#he kept his wedding ring but curt threw his away

[ella-ashmore]

crackship rp, just existing:

curt and owen both being characters there:

the lore of saf:

the chemistry between them:

my friend gee and i: can we,,, do little curtwen as a--

my girlfriend:

no

[secondhand-trash]

Lost in Blues

A/N: this is a rewrite of the Oikawa drabble I posted last year. To me, it was one of the things I written that I had a lot of ideas for but ruined because I was rushing it so I really want to give the idea another chance. This does not have nearly the same vibe as the old one and I think I am glad that I decided to rewrite it. I’m still debating whether I would private the old one or not but I’m definitely way happier with how this turns out than the last time round.

Pairing: Oikawa Tooru x reader

Description: You gave him the most reckless, carefree days of your life and you did not expect to meet him again at a wedding of all occasions after those days were long over.

Word count: 2140

(more lines I like from things I like as prompts for people I like)

-

“Is it ‘running through the airport’ kind of love?”

“The only person I’d run through an airport for is you.”

Season 2, ep6, Fleabag

-

There was nothing you could think of that was possibly worse than sitting next to your ex at a wedding.

The nicely-tailored jacket on your shoulders felt more restrictive than it had been before you looked up when you heard someone asking if it was alright to sit next to you and it was him. Your eyes widened (just slightly, very slightly and you hoped he didn’t catch it) when you saw him, giving a curt nod before shifting farther away from the empty seat so that there would be a bit of distance between the two of you after he sat down.

You were dressed to the nines, putting in way more effort than you normally would into your appearance which turned out to be a brilliant decision on your part. He looked great, as he used to be and probably always would be, with his dress shirt and polished leather shoes. You would hate to admit that you stole a quick glance at the person you knew so well when the string quartet started playing, losing to your curiosity to know how much he had changed and how much was the same. His hair got shorted, the bangs he had cared for so meticulously before now gone and pushed to the side in a way that finally stopped screaming ‘teen idol’. His jaw grew stronger, the boyish roundness of his cheeks gone without a trace. But he was still loud, even as he sat there in silence and listened to the band. The first two buttons of his shirt were undone, which was already too flamboyant as a wedding guest for your taste. The golden buckle of his belt shined far too bright with each shift of his body and you could not ignore the ring of a matching tone on his thumb as you turned your focus away when you realised you probably shouldn’t be staring at your ex’s belt of all places.

You knew you probably wouldn’t look better or even as good as he was, but you sure was glad that you were at least looking like you had a good life after exiting out of his.

You hoped he would pretend that he does not know you for the rest of the ceremony, but you had a feeling that he wouldn’t.

“It’s been a while,” you had to bite back the sigh that nearly slipped from your lips when you heard him, “how have you been?”

See, spot on.

You tried to not make your exasperation too obvious as you turned to his side slightly, putting on a smile that was friendly enough to be polite but also enough distant for him to know that you were not particularly thrilled for this conversation.

It wasn’t that you two ended on bad terms, but the way you slowly drifted apart was nowhere near satisfactory either.

“Good,” you said, “you?”

His throat tightened at your clear disinterested. The more logical thing he should have done when he walked through the door and saw you at the end of the row all by yourself was to sit at the other end of the room, one that made sure you two would not be in each other’s view until the whole ceremony was over. But it had been so long, and his legs were moving before his mind could stop him until he was standing right next to you.

“Doing good too,” he replied, trying his best to keep the conversation going, “are you here with anyone?”

“No,” you swallowed the lump at the back of your throat and kept your smile on, “I’m on my own.”

“Oh?” his voice slightly sharpened, tilting his head in both interest and in shock, 

You shrugged, “My boyfriend doesn’t work here so he couldn’t make it.”

There was a brief pause.

“Oh,” he said, feeling a slight bitterness well up at the back of his throat at how ironically similar it sounded like.

He gulped, debating in his head whether it was worth risking it to say what he wanted to say.

The side that wanted to know how it was different this time won.

“Did you run through an airport for him too?” he said, trying to put on the most charming, non-offensive smile he could manage.

He was relieved that the gambling paid off when you actually let out a snort.

“No,” your shoulder pulled back slightly as you shook your head, your eyes dropping when you felt a hint of fondness welling up at the recall of the piece of memory that had been tugged at the back of your head, “I don’t run through airports anymore.”

You ran through an airport for the man who was now sitting next to you and even though it was an utterly stupid decision on your part, the reminiscence of your naïve romance brought a bitter-sweet sore to your chest. It was 8 years ago but almost felt longer, when he was about to leave the country to go to the other end of the globe. He did not tell you, that asshole who always decided everything for himself and just ran straight ahead for it. You wouldn’t even know he was leaving if you did not get your phone bombed by frantic calls from his best friend who yelled at you when you finally picked up.

“That shithead is leaving for Argentine in a few hours,” Iwaizumi sucked in a breath, sounding out of breath as he spitted words out of his mouth before you could ask him why he was telling you that, “and I know both of you are too fucking proud to say anything but if you come now, you can still make it in time before he needs to board his flight.”

“So just come, just-” you barely heard the last of his call and the sound of boys hollering from behind him when you threw your phone down onto your bag and grab the nearest shirt you could reach, “come.”

You barely made it in time to the airport and almost got lost because, hell, why was Sendai Airport so god damn big for no good reason at all. You had to run just to get there when he was about to walk past the glass walls of the departure hall, his friends holding him back by the arms when his mouth hung open in shock when he heard you call out his name from the far end of the hall.

You almost knocked him down when you crashed into him, his arms waving around aimlessly before he realised he should be holding you back instead.

"Why are you-”

“You’re an asshole and I hate that I’m doing this,” you muttered, fighting back the tears that were welling up at the corner of your eyes.

“What is that supposed to mean?” he let out a soft gasped, but allowing the burst of warmth in his chest to take over when you let out a laugh through the sob that broke through.

It was reckless, it was embarrassing and people were probably staring but you honestly didn’t care less. You were so in love with him and for reasons you could not believe, he was so in love with you.

And at that moment when he ignored how ugly you probably looked with tear and snot running down your chin and kissed you like he had been waiting for this, it seemed like every piece of the puzzle had clicked into the right place at last.

But the fairytale ended right after the climax, when the story had to continue past the point when the prince finally kissed the princess and everyone rejoiced.

At first, the distance didn’t bother you at all. You were okay with calling him every evening to say “good morning” to him, and he gladly did the same when he was walking home to his empty one-room apartment after another rough day at practice. He told you he was tired but he felt energised again when he got to hear your voice and you made fun of him for being cheesy on the tongue while smiling ear to ear. You believed that your love could win against time and distance, he believed that you two could definitely find a way. 

The question of what would happen if this lasted and who should make sacrifices for who hung over the air, but you didn’t care. You were still so young, you had time.

Until waiting for the call to come only to get nothing but a text many hours later saying that practice held him up started to make you feel frustrated and you were tired of being expected to be the considerate one because he was the one with big dreams you should support. The insecurities he thought he could push down turned ugly when you started to have more and more friends that he wouldn’t be notified of until they appear in your pictures, some standing far too close to you that his bitterness seeped through when he couldn’t stop himself from talking about how happy you seemed to be when he finally had time to sit down and take your call.

