#if anyone is lonely/alone this year please don't hesitate to message me

[oneofakindimagines]

✰ happy holidays! ✰

i just wanted to wish a happy holidays to a few of my mutuals and just blogs that i love! also to all my followers. remember to take care, be safe and enjoy yourself over the festive season.

✰ @myriadimagines ✰ @lotsoffandomimagines ✰ @cactiem ✰ @connerkennt ✰ @strangerlosers101 ✰ @imaginesbymk ✰ @iknowmyvalue-fics ✰ @u-usami  ✰ @mahvericks ✰ @swanimagines ✰ @sunlightwanda ✰ @onegayastronaut  ✰ @writinqss ✰ @libraryoffandomsuniverse ✰ @randomfandomimagine          ✰ @companionjones ✰ @the-wlw-cafe ✰

[cordonian-literature]

Forever Mine

chapter six

❦ summary — The time for Princess Riley to step into her role as queen fast approaches and finding the future king is Cordonia’s top priority. Commander Liam is aware of that, and has plans to make sure the princess ends up with someone suitable.

➺ chapter warnings: smut, manipulation, slight degrading (??)

❦ catch up here!

➺ word count: (+/-) 2120

*all characters belong to Pixelberry, except those unique to my story*

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Walking to the Commander's office alone was a bad idea. Even worse considering that it was past midnight. But Riley couldn't help it; nor could she hear the voice in her head telling her to stop over the thundering in her ears.

Maybe she should have gone to Drake instead, or even Maxwell. Even Olivia would have helped.

She wears slippers and a gown, one that wasn't appropriate in case someone saw her. The lights of the guest bedrooms she passed were on, she could hear some maids and guards in the distance; there were too many chances of her getting caught, yet her feet still led her down the cold hallway.

Leo had sent her a text an hour ago, telling her that he finally came back from his day's activities and that their father was upset. She could walk to her father's office and say what she needed to tell Liam. Or she could even walk to Leo's room, her older brother wouldn't push her away, would he?

But her feet kept moving. She had put on the wrong shoes before leaving her room: she hadn't worn these in more than a year, and they were a size too small. The cold floor stung the heals of her foot every time she took a step. Riley longed for the warmth of the library fireplace, the softness of Liam's fingers, his gentle embrace.

But that wasn't what she was going to him for. Yes, she was lonely, and yes, she wanted some company, along with some validation that she had done a good job today, but she was going towards the Commander's office to complain about one of her suitors. Riley knew that out of all the people she'd tell about her grievance, Liam was the one who would take action.

She doubted that Leo wanted to help her with anything that had to do with the season, and she knew that her father would tell her to bear it and stop complaining. Drake and Olivia's intimidation tactics wouldn't work to drive away someone she didn't want around, and Maxwell's family was slowly losing significance, so he couldn't help either.

But Liam, Liam could. Riley knew. Out of all the people in her circle, he had the most power. He wasn't self-absorbed like her father, he didn't avoid responsibility like her brother, he isn't afraid of the spotlight like her. He'd be the one to take action.

Since before the season began, she had dreamed up hypothetical situations in which she, in a flurry of emotion, didn't wish to marry any of the men who presented themselves to her, and she would run to Liam to tell them to go away.

It would be perfect for both of them, wouldn't it? There wouldn't be another power-hungry man near Constantine trying to take Liam's position away from him, and there would be no one controlling Riley. It would be perfect for both of them.

The belief that Riley was doing the right thing, not only for herself but for Liam, too, gave her the confidence to open the door to his study.

Her eyes land on unruly hair that had been perfectly styled this morning, hunched over stacks of papers, pen in hand with ink staining his long fingers.

She didn't move from the entryway, forgetting that there was an open door behind her, listening to the pen scribbling away on paper. The Commander had missed the day's festivities and was still working? Riley couldn't imagine the stress he carried on his shoulders, visibly weighing him down.

"Commander?" she calls as quietly as she can.

He looks up at her, but she cannot make out his eyes from such a distance. She walks up to him slowly, remembering why she came. Tears form in her eyes from the frustration, though her voice is steady when she says, "I wish to talk to you about—"

"Princess, please," he soothes, standing up to brush tears from her eyes. He leans closer to her, and Riley shivers when she feels his breath on her cheek. "I'm busy right now, darling." Another shiver shakes her spine. "I'll meet you in the library in twenty minutes."

He sits back down and she is left staring at the top of his head again. Riley only moves when she hears footsteps from outside the room, prompting her to dash towards the library.

When she reaches the library, Riley makes sure that it is empty. She checks her phone and finds messages from her brother and Drake asking where she is. Her heart thunders in her chest, running wild with excitement that Liam will join her shortly. She doesn't want anyone interrupting them, so she tells Leo and Drake that she's reading a book in the library, and warns them not to bother her.

