#how could anyone think this is okay? how could ANYONE think the answer is more death. just.

[beloveds-embrace]

Thinking about designationless reader...

Imagine how alone she must've been for all her life. It started since she was young, her parents pushing her to the corner of the home, away from the family, and naturally, her siblings would follow their parents' lead, pointedly ignoring her, and finding any excuse available to be out of her presence. She wouldn't understand them anyway, she can't tell the difference between noises nor could she even recognize scents. It just wouldn't work.

Reader thinks that maybe she could find someone, anyone in school, but kids are like sharks, except instead of smelling blood, they smell the lack of all scents on her. Most kids have a combination of their own and their family members' scents. Reader has nothing, so everyone continues the pattern, but now with more stares and jeers and hushed giggles. Reader knows that bullying is bad, but anything would be better than simply not existing to anyone. That's what the others say, at least, that she's nothing, nobody. Never to her face, though, just in the whispers shared between friends.

She eventually tries to find others like her through the wonders of the internet. There's maybe a handful more scattered in her country, but none are her age, and all have their own families who care about them. Was it just her who wasn't deserving of love, of connection? Reader reaches out to them, and they talk a little, but before long, through no one's fault, it falls through. She was bad at talking anyway, even if she doesn't have to worry about scents or sounds that aren't there, she never knew much about context or connotation. She never had the opportunity to learn about the intricacies in communication. Reader is back alone.

The military eventually scouts her, and it's the first time anyone has ever really looked at her. Sure, they look at her like a valuable tool, but a tool is better than nothing. Reader obviously joins, desperate for crumbs. She climbs the ranks, gets the job done. She is good at her job, so people respect her. She learns how to talk professionally, emails, texts, and so one, but no one talks to her on leave. No one invites her to the pub after a good mission. No one even talks to her in the mess. But people do talk to her when they have to, and that's enough. Maybe she even gets a callsign. Doe. After Jane Doe, the placeholder name for unknown individuals, and insult if anything.

Now there's the 141. They invite her to things. They talk to her. They touch her. Reader exists for them. She isn't just an unknown person stuck in the background and invisible to everyone else, and Reader doesn't know what to do. Her speech is awkward and overly professional, even in personal settings. How is she supposed to be friends with someone, multiple someones? How is she supposed to move? To act? To express? She doesn't know, but she really wants to learn. At least now she has good teachers.

ANON YOU GENIUSSSS okay but this? Perfect. AHHHH I ADORE THIS IDEA!! Esp the jane doe callsign omg yes

You weren’t used to being seen.

Growing up, you learned quickly how to make yourself small- how to exist quietly, without taking up space, without asking for too much. Because the few times you had asked- asked for a hug, asked to be let into the nest, asked why you felt so different- the answers had all been the same.

No.

Not now.

Not you.

It wasn’t that your parents didn’t love you. You were sure they did, in their own way. But love was hard to feel when your mother flinched at your touch like you were something disgusting, when your father sighed like he was tired every time you entered the room as if you were taking up space he was saving for his other children. When your siblings built their nests without you, curling into piles of warmth and safety while you sat outside the door, knees pulled to your chest and hands balled into fists to keep them from knocking, a cold ache burrowing itself in your chest.

You stopped knocking eventually.

You stopped trying.

You used to wonder if you’d done something wrong- if maybe you could fix yourself and everything would go back to normal. But it wasn’t something you could fix. It was just… you.

Scentless.

Designationless.

Invisible.

School had been worse, perhaps the worst. At least your family had pretended not to notice how different you were. The other kids didn’t bother pretending. They stared openly, whispered behind your back, laughed when you walked by. You’d caught bits and pieces of what they said- weird, wrong, broken, as if they hoped by having you hear their words, they’d convince you to leave at last.

You’d started keeping your head down after that, slipping through the halls like a shadow. No one talked to you unless they had to, and even then they either did it with a mocking, jeering tone that echoes in your nightmares or with a meek tone; as if your lack of everything is contagious. No one sat next to you at lunch, either. When partners were assigned, you always ended up working alone per your teachers’ instructions.

It was easier that way.

At least, that’s what you told yourself.

By the time you joined the military, you’d gotten good at being alone. You didn’t need friends. Didn’t need packmates. You had work, and work didn’t care if you were quiet or awkward or too stiff to laugh at the right jokes. Work didn’t care if you flinched when people got too close or froze when someone raised their voice. Work demanded to be done, and you had nothing and no one to stop you from that.

But the military also has the same teens who used to bully you so consistently. Rookies all to ready and happy to lord over you. It’s how you get your despised callsign, Doe. Jane Doe. A cruel mockery, comedy wherein you are the joke that has the world laughing.

Still, you wear it. It’s still an acknowledgment and that will always be better than never being seen. You flit from team to team, unit to unit, always an observer from afar, watching everyone around you speak a language you can’t.

But the 141 was different, when you eventually end up working for them.

They cared.

They cared in ways you weren’t ready for.

Soap was relentless, dragging you into conversations even when you barely knew what to say. He filled the silences like it didn’t bother him, kept talking for the both of you, lounging against you unbothered, until you started talking back. Gaz was gentlest, steadier. He never pushed, just lingered close enough to remind you he was there, waiting, whenever you were ready. Quiet, silent acceptance you’d never been given before, and you were yet far too afraid to so easily cling to it.

And the Alphas- Price and Ghost- were worse.

Price had a way of looking at you that made your chest ache, like he saw you, really saw you, and didn’t mind what he found. Scentless, with no designation and all. Ghost was quieter, sharper, but his eyes tracked you everywhere, presence wrapping around you like he was staking a claim you didn’t understand, like he was teying to etch every part of you behind his eyelids.

You didn’t know what to do with it.

They didn’t give you space. They sat next to you at meals, tugged you along when they went out for drinks, called you over during breaks like it was the most natural thing in the world. And it felt natural- until it didn’t, because sometimes you still felt like an outsider.

Like you didn’t belong.

You tried to hide it, but they saw through you. They always did, and they never shied away.

When you started avoiding the mess hall, it was Gaz who caught you, shoving a plate of food into your hands and dragging you to sit with him like it wasn’t a big deal. When you hung back during missions, letting the others fall into their pack dynamics without you, Soap was the one who looped an arm around your shoulders and pulled.

And when you flinched, once, at the sharp sound of someone’s voice echoing down the hall- when you tensed so hard it made your fingers tremble- it was Price who closed the distance, standing in front of you like a wall and letting Ghost linger at your back. Neither of them said a word.

They didn’t have to.

You weren’t used to being protected. You weren’t used to belonging.

But they made it hard not to.

[samcvrpenters]

word count: 1.8k+

pairing: secret service! caitlyn kiramman x criminal! assassin! fem reader

summary: after betraying her, caitlyn vowed to hunt you down and make you pay for your crimes. but her vengeance slowly turns into more and she finds herself wanting your affection and attention

warnings: weapons, violence, a not very well written fight scene, mentions of death

━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━

is she meant to be grateful for your incompetence? for your ungraceful, egotistical betrayal to the national security agency? if you even think you’re correct on any of those assumptions then you’re dreadfully wrong, because she has vowed to hunt you down and lock you up in a blacksite never to see the light of day again.

she never expected it.

how could she? you were ever so kind and polite to her since the first day you met her in the office.

it may have been a little suspicious; your wide eyes and happy smile supported that, yet her judgement became clouded because, well, it was the first time she saw someone so happy to jump into such a job, and she wanted to trust you.

she instantly had put in an application to become your handler, and it took many discussions with her superiors and her own handler to allow her into the position, but when she was given it, she took it with enthusiasm.

she wanted to lead you.

she believed you could do marvellous things for the agency and she wanted to make you feel like you could reach your potential if she was the one who was looking after you— if she was the one who was ready to take care of you.

your aim was a little shocking, to say the least. in a good way, though. maybe that should have pointed to the fact you had done this before.

but caitlyn was blinded by her own adoration for you and she had made every single effort to make you better than you ever were before, so she adjusted the small things that you were unable to do and she did make you better.

looking back on it, she should have known.

she sits in her office now and she dwells upon the fact that you had betrayed her and her trust.

she’s wearing gloves, and her fingers are tapping against the mahogany table, which is covered in knife marks. she should be glad she’s took it out on the furniture. not on anyone else, because she doesn’t want to get into as much trouble as you have.

where even are you?

she doesn’t know.

she wants to know, but she’s unable to find out because you keep your tracks so well hidden that she can’t locate you in the slightest. she’s proud, in some way. she taught you that. but at the same time, treason is treason. and it’ll be treated severely, like any other criminal would be treated.

the phone rings. a loud, sharp sound that causes caitlyn to flinch because the unfortunate loss of you has caused her a lot of grief.

she reaches for it, her hand wrapping around the material, a clicking noise signifying she’s answered it, and the other person on the phone speaks instantly, like it’s such an important matter that everything else can wait for this.

her eyes widen when the voice says that they’ve found you.

at first, she’s ecstatic. she wants to embrace you and hug you and tell you that everything will be okay. because you had to be manipulated into this. this isn’t your fault. but that’s not how it works, and she’s forced to change her mind as her hand reaches for the gun on her desk.

and then she’s walking out, and the door slams behind her when she doesn’t even have the courtesy to shut it quietly.

in an instant, all thoughts of what to do with you when she gets you is flooding through her head, drowning any feelings she has. she needs to arrest you. if that doesn’t work, shoot you. and if that doesn’t work, shoot you again. and again. and again. and there’ll be blood everywhere and your blood will forever coat her hands and her gun and her mind and she’ll never be able to unsee it.

she’ll hallucinate.

she’ll always see you— bullet holes over your body and your body drenched in red. she knows that’s how it’s going to work.

she finds you.

she will always find you.

“you need to stop!” her usual honeyed voice is twisted with malice, some sort of callousness that stops her typical self from entering the conversation.

because she’s here to arrest you.

not love you. again.

perhaps that’s what hurts so much: the fact she shared so much of herself with you and she allowed you to touch her and hug her and embrace her and comforted her. now all of that is gone and she knows she needs to make you pay.

“you’re not even aiming your gun at me, agent kiramman.” your voice rings sharp in return and your eyes are fixed through the scope of your suppressed sniper rifle. “how about you try to intimidate me and then i’ll stop?”

how do you know without even looking?

it doesn’t matter, because she’s scrambling to pull her handgun from her holster, her finger resting against the trigger guard as she takes a step forward.

she isn’t putting her finger on the trigger. yet.

but the muzzle of her gun is pushing through your hair and to the back of your head.

“come with me. and i will make it a lot safer for you. it’ll be a lot easier for the both of us if you comply.” why is she being so stern? this isn’t how she usually acts with you.

oh well.

does it truly matter? no. not really. because you know she won’t pull the trigger because she doesn’t want to see blood pouring from your head whilst she cries against your corpse.

“you won’t pull the trigger.” you drawl, hands tightening against your sniper rifle, which is mounted on a stand for the time being. “i know what you’re like. and i have too much faith in the fact that you love me that i don’t believe you’d be able to shoot me.”

it’s true.

she still loves you. even with what you did.

“stand up.” her voice is a hiss and she shoves the gun against your head again, jaggedly, as if she doesn’t actually care about your health. but if that was the case, she would’ve shot you already. “stand up and we might take it easy on you.”

you can get out of this situation in a heartbeat. she knows that. are you just entertaining her? do you want to play with her heart? her feelings? do you want her to experience these contrasting emotions of hate and love?

“you’ve gotten predictable, agent kiramman.” what’s with the formalities? are you trying to seduce her, or something? manipulate her? distance yourself from her? she’s not sure. “because i know you won’t do anything. how about you lower your weapon and i’ll lower mine, and we can talk, hm?” you sound like you’re mocking her.

her hand is gripping the gun tighter, and she’s shoving it against the back of your neck instead, and with that, you whip around.

grabbing onto her hand, you roughly push her arm up, above your head, so if she did decide to pull the trigger (whether it be out of surprise or pure anger), you wouldn’t get shot.

and you’re pushing her against the roof of the building, twisting her arm back behind her body, before managing to get her onto the surface and looking up at you.

it’s like she didn’t even try to fight back.

but you’re gripping onto her shoulders, keeping her against the surface of the roof, nails digging through her clothes and into her skin.

“are you just going to lay there?” you hiss out. if she was being rough, you might as well do the same. “say something. do something. get up, caitlyn! aren’t you mad?”

but she’s staring up at you.

it’s as if she can’t look away from you because she’s so enamoured by you.

and then she snaps out of it, and her knee lifts into your abdomen with no caution whatsoever, and you find yourself groaning and letting go of her shoulders. she’s pulling herself up and round to grab your own arms, rolling you over onto your back and she’s pulling you up so you’re sat up, before shoving you back down again.

your legs are wrapped around her waist and it’s almost as if you’re trying to pull her back around so you can roll her over again.

“stop trying.” she breathes out, and she’s moving her hand to grip the back of your hair.

a rather compromising position, which would be seen as something different if the two of you weren’t trying to fight each other.

“fuck you.” you groan out, and since your other arm is free, you manage to smack a punch right across her face, a satisfying crunch erupting from her nose to prove you’ve broken it.

she groans in response, and lifts both hands to cover it, the fabric of the gloves absorbing the blood as she covers it.

and you’re running back to the sniper in the time that you have and opening up the case next to it and pulling out your own handgun. the one you were given to by the nsa.

it was surprising that you had kept it.

“emotional entanglements are unacceptable in a professional, dangerous environment yet are inevitable. is that what you said, caitlyn?” your head tilts to the side and your finger rests against the trigger, ready to pull it if needs be. “if that’s true, then why have you become so attached to someone that you’re meant to arrest? to kill?”

a step forward and you’re closer to her.

she’s not moved, her hands still holding her nose before she pulls them away once the bleeding had subsided.

“it’s unfortunate, really. i enjoyed being in your bed yet your affiliation with the person i was meant to kill in the agency made it stop.”

a sigh escapes your lips at her silence.

“i’m giving you the opportunity to run away, caitlyn. be blind. not brave.”

she needed to act like she had never seen you. and that would make everything so much easier because then you wouldn’t have to worry about her reporting you and she wouldn’t have to say a word.

you were making this easier on her, but she wasn’t making this easier for you.

she doesn’t know why she takes the opportunity. she just does. maybe she doesn’t want to hurt you, and she doesn’t want you to hurt her, but she leaves the rooftop and she’s sprinting down the stairs and back to her car.

“false alarm.” that’s the only thing she mutters to her partner as she steps into the car.

she’ll find you one day. officially. it’ll be printed on documents that she was the one who find you. but to say she’ll take you in? no. she’s sure it will read that she decided to join you.

no matter what the cost is.

[demonic0angel]

a mermaid anger management idea:

"Damian's orca is back," Jason deadpanned, looking at the black face in the water. The orca didn't really belong to Damian, but the boy had befriended it by feeding the thing fillets of fish before the sinking of their boat.

Jason tuned out Bruce's refusal for any more pets as the orca noseyed its way over to Damian's raft.

"Shadow," a voice whispered called from the water, sending the bats into high alert. The orca chirped in response and turned to look at whoever called him.

Jason followed its line of sight and spotted a flash of red moving in the water, "I think he brought a friend."

(A tear fell down my face when I saw this ask. I LOVE it when I can tell that people look at the stuff that I post. It got long bc I got so excited lmaoo)

Damian gasped. "Is that your name? Shadow?"

The newly named Shadow gave a soft cry. Then it turned and began to leave. Damian nearly fell out of the raft to follow it, which caused Jason to grab him by the waist before he could leave.

Shadow paused and then turned to look at him. Damian gave a grunt, elbowing Jason in the gut, before beckoning Shadow closer. "C'mere! It's okay, we won't hurt you. You can bring your friend too."

"Damian," Bruce groaned. Jason couldn't help but snicker at the exhaustion in his voice.

Shadow trilled and then swam closer again, allowing Jason to let go of Damian, who happily stroked the orca's snout and fed him more fish.

The red blur came moving back and then stopped underneath the raft. Jason stared at it, tilting his head thoughtfully before he said, "Hey, you can come up too if you'd like. We don't hunt anything but fish."

The red blob in the water seemed to have heard him, but didn't react. It wasn't until Damian repeated the same thing that it finally moved and swam up, breaking the surface of the water with a splash to drape itself over Shadow's back.

"Shadow, I told you to come," a sweet voice said and Jason's eyes widened at the large female Mer that was now gazing at them all with sharp turquoise eyes.

Shadow chirped, but everyone (but Damian, that crazy brat) flinched backwards and clapped their hands over their ears.

Mer were beautiful, humanoid creatures with beautiful singing voices that often lured humans to death. They were different from sirens, whose favorite food were humans, but they were no less dangerous when provoked.

This Mer looked large and long, with pale skin hidden under wet layers of crimson hair and a bright, turquoise tail. She stared at Jason blankly before looking at Damian.

"Little one, are you feeding Shadow?"

Bruce lunged forward to grab Damian, who was still at the edge of the raft, but Damian answered before anyone could stop him.

"Yes. They're really cute," Damian praised, rubbing at Shadow's nose again. "Would you also like some?"

The Mer blinked her wet eyes at him and then beamed. "Thank you." Damian fed her a sliver of fish and Jason nearly bashed his head over the raft's edge. How could his little brother have so little survival instincts in the face of a creature?!

Damian then asked, "Could we ask for help from you?"

Jason blurted out, "Damian! Do not!"

"Do not talk to her!" Bruce ordered.

The Mer turned to look at him and Bruce with a blank stare. Then she turned to Damian and nodded. "Of course. Shadow likes you, so I don't mind at least hearing you out."

"Our ship sank from the storm a few nights ago. Would it be alright if you helped us get to land? Preferably near a city."

The Mer hummed. "And in exchange?"

Jason grit his teeth and spoke up. "We can get fish for you. And I've heard that Merpeople like collecting the metalwork that we have. We can get you other things as well."

The Mer smiled. "Deal." She flicked her tail, scattering water droplets all over them. She looked at Jason and said, "You will help attach the raft to me."

Jason couldn't help but raise a challenging eyebrow. "You can pull the whole boat by yourself, princess?"

The Mer slid off of Shadow to swim over to him with a small smile. "I will have Shadow help me. And you will call me Jazz, little man."

"Jason," he said, gesturing to himself with a smirk, "And nothing about me is little." Jazz gave a little melodic laugh, narrowing her eyes at him.

They both stared at each other with intense gazes before Jason snapped out of it with a start, face reddening as both Damian and Bruce stared at him with completely identical looks of disgust and disbelief. Jason coughed.

"Uh. What do I need to do first...?"

Jazz chuckled, making Jason's face heat even more, and then she began to give orders around. Even Bruce sucked up his protests as he helped out. Damian didn't help for awhile as he just petted Shadow, but when Shadow left to be strapped to the raft as a lead, Damian stood up to help around.

Soon, they would be back on land.

[robo-writing]

Hi robo! I had an awful birthday yesterday and I was wondering if you could write some cute birthday fluff with reader x logan? 🥹 Like maybe she has a rly bad day where things don’t go as planned but Logan gives her a little cake or something and they spend the night together because he wants to make it better for her 🥹 ik it’s a big request so no pressure! 🫶

I’m sorry about your birthday anon, hopefully the rest of your week is better!

Thinking about how your day went almost makes you want to laugh, but not in a funny way; more like a “how the hell can it get worse” kind of way.

By the time you get home your feet are dragging across the floor. Trains acting up, bitchy manager—hell, even your local lunch spot ran out of your favorite order. So much for a happy birthday. The past 24 hours have been such a drain on you mentally that you don’t register Logan’s voice when you walk inside.

Your minds a mess, a metaphorical cloud hanging over your head as you side-step him, immediately walking to your bedroom. You hear him call your name from behind, but it doesn’t really matter, does it? More than anything, you want to lie down and just sleep.

You strip yourself haphazardly, not really caring that your clothes pile up on the floor, before falling face first onto your mattress. Maybe a nap will help you forget.

“Sweetheart?” Logan calls, and you’re guessing that he’s standing by the door because you don’t hear his footsteps come closer. The worry is evident in his voice, and as much as you hate to make him worry you really can’t find it in yourself to speak right now.

“You alright?” He says, and you groan in response.

“Okay, not alright then,” he hums, and finally sits himself beside you. “Talk to me.”

It takes you a while to muster up the words, but he’s patient with you, a luxury you can’t say he affords anyone else. “Had a bad day is all.”

“Sounds like more than just a bad day.”

“…had a bad birthday.”

“Ahh, there it is,” he sighs, putting a hand against your back. “Explains why you never noticed my present.”

You turn your head to him, looking up curiously. “Present?”

Logan nods his head in return. “Mhm. Decorated the whole living room for you. Looks like a clown threw up in there.”

The faintest smile graces your face, tinged with guilt at how callous you’ve been. You know how Logan struggles with emotion, and having you ignore his efforts probably felt like a slap to the face.

You reach your hand out, letting your fingers drum against his. “I’m sorry Lo’, didn’t mean it.”

“Got nothin’ to be sorry about,” he answers, kissing the top of your head. “When you feel better, we can go downstairs and give you a real birthday celebration, okay?”

[the-raindeer-king]

Part 1

Part 2 to teen! Ghost (reader is mentioned to being smaller than the others, but is otherwise gender neutral. minor mention of child abuse.)

This has to be some kind of joke. Maybe Ghost has a kid, and didn't know how to tell you. Maybe it's some elaborate prank, and Ghost is in his room, decompressing.

But... Price wouldn't joke around about something like this, especially not when it comes to Ghost. The looks on Soap and Gaz's face only further confirm the truth, and the pit in your stomach only widens.

It's the way this kid - Ghost, Simon, - stares at you that makes you want to throw up. You knew Ghost didn't have a good childhood, that there's no family for him to go home to anymore. But to see the haunted look of fresh trauma in this poor kid's eyes, it makes you hate the world. He's just a kid.

Wiping your hands on your pants, you give him a small smile. "Hey, kiddo. You're not in any trouble," you say, voice soft and gentle as you approach. You crouch down by the chair Simon's sitting in, making yourself smaller in an attempt to make him feel better.

