.

Jungkook steps in, rubbing a towel through his damp hair, clearly not expecting you to be there already. Your eyes widen as you take him in... he’s shirtless, his toned abs, chest and tattooed arms on full display, droplets of water still clinging to his skin. His joggers sit low on his hips, the waistband of his boxers teasingly peaking around his tiny waist.

“Oh.” he says, freezing mid-step when he notices you sitting on the bed. His wide eyes meet yours, and for a second, neither of you say anything. Then his gaze flicks down, taking in the sight of you in his oversized hoodie, your bare legs hanging by the frame of the bed, almost touching the floor.

He swallows hard, the tips of his ears turning pink. “Uh… I thought you were still in the shower.” he stammers, quickly running the towel over his hair again to mask his embarrassment.

You bite your lip, trying to suppress a smile as your heart hammers in your chest. “I finished just a while ago.” you say softly.

For a moment, the room feels hot, the air thick with something unspoken as Jungkook stands there, towel in hand, while you sit on his bed, looking up at him. His gaze lingers on you, soft yet intense, and you can almost feel the weight of his thoughts.

The sight of you sitting on his bed right out of the shower, wearing his hoodie, your exposed legs, your damp hair… stirs something inside him. There’s a quiet allure in the way you’re looking at him, eyes wide and curious, a mix of shyness and comfort in your expression. It’s as if everything around him vanishes, leaving only you.

Before he can stop himself, the towel slips from his fingers, landing softly on the floor by the door. His feet move on their own as he crosses the room, his chest rising and falling with quiet breaths. He stops just in front of you, and without a word, he bends forward, his hands cupping your face as he leans in, placing his lips on yours.

The kiss is sudden but it's deep and consuming, a silent confession of everything he’s been holding back. His touch is firm but tender, his thumbs brushing against your cheeks as he angles your face closer to his.

Your fingers instinctively reach out, finding one of his wrists for support as you let yourself melt into him. The warmth of his lips against yours sends a shiver down your spine, and for a moment, it feels as though time has stopped.

You lose yourself in the kiss, in the way he tastes, the way he holds you as though you’re the most precious thing in the world. It’s slow and passionate, carrying the weight of many emotions, and you can feel his heart in every movement.

Before you can fully process what’s happening, Jungkook gently pushes you back, guiding you until your head meets the soft comfort of the mattress beneath you.

His movements are firm, yet careful, as though he’s making sure you’re comfortable with every step. You feel the warmth of his body as he leans over you, and instinctively, your legs part to make room for him. He fits perfectly, settling between your thighs with an ease that feels natural, like he’s meant to be there.

The weight of him presses you deeper into the mattress, grounding you in the moment as his hips shift against yours, sending a shiver through your entire body. The kiss grows deeper, more consuming, as though the world outside his bedroom no longer exists.

His hands, once cradling your face so tenderly, slide down to your waist, gripping you firmly. His fingers curl into the fabric of his hoodie draped over you, the slight pressure sending sparks along your skin. You can feel the unspoken desire in his touch, the way his hands hold you with a mix of reverence and longing, as though you’re something he never wants to let go of.

The intensity between you grows as his body presses closer, the heat radiating off him sinking into your skin. When his erection grazes against your core, a soft, involuntary moan escapes your lips, swallowed by the searing kiss. It only spurs him on, his fingers starting a slow, teasing journey along the curve of your thighs.

His touch is light at first, fingertips brushing the outside of your legs, igniting a trail of fire as they glide upward. When his hands slip beneath the hem of the oversized hoodie, the warmth of his palms against your bare skin makes your breath hitch. The delicate, tantalizing movements send a rush of electricity coursing through your body.

You arch into his touch, seeking more of him as his fingers ghost over the waistband of your underwear. Every motion is gentle, slow enough to drive you mad, yet filled with an aching desire. His hands finally settle on your hips, gripping them firmly, grounding you as the tension between you builds.

Jungkook lifts your hips slightly, a subtle yet intoxicating motion that aligns your bodies perfectly. His hardness presses against your core, and the friction sends a wave of pleasure rolling through you.

The motion is slow, his hips moving against yours, each shift of his body drawing a needy sound from your lips. The delicious pressure leaves you breathless, completely lost in the moment and the way he moves with you, as if nothing else in the world matters.

His lips pause against yours for just a moment, and when he pulls away, you’re met with the sight of his flushed face and eyes glazed with longing and desire.

But the moment is fleeting because he dives back in, his mouth capturing yours with renewed fervor. Each kiss is more urgent, each touch more electric, sending another wave of desire coursing through your veins.

It feels almost unreal, having him this close, feeling the intensity of his movements as if the world has narrowed down to just the two of you. His hips grind against yours with a growing urgency, the pressure making your toes curl.

You can feel his need, the way he wants you… heavy, consuming and undeniable. It fills the space between you, and you’re relieved, almost euphoric, to know you’re not the only one drowning in this feeling.

Your heartbeat thunders in your chest, matching the rhythm of his movements. Everything else fades away as he kisses you with a hunger that leaves you breathless, your body aching and trembling beneath him.

When he finally pulls back, his breathing is ragged, his lips red and swollen from the intensity. His fingers trail over your hips, before coming to rest on the hem of the hoodie you’re wearing. His eyes meet yours, dark and searching, silently asking for permission. When you nod, he pulls the hoodie over your head in one fluid motion.

The cool air kisses your bare skin, and you become acutely aware that you’re not wearing a bra. You’d left it in the bathroom, soaked from the rain, and now the vulnerability of the moment makes your cheeks flush. But any self-consciousness melts away when you see the way he looks at you.

Jungkook’s gaze roams over your body, his eyes taking in every curve and dip, lingering on your neck, collarbones, and chest. His Adam's apple bobs as he swallows hard, and he seems almost in awe, as if he can’t believe you’re real. His hands tremble slightly as they move to cup your face, and when he leans in to kiss you again, the tenderness in his touch contrasts beautifully with the raw desire in his eyes.

“You’re so beautiful...” he whispers against your lips, his voice soft but filled with emotion. “So perfect.” His words send a shiver down your spine, and you feel your heart swell at the sincerity in his tone. He pulls back just enough to meet your gaze, his expression a mixture of reverence and need. “You have no idea…” he murmurs, his voice trailing off as his breathing grows heavier. “You have no idea how bad I need you right now.”

His confession hangs in the air, charged and intimate, as you feel the heat radiating between you. When his length twitches against your core, your breath hitches.

His hands move with care, cupping your breasts as his thumbs gently graze over your hardened nipples. The sensation is electric, a bolt of pleasure that draws a soft gasp from your lips. His touch is tender but stimulating, so new and intoxicating that it leaves you panting, your body alight with sensations that are almost overwhelming.

When his mouth replaces his hand, the warmth of his tongue swirling around one of your nipples, you can’t hold back the desperate moan that escapes you. His lips latch onto you, suckling gently but with enough fervor to send waves of heat through your body. Your back arches instinctively, pressing closer to him as your hands grasp at the sheets beneath you.

One of his hands moves to knead your other breast, his fingers working in perfect sync with the ministrations of his mouth. The dual sensations are almost too much to bear, and you squeeze your eyes shut, your brows furrowing as you struggle to process the sheer intensity of it all.

His lips leave a trail of fire as they travel across your chest, ghosting over your sensitive skin and leaving you shivering in their wake. Slowly, he works his way up to the delicate curve of your neck, his movements unhurried, savoring every second as if he’s committing this moment to memory.

He nuzzles into the space just behind your ear, his breath warm and soft against your skin. When his lips press down, marking you with a burning gentleness, it feels both possessive and tender. The sensation sends a new wave of shivers down your spine, your body instinctively reacting to the intimacy of his touch.

Your chest rises and falls in sync with your labored breathing, the air thick with the tension between you. Every movement, every kiss, every graze of his fingers feels purposeful, like he’s pouring his soul into the way he touches you. His hands roam across your body, memorizing every curve, every inch of skin.

You’ve never felt anything like this before... the slow, deliberate buildup of desire, the way his lips and hands ignite every nerve ending. It’s intoxicating, consuming, and all encompassing. The press of his body against yours, the wet heat of his kisses, the weight of his presence... all of it has you teetering on the edge of control.

When his lips finally find yours again, the kiss is deep, languid, and brimming with desperation. You cling to him, your fingers digging into his shoulders as if grounding yourself to him is the only way to stay tethered. His hips roll against yours again, and the pressure is so perfectly maddening that it pulls another moan from deep within you.

“Jungkook…” you breathe against his lips, the word coming out as a plea. Your voice trembles, heavy with longing. “Jungkook… touch me… please.”

Your whispered words hang in the air, raw and vulnerable, and when you repeat yourself, your voice cracks ever so slightly. “Please.” you beg.

Jungkook's lips continue their descent, leaving a trail of warmth along your torso. His kisses are slow and unhurried, as if savoring every inch of your skin. Each touch of his lips ignites sparks that travel through your entire body, leaving you trembling beneath him.

Your chest rises and falls with shallow breaths, your fingers clutching his shoulders as he moves lower. His lips brush against the curve of your stomach, lingering there for a moment as though memorizing the way you feel beneath him.

When he finally reaches the waistband of your underwear, his movements pause, his mouth hovering just above the delicate fabric. Your hips instinctively lift towards him, a soft, breathless moan slipping past your lips... a plea without words.

He notices, his gaze flicking up to meet yours in the dim, intimate glow of the room. His eyes are dark, heavy with desire, yet there’s an undeniable tenderness in them. “Tell me...” he whispers, his voice rough with restraint but filled with an almost reverent care. “Tell me what you want.”

Your throat tightens at his words as you try to wrap your head around this intense moment. “You.” you breathe out, your voice shuddering. The sound is fragile yet unwavering. “I want you.” you repeat, your tone firmer this time, the sincerity in your words undeniable.

A flicker of softness crosses his features, and his lips curve into a small, almost bashful smile. The weight of his gaze makes your heart race as you feel the connection between you deepen in that moment.

And then, without warning, his head dips, and his lips press firmly against your core through the thin fabric of your underwear. The sensation is electrifying, a surge of heat coursing through you that leaves you gasping. Your body arches towards him involuntarily, seeking more of his touch as a wave of pleasure washes over you.

“Jungkook…” you moan, your voice quivering with a mix of surprise and desire. The sound barely escapes your lips before he tightens his grip on your hips, steadying you. His lips remain close, teasingly hovering over your sensitive spot, igniting a fire that seems to consume every inch of you.

Without breaking eye contact, his fingers hook around the waistband. The motion is slow as though he’s savoring every second of the moment. His gaze never wavers, locking onto yours as he smoothly slides the fabric down your legs, the intimacy of his actions leaving you dizzy.

The cool air grazes your exposed skin, a stark contrast to the heat pooling between you. His gaze drops, and when his eyes meet your glistening core, he pauses, his breath hitching ever so slightly.

“God... you’re so fucking perfect.” he murmurs, the words tumbling out like a confession, low and husky. His voice sends a shiver through you, the intensity of his stare leaving you bare in more ways than one.

His touch is steady, as his fingers trail gently along your folds, exploring with an intimacy that makes your head spin. The warmth of his skin against yours feels electric, igniting every nerve as his movements remain patient, savoring every second of the moment.

"So wet for me." he coos as he carefully dips his finger into you. The action sends a jolt of insane pleasure through your veins and you cry out a loud moan. You feel him sink his fingers deep inside you, pumping them as he gradually increases his pace, eventually adding in another digit.

You're overwhelmed by a cascade of sensations once he adds a third finger, as if stars themselves are scattered before your eyes, their brilliance merging with the overwhelming pleasure that surges through you. It's a feeling that defies explanation, a delicate, almost indescribable wave of euphoria that leaves your legs trembling uncontrollably.

Your moans are relentless, and Jungkook breathes heavily, guiding you towards your peak. He is so captivated by the sight before him... your body glistening with sweat, your chest rising and falling with each breath, your legs trembling with the intensity. It’s utterly mesmerizing.

“Jungkook…” you moan, and his gaze shifts to your face as he leans in, pressing a soft, featherlight kiss against your jaw. "Jungkook...I'm close... so close." you breathe out. "Cum for me." he whispers lowly. "Cum for me, baby." he says again and suddenly you break.

A loud mewl erupts from the bottom of your lungs as you orgasm in his hold. Your body writhing and shaking, unable to recover from the intensity of the high you just came down from. "Fuck... look at you." he sighs, drinking in the sight of you.

You feel his fingers delicately massage your core, the sensation making you flinch momentarily, yet somehow, you find yourself yearning for more. "Jungkook..." you start, your voice soft. "I need you..." you beg again. "I need you inside me....please."

As soon as Jungkook hears you say those words, he moves his hands away from you, now standing up straight as he watches you tremble on his bed. You suddenly feel empty, the warmth of his body no longer enveloping you.

But just when you're starting to miss it, you watch him bend down towards you, his face inching closer towards your already sensitive pussy and you feel his lips against your clit.

You gasp loudly, your back arching up slightly at the feeling. His hands curl from under your thighs as he holds them apart, as he continues to lick and suckle on your most sensitive area. He continues like this for minutes, not once stopping, lapping up the wetness that drips out of you with every flick of his tongue.

Finally, Jungkook lifts his head up from between your legs, a smirk playing on his lips as he takes a few steps away from you. You watch as he pulls down his sweatpants, revealing the bulge in his boxer briefs and you can't help but feel a twinge of anticipation at the thought of having him inside you.

As if reading your mind, Jungkook smirks at you, pushing down his boxers to reveal his already hard dick. It stands proud, and you watch in awe as he strokes it gently with one hand while the other one reaches down to rub against your clit, making you bite onto the skin of your lower lip.

He slowly moves towards his nightstand and pulls opens the third drawer, retrieving a condom as he tears it open with his teeth. He slides the latex onto his dick, his hand stroking it up and down to ensure it's fully covered.

As soon as the end of the condom touches his skin, he wastes no time and hovers over you, positioning himself at your entrance. Before doing anything, he finds your gaze, his eyes locking with yours. So many emotions swirl within him, but in this moment, he knows you understand him. The way you're looking back at him speaks volumes, and it all falls into place.

Closing his eyes, he takes a slow breath, feeling the warmth between you both intensify. His lips, still glistening with the remnants of your essence, gently engulf yours in a languid kiss. The kiss deepens with a quiet, unspoken yearning, as time seems to stretch and you finally feel him entering you.

You moan out at the feeling, your eyes widening in shock at how he stretches your walls out. You feel every inch of him as he slides in, your body taking a moment to adjust to the new feeling. But as soon as he stills completely, you feel yourself wrap around his dick, pulling him deeper within you.

His arms find their way around your head, his forearms caging you as he leans in, his nose skimming yours. You watch the way his eyes darken as he begins thrusting, the sound of your skin slapping against each other echoing within the room.

"Fuck..." he mutters, his hips rolling against your pelvis. "Fuck, baby.... you feel... you feel so good." he praises, closing his eyes to truly enjoy the blissful sensation. It's like he never wants this to end.

You moan in response, your nails digging into the skin of his back. As if urging him on, he moves faster, his thrusts becoming more insistent, more desperate. His kisses grow deeper and deeper, his lips trailing along your jawline.

When Jungkook feels himself hitting that familiar tight bundle of nerves every time he thrusts into you, you both begin to groan louder, the sensations becoming too much to bear.

Suddenly, Jungkook pulls out, leaving you feeling empty for a quick second but you watch him quickly flip you over, pushing your upper body down towards the mattress as he positions himself behind you. You feel him slide back into you, and a loud gasp leaves your lips as a rush of pleasure surges through your body.

"Oh god…" you mewl, the feeling becoming too intense to ignore in this new position. Jungkook's thrusts become more forceful, his body crashing against yours with every slap. His hands hold you by the hips as he fucks you into the mattress.

His breathing becomes more ragged, his groans sounding more animalistic as he starts to reach his climax. Your legs begin to shake uncontrollably as he pounds into you, his cock sliding in and out of you over and over again. You can't help but let your eyes flutter shut as you let the feeling take over.

"Fuckkk..." he growls, his hands tightening their grip on your hips. "I'm... so... fucking close." he says, his thrusts becoming uneven as he slams into you. "You're gonna make me cum so hard... fuck." he moans, his head falling forward.

It's when Jungkook flips you over onto your back again, and this time, looks straight into your eyes that he finally reaches his high along with you. He cums into the condom, while your walls pulsate around his length as you too reach your second orgasm with his body falling over you as both of you pant, trying to catch your breaths.

It’s a long moment before either of you moves, a long moment of heavy breaths and soft kisses. You’re sated, completely and utterly sated, but you don’t want it to end. You want to feel Jungkook against you forever, his skin against yours, his heart beating in time with yours.

He rolls off you slowly, his arm slipping around your waist to pull you into his embrace, holding you as if to shield you from the world. His lips find your temple, pressing soft, lingering kisses that seem to whisper unspoken promises, while his fingers trail soothingly over your chest as he fondles your breast, grounding you with his touch.

After a moment, he shifts, propping himself up with a quiet sigh. "I’ll be right back." he murmurs, his voice low and reassuring, his hand tenderly brushing through your hair before he rises and disappears into the bathroom.

When he returns, a warm, damp cloth in hand, his movements are patient, almost reverent. Kneeling beside you, he carefully tends to you, his touch gentle as he wipes you clean.

His eyes remain on you, soft and filled with something indescribable, his silence speaking louder than words as he ensures you feel cared for, down to the smallest detail.

Once he’s done, you offer him a soft, sleepy smile as he climbs back into bed. He takes his time, gently draping the warm blanket over your figure before settling beside you, pulling you into the circle of his arms. Your skin brushes against his, the heat of your bodies blending, creating a cocoon of warmth and intimacy that feels like a world of its own.

“That was amazing.” you whisper, your voice barely audible in the quiet of the room as you turn to face him. His lips curve into a gentle smile, and without hesitation, he leans in to place a tender kiss on your cheek.

“It was.” he agrees, his voice low and soothing, before adding with an earnestness that sends a shiver through you. “It’s like you were made for me.”

Your heart flips at his words, a wave of emotion washing over you. Unable to hold back, you burrow closer to him, resting your head against his chest as his arms instinctively tighten around you. The steady rhythm of his heartbeat beneath your ear lulls you into a serene calm, his presence enveloping you entirely.

Jungkook lies there, cradling you against him, his hands resting lightly on your back. He feels the subtle changes in your breathing as sleep begins to claim you, the rise and fall of your chest syncing with his own. As he holds you, his mind drifts, consumed by the depth of his feelings.

The emotions coursing through him are almost overwhelming, far beyond anything he’s ever known. It’s not just fondness or desire... it’s something infinitely more profound. In this quiet moment, with you nestled in his arms, he realizes it’s a much deeper feeling in its truest, purest form.

It’s the kind of feeling that roots itself deep, that alters the very fabric of his being. He doesn’t need to word it yet, the feeling is enough, filling the silence as he watches over you, his heart completely and irrevocably yours.

//

Your brows furrow as a ray of sunlight pierces through your eyelids, warming your skin but pulling you from the depths of sleep. With a quiet groan, you roll over on the mattress, seeking refuge away from the insistent light.

A soft hum escapes your lips as your eyes flutter open, lazily adjusting to the familiar surroundings and a sleepy smile tugs at your lips. The memories of last night suddenly flood your mind, each one vivid and warm, filling you with a sense of calm.

You remain still, your eyes slipping shut once more as your arm instinctively stretches across the mattress in search of him. But instead of the comforting warmth of his presence, your hand meets only the cold, empty sheets.

The realization stirs you, and your eyes snap open, a small pang of disappointment flickering through your chest. Slowly, you prop yourself up, glancing around the room, your thoughts clouded with curiosity. Where could he be? you wonder and just then, you hear random sounds reaching your ears from beyond the door.

You hesitate for a moment, wondering if he’s occupied with something outside, before reluctantly sliding out of bed. Your eyes land on his hoodie, neatly folded on the edge of the nightstand, a detail that makes you smile with quiet affection. Pulling it over yourself, the fabric still carrying his scent, you feel an odd sense of comfort as it envelops you.

With slow steps, you make your way to the closed door, your fingers hesitating on the handle for just a second. Taking a steadying breath, you turn the knob and pull it open, curiosity and anticipation guiding you forward.

As you walk down the hallway, the soft padding of your feet barely makes a sound against the cool floor. You peer around the corner, curiosity tugging at you, and your gaze lands on Jungkook. He’s in the kitchen, his broad back turned towards you, the lean muscles beneath his shirt flexing ever so slightly as he moves.

He’s focused, completely absorbed in whatever he’s working on near the stove, and the sight of him like this... calm and domestic, makes your heart flutter in ways you can’t quite describe.

A tender smile graces your lips as you watch him. There’s something serene about the moment, the way the sunlight streams through the kitchen window, highlighting his features in a golden glow.

You carefully tiptoe closer, your excitement bubbling beneath the surface. When you’re finally close enough, it feels natural to slide your arms around his torso, pulling him into a gentle hug from behind. The moment your cheek presses against his back, a sense of calm washes over you. His warmth radiates through the fabric of his soft t-shirt, and you close your eyes, letting the steady rhythm of his breath calm you.

For a second, you feel him stiffen, surprised by the sudden touch, but he quickly relaxes, his body leaning ever so slightly into yours. “Good morning, sleepyhead.” he says, his voice low and affectionate, carrying a smile you don’t even need to see to feel.

The remnants of sleep still cling to you, and you hum softly, nuzzling closer against him. The scent of him mingles with the savory aroma of whatever he’s cooking, filling your senses in the most comforting way. His hands find yours, resting gently atop them as if to hold you in place.

“You should’ve stayed in bed.” you hear him say, his teasing tone making you smile. “I was trying to be a gentleman and bring you breakfast in bed.” he adds. A soft giggle escapes your lips. “I missed you.” you say. Your words are quiet, almost muffled against his back, but you know he hears them.

Jungkook lets out a warm chuckle, the sound reverberating through you. Carefully, he loosens your arms, turning to face you with a softness that makes your heart skip a beat. His dark eyes, full of affection, sweep over you as he wraps his arms securely around your shoulders.

Leaning down, he presses a lingering kiss to your forehead, his lips warm and gentle against your skin. His thumb grazes the side of your arm in soothing strokes, as if to silently reassure you of his presence.

“I’m right here, baby.” he whispers, his voice tender yet steady, each word laced with quiet devotion. His gaze holds yours for a beat longer, and in that moment, everything feels perfect, like you’re exactly where you’re meant to be.

You lean closer, wrapping your arms around his waist, and he instinctively tightens his hold around you. The two of you stay there, cocooned in each other's embrace, the warmth of his body engulfing you in a way nothing else can.

