#holding back tears while running that cafe like the navy for sure | Explore Tumblr posts and blogs

redbeansoups · 4 years ago

Text

Curiosity

Kaminari Denki x Reader

Includes: fluff, angst, hurt w/o comfort, implied cheating, mentions of alcohol

In which you and Kaminari Denki grow too comfortable in your routines, and weary eyes begin to wander.

Or, Kaminari Denki falls out of love.

***

“I want to marry you.”

His voice is firm, clear, confident. “One day, when we’re older.” Your hands are in his, clasped between the grip of his fingers, enveloped in a warm, lasting pressure. “We’ll get a house together, and a dog, and then we’ll get married.” He pulls you closer–and he’s warm, infectiously so, smiling down at you in a silent plea.

You feel his certainty in every possible way.

So you smile.

“Of course, Denki,” you whisper, heart fluttering.

He chuckles, kissing your forehead. You feel the vibrations of his chest against your own, strong and deep and grounding. “Then it’s a promise,” he says.

You want to hold him to his words. But the memory, prevalent as it is, always seems to present itself in faded reddish-browns, like a story scrawled in sepia-tinted fonts. The longer you dwell on it, replay it in your head, the faster it disintegrates and turns to dust.

Before you know it, it slips away between your fingertips. His promise trickles down and out of your reach, until, finally, you can no longer call it your own.

***

You’d always known him to be yours. Everyone had; the inseparable highschool duo, ever-paired together. Your friends never invited one of you without dragging along the other. He’d met you as a first-year, and had immediately pestered the homeroom teacher to let him sit by your side. The poor woman had had no choice but to comply, relenting only after months of the boy’s pleads.

He’d loved you, right from the start. Kaminari Denki showered you in affection, in handwritten notes and personalized gifts. Wide-eyed and charismatic, he’d done everything just right.

It was the half-hidden glances he shot you when he thought no-one was looking, the grin he reserved just for you, the way he’d pull you close to him every day without fail; it was the way he lit up at the sight of you and radiated with excitement at your very mention. Kaminari was earnest, and infectiously so.

How could you resist?

Dating Kaminari turned out to be an adventure. He’d drag you left and right on his antics—dared you to push your own limits as he did his. He’d take you on midnight drives, morning treks, call you over at the crack of dawn for nothing more than a hug.

You were the careful, calculating counterpart to his thrill-seeking habits, to impulse and grandeur.

He loved excitement, experiences, exploration.

You loved him.

A part of you knew, though, that you’d never quite be able to keep up.

***

“What will you do after highschool?”

It was a question you’d begun to hear increasingly frequently. An emotionally-charged inconvenience, the words tasted like uncertainty and distress, the budding woes of a soon-to-end highschool career.

“Go to university,” was always your answer, ever-practical. Every time without fail, you’d grimace at the words.

His own response, though, was easier. Lighter.

“Beats me,” he’d chuckle, eyes crinkling as his lips turned upward in a smile. He’d sling an arm over your shoulder, pulling you close to his chest. “We’ll figure it out together, won’t we?” he’d say, grinning smugly down at you.

Heart beating, you’d roll your eyes and push him away. “Yeah, yeah.”

Together.

Fearfully, you clung to the word.

***

The two of you throw your caps together at graduation. The navy-blue headwear drifts in the gentle spring air before landing gently at your feet, rustling the grass beneath you. Around you, people are crying. You’re tearing up yourself, but Kaminari is quite the opposite, a bundle of pure joy and glee.

“We did it,” he whispers.

You nod.

You cling to his side throughout the festivities, greeting all your friends with your hand interlaced with his own. Kirishima and Sero, eager as ever, have already begun begging to join Kaminari as his groomsmen.

Kaminari takes it all in stride, cackling all the while. “Bakugou’s the ring boy, then.”

“Like hell I am!” he snarls. In an instant, the two boys have begun an impromptu wrestling match.

You laugh; beside you, Ashido and Jirou do the same.

The antics are familiar, easy. They feel like any other day–yet a sense of finality hangs over you all. The air weighs heavy with the bittersweet realization.

“This is really it, huh?” Ashido mutters, sniffling.

Kirishima sighs. “Yeah.” His eyes are round, shining. “God, can you imagine? We’re gonna be adults.”

“We’ll have jobs,” Sero says, brows furrowed. “We’ll live on our own and pay taxes or whatever.”

Ashido sticks her tongue out. “Yuck.” Another chorus of laughter rings out, and most of the group continues on with the conversation.

Jirou, though, remains quiet. Lips pursed, she turns to you, gaze demanding attention.

“You’ll be moving in together, won’t you?” she asks.

You nod.

“Big commitment,” she remarks. “You sure he’s ready for it?”

You know Jirou, trust her, immensely. But she’s always been Kaminari’s friend–a constant in his life, but never quite your own. They’d been friends long before you’d met him, and they’d stayed that way through the years.

You expect that will never change.

You chuckle. “Well, he’s the one pushing for it. You know him–can’t exactly change his mind when it’s made up.”

“Guess not.” She smiles up at you, lips turned sweetly up at the corners. But there’s something more in her eyes; something distant, wistful. In an instant, though, it’s gone–replaced instead by a look you assume is sincerity. “I’m happy for you two,” she tells you.

The smile widens.

Somewhat uneasy, you smile back.

***

Your shared apartment is cluttered from the very start, an explosion of personal trinkets and accumulated belongings. You opt for separate rooms, a decision you’d made with work and study in mind. You liked peace and quiet, and two rooms seemed a better choice–

Though, as both of you quickly learned, that didn’t stop you from sleeping in his arms every night.

Your studies proceed as expected; smooth and easy, you breeze by your courses without any trouble. Kaminari finds himself part-time work nearby, a little cafe a block or two away. Things are comfortable–you fall into a routine, stable and calm.

Calm, though, has never quite fit him.

Kaminari has always sought the thrill.

***

Things grow busier over time. Schoolwork has you keeling over, bending backward at every moment, rushing to get your work done. The two of you, slowly but surely, grow apart; your routine no longer involves nightly cuddles, but weekly ones; your interactions gradually shrink down into practically nothing.

He tries, of course; he’ll pop his head into your room, ask you to come out, to go for a bike ride, to hang out with him and watch a movie–but crunchtime is brutal, and things never quite work out as you’d like.

You wish things could be easier.

But life, as you learn, slows down for no-one.

***

After a long day, you want nothing more than to see your boyfriend. You want his arms, his embrace, his words–attention, plain and simple.

But Kaminari, as of late, has seemed unkeen to deliver.

You think to go and see him, but there’s a sign up on his door. Busy, it reads, letters written in a bold red.

You disregard them, and walk on in.

“I’m going to bed,” you tell him.

He hardly looks at you as you enter, hardly acknowledges your movements; his focus lies elsewhere, drowned in the blue light of the monitor. There’s a smile there, creeping on his lips, a child-like wonder sparkling in his eyes as his avatar jumps and swerves before him, each movement meticulously trained, controller clutched firmly in hand.

You’ve become familiar with the sight.

“Hell yeah,” he cries suddenly, fist clenched with excitement. “You saw that, didn’t you, Kyo?”

You sigh.

“Denki,” you call again, louder this time. The sound reverbs in your chest, pouring out of your throat; pained, like a wallow.

He continues. You stand there, back against the doorway, arms across your chest.

Finally, he stops. The pause menu appears on-screen, and he swivels around, chair spinning delicately on its wheels–

But he’s frowning, eyebrows furrowed as he tugs his headphones down. They hang over his neck and radiate a faint glow on each side. “Yeah?”

“I was saying,” you mumble, “I’m going to–”

“I heard you the first time,” he says blankly.

“It’s late, Denki. Don’t you want to sleep?”

“Not now.” Another dull reply.

You sigh, run a hand through your hair. “I miss you,” you admit.

“Me too–but not now, okay?” His lips turn upward–but the smile he gives you is forced. “I’m not sleepy. Maybe tomorrow.” Then, without another word, he swivels back around, slides his headphones into place, and resumes the game.

You shut the door and tuck yourself into an empty bed, trying to ignore his cheers, his voice–

And the voice, inevitably, at the other end of the line.

***

He goes out more now; bar-hopping, he tells you, with highschool friends. Kirishima and Sero and Bakugou and Ashido, you presume. Privately, you wonder why he never offers to bring you along like he used to.

You’re busy, though. You suppose it doesn’t matter–

Until, one night, he doesn’t come home.

It takes ten frantic tries to reach anyone at all; Ashido and Sero both seem not to notice your calls at all. Even Bakugou, the reliable one of the bunch, doesn’t seem to have his phone on him.

It’s Kirishima that finally picks up, his greeting slurred and dopey. “Whazzup!”

You sigh. “Ei, is Denki with you?”

“Huh?” Almost instantly, his voice has cleared up. “Isn’t he with you?”

“He’s not.”

“He said he was going home–wait, I’ll text the group and ask…” There’s some fumbling on the other end of the line, followed by some rustling. “Shoot, we left the bar ages ago too–”

You pinch the bridge of your nose. “Just.. let me know if anyone gets back to you.”

“Yeah, for sure.” His voice is breathy, uncertain. “He usually gets home fine–I really don’t know, I’m so sorry.”

“It’s okay, Eijirou. Thank you.”

You hang up. Another hour passes–but not knowing what else to do, you shut your eyes and drift off to sleep.

***

You awake to a buzz from your phone. The screen illuminates the ceiling over you; the only remaining source of light.

Denki’s with me, the text reads.

It’s Jirou.

The text fills you with a weird sensation–a foreign taste, somewhere between relief and apprehension. A bitter flavor treads on your tongue.

Thank goodness, you type back. Is he okay?

Plastered, but he’s fine. Should I call him a cab? There’s a pause before her next text. I can take him tonight, if you want. My couch is free.

You ponder the thought. A part of you wants him home, wants him where you can see him. You aren’t even sure why he’d be at Jirou’s in the first place, and the thought fills you with unease. You want to drag him home, question him–

One glance at the clock, though, convinces you otherwise.

Could you watch over him tonight? I’ll come and get him tomorrow.

Another pause. Then, a reply.

Okay :)

You exhale and, tossing the covers over yourself, fall back into restless sleep.

***

You leave to retrieve him the next day. Jirou’s flat is a long journey over, and trek leaves you feeling unsettled. Still, your worry drags you out of bed and across town, coat wrapped firmly around you.

The walk, smack in the middle of winter, is far too cold for your liking.

Jirou meets you by the front door, and welcomes you in before you can even move to knock. “Long time no see,” she says, smiling, pulling you into a hug. She looks better than ever–her face is shining. There’s a happiness in her eyes that is unfamiliar, even to you.

“You look good,” you tell her.

“So do you,” she says–a bluff, certainly. In your disheveled, crestfallen state, you’re sure you look anything but. “He’s still asleep, he’s in the living room… Oh, here.” The girl reaches over to her dining table and hands you a steaming cup of tea. “You must be freezing.”

You smile. “Thanks, Kyouka.”

Just then, an all-too-familiar groan resonates through the room. Kaminari emerges from the couch, bedhead on prominent display, shoulders slouched and slunken. His shirt is crinkled in odd places.

The alcohol, clearly, has gotten to him.

You grimace.

***

You ride the train back home, not willing to brave the cold. Kaminari, still much too hungover to think, seems to appreciate the decision.

The train is crowded when it arrives. The day occurs to you then–Saturday, right at the peak of rush hour. You hustle your boyfriend into the cart and hurriedly rush him into the last remaining seat.

The train chugs to a start, and you clutch onto the handlebars above you. You watch as Kaminari leans his head back, a soft groan escaping his lips.

The sight annoys you.

You lean your torso forward to bring yourself closer to him. “Why were you at Kyouka’s in the first place?” you ask, voice just above a whisper.

Kaminari tilts his head to meet your gaze. His eyes are sunken, tired. “Just wanted to see her,” he mumbles. “Haven’t seen her in ages.”

You sigh.

“You worried me, Denki.”

“I was fine–”

“No,” you snap, cutting him off. “You didn’t even tell me you were going out,” you half-hiss, not wanting to draw attention to yourself. The anger, though, is building, tingling in your chest and fingertips, right on the edge of your tongue. “I sat at home waiting for you to come home, not knowing where you were or who the hell you were with. I had to ask Kirishima where you were–and, apparently, you told him you went home.” You can feel the heat welling in your eyes, threatening to spill. “Is that home to you, Denki? Her couch?”

He doesn’t meet your gaze. “Sorry.”

You exhale and lean back, resting your weight back on your heels. The rest of the ride back is silent.

***

The next few days are tight, tense. There’s an anger you can’t quite quell, a thirst for something you can’t quite quench. You’re torn between wanting an explanation, an apology, a remorseful embrace assuring you things will be different–

But he goes out the next weekend, and the next, and eventually on the weekdays you once spent in each others’ arms. He fails, over and over, to come home, and all you can do now is try your best to ignore the click of the front door at dawn.

Spite. That’s the feeling now. You’re spiteful, vengeful, you want more out of him and less at the same time–but you don’t protest. You keep your lips tightly sealed, and move on with your life. You spend meals apart, nights separate, days distant and alone.

You fall into another routine–a colder, lonelier one. Sometimes, behind his back, you catch glimpses of his belongings; the worn winter jackets, the strewn contents of an overnight bag, the notifications from the girl you have always known–

You wonder if, in her presence, he finds the same thrill he once did in you.

***

A/N: went through a really rough spot. my feelings culminated in this monstrosity–it’s been a while, but i hope the writing was okay :)

also, i love jirou. very, very, very much. i didn’t mean to throw her under the bus here. i like to think the reader’s insecurities got to them, and that the cheating didnt actually happen, but that’s always open to interpretation.

#bnha angst #bnha #my hero academia #kaminari denki #kaminari denki x reader #bnha x reader #mha x reader #bnha x reader angst #bnha reader insert #kaminari x reader #senior year has been kicking me in the ass #on a random note though i got accepted into a pretty good college

230 notes · View notes

miracleonice87 · 4 years ago

Text

Begin Again

a Mathew Barzal song fic

a/n: a one shot based on “Begin Again” by Taylor Swift. obviously I don’t own any of Taylor Swift’s music/lyrics! I’m not even a big Swiftie anymore (edited: lol dying bc I wrote that before she released folklore and evermore and sucked me RIGHT back in) but I love her “Red” album and always listen to it in the fall. also, the NYC traffic/parking/location situation in this is purely fantasy BS, lol.

summary: Mat Barzal meets Hayden Parker (fictional) in a coffee shop, and they start something new.

warnings: swearing. talk of a concussion/migraines/weight loss — otherwise, complete and total fluff.

______

With a deep breath, you glanced at your reflection in the mirror hanging near your front door before you left your Brooklyn apartment. You hadn’t worn these heels for several seasons now — he hadn’t liked it when you wore high heels. You had let his opinions — on your clothes, shoes, music, books, movies, and friends — dictate how you lived for too long. You smirked now, admiring how the pointed-toe snakeskin stilettos looked paired with your raw cut black jeans and silky pink blouse. He would’ve hated this look (“too gaudy,” he would have said), which made you love it that much more.

You popped in one AirPod and flipped the inside lock on your door before pulling it closed. You made your way down the hall as the lyrics started to flow.

There is a young cowboy, he lives on the range

His horse and his cattle are his only companions...

You fought the urge to roll your eyes thinking about your former flame’s constant unwarranted comments about this classic ballad which often wafted through your apartment from the record player in the living room.

“I don’t get this song — like, is he singing to himself?” he would ask. You never bothered to tell him the real background and meaning — you loved the song, and you got it. You always had.

Emerging from the main entrance of your building, you hummed along to melodies from your favorite playlist, and walked the three or so blocks to your destination. Soon, you were stepping in from the bustle of the street to find solace in an only-slightly less busy coffee shop, one you had come to frequent because of its location — sandwiched within the six blocks between your apartment and the fashion magazine where you were interning this semester.

“Hi, one large double shot mocha, please?” you requested, stepping up after the man in front of you paid for his order. You tapped your AirPod to pause your music, just in time to hear: “Nice shoes.”

You lifted your head and glanced toward the pick-up section of the counter, where a classically handsome man in his twenties stood donning a well-tailored navy blue suit. Your heart lurched in your chest as you realized he was looking straight at you.

“Me?” you inquired softly, just to be sure, as you slipped your bank card back into your wallet. He nodded, smiling. “Yes, you. Nice shoes.”

You bit your lip involuntarily, slowly walking his way to wait on your coffee. “Thanks. You’ve got nice style yourself,” you complimented, and you were surprised by your own boldness in that moment. Something about his confidence made you confident, too. And something about his model good looks seemed unsettlingly familiar somehow.

He extended his hand as you took your position next to him. “I’m Mat,” he greeted. You couldn’t help but smile, nearly breathless from his innate charm.

“Hi, Mat,” you replied, engaging his handshake. “I’m Hayden.”

“Hayden. Pretty name for a pretty girl,” Mat mused, holding onto your hand for just a moment longer than was customary. You knew it was silly — God, was it silly — but you felt yourself blush at his flattery.

“Large Americano,” a barista called out. Mat stepped forward, thanking her and stuffing a bill — you couldn’t help but notice that it was a large one — into the tip jar atop the glass pastry display. He turned back to you as he unfastened the lid and blew gently on his coffee. Another thing you couldn’t help but notice — his perfect pink lips.

“So, Hayden, are you a native New Yorker?”

Hmm, you thought. Why isn’t he running for the door after getting his drink? You decided to play along, feeling more daring than you had in ages.

“I am not,” you confessed. “I’m from Maine, actually.”

“Ah, still an East Coast girl,” Mat remarked with a grin. “I’m from the West — near Vancouver.”

You arched your brows. “Wow, Canadian, huh?” Mat chuckled.

“Born and raised. You know what they say, though: opposites attract,” he commented, hazel eyes piercing into you even as he took a cautious sip from his cup. You studied his face — he seemed more familiar with each word he spoke.

“They do say that, don’t they?” you retorted, skirting his inference. Just then, the barista set your mocha on the counter.

“Thank you so much,” you said, also pushing a tip into the jar, thankful that Mat’s attention was on grabbing a cup sleeve from the island nearby instead of on the much smaller bills you had to offer the staff.

You turned toward the island, too, reaching for the cinnamon. Mat offered you a sleeve as if it was second nature, and you graciously accepted, trying to relax the muscles on your face that seemed to have permanently turned upward into a smile since you’d been in the man’s presence.

Suddenly, you gasped.

“Islanders,” you whispered under your breath as Mat watched you stir your cinnamon into your drink. He froze.

“What?” he asked with a nervous laugh, wondering if he had heard you correctly. Your eyes darted around, making sure no one within earshot was paying attention.

“You play for the Islanders. Right?” you asked softly. He nodded, silent, ducking his head a bit; you began to backpedal.

“Oh, God... I didn’t mean - I, uh... I promise I’m not like a hockey fangirl, or anything,” you choked out, cheeks flushed. Your hands started to shake slightly as you replaced the lid on your to-go cup. “I just, uh, my brother. My brother played hockey. He always talked about you, and, uh, I just realized that that’s why I recognized you.” You winced.

“This... this isn’t as weird as it sounds, I swear,” you insisted. “It’s just that, my brother played in the Q. He was good, and, uh, I knew about all the other good hockey players, because of him.”

Mat’s demeanor had quickly changed — from slightly uncomfortable to giddy. He was smirking at you while you sputtered, taking a sort of masochistic pleasure in watching you squirm. His grin was infectious.

“What’s your last name?” he asked when you finally stopped talking. “Parker,” you responded, the two of you stepping away from the island and taking up residence near the front windows of the cafe.

“Parker... Parker,” he repeated. You were distracted by how good your name sounded falling from his tongue. Then, he gasped, too.

“Oh shit, your brother’s Nick Parker? Damn, how’s he doing?”

Your brow quirked as you watched the light flicker on in his eyes when he pieced it together. A National Hockey League star recognized your brother’s name, your name. What the hell was happening?

You cleared your throat, attempting to come back into orbit. “Uh, yeah, he’s good now. He, uh... it was a battle there for a couple years. He had migraines every day for about 16 months... lost a lot of weight. It was... it was tough,” you told him, your voice lowering noticeably. Mat watched you carefully, concern written all over his striking features. It was evident that Mat knew your brother’s story.

Your older brother Nick had been a top 20 prospect in the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League as a teen, playing forward for the Halifax Mooseheads. But after a nasty late hit during a playoff game, he had been left with a debilitating concussion and, after a long period of unsuccessful rehab, had been forced to walk away from the game just as he was entering his prime.

Those troubling days hung like a thick, black fog over your family’s history, and you suddenly recalled being 15 again, cross-legged outside Nick’s bedroom door for hours, begging him to let you into the dark room to hold onto him as he cried, both because of the pain and because of the weight of his unrealized dreams. It had taken countless neurologist appointments, physical therapy, and your parents’ unwavering insistence that he regularly see a sports psychologist for him to return to some semblance of normalcy after a long road to recovery.

Now, minus the occasional treatable migraine, Nick was thriving. You beamed at the thought, your well-polished black nail picking at the corner of the cup sleeve on your mocha as you looked back to Mat and continued.

“But he’s finishing law school now, seeing a therapist and keeps himself in great shape, which helps. He’s getting married next summer to this great girl,” you finished, pride swelling in your chest at how far your brother had come. Mat’s eyebrows lifted, his worried expression morphing into elation.

“No shit!” he exclaimed. “Damn, I’m so happy for him. Tell you what, lotta guys wanted nothing to do with him when he was tearing it up. And we were all gutted for him after it happened.” You gave him a grateful smile.

“Thanks,” you said softly. “I’ll have to let him know you said that.” Mat nodded, then pressed on. “Maybe I’ll get the chance to tell him myself one day,” he added brazenly, casually taking another sip.

No response came to your brain, so you curled your fingers around your own cup and took a long draw, eyes darting to the activity outside the window, Mat’s never leaving your unsure face.

The church bells chiming from a nearby steeple were the only thing that could pull Mat’s gaze from you, as he checked his large-face Rolex. He seemed angered by the time staring back at him, and he ran his hand aggressively through his hair as his eyes rolled just slightly.

“Listen, Hayden, I hate to do this,” Mat began with a sigh. “But we’ve got a game in Pittsburgh tomorrow night, and the team plane leaves in like half an hour.”

You’re surprised by how deflated you feel in that instant, casting a downward glance at the shoes Mat had complimented only minutes ago, before you’d started feeling like maybe you’d known him your whole life.

A quiet, “Oh,” was all you could muster, still not meeting his eyes.

His hand then came to rest on your upper arm, and it’s only then that you noticed how big it was, long fingers curling easily around your bicep.

“But hey... I’ll be back late tomorrow night. Whaddya say we grab coffee here the next morning? Wednesday. Maybe 8?”

You turned your eyes upward to take in his face. He looked hopeful. He was hopeful that he’d see you again.

You nodded. “I’d love to, Mat. I’ll meet you here.”

Mat beamed, a relieved breath falling from his lips. “Good,” he commented. “I’ll see you then.” He leaned in and pressed a chaste kiss to your cheek, leaving you reeling when he pulled away.

“Bye, pretty Hayden,” Mat said with a wink before turning and exiting the coffee shop, walking down the block to the Cadillac he’d just unlocked. He was still in sight when he glanced over his shoulder and threw you another breathtaking grin. You smiled back, frozen in place as you watched him drive away.

_____

Mat was going to be late.

At least, that’s what you had convinced yourself at some point within the last 48 hours.

He was either going to be late or he was going to stand you up altogether. So even though you woke up at 5:30 and initially felt the need to rush through your routine to get down to the coffee shop as quickly as possible, you didn’t. You forced yourself to slow down. Because Mat was going to be late. Or, he wasn’t going to be there at all.

So you were surprised when, after throwing on a red chiffon dress with tiny white flowers and a cognac leather jacket, you walked through the coffee shop door at 8:02 and heard, “Hayden!”

Your head snapped up.

At a corner table in the back of the shop was Mat, dressed in a smart grey sweater and distressed black jeans, a silver chain looped around his neck, standing to wave you over with a broad smile across his face.

He came. And he’d arrived before you did.

You walked over to Mat and he embraced you warmly, the two of you exchanging kisses on the cheek. He squeezed your elbow affectionately as you stepped back from him.

“Oh, here. Let me,” Mat said as he pulled your chair out and motioned for you to sit.

“Thank you,” you said quietly, his chivalry catching you by surprise. Once you were seated, he pushed your chair in slightly before taking his place across the table from you.

“I got you a mocha,” he told you, nodding at the cup in front of you. “Double shot, right?”

You nodded. “You’re sweet. Thank you,” you said, the two of you beaming at each other for a moment, lost in a daze.

“So how was the game?” you inquired, pulling you both back to earth. Mat cleared his throat before answering you.

“It was good! We won. It’s usually a tough battle with them but we kinda dominated, which was nice for a change,” he spoke, looking pleased.

“You score?” you asked teasingly as you sipped from your cup.

“Uh, yeah, actually,” he told you with a nervous chuckle, scratching the back of his head. “Two goals and an assist.”

Your eyebrows lifted on your forehead. “Mat, that’s amazing! So my brother was right. You are good.”

Mat shook his head, trying to shrug you off.

“Ah, nah. I kinda think it had more to do with a good luck charm I met this week,” he remarked slyly. You licked your bottom lip before biting on it gently. Mat took notice, mirroring your motions as he stared at your lips.

“So, how’s work been this week?” It was Mat’s turn to deflect.