“And what is wrong with that?” you gritted, and felt even more aggravated when you remembered seeing his teammate tagged him in a picture where they were out clubbing only moments after he finally texted you saying he was too tired and needed to rest instead of having your weekly video call, “Why am I not allowed to be happy with people who are around me?”

And you also had your insecurities, and he was young and in a place where everything was new to him, and you knew he could be having a much more reckless time if he didn’t have to think about whether it would upset you when you found out, and he knew he could not give you a good enough reason to not feel unsafe, and he already made a choice on where way he wanted to head towards when he boarded that plane.

A way that you felt would be better for the both of you if you turn back while you could still think back on the times you did love him with a fond smile.

Running through the airport was so much easier than the rest that came after.

You were still smiling but quiet until you slowly parted your lips and looked up.

“The only person I’d run through an airport for is you.”

He shared the most reckless, the most carefree days of your life but you grew up now, and now you wanted someone who you did not need to run after.

He seemed like he wanted to say something, but the stop of the strings also put a stop to the moment.

“Dearly beloved…”

“It’s starting.”

You did not talk again for the rest of the ceremony.

-

“Are you free?”

You paused your hand that was shoving your phone back into your bag after pulling it out to check what time it was when Oikawa turned to your side. The ceremony ended and it was almost 6, not too early and not too late. The sun was sinking outside and the golden rays shined through the stained glass windows of the ceremony hall. 

You blinked, “After this, you mean?”

“Yeah,” he toyed with the thick gold band on his thumb, “do you have time?”

He regretted it the moment he asked. It had been seven years since you last talked and if he had never once wanted to contact you again then he sure shouldn’t have done it now. You also had someone else, to add to it, someone who you could do long-distance with and not looked distressed when you bring it up, what type of person would he looked like now after he asked his ex if they were free after a wedding?

To his relief, you did not seem too taken aback. You only looked down, pulled your phone out again to unlock your screen and look at the time before locking your eyebrows together, putting it away when you finished calculating. 

“Nah,” you shook your head with a tiny smile, “I have a call with someone later.”

You said ‘someone’ but he caught the hint from the way the corner of your lips lifted up just a little higher. 

Oikawa Tooru laughed, something he did not expect himself to do. 

You were doing well, like him, even though in separate places and with separate people.

That was good.

So he said it, smiling without knowing that he was, “That’s good.”

He meant it.

“Yeah,” you nodded and smiled back, this time at him and with ease, “it is.”

And so did you.

[alinaastarkov]

Funniest moments in the books ? Most disturbing moments ? Touching scenes?

Funniest moments:

Alliser Thorne overheard him. "Lord Snow wants to take my place now." He sneered. "I'd have an easier time teaching a wolf to juggle than you will training this aurochs." "I'll take that wager, Ser Alliser," Jon said. "I'd love to see Ghost juggle." - Jon III, AGOT

Tyrion grinned. "Then I shall scour the Seven Kingdoms for dwarfs and ship them all to you, Lord Mormont." As they laughed, he sucked the meat from a crab leg and reached for another. The crabs had arrived from Eastwatch only this morning, packed in a barrel of snow, and they were succulent. Ser Alliser Thorne was the only man at table who did not so much as crack a smile. "Lannister mocks us." "Only you, Ser Alliser," Tyrion said. This time the laughter round the table had a nervous, uncertain quality to it. Thorne's black eyes fixed on Tyrion with loathing. "You have a bold tongue for someone who is less than half a man. Perhaps you and I should visit the yard together." "Why?" asked Tyrion. "The crabs are here." The remark brought more guffaws from the others. Ser Alliser stood up, his mouth a tight line. "Come and make your japes with steel in your hand." Tyrion looked pointedly at his right hand. "Why, I have steel in my hand, Ser Alliser, although it appears to be a crab fork. Shall we duel?" He hopped up on his chair and began poking at Thorne's chest with the tiny fork. Roars of laughter filled the tower room. Bits of crab flew from the Lord Commander's mouth as he began to gasp and choke. Even his raven joined in, cawing loudly from above the window. "Duel! Duel! Duel!"  Ser Alliser Thorne walked from the room so stiffly it looked as though he had a dagger up his butt. Mormont was still gasping for breath. Tyrion pounded him on the back. "To the victor goes the spoils," he called out. "I claim Thorne's share of the crabs." - Tyrion III, AGOT

She never saw how the skinny man got over the wall, but when he did she fell on him with Gendry and Hot Pie. Gendry's sword shattered on the man's helm, tearing it off his head. Underneath he was bald and scared-looking, with missing teeth and a speckly grey beard, but even as she was feeling sorry for him she was killing him, shouting, "Winterfell! Winterfell!" while Hot Pie screamed "Hot Pie!" beside her as he hacked at the man's scrawny neck. - Arya IV, ACOK

Ser Boros Blount harrumphed. "No man threatens His Grace in the presence of the Kingsguard." Tyrion Lannister raised an eyebrow. "I am not threatening the king, ser, I am educating my nephew. Bronn, Timett, the next time Ser Boros opens his mouth, kill him." The dwarf smiled. "Now that was a threat, ser. See the difference?" - Sansa III, ACOK

"I never said that," Jon insisted. Slynt slammed a fist on the table. "I heard you! Ser Alliser had your measure true enough, it seems. You lie through your bastard's teeth. Well, I will not suffer it. I will not! You might have fooled this crippled blacksmith, but not Janos Slynt! Oh, no. Janos Slynt does not swallow lies so easily. Did you think my skull was stuffed with cabbage?" "I don't know what your skull is stuffed with. My lord." - Jon IX, ASOS

Thorne was much the more clever of the two, Jon realized; this had his stink all over it. He was trapped. "I'll go," he said in a clipped, curt voice. "M'lord," Janos Slynt reminded him. "You'll address me—" "I'll go, my lord. But you are making a mistake, my lord. You are sending the wrong man, my lord. Just the sight of me is going to anger Mance. My lord would have a better chance of reaching terms if he sent—" - Jon X, ACOK

These probably aren’t the funniest, just the ones I can think of now. I’m a simple woman and I love sassy Jon. Sue me.