“Are you always this clingy?” he teases, the light humor in his voice causing your cheeks to warm. A soft whine escapes your lips as you hug him even tighter, burying your face into his shirt as if to hide from his playful jab.

Despite your wordless protest, your actions seem to betray you, holding onto him like you never want to let go. Jungkook’s chuckle rumbles deep in his chest, and his fingers trace slow, soothing circles on your back.

In this quiet moment, Jungkook’s mind is a swirl of emotions. Somehow, this is everything he's ever wanted. He glances down at you, nestled securely in his arms, and his heart swells. It feels perfect. It feels like home.

After what feels like an eternity but isn’t long enough, he gently pulls away, his arms still lingering around your shoulders as he looks down at you. A soft smile plays on his lips, full of fondness and warmth. “Why don’t you take a seat here?” he suggests, guiding you towards the kitchen island with a tenderness that makes your heart swell with affection.

He helps you settle onto the chair, his touch light but reassuring. “I’ll get you breakfast.” he says, brushing a stray strand of hair from your face before turning back to the stove.

You watch him move around the kitchen, the steady rhythm of his actions mesmerizing. There’s something so thoughtful about the way he works... grabbing ingredients, checking the stove, arranging things with care. You rest your elbows on the island, propping your chin on your hands as you observe him, a soft, content smile spreading across your lips.

Jungkook glances over his shoulder every now and then, catching your gaze with a subtle grin that makes your heart flutter. The way he pours his attention into even the smallest details of your breakfast leaves you feeling cherished.

After a few minutes, he walks back with a tray in his hands. Placing it gently on the counter, he takes his time arranging the cutlery, making sure everything is perfect before finally taking the seat across from you.

Your eyes immediately fall on the spread in front of you. A steaming bowl of kimchi stew, a small pot of perfectly cooked rice, and an array of vibrant side dishes neatly arranged. Your lips part in awe as you take it all in.

“Wow.” you breathe, your voice laced with genuine amazement. “This looks amazing.” Your gaze shifts from the food to Jungkook, and your heart beats a little faster when you see the way he’s looking at you... smiling softly, his eyes filled with quiet pride and affection. “Dig in cutie.” he says simply.

//

After finishing your hearty breakfast and an impromptu make out session on the cold kitchen counter, you and Jungkook finally realize it’s time to face the responsibilities of the day. It’s Monday morning, and both of you have packed schedules ahead.

Jungkook gets dressed first, effortlessly putting on his usual rugged yet polished attire. Once he’s ready, he insists on riding you back to your place so that you can get ready.

Almost 20 minutes later, Jungkook steps into your apartment, his boots making soft thuds against the wooden floor as he takes a moment to absorb the place you call home.

The space is small but cozy, filled with little touches of your personality that instantly make him smile. A faint floral scent lingers in the air, mixing with the remnants of a candle you must’ve burned earlier, the half-melted wax still sitting on the coffee table.

He walks further inside, his dark eyes wandering over everything... the stack of books neatly arranged on a shelf, the framed photos on the walls, and the tiny collection of soft toys resting on your couch.

His gaze lands on a small cluster of succulents sitting on the windowsill, their pots painted in bright colors and nice patterns. A faint smile tugs at his lips as he leans closer, his fingers lightly brushing the edge of one of the pots.

“You’ve got a nice place.” he calls out, his voice soft but carrying easily through the space. “Thanks !!” he hears you reply from the bedroom, where you’re still getting ready. “It’s not much, but it’s home.” you add.

Jungkook chuckles under his breath, his attention shifting to the bookshelf nearby. His fingers graze the spines of the books, pausing on one with a faded, pastel cover. He pulls it out and flips through it idly, his brows raising as he realizes it’s a romance novel. A knowing smirk crosses his face. “So this is what you're into.” he mutters.

“Don’t snoop!” you call out playfully. “I’m not snooping.” he lies, setting the book back in its place with an innocent expression, even though you can’t see him.

He turns and spots a small collection of polaroid pictures pinned to a corkboard by the door. There's some of you and your friends, you and your grandma, he assumes and various other people he can't quite recognize. His smile softens at the sight, his thumb brushing over the edge of the board. He doesn’t realize he’s staring until your voice snaps him out of it. “All done!”

Jungkook turns just in time to see you step out of your room, and for a moment, he forgets how to breathe. You’re not even dressed up fancy or out of the ordinary, it just like how he's always seen you in your shop but something about the way you carry yourself... the way you look at him with that easy smile, has him feeling like he’s just been hit by a freight train.

“You were snooping, weren’t you?” you ask, narrowing your eyes at him. “Maybe a little.” he admits, holding up his hands in mock surrender. “But can you blame me? There’s so much you here. It’s... nice.”

Your cheeks flush at his words, and you try to hide your embarrassment by grabbing your bag. “Well, I’m ready now. Let’s go before you start judging my book collection.”

Jungkook laughs, stepping forward to grab your coat from the rack. He holds it open for you, his hands brushing against your shoulders as he helps you slip it on. The small, domestic gesture feels oddly intimate, and for a second, neither of you say anything.

As you lock the door, both of you walk hand in hand as you go downstairs, heading towards his bike that's parked right outside your building.

The ride towards your shops, feels different today. Jungkook isn’t speeding like he usually does, nor does he seem in any particular rush. His movements are calm and steady and it dawns on you... this is his way of stretching the moment, of holding onto the little time he has with you before the day takes over.

When the bike finally comes to a smooth stop a few meters away from your shop, you carefully get off, placing your hand on his shoulder for balance as you remove the helmet. You hand it back to him with a soft, shy smile.

Jungkook watches you with an amused pout tugging at his lips. “Dropping my girlfriend off to work, and even though she’s going to be right next to my shop all day, I still can’t wait for the day to end so that I can see her again in peace.” he says, somewhat sulking.

You laugh, the sound light and infectious, as you arch your brows at him. “So I’m your girlfriend now?” you ask. “Hello?? I thought we already established that… especially after last night.” he replies instantly, clearly offended.

You snort at his expression, which is a mix of indignation and vulnerability. “Well, you never asked.” you shrug, teasing him. His lips part slightly, as if your words had genuinely taken him aback. He lets out a dramatic sigh, his pout deepening. “Y/N… can I please… PLEASE… be your boyfriend?” he asks, his voice laced with endearing desperation.

You can’t help but grin at how utterly adorable he looks right now. Still, you can’t resist pulling his leg just a little longer. “Go ahead, biker boy. You’ve got a business to run.” you tease and before he can come up with a snarky retort, you lean in close and press a sweet, fleeting kiss to his lips.

“Bye!” you chirp, spinning on your heels and jogging towards your shop’s door before he can protest. Jungkook stays rooted to his spot on the bike, his lips curving into a soft grin. His dark eyes follow your every step as you unlock your shop’s door, his chest fluttering when you pause to glance back and wave at him.

“I’ll take that as a yes!!” he yells after you, his voice laced with boyish excitement. Hearing your laugh ring out in response makes him feel like he's actually floating.

As you disappear inside, his grin fades into a wistful smile. He already misses your scent, your warmth, the way your presence seems to light up his entire world. But then his gaze shifts to his shop, standing right next to yours.

With a reluctant sigh, he starts his bike again and parks it right outside his shop. He steps inside, and the familiar scent of oil, grease, and rubber greets him.

The moment he walks through the door, Jimin’s voice cuts through the air, his attention still fixed on the bike he’s repairing. “Someone’s late to work today.” he teases without even looking up.

“Of course he is. Lover boy here was on a date last night." Yoongi adds with his usual deadpan delivery, though the slight smirk tugging at his lips gives him away. At Yoongi’s words, both Hoseok and Jimin instantly stop whatever they're doing, their heads snapping towards Jungkook with exaggerated curiosity.

“A date?” they chorus in unison, their voices dripping with disbelief and amusement. Jungkook clicks his tongue, pouting as though Yoongi had just spilled a closely guarded secret. “Hyung...” he whines, dragging out the word as his cheeks flush faintly.

“What? You should be glad I never told them about what I walked into here last week.” Yoongi retorts, his voice calm yet dripping with mischief as he adjusts the wrench in his hand. Jungkook halts in his step, his brows furrowing in instant alarm. “Shut up, hyung.” he snaps, the tips of his ears reddening as he strides further into the shop.

But it’s too late. Hoseok and Jimin are already near the counter beside him. Hoseok raises both hands, gesturing for a pause, his eyes glinting with curiosity.

“Hold up, hold up...” he says, his tone somewhere between excitement and disbelief. “It feels like we’ve missed a couple of very important chapters here.” he says. Jimin leans closer, a grin spreading across his face as he crosses his arms. “Yeah, what’s going on???” he asks.

Yoongi, ever the instigator, doesn’t even look up as he continues working. “Not much to tell...” he says, his voice casual but smug. “Biker boy here is completely whipped for the girl next door, and judging by his face, I’m guessing they’ve finally made it official.”

The words hang in the air for just a moment before Jimin and Hoseok erupt into exaggerated cheers, their claps echoing in the garage. Hoseok even whistles, drawing out the moment as though Jungkook’s love life was the highlight of their day.

“Seriously?” Hoseok exclaims, clutching his chest as if he’s genuinely touched. “You and Y/n??? it was about time!!” he exclaims. Jimin nods, his laughter contagious. “And here we were thinking you’d end up married to your bike because of your constipated feelings.”

Jungkook, who had been doing a great job of pretending to check the tools on the workbench, feels the heat rising up his neck to his cheeks. He presses his lips together tightly, but the smile he’s trying so hard to suppress betrays him. It fights its way to the surface, his dimples deepening as he looks down to avoid his friends’ piercing gazes.

“Ah, look at him blushing!” Jimin teases, nudging Hoseok, who’s doubled over in laughter by now. Jungkook groans, running a hand through his hair in exasperation. “Can you guys not?” he mutters, but his voice lacks bite, the slight tremor of embarrassment giving him away.

Yoongi finally looks up, a knowing smirk tugging at his lips. “Don’t bother hiding it, Kook. It’s written all over your face. You’re down bad, and there’s no escaping it now.”

And as much as Jungkook wants to argue, he knows they’re right. Because even now, standing in the middle of his shop, surrounded by his teasing friends, his mind keeps wandering back to you... the date yesterday... followed by the beautiful night he had with you... the sound of your laughter... the way you kissed him before running off to your shop... it all just feels extremely surreal.

//

It’s around 7 PM, the fading light outside casting a warm golden glow into the shop through the slightly open shutters. Jungkook is crouched beside a bike, his hands deftly working on tightening the bolts of the rear wheel and adjusting the suspension.

The soft hum of tools fills the otherwise quiet space, the kind of silence that feels earned after a long day. Hoseok and Jimin had clocked out an hour ago, leaving only Jungkook and Yoongi to wrap things up.

Yoongi sits at the counter, his legs casually propped up on a stool as his fingers flip through a stack of receipts for spare parts he had ordered last week. The faint rustle of paper and the occasional clink of a tool are the only sounds in the shop.

As Yoongi glances up, his eyes fall on Jungkook, who is entirely absorbed in the task at hand. The younger man’s brows are furrowed in concentration, his lips pressed into a firm line as he works. For a moment, Yoongi simply observes him... there’s something different about Jungkook today, something lighter.

The thought prompts a question to surface in Yoongi’s mind, and without much preamble, he decides to speak. “So, you and Y/n? How’d that go yesterday?” he asks casually.

The sound of your name breaks through Jungkook’s focus, and he stops what he's doing. A smile spreads across his face, slow and unguarded, as though he couldn’t stop it even if he wanted to. His shoulders relax, and a soft chuckle escapes his lips.

“It… was perfect, hyung.” he says, his voice carrying a warmth that matches the smile lighting up his face. Yoongi leans back slightly, his lips curving into a small smile. He doesn’t say anything immediately, just watches Jungkook, whose expression is a portrait of pure, unfiltered joy and something warm.

Before Yoongi can comment, Jungkook continues, his voice quieter now, almost reverent. “She’s just… so great, hyung... like she was made for me. Everything about her... it just fits, you know?” He pauses, his eyes taking on a faraway look, his mind clearly drifting back to you. “It's like... she’s my person.” he murmurs, the words carrying the weight of certainty.

Yoongi notices the dreamy gleam in Jungkook’s eyes, the way his usually sharp features have softened. It’s like he’s utterly lost, drowning in thoughts of you, and yet he seems completely at peace.

Yoongi chuckles softly, shaking his head. “You’ve got it bad, kid.” he teases, though his tone is devoid of mockery. There’s only fondness in his voice as he takes in the rare sight of Jungkook so smitten.

"I'm afraid I have, hyung." Jungkook says almost instantly, his voice steady but carrying an undercurrent of something deeper. Yoongi’s brows knit together, his curiosity piqued by the seriousness in the younger one's tone. "Really?" Yoongi asks, leaning forward slightly, his fingers still resting on the counter.

Jungkook hesitates, as his eyes lower, staring at the bike like it holds the answers to the storm brewing inside him. It’s clear he’s sifting through his emotions, trying to put into words about something that’s been weighing on him.

The air in the shop feels heavier, the comfortable silence replaced with an almost palpable tension. Jungkook exhales slowly, setting the wrench he's holding, carefully down as though the movement itself might help him untangle his thoughts.

Then, suddenly, he looks up, his eyes meeting Yoongi’s from across the room. The vulnerability in his gaze is startling, his usual confidence stripped away, leaving only raw honesty. "Hyung…" Jungkook starts, his voice quieter now, like he’s afraid the truth might be too loud. "I don’t like Y/n." he breathes out.

Yoongi blinks, his confusion immediate and evident. He tilts his head slightly, a frown creasing his features. "Kook, what?" he questions.

Jungkook shakes his head quickly, lifting a hand as if to wave off Yoongi’s misunderstanding. "No, no, that’s not what I mean." he says, his words coming faster now, almost stumbling over them. "What I’m saying is… I don’t think it’s just ‘like.’ This thing between us... it's... it’s not simple. It’s not... casual. It’s so much... more than that for me."

He pauses, his chest rising and falling as though the admission itself has stolen the air from his lungs. His voice grows softer, but the weight of his emotions makes every word hit harder. "It’s deep, hyung. So deep that I can’t even explain it. It’s like… she’s the only thing that makes everything else make sense."

Yoongi watches him closely, the younger man’s words sinking in, layer by layer. His own expression softens as realization dawns upon him. The way Jungkook speaks, the way his eyes seem to light up even as he struggles to explain himself... it’s unmistakable.

"Kook…" Yoongi starts, leaning back slightly, his voice tinged with both surprise and understanding. His eyes widen as the pieces fall into place. "No way..." he chuckles, his tone louder, tinged with disbelief.

Jungkook doesn’t respond immediately, his jaw tightening as he looks away for a moment. But then he meets Yoongi’s gaze again, and this time, there’s no hesitation.

"You love her, don’t you?"

<- part 11 // part 13 ->

series masterlist

taglist:@kimyishin @ghijkd @dolligguk @mimi1097 @jksusawife @yooforeaa @abbie1847 @myjungkookthighs @thesarcasmqueen-22 @fairypjminie @lovelytaes-blog @jjeonjjk7 @daddyjeonnn @vantelover1306 @jeeykey @shellyyy177 @daskewl @blackswan18 @korian97 @minimoninini @ericawantstoescape @rpwprpwprpwprw @tokkiggukie @jaytheatiny

[i-amm-mj]

Breeding kink - smut to fluff

afabreader! x Katsuki Bakugo

⚠️ smut, breeding kink, dirty talk, creampie ⚠️

Katsuki doesn´t come from a big a family, so he doesn´t know where this craving for impregnate you with at least four of his kids is coming from. He woke up one day with you beside him, and saw your beautiful body sprawled on the mattress and he realized that you had awoken his most primal desires. He wanted to fuck you day and night until he got you pregnant; until he could see your belly all rounded and your breasts swelling and big from the milk that he was going to help you got out with his own mouth.

“That´s it, baby” he growled in your ear while pounding his dick in and out of your pussy “I´m gonna give you all of my cum and you´re gonna take it like the good girl you are, right?” You were so lost on the pleasure that the only thing you could do was dumbly nod.  

 “I´m gonna get you fucking pregnant. Going to give you as many kids as you want” he gulped hard when your walls pulsed around his dick “you´d like that, wouldn´t you?” you moaned. His sinful words and the way his hips moved against your own had your head spinning without a single coherent thought allowed to form.

“Yes, yes, please” you closed your eyes trying to enjoy the feeling starting to erupt in your lower belly.

“Please what?” He smirked while adjusting himself on the bed so he could lift your left ancle to his shoulder and have a better angle to that spot inside that had you curling your toes.

“Plea-please make me a mommy. I want your cum deep inside me” his breath hitched. Fucking hell, he loved when you responded to his dirty talk even with your mind all numb from the sex “Oh, fuck, I´m so close Kats, don´t stop” you said, and he inclined towards you to exchange a passionate kiss. It didn´t matter that it was all teeth and tongue because it was so fucking hot. You were fucking hot.

“Give it to me, gorgeous. Cum on my dick. Make a mess on me” He continued pounding into you so deliciously. You could feel every vein on his dick and the way it pulsed inside you wanting to explode right there.

“Cum with me, Kats. Please cum with me” you begged. A shiver went through his spine and his dick almost burst at the way your voice shook with every word.

“Fuck, I´m close too” he answered furrowing his brows, concentrating on the way your pussy sucked him in. You were so fucking wet that it slipped easily. He hissed.

“Right there. Right there” you cried out and Katsuki moved his thumb on your clit to amplify the sensations. That was all you needed to reach your peak. You moaned even harder and convulsed around his dick which made him cum at the same time. He spurted his cum in your pussy like he promised and then collapsed on top of you. You massaged his scalp, and he purred in contentment.

“I´m serious though” he murmured after giving your collarbones a light kiss.

“About what?” you asked a little confused.

“Knocking you up with my children” you giggled. He raised his head from your chest and pouted “What´s so funny idiot?”

“Aren´t we too young?”

“We´re 26”

“Exactly” you answered with a smile “Kids are a great responsibility and a very big investment.”  

“I´m hero number 5 right now, and in a few years I´ll be number 1 if fucking Deku doesn´t beat me to it, but even if I´m number 2 for the rest of my career I´m sure I can provide even a family of ten. And I´m sure you´ll get promoted sooner or later too because you´re the fucking best at what you do.” He stated.

“Ten!? Omg, didn´t you say four!?”

“Plans change” he smirked playfully. You laughed softly but wholeheartedly. Katsuki loved your laugh. He loved everything about you.

“We are not even married Kats,” you caressed his face with a smile on your face “my mother would never forgive me having a child outside marriage.”

He considered his words for a few seconds, and you tried to guess what was going on in that pretty but stubborn head of his. He then looked you in the eye and without doubt said “Let´s get married then. What are we waiting for?”

[polarisjisung]

LITTLE THINGS

synopsis: when your boyfriend climbs up the very tree you hate so much, on a stormy night, all just to see you, suddenly the big bad oak tree outside doesn't seem all that intimidating

wc: 1.2k

pairings: chenle × fem! reader, established relationship

genre: fluff

warning: mentions of a storm, uses of petnames, use of the word death

notes: HAPPY CHENLE DAY! this is a little cheesy but fuck it we ball ig

You've always hated the massive oak tree outside your bedroom window, the one that likes to play these unintentional pranks on you in the middle of the night.

Branches flying and spinning as if they're about to snap off, leaves forming shapes you didn't even know existed through the window as the wind whistled behind you.

It felt eerie, like you were in those horror movies where the main lead seemed to have no common sense and jumped at the oppurtunity at getting themselves killed, like they actively sought out death.

It made you feel like danger lurked at every corner, you were caged by nothing more than the four thin walls of your bedroom, and that the curtains that masked the outside, though not particularly well, were your only form of blissful ignorance.

On the windy, less peaceful nights as you tossed and turned in bed, you didn't appreciate that massive oak tree whatsoever. Tonight, your dislike for the thing feels amplified, and you come to the conclusion that you'll be chopping it down even if it's the last thing you do. Heck, you'd get the saw and do it yourself if you could.

You don't like it, the rumbling, those loud cracks or the booming sound followed by quick, incessant flashes across the sky.

It caused shivers to run down your spine, your pupils to dilate and your eyes to be screwed shut, your fingers curling in on themselves as you cocooned yourself in the warmth of your blanket.

Simply put you don't like thunderstorms

And that darn oak tree is of no help. Especially not when there's a rather distinct shadow slowly crawling across that of the tree, one you take peaks at and look away from in turn as you slowly sink deeper into your mattress, seeing it move towards you, getting closer by the second

You swear you'd elicit a scream had it not been the dead of the night, knowing if you did, you'd get an absolute earful about it the next morning, being such a scaredy cat at your big age

There's a knocking at your window only a few moments later. You gulp.

God you did not want to die today.

"Y/n" there's a deep, hesitant whisper of your name and you can't help but curl further into the thin duvet that rests over your shaking body, by no means was it cold, but it felt protective against the storm outside, and that was reason enough for you to wrap yourself up in the blue comforter— your life practically depended on it

You're imagining things, you convince yourself, sighing and closing your eyes in attempts to drift off to sleep.

But the light treading of footsteps that grows louder and louder has you bolting your eyes open in seconds

"Oh goody, you're awake" chenle's beaming voice in your room at 2am was not what you had been expecting, you're not quite sure where he gets this much energy from in the middle of the night either, shooting him a dark glare, between your own two sleepy eyes

"You couldn't use the damn door Zhong?" your hand plants itself against your forehead as you shoot up from your bed, quietly stomping over to him to shut the window— something you'd been meaning to do for the past few hours, but had simply been too scared to do.

"Yeah well your parents hate me and I'm not sure they'd like me making my jolly old way through the front door given the hour" he rolls his eyes, setting his wet jacket down to dry

"And you think they'll like you for sneaking in through the window instead?" you whisper yell, brows somewhat furrowed

"What they don't know won't hurt them" he shrugs, a little too casually for someone who'd just parkoured their way up a tree at 2am, you hum regardless, he wasn't wrong.

