#i get like this whenever stories go to a really high place and the air is thinner

[extantformoflife]

NOW YOU KNOW!!! NOW YOU KNOW!!!!! WHAT IT IS LIKE TO LIVE IN MY BODY!!!!!!

[pomefioredove]

hello hello! i see that the headcanon requests are open, so i have arrived 🐺🐺 i'd like to request the housewardens + chenya, neige and ortho with a reader that's mute! i feel like this would be an interesting thing to go off of. feel free to write it as something reader gained after a certain event, or as an illness that they were born with. platonic would be great, but i think romantic would be absolutely adorable too (minus ortho obviously) so go wild, do whatever you want >:) if this is fine for you to write of course!! love your writing, youre my favourite blog on tumblr hehe (runs away)

thank you so much!! and ofc ofc. I'm writing this based off my own experiences with being semiverbal so if I get something wrong,,, that's on me 😔

summary: nonspeaking reader type of post: headcanons characters: riddle, che'nya, leona, azul, kalim, vil, neige, idia, ortho (platonic), malleus additional info: romantic or platonic, reader is gender neutral, reader is yuu

I think Riddle is more adaptive than others give him credit for

it's not like there's any rule about not speaking

(and if there was, he would make an exception for you. he's not completely unreasonable)

I can see him learning sign language with you

and if that's not your thing, he'll figure something else out

he's a fast learner, after all

and he wants to make you comfortable, too. not that he'd ever outright admit it...

(obvious favoritism)

*ੈ✩‧₊˚

Che'nya is always quick on his feet

or... on air?

anyway

that means that he isn't one to let the absence of conversation stop him from his usual mischief

and he does love charades...

it's almost like he can read your thoughts. or your... hands? expressions?

whenever someone is giving you a hard time, they miiight just end up talking back to a floating head

*ੈ✩‧₊˚

Leona actually never really... brings it up

before he had the full story, he just figured you were shy around him

(which went straight to his head, of course)

so he was already used to it when he found out it's not something you can control

and... he treats you no different for it

he knows you're not stupid or rude just because you're not yapping all the time

and if anyone else gave you a hard time about it... they'd be answering to him

*ੈ✩‧₊˚

no worries with Azul

I mean, the guy can really do it all

sign language, pen and paper, text-to-speech, body language...

he's rather adaptable, and, trust me, being unable or unwilling to speak won't stop him

the offer to give you the voice of a beautiful singer is still on the table... but he can't blame you for not taking the deal

of course

in the meantime, you can come to him for anything and he'll help you out

on the house <3

*ੈ✩‧₊˚

Kalim's heart is in the right place

is he disappointed you won't be able to talk and sing and cheer with him? a little

you're used to the disappointment, unfortunately

but he doesn't give up so easily

or... at all

no singing? he's handing you an instrument

no talking? no problem, he knows you're still listening!

no hummin, shouting, cheering? he can make enough noise for the both of you

he makes sure you're included in everything

very sweet

*ੈ✩‧₊˚

Vil has high expectations, but he isn't unreasonable

if you can't talk, you can't talk, and that's final

that doesn't excuse you from everything else in his strict regimen, though

what may be a weakness to others is a strength to him

you can improve yourself tenfold by focusing on what you can do rather than what you can't

writing, dancing, music...

however you choose to express yourself, he's very supportive

much like Kalim, he includes you in every conversation, every decision, every yes/no question

he's pretty great

*ੈ✩‧₊˚

Neige! Neige is a sweetie

I like to think of Neige as someone who's actually quite timid in person, despite his career

it's probably your quietness that draws him to you in the first place

he is so very supportive

he's the kind of introvert to suddenly become extroverted when someone needs help

"excuse me, they asked for no pickles" type of guy

he'll hold your hand through everything if you need it, and remain by your side if you don't

*ੈ✩‧₊˚

Ortho and Idia are probably the best people to have on your side

Idia just feels so much more... comfortable around you, since he struggles with speaking, himself

he'll let you use his tablet if you need it to speak

...and then he'll get you one of your own, so he doesn't have a heart attack when you accidentally switch tabs

he'll even program a custom voice or two for you

Ortho is a walking translator for you

with a database full of information on body language and expression, he can determine your emotional state in a single glance

he's happy to help in any way he can, of course!

*ੈ✩‧₊˚

at some point, Malleus needs a shirt that says "#1 Prefect Defender"

you haven't said a single word to him but if anything happened to you he would curse everyone in this room and then himself

(he means well, I promise)

he's never minded, nor questioned your silence

certain fae communicate through lights or movement rather than sound, so it isn't even anything strange to him

you fit right in at Diasomnia

and you're welcome to stay here for as long as you please

(hint hint)

[amaderika]

Sitting on yorus face...

SUPERVISION 🌺 YORU ..

cw 2,174 words, smut, f!reader, sub!yoru, pervert!yoru (sorry i had to), yoru is a major pervert just a warning, boss!reader, dubcon, unprotected sex, creampie, face sitting

a/n sorry for not making that many fics !! ive been super busy and unmotivated to write the past few months 😭

working at an office was boring as shit. it was the last thing you'd want to experience, but you had no choice. it had a good pay and your rank was pretty high too. you could just—boss people around. you'd help them a bit, but that was pretty much all you did.

there was this rookie, his name was yoru— well, at least that's what you remembered. he always looked so miserable and tired. he was pretty quiet. aside from that, barely anything interesting happens in this uninteresting, miserable workspace. the gray carpet that silences your black heels, the constant buzzing sound of the air conditioner—

"ma'am," some guy rose his hand to call your attention. "i need some help here. a problem came up."

ugh, again. . . you almost dozed off at work. thank god your co-worker woke you up though, because the rough, uncomfortable texture of your desk wouldn't have been a great place to sleep on. you got out of your seat and went over to his cubicle.

"what's wrong?" you ask him with a very clear tone of disinterest in your voice. you leaned in further to see the problem he was talking about.

what you didn't know though was that your ass was practically in the face of the poor rookie who sat beside your co-worker.

his face was flushed even if you couldn't see it. your soft, supple ass, was in front of his face. it's not like he was complaining! in fact, he was hoping you'd arch your back even more so he'd get a better view of your panties under your short pencil skirt. how did they even allow uniforms like this? it seemed like it wasn't even fit for working conditions.

your blouse was always so tight, too tight you had to unbutton the 2 top buttons just to breathe properly. you never really thought much about those 2 buttons, but yoru did. he always loved how generous the cleavage was. he enjoyed staring at those presumably warm tits sent from the heavens itself. you wouldn't notice him starting at your chest basically everytime he's talked to you so far—which wasn't that many, but he's still grateful!

your pencil skirt that didn't do that well in covering your thighs or in best cases, your panties! yoru would try to take a sneak whenever he could, especially since it was you two who went home the latest.

late nights in the office are his ultimate favorite. why? well, it's the only time where he can creep up on you as you sleep and wait for him to leave.

whenever you have your head rested on your desk, just trying to get a good rest, yoru sees this as an opportunity. he gets on his knees and spreads your legs wider to get a better peek of what's under that skirt. just one sight of your pussy lips outlined through your panties motivate him even more to finish his work so he can make you proud.

those black see through stockings that never fit you properly was just the cherry to the cake. he wanted to bend you over, pull your panties down and rip those stockings off!

"oh, thanks! i owe you coffee later." your co-worker said. you saved the day, as usual. time to go back to doing absolutely nothing again.

it was a different story for yoru. he felt that familiar throbbing feeling in his pants. he was hard—again. and it was all your fault! why did you have to be this sexy?

this was gonna be a struggle. how can he work properly with a boner? it's even worse than usual! for some reason, he's really agitated. he's not usually like this when he's horny! what's wrong with him?

it's been a few hours since that encounter with your ass in his face and he's still as horny. maybe his lust has went down, but it was just a bit. he needs to fuck you. he really does. he made up a plan in his mind—he would wait until his favorite time of the day again and maybe. . just maybe. . make a move on you. he's gonna try, at least.

the people in the office kept getting lesser and lesser as time passed. it wasn't that long until he was finally alone with you.

"working hard again, rookie?" you approached him from behind. you leaned in to see what he was working on and your hands were on his chair. your fingers touched him slightly. that feeling of your fingertips touching his back even just a bit made his whole day. was he seriously getting hard again. .?

yoru looked down to confirm. yes. he most definitely was.

he tried desperately to hide the obvious tent in his pants, but you were making it hard—especially since you decided to sit beside him! oh, why were you so mean. . how was he gonna save himself from the indescribable embarrassment he was gonna experience once you see his erection?

"if you don't mind, of course, i'm just gonna sit here. you seem pretty lonely all the time and i feel bad for you." you placed your hand on his shoulder as a way of expressing your care for him.

"m-ma'am— i mean miss! i mean. . it's t-totally fine with me! i don't mind at all!" he said with a very visible blush on his face. he made sure to not look in your direction or he might've died then and there.

you were a bit weirded out by his response, but you didn't comment on it. you didn't wanna give this newbie a bad experience at work—that would've ruined your spot in the company.

you were telling him some stories as he was working to make his work experience a little less boring at least. little did you know he wasn't listening at all—not even one bit. he was too focused on trying to relieve the feeling of his throbbing cock whenever you even simply just opened your lips.

"i'm so sorry in advance for what i'm about to do. ." he mumbled. you didn't quite hear him.

as soon as you knew it, yoru grabbed you by the wrist and had you bent over his desk.

"ah! hey— yoru!" shit. why did you have to say his name like that? now he was definitely not letting you go.

yoru held your wrists together but moved one of his hands to bring your face up to kiss him. he kissed you with force, but passion. it was clear that he was waiting for this moment his whole life. you could tell by the way his hand was gripping your wrists.

"i'm sorry! i love you too much!" he cried. wait—he was seriously crying? what?

he sniffled and rubbed his eyes with one hand as he rose your skirt up with the other one. oh, there it was. that sight he was so eagerly wanting to see. your panties!

he wasted no time into pulling your panties down and ripping your stockings off. as soon as he got that view of your panties, he immediately buried his face in your plump, plush ass. he ate your pussy out as if he was on death row and he asked for your pussy as his last meal.

"ungh. . .! yoru!" he winced as he heard you call his name again. he pushed his tongue as deep as possible and started licking. the feeling of his tongue in your warm folds were making him so hard. he felt precum coming out of his cock, soaking his slacks.

"miss please—please sit on my face. put as much pressure as you can on me. i don't care if i can't breathe, please! i need to feel you!" you two were practically on the ground, but who were you to deny his pleas? the way he was begging was so adorable, you couldn't stop yourself. as he laid on the carpet, you sat gently on his face at first, but that was clearly not enough for him. he removed your heels and grabbed your thighs, pushing them so you can apply more pressure.

the sound of wet noises were the only things you could hear. you were seeing stars. yoru was sucking on your clit like there was no tomorrow. he kept licking up your deepest spots.

"ngh. . yo-yoru. . . calm down—" you tried to get off. your pussy was too overstimulated, but he didn't listen. yoru grabbed your thighs so you wouldn't get off his face. he licked his lips and licked one of your ass cheeks. he squeezed your thighs and went back to his meal.

you felt that feeling in your stomach—you were close. really close. "y-yoru! yoru i—"

clearly yoru knew this too, as he started licking more intensely now. he felt your juices spilling in his mouth. he made sure to take every single drop on his tongue. he gave your pussy one last kiss before making you bend over his desk again. he wasn't done? your legs were already giving out. . .

you saw his face covered in your cum. he looked so cute—tear filled eyes with cum on the sides of his mouth. he made sure to lick those up and wiped his tears with his sleeve.

he unbuckled his pants, showing you his long, girthy cock. okay, it wasn't that long, but what he lacked in length he made up for in width. he was thick. his thick tip was leaking out with cum, presumably after he ate you out.

your legs were already trembling so much, so how could you take all of his cock inside you without your legs giving out?

"yoru. . can we take a rest? even just for a few minutes. my legs are sore." rest? that wasn't a word in his vocabulary. no, no. you two are not resting now! that's for later! you'll get a lot of rest once this is over!

"nuh uh," he shook his head and pouted. you were giving up on him so easily. . he didn't like that. he held his cock and stroked it a few times before rubbing the tip against your pussy lips. yep, this was definitely going to be a hard fit.

you were already so wet, but he was struggling to even put the tip inside of you. he kept rubbing it against your entrance but it just wouldn't slide inside! what was he doing wrong?

since doing it gently wouldn't work, yoru spread your legs as wide as he could and forced it in. it was like he was being sucked in. your pussy clamped down on his cock. you were squirming so so much. you've never taken something as big as this before.

"hngh. . m-miss. . !" he was crying, again. he was pretty sensitive for someone this forceful.

"pull out if you can't handle it, b-baby. it's okay. . you don't have to force it." you manage to get out of your mouth despite you being in worse condition than him. although, knowing his past behavior, he's probably not going to pull out. definitely not.

he didn't even start slow once he got inside you. he slammed his hips into you, making you moan so loudly you swear it echoed.

plap, plap, plap. .

the sound of squelching sounds filled the room. yoru lifted your blouse up, making your tits bounce. your nipples were hard from the contact. his hands roughly squeezed your soft mounds as he flicked your nipples. he moved his face closer to you and kissed your cheek.

you see him from the corner of your eye pocket your panties, but you couldn't focus on it for that long because of how much he was whimpering. "haa! nhg. . ! miss! your pussy is—it's squeezing me so tight!" he cried in your neck while grabbing your ass. you tried to grab onto the edge of the desk.

"i'm sorry! i'm so sorry! i'm gonna cum inside of you! 'gonna fill you up with my cum, miss!" he moaned, his thrusts getting sloppy. his stamina seems to have lowered as you felt his warm cum filling your pussy up. there were some spilling out, which he was trying to put back in with his cock.

he came a lot. he couldn't stop cumming. he was panting so much as he tried to pull out, but your pussy didn't want him to leave. "i don't wan' stop cumming! i wanna keep cumming inside of you!" his voice trembled.

after forcing his load into you, he pulled out with a pop sound. he knelt down and licked the cum off your pussy before giving it a kiss. he looked up at the cctv before looking back at you. he sat you down on the chair and kissed you.

"i hope yomi didn't mind. . i have something to share with him anyways." yoru mumbled, touching the panties he stole from you in his pocket.

©amaderika

[perlelune]

Tag, You’re It | Ethan Landry | vi.

Happy, carefree college days meet their abrupt end when every guy who approaches you mysteriously turns up dead.

Warnings: NON-CON, Stalking, Bimbo!Reader, Clueless Reader, Loss of Virginity, Incel Ethan, Cheerleader Reader, Skin Carving (w/knife), Canon Typical Slashing, Voyeurism, Kidnapping, Forced Masturbation, Filming, Blackmail

This is a dark story. Heed warnings before reading under the cut.

𝖘𝖊𝖗𝖎𝖊𝖘 𝖒𝖆𝖘𝖙𝖊𝖗𝖑𝖎𝖘𝖙

"You know you shouldn’t lead him on like that," Mindy muses from your bed, her eyes not lifting from the Stephen King novel she’s engrossed in. 

You place your phone above the vanity drawer after hanging up. You just decided on another study meetup with Ethan. 

It’s been a few weeks since he began tutoring you. There’s been a sharp improvement in your grades and you’re starting to believe that maybe you’ll be able to graduate just like the rest of your friends. 

Before, all those things felt as unreachable as the stars in the sky. But Ethan, with his kindness and unlimited supply of patience, made it a reality. 

Sure, you won’t be a top student anytime soon, but at least now there’s hope of you not failing the course and falling behind. 

"What? I’m not leading him on. Ethan and I are just friends," you defend, puckering your lips as you apply the finishing touches to your makeup before the big game. Your gaze keeps bouncing to the clock. The playoffs begin in a little less than an hour. 

Tensions are high tonight. This is no regular game as whichever team wins will go on to compete in the national championship. 

It’s one of the reasons Chad and most of the guys on the team have been in a weird mood all week. 

Besides, honor’s at stake when a team plays on their own turf. 

The pressure’s been off the charts for the cheer squad too, Alana having run the team into the ground to perform well today and not miss a single step. 

Despite how exhausted you are, you’re almost thankful for that. Focusing on cheerleading has helped you file away that god awful night. 

The humiliation you experienced still burns a hole inside you whenever you remember it.

While you can’t quite shake the lingering sensation of being watched, you can at least try to reclaim a semblance of normalcy. 

Hopefully Ghostface had his fill of tormenting you and won’t do anything like that ever again. 

Mindy arches her brow and scoffs, "It’s pretty obvious he’s got some desperate puppy crush on you." Under her breath, she mumbles, "...And I’m still not entirely convinced he’s not Ghostface."

You pause, the tip of your lipstick almost snapping as you press it tight against your mouth. You unleash a heavy sigh and whirl to her, brows drawing together.

"Mindy, please. Not that again," you plead. 

It's not the first time your best friend has shared her doubts regarding Ethan and you wager it won't be the last.

Every time she catches you texting him or hanging out, disapproval paints her features. She also squints and gestures at him that she’s watching him whenever she crosses paths with him. 

It saddens you that she can’t get along with him and won’t relent regarding her suspicions. 

Ethan’s helped you so much. It’s unfair that your best friend keeps claiming he’s a murderer without any evidence to back it up. 

And outside of tutoring, he’s been a great friend to you, always here to wipe your tears and listen to you talk about anything, however trivial. Every time you ramble on about cartoons, your collection of stuffed animals and how you’d love to get more, clothes or anything really…Ethan wears that same fond smile on his face. 

Outside of Chad, you never had a guy best friend. Unfortunately since getting into college, you haven’t seen much of him since he’s so well liked and has developed such a large circle of friends. 

So Ethan’s a breath of fresh air. 

You relish the ability to talk without fear of judgment or being belittled for the things you pluck joy from or how forgetful and absentminded you can be sometimes. 

Ethan has not made fun of you once for misremembering a word or your tendency to get lost around campus. Instead, he escorted you to class and promised to be with you more often so it doesn’t happen. He also agreed with you that it’s not your fault because every building looks the same, which everyone in your friend group laughed at you for mentioning before.

Mindy leaps from the bed, exclaiming, "Come on, Ethan? Shy, dorky guy who no one suspects because he’s so shy and dorky." She lets out a humorless laugh. "Maybe he went all 'if I can’t have you, no one can' and decided to get rid of the competition…permanently."

Your eyes roll as she concludes her theory with a repeated stabbing motion towards her throat.  

"You’re ridiculous." You get back to gauging your reflection. As you adjust the pink bow in your hair, you add, "Ethan’s cool. And I can actually understand some of the stuff Professor Atkins says in class now thanks to him."

In the mirror, you watch a sullen Mindy fold her arms behind you. 

"I still don’t trust him." She flicks her hands skyward and exhales in defeat. "But I can’t tell you who to hang out with."

You step away from the vanity to make your way to your pouting best friend. She accepts your hug, a deep scowl still etched on her face. 

"Let’s just drop it, okay?" you offer. "I hate arguing with you."

Mindy sighs against your shoulder.

"I’m just trying to keep you safe."

Leaning back, you squeeze her shoulders and smile. 

"I know, and I love you for it…but you gotta ease off him, Min." She groans at that, tossing herself back onto your bed with her arms spread. As she glowers at the ceiling, you maintain, "Ethan’s been an amazing friend to me."

More curses are grumbled under her breath. Shoulders slumping, you elect to give it a rest and stop trying to convince her. 

You know how stubborn Mindy can be. There will be no changing her mind tonight, or anytime soon. 

Casting the upsetting topic aside, you hop to the center of the room and spin in your cheerleader outfit.

"How do I look?"

"Like a fembot specifically designed to appeal to the male gaze," Mindy deadpans. 

You angle your head sideways. "Is that a good thing or bad thing?"

She chuckles and smiles at you before elaborating, "You look smoking hot, babe." The befuddled frown on your face vanishes, an elated grin supplanting it. Mindy returns to her reading and gives you a thumbs-up. "Break a leg."

Grimacing, you grab your pom-poms from underneath your bed and head for the door. 

"Hopefully not or Alana will kill me."

You’re on your way to meet up with your squad when you stumble upon Ethan in the hallway. As usual, he’s dressed simply in a blue button-up and dark slacks, damp locks of his curly mane kissing his forehead. 

He greets you in that bashful way he does while you beam at him, shaking your pom-poms. 

You jog in his direction with a bounce in each step.

"Ethan, hey!"

His gaze widens as it roams over you, pink dusting his cheeks. 

"Wow, you look…"

Placing a hand on your hip while the other lifts your pom-pom above your head, you adopt a cheerful pose. 

"Cute?" you suggest. 

Ethan’s throat ripples as he gapes at you. 

For a while, he only does that, stare at you open-mouthed. 

His face then turns an even brighter shade than before as he dips his head down momentarily. 

"Y-Yeah. Something like that," he stammers. 

His reaction drags an amused chortle out of you. You surmise it’s the first time you’ve addressed him in your full cheerleader getup and he must be somewhat taken aback. 

"I didn’t know you liked sports," you observe.

He shrugs.

"Not particularly but everyone is going and Chad’s my roommate." He points at the camera hanging from his neck. "I also kind of got roped into taking pictures for the school paper."

Some of the other cheerleaders wave at you as they’re running out to the field. The impatient clamor of the crowd already swells from the bleachers, loud enough to be heard even from the corridor. 

One of the girls from the squad, Lisa, stops as she catches sight of you and Ethan. A quiet conversation flows between the two of you, an inquiry swaying in her hopeful blue orbs. 

You give her an imperceptible nod and she smiles at you, quickly averting her gaze and striding away when Ethan glances from her to you with a look of utter confusion on his face. 

"What the hell was that about?" he asks, thick brows drawing together.

"About that…It’s good that I ran into you because there's something I meant to tell you, hm, more like ask you."

He inches closer, his eyes on you wide and alert. 

"Ask me what?"

A sliver of hesitation zips through you but you remember the promise you made just a few hours ago at cheer practice. 

You can’t back down. 

You swallow a lungful of nerve and reveal, "So…one of the girls in my squad sort of has a massive crush on you."

"Oh," he exhales, his shoulders sagging. His smile fades, understanding seeming to dawn on him. "You mean that girl I just saw?"

You nod and explain,  "Her name’s Lisa." He considers you blankly. You wave your hands in front of yourself. Words rush out of your mouth in an apprehensive string. "I know. I know. Trying to set up your friends is so cringe but she noticed you since the beginning of the year. The thing is she’s shy and doesn't know how to approach you. I promised her to ask you if you’d be interested in hanging out sometime." You twiddle your thumbs and mumble, "She’s super pretty and so nice, and she’s even into that same board game you told me about the other day…" You trail off, forehead creasing as you try to remember the name. 

Ethan tonelessly corrects you when you misspell the name of the game. 

You perk up and giggle, "Right. She just told me. I don't know how I forgot."

Ethan studies you long enough that it becomes unnerving and you start fidgeting under his sizzling focus. 

You grow nervous, wondering what he’s thinking. Usually, you wouldn’t meddle with anyone’s love life. But Ethan’s done so much for you. If possible, you want to do something for him too.

You just don’t know what you could do to thank him. 

Setting him up with someone from your squad seemed like a good idea, especially since you’re pretty sure Ethan’s single. You haven’t seen him hang around any other girl besides you. 

A heavy sigh drops from Ethan’s chest as his lips lift into a small half-smile. 

"The thing is, I already like someone," he confesses, patting his camera.

Your eyes bulge as a wave of embarrassment washes over you. 

"You do? I’m so sorry. I didn’t realize." You blink up at him in curiosity. "Who is she? Does she know?"

He chuckles. "She doesn’t know anything."

You approach him and squeeze his arm encouragingly. 

"Well you’re awesome so if she can’t see what’s right in front of her, you’re allowed to move on."

Ethan lets out another wry laugh. 

"If only it were that simple."

Your brows knit. "What do you mean?"

He runs his hand through his thick curls and exhales a long, weary breath. 

"She’s all I can think about. Literally." He pauses, his gaze corralling yours. "Every hour of every day, I think about her."

"Wow, that’s intense." You rub his forearm and send a sympathetic smile. "Sounds like it’s more than just a crush. Sounds like you’re in love with her."

"Yeah, I guess I am. Silly me, huh?"

"Don’t say that. I’m sure things will work out in the end. You deserve to be happy, Ethan."

His attention on you sharpens before a slow smile unfurls on his lips. 

"You know what? I think I do."

"Of course you do."

Your answer makes him smile wider. 

The moment is shattered when one of the players wedges himself between you and Ethan and steals an ephemeral, chaste kiss from you. 

The buff brunette quarterback flashes you a pearly grin.

"A kiss for good luck?" he says, winking at you.

"Uh, sure," you reply shyly, butterflies swarming your belly. 

He smiles at you one last time before jogging towards the stadium. 

"Who’s this guy?"

You blink, Ethan’s deep, blunt voice startling you. 

Pivoting back to him, you explain, "Oh. Tyler and I met at the boba shop the other day. It’s too early for anything serious but he’s cute and has been super nice to me."

It’s been pleasant to bask in some sense of normalcy again after what happened last month. You craved it. Tyler’s easygoing, fun to be around and he’s never pressured you to do anything once. 

Ethan’s jaw clenches as he scoffs, "Do you just go for every guy who buys you candy or gives you some half-assed compliment?"

Your mouth hangs open in shock. "Ethan? What do you mean?" 

He scrutinizes you for a few seconds before sighing and moving to walk away. 

"Nothing. Don’t worry about it."