Most disturbing moments:

Just the whole of the Red Wedding chapter from Catelyn’s POV. It’s so sad and disturbing at once cause you can feel her go a bit crazy. From “The Rains of Castemere” playing to... A man in dark armor and a pale pink cloak spotted with blood stepped up to Robb. "Jaime Lannister sends his regards." He thrust his longsword through her son's heart, and twisted. Robb had broken his word, but Catelyn kept hers. She tugged hard on Aegon's hair and sawed at his neck until the blade grated on bone. Blood ran hot over her fingers. His little bells were ringing, ringing, ringing, and the drum went boom doom boom.  Finally someone took the knife away from her. The tears burned like vinegar as they ran down her cheeks. Ten fierce ravens were raking her face with sharp talons and tearing off strips of flesh, leaving deep furrows that ran red with blood. She could taste it on her lips. It hurts so much, she thought. Our children, Ned, all our sweet babes. Rickon, Bran, Arya, Sansa, Robb . . . Robb . . . please, Ned, please, make it stop, make it stop hurting . . . The white tears and the red ones ran together until her face was torn and tattered, the face that Ned had loved. Catelyn Stark raised her hands and watched the blood run down her long fingers, over her wrists, beneath the sleeves of her gown. Slow red worms crawled along her arms and under her clothes. It tickles. That made her laugh until she screamed. "Mad," someone said, "she's lost her wits," and someone else said, "Make an end," and a hand grabbed her scalp just as she'd done with Jinglebell, and she thought, No, don't, don't cut my hair, Ned loves my hair. Then the steel was at her throat, and its bite was red and cold. - Catelyn VII, ASOS

Brienne's chest was burning, and the storm was behind her eyes, blinding her. Bones ground against each other inside of her. Biter's mouth gaped open, impossibly wide. She saw his teeth, yellow and crooked, filed into points. When they closed on the soft meat of her cheek, she hardly felt it. She could feel herself spiralling down into the dark. I cannot die yet, she told herself, there is something I still need to do. Biter's mouth tore free, full of blood and flesh. He spat, grinned, and sank his pointed teeth into her flesh again. This time he chewed and swallowed. He is eating me, she realized, but she had no strength left to fight him any longer. She felt as if she were floating above herself, watching the horror as if it were happening to some other woman, to some stupid girl who thought she was a knight. It will be finished soon, she told herself. Then it will not matter if he eats me. Biter threw back his head and opened his mouth again, howling, and stuck his tongue out at her. It was sharply pointed, dripping blood, longer than any tongue should be. Sliding from his mouth, out and out and out, red and wet and glistening, it made a hideous sight, obscene. His tongue is a foot long, Brienne thought, just before the darkness took her. Why, it looks almost like a sword. - Brienne VII, AFFC

The whole bit with Theon, Ramsay and Jeyne it’s so gross I’m not gonna post quotes. Any of Ramsay’s actions really but that really got to me.

Most touching moment:

Arya's eyes went wide. Dark eyes, like his. "A sword," she said in a small, hushed breath. The scabbard was soft grey leather, supple as sin. Jon drew out the blade slowly, so she could see the deep blue sheen of the steel. "This is no toy," he told her. "Be careful you don't cut yourself. The edges are sharp enough to shave with." "Girls don't shave," Arya said. "Maybe they should. Have you ever seen the septa's legs?" She giggled at him. "It's so skinny." "So are you," Jon told her. "I had Mikken make this special. The bravos use swords like this in Pentos and Myr and the other Free Cities. It won't hack a man's head off, but it can poke him full of holes if you're fast enough." "I can be fast," Arya said."You'll have to work at it every day." He put the sword in her hands, showed her how to hold it, and stepped back. "How does it feel? Do you like the balance?" "I think so," Arya said. "First lesson," Jon said. "Stick them with the pointy end." Arya gave him a whap on the arm with the flat of her blade. The blow stung, but Jon found himself grinning like an idiot. "I know which end to use," Arya said. [...] “King's Landing is a true city, a thousand times the size of Winterfell. Until you find a partner, watch how they fight in the yard. Run, and ride, make yourself strong. And whatever you do …" Arya knew what was coming next. They said it together. "… don't … tell … Sansa!" [...] Jon messed up her hair. "I will miss you, little sister." Suddenly she looked like she was going to cry. "I wish you were coming with us." "Different roads sometimes lead to the same castle. Who knows?" He was feeling better now. He was not going to let himself be sad. "I better go. I'll spend my first year on the Wall emptying chamber pots if I keep Uncle Ben waiting any longer." Arya ran to him for a last hug. "Put down the sword first," Jon warned her, laughing. She set it aside almost shyly and showered him with kisses. When he turned back at the door, she was holding it again, trying it for balance. "I almost forgot," he told her. "All the best swords have names." "Like Ice," she said. She looked at the blade in her hand. "Does this have a name? Oh, tell me." "Can't you guess?" Jon teased. "Your very favorite thing." Arya seemed puzzled at first. Then it came to her. She was that quick. They said it together: "Needle!" The memory of her laughter warmed him on the long ride north. - Jon II, AGOT

The. Most. Touching. Moment. Period. I don’t make the rules.

Thanks for the ask!

[squirrelly831]

Forget Me Not [Part II]

Masterlist

Genre: Angst

Characters: Hyunsik x Original Character [Jihye]

Word Count: 2654

After getting all of the member’s numbers, Jihye was luck to meet with everyone except Hyunsik. Their schedules never matched up. That was until one weekend, she was caught up on her work, so she didn’t go in on her day off when he called to meet up at a park, “Hey, Hyunsik! Thanks for meeting up with me” Jihye greeted as Hyunsik took a seat on the bench beside her.

He grinned brightly, “Of course. I want to help as much as I can to make this comeback amazing!”

Jinhy nodded, “So, tell me about yourself. Where are you from and what made you become an idol?” Hyunsik began explaining and their conversation became something natural. As if they were old friends catching up. He told her about his life and she about hers.

“I have a question for you, that bracelet. Why do you still wear it? You said it was from just some friend.” His demeanor changed a little and Jihye looked down at her right wrist that rested on the table.

She shrugged, “I don’t really know.”

“Oh… Do you remember who gave it to you?” There was a hopeful note in his voice, but it died when her head shook.

She fixed her sleeve and that’s when his eyes caught her engagement ring, “I have faint memories about who gave it to me. My fiancé asks me about it all the time.” She smiled.

“Fi-fiance?”

Jihye nodded as she held out her hand to show the ring, “We’re getting married in November.”

Hyunsik cleared his throat, “Wow, that’s cool.” He looked at his watch and stood. “Sorry to end this early, but I have to go. I have another interview I need to prepare for.” Then he fled.

After that, for the remainder of Jihye’s time with the members, when she was with Hyunsik, he was cold. He gave short curt answers. Sometimes no answers at all. She didn’t understand what changed from their first meeting. She grew close to all the other members who were all equally shocked with Hyunsik’s behavior and would periodically apologize for him. However, as the comeback approached, and the photoshoot began, she found it almost unbearable to be around him. Hyunsik and Jihye were at each other’s throats arguing about lighting or poses. It would take Changsub or Eunkwang to intervene and break it up. It was awkward being around him, but Jihye loved being around the boys even if Hyunsik had to join.

“Hey, wait, give that back!” Jihye tried to get her bracelet back from Changsub. Jihye was just hanging out with Changsub and Peniel, two of the ones she grew close to, when Changsub asked to see her bracelet. However, when he got it, he refused to give it back.

He held it over her head and laughed as she struggled for it, “Why? You niece make it for you? Is that why you wear it?” He teased.

Jihye felt her panic grow as she watched it dangle, “Someone important made it when I was a kid. Please just give it back.” She didn’t like not having it on. She didn’t feel right without it.

A hand reached out and took the bracelet from Changsub. She felt a hand grab her wrist and the bracelet fell back to its place, “Next time, don’t take it off. Changsub, stop taking things that don’t belong to you.” Jihye turned just in time to see Hyunsik head off to his room.