"Besides they don't hate you" he takes a seat at the edge of your bed

"Now don't lie to me princess" he chuckles low and slow "we both know they hate do, especially daddio"

"Hate is a strong word, they're just not your biggest fans" you defend, letting chenle wrap you up in the spare hoodie of his he'd bought along with him "though I can't say that you calling my father, daddio is doing much to help"

"I didn't come here to talk about whether your parents approve of me" he smiles, eyes rolling yet again as he wraps his arm around you, "that's a conversation for later— right now, I'm here for you"

"At 2am on a Monday morning? we have school Chenle"

"Well correct me if im wrong princess but I'm sure you'd rather me be here than be all alone on a night like this" he says, gesturing towards the window with a tilt of his neck

"No way" you huff "i'm a big girl, a little storm won't phase me" you say proudly with a puffed chest, not that it lasts long as you practically throw yourself into chenle's arms with a muffled screech, when another strike of lightning booms above you, heartbeat erratic

chenle chuckles to himself

"What was that, a little storm, not sure about a big girl but you sure are a big baby" he laughs again, "my big baby"

You pout, "don't tease, it's scary"

You feel his hand run across your hair in attempts to ease the racing of you heart, pulling you from his chest to take ahold of your cheeks in his hands, gently caressing them with tender eyes locked into your own

His stare is strong, unlike yours, yet there's a deep rooted gentleness to those eyes that overwhelms you with calm. Chenle always knew this fear of yours made you feel pathetic, childish in fact.

"is it still scary? even when I'm here"

You respond with a shy shaking of your head

"Nothings scary when you're here," you whisper against his hold, and chenle swears, he feels his heart swell at how sweet your words are, falling from your lips so hushed, almost like they were sacred

"Not even that big bad oak tree outside?" chenle points at the horrific outline of the tree outside, earning a quick shudder from you before you tuck yourself back into his hold

"Not funny lele" you sulk

"Come on princess, it was a little" his lips tug upwards, your own smile hidden away between the material of his black hoodie

You shake your head "hate that tree with a passion"

"even if it helped me get up here?"

You shake your head again, maybe the big bad oak tree wasn't all that bad, maybe you just had to give it a chance to prove itself

"I'm glad you came" you say, pecking his cheek to affirm your gratitude

"Of course I came princess, you know I could never leave you alone on a night like this" he holds you tight against his chest, so firm you wonder whether he too thinks the wind would break through the walls and sweep you away

"Besides, I have to make sure there's no other guys sneaking in through your window"

[buryustogether]

lilac - chapter 3

miguel o’hara x f!reader

summary: your boyfriend doesn’t have the time anymore. good thing both miguel o’hara and spiderman do.

wc: 5.2k

tags/warnings: domestic dispute, unhappy relationship, pining, mentions of kidnapping, mentions of violence, allusions to suicide, mentions of strip clubs

author’s note: got a lil carried away with my emotions for this one ngl

Your pink pen pressed harshly down on the science quiz you were grading, smearing a pit of the sparkly ink as the searing noise of an electric guitar being tuned submerged your little apartment from the floors to the ceilings. You glared up from beneath your brows, a predator chained just inches from her prey, as Ferris and his band of four barked and howled between themselves in your living room. From your perch at the tiny dining table, you watched them, your knuckles paling around your pen. They had moved the furniture around to make room for their equipment, shoved your couch, your armchair, your coffee table - fuck, even your television stand - against the walls so that they could spread out and practice for a gig the drummer had managed to score; probably by going down on the manager of the place, but you’d never say that out loud.

Unless they provoked you - which, with every ticking, prolonged minute that passed, you were getting closer and closer to your inclined tipping point.

Sniffing quietly, you shook your head and tried to go back to grading your quizzes. So far, your class had done a fairly good job. A few percentages below eighty, but not many. No matter what score they got, however, you were sure to place a sticker on the corner of the page. Of course, as you had expected, Gabriella O’Hara’s score was a perfect hundred. A small smile graced the corner of your lips. She was a bright kid, you’d give her that. While she needed a little extra help in mathematics from time to time, she practically excelled in every other subject. You scribbled out a little note praising her for a job well done before beginning to move on to your other papers.

From the living room, another glass-shattering, skin-crawling shriek was raised from Ferris’ guitar. You twitched in your seat, subtly raising your eyes to watch the band. Your boyfriend was downing his second beer of the day, despite it being barely eleven in the morning, and he had his feet propped up on some chick’s - the new keyboard player, because the last one stormed out of the group after realizing what a bunch of asswipes they were - and idly strummed a lazy medley on the taut strings of his guitar. It was hooked up to the speaker, so every note that he twanged out was amplified tenfold.

Downstairs, your neighbor knocked against their ceiling with a broom. Telling you all to shut the fuck up, no doubt.

Taking a deep breath, you put on your best smile - which looked more like a grimace, actually - and cleared your throat. “Babe,” you said tightly, drawing Ferris’ attention away from the keyboard player. He regarded you with a roll of his head and hand on the strings to stop the vibrations. “Maybe it’s time to pack it up. You’ve been…” You hesitated. “Practicing for almost two hours now. Why don’t you save some of the music for the paying customers tomorrow instead of the neighbors?”

To your chagrin, like he was dumping fuel across the little flame that had flickered to life in your chest, he shrugged a shoulder and went back to his guitar and the girl across from him. “We’ll leave when we’re done,” he replied nonchalantly, eyes never meeting yours again. “Still got some more songs to run through.”

“Yeah,” you scoffed and went back to your work. “You look real fucking busy.”

“If you’re so tired of listening to us,” your boyfriend snapped suddenly, “why don’t you find somewhere else to go? This is my place too, you know.” He exhaled a venomous sigh and downed another swig from his bottle. “Always on my ass.”

By now, the rest of the apartment had gone silent. The other band members glanced between the pair of you, movements suddenly stiff with tension they had no idea how to release. It felt like no matter what they did, it would light the fuse on either one of you.

Feeling your cheeks heat and your palms become sticky with embarrassment, you swallowed thick and nodded your head slowly. Then you stood, began to gather your papers, and stuffed them into your purse.

“Hey,” said the band’s drummer, a pudgy guy with thick lenses that had, actually, always been nice to you despite their leader’s obvious intentions, “if you need us to clear out, we can. We can find another place to set up where we’re not bothering you.”

You released a short huff, sounding more akin to a snarl than anything else. It seemed your judgment in men really was shit; you’d chosen the wrong fucking band member. “That’s okay,” you spat as you tugged on your shoes and checked that you had your keys. The drummer’s face flashed with guilt and you felt bad for a moment, but then your eyes flickered to where Ferris had wandered into the kitchen to fetch himself another drink. Like a raging wildfire, the flames in your ribcage roared and seared your insides, making them feel like you’d implode upon yourself if you stayed here - in your own damn home - any longer. “I’ll go somewhere else.”

With that you exited your apartment and slammed the door behind you, not stopping your frantic escape from Ferris’ snarls and rolling eyes until you hit the street down below. Before you on the road, traffic moved at a sluggish pace. Horns blared and street lights flickered. Shop fronts gleamed in the sunlight and bells over doors jingled. As you took a long, deep inhale that granted your lungs a wave of fresh air and your eyes with a certain wetness in the corners, you realized your crumbling relationship with your boyfriend was such a trivial little thing in this city. Nothing was going to stop, halt in its tracks, just because your world was falling apart.

Life went on. There was nothing you could do to stop that.

Plopping yourself down on the bus stop bench, you placed your head in your hands and tried to keep yourself from crying anymore. You couldn’t let anyone else see you cry, because what if they did, and they turned out to be like Ferris? Told you that you were being dramatic, that you needed to pull yourself together and be a girl? Fuck, you didn’t think you could handle someone else telling you that. You didn’t need anyone else against you; it already felt like the entire world was.

What you needed, desperately, terribly, pleadingly, was someone else in your corner.

In your pocket, your phone chimed with an incoming text. Wiping away the tears sitting heavy against your lids, you pulled it out. It was an unknown number; your cyber security app had blurred the message, waiting until you accepted to see it. You swiped on the blurred screen, then clicked open the message.

Hi, it’s Miguel O’Hara. I hate to cross any lines here, but Gabriella is having a hard time understanding the homework assigned for this weekend. I tried to help, but it’s beyond me. Some sorry excuse for a geneticist I am, right? Anyway, I was texting to ask if you’d be able to meet us somewhere today and help Bri. I was thinking the public library? We’re going to be headed to the park afterward for soccer practice… you’re welcome to come along. She’s eager to show you a new trick she learned yesterday. Again, excuse my forwardness. We understand if you’re not available. :)

You sniffled slightly, rereading the text over and over again, trying to stuff down the fluttering feeling arising past the flames inside you. Your head snapped up and you were on your feet in less than a moment, hailing the first taxi that passed you. When you climbed inside, the driver asked you where to.

“The public library,” you said, and managed a smile at him in the mirror.

Half an hour later, you sat at a desk in the middle of the study section of the New York Public Library, already having drawn out fresh sketches and examples of the mathematics homework you had assigned for this weekend. Your foot bounced with anticipation under the table, and you found yourself constantly glancing over your shoulder at the wide, arched doorway that let into the private section.

You’d tutored students outside of class before, so you shouldn’t have been so excited. You’d met with them in diners and cheap restaurants, outdoor pavilions when the weather allowed, hell - you’d even sat with them outside their cramped apartment buildings on overturned milk crates and used cardboard as a back for the worksheets while their parents were busy working three jobs and balancing five other kids on their hips at the same time. You weren’t one to judge; you knew how hard it was out here for some people. You were a teacher; it was your job to love and nurture and teach your kids, no matter who they were or where they came from.

So you shouldn’t have been this excited to tutor one of your students. Even if she did have a smoking hot dad.

Small, quick-paced footsteps - like thunderclaps along the ground in the nearly-silent room - pricked your ears and turned your attention to the doorway. A wide, easy grin broke across your lips as you spied Gabriella breaking away from her father’s side to rush toward you and your table. In her arms she carried a wrapped bouquet of flowers. When she reached where you had risen from your seat, she pressed her face into your belly in lieu of a hug.

“Hi, Miss Y/N,” she said, rather loudly, then presented the flowers like they were sterling silver encrusted with diamonds and jewels unimaginable. An ear-to-ear smile stretched from one of her ears to the other. “These are for you.”

Miguel arrived behind her, a backpack slung over his shoulder and a gentle grin of greeting gracing his beautiful face. He tilted his head at you for a moment, then ruffled his daughter’s hair and said, “What are they for?”

“A thank you,” Gabriella rushed to say as you accepted the bouquet. “For coming to help me.”

You tried to squash the butterflies that fluttered through your stomach when he smiled at you, instead pushing your focus to the flowers clutched to your chest. They were fresh blooms, a collection filled with pinks and purples and a few yellows here and there. “Well, thank you so much, sweetheart,” you said as she rounded the table to go and sit by her father. “They’re beautiful.” You took your seat again and carefully set the gift beside your purse. “And you don’t have to thank me. I was already out today anyhow, so it wasn’t any trouble.”

“Really?” said Miguel. He pulled the bag from over his shoulder and gave it to Gabriella for her to begin pulling her schoolwork out. He quirked one of his thick brows, his sad-looking eyes meeting yours. Jolts of excitement, and pleasure, and adoration went sprawling down your spine all at once, like back to back shocks of raw, untamed electricity. “I figured you would have been staying in during a tourist weekend like this.”

You wanted so badly to tell him just what you were doing out, why you weren’t at home enjoying your two days of free time between your two jobs - one that required every bit of your soul and heart during the day, and another that required every bit of your body during the night. You wanted horrendously to confide in him the troubles plaguing you like an illness only he could cure you from, wanted him to secure those thick, sinewy arms of his around your form and hold you tight, assure you in that husky tone that everything would be alright.

But instead, all you said was, “Can’t let tourists drive us locals from our stomping grounds, can we, Mister O’Hara?”

The corner of his mouth quirked upwards, his eyes stuck upon your form even after you’d pulled your attention to the worksheet Gabriella had pulled out.

For a long while, the three of you sat at that table in the library. You taught Gabriella the maths lesson over again as many times as she needed it, helped her with the more challenging problems on the worksheet, then made up a few on the spot to give her for the extra practice. You even tilted around your textbook so that Miguel could see it and gave him a rundown of the next few lessons so that he could help her the following week, should she need it.

It was perhaps an hour or so later when you sat back in your chair, watching as your student set to work on the few practice problems you’d given her. You shut your eyes for a moment, exhaling a long breath, and allowing your brain to shut off for a moment. You’d succeeding in getting Ferris and his stupid, stubborn fucking attitude off your mind for a time, but now you were faced with the realization that sometime today, you’d have to go back home. You’d have to see him again, most likely get into another argument that would lead to one of you sleeping on the couch the next couple evenings.

Most likely you.

“How are you doing?” came Miguel’s voice from across the table.

You thought for a moment he was speaking to his daughter, looking over her work, but when no reply came, you opened your eyes and realized he was talking to you. You blinked a few times, watching as he smirked kindly and crossed his arms over the table. Fuck, he was so easy to look at. He was wearing a t-shirt against the sunny day today, giving you a generous view of the muscles in his arms. They sloped down to his elbows, and further still to wrists wrapped in Gabriella-made friendship bracelets, to large, wide hands that were callused at the fingers and bruised at the knuckles. You wondered briefly if he boxed during his workouts.

Sliding your hand up your face, you gave him a tired smile that didn’t quite reach your eyes. Despite only speaking to one another a few minutes every time at pick up and drop off, you felt you could talk to him better than even the girls at your nighttime job. “I’m alright,” you said, then added, “Just… tired, is all. Lots on my plate right now. Work, stuff at home, the whole ‘masked vigilante swinging around the city’ thing. Well… you know how it is.”

It was not the last detail that seemed to faze him. It was the second. “Is everything okay?” he asked, tilting his head to the side slightly, like that of a curious puppy. The lines beneath his eyes deepened a bit, the untamed hair atop his head slipped to his temple. “Sorry if I’m overstepping a boundary, or anything like that. I just -”

“No, you’re alright.” You reached out to finger at a petal on one of the flowers in the bouquet, fondly brushing the delicate thing as if it would disintegrate if you handled it any rougher. His eyes followed your movements deftly. “And, everything’s… okay. Sort of… okay.” You sighed and pulled away from the flower, instead opting to rub at your temples. “Just drives me out sometimes, you know? Everything… happening in those walls. Sometimes it gets too much.”

“You’re never out on the streets, are you?” Suddenly his gaze had turned serious and stony, his mouth set into a hard line across his chiseled expression.

You swallowed thick, feeling the dropped baritone of his voice hit the bottom of your belly and head south to your core. You shifted slightly in your seat, crossing your legs over one another to mask the subtle movement. “No, never.” Forcing yourself to chuckle, you dropped a hand to the desk. “You don’t have to worry about me, Mister O’Hara. I’m just fine.”

Before you realized what was happening, Miguel had reached out to brush his long, thick fingers over your knuckles. Your skin was suddenly alight with a blaze you didn’t even know existed. He leaned forward slightly across the table, lowering his voice so that only you heard it in the cage between your ribs. “It’s alright to ask for help, you know,” he murmured quietly. You were caught in his gaze, unable to pull yourself away. “If you ever need something, some place to stay… our door is open.”

Your tongue had ceased its ability to work, your heart its ability to beat properly. You could only stare at him, wide-eyed, as he settled back in his chair. Miguel O’Hara had just offered you his home. Fuck - he knew. He had to have known. Maybe he could see it in your eyes, hear it in your voice when you whispered; maybe it trembled too much. Or maybe he could just sense it, feel it from the bottomless pit in your soul screaming out for someone to pull it back into the daylight.

Just when you trusted yourself to speak again, both your and Miguel’s phones alerted at the same time. Across the study section, other devices went off, as well. Simultaneously, you pulled out your cells and read the messages scrawled across the screens.

“Jesus,” you muttered upon scanning the message. A kidnapping had just taken place not a block from the library. Car details and plate numbers were attached, along with an urging for anyone with information to call the authorities. “This city gets worse every day.”

Miguel glanced up at your words, hesitated, then looked down at Gabriella. She was still busy with her work, tongue stuck out gently between her pink lips. You sensed him tense from across the table.

“...Miguel?” you asked, tentative to use his first name. “Is everything okay?”

After a short, brief moment, he seemed to make up his mind about something. He stood from his chair so abruptly that it squealed softly against the tile floor, throwing the backpack over his shoulder and rounding the table. “Excuse me just a second,” he said, already heading toward the doorway. “I have to make a call. Ten minutes, tops.” Then he was gone, jogging too quickly and hurriedly to be making a phone call - or so you thought. You wanted direly to follow him, see what he was doing, but you couldn’t. You had your student to take care of.

Inhaling shortly, you turned to Gabriella only to find her staring at the doorway her father had disappeared through. You were quick to find something to change the subject. “These flowers are so pretty,” you told her and nudged the bouquet slightly. She met your eyes, your gentle smile, and it seemed Miguel’s sudden absence was wiped from her mind. So was the inner workings of a nine year old.

“I got to pick them out,” she said proudly, then went back to her worksheet. “But it was Daddy’s idea to get them for you.”

Your heart skipped a beat in your chest. You did your best to maintain your smile, trying not to grasp at your chest and stop the oncoming heart attack making its way through your systems. It had been Miguel to get the flowers? “Yeah?” you said in a small voice.

Oblivious to your strained tone and the excited bouncing of your leg under the table, the little girl nodded and hummed. “Uh-huh. He like-likes you. He told me so.”

Holy fucking goddamn son of a bitch.

You cleared your throat because you knew if you talked about this any longer, you would explode into a little cloud of confetti. Then you’d never even get to see him again, look at him in this new light because fuck, was it a new light. It was a new light you could dance under, twirl and sing and jump under, because no one was going to judge you anymore, and even better, now you could invite him to be under it with you. And you knew you just might have a chance of him saying yes.

And fuck, what a dance that would be.

“Are you excited for the field trip to Alchemax on Tuesday?” you asked her, recalling the months it had taken Washington Elementary’s principal to get permission to bring classes there. She had insisted it was an important place for them to visit, considering all the work they were doing as of late. You guessed your suggestion for a trip to the zoo had been vetoed. “Your dad works there. Maybe we’ll see him. You can brag to all your friends that he’s a fancy scientist.”

“Maybe,” she said, scratching out a wrong answer on her paper. “He works on the seventh floor. I’ve seen his work badge thing. We probably won’t be able to go up there.”

“Here’s hoping we can,” you said to yourself beneath your breath.

Ten minutes passed since Miguel’s sudden disappearance, and then another. Thirty minutes was just approaching, as was the beginnings of sundown, before you sensed him approaching you from behind. Turning in your chair, the first thing you noticed was that he was out of breath, sweating at his temples and down his neck slightly. God, he looked good like that. But then your rational side kicked in. Had he been running somewhere?

“I think that’s enough homework for today,” he said as he reached the table and ruffled Gabriella’s hair again. She batted his hand away, but nonetheless began to pack up her things. As she did so, he switched his gaze to yours, tilting his head in that way he did. “We’re going to head to the park, kick a ball around for a while. You’re welcome to join us, if you like.”

Numbly, because now that you knew he not only liked you, but like-liked you, you heard yourself accept and follow them out the doors of the library and onto the street. The deep purple sky felt a bit brighter than before, and the steps you took together, side by side, seemed a little closer than necessary. The sidewalks were cramped, sure, but not enough so that your hands needed to brush every few seconds. Not enough so that your shoulders bumped when you stepped off curbs to cross roads.

The park was quiet this time of day, occupied only by a few elderly couples leaning against walking canes and teenagers out past their curfews sprawled out on benches making out like they knew they were going to die tomorrow.

How long had it been since you had kissed Ferris? The saddest part of you knew that you couldn’t recall.

For hours, you sat on the sweet-smelling grass of the park’s lawn and watched Miguel and Gabriella scrimmage, kicking around a ball worn by years of scuff marks and green stains from fields. The breeze blew their matching hair this way and that, the dying sunlight illuminated their identical smiles as they round about one another in only a way a parent and a child could know one another. You cheered when either scored a goal. You laughed when they called one another names. And when they urged you to come join, even though the night was throwing itself over the sky and the stars were beginning to wink down at the park, you got to your feet and played.

You realized, through your aching laughter and the grass stains on your knees, that you hadn’t been this happy in a very, very long time.

That night, after you had wished Miguel and Gabriella a goodnight and walked home, after you had found Ferris crashed out in bed and the dishes still in the fucking sink, you found yourself sitting on the rooftop of your apartment building. It wasn’t quite silent up here, not with the helicopter chopping in the distance, or the occasional honk of a car down below, or the dog barking three stories down, but it was better than facing the quiet of your own home. You knew you would go mad in between those damned four walls, listening to your boyfriend snore and the clock in the kitchen tick and the floorboard creak when you walked to the bathroom.

You couldn’t face the quiet, not after the wonderful, deafening, blaring joy of this afternoon.

You let your legs dangle off the edge of the rooftop, sitting back on your hands and staring at the glaring screen of your phone. Your thumb ached slightly from scrolling through anything and everything you could find to keep yourself distracted. The newest clean energy replacement from Alchemax. The latest from politics. The child that had been kidnapped this afternoon, now home and safe, thanks to Spiderman snatching the kid from the backseat before plowing the speeding car with the kidnapper into a metal gate.

There came the soft, muted noise of a weight landing on the power box on the rooftop behind you, and you whipped around to find a familiar - but no less startling - red and blue figure sitting perched on the metal edge. Spiderman tilted his head at you, balanced on the balls of his feet despite the hulking frame of his muscles.

“Just came to check up on you after the other day,” he said through the mask. His eye lenses moved as his eyes roamed your figure. “Didn’t know you were this far gone.”

Clicking your phone off anxiously, feeling your heart thunder in your ears, you gave a little laugh and looked down at the drop beneath your feet. “I think if I was ready to end it,” you joked in return, “I’d go for something a little less traumatizing for pedestrians.”

Spiderman was still for a moment. Then he extended his wrist, and a string of web shot across the rooftop to stick to the space on the lip beside you. He used it to yank himself across the tarmac of the roof, landing again on the balls of his feet on the edge. He shifted himself, resting his forearms overink his thighs, and turned his masked gaze to the city before you both. Golden lights twinkled from skyscrapers and apartments and office buildings, creating a constellation of life between windows. The night air was crisper up here - as crisp as it could get, what with the smog from arsonist fires and churning factories and gas emissions - and the stars seemed to shine just a touch brighter.

“So… how are you doing?” the vigilante asked, keeping his gaze on New York. “After the robbery, I mean. Something like that, it can… stay with you.”

There came a fluttering in your heart. But rather than express such a sensation, because you had every right to be wary about giving yourself away anymore, you said, “It wouldn’t be the first thing like that to happen to me. And I’m sure it won’t be the last.” You lifted a hand to the star-lit city, crowded to the rim with life and hatred and love. “We’re in New York. What more can you expect from a city like this?”

For a long while, neither of you said anything more. It was strange being so close to the man everyone had been talking about for the couple weeks he’d been active - so close you could lean right over and pull that mask off. But you kept your distance.