You told him how hectic it had been, with you arriving at the office around 9 and leaving at 6 on the day you’d first met, then departing after 7 yesterday, despite it being only a part-time internship in addition to the five classes you were taking online. He asked about your combination of on-campus and online learning throughout your college career in order to accommodate your dream internships, and he was already in awe of what a hard worker you were.

You pointed out that you weren’t the only one at the table with a crazy schedule, and you asked him how he balanced hockey with his personal life. He answered you easily, launching into stories about his teammates and his family and his friends who all kept him grounded in different ways. There was one name he kept bringing up — Tito. He told you that you’d have to meet him. Before you could hesitate, you said you’d like to. His visage brightened at that answer. He reminded you of sunshine.

He continued to regale you with a vast array of stories, stopping often to ask you questions and invite you to tell him stories of your own. It took a bit of time, but soon you were opening up about your own life — your parents’ recent and shocking divorce after 30 years of marriage, and your struggle with your grandmother’s death last fall.

It wasn’t all dark, though. In fact, most of it wasn’t. You also told him about the crazy theater actor roommate you’d had when you first moved into the city to study fashion at NYU, and how her frightening antics had eventually pushed you into accepting your uncle’s offer to pay for your own apartment in the city, as he was single and childless and had always delighted in spoiling you and your brother. You told him about your only two cousins on your dad’s side, two siblings bracketing you and your brother in age, and how the four of you were more like siblings than cousins. You told a slightly off-color joke at your own expense that most of your friends and coworkers would never laugh at, but it left Mat breathless, throwing his head back with boyish giggles flowing from his mouth like your favorite song. This caught you off-guard — you couldn’t believe he actually seemed to think you were funny. The last one certainly never did.

At some point, the conversation shifted to music. Mat’s jaw dropped when you told him that you own every James Taylor album on vinyl, after he told you that that’s one of his favorite artists of all time. He said he’s never met anyone who has as many James Taylor records as you. You simply shrugged. You explained that you and your mom have seen every tour James Taylor has been on since you were eleven and had started playing guitar. Mat’s eyes went wide — he told you that he dabbles in guitar, too.

After this, you quieted a bit. He noticed. It comes off to him as shyness, but you know what it really is. It’s fear. All at once you realize just how far you’ve let your guard down with this stranger. You’ve only just met this person, yet you have more in common with him than anyone you’ve encountered since moving into the city.

He sensed that something was off, so, in the silence, he reached a hand across the table and took yours in his grasp, stroking the back of it with his thumb. You looked into his mesmerizing eyes, and your hesitance melted.

After several more minutes of easy conversation, you check the time. You need to be at work in ten minutes.

“I’m sorry to be the one to break this up this time,” you started, and Mat sat back, looking understanding though disappointed. “But I’ve gotta get to work. Thankfully, it’s just right down the street.”

“Let me walk you,” Mat quickly insisted. You smirked at him, digging in your purse to find your office key.

“Didn’t you drive here?” you asked, chuckling. He simply shrugged. “Yeah, but if pretty Hayden works just down the street, I might as well walk her to the office and spend a few extra minutes with her,” he told you with a smug grin. You felt your cheeks get hot.

“Sounds good to me,” you admitted quietly. Mat nodded, then rose from his chair, reaching for his wallet to leave another tip.

“Thank you,” you said, putting your hand on his forearm tenderly. “For the coffee. For this.”

He smiled down at you. “You’re welcome,” he replied.

The two of you walked out the cafe door, which Mat pushed open even from behind you. You pointed in the direction of your office building and the two of you fell into step, side by side. Your heart leapt when Mat reaches for your hand. It felt unbelievably natural — which terrified you.

Your recent relationship history flashed through your brain all at once, like a film reel. Your brain screamed, “Slow down!” while your heart whispered, “Relax.” You weren’t sure which to believe. You opened your mouth to bring him up, to give a fair warning, to tell Mat that you might not be ready for... whatever this was.

Then, he started to talk about the movies that his family watches every single Christmas. You weren’t at all sure what had brought that subject to his mind — maybe your earlier questions about his younger sister back in Coquitlam — but you’re grateful for the diversion from your own messy mind. You decided to engage him on that topic instead, rather than bring up your last boyfriend who’d shattered you then walked away.

And for the first time in eight months, you decided to leave what’s past, in the past.

Like a pinball machine, Mat had already bounced to yet another new topic — his practice later this morning. As he finished a story about pranking Tito in the locker room after a skate last week, you bubbled over with giggles. He watched you with admiration and wonder coursing through his entire being. You eventually observed how he was gazing at you, and you sensed that he had something more important to say than his joke on his teammate.

“Hey, so, uh,” Mat started, clearing his throat. Your suspicion had been correct. “What are you doing tomorrow night, after work? We have a home game tomorrow at 7:30 and I, uh, I wanted to see if maybe... you wanted to go? I requested a ticket for you... just in case you want it. If you do... I was thinking maybe we could grab dinner after?”

The sentences Mat spoke seemed to be rolled into one giant question mark. His unwavering self-assurance had seemed to falter slightly for the first time since you’d met him, surprising you. You only needed a moment to consider your answer.

“I’d love to come watch you play,” you told him, wrapping your hands around his upper arm affectionately. You watched him exhale, a smile slowly overtaking his face.

“Thank God,” Mat breathed, making you both burst into hysterics as he leaned his head down to touch yours for a moment.

Bewilderment overcame you as you realized that you hadn’t felt this way about anyone in... you couldn’t even remember how long. You’d thought it might never happen again. That for you, this feeling might just be... gone.

You couldn’t believe that on a Wednesday, in a cafe, you’d watched it begin again.

193 notes · View notes

heavenlyhaechan · 4 years ago

Text

The Road Not Taken

Pairing: Kevin x Gn!Reader

Genre: exes to almost lovers, angst, fluff

Word Count: 2k

Warnings: mentions of alcohol, alludes to explicit content, not a happy ending

Rating: PG

Note: Based on ‘tis the damn season by Taylor Swift. Look for the lines inspired by the Queen’s Gambit.

The cafe was the same as it’d always been. Big windows looked out onto the wet street, sacks of coffee beans lay along the back wall, their sweet aroma filling the air. You breathed in deeply, letting the smell fill your lungs until your body forced you to exhale.

You ordered a plain black coffee at the counter, turning to lean against it as you waited. A baby looked at you in the curious way babies do, and you returned their stare. Their hair stuck up in curls that bounced around as they giggled. You smiled, averting your gaze as you heard the bell on the door jingle.

His hair was longer than you remembered. It threatened to fall into his eyes as he surveyed the room, eyes that froze the second they landed upon you. For a moment you were tempted to try and hide, abandon your unmade coffee and run as far away from here as you could. But he was already making his way past the cashier and the cases of baked goods, only slowing down when he reached you.

“Kevin Moon,” you said as he came to a stop in front of you. He nodded, a small smile playing on his lips.

“It’s been a while,” he replied.

“I like your hair.”

He thanked you as you turned to accept your coffee from the barista.

“Where are you staying?” he asked as you took a sip of the dark liquid.

“My parents house.”

“How long?”

“Two weeks.”

He nodded again, fingers playing with the silver chain of his necklace.

“Aren’t you gonna order?” you asked after a moment of silence.

“Oh yeah. Wait for me?”

“Of course,” you said, but in your head all you could think was: did you wait for me?

“You still drink that bitter stuff huh?” he asked as he walked you back to your parents house.

“You still drink that glorified milk huh?” you shot back.

He made an indignant sound as he held his coffee cup close to his chest. “How dare you disrespect my latte like that.”

For the first time in what felt like forever, a genuine laugh bubbled up in your chest. Soon enough you were both laughing, high on the cold air and the nostalgia of each others company. It felt so natural being with him, laughing with him, like four years hadn’t just gone by without a word from either of you.

“So what are you up to these days?” you asked when you’d recovered.

“Well I’m a uh, teacher. For first graders.”

“Oh?” you said. “You went through with it huh?”

“Yeah,” he laughed again, quieter this time. You remembered how easily laughter had always come to him, as well as the days when it had come easily to you too.

——

Thursday morning you sat up in your childhood bed to find the world outside coated in a thin layer of snow. By the time you made it downstairs for breakfast it had begun to fall again, the wind sending white flurries of it dancing across your parent’s lawn.

At eleven o’clock you answered a knock on the door, only to find Kevin standing on your porch with a navy blue beanie pulled over his hair and a sled under his arm.

“Are you serious?” you asked in place of a greeting, trying and failing to hold back a smile as he nodded enthusiastically.

“It never snows here, so we are obligated to take advantage of it!” he said as he quirked an eyebrow at you comically.

You didn’t need any more persuasion than that.

Half an hour later the two of you stood at the top of a hill in your neighborhood park, surrounded on all sides by people twice your age. Not that Kevin seemed to care. A flipped coin resulted in you sitting on the front of the sled with Kevin behind you, his arms wrapped tightly around your waist.

The butterflies that were conjured at the feeling of his chest pressed against your back (albeit separated by quite a few of layers), were blown away as he sent the two of you hurtling down the snowy slope. You didn’t know whether to laugh or scream, so you did a bit of both. It was over in a flash however, as the two of you came to a smooth stop at the bottom of the hill.

“Again!” you shouted elatedly, laughing as you pulled Kevin to his feet and started back up the incline.

Once, twice, three times you repeated the process, until on your fifth run your luck ran out and you were sent toppling off the sled as you reached the bottom of the hill. You lay still for a moment, trying to catch your breath, before you realized the position you’d landed in. Kevin hadn’t let go of your waist once, resulting in the two of you falling onto the snow covered ground in a pile of limbs, your cheek pressed to his chest.

“Are you okay?” you asked as you scrambled off of him hurriedly, blaming his newfound blush on the cold.

“Yeah, are you?” he asked as he sat up slowly.

“Yes, you’re good landing pad.”

“Glad to be of service.” He looked around for a moment before laying back down and shouting, “Snow angel!” His arms and legs moved sporadically in the snow, sending you into another fit of laughter.

——

The next week was spent both with and without Kevin. During the day you would go explore art galleries, cafes, and parks, or just go for a drive in the old truck he’d had since you were seventeen. At night you would spend time with your family, trying your best to pretend that your mind wasn’t elsewhere.

New Years Eve arrived sooner than you would’ve liked, as it meant your trip was coming to an end. That night Kevin showed up on your doorstep yet again, this time carrying a bottle of champagne.

“Might I uh, steal you away from your parents for a bit?” he asked when you answered the door, his smile as big and lopsided as ever. You found that you couldn’t help but smile back.

——

“This is it; home sweet home,” he said as he closed his apartment door behind you. It was small but cozy, with little bits of Kevin everywhere. Boxes of beads were spread across the kitchen table, and some of his students drawings were pinned up on the white front fridge.

As Kevin went to get some glasses for the champagne, you found your eyes fixating on the piece of art hung on the far wall.

“Do you like it?” he asked as he set a pair of champagne glasses down on the kitchen table.

“Yeah,” you said, although honestly you weren’t sure. The piece sent a strange sense of loneliness streaking through you.

“It’s mine.” he said. “I made it I mean.”

“I didn’t know you were an artist,” you said as you ripped your eyes away from the piece and moved to where he stood at the table.

“I’m not really,” he deflected, lifting his hands to gesture towards the bottle of champagne. “Shall we?”

——

A few glasses of champagne later you found yourself laying on Kevin’s couch, legs resting on his lap. His hands tapped an unfamiliar beat on your thighs, the beads on his bracelet creating a makeshift song.

“You know, this isn’t technically champagne,” you mused, your fingers playing with one of the couches loose strings. “It’s just sparkling white wine,” you continued, lifting your head to look at him.

“Is it now?” he said to show he was listening, his eyes not straying from where his hands rested on your legs.

“Yes,” you sat up properly now, your head spinning a bit as blood rushed from your brain to the rest of your body. You watched the clocks hands tick the seconds away, counting down to midnight.

——

It was 11:57 when he asked you if you still liked his hair, the words heavy with meaning. His breath ghosted across your lips as you pondered for a moment, leaning forward to twist a lock of his pitch black hair between your fingers. You noticed then that his eyes had glazed over, although whether it was because of the champagne or the close proximity you weren’t sure.

“Yes,” you said finally, and he smiled.

“Can I kiss you?” he asked this time, leaning just a hair closer.

“Yes,” you said again, barely loud enough for him to hear.

Four years had passed, but he tasted the same; like that peppermint gum you’d loved in high school, with remnants of coffee from the place down the street. You wondered if you tasted the same, if deep down you were still the same naive school girl that he’d watched leave all those years ago.

You thought back to the last kiss you’d given him before you’d left, and realized that this felt exactly the same. The only difference was that this time you thought you might finally drown in your guilt.

But then you felt his teeth dig into your bottom lip and you stopped thinking anything at all.

——

You awoke to the scent of him on your skin and in your lungs, the warmth of his presence permeating your very being. You were enveloped in it, and for a moment you wished you could stay there forever, wrapped in the warmth of his blankets.

But no. You rolled onto your stomach, not wanting to look him in the eye as your mind grappled with the conflicting bitterness of the truth. Goosebumps rose on your skin as he trailed his fingertips over your bare shoulder, up to your cheek, before coming to rest in your hair.

“I’m leaving tomorrow,” you murmured finally, not wanting to disrupt the peaceful atmosphere of the morning.

“Wow,” he said. “Time flies.”

A few moments passed, and part of you lit up with the hope that he might ask you to stay. But then the warmth of his hand left your head, and the warmth of his body left your side. You kept your face buried in the pillow, eyes screwed tight against the tears that you felt rising in you. You could feel the strain in your throat as you forced yourself to hold them back.

“Why didn’t you,” he started and then stopped as his voice wavered. A moment passed, and the another, and then another, until you thought he might have decided to leave it alone. But then he began again.

“Why didn’t you keep in touch?”

The question felt like salt added to an already aching wound. You forced yourself to think back to the day you’d left. You’d been eighteen then, ready to get out of your hometown and explore the world. Ready for new adventures in unfamiliar cities. And that’s exactly what you’d found.

Nevertheless, you’d promised Kevin that you’d keep in touch, keep whatever it was the two of you had back then alive. In this you had failed. You’d been too wrapped up in your luxurious new life, meeting luxurious new people and seeing luxurious new places.

“I did at first, I just-” you stopped yourself when you heard, more than felt, your voice crack. What good were excuses anyway.

“Yeah,” you heard him sigh. “At first.” The bed moved underneath you as he stood up. You opened your eyes then, only to feel any lingering hope that you had left being ripped away as you watched him turn towards the door.

“I’m going down the street to get breakfast,” he said, but you knew what he really meant was: you better be gone when I get back. With that he left the bedroom, his bare feet making so little noise on the hardwood floors that it was like he was a ghost.

You wanted to call his name, ask him to stay a little longer, but that was too selfish even for you. You couldn’t ask him to wait for the same reason you knew he wouldn’t ask you to stay.

——

As you stood in the airport saying goodbye to your parents a strange wave of deja vu washed over you. Four and a half years and almost nothing had changed, except this time he wasn’t here to say goodbye.

78 notes · View notes

softboywriting · 4 years ago

Text

Back To You (WIP)

Summary: After six years away you’ve returned to your hometown to be reunited with Shawn, the man you loved and left behind. Much has changed, including Shawn having a son, but your love for him has not. You’ll have to navigate falling in love all over again, rouge werewolves, and being a parent to the child you never thought you’d have. [werewolf story]

Word Count: 14k

|Masterlist of Stories in Bio|

The wind whips around him as he steps through the freshly fallen snow. He's been here before. Both in his real life and in dreams. He knows how this will end. The Wolveswood calls to him like it had the first time he came here. Soon he will round the corner and find the small white pup buried in the snow at the foot of the giant oak.

But this time is different. He rounds the corner and catches the scent of something familiar. Someone. His footsteps quicken, the feeling of finding someone so familiar but foreign. As he approaches the base of the tree there is not a small pup but a woman. As he drops to his knees to uncover the body it stirs, familiar eyes meeting his. The eyes of a woman he hasn't seen in six years grip his heart and make him feel as if he's suffocating.

Shawn sits upright in his bed and looks around his bedroom. His alarm is set for four in the morning and it's a quarter till. There was no going back to sleep now.

___________________

You find yourself in the kitchen of the house you grew up in. The cabinets are painted with sunflowers and daisies they way they had always been. Something is cooking on the stove but you can't smell it. Small hands grip your pants and you look down to see a little boy trying to get your attention.

“Momma. Momma.”

You pick up the child and hold him on your hip. He's adorable, dark hair and dark eyes. From behind you a door opens and you look back. There's a man walking toward you, a smile on his face. He's familiar but you can't quite sort out why. He kisses the boy's head and then yours. The moment his lips meet your temple you know who it is and your heart soars. Shawn. You've missed him.

You wake up, eyes blinking out the sleep as your bedroom comes into focus. What a strange dream. You can only assume being back in town is what has triggered it. You can't help but wonder if Shawn is actually still around.

____________________

Moving back to Brighton was not something you expected to do any time soon, but after losing your apartment due to a rent increase and losing your job due to layoffs, moving back home seemed pretty good. You parents moved away recently and left the house to you and your brother. Jeremy had no interest in moving back to Brighton, he was getting married soon, halfway across the country too.

Driving into town brings a sense of nostalgia, a taste of home. You grew up here, born and raised in the little brick house on the corner of 12th and Main Street. The tiny garden your mom put in when you were ten still grows ever vibrant under the front windows. The old oak stands tall and proud in the front yard, the swing your dad put up when you and Jeremy were toddlers is still there as well. It felt amazing to have a sense of belonging again. The city was great but it wasn't home. Never was.

You drive down Main St and notice a lot of the shops are closed up or are new businesses all together. The grocery store is still open as well as the thrift shop and the printing place. The drug store and sports shop are still there too. The old liquor store has closed up and you are glad for it. Two years ago Brighton became a dry town, no alcohol sales allowed in the town limits. It wasn't a surprise, most of the werewolf townships were going dry. Liquor lead to reckless wolves and no one needed that in this day and age. Werewolves had enough trouble with humans already. While most humans didn't mind them, there were plenty who did. A few rotten apples can sour a bunch.

The old cafe is gone but over head is a sign that reads Full Moon Brew. A small coffee place no doubt. Curiosity gets the best of you and you pull over into a parking spot along the street. The wind whips your oversized sweater around you as you head into the shop, hair a mess from the weather.

The place is warm, both visually and physically. Old wood floors and rust orange tablecloths really set the mood. Little art pieces made of tea cups and spoons hang over head on the high ceilings. They're delightful, beautiful little mobiles. There is a small line of three people as you approach the counter. Somewhere nearby you hear a child squealing, but you don't see it.

The line moves up and you see a familiar face behind the counter. Those dark chocolate curls are as unmistakable as the laugh that comes out of him. Shawn. Gods you cannot believe he's still in town and after the dream you had this morning you can't believe you're actually seeing him. It makes your heart giddy with each step you take. Never did you think he would be in your life again. His voice, heavens and earth, his voice is still just as enticing as it was when you were a teenager.

“Next,” Shawn says cooly as the man in front of you steps forward. “What can I get for you today?”

Your pulse goes wild, the thought of facing him again after six years is sending you into a fit. He's the one man you always wanted, and leaving Brighton was a mistake. Never returning before now was a mistake. Gods knew you were in love with him when you left and they know you still are now. There was no denying it. Man alive you were going to have a conniption fit right here in this line.

“Ne-” Shawn's voice falls away, a cup tumbles to the floor behind the counter and you look up from where the man in front of you has moved. His legs replaced with the dark wood of the order counter. “Hey, I thought I recognized that perfume.”

“Hey.” You lift your eyes fully, forcing them to meet Shawn's. “Long time no see yeah?”

“Yeah.” He grins. His smile put the sun to shame. Bright, gorgeous and his teeth so perfectly straight. Those fangs a bit too large to be human, but that's because he wasn't. “You look good...I can't believe you're here.”

“Same actually.”

“What can I get you? I mean, you came for coffee right? Or did you come for me? I mean that would be weird?”

You chuckle nervously as you step forward and lay your hand on the counter top. “Can I get a-”

A toddler comes into view screaming from behind him. “Daddy! Daddy! I made drink!” The small boy brandishes a tall paper cup with a mysterious substance sloshing out of it.

Your heart stops. The boy from the dream. He has the same dark hair and dark eyes. This was too weird. “Daddy?” you whisper and Shawn looks at you.

He tears his eyes away from yours and looks to the boy. “This is my son.” He kneels down and takes a sip of whatever is in that cup. Brave man. “It's great bud! Go share with Ms. Lettie?”

“Okay!”

Shawn stands up and runs his hand over his hair. “I'm so sorry. He usually doesn't run in here like that. What can I get you?”

“I...I'm just going to have a mocha.”

“It's a long story.” He says as he rings you up. You didn't ask. You didn't need to. “I can explain later but I understand if you don't want to know its-”

You're not as shocked that he has a son as you are that your dream was happening before your very eyes. You aren't sure what to say. How do you explain a dream like that to someone you haven't talked to in years? The only thing you can manage to say is far from what you mean to but it comes out nonetheless. “Did you really drink that?”

“What?”

“The cup he had. Did you actually drink it?”

Shawn chuckles. “Yeah it's just water and apple juice. He mixes his sippy cups into a paper cup. It's fine.”

“Oh.” You laugh softly and hand over a ten dollar bill for your order. “And I'd love to talk later if you're free.”

“I'll leave my number on the receipt then.”

_____________________

The moment you step outside the wind picks up again and you cling to the warm cup in your hands. It's mid November but you can swear you see snow flurries whipping by in the gusts. You turn your back to the wind and walk toward your car. It's so cold you wish you'd grabbed a jacket this morning.

“Hey! Wait!”

You turn and Shawn is walking toward you. “What? Did I leave something?”

“Yeah.” He hands you your receipt with his number on it. “I forgot to give you this.”

“Oh! Right.” You smile down at the crumpled piece of thin paper. “I guess I would have known where to find you though.”

Shawn smiles. “Meet me at the Wolveswood around five?

“Won't your wife wonder where you're at?”

“Wife?

“Yeah...or girlfriend. The boy's mom?”

Shawn shakes his head. “No it's just me. I'll explain later. Five o'clock?”

“Yes. I'll be there.”

____________________

It's just before sunset as you stroll into the Wolveswood. The white trees and dark pines create a stunning and magical aura about the place and that's because in a way it was. Every werewolf township had a Wolveswood. There was something about the trees that grew in them that provided a perfect place for the wolves to be themselves unguarded and uninhibited.

You loved coming here as a kid, though your parents strongly advised against it. Being a human in a town of wolves you had to take precautions. Now that you're older you understand that it was only because the Wolveswood was a place for the residents to run free and you were not a wolf. Though the only times you entered was with Shawn and he would never let anything happen to you.

You head toward the massive oak that sits in the middle of the woods. It's a sprawling work of nature and is the most sacred tree in the Wolveswood. You have countless memories of this place. Most of which involved Shawn and the two of you hanging out after school. A stick breaks behind you and you see Shawn heading towards you in a dark navy sweater. The little boy from the shop is by his side, running ahead to jump on the sticks and snap them.

“You came,” Shawn smiles as he stops before you. “I was worried you might be weirded out by my son.”

“No not at all. I'm curious more than anything.”

Shawn leads you to the trunk of the tree and sits on one of it's massive exposed roots curving up out of the ground. “Well. It all started right here.”

“Like...”

“I found him here, lying abandoned in the snow two years ago almost. He didn't shift into a human for weeks. I had to fight the council to keep him.” Shawn chuckles and watches the boy chase a cardinal nearby. “I didn't know his name, I didn't even know if he knew his name. He didn't speak much, not even babble when he shifted.”

“Wow, he was just left out here?”

“Yeah. We tried everything to find out who his parents were but we can only assume it was a wandering pack or maybe some loners or something. Why they left him behind I can't fathom.”

“What's his name?”

“Myles, but he answers to Pup usually.”

You lower yourself onto the cold dirt and wave at Myles. “Hey pup, hello.”

Myles ducks behind Shawn and hides with his back to the root that Shawn's sitting on. You lean over to try and see him but he must be really curled into the trunk.

“He’s shy.” Shawn reaches back and rubs Myles’ hair. “I want to enroll him in preschool soon but I can't afford anywhere around here and the closest public place is two towns over.”

“What about the library?”

“Expensive. It's a private program.”

“But I'm starting work there next week. I can take him. Employees get free child care. No one is going to ask if he's mine if I bring in his documents.”

Shawn's face lights up. “You would do that? I mean you don't have to. I'll sort something out.” He shakes his head. “No I can't have you do that. I'll just home school him.”

You stand and lay your hand on Shawn's shoulder and he covers it with his own. “You’d do the same for me.”

“Of course I would.” He chuckles. “You know, I missed you. I missed my best friend. Why did we ever split up?”

“I missed you too Shawn, and we split because I wanted to see the world. But the world ended up being an apartment in the city and two part time jobs to get myself through community college. It wasn't worth it.”

“We all make mistakes.” He stands and his hand finds yours. “It's how we learn from them is what matters.”

“What did I learn?”

“That the grass isn't greener on the other side. Now, can I take you to dinner?”

“I'd love to go.”

Myles comes out from behind the root and grabs Shawn's free hand. “I'm hungry too dad.”

Shawn grabs him and hauls him up on his shoulders. “Wanna get a grilled cheese, bud?”

“Yeah!”