“What’s his deal? I was just playing around?” Changsub scratched his head in confusion.

“This is for you…” a blurred hand reached out towards her. “We’ll be together forever!”

She took the bracelet he made her and continued to sniffle, “But we’re supposed to get married.” The water works began again and he hugged her.

“Don’t worry! I’ll find you and marry you! Just wait for me. I’ll find you in America o-or you can come back here and find me.”

She sniffled, “I’ll find you, Hyunsik oppa! Then you have to marry me!”

Jihye shot up from the couch startling Minkyu who was on the chair beside her.

“You okay, love?” She looked over at him and he saw tears gather in her eyes, “Baby, what’s wrong?” He got off the chair and sat beside her as she cried silently. In confusion, he held her close and soothed her, “It’s okay. It was just a nightmare.”

Her left arm reached up and her finger gripped his shirt tightly. She wished it was just a nightmare. She cradled her right arm and her eyes remained on the bracelet. A nightmare would be better than the pain she was feeling at the moment.

“Baby, are you sure you want to go out this late? I’ll come with you” Minkyu insisted as he went for his coat.

“No, it’s fine. I just need some fresh air. I’m going to go meet up with someone for a bit. I’ll be back later” she smiled.

He gave her a small smile and kissed her cheek, “Okay… I love you. Who are you going to be with?”

“I love you too, Hyuns—Minkyu” their eyes widened in shock before Jihye let out a weak laugh, “Sorry, my head was thinking one thing and my mouth said another. I’m going to meet up with Hyunsik. I guess I’m still tired.” She leaned up and kissed Minkyu. “I love you, Minkyu. Don’t wait up.”

Minkyu nodded hesitantly, “Okay. At least text me when you get there and when you head back, okay?” She nodded in response and left the apartment. Minkyu watched her leave and he sighed when she shut the door, “I regret moving back…”

Jihye leaned on the door for a moment and touched her lips. Every time she kissed Minkyu, she felt a spark. It went down her spine and made her feel like she was invisible, but that kiss. She didn’t feel anything.

She stood out at Banpo Bridge waiting for Hyunsik. It was late enough that not many people lingered there. Her fingers twirled the beads on her bracelet. Did he know? Is that why he became so cold to her? Because she forgot him. She heard his shoes before she saw him descend down the giant rock like stairs.

He stopped in front of her, pocketing his phone that was in his hand, and he placed both hands in his jean pockets, “What do you want? Do you realize what time it was?”

“You could have told me no” she countered.

He huffed, “Look, I don’t have all day. I’m busy in case you forgotten. I need to work on the tracks before the album comes out. What do you want?”

Jihye nodded and bowed, “I’m sorry. I wanted to ask you about something.”

“What is it? I thought we already did all this personal meeting stuff.” He sighed.

She showed him her bracelet on her wrist, “Why didn’t you tell me? That you were the boy?”

Hyunsik shrugged, “Would it matter? You’re engaged.” He stared at the bracelet for a while.

“Tha-That’s not relevant.”

He scoffed as he looked up at her, “But isn’t it? I don’t even know why you wear that stupid thing still. It’s not like you kept the promise anyway.” He looked at his watch, “Look, if this is all you wanted, I need to go. Thanks for wasting my time.” He turned and went back the way he came.

“Hyunsik, wait” Jihye went after him and grabbed his arm.

Hyunsik yanked his arm from her as he violently turned, “Stop! Why does this matter? We were just kids.” He pulled at his hair as he looked at her, “Did you think I meant it? I was 10. Who would actually take that seriously?” He snarled.

Jihye let out a breath of disbelief and closed her eyes as the tears fell, “Yea… You’re right. It was foolish… Sorry for wasting your time. Here, I don’t think I should keep this.” She pulled off her bracelet and held it out to him, but she kept looking down. Hyunsik watched as the tears fell, and he went to speak up, but he bit his lip to keep quiet. He took the bracelet from her, stuffed it in his pocket, and walked away. Once he was out of view, Jihye squatted as she pressed her hands to her mouth to muffle her sobs.

“Ji-ji” Soyeon called out as she knocked on Jihye’s office door. When she didn’t get a response, Soyeon walked inside and saw Jihye staring at her art tablet, “Hey Jihye. You awake in here.” She shut the door and walked up to Jihye. She grew concerned seeing Jihye not respond, “Girly, what’s wrong?” She turned the chair to face her, “Did something happen between Minkyu and you?” She shook her head. “Baby girl. Talk to me… please. You’re scaring me” Soyeon begged. Jihye looked dead. There was no light in her eyes and they were puffy from crying the night before.

“I found the boy” she whispered.

Soyeon smiled, “That’s great, but I don’t get what this has to do with anything.”

Jihye cursed as she tugged at her hair, “Fuck, I’m so stupid…”

“What’s wrong?”

“Hyunsik…”

“What about him? Wait” her eyes widened, “he’s the boy! That’s great, you got your childhood best friend back. Why do you look so broken?”

Jihye’s eyes teared up, “That dream… That promise. Why did I break it?” Her voice shook as she spoke and Soyeon let out a huff of air.

Soyeon grabbed Jihye’s shoulders in concern and anger, but mainly out of anger, “You are marrying Minkyu in a month! Stop thinking about that stupid dream!” She shook her a few times, “So what if Hyunsik was the boy you said you’d marry? You were 8! You grew up! You’re an adult now and you fell in love with Minkyu—”

“I don’t know if I love him…” Jihye whispered as she looked down at the ground. “I came to Korea hoping I would run into him… Maybe I wanted to find him like because he didn’t find me.”

Soyeon’s face twisted in annoyance as she let go of Jihye’s shoulders, “I love you and you are my best friend, so I’m telling you this now. You’re not just ruining your own life by lingering on some stupid kid promise. You’re wasting a lot of people’s time and money. Life isn’t some game, Jihye. You’re going to hurt a lot of people, so stop being so fucking selfish.” She huffed before she stormed off leaving Jihye alone in her office.

A month passed and Soyeon and Jihye hadn’t talked much since then. Jihye was even distant with Minkyu even though she didn’t realize it. Her conversations with the BTOB members became minimal as they released the album. Even though, Peniel, Sungjae, and Minhyuk periodically tried to talk to her. She tried to just focus on work and the wedding prep which had become her worse nightmare. When her bride maids threw her the idea of a bachelorette party before her wedding, but she declined wanting to focus on work. However, Soyeon was not having that as an answer and forced the party.

So, Jihye was out with her girls for her bachelorette party. She didn’t want to do anything crazy as she never saw the whole point of acting like idiots.

Soyeon approached Jihye shyly and bit the inside of her lip, “I’m sorry…” Jihye was going to reply, but Soyeon held up a hand, “No, don’t apologize. You have nothing to apologize for. I’m the one who snapped at you when you were in a crisis. I should have been supportive.” Jihye said nothing as she wrapped her arms around Soyeon and she hugged back.