The hand you wrap around his wrist stops him, Ethan halting in his tracks. You tug him back with a contrite pout, your concerned gaze rising to meet his. 

"I am going to worry about it. Ethan… Did I say something upsetting? I feel like maybe I did. I'm sorry about Lisa. I thought she'd be your type. She's everyone's type."

"Well, she isn't mine," he replies icily. 

Budding tears tickle the back of your eyes but you repress them. It’s not the time to weep. The game’s about to start. 

So you swallow them with ease, deciding you’ll give Ethan a proper apology later on. 

Instead you give a sunny smile and ask, "Are you coming to hang out with everyone after the game? We all decided to meet up for chili fries and beers whatever the outcome is."

Ethan’s eyes fall on your hand wrapped around his wrist. He shifts your grip so your small hand rests in his larger one. He studies your twined hands, rubbing his thumb against the back of yours. 

When he looks at you again, a glint dances in his chestnut orbs. 

"Thanks but I’m gonna be busy actually." He flashes you a broad grin. "I just remembered I have some trash I need to take out."

~

[pedroscurls]

Always Been You (Part 1).

Character(s): no-outbreak!Joel Miller x fem!Reader Summary: You and Joel meet for the first time under unusual circumstances. Word count: 5,359 Author's Note: Hope you guys enjoyed the first part! We're in for a ride with this story. It's going to be a no-outbreak, AU story of Joel Miller. We will be starting this story off with Joel still in his late 20s (which makes Sarah about 6). Warning: None. SERIES MASTERLIST

Several of your friends were in your apartment, trying to coax you out of the bathroom with comforting and encouraging words of reassurance. 

“Come on, babe,” one of them said, gently knocking on the door. “Going out and having some fun will get your mind off of everything.”

“Plus!” Someone chimed in. “The best way to get over someone is to get under someone else.” 

You smiled at that, slowly opening the door. Your hair was slightly wavy, makeup light and natural, but your dress clung to your curves in the best way possible; a little black dress, stopping just right above your knee with a front thigh high slit on the left side of your dress. It also had an asymmetrical neckline, the thin straps of your dress resting on one shoulder. 

“You are hot,” your friend grinned. “We’re going to find you someone to go home with tonight.”

You let out a sigh. Part of you wanted to stay home, to put on some sweats and an oversized hoodie and just cry yourself to sleep. It had been a couple of weeks since finding out that your long term boyfriend of four years had been cheating on you. To make the situation worse, he had been cheating on you for several months, his excuse of work events and trips turning out to be him seeing the other woman. 

“Come on, get out of that pretty little head of yours.” Your friend said. “You closed your coffee shop for the night. It’s time you take care of yourself for once.”

“And what if I don’t meet anyone?” You answered with a pout.

“Looking like that? I’d be surprised if you don’t. Now, let’s go.” She ushered you and the rest of your friend group out of your apartment. Once you all stepped outside, the warm air engulfed you and you looked around for a moment before following your friends down the street. 

Your coffee shop was in downtown, so it was a walking distance from all the clubs and bars. You were lucky, really, to be able to have a business and an apartment so close to everything that you didn’t need a car, which saved you a lot of expenses. You had been working a lot since finding out that your boyfriend cheated on you; it was a good distraction from the reality that you had to deal with. Still, though, whenever you were alone, the pain and heartbreak always came back with a vengeance. Some nights it felt like you couldn’t even sleep, your mind racing in all sorts of places; while other nights, you cried yourself to sleep with the help of being so exhausted from overworking yourself. 

Tonight was the only night that your friends managed to convince you to go out and have some fun. You didn’t make it easy on them, but once they managed to convince you, it took every ounce in you not to cancel. 

Once you followed them into one of the most popular clubs in downtown, you tried to quiet your mind as the loud music blared in your ears. It was already crowded and you squeezed yourself between groups of people just to get to the bar to order a drink. 

Your group of friends were more outgoing than you, obviously unafraid to start a conversation with a stranger. You, on the other hand, had always been more reserved, more quiet, and more to yourself. It was an equal balance though. They brought you out of your shell and you humbled them. Tonight, though, they had one goal in mind: to help you get over your ex-boyfriend, Robert. 

Quickly, they handed you two shots of tequila back to back, which you downed almost instantly without hesitation. You figured that if you didn’t get to go home with someone, at least you’d be drunk and able to forget (at least temporarily) about the pain and heartbreak you felt every second of the day. Even after two shots of tequila, you ordered a Long Island Iced Tea, already knowing that it would do the trick to get you to loosen up and to get you out of your thoughts. 

“Anyone catch your interest, babe?” Your friend asked, scanning the club for any potential suitors. 

“Nope,” you replied, downing the rest of your drink before ordering another one. “I’m just gonna get drunk, dance, and have fun with you guys!” 

Your group of friends looked between each other, telling the bartender to give you a glass of water instead. “You need to pace yourself. The night just started.”

“You guys said to let loose, so… I’m letting loose.” You replied, but taking the glass of water. You knew that if you drank too much too fast, the night wouldn’t end well. “But since I love y’all, I’m gonna listen.” 

One of your other friends let out a quiet giggle and motioned to one of the booths away from the bar. “We’ll grab you another drink, but let’s head over to that booth.” 

After you all placed another order of drinks, the four of you walked to the booth, bodies swaying to the music as you maneuvered the crowded area. Once seated though, you let out a sigh and leaned back against the plushiness of the seat, running a hand through your hair as you looked around. No one caught your interest yet and while you knew it was a stupid idea to even think about having meaningless sex with a stranger, you couldn’t help but wonder if it would actually help you get over Robert. 

“You doing okay?” Your friend asked, the other two already on the dance floor with two other men. 

You looked over at her and nodded. “I’m fine. That guy has been checking you out since we got here.”

“I know,” she blushed. “I just don’t want to leave you alone.”

“I’ll be fine,” you replied, taking a sip of your water. “Go have fun. This night isn’t just about me.” 

“Are you sure?” 

“Yes,” you smiled. “I’m not going anywhere. I’ll be right here.” 

“Okay, if we get lost and separated, meet back at your coffee shop?” 

You nodded. “Always.” 

She leaned in and gave you a hug before standing from the booth to walk towards the man that had been ogling her from afar. You watched her immediately take his hand to bring him to the dance floor; you envied your group of friends. They were so comfortable with their sexuality, so comfortable with taking control, and always so confident. You had to wonder why they hung out with you when you were obviously the complete opposite. 

Deciding to ditch your half-filled glass of water, you reached for your Long Island Iced Tea that you ordered before sitting at the booth. Taking a long swig, you allowed the contents of the different amounts of liquor to sting your throat, going down easily. You bit your lower lip and stood from the booth, holding onto the back of the seat for balance as you used your free hand to flatten out your dress. You looked up and noticed several men with their eyes raking your frame, but none of them caught your interest. It was too obvious and it was too desperate. 

You grabbed your drink and began walking towards the bar, already halfway finished with your Long Island. You noticed that there was no space at the counter of the bar for you to order yourself another drink. With a heavy sigh, you walked past the crowd and squeezed yourself between two men who looked to be in deep conversation. 

“Um, hi, yeah, can I get another refill? Thanks,” you told the bartender, already downing your second Long Island and placing the now empty glass on the bar. 

Once the bartender took your order, you let out a sigh and leaned against the counter, only now realizing that the two men you squeezed yourself between were staring at you. 

“Manners would be nice, y’know,” one man said. 

“Oh, come on, be friendly, Joel.” The other said. 

You looked over at this man named Joel, taking note of his features. His shoulders were broad and he was so much taller than you that you had to tilt your head slightly upwards just to get a good look at him. His eyes were a deep shade of brown and he was staring down at you as if he was waiting for some kind of apology. 

“Yeah, Joel, be friendly,” you teased.

The other man snickered from behind you, gently tapping your shoulder. “My apologies on behalf of my older brother. It’s been a while since he’s been out so it seems like he forgot his manners. I’m Tommy.”

You looked over at Tommy and smiled. He had this boyish look to him; he was also very broad, but a bit shorter than Joel. They both shared the same color of the deep brown eyes, but your attention and interest was focused on Joel. 

“Nice to meet you, Tommy,” you said with a smile, telling him your name. Then, you turned to face Joel, narrowing your eyes at him. Still, he had this look on his face as if he was annoyed by your presence, or rather, annoyed that he was here. “And it’s nice to meet you, Joel.” 

“Uh huh,” he grumbled. 

The bartender handed you another Long Island Iced Tea, which you happily took from him. You bit at the tip of the straw and took a step back from the counter to let your eyes rake over both Tommy and Joel and noticed that both men were doing the same to you. Tommy’s gaze was obvious; it was clear that he found you attractive. Joel, on the other hand, had a dark gaze as he let his eyes run across from your frame from top to bottom. You couldn’t read him like you could the other men in this club. You watched as he brought his bottle of beer to his lips when his eyes met the slit of your dress, eyes focused on the exposure of your thigh. 

But when Joel’s eyes met yours, there was no hint of attraction or desire. It was as if the gaze in his eyes was void of any emotion, almost like he was masking what he was feeling. 

“Are you here alone?” Tommy asked. 

You shook your head and pointed to your group of friends who were gyrating with other men on the dance floor. “Nope, came with friends.”

“And you’re the only one not dancing? You sound like you’re having fun,” Joel quipped.

“Oh, I’m having a blast,” you said, bringing your drink to your lips and downing it almost halfway. Tommy was impressed. But Joel was concerned and momentarily, in a quick second, you saw the concern flash across his features. 

“What the hell you drinkin’ anyway?” Joel asked.

“Long Island,” you grinned.

Tommy laughed. “You lookin’ to get drunk real fast, aren’t ya?” 

“That’s the plan, isn’t it?” you replied, glancing over at Joel before looking over at Tommy. 

“Have you had any water?” Joel asked, causing your attention to turn onto him. “I’m just sayin’... Long Islands are usually–”

“I know,” you interrupted. “Besides, it ain’t my first time.” 

“Hmmm,” Joel replied. “Well, it was nice meeting ya. You take care now and–”

“Do you want to dance?” you interrupted him, biting your lower lip in anticipation. 

Tommy looked between you and Joel, grinning to himself. He winked over at his older brother, giving him a thumbs up. “I think he’d love to.”

“Tommy–”

“But if you don’t want to, that’s okay too.” You replied, bringing your glass to your lips before Joel’s hand reached out gently to rest on your wrist. His touch was electrifying and you looked up at him to see the subtle surprise in his features; he must have felt it too. 

“I’ll dance with ya,” he said. “But only if you don’t finish that drink. Seems like you already had enough.” 

You blushed, clearing your throat and nodding in agreement. This man barely knew you and yet, he sounded so concerned over your wellbeing. Maybe you would be able to get over Robert… At least with the help of Joel. 

“Tommy, I’ll be back and–”

“Don’t worry about me, Joel. You go have fun.” 

“But–”

“But nothin’, hermano. If we split up, I’ll just meet you back at home.” 

Joel cleared his throat, getting the hint of the subtle insinuation that this might lead to something else other than just a dance. “Okay, you be safe. If you need anythin’, you call me. Y’understand?” 

“Yes, sir,” Tommy teased. “Now go, have fun.”

You looked up at him in a gaze that captured Joel almost instantly. He had a very tough exterior, but deep down, Joel yearned for an intimate connection, especially after becoming a dad at such a young age. When you reached for his hand, Joel eagerly allowed you to take his hand in your own.

“Lead the way, darlin’.” 

You felt butterflies in your stomach at his words and when you finally got to the dance floor, you released his hand to face him, resting both of your own instead on his broad chest. Joel bit his lower lip, reaching down to rest his hands on your hips as you stepped closer to him, inches separating both your bodies. 

You both swayed to the music, eyes still staring intently at one another as the lights flashed in the club. It seemed like everyone around you seemed to disappear and the only person that was in focus was Joel. You wondered if it was the alcohol that was making you feel like this, or if you were genuinely interested and attracted to him. 

“You’re a real southern gentleman, aren’t you?” you whispered into his ear, trying to make your voice loud enough so that he could hear it over the music. 

Joel let out a quiet chuckle. “I was always taught to treat a lady with respect, so sure.” 

“Lucky me,” you smiled, pulling back to look up at him. “You don’t have a girlfriend?”

Joel cleared his throat. “Nope, no time for one.” 

“Why’s that?” you asked curiously.

Joel shrugged, not wanting to tell you – a woman he just met – that he was a father to a six year-old girl. It was already tough enough to tell the women he had been interested in before that he had a daughter and being only in his late twenties (twenty-eight to be exact), it was hard to find a woman who wanted to be in a serious relationship with him at this age. 

“Just busy,” he answered instead.

“You’re mysterious,” you replied. “I like it.”

“And you?” Joel asked. “No boyfriend? Kind of hard to believe that you’re single.”

You cleared your throat. “As of two weeks ago, I’m single.” 

“Ah, I’m sorry.” 

“It’s whatever. Wanna grab another drink?” You pulled away from him, not bothering to wait for him as you walked back to the bar to order a shot of tequila instead. Joel sighed to himself and followed you, watching as you downed the shot with ease. His hand rested on the middle of your back, looking down at you with soft eyes. 

“I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to–”

“It’s not your fault. I’m just trying to forget.” You interrupted, glancing around the club for your group of friends, but not being able to find them. Instead, you looked up at Joel and leaned up to press your lips against his. Joel widened his eyes and moved his hands to rest on your hips, pulling you away before your lips could connect with his. 

“You’re drunk,” he said. 

“So?”

“So, I’m not taking advantage of you or letting you make a stupid decision because you’re drunk. Where are your friends? You should probably get home.” 

“They left,” you said, feeling rejected and embarrassed. You turned around to order yourself another drink before Joel shook his head and gently took your hand, pulling you away from the bar and outside of the club. Once outside and underneath a street light, Joel caught a better glimpse of you, what you looked like, and what you were wearing. 

You were absolutely stunning. 

But deep down, Joel could see the pain in your eyes. 

“I’m gonna take you home, how’s that?” Joel said. 

“I don’t want to go home.” You sighed, beginning to walk away from him and away from the club. 

Joel cursed under his breath and walked over to you, trying to catch up with your strides. “Hey, hey…” he rested a hand on your lower back, now away from the loud music and the crowd of people. “Let me take you home.” 

“I don’t want to go home,” you repeated. You looked up at him, tears stinging your eyes. “I don’t want to be alone.”

Joel bit the inside of his cheek, truly at a loss for words. He didn’t know what to do. You barely knew him and he barely knew you. He wasn’t the type of person to just go home with someone he just met. 

But there was something about you that he couldn’t quite put his finger on. Joel found comfort in your presence and even if you both got off on the wrong foot and he was being a bit grumpy when he met you, Joel found the walls he normally put up around new people slowly come down with you around. 

He said your name quietly, watching as you stared up at him with eyes filled with sadness and heartbreak. “How about– How about we get some food then?” 

“I’m not your problem,” you sighed. “I can handle myself. I’ll be fine.”

“I ain’t lettin’ you walk around downtown on a Friday night dressed like that by yourself,” Joel replied. “We’re getting somethin’ to eat.” 

“Dressed like what?” you asked. 

Joel narrowed his eyes. “You know exactly how you look, don’t play coy with me, darlin’.” He moved to rest a hand on your lower back, raising his free hand in the air to flag down a cab. Once the car pulled up to the curb, he opened the door for you and allowed you to slide inside first before he climbed into the car. 

“Cozy Corner diner,” Joel said. “It’s about ten minutes from here.” 

The cab driver nodded and pulled away from the curb, driving towards the diner that Joel mentioned. You sighed quietly to yourself and leaned against Joel’s frame absent-mindedly, your eyes falling shut. Joel bit his lower lip and looked down at you, gently moving an arm to wrap around your shoulders and allowing you to snuggle closer to him. 

“Cozy Corner, huh?” you whispered. 

“They have the best milkshakes,” Joel said. He wanted to tell you that he and his daughter, Sarah, were regulars at the diner; it was something that he and Sarah looked forward to every Sunday morning. He didn’t know what it was about you that made him want to open up and lower the walls he surrounded himself with, but he was yearning to spend more time with you, to get to know more about you.

After about ten minutes, the cab pulled up to the diner and Joel paid the man before climbing out of the car and helping you to your feet. You stumbled out of the cab, your hands bracing on his shoulders as you leaned into his broad frame. Joel looked down at you, hands resting on your hips as inches separated your lips.

“I got you, darlin’,” he whispered. 

You looked up at him and bit your lower lip before trying to lean in to kiss him again before he pulled away. Once more, you reddened with embarrassment and didn’t bother waiting for him as you walked towards the entrance of the diner. 

“Wait up,” Joel called out. He let out a sigh and walked over to you; he was attracted to you, but it was obvious that you were not in the right headspace for anything to happen. “Hold on,” he sighed. 

“Listen, if you’re not attracted to me or whatever, stop being–”

“What?” Joel interrupted. “I told you. I don’t want to take advantage of you and–”

“I’m the one that’s tried to kiss you twice already and both times, you pulled away. It’s fine.” 

You opened the door to the diner before Joel gently took your hand and pulled you into him. He cupped your cheek, running his thumb across your soft skin as he stared at you with clear desire and want in his eyes. 

“You’re absolutely beautiful, darlin’, but you ain’t in the right state for anything to happen between us. Believe it or not, I’m not that type of guy.”

“You don’t owe me anything,” you whispered, leaning into his touch. “I don’t know why you’re being so nice to me.”

“Let’s just say I can relate to the pain you’re feelin’,” he pulled away and opened the door, allowing you to step inside. “How about we get some milkshakes and drown in our feelings?” 

You smiled, tears stinging your eyes. “Milkshakes sound great.” 

“Yeah, let’s get you sobered up, darlin’.” 

You were both immediately seated at a booth and you were already on your second glass of water to help even out the amount of alcohol you had earlier that night. Joel had been so patient with you, which was a complete turnaround from when you first both met. 

You excused yourself to go to the bathroom, the second glass of water hitting your system. Joel was seated at the booth, waiting for you when the waitress came by and flashed him a wink.

“About time you got a date, handsome,” she laughed.

“Oh, it ain’t a date, Penny,” Joel cleared his throat. “I was out with Tommy tonight and–”

“It’s alright, darlin’,” she smiled. “You deserve a night out to yourself.”

“It ain’t like that,” he sighed. “She’s just–”

“Well, whatever it is, she’s beautiful, Joel.” 

“She is, isn’t she?” Joel smiled. “Anyway, can we get two milkshake swirls?” 

“Coming right up, sweetheart.”

After a few minutes, Joel saw you walk back towards the booth. He let his eyes rake over your frame, taking note of the dress that clung to your curves, the thigh high slit that exposed your leg. 

“You okay?” Joel asked, seeing you slide in across from him. He noticed your eyes were slightly red and you were wiping away some fallen tears. 

“Oh, yeah, I’m fine.” 

Joel sighed, looking around the diner and seeing Penny flash him another wink. He nodded in her direction before turning his attention back onto you. 

“I ordered us some milkshakes. You want anythin’ else?” 

“Maybe a burger and some fries?”

Joel smiled. This was new. The women he went out with were always more conscious with what they were eating in front of him. “Got it.” He raised his hand and Penny walked over to them, flashing you the kindest and welcoming smile you ever seen. Her presence brought a sense of comfort and you looked up at her to return her smile with one of your own.

“Can we get two burgers and an order of large fries, Penny?” 

“Anything for you, handsome.” Penny smiled. 

You looked between the waitress and Joel, taking note of the familiarity between them both. 

“I come here often,” Joel said.

“Every Sunday,” Penny grinned. “One of my favorite customers.”

“Ah,” Joel chuckled. “You’re only sayin’ that because I leave a big tip.” 

“Well, yes,” she smiled. “And also because you and your little girl always brighten up my Sunday morning.” 

Little girl. You arched a brow in his direction and saw Penny leave the table to give your food orders to the kitchen. Joel cleared his throat, looking over at you and noticing the curiosity in your features.

“I have a daughter,” Joel blurted out.

Your brows arched upwards in surprise, tilting your head. “You’re a dad?” 

“Had her young,” he sighed. “Sorry, that’s not somethin’ I usually tell to someone I just met.” 

“Why’s that?” 

Joel shrugged. “I’m a twenty-eight year old single dad with a six year-old daughter. Not plenty of women my age are looking to be in a serious relationship with someone who already has a kid.” 

“Seems like you’re attracting the wrong kind of women then,” you said. “What’s her name? Your daughter, I mean.” 

Joel smiled, feeling an odd sense of relief fill the pit of his stomach. Maybe you were right. Maybe the women he had been with in the last few years were just the wrong kind of people. But here you were, a complete stranger with your own emotional baggage, eager to learn more about him and his daughter. 

“Her name’s Sarah,” he replied. “She’s an amazing kid.” 

You smiled. “Do you have any pictures? I mean, if that’s okay. You don’t have to–”

Joel took his wallet out and pulled out a small polaroid of a photo of Sarah on her most recent birthday. Her brown curls shaped her face and her smile matched Joel’s, with more obvious dimples on both sides of her cheeks. 

“She’s got your eyes,” you pointed out. “And your smile.” 

Joel’s heart filled with pride and he smiled, gently taking the photo and placing it back into his wallet. “Thanks.” 

“And her mom?” You asked.

Joel cleared his throat. “Don’t like talkin’ about it, but let’s say she’s not in the picture.”

You bit your lower lip. “Sorry.” 

“Not your fault, darlin’. What about you?” 

“What about me?” 

“Seems like the person who broke your heart is still lingerin’...” 

“We were together for four years,” you whispered, biting your lower lip as you felt tears begin to pool at your eyes. “Found out he had been cheating on me for several months.” 

“Shit,” Joel whispered. “M’sorry.” 

“Is it something about me?” You asked yourself, looking down at the table. “Was I not enough?” You were mainly talking aloud, not directly asking Joel to answer any of these questions. It had been something that haunted and plagued your thoughts ever since you found out. 

“Oh, darlin’, I–” 

Joel was interrupted when Penny came by to the booth, setting the milkshakes and food on the table. You quickly reached up to wipe at your eyes, clearing your throat. What were you thinking? You barely knew Joel and he didn’t need to hear anything about your failed relationship; he certainly didn’t need to hear you feeling sorry for yourself either. 

“This looks amazing,” you told Penny, looking up at her with a small smile. “Thank you.”

Penny’s eyes softened instantly at the sight of you and she reached over to rest a comforting hand on your shoulder. “Whatever you need, sweetheart, just call my name and I’ll be right over here. You’ve got good company with this one too,” she winked, motioning over to Joel. 

“Thank you, Penny,” you whispered, biting your lower lip. 

Joel let a small smile line his lips before nodding his thanks to Penny. The older woman left the both of you to tend to her other patrons and Joel was about to say something before you interrupted him.

“I’m sorry,” you said with a sigh. “We shouldn’t be talking about what’s wrong with me and what went wrong in my relationship.” 

“The guy has no idea what he’s missing,” Joel shrugged. “You seem like a great girl.” 

“You barely know me.” 

“Very true,” Joel nodded. “But you seem like the type of girl who’d stick by her partner no matter how hard it gets. That’s hard to come by in people these days…” 

You dropped your eyes to the table, reaching over to grab a single fry to lift to your lips. Joel’s assumption about you was correct; you always had been the type of person to stick by your friends or boyfriends, even if it didn’t benefit you, even if the majority of the time, you were taken advantage of. 

“M’sorry…” Joel sighed. “I didn’t mean to overstep. I just–”

“No, it’s okay,” you interrupted. “Guess things happen for a reason, or whatever.” 

Joel snickered. “Things happen for a reason? You really believe that?” He grabbed his burger and lifted it to his lips, taking a large bite as he stared at you. 

You shrugged. “I don’t know,” you answered honestly. “Still trying to figure out why all of this happened.”

“Maybe you shouldn’t try to figure it out,” Joel proposed. He watched you take a bite of your burger, letting a prideful smile line his lips when he heard you let out a sigh of contentment. 

“You know, my friends told me that the best way to get over someone is to get under someone else.”

Joel was mid-bite, almost choking on his food as he looked at you with wide eyes. “And that’s… Is that why you–”

“Calm down, Joel,” you giggled. “I’m not that type of girl.”

“Yet, you tried to kiss me twice.”

“And you rejected me. Twice.” 

Joel narrowed his eyes, his gaze lowering to your lips briefly. “Like I said, you were drunk.”

“Exactly,” you quipped. “Drunk, heartbroken me is not really me.” 

Joel furrowed his brows in confusion. “That makes no sense at all.” 

“Makes sense to me.” 

You smiled at him and continued to eat. Joel was completely taken aback by you and how easy it was to just talk to you. At the beginning of the night, Tommy had to practically drag Joel out of the house after the babysitter stopped by to look after Sarah. The entire drive to the club, Joel was grumpy. He didn’t want to be out when he could have spent it with Sarah, but Tommy was right. Joel needed a break and while the night started out rough, he was glad that he came out because if he didn’t, he wouldn’t have met you. 

A couple of hours pass and you and Joel finish your food and milkshakes, sharing stories from your lives. It was well past midnight and Joel’s phone started to ring. He excused himself for a moment and stood from the booth, walking outside to take the call. 

You leaned back against the booth, obviously very full and now completely sober. The more you talked with Joel, the better you felt. Since coming to the diner and spending more time with Joel, you realized that Robert hadn’t crossed your mind. It felt nice to gain back control over your life. It also helped that you were attracted to Joel and the fact that he was a father just made him more endearing; you were tired of dating men that were too immature for you. You were only a few years younger than Joel, but he had been more mature than most of the guys you had ever been with.