It's weird, seeing just how small Ghost used to be. You've only ever know him as the brick powerhouse Lieutenant, tall and wide, the biggest man in the room. It's feels wrong, seeing him as nothing more than a scared child, barely taller than you are.

"Are you going to call my dad?" he asks, and the undertone of terror in his voice makes you want to cry. It makes you want to find whatever shithole Mr. Riley has called home and kill the old bastard with your bare hands.

Instead, you shake your head, answering softly, "No, Simon. We're not going to call your father."

He relaxes at that, shoulders sagging in relief. You could honestly cry, heart aching for this poor kid who's been dealt such a shitty hand. Somehow you don't.

"I need to ask you a couple of questions, sweetheart. I just need you to be honest with your answers, okay?" you tell him.

"O-okay," Simon agrees, glancing towards the door, where Soap and Gaz are standing. Gaz has a look on concern on his face, eyebrows pinched together and mouth downturned. Soap, on the other hand, is staring so intensely at Simon you'd think he was trying to kill him with his eyes.

While you know that's not the case, if anything he's probably trying to figure out how to help, you can see why Simon looks so nervous. Trapped in a room with four adults, three of whom are burly men, it's a miracle he hasn't had a panic attack.

"MacTavish," you call, and Soap's eyes fly to you. "Run to the mess. Bring back a water and a pudding cup, yeah? Vanilla preferably, butterscotch if they're out."

With Soap gone, Simon seems to relax a little more, his gaze returning to you. You give him another smile, and the ache in your heart eases a little when you notice the corners of his mouth twitch upwards in response.

"Am I right to assume that you don't recognize anyone in the room?" you ask.

Simon nods his head in confirmation.

"What's the last thing you remember?"

Simon's quiet for a moment, hands fidgeting together. You've never seen Ghost do that before, and you're not sure if it's a good or bad sign, but you don't call him out on it.

"Tommy and I went to bed, and... and I woke in that building, with the men with guns," Simon explains. He pauses, gesturing over to Gaz, "And then he came in and rescued me, and... then we rode in a helicopter back here."

You glance towards Gaz, who nods his head in confirmation. But that doesn't explain how Ghost suddenly became a teenager again. And if teen Simon is here, where's Ghost? All the variables make your head spin, and you need to be focused on what you can control right now.

It's Simon that brings you out of your spiraling thoughts. "Can I call my mom?" he asks meekly.

"No," Price answers, gruff and authoritative.

The sharpness in Price's tone makes Simon flinch, and you reach out to gently take Simon's hands in yours.

"You're going to have to sit tight, buddy, while we figure out how you got there. But I'll call your mom and let her know you're okay," you lie. The guilt hits immediately, but you can't bring yourself to deny him this small comfort, even if it's a lie.

"I can't talk to her?"

Simon's hands tighten around yours, when Price beats you to answer. "No. Enough questions."

[hellsslibrary]

Could you write about Hiori, Chigiri, and Bachira giving their male!reader boyfriend a blowjob? Maybe Chigiri thigh fucking... Hiori sadistically making you wait to cum, and Bachira with his feet?

Blow it, move it, bite it, ride it. Just come on, make a move on it.

#a.n. : I absolutely loved writing this, so it's okay!! And it's kind of implied that you're all in Blue Lock... I have no idea where the camera-less bedroom came from, so :).

!!Warnings: male!reader, dom!Hiori and implied dom!bachira, top!reader in Chigiri's part (kind of), blowjob (Hiori), footjob (Bachira), thigh-fuck (Chigiri), Hiori is a sadist, overstimulation (Hiori), Chigiri is a sass (like always), Bachira... A little strange (but in a good way as always, yea). And reader is a football player too. Purely theoretically, one can imagine that this is a strap (except for the Hiori part, of course), so anyone can read it, I don't care anyway.

Hiori Yo.

Your hand slides through the blue hair for the umpteenth time that night. You have an incredible, overwhelming urge to grab them and plant that face deeper on your dick, but no... You just can't. How many times have you been denied an orgasm? Three or so, or maybe you've lost count.

Only that smug face with those bright blue eyes glowing with joy knows the exact number.

"Yo... Am I seriously unable to cum, even after all this?" you ask, knowing the answer perfectly well, but just like in the past, smoldering with hope that he will break up and give in.

"No," of course he won't, Hiori has been mumbling around your cock, sucking on your thick shaft for the last half hour.

You practically growl in frustration, trying not to move your hips or anything else, because it will only prolong this torture. And all because of what? In training, you didn't score a goal from his pass, which made him angry at you. He gave you such a perfect pass, and you missed it.

"Absent-minded boys like you need self-control, don't you think?" Hiori asks, batting his long eyelashes at you, looking straight into your eyes with that innocent look, which makes you almost melt.

His hand moves rhythmically on your cock while his tongue licks your glans from time to time, sometimes gliding over the base and over the bulging veins. He was clearly enjoying tormenting you like that, watching the precum trickle down your head, which he rather licked off, slurping on purpose.

The bed creaks slightly under your weight, clearly not designed for two people, especially if they are muscular in one way or another. It would probably fall apart if you were doing something more active here, but you don't even want to think about it, considering that you have to explain it to the Ego.

"Please, Yo... I'll do anything, please, it hurts," your voice is quiet, a whimper escapes from your throat; Hiyori's eyes rise to you again and a smile blooms on his lips when he notices tears in the corners of your eyes.

"Whatever you say..." The football player mutters, leaning closer and wiping the tears from your eyes before they can roll down your cheeks. "Okay, I'll let you."

Your hips jerk as you are suddenly pierced by the feeling of his mouth around your cock. Not teasing. Not slow. Uninterrupted. And the persistent, rhythmic sucking of your length, which makes you feel like you're already in Heaven.

Of course, it doesn't take long for you to cum. In just a matter of seconds, the knot in your stomach unties and you cum in Hiori's mouth with a guttural moan, clutching his hair in your hands, pushing into his mouth for a couple of seconds, and then exhaling tiredly.

Yo straightens up, licking the droplets of your cum from the corners of his lips, looking at your peaceful face, and then suddenly squeezes your softened cock.

"You said you'd do anything, darling," the blue-eyed man whispers, ecstatically watching your surprised face... If you don't like the deprivation of orgasm, then you will have to accept your fate of overexcitation.

Chigiri Hyoma.

"Mmm, you're enjoying this too much, big guy" Hyoma says, as he stares at your barely present face as you fuck between his thighs.

You wanted to fuck him so damn badly for real, just slide inside those damn tight muscles, but you didn't have too much time until the end of the break, so you had to manage somehow.

"I'm sorry... You have juicy thighs, has anyone ever told you that?" you ask, squeezing his knees a little tighter, trying not to put too much pressure on his right leg, rubbing your cocks together with your movements.

"Yes, thank you. You've said that about eleven times, if I remember correctly. For the last ten minutes," he replies, shrugging his shoulders, looking at how your cock slides between his thighs, over his smaller penis, smearing the precum on your stomach.

His hands instinctively grab onto the sheets, and he moans softly, arching his back. Your cock perfectly covered his own length from below, perfectly rubbed against the head, touching the sensitive bridle. Your "waters" were mixed together.

"We have a training session soon, come on... Otherwise, they'll be looking for us. And they will definitely find us, considering that you don't even hide your moans," Chigiri cheers you on, squeezing his own hips harder, which even started to make a sound from how your cock bumped lightly against his muscular thighs.

"I'm sorry..." you mumble it again, just staring at Hyoma's stomach, where you could see your cock sliding in and out of his thighs.

He snorts, placing his own hands on your palms, which are holding him under his knees, pulling you out of your semi-trance. His red eyes seem to be staring into your very soul, still filled with their usual cocky sparkle, but now clouded with lust.

"What?" your voice is softly heard in the empty bedroom, followed by Chigiri's moan as your cock grazes the bridle of his own again, and he exhales, squeezing his eyes shut.

"Nothing, nothing... You're just drooling," the red-haired man whispers, and you see a drop of water from your chin land on the back of Hyoma's thigh.

... Well, maybe you enjoyed it a little too much. So what? You're a simple man.

You quickly wipe your mouth on your shoulder, pushing Chigiri a little harder into the bed, making his back arch even more and a moan escapes your lips when you feel a familiar feeling in your stomach.

"Huh... Come on, come on, come on. Let's get together, okay? I want you to come, please..." Chigiri whispers, completely unaware of how much more beautiful he is now with red cheeks and a face bathed in pleasure... But what's the difference, huh? Your pace started to become less rhythmic and increasingly rough.

The sound of tremors echoed more and more through the almost empty room, and there it was... White light behind the eyes, two male moaning voices.

Ka-sploosh!

Bachira Meguru.

"This is a fun position, you know?" Bachira chuckles in your ear as he literally hangs on your back, his arms wrapped around your neck and his legs resting on your cock, rubbing it lazily.

"Are you sure you're comfortable? You can always sit forward..." You ask as his chest presses closer to your back and he kisses your cheek long and hard with a smile.

"Thanks for caring! But it's okay, really... Let's give [Your name] the younger a little more attention?"

You moan, throwing your head back on Bachira's shoulder as he starts to move his feet a little more actively. One of his feet runs along the length of your cock, while the other lifts your shaft. How does he even bend his legs like that? Who knows these football players.

His lips slide down your neck, covering it with kisses, occasionally sucking on your skin, making you sigh softly in pleasure. The forward's feet wrap around your entire length, starting to rub it in perfect synchronization.

"Megu... So good, it's weird, but good," you whisper into his neck, inhaling his scent mixed with the light scent of sweat, considering you're both post-workout.

"I'm glad! And he seems to like it too... Or is it her?" Meguru is seriously discussing the gender of your dick... Oh, the things you put up with for this man, honestly.

Your hand slides behind you, supporting his hip, so that it would be at least a little easier for him. Although he doesn't seem to care, because his feet move and hold your cock just perfectly.

His toes deliberately touch your veins along the base or run along the head of your cock, his heels sometimes stroking in circles on your balls, which are getting tighter with each passing second.

Why the hell did you even think to ask him about this? You looked at some new dribble he came up with, and your brain switched off and you asked him. Of course, it's not surprising that he agreed, but fuck...

Who knew that his feet were talented with more than just a soccer ball, right? Your balls were also satisfied, it seems.

"Want to cum? You always can, you know," a sweet voice breaks you out of your thoughts as Meguru presses his heel lightly on your balls, causing you to twitch a little, causing him to smile even wider.

"Of course... You'll make me cum embarrassingly fast..."

"There's nothing embarrassing about it! You make me cum just as fast when...! Mhmhm!"

He lightly punches your chest as you push your head into his neck to shut him up and not embarrass yourself any further.

The feel and sight of his toes on your cock is enough without him saying anything. Your cock twitches in his feet, but he holds it expertly, continuing to rub your cock, as if his orgasm depends on it, not yours. Although it's the same thing to him.

"B-Bachi..." You whine, really embarrassingly fast cumming as your sperm drips down his feet and he kisses your cheek encouragingly.

And then he cries out as you fall backwards, pinning him down and he immediately pushes you aside, looking at you.

"Fallen asleep? He must have enjoyed it too much," Meguru chuckles quietly, looking at your sleeping face, and then covers you with the blanket, kissing your forehead. "Now, shower! Just don't leave marks... Or [Your Name] will scold you, Meguru."

[devildomwriter]

You Go To See A Christmas Carol Part I

Going to see a Christmas Carol in the Human World with Diavolo and the brothers takes a turn when the brothers forget what’s normal for them is not normal for everyone else.

You shuffled out from the middle seat of the packed car and hopped onto the icy pavement. You blew into your gloves to warm your face and looked around as the brothers climbed out of the cars around you.

Mammon: “So, this is the fancy theatre place, huh?”

Satan: “It’s a performing arts center.”

Mammon: “That’s the same damn thing!”

Lucifer: “Quiet! We’re late enough as it is! I won’t have you all bickering in the parking lot and wasting more time. You should be thankful Diavolo even invited you to this play to begin with.”

Leviathan: “What is this play about again?”

MC: “It’s called A Christmas Carol.”

Belphegor: “Ugh, we don’t have to listen to carolers do we?”

Beelzebub: “It’ll be okay Belphie.”

Belphegor: “No it won’t. Remember what satan did last time?”

Satan: “I was being slandered, those kids had it coming!”

Lucifer: “That’s enough! Let’s go! Start walking!”

MC: “Yes, father.”

Belphegor: “Pft!”

Lucifer: “What was that?”

MC: “I didn’t say anything.”

Lucifer: “That’s what I thought. Now does everyone have their human identities?”

Mammon: “Ugh, not this again.”

Lucifer: “This it’s important. Our names are well known up here, gathered all in one place like this it could scare someone.”

Belphegor: “That sounds like fun.”

Lucifer: “It won’t be when Michael hears about it. Now, tell me your names again.”

Mammon: “Matthew…boring ass name—“

Asmodeus: “Guuuuuys! I can see my breath! Look!”

Asmodeus: “Huuuuuuuh.”

Mammon: “Oh yeah! Neat!”

Lucifer: “Stop that. Honestly, you aren’t children.”

Lucifer ushered you to the growing lines as everyone excitedly waited to get through security and into the grand hall for the long-awaited performance.

Security Officer: “Lines that way.”

Lucifer: “Thank you.”

Satan: “We have tickets already.”

Security Officer: “Still that way.”

Satan: “Fine.”

MC: “Excuse me, we’re looking for a friend.”

Mammon: “Why would he know Diavolo, there’s like a million people here?”

MC: “He’s a real eccentric guy, red hair?”

Security Officer: “You mean that guy waving on the balcony?”

MC: “Yeah, that’s the one.”

Security Officer: “Been there about three hours now.”

Lucifer: “How many?”

Security Officer: “Staff was making a real big fuss about him too. You know him?”

MC: “Yeah, he kidnapped me a while back.”

Security Officer: “Excuse me?”

MC: “So the lines that way, yeah? Thanks.”

Security Officer: “Kidnapped?”

You chose not to answer him and ran to catch up with the brothers who’d quickly followed Lucifer lest they provoke his seasonally intense wrath.

Satan: “Lucifer you don’t need to call him you can see him from here just fine.”

Mammon: “I think he’s shoutin’ somethin’?”

Leviathan: “He’s saying…uh…”

Beelzebub: “I…can… see… my…. Breath.”

Lucifer: “…”

Lucifer: *sigh*

Asmodeus: “Isn’t it cool!!!”

Mammon: “Yikes! My ears Asmo!”

Lucifer: “That’s enough, where’d MC go?”

Leviathan: “Hey that officer guy looks kind of nervous now…he’s really staring at us?”

Lucifer: “He probably heard Mammon refer to Asmo by his name.”

Mammon: “You just referred to me by my name too!”

MC: “Hey guys, what’d I miss?”

Lucifer: “Nothing of significance.”

Beelzebub: “Lord Diavolo says he can see his breath.”

MC: “That’s adorable, I expect nothing less.”

Lucifer: “Please don’t encourage him MC.”

MC: “No promises.”

Lucifer: *sigh* “Does everyone have their tickets?”

Satan: “No.”

Lucifer: “What do you mean, no!?”

Satan: “You took them because you didn’t trust us to hold them!”

Lucifer: “Clearly I was right.”

Satan: “What?”

Lucifer: “Mammon this is yours. Your name is now Matthew Morningstar.”

Mammon: “I know, you made me go over it a million times. I don’t think anyone’s gonna even ask right?”

Lucifer: “They will in an interrogation.”

Asmodeus: “What? Are we being interrogated?”

Lucifer: “Hopefully not.”

MC: “The night’s still young.”

Lucifer: “Stop it, MC.”

Lucifer: “Levi, congratulations you get to keep your name.”

Leviathan: “Thank goodness.”

Lucifer: “Satan you’re going as Stanford Morningstar.”

Satan: “That’s a stupid last name.”

Lucifer: “Ignoring that, Belphegor your name is Todd.”

MC: “Why’d you choose Todd?”

Belphegor: “It means death in German.”

MC: “Yup, okay…”

Lucifer: “Beelzebub, you’re name is Benjamin, you can go by Ben if you want to— do not eat this ticket.”

Beelzebub: “…”

Lucifer: “Todd, you’re holding onto his ticket.”

Mammon: “Who the fuck is Todd?”

MC: “Belphegor, pay attention.”

Belphegor: “I am paying attention.”

MC: “I was talking to Matthew.”

Beelzebub: “Matthew?”

Lucifer: “Change of plan, we only call each other by our human names in front of other humans.”

MC: “I’m a human.”

Lucifer: “You don’t count.”

MC: “Shucks.”

Lucifer: *sigh* “Asmodeus you’re name is Amadeus, that’s an easy one, don’t forget it.”

Asmodeus: “Okie!”

Lucifer: “I’m going as Lucious, I believe that’s everyone.”

Asmodeus: “I’ll go first and show you all how it’s done!”

Leviathan: “Why do I have a bad feeling about this?”

Satan: “Because you should.”

Guard: “Ticket.”

Asmodeus: “Right here sweetie!”

Guard: “Amadeus?”

Asmodeus: “That’s right!”

Guard: “That’s a cool name. Seeing the Christmas Carol?”

Asmodeus: “I sure am!”

Guard: “Haven’t seen it in a bit, hope ya have fun. I’ll have to take my wife and kids when I get a chance, maybe next year. Alright, raise your arms for me.”

Asmodeus: “Oh no, did I mess up already?”

Guard: “Already?”

Leviathan: “Asmo, just T-Pose.”

Asmodeus: “Ew, why in the Devildom would I do that? That’s so not tending right now!”

Lucifer: “He has to use the metal detector, lift your arms.”

Asmodeus: “Ooooh, okay!”

Mammon: “Real master if I ever saw one…”

Asmodeus: “Shut up Mammon! I’d like to see you do better!”

Guard: “Any weapons on you, sir?”

Asmodeus: “Oooh, just in my pants!”

Guard: “I’ll need you to take it out for me.”

Asmodeus: “What? How bold! Right here in front of all these people?”

Guard: “…?”

Lucifer: “That’s it. I’m sorry sir, my brother was making a stupid dirty joke, none of us have any weapons. Lift your arms Asmo before I do it for you.”

Asmodeus: “That sounds like fun.”

Lucifer: “It won’t be once we’re home if you don’t hurry it up.”

Asmodeus: “Yikes! Okay, okay!”

Guard: “Okay…just gonna pat you down real quick….”

Asmodeus: “Pat me anywhere you want pal— ow! Lucifer that hurt!”

Lucifer: “Be. Quiet.”

Guard: “Lucifer…u-um…Amadeus, you’re all good.”

Lucifer: “Don’t you dare go anywhere, wait right there until Mam—Matthew goes through.”

Mammon: “Y’know on second thought why don’t I watch Satan first?”

Satan: “Ow! Don’t shove me what’s wrong with you?”

Lucifer: “Someone just go.”

Satan: “Very well”

Guard: “So…that’s you’re umm…brother?”

Satan: “Unfortunately.”

Guard: “Stanford Morningstar?”

Satan: “Stupid surname, I’m aware.”

Guard: “I think it’s quite unique actually, has a nice ring to it.”

Satan: “That’s your opinion.”

Guard: “Uh, lift your arms please…no weapons I presume?”

Satan: “None.”

Guard: “You’re all good, please proceed.”

Leviathan: “Mammon don’t push me what’s up with you!?”

Guard: “Are you next?”

Leviathan: “H-Hello, fellow human! Sir!”

Guard: “Haha! You guys are a pretty fun bunch aren’t ya?”

Leviathan: “We met at a convent.”

Guard: “What?”

Lucifer: “What?”

Leviathan: “I-I, um…it just came out.”

MC: “This is beautiful.”

Lucifer: “MC, you’re next. Please take them up to Lord Diavolo after this.”

Guard: “Alright, no weapons, you’re good.”

Leviathan: “Thank you, goodbye!”

Mammon: “…”

Guard: “So one big family trip today huh?”

MC: “No, I was kidnapped.”

Guard: “What?”

MC: “I forgave them though. Stockholm syndrome is a hell of a drug.”

Guard: “You guys really are pretty funny. You a comedy group or somethin’?”

MC: “We might as well be given my daily life.”

Guard: “Any weapons?”

MC: “Only spiritual.”

Guard: “Good on you. Me too. Catholic, what about you?”

MC: “I don’t even know at this point. I’m just here for Diavolo.”

Guard: “Well I hope you figure it out, have a good time.”

MC: “God willing.”

You looked at Lucifer as you said that and he glared at you while you gave Mammon, who was sweating bullets, a curious look. Something was definitely wrong with him.

Leviathan: “You think they’ll be okay in line without us?”

MC: “It’s just Beel, Belphie, and Mammon, it’ll be fine.”

Satan: “Okay. Let’s go up to see Lord Diavolo and brief him.”

MC: “Someone go buy some popcorn so Beel doesn’t have a breakdown in line.”

Asmodeus: “Leave it to me!”

MC: “No charming anyone, they’ll get fired.”

Asmodeus: “Ugh, fine.”

Mammon: “Hey uh…Belphie you mind going ahead.”

Belphegor: “What, why?”

Mammon: “I uh…may have forgotten somethin’…”

Belphegor: “…what did you do?”

Mammon: “Nothin’.”

Lucifer: “Mammon.”

Mammon: “I uh…forgot that weapons were kinda a big deal in the human world…maybe.”

Lucifer: “…”

Lucifer: “Beelzebub, Belphegor, don’t cause trouble, go right to MC they’re waiting at the door.”

Mammon: “Hey that’s my collar, hey! Where are ya takin’ me? Lucifer!”

Guard: “…”

Belphegor: “Just ignore them, it’s better not to question it.”

Guard: “Right…so umm, Todd, is it?”

Belphegor: “It means death in German.”

Guard: “Okay….arms up, please….You’re good….right along…”

Beelzebub: “Belphie, my ticket.”

Belphegor: “Oh yeah, here.”

Guard: “I’ll take that, thank you. Benjamin?”

Beelzebub: “What? No, it’s Beelzebub.”

Guard: “What?”

Beelzebub: “Who’s Benjamin?”