Spiderman took a breath and said, “Couldn’t sleep?”

You shrugged a shoulder. “As if I typically sleep at this time anyway.” Then you turned to face him again, locking your ankles together over the edge of the rooftop. The breeze swayed your hair back and forth, like you were suspended underwater. The tension in your lungs certainly felt that way. “Did you enjoy the show the other night?”

He was still for a moment. For two. Then he met your gaze through his mask, his eye lenses narrowing. Even through the cover that hid his face, the heat of his eyes scorched holes through you. “What do you mean?” he asked.

Feeling slightly bolder than you had a moment ago, you lolled your head at him. “You know what I mean.” You sniffed, leaning back on your hands. “Did you follow me? Or was it just a coincidence that Spiderman showed up to my club the day he saved my ass?”

“I don’t know what you mean.”

“...Sure.” You felt a flutter of embarrassment within you, of doubt and guilt. What if that hadn’t been Spiderman that night at The Menagerie? What if it was some other guy, with some other scar on his collarbone, and you had gotten it all wrong? Despite your sudden worry, you refused to let your confidence waver. “So… do you make it a habit of checking up on every person you help?”

For the first time, you watched and listened as he cracked a smile and chuckled. The lenses over his eyes narrowed as his cheeks rose and his mouth spread into a smirk. You watched the bit of mask over his lips stretch. “You got me there,” he drawled in that low, husky tone of his that made you cross your legs a bit tighter, squeeze your thighs tighter. “Just… couldn’t really get you off my mind. You’ve got courage, saying no to that guy. That’s admirable.”

You felt your cheeks flush. Spiderman? Calling you brave? What an ironic sense of humor the universe had.

“I guess someone has to stand up and say no,” you murmured into the breeze.

“Yeah. Someone has to.”

Moments turned into seconds, and those turned into minutes. You almost wished you could stay like this forever; here, on the rooftop with Spiderman, with the breeze rustling your hair and the car horns beeping and the rest of the world forgotten.

But all too soon, it was over.

Spiderman rose to his full height in a seamless transition, turning his head to face the street away from you. “Should get back now,” he said, then switched his gaze down to you. You wondered, behind that mask, what color his eyes were. “Sure you’re not going to jump?”

You felt yourself smile. “Promise, Spiderman.” You watched as he nodded his head, then prepared to catapult himself off the building and swing onto the next one. Before he could, however, you called out. “And hey,” you said, drawing his attention, “if you ever drop by the club again, ask for the Monarch.”

He stared at you for the longest moment. Then he turned, stepped off the lip of the rooftop, and disappeared.

You didn’t bother leaning over, watching him spring a web from his wrist to flip through the air and parade down the street above the cars and streetlights. Instead you looked back to the city’s skyline far above yourself, silhouettes of buildings framed by a rich violet horizon.

Perhaps one day, you would see what it looked like without all this smog and the army of dark clouds hanging over it.

But for now, you were content with watching it darken until it was nothing but black and purple.

tags: @mooomeadows @twentysomethingwereyote @screamforyani @fangirlreice7 @axdjelx @ornamentalnecromancy @faust-pda @ilikethemoon28 @mrm-pachypoda @wadafrick @natthernandez @bakgoktski @soupsexsunsalutationsss @roxannarichie @lovagirlxxx @soggyeyeballsss @yoyoyoyoyo55555 @sophipet @quantii @lavnderluv @cookiezxx @euphorica @its-a-polyglot @nicalysm @maxi-ride @exzidss @crappwr0m @femme-is-dead

(strike through means blog could not be tagged)

[playerninth]

P.S I LIKE YOU (TOO) ⪧ DAY 13 OF PIWONTOBER

non idol!jiung x fem!reader (smut mdni)

彡 – everything transpired after a single drunken mistake—you and your best friend getting inspired after watching: ‘to all the boys i’ve loved before’ one friday night after midterm week had dragged on. except, you weren’t lara jean covey. and no one’s exactly a peter kavinsky in your life. all you’ve got is a last chance to retake your econ class for the second time, and an undeniably attractive guy as a project partner. a thought you wouldn’t express out loud. but what if he accidentally receives your drunk written love letter detailing just how much you thought of it so?

author's note: the way this thing had a billion revisions before reaching this stage... anyway, although i'm incredibly late TT i'm still very excited to share with you guys yet another jiung fic!! also, i can't forget to mention how amazing @kisseobie and @sxfterhearts are for hosting piwontober & bringing the p1ece community together♡ it's my first time joining these sort of events, and i had a lot of fun writing! + apologies for any typos! :(

word count: 7.9k

warnings: smut, blackmail, make up sex, face-sitting, seven minutes in heaven

comments are welcome♡ i'd love to hear your thoughts!

despite being drunk out of your mind to the point you've written that piece of tangible regret, you remember the same night all too well—the clock ticks past after hours as the mingling whiff of alcohol and a box of left over pizza hangs in the air. you were surprised you've managed to drag yourself all the way to the weekend, remnants of grueling exams left unspoken between you and your best friend whom you share a dorm room with. midterms weren't really worth mentioning when you could drown in gossip and delude about your hypothetical boyfriends.

from random guys in class, to boybands, and above all: celebrities in cheesy romcoms you've rewatched an abnormal amount. that certain night's choice was a classic between you and your best friend: 'to all the boys i've loved before.'

except, you weren't lara jean covey. and no one's exactly a peter kavinsky in your life. yet, hell breaks loose when you receive a text from choi jiung one fated morning that had you unleash a piercing shriek, and thankfully, had locked yourself in a stall at an empty bathroom in the middle of your university campus.

not like that makes things any better than they already are.

enclosed within the four cramped walls of the bathroom stall was a feeling you'd never forget—the continuous drip of the leaking faucet and silence amplified the thudding beat of your heart. the screen of your phone glowing faintly as you stare at the message you've left on read for the past five minutes: a photo jiung had sent of the letter you've written that certain night after getting wrongfully inspired from lara jean's dilemma. unfortunately detailing an exaggerated confession on your unfiltered thoughts of jiung being totally attractive. hot, even. a running commentary on everything you wouldn’t express out loud.

this fiasco would probably cost you a couple of months avoiding a bottle of soju, because how are you going to dodge yourself out of this one? especially when his follow up message adds further salt to the wound—the envelope clearly stating your full name and address in bold, inked letters.

the seconds stretch out as the cramped stall started feeling a bit stuffier, your shaky fingers hovering over the keyboard in contemplation. you’d normally block him and just fail the damn class if it were like any other instance, except… it was your last chance to retake this subject. you couldn’t afford another fuck up.

[9:07] jiung: this letter’s handwriting strangely matches the one on your notes

[9:09] jiung: before you try to deny anything

all you ever wanted at that moment was to strangle yourself... because a love letter so vulnerable like that has no place being in a pile of notes, and to be given to your partner for a class project. when you thought handing him the material would be the end of it (after being utterly sick of his self-centered work ethic), but the universe had plans otherwise.

[9:13] y/n: it wasn’t something you’re supposed to see

[9:14] jiung: but i did

[9:16] y/n: i was drunk, okay? can we please forget about it?

[9:18] jiung: and people say drunk words are sober thoughts

[9:20] y/n: do i look like i care about stupid bullshit like that rn

[9:22] jiung: oh

[9:22] jiung: so you don’t care if people other than me see this letter?

[9:23] y/n: what

[9:24] y/n: you can’t just use that against me??

[9:26] jiung: let’s see how well this thing means so much to you then

[9:27] y/n: ???

and when you thought you’d never see the pulsating, message bubble as he types as such a dreadful thing, your nerves suspended in the most excruciating minutes. 9:28, 9:29… 9:30...

[9:31] jiung: main library, 2pm, this friday. oct 13

that was, a distant week ago. you figured you should probably show up this time, all in the name of having the existence of the letter stay between the two of you. even if it meant having to deal with the growing habit of waking up in the middle of the night from the anxiety crawling upon your thoughts. until once and for all, the day came.

your feet felt rather heavier that day, dragging your mopey figure through the winding halls of the university. the halloween spirit on campus feeling far too suffocating, the orange and black streamers hanging from the ceilings a mere blur. other people were buzzing about the upcoming university halloween party at the end of the month, yet all you ever wished was that you were some random skull decor perched at a corner, undisturbed. and that you weren't nearing the doors to the main library, a sight that you loathed with your whole being.

and there he was, choi jiung. the guy wreaking havoc in your life. okay, well—maybe not that actively, but he's been a constant force you're trying to push toward the back of your mind ever since you made such a stupid mistake, to the point you don’t even know how you could redeem yourself.

“hey,”

“hey.” you're surprised you even managed to croak out a reply, finding yourself unable to maintain eye contact with him for more than two seconds–pathetically.

you were about to claim the seat in front of him before he raises a familiar envelope nestled within his fingers, and you wasted absolutely no time at the chance. snatching the thing with vigor just to rip it to smithereens, earning a few glares from other people in the library. you couldn't care less.

jiung lets out a laugh underneath his breath, adorably irritating so, as he watches fragments of the letter fall before him like confetti. you finally settled on a seat across him, and the further time dragged on, the more it seemed to prove your written letter right.

he was undeniably magnetic, from the way his clothes drape over his shoulders, his bangs framing his face with its stark black—the waft of his perfume despite the distance. your gaze can't help itself from shifting over to his fingers with every turn of a page, almost as if he was the perfect distraction.

and that tie sitting on his collar, really? what was his major again? you couldn't be bothered to muse over whether or not academia fashion was a staple for whatever program he was taking, especially when you couldn't blame him. 'cause he truly held a sort of charm that makes you wanna ravish him right then and there. that you had to remind yourself: time and place, his glasses beginning to lean crooked subtly to the side before his finger pushed it further up his nose bridge. ultimately turning back to you—who already had eyes on him, locked.

jiung speaks, faintly registered in your currently preoccupied head. honestly, the only qualm you carry against him is that he wants to get things done, his way. which is partly the reason why this partner project has gotten awry, his ego clashing a horrible amount with your stubbornness. guess not everyone can have it after all.

of course you had to have it figured out eventually. even if it had to cost you biting down your tongue from spewing possible scathing remarks with his every word. due to the fact that any moment you tried to challenge his ideas, he'd quote all the lines he could possibly remember from your embarrassing letter. and it was only the librarian's stare pinning you down from grabbing jiung by the hair out of annoyance, because the both of you were causing quite a bit of disturbance.

“you know, i can't deny that little love letter of yours was kinda cute.” he leans forward, loving the way your face morphs into irritation.

“cute? you think it's cute that i accidentally confessed about—” you caught yourself, clearing your throat before rolling your eyes at him. “i mean, whatever. just concentrate.”

“hey, hey. finish it. about what? your quote on quote, suppressed feelings for me?” god, you so badly wanted to slap that smirk out of his face.

you could only manage to groan, running a hand through your hair. “no! i mean my deep annoyance at your inability to take me seriously, to take this project seriously!”

“excuse me, could you keep it down? this is a library.” you immediately turn towards the librarian, clutching a hand over your mouth at the realization that you might've… raised your voice a little too loud.

“sorry,” you muttered, eyes fixated on your notes sprawled over the table. “we were just—”

“working very loudly?” the librarian cut you off, and the worst part is–jiung still had the audacity to look at you with much mischief in his eyes. and that stupid smirk. “if you can’t keep quiet, i'm kindly asking you to leave.”

and that was… the last of what you've heard once you began gathering your things out of embarrassment, jiung trailing behind you like a lost puppy as you pretend you don't even know who he is, walking towards the nearest exit.

maybe choi jiung really is a constant force in your life. despite the day at the library being the last time you’d spend with him until presentations came tomorrow, it felt as if he never really left your mind. constantly drifting like a cloud over your head, lingering. and you so desperately wanted to bury him as a distant memory. busying yourself with other major projects, going out with friends, and the main event that the everyone’s been buzzing about for weeks: the awaited university halloween party.

it worked to distract you for the most part, lost within the crowd sprawled over the expanse of the green field, now only a crackle of grass beneath your heels. lights flickered along with the thump of the music’s bass. you watched the collective silhouette of people dressed in costumes, either tipsy out of their mind or buzz undying. you’d probably be seen with a red cup full of alcohol in hand, if you hadn’t sworn to yourself that you wouldn’t be touching a bottle of soju until a few months time. remnants of your little disaster from not too long ago trying to haunt you.

and so you turned to the cold air nipping at your bare skin, which you have to thank your skimpy little black dress for. the racy outfit you’d put together in an excuse to dress up as a witch, seductively at that. you partly regret bringing your witch hat with you despite contemplating about it a while ago, having to deal with the thing repeatedly slipping over your eyes. making a simple task of opening your phone to a flood of text messages, a challenge. after a couple of foiled attempts, you managed to get the gist—and that your friends are waiting for you at some frat house to join an after party.

the main event endlessly unfolds despite midnight fastly approaching. dragging your feet towards the front part of the crowd where it pulsed with much more energy, hopefully making your way towards the right direction of the area near the frat house. the music echoed like it wanted you to stay for a while, lose yourself to the beat as you tried to keep your witch hat tilted upright. not until another drag of the hat back up had your eyes flickering towards the dj manning the booth. keeping the night alive as lights hung overhead, casting a glow behind his figure and perfectly accentuating his side profile. yet the more your gaze traced the curve of his nose, the tousle of his hair as he let himself move to the rhythm.

for a split second the lights confirmed your suspicion, except you didn’t want to say anything. say his name, his everything, crawling back to your mind. you’d even forgotten why you were trying to erase him from your thoughts. maybe, just maybe… it wouldn’t be too bad to keep your eyes rested on him this time around. and it wasn’t as if you could turn away if you tried regardless.

there was something about catching sight of this side of him you never knew he had. at that moment, it felt like it was only the both of you existing in a bubble of your own. there was quite a distance between his position at the makeshift stage and yours below; nevertheless, the sparkle within his eyes didn’t go unnoticed. and in that moment nothing else mattered, the difficulty of trying to tear your stare away from him weighing over you.

no, no, no. not again. not this time.

the after party at the frat house, right.

reality comes crashing in once more, blinking rapidly as you tried to bump your way through the crowd. glancing everywhere you could to seek refuge, any way out, somewhere. mind racing with a mantra, “forget him forget him forget about him,” suppressing everything you’ve ever thought of the moment you laid eyes on him. chalking it up to the fact that it was probably your unrequited feelings for him hitting you like a brick. but… it wasn’t like you were ever serious about him, weren’t you?

your feet felt heavy trying to keep him out of reach, away from the taunt of his presence. the further you tried to push through what seems to be the edge of the field had you jostled within the crowd, and it didn’t help the flashing lights began disorienting your vision. you hastily fish your phone out, scrolling for past messages to double check the location of the frat house. except you realized, you weren’t really sure where to go from here.

your chest tightens. trying to take in sharper breaths as the mass of people were closing in around you, trying to push more, yet was met with more resistance. the smell of alcohol and loud noise started swallowing you, panic rushing through your veins. this is bad. this is really really bad.

and all of a sudden you heard a faint call, your ears picking it up with its subtlety. it was a brief echo through the music, until you heard it once more.

“y/n! over here!”

you swiftly whip your head around to scan the blur of faces, pulse quickening—at last, your gaze landing on someone familiar.

“i’ve been looking for you for ages.” he pants, trying to catch his breath from approaching you through the tight crowd. yoon keeho, although clad in a rather comical vampire costume, brought you a sense of relief.

“you okay? you look…”

“yeah, i’m just…. i got a bit lost.” you admit, lacing your fingers through your hair after finally taking off your witch hat.

keeho lets out a laugh beneath his breath, earning a piercing glare from you before extending a hand out to point. “you’re better off at the after party with me, everyone else is here so… it isn’t too crowded there yet.”

you hum, clutching your purse before following as keeho steps towards the way out. “come on,”

and at that, the both of you slip away from the field with its chaos, music fading far beyond the distance.

within the frat house lingered the scent of alcohol from a previous round of beer pong. it was dimly lit, but you’ll know empty red cups are strewn around from its hollow crunch beneath accidental steps. the door trickled bit by bit with newcomers, the party outside eventually simmering down to a hum, occasionally cut with bursts of laughter and constant conversation. thank god keeho had found you.

yet that was a while ago. you couldn’t decipher the exact time but it seemed way past midnight. it was a stark contrast to the huddle of people buzzing in excitement, your figure amongst them in a circle on the floor. it was probably, what… like the third or fourth round of seven minutes in heaven? the poor closet door slams open to another couple exiting, far too all over each other than you’d like to witness.

it was like that for the past thirty minutes, having to sit through rounds of people shutting themselves within the closet as you were forced to hear thumps against the wall hear and there—and you’d rather not find out what had gone on. the soju bottle in the middle of your formed circle felt like a threat as it waits to be spun, yet you couldn’t manage to grasp out of the situation from keeho’s grip on your wrist.

“you’re not leaving until the bottle points to you.” his fingers tighten his hold, his other hand bringing a drink up to his lips.

"keeho, i don’t know these people!” you whisper-shouted, narrowing your brows at him.

and it wasn’t helping that it was proving especially difficult to take him seriously with the vampire get up he had on. "that’s the thrill about it? and when i thought you’ll live up to your words when you told me you’ll get out of your comfort zone right after high school.”

it was probably your over-ambitioned self talking back then. “we’re only juniors. we have plenty of time.”

"plenty of time? you only have a year, y/n”

you didn’t bother responding, yet he’s still trying his best to provoke a reaction out of you. “no one really stands out to me right now among these strangers if i’m going to be honest. but… maybe you’ll find someone that’s your type—”

"keeho, how many times do i have to tell you that i really don’t give a fuck about anyone else here right now.”

"yeah, that! fuck.” he drags the end of his sentence in such an overly teasing tone, flashing him a look like he just said something so outrageous, because indeed it was...

"mess around a little bit, you know. get frisky in that closet or something.”

"seven minutes isn’t enough for that.”

“yeah, you would know.”

you were on the verge of landing a smack over his shoulder when a chorus of gasps erupted, drawing your attention.

and just your luck, the bottle points to you.

all you could muster was a defeated sigh, waiting for the soju bottle to spin once more to select the stranger you’d be stuck with in that closet for an excruciating seven minutes. except it never came, and only a hand reaches out to snap you out of your thoughts.

“shall we?” oh. it was that same voice you wished you weren’t at all familiar with, looking above the shadow looming over you. akin to a moth towards a flame. and it’s just a matter of figuring out who’s who between the two of you.

choi jiung, wearing a smirk that tugged on his lips that you almost wanted to slap off him, like always. you did—well, slap his hand away from your face, rolling your eyes before rising and rushing towards the closet door as he follows.

you almost missed keeho’s words, “is that…” a comment faint in volume when he recalls the day you told him all about your ‘jiung fiasco’ during a phone call.

you drowned in silence inside the closet, not even bothering to turn the light on. figures slumped against the wooden walls across each other. you hugged your knees to your chest, hyper aware of how cramped the space was and your paralyzing fear of having your legs accidentally brush against his.

all you could hear was the frantic hammer of your heartbeat within your chest, sighing in relief that he couldn’t see the flush creeping over your expression. him, well… the most you could make out from the dimness was the stupid mask you hadn’t realized he put back on.

“take that damn ghostface mask off before i punch it out of your face.”

oh, and you regret saying that, 'cause he truly took the mask off, “as you wish.”

he looked so unbelievably hot. annoyingly disproportionate to his simple costume of black fabric draped over his figure, accentuating the broadness of his shoulders just right. along with his hair falling over his eyes and—no. not another monologue of being down bad. enough.

silence hung in the air once more, not like it ever left, but the noise from outside seemed to have drained away and all it was in the moment were you and jiung, paused.

"so, what’s up with… the situation lately?” he speaks up, breaking the silence.

"you know…” you find yourself trailing off, voice small.

"know what?"

“the letter,” you finished his sentence, fragility within your words. “i never meant for you to see it.”

"you’re mad because i found out about it? y/n it’s just a letter—”

"to you, jiung. for me it was my vulnerable thoughts out in the open. t-too personal.”

your voice began to break, the air feeling heavier by the minute. the absence of sound failed to muffle the thud within your pulse. further amplified when he rests his hand over yours perched atop your knee, his touch noticeably warm. you didn’t pull away.

"right, i’m sorry. i understand, i shouldn’t have said that.”

“it’s okay. it was a mistake of mine and—i kinda… made it feel weird between us because of that.” jiung’s lips part in search of words, though you couldn’t see. his fingers tried fiddling with yours, an attempt to ease your tentative tone.

"weird how?”

"you know, ‘cause…”

"hm?”

"shut up,” fuck. you weren’t supposed to let that slip out of your lips, far too affected from how effortlessly attractive he sounded from a single, minor hum. and he didn’t even mean for it to come across like that. “sorry i, just. i can’t face you right now.”

"take your time, y/n”

yet how can you think straight when he says your name like that? the softness his voice held, the gentle tone making your heart skip a beat without fail.

"i was just caught off guard when you… did the whole blackmail thing. i’d—i thought you would just laugh it off or whatever.” you scoff lightly.

"i wouldn’t ever mock you like that. i mean, i kinda did… joke around with you at the library but! i meant it, lightheartedly.”

"mhm.” his fingers remain fidgeting with yours, your eyes drifting downwards. “i just, wanted some space. it was humiliating for me, okay?”

and then it hit jiung with a click. he might’ve went too far with the whole blackmail thing. “i get that. i never meant for you to feel that way, i just… wanted a chance to talk to you further. and spend maybe... a bit more time together.” he clarified, eventually lacing his fingers with yours, closely.

"but deep down i kinda knew you wouldn’t like, rat me out to whoever. it’s part of why i came to like you—sorry i… i know you don’t like me back and i keep talking about my feelings for you and—”

"i never said i didn’t like you back.”

"huh?”

"tell me, when did i ever tell you i don’t like you?”

the question looped within your mind. except all that there ever was is a cloud of uncertainty, his intentions slipping through your grasp like sand. what does he even mean?

"jiung, you’re confusing me.”

then all of a sudden you watch as he bursts into laughter, and you hastily grab his ghostface mask from a corner to playfully smack it against his head.

"you’re so unbelievably dense.”

you click your tongue, shoulders slumping in defeat. "it’s always been a problem of mine, i just don’t know how to handle my feelings.”

the next few words came out almost in a whisper, despite feeling your most vulnerable. “it’s probably why i… don’t have much experience with… this kinda stuff, unlike my friends.”

his fingers ceased playing with yours, now taking both of your hands in his, enveloped around yours like it were meant to be like that. warm.

“you don’t have to deal with this alone, y/n”

the moment wound down once more at the silence that fell.