She takes a seat on a desk near the fireplace, thinking of how to introduce her complaint to Liam. How would he react to her words? Would he call her childish, think she overexaggerated or misunderstood? Would he laugh at her? She loved making Liam laugh but knew that if he ever laughed directly at her, she would cry in front of him.

And even though she doesn't want to show Liam any tears tonight, a dull sense of dread rises in Riley's chest and stops her breath. How much longer did she have to endure this? Why did she have to suffer through unsolicited comments, not only by the men and nobility who participated in the season but all the reporters who spoke to the world?

She wanted it to stop, it was too much. She felt disgusted with herself that she prefered to go back to the life where she didn't have to worry about anything; other people would do that for her. She wanted to go back to the sweet noble life.

The library door opens and she spins around. Liam's hair is still out of place, and his military coat unbuttoned. She can see the shirt that usually stretched under his muscles, now hanging untucked and lose from his slouch.

She doesn't want him to see her tear-stained face, so she wraps her arms around him and buries her face in his chest, pleasantly surprised by the smell of lime and jasmine.

His calloused fingers come to rest at her hips, and she can feel the depth of his voice in his chest as he says, "Tell me what happened."

"Lord Michael..."

She only manages to utter his name before he speaks up again, "Say no more, I'll get rid of him."

"Please don't do something rash."

"I won't, darling. I'll make sure he's gone by morning."

She feels his attempt to move away from her, but Riley wraps her arms tighter around him. "I missed you today," she states, without realizing the weight of her words.

Liam doesn't respond. He looks down at her, the scent of lavender shampoo filling his nostrils. His fingers tighten their grip. Riley gives a soft whimper but doesn't protest.

Should he let go? Leave and return to his office? Stay and comfort her? What type of comfort did she need? He was stressed enough as it is, but he didn't want to leave his darling alone.

"Come here," he says into her locks, leading her towards a reading chair. There was only one chair, and when he sits down she continues to stand, looking around for another seat.

Liam, lacing his fingers through her's, gives Riley's hand a gentle pull, motioning her to sit on his lap. He expected her to pull away, every voice in his head told her that she better do the proper thing and move away, go grab another chair.

But after a moment of hesitation, Riley sits between his knees, taking the time to wrap her legs and arms around Liam's back. She tucks her head into his neck and takes a deep breath, while Liam's breathing quickens.

"You had all those men around you," he reminds her, feeling her breath catch in her throat, "and you still missed me?"

He hears a soft hum in his ear and continues, "Cordonia's greedy little princess."

Riley's face heats up from those words, but she doesn't move. Nor does she stop the Commander from moving his hands below her gown or grinding his hips against hers.

Through all that, the princess slowly lifts her head to let her eyes meet Liam's. Their breaths getting faster as they stared into each other, trying to find an answer or queue.

Liam wanted her to pull away, while Riley, unsure of herself, wanted him to continue. She had no idea what she was doing, but her heart had never moved this fast or felt this warm, she never before had wanted a man to tell her that he loved her. So she let him continue.

With his hands on the underside of her thighs, Liam stands and walks her over to a desk, lifting her gown off of her as he places her down. Riley doesn't want the Commander to look at her body, so she gently pushes her lips against his.

Liam instantly regrets his decision, but she doesn't pull away so he continues.

Riley's insides burn with shame, but he doesn't scold her, so she moves to help him undress.

Pain and pleasure break through her as Liam tells her to lie on her back and greedily thrusts into her. She holds her hands against her mouth, forbidding any sounds to escape. Meanwhile, Liam's filthy words feed the pleasure and shame inside Riley.

He grabs her wrists and holds them over her head. She struggles to hold in moans and tears, wanting to scream from the way he was pushing into her with the intensity of a man who had long been deprived of sexual gratification.

Panic and fear build in her chest after a knock at the library door. Liam doesn't turn his head or slow his pace.

"Princess?" a voice comes from outside the door. Riley hopes that they cannot hear what's happening. "The royal secretary has been searching for you." Riley recognizes the voice, it was her handmaid, Maria.

"Princess Riley," the royal secretary speaks out. "Your father is requesting your presence. He understands that it is late, but the issue is urgent. Prince Leo told me you would be here."

Frantically, Riley turns to Liam and squirms, wanting to release her hands from his grip and push him off of her, but his fingers tighten around her wrists.

"Go on, princess," the hulking man prompted in a hushed, sultry tone. "Answer them."

"I... I'm okay!" she manages to belt out, just before his thrusts increased tenfold.