Guard: “This ticket is assigned to a Benjamin Morningstar.”

Beelzebub: “Oh yeah…that’s me.”

Guard: *mumbling to himself* “He’s the last one…you can do this…”

Beelzebub: “Is something wrong?”

Guard: “Arms up please…quick pat down…go ahead.”

Next

[redux-iterum]

Charred Legacy: Chapter Thirty-Eight

(AO3 counterpart here.)

Cloudpaw and Fireheart returned home just before evening turned to night. Quickly, they curled up in their respective nests and pretended to sleep, conveniently “waking up” as their Clanmates started to. With so many cats making their way around camp, the tell-tale pawprints were covered up almost immediately, and no one seemed to notice that Cloudpaw was a little more tired again.

Fireheart kept to his decision; he and Cloudpaw went out with Snowpaw, Ravenwing, and Greystripe to hunt. The decree for all warriors to travel in groups of four had been relaxed, at least in the southern part of the territory. Despite the lack of dog-scent and Snowpaw teaching Cloudpaw how to crawl silently, and the eased energy of his friends, Fireheart couldn’t bring himself to completely chill out. Evidently, his anger had left a few droplets of itself in his gut, and now he had to almost physically stop himself from thinking of his argument with Rosy, or those droplets would start to steam.  

He hated that. He didn’t want to have any negative emotions tied to his sister. But even a single thought calling back to her insulting Bluestar, and he would unconsciously turn his head away from whichever way he was facing and grimace as he forced new thoughts into his head and dug them in as deep as he could, hoping that would silence the words Rosy had said.

“Are you okay?” Greystripe murmured to him as Snowpaw signed something that made Cloudpaw chuff.

Fireheart defaulted to a lie. “I’m fine.”

“You don’t look fine.” Greystripe gave him a light touch with a massive paw. “You’ve been completely silent all night and keep staring like you’re about to kill someone.”

Fireheart was tempted to stay silent in the hopes that his friend would let the matter drop, but he knew better. He sighed out, “Just thinking about the dogs. And hoping my sister’s okay.”

It didn’t look like Greystripe was satisfied with that answer, but he did nod and say, “Alright. If, uh, if you want to talk, you can tell me anything.”

Dared he tell him? If anyone was to understand a rule-breaker, it would be him. At the same time, if Fireheart started talking, his odds of ranting and upsetting Cloudpaw were a little too high for his liking.

“I’ll let you know,” was all he said, and they left it at that.

He managed to cool down and relax over the next few nights, though by the stars, was it a slow process. Speckletail seemed to notice his lingering tension and started putting him on more patrols, often without Cloudpaw. It helped to have his attention elsewhere, at least, and it was good to be out of camp where Darkstripe couldn’t scowl at him with one eye squinted. Fireheart didn’t trust that his temper would stay under control if he remained inside.

One night, Speckletail invited him to join herself, Willowpelt, and Sandstorm on a hunting patrol, which he took gladly. Cloudpaw looked at him with some disappointment and anxiety as he spoke to the deputy. Before he left, he approached his nephew with an order.

“I’d like you to stay close to camp tonight,” he said. “If any nests need refreshing, or the elders need grooming, take care of that. And visit Brightpaw, too. She seems to be doing better with you around.”

“She’s not as, um…” Cloudpaw tilted his head in thought. “Not as shut-down as before. But yesterday, I offered to take her out to make dirt and she started shaking really hard.”

Fireheart nodded sympathetically. “Then just bring her some prey or help clean her fur. You’re doing very well taking care of her and the elders.”

“I like doing it,” Cloudpaw said. “It’s fun.”

Something in Fireheart settled and he regarded his nephew fondly. “That’s the right attitude. I wish the other apprentices were more like you.”

Cloudpaw’s fur fluffed out and he puffed his chest proudly, his disappointment forgotten. Fireheart touched his nose to his forehead before turning around and following after his patrol out of camp.

It was a night of dense air, brought about by the fog that was thick enough to hide anything past the immediately surrounding trees wherever Fireheart stood. Despite this, and the snow on the ground that had turned hard and crunchy, Fireheart couldn’t help but enjoy himself. Even with his Clanmates around him, it felt private, quiet, and oddly comfortable—easy to step away from his thoughts and walk mindlessly in a void.

“Well, good luck to us finding anything tonight,” Sandstorm remarked, shaking out her smooth, pale fur. “I can’t even smell you right next to me, Willowpelt.”

“Oh, it’s not that bad.” Willowpelt tapped Sandstorm with her tail. “Just pay attention.”

“‘Just pay attention,’” Sandstorm snipped with no venom. “Why didn’t I think of that?”

Speckletail turned her head back to squint jokingly at them. “That’ll be a great piece of advice if the two of you pipe down and start listening for prey.”

Sandstorm looked at Fireheart and gestured at the older mollies with playful exasperation. Fireheart twitched his whiskers, but said nothing. After waiting a moment, presumably for a response, Sandstorm faced forward again, her tail still.

It was difficult to tell exactly how far from camp they’d gone, but at some point Fireheart realized they were going past burnt trees. He looked to Speckletail, asking, “Have we been having luck hunting out here?”

“Oh, no.” Speckletail gestured vaguely with a sweep of her tail. “I was planning to take us out to the neutral grounds. Dustpelt’s patrol yesterday found a lot there.”

“Shame it’s come to that point,” Willowpelt said. “Nothing out there is quite as tasty as forest-born prey.”

“We’ll be back to it in spring, don’t worry.”

“I hope so.”

The conversation turned to mild chatter that Fireheart didn’t pay much attention to. He absorbed the false privacy of the fog. He hardly even heard his own pawsteps.

Imagine what it’d be like to be the only cat in the world, he thought, as the fog thickened, almost hiding his Clanmates. Not a care beyond finding shelter and food. No arguments or other cats to worry about.

…Maybe that’d be a little too lonely for me.

 “Hey, that’s interesting.”

Fireheart blinked back to reality. He’d lagged behind a fair few steps and only now saw Sandstorm at one end of a fallen, black tree, squinting at the roots, some of which were still clinging to a mound of disturbed, dark soil. 

“This wasn’t here before,” she said. “Did the fire do this?”

Fireheart trotted up to join her. The inner wood that the roots surrounded had been completely burned away, leaving a surprisingly large hole big enough to house a fox and her cubs.

“Weird,” was all he said.

Again, a pause and a look from Sandstorm, but she said nothing to him. Willowpelt and Speckletail joined them, examining the charred interior.

“Well, we won’t be finding any prey in there,” Willowpelt said. She nodded to the side. “But at least we’re close to the neutral grounds. Let’s get going.”

Speckletail flicked her tail. “You two go ahead. Fireheart and I will check around here, just in case.”

Fireheart blinked in surprise. Willowpelt and Sandstorm glanced at each other, then Speckletail, who flicked her tail more firmly, and they trotted off into the fog. Fireheart waited for them to disappear fully before turning to the deputy. He stopped before he could say anything; she was looking at him rather gravely.

“Um,” he said: half a question, half a prompt.

Speckletail approached him, looking down at him with a somewhat-unreadable face. He thought he caught concern and weariness in her eyes. “I’ve been meaning to talk with you privately. What’s troubling you?”

He restrained a flinch. “Troubling…? I, uh, I’m fine.”

“Fireheart, you can be honest with me,” Speckletail said with a calming blink. “I’ve been putting you on so many patrols recently because I’m concerned about you. You’re radiating this intense energy, and you always look like you’re about to get into a screaming match with whoever you’re talking to.”

Fireheart said nothing. His mind scrambled for an excuse.

“I don’t know what’s happened,” Speckletail went on, “but you’re affecting your apprentice. He’s nervous to be around you. Have you noticed that?”

He hadn’t. Fireheart stared at her, his mind now frantically scraping around for any memory of how he’d been acting since Cloudpaw came home. He couldn’t find any, just memories of stewing in his emotions and not paying attention to anything around him.

“Um,” he said again.

Speckletail sighed—though, Fireheart noticed, more in a melancholic way than frustrated. “You’re not in any trouble, you know. I just worry because I appreciate your help and energy in taking care of the Clan, and it’s hard to find that when you’re upset like this. Whatever’s going on, you can tell me.”

Should he? He clenched his jaw unconsciously.

“The thing is, if I’m going to be honest…” Speckletail glanced backwards, ears perked at the way the other mollies had gone, before turning to Fireheart and dropping her volume. “I’ve been giving you a lot of tasks because I’ve been testing you. I think you could be…”

She trailed off, straightening up and swiveling her ears.

Fireheart tilted his head. “What?”

“…I thought I heard something.” Speckletail squinted to her left, peering into the wall of fog. She slowly took a few steps in that direction, craning her neck forward, her ears working overtime. “Is someone here?”

Fireheart strained to catch any noise, almost squinting a little himself. Now that she mentioned it, there was something like paws shuffling through snow, growing a bit louder by the moment.

“I hear pawsteps,” he said, voice low out of instinct. “Sandstorm and Willowpelt didn’t leave that way, though…”

Speckletail’s eyes narrowed. “There isn’t supposed to be a patrol out here—”

Then she stopped, stiffening. Fireheart looked at her questioningly, going a little stiff himself when she said, “We need to find the others. Come on.” Before he could respond, she whipped around and started off at a run in the direction their Clanmates had gone, the haze swallowing her quickly.

Fireheart hastened after her, but with the fog and her footsteps fading almost immediately, he had to rely on her prints to catch up to her. Pawsteps did grow louder, but they were coming from a different direction—somewhere to Fireheart’s left. They were clunky and heavy, and there only seemed to be one… whatever animal it was, making that noise.

And it was rapidly getting closer.

Fireheart’s run turned into a sprint, just before a shape shot out of the fog and sent him skidding to a halt. He scrambled backwards, back-fur bristling.

It was impossible to tell what it was—tall, far too tall for any animal he’d seen before, and night-black, shaggy tendrils drifting off of its body. A pair of round lights dimly sat in the highest point of whatever this form was, focused directly on Fireheart. It was perfectly silent, and aside from the tendrils shivering a little from its breathing, perfectly still.

For a long moment, Fireheart couldn’t move. He couldn’t even think. He stared at this creature, and the creature stared back, its eyes brightening with interest and hunger. The memory of Swifttail’s story back in the Barn gripped his chest.

A long, pink tongue rolled out of what Fireheart could now guess was its muzzle and licked both sides of its mouth. Barely visible were long, jagged, white teeth, going so far up its head that for a moment Fireheart thought it could split in half just by opening its mouth.

Still staring at him, it started forward.

Terror, he thought. Terror with a mouth like a dog– is this a test?

Another memory of the Barn, this time a phrase he had learned from Barley. Inhaling as much as he could, he barked at the top of his voice, “NO!”

The thing stopped in its tracks, eyes losing some of their pale light. It tilted its head, licking its invisible lips again.

Just as it lifted a paw to take another step, a yowl sounded off and Terror turned its head to be greeted by a lunging Speckletail, her claws out and slashing at its face. It yelped, high and loud, and Fireheart stumbled backwards as Speckletail landed in front of him.

“Run!” she shouted. “Run and hide! Come on!”

Fireheart didn’t need to be told again; he whipped around and sprinted the way he had come, eyes darting left and right, looking for safety. Speckletail panted close behind him, followed by heavy footfalls and an equally heavy, much more monstrous panting from the creature.

“Split up!” Speckletail said, and suddenly her footsteps and breath veered away to the side.

Fireheart kept running, almost in a panic worse than the fire could have done to him, until his eyes caught the black log. Without a second thought, he dove into its innards, pressing himself hard against the deepest corner of the tree.

Wild-eyed, he watched the outside, waiting for the thing to poke its head in and discover him. But all he heard was scrabbling, a shout of alarm, and then snarls, accompanied by a shriek of fear and anger. His heart beating almost too hard for him to stay standing, Fireheart shook violently, fighting to get his body to move and failing.

Come on, he wanted to shout to himself. You weren’t like this during the fire! Speckletail could be hurt right now! Get moving!

But he couldn’t do anything. He tried to force his paws to move and only succeeded in crumpling to the ground.

Shortly, the snarls stopped, and heavy pawsteps galloped out of hearing range. Still, it took a long, long moment for Fireheart to be able to stand, shaking all the while, and poke his head out of the log to see what had happened.

One of the charred trees stood marred by claw-marks, coal-bark splintered off and spread on the ground around its trunk. Below it lay Speckletail, bleeding into the snow, her red life surrounding her and leading off into the dark fog. The beast was gone.

Fireheart’s panic flared again, this time pushing him to race for his deputy and circle around her, nudging and nosing.

“Speckletail!” he whispered, loud as a whisper could be while staying one. “Are you alive?”

Nothing but a ragged wheeze. Speckletail’s front legs were both bent backwards, her neck loose and stretched. Blood oozed out of multiple half-rings all over her body. She smelled oily and like saliva.

Fireheart looked around wildly. He couldn’t shout for help, or it would come back. But he couldn’t run to find someone and leave Speckletail alone.

Desperate and with no better ideas, Fireheart grabbed Speckletail by the scruff and started dragging her backwards in the vague direction of what he dearly hoped were the neutral grounds. Speckletail offered no resistance, nor support. Her breathing went quieter.

“Stay with me,” Fireheart pleaded through his teeth. “We’re getting you help. Just hold on.”

Speckletail wheezed again. Her neck where Fireheart gripped her was oddly soft.

“Just hold on,” Fireheart repeated, dragging as fast as he could. “Keep breathing.”

The search backwards was painfully slow. Fireheart stumbled multiple times, but he never loosened his bite and he refused to pause even for a moment. The snow crunched underneath his paws and a bloody trail dug through the white ground.

All the while, Fireheart tried to encourage Speckletail, even as he struggled to breathe and his limbs started shaking with the effort.

“Stay with me,” he said, over and over. “Keep breathing. Please.”

Speckletail said nothing the entire time. Fireheart kept talking, losing awareness of what he was saying.

An eternity passed before any noise came from behind him. He gingerly lowered Speckletail’s head and neck back to the ground and turned around, praying to every spirit and god he could think of for it to not be Terror again.

He could have cried with relief as Sandstorm and Willowpelt appeared out of the fog, out of breath and with wide, frightened eyes.

“We heard dogs,” Willowpelt said quickly. “What happened?”

Oh, Fireheart thought dimly. It was a dog.

“It attacked us,” he said weakly. “Speckletail got caught while I hid. We need to get her home—maybe to a vet or something, I don’t know, she’s pretty badly beaten up—”

“Fireheart…” Sandstorm went around him, crouched and nosed Speckletail. She looked up at him, morose. “She’s dead.”

Fireheart stared at her. “No, that—”

He used a paw to nudge Speckletail’s head, which loosely rolled back into place. He sniffed her muzzle. Not even the slightest breath.

“No,” he barely managed to get out in a whimper. “She can’t… no, she…”

Something rested on his side. Fireheart jolted as Willowpelt came to stand beside him, her eyes deeply sad and sympathetic. Her tail lifted away from him and she gave him a grieving, but resigned look.

Fireheart couldn’t speak. He could barely breathe.

Sandstorm hung her head, but stood up and sighed. “What now?”

Willowpelt looked at Fireheart, as did Sandstorm. He belatedly realized he had been asked a question, and could barely get an answer out.

“We need to bring her home,” he managed.

The mollies nodded in unison, and Willowpelt joined Sandstorm on the other side of Speckletail’s body. Working together, they hauled her onto Sandstorm’s long back. Fireheart did not pay attention to how he took the lead and began the slow journey back to camp.

They didn’t say a word the entire walk.

[renatogpadilla]

The One Where She Comes Clean.

It took Lux a full 3 seconds to process what she had just heard.

She had wondered, despite her best intentions what could her friend have possibly seen in that harrowing vision that had made her break the way she had...

Losing a daughter would do it.

Isha... Not-Isha kept going.

"She wasn't mine," She sobbed out between tired tears "but... But she was mine, you know...? She came... into my life at my lowest p-point... And for seven m-months... S-seven beautiful months, she... she made it so... so b-bright! My Isha.... my.... my p-perfect, beautiful baby girl!"

She couldn't hold it in any longer. Lux hugged her friend, both of their eyes filled with tears, as she sobbed into her arms.

They didn't know how long they'd stayed like that. It didn't matter. Eventually, the tears stopped... slowly. Her eyes were burning. Everything hurt.

Jinx managed to talk. "I... Listen, Lux. You saved me too. In more ways than one... And I want to be honest with you. If anyone knows, I want it to be you... but...." How do you even start?

"If you're not there yet, I understand. I won't push. When you're ready, I'll be here." Jinx wondered if Lux was this sincere all the time or if she just put on a pretty face for her... Either way, she couldn't have asked for a better friend right now.

"I think I genuinely don't deserve a friend like you." Jinx meant that. She really didn't deserve her.

"Well, suck it up, Firework." Lux had to push that out of her throat. She just told you about her dead daughter and you're trying out nicknames?! "You're stuck with me. And I don't plan on leaving you alone."

"...Firework?" She could not let Lux know how much she actually liked that. She had an image, dammit!

"Hey, you call me 'Flashlight'!" It wasn't a chuckle so much as a sputtered breath that left her mouth, but the feeling came across.

"Okay, fine. That's fair." Something in her still feared telling Lux everything...

She didn't know where to go from here... Lux was staying the night. Should she offer tea? She didn't have cookies or anything. She should have had cookies! What kind of witch didn't have cookies to lure children into the woods with?! She had to step her game up when she stopped feeling so depressed...

"But... If not your birth name" Which was a shame, because Lux found 'Powder' really cute "and not your other name... What do I call you?"

And here she had to take a gamble... In her mind, she was praying to Janna or whatever other spirit could hear that the name of the most wanted criminal in Piltover-Zaun hadn't reached Demacia... Or at least not Lux.

She wanted to be honest. But she had to brace herself first. "I can be... completely truthful with you, right?"

"Always. I'm almost offended you even had to ask!"

"Heh... I know. Listen, Flashlight. There's a part of me that's terrified to tell you."

"...Why?" Oh, did Lux want an answer to that question?

"Because..." Just say it. She took a deep breath. "Because you've told me your story. And I'm afraid that... I'm scared that if I tell you..." You wouldn't come see me anymore? You would hate me?

"You'd have to take the first step for once?" Lux didn't mean for it to be a jab, but she wanted to get out of the depression, by whatever way she could, and this girl needed to get this out.

"I'm afraid that you'd be too... Familiar with me." She could think of no other word to describe it. She was kinda glad she couldn't. "You... Um..."

"Go on, friend." And she said it so sincerely that Jinx felt her heart grow a size... She swore those eyes got bigger the longer they stared at her. "I'm not leaving."

She dared to hope. "You promise...?"

Lux actually stood up from the couch. Jinx could tell she was sore from the fight still, but she didn't let it show. And then she took a knee and put one hand over hers and another over her heart.

"I," she said, and she put the weight of the world into her words "Luxanna Crownguard, swear on my honor as a Noble, as a servant of the Crown of Demacia, on my Knighthood and on my light as a Mage, that I will not desert you. I will not run from who you are. I will not judge or hate you for what you have been through. On our friendship and on the joy you've brought me... Lest I be struck dead by the gods themselves."

Tiny lights floated around them. Lux wanted to make sure she knew she meant business. What a dramatic little lady she'd let in her hut! Welp, she'd done it now... Fuck it.

"Whatever happens now, you asked for it."

Lux just nodded her head and smiled. One more deep breath.

"You know Piltover?" She started. Might as well match her dramatics if she was going to tell her.

"The City of Progress. I've heard of the place, but I've never been..."

"Well, you'll hear a lot of stories about it. About how they have the most beautiful skyline and how their technology is second to none... It's alright. They're good, I guess. But what they won't tell you is that their glorious city sits on top of another. One that breathes the refuse of their engines. The smog of their factories... The dust beneath their boot. This is the city of Zaun. And I used to call it home."

Lux was sitting fully cross-legged on the floor now, looking up at her like she was her favorite teacher... Or like a child, hearing a new story for the first time. Jinx realized she missed being a storyteller. She liked that the theatrics she could weave into stories didn't require several hours of explosive safety prep... Like she'd ever cared about the safety prep!

"And even in this veritable hive of scum and villainy, where the air was thick with smoke and drug lords named 'Chembarons' ran the streets, there was a still a little corner of light: A section of the city, marshalled by a man named Vander. My dad. This place was called The Lanes, and smack dab in the middle of them, there was a quaint little bar called The Last Drop... And in that bar lived Vander and a gang of kids. There were four of us: There was Mylo, Claggor... my sister Violet... 'Vi'. And me. Powder. And we spent our days gathering scrap for dad to sell and keep the bar afloat... Well, at least that's what we thought. Looking back, he probably just gave us that idea so we'd feel important. Petty heists here and there, nothing too crazy. Mylo could pick any lock, Claggor was big and smart, always a step ahead of everyone else and the one who always knew the getaway route... Vi could punch like hell and I had my little gadgets. None of them worked as intended, but I was getting somewhere." She nodded her head at Pow-Pow and Fishbones on the floor. "That's one thing I can proudly say I got much better at."

"Question!" Said Lux. She actually raised her hand, the darling! "If there were just those four of you, then... Where does Ekko come in?"

Leave it to Miss 'Repressed Fairytale Princess' to immediately ask about her crush. Good to know Lux had her priorities straight!

"He hung around on occasion. He was more Benzo's kid than Vander's. He usually tipped us off to jobs the gang and I could pull. He was small and could get in anywhere if you stopped paying attention to him... He did stay with us for some time, learning how to fight with Vi... Dancing to the jukebox with me..." She had to take a moment. "You know, I don't think I ever noticed how much Ekko made me feel like a kid until you made me bring him up." He really had been there the whole time... Looking back, that crush he'd had on her was so incredibly obvious that she should have noticed, kid or not. That boy was smitten!

"Sounds like you were getting there by yourself already."

"I might've been, Flashlight... Anyhow, it was Ekko that tipped us off to the biggest heist of all. Some big-shot academy nerd over at Piltover had gotten his hands on something incredibly valuable, and now we were going to strike it rich..."