"okay, look. i’ll just say it once and for all.” his tone is firm, almost commanding you to lift your gaze up at him. “i really, really like you. and i want to be with you. can we start over? please?”

you didn’t know what to respond at that instance. held frozen in place, but the rush of emotion through your nerves acted otherwise. all at once, it came washing over you like a wave.

"jiung?” you call out to him, as there goes another one of his hums. “you mean it?”

"of course i do.” he’s kneeling before you now, so damn close, it felt like your heart’s going to jump out of your chest. your pulse picks up, racing, as his other hand remains interlocked with yours and the other sneaks to caress your cheek.

jiung’s inching closer with every passing second, the air thick with anticipation as if it wasn’t already so stuffy from the cramped space. your eyes flutter shut while the only thing you could sense is the warmth of his breath against your lips. tilting your head subtly to the side, was that how they did it in the romcoms? failing to realize that you’re beginning to clutch his hand in yours harder that—“seven minutes is up!”

the closet door swings open without warning, your hands flying to push jiung away as his back meets the wall with a slight thud, watching the light stream into the cramped space. all over too soon.

yet it was just the catalyst to your eager desire; unable to take your hands off each other the moment you stepped foot outside of the closet. more like it was jiung getting rather handsy, his palm warm over the small of your back. even unabashedly pulling you closer to his side once you sink back down with the rest of the huddled group playing seven minutes. you’ve no reason to stay here anymore.

it came fleeting rather quickly, one moment he had you by the hand out of the door to that damned frat house, traversing through the empty, wasted field and towards the direction of the university dormitories. from the slightest ounce of privacy that touched your fingertips, you started yearning for more. as you reached the floor to your room, jiung wastes no time trapping you against the corridor wall, nuzzling his face into the crook of your neck.

“can i?” he mumbles against your skin, rather sensitive. and you would think he’s incapable of holding back a little kiss during the heat of the moment. except he still asks, lips beginning to ghost over you, bare.

"you don’t look like you could wait for—hngh, anything else.” you struggle underneath his grip, his hands fastening your wrists against the wall as he pushes against you impossibly closer. “i wanna hear you say yes.”

he follows, trailing further up that his nose subtly bumps on your cheek. you feel like you’re turning insane, the more time dragged on and he keeps holding back.

“please jiung, want you all over me…” you whine, a bit more when he finally presses a soft kiss over your flushed cheeks. he looked irresistible, pulling away to stare down at you with his eyes; glossed with hunger.

“even better.” and this time he inches closer once more, his lips hovering over yours tentatively, waiting for you to bridge the gap. and so you did, kissing him back with as much fervor. completely forgetting about the fact that this was the first time you’ve properly made out with someone, and you weren’t even quite sure if you’re doing it right.

it were as if jiung had a sort of sixth-sense, holding you gently by your jaw as your lips weave into a searing kiss, wet by the second as his tongue peeks out. sliding over your bottom lip. “i got you, relax.” he utters, the rumble of his voice traveling straight to your core.

jiung pulls away for a brief moment of oxygen, crashing his lips back to yours. sliding his tongue into your mouth this time ‘round, and you melt against him—weak in the knees as he rolls his wet muscle sinfully against yours.

“can’t get enough of you already,” it was a mystery how he manages to slip a few words here and there, from your pathetic state struggling to keep up with his desperate pace. proving truth to his words when the swirl of his tongue was followed by suckling on your own, that all you could do was mewl, you poor little thing.

it was dangerously risqué, anyone could simply walk into the sight of your sorry state, falling apart fully if it weren’t for jiung holding you up. keeping you upright despite the evident wobble in your knees as he continued to ravage you wantonly, done with his assault on your tongue that he’s moved to subtly bite on your bottom lip, bruised.

"mhmm.” you shudder, swallowing in a moan when he turns to the shell of your ear instead, tracing it sensitive, his spit cold once the air hit. and so he sucks, like he obsessively does, feeling every gentle flick of his tongue rush straight to your core.

you’re already so embarrassingly wet despite still being fully clothed, and his hands had done nothing but to remain over your cheek all this time. his nails raked against the thin fabric of your skimpy dress, mind turned to mush as the only thought you could render was that he needed to touch you right now. futher, more… more than you could ever fathom to beg for him out in the open.

“jiung…” you whimper, right against his ear. feeling his pants get uncomfortably tight that he just has to redirect his energy into smothering you, littering wet, hot, open-mouthed kisses on the expanse of your sensitive neck.

“yes baby?” it took him quite a while to respond, the petname sending a flutter in your chest. he tries to hold himself back before he began to litter nibbles over your skin.

his fingertips are a prickle over your body, finding yourself struggling to respond. mind blank, and you couldn’t even remember why you called out to him in the first place.

“mhmm,”

"you’re already so, horny. aren’t you?”

he’s met yet another smack to the shoulder, probably the nth time from yours this evening.

"don’t say it like that!” you tried leaning impossibly closer, your tone much less than a whisper.

nonetheless, jiung’s brain was equally as foggy, the impact of your hit disregarded. from his point of view, it was unbeknownst that your mind was swirling with how to break the looming silence. the only thing that had his attention in a headlock was the intoxicating sight of you, looking up at him, eyes glossed over in feral desire

your lips adorably bruised, proud of his insatiable work from earlier. your cheeks flushed and brows frustratingly knitted together. it was as if you’re wordlessly begging for him to kneel before you. in fact he would, right at the first syllable of anything you’d utter. and right past that was a sight behold, the swell of your breast, cleavage peeking underneath your outfit.

fuck, he needs you, mind driven towards delirium from his longing to touch. within the warmth from the palm of his hand, undoubtedly even better if he had his mouth on them, loving it wet. he needed you. so. so. badly.

"did you drink?” your voice was delicate, snapping him out of his trance.

“no.” and he was saying the truth. no sip of alcohol carried the same effect of his drunken want over your everything.

this time you took initiative, interlocking fingers with his as you dragged him towards your dorm room. every step you took in the hall felt electric, finding yourself fumbling with the key through the door as jiung’s hand teasingly dips past your waist.

at last pulling him inside, closing the door with a slam as you resume ravishing each other’s lips. you’re too dizzy at this point, his forehead pressing against yours as tries to keep you close. and with every step backwards goes a wet peck, bodies trailing toward your bed until your legs hit the edge.

and so he pushes you, gently, attempting to hold yourself up with your elbows toward the headboard. not until jiung grabs you by your thighs, nails digging over the plush—from that he abruptly yanks you back toward him and earns a surprised mewl.

“don’t go anywhere.”

“jiung, ‘m not.” yet he doesn’t answer anymore, resting his arms on either side of your head. you’ll never catch him without his lips on you, searching, sucking less than harshly that he might as well leave a mark. every nibble and flick of his tongue had you writhing beneath, and you couldn’t help but spread your legs open. hoping he’d take the hint.

he’s turning you breathless, with every press of his lips over your skin igniting such flame in your tummy.

“touch me jiung, please,” you finally cry out, driven crazy when your cunt’s clenching around nothing, wet yet untouched.

“where baby?” jiung rises from busying himself with your neck, only realizing just how much effect he had on you now that he’s gotten a proper view.

you lay there, helpless beneath his figure with your hair disheveled. lips parted from panting, chest heaving up and down.

“here,” you replied, out of breath. turning your head to the side abashed, that you couldn’t even grasp the fact that you’d reach this point. jiung meets your hands, letting you guide his hold toward your clothed breasts.

he couldn’t help a subtle smile tug on his lips, “you’re so damn cute,” jiung teases, swiftly pressing a kiss on your exposed cheek. “i’ll make you feel good, alright?”

please, you’d probably whine out, if you weren’t wallowing so much in the shame of drawing his touch right over your breasts. even so, he’s eager to pry you apart, relishing in the fact that despite your inexperience, you still push through, for him—communicating what you truly wanted.

and it left him with the inclination to fulfill it.

jiung groped your sensitive mounds through the fabric, turning your breathing ragged by the minute. god, you’re already so sensitive, and with every fleeting touch of his hands against your breasts, went to travel straight down to your cunt. sopping wet as you pushed your thighs together in an attempt to relieve the sticky feeling of your panties. proving useless. he then slips his fingers beneath the edge of your dress, thankfully strapless. right atop your chest, pulling it down until he’s met with the sight of your lacey little bra. “pretty,”

and yet he doesn’t show a single trace of rush carried in his actions, feeling you up to build the thrill, groping. “jiung...” you beg, reaching out to his wrist.

“patience,” he sounded curt, but the way he gently fondles your clothed breasts said otherwise.

right when he’s dragged as much of your dress down as he can, jiung catches you off guard—promptly sliding his hands beneath your bra that had your breath hitching. the warmth of his palms flush against your nipples, already perky, yearning for his touch.

jiung just has you pliant beneath him as the vulgar scene unfolds, tenderly groping, fondling your tits along with occasional pinches to your sensitive buds and making you mewl without fail. turns him on so so much, seeing you exposed so adorably that you had let go of all sense left within your body.

it didn’t take too long for him to come to a point, he couldn’t help himself anymore. the erotic sight of your desperate state rutting your clothed cunny up against his torso, helplessly. jiung finally hikes your bra up, your breasts spilling out of a fabric in such a way he can’t resist salivating over your vulnerable image.

and so he wastes no time. if you weren’t so lost within such a sensual trance that had your eyes fixated on the ceiling, you might’ve gotten the chance to catch jiung’s expression, his eyes completely glazed over. hungrily, he encloses his lips around your nipple, the warm wetness of his tongue swirling and flicking against the bud with abandon.

you swore your cunt begins to clench around nothing as he continued his work on you, skin erupting in goosebumps as he relentlessly sucks on the bud; lewd sounds filling the expanse of your dorm room. he doesn’t let your other breast get neglected, fondling its plush with the sporadic flick of his thumb over the bud over and over. ultimately urging you to hump against him suffocated in lust that’s taken over your whole being.

“ahh… jiung—” all you could manage to sputter out were pathetic whimpers, head thrown back as you sink into the mattress. his actions were a medley of flicking his hot tongue on to the other bud, switching, towards rapid kitten licks with his lips fully enclosed around it. eventually withdrawing with a short pop from the messy slick of his drool. once more diving back in to continue his feral abuse on your sensitive nipple. “feeling good?”

and you couldn’t even manage to choke out a reply even if you wanted to, drowning in suffocating desire. jiung pulls away, the hunger in him still begging to get satiated, his cock hard in his pants. a string of spit between your bud and his lip, glistening as it snapped.

anticipation overtakes you once more as he gently pushes your breasts together, flushed before craning back in to tongue over your swollen nipples, moving his head side to side in a frenzy. and you’re just so far gone, the warmth of his tongue licking over your buds with each turn. your already helpless state reduced to a mess, only able to splutter out hoarse moans. and he hasn’t even touched your needy cunt yet.

you had to pry him away from you, it was enough—more than enough before jiung manages to drive you towards an orgasm from merely stimulating your tits, having enough of embarrassing yourself in front of him. you’re not about to cum this early on, clothes barely taken off. you entwine your fingers through his hair, and just when he lets you breathe does he really see what he’s made of you.

sure, he looked disheveled as well, spit by the side of his lip. except you’re far worse, legs trembling from the growing wetness from your center, eyes lidded in a struggle to keep them open. blissed out of your mind and still, all you’ve ever wanted to see was jiung ravaging you like an animal.

“wanna take this all off, jiung…” he’s watchful, hooked on your voice that’s starting to turn a pitch higher than before.

“want more,”

lust bubbles within his chest, listening as you wish despite your struggle finishing sentences out of daze. “want to feel good with you,” your fingers try to reach beyond jiung’s chest, not making it far down but hoping he’d take the hint. swearing that the further you went without relief from your uncomfortable, sticky panties, the more you’ll spiral insane.

you began pulling the rest of your dress down in a hurry when jiung stops you. meeting your eyes glossed over as if you’re on the verge of tearing up from the pleasure, quite so. flashing him a puzzled look.

“i don’t have a condom with me.” he finally brings it up, fingers slowly tracing the curve of your wrist.

“me too…” you replied, sullen. jiung feeling guilty from discreetly thinking you looked adorable from the pout on your face.

at that moment you saw the instantaneous spark of idea carried in his eyes. any other day, you’d probably shoot him a glare, but now you couldn’t bring yourself to do so. especially when he’s had you wrapped around his finger, vulnerable and exposed, feeling your nerves ignite from the tension.

“you can sit on my face baby.”

“what?”

“sit on my face.”

he repeats it so matter-of-factly that it left you completely speechless, in a struggle to find the right words in response.

“jiung, i– it’s my first time and—”

“i know” his tone is reassuring, tucking a strand of hair behind your ear. “and i want you to know that i got you.” you could only conjure a feeble whine. ‘cause what does he mean with the fact that the two of you were just bickering a few weeks ago, and now he wants you to smother his face with your cunt.

“think of it as payback.” he spoke, his voice holding a honeyed warmth.

“use me however you want, after all, i’ve caused you enough problems with that letter.”

well, it was the last you’ve coherently heard of him that night. especially when everything he tried to say came out muffled while he’s got quite literally a mouthful of your dripping pussy. the lewd scene unfolds within the privacy of your dorm room, relieved that your roommate hadn’t decided to return yet. and if you could still recall whether or not these walls were soundproof.

everything that unraveled was such a filthy sight. your black dress, bra, and panties with it’s notable patch of your arousal on the fabric—discarded in a pile somewhere on the floor. it was the least of your worries when you’re currently sitting snug over jiung’s face, cunny rubbing against his wet, warm tongue that had your knuckles clenched and holding onto the headboard for dear life.

making sense of how the hell you’d gotten yourself in this position, taking into account that it’s your first time delving into anything frisky. however, you were running on nothing else but raging horniness, maintaining your desperate rhythm as you ride his face. grinding your hips in haste, folds slick as you use his tongue to get off. just so damn erotic.

it was truly pushing you towards the edge faster than you’d like to admit. his tongue sliding in and out of your pulsing hole, lightning fast. slick kitten licking against your clit over and over, when it isn’t the tip of his nose bumping on your pleasured, swollen bud.

fuck, it was a far more tantalizing sight as you turned to look behind you. through your lashes, watching jiung’s obscene state—his pants dragged down, jerking himself off, fast. his hand gripping his cock just right, up and down, wishing it was your pulsing cunt squeezing his shaft right now.

he made it a point, the next time he gets to ravage you senseless, you’d be crying out having enough of his cock plowing into your hole.

now it was just you you you, using him like he insisted you did.

jiung begins to amp it up, eager to send you towards your high. his tongue simultaneously slipping in and out of your hole before dragging back up, flattened to flick at your clit—god, it felt insatiably good, the pace in which you roll your hips on his face grew faltered. thighs turning wobbly as you neared your climax.

“hahh—fuckkk… jiung, you… you make me feel so good,” you pant, breathlessly fucking yourself on his tongue.

the best he could do was to hum in reply, against your clit, the vibration feeling insanely good as it travels straight to your core. his other hand grips harshly on the plush of your thigh, nails raking over the skin. almost forming crescents, vulgar and indecent, yet it all felt too pleasurable.

“i’m close, ‘m so, so close~” you whine out, your tangled fingers in his hair tightening. earning another moan that vibrated over your swollen, needy clit. your other hand struggling to keep leverage on to the headboard.

at this point you’re far too deep in pleasure, desperate to cum as you chase your high. turning crazy from how it felt so so good to ride his face, tongue working you toward it, the squelch of your sticky arousal dripping down his chin. more, more, moreee—rolling your hips over his face like you’re in such a rut, and it seems to be the case.

suddenly—you trembled, writhing in convulse as it came crashing over you like a wave. a particular bump of the tip of his nose against your clit before his relentless suckling pushed you teetering toward the edge. and he so desperately wanted to cum with you at the same time, stroking his cock faster. collecting part of your slick dripping down his chin to wet his shaft. jiung feels your cunt begin to gush, his nails digging deeper crescents into the plush of your thigh because you visibly couldn't handle the shake of your knees from the pleasure. his tongue, never ceasing to flick and flatten as he drags it on to your clit. over and over, lapping up your sticky cum.

“ahh–mhmh, jiung~!” you tug on his hair, fingers laced as you tried to squirm away from his grip. “no more!” yet he's making it difficult for you to do so, both of his arms locking your thighs in place as he began his endless ordeal of licking up your release. s'too much, too much–yet felt too fucking good, rendering you overstimulated out of your mind, merciless.

and when you've finally freed yourself from his grip, you stumbled back on to your mattress, disoriented. it was a blur, feeling yourself momentarily lose balance, suddenly collapsing onto the sheets. jiung immediately rose to his elbows, reaching toward you despite his voice beginning to sound like a distant muffle. concern was greatly etched across his face, “y/n are you okay?” you hear him, and yet it resounded like a distant echo, seeing his concerned expression the last few seconds before your vision slips into darkness.

his composure falters at that instant. had he pushed you too hard? he gazed down on your figure, laying there seemingly peaceful despite your exhaustion. once again you're vulnerable beneath his eyes. to him, jiung takes it as another chance to take care of you, his eyes tracing every outline of your features. and the gentle heaving of your chest that reminded him that he has to prove you that you can trust him.

“tired... ung, i'm okay,” you manage to mumble, and he releases a sigh of relief. almost moving to touch you before he realizes that he's… made quite a mess of his own as well. making a quick trip to the bathroom to clean himself up, stumbling upon bits of your clothes strewn over the floor.

he found you alrewdy fast asleep when he came back. making it a point in his head to go easy on you next time–he wouldn't admit, but the way panic surged through his nerves once you collapsed got him shaken. but in a few minutes he's gotten you into your matching pajamas, tucked underneath a blanket as he slides beside you. he holds your body close to his chest, “night baby,” you couldn't hear him; nonetheless, he still wanted to whisper to you sweet, pressing chaste kisses atop your head.

jiung turns to your bedside table, almost reaching out to turn off your lampshade when he stops to see an abnormally neon yellow sticky note stuck on the wall above that read in bold ink: ‘presentation monday morning’

the presentation.

oh god, you both have to do the presentation tomorrow at 8am.

fuck.

[1:47] kyo: y/n where’d you go???

[1:49] kyo: jiung’s not here too?

[2:05] kyo: alright damn

[2:06] kyo: i get it

[dusterbishop]

we can go forever until you wanna sit it out

summary. || you are an amplifier gifted with the ability to strengthen the power of other mutants, a skill that earns you a place on team x. learning to work with them is a sharp curve, especially with the lonesome newest member, logan.

pairing. || logan x f!reader (slow burn)

count. || 2.1k

notes. || warning for character death and violence. this is my first time writing for logan, but i have been bewitched by the tiktok edits.

part one. || part two. || part three. || part four.

You meet Logan when you are young, but he is far older than you initially assume.

Stryker takes point in the introductions, as usual. You linger patiently at his back, just a pace behind, idly scuffing the dirt with the toe of your boot. The air is sour with the stench of stale blood and decay. War isn’t new to you. Neither is recruitment for new soldiers.

“Who’s your little friend?” One of the men jeers, a sharp smile edging the curve of his mouth. This one is Victor Creed, you think, and it’s confirmed when you glance to the other side of the cell and see the other brother sitting back, unimpressed. That one is surely Logan.

From the files that Stryker let you and Zero parse through, you expected more… reaction. He has been tracing their movements for the past two months, and you have seen the bullet list of their service history and grim achievements. They are deadly predators, mutated to efficiently slaughter their prey. Animals, Zero had remarked, and you had silently conceded to that point. Not that you haven’t killed, but you also have human hands that do not morph to tear apart flesh.

“Less who she is, and more what she can do for you both,” Stryker says. On cue, you wander a step closer and set your amplifier alight with a flick of your wrist. You’ve mastered the range just enough to brush the soles of their feet, a fleeting-faint taste of your ability. The hand movement is still an instinct you can’t quash despite the disapproving look Stryker gives you when he sees it.

Victor sucks in a deep, rumbling breath, twitching with a suppressed lunge. Logan doesn’t make a noise, but merely closes his eyes as if a weight has been lifted. Your own body tingles with rippling electricity, every nerve set alight with adrenaline. Like a caffeine rush, you’ll feel the impact of the fall later, but for now you neatly dim your amplifier to a low buzz and shuffle back a half-step to escape their range. The pair slumps against the wall the moment it escapes them. Victor bares his teeth in a grin, and Logan gazes at Stryker with half-lidded eyes. It’s a dark, calculating gaze. Weighing the competition, you think.

“Now that I have your attention,” Stryker says, but you can’t help but notice that both the brothers are looking at you, instead. Their mistake.

Three months later, the brothers once again leave you pinned behind metal-gilded crates with enough gunfire to rattle your teeth in your skull.

“Good God,” you spit out, hauling yourself back behind cover. “Can you stop the self-sacrificial antics for a moment?”

“Sacrifice?” Victor laughs. His skin ripples with regeneration, leaving merely a smear of blood behind as proof of the healed bullet hole. His clawed hand flexes at his side, the elongated tips of his fingers scratching lightly against the floor. “I’m not the one dying, Star.”

You pull a face at the name, but you don’t have the time to argue it. Bullets spray in patterned bursts against your cover, and you have to hunch in on yourself to protect your extremities. The perk of your power is that you can keep your team from burning out and improve their reflexes. The downside is that your power does absolutely nothing in terms of protecting you; your protection is your team.

So you draw in a slow breath, flick your wrist, and summon a surging wave of amplification. Victor surges to his feet with a giddy-mad laugh and delves into the fray. Logan follows in close pursuit behind him, though he takes more care to skirt the edges of the bloodbath, cleaning up the loose ends.

The brothers are an odd addition to this mismatched army of mutant soldiers, though Stryker is pleased with their formidable prowess in battle. In the three months you’ve worked with them, you can see why, and there is a foreboding sense of dread that wells inside you as you listen to the choked-off screams of the enemy ahead. You clench your fists and hold the amplifier steady, silently grateful that for the moment, the only mutants in the room are the ones less likely to tear you apart. No doubt Victor would revel in slicing the flesh from your bones to expose what lies beneath your skin. Logan would be less inclined, perhaps, but you know he follows his brother above all else.

Yes, of course Stryker values their addition to Team X. They are nothing but monsters.

Nothing but monsters, and you have a leash on every one of them.

Stryker has a keen interest in your power, or rather what your power does for the team. You aren’t invulnerable, and you don’t have hyper senses. You don’t teleport or shoot with terrifying accuracy. On the surface, you appear nothing more than a young woman with military training and a nervous tic in your hand.

Underneath the surface, you burn bright.

Your father had been an amateur astronomer. When you were growing up, he would sneak you out to the backyard past your bedtime and the two of you would watch the sky and plot the path of constellations. He was the one that taught you about the sun, the moon, and the stars. My girl, he would say, you are made of the cosmos.