“Okay ladies! Break it up!” Christi screamed as she broke the hug, “We are going to get in the club and we are going to find us some sexy men to dance with, got it?” The two girls nodded and Christi strutted inside the club.

Soyeon stared at Jihye in disbelief, “Just where do you find your friends?”

“I ask myself that too all the time.” Jihye laughed as she looped arms with Soyeon and entered the club.

Almost upon entrance, Jihye’s three bride maids, Christi, Shannon, and Abby, were swept up by three men and out on the dance floor. Soyeon was with Jihye rejecting each guy who approached her.

“You should dance” Jihye shouted.

Soyeon took a swig of her cocktail, “And leave the bride to be alone? Nah!” She laughed just as another man approached her.

“Would you like to dance?” He asked kindly.

“N-”

“She’d love to!” Jihye interrupted her and started to shoo her. Soyeon glared at her before reluctantly agreeing. As Soyeon was getting out of the booth, Jihye’s phone rang. “Hello?” No response. Jihye looked at the caller ID before pressing the phone back to her ear, “Hyunsik?” Soyeon gave her a look as she looked back. Jihye waved her off and Soyeon gave her a sad look before letting the stranger to lead her off to the dance floor.

“Why…”

It was hard to hear him over the loud music, so she got out of the booth and went to the bathroom hallway where the music was barely heard, “Hyunsik?” She heard him take a gulp, “What’s wrong?”

“Why him” he sniffed. “Why didn’t you wait for me? I-” he choked on a cry, “I became famous to find you, so—why didn’t you keep your promise?” Hyunsik cried.

Jihye pressed her shaky hand to her mouth as a tear fell. She could hear the pain in his drunken words. He wasn’t even slurring, but she could tell he was drunk by the way he mumbled in between his words. “I’m sorry…” she whispered as she moved her hand to her hair.

“Don’t marry him. I love you! I’ve always loved you!” He got louder, “That song was for you. That track I worked so hard on… I thought of you.”

Jihye swallowed as she pulled her phone from her ear and hung it up before turning it off entirely. She couldn’t listen anymore. Tomorrow she was marrying Minkyu. It was too late to change her mind.

After the club, Jihye returned to her home alone even though her friends wanted her to spend the night at their hotel. She couldn’t do it. She knew she couldn’t keep up the façade of a happy bride to be like she could at a club. So, there she lay in bed wide awake. She turned to her side and her tears slid across her face on to her pillow. She felt a terrible pain in her heart as she clutched her pillow. She was glad Minkyu was out with his guys because she didn’t know how to explain to him why she felt like her heart was being ripped to shreds. She ended up crying herself to sleep reliving Hyunsik’s words and haunted by the broken look on his face when she backed away from him.

Hyunsik’s phone is what woke him first. He groaned feeling the hangover as his hand blindly searched for his phone. When he picked it up he pressed the green circle, “ewwo?” He yawned as he sat up and moved to the end of the bed.

“Hyunsik? Are you seriously still asleep? The wedding is in three hours” Minhyuk shouted and Hyunsik cringed. “Get dressed! We’re supposed to leave in an hour to check in to the venue. I’m sending Sungjae and Changsub up to your room” then he hung up.

Hyunsik threw down his phone and rubbed his eyes, “I don’t think I can do this.” He felt the tears form and he wiped his eyes with his hands before covering them with his right hand. The tears continued to fall. [Continuation]

-Written by Squirrelly831; gif by respected owner

If you like my work please like and share it!

[womanoflettersinthebunker]

Title: Remembrance

Summary: In which John gets his first tattoo, set preseries.

Pairing: John WinchesterxMary Winchester

When she hears the bell above her door ring she doesn’t look up from what she was doing. “Be with you in a minute.” she called out instead, focusing on her drawing for another few moments.

Finally she let out a small breath and straightened up, cracking her neck from side to side and stood, turning to look at the man. “Hi.”

He nodded at her in response, eyes still skirting around and taking some of the art pieces in. He had that familiar lost look in his eyes that most first timers had.

“What can I help you with?” she prodded him. “Piercing? Tattoo?”

“Tattoo.” he said lowly, his eyes still moving around her store.

She nodded at that. “Do you have something in mind? Or do you want to look at some of the books?” she asked gesturing to her portfolio on the side.

The man shook his head. “I know what I want.” he said. “It’s a name.”

Internally she groaned, she hated doing names. More often than not people wanted their wives, husbands, boyfriend girlfriend whatever name on them and then would come back to her for a coverup.

It did make it easier to pay the bills.

“Alright, so when its words and names I need you to write it out for me.” she said grabbing a few papers for him. “This is the consent form, this is the guidelines; you need to read and sign that, and here in this box,” she showed him the empty box on the bottom. “You just write out the name you want.”

The man nodded and took the papers from her, taking a pen out of his own jacket and looking it all over. So not to make him uncomfortable she started to prepare her tattoo station, laying down a protective covering and readying her tattoo gun.

Turning back to him he handed her the papers back and nodded once more, pocketing his pen. She quickly skimmed over the entire thing, making sure he had signed where he needed to and then glanced at the name he wanted.

“Alright so now you just gotta pick the font that you want, I’ll draw it up, make sure you like it, and then we’ll get to tattooing.” she said trying to keep a cheerful tone.

The man nodded once more, going to the book she pointed out and started to leaf through it staring at the fonts.

Once her back was turned to the man she rolled her eyes, she hated the ones that walked in like they were being forced into a tattoo. Biting back a sigh she stretched her wrist and cracked her fingers to get ready.

“Here.” the man said, bringing her attention back to him. She turned around and he was pointing to a cursive font, elegant and serene. “This one.”

She nodded and sat back down at her desk. “Alright, give me a few minutes, I’ll have something made and you’ll let me know if you like it.”

The man nodded and slowly walked around her store, his eyes going to the art pieces once more as he took them all in.

Carefully she took her calligraphy pen and glancing at the name he had written to make sure it wasn’t any different from the other names she carefully started to write, keeping her movements nice and easy. Once she was done, it was a simple four letter name, she leaned back and let out a small breath.

Picking up the paper she held it up, he automatically glanced at her when she did. “Is this good?”

The man stared at the name for a moment before he nodded. “Yeah, it’s good.” he said.

She nodded and placed the paper back onto the table for a moment. “Alright so I’m going to have you sit in the chair now, and where do you want the tattoo?”

Wordlessly he unbuttoned his shirt and she held back a groan, he tapped the area over his heart. “Here.” he said, because of course he did.

She kept a smile on her face, half of it was being professional, and turned back to her table. “Alright so shirt off and in the chair, lean back against it.” she heard the whisper of clothing being pulled off and then the sound of him getting into the chair. “I’ll have it for you in a minute.”

Once she had it on the tracing paper she carefully peeled the sticker back and walked towards the man, taking care to make sure that the paper didn’t curl. “Alright, show me exactly where you want it to be.” she said.

The man slid a finger over his left bicep, right over his heart. “Right here.”

She nodded and carefully placed the stencil on the area he had gestured to. She grabbed a mirror and showed him the position. “This is good?” she asked.

The man took the mirror from her and looked it over, his eyes falling to the ground. “Yeah, its good.”

