#if the link is there and i am just blind i apologise for adding this. if the link was missing it's okay

[kyokosayuki]

oh look, there's me! and here is the whole tomgreg playlist I mentioned:

Today's contributor spotlights are for @o-chitose & @theoldkyokodied!

[violettelueur]

— JUJUTSU KAISEN EPISODE TWENTY FOUR || ACCOMPLICES

↳ featuring : itadori yuji + fushiguro megumi + kugisaki nobara + gojo satoru + nitta akari from jujutsu kaisen

↳ warnings : mention of violence + mention of curses + EXTREME grammar issues

↳ form : story

↳ published : 22 may

↳ pronouns : she/her

↳ word count : 3.5k

↳ synopsis : within the jujutsu world, there were three famous clans to be aware of, the Kamo clan, Zenin clan and the Gojo clan. However, unknown to many sorcerers there was one last family that was known to be apart of the three, only for them to disappear after the golden era leading some to speculate that they had died in battle after the sealing of ryomen sukuna, but….

↳ previous episode : the origin of blind obedience 2

↳ barista’s notes : so here we are for the final episode of season one of jujutsu kaisen for my series, it’s been a long journey since i started this in early feburary and now it is late may ʕ ꆤ ᴥ ꆤʔ wow times does go really fast, doesn’t it? well, i hope you enjoy this cup of special classic black coffee and prepare for the jujutsu strolls that are going to be coming soon when you ask for a bit of milk in your coffee ʕ•ᴥ•ʔﾉ♡

1. the whole story belongs to Gege Akutami and the credits go to them and them only.

2. the spell curses used belong to Tite Kubo due to them being the ‘Kidos’ being used on the manga and anime ‘Bleach’.

Hakufuku : 10:19-10:32

2.5. for the ‘cursed spells’/kidos (bleach) i will link this video here and tell you the time stamp to check out what i am intending to show - remember i add a few twist here and there by adding the katana to link with Y/N’s cursed technique : hopefully this video is slightly better…

3. if you are confused on anything, please don’t hesitate to message me since i know this whole thing is so confusing.

SAITAMA URAMI EAST JUNIOR HIGH - 1ST YEAR

“Here you go, you’ll need this”

Turning his head to look up, Fushiguro quickly noticed someone standing over him with their hand stretched out in front of him leading his eyes to peer down, only to notice a bandage wrap within the palm of their hands causing him to turn away as if he was looking away in disgust.

“Here you go, you’ll need this, you drag,” you repeated with the insult causing an irk to appear on Fushiguro’s forehead before turning to look at you with an annoyed expression present on his face.

“Go away, I don’t need it,” Fushiguro mentioned with some hint of annoyance and irritation within his tone causing the same irk to appear on your forehead as you then turned your head to look at the pile of beaten bodies that were behind him - an unsightly common sight since you enrolled into Saitama Urami East Junior High.

Sighing out loud, you suddenly grabbed the back of Fushiguro’s collar and began dragging him across the floor towards the bench that was close by (much to Fushiguro’s annoyance) and threw his body slight causing his upper shoulder area to hit the wooden side of the bench which lead him to hiss in pain.

“I don’t need it~ well sounds like you do,” you teased in a nonchalant manner causing Fushiguro to give you a sharp glare only to see that you had no reaction to it. Reaching into your blazer pocket, you took out a box of painkillers with some plasters in different sizes and a small pot of ointment before placing them on the outdoor bench.

“Don’t bother your sister too much...okay?” you rhetorically asked your classmate before turning back to walk away from the situation since you knew Fushiguro was going to question you on your knowledge about his sister even though he - on the outside - never really took the time to appreciate her or showed that he cared.

“What a drag,” you commented with another sigh before stretching your arms down to release the act that was slowly creeping its way to your shoulders as some students began to exit out of the school building to eat their lunch causing them to notice you as you gave them a little wave.

A FEW WEEKS LATER

Ever since that day, Fushiguro couldn’t help but begin to notice you slightly from the corner of his eyes as each day went by. At first, you sort of blended into the crowd in the sea of uniforms that was travelling around in the hallway, seeming to not want any attention from the teachers nor the students alike yet you seemed to somehow attract them leading you to offer the same small smile that he had somewhat gotten used to.

On the other hand, Fushiguro couldn’t help but get slightly annoyed at how your name was being called by the second, it was always “Y/N” this or “Y/N” that since you hated your last name being called. As in a matter of fact, he didn’t even have any acknowledgement or a hint of a clue of what your last name was at all. However, when you would say your name in your own tone, Fushiguro slowly began to notice how he then wouldn't get irritated causing a wave of confusion to hit him every time he would wonder why.

“Y/N, aren’t you going to participate in the elections for the student council, the teachers have nominated you?” one female student asked in a light tone causing Fushiguro to peak slightly over his arm as he was taking a nap for this lunch break, only to see you holding a book with a few other female students surrounding you.

“Nah, it’s such a drag...I don’t like taking responsibility for things,” you commented softly as you placed your thumb over the last word you were reading to keep a hold of your place causing the students around you to become confused before asking more questions causing some of your answers to perplex the erratic haired boy himself.

“I’m not good at organising things”

“I don’t have the time”

“I don’t like helping people”

“Liar,” Fushiguro muttered under his breath before closing his eyes again to fall into a quick nap while repeating the last words you had said to the students around you. 

“I don’t like helping people”

If you really didn’t like helping people, then why did you help him a few weeks ago? As well as leaving some first aid kit items on his table at the end of lunch to restock shall he say? Sure, you had helped other people here and there from letting them copy your notes to little study sessions during lunch to help the other person concentrate but he was wondering why you would help a delinquent like him...but further yet, why didn’t you ask for anything in return.

“Y/N, I found you,” someone shouted, causing Fushiguro’s ears to spike up once he knew the familiar tone to the voice that decided to enter the conversation.

“I wanted to apologise for Megumi’s behaviour for the past weeks and wanted to pay you back for the medical items you had given him,” Tsumiki informed you causing Fushiguro to slowly open his eyes again to see Tsumiki’s arm outstretched with some cash within her palm while you looked down on at with a hint of disappointment in your face.

“Don’t bother your sister too much...okay?”

Placing your bookmark on the page you were on, you gently placed it down before folding Tsumiki’s fingers over the money she was kindly offering you as payment, leading her to give you a surprising expression since, with that action, she instantly knew you were declining.

“Don’t worry, you don’t have to repay me...Just take care of him, okay?” you mentioned with a soft tone before smiling up at your senior leading Fushiguro’s curiosity about you to heighten up even further than it was at the beginning.

“I don’t like helping people”

SAITAMA URAMI EAST JUNIOR HIGH - 2ND YEAR 

Walking in the school hallways, Fushiguro couldn’t help but notice how the gloomy and mundane weather was reflecting everyone’s mood as it seemed as if everyone had a lack of energy this morning and to be honest, he couldn’t blame them one single bit.

It was the day after, Tsumiki decided to attempt the test of courage at Yasohachi Bridge causing her to become cursed as she fell into a sudden coma causing guilt to begin eating him almost wholly as he took each step in the hallway. 

From what he recalled, Gojo had mentioned that Tsumiki was somewhat saved by a cursed technique leading her to not become physically injured at the attempt of jumping off, yet that didn’t save her from the curse that fell upon her since the lingering reverse cursed energy that was surrounding her body wasn’t enough or effective on her and the other students that decided to tag along with her leading him to wonder who was the person that tried to save his sister and her friends from that night.

Suddenly, Fushiguro heard something drop from behind causing him to turn his body completely, only to discover a fallen student leading him to widen his eyes on the sight before crouching down to check the pulse of the person only to discover that they were fine, as he then processed to turn his head to the side where more students from the classroom beside him began to drop one by one leading him to become more panicked since this was just the day after Tsumiki’s curse.

Unexpatantly, Fushiguro heard someone beginning to run towards his direction causing him to turn his head once again, only to find you running towards him with a somewhat worried expression on your face as you began to look at each classroom to see all the students within them passed out.

“Fushiguro!” you shouted in a panic leading him to quickly stand up on his feet as he reached out to you so he could rush you out of the school building to get you to Gojo to ensure your safety. If you were able to help him multiple times, maybe this time he could help you as his repayment.

Grabbing your hand, Fushiguro turned to his feet to begin running but for some reason, you weren’t running with him due to the halt of his movements when trying to pull you towards the exit of the school.

“Y/N, what are you doing? We got to run!” Fushiguro shouted in anger as he turned his head to face you eye to eye, only to come into eye contact with dark but glowing purple eyes causing his body to slowly become limp as his vision began to become gradually disorientated as an illusion of purple cherry blossoms began to fall around the both of you.

“Hakufuku”

Suddenly, Fushiguro began to lose his footing causing his body to quickly fall, only for you to catch him in your arms as you slowly lowered yourself to make sure his body didn’t harshly hit the floor due to any injuries he had gained from yesterday’s fight as you laid him on his side.

“Sorry, Fushiguro,” you whispered with a hint of regret before rapidly standing back up to run the other way which seemed towards the school’s computer’s system leading him slowly turn his head as he struggled to reach out towards your direction before the same arm dropped completely while his mind began to grow blank while your figure steadily disappeared from his sights while his memories of you began to gradually fade as he tried to maintain them with such difficulty.

“Y/N…”

THE DAY BEFORE THE MISSON

“You’ve been reading those books for quite some time, you know”

Turning your head away from the book placed upon your lap, you discovered Gojo in front of you with a teasing smile on his face as his body was leaning on the side of the doorway he had entered from.

“Well, there are quite a few to go through,” you muttered as you turned your head to the other side to see two piles of stacked up books that were somewhat in equal height right now with one pile of the books that you needed to read while the other was the books you had finished reading during the past weeks since you had moved into the Gojo’s clan estate.

From what you could recall the day you stepped foot into Gojo’s house, he had surprisingly guided you into a room that was filled with bookshelves that had books comfortably sitting in its place causing your eyes to widen at the sight only for him to inform you that all that books had belonged in your name.

“All of them belong to me?” you remembered asking leading your adoptive father to giggle slightly at your confused and flustered state as you began to roam around the pathway the bookshelves had given you, only to land on a particular shelf that had books written from your clan to which seemed to be addressed to you.

“I see you found the books, your mother was really smart to lock them and make sure you’re the only person who could read them,” Gojo mentioned to you when he had found you staring at them leading you to turn to him with a perplexed expression only for him to further explain that whenever he tried to touch the weathered spine of the book he would feel an invisible barrier blocking his movements and even when he attempted to use his infinity, there was no use.

However, when it was you, it just seemed like a normal book due to how easily you pull gently and carefully pull it out of the shelf and open it, only for Gojo to comment that all he could see what blank pages yet sense the linger cursed energy that was coming through the paper-based artefact. While on the other hand, you were able to view the elegant black brush strokes gracing the paper which was slightly confusing since you weren’t able to fully comprehend the poetic and outdated Japanese due to how influential the Chinese language was during the Heian era.

“I can’t believe you are technically older than me~” Gojo teased while wiping a fake tear from the corner of his eye, causing you to immediately snap out of your daydream to fully turn to him with a completely annoyed expression painted on your face.

“I DIDN’T AGE ONCE DURING MY SEALING, YOU DRAG!” you screamed in irritation causing the servant who was coming to serve you some tea to stumble slightly before regaining her balance as she let out a sigh of relief, leading you to deeply apologise to her before rushing up to your feet to help her on carrying the wooden, circular tea tray that she was holding on for you.

“I wish I got to see you grow into the woman that you are by the time you are reading this, but may you bloom into the sorcerer that you dream to be” - Your mother.

                                            ꕥ

“GOJO! GOJO!”

Slowly, from the loud shouting that was going on, you began to groan in annoyance while opening your eyes to find Itadori and Kugisaki kneeling in front of you with panicked expressions residing in their faces before steadily turning into relief once they noticed that you were smiling at them.

“Good job,” you whispered to them before resting your head back on the tree you were leaning on causing them to smile brightly back at you before high-fiving each other as they shouted on how relief they were as they already had a fright when they discovered Fushiguro laying on their ground before trying to find you.

“Did you collect the finger?” you questioned your classmates leading them to all freeze in a panic since they didn’t expect you to know about the issue with the special curse that was lingering within the domain that you were all previously in. As a matter of fact, you had already sensed it a few moments ago as well those three years back when you were in middle school.

“Ah...about that...Itadori ate it…” Fushiguro muttered in embarrassment, causing you to look at him with a blank stare before turning your head towards Itadori, who was now looking at you with a ‘trying to be innocent’ expression on his face as he scratched his cheek with his index finger.

“Sorry, Gojo...It was an accident,” Itadori stuttered in a light tone, while you continued to give him the blank expression before hitting his head with the handle of your katana causing him to hold the area while wincing in pain as you began to stand up on your feet.

“HEY! YOU FOUR!” 

Due to the sudden shouting, everyone head’s to shot up to find Nitta screaming at you and your classmates from above while waving her fist in such an erratic way, trying to emphasise her anger to all of you at this current moment in time.

“What have you four been doing? You wouldn’t answer my calls!” Nitta yelled, causing her voice to echo throughout the entire area causing you to wonder if anyone had turned on their lights due to the loud interruptions from their sleep.

“Oh, Nitta-san,” Itadori called out in surprise as he stared up at the irritated woman.

“She’s lost it,��� Kugisaki mentioned, as she too was observing the shouting fit that all four of you were enduring right now.

“Well, shall we go home?” Itadori asked as he turned around to face you, leading the other two first-years to turn to look at you as well causing your eyebrows to raise up

‘Ah...I guess I did think about running away for a second....’

“Yeah, let’s go home,” you answered back before beginning to walk forward leaving Itadori and Kugisaki to talk about having Spendud Sushi as dinner while Nitta was continuing to yell at all four of you from above.

“I know as time passes, the more the Earth will push its fangs upon your shoulder and it’s completely my fault and I deeply apologise from the bottom of my heart. I knew the day that I was blessed with you that I desired nothing more than to give you the easiest route away from all the troubles the Zenin clan had put on us, away from the Jujutsu world and away from the loneliness that you will come face to face once I and your father are gone. I adore you with all my heart and want nothing more than your heart to be blessed with trust, happiness and comfort. Wherever you are, just know that I will always look after you, no matter how long I have to wait, I will always be the mother that I wished I could be for you” - Your mother.

                                               ꕥ

“Why did you leave?”

Turning your head to the side, you found Fushiguro standing on the wooden terrace that you were sitting on with a stern look on his face while you just blinked at him before turning your head to face the garden with a book laying upon your lap as you tried a way to figure out how to bring up the topic that you tried to avoid since coming into acquaintance with the shikigami sorcerer.

“What do you mean?” you asked before closing the book in such a gentle manner, worried that you could damage more than it already was - even if it was such in a good condition after enduring itself for 1000 years.

“Why did you leave? Why did you erase my memory? Why did you go?” Fushiguro queried once again, as he decided to take a seat next to you causing anyone who would see both of you and Fushiguro to notice the contrast in your outfits. At this current moment in time, you were wearing a simple yukata due to being at Gojo’s estate - it was common/courtesy to wear traditional clothing - while Fushiguo was wearing a white jumper with what seemed to be black joggers along with some trainers causing you to come to the assumption that he had either can to talk to you or train with Gojo again like he did last time.

“I’m sorry Fushiguro...but I had to do it,” you answered before grabbing the cup of tea that was sitting right beside you as you then took a sip of the warm drink leading some of your nerves to calm down as you also took a deep breath.