Riley felt blood on her tongue from how hard she bites down on it. She tries desperately not to release the hot flurry of moans that wanted to spill from her lips. The metallic taste flusters her more.

The pleasure Liam causes is enough to make her head spin. The way he curves toward her cervix, hitting a spot just near it with every pound, made her see stars. Riley fears that she may soon give away her and the Commander's compromising position if he didn't stop.

"Please," she sobs quietly, to which he responds with a dark chuckle in her ear.

Liam had been waiting so long for this. Why would he stop now, when he had her exactly where he wanted her since they had first met? She was enjoying him. She was accepting him.

"Does my little girl want to cum?" he taunts. "After teasing me like a little whore for years?"

It was what she needed that moment, but she was more concerned about the people outside the door entering and seeing her like this. She wanted the release. She wanted this. She wanted Liam, or at least in this moment, she believes she does.

Nevertheless, she didn't want anyone to witness her in such a vulnerable state beneath him. She didn't know what would happen. Worst of all, she didn't know what Liam's fate would be, once her father discovered his treachery.

"Ah... ah, the... d-door."

"Do it before they decide to check on you, because I won't stop.

And she believes him, because this isn't the sweet, caring man she knew. This is someone who wanted nothing more than to dominate her. This was someone who had been wanting to do this.

All those fleeting glances and touches, had they been precursors to this? But the thought was lost as he brought her to climax around him, and only then did Liam begin to worry about who was still at the door.

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a/n: okay y'all i've never written smut before and i know this is really bad so please don't judge. I told myself i would never write smut. but i had to do it for the plot🤌🏻 anyways i hope y'all enjoyed this lol

@twinkleallnight @gkittylove99 @sweatyrysconnoisseur @kingliam2019 @queenrileyrose @royalromancer @princess-geek @mom2000aggie @claireloutoo @tessa-liam @21-wishes @yourmajesty09

[smileyoongle]

Deception (A Kim Namjoon Mafia AU)

Requested by @uwunamjoon a long long time ago. I'm so sorry, love. I was just planning out the entire plot and I think it's finally ready. Here goes the first chapter!

Summary: A damsel in distress and a lonely mafia leader. Different but not too different. The two worlds collide on a rainy night when Kim Namjoon, a renowned Mafia leader is called for an emergency and Y/N Y/L/N is on the run from her abusive father. Feelings stir and he rescues her. But one of them is a liar. And the other's life is on the line. It's only a matter of time until all secrets are out in the open.

Will love be born? Or will death conquer?

chαptєr σnє: Cold and Warm

Character count: 9089

Pairing: Namjoon×Reader (Appearances by the whole of BTS)

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Every man has his secret sorrows which the world knows not; and often times we call a man cold when he is only sad.

- Henry Wadsworth Longfellow

_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _

Dead. Devoid of life.

The complete description of how Kim Namjoon felt. People thought that he was absolutely happy with his life because he loved what he did. Because his face showed no remorse whenever his hands stretched forward to strangle someone.

But none of it was true. No one ever saw the way his hands shook after taking the life of a person. Innocent or guilty. No one ever knew how much he hated himself for all the times he pulled the trigger. And the sad truth was, no one wanted to know either. The image of Kim Namjoon was already painted in the minds of all the people. He was cold and ruthless. No further arguments.

The rain poured down harshly, the droplets hitting the windshield of Namjoon's car as if they were made of stones. Another emergency meeting at a very ungodly hour but he was used to it. He was used to being sleep deprived due to all the dangerous matters he had to look into. His head would ache for hours but Namjoon was used to that too. The headlights of his car barely illuminated the road ahead and the light from the street lamps didn't help much either.

A sense of uneasiness washed over Namjoon but the rain kept him calm. It was his favourite sound in the world. It helped in keeping away all the dark thoughts in his head and made him feel sane. A low 'ping' echoed through the car as Namjoon's phone lit up on the passenger seat. He frowned and glanced at the screen, sighing in annoyance on seeing the name of one of his gang members, Yoongi.

'Where are you? The situation is a little too complicated so you need to hurry.'

Namjoon could almost hear Yoongi's voice and he really didn't want that. He didn't hate Yoongi or anything, in fact, Yoongi meant a lot to him. Almost like a brother. Yoongi had been the only one who tried to understand how hard Namjoon's job was. While everyone else depended too much on their leader for everything, Yoongi always tried to lessen the burden. Namjoon was grateful for that.

With a shake of his head, Namjoon grabbed the phone and unlocked it, typing in a reply while driving with the other hand. For some reason, the 'send' button wasn't working. Namjoon pressed it multiple times but nothing happened and he almost screamed in frustration. He needed a new phone.

