#i admit that the bumps in their noses fit together much more precisely before things shifted in paint

[i-cant-swim-actually]

bro what if we fit together like puzzle pieces bro what if we just lay down and like test it out bro you never know

[boldlyvoid]

Wheels Up

Characters: Spencer Reid, Reader (Y/N), Aaron Hotchner, David Rossi, Derek Morgan, Savannah Hayes, Emily Prentiss, Elle Greenaway, Tara Lewis, Jennifer Jareau, Matt Simmons, Luke Alvez

Summary: JJ goes on maternity leave, Spencer falls in love with her replacement that he's supposed to be mentoring, Emily Prentiss and Elle Greenaway work a case together that brings Simmons and Alvez in for help...

Warnings: Genius!Reader, mutual pining, idiots in love, drinking, star gazing, lots of fluff, mentions of past assault, grooming, drug addiction, spencer's trauma, Abductions, Rape, Murder (typical canon violence)

word count: 9.4K

a/n: this is for @starry-eyed-spence and @simmonsmilf CM fanfiction week, Day One: Favorite Character... only I couldn't pick just one.

To say Spencer fell in love at the least opportune time was a bit of an understatement. Everyone he’s ever come close to admitting his love to has either left him or died. Now he’s stuck with loving someone in secret, keeping it to himself and hoping that one day she’ll love him back.

He fell in love with a co-worker once again… which wasn’t the worst thing, office romances happen and it’s quite frankly all Rossi’s fault that they even had to worry about fraternization policies. The part that makes liking Y/N so difficult is that he’s supposed to be her mentor, he’s 5 years older than her, and if he was to ever make a move she would feel inclined to reciprocate in order to keep her job because that’s the unfortunate truth behind office relationships with significant differences in positions.

And worst of all… she doesn’t like him that way at all. She’s called him the brother she always needed, a best friend, the best mentor ever. She wasn’t interested in him in the slightest.

“And why would she be?” He’s said this to everyone who knew about his crush on her. “I’m old and boring and she’s so cool?”

But he didn’t get it. He didn’t understand that every time she asked him to hang back to help her file something, or when they would buddy up in hotel rooms to discuss cases all night and end up down some star trek rabbit hole instead, every time he talked to her she was falling in love with him right back.

It once again all circles back to Rossi, if it wasn’t for him, Spencer wouldn’t even know her. She wouldn’t have ever been introduced to the unit, he wouldn’t be attached to her at the hip and he probably wouldn’t be as happy as he is with her in his life. Even if she wasn’t his girlfriend.

He’ll never forget the day Rossi asked him to meet her, to help her settle in…

“Spencer, can I talk to you for a minute?” Rossi called him into his office.

He sighed, putting his book down and walking up the stairs to his office. He closed the door behind himself and smiled awkwardly, “what’s up?”

“Sit,” he gestures to the chairs in front of his desk, where Spencer pulls one out and proceeds to sit down, anxiously. “As you know, both Kate and JJ will be out of the field in the next few months to have their babies and we need to bring someone in to fill the void until they return, so I reached out to the academy to see if they have any up and coming Dr. Reid like agents that they could loan us.”

“Why?” Spencer laughs at the choice of words.

“Well, honestly, why get new 2 agents when we could have two Reid’s? JJ will be back after a month or 2, it’s better to have more brains than brawn.”

“So they found someone and you want me to be their chaperone?” Spencer clues in. “Who are they?”

“Y/N Y/L/N, she’s a wonderful agent, but she’s pretty quiet, I don’t know much about her personally.” Rossi prefaces. “She’s a genius, high IQ like yours and just a plethora of knowledge inside that mind of hers. You’ll like her.”

“Alright,” he nods. “When do they start?”

“When JJ’s water breaks, but I’d like you to meet them and maybe even have them shadow you for a day?” Rossi asks, “I’ve actually arranged for you both to get dinner at a friend's restaurant?”

“Is this an arranged date or purely business? Don’t send me in there blind,” he worries. “I need at least a week's prep before I go on a date again.”

“It’s not a date, kid,” Rossi laughs. “She's just a lot like you were when I met you, and I know from watching you all these years that it’s not easy to do it alone, so can you just walk them through it?”

“Of course.”

That first dinner Rossi set up for them was more exquisite than either of them prepared for.

They spent the whole night discussing dissertations and their independent journeys through becoming a genius. He understood perfectly why Rossi and the Academy would think she was a lot like him, she was a genius, but she was awkward. It took a while for her to break out of her shell and open up, but by the end of the night, he already knew they were going to be friends.

“So,” she smirks, “would you mind telling me honestly how hard this job is?”

“Why?”

She sighs, “I’ve heard a lot about Thee Doctor Reid and how you were the youngest hired to the BAU and all the shit you’ve been through.”

“What are the rumours these days?” He awkwardly smiles back, rolling his eyes slightly.

“That you were brain dead in a cemetery from an overdose and yet you’re so smart you came back from the dead to kill the unsub and escape…” she looks more and more disappointed in the rumour as she tells it.

His tongue hits the roof of his mouth as he opens it to speak, making a tsk noise as he shakes his head. “Well, I did OD but it was the unsubs main personality that resuscitated me.”

“Holy shit,” she whispers.

He nods, “what about you? I’m sure you have a reputation based on a rumour?”

She presses her lips together the way he always did, just as awkward. She sighs, huffing the air out of her nose and looking fed up. “I was groomed and assaulted by an older boy who then told kids I had a stalkerish crush on him so if I was to ever tell anyone what happened, then no one would believe me.”

“I’m so sorry,” Spencer knows the words don’t make up for what happened. “I’m guessing that’s why you wanted to get into profiling?”

She nods, “I got away with some PTSD and trust issues, most girls go through much worse… they deserve someone who gets it to look into their cases.”

Spencer nods. “That’s how I felt after my kidnapping too. It took a while for me to look at crime scene photos and not think about how they felt, and wonder why I lived when so many die?”

“I’ve never been a religious person,” she prefaces. “But I do believe we are here for a reason. Whether you choseto be here after your last life or this is some learning opportunity, or God is actually real? And you’re supposed to do good.”

“In narcotics anonymous, they reference god a lot, it’s helpful for the addicts, but I never get into it,” he opens up with her more than he’s ever opened up with any friend. “If my Devine purpose is to suffer in order to relate to those I’m supposed to help that’s a load of bullshit… honestly, I can get pretty angry thinking about why I’ve gone through what I’ve gone through doing this job, but it’s not as bad as what happened to me growing up, and it leads me to believe that I probably wouldn’t have had an easy time no matter how I live.”

She nods, “I know, I get that.”

“Sorry,” he snaps out of it. “I didn’t mean to trauma dump on you.”

“It’s exactly what I asked for actually,” she reminds him with a soft smile. “If you can still come to work every day, after all that, you must be incredibly strong— and if I’m anything like you the way people say I am, I guess I can do it too.”

He had no idea she would end up being his best friend.

She shadowed him just once in the office, picked up everything right off the bat and immediately made a name for herself in the unit. Derek tried multiple names on her before one stuck, and they knew it stuck when even Hotch called her Baby Genius.

She brought a different knowledge base to the team, similar to Spencers but visibly younger. She fit in with the crowds of kids they had to interview, she understood why kids reacted the way they did to trauma and abuse, and she was still a kid at heart. It was the reason Spencer fell for her.

She allowed him to feel free again. They went out together outside of work, going to events he always wanted to go to with a partner but never had a chance. She loved all the same things as him, and she takes him to places he’d never imagine enjoying before her.

Like laser tag… that was an afternoon he’ll never forget with her.

When JJ went into labour, that’s when Y/N started full time and Hotch hired Tara Lewis in the same week. The team barely had time to adjust to being undermanned before they were restocked.

Joining Spencer every morning for every case, she waited out front of her apartment for him to pick her up most mornings, sticking to his side throughout the long days and nights until he drove her home again. Even at work, they were partnered up for everything: heading to the M.E. together, bouncing facts back and forth at the precinct, playing good cop bad cop with perverts, and her personal favourite… Making the geoprofile.

And Spencer liked doing that part with her as well. Because it typically meant they were completely alone in a room, spreading out a map and leaning in close to each other as they placed every sticker and marker. Brushing hands, bumping shoulders, longing glances as they made connections… he also just liked to watch her hands move.

She was delicate and careful and precise… and he was falling in love with everything about her as the days went by.

Everyone on the team had noticed. It was really hard not to when they’ve all known Spencer for almost 11 years now. He was so different with her in his life, he was happy and giddy and dressing even better than before. His hair was perfect and he was glued to Y/N’s side. Or she was glued to his.

Even though they were mentally similar, physically they were polar opposites. Y/N wore all black and was a lot more outgoing than they expected. Rossi thought she’d be quiet… But she was constantly talking. To Spencer, to other officers, to witnesses, she never stopped talking and starting conversations, and thank god she did because she’s cracked 4 cases that way.

The biggest surprise the team learned about her happened on a case in Florida, a shooting in a local park in broad daylight with lots of witnesses meant the whole team was on the boardwalk asking questions. She went out to do her thing, talking to the local skaters, asking them if they knew anything but they didn’t want to cooperate.

They were too cool for the feds.

“Can I see your board?” She asks, “if I do some tricks will you answer some questions for me and Doctor Reid?”

“Knock yourself out,” one of the boys laughs as he hands her his board.

She hands Spencer her gun and shoots him a wink before taking off to do a few tricks. The whole team watches in awe then as Y/N showed off. Cruising along the halfpipe effortlessly like she was a professional.

“Okay Tony Hawk,” Morgan teases her, “where did that come from?”

“Skateboarding is easy, it’s just physics,” she shrugs. “I can figure skate too…”

“What do you want to know?” The boy takes his board back. “We always see some sketchy guys around here.”

Morgan pats Y/N on the back with a smile, applauding her ability to get anyone to open up before leaving her to take the statement.

“Agent?” One of the girls pulls her aside just before they are about to leave, “how did you do that kickflip? I’ve been trying to learn and the boys won't help me.”

“Sure thing,” she takes the girl's board and demonstrates a kickflip first.

“So, you see as I start the kickflip I bend my knees?” She shows her another kickflip all while explaining it. “Much like the with an ollie, I’m building pressure so I can apply it to the tail, making the board pop. The one thing that makes this trick different from the ollie is that instead of sliding my foot up, I just flick my toe out to the right of the board, by doing this, the board flips in a 360-degree motion.

She demonstrates again and it’s another flawless kickflip, and a huge smile on her face as Spencer watches her.

“How fast the board spins depends on how much force I put into it when I flick it out. As soon as the board flips in a full 360, your feet should connect and drive the board back to the ground.”

She hands the board back to the girl, “your turn.”

She takes a deep breath and shakes her nerves out before taking off on her board, looping around and carefully bending her knees, she follows every step and it’s a flawless kickflip.

“Flawless!!” Y/N claps. “Those boys better watch out, you’re a natural.”

“Thank you,” she wraps her arms around Y/N and gives her a hug, “it’s taken me so long to be able to do that, you’re so cool.”

“You’re welcome,” she smiles. “Good luck out there.”

She waves as she takes off on her board, leaving Y/N with a smile as she turns to Spencer. “I miss being that age and thinking everything is so cool.”

“You are really cool,” he agrees. Smiling softly as a blush fills his cheeks. “You’re always surprising me. Is there anything you can’t do?”

She laughs, “yeah the one thing I want to do the most.”

“Which is?”

She sighs, “maybe I’ll tell you someday.”

—

He’s sitting beside Penelope and Savannah, watching Derek and Y/N get drinks for what’s left of the group as the night drags on.

“When are you going to tell her?” Savannah asks.

“What?” Spencer pretends he doesn’t know what she’s talking about.

“You have a crush on the new girl…” she pokes his cheek as he blushes and gives it away. “Tell her, what’s the worst that can happen?”

“She could feel forced to say yes because I’m a supervisory special agent and she isn’t and she wants to keep her job so she feels like she needs to,” Spencer worries. “I want her to like me back because she fell for me and I want her to initiate it because then I’ll know it’s not just a power dynamic issue.”

“Have you tried asking her, genius?” Penelope teases. “Because if you asked her then you’d know she has a crush on you and she’s afraid you’ll turn her down because you’re an SSA and she isn’t.”

“When did you hear that?”

Penelope pretends to lock up her lips and throw away the key, making Savannah laugh loud enough to get Derek's attention at the bar. When he and Y/N return, that’s when the questions start.

“What’s so funny?”

“Nothing,” Spencer gets up and leaves the booth, walking out towards the smokers' exit at the back of the bar, getting a moment of semi-fresh air to think about what Penelope said.

“Spence?” She calls to him from the door, “are you okay? Can I come out here?”

“Yeah,” he nods. “Sorry, I needed some air, it’s nothing.”

“Do you need a hug? I read it helps the most when people are stressed out,” she plays it off with a shrug.

“So you do have a crush on me?”

“She told you?” Her face lights with fury, “what the fuck, Penelope?”

“She didn’t mean to,” he tries to cover it up. “It was only brought up because I have feelings for you as well.”

Her eyes widen, her brows raise and her mouth slowly opens as she freezes.

“Y/N?”

She blinks a few times and shakes her head, “impossible. There’s no way.”

He laughs, “I’ll take that hug now?”

She lunges for him and wraps her arms around him so tight. Breathing him in, her hands wander his back as she takes in every second if it and he does the same. He can’t believe she’s that close to him, her hair smells nice and she’s so soft in his arms.

It’s quiet outside, they can hear the music behind the door, the people in the ally talking and the crickets in the night. It’s just them outside, holding each other in the smoking section with smiles on their faces, amazed that it’s finally happening.

“Can we keep this between us?” She whispers into his ear. “Just for a bit? I don’t want to go through all the paperwork and have to separate in the field if it doesn’t work out?”

“Wait,” Spencer pulls back. “Are you asking me to be your boyfriend?”

She nods, “well yeah isn’t that what happens when two people have a mutual crush? They date?”

“Okay,” he smiles, staring at her lips and then flicking his gaze back to hers with a blush. “I have more than a crush on you, I really, really like you.”

“Prove it,” she teases, “let's go on a real date soon?”

“You know what, let’s get out of here. I have something I want to show you,” he takes her hand and waits for her to nod.

“Take my lead okay? You don’t feel good and you’re going to wait outside while I say goodbye,” she has a plan right away

“After you,” he holds the door open for her and lets her inside first.

—

“I’m taking Spencer home, he’s not doing well,” she’s a much better actress than Spencer expected, patting his back and watching him leave the bar before her like she asked him to do. “He’s really anxious?”

Penelope looks worried, “oh no, I fucked up. I told him you like him.”

She just shrugs, “if he didn’t know that already then I guess he’s not as smart as he pretends to be.”

“See,” Derek looks at Savannah. “I told you everyone else also thinks he’s faking being that smart.”

“Shut up,” she shoves him and turns her attention back to Y/N. “Go make him feel better, he’ll like your company.”

“I’ll see you guys at work on Monday,” she waves them goodbye, surprised they bought it as she rushes her way back outside to Spencer.

He’s already in his car, engine running and waiting for her with a smile. “Come on,” he hurries her inside and is taking off down the road before she even has her seatbelt on yet.

“What’s the rush, Spence? It’s only 1 in the morning I’m sure tones of places are open still?” She teases.

“You’re going to like this, I used to go here all the time when I started with the bureau,” he explains, leaving the main road to take a back root, and eventually they’re driving on gravel.

“If you’re taking me here to murder me this is a dumb way to do it because they all know I left with you,” she teases. “At least when you go to get rid of me, do yourself a favour and dig 6 one-foot holes instead of one 6 foot hole…”

He laughs, “would you really give your murderer tips?”

She nods, “my goal would be to piss him off so much he either lets me go or murders me quickly. I don’t want to go through all the pain.”

“It’s not fun, that’s for sure,” he shrugs it off but she knows it hits too hard.

“I’m sorry,” she whispers, reaching her hand out for his to hold by the gear shift. “I think you’re like the strongest guy in the world, you know that, right?”

“Why?” He asks as if that's a preposterous thing to say.

“I think if I got kidnapped and tortured at 24 I wouldn’t still be working in the FBI,” she admits. “I barely made it through the academy, I know this job is intense but I don’t think I could handle being in that situation.”

“If it’s up to me,” Spencer squeezes her hand tighter and brings it to his lips for a kiss. “You’ll never experience anything like that.”

He’s so good at making her feel safe that she almost believes he has the power to do that. He would do anything and everything to move fate for her safety.

He turns down another back road then, around the edge of a lake and towards a clearing. He follows old tire tracks and parks by the dock. “I found this spot one night on a random drive to clear my head.”

“I thought you hated driving?” She quizzes him.

He shrugs, “I like to drive at night when no one else is on the road because then I don’t really have to worry about anyone else. I hate driving because I can’t always anticipate other drivers' movements. If I could read minds, then I’d drive more.”

“Valid,” she nods, “now why is this such a special spot that you needed to show me right away?”

“Well, I have a telescope and it’s been in my trunk for the last 13 years so that every time I come here, I can look up at the moon…”

“You brought me here to look at the moon with you?” She swoons, “that’s so cute.”

“You think?” He looks like his heart is doing the same swelling as hers.

She gets out of the car before she can lean over and kiss him the way she wants to. In his trunk, he does have a telescope, and a blanket, which they set out on the dock and sit upon.

The sound of the lake, the loons in the distance, frogs and crickets and music travelling from somewhere down the lake. The moon was big, the stars were amazing, and this was the closest she has ever seen them. It's amazing, and of course, it was Spencer showing her everything.

He was everything to her.

And it didn’t take long for him to become everything to her either.

Joining the BAU was a dream to many at the academy, but Y/N never thought that she would get the job, overjoyed that she did. They were a family unit; they got the job done, they protected each other, and it was a wonderful environment to be a part of. She obviously liked Spencer the most out of everyone. He took her in, he made her feel comfortable and safe and she opened up more with him than she has with anyone she’s labelled a “best friend” in the past.

She liked everything about him. The way he talked with his hands, how his sweater, vest, shirt and tie always match, his gun looks a little out of place on his belt, like it’s too big for him, but it’s cute. His hair’s been getting longer too, sometimes he wears glasses and sometimes if she’s lucky, he doesn’t shave every day.

She can’t take her eyes off him when he’s busy and won't notice, just to then move her focus away when he stared at her. She only wishes she could see the way he stares at her in awe, because if it’s anything like how she looks at him, he must love her.

She keeps her hand in his, trading the telescope back and forth in turns, her face was close to his every time they switched and she kept getting bolder with each exchange. Letting Spencer look, she kept her face close to his, kissing his cheek softly as soon as he was busy peering up at the moon.

He turned to her with a gasp, “what was that for?”

“You’re cute,” she shrugs. “I’ve wanted to kiss you for a while.”

“How long?” He teases, leaning in closer and kissing her nose to make her laugh.

“Since you dropped me off at my house after that first dinner…”

“So this is me,” she nods out the window, “thank you for the ride, I appreciate not having to be in an Uber all by myself.”

“Anytime you need a ride, you can give me a call?” He asks. “Seeing as we’ll be going to the same place anyway.”

She nods with a smile, “I’d love that, do you live close to here?”

“Just up the street,” he nods. “So we could carpool?”

“I can drive some days if you want?” She asks, “I know you mostly take the subway, and I know that because I’ve seen you reading on there before.”

He can’t help but smile, “so you never thought to say hello?”

“No,” she shakes her head, “you looked peaceful, and I’m sure you don’t get many moments like that in your line of work.”

He sighed, knowing she was right. “If it ever gets to be too much for you, please never feel like you have to pretend to be okay? None of us expect you to be stone cold, none of us are either. The job gets to us, just tell me if it gets to be too much?”

She looks from his lips back to his eyes and over again, “thanks, Spencer.”

He does the same to her, “anytime. Should I walk you to your door?”

She shakes her head, “that’s okay you’ve done enough for me tonight.”

“Fair enough,” he laughs. “Have a good night Y/N.”

“You too, Spencer,” she smiles before she exits his car, smiling at him from her porch before he drives away.

“So it’s been mutual this whole time?” He shakes his head at the absurdity. “I’ve been so lonely for so long and then I found you and you make me feel like I don’t need to be alone anymore.”

“You complete me too,” she makes one more comment before connecting their lips.

It’s like the world stops then. It’s silent and serene and everything she thought kissing Spencer Reid would be.

She pulls back with a smirk, “oh no.”

“What?” He worries.

“I’m going to want to kiss you all the time now…”

“Good,” he mumbles the words against her lips before reconnecting them.

—

At work on Monday, it’s very hard for them to look at each other without remembering that they’ve kissed. Spencer’s practically glowing with admiration for her that he gives it all away. He’s overly happy, offering to do things for others, standing way too close to her and bringing her coffee all morning.

“Okay, pretty boy,” Derek takes him by the scruff of the neck and redirects him into his office. “What’s going on with you today, I know you’re not this happy for JJ’s return?”

“What do you mean?”

“Did you get laid or something?”

Spencer laughs, “no, you know I don’t get laid. You actually remind me of that fact quite often.”

“You’re so happy I’m worried you’ve moved to crack,” he says it. “Okay, you were acting weird on Friday, you missed brunch on Sunday and now you’re waaay too happy.”

“I’m not on drugs again,” Spencer assures him. “I’m just letting myself enjoy my time with Y/N, if she falls in love with me in the meantime that would also be nice.”

“Oh, so you’re doing this to get laid,” Derek teases him again. “That’s good, I’m sorry if I triggered you by asking, but I had to make sure you’re okay.”

“No, no,” he places his hands on Derek's shoulders, “thank you for caring.”

“Always—“

“Guys!” They hear Hotch yelling from the bullpen, cutting the tender moment short, saving Spencer from spilling the truth.

Rushing back, he sits beside Y/N at the briefing room table. “We have a bad one,” Emily Prentiss of all people walks in the door, followed by Elle Greenaway.

“We’ll have time to mingle in a minute, right now there is a woman who needs our help,” he announces.