“Why didn’t you stay?” Fushiguro questioned again in a low tone while staring down at the ground trying to compose himself as more memories of you began to steadily flow in.

“It was too risky,” you answered again as you continued to stare at the garden that was blooming in front of you before turning your head to look at your classmate, who seemed to be in deep thought about the response you had just given him.

“I never got to repay you back from the kindness you had given me,” Fushiguro mentioned as he turned his head up to look at you, only to make eye contact leading the memories of your technique to come into his mind.

“I don’t need a repayment, I just did what I wanted to help you,” you replied back as you placed your cup down onto the wooden tray before laying your upper body down on the terrace while your legs were handing off to the side causing your hair to splay across the wooden platform the both of you were sitting on right now.

“But you don’t like helping people,” Fushiguro quickly mentioned as he turned his head to face you, causing your eyes to move from the sky above you to the boy that was now looking at you with a somewhat small smile planted upon his face causing you to remember the conversation that you had with him and Kugisaki about not telling Itadori the reason why numerous amount of cursed fingers that have been popping up recently - making you come to the realisation that he was technically asking you and Kugisaki to help him keep the guilt away from the vessel of Sukuna himself.

“Yeah...I don’t like helping people,” you answered with the same smile as he was presenting you, causing a light giggle to arise from the both of you.

‘I’ll recommend them for a promotion later...’

“Whoever you fall for the sky for, my dear. I wish you nothing but the world’s blessing to fall upon the two of you. May all the flowers that come to bloom will bring you grace and tenderness that you deserve, the same feelings that I wish I could provide to you as a mother like how the sun gives you its warmth” - Your mother.

© violettelueur 2021 : written and published by violettelueur - do not steal or repost

[amachaheadcanons]

Do you think the cast of Danganronpa v3 is chilling and vibin' in heaven? What happens to Rantaro and Tenko in the afterlife. Do they form a ghost relationship?

˚ᆺ˚

I've...actually never considered-- Um-- OMG YES!!!! AMACHA GHOST/AFTERLIFE AU FTW!!!!!

Or- OR. Instead of waking up the cast asap and shocking their system immediately, Team DR instigated level "limbo" as a way to ease the participants back into their real bodies. Slowly.

OKOKOK

Tenko would definitely be salty at first and seek out vengeance, however, I feel like Kiyo would be in hell due to his crimes but instead let's just say the kids are in limbo whilst the killing game is going on. . . yeah. Like a period of time to ease the deceased back into reality without simply awakening them and rendering them mentally and physically paralysed from the cruel reality they imposed on themselves!

She shakes and throws Kiyo to teach him a lesson whenever she gets close enough. Kaede and Kirumi stop her as much as they can but eventually stop trying due to her incredible persistence and the fact that it doesn't hurt him it's just time-consuming.

She pays no mind to Rantaro and Ryoma, considering they were victims. Excluding the odd degenerate comment here and there. Still harbouring some lingering hostility towards Angie.

She spies on Himiko and is happy to see her loosen up and begin her character arc. But is painfully aware of the fact they might never see each other ever again. She's rooting for her from the bottom of her heart so it's a bittersweet realisation.

Kaede still tries to help Tenko get over her bias, following around Shuichi and dragging Tenko along so she can witness his goodness. Eventually, Kaede gets tired of Tenko tarnishing his name so she turns to Rantaro as a live example. Often catching him being charismatic or really focused on something with that cute expression.

Considering they're probably going to spend eternity together, Rantaro's keen to form a bond. She throws him for being so casual about it. He doesn't mind cuz it's kinda fun. He just floats in a circle and back in front of her. Gravity in limbo is similar to on the moon only they can float. And the windy feeling when her hands brush against his limbs is really cool.

He apologises for not taking her more seriously and reintroduces himself adding, "C'mon, shake my hand, my soul's as transparent as ever," and "I'm not going anywhere Chabashira-san, no point holding a grudge into the afterlife,"

She's very stubborn at first, but considering how peaceful the living cast are, Tenko slowly realises this may potentially be the only people she'll be able to make amends with before passing into...hopefully, heaven.

Angie gets tired of the hostility and says the only way to enter heaven is to make amends. Kaede lies with good intentions, hoping her agreeance will push Tenko in the right direction.

It's a slow process until Miu is found dead. Tenko attempts to cling to the inventor, lacking protective malice as she learns there was no way to harm the searching soul. Miu acts normally and demands some alone time, complaining about Tenko's clingy nature and slips a, "Don't you get it Chabashitstain?! This is why Yusmello ran off with Yonorganism!"

Tenko starts distancing herself after that. Miu is mildly excluded until she makes it up to Tenko. Tenko verbally insists she forgives Miu. Deep down she can't hate a girl, though Angie & Miu were tempting that moral of hers.

Kaede attempts to console Tenko, followed by Kirumi, Angie, Miu, Hoshi then Gonta. But to no anvil. Gonta's pretty good at consoling too but it didn't sway her. She's startled by Gonta so much so, she throws him, along with assumptions of his murderous intent. The girl's groan in unison at her lack of hearing and self-centred nature before filling her in on how Kokichi manipulated the situation.

Tenko began to feel more and more alone despite the growing number of interactivity.

Rantaro grows concerned and bold, attempting a method unused thus far. "Chabashira-san, when you fell off a tree for the first time, did it scare you into trying again?"

"When your Sensei defeated you in a match time and time again, did you falter in challenging him again?" "How does Amami know th--" "Tenko, when you failed to throw your opponent over your shoulder, would you stop there and let the aggressor roam free?" "Of course not! Don't insult Ten--" "Then what's making you give up now??"

Cue Rantaro and his amazing words of conflicting. Being able to gently corner people with what they needed to face. "Don't run away from your emotions. Take your own advice and be honest with yourself. What else is there left for us?"

He reached her when everybody else lacked the knowledge and experience to touch her weeping heart. She starts reinviting herself into open discussions. Progress.

Tenko observes and attempts to understand the boys for the first time ever. She finds herself following Rantaro around the massive campus. Considering he's still trying to piece together the mastermind of such a grand scheme. They bond over their search. She gets to know him. And the other boys due to Rantaro being so friendly and charismatic.

By the time Kokichi joins them she's instinctively distant but Rantaro again has a soft spot for the misunderstood ones. Rantaro's kindness is so large it makes Tenko weak and frustrated. Suddenly, she worries he'll fall into Kokichi's trap. She starts worrying and watching his back silently.

Angie "gets a hint from the Gods" and starts shipping them. After a few funny comments from Angie, Kaede and Kirumi are on board. It's entertaining watching the almighty Aikido master blush, stutter, trip over nothing and float aimlessly despite her persistent walking and attempt to perfect her form.

Kaito quickly jumps on the bandwagon and suddenly their relationship is the most interesting thing that can link the kids to some form of normalcy. It was a good distraction from the pressing matters of the killing game.

Rantaro is none the wiser. However, when Kaede pushes Tenko to befriend Kaito and he notices her genuinely trying to find interest in conversing with the space-enthused boy...he's conflicted. He's proud of watching her progress unfold and honoured he took part in it, yet, feels a pang of tightness when seeing everyone boast about their blossoming friendship.

Considering Rantaro doesn't hear the teasing and gossip about Tenko's potential struggle. And upon noticing Tenko avoiding him oftentimes, he grows jealous. However, this makes the time she spends with him alone willingly, appear all the more special. He appreciates their friendship and confesses one night during training... "You've come a long way in the past month Tenko, I'm very impressed. Be proud of yourself. I know I am."

Somehow, his words make her chest tight. "I'm honoured to call you a friend."

Kokichi "boo"s him, the little eavesdropper. Angie slaps his mouth shut, Kaede scolds him, while Miu continues to embarrass the couple attempting to join their living comrades in their nightly training.

This however starts the tradition of the dead training alongside the living. Being with them in spirit and whatnot.

Tenko's bias dies down a lot in the span of 4 chapters. And when the truth is revealed to the deceased cast in the grand finale. The deceased cast is forced to awaken after Kiibo's blinding sacrifice. Tenko awakens with hasty breaths, demanding to see her friends. All of them. Boys included. Not allowing anything to take them away from her.

If Kirumi's the mum of the group, Tenko's definitely the overprotective big sister once she reaches her character arc.

I like this idea, it brings a little more hope to the despair. Plus I like the idea of them all being friends in the afterlife cuz there's no more threats or stress.

[ownworldresident]

We Are Our Own Heroes. Chapter Four: Tentative

Book: The Royal Romance, seven years post-TRR

Premise: Six years after a tragic loss, Liam and his adopted daughter meet Cassandra, an artist with her own troubled past, and the three find in each other the friend they never knew they needed.

Disclaimer: Setting and some characters belong to Pixelberry. I am just borrowing them and will return them when they feel better.

Themes: found family, (power of) friendship, healing

The Master Masterlist (link)  |  Our Own Heroes Masterlist (link)

Liam

“We’ve completed the background check you asked for, Sir.” Bastien announced from the door of Liam’s study. Liam sighed, and looked up.

“And?”

Bastien held up a manila folder. The guilt and uncertainty he felt mixed with relief at how thin it was.

“There is nothing to suggest Miss Rice has any harmful intentions.” He entered the study and placed the folder carefully on Liam’s desk. “She is Cordonian, originally from Portavira, studied fine arts and theatre abroad, and works as a temp and freelance ghostwriter for—”

“That’s enough, Bastien,” Liam interrupted. “I didn’t ask for this to pry into her private life. I just want to know whether I can trust her.” He winced at the double standard he was presenting; this wasn’t just curiosity, he reminded himself, it was assurance he and Emily would be safe. Blind trust wasn’t something he could afford.

“I believe so,” his bodyguard said, more conversationally. “Her only criminal records are parking tickets.”

Liam smiled. That was common enough. There were a lot of questions he would have liked answers to; where she had studied and why, what kind of art did she pursue, where was her family…

“Does she…” Liam’s brow creased as he considered the question, then mentally apologised to Cassie for the invasion. “Are there are partners or ex partners that could provide some risks?”

“None.” Bastien said, and when Liam looked up at him, his bodyguard shrugged.

Deciding not to pry further, Liam ended the discussion.

“If you believe she can be trusted, then I believe you.” Liam lifted the folder, removed the clips, and opened a cupboard to retrieve his shredder.

Cassie

Cassandra screamed.

The lonely peak she stood upon absorbed it and the sky answered with a sheet of lightning and close crack of thunder. Beyond the waves below the peak there was rain coming, and not a day too soon. The electricity in the heavy air vibrated through her very bones. She stamped her foot down on the craggy outcrop, balled her fists tight, and screamed again.

When the front hit, it was with a rush of cold air that buffeted her face. White peaks of the restless ocean splayed before her. They became dotted with heavy rain; she stared hard to commit the feeling and energy to memory, to burn it into her mind. There was so much anger there, but she didn't know whether it was her or the vengeance of the skies that conspired to keep her darkness.

The rain crested the peak, and for a lightning filled moment Cassandra raised her face to the broken skies with eyes shut and arms flung wide. Then thunder cracked around her, rolling against her ears, and, heart pounding, she fled.

By the time the world was awake, Cassie was heaving long breaths in front of her easel. The echo of the storm outside resonated on the canvas, with a vast expanse of swirling masses that floated at the edge of being distinguishable things.

She grinned, stepping back from her new painting. It was a story she was trying to tell, she was sure, and this part was more darkness in form than of it.

---

Cassie

Above the main city were lines of terraces stacked up onside a low mountain. Parting the upper and lower levels was an open space more familiar to locals than tourists, overlooking the main city and the bay. Cassie stood at the edge of the cobbled space, lost to the world as she stared over her city. It wasn’t the pier or the outcrop, but the dark swirling storm was as beautiful here as it would be there. There were several perfect views here for painting, in fact. Lifting her hands to make a rough square with her thumbs and forefingers and squeezing one eye shut, she imagined the image captured from different angles. Too perfect. This might be a real place, but even the organic, eclectic mix of buildings with colourful rooves… set on a backdrop of a low grey sky… there wasn’t enough grit or imperfection to translate.

Leaning her elbows against the half wall, she tried to imagine the view with a fire or collapsed building, something to put more conflict in the image. That dream kept her occupied while she waited.

“Cassie!” A young voice she knew called out behind her, and she turned to see Emily running to meet her. The girl stopped a few feet away and Cassie stood to attention to salute her.

“Hey, Em,” she said as Emily saluted her in return, “I like your shirt.” She nodded at the image of an open ocean and a few clouds. Emily looked down, then up again.

“Thanks.” Emily turned back as Liam reached them, smiling when she saw that he was.

“I hope we didn’t keep you waiting.” He smiled, but his posture was stiff. Cassie wondered what was going on behind it. Maybe she was reading too far into things.

“Not at all,” she replied, energy closer to that of Emily than of Liam. “I arrived early anyway.”

“Good.” Liam lifted an arm to point down the street. “There’s a really nice café down this way. I thought we could get lunch? If the weather holds, we might be able to sit outside.”

“Sounds perfect.” Cassie kept an eye on Emily as they walked. She looked back every so often at her father. Liam didn’t seem phased by the habit, instead walking with an absent half smile for the first part of their walk.

“How was your week?” Cassie asked after a time, not sure where else to start. Liam exhaled, and turned to her.

“Busy,” he said, still smiling, and didn’t give her much more than that.

At the café, which was more of a restaurant, Emily chose a table beneath an outdoor awning. She bee-lined for the tree-shaded playground adjacent with the decisiveness of a child who played on her own a lot. Liam watched her for a moment, and Cassie noted the dark crescents beneath his eyes.

“Thank you for meeting us,” Liam said after a time, looking over at her. His smile was tired but a little more relaxed. It was an interesting study to watch them, Cassie thought, seeing how they interacted in public, and she wondered if they were much less guarded behind closed doors.

“I seem to remember me asking you first.” She stretched, warm in the sun. “I should be thanking you for reaching out.”

Liam laughed, short and genuine, then nodded. “Why did you reach out?”

“I like your daughter, and you seem nice.” Cassie shrugged, then grinned. “Why did you?” Saved from having to answer by the arrival of their food, Liam thanked the server, and called Emily over. When the ball of energy arrived and they started eating, Cassie found herself plagued by questions from her about what she did and who she was and offered as many answers as she could. When Emily discovered she was an artist, she became more interested in that than her food.

“Would you like to see some of my work?” Cassie asked, already pulling the ever-present sketchbook from her bag and handing it over. Emily reached for it, nodding profusely.

“Yes please!”

“Fingers.” Liam reminded her, and Emily glanced at her hands, wiped the sauce from them with a napkin, then took the sketchbook and started flipping through.

“I wish I could draw…” she commented absentmindedly as she flipped through the pages. Liam looked surprised, and Cassie wondered whether she had expressed that wish before.

“I could teach you, if you like,” she said, and Emily looked up, grinning.

“Thank you!” She glanced at her father, who nodded, smiling, then turned back to the pages. Liam began to speak but was cut off by Emily’s laugh.

“You drew Drake?” Emily looked up again, wide-eyed. Cassie shrugged. She had written the man’s name in the corner of the sketch.

“I met him at a bar the other day.”

“His face looks exactly right.” Emily lifted the page for Liam to see. “Doesn’t he?”

“Do you know him?” Cassie frowned as Liam inspected the page.

“Very well.”

“Are you dating him?” Emily’s innocent question caught her off-guard, and both of them sent her questioning looks, though Liam’s was tinged with amusement.

“Definitely not.” She reached for her coffee, then realised how forceful her answer had been, and added, “He seems like a nice guy, but no.”