After a few minutes, Joel stepped back inside the diner and slid back into the booth across from you. 

“Sorry about that,” he said. “It was just Tommy checking in to make sure I was okay.” 

“Gotta head home?” you asked.

Joel shook his head. “He’s looking after Sarah, so…” 

“Do you want to come back home with me?” you asked hesitantly. “I’m sober and I promise that I won’t try to kiss you again.”

Joel bit his lower lip. Now that you were sober, it was all that Joel could think about. How your lips would feel against his own, your body pressed into his. But aside from the desire he felt for you, he found your presence to be even more comforting and he certainly didn’t want this night to end either. 

“Will that be okay?” He asked. “I don’t want to impose and–”

“Do you like coffee?” you interrupted him.

Joel nodded. “Can’t leave the house without it every morning.”

You smiled, standing from the booth. Joel followed your movements, setting down enough money (plus a big tip for Penny) on the table. 

“Come on then.” 

“Where we goin’?” 

“You’ll see.”

---

next.

[blackswan446]

weeping mary

→ pairing: yan!jhs x reader

→ synopsis: the show must go on, right?

→ wc: 1842

→ cws: gun, reader gets hit in head and passes out lols

→ notes: despite the title this is not a religious story whatsoever lol it just has heavy religious allegories

--

theatre was an odd place. whenever a new show goes into production, you never really know who you'll end up being with for the next months of your life. you could get lucky, and end up with people who had a passion for the art and made the frustrations of props and memorization worth it. or, you could get the short end of the stick, and get stuck with the group of people who were made to watch shows, not participate in them.

more often than not, it's a mix of both. sometimes one group outnumbered the other, other times it was an even blend. and every single time, you could count on the two groups to butt heads. that's how it was here, in your little college theatre department, and normally, it wasn't that much of an issue. but this time it was not as easy. you, a lifelong lover of theatre and one of the more...theatrically challenged participants, paired up, occupying the two leading roles.

it wasn't like he was bad, but his recitations during rehearsals sounded just like that, recitations. like he was reading from a script, even though he had the lines memorized. they just failed to evoke anything deeper within you, they didn't spark the same emotions inside you as you felt with other people, even within your group. some of the performances you had seen felt so real you could've sworn the emotions they were portraying were real and raw, so clear you could reach out, touch them, and feel them yourself.

you felt bad for even thinking these things, since hoseok was such a sweetheart. he was extremely kind and he was making a clear effort, but theatre was just not his strong suit. maybe with practice, maybe with a lot of practice, he would improve, but as of now, you didn't have your hopes set high for the evenings ahead of you.

that's what you used to explain the twisted feeling in your gut as you sat in the fluorescent room. it was empty by now, the only things in there being the ghost of excited chatter and loose makeup powder hanging in the air. you could see your reflection through the fingerprints and dust covering the mirror, the costume and headpiece that adorned you almost distracting from the worried aura you embodied. the shine of the lights illuminated the front of your body, eliminating the shade and casting a saintly glow upon your figure. weeping mary, you thought, your own appearance reminded you of the weeping mary.

you were distracted from your own thoughts by a shadowy figure appearing in the doorway behind you. whipping around to get a look at the mystery silhouette, you were met with none other than jung hoseok himself. sighing, you greeted the usually-happy guy normally, though a discontented look rested on his face.

"[name], are you alright? you weren't out there with everybody else backstage, and i got worried." he asked quietly, his voice soft and kind. his costume fitted him well, the colors and cuts of the various articles of clothes suiting him better than you had imagined.

"yeah, i'm okay. i just wanted to sit alone for a minute. don't worry about me." you said feebly, eyes meeting your clasped hands. unconvinced, hoseok paused before his next question. "did something happen?" he said gingerly, the words coming out as if they were afraid of what you had to say. sighing, you shook your head. "no, nothing happened. i just don't feel great, i have a bad feeling about tonight." you admitted, looking at the shiny costume jewelry that sparkled on your fingers.

"bad feeling?" you didn't need to look up from your manicure to see the puzzled look on his face, you could hear it in his voice, the way he sounded more shocked than sympathetic. "...what do you think is going to happen?" he said carefully, like he was unsure of his own question. you shrugged your shoulders. "i don't know. i think it's just nerves." you lied. it was so much more than that, at least, that's how it felt to you. but what exactly were you supposed to do? drop out because of a random gut feeling and let everybody down? that wasn't an option, not tonight, not ever. the show must go on.

no words were spoken, rather, you felt a gentle hand touch your shoulder, so delicately resting where the end of the pink tulle fabric and your clammy skin met, as if you were a fragile porcelain doll that would break if the wind hit it wrong. "i get where you're coming from, [name]. but how bad is it really if things go wrong tonight? this is just one night out of our whole lives. we have so much ahead of us. do you really want to look back on your youth and remember being scared for nothing and not enjoying the ride?" he wondered, a convincing tone that was not present earlier now accompanying his voice.

he was right, you knew he was, but the validity of his point didn't release the knot in your stomach. but you weren't going to burden the poor boy with your existential crises, you couldn't, not after he had just tried to comfort you, not when you only had fifteen minutes until the show began. not now.

giving him a warm and grateful smile, and nodding as a show of understanding, you thanked him for his philosophical point of view, and the both of you made your way out of the room, hoseok looking significantly happy and pleased with himself. it took everything in you to replace his words with the hurricane of worry clouding your mind, and as you stepped out onto that stage, you ignored the screaming voice in the front of your mind, begging you to run in the other direction.

the show must go on.

--

time felt like it was moving through quicksand. act one was hard enough, you could barely keep up with your lines because of how on-edge you were the whole time. the only thing you had time or energy to do during intermission was throw back some cold water and hope for the best. having hoseok in your ear, both onstage and off, wasn't exactly calming your nerves. he was nice, as he always was, but what you really needed was to stew in your anxiety and work through it alone.

the further you spiraled into your madness, the more the door of hope squeaked shut, but as the end of act two rolled around, you thought you saw the light at the end of the tunnel, a sliver of yellow sunshine from behind the door. maybe you were just crazy. maybe nothing would go wrong, maybe you hadn't slept well, or were coming down with something, maybe

just maybe

everything would be alright.

if only your own desperation hadn't blurred the lines between the warmth of hope and the fires of hell.

you stood at the far edge of the stage, looking across to hoseok. something was different about him, something in the way he looked, there was a new passion behind his eyes that you had never seen before. even if it wasn't scripted, the look would have made you stop and stare all on its own.

"i love you, [c/n], i love you so much, for everything you've done for me." you paused dramatically, turning your back to hoseok as you prepared to make your final exit, "but i really hate you, for everything you've done to me."

that's when it happened. you were supposed to leave, it was only supposed to take a second. but he was faster.

"no."

you felt the familiar pit in your stomach return with a hungry vengeance. there was nothing else for you to do, but turn around slowly and roll with whatever the hell he was doing.

"no, [y/c/n]. you're not going anywhere. i have loved you for so long. since the day i laid my eyes on you, the day our hands met, and since the first time you smiled at me, i have been yours since then, and i will still be yours when time gives out and history ends and only the stars are left in this world. you are my heart, my soul, my brain, my absolute everything. the day i stop loving you, is the day that love dies. please, [y/c/n]."

speechless, unmoving, and heart pumping wildly, the only thing you could manage to squeak out was a weak "no". the look of passion from before, the same one that could have cracked a diamond, was gone. now he looked crazed, insane, as he stormed over to your trembling figure.

"that's not a choice. i've spent too long watching from afar. all my life, i've waited for someone like you to fall into my lap. i love you, [name], and i'm not taking no for an answer."

with that, he reached into the back pocket of his costume pants, and pulled out something shiny, something that glinted underneath the hot stage lights. the air in your lungs refused to exit, any sort of words getting caught in the back of your throat as you stared at the metallic gun held in hoseok's gloved hand. there was a loud gasp from the audience, and for a minute, you thought you tasted the sweet exlir of hope, but once you realized that people mistook this awful situation for a part of the show, you felt your heart sink onto the floor.

it was obvious by now that this wasn't acting anymore. this was a real thing, real emotions and a very real weapon in front of you. hell, that's why he sounded so passionate during his monologue. he wasn't speaking from a script, he was speaking from the deep and twisted cracks of his heart that you wouldn't have dreamt of existing. the irony wasn't lost on you, how someone like hoseok had turned out to be the best actor you had ever met.

all you could do was shake your head, your body too paralyzed in fear to do anything else. he chuckled, an amused smirk washing over his features, as if he knew this would happen. as if he had planned it to be this way. with an accepting look on his face and a sweet, strong kiss to your lips, and with that kiss, your fate was sealed. you didn't like it, nor did you want it, but the fear had turned you to stone, and all you could do was watch from a distance.

"'til death do us part, my love."

the only thing you could hear during those final moments of consciousness, the final moments of life as you knew it, as hoseok scooped up your collapsed figure and threw you over his shoulder, was the cheers and applause of an audience who had just seen the show of a lifetime.

[nymphomaniaa]

something about us [XIX] "two glass bottles" — a preview!

summary: this chapter will follow lunch club's last major filming day in LA. the events before this snippet involve the group exploring the griffith park observatory at night after spending the afternoon in santa monica. schlatt and reader are driving back to the offlinetv house.

warnings: just a bit of angsty miscommunication word vomit. mention of alcohol/sobriety.

notes: sooo i mentioned about a month and a half ago that i've been struggling to finish this chapter because this story loosely follows events that have happened in my own life, and this chapter is especially full of personal experience that was difficult to resurface after years of repressing them. regardless, it was pretty therapeutic for me to write this, and i'm really hoping i can finally post this full chapter soon whenever i have the time (i don't lol)

Schlatt is unnervingly quiet at first as he stares ahead, too.  The road is long and dark, and what lies ahead can only be revealed if he turns the engine on.  However, you both wait in silence for the longest few seconds of your life.  The both of you sit in unnerving darkness.

“To be honest,” he seems to try to get words out, “I mean, there’s nothing, like, wrong, but it’s more like…”

He dances around his thoughts for a moment, trying to come up with the right words to say.

“I guess, I just feel a little… y’know.”

He falters before he truly begins, and with an annoyed sigh, ends up taking his key out of his pocket, and using it to start the car instead.  “Yeah, I can’t do this right now, [Y/N],” he remarks with defeat, letting his foot off the brake to begin driving.

“No, hey,” you reach out, placing your hand over his forearm, which softly drops into his lap the second he feels your touch.  Maneuvering his way out of a parallel parking spot with just one hand, he ignores your fingertips pressing into his skin, telling himself he just needs to focus on driving, and maybe he can stave off his thoughts, at least for tonight.  “J, seriously.  I can tell something’s on your mind,” you press further.  “Did something happen?”

“No, nothing’s like… wrong or anything, I’m just…  tired and I wanna go home and pass out.  That’s all it is.  I mean, we had two shoots today.  Can you blame me for being a little cranky?”

You don’t mean to glare at him.  But a lie is a lie.  And lies are not something you wholeheartedly tolerate, especially not from someone like Schlatt.  Maybe he’s on too high of a pedestal in your mind at this point, but no matter how you try to picture the podium, he’s standing there with a trophy of guilt firmly gripped in his hands.  And all you could think about is whether or not it’s your fault that he’s feeling like this, because if it weren’t, he wouldn’t be stubbornly avoiding you, right?

Your hand withdraws as you sit back into your seat, crossing your legs as you listen to the faint flow of the air conditioning kick in.  “Fine,“ you surrender.

“Fine?”

“Yeah, fine.”

“...Okay.”

He’s stunned into hesitation at how quickly you gave up on prodding for more information.  It’s uncanny, almost, for you to be so quiet after obviously caring about something.

It takes ten minutes of Schlatt driving in awkward silence for him to contemplate that maybe, there isn’t actually any point in hiding from you.  He could tell that you had some degree of attraction and admiration for him – you weren’t exactly stellar at keeping it a secret.  The off-camera flirting, your body language, the soft side you reveal around him, the way you show him your commitment to everything he has ever thrown at you professionally…  He knows there’s something there.

It takes ten more minutes of Schlatt driving in silence for him to arrive at the OfflineTV house.  He slowly pulls into the driveway.  The moment he puts the car in park, the pressure in his head is making its way out of his mouth before he even realizes it.

“I was sad, okay?  I was sad this morning when you left.  There,” he states bluntly.  “And now I’m irritated because… ‘cus I don’t know why I feel this way.  We were drunk and you said it was okay, so I thought it was fine, but then afterwards you left and you haven’t mentioned it at all today.  And I feel like you’re trying to pretend it didn’t happen, and I’m trying too but…  I feel like an asshole because how could you have known any better?  You were drunk.  I was drunk.  Just…  fuck, dude.  I’m sorry.  I’m just…  I’m sorry.”

He’s staring at the parked car in front of him, with both his hands on the steering wheel, and his car still running.  He’s tracing his eyes along the letters and numbers on Cooper’s license plate.  He’s counting how many rooms of the OfflineTV house have their lights on.  

“You were trying to be sober.  I don’t know why I didn’t think about that in the moment.  All I could think about was how grateful I was to be able to hold you with no consequences.  No complicated feelings, no nothing.  Just…  just you.  God, I’m a fucking dick.”

He’s observing the building redness in his knuckles.  He’s doing everything to avoid looking at you when he’s about to directly address you.  

“And look, [Y/N], I like you and all as a friend, y’know, you’re so pretty and talented and smart and you’re just— you’re the whole package.  But I don’t know if I’m…  I don’t know how I feel about taking it beyond that.  I don’t wanna fuck up anything between us.  I don’t wanna ruin what we have.  You’re so special to me, and you deserve the absolute best, and I just don’t want you to be hurt.  I’m not the best.  I’m not what you need.”

He is a deer in his own headlights.

“I’m an asshole.  You just like me because I’m nice to you.  But I’m just a regular guy.  At the end of the day, I could take advantage of you without ever knowing it.  And I’m just not confident that you’d be able to speak up for yourself against someone like me.  I just can’t let you do that to yourself in good conscience.”

For the first time in his life, he is trembling.

you guys will hate me for what comes next. i'm sorry. i had to leave it out in this preview because it will build up anticipation for you guys, but i'll be upfront by saying it's genuinely so gut wrenching and i'm sooo sorry. but feel free to read the story from the beginning here to prepare for the new chapter! thank you for always motivating me.

[bumpkinspice0]

Parallels: chapter 1

Miguel O'Hara x Spider!FemReader

No use of y/n

Rating: Explict

Word Count: 2842

Summary: You never had a 'spidey sense,' as you came to learn from your time as part of Spider Society. You'd gotten along this far without it and were an excellent spider-woman regardless. Then you meet Miguel O'Hara and it awakens something in you. A strange buzzing in the back of your head. It doesn't stop whenever he's in sight, and you think he knows what's happening to you.

Something about Miguel draws you in. What made him so fucking special?

Warnings: Smuuut, Oral (Fem receiving-in a public place), Mentions of masturbation (like barely), horny at work, Miguel being feral, spider hormone connection?? IDK

Notes: This is my first time sharing anything I've written, I have no idea what I'm doing. I just started this blog an hour ago for this shit. I swear a lot, i guess. Please go easy on me... and enjoy, my beloveds.

AO3

Next chapter

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Chapter 1

Spidey Sense

At first, joining Spider Society was overwhelming. How could it not be? But also— strangely relieving. There were more of you. Enough to fill a 200-story tower. After years of doing this on your own, you had a community to lean on. A community just like you.

As your life in the spider citadel went on it became more and more obvious that no two spider people were exactly the same. Powers or personality-wise— well, actually all of you seemed to be pretty quick-witted. Everyone’s abilities seemed to differ ever so slightly, you were no exception.

You never had what you came to learn as a ‘spidey sense.’ You had wall-crawling, strength, agility, all the seemingly usual stuff— but just not this apparent danger warning your fellow spider people had. Your powers seemed to make up for themselves in the end. Whatever you may have lost with this other sense, you more than made up for in other ways.

You didn’t have an internal security system, but your remaining senses were easily double that of any of your counterparts. On top of that your webs were completely organic. No awkward shooters or web fluid to constantly worry about. You win some, you lose some. 

Still, it fascinated you. The ability to sense danger. A literal sixth sense. Having constant spacial awareness sounded amazing after the embarrassing amount of random pigeons you’d hit while swinging through the city.

You asked around about it whenever powers came into the conversation. It was as casual as talking about the weather for all of you. They all described it the same. An unmistakable gut feeling. A tingling in the back of your head, a spiked heart rate, and suddenly you knew every small detail that was happening around you. If you were being honest, it sounded like the beginnings of a panic attack. Random adrenaline spikes throughout the day didn’t sound like the funnest ability to deal with. You’d never felt anything remotely like what they were describing. 

Well, until you met him.

Met was a strong word, actually. Miguel was a reclusive leader. You’d only met him a handful of times. Jess was the one to recruit you into the spider-league and Miguel was just this invisible entity you’d only heard about in passing. Everyone talked about him with such high regard and respect that you just kind of mimicked their attitude without really knowing anything about him. He built this place. He had to be incredible. 

The first time you saw the illusive Spider-Man 2099 was in a meeting. Jess wanted to get you into some teamwork missions and you reluctantly agreed. You and about a dozen other of your spider-comrades were to inspect an anomaly in universe whatever. Don’t interact with anything. Only observe. It was clearly a bullshit team-building exercise for all of you. No one here really knew much about being part of a team.

The air in the room changed when Miguel walked in. Everyone instantly hushed. He commanded the space with such little effort. He was addressing the room when he made eye contact with you and you immediately felt intimidated. Christ, he was huge… and handsome. Beyond his obvious leg-buckling good looks, there was something else his gaze did to you.

A strange tingling in the back of your head.

His gaze stayed on you longer than you’d have liked, his head tilting ever so slightly before pulling his attention back to the rest of the room. The buzzing in your head didn’t go away until he left. 

What the hell was that?

“You alright?” Jess tapped your shoulder, bringing you back to reality. The rest of the room was dispersing into the portal. Clearly, you paid close attention to the debriefing you’d just sat through.

“Yep!” You answered just a little too loudly. “Just nerves, I guess. Let’s do this.” Your lead Spider-Woman gave a cheeky smile before leading you both into the portal.

That was the first time you’d noticed something weird.

You’d only see Miguel in passing or in crowded rooms with countless other spider people. It quickly became obvious that he was the cause of whatever was happening with you. No matter the situation, you still got that weird feeling whenever he was around. He’d always glance at you more than you’d like— but then again you did the same. As you climbed the ranks you worried you’d get stuck on missions with him. Luckily, he seemed to take his jobs solo. 

Still, ever the attentive leader he was, he soon was in every briefing you were. Every meeting and training— sitting on the other end of the room making your newfound spider sense scream in your head. It would start going off even before you entered the room. That’s how you’d know he’d be there— and your sense was right every time.

The last time you saw him, he didn’t take his eyes off you the entire time. 

 A massive projection table stood between you and him. Lyla was showing some random science behind whatever the latest threat to the universe at large was. You couldn’t care less about what she said while this brutish man bore into your soul— again. 

Your sense was going crazy this time. No one else ever seemed to notice, so why did he? You’d heard through the grapevine Miguel was one of the few other spider people that didn’t have a spider-sense. He wasn’t much like any of the other spiders, really. Yet, he seemed to know what was happening to you.

How could he not know, since he was clearly the cause.

Your growing adrenaline morphed into something you didn’t expect. Your cheeks immediately reddened when you felt a heat rising in your core— and a gush of arousal between your legs. You squeezed your legs together, leaning on the projection table for support. Then Miguel’s expression changed. His eyebrows furrowed. You saw his jaw and neck clench. If you didn’t know any better he looked disgusted.

It was fucking humiliating. 

This was your job. These were your colleagues. You were all discussing what you needed to do to keep the literal entire universe safe! And here you were, getting horny over nothing like some teenager. Pathetic.

And he surely knew exactly what was happening.

Miguel left the meeting in a huff and you ran your vibrator dead that night when you got home. 

From then on, you actively avoided him. Both out of shame and for your own sanity. Whatever this was, you didn’t wanna deal with it. Out of sight of a mind.

It was obvious no one else had this weird problem with him so there wasn’t anyone you could turn to. You’d rather die than explain this to Jess and half of your other members were fucking teenagers. You didn’t want to ask Lyla so she could have this in her memory banks for Miguel to just stumble across one day and promptly expel you from Spider society. You loved it here. You loved being part of something bigger than yourself. It's why you took up the mantel in the first place.

Yet, surrounded by the people who understand you most, you were alone in this. Trapped by some weird spider-power puberty. Could superpowers even go through puberty? It made as much sense as anything else in your life.

You were walking to the training room when that doomed buzz pinged in the back of your head. Turning the corner to the empty corridor was that dreaded, broad figure you’d been successfully avoiding for weeks now. He pauses when he sees you, just for a moment, before continuing on his path. Your spider sense hadn’t shown itself this entire time and now it was like a car alarm in your head. Still, you managed to walk on. You won’t let him have the satisfaction.   

He mumbled your name with a small nod when you passed each other, you did the same. Honestly, you were surprised he even knew your first name. You were nearly at the corner when you felt the tingling morph into what you were dreading. You bit your lip at the building erotic sensation between your legs. You’d had enough. 

After that last encounter, you started to wonder if this was something he was doing. How could you not? There was something in his animalistic eyes besides pure hunger. There was knowing. There was smugness. 

Yeah, he was definitely doing something. This was his fault.

“Stop it!” You turn to shout at him, now standing yards away from you. Your voice echoes down the empty hallway. He turns to look at you, a grimace on his face. “This isn’t funny. I don’t know what the hell your doing or why you’re doing it, but just stop it.” You say again, stepping toward him.

“What I’m doing?” he snarls, “What do you think I’m doing?”

“You’re fucking with me for fun,” You accuse him, “I thought it was me. I thought it was something I was doing because no one else had the same problem, but it only happens around you. So you’re the one doing something to me!”

“Only around me, hm?” he scoffs, stepping toward you. “I’m not doing anything,”

“Liar,” you bite, “This only happens around you. That only leaves one option. You’re doing it.”

A bloated silence follows. You see his shoulders drop, bringing his hand up to rub his eyes in annoyance. 

 “You really don’t know what’s happening either, do you?” That gives you pause. “The constant… buzzing.”

No fucking way.

He… felt it too. 

He’s standing directly in front of you now, his expression softened ever so slightly.

“I’m not like most of them, you know.” He starts, his voice a low rumble, “No spider-sense, talons for wall-crawling, venomous fangs… enhanced senses. You’re not exactly like the others either, are you?” his form dwarfs you, backing you into the closest wall.

“You don’t know anything about me,” You hiss. 

“I know everything about you,” He retorts, “It’s my job to know.”

“You… you really don’t know what’s happening to me. To…us.”

This all just got insanity more confusing. Well, it already was but this was just another layer onto the shitty cake. He could be lying, you think briefly. He could see how much he affects you and finds it funny. Though that nagging feeling in the back of your head says he’s telling the truth— and you believe it. 

“Not yet,” his arms cage you in. His eyes shift to that familiar deep red as he drags his gaze over you, “I was suspicious the first time, then it wouldn’t stop.”

“It’s awful.”

“The worst.”

Then, for the first time, you actually feel small under his gaze— other than in a literal sense. He’d been staring you down for over a month but now he was so damn close.

“What’s it feel like… for you?” He asks.

You think for a moment, trying to ignore the heat rising inside you, “It’s… it’s like climbing a roller coaster. Anticipation. Adrenaline. You know somethings coming.” 

Your heartbeat is pounding. 

“Mhmm,” he lowers his head, “What else?”

“It’s—“, you shy away from his gaze. 

“I know what else,” he leans down, lips brushing into your ear, “I’ve been able to smell you for days.” 

If this were any other man you’d have knocked him unconscious by now, but something about him speaking to you this way made your legs nearly give out.

You feel a sharp pressure against your thigh. You look down to see the single talon of his index finger pressed against you, hooked through the material of your suit. 

“Is this what you want?” He asks, his voice a low growl now, “This is what it’s screaming at you?”

You bite your lip, taking in a sharp inhale before you nod. 

He drags the claw up your thigh and across your stomach, slicing with precision cleanly through the material of your suit and underwear. Another rush of arousal runs through you. The fabric gives way easily and your core is left completely bare. He grabs your thighs.

“I wonder if you taste as good as you smell,” he hoists your legs over his shoulders as he kneels down to meet your waiting cunt. He holds you on top of him like you weigh nothing at all.

Superhuman strength and agility had several perks you always felt you never fully utilized.

His mouth engulfs you, licking a long stripe up your entrance before enveloping your clit. You gasp and grab his head with one hand and stick to the wall with the other. It wasn’t exactly stable, but that was the last thing on your mind. The king of spider-kind was eating you out in the middle of the citadel— and god was he good. 

You fight back your moans as best you can, anyone could walk by. Anyone could hear you. When he sucks down on you, you let a small scream slip.

“Cállate!” He hisses underneath you. Your eyes briefly meet his before he’s back on you. You barely remember your 3 years of high school Spanish, but the tone of his voice was clear. Be quiet.

You bit down on your hand. Your toes curled in your shoes. He was unraveling you bit by bit with his tongue. Consuming you like a starved man.

His mouth wasn’t the only thing wrecking you. That annoying buzz in your head had dulled into something different— something entirely new. The strange tingling simmered into a warm sensation, raising every hair on your body. Every time he’d touch you, it’d electrify you even more. Did he feel this way too, you wonder?