Spencer quickly reads over the case files, recognizing Elles handwritten notes, she was a private investigator now. “With Penelope’s help, I’ve been able to set up alerts in College chatrooms in the area so that I can help to missing and assaulted women right away.”

“She’s alerted when someone reports a missing woman and she has advertisements for people to reach out to her for help,” Penelope explained.

“I’ve been working on these cases for the last 9 years,” Elle announces. “This morning Aasia Desai called me saying her sister Bahni never showed up for lunch and it’s not like her, we know she went clubbing last night and so far Penelope’s tracked her down an ally and then she’s gone.”

“Her parents are British diplomats so Interpol has asked me to join, luckily I was just in Ontario so it was a short trip over,” Emily adds. “JJ will be here in half an hour for her first day back, and we will celebrate when we can, but I see we have some new faces here?”

“Special Agent Y/N Y/L/N,” she waves, still glued to Spencer’s side. “I’ve heard a lot about you both from Doctor Reid.”

“Doctor Tara Lewis,” she stands and shakes Emily’s hand, and then Elles.

“So it says here that the first missing case was in 2006 just after you left the BAU?” Spencer changes the subject before anyone can pry into why he would be telling her about the women who worked there before her.

“I did,” Elle nods. “I was too late for her, by the time her parents realized she was missing and called me in the case was cold. I started this as a way to get ahead of it.”

“How long has she been missing?” Tara asks.

“She was last seen at 1:07 this morning,” Elle confirms. “We have 25 hours, maybe, to beat the odds.”

“Reid,” Hotch cuts in, “I would like you and Elle to go check out the street she was last seen on, find any private cameras or anyone who might have seen something.”

He turns to Y/N who just shrugs in silence; “it’s fine.”

“Tara and Derek, I’d like you to interview Aasia when she and JJ get here, Garcia can you do a deep dive into Bahni’s spending and academic records?”

“Sure thing,” she starts clicking away on her computer immediately.

“And Y/N,” Elle looks at her. “I need you to go over the footage of the man who followed her to the alley and get familiar with his face. We’re using you as the face of the investigation to hopefully draw the unsub out.”

“How would she be able to do that alone?” Spencer gets defensive, a way he used to with JJ when she was the media liaison.

“If she goes on the news and makes Bahni seem like a person while describing the unsub as someone who can help solve the case, it will draw him out,” Emily explains for Hotch, who is glaring at Spencer for second-guessing the plan already.

“And she’s college-age,” Elle adds. “If that’s who he’s been going after all this time he will want to come in and talk IF he can talk to her.”

She places her hand on his leg under the table, “it’s a good plan.”

“It is,” Hotch agrees.

“What do you not have a saying to replace wheels up when they stay in town?” Elle teases him.

“Wheels away?” Emily joins her, “that works?”

“just get to work,” Hotch tries not to smirk at them.

Spencer stands up to leave with Elle, “can I just talk to Spencer before he leaves?” She carefully asks Hotch.

“Make it quick,” he agrees reluctantly and lets her follow him down to his desk.

Spencer rests his hands on the back of his desk chair, holding it tightly in an attempt to calm himself down.

“I’m going to be fine,” she assures him. “I don’t think the guy on the tape took her, we’d see him leave if he did.”

“Unless he lives in the alley,” Spencer combats. “Can you ask Penelope to do a background check on all the cars coming in and out of the campus and that street between midnight at 2 am?”

She nods, placing her hand on his gently. “Good luck out there, okay?”

He nods, “it’s been 2 days they’re going to know by the end of the week.”

She laughs, “so be it.”

He says fuck it right then and there, wrapping her up in a hug and kissing the top of her head as the team watches in the briefing room. “I’ll see you later.”

“Yes you will,” she smacks his side as he lets her go. “If you’re going to make a scene at least give me a real kiss.”

“Hmm,” he teases. “No cause then I’d have to sign some paperwork and I’ve got to go…” he starts to back away.

“Coward,” she teases.

He just shrugs, meeting Elle by the door and heading towards the elevators in silence.

She doesn’t ask, not even when they get to the garage or inside the SUV. They’re driving down the road for maybe 2 minutes when Elle finally brings it up. “So—”

“What do you want to know?”

“It's that easy now? What happened to you?” She teases. “You’re so different from the baby Spence I left.”

“Well you missed my drug problem, my dad being a possible child molester, getting shot in the knee, getting shot in the neck, my girlfriend dying, and now my mom might have Alzheimer's so you know… I had to grow up a bit,” he lays it all out for her to ask any question she wants.

“Why don’t you ever call me? I would have been there for you through anything,” she reminds him.

“I know that,” he reaches over for her hand, “thank you. But I was a big fan of suffering in silence… and now I have Y/N and she makes me feel normal?”

“That’s good, you deserve some fraction of normal in your life and she’s really cute,” Elle smiles back at him before returning her focus to the road. “How old is she?”

“27,” he smiles. “She’s the best.”

“You love her,” Elle notices it.

He presses his lips together to fend off a smile as he nods, “I think I do.”

“Tell her, you deserve to hear that someone loves you back.”

—

She’s anxiously tapping her foot as she waits for the elevator to arrive with the suspect, Rossi standing just behind her. Only 15 minutes after being on the news, the man that was in the security footage contacted them. Making his way over for a voluntary interview.

He looks Y/N up and down with a smile, “I heard you were looking for me.”

“I sure was,” she plays along with it, smiling and making him think she’s interested as well. “I knew you’d get the message, we just need all the help we can get right now.”

“Of course,” he has his ego stroked so well that they can roll with it.

“Would you mind coming with me and Agent Rossi to talk about everything you saw?” She batts her lashes at him, really selling it.

“Sure,” he follows them down the hall.

Rossi opens the door and lets them in first, letting her get him settled and a glass of water. “So you can tell me everything from that night?”

“Sure,” he nods, explaining his taxi job, his run for the night and his alibi.

“So why did you step back into the doorway?” She asks as she sits in front of him. Straight-faced as she catches him off guard.

“Excuse me?”

“You stepped out of the way to let her pass and then followed her, she made no motion to say she wanted your services, so I’m just wondering why you would follow her before she disappeared?”

“Huh,” he suddenly feels played and his personality switches. “I thought this was just a chat?”

“I’m simply asking you questions? If you don’t have answers that makes you suspicious. An innocent person would have given me an answer,” she fights back.

“She’s right, you got very defensive very fast,” Rossi finally speaks up.

He shakes his head with a huff. “I was going to ask if she needed a ride, she looked pretty messed up. And then some guy came over and wrapped his arm around her and they walked off. They seemed to know one another. I thought she was safe in his hands.”

Only his tone doesn’t match the words. He sounds jealous— It’s not like she would have been a large tab, he wasn’t jealous because he lost a customer. No, he’s jealous like someone stepped in and prevented him from snatching an easy victim.

“Fair enough,” she pretends to believe him. “Thank you for your cooperation.”

“I can go now?” He changes right back to confused.

She nods, “I’ll escort you down if you’d like?”

“Thanks,” he stands and follows her to the door where Rossi stops her.

“Are you sure?”

She nods, “I’ll be back up shortly.”

She catches up with him by the elevators, “did you have to drive far to get here?” She makes small talk.

“Not really,” he shakes it off. “I like your necklace.”

She touches her necklace and her face drops, “thanks.”

“Necklaces are my favourite.”

“You don’t wear any?” She notices in the form of a question.

He shakes his head as the elevator opens at the ground level. “I think they’re nice gifts.”

She nods along, pretending that didn’t set off every ret alert and alarm in her mind, “well here you are. Thanks again for all the help.”

“No problem,” he goes to leave, turning to stop and block the doors from closing. “If you want, later tonight I can show you everything I saw at the alley?”

“Yeah, sure,” she agrees with no plan to go.

“8 pm? At Cafe Linda?”

“See you then,” she agrees and he steps back letting the door close and then she loses her cool.

Feverishly smashing the floor 6 button, and begging to make it back up to Hotch to tell him everything. But she also just wants to cry but she holds it in as she makes it to their floor matching past Rossi and right into the briefing room.

“He may not be our unsub but that man is a creep,” she announces. “He not only complimented my necklace but he asked me to come to the alley tonight so he can walk me through what he saw.”

“You’re not going,” Hotch announces.

“I didn’t plan to,” she snaps. “I think we need to look into him because he’s either giving little girls necklaces to keep them quiet or he’s taking necklaces after he kills women.”

“Kathy’s parents said she was in a necklace when she went missing,” Emily adds. “His connection to this case and being at NYU right before she went missing gives us enough probable cause for a search warrant.”

Hotch sighs, “fine. I’ll call a judge, you and Y/N can go and search his place.”

“So shouldn’t we arrest him before he leaves the building?” Morgan asks.

“He’s still in the garage, I’ve let the security know to stop him and arrest him at the gate,” Garcia adds, listening in and planning in advance.

“Thank you,” Hotch smiles at her, “you’re always reading my mind.”

Garcia smiles back at him, “always, sir.”

“Okay, let’s go,” she looks at Emily and waiting for her to turn to leave the room.

“Let’s,” she motions for Y/N to take the lead and follows.

The drive to his house is so weird… she doesn’t quite know how to talk to Emily, knowing only slightly about her and her knowing nothing about Y/N.

“So how long have you and Spencer been dating?” Her first question just gets right to the point.

She laughs awkwardly, “3 days…”

“Oh…”

She hums as she nods along, looking out the window and avoiding Emily’s eye contact. “It’s new, we’re both pretty infatuated with each other but we’re taking it slower than most people because I’m afraid to let my feelings change how I do the job.”

“Makes sense,” Emily replies. Her voice is so sweet, she has an aura of calm that follows her and lets Y/N feel safe. She gets why Spencer said she was his best friend on the team before her.

“The necklace comment… why did it make you so wary of this guy?”

“When I was in middle school a guy gave me a necklace while he was grooming me,” she whispers. Looking out the window and pretending it doesn’t bother her now. “It’s fine, I don’t have it anymore, but I knew this guy had that same vibe.”

Emily put her hand out, letting Y/N interlock their fingers and hold it. “I know I just met you, but you’re family now. I’m here if you’re ever suddenly not fine with it anymore…”

“Thanks,” she smiles. “Let’s get this fucker.”

—

By the time the warrant went through, Spencer and Elle had joined them to search the first suspect's house while Emily left to help the rest of the team with suspect two. Tracking all the license plates in the area like Spencer suggested lead them to a Chinese food delivery driver in the area.

That didn’t stop Y/N from destroying her suspect's house. They tore the house apart, searching every nook and cranny for any answer that would make sense. She was tempted to lift the floorboards up, call in SCSI to run ground-penetrating radar and search the fucking walls if they had to.

But then she found it.

A small metal box in the laundry room contained some tools and when she lifted up the fake bottom, she found 5 necklaces.

“Elle!!” She yelled through the house.

They both came running down the hall to her, “is this Kathy’s necklace?”

“Oh my god,” she whispered with a nod.

“I want to kill this guy,” she mumbles under her breath as she places the necklaces back in the box and closes it up.

“Spencer doesn’t need another girl he has a crush on to murder someone and get kicked out of the bureau,” Elle teases.

“What?” Y/N asks.

“Way to go,” Spencer nudges her.

Y/N stands up with the box and slides it into a large evidence bag before taping it up. “I guess he has a type then.”

“I don’t,” Spencer tries to cover up. “I mean, if I do then it’s people who are nice to me…”

She smiles at him, unable to even pretend to be jealous or mad. “It’s hard to be mean to you when you’re so cute.”

“Ew,” Elle announces her disgust as she leaves the room.

“Let’s get out of here before I end up kissing you in a murderer's laundry room,” Spencer teases, taking her hand and leading her out of the house as the rest of the forensics team takes over the bagging of evidence.

“Guys,” Elle rushes back to them with her phone pressed to her ear. “We have a bigger problem than we thought with Bahni.”

They rush into the SUV, putting the team on the speaker to hear the most unthinkable. “So I did what Y/N suggested and searched every single driver coming in and off-campus and the last street she was seen on,” Penelope explains back. “And I came across a man who was delivering Chinese food under the name Tom Larson… and it’s ironic his name is tom because he has a plethora of peeping offences and general creepiness alongside a metric shit-ton of abuse from his dad and dead mother.”

“Okay?” Elle follows.

“Tom Larson lives near Bahni,” Emily explains, “I was just at his house where I found him and his father had been murdered.”

“So we have not 1 but 3 creeps in this case, and none of them are who took Bahni?” Spencer rubs his eyes. “Please tell me we know who was in Tom’s car last night.”

“That’s where it gets tricky,” Penelope says with the doles tones of keys clicking behind her words. “We were just contacted by the fugitive Taskforce because they believe one of the murderers they’ve been tracking took Bahni… but he has ties to a much larger scale global sex trafficking ring.”

Elle flies through the streets with their lights on, pulling back into headquarters and right up to the security check. “So who is this guy?”

“Once you get back up here, Agent Simmons and Alvez will explain everything,” Hotch confirms. “I’m taking Derek to see Cruze, we need to tell him what’s going on.”

“Sounds good,” Elle hangs up and throws the SUV in park.

Y/N hesitates, staying put and taking a few breaths as Spencer watches. Elle’s left the car and is already on her way to the elevator. “What’s wrong?”

“Can I just have a hug real quick?”

“Yeah,” he wraps his arms around her and holds her close. “Are you okay?”

She nods against him, “yeah it’s just good to have at least 8 hugs a day.”

“Hug me whenever you need to,” he whispers against her hair, kissing the side of her head before she pulls back.

“Kisses are helpful too?”

He smiles, leaning in and pressing his lips to hers, mumbling against them, “how many?”

She hums, “10?”

He pecks her lips 10 times and counts each one, making her giggle, it takes so much effort to hold her smile back to keep kissing him but she feels much better.

“Thank you,” she beams and she can swear Spencer's eyes sparkle as he smiles back.

She pulls him into another hug, “I hate that we have to go catch a killer right now.”

“Come on then, as soon as we get him we can go on another date somewhere?”

She shakes her head, “after this case I think we should take a nap together… I’m exhausted and I don’t want to let you go.”

Spencer shakes his head in amazement, “you really like me?”

“Yeah, maybe I do,” she teases him. “You should get used to it because it’s only going to get more intense and I will smother you with love.”

He just shrugs, “it’s about time—“

They’re startled with a knock on the window, “we get it you’re in love, can we go now?”

“Sorry!” Y/N calls back with a giggle, pulling him in for one last kiss before getting out. Spencer follows with a deep blush that everyone will see when they get back upstairs, but it looks cute on him.

Luke Alvez has been trying to catch one criminal for the last 2 years. Simon Garrett has been a pain in the ass for the FBI, the CIA and DEA. He first showed up on their radar when his DNA was found on 14 women’s remains, all of who had been missing for at least 5 years.

His DNA was then traced to his son in the foster system, who’s been off the radar for the last 10 years. Everette Garrett.

“Now he’s interesting because I’ve been investigating his sex trafficking ring between Canada and the United States,” Matt adds. “All 14 women his father's DNA was found on were thought to be in his ring, which means when they get too old he hands them to his father to take care of.”

Y/N shakes her head as she listens, “so if you’ve been looking for them for this long what makes you think we can find them in time to save Bahni?”

“We’ve been tracking him for a while, we knew that he had a new girl on his radar and when we heard it was Bahni Desai we knew it was time to get you guys,” Matt explains.

“So far we know that she has to be taken to this warehouse in Alexandria before she goes any further, we’re going to intercept them before they make it to the warehouse and then use their car to gain access to take the whole thing down,” Luke rolls out a map of the facility then.

“We need to have the place surrounded for any runners, SWAT is getting prepped, we’re going tonight at 3 am,” Matt adds. “Morgan, Hotch, Prentiss, Alvez and Myself will be running a team at each of the 5 exits. Once inside, each team's swat unit will deploy gas to carefully knock everyone out, from there we need someone to cuff everyone at least until we know who is a victim and who is working there.”

“We’re taking everyone alive?” Spencer makes sure he hears them right.

“We need to know what the step after this warehouse is if we want to rescue more victims,” Luke’s voice is gentle yet stern as he explains. “I’ve seen this man take too many women from good homes and ruin their lives, I’m not letting him slip out of my fingers.”

“We’ve had this planned for months, we just needed to wait for the next confirmed drop-off.”

“Who’s driving?” Y/N asks, having a feeling it was her and Spencer.

“He’s Reids age,” Hotch announces from the door as he walks in with Cruze, “so we’ll replace Everette with Reid and Bahni with Y/L/N.”

“Rossi and Elle will be there to apprehend Everette, we’re setting up a fake traffic spot to irritate him and inhibit him from running. You two will be in a duplicate car arriving at the warehouse at the arranged time,” Emily confirms. “We just have to prep SWAT and then we can leave.”

“Alright, let’s get ready.”

—

Pretending to be kidnapped in the back of a car driven by her boyfriend was possibly the weirdest way to spend a Tuesday morning. Driving the exact make and model as their unsub, her heartbeat was loud enough to cover the sound of the engine and distract her from the long drive. She was overly anxious, and rightly so, it was her first sting.

And she was doing it all without coffee. Tired but full of adrenaline, she wanted to close her eyes and drift off but she knew she needed to be ready to apprehend the men at the gate with Spencer.

She feels the large bump, indicating they just went over a speed bump and she knows what that means. The car slows and she can hear the muffled talking before swat steps in, soon enough Spencer is cracking the trunk open and reaching in for her.

“Are you okay?” He helps her to her feet and makes sure her bulletproof vest is on right before handing her, her gun and watching her clip it on.

“Yeah, what happened?”

“The guards are down, Swat moved in as soon as we arrived, now we have to stand here and wait for them to clear the building,” Spencer explains as they walk to the front of her car.

She draws her gun and keeps it pointed low, guarded as they watch the front entrance for anyone to escape. “Do you know if Bahni is okay?” She whispers towards him.

He nods, “they radioed in that they got her, she’s being airlifted to the hospital with JJ right now.”

She nods with a deep breath, “okay good.”

“It’s going to be fine, we have enough SWAT here to take the government,” he tries to joke, getting a laugh from one of the officers… very strange to see someone laugh while holding an assault rifle.

One of the swat side steps towards Spencer, “I’m hearing on the line that they’ve cleared every room. They’re cuffing everyone, you’re free to enter.”

“Thanks,” Spencer replies.

The high-pitched screech rubber gripping asphalt in an attempt to stop draws their attention backwards. Elle and Rossi jumping out with their guns drawn, ready to join even though the exciting part is long over.

“No runners?” Elle asks, holstering her weapon. “Aw man, I was excited.”

“Not a one,” Y/N adds, watching the front entrance for the rest of the team to start funnelling out with the unsubs.

Luke exits first with a big smile on his face, Simon Garrett cuffed and barely stumbling out the door in front of him. He finally got him.

“well done,” Elle congratulates him. “Let me help you get him in SWAT van.”

“I think she has a thing for Luke,” Rossi leans into Y/N to gossip. “she wouldn’t stop asking about him on the drive…”

“Ooo,” Y/N teases, getting more and more tired as her adrenaline drops. Her eyes are heavy and Rossi can tell.

“Why don’t I bring you and the good doctor home, I don’t think they need all of us for the wrap-up,” Rossi pats her back. “You’ve had a long night, kid.”

“Thank you,” she smiles, holstering her gun and turning with him towards the SUV. “I’m so exhausted.”

“Well you’ve been on the job for almost 24 hours now, you’ve officially made it through your first overnight sting op,” Rossi congratulates her like he’s her grandpa.

She turns back when she doesn’t hear Spencer following her, “Spence? Are you coming?”

“Um,” he has something to ask as he follows then but he doesn’t say it. “Yeah, sorry.”

“It’s okay, come sit with me in the back?” She asks, sliding in beside him and resting her head on his shoulder as soon as their seatbelts are on.

“Did you still want to have a nap together?” He whispers, feeling her nod against his shoulder before she pulls back.

“Come here,” she tugs him in against her chest, snuggling in as best as she could in their sitting position. Holding him close and feeling him drift off in her arms. She has no problem following suit.

When she wakes, Rossi is parked outside of her apartment, “here you go, Y/N.”

She hums as she comes to, shaking Spencer awake too, “Spence, come on, let’s get to bed.”

“He’s going with you?”

She nods, “don’t tell Penelope. She’ll have a field day, I just want a nap.”

“You better get more than a nap,” Rossi orders. “You guys need to actually rest before you come back to work on Wednesday.”

“Thanks, Dad,” she teases him. “We will.”

“Bye Dave,” Spencer whispers as he gets out of the car. “Thank you for the ride.”

“Anytime kid,” Rossi waves them off, waiting for them to enter the building before driving away.

“Finally,” she sighs, dragging Spencer down the hall and towards her apartment. “I’m so fucking tired.”

“me too,” he barely says.

He follows her inside like a lost puppy, taking off his vest and shirt, slipping out of his pants until he’s in an undershirt, boxers and his mismatched socks. She’s amazed by how comfortable he is with her, but she has known him for 3 months, it’s enough time to fall in love with someone… right?

She’s loved him since she started working with him. When she realized he valued her opinions, he looked at her as a person and he genuinely loved her company. She felt a real connection with him, not just childish infatuation. He was everything to her.

She slides into bed beside him and snuggles in, wrapping an arm around his middle and resting her head on his chest.

“I guess I really can do everything,” she smirks.

“What is that supposed to mean?”

She pokes his chest and giggles away the awkwardness, “the thing I wanted to do most, the thing that I couldn’t do… that was to fall in love with you, but I did it anyway.”

“Well, then I guess I can do everything too.”

She pulls away to look at him, “I love you, Spencer. I don’t know if it’s too soon, but I’ve loved you for a while.”

He pulls her in for a kiss, shocking her as he breathes her in and holds her there. “I love you, more Y/N.”

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[nonstoplover]

accidental reunion ~ joe liebgott (band of brothers)

my masterlist  |  my hbo war masterlist

pairing: joe liebgott x female reader

short summary: they met in Austria on V-J Day, it was just one night, they still can't forget the other

words: 2.4K

a/n: not gonna say much just that i'd do anything for joe liebgott, even if it includes giving up my whole life

taglist: @how-are-those-nuts-sarge @50svibes @pennyllanne @liebgotttme @nowinnablewar

One fun night on one of Easy's last nights in Austria. With lots of drinks, games, and the company of residents of the small village that was Kaprun who were willing to spend some celebratory time now that the war was actually, finally over.