Far from relaxing, Liam seemed even more surprised, and looked away from her when she caught his eye, which confused her. Had she given the wrong impression? If he was offended he would say something, she believed him frank enough for that. Maybe not in front of Emily.

As soon as the latter had finished her food and waited the several fidgety minutes that her father requested, she raced off to the playground again, scaling the climbing frame with ease and dancing across the top as if she’d been born there.

“Dating?” Cassie asked Liam for clarification.

“She gets some… interesting information from her school friends. And movies don’t help either.” He shrugged, but there was a little unease in his manner.

“Must bring up some interesting discussions.”

“Sometimes.” He smiled, then frowned, focused on something on Cassie’s shirt. “Your necklace.”

Cassie looked down to see that the small chain had come free from her shirt, and reached up to touch the smooth diamond shaped flag: black, grey, white and purple.

“Do you know it?”

“I do.” He smiled, nodded as if with some new understanding, and sat back.

Her orientation wasn’t something she had come prepared to openly discuss, so she was glad Liam was aware of the community. She tucked the flag back beneath her shirt and let the subject end there.

Left alone with Liam, it wasn’t lost on her that barely any of their conversation centred on him as a person. She had no trouble being open about most parts of herself, and they talked about general topics, but Liam only spoke of things she could discover easily enough in a newspaper, or seemed near inconsequential to disclose.

They parted in the middle of the afternoon, when Emily returned, exhausted, to bury her face in Liam’s side. Taking that as a queue to let the girl go home and rest, they walked back to where they had met up, Emily half leaning on Liam, though Cassie half suspected it was for dramatic effect.

Cassandra

Cassie spent the next few days busy and inspired, her confidence bolstered by her time with Liam and Emily. The large canvas was still blank, but she had moved it behind a couple of finished pieces and was focusing on the smaller ones, less daunted by it being empty. An overcast day had cast some more drama over the beach she frequented, and she had spent some time photographing it to paint at home and letting the salty wind and light rain sink into her to remember the feeling.

She didn’t see Liam at Emily’s training, but did see him at the game, and they had agreed to meet afterwards. Her team didn’t win, which left them a little downhearted after three straight victories but didn’t curb Cassie’s optimism. They left much less dejected, and while she packed up she ran through ways to help them in their next training session. Liam and Emily met her outside.

“Ready?” asked Liam, and the lower guard in his smile heightened Cassie’s spirits as she nodded in response. Emily dragged her feet, and Cassie knelt to face her.

“You tried your best, Em, right up till the end, and that takes a lot of courage.” She ducked her head a little to Emily’s tired, downcast face. “There will always be losses. What matters most is how we come back from them.”

Emily’s frown lifted into a tiny smile. “That’s what Dad said.”

Cassie looked up to Liam, whose eyes crinkled as he watched them. “That’s because your dad is a very wise man.” She stood. “Isn’t that right?”

“Yes.” Emily turned back to Liam, smiling again.

“You too, Panda.” He turned toward the emptying car park. “Ready for that movie?”

Nodding, Emily started again toward the car.

“Wherever your mother is now, I’m sure she would be very proud.”

Cassie knew it was a mistake the moment she said it. Emily stopped, and though Cassie couldn’t see her face, she felt the shock. Liam schooled a patient expression, approached Emily and squeezed her hand. She looked up to him.

“Dad?”

“It’s okay, Emily.” He leaned down and pressed a kiss to her forehead, voice low and soothing. “I’m here.”

“I’m sorry.” Cassie clapped a hand over her mouth, eyes darting between the two as her heart dropped. “I shouldn’t have said… I’m sorry…”

Liam turned to her now. “Give us a few minutes?”

Cassie nodded, staying back from the two and wringing her hands. The mask of Emily’s father broke when they made eye contact and some of the pain seeped through. Familiar pain. Liam picked up his daughter and walked away.

The official story read that Emily was Liam’s god-daughter, and he had taken her in after her parents had died in an accident. It explained the hypersensitivity to loud noises Emily had displayed in the past and perhaps her need to keep Liam within her sight.

Around the time the media excitement had been dying down, Cassie arrived back from studying abroad. She had followed the attempt on Liam’s life, the ensuing turmoil, and a bit about Emily’s sudden appearance, but hadn’t realised how much Cordonia had been obsessed with it until she landed. It had seemed disproportionate to the tragic circumstance, confirmed when Liam gave a public statement reaffirming some facts and refuting a few less accurate reports, and requesting privacy. Cassie’s friend had been disappointed, but it had been a long time since they had spoken.

——

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[tsumusamu]

asks :D

sorry i took so long to answer these! i just put them in one post so i wouldn't spam too much

Um I read both your series recently and I just wanted to tell you omg I love them so much I couldn’t put down my phone I got so invested into it and if it’s not a bother if you could add me to the tag list for Amorentia and Call you mine🥺💜👉👈

of course! it’s not a bother! i’m happy to hear you’re enjoying the series! <3

hello, i just want to ask if you have any haikyuu fic recommendations (preferably abt bokuto or atsumu)? Or know any other acct/s that write them? im currently on a fic hunt and i just want some writing that’s as good as yours 🤧

hi there! honestly i havent read many haikyuu fics as of late but alkhale on ao3 is probably my favorite author of all time. they have explicit fics but their rated t fics are just as good. i admire them so much!!

I LOVE UR WRTING omgosh am looking forward to the next part of call you mine SO MUCH u have no idea !!! heheh take ur time will be patiently waitinggg <3 take care!!!

i’m so happy you like my writing it means so much! you take care as well ok <3

My emotions went everywhere!! can you add me to the Call you mine taglist please?😆

Of course!

Omg omg omg I really enjoyed the most recent chapter of ‘call you mine’!! I know you were stressed about writing/publishing it but GIRLL IT WAS AMAZING AND HEART-WRENCHING - and it was a great read! Keep up the awesome work, and I’m looking forward to seeing reader and Atsumu’s interactions in the future like UGH MY HEART. PLEASE, YOU LOVE BLINDED IDIOTS. Take care, lovely!! <3 stay healthy and get some good many hours of sleep! :)) 

GLAD THAT YOU ENJOYED IT!! yes i dont think it was my best work but i will do my best to keep writing in the future! they are such idiots that i felt myself cringing so hard while writing LOL </3 i will take care of myself and i hope you do too!!!

can I be tagged in the next update of Call you mine? 

yes!

you are such a talented writer and i just love “call you mine”. i saw that you apologised for making part 4 12k words long, but honestly write as much as you want to bc we all need as much of this series as we can get. (btw i saw that you said you don’t know when you’ll post the next update, but i kid you not when i say that i’ll check your blog daily to see if you’ve posted another part of the series and to check our your other content as well 🤭) 

YES HAHA sorry i do get really long winded sometimes hence the huge chapter that i posted a few weeks ago LOL the last chapter will be even longer so prepare for that....... sorry abt my inconsistency that i cant tell you when i’ll update next but thank you for being so patient and supportive!!

could i be added in the taglist of both atsumu fics 🥺

yup!

i am speed

and would love to be added to your general taglist whenever you update any of your fics!! thanks🤍

of course! <3

can i be tagged for the call you mine 🥺 

yes i’ll tag you :)

i’m in love with the hogwarts haikyuu au! i think it’s an amazing idea that needs more stories

ME TOO ANY HOGWARTS AU HAS ME GOING INSANE I THINK IT’S ONE OF THE MOST ENTERTAINING AUS TO BOTH READ AND WRITE. i will definitely be writing more hogwarts haikyuu in the future!!

i forgot to add to that last post that what you’re writing is wonderful and amazing and can’t wait for part 4!

thank you so much for your support!

call you mine is such a masterpiece, you’re such an amazing fucking writer (like the plot and everything???? GENIUS) and i can’t wait for the next update sndnkejdh 

AHHH ANON thank you im so happy that you liked call you mine uiefdiasifua im currently working on the update rn thanks for being patient!!

Hi i was the ao3 reader who discovered you and wanted to drop by and say i am sooo excited to read your latest chapter!!! i also wanted to say I love LOVE major love your hogwarts au fic! idk if you know james potter but you probably do seeing as you made an au but atsumu reminds me soo much of young james potter!! i read some fics of james potter and i find him and atsumu so alike in a a way i would love if you could do more takes on your hogwartsau!!! i could send you the links if you want!!

OMGJOIJAI I hadnt even thought of it that way?? now that you mention it james and atsumu in my story do seem to have some similarities but i hope i didnt make atsumu too much of a dickhead D: i will definitely be writing more for hogwarts haikyuu!

can i mayhap get added to your general taglist? your writing is AMAZING, never fails to send me into the stratosphere from how good it is.

sure thing! i’m happy you’re enjoying my work thank you for your message <3 pls dont stay too long in the stratosphere though it’s kinda hard to breathe up there LOL

hiii!!! can you please add me to call you mine taglist?? 

for sure!

IM SO EXCITED FOR PART 5 OF CALL U MINE AHHHHHHHHH

I HOPE IT WILL LIVE UP TO YOUR EXPECTATIONS!!

Hello!!! Can I please be added to the Amortentia and Call you Mine taglist please? ❤️❤️ I think about them all the time, Atsumu brain rot for life!

Also super hyped for your upcoming Osamu fic! You’re amazing, I hope you’re not too stressed! Stay hydrated and get enough sleep you wonderful human being ✨✨✨❤️❤️

YES OF COURSE U CAN AND ATSUMU BRAINROT FOR ME 24/7 AS WELL. i hope i’ll be able to finish that osamu fic soon aaa thank you for being patient <3 please take care of yourself as well!

Will ch.5 be the last chapter of Call You Mine?

yes!

i just wanna say 'call you mine' is 10/10. your writing? *french kiss* i love how you go into detail - we see both atsumu's reader p.o.v - it gives depth to the characters! it's so realistic too. reader's hesitance is very valid - like how can you be sure of atsumu's feeling, when he's getting his dick wet everyday LOL! thank you for writing this, i am enjoying it so much! <3

HDSUUFHASUHF ANON PLS AHHH IM SO HAPPY THAT UR ENJOYING IT and also atsumu will get his dick wet one last time in the final part... u will see ;)

HELLO AMORTENTIA AND CALL YOU MINE ARE SO NICE im gonna cry my favorite tropes + one of them is a hogwarts!au + your writing 🥺❤️

HELLO HELLO THANK U FOR READING MY WORK!!!

i can’t wait for part 5 of call you mine. this series of yours is literally so GENIUS

i really hope that it will be satisfying!! thank you for your kind message!

I wanted to say that your writing is absolutely perfect. The way you capture these characters I’m truly speechless, and each chpt it just gets better and better 😭😭💛 could I ask to be added to the call you mine taglist? Truly, thank you for ur amazing writing !!!! 😭

AHHHH IM LITERALLY BLUSHING... THANK YOU FOR THE COMPLIMENTS IM T___T yes of course you can be added to the taglist and thank you for reading my work!

ALSO YOUR TAKE ON TSUMU IS GOLDEN. IT IS CLASS. PERFECTION. GRACE. I CANT EVEN EXPLAIN. Anywayz CATCH ME CRYING OVER CALL YOU MINE TSUMU AND Y/N 🥲😭💛

PLS ATSUMU IS MY FAVORITE CHARACTER I ABSOLUTELY LOVE WRITING MY TAKE ON HIM. IM HAPPY TO HEAR THAT YOURE ENJOYING THIS TSUMU. AND YES... CALL YOU MINE TSUMU AND Y/N LITERALLY DRIVE ME CRAZY THEY R SO DUMB BUT I CRY WHILE WRITING THEM

Hi there! I love your Call You Mine atsumu x reader fic so much, it’s so well written! Would it be possible for me to be added to the taglist please?

thank you! and yes you can be added!

hi, just caught up with call you mine! i know this might be an odd comment on it but i'm currently going through a similar situation with my best friend as reader is (gray area, we haven't talked in a while) and reading both of their perspectives really brought me comfort. anyway thank you for writing it :)

ooo wow :O i really hope the situation you’re in gets resolved soon im wishing you good luck!! im happy that my writing was able to give you comfort <3 thank you for reading and supporting my writing!

your video edits are just *chefs kiss* my friends and I have been laughing at them for days in our gc and have even inspired memes of our own 😅 hope to see more them, they’re too good istg sending you love from three art school kids from Europe 🥺💕✨

??!#())(!@ OMG HAHAHA i would love to see some of the memes you guys came up with LOL sending love right back at you <3

hi love !! can i be added your gen tag list if you have one?

yes, i’ll add you!

Hello! Sorry for the bother but I’m suck a HUGE fan of your smau! And I’m talking about “Call You Mine” it’s so good and depressing...but that isn’t the point! I know you are busy with something else but I would like to ask if it’s be alright if I made a small fic about that story? If not, that is completely fine and understandable!

Thank you for your time and cya next time!!

yup yup that series comes with an angst tag for a reason! you’re not being a bother don’t worry! i would prefer for no fics to be made based off of the story, i’m sorry :( but thank you for asking!

I just discovered your blog and I love your writing so much.

I was wondering if I could be added to the tag list for call you mine with atsumu x reader? This story hurts me so much and it's written so well.

Thank you and have a nice day 🧡

hi! thank you for supporting my writing! yes you can be added to the taglist and im sorry it hurts </333 hope you have a nice day too bb

When do you think the next part of amortentia will be up? It’s my favorite series 😫 (no rush though!!!!)

hmmm im really not sure unfortunately :(

Sorry to bother, but I literally went through every part of Call you Mine just now AND I LOVE EVERY BIT OF IT. Oh my goodness it hurts how much I love it. The friendship and the unspoken love for each other that leads to a long yearning for each other is literally my fanfic bread and butter. ITS SO DARN GOOD and I felt like I needed to tell you that. Anyways, I hope you are having an amazing week, you’re taking care of yourself, you’re safe and healthy! Thank you for what you do! 🤗

IM SO HAPPY TO HEAR THAT YOU LOVE IT. GENUINELY. KNOWING THAT PEOPLE ARE ENJOYING MY WORK MAKES ME SMILE SO BIG. THANK YOU FOR TELLING ME YOUR THOUGHTS. please take care yourself as well, and thank you for your ask!

Hi! I recently saw your atsumu x reader fic on ao3 (Call you mine) and I haven't read it yet but I've seen others talk about it on tumblr so I was wondering if I could be added to a tag list for that fic (if you have one ofc). Feel free to ignore this ask if you don't have one or it's full!

yes i can add you the taglist! i hope you’ll enjoy the fic whenever you decide to read it! <3

[heart-eyes-kippen]

You & I

Hi, pls ignore the fact that this is like two days late okay thank u xx

~

Summary:

“So you’re dragging me to a party this weekend?” 

TJ felt his face warm slightly. “Maybe,” he returned innocently, placing a hand on the locker beside Cyrus. “If you want to, of course.”

(In which TJ's teammates invite him to a party, and one of said teammates doesn't particularly like him and Cyrus together. Cue protective TJ.)

Word Count:  3.2k

AO3 link: (x)

Trigger Warnings: Slight homophobia

~

TJ’s face was still tinged red from the practice he’d just had as his eyes landed on Cyrus, who stood at the end of the corridor. A smile came to his lips and he quickened his pace, planning on calling out something sappy about missing him for the hour they’d been apart, only to be cut short by the sounds of hurried footsteps approaching behind him. He let out a heavy sigh and turned around, in time to see a group of his teammates all jogging after him with grins spread across their faces. 

 He rolled his eyes, trying hard to radiate the energy of someone who definitely wasn't the mood to exchange friendly small talk on a Friday afternoon, but the boys were either oblivious or they didn’t care. He had a sneaking suspicion that it was the latter. 