____________________

Dinner goes well. You and Shawn catch up on the last six years and discuss how things have been aside from the obvious. It feels like you never left. Being with Shawn feels as natural as if you had just been gone for a few days and came back home. Myles keeps to himself, eyeing you from time to time. He's adorable, all big eyes and big teeth as he puts away a grilled cheese and two plates of sweet potato fries. He could be Shawn's son, if he hadn't told you the truth you would have guessed he was his biologically.

“You're not a wolf.”

You and Shawn halt mid conversation to look at the boy who is leaning with his chin on his arms, staring at you. “What's that bud?”

Myles is silent.

“Pup, it's okay if she's not a wolf.” Shawn rubs his back and he sighs heavily.

“Smells funny.”

“Myles James please don't say that to people.” Shawn looks to you. “You don't smell funny. You smell amazing and I love your perfume.”

“He hasn't been around a lot of humans has he?” You ask, smiling at the two of them. This was amusing.

“No. Mostly the work clientele are wolves from town. You probably smell strange to him because you were in the city for so long. There's a difference between here and there.”

“I smell like city pollution?”

“No, no oh my god. Well maybe? I don't know. A few days in town and you'll be right as rain. I think it's time to head home. Someone needs to go to bed soon.”

____________________

The next few days you stop by the coffee shop and chat with Shawn a while before work. He's so cute when he's got his sleeves rolled up, whip cream smeared across his cheek and hair curly and a mess from the steam of the espresso machines. On the fourth day you come in, Myles is standing at the end of the counter waiting for you.

“Good morning pup,” you smile and wave at him. “How are you today?”

“Can I see your teeth?”

“My teeth?” You glance up at Shawn and he just sighs. “What for?”

“Because.” He bares his little teeth at you and you raise your eyebrows.

“Pup. Leave her alone.” Shawn sighs heavily as he makes your usual mocha with extra cream.

You grin big and show the small boy your teeth. He just squints and then nods. “Do I have teeth?” You ask with a giggle.

“Yes. Good.” And with that Myles just turns and goes back to his play area at the corner of the shop.

You stand up and Shawn passes you your drink. “I'm sorry. He had a nightmare last night and I guess all his teeth fell out. He asked me about mine this morning but he's always asking weird stuff so I didn't think about it.”

“I don't mind. He's curious. I'm just happy he talked to me.” You look over at the play area and Myles is coloring something on a little table.

Shawn smiles big and shakes his head. “He's something. Hey, do you want to go out tonight? My mom is available to babysit if you want.”

“Sure. I'd love some one on one time with you.”

“It's a date then. I'll pick you up at six?”

“I'll be there.”

____________________

A date with Shawn is just what you need. The two of you walking hand in hand through the park is just like old times. You don't feel so stressed like you had in the city. It's wonderful.

“So, a coffee shop huh?” You ask, breaking a silence that was comfortable but getting to be too much.

“Yeah. It's a funny story. Lettie needed help for the summer after you left. I wasn't going to stay for long, hell, I wanted to get out of here too. Everything reminded me of you.” Shawn swings your joined hands. “I found that I really enjoyed making drinks and creating things. I also discovered I loved cooking too. Lettie taught me everything. One summer turned into a year and then another year. Pretty soon I was running the place and Lettie retired.”

“But Lettie is still there?”

“She comes in now and again and she'll pick up a shift or two sometimes. It's just hard on her to work forty plus hours anymore.”

You stop and the two of you sit on a bench. “Why did you adopt Myles? You said you fought for him. Why?”

“Something inside me knew he was meant to be mine.” He looks down and fidgets his hands in his lap. “The way he looked at me, he reminded me of you. I can't explain it honestly, but there was something in that kid that was so very like you. I loved him the second I lifted his tiny form out of the snow.”

“You never thought you'd see me again did you?”

Shawn looks over and there's tears in his eyes and his lip trembles as he speaks. “No. No I didn't.”

You feel your chest cease up and tears blur your vision. You reach for Shawn's hand. “I'm so sorry.”

Shawn squeezes your hand tightly. “I figured six years was a sure thing. You were never coming back. Then you walk in the shop out of nowhere, and it was the most incredible moment when I saw you. I went home that night after our dinner and I had to make sure I was actually awake.”

“I'm so sorry. I shouldn't have ever left. I know you said I was your mate and-”

“You are. You still are.”

“And I didn't understand that then. I didn't really grasp what it meant. I thought it meant I'd be trapped here forever. But I think I do understand now. I think. I have an idea anyway.”

Shawn brings your hand up to kiss it and then leans over, cupping your cheek to kiss your lips softly. “I missed you.”

“I missed you too.”

_____________________

Friday morning you walk into the coffee shop and it's a little early, Shawn must have just unlocked the door when he got in because the closed sign is still up and the lights are still off. There's a radio blaring from behind the counter and you can hear someone shouting along in the backroom.

Sure enough Shawn appears, backing through the swinging door with an arm full of a sack of beans to be roasted. He's shouting at the top of his lungs.

“Marry me Juliet you'll never have to be alone! I love you and that's all I really know!”

You grin as you approach the counter and watch him sing and dance along to the song. The two of you listened to that one all the time in highschool. He had even requested it at prom for you.

“Good morning.” You say softly and Shawn jumps, turning and flushing bright pink.

“Hey...you didn't see that did you?”

“Oh I got the whole performance. You're quite good, even for yelling the lyrics.”

“I couldn't help myself. It was our song. Remember?”

You laugh and walk around behind the counter to meet him. “Of course I remember. How could I ever forget?” You put yours arms around his middle and hug him. “I still listen to it sometimes too.”

Shawn holds you close and rests his chin on your head. “Are you still planning on taking Myles today?”

“Mmhmm. He's registered for the kids care, all I gotta do is bring him in.”

“Dad! Dad! I need juice!”

“Speaking of which, there he is.”

Myles comes wandering through the back room door. He holds his cup up and Shawn goes for the fridge to get a carton of juice for him.

“Are you excited for daycare today bud?” You ask as you squat down to his height. “You get to play with other little wolves. Does that sound fun?”

“Can I color?”

“Yep. And you get lunch, and music time and story time.”

“Dad?”

Shawn turns and looks down at his son. “Yes pup?”

“Can I go?”

“Yep. That's the plan.”

Myles takes his cup from Shawn and chews on the spout. “Okay. We can go now.”

“I'll lock up real quick. I want to take him in on his first day.”

“Are you sure?”

“Yeah. I should go with. He might have a hard time."

____________________

Daycare goes off without a hitch. Myles was shy at first but he opened up quickly. As soon as he realized he got to do all his favorite things with other little kids, it was like something switched on inside of him. That social pack mentality kicked in and he was ready to go.

For the first few days you went and checked on him every couple hours. There is a door with a half window that you could go and peek through to see the care room. He looked so happy, so energetic.

Until. The incident. One week into kids care and you're called away from the story time event in the library. Lena brings you to the little time out room, an old office, in the back of the daycare.

"Myles, do you wanna tell her what happened?" Lena, his co-teacher says as she closes the door.

"No."

"Should I tell her?"

Myles curls up where he's sitting on the pillow in the corner. "No!"

"Lena, let me talk to him." You say softly and Lena steps out. You're nervous. Myles isn't actually your kid, you have no place reprimanding him for whatever happened. "Pup?"

"No. Nononono."

You take a seat beside him and lean against the wall. "What happened? I thought you were having a good day? Sha- Dad made you pancakes and everything this morning."

"I bit Jacob." He whispers, sniffling and looking over at you. "We were playing!"

"Oh," you try not to chuckle. You thought this would be much more serious. "Did you say sorry?"

"Yeah."

"Why are you upset?"

Myles huffs. "Because I didn't want to tell you."

"Why not?"

"Because then Dad will make me come home."

You reach over and rub up and down his back. "I don't think Dad will make you come home for biting. You said you were playing?"

"Uh huh."

"And you got carried away and you said sorry?"

"Uh huh."

You run your hand over his hair and he falls sideways on his pillow. "No more biting okay?"

"Mmhmm." He sniffs. "Promise Dad won't make me stay home?"

"I promise. Let's get you back out there okay?"

"Okay."

_____________________

A few days after the biting incident Shawn decides to take Myles out into the wood for a run. It'll be his first one and he thinks maybe he's ready. If he's play fighting at school he's most likely ready to go out. Shawn invites you along and the three of you head for the Wolveswood.

"Are you excited pup?" You ask of the boy on your shoulders. "You and Dad get to run in the woods today!"

"You too!" Myles cheers and plays with your hair. "You gotta run too."

Shawn stops at the large oak tree and you set Myles down. "She doesn't shift, remember?"

"Oh yeah. Is she leaving?"

Shawn squats down and smiles. "She will still be here. You'll see bud, it'll be fun."

You take a seat on a root and watch as Shawn and Myles shift into their wolf forms. Shawn is pretty big, bigger than you remember and Myles is small like a couple months old puppy. He was small for his age so you're not surprised. The contrast between the two is alarming.

Shawn walks forward, nudging Myles toward you and he stumbles a bit. You reach out and pet Myles' head and he jumps into your lap.

"Hey bud," you pet his head again and he rolls onto your lap. "I don't think your dad wants you to lay on me."

Shawn paces and sits at the edge of the path. You set Myles down and he runs over to Shawn. You follow the two into the dense trees and it reminds you of when you would come here with Shawn when you were younger. The two of you spent hours with each other in these trees.

The two run along and you just enjoy the wilderness. It's just how you remember it being. The trees are all baren now, and the leaves cover the ground in beautiful orange and brown hues. Six years ago you left this place. How could you have been so stupid.

You feel something bump your back and you turn around to see Shawn. He has Myles at his side and you rub his ear softly. "What's up?"

Shawn bumps you harder and you stumble back. He does it again and you tumble into some leaves.

"Hey!" You brush leaves off your hair and Myles runs over, pouncing in the leaves around you. "What was that for?"

Shawn stalks towards you and Myles jumps in front of him, growling his hardest. You raise your eyebrows. Myles howls loudly.

Shawn shifts and stands before you and the pup. "Looks like someone is protective."

You put your hand out for him and he pulls you up. Myles runs off and hops around in the leaves nearby. "He reminds me of you."

"Yeah?"

"Mmhmm. Remember when we'd come out here with friends and you'd all shift?" You smile and shake your head. "You would never let anyone near me."

"Well that's because I had to keep you safe." He tucks some of your hair back as the wind picks up and blows it around. "Some of our friends were assholes."

"Yeah but no one would have hurt me."

"Accidents happen with young rambunctious wolves."

You smile softly and lean your head on his shoulder. "Yeah. You were always super cautious though." You loop your arm around his and he takes your hand.

"Do you think Myles is okay? Like I'm doing okay?"

"What? You're doing great. He's healthy and smart. He's not very big I'll admit but he was small when you found him right?"

"He was so tiny. Definitely the runt. It makes me sad to know he was possibly abandoned because he was so small they didn't think he'd survive."

You smile as Myles makes his way back toward you and Shawn. He looks delighted, like he's having the best time. "He's adorable."

"He likes you." Shawn says kissing your temple. "He knows that we're mates and he really looks up to you."

"He knows?"

"Hes a wolf. He can tell when others are taken. He might not understand it yet, I don't know, but he can definitely tell."

"I'm really glad I came back."

Shawn squeezes your side. "You can't imagine how I feel."

"I'm sure I can." You lay your head against his chest as he wraps his arms around you. "But I don't want to. I'm so sorry I put you through that loneliness."

"It's okay." He kisses your head. "You're here now. That's all that matters."

_____________________

It's a Monday when you and Myles head out of the Library front doors and see a woman sitting on the tree box. It's not unusual to see people sitting on the wood frame while waiting for someone or a ride or something. But there was something off about this woman. She put that sense of uneasiness in your heart, the way one might get when they experience something terrible. You guide Myles away from the tree and toward the sidewalk, hand firm in his.

"What's wrong?" He asks softly as you pick up the pace. Smart boy.

"Nothing Pup. I just want to see your dad."

"But you see him all the time."

You stop and pick Myles up and set him on your hip. He's heavy but not too bad. "I miss him is all. It was a long day."

"Yeah. It was." He sighs and lays his head on your shoulder. "Alpapabet is hard."

"Mmhmm." You murmur and hold his head against your shoulder. You can still feel the woman staring at you, but you will not look back and verify the feeling.

The walk to the coffee shop is long and exhausting with Myles on your hip. You don't want to put him down, something in you says to keep him as close as possible until you're with Shawn. The bell chimes over the door and you're glad to see the seating area is empty at the moment. It's nearly closing time, being late after noon, people aren't exactly flocking for coffee.

"Hey, how was school?" Shawn says, tossing a dish rag aside and walking out from behind the counter. "What's...?" You shake your head to cut him off.

You set Myles down and he begins to babble about his class and what he did all day. You take a seat and look out the window to see if the woman followed you.

Shawn sits across from you, having taken Myles to the play area behind the counter. "What happened?"

"Nothing happened. There was a woman outside the library and she made me uncomfortable. It's nothing, I just got a weird feeling."

"Was she saying anything? Did she approach you?"

You shake your head. "No. She just stared at me and Myles. It was weird, like I said, I was uncomfortable."

Shawn reaches across and takes your hands in his. "It's okay. Don't feel bad for trusting your instincts."

"No, I don't. I just hope Myles isn't uncomfortable."

"I don't think he is." He looks over at the small boy in the play area with his power rangers. "He seemed normal. Trust me, he will tell me if something is wrong. He has no filter. If something comes up again let me know?"

"Of course." You squeeze Shawn's hands. "I promise."

_____________________

You and Shawn go out on a date Saturday night, his mom has Myles again. Shawn hasn't seemed himself all week since the incident with the woman. You don't think that's what is really bothering him, as he hasn't said anything at all. Something is on his mind though and you can read him like a book as he picks at his dinner unenthusiastically. It's unlike him not to eat.

"So, what's going on?" You say nonchalantly.

"Hmm? Why do you mean?"

"You're not eating. You've hardly said a word."

"Sorry." He sits up in his chair and looks at you. "I'm just thinking about work."

"Work?"

"Yeah. I've got some things to sort out. It's fine."

You reach over and rub his forearm. "Talk to me. I'm here for you."

Shawn takes a deep breath. "The shop isn't doing so great lately and I need to find a way to make extra income because just selling coffee for ten hours a day and only making the gross majority of my profit in the morning, isn't working out."

You nod. "I see. What have you come up with?"

"Food? But I'd need to sink more money into expenditures to get food to make that."

"Mmm. What if you do something simple? Two sandwiches and a soup offering? Bakery goods? Could you partner with another shop in town?"

"I could do simple items, things I can get in bulk for pretty cheap. Or buy baked goods in bulk for cheap and resell for a small margin."

"What about breakfast?"

"Pancake mix I can stretch, and eggs aren't too expensive." Shawn runs his hand over his hair. "I've got some in savings for Myles, just for like in case he needs something but I can use a little."

You lean your chin on your hand. "I can bring my parents patio set over to the shop and we can set it up out front for outdoor seating."

"Really? They've got that nice black set right?"

"Mmmhmm. They left it with the house and I am never going to use it. I can even help you prep if you need in the morning."

Shawn smiles big. "I could offer WiFi at the shop too?"

"You could, but remember that's another bill."

"Yeah, true but I think I could make it work. Maybe charge a bit for the WiFi?"

"You could. Or maybe bring in some live music? In the afternoons?"

Shawn nods and smiles slightly. "That'd be good, I could charge a small fee to set up. It'd definitely bring people in I think."

"Alright, then you have a plan." You steal a fry off his dinner plate. "You better eat now before I take it all."

Shawn slides his plate away from you. "I will eat. You're just as bad as Myles."

"Am not."

He grins. "You're right, he's worse because he is as bad as his Dad."

You roll your eyes. "You are terrible when it comes to food theft."

Shawn holds a fry up for you. "But I'll share. A good alpha cares for his mate."

"Stopppp," you groan and take the fry. "No mate talk right now."

"Save it for the bedroom?"

"Shawn!"

He cackles and you drop your head into your arms on the table. "Hey," he reaches over and scratches your head. "Don't be so shy. It's okay to be mated and talk about it."

"I know. It's just so much to think about still. We haven't taken the time to discuss it. I think I understand but y'know, I'll probably never fully understand."

"I'll help."

"I know. It's only been a few weeks...a month? Shit. I'm still processing my move and seeing you again and Myles. Everything has happened so fast. Don't get me wrong, I love that you're here and I love Myles a lot even though we've just met. I'm happy but I'm just a little overwhelmed, or maybe I'm overthinking."

Shawn takes your hand and squeezes your fingers together gently. "Take your time. No one is rushing you into anything. I'm here no matter what you decide to do."

"I'm not leaving, if you're wondering about that."

"I've wondered yeah."

"No, I'm home again, for good."

"Good because I'm not too keen on letting you go again."

___________________

Laying in bed with Shawn, staring at the ceiling, it feels like the last six years never happened. The man beside you is out cold, arm up over his head, jaw slack. He's so beautiful when he's like this. Relaxed, innocent, not a care in the world. You swallow hard and sigh heavily. You hate feeling like this, like everything is just going too well.

"What's wrong?" Shawn asks and breaks the silence. He shouldn't even be awake.

"I thought you were passed out."

"I was. I felt your heartbeat quicken and woke up."

"Oh."

Shawn rolls onto his side and slides his hand up your bare stomach to tuck it around your rib cage. "Have you slept?"

"A little."

"Is your brain too loud?" He yawns. "Anxiety?"

You pause. He remembers that you have anxiety. Of course he does. "Yeah, I'm just in my head."

He noses at your neck gently, gives you a little kiss and a soft lick. He's always done this. His affection has always been a little different than any other guy you've known. "Talk to me."

"There's nothing to discuss. It's just me, just my head. I'm overthinking everything and you know how it is."

"Let's get up." Shawn pushes up so he's leaning over you. "We'll get some water, have a snack or something."

"Alright. I'll try anything."

Half an hour later you're in the living room of Shawn's apartment, legs tucked up under you while the tv plays silently across from you. It's some early 2000s sitcom rerun that plays late at night on the lower cable channels. You're not paying much mind to it.

"Here, an adult lunchable." Shawn says, placing a plate with crackers, cheese slices and ham cubes on your lap.

You can't help but crack a smile. "Adult lunchable huh?"

"Yeah." He sits beside you and pulls the blanket off the back of the couch. "You heard me."

You pick up a cracker and a cheese with the ham and pop it in your mouth. It's good. Really good actually, the cheese is strong and you raise your eyebrows at Shawn.

"Aged swiss. I got it at the farmers market last week. It's so good." He grabs a combo of food from the plate and eats it.

"When did you get so fancy?"

"Sometimes you just gotta treat yourself. Besides, I thought you might like it too."

You giggle a bit and shake your head. "You're something else Shawn."

"I am." He curls his lip up to reveal his fangs. "That's not news though."

"Not like that you goofba-" A loud banging stops you dead mid sentence. It's almost three in the morning. Who the hell is knocking on a door? Or trying to break it down.

Shawn stands and goes to the window that overlooks the street below. The apartment is above the coffee shop, so there aren't any neighbors. "I can't see anyone."

"Maybe something fell in the shop?"

"No, that was a forced banging. I'm going down." Shawn grabs his jacket from beside the door and you jump up, setting the plate of food aside.

"What if someone is down there?"

"I'll kick their ass?" Shawn opens the door and you grab his arm. "Honey, I'm not going to let someone break into my shop and ruin my whole lively hood."

"Call the police."

"No time. I need to see what is going on."

"What if-" The sound of breaking glass makes you jump and let out a little scream.

Shawn runs down the stairs and you grip the railing to the lower door tightly. He disappears outside and you remain frozen, eyes trained on the doorway.

Five minutes or so tick by so slowly until he reappears. "What is it?"

"I have no idea." Shawn motions for you to come downstairs. "The window looks like it just fell out of the doorframe to the shop."

You follow Shawn outside and to the shop door. Sure enough there is absolutely no glass left in the frame. It's like he said, the glass just fell out and broke. "That's weird. What about the banging?"

"I'm not sure. The door is locked." He pulls his keys from his jacket pocket and unlocks the shop. "Stay here while I go inside."

You grip your phone in your pocket and wait for him to give you an all clear. A moment later he returns, the lights flickering on in the shop reveals nothing out of place. It just looks like the shop at closing time.

"This is wild, I can't tell what made the banging. That absolutely sounded like someone at the door."

"It did. I don't know. Maybe someone was trying to get help and then the glass popped out and scared them off?"

Shawn scrubs his hand over his face. "Yeah, maybe. I can't even tell if it was a wolf, there are too many lingering scents here."

"Let's clean up."

"I'll clean up. You go on up to the house. Try to sleep if you can."

You wrap your arms around yourself, his sweatshirt so warm against your skin. "I'm not tired anymore."

Shawn walks around a nearby table and cups your face in his hands. "Please? You haven't slept. I know you don't work tomorrow, but you need rest."

"But..."

"No buts." He kisses you softly. "Go upstairs."

You lay your hands on his chest. "Come get me if you need me."

"Yes darling."

_____________________

You wake up sometime later, not remembering falling asleep. Your body must have been at it's limit. The light is dim shining in the window, likely a storm blowing in. Maybe it'll snow. You stretch out and your am collides with something soft.

You lift the blankets and find Myles curled up on Shawn's side of the bed. He's asleep, clutching his stuffed sea otter that he got at the zoo. He's told you the story about a hundred times in the last several weeks as small children do. Clearly it's very important to him. Shawn must have picked him up from his parents place before opening the shop.

The bedroom smells like coffee and you take a deep breath. It's so good. Rich and bright smelling with hints of hazelnut. You're such a sucker for coffee, Shawn really chose the perfect profession. You sit up and run your hand over your hair. Should you wake Myles up? No. Let him sleep.

Moving to get up you freeze, a little hand curling around your forearm. You look back and see Myles awake. He rubs his nose into the pillow.

"Good morning Pup."

"Mmmrning."

"I see you found me in Dad's bed."

Myles nods.

"Does Dad know you're in here?"

He giggles and shakes his head.

You run your hand over his hair. "It'll be our secr-"

Shawn walks in the open doorway and gasps playfully. "What is this? Have you stolen my mate?!"

Myles cackles and buries himself down in the bedding.

You laugh and Shawn leans down and kisses your forehead. "Good morning Shawn."

"Morning Honey." He tugs the blankets back to expose Myles. "I see I have a rouge pup in my bed, loving my mate up."

"Daddd! I was snugbulling!" Myles crawls over to your lap and lays his head on your thigh. "Momma's warm."

Your eyes go wide. Shawn must pick up on the way your heart stops because he lifts Myles off your lap and carries him over to the other side of the room. You can hear him say something to the boy but you can't make it out he is speaking so low. You remember your dream, the one from the day you found Shawn again. The one with the boy calling you Momma.

"Shawn?" You call out.

He turns and looks over to you, startled at the loudness of your voice. "Yes?"

"It's okay." You stand up and cross the room and put your arms out for Myles. "He can snuggle."

Shawn raises his eyebrows. "He can?"

"Yeah." You pet back Myles' mop of dark hair and he lays his head on your shoulder. "It'll be easier to start now."

"Are you ready for that? I thought you were still sorting things out?"

"I can't let myself wait to figure it out. I just have to do it, to be here and be in this." You kiss Myles' head. "I need to be a mate."

Shawn steps close and pulls you in, sandwiching Myles between the two of you. He presses a kiss to your head and whispers, "I love you."

"I love you, Shawn."

"I love you too Dad." Myles mumbles and blows a kiss. You both chuckle at him and he wiggles to be set down. "Breakfast Dad." He grabs Shawn's hand and you take the other one, fingers intertwining.

______________________

Another Monday comes following the really great weekend of staying at Shawn's place. You're sitting in the back office of the library getting books sorted that have been damaged. You're taking logs to make sure and order new ones of them. Your coworker Brenda who works the front desk walks in and closes the door behind her, making you look up from your work curiously because the door always stays open.

"Is Myles adopted?"

"Um, y-yeah?" You swallow thickly. Had someone found out he wasn't your son? It wasn't a big deal, but maybe it was. "Why?"

"Well, there was someone here asking to pick up a child early. She wouldn't give me a name but said his adopted mother worked here. I know you're not a wolf, so I thought maybe Myles was adopted and she was asking for him?"

You stand up and knock over your stack of books. "Is she still here? "

"No. She left when I told her she would need to bring a note of approval of absence from a parent."

You wrap your arms around yourself. "Do you have security camera access?"

"Yes of course." Brenda nods. "Do you need something?"

"I want to see the video footage of the woman who came in. Please?"

Brenda opens the door and waves you to follow. "Come on, I'll show you. Obviously you're concerned."

"Of course I am." You follow her down the hall. "If that woman was here for Myles then I need to know. No one should come for him besides myself, Shawn and Karen, Shawn's Mom. I'm going to assume it was not Karen."

"She would know his name, right?"

"Exactly."

____________________

After viewing the footage you call Shawn. The woman was the same one from the other day outside the library. The one who made you uncomfortable. The phone rings and rings. Shawn probably has it on the charger in the storage room. You click to hang up and go to Brenda.

"Can you put a note in Myles' file that no one is allowed to pick him up but Shawn or myself?"

"Of course. Is something going on? Do you think that woman was really here for Myles?"

"Yeah, maybe. Even if she wasn't, that behavior is extremely fishy. Can we ban her?"

Brenda nods and holds up a printed copy of a screengrab from her computer of the footage. "I'm already on it."