It was undoubtedly one of the best nights the soldiers had in the past couple years - at least for Liebgott it definitely was. He accidentally bumped into a girl about his age in the small pub when on his way to get a new round of alcohol and then spent the rest of the night with her.

They never shared full names or addresses with each other, all they got to know were mentions of small things dropped by accident. Now Joe's back in San Francisco, back to life in peace and he can't get the girl out of his head. There's nothing he regrets more than not asking for only these basic pieces of information. He let the possibly only good thing that war gave him slip through his fingers.

There's not a day he doesn't think of her. He sees the sparkle of her eyes in the street lights, the colour of her hair in the polychrome autumn leaves, hears her giggle in a random girl's voice on the street that makes him do a hopeful double take only to be left disappointed a moment later. When he's in a pub on a night out, the swirling booze in his glass reminds him of her and that one night they got to spend together. When a young woman gets in his cab with hair similar to hers, his heart always skips a beat as he looks back over his shoulder with sudden high hopes, his eyes always connecting with a pair of orbs that are clearly not hers.

He doesn't even know why he feels this way - he truly doesn't know her after all. Still, it's like in a matter of only a couple hours a connection has been created, one that's about impossible to break. If he believed in soulmates, maybe he'd say that it is just that. But he doesn't.

So he just lets the days pass with the occasional but somehow still almost constant thoughts of the girl. Every other week or when he just has the next day off, he might try to forget about her, find some inner peace with another woman, even though he knows that the next morning he'll wake up with her first name on the tip of his tongue just the same.

(y/n), on the other side of the planet tries to go on with her life after the war - she truly does. But still, it feels like there's nothing left for her in Austria anymore. Everything's changed. The village, the people living there, even her own perspective and thoughts on life has changed. Enough to help her make the decision of moving to the United States.

To her family she says it's only because of the seemingly endless opportunities there, in the process trying to convince even herself that it's not because of the fluffy brown haired paratrooper she met on the night of V-J Day.

Of course it's not because of him, all she knows about the young man is that his first name is Joe, that his fellow soldiers called him Lieb or something like that once or twice throughout the night, that he wanted to be a cab driver back in America, and that he was from San Francisco. It's nowhere enough information to give up her whole life and start a completely new one on the opposite side of the world.

Still, somehow it is enough for her, and it also gives her a starting point when six months after they first - and by far last - met she appears in the enormous American city all by herself, all her life packed up in two suitcases she drags behind herself, heart beating frantically as she eyes the buildings and hears the unimaginable street noise around her. To say she's anxious is an understatement - hell, she doesn't even speak English that good.

After the first and most important things are settled - a place to live in, a job to earn money with -, she's unable to stop herself and flips the telephone book up and calls a few of the cab companies around the city, trying to ask about him. But seemingly there are too many Joe's around who are driving taxis, and after the fourth or fifth unsuccessful try that leaves her feeling all stupid and naive she gives up.

She tries hard to fit in, makes friends at work and with the two girls she's rented the room she's now living in from, spends every evening improving her knowledge of the language. The more time passes, the better she feels - and the more she feels like she belongs -, though the feeling of missing something from her life never goes away. The feeling of missing somebody, to be more precise.

About two months later one day she oversleeps and is in a hurry to get to work in time so she decides to catch a cab instead of her usual choice of travelling by public transport. Almost practically falling down to the seat as she scrambles inside, she's already saying the address whilst also trying hard to catch her breath - she can only hope the driver can understand her panting words.

She closes her eyes, pressing her palm to her forehead and focusing on slowing her heartbeat back down to normal. Only half a minute passes though before she leans back in her seat and lets her eyelids open again, and her glance subconsciously falls on the cab driver.

Silently examining his features from diagonally and behind she can't help but feel a weird feeling tingle in her chest, as if her whole existence has suddenly found something familiar. Her eyes move back up on his profile, on the elegant line of his nose and the way a strand of brown hair has delicately fallen in front of his forehead.

"Joe," the name she still hears in her sleep every night leaves her lips in an almost breathless, subconscious whisper.

Then the next moment his head whips around - so fast that she can't help but worry he'll have whiplash - and the oh so familiar eyes connect with hers.

"(y/n)?" Comes the equally disbelieving, quietly muttered answer from him.

He remembers her.

Suddenly all the frustration of leaving her home behind and moving across the world, all the frustration of trying to find him feels worth it. She's found him. Or has he found her? It was most likely fate bringing the two back together, giving them one last chance to see what they would do.

"What are you doing here?" Joe exclaims excitedly, his glance moving back and forth frantically between the road in front of him and her face.

"I moved here," (y/n) shrugs.

"You what?"

She only giggles in response to his reaction - she's too overwhelmed with happiness to actually say something.

"It's good to see you," he admits, mentally adding that it's not only good, more like the best thing that has ever happened to him. He knows he can't just attack her like that, she probably didn't move here because of him anyway so he keeps his mouth shut to keep these thougths in.

"You too," she beams at him in the rear-view mirror before quietly adding one more thought, mainly to herself. "By now I thought I'll never find you."

And just like that the previous thought almost fully disappears from his mind, his breath hitching in his throat. "You tried to find me?" Joe asks with a smug grin on his face, one that's supposed to hide the swirl of his true and not at all like him emotions.

"Well, yeah, of course," the girl shrugs sheepishly, earning a joyous hum from him as a wordless reply.

For a couple long seconds they stay in silence, both of them deep in their thoughts as their minds try to process the sudden emergence of the other. Some previously never felt tension rises slowly in the air of the car, suddenly neither knows what to say or what to do. What they've been dreaming about for more than half a year now has just come true - and they weren't ready for it.

"Where're you going?" Joe speaks up again to break the quiet. "I mean, why are going there, 'cause I know where you're going."

This earns him a mental slaps from himself for behaving so stupid. What is he doing? Why is he like this? Where's his usual confident cockiness?

"Work."

Maybe it was worth it, coming here just to see him again, but there's no guarantee that he hasn't found someone else by now - even if he does remember her - or that he would even want to see her again after today. Doubt reappears in her mind, keeping her from speaking her mind and ask him about all the things she's been dying to ask him ever since that night back in Austria.

"When did you arrive here?"

"Two months ago."

"Sorry if I'm asking too much, I'll stop," Joe glances at her in the mirror, taking her reserved, short answers wrong, thinking that she just doesn't want to talk with him.

"No, no, it's fine!" (y/n)'s quick to reassure, eyes opened wide. "I should be the one apologising for not answering more or asking back. I'm just- ugh, I don't know. I've been thinking about this moment for so long that now I'm scared it's just a dream again. I don't want to get too empathized in case I'll only wake up in my bed again."

"This is real life, I swear," Joe chuckles - her words have managed to calm him down again. He lets go of the steering wheel with one hand and reaches back above the car seat - nothing but a simple signal towards her.

Mindlessly holding back her breath she raises a hand of her own and lets her skin bump into his for a short moment before daringly fully wrapping her fingers around his. An immediate smile takes over his features as he loosens into her touch.

"See? It's not a dream," he grins to himself, thumb moving over the back of her hand in soft small caresses.

"I'm glad it isn't," (y/n) giggles and Joe lets out a chuckle himself.

Before they could truly let go and enjoy the drive to the fullest, he pulls over outside a building that (y/n) realises as her work place when finally looking out the window.

Swiftly letting go of his hand she starts rummaging through her reticule to find her purse. When she pulls out the proper banknotes and tries to push them in his palm, he just shakes his head and moves his hand back to the steering wheel.

"You don't have to," he shrugs. "Take it as a welcome in San Francisco gift."

"Thank you," she mumbles with flushing cheeks before collecting her things and moving to get out of the cab.

She closes the door already when the sudden realisation hits her - she still doesn't know either his full name or his address, or anything for real.

Her hand rises almost on its own and her knuckles rap a fast rhythm against the glass next to the front seat. Joe's eyes are already on her as he scoots closer to roll down the window.

"I just wondered if I could have your phone number," she blurts out before she could think twice leaning down so her head pops back into the car.

With a raise of an eyebrow and a teasing smirk sitting upon his lips he nods in acknowledgement. "For the better part of this past minute I've been trying to find the courage to ask for your number."

(y/n) can feel the blood rush to her cheeks as she realises how truly straight-forward she's acted, but before she can raise a hand to hide her face in utter embarrassment, Joe starts moving around inside the car, and only a second or two later he retrieves his hand with a pen in-between his fingers. With his free hand he reaches out to gently grab her wrist and pulls it fully inside, pushing the material of her coat and long-sleeved blouse up towards her elbow.

Then he scribbles something on her soft skin, hissing whenever the pen doesn't want to write and he has to press the point of it deeper into her arm even though he really wouldn't want to hurt her even the slightest bit.

"There you go," his glance moves back up to her face when he finishes, winking at her.

(y/n) bites back a giggle before straightening back up, pulling out of the cab fully.

"See you later, Joe," she smiles at him one last time before turning around and rushing inside the building - the pinkness of her cheeks and the not erasable, wide smile on her face being true proofs of her emotions.

Later, when she's finally at her desk, coat removed and body gently slumping into the chair, her eyes catch sight of the writing again and she finally takes a better look at it. There's a phone number, completed with a simple Joe Liebgott and a don't you dare not call me under it.

A soft giggle escapes (y/n)'s lungs as she reads the last line, shaking her head in happy disbelief whilst also wondering how he could write so much in such a short time and without her even noticing. She must've been too entranced by the sparkling of his eyes, the way that one strand of hair fell and bounced in the air and how he - probably subconsciously - stuck the tip of his tongue out past his lips in concentration.

Then with a blissful sigh she lowers her arm again, eyes staring out of her head, looking at nothing in particular - instead picturing his face again inside her mind.

"Liebgott," she mutters to herself, tasting the name rolling down her tongue. She finally knows his name.

.::the end::.

my masterlist  |  my hbo war masterlist

[wanna be added to my taglist?]

[hinatas-sunshine]

Synopsis: You’re apart of the support department and help build equipment for the hero students - specifically for your hero crush!

A/N: Ik I should probably start writing abt Haikyuu too but I have had so many ideas I’m just letting them out! Thank you guys though for continuing to support me and for those who followed me! I love you guys KITHES 🥺❤️✨

Bakugo:

• It started when his suit backfired during practice.

• blasty boy marched to the Department of Support asking who was in charge of his making his suit

• You lift your tired head from a replica of his suit in front of you

• Of course he didn’t care at the time mostly just mad he lost to deku during training - and started throwing a fit in front of you

“Sorry what was that?” You said taking your AirPod out.

• Yeah he didn’t care if you made his suit - he was gonna blast you ❤️

“Blast me if you want sparky boom boom but I’m the only one who knows your measurements and how to make your equipment better.”

“Then don’t mess it up nerd!”

“I never mess up! My calculations and eyes work together perfectly and there are never any screw ups!”

• you yank his hand and take off his arm gear taking a look at it, your quirk taking effect in scanning the equipment in a few seconds before coming to a conclusion

“Were you being aggressive - what kind of question is that? Of course you were you snapped a tiny wire!”

“Tch... just fix it.”

“Not unless you apologize to me.”

• He crossed his arms and you took that as a no so you continued working on his upcoming suit with new gadgets.

“What’s that?” He leaned over your shoulder being nosey

• you turn your head before bumping noses with him, you stood up abruptly

“J-Just so you can have uhm.. some more precise attacks and so you can uh... produce more without pushing yourself too much.”

• The pink dust on your cheeks were caught by the usually loud boy, but he was still red too.

• This was the start of you and a certain angry boys relationship ✨

• Months pass and you two are an item, and while he’s very protective of you, you know how to keep him under control with one look

• Until He saw you talking to Karashima about his own suit-

“Oi! Shittyhair stop talking to my girl!”

“B-but my suit!”

• Bakugo thinks you only work on his suit but he’s wrong and he becomes a little jealous

“Stop whining I made you something too!”

• a little ring was placed on his hand

“Y/N I can’t marry you dumbass!”

“Huh?! Who said anything about marriage you stupid Pomeranian?! It’s for you to signal that you need my help with any tech while you’re in the 1-A Dorms!”

“Tch... wait WHAT DID YOU CALL ME?!”

• He won’t admit it but he loved the banter between you two, you were strong and aggressive like him.

• It was a plus that you helped make his equipment and constantly built things to help better his training

“Stop being so mean to poor Izu!”

“Damn it woman! Can’t I do one thing!”

“No ❤️”

• He loves you regardless and would tear anyone apart for looking at you funny though, and you support him endlessly.

“What’s wrong with your suit?!” You yell barging into his room.

• Dummy was lying there on his bed looking at you with all the equipment you could carry in your arms

• You threw your notes at him before realizing he, in fact, had no problems and just wanted to use his ring

“All you worry about is my suit!”

“It’s my best project I don’t wanna hear it!”

• He holds you close leaning onto you as you lay down next to him having set your stuff down, and he won’t tell you soon, but he loves how much effort you put into making his dreams come true.

“Thank you y/n, I’ll never be able to pay you back for everything.”

[percyinpanties]

hey I'm the pipeyna anon and that's ok!!! can u do pipeyna with piper pining after hot jock Reyna which hopefully ends happy (smutty)

just a quick warm-up, i say, i won’t spend too much time on this. i really had to resist just going on and on and on with this. i miss writing this ship, damn.

anyway - this fits really well with an enemy to lovers prompt i have for jercy, so thats what im hinting at too here.

Read on Ao3

for context : i always write college aus from a UK uni perspective bc that’s all i know and i don’t care to adapt to how it might or might not work in the u.s. (sorry)

rating: teen+ (no smut in this one, but let me tell you, this TEMPTED me)

words: 2.2k 

___

“An actual goddess” Piper says wistfully from where she’s leaning against the wall next to Percy, taking back the cigarette she’d just bummed of him. Her eyes are glued on the field, and more precisely on Reyna, smile on her face and water bottle in her hand as she jogs over to Jason standing at the side of the field. They greet each other with a hug, even as Reyna wrinkles her face, seemingly complaining about her own sweatiness.

It’s coincidence that the end of Reyna’s soccer practice collides conveniently with Piper’s and Percy’s late seminar on Mondays. It isn’t coincidence that Percy and her have taken to sharing a cigarette on the side of the building that looks out toward the field during their break, however.

 Percy makes a non-committal noise and his eyes follow Piper’s gaze while she takes a drag of the cigarette and wrinkles her nose. She needs to quit smoking for good, she thinks, and flicks the ash to the ground. There was a brief moment in first year when Piper thought that Percy might be interested in Reyna, or she in him, but luckily, nothing ever came of that.

 “You think they’re dating?” Percy asks, arms crossed over his chest now, making no move to take the cigarette back again. He’s not even pretending not to be staring, his eyes intense where they flit between Reyna and Jason. Piper on the other hand has the common decency to at least cast her eyes away every now and again before she’s caught looking for a little too long.

At the edge of the field, Reyna and Jason are standing close together now, chatting about god knows what, smiling and laughing. They’re certainly comfortable with each other, but Piper can’t say that’s much of an indication given how she’s around Percy.

 “I hope not.” Piper mutters and Percy laughs at that, even though she knows he agrees. Percy wouldn’t admit it in a million years, but Piper would bet real money that he has a thing for Jason, too, as much as he claims to hate the guy. She’d have to be deaf and blind not to notice the tension between them.

It would make sense, though, in a way. Jason is captain of the men’s rugby team, Reyna of the women’s soccer team. Some of their practices collide and the two clubs do most of their weekly socials together, and Piper’s seen the two of them hanging out aside from that plenty as well. Reyna and her haven’t talked much about Jason, maybe because Piper hasn’t actually exchanged more than five words with him and never had much of an urge to change that, but she knows that Reyna and Jason have known each other before university.

Around Jason, Reyna seems to let her guard down, something Piper has only managed to achieve a handful of times since they met during their first year.

 Jason laughs at something Reyna says, eyes bright and head thrown back and Piper can’t deny that he’s handsome, at the very least. He’s fairly decent, too, as far as guys go, and really, Piper knows she shouldn’t be hoping that there is nothing between Reyna and him if that is what would make Reyna happy.

 “Invite her to the party.” Percy suggests then, drawing Piper’s attention back from the tangent her brain was so insistent to start on. When Piper turns her face to look at him, he’s already looking back at her, one eyebrow arched. “I was going to, anyway, but it’s different coming from you yourself.”

 He’s not teasing her, it’s an honest suggestion, and technically not even a bad one. It’s Percy’s birthday this weekend, and if nothing else, it would be a good excuse to hang out again. Percy knows a ton of people, but he usually doesn’t invite too many to his party, so with any luck, it won’t be too crowded to actually spend some time with Reyna.

More than that, though, it’s another opportunity for Piper to finally get a move on. Percy, Piper knows, thinks that Piper’s pining had reached a point where it’s almost comical halfway through last year, but even so, Piper has yet to manage to actually act on her feelings.

A party is casual enough that she can always play it off as nothing serious when it ends up blowing up in her face. Piper might finally get over herself and just ask Reyna out already – although she’s tried that a few times before only to find herself tongue tied and staring at Reyna like she hung the moon in the sky. She’s been head over heels for Reyna since maybe three weeks after they met in first year, and now that they’re starting their third and final year, Piper needs to get a move on or it’ll simply be too late. Granted, she’s scared shitless at the prospect of being turned down, but at this point, even that would be better than pining forever and never finding out if she’d even stand a chance.

 “Yeah… maybe.” Piper says finally, and manages a small smile towards Percy who bumps his shoulder against hers playfully. They should be heading back inside, so Piper sneaks a last glance toward Reyna and this time, finds her looking back.

    They don’t share any classes this year, and Piper doesn’t usually run into Reyna on campus, so on Wednesday morning, she ends up texting Reyna on her way to class. She fumbles with her phone, almost tripping over her own two feet trying to type the words out as fast as possible, and ends up having to sidestep off the path to actually send the texts.

 Hey you.

we’re having a party on Saturday, it’s Percy’s birthday.

 Piper wants to add more, but instead, she bites her lip and stuffs her phone back into the pocket of her jeans. It’s almost an open invitation like this already anyway, and Piper wants to gauge Reyna’s first reaction before deciding exactly how she’s going about asking. Technically, it would be so easy to just as Reyna to go with her, specifically, to the party, but the intention might be lost over text and anyway, wouldn’t it be simpler to just invite her generally?

Piper frets throughout the entirety of her first lecture, and most of the second one, for nothing. Reyna doesn’t answer, even though the messenger app shows Piper that she’s read both texts already, and Piper tries not to be disappointed about it. She doesn’t know what Reyna’s schedule is like today, the girl might just be busy and planned on replying later. It makes sense, much more than Piper’s second thought that Reyna is not answering because Piper is annoying and Reyna doesn’t actually want to spend any time with her. She knows that thought is stupid, knowing that however does nothing to ease the anxious knot in Piper’s stomach.

 Piper finds herself checking her phone more often than not. It would be funny if it wasn’t so ridiculous, and if the lecturer wasn’t so clearly catching on that Piper isn’t paying as much attention to the class as she is to her phone. She texts Percy as well, but she knows he’s in that seminar he shares with Jason, so chances are that she won’t be getting a reply on that end anytime soon either.  In the end, she has to force herself to put her phone away and actually focus on the lecture up front, even though by that point, she is already lost as to what they’re even talking about in the first place. It’s no good, and Piper can’t deny being relieved when the lecturer eventually dismisses the class.

 She doesn’t allow herself to check her messages until she’s across campus in the coffee shop, queuing for some much needed caffeine and fishing out her phone so she doesn’t have to make small talk with anyone while she waits in line. Reyna still hasn’t replied, but at least Percy has messaged her after his seminar.

 I’m gonna strangle him, Piper. You’ll have to bust me out of prison because they are going to arrest me for goddamn murder.

 All she’d asked was if his classes were as boring as hers today, and while she had expected Percy to go off about Jason in reply, this isn’t exactly what she’d thought to be reading today. She smiles at her phone, types out a quick reply and moves up in the queue.

 That bad? What’s he done now?

 The way Percy talks about Jason makes Piper think of a Cartoon Network villain, always plotting, provoking and scheming. The few times she’s spoken to Jason, the guy wasn’t half bad, and if Piper is honest, she doesn’t quite get the vendetta these two have with each other. She suspects though that it has something to do with how ‘infuriatingly attractive, like fucking superman or something’ Percy described Jason after their first class together.

 It’s like he thinks I’m stupid or something. Got a dumb fucking project to do together and he honestly told me that he ‘needs to pass this class so iif I’m not planning to put in the work, we might as well ask for new partners right away’

Like, excuse me, bitch? My grades are better than yours, for one thing

And for another, it’s not like good-old Dodds is gonna let us switch anyway

 Piper huffs audibly while she reads the texts. It’s clear Percy’s actually upset by this, and she figures it will only get worse if they actually have to do the work together in the coming weeks. Before she can shoot Percy a reply though, she’s next in line.

Piper orders her coffee, steps aside to wait once she’s paid, and rereads Percy’s texts before she types her reply to Percy.

 Sounds like a dick move.

 Piper’s almost inclined to defend Jason for a moment, since Percy mostly doesn’t pay much attention in class, especially in Mrs. Dodds seminars – so how is Jason meant to know how much effort Percy puts in outside of it? On the other hand, though, Piper knows how Percy is, and how personally he’s clearly taken Jason’s comment already, so trying to convince him otherwise would simply be fruitless.

Once Piper’s coffee is done, she heads back outside, finding an empty bench to enjoy the break before her next class. If nothing else, at least Percy’s ranting is distracting her from Reyna, and the party, and asking the other girl out – and in between the rapid texts Percy and her are sending back and forth Piper almost forgets about it entirely. Until she has to head back to her last class, that is, and sees that Reyna has, so far, still left her on read.

 Piper hesitates for a moment, clicking on the text field without typing anything just yet. Is she going to come off as desperate if she texts again, or should she just clarify now before it gets too late and Reyna already makes different plans for the weekend?

Piper types out a few words, deletes them again and pockets her phone only to get it back out a few seconds later to try again. She shouldn’t be walking and texting, especially given that she should be going faster to actually make it to her lecture in time, but Piper knows that if she doesn’t send this text now, she’ll spend another lecture agonising over what to say.

 So yeah, I wanted to invite you too ofc :)

 Piper cringes at her wording, but figuring it won’t get much better, she sends the text anyway and finally tucks her phone back into her pocket to actually hurry to class.

   By the time Reyna replies, it’s late and Piper is sitting on the beat-up couch in her shared flat’s living room, watching something trashy on TV without really paying much attention at all. Percy is clanking around in the kitchen, making something that smells good enough to remind Piper that she should probably be getting herself some food, too. She’s about to get up and rummage through her fridge compartment in search of something edible when her lock screen lights up with a message from Reyna, and that derails any thoughts of food immediately. Piper isn’t subtle in the way she practically lunges for her phone, but luckily, Percy can’t see and judge her from his position in the kitchen.

 Sorry, long day, reads the first text, following a few seconds later by another one.

Promised Jason to hang out but I’d love to :(

 Piper bites her lip, knowing before typing out the words that Percy won’t like what she’s doing in the slightest.

 You could bring him? Percy won’t mind.

 Except that Percy most certainly will mind, Piper thinks, and grimaces. If she hadn’t come off as desperate before, she most certainly does now – texting back within less than a minute after having been left on read all day, only to offer that Reyna can bring her friend (boyfriend?) along as well if that means she’ll be there.

There’ll be other opportunities, Piper tells herself, and scrubs a hand over her face. She needs to chill, and maybe she needs to grab a cigarette and step outside and calm down before she embarrasses herself even further.

 Piper stares at the screen. How on earth is she meant to interpret this? At this rate, she won’t make it until Saturday, dying of one crisis or another before then.

 if you’re sure? I’ll ask him.

haven’t seen you in a while, would be nice to hang out again ;)

 I’m sure.

[mariequitecontrarie]

Sleeping Arrangements

Summary: When Belle and baby Gideon come home from the hospital with Rumplestiltskin, he sets Belle and himself up in different bedrooms. Neither wants to sleep apart, but neither wants to say so. A/N: Follow-up to If Tomorrow Never Comes aka what would have happened if Belle and Rumple gave birth to Gideon together and all went home together. Awkward, estranged marriage bed-sharing, guys. Written for the October @a-monthly-rumbelling: “This can’t keep happening,” but I’m late. Thanks to @maplesyrupao3 for looking over this! Rating: T

On AO3

“You have everything you need in here?” Rumplestiltskin asked, pushing past the lump in his throat.

Belle stopped her careful appraisal of the guest bedroom, a generous smile curving her lips as she turned around. He hovered in the doorway, helpless to do anything but lean against the molding and stare. If he dared to let go of the doorframe, he would fall on his face at her feet.

Gods, she was beautiful. He’d admired her as his maid, loved her as his girlfriend, and adored her as his wife. Now that she was the mother of his son, his feelings for her had only deepened. Life seemed more real somehow, and infinitely more precious. It wasn’t just the two of them anymore.

Three-day-old Gideon was tucked into the crook of her left arm, cradled with the tender precision of a brand-new mother: firm because she was afraid of dropping him; ginger because she was afraid of breaking him. Nothing rivaled the nervousness and joy of holding your own child, but as much as he relished caring for Gideon, seeing Belle and their son together was its own miracle.

“Everything I need?” She giggled, then spun around the room slowly once more, careful not to jar their son. “Are you kidding? It’s like staying at a five-star hotel.” She shifted the baby onto her shoulder and peered at the bed fitted with his best silk sheets and the freshly washed and pressed duvet. “Rumple, are those chocolates on the pillow?”

He colored, wondering if he’d gone overboard in his desperation to make her feel welcome, and deflected the question with a sheepish smile. “Hopefully the food here is better than what they served in the maternity ward.”

At lunchtime this afternoon, while he had rocked Gideon as Belle rested, a hospital orderly had delivered a tray bearing a suspicious-looking hunk of meat covered in gray sauce accompanied by limp broccoli. He’d wrinkled his nose at the meal and gone to the nurses’ station, demanding they process Belle’s discharge papers posthaste. There would be no more nondescript, lukewarm blue plate specials on his watch.

“Dinner was fantastic.” She patted her full stomach with a contented sigh. “But you’ve been at the hospital with us day and night. When did you have the time to make seafood stew?”

Thanks to Dove, his personal assistant, the rich, hearty scents of shellfish, vegetables, and saffron had perfumed the house when they’d stumbled into the house carrying Gideon and a case of diapers as wide as the front door. “I had some help,” he admitted. “Dove is actually quite a cook.”

“I never would have guessed,” she murmured, smiling even through her exhaustion.

It was still early evening, but dark shadows stood out beneath her eyes, pronounced against her ivory skin. Between Gideon’s round-the-clock needs, the wails of other babies being born, and the revolving door of hospital staff poking and prodding her at all hours, Belle hadn’t slept much in the hospital.

He gave the room one last critical assessment and nodded in satisfaction. Bottled water and a sparkling, crystal glass sat on the nightstand, all of Belle’s clothes were folded and placed in bureau drawers or hanging in the closet, and in the kitchen, her favorite foods lined the pantry and refrigerator shelves. The overnight bag from the hospital had already been emptied and stashed in the closet.

His chest felt hollow, and he took a slow, deep breath, an attempt to fill that empty, inside-out space. He was grateful beyond words to have Belle home, but seeing her in the guest bedroom--a space she had decorated herself in shades of royal blue and gold during the early, tender days of their marriage--was bittersweet.

On the evening they’d spoken their wedding vows at the well, life had been bright and new, filled with possibility. Yet the shadow of Baelfire’s death and his gruesome months in captivity stood between them like an impenetrable iron wall. He couldn’t stop blaming himself for his endless parade of transgressions, and Belle couldn’t stop ignoring their problems and trying to make the best of things.

Their rushed engagement amid lies about the dagger had been no way to enter a marriage. One hasty reconciliation, whirlwind trip to the Underworld, wild goose chase in New York City, abbreviated pregnancy, and new baby later, they’d agreed to put the past behind them. It was time to make a fresh start for the sake of their son.

At best, he had hoped for a relaxed visitation schedule and the occasional overnight with Gideon. Belle’s desire to make a home here again was a dream come true. But he wasn’t fooling himself. Everything Belle was sacrificing by moving here was for Gideon, not for him.

As with all major decisions he made, he’d given careful consideration to offering her the second-best bedroom in the house. Rather than stammer and stumble his way through excuses and empty the room they had once shared, he’d opted to outfit the largest guest suite with the most luxurious appointments money could buy in the shortest amount of time possible. Dove had arranged for a hand-painted bureau with a secret compartment, an antique Aubusson carpet in plush blues and soft creams, cozy bookshelves, and a king-size bed to be delivered and ready for Belle when she arrived.

He would have gladly turned over the master suite if not for his paranoia. Sleeping arrangements. They had a way of turning the most benign circumstances into an awkward mess, and this situation was highly unusual. The idea of living under the same roof with Belle and not sharing a bed was already driving him mad. He didn’t expect to make love to her, not when he’d just watched her deliver their son, but he ached to hold her close.

He didn’t sleep much. An unfortunate side-effect of being the Dark One was an exhaustive supply of nervous energy. When he and Belle had been together, crawling into bed and resting in her arms had calmed the storm inside him. She’d given his nights a purpose and made him feel almost human.

But no matter how much he missed lying next to her, sharing his bed was the last thing Belle would want.

Growing restless, Gideon squirmed, whinnying like a foal. Gold opened his arms and Belle handed him their son with a grateful sigh. They might not be compatible as husband and wife anymore, but they were fast becoming adept at co-parenting, seeming to know by instinct when the other person needed help or relief.

The accidental bump of her shoulder against his made his insides puddle, and he focused on the tiny vertical lines above their son’s nose. Rumplestiltskin didn’t know if he would ever grow accustomed to Belle’s touch. Since the day their lives collided in her father’s castle, it took nothing more than the brush of fingertips, a tender look, or a hot cup of tea from this woman to render him a fumbling, babbling disaster.

Fears of Morpheus’s prophecy that he would destroy the two people in the world who meant the most festered like an open sore. What if it was all true? What if he did the wrong thing again? What if he’d broken things so badly they could no longer be fixed? His family wasn’t a chipped cup he could piece together with glue and promises.

No, he wouldn’t succumb to his own negative self-talk. Belle had taken the first step in asking to come home with him. It was up to him to take the next. He took another deep breath and plodded ahead.

“Belle, before we settle in for the night, would you like to see the nursery?”

Three weeks later

Her stomach growling with hunger, Belle splashed her face with cool water. While she patted her puffy, red face with a soft towel, she glanced at Gideon, gurgling in his bouncy seat on the bathroom floor.

He was too little to play with the toys dangling above his just head yet, but he could enjoy the soothing sounds and lights of the toy rainforest and the plastic monkey’s goofy smile. All that really mattered now was the seat held his attention long enough for her to wash her face and make herself presentable.

Gideon looked up at her with wide, trusting eyes, the irises already several shades darker than when he’d been born almost one month ago. Mother’s instinct told her their son would inherit the amber-flecked brown eyes of his father, and she was both glad and afraid. Rumple had intelligent, beautiful eyes capable of penetrating the flesh and piercing a person’s soul. When he looked at her, Belle always had the sense there was nothing he couldn’t see. Every part of her being was laid bare for him. A shiver of awareness coursed through her, and she covered her face with the damp towel again before Gideon could sense what a foolish mess his mother was.

Stop being an idiot, Belle,  she scolded herself. He’s a baby.

She scooped Gideon up and trudged down the stairs toward the kitchen dressed in sweatpants and a long-sleeved t-shirt, a smile plastered to her face. The aromas of bacon, toast, and coffee were trailing up the staircase, and a fresh wave of tears stung her eyes. Rumple was so thoughtful. She paused at the bottom of the stairs to wipe her red-rimmed eyes with the edge of her sleeve. Bloody stupid tears!  

Last night, she’d cried until she fell asleep for the fifth night in as many days, pressing her face into the pillow to muffle the sobs. She didn’t want to wake Gideon and worry Rumple. If he suspected something was wrong, he would be across the hall in a flash, and he wouldn’t rest until she blubbered out all her worries and went back to sleep. There were plenty of problems to blame the tears on—a reduced milk supply thanks to her accelerated pregnancy, hormone spikes, the exhaustion of waking up every two hours to feed and change an infant.  

But none of those things truly bothered her. What kept her awake and crying into the designer sheets were the sleeping arrangements. More than anything, she wanted to share a bed with her husband again. There was such comfort in his presence, strong, warm, and reassuring in the bed beside her. She missed his kisses and the steadiness of his arms around her, his breath on her face, faintly minty from toothpaste and magic, his dark eyes glittering with amusement while they shared stories about their day until Belle was too drowsy to talk anymore. While they were married he never went to sleep before her, always waiting until she had drifted off to take his own rest or to sneak downstairs to work or spin.

What right did she have to complain, though? He’d outfitted the guest suite like she was royalty and waited on her like she had broken both her arms. And Gideon’s nursery! Decorated in grey and gold and with the same crib Snow and David had chosen for Emma back in the Enchanted Forest, it was a room fit for a prince. It pained her to tell Rumple she preferred to keep their son next to the bed in a bassinet until he was old enough to sleep through the night without needing to nurse or take a bottle.

Nonplussed, Rumple had immediately gone online and ordered the most luxurious bedside baby cradle he could find.

His determination to do everything was worrying her. Since she’d come home, he’d spent day and night working himself into a shadow. He prepared hearty, delicious meals and hovered until she cleared her plate, brought Gideon to her when she was able to nurse, and gave him a bottle when she couldn’t. Always willing to rock or walk Gideon, he would leave her to read or nap. She wasn’t angling to be alone, though. She wanted her husband. “The Dark One doesn’t need sleep,” he would say, clicking his tongue whenever she protested or tried to share the workload.

She was feeling pampered, spoiled, and pissed off.

But Rumple was another story. Never had she seen him so content. Even from here in the front hallway, she could hear him in the kitchen, rattling pans and humming an off-key tune while he flipped eggs in a skillet. Every request and every need—whether it came from her or Gideon—brought a delighted smile to his face. Their too-brief time with Neal had shown her Rumple was an excellent father, but caring for a baby was balm for his battered spirit. Maybe it was silly but in a way, Gideon’s arrival made her feel like Neal was with them again.

So what if her heart fluttered whenever her husband entered the room or the sound of him reciting poetry to the baby made her breath quicken? His interest in her didn’t stretch beyond her position as the mother of his child. He wanted Gideon in his life, and she was lucky enough to be along for the ride.  

No, she refused to let Rumple see her selfishness. All telling the truth would lead to was heartache. And they had suffered more than enough pain for ten lifetimes.

Her eyes dry and her smile in place, she marched into the kitchen with their son in tow.

One week later

Belle awoke from a sound sleep to the sound of pitiful wails. Groggy, she blinked, trying to figure out who was crying and why. Before she gained enough awareness to turn toward the cradle sitting eighteen inches from the bed, a shape was filling the doorway, backlit by the nightlight in the hallway.

“Belle,” Rumple whispered, his slippered feet shuffling across her bedroom carpet. “Are you alright, sweetheart? What do you need?”

She jolted up in bed and rubbed her eyes, knocking her pillows to the floor. He had to stop waking up during the night and crossing the hall this way. It was madness. “This can’t keep happening,” she blurted, groping for the switch on the bedside lamp.

Between the foot of her bed and the cradle, Rumple froze, suspended in time while Gideon’s cries rose in volume and urgency. A muscle ticked in his jaw and he blanched, his shoulders slumping in defeat.

“Of course. You’re right. I’m sorry. I’ll go.” His voice was wooden, remote; like it belonged to a stranger.

“Wait, Rumple-”

Her stomach plummeted into her knees. She hadn’t meant the words they way they sounded, but before she could explain, he was out of her room and halfway across the hall. She scrambled out of bed to chase after him, reaching out to snag the tie on the back of his dressing gown as he crossed into the master suite. She yanked him into the hallway, his back colliding with her chest. He teetered on the balls of his feet and she slipped her arms around his waist and held on.

She was breathing like she’d run a marathon, her heart squeezing inside her chest until she thought it would crumble into dust. Gods, she had tried! She had tried to make it seem like sleeping in the guest room without him while he stayed across the hall didn't bother her and she'd gotten good at pretending she was fine. But she wasn't.

Nothing about this arrangement was even remotely fine.

Last week, she had brushed an imaginary fuzzy out of his cropped hair for the sheer pleasure of feeling its softness between her fingers. Since he’d cut off his shaggy brown locks, she had no more excuses to push wayward strands behind his ears. Yesterday, there had been an eyelash on her cheek, and she’d held her breath in anticipation while he cupped her jaw and swept it away, the spicy scent of the lasagna he baked for dinner still lingering on his fingers.

Inventing excuses to be near him or relying on accidental touches was more than she could bear. She would rather live somewhere else than be under the same roof with him and be treated like his maiden aunt or long-lost sister or even worse, the pathetic charity case he had once loved.

He stiffened in her grasp, and she tightened her arms around his waist, determined to hold onto him no matter what. His torso was leaner than her hands remembered, wiry from worry.

Their son continued to cry, his lungs rivaling the Storybrooke High School’s marching band. Her milk started letting down, wetting the front of her nightgown and probably soaking into the back of Rumple’s nightshirt, but nursing Gideon would have to wait. She needed to clear the air.

Maybe she had turned into a bloated, unreliable milk machine, but she was human and Rumple was a handsome man. She wasn’t the only one who found him attractive, either, she thought miserably. There had been others, most recently the Evil Queen, a woman who differed from her in every way imaginable. That harpy had chased him like a bitch in heat and Zelena couldn’t wait to tell her about it.

But she was here now, and Rumple was still wearing his wedding ring. He was her husband and she was going to fight for him.

“I didn’t mean that the way it sounded,” she clarified, murmuring against his shoulder. “I meant you getting up during the night and coming across the hall to get Gideon.”

He slipped out of her arms and turned to face her in the dim hallway. The only light came from a small lamp at the end of the corridor, but it was enough to see the wariness in his eyes. “I understood you the first time, Belle.”

“No.” She tilted her head, trying to read his face in the dark. “I don’t think you understand me at all.” She twisted her fingers together. This agonized, consuming jealousy was utterly wretched. “Is it because of her? The Evil Queen. Do-do you miss her?”

“Gods, no!” His face was haggard, regret etched into the lines around his mouth. “I told you in the hospital there was nothing. She was nothing. It was a business arrangement, and I let her believe what she wanted. And after what she did to us...to you…” His voice hardened. “She’s lucky she’s not dead.”

Belle shuddered. She didn’t want anyone to die because of her, but she’d be happy not to see that despicable woman ever again for the rest of her days. And she certainly didn’t want Regina’s evil twin running her blood-red fingernails all over her husband.

“Listen.” She touched her finger to his lips finding them soft and dry. She shivered, wanting nothing more than to close the distance between them and kiss him senseless.

“What?”

“Nothing. It’s the sound of nothing.” She cocked her head and savored the blissful silence. “Gideon stopped crying all on his own.”

Rumple shoved his hands in the pockets of his robe with a wry smile and stepped back. “Perhaps he didn’t need me after all.”

Belle recognized that look--he was trying to shut her out. Well, she wasn’t going to allow it this time. She moved closer to him, stepping into his space and smoothing her hands down his shoulders. “Not for the moment, no. But he does need you. And so do I. Not what you can do for me—not how well you cook or entertain Gideon or order Dove to redecorate. Just you. Your presence. The sound of your voice. Your arms around me.”

Admitting she missed him, saying the words out loud, made her feel free. It was okay to admit she needed him. She craved his touches, his kisses, the way he used to look at her like she made a difference in his world. All her life, people had admired her beauty, but Rumple was the only person who ever made her feel beautiful.

“What about you, Rumple?” she asked. “What do you need?”

The next thing he knew, she was leading him by the hand back into her bedroom. Confused, he stumbled along behind her like a drowsy child. “Where are we going? I don’t understand.”

She had the audacity to grin at him, her teeth flashing in the low light. “We’ve established that,” she whispered.

She pulled back the covers on the smooth side of the bed-- his side, he realized. She was still sleeping on the right side of the bed as though they were sharing it. Whenever they’d been apart, it had become his habit to lie down on her half of the bed, imagining he could still detect her scent in the sheets. Sometimes he would even hold a pillow against his chest and pretend it was Belle. It was foolishness, but it helped him make it through the long, lonely hours of the night alone.

Her hands clutched at his shoulders, soft but insistent, and she pressed him down on the bed. “Belle, what are you doing?” His voice sounded loud in the still, cool room. From the cradle, Gideon whiffled in his sleep.

“Shhh,” she said, pushing him onto his back and combing his hair off his face with his fingers. Her touch felt amazing and he closed his eyes with a blissful sigh, mesmerized by the warmth of her fingers against his skin. She crawled into bed next to him and pulled the blankets over them both. “Stay here with me? I know you say you don’t need the rest, but you’ve been working so hard doing everything for Gideon and me.”

“Alright,” he conceded, but he lay on his back with his eyes open, as rigid as a statue. She switched off the bedside lamp and he stared into the blackness, trying to catch his breath. The mattress was soft, the sheets warm from her body and luxurious, but he felt as though he was strapped to a gurney.

“Are you comfortable?” she asked. He felt the mattress move as she scooted closer.

Comfortable? He couldn’t even remember the meaning of the word. All he was aware of was Belle. Her scent, her warmth. Gods, he was half-dizzy with her closeness. “Ah, are you?” he countered.

“Yes.”

Something about her tone made him shiver. She slid one of her legs over his, her clammy feet tickling the hair on his calves. He bit back a groan. “Do you need another blanket?” he asked after a moment.

“No, thank you.”

She snuggled even closer until her breasts were pressed against his side. He could feel the dampness of her nightgown where her milk had wet the fabric and a tug of arousal pulled at his groin.

“An extra pillow? I could fetch one from the closet.” He sounded out of breath. Was it getting warmer in here? His heartbeat sped up and his lungs struggled to take in oxygen. “Maybe we should switch on the ceiling fan?”

Her laughter was muffled. “You just offered a blanket. I’m good. Let’s just relax and try to rest. Unless you want the fan on?” She wrapped her arms around one of his with a contented sigh, holding onto his forearm like a child might clutch a doll or a stuffed bear.

“Not if you don’t.” He was at a loss. Surely there was something he could do for her.

They lay in silence for a few minutes and he tried to relax, but each tick of the clock on the nightstand sounded like a hammer and the pillow behind his head felt like a boulder. “I’m supposed to take care of you,” he said desperately. “It’s my job.”

“Rumple, you’ve been wonderful. No one could take better care of Gideon and me than you have. But not everything is about me or our son. I asked you before and you didn’t answer. What do you need?”

The tears came then, hot and urgent. He didn’t know the source of this maelstrom of emotion, only that he was in perfect control one moment and sobbing like a babe the next.

“Rumple. My Rumple.” Belle guided him into her arms, urging him to rest his head against her chest. Her arms wrapped around his shoulders while he cried, great wracking sobs that shook his body and stole his breath.

“I need my wife.” He clutched at her waist, the words stuttering out in a jagged, tear-choked whisper. “I need my wife.”

“You have me, darling, you have me. I’m here and I’m not going anywhere. There’s nowhere I’d rather be than here with you.” She cradled him in her arms, stroking his back and rocking him like she did Gideon and he shamelessly allowed it. He wept for the loss of Bae, his fears and failures, his poor treatment of Belle, who was still by his side no matter what he’d done.

All the while he clung to her and cried, she whispered reassurances, anchoring him in the shelter of her embrace. Soaking the top of her nightgown, he gobbled up her crooning words and healing touch until his heart resembled melted wax, his strength drained away with the tears that had left his body. Exhausted, he slumped against her breasts, calming himself with the steady beat of her heart under his ear.

Never in his life had he cried this way, not even after that enormous, green pit in the ground had swallowed Baelfire, taking him to another land, while he had clung to his precious knife and clawed for purchase in the dirt, too terrified of the unknown to follow his boy. Those tears had been building inside him for centuries, into a hard, cold mass of hurt, turning his heart into a wretched, brittle thing. At last, he had allowed himself to be broken.

“Belle.” He reached for her face and when he stroked her cheeks, he found them damp with her own tears. He didn’t know if she was crying with him or because of him, but he pressed his lips against hers in an urgent, seeking kiss, groaning as the salt of their tears mingled with the sweetness of her mouth. He poured all the love he felt for her into his kiss and she opened for him, accepting what he offered and returning it full measure.

“I didn’t bring you here just for Gideon,” he confessed hoarsely when he released her mouth, his breath ragged. “I wanted you here because I love you.”

She pressed her kiss-swollen lips together in a tremulous smile. “I didn’t ask to come here just for Gideon, either. I love you, too. Oh, Rumple, I’ve missed you so much. I’ve hated being us being apart.”

“You have?” His surprise was genuine. “But I’ve been here with you every day. I haven’t used magic, I’ve been spending fewer hours at the shop...”

“And I appreciate all of it.” She lay down again, drawing his head down to her chest once more and began to stroke his hair. “But you’ve been keeping your distance from me. You think what I want is a caretaker, but you’re wrong. I want us to raise Gideon together—as a family. And no more separate bedrooms, okay? I need someone who’s going to appreciate my snoring and you can’t do that from across the hall.”

He snorted. “You do snore. Rather loudly.”

“What did you say?” She swatted him lightly with a pillow.

“I said as you wish.” Grinning, he lifted his head and rubbed his nose against hers, and they both laughed. He couldn’t remember when he had ever felt this light and happy. “Are you going to hog the covers, too, Mrs. Gold?”

“Always.” Her smug tone made him laugh again. “What about you?” She poked him in the ribs, softening the attack with another kiss. “Are you going to lie awake watching me sleep?”

“Every night,” he whispered, settling back against her breasts and wrapping his arms around her waist.

His eyes were already closing as she began to stroke his head again. And with her hands in his hair and the cadence of her heartbeat in his ears, Rumplestiltskin found sleep.

###

[itsmarianstories]

🎄Another cheesy Christmas Story🎄

[Jungkook x Reader]

Secret Santa Present Part 2

For @pineapple-panini19

A Story about how that Christmas, which was supposed to be sad and lonely turned out to be the best of them all.

Word count: 7.465

Moodboard 

(A/N: So here it finally is! Oh my god, I’m so nervous lmao. I hope you’ll like it!! Feel free to be brutally honest with me tho and tell me if I messed up somehow... )

You took a deep breath, letting the fresh, cold air filling your lungs. It felt good after spending so much time in that stuffy bar. You enjoyed your job in the karaoke bar but it was exhausting and especially at this time of the year, because somehow everyone was in singing mood before Christmas. However, it was your last shift for this year and you weren’t sure if you should be happy about it or not.

For a few moments you just stood outside the bar and enjoyed the view. It was late in the evening, the sun has long went down but the moon was now shining proudly. The city was already decorated, fairy lights everywhere and in all different colours. It smelled sugary, probably from the Christmas market that was just a few blocks away.

“Right, only a week left.” You whispered, your breath causing a small cloud to form in the cold night air. Usually you were so excited about Christmas, looking forward to the holidays. This year however, your mood was a little bummed. It’s the first year you spend Christmas away from your family and most of your friends and celebrating Christmas alone is definitely not the same. You have moved to a different city to attend your dream university but you didn't live her for very long yet and didn't know many people here.

You sighed deeply before starting to stomp through the snow to the subway station. While waiting for your train to arrive you saw a group of friends a few feet away from you, they were joking around and laughing loudly. It made you feel even more lonely so you pulled your phone out of your pocket deciding to call you best friend.

“Hey Y/N! What’s up?” He greeted, sounding a bit out of breath.

“Ah nothing really, I just thought I’d see how you are doing. I miss you, Tae.” You admitted.

“Aww, I miss you too! I promise after Christmas I’ll come and visit you.” He said. You heard a bark in the distance.

“Are you out with Tannie?” You asked, whishing you could cuddle that small, fluffy noodle again.

“Yeah we are Christmas shopping! I just got you your gift!” He sounded excited and you smiled sadly. Your best friend was just as enthusiastic about Christmas as you.

“You don’t have to.”

“I know but I want to.” You knew he would say that. You already have a present for him too.

“Ah sorry Y/N, Tannie is trying to catch a pigeon. I gotta go! I'll see you soon, we’ll celebrate new year together okay? I purple you!” He said. You chuckled.

“Alright, bye Tae. See you soon!” You said and the call ended. You put your phone down with another sigh just as the train arrived. The group of friends got in too and you couldn’t help but watch them, listening to their Christmas plans. You pulled your hood up and sniffled a little, feeling stupid for getting so emotional over such a thing. But honestly you couldn’t help it, you missed your family and your friends and wanted to spend Christmas with them, not all alone in a city where you barely know anyone. But living alone is expensive and you have bills to pay, flying back home is not in the budget.

You pulled your knees against your chest and rested your head on them. The train was almost empty, most people already at home at this time. So when someone suddenly flopped down in front of you, you were fairly surprised. There were a lot of free seats after all. You looked up at the boy in front of you, probably around your age, dressed in black. He looked a bit suspicious but his face was soft and his smile gentle.

“Are you okay?” He asked, big round eyes staring back at you.

“Uh... what?” You asked confused.

“I mean you are crying in the subway, alone in the middle of the night that’s... concerning.” You brought a hand up to your face, feeling that it is indeed wet.

“Oh,” You whispered, wondering when that happened. The boy in front of you crooked his head to the side and you blushed under his stare.

“ Uhm thank you, I guess but I’m fine...It’s just... Christmas.” You poorly explained.

“You don’t like Christmas?” He asked.

“I love Christmas.” Now he looked greatly confused and his face was so cute that you couldn’t help but giggle a little, wiping away the tears from your cheeks with your sleeve.

“I just moved here and don’t know many people yet. It just makes me miss my family.” You added, wondering why you are even telling him all this.

“I’m Jeongguk.” He smiled, holding out his hand for you to take.

“Y/N" You said, shaking his hand.

“Now you know one person more.” You noticed how his nose scrunched up and his eyes crinkled while he smiled, exposing a pair of bunny teeth. His face changed when he remembered something, turning to dig in his bag and pulling out a box full of Christmas cookies.

“Here,” He offered you and wow they were some good looking cookies. Since you weren’t really in Christmas mood you didn’t bother baking some, you didn’t even decorate your apartment. But tasting some couldn’t be bad so you picked up a cookie and hummed while eating it.

“Did you make those?” You asked curious but the boy shook his head.

“Nah, I can’t bake, I’d burn down my whole kitchen. I got them from a woman whose kid is coming to my class.” He admitted, sheepish but fond no less.

“What kind of class?” You wanted to know, shamelessly getting another cookie.

“Dance, hip hop to be precise. We prepared a small Christmas performance and showed it to the parents tonight.”

“Wow, a dancer huh.” You said impressed while imagining a bunch of kids doing hip hop. It sounded adorable. The boy blushed a little at your comment and nodded. Then the train became slower and as you looked up you saw that it was your station, feeling slightly bummed that you had to leave now.

“That’s my station.” You and Jeongguk said at the same time, staring at each other in surprise before sharing a giggle.

“Well, what a coincidence huh?” You said suddenly becoming shy.

“Do you live close?” He asked, while you two made your way out of the subway station. The cold air hitting you even more now, after spending time in the heated train.

“A few blocks from here.” You answered.

“Do you know that Christmas cafe near the kindergarten? Like two blocks from here.” You shrugged.

“To be honest, I kind of avoided everything christmas-ish until now.” You admitted.

“Oh that’s a pity, you should go there. Maybe it would lighten your mood. They have really good drinks and always play those cringy Christmas songs that you kind of hate but listen to every year all over again, just for the sake of it.” He told you, a sparkle in his eyes.

“Sounds beautiful.” You chuckled, feeling lighter than you have in days. “Maybe I should go there.”

“You know,” he cleared his throat “maybe, if you’d like, I could. I mean I know we don’t really know each other and this is probably weird and you can totally say no I just thought, if you’d like, maybe you’d feel better not going alone and like I know I’m not your family but-" You chuckled at his obviously nervous rambling.

“Jeongguk,” you interrupted him. He looked down at you, almost a head taller than you.

“I’d love to go with you. Show me that cafe.” You said, amazed at where all that confidence suddenly came from. He smiled at you brightly, his face dimly lit by the street lanterns and decorations. Wow, he is really pretty.

“Okay! I mean not now it’s probably closed uhm... like tomorrow? Or...”

“Why don’t you give me your number? Then we can go whenever it fits.” You said, screaming internally at your boldness.

“Sure!” Jeongguk pulled out his phone. You two switched phones and typed in your numbers before handing them back.

“Thank you.” He said.

“No thank you! Really.” You said back, snatching another cookie. You two stopped at a corner, your ways parting here.

“Tell that mom, those cookies are really great.” He nodded.

“I will and you’re very welcome! I’ll text you!” He said as you two started to walk apart from each other, backwards though. It was cheesy, but come on. It’s Christmas, a bit cheesieness is allowed!

Once he was out of sight you pulled your phone out and called Tae, screaming in his ear when he picked up and telling him everything.

Christmas suddenly didn’t seem so bad anymore.

 The next morning you woke up, feeling more motivated than ever. You decided to go to the grocery store to get everything you needed to bake. It was time to crawl out of the whole that was called 'self-pity', so you got out of bed, connected your phone to the Bluetooth speakers and blasted your favourite Christmas songs, humming along while getting ready.

You were already out your door when you checked your messages. You couldn’t help but smile when you saw the new message.

Jeongguk

Good morning :)

I hope you feel better today!

 You quickly typed out a response before putting your phone away and heading to your favourite grocery store. The way was a little longer but it was an old family business and the grandma, still working there was super nice and always gave you candy.

You enter the shop, slowly pacing through the aisles. You observe the different items, searching for the ones you need so you don’t really pay attention to your surroundings. That is until you bump into something.

Or someone.

You hear a gasped “Oof!” and turn to apologize but your words get stuck in your throat when you see who you just ran over. You feel your face heating up while the taller breaks out in a full on bunny smile.

“Now would you look at this coincidence!” Jeongguk exclaimed.

“Ah- I-I'm sorry.” You say, mind still running slow due to the surprise. Like, what are even the chances.

“No need to apologize.” Jeongguk smiled. “I’m happy to see you again.” He said and you kind of just stare at him because WHAT DID HE SAY??? You blink at him and a few seconds pass, suddenly you realize that a) you still haven’t said anything in return and b) a light rosy colour is forming on the boys cheeks.

“S-Sorry,” He suddenly added, rubbing the back of his neck “that was probably inappropriate considering we don't really know each other.” He seemed so shy and you just had to coo at how cute he is.

“No, no, no, I'm sorry, I was just really surprised.” You quickly said, shaking your head a little. “I'm happy to see you again too.” Another few moments of silence settled over you as you stared at each other until Jeongguk cleared his throat.

“Oh uhm, do you still wanna go to that cafe? Today?” He asked. You nodded, maybe a bit too eager but he beamed back at you so you didn’t think it came of weird.

“I'd love to go but do you have time later in the afternoon? I actually wanted to bake first.” You explained sheepishly and chuckled at the sudden spark in the boys eyes.

“Christmas cookies?” He asked, sounding like an excited child.

“Yeah, you wanna come and help?” The question slipped out without you even thinking about it. You just invited a stranger into your apartment, what the fuck.

“Are you not afraid I could be a serial killer or something?” Jeongguk chuckled.

“I don't think a serial killer would say that.” You giggled, although he kind of had a point.

“Or I’m saying that to gain your trust.” The taller answered back.

“You really don't help yourself right now.” You laughed and watched amused how Jeongguk blushed again.

“N-No, I mean yes! I mean I’d love to help you!”

 So that’s how you both started to finally work off your shopping list, getting all the ingredients (the nice grandma winked at you when you were paying for the stuff) and walked back to your apartment. You felt a little bad that Jeongguk carried all the bags (it weren’t that many but still) but on the other hand he was the one who insisted so you really couldn’t do anything except accept the kind gesture.

You became a bit nervous once the two of you reached your flat.

“So I didn’t really expect any guests, so please don’t judge the messy state of my apartment.” You warned before pushing the door open. Jeongguk chuckled.

“Every girl says that but in the end its all tidy anyway.”

“'Every girl', huh? How many are we talking here?” You teased, watching as he blushed again. He’s so cute when he’s flustered.

“Ah! No, no  that’s not how I meant it. I’m not... I mean it’s just a saying I guess? Uhm...” Really you could only laugh while entering.

You were just glad that you cleaned the kitchen this morning, since you knew you’d need it. The both of you took off your shoes and coats before you showed Jeongguk the way to your kitchen. The latter put the bags down on the kitchen isle and you started to unpack everything.

“Hey! Wanna listen to some music?” You asked, figuring that it would help ceasing awkward silence moments.

“Sure.” Your guest answered while washing his hands. You smirked a little as you played the first song. It didn’t even take five seconds and Jeongguk was staring at you, unamused.

“Seriously?” He said, but laughing anyway.

“It’s a good song!” You argued sarcastically.

“It was. But it has died ten years ago, please let it rest in peace.” You laughed at his reply and sighed exaggerated.

“Fine!” You finally agreed and skipped 'Last Christmas'.

Soon later you had your hands deep in a bowl of dough.

“Hey!” You complained as Jeongguk reached out to sneak a bit of dough for the fifth time now.

“Your intentions were that all along, weren’t they?” You accused and he only smirked while putting the dough in his mouth.

“Maybe?” You took a bit of flour and threw it in his face. Jeongguk laughed, breathed in a bit of flour and started coughing.

“Oh that screams for revenge!” He said. You let out a scream while trying to run away but he was quicker than you and wrapped his arms around your middle, holding you in place while dipping is finger into the Nutella glass and smearing it on your cheek and nose.

“You bully!” You pouted but it only made him laugh more as he let you go to observe his masterpiece.

“Do I look tasty at least?” You joked and he smirked again, licking the Nutella from his finger.

“Very.” He agreed.

Three hours later and you have four boxes full of Christmas cookies.

“Well damn.” You breathed while staring at the product.

“I'm never gonna eat so many cookies, I think we went a bit overboard.” You thought out loud. Jeongguk reached out for a cookie and munched it happily.

“Nah, don’t worry, I’ll help you eat them all.” He assured and you couldn’t help but laugh. Something about this boy made you feel so light. You weren’t sure what exactly it was.

“Okay, I think we deserve a break now. You wanna show me that cafe now?” You asked and watched how Jeongguks eyes began to sparkle.

“Absolutely! Let’s go!”

So you two quickly washed up, got dressed and went outside again.

“Come this way.” Jeongguk said and took your hand to pull you along. However, he didn’t let go. You looked down at your hands and felt a blush creeping up on your cheeks. You wondered if it was okay to lace your fingers but decided against it because well, you were shy after all. Anyways the two of you continued to hold hands all the way to the cafe and only let go once you got inside, to open your jackets and out off the too warm things.

The cafe was actually pretty big but it was so heavily decorated that it looked cozy. Instead of chairs there were small couches and armchairs around coffee tables. Everywhere were candy canes and mistletoes, Christmas balls and other typical nick-nacks. There was a heavy sweet scent in the air of gingerbread and chocolate. People were sitting around, chatting happily and sipping on their beverages and everything radiated an atmosphere that screamed relaxation.

Jeongguk led you to the counter where a girl, dressed up as Christmas fairy asked for your orders.

“One Chilli-Chocolate latte for me, please.” Jeongguk said and turned to look at you. You were looking at the board trying to decide what you’d like but there were so many crazy drinks that you just went with a classic one.

“Uh... one pumpkin spiced latte.” You said and heard Jeongguk snort beside you.

“How boring.” He teased and you stabbed him with your elbow.

“There were too many drinks, I was overwhelmed okay let me live.” You tried to defend yourself but he just laughed harder before pulling out his wallet once the barista came back with your drinks.

“That makes 3,20$ each.” She said and you wanted to grab your own wallet but once you had it Jeongguk had already paid for the both of you.

“Why did you do that?” You asked as you two went to grab a seat.

“Do what?” He asked back, sitting down on one of the couches.

“Pay for my drink.”

“Well I invited you, of course I’m gonna pay.” He said.

“You didn’t have to.”

“I know but I wanted to.” He smiled and you suddenly realized that he kind of resembled a bunny.

You spend about two hours in the cafe just talking about random shit and getting to know each other. You found out that you both liked Marvel movies, he told you about his fear of microwaves and pouted when you laughed for five minutes.

In the end you set a plan to meet again tomorrow for a marvel movie marathon. At your place since there were four boxes of cookies to be eaten. Out side of the cafe you hugged as goodbye and you couldn’t help but notice how strong and safe his arms felt and how he smelled kind if sweat and flowery. It was an untypical scent for men but you enjoyed it no less.

In the evening you were still looking forward to the movie date but when you woke up the next morning you suddenly became really, really nervous. You started cleaning up you entire flat before taking a shower and continuing to change outfits like five times.

“Fuck Y/N get your shit together.” You mumbled to yourself and took a deep breath. It’s not like you two officially named it a date basically it’s just two friends hanging out but somehow that was doing little to calm you.

When it finally knocked on your door you jumped slightly before going to open it. Jeongguk had a bright smile on his face and immediately went in for a hug again. It took you by surprise but you hugged him back anyway and suddenly all your nervousness was gone and all you felt was a deep contentment.

“Hey,” Jeongguk murmured in your ear, causing a shiver to run down your spine.

“Hi,” You said back, your voice a bit breathy as you tried not to speak too loud.

“Come in.” You said as you two pulled apart. Jeongguk took off his shoes and for some reason it made you happy that he came in sweatpants. You felt like it would make the day more intimate. Jeongguk seemed to think the same since he pouted once his eyes had made their way up and down your body.

“You are over dressed.” He stated. You looked down at the black skinny jeans and cream coloured sweater you were wearing and blushed.

“Ah sorry, I had to do some... things before you came.” You lied and quickly turned around so he wouldn’t catch you.

“You can make yourself at home, I’ll change real quick.” You said and ran back to your bedroom.

“Fuck,” you hissed under your breath as you closed the door behind you and went to your closet. Since you didn’t really have much time to think about what you wanted to wear you just pulled out your favourite pair of fluffy pants. They were light blue and had little snowflakes  on them and they were super soft so you guessed it would be fine.

Jeongguk was already seated on the couch once you came back and looked up to you.

“That’s better.” He grinned. You rolled your eyes at him and went to the kitchen to get the cookies as well as some other snacks and drink. The way Jeongguk immediately went for the snacks made you chuckle while you turned on the TV. You two randomly watched one movie after the other, slowly scooping closer each movie until you sat sides pressed together. Jeongguk had a hand on your thigh, his finger redrawing the patterns of the snowflakes. You giggled maybe a bit too often whenever Jeongguk imitated one of the actors and spoke along the lines and Jeongguk laughed whenever you shared one of the unnecessary facts you knew about the movie. For example, how Robert Downey Jr hid snacks all over the set so he could eat while shooting the scenes and the director couldn’t stop him from doing so, so he just let him at one point. Jeongguk threw his head back when you told him that and claimed that he loved Iron man even more now.

The day passed way too quick and at around five pm you turned off the TV. Jeongguk put his arms over his head and stretched.

“Ah, I’m getting old.” He joked as his back cracked a bit.

“You are an idiot.” You giggled and Jeongguk smiled back at you.

“Hey wanna get out and grab some real food? As much as I love your cookies, they are bad for my diet.” He offered and you grinned with raised eyebrows.

“Why are you on a diet?” You asked amused.

“Hey! These muscles don’t come from nothing!” He defended himself.

“What muscles? You are wearing baggy clothes all the time, why do you need muscles?” You teased, not expecting what would happen now. Jeongguk pulled up his hoodie, revealing his abs.

“I’m not having these for the moments where I’m wearing clothes.” He grinned and you choked on your own saliva.

“What the fuck!” You screeched, throwing pillows at him. “Jeon Jeongguk, are you an exhibitionist?” The boy only laughed, put his hoodie back down and pulled you up from the couch.

“Come on, I’m hungry!” He said.

“Wait I gotta change first.” You said but he shook his head.

“I can’t change either, we’ll go like that.”

“What?” You gasped, looking at your snuggle pants. “No way in hell, I’m not going out like this. Your pants at least don’t look like pyjamas.” Jeongguk grinned.

“Come on~ don’t be a part pooper. It’s already dark anyway and we are not going to some fine restaurant. We’ll just get some take out somewhere.” You fake pouted, pretending to be offended.

“What? You are not taking me out to a fine restaurant?” Jeongguk smiled.

“Don’t get me wrong, I definitely would but I’d prefer to wear real clothes for that.” You made a grimace.

“Why don’t you go without clothes? You like to show off your oh so great muscles anyway.” You teased.

“Okay,” He said calmly and moved to pull his sweater over his head. You screeched a bit, hitting him on his arm and chest.

“Oh my god! Stop it you dumbass!” He laughed again, taking your hand and pulling you to the door.

“Come on,” He urged again “It’s gonna be fun!”

“It’s gonna be embarrassing, that’s it!” You whined but followed anyway. The two of you put back on your shoes, wrapped yourselves up in coats and scarfs before leaving. You stole Jeongguks bucket hat and pulled it deep into your face. Not like anyone would recognize you but still...

You went to a small fast food shop and got a load of greasy stuff. You couldn’t help but snort at Jeongguks order.

“What happened to your diet?” You asked and he grinned back.

“I think letting it slip this once will be fine.”

The staff giving you your food grins at you after seeing your outfits and you couldn’t help but blush..

“You two are a cute couple.” He said and you blushed even more.

“Thanks!” Jeongguk said proudly and you almost choked.

“Why didn’t you correct him?” You asked shyly, once outside. Jeongguk shrugged.

“I don’t know, it doesn’t really matter.” He said before his eyes widened.

“Or did it bother you? Oh my god do you have a boyfriend?” You couldn’t help but laugh, his expression was too funny.

“No, it didn’t bother me and I don’t have a boyfriend. I was just... curious.” You said after finishing to laugh.

“Oh, okay,” Jeongguk smiled “then this should be fine, right?” He asked, taking your hand. You blushed again.

“You smooth fucker.” You mumbled, but didn’t protest or pull away, instead your fingers intertwined as you walked back to your apartment.

It was relatively silent from then on, but in a comfortable way. The two of you walking together, both lost in their own worlds but still connected. It felt intimate in a very innocent way and you enjoyed it so much. You couldn’t help but wonder what Jeongguks deal was after all. Why was he bothering spending so much time with you? Was he actually interested in more than just friends or was he just being nice? Was he feeling pity since he found you crying in the subway? The thought made you feel uncomfortable. You didn’t like being pitied and especially not by someone you consider your friend... or even more?

You were back at your apartment sooner than expected, for you were so lost in thought the way just seemed to fly by. After eating the greasy food Jeongguk yawned and smiled softly.

“Thank you for having me for so long.” He said and you snorted a bit.

“Thank you for keeping me company.” You corrected and it was followed by a few more silent seconds in which you two just stared at each other.

“I should probably go.” Jeongguk muttered and got up. You nodded and followed him to the entrance of your flat.

“Thank you, really. I had a lot of fun today.” You said and he grinned again.

“We didn’t even do anything.” He countered but you only shrugged. Jeongguk took a step towards you, once he had his shoes on, and wrapped his arms around you. You closed your eyes and relished in the blissful moment, enjoying how save and warm you felt.

“I don’t know if this is too soon or I don’t know... inappropriate but...” He started and pulled back looking down at you, you returned his gaze curiously, amused over the blush on his cheeks.

“Since I know you don’t really have plans on Christmas I wanted to ask if you’d like to spend it with me and my friends? Don’t worry it’s only like seven people including you and me and we are not really doing much. Just eating a lot and lazing around.” He explained. You didn’t know what to say. Of course the offer was really thoughtful and you’d like to spend Christmas with Jeongguk, but you two still don’t know each other that well and meeting his friends seems... like a couple thing to do. Especially on Christmas.

“Don’t worry, you don’t have to answer right away, just think about it, okay?” Jeongguk continued when you stared at him like a deer in the spotlight. You nodded.

“Great! I’ll text you tomorrow, goodnight!” And then Jeongguk was out of the door, before you had the chance to say anything else.

“...goodnight.” You whispered back, although it was way too late.

You made yourself ready for bed all the while thinking about Jeongguks proposal. You were tempted to say yes but... was it really okay? You don’t know any of them, what if they don’t like you? What if they think you are weird or intrusive for just joining on them? You’d ruin their and Jeongguks Christmas and you really don’t want that. What if it’s gonna be awkward the whole evening? It could also ruin your friendship with Jeongguk are you ready to risk that?

You decide to sleep about it for a night and text Jeongguk in the morning.

 Jeongguk

Good morning :)

Well fuck, you think as you read the two words over and over again. Even the night couldn’t help you find the right answer and now you sit in your living room trying to figure out what to do. Unfortunately you don’t have a lot of time for that figuring out, since Christmas is tomorrow and you probably can’t wait till last minute to decide.

You

Good morning

Hope you slept well

You answer simply to buy yourself some time. You did not expect for Jeongguk to answer right away.

Jeongguk

Ah well a bit like a stone with all that grease in my stomach haha

But I have no regrets

You can’t help but smile at that. Damn, you really want to go see him on Christmas but... can you?

You

Hey uhm... were you serious last night? About the Christmas thing?

Jeongguk

Of course, why? Did you think about it?

You take a deep breath. Communication is key, right?

You

Yeah I did but I’m still not sure

Are you sure it’s okay for your friends? What if they won’t like me?

Jeongguk

Of course I’m sure, I wouldn’t have offered if I weren’t

I don’t want you to feel pressured tho so if it makes you uncomfortable just say no I understand :)

“Goddamn why is he so cute?” You mumble, while typing away on your phone.

You

It’s not that... but Christmas is like... pretty serious? In a way? And idk if it’s okay for me to just... intrude...

You watch as Jeongguk starts typing, stops, starts again, stops another time and starts again. It takes like five minutes until you finally get a message. Five minutes in which you start to get really anxious for some reason.

Jeongguk

I think you misunderstood... I’m not asking you to come out of pity or politeness...

I genuinely want you to be there and meet my friends.

And don’t worry about them! I... lowkey talk about you to them... like a bit...and they said they want to meet you. Actually it was one of them who had the idea to invite you...

You stare at your phone for what felt like hours. Is this real? Suddenly a big wave of excitement hits you and you jump up from the couch.

You

Oh... that is... surpising

And lowkey really cute

Thank you.

I’d be honoured to come if you are sure it’s okay... :)

Jeongguk

GREAT!!! Okay okay it’s at my friends apartment but don’t worry I’ll pick you up at around 4 pm, that works?

You

Works fine

Should I bring anything?

Jeongguk

Nah, my friends are lame so really we’ll just have dinner and laze around. Maybe play a few games, it’s totally chill...

You bit down in your lip. For you it was not lame at all, you couldn’t wait to go. Of course you were still nervous about meeting them but you really wanted to go.

 The next day you woke up super early, since the excitement was sitting in your bones. You made a quick tour through the town but not for too long since it was really packed and then took your time getting ready. Jeongguk said you didn’t have to bring anything but that didn’t feel right so you put a few of your cookies into a box as well as other small things.

It knocked at exactly 4:04 pm and you opened the door maybe a bit too eager.

“Merry Christmas!” Jeongguk yelled as soon as he saw you, a bright smile on his face. He was dressed in normal black jeans and a cringy Christmas sweater and you wondered how it was possible that he still looked so stunning.

“Yeah,” you smiled “merry Christmas.”

“What is that?” He asked looking at your bag.

“Oh just, you know, girl stuff.” He raised his eyebrows but didn’t comment any further. Instead he pulled you in a hug again.

“Alright, let’s go.” He then said and pulled you out. It seemed like you weren’t the only one who was excited. You two took an uber to get there but the drive only took like twenty minutes anyway. The apartment building you were standing in front of was...

“Is this a joke?” You gasped “Is your friend the president or something?” Jeongguk chuckled.

“He’s actually my cousin and no he’s not the president. But he’s a pretty successful fashion designer.” The boy explained, taking your hand and pulling you inside. You blushed as the security guys stared at you two but Jeongguk didn’t seem fazed at all.

“Okay so we will be eight, by the way, the girlfriend of my cousin came too. But she’s cool, so don’t worry.” He said as you two stepped into the elevator. Suddenly the nervousness came crushing back down over you and you gulped, tightly grabbing Jeongguks hand.

“Hey, you really don’t have to worry.”  Jeongguk smiled softly and you nodded as Jeongguk lead you towards the apartment. Why does this feel like you are meeting your boyfriends parents?

“By the way,” Jeongguk said and knocked on the door. He leaned in a bit and whispered into your ear “You look really pretty tonight.”

The door opened and you were a flustered mess, wow this is just great.

“Kookoo! Merry Christmas, my dear little cousin!” A tall, handsome man exclaimed and pulled Jeongguk into a tight hug.

“Merry Christmas, Jinnie!” The younger laughed a small blush tainting his cheeks.

“And this must be your friend.” The man said turning towards you. You wondered why he emphasized the word 'friend' so much. Jeongguk blushed a little more.

“Ah yes, thats's-"

“I'm Y/N. Nice to meet you!” You introduced yourself and shook his hand.

“The pleasure is all mine! I'm Seokjin, please come in!” Seokjin said and stepped aside to let you in. The apartment was huge and beautiful and everything was decorated and smelled like food and it was all just so christmasy that you felt a little overwhelmed. You didn’t expect to have any of that this year.

When you came into the living room you found that everyone was already there. A girl tall and lithe, she wore normal blue jeans and a black sweater but she still looked like a model, with silky black hair. She happily jumped over and slung her arms around Seokjin.

“Hey, you must be Jeonggukies new friend! I’m so glad to meet you, I'm Sunmi.”

“Ah hi, nice to meet you too. Actually, nice to meet you all. I'm Y/N.” You said in the room since there were four other people sitting on the couches and armchairs. There was this couple on the couch with one really tall man who had dimples as deep as the universe and a really small one next to him who had his hands on the tallers thighs and a smug look on his face. The smaller one had black hair and heavy rings on his fingers that made them look even smaller. Then there was another couple with a guy with red hair who beamed like the sun and another who seemed to overshadow that light with his grumpy face.

“Oh my god, hi! Our Jeonggukie is finally bringing someone over and then it’s such a pretty one!” The one with the red hair yelled and jumped up from his place next to the grumpy one who jumped a little.

“I'm Hoseok but you can just call me Hobi!” He said, wearing a stupid Christmas sweater as well.

“This is my Yoongi, he might look a little grumpy right now but that’s only because he couldn’t nap this afternoon, he’ll get around.” Hoseok continued and you waved a little, unsure about what to do.

“I'm Jimin and I can’t wait to tell you all the embarrassing stories about our little Jeonggukie!” The smaller one with the black hair said.

“Jimin!” Jeongguk complained and you couldn’t suppress the giggle.

“Hi! I'm Namjoon. Merry Christmas.” The tall one said. Jimin sat down next to him again and snuggled into his side.

“Okay,” Seokjin said, clapping his hands “the dinner should be ready soon. So let’s go to the dining table.”

It was amazing how Jeongguks friends managed to include you as if you were a part of them and it filled you with a warm and fuzzy goo whenever you looked at Jeongguk and saw the sparkle and fondness in his eyes when he talked to or laughed with his friends. You could almost feel how much he adores them and they adored him. Jeongguk was the youngest and it was obvious how the others enjoyed to baby him. However that didn’t stop them from teasing him.

After the dinner you went back to the living room to exchange presents and you felt a bit nervous again since, well, for obvious reasons. At first you watched how the others gifted each other and how they fell in each others arms to thank them. They were a family and it felt so intimate that you almost felt bad for intruding. Even Yoongi, who you first thought was a bit cold-hearted, turned out to be super soft. He laughed over Jeongguks silly jokes and Hoseoks smiles and he squealed at Hoseoks present, falling into his boyfriends arms and kissing him.

You waited for everyone to calm down again and settle on the couches before you pulled out the little gift you got for Jeongguk. You didn’t want to make a big deal out of it but you felt like you needed at least something, since he really made your Christmas this year.

“Uhm,” You made nervously pulling on his arm for he was sitting next to you. He looked over and saw the present and his eyes widened.

“What...” He whispered

“It’s really just something small but-" Jeongguk grabbed your hand and pulled you off the couch. He brought you back to the entrance and for a moment you thought you did something wrong but then he searched in the pocket of his jacket and pulled out a little present as well.

“Oh my god.” You mumbled, not expecting this at all. The two of you exchanged the presents.

“It’s really not much, it’s just... You know, I was feeling really down this years Christmas and I never would have thought that it could possibly turn out like this! I’m just really grateful that I met you and that you kind of stuck around I guess and so I wanted to do something in return.” You rambled, a little ashamed but Jeongguk smiled so softly that you couldn’t stop yourself.

“Thank you,” He whispered “but you really didn’t have to. I’m glad that we met, too and that my awkward ass actually managed to talk to you without looking like a complete fool.” You felt suddenly so shy so you just looked down.

“Open it!” You urged and watched how he unwrapped the present. As soon as he had opened it he threw his head back and laughed.

“Oh my, really?” He giggled at the Iron Man hoodie.

“I’m sorry, I had to.” You smiled sheepishly.

“What do you mean? I love it!” He assured, hugging you again.

“Okay, now open yours.” He then said, pulling back. You did as said and gasped as you opened the little box.

“Jeongguk what the fuck?” You whisper yelled and took the small bracelet out.

“I don’t know, it reminded me of you.” He said gently. It was a fine, silver bracelet with a shimmering, tear shaped pearl on it.

“It’s beautiful.” You awed and took it out.

“Wasn’t that super expensive? It’s too much.” You pouted.

“Nah, it wasn’t expensive don’t worry. I want you to have it.” He said, took it out of your hand and put it around your wrist.

“Thank you so much!” You exclaimed and hugged him too, kissing his cheek. His skin was so soft and his scent lulled you in. It was a blissful evening and you wished it would last forever. Jeongguk put his head on yours and you felt him gulp.

“I really like you, Y/N.” He murmured. You froze a bit, your fists clawing in his sweater.

“You... you like me?” You asked dumbly, not sure if you heard correctly. Jeongguk chuckled, tightening his hug.

“Yeah, I do. How could you not notice?” He said rhetorically.

“I don’t know, I just...”

“Will you go on a date with me?” He blurted out and you gasped, pulling back to look him in the eye.

“Really?”

“Why would I joke about this?” He pouted, sounding a little offended and it just made him even cuter.

“Oh my god!” You screeched excitedly. “Of course, I will, you idiot!” He laughed and pulled you in again and suddenly you felt his lips on your own.

“Oh fuck! Oh shit! I’m so sorry, oh my god!” He exclaimed letting you go.

“That was totally too soon and a dickmove. It’s just I wanted to do this for a while now and, and I’m really-"  

You cut him off by pressing your lips against his again. It felt so right that you couldn’t bring yourself to stress over it now. His lips were so soft and tasted sweet from the dessert and you wondered how this Christmas, that was supposed to be so sad and lonely turned out to be the best of them all.

          - A few days later -

“Oh my god, Tae!” You screamed, running over the platform.

“Y/N!” Tae screamed back and dropped his luggage to catch you as you crushed into his chest.

“I missed you so much!” You cried, tears pooling in your eyes.

“Aigoo sweetie, don’t cry! I missed you too!” Tae said and you giggled as you looked up.

“Shut up, you big softie! You are crying yourself!” He rubbed at his eyes with a big grin on his face.

“I don’t know what you’re talking about!” Tae said. “Christmas was not the same without you! Anyway, show me that mysterious boy of yours!” A new sparkle appeared in his eyes.

“You are unbelievable!” You rolled your eyes but turned around anyway to discretely point at Jeongguk. He was standing at the staircase of the platform, waiting for them. God, he looked so good in his leather jacket and white tee, a black cap on his head.

“That one.”

“Oh my god, the one in black? With the leather jacket and thighs as big as my head?” You nodded giggling.

“What the fuck, Y/N! He looks like some idol, how did you score him? Tell me your secret!”

“I have actually no idea.” You laughed as Tae picked up his bags again and wrapped his free arm around your shoulders.

“Introduce us, I need to check if he’s a good one.” Your best friend insisted and you rolled your eyes again.

“Ggukie!” You called to catch his attention. The boy looked up immediately but frowned at Tae, once he noticed the arm wrapped around you.

“This is Taehyung, Tae this is Jeongguk.” The two stared at each other for a while.

“Marvel or DC?” Tae asked.

“Marvel.” Jeongguk answered quickly.

“Milk first or cereal first?”

“Milk.” Taes jaw dropped.

“What? Are you serious? Babe, you gotta dumb him, there’s no way he’s a human.” Tae said shaking his head. You poked him in the side with your elbow.

“Oh my god, shut up and leave him alone! Let’s go and eat something instead.” You said, leading them out.

“Fried chicken!” They both yelled at the same time and you giggled. Oh yeah, they’d get along just fine.

[padfootagain]

All That The Wind Carries (IV)

Chapter 4 : What Being a Head Boy Implies

And another chapter edited! More Jily on this one but still a bit of Blackinnon, because I love Blackinnon…

Hope you like it!

Word Count : 5000

He was late. He knew Lily would be mad at him. He didn't want her to feel like he was letting her down on the very first day, but he had had to take news of Sirius. And well... he also had to make sure to tease his best friend with his brand new relationship with McKinnon. He reckoned that if Sirius had wanted to seduce her, he would have done so long ago. But still, teasing Sirius was one of his favourite things in the world, he couldn't waste an opportunity, could he?

Now he was running down the corridor, hurrying throughout the school. He had to find Lily at the cafeteria. He took a look at his watch.

17:10.

They were supposed to meet at 5 pm.

Fuck...

She was going to kill him.

Here it was, the end of James Potter.

He bumped into a wall, failing at turning at the corner, and he resumed his running, massaging his painful arm.

He looked at the time again.

17:13.

He could see the picture perfectly.

Murderer : Lily Evans

Weapon : Wand

Cause of Death : Broken skull after having been cursed so hard he flew across the whole city and finished hitting the Elizabeth Tower, staying stuck into the giant clock.

At least, the authorities would have the precise hour of his death...

17:15

And on his tomb, he knew perfectly what Sirius would write : "Here rests James Potter, the only trouble maker who managed to get Head Boy when he received more than 300 hours of detentions over the years. Well done, Prongs. You fucked up your reputation."

He made a mental note to make sure to erase Sirius from his last will.

17:17

Finally, he reached the door of the cafeteria. He stopped on the threshold, taking a moment to partially catch his breath. But he didn't have the chance.

The door was open, as always. Apparently, the cafeteria was always open. During their two last years, the students could always have fruits and drinks, and most students used the room to study when they had to work in groups, as they couldn't talk in the library. So when he leaned against the doorframe, and looked inside the room, he saw her there, sitting near the window, looking at the grounds. The light was soft, pale after the rain of the previous hours. Her hair looked like a halo of flames, her eyes greener than the grass in spring.

He couldn't catch his breath, his heart had stopped anyway.

He reckoned he needed to correct the circumstances of his death.

Murderer : Lily Evans

Weapon : that little smile on her lips

Cause of death : Heart attack after being awestruck

Engraving on his tomb : "Here rests James Potter, who's heart was too fragile to face Lily Evans' beauty. Well done, Prongs. You're a lovesick moron."

He struggled to swallow, trying to calm down the butterflies in his stomach, but it wasn't working at all.

Hell, he was so pathetic when it came to her.

He walked into the room, coming closer to her. Now, he could see the shy freckles that stained her cheekbones and nose.

Hell, she was so...

"Hey," he breathed as he reached her table.

She started, looking up at him.

"I'm sorry I'm late," he went on, sitting next to her. "I was talking with Sirius. I had to check if he was alright after what happened at lunchtime."

"Don't worry," she reassured him. "I was late too actually. I spoke to Marls. I just arrived two minutes ago."

James let out a relieved sigh.

"Okay, I was afraid you'd be mad at me for being late."

"It's okay."

She picked up her quill and a piece of parchment.

"Alright, we have to pair up the prefects and decide when they will do their patrols. The ones in their 7th year will have to be paired together, 'cause they won't start their patrols until we're back at Hogwarts."

"All right."

"Some extra prefects have been chosen by the Heads of House so that there are enough prefects in Hogwarts. McGonagall gave me a list of their names. We'll go to Hogwarts on Sunday, and have a meeting with the prefects. We'll have to make sure the meetings fit with the Quidditch practices. Do you know when you will do the tryouts?"

"Probably this week."

"You have to tell McGonagall so that she can put a note in the Common Room. You should do that as soon as possible."

"I'll talk to her tomorrow."

"Okay. So, first, we have to do the pairings, that's the most urgent thing we have to do."

"What if we pair up two people who hate each other together?"

"They have until Sunday to change the pairings, they'll tell us by then. As long as they mix up with other houses, it's fine."

James nodded. He took a deep breath, before diving, trying to sound very natural.

"Do we have to do rounds too? As Head Boy and Head Girl?"

"Yep, we do," she nodded, reading the list of the prefects' names.

"Hmm... Do you think we should be paired together?"

She looked suspiciously at him.

"I mean... between Quidditch and Head meetings and the NEWTs... It's gonna be a bit complicated to get organized, don't you think?" he explained. "If you add to that two different moments for our rounds, it's gonna be impossible for us to talk about Head duties."

She stared at him for a moment, her eyes narrowed, trying to read through him.

"Potter?" she said in a firm tone.

"Yeah, Evans?" he answered in his most innocent tone, that he often used with McGonagall when she caught him and his friends red-handed.

"It's not one of your twisted way to ask me out, is it?"

"Of course not."

She clenched her jaw, glaring at him now.

He was awful at lying. He had always been awful at lying. His cheekbones always reddened when he lied. It was discreet, almost invisible, but when you learned to see this detail, it was impossible to be fooled by the boy.

And as a Gryffindor girl, it was a question of survival for her and her friends to know how to read through his and Sirius's lies. She had learned the trick long ago.

"I won't go out with you, Potter. I thought I had been clear over the years..."

"That's not what..."

"I won't go out with you, not now, not ever."

"I know that."

"I told you once that I would rather go out with the Giant Squid, and I meant it."

"I know you did."

"So..."

"So... that's not why I proposed the two of us to be paired together."

She slightly wrinkled her nose, clearly not convinced. She seemed to think for a moment.

"If you want, you can still pair me with Remus," James added, trying to reassure her. "I mean... he's one of my best friends, I'm not going to complain."

Actually he would. He would cy all night long until Sirius would get bored and cast a sleeping spell on him. And he would hate Remus till the end of his days.

Actually, no, not until the end of his days. Moony was too kind, he could never stay mad at him for more than a day. But James would stop talking to him for an entire day, that was for sure. Even if Remus didn't have anything to do with it, it didn't matter, he would have to pass his nerves on someone eventually.

"Actually, you have a point," Lily sighed, tearing James away from his thoughts. "With Quidditch, we'll never manage if we don't do our rounds together. All right then, let's do that."

"We don't have to if it's a problem for you."

"No, no that's all right. And if you actually do ask me out during one of our rounds I'll attach you and leave you during the entire night hanging at the Astronomy Tower. Is that clear?"

He smiled. This crooked smile of his that annoyed her so much.

Oh Merlin...

"That's a deal, Evans," and his smile turned into a grin.

She nodded, writing their two names next to each other on the parchment.

It took them half an hour to pair up the prefects (James hated the idea of pairing Gryffindors and Slytherins together, it seemed like a form of torture to him, and it took a while for Lily to convince him). Organizing the rounds took them 20 minutes more. And during all this time, they didn't fight, nor shouted. He didn't give her one of his lines, and she didn't get irritated every time he opened his mouth.

They both reckoned that their relationship was improving.

"We'll see about the events we have to organize with the Muggles tomorrow after lunch," she told him as they were folding the parchments.

"We could meet here. I don't know for you, but I don't know my way around quite yet," he answered.

"No, me neither."

"Have you been to the dorms yet?"

She shook her head.

"Do you think we'll have dorms for ourselves, like in Hogwarts?"

She shook her head again.

"I don't think so."

He struggled to hide his disappointment. Sharing dorms with Lily was one of the rare good sides of being Head Boy...

As they both made a movement to take the quill that laid on the table, their hands collided, their fingers touching softly.

They stared at each other for a moment, perfectly still.

Lily saw James biting his tongue, probably to avoid one of his cocky remarks to pass his lips. He slowly took his hand away from hers.

"Sorry," he mumbled.

"It's okay," she mumbled as well, blushing.

Somehow, they couldn't manage to look away from each other.

She hated him. Hell, he was so fucking annoying all the time.

But... she had to admit he had beautiful hazel eyes...

She cleared her voice, picking up the quill and finally tearing herself away from his stare.

"Let's go. I have to find Marlene before diner time," she said.

James nodded, closing his bag while he tried to slow down his racing heart.

"And I have to see the boys."

"All right then..."

They walked out of the cafeteria together, and stopped before parting in the corridor.

"Could you make sure that all the boys have their trunks tonight?" she asked James. "I'll check for the girls."

"Sure," James nodded.

She brushed a lock of her red hair behind her ear, making his heart jump against his ribs.

"See you later then," she said.

She sounded like she was uncomfortable all of a sudden.

"See you, Evans."

She turned on her heels and hurried down the corridor.

James stared at her as she walked away. He heaved a sigh, throwing his head backwards. He had managed to behave the entire time. He reckoned that their colliding hands had fucked up everything though. He closed his eyes, taking a deep breath.

He missed the image of Lily turning one last time towards him before disappearing around the corner.

------------------------------------------------------

"I can't believe you’ve spent all this time talking with Sirius."

Marlene rolled her eyes.

"Alice, we just talked."

"First you make a bet," Alice went on, ignoring her friend's remark. "And then you spend two hours talking with him alone in a corridor."

"Yes, you're right, we talked. He happens to understand my situation way better than anyone else does."

"He's not an orphan," Alice reminded her friend. "And it's Black we're talking about. He's the heartbreaker of Hogwarts."

"I know that. I'm missing your point though."

"I'm just saying that he's not the most reliable bloke on this school."

"Well, of course, now you're going to brag about your boyfriend," Marlene rolled her eyes.

"No..."

"That's what you always end up doing, Alice. As if Frank was perfect."

"He is though."

"For you. Not for us," Marlene replied, pointing at herself and Lily.

"She has a point," Lily nodded.

Alice didn't reply, merely planting her fork into her potato.

Suddenly, Sirius Black was standing right next to the girls.

"Hi there!" he exclaimed merrily.

Behind him, his four friends were waiting for him at the door of the cafeteria. He ignored Lily's and Alice's surprised look, and directly turned to Marlene.

"Our faithful Captain will set up the trainings for this Sunday. You'll have to be there, we need a chaser."

Marlene nodded.

"What time?"

"No idea for now. But don't plan anything for that day."

"All right."

"Oh... and I've sent James on a mission to find when the first trip to London is supposed to take place."

Alice and Lily exchanged a curious glance. But Marlene merely raised an eyebrow, trying to refrain a smile.

"And... how could that be any of my concerns?"

"You owe me a drink," he replied with a cocky smile.

"And I have a bottle of firewhiskey in my trunk."

It was his time to raise an eyebrow.

"I guess you won't need to wait for the trip to London to honour your debt then."

"That will depend. You never mentioned when I was supposed to pay you a drink."

"Why do I reckon that this will depend on my performance as a trouble maker?"

"Let's say that I'll be more inclined to pay you a drink if you avenge me well."

His typical crooked smile appeared on his lips, his eyes shining with mischief.

"Is that a bet?" he asked, his voice daring.

She shrugged.

"Why not?" she accepted.

"You'll give me that drink within 3 days after the prank if I win."

"And if you lose, you'll have to wait for London."

"That's a deal."

They shook hands.

Lily cleared her throat.

"I'm afraid I've misheard you..." she said, looking at the two smiling Gryffindors. "Did I hear about pranks?"

Sirius rolled his eyes.

"Evans... stop being a prefect for a second."

"I'm not a prefect anymore. I'm Head Girl."

"Even worse..."

"We can't take the risk of creating any incident with Muggles, Black!"

"I know that. That's why I'm not going to target Muggles. Only the good old cockroaches that have been transformed into Slytherins."

"Black..."

"Evans, you should trust us really..."

"Wait... us! Don't drag Potter into this."

Sirius chuckled, raising an eyebrow.

"Since when do you care so much about James getting in trouble?"

"I don't care about him. But he's Head Boy. And that's a lot of work. With the NEWTs, I can't handle everything on my own. I need him to stay in this school."

"Yeah... I believe you..."

"If you don't want to die young, I'd advise you to shut your mouth."

"Relax, Ginger Devil. I won't have a bad influence on our deal old James. He's already good at jumping into trouble anyway."

He ignored Lily as she opened her mouth to answer, and turned towards McKinnon again.

"Good night, McKinnon."

"'Night, Black."

And Sirius turned on his heels, whistling merrily, joining his friends and walking out of the cafeteria.

Alice and Lily stared at their friend.

"What?" Marlene asked innocently, eating a piece of bread.

"What the hell is this all about?" Lily asked her, glaring.

"What are you talking about?"

"You know what I'm talking about. What is this whole story of pranks all about?"

-----------------------------------------------------------------

"What... you made another bet with McKinnon?"

Remus stared at him, his reprobating look plastered on his face. This look he used every time Sirius or James would misbehave.

Which meant every single day, often several times a day.

"Yep," Sirius nodded. "She asked me to avenge her from the Slytherins. And don't give me that look, Moony. I'm being chivalrous, like a real Gryffindor. I answer to the call of a damsel in distress."

"Chivalry my arse. Marlene is everything but a damsel in distress."

"Hey, you were not against setting a prank earlier today," Sirius reminded the werewolf.

Remus blinked.

"I've never said I was against the idea of setting a prank against the Slytherins."

"But...?"

"But I'm worried about your intentions towards Marlene. She's very kind, you know?"

"I know. And my intentions are to win this bet and get a free drink."

"You and firewhiskey..."

"An old love story."

"An awful idea," Remus corrected his friend.

The door of the boy's dorm suddenly opened on Frank Longbottom and Caradoc Dearborn. Sirius stopped them, waving his hand before him.

"Watch out! Big prank in preparation. If you want to sleep, put a sound-proofing spell on your curtains. Or you get out."

"What do you think we did the second we set a foot in this dorm?" Frank asked back, before walking towards his bed.

The beds were four-posters, very similar to the ones at Hogwarts actually, except that the covers and the curtains were not red and golden, and the beds were not set up in circle, but aligned against the two longer walls of the rectangular room.

Eleven beds were set in this dormitory, for only six boys in Gryffindor. None of the Marauders was very happy at the idea of sharing their dorm with new boys, but it didn't look like they had a choice anyway. They guessed that the five remaining beds would belong to Muggles, but they had not arrived yet.

The four Marauders had taken the four beds the further away from the door, and were now sitting cross-legged on the floor between their beds, in the middle of the room.

"You all have all your things, by the way?" James asked the newcomers.

They both nodded, frowning.

"Sure, why?" Caradoc asked.

"Lily asked me to check if all the boys had their trunks."

"That's why you disappeared after we arrived here?" Remus asked his friend.

"Yeah, I went to check for the other houses."

All the dorms were set in the same corridor. And James had to admit that he didn't like having his dorm so close to the Slytherins. But again, they didn't have much choice anyway.

"Oh... so Ginger Devil is making sure you're acting like a good little Head Boy..." Sirius mocked his friend.

Sirius received a Bertie Bott's Jelly Bean in the face in response.

"I have to behave this year," James told him. "Because it's my last chance with Lily, and because Dumbledore seems to rely on me for everything to be fine with the Muggles..."

"Wait, wait, wait..." Sirius interrupted his best friend, his eyes wide in horror. "You're not going to abandon us, are you?"

James rolled his eyes.

"Of course not, Pads. We are the mischief makers of Hogwarts. And that won't change. I just... need to deal with Head Duties as well. And Quidditch. And my NEWTs. And Lily..."

"If you turn into a prefect this year, I swear on Merlin's beard, James Potte,r I'll turn you into a toad and throw you in a cauldron full of snakes."

"Hey, I'm a prefect," Remus protested. "See, you can plan pranks and be a figure of authority."

"You're not a figure of authority, Remus," Sirius corrected him. "You're the kindest bloke in Hogwarts."

"You know what I meant."

"Sirius, I swear, I won't turn into an angel," James reassured him.

The door of their dorm suddenly opened, filling the room with the sound of laughs.

The five Muggle boys who were studying with them entered, stopping their conversation as they entered the dormitory and saw the Wizards.

"Well, looks like we're gonna share our dorms together as well," a blond boy, named Richard, said.

"Looks like it, yeah," James nodded.

The four Marauders exchanged a glance. They couldn't prepare their prank if the Muggles were around...

"So... how was your first day?" Joey asked them.

"Fine enough," James nodded.

"We heard about a fight, is that true?" a dark haired boy, named Albert, asked.

"Well... depends on what you heard," Sirius replied.

"We heard you all had been fighting against another group from your school. And that you were punished quite badly for it."

"Not so badly," Sirius replied. "I just got detentions."

"Why did you fight? What happened?" asked Joey, eager to know about the story.

Sirius merely shrugged.

"I just punched a guy in the face."

"Why?"

"He said something not so kind to a friend of mine."

"So you punched him?"

"It's more complicated than that."

"The rumor says it was because of a girl," Richard said, letting himself fall on the bed closer to the door. "What did the guy do? It's about your girl?"

"Marlene is not my girl," Sirius replied. "Lestrange mocked her on her family."

"And?"

"And her entire family was killed during the summer."

"Oh shit..."

A long silence settled into the room.

"Talking about girls," Joey suddenly blurted out, "are there any girls from your school who are... taken? I mean... this ginger girl looks..."

"Absolutely not available," James finished for him, glaring.

"You two are together?"

"No."

"But you're trying to make her go out with you."

"Yep."

"So..."

"So if you get near her I'll turn you into a cockroach."

"Can you do that?"

James picked up a Jelly Bean, his wand, and a second later, a cockroach was running across the room.

Joey struggled to swallow.

"Alright, maybe not this one then..."

"And Alice is my girlfriend," Frank warned the Muggle boys.

"Alice? The brunette?" Richard asked.

"Yes."

"What about the blond?"

He looked at Sirius, but the boy merely shrugged.

"I don't reckon she's going out with anyone at the moment."

"You're not together then."

"Of course not," Sirius snorted.

"Well, I don't know... you punched a guy for her."

"We're not together."

There was a knock on the door.

"Turn off your lights," a woman told them. "It's curfew."

The Muggles heaved a sigh and walked towards their beds.

"Who's that?" Peter asked.

"That's Mrs. Peddington," Richard answer."She's the groundkeeper. She's..."

"A pain in the arse," Joey finished in his friend's stead.

"Hell... A woman version of our good old Filch?" Remus asked his friends.

"And I thought we would be rid of this guy," James sighed, standing up.

"So... there's a curfew in the dorms?" Sirius asked the Muggles, standing up as well.

"Yep, 10 pm. And everybody is woken up at half past six," Joey nodded.

"That sucks."

"Welcome to Saint Peter Prison."

James carefully waited for the Muggles to be talking together, before turning towards his three friends.

"We won't be able to talk about pranks in the dorm," James whispered.

"What do you propose?" Sirius asked.

"I propose we explore our brand new school," James answered with a grin, his eyes shining with mischief.

"Tonight?"

"Why not?"

"I'm not sure Lily would be very pleased if she knew the Head Boy was breaking curfew, and walking throughout the school in the middle of the night."

"Lily doesn't need to know that. And don't you think that I should know my way around this school, as Head Boy?"

"I think you should know every corridor."

"Exactly."

"And secret passages, so you can save students faster all around the school."

"You're perfectly right."

"And every way to get out of the school too, to prevent students from escaping."

"Absolutely."

"Oh... no, don't tell me you're thinking about what I think..." Remus breathed.

Sirius and James looked at each other, grinning.

"We need a Map!" they both whispered in unison.

"Oh Merlin... we're gonna get ourselves in trouble," Remus moaned.

"Relax, Moony. We'll wait till they're all asleep," James said, nodding towards the Muggles. "And then, we'll get out, using the invisibility cloak."

-------------------------------------------------

"Peter, stop walking on my damn foot!"

"Not my fault you have big feet, Padfoot."

"I beg your pardon? My feet are perfect, thank you."

"Moony, hurry up."

"We shouldn't be here... You're Head Boy for Merlin's sake!"

"Oh... damn prefect..."

"I don't reckon you were complaining on the fact that I'm a prefect when I used it to get you out of trouble."

"Shh... I heard something."

They all froze, listening closely. None would doubt Sirius's senses. He spent so much time in his Animagus form, his senses as a human had sharpened immensely.

He guided his friends towards the wall, getting out of the way of whoever could walk down the corridor. Outside, the moon and the stars were barely visible with all the clouds that covered the heavens. Remus made the light at the tip of his wand disappear.

Peter opened his mouth to speak, but Sirius shushed him, placing his palm on his friend's mouth.

This time, the sound of footsteps was loud enough for all the boys to hear.

They patiently waited until a little, quite fat woman would appear at the corner of the corridor. She was holding a torchlight in her hand, and seemed to be patrolling all around the school. They guessed it must have been this Mrs... Peddi... something that the Muggle boys had told them about earlier that night.

And indeed, she looked a bit like Filch. She had the same grumpy expression on her face. Except that she was three times bigger than him, that she wore big glasses that made her eyes look like the eyes of an insect, and her blond hair was attached in a high bun that was bigger than her face.

Sirius bit fiercely his lip to avoid his laughter to be heard. And he could feel that James had the same reaction, as his friend started shaking slightly next to him.

The Muggle passed slowly before them without noticing the hidden boys, and she disappeared around the next corner, climbing up a flight of stairs.

The boys slowly walked in the opposite direction, waiting until they had walked down a flight of stairs to finally light up their wands again and allow themselves to whisper again.

"Oh Merlin!" James chuckled, chocking with his laughter. "What the hell was that?"

"I thought Filch was ugly, but hell, she's even worse," Sirius nodded, laughing as well.

"She seems to be as bad-tempered as he is," Remus nodded.

They were now in a corridor downstairs, not far from the grounds.

"What time is it?" Peter asked.

Remus checked his watch.

"Almost two in the morning."

"I'm starting to be exhausted."

"You're always tired anyway," Sirius replied.

"He's got a point though, I'm tired as well," Remus told his friends.

"Well, let's see what we managed to cover tonight," James proposed, and Sirius picked up the piece of parchment he had folded into his pocket.

"We have all the area around the dorms," he said. "We also have the fourth, third and second floor of the left wing. And most of the second floor of the right wing."

James nodded slowly.

"This school is much more little than Hogwarts. I reckon that at this rate, we could have finished to explore it in two, maybe three nights."

Sirius nodded.

"We'll have to think about labels as well, to avoid this Mrs. Pedd... something."

"Peddy sounds good."

The four boys chuckled.

"Alright, we also have to talk about that prank against the Slytherins," James reminded his friends.

"We could... turn all their hair green," proposed Peter.

"How old are you again?" Sirius replied harshly. "Plus, brewing a potion is too long, we need to do it quickly, set the record straight."

"What about making their things disappear during class?" Remus proposed.

James and Sirius slowly nodded.

"That could be fun," James said, thinking hard.

But a grin formed on Sirius's face.

"Oh... Prongs... I'm a genius. A fucking genius. You're going to love that..."

"What?"

"They're keeping our owls in the school, right?"

James stared at his best friend, a smile creeping up on his lips.

"What could you possibly want to do with owls?" Remus asked suspiciously.

"We'll need owl treats," Sirius told James.

"I don't dare to imagine what your crazy brain has invented again," Remus shook his head.

Sirius shushed his friends once again.

"I heard something again."

"We definitely need a map..." Peter whispered.

The noise of a breaking window pierced the night.

"What was that?" Remus asked softly.

"Not dear old Peddy," Sirius breathed.

"What do we do?" Peter asked, his voice shaking slightly.

"We go take a look," Sirius and James answered in unison.

Remus, James and Sirius all started to walk towards the noise, dragging Peter with them.

"Are you sure we should do that?" Peter asked.

"Yes, we're sure," Remus replied, shushing his friend.

They hurried towards the grounds.

"Can you smell that?" Sirius asked.

"It smells like... something's burning," James nodded.

They hurried even more towards the source of the noise, Remus pulling Peter with him by now.

They froze when they heard the sound of voices.

"Come on, hurry up!"

"We must get out of here!"

"It's working! Look!"

"Yes, I can see it's working! That's why we need to get out before we are the ones to burn, instead of these monsters."

The four boys turned a corner, and had only time to catch a glimpse of the shape of a man jumping by a window and onto the street.

On the other side of the corridor, the wooden door leading to the grounds had been broken...

...And was burning.

***************************************

@geeksareunique @giggleberts @justanothermaraudersblog @sad-orange-thoughts @aylinnmslow @haritini2000 @ladyblablabla @drinix @joelynnp @mxrihollxnd @mikeselevenn @knowledgeisthebomb @ponycake27 @horsesreign @xinyourdreamsx @jbluevelvet @notkeppeki

[thong-in-the-twist]

Clothes?

PWP for @chengineering - it took me longer than I thought.

Slow, morning sex with Jongdae.

Soft light is hitting your face, and you sigh, slowly waking up. You stir, and roll on your side, the sun no longer shining on your face.

You smile, and finally you open your eyes, seeing Jongdae right in front of you. He is sprawled on his back, blankets askew, covering him up to his ribcage. He looks peaceful.

You sit up, allowing covers to fall down, exposing your skin. Air in the room is cool, and you immediately feel the goose bumps rising. Your clothes are thrown all over the floor, a shameful reminder of how you entered Jongdae’s apartment the night before. You contemplate searching for your shirt, but on a whim you decide against it, and you tiptoe, stark naked, to the wardrobe and you search it for a t-shirt and boxers.

Armed with clothes (the bare minimum), you hide yourself in the toilet. Quick shower later (taking special care not to wet your hair), you feel definitely alive. Dressed in his black shirt with a proud logo of his University and brand boxers, you tiptoe back to the bed.

He is still fast asleep. Not that you are surprised, it’s usually like that. You are the first to wake up, Jongdae waking up only after you give up and made breakfast.

This time you are not giving up, he is better cook than you are (even if you are not that happy about it), and you dream about his pancakes. You sit down on the bed, cross-legged, staring at him intensely, but unsurprisingly he doesn’t even stir. You stretch across the bed to reach your phone, resigned to the idea that for the time being it’s going to provide you the entertainment.

Jongdae’s apartment has an open floor plan, and really you can’t turn on the TV without waking him up, and you don’t want to do that. You want him to sleep for as long as he needs.

You roll around gathering your pillow under your chin to prop it up, so you can read something, when you are bolted upright by Jongdae’s voice.

“Clothes?” It’s all that he manages to wheeze out, and you can hear how dry his throat is, how hoarse his voice is. You barely get a glimpse of his eyes, before he closes them again, sun in his face. You smile unable to contain it, and your phone is immediately forgotten, as you crawl on all fours on top of your man. His eyes are still closed, but his lips are spreading into uncontainable broad smile. You look down at his handsome face, hands resting on both sides of his head.

“Clothes.” You admit playfully, and his Adam’s apple bobs as he swallows, probably to soothe his throat. You just dive down to kiss it, and Jongdae’s whine transforms into a purr, and there is a hand on your nape, and he brings you down.

You go willingly and lifelessly, dropping on the bed, immediately snuggling into his side, rewarded with his laughter. His arm is holding you close, as your head rests on his shoulder. There is a slight pressure on top of your head and you realize that he has just kissed the top of your head. You purse your lips together, instinctively trying to contain your smile, but truth be told – what for?

Sun is shining on your face through the window, and you can see the fine hairs on Jongdae’s chest in this light, and you slide your hand down the expanse of his torso. There is nothing lewd in that gesture, it’s just your need to feel his skin. And maybe his muscles.

His answer is his hand on your side, dragging up the hem of his shirt (on you) just enough, so he can rest his hand on your hip, skin on skin.

Jongdae’s chest is slowly moving up and down, but it’s enough for you to be enthralled. Your own chest does the same, and you are really conscious of the way your breasts move against his side with your every breath, even thought clothed.

But it’s good. Being so close to him, and warm, and content. And he is humming something, his chest vibrating with the sound, and you shift, bringing your leg up, to drape yourself more over him. He laughs again, sound breathless, and his hand moves to adjust your leg across his lower abdomen, and stays there, fingers under your knee.

His thumb is caressing the skin just above your knee, and you draw patterns on his chest, lazily dragging your forefinger across his chest. He noses your forehead, and it’s such an obvious sign. But you don’t react the way he wants you to, opting to turn your head slightly to kiss his chest,  just above his heart.

Jongdae purrs, once again sliding his nose against your forehead, lips grazing your temple. You answer with a purr of your own, feeling warm, at home, and playful, your arm draping across his chest, fingers splaying on his side. His hand slides up your leg, touch warm and purposeful, and very there. He stops just under your ass, and once again he tries to coax you into a kiss.