With that she reached over and pulled the paper off of him, leaving behind the trace that she was going to follow. “Alright,” she grabbed her seat and her gun, getting nice and comfortable. “Is this your first tattoo?”

“Yes.”

“Alright so considering the area we’re doing this in, it’s going to hurt really bad, I’m not sugarcoating this.” she said. “Try your best not to move when I’m tattooing, if you do it might cause me to mess up.” She waited for him to nod that he had heard her. “If you need to take a break just let me know so that I can stop.”

“Alright.” the man said leaning back to let her work. “I’m ready.”

She nodded and fired the gun up, taking a moment to get used to the vibration and then leaned forward, dipping the needle into the small cap of ink. Placing one hand on the man’s chest for leverage she brought the needle forward and let it sink into the man’s skin a few times, glancing up at him. “Is that alright?” she asked.

He hadn’t even moved, just staring down at the gun as she held it. “It’s fine, you can continue.”

Nodding she leaned in and dipped the needle in ink once more before she continued, her other hand grabbing a small towelette to wipe away at some of the ink that escaped her gun.

She had the first letter done when she spoke. “So, whose name is this?”

“My wife.” he said, almost curtly.

That was what she was afraid of, most of the time when someone comes in to get their partner’s name that is the day they go home to find them in bed with someone else.

“Well that’s nice, is she going to get your name as well?” she asked trying to stay bright about it.

“No.” that was most definitely a curt answer.

“Alright,” she said letting the subject drop for a moment, focusing on the second and third letter. The man wasn’t even flinching or even reacting to the tattoo gun. “So is this going to just be a surprise for her?”

“No.” he said. “She’s dead.”

She stopped for a moment and swallowed, willing her hand not to stay in one place or shake. “Oh.” she said softly. “I’m sorry.”

The man nodded, more of a jerk than a nod, and stared at the wall. Biting down on her tongue she just focused on finishing the last letter, clearing her throat. She leaned back and nodded. “Alright, it’s done.” she handed him the mirror once more. “Let me know if you want to add anything extra or anything else.”

The man stared at the name on his chest and took a deep breath, reaching up to touch the area under the tattoo. “No,” he said quietly. “It’s good, thank you.”

She nodded and grabbed the plastic bandages and carefully placed it over the tattoo before taking her gloves off. “Alright, let me just give you the instructions for the after care and then you can pay and you’ll be ready to leave.”

She turned away to clean up the station as the man got up and carefully put his shirt back on. “Make sure you don’t touch it for a few hours so that you don’t irritate it. No water exposure and if you can, keep the bandage on it for a couple of days.” she told him as she grabbed her calculator and quickly crunched the numbers together and told him the total.

He handed her cash and she handed him the receipt and the instructions for the after care for the tattoo.

“Alright.” she said softly. “Take care.”

The man nodded once more and glanced over the paper before he pocketed it. “Have a good day.” he said before he turned and left.

She let out a small breath and took the papers, sliding them into the folder inside of her desk. She nodded and got up, wanting to sanitize her chair one more time to make sure that it was all cleaned up for her next client.

John sighed as he came back to the motel and threw his jacket to the side, his fingers itching to reach up to touch the tattoo but didn’t. The kids were still at school for the time being so he still had some time before he went to pick them up.

He hesitated for a moment before he went to the bathroom, taking his shirt off as he went.

Getting the tattoo hadn’t hurt as much as he thought it was going to, it was easy to zone out and let the pain drift to the corner of his mind. It was rather so simple for him to ignore it that he was debating to go back and get some more.

But this...this was perfect for the first one. He turned the light on in the bathroom and walked over to the mirror, letting his eyes linger on it for a few more moments.

He reached out and lightly touched the edge of the plastic, his fingers stroking under the name, feeling his heart twist slightly in his chest.

Mary

Written clear as anything forever on his skin and over his heart. Closing his eyes he leaned forward until his forehead was pressed against the mirror and he let out a small breath, fogging up the glass for a few moments.

He pressed harder onto the bottom of the tattoo, as if if he pushed hard enough it could be imprinted even further and it would pierce through straight to his heart.

Mary

“I miss you so much.” he whispered, opening his eyes to look at it once more. “I miss you so damn much.”

Mary

John let out a shaking breath, pulling away from the mirror and straightening himself up. He turned the sink on and splashed some water onto his face.

Running a hand down his face John couldn’t help but let his eyes drift to the tattoo once more, unable to keep a small off of his face. He took care to never damage or possibly lose his wedding ring but it was still something that could fall off of his finger or be taken off. But this way he could keep a small piece of her with him forever.

Smiling he gave a nod at his reflection, at the tattoo, and slid his shirt back on, turning to leave the bathroom, feeling an odd sense of peace settle against him.

A corner of his mind started to go to other possible tattoos that he could get, maybe some protective runes or some sort of good luck charms.

But the next ones he wanted to get, was Sams and Deans name somewhere close to his heart as well.

[asunafairywizardessheart]

Rekindle

Elias/Asana

Requested by: Anon.

Special Christmas Prompt #1

Summary: Following from their unhappy ending, where Asana broke off their relationship, they find themselves with different people but their hearts still belong to each other. In the city celebrating Christmas with Amelia and Luca, a mistletoe brings them together.

*Two weeks before Christmas*

With no desire to turn in for the night, on the account his fiancé is upstairs, Elias decided to help his brothers drag old Christmas decorations from storage and use their magic to bring the place to life with decorations and lights. He wasn't happy though.

"Would you smile?" Julius nudged him in the arm, but Elias had no will to do so.

"...What is there to smile about?"  

Klaus and Julius traded glances, they felt empathy for the situation he had been forced into but the girl he wanted to be with was with another man. From what Klaus and Elias had witnessed at Amelia and Luca's wedding, she seemed happy.  

"Lisa."

"Lisa?" Surprised, Elias looked up to Klaus, "How can I feel happy about being arranged to marry a woman I hardly know? Asana...was different...I had only known her for a short time, but how I felt with Asana compared to Lisa is different, and it feels wrong. Lisa is in the same boat as me, but I don't want to us to be trapped in a marriage that will only make us unhappy."

Julius understood, because that was how he found his wife, but they fell in love all on their own. "Well, what are you going to do about it?" He asked, as if challenging his brother to think for himself and for Lisa too, "Our parents don't own you Elias, and you deserve to find your own happiness. It is not fair to Lisa to keep her from the man she loves either."

"You know how she feels too?"  

"I did not intend to eavesdrop, but I overheard her talking to Elaine about her feelings for another man," he explained, "Never mind what our parents say."

"Though, she did seem happy with that man she was with at Amelia's wedding?"

Elias didn't think so, because he knew each time he wasn't looking at her, her rose eyes were on him. Vice versa, when she looked away, he couldn't help but stare back at her. "She's not happy with that man...," he muttered.  

He turned around to string ornaments onto the tree beside the fireplace, and Walter strolled through the living room with a tray in his hands. Four glasses and a bottle of scotch, "It is a very rare chance for a father to share a drink with all his sons in the one room. Especially, in celebration of Elias' recent engagement."