He wasn’t gentle. This wasn’t slow and sensual. He was fucking primal, wriggling and squirming underneath you as if to try to get more of you— to get you impossibly closer. He’d retracted his claws but his fingers squeezed you so tightly you knew there’d be bruises in the morning. The thought sent a new wave of wetness to your cunt. 

He moans into you, sending vibrations all through your body. He was whispering some sweet nothings you didn’t have the brain capacity to try and understand. Really he was telling you all you wanted to know— he was enjoying this too. Whether it was for some sick kicks or he just liked the control, you didn’t care. He was giving you some much-needed relief you didn’t know you had pent up— and it felt like this was the same for him.

Then he finally looks up at you, his eyes overtaken by that inhuman crimson red— animalistic and feral and wanting. You should be afraid of him. 

His tongue delves into your heat, his strong nose still nudging at your clit. You were getting close now— already? Yeah, you were way more pent-up than you thought. Both of your hands come down to his head, lacing your fingers through his dark hair.

“Miguel,” You barely gasp out, “Miguel, I’m gonna—”

You don’t finish before it overtakes you. Your shaking legs crush his head while pure euphoric energy surges through you. Your face contorts into a silent scream, completely forgetting how to breathe for just a moment. It was raw. It was hungry and rushed, but it was perfect.

 He works you through it until your bones become jelly. He lowers you down onto his lap. The buzzing in your head is singing— and then it’s finally silent, washing over you like a warm wave. It was complete bliss.

Even straddling his lap, he still towers over you—crowding you in against the wall with his arms again. You’re both panting from the rush. Did you seriously just do that? Did he seriously just do that? 

“It… it stopped,” You finally say. “The buzzing.”

He grunts in response, which you can only interpret as me too. Running his thumb across his chin to gather your remaining arousal. Those red eyes never leave your face while he sucks the digit clean. You instantly feel another rush of heat at the sight. This fucking man.

You both turn to the sound of oncoming footsteps just around the corner. So much for heightened senses this time. You turn back to each other, both with the same question painted across your face. What the fuck do we do?

He’s the first to act, quickly typing something into his multiverse watch. A portal opens in the wall directly behind you. Without warning you fall into it, getting one last look at Miguel's smug face before it closes. Then— you're in your empty apartment. 

Your ears are ringing. Your heart is pounding. Too many thoughts are rushing through your head to even bother sorting out right now. As you sit there, shamefully bare in your most intimate area in the middle of your living room, you settle on one aspect of this entire fucked up situation to focus on.

That asshole ruined your last fucking suit. 

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I don't know how to make a taglist.

Hope you liked it!!!

[desi2go]

What do the perfect dates look like?

What would the Stray Kids members do with you?

Pairings: Stray Kids x reader

Warning: fluff

Author's note: I'm so sorry that it took me so long to update. These days I'm really stressed and need to focus on my A-level. Anyways, HAPPPY BIRTHDAY FELIX 💕 if you have any requests, just ask ;-)

~~ Bang Chan ~~

Chan loves the nature. Especially the ocean and everything that has to do with water. So, when it's warm, you to like to go to a sea. A beach date is for Chan the best, because he loves you and the sea. Whenever you have the time, you two spend the whole day at the beach. Getting a tan, playing games and swimming is a must. Chan and you would do a swimming competition to find out who is faster. Of course it was Chan, but it was fun. After you were for hours in the water, you would lay on your towel, enjoying the sunny weather while you two cuddle. When the sun goes down, you walk along the water and watch the beautiful sunset.

It isn't a secret that Chan likes to cook. He often cooks for the other members. Sometimes, especially when it's cold outside or the weather is bad, you adore to cook together while listening to music. Most of the time, Chan will cook because you can't cook well and the chance of you getting burned is really high.

~~ Lee Know ~~

Minho likes the autumn, so whenever you two find time, you would walk around and enjoy the nature. Autumn symbolises wealth and abundance. This is exactly how he feels around you, filled and richly endowed.

Minho and you adore the cool air and all the bright colours in the nature. You would stroll through the rustling leaves, holding each others hand to keep them warm.

You also like to do Movie dates with your boyfriend and his three cute cats. Usually he would let you pick the Movie while he gets some snacks from the kitchen. After placing a blanket on your laps, he would cuddle with you. It will not take long until his three sweet cats will jump on your laps, purring and ready to be pet.

~~ Changbin ~~

I think that Changbin would go to a good bar with you. Grabbing a drink while talking to you about the day. If a stranger would ask you out, he'll just watch and be amused because he knows that you can handle it on your own and even if the person is very intrusive, he will be there and protect you.

When he sees you humming to the melody of a song, he would ask you, if you wanna dance. He knows that you love to dance with him, so you agreed with a big smile. He twirls you around the little dance floor, laughing and giggling.

Like Lee Know, he would also do a Movie Date with you, but he loves to watch scary movies with you even though you were a little bit scared. But you know, he'll protect you, if a big bad monster would try to eat you. Maybe that's why he is training so hard at the gym?

~~Hyunjin~~

Hyunjin loves to be around you. You inspire him like you're his muse. Every time you to are together he gets so many painting ideas. In the summer, he loves going on a picknic date with you. You're also interested in art, so every time you have a date outside, you would bring your art supplies with you so that you two could paint together.

In this time you don't much, only a few sentences. Just enjoying each others presence and being inspired by it. After you finished your paintings you showed then to one another and exchange them so that you have sweet little memories you can look at in the future. On the side you feed each other the food you brought with you.

When the weather isn't that good, you go to a museum, looking at the famous art. You two try to guess what the artist meant and wanted to express with that painting. What was a serious game at the beginning became more and more silly by your jokes. Most of the time, you ended up creating funny and chaotic stories while you laughed out loud.

~~Han~~

On a day off, Han would take you to your favourite Café. It was very hidden and in a quieter area of the city so that you could go there without worrying that someone will recognise your boyfriend. On the way there, he told you proudly his new jokes that he came up with. You laughed because most of them made no sense at all.

In the Café, Han would order you an iced coffee with a piece of strawberry cake, your favourites. He ordered himself a big piece of cheesecake and chocolate cake. You shake your head amused because he was like a black hole. You could feed him so much and he would still be hungry.

In the winter, you two love to go skating. At first you were insecure because you never tried ice skating before. You stood there, shaking and trembling. Maybe it was the cold, maybe it was because you feared to fall. Han just smiled and pulled you on the ice. You clawed at him tightly, not wanting to fall. But after you overcome your fears, you loved skating, especially with Han.

~~ Felix~~

Whenever you two have time, you like to spend the whole night on a field, looking at the stars. Laying in each others arms on a soft blanket has become a habit for you two. You adored the mild summer air while you only listen to Felix's heartbeat.

I think Felix loves to bake brownies with you. You two will challenge each other to see who bakes the best. While you mix the ingredients, you dip with your index finger into the flour. "Hey Felix!" You shout. Immediately, Felix turned around. Quickly you brush over his nose and spread the flour. You chuckle when you notice his confused look.

He brushed over his nose, looking at the flour, then looking back at you. He grabs some flour and walked to you. You run through the kitchen while you were hunted by your boyfriend. At the end of the day, the bake date turned into a merciless flour battle.

~~Seungmin~~

He will take you to a walk through the city or a park. He doesn't plan where you two are going, just being spontaneous. Whenever you see something interesting, he notice how your eyes shine and will go with you into the store or cafe.

He will hold your hand the whole time and brush slowly over your fingers. A short walk turns sometimes into a four hours or more walk. Your boyfriend and you loved to watch the sunset on a park bench while you lay your head on Seungmins shoulder.

After that walk, you often go to the little restaurant, that you discovered on a walk. It's small, but the food is great and the service excellent. Seungmin loves the little things like sitting in that restaurant and admiring your wonderful body, your face and that sweet, gorgeous smile you give him.

~~I.N.~~

At the first few dates you two ever had, Innie was so nervous. It was the first time he ever dated someone therefore wreck. He stumbled over his words and played the whole time withe his accessories to calm himself. After some time the nervousness faded away and made room for the incredible love for you and the comfort around you.

I think that Innie would love to go to a karaoke bar with you. Of course he'll sing some Stray Kids songs to impress you. But on the other hand, he'll sing with you funny songs, joke around and be totally silly. He loves to hear you laugh that's why, he will choose the strangest songs. On the other side, he'll adore every tone you sing and will compliment you for your voice and how good you can sing.

[endthedream]

sunshine

pairing: merman!jeno x reader (she/her)

summary: Moving back to the town known for it's cruse of letting fisherman disappear from the ocean isn't the best idea - accoring to your parents. But they don't understand. They don't understand that for five years you lived without knowing if the encounter you had with a strange boy with a fishtail was real. They don't understand that your heart is calling for him.

words: 21.3k

story colour: silver

note: This story is so different from everything I've written so far. And I can say with my whole heart that I'm proud of this. Everyone close to me had to witness the mess I've been while writing this. The excitment, frustration and impatience I had while working on this. I really hope you enjoy this story as much as I enjoyed writing it. Remember to always treat people with kidness!🪽

(Also enjoy the little special guest appearing in this story)

masterlist of ‘nct dream as supernatural creatures’

It feels like ages since you last been here.

The place you grew up in. The place you spent your childhood in. All your favorite memories happened in this very town.

A small seaside town south of the pacific ocean. It’s fairly known for its high fish rate. Fisher all over the world visit this town to see for themselves the wonder it promises. But as many fishers as you gain, as many you also lose as well. While the town is known for its wonders, it is also known for its curse. Many people sailing the sea around the town have mysteriously gone missing, only their boat returning safely to the shore. At first every time this happened, people would search day after day for the missing person, but after many of those incidents, people stopped. Now only a bitter taste lingers whenever an empty boat washes up on the shore.

Shortly before your parents decided to move away from the town you once called your home, a nine-year-old girl went missing. She vanished after going into the sea for a swim. She was just four years younger than you. Everyone in town was in shock, mourning over the young life that was taken that day.

So, it makes sense why your parents and friends questioned your decision to go back to the very same town you moved away from. The very same town your parents started to get scared of.

You could just say it’s the sea you miss. The smell of saltwater engulfing you. The melody of the waves crashing against the sand, hypnotizing everyone that spends just a few minutes watching it. You could say it’s the people greeting you every day, asking about your well-being, and offering you fresh fruits to try. The genuine care the people show and the fun little events they plan. You could say you miss the friends you grew up with, not having talked to them in five years and wanting to know what happened to them. Get in on the five-year worth gossip you missed. You could say you miss the person you once were back when you were 13, craving to seek what you lost and once had. But that would all be a lie.

The answer is very simple. You are going back because the town is calling you. Well, not the town itself, more someone else. It’s him calling you.

When you step foot outside the little apartment you moved in a few hours ago, you are immediately greeted with the fresh breeze of the coastal town. Salt lingers in the air, and you can hear seagulls squawking as they fly over the water. A familiar feeling washes over you, the very same you felt as a child. It makes you stop with your eyes closed, taking in the nostalgia that engulfs you. You can get used to this again. How your muscles loosen up and every doubt you felt, every hardship you had over the past months, it all fades away almost instantly. It’s like you are ten years old again, running through the small streets, chasing the wind, and filling the town with your joyous laughter.

But before you stand still on the same spot for any longer, you decide to walk around the town, intrigued by what has changed in the five years that you’ve been away.

And you notice pretty quickly that nothing really changed. Yes, the people grew older. The apple lady has more wrinkles on her phase and old creepy Mike can barely walk anymore, but the town still looks the same. You still find the graffiti at the back of the fish museum – yes, the chairman of the town insisted on making one to honor the towns trademark - was still there, looking exactly as worn out as it did before you left. The little bakery still has tape sticking over the hole a teenager smashed into the window when you were nine. You guess that they either don’t have the money or time to fix it and work well enough with the tape. The water dispenser still stands at the exact same place, a bit rustier than you have it in mind, seeming that still no one uses it. You remember your mother telling you how many germs there are on it, and it made you stay five feet apart from it ever since. You also saw one kid turning it on and tripping over as the force of the water splashed right into their face.

But most importantly, you walk by the small garden that was built further away from the town center. It was made by the Na’s who own the local flower shop. Ever since you discovered it, is has been your favorite place. You remember how you used to always come here whenever your parents gave you a hard time at home. And as you enter the small area, you can’t fight the small smile that makes its way to your lips.

The garden is filled with flowers of all kind and colors. Butterflies, bees and other small animals fly around, taking place on the beautiful flowers. A magpie flies by you and into the tree where its nest is, feeding its baby with worms they just found. You can’t help but to stare at the scenery in front of you, silently thanking the Na’s for still taking care of this place and putting their time into making it look like you stepped into another world.

You wish you could stay here all day, watching the different animals and basking in the comfort you get from this place, but the rumble of your stomach changes your mind. It reminds you that you haven’t eaten anything besides a chocolate bar, too nervous about your arrival in your hometown. So, you go to the only place you’ve trusted with your food ever since you were a child.

“Dream Team” the bakery with the smashed in window owned by the Lee family. When it comes to bread, cakes, and pastries, no one beats the Lee’s. Not even the bakeries in the city you moved to. But maybe it is just because you are biased. Mark Lee, the son of the owners, was your best friend growing up. Your ride or die. Someone you thought you would never lose. Well, everything changed when you moved.

A part of you is scared about seeing him again, dreading his reaction upon your arrival. But another part is beaming with excitement, wanting desperately to see what happened to the once awkward and shy boy.

Without further hesitation, you open the door to the little bakery and step in. And almost immediately you are greeted with the smell of freshly baked goods. Bread, cakes, doughnuts and most importantly their famous cherry pie. You haven’t had a piece of it in five years and admitting it, you missed it a lot. No matter to which bakery you went and tried cherry pie, nothing could compete with the one the Lee’s bake.

The little bakery still looks the same. They still have the same tables that you and Mark used to write hidden messages underneath and the bright orange chair standing around them. You remember buying those chairs with the Lee’s when they first opened the bakery. You found them at a thrift store a few hours from here. Mark’s mom fell in love with them the second she saw them. Saying something about how they will bring contrast into the little bakery, making people stop and stare. And that’s exactly what happened. Everyone talked about those chairs, and they became the number one attraction of the ‘Dream Team’.

Walking further in, you see the small picture frame hanging on the brick walls and it wrenches your heart. They kept the picture of you and Mark baking your first cake when you were five. It’s one of your fondest moments. You had just met Mark two days prior in the kindergarten. You always thought he was weird, not talking to anyone and mostly keeping to himself. But your mom explained to you that the little boy just moved here from Canada with his parents and that he was probably just too shy to make friends. So, you made it your task to become friends with the strange boy. You can still remember the way his eyes lit up the moment you talked to him, like he has been waiting for someone to finally approach him. And when he showed you his Pokémon card collection, you knew this friendship would last forever.

Apparently forever is a short time. Because when you moved, it only took two months for the two of you to lose contact with each other. Busy with life and responsibilities. You having to adapt to a new town, a new school and struggling to make friends. And him, well, you don’t know what happened to him. Or why he stopped responding to your calls and messages. You just hope it wasn’t something bad, or that you did something to scare him away.

“Y/N?”, you hear a voice calling out for you. Turning around you see a young man standing in the door frame of the bakery. And it takes you a second to recognize who he really is.

“Mark? Is that you?” Letting go of the things he is holding in his hands, Mark runs over to you and immediately engulfs you into a tight hug, spinning you around in circles.

Joyous laughter fills the small space. “Is that really you? Or am I just imagining all this?”

A chuckle falls from your lips, as Mark sets you down to the ground again, giving you the chance to take a good look at him for the first time in years.

He looks different, but the same. He still has his boyish smile and big doe eyes, but his features matured. Showing that he isn’t the little awkward boy anymore, but a grown man. It’s weird seeing him like this again, so used to the picture of him that is still burned in your memories.

“You’re not imagining anything. I’m really here.”

Mark smiles brightly at you, taking you in a good look at you. You have changed as well, puberty making itself noticeable on your body.

“Damn.”, Mark says, his voice a lot deeper than you have imagined it to be. “You look so good. What happened to you?”

You have to laugh at that, punching his shoulder playfully. “What a charmer. But you too Mark. You look so grown, it’s crazy.”

“Yeah, puberty.”, he smiles, being almost unable to take his eyes off you. Somehow Mark still cannot believe that you’re really standing here in front of him after all those years. He has already given up on the thought of seeing his childhood best friend ever again. But here you are, in your full glory. “But what are you doing here? Are you visiting?”

“No, not visiting. I came back, permanently.”

“What?”, the boy in front of you asks in disbelief. “But why? Didn’t you like it in your new town?”

“I did like it there. But that’s not the reason I came back.” It’s not even a lie. You really did like it in the town you moved to, but somehow no matter what you did and what you changed, it never felt like home. It was never a place you wanted to grow up in or build a life in. So, you had to come back to the only place you felt like a connection to. The place that changed your life with just one incident. “I just missed my home. My real home. And I missed you. God, I missed you so much Mark.”

Mark can’t help but to pull you into another hug. “I missed you too, Sunshine.” You smile at the nickname, wrapping your arms around tighter around him. No one has called you that since you moved, and you missed it. Sunshine is the nickname Mark’s father gave you when you were nine. He said that whenever you enter a room the sun shines brighter, like it senses the presence of someone pure hearted. He called you the happy pill since you loved to make the people around the town smile. Helping them with their tasks, gifting the children your old play toys and always wearing a smile yourself. The nickname got carried around and after a while everyone called you sunshine.

“Mark Lee. What have I told you about leaving your things at the entrance? The customers won’t even be able to get in and-“, Mark’s mother stops scolding Mark as her eyes land on the two of you. She hesitates for a second, thinking her eyes are betraying her.

“Y/N, dear? Is that really you?” You let go of Mark, walking over to Mark’s mom.

“Yes, it’s me. How have you been doing?”

You can see tears forming in her eyes, as she sets the flowers in her hand down and wraps her arms around you. “How I have been doing? God, Y/N, how have you been doing? We haven’t seen each other in so long.”

Tears stream down the older woman’s face and you can’t help but to let one or two slip yourself. “I’ve been good. Stressed from graduating, but good none of the less. And you?”

“I’m so much better now that I’ve seen you.” You huff out a laugh, letting her go to wipe the tears from your face. “Look at you. You are the prettiest woman I’ve ever seen.”

Redness fills your cheeks as you scoff from embarrassment. Marks’ mom always knew what to say to make you feel like her words are actually true. She was one of the people helping you in the process of self-love. “You always know how to boost my confidence.”

You’ve always had a good relationship with Mark’s parents. They loved you the minute Mark introduced you to them in kindergarten, glad that their little boy finally made a friend. Especially his mom loved you. Not having a daughter herself, she treated you like the daughter she never had. Girls’ days filled with doing each other’s hair and nails. Weekly meet ups to talk about boys, discuss the problems only women understand. She was like a mother to you and seeing her again after such a long time, makes you realize how much you really missed her.

“You must be starving from coming here all the way. Sit down. I will get you a plate of cherry pie.” You smile at the mention of your favorite pie, hearing your belly grumble in cheer of finally getting something to eat. Turning around to find a table to sit on, you see Mark secretly wiping away a stray tear himself.

You sit down at one of the tables, relishing the familiar feeling you have in the presence of the Lee’s. It’s comforting, knowing you are at a place where you can be yourself. A place you are loved and appreciated at.

“You know what?”, Mark says, sitting down beside you. “This is the table we used to always write stuff on.”

“Really?”, you exclaim, already bending down to look at the underside of the table. Seeing all the little doodles you made all those years ago. From deformed dogs to funny words and friendship declarations.

“Don’t think I’ve never noticed your little drawings.”, Mark’s mom says as she puts your plate with pie down at the table. You and Mark sit up straight again, giving each other a busted look. “I clean those tables every day. But I couldn’t bare to wipe them away. If it weren’t for me spraying hair spray on them, they would be long gone.”

“Really mom? That’s so sweet of you.” Mark’s mom ruffles his hair, giving her son a sweet smile.

“I didn’t want to erase the years of friendship you have.”, she points to the pie, looking at you now. “Eat up, dear. Later I will take you two out to dinner so we can catch up some more, okay?”

Both of you nod, you already stuffing your mouth full of cherry pie and Mark laughing at your messy face. All while Mark’s mom watches you. A soft smile on her lips, glad to see the two of you together again.

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Later that day you enter the bakery yet again, having changed out of your sweatpants into a summer dress. You see Mark cleaning the tables while his mom counts the income they made that day.

And you notice the vase of beautiful orange and yellow tulips on the register. “Those are beautiful.”, you remark as you lean closer to them, inhaling the sweet scent.

Marks’ mom looks up at you, a smile forming on her lips. “They are from ‘Flora’.”, she says, walking over to you.

“Flora? Isn’t that Jaemin’s parents’ flower shop?”

“Yes.”, Mark answers this time. “Well, it turned more into Jaemin’s store. His parents still help out a lot in the store, but Jaemin does most of the work these days.”

You nod, thinking about the just mentioned boy. Na Jaemin. You still remember the kind boy with the prettiest smile you have ever seen. How can you not remember him, when you had the biggest crush on him in middle school. You almost feel like the little girl again that blushed at the mere thought of being in the presence of Jaemin. Everyone had a crush on him at some point. He made girls and boys melt into a puddle right in front of him without even doing anything.

It's crazy how you can still vividly picture yourself standing at your locker until the bell rings just so you could get a glimpse of him. But from one to another day that changed. And suddenly the kind boy didn’t interest you anymore. Your focus was put on something totally different.

“Didn’t you have like the biggest crush on him?”, Mark asks with a teasing voice, knowing exactly what the answer to his question is. You used to always vent to Mark about your crush on Jaemin and how perfect he is. Mark would just tell you to shut it and go talk to Jaemin, completely over your constant raving.

“I mean, yeah, but that was so long ago.” The longer you think about Jaemin, the more intrigued you are to know what has happened to him. Did he change a lot? He probably did. “Is it okay if I quickly head to the flower shop and say hi to him? I just haven’t seen him in so long.”

“You’re sure it’s not for another reason?”, Mark asks, wiggling his eyebrows at you. But before you can react, his mom already nudges her elbow into his rip cage.

“Mark, stop that.”, she shakes her head at her son. “Of course, sweetheart. How about we meet at the restaurant?”

“Sounds perfect.”, you say, excitement rushing through your veins. “See you in a bit.”

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The smell of flowers variates between sweet and fruity, and musky and deep. It fills you with happiness, relaxation and calmness. You read once that the floral scent can help with anxiety and stress. Lavender and Jasmine are even said to have a sedative effect on the nervous system and can help to provide better sleep. Sticking your nose into a Boquete bursting with aromas and scents can lift the spirit and the soul. That’s why the scent of flowers is an inspiration for perfumes and beauty products. The scents can take us to other places, evoke people and create memories.

That’s why the minute you step into ‘Flora’ you feel like you spent the whole day relaxing at the beach. It feels like this is the first time you woke up from a deep slumber and you’ve never felt more alive. It feels like a fresh breeze on a hot summer day, feeling the first ray of sunshine after a long cold winter, taking a long walk in the forest and listening to the birds chirping.

You look at the different types of flowers, in all their colors, forms and sizes. You don’t even know the name of half of these flowers.

“Welcome to Flora. What can I do for you?”, a deep voice speaks up, catching your attention. As you look at the owner of the voice, your eyes almost bulge out. Na Jaemin stands behind the register, hair falling over his eyes and a bright smile on his lips, the same you remember from when you were younger. He definitely changed. He looks older, not in a bad way. Jaemin just looks more mature. His features more defined, destroying the boyish image you still had in your head. But that was not the only thing you noticed is more defined. The hot weather made Jaemin wear a white t- shirt, showing off his arms. And you guess, he must be hitting the gym regularly, because that can’t happen overnight.

“And so, we meet again, Na Jaemin.”, you greet him as you walk over to him, a sweet smile on your lips. You watch the boys’ eyes widen in recognition of you.

“Y/N?”, his voice filled with disbelief as if the last person he expected to see was you.

“Yep, in full glory.” Jaemin walks around the corner and stops right in front of you. Like Mark, not believing you are actually here and thinking his brain is playing a joke on him.

“What?”, his hands hold your shoulders, slightly shaking you to test if you’re real. “What are you doing here? I thought I would never see you again.”

“Well, as a talented poet once said, ‘Never say never.’” A scoff leaves Jaemins’ lips, shaking his head in disapproval.

“You are calling Justin Bieber a poet now? I always forget you are best friends with Mark. Dickinson would turn in his grave if he heard you say that.”

“What can I say.”, you remark between a chuckle. “Mark and I have taste.”

Looking at Jaemin, you understand why you’re ten-year-old you had a crush on him. Not only is his bare presence captivating, but he also has one of the kindest souls. Never going a day without having done something good for other people. He knew exactly what to do and say to make people swoon over him, but he never used it to his advantage. Always having the purest intentions with his actions.

“You took over your parents store?”, you ask him after some seconds of silence.

“Oh, yeah. I started working here fulltime after graduating.”

You nod as you listen to him, letting your eyes wander around the store. You haven’t been here a lot, always too nervous about the possibility of running into Jaemin. Occasionally, you went in the store with your mom when she was having trouble picking out beautiful flowers and needed your help. But other than that, you always avoided the store. And now years later, you start to regret it. The flower shop is beautiful. Not only because of the endless colorful flowers filling the space, but also because of the wooden furniture giving it a cozy touch. Soft music plays in the background and an orange cat lays on one of the unoccupied chairs, snoring from deep slumber.