She told her about the heist on Jayce's house in detail, and while she did so, it occurred to Jinx in this moment of retrospection, that she had never actually met Jayce Talis!

The Man of Progress himself! The Father of HexTech! She'd just... stolen his marbles (and his sandwich) and ran! He made Vi those overdesigned bitch-mittens and she'd never even seen the guy outside of a couple posters or ostentatious mugs!

She wondered where he was now and if he had made it out of the scuffle with Noxus alive. After all, if he hadn't dabbled with the Arcane, she wouldn't be who she was...

Lux was completely enamoured by the story. The little band of ruffians braving the top of society to put food on the table... It was inspiring! It made her think of the struggle Mages faced now in Demacia. And Powder (she'd call her that for now, until she got a name.) had been a fighter since the beginning! And now what a woman she'd become! She could make gadgets that could bring down demons from actual Hell and explosions that outshined the moon! As far as she was concerned, she could have been anything but chose to live as a witch of the woods for the vibes!

She admired her more with every bit of her story she learned...

Little by little, Jinx told her overenthusiastic Demacian friend how everything had been downhill from the moment they'd robbed Jayce's place. The Piltie Enforcers that had killed her and Vi's biological parents now flooded the underground, looking to make an example of the undercity for what they had finally perceived to be an excuse...

She slowed down on the details after a while... And eventually, she told her about the night the rest told her to stay behind...

"I should have stayed behind... Looking back I notice that Vi was just trying her best to keep me safe. But then, I just wanted to be useful. So I went anyway... And I took a new toy with me. Filled to the brim with those magic marbles we stole. It was my biggest bomb ever. And it was gonna get them all out."

Lux could tell by her tone that it was not gonna go that way. She got up and sat on the couch with her. She'd put some tea on after she got done with this part. If she wasn't in shambles by then.

"I got there to see my friends, my sister and my dad pinned down through a small window. They'd run rampant and clobbered everyone that got in their way... Now it was my turn to help. Well... I set the little bomb through the window and let it walk off into the fray." Jinx had to stop for a moment. Lux could see in her eyes that what happened next would be heavy... Maybe she should do it now.

"Tea, friend?" She offered.

"Yes. Please. A lot. I... I think I'm going to need it..." Fuck, she missed coffee sometimes.

Lux put the kettle on. If you could call that ramshackle mechanical contraption a 'kettle'.

"If you need to stop, I understand."

"I think if I don't get it out now, I never will." Jinx owed her the truth after tonight. "I... Be patient with me? Please?"

"Of course. You don't have to ask."

Careful, Jinx. She's about to make you believe in kindness again...

While the water boiled, Lux sat down next to her friend. She made some little light balls float around them and dance a little. Nothing too crazy... It was nice that she'd managed to control her powers to the point of making little magic lanterns, but she wanted to try something new now. Something simple, for her.

"You know." Lux started "When I blasted that monster today, I felt something I'd never felt before. Like, I connected to light in a way I'd never understood... Like I could almost talk to it."

"Now who's got voices in her head?" Oh, good. Powder was making jokes now! That was great! A bit of the gloom of the night was starting to dissipate at last...

Lux shot her a playful glare and continued. "Anyways, now that I see it in that light, heh, I was wondering what would happen if I just... Asked nicely."

As she said that, she waved her hand in front of one of the little light motes she'd made... And a few seconds later, it slowly changed. From yellow, to green, to a lighter tone. A red... A purple... Until finally, a light, magical blue floated in front of them. Slowly, all the little lights changed, one by one, lighting up the hut in a blue hue that reminded her of her friend's beautiful fireworks.

She turned to look at the not-a-witch... and she saw tear roll down her face.

"It's beautiful, Flashlight." Jinx had had pretty lights lit for her before (albeit more dangerous and rebellious ones) but this was so... soft. So caring and genuinely precious... This was a gift. "I'm proud of you, for what it's worth. And I'm glad you're here."

"It's worth the world, mon ami." She leaned in close to the little sphere of light. "Thank you!" She whispered. And the little lantern glowed a little brighter. Jinx knew it was just Lux making it 'answer', but she still let herself get lost in the magic for a moment...

She drank her tea slowly... Calm your nerves. Eventually, she put her cup down and resumed her story, the new mood lighting actually calming her down a bit more than she thought. "Well, I was right about one thing: That really was the best bomb I'd ever made. So much so that even I didn't expect it to go off so... effectively. The blast sent me flying onto the street... As well as the entire building."

She'd expected, deep down, that a blue glow would make it harder to tell Lux how the bomb she'd used had killed two of her friends and her father, made her sister hate her for a decade and taken down the entire building with gods-know-how-many people still inside, but if anything, it was comforting to see a blue glow that didn't mean somebody wouldn't see tomorrow for once...

As she continued telling Lux what she'd done, she felt a pain growing on her chest. "This is it!" she thought. "If she can still care for you after she finds out you blew up children then she's sticking around for good."

"There were five of us when that explosion went off... but when the smoke cleared, it was just Vi and me." She lamented. Some days she wondered what Mylo and Claggor would have said about the life she'd led. Would they have come with her? Would they have fought against her? Would they have joined Ekko's Firelights and stayed out of it until it was their problem? Whatever the outcome, a part of her would have still cared. She'd always care. That was her own jinx. "I killed them all, Lux. I killed Mylo and Claggor and dad... And when Violet realized what happened, she... she said something. She called me something that would shape who I'd be forever. A name I took for myself the day... the night 'Powder' died. And she did die in that blast. I just didn't know it until my sister told me to my face."

She was too afraid to look at Lux. She wasn't saying anything, so maybe she was trying to process just who she'd been friends with this whole time... Jinx continued before one of them got cold feet.

"Shortly after, she was sent to jail. Pilties needed someone to blame and I was in the wind. My other dad had found me and taken me in after Vi and I fought. A crime lord named 'Silco'. The man who kept the Chembarons in check. He nurtured my curiosity. Kept me safe from the gangs... From myself. He never blamed me for what I'd done. He'd been Vander's friend before everything. I'd killed his friend, and he didn't blame me! Eventually, I grew up to be his number one closer. His little Boogeyman that exploded his enemies. And he had enemies, Lux! After Vander was gone he practically ran The Lanes, if not all of Zaun! He was a force to be reckoned with... And I was the little monster he had to make sure people stayed in line. I spent years killing my way out of facing my trauma, hearing the voices of my dead friends in my head, building my gadgets, blowing people up without a shred of remorse... Seeing my sister's face in the people I gunned down. I hated her, Lux. For years, I thought she'd left me to rot... I didn't know she'd been taken... I didn't know she still loved me. And, to be honest... Outside of Silco trying his best to be a crime lord and a part-time dad... I..." This was something she had never admitted to anyone. People who knew her could see it, of course, but she'd never said it out loud... "I didn't think I could be loved. I didn't think I deserved to be loved." And some days, when things get really rough, I still don't.

Warmth was the first feeling. Like a loving little oven had started microwaving her from the side. And when she turned, Lux was holding her tight. Her hands were glowing. Her face too! Her whole skin, dimly lit, warming up Jinx's body... She hadn't noticed she was cold. Lux just held her. And something about it melted in her heart.

"It wasn't your fault."

Those were the first words that came out of Lux's mouth.

It was words Powder had wanted to hear her entire life.

She held her back. The warmth in her chest felt like a knot that had strangled her soul for ages had finally been undone. She allowed herself to sob as Lux kept talking, and she couldn't see her face, but she knew she was crying too. The lights turned yellow again. Warm and welcoming. Like a hug. Like a home.

"You were a child. You tried to help. You didn't know. It wasn't your fault, Powder. That night, that life, will never be your fault! Okay? And if anyone ever blames you for it, I'll light them up myself!"

And for the first time, she believed it.

Her eyes were dry at this point... She was out of tears. And that was okay. It was her that kissed Lux's cheek this time. She'd never really been known to be tender, but her Flashlight had earned it. She could be soft for one person, she thought. As a treat. For both of us.

They pulled apart.

"Thank you, Flashlight. But... Not 'Powder'." She'd made up her mind now. If anything happened to Lux, she would burn Demacia to the ground. "And... not 'Isha' either."

"Alright then." Lux wiped her eyes and stretched out a hand. She wanted to know everything about this person now. "Hello, miss. I'm Luxanna. It's a pleasure to meet you."

Jinx chuckled. She took her hand in hers. "Believe me, the pleasure is absolutely all mine, Luxanna." And she meant that with her whole heart...

"My name is Jinx."

[taylsluvs]

Drawing Closer ♡

Jungwon x fem!reader

English is not my first language, so sorry if there are any mistakes :(

Warnings: angst, mentions of death, terminal illness,death of a reader. (Sorry) (If I forget something, don't hesitate to tell me)

This story is based on the Japanese Netflix movie "Drawing closer" but here Jungwon is not sick like Akito, mentions the other Enhypen boys and Rei and Wonyoung from Ive, in this universe they are not idols

It was a quiet afternoon, like any other, in the hospital where y/n had spent the past few months. The routine was monotonous: checkups, medication, and long hours staring out the window. Her world had been reduced to the white walls of her room, the beeping of the monitors, and the soft murmur of the nurses in the hallway.

However, that day was different. As she gazed out the window, her mind lost in thought, she saw a group of boys running in the nearby park. They were wearing school uniforms and laughing with such carefree joy that y/n felt a slight pang of nostalgia.

One of the boys immediately caught her attention. He had a bright smile that seemed to light up the place. He ran lightly, as if the whole world were on his side. When the group of boys stopped to rest, he looked up, and to y/n's surprise, he stared directly at her.

Caught off guard, y/n quickly looked away. But when she looked back, she saw him smiling and waving at her. Her heart skipped a beat.

The next day, as she flipped through a book with little interest, someone gently knocked on her door.

"Can I come in?" asked a young, cheerful voice.

When y/n looked up, she saw the boy with the bright smile, holding a small but colorful bouquet of flowers.

"Hi," he said, stepping in cautiously. "I'm Jungwon. Yesterday I saw you from the park, and I thought you might need something to brighten your day."

y/n looked at him in surprise, unsure of what to say. No one outside her family had cared about her in a long time.

"I... thank you," she murmured, feeling her cheeks warm.

Jungwon walked over and placed the flowers in a small vase by her bed. Then, he pulled out a bag of sweets and handed it to her.

"Do you like candy?"

"Yes... but I'm not supposed to eat too many."

"Then we can share them," he replied with a mischievous smile, taking one out of the bag and offering it to her.

y/n couldn't help but laugh.

"Are you always this friendly with strangers?"

"Only with those who seem to need a friend," he answered, sitting in the chair beside her bed.

That was the beginning of something y/n hadn’t expected. Jungwon stayed talking with her for hours, asking simple yet important questions: what her favorite color was, if she had a song she liked, how she spent her time in the hospital. At first, y/n answered shyly, but his enthusiasm was contagious, and soon she began to speak with more confidence.

Before leaving, Jungwon promised to return.

"I’ll see you tomorrow, okay?"

y/n nodded, feeling something she hadn’t felt in a long time: excitement for the next day.

That night, as she looked at the flowers he had left, a small spark of hope ignited in her heart.

The next day, just as he had promised, Jungwon appeared at the door of y/n's room, this time with a book under his arm and a smile as bright as the one from the day before.

"Hello, y/n! How are you today?"

She looked up from the notebook where she had been doodling. Although she wouldn’t admit it, she had been waiting for him.

"Better, I guess," she replied, trying not to show too much emotion.

Jungwon walked in confidently and sat in the same chair by her bed, placing the book on the table.

"I brought this. It’s a short story book, I thought we could read it together. Some are funny, others a little sad, but they’re interesting."

y/n took the book carefully and read the title quietly.

"Why are you doing this? You barely know me."

Jungwon shrugged, as if it were the most normal thing in the world.

"Why not? You seemed interesting, and besides, I don’t think anyone should spend so much time alone."

Jungwon’s words touched something inside y/n, a wound she had tried to ignore for months. She lowered her gaze to the book, playing with the corner of the pages.

"I don’t have friends... I’ve never had any."

Jungwon stayed silent for a moment, watching her. Then, with a soft but determined tone, he responded:

"Well, now you have one."

y/n looked up, surprised.

"What?"

"Me. I’ll be your friend," he said with a smile so warm that it made y/n feel a lump in her throat.

She tried to say something, but no words came out. Instead, she nodded shyly, and a small smile appeared on her lips.

From that day on, Jungwon became a constant part of y/n’s life. Every day after school, he would come to the hospital with something new: a book, flowers, a game on his phone, or simply stories about what had happened in class.

He told her about his friends: Heeseung, who was the most talented in sports; Jay, who had a great sense of humor and always found ways to get into trouble; Jake, with his sweet and cheerful personality; Sunghoon, who was more reserved but incredibly kind; Sunoo, who always made everyone laugh; and Niki, the youngest but also the most energetic of the group.

"They’re like my brothers," he explained one day, showing her a group photo on his phone. "I’m sure you’d get along with them."

"I don’t know... I’m not good with people," y/n admitted, playing with the edge of her blanket.

"That doesn’t matter. They’ll love you because you’re you, just like I love you as you are."

y/n looked at him, surprised by the sincerity in his voice. It was hard not to believe him when he said it with such conviction.

With each visit, Jungwon managed to pull y/n out of the bubble of loneliness she had been trapped in. He taught her to play video games, introduced her to songs he listened to with his friends, and even tried teaching her some dance moves while she laughed from her bed.

One day, while they were in the middle of one of those fun moments, Jungwon asked her an unexpected question.

"Do you have a dream, something you’ve always wanted to do?"

y/n paused, thinking. She had had dreams once, but her illness had extinguished them one by one.

"I think... I’ve always wanted to feel like part of something," she said finally, in a soft voice. "I don’t know how to explain it, but I want to know what it’s like to have a group of people who accept me, who care about me."

Jungwon looked at her seriously, nodding as if he were planning something in his mind.

"Then I’ll make that happen. I promise I’ll make it happen."

y/n didn’t understand what he meant, but the confidence in his voice made her feel that, maybe, it was possible.

That day, as Jungwon left the room, y/n looked at the fresh bouquet of flowers he had left in the vase. For the first time in a long time, she realized that she didn’t feel alone.

A week later, Jungwon arrived at y/n’s room more excited than usual. He had a big smile on his face and was holding a bag with a female school uniform.

"y/n! This weekend is the festival at my school, and I already spoke with your doctors. They said you can go out for a while if you take care of yourself."

y/n looked up, surprised.

"A festival?"

"Yeah, it’s super fun. There are food stalls, games, music, and at the end, fireworks. I want you to come with me."

y/n hesitated. Her health had been fragile lately, and although the doctors had approved the outing, she still felt scared.

"I don’t know... What if I don’t fit in?"

Jungwon knelt down to her height and gently took her hands.

"I already told you, my friends will love you, y/n. Plus, you don’t have to worry. I’ll be with you the whole time."

The sparkle in his eyes and the warmth of his voice finally convinced her.

The day of the festival arrived, and Jungwon showed up with a wheelchair decorated with colorful ribbons.

"If we’re going out, we’re doing it in style," he joked as he helped y/n sit down.

She couldn’t help but laugh. Although she still felt a little nervous, Jungwon’s presence made her feel at ease.

When they arrived at the school, the place was full of life. The laughter and chatter of the students created a festive atmosphere, and the smell of street food filled the air.

"Jungwon!" shouted a voice from a distance.

A group of boys ran up to them. y/n recognized some of them from the photos Jungwon had shown her: Heeseung, Jay, Jake, Sunghoon, Sunoo, and Niki.

"She must be y/n!" exclaimed Sunoo with a big smile.

"Finally meeting the famous friend of Jungwon," joked Jay, winking at her.

The boys introduced themselves one by one, each one warmer and more welcoming than the last. Despite her shyness, y/n began to feel comfortable.

"Ah, there are Rei and Wonyoung!" said Jake, pointing to two girls near a game stall.

Jungwon pushed y/n’s wheelchair toward them, introducing them enthusiastically. Rei was a girl with dark hair and bright eyes, while Wonyoung had a sweet smile and a charming air.

"Hi, y/n. Jungwon has told us a lot about you," Rei said kindly.

As the group chatted, y/n couldn’t help but notice how beautiful Rei was. There was something about her confidence and charisma that made it hard not to admire her.

Later, when Jungwon and y/n were alone in a quiet corner, she dared to mention what she was thinking.

"Rei is really beautiful. I think she would be a great match for you."

Jungwon stopped in his tracks, surprised by her words. Then he shook his head with a soft smile.

"Rei is a great friend, but no. I’m not interested in her."

"Why not? She’s perfect."

Jungwon leaned slightly toward her, his expression serious but tender.

"Because there’s already someone I like."

y/n’s heart skipped a beat.

"Really?"

"Yeah," he said, looking directly into her eyes. "And that person is right in front of me."

y/n was speechless, feeling her face flush with heat. Jungwon, noticing her nervousness, just smiled and gave her a light tap on the shoulder.

"Come on, there’s still a lot to see."

The night of the festival went on, and the energy in the air grew more magical with every passing moment. Jungwon’s friends and y/n had been touring the stalls, laughing, and sharing stories. y/n, although she had been shy at first, was feeling incredibly comfortable with the group. The guys were fun and kind, and Rei and Wonyoung had been a constant support, making sure to include her in everything.

Finally, the most anticipated moment arrived: the fireworks. The crowd began gathering in the open field behind the school, looking for the best spots to watch the show.

"y/n, come with me," Jungwon said, taking the handles of her wheelchair and moving it a little further ahead, away from the group.

"Why here?" she asked, looking around.

"Because I want you to have the best view," he replied with a smile.

They stopped in a quiet spot, where the lantern lights barely reached. They were close enough to the others to hear their laughter, but far enough to feel like they were in their own world.

The sky suddenly lit up with bursts of color, and y/n looked up, mesmerized.

"It’s beautiful," she murmured, almost without realizing it.

Jungwon, however, wasn’t looking at the fireworks. His eyes were fixed on her, watching the way the light danced across her face, how her eyes sparkled with awe.

"Yeah, it is," he responded, though he wasn’t talking about the sky.

y/n turned to him and noticed that he was staring at her. Her heart began to race.

"What’s wrong?" she asked, nervous.

Jungwon didn’t respond immediately. Instead, he leaned a little closer to her, keeping his gaze fixed on hers.

"Can I kiss you?" he asked softly, almost like a whisper.

y/n felt her face flush. She had never been kissed before, and she wasn’t sure what to do. But there was also something in the way Jungwon looked at her that made her feel safe, like this moment was just for them.

"I... I’ve never kissed anyone," she confessed, looking down at her hands.

Jungwon smiled gently.

"Me neither," he admitted.

She looked up, surprised.

"Really?"

"Really. But I think this is the perfect moment to learn, don’t you think?"

y/n nodded shyly, and Jungwon leaned in even closer, stopping just before their lips touched, as if giving her a chance to change her mind.

When their lips finally met, it was a short, shy kiss, but full of tenderness. They quickly pulled apart, their faces as red as tomatoes, and started laughing nervously.

"That was... nice," y/n said, still feeling the warmth on her cheeks.

"Yeah, it was nice," Jungwon replied, smiling like a fool.

Behind them, Jungwon’s friends had seen the moment from a distance. No one said anything out loud, but they exchanged knowing glances and shared smiles.

"It was about time," Sunoo whispered, laughing quietly.

After the fireworks ended, the whole group gathered to take a picture. Heeseung insisted on taking it, making sure everyone was in the shot. Jungwon stood behind y/n’s chair, leaning slightly toward her, while Rei and Wonyoung stood next to her, hugging her warmly.

"One more, to make sure!" shouted Jay, as the camera captured another picture filled with smiles.

When the night came to an end, Jungwon took y/n back toward the entrance of the festival. As they said goodbye to the others, Rei and Wonyoung ran toward her, excitement on their faces.

"y/n!" Wonyoung exclaimed, taking her hands. "We really like you, you know? Now we’re officially best friends."

"Yeah!" added Rei. "When you get a phone, you have to message us every day."

"And we have to listen to and dance to K-pop together," continued Wonyoung, excited. "There are so many things we can do, even in the hospital."

"We’ll always visit you," promised Rei, smiling sincerely.

y/n couldn’t help but smile. For the first time in a long while, she felt like she belonged somewhere, that she had a group of people who really cared about her.

"Thank you, really," she said, her voice trembling with emotion.

Rei and Wonyoung gave her one last hug before saying goodbye, and y/n watched as they ran off, still chatting together.

That night, as Jungwon took her back to the hospital, y/n realized just how happy she was. Her heart was full of gratitude, both for Jungwon and for the friendships she had found thanks to him.

For the first time, she felt like life, although complicated, could still be beautiful.

The day after the festival, y/n was lying in her hospital bed, still smiling from the magic of the night before. Her mind replayed the happy moments: the kiss under the fireworks, the laughter with Jungwon’s friends, and the friendship promises from Rei and Wonyoung. She was lost in her thoughts when she heard hurried footsteps and familiar voices in the hallway.

"I think it was this way!" Wonyoung said, a little out of breath.

"No, we passed it, didn’t you see the sign?" Rei replied, sighing.

"You two are lost again!" Jungwon joked, sitting in a chair next to y/n’s bed.

Suddenly, Rei and Wonyoung burst into the room, slightly out of breath but with huge smiles on their faces. Both were carrying bags full of things and seemed ready for an important mission.

"We’re here!" Wonyoung yelled, waving a bag in the air.

"You took your time, don’t you think?" Jungwon said, smiling playfully.

Rei frowned, though she was clearly joking.

"Late or not, it’s girls' night. So… Jungwon, out!"

"What? But—"

"No buts!" Wonyoung exclaimed, gently pushing him toward the door. "Today is just for the three of us."

Jungwon looked at y/n, who was laughing uncontrollably at the scene. Though he hesitated to leave her alone, the happiness on her face convinced him.

"Okay, okay, I’m going," he said, raising his hands in surrender. Before leaving, he leaned in a little toward y/n and whispered, "Have fun, okay?"

y/n nodded excitedly, and Jungwon left, leaving the three girls alone.