 “Kippen! Guess what?” 

 Glancing wistfully back at his boyfriend, he answered with a somewhat distracted “what?”

 “We’re having a party this weekend to celebrate the game!” announced John, garnering a few nods from the others, “I know it’s last minute, but you have to come dude, there’s no way we would’ve won without you.”

 TJ scanned over the group for a moment, narrowing his eyes, before giving a shrug. “Okay, sure.”

 Shock registered briefly on John’s face, and TJ couldn’t blame him. He loved his teammates, but he never quite felt comfortable at the events they would always plan, surrounded very obviously by all of their girlfriends while he didn’t have one. Rationally, he knew they probably didn’t take much notice, but his brain managed to convince him each time that they’d somehow figure out he didn’t like girls.

 John ran a hand through his hair then, face lit up by a smile. “Great! I’ll text you the details. You can invite a partner, obviously,” he said, dropping a wink, and TJ let a laugh that sounded uncomfortable even to his own ears.

 He bit his lip before glancing back once more at Cyrus, who seemed to have found interest in his phone. 

 “Um,” he hesitated, and all of their expectant gazes were suddenly on him again. 

 He took in a breath, trying desperately to keep his tone even. “Could I invite my boyfriend?”

 The split second of silence that followed those words felt like an eternity. He was looking back at eight expressions that had twisted into shock now, and he could feel his heart thudding away rapidly as he awaited the reaction. The corridors were empty at this stage in the afternoon, which made that second all the more agonising. 

 A grin appeared on John’s face. “Of course, dude! You didn’t tell me you’re finally dating someone!”

 “Yeah, I was beginning to think you just didn’t have any game, Kippen,” Ben added, and TJ couldn’t help but laugh.

 “You guys are assholes, you know that?” he told them, trying to mask the relief that had crashed over him.

 The only person that didn’t seem to be smiling anymore was Flynn, but TJ forcibly pushed that thought to the back of his mind. They’d had a few clashes in the past after all, and he couldn’t help but think that Flynn didn’t exactly want him at their team party, despite trying to act like he did.

 He exchanged a few more words with the group before heading over to his previous destination, where was Cyrus smiling as he leaned up against his locker. 

 “So you’re dragging me to a party this weekend?” 

 TJ felt his face warm slightly. “Maybe,” he returned innocently, placing a hand on the locker beside Cyrus. “If you want to, of course.” 

 The boy considered this for a moment, still smiling as he pushed himself off of the locker and right into TJ’s arms. 

 “Only if you don’t get completely drunk,” he murmured, arms wrapping around his boyfriend’s waist.

 TJ scoffed at that, but his expression was fond as he looked down at Cyrus. 

 “Pft, when have I ever gotten completely drunk?” 

 Cyrus arched an eyebrow. “Does calling me at 3 am to let me know that you adopted a duck by the lake ring any bells?” 

 “None,” said TJ, although the lie was obvious to both of them and it had Cyrus giving him an amused eye roll. 

 They were on their way soon enough, stepping out into the pleasant summer air hand in hand.

 “You owe me a dinosaur documentary,” Cyrus told him seriously. 

 “You say that as if it’s a bad thing,” he grinned back, “I love seeing you get excited over pre-historic lizards that could kill you.” 

 For a moment or two, the boy tried to bite back a smile, but he lost the fight as he leaned over to press a soft kiss to TJ’s cheek. 

 “I'll ignore that comment because you wove a compliment into it somehow.”

 ~

 Wispy clouds were drifting peacefully close to the horizon, tinged a deep red by the fading sky behind it. The bustling sounds of cars driving home on the main road reached the large house TJ and Cyrus were stood at, flushed slightly from the rush to get there. 

 “What is it with us and being fashionably late?” TJ asked him, somewhat breathlessly. 

 He looked over at Cyrus, who’s hair looked lighter than it did normally due to the warm sunlight hitting it. For a moment or two, TJ was slightly caught up in how downright ethereal his boyfriend looked during golden hour, so much so that he completely missed what the boy had said. 

 “Earth to TJ?” 

 TJ blushed slightly, which added to the red on his cheeks.

 “Sorry,” he apologised, clearly not meaning it in the slightest, “just admiring.” 

 As Cyrus gave his chest a playful swat the door swung open to reveal John, who’s eyes were glazed over in a way that seemed to suggest he’d already begun drinking. 

 “TJ! Cyrus!” he cheered, holding out a fist. 

 TJ‘s eyes shone with amusement as he accepted the fist-bump, and soon enough they were being ushered into a crowded living room that was sparsely furnished; a leather couch in the corner, a large TV on the wall and an empty bookshelf beside it. A square section of the tiles had been transformed into a dance floor, where there were already what looked like about a dozen people moving about wildly. With the blinds drawn shut the main sources of light were the coloured ones flashing above their heads.

 “It’s only 8 pm,” Cyrus laughed as they watched various red solo cups leave the kitchen.

 TJ shrugged as he took the boy’s hand. “It’s never too early to have fun.”

 The pair wove in out of the talking groups that had accumulated around the dance floor, with TJ guiding Cyrus through. They came to an abrupt stop however as Flynn stepped out in front of them. 

 His gaze settled on their hands for a moment. It burned a little too much for TJ’s liking, but he really wasn’t in the mood to think about that so he forced a smile onto his lips. Cyrus seemed to pick up the sudden tension that had appeared in the air because TJ felt him squeeze his hand reassuringly.

 “So this must be Cyrus! I’ve seen you around before. You’re friends with that boy who plays frisbee, right? And the girl that started that dress code protest?”

 Cyrus’s eyebrows furrowed slightly, but other than that he remained neutral. 

 “That’s me,” he confirmed, and TJ bit his lip to will down the sudden anger that appeared inside of him. He knew well that Cyrus didn’t like being reduced down to his friends. 

 “I think we were actually gonna get some drinks now, weren’t we?”

 Cyrus nodded frantically, and Flynn stepped aside with a scoff. 

 “I’m guessing TJ’s the man of the relationship, then.”

 He ignored the remark completely as Cyrus began tugging him towards the kitchen. It was dark, which meant they had to fumble around for a light switch, but soon enough they were being met with a few cases of varying alcoholic drinks, all of which were stacked neatly upon the marble counter. 

 “Who’s gonna tell him that you’re the one who’s scared of horror movies?” Cyrus asked him, breaking the silence. 

 TJ let out an amused huff. “I think he’s just trying to get to me,” he said, as he moved forward to examine the cases, “he’s wanted to be the team captain since forever.”

 Cyrus stepped forward to stand beside him, linking their arms. “I haven’t focused on him much during games, but I’m almost certain you’re better.”

 TJ laughed softly. “Thanks, babe. You might be ever so slightly biased, but I’ll accept that anyway.” 

 He pulled out two bottles of apple cider after a moment and handed one over to the boy. 

 Cyrus accepted it, albeit hesitantly. “Is this alcoholic?” he asked.

 “Kind of, but it’s not that much, I promise. Out of all these things, it probably tastes the best.” 

 He stared down at it, before shrugging. “Okay.” 

 Once they’d opened the bottles and headed back out into the living room, it seemed even more people had come in. TJ could officially say that it wasn’t just his teammates and their girlfriends anymore.

 He wrapped a protective arm around Cyrus as they navigated the crowd, lights flashing obnoxiously above their head. The pop music pulsed from the speakers, reverberating from the walls with how loud it was. 

 “Let's go drink these on that couch!” TJ yelled, and Cyrus nodded. 

 The leather was cool beneath their skin, and it was small enough so that it barely fit the pair of them. Cyrus ended up on his lap after a few minutes, sipping away at his cider as they talked. 

 TJ kept catching Flynn’s eye from across the room, and each time he did his stomach would turn. The look on Flynn’s face wasn’t necessarily one of disgust. In fact, it seemed a lot more like discomfort - as if he couldn’t keep his eyes from dragging over to them. 

 “Is he staring at us?” he heard Cyrus murmur.

 TJ nodded, running a hand absent-mindedly along the boy’s arm. “Yeah. I think so.” 

 They waited a moment longer, not speaking, before Flynn pushed his way to another area on the dance floor and began talking to a few teammates. 

 “What’s his deal?” asked Cyrus, voice tinged somehow with both annoyance and fear. 

 “It’s definitely me, not you. Don’t worry about it,” said TJ, and the boy just nodded. 

 They reverted back to discussing Doctor Who as they finished their drinks, and despite the relatively small amount of alcohol he’d consumed TJ could feel a warmth spreading through his body that relaxed his muscles and made his words flow more easily. 

 The night drew on slowly, and eventually, John began refusing people at the door to ensure his house didn’t become too crowded. The flashing lights stood out a lot more distinctly against the dark now that a few hours had passed since sunset. He could feel Flynn’s gaze on them almost constantly, burning holes into them both, and when Cyrus began to get visibly uncomfortable he guided him back to the kitchen. 

 Cyrus was about 2 ciders in at this point, while TJ was about 5 in, causing the room to blur by in somewhat of a haze. He wasn’t completely drunk, however, and he planned on keeping it that way. 

 “I’m sorry,” he mumbled, “I don’t know why he keeps staring.” 

 He was stood in front of the counter where Cyrus was sat, his arms rested on TJ’s shoulders. 

 The boy smiled, as warmly as the sun outside had been just hours ago, and TJ’s heart melted into a puddle. 

 “It’s okay,” Cyrus murmured, bringing a hand up to gently cup the side of his face. 

 TJ leaned into the touch, eyes fluttering shut, and when he sensed that Cyrus was leaning in he leaned in too.

 Flynn’s voice filled the kitchen just as their lips were about to meet, making them both jump apart. 

 “Oh, sorry guys,” he said, in a tone that seemed to suggest he wasn’t sorry at all. He moved over casually to the cases and chose a small bottle of vodka, filling one of the few plastic shot glasses with it.

 None of them spoke for a few uncomfortable moments, then TJ was clearing his throat and helping Cyrus down from the counter. Wordlessly, they entered the living room, confronted by the pulsing music once more.

 “Another dance?” Cyrus asked him, quirking an eyebrow.

 TJ wasn’t usually one to dance, but there was cider flowing through him and with Cyrus his inhibitions generally seemed to be nonexistent,  so he ended up following his boyfriend to the dance floor. He knew their cheesy dancing would’ve stuck out very obviously to any on-lookers, but he pushed that to the back of his mind. Instead, he focused on the adorable sound of Cyrus’ laughter, which blended right into the music, and the even more adorable way he held onto TJ’s hand as he spun around.

 They were so caught up in one another for the next 20 minutes or so that all thoughts about Flynn slipped their minds, returning only once they’d retreated back to the leather couch, faces flushed red. John approached them where they sat, appearing more sober now than he had a few hours ago. The expression on his face seemed serious, and it had TJ’s stomach twisting as he looked up at the boy. 

 “Are you okay?” he asked. 

 John’s sigh was covered up by the music, and he gestured wordlessly towards a door that was tucked away in the corner of the living room. TJ and Cyrus exchanged a confused glance, but followed him regardless as he began to head over to it. 

 When the door had shut behind them with a soft thud, the music became muffled. They were stood in a dimly light garage, beside a car he could barely make out. 

 “Sorry, I know it’s cold in here,” said John.

 TJ hadn’t even registered that fact until he heard those words, and a glance down at his arms confirmed that goosebumps were beginning to rise along his skin. He shuddered, and drew Cyrus in close when he noticed the boy looked cold too.

 “I just...” John paused for a moment, sighing, “I just thought you guys should know that Flynn is talking about you to other people. I tried to tell him it wasn’t cool, but...”

 TJ’s face hardened, and Cyrus placed a gentle hand on his chest as though reminding him to remain calm.

 “What’s he been saying?” he asked. 

 John’s gaze shifted away from them. “He...well...he just thinks it’s ‘uncomfortable’ apparently that you guys are here together, but no one agrees with him, I swear! He’s saying some stuff about Cyrus too, but...I don’t wanna repeat it.” 

 TJ nodded slowly, processing the words for a moment. He flashed John a tight-lipped smile.

 “Thanks for telling me. I’ll be right back.” 

 He headed straight for the door, but Cyrus grabbed onto the boy’s arm.

 “TJ, you can’t just go punching people!” 

 He turned back to Cyrus, expression soft. “I’m not punching anyone, I promise. But...I can’t let him say stuff about you, okay? I just can’t.” 

 Cyrus scanned his face for a moment, the ghost of a smile flickering over his lips, before letting go of TJ’s arm. 

 “Okay.” 

 Loud pop music rang in his ears once more as he opened the door to the garage again, practically storming out onto the dance floor. Cyrus and John exchanged a glance as they trailed behind, weaving through the dancing crowds. 

 Flynn was easy to spot - he was tall after all - and he was leant back against a wall by the kitchen, talking to a girl he couldn’t recognise.

 TJ approached him, feeling anger begin to bubble up inside him.

 “Flynn.” 

 The boy turned, and shock registered briefly on his face. The girl gave him a glance, before slipping back into the crowds. Flynn tipped his head back, sculling what remained of his drink, before directing a grin at TJ. 

 “Kippen. To what do I owe the pleasure?” 

 “If you have shit to say about me or my boyfriend, maybe you should say it to my face instead of whispering about it at a party.” 

 He raised an eyebrow at that, looking infuriatingly smug. “I don’t know what you’re talking about.” 

 “Dude,” John piped up, stepping forward to stand beside TJ, “you know exactly what he’s talking about.” 

 Flynn stumbled slightly as he stepped forward, and it was then that it hit TJ just how much the boy had drunk. 

 “You know, I didn’t think you were prissy enough Kippen, but,” he paused for a moment, smiling, “apparently you are. Who knew?”

 TJ gave him a glare. “Say whatever you want about me, but leave my boyfriend out of it.” 

 The people around them seemed clueless to what was happening now that the alcohol was well and truly flowing, passing by casually to get to the kitchen. 

 Flynn smirked. “What are you gonna do? Kick me off the team for having beliefs?” 

 “No,” TJ sighed, exasperated now more than anything, “I’m not gonna kick you off the team. I’d just appreciate if you kept my boyfriend out of your shit talk, seeing as he’s literally never done anything to you.” 

 “Whatever, Kippen. I’ll do what I want,” he scoffed, forcibly pushing past both of them. 

 John’s face fell as he turned to the pair. “I’m sorry, guys.”

 TJ looked after the boy, practically fuming, until he felt a gentle hand being placed on his shoulder. Cyrus was smiling softly, and his anger faded in an instant.

 “Let’s go,” he murmured. 

 TJ nodded in agreement, directing his gaze towards John. “Thanks for inviting us, dude.” 

 “No problem,” he replied. “I’m sorry about...you know...” 

 TJ just waved him off. “It wasn’t your fault, don’t worry.” 

 Cyrus was guiding him through the crowd this time as they made their way over to the front door, pushing past it and stepping out into the cool evening air. The pulsing sounds of pop music eventually faded away, and the silence around them was filled instead by chirping crickets. 

 TJ gave the boy a confused smile when he stopped suddenly, turning to face him. 

 “What is it?” he asked. 

 Cyrus just shook his head, stepping up to him and looping his arms around TJ’s neck. 

 His smile was as gentle as the summer breeze gusting by them, and for about the hundredth time that day he had to stop for a moment to admire the beauty that was Cyrus Goodman. 

 “I love you,” Cyrus whispered. 

 TJ’s immediately face brightened. He forgot all about Flynn as he lifted Cyrus up, smiling fondly when he began to giggle.

 “I love you too,” he murmured, taking in every detail of the boy’s face that he possibly could.