“Do you like working here?”, you ask him, as you your eyes meet his again.

Jaemin nods his head, looking around the shop himself with fondness in his eyes. “It’s all I’ve ever wanted to do, and I’ve never been happier.”

You coo at him, happy that he found his place in life. “That’s wonderful to hear.”

“What about you?”, he asks you now, looking back into your eyes. “Why are you here again?” For a moment, you consider sitting down with him, telling him everything that happened over the years and everything that inspired you to come back. But you realize you have enough time to do that, not planning on leaving any time soon. So instead, you opt for a less complicated and long answer.

“It’s a long story. But I guess I just missed home and wanted to come back.”

“Well, we can always sit down and then you can tell me the longer version of your answer. How those that sound?” Another smile forms on your lips, noticing that you actually can’t stop smiling in his presence. “Sounds wonderful. You can tell me your schedule and we can figure out a day and time. I just need go now. Mark and his mom are waiting for me.”

Jaemin walks back behind the register, writing down something on a piece of paper. “Here’s my number so you can contact me.”

Taking the paper, you bid your goodbye, promising to text him as soon as you are back in your small apartment and heading to the door.

“Y/N?”, Jaemin calls out for you, making you turn back around to him, the doorknob resting in your hand. “I’m glad you’re back. We all missed you a lot.”

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You can’t wait any longer. Sitting in your apartment makes you go crazy, when you know what could be waiting for you.

After going out for dinner with the Lee’s, you spent the rest of the night in your apartment. Pacing up and down, trying to ignore the raging urge raising in your veins. The moment you arrived today you could feel the ocean calling to you. You could feel him calling to you. And while that could just be your delusional mind playing tricks on you, trying to convince you of something that probably didn’t even happen, there was a part of you that still hopes. That still believes. You are not the thirteen-year-old naïve girl anymore. You are a grown woman. A grown woman who has a sane mind.

So why are you at the very end of the beach, far away from where the people usually spend their time on the sand, shortly after midnight? To prove something to yourself? To help those sleepless nights tossing and turning and trying to find answers to the millions of questions in your head?

You sit down on the rocks that separate you from the water. No one can see you from here. So, it’s just you. You and the soft melody of the waves crashing against the shore.

“I don’t know if you can hear me.”, you start to speak up into the darkness of the night. “I don’t even know if you’re still here. I mean it’s been five years. Why would you still show up?” You lean back on your hands, closing your eyes and letting the night breeze engulf your body. “I never forgot you, you know? All those years I’ve been thinking about you. If you are doing well and what might have happened to you. You’re probably wondering where the hell I’ve been. Well, it’s a pretty long story. My parents got scared of the rumors and the fisher disappearing, so they decided to move away. Far away from here, actually. That’s why I could never visit. But I wish I had. I didn’t realize how much I missed this town until I was gone. I didn’t realize how much I missed you.”

You scoff at your own words. “Do you know how pathetic that sounds? Everyone thought I was crazy, even my own parents. No one believed me. No one believed that you were actually real. My parents told everyone that it’s just my imagination, putting the fault on my age. But I knew I didn’t imagine you. How could I? When I felt you, right under my fingertips. Even days after the incident, I could feel the softness of your skin. I just want to know, please.”, you beg, voice coming out as a bare whimper.

“Are you still there? After all these years. I’m not leaving again. This time I’m staying, Jeno.”

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The next days went by painfully slow. You visited the same place, sitting on the very same rocks and talking into the nothingness every single night. Not giving up your hopes. Your parents may have called you crazy, but they also didn’t raise a quitter. You know the truth and you will try again and again until you can finally be at ease.

You also have been meeting up more with Mark and Jaemin. Sometimes together, sometimes separately. It feels nice, having actual genuine friends again. The new friends you made in your old town couldn’t even be called friends. They never cared to invite you to meet ups, talked a lot about behind your back and spent their free time gossiping about everything that breaths. But they were the only people you had and so you learnt to tolerate them.

“I’m destroying you.”, Mark shouts as he follows the dance steps on the Tv. You don’t know what brought you into this situation. A Wii controller in your hand as you play Just Dance against Mark, while Jaemin sits on the couch. His belly aching from laughing at the two of you.

“Destroying me?”, you scoff. “Look at the score, I’m winning.” You must admit, after playing a few rounds, you’re out of breath. Your muscles are aching and your lungs collapsing, but you can’t let Mark win. The thought of having him brag about a win is fueling the fire inside you and makes you push through, despite your body’s complaints.

“You forget that you play against the master Just Dance player.”, Mark voice comes out in short breaths, showing the exhausting clearly.

“Is that why you lost two rounds against me?” Mark only rolls his eyes, ignoring your teasing comment and focusing on winning the game.

But as it comes to the last second, every move he makes gets declined, making you win with a huge head start.

“Take that Just Dance master.”

“That’s so unfair.”, he whines as he throws himself on the couch. “The Wii controller is ridged. I would have totally won.”

You roll your eyes into the glass of water you’re drinking. “Whatever makes you sleep at night.” Looking at the clock you let out a slight gasp. It’s already near midnight. “Oh god, it’s so late. I should head home.”

Another whine leaves Mark’s lips. “Why? I want a rematch. My ego can’t handle losing against you.”

“You’re like a little kid, Mark. We can play tomorrow again.” You grab your coat, putting it on so you don’t freeze from the cold night air.

“I will walk you home.”, Jaemin says, standing up as well and grabbing his own coat.

“Oh no, you don’t have to. If you want to stay, you can do that. Don’t worry about me.”

“No, it’s fine.” Jaemin shrugs his shoulders. “I have to open up the flower shop early tomorrow anyway, so it’s better if I go home as well.”

The walk to your apartment is, well, a bit awkward. While the both of you did hang out this week, it was just one time where you were actually alone. The other times with Mark by your side. But you don’t mind the silence. It’s nice, if you’re being honest. You enjoy not having to engage in forced small talk and just enjoying each other’s presence.

When you arrive in front of your apartment, Jaemin doesn’t bid you goodbye. Instead, he just stands there, seemingly like he wants to say something.

“Okay, spit it out. I can see that you want to say something.” Jaemin lets out a deep chuckle, raising a hand to brush the lose hair in front of his eyes away.

“Busted.”, he states, trying to break the tension that lingers in the air. “I just wanted to say that I’m really glad you’re back, Y/N. I know we didn’t have a lot of contact back when we were younger, but you were always a very dear person to me, and I was devastated when you moved.” Jaemin rubs the back of his neck, nervousness written all over his body. “I’m just glad to have you back.”

“Is that all you want to say.” He hesitates for a moment before nodding his head. “I’m glad to be back as well, Jaemin. Thank you for telling me that, it means a lot to me.”

Jaemin gives you another nod, before blowing out some air. “Well, I should better go. See you tomorrow, Y/N.”

That night you didn’t show up at the beach, too focused on Jaemins’ words. For some reason you have the feeling that it wasn’t everything Jaemin wanted to tell you that night. And it makes you wonder, what exactly made him so nervous around you?

⋆｡ﾟ☁︎｡⋆｡ ﾟ☾ ﾟ｡⋆

When you show up the next day, you feel the difference in the air. The waves are louder, crashing hard against the rock you’re sitting on, turning its once beautiful melody into chaos.  

“I know you’re here.”, you speak up after a few minutes of silence. “I can feel you watching me, Jeno. I’m getting tired of this. Please just come out.” But as every night, you speak into the void.

“Okay, I’m leaving. I’m not in the mood to wait today.” As you get up to leave you can hear a splashing sound, louder and heavier than the waves normally make. And you know that it wasn’t a wave or a fish. You know exactly what it was.

“You weren’t here yesterday.” That voice. So familiar, but yet so strange. Sounding like dripping with honey, filling up your senses with its sweetness. Sticking onto you, and not once letting you go.

So, you turn around to look at the boy in front of you. The boy everyone told you, you imagined. The boy that has been haunting your dreams, calling for you in the ocean, having a tight grip on you. The boy that made it impossible for you to let any other guy come close to you, that made you hesitate whenever someone asked you out. And the boy that changed your life. By just one incident. Not being able to control yourself, you smile. You smile at him with relief written all over your face. This is what you’ve been waiting for. The day you couldn’t wait to come. The day you finally saw the merman, whose life you saved, again.

“Hi Jeno.”

Five years ago

Your mom always told you to be aware of the dangers that lay in the unknown. To never make rapid decisions without thinking long and hard about it. She told you to stay away from strange man on the street and only talk to people your parents already introduced you to. To never take candy from anyone you don’t know and change the side of the street when you see a white van parked close by. But your dad taught you to be kind. To smile at people on the street and greet them with a friendly hello. He told you to help when you see someone in need and never hesitate to offer to take over some chores, they aren’t able to do. To tell people kind words and take every opportunity to make someone’s day better. He told you to spread kindness all over the world, because we don’t have a lot of it anymore.

So, that’s why you hesitate as you see someone lying in the sand far away from where the visitors on the beach are, not showing any signs of being alive. It is the two different approaches on life your parents taught you, that make you stop where you’re standing and think about your options. You don’t want to get kidnapped or get into a troubled situation with a strange person. But at the same time, you want to go up to the person, see if they are still alive and help them.

As you take graduate and slow steps forward, your first worry starts to fade. You don’t see a strange man laying on the ground, but rather a young boy around your age. He’s covered in seaweed, lying face down in the sand. For a minute you think he is dead by the way he lays so still, but as you get closer, kneeling beside him, you see his back rising and falling, signaling that he is breathing. Relief washes over you, having feared that you might have to report a dead body washed up on the shore. It would be the first time.

Because of the curse creeping over your small town, it’s not an uncommon thing for people to go missing and bodies never being found. So, that would have been the first time a body was found. And you’re glad it isn’t.

Still, you kneel on the ground, not knowing what to do. Maybe you should go and tell your parents, or just any nearby adult. They probably know what’s best in this situation. But at the same time, what if it would be too late? What if you leave and when you come back the boy is either dead or even worse, gone. You can’t risk that, can you? Or maybe it’s just the fact that you don’t want to get caught here, so far away from the people on the dangerous shore with the big rocks. Your parents would ground for the rest of your life and that’s not what you want as the towns summer festival is approaching.

Reaching out a hand, you softly place it on top of the boys’ bare back, gasping as you make contact with the coldness of his skin. You shake him gently, seeing if it gets a reaction out of him, but nothing. No flinch, no fluttering of the eyes, nothing. So, you shake him harder, calling out a bunch of phrases, like ‘Hello?’ ‘Can you hear me?’ ‘Are you conscious?’. But still nothing. No reaction at all.

You look around, searching for something, anything, to get him to wake up. And as your eyes land on the salty water in front of you, you got an idea.

Standing up, you walk towards the ocean. You kneel again, forming your hands into a bowl and scooping up some water. Walking back to him, careful not to let the water drip, you do the only thing you think is left to do. You splash the water right on his face.

And almost immediately, the young boy awakens, eyes wide and mouth agape. He looks around for a few seconds, dazed and confused about where he is and how he got here. That is until his eyes land on you, looking down at him. A scream leaves his lips, and he scrambles away, trying to get into the water. But his body isn’t moving, the sand around him and the seaweed covering his body, making it hard for him to get away.

“It’s okay.”, you say with a calm voice. “I’m not here to hurt you. I just found you laying here, and I wanted to help you. You don’t have to be afraid of me.”

But that does not face the boy, he still tries to get back into the water. Crawling forward with his arms and that’s when you see it.

Something silver shimmering under the seaweed. It catches your attention immediately. Getting closer to him again, you raise your hand to push the seaweed away, gasping and backing up when you see what’s underneath.

Instead of having legs like you, the boy has a tail. A silver fish tail with scales, shimmering under the shining sun. The boy turns around to you, seeing your shocked expression. He lets out a panicked sound, wiggling around like a fish on land, which he probably is.

You watch him, shock still consuming your whole body. It’s like you can’t move anymore. Every single muscle in your body is paralyzed. And you question if this is even real. Maybe you’re just dreaming all of this and in a few seconds, you’ll wake up, relieved that it was all just in your head. You wish you could move your arm to pinch yourself, but nothing of your body is responding to you. All you can do is watch the young boy with widened eyes.

He struggles, letting out a few whines and groans before eventually giving up. He just lets his head sink down, body heaving from exhaustion.

“Are you just going to watch me struggle or help me?”, he speaks up, his voice unusually deep considering he looks so young. You shake your head, coming out of your trance before looking at his face, which was now turned to you. “And it’s rude to stare at someone’s tail, you know?”

You raise your eyebrows at him, not believing the situation that’s happening to you. Is a fish really talking to you? Well, maybe half fish. While his lower body is a fish tail, his upper body still looks human.

“So, you’re just going to let me die?”, he scoffs, rolling his eyes at you. “Great, this is not how I imagined my last day alive to be.”

“Die?”, you ask, voice breaking as you speak.

“Yeah, die. Like heart stopping. Lungs not breathing in air. That kind of dying.” You can hear him sigh, probably thinking you are dense by the way you are still staring at him. “If I don’t get into the water soon, I’ll be dead. So, please. As shocked as you are to see a merman, just help me get into the water.”

“You’re a merman?” You didn’t mean to raise your voice so high, but the absurdness of the situation isn’t making it easy for you and your brain to process.

“No, I’m a dinosaur. I’m just shapeshifting right now. Of course, I’m a merman. Why else would I have a god damn tail?” He sounds on edge, like he’s losing his patience with you.

You stand up again, walking over to him. “I will help you. Under one condition.” He sighs, signaling you to continue with whatever you are about to say. He already knows it can’t be anything good, but anything’s better than dying.

“If I help you, you have to tell me more about you and you merman life.” The boy lowers his head again, thinking about your condition.

“Okay. I’ll tell you more about me. But please help me now, I feel like I will pass out in any second.”

Taking both his hands in yours, you pull the boy towards the water. It takes you a few minutes and several tries before you’re both in the water. The water stops right above your navel. The boy swims around you, feeling strength fill up his body again.

You watch him for a while, mesmerized by the fluent movements of his body. He looks so surreal as his silver tail shines brightly whenever he dives down into the water, splashing water onto you every now and then. But you couldn’t care less. All you are interested in is witnessing a miracle, a wonder, something straight out of a movie. For a second time that day, you think it is all a dream. Surely, this can’t be reality. Mermen are just fairytales. Something made up by seaman back in the day to scare people away from the ocean. You once heard that the merpeople are ugly creatures, scales covering their body and a smile that could kill you on the spot. But looking at the boy in front of you, you realize that the stories told in your village aren’t true. Merpeople aren’t disgusting sea monsters who look like something straight out of a horror movie. The opposite, to be exact. The boy looks like art, like he belongs to a museum.

His face is sharp, with high cheekbones and a defined jawline. His eyes are big, representing those of a puppy. And his plump lips are colored like a peach, matching his skin tone perfectly. The messy black hair covers most of his eyes, but every now and then when he comes up from the water you can get a glimpse of the brown orbs.

“Hey!”, you exclaim as you see him swim further away from you. “We had a deal.”

“I know.”, he says, looking over his shoulder to meet your gaze. “Meet me tomorrow at the rocks right there.” You follow where he’s pointing at, seeing the big rocks not so far from where you are standing in the ocean. “At 11 pm. Don’t be late.”

“But my parents won’t allow me to be here at 11.”, you try to say, but he’s already swimming away. Not caring about a word you said afterwards.

⋆｡ﾟ☁︎｡⋆｡ ﾟ☾ ﾟ｡⋆

You can’t believe you’re actually doing this. It’s not like you. Never in your life have you sneaked out, not even when Mark tried to force you three weeks ago. When he was going out with the popular students at your school. Your parents raised you to be well-behaved, to listen to them. They have rules in your household and one of them is your strict curfew. You can’t go out after 8 pm, and that’s still understandable considering you’re thirteen. But this rule sticks until you’re sixteen. You have to go home at 8 every day until you’re sixteen. You can already imagine the teenager fights you will have with your parents.

But up until now you have never broken that rule. Not once in your life. That was until you met the mysterious boy.

The sand feels cool under your feet, causing goosebumps to form on your skin. Even though it’s summer, the air feels cold so far away from the town. You still feel the warmth of the sun as you climb up the rock, trying to get to the top. As you climb you wonder if this is a good idea. You don’t know if you can trust this strange boy with the silver tail, or if his intentions are to harm you. You don’t know where he comes from or why he was stranded on the shore. All of this could lead to you ending up like all these fishers, lost and never found again. But still, your curiosity got the best of you. Humans were always intrigued by the unknown.

Arriving on top of the rock, you can already see a silhouette sitting at the edge of it, leaning back on their arms with their face tilting up into the sky.

“The stars are shining so bright tonight.”, you hear the familiar voice speaking. You walk closer to the figure, soon seeing the silver tail dangling at the edge of the rock, getting splashed with the water that crashes against it. It reflects in the moon light, causing it to look like small little crystals. “Haven’t I told you it’s rude to stare at someone’s tail?”

“Sorry.”, you respond, adverting your gaze and looking right into the boy’s face. A smile adores his lips, his head croaked to the side as if he’s mocking you.

“Come here, sit down.” With slow steps you follow his instruction, sitting down beside the boy, letting your feet dangle down. “I didn’t think you would actually come.”

You shrug your shoulders, looking down at your hands that nervously fidget. “We had a deal.”

A laugh leaves his lips, and you swear in that moment, you’ve never heard a prettier sound in your entire life. It’s almost like everything about him is perfect. “You’re adorable.” Blush creeps up your cheeks upon his comment, never being called that before.

“It’s so fascinating.”, he says, placing his cold hand to your chin and lifting your face so that you’re forced to look at him. His other hand takes place on your cheek, letting his thumb run over the heated skin. “How blood rushes into humans’ cheeks when they get flustered. I heard about it, but I never witnessed it myself.” He leans closer, eyes scanning your face. His scent takes up all your scenes. The salt of the water on his skin and the hint of something sweet. Vanilla? “I’ve never been this close to a human before.”

You take a shaky breath, trying to calm down your fast beating heart. “I’ve never been this close to a merman before.”, you remark, voice coming out as a whisper.

He lets out a small laugh, leaning back again, placing his hands back on the rock. “You didn’t even know I existed until yesterday.”

“That’s true.”, you nod, pulling your knees up on your chest so you can rest your head on them. “But I know now.”

“Yes, you know now.” There is something lingering in his voice. Like a hidden meaning behind his words, but you don’t know what it could be. “What do you want to know?”

“Are there more of you?”

“Yes.”, he nods. “A whole town, but we’re far down in the water. No human could ever find us. Even if they tried, they wouldn’t make it. And if by some weird accident a human does make it into our town, they will be taken care of by our guards.”

“What does your town look like.”

“It’s colorful. Corals allowed us centuries ago to use them as homes under the condition that we take good care of them. They give the town the prettiest colors. We also use a lot of shells, big shells, to decorate around the town.”, he stops for a few seconds, thinking about how he can explain it to you. “It’s nothing like your little human town. It is a kingdom, and it looks like that. Tall columns surround our castle and there are sharks, dolphins, and seahorses swimming around at all times. Most of them guard us, others are our friends. The castle itself is mostly built from bricks and stones we found back then, to make it as stable as possible. It’s large, larger than your town with thousands of fish swirling inside. We also use ship wracks as a warehouse for our belongings.”

“Are there a lot of sea people living in the kingdom?”

He snorts at the choice of your words, looking at you with amusement glinting in his eyes. “Sea people. That’s a funny way to describe us. But yeah, a lot of sea people live there. I can’t tell you any numbers, but it’s a lot.”

You nod, trying to picture what it must look like where he comes from. It must be beautiful, breathtaking. And a part of you wishes you could go with him to see it for yourself.

“If there is a kingdom, you must have a king and a queen.”, you remark, looking at him curiously.

“A king and three princes. You’re talking to one of them right now.”

A gasp leaves your lips, louder than you had  expected it to be. “You’re the prince?” He nods at your question, showing you a charming smile. And you see it, as you’re looking at him for longer. It’s what you see in movies. The charming smile, the confident posture, the cocky attitude. “Oh god, it makes so much sense now.”

“What makes sense?”

“That you’re a prince. You’re too cocky for your own good that can only come from being treated like royalty.” He lets out another laugh, loving how honest you are. “Like come on what kind of mermen voluntarily meets up with a potentially dangerous human? Only a prince who’s already confident by being praised every day.”

“Dangerous? You are far from being dangerous.”, humor laces his voice, but all you do is glare at the young boy.

“How do you know? What if I end up kidnapping you? You should feel scared.”

“Don’t get me wrong.”, he says, turning his body so he’s facing you. The boy leans down his face, his nose almost touching yours. “I was terrified at first. When I saw you, I thought that I was captured by humans and that it will be my last day alive, but then you froze up like a glacier and I knew you were as shocked to see me as I was to see you.” One of his hands graces your cheek again, feeling the heat return yet again. “And then earlier I saw the way you react to me. The heated cheeks, the goosebumps on your skin and I knew, you aren’t danger.” Leaning back again, the boy shows you a satisfied grin. “And anyway, you couldn’t even fight me if you tried to. You’re just a little girl.”

“Little girl?”, you let out outraged. “I’m thirteen.”

“And I’m fifteen. Two years’ worth of more experience, in any department.” You just roll your eyes, folding your arms and looking back into the ocean with a scowl. Little girl, as if you were a little girl. Just because he’s older and stronger build doesn’t mean you couldn’t easily fight him. “But you’re my brothers age.”

Your scowl disappears and you look back at him. “You have a brother?”

He smiles again as he sees your face, scooting a bit closer again, but just to rest his shoulder against yours. “I have two. Fourteen and thirteen and go on my nerves every single day.”

“I wish I had brothers.”, you tell him with a pout on your lips. “Any sibling would be cool. I was always alone. I had to play alone, eat alone. It got so bad to the point where I created imaginary friends and would talk to them all day long.” You chuckle at the memories of three-year-old you. It’s hard to believe at what a young age you can feel loneliness so present. “That was until Mark came into my life.”

“Mark.”, he repeats the name. “Is he your boyfriend?”

“Mark? No, he’s my best friend. We’ve been friends for almost ten years now.” You smile as you talk about much, showing the value you feel for your friendship.

“So, you don’t have a boyfriend? Any boy that you’re interested in?”, he asks, making your cheeks turn into a slight shade of pink again.

“No, I don’t have a boyfriend. But there is a guy I like. His name is Jaemin, but he is…”, you stop yourself, shrugging as you don’t know how to describe Jaemin. He is the nicest boy you’ve met. With a kind smile and an even kinder personality. But he’s also popular, a bit too popular for your liking.

“He is?”, the boy in front of you asks, persistently wanting to know about Jaemin.

“He is just Jaemin. A lot of girls have a crush on him. I don’t think I have a chance.”, you shrug another time, trying to hide the hurt you feel.

“Then don’t try.”

“What?”, you exclaim, looking at the boy with confusion. “Why?”

“I don’t know.”, he admits. “Just don’t try.” But before you can say anything, the boy sits up abruptly. Every bit of comfort that was in his body drained within seconds. He looks down at the ocean, with wide eyes and you swear you can see his chest raising and falling faster. In front of you isn’t the carefree, confident boy you spent your night with. Suddenly he is tense, his eyes hardened. You look down as well, trying to see what he’s seeing in the ocean. But all you see is blackness.

“I have to go.”, he says, already making an effort to climb down the rock.

“What why?”, you ask, not wanting him to leave yet.

“I have to go. My father is searching for me, and he can’t find out I’m here. Meet me tomorrow at the same time, okay?”

But before you can answer he is gone within the ocean. Leaving you alone in the cold, dark night with your thoughts spiraling in your head.

⋆｡ﾟ☁︎｡⋆｡ ﾟ☾ ﾟ｡⋆

Looking at him now, you don’t see the little boy he once was. This is not the carefree, cocky little prince. This is a man. His features matured, showing the years you haven’t seen. His body changed as well. Muscles spread around the smooth skin. His tail a slightly darker shade of silver, but still shimmering and shining under the moonlight. Jenos’ hair still has the same color, black like the night sky, but it’s longer and messier. But what changed the most are his eyes. The big brown eyes turned smaller, almost like he’s in a constant scowl, keeping tension in his forehead. They don’t spread warmth and comfort anymore. They are cold and emotionless.

“What are you doing here?��, he asks. His voice far from sounding friendly.

“I came back.”, you answer him, hope gleaming in your eyes.

“Why would you do that?”, he averts his gaze, looking into the ocean and away from you like he’s ashamed to be talking to you.

“Why? Because I wanted to. I missed this town.” It’s only half the truth, but you don’t want to scare him away. It’s been five years since you saw each other and the last thing you want is to make him leave again. You want to enjoy this moment for as long as he allows you to.

“Tell me the truth. I know you’re not telling me everything.” Without even looking at you, he can sense that your answer isn’t all you wanted to say. But it doesn’t surprise you. Jeno knows how to read people. He watched them for such a long time to be able to understand their body language or the sound of voice perfectly.

“I came back because I wanted to see you again.” He scoffs at that, and you can see him lowering his head. You wish you could see him right now. See the emotions on his face, but he keeps his back turned to you.

“Five years, Y/N. I waited five years for you to come here and say this.”, he turns around to you, face empty of emotions. “I waited every single day for you to come back, but you never did. I waited and waited, but not once did you show up.” He shakes his head, letting little water droplets fall to the ground. “I thought you were dead. For three years I thought something happened and you died. I had to live with that thought because what could I have done? Grow a pair of legs and ask the people in the town about you?”

Tears fill his eyes, but he blinks them away, not wanting to let you see how much this hurts him. “It was until one night they threw a party here. Underaged high school students taking over the beach with their cheap beers and loud music. A crying Mark was here getting comforted by Jaemin. They sat here, at this exact spot. They sat on our rock. Mark kept on talking about how much he misses you and how he wished you were here. And Jaemin told him that you are probably happy where you are. I thought that my theory got confirmed and I wanted to leave to mourn for you, but that was until Mark spoke up again. He said that it’s unfair that you had to move away and leave him here alone, but that he hopes you are happy in the new town. And that you find a better best friend than him. One that doesn’t suddenly ignore all your calls just because something tragic has happened in his life.” Jeno stops for a second, taking a big breath. “You never told me you were moving. You never told me you were actually leaving me and never coming back, Y/n. But still, I waited here. Every single day I waited because I hoped you would come back one day and miss me as much as I missed you. Why didn’t you just tell me? Why couldn’t you just let me let you go?”

Tears stream down your face as you listen to how his voice cracks with all the emotions he’s been holding back. “Because you told me to never talk to you again.”

He scoffs, wiping away the salty tears on his face. “I never thought you would listen to me. You never did before that.”

“But you sounded so sincere. I thought you didn’t want me in your life.”

He shakes his head again, eyes finding yours. “I can’t live a life where you aren’t in it, Y/n.” Speechless by his sudden confession, you just stare at him. A million thoughts in your head, but not one forming into a sentence.

“Has Mark ever told you why he was crying that night?”, he asks after a few seconds of silence. You shake your head, raising your hand and wiping away your own tears.

“You should talk to him.”, Jeno says, voice laced with sympathy. “Ask him about his dad.”

“His dad? What happened?”, you croak out.

“It’s not my place to tell you, but all I know is that he needs you. Even two years later, he still needs you.”

“But what about us?” Jeno shakes his head, signaling you not to speak.

“It’s okay. We have time. Mark needs you more now.” And for the first time since you saw each other again, he shows you a smile. A small one, which you almost didn’t notice. “Meet me here tomorrow at the same time and we can talk about everything, okay?”

You just nod, not knowing what to do add. Jeno turns around again. After glancing one last time at you, he lets himself fall into the water. Leaving you in the dark, cold night yet again.

⋆｡ﾟ☁︎｡⋆｡ ﾟ☾ ﾟ｡⋆

Mark sounded tired when he answered the phone, but you didn’t care. You needed to talk to him now and find out what Jeno meant.

Now you sit on his bed, thinking about a way to speak to Mark. You don’t know what happened to his dad or why Mark didn’t tell you about it, but you also don’t want to assume the worst. Maybe Mark just forgot to tell you, considering it hasn’t been long since you’re back.

“Okay, what’s up?”, he asks after a while, rubbing the sleep out of his eyes. “You didn’t call me at 3 am just to sit here and not say anything.”

You sigh, turning towards Mark. His hair is a mess, sticking out in every direction. He dyed it blonde a few days ago, talking about wanting change in his life. And you have to admit that this hair color really suits him. Especially since he’s also been growing his hair out a bit. There are obvious eye bags under his eye, showing the lack of sleep he’s been getting. You don’t really know why. Maybe something has been keeping him awake lately. You feel bad for waking him up, but you couldn’t wait until the next day. Jeno’s words not leaving your head.

“Mark, you’re my best friend and I just want you to know that if anything’s wrong, you can always talk to me.”, you start, looking him directly in the eyes. And you think Mark knows what’s about to come. You can see it in his eyes.  

“You know?”, he asks, voice wavering a bit. You just slightly nod, scooting closer to him to take his hands in yours. “I wanted to tell you, I swear. When it happened, all I wanted to do was call you and tell you about it, but I couldn’t. You started a new life, and I didn’t want to take that away from you, or make you feel bad for it. And when you came back, all I wanted to do was spend my time with you. Make up for all the time we lost. I didn’t want to bother you with my problems, I just wanted back what we once had when we were kids. A carefree friendship.”

You feel so much in this situation. Sympathy, regret, sadness, grief, hope. But on top of it all, you feel proud. Mark had to go through all of this. Not alone, since he had his mother and Jaemin, but he still had to endure the pain of losing a very important person in his life. And instead of being selfish and calling you when he needed you, he decided not to. Just to make you have a carefree life. Just so you don’t have to worry about it. Mark is the most selfless person you know. And you are proud to call him your friend.

“Mark, you should’ve called me. No matter where I am in the world, I would always choose you. I would drop everything I’m doing just to see you. And I know it’s not what you want, but it’s what you deserve.” Mark wipes away a stray tear sliding down his cheek with one hand, squeezing your hand with the other. “Do you want to talk about it?”

“It was a stupid car accident.”, he starts, tears filling his eyes as he remembers the incident. But you know he needs this, so you hold his hand tighter and give him all your attention. Because you need it too, even if you’re not aware of it. And for the rest of the night, you talk about everything you missed in the past few years.

Five years ago

The breeze in your hair feels different, colder, and sharper than before. The waves are louder, crashing against the shore as if a storm is about to begin. You don’t know what the weird feeling in your belly means. If it’s just the nerves about seeing Jeno, or something deeper, something you should be worried about.

Jeno is late, which is a first. In the three weeks you’ve been hanging out, he was always here before you, but this time is different. This time you are the one to sit on the icy rock, shivering from the wind as you wait for him to arrive. You brought a book, one of your favorites. Jeno loves it when you read to him, finding it oddly comforting. He finds it fascinating how humans can come up with such bizarre stories, planning them out to an extent, and making money off them. But he doesn’t complain, he wants you to read to him every night.

“You’re late.”, you say as he climbs up the rock, his body dripping from the salty water. Even though the two of you met up a bunch of times now, you’re still in awe every time you see him. Jeno knows that and he’s been taking advantage of it more than you like.

“Take a picture, it lasts longer.”, he teases with his signature grin. Eyes disappearing into small half-moons.

“You’re so funny, Jeno.”, you say, rolling your eyes at him. “Don’t distract from the subject. You’re late. Hasn’t anyone told you that it’s rude to stand up a woman?”

“First of all,”, he begins speaking, brushing the wet hair out of his face. “I didn’t stand you up, I’m here now. And second, you’re hardly a woman.”

A gasp leaves your lips, punching his arm slightly. “You’re being mean again. You know I can just leave.”

“No!”, he exclaims, grabbing your wrist to prevent you from standing up. “Don’t leave, please.” His eyes are wide, filled with panic. And for a moment everything is silent. You look down at his hand and tight grip he has on you, wondering what has gotten into him.

“I was just joking.”, you say, trying to calm him down. “Are you okay? What was that reaction?”

He blows out the air he’s been holding and let’s go of your wrist. “Sorry. I don’t know what just happened. I just thought you would actually leave before we could spend time together. Before you could read to me.”

You nod, not convinced by his statement, but trying not to overthink it too much. “Do you want me to start reading now?” He nods at that, turning his body so he can see you better. “This is actually a poem book. I got it from the old thrift shop two years ago. I will read you one that I really like. It’s called ‘Deep Ocean Blues’ and is by an anonymous writer.”

“In the depth Of her lonely ocean blues Neither lost nor found at sea, She buried her dreams Deeper than she could reach And she made herself a humble home Tucked underneath the ocean floor

She found the familiar In the darkness of the water Like a magnificent storm Blue almost black almost gone — Hazy memories floating Reminding her Of what she could’ve been Now crushed and washed away

The more time she spent there The more she began to crave, The weight of water Crashing onto her skin Vast dark space holding her close Like her old dear friend Did way back when

Loneliness He welcomed her back Every time she swam in — He’d play her an old blues song Deep muddy waters Just for her Melancholy fanfare To keep her hypnotized

Mesmerized By the sound of his ocean song, She knew loneliness And treacherous waters Could always find her here Dancing with solace Right on the ocean floor”

Jeno hangs on to every word you read, mesmerized by the words and the meaning behind them. He swears that no other book tops this form of writing. He heard about poems before from visitors at the beach, but he’s never got to actually hear one himself. But he understands the popularity of them. It’s so different from what you’ve read before. It is unique and beautiful.

“Did you like it?”, you ask, looking up from the book. Jeno nods at you with glossy eyes. As you see that, you scoot closer to him, leaving the book lying on the rock as you gently place a hand on top of his. “Everything okay?”

He shakes his head frustrated by this situation, frustrated by what he has to do. Jeno tries to keep his emotions down, to not show you what this is doing to him, but he’s failing. He’s failing miserably and it only makes it harder for him.

“I’m so sorry.”, he whispers, small tears rolling down his face. You reach up, wiping each one away. “This is the last time we will see each other.”

You pause, your hand falling into your lap. “What?”

“I’m so sorry, I wish this could be different. I wish I could sit here forever with you and have you read to me, but this has to end. For your sake and for mine.”

“But why?” The sadness in your eyes destroys him. Jeno knows this sight will haunt him for as long as he lives, but he has to do it. If his father and all the residents of his town find out what he’s doing every night, they will come for him. And you probably as well. They will find a way, he knows that. Nothing is more important than to hide from the human world, to not expose the secret they’ve been keeping for centuries.

“Don’t ever talk to me again. Don’t come here anymore. Please just leave and forget about me.”

“Forget about you?”, you raise your voice, outraged by his proposition. “How do you expect me to forget about you?”

Jeno rubs his temples. He knew it wasn’t going to be easy, but he didn’t think he would feel his heart break into a million pieces. “Please do me this one favor. Leave. Don’t search for me again because I won’t be here.”

Jeno leaves over, pressing a soft kiss on your forehead. So soft that if you hadn���t smelled the salty scent of his skin, you would not have felt it. “Goodbye, Y/n.”

“No.” You try to reach him, but he’s faster, dodging your hand. “Don’t leave me, Jeno. Please. You can’t leave me.” Tears stream down your face, blurring your vision. You furiously wipe them away to see again. But as you open your eyes, Jeno is gone. Vanished. Like he was never there in the first place.

For the next two weeks you showed up at the same place, hoping to find Jeno again. But he was never there. He kept his promise of not coming again, but you never lost hope. You told your parents about it, hoping they would believe you. But they didn’t. They told you to stop being childish and imagine stuff. Even Mark laughed at you, telling you that he loves your imagination.

And after those two weeks, you started to doubt it yourself. Maybe you did imagine Jeno after all. But it all felt so real. Every lingering touch, every conversation. It all felt real.

Hope became your best friend that day.

⋆｡ﾟ☁︎｡⋆｡ ﾟ☾ ﾟ｡⋆

Jeno doesn’t know what to feel as he makes his way back home with slow swings of his fin. Is he supposed to feel happy? Relieved? Angry? Betrayed? Is it possible to feel all those emotions at once?

When he saw you again after such a long time, he wanted to wrap you in his arms and make sure you would never leave him again. But at the same time, he wanted to scream at you, get all the pent-up frustration and pain out. Jeno wanted you to feel what he felt over the past five years.

Because he did suffer.

At first, he was in shock. Shock of what he said to you, of how he left you. Jeno couldn’t believe he actually sent you away and told you to not ever talk to him again. He didn’t realize what that actually meant to him. Never in his fifteen years of life has he spoken to a person in this way before, always choosing to be nice and gentle, even teasing, and cocky sometimes – though that side mostly came out when he was spending time with you. He couldn’t believe it and he didn’t want to.

After that came denial. He thought that if he just told himself over and over again that it didn’t happen his brain would eventually believe him. If he just suppressed his thoughts about you, he would eventually forget about you. If he just stopped visiting those rocks, he would not long for you anymore. But that never happened. Jeno found himself coming back to the place after waiting two weeks. Every single night, he came back.  He waited in the water, looking out for you, but you never showed up.

The next phase was the worst. Anger. Neither Jeno, nor any other person in his life could recognize him at that time. He started lashing out more, destroying small things that once had meaning to him. Everyone got worried because they couldn’t believe that this was the once so kind prince. Especially his brothers. They tried many times to talk to him, get him to open up to them, but they failed every single time. Even though one brother knew more than the other.

Bargain. Jeno doesn’t like to remember this time. He felt pathetic, weak, pitiable. He was making promises every day to himself, trying to convince himself that he could fix this. That he could fix the two of you. Jeno tried to negotiate with whatever higher power there was to help him get you back, but nothing happened. Nothing helped and nothing changed.

Next up, Jeno was sad. Humans would say he had symptoms of depression. Nothing could make him smile, not even his brothers who normally light up his day just with their presence. Jeno didn’t want to swim around the town to help the people or discuss plans for expansion with his father. All he wanted was to be with you. To sit on your rock, talk about everything and nothing and hold your hand once again. Jeno never thought he would miss someone’s touch so much. Worse enough that he never saw you around again. Not at the beach with Mark nor at any other town event that he could get a glimpse of. It was like you had vanished or maybe something worse.

Lastly, the upward turn. The feeling you get right after the depression lifts. After he overheard the conversation Mark had with Jaemin, Jeno felt relaxed knowing nothing happened to you. Part of him was sad that he would never see you again, but the other part was happy for you. All he ever wanted for you was to live the life you sought, to be happy and carefree. Jeno started to slowly become who he once was again. He spent more time with the people in his town, his brothers and his best friend, Aiya. He felt like he could start over again. Begin a new life, a life that sadly doesn’t involve you.

Acceptance never came. Jeno still lays in bed sometimes, thinking about you and everything he could have done differently. He wonders if you miss him as much as he misses you. If you feel the same longing that he feels. The longing to hear your voice again, touch your skin, and feel the weird swirling in his belly. He fantasizes about you waiting for him on the rock, your beautiful smile welcoming him. He thinks about it so often that when it actually happened, he couldn’t believe his eyes. There you sit, with a beautiful dress on. Your hair gently swaying in the night breeze. Jeno thought it was his mind playing tricks on him, that he was officially losing it. But then he heard your voice, the melody to his song. You talked to him for a few minutes, not knowing he could hear you. And he wanted to say something. He wanted to go up and talk to you, confess how much he missed you, but he couldn’t. It was like he was frozen.

And for the next few nights, the same routine continued. You talked to him, while he just listened to you. And then you were gone again. You didn’t show up and he thought that yet again he messed up. He thought that if he had just sucked up the courage to talk to you, you wouldn’t have left again. But when you showed up again the next day, he knew he had to take this opportunity. He had to talk to you. And that’s what he did.

“I swear if I find him, he’s going to get the lecture of his life.”, Jeno hears a familiar voice mumble not far away from him. A smirk appears on his lips, as he gets an idea. He swims behind a coral, waiting for the voice to come closer before jumping out.

“Talking about me?”, he says, watching the orange clownfish gasp in shock. A laugh bubbles out Jenos’s throat at the shocked expression on the fishes’ face.

“You scared the living bubble out of me.”, she exclaims, frowning at the merman in front of her. Jeno can’t help but let out an even louder laugh, loving the reaction he’s getting. “You think that’s funny?”

“I’m sorry, Aiya.”, Jeno mumbles between chuckles. “You just looked so cute. The way you got shocked.” His best friend rolls her eyes, letting out a huff of annoyance. Jeno knows that calling a fish his best friend might sound weird to some people, but to him it is the most normal thing ever. He grew up with Aiya, always having her around. They went through thick and thin together and he seriously couldn’t imagine a life without her in it.

“You’re lucky I’m the one who found you.”, she says, swimming around the merman. “The king is searching for you and if your brothers would have found you, then-“

“Then what?”, before Aiya could finish her sentence, she gets interrupted by another voice. Turning around, Jeno is faced with the presence of two mermen. To be exact, the probably most important mermen in his life.

“Chenle.”, Jeno calls the name of his brother with a smile. “Nice to see you. And you too Jisung. You got a haircut?” The said boy shows his brother a sheepish smile, nodding his head excitedly.

“Don’t try to distract from the obvious right now.” Not once in his life could Jeno fool Chenle. Chenle has always been attentive, watching Jenos’ every move. It was different with Jisung. The clumsy boy had to put his constant focus on not breaking things or getting caught into an underwater swirl.

“I don’t know what you’re talking about.” This lame excuse even makes Aiya let out a frustrated sigh. Jeno was never good at lying or hiding anything. Especially not from those close to him. He is an open book, always eager to share the exciting things in his life. So, when he first met you, he almost couldn’t contain himself. He wanted to tell the whole world about you, but he couldn’t.

“Is it about the girl?”, Chenle asks, eyeing his brother suspiciously. In this moment Jeno wished he wasn’t so transparent. He could just deny it, move on and never let the others know, but his hesitation already calls him out. “So, it is.”

“What girl?”, Jisung asks, titling his head to the side. You can almost see the question mark appearing on top of his head.

“Jeno met a girl five years ago. A human girl. He hung out with her for a couple of weeks but sent her away so that dad couldn’t find out about her.”, Chenle explains to his brother, earning a shocked look.

“That’s why dad was so suspicious of Jenos’ whereabouts back then and Jeno was depressed for such a long time.” Chenle nods, looking back at Jeno who nervously bites his lower lip.

“Is she back?” This time another voice speaks up. It’s Aiya who asks the question. He can see the worry in her eyes. Everyone knows what that means. They know what danger comes with interacting with humans. But they also know what happened to Jeno last time.

“She is.”, Jeno confirms, lowering his gaze to the ground.

“What are you going to do?” That’s a question Jeno doesn’t know how to answer. He doesn’t know what he will do, what he wants to do. If he wants to part ways with you again considering your different lives. Or if he wants to be selfish and see you every night like you did five years ago. If he wants to follow his feelings and let himself fall even harder than before.

“I don’t know.”, he answers honestly, earing sympathetic gazes from the three around him.

“It’s okay.”, Jisung speaks up, having all eyes focus on the younger boy. “You don’t have to know right now. Sleep a night over it and then follow whatever your heart desires most.” The young lays his hand on his older brother’s shoulder. “You’ve always been a person I looked up to. Do you know why? Because you make the decisions that work best for everyone. You always know what to do, even in the most difficult situations. Even in situations that would make most people insane over. You will figure this one out as well. I know you will.”

Jeno feels his heart clench, never having heard such sweet words from his younger brothers’ mouth before. “We should go.”, Chenle utters. “Before dad sends out a search petrol for all of us.”

Beginning to swim in the direction of the castle, Jeno catches up with the small clown fish, who swims unusually fast. “Are you in a hurry or why are you racing back home?”, he asks.

“No.”, Aiya answers a bit too fast. “I’m not in a hurry. I’m swimming normal. The way I always swim.”

“Is it because of Jungwon?” Upon hearing the name, the fish stops for a second, before presuming to swim as if nothing happened.

“Jungwon? I don’t know what you’re talking about.” Jungwon, another clown fish, just moved into a coral in your kingdom with his family, having been lost in the sea for a long time. Your dad welcomed them with open arms, offering them a home to stay in permanently. Aiya and him got along almost immediately, striking up conversations whenever they could, leaving lingering gazes whenever the other one wasn’t watching. Only a fool wouldn’t notice the obviousness of the situation. That fool is Aiya.

“You’re meeting him again today?” Jeno watches his best friend’s reaction closer, trying to read her expression, but she’s not letting anything show. She just continues to swim, ignoring Jeno completely. “Well, I just want to tell you I’m happy for you. Jungwon seems very nice. I hope that whatever the two of you have turns into something beautiful.”

Leaving it like that, Jeno enters the kingdom, waving at the other mermen and mermaids, showing smiles to the fish and sharks. He enters the castle, swimming up to where his fathers’ throne was.

“Before you go.”, Chenle stops him. “Be nice, okay? Father is on edge today.” Jeno nods, slightly worried about that knowledge. But he doesn’t let that face him.

“Jeno.”, his father speaks up with his loud voice, sitting up to be able to look at his oldest son better. A big scepter in his hand and a crown on his head. As long as Jeno can remember his dad has always had white long hair and a white beard, making him look less intimidating. “You kept me waiting.”

“I’m sorry father. I was out helping the villagers.” His father nods shortly, motioning him to come closer, which he does.

“Jeno, what I’m telling you now is something that will stay between the two of us. Don’t tell it your brothers or your little fish friend, you got me?” Jeno shakes his head in agreement, heart already beating faster at what is about to come. “I’m getting old. I can feel my bones weakening and while it’s not my time to go yet, I can’t rule a kingdom like this. You are twenty now. You’re old enough to become a king.”

“What are you saying?”, Jeno stutters out, eyes wide in pure shock.

“What I’m saying is that in two weeks I’m stepping down from my position as king and I will crown you as the next king. I trained you for this your whole life, and I think it’s time.” Jeno doesn’t know what to say, overwhelmed by everything he just heard. “I will get everything ready. Tomorrow will start the preparation, so let’s meet again after breakfast.”

All Jeno can do is nod, before turning around and leaving the room. He realizes he has two weeks left. Two weeks until he will be king. Two weeks until he has to make a decision about the two of you.

⋆｡ﾟ☁︎｡⋆｡ ﾟ☾ ﾟ｡⋆

You’ve never been this nervous in your whole life. Not when you had to hold a presentation in front of 100 students or when you were seven and your mom made you read the poem you wrote out loud to your whole family. Nothing compares to how you feel when you climb up the rock and see Jeno sitting here. For a while you just watch him. You watch his back glittering from the salt on his skin under the moonlight. You listen to the splashing sound his tail makes as the waves of the ocean crash against it. You prepare yourself for what is about to come, fearing that this might take a turn you don’t want it to.

“You’re so beautiful.”, is the first thing you say to him. And you could slap yourself in the face for such a cringey sentence. Jeno just chuckles, turning his body so he faces you.

“What a nice greeting. I could get used to that.” He holds out his hand, gently guiding you to sit beside him. “You look beautiful as well, Y/n. But it’s no surprise, you’ve always been beautiful.” The familiar heat is rushing back into your cheeks before you can even stop it. No man has ever made you do that. Countless have tried, but only Jeno could make you blush like a little schoolgirl.

“I see you still have your way with words.” You keep your tone light, teasing. Not wanting to add on to the tension that still hangs in the air.

“That’s one thing that hasn’t changed.”, he says, a deeper meaning behind those words. He intertwines your fingers with his, tugging you a bit closer to him. Jeno knows he may be moving fast, but he has waited so long to be close to you again. He’s longing to feel you again, wanting nothing more than to hold you in his arms again. You comply, scooting closer until your thigh touches his tail. It’s a weird, yet familiar feeling.

Jeno smiles at you, lifting his other hand to tug a lose strand of hair behind your ear. “I’m sorry for yesterday. When I saw you, all the emotions I held in started rushing out. I never should’ve let that out on you. I’m sorry.”

You shake your head gently, not wanting to hear an apology from him. “You don’t need to apologies for voicing your thoughts and emotions. I’m glad you did. If you hadn’t done it, I would have never known how much I meant to you.” You take a deep breath, tasting the salty air on your tongue. “Moving was the hardest thing I’ve had to do, because it meant I had to leave the things I love behind. My friends, my school, and you. Not one day has passed that I didn’t think about you. I never forgot about you, even though you told me to. I have to admit, I had a phase where I thought I imagined you. That I made you up because I was lonely, but I quickly realized that that’s stupid. I could have never imagined something as wonderful as you.” You watch a single tear drop fall down the boys’ face and you quickly raise your hand to wipe it away. “I’m sorry for leaving and I’m sorry for never telling you. If I could, I would redo everything, but since that’s not possible, let’s live in the here and now.”

Jenos’ smile gets even bigger, consuming his whole face and forming his eyes into little halfmoons. “Thank you for telling me that. I really needed to hear that.” You just shrug your shoulders, trying to play it off, but it’s not working. Jeno sees right through you. “Can I kiss you?”

The question comes unexpected, catching you off guard. Your mouth gets dry, and your head empties of any thoughts. It’s like your brain stopped working, unable to give commands to the rest of your body. The only thing you can do is nod. You can hear Jeno mumbling a small ‘cute’ but you don’t pay attention to that. Because the next thing you feel is Jenos’ hand on your cheek, leaning down until your noses are touching. He looks into your eyes one last time, before closing the remaining space and placing his lips on yours.

Fireworks light up in the sky. Sirens are heard all over the world. Suddenly you understand all those love songs. This feeling is worth writing a three-minute pop hit about.

Jeno kisses you with such gentleness as if you are porcelain and kissing you harder would break you into a million pieces. His lips are soft, slightly chapped but nevertheless soft. The hand on your cheek gently caresses your skin, making your heart skip a beat. Your hands are on his sides, touching the exposed skin. Jeno shudders a bit as you stroke his rib cage, swallowing a small groan that threatened to leave his lips. He pulls you even closer until you’re on your knees, chest touching his. He can’t get enough of the feeling of your lips, and neither can you. Enjoying every last bit of it until you eventually have to force yourselves apart to breath.

Jeno leaves a few gentle kisses on your cheek, making his way to your neck. He innocently places a kiss on the place where your neck meets your shoulder, giving it a few kitten licks, before lifting his head again to look at you. His eyes are small, pupils dilated, feeling as if he was high. Maybe he was high, and your kisses are his drugs.

“I never want to stop doing that.”, he says, his voice raspy and deeper than before. It sets a set of butterflies free in your belly.

“Me neither.”, you admit, still panting from the kiss. You let your head drop on his shoulder, smiling to yourself at what just happened. Jeno wraps and arm around your waist, also not being able to fight his own smile.

“How was your talk with Mark?”, Jeno asks after a while.