He must be partially right. There’s a staggering core of cosmic energy stored in the cradle of your ribcage. You have spent long moments staring at your own bare reflection in the mirror, hoping to catch a glimpse of it. How do you look so ordinary when there is a blazing sun in your chest?

Yet you do. Stryker had been skeptical of your ability when you first met him, but by that point he had recruited Zero and Bradley, so it only took a little wave of your hand to boost their abilities and prove your silent mutation. Proving it had sealed your fate: under the codename Cosmic, you were an infinite battery pack to the newly forged Team X.

Yet it’s moments like this, when you’re stranded in a rare week of downtime, that you feel like an outsider looking in.

It’s been four days since the job that got you shot at, the same job that let Victor unleash utter havoc, and you’re all going a little stir-crazy while you wait for things to cool down. John Wraith has somehow secured a deck of cards, and he’s managed to wrangle Bradley, Victor, and Wade in a game you don’t follow. The rules seem to change the more they drink and bicker over the play, so you toy with your own can of half-drunk beer and stare out the living room window of your temporary housing. There are stray stars speckled in the night sky, and you feel such a deep-ridden surge of grief at the sight of them.

The arguing gets louder around the kitchen table, and none of them notice when you slip out the front door. The night is hushed when you close the door behind you, and some unknown tension eases from your shoulders with the sky exposed high above. It takes some wandering to properly immerse yourself in the pitch dark, but you find a patch of grass cleared of undergrowth and sprawl out on your back, tucking your hands beneath your head. The safe house that Stryker has your team staying in is hours from the nearest large city, and the sky is clear of light pollution. You can see a scattered sea of stars, all of them twinkling in familiar greeting.

My girl, you are made of the cosmos.

You have to swallow back the sudden swell of emotion in your throat. It’s quiet this far from the house. Without any heightened senses, you can’t hear anything other than the soft rustle of the wildlife shuffling through the trees. It’s lonely, but not in the way that you felt lonely sitting in that room with the rest of the team. Their abilities serve them; your ability just makes them more.

You’re reminded of that fact in a fierce strike of terror when a figure appears at the edge of the clearing, moving too quiet for your human hearing to pick up. You bolt upright, curling your hands into fists, all too aware of your pitiful human strength and basic military training. It would do nothing against a mutant intent on rending you apart.

“Thought you were asleep,” Logan grunts, rubbing a hand over his chest in discomfort. The adrenaline from his sudden appearance spiked your amplifier, and you have to focus on leveling your breathing as you slowly retract your power back to your core. “Took you too long to notice me.”

“You were in your room,” you accuse. It’s mostly the fear driving the annoyance in your tone, but you don’t have the patience for an apology. “I wasn’t expecting to see you lurking in the woods.”

The clearing is half-lit by the light of the moon, though Logan lingers near the edges. He’s wearing a short-sleeve white shirt that clings to the curve of his torso, the muscled tone of his arms flexing as he crosses them over his chest. You can barely make out the way he raises a brow at your choice of words, his profile half-shadowed.

“Lurking,” he repeats, almost amused. “Says the stargazer.”

“Cosmic,” you remind him. “Comes with the territory.”

“What, you charge them, too?” You don’t expect him to step closer, but he does. In the moonlight, the tousled curl of his hair softens the incredulous look he’s giving you. There isn’t the same degree of mocking like the kind you would expect from Victor, but then again, you haven’t spoken to Logan much. He’s content to focus on the work rather than the idle play. Unlike Zero, however, there isn’t the same air of arrogant distaste.

He almost seems… ordinary.

“Funny,” you say dryly. You shuffle your weight and lay back down in the grass, pointedly ignoring the low chuckle he gives at your exasperation. There’s a kernel of truth stuck in your throat, so you blurt out, “I think they charge me.”

“Right,” Logan says, his tone decidedly skeptical. “And I get my claws charged up by sunshine and rainbows.”

You shoot him a glare. “I’m serious.”

“So I am, bub.”

He takes another step from the edge of the clearing. He’s closer now, enough that he looms over you. The stars speckle the sky above his head in a crown of twinkling light, and you flex your fingers, silently summoning the rush of energy that the sight of the sky gives you. Logan shivers, cursing under his breath, though he doesn’t back away.

He takes a step closer, nudging your hip with the toe of his boot. His posture doesn’t change, but he’s flexing his fingers into a fist, almost subconsciously. You wonder how it feels for him, to have his bones shift and extend into claw-like weapons. The first time you watched him kill, you grimaced at the sight of his hands. The sharpened claws of Victor’s nails were tame in comparison to the mutation that rearranged Logan’s skeleton.

You’ve never seen any indication that his ability hurts him, yet the way he flexes his hands now makes you wonder. He doesn’t speak for a long moment, only staring down at you with that unapproachable expression. You wonder, too, if he’s out here for the same reason that you are. Surely not; you’ve seen the way he follows Victor, and the way Victor turns to him, expectant in battle. They are tied together in a way that reminds you of a hangman’s noose.

“Sunshine, huh?” You say. “Suits your happy personality.”

“Like you know a fucking thing about me,” he says, and the laugh trailing the end of that sentence is far from amused. When he steps back, you almost miss the warmth of his presence filling the sky above. “Pay attention before you get yourself killed.”

“I’ve seen enough,” you shoot back, stung by the sudden seethe of his tone. You sit up to properly glare at him, but he’s already turned and heading back into the darkness of the woods. You call to his retreating back, “You and that brother of yours are gonna get the wrong people hurt.”

“Save the altruism for someone else,” he calls over his shoulder, and then he’s gone.

You glare up at the sky instead. The yawning black abyss above you feels lonelier than ever.

[killeromanoff]

I KNOW YOUR GHOST | ch. 2

summary: Months after Venturer's official approval, Declan O’Hara's latest broadcast takes center stage, his incisive interview style sparking reactions from viewers—and Cassie Jones. Spending the evening at Baz’s bar, Cassie finds herself caught between reluctant admiration and lingering resentment for Declan’s relentless drive.

pairing: Declan O’Hara x Cassandra 'Cassie' Jones (Female OC)

warnings: Mild language, Themes of Corruption, Power dynamics, Age-Gap (Cassie is 25 yo), Moral conflict, Slow-burn tension, Alcohol Use, Realism in Media Industry, Cassie is always in distress mode

w.c: 7k

[prologue], [chapter one], [here], [chapter three], [chapter four]

o2. But I can't get her outta my sight

Declan sat in his study, a sanctuary of muted tones and understated elegance. The polished surface of his mahogany desk reflected the faint glow of the desk lamp, its circle of light casting the rest of the room into a warm shadow. Shelves of books lined the walls, their spines forming a mosaic of knowledge and ambition accumulated over the years.

A hint of cigar smoke clung to the air.

A stack of notes lay before him, meticulously organized yet untouched. He had intended to review them for tonight’s show on Venturer, he has studied and written everything down for the past week. Yet his pen had stilled, his attention wandering far from the political breakdowns and exposés he usually found energizing.

Instead, his mind was tangled in thoughts of Cassie Jones.

The doubt in her eyes was striking—not just a fleeting hesitation, but something deeper, a quiet war between uncertainty and conviction. Yet, it was that same doubt that seemed to amplify the glow of her fierce determination, as if her fears only highlighted the brilliance of her resolve.

Her gaze, dark and willful, resisted him, darting away like a bird wary of being caught.

But in those few moments when their eyes met… It was impossible to look away. There was a rhythm to her words, calculated and unhurried, as though each syllable carried a secret she was daring him to uncover. Her voice was a melody he couldn’t quite place—familiar enough to draw him in, yet distant enough to leave him looking for more.

Her lips parted and closed with the precision of a storyteller, shaping each word in a way that made even the most banal details sound extraordinary. There was a magnetism to her presence, an energy that turned a simple conversation into something unforgettable.

Not that he stared at her lips. He hadn't. If someone asked him about them, he wouldn't know what color they were. A shade somewhere between the warmth of a dusky rose and the faint blush of autumn’s last leaves.

In short, the conversation between them that early afternoon lingered—not as a memory, but as a sensation, persistent and impossible to ignore.

It felt foolish , truly. That was the best word to describe the whole situation.

He couldn’t decide what annoyed him more: the fact that his thoughts were so easily hijacked or that he had let them linger. There were always more pressing matters to deal with—scripts to finalize, segments to tighten, the never-ending negotiations with sponsors… Venturer wasn’t just a television station; it was a warfront, the last bastion of independent media in Rutshire.

And yet, here he was , caught up in the memory of a single conversation.

What made it worse was that it wasn’t even a conversation that should have stood out. He’d met people with stronger résumés, sharper tongues, and more experience in front of a microphone.

But Cassie... She wasn’t polished , and that was the very thing that stayed with him. Her honesty felt raw, untamed—a blade still learning the strength of its edge.

Foolish. The word echoed in his head.

He ran a hand through his hair, letting out a breath he hadn’t realized he was holding. What was it about her that unsettled him?

Was it her conviction? The quiet courage hidden beneath layers of uncertainty? Or perhaps it was the vulnerability she carried so openly? The kind that didn’t ask for pity but challenged you to see it and still believe in her strength.

And yet, her resistance baffled him. How could someone so driven, so clearly destined for something bigger, shy away from a platform?

His fingers tapped absently against the desk as he tried to reconcile her fear of the screen with what he had seen in her.

In his mind’s eye, he could picture her features perfectly—the elegant line of her jaw, the soft curve of her cheekbones, the intensity in her eyes when she spoke about what mattered. He could see how the camera would frame her, how the lights would catch the warm tones in her hair, and how her expressions, so honest and unguarded, would translate to the audience.

She didn’t see it, but he did .

Her face was made for the screen, not because of perfection, but because of its authenticity. It would draw people in, hold them captive. She didn’t need to be polished; she was already compelling in a way that made the camera irrelevant.

A knock at the door pulled him from his thoughts.

“Come in,” he called, his voice steady despite the jumble in his head.

The door creaked open, and Taggie stepped inside, her auburn hair catching the soft light from the lamp. She was dressed casually, her apron dusted with flour, a reminder of the event she was catering later.

“Still brooding?” she teased gently, holding a letter in one hand while absently smoothing her apron with the other.

A smile tugged at the corner of her lips, but her tone carried genuine concern.

“Brooding?” Declan repeated, his voice amused, “I prefer ‘preparing.’ ”

“For the show or something else?” she countered, stepping closer. Her gaze landed briefly on the untouched notes before flicking back to him, “You look... Distracted.”

Declan exhales, leaning back in his chair, “I visited Cassie Jones today.”

Taggie’s eyebrows shoot up.

“Cassie Jones? The Cassie Jones? You mean the one from the radio?”

She stepped closer, as though proximity would confirm his words. Her tone changed, and her thoughts flickered back to the previous morning.

Yesterday, the kitchen had been filled with the sound of Cassie’s fiery monologue, her unrelenting voice cutting through the room like a razor. Rupert had leaned in, more amused than anything else, but her father—she remembered her father: he’d been completely still , eyes fixed on the radio with an intensity she hadn’t seen in months.

That explains why he hadn’t had dinner last night , Taggie wondered.

Declan nodded, his expression contemplative.

“She has potential, Taggie,” he paused, searching for the right words, “Raw, unpolished, but it’s there. I want her on Venturer.”

“You’re recruiting her?” she asked, her voice with a hint of curiosity and excitement, “I didn’t think I’d ever see the day you’d bring someone like her in. Isn’t she— well , shy?”

“That’s putting it mildly,” he admitted, his voice taking on a thoughtful edge, “She’s terrified of being seen, but she’s brilliant. The way she speaks... It’s not just reporting. It’s storytelling. She makes people care.”

Taggie studied him for a moment, her head tilting as she considered his words. There was something about the way he spoke—quiet but charged with energy, a drive that hadn’t been there in a while…

Her father had always been passionate, but this was different. There was a spark, something that reminded her of the early days of Venturer, when everything was just a shot in the dark.

“You’re really invested in this,” Taggie lifted a brow, “Aren’t you?”

Declan didn’t answer immediately. Instead, his gaze dropped to the scattered notes on his desk, their edges curling slightly under the soft glow of the desk lamp. His fingers tapped idly against the wood as he tried to put his thoughts into words.

 “Let’s just say,” he murmured, “It’s been a while since someone reminded me why we started Venturer in the first place.”

“It’s good to see you like this again,” Taggie’s smile widened, “You’ve never been so focused, so determined since we won the franchise approval—it’s like you’ve finally found something that excites you again.”

Declan chuckled, though the sound was tinged with self-awareness, “Don’t read too much into it, Taggie. I’m just doing my job.”

“Sure you are,” she said, a touch of mischief in her tone, “But I’m not complaining. It’s been a long time since I’ve seen you looking this... Alive.”

She hesitated for a moment before adding, “Do you think she’ll accept?”

Declan’s expression grew thoughtful, his gaze distant.

“I don’t know,” he admitted, “Freddie’s been trying to bring her on board since we got the franchise approval. She’s always said no. But today…” He trailed off, his brow furrowing as he thought back to their conversation.

“But today?” Taggie prompted, stepping closer, her curiosity clearly piqued.

“She seemed... Torn ,” Declan replied, “Like part of her wanted to say yes, even if she couldn’t bring herself to do it. She’s hesitant, scared even, but she’s not someone who backs down easily. If she sees what we see in her... She’ll come around.”

Taggie studied her father again, a knowing expression in the way she furrowed her brows, “You’re really invested in this, aren’t you?”

Declan met her gaze, a flicker of something undefinable in his expression—determination, perhaps, or something even deeper.

“It’s not just about her, Taggie,” he said after a moment, “It’s about what she represents. Venturer was supposed to be about giving people like her a voice, wasn’t it? People who can make others listen, who can make them care.

“Well, I hope she sees that”, a soft smile tugged at the corners of Taggie’s lips, “And I hope she knows how lucky she’d be to work with someone like you.”

Declan chuckled again, though it was quieter this time, tinged with something almost self-deprecating.

“Don’t go turning me into a saint, Taggie. I’m just trying to do what’s right—for Venturer and for her.”

Taggie hesitated, watching him for a moment before stepping forward and placing the envelope on his desk.

“Just don’t let this drive of yours keep you from dealing with this,” she said softly, her fingers brushing the edge of the envelope.

Declan’s gaze followed her gesture, his brow furrowing as he took in the sight of the crumpled edges and the weight it seemed to carry. How it quickly changed his daughter’s humor.

“What is it?” he asked, though something in the pit of his stomach already knew the answer.

“It’s from Mum’s lawyer,” Taggie replied quietly, “The final papers.”

Declan’s breath caught, the words dripping between them like a heavy curtain. Slowly, almost reluctantly, he reached out to take the envelope. The paper felt heavier than it should, as though the culmination of everything—months of silence, arguments, the growing distance—was contained within it.

How could she not answer any of his letters and the first one she sent to them, her family, was the divorce papers?

“I see,” he said in the silence, almost whispering, his grip on the envelope tightened.

Taggie hesitated, her eyes scanning his face as though trying to gauge his reaction, “Are you okay?”

Declan chuckled, but it was devoid of humor.

“That’s a loaded question.”

The corner of her lips twitched, but her attempt at a smile faded just as quickly.

“I know it’s not what you wanted, Dad. I know how hard you tried to hold things together.”

“Did I?” Declan asked, almost to himself. He leaned back in his chair, his gaze falling to the envelope in his hands, “Or did I just try to hold on to the idea of us? To what I thought we were supposed to be, instead of what we actually were?”

Taggie bit her lip, unsure of how to respond. The silence that followed wasn’t tense, but it was loaded as the question of before. There was a shared grief for something that had been unraveling for longer than either of them cared to admit.

“She made her choice,” Declan continued, his tone low, “And maybe... Maybe it’s for the best. For her. For both of us.”

“Maybe,” Taggie said softly, though she didn’t sound convinced.

Declan glanced at her, his expression softening.

“What about you? How are you handling all this?”

Taggie bit her lip, clearly taken aback by her father’s question. She hesitated for a moment, her gaze flickering downward as though the answer might somehow be hidden in the floorboards.

“I’ve had time to process it, I guess,” she responded, her voice quieter than before. She shrugged, slipping her hands into the pockets of her apron, “It doesn’t make it hurt any less, but... I’m not angry anymore. Just… S-S—”

Her voice faltered, the word slipping from her grasp.

“Sad?” Declan offered gently, watching as her jaw tightened.

“Yes,” she said, nodding a bit too quickly, “ Sad. ”

Her struggle with the word wasn’t lost on him. It was a passing moment, brief but telling. Declan knew how Taggie’s dyslexia sometimes crept into her life in ways she didn’t expect—moments of hesitation or the occasional stumble over a word when emotions ran high.

It wasn’t something she let define her, but it was always there.

Over the past months, with Maud gone and Taggie stepping up beside him, Declan had seen more of it than he ever had before. At first, he had felt like the worst father in the world for not noticing sooner, for letting the chaos of his own life distract him from hers. It took him some time to understand—not just how it was for her, but the quiet strength with which she handled them.

It humbled him, this quiet resilience of hers.

You’ve handled it well, he wanted to say, but instead, he offered her a smile.

She looked at him, surprised by the sudden gesture. But the small, appreciative smile she gave in return told him he had done the right thing. He was still trying, and that was enough.

For a moment, the room was quiet, save for the soft hum of wind and the creak of the floorboards beneath their feet. Declan found himself studying her expression, the way her eyes mirrored his own weariness but had a resilience that was unmistakably hers.

“I suppose sadness is easier to live with than resentment,” he said, more to himself than to her.

Taggie nodded, offering a small smile that didn’t quite reach her eyes.

“Well, I should get back to work. The buffet for Mrs. Spencer’s gala won’t prepare itself.”

Declan raised an eyebrow, “A gala? And they’ve roped you into catering for it?”

“Not roped,” she corrected, “I volunteered . Keeps me busy.”

He gave her a look, one that carried both fondness and a hint of fatherly skepticism.

“Just don’t let them take advantage of you.”

Taggie laughed softly, the sound warm but subdued.

“Don’t worry, Dad. I can handle Mrs. Spencer.”

She turned to leave but paused at the door, glancing back at him. Her expression softened, the hint of concern in her eyes mirroring the quiet care she always tried to mask with humor.

“And you? Will you be okay?”

Declan offered a faint smile, “I’ve got notes to review and a show to prepare for. I’ll manage.”

Taggie nodded, staying for a moment longer before slipping out of the room.

The silence that followed her departure wasn’t empty; it was filled with the echoes of their conversation, the unspoken words that always seemed to hover between them. Declan’s gaze fell to the envelope on his desk, its stark presence a reminder of what had already unraveled. He stared at it for a long moment, his fingers brushing the sharp edges, the sensation grounding him in the heaviness of the moment.

The ache in his chest deepened, not sharp but persistent, like a bruise that refused to fade. Maud’s absence wasn’t new; it had been a constant shadow for months, haunting him at the edges of every room, every thought. He could still hear her voice in the quiet moments, see her smile in the periphery of his mind.

They had tried, hadn’t they ? Yet, here it was—the finality of a marriage reduced to paper and ink.

Declan leaned back in his chair, his head tipping slightly as he closed his eyes. The memories pressed in, uninvited but relentless. The laughter they had shared, the fights that had grown sharper over time, the silences that had said more than words ever could. He wondered, not for the first time, if there had been a point where they could have turned it around—if he could have been someone different, better , for her.

The ache tightened, and he exhaled slowly, as if trying to release it. But as his thoughts circled Maud and the void her absence left, another voice crept into his mind.

Cassie .

Her words reverberated in his memory, not as a balm to the pain but something else. The raw honesty in her tone, the conviction laced with doubt, had a way of unsettling him, of pulling his focus from the ache of what was lost to the possibilities of what could be.

That's what she usually talked about in her past broadcasts, right? In the projects she had done in Chicago? How there was always a possibility, a light in the end of the tunnel, despite people locking all your windows and doors?

He sat up straighter, his gaze falling to the notes scattered before him again. The words blurred for a moment, stubbornly refusing to take shape. But as he thought of Cassie—her eyes, her words, her fear—it was as though something clicked into place.

It wasn’t just about giving people a platform , he remembered, it was about finding the voices that mattered, the ones that could cut through the noise and make people listen.

Declan’s lips quirked into a smile, the kind that came unbidden, as he turned his attention back to his notes. The spark of inspiration she had ignited within him was enough to push the rest aside, at least for now.

There was a show to prepare for, and tonight, he felt ready.

The bar was alive in its muted way—a quiet chatter and the occasional clink of glassware against polished wood. It wasn’t the raucous energy of a weekend crowd but the steady rhythm of regulars, the kind of people who found comfort in routine. Cassie sat at her usual corner, her drink untouched, save for the condensation slipping down its sides.

The golden light from the overhead fixtures cast a soft glow on the surface of the bar, making everything look warmer than it felt.

Bas moved with the practiced ease of someone who had owned this space for years. His motions were fluid, as though the rhythm of tending bar wasn’t a job but an extension of himself.

His dark hair, perpetually tousled in a way that suggested he didn’t care—or maybe cared too much—caught the light whenever he turned. His eyes scanned the room, but they kept returning to Cassie, watching the tension in her shoulders, the tight grip she had on her glass.

“Alright, Jones,” he said, leaning over the counter with a lopsided grin that didn’t quite reach his eyes, “You’re quieter than usual. Either someone’s died, or you’re brooding about something big… Again .”

Cassie shot him a look, one that was stabbing but softened by the weak tug at the corner of her lips.

“Always with the optimism, Bas.”

“It’s my charm,” he quipped. But the teasing in his tone didn’t mask the concern that was beneath it.

She sighed, her fingers drumming lightly against the bar’s surface, “Let’s just say it’s been a day.”

Bas’s eyebrow arched as he slid a pint across the bar to a waiting regular, his movements unhurried but precise. His attention, however, was fixed on Cassie, the practiced ease in his gaze giving way to a flicker of curiosity. The murmured conversations, the muted clatter of glasses—seemed distant, a backdrop to the conversation they were having.

“A day, huh?” Bas leaned a little closer, his lips drawing into an amused smile, “Sounds vague,” he added, lifting an eyebrow in mock challenge, “Care to elaborate, or should I start guessing?”

“You’d only guess wrong,” she replied almost immediately, a smirk curling at her lips before she took a long sip from her drink.

Bas didn’t miss a beat. Leaning forward, he rested his forearms on the counter, the polished wood cool beneath his hands. His teasing expression softened just a bit, the shift subtle but perceptible.

“Enlighten me, then,” he said, his voice dropping a notch.