 Cyrus let out a content sigh, before leaning in to connect their lips.

 And so, when TJ thought back to that summer’s night, he didn’t think of his fight with Flynn. 

 He thought of the glowing smile that had appeared on Cyrus’ face when TJ told him he loved him, the peaceful stillness that had surrounded them, and the streetlamp that had illuminated them amongst the darkness as they stood alone.

 A much more pleasant thought if you asked TJ.

[1-1snailxd-art]

The Shield to your Sword

Masterlist 

Overview

Fandom: Sanders Sides

Type: Alternate Universe - Fantasy and Magic 

Rating: Mature (just to be safe - there will be injuries and death throughout the general story) 

Warnings: injury, blood, physical abuse, emotional abuse, character death, curses, swearing (please message me if more need to be added)  

Relationships: Prinxiety (Roman & Virgil) 

Fandom Characters: Prince Roman Aelin, Virgil Fidencio, Logan Rae Lason, Deceit (Snake Eyes), Patton *spoiler*, Remus *spoiler* 

Summary: Roman is the arrogant, but naïve, Prince of Azmar; a kingdom in the land of Sanderz. Virgil is an orphan the Queen took in as a companion for Roman, and they have been a pair ever since. Though he thinks the world of his closest friend, Roman will discover there is much Virgil has kept from him over the years. The truth is a tough pill to swallow, but Roman is going to have to swallow it if he is to save those he holds dear and protect his people from an invading kingdom.

Ao3 link (just in case mobile is being unfair and messing up my paragraphs) 

Tag Support Team

Thank you so much to these individuals who took an interest in my fantasy concept. The sample you read will be in a later chapter. I decided to build Roman and the realm up a bit more prior to presenting that scene, rather than flashing back. 

@small-reptile-cake @daflangstlairde @quoth-the-sparrow @it-me-the-phi @soul-of-a-vixen @the-real-wholesome-bitch @phe-purple-parade-ts

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Chapter 1 - Prince’s Paradise

The morning light slipped between the parts in Prince Roman’s curtains as the winds changed direction. Sunlight reflected off Roman’s mirror; shining directly onto his eyelids and blinding him as he blinked at the disruption to his rest. With a groan, Roman sat up; running his fingers through his naturally auburn hair and rubbing the sleep from his eyes. Peering around his room, he noted that fresh clothes had already been laid out for him, along with a glass of water and an apple.

Smiling to himself, Roman grabbed the apple and moved to open his curtains, revealing his view of his mother’s  garden, and the edge of the training area. Taking a seat on the sill, he looked out at what he believed to be paradise. Happy citizens, healthy stock, plenty of crops and a strong, armed force; what more could a Prince ask for?

Setting the apple core on his side table, Roman headed to his bathroom. Stripping down, the prince ran his hands over the heat and water runes, feeling his soul magic run from his fingertips and activate the magic to start his shower. He bathed briefly, simply to warm his muscles and freshen his hair for the day ahead; waving his hand across the runes again, the water flow ceased immediately.  

Magic was a common thing in the lands of Sanderz. The natural magic of the land had been harnessed generations prior, as individuals became aware of their own soul magic and used ancient runes to control both magic types. As the years progressed, more and more developed an awareness of magic and the art of using runes evolved. In modern times, runes were in common use by those with and without an awareness of magic.

Some saw their magical abilities as a blessing, but for Roman it was just his birthright. Nothing to be thankful for, just a power to flaunt as he pleased. Walking the castle halls, he summoned his sword from the tattoo on his wrist; swinging and twirling the blade to a beat only he could hear. His white uniform a clear contrast against the brick walls and his black pants. Many had said that his style choice was foolish, but Roman loved the idea of parading in the crimson blood of his enemies after a battle.

 His footsteps echoed loudly in the private dining room as he danced his way inside.

“Good morning, Prince Roman.”

Roman spun, sword vanishing from his hand as he faced the young maid standing in the corner.

“Good morning, Iris!” He gave the girl a pleasant smile, but she quickly bowed her head as she did every time Roman spoke.

“Shall I fetch you your breakfast?”

“That would be wonderful. Oh, Iris, have you seen Virgil this morning?”

“Apologies, I have not. I shall send for him at once.” Iris quickly headed for the door.

“Uh, no-no.” Roman’s words fell on deaf ears as Iris left the room with her mission in mind. “I do hope Virgil doesn’t mind me calling for him.”

 **********************

 Virgil had finally achieved a deep sleep after completing a late night on guard duty. Though he was technically a ward of the Queen, Virgil still took on work so he could share his earnings with those less fortunate than him. Not to mention, he liked the added security of being self-sufficient should he suddenly be cast out of the castle.

He would have happily slept until lessons that afternoon, but Iris roughly shook him awake.

“Virgil… Virgil, please wake up.”

“Wha-what is -oing on?” He grumbled through a yawn; slowly sitting up.

“Prince Roman has requested your presence for breakfast.”

“Oh, has he now. Tell him I’m busy.” With that, Virgil pulled the blankets over his head and laid back down.

“No, Virgil, please.” Iris begged, shaking Virgil with more force now. “I can’t defy the Prince, I can’t.”

The fear in Iris’s voice woke Virgil up as he realised what he had just asked the young maid to do. If word got to the King that they had defied the Prince, they would both be punished. Sitting up, Virgil looked into Iris’s tearful and terrified eyes; apologising as he pulled her into a secure hug.

“I know. I’m sorry, Iris. I’m coming. It’s okay. I’m coming.”

 While Iris left to fetch breakfast, Virgil was quick to change into fresh clothes; a loose long-sleeved purple shirt, black vest and pants. Grabbing a leather bag containing his training gear, Virgil left his chambers and headed up to the dining room to meet Roman.

  **********************

 Virgil’s footsteps were silent in the halls as he approached the dining room to find Roman admiring himself in a mirror. Leaning against the doorframe, Virgil watched as the Prince picked at a loose gold thread on his uniforms decorative design.

“Oh, you wish to challenge me, do you?” Roman asked his reflection, and Virgil stifled a laugh. “I am afraid you are out of luck, for this shall not be a challenge for me!”

Roman summoned his sword, slashing at the mirror as he pretended to fight his ‘foe’; before turning and catching Virgil’s smiling form in the doorway.

Straightening immediately, Roman retracted his sword and tried to hide his embarrassment. “Virgil! Good to see you. Ho-how long have you been standing there?”

“Long enough to make the wakeup call worth it, Princey.” The prince’s face reddened as Virgil walked over to the table, unable to remove the grin that lit up his face.

“Um, yes, well…” Roman was at a loss for words and Virgil revelled in every second of it.

“You know, if you use all your magic playing games with yourself, you’ll have nothing left for actual practice later.”

“Me? Run out of magic? Ha! That is impossible.”

Virgil rolled his eyes, “you’ve got skill, Roman, but even you have limits.”

“Says you.”

“Says facts.”

“Facts shm-acts, I know what I’m capable of and I-“

 Virgil was thankful that Roman’s rambling was cut short as Iris returned with a plate and bowl in hand.

“Your breakfast, Prince Roman.” Iris placed the loaded plate before Roman, and the bowl of porridge in front of Virgil. “Is there anything else you require?”

“No thank you, Iris. That is all.”

With a quick bow of her head, Iris scurried out of the room. Roman eyed his plate of sausages, bacon, eggs, tomato, mushroom and a fresh bread roll. Once Virgil was sure the room was clear, he reached over and grabbed the bacon from Roman’s plate.

“Hey!” Roman pouted as the other smirked and licked the smoked meat. “That was my breakfast.”

“And this is my payment.” Virgil glanced sideways at his friend, “you did wake me after a night shift on guard duty.”

Mouth full of tomato, Roman paused mid bite as he suddenly remembered Virgil asking not to be woken that morning. Forcing himself to swallow, he gave his friend an apologetic look.

“I’m sorry. I completely forgot.”

“Thank you, Captain Obvious.” Again, Virgil checked the room was clear, before reaching for the honey on the table and sweetening his meal. “Just please, Ro, no wake-up calls tomorrow. I need a little more than 3hours sleep if I’m going to protect your arse.”

“My ‘arse’ does not need protecting, but I will keep that in mind. I don’t want to be seen hanging around with Sir Racoon Eyes.”

“Nice. Very original. Now eat your breakfast.”

 The pair continued to eat in silence; Virgil easily cleaning his bowl before Roman. Cautious eyes scanned the room before Virgil snuck any more of Roman’s leftovers. This banter was common between the pair, though he was always careful. Roman may have accepted and appreciated Virgil’s antics, but that didn’t make them appropriate in the eyes of the King or his knights.

 With full bellies, the pair leaned back in their chairs and shared a bemused grin, which quickly soured as a question came to Virgil’s mind.

“Has there been any word on your Mother’s condition?”

Roman looked down at his lap, fidgeting with the gold band on his middle finger.

 The Queen had been unwell for the past 5 years. Plagued by frequent chest infections from an old war wound. Virgil hadn’t seen her in months, thanks to the King’s increasing distrust towards him. Unless the Queen herself called on him, Virgil was not permitted to access to her chambers. Even when Roman had asked him to accompany them, he was quick to find an excuse to avoid the possibility of crossing paths with the King. Despite everything, Virgil still worried for his surrogate mother and it hurt that he couldn’t see her more often.

 “She is as can be expected for the spring.” Roman admitted, “I try not to go to her room too much. All the pollen, you know.”

Virgil nodded, quietly wishing he hadn’t brought it up as he watched the sadness take over Roman’s usually happy features.

“We should probably get out of here,” Virgil finally offered, “I’m sure Iris is just itching to return and clean the room up.”

As if hearing her cue, Iris entered the room.

“I hope everything was to your liking, Prince Roman.” Eyes never rising higher than the table, she quickly collected the dishes.

Sadness dissipating, Roman was back to his usual self. “It was indeed. Bacon was a little light,” he gave Virgil a sideways grin, “but I enjoyed it none the less.”

“Oh. Um. I’m sorry.” Iris quickly left the room faster than a mouse that had run across a heat rune.

As soon as Iris was gone, Virgil punched Roman’s shoulder.

“Ow! What was that for?” Rubbing his shoulder, Roman looked at Virgil in confusion.

“You can’t say shit like that to her.”

“Chill out, Virge.” he mused, rising from the table, “It just means more bacon tomorrow and I can willingly share it with you.”

 Virgil internally fumed as he followed Roman out of the room. The Prince truly was blind to the power he held over those around him and how that one little statement could force a cook to be banished from the castle, or even incarcerated for not ‘meeting the needs of the royal family’. Walking through the halls, Virgil just hoped Roman’s comment wasn’t blown out of proportion or fell onto the wrong ears. Iris may have been timid and useless in Roman’s presence, but she was far from foolish; that’s what Virgil believed to be true anyway. He had to believe. The last thing he wanted was to have a family’s misfortune on his conscience.

  **********************

 The sun had reached its midpoint, as Virgil lent against a tree with his eyes shut and did his best to tune out Roman’s grunts as he continued to lift weights. The pair had spent a few hours completing solo weapons training and strength development. Normally, Virgil was more than happy to put his endurance to the test, but his early morning call meant he wasn’t in the mood for Roman’s antics.

 "Come spar with me, Virgil," Roman called, throwing a weighted stone aside and causing the ground to vibrate slightly.

"I'm not in the mood, Princey." Virgil called back, not even acknowledging Roman with a glance.

"Oh, come on." Whined Roman, sauntering over to cast a shadow over his friend. "You've been laying there forever."

"Don't be so dramatic, and if you hadn't of woken me I wouldn't be so tired right now."

"And I'm being dramatic," Roman playfully kicked Virgil's boot. " Come on. One quick spar."

"Roman, no."

"Come ooooooon."

"Let it go, Princ-"

 "I believe your Prince gave you a request."

 Virgil's eyes shot open at the sound of the King's commanding voice, and he wished he had a giant camouflage rune so he could disappear into the tree behind him. He knew instantly that he was in trouble, the tone alone was terrifying, but the fire in his eyes communicated his anger tenfold.

"Father!" Roman was beaming, oblivious to the tension in the air. "It is good to see you outside. Would you like to spar with me?"

"No thank you, Roman." The King’s gaze barely shifted from Virgil as he spoke. "But I would be interested to observe a duel between yourself and young Virgil."

"Wonderful, come on Virgil." Roman extended a hand to help the other up and they had enough sense to not refuse this time. "That's more like it. I'll just get my practice runes on."

"No, Roman." The King held up a hand and shook his head. "I could watch a spar any time I chose. I wish to see a duel of the Furnder style."

Virgil's blood chilled in his veins at the mention of the term. He had hoped, as had Roman, that the King only wished to watch them spar with blunted weapons. Instead he wanted a duel. Bloodshed. At least Furnder style meant first to bleed loses, but the activity was not something Virgil wished to partake in with Roman.

 "Oh, a, ah, Furnder duel." Roman sounded surprisingly nervous. "I don't want- I mean, I’m sure - um…”

“Grab your straps, Prince Roman.” Virgil kept his voice level and void of emotion. “The King has made a request and we should honour it.”

“Oh, well, okay then.” All concern was gone from his voice after hearing Virgil accept the duel.

 Virgil reached into his pack, retrieving leather guards that covered the tops of his hands and wrapped around his forearms. The leather was embossed with runes Virgil had crafted; he could summon various arrow tips and shafts in an instant by allowing his soul magic to activate different runes. He slipped a leather vest on, before setting to tighten his straps and activating metal runes to strengthen his leather protections and clothes.

Roman retrieved a red sash of royal emblems and runes, equipping the seemingly loose fabric across his shoulder and lopping a thick belt around his middle. He too pulled on guards for his forearms and activated protections; the sash stiffening along with his usual uniform. 

 Fully equipped, the pair strode to the face each other in the centre of the training grounds; the King keeping a trained eye on them as they moved. The wind seemed to die out, allowing an eerie feeling to settle over the usually lively field. Virgil’s stomach twisted as he processed his situation - On one hand, he would have to fight Roman as wholeheartedly as possible, so as to not offend Roman and the King. On the other hand, should he actually cause Roman harm, the King would be sure to punish him greatly. There was no way out of the situation, only careful fighting and a hope that he could avoid both of those evils.

 “Virgil Fidencio. Prince Roman Aelin of Azmar. You have agreed to partake in a Furnder duel.” The King’s voice seemed distant to Virgil; though there was no wind to disrupt it from reaching his ear. “You shall honour the laws of Lord Furnder. The duel is over once blood is drawn from either participant; fatal blows are unnecessary but not dishonourable. Your actions are your own. All advances will cease when blood is drawn; are you both in agreeance?”

“Aye, sire.” The young men called in unison, eyes meeting; one fearful but determined, the other excited to demonstrate his skill.

“Arms at the ready!”

Virgil and Roman summoned their weapons simultaneously; the sun instantly reflecting off Roman’s sword and meeting Virgil’s eyes. Bow firmly gripped in his right-hand, Virgil felt the tips of his fingers on his left-hand tingle as he primed his soul magic to craft arrows.

“Have honour!”

Roman widened his stance, keeping his sword low and eyes fixed on his opponent. They had sparred many times with blunt weapons and were just beginning to receive missions outside of the castle walls. The young Prince was ready to prove that he was worthy, not just in age, but in skill.

“Begin!”

 Reflexes lightning fast, Virgil summoned an arrow and sent it at Roman.

“Shield up” Virgil mentally commanded.

A red shield appeared as Roman raised his right arm, knocking the arrow aside as he advanced. With a slide of his right index finger, a semi-translucent shield formed in front of Virgil’s bow. The sword met the shield with a jarring force, but Virgil held strong and pushed the sword aside.