"Finally! Now the fun begins," Rei announced, dropping the bags on the floor.

Wonyoung pulled out a box with a shiny pink iPhone and handed it to y/n.

"This is for you."

y/n blinked, surprised.

"What? I can’t accept this, it’s too much..."

"Of course you can," Wonyoung interrupted with a smile. "My dad has a tech company. This is nothing for him, and you need it."

Rei nodded, supporting her friend.

"Plus, how are we going to gossip with you if you don’t have a phone?"

With trembling hands, y/n took the phone, excited but a bit overwhelmed by the gesture.

"Thank you, really..."

"Don’t thank us too much, there’s more," Rei said, pulling out makeup, cute clothes, and even silly wigs from the bags. They had also brought food that they knew y/n could eat, like small cakes and fruit drinks.

The girls began setting everything up. While Wonyoung showed y/n how to use her new phone and create an Instagram account, Rei took out the makeup and discussed what look would be best for her.

"We’re going to do a simple but cute makeup, so you look like an idol," Rei said, determined.

"Me? An idol?" y/n asked, laughing.

"Of course. From now on, you’re part of our group, so we need to make you look spectacular," Wonyoung replied while showing her how to take photos for her profile.

When they finished doing her makeup, Rei and Wonyoung put on the clothes they had brought and ridiculous wigs, one blue and the other a crazy blonde. They turned on K-pop music on y/n’s phone and started dancing as if they were giving a live concert.

"This is our debut as a group!" Wonyoung shouted while Rei did an exaggerated choreography.

y/n couldn’t stop laughing as she watched them move around the room, filling the space with laughter and energy. Suddenly, the two girls came up to her, took her hands, and started moving them as if she were dancing too.

"y/n is leading the group!" Rei announced while they all laughed.

After dancing, they took lots of pictures, some cute and some completely hilarious. One of y/n’s favorites was one where the three of them wore the wigs, making silly poses in front of the mirror.

In a quiet moment, while they were looking at the photos, y/n began to cry silently. Rei and Wonyoung noticed immediately.

"What’s wrong, y/n?" Rei asked, approaching with concern.

"It’s just that... I’m so happy. I never thought I’d have friends like you."

Wonyoung hugged her tightly while Rei stroked her hair.

"We’ll always be here for you, y/n. No matter what happens, we’re a team," Wonyoung said seriously.

"Exactly. And not only that. You’re going to recover because you have to. We still have so much to do together," added Rei.

"Like what?" y/n asked, smiling through her tears.

"Like winning an award for best K-pop group, obviously," Rei joked, making them all laugh again.

"We already have a name, remember?" Wonyoung said.

"Of course," Rei said. "The Star Girls."

"I love it," y/n whispered, feeling happier than she had in years.

That afternoon, as Rei and Wonyoung left the hospital, y/n stayed looking at the photos on her phone, smiling. Though her body was weak, her heart was fuller than ever thanks to the friendships she had found.

A week after the unforgettable girls' afternoon, Jungwon arrived at the hospital with exciting news. He and his friends had planned a small beach trip, something simple but special, to spend time together. He had spoken with the doctors and Y/N's parents, who agreed to the idea as long as she didn't exert herself too much.

"The beach?" Y/N asked, her eyes wide. "I've never been to the beach."

Jungwon smiled, taking her hands in his.

"Then it will be your first time. I promise it will be unforgettable."

Y/N, excited, started telling Jungwon about everything that had happened with Rei and Wonyoung. She showed him the photos they had taken together, including the ones with wigs and funny poses.

"They look so happy," Jungwon commented, looking at the pictures with a soft smile.

"I am. I never thought I would have friends like them... and friends like you," Y/N added, looking at him with gratitude.

Jungwon looked away for a moment, a bit embarrassed, but he couldn't hide his happiness.

When the day of the trip arrived, Y/N was ready, her face glowing with a radiant smile. Jungwon arrived early at the hospital to pick her up, making sure everything was ready. He had a backpack with blankets and special food for her, prepared by Y/N's parents.

The drive to the beach was lively, filled with laughter and conversation. Rei, Wonyoung, and Jungwon's friends—Heeseung, Jay, Jake, Sunghoon, Sunoo, and Niki—were also there, ready to have an unforgettable day.

When they arrived, Y/N was speechless. The view of the endless ocean, with the waves gently crashing on the shore, was more beautiful than she had imagined.

"It's incredible," she murmured, her eyes shining.

Jungwon helped her out of the car and placed her in her wheelchair, pushing her toward the shore. Rei and Wonyoung were running on the sand, excited, while the guys set up an umbrella and started getting the food out.

The group spent the afternoon laughing and playing. They ate together on a blanket spread out on the sand, sharing stories and joking with one another. Jungwon stayed close to Y/N, making sure she was comfortable and happy.

"Are you having fun?" he asked her, offering her a small piece of watermelon.

"A lot. I never thought I'd see something so beautiful... or have friends like this," she replied, smiling at the group.

Before the sun began to set, the guys decided to get in the water, not caring that they didn't have swimsuits. Heeseung and Jake were the first to get wet, and soon everyone was splashing each other, laughing.

Y/N watched from the shore, feeling a mix of happiness and nostalgia. She wanted to join them, but she knew she couldn't. Her body was too weak.

Jungwon, noticing her expression, quickly returned to her side.

"Do you want to go in?" he asked.

"I want to, but... I can't."

Jungwon knelt next to her chair and took her hand.

"Then we'll stay here. No matter what happens, I'll always be with you."

Y/N smiled shyly, and Jungwon helped her get out of the chair. They sat together on a blanket, watching the horizon. The sky began to turn shades of orange and pink as the sun slowly sank into the ocean.

"It's cold, huh?" Jungwon said, pulling a blanket from his backpack and covering both of them.

Y/N nodded, leaning slightly against his shoulder. The moment was perfect, peaceful, as if the world had disappeared, leaving just the two of them.

After a while, Y/N broke the silence.

"Jungwon... there's something I want to tell you."

He looked at her, noticing the change in her tone.

"What’s wrong?"

Y/N took a deep breath, gathering the courage she needed.

"I never told you because I didn't want you to treat me differently... but I have a terminal illness."

Jungwon looked at her intently, his face filled with concern.

"What kind of illness?"

"It’s a condition that weakens my heart. The doctors say that, at any moment, I could...—" her voice broke, and tears began to roll down her cheeks. "I could die."

Jungwon felt a knot in his stomach, but he didn’t let his own feelings take over. Instead, he wrapped Y/N in a hug, resting his chin on her hair.

"Thank you for telling me," he whispered. "But you don't have to face this alone. I'm here, and I always will be."

Y/N cried quietly against his chest, feeling the warmth of his embrace. Jungwon gently pulled back to look into her eyes, wiping the tears from her face with tenderness.

"You're stronger than you think, Y/N. And even though it hurts to know you're going through this, I won't let you face it without someone who loves and supports you."

Carefully, he kissed her on the cheek, followed by a soft kiss on the lips, so tender and full of affection that Y/N felt her heart fill with love.

When they returned to the group, everyone gathered for one last photo together. Y/N, despite everything, smiled sincerely, surrounded by the people who had become her family.

That night, as they drove home, Y/N knew that this day would be forever etched in her memory as one of the happiest days of her life.

After their day at the beach, Y/N began to reflect deeply on her life and what she truly wanted to do with the time she had left. She knew she couldn’t change her fate, but she could choose how to face the days ahead. Inspired by the love of Jungwon, her friends, and the beautiful memories she was creating, she decided to live life to the fullest, without regrets.

However, she also made the decision not to tell Jungwon that her time was limited. She didn’t want him to be sad or worried. She wanted him to remember her as someone happy and full of life, not as someone losing the battle.

One afternoon, while Jungwon visited her at the hospital, she took his hand and looked at him with determination.

"I want to do many things with you, Jungwon. I want to live every moment as if it were the last."

He looked at her, surprised, but nodded with a smile.

"We'll do everything you want, Y/N. I promise."

The next day, Jungwon organized a small outing to the park with his friends and the girls, Rei and Wonyoung. Y/N was in her wheelchair, but that didn’t stop her from enjoying the sun, the trees, and the sound of the birds.

"Let’s have a picnic!" Sunoo announced, pulling out a blanket and food.

As they ate, Heeseung and Niki began playing a guessing game that made everyone laugh. Rei and Wonyoung taught Y/N how to edit the photos they were taking together, showing her filters and effects that made her laugh.

Later, Jungwon took Y/N to a quiet corner of the park. He had prepared a surprise: a new sketchbook and a set of colored pencils.

"For you to keep drawing, like you did at the hospital," he said, smiling.

Y/N felt tears welling up in her eyes, but she held them back.

"Thank you, Jungwon. You always think of everything."

She began to draw while he sat beside her, watching her with tenderness. She drew a tree with flowers falling, and in the center, two small figures holding hands: them.

A few days later, Rei and Wonyoung came with exciting news. They had gotten tickets to a K-pop concert and wanted Y/N to go with them. Although Jungwon was a bit worried, the doctors and Y/N’s parents gave their approval, as long as they took precautions.

On the day of the concert, Rei and Wonyoung helped Y/N get dressed in cute clothes and a bit of makeup. Jungwon accompanied them, making sure everything was okay.

When they arrived at the stadium, Y/N was amazed by the energy of the place. The lights, the music, and the fans’ screams were unlike anything she had ever experienced. During the concert, Y/N sang and moved her hands to the rhythm of the songs, feeling more alive than ever.

At one point, Jungwon leaned toward her and whispered:

"Your smile is brighter than all these lights."

Y/N felt her heart beat loudly, not because of her illness, but because of the love she felt for him.

Jungwon and Y/N began spending more time together. Sometimes, they would go to small cafés where Y/N tried desserts she had never had before. Other times, they would simply stroll through the park or watch movies together in the hospital, sharing laughter and deep conversations.

One night, Jungwon took her to a special place: a hill where they could see the stars clearly. He brought a blanket and a thermos of hot chocolate, making sure she was comfortable.

"Did you know there’s a star for every person in the world?" Jungwon asked, looking at the sky.

"Really?" Y/N replied, amazed.

"Yes. And if I could choose one for you, it would be the brightest of them all."

Y/N blushed and smiled, feeling more grateful than ever to have Jungwon by her side.

Although Y/N tried to stay strong, she knew her body was getting weaker. She decided not to worry anyone and continue enjoying every moment, even though she felt the end was near. One night, while she was alone in her room, she wrote several letters for Jungwon and began to draw what she loved most: the moments she had shared with him.

Each drawing was special: one of Jungwon smiling, another from the festival, another from the beach, and one more of the fireworks, where two figures were kissing.

In one of her letters, she wrote:

"Jungwon, thank you for showing me what it is to love and be loved. Thank you for every smile, every laugh, and every moment we spent together. Although my time was short, with you it felt eternal. You will always be my brightest star."

Y/N's days grew increasingly difficult. Her body was weaker, her skin paler, and her eyes were tired. She had lost a lot of weight, and even the simplest activities, like getting out of bed or talking for long periods, took a lot of effort. However, her spirit remained strong. Every time Jungwon or her friends came to visit, she gave them a smile, as if she wanted them to remember only the best of her.

Jungwon didn’t stop visiting her for a single day. He spent hours by her side, reading her books, showing her funny videos on his phone, or simply holding her hand while they both gazed out the window. Although he tried not to show it, he was devastated to see her like this. Every time he left the hospital, tears escaped his eyes, but he always promised himself not to cry in front of her.

One day, while Rei and Wonyoung were with Jungwon at the hospital café, they came up with an idea: to celebrate Y/N’s birthday. Her 16th birthday was approaching, and they wanted to make sure it was special, even if she couldn’t go out.

“She deserves the best birthday,” Wonyoung said determinedly, while Rei nodded.

“We’ll bring balloons, gifts, cake... everything we can to make her happy,” added Rei, excited.

The boys also joined in the plan. Heeseung, Jay, Jake, Sunghoon, Sunoo, and Niki were in charge of buying balloons and confetti, while the girls picked out a cake and gifts. Jungwon, on his part, prepared something special: a necklace with a small star-shaped pendant.

When Y/N’s 16th birthday arrived, her hospital room was filled with life. Pink balloons decorated every corner, confetti was scattered across the bed and floor, and a pink chocolate cake sat in the center of the table, surrounded by gifts.

When Jungwon and the others entered the room, singing "Las Mañanitas" enthusiastically, Y/N was lying in her bed, weaker than ever, but with a smile that lit up her face.

“Happy birthday, Y/N!” they all shouted in unison, while Wonyoung and Rei approached to hug her gently.

“I can’t believe you did all this for me,” Y/N murmured, her eyes shining with tears.

“Of course we did. You’re our friend!” Rei said with a smile.

“And you’ll always be the star of our group,” Wonyoung added, winking at her.

Jungwon slowly approached and took her hand, kneeling by her bed.

“How do you feel, birthday girl?”

“Tired... but happy,” she replied, looking at him with tenderness.

Everyone sat around the bed as Sunoo lit the candles on the cake.

“Make a wish, Y/N,” Jake said, smiling.

Y/N closed her eyes for a moment, silently wishing: I want everyone I love to be happy, even when I’m no longer here.

Then, with Jungwon’s help, she blew out the candles, and everyone clapped.

After the cake, the friends began giving their gifts. Wonyoung and Rei gave her a makeup set and a new wig, while Heeseung and Sunghoon gave her a collection of postcards with beautiful landscapes. Niki gave her a large stuffed animal, and Jay and Jake brought an empty photo album for her to fill with memories.

Finally, Jungwon approached and took out a small velvet box.

“This is for you,” he said softly, opening the box to reveal the necklace with the star pendant.

Y/N looked at him, surprised, as he bent down to carefully put it on her.

“You’re my brightest star, Y/N. I want you to always remember that.”

Tears rolled down Y/N’s cheeks, but this time, they weren’t tears of sadness.

“Thank you, Jungwon. Thank you for everything.”

Although Y/N couldn’t move much, her friends made the afternoon unforgettable. Rei and Wonyoung began dancing a K-pop choreography in front of the bed, making everyone laugh. Sunoo and Niki tried to imitate them but ended up stumbling, causing the group to burst into laughter.

Y/N watched everything from her bed, feeling full of love. For a moment, she forgot her illness, forgot the pain, and simply enjoyed the happiness around her.

When the afternoon ended, her friends said their goodbyes one by one, promising to visit her again soon. Jungwon was the last to leave, and before he left, he leaned in to give her a gentle kiss on the forehead.

“Happy birthday, Y/N. You’re incredibly special to all of us.”

Y/N watched him leave, feeling that her heart was full of gratitude and love. She had turned 16 surrounded by the people she loved most, and that was all she could ask for.

When Jungwon arrived home after the birthday party, he felt a mix of happiness and exhaustion. His mind kept replaying the images of the celebration: y/n smiling with everyone, surrounded by friends who loved her, and him by her side, feeling a unique connection with her.

As he entered his room, he grabbed his phone. The first thing he saw was an Instagram notification: y/n had posted a new photo. Jungwon smiled when he saw the picture she had posted of the whole group celebrating her birthday. Everyone was smiling, and y/n, though a bit pale and weak, looked radiant, surrounded by love.

But what really caught his attention was the second photo. It was a selfie of y/n and him, taken during the calmest moment of the afternoon, when they both sat together, wrapped in a blanket while watching the sunset. The photo was accompanied by a message:

"I love you so much, Jungwon. You're the reason I keep smiling. Thank you for being my star. 💖"

Jungwon's heart raced as he read her words. Though his face showed a happy smile, he couldn't help but feel emotional. y/n's love for him was pure, sincere, and even in the midst of her illness, she never stopped showing it.

He decided the perfect response would be to leave her a comment full of love:

"I love you more, y/n. Thank you for being the light of my life. 💫"

After doing this, he put his phone in his pocket, thinking about how lucky he felt. Not only did he have y/n by his side, but he had found something deeper than any other relationship he had ever had in his life.

That night, Jungwon had dinner with his parents, as usual. But this time, the conversation took an unexpected turn. As his mother asked him about his day, his father, as usual, was more serious and direct.

"How was your friend's birthday, Jungwon?" his father asked, though with a slight grimace showing some disinterest.

Jungwon, smiling, responded enthusiastically:

"It was amazing, dad. We were all so happy, and y/n looked radiant."

But then, his mother's expression changed.

"It's good that you take care of her, son, but... don't you think it's a little complicated?" his mother said with a tone that seemed somewhat distant to Jungwon.

"What do you mean?" he asked, confused.

"I mean... she's so sick. She doesn't have much time, Jungwon. Don't you think you're getting into something that might hurt you?" his father said, his words falling like cold rain on him.

"But..." Jungwon started to say, not knowing how to respond, feeling a knot in his chest.

"She's a burden, son. You know how it is... someone who's so sick can't be in a real relationship, not now," his mother continued, her tone filled with concern but also something that Jungwon couldn't identify as anything other than disapproval.

His father's words struck his mind, and his breath quickened. Something inside him ignited, a flame of defense that he couldn't extinguish.

"She's not a burden!" he replied, raising his voice, surprising his parents with his firm tone. "y/n is not a burden. She's my life. And I won't leave her for anything in the world, even if they tell me it's not the 'right' thing to do."

His parents looked at him, surprised. His father frowned.

"Jungwon, it's just... she's so sick. Why stay with someone like that? She's going to leave you soon."

"I don't want her to leave, but that doesn't mean she's a burden!" Jungwon stood up from the table, anger about to burst. "y/n makes me happy. She's the best thing that's ever happened to me, and the one I love most in this world. I won't leave her, no matter what happens. She's not strange or a burden. She's my love. And she always will be."

His mother fell silent, while his father gave him a disapproving look. Jungwon was about to continue, but when he saw his mother's sad expression, something inside him softened.

"I'm sorry, mom, dad, but I have to do what I feel. And what I feel is that y/n is the most important thing in my life right now."

With that, Jungwon left the room, leaving behind a tense atmosphere. He headed to his room, where, once alone, he let out a deep breath. He had defended y/n, but the conversation with his parents had left him exhausted.

He looked at his phone again and the photo of y/n. In that moment, he knew he wouldn't let anyone, not even his parents, tell him what he should feel or do. If his love for y/n was something he had to follow, he would do it no matter the circumstances.

The day was cloudy, and the fresh air filled the atmosphere of the hospital. Jungwon arrived with a shy smile, as he always did, but today there was something different in his gaze. Today, something more important than his friendship with y/n was about to take place. y/n's breathing had become more difficult with each passing moment, but still, her heart kept beating strongly for Jungwon, and she couldn't stop smiling as she saw him enter. Even though her body no longer responded with the same vitality, her spirit remained intact, and he was the reason.

Jungwon entered the room and approached her with a tender gesture. He was holding a small box in his hands, something simple but meaningful. He sat beside the bed, and for a moment, they just looked at each other in silence, as if words were unnecessary.

"y/n..." he said softly, taking her hand. His voice was so warm and sincere that it made the air between them feel lighter.

y/n tried to smile, but her breathing grew slower and more labored. Her eyes sparkled with emotion, but her words no longer came as easily. Her lips moved with difficulty, but Jungwon looked at her with a deep understanding. He knew their time together would not be long, but what he felt for her had no limits; it knew no time.

"I love you..." she said with difficulty, her voice weak but filled with love.

When Jungwon heard her, he squeezed her hand a little tighter, feeling the knot in his chest tighten. He couldn't wait any longer; he didn’t want to wait any longer. He wasn't afraid because what he felt for y/n was bigger than any fear of losing her. Life was uncertain, but his love for her was not.

"y/n..." he said with a gentle smile but filled with emotions. "I've been thinking a lot, and I don't want another moment to pass without you knowing how important you are to me. You're my everything, you know that, right?"

y/n tried to respond, but her strength wasn’t the same. Still, her face lit up with a look of happiness. She showed him that she understood everything with a gaze that said more than a thousand words.

"I... I want..." Jungwon hesitated a bit, but when he saw y/n’s eyes, he found the courage. "I want you to be my girlfriend, y/n. Despite everything, I want you to be with me, now and always. Will you be my girlfriend?"

y/n tried to speak, but the words didn’t come easily. However, her radiant face and eyes full of love were enough for Jungwon to know that her answer was yes. y/n’s smile, although weak, was the most beautiful one Jungwon had ever seen. Her eyes sparkled with tears of happiness.

Breathlessly, y/n finally managed to say:

"Yes... yes... I want... to be your girlfriend... Jungwon..."

Jungwon, his heart racing, looked at her intently. Emotion completely enveloped him. The simple fact that y/n accepted, even in her situation, was a gift—something so big that he couldn’t describe it in words.

He leaned toward her carefully, so as not to hurt her. Gently, he kissed her forehead, then her cheek, in a gesture of pure and sincere love. He kissed her softly, without rushing, giving her all his affection in that small but meaningful gesture.

"Thank you..." he whispered, unable to stop a tear from sliding down his cheek. "I love you, y/n. I always will."

And even though she couldn’t speak much, y/n smiled with her eyes, with that special light she always had when she was with him. Despite all the pain she felt, her heart beat stronger than ever. Because she knew that in her final moments, she had found the purest love, the love she had always dreamed of.

That day, Jungwon and y/n shared a connection that transcended words, one that only true love could understand. They looked at each other, smiled, and in that silence, they both knew that what they had was something eternal.

The days passed slowly in the hospital, and although y/n’s health was deteriorating, her love for Jungwon remained alive, as strong as ever. Jungwon, for his part, stayed by her side day after day, doing everything he could to make her feel special, despite the difficulties. They had shared many moments together, but now, in the calm of the hospital, there was a sense of urgency to make the most of every instant, to create memories that could last beyond the physical.

One peaceful afternoon, after the doctors gave her a little rest, Jungwon entered y/n’s room with a small box in his hands. y/n, though weaker than ever, lifted her gaze when she saw him enter, and her eyes sparkled with an indescribable tenderness. Despite everything that was happening, she had never stopped smiling when she saw him. Her love for him was so great that not even the illness could extinguish it.

"What’s that?" y/n asked, her voice hoarse but full of curiosity. She knew Jungwon always surprised her with small but meaningful gestures.