You nod. "Good. I'm going to finish my ordering. Let me know if anything else comes up."

____________________

As soon as you get to the shop with Myles and work you tell Shawn what happened, and how the woman was the same one that made you uneasy. Shawn closes up early and locks the front door. He's not happy, it's quite obvious.

"Does Myles know?" He asks as he sinks into the corner booth where you're sitting with a cup of tea he made for you.

"No, he doesn't. Brenda wasn't going to let him out of the care room under any circumstances. She didn't even know for sure if it was Myles she was asking for. The woman didn't know his name."

"Good." Shawn runs his hand over his hair and tugs. "You're absolutely sure this was the same woman?"

"Yes Shawn. I'm a thousand percent sure. I knew something was up, I just didn't know what. Why would someone try to take Myles?"

"I don't know." He looks to his son in the corner as he stages a little cafe with his power ranger toys and pretends to take an order. "I've had him for almost three years now. He'll be five, or what I assume is five, honestly we have no idea how old he is but developmentally he is almost five."

"His birthday is coming up?"

"Yeah. I found him just before New year's, out there in the snow."

"So that's his birthday?"

Shawn nods. "Mmhmm. The day I found him is his birthday. But that aside, I've had him this long and I've never had any problems. No one has ever come for him, or showed up looking for him."

"Maybe that woman is related?" You stir your tea and chew your lip nervously. "Maybe she has been looking for him."

"I've been afraid of that, but I figured that three years passed, no one would come back. Then again I thought six years was a sure thing you weren't coming back but here you are." Shawn lets out a heavy sigh that borders on a growl. "Fuck."

You reach across and grab his hand on the table. "Shawn, it's up to you what you want to do. You're Myles' father. If this woman is his mom, or his Grandma or related in someway, it's up to you if you want him to meet them. They left him, abandoned him to die in the Wolveswood years ago. They have no claim to him at all."

"I know. I'm torn. What if this woman can tell me something about him? What if I should know something?"

"I think in three years you would have found out if there was anything wrong with him. He's been to the doctor right?"

"Yes of course. Every six months he has his check ups and he's gotten everything he needs to be healthy. I even take him to the dentist twice a year to make sure his teeth aren't coming in wrong."

"Then he is fine. If that woman shows up again, then you can speak with her. Or if you don't want to do that, simply tell her to leave."

Shawn nods. "Yeah, I don't want to confuse Myles. I'll tell her to leave us alone."

"Sounds good."

"I do want to keep Myles here tomorrow. I'd just feel better if he was close, in case that woman comes back to the library."

"I'll let Lena know he'll be out." You bring Shawn's hand up and kiss it softly. "You're doing your best, don't stress."

"I know." He smiles tiredly. "I'm glad you're here."

"Me too."

______________________

Shawn keeps Myles home the next day. He has Lettie run the shop while he gives his son a really good day together. They go out for breakfast, go to the park, watch the geese at the lake, make lunch together. He makes sure Myles knows he is loved, not that he would really doubt it. Shawn gives everything he has and more to the child.

Wednesday rolls around and you have a day off since you're picking up a co-worker's Saturday shift. You decide to hang out with Shawn, learn a little bit about coffee and drink making. It's slow in the shop. Myles is down for a nap, Shawn having kept him home again since you wouldn't be at the library.

"So you wanna make drinks?" Shawn says sing songy and grabs a cup off the stack by the registers. "You wanna know my secrets?"

You giggle. "Share your sage advice oh wise barista."

"First you start with the bean!" Shawn grabs a handful of beans ready to go in the roaster. "THE MASTER OF ALL!"

You roll your eyes and let out a reluctant chuckle at his antics. "My god you're ridiculous."

"Maybe. But maybe I'm the bean whisperer. How bout that?"

You grab the cup from him and go to the coffee tanks. "Enough bean master, let's get to the mixy mixy."

Shawn chuckles to himself and steps up behind you. "Start with your brew strength." He points out each tank labeled with blonde, medium, dark roasts. "Then choose your flavors or sweeteners."

You pour out a dark roast cup. "I want caramel."

"This way, Honey." He says, going over to a little tiered set up on the back counter of pumps of flavouring. "Toasted caramel? Salted caramel?"

"Which is sweeter?"

"Toasted."

You lift the cup to the pump and out your palm over the spout. "How many?"

"Well, do you want the coffee to be lightly flavored or," He presses his nose into your hair and grabs your hips. "Extra sweet."

"Shawn," you giggle and he sways your hips in time with his. "Quit it."

"I can't help it." He wraps his arms around you. "I'm in one of my moods."

You pump down two squirts of the caramel and set the coffee down, eyes scanning for a stir stick. "Your moods huh?"

"Yeah." He slides a hand up your shirt and you slap your hand down against it to stop him. "We are in the shop Shawn!"

Shawn kisses along your neck and you can't help but shiver. "We've had fun in much worse places haven't we?"

"Shawn. Please, someone could walk in."

He lets out a growl and peels himself away from you. "Alright, fine. You ruin my fun."

You hold your cup up. "Maybe I have to because you have alpha brain right now and you just want to fuck and I want to learn how to make a caramel cream coffee."

"Yes darling." He shows you to the milk machine. "Alright so this is where we steak the milk. Please be careful."

You turn on the machine and wait as it bubbles inside. "Okay, when?"

"Hold on now." Shawn grabs a metal cup with a handle and gets under the bar to get a carton of milk. "We have to get the milk first."

"Oh. It's not in there?"

"No. It's going to just heat it." Shawn kisses your cheek. "Let me do it the first time okay?"

You step aside and he pours out the milk to a notch in the metal cup. He puts the cup up onto the spigot and flips it on. The machine bubbles and the milk gurgles in the cup. "That looks easy?"

"It's hot."

"You're hot." You smirk and Shawn gives you a warning look. You know you shouldn't tease him when he's already in a mood.

"Your milk." He pours it into your cup and stirs with a stir stick from a cup on top of the machine.

You lift the cup and take a sip. It's good. Not exactly what you wanted, but it's good nonetheless. "Should we check on Myles?"

Shawn nods. "He should be woken up. It's almost time for lunch."

"I'll go get him." You offer, setting aside your coffee. "You should watch the shop."

"I better not come up there and find you snuggled up if you don't return."

"But what if he wants snuggled? Shouldn't the baby boy be snuggled?"

Shawn rolls his eyes. "Five minutes. Don't spoil him."

"Oh he is already spoiled."

"Yeah," Shawn chuckles. "He is."

____________________

You walk into Myles' small bedroom and see him sleeping on his little toddler bed. It's precious, completely space themed with the bed being a rocketship. Shawn truly spoils this child rotten. You kneel beside the bed and lay your hand on his back, rocking him gently to wake him up.

"Pup, it's time to wake up now."

The moment your voice reaches his ears he jumps, small body jerking with incredible force as he presses himself to the wall. There is terror in his eyes for a flash of a second before he registers who you are.

"Myles are you alright? Did you have a nightmare?"

He crawls and begins to cry, arms wrapping around you as he clambors forward. You hold him, pulling him off the bed and into your lap as you take a seat on the floor more comfortably. He shakes, fingers curled tight in your shirt.

You rub his back and he continues his soft crying. "Tell me about it?"

"I was in the forest and Dad was gone and uh, uh a lady says I should go with her." He wipes his nose on your shoulder. "But but Dad said no because I don't know her that I don't do that. So I said no! and she got mad."

"Oh." You swallow hard, worried this dream could be connected to the woman who keeps appearing. "Did anything else happen?"

"No. I woked up and I thinked you were the lady."

"Oh bud, I'm sorry I scared you."

Myles releases you and sits on the floor in front of you. "It's okay Momma."

Your heart clenches. You won't get used to that name anytime soon. "Let's go see Dad. He probably has some lunch for you, or maybe we can get some."

"Oh good. I'm starving." Myles says matter of fact and goes to his bedroom door.

You follow after and he takes your hand as you go down the stairs to the door outside. It's busy, the shops across the street having people coming and going. You spot a woman on the bench across from the shop, opposite side of the street in front of the hardware store. It's her. You pick Myles up and he hugs you tightly. Your heart races and you stare at her, memorizing her face, hoping she is looking at you and understanding she is not welcome.

When you get into the shop it's busy and Shawn is rushing around behind the counter. The line is six deep. You carry Myles around behind the counter and into the storage room. Shawn gives you a look but you shake your head.

You wait until the line goes down and Shawn has a free moment to call him over to the backroom. He doesn't need much encouragement, he is on his way the second he realizes he is free.

"What is going on?" Shawn asks under his breath.

"Myles had a dream about the woman and she was across the street on a bench. I think she's stalking him."

Shawn sneers, flashing his teeth in a rare threatened alpha moment. His eyes go to the doors of the shop, scan across the windows to see anyone outside. "What does she look like?"

"My height, brown hair, quite a bit older than us. Maybe early forties? Or maybe time wasn't kind, but she is white and has on a brown sweater and-"

Shawn stalks across the shop and opens the door, going out and leaving you speechless.

"Daddy's mad." Myles mumbles and grabs your fingers. "Is he okay?"

"Yes pup. He is unhappy with someone outside."

"Can I have juice?"

You look around. "Where does Dad keep your cups?"

"Here." He walks over and pats a cupboard door under the register. "Juice is in the refridgermater."

You eye the front doors as you retrieve the juice for Myles. You don't want him to worry, but you're sure he already senses your anxiety rising.

A hand lands on your leg and you look down at Myles. He wraps his arms around your thigh. "It's okay Momma."

You clench your jaw and hold back your emotions. The boy is so sweet and so sensitive. You squat down and hand him his cup. "It's okay, I know. How bout we go see what Mr. Red ranger has ordered today?"

Myles smiles big and hurries off to the backroom where his toys are laying by a storage shelf.

The door jingles upon opening and you look over to see Shawn walking in. He's not much happier than he was before he went out. His teeth are still prominent, eyes wild. You're going to assume he has not found the woman.

"I don't like this." Shawn growls. "I don't play games and not with our son at risk."

"Our son."

"Yes that's what I said, I-" He stops and realizes the weight of his words. "My son. Our son? He calls you Momma so-"

"It's okay." You lay your hand on Shawn's shoulder. "He's our son."

"Yeah, he is. No one is going to take him."

"Over my dead body. She was gone wasn't she?"

"Yes. She was completely gone. I just want to talk to her, to find out what her problem is. We assume it's Myles, but maybe it's not?"

"You think she's after me?"

Shawn shrugs. "I don't know. She hasn't seen me as far as we know, and she's only come to your work until now. Maybe she needs to see you?"

"No, it's Myles. It has to be. He dreamed about her, there is something going on I just don't know what."

"Next time we see her, we will approach her."

"Absoultely. As long as I don't have Myles with me. I'm not risking her snatching him or something."

Shawn shakes his head. "No of course not. I have a feeling she will be back though. I'll take care of it."

_____________________

The next few days are quiet, not much going on at work or at the coffee shop. You have dinner with Shawn and Myles one night, go see a movie at the drive in another night. Life feels normal and good until you get home one evening and something isn't right.

It starts on your drive home. You turn the radio off while you think about the woman that has been appearing. You're not sure what has gotten you thinking about her, but something has. It bothers you. Why didn't she approach you? Why didn't she talk to you? What was her motive? It all points to Myles. She must be related somehow. Maybe she doesn't even know how yet. Maybe she just recognizes a familiar scent on him. You sigh and turn into the driveway of your house.

You sense something is wrong when you turn the handle on the front door and it's not even latched. You know you locked it because you locked yourself out that morning and had to go in through the garage to get your keys. You step back and grab the strap of your purse, hand going to your pocket for your phone.

"Anyway then he said he couldn't go but I know he could..." You spin around and see your neighbor and a friend walking past your house chit chatting.

"You okay honey?" The friend asks, stopping your neighbor in her conversation.

You step down off the porch and clutch your phone. "Y-yeah."

"You look like you've seen a ghost. Are you sure?"

"Actually..." You glance back at the door. "Have you two seen anyone here? Or anyone you don't recognize around the neighborhood?"

The neighbor shakes her head. "No, not that I can recall. Is something wrong? Is your house okay?"

"I think so? It's just my door is unlocked and I know I locked it this morning. I'm worried that someone may have broke in and-"

"Oh honey, call the police. I wouldn't mess around with that." The friend says, pulling out her phone. "My husband works at the precient let me just give him a call."

"Oh that's okay he's probably busy. I probably just made a mistake or something."

"Dear you should have someone stop by before you go inside. If you're confident you locked it and it's unlocked then you should not go in." Your neighbor ushers you toward the sidewalk. "There could be a feral wolf in there. Y'know I heard one of them rouge packs has been in the Wolveswood lately."

"What? Really?" You bring your phone up and open Shawn's contact. "When did you hear that?"

"About three days ago? Some of the ladies at the book club were talking about it. I really wish the city council would do something about it. What if one of the kids gets hurt out there?"

You nod and lift your phone to your ear. "Excuse me, sorry." The phone rings and rings. Finally after six times Shawn answers. "Shawn? Can you come by the house?"

"Of course. Should I bring Myles?"

"No. Drop him off at you mom's house. There is something going on."

Shawn says something to Myles. "I'll be there in a few minutes. Have you called anyone else?"

"No, um well, the neighbor is calling her husband who's a cop. I'm not sure what's going on but the door to the house is unlocked and...Shawn I don't want Myles to be scared. I don't want you to panic."

He takes a deep breath. "I know. I'll try to stay calm. I'm on my way."

You lower your phone and stare at the front door of the house. If that woman is in there you're going to lose your shit. This has gone too far. What if you had brought Myles home with you before stopping at the coffee shop? What if you went in and the woman was there? Would she hurt you? You step back and your neighbor lays her hand on your shoulder.

"Breath dear, you're turning blue."

"Sorry." You shake your head and take a deep breath. "I'm just nervous."

"That's alright. I understand, this isn't something to take lightly. Hopefully all is well and nothing has happened and you did just forget to lock the door."

"No, I locked it, and it's not even latched. Someone was in my house or is right now."

"The cops are coming." Your neighbor's friend says softly.

"Thank you."

____________________

The moment Shawn arrives he pulls you into his arms. The cops arrived only moments before and have gone into the house to investigate. Shawn buries his face in your hair and cups the back of your neck with his hand as if he let go for just a moment he might lose you. He's burning hot, skin radiating heat through his clothes and into you. You're sure he's going mad in his head, mind racing with every scenario that could have played out. You slide your hand up his back, nails raking gentle against his spine to soothe him, to bring him down from a feral high.

"The house is clear." An officer says as he approaches. His badge says Martin. "There's signs of an invasion, we'll need you to verify any missing items."

"Yeah, sure." You nod and step away from Shawn, hand going to his. "Come on honey."

Shawn walks with you to the front door and he tenses, eyes darting around as if he senses something, or someone. "What is going on?"

"Hmm."

Your hand falls away as you step through the door frame. "Is something wrong?"

He shakes his head and follows after you.

The house has been ransacked. Your living room is torn up, the couch flipped, Myles’ play pen is destroyed, the drawers of your end table opened and emptied. You cover your mouth and stifle a cry as you take it all in. Whoever it was, wanted something.

"Ma'am, I know this is difficult to take in. Please let us know if anything is gone. We will add it to the report."

"Is the whole house like this?" You turn and look at officer Martin and he gives a gentle sorrowful look.

“Some of the rooms are too.” Martin says.

"Oh my God."

"Honey, they'll find who did this." Shawn says and wraps his arm around you to pull you into his chest. "Or I will." He says under his breath.

You look at the mantle and a photo of you and Shawn with Myles is missing. "The photo from his first day of kids care."

Shawn looks back and forth across the mantle. "It's gone. Why would they take it?"

"For reference?"

Officer Martin steps in. "Something gone?"

"A photo of us with our son, Shawn's son technically." You explain, lifting another frame. "It's this big or so."

"Maybe it's in the mess." Officer Martin offers, looking around the floor. "Is there anything of value in the frame?"

"No, just the photo."

Shawn moves away from you and pulls the officer aside. "Sir, can I talk to you outside? It may pertain to the situation."

"Of course."

"Baby, I'll be right back, I'm going to talk to the cop outside okay?" Shawn calls to you as you walk into the kitchen.

You nod. "Yeah, okay I'll be here." You look around the kitchen and it's fine for the most part. Some stuff has been moved, drawers opened but not emptied. Beside the kitchen is the mudroom and it's untouched. You stare up the stairs adjacent, nervous to find out what your bedroom looks like, not to mention the other two rooms up there. You take a deep breath and start the climb to find out.

_____________________

Your room is untouched. It looks exactly how you left it this morning. You waste no time looking around and move to the guest room that was once your brother's bedroom. It's okay, the same as always. Then you go to the room that used to be yours, the smallest upstairs and the one you use for Myles when he comes over. It has a twin size bed and some of his toys in it. It is the room you're sure won't be untouched.

The door falls open when you push on it and inside is dark. You turn on the light and sure enough it looks like someone has localized a tornado in there. Everything from the bed sheets to the spare change of Myles' clothes are strewn about. You cover your mouth. Had the intruder really come for Myles, thinking he was here?

Shawn calls your name and you turn in the doorway to see him at the top of the stairs. "We should go get Myles."

"I'm not bringing him back here."

"No, we're not. We'll go to the apartment. I don't want you to stay here either. I think we should be together right now."

You walk down the hall to meet him and he puts his arm around you, cradling your head to his chest. "Why is someone doing this?"

"I don't know. They want Myles back? I can't imagine why. He was abandoned. It’s been years."

"I know. I just feel like it's my fault somehow. Everything started happening when we got back together."

"No, shh." Shawn kisses your head. "You haven't done anything wrong. Let's finish up with the officers here and go get Myles and go home. It's too stressful in this house right now."

_____________________

Morning comes the next day after a restless night and you wake up in Shawn's bed with a weight on your chest. It's Myles. He is using you as a pillow, legs and body stretched out across Shawn's side of the bed. You rest your hand on his hair and scratch gently. He stirs, wakened by your touch.

"Momma?" Your heart races, it does every time he calls you that.

"What, Pup?"

"I'm sorry."

"You didn't do anything. Why are you sorry?"

Myles turns his head and faces you, his little cheek squished into your skin. "Because you're scared." He pats his hand in time with your heartbeat over your chest.

You smile softly. "I'm not scared. I just woke up."

"But your heart is all bumbumbum."

"That's because I love you." You put your hand over his and he makes big eyes at you. "I realized you were sleeping on me and I am happy because you're my favorite pup."

Myles giggles. "Ohh. My heart goes bumbumbum too when you get me after school sometimes."

"That's when you get excited. Your heart can beat fast for a lot of reasons."

He nods. "Dad's does that when you are near him. What's that mean?"

You smile big and close your eyes. This child is so sweet, he has no idea. "It means Dad loves me and is happy when we are together. Let's go back to sleep. I'm very tired."

"Me too." Myles says as he stretches. He shifts around and lays beside you, cuddles against your side. "I love you too Momma."

You turn and hold him against you, chin on his head. He's warm like Shawn, the wolf in him making him run hotter than average. You close your eyes and relax, he's safe and so are you.

_____________________upadate

When you get up later in the morning Shawn is still gone. You assume he is at the shop working like usual but when you go down with Myles he isn't there.

"Lettie, is Shawn out?" You ask as you place Myles down by his toys.

The sweet old woman looks up from her magazine. "He wasn't here dear. I saw him come down this morning and head out across the street. He texted me last night about running the shop today for him. I figured he was going to your place but now I see that isn't the case."

"He left? He didn't say anything to me about that. What time did he leave?"

Lettie looks back at the clock. "Around five this morning."

"He's been gone all morning. Can you watch Myles? I'm gonna run upstairs and check for a note."

"Sure thing dear."

You head out the door and go to the door to the apartment stairs. Surely Shawn would have left a note or even a text saying he wasn't going to be at the shop. He never said anything about leaving yesterday, in fact he was pretty hell bent on keeping you and Myles close. You search the living room and kitchen counters for any notes. Nothing. No luck at all. Maybe something came up? But with who? His parents? The woman? You sink down onto the couch and stare at the ceiling.

"Shawn, what are you doing?" You ask out loud. "Why on Earth did you leave me here with Myles when shit is hitting the fan?"

You a,re torn. On one hand you want to go see if he's at the Wolveswood because you have a feeling that after finding out about a rogue pack he may have gone there for answers. On the other hand you have to keep Myles safe and leaving him with someone else isn't exactly your best option. Not that you stand a chance against a werewolf should anything happen gods forbid it but you'd rather he be with you.

There is no use keeping Myles downstairs with Lettie if Shawn's not working. You'll grab him and bring him back up for some breakfast and play time. It's best you just stay home and wait to hear from Shawn.

Two hours later and it's nearly noon. You've not heard from Shawn despite calling him twice and leaving messages. You're beginning to worry if he's alright. Myles knows something is wrong but he doesn't say anything, just sits real close and lays on your lap while you watch TV.

Nearly four in the afternoon and you have yet to know where Shawn is. Panic is starting to set in and you worry he's gone after the woman or the rogue wolves and gotten hurt. How could he be so reckless? How could he just leave you without warning? At least leave a note so you can send the police for him if he doesn't return by a certain time.

You grab your keys and get Myles dressed to go to his Karen's house. You're going to go after Shawn and the best place for Myles is her house. You have no idea how you're going to find him, but you're going to try locating his car first and work from there.

After leaving Myles with Karen you double back to the entrance of the Wolveswood. Sure enough Shawn's Jeep is there but you realize you have absolutely nothing to defend yourself with if you go inside. You turn back onto the road and head for your house. You have a taser in the top drawer of your dresser and you might have a knife or two in the garage from your dad's hunting and fishing stuff your parents kept in there.

You are in and out of the house fairly quickly, having found the taser and a good-sized knife for skinning deer. You hope you won't have to use either one but if the occasion comes you're ready. There is one last stop you need to make and it's at Shawn's place to lock up. You had forgotten in the rush to get Myles to Karen's place and you don't need someone wandering into his house.

You climb the stairs to the apartment and you freeze with your key in the lock. You can hear someone talking outside the lower door. It spooks you and you open the door and go inside, flipping the lock just in case. You go to the front windows and look down to see if there is anyone out there on their cell phone. There is someone there and it's a guy in maybe his thirties, looking at the door, then to your car. Your stomach sinks.

You feel around your pockets and realize you've left your phone in the car with your purse. Outside the guy stops talking and is standing in front of the door, looking up. You back away from the window and go to the kitchen. You grab a dining chair and shove it against the front door handle. The only other exit is through the fire escape in Myles' bedroom.

Just as you get the window open you can hear pounding on the front door you've blocked. As you suspected, the guy was not just some innocent passerby. You duck out of the window onto the railings of the fire escape. If you can just get down to the shop you know Lettie is in there cleaning up. You're not alone. You take a deep breath and try to calm your racing heart and shaking hands. Panic won't help you.

The latch on the ladder is stuck, rusty and unused. You kick at it trying to loosen it. If you can't get it undone you're not going to get down. The ladder stops short about ten feet from the ground and there isn't even a dumpster you can land on in a movie like escape. You kick harder and still nothing. You look up to the roof and there is a ladder there for maintenance but that's not going to help you if you're discovered. The roof is a trap.

You lean into the window and look around Myles' room for something you can hit the latch with. His room isn't exactly filled with tools or anything outside of plush blankets and action figures. There's a bottle of lotion on his dresser. Maybe it'll work as a lubricant. You crawl in and grab it and head back out to get to work.

Inside you hear the chair in front of the door scoot loudly against the wooden floor. You kick the latch one more time and it drops, the ladder extending down to the ground. Your heart clenches and you're gone, climbing down as fast as your hands and feet will allow. The ground under your feet is sweet solace as you barrel through the back storage room door into the cafe.

"Hey! Who's there?!"

"It's me Lettie!" You yell and head for the phone on the wall in the small office area where Shawn keeps his paperwork and invoices. "I don't have time to explain. Someone has broken into Shawn's apartment."

"What?!" Lettie looks up at the ceiling. "I heard some noise from up there but I figured you were just cleaning or something while Myles is away."

You dial the police and hold the phone against your ear as it rings. "I got out through the fire escape."

Lettie grabs her keys and heads for the front door. "That son of a bitch isn't getting away with this."

"Lettie! What're you doing?"

"I'm locking them in!"

"How?"

"I've got keys. It used to be my place before it was Shawn's. I've got the spares in case Shawn locks himself out." Lettie says triumphantly. "Let's see them escape now."

"Lettie- yes hello, I'd like to report a break in." You turn away from the old woman going out to lock the stairwell door to the apartment. "I'm at 223 Main Street at the Full Moon Brew coffee shop. My boyfriend's apartment above has been broken into. Yes I'm fine. No I'm not alone, I'm with an employee in the shop."

The operator asks a few more questions and informs you a squad car is on its way. Just as the woman is repeating back your information the line clicks and goes dead. "Hello?" You pull the phone away as the dial tone beeps. "Fuck."

Outside Shawn's Jeep pulls up in front of the shop and your heart stops. What impeccable timing. You can see Lettie talking to him and he looks upstairs then into the shop. He looks wild and you know he isn't going to wait for the police.

______________

"Shawn." You say softly as he enters the shop and strides up to you. "He's safe, he's with your mom."

"Oh thank Gods. How did you know what I was going to ask?"

"He's our son and he's not here." You glance up at the ceiling. "Of course you're going to ask."

"Who's in my house?"

"I have no idea. They showed up as soon as I got here to lock up. I'm pretty sure they followed me from the Wolveswood."

Shawn growls low and curls his fingers around the nearby countertop ledge. "He's one of them. There's a whole pack trying to find Myles. From what I gather he's the son of their alpha and his mother abandoned him because she and the alpha were not mates."

"How did they find him?"

"The mother confessed. She is the one we've been seeing everywhere. She thought she could just take him and save her life if she brought back the child before anyone found out she abandoned him." Shawn glares at the ceiling as footsteps creak across the floor boards. "I'm willing to bet that's the alpha."

"His dad."

"No. I'm his dad. I raised him and he is my child." He heads for the back door, following the footsteps overhead. "And no one is going to take him from you or me without going through my dead body."

"Shawn, don't start a fight. If you die, what happens to me? Do you really think they'll just interrogate me into giving Myles up and let me live?" You shake as you speak, voice trembling harshly. "Let the police take care of this."

Shawn stops at the backdoor and grips the frame harshly, the wood splintering under his grip. "I'm that guy's worst nightmare. He came after my family, my child. I won't wait for the police, I have to deal with him myself."

"Just wait! Shawn! No!" You shout as he runs out into the alley. He's going for the fire escape no doubt. You step out the door and he's already on the metal overhang above you.

__________

to be continued

*****Note: none of my works should be posted anywhere outside of my linked accounts. I do not give permission to repost with or without credit to my accounts. Please notify me of any reposted works.*****

#stories #werewolf au

71 notes · View notes

sadaboutniall · 4 years ago

Photo

Without Fear

masterlist | tag | wattpad

Chapter Three. February, continued.

spending my evenings on the roof, can’t tire of thinking about you // and I wonder if this will all work out.

- without fear, dermot kennedy

They fall into an easy routine, Niall and Lu. His next night goes even better than the first, and it’s a steady rise from there—it doesn’t take long for word to spread on the island, and by the end of February people start turning up to the shop specifically for Niall’s sets. It buoyes Lu’s heart almost too much, the way he lights up when he learns people are coming just to see him. He’s a master with crowds—knows how to work them, how to hold them in his hand and make them cry, laugh, buy another drink, kiss the person sitting next to him. He knows how to make every single person feel like they’re the only one in the room—like they’re the most special.

He knows how to do it to Lu, too.

But it’s easy to forget, Lu thinks, when she’s stood side by side with him at the end of the night, collecting glasses and rinsing them before she hands them to Niall to load into the dishwasher. It’s easy to forget that she’s not special.

“You alright, Looney Tunes?” Niall’s looking over at her, one eyebrow raised in question. “Quiet tonight.”

Luna nods, unsure if the bait is hers to take or not. She feels closer to Niall than anyone else on this island, but she’s sure he doesn’t feel the same—and she’s not so sure he’d even want to spend too much time around her if he knew more than the superficial truth about her. Who could want to trust someone who ran?

“Yeah,” is what she settles on. “Just feeling a little homesick tonight, is all.”

Niall hums, knocking the dishwasher door shut with his hip. He leans his side against the counter, then, “want to talk about it?”

Lu shakes her head. “You had a great night, don’t worry about it. It’ll pass. It comes and goes in waves.”

“Course it does. Doesn’t mean you shouldn’t talk about it, though.”

“It’s alright, Niall,” Lu says, but she feels it bubbling over inside her, escaping from the corner of her chest that she keeps it locked up in. It’s banging and screaming, rattling its chains, and Lu can’t help it when her next sentence comes out wobbly. “You didn’t come here to hear me cry.”

“Woah, hey, hey,” Niall takes a step forward, his hand coming down to rest on Lu’s upper arm, thumb running gently along her shoulder, “it’s okay, you can cry.”

“Sorry, sorry,” but Lu can’t stop it now. But it’s not like her homesickness, her anxiety, her general feeling of helplessness has gone away. It’s a constant, but dull, feeling behind her eyelids, in the pit of her stomach—one that, for the most part, she can swallow, ignore, force down enough to go about her everyday the way she needs to. But when she prods at it, touches the sore skin, everything bursts—and she ends up crying, fat, angry tears that she can’t control, in front of Niall. “I didn’t mean to—sorry.”

“Stop apologizing,” Niall pulls Lu in for a hug and he’s warm and broad and soft in all the right places, his arms coming to wrap all the way around her, his chin resting atop her head. “Let it out.”

“I don’t,” Lu sniffles dramatically, snot threatening to glob onto Niall’s striped jumper. “I don’t want to cry on your nice sweater.”

“Fuck’s sake, Lu,” Niall actually laughs, tightening his grip around Lu’s body. “I’ve a washing machine at home; modern technology is really something to behold, ya know. Snot away, petal. Use me as a tissue.”

And Lu laughs so hard that she actually does. Right onto Niall’s very nice, very soft, striped jumper.

The thing, Lu realizes pretty immediately, about shooting a snot rocket onto a cute boy’s sweater, is that it apparently diffuses a lot of the tension in the room. And makes you stop thinking about how lonely you are—at least for a second.

“Well,” Niall giggles as Lu covers her mouth in shock, one hand reaching for the paper towels by the sink. “I did tell you to.”

“I’m so sorry, Niall,” Lu rushes, stumbles over her words as she wets the paper towel under the sink. “I didn’t think I’d actually—you made me laugh.”

“Ah, so it’s my fault now?” Niall’s smiling, Lu can hear it in the lilt of his accent, even when her back is turned away from him. It makes her heart flutter in her chest, like a kid in elementary school getting a Valentine from her crush.

When she turns around, sopping paper towel in hand, her heart stops. Niall’s standing across from her in a sleeveless undershirt, his soiled sweater in his hands, and Lu’s never seen him like this: the gentle swell of his biceps, the cut of his collarbones, the curl of dark brown chest hair peeking out over the swooping cut of his tank top, the veins pressing against his forearms, toned from years and years of guitar playing. The tight tangle of tears in her chest dissolves almost immediately, replaced by a stirring in her lower stomach, a quick flash of warmth flushing her body. She sniffles, and Niall looks up.

“Not that your snot grosses me out that much,” he gestures to his sweater, “just didn’t want to get all wet while we clean it off.”

“Right,” Lu’s throat feels impossibly dry. “That would be bad.”

“Just cold,” Niall says, his voice dropping just so. “Not bad.”

“Oh,” Lu shakes her head, tries to snap herself back into it. “I can—do you want—sorry. I’ve got a bunch of hoodies upstairs, do you want one?”

“You have one that would fit me?” Niall asks, even though it’s a stupid question—Lu’s shorter than Niall, but with her curves (and the way she likes to wear her hoodies oversized), anything she owns will fit Niall easily. They’ll be big on him, probably.

“For sure,” Lu says. “I’ll get you something. It’s just—it’s all upstairs.”

“Grand,” a smile stretches across Niall’s face, dimples digging deeper into his cheeks. “I’ve always been curious to see the flat up there.”

Had Lu known she was going to have Niall in her flat tonight, she probably would’ve picked up a bit. Her shit is lying everywhere: hoodie on the floor, bra flung across the arm of the couch, slippers lying, upturned, on opposite ends of the living room. There’s a dirty bowl on the counter in her kitchenette, a wet towel hanging over the bar in the shower, and Ruairí is fast asleep on her pillow, curled up tight and safe against the night outside.

In her bedroom, Lu’s got her head in the closet, rooting around for a hoodie she knows will fit Niall. She’s no shortage of them: old college sweatshirts, band merch from when she was a teenager, freebies from work, a family reunion sweatshirt from what feels like a hundred years ago. It’s like rifling through her old life, going through them all, memories throwing themselves at her as she tries to decide which would look best on Niall, which she’d be most willing to never see again.

She finds Niall out in the kitchen, leaning up against the counter and trying to pretend like he wasn’t prying. The washing machine is running behind him, his sweater the only thing in it, and he smiles, gentle and warm, when Lu hands him one of her old college crewnecks. It’s navy blue, soft and worn around the collar and sleeves, and when he pulls it over his head it musses up his hair, sending it every which way. His head pops out the top and he’s red cheeks, a mess of hair, sleepy eyes, and Lu has to look away, down at her own feet in socks covered in purple stars, to keep her heart rate under control. He’s wearing blue ones, tiny little rabbits dancing around on them.

“Both love a crazy sock,” he says, and when Lu looks up his smile almost makes her cry. “Meant to be friends, I guess.”

“Guess so,” Lu says, mouth dry.

They stand in silence for a moment—Niall is so hard to read that Lu can’t tell, really, if it’s awkward or not. But he breaks it first, runs a hand over his stubble and says, “an hour for the wash to finish. If you want me to get out of your hair I can come back tomorrow and—”

“No, no,” Lu rushes, “don’t leave—I mean, it would be stupid for you to come all the way back tomorrow when you don’t have to. We can wait. Or, if you don’t mind, at least.”

Niall beams, running his hand over the back of his neck. “Don’t mind. Whatcha wanna do?”

“Uh,” Lu turns toward her fridge—anything to keep her cheeks from reddening as she stares at Niall’s face. “I don’t have any beer but do you drink wine?”

“Wine’s lovely. Red or white?”

“I only drink white, is that okay?”

“Ah, I’m a red drinker meself,” Niall pushes himself up from where he was leaning against the counter. “But beggars can’t be choosers. Whatcha got?”

Lu busies herself pouring two glasses of wine—the one for her a little deeper, because Niall’s driving—while Niall hums to himself and putters around her kitchen cum living room. She doesn’t let herself think about it, the intimacy of this all, how long it’s been since she’s had someone else in her private space. When she turns back around, Niall’s head is halfway out the window.

“Uh?”

Niall pulls his head back in, ducking down to avoid smashing it against the window. “You ever go out on the roof, Looney Tunes?”

Luna blinks, twice.

“Your roof,” Niall’s face lights up more and more with each word, “do you ever go out and sit on it? It’s perfect, look, totally flat, all you have to do is swing your leg—”

“Niall, I’m not swinging my leg over two stories of thin air.”

“C’mon,” Niall’s halfway out the window now. “Live a little, Looney Tunes.”

Luna’s final protest gets caught in her throat as she watches Niall fully disappear out the window. When she pokes her own head out he really is on the roof—not splattered on the ground outside—and he’s right: it really is only a short stretch to reach the flat bit of roof that overhangs the front of the cafe below. There’s more than enough space for both of them to fit on it, and the night outside is cold, dark, and beckoning.

Before she can think too hard, Lu passes Niall both glasses of wine, then grabs a blanket off the couch. She swings one leg out the window, mentally says a quick prayer, and stretches. Her socks hit the cold, flat roof with ease, and she feels Niall’s hand land gently on the back of her knee, guiding her down.

“See,” he smiles as Lu settles down next to him. “Easy peasy. I can’t believe you haven’t thought of this.”

“I never,” Lu shrugs, a proper response evading her. Had she ever even bothered to look out this window, in the month she’s been living on Inis Mór? If she had, she would absolutely have noticed how easy it is to get out here, and how perfectly suited this stretch of roof is for sitting on. She would’ve noticed the view, too—she can hardly see it now for how dark it is, but there’s no missing the way the Atlantic shimmers under the moonlight just a few miles away. The night smells like salt and over the gentle rise and fall of Niall’s breath Lu can hear waves crashing against the cliffs, against the beaches, against this island. Had she ever even opened this window, before Niall did?

“S’alright,” Niall carries on so seamlessly that Lu fears, for a second, she’s been speaking out loud. “You know about it now.” He scoots his bum forward, forward, forward, until his legs are hanging over the edge of the roof and he can swing them back and forth. It makes Lu’s stomach churn.

“Be careful, Niall,” she manages. “Imagine what your dead body on the ground would do for business.”

Niall barks out a laugh, full volume, no concern for the reverent quiet of the night. Lu can’t tell anymore—it could be three in the morning, for all she knows.

“Ah, people on Inis Mór are nosy as fuck,” Niall says, still laughing. “They’d come in droves just to see the spot, even after you’d peeled my body off the ground.”

“Ugh. Don’t talk like that.”

“You’re the one who brought it up, Looney,” Niall turns so he’s facing Lu. “Come, sit. Promise I won’t push ya.”

“You know, I hadn’t even considered that until you said something…” Lu gathers up the blanket and slowly, gingerly takes the few steps over to the edge. Niall reaches out a hand, cold and callused, to help her sit down. When he lets go, Lu shivers.

Side by side, blanket covering both their laps, Niall and Lu sit in silence and watch the night roll past them. Nights here are pitch dark, like nothing Lu is used to, and filled with more stars than she even knew existed. It’s suffocating and freeing all at once, the vastness, the emptiness, the closeness of it all. A million miles away from everyone and everything she knows—except for him.

“You can see the Northern Lights from here sometimes, you know,” Niall whispers, finally breaking the comfortable silence. Lu turns to look at him, and he’s still staring out at the dark sky. “They can’t really predict it, but sometimes you get a few hours’ warning that it might happen. This spot would be perfect.”

“Well if we ever get that warning,” Lu watches her breath condense and curl in the air as she speaks. “You can come over.”

“I’ll bring some good wine. This stuff is shite.”

“Hey!”

“Kidding, Looney,” gently, Niall knocks his knee against Lu’s. “You ever seen the Northern Lights?”

“Never. I’ve never even seen stars like this,” Leaning back on her hands, Luna drops her head back on her neck to face the sky. It really does seem like they’re infinite. “I can’t wrap my head around it.”

“Pretty stunning, isn’t it,” Niall leans back with her, his pinky finger brushing Lu’s where they’re both pressed against the roof. “It’s one of the few things here I never get sick of. If I ever left…”

“You want to leave?” Lu feels two things at once, then: her stomach, dropping in dread, and the rest of her body, flushing hot with shame. She hardly knows Niall, she’s only been here a month and only known him a few weeks and yet. The thought of being on this island without him. She doesn’t even want to entertain it.

“One day,” Niall says it so softly, so protectively. “I’d like to play my music to people who haven’t known me since I was born. I’d like to see places, too. If my music could take me places… I know it’s a pipe dream, but,” he trails off, Lu hears him swallow. “I can’t just stay here forever. I’ve got to try.”

It’s a nightmare, thinking about being here without Niall. But it would be a crime to let his talent waste away here. For a moment, Lu thinks she might do it: tell Niall about her life before coming here, about her job, about how she could make two phone calls and change his life, about how she knows, fully, without doubt, that someone, somewhere, in a high rise office building in Central London could make a star out of him. It would be cruel of her not to. She almost does.

She gets as far as “have you ever recorded,” before the washing machine beeps inside, and everything is ruined.

“Guess I should,” Niall sounds regretful as he makes to stand up, “get out of your hair and everything. S’getting late anyway and my mum will be wondering…”

He pulls himself up with ease, then reaches a hand down to help Lu stand up. She tries not to think too much about it: about the way his calloused hand feels like a comfort she hasn’t held since leaving home; about the way he climbs back in through the window first so he can help hoist her inside, his hands at her waist, grazing her love handles so gently, so carefully; about the way his shoulders flex as he shuts the window for her, making sure it’s locked before he draws the curtains down and fishes his damp sweater out of the wash.

Lu finds him a bag so he can take it home and hang it to dry—drying machines are few and far between here, and Lu is still figuring out how to make do without one on her own—and Niall loiters, just for a second, at her door before he leaves. He drags a hand through his hair, and Lu thinks about how it felt in her own, against her waist, brushing the skin on the inside of her wrist. She shakes her head as Niall rubs the back of his neck.

“Thanks for letting me stay,” he says. The air feels thick between them, like they’re both waiting for the same thing.

“You’re okay to drive?” Lu knows he is, he barely had two sips of the wine.

“I’m grand,” he promises, tapping his hand over his heart. “I’ll see you on Thursday night, then?”

“Thursday,” Lu nods. Three full days away.

“Try not to snot rocket on my jumper next time. And I’ll wash this one before returning it to you,” Niall smiles for real, dimples making an appearance, and leans in for a hug. He’s so solid, so soft, so warm, and he rubs Lu’s back, so gently, before he pulls away. It’s not long enough.

They can’t draw out the goodbye any longer—Niall repeats that his mum will probably be wondering where he is and Lu sends him off, heart bouncing against her ribs as she watches him clamber into his car in her hoodie. Once he’s pulled away and his headlights disappear, Lu shuts the door, locks up, and curls into herself in bed.

It’s only 6pm in New York.

She falls asleep.

####

taglist: @antisocialsocialclub5 @bopbopstyles @kara-246 @theresnooneheretosave @missy14us @tinyfelthat @okaaayniall @adoremp3 @crocodileniall @niallsguitarthings @ficnarry @thelifeofbo @niallgolden @coconutdawn @awomanindeniall

Join the tag list here.

#one direction #1dff #one direction fan fiction #niall horan #niall horan fic #niall horan fan fiction #niall horan imagine #niall #without fear #:')#this is my fave chapter so far i hope you like it!!

27 notes · View notes

bangtanoneshotsx · 5 years ago

Text

It’s Always Been You-Namjoon

It had always been him. Always first choice, always the person you’d go to. The first conversation you remember with him was on a cold, windy day, your hands just able to grasp the paper cup that was your primary source of heat. The paper cup was filled with lukewarm hot chocolate, the best the high school could offer. It was break; currently, you were sat on your desk, your notebook pushed off onto your seat. While your friends were still in the cafeteria, you had made your way back to the classroom, giving yourself some time to stare out the window, wishing the time away.

“I think it’s supposed to snow tomorrow.” Jumping slightly at the sudden voice, you placed your cup down on the windowsill. Turning to face the owner of the sound, your eyebrows rose in surprise. There, Namjoon stood, a shy smile gracing his lips. His navy blue blazer was neatly buttoned, his once neatly styled hair now sticking up sightly due to his hands continually running through it in frustration. Probably because of the math class you just had. He was sat slightly on the edge of your friend’s desk, his fingers tapping away on the wood as his head tilted, his eyes flickering to the outside world.

Namjoon was known for being the smartest boy in the class. His usual chair in the corner of the room surrounded by his two best friends meant that your paths didn’t cross that often. So him coming to sit beside you was the last thing you’d expect.

“I hope so. If it’s bad enough, we can get a day off.” Namjoon chuckled, his cheeks still slightly warm as you gave a gentle smile. Out of the corner of his eye, he could spot his two friends watching, their encouraging smiles the only thing stopping him from running away. He watched as you sighed, taking another sip of the cheap cafeteria hot chocolate. Then suddenly he found words stumbling out of his mouth. Something about how cold it’s getting, how hot chocolate always helps him, how there’s a test next week, and suddenly you had agreed to meet him at a cafe to study with him. With wide eyes, his heart racing Namjoon opened his mouth to speak only to quickly close it when he heard the voices of your friends as they entered the classroom. Tripping over his own feet on the way back to his desk, he felt his cheeks burn up as Yoongi and Hoseok surrounded him, the same question falling from their lips.

“We have a study date.” Was the only thing Namjoon could say, the possibility of explanation lost on him as even he wasn’t sure what had just happened.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Your legs across Namjoon’s lap you turned the page on the textbook you were currently trying to study. The two of you still wore your uniforms, his blazer now unbuttoned and his tie now loose around his neck. Namjoon too was trying to focus on an oversized textbook, though you could tell his attention was on the small business card on the coffee table that held his future. Every so often his eyes drifted to his house phone, his foot anxiously tapping.

It was apparent he was just in his head, his eyebrows were furrowed, his bottom lip in between his teeth as his mind raced over the audition. Knowing him, he was overthinking every movement he did that day.

“You’ve been on the same page for the last twenty minutes.” You giggled, your laughter becoming louder as he looked up at you confusion covering his face, his voice cracking as a small “huh” left him.

“I’m sure you passed Joon, you worked so hard who won’t want you?” He could only give a grateful smile, his hand resting on your ankles as he sighed, giving up on the textbook entirely.

“But there were guys so much older than me. More experienced than me. Better than me. How am I supposed to compete with that?”

“Easily. You show how passionate you are, how amazing your lyrics are, how hardworking you are. You’re not top of the class because you’re lazy Namjoon. You didn’t stumble over to me to ask me out because you’re not confident in yourself.” Namjoon’s cheeks were red, his ears quickly following in the same direction. Placing a hand on your waist, he leant towards you. Just as his lips were about to touch yours, the house phone rang, breaking the comfortable silence. An apologetic smile on his lips, Namjoon jumped up from his place on the sofa, the textbook falling to the floor by the force he created when he moved.

Taking a few deep breaths, he looked over to where you sat, a chuckle leaving him as you gave a thumbs up in encouragement. Trying to calm his racing heart, he gave one last deep breath before picking up the white telephone, a shy greeting leaving him.

You watched in anticipation, your bottom lip in between your teeth as you tried to figure out what the man was saying by Namjoon’s expression. Your heart rate picked up as his anxious expression started to lift, his eyebrows raising, his mouth gaping open as his dimples began to show.

He passed. He passed! Jumping up, you chucked the textbook onto the sofa, racing to stand next to your boyfriend.

“Thank you. Thank you so much, Sir! See you then.” With that, he hung up, the broad grin never leaving his face.

“I passed, I made it!” With a laugh, you threw your arms around his neck, bringing him into a hug as you felt tears hit your shoulder.

“You did it Joon, I’m so proud of you.”

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

He looked tired. The bags under his eyes were the biggest you had ever seen them, his face at the palest.

“Are you sure you’re okay? Are you eating enough?” Your voice was soft, full of worry for the boyfriend you hadn’t seen in months. Namjoon nodded, a soft sigh leaving him as he ran a hand through his hair.

“Yeah, they’ve got me on a diet, but I’m eating enough, it’s okay.” Giving a hum, you tried not to doubt him. Something was definitely on his mind. His lack of eye contact, his darting eyes, the slight tremor in his voice all equated to one thing. “You want to break up.” The five words made Namjoon’s breath hitch in his throat, the gasp barely audible. Lowering his head, Namjoon’s shoulders dropped.

“I don’t want to. Trust me, I don’t. But I’m about to debut, I have to focus on the group, I’m their leader. Apparently, I can’t have both a career and a relationship right now.” You knew this day was coming, but you were selfish, wanted to hold onto him for just a little longer even if it hurt you in the end. Your eyes filling with tears you leant forward, placing your hand on his thigh.

“I understand Joon. I mean it was kinda inevitable. We’ve both seen idols and their dating scandals.” Namjoon could only nod, sniffling as he tried to fight back tears. “Hey.” You spoke, making him look up at you for what seemed like the first time that night. “You’re about to become the leader of a group. A group that I’m sure will conquer the world. It’s okay.” He didn’t speak, instead simply brought you onto his lap, his head finding a comfortable spot in the crook of your neck as he squeezed you tight.

“I’m scared.” The high pitch tone told you his worries and anxiety was deep, covering more than one topic. Bringing your hand up to run through his hair, you sighed, allowing tears to start to roll down your cheeks.

“I know. But you’re about to achieve great things. I’ll wait for you Namjoon. I promise.”

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

You cried tears of joy that night. Watching him surrounded by the six boys that had become like his family, all with eager smiles, already their dedication showing through. He was still the Namjoon you knew. Careful with his words, gentle, mindful of others. Now his dreams were becoming true; you knew he’d only fight harder to keep them. Your bowl of ice cream was left untouched as you watched the small interview, listened as he described the reasoning behind his name.

Now to everyone he was Rap Monster, the leader of BTS. But he was still Namjoon to you. Still the shy boy that helped you study, that wrote lyrics, that studied as much as he breathed. He was still your Joon, still held that special place in your heart. That was the one thing allowing you to go through this. Knowing that he was still in your heart, and hopefully you in his.

Him debuting meant you had to watch in anger as his group was ridiculed, pushed aside. Often you found hot tears escaping you as your hands balled into fists. He had worked so hard for this, they all had. Why couldn’t anyone see that, why didn’t anyone care?

But when they won their first award, you weren’t sure where the screams were louder, the ones in the arena or in your living room. A grin never left your face as he spoke into the mic, shortening his efforts, all of his hard work into a few simple words. They were on their way to stardom, to achieving their dreams. And your heart swelled with pride. But there was always a little nagging thought of if only you were there with him. If only you could celebrate with him, congratulate him in person, feel that bone-crushing hug he gave when he was ecstatic.

Hopefully, that time would come. For now, you had to resign to sit in your living room watching him on a screen like many others.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

It had been years since Namjoon debuted. Years since your last conversation. Still, you kept his contact, the heart still next to his name, hoping that he never changed the number. The heart never left his name, the emoticon still reminding you that no one would ever be the same as Namjoon. You had tried, tried to date other people. Tried to move on. But you couldn’t. None of them were him, they didn’t hold you like you were their whole world, they didn’t light up when they saw you, they didn’t have random facts about anything, they didn’t have passion for music. They just weren’t him. They never would be. So they always lasted only a couple months, always mentioning that you were never fully committed. And you weren’t. Not when he was out there, still holding that promise that you’d make it back to each other.

Being in your early 20’s now you knew you should probably forget about the promise the two of you made as teenagers, but you knew Namjoon. Knew he didn’t say something just for the sake of it. He’d come back for you, you knew it.

The sound of your phone filling the room woke you from your slumber. With a groan, you fumbled, picking up the phone only to wince at the bright screen. The digital numbers told you it was too early for an average human to be awake. With your tiredness you didn’t bother to check the name on your screen, nor did you see the heart emoji.

“Hello?” You grumbled, ready to shout at the person who decided the phone call couldn’t wait.

“Y/N?” At the sound of his voice, you sat up, your heart starting to race. “Y/N, it’s me. Namjoon? Listen, I don’t know if you remember, but we made a promise years ago.”