Too busy with his messaging issues, Namjoon didn't notice the hooded figure on the road ahead. He looked up just in time to turn the car around with a sudden jerk, not wanting to kill an innocent person. The car came to a halt and Namjoon breathed heavily, squinting to focus on the person who was now frozen in the middle of the road. It was 3AM. Too late for someone to be roaming around in this area.

Getting out of the car, Namjoon could feel the anger rising in him. He was ready to let it all out on this stranger who had so carelessly ran in front of his car. The rain was still heavy and Namjoon was already drenched but he didn't care, he had other important things to deal with.

On reaching the middle of the road, Namjoon saw the person hiding their face behind their hands, as if holding a shield in front of them. Namjoon pursed his lips and pulled the stranger's hands down, tugging harder on feeling the resistance.

An inaudible gasp escaped his mouth. A girl with bruises and cuts littered across her face, stood in front of him.

Beautiful but broken.

Your eyes were red and puffy, as if you'd been crying for too long. Your lip was busted and blood stained your chin, being barely visible as the water cascaded down your face. Your head was covered by a black hoodie which was now dripping with water. A small black bag hung on your back, it's straps tightly wrapped around your shoulders.

Namjoon's heart did a weird thing which made him frown. Realising that he was still holding your wrist, he pulled away and cleared his throat.

"What the hell happened to you?" He asked, watching as your eyes glanced everywhere but him.

You wanted to leave.

Namjoon guessed.

"I.. I'm sorry but I really need to go." You said, looking behind you at the dark footpath from where you came. Namjoon followed your gaze but saw no one. He looked at you just as you began to run away. Grabbing your hand, he pulled you towards him, making you gasp.

"Is there a problem, miss?" He asked, holding your hand firmly when you started to pull away. Your breathing was becoming ragged and your eyes portrayed panic. This made Namjoon worried.

But why?

He didn't even know you.

Your lips were quivering as you tried to get out of Namjoon's hold, constantly looking behind you. "Look Mr, I have to go before he finds me. He c-can't find me!" You cried over the sound of rain, the desperation in your voice growing with every word.

Your sobs made Namjoon's heart grow weaker. It was like they were pleading to him. Pleading to save you from whatever made you afraid. Pleading to just take you with him and hide you from the entire world. Maybe for once in his life he could do something good. Maybe this one good thing would redeem him.

"Let me help you."

The words caught you by surprise. A stranger wanted to help you and he didn't even know what was going on. But it warmed your heart to think someone wanted to help you. Someone didn't want you to go through this alone. For once, you didn't have to fight all by yourself.

"You can't. My father.... he's... he's a dangerous man. He has been hurting me for years and he won't let anyone take that away from him." You explained, feeling his hold on you become loose. Namjoon's blood boiled on hearing your words. He was disgusted by the way your father treated you. Now it was obvious that the cuts and bruises on your skin were all done by your father.

Before anyone could say anything, the sound of splashing of water was heard from the direction where you had been keeping watch. Your eyes widened and Namjoon noticed your concern. He immediately pushed you behind him, taking you by surprise as an old man emerged from the dark streets and onto the road. You clutched Namjoon's shirt tightly, feeling his muscles flex under your touch. You were now shivering, the aftermath of the rain, of course, but more due to the monster in front of you.

Namjoon was expecting a ragged looking man to be your father and not the man who was stood in front of him. He recognised this person. Your father was a drug dealer who annoyed Namjoon to no extent. More the reason to hurt him. Whereas you, you frowned on seeing the fear across your father's features. The man who had never shown mercy to you was scared. Of who?

Probably the man who was protecting you. You looked at the back of Namjoon's head, wondering who he was. Was he someone you should be afraid of?

"M-Mr Kim! What are you doing here?" Your father asked with a nervous smile which made Namjoon more angry. The nerve on this man.

"Could ask you the same thing...Mr C." Namjoon replied, emphasizing on the street name that the drug dealer went by. Mr C. C as in candy, because candies make you feel high too. Namjoon remembered laughing at the name, thinking how dumb it was.

Your lips parted as you observed the exchange between your father and your knight. You were quite surprised on hearing the name that your father used for his illegal businesses. It gave you a suspicious feeling. Who was this person?

"Just looking for my- Oh there she is! Darling, I'm sorry for lashing out on you. Let's go home and talk it out, okay?"

You whimpered and shook your head furiously. You were never going to go back to that hell hole. And Namjoon didn't want you gone either. He understood all of your pain.

"She doesn't want to go with you." Namjoon stated, his hands tugging at the metal beneath his shirt.

"So why don't I just end you here?"

You gasped and pulled back on seeing the gun in his hand. Surprised again. Your father gulped and took a step back, looking at you with pleading eyes. But you were too shocked to move so you stood still until you heard a click. And in the blink of an eye, you were infront of the gun, protecting your father. Why? Because your father wasn't always a monster. He was a sweet man who loved you until he started loving the drug world more. That's where you lost him.

"Pl-please don't kill him. He's my...my father, no matter what he did to me." You begged, clasping your hands in front of you.

Namjoon was confused. Why would you want to save someone who wasn't worth it? But that's what made you different from him. You thought your father deserved to live. You were nothing but goodness and purity.

After moments of hesitation, the gun was finally put down. The rain came to a stop too. The events of the night were making you dizzy but you tried to keep calm. You saw Namjoon approaching your father and you swallowed thickly. He grabbed your father's collar and landed a punch to his face, making him fall back onto the concrete. You yelped and placed a hand on your mouth, biting the back of it.

"I won't kill you. Only because she doesn't want me to. But if I see you anywhere near her again, I won't hesitate." Namjoon threatened, gritting his teeth and holding himself back from absolutely destroying the man in front of him.

Your heart was warm and you felt alright. Someone cared about what you wanted. Because as far as you assumed, this man was dangerous and he could kill your father without any guilt. But he didn't. Because you didn't want him to.

You watched in sorrow as your father scurried away, not once looking back at you. A sense of relief washed over you when you realized that you were now free. No one was gonna hurt you. All the scars would finally heal and fade away. "Thank you." You mumbled, turning to face your saviour. It was weird. You should have been running for the hills by now.

You took in the appearance of the handsome man before you. He looked like a God.

He nodded at you in return. "Kim Namjoon." He stretched his hand towards you and smiled softly.

He didn't want you to leave. He wanted to know everything you've been through. He wanted to fix you and give you all the things you deserved. He needed warmth in his cold life and he found it in you. You had to stay. He was gonna make sure you do.

With the sweetest smile you could muster, you placed your hand in his.

"Y/N Y/L/N"

So.... taglist anyone?

- XX

[chogiwakeupsheeple]

(Crappy GIF made by me, please do not use without permission!)

Chapter 2/?   Words: 3507  

AN: Hello my lovely followers! (which there is almost a hundred of now holy hell??) I just wanted to quickly say thanks for supporting me :3 even just one message saying they like my stuff keeps me going, so please, never hesitate to drop by to talk or..scream? <3

Anyway here is chapter two of S.L. Noire! I don’t really like the ending but I didn’t have better ideas so ¯\_(ツ)_/¯ I hope you enjoy it! <3

The night was long and dark; the faint sound of droplets on the window being the only reminder that you were actually awake. Your bed was cold yet you wanted no one to warm it; your dark thoughts were your only company. Everyone has their demons, some more dark than others. The thought danced through your mind as you took a drag on your cigarette, before letting your hand fall back down the edge of the bed. The feeling filled your lungs and numbed you until you had to exhale. It was nice to lay in the darkness, you thought. The wind howled outside, resembling a weeping woman searching the streets for her lost child. The sound was familiar. Smoke rose up to your face as you put out the cigarette; its harsh smell only made you more awake.

The clock on your nightstand told you it was already four thirty-three, yet you hadn’t gotten a single hour of sleep. Not even the most imaginative of people could make the grey ceiling interesting; it was just a cold block of cement like the rest of the building. Your room was sparsely decorated with only a bed, a nightstand, a dresser, and a mirror filling the space. It was foolish and useless to decorate or make it personal, you had been told. You could never know when it was time to pull up roots and run. That either meant that you’d leave a lot of valuable stuff behind or that the police had something to identify you with. Or both. If the latter were to happen, you could rest assured that you would be left behind. Every man for himself - nothing personal.

A clatter downstairs caught your attention. Maybe a stray cat or a homeless seeking shelter, or perhaps you had finally gone crazy. Despite your young age, you had seen more things in the years staying in this place than most people see in a lifetime. You had seen enough to make most people escape at first chance, but that had never been an option for you. It’s not like you hadn’t thought of it; you had spent countless nights wondering what would happen if you simply just.. left. There was a time where you saw the world in black and white; there were good people and there were bad people. When you met them, your new family, you realised that those were just foolish thoughts of a young and innocent girl. As time went by you began seeing the world in shades of grey and black; no white. Sometimes good people do bad stuff, and bad people seem kind. You often wondered if those around you were good or bad, but it turned out trying to put them into boxes was an impossible task.

The floor felt cold against you naked feet as you got down to investigate. Your nightgown wrapped around your curves beautifully; Its dark red colour stood in contrast to your pale skin like blood on snow. You threw on a silk robe out of habit, but the cold didn’t actually bother you that much. The stairs creaked as you tiptoed your way down. You swore the old planks of wood would break under you one day. You rounded the corner to the kitchen, although kitchen was hardly the word for a rundown cafeteria, used by warehouse workers before it was abandoned. ‘’June..’’ you spoke softly. The man, who had turned out to be the source of the noise, turned around to greet you with a smile. ‘’Couldn’t sleep?’’ he asked with a sigh, although he probably knew the answer already. Some nights your bed was too cold and your thoughts were too dark, and that often led you into his arms. The warmth from his body and his relaxed breathing calmed you down more often than not. ‘’How do you do it?’’ you had asked him one night, with your head on his chest. ‘’Do what?’’ he had answered. ‘’Sleep while knowing you’ve destroyed someone’s life.’’ You never got an answer. The reply was caught in his throat and died on his tongue along with many other words he wished he had said. Instead he kissed your forehead and ran his fingers through your hair until he eventually fell asleep, leaving you awake.

‘’No, I couldn’t,’’ you finally answered after studying his form. Although his smile was both contagious and sincere, it also managed to send a dagger through your heart. It reminded you of a time where laughing was a luxury he couldn’t afford, and where happiness was punishable. If anyone in this crooked world deserved to be happy it was him, you thought as he enthusiastically shook a can of beans and an egg in front of you. ‘’I’m making breakfast,’’ he stated, ‘’care to join me?’’ You couldn’t remember the last time you had had proper breakfast, yet alone eaten with any of the members, so you quickly nodded. You stepped besides him as he continued cooking, carefully putting your shead on his shoulder. You were almost hypnotized by the movement of his hands as he cracked the eggs onto a pan; so caught up in the nothingness of your mind that you barely registered June’s question. ‘’Did a nightmare keep you from sleeping?’’ he inquired, but you didn’t know how to answer. You suppose you could call life itself a nightmare, in that case, yes that was indeed what was keeping you awake. ‘’June..’’ you started, but it was like the rest of the words refused to leave your throat. He turned to look at you with worried eyes. ‘’Look Y/N, if-’’

‘’Did he have a family?’’ you finally blurted out, interrupting him mid sentence.

‘’Pardon?’’

‘’Mr. Park.. Park Chanyeol, our last victim.. Did you find portraits of a wife? pictures of children?’’

June sighed, finally realising what you were on about. He knew you well enough to know why you were asking, and he loved you enough to give you the answer you needed. ‘’No, as far as we could tell he had no one in his life. He’ll be fine, he’ll have earned enough money to buy back what we stole from him within a month,’’ he answered, pulling you into a tight hug, ‘’don’t worry.’’ But you did worry. How could you not? Mr. Park may have been wealthy enough to survive after a burglary, but you knew that that wasn’t always the case. How many men had you fooled by now: ten? fifty? a hundred? You had lost count, but all of them gnawed at you and served as a reminder for your sins.

The two of you sat across from each other at a small table, silently eating June’s cooking. ‘’What was on the note Monster gave you?’’ he suddenly blurted out, causing you to almost choke on your food in surprise. ‘’Sorry,’’ he continued, ‘’I just couldn’t help but notice you two talking, and I’m guessing it wasn’t a love letter or something of the sorts.’’ Monster hadn’t explicitly told you to keep it secret, but most of his orders didn’t come in the form of words: they came with the way he looked at you. Did you dare interpreting his gaze as his approval or did you keep the details of your mission secret?. ‘’I’m not sure I can tell you, June’’ you muttered into your coffee mug. ‘’I won’t tell anyone if you don't’’ he laughed in response. Ah, fuck it, might as well take the chance.  

And so you told him the content of the small lap of paper. Today’s mission was a little different from the usual; for you at least. Park Jinyoung, your next target, was more than just a gullible, lonely man whose home was going to be ransacked: he was a journalist. And a dangerous one at that. He had been investigating your group for a while, trying to catch you and make the front page. Luckily, you had all been invisible enough for him to not know any of your faces, making it possible for you to get close to him without getting recognised. The one face he did know though, was one that could cause all of you trouble, should he get exposed. Waiting outside a pawnshop, known for its relations to the crime world, was Jinyoung, ready to snap a picture of Monster selling stolen goods. Tragically, he succeeded and now had proof that he was involved in illegal activities. And that’s where you came into the picture. Monster knew that Jinyoung always carried the pictures on his person, in fear of getting them stolen. While the others stripped his apartment of anything valuable, your job wasn’t just to distract him, but to get those pictures. ‘’I don’t care if you have to hit him with a frying pan or sleep with him, just get the pictures by any means necessary’’ Monster had told you after Jack and June had left the previous night.

‘’Wow’’ June uttered in shock, ‘’I didn’t realise he was in that much trouble.’’ You couldn’t exactly blame him for not noticing. A strong leader never shows his weak sides, and you knew that if he could’ve dealt with the issue himself, he would’ve. As a woman with no future you had instantly recognized a man with a past. He had been thrown to the wolves, only to come back as pack-leader, and his scars made him stronger than most. He had lost more than most people have to begin with. He had nothing to lose, no one to fear, and that’s what made him dangerous. That’s what made him a good leader, and none of you could afford to lose him. ‘’I have to get those pictures’’ you stated with a voice full of determination. June had finished the last of his food and wiped his mouth with the sleeve of his shirt, sending you a smirk behind his hand. ‘’With a beautiful girl like yourself, he probably won’t mind you getting a little handsy. You’ll have those pictures before he can realise what’s happening’’ he laughed, and you laughed with him. It felt great to truly smile for the first time that night.

‘’Do you have a plan?’’ he asked while washing the dishes. You shook your head at first, not realising he had his back to you. ‘’No idea’’ you quickly added upon noticing. You knew how important it was to get them, but neither sexual endeavors nor physical violence appealed to you. Instead you thought it was safest to try what you do best: listening and talking. ‘’I’ll just see what happens I guess’’ you concluded, to which June let out an approving hum. Once done with cleaning, he stepped besides you and pulled you up into an embrace, rubbing small circles into your back. ‘’Just promise me you’ll be safe’’ he muttered into your neck. You let out the breath you didn’t even realise you had been holding and went limp, letting his strong arms hold you up. You could promise him no such thing, but hearing the hurt in his voice made you utter the lie anyway. ‘’I promise.’’

The car was filled with the smoke from Jack’s cigar. You sat in the passenger seat, nervously fiddling with the bottom of your dress, next to Monster who had been driving. He gave you a nod, silently telling you to go ahead and step into the dirty alley. You nodded in response, assuring him you’d get what you needed. ‘’Good luck’’ M called after you as you stepped out of the car. They drove away, leaving you in the cold to make your way to the bar you knew so well. You pulled out the lap of paper one last time, staring at the name written on it. It stared back at you mockingly, and you couldn’t help but feel ominous about the whole thing. To say you looked gorgeous that night would be an understatement; you looked irresistible. But a question still remained: would he even care?

You set foot in the crowded bar and looked around. You recognised a few of the faces: criminals mostly, or people you shouldn’t ever come close to. The description you had gotten of the man you were going to meet was vague. Dark hair, Korean, uses dialect, young and average in height. So basically every other man in there. You walked to the bar to ask the bartender if perhaps he had seen someone who stood out. Just as you were about the open your mouth, a pair of warm hands gently grabbed your shoulders. You quickly turned around and raised a hand, getting ready to smack whoever was touching you. Friendly eyes met yours as the man before you grabbed your wrist, successfully stopping you from hitting him. ‘’Do you usually hit your dates?’’ he laughed. He had a thick dialect, you noted; this must be him. ‘’Do you usually sneak up on yours?’’ you fired back, earning you another laugh as he shook his head. He had a cute laugh, you added to your ever growing repertoire of notes.

He let go of your wrist and bowed slightly in respect. ‘’I’m Jinyoung, and you must be Y/N’’ he stated. ‘’Mm’’ you simply answered, mirroring his gesture. After the initial greeting, he put his hand on the small of your back to push you in the direction of one of the more secluded booths in the back. You let him lead you, feeling surprisingly light, as if you were floating. Your heart was pounding so hardly you swore you could almost hear it. This night was different. Not just because you had to steal something from him, but because for the first time in forever, the touch of a stranger didn’t feel painful against your skin. The look in his eyes as you both sat down neither screamed lust nor desperation. He merely looked like a man, showing genuine interest in the woman across from him. You weren’t used to that. ‘’So, Jinyoung, what do you do for a living?’’ you asked, although you already knew the answer. One of the hardest parts of the job was pretending like you didn’t already know who he was. Some small part of you wished you truly didn’t know him; he was a man you could imagine meeting in another life. ‘’I’m a freelance journalist’’ he answered proudly, ‘’I’m currently working on a story about the infamous group of criminals called The Promised Ones.’’