Jungwon approached y/n’s bed with a shy smile and a glimmer in his eyes. He opened the box and took out two bracelets, one with white beads and the other with pink beads. The bracelets were simple, but to him, they meant much more than just an accessory.

"These are for us," Jungwon said, looking at y/n with a soft expression but full of emotion. "I want us to each wear one as a symbol that we’ll always be together, no matter what happens."

y/n, although she didn’t have much strength, weakly lifted her hand to see the bracelets. Her eyes filled with tears as she saw how thoughtful and tender Jungwon was with her. Although she couldn’t move much, her feelings hadn’t changed one bit. She loved Jungwon deeply, and now he was giving her a piece of his heart through this small gesture.

"It’s... beautiful," y/n said with a broken voice, smiling as tears fell down her face.

Jungwon, carefully, took one of the bracelets and gently put it on y/n’s wrist. Then, he put the other on his own wrist. The bracelets fit perfectly, as if they were made just for them.

"Now we’ll always be connected, no matter what," Jungwon said, looking at y/n with a mix of tenderness and sadness. "Every time you look at your bracelet, you’ll know that I’m wearing one just like it."

y/n nodded slowly, her eyes shining with gratitude and love. Although she was already very weak, she felt that this small gesture from Jungwon kept her alive in some way. She took her wrist with the bracelet in her hands and gently caressed it.

"I’ll always carry you in my heart, Jungwon," she said, speaking haltingly, but her voice full of emotion.

Jungwon leaned toward her, kissing her forehead softly. He felt a strange peace knowing that, even in the hardest moments, he could make her happy with small gestures. He wasn’t afraid to show what he felt, and now, more than ever, he wanted y/n to know how much he loved her.

In those quiet moments in the hospital, they shared more than just bracelets. They shared looks filled with love, soft caresses, and silent promises that, even though the future was uncertain, they would always have each other, no matter what.

And even though y/n’s body was fragile and her breathing labored, the bond between them had never been stronger. They both knew that what they had was more than just a relationship; it was a connection that transcended time, one that didn’t need words to be understood.

The room was completely silent, only interrupted by the faint hum of the medical machines. y/n lay in her bed, wrapped in a white blanket that contrasted with her pale skin. In her hands, she held her phone, gazing at the photos of the happiest moments she had shared with her friends, and most importantly, with Jungwon. Each image was a reminder that, despite her illness, she had experienced pure love and unbreakable friendships.

There was one photo in particular that she couldn’t stop looking at: it was the one she had recently posted, from her birthday. She was surrounded by balloons, cake, and all of her friends, with Jungwon by her side, smiling as if the whole world was perfect. That image was her most cherished treasure, reflecting all the good that had come into her life in the past few months.

However, as she stared at the screen, a sudden pain shot through her chest. At first, it was mild, like a sharp sting, but it quickly became unbearable. Her breathing, already weak, began to accelerate as cold sweat covered her forehead. She tried to call her mother, but her strength wasn’t enough. The phone slipped from her hands, falling to the ground with a dull thud.

“y/n!” her mother shouted, seeing her writhe in pain. She rushed to her side and took her hand, desperate. “Doctors! Nurses! Help, please!”

The nurses and the doctor rushed into the room. In an instant, the room was filled with chaos. The monitors began to emit a constant beeping, announcing what her mother feared. y/n was suffering from cardiac arrest.

“Quick, prepare for resuscitation!” the doctor ordered, while the nurses adjusted the machines and prepared the defibrillator.

As they worked frantically to save her, y/n felt the world begin to fade. The physical pain was intense, but what truly tore at her was the emotional agony. She knew the end was near, and memories of her life began to flash in her mind.

She saw her parents smiling as they played with her as a child. She remembered her little sister hugging her, always full of love and innocence. Then, her mind filled with Jungwon: the first time seeing him, his shy smile when he spoke to her, the days they spent together in the hospital, the kiss under the fireworks. Then came the memories of Rei and Wonyoung, how they had accepted her and brightened her days. All those moments rushed by like a whirlwind, but in each of them, Jungwon was there, as if he were the center of her happiness.

“Jung... won...” she whispered weakly, though no one could hear her.

The doctor kept trying, again and again. Each electric shock made y/n’s body lift slightly, but there was no response.

“Again! We can’t give up!” the doctor said, though his voice was beginning to crack.

After ten minutes of attempts, the monitor displayed a flat line. The constant beeping filled the room, confirming what everyone feared.

“Time of death...” the doctor said softly, tears filling his eyes. The nurses looked away, unable to face the sadness of the moment.

y/n’s mother let out a heart-wrenching scream, falling to the ground while holding her daughter’s lifeless body. Her younger sister, who had been waiting outside, ran in and, upon seeing the scene, broke into tears, unable to understand why her older sister was no longer with them.

“No, y/n! No, please, don’t go!” her mother cried, as her father held her, tears in his eyes.

The room was filled with pain, a pain so deep it seemed unbearable.

At that same moment, miles away, Jungwon was in his room. He sat at his desk, looking at some pictures of y/n on his phone, remembering her smile and how she made him feel. Suddenly, an inexplicable pain pierced his chest.

He placed his hand over his heart, trying to calm the sensation he didn’t understand. It was as if something inside him had broken, as if a part of his soul had been ripped away.

“What’s happening...?” he murmured, staring into the empty space.

Unknowingly, Jungwon had just felt the emptiness left by y/n’s departure. Although he didn’t yet know the news, something inside him knew that the world had just changed forever.

Jungwon woke up the next day with a strange feeling in his chest. The inexplicable pain from the night before was still there, like a constant pressure he couldn’t ignore. He felt restless, but he didn’t understand why. He looked at his phone and noticed that y/n hadn’t responded to the messages he had sent before going to sleep.

"Maybe she was tired," he thought, trying to calm himself down. He wanted to believe everything was fine, that this discomfort was just a coincidence. Determined to brighten her day, he prepared everything to visit her: he bought a bouquet of fresh flowers, a small bear plush with a red bow, and her favorite food.

As he walked toward the hospital, he tried to maintain a smile, though part of him couldn’t shake the feeling that something was wrong. When he entered the building, he noticed the atmosphere seemed different, heavier than usual. There was less noise in the halls, less movement. But Jungwon tried not to pay too much attention to it.

He continued walking, carefully holding the plush and flowers, until he reached y/n’s room. When he opened the door, his smile disappeared. The bed was perfectly made, the white sheets as if no one had ever used them. The K-pop posters that y/n adored were no longer on the walls. The plush toys that always kept her company were gone, and the flowers he had brought on other occasions weren’t there either.

For a moment, he thought he had entered the wrong room. "Did I make a mistake?" he murmured to himself, stepping back to check the number on the door. It was the right room, but something didn’t fit.

Then, he heard a faint sob coming from the corner where the sitting area of the room was. With his heart racing and a lump in his throat, Jungwon slowly walked toward the sound. There, he saw y/n’s mother sitting in a chair, her face covered in tears.

—Ma’am... where is y/n? —Jungwon asked in a soft voice, although he could already feel fear creeping over him.

y/n’s mother looked up when she heard his voice. She tried to smile at him, but tears kept falling down her face. She struggled to stand and walked toward him.

—Jungwon... —she said with a broken voice, placing a trembling hand on the boy’s shoulder.

Jungwon dropped the plush he was holding. His mind had already understood what his heart didn’t want to accept.

—No... no, please, no... —he whispered, his eyes filling with tears as he stepped back, unable to face the truth.

y/n’s mother hugged him, trying to calm him, but both of them crumbled at the same time. Jungwon broke into silent sobs at first, but soon his pain became uncontrollable.

—Why...? She was fine! We were planning so many things! —he cried between sobs, unable to understand why life had been so cruel to them.

At that moment, y/n’s younger sister entered the room. Her small arms tightly held her sister’s favorite plush, and her swollen eyes reflected the same pain Jungwon felt.

—She... she loved you so much, Jungwon... —the little girl said through tears as she approached him and hugged him tightly.

The scene was heartbreaking. y/n’s mother, her sister, and Jungwon joined in a hug full of pain, sharing the loss of someone who had brightened their lives, even if only for too short a time.

When they managed to calm down a bit, y/n’s mother took Jungwon’s hand and led him to sit down. Carefully, she handed him a drawing book and a package of letters wrapped with a pink ribbon.

—This... this is for you, Jungwon. y/n made them thinking of you. She asked me to give them to you if anything happened to her... She wanted you to read them at home, in private.

Jungwon took the objects with trembling hands, feeling his heart break even more.

—Thank you for everything, Jungwon. Thank you for giving my daughter a reason to live. She was happy... because of you. She never stopped talking about how much she loved you.

He nodded, unable to speak. His throat was closed with the tears that still threatened to overflow.

—The funeral will be in two days... If you want, you can come. She would have liked for you to be there.

Jungwon could only nod again. As he left the hospital, he pressed the book and the letters against his chest, feeling like he was carrying a part of y/n with him. His heart was shattered, but he knew he had to fulfill her last wish.

Jungwon arrived home with his heart in a thousand pieces. He tightly held the drawing book and the letters y/n had left for him, as if they were the only things keeping him standing. As soon as he opened the door, his mother, who was in the living room, saw him enter. Noticing his state, she quickly got up, leaving the book she had been reading.

—Jungwon... —she began to say, concerned. However, upon seeing the tears streaming down her son's face, she understood immediately.

She approached him and placed a hand on his shoulder.

—I warned you, son. I told you this was going to happen... —she murmured, with a tone that was both sad and resigned.

But when she saw Jungwon completely break down, releasing a heartbreaking cry as he clung to the drawing book, her heart softened. Without saying anything more, she wrapped her arms around him and hugged him tightly.

—I’m sorry, son. I’m so sorry...

Jungwon let himself fall into her arms, crying inconsolably. For several minutes, his mother held him, stroking his hair and letting him release all his pain.

—She wasn’t a burden, mom... She was the best thing that ever happened to me.

His mother nodded, kissing his forehead.

—I know, Jungwon. I know.

After a while, Jungwon went upstairs to his room. He closed the door behind him and sat on the floor, still hugging the book and the letters. He felt exhausted, as if the weight of the loss was crushing him. Finally, he took a deep breath and opened the package of letters, determined to hear the words y/n had left for him.

The first letter was written in delicate, albeit somewhat trembling, handwriting. Jungwon recognized the effort y/n had put into every stroke. When he opened it, he read:

**"My dear Jungwon,

I don’t know how much time I have left when you read this, but I want you to know that every moment with you was the best gift life could give me. Thank you for coming into my life when I needed you most and for giving me a reason to live again. You are my first love, my first kiss, my first 'boyfriend'... and also my last.

Being your girlfriend was the best thing that happened to me. I loved it when you came to the hospital, when you looked at me with those bright eyes full of love. You made me feel beautiful, even on my worst days. Thank you for staying with me, even when you saw me feeling down. I don’t know how to thank you for everything you did for me."**

Jungwon cried as he read, tears falling onto the letter. He continued:

**"Please, don’t feel guilty. Don’t think you didn’t do enough, because you did more than anyone else would have. You gave me pure and beautiful love, and even though I wish I could stay longer with you, I want you to move on. I want you to live for me, to keep smiling, dancing, and reaching your dreams.

I love you, Jungwon. I will always love you, even from wherever I am now. I hope you remember me as someone who loved you so, so, so much."**

The letter ended with a small drawing of the two of them together, holding hands, with hearts around them.

Jungwon put the letter aside and opened the drawing book. The first drawing was of him, in his school uniform with a radiant smile. He remembered the day y/n had met him and how she had told him that his smile was the most beautiful thing she had ever seen.

The next drawing was of the flowers he always brought her at the hospital, drawn with such detail that it seemed like he could almost smell them. There was a small note beside it that read: "I will always remember your scent of flowers and happiness."

There was a drawing of the school festival, with all of their friends and y/n in the center. At the bottom, she had written: "It was my happiest day."

Then, he came to the drawing of the fireworks, where she was in her wheelchair and he was kneeling in front of her, sharing their first kiss. Around it, there were words in Korean that said: "Thank you for loving me. You are my star."

Each page of the book was a reminder of the love they had shared, the happy moments they had created together, even in the midst of the hardest circumstances.

Jungwon took another letter and opened it carefully. This one read:

**"When you think of me, I don’t want you to cry. I want you to smile. Remember everything we did together and keep those memories in your heart. Be happy, Jungwon. Please, be happy.

And when you look at the sky and see a bright star, think that it’s me watching over you, reminding you that I will always be with you."**

Jungwon pressed the letter to his chest and closed his eyes, letting the tears flow freely. Even though his heart was broken, he felt a small spark of comfort knowing that y/n had loved him as much as he had loved her.

At that moment, he promised that, no matter how much it hurt, he would find a way to move forward because he knew that was what y/n wanted for him. She had left him not only her love but also a reason to be strong.

The day of Y/N's funeral arrived, enveloping everything in an atmosphere of sadness. The sky was gray and cloudy, as if even the universe was crying her loss. In the main hall, where the ceremony was taking place, there was a large photo of Y/N smiling, placed on a table adorned with white flowers and roses, her favorites.

Jungwon arrived early, wearing a black suit that seemed to absorb all the light around him. In his hands, he carried the stuffed animal he had bought for her the day before and a white rose. Despite his composure at first, his heart was shattered. He had spent the night without sleeping, reading Y/N's letters and looking at her drawings over and over again.

When he entered the hall, he felt the air grow heavy, almost unbearable. In front of Y/N's photo were her parents and little sister. Y/N's mother was completely devastated, her eyes swollen from crying. Her father tried to stay strong, but his hands trembled as he comforted his little daughter, who clung to Y/N's favorite stuffed animal.

Jungwon walked slowly toward them. Upon seeing him, Y/N's mother hugged him again, as she had done days before, but this time neither of them could hold back their tears.

"Thank you for coming, Jungwon. She loved you so much..." she whispered, her voice breaking as she said the words.

Jungwon could barely respond, he just nodded as he placed the white rose on the table and set the stuffed animal next to Y/N's photo.

Little by little, Jungwon's friends began to arrive. Heeseung, Jay, Jake, Sunghoon, Sunoo, and Ni-ki entered with solemn faces. They, too, brought flowers, and although none of them knew Y/N as well as Jungwon, they knew how much she meant to him. They gathered near Jungwon, offering him silent support.

Rei and Wonyoung arrived shortly after, both with red eyes from crying so much. Rei held a bouquet of flowers and a photo they had taken together during one of their girls' afternoons at the hospital. Wonyoung carried a small letter she had written for Y/N, promising she would never forget her. Both approached Y/N's family to hug them, and then joined the group next to Jungwon.

The ceremony began with words from the priest, but Jungwon could barely hear. His mind was filled with memories: the first time he saw Y/N, her laugh, her smile, her soft voice calling him "my Jungwon." Everything felt unreal.

When it was time for some friends and family to share words, Jungwon slowly stood up. Everyone looked at him with empathy, knowing how much Y/N had meant to him.

"Y/N..." he began, his voice trembling. He paused for a moment to take a breath, trying to hold back his tears. "Y/N was... is... the most special person I've ever known. She taught me what it really means to love, despite everything. She showed me how to find happiness even in the hardest moments."

He paused and looked at Y/N's photo.

"I can't imagine my life without her, but I know... I know she would want me to move on. I won't say goodbye, because I will never forget her. Y/N will always be a part of me. Always."

With those words, he left the letter she had written for him on the table, next to the stuffed animal, and returned to his seat, breaking down in tears as Rei and Wonyoung embraced him.

At the end of the ceremony, everyone gathered at the cemetery. Y/N's coffin, covered with flowers, was slowly lowered. Her parents and little sister were devastated, crying inconsolably. Jungwon, standing next to his friends, felt his heart breaking even more with each passing second.

When the burial ended, everyone began to place flowers on the grave. Jungwon was the last. He knelt in front of the tombstone and whispered:

"I love you, Y/N. You will always be my star."

He left the last white rose on the grave and stayed there, even when everyone else began to leave. He couldn't let her go, not yet.

That night, while looking at the stars from his room, he remembered what Y/N had written in one of her letters: "When you look at the sky and see a bright star, think of me watching over you."

Jungwon smiled faintly through tears, promising himself that, even though it hurt, he would move forward for her, because he knew that was what Y/N would have wanted.

Time passed, but the memory of Vannia remained deeply rooted in Jungwon. The first few days after the funeral were the hardest. Every corner of his life reminded him of her: the hospital, the messages on his phone, the photos she had posted, and the letters she had written. But instead of letting the pain consume him, Jungwon decided to honor Vannia’s memory by living life the way she would have wanted: with love and gratitude.

Jungwon began spending more time with the friends they both shared. Rei and Wonyoung visited him often, and together they recalled the happy moments with Vannia. Rei even organized an afternoon where they recreated the "concert" they had done at the hospital, dancing K-pop songs with contagious energy.

"Vannia would be laughing at how badly I dance," Jungwon joked one afternoon, attempting a "Hype Boy" move.

"She’d say you're improving, even if just a little," Wonyoung responded with a smile.

Despite the laughter, there were days when Jungwon felt overwhelmed by sadness. During those moments, he sought refuge in the letters and drawings Vannia had left him. Each word she had written felt like a hug from beyond, reminding him of how much she loved him.

One night, while reading one of the letters, he found a page he hadn’t noticed before. It was a drawing of him looking up at the sky, with a bright star above his head. Next to the drawing, Vannia had written:

"Jungwon, don’t be sad for me. Every time you look at the stars, remember that I’m always with you. I love you more than words can say, and I want you to be happy, even if I’m not physically there. Live your life to the fullest, but don’t forget about me, okay? Because I’ll never forget you."

The words made him cry, but this time not only out of sadness, but also out of love.

As the months passed, Jungwon found ways to keep Vannia’s memory alive. He volunteered at the hospital where he met her, visiting other patients to cheer them up, just as Vannia had cheered him up. Over time, he began organizing small events with his friends, such as game afternoons, picnics, and beach visits, making sure everyone felt supported and appreciated.

One day, Rei and Wonyoung surprised him with a gift. They had created an album with all the photos they had of Vannia: the school festival, the beach, the birthday at the hospital, and many other special moments.

"We wanted you to have this, so you’ll always remember her with a smile," Rei said, handing him the album.

Jungwon received it with gratitude, feeling a warmth in his chest.

That night, while looking at the stars from his window, he smiled. He could imagine Vannia sitting on one of them, looking at him with that sweet smile he loved so much.

"I promise I’ll be happy, Vannia," he murmured, a mix of tears and a smile on his face. "And when it’s my turn to get there, I hope I’ll see you smile again."

With that promise in his heart, Jungwon closed his eyes, feeling that, even though she wasn’t physically there, Vannia would always be with him, guiding and loving him from the stars.

The End.

[luvismenu]

chap: 17 — see nobody else ✎ ,, index

warnings: rainy night, some crying, some confessions, bathing together, protected sex, kissing, some fluffy moments, they kinda TALK (finally yippee)

wc: 4.4k+

note: yeah you guys, it's the beginning of the end. thank you for sticking around with my mess, cuz idk why and how you guys still wait and read this fic omg..

'do you forgive us?'

those four words broke you.

for the first time in your life, you feel.. regretful, for pushing people away.

all your life, you convinced yourself that cutting ties with anyone who hurt you, or who disrupted the balance of your carefully crafted rules was the right thing to do.

you believed it was protecting you.

but now, standing here thinking about everything that's been going on, you’re not so sure anymore.

you try to recall the last time you allowed yourself to simply let go, to live in the moment even if it wasn’t what you deemed “right.” it’s hard to remember because, for as long as you can think, you’ve always had a plan. a script for how life should be, how people should act, and how relationships should work.

you wanted things to go your way, to stay within the lines you drew.

was that selfish of you? probably.

but was it wrong? again... you’re not sure anymore.

maybe the rules you created to protect yourself had also kept you caged, pushing away the very moments and people who could have brought you happiness. maybe in trying to control everything, you lost the chance to truly experience anything.

your throat tightens as you think about it more and more.

you couldn’t answer her.

you couldn’t answer anyone.

it was all too much.

were you scared? were you still clinging to some invisible shield, trying to protect yourself from everything and everyone? but then, as the questions swirled in your mind, one stuck out— how are you going to be okay by hurting others? how is this any different from being completely selfish?

how are you going to explain to everyone that you’ve been so caught up in your own head, so focused on your own fears, that you couldn’t bring yourself to talk or fix things?

the thought makes your chest ache.

you feel awful.

you want to cry.

you need to let it out.

maybe that’s why you’re out here, in the middle of the night, standing in the rain, drenched and shivering, holding onto your jacket hoping that it would give you some kind of warmth but it doesn't help.

you're just staring at jungkook’s door like it holds all the answers.

you want to apologize.

you want to tell him how stupid everything’s been, how sorry you are for running away, for shutting him out.

but fear grips you.

what if he doesn’t want to listen? what if it’s too late?

you stand there frozen.

should you ring the bell? should you talk to him?

is this the right thing to do?

. . .

jungkook can’t sleep.

how could he? his mind is a mess. it's all over the place right now.

he’s scared too, though he doesn’t show it. he's fucking terrified.

you’ve been avoiding the real conversation, the one that might finally clear the air between you. and that terrifies him. because what if your answer isn’t what he wants to hear? what if this wasn't the right thing to do?

but even with that fear clawing at him, he’s willing to try.

he’s not ready— not entirely, no. he doesn’t know if he ever will be, but the thought of letting you go so easily makes his stomach twist.

whatever it is he feels for you, whether it’s infatuation, like, love… he doesn’t care what it’s called. he just knows he needs you. he wants you in his life.

but wanting you scares him too.

what if he crossed a line without realizing it? what if he pushed too hard, selfishly trying to make you see things his way?

is it wrong for him to be so consumed by you? to wish, selfishly, that your world revolved around him the way his seems to revolve around you?

is it bad that he wishes you see nobody else except him?

he sighs, his fingers raking through his hair as he stares up at the ceiling, listening to the rhythmic patter of rain against the window. the sound fills the silence, but it brings no answers. he’s waiting.. waiting for clarity, for courage, for something to make sense. but nothing comes.

you ring the bell.

once.

twice.

your fingers tremble as you wait, the cold rain soaking through your clothes and biting into your skin. you're shivering now; not just from the chill, but from the vulnerability you feel standing here.

it's uncomfortable, exposing yourself like this, but how else are you going to fix things? how else can you make things right if you don't start somewhere?

the door swings open sooner than you'd expected, and jungkook appears, his face shifting from blank confusion to complete worry the second he sees you.