“I remember Namjoon. God, I missed you so much.” The sound of his voice made all the emotions from that night come flooding back. The last teary goodbye, the pride and sadness that filled you that night as you watched him leave. Already you could feel tears fill your eyes.

“I missed you too, more than you know. But I made it Y/N, it happened.” His voice cracked, a slight waver just audible.

“You did. And I’m so proud of you.” A small ‘thank you’ was followed with a sigh, you could hear the hesitation.

“About the promise we made. I called to tell you I can date now. I mean it still has to be a secret, but it’s better than nothing. God, I don’t even know if you’re still single, but I thought you had the right to know. I’ve been waiting for this moment ever since we broke up.” He continued to ramble. All words lost on you as you were stuck on the same sentence. He could date now, he still remembered you. What did this mean for you, what would happen now?

“Namjoon.”

“Yeah?”

“I still love you. I tried to date, tried to move on but I couldn’t. Do you want to meet up and talk about this?” You could hear his grin as he answered, quickly setting up a time and place for later that day. “Oh and Joon?”

“Yeah?”

“Don’t call me this early again.” Namjoon could only chuckle, muttering something about ‘never changing.’

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Your son’s toys were scattered around the living room floor. His artwork covering a small section of the wall that the TV was attached to. You sat on the sofa, the children’s programme still playing though the volume was lower. You could hear Namjoon in your son’s bedroom, his voice low as he probably placed your son’s favourite book back on the bookshelf. Your son had a tendency to stay up for Namjoon, waiting until his father could read him to sleep. This often caused him to fall asleep within the first five minutes. Still, Namjoon loved the time alone with him, even if it was short.

Softly shutting his son’s bedroom door, Namjoon padded through to where you sat.

“I don’t think I’ve ever gotten past the fourth page.” He chuckled, lifting up your legs so he could sit next to you, placing them back on his lap. Giggling, you inched forward so you could cuddle into his side, a soft sigh leaving you.

“Still his favourite book though. Won’t let me read it to him, he says it’s just for you and him.” You didn’t miss the grin that covered Namjoon’s face, the slight tears in his eyes.

It was moments like these that you knew the struggle was worth it. Those years spent without him, hanging onto a promise you had made. Ever since he stumbled over to you in the classroom on that cold, windy day, it had been him. From the awkward teenager to the now confident man that you had built a family with, nothing had changed. Namjoon was still the only person for you, the only one that made you feel completely safe, the only one that still set off butterflies in your stomach.

It had always been him, it always would be him.

114 notes · View notes

vgckwb · 4 years ago

Text

P5R: Rebel Girl (A FeMC Story/P5R Rework) Chapter 1: The Whims of Chaos

Amamiya Ren was on her way to Tokyo. She had short messy hair, black-rimmed glasses, and was wearing a grey shirt, with a black jacket, a navy blue skirt, white socks, and a pair of black Mary Janes. She had fallen asleep on the train. In her mind, she could only see one thing. That night. She was on her way home for the evening when she heard a woman crying out for help. She was scared, yet knew she had to be brave. She raced towards the sound to see a violent bald man trying to force a woman into a car.

The man turned to her. ”What are you looking at?” he asked. “Move along!” Ren knew she couldn’t.

“Stop!” the woman cried.

The man glared at her. “Impudent people like you should do as I say and follow where I steer this country!” He turned back to Ren. “Well?! What are you waiting for?! Leave!”

That was the last straw for Ren. She was sick of jerks like him thinking they could control everything on a whim. She had to put a stop to it. She stepped between the woman and the man, splitting them up.

The man was clearly drunk, and after stumbling for a little bit, he fell and hit his head on the sidewalk. He got up, and he was bleeding. “Damn brat! I’ll SUE!”

Ren was confused. “You fell on your own,” she said.

“Silence!” he yelled. “You’re going to regret this!”

The woman that Ren had saved spoke up meekly. “I’ll-I’ll tell the police.”

The man looked at the woman he was trying to trap and grinned. “Go ahead. I have the police, the judges, and the lawyers under my thumb. They aren’t going to believe you anyway.”

As if they were dogs on a leash, two police officers came up. “Is something the matter?” one of them asked. He noticed the man that Ren only knew as vulgar. “Oh, it’s you sir. Are you alright?”

“Well, tell them,” the man said.

The woman looks hesitantly at Ren. Tears formed, as if it were meant to be an apology. She turned to the officers and barely choked out “This young girl...assaulted this man…”

Ren was shocked. “It is as she says” the man says. “Arrest her!’

“Yes sir!” the officer said.

“Oh, and, please be sure to leave my name out of it,” the man added.

“Yes sir!” the officer said. The two officers arrested Ren before she could process everything that was going on. After which, she was let off on parole, but her parents felt that living in their quaint little town wouldn’t do her any good. They offered her to stay with a friend of theirs; a man by the name of Sojiro Sakura.

That moment was all that Ren could dream about ever since it happened. It played over and over again in her head. Until it stopped. Her mind faded to black. She then saw an image that would make sense for a dream, but it felt all too real.

There stood an image of a white metallic angel “What are you doing here?! I am creating order!”

Ren notices a figure in a cloak. “Well, if that’s what you’re trying to do, then it’s no wonder why I’m here!”

“Pardon?” asked the angel-looking thing.

“I think this country is just about done with order” the cloaked figure says. She holds up her hand and summons a rapier that was adorned in gold. “I think it's time for chaos to reign!” With one motion, the cloaked figure slices the white metallic angel thing in two.

Ren was then hit with a barrage of strange images. A castle morphing into a town. A museum being covered by police tape. A bank landing from the sky into a highly stylized city. A pyramid gaining an eye and omitting a cursed aura. A space station turning into a post-apocalypse. A casino shifting into a fashion show. A ship being shrunk down and turned into a prop. Lastly, she saw the Tokyo underground change into a garden.

Ren was having trouble processing all of this. The cloaked figure then looks at Ren. “Hm?” they say. “Oh darling, you’re here a bit early.” Ren was confused. “Or perhaps, it’s not early for you.” They laughed. “I AM the manifestation of chaos after all. It would only stand to reason that the you here now isn’t the you of the present time.”

Ren glared at them. “Yes, I see” they continued. “This is the you I am interested in. The you of now is nothing more than a middle school girl, enjoying life as much as she possibly can; blissfully unaware of what is about to occur. You is the you of my future.”

Ren was confused by these words. Does this mean that this is in the past. If so, why am I seeing it? And why is this figure talking to me anyway? This is supposed to be a dream, right?

“If I am correct, you recently got arrested for a crime you didn’t commit, correct?” the cloaked figure asked. Ren was shocked. “Heh heh. So I was right.” The figure took out an apple. “Here” they said. “You’ve seen what I just did to Yaldabaoth, correct? Well, with a bite of this apple, all that power can also be yours.”

Ren was shocked. What did they just say? I could have that power?

“You want revenge, right?” the figure asked. “I can give that to you and more. With one bite, your inhibition will be released, and revenge will be yours for the taking. You will be able to punish that guy that had you arrested and make him pay!”

Ren was certainly tempted. Everyone back home was labeling her a criminal. It sounded nice to be able to shake that. However, something about this didn’t sit right with her. “What’s in it for you?” she asked.

The figure giggled. “Well, there are certainly some benefits to be gained on my end. Another agent of chaos for starters. And a powerful one at that. But more importantly, the one who summoned me has taken quite an interest in you.”

Ren was understandably confused. “Summoned?”

“Ah yes” the figure said. “The nature of my existence is complicated at best. I have always existed, and yet I have yet to exist. I am here in your past because you were there in her future.”

Ren was further confused. Then again, this figure did call itself the manifestation of chaos. It wouldn’t be too much of a surprise to think that this powerful chaos could do something like that. “So. What do you say?” the figure asked.

Ren was almost tempted to accept this offer. Being shipped out of her home because of a false report by a powerful asshole sucks. Ren thought that with this power, she could enact her revenge and clear her name.

However, a voice in her mind spoke to her. “Don’t!” it said. Ren was shocked. The figure was displeased. The voice in her mind continued. “Their definition of revenge is nothing short of death! The power they will grant you will corrupt you into becoming someone you are not! You will become a violent, ruthless, killing machine! You will become the very thing you hate! Someone who abuses their power to get what they want!”

Ren heard the voice. She stood against the figure and glared at it. “Hm. I see you have your answer!” they said. “Very well. But know this! I expect a thank you!” Ren was confused.

“See, the figure I just slayed, Yaldaboath, was setting you up to play in an unfair game” the figure explained. “They were forcing you into a situation in which you were supposed to lose in order to spread its idea of order to the masses. Of course, I am more forgiving than that. We are still going to play a game. However, this time, it will be fair.”

The figure smirked. “I have no intention of losing. I just won’t stack the deck against you is all. If we were to fight now, you would surely lose. But by journey’s end, I fully expect a fair fight. In the meantime, I shall be going about my business, all the while making sure you’re ready when the time comes. Do you have a deal?” Ren nodded. “Good. I shall see you on the other side. The figure bowed, and the entire scenery faded.

Ren woke up on the train. She was breathing heavily, and her heart was beating out of her chest. “What was that?” she wondered. She checked her phone for the time, and saw something else that confused her. A mysterious app that was red and pulsating. “I don’t remember installing this,” she pondered. She gasped. “Could this be part of the ‘game’? But, that wasn’t real, was it?”

Ren tried figuring out what had just happened for the remainder of her ride. But much to her dismay, there wasn’t anything she could figure out besides what she was told. “Now arriving in Yongen-Jaya!” the announcer said. Ren gasped. This was her stop. She figured she could worry about agents of chaos and someone who could slice a giant metal angel thing in two as easily as they could breathe later. For now, she had to meet up with one Sojiro Sakura.

She managed to find Sojiro’s house, but no one answered when she rang the bell. She found this curious, so she decided to ask around. She found out Sojiro runs a cafe named Le Blanc.

She found Le Blanc and entered. She saw an old couple sitting at a booth, as well as a middle-aged man wearing a pink shirt, tan pants, and a green apron. “This is the best coffee we’ve had here, Sakura-san” the old man in the booth said.

“Why thank you” said the man Ren deduced had to be Sojiro.

“Excuse me?” Ren said.

“Hm?” said Sakura-san.

“Are you by chance, Sojiro Sakura?” Ren asked.

“Huh? Yeah” he said. There was a bit of a silence. “Oh, you’re-” Sojiro sighed. “Sorry. I forgot that was today.”

Ren smiled. “It’s alright.”

“Boss, who is this girl?” the old mad asked.

“I mean, I know you're something of a ladies’ man, but isn’t she a bit young for you?” the old woman asked.

Sojiro was stunned. “I-It’s not like that,” he said, defensively.

“Well, we should probably get going,” the old man said.

The old lady nodded. “It seems Sakura-san is busy,” she replied. The two paid for their coffee and left.

Sojiro sighed. Ren smirked. “So” she said. She posed provocatively and said “Ladies’ man, huh?”

Sojiro glared at her. “Shut up.” Ren returned to her normal posture and giggled. “Anyway, come upstairs.” Ren followed Sojiro up to a messy attic. “This will be your room for your time in Tokyo.”

Ren looked at him confused. “I’m not staying with you?”

“Well…” Sojiro said. He sighed. “Look, things are complicated at my place.”

“Too many women coming over?” Ren said. “Don’t worry, I won’t tell.”

Sojiro glared at her. “Look. I agreed to take care of you. Please keep your smart aleck remarks to a minimum.”

“Sorry,” Ren said.

Sojiro sighed. “No, it’s understandable. From what I understand, your situation is a bit hectic to say the least. You’re just trying to keep your spirits up. But please, if you can help it, don’t do it at my expense.”

“OK,” said Ren.

Sojiro smiled. “Anyway, I’m sorry your room is in the condition it’s in. I would have cleaned it more, but stuff got in the way.” Sojiro looked at Ren. He smiled. “A fast learner? I like that. It’s sure to help you live a regular school life.” Ren nodded.

“Anyways, I need to get home. I have matters I need to attend to. I’m sure you can clean enough to get yourself situated for the night. That corner over there is where your mattress is. That might be a good place to start. I’ll make you some curry, and then you can get started.”

The two of them walked down stairs. Sojiro made Ren some curry for dinner, and served her some coffee. To Ren’s surprise and delight, they were both delicious. Ren thanked Sojiro for the meal. Sojiro nodded and then left for his place.

Ren then headed back upstairs and cleaned what would be her room for the next year or so. There was a lot, so she had to prioritize. She started with the bed, and then organized some shelf space for her luggage that was to come to her later. She figured she could get the rest of it later. For now, she was tired, and decided to go to bed.

Ren reflected on what had happened today on the train. It seems like a complete work of fiction. And yet, it felt so real. She then took out her phone and looked at the app she had gotten. And this app. This is proof positive that what I witnessed was real. At least to some extent. All of this is a lot to take in. Maybe I can figure it out after a good night’s rest. Ren closed her eyes and drifted off to sleep.

However, she should have known. A dream is what got her caught up in this in the first place. Another dream just might continue it. Ren awoke in a jail cell. However, the door to her cell was nowhere to be found. She walked up to the door and saw a room surrounded by more cells. In the middle was a strange man with a long nose. Standing at his side was a young girl with a book.

“Welcome. To the Velvet Room” the man said. “Do not be alarmed. You are fast asleep in your own world. My name is Igor. My associate here is Lavenza.”

“I assume you have a lot of questions,” Lavenza said. “We are here to be of assistance.”

#persona 5 #persona 5 royal #p5 #p5r #persona fanfiction #ren amamiya #Female ren #FeMC #p5 FeMC #sojiro sakura #igor #Lavenza #p5r rework

24 notes · View notes

fantastic-bby · 5 years ago

Text

Protect Me, My Aurora

Pairing: Reader x Hongjoong

Word count: 2.3k

Genre: Angst, light angst, kinda fluff but not really

Summary: Hongjoong struggles to move on without you

Warning: Mentions of loss, grief, death

A/n: I cried writing this, edited it and cried more. Then I listened to Aurora and I cried again. I basically cried the entire time. Also bold = flashback.

He had spent so long trying to recover but it just wasn’t going to happen. Every night he thought about you, every night he wished you were by his side, every second that passed he wished he could spend it with you. Days passed, then weeks, then months, then a year. He had spent a year trying to forget you desperately. His mind would go blank when he saw something that reminded him of you, his heart would ache when he would think of you, his soul yearning for you whenever he remembered how it ended.

He never imagined what his life would be like if you left, but now he had to face the pain with every passing moment. He missed your touch, your voice, your warmth; he missed you. But how was he supposed to get you back to him? He wondered every day what it would be like if you hadn't left. All he could do was replay the memories you shared together since that was what was left.

"Hongjoong-ah." You walked into the toilet in one of his sweaters that was too big for you. You wrapped your arms around his waist as he brushed his teeth. "Good morning." You sighed, pressing your cheek to his bare back. He washed his mouth and placed his toothbrush in the cup before turning to you,

"Good morning, (Y/n)." He smiled as he hugged you back, pressing a soft kiss on your head. "How are you feeling, jagiya?" He asked as he pulled away, inspecting the cut on your nose. You smiled as you moved your head away,

"I'm better now that you're here." You giggled. "You are my medicine." You leaned up and pressed a kiss to his nose, "You make me feel better. My aurora."

He was broken as he sat in his bedroom, forcing himself not to look through the old photos you shared together. He sat on the messy covers, his knees to his chest as he stared at the drawer of his dresser that held a box containing all that he had left of you. The sweater you would always wear sitting on his lap as he took in your scent. He needed to move on but he couldn't.

"Joongie-ah, which one is nicer?" You walked out of the bedroom in your robe, holding up two dresses. He looked at the navy blue one, then at the white one,

"You're still gonna look beautiful in whichever." He shrugged but it wasn't the answer you were looking for.

"Joong, I'm serious!" You pouted at him. You wanted to look nice since you were attending an awards show with Hongjoong, an awards show where ATEEZ were nominated and you were sure they were going to win.

"The navy blue one is lovely, Jagiya."

He reached into his bedside table and pulled out a notebook. He flipped through the pages, stopping at one of the songs he had written. Aurora. He remembered how excited you were when you first heard it. Despite writing it for ATINY, he knew he wrote it for you as well. He was struggling before he met you. Being the only trainee at KQ was hard enough, he had the pressure of leading his group members. When he accidentally bumped into you at a cafe, spilling coffee all over you he wondered now whether it was fate that brought you two together. You pulled him out of the darkness and surrounded him with light, keeping him safe from all his bad thoughts.

“Shit!” He frantically tried to catch the falling cup but it was too late. Your crop top was covered in iced coffee, goosebumps forming on your skin from how cold it was. “Oh my god, I’m so sorry.” He quickly grabbed tissues and handed them to you.

“I-It’s okay. Today’s not my day.” You let out a small laugh as you started to dab the coffee off of your white shirt. He was looking at his phone when he turned around, unaware of your presence right behind him and he ended up bumping right into you, spilling your coffee all over you.

“I’m so sorry, I’ll buy you a new drink.” He quickly turned around before you could say anything and you just let him.

“An iced mocha.” You spoke out at him, loudly enough that he would hear you and he nodded, heading straight to the cashier.

His mind was suddenly being overwhelmed with all the times you spent together as he read through the messy, scribbled lyrics of Aurora in his notebook. His tears were dripping onto the page and onto the writing.

“Joongie-ah, this is so nice! How did you come up with it?” You asked, your face showing pure awe and admiration as you listened to the new song he had come up with.

“We were performing one day and I looked at the crowd. It looked like they had some kind of aurora surrounding them.” He smiled, wrapping his arms around your waist as he pulled you into him, “I also thought about you a lot while I was writing this song. You make me really happy, jagiya.” Your face was quick to blush, not knowing how to react.

“You think of me as an aurora?” You asked.

“I think of you as something that brought light to my darkness. Your light protects me from all my negative thoughts.” He smiled, bumping his nose to yours, “You protect me. You feel like an aurora.”

His hand was running along the page before he couldn’t take it anymore. He shut the book and placed it on the bed, his head in his hands as he sobbed. It was too much. There was a hole in his chest and no one but you could fill it. His spark was being put out without you with him. He was losing himself without you.

“(Y/n)? Jagiya?” He stepped into your shared apartment to see you wrapped in multiple blankets a mug of tea in your hands.

“Joongie-ah!” You called and he quickly stepped out of his shoes and towards you. “It’s scary.” You pouted and pointed to the TV, showing a horror movie playing. He chuckled at you,

“Why didn’t you wait for me to come home first?” He sat himself beside you and you immediately scrambled out of the blankets to cling onto him.

“I thought I could prove to you that I don’t scare ea-” You cut yourself off with a scream when a jumpscare popped up and buried your face in his chest.

“You definitely proved yourself, (Y/n).” He laughed as he held you.

He got up from his bed and grabbed his car keys, not sure of where he was going but he needed to get out of the apartment. He wiped his tears away, glad that none of his neighbours were in the lift with him. He quickly walked out of the lift and into his car, igniting the engine and driving out of the parking lot without hesitation. He was still unsure of where he was going as he cried, struggling to see through his tears as he drove.

“Joongie, be careful.” You whined as he pretended to swerve the car playfully, making you squeal. “Im serious!” You slapped his arm lightly as he laughed.

“I’m always careful when you’re here, (Y/n).” He poked his tongue out at you, giving you his free hand to hold while he drove. “I’ll stop now, okay?”

“Promise?” You held out your pinkie at him when he reached a traffic light.

“I promise, my aurora.” He wrapped his pinkie around yours with a smile on his face.

The car stopped at the side of the road, his head dropping to the steering wheel as he cried. He stepped out of the car and dragged his legs across the grass and up the hill. He wiped his tears with the back of his hand and fell to his knees in the grass. He looked up at the night sky, trying to stop his tears. He looked around the familiar spot, more memories flooding him

“Keep your eyes closed, jagiya.” He smiled as he guided you up the hill.

“You’re responsible if I trip, Joongie.” You said as you kept your eyes closed, making a chuckle leave his lips as he stopped. He moved your hands off of your face to reveal a picnic mat neatly laid over the grass with plates and a pair of wine glasses. “Joongie,” You gasped at the sight.

“Happy anniversary, (Y/n).” He sat you down, pulling out a wine bottle from the picnic basket, filling up the glass. He handed you one of the glasses and raised his own, clinking them together. “These two years have been amazing. I’m so glad that I bumped into you that day.”

“I am too.” You smiled as you sipped on the wine.

He looked at the ground after he realised where he was; this was not where he wanted to be. He pulled himself off of the ground and stumbled into the car, starting the ignition and stepping on the pedal. He drove once again, his car halting in front of the cafe. His heart stopped, his breathing halted and he stared at the doors of the closed cafe. He remembers your meeting so well. All the dates that happened in this cafe, all of the surprise parties that happened at this cafe. But he knew this was not the right place. He stepped on the pedal, his mind still trying to figure out where his heart was taking him.

His car halted for the last time that night and he looked at the sight of the location in front of him. He turned off his car and climbed out, walking into the place his heart wanted to be in. As he walked closer, it played in his head.

“(Y/n)-ah?” He called for you when he stepped into the apartment. He pulled his phone out of the pocket at the sound of the ring and answered it without looking at the caller I.D.

“Hyung,” Jongho’s voice ran through the speaker, “You need to come down here now.” He didn’t even listen to the rest of the what his younger member had to say and he was bolting to his car. He had never driven so fast before. He barely had enough sense to park his car properly as he barged into the building, pushing past all the people inside he found Jongho and Seonghwa sitting at the benches with their heads in their hands.

“Where is she?” Hongjoong asked them. Both of their heads lifted up at the sound of his voice,

“She’s in there. We can’t go in but we can look through the window.” Seonghwa stood up and brought Hongjoong to the window looking into the Intensive Care Unit that you were lying in. He felt his heart break at the sight of you on the other side, multiple tubes stuck into your mouth as the doctors were desperately trying to keep you alive.

“No,” Hongjoong whimpered out, helpless as all he could do was watch. He didn’t move away from the window for the next four hours until the doctor came out, his legs were aching from standing but he didn’t care.

“She’s awake. You can come in and see her if you like.” He opened the door to the ICU and Hongjoong ran inside.

“(Y/n), jagiya,” He practically fell to the side of the bed as he took your hand in his. Your head slowly turned to him,

“Joongie,” You whispered, your voice unable to get any louder with the tube that was pumping oxygen into your lungs stuck down your throat.

“Jagiya, what happened?” He asked, standing up and brushing your messy hair. Your head instinctively leaned into his touch as a tear ran down your face.

“Joongie,” Your hand shakily brought him closer to you. “Hongjoongie, I’m always going to protect you, okay?” You whispered into his ear. He pulled away and stared at you in disbelief, already knowing what was happening.

“(Y/n), please, just hold on a little longer. Please. Jagiya, don’t let go just yet.” His tears were streaming onto your hand as he shakily pressed your hand to his lips.

“I promise I will never let anything happen to you. Like you said, I’m your aurora.” You were crying yourself, the tears difficult to stop. “I love you so much, Kim Hongjoong. I’m sorry, but I have to leave now.” Hongjoong brought himself up, pressing one last kiss to your lips and pressing his forehead to yours as you drew your last breath. He shakily brought your knuckles to his lips once again, kissing your hand repeatedly as he held on to whatever of you he could.

“My aurora,” He sobbed into your hand, “My aurora.”

He fell to his knees on the ground, staring at your grave. Your name was engraved in the tombstone, the years you were alive written right under. He placed his hand on the tombstone, his heart finally being where it wanted to be. His hand shakily ran over the engravings, his lips parting but unable to form words as they trembled. His tears were watering the soil, his head hanging low as he cried.

“Jagiya, it’s been a whole year.” He managed to make out, “I still miss you. Everyday I miss you more and everyday I wish I could’ve been there earlier to save you. I’m sorry I couldn’t protect you when all you did was protect me.” His words were choked, his throat was hoarse from the crying and his face was swollen. His couldn’t stop the tears even if he actually tried. “My life feels like nothing without you, everyday I wonder about what it would be like if you were still here.” His hands moved to gently touch the wilting flowers that laid right atop your grave. “But I know you’re still here when you can be. I can feel your presence. Your aurora. I can only ask so much from you and you promised me.” He pulled his knees to his chest, lowering his head,

“The one last thing that I ask of you. The only thing that I will forever ask of you,”

Protect me, my Aurora.

나를 감싸줘, my Aurora

#ateez #ateez hongjoong #kim hongjoong #ateez imagines #ateez reactions #ateez scenarios #ateez fanfic #fanfiction #kpop imagines

145 notes · View notes

kileyrose-2003 · 5 years ago

Text

Dan Torrance x Fem! Reader Pt. 4

A/N: Hello lovelies, this is Pt.4 of my Dan fic with it revolving around Rose. Bare with me while I write Pt.5. I have a couple of new request coming out through out the course of this week and the next week. Pt. 5 will be picking up with Rose’s perspective on things so be prepared for an emotional roller coaster. I sincerely hope you all are doing well and I love you all. Link to intro is here, Pt.1, Pt.2, and Pt.3

Enjoy!

You spent the rest of the night in yours and Danny's bedroom, never falling asleep and simply staring at the ceiling. "How could she?" Was a recurring question you found your asking over and over as images of the poor baseball boy entered your mind.

He had a family that was never going to see him again. That was always going to wonder where he was and if he was safe. There would never be any closure for them and you found your lip trembling and eyes watering at the very thought of it.

Danny didn't fall back asleep either. Constantly pacing back and forth from the guest bedroom to the kitchen in some sort of attempt to try and release some of his worry about you. He yearned to hold you in his arm and to just make all the pain go away even though he knew he couldn't do that for you. No one could.

He was scared too. Scared that one of the members of The True Knot was going to come after you and hurt you. Or worse, they'd take you from him and all he'd be left with for a clue would be a rummaged through purse and a shoe that had no matching pair. Though he tried his hardest not to think of that. He didn't want to lose you. He feared losing his control that you helped him craft to control his power to not hit the end of the bottle. Because he knew if he didn't have you, he would go back to the end of the bottle.

Around 9:30 you heard a knock on your bedroom and rolled over in bed although you were awake. "You can come in!" You called out. Danny peaked his head through and smiled. "Hey..I didn't know if you were hungry but I made coffee and breakfast. I don't know if it's as good as your cooking but I figured I try."

Despite how dead you felt inside you managed to smile. "Thanks honey...just give me a minute to wash my face and stuff, please?"

"Sure. I'll see you in the kitchen." He blew you a kiss. "I'll be there." You clambered out of bed once he walked away and walked into the bathroom connected to your bedroom and turned the light on.

You turned the water on and stared at your reflection in the mirror, taking note of how puffy your eyes looked and how tired you felt. You hadn't felt that way since you were working in that bar back when you met Danny. "God, I'm a fucking mess."

You lowered your head and threw some water on your face. The coolness alleviating some of the pain from your puffy eyes. You reached out for your face wash to wash some of the smudged makeup from the previous day but something didn't feel right. You were cold and you felt your heart racing. Almost like you were anxious. You set your hands down on the counter and gripped the sink. Trying to get rid of some of the anxiety. You noticed your ring was glimmering from the light shining down on it from your vanity and you found your lips twitching to form a smile.

(That's a nice ring you got there, Y/n. Danny spend his entire paycheck on that or did he inherit it?)

You felt the hairs on your arms standing straight up and you moved your hands away from the sink to see a set of glowing blue eyes staring back at you in the mirror. 'Rose.'

(Well, hi there darlin.)

"Shit!" You tripped over the mat in your bathroom and fell back into the wall, squeezing your eyes shut. "You're not real, you're not real. You can't hurt me here or anymore. Go away!"

(Oh sweetie, I'm very much real.)

"Stop!"

(We've always been connected, you and I. Even all that time we didn't see or speak, I always knew where you were. I just never bothered to reach out. Until now. Now that I know what special people you have in your life now that you hold so dear to you, I feel obliged too.)

"Don't you even think about getting near them or I'll-"

(You'll what? Kill me? Please, you and I both know you don't have guts to come back home and look me in the eye and admit you were wrong. Let alone kill me. You've always been the baby in the group.)

"I'm a lot stronger now, than you think I am."

(We'll see about that when the time come for it. There's no escaping me, Y/n. Or your fate. You were always meant to be with us. One of us. The sooner you accept that, the easier that process will be for you.)

Despite Rose's still face you could see the psychoticness glinting in her eyes. "I could never be like you! I'm nothing like you! Especially after what you did to that little boy."

(Oh yes you are. You're my spitting image. In more ways than one, honeybunch.)

You could feel Rose inside your head, peaking at all your thoughts and memories and you gripped at your hair.

"Stop it! Stop it!"

(My! Aren't you a busy girl?)

"Get out! Get out of my head!" The mirror began to shake and you let out a scream. "GET OUT!"

"Y/n?! Y/n! What's happening?" You could practically feel Rose laughing with malicious glee at the panic she was causing. "Stay away from me, Danny! Stay away!"

(No, come closer Danny Boy. I still haven't gotten the pleasure of seeing your face.)

"Stop! Stop! This has nothing to do with him." As much as you swore to yourself you wouldn't cave in to give her any satisfaction, you couldn't do it anymore and tears started flowing down your cheeks.

"But it does." Her voice. It shouldn't be that close to you. You felt soft hair brush up against your shoulder and the smell of strong musky incenses and flowers enter your nostrils. Her breath was so close to your ear, you could practically feel the moisture from it sitting on your skin. "I'd imagine even after all those years in AA, he still would taste like whiskey."

You started swinging your arms and kicking your legs. "DON'T YOU FUCKING TOUCH HIM! GET AWAY! GET AWAY!"

"Y/n!" Dan went running down the hallway. "What's wrong?!" You could see his feet from the crack of the door. "Don't come in! I-i can handle it."

"Bullshit, you can." You could hear him grabbing the skeleton key and you freaked out. "No! No! No!" You didn't Rose in the mirror or standing next to you anymore but if she was right on you being connected, you didn't know if she could hear or see what you were either.

The knob on the bathroom door began to jiggle and Dan opened the door. "Y/n." You shook your head. "Stay back."

"Y/n-" You pointed a finger up at the bathroom mirror. "She-she was looking at me!

"Who?" He shut the water off and helped you off the ground and held your hands in his to try and stop you from trembling. "Rose, that woman who killed that little boy!" You started sobbing.

"Okay..okay." He pulled you into hug and ran a hand through your hair, looking at the bathroom mirror with contempt. "It's alright, honey. She's gone."

"She knows your name, Danny. I don't like it." He kissed your hair. "If that's all she knows, that's the least of our worries." You tried to interrupt him but he shushed you. "It's all going to be alright, I promise." He wiped a tear from your cheek and held your face in his hands. "Okay?"

"Okay." He let go of you and held your hand. "Come on, let's get out of here." You nodded and flicked the switch in the bathroom, following Danny out to the kitchen.

You sat down at the island and he set your coffee and breakfast of you. "Thank you." He gave a slight nod and you looked him up and down. "Why are you jeans so early?"

"I'm covering Teenytown for Billy this morning, helping out with the train." You giggled and shook your head, taking a sip of your coffee. "You're such a man child."

"True, but I'm your man child." You smiled briefly and Dan's face changed as he watched you for a moment. "Look, about last night...we're good, right?" You were quick to nod. "Yeah..what made you think we weren't?" You asked. "I don't know.. it just made me a little nervous that you wanted to sleep alone last night." You let out a sigh and Dan held your face. "I'm sorry if I made you uncomfortable or upset you last night because I was acting like an asshole but look..I love you, okay? I just worry about you."

"I know, but I'm okay. I promise." Your eyes interlocked and Dan's lip hinted at a smile. "Alright." You stood up and he kissed you gently on the lips. "I love you."

"Love you too. You'll be home for dinner?" He shook his head. "AA meet tonight then work. I stop vacation today, remember?"

"Damn it. I totally forgot. It's okay though. No big deal." You smiled. "So I'll probably be home around eight tomorrow morning. I can stop at that cafe you like on the way back. Get some coffee and bagels. How's that sound?" You looped your arms around his neck. "Sounds great. You spoil me. You know that? More than I deserve."

"With all you've done for me over the years, I wouldn't call it spoiling. It's my showing of appreciation." He booped your nose and you giggled. You released him from your hold and leaned your body against the fridge as you watched Dan slip his shoes on. "See you later, sweetheart."

"See ya." You looked out the window to watch him leave. "Promise me you'll be alright?" Dan yelled from outside and you let out a sigh. "I'll be fine. Love you!"

"Love you more!" Dan got in his car, giving you a slight wave before pulling out the driveway. You breathed inwardly and turned away from the window, looking at the huge REDRUM on the wall and felt chills run up your spine. "You'll be okay, Y/n..you'll be fine."

"You're not really okay though, are you?" You were thrown off guard and looked behind you. There was a man standing in the corner wearing a navy blue suit. "You must be Dick."

"Indeed I am. It's a pleasure to finally meet you, Miss Y/n." His energy felt warm and it brought a smile to your face. "It's nice to meet you too."

"When Danny was a boy he'd talk to me a lot about you. It feels like a second ago but I imagine it's not. This world is a dream of a dream to me now." You nodded. "He's doing okay now? Last time I seen Dan, he was down the gutter bad."

"Yeah, he's okay now. He's been sober 8 years," You hummed. "Good." You stood away from the fridge. "Why are you here?"

"I'm here because it all comes run. Ka is a wheel, Miss Y/n. Though something tells me you know that already." You didn't respond for a moment and Dick sighed.

"He doesn't want to help her. He says it's too dangerous for me." Dick chuckled heartily. "Yeah well, he doesn't have much of a choice in the matter. Does he? He owes a debt. Now he needs to pay it."

"Is it going to hurt him though? To repay it?" You rubbed your face. "Either way, it's out of our control. Over 30 years later I'm still on the hook. Same thing with your mother too. Your debt is partially paid though."

"Partially?" Dick smiled. "I know where you come from, Miss Y/n. I knew since the moment Danny first talked to me about you and I knew you were two of a kind. While the two hollow souls that raised you keep at hurting children while their shine dies and their addiction grows, yours shines bright and you ended the cycle for someone else. Fighting for the separation of identity from that upbringing. I can say only that much."

He turned away. "It seems to me despite all odds, you grew up mighty fine Miss Y/n. You keep at whatever you're doing with Dan because it's working. I'll see him later on but after that, neither of you will see me anymore. You still owe a small sum of debt though: pay it."

Before you could say anymore, Dick was gone and you started crying. "Fuck! I-i can't face them. I'm not strong enough to face them." You sunk down to the floor and started rocking yourself back and forth, glancing up at the REDRUM occasionally. "I should of never of dragged him into this. I'm going to get him killed!"

You desperately wanted Danny to come home. To have him hold you in his arms and tell you it all was a bad dream. The worst nightmare you ever had but you knew that wasn't true.

You looked at your reflection on the metallic surface of the fridge and hated what you seen. You didn't see yourself. You seen that girl. That girl who was so scared of the world because no matter how she got told she was loved and safe, she never felt. Because even when she was in a better place, the pains she buried deep inside would open themselves. Bleeding into her happiness and when people would ask her if she was okay she would smile, giving them a show they always believed because even though she could see the truth she never wanted to face it. You weren't that girl anymore. You were strong and you were true. So why did you see that girl now?

"Because I'm afraid," You answered aloud. You didn't want to go back to Colorado and see Crow and Rose but you knew you had to and you could do it. You weren't a child anymore and they had no control over you. You were in charge of your life now and you were free to make your own decisions. For the time in a while, you felt like you were loved. You loved Danny and he loved you and you weren't about to let go of that so easily. "I won't let them hurt him. Him or that little girl." There was a soft knock at the door and wiped your face. "Just a second, please!"

"Okay!" You knew that voice. Just where from, you didn't know. You looker out the peep hole before unlocking the door. "Hi, Aunt Y/n!"

The nickname sunk deep in your mind and everything clicked together like a puzzle and you stared at child in front you before speaking. "A-abra?!" A pair of small arms wrapped themselves around your waist and hugged you tight. "Yeah. It's nice to finally meet you." You returned the hug back confusedly and eventually let go. "H-honey what are you doing here? Not that I'm not happy not to see you but it's 12. Shouldn't you be at school?" You knew the kid standing in front of you couldn't of been over 13.

"I went for my first three classes but then I skipped because I wanted to see you after everything last night." She noticed your puffy eyes. "You okay?"

"Yeah..I'm fine. I'm just glad you're okay." Abra smiled. "Can I come in?" She gestured to the inside of your house. "Yeah. Did you have lunch yet?"

The young girl stepped inside and shook her head. "I'll make you lunch then. You cool with grilled cheese?"

"Yeah, I'm cool with it."

...

Being a pediatric nurse meant you had met many different children, all of them with their own unique personalities and traits but by far Abra Stone had to be the most fascinating you knew now. Not only was she steamy but she was highly intelligent for her age. Comprehending things on a level you couldn't even picture yourself doing at her age.

The two of you sat next to each other at the island in your kitchen as the two of you talked. You had her go over the weird radios thing on how she found this boy in the first. "..You have it too, you know. Yours is a little different there because yours is more like a tracker thing. Almost like a GPS." You thought about for a moment. "Yeah..I guess you're right." Abra giggled and took a moment to regain her composure. "So..what exactly is what do called? Magic?"

"Dan always called it the Shining, so now that's what I call it." You shrugged and took a sip of water. "We shine..I like that." You nodded. "Me too. It's better than being called special. That's what my mother used to call me. Though I don't think she meant it in a good way." You rolled your eyes and forced a smile.

"There's not a lot of people like us out there?" You nodded. "And many of the people that are out there and like us, are dangerous."

"Like those people?" You breathed in sharply. "Yes." You paused for a moment. "How are you feeling after everything last night?" Abra sighed. "Okay, I guess. Still a little spooked though. Those people..who are they?"

"Empty devils of a sort. Who I don't want you interacting with. At all." Abra raised a brow. "You've seen them before?" You gave a slight cynical smile. "I guess you can say that." You could tell Abra was trying to dissect the meaning of the sentence but let it go. "What does Uncle Dan think about all this?"

"He won't say it to me but it scares him. He's afraid, for me and you. The hat woman, Rose is her name, she's always known who I am. She doesn't who you are though and I want to keep it that way."

"I hate her..I hate her for what she did to that little boy." You frowned. "I know..me too. When she comes back though, because knowing her the way I do, I know she will; I'm going to help you. Because it won't be a few days from now it will be weeks or months later at a time you least expect it."

"What about Uncle Dan?" You made a face. "He doesn't want to help. Yet. He's married to me though so when the time comes, he's going to help. Whether he likes it or not because I already made it clear to him he has no choice in this." Abra chuckled.

"Anyways, back on topic. With that being said, do not chase after these people. Understand? Or even think about them. Because like how we have weird radios that can find people like us, they have it too. A few of them might have it even stronger than we do and the last thing we need is one of them finding who you are."

"Do they know who Uncle Dan is?" You rubbed your face. "They know his name but not who he is and I'm trying to keep that the same too for as long as I can."

"I'm sorry. I shouldn't of dragged you both into this. I just panicked and-" You interrupted her. "You don't need to apologize for something you have no control over. I was your age once. I know how it feels to be scared."

"What happens when they find out who we are?" You sighed. "That a mountain we'll conquer when the times but either way, I'm not going to let them hurt you. Got it?"

"Got it." Abra slid off the chairs and gave you a hug. "Thank you for being there for me and believing me." You hugged her back. "Of course."

"I got to go. The bus ride back to my house is about an hour and neither of my parents know I skipped." You nodded and Abra grabbed her bookbag. "Take care of yourself, kiddo. And stay safe please?"

"I will. Bye, Aunt Y/n!" You smiled and waved to her. "Bye honey." As Abra left, you looked at the REDRUM and your posture stiffened. Thinking about how Rose made you seen that girl after you swore to never see her again. You gave her the satisfaction of getting to you but getting Abra, you refused to let that happen. Even if it cost your life.

"I think the fuck not, Rose. I think the fuck not..."

#dr sleep #doctor sleep #rose the hat #the true knot #The Shining #stephen king #danny torrance #dan torrance #imagine #imagines #x fem reader #x female reader

33 notes · View notes

starks-parker · 5 years ago

Text

Last Summer - part two “san francisco”

a/n: part two! part three is coming soon! as always send in any requests you have and enjoy :) <3

warnings: fluff and like sort of smut

summary: y/n is excited to be in san fran, peter and ned get excited about science, mj says some creepy stuff, and flash probably has a crush on spiderman. y/n and peter may or may not let some things slip.

The road trip was going pretty good. First you stopped in Chicago, which was mildly uneventful. You saw all the tourist spots like the bean and the Willis tower. You all went shopping on the magnificent mile and you bought some cool stuff. You never did end up finding the perfect moment with Peter though. After walking around the Navy Pier you and Peter stopped at a Chinese place just the two of you. The conversation was normal and light hearted, but both of you were thinking of telling each other the same secret you both had.

You guys made some stops here and there, but the main place you were all excited for was California. It was almost the end of the week and you had two nights in Cali before your dad’s jet would pick you all up and take you back to New York.

San Francisco was the place you were most excited for. You’d been there a few times before with your dad before, and the city amazed you.

“Pete!” you whispered to him.

“Yeah?” He lazily whispered back. It was about 5 am. You two had gotten into the habit of sleeping in each others beds over the past couple of days. He untangled his arms from around your wait and rubbed his eyes.

“We’re here!” You squeaked excitedly, pulling up the blinds from the window by his bed. Peter covered his eyes from the sudden light and buried his head into your lap.

“Ow.”

“Oh shit sorry, I forgot about the whole senses thing,” you said running your fingers through his curls trying to calm him down.

“It’s okay, where exactly are we?” he brought his head back up, looking out the window.

“San Francisco!” You beamed looking out at the city. Peter watched your eyes dazzle with amusement. These were the rare moments only he got to cherish. Seeing you being completely in your element, being completely amazed by the things you loved. He didn’t even care about the city outside, he never wanted to look away from the pure joy on your face. He sat behind you and wrapped his legs around your body and hugged your waist. His head resting on your shoulder as he looked out the window with you.

“Isn’t it amazing? I could literally sit here all day and just take in the view,” you beamed.

“Yeah, it’s pretty beautiful.” He said, staring at you.

“Okay guys! We’re gonna unload, grab breakfast, and then y/n planned out an entire day for us.” Betty said pulling into the hotel’s parking lot.

You all walked into the hotel and grabbed your keys and went up to your rooms. After you all unpacked, you ubered to a nearby cafe and started to eat.

“Okay, so first we’re going to Fisherman’s Wharf, then the Golden Gate bridge, then we’re gonna go to Chinatown, oh and don’t worry Peter and Ned, we’re going to the California Academy of Sciences. Oh! And MJ we’re going to the modern art museum. And then we’re going to the beach, but you can’t really swim since the water is so cold.” You said all in one breath.

“Jesus Christ can we even do that in one day?” Brad asked, wide eyed.

“Sounds dope.” MJ said taking a bite of her croissant.

“Yeah I’m good with that. As long as y’all don’t mind if I live stream this bitch.” Flash said pulling out his phone to reveal he’s been live streaming on instagram this entire time.

“Where are we getting dinner? Ned and I kind of wanted to go somewhere romantic just the two of us.” Betty said holding Ned’s arm.

“Yeah and me and Brad wanted to go to a bunch of cemeteries and use my ouija board.” MJ said.

“And I’m gonna go try to get mugged, it’s weird, like wherever I go, Spiderman is always there. Like when we went to Europe and he was there. I think Spiderman really looks out for me, so maybe he’ll come save me and I can shake his hand.” Flash shrugged.

You pursed your lips and squinted, trying not to laugh and pretending to look interested by his statements. “Well, that’s a good plan Flash, good luck.” You said and Peter almost fell out his chair laughing.

“Okay, if you guys want to split up, we can all do our own thing after the art museum and then meet up at the beach after?”

“Sounds like a plan!” Betty smiled.

The rest of the day was just how you imagined. You breathed in the city and everything it had to offer. MJ and Betty were taking pictures on the Golden Gate Bridge while Flash and Brad were talking to Flash’s live stream. You and Peter leaned into each other and gazed at the sight of the city.

“You excited for the science museum?” you asked Peter.

“Of course! Thanks for thinking of me when you planned this day, I know a science museum isn’t the most exciting thing about San Francisco.”

“Are you kidding Pete? I’d do anything to make you happy.” The words just kind of slipped out.

“Me too.” He confessed back.

“Hey, you know since it first opened, 1,600 people have died jumping off this bridge.” MJ said to you and Peter.

“Hm. I think we’ve been here long enough.” Peter said putting his arm around you and MJ’s shoulders. “Let’s go somewhere else.”

Peter and Ned were looking at some skeleton of something old when you walked up to them.

“This museum is great Y/n!” Ned said turning around to you.

“I’m glad you think so! Oh Ned, Betty is looking for you. I think she’s in the botany part.”

Ned smiled at you and Peter and walked off to find his girlfriend.

“Hey so I was thinking, since everyone is gonna go off and do their own thing before we go to the beach, I was wondering if you wanted to hang out together. Maybe we could watch a movie at the hotel.” You asked Peter.

“That sounds great!” Peter said excitedly. He was ecstatic to finally get to spend some alone time with you, especially watching a movie which meant he got to cuddle you.

“Alright what should we watch?” You asked Peter while climbing into bed. You had changed into comfy shorts and a tank top.

“Forrest Gump?” Peter said finishing brushing his teeth and turning around. “We haven’t watched it together yet- woah.” He stopped.

“What?” You asked.

“Um nothing, wanna watch it?” Peter said trying to not look at what you were wearing. He felt like a total creep getting turned on by what you were wearing, but he couldn’t help it. He climbed into bed keeping his distance.

“Uh yea sure! I love that movie,” You said trying to move past whatever just happened.

You started the movie, but you were starting to get annoyed by how far away he sat from you. You moved closer to him and he seemed to flinch. You moved closer until your head was on his shoulder. Peter’s body was stiff as a board, not even moving. You decided you’d had enough and moved in between his legs and wrapped his arms around your waist as you leaned against him. He inhaled sharply as you did this and held his breath.

“Peter why aren’t you breathing?”

“Oh sorry,” he said releasing his breath.

You continued to watch the movie, in the end you were a crying mess and so was Peter. He turned to you and wiped the tears from your cheeks and you laughed. His touch lingered as he pushed a strand of hair behind your ear and held your chin. Your smile shifted to a look of confusion as you didn’t know where he was going with this. You leaned into his face as his hand guided your face to his. Your lips pressed against his lips hungrily. Immediately he slipped his tongue into your mouth, doing what he’s wanted to do since he’s met you. You let him take dominance in the kiss, just wanting it to keep happening. You wrapped your arms around his neck, lightly pulling his curls as he held your face. You climbed onto his lap and pulled at the bottom of his shirt until he took it off himself. You probably would have done the same if you didn’t realize that it was almost time to go to the beach.

“Pete,” you said coming up for air, stopping the kiss.

#peter parker #peter parker fanfiction #peter parker x reader #peter parker x stark!daughter #peter parker x stark!reader #peterparker fluff #peter parker fluff #peter parker smut #peter parker x y/n #peter parker x you #spiderman fanfiction #spiderman far from home #spiderman #spiderman x stark!reader #spiderman x reader #spiderman x y/n #spiderman x you #avengers fanfiction

103 notes · View notes

yxppeo · 6 years ago

Text

wait for me

pairing: hyunjin x reader

genre: angst, fluff

au: friends to lovers, breakup, college

summary: you thought you’d never see your first love ever again

you and hyunjin go way back

i mean way way back

so let’s have some background about you two

you two met each other in middle school

you were assigned to sit next to him in your science class

and you befriended him right away

you both found a common interest in video games

“is that gta?” you asked hyunjin, pointing out the doodles on his papers

“y-yeah. you like video games?” he said as his eyes lit up

you nodded eagerly

“yes! i love them!”

and since then you two would talk about different video games when you got to class and before the teacher started her lesson

you were more on the tomboy side

so being around hyunjin was comfortable

like you were one of the guys

and the two of you became best friends

hyunjin was always at your side

you two would send each other horrible jokes

“do you want to hear a joke about pizza?”

“let me guess hyunjin, it’s too cheesy?”

“y/n! i was supposed to say that!”

overtime, you two were really close

and you started to develop a crush on him

it started with a classmate that sat near you and hyunjin

you two were laughing as always

when jisung goes

“when are you two going to start dating?” he jokes

you both stopped laughing

and started blushing

around wintertime, your best friend, nayoung, found out that a certain hwang hyunjin had a crush on a certain y/n

of course she told you, and you were red the whole day when your other friend, hyeri, wouldn’t stop teasing you

you kept your giggles to yourself, even with hyunjin around

continuing your jokes, despite your heart beating really fast the whole time

and after science class, he walked you to your next class

and that’s when you confessed to him

“jinnie, i like you.” you said quietly but loud enough only for him to hear

hyunjin smiled widely

“i like you too y/n.” he replied as he ruffled your hair

you walked into your english class with pink cheeks and a big grin

“what happened? did you tell him?” hyeri asked

“he likes me too.” you simply said

causing hyeri to hug you in happiness

hyunjin was the cutest and dorkiest boyfriend

he was shy to hold your hand

and when he did

it would be under the lunch tables as the teachers walked by

he would send you pick up lines that would only make you blush even more

you showed him a love song that reminded you of him

he was blushing while listening to the words

your first date with him was at an amusement park

it was filled with smiles and food

running around to find the different attractions

buying many toys and charms

you bought a snoopy plushie that both of you picked out

you thought it was cute

and it reminded you of hyunjin

you two went on a few rides, like the viking and bumper cars

but at the top of the roller coaster that you convinced hyunjin a thousand times to ride

before the carts could push everyone into the rest of the ride

you suddenly kissed his cheek

making him blush as you screamed in excitement when you accelerated through the tracks

don’t worry

at the top of the ferris wheel, he paid you back by kissing you on the cheek too

making you blush

over the months, you were so happy and in love with him

hyunjin was your first love

and your first kiss

he planted a quick kiss on the lips in front of your friends at your birthday party

immediately followed by screams from said friends

there were many kisses that came after that

in school, he would sneak you to where no one would see you two

or made sure there were no teachers

and he would give you a sweet kiss on the lips

which drove you insane for a fourteen year old

over the next few months, you and hyunjin didn’t talk that much

was it because of schoolwork?

was it because you two were too busy in your hobbies?

you honestly don’t remember

but you knew that you and hyunjin were drifting apart

and sadly

the summer after eighth grade ended

you and hyunjin broke up

hyunjin said that you two weren’t close as you were before

and as sad as you were

you decided not to fight it

and let him be

you remembered crying in your mom’s and dad’s arms

crying in nayoung’s arms as she visited you to make sure you were okay

crying as you saw your old yearbook filled with signatures and messages about you and hyunjin being together forever

tears falling where hyunjin wrote ‘i love you’ as he tried to draw you

laughing as you felt a bittersweet feeling in your heart

thankfully you felt better as time went on

freshman year of high school was so weird

your other peers were just learning that you and hyunjin were no longer together

and it was weird seeing him in a few of your classes

but you both remembered you were friends at first

so you tried to get along with him

it did work most of the time

especially when you were in a group with him

and had to do a project with him

but then you caught feelings again

you missed his hugs

his kisses

his cheesy jokes

unfortunately he did not miss yours

and it became awkward

you two didn’t talk for a long time

you returned your snoopy plushy to hyunjin at school since that was the only time you could see him

and you swore you could see the pain in his eyes as he saw what was in the gift bag

the only time you talked was at the end of the year, joking around like you did in middle school

at least you two weren’t strangers to each other

you felt relieved

but then you remembered one thing

he was moving schools

although it pains you

it also gave you some closure on your relationship with hyunjin

sophomore year came

then junior year

then senior year

you never contacted hyunjin

but he was following your social media

he became more handsome

taller

he worked out more

but he was still the game-loving dork you loved years ago

you also changed too

you swapped out your ugly glasses with contacts

you swapped your old wardrobe for a new style

you discovered how to apply makeup

and even dyed your hair a whole different color

you were a whole new woman

you didn’t really date anyone after hyunjin

hell

you haven’t even kissed anyone since hyunjin

deciding not to focus on relationships

especially since you were starting college

and you really want to focus on your studies and finding a stable job

you went through your first week with a breeze

seeing your old friends even tho it’s just been months since you’ve seen them

smelling the sweet coffee being made by the baristas as you go on your laptop

you got home when you heard your phone ring

‘hyvnjxn sent you a message.’

you had to do a double take

“is that who i think it is?”

you responded to it

and started a conversation with him

“it’s been a while hasn’t it?”