“Guard your centre,” Virgil begged as he kicked forward.

His foot hit shield as Roman summoned it again; preparing to swing his sword back. A smile quirked Virgil’s lips as Roman instinctively braced to push him back. Using the added momentum, Virgil pushed off the shield to flip backwards and away from Roman’s sword; pulling an arrow into position the moment he was grounded.

“Be prepared for anything,” Virgil felt his wrist warm as he released one arrow and summoned another with a burning tip; taking backwards steps on the diagonal to keep his distance from Roman.

The arrows struck Roman’s shield, the fire arrow making an explosion on impact that caused his vision to blur. Regardless, Roman exchanged his sword for a throwing knife and charged forward. Even with his sight impeded, Virgil still had to summon his shield to protect himself as Roman hurled the knife towards him. As the prince re-summoned his sword, Virgil thought he saw his out.

 Dropping his shield, Virgil pulled another arrow as Roman quickly closed the gap between them.

“Shield up.”

His fingers moved naturally to release the arrow just as Virgil’s keen eyes noted Roman’s relaxed guard arm. In a split-second reaction, he formed and released additional arrows in an attempt to divert or destroy the first.

Roman’s mind was tunnel focused as his sword crossed his body in preparation to swing at Virgil. By the time his eyes focused, two arrows collided in front of his face in a cloud of smoke and he swung blindly into the space before him. The smoke concealed them from the King’s watchful eye, and the boys were trapped in grey darkness.

A feeling of smooth resistance was enough for Roman to recognise that his blade had struck true. Activating a whirlwind rune, he quickly cleared the smoke to find Virgil crouching while aiming a freshly strung arrow at him; blood oozing from a deep gash on his left arm.

 Clapping had Roman’s chest exploding with pride.

“What a brilliant display, Roman.”

Roman beamed down at Virgil at the King’s words; retracting his sword and deactivating his runes. Virgil did the same before lowering his head in shame, unable to reciprocate Roman’s euphoria as his eyes caught the fine trail of blood that ran down his right cheek.

“There is no shame in losing, Virgil.” Roman assured, still oblivious to his injury from sheer adrenaline. “It was a fine duel, wasn’t it, Father?”

Any evidence of a smile was immediately removed from the King’s face as Roman turned towards him.

“Your face was scathed.” Virgil felt the King’s presence, despite never raising his head.

Roman reached up with cautious fingers, suddenly aware of the sting as his fingers traced the cut up his cheek and to his ear.

“Huh, you managed to strike me, Virgil,” the sound of Roman’s laugh only had Virgil feeling twice as terrified for his future. “I’m impressed. Though this makes it difficult to determine the true champion. Would it be fair to call us even, Father?”

“Go see the physician, Roman,” was the King’s blunt reply, and Virgil felt the bile rising in the back of his throat as royal boots stepped into his peripheral vision.

“Father, it is just a scratch and Virgil-“

“The physician, Roman. I wish to speak with Virgil in private.”

“But he’s -“

“I’m fine,” Roman looked down to meet Virgil’s deep brown eyes. “Prince Roman. Go see to your health.”

 Virgil hated having to speak so formally to his friend, but it was required in the King’s presence. Even as children, Virgil was always expected to treat Roman in a more formal manner, despite the Queen’s kind words that the boys were equals. Watching Roman walk away now, more than anything in the world, Virgil wished the Queen’s words were true. As soon as Roman was out of view, Virgil again lowered his head and kneeled before the unkind King.

**********************

End Note:

Thank you for reading and I really hoped you enjoyed it. Please don’t hesitate to pass on any feedback or questions you have about the story. Thanks again to my lovely Tag Support Team. You are the reason I decided to writing this story.

Side Note: updates will come as I am able. I work full time and have one other WIP. I will try and balance my updates between both...unless there is more interest in one over the other. 

💜🐌 Snail

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Chapter 2   — Masterlist 

What else have I done:

The Perfect Ring (oneshot - analogical proposal)

You Promised (oneshot - prinxiety angst/injury/near death)

Sides of a Hero (Completed Fic - sides are fusions of impulses and aspects of Thomas. Virgil has a depressing past that he is forced to face thanks to Deceit and Rage. Was canon compliant at the time of completion)

Libraries are for Meetings (ongoing WIP - Human/University au with Royality and developing Analogical. Slow burn and heavily focused on a grieving group of friends that Virgil slowly becomes a part of to better himself.) 

Check out my other blog for random fandom reblogs and stuff @snail-giggles​

[checkeredscarfs]

PLEASE NOTE:  I’m writing this post to my own accord, I’ll be throwing everything underneath a read more since  ...  well, I don’t feel like clogging up the dash with me probably going on and on and on forever. I will however, just for the sake of any individuals, once again put a link to my new blog here for two reasons, for you to follow me  --  or just in case you wish to block me in case I make you feel uncomfortable by any means. I don’t mean this in any other way other than to try and let people know it’s me? I don’t want to pretend I’m someone else just for the sake of writing on here again, I’d rather be upfront, and well, write up something I’ve been meaning to for a while.  @moneyleech  is my new blog by the way, I’m now somewhat more active on there, but I have no intention of returning to tumblr full time. Consider this a trial run for if I really want to return to a site where so much has happened within a year, that and running away from something which I didn’t know how to handle which I will get into under the cut.

That being said, I have no idea if I’ll return to Ouma anytime soon. Perhaps in the future when I’m feeling his muse again, but as of right now  --  I’m entirely clueless.

I’M SORRY for being a complete asshole through 2017/2018. Whether I’ve hurt you intentionally or unintentionally, I truly am sorry. I don’t feel like dropping names or whatever, not including callouts, but I’ll do my best to address some situations here. I got myself involved in drama first and foremost, I partook in a few callouts  --  mako’s, aku’s and sonny’s to name a few.  Whilst I don’t exactly know anyone’s current stance on these individuals, I will say for the most part, I don’t hold anything against any of you anymore.  I’m too tired to think of other ways to make myself dislike any of you even further, I’m really really really sorry for saying things in an unprofessional sense, making everything more personal, not keeping a cool head and instead perhaps adding fuel to the fire.  NOTHING  can excuse how I felt, what I said, or what I did even. I was hellbent on ensuring that these people got what they deserved; at least that’s how I felt back then, when I choose to look past the fact that the individuals I’ve partaking in calling out too have feelings, and saying and making  jokes  about them makes me feel really goddamn bad. Whilst there is one person who I partook in calling out who is gross, and that takes me back on my word but I don’t even have to name them, I apologise to everyone else. If anything I’ve said or done has ever upset you.  I’M SORRY.  I’m sorry for being blinded by how I felt at the time, I’m sorry for saying toxic and horrible things about you, and most importantly, I’m sorry for hurting you.

MOST IMPORTANTLY,  and once again, I won’t namedrop anyone, but I’d really like to apologise to the people I’ve drifted away from, abandoned perhaps. I don’t really have any reasons for doing so, especially considering how I cared so deeply for a select few. I never meant to hurt you, I wish I could go back and actually word for word mean my promise. I wish I could’ve actually had the strength to at least ... inform people as to why I cut them off, blocked them, etc etc.  But I really don’t have an answer to that.  Other than, I’m toxic, I realised perhaps too late and I just didn’t want to make anyone feel uncomfortable being around me. I drifted away from a few on my own accord, and blocked some without warning too. I feel like I keep repeating myself and if I am, I’m sorry, I’m just trying my best to actually cover every single last detail. After all the drama had settled down, I found myself questioning if I was just as bad as the people I engaged in calling out, and that self-debate led to me cutting off people who I loved with all of my heart, because I just didn’t want to get in their way and harm them. Heck, I have harmed a couple of people. I still feel guilty for doing so.  People seemed so much more happy, so perhaps that too played a factor in why I decided to just  ...  leave people behind.  An act I thought was selfless at the time, but was actually rather selfish, considering just how close I was to certain individuals. Whether or not you choose to forgive me, or would much rather cut ties with me completely is up to you. I just want everyone to know, whoever I’ve hurt over the last year or so that I’m  TRULY SORRY  for everything.  I don’t exactly want forgiveness for anything, nor did I make this post just for the small chance that people will in fact choose to do so. All of this was on my mind recently, and I didn’t know what else to do other than  ...  talk about it? Get everything out there. And perhaps I should’ve approached select individuals privately  ...  but considering the recent tumblr purge which I missed out on, I felt as if I had no other option. Once again,  I’m really sorry.  To everyone reading this, I hope you have a fantastic 2019 filled with good fortune. That’s all I could ask for.

[juminss-cat]

Can you please add v to the fighting with the happy ending request?

I added Saeran, too! I hope you enjoy!

Link for the RFA part of this headcanon: here

***

JIHYUN/V:

☀︎ You knew that Rika would always hold a place in V’s heart, no matter how hard both you and he tried to push her out.

☀︎ She was his first real love, his fiancé, the person he’d planned to spend the rest of his life with.

☀︎ So you were patient and waited for her presence to slowly diminish from the household and him, no matter how disheartened you were.

☀︎ But months later her photos still littered the house, paintings of her on the walls in the gallery, on his easels, things of theirs scattered on every surface.

☀︎ It was as if you were the other woman, the dirty secret; you felt like a stranger in your own relationship.

☀︎ There was nothing of you, no paintings or photos on the walls, no trinkets you’d bought V on display, nothing to show you even lived there.

☀︎ And it hurt.

☀︎ You waited to ask him, not wanting to bring it up at a bad time, not when Jihyun was sad or in the midst of his work.

☀︎ But when his latest painting was once again of her you snapped.

☀︎ “Why do you still paint her?” You asked, jealousy finally winning over rationality and you resisted the urge to stomp your foot.

☀︎ The paintbrush stilled and light teal eyes met yours, a frown etched onto his features.

☀︎ “I don’t paint her a lot, my darling,” he reasoned and you scoffed, gesturing around his studio.

☀︎ “She is all you paint, Jihyun, you never paint anything but her.”

☀︎ He looked around at his works and something akin to realisation dawned in his eyes.

☀︎ “Oh,” he whispered and you bit your lip, closing your eyes.

☀︎ “I’m sick of feeling like a third wheel in my own relationship,” you snapped, eyes prickling and heart aching.

☀︎ He opened his mouth before closing it again and you shook your head.

☀︎ “You still love her, don’t you?” You asked and he remained silent, lips pressed together tightly.

☀︎ Your heart shattered.

☀︎ “You know what? You can have her,” you muttered, choking down a sob.

☀︎ That seemed to jerk him into action and he reached out and grabbed your arm.

☀︎ “Darling, I have you, why would I possibly want anybody else,” he asked, resting a hand on your cheek.

☀︎ You jerked out of his grip.

☀︎ “Take a look around you, V, you don’t have anything of me on display, not one picture or painting or memory. It’s all her, you and her,” you said, tears slowly dripping down your face and V’s heart clenched.

☀︎ “MC, that’s not true,” he pleaded and you laughed bitterly.

☀︎ “Yes, it is,” you replied, “she’s even still framed on your bedside cabinet. The only thing you have of me is actually me, and you don’t even have that anymore.”

☀︎ V froze, eyes searching yours and heart stuttering as he fumbled for you, suddenly feeling blind all over again.

☀︎ “MC, please, please don’t go,” he begged and you sobbed and wiped your eyes, heart tearing in two.

☀︎ “I don’t want to live in her shadow, Jihyun, I want to be important to you, more than she is,” you explained, sucking in a shuddering breath before walking out of the studio and the house.

☀︎ He sat down heavily and put his head in his hands, your words echoing in his ears.

☀︎ It was then he looked around his studio and saw Rika, paintings, pictures, mementos.

☀︎ He didn’t have to look around the rest of the house to know it would be the exact same.

☀︎ In a fit of rage he stood up and streaked red paint through his most recent painting, marring Rika’s features. She had claimed enough of his life and he was done with it.

☀︎ He wrapped up all the paintings of her, along with the pictures, and put them in a box to sell as soon as he found buyers.

☀︎ His heart ached as he realised he had not one single painting of you, nor a framed photo anywhere.

☀︎ How could he have been so blind?

☀︎ no pun intended

☀︎ Taking out his camera, he set to work.

☀︎ This cinnamon roll was going to paint every single photo he had of you and hang them around the house, replace every frame of Rika with two of you.

☀︎ The ache in his heart was buried while he worked, absorbed in colours and brush strokes, lighting and details.

☀︎ He lost track of time, the hours bleeding into one another like the hues of paint, sunsets and sunrises mingling into one golden blur.

☀︎ When he was finally done he set down his things and stood back to admire his work.

☀︎ He wasted no time in setting it all up; he was going to apologise to you in the most extravagant way he could.

☀︎ It would be a lot easier for him to apologise, however, if you were actually picking up your phone.

☀︎ After ten missed calls and numerous texts that went unanswered, he resorted to contacting Saeyoung, almost begging for your location.

☀︎ Must to his chagrin, you were staying with Yoosung; getting to speak to you was going to be harder than he thought.

☀︎ Half an hour later and after having the door slammed multiple times in his face, he was finally standing face to face with you.

☀︎ “MC, MC I know I have wronged you, I am so sorry, my darling. Please, let me make it up to you, just come with me, come home,” he pleaded and you pursed your lips, shaking your head.

☀︎ “It’s been five days, Jihyun, five! You haven’t even bothered to contact me until now, is that how worthless I am to you? Did you even notice I was gone?!” You snapped and V stood taken aback by your words.

☀︎ “I didn’t realise that much time had passed,” he confessed and you closed your eyes, keeping tears at bay.

☀︎ “Please just save me the heartbreak and the sob stories, you don’t want me, I get it,” you whispered, surprised he could hear you.

☀︎ His heart shattered and he pulled you into his embrace, burying his face into your hair.

☀︎ “My darling, I want nothing but you,” he replied, holding you tightly and rubbing your back.

☀︎ “Prove it,” you answered and he pulled away, face set in determination and nodded.

☀︎ “If you come home with me, I hope you’ll find I already have,” he said, taking hold of your hand and gently leading you towards the door.

☀︎ “Don’t you dare hurt her, V! I’ve just come to accept that Rika wasn’t entirely your fault, I don’t want to have to hate you all over again,” Yoosung warned, shooting you a worried glance.

☀︎ “It’s okay, Yoosung, I can handle myself,” you replied, giving him a small smile and he nodded, glaring V down until he too nodded in agreement.

☀︎ Upon your arrival home, you noticed immediately how your face greeted you wherever you looked, shining from every wall, looking down from every mantlepiece and available surface.

☀︎ The majority seemed to be hand-painted too, not just photographs he’d printed.

☀︎ “I apologise for losing track of the time, MC, I hope this somewhat explains my absence,” he said shyly, rubbing the back of his neck and not quite meeting your eyes.

☀︎ “Jihyun,” you whispered, tears flooding your eyes and his gaze snapped up to meet yours, face contorting into worry.

☀︎ “Do you not like it? Is it not enough? I can do more! I’m selling everything I have of Rika, too, but I can cover every square inch of this house with your face if that’d make you happy, just tell-” You cut off his ramblings with a kiss pressed to his lips, arms wrapping around his neck.

☀︎ You pulled away, laughing shakily.

☀︎ “It’s perfect, thank you, thank you so much,” you told him, tears dripping from your eyes and the worry lessened, face relaxing.

☀︎ “I am sorry I have been so ignorant, MC, you should have come to me sooner,” he murmured, pressing another kiss to your mouth, followed by one to your nose, cheeks and forehead.