Cassie hesitated, her gaze dropping to her glass. But her grip on the glass hardened, her thumb tracing absent patterns against the condensation. She inhaled quietly through her nose, her lips pressing into a thin line as if bracing herself.

“Declan O’Hara showed up at my door this morning.”

The words landed heavily, drawing Bas’s full attention. His playful demeanor faltered, his brow knitting together in thought.

Cassie could see the gears turning behind his eyes, his indissoluble wit piecing together implications faster than he let on. He blinked once, his lips parting as if to speak, but then he let out a low whistle, a sound of disbelief mingled with admiration.

“Well, that’s not nothing,” he said, straightening as his grin returned, this time full of intrigue, “What did the Irish Wolfhound want with you?”

Cassie’s lips twisted into a wry smile, though there was no humor in it. She shrugged, her voice tinged with weariness.

“He wants me on Venturer . Just like you and my uncle.”

Bas’s eyebrows shot up in surprise, his head tilting as he considered her words.

“Bloody hell,” he muttered, his voice almost reverent. He reached for a cloth, wiping down an already spotless section of the counter as though the action would help him process the news, “One thing’s for sure—it’s not every day Declan O’Hara comes knocking at your door, specifically your door . I mean, me and Freddie? Sure. But him ?” His dark eyes narrowed slightly, “That’s big.”

He set the cloth down, his gaze steady on her, “What did you say?”

Cassie shifted uncomfortably in her seat, her shoulders hunching slightly.

“That I’d think about it,” she admitted, the words clipped as though they’d been dragged out of her.

Bas studied her in silence, his expression unreadable, though his brow furrowed as he watched her fidget with her glass. After a long pause, he leaned back against the counter, crossing his arms.

“You never seem thrilled about this,” he remarked, his tone carefully neutral, “Most people would jump at the chance of joining Venturer—especially if it was me inviting them.” His lips drawn into a lopsided grin, a flash of his usual humor breaking through.

“Yeah, well, I’m not most people,” Cassie replied, her voice sharp, the words a defensive barb.

Bas’s grin softened, the teasing edge fading as he regarded her more closely. He reached for a glass of water, taking a slow sip before setting it down with deliberate calm.

“Alright,” he said, his tone quieter but no less insistent, “Let’s hear it. What’s holding you back?”

Cassie’s fingers stilled on the rim of her glass. For a moment, she seemed to shrink into herself, her expression tightening. Her eyes darted to the counter as she wrestled with words that didn’t want to come.

“It’s not that simple,” she muttered finally, her voice low, almost to herself.

“Nothing worth doing ever is,” Bas countered.

Cassie shifted in her seat, her fingers tracing the rim of her glass again.

“I just… I don’t think it’s for me.”

Bas’s laugh was short and dry, a single puff of air that carried no mirth.

“You don’t think it’s for you? Come on, Cass. That’s not an answer. You’ve got a voice people listen to—even when they don’t want to. Hell, you made headlines just by opening your mouth. And now you’re telling me you can’t see yourself in a chair next to Declan?”

Cassie clenched her jaw, the muscles tensing in her neck. The words were there, but they felt too heavy, too real to say out loud.

Her thoughts spiraled, never giving her a rest— Could I? Be in a chair next to him?

What if I say yes and ruin everything?

The offer, the screen, the lights… It was all too much.

What if they really do see something in me that I don’t see in myself?

But that wasn’t the real issue, was it?

“I can’t do it, Bas,” she whispered, as if saying the words could keep the fear at bay.

The issue was if they saw all the mistakes that she knew that was beneath her skin, her choices and her attempts.

She closed her eyes for a brief moment, leaning her elbows against the edge of the counter, her head hanging low.

It wasn’t the stage, or the lights. It wasn’t even the fear of failure.

Her mind raced with the images— the screen, the questions, the voices of people in her head, judging, scrutinizing, always waiting for her to slip.

“Why not?” he pressed, not giving up so soon over this subject.

Cassie’s breath caught, she had hoped that he would drop it , as he usually did.

Her pulse quickened, the discomfort twisting in her stomach like a knot pulling tighter with every passing second. She knew what was coming, and still, she couldn’t find the strength to articulate it.

To say the words that circled her thoughts.

Why not? Her mind repeated the question and, as if it was a broken record, it started to repeat again and again., why not? Why not?

What was holding her back?

“Cass—”

Why not?

“I can’t even look you in the eye while we’re talking, Bas,” she snapped, her voice trembling, “How the hell am I supposed to talk to a camera? To an audience?”

There it was—the rawness of the truth.

Her fear wasn’t just about the screen. It was about her inability to stand in front of anyone and not feel exposed, vulnerable. She wasn’t ready to show that side of herself, not to millions of strangers, not when she could barely face the people she cared about.

Bas’s reaction was immediate. The mischief that usually animated his features vanished and turned into something quieter, more serious. He straightened slightly, as though anchoring himself to the counter while Cassie’s turmoil unfolded in front of him.

The ambient noise of the bar—a murmur of laughter, the clinking of glasses—faded into a distant sound, no longer relevant in the charged space between them.

For a moment, Bas said nothing. His gaze held her frame—not in judgment, but in understanding. He wasn’t a man who filled silences lightly, and Cassie had come to appreciate that about him.

The absence of his voice gave hers the room to breathe, even as it quaked under the weight of her uncertainty.

“You’ve always been harder on yourself than anyone else,” he interrupted the silence once he noticed she was more at ease, “You don’t trust what people see in you, Cass, and maybe that’s part of the problem. You think you’ve got to hide everything, like people can’t handle the real you.”

She winced, her fingers hurting against the edges of her glass. Bas had an infuriating way of hitting nerves she hadn’t realized were exposed.

Her eyes flicked to the countertop, the wood grain blurring as a knot tightened in her chest.

“It’s not about hiding,” she muttered, “It’s about… Not giving them the ammunition. You don’t get it, people don’t just listen. They dissect. They pick you apart until there’s nothing left, I’ve seen it.”

“You’re right. I don’t get it—not in the way you do,” He let out a breath, rubbing a hand along his jaw, “But I’ve been in enough storms to know that people don’t waste their time picking apart someone who doesn’t matter. The fact that they’re looking at you? It means you’re already doing something worth their attention.”

Cassie shook her head, a bitter laugh escaping her lips, “That’s easy for you to say. You’re not the one they’re staring at right now.”

“No,” Bas agreed, his tone too calm, “But I’ve seen what happens when someone refuses to stand up because they’re scared of the fallout. It doesn’t stop the storm—it just leaves someone else to clean up the mess.”

Her eyes snapped up to meet his figure, a spark of indignation flaring in her chest.

“So what?” she wondered, “You think I owe it to the world to put myself out there? To be ripped apart just because I have something to say?”

Bas leaned closer, resting a hand on her shoulder—not heavy, but firm enough to anchor her. His dark eyes locked onto hers, steady as ever, but there was something deeper in his expression now. Not pity, not even frustration. Just belief.

This time, Cassie tried to force herself to stare at him back, to see what he was gonna say.

“No,” he said, “I think you owe it to yourself.”

Cassie froze, his words cutting through the haze of her spiraling thoughts. They weren’t flashy or grand, but they had a quiet truth that she couldn’t ignore. For a moment, the emotions that were pressing down on her chest lightened, replaced by something that felt disarmingly close to hope.

She couldn’t stop herself before a smile creeped out of her teeth.

Cassie wanted to believe in him, she truly wanted to. Perhaps, that time she would.

Bas’s hand lingered a moment longer before he stepped back, a smile tugging at the corner of his lips in response to hers.

“Now,” he said, his voice returning to its usual easy warmth, “don’t make me pull out a soapbox, Cass. We’ve got a show to watch.”

She managed a weak laugh, the tension in her shoulders easing slowly as he reached for the remote. The television flickered to life, casting a pale glow over the bar as the opening notes of Venturer’s broadcast filled the room.

Declan O’Hara’s face appeared on the screen, his sharp, commanding presence filling the bar as the opening notes of Venturer’s broadcast faded. The backdrop was strikingly simple—sleek, modern lines contrasting with a warm palette that suggested approachability. The kind of visual balance that made the show feel personal without losing its gravitas.

Cassie leaned back in her chair, her arms crossed tightly over her chest. She didn’t say a word, but Bas caught the way her fingers tapped lightly against her arm in a rhythm too calculated to be unconscious.

“You good?” he asked, keeping his tone light, though his eyes didn’t leave her face.

“Yeah,” she muttered, her gaze fixed on the screen, “Just... Curious to see how he spins it.”

Declan’s voice came into the segment seamlessly—a live interview with a city council member who had been at the center of recent housing debates. The guest looked composed, but there was a tension in his smile, the kind that came from knowing you were about to face someone who wouldn’t let a single inconsistency slide.

He was the Irish Wolfhound , after all.

“Here we go,” Bas muttered, leaning in his seat, clearly expecting fireworks.

Cassie didn’t respond, her focus on the screen unbroken. Declan’s approach was surgical, every question calibrated to draw out information without tipping into outright confrontation. His tone remained calm, professional, but there was no mistaking the intent behind his words.

He was peeling back the layers of the council member’s carefully rehearsed answers, pushing him to explain vague statements and sidestep slippery rhetoric.

“Man’s a scalpel,” Bas said under his breath, shaking his head, “Doesn’t let up, does he?”

“It’s effective,” Cassie admitted, her tone grudging. There was something fascinating about watching Declan work—how he managed to command the room without ever raising his voice, how he drew the audience into the conversation without alienating his guest.

It was a skill she recognized, even admired, though she’d never admit it aloud.

Her attention was drawn even further as Declan leaned forward, his next question landing with deliberate weight.

“As Cassie Jones accused in Dan Murphy’s broadcast at Crawford’s FM yesterday,” Declan glanced down at a note in his hand, the movement unhurried, “there are claims that the council’s housing allocations lack transparency. Specifically, that contracts were awarded to developers with personal ties to sitting council members. What’s your response?”

Cassie blinked, her body instinctively leaning a fraction closer to the screen, as though the words might hit differently if she were nearer. Hearing her name roll off his tongue in that voice—the cadence carefully deliberate, each word with the precision of a blade—was something she hadn’t prepared for.

It wasn’t just that he repeated her accusations; it was the way he positioned them as essential to the conversation, stripping away any lingering doubts about their importance.

But then there was the other thing— the truth of it all . What truly shook her in her seat.

She hadn’t been the one to say those words during Dan’s broadcast.

The story, the study, the facts—they were hers, yes . Yet Dan had been the one to voice them, stealing her moment before she arrived at the station to reclaim it. By the time she had taken control of the broadcast, the opportunity to lay out her findings in full had slipped through her fingers. All she could do then was pivot, focus on the other truth she’d uncovered.

And now? Declan O’Hara, of all people, was giving her story back to her.

Bas’s head whipped toward her, his expression part shock, part amusement.

“He’s quoting you ?”

“Looks like it,” Cassie muttered, her voice faint as her gaze remained fixed on the screen. Her chest felt a lot heavier, a strange warmth stirring in the pit of her stomach, though she tried to brush it off.

On screen, the council member’s practiced composure faltered before he recovered.

“I’m not aware of any evidence to support those claims,” he said, his tone clipped, “And I think it’s reckless to give air to accusations of a—”

“It’s not about recklessness,” Declan interrupted him, as calm as he was since the beginning of the show, “It’s about accountability. Jones provided specifics—figures, dates, patterns. If they’re inaccurate, wouldn’t it benefit the council to set the record straight?”

Cassie bit her lip, fighting back the urge to grin. For the first time in weeks, it felt like her work wasn’t just hers—just something she could keep on her shelf. No, it was out there , undeniable .

Different from Dan and Crawford, Declan O’Hara wasn’t stealing it. He was amplifying it.

Declan gave my story back to me , Cassie repeated again, as to remind herself that this day wasn’t a dream.

Bas snorted, “Looks like someone’s got a fan.”

“Shut up, Bas,” Cassie muttered, her voice threatening but there was no bite. Still, she could feel the heat creeping up her neck and onto her cheeks, a flush she didn’t dare acknowledge.

Did Bas mean that she was Declan’s fan or Declan who was her fan. Either way, both made her blush even more.

She folded her arms tighter across her chest, hoping he wouldn’t notice.

The council member stumbled over his response, scrambling to reframe the narrative, but Declan was relentless, pressing for specifics with a calm determination that left no room for evasion. When the segment ended, Declan delivered a closing remark that felt both pointed and perfectly impartial, a masterful capstone to the exchange.

The screen transitioned to a softer feature—a local artist creating murals across the city. The shift in tone was smooth, offering viewers a reprieve from the tension.

Cassie exhaled, her eyes fixed on the screen after a beat.

“He’s good,” she said quietly, almost to herself.

Good as a presenter or a good person? Her mind asked her and, well , Cassie didn’t have an answer for that.

Bas chuckled, “That sounded dangerously close to actual praise.”

“Don’t push it,” Cassie warned, though the curve of her lips betrayed her amusement.

The bar’s energy had shifted as the night deepened.

Voices softened into murmurs, glasses clinked with lazy rhythm, and the warm glow of the overhead fixtures seemed to dim ever so vaguely, making the room feel closer, cozier. Cassie and Bas were still at their corner, both a little slouched, their earlier sharpness dulled by the hour and the lingering warmth of their drinks.

From an outsider's perspective, they might have appeared as companions deep into their cups, the way Bas’s posture had relaxed, one arm draped lazily over the back of his chair, his grin loose and easy. Cassie, by contrast, seemed more guarded, though the light flush across her cheeks and the way she covered her mouth mid-laugh betrayed a rare moment of vulnerability.

A laughing fit took over Cassie as Bas told her a story about a patron mistaking a bottle of soy sauce for whiskey last week. She was shaking her head, trying to compose herself, her cheeks flushed from laughter and the residual embarrassment of the earlier show.

Bas placed a hand dramatically on his chest, “I swear on King’s Ransom,” his grin wide and unapologetic.

Cassie shook her head, rolling her eyes but unable to suppress the tug of a smile.

“Right, because your horse makes you credible.”

“Don’t disrespect King’s Ransom,” Bas shot back with mock indignation, “He’s got more class than you’ll ever have.”

Cassie leaned forward, her elbow propped on the table as she took a sip of her drink. The ice clinked softly against the glass, and she watched Bas with a bemused expression, her free hand lightly tracing a circle on the tabletop.

“You know,” she said, setting the glass down, “you’d make a terrible lawyer. Your evidence is a horse , and your defense strategy is sarcasm .”

Bas grinned, leaning back in his chair as though settling into the role of a court jester.

“A lawyer? Please . Too much paperwork. I’d rather keep slinging drinks, making people laugh and playing polo.”

“Ah, here we go to the noble profession of bartending again ,” Cassie teased, raising her glass slightly in a mock toast, “Defender of soy sauce incidents and peddler of questionable anecdotes.”

“Questionable?” Bas raised an eyebrow, his hand dramatically clutching his chest again, “That story was the highlight of my week.”

“Well,” Cassie replied, her lips twitching as though fighting a laugh, “your weeks must be very uneventful .”

Bas opened his mouth to retort, but his attention shifted mid-thought. His expression stilled for a moment, a flicker of something unreadable crossing his face before his grin returned—sharper now, edged with mischief. He sat up a little straighter, his eyes drifting past her shoulder.

“Uh-oh,” he murmured, amused.

Cassie frowned, following his gaze halfway before stopping herself. The bar was quieter now, the conversation muted, the warm light softening the lines of every figure in the room.

She turned back to Bas, raising an eyebrow in question.

“What?” she asked, her tone half-curious, half- suspicious .

Because everything that made Bas grin was suspicious.

Yet, he didn’t answer immediately, his smirk widening as though he were savoring the moment before delivering a punchline.

“Oh,” a voice behind her said, smooth and far too familiar, “I thought Rupert would be here already.”

Cassie froze, every thought in her head stalling at once. Her fingers tightened around the stem of her glass, the earlier warmth of laughter fleeing in the face of a sudden, overpowering heat that had nothing to do with the bar’s cozy atmosphere.

Her pulse kicked up, erratic and insistent. She didn’t need to turn to recognize the voice. That deliberate cadence, the trace of an accent—it was as unmistakable as it was infuriating.

Declan O’Hara.

Bas, unbothered and clearly enjoying himself, leaned back further in his chair.

“Rupert’s at Mrs. Spencer’s gala,” Bas replied easily, his tone almost conversational, “Something about giving someone a ride.”

“Hm,” Declan mused, the sound more thoughtful than dismissive, “Taggie’s doing their buffet, isn’t she?”

Bas hummed in confirmation, the sound low and knowing. His smirk teetered on the edge of outright glee, and Cassie could feel it radiating off him like heat.

Cassie still couldn’t bring herself to turn around. Her earlier humor had vanished, replaced by an overwhelming awareness of Declan’s proximity. She could almost feel his breath against her neck, irrational as it was—however, she was sitting and he was standing .

Images flashed in her mind—his piercing gaze earlier that day, his voice echoing through her living room as he made a case for Venturer, and the way her name had rolled off his tongue during his broadcast.

In the end, what did he want with her? Truly? He had already done so much tonight—repeating her accusations, giving her the credit Dan Murphy had stolen, framing her work in a way that no one could ignore. And now, here he was, unbidden and unexpected.

A sharp thought pierced through her tangled emotions: All of this... Was it just to get her attention? For her to finally accept his offer?

If yes, then...

She swallowed hard, trying to force the thought away, but it was already there, fully formed and impossible to ignore:

Bloody hell, he was good.

Her thoughts spiraled, and though she wanted to blame it on the warmth of the room or the residual adrenaline from the broadcast, she knew better. Declan O’Hara didn’t just walk into places—he arrived , every movement perfectly calculated, every word perfectly placed.

And then, the moment she’d dreaded :

“Hi, Cassie,” Declan said, his voice taking on a lighter tone, “I imagine you saw my show tonight?”

The words were delivered almost as a challenge. And, unfortunately , for some reason, her brain was built to never ignore a challenge—so, Cassie, despite every instinct screaming at her to remain frozen, finally turned.

Her movement was hesitant, as if her body was testing each muscle before committing fully to the action. She didn’t know what she expected to see—something intimidating, perhaps, or something too familiar to handle—but the reality was worse.

Declan stood there, relaxed in a way that was almost infuriating, his suit still immaculate from the broadcast, the crisp white shirt open just enough at the collar to suggest he’d taken the edge off a long day but hadn’t fully unwound. The muted lighting of the bar softened the sharpness of his features, but his presence remained undiminished.

His dark eyes found hers immediately, the corner of his mouth lifting in a wide smile. It wasn’t a smirk, not exactly—it lacked the arrogance she might have expected—but there was something inherently self-assured about it. Like he knew exactly what effect he had on her.

The kind of effect that made her unable to look away when he looked at her.

Her lungs burned from the effort of keeping her composure, but Declan didn’t press. He simply smiled, the gesture disarming in its simplicity, and waited .

[seventeenreasonswhy]

Same Team! A YJH Office Romance Pt. 5

Idol!Jeonghan x ProductionStaff!Reader

You’re serious about your job, but not as serious as Yoon Jeonghan is about flirting.

~2.2k words

Read Part 1, Part 2, Part 3, Part 4

Series Content: slooowwwwww burn, fluff! but with tension!, cute flirting!, will-they-won’t-they vibes!, did I mention tension!?, some alcohol consumption, appearances by all of the members, reader is shy and gets flustered easily!, jeonghan is jeonghan-ing!

My Masterlist

Author’s Note: THEY’RE TALKING! Lol. Thank you so much to everyone who is reading!! I’m so happy you’re enjoying these two! They are down so bad for each other but afraid to admit it/act on it!!! But something’s gotta give eventually!!!!

Taglist: @yeoberryx, @clownprincehoeshi, @soffiyuhh, @wonwoos-wineparty, @hamji-hae, @junniesoleilkth (lmk if you want to be added!)

~+~+~+~+~+~+~+~+~+~+~+~+~+~+~+~+~+~+~+~+~+~+~+~+~+~+~+~+

“I speak six languages!” Your voice bounced off the walls of the small room, amplified by the bottle of soju coursing through your veins.

“Whoa! Are you for real?” Dino slammed the table in disbelief, already on his second bottle.

“Nuna’s a language genius,” Jeonghan said simply. He wasn’t drinking a whole lot, just taking a sip here and there. But he was making sure that your cup was never empty for long, that’s for sure.

“Wait, stop pouring for me,” you whined. Your voice came out more babyish than you meant it to, and you reflexively covered your face in embarrassment.

“Uh-uh, sorry the birthday girl doesn’t get to decide,” Jeonghan grinned as he continued to pour.

“I’m so bad at drinking,” you pleaded.

“I can tell,” Jeonghan said, “consider this practice.”

“Six languages is really impressive,” Joshua said. “Wait, let me guess which ones you know besides Korean and English.”

“Oh, definitely French, right?” Dino jumped in.

“Oui,” you said.

“Oh, that’ll come in handy,” Jeonghan said as he slid your glass toward you.

“Spanish,” Joshua said.

“Sí.”

“Mandarin and Japanese,” Jeonghan added.

“Whoa, that’s right!” you said, your surprised reaction came out exaggerated due to the alcohol, making Jeonghan smile sideways at you. It wasn’t until then that you noticed he was looking at your mouth. Or... you were probably imagining things. You were feeling cocky because of their reactions to your language skills... and you were a little drunk, that was all.

“Wow, that’s crazy,” Dino said. You liked that his facial expressions were so open and easy to read. Unlike someone seated next to you. You turned away, a little embarrassed now that you were sure that you were coming off as gloating.

“It just means I’ve had too much time on my hands,” you said.

“You’re too modest,” Joshua said.

You became hyperaware of Jeonghan shifting in his seat beside you, leaning back, and then—to your horror? Delight?—resting his arm along the back of your chair. He wasn’t touching you, but you felt the closeness of his entire body and were careful to not move and accidentally brush his arm.

Is this allowed?

The four of you continued to drink, Jeonghan getting more and more quiet as the night went on. He still hadn’t moved his arm from the back of your chair...

“Ah, my car is almost here,” Joshua said after a while.

“Wait, I’m driving,” Jeonghan said.

“You’re driving Y/N home,” Joshua said, “Dino and I are taking a car.”

“What?” Dino said.

“They’re almost here,” Joshua said without further explanation, clapping Dino hard on the shoulder. “Let’s go.”

“What? Why?? We were just getting started!” Dino protested.

“It’s late,” Joshua said. Jeonghan said nothing but continued to stare down at the menu on the table.

“Nuna, it’s your birthday, you don’t want us to leave yet, right?” Dino gave you his best pleading look.