The promised ones, you thought to yourself, is that what the public calls us. You hummed in interest, acting like you had never heard of said group. You rested your head in your hand, leaning slightly across the table, exposing enough cleavage to hopefully warm him up to your presence. ‘’What about you?’’ he asked. Your eyes widened. You weren’t used to actually being asked; most men didn’t care about anything but your face and body. ‘’Uhm,’’ you started. How does one answer that question. I’m a swindler that distracts lonely men while my accomplices ransacks their homes and strips them of everything valuable. That would never work. ‘’I’m an assistant’’ you finally settled on, your throat turning dry. Jinyoung noticed and winked at you. ‘’Don’t worry, I ordered drinks before you got here, they should be here any minute’’ he explained. You awkwardly laughed out a thanks and dropped your gaze to your hands. You were feeling awfully self conscious, as if the usual flirtatious and daring part of you had been dropped outside in the rain. And true enough, not long after, a small woman came and placed two glasses in front of you before leaving. You almost downed all of its contents in one go, hoping to drown your nerves. ‘’Whoa there, didn’t realise my company was that nerve wracking’’ he joked as he took a sip himself. You nearly choked on the liquid and got thrown into a coughing fit because of it. ‘’It’s not that...you’re actually..surprisingly sweet..’’ you managed to get out through coughs.

Something between worry and doubt crossed Jinyoung’s face, but it left as soon as it arrived. ‘’If you consider common courtesy sweet, then I won’t dare to think about the behaviour of your past dates’’ he muttered with an unreadable anger lingering behind his words. You hadn’t actually thought about that. You had always been too focused to make sure the men you were tricking were distracted, and the easiest way to do that was to simply say and do what they wanted. ‘’I’m glad I’ve finally met a respectful man like you then’’ you smiled, once you had finally gained control over your cough. ‘’Cheers to that’’ he laughed, holding up his glass. You lifted yours too and the two of you clinked drinks while catching each other’s gaze.

Once the first hour had passed, you knew stuff about him you didn’t know beforehand, and he knew stuff about you. Stuff about the real you.  During the second hour you talked about everything and nothing, simply enjoying each other’s presence and gaining energy from watching the other smile. It wasn’t until you reached the third hour and your fourth drink that you realised you were slowly breaking your most important rule; you were getting attached. Jinyoung was in the middle of telling a funny story when the same waitress as before came over and interrupted him. ‘’I just talked to the boss of a Y/N and he asked me to leave a message.’’ She handed you a note with shaky hands and quickly left before you could ask questions. ‘’Excuse me’’ you apologized while unfolding and reading the message.

‘You got what you needed? Come out and meet us as soon as you can’

You looked up at Jinyoung with remorseful eyes. You were stupid to think this could ever work, you were just drunk and needy of attention. At least that’s what you told yourself. ‘’Everything okay?’’ he asked, leaning across the table to put his hand above yours. You didn’t know what was so special about him, but every time he touched you a spark traveled from your skin to your heart, making it flutter. He was handsome, smart, kind and most of all he seemed to actually care about you. You hadn’t experienced something like this in years and it made the feeling all the more powerful. ‘’I’m so sorry, I’ve just been called to a work emergency - I have to go’’ you sobbed, sounding less convincing than intended.

He stood up and offered you his hand, dragging you up to meet you face to face. You felt his breath on your skin and you wanted nothing more to stay here with him, but you knew how foolish that was. This would be the first and last you saw him, and while you’d return to your old life, he’d return home to a broken one. A small tear escaped your eye as you leaned up to place your lips upon his. He was soft and warm so when he licked your bottom lip, you happily let him in. The way his hands felt on your hips and the way he hummed into the kiss felt almost too perfect, and it made your entire world spin. You slowly ran your hand across his chest and under his jacket. With careful fingers you wandered into his breast-pocket, successfully getting a hold of the pictures inside it. You hid them behind your back and forced yourself to pull away from the kiss. ‘’See you around?’’ he asked with hope in his voice. You hated lying, you really did. It seemed like your life was filled with empty promises and sweet lies; it made you sick. ‘’Yes’’ you answered, trying to force a smile. You desperately wanted that to be true, but you knew better than to get your hopes up. With one last peck on his lips, you left the bar with hasty steps, not daring to look back.

In just a few hours you had managed to break your ‘’no attachment’’ rule and fall in love, just to steal from him and leave him behind. When you entered the car you didn’t dare looking into the eyes of your group. They asked how it went, but you simply threw the pictures onto Monster’s lap in response. They all celebrated with hoots and laughs, but you weren’t in the mood for celebration. M noticed your silence and tried reading your expression, but to no avail. Monster proudly shook your shoulder and thanked you; a rare gesture from his side. Yet you didn’t even look up. The rain outside had finally stopped and stars painted the night sky. Droplets of water was now replaced with the tears running down your cheeks. Your bleeding heart sank deeper and deeper as the car drove into the night. You had finally done it: you had managed to fuck up big time.