☀︎ You giggled and shook your head.

☀︎ “I wanted to give you time to sort out your feelings,” you explained and he looked at you adoringly.

☀︎ “You truly are an angel, MC, what did I ever do to deserve you?”

SAERAN/UNKNOWN:

☹ Much like his brother, the fight started because he was pushing you away on top of insulting you.

☹ You were trying your best to help him through his episodes and flashbacks, but his harsh words always stung and, to be frank, you were fed up.

☹ “Do you always have to do this?” You snap, standing up from the table abruptly, slamming your hands on the table in front of you.

☹ “I’m not doing anything,” he replied coldly, shoveling another forkful of food into his mouth, doing his best to ignore you.

☹ “You’ve ruined another dinner, Saeran, I hope you’re happy,” you said, balling your fists and clearing your plates, scraping the food you’d worked so hard on into the bin.

☹ “You could do with eating less anyway,” he snorted and you froze heart-shattering.

☹ Your self-esteem plummeted to below rock bottom, everything that you’d worked so hard to build up collapsing like a house of cards in a gust of wind.

☹ “Fuck you,” you whispered, pressing your lips together and closing your eyes.

☹ “Just stating the truth, sweetheart,” he all but sneered and you snapped, picking up a glass and throwing it at the wall behind his head.

☹ He flinched and you couldn’t bring yourself to feel bad, not with how he’d been constantly treating you.

☹ “And I’m the psychotic one,” he laughed and it took everything in you to not scream in his face.

☹ Saeyoung came skidding into the kitchen after hearing the glass break and looked at your reddened face and Saeran’s cold one.

☹ “O-kay,” he whistled and pulled up a chair, “let’s talk it out, kiddos, Dr. Choi is here,” he joked, attempting to make you smile.

☹ Saeran glared at him and stood up abruptly.

☹ “I’m so fucking sick of everyone in this fucking house,” he snapped and you walked towards him, glaring him down.

☹ “You think we’re not sick of you? I get it, Saeran, we’ve all tried to support you as best we can and all you do is push us away and insult us,” you reply, tears pooling in your eyes.

☹ “Well if you weren’t such a stupid bitch maybe you’d know when to quit,” he yelled, eyes flashing dangerously and you took a step back.

☹ “You’re right,” you sighed as you grabbed your bag from over your chair, “I guess I am a dumb bitch if it took me this long to figure out I can’t do this anymore.”

☹ “Woah, woah, MC, hold up,” Saeyoung called, grabbing your arm.

☹ “Let the cow go,” Saeran snapped and you yanked your arm out of his grasp.

☹ “I can’t handle this, Saeyoung! Do you understand how much this hurts? I know he has problems and I’ve done everything I bloody can to help him, but it always explodes in my face. I have my own issues and I’ve never felt lower than when he insults me! It hurts when the person who you love and who’s supposed to love you, constantly makes you feel like you’re worthless!” You explain, wiping away your tears and heading for the door, leaving Saeyoung confounded as to what to do.

☹ “I’m done, Saeran. Congratulations, you got what you wanted,” you told him, looking him directly in the eyes as you walk out of the door, not a flicker of regret on his face and your heart shatters into a million pieces.

☹ You walked wherever your feet took you, passing cars and shops until you came to rest by an overpass, standing by the rail and looking at the cars below.

☹ For a brief moment you wondered if Saeran would care if you jumped, if he’d even mourn you; after all, all you seemed to do was annoy him.

☹ The cars were starting to look more and more enticing and your hands gripping the rail itched to lurch you over.

☹ “MC!” you froze and turned around to see Saeran standing behind you, wringing his hands.

☹ “What do you want,” you choked out, blinking back tears, not wanting to let him see you cry.

☹ “Please, come here, come away from the edge,” he pleads and you stare him down, shaking your head.

☹ “Why would I?” You ask and he bites his lip, eyes wide and panicked.

☹ He took a deep breath and locked his gaze on yours, “because I love you.”

☹ Your heart stuttered at the sincerity he used, the honesty in eyes, the vulnerability.

☹ You knew how much he disliked saying those words, you knew he was scared because everybody he’d ever loved had hurt or left him.

☹ You slowly stepped away from the edge and towards him, conflicted feelings tearing you in two.

☹ “MC, I’m so sorry, I realise what I say is wrong and hurtful but I get so scared and so…so, agh, I don’t know,” he yelled, gripping his hair and tugging, hard.

☹ “Saeran,” you said, resting your hand on his shoulder and allowing him to rest his head on your shoulder.

☹ “MC, please don’t leave me. I’m selfish and I need you and I can’t handle it if you leave me,” he pleaded and you nodded slowly.

☹ “You need to stop hurting me like this, Saeran, please,” you whisper against his temple and he nods, burying his face deeper into your neck.

☹ He tried his best from then on and worked with his therapist to better regulate his anger and frustration.

[botwriter]

Rewritten, Chapter 8: Father and Daughter

Read this on Fanfiction.net  ➜

“Let me ask you once more - when will you stop treating this as some childish game?”

Link grimaced, keeping his eyes focused on the ground, though there was a fire in them that he knew he could not let the King see.

“I’m doing everything I can. I’ll have you know, I just recently returned from the Spring of Courage where I offered every ounce of my prayers to the Goddess-”

“And now you are here, wasting your time!” the King snapped, “you need to be dedicating every moment you have to your training. You must be single-minded in unlocking the power that will seal Calamity Ganon away!”

-

♪

Days later, Link had been invited to walk with Zelda through the castle; to see the Guardians and the Sheikah that were working on controlling them. It was one of the first times he had gotten the opportunity to spend time with her within Hyrule Castle, so he jumped at it, and met her early in the morning near her chambers. Two guards were there, as usual - including Julian. But he remained silent now, and Link didn’t feel any sort of resentful look coming from behind his helmet.

He didn’t wait long before Zelda left through the doors, wearing a dress, one Link hadn’t seen her in since the Knighting ceremony. It evoked a new emotion in him now than it did before; she was a fantastic explorer, but made a beautiful Princess, as well.

“Let’s be off,” Zelda said happily, grabbing Link’s hand and heading up the stairs. He was taken aback at her suddenness, but went along anyways, as she toured him through the hallways.

“I guess… you’ve never seen much of this part of the castle, have you?” she said suddenly, finally letting go of his hand once they were past the boundaries of the Royal Quarters.

“No,” he replied, voice shaking a little from the sensation of her hand in his. “It’s… huge.”

“Yes… a bit much,” she laughed, shaking her head as they made their way towards one of the towers. “But it does allow me a good amount of space, including my own study. Despite Father’s annoyance at my being such a scholar, he allowed me that much.” Her voice fell a little, and Link wasn’t sure whether to console her or not. As much as he was loyal to her, her father was his King, and anything other than complete obedience was blasphemy for a knight.

“No matter. I don’t think we’ll run into him. Oh- here we are-” she ran a few steps ahead of him, out into the sunlight shining down on an outdoor passage. Leaning over the edge, the two of them could see a Guardian down below, lit-up, and walking with its long spider-like legs between a few members of the Sheikah tribe.

“I think Robbie is down there… he’s young, but our head Guardian researcher,” Zelda said with a smile. Link nodded, recognizing the slightly eccentric hair of one of the Sheikah men. He had a personality to match, but had always gotten along well with Link, whenever the two of them ran into each other.

“Incredible… we’re at a point now where we can actually control them. At the current rate, we’ll soon know all we need to know about the Guardians and the Divine Beasts! And, should Ganon ever show itself again, we’ll be more than positioned to defend ourselves,” she added excitably, turning to look at Link. He nodded in response, but a new presence distracted him.

“What are you doing out here, Zelda?”

The two of them turned to look at the source - King Rhoam was walking towards them, two guards trailing behind him. Link immediately lowered himself to one knee, dipping his head in respect, and hoped he wasn’t considered out of place for being somewhere so… confidential. At least he was with her. Zelda stepped a little in front of him, and he could see her arm drop to her side, but the girl made a fist in resolve as she explained herself.

“I was assessing the results of the experiments with the Guardians. These pieces of ancient technology could be quite useful against the-”

“I know that,” the King interrupted her, sounding impatient. “They are essential to Hyrule’s future, and our research demands that we keep a close eye on them. However, as the Princess, you currently have a crucial and unfulfilled responsibility to your kingdom.”

Zelda let out a frustrated and saddened breath, that only Link could hear, but he could tell the lecture she was going through now was only one of many. He hated having to sit quietly and listen to her being scolded. It was likely embarrassing for her.

“Let me ask you once more - when will you stop treating this as some childish game?”

Link grimaced, keeping his eyes focused on the ground, though there was a fire in them that he knew he could not let the King see.

“I’m doing everything I can. I’ll have you know, I just recently returned from the Spring of Courage where I offered every ounce of my prayers to the Goddess-”

“And now you are here, wasting your time!” the King snapped, “you need to be dedicating every moment you have to your training. You must be single-minded in unlocking the power that will seal Calamity Ganon away!”

“I already am!” Zelda replied, but her voice was weak compared to the booming anger of her father’s. “Don’t you see, there’s- there’s nothing more I can do! My hope… my hope is that you will allow me to contribute here, in any way that I can, so-”

“No more excuses, Zelda! Stop running away from your duty. As the King, I forbid you to have anything to do with these machines from this moment on… and command you to focus on your training.” Rhoam was clearly done; he had had enough of her speaking back to him, and turned away to look at the Guardian down below.

“Do you know how the gossip mongers refer to you? They are out there at this moment whispering amongst themselves… that you are the heir to a throne of nothing. Nothing but failure.”

Link struggled to stay silent. He wanted to tell Rhoam for himself how hard his daughter was working, how much she cared for Hyrule, how dedicated she was; but he had no choice but to stay silent, embarrassed that he was present to listen to their dispute. King Rhoam, generally known to be a hearty and jovial man, was clearly dreadfully worried about Calamity Ganon returning, and as far as Link saw it, was taking it out on his daughter.

“It is woven into your destiny that you prove them wrong. Do you understand?”

He turned now, to look at her one last time, and Zelda dipped her head slowly.

“Yes. I understand.”

Without another word, he turned and walked away, and Link remained motionless until he was sure the King was out of sight. When he looked up, Zelda had begun to walk away, back towards the Castle.

♪

“Zel- Princess,” Link stammered, quickly getting to his feet and following her. He couldn’t be alone up here, not as just a Knight; the guards would take far too much pleasure in kicking him out.

“I’m sorry, Link, that you were there to hear that,” she said, her voice cracking as she walked hurriedly through the halls. He could tell she was breaking down, and didn’t want him to see, but when they came to an empty hallway he reached forward for her hand and held her back. She stopped, but kept her gaze on the ground, and didn’t look back at him. He could feel her trembling.

“How can he be so blind? I’m - I’m working so hard, I’m constantly - constantly trying to make sense of this world, and how to save the Kingdom from Calamity Ganon-” her voice broke on Ganon’s name, and Link held her hand tighter. She turned, pushing her face into his chest and breaking down into sobs. Tentatively, he put his other hand on her shoulder, and dipped his face into her hair. His heart was breaking for her.

“I mean - I can travel to the Spring of Power, but I know nothing will happen. Nothing ever happens! Hylia must look at me with disdain, though I pray to her day and night, for her to still hold this back from me. It’s all I need to fulfill my purpose,” she cried, squeezing his hand and beginning to soak through his shirt with tears.

“Goddesses. I’m sorry, Link,” she said quickly, pulling back from him and looking up at him with incredibly sad green eyes. “It’s no use crying. But it’s so hard when… father speaks to me like that, and… usually I just suffer through it alone.”

Link looked back at her, trying not to think about all the times Zelda had been alone, from six years old and onwards, after her mother had passed; alone and knowing that she had a duty to fulfill but not knowing how to do so, not having family or friends to console her, having to be strong - like he did. But even with the sword on his back, he knew now she had gone through worse.

“You don’t have to apologise,” he told her, his voice quiet. “That’s what I’m here for.”

“You say that, but that’s not...  this isn’t part of your duties to me,” Zelda argued, looking at him in a sad confusion. “Why? You should just leave, you don’t need to comfort me. I’m fine on my own!”

“You wanted me to open up to you,” Link replied, a little stung at her suggesting he should leave, “and I- I care too much about you than to leave you alone, right now.”

Link was hoping he wouldn’t regret those words. That it wouldn’t be considered out of place, or unprofessional, or make things worse for Zelda. He looked at her steadily, knowing he couldn’t take back what he’d said. He could do nothing but own up to it. It wasn’t as far as a confession, at least, and he saw Zelda’s expression soften.

“I can’t help feeling like I don’t deserve this sort of… dedication,” she responded, sighing and looking at her feet. Link had already started shaking his head before she finished.

“That’s not true,” he argued, emotions playing with his heart strings. “Besides how - how I feel - you’re important to everyone here,” he stammered, and Zelda looked up quickly at his words, but Link changed the subject.

“I’ll go with you, to the Spring of Power, and the Spring of Wisdom. We can leave for a couple days. For- your birthday,” Link finished. He had spoken urgently at first, but slowed now, knowing the Princess was to turn seventeen in a couple days. Zelda’s expression was hard to read; sadness, curiosity, a glimmer of hope behind her eyes, and finally she spoke.

“You... remembered my birthday?”

“I was there, last year,” Link said resignedly, looking embarrassed, “as one of the knights in your salute. I remembered the date. It was the first time I had really… seen you.”

“Ah,” she realised quietly, the faintest smile growing on her lips, “my sixteenth. Alright. Will you come with me, to help prepare? Your shirt should dry out, anyways.”

Link looked surprised. “Right now?”

“Yes,” Zelda said, turning from him and heading down the hall, so Link followed. “I need to get out of here. There’s no use pouting in my study. We may as well head straight out - if only just to show my father that I am trying.”

He followed her all the way until the doors to her quarters, where two guards were positioned. As she walked past, their spears dropped into a large X, barring Link’s entrance.

“I’ll be here,” he called after her, but when Zelda turned around and saw the spears dropped, she made an exasperated sound.

“Let him in, please,” she said decidedly, and the guards reluctantly lifted their spears to let Link pass. The doors shut behind him. He would have been fine just waiting for her, and felt nervous and awkward entering her room, although there was nothing particularly special or embarrassing about it. She had some cut wildflowers in glass vases throughout the room, windows that looked out onto a wonderful view of Hyrule field, and a desk full of paper and journals that she quickly shut closed as soon as she entered.

“I’m just going to grab a couple changes of clothes,” she muttered to herself, fishing through her drawers as Link stood at the window, admiring the view.

“Here,” she said suddenly, and he turned to catch a tunic that she’d thrown at him. “I always have spare knight tunics here, as the laundry service mixes up their deliveries from time to time. You can change into something… drier that way,” she added, embarrassed, and Link looked down to see the wet stain she’d left on his chest. Not really thinking about it, he pulled off his tunic immediately.

“Also, I was thinking - oh!” Zelda had turned to look at him, not expecting him to be shirtless, and ducked her eyes under her hand. Link looked at her in surprise until he realised what he’d done, and quickly pulled the other shirt on.

“Sorry!” he blurted out, hurriedly grabbing his belt and fastening it around the front. He had to stop feeling so comfortable around her - he was still on duty, after all.

“You just surprised me, is all,” Zelda replied, her cheeks flush with colour. “I’m - going to change quickly, and then we’ll head out. We should reach Akkala by nightfall,” she calculated briefly, then disappeared into the next room. Link sat on the trunk at the edge of her bed, waiting patiently. When she finally came out in her explorer’s gear, and her hair tied back, she had a new look on her face - she was ready.