Once again you kiss his chest, and look up, wanting to see the look of annoyance on his face.

It’s not there. He look as at peace as you feel. His other hand moves up, and he brushes your hair off your face, to let his forefinger trace the shape of your jaw, trace the lines of your lips, slide up the slope of your nose. He looks at you while doing it with such an attention that you can’t help, but feel loved and beautiful.

Then he starts writing letters on your forehead, tongue appearing from between his lips, and you have to focus to get what he is writing.

I

D

I

O

You groan, rolling onto your back, letting your leg fall free, what were you even expecting?

Jongdae is laughing, but he immediately follows you, rolling onto his side, and now your roles are reversed.

“You look good.” He purrs, and you look up at him, unable to keep your hand to yourself, splaying it on his chest.

“Do I?” You ask, as Jongdae props himself up on elbow, his free hand playing with the hem of his t-shirt.

“Yeah, you do.”

Ok, so maybe you can forgive him the idiot thing, your hand sliding onto his nape to bring him down to you. He’s been waiting for that, immediately going into the kiss.

And now, kissing Jongdae is always fun. It can be sensual, it can be playful, it can be sexy, it can be hot. You know that he really likes it when he bites on your lower lip, because he does that, quite a lot, and you answer with a hiss, or maybe a scrunch of your nose, or maybe you grab his ear an pull it in retaliation. He also particularly enjoys those moments, when your tongue slips into his lips, to hook behind his upper teeth, or to glide over the incisors.

You love it when instead of overlapping, his lips fit right with yours, just like now, with your noses side to side, and although it’s messy and to some disgusting, when you can feel the wetness in the corners of your mouth.

His lips are plump, but chapped, and you can feel the little bits of dry skin catching on your lips and it’s a sensual thing. Jongdae one hands slid under you, ushering you back on your side, and you threw your leg over him, allowing your foot to rest against back of his thigh, and his free hand landed on your own thigh once again, fingers holding just a notch more surely than a moment ago.

His tongue is on the roof of your mouth, the tip of it dragging on the uneven surface, and you nearly forget what oxygen is and how to obtain it.

You thread your fingers through his silky hair, strands heavy, in need of washing, but you couldn’t care less.

Once again he bites your lip and your eyes fly open, because that seems both excessive and deliberate. And sure enough Jongdae’s eyes are open, pupils fixated on yours and one eyebrow is slightly raised. He looks like a puppy with one ear up, ready to play.

Jongdae never forces himself on you. He would initiate and stop, allowing you to react. Not that with lips pusling, his hand inching up your leg, fingers already brushing against your ass, his erection heavy and hot resting on your lower leg, you’d be inclined to decline.

Jongdae is still worrying your lip, and at this point it’s just annoying, so you twist his nipple in retaliation, and he gasps in pain, letting you go, and you laugh breathlessly. He eyes you pouting, and then he is pushing you onto your back, fitting between your legs, teeth closing on your neck, and this time you gasp, as his dick aligns with your crotch, his boxers that you are wearing only barrier. You instinctively grab his head, forcing it back, and up, to kiss him again, feeling how your skin is pulsing, where he bit you.

Your teeth are clashing with Jongdae’s, and your noses are colliding, and there is too much saliva, and it’s just arousing.

You tense your thighs on Jongdae’s sides, and then you push him off, you, rolling around, sitting on him. Immediately he rolls both of you again, and you whine when he grabs your wrists and pins them next to your head, kissing your cheek, and sucking the shell of your ear into his mouth. You keen, bucking under him, rutting against his erection.

He groans, but the sound is cut off in the middle, Jongdae turning it into loud exhale through his nose, ticking skin behind your ear. You turn your mindless rutting into more precise movement, relishing cotton rubbing at your labias and clitoris.

Jongdae gasps, and he lets go off your wrists, one of the hand moving to support his weight, not to crush you, the other one reaching down to fumble with your underwear.

That’s a moment you’ve been waiting for.

Hands free you push him on his back once again, rolling onto him, grabbing a pillow on your way, and you push it against his face, to distract him, as you sit on him.

As you expected, Jongdae grabs the pillow and throws it away, across the room, eyes wildly searching for you, hands already grabbing your legs – but he deflates, as soon as he sees you take off your (his) t-shirt.

You sit on his hips topless, Jongdae’s cock resting against your butt, and Jongdae looks up at you with just perfect amount of wonder in his eyes. You slide your hands up his torso, fingertips catching on his nipples, and you rub circles into his skin around the areola. Jongdae’s nostrils flare, but he is still very much focused on your breasts.

“You can touch, you know that?” You tease him, and it’s as if you’ve broken his trans. Immediately he sits up, and you have to grab his neck to steady yourself, and his long, dry hands slide up your sides, fingers catching slightly on your ribs, and they cup your breasts carefully, lovingly, slowly squeezing.

You laugh, and kiss the tip of his nose, and he smiles at you, bright, child-like, fingers massaging the tissue. He bows, curling down, and raising you slightly on his legs, and he kisses the skin between your breasts, and as if deciding that he doesn’t have enough of your skin, he drags his lips up your torso, mouthing at your clavicles on the way.

Your hands knead his nape and shoulders as he does that, purr forming in your chest.

There is nothing hurried in you. It’s a lazy morning, bed illuminated with sun, shining through window, and your skin is warm, and Jongdae’s tongue is hot, when it swirls around your nipple, lapping between his own fingers.

Your hips are moving again, for your pleasure pressing forward, into his lower abdomen, but knowing that the movement makes your butt rub at Jongdae’s dick.

The boxers you are wearing is the last piece of clothing either of you has on, but no one is hurrying to take it off. You are already riding, instinctively moving up and down, just slightly, but still, while Jongdae’s dexterous fingers map out your chest and back, caressing or kneading every patch of skin.

You are both leaking. You know, you can feel that. Do you feel guilty, because it’s not your underwear that is being soaked? No. Does Jongdae care? No.

You are getting lazy, boneless, so relaxing are Jongdae’s hands on you. There is still arousal shimmering under your skin and it’s really pleasant, but it’s also just… Calming. You are slowly melting into his skillful hands, and you press a kiss to the top of his head, fair not the freshest, but his smell engulf you, and you love it.

Once more Jongdae grabs you, bringing close, so you can roll over together, and you sprawl lifelessly on the crumpled sheets, allowing Jongdae to drag the boxers down your legs – happy, because you couldn’t be bothered to do this yourself.

Jongdae crawls up your body, and you feel the surge of energy, just enough to throw your arms on your neck, and bring him close, impossibly close, kissing at biting his jaw and neck and ear, effectively snuggling into him.

You don’t have to look to know that he is smiling when he presses the kiss against your temple.

He shifts on his knees, weight shifting to one arm, and anticipation surges through you, and you spread your legs, knees inching to the sides, because you are still feeling rather lazy.

Slide home is inexplicably calming. It is electrifying, friction just delicious, but you can feels yourself sinking into mattress, basking in warmth. Jongdae kisses your temple again, and you answer with a bruising kiss on his neck, sucking his skin into your mouth, saltiness of it going to your head. Your arms move, so you can hold him down, with hands on his back, fingers scraping lightly on his shoulder blades, as if you were scratching a cat, and sure enough Jongdae purrs, rolling back on his knees, to roll back in.

It’s more rocking than thrusting, his chest so close to yours that he just ruts on top of you, your stiffened nipples dragging on his skin. Every time it sends little thrilling shocks down your spin, and though Jongdae is neither fast nor forceful – his movements restrained, it’s working.

You let go of his skin with a loud sucking noise, and you rub your nose against his neck, snuggling into it, letting yourself be disarmed with his smell. He starts humming quietly, his chest and neck vibrating with the sound, and that’s so Jongdae.

Your head lolls down, resting against the sheets, so you can watch Jongdae’s face and he looks down at you, the corners of his mouth tweaking up, but eyes crossing slightly with every movement. You brush his hair off his face, and as if that was kind of a signal he was waiting for, his hands slide under you, and yet again, you find yourself rolling on the bed.

You come to stop on the side, Jongdae’s hand leading your leg up, to rest on his hip, while he fits between your legs, you are flush together, no mush space for movement there, only light short curling thrusts, that still leave you breathless. The angle is perfect for him to push into your front wall, and your hand rests on his arm, fingers twitching with every push, nails sinking ever-so-slightly into those perfect muscles.

You can smell sweat, salt, sex, and him, and you can barely keep your head up. You seem to be tensing up every few thrusts, when he manages to deliver particularly accurate one. Your leg on his side keeps inching up, when you fight this amazing feeling, electric shocks surging through your body, slowly proving to be too much.

There is no much perspiration on your bodies, built up has been slow and lazy, but Jongdae is not humming anymore, room quiet except of your scattered gasps and heavy breathing of both of you. Jongdae kisses you, lapping on the roof of your mouth, and you are at the point where you have problems breathing, so your break it, forehead resting against his jaw, and then lolling down on his left arm. Skin is soft under your cheek, and you love it so much.

He never speeds up, gently rolling into you, hand trailing down the valley of your spine and up, or caressing your side, or kneading into your ass, or rubbing your thigh. The touch is ever present, but light and warm, instead of heavy petting you usually prefer.

And he brings you over like that, slowly, painstakingly caressing out a soft mewl from your throat. It’s not sudden, it’s not earth-shattering, but it’s just right.

It radiates from your crotch, a wave reaching all cells of your body, leaving your fingertips tingling, and you allow yourself to be drowned by the feeling. You are surprised to feel lips on yours, and it takes all your strength to answer the demand, but Jongdae seems content to suck your lip into his mouth, as he pushes into you, now actively searching his own release – his hand pushing your leg up, close to your body, and you mewl once more, sound caught by his mouth, because it’s getting too much – especially since Jongdae has more space now, and he is not up anymore for gentle and slow loving.

He goes a little bit wild in your arms, and you wince, too much, too sore, but thankfully he doesn’t last long. He comes with a half groan-half wheeze, and it sounds funny, so you laugh, light-heartedly, and he collapses into your arms, and when you hug him close, brushing his hair, now wet at the roots, he kisses your temple with a kiss.

He is still in you, shrinking, and you feel his seed slowly trailing down, but you can’t bring yourself to care. With a lazy smile you snuggle into that known, heaving chest, deciding that your days doesn’t have to start yet.

Jongdae seems to agree, blindly searching for duvet to cover you.

“No clothes.” He wheezes when his hand rests on your leg, now back on his side. You laugh once again.

“Nah, no clothes is better.” You agree, and he hums satisfied, and you shift slightly, and he fixes his hold on you, and you exhale slowly, still feeling how your body is pulsing.

Soft light is hitting your face when you fall asleep.

[vankoya]

Aphelion; Perihelion.

✗ Part of the Across the Multiverse series!

Genre | Cowboy Bebop AU.

Pairing | Jeon Jeongguk / Feminine Reader.

Words | 2,309 words.

Conspectus | The call will always come, and Jeongguk will always forget. That is just how it is, how it always has been, how it always will be.

Warnings | Alcohol, smoking and gambling addiction. Somewhat unhealthy relationship. Weapons.

The radio crackles sometime after midnight. Well, for anybody in the Tharsis timezone, at least.

Such a flimsy, manmade concept is nothing but precisely that when the ship is suspended somewhere near Ganymede. Thrust into the oblivion of outer space, where the stars are always visible against the pitch infinity and the sun remains to burn fiercely in the distance. Existing simultaneously when, back in the years that Earth was the only colonised planet, you could only see them one after the other.

But out here in this vast, tenebrous eternity, there is no day or night when the two elements that defined them come to coincide. Thus, no means for time.

It really screws around with your body clock, that is for sure.

Though based on Tharsis time, and the fact that it is a Saturday down on Mars, it should be near two in the morning. This is generally the appropriate time that the crackling occurs and you, slung within the limbo of not quite asleep though desperately needing to be, heave that same old sigh. The one loaded with past burdens and bad decisions and the name of that sole crew member you would fight blood and bone for, would die for, but would never admit it.

Jeongguk fucking hates Mars, which always has you wondering why he spends his every Friday night in the thick of its casinos. Losing the woolongs you split from the last bounty on blackjack tables, slot machines, and another pack of cigarettes that Namjoon will convince to trade him for a can of beef or something trivial. Disgustingly broke scavengers, the lot of you.

Lazily, you stretch for the receiver on the coffee table, swiping your fingers this way and that until they come into contact with cool metal. Answering with a click of a button, you part your lips to speak. Before you can, words are tumbling through the other end of the line in a voice that both clutches your heart and makes you wish to stomp the feeble vessel underneath your heeled boot.

“Baby, fuck, thank– Thank fuck–” And god, if it were not for the way the words were slurring together like melting ice being swilled in a glass of whiskey, the fact that you can practically smell the liquor on his tongue through the receiver is a clear indicator that Jeongguk is blind drunk.

“Hey baby, sweetheart,” he continues to coo and you are already lifting yourself from the draped position across the couch. You step over a face-down, sprawled out and snoring Taehyung in your progression towards the front of the ship. “Y'there, baby? I m’need a favour, pretty please.”

“What?” There is nonchalance in your tone, cutting and firm. But your actions juxtapose the lack of empathy you wear like an artificial shield around him. You enter the bridge and light up the touch-screen monitor to reroute the ship to Mars. Namjoon is going to be pissed, but you really could not care less.

“C’mere ‘nd give me a kiss,” Jeongguk whines, which directly translates to: I am too intoxicated to drive my ship home, so please come and pick me up before you and Namjoon decide to bail on me and fly to the farthest planet from here. He sounds terribly genuine, so sickly sweet like melted sugar, full of divine promise.

You have to swallow the heart-shaped lump in your throat before you thickly answer.

“We’ll come pick you up in two hours.”

You hang up the radio immediately after the confirmation is spoken—before he can make a snarky comment to your outright neglect. Slamming the receiver on the panel, you run your other hand down your face, groaning.

Taehyung appears by your side as he does in that Taehyung way of his—uninvited and usually scaring the damn wits out of you. You stifle a yelp when he slumps beside you out of thin air, smacking the side of his face beside your hand where it lays upon the control panel desk. You retract it against your chest as if you have been electrocuted.

Taehyung is a loopy, noodly teenage kid that the three of you found on Earth, roaming about with nothing to his name but the clothing on his body and a jacked up laptop. Yes, a jacked up laptop that he used to hack into the ship’s system, reconfiguring the flight sequence to have it land right before his toes. To say that the three of you were screeching like banshees while all of this occurred is a severe understatement. But it is completely understandable when your spaceship suddenly starts hurtling through the atmosphere towards grand expanses of desert plains, and one strange, gangly boy with skill hidden in his goofy grin.

Taehyung’s eyes are drooping with lethargy. A trail of drool is dried to his chin. “Mars?” he mumbles, yawning. “For Jeonggukie?”

“Yup, the dumbass got drunk again,” you hum, listening to the engines groan as they guide the lump of junk that is the Helios through a one-eighty, heading towards the Astral Gate. “Maybe we should just leave him there. What do you think?”

“Can’t, sissy!” Taehyung whines, scrunching up his nose and staring at you accusingly, which has you raising your eyebrows in question. “Not when sissy loves Jeonggukie so much!”

Namjoon turns out to be more pissed at the fact that you woke him up by throwing the receiver at the wall of the ship with a bloodcurdling scream, smashing it to smithereens.

The passage through hyperspace takes half an hour less than anticipated. Yet surprisingly, Jeongguk is already slouched beside his battered, steel grey zipcraft, the Aphelion, when you arrive at the casino. A cigarette dangles unlit between his lips. 

Really, you hate Mars just as much as he does with its low density, causing the lighter gravity that keeps easy on complexions. Lifting wrinkles from the skin; softening any marring in the form of scars. You can barely see the one that thinly slices Jeongguk’s cheekbone. The smoother skin is ugly and unsightly.

He looks more beautiful with it. Natural and real. He looks like Jeongguk.

Mars apparently makes him a different person in a lot more ways than one.

“There’s m’girl!” Jeongguk hollers. The cigarette falls to the ground in his haste to get up, and he does not seem to notice as he crushes it in his drunken stride towards you. He smells like a liver abused by alcohol and lungs sticky with tobacco when he envelops you in a crushing hug that is so unbearably warm. So unbelievably home. “Y’made it, baby. Missed you.”

“How haven’t you sobered since you called?” you groan against his throat, moisture gathering on the skin from your hot breath, arms hanging limply by your sides.

Jeongguk pulls back then, rifling around in the pocket of his black bomber jacket. He retrieves a stainless steel flask, which he holds up next to his liquor-slack grin. His breath smells like a casket full of death.

“Poor men come prep–”

You snatch the flask out of his hand before he can finish, weighing just under half full in your hand. Twisting off the cap, you knock back the last of the contents and then ditch it into the finely trimmed bushes. His grin only widens at the way you cringe with realisation as the alcohol burns a fire down your throat, knowing full well how much you hate gin.

“Let’s go, dumbass,” you cough, wiping the back of your hand across your mouth, ignoring the way Jeongguk stares at your lips. “The Helios is parked on the port down the road. We’ll pick up the Aphelion once you’re sober.”

“You’re always s’hot when you’re demanding,” Jeongguk cuddles into your side with a devilish simper, beginning to walk in the direction of the home ship with an arm draped limply around your shoulders. He hums a tune that he knows you once listened to long ago.

“Even if you were broke, my love don’t cost a thing,” he croons, tucking you closer, but you refuse to appease him, eyes set on the destination floating in the bay like a giant beast down the hill’s slope.

Silence is your only solace, secluding your voice to the back of your throat where it itches and burns with the urge to form. Because when Jeongguk wakes up in five hours time, he will have forgotten all that he has said on this ugly Friday night in Tharsis. Just like he does every other time.

Jeongguk, for quite possibly being the biggest out of all four crew members, has the smallest room on the Helios. Back when the ship was a fishing trawler, it must have been a storage room. Now, it is fitted with some overhead drawers and a double bed that has its sides touching all walls but the entrance.

“Help,” he slurs, spine against the mattress, legs dangling off the edge and either side of your own that stand between the bed and the door. He cracks one eye open, juts his lower lip. “Pretty please?”

Begrudgingly, you take him by the wrists and haul him upright. His head slumps forward and presses to your stomach with the slackness of his muscles. You shuck off his jacket first and then lean over his shoulder, reaching for the hem of his shirt and pulling it up, exposing the curved bumps of his spine, the slashes of scars against tanned leather. Jeongguk obediently lifts his arms.

Once you have pulled the cotton over his elbows and wrists, he lays back against the bed again. His arms are tucked behind his head, and his torso stretches in unadulterated, wrecked and ruined display.

You wonder how many bullet holes he will have marring his flesh by the time he eventually loses. How many gunshots it is going to take until he is dead.

From his position, he waggles his eyebrows. “Like what’ya see, baby?”

“Fuck you, Jeongguk,” you spit, tearing your eyes from the gentle caramel tone of his skin, soft and innocent. You turn on your heel to leave.

“Wait, stay!” he suddenly insists, lurching forward and curling his fist into the hem of your sweater, tight enough to keep you in place. You glance at him out the corner of your eye, try to not let the hope become obvious in your gaze. His expression has become twisted, pained, though strangely unreadable.

“Why?”

“Because I want you to.”

“Why, Jeongguk?”

“Because I want you. I want to remember this.”

The ship, for once, is silent. No engines run to power you through the distances of the universe. No Taehyung screeches like a dying animal in front of his laptop. No Namjoon complains to his thirteen bonsai about the rest of you and how there is never any damn peace and quiet.

Instead, it gently bobs on the water in the port and the late night liveliness of Tharsis sounds far, far away. Jeongguk is staring at you like he is repenting for his sins and you are something holy. Yet the both of you know that you, of everyone onboard, is aeons from that.

Suddenly, Jeongguk defeatedly exhales. He runs his free hand through his hair before he uses the other to hook his fingers around your wrist, yanking you on top of him where you collapse in a heap of limbs. Silently, he hoists the both of you up to the head of the bed where only one rumpled pillow lays.

He helps you unclip your bra without taking the sweater off, threading the straps through the sleeves with precious ease. Then, he rolls your jeans down the muscles of your thighs, calves, and you are about to kick them off your ankles when you both notice that your boots are still intact. You slide each shoe off, and Jeongguk uses one to throw at the light switch by the door, effectively drawing the tiny room into a swathe of shadows. It is only when he is tugging off his own black jeans that he cusses under his breath.

“Forgot ‘bout that.”

He is nothing but a hunched over outline at the centre of the darkness. “Forgot what?”

“Gun,” and you notice it then when he chuckles and pulls the handle out of his waistband. He lifts it up so that you can see the weapon—loaded, no doubt—before he drops it onto the pile of clothes at the end of the bed.

“Jesus, Jeongguk.”

Jeongguk laughs louder, and it is gruff and beautiful, ringing around the room; smothering the sound of your trembling heart. He climbs back next to you, an inch of space separating two bodies that long for one another. Though it only lasts for a moment before he, glacially, curls his arms around your waist, slips his cold palms underneath the back of your sweater, and lays them crossed over on your shoulder blades. Holding you closer than he ever has.

There, with his nose touching to the tip of your own, your legs toasty and entwined, you can see his eyes glimmering, the drunken haze fading. They are a shade of onyx, exceptionally more gorgeous than the galaxies the four of you sail as bounty hunters, scavengers, thieves. Human beings with no other place in this vast universe.

But here, with Jeongguk closing in, his breath hot on your mouth and his fingertips dancing patterns across your skin, you cannot help but think that maybe, this really is it. Here, with him, you belong.

“M’not letting myself forget this time,” he whispers, and then he does nothing more than kiss you, lips of heat and home tucked against your own in a promise that you finally, at long last, allow to blossom happiness within your heart.

Prompt | Call Me: I will write a drabble about my character asking for yours.

Series | Across The Multiverse is a collection of drabbles based around the prompts from this list, each taking place in a different universe. The updates will occur whenever I am inspired by a prompt to write a small piece, most generally done as a warm-up.

All Rights Reserved © Vankoya. No translations, reposting and/or modifying of the material is allowed without my direct permission.