“It was okay.”, you answer with a sigh. “As okay as it can be. But we talked for a long time, and I think it brought us closer as well. So, I count it as a success.”

Jeno squeezes your waist, affirming that he’s glad to hear that. He knows how much Mark means to you. That’s why he’s genuinely happy you two could work it out.

Having Jeno so close while the waves form a gentle melody, you can feel your limps getting heavy and your eyes dropping every now and then. You can’t help the yawn that leaves your lips either, making Jeno chuckle.

“It’s time for you to go to bed.”, he says, but you just whine in responds. You don’t want to leave, loving this moment too much to let it go. “It’s okay, my love. We will see each other tomorrow again.”

“Promise?” You look up to him, searching his eyes for an honest answer, which he gives you with a small smile on his lips.

“I promise. Get home safe and sleep well. I will be here, waiting for you.”

⋆｡ﾟ☁︎｡⋆｡ ﾟ☾ ﾟ｡⋆

Dazed. That’s how you feel as two weeks pass by. Jeno and you have been meeting up every single night, talking to each other, playing games, and most importantly kissing. Most of your time together was spent kissing. You never leave without having your lips sore.

You feel like you’re floating on a cloud, tasting the sweetness of eternity. Those two weeks were the happiest you’ve ever been and that didn’t go unnoticed by your friends. Mark has been asking you questions about it nonstop, wanting to know who your secret boyfriend is. But you keep your mouth shut, telling him there is no secret boyfriend. Even though both of you know that’s a lie.

Currently helping Jaemin transport an order of flowers to his costumer, you notice how quiet he was. Jaemin has always been quiet, more reserved, but not like that. He would always talk to you, ask you about your day, but not today. Today he seems distant, deeply kept up by his thoughts.

“Are you okay?”, you decide to ask him, trying not to let the flowers in your hand fall to the ground. When Jaemin asked you to help him carry the flowers across the town, you hesitated. He never asked you for your help. But being the nice person you are, you eventually agreed. Now you at least have the nice sent of the freshly trimmed flowers right under your nose.

“Oh, yeah, I’m fine.”, he says, seeming like he just got woken up by a daydream. You let out a chuckle at that, watching his slightly startled expression.

“You sure? You seem a bit off today.” Jaemin shakes his head, trying to find the right words. “But you don’t have to tell me.”, you add. “If you don’t want to talk about what’s going on, I totally accept that. But I’m always here if you need me.” The boy smiles at you, showing off his teeth. You’ve always loved how Jaemin smiled, so bright and full of joy. It’s what caught your attention first and what eventually made you fall for him.

“There is something I’ve been wanting to talk to you about.”, he starts, his voice raising a bit like he’s trying to build up the confidence to say whatever has been on his mind. You just nod, signaling him to continue.

“Ever since we’ve been children, I’ve had the biggest crush on you. I loved how kind you were to the people around you, how you never judged anyone, how you didn’t let stupid stereo types cloud your vision. You opened your arms to everyone without hesitating. That’s what amazed me about you. I loved how you could sing every song that played on the radio, how the moment you walked into a room the sun started to shine brighter, and how no matter what happened you always saw something positive in everything.” He smiles to himself, fond of those memories. “But I never felt good enough. I never felt like I was worthy to love you, worthy to have you. I thought I had to become a better human before I can even consider trying to be in your life.”

“You not enough?”, you ask, shock lacing your voice. “Jaemin you were more than enough. Every girl in school had a crush on you because you were the definition of perfect.”

You can see his cheeks turning into a light shade of red, but before you can comment on it, he speaks up again. “Don’t try to distract from what I want to say.” You hold up your hands in defeat, making a zipping motion over your mouth. “Before I could ask you out, you moved away, and I thought I would never see you again. I thought I would never have the chance to ask you out. But that was until you came back. All the emotions I thought were gone over the years came back with one look into your eyes.” He sighs, nervously running a hand through his hair. “I feel like I’m finally good enough for you, Y/n. So, will you go on a date with me?”

You stop walking, mouth agape and eyes wide. This is what your twelve-year-old you was waiting for. The Na Jaemin asking you out on a date. But instead of feeling ecstatic, jumping into the air and screaming your lungs out, you felt sorry. The minute you met Jeno you knew that what you felt for Jaemin wasn’t even close to what real love would feel. The small crush couldn’t compare to actual feelings. And it didn’t change. Your heart is still beating fast, but not for Jaemin anymore.

“Jaemin, god, I feel so stupid.”, you start saying, not knowing how to put your thoughts into words.

“There’s someone else, right?”, he asks, making you look up to him with wide eyes. “Mark told me about it. But he said that you told him there wasn’t anyone, so I thought I could try my luck. Apparently, luck isn’t on my side.”

“I’m so sorry.”, you start to apologies, but Jaemin just shakes his head, waving his hand in the air.

“Don’t apologies for your feelings, or the lack of those. It’s okay. I mean it sucks, but rejection is part of life.” He nods, trying to convince himself more than you.

You stand there, silence surrounding the two of you. Jaemin looks at you after a few seconds, a small smile on your lips. “Whoever he is, I hope he is treating you the way you deserve to be treated.”

You nod at his words, trying not to let the tear that’s threatening to leave your eye go.

“And if you ever find yourself in the situation where he isn’t there taking up all your thoughts, I’ll be waiting for you. Until you’re ready for me.”

⋆｡ﾟ☁︎｡⋆｡ ﾟ☾ ﾟ｡⋆

“Jaemin asked me on a date.”, you tell Jeno after you two laid down on the cold rock, watching the stars.

“Oh really?”, Jeno asks, not lifting his head from where it lays on your lap. You’ve been playing with his hair for almost ten minutes, enjoying the silky feeling of it between your fingers. Jeno has his eyes closed, basking in the closeness of you. The moment you stepped foot on your rock, he latched onto you. One body part always having to be connected to you in some way. You don’t want to complain, enjoying how openly clingy he is, but something inside of you has a weird feeling.

It’s been lingering in the air for a while now. Like both of you know something big will happen, but none of you want to address it. None of you want to face the obvious elephant in the room. It’s like you know that as soon as the words leave your mouth, it’ll change everything.

“What did you tell him?” The question leaves his lips in a whisper. One part of him fears he might hear you agreeing to the human boys’ proposition, but the other part wishes you would. It would make things easier for him, a lot easier.

“I told him I can’t.”, you say it as if you’re stating an obvious fact. But to Jeno it isn’t obvious. He doesn’t understand it. Why would you choose to stay with him? A merman who will never be able to give you the life you want. It’s not like he can grow a pair of legs and join you in your town. He has a tail, and his place somewhere else. He has responsibilities, such big ones that there is no way around them.

“You should go on a date with him.” As these words leave his mouth, the world stops turning for a second. The sounds stop, no more waves crashing against the shore, no more birds chirping in the sky. It’s quiet, just a dead dreadful silence.

“Why would you say that?”, you whisper, not trusting your voice. You tug softly on Jenos’ hair wanting him to open his eyes and look at you, but he refuses. He tightly squeezes his eyes together because he knows seeing your expression would kill him. Jeno saw it last time, your shoulders sinking, face drained of all color, and eyes filling with so much sadness. He can’t endure that another time, he can’t have your face haunt him again.

“Maybe it would be better.”, he tries to hide the shakiness of his voice, not wanting you to see how much this affects him. “You know since he’s human. He could give you the life you want, the life you deserve. I can’t give you that.”

“Jeno, what are you talking about? You are making no sense.”, you push him off your lap, not wanting him that close when he talks such nonsense.

“I’m making sense. Think of it in a logical way. If you dated Jaemin you could have everything you want. You can see him at all times, go into town with him, travel with him. You can marry and have a family. You can let people see you. You wouldn’t have to stay awake until five in the morning to talk to a creature with a tail. You wouldn’t have to hide away your feelings anymore.”

You scoff, looking at the boy with a frown. “Jeno, don’t you think I know all of this? Don’t you think I know it would be easier to date someone that was human. But I’m still here. Even though I know all this, I still come here every night. Because I want you and no one else, Jeno. Love isn’t defined by a pair of legs, by who knows about it and who not, or by how much someone has to give up. Love means sacrifices, compromises, and agreements. It’s communication, honesty, and trust. It’s what you feel, not what others tell you to feel.”

Jeno hides his face in his hands, fighting not to break down. He is so close to letting it all out. The tears, the frustration. He wishes things could be different, for you both to exist in a world where you could actually be with one another.

Tomorrow he will be king of the town he grew up in. He will have to face bigger responsibilities. Responsibilities that are bigger than love. And he wishes to have just one part of his body, even if it is just a blood vessel, that could be selfish. But he can’t be. This is bigger than him, bigger than you. He can’t risk meeting you anymore, exposing his world and bringing his people in danger.

“I can’t, Y/n.”, he whispers quietly.

“Can’t what?”

“I can’t love you. I want to, but I can’t.” His hands shake violently, fighting every part of his body that wants to show weakness. “I will be king tomorrow. And I can’t lead them to danger.”

“Danger?”, you ask. “But I’m not dangerous. Jeno, I would never do or say anything.”

“I know.”, he speaks with more force. “I know you wouldn’t, but just meeting up with you is dangerous. The potential of someone seeing us, it could bring death to my whole town. You have to understand that it’s just too dangerous.”

“The only thing that’s dangerous is the ocean itself.”, you remark, looking down at the water. “Especially this ocean. It’s cursed.”

“Cursed?” Jeno looks up at you, confusion written all over his face. “How could our ocean be dangerous? It is so beautiful and mesmerising. It would never hurt you unless you hurt it first.”

“Explain that to the people going missing every year. All those fishers that visit our town, fishers that have lived in my town long before I was born. They go out on the ocean and disappear mysteriously. No one wants to go far into the ocean, worried that they will disappear as well. We’re scared of the cursed sea and grieving for those who we lost.”, you explain to him, but the older boy just shakes his head violently.

“Those fishers you’re talking about are threatening our existence. They are not here to explore the sea, they hunt us. They kill our people and threaten to expose our secret, we must do something to protect ourselves.”

You feel devastated, hearing such words coming from the boy you thought was sweet and kind. Never did you think he would support killing your kind, even if it means protection to his own. Isn’t it all about peaceful living within each other? Isn’t it about harmony, not war? Because if you start a war, it’s not going to end. By killing those fishers, they only achieve the opposite of what they want. They draw attention to them, making even more people curious about the mystery of the ocean, of the curse. You can’t believe there is no curse.

“I grew up getting told to never enter the ocean around our town alone. To never go past my knees into the water. To be careful not to cross the protection line they drew for the once who go for a swim. I grew up afraid of what would happen once I got out there. Up until I was twelve, I couldn’t even come close to the shore, afraid of what might wait for me. Town people found ship recks, pairs of shoes and even necklaces of the people who went missing. Some even said they heard screams late at night, but when they went looking there was no one there.” When you look at Jeno there is no compassion in your eyes, remembering what growing up here meant for you. “Shortly before I moved away a little girl went missing. Two days later they found her hair clip washed up on the shore. What did that little girl do to you?”

“She saw my brother.”, Jeno whispers.

“She was nine years old.” Your voice is loud, filled with frustration and skepticism. “Even if she told anyone, no one would have believed her. The same way no one believed me when I told them about you. What would you have done about that? Kill me too?” Jeno stays silent, not daring to answer the sarcastic question you asked. It makes you stop breathing for a few seconds, shoulders sinking. “You wanted to kill me?”

“No.”, he answers. “Maybe. I don’t know. I was scared at first, okay? You saw me and you could have easily told all the fishermen. What if they sent an army down to our kingdom and all because I wasn’t careful?” There is an edge in his voice, like his breaking point is coming soon. “But when I saw you again that next day, I couldn’t bring myself to. You were just so small and harmless. You shined brighter than the stars and your eyes were filled with a curiosity I could only return. I was never that close to a human before, having just watched them from afar. I wanted to know more about you and then I fell in love. Hard and unconditionally. More than a fifteen-year-old should have.”

You shake your head, his words breaking your heart into a million pieces. “Maybe you’re right.” As Jeno previously, you press your lips together, hiding the sob that threatens to leave your lips. You don’t want him to see you cry. Not after everything you found out. “Maybe I should go on that date with Jaemin.”

When you look at Jeno after saying those words, you can see his heart breaking. His eyes gloss over and his whole body sinking into itself. But eventually he nods his head. “Yeah, you should.”

You shakily sigh, looking at the ocean in front of you, passed the horizon where the unknown lays. “So, that’s it?”, you ask him, silent tears streaming down both of your faces. “This is the end of us?”

Jeno clears his throat, wiping away the saltiness on his cheeks. He allows himself to have this moment. This one last moment with you, basking in the comfort of your presence. He allows himself one selfish moment with you just for a few more seconds. Jeno listens to your rapid breathing, enjoying the warmth your skin radiates even though you sit a few steps away from him. When he closes his eyes, he can still feel the roughness of your fingertips stroking his back, your lips engulfing his in a gentle kiss, and your weight on his body, feeling like a warm blanket. One last time, he thinks back to the gentle words you exchanged, the confessions you made, the secrets you shared. He treasures them in a box deep inside his heart, locking it away.

When all that is done, he opens his eyes again, turning his face to look into your waiting eyes. “That’s it. That’s the end.”

⋆｡ﾟ☁︎｡⋆｡ ﾟ☾ ﾟ｡⋆

A broken heart. A metaphor for the intense emotional stress or pain one feels at experiencing great loss or deep longing. Mark told you that similar to death, there are five stages of heartbreak. Denial, bargain, depression, and acceptance. If you judged it yourself, you would say you’re in the depression stage. You want to be alone, sit in your tiny apartment and eat your sadness away with ice cream. You don’t want the boys to come around all the time, forcing you to go outside and get ‘a change of scene’. They think it helps you, but all it does is remind you of what you can’t have. You see couples roaming the streets, holding hands, and laughing with each other. You see their happiness and all you feel in envy. You want that, you want that so bad, but you can’t have that. Not with the one person you want to have it with.

“I can’t see this anymore.”, Mark speaks up after watching you poke around your favorite dish. The cherry pie. You can’t believe that a few weeks ago, the thought of this pie excited you so much that you couldn’t wait to wake up the next day and taste the sweet flavor on your tongue. But now you can’t stand the cake. The cake tastes bland, lost all its sweetness. Its taste resembles your emotions. “This is your favorite, and you can barely even look at it. You know, I thought bringing you hear would cheer you up, but clearly, I was wrong.”

Mark puts down the rag he used to clean the counter, taking off his apron and making his way to you. He sits down beside you, grabbing your hands and turning your face so you look right at him. “Listen to me. I know, you don’t want to talk about what happened and only a fool wouldn’t be able to see what is going on.” He sighs, trying to find the right words. “And as much as I want to find the person that made you feel this way and make them regret it, I also still remember how happy you were. You never shined as brightly as you did in the time that you spent with them. I could see how loved you felt, and as your best friend, I never wanted to see you differently again. But as your best friend, I also have to be honest with you. It can’t go on like this. You are hurting yourself even more with your behavior and I can’t keep watching you do that.”

You lower your gaze, knowing deep down that what your friend is saying is right. But you’re helpless. You don’t know what to do to change things. How to stop the pain you’re feeling. If you did, you would have done it by now. “I don’t know how to.”

Mark shows you a sympathetic smile, squeezing your hands gently. “That’s what I’m here for. Whenever you’re stuck and you need a helping hand, I’m here.” You nod at him teary eyed, appreciating having a friend like Mark in your life. “Either you move on, find a way to cope with it. Even move away again if you have to. Just for a while to get away from all the bad memories. Or you confront the person once more, talk it out and hopefully then make peace with the situation.”

“I don’t think he wants to talk to me.”, you tell Mark, sadness filling your eyes once again at the thought of Jeno.

“Then make him. If he loves you, the way I hope he does, he will listen to you. He will let you have this one last conversation so you can have peace.”

“You really think so?”, you ask him, hope gleaming in your words. Mark nods his head eagerly.

“Yes, I know so.”

“Thank you, Mark. Thank you for always being there for me, even when I act like a sulky baby.”

That makes Mark let out a chuckle, happy to at least see a glimpse of the normal you back. “That’s what best friends are here for, Sunshine.”

⋆｡ﾟ☁︎｡⋆｡ ﾟ☾ ﾟ｡⋆

The waves are calm at this time around. The sun having just set a few minutes ago, still tinting the sky in its beautiful colors. It’s almost like a scene out of a movie. And for the first time, you don’t feel scared of the ocean as you take place on the big rock. For the first time you appreciate the beauty of it, even though you know the truth about it.

“I don’t know if you’re here, Jeno. I don’t know if you can even hear me. But if you really love me, the way you told me, you will listen to me now. I want to have one more chance to talk to you again. I can’t leave you behind like this. I know that I will regret it and I know that you will regret it as well.” Silence, nothing but silence surrounds you. “I’m sorry for not showing sympathy for you and your people. I know that you just do what is right to protect yourself, but I still stand by my opinion that it’s not the right thing to do. I will never support those actions, but I’m trying to show more comprehension for your situation. I’m sorry for getting so emotional and not listening to you as I should have. I was stubborn, but so were you. I think that’s one thing we have in common. And I’m sorry for making it so hard for you to let me go. I understand now that whatever we have was doomed to end at some point. We are different, way too different to work out. I built this picture of us in my head. I lived in my own bubble and when that bubble burst, I didn’t want to accept that. I wanted to live a life where the two of us could be together, grow old together. And for a moment, it felt like that could happen. For a moment I was caught up in my own delusions, not wanting to let go. But I know now. I know that what you did was for the better and I’m not mad at you. You chose the right thing, and I couldn’t be prouder of you.”

You see the familiar silver shimmering of a tail appearing right above the surface of the water. This is your sign. You step out of the clothes you wear, a bikini underneath it. Climbing down the rock, you feel the warmth of the water meeting your cool skin. The water welcomes you, engulfing you like a warm blanket, coddling you to sleep. Jeno meets you in the water, wrapping his arms around you and nestling his head in your neck. He doesn’t say anything for a while, just enjoying having you close again.

“Thank you for telling me all that.”, he mumbles, head not moving an inch from where it’s buried. Lifting a hand, you gently play with the hair in his nape.

“It’s my pleasure, my king.” He scoffs at your words, but you can feel his smile against your skin. Jeno lifts his head, looking in your eyes once more. “I still don’t want to live a life where you aren’t in it.”

Your confession doesn’t budge his smile. Instead, he gently lifts his hand, tugging a wet strand of hair behind your ear. “I have a proposition for you. Becoming a king means that you can never be selfish. You have to give and give and give and accept that you rarely get anything back in return. You have to be selfless, caring about the wellbeing of your people. But every once in a while, we should be selfish. We should take what we want and take a risk.” You don’t know where he’s going with what he’s saying, not making any sense yet. “How about once a year we meet up. Right here on our rock. We talk, we spend the night together and then part ways again until the next year. In that way the risk will be lower, but we can still live a life that involves the other person.”

“And when shall that be?”, you ask him softly.

“May 24th.”, he answers, a knowing smile on his lips.

“The day we first met.”, you recall the distant memory. It lures a grin out of you, remembering how small you once were. How innocent and unknowing of how much this small encounter will change your lives. Jeno just nods, having the same small flashback as you do.

“Will I see you next year on the 24th?”, he asks, hope glinting in his eyes. And with the way he is looking at you, it’s hard to say no.

“I’ll be there.”, you promise him, leaning closer until your noses touch. “I won’t leave again.”

And for the last time the two of you close your eyes and let your lips meet in a sweet kiss. Locking the promise of a see you again. Even if it means you have to wait a year.

⋆｡ﾟ☁︎｡⋆｡ ﾟ☾ ﾟ｡⋆

Seven months have passed and while the bitter taste of leaving Jeno still lingers in your mouth, you don’t feel your heartbreaking anymore. You feel hopeful, ready to start a new chapter of your life.

So, when you enter ‘Flora’ with a determination to start this new life, there is not one part of you that feels nervous. You’re sure of your decision, having had months to think about it. Now it’s your turn to choose happiness, to guide yourself into the life you deserve. Because that’s not only what Jeno wants for you, that’s what you want for yourself as well.

You walk through the store, inhaling the sweet scent of the flowers and taking in the sea of colors. You always felt like you belong here, right in this store. It pulled you towards it, ever since you were a child. And only recently have you realized why. When you spot what you’ve been searching for, your heart skips a beat. But it feels right. Never has anything felt so right in your life.

Sensing a presence, Jaemin turns around from where he was watering the flowers. Shock written on his face as he spots you, having just seen you two hours ago.

“Y/n?” He says your name like it’s his favorite melody. Like it’s the only word he repeats before going to bed. Like it’s what gives him the energy to live. “Is everything okay?”

You nod at him, taking a few steps forward. Over the months Jaemin has never left your side. Always making sure you eat enough, taking you out to distract you and even buying you new books whenever you finish one. He was the person you desperately needed in the time of your sorrow. He was and still is the person you deserve. You gradually noticed your fast beating heart whenever he was around you. The way your cheeks would become a deep red shade whenever he complimented you. And how you couldn’t stop thinking about him. But you had to wait. You had to wait until you were over Jeno. Until your heart has healed, put itself back together.

“Remember when you told me that if I find myself in a situation where he isn’t there anymore to take up all my thoughts? And that you will wait for me until I’m ready?” Jaemin nods, mouth hanging open, waiting for your next words.

“I’m finally ready for you.”

Bonus scene

Saying bye to Jaemin with a gentle kiss on his lips, you make your way to the beach. It’s sunny around this time, summer slowly showing its face. You enjoy the sun again, after a long dreadful winter. It feels like a reward after having to wear hoodies and sweatshirts for a long time. Now you can put on your cutest sun dresses again, go to the beach with Jaemin and Mark and live a little. Jaemin and you even planned a little trip to Italy, wanting a change of scene after so much happened in your lives.

You can hear a small yawn from the baby seat you are holding. Looking down you see your two-month-old daughter slowly opening her eyes, waking up from her nap. Smiling as you see her little face scrunched up, not ready to leave the dream land yet. “It’s okay, baby. You can sleep some more.” You can see her calm down after hearing your voice, closing her eyes again.

Shortly after last year’s meet up with Jeno, Jaemin and you found out you’re pregnant. It was a shock at first, not having planned such a thing to happen three years into your relationship. But that didn’t stop you from being excited about it either. Even though you hadn’t planned it to happen, it felt like it was the right time. That got confirmed the second you saw your daughter in the arms of her father. Jaemin loves her, and he’s not afraid to show it. Carrying her around at all times, talking to her like she can understand him. Sometimes he just stops and stares at her with this look in her eyes, like he can’t believe she’s real.

As you get closer to the rock, you can already see the silhouette of Jeno. You don’t know how he will react to the little baby, but you wanted to show her to him. Envolve him into the happiness she had brought your ever since she was born.

When you see him turn around, you can see the hesitation in his eyes as he spots the baby seat. Carefully trying to get a look, but not daring to get any closer. “Is that?”, he asks, unsure of how to phrase it.

“Yeah.”, you answer him with a big smile. “I found out shortly after our last meeting that I was pregnant, that’s why I didn’t tell you.”

He just nods, watching as you take a seat beside him, gently getting the small child out of her seat. Jeno doesn’t know what to say, or what to do. All he can do is observe you. He notices the constant smile on your lips, your eyes filling with so much pride as you look at your baby. You’re a mother, he realizes. And that title has never fit anyone better than you.

“You want to hold her?”, you ask him, giving him an encouraging nudge. And as much as he would like to decline the offer, scared he might do something wrong, part of him is tempted to do it. Just for a few minutes he wants to be selfish. He wants to know what it feels like to sit beside you, having a child in his arms, imagining it was his. He wants to know what it could feel like to have a future with you. A future in which everything is possible. In which he can be who he chooses to be, love who he wants to love. A future that involves you and him. Marrying, having children, and growing old together. He’s been dreaming about that a lot more lately, as if his head was telling him all along that you were expecting a child. He’s been longing a lot more as well recently. Longing for you, your touch, your voice, even just your bare presence. And he’s been making wishes a lot more as well. Wishes to be able to change everything, to leave his life behind and join yours again. Just for a few moments, he wants to feel like all those things could actually come true.

So, he nods at you, letting you place the small being in his arms. Her head rests comfortably against his chest, and you two hear her sigh, as if she found her place. As if she claimed him, and never wants to sleep anywhere else but his chest.

“Someday.”, Jeno speaks up, eyes leaving your child and meeting yours. “Someday in another life this could be us.” Jeno looks at you as if you’re his world. As if you picked the stars from the sky only for him. As if he can’t live without you. “In another life we can be happy together, having a family of our own. And I can’t wait for that other life to come.”

[soulofapatrick]

Perfect Date - Pedro Pascal x reader/OC

Summary: Part three to Behind The Scenes and Never Letting You Go. I might rewrite it I’m not sure

Words: 1.07k

Warnings: None 

Pedro’s POV

Filming goes on as usual but now Y/N just alternates between sleeping in her trailer with Bella or crashing in mine. It all depends on how filming was that day, like after filming the section for David and Ellie it seemed like Bella really needed her sister. It was an intense part to film, the reality of what could have happened if it were real life sitting in the air for a while. 

I watched from across the set the way Bella hugged Y/N tight and the way the beautiful woman hugged her back like she would never let anything touch Bella. Y/N met my gaze and sent me a shy smile as if she hadn’t been moaning in my ear earlier that morning. Of course I couldn’t just let her go back to set the next morning without hearing those breathtaking sounds or feel the way she writhed underneath me. We weren’t able to get breakfast but little does she know I have a date planned, I just need Gabriel and Bella to hold up their end of this and help me out. 