“___!” he says, his voice filled with concern as he steps forward, his hand reaching for you but faltering halfway. “come in,” he says quickly, stepping aside to let you in.

he doesn’t ask anything yet, though his mind is undoubtedly racing. all he sees is that you're drenched from head to toe; your hair sticking to your face, your clothes clinging to your body, and you look... guilty?

you step inside hesitantly, water dripping from your clothes and pooling onto the floor. you glance down, noticing the mess, but jungkook doesn’t even seem to notice that.

“you’re drenched,” he murmurs, closing the door behind you. “i’ll get you a towel and.. clothes, yeah... do you want to take a bath?” he sounds as calm as he can manage, but his concern is clear in every word.

you stare at him, your lips trembling. you don’t even know what to say.

“why didn’t you call me?” he asks, stepping closer, his eyes scanning you. “i would’ve picked you up.”

you stay silent, your breath hitching as his worried gaze pierces through you.

“are you okay, ___?” he asks again, his voice even gentler now, and that’s it.

that question, so simple yet filled with care.

it breaks you completely.

your chest tightens as a sob escapes your lips, tears spilling over before you can stop them. you lower your head, your sniffles turning into quiet cries, the pain in your throat unbearable as the emotions you’ve been bottling up come flooding out.

jungkook’s eyes widen, his face crumpling at the sight of your tears. instinctively, he reaches for you again, his arms lifting to pull you close. but before he can, you step forward and wrap your arms around his waist, holding onto him tightly.

you sob into his chest, and he holds you immediately, his arms wrapping around you. one hand on the back of your head, his fingers tangling in your wet hair, while the other presses firmly against your back. he doesn’t care that you’re soaking wet or that your tears are soaking through his shirt.

all he cares about is you being there with him. in his arms.

“___,” he whispers softly, his voice breaking slightly as he holds you closer. your sobs quieten, but the tears keep falling, each one tearing at his heart.

he pulls back just enough to cup your face in his hands, his thumbs brushing against your wet cheeks, wiping away the tears that don’t seem to stop. “look at me,” he says gently, and you do, your tear streaked face making his heart ache.

“what’s wrong, babe? talk to me,” he pleads, his gaze searches yours, desperate for answers, desperate to understand.

your lip quivers as another sob escapes you. “i-i’m sorry,” you manage to choke out, your voice trembling.

he doesn’t ask you why. not yet, at least.

instead, he tilts his head slightly, his voice soft and steady as he asks, “would you like to take a hot bath?”

the question catches you off guard. you blink up at him, your eyes still tearful.

you don’t respond right away, unsure of what to say, but he doesn’t rush you. he strokes your cheek gently with his thumb, his hand warm against your cold, damp skin.

“you’re freezing,” he murmurs, his voice barely above a whisper. “let's talk after i know that you're fully warmed up... okay?”

you nod weakly, your body too tired to resist. he guides you to the bathroom, his hand resting lightly on your back. you feel a twinge of embarrassment as water continues to drip from your clothes, leaving a trail on the floor, but jungkook doesn’t really seem to care.

once inside, he reaches for a clean towel and sets it on the counter before turning on the faucet. the sound of water filling the tub echoes softly in the room, the steam rising quickly as the water heats.

“give me your jacket,” he says quietly, turning to you with his hand outstretched.

you hesitate for a moment before takiing it off, your fingers fumbling slightly from the cold. he takes it from you without a word, setting it aside.

“i’ll step out and grab you some dry clothes,” he says, his voice still soft, still patient. “take your time, okay?”

but as he turns to leave, your voice cuts through the quiet. “wait.”

he stops immediately, his hand on the doorknob as he looks back at you.

“don’t go,” you murmur, your voice barely above a whisper.

his brows furrow slightly, concern etched across his face. “___,” he starts, “you’ll be more comfortable if you change out of these clothes and—”

“no,” you interrupt, your voice trembling but you're trying to keep it steady. you’re not sure why, but the thought of him leaving, even for a second, feels unbearable. “i just… i want you to stay.”

he stares at you for a moment, as if trying to figure out how serious you are. when he sees the look in your eyes, he sighs softly and steps back into the room.

“okay,” he says quietly, walking towards you.

you nod, your throat tightening as the emotions threaten to overwhelm you again.

he kneels beside the tub, his gaze soft as he looks up at you. “i'll stay,” he says gently. “is that okay?”

his voice is so soothing, so steady, that you find yourself nodding without hesitation. you trust him, and right now, that’s enough.

but before you can step in, you reach out and grab his wrist. “jungkook,” you say softly.

his eyes widen slightly in surprise. “what's wrong?”

you bite your lip, hesitant. “i don’t want to bath alone,” you admit quietly, your voice barely audible over the sound of running water.

he stares at you for a moment, processing your words, and then he gulps. “okay,”

your heart races as he begins unbuttoning his shirt, his movements careful and slow, as though giving you time to change your mind. when he takes it off and reaches for the hem of his pants, he pauses, glancing at you. “are you sure?” he asks softly, his dark eyes searching yours.

you start taking off your clothes too. “i’m sure,”

he steps into the tub, the warm water splashing slightly as he lowers himself into it. he looks at you again, his gaze never leaving you, and holds out his hand. “come here,” he says gently.

you hesitate for only a moment before moving to join him inthe tub. the warmth of the water feels like a soothing balm against your chilled skin, and you sink down slowly, settling in across from him.

for a moment, neither of you speak. the sound of the water and the faint patter of rain outside fills the silence.

“come closer,” jungkook says softly, breaking the quiet.

you hesitate again, but the look in his eyes is so earnest, so full of care, that you can’t resist. you shuffle forward until you’re within reach, and he gently pulls you into his lap.

his arms wrap around you, holding you close as the warmth of the water and his body seeps into yours. you breathe softly as you places your hands on his shoulders.

“better?” he asks, his voice a low murmur.

“yeah,” you whisper.

his hand moves slowly, soothingly, up and down your back, andfor the first time in what feels like forever, you let yourself breathe.

the warmth of the water surrounds you, but it’s his presence that truly soothes you. his arms hold you securely.

you wonder if he’s nervous or if it’s something else entirely. his hand strokes your back slowly, his touch soft as though he’s afraid you might shatter if he isn’t careful.

jungkook’s heart is racing.

he’s never seen you like this. it shakes him because, in his mind, you’re always so in control. but now, here you are, letting him hold you, leaning on him like you trust him, and it’s enough to make his heart race.

he wonders if he’s doing this right. if holding you like this is enough to tell you everything he feels but can’t say. because the words are there. he just doesn’t know how to string them together without ruining this fragile moment.

your own thoughts are no less chaotic.

you think about how you’ve spent so much time pushing people away, building walls to keep you steady, but here he is, breaking through them without even trying. it scares you how much you need this. how much you need him.

you shift slightly in his lap, and you feel him tense for a moment before he relaxes again. you feel him against your core, firm and pressing, and the realization sends a shiver through you. a small gasp escapes your lips before you can stop it

“sorry,” you mumble quickly, your voice barely above a whisper, but the heat rushing to your face betrays you.

“no, it’s... it’s okay,” he says softly. he clears his throat, his grip on you loosening as though giving you space, but he doesn’t pull away entirely.

you don’t move either, unsure of what to do. the moment feels tense, like you’re both balancing on a thin line.

“___,” he says after a beat, his voice low and careful.

you look at him. “yeah?”

he hesitates, his dark eyes searching yours for something; permission, reassurance, maybe both. “i don’t... want you to feel uncomfortable,” he says finally.

you shake your head quickly, your hands tightening slightly on his shoulders. “i’m not,” you admit, and it’s the truth. despite the initial surprise, you don’t feel uncomfortable. if anything, you feel hyperaware; of him, of the closeness, of the heat building between you.

his gaze softens at your words, “are you sure?” he asks, his voice barely above a whisper now.

you nod, your throat dry as you try to find the right words. “it’s just... a little overwhelming i guess,” you say honestly, your voice trembling slightly.

he exhales slowly, “yeah?” he murmurs, a small smile tugging at his lips. “tell me about it.”

the way he talks makes you feel a little braver, and you shift again. his breath hitches this time, and his hands move instinctively to steady you, gripping your waist gently.

“sorry,” you mumble again, though you’re not entirely sure what you’re apologizing for.

“don’t be,” he swallows hard, his gaze flickering between your eyes and your lips. “just... let me know if it’s too much, okay?”

you nod again, your heart pounding in your chest. neither of you move for a while. the tension is lingering but it's not unpleasant, no. it's not even close to that.

“jungkook,” you whisper, your voice barely audible over the gentle slosh of water.

“yeah?” he murmurs, his voice low

you pause, trying to gather your thoughts. “i want to talk” you say finally

he looks into yiur eyes, a small smile creeping up his lips. “we are talking, aren't we?”

“no... i mean, yes but i want to talk about us,” you say, and you see his expression change to.. surprise? confusion?

“really?,” he asks softly. “a-are you sure?”

“yes.. you-” you sigh. “you make me feel like it’s okay,” you admit quietly. “like... like it’s okay to not have everything figured out.”

he exhales a soft laugh. “that’s because it is okay,” he says. “nobody has everything figured out, ___.”

you smile a little. “you always seem like you do,”

he shakes his head, “i don’t,” he admits. “i’m just good at pretending.”

“yeah you are,” you smile.

he smiles too. his arms tighten around your waist, pulling you closer, and you don't resist. instead, you melt into him, like you always do.

the kiss is soft but intense, as if he's trying to tell you everything he can't put into words. your hands move instinctively to his hair, fingers threading through the damp strands, tugging gently. his grip on your waist firms, anchoring you to him, as though he's afraid you might slip away.

but you’re not going anywhere.

your bodies press together, and you can feel him, hard against your core. the feeling pulls a quiet whimper from you, your breath hitching against his mouth.

“jungkook...” you murmur, your lips barely parting from his.

he pulls back just enough to look at you, his forehead resting against yours.

“i know,” he whispers, his hand moves to cup your face, his thumb brushing over your cheek as though to reassure you. “we don’t have to rush, ___.”

something about the way he says it, the way his gaze is on you, tells you that he’s willing to give you anything, everything, if you ask for it.

. . .

you’re both out of the bath now. jungkook carried you to his bedroom, and for some reason, it wasn’t awkward at all. it felt.. normal.

you’re lying on his bed, and he’s on top of you, his weight hovering just enough to keep you comfortable. he tears open the condom wrapper, sliding it over his length with ease, his eyes never leaving yours.

he leans down, pressing soft kisses along your neck and chest, his fingers grazing your skin gently.

“i’m here to talk, not... this,” you breathe out, a small, half hearted smile tugging at your lips. the way you say it isn’t convincing though, and he can tell.

he pauses, pulling back slightly to look at you. “you want me to stop then?” his voice is soft, his gaze steady as he searches your face for any sign of hesitation.

“no,” you admit quietl

he doesn’t say anything more, leaning down to kiss you again.

his hand moves lower, positioning himself at your entrance. you exhale softly, your body already anticipating the stretch as he pushes in slowly. your eyes flutter shut as you moan at the feeling, the familiar feeling of pleasure and fullness making you lose yourself in the moment.

jungkook groans above you, his brows furrowing as he begins to move, his thrusts slow.

this wasn’t what you’d planned when you came here. you wanted to talk, to tell him everything you’ve been holding in. to admit how much he means to you, even if it terrifies you. but now, with him like this, you realize that he makes you feel safer than anyone else ever has. and if that’s not love, then you don't know what is.

wait. did you just think...

“f-fuck baby,”

he groans as his thrusts deepen, dragging another moan from your lips. he leans back slightly, his hands gripping your waist as he lifts you onto his lap, settling you there with him still inside.

“come here,” he murmurs, his voice low and breathless.

your legs wrap around his waist instinctively as he thrusts upward. your hands find his shoulders, holding onto him as your body adjusts to this new position.

“mmph... jungkook,” you gasp, your voice trembling.

his hands steady you, his fingers pressing into your waist as he moves. it feels so good that it’s almost overwhelming.

“i’m sorry,” you blurt out suddenly, your voice barely above a whisper. “i’m sorry for avoiding you...”

he doesn’t stop, but his lips find your neck, pressing a soft kiss there. “i’m sorry too,” he murmurs against your skin, his breath warm.

he looks up at you then, his movements slowing slightly as his eyes meet yours.

“i—” you start, but he cuts you off with a kiss. you melt into it, letting him take over as his thrusts pick up speed again, each one hitting the perfect spot that has you crying out his name.

“not yet,” he whispers against your lips, a small smile tugging at the corners of his mouth as he keeps going, his pace quickening. the sounds of skin against skin and your soft moans fill the room, mingling with the occasional deep groans from him.

“jungkook,” you gasp, your fingers digging into his shoulders as the pleasure builds, overwhelming and all consuming. your mind is a haze of him; his hands, his lips, his voice.

“baby, you areso good,” he murmurs against your neck, his lips trail kisses along your collarbone, leaving you breathless.

and then, before you can think, the words spill out of you.

“i love you.”

everything stills for a moment, his movements falter, his eyes snapping to yours, wide and filled with something you can’t quite place.

but he doesn’t stop.

instead, he presses his forehead to yours, his thrusts resuming, slower but deeper, his gaze never leaving yours. “and i love you,” he says softly

the tension in your body reaches its peak, the pleasure too much to contain. you cry out his name again as you come undone, your body trembling in his hold. he follows seconds later, groaning deeply as he finds his release, his grip on you tightening as he buries himself to the hilt.

you collapse against him, both of you panting and spent, the room filled with the sound of your heavy breathing. his arms wrap around you, holding you close as you both come down from the high.

after a moment, he breaks the silence. “i think we should take a bath again.”

you let out a tired laugh, leaning your head against his shoulder. “yeah, we should.”

the next morning, you woke up to the soft warmth of jungkook’s bedsheets around you. it was peaceful, quiet— almost too good to be true.

you made your way into the kitchen, where jungkook was already sipping on a cup of coffee. you walked up behind him, wrapping your arms around his waist in a soft embrace. he let out a quiet chuckle, his free hand resting gently on yours.

“good morning,” you whispered, burying your face on his bare back.

“good morning,” he replied, taking another sip of his coffee. “sleep well?”

“yeah,” you murmured, “better than i have in a long time, actually.”

he smiled, the moment lingered for a bit, both of you just enjoying the silence until you spoke again.

“can i tell u something?” you started, your voice hesitant. he set his coffee down and turned to face you, waiting for you to continue.

you took a deep breath, gathering your thoughts. “my mom.. she asked me if i would forgive them.” you paused, trying to find the right words. you see the way he softens, like he feels bad for you. “and it really messed with me. because this isn’t how things were supposed to go, you know? i always thought i’d be strong, but.. then it made me realize... i don’t know. maybe i was holding on to something that wasn’t meant to be.”

he reaches for your hand, his thumb brushing over your knuckles. “it's okay, you’ve been through a lot,” he says quietly

you exhale softly. “and i always had these rules, these boundaries that i put up to.. I don't know, i just felt like it was the right thing to do. but now, looking back, it all just feels... stupid. and i’m sorry for being so stubborn.” your voice cracks slightly, but you push through. "but then, when i saw you with someone else... i immediately assumed the worst, and i was so jealous. it was so stupid. and then i started this mess with jason, and i know that was wrong. i am sorry that everything has just been so fucking messy.”

you pause, meeting his eyes. “and i want to fix it. i just... i don’t know how. but i want to try...” you pause. there is a long silence as jungkook processes everything you’d said. he looks serious, but not the harsh kind of serious. and finally, he speaks.

“honestly..” he starts. “i think you have commitment issues,” he said, surprising you. your eyes widened, and you took a step back, trying to process what he meant.

“w-what?” you stammered.

his gaze softens, reaching for your arm. “i understand though. you’ve never really had anyone to be committed to, have you?”

that's kinda true.

“you were just trying to protect yourself. and i get that.” he continues.

“i have to apologise too because well, i was jealous too and i’m sorry for going along with the whole ‘mia’ thing. that was messy, yes. but i do get it.”

you look at him. “you... you understand?”

“yeah,” he nods, his hand brushing a strand of hair behind your ear. “i do. i can see now that it scares you to commit because of everything you’ve been through. and i am sorry for putting you in a position like that.” he pauses. "but.. i’m not going anywhere. not now. not after everything we’ve been through.”

you let out a breath, your shoulders relaxing. “i really want to try,” you say, your voice softer now. “i really really do. i just... don’t know where to start.”

he smiles, pulling you into his arms again. “we’ll figure it out, together.”

you rest your head against his chest, feeling his warmth. “you know... you’re the first person to make me feel like... this. i never thought i’d be able to trust anyone like this. i must really like you,”

“oh? wasn’t it ‘i love you’?” he teases, a playful grin spreading across his face.

you laugh, pushing him away lightly. “you said it too!” you tease back, feeling lighter than you had in a long time.

he pulls you back into him, kissing your forehead gently. “i know. i meant it.”

you chuckle softly.

“i did too.”

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[aphrodyx]

We’re all we have

supernatural oneshot: Sam Winchester x Dean Winchester x y/n (mainly Dean)

tw//: mentions of death, mentions of suicide, self-hate, victim-blaming, and mentions of being unlovable

synopsis: you’ve been waiting for your brothers to come back from their hunting trip, however, you and Dean get in an argument. It makes you question his thoughts about you and your place in the family.

fem! reader x sam winchester, fem! reader x dean winchester, family au, some angst, and some foul language

an: sorry if this is shit, i just luv my bbs 🙁

It’s been a while, too long even. It’s been over a week since Sam and Dean went on their hunt in Valentine, Nebraska. It was suppose to be only a nest of vampires. Seven? Eight? Maybe nine? They could take them easily, so why is it taking them forever to return my calls. One last time, I swear if he doesn’t answer…

Pang! Pang! Pang!

“Open up y/n!” Dean’s voice muffled through the metal.

Seriously? Now they come what the hell. I rush to the door to open it.

“Hey! Hey! How’s my favorite girl doing?” Dean walks in shuffling around me, down the stairs to the table.

“Dude c’mon— hey y /n… how are you” Sam stopping in his tracks to acknowledge me with a soft smile.

“I’m angry and you know that, what the hell Sam!” I turn haltingly and follow Dean.

I pace around Dean, angrily waiting for an explanation. They were gone for seven full days with zero contact, and it’s not like we had an argument. Over 70 messages sent and 50 missed calls, I thought of the worse. They could have been dead in a ditch or heads ripped off; why didn’t they call me, text me, sent cass, absolutely anything to me to make sure they were still alive.

“Dean, I need answers right now!”

“Y/n, I’m sorry okay… I should’ve texted you. We’re alright, see?” Dean spins in a 360, showing himself injure-free.

“No! I’m sick a tired of these excuses, you’ve been so distant. You’re so quick to go from one hunt to another, your not slowing down at all. Im worried about you. You’re not eating good or sleep properly, and when was the last time you took a shower. Seriously?

“Y/n…” Dean starts getting frustrated walking up to her.

“Y/n…” Sam interferes, trying to calm her down.

“No! fucking talk to me! What’s the matter with you!” I slam my fist down on the table.

“My dad is dead! Do you know what’s that like? To have your father taken away from you and not even knowing who did it!” He slams his fist down, kicking a chair away.

“Dean, calm down please. Yelling at each other isn’t going to mend our problem right now” Sam puts his hand on his older brother’s shoulder.

“I lost him too, you know? He was like my dad too Dean?” I say up in his face.

“He wasn’t your dad though, as much as you think he was” He pushes around y/n and storms off to his room.

I stand there. Zero thoughts flooding my mind. Am I angry? Upset? I don’t even know. I know we aren’t actually siblings and I know John wasn’t my real dad, but… he took care of me. He took me in when no one else would, fed me, gave me a roof over my head, and a family: sam and dean. Why would he say that to me… did he really not consider me as his sister… as his family? I sniffle a bit, crouching down on the floor.

“Y/n…” sam says quietly, sitting down with me on the floor. “You know Dean didn’t mean that.. John was your dad too. He was a dad to all of us, you know… he takes grief harder than the rest of us”

Sniffle… Sniffle… Sniffle

“Still, I don’t know… that felt different” I wipe my tears with the back of my hand. “He’s never raised his voice up at me… I never wanted anything less for him.”

“I know… me too… it’s just been a rough couple of weeks, he’s been sleeping terribly and drinking a whole lot more than usual” Sam rubs his face with his hands.

“It’s my fault though… I should’ve returned your calls and texts. I know you mean the best for both of us; I’ll be honest, it’s been rough for me too. I just… I don’t know ive kept my phone on silent and just didn’t want to deal with anyone… even you.”

Hearing sam confess his true feelings felt like a demon blade right through my chest. He didn’t want to talk to me either. All this time, they’ve been grieving. Maybe I didn’t truly understand, John did raise them all their lives. Their mom died when Dean was just four years old and sam at six months. I don’t know anything about how they feel. They’re broken and lost. A piece of them has been shattered and they can never get that back.

“Im sorry Sam. Im so sorry, ive been so selfish and I wasn’t caring about you guys at all and I-“

“No. Stop, you are the most caring, loving, kind-spirited person I know and I love you so so much. Dean is just… We’re just… We have a hard time regulating our emotions especially right now. If we give ourselves the chance to sit down properly, we’re going to lose our minds.” Sam exhales fast, holding his thoughts in for so long.

“It’s not you, I swear. But he shouldn’t have done that to you, it was fucked up and he knows it. I promise he will come around and apologize, you know he’s stubborn so it might take a couple of days, hours if you’re lucky, but knowing Dean… were pretty lucky all the time., right?” Sam chuckles, glancing at y/n’s glossy eyes. “Please stop crying, it hurts me a lot more than it does for you to see you like this.”