“yeah, it has. how have you been?”

you were shocked that you were actually talking to your ex

your first love

and you two weren’t awkward with each other

at all

it’s like those three years of not contacting each other happened

like you two were still good friends

you were talking to him as if he was one of your best friends

typing in all caps

smashing the keyboard

you found out that hyunjin wanted to serve in the navy

while you wanted to be in criminal justice and become a detective

“i never saw you as an army kind of guy”

“yeah, well i never saw you as a cop”

“…shut up lmao”

you also learned that he moved across the country

so sometimes he would message you while you were sleeping

but it was a nice thing to wake up to

the next few months have been hectic

you were balancing college with your part-time job

and although it can be stressful

hyunjin was there to message you and make sure you were okay

and if you needed to vent

he was there to listen

you both would skype a few times

whether it was just talking to each other face to face while doing homework

or playing games and yelling at each other

“hyunjin you missed that guy! now you gotta run to the other side before his teammates get you!”

“i’m trying my best here! let me live y/n!”

everyday, you kept talking to hyunjin

and before you even knew it

it was time for hyunjin to leave the country to go into the navy

you skyped him for a bit during your break in between classes

“you’re leaving already!”

“i know, i’m so sad.”

“who am i gonna cry to when i don’t have the motivation to do my readings or yell at when i’m playing games?”

hyunjin laughed

“it’s only gonna be two years, then i’ll be back to be yelled at by you.” he smiled

you pouted

“i’m so glad I talked to you – to have you back in my life again.” hyunjin said

you blushed at his words

good thing your laptop camera isn’t that good

“i could say the same to you. i mean, we used to date, you were my first love. i didn’t think i would see you again.”

hyunjin smiled

“you were my first love too. i didn’t think i would even have the balls to talk to you again.” he joked

you two kept talking for another five minutes

“hey, y/n, i really have to go, but i’ll talk to you later?”

“of course. bye hyunjin!” you smiled as you clicked on the end call button

you sighed

“i’m not supposed to love you again.” you thought to yourself

after finishing your last class, you drove home

drowning your thoughts in your music

you sulked into your living room

“why are you so sad for?” a voice called out

you jumped, holding your fists into the air

turning around to see hyunjin with wide eyes

“whoa there. it’s just me.” hyunjin said with his hands up

“h-hyunjin? is that you?!” you said, running towards him

wrapping your arms around his torso

“it’s nice to see you too y/n.” he giggled, engulfing you into a bear hug

you pulled away from him

“what are you doing here?”

“i’m gonna be leaving soon, so why not spend a few days here, with you?”

“with me?”

hyunjin nodded

“yes you, silly. now go get ready!” he said, pushing you towards the stairs

after getting ready and whatnot, you and hyunjin hung out at the mall

eating lunch at the cafe located in it

your friends were spamming you the moment you posted a snap of him

but you didn’t care to answer

you were caught in the moment

looking at hyunjin who sipped on his drink in front of you

you had a bubbly feeling that you haven’t felt in a long time

yet it felt so familiar

“stop looking at me.” hyunjin joked

shaking your thoughts away

“i’m sorry! it’s just feels like a dream. are you really here in front of me?” you said, poking his cheek

hyunjin grabbed your hand, wrapping it with his

“yes, i really am here.”

the next day, hyunjin picked you up from school, and headed straight towards the pier

the same pier with the amusement park you and hyunjin went to on your very first date with each other

“hyunjin!” you called out as he parked the car

you felt tears building up

hyunjin giggled as he unbuckled his seatbelt

“i’m glad you remembered. now come on!”

you two ran into the park like little children

holding hands

“remember when we kissed each other’s cheeks on the roller coaster and the ferris wheel?” hyunjin asked

making you blush a bit

“yes! we were so young back then. look at how much the park has changed.”

you two enjoyed the park’s new attractions

playing the games that took half of your spending money

but it was worth it when hyunjin won you a huge teddy bear

“hyunjin, it’s not gonna fit in your small car!”

“but it’ll fit in your room.” he winked

causing you to slap his shoulder, trying to hide your blushing face

you and hyunjin decided to ride on the roller coaster

the infamous cheek-kissing ride

“you still scared of roller coasters?” you teased hyunjin

“hey! i am not!” he whined

and yet here you two were at the very top of the roller coaster

you really had the balls to look down and look at hyunjin

“you sure you’re not scared?” you smirked

“a little, but i’m not scared of doing this.”

before you could even breathe to ask him what he’s talking about

he quickly cupped your face and planted his lips onto yours

you melted into the kiss as the carts moved forward at a fast speed

screams from other riders blasting through the park

but everything felt like it was in slow-motion

like it was just you and hyunjin in the world

he pulled back near the end of the ride

leaving you looking like a tomato

hyunjin was grabbing your things when you grabbed his hand

interlacing your fingers together

hyunjin smiled as he pulled you away and into the park again

enjoying the night winds

hyunjin dropped you off home, walking you to your door

“i’ll see you tomorrow at the airport?” he said, inches away from you

you felt your heart break a little

you forgot that hyunjin was leaving tomorrow for the navy

“yeah.” you breathed out

“good night y/n.” he said, deeply looking into your eyes

you lifted yourself up with your toes

pulling hyunjin for a kiss

you stayed in that position for a while

until you pulled back and opened the door

leaving hyunjin in a dazed state

you went into your room, placing down the huge bear in the corner of your room, and cried yourself to sleep

despite having the most amazing day ever with hyunjin

the next day rolled in

you found yourself in the freezing airport

you were waiting with hyunjin as he rested on your shoulder

his family that stayed on your side of the country was with you two

waiting for his departure as well

his flight was leaving in half an hour

you looked through your phone

until you heard the call for his flight

“hyunjin, wake up.” you said quietly, patting his cheek

he stirred in his sleep as he slowly got up

“it’s time to go.” you said with a small, yet painful smile

hyunjin reflected your smile, rubbing circles on the back of your hand with his thumb

you walked him to his terminal

“i guess this is goodbye.” hyunjin said

that bittersweet feeling you knew too well filled your body

you couldn’t say anything to him

you just hugged him, squeezing him tightly

letting your tears ruin his shirt

“i’m gonna miss you a lot.” you said, muffled by his chest

hyunjin chuckled

“i’ll call you when i can.” he said

you looked up at him

hyunjin instantly wiped your tears with his thumbs

giving you the sweetest smile

“wait for me.” he quietly said, kissing your forehead

“i love you.” he added

“i love you too hyunjin.” you said, trying not to choke up

he pulled away, said his goodbyes to his family and started walking towards the boarding bridge

you sniffled as he turned around and waved to you

you couldn’t help but smile as more tears ran down your face as you watched him walk through the doorway

but wait, there’s more

two years without physically seeing hyunjin seemed like forever

but you distracted yourself with your friends, schoolwork, and your job

you were in your third year of university

you found a paid internship at the police department

and they guaranteed you a position after you graduate from the police academy

you were ahead of your classes, so that meant a lot of down time for you

you hung out with your friends on weekends doing whatever you felt like doing

whether it was shopping

eating

or watching cheesy romcoms

which reminded you of hyunjin

laughing to yourself as you remembered you both loved horror and action movies more

your friends were quite shocked at how well you were doing without him

but little did they know

you two were still in contact

you never told them about your late night skype calls whenever he was available

you two would eat while video chatting

taking him with you while you ran errands

even falling asleep while on the call

“y/n, you haven’t been on a date in forever!” nayoung yelled

“you haven’t dated anyone since hyunjin, and he’s literally the only guy you’ve dated.” hyeri said

“i am literally right next to you. i can hear you loud and clear.” you said, rubbing your ears as you and your best friends continued walking through campus

“yeah, why don’t we set you up with that cute guy from your english class?” hyeri added in, taking in a bite of her sandwich

“i’m not interested.” you chuckled

“you haven’t even tried to mingle with anyone once during college, and we have a year left here.”

“you even shot down the guy who was totally flirting with you when we were shopping.”

“i thought he was being nice!” you exclaimed

“but seriously, it’s no big deal. you don’t have to worry about my love life.”

“you sure you don’t want me to find someone for you?”

“i can hook you up!”

you looked ahead to see a tall figure wearing camouflage

instantly making eye contact with them

once you realized who it was

you two broke into the biggest smiles

“i think i’ll be just fine.”

you ran towards the figure and leaped onto him

wrapping your arms tightly around his shoulders as he lifted you up

not caring that there were people staring

“hyunjin!” you said as tears were already spilling from your eyes

“holy shit.” nayoung and hyeri said as their jaws dropped

“i see you’ve missed me badly.” hyunjin laughed as he held you

“of course i did!” you said as he lowered you onto the ground

planting a sweet and chaste kiss on your lips

you couldn’t help but blush at the familiar feeling

“i hope you didn’t wait for me for too long.” hyunjin said

“for you, i’d wait forever.”

#✒️#stray kids scenarios #hyunjin scenarios #hwang hyunjin scenarios

147 notes · View notes

sevendeadlysins-imagines · 6 years ago

Text

Request: Moonlit Lakeside

Prompt: oh man, i would love to request an estarossa angst x reader ;__; maybe something like the reader still thinks estarossa likes someone else (i dont wanna spoil in case you're not caught up to the manga) and the reader sees him and her together and misunderstands their relationship. but in the end, estarossa confesses to the reader and its just really fluffy? (anon!)

Note: I am not caught up with the manga (just finished the Vaizel Fight Festival Arc) but I do know what happens later with Estarossa. This obviously has SPOILERS. In which Estarossa sometimes hangs around the Boar’s Hat and is friendly with Merlin (ooc). Also, the reader is a Druid but it’s not terribly important to the plot, just another fun fact!

Word Count: ~3K

Warnings: Fluff, heavy angst, slightly ooc, MAJOR PLOT SPOILERS

You watched from the comfort of your window, the moonlight illuminating the scene in front of you. You watched as Elizabeth and Estarossa sat in the meadow. He leaned towards her, and you fought to ignore the twisting of your gut. Estarossa’s hand went up to brush through his hair as he looked at Elizabeth and chuckled.

He was still clearly enamoured with her.

Who could blame him, though? Elizabeth was a princess and beautiful and helpful and just a wonderful being to be in the presence of. If Elizabeth managed to captivate Meliodas and charm her way into the Seven Deadly Sins’ lives, well, of course she would end up with Estarossa. They were together before, too!

Why would Estarossa stoop to your level? You, a simple Druid. He had his own problems, sure, but he was still a beautiful person. He craved the care that Elizabeth had, but damn it, you wanted to!

Estarossa barely even noticed you, only seeing you if you were with Merlin while working on spells. He would occasionally stop by and chat about past gossip with Merlin, and you were there, too. The two of them were close, but the fight with Escanor caused a slight rift in their friendship, with Escanor wanting to keep Merlin safe, and Estarossa claiming he wouldn’t hurt her, and Merlin complaining that she doesn’t need to be saved. Over time, his visits were less and less often, but you always thought of him. Merlin was actually the one who knew about your feelings for him.

Why would he notice you, of all people? You, an awkward bean of a Druid, couldn’t hope to catch his affections. You daydreamed about it all the time. Cuddling with him on your bed, his hand playing with your hair absentmindedly, your own drawing swirls on his broad chest. Or just spending time with him. Learning all about him, his past, his hopes and desires. You wanted, no, needed, to learn everything about him. You wanted to be the last thought on his mind before he sleeps, the first thought in the morning.

Not Elizabeth. It tore you from the inside, watching them be so close together in the moonlight. You knew you didn’t deserve him, and that he deserved the princess. Still, you were greedy.

You watched as Elizabeth grabbed his hand, holding it tightly and bringing it to her heart. It felt as if someone punched you in the gut. Before you could see any more, you shut the curtains and blew out your candle, huffing and burrowing under the blankets as you let your tears fall and your sobs echo in the empty room.

A few days later, you sat at the bar, doodling on a piece of parchment. It wasn’t supposed to be anything, but as you continued to ink the paper, you noticed that it started to look like the demon mark, much like the one on Estarossa’s forehead.

“(Y/N)!” You heard someone shout, and you scrambled to hide the parchment away from sight. Suddenly, Meliodas hopped onto the barstool next to yours, smiling widely. Winking, he added, “Listen, I have a favor for you. It’ll get you out of here for a day.”

How did he know? You were dying to have an excuse to leave the Boar’s Hat to clear your head.

“What do you need?” You sighed. You saw Meliodas take the parchment from you and look at the demon mark. His face turned serious as his eyes met yours.

“It’s my brother’s, isn’t it?” Meliodas asked. You nodded. “He doesn’t know, either, does he?”

“He’s blinded by Elizabeth. He won’t even spare a glance at me,” You smiled through the pain. “I mean, who came blame him? She’s everyone’s dream girl.”

Meliodas nodded in understanding. He, too, was captured in Elizabeth’s beauty and grace.

“Anyways, what’s the favor?” You diverted the subject quickly. You didn’t want to talk to his brother about your romantic issues.

“Could you go to the market and get everything on this list? Some is for the tavern, some is for Escanor and Merlin, I believe. They didn’t want to go out, so I’m told,” Meliodas explained. You took the list from his hand, and scanned it over.

Gee, this would take the entire day to get everything.

“I’ll get it. I’ll be back later tonight!” You replied, grabbing some coins and setting off on your own adventure. This will clear your mind.

You enjoyed going to the towns that you visited and talking to the people there, learning about their lives and ways of living. You bought the food Meliodas requested and walked along the markets, a basket swinging at your side.

You entered a cafe and settled on an iced coffee. As you waited for the drink, you looked around the store. There were a few people there, a figure in the corner with a cloak, a couple with a newborn baby, a group of girls swooning over the barista. You looked at the empty tables, noticing the navy blue flowers as centerpieces on the tables. They’re the same color as Estarossa’s jacket.

Sighing, you took your drink from the counter and sat down, the basket resting on the table. You opened up Meliodas’ list and started crossing off the items you already bought. It was good for distracting yourself from your thoughts.

For some reason, you couldn’t stop thinking about Estarossa. His face, his laugh, the way he held himself...it was the way a man who had lost everything and was trying to achieve some sort of peace again.

You looked out the window and watched as all these people walked along the street, smiling under the bright sun. It was heartwarming to see all the happy humans gathered and enjoying life.

Estarossa couldn’t love you, he already had Elizabeth. She’s better than him anyways. She’s a Goddess, and you’re just a Druid when it comes down to it. She’ll have him, and you won’t. Face it, (Y/N).

Your mind continued to torment your heart the more you thought about him. You wished that you were good enough for him. But as long as he was happy, you should be, too. Right?

The inner conflict left you lost. You felt a tear run down your face, and left it stranded on your cheek.

A hand touched your shoulder. Jolting up, you looked up and met the eyes of Gilthunder. You smiled sadly, halfheartedly wiping the tear from your face.

“(Y/N)? Can I sit with you?” He asked.

“Of course, Gil.” You gestured towards the other seat around the table, and watched as he sat down, placing a hot latte on the surface. He exhaled and rubbed his forehead with his hand before looking at you, really looking at you.

“What happened? You look lost,” He said. Suddenly, you felt ridiculous. You were about to vent to Gilthunder, who was in a relationship with Margaret, who was Elizabeth’s sister. You should’ve refrained because it might’ve created a rift between him and his girlfriend or something, but you needed to get everything off your chest.

“I really, really, really, like Estarossa. I know, he killed Meliodas and he’s your idol and all, but I can’t help it. I’m always thinking about him and I see him in everything. I saw silver rocks on my way here and I was reminded of his hair. I heard a man’s laugh and thought it was him. I don’t know what to do, Gil! He doesn’t even notice me, and why would he?” You started, but got cut off by Gilthunder.

“What do you mean, he doesn’t notice you?” Gil questioned.

“Well, he would always stop by Merlin’s research lab and I was there, but he never acknowledged me there! He didn’t even look at me! Or even now, he’s so strung on Elizabeth! I know you’re in love with her sister, but I don’t have anyone else to talk to! Merlin is gone and Meliodas is clueless!”

Gil looks at your eyes intently, and then lets out a hearty laugh. The tips of your ears flushed pink, Why is he laughing?!

“(Y/N), you’re joking, right?” Gil chortled. You grabbed your drink and held it close to you, cradling it in defense.

“I’m dead serious!”

“Merlin and Estarossa barely know each other! He bribed her to act like they’re friends so that he could be in your presence!” Gil blurted out.

“How do you know that?” You questioned, a glimmer of hope shining in your eyes. What if he really does care for you, and actually notices you? You were over the moon with just that.

“I was drinking with Griamore and Escanor and Ban. Ban was asking about the fight Escanor had with Estarossa and he told all of us. He told us about the fight and about this one time Merlin came to him and just talked about everything. She told Escanor how he had given her some sort of rare Demon artifact or something in exchange for her acting like they were close friends. Escanor had asked why Estarossa wanted to act like friends, and Merlin figured out it was because she was the closest out of anyone to you. She noted that he also stayed at the Boar’s Hat often as a customer, and only when you were there.” Gilthunder explained to you. You couldn’t help but smile at the thought of Estarossa trying to become close to you.

“But then why would he not talk to me, if he wanted to be so close to me that he went through Merlin?” You thought out loud.

“I have no idea. I wish I knew.” Gil sighed, drinking his latte. You both sat in a comfortable silence while you pondered your thoughts.

“Hey Gil?”

“Yeah?”

“Do you think he still loves Elizabeth? I-I always see them together and I know they had a past and all, but I thought she went to Meliodas? Do you know anything about that? Has Princess Margaret said anything about that?” You blurted out word vomit, essentially. You had to know what was really going on between Elizabeth and Estarossa, before you gained too much hope.

“I really don’t know. Margaret doesn’t try to get involved. I know Meliodas is in love with her from the bottom of heart, uh, hearts. I can’t speak for Estarossa. I don’t know much about him, but what I do know is that he has funny ways of showing affections. I’ve noticed that, at least,” Gil surmised. In that moment, he looked just like Zaratras. You smiled softly at the thought of Gil’s father, who helped raise you.

“I have to get going. Howzer’s probably looking for me now. I’ll meet you back at the Boar’s Hat tonight, right?”

“Yeah. I’ll see you later, Gil.”

“Good. Oh, and (Y/N)?”

“Yes?”

“Don’t let this weigh you down too much. You’ve got such a great life and shouldn’t worry about it too much.”

Gil’s words haunted you as you strolled around the town again, chatting with strangers and buying the things Merlin requested. As you paid for a set of lion eyes for her, your mind drifted towards Gil’s conversation with you.

Why would Estarossa want to spend time with you? Why would he bribe Merlin?

You thanked the merchant and continued on, crossing off the last thing from the list. Well then, I guess it’s time to return.

You didn’t want to return, though. You didn’t want to see Meliodas watching you with the pitiful look, or Estarossa drooling over Elizabeth, or Elizabeth acting all cool about everything. You wanted to run away, far away, and never return.

So maybe that’s why you took a detour in the woods and sat down in the moss in front of a lake. The sun was setting, allowing for the moon to shine soon. You watched as the light danced and waltzed along the ripples of the water created by the birds that touched that water. You tucked your knees under your chin and wrapped your arms around your legs, finally at peace. You pushed out all the thoughts you had from today and allowed yourself to be in tune with the nature surrounding you.

Eventually, it turned into nighttime. Hearing the crickets chirping and fireflies dancing around you made you want to stay in this place forever. The moss was so soft and inviting, and you didn’t have to worry about anything here.

“(Y/N), there you are!” You heard a deep voice break the sounds of nature, and your trance with it. You blinked and looked over your shoulder.

There he was. His jacket was fully opened, his broad chest put on display. He probably just got off of training or something. He’s not trying to impress me. Why would he, anyways? I’m nothing to him.

“You were looking for me?” You asked, head tilting to the side. He chuckled nervously, his hand going behind his head to scratch there.

“Uh, yeah. Meliodas had said you’d return by sundown, that you were going to town. You never came back, so I...I left to look for you,” Estarossa avoided looking at you. It was weird to see him nervous. He was always to confident and strong; seeing this new side made your heart wrench because he was Elizabeth’s.

“I didn’t realize you knew I was even gone,” You sighed, looking back up at the stars. He walked over to you and sat close to you, propping himself up on his elbows. You didn’t notice him watching your face, trying to memorize the details because he never got to be this close to you.

“Of course I did.”

“Really? Why would you even care if I left? You never talk to me or even acknowledge me, anyways,” You were sad again, painfully reminding yourself about how often he would ignore you for Elizabeth.

“What would I say? We’re not similar people by any standards. I figured you hated me and were keeping your distance, anyways, after killing Meliodas and fighting Escanor and your friends.” Estarossa admitted. You kept looking out at the water, trying to decipher his words.

“Yes, we’re different people, on all standards. You’re one of the Ten Commandments, and an Archangel. Me, I’m just some Druid who wandered too far away.” You stated, twiddling your thumbs in your hands. Estarossa suddenly felt a strong urge to take your hands in his, and he did. It took you by surprise, elicited a tiny gasp from the back of your throat, but you continued on. “But, I never hated you. I never disliked you, either. I couldn’t understand why you never acknowledged me, and what I had done wrong.”

His thumb smoothed over the back of your hand, and you both looked down at your interlocked hands.

“You never did anything wrong, (Y/N). It was always me who did wrong, and I always will. That’s the way I was created. I never do anything right.” Estarossa sighed, wallowing in his own self-pity. Your gazes locked as he claimed, “You’re perfect, and I knew I could never be even close to you.”

He thought you were perfect?!

“But what about Elizabeth? You’re hers.” You looked down at your intertwined hands.

For a minute, Estarossa was silent. You knew he was going to say something along the lines of ‘Haha, this was all a prank Elizabeth and I thought of. Gotcha!’

Instead, he pulled one of his hands away from yours and cupped your chin with his fingers. Delicately, he held your chin so that you had to look at him.

“I had asked her how to impress you. I wanted to ask Merlin, but after the fight with Escanor, Merlin didn’t want to help anymore than she already was. So, I had to ask Elizabeth. She told me how people enjoy close contact and hand holding. It’s been too long, I suppose, since I’ve done any of this. I didn’t want you to feel bad or anything for me.” He explained, looking at you for a response.

“That’s really sweet of you, Esta.” He beamed at the nickname you gave him. “So, you don’t have feelings for her anymore?”

“I haven’t for a long time. Besides, she’s happy with Meliodas. I can’t come in between that even if I did have feelings for her. I’ve liked you for a long time, (Y/N).” Estarossa admitted, a small smile gracing his lips.

“Really?” You thought it was almost too good to be true.

Estarossa didn’t answer you, instead responded by pressing his lips to yours. It was a sweet, chaste kiss that lasted for a little while. Still, it was enough to make both of you breathless and smiling at each other like idiots.

Merlin knew it was long past when you should have returned to the Boar’s Hat. She decided to find out where you were; after all, she was worried (but Merlin would never admit it).

She looked into a magical mirror to find you. A wave of relief washed over her when she saw you laying in the meadow by a lake. You were smiling ear to ear as you looked up from Estarossa’s chest to his face, and kissed him again. She heard the sweet nothing you both whispered, and was elated to eventually find you cuddling and sleeping with his arms around you, dreaming peacefully.

“Success!” Merlin cheered, off to find Escanor.

#estarossa #merlin #gilthunder #escanor #meliodas #imagine #request #nanatsu no taizai #nanatsu no taizai oneshot #Seven Deadly Sins #seven deadly sins oneshot #sds #nnt #mod ban

285 notes · View notes