“Sorry, nuna,” Joshua said. “But we really have to go.” You saw his gaze shift ever-so-slightly in Jeonghan’s direction before grabbing Dino by his shirt and literally dragging him out of the bar.

“Happy Birthday, nuna!!!” You heard Dino calling down the hallway outside of your private room as he and Joshua made their sudden exit.

Jeonghan and you were left alone in the room. He was still seated right next to you, his arm draped across the back of the seat.

“Are we allowed to be here like this?” you asked suddenly, feeling awkward and trying to keep your drunkenness together. Jeonghan just laughed.

“Why wouldn’t we be?” he looked over at you.

There was no mistaking it. He was looking right at your mouth.

“No one’s gonna bother us,” he said softly.

“Why did you want me to come out tonight?” you asked, emboldened by soju. Your face was hot, and you could already tell that you were going to be hungover tomorrow, but you didn’t care. You were looking right at Jeonghan—the low lighting made him look so ethereal. You were staring at this point. Your heart was hammering away, but you wanted to know what he was thinking...

“You were working so hard that you forgot your own birthday,” he said, “who does that?”

“I’m not a big birthday person,” you said.

“That’s why I didn’t invite everyone,” he said.

“So you invited Joshua and Dino on purpose!” you exclaimed like a detective discovering a vital clue. Jeonghan laughed, his gaze crinkling but never straying from your mouth, your eyes, your neck... He’s checking me out, you realized. No, Y/N! Stop getting carried away! You’re drunk!

“Of course I invited them on purpose,” Jeonghan said simply. “I wanted you to have a good time.”

“I’m having a great time!” You couldn’t contain a giggle. Jeonghan was silent for a second.

“Can I drive you home?” he asked.

“Huh?”

“Let’s get out of here,” he said.

“...What?”

Jeonghan paused, gazing at your flushed face and your wide eyes. You looked almost afraid. So cute, he couldn’t help but think.

“Come on,” he said, standing. “Let’s go.”

-

It was like your body was moving on its own. You followed Jeonghan out of the bar, climbing into the passenger seat of his car once again. Your heart was pounding, and your vision was slightly out of focus—you weren’t sure if it was from the alcohol or from the sheer overwhelming euphoria you felt at this sudden turn of events.

We’re alone together. And he’s driving me all the way to my house...? Isn’t this going a little too fast? How did we even get to this point?

If you were being honest, you weren’t exactly experienced with this whole... flirting thing. You weren’t really one for casual sex, though you’d hooked up with a handful of people. You’d had a couple of more serious relationships, though none that had stood the test of time. You’d always put your work before your love life, and you felt no different since moving here... or, not that different...  

Wait, what the hell am I thinking? You shook your head, trying to snap out of it. This wasn’t some budding romance. This was just your work colleague (who just happened to be a very famous K-Pop idol) giving you a ride home. You were getting way ahead of yourself.

“I’m not going to try anything, don’t worry,” Jeonghan’s voice purred in the driver’s seat beside you, making you snap out of your anxious thoughts. Your stomach wouldn’t stop flipping back and forth. That was the furthest thought from my mind, Yoon Jeonghan! All of your anxious fidgeting and quiet panic had made him think that you were mistrustful of him, which set your heart off at a frantic pace.

“Oh, I’m not—”

“Y/N nuna,” he said your name softly, and your breath almost stopped, “I just wanted to get to know you better somewhere where we won’t be bothered.” He smiled gently, throwing you a reassuring gaze. “So just relax.”

“How am I supposed to relax around you?” You blurted out without thinking. Immediately, your hands shot up to your mouth. But Jeonghan just laughed.

“Like that! That’s what I mean!” He said, continuing to really laugh. He has such a cute laugh, you thought. “I want to hear what you’re really thinking.”

“Why?” you asked.

“Because, you seem very interesting,” Jeonghan said, “I get the sense that you’re... I don’t know, a really good person. I don’t really have an exact reason why, but you seem trustworthy.”

You felt like your heart was going to jump out of your chest and slam against the dashboard. You were so wrapped up in trying to be calm and professional around him, that you didn’t even realize he’d been taking notice of you. And now he came out with this... this extremely kind and sweet impression of you?

“What makes you say that?” You couldn’t help but laugh nervously. The alcohol was still buzzing through you, but you knew that the red-hot flush spreading across your skin had nothing to do with it.

Jeonghan’s gaze shifted slightly in your direction. When he looked at you sideways like that, his hair brushing gently at his shoulders as the breeze came through his open window—one arm resting on the steering wheel... he looked so beautiful.

“You’ve gone out of your way to make everyone around you comfortable,” he said, finally. “You’re pretty conscientious. And being a foreigner, it seems you take things into account differently, even if you don’t need to. It’s the sign of a thoughtful person, though.”

“I’m always afraid I’m doing something wrong,” you admitted.

“Haha, that’s what I mean,” he was smiling gently, “you’re so nice, you overthink things.”

You didn’t know what to say. You couldn’t even continue looking at him, you were so flushed with joy. Your heart was like a jackrabbit, bouncing out of control.

“What made you want to work in Korea, anyway?” Jeonghan asked. “If it’s not too personal.”

“Oh,” you said, surprised that he was asking. Quite a few people had asked you, but none of the members.

“Well, there are a few reasons,” you said. “One: the work in the states is quite competitive, and English-speakers are in demand here. So part of it is simply math. But also, I really like K-Pop. I think it’s an underrated genre, although that’s definitely changing—I like the production aspect of it. It’s different from production for musicians in the States. It’s more... I don’t know how to put it, exactly... structured?”

“More consistent?” Jeonghan suggested.

He’s perceptive, you thought.

“Yes, exactly,” you said. “There’s a chance to really capture all the work and passion that goes into creating your art, which I can’t get enough of. Watching idols perform and watching them behind-the-scenes, and on game shows, even... it makes me want to work harder and harder. I guess I wanted to be close to that feeling all the time.”

You peeked over at Jeonghan, suddenly feeling embarrassed by your explanation. But he was just smiling softly, continuing to drive as he listened to you intently.

“I was right,” he said finally, stopping at a red light. “You’re very interesting.”

He looked right at you, and you held his gaze for a moment. You couldn’t help but return his smile. For just a second, you were able to ignore the dark, empty streets around you, and the only thing that felt real was this beautiful man sitting right beside you, smiling softly.

The silence in the car started to feel heavy, and you could feel his eyes roving over you, just like they had at the bar. You turned sharply away from his gaze, which felt like it was getting more and more intense, and to your relief the light had changed.

“Ah, you can go!” you blurted out clumsily.

But Jeonghan took his time. There were no cars behind him, or nearby. You looked at him again. He just smirked, and then slowly put the car in gear again and kept driving.

It took you a moment to recover from the moment. But you were starting to feel like you weren’t just imagining things... Like there was something in his eyes when he looked at you, like he hadn’t just invited you out to be nice... But you were scared to follow that train of thought any further.

“Wow, you live all the way out here?” Jeonghan asked as he took a turn onto the road that led up to your neighborhood.

“Yeah,” you said shyly.

“Isn’t it a tough commute?”

“Not really,” you said, “and I get picked up for most shoots early anyway.”

“Good,” he said, coming to a stop in front of the steep road that led up to your building.

“Thank you for the ride,” you said politely.

“Nuna,” Joenghan said, and your chest almost burst. You looked at him, staring right at you. The thought of bolting from the car and running up to your apartment crossed your mind, but you couldn’t bring yourself to look away from him.

“...Yes?” you said after a while.

“Let’s hang out again before we go to Paris,” he said. He smiled, and you were worried for a second that he was teasing you—that this was all some kind of prank or bet he’d lost... that he wasn’t actually interested in spending time with you, he just wanted to be more comfortable around you before a big trip like that... so many other excuses, justifications, explanations rushing through you as you sat there, frozen and elated.

“Okay,” you said. “Good night!” you spoke quickly and practically jumped from the car, closing the door before and sprinting up the hill to your apartment before Jeonghan even had the chance to get a full “good night” out of his mouth. He watched you quite literally run away, slumping forward onto the steering wheel to follow you with his gaze until you reached your building.

Once you were out of sight, he let out an exasperated sigh.

What am I doing? He thought, shaking his head as his breathing came back to normal, his face finally feeling like it was cooling off.

[autisticadult]

The deal

Chapter four: who have I become?

Warnings: minors DNI, y/n calls him sir again, heavy dom/sub vibes, power dynamics, smutty lil somethin somethin at the end :)

A/n: don’t get to hyped about the smutty lil somethin somethin at the end here, this is a slow burn after all and I enjoy making you wait :)

Taglist: @tinysunshine @tfwouldeiknow @shadyloveobject

Your head throbbed as consciousness returned in agonizing waves, the dull ache amplifying with every shallow breath. A chill crept along your skin as you became aware of the rough ropes digging into your wrists. The last thing you remembered was the car—the tension, the kiss, the crash. Elijah’s voice shouting your name cut through the haze, echoing in your mind. Now, you were somewhere dark, damp, and cold.

The room smelled of concrete and rust, the dim light from a single bulb overhead casting flickering shadows on the walls. You blinked hard, trying to focus. The chair beneath you creaked as you shifted, testing the restraints.

Where is Elijah?

Your heart pounded in your chest, panic rising, but you forced yourself to breathe. Focus. Think. If Elijah was alive, he would come for you. He had to be alive. You refused to even think of the fact that they could’ve already killed him.

The screech of a metal door jarred you from your thoughts. You snapped your head up as three men entered. Their movements were unhurried, predatory, as though they were savoring the moment. Masks covered their faces, but the malice in their eyes was unmistakable.

“Well, well,” the leader drawled, stepping forward. He was tall and broad, his boots clicking against the floor with each deliberate step. “Look who decided to wake up.”

You glared at him, swallowing your fear. “You’ve made a mistake,” you said, keeping your voice steady.

The man laughed, low and cruel. “A mistake? No, sweetheart. Taking you was the smartest move we’ve made in years.” He crouched before you, leveling his gaze with yours. “Elijah Mikaelson’s newest pet. You think we don’t know what you mean to him?”

Your stomach churned at the word pet, but you refused to look away. “If you think you can use me to control him, you don’t know Elijah.”

The man’s smile widened, though it didn’t reach his eyes. “Oh, I know him better than you do. Elijah doesn’t bleed for just anyone. But you? You’re leverage. And leverage… is power.”

————————————————————————

At the Mikaelson Estate

The tension in the parlor was suffocating. Elijah stood rigid, his back to his siblings as he stared out the large bay windows. Outside, the moon hung low over the New Orleans skyline, casting an eerie glow.

“She’s been gone too long,” Rebekah said, pacing near the fireplace. “If you’d let me go after her—”

“No,” Elijah cut her off sharply, his tone colder than the night air.

“Brother,” Klaus drawled from his spot near the bar, swirling a glass of whiskey in his hand, “I’ve seen you lose many things over the centuries, but never your composure. Tell me, is this about her? Or the fact that you’ve let someone get the better of you?”

Elijah turned, his eyes narrowing in a warning. “Niklaus, do not test me.”

Rebekah huffed. “We’re wasting time. Whoever took her won’t keep her alive for long. You know that.”

Kol, perched lazily on the arm of a chair, smirked. “I’ll admit, I’m curious. What is she to you, Elijah? A tool? Or something… more?”

Elijah’s gaze snapped to Kol, and for a moment, the room seemed to freeze. “She is mine,” he said, his voice low and deadly.

Kol raised an eyebrow, clearly amused. “Ah, possessive. That answers that, doesn’t it?”

“Enough!” Elijah barked, the sharpness in his voice silencing them all. “She is under my protection, and I will see her returned. If any of you interfere, you will answer to me.”

Rebekah crossed her arms, frowning. “Then what’s your plan?”

Elijah turned back to the window, his jaw clenched. “None of your concern, sister.”

————————————————————————

The Interrogation

His words hung in the air, heavy and cold. The knot in your stomach tightened as you realized just how much danger Elijah’s presence in your life had brought upon you. You wanted to deny it, to tell this man he was wrong—that Elijah didn’t care enough about you for any of this to matter. But the way his lips curled into a cruel smile told you he wouldn’t believe a word you said.

“You think you’re so clever,” you spat, your voice trembling with a mix of fear and defiance. “But Elijah doesn’t play games he doesn’t know he’ll win. If he’s coming for me, you’re already dead.”

The leader’s eyes darkened, the smugness on his face faltering for just a moment. Then he laughed, a sharp bark of sound that echoed through the room. “Brave words for someone tied to a chair.” He leaned in close, his breath hot and rancid against your skin. “Let me tell you something, little bitch. Even kings bleed. And Elijah Mikaelson will bleed for you.”

Your heart thundered in your chest as he stepped back, the knife twirling expertly between his fingers. He pointed it at you, his grin returning. “But don’t worry. I’ll make sure you see it happen before the end.”

The distant sound of footsteps cut through the tension like a blade. The leader paused, his head snapping toward the heavy metal door. His men exchanged uneasy glances.

“What was that?” one of them asked, his voice barely above a whisper.

“Probably nothing,” the leader growled, though his posture tensed. He motioned for one of the men to check the hall.

The door creaked open, the man stepping out cautiously. The silence that followed was deafening. Then, a sickening crack echoed from outside, and the man’s body was hurled back into the room, slamming against the wall with a force that made the room shake.

Panic rippled through the group as the shadows beyond the doorway seemed to come alive. And then he stepped in.

Elijah Mikaelson.

His presence was a quiet storm, a force of nature that made the air in the room feel heavier. His suit was immaculate, not a single thread out of place, and his hands were tucked calmly behind his back. But his eyes—dark, sharp, and deadly—told a different story.

The leader straightened, his bravado returning in the face of danger. “Mikaelson,” he sneered. “You’re just in time. Care to join us?”

Elijah’s gaze flickered to you, his expression unreadable but his eyes lingering on your restraints. Then, he turned his attention to the leader. “You made a mistake touching what is mine.”

The leader laughed, though the sound was tinged with uncertainty. “Yours? Is that what she is? Funny, I thought you didn’t let attachments cloud your judgment.”

Elijah moved faster than your eyes could follow, crossing the room in an instant. His hand shot out, grabbing the leader by the throat and slamming him against the wall. The knife clattered to the floor as the leader clawed at Elijah’s grip, his bravado crumbling.

“You’ll regret this,” the leader choked out, his voice barely audible.

Elijah leaned in close, his voice low and dangerous. “No, you will.”

Without another word, he tightened his grip, and the leader’s struggles ceased as he crumpled to the floor, unconscious but alive. Elijah turned to the other men, who were frozen in fear.

“Leave,” he commanded, his tone colder than ice. “If you value your lives, you will never cross me again.”

The men didn’t hesitate, scrambling out the door like rats fleeing a sinking ship.

With the room cleared, Elijah turned to you, his expression softening. In an instant, he was by your side, his hands deftly undoing the ropes binding your wrists.

“You’re safe now,” he said, his voice quieter but no less firm.

Your hands trembled as you rubbed at the raw skin on your wrists. “Elijah…” you whispered, your voice cracking.

He cupped your face gently, his thumb brushing away a tear you hadn’t realized had fallen. “Did they hurt you?”

You shook your head, though your body still trembled from the ordeal. “No… but I thought…”

“You thought I wouldn’t come for you?” he asked, his gaze searching yours. You didn’t answer, but the vulnerability in your eyes spoke volumes.

Elijah’s expression softened further, a rare glimpse of something raw and unguarded flickering across his face. “I will always come for you.”

Before you could respond, he stood and offered you his hand. “Come. Let’s get you home.”

You hesitated for only a moment before placing your hand in his. His grip was warm and steady, grounding you as he helped you to your feet.

As you walked past the unconscious bodies and into the night, you couldn’t help but wonder what “home” truly meant anymore—because with Elijah Mikaelson, safety and danger were two sides of the same coin.

————————————————————————

Reunion

Back at the estate, the weight of the night’s events still pressed heavily on you. The fire crackled in the hearth, its warm glow casting shadows across the room. You sat on one of the velvet chairs, lost in thought, replaying every moment in your mind—how Elijah had stormed in, how he had taken control, how his cold, unyielding gaze had never left you.

He stood just beyond the light, his presence almost too commanding. The silence between you stretched, thick and tense, as though the air itself was charged with something unspoken.

Finally, his voice broke through the stillness, low and deliberate. “This cannot happen again.”

You glanced at him over your shoulder, your heart racing. “Then tell me the truth, Elijah. Why am I really here? What do you want from me?” The question hung in the air, thick with uncertainty, but you couldn’t hold it in any longer.

His gaze flickered, unreadable, before he stepped closer. “I’ve already told you,” he said, his voice laced with quiet authority. “Loyalty.”

You turned to face him fully now, your breath shallow. “And if I don’t give it?” Suddenly, Elijah stepped forward, almost a little too close to be considered friendly.

His eyes darkened, a flicker of something dangerous passing over his features. His posture straightened, the calm facade slipping just enough to reveal the predator beneath. “Then you’ll find this world far less forgiving than I’ve been.” His words were quiet, but the weight of them hit you like a physical force.

The intensity between you grew, the tension crackling in the air like electricity. You tried to hold his gaze, to remain steady, but there was something in the way his eyes locked onto yours that made your chest tighten. There was no room for escape, no room for doubt—whatever game Elijah was playing, you were no longer a mere pawn on the board. You were the prize. And walking away was no longer an option.

Elijah took another step toward you, and you felt the heat radiating off him, his presence suffocating, commanding. He stopped just inches away, his breath mingling with yours, the air heavy with the promise of something dark and intense.

“I can see the way your body reacts to me,” he murmured, his voice low and rough. His hand reached out, cupping your cheek in a touch that was far too tender for the cold authority he wore so effortlessly. “You know who’s in control here, don’t you?”

You swallowed hard, your pulse quickening, the space between you and him closing in, leaving no room for escape. “You’re in control of everything, Elijah,” you whispered, the words slipping out before you could stop them. A flicker of something passed across his face—satisfaction, perhaps—but he didn’t let it linger.

His hand moved, fingers trailing down your throat, sending a shiver through you. His touch was electric, deliberate, as if he was testing how far he could push you. “Good,” he breathed, his voice dark with a promise you didn’t yet understand. “Because I own you now.”

The words hung in the air, the weight of them making your breath catch in your throat. There was no denying it anymore. You could feel the pull, the tension, the way your body responded to him—how badly you wanted to yield.

His thumb brushed across your bottom lip, his eyes never leaving yours. “You may try to fight it, but deep down you know the truth.” His lips curled into a slow, teasing smile. “You’re mine now, pet.”

Without thinking, the word escaped your lips, a quiet, almost reluctant admission. “Yes, sir I’m aware.”

His smile deepened, dark and knowing. His Hand rested on your neck, backing you into the nearest wall, leaving you no personal space. “That’s right, kitten. You’ll learn quickly, won’t you?”

You shivered, but not from fear. Something primal stirred within you, and despite the intense power dynamics at play, you found yourself drawn to him, caught in the whirlwind of what he was offering. The pull was undeniable, and you found yourself craving whatever came next, knowing there was no turning back.

Elijah’s hand squeezed your neck,taking clear enjoyment from the redness that began covering your cheeks from the back of blood flow from his dominating grasp. He began pulling you forward into a kiss that was anything but gentle. His lips crashed against yours with a ferocity that matched the fire in his eyes. You responded with equal intensity, your body pressing against his, hands fisting the fabric of his shirt, as though you needed him closer, needed him to stake his claim on you.

His kiss deepened, and you moaned softly against his lips. He pulled back just enough to whisper, his breath warm against your skin. “You belong to me, pet. Don’t forget it.”

And in that moment, you realized that you didn’t want to forget it. The world outside no longer mattered—just the heat between you, the power he wielded, and the undeniable connection that bound you to him in ways you couldn’t yet comprehend. During the heat of the kiss, you couldn’t help but shiver as you felt his free hands effortlessly slip up the bottom of your shirt, roughly grabbing your tender breast in his hand. It felt like he was claiming you, claiming your body.

Elijah pulled away, his lips hovered just above yours, his breath mingling with yours as his hands roamed possessively over your body more, pulling you closer. The hand that had a tight grip on your neck slipped over your body, grabbing at your ass as he pressed hot kisses and bites to your neck. For a moment, you lost yourself in the intensity of it all—the heat, the tension, the way your heart thundered in your chest. His dominance, his power, it all wrapped around you like a drug, and you felt yourself slipping, almost drowning in it.

But then, something inside you snapped back to reality, and you pulled away just enough to look at him—really look at him. The firelight reflected off his sharp features, his eyes burning with an intensity that made your breath hitch. His gaze was unwavering, like he was studying every inch of you, every reaction.

The weight of what was happening settled over you, and suddenly, the room felt too small, the air too thick. What were you doing? This wasn’t you. This wasn’t the plan. You hadn’t signed up for this. The power balance that was playing out between you wasn’t just intoxicating; it was dangerous.

You took a step back, heart racing. “I… I need a moment,” you stammered, your voice trembling slightly as you turned away from him, your thoughts a whirlwind. You needed space. You needed clarity.

Elijah’s hand reached out as if to stop you, but you quickly sidestepped, not meeting his gaze. “I’m going to bed,” you said hurriedly, though the words felt weak, like they were a poor excuse.

Before he could respond, you rushed from the room, your footsteps echoing through the halls as you made your way to your bedroom. The door slammed shut behind you, and you leaned against it for a moment, your breath coming in shallow gasps.

What had just happened? Your mind raced as you tried to calm the storm in your chest. Part of you—a big part—wanted to stay, to feel his touch again, to let him pull you into that dark, heated world he seemed so effortlessly to control. But the other part of you, the part that was still clinging to your sense of self, knew that this wasn’t just a game. Elijah wasn’t just playing with you—he was testing your limits, pushing you into a space where the stakes were too high.

You slid down the door, sitting on the floor as your thoughts collided with each other. You had to keep your distance, you told yourself. You couldn’t get tangled in whatever web he was weaving. Not now, not like this.

The fact that your body had reacted so strongly, that you’d wanted him to keep going, only made it harder to justify. You couldn’t help but let out a frustrated sigh, squeezing your legs together as you replayed the scene in your head. You closed your eyes, trying to quiet the storm inside you. Maybe it was the adrenaline of the night, maybe it was the attraction that you could no longer ignore. But it was all happening too fast.

Your pulse still raced from the tension, but the rational part of you won out. You had to hold onto who you were before everything got blurred by him, by the way he made you feel. There was too much at stake—you were too much at stake—to get caught in his game.

But the image of his gaze—the fire in his eyes—refused to leave you. You knew, deep down, you’d only delayed the inevitable.