Walter handed out one glass to each of them, but Elias couldn't drink to that congratulatory toast, and he wasn't at all a big drinker. Except, a glass of scotch with his brothers and father around Christmas became a sort of tradition in their bondage. Walter noticed he didn't drink, "Something the matter, Elias?"

Thinking long and hard about it, he knew Walter would be upset if he admitted now he had no intention to marry Lisa, even if his refusal would make him appear unfaithful in his agreement with her family. Instead, Elias decided to remain quiet on the subject, and downed his serve in one gulp, "Nothing's the matter, Father."

"Oh, I see. Pre-marriage nerves, huh?"

"...Sure."

"Believe it or not, but there have been two times I have ever been nervous my entire life. One, was proposing to your mother and the second, the coming of Julius. But, it all turned out for the best."

"...I need some air," taking his jacket off the rack, Elias vacated the house and decided to walk around the neighbourhood to check out the neighbours' lights display while the snow crunched under his feet, with only one person on his mind.  

"Asana..."

From the bathroom, she heard the toilet flush and the door reopened and closed again. Footsteps creaked across the floorboards and to her room where she had been sleeping through the afternoon, because they were snowed in.  

Quietly her bedroom door opened, and she felt sad that the brown eyes she looked into now were not violet, and the shoulder length black hair was not short and blonde. His slender frame reminded her of Elias, but it wasn't him. The man in front of her was kind and gentle, and that's what she liked about him, but her heart belonged to Elias.  

"Are you awake?" He asked, hanging by the door.  

She had tears in her eyes and he looked her over with disappointment in his eyes, "...Yeah," she replied, voice trembling and riddled with guilt and regret.  Guilt, for feeling like she has lead Michael on all this time, and regret because she was the one who decided to break her promise to wait for Elias through a letter. Now, she lost him, and trying an intimate moment with Michael, she called Elias' name instead of his.  

Most of the day, she had been resting but in reality she had been sad, but hid her true feelings from Michael. While eating breakfast, she read the morning newspaper which had announced Elias' engagement to another woman on the front page. For a moment, her heart stopped beating and she felt it shatter into pieces as it fell to the bottom of her chest.  

Concealing her tears through a warm shower, when Michael had his, she phoned Amelia. She lived in the city and Luca worked with Elias at the ministry, and even though it wasn't her place, she wanted to know what type of woman his fiancé was and, importantly, if Elias was happy.  

"…So, who is Elias?" He asked, never hearing Asana mention his name in any previous conversations.

She sat up on the bed with her legs criss-crossed underneath the warm blankets and her hair messy from laying in bed, "...Do you remember the blonde-haired man Luca was talking to at Amelia's wedding? Not the broad one but the slenderer one?"

Michael thought for a moment, "...Yes, I remember him. I didn't like him from the start but I assume he is who you referred too a moment ago," his deep voice was short and curt, and his brown eyes failed to meet hers. "...You love him, don't you?"

"Elias and I were buddies at the academy, but I failed to gain admission. In those thirteen days I knew him, I fell in love with him. We had promised to wait for each other, but I broke it off a year before I met you. I thought time would help me forget about him, but...it doesn't seem that is the case."  

"...So, were you leading me on all this time?"  

"...I...," tears in her eyes, their eyes finally locked and she felt horrible because there was no other way to word it. She had forced herself to love another man to fill the void Elias left, but no one would be good enough...her heart belongs to him, "…I'm sorry Michael. I'm so sorry. Seeing him again awakened many feelings I thought I had buried...but...I only suppressed them."

Michael fell silent, and Asana's quiet sobbing filled the quiet room, "Please...say something...," she begged, voice full of sorrow, pain, guilt and regret, "If you have to yell at me, do it."  

"What good would that do, Asana?" He snapped back, "...I thought you loved me, and I had plans to propose to you these holidays," he went to his side of the bed and fished a ring from the top draw of the bedside table, and threw it across to her, "...Do what you want with it. I don't need it."

He walked to his closet and snapped up his suitcase, "There's no point staying here if you are in love with another man. I will use my magic to escape this loveless place if I have to," he threw his clothes messily into the empty suitcase, his voice low and his heart broken.  

"Please, understand, I never intended to hurt you like this...," she cried.

"Don't pretend that you care! Stop playing the nice, innocent girl. You stringed me along for three years because you are in love with another man!" His quiet voice turned to shouting, his anger boiled deep within his stomach, "I bet every time I slept beside you, made love to you, and sat across from you at the dinner table, you were hoping it was him!"  

She sat on the bed and took his angry words, truly never wanting to have hurt him. When he had moved in, he had not packed much clothing, and had not made any significant increases in his load. Gathering his wand, he marched for the door and blasted the snow with his magic to escape outside. On leaving, he turned to her in the doorway, having saw him out, "Never, ever, do I want to see your face again."

"...I don't blame you for wanting to feel that way. Again, I never meant to hurt you."

"Whatever."

His footprints made indents in the snow as he walked away. Closing the door behind her once he was out of sight, she sunk to the floor, crying into her knees. She left Elias and lost him now, and she hurt Michael, a man she tried to replace Elias, and no she was alone again. Hurting.  

After hours of self-loathing in silent sadness next to the fire, Asana phoned Amelia, and cried to her best friend. After another hour, Amelia came to a solution, "I know, come to the city for Christmas. I would hate for you to be alone and we can talk more."

"...O-Okay," Asana agreed, "Thanks Amelia."

"No problem."

*Christmas Day*

Underneath her boots, the snow crunched. Amelia and Luca were still sleeping and she was hungry for breakfast but also interested in exploring the city some more. Luca had told her everything about Lisa, and admitted to her that Elias was not happy.  

"Maybe...you should talk to Elias?" Amelia suggested, and that suggestion ran through her mind. Luca wrote down his number and address on a piece of paper, and she constantly looked down at it but could not bring herself to dial the number.  

Her knee-high boots and blue-black thermal cotton skinny jeans kept her legs warm through the cold city and her long sleeved blush coloured knitted-woollen turtleneck sweater kept the rest of her body warm. Black woollen gloves and beanie covered the remaining tips, and she left her long brown hair down to trap the warmth around her neck. Surprisingly, the city had less snow than Reitz, but the towering buildings trapped the cold air.  

She window shopped through the CBD since nothing was open, and earmarked a few shops she would need to visit once they were open. The more she walked around, the more thought she gave into calling Elias, but then each time she stopped herself from doing it. "I can't do this to him," she kept telling herself, and found herself sitting on a street bench, longing in her own sorrow, ready to harbour a life of regret.  

Meanwhile, across town, Elias avoided the chaos inside and his fiancé Lisa had no desire to join the festivities either. She came to his side, drink in hand, and he stared at the cup in her hand, "We may not be in love with each other but that does not mean you should decline this drink," her soft voice said.  

He accepted the drink, and she asked a question to him, "...Is Asana still special to you?" She asked.

"She is."

"Jordan is important to me too, and the only reason why my parents have so quickly arranged my marriage to you is because they do not like him," she admitted, "He may have a troubled past, but I can't help but love him for his strength. What is it about this Asana you love?"