“Let’s go.”

[dandanparadise]

Spring Will Come [EXPLICIT]

Writer: xingmisoo - Admin [AO3 | AFF | Wattpad]

Relationships: Do Kyungsoo | D.O./Oh Sehun, Byun Baekhyun/Kim Junmyeon  Suho

Warnings: Pining, Minor Character Death, Implied/Referenced Homophobia, Not Beta Read, Age Difference, Alternate Universe

Summary: It tells more than just attraction, it's romance between friends, between family, and friends like family. - One thing for sure is that spring will come, the sky is almost blue, the trees are almost budding and the sun almost bright.

The greatest happiness of life is the conviction that we are loved; loved for ourselves, or rather, loved in spite of ourselves. -Victor Hugo

Saying the bell jingled overhead as he walked in is so mainstream. Thus, Kyungsoo’s entrance got unnoticed by his two sickly in loved friends. He probably should try harder to get used to them sending heart eyes at each other when they’re not after each other’s throats outside sexual scenes. ‘Stop it, Kyungsoo.’

“Sorry for interrupting. May I take your order?” The man with soft carbon black hair whipped his head, his mouth never stopped running. “Oh, sorry. We already- Kyungsoo!” Said man mockingly replied, “Baekhyun!”

Baekhyun’s face shone impossibly brighter as he watched his friend calmly took off his jacket before slipping into the bench in front of him. Kyungsoo couldn’t say the same for the loverboy whose face dropped a little. ‘It’s just your eyes acting up,’ he brushed it off. ‘They’re your friends.’

“So… why am I summoned? We just met less than twenty-four hours ago.” Kyungsoo reverted his gaze to his friends from the waiter, schooling his expression as not to look offended by the way Junmyeon seemed fidgety.

The three of them went completely silent which was then broken by Baekhyun obnoxiously sipping on his black tea.

“How’re you doing?” Junmyeon immediately regretted opening his mouth, his face scrunched as if his life just flashed right in front of his eyes in a millisecond. But Kyungsoo still had his bushy brows raised sceptically. Baekhyun sensing the red flag waving in the distance cleared his throat. He placed one hand on his boyfriend’s thigh, squeezing to hopefully calm his alight nerves.

A few months ago they were the closest of friends where Baekhyun would squeeze Junmyeon’s thigh just to spite him and ended up with Kyungsoo having to separate them. But that was another story to tell. Now it seemed like the thread tying them together was pulled taut and at the verge of snapping. Like, really close. Like standing on a cliff and pebbles started falling into the crashing wave a few feet below.

Kyungsoo habitually raised his hand and scratched his brow. He did that when it feels suffocating. Like now. “I have a flight to catch so be quick.” Baekhyun cleared his throat again but it was Junmyeon who opened his mouth first. “It has been years since, Kyungsoo.” Kyungsoo looked up, meeting with the honey-haired man dead in the eye. He didn’t have to convey it verbally. They were having this conversation again.

“Is this about last night?” He remembered about going out for one drink and maybe along the way getting horribly wasted. Which explained he why crawled off a couch at dawn and flagging a cab with pounding head and cloudy vision. At least that was what he remembered from last night.

“Look. I’m sorry. I won’t bother you guys next time.” He nodded at the waiter and smiled out of courtesy as he shakily placed the coffee cup in front of him. He left the table hastily when the blush on his face bloomed redder. “I just got a little drunk that’s all. Would you rather see me locked outside my own apartment? Or in the morning news?”

Baekhyun heaved a sigh, “I don’t mind you coming to our place.” Kyungsoo didn’t miss the way Junmyeon gave him a side glance but for the sake of himself, he decided to ignore it. “We don’t but-” He also didn’t miss the subtle nudge when Junmyeon started opening his mouth. “I didn’t wear my glasses but I’m not blind.” The three of them became more noticeably stifled after Kyungsoo replied. Their eyes everywhere but on each other.

“You know I care for you but,” Junmyeon paused, waiting for the man across him to react. Seeing none, he continued, “don’t you think you’re becoming a-” He was cut off again, this time the displeasure prominent on Kyungsoo’s masculine features. “A what? A lot like him? Thanks, really need that validation.” At that point, even Baekhyun sported a grimace, a complete contrast on his friendly appearance earlier. “We didn’t say that. You know we don’t think that way.”

Avoiding further confrontation, Junmyeon butted in, knowing very well he better be quick or this conversation wouldn’t go anywhere. Just like all they ever had in the past. “A nuisance. That’s what you’re becoming. Are you satisfied now?” Obviously, he wasn’t. He didn’t have to confirm verbally he wasn’t the least satisfied. “Oh, well. Seems like I have to apologise again. This time for being a nuisance. And since now you have made it obvious for me, I’d like to excuse myself. I have a flight to catch.”

Baekhyun cursed under his breath when Kyungsoo got up from his seat. “Jesus, Kyungsoo. Would you listen to us first for once?” His voice was hardened at the edge but his gaze was soft as he stared at his friend. “ Please.” He added.

“I don’t need anyone else.”

Ψ

Junmyeon made sure he arrived at the airport exactly half an hour before the scheduled touchdown of the aeroplane Kyungsoo was flying in. He had everything planned to the T after he managed to talk Baekhyun into coaxing Kyungsoo to reveal his ‘vacation’ detail. He knew Kyungsoo wouldn’t say a word to him though they know each other longer.

He was rushing to get to the arrival hall even when the gleaming watch on his wrist showed he still had around seventeen minutes left. Even so, there was no regret of having to spend his time waiting.

Kyungsoo was contemplating to turn around once he spotted the familiarly styled honey hair not so far from him. But he decided against it when the man raised his head and waved enthusiastically his way, his face literally beaming when the sunray hit his raised cheeks.

He silently welcomed the hug Junmyeon pulled him into, basking in the warmth radiating from his close friend even when he knew exactly why Junmyeon decided to pick him up today. He didn’t have the energy to decline any more. Or more so he didn’t have the heart to do so.

“Okay, you can let go.” He playfully pushed Junmyeon away before walking away, the latter running jogging lightly to catch up with him. “Let’s go home, I’m a little tired. I need to rest for a bit.” Hopefully, it worked.

Ψ

It didn’t.

“This is not my apartment complex,” Kyungsoo mumbled groggily, pulling his glasses off to rub the sleep away from his eyes. He immediately passed out as soon as the car started moving back into the city. “We don’t have to. You look great already. Perfect in fact. Now get out, I’ll take your bag home.” Junmyeon turned to the back seat of his sedan, grabbing the black trench coat thrown exactly in the middle.

The dazed man sent an incredulous look his way. “I’m not leaving until you get inside.” Kyungsoo turned in his seat, looking even more like he just got knocked for six. “A gay bar. A fucking gay bar? When the sun is not even down yet?” This time it was Junmyeon’s turn to swing around in his seat, looking rather cavalier about the sky outside. “Well, it’s almost sunset.”

“We can stay here all day if you want.” Junmyeon challenged. Kyungsoo readily accepted, judging on how he got off the car and started walking to the opposite direction of the bar’s entrance. The former who was left dumbfounded in the car immediately collected himself and ran after Kyungsoo. It was also too mainstream to catch his forearm so Junmyeon sped up his steps and stopped right in front of Kyungsoo. He thrust both arms outward to block the latter’s way.

“Kyungsoo, hey, Kyungsoo! Come on.” He was panting as Kyungsoo still tried to find a way to get past him. “One last time. I promise.” He cautiously raised a pinky when Kyungsoo finally halted all movements. “Please. You can hold my words this time.” Kyungsoo raised one of his thick eyebrows cynically. Junmyeon nodded enthusiastically in assurance. Only then Kyungsoo raised his hand and linked their pinkies before sealing it with their thumbs.

Junmyeon threw his arms on his friend’s shoulder, leading him to the bar behind them. A victorious smile cracking his face.

“You have to promise me one more thing though.” Kyungsoo stopped them again when they were getting closer to the storm door. The last time he went there when there, there were champagne and firework stickers on the glass panel of the door. “Call me hyung for a month.” The face Junmyeon made was probably too much but he definitely felt scandalised. He agreed begrudgingly on the term as they walked into the bar that was buzzing with chit-chats and laughter from all sides.

“That table.” He pointed to a table far back by the wall. Kyungsoo grimaced when he noticed that all four of them looked way younger than him. And did he mention four? He turned to complain at Junmyeon when he cut him off, “he’s not here yet but you’ll definitely know it’s him.”

After a few more attempts of bailing, Kyungsoo finally bid goodbye to his impromptu chauffeur.

He made his way to the table of young adults with tired yet bright faces. If they were surprised, to say the least, they did not even try to hide it from marring their features. Kyungsoo cleared his throat to break the awkward silence that suddenly overturned the table. “Oh, you must be Kyungsoo. We just got here too.” The one on the far end raised his hand and smiled which Kyungsoo reciprocated half-heartedly. ‘Way to not be an asshole.’

Kyungsoo cleared his throat again as he slipped into a seat, bowing his head politely when the man beside him passed a drink to him. “Thanks,” he muttered. Kyungsoo smiled as best as he could in the awkward situation when the group introduced themselves one by one. They did not seem to be bothered the least by Kyungsoo’s late arrival seeing how quick they went back to talking among themselves. Realising he was stuck there for the next hour or less for the sake of Junmyeon, Kyungsoo quietly began taking a small sip from the glass of orange juice in front of him.

The noise around him slowly faded he did not even notice the four men started gathering their things and were getting up from their seats. “... like Sehun is not going to come again.” Kyungsoo barely caught what the man was saying. He was staring at him, going through his head trying to find the correct name. Is it Chanryeol? Chanyul? Chanyeol? That sounded more like it.

So his supposed partner bailed on him? ‘There went my one hour.’ He averted his gaze to the group of young men after checking the time on his watch.

“We’re going to the karaoke box. Are you…” The Chanyeol guy quirked his brows instead of finishing his question. Kyungsoo still caught the meaning. “Nah, I’m fine. I’ll stay for a couple more drinks.” Chanyeol nodded knowingly at Kyungsoo before excusing themselves. “Then, we’ll get going now.” Kyungsoo just sent them away with his eyes.

It was not long after Chanyeol and the group left when Kyungsoo finally downed the remaining of the drink. He did not order for another, instead slowly took a wipe from his coat and started wiping the table. After making sure everything was in his pocket, he rose from the seat and grabbed for the coat slung behind on the back of the chair.

“Fuh, goodness. That was close.”

Kyungsoo whipped his head around as soon as he heard someone stopped within his proximity. He stared, bewildered at the man trying to stifle his chuckles. His was bowing and his hands on his knees, a clear indication he was catching his breath. But at the same time, his shoulders were shaking, indicating his amusement. For what, Kyungsoo did not know. And maybe even couldn't care less about.

Unbeknownst to him, or so he would claim, his eyes wandered along the broad expanse of the man’s shoulder. Who was it again? Sehun? Even in his current posture, the man appeared to be much taller than him. The sweaty mop of black hair was falling, making it difficult to examine his face. Don’t misunderstand, he doesn’t really care about the outside. But good look is a bonus, no?

Sehun finally straightened his body after catching three lungfuls of breaths. Kyungsoo was starstruck by the youthful yet matured face of the man standing tall before him. A moment passed and Kyungsoo quickly recovered his expression. “Sehun, Oh Sehun. Sorry, I’m late.” He craned his neck to the side, squinting at the clock above the door. Kyungsoo silently delighted at that moment as the muscle under his loosely tied scarf stretched. “By an hour,” he whispered more to himself but Kyungsoo still caught it but decided to take no notice of it.

“Nice to meet you,” he paused. Kyungsoo replied with his full name, mustering the most genuine smile he could at that time. “Doh Kyungsoo. Nice name.” Sehun shook his hand, then naturally falling into the seat that was vacant for the past hour. Kyungsoo not knowing what to do just followed and went back to his previous seat.

The man in front of him was still a little out of breath, his fingers pinching at the plain baby blue tee clinging to his chest due to the sweat. Sehun had thrown his cream jacket and ashy scarf on the other chair, leaving him only in his burgundy zip-up hoodie and a cotton shirt underneath. He started fanning himself while looking around, acting all natural, very opposite to Kyungsoo. The latter kept staring at his supposed partner, even when he was calling a waiter over. Boyish grin never leaving his face but it didn’t ruin his breathtaking and intricately sculpted face nonetheless. ‘Even so, he is much younger than you,’ Kyungsoo reminded himself.

The tension slowly swarmed around them when Sehun finally focused on the man sitting opposite him. His nervousness slowly becoming visible as Kyungsoo didn’t take his eyes away.

He tried to remember a few things. Junmyeon hyung. Kyungsoo. Kyungsoo is Junmyeon hyung’s friend.

“How old are you?” The question came way too straightforward in Kyungsoo’s opinion he was clearly taken aback by it. Sehun looked flustered by his own question and was about to backtrack when Kyungsoo finally collected himself and answered, “Thirty-two. Do you have a problem with it?” It was not intended to sound harsh but Sehun did not take it well judging on how agitated he got right after.

“No! Nothing, really. Sorry.” Kyungsoo just nodded when he confirmed their seven years age gap, he obviously being the older one. The tall man silently thanked the waiter for coming back with his beer and chips before leaving again. “Sorry again, you know… for being late. I got some errands to run. Got to do what I have to do to survive.” Kyungsoo once again acknowledged him without any word. Reaching for the chips but looking the younger dead in the eye first. The latter hastily nodded his head.

Sehun started doubting whether the man was actually Junmyeon’s friend. He was too quiet. “Aren’t you curious about me? What is an old hag that looks so out of place doing here? Anything, something.” Kyungsoo paused his munching in an attempt to be friendlier. He pitied the poor guy that looked like he would be shitting bricks in his pants soon.

“Why would you say that? You look hot- I mean. No, you look fantastic.” Sehun muttered a curse while looking down. He could not even hide behind his fringe as the hair was sticking everywhere on his forehead, framing his blooming red face. “Cute,” Kyungsoo muttered to himself but Sehun heard it anyway, blushing even redder.

The night slipped away until Kyungsoo had enough to drink and prefer to let his bladder burst in the comfort of his apartment. Though it was all thanks to Sehun’s effort. He was determined to break the ice when Kyungsoo was pouring more water and froze them.

Both of them left together after Kyungsoo cleared the bill. He was tasting - actually teasing - Sehun who seemed flustered and hesitant to take out his wallet.

Sehun walked him all the way to the bus stop, scoring himself Kyungsoo’s number when they arrived at their destination. He waited with him after exchanging numbers until Kyungsoo bordered the bus. Kyungsoo sat on the other side and he was sure the older man couldn’t see him but he waved anyway.

He scrolled until he spotted the photo of his best friends at a theme park. [I enjoyed it] Sent. [Thanks]

Ψ

But it wasn’t until a month later that they meet again.

It slipped from his mind until Junmyeon mentioned him one day and forced him to a party that he seldom attended. That explained pretty much why he had been standing in front of his full body mirror for a quarter of an hour.

He decided to go with a beige turtleneck and grabbed for the nearest coat after checking the time on his watch. He grabbed for his glasses but stopped again after looking at himself in the mirror. He took them off then put them on again. Again and again, before deciding he needed them since he was going to take his own car.

The drive to Baekhyun and Junmyeon’s place wasn’t long but it was a little delayed as he decided to stop by a bakery. He stared at the small box carefully placed on the shotgun seat. “Alright. Let’s go up.”

Kyungsoo arrived at the right unit around five minutes later, speeding up his speed because he was running a little behