#i will draw them happy one day i promise!!!!!

[rafeysdeer]

so american (aka civil!reader x vigilante bf jason)

prompt: where the reader is not used to be loved in the right way, or, where jason finds the reader sleeping wrapped in his t-shirt and does everything to show how much he loves her.

a/n: omg hi! i know, i really disappeared this time, but i'm back and with a new imagine! i promise i will post every request that it's on wait list, and become more active in here, anyway, english is not my first language, and i hope u guys like this one 💗

"he says i'm pretty wearing his clothes" so american, olivia rodrigo

It was already late at night when the window of your tiny apartment opened, showing that your boyfriend had arrived from his usual patrol, unfortunately, you had been asleep for a long time, on the couch, curled up in a shirt at least twice your size, an open book sprawled on the coffee table, in a probably very uncomfortable position.

Jason's eyes lit up when he found your peacefully sleeping figure on the couch, his satisfaction growing even more when he recognized the oversized t-shirt you were wearing, his shirt, the one that had been missing for weeks, but he seen it hidden on your side of the closet, a smile started to take over his face.

He carefully approached you, pulling the blanket from the edge of the couch to cover your soft body, but no matter how gentle his touch was, he saw your eyes slowly opening, blinking slowly as you tried to shake off the desire to return to your deep sleep.

"Jay? What time is it? I'm sorry, I tried to stay awake, but the couch was so comfy" the girl said, trying to defend herself, of nothing, because he was not accusing her at all, and it's obvious when he looks at her face with an expression of pure confusion.

"Why are you apologizing, sweetheart? It's really late, you didn't have to wait for me, come on, let's get you on bed" he says as the girl blinks her big eyes, shaking off the sleep, her arms wrapping almost instinctively around his neck, as he picks you up bridal style, wrapped in the fluffy blanket and takes you towards the bedroom.

It didn't matter how many nights had passed, how many patrols there were, how many times he told her it was okay for her to go to sleep, and that she didn't need to wait for him.

The routine in the end was always the same, him finding her passed out on the couch, curled up in some uncomfortable position, and then carrying her back to the bedroom while she grumbled about how he didn't need to carry her, even though she made no sign of moving, and just curled up tighter into him.

And yet, night after night, she kept apologizing for doing something as silly as falling asleep while waiting for him to come, and as cute as he thought it was, it was starting to get tiring.

"Honey, you know you don't have to apologize every time you fall asleep, right? It's okay to sleep, besides, I love the routine of having to carry you to bed" He teases with a smile on his face that said everything that was hidden behind his gaze.

She curls up on the bed as she waits for him to finish taking off his gear, watching him take off his combat boots and heavy jacket.

"I don't know, I just feel bad, you already do so much for me, the least I could do was wait for you." She says with a look on her face that expressed how much she wished she could do more, how much she felt she needed to do more.

His head tilts slightly to the side as he lets out a tired sigh.

"The only thing I want from you is for you to rest, so you can be beautiful and happy the next day, and not look like a tired zombie, you know that's more like my thing." He teases, smiling mischievously, drawing a little laugh from her pretty lips, as the bed moves with the new added weight.

His arms go straight to her waist, as if there was a supernatural force pushing them towards her. They curl up comfortably around each other, his head tucked into the space between her neck and shoulder, leaving kisses that were anything, but innocent.

"Maybe I have to tire you up, so you finally stop being so stubborn and go to sleep," he jokes, smiling as he bites lightly her earlobe, making her let out a cute sound between a nervous laugh and the beginning of a moan.

"Jay, stop it, you're tired, let's go to sleep." She protests, moving in his arms as he warmly holds her in place.

"Nah, never too tired for you, love."

His voice sounds huskier as his open-mouthed kisses start to trail down her neck, causing nervous giggles. "You know, I think you should-" He begins as she let out little nervous laughs and giggles, he murmurs against her skin, causing goosebumps, an effect only he could cause on her. "...Wear that shirt more often, you look pretty in my clothes." He says with a naughty smile as he places kisses on the lap of her chest, the part that's not covered by her (his) shirt.

This was going to be a really long night, at least you got a good rest.

[silver-hwaberry]

TWENTY-FOUR: worries and truths told

Warnings: talks of anxiety, bipolar disorder, mental health, medication, no explicit details but one mention of past suicide attempt and self harm scars, swearing, suggestive language, brief description of sex

Word Count: 13.7k

Summary: The 9 of them return from LA, and while they are all happy to be home, Luna is worried about her relationship with one of them, prompting another member to reveal his past to her. The following day, her anxiety increases when Hongjoong, Yunho, and Seonghwa want to talk to her.

{banners by @cafekitsune}

The apartment was a welcome sight as the 9 of them walked into it. The flight home had gone without issues, no panic attacks. Luna took her medication as promised, she sat beside Wooyoung who kept her distracted with games on his ipad, food and movies.

“I’m so hungry!” groans San making his way straight to the pantry to get a snack

“Me too,” Mingi agrees, flopping down onto the sofa. “I could eat an entire pizza by myself.”

“Pizza sounds amazing,” Luna says, dropping her bag onto the floor and face planting onto her now favourite corner on the sofa, the one that is closest to her bedroom door. “But it’s so late. Are places even still delivering?”

“Leave that to me,” Hongjoong says with a smirk, pulling out his phone. “I know a place that delivers 24/7. What do you guys want?”

Everyone starts shouting what they want as Hongjoong tries to write it down on his phone. Hongjoong nods as he types away, jotting down everyone's orders. "So we have 3 large pizzas, Kimchi stew, tteokbokki, japchae, pajeon, and fried chicken... anything else?" He glances around at the group.

Wooyoung rubs his stomach as it growls, "I think that should be enough for now. We can always make some ramyeon later if we're still hungry." He turns to Luna with a smile. "Anything else you want, jagiya?”

“No, just some pizza will do me.” she replies moving her head to the side so it was no longer buried in the plush cushion

“Okay, I’ll get this ordered. Everyone should go get changed and washed up before it arrives.” Hongjoong says walking into the kitchen

Everyone begins to make their way to their separate rooms but Yeosang lingers, though, his eyes never leaving Luna. She’s still on the sofa but she’s sitting upright now, her legs tucked under her as she scrolls through her phone. He walks over, sitting down beside her as she looks up at him with a fond smile. “Hey Sangie.”

“I missed you,” he says quietly, reaching out to brush some hair behind her ear. His touch is gentle, but there’s an undercurrent of something deeper, something he’s been holding onto.

Luna eyes are soft. “Missed you too,” she whispers back.

Before she can say anything else, Yeosang leans in, his lips meeting hers in a kiss that’s both tender and hungry. It’s been too long since they’ve had a moment like this, just the two of them, their last kiss being in the gym on their first morning in LA and he can’t help but pour everything he’s been feeling into it. Luna melts into the kiss, her fingers curling into his shirt as if to hold him closer.

Yeosang's lips press against Luna's, his kiss growing more intense as he grips her hips and draws her onto his lap. She feels the heat radiating from his body and the power of his hold, sending a shiver down her spine. It's been ages since they shared a moment like this, just the two of them, completely absorbed in one another. They kiss with a fervour as if they are each other's lifeline, filled with longing and urgency. Yeosang's lips travel along Luna's jaw to her ear, whispering sweet words in Korean.

"I missed this," he whispers, his voice filled with emotion. "I couldn't stop thinking about you."

Luna shivers as his warm breath caresses her skin. "I missed it too," she admits softly, her fingers playing with the hair at the nape of his neck. "So much."

Yeosang pulls back slightly to look at Luna's face. Her cheeks are flushed a pretty pink, her lips swollen from their kisses. He tucks strands of now messy hair behind her ear tenderly.

"You look absolutely beautiful," he whispers with admiration before leaning in for a more gently kiss. Luna smiles into it, feeling a surge of happiness from his kind words. Despite being convinced she looks far from her best after the long flight, she appreciates the compliment nonetheless.

In the kitchen, Hongjoong is on the phone placing their large food order while San and Mingi help themselves to drinks from the fridge. They glance over at Yeosang and Luna softly kissing on the sofa but wisely choose not to interrupt their moment.

“They look cute together.” Mingi says

"They really do," San agrees with a smile, "though it's still strange to see Yeosang being so affectionate!" he adds.

"Not as strange as seeing Jongho kissing, though!" Mingi chimes in.

"Yeah…wait, what?" San asks his eyes widen, turning to Mingi, who just grins and makes a lock-and-key gesture with his lips and fingers.

Back on the sofa, Yeosang and Luna finally break their kiss, their foreheads resting against each other as they catch their breath. Luna looks into Yeosang's eyes, a soft smile playing on her lips.

"How did we get so lucky?" Yeosang murmurs, reaching up to cup her cheek. "To have you here with us, for you to pick us…"

Luna leans into his touch, nuzzling against his palm. "I'm the lucky one," she insists quietly smiling at him

Luna leans against Yeosang cuddling into him as she feels the warm of his body. He feels his heart skip a beat at being so close to her again after their trip.

Just then, Hongjoong shouts from the kitchen to everyone. "Ya, food's on the way!"

“We should get ourselves changed.” Yeosang whispers, his forehead pressed against the side of her head

“5 more minutes.” she replies with a slight pout

Yeosang's smile widens, unable to refuse her request. Her pouty face and big brown doe eyes were irresistible, but even without them, he found it impossible to deny anything she wished from him. The thought of spending just five more minutes cradling her in his arms felt like a slice of heaven to him, a moment he wanted to savour for a bit longer.

"You're way too cute when you pout like that," Yeosang murmurs, tucking some hair behind her ear. "It's actually unfair."

"You're not exactly innocent when it comes to getting your way either." Luna teases, poking his chest.

"Me?" Yeosang feigns offence, his hand clutching his chest dramatically. "I have no idea what you're talking about."

Luna raises an eyebrow at him. "Oh really? Because I distinctly remember someone getting Yunho to cut dance practice short last week with nothing but a pout and puppy eyes."

Yeosang's dramatic face melts into a laugh as he remembers. "Okay, that was different."

"Different how?" Luna grins, shifting to face him better.

“We'd been practising for six hours straight and my legs felt like jelly.” he replies

"You literally went 'Hyuuuung' with those big eyes of yours and he caved in like two seconds flat."

"Hey, I earned that power. Do you know how many years it took to perfect that pout?" He runs his thumb along her jawline, still chuckling. "Besides, Yunho is always been weak for my big eyes."

"You're ridiculous," Luna says fondly, leaning into his touch.

"Says the one who just used her own big eyes for five more minutes with me," he teases, his lips ghost over hers

“I don’t see you putting up a fight.” she whispers

“As if I could, angel.” he replies before capturing her lips

They stay like this for a few more minutes before finally and very reluctantly leaving each others arms. Yeosang gives her a lingering hug before retreating from the lounge for his room as she walks to hers

As Luna walks into her room, she feels a wave of calm wash over her. The familiar surroundings are like a balm to her soul after the stresses of the trip. She takes a moment to just breathe in the peace and comfort of being back home.

Moving quickly, Luna changes into a pair of soft cotton shorts and a long sleeved night shirt. She uses makeup remover wipes to clean off the day's worth of makeup and travel from her face.

The flight home was smoother than the one to LA. She noticed the guys were subtly watching her, clearly having discussed their plans beforehand. When Hongjoong asked who she'd prefer to sit beside, it confirmed her suspicions. Their actions at the hotel and in the private lounge were too well-coordinated to be spontaneous. She wasn't annoyed; she appreciated their discreet care and felt relieved not to worry about anything.

Luna always struggled with letting others care for her, as she was used to looking after everyone else - her friends, previous boyfriends, and her old work colleagues. Yet, she enjoyed the change of not having to worry all the time. Her Grandma Park called her an 'old soul' for her nurturing nature.

On the flight home, she insisted on keeping the seats the same which meant her flight partner this time was Wooyoung and secretly she was over the moon with that. Not that she wouldn’t have liked any of the others sitting beside her but she had spent the least time with Wooyoung while in LA and had missed him a lot.

She took her anti anxiety medication an hour before boarding, she was calm as the flight took off.

Wrapped in a new kuromi blanket from Seonghwa, with Wooyoung's hand in hers under the blanket and the amethyst crystal in the other, she listened to a playlist Hongjoong made on new headphones Mingi had bought her after he overheard her mention to Hyunsik her current ones weren’t holding their charge for long and the bracelet from Jongho on her wrist.They were surrounding her in one way or another and it was providing more comfort to her.

The rest of the flight consisted of a movie with Wooyoung, which he fell asleep during, eating, playing games on his ipad, sleeping, and eating some more before it was time for landing.

Luna finishes washing her face, she grabs her spare glasses from the nightstand and ties her long hair up into a messy bun on top of her head before going back into the lounge. No one was there but she could see Yunho, Seonghwa, San and Mingi were in the kitchen.

As she enters, Yunho turns and immediately opens his arms, offering a warm hug. She all but runs into his arms, savouring being able to hug him without worry. "Hey, little one!” he smiles

Luna mirrors his smile, feeling the soothing comfort of his hug wrap around her like a cosy blanket. "It's so good to be home," she replies, her voice brimming with genuine happiness and relief.

“You feeling okay?” he inquires softly, his tone gentle and caring. “No side effects from your anxiety medication?” his voice lowering to a tender whisper, “Or your other meds?” he adds even more quietly, his concern evident.

“Just a bit tired, like everyone else,” she reassures him, gazing up into his eyes with a hint of fatigue but an undeniable spark of contentment. “But I am fine!”

Yunho bends down and lightly kisses her lips, causing her to relax into him further. He places his hand gently on the small of her back to steady her as she goes onto her tiptoes, her arms moving to his shoulder.

"Oi, get a room!" Wooyoung calls out teasingly as he walks into the kitchen.

“You are just jealous!” Yunho replies playfully

“I don’t need to be jealous because I had her all to myself for twelve glorious hours,” Wooyoung smirks

Luna laughs, pulling away from Yunho as she turns around in his arms so her back was now pressed against him, her hands holding onto his arms that are still wrapped around her. "Oh yeah, except for the 5 hours to fell asleep and drooled on my shoulder!"

"I did not drool!" Wooyoung protests

"Oh you absolutely did," San chimes in. "I have the evidence on my phone!"

"You delete that right now!" he shouts

Yunho presses a kiss to the side of her head as they laugh at Wooyoung chasing San around the kitchen for his phone. The others begin to filter into the kitchen while Seonghwa starts cleaning the kitchen island. Luna makes her rounds, giving each of them hugs and kisses. When she reaches Jongho, he abruptly turns his back to her and rushes to the other side of the kitchen.

She is somewhat surprised by his behaviour. She had anticipated that he wouldn't be overly affectionate once they returned home and were surrounded by others, but she wasn’t expecting to be completely ignored like that. Since he left his hotel room that morning to go to hair and make up, he hadn’t looked at or even spoken to her. Not even on the photoshoot. Initially she thought it was just him being professional but they were home now… in their safe place, the one place in the world they were free to be themselves but he just turned his back on her.

Suddenly, she feels arms encircle her, drawing her attention away from Jongho's back. Without even glancing up, she knew it was Mingi; his hugs had become very familiar to her.

“You okay princess?” he asks.

Mingi was always good at picking up on subtle emotions, so he easily noticed the slight drop in her expression when Jongho turned away. She rests her head against his chest and nods while the others move around them.

"Do you want to sleep in my room tonight?" he offers gently, his voice soothing to her.

"Can I?" she asks quietly, gripping the back of his black hoodie tightly.

"You never have to ask that, princess!" he responds, kissing the top of her head.

Luna finds herself looking at Jongho once more, feeling a bit rejected as he remains with his back turned to her. The sound of the doorbell jolts her from her thoughts.

"The food’s here!" Hongjoong exclaims, rushing to the door.

"Ya, make sure you have your wallet this time!" Seonghwa shouts after him. "I’m not paying for you again."

"That only happened once!" Hongjoong retorts, already fishing out money from his pocket.

“Three times actually!” Wooyoung counters as Hongjoong rolls his eyes

They gather around the kitchen island, perching on the bar stools around it with various food containers spread out across the surface. The smell of delicious food fills the apartment as everyone digs in, the exhaustion from the flight momentarily forgotten in favour of satisfying their hunger.

"Stop stealing my wings," Wooyoung whines, swatting at Yeosang's chopsticks.

"You've had like six already," Yeosang retorts, successfully nabbing another piece.

"I counted and it was four, you thief!"

Luna is squeezed between Seonghwa and Mingi, taking small bites of her pizza slice while attempting to avoid glancing at Jongho, who has seated himself at the opposite end of the island. He hasn't looked in her direction, silently consuming his meal. It felt as though he intentionally sat as far from her as possible, which made her heart ache.

"Here," Seonghwa says quietly, sliding some of his chicken onto her plate. He always knew she liked extra.

“You should have it!” she replies trying to give it back but he holds up his hand

“I am nearly full and put too much on my plate!” he says “Take it before Yeosang and Wooyoung start fighting over it.” he whispers with a playful tone

“Thanks Hwa.” she smiles at him and leans over to kiss him

“Yeosang!!” Wooyoung shouts leaning across and pulling the container of chicken wings away from him

“Stop!” Yeosang lunges across the counter, nearly knocking over Mingi’s drink in the process.

"Careful!" Seonghwa scolds, steadying the glass. "I just cleaned this counter."

"Again with the cleaning," Wooyoung rolls his eyes. "We literally just got home."

"Some of us prefer not to live in filth," Seonghwa retorts, eyeing the sauce dripping down Wooyoung's chin.

Luna watches the chaos unfold with a small giggle, feeling warmth spread through her chest despite Jongho's continued silence at the end of the counter. She leans into Mingi's side, taking another bite of her pizza as Wooyoung and Yeosang continue their wrestling match over the chicken wings.

As the meal comes to an end, empty containers are scattered across the counter while Seonghwa and Yunho begin tidying up, urging everyone to head to bed. Luna notices Jongho casting a brief look in her direction before he swiftly turns away and heads up the stairs. Mingi takes her hand, his fingers naturally weaving between hers.

"Lets go upstairs," Mingi says softly, tugging her hand as she follows him to his bedroom. As soon as they walk in, Mingi closes the door and they slip under the covers. It is warm and comfortable and Luna instantly feels calmer.

"C'mere," he murmurs, pulling her close. His lips find hers in the darkness, soft and reassuring. She melts into him, grateful for his warmth, his steadiness.

“God I’ve missed this!” she sighs as their lips part and they get cosy.

“Me too princess.” he replies

They fall into a comfortable silence, Mingi's hands still moving soothingly across her back. He can feel the tension slowly leaving her body, but there's still something there, something unsaid.

"I can literally hear your brain overthinking from here," Mingi murmurs against her hair, his hand still running up and down her back. “You were a little quiet during dinner too.”

Luna shifts against him. "That obvious, huh?"

"You're about as subtle as Wooyoung trying to steal food." He pokes her side gently as she giggles lightly. "What’s going on inside your pretty little head, princess?"

She sighs lightly, burying her face in his chest. "Just tired."

"Bullshit," he says fondly. "But I won't push you."

They lay in comfortable quietness for a few minutes before Luna speaks up again. "How the hell do you manage to be this warm? Are you actually part furnace?"

Mingi snorts. "It's a gift. Though San always claimed I was stealing all his body heat when we shared hotel rooms."

"Poor San," Luna laughs softly

“I swear he was just using it as an excuse to steal my hoodies!”

Luna hums against his chest. "Speaking of theft, did you see Wooyoung's face when Yeosang stole that last wing?"

"I thought he was going to flip the entire counter," Mingi chuckles. "Though I'm pretty sure Seonghwa would've murdered them both if they messed up his pristine kitchen."

"God forbid anyone leave a crumb out of place," Luna says before mimicking Seonghwa's stern voice. "Do you want ants? Because that's how you get ants!"

Mingi's chest rumbles with laughter. "That was frighteningly accurate. Have you been practising your Seonghwa impressions?"

"Maybe." She pokes his ribs. "Don't you dare tell him though."

"Your secret's safe with me, princess." He kisses her forehead. "Did Wooyoung really drool on you on the plane?"

"Oh yeah. He kept nodding off during the movie and his head would just..." Luna demonstrates by letting her head loll dramatically to the side. "At one point he mumbled something about jellybeans and was like trying to eat my shoulder."

Mingi bursts out laughing loudly. "Please tell me San got that on video."

"Pretty sure he got the whole thing. Wooyoung's going to die when he sees it."

"Oh we will play it at every possible opportunity," Mingi grins, his eyes twinkling with mischief. "Company dinner? Christmas party? Maybe even his future wedding?"

“You’re evil!” she laughs

"Nah, just opportunistic. Besides, he's still holding onto that video of me walking into the glass door when we filmed that thing a couple of months ago.”

"Yeah he showed it to me! To be fair, it was pretty spectacular. You just..." Luna gestures vaguely with her hands. "Bounced."

"I did not bounce!" Mingi protests, though he's fighting back a smile. "I gracefully... rebounded."

“Well that is what will happen when you wear sunglasses indoors in a well lit place while trying to look cool on camera.” she laughs, “However, it was rather impressive!”

“I just hope they won’t add it to the final edit!” he groans playfully

“Oh you know they 100% will!” she lifts her head to look at him, her chin resting on his chest

“I know!” he simply replies looking at her

“I can’t wait to watch the show though when it gets aired. It sounded so fun to film. The games you played, you and Yunho sleeping overnight in a car!!” she giggles

“It really was!” he smiles, “But also weird to have done something so recently that you weren’t there for, before we even knew someone as special as you even existed in this world, never mind in the same city as us.” he places a kiss on her forehead, “It feels like you’ve always been here.”

“I feel the same with you guys.” she replies softly. She trusts them, all of them. “The reason I was quiet earlier was because I was a little caught off guard by J-Jongho.”

Mingi holds her tighter in his arms, her fingers play with the toggle on his hoodie as he allows her the time to continue when she is ready.

“I know that I shouldn’t be!” she says resting her head on his chest once more, “He doesn’t like skinship, especially infront of you and I know that but…” she trails off

“You thought after he was affectionate with you in LA that it would be the same at home?” Mingi finishes

“Stupid isn’t it?” she sighs

"Not stupid at all," Mingi says, his fingers absently playing with her hair. "Jongho's like... imagine being a 40-year-old man in a 22-year-old's body."

Luna laughs lightly against his chest. "That's oddly specific."

"Remember when he lectured San for like 10 minutes for putting his feet on the coffee table? He sounded exactly like my dad." Mingi chuckles, then his voice softens. "But you know what? I've never seen him smile the way he did in LA. When he was with you... it was like watching him finally act his age."

"Really?" Luna asks quietly, picking at a loose thread on Mingi's hoodie.

"Oh yeah. You should've seen how happy he looked after that kiss as we were going to hair and make up. Practically skipping, he was on cloud 9 from that kiss!"

Luna groans, burying her face in his chest. "Stop." but she can’t help smile at the memory of their kisses in LA and the way her stomach fluttered.

"I'm serious! He was practically floating. Even started whistling as the stylist did his make up - and let me tell you, that never happens! But hey," Mingi nudges her gently, "give him time. He's probably still processing the fact that someone managed to crack through his 'everything must be perfectly organised including my emotions' exterior. You basically turned his whole world upside down - in the best way possible."

Luna sighs. "I just... I don't want him to feel uncomfortable."

“You could never make anyone uncomfortable!” Mingi hugs her tighter, his fingers continuing to run through her hair soothingly. "Jongho may act tough, but he's a big softie deep down. He cares about you a lot, even if he struggles to show it sometimes."

Luna looks up at Mingi with a small smile. "You really think so?"

“Absolutely!” Mingi replies with confidence, "Hey... anything else on your mind, princess?"

"I'm good," she says softly. "Just tired from the flight and my tummy is really full from all the food I ate on the plane and tonight!” she adds rubbing her stomach

“A little food baby?” Mingi asks with a grin

“More like a big food baby!” she laughs, “Look at it!” she adds lifting her nightshirt enough to reveal her visibly bloated stomach “I look like I have a real baby in there!”

“Then lets get ready for bed.” he smiles, “Come on, teeth brushing time!”

“Nooo,” she groans, “I am too tired to go downstairs and get my toothbrush.” Her grip on Mingi under the covers tightens as if refusing to leave the bed

“Ah but princess,” he kisses her nose “…there is already a brand new toothbrush in the shared bathroom especially for you.”

“Really?” she looks at him

“Yunho got it for you before we left so you didn’t have to keep running downstairs for your own when you stay up here.” he gazes down at her, “It is pink and glittery!”

Luna's eyes light up. "Pink and glittery? Yunho knows me too well."

"Come on then princess," Mingi says, suddenly scooping her up bridal style. Luna lets out a surprised squeak.

"I can walk, you know!"

"Nope, you said you were tired. Can't have you falling down the hallway at..." he glances at the clock on his wall, "2 in the morning!"

"My hero," she deadpans, but wraps her arms around his neck anyway.

They pass San in the hallway, who raises an eyebrow at them. "Really?"

"She's tired," Mingi explains seriously.

"I can see that." he teases, “Goodnight sunshine!”

“Goodnight Sannie!” she smiles blowing him a kiss before he disappears into his bedroom.

Mingi nudges the bathroom door open with his foot. He sets Luna down, and she immediately spots the pink toothbrush in the holder with the other ones, giggling with a childlike enthusiasm. "It's so pretty!"

“You are seriously so adorable!” he grins at her as he hands it to her

They brush their teeth, Luna humming some random tune while Mingi makes faces at her in the mirror. When they're done, he picks her up again despite her protests.

"This is completely unnecessary," she says, even as she snuggles into his chest.

"Shh, I'm being romantic."

"You're being a dork." she smiles, “But I love it.”

Mingi gently places Luna on his bed before getting in beside her and pulling his plush covers over them. They share a soft, lingering kiss, Luna noting how minty fresh Mingi's breath is from the toothpaste and mouthwash but also savouring his comforting, familiar scent.

"You taste like mint," Luna mumbles sleepily against his lips.

"Well I would hope I taste like mint considering we just brushed our teeth," Mingi chuckles, “Lets get comfortable.”

Luna turns in his arms so her back was against his chest, she holds onto one of his hands around her waist as they get settled under the covers.

"Sweet dreams, princess," he murmurs into her hair as she lets out a long yawn.

“Good night my opp…” her words trail off as the exhaustion hits her and she falls asleep mid-sentence

Mingi looks down at her, feeling a flutter in his stomach as he watches her sleepy, pouty face resting on his extended arm. It seemed like she was about to call him 'oppa,' a term she never used for him, except for that one playful time on his birthday. In fact, she hadn't used it for any of the others either. The idea of her using such an affectionate term makes him smile.

“You’re so cute.” he whispers resting his head next to hers as sleeps take hold of himself too.

─── ･ ｡ﾟ☆: .☽ . :☆ﾟ. ───

Luna wakes to the sound of rain pattering off the window, Mingi's soft snores and his arm draped protectively over her. She watches him for a moment before gently slipping away to avoid waking him. As she moves downstairs through the silent apartment, she notices the suitcases piled in the lounge, left there by a manager after she and Mingi had gone to bed. She retrieves her own suitcase and takes it in her room before going into her bathroom. She steps into her shower, the hot water washing away any drowsiness. Once she’s washed her body, her hair and brushed her teeth with her ‘boring non-pink and glittery toothbrush’ she thought, she dresses in comfortable clothes: black sweats, white cropped top, a dusty pink cardigan, and her favourite pink fluffy socks. Her plan for the day is to do laundry.

Before she had moved in, she hated laundry day. Detested it with a passion. Now - she loved it! Which surprised her but she came to realise it was the trip to the launderette she hated more. Having the luxury of a washer and dryer in her home, being able to do it without having to go outside, and in her sweats was a dream. She also liked that it was something she could do to help out around the house. Despite the guys all telling her they did not expect her to contribute around the apartment at all, she ignored them. Cooking and, at least helping out with laundry was the least she could do in such a large household!

As Luna leaves her bedroom, she can instantly smell the enticing aroma of coffee filling the apartment. She follows the smell and finds Hongjoong in the kitchen, already up and about despite the early hour. He is stirring a mug of coffee, clearly just instant coffee she notices as the coffee machine in the corner is untouched. He is dressed rather smartly, black jeans, white t-shirt and a black leather coat on top.

"Hey my love!" he greets her with a smile.

"Hey!" she replies, snuggling into him as he kisses her face. "Why are you up so early?"

"Going to the studio," he admits.

"Joongie!" she lightly scolds, "We just got back last night, and you're working already!"

He grins, "Guilty as charged, but I did resist for eight whole hours."

She rolls her eyes playfully, "Wow, a medal for you."

"Do you know how many song ideas I had on the flight? My brain is literally going to explode if I don't get them down." he explains

"Your brain's always going to explode with songs," she teases, stealing his coffee. "Yuck! Too sweet." she pulls a face

"It's mine," he says, trying to retrieve it but she spins around so he can’t get it back. "You're worse than Wooyoung with the coffee stealing,"

"That’s an alarming amount of sugar," she says taking another sip before handing it back as she sits on the counter.

"Keeps me going," he replies, sipping before putting it back on the counter

"You'll get diabetes," she pokes his chest as he positions himself between her legs. "Then who'll handle your song ideas?"

"I'll get Mingi to do it," he grins, holding her waist. “Then I can stay at home all day with you.” he adds his lips ghosting hers

“Yeah?” she grins. “And exactly what would we do all day Mr Kim?”

“I’d have you in my bed all day, drawing out those pretty moans you were making in my hotel room,” he replies, his eyes going dark, “Your pussy milking my cock..over and over again.” his voice low before capturing her lips in a searing kiss

Luna gasps at his words against his lips, her arms snaking around his neck as his hands slide inside her cardigan and touch the skin on her her lower back. A low, satisfied groan escapes from Hongjoong, relishing the closeness between them. The kiss intensifies, Luna's fingers tangling eagerly in his silky hair.

“If I wasn’t about to go out the door I would be fucking you right here on this counter.” he moans into her mouth, “filling you up as much you want me to.”

“Such a tease Joongie!” she grumbles

The sound of shuffling footsteps and a deep groan from the hallway causes them break the kiss but Hongjoong keeps a hold of her waist and see a zombie-like Seonghwa stumbling into the kitchen, his hair sticking up in about twelve different directions.

"Oh god, get a room," he mumbles, heading for the coffee maker.

"We have several," Hongjoong replies cheerfully. "This one just has coffee."

Luna snickers as Seonghwa just grunts in response, fumbling with the coffee filter.

"Someone's grumpy," she teases, watching him nearly spill coffee grounds.

"Someone kept me up tapping loudly on his laptop keyboard!" Seonghwa mutters, shooting a pointed look at Hongjoong, “And humming with his headphones on!”

Luna jumps off the counter to help. "Let me do it. You might make coffee with salt."

"Remember when you put sugar on your eggs?" Hongjoong laughs.

"That was once," Seonghwa protests, letting Luna take over. "Thank you," he adds, kissing her head before sitting at the kitchen island.

"Yeah, and Wooyoung still brings it up at least once a week," Hongjoong laughs, taking another sip of his coffee.

"Speaking of Wooyoung," Luna says, measuring out the coffee grounds, "how long until he smells the coffee and materialises in here like a summoned demon?"

As if on cue, there's a loud thud from upstairs followed by heavy and rapid footsteps on the stairs.

"You just had to say it," Seonghwa groans, dropping his head onto the counter. “God, why do I feel hungover when I haven’t drank any alcohol?”

“Jetlag.” both Hongjoong and Luna say at the same time

“Oh Luna, before Wooyoung comes down. Seonghwa, Yunho and I need to speak to you later in private.” Hongjoong says quietly as she switches on the coffee machine

"Why?! Is something wrong?" Luna asks, almost dropping the bag of coffee beans she was putting into the cupboard.

"No, darling. Everything's fine!" Seonghwa looks up, noticing her tone.

"Nothing bad, I assure you, my love!" Hongjoong says, placing a comforting hand on her back, though it does little to ease her anxiety. "I’ll be home soon, okay?"

As Wooyoung's footsteps approach, Luna forces a smile, knowing she doesn’t have time to ask any questions and not wanting Hongjoong to worry as he leaves. Hongjoong kisses her forehead, cups her cheek, and grabs his bag. An even more dishevelled looking Wooyoung stumbles into the kitchen, muttering "Coffee, coffee, coffee," as he reaches for a mug with shaky hands.

Seonghwa raises an eyebrow at him. "You sound like a broken record."

“I need caffeine to function.” he retorts irritably

Hongjoong, noticing Wooyoung's grumpiness, says, "Luna just made a fresh pot, so be nice."

“Oh sorry jagiya, I didn’t even see you there!” Wooyoung says looking in her direction, still half asleep but his grumpy face changes into a soft smile - a tired looking soft smile!

"It's okay," she replies, her heart still racing. "I'll start on the laundry. Seonghwa, could you let the others know to leave their clothes outside their bedroom doors for me to collect throughout the day or even in the lounge… somewhere i can get them throughout the day without bothering anyone."

Before anyone can say or do anything she makes a beeline for her bedroom leaving the 3 men alone in the kitchen, looking at one another.

Wooyoung asks, "Was I really that grumpy?" The worry clear on his face that he’s upset her.

"No, it wasn't you," Hongjoong responds with a light sigh, his gaze lingering on her now-closed bedroom door. "Seonghwa, can I have a word?" he adds softly as Wooyoung starts organising mugs.

Seonghwa follows Hongjoong into the hallway.

"I shouldn't have mentioned the talk before leaving" Hongjoong says as he puts on his shoes.

"Definitely not your brightest idea!" Seonghwa responds bluntly.

Hongjoong sighs, "Keep an eye on her today, okay?"

"I will," Seonghwa nods, "but we both know Luna's going to worry until you're back, no matter what I do or say so don’t be in that studio all fucking night okay!"

"Yeah, I know," he replies, running a hand through his hair knowing he fucked up. "I'll be as quick as possible. Eden wants to start the new song, and I still need to finish up the Japanese track before recording," Hongjoong explains, adjusting his bag strap. "Try to keep her occupied."

“From the sounds of it she’ll be keeping herself busy with laundry but I’ll help her with it, if she’ll allow me.” Seonghwa replies as Hongjoong heads for the door

"I'll return as soon as I can," Hongjoong says, and with that, he leaves while Seonghwa returns to the kitchen.

In Lunas room, she sits on the floor, clothes scattered as she empties her suitcase, Hongjoong's words echoing in her mind. The private conversation request leaves her uneasy, chest heavy and a burning feeling in her stomach and throat. "Focus on the laundry," she mutters to herself, scratching her arm. “Stop it!” she scolds herself, placing her hand on the floor. A light knock at her door interrupts her thoughts.

"Hey Luna," Seonghwa calls softly. "I've brought you some tea. Can I come in?"

“Sure.” she replies

Seonghwa enters and hands her tea in her Tangled mug. She smiles, takes a sip, and says, "Thanks."

“Is it okay?” he asks

"Yeah!" she smiles genuinely, "You're getting better at making tea now."

“It has only took me like 40 failed attempts!” he smiles

“And 40 wasted teabags.” she says, “The British would be throwing you in jail for that you know!” she adds with a grin

"Need any help with laundry? I could sort things into piles for you if you'd like." His voice is gentle and understanding, hoping to ease any fears or anxieties brewing in her mind. “Separate the colours and whites, folding... whatever you want.”

"Oh no, I'm okay!" she insists hurriedly. "I just want to get everything organised and washed today so you guys can rest." Her words sound unconvincing, even to herself.

Seonghwa's expression softens as he places his coffee on her desk and crouches by Luna's pile of clothes.

"You need rest too. You were working really hard in LA with all the translating and meetings," he says, beginning to sort through her clothes.

Luna's annoyance flares, and she sets her mug down on the hardwood floor with a heavy clink. “I said I've got it!" she snaps, yanking the clothes from him, then instantly regrets her tone as she sees Seonghwa's surprised expression. "I'm sorry!" she quickly apologises in English. "I didn't mean to..." She trails off, running her hands through her hair. "Fuck!" she mutters, closing her eyes, feeling the familiar tightness in her chest begin once more. “I.. can’t…”

Seonghwa's brows furrow in concern as Luna's words abruptly cut off, her hands threading anxiously through her tousled dark hair as she curls into herself. He can see her fear and anxiety bubbling beneath the surface.

“Hey,” Seonghwa says softly, settling on the floor, “Come here..” he gestures for her to sit in his lap

She immediately crawls over, wrapping herself fully around him as her head buries into his neck. “I’m sorry Hwa!” she sniffs trying to hold back tears “I’m so sorry…”

"Shh, don't apologise," Seonghwa murmurs, running his hand up and down her back. “It is okay darling…” His chest hurting at seeing her so upset.

Luna lets out a shaky breath against Seonghwa's neck. "Are you guys breaking up with me?" she whispers, speaking in Korean again, her voice barely audible.

"What?" Seonghwa shocked pulls back to look at her, his hands keeping a firm hold of her waist. "God no, Luna. Why would you think that?"

"Because you need to 'talk to me in private' and the way you all were at the airport and on the plane. It was like you were all too afraid of me… scared I would freak out again." she mumbles, focusing on a button on his pyjama top, afraid to meet his eyes. "M-maybe you all realised I'm too much work or how I acted on the flight to LA was-"

"Stop!!" Seonghwa interrupts, gently tilting her chin up. "First of all, if we were breaking up with you - which we're not - Hongjoong wouldn't be casually mentioning it before running off to the studio like he's talking about the weather." His hand moves to cup her cheek. "Secondly," he continues, "you've seen how clingy everyone is with you. Wooyoung literally whined for twenty minutes because you played a game with San in the airport lounge."

"He did not whine for twenty minutes," Luna protests weakly.

"You're right, it was closer to thirty," Seonghwa responds with a hint of sarcasm as she giggles quietly. "The thing is, we all care about you deeply. Breaking up isn't even in the realm of possibility."

"So why does Hon-" she begins

He cuts her off again. "I promise, my darling, it's nothing bad. Hongjoong's timing was just terrible, as always. He has a knack for it!"

Luna snorts as he delicately wipes at her eyes with the sleeve of his top. "You're not wrong."

"I'm never wrong," Seonghwa says smugly, leaning in to kiss her. Luna relaxes, tension easing.

Luna melts into the kiss, feeling the tension in her chest begin to thaw. "You really scared me," she admits softly.

Seonghwa pulls back, pressing his forehead to hers. "I know," he says gently, "and I'm so sorry for that. We didn't mean to be so vague and make you worry."

She breathes in his calming scent. "You promise it's nothing bad?"

"I promise," he reassures, wrapping his arms tighter around her. "Just please try not to stress about it too much, okay?"

"I just... I hate feeling like a burden. Especially to you all." she whispers, her voice trembling slightly.

Seonghwa sighs, brushing stray curls behind her ear. "Luna, you will never be a burden. Not to us, not ever. We want you with us."

He kisses her slowly, deeply, leaving her breathless. Luna clings to him, feeling the care and affection in his kiss. When they part, Seonghwa rests his forehead against hers, placing her hand on his chest to feel his racing heart.

"Do you feel that?" he whispers. "No one else has ever made my heart react like this from just a kiss. Even a simple look in my direction, my heart starts to race. The way we connect? It's as if we were meant for this, meant for each other."

Luna nods, unable to find her voice. Her heart swells with emotion, tears blurring her vision anew.

“I wouldn’t change a thing about our relationship and neither would anyone else. So please believe me when I say that this talk Hongjoong, Yunho and I want to have with you has nothing to do with breaking up with you, or pushing you away. We want to bring you closer.” Seonghwa runs his thumb along her cheekbone tenderly. “Please believe me, darling.”

"I do. I'll try not worry about it anymore," she says, hugging Seonghwa tightly.

"Thank god," he says softly, "because I was running out of arguments." This causes her to laugh. He feels a flutter in his stomach at hearing it, “Laundry can wait. Lets do something fun today instead.”

“Hwa..” she begins

"Unless you find laundry fun!" he adds with a smile.

“While I’m not worrying until Hongjoong returns, I will need something to occupy my mind, and laundry soothes me,” she explains, meeting his gaze as he nods. “But you can help by collecting and washing all the underwear as I am not touching that!! And not my underwear, before you say it!” she laughs.

Seonghwa's face scrunches up in mock offence. "Are you implying our underwear is somehow unclean?"

"I'm saying eight men's underwear after a weeks trip and 2 long haul flights isn't something I want to sort," Luna says, getting off his lap.

“Okay, okay, you have a point! I’ll handle the underwear and anything smelly because we are men!” he laughs. “We usually get laundry done while away, so it won’t be as bad each time.” he adds as she stands up to start her own washing.

“Good to know! I don’t mind doing laundry but massive piles of it after every trip sounds exhausting.” she replies as they make their way to the laundry room down the small corridor beside Lunas bedroom. “I don’t know how my mom managed when my dad returned from tours of duty!”

“Oh that must have been bad!” Seonghwa laughs opening the laundry room door

“It was the stuff of nightmares!” Luna shakes her head at the memories, “I used to dread that bag being opened as it smelled so bad! Dad found it so funny while Mom would yell ‘ya, didn’t you wash anything while away! you are disgusting!’” she mimics her moms voice making him laugh louder. After meeting her parents and seeing their playful dynamic with one another he can picture it in his head.

“Well, our stylists are good at keeping on top of that stuff. They make sure all the staff has their clothes washed too, not just ours. It helps everyone during those long trips especially on tours.” he says, “I guess I better go round up all the underwear, check Wooyoung hasn’t passed out on the kitchen island and then I will make us breakfast.” he adds kissing her cheek

While Luna and Seonghwa spend the day tackling the laundry, the rest of the group drifts downstairs, weary from the flight. They sip coffee, shower Luna with affection, and then go about their activities - Yeosang and San hit the gym, Yunho and Jongho play PC games, and Wooyoung gets more sleep. Mingi is the last to appear, joining Luna on the sofa in the late afternoon as she folds laundry on the sofa.

"Hey princess," he smiles, settling beside her. "How long have you been up?"

"I've been awake since 7, about 8 hours," she replies, kissing his cheek as he yawns loudly. "You were out cold, so I let you sleep."

"I can't believe I slept so long," he admits.

"You needed it," she remarks, folding a T-shirt of his.

"Have you been doing laundry?" he asks, yawning again and rubbing his head.

“Yep, this is the 3rd load. I’ve just put a 4th one on.” she replies

"You did all that by yourself?!" he asks, surprised at how much she’s done while he slept.

“No! Seonghwa helped me. He has gone out to pick up food for dinner with Wooyoung and Jongho.” she says, folding the last item of clothing and placing it into the laundry basket on the coffee table with the others before leaning against Mingi, putting her arms around him.

“How was Jongho this morning?” Mingi asks softly

“The same. Quiet and avoiding me. It is okay though.” she replies

As Luna rests her head on Mingi's shoulder, his familiar scent offers comfort amid her anxieties. Mingi wraps an arm around her waist, processing her words about Jongho.

"I'm sorry he's still giving you the cold shoulder," Mingi says softly, his thumb rubbing soothing circles on her hip.

Luna snuggles closer. "It's not really a cold shoulder," she sighs. "I just wish I knew how to make things better. What if he regrets it?"

“Regrets what, princess?”

“Me. Kissing me, taking me on a date, having me sleep in his hotel room.” her voice is quiet, “Maybe he’s realised he doesn’t like me as much as he thought he would.”

Mingi's heart aches as he listens to Luna's concerns. He knows the consuming power of regret. But Jongho? Regretting Luna? Impossible. Mingi has seen Jongho's unmistakable affectionate glances when he thinks no one is watching.

"No, princess," Mingi murmurs, his voice gentle yet firm. "Jongho could never regret anything involving you. He did not regret that date either."

Luna lifts her head, seeking reassurance. Mingi tenderly wipes a tear from her cheek. "I probably shouldn’t tell you this, but it might help you understand him better," Mingi continues.

“What is it?” Luna asks sitting upright, turning to face him.

"He was deeply hurt by someone he really liked," Mingi explains solemnly. "She was an idol too, but treated him terribly. In public, she ignored him, and in private, she was cold and dismissive, using him without genuine interest. She used him, showing no genuine interest in spending time with him or even speaking to him outside of what suited her needs."

Luna swallows hard, recalling Jonghos words from the night she spent with him - the ‘not-so-friend with benefits’.

"Jongho was always reserved, but she had a hold on him like I've never seen," he says, a flash of anger crossing his face. "He did whatever she asked, without question. Bought her expensive things she not-so-subtly dropped into the rare conversations she had with him.” Lunas fingers instantly touch the luxury brand bracelet he gave her in LA. “She made him feel guilty when he was busy with schedules or practice. She demanded his full attention when she wanted it but never once gave him any."

"What happened?" she asks, her voice tinged with curiosity and concern.

"She blocked him suddenly," he replies, exasperated. "Ignored him backstage, and her bandmates did the same. They ignored all of us actually. San tried to speak to their leader, to try and ease whatever was going on but she gave him a dirty look and walked away without a word.”

"Fucking bitches!" she grumbles in English, a flicker of anger igniting within her, causing her to clench her fists. Mingi lets out a soft chuckle at her fiery response.

“Exactly how we all felt,” he agrees. "We found out later that she had started a relationship… with a fellow idol, someone Jongho was close friends with and who knew how he felt about her… knew that Jongho had fallen in love with her.”

"Oh my god!" Luna whispers, feeling protective. The thought of Jongho's pain and betrayal by two people he trusted makes her blood boil. She can't fathom the depth of his hurt.

“He became even more reserved with showing his emotions...” Mingi continues, “Focused on work, but then, a year later, you appeared in our lives." A small, genuine smile spreads across his face. "And he slowly began to light up, truly smile, and laugh again."

“What if I am not enough for him though?” she asks, her voice tinged with insecurity. “Or I accidentally hurt him too?”

"You're more than enough, princess," Mingi reassures her, holding her hands gently. "And you could never hurt him! You're exactly what he needs now. Just your presence around him is helping him heal, something we could never do for him. You're the perfect person for him with your understanding, care, and patience." He touches her cheek, adding, "We all needed that."

Luna smiles at Mingi, warmth spreading through her chest as his words sink in. She hopes he's right, that she is enough for Jongho.. for all of them, and that she won't unintentionally cause him any more pain than he's already endured.

"I’ll try my best," she promises softly, determination in her eyes. "I don’t want to pressure him into anything he’s not ready for."

“He is ready… he just doesn’t know it yet.” Mingi says pulling her onto his lap, “Just keep being yourself with him.”

"Thank you for telling me though," Luna replies sincerely, “I promise that I won’t tell him you did.”

"I wouldn’t mind if you did tell him but I didn't want you worrying over something that was never your fault." he whispers

"I appreciate it," she says. "It’s helped me understand him better and what I need to do. I won't push him, but I won't hold back either. Normally, I'd give him space, but I think he needs reassurance. I won’t force my presence around him if he truly isn’t wanting it, but I’ll make sure he knows I’m here... when he’s ready."

Mingi smiles. "You’re all stuck with me for the foreseeable anyway!" she adds with a grin.

"Stuck with you?" he teases, eyes twinkling with amusement. "Oh princess, you're stuck with us…" He leans in, pressing his lips to hers between each drawn-out word: "for… a… long… time!"

Luna giggles, wrapping her arms around his broad shoulders. Reflecting on her earlier breakup worries, she feels silly now, as they prove every single day how much she means to them.

"You must be hungry—should I cook something?" she asks.

“I think I’ll wait until dinner.” he hums in contentment, “I just want to stay here with you while it’s quiet.”

“You mean while Wooyoung is out.” she giggles resting her head on his shoulder and burying into him

“Am I that obvious?” he teases

“A little!” she replies as her phone notification chimes, piercing the quiet room and making her sit upright in surprise. She leans backwards, reaching awkwardly for her phone on the coffee table just behind her. Mingi reacts quickly, wrapping his arm around her waist to prevent her from tumbling off him, his hold steady.

"Oh, Hwa just texted," she reads, "They’ve got all the food for dinner, some drinks and snacks… oh and even picked up fried chicken from down the street!"

"Fuck yes," Mingi groans, throwing his head back. "I've been dreaming about proper Korean fried chicken since we landed in LA."

"What, the hotel chicken wings weren’t authentic enough?" Luna teases, recalling his complaints when they all had dinner in Hongjoongs hotel room on the first night.

"Those weren't wings—they were sad little nuggets with identity issues," Mingi protests.

Luna bursts out laughing. "The face you made when you bit into one! I thought you were going to throw it across the room."

"I considered it," Mingi admits, his hands sliding to her hips. "American food is so weird sometimes. Why is everything so sweet? Even their bread tastes like cake."

"Not everything in America is bad," Luna defends, though she can't help but agree with him about the bread.

"True," Mingi concedes, pressing a kiss to her neck. "You came from America after all."

Luna groans, gently hitting his shoulder. "That was so cheesy! I can't believe you said that with a straight face."

"What? It's true," he laughs, catching her hands playfully. “Anyway, what’s for dinner?”

“I’m not sure. Wooyoung and I are cooking it together though,” she replies.

“I love both your cooking, so it’ll be amazing!” Mingi grins.

“Hopefully! We’ve never cooked together like this so not sure how it will go” she replies sitting upright and stretching her arms over her head to loosen her stiff muscles as Mingis holds onto her

“Any idea what’s on the menu?” he asks

“Wooyoung is in charge tonight; I’m simply his sous chef,” she answers.

“I’m sure it’ll be delicious,” Mingi smiles.

They remain snuggled until the front door chime interrupts them. Mingi’s head jerks up. "Chicken?" he calls out in a hopeful tone

"Yes, with extra sauce," Seonghwa sighs from the hall.

Mingi looks at Luna with pure joy in his eyes. "I love that man."

"For his chicken-acquiring abilities?" Luna teases.

"Obviously. Why else?" Mingi replies, already lifting her off his lap and dropping her beside him on the sofa. "Sorry princess, but korean fried chicken calls."

Luna laughs as he bounds toward the kitchen. "Your priorities are showing, Mingi!"

"I’m sorry! I have no shame!" he calls back, disappearing around the corner.

She smiles warmly, trailing behind him at a relaxed pace. Her earlier anxiety around Jongho fades to a faint hum. In the kitchen, Mingi is unpacking chicken boxes, while Seonghwa, Wooyoung, and Jongho store ingredients. She hugs Wooyoung from behind.

“Ready to be my sous chef tonight?” he asks her with a massive smile

"Only if you promise not to make me chop onions," Luna replies, resting her chin on Wooyoung's shoulder. “They make me cry!”

"That's because you look like you're trying to murder the onion, not slice it," Wooyoung laughs, reaching back to pat her head. "So aggressive."

"I'm not aggressive, I'm efficient," Luna defends, releasing him to steal a piece of chicken from Mingi's plate.

"Hey!" Mingi protests, mouth already full. "Get your own!"

"Payback for abandoning me for chicken," she says, feeding some to Wooyoung, who nibbles her fingers playfully.

Jongho quietly empties the rest of the shopping bags, his movements careful and measured. Luna catches his eye for a brief moment and gives him a soft smile before he looks away. She is determined to let him know she isn’t going anywhere and she’ll be here when he’s ready to come back to her.

"So, what are we making tonight chef?" Luna asks Wooyoung, keeping Jongho in her view.

"Japchae," Wooyoung says, pulling out ingredients.

“Oh, its been a while since you made that!” Seonghwa says, his eyes going rounder or as Luna liked to think whenever they did that - full boba!

“I'll start the marinade, and you prep the vegetables. And don’t worry, I'll do the onions for you,” Wooyoung says, kissing Luna's cheek.

“Sounds good.” she replies turning her head to him and pressing her lips to his

As Luna goes to move, Wooyoung pulls her back for a passionate kiss. His hands cup her face gently, keeping her close as he deepens the kiss. Luna's surprised squeak quickly turns into a soft hum of contentment as she melts against him.

Jongho watches from his spot near the counter, his fingers tightening around the edge of the plate he's holding. He feels his heart sink a little at how easy the others can show affection for her, how naturally it comes to them. The way Wooyoung kisses her so confidently, without hesitation or second-guessing himself. Jongho quickly averts his eyes, focusing intently on arranging the utensils with unnecessary precision. Wooyoung finally breaks the kiss with a dramatic smack of his lips, looking thoroughly pleased with himself as he sees her flustered face.

"Luna, can you grab the sesame oil from the pantry? The good one, not the cheap stuff Yeosang keeps buying." he asks, turning back to the counter to organise his cooking ingredients.

Luna laughs, heading to the hallway. As she passes Jongho, she deliberately lets her fingers brush against his arm—a light touch, nothing demanding, just a gentle reminder of her presence. "Need anything from the pantry?" she asks him softly.

Jongho looks up, momentarily caught off guard by her proximity and the warmth in her eyes. "I'm... no, I'm good," he manages, his voice low enough that only she can hear.

Luna nods, giving him a small smile before continuing to the pantry. She doesn't push, doesn't linger, just leaves the door open for whenever he's ready to walk through it. Mingis words had resonated with her, she understood him now and she was glad he told her. Otherwise, she might have withdrawn, blaming herself for his distance. Luna knew now exactly what Jongho needed - reassurance but also time and she was determined to give him it.

When she returns with the sesame oil, Wooyoung has already laid out an array of vegetables on the cutting board along with a knife for her.

"Will Hongjoong be home for dinner?" Luna asks, trying to sound casual as she steals another piece of chicken from Mingi, who's too distracted licking sauce off his fingers to notice.

"He texted me as we were picking up the chicken," Seonghwa replies, his voice gentle. "He will be home in about an hour."

Luna nods, hoping her face doesn't betray the nervous flutter in her stomach. "Cool."

Jongho clears his throat quietly. "I'll, uh, go tell the others about dinner." He turns to leave, but Luna's voice stops him.

"Jjong, could you take the laundry basket from the lounge on your way upstairs for me?" she asks him as she washes her hands

He pauses, looking at her properly for the first time that day. "Of course," he says nodding softly.

"Thanks, just leave it in the hall on the first floor and I’ll sort it out later." she gives him a big smile, which he returns – just a slight upturn of his lips, but it's something and it makes her stomach flip.

As Jongho leaves, Wooyoung bumps his hip against Luna's. "Alright, sous chef. Lets do this!"

"Yes, sir!" Luna responds with a salute, reaching for the colander.

"Ooh, I could get used to hearing that!" he says with a grin.

"I'm not saying 'yes sir' to you in any other situation," Luna warns, playfully splashing water at Wooyoung as she rinses the vegetables.

"Oh, I'm pretty sure I can get you to say it elsewhere too!" he retorts with a mischievous look.

"Okay, that's enough," Seonghwa cuts in, pointing at Wooyoung. "We don't need to hear about your 'yes sir' fantasies or anything else."

"I don’t want to be put off this delicious chicken!" Mingi snorts, reaching for another piece only to have his hand swatted away by Seonghwa.

"Save some for the others, you bottomless pit," Seonghwa scolds, putting the lid back on the container. "And Wooyoung, stop saying things no one wants to hear!"

Luna laughs, placing all the washed vegetables and cutting board on the kitchen island so she can sit down as she preps the vegetables. "Woo, should I julienne these carrots or dice them?"

"uh… julienne should be good," he answers as he begins putting the ingredients for the marinade in the bowl, expertly eyeballing it instead of measuring it. “Do you know how to?”

"Did you really just ask Luna if she knows how to..." Mingi pauses, his expression turning puzzled, "something with those carrots?" He had no clue what Luna had just mentioned and wasn't about to try repeating it, knowing he'd botch it and Wooyoung would never let him live it down. "Luna is a far more skilled cook than you! She even makes pasta from scratch!"

"Ya!" Wooyoung exclaims, spinning around, "I'm a good cook too!"

“You are, sweetie.” Luna says in a baby voice as he pouts at her. “But Mingi has a point though, kinda bit of an insult to ask if I can julienne carrots!” she adds

"What does that even mean?" Mingi asks, his curiosity piqued.

"Julienne just means cut into thin strips," Luna explains, picking up a carrot. "Like this." she shows him

"Oh," Mingi says watching her closely, a small smile on his face as she takes the time to show him something.

Luna finishes the carrots and starts on the bell peppers. Meanwhile, Wooyoung mixes the marinade with the beef, covers it, and places it in the fridge. He then joins Luna to help with the remaining vegetables. As they sit together, they share lighthearted jokes and teasing looks until all the veggies are ready for cooking later.

When they are washing up the door chime goes off, indicating Hongjoong has arrived home. Luna feels a drop in her stomach. Instinctively, her eyes dart toward Seonghwa, who is diligently wiping down the counter tops. He pauses, meeting her gaze with a calm, reassuring nod, his expression as steady as the rhythm of his movements, offering her a silent promise of support.

“Wow, Mr. Workaholic is home before sunset!” Mingi teases as an exhausted Hongjoong enters the kitchen. Hongjoong shoots him a piercing look, and Mingi quickly falls silent, seeing instantly his leader is not in the mood for jokes. “I’m going to shower,” he mutters, kissing Luna’s head before leaving.

“Wooyoung, could you go get Yunho for me and give us some space to talk with Luna privately?” Hongjoong asks

“O-of course!” he replies looking between Hongjoong and Seonghwa, “We'll let the meat marinate in the fridge for an hour or two then we will do our chef-ing thing. I’ll come get you when it is time to start.” he adds to Luna, who smiles as Wooyoung brushes her cheek with a soft kiss before heading out.

Leaving the three of them alone, Hongjoong sits at the kitchen island while Luna watches him. His hair is slightly messy, his complexion paler than usual, and he looks exhausted and stressed. “Are you okay? You seem really tired,” she asks.

“I’m fine,” he replies, running a hand through his hair and offering a gentle smile.

"You should get some sleep. We can talk later when you're rested," she suggests, moving closer to place her hand on his forehead. "You're a little warm too!" she observes with a concerned frown. "Do you feel unwell?"

“Not at all, my love,” he assures her, taking her hand and kissing the back of it. “The studio was hot, and Hajoon drove me home with the heat on high!”

Seonghwa silently observes their interaction. Luna gazes at him with concern, and he returns her look with pure affection—something Seonghwa has never witnessed from Hongjoong. He's seen a whole range of emotions from Hongjoong over the years, but never with this expression. Luna's earlier words, "are you guys breaking up with me?" echo in his mind. He wonders how she fails to notice the profound affection in the way they all look at her.

"I’ll make some soup for you. With plenty of food stocked up, I can make ginger noodle or even chicken and rice soup - if you prefer. I don’t want you getting sick!" Luna offers as Yunho rounds the corner.

“Who’s sick?” Yunho inquires

“No one! I’m just warm from Hajoon driving,” Hongjoong explains hastily.

"Oh, that guy's like a walking snowman! He's always cold and insists on having the heater on," Yunho chuckles.

“See!” Hongjoong says, looking at Luna

“Alright,” Luna concedes, “but I’m still making soup for everyone—it’s always good to have some homemade soup in the fridge.”

“Lets have our talk first!” Seonghwa interjects

Hongjoong nods suggesting they go to the privacy of Lunas bedroom to have it, and they make their way to her room.

“Sorry about the mess!” she says quickly grabbing the clothes still on her floor and throwing them into the corner, “I haven’t had time to clean it today.”

“Hey, we’ve just got home. You should see the state of my room!” Yunho laughs trying to ease her worries and urges her to towards her bed

Luna sit down on it as Yunho joins her, encircling her shoulders with his arms. His warm and protective embrace soothes the nervousness stirring within her. Seonghwa positions himself at the foot of the bed, while Hongjoong drags her desk chair over to join them.

"Luna," Hongjoong begins, clearing his throat, "we need to discuss something important about Jongho and the others."

At Jongho's name, Luna tenses, fearing the worst. Yunho gives her a gentle squeeze and whispers softly, "It's okay, little one."

Hongjoong continues, "The night before we returned from LA, we had a meeting. It wasn't just a band meeting like we told you. I'm sorry for not being truthful about that, I made that decision, not the others."

"What was it about?" she asks, feeling tense. Yunho holds her closer to his body, trying to soothe her.

"I wanted to discuss helping with your anxiety for take off without making it a big deal," he explains, she had already guessed this had happened given how perfect they were with her and her needs on their flight home, never missing a beat. “However, your anxiety raised some concerns.”

Luna can feel her heart rate increasing, this has been one of her fears. And despite Seonghwa assuring her earlier that this wasn’t a bad conversation, that they weren’t breaking up with her, or pushing her away, she feels that tightness in her chest begin once again.

“I’m sorry!” she murmurs, her voice quiet and fragile

"Luna, you have nothing to be sorry for," Seonghwa reassures, placing a hand on her knee.

Yunho kisses her head as she begins to shake. "It's okay, little one. We're here," he whispers against her hair

Hongjoong leans forward, his elbows resting on his knees. "Jongho mentioned that he saw you taking medication and hiding it. They think it's for anxiety, and they're worried about you."

Luna's breath hitches. She knew he’d seen her, even if he hadn’t said anything.

"The only reason he mentioned it was because they were assessing your anxiety, and your medication during the flight came up. Jongho wasn't speaking negatively about you," Seonghwa clarifies. “I genuinely believe he wouldn’t have mentioned anything if it weren’t for our conversation!”

"He also mentioned you seemed uncomfortable about who knows about us," Yunho says slowly, "and I accidentally shared your fear of us judging you."

"Oh..." she replies softly.

“My love, I am sorry if we’ve made you feel that way.” Hongjoong quickly adds

“You haven’t.” she replies quietly shaking her head

"Yeosang said your therapist gave you the anxiety medication," Seonghwa says. “So they know you are seeing a therapist and they are very supportive of that.” he adds trying to show her it is positive and nothing to be worried about.

"Was it your bipolar medication in Jongho’s room?" Hongjoong asks carefully.

She nods, fingers twisting in Yunho's hoodie. "Yeah. I only took the anxiety meds for the flights. Before that, it was just after I moved in."

“Why did you need them when you moved in?” Yunho finds himself asking before thinking, “Sorry, you do not need to answer that!”

"Nothing happened," she says, chewing her lip. "I was just overwhelmed with the new job, moving house and us. It was only a few days I took them, I swear to you!" she adds quickly, eyes wide.

"You don't need to explain, my love." Hongjoong says, sitting beside her on the bed. The sight of her small frame curled up against Yunho, with her pale face and wide eyes, tugs at his heart. He longs to hold her, to assure her that there's nothing to worry about, but seeing how secure she seems in Yunho's arms, he opts to gently hold her head to offer some comfort.

Luna can feel the 3 of them, connected to her in some way and it makes her feel a little calmer but her heart is still racing fast in her chest. Yunhos arms around her, Seonghwa hand on her knee and Hongjoongs hand on her head.

“I've been really consistent with my bipolar medication, taking it every single day without missing a dose, even in LA! I’ve been very diligent with it!” she says “I’m seeing my therapist tomorrow, too. I didn't manage to go to the gym everyday because I was exhausted, but I'm definitely taking care of myself! I promise!"

"We know, darling," Seonghwa reassures her, squeezing her knee. "That's not what this is about."

"Then what?" she asks, voice barely above a whisper.

Yunho shifts beside her. "We think it might be time to tell the others now - about your bipolar."

"R-really?” she asks, her fingers clutching Yunhos hoodie tighter

"No one's making you do anything," Hongjoong interjects swiftly. "However, they're already worried, and soon they'll begin to ask questions or jump to conclusions."

"Like what? That I'm unstable?" Luna sighs. "I guess that's true though."

"No," Seonghwa responds firmly. "They’ll think you’re struggling with something on your own that they could actually help with."

"They're worried," Hongjoong say gently. "And they care about you."

"I know," she sighs, looking at them all. "But telling people is always such a fucking minefield. Most of the time, they either treat you as if you're fragile or they start blaming every basic human emotion on your condition." she runs a hand over her face "'Luna's happy today—must be hypo-mania!', 'Luna's sad—oh no, depression spiral!', ‘Luna is angry - must be off her meds!’"

"We'd never think that," Seonghwa insists.

“They won’t either,” Hongjoong promises. “Jongho, Wooyoung, San, Mingi, Yeosang—they’ll be supportive too.”

Luna shakes her head doubtfully. “How can you be sure? This isn’t small. What if they can’t handle it?”

“They will,” Yunho reassures her softly. “You’re part of our family now.”

Luna glances at him, the phrase ‘part of our family’ stirring warmth in her heart, yet also a sinking feeling in her stomach. “Most people think that until they learn everything.” Luna's voice breaks. “I don’t want them to know about...”

"About what?" Seonghwa asks gently.

"About when I attempted to..." Luna exhales shakily. "When I tried to take my own life," she whispers, the words nearly suffocating her.

The words struck the room with the force of a punch. Luna had never been so direct before, always avoiding saying it outright. The harsh truth of those four words - 'take my own life' - seemed to drain all the air in the room.

"I don't want to discuss that with them. I can't bear to see their reactions when they find out what I've done to myself. I don't want their perception of me to change," she says.

"They won't…" Hongjoong starts, but Luna cuts him off.

"Everyone does, Joongie. Even if they try to hide it." Her eyes lock with his, filled with vulnerability. "You did too."

Hongjoong's expression wavers slightly, unable to refute her words. There had been a moment, just a fleeting one, when she first revealed it to him in his studio weeks ago. The instant she pulled back her sleeve and moved her bracelets to reveal her scars, he… paused, unsure.

"It's not your fault though so don’t be hard on yourself. All 3 of you reacted and it is normal." she says looking at him "I still can't bring myself to tell Yunho and Hongjoong exactly what happened, and I only told you the milder version, Hwa." She continues, struggling not to scratch her wrist through her cardigan, though Hongjoong notices her effort. "The reality of it was..." she trails off, closing her eyes and shaking her head as if trying to erase the memory, then buries her head into Yunho's chest. Hongjoong reaches out to take her hand.

"You could just tell them the basics - that you have bipolar disorder and that you're managing it." he says

Luna takes a shaky breath. "What if they ask questions I can't answer yet?"

"Then you don't answer them," Seonghwa says simply. "Set boundaries. We'll help."

"You aren't obliged to reveal everything immediately," Hongjoong says, holding her hand tightly. "They don't need to know about... your attempt, unless you want them to." The words are too difficult for him to speak, fearing he might crumble if he did. The mere idea of her absence from their lives, let alone from this world, sends a chill down his spine.

"When do you think..." she starts, then hesitates.

"Whenever you're ready," Yunho assures her, his arms tightening slightly around her waist. "No rush. Maybe after your therapy appointment tomorrow you can think about it better? You might feel more grounded to really think but there is no pressure to tell them if you truly aren’t ready.”

“If the others are worried though, they deserve to know.” she begins

"Then we'll tell them you have anxiety," Seonghwa suggests. "You're managing with therapy and medication as needed."

Luna relaxes at this compromise, feeling relieved. "That could work, at least for a few days," she agrees, interlacing her fingers with Hongjoongs.

"We just want what's best for you," Hongjoong says, reaching out to tuck a strand of hair behind her ear. "You shouldn’t feel like you’re hiding from those who care. You deserve to be free to take your medication and dress comfortably in your own home without fearing your scars will be seen."

Luna nods. "I hate keeping secrets from them. But you're right. They deserve to know something, especially if they're already worried."

Seonghwa's expression softens. "Take your time, think about it after your therapy session tomorrow."

"Whatever you decide, we'll support you. The 3 of us will still be here for you even if you decide not to say anything yet." Hongjoong affirms. "Do what you feel is right."

Luna takes a deep breath, feeling the tension in her body begin to dissipate. The warmth of Yunho’s body, Seonghwa's reassuring presence, and Hongjoong's gentle gaze, she feels grounded. These men know her darkest secrets yet look at her with such tenderness and acceptance.

"Okay," she says, steadier now. "I'll start small, talk about the anxiety first."

"Good plan," Seonghwa nods.

"They care for you," Yunho adds, resting his chin on her head. “That will not change at all.”

Luna laughs shakily. "You're sure of that?"

"We know them," Hongjoong replies simply.

Grateful, she whispers, "Thank you for everything."

"Always," Seonghwa says, squeezing her knee before standing. "This has been a lot to process. You should rest before dinner."

Yunho loosens his arms around her. "Do you want some time alone?"

Luna hesitates, then looks at Hongjoong. Despite his obvious exhaustion, his eyes are filled with warmth for her and she is craving some time with him. "Actually... Joongie, can you stay a bit longer? I-I’ve missed you today.” her voice quiet

Hongjoong's face softens immediately at her request. "Of course, my love."

Yunho sighs dramatically, ruffling her hair. "Always picking the short ones."

"Just because you're freakishly tall doesn't mean the rest of us are short." Hongjoong retorts, already moving to take Yunho's place.

Yunho snorts. "Face it, hyung. You're pocket-sized."

"I will end all of you," Hongjoong threatens without heat, his lips twitching as he fights a smile.

"What are you gonna do?" Seonghwa teases. "Climb up on a chair to reach us?"

Luna bursts into genuine laughter at that, the sound filling the room and lightening the previously heavy atmosphere. Hongjoong can't even pretend to be mad anymore, watching her laugh with such fondness that Yunho and Seonghwa exchange knowing glances.

"Alright, enough height jokes at my expense," Hongjoong says, waving them toward the door. "Go on, get out so I can cuddle my girlfriend in peace."

"Don't you mean so she can cuddle you?" Yunho asks innocently as he backs toward the door. "Since you're the perfect little spoon size—"

"OUT!" Hongjoong yells, grabbing a small pillow from Luna's bed and hurling it at Yunho, who dodges it easily

Seonghwa rolls his eyes as he heads toward the door. "Just don't fall asleep in here for hours. Wooyoung will have a meltdown if his sous chef doesn't show up for dinner duty."

"I won't sleep too long, just a little nap." Luna promises.

"Bold of you to assume sleeping is what's going to happen," Yunho mutters under his breath, earning an elbow in the ribs from Seonghwa.

"We can hear you, giraffe," Hongjoong calls out, already settling next to Luna on the bed.

Yunho just grins, completely unrepentant. "Be safe!"

"Get out!" Luna groans cuddling into Hongjoongs arms as Yunho runs out the room laughing loudly

Seonghwa lingers in the doorway for a moment. "You okay?" he asks Luna softly.

She nods, giving him a genuine smile. "I am now. Thank you."

Seonghwa returns her smile before shutting the door behind him with a soft click. Hongjoong feels the tension in his body leave, both of them shuffling under her covers. "God, I've missed you," he murmurs

"You saw me this morning," Luna points out, but she's already melting into his embrace.

"Doesn't matter. I always miss you when I'm not with you." He runs his fingers through her hair. "Even when I'm working, there's this... Luna-shaped hole in my chest."

Luna giggles, pulling back to look at him. "Is that the kind of lyric you're working on at the studio? Because if so, maybe you should let Mingi take over."

"You're so mean to me," Hongjoong pouts, but his eyes are dancing with amusement. "I pour my heart out and you mock me."

"I'm not mocking you," Luna says softly, “I miss you too��, she presses a kiss to the tip of his nose. When she pulls back, she notices the dark circles under his eyes, the slight strain around his mouth that appears when he's overworked. “You look tired.”

Hongjoong groans, burying his face in her neck. "I'm exhausted. Eden was being particularly picky today with the new song, and then the Japanese lyrics weren't flowing right, and all I could think about was how I'd fucked up this morning by mentioning the talk right before leaving."

"You didn’t fuck up," Luna says, running her fingers through his hair. "I mean, it wasn't your finest moment, but Seonghwa talked me down before I spiralled too far."

"I'm sorry," Hongjoong says, lifting his head to meet her eyes. She can see the stress in them but also the emotion. "I should have…"

Luna cuts him off with a kiss, soft and sweet. "It's fine, sweetie. We're okay now."

As they kiss, Luna can feel the heaviness in Hongjoong's movements, the way his lips press against hers with a tenderness that's tinged with exhaustion. When they part, she traces the dark circles under his eyes with her thumb.

"You need to sleep," she says softly.

"I'm okay," Hongjoong protests, unsuccessfully hiding a yawn that contradicts his words.

"You look like you're about to collapse onto my face." She softly eases him down onto the bed.

“I want to spend time with you!” he pouts as his head hits the pillow

“I am staying right here with you until Wooyoung comes to get me to cook dinner. I’ll have at least another hour with you.” she replies "So go to sleep. Captains orders."

"I'm the captain," he protests weakly, even as he allows her to tuck the blanket around him.

"Not when you're this tired, you're not. Temporary coup. I'm in charge now."

A sleepy smile tugs at Hongjoong's lips. "Mutiny on my own ship," he murmurs. "Betrayed by the prettiest pirate." he lets out a long yawn, his eyes closing. “You’d make a sexy pirate.”

"And on that bizarre note, now sleep." Luna leans down to kiss his forehead before cuddling into his chest. "Dream of sexy pirates or whatever."

"Hmm, just you, my sweet love." he mumbles, already half-asleep.

Luna smiles as she snuggles into him. For the first time in 48 hours she feels completely relaxed and tomorrow she can make a plan of when and how to finally tell the others of her condition.

Taglist: @kiwibaekie @fudgeflyssworld @kodzukein @khjcoo @pepperony-7 @ateez-babygirl @starillusion13 @truthbehindthereflection @livingdeadlisa @stayteezdreams @atinyapple1117

[silosbears]

the sunrise is still beautiful, even on the worst day of your life.

[soggy-fishsticks]

guys ive been drawing so much lately I've been starting to actually hate it 🙁

[lucabyte]

Do you have any happy and not at all upset or stressed loop art let them be free of the torment nexus for two seconds pls also who is funding all of loop's divorces they only have a silver coin so it's not them

hrmmm. (takes stock of my wips) (squints). so i haaave... fiiive wiiips..... and i think ooooone of them counts. maybe. as them just chillin. oopsie. sorry im putting them in the pear wiggler

go look at these old ones to tide you over (x) (x) (x) <3 and also look at domesticated loop again i love domesticated loop (LINK)

[avoidmint]

Some artists are posting pics of their art progress in 2024, so here's the weirdest compilation I've ever made in the form of: Sonic Characters I have drawn with just the most Ghibli-esque tears I could give them.

Starting from the top left: Oldest > Newest Bottom most right picture is my latest pic! As of today!

There's a bit of other kinds of improvements you can see but like... Lookit them waterworks! You can actually kinda tell that some of those are tears!

[arolesbianism]

Sier? I haven’t even met her! Laugh.

[acaesic]

i really want to finish all my unfinished art before i turn 15 but im so burnt out rn 😭 </3

[honey-tongued-devil]

[Arcane preference]reacting to their s/o calling them husband/wife for the first time

I’ve finished the first chapter of the long fic about Universe 7 (Anytime it rains). As soon as my second beta reader gives me the okay, I’ll post it. While I wait, I’ve written the first headcanon (out of three I’m definitely planning to write and post in the next few days) and picked up the drawing of Steb I’d left unfinished. I’m slow, as usual, but English isn’t my first language, and I’m juggling a lot of things at once. Enjoy!

socials: | INPRNT | | Tip Jar | | X | | BlueSky | | Ao3 | poster: | Jayce poster | | Silco poster | |Silco +self insert poster 1| | Steb poster | if you want to read the fluff longfic with vander and his happy family + Silco x reader you can find it here! ↠ Masterlist

Jayce:

-This man is planning to put a ring on your finger as soon as possible, okay? -Between the academy, public appearances, and both theoretical and practical studies, there isn’t a single moment when he’s really in the right mindset to bring up the topic -The worst part is that, deep down, he’s terrified of putting pressure on you -That’s why, the first time he hears you refer to him as “my husband” during a gala with noble families, he almost chokes -He has to gather all his strength not to grab the interlocutor by the shoulders and ask if they also heard you say that word -He’ll try to keep his composure, maybe responding to your remark with, “Yes, exactly. Her husband really did say/do/design that.”

Viktor:

-It’s not a thought he’s ever really entertained; it never crossed his mind -Part of it is that science is his priority, and part of it is that marriage doesn’t seem like something meant for people like him, -The first time you call him “your husband”, that thought suddenly becomes real in his head, and he can’t help but lean against a wall and wait for the other person to leave -“So, I’m your husband now, huh? Mmm… I don’t mind, a bit pretentious, though…” he jokes, making you roll your eyes -Now, more than ever, he has no idea what to do. He’ll give you a bronze ring from a machine he’s building -“Until I can get one worthy of you.”

Ekko:

-Yes -That’s it -The end -Okay, seriously. The idea of being certain that something will last forever is probably his greatest wish -The first time you call him your husband, he doesn’t see it coming -“Wait, you’re married?” -“I was talking about you, Ekko.” -The moment you say it, he points to his chest, you see his lip tremble slightly, and his eyes grow shinier -He won’t stop talking about it for a week, and at least once a day, he’ll ask if you still want to marry him, if you’re sure, if you love him -No rings before S2; the promise is made by drawing something for each other on your masks and clothes -After S2, he still can’t afford a ring, but now that life is more stable, he can start thinking about a more traditional gift, like a piece of jewelry

Vander:

-This man is ravenous for any family role you might offer him—fiancé, father, husband. Anything goes -The first time you call him “husband”, he plays it cool but will seize the first opportunity to return the favor by telling a customer you’re married -As soon as he can, he’ll squeeze your hand, even under the counter -The idea of being married and having a complete family is everything he’s ever wanted -He won’t stop calling you “my beautiful wife/husband” from that moment on.

-You said it first; you can’t take it back. Now you have to get married

Silco (old man):

-This man’s only sin is loving too much, but I’ll save that reflection for another post -Having no ties other than his illegitimate daughter doesn’t make him someone who’s particularly keen on formalities -The first time you call him “your husband” is in front of Sevika, and he slowly turns to look at you, while she slowly turns to look at him -“Did I... miss something?” Sevika asks, but he doesn’t reply, still perplexed, before glancing at her and saying, “I don’t know what you’re talking about.” -He’s relieved but doesn’t show it. He can’t afford to just yet -As soon as he confirms you were serious, your name will be flamboyantly forgotten—he’ll constantly refer to you as “my wife/husband”

Silco (young):

-The man who survives on love -The first time you call him your husband is in front of Vander, and while Vander bursts out laughing, Silco chokes on his drink -“Are you serious?” He’s so happy that his pale iris are completely swallowed by his dilated pupils -He grabs a pen and draws a ring around your finger -To his credit, he works in a mine, so it’s hard to do better than that, but it becomes the goal that keeps him going -Completely focused on family, the future, and anything that sees the two of you together and happy

Steb:

-The first time you call him your husband is at a dinner among enforcer families, and being mute doesn’t stop him from stealing the spotlight -He whips around, blinking slowly with only his third eyelid in a gesture of confusion -When he’s 100% sure he understood what you said, his eyes widen, the small membranes under his eyes flutter madly, and even the barely visible gills near his jaw gasp for a moment -Someone says, “I didn’t know you were married,” and he immediately nods enthusiastically, not giving you time to take it back -Within 48 hours, he’ll have the ring ready

Jinx:

-The first time you call her “your wife”, she freezes -“What did you just call me?” -She’s used to being a little sister, a big sister, a daughter—she’d never thought she could be a wife. Family ties aren’t chosen, but the idea that someone would want her in their life so much they’d marry her feels incredible -“You want to marry me? Really? Why?” -She bursts into tears, and it’ll take at least 24 hours of cuddling in bed to calm her down -After that, she’ll run to her father to announce that she’s now a married woman

Vi:

-She might not be Silco and/or Vander’s blood daughter, but she’s inherited their deep desire for family -From her family’s tragic fate to Vander’s, she’s always seen family as the ultimate aspiration -When you call her “your wife” for the first time, she doesn’t notice right away, but a full minute later, she whirls around to look at you, as if to ask for confirmation -“Say it again.” -“...You need to buy bread?” -“No, all of it.” -“My wife needs to go buy bread.” -“Again.”

-"My... wife?"

-"Again"

Caitlyn:

-Has she thought about it? Yes -Was she planning to act on it? Not exactly -Caitlyn struggles with emotions and feelings, which is why she hesitates and takes her time -But when you first call her “your wife”, her brain completely shuts off—she just stares at you, unable to hear a single word being said -If you or someone else asks her a question, she’ll snap out of it and respond, -“My wife/husband said everything.” Even if it makes no sense as an answer, making you laugh and leaving the other person baffled

Mel:

-Not a single flicker of surprise—the first time you call her “your wife”, she remains completely composed -“So, I’m your wife?” she asks as soon as you’re in private, approaching you like a feline. You can almost hear the purr in her voice -She’s amused but also intrigued by whatever game you’re playing -The idea of marriage is complicated for her—on one hand, it feels like it would limit her freedom to act, while on the other, unresolved family issues seem to devour her at the mere thought of starting a new cycle -She’ll tell you to go ahead, to get married, but she’ll also ask for time -In the meantime, though, she’ll start using the term “husband/wife” with you—she likes the way it rolls off her tongue

Sevika:

-Between the work she does, the environment she lives in, and all the interesting circumstances of her life, marriage has never been on her radar -Not to mention that in Zaun, it’s not exactly a common practice—people just move in together and build families when they can, without much fuss over formalities or bureaucracy -The first time it happens, she’s playing cards with the other goons, and you casually ask if “your wife is winning” -Her first reaction isn’t even hers—it’s the others’. Dustin, the blond goon with the lazy eye, almost starts crying, embarrassing her -Don’t worry, she’ll make you pay for it at home -She won’t ask to formalize anything, but in true Zaunite fashion, she’ll consider you married, plain and simple

[andypantsx3]

contents: general bakugou x princess reader; fem + afab virgin reader. nsft; oral (f receiving) & missionary. semi-sequel to this drabble. 3.2k.

Your wedding day arrives far earlier than you are prepared for.

It’s a tense affair, for you at least. The country depends on it, and you feel the scheming eyes of the nobility hot on your skin as you pronounce your vows to Bakugou. They will not take kindly to your having chosen him over their sons and brothers, over their own desire to rise to power. There will be a price they will want you to pay, soon enough.

The chapel is resplendent with sumptuous decor, the court in their finest. But the room is fringed with Bakugou’s men in their military leathers, a reminder that this is not a happy day, but rather a dangerous political stunt. It keeps the noble houses docile while they are in the room with you, but you know they will return to their estates and their plans. 

Your fate is in Bakugou’s hands, now, in more ways than one.

The ceremony is dizzying, and impossible to wrap your head around. The preceptor pronounces Bakugou your prince-consort, ostensibly to remain so while you assume the throne after your father’s passing. You will continue to rule him as his sovereign. But your vows to Bakugou also promise him your obedience as his wife. 

It is a contradiction, an impossible trap, the very reason why the general is the only man you could stomach the thought of marrying. If a husband is to rule you after all, Bakugou will do so justly. 

The thought does not stifle your nerves, however, as you make your way back down the aisle, sit down to the reception, and take your meal. A disquieting, anticipatory feeling settles over you, fizzing under your skin. You barely pick at your dinner, and drink too much of the wine.

You can tell Bakugou notices, scarlet gaze ever-perceptive, though he does not say anything until you are shepherded to the bridal suite to consummate.

Various aides try to follow you in to prepare you, but Bakugou slams the door closed on them, propping it shut with one broad shoulder. He barks at them to scram.

“Lord General—that is, Your Highness,” one of them stutters through the door. “We are required to witness the consummation—to verify that it is complete.”

A bolt of shame goes through you at this, and you catch hold of one of the intricately-carved wooden bed pillars. Bakugou grunts, holding the door closed with one palm while spinning to the nearby dressing table and chair. He grabs the chair, wedging it forcefully up under the door handle.

“You’ll be sure of consummation when I’m done here,” he growls through the door. “Don’t need you little fucking perverts making eyes the whole damn time. Now beat it.”

A weird sound escapes you, something between a gasp and a laugh—at his promise, at his gruffness.

“Your Highness,” comes a plaintive entreaty through the door. Bakugou slams a fist against it, and you hear a squeal and a sound like someone’s fallen over their feet.

An absurd laugh seizes you, and Bakugou eyes you pettishly.

“The fuck’re you laughing about,” he says, but there’s no heat in it.

Your fingers twist on the bedpost, nervously tracing the lines. “You’re taking to your new post well.”

Bakugou’s features twist into something dangerously satisfied, a smirk painting his mouth. Your breath comes short.

“My post,” he echoes, raising an eyebrow. “As your husband.”

Your stomach swoops. The disquiet flames back to life under your skin, settling heavy in your gut like a stone. 

“I supposed it is a post like any other,” you say, fixing your gaze on the ground. “There are responsibilities and… marital duties.”

You hear the soft tread of Bakugou’s boot as he steps away from the door, the rustle of his doublet as he draws closer. His many medals and ceremonial sword belt clink softly. It is a fashion you know he does not prefer, always living in his shirtsleeves—the better to fight in, to train in.

A calloused hand takes your chin, tipping your face up to his.

“You nervous, Princess?” he asks. His tone is obnoxious, as usual, but his crimson gaze traces your face.

You barely suppress a shiver under his touch. Your stomach churns with a thousand emotions and you find you don’t know how to feel. Relieved that you’ve made it this far. Annoyed with Bakugou’s composure and general manner. Apprehensive about what is to come. And warm, suddenly, all over. You do not want to examine why.

“Nonsense,” you sniff. 

A feral smile curls the corner of Bakugou’s mouth like he sees right through you. “You’ve never been with a man.”

Your face burns but you force yourself to return Bakugou’s assessing stare. “I’ve never been to Musutafu, either, but I know it well enough. I should think I am… prepared.”

Something hot alights in Bakugou’s gaze, burning like a coal. It’s not unlike how he looked at you that night in the dark outside his chambers, when you’d first come to him with this wild proposal.

“And what do you think you know,” he says, flatter than a question.

Your nose grows hot. “Enough.”

A thumb slides along your jaw, settling against the pulse in your neck. “Answer the question, angel.”

Your face just might be on fire. You steel yourself, reciting dispassionately. “You will undress me and then… enter me. I shall lie still—they say you can breathe through the pain and it will go away after some time. You will… work yourself to completion. And then we shall be done.”

A snort comes from Bakugou. “Is that how you royal tightasses do it?”

You feel your eyes narrow. “That is how everyone does it.”

Your ladies in waiting had been very emphatic. All of them had spoken of the same mechanics. The initial discomfort, the pain, the way a husband moved upon his wife until he was satisfied.

“You don’t know shit, Princess,” Bakugou says.

You reach up to pull his hand from your face, but he tenses, arm growing solid and immovable. 

“Explains why all you nobles are such fucking tight-buttoned pricks if that’s how you’re doing it.”

Your reply is startled out of you when his hand finds your waist. You take a step back, and then another, startling again when your back finds the wall. Bakugou follows you, eyes hot.

“You are insufferable,” you inform him hotly. “I am sure of the matter.”

“You’re always sure of a lot of things, Princess,” he says. His hand is back at your waist, and suddenly all your skin feels too hot and tight, stifling like a velvet dress in summer.

“I am sure you are the most obnoxious man on earth,” you say. “Now be quiet and commence with it. Let’s have done with it.”

Bakugou’s face is suddenly closer than you’d remembered it being.

“I’ll have done with you alright,” he says. “But I’m not gonna do it like you little uppity prudes.”

You find you can’t think of what he means, all of your thoughts clouded with his proximity, the feeling of his hand moving to your skirts.

“I—but there is only the one way,” you manage. None of your ladies had mentioned anything else.

Bakugou’s mouth cuts into a smirk again, and you hate him for how pretty it is. 

“We’ll fuckin’ see about that,” he says.

And then his mouth is pressed to yours. 

It’s nothing like the stilted peck you’d been obliged to give him at the ceremony—one that still left your face burning, for some unknowable reason. This feels entirely different in its intensity. Bakugou’s mouth is hot and soft and tempting and eager, and your body thrills with it.

Every inch of your skin feels like it zings with lightning when he licks into your mouth, and he presses you harder into the wall. You feel his groan all the way down to your toes.

“B–akugou,” you pant when his mouth leaves yours, only to stifle a yip when he moves down to your throat. He sucks a mark there, laving over it with his tongue, and you feel like you're melting in his hands. “That’s—not my—ah!—mouth,” you manage.

The tiniest scrape of teeth has you yelping again, and you find yourself clutching his bicep for purchase.

“No shit,” he says, leaving another mark lower, mapping his way towards your chest. Calloused fingers come up to cup one of your breasts, thumb swiping over your nipple through your stays. You catch hold of his hair, yanking a fistful of that flaxen blonde, clenching your thighs together.

“What are you doing?” you hiss. 

Bakugou looks up at you, expression annoyed. “Consummating.”

“But you’re not undressing me,” you say. “And shouldn’t we—on the bed?

Bakugou raises a blonde eyebrow. “They tell you it needs to be on a bed, too?”

You blink, momentarily disarmed. It was quite literally called sharing the marriage bed—where else were you supposed to do it?

“Are you sure we’re talking about the same thing?” you eventually ask him.

Both of Bakugou’s eyebrows shoot for the moon, and he looks very suddenly like he wants to laugh. A grin yanks at his mouth, sharp and beautiful.

“I knew you’d be a fucking handful,” he says, his tone somehow both annoyed and delighted. “Don’t even know what the fuck you’re talking about and you’re still trying to give me orders.”

You yank at the fistful of his hair you’re still clutching and he hisses, hand shooting out to grab yours. He works your grip off of him, pinning your wrist to the wall. The air in the room suddenly feels a hundred times thicker, like trying to breathe through honey.

“Listen closely, Princess,” he tells you, leaning in. “We're going to consummate, alright. But I’m not just gonna squeeze my eyes shut and stick it in. I’m going to do what I want first, and you’re going to be good and let me.”

Your face ignites in flame. You want to disagree reflexively. “If it’s going to be painful I’d rather just have it over with, if you don’t mind,” you say.

Bakugou stares back, scarlet gaze roving over you. “It’s not gonna be if you shut up and let me do what I want.”

You blink. You hadn’t heard that there was a way around the pain—why hadn’t anyone told you?

“I—really?” you ask.

Bakugou nods. “Really.”

“Oh,” you say. “Well then… you may proceed, I suppose.”

“You suppose,” he echoes, staring you down. The look on his face makes you want to lean forward and bite it off.

“Well get on with it,” you say, arching your eyebrows.

Bakugou looks for a moment like he wants to shake you. But he ducks his head instead, lowering his mouth to yours again.

“Gonna fuck that bossiness right out of you,” he mutters, low like he’s promising himself and not you. But then he kisses you again, muffling your gasp in his mouth.

You’ve never kissed another man, and do not have a frame of reference for what he’s doing. But Bakugou is a good kisser, you think. Every flick of his tongue feels like someone has uncorked champagne and poured it beneath your skin, and every brush of his mouth against yours sends a liquid heat racing through your veins.

You moan into his mouth when calloused fingers delve beneath the collar of your gown, dipping into your stays and pinching a nipple. He rolls it carefully, and you arch against him without any say-so from your brain. 

“Been thinking about this, Princess,” he says. “Ever since I saw you in that little nightdress. Gonna show you what it really means to be with a man.”

You’re excused from answering by his mouth back on yours. Not that you think you could, with the way his fingers feel in the cups of your stays, or the press of a strong thigh between your own.

“Bakugou,” you gasp when he peels off of you, only to sink to his knees before you.

“It’s Katsuki,” he says, busying himself with the hem of your skirts. 

“B–Katsuki,” you say. “What are you doing?”

Long fingers roll up the hemline of your dress, then yank at your underthings, exposing you to him. You gasp again, moving to cover yourself, but Bakugou pins you to the wall with an arm across your stomach, catching your thigh and pulling it over his shoulder.

“Husbandly duties,” he replies, another smirk on his mouth.

And then your head thunks against the wall as that mouth moves, pressing to you.

“Katsuki!” you shout, biting off into an embarrassing moan when he laves over you. No one had told you about this part—about how a man’s mouth there would make you feel like fireworks had just been lit off in your veins. About how a man’s mouth could even go there at all.

Bakugou doesn’t reply, kissing you there as he had your lips. A delicate suck from him over the cleft of you has you arching in his hands again, and you can quite literally feel him smirking against you.

He works you thoroughly, licking and sucking for what feels like torturous hours, but must only be minutes, until you’re a writhing, panting mess, only held upright by the arm he has banded across your lower stomach. There’s a pressure rising within you, pooling in all your limbs, making you shake and shiver with it, and what feels like no way to release it.

“Katsuki—I feel strange,” you say, bucking against his mouth. “Oh—oh!”

“Just hold on, sweetheart, and let yourself feel it,” Katsuki tells you, before licking back over you. A finger presses up inside of you, foreign but strangely good in conjunction with his mouth. Then another one presses in and they curl as if seeking something, making you twist in his grip.

And then something makes you jerk—the press of Katsuki’s fingers inside you in just the right spot, while he sucks on you, feeling like he’s touching the same place inside of you from both sides.

Something inside you snaps, uncoiling, pleasure flooding down you like a mudslide. You cry out Bakugou’s name, tears in your vision, riding out your pleasure against his mouth. Bakugou licks you through it, groaning low in his throat with appreciation.

“That’s it, Princess,” he says, tone rough. “Now you’re ready for consummation.”

You hear his words as if through a haze, and it’s only once you’re moving—being picked up and carried over to the bed—that you register what he’s saying.

He frees himself from his breeches, and stretches out over you, kissing your mouth. You’re embarrassed to taste yourself on him, but the press of him to you overrides that concern. In one smooth stroke he presses in, and you are shocked to find that he slides home easily, your core slick and ready.

It feels strange, but not at all unpleasant—absolutely nothing like what they’d told you.

“You alright, Princess?” Bakugou asks.

“I—yes,” you say, voice fluttering off when he flexes his hips, moving inside of you. The slide of him inside of you is unexpectedly good, especially when he lowers a hand to your core, pressing a thumb to that bundle of nerves at the hood of you.

“Feel good?” he asks, his eyes hot on your face. You cling to him, hips lifting into him unthinkingly as his thumb pets over you again, as he presses in and out of you a few more times.

You nod, not wanting to give him the satisfaction of saying it aloud.

He grins anyway, feral and fever-bright. His pace picks up into something faster, and you’re embarrassed to hear the slap of him against you, the eager way your body welcomes him in.

The band of pressure builds up inside you again, slowly, with every sure stroke of Bakugou inside you. He’s hot and hard and heavy over you, pressing you into the mattress, and the tops of his cheeks are flush with effort—the way he looks sometimes when he’s just come in from the training pitch.

He’s beautiful—handsome and strong and hot-headed and determined. And it dawns on you that he’s yours now—not just your subject but your husband, your prince consort, and now your lover.

It makes all your skin turn molten hot again, especially when you look down and see your knees have rucked his shirt up. You can see the flex of his abs as he thrusts between your thighs, all that golden skin and dense muscle.

The slide of him inside you and the sight of him over you is suddenly too much, and you feel yourself tip right over the edge again. Bakugou catches your hand as you lift it to muffle your cry, kissing over your knuckles.

“That’s it, Princess, that’s it,” he says again, ducking his head to kiss you.

You moan into his mouth as he fucks you through it, and he groans with the clench of you.

“Feel so fuckin’ good,” he says against your lips, pace picking up faster. “Knew you would, sweetheart, yeah.”

Embarrassingly you feel almost like you could come apart again with the praise. Bakugou groans once more, and you can hear his grip tighten in the blanket next to your head. His hips buck and flex, wildly uncontrolled now, until he gives one final hard thrust.

His weight pins you down when he relaxes over you, his breath tickling over your shoulder. You find you like the weight of him on you, covering you, like a shield against the rest of the world.

Apt, for a general.

“Better than how you wanted to do it, wasn’t it, Princess?” he asks, smug.

You scoff, but you catch the flash of a white grin in the corner of your vision. There is really no question that he’d had the better of it, this time.

“Knew you’d see it my way,” he says.

Over him, you can hear the flutter of feet outside the door, some muffled discussion. Heat rises to your face when you realize the castle aids most definitely heard you cry out under Bakugou’s ministrations. There will be no doubt of your consummation now, regardless of whether you were observed.

“Nosy fuckin’ perverts,” Bakugou says, rolling off of you. You catch another flicker of his chest with the way his shirt gapes, and he looks doubly smug when he notices.

“Not done yet, angel?” he says.

“I am, thank you.” You flush, embarrassed at having been caught. But Bakugou stretches an arm out to yank you over him, pressing you down over his hips.

Your stomach flutters.

“Give me a couple more minutes, Princess,” Bakugou says, scarlet eyes flashing with heat once more. His hand raises to trail through your hair, catching in the wedding hairstyle they’d pinned you into. 

“Five more minutes,” your new husband promises you, with a grin like the devil. “And then we'll give them something to really listen to.”

[cheriecoke]

.𖥔 ݁ ˖ LEAVING LIPSTICK STAINS ON LEVI

fem!reader, sfw, fluff, you leave lipstick all over levi before a mission and the scouts find out, just something super cutesy & short while i work on some longer pieces hehe, pls ignore errors lol, 1.3k words

“promise you’ll come back in one piece?” you say, smoothing the wrinkle between levi’s brow with a kiss. 

he glances up at you from under his lashes, crinkling his nose as a short, breathy laugh escapes him, one he tries to subdue. still, he can’t deny the happiness that slips onto his features, not when joy is so fleeting because of the life that the two of you live. 

cold hands run across your back, down to your hips as you straighten his collar, kissing his sharp cheekbones, the bridge of his nose. “i’ve made it this far, haven’t i?” levi mutters, squeezing your sides gently before shifting you off of his lap.

he lifts you, sets you on the edge of his desk, causing some of the papers that erwin had dropped off earlier to crinkle. a smile graces your lips as levi stands, stretching his limbs behind him, the chair pushing away from the desk with a creak.

“i’m going to be late because of you,” levi remarks, eyes narrowed playfully, but he gives you another kiss on the lips, lingering there like it’s painful to pull away.

“then stop kissing me.” your hands splay across his chest, but you don’t push him away, feeling his heart beat under his ribcage, the melody that you will always come back to. still, levi tugs your hips forward, slots in between your legs, and kisses you even deeper. “it’s time for you to go, captain levi.” 

a heavy sigh weighs against your mouth, his exhale warm as he pulls back. “sounds like you want me gone.” 

“of course i don’t.” your voice softens as you play with his fingers for a moment, before he's tugging them away gently, withdrawing from your figure. “i'm going to have to find someone else to sleep next to while you’re away."

normally, you would’ve been going with levi and the rest of the scouts, but an injury from your last mission prevented you from going on any more for a few weeks. 

levi snorts, putting on his jacket, fixing the leather straps across his chest. “is that all i’m good for? killing titans and keeping your bed warm?”

you make a face at him, then shrug, half-hearted as he stares back at you with amusement. then, you laugh, cheerful and free; you know levi will come back to you. he has no other choice. 

levi makes his way towards the door. 

“levi?” 

he turns, the lipstick stains still visible on his cheek, dark against his pale skin. for a moment, you wonder if you should tell him—if he’d be mad if you didn’t. 

but then you remember he’s going to meet with a squad of fifteen year olds that have all almost died alongside him. if they really have a problem with their captain being loved by you, then they don’t care about him as much as you thought. 

you smile and shake your head, voice holding just enough mischief for levi to notice. “just be safe. i love you.” 

he softens. there are times where levi is hesitant to say the words, still worried you will be taken from him. but this is not one of those times. not when you will be separated for days, his life once again in danger. “i love you too, sweetheart.”

within ten minutes, levi is down to the first floor, pushing into the room where the members of his squad are already waiting. 

he’s only a minute late, but he feels like they must have been waiting for hours, the way that they are all gawking at him with wide eyes, connie’s jaw faltering slightly. “everyone here?” levi asks, doing a quick scan of the room, counting heads like he’s their babysitter. 

no one says anything. eren’s eyes look like they might bulge out of his head, and jean covers his mouth, looking away as him and sasha let out a stifled giggle. 

levi’s mouth draws into an even thinner line. “what the hell are you snickering about?" he grumbles, looking at each of them individually, wondering who will be the first to confess. 

their eyes dart away dramatically, faces red. even eren, who is normally more obnoxious than the rest, seems to have run out of words to say. 

his eye twitches; levi wonders if connie’s head might burst, or if sasha’s laugh will rip out of her first. 

“well?” levi asks again, snapping, already tired of this mission. a hot cup of tea sounds nice, in bed next to you.

armin, as usual, is the one to speak up when no one else has anything intelligent to say. “well, sir,” the blonde says, gesturing towards his own face. “i think…”

levi touches his cheek, remembering all the places you’d kissed him earlier, wearing that pretty black dress and your dark lipstick. a sigh leaves him when he pulls his fingers away, the tips coming back, smeared with a deep red. 

he should've known.

“i see," levi says, staring for a moment, before meeting eren's eyes, his lips finally widening into a grin.

“ooooh," eren sings, his expression smug as mikasa elbows him, her own features pinched tight. "the captain’s in looooove."

levi knows they are expecting a reaction, a spectacle of the fact that he adores you. but he’s never kept it a secret, and he’s certainly not ashamed of all the things he feels for you. 

“and what if i am?” levi asks instead, pointedly staring eren down as the rest of the scouts watch the exchange. “honestly, i am surprised no one noticed sooner.”

eren’s jaw falters a bit; a small wave of silence falls over the scouts. you and levi don't make a point of hiding your relationship, but really, levi shouldn’t have been surprised that no one in his squad was observant enough to notice. 

or so he thought, anyway.

historia’s smaller, high-pitched voice breaks up the quiet, repeating your name back to him, as if affirmation that you’re the one he kisses goodnight. a silly question really, considering levi has never looked at anyone else with the same kind of tenderness. 

“it is her, isn’t it?” historia asks, smiling softly. “i only know because you’re always holding hands under the table when you think no one can see.”

levi raises his eyebrow. “clearly we were wrong about that.” though, of all the things to notice, he thought it’d be the way you kiss him after every mission, the way he’s harder on you than anyone else because he doesn’t want to lose you.

eren shrieks your name like he’s never heard it before, and levi is starting to wonder if the boy actually is an idiot. his old squad had known immediately; petra caught you sneaking up to levi’s quarters when you thought everyone else was asleep, kissing him on the cheek when you thought everyone's back was turned. 

it’s been a long time since then, he supposes. maybe the years have taught you subtlety. 

“how long have you been together?”

“does she actually like you?” 

“do you—” connie makes a lewd gesture with his fingers. “you know.” 

“connie!” jean shouts, whacking him on the back of the head. “what do you think! dumbass.” 

“hey!" connie says, rubbing his head. “geez. i just can’t picture it.” 

"i’d rather you didn’t." levi’s face turns sour, disturbed by a room full of teenagers discussing his private and romantic life. “bring it up again and i’ll leave you outside of the wall on the next mission.” he pauses, crosses his arms with an exasperated exhale. “and she likes me just fine. at least, she has for the past five years.” 

“five—” 

a new wave of questioning starts and levi pinches his temples, shakes his head, the red smear of lipstick still on his face.

levi almost wishes you could’ve been there to field the questions instead. you’ve always been better with the kids, connected with them a lot easier than levi had.

even if it was would’ve exposed his lovesick eyes, the tiny lift of the corner of his mouth when you were around.

he’s never been very good about hiding it anyway.

[asksonicverse]

Happy Valentine’s Day! Wake up!!!

Okay…. So complicated may be a bit of an exaggeration. THEYRE PRETTY COMFY BUT LIKE ITS LOWKEY “FORBIDDEN” BACK HOME SO…

Lance and Arthur said “wait you mean we’re away from our kingdom and no one here knows us? Hell yeah no real risks” but ofc they still keep it on the down low (also it was Arthur that flips down Lances eye guard thing)

Also thanks for everyone sending breakfast! I’ll make a little drawing of them eating all the food you guys are sending, I promise they aren’t starving!

The reason this one is late is because my procreate crashed and deleted half my drawings, get more updates/sneak peaks on my main -> @verizzafai

Previous | names/start | Next

[julymusings]

PORTRAIT

jason hates taking photos. it's a shame you find him so beautiful.

Jason Todd isn’t one to take pictures. Standing there with a fake smile, posing for a deceptively happy vignette of an unhappy reality feels awkward. He never knows what to do with his hands. He doesn’t like the way his face translates through the lens; the green of his eyes glows just this side of too spectral, his broad, stocky frame towers over that of his siblings, and the scars on his face bring memories of a darker time, an intentional carelessness for his life he used to carry. He leans away when others huddle together to smile. Pretends to notice something behind him when caught in the background of the lens.

Enter you. Only capable of looking at him with hearts in your eyes. Serving on a silver platter what he used to starve and scavenge for in dimly lit bars on the lips of women who only saw him as something to sink their teeth into and then spit out, never sticking around for longer than one night. Jason feasted at first, he’ll admit, stuffing himself to sickness on your unconditional adoration until it was almost too much to bear.

You take pictures of him and gush over them, telling him how pretty he is. How he belongs in a museum. He never believed you, never bothering to actually look at the pictures you take. But pretty soon he’s everywhere; you set him as your lock screen and screensaver, and print photos to frame on your bedside table. When your storage is maxed out, you steal Jason’s phone to flood his camera roll, and he finds that he keeps going back to stare at the photos you take. Selfies where you kiss his cheek and his mouth curves upward just enough to transform him from brooding to disarming; portraits where he looks, not at the camera, but just beyond and his eyes crinkle, the tips of his sharp canines peeking out over his bottom lip. He looks…different. Better. He starts to believe the things you tell him; his beauty is ancient. Michelangelo himself carved the contours of his body. The Trojans and the Greeks fought for a decade over him.

But what is it about this camera, he wonders, that makes his appearance digestible? Is it the way you frame him front and center, the backlighting sun rays extending in all directions behind him, encircling him with a holiness he doesn’t deserve? The scenery against which you capture him, busy nighttime streets under city lights, just dark enough to smooth out his rough edges? 

Or maybe it’s just you. Seeing himself from your point of view. Seeing himself as yours. His hooked nose, crooked from being broken one too many times, belongs to you for the early mornings when you trace down the bridge, around his lips, and up his jaw, drawing a portrait with your fingertips. His unruly hair, with streaks of white that make him stick out like a sore thumb, exists only for you to run your fingers through when he lays his head in your lap. His scars are for you to kiss on those difficult days until he can bear to look in the mirror again. He wants nothing more than to be a museum of all things you.

Jason Todd isn’t one to take pictures. But when you ask so nicely, showering him with compliments and promises of thank-you-kisses later on, how can he say no?

why are we as a society still striving for more definition and higher quality photos for anything other than, like, x-ray imaging and space exploration. I don't want 8k ultra-max hd in my phone that highlights every hair and pore and eye bag i want grainy and dark and fuzzy because it makes me look hotter and that's a fact. rant over

anyway he's so pretty i wanna take candids of him and kiss his face and squeeze his huge ti-*GUNSHOTS*

this is gonna be my last post for the next few weeks because i have finals. see you on the other side🫡 (born to be a farmer on a remote island, forced to study STEM) i'll be on requests as soon as i'm back trust

[ari-ana-bel-la]

charles getting his four year daughter leo and leo is cutest puppy but someone even looks at her and the puppy is growling at everyone, leo lays on her protectively and won’t let her sleep alone, charles always finds them together

Leo, the bodyguard

Charles loved his daughter more than anything in this world.

Nothing brought him more joy than hearing her sweet laughter echo through their home or feeling her tiny arms wrap around his neck in an excited hug. At four years old, Yn was his entire universe, and Charles would do absolutely anything to make her happy.

So, when she had a bad dream, he immediately rushed to her side, brushing her tears away and whispering sweet reassurances until she fell asleep again. When she was hungry, he never hesitated to cook her favorite meals, even if it meant burning pancakes a few times before getting them just right. And when she had a wish? Well, Charles did everything in his power to make it come true.

And for the past three weeks, Yn had wished for one thing and one thing only.

"Papa, I want a puppy," she had said, her big, bright eyes shimmering with hope.

Charles had smiled at her request the first time she mentioned it, thinking it was just a passing thought. But when she brought it up again the next day, and the day after that, and every day after for three weeks, he realized this wasn't just a fleeting wish—this was a dream.

And if there was one thing Charles couldn’t resist, it was his daughter’s dreams.

Which is how he found himself standing in their living room one sunny afternoon, holding a small, wriggling bundle of golden fur in his arms. The tiny dachshund puppy tilted its head curiously, its long ears flopping as it let out a soft yawn.

"Yn!" Charles called, trying to keep his excitement in check. "Come here, ma chérie. I have a surprise for you."

It only took a second before the rapid sound of tiny feet echoed through the hallway. Yn came dashing into the room, her pink dress fluttering as her curls bounced with every step.

"A surprise?" she asked eagerly, her face lighting up.

Charles knelt down, revealing the little dog in his arms. "Meet Leo," he said softly, watching her expression carefully.

For a moment, Yn just stood there, her mouth slightly open in shock. And then, with a squeal of pure joy, she threw her arms around both the puppy and her papa. "A puppy! You got me a puppy!" she cried, her voice filled with wonder.

Charles laughed, the sound warm and full of love. "I promised I'd always listen to your wishes, didn't I?"

Yn pulled back, cradling the tiny dog against her chest like the most precious treasure. "He's so cute, Papa," she whispered, her eyes sparkling with happiness. "I love him."

Leo, as if sensing her affection, licked her cheek softly before snuggling closer to her. Charles couldn't help but smile at the sight—his daughter holding her new best friend, her face glowing with delight.

From that day on, Leo became Yn's constant companion. Whether she was playing with her toys, drawing pictures at the kitchen table, or snuggled up on the couch watching cartoons, Leo was always right beside her. And Charles, despite having expected chaos from adding a puppy to the mix, found himself utterly charmed by the tiny dog.

It didn't take long for Charles to realize one very important thing: Leo was fiercely protective of Yn.

It first became obvious when a few of Charles' friends came over one afternoon. The house buzzed with laughter and conversation as the drivers settled into the living room, chatting about the upcoming season.

"Where's your little shadow?" Max asked, leaning back against the couch with an easy grin. "I haven't seen her all day."

Charles chuckled. "She's in the playroom with Leo. Probably making him wear another tutu."

Just as he spoke, Yn emerged, her small form half-hidden behind the doorway. True to Charles' words, Leo followed close behind, his tiny body nestled in her arms and wearing a sparkly pink bow around his neck.

"Papa, look!" Yn giggled, holding Leo up proudly. "He's a princess now."

Daniel let out a loud laugh, clapping his hands together. "I think Leo's the most patient dog in the world."

But as soon as the drivers shifted closer to get a better look, Leo stiffened. His little ears perked up, and with a low, rumbling growl, he flattened himself protectively against Yn's lap.

The sound wasn’t exactly menacing—coming from such a tiny dog, it was more amusing than anything else—but it caught everyone off guard.

"Is he… growling at us?" Carlos asked, raising an eyebrow in disbelief.

"I think he is," Pierre grinned, leaning forward slightly, only to be met with another determined growl.

Yn just giggled, stroking Leo's head gently. "He doesn't like when people come too close," she explained matter-of-factly, as if her little dog protecting her from a group of grown men was the most normal thing in the world.

Charles shook his head fondly, though he couldn’t help but chuckle under his breath. "Leo takes his job very seriously," he said, pride and affection mingling in his voice.

"Well, I wouldn’t want to mess with him," Max joked, holding his hands up in mock surrender. "He clearly runs this house."

The rest of the afternoon passed in a blur of warmth and laughter, with Leo remaining firmly planted on Yn's lap, keeping a watchful eye on anyone who came too close. Even when Daniel tried to tempt him away with a treat, the tiny dog refused to budge.

Later that night, after the guests had left and the house was quiet once more, Charles tiptoed down the hallway to check on Yn before heading to bed. The door to her room was slightly ajar, and he pushed it open gently, peeking inside.

There, nestled beneath a mountain of soft blankets, was his little girl, her face relaxed and peaceful in sleep. And right beside her, curled protectively against her chest, was Leo.

The tiny dog blinked sleepily at Charles as if acknowledging his presence before burrowing deeper into Yn's embrace. Charles felt his heart swell with warmth, the sight filling him with an indescribable sense of peace.

Quietly, he stepped back, closing the door with a soft click.

He knew, without a doubt, that no matter what, Leo would always be there to protect his daughter. And in that knowledge, Charles found a deep, abiding comfort.

Because if there was anyone in the world who deserved to have every wish come true, it was his sweet, precious Yn.

♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♥︎♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡

Authors Note: Hey loves. I hope you enjoyed reading my work. Mt requests are always open for you!

-💙🦋

[eintausendschoen]

POV: It is Valentines Day. You followed an invitation to a bar on Mount Helicon, for an event called "The Blue Hearts Club". A mysterious invite extended by a total stranger... with the promise of a relaxing night out. Some well deserved Me-Time.

At the door, the owner of the place greets you like she knows you. She says her name is Kalliope, one of the Muses, but you do not know her.

When she points you at a crowded table at the back of the room you follow.

There, of course, you realize what the invite meant by...

... "Me-Time. Uh-huh.... riiiiight..."

The Muse winks at you as she pases, distributing another round of drinks. "Welcome to Valentine's!", she laughs, and from across the table laughter joins: "Yeah, with yourself!!"

For @dxwart — sorry to spring this on you but ... ah... that WAISTCOAT just had to be shown around. 💜 (link to the artwork)

🤩Shoutouts to all the beautiful beautiful people who lend me their designs to play with to make this date happen. You are all AMAZING artists and THANK YOU for all the good vibes here and making Poseidonverse happen!!🤩

From left to right, top to bottom and then right to left again (in terms of order 🤌) because life in the sea is a circle: In purple and gold, Poseidon by @rin-sith - he is so much fun to draw it is riddiculous.

Next to him, the cheeky lil' king (who really isn't little at all, believe me, everyone else is just so enormous, there is a sizechart but it blew the scale) with the luscious hair and the prettiest scales: Poseidon in a more mortal-ish form by @ruthlessness69

Okay, you all know him and he's half across the table already. This king is having LA FIESTA tonight, because he got a list, and now he got more names. @messymoonmad - he did that all on his own, I swear by Styx. (I love him so much.)

Yeah, canon Poseidon. He was there first, and now he's having a hard time holding onto his drink. 😘

Seacreature at the back is the lower half of @tagzpite glorious Poseidon. He might have just lost a bet, but he is a good sport. Also, checking out that blue-haired devil across the table already. (I just borrowed him last minute, he got dragged along - hope it's alright. He'll be returned intact.) Next three... most chaotic throuple (if you can call it that) in the history of saltwater. Poseidon of @pink-noah tried to snatch the hand of @kamuch-kommandos hot dark menace. Got snatched in turn and poor him, Tall Dark and Handsome got a death grip. All just because Poseidon by @bigidiotenergytm went to win a dare and smooch the Big Gun at risk of ear-injury.

Guess @melodyartists Poseidon owe's him a drink now. (He squeezed in last minute when I stumbled upon your post where he introduced himself to the popular girls, and of course I had to bring him into this mess. Hope it's alright? :)) ) Poseidon by @anniflamma, but her awesome new design. He wanted a word with @neal-illustrator's (neals not active here afaik but tagging anyway), so they made an appearance. Mostly because...

...you know them, you love them, you windbaarrrghl. Is it Cloudysseus shlepping Cloudseidon in to steal grapes together? Is it Zeus spying on his brother's Valentines date? Nobody knows. @kdpartworks thank you so much for lending them - I'll return them safe and sound when Poseidon gets back home.

To his left... @wukyma - he did the vase-face again. Why is he so cute when he does that? I'm such a big fan this wet grumpy cat, especially with Polites. (And how do you draw his curls??? That was so hard!) Of course he'd sit next to Gorgeous by @arraunean and trade war stories. No armour for the bar, but these two are classic guys and this is Helicon, so the comfy draperies to go with the wine.

And last - your host's 'not-quite-boss': he's mine, :))

Happy Valentine's everyone <3

[mxrcurysb1tch]

⋆˚𝜗𝜚˚⋆ 🌷 Venus through the signs pt. 1 🌷 ⋆˚𝜗𝜚˚⋆

𝜗𝜚 Venus is the planet of love, connection and beauty. Where she is located in your chart (ie your venus sign) is how you love and connect with other people (both romantic and friendship, I believe). It can explain if you’re a quiet or loud lover, if you’re adventurous or cautious, romantic or practical. As always, take what resonates and leave the rest bbys! Xo

𝜗𝜚 Aries Venus- jump first, think later. These people fall into love hard and fast. It’s love and attraction at first sight. If you capture their interest they’ll jump head first and won’t look back. They’re bold in love and unafraid to make the first move (although they’ll be very impressed if you beat them to it!). The risk is that they run in blind without taking the time to consider if this person is truly the right fit but hey, to an Aries Venus that’s part of the fun. They might get bored once the initial spark wears off but if they’re committed they’re extremely loyal and protective. Certainly not one to wallow about loves lost.

𝜗𝜚 Taurus Venus- like any good earth sign a Taurus Venus is going to be super picky. And not in the way that Virgo is wanting you to be perfect or Capricorn wanting you to be useful. No, Taurus just doesn’t want to let anybody in who will disturb their sweet inner balance and comfort. Taurus Venus will move slowly, making you prove that you are worthy of them. They know real love won’t be rushed and they’re more than happy to wait it out, sometimes for too long and they miss the opportunities right infront of their eyes.

𝜗𝜚 Gemini Venus- This Venus has somewhat of a reputation. I don’t think they’re actually as bad as everyone says but if you’re boring to them you’re out. They need to be intellectually stimulated and they might not always be able to find that in a single partner. This is why they might play the field before committing, they’re looking for the most interesting option and they won’t be caught lacking. I wouldn’t say they have high standards but they do want someone who will capture their attention and who is as interesting as they are. They’re flirtatious and quick with words which draws people in. A Gemini Venus is looking for an intellectual partner and freedom. Controlling, codependent types will make them run a mile.

𝜗𝜚 Cancer Venus- These people’s ability to romanticise anything is truly unparalleled. They have a big heart and a way of making their loved ones feel truly seen and appreciated. They’re somewhat needy and naive lovers and their need for security and roots is what drives their mate choice. A cancer Venus is not one for casual hookups or empty promises. They’re easily hurt in love so it may take them a long time to trust if they’ve been burned before. If you’re prepared for intensity and dedication from day one though they’re truly sweet, warm and loyal and will make you feel cared for like no other. Once they’ve set their sites on love though, moving on may be a challenge and they’re prone to being just a little clingy.

𝜗𝜚 Leo Venus- Leo Venus just wants to be adored and in return they will adore you. They’re into grand gestures and they expect them from their partners. They long to be shown off like the prize that they are, so don’t keep them as your little secret. They’re not shy in love but they can air on the side of caution if they feel like they’re not being appreciated in the way they deserve to be. They are truly uplifting and they will make sure you know that you are loved and special to them. Leo Venus is extremely warm and pretty romantic but they must remember that love is not a one person game or a competition. They must also remember not to use grand gestures to mask feelings of insecurity in love.

𝜗𝜚 Virgo Venus- Thoroughly unimpressed by the fluffiness of romance, the Virgo Venus seeks to approach love in the only way they know how, by careful observation, analysis and precision. Obviously, they’re not devoid of sensitive loving feelings but it can certainly seem that way. It’s just that romance doesn’t come easily for them, and it is safer for them to have a plan. They won’t get carried away by romantic fantasies that can get them hurt. This is the Venus that will settle for the secure option and then gradually reform their partner from the ground up into exactly what they want them to be, and you’ll let them because really they’re making your life better. You may become annoyed by their constant critiquing but you’ll stay because like any Virgo placement they have a sweet healing serenity to them and kind eyes that want to help.

I hope you guys enjoyed! Stay tuned for part 2 ;)