Y/N isn’t one for big public acts so a fancy dinner date is out the question and a bad idea if we don’t want the paparazzi to make up a story about me and some mystery girl. I haven’t even asked her to date me yet, I plan to do that on this date. I want to set up a picnic of all her favourite snacks and we can get Italian takeaway as I’ve noticed spaghetti bolognese being her favourite meal. Whenever we all go our at a team it’s her go to and if they don’t have that she’ll have a burger. Gabriel and Bella are going to distract her as Gabriel seems to be her best friend on set and well, Bella’s her sister. I have no idea what they’re going to do but I hope it’s enough for me to set up. 

Tomorrow’s our day off so it’s planned for then. I have all the Indiana Jones movies bought and waiting for me on the hotel TV as Y/N’s always gushing over how much she loves the movies and how she’ll always rewatch them when she’s sad. I want it to be perfect. I want her to know just how much I love and care for her. I want to show her that she is more than the mind blowing sex. 

——————

It’s finally here and everything’s perfect. The hotel gave me roses which I spread all across the bed, around the blanket laid out and the picnic basket full of all of her favourite snacks at the bottom of the bed. The takeaway spaghetti is in tupperware containers inside a heat bag or whatever they’re called. 

I’ve showered and spent hours on deciding what to wear because this… this is what makes or breaks us. I settled on some loose jeans and a button up which I only button up three quarters of the way up, making sure my hair is fluffy and curly as Y/N can’t seem to keep her hands out of it or stop complimenting the curls. I neatened up my beard and then began to light the two cherry scented candles as it’s Y/N’s favourite scent. 

There’s a knock at the door and Gabriel’s calling, “Her eyes are closed.” 

I’m throwing the door open to find Y/N standing there, Gabriel covering her eyes but I can’t help just stare at how gorgeous she looks. She’s in black and white plaid jeans that just hit her figure in all the right places as well as a baggy cream sweater and Doc Martens. Her hair is down except for two twists on either side of her head. It’s so effortless yes has me feeling like a kid with a high school crush. 

Gabriel opens his mouth to speak and I realise I’ve been starting for a few minutes so I shoo him away and replace his hands with my own, guiding her into the room and kicking the door behind me. Her breath hitches when I stop her and press my chest to her back, unable to help myself because she’s gorgeous and she’s right here and I need to feel her in my arms. 

“Surprise sweetheart.” I take my hands away and her mouth falls open before she’s spinning around to throw herself at me in a hug. I wrap my arms around her waist as she runs her fingers play with the wisps of hair at the nape of my neck and she’s mumbling ‘thank you’ over and over again until I’m pulling her away from me, “Anything for you baby girl. I promised us a date.” 

“You did, ” She’s breathless, forest green eyes bright with love as I guide her over to the bed, “How did you?” She notices the food eyes widening and head flying up to meet my gaze again as we sit. 

“That’s for me to know and you to never find out.” I send a cheeky grin her way, heart pounding because I want to ask her before we settle down and begin otherwise it’d just be so awkward, “I-I’ve been meaning to ask you something,”

“Is everything okay Pedrito?” Concern covers her soft face as I grab her hands in mine, heart swelling at the use of my nickname. Only my family and the closest people call me that. It feels like a secret the way it perfectly rolls off her tongue. 

“Willyougooutwithme?” I blurt out and she laughs lightly as I feel my face flush bright red, taking a deep breath before trying again, “Will you be my girlfriend.” 

“I thought you’d never ask.” She leans across the bed and kisses me. It makes me want to knock everything off the bed and ravish her but I want to have this date just as badly. Y/N seems to have similar thoughts because she’s breaking the kiss to kick off her boots and just as quickly as she’s gone she’s back. This time she’s straddling my lap, eyes having darkened with something more than lust as she’s holding my face in her hands and pressing a kiss to my slightly parted lips that has me weak at the knees. I grab her hips to ground myself pulling away from the kiss to risk something so very very early on: “I love you.” 

“I love you too.” 

[dayurno]

cousin dayurno…. thots on tsc. i remember you mentioning before it came out that you weren’t super excited about it/might not read it for a while. im curious now if you think it’s worth getting into sooner rather than later! as someone who keeps forgetting to start it i must know the opinion of the council

cousin dayurno............... hi! well okay so. going into tsc i didn't have many expectations besides maybe seeing kevin at some point, and getting told an interesting story. i was not disappointed in the kevin front nor whenever the foxes were concerned: i think nora sakavic's grasp on them is as strong as ever and the few that showed up (kevin, renee, neil) were capable of carrying any story no matter what. jean spends a good chunk of the book in palmetto and you can tell it's nora's strongest suit as a writer; it's the most interesting part of the book and the character work is, as expected, very well thought out. i couldn't stop reading for the entire period of jean's stay with the foxes.

i will say the book kind of fell flat for me after jean left palmetto. half of it is because jean sucks the life out of basically any of the trojans character-wise; the foxes were able to compete with him because they are well established characters with complex backstories who already feel real to the reader, whereas the trojans (bar lucas, who is a highlight if there was ever one), while lovely, aren't really much of characters at all. i think nora sakavic likes to write a very specific kind of story, and in that niche she is fabulous, but she stumbles when she has to make simpler stories interesting. she is a high-stakes writer writing a very low-stakes story, and in tsc you can tell.

jeremy was supposed to be the main character along with jean, but in his very few chapters, not much about him is learned; from the moment he is in a room with jean, jeremy's whole character starts to revolve around him. yes, you can say this is jeremy repressing even in his own mind, and maybe that's true where it concerns his backstory, but that's not all there is to a character. even if jeremy's backstory wasn't going to be discussed, there's effectively nothing else about him: we know that he's rich, that he's gay, and that's it. no particular quirks nor non-trojan related interests. the only discernable character trait i can put out about jeremy is that he is very pushy, and i don't think that's what nora intended for him. he was a breath of fresh air in his first chapters, but what little personality he shows is immediately mowed down by being on 'taking care of jean' mode 24/7. i thought he could use more personality, and overall more scenes away from jean (and even laila and cat) to establish himself as a character

you have not yet read it so i will not spoil you the reason, but i felt that neil's appearance later down the line was the highlight of the book because it made the story feel interesting again. neil steals the show because he's neil, and he's more interesting than all of the trojans combined. he also makes them all look worse by comparison: we see personality and chemistry and history and that is something that the trojans just don't have. they're lovely, but that's all there is to it. jeremy and the trojans feel more like tools to achieve jean's happiness than actual characters, and that's a bit of the upperclassmen curse in aftg, but in a book that's so specifically centered around jean's inner world and his healing trajectory, they feel flat and out of place by contrast. they can't win. they can't even compete. but if they could, catalina and laila would get the closest to being real characters

this got away from me so tl;dr: tsc is fine! it's not tfc, and i think the contrast might feel surprising and hard to adjust to, especially when it comes to character work. it has all of nora's trademark writing with none of the groundwork there was for tfc, and it would have benefitted a lot from staying in the drafts for a little longer. it's an ok book! it didn't change my life nor did it save anyone, but it was there, and it did what it said it was going to do. if i saw it on ao3 i probably wouldn't read it, but i wouldn't hate on it either

[maraudersshit]

Remus & the Pack Meet

-this is a story i add to whenever Im trying to go to sleep and cant. its just a bunch of bits and pieces of a bigger universe. (if you see this also posted by an account called oscarthegrouch, thats also me I just accidentally posted to it and now cant delete it)-

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“By Merlin, this is the worst idea I’ve ever heard. James, tell him he’s an idiot.” Sirius paced the sitting room, arms folded, then flailing, and folded once more. James was looking up and over his glasses from his desk chair, a pile of parchment stacked high in front of him,

“He’s right, Moony. This isn’t a very thought out plan.”

“How can it be!?” Remus threw his arms into the air, “we’ve no clue what Greyback is intending to do at the Pack meet. Who better to find out then,” he gestured to himself wildly, “a bloody werewolf!?”

“He’s right, Pads,” Peter chimed in, “We really should find out more, Greyback has always been a slippery one, and if we’re to chip away at You-Know-Who’s forces, it could help to start with one of his ‘Generals’, as we might put it.”

Remus sighed, “Thank you, Pete, I appreciate your support.”

“It’s still a stupid plan, though.” 

“Pete!” Remus groaned, “Like I said, there can’t be a plan. We don’t know enough, first of all, and second of all, I have to act as natural as possible. I have to play as an open-minded recruit. Easy as pie.”

“That’s not the point!” Sirius interjected, stepping to the center of the room. 

James cleared his throat, “We also don’t know what intel he has on you. They could very well know you're part of the order and have a trap set in place to get to the rest of us.” he added, “our lives have been connected for years now, they most definitely have all of that on us.”

“Yes, but they don’t know that you all know I’m a werewolf.”

“Bingo.” Pete sang,

“Except for Snape, that weasel.” Sirius huffed.

“And whose fault is that?” Remus muttered under his breath. Sirius whipped around, but the other man was looking pointedly away and no one else seemed to hear. Pete added on, “And he’s most definitely a death eater by now.” Quiet noises of agreement filled the stale air,

“We could just play it off as you all being prejudiced towards werewolves and I’d had enough, so I joined the pack.” Remus attempted the resolve, finally looking at Sirius with arms extended towards his biggest objector,

“You will not go about telling people we’re racists!” Sirius placed a hand on his chest in shock.

“You would be the most believed, Padfoot. You know, with your family background and all…” Peter mumbled the last bit, but Sirius had heard all the same. His mouth, agape, closed and opened multiple times with intent to make an argument, but it was no use. He had nothing in response, so he sat angrily on the settee, arms crossed and pouting.

“So, its settled th-“

“It is NOT settled!” Sirius cut Remus off,

“Yes, it is.” James followed with a sigh, “We all know there's no stopping him. He’ll go whether we support the decision or not.”

“Well, he should take into consideration what his best mates suggest, which is staying the fuck away from Greyback!”

“He is standing right here,” Remus interjected loudly, silencing the others before they could argue with him anymore, “and knows that you all are just trying to keep him safe. But I am capable of this mission.”

Sirius chewed at his cheek, arms still crossed. Remus looked to him, but Sirius avoided his gaze, instead choosing a snagged length of string on the rug to analyze.

“I leave tomorrow at dawn, but I'll make sure to write up as much information on my whereabouts before I go, just in case things head south. Now, if you don’t mind, I’m going to collect my things.” Remus headed towards the large oak door of the sitting room,

“Need any help?” Peter asked, looking up from his book,

“No, thanks. I should be able to handle it.” He turned the knob and exited, closing the door gently behind him. The room was quiet for a moment, the only sound being James shuffling parchment and the now distant steps of Remus upstairs,

“Bloody fucking werewolves. The lot of them.” Sirius spat, “he's going to get himself killed.”

“He’ll be fine, he always is.” Peter sighed.

“Until he isnt,” Sirius mumbled, and them much louder argued, “he's not invincible! I mean, he cried in year three when you told him the seafood chowder was made from the Giant Squid. Remember, James?” James blew air through his nose in humour,

“Merlin, the guilt after almost ate me alive. It was horrendous. But we aren't thirteen anymore, Pads. We all want to do our part in this war, and he feels this is his.” James looked over the parchment in his hand once more before levitating it to where Peter was sat, “look over this for me, will you?” Peter huffed in annoyance, “if this is the menu for next week's dinner again, I swear on Merlins beard-“ the parchment stopped mid-air, then slowly started to float back to James, who was looking down sheepishly.

[onlycosmere]

verendus3: Which of your worlds would you most and least want to live in?

Brandon Sanderson: Whenever I get this question, I say, “Can I go write quickly a short story in a really nice world where nothing is wrong, they have the internet, and authors can make a professional living as a novelist? Can I do that? I'll go quickly write one up and go live there." Because I don't really want to live in any of the worlds. I like air conditioning. Air conditioning isn't a thing in basically any of the cosmere worlds. You can make it work with various magic systems, but in most cases, to make it work with those various magic systems, you're going to have to be pretty high up in the social structure. Because most of these worlds have not gotten equality and things down, even to the level that we have. These worlds are not necessarily great places to live. And then beyond that is, generally there is some world ending event and/or disaster coming that I wouldn't want to be around for.

If I have to pick, I usually say Scadrial because they are closest to the tech level I want. But they are also the most commonly subject to world-ending things, because there's gonna be four series, at least, in the Mistborn world. Maybe Nalthis would be better, because the fewer books I write about a place, probably the less likely the world is to end anytime soon.

It is definitely not Threnody. We'll just say that.

[munsonownsmyass]

"Settling in front of the fireplace at night." With Matt? I know his place doesn't have a fireplace, BUT STILL! Maybe you can make some magic happen 🥺

Aww, Amanda. Thank you for this ask. If there's one thing I love, it's a good "huddle up by the fire" story 🥰❤️

Matt murdock x reader

Authors note: No warnings. Pure fluff. I hope this is what you were looking for 🙈💕

”Can’t sleep?”

Looking up, you find Matt smiling with a blanket wrapped around his shoulders. You scootch over and pat the couch, inviting him to join you in front of the fire. It had been a long and beautiful day, so you found it hard to sleep, still high on excitement and a little drunk. 

He opens his arms and without thinking you lean into him, nuzzling into his side. Matt’s arms wrap around you, making sure you’re covered by the blanket. For a while you just sit there, watching the flames dance in the old fireplace. His hands rub soothing circles on your shoulder and thigh as he holds you close.

It’s strange how normal this feels, being in his arms. Truth be told, you had dreamt about it for years. You’d been madly in love with Matt Murdock ever since you meet him and Foggy senior year in college, but never had the guts to make a move. Still now, after a whole day with him as you date at your friend’s wedding, you’re afraid to admit anything.

“Thank you for being my date today.” You say, hoping your voice don’t give you away. Somehow, he always knows how you feel. An annoying trait really, that meant you’ve never been able to keep a secret from Matt, except for your lingering crush. 

“You’re welcome, sweetheart.” He answers softly, kissing the top of your head. Sweetheart. If only he knew how your heart skips a beat every time he calls you that. “Haven’t had this much fun in years.”

He’s not wrong. It had been a wonderful day. Your friend since childhood had finally married her high school sweetheart on a beautiful December day. Everything had been perfect and like some fairytale, the snow had fallen just as they exited the church, turning the day even more magical. 

Hopelessly single, you had asked Matt to be your date and he had happily obliged and boy where you glad he did. He could wear the hell out of a tux and was without a doubt the most handsome man there. He had been one big smile all day and charming as always, earning you a few envious looks from the single women there. The whole day he’d been by your side, his hand often finding it’s way to the small of your back. You couldn’t deny the small shiver going through you, feeling the heat from his palm through the thin fabric of your dress.

When he later had swirled you around the dancefloor, your heart was beating so fast it was threatening to burst through your chest. For a blind man, he really could dance and if possible, you felt yourself fall even harder. Even more when he had taken you outside for air, the snow falling softly, silencing everything around you. There under the stars, the evening air peaceful and quiet, you had looked to him wondering if you’d ever dare confess your true feelings.

“Sweetheart?”

He pulls you out of your daydream, his warm hand squeezing you a little as he looks to you. When you meet his gaze, you wonder if you’ll ever get enough of his beautiful hazel eyes, loving whenever he takes the glasses off. You love when you see him like this, without the glasses, work suit and his normal guard up. He’s just your Matt, the worn t-shirt and grey sweats wearing, soft and caring, Matt. 

Eyes darting to his perfect lips, you feel yourself pulled closer to him. You want to blame the booze, but you know you simply can’t resist him any longer and a second later your lips are on his. It’s brief, but the softness of his lips lingers on yours as you pull away.

“I’m sorry, I-” is all you manage to say, before his hand comes up to cup your cheek, pulling you into another kiss. It starts off soft, timid, like he’s afraid of hurting you, but as you lean in closer, soft moans filling the air, Matt deepens the kiss. When you break away for air, a wide grin spreads on his lips, mirroring your own.

“I love you, Matt.” You blurt out, before you can stop yourself. He chuckles in response, kissing softly once more, before resting his forehead against yours.

“I know. Have known for a while.” Now it’s’ your turn to chuckle. Of course he does. One day, you have to ask how he does it. 

“Why have you never said anything?” you ask softly, fingers fiddling with his t-shirt

“Because I’m afraid I’m not good enough for you. I’ve done things I’m not proud of, Sweetheart and-” he sighs, licking his bottom lip as he breathes in. “There’s so much you don’t know.”

“There’s one thing I do know. No matter what it is, you can’t scare me away, Matt Murdock. You’re stuck with me.” You giggle, before the nerves set in again. “If you want me…”

“There’s nothing I want more.” He says with a smile, pulling you in for another kiss. “And… I love you too.”

With the biggest grin, you nuzzle back into his side. For a while you just sit there, looking at the warm glow of the flames.

Tagging: @e-dubbc11 @mindidjarin @phoebe-danvers @itwasthereaminuteago @idrinkcoffeeandobsess @mattmurdocksscars @pedrito-friskito @lucy-sky @a-bang-for-your-bucky

[hey-august]

Gonna try my luck and pick Nr. 10: Land (as for weather I pick snow) and Buggy. Quote: „I’m full of surprises“ as said by reader and „This is nice.“ as said by buggy.

Ooooh, snow was a good choice! That made this really fun, thank you so much for this prompt!! 🩷

Prompts: Land (snow), "I'm full of surprises." "This is nice." Teaser: "You didn’t know his round nose could scrunch up so much. It was absolutely adorable, but you wouldn’t tell him that." Warnings: SFW, established relationship (ish?), 2 dumb puns. Word count: ~1.5k

A/N: I was going to hold this until tomorrow, but I'm impatient and way too excited. 🫠Sorry for any typos, lmk if you see anything that needs to be fixed!

Check out my 250 Follower Prompt Event and see fulfilled prompts here.

˗ˏˋ ★ ˎˊ˗ ✩ ˗ˏˋ ★ ˎˊ˗ ✩ ˗ˏˋ ★ ˎˊ˗ ✩ ˗ˏˋ ★ ˎˊ˗

In the hour that passed since Buggy left to get more wine, the snow had nearly doubled in height. The frozen water was making a steady climb, intent on reaching the knee-high amount promised. Worry about the captain trudging back to the ship with the wine (and any other purchases he deemed necessary during a snowstorm) traveled on the icy wind.

Your rescue mission began with an ungraceful slide down the gangplank. Surprisingly, you kept your balance and arrived on the dock, standing on both feet and shaky knees. Pulling down your wool hat and holding the thick green coat closer to your body, you followed divots where old footsteps had been covered in fresh snow and ventured towards town.

The liquor shop wasn’t difficult to find, since it was one of the few places able to pull in successful business in this weather. Buggy, however, remained difficult to find. Questioning the owner and patrons about the boisterous blue-haired pirate resulted in zero leads.

No one recalled seeing such a colorful visitor, nor had anyone asked for the specific sweet red wine he was supposed to purchase. One resident suggested you head across the street. The food shop was another popular destination on poor weather days and maybe someone there could help.

The oily scent of fried food wafted through the air outside - a mix of savory goods with an undercurrent of sweet baked sugar. Definitely the type of siren’s call that Buggy would fall prey to. The heated interior worked fast to thaw the numbness in your cheeks. Two clerks stood behind the counter, hiding pity behind professionalism. They looked toasty and not at all interested in getting anywhere near the outside world.

“Hey…Hi, how are you?” You started the conversation breathlessly as your lungs struggled with the weight of the warm air.

“Good, thank you for asking. What can I get you today?” One worker stepped forwards with a practiced smile while the other went back to wiping down the counter.

“I, uh, need help. I’m looking for someone.”

You began describing Buggy when the quiet clerk smacked the counter excitedly. Her open palm slap halted the rest of your words and she jumped in to fill the space. “Oh, oh! I saw him! I saw him earlier!! Blue hair, big hat, red no-”

“So, he was here?” You cut her off, hoping to avoid the inevitable question that came up whenever Buggy’s nose was mentioned.

“Uh, not exactly. I saw him through the window. He was walking down the street like this-” She crossed her arms, hunched forwards, and started stomping in place.

Your knowing smile was all the shop workers needed to relax and giggle through the story.

“He practically ran into Sapling, who started scolding him. It was hilarious, because Sapling is this tall, so he really had to look up, like this.” Craning her head back, she wagged her finger at the ceiling. 

Oh no. Buggy doesn’t do well when someone - especially a stranger - talks to him like that.

Reading the worry on your face, the worker rushed into the rest of her story. “I think they worked it out. The guy you’re looking for took one of Saplings’ bags and they walked away together. I betcha he wanted to help Sapling get home as an apology.”

You nodded quietly, keeping your disagreement about Buggy’s motives silent. Knowing your captain, he might be trying to rob that unfortunate townie. What was supposed to be a rescue mission for your captain, could be turning into a rescue mission for the town.

You restarted the snowy journey armed with three cups of complimentary hot chocolate and very specific directions - turn left and walk until the house with a mustard yellow door (not daffodil yellow) and take another left. Don’t go down the street that goes left but at a diagonal, but the one that goes left-left. Then go past the black oak tree, the stone fence and the post-and-rail fence, until you get to the house with a picket fence.

Any doubts you had about finding the correct house were blown away by the wind carrying Buggy’s voice. He was shouting. You were familiar with his different tones and this sounded more like annoyance than anger or murderous rage. As you approached the house, you saw Buggy kicking aggressively and sending bits of snow flying.

“You need to clear a path if you’re going to make people walk you home! This is so fucking danger-ah!” Buggy’s last word crescendoed into a screech. 

The pirate lost his footing and slipped backwards. Although he was able to keep his torso afloat, his bottom half was less successful and his rump fell into the snow. 

“Mm, I see what you mean,” said an amused voice from the front door. That must be Sapling.

Although the chilly blow to his ego was enough to subdue his tirade, Buggy flipped off the commentator before patting the snow off his pants.

“Hello, boys!” you called out, finally announcing your arrival. “I have hot chocolate!”

Buggy’s head - just his head - whipped around, wondering if you might be a weather apparition. “Wha- How did you get here?”

“I walked,” you replied simply. You gave the two a quick smile before focusing on your feet and shuffling forwards. 

Buggy was right, continuing to compact the snow would be dangerous. Rather than adding to the icy path that was already forming, you chose to help clear a path. It only took a few minutes for your trail to connect with Buggy’s. You leaned up to press a quick kiss to his cold cheek, ignoring the heat gathering under your winter gear. It must be from physical exertion. At least, that’s what you told yourself. And Buggy’s red face was probably from being exposed to the elements.

Clearing his throat, your captain introduced you to Sapling - a small old man with wispy hair that put the snow to shame and a cheerful drawl. He held a cane that was more of a branch than a walking device. Although there was a slight tremor when you handed over the hot drink, Sapling did not seem like a frail person. Only a few minutes after meeting him and you understood how this man easily got on Buggy’s good side.

“I’ll be honest, sir, you weren’t what I was expecting when they mentioned Sapling,” you commented.

“Right? He’s a bit of beech…a pain in the ash…” Buggy muttered against the lip of his cup before taking a sip of the sweet drink. “Oh, this is nice!”

Sapling tutted and shook head with a smile. “I guarantee you’d have a different opinion if you visited with the blossoms. This area is a sure sight in fairer weather. Not to brag, but many say I have the best garden they've ever laid eyes on.”

The glimmer of pride in Sapling’s eyes was similar to the glint Buggy wore when talking about his circus. These two were definitely kindred spirits.

You looked around the yard and stared at how the white blanket rose and fell, covering plants that must be hibernating until winter. “Do you have any spare fertilizer? We could spread some on the walkway and it might melt the ice.”

“Oh, that’s a brilliant idea!” Sapling said brightly, tapping his cane on the ground. “Follow me, Captain.” The man turned without waiting for a response.

“How do you know that?” Buggy hissed as he lurched forwards. 

“I’m full of surprises, you know.” Faced with a glare, you couldn’t hold back a smile that came with the reply. 

You handed him your half-full cup as an apology for an answer you knew he found unsatisfactory. Buggy accepted and drained it in two gulps.

The two men came back with a small bag of fertilizer, which you offered to spread out after seeing the way Buggy’s face crinkled. You didn’t know his round nose could scrunch up so much. It was absolutely adorable, but you wouldn’t tell him that. A quick peck on your forehead was Buggy’s way of saying he’ll see you back on the ship. He went back to the liquor store and you took care of the ice path.

With enough fertilizer left in the bag to put down another layer tomorrow, you rolled the bag and went to put it next to the front door for easy access. Sapling was waiting for you with a wicker basket full of small packets.

“You and that captain of your’s did good. It’s a blessing to come across people like you.” His words were warm and genuine, like a summer day. The name made sense, now. “Here, take a few seeds. It’s my way of saying thank you.”

When you tried to decline, Sapling pushed the basket towards you again, his balance wobbling with the movement. It was a ploy to make you feel bad and choose some plants and it worked. You rifled through the packets, the paper and seeds whispering for you to choose wisely. As someone who wasn’t much of a gardener, you considered picking a few at random when three envelopes called to you directly. They were flower seeds.

Thanking Sapling profusely and promising to come back another time, you tucked the gardenia seeds into your pocket. Once again, you felt unexpected heat pooling across your body, making your palms slick, settling into your armpits, and burning your cheeks. The flower seeds reminded you of Buggy and you wondered if he’d like them as well.