“I know… I’m okay...”

I had doubts, I know Sam says Dean said that out of frustration but I don’t know. I’ll give him some time though, I know he looked up to his dad for everything. He cared so much for him in deep admiration and devotion. Just like how I feel about Sam and Dean. I push myself off the floor, dried tears smudged on my cheeks.

“Rest now, you’ve had a long day, and there should be Chinese take out in the kitchen” I hug Sam: rubbing his hands up and down, letting him know I’ll be alright.

—————— ————time skip———————————

I lay down on my bed with music blasting in my headphones, listening to “Carry on Wayward Son” by Kansas; Dean’s favorite song. He told me anytime I’m upset, mad, happy, or confused I can always play this song and I’ll know what to do. I gave him space for a couple of hours and now I can’t fall asleep. I hate being in any grey area with Dean, he took care of me after John was gone on hunts as well. He was always there for Sam and I.

I hear a quiet knock at the door.

“Come in” I sit up, taking off my headphones to see who’s about to walk into my room.

“Hey… can we talk?” Dean says leaning against the door frame, crossing his arms.

“Yeah, what’s up” I scoot over making room for the both us on my twin xl bed.

“Y/n… Im so so sorry for how I acted with you today, I was a complete fucking jerk and I didn’t mean anything I said.” Dean spits out disappointingly. “John— dad. You lost him too, not just me nor Sam. You. You lost the only man who ever cared for you, loved you, knew you”

“Dean—“

“No. Let me continue. Dad was in your life for fifteen years. Fifteen! What right did I have to say that he wasn’t your dad either? I knew you since I was twelve, sammy was seven. We grew up together. We’re always and will be family. How the fuck could I say that to you?” Dean covers his face in his hands in shame.

“Y/n, ive been so selfish, I should’ve stopped what I was doing after dad died and just been there for you, for sammy. He’s been trying to stop me from going on all these hunts, but I won’t listen. I never listen. That’s my problem, im such an idiot.”

“Please forgive me, I didn’t mean it at all. Ive been in my head and these aren’t excuses but it’s just been so hard. It’s just always been so hard, and now dad gone just feels like my breaking point. I should’ve replied back to your calls and texts, Ive just been so angry and I just needed to kill. I needed to get out all these thoughts, and the voices out. I couldn’t stand a second staying in the bunker.” Dean’s softly sobbing now uncontrollably.

“Dean… I know… I just know how close you were with dad, I should’ve considered what would happen-“

“No, you shouldn’t consider anything. Im the oldest, I shouldve been there for you, and not the other way around. It’s just been so suffocating lately. I can’t breathe, I can’t walk, I can’t eat, for life doesn’t feel real anymore.”

I scoot closer to Dean, picking up his head.

“Don’t talk like that, we’re here still: sam, cass, and me. Your family is still here and we care so much for you. We are so loved Dean, please see that. I know it’s hard right now but going through this alone, and isolating yourself? That isn’t the way to go, we will get through this together. Like we always do. Family sticks together, Winchesters forever”

Dean’s glossy eyes reaches y/n’s; he reaches out, grasping to the sides of head, and brings it closer to him. Kissing the middle of her forehead, he says, “I never deserved you.”

“I never deserved you; I never knew I’d get loved like this ever again from people. Until John came, and told me it’s okay to come home with him. He told me he’d protect and care for me. But within all that, I never knew I would get two amazing brothers along the way.”

Dean rests his forehead against y/n’s. He takes her hand in his and squeezes it. Dean has always been this hard core man from the outside, but truly he’s just a hurt child. He always has been. It hasn’t been easy for him: losing his mom, being forced into the family business, surviving each hunt, and caring for sam. I could never blame his behavior now, he just hasn’t had the time to heal. He needs to heal, but he can’t.

“I love you a lot Dean, I hope you know that. I truly do.” I kiss the side of his head.

“I know you do, I love you a lot too y/n, you’re my little sister. Forgive me please.”

“I forgive you… but no more hunts, at least for now, we need to all take time and grieve, and spend some time together. No hunting business, no demon or angel business, just family. We can even go see Jodie for a few days?”

“Thank you y/n, seriously. Thank you for forgiving me because I don’t think I would have been able to sleep tonight if you didn’t. And yeah whatever you want to do: a family trip! Seeing Jodie will be amazing, little trip into the forest to the cabin.” Dean smiles facing y/n while pushing her hair out of her face.

“Perfect! We’ll tell Sam in the morning, it’s almost three a.m. we should probably try to sleep now.

“Yeah, you’re right,” he gets up and walks towards the door. Turning around abruptly, he says “thank you again, sweetheart. I know I let my emotions get the best of me, but I’ll try. I’ll try because I don’t want to make you feel like you don’t belong in this family. I could never let myself live again if I said that to you again.”

“I know Dean, trust me I do. Im glad we talked, dad wouldn’t have wanted this between us would he now?”

“No, he wouldn’t. He’s probably calling me an asshole for saying that to you, Im definitely on his bad side right now.”

“He knows we’re struggling, he won’t blame you and neither will I.”

Dean chuckles, smiling to the ceiling. I can still see how broken he feels inside, but it won’t go away in one night. It’ll take time and im willingly to help him out, im willing to help them both out.

“Goodnight y/n” Dean whispers

“Goodnight Dean” I whisper back.

[stellarsturniolos]

INTRODUCING: nurse!reader ... paired with matt sturniolo. ( inspo credit: @mattsbows )

the bitter scent of antiseptic, hands that are always cracked and dry from washing them so often, always stressed from working too hard yet still feeling like you're not doing enough, back pain that never seems to fade, and the intense desire to stay in bed for an entire weekend.

it had been an exhausting, hectic, and just plain busy day in the emergency room at the largest hospital in los angeles. from severe cases like an elderly man who went into cardiac arrest, to a basic case of the common fucking cold, you'd seen it all. and you just wanted to go home. or, more specifically, to matt's home.

but you couldn't. because you had to work the goddamn 24 hour shift, and you were currently only on hour 12. you hadn't been able to stop for a snack or a piss or even a simple drink of water because you'd been running from room to room, checking vitals and administering medications and answering questions.

at two o'clock in the morning, when most of your patients were snoozing and the hustle in the ER had calmed down a bit, you decided to step away for a quick moment... just to catch your breath.

you walked outside and turned on your phone for the first time in hours. you grinned when you saw text message after text message from matt. just telling you about his day, telling you about the video he and his brothers filmed that afternoon, sending you a picture of a cute dog he met on his run, telling you he missed you.

it was all very, very sweet but it just made you long for home even more.

the latest message was sent only ten minutes ago, so before you could stop yourself, you were dialing his phone number. you had his number memorized, of course, even though you don't even have your own number memorized. which matt never failed to tease you about.

"hey, baby.." he greets you, his voice so soft and full of love. "how's work?"

"it's... work," you say with a gentle laugh before unloading on him like you do way too often. "i'm so tired, babe. like, i desperately need a coffee, but the closest coffee shop is closed because it's the middle of the fucking night and i'm too lazy to walk all the way down to the cafeteria." you exhale heavily. "i wanna come home. i miss you."

he chuckles softly. "i miss you more, pretty girl." you can almost hear his smile through the phone and it warms your heart so much. "hey, i hate to cut this call short, but i really have to take a shit."

you're glad he can't see your sad pout. "that's alright, baby. i should probably get back to work anyway. i love you. see you in, like, ten hours."

"i love you too, my baby. take care of yourself, okay? i'll see you soon." and then he hangs up. he must've really had to shit, you think to yourself.

you allow yourself a few more seconds to pout and miss him and feel sorry for yourself, but then you go back to work. you get water for a few patients and then decide to sit and do some paperwork whilst you can.

that's when one of your fellow nurses taps you on the shoulder and informs you that you have a surprise in the waiting area. you frown at her, confused, but she just winks and waves you away.

when you go out to the waiting room, your eyes widen. because there stands matt, with a large thermos of hot coffee and a few of your favorite chocolate protein bars.

you immediately get teary eyed when you see his beautiful, soft, kind smile. you step closer to him and sniffle, feeling overwhelmed with love and gratitude.

you wrap your arms around him, hugging him tighter than you've ever hugged anyone before.

"matt..." you murmur, your voice muffled against his neck. "you didn't have to come all the way out here just to bring me coffee, y'know?"

"i know, sweetheart," he says, pressing a lingering kiss to your temple. "but i wanted to."

"you're the best." you say as you pull back enough to look up into his eyes. "seriously, i didn't think guys like you even existed. you.. you're so good to me. and i really do appreciate everything you do for me."

"i know you do, baby." then his lips quirk up into a smirk and he leans in close again to whisper in your ear. "i can't wait for you to come home later.. so you can show me just how much you appreciate me."

you feel a shiver go down your spine. fuck.. now you want to go home even more.

@ stellarsturniolos.

[sunnyie-eve]

49 | Type

Series: Unexpected

Paring: (Matt Sturniolo x OFC Brock!) (Chris Sturniolo x OFC Brock!)

Word Count: 1.1k

Warnings: Matt jelly

| MASTERLIST |

Today Dani was having a guest on her channel that wasn't any of the boys. Honestly, Matt didn't like who her guest was because he knew how some of her fans were. They shipped her with almost every dude she talked to and knew.

"Did it have to be him?" Matt watches Dani play on her phone as they hung out in her room.

"Do you prefer your brother? You know, the one that everyone at the moment says we would've been a cute couple?" She looks up from her phone to look at him.

"That's stupid because you told him he missed his chance." Matt rolls onto his back, "So they need to stop staying they want it to happen." He adds then says in a mocking tone while making a face, "They would be such a good match for each other. Why can't she just agree to be his?"

"If they only knew I was yours." Dani leans over smiling before giving him a kiss.

"That's the only damn reason I want people to know." He sits up, "You're mine. Not his or anyone else." Dani giggles as he pulls her closer so he can hold her, "If guys wanted to they could try making a move on you because to them you're single."

"They could try but my answer would always be the same. No." She grabs his face to kiss him, "Now, stop pouting about me filming with Carrington." She moves away from him.

When he arrives they get into her car parked in front of the house, "Hi." Dani starts her car video, "I'm sure y'all know Carrington." She adds, "He's my first guest that's not my roommates or brother." She says as he smiles.

"I'm very honored."

"And this is only happening because Jake and Tara talked us into this. This is our first time hanging out alone." She laughs.

"That's why I'm nervous. It's new and I'm never like this." He laughs now, "But it's exciting."

Dani agrees nodding her head going for her phone but she didn't have it with her, "Oh, I forgot something inside." She motions towards the house.

"It's okay." He lets her know.

"I'll be quick." She opens the car door.

"Again, it's okay." He chuckles as she rushes inside. "Yeah, so we're doing this because our friends wanted us to." He starts to talk to the camera by himself, "We said okay. Okay guys. But today... We're here to gossip. What a great way to get to know each other. From what I see and know Dani seems amazing."

"Was I quick?" Dani rejoins Carrington in the car.

"Yeah, I've just been ranting to the viewers." He lets her know.

"Again, I'm sorry. I don't know how I forgot my phone inside."

"It didn't bug me." He says before changing the topic, "You know people said you have a type? Have you seen that?" He asks her.

"What?" She was confused never seeing such a thing.

"Yeah like..."

"How?" She laughs.

"Because when we had that group get together last week at Jake's. We were chatting in the background of a video Jake posted so people say you have a type." He explains to her then sees one on the guys leaving, "Oh look, a triplet is leaving."

"Matt." She waves at him so he waves back.

"But because we talked people think your type is brunettes with blue eyes." Carrington goes back to what they were talking about, "I feel like that is such a reach." He laughs, "Just because you're close to three others that fit that. What do you think?" He asks her.

"Actually, they aren't wrong for once." She giggles.

"So that's actually your type when it comes to looks? Is it the eyes that do it for you?" He gives her a look and she smiles since that was the main thing.

"Some blue eyes are just so beautiful." She tells him, "You, the triplets, Colby's and Sam's. I have dark blue but light ones..." She smiles more as Carrington looks at her.

"I love yours." He lets her know.

"Really?"

"Yeah, it's a deep blue." He nods his head.

"But yeah, my ex and everyone I've even had a crush on had light blue eyes." She tells him.

"Now people are gonna assume." He gives her a look and she nods her head rolling her eyes a bit.

"You and the other two."

"Just because someone fits that look doesn't automatically mean you like them. You can find them attractive but you aren't attracted to their personality." He goes on to add what he believes in.

"You completely get it. You and the triplets are good looking but I don't automatically have feelings for y'all."

"That would be odd." He laughs, "It's... Can you imagine just having feelings for someone based on how they look?"

"Good looking but is the biggest red flag." She adds.

"Like it's fine to be attracted to someone but you can't just go off of that. Don't do that guys." Carrington looks right into the camera, "Be smart."

"Be attracted to their personality." Dani does the same, "That's way better than looks."

"Looks are a bonus, guys, trust me." Carrington tells the viewers.

"Personality, looks." Dani makes a top three list, "What's third?" She asks him.

"I don't know." He thinks, "I don't know, you gotta be funny as well." He starts to laugh.

After about another like 20 minutes they finish up then he leaves while Dani goes back inside. Matt was still out and about so Dani got to rest by getting some time alone. With it being quiet Dani decided to take a nap because she woke up at 5:30am for some reason. 

When Matt gets back home, after buying stuff for around the house and food, he goes to Dani's room to see her sleeping. Not having anything to do and bored out of his mind he slides into her bed next to her.

Immediately, his arms slip around her from behind, slotting himself right up against her back. The gentle press of her spine against his chest makes him smile to himself because he can never get enough of how fucking perfectly she fit there. Leaning forward he press his mouth to the soft skin of her shoulder, peppering a few soft kisses there.

Dani hums keeping her eyes shut, "What?" She quietly mumbles still super tired.

"I wanna nap too." He whispers to her as he nudges his nose against the side of her neck. Dani hums in response moving her hand to rest over the one Matt has pressed against her stomach.

Matt grins against her skin. "Love you." His breath warm against her neck. He made sure not to say I this time because he didn't want to scare her again like last time.

Both of them succumb to the comfort of being with one another, "I love you too." She whispers so quietly Matt almost didn't hear her. He stays silent with a smile across his face as his fingers intertwine with hers before allowing himself to fall asleep as well.

[fonthoura]

So, about my "Garak knows Julian is lying, he doesn't know about what" hc. Now a bit from Julian's pov.

He knows that Garak is onto him, so when they're together he creates a system, he will talk, he will debate and have stimulating conversations, but he doesn't leave openings for Garak to ask much. And if he does, he never outright doesn't answer, he does so, only noncommittal, he never outright lies elaboratly like Garak, he just evades. (one time Garak asks how was his childhood on earth and he only says "dreadfully uneventful")

He does the same with all his friends, but the problem with Garak is that he notices, he can talk a lot with Jadzia and never reveal anything, Miles is a closed off man that doesn't ask too many questions, but Garak? Garak pries, he is curious, and is much like Julian in that sense, he can't resist a mystery.

Now, let's think about how much it would hurt, to be falling in love with a person, to want to spend your time with them, but you just can't. Julian wants to talk, he wants to let Garak in, he wants to spend many hours with him, but he restricts himself to only his doctor or his lunch mate, nothing else, he can't risk it, it's too dangerous, and he never felt lonelier.

To love someone who will never know who you really are.

I think it would get so much worse after the changeling, like I said on a previous post, the changeling emulates Julian well and no one notices because no one knows Julian all too well.

I think everyone would feel so much guilt cuz, how could they not notice it? He's their friend, he knows everything there is to know about them, and they can't even notice when he's literally not himself??

But Julian is okay with it.

Not okay, per say, but he expected it, he knew it all along, that his friends wouldn't know it, he's resigned, it's his own doing and he is defeated by it, by this horrible thing that he made happen because of something his parents did to him, but he assures everyone that it's fine, there was no way for anyone to notice.

How could they know? He sure as hell didn't make it easy.

And he gets lonelier, if possible, because he is painfully aware of how insignificant his existence is, because no one knows him apart from his name and job, he can't rely on anyone, only on himself, and he is going crazy with it.

Julian spent his time on the camp convinced that no one was coming, because no one knows him enough to notice, and it's his own fault, and he feels so hollow, the solitary confinement brought it to the surface, how it felt silent and he was forced to confront his solitude for the first time.

He needs to let it out, but he can't, and Garak gets more persistent.

All his friends start to notice something is wrong, but he bounces back from the camp like nothing happened, smiling, acting the same. All this acting, he only starts to get noticed by others because he's getting tired.

Everyone just thinks it's just because of the camp, but he knows Garak sees him, so he distances himself a bit.

And when the secret is out, he wants to run, to hide, he is scared, terrified even, he knows people will look at him differently, he is mortified of being known for who he is, he doesn't know how to deal with any of this, he was never ready to be himself fully.

But, for the first time, he feels free.

[disapprove]

She was looking back at him with disbelief. Ruby didn't know if she had to feel insulted, or just glad that he was being transparent to her. However, his words hit her right in the feels and she hated herself for feeling that small and insecure. Because he was right; she didn't know a thing about men. She grew up without a father, and she was only a teenager when they left Erik and his father. Ruby could only compare him to the men that wanted something from her or her body: and those experiences hadn't all been pleasant. His words about the strength and fire he thought she in her, that she wasn't using it right, made her think. It did bring a shade of red to her freckles cheeks and she looked away from him. Maybe she did have a way of making this life her own, but she simply didn't know how to. And even as he spoke about his life, and explained what he had gone through to be were he was right now (she doubted there was way more to that, as Ruby had long before noticed his scars and the way he could speak with those eyes), she didn't know if were able to.

Either your fight or you fall. "But you are taller and stronger than me." Ruby answered slowly. "And you know how you choose the right words, defend yourself verbally and non-verbally, I'm not like that-" She shook her head. "And I don't want you to pity me." She just needed help. "That does seem appealing." - She mumbled to his words about burning down the castle, eyes finding his again. Ruby's caring instincts were aching to help him, put pressure on the wound that was open again, help him, but she didn't want him to raise his voice again or make him more angry with her. After all she was just taking all her anger out on him, the anger she felt to his father, her mother, anyone who ever judged her, and maybe even herself. That wasn't fair to him either.

The red head nodded at his words, eyes trailing from the dim light coming from the creeks of the barn before looking back at Erik. As the sun was coming up, it was still quiet outside. It was Sunday, after all. "I'll show you." No matter how mean she had been, no matter how much she wanted to hate him for being stronger than her, she still wanted him to be okay. She wasn't a bad person, she had to remind herself that, so that the Saxon people wouldn't change her. "I forgot to tell you that I brought a fresh tunic. It's not his, don't worry." The girl wrapped her thick winter scarf around her shoulder and held the tunic when she offered Erik her other hand to help him up. "Can you be silent for a little while? It is a small walk down to the river. It should be save there to speak again."

Once at the river, Ruby handed him the tunic and waved over to a big tree. It had become one of her favorite spots to be at. She would draw all changes of the season, for hours and hours. "I'll be there if you need me. Take your time."

Erik's jaw tightened as Ruby's words struck him like waves against a storm-battered ship. Her admission of helplessness—of being trapped in a fate she neither wanted nor chose—scraped against his pride and defiance. He had spent his life carving his own path, however reckless or dangerous, and the idea of surrendering to circumstance was foreign to him. Yet, as much as her words rankled, a sliver of unease wormed its way into his thoughts. Was it really so different for him? Hadn’t he been shackled, in his own way, to the legacy of a father whose shadow he could never quite escape? He hated the comparison, hated even more that her plight stirred something uncomfortable in his chest—a flicker of empathy he refused to name. Her struggles were not his, he told himself bitterly. She spoke of having no choice, no power, but Erik had built his life on the belief that strength came from taking what you wanted, damn the consequences. The thought that someone might be unable to fight back—that they might be powerless—was one he could not fully grasp. Or maybe he didn’t want to. His hand remained firm on her jaw, the tension in his fingers mirroring the conflict within him. Her defiance, even in the face of his dominance, struck a nerve. It reminded him of himself, of the pride and anger that had fueled his rise. Her words—about men, about their relentless drive to fight and conquer—brought a bitter smirk to his lips.

“You think that’s all we are?” he said, his voice low and edged with mockery. “Fight and make love? Maybe it’s true for some, but don’t assume you know what drives me. You speak of having no choice, but you don’t see it, do you? Even now, you’re not powerless. You’re standing here, spitting fire, trying to break free from the cage you claim you can’t escape. That’s more strength than you give yourself credit for.” The smirk faded, replaced by something colder, harder. “But don’t mistake my sympathy for weakness, Ruby. You’ve got claws, but you still don’t know how to use them. And if you think that makes you safe, you’re wrong. The world doesn’t care about your excuses. Either you fight, or you fall. That’s all there is.” His gaze flicked to the blood staining his chest, his lips curling in a humorless grin. “You think I wouldn’t understand? That I don’t know what it’s like to live with someone else’s choices choking the life out of you? I’ve lived it, every damn day. The difference is, I made it my own. I didn’t roll over and let it kill me.” He released her jaw abruptly, his hand dropping back to his side. His pride refused to let him linger on the strange mix of guilt and respect her defiance stirred in him. “Don’t tell me what men think of. You don’t know the half of it. And don’t stand here expecting me to pity you, not when you’ve got enough fire in you to burn down that Saxon lord’s castle yourself.”

Erik exhaled heavily, the tension in his body seeming to ebb slightly as his hand fell limply back to his side. His piercing gaze softened, though the fire in his eyes didn’t extinguish entirely. He glanced down at himself—at the grime, the dried blood caking his skin, and the torn, filthy remnants of his tunic. The metallic tang of blood hung heavy in the air, mingling with the dirt and sweat that clung to him like a second skin. He grimaced, the pride that burned so brightly in him revolting at his current state. “Is there a river nearby? Or some stream, at least?” He shifted slightly, wincing as pain radiated through his side but refusing to let it slow him. “I’m not going to sit here, reeking of death and filth, like some cornered animal.”