He remembered her smile the most, "Everything. Her smile and kindness, her warmth and gentle spirit...we were buddies in school, but she didn't get accepted after the trial period. We promised to wait for each other, but she didn't feel as though she was on the same level as me and broke up with me because she fears she will have held me back."

"That is not the case?"

"No, I became a better man and changed significantly in those short thirteen days I knew her. But, I fell in love with her, and she is always on my mind."

Lisa smiled, "I feel the same about Jordan. I like you Elias, but nothing more than a friend. So, I am going to help you."

"Help me?"  

"I plan to run away and take back control of my life," she admitted, "It may seem quite dramatic, as though I am still a teenager, but I am a twenty-two year old woman and I already gave another man my heart. Unfortunately, this is the only way I can make my parents understand," she placed her hand on his cheek and smiled up at him, "Elias, if you truly love her, go after her."

"...She's with somebody else."

"Like you are in love with me, right?" She joked.

He understood what she was saying, and he just tried to make an excuse that Asana loved that man she was with at Amelia's wedding. "...She doesn't love him," he whispered, and kissed the back of Lisa's hands, "Thank you, Lisa, for understanding."

"Go after her, Elias," Lisa smiled, "I will cover you until you get back. Because, I think you know where you need to go."

Sneaking out of the house, he gathered his jacket and warmer clothes and raced over to Amelia's place and banged down the door. It was still morning, and Luca lazily opened the door, "Elias? What the hell are you doing here?"

"Where does Asana live?"

"Asana?" If Luca was still half-asleep he wasn't now, "...Um...Asana should be here?"

"Here? Why is she here?"

"What is this an interrogation?" Luca growled at the rapid questions.  

"Well, where is she. I need to speak to her."

Amelia came from down the hallway, "She went out for a walk," she told him, and walked to the front door where Elias was, "She broke up with her boyfriend, and she's going through a lot of emotions."

"She broke up with him? Why? Wasn't she happy?"

Amelia smiled and knew Elias and her still had a chance, "I don't think that's my place to tell you. Ask her."

"Any idea where she would go?"

"Well, if I had to guess, either window shopping through the CBD or she's in the park."

"Thanks," Elias took off again, and raced outside into the cold. Bringing out his wand, he cast a spell to find her quickly. A beam of light had him going to the centre of the city. Eventually, he found her, looking at wedding dresses in a shop's window and wiping tears from her cheeks.  

He figured if he went to Reitz he would have had plenty time to think of something to say, but she's here in his city, matured gracefully and how he has longed to talk to her.  

Looking at the gowns, her reflection matched the mannequins and it wore those beautiful dresses, it was like her own reflection mocked her. "I'm such an idiot," she muttered, and that's when she felt a presence next to her and wiped the tears from her cheeks.  

She turned her head, expecting to find a weirdo but...her rose eyes locked with a familiar set of violet eyes. Blonde locks of hair poked out from underneath his beanie, and, where she was certain to see a frown, he smiled. "...Hello," he greeted her first.

"...Hi," she returned the greeting, happy to see his face. She stepped closer to him, hoping she wasn't imagining this out of her desperation to see him, "...Why are you out here? It's Christmas Day after all?"

"...I had to see you, and I was prepared to go all the way to Reitz," he laughed.

"How did you know I was here?"

"Amelia told me."

"Of course she did," Asana giggled, Amelia would take any chance to meddle in their relationship and had told her as soon as she admitted her regret that she should have waited for Elias. "...Well, here I am."

"Here you are."

A brief silence ensued but Elias was only trying to put his thoughts into words but had to know for sure, why she had broken up with her boyfriend, "...Amelia told me that you broke up with your boyfriend? Is that true?"

"Shall we walk and talk?" She asked, and Elias joined her, then she returned to their topic of conversation, "Yes...we broke up."

"Are you okay?"

"...Not really," she admitted, and watched his face sink, "Not because I'm upset, though. It was the right thing to do, and it shouldn't have gotten as far as it did."

"Why?"

"...When I broke up with you, I tried to forget all about you. One year later, I met Michael on one of the farms, we was a stable boy and he was very kind, smart and I was drawn to him but infatuation and a fling is as far as it should have gone. I forced myself to fall in love with another man to fill the void...you left...but seeing you at Amelia's wedding ignited many feelings I had suppressed."

"So, he walked out?"

"I wish it were that kind," she said, "...I feel...guilt, regret, and that's why I'm not okay. I strung Michael on for three years, in a selfish act of trying to bury the feelings I had for you, he didn't deserve such cruelty, and there's the guilt. Regret, because you are engaged when I should be standing where she is."

She fell silent, and added, "...He found out I still had feelings for you two weeks ago. We were spending some...intimidate time alone...and where I should have said his name...I said yours," the tears threatened to overflow again but she fought them back.  

Elias stopped walking and faced her, but she couldn't look at him. Gently cradling her cheek in his hand, he tilted her face so he could look into her eyes, a tear fell from her rosy eyes, but he wiped it away, "...Don't be so hard on yourself. You made a mistake Asana," he whispered.

"...A very stupid mistake...that has hurt two people...," more tears fell, "...I love you, Elias." Then, her eyes spilled more than he could stop, so naturally he hugged her.

"Stop punishing yourself, Asana," he begged, "Because...I...I love you too. Lisa...is in love with another man too, her parents only arranged her to marry me because they didn't like the man she had chosen."

Above their heads, they had stopped underneath a street sign, and suspended from the steel bars is a mistletoe. He hugged her until her tears stopped, and then they realised the position they were in and satisfying it felt being in each other's arms.  

Their hearts pounded inside their chests, and they didn't say anything, only their eyes staring  into each others. "Um...Elias...," she tried to wiggle out of his embrace but he wasn't letting her go.

"I refuse to let you go again, and...," he looked up, "Is it considered bad fortune to not...k-kiss under the mistletoe on Christmas?"  

She couldn't tell if it was the cold snow or his words that made her blush, but she relaxed in his embrace and his face came closer to hers. In his eyes, she could see herself, and the desire he craved that was her. Unable to control her racing pulse or keep her eyes open, she closed her eyes in sweet anxious anticipation.  

Theirs breaths mingled, "I have wanted to do this for a while," he whispered and pressed his lips to her. Fire travelled through their bodies at the kiss they have waited so long to share. They had kissed once, but that was because she had turned him into a piglet, but this one was different.  

Her taste ignited his hunger for more. That sweet kiss he pressed on her lips, deepened. Struggling to stand from the weakening kiss, Elias snaked an arm around her back to hold her up and her hands wrapped around his neck, "I love you, Asana. That's what I wanted to say when you passed your judgement, but I realise...I should have told you from the very start. I should have, at the very least, come after you, but I didn't. Your not the only one to blame here."

"Elias...," she had his taste and now she was hooked, and captured his lips again, "...I love you too, I love you so much."

"Come with me?" He said.

"To where?"

"To be alone," she blushed thinking what that could mean but she wanted to be with him, no matter the consequences. Entering a hotel lobby, he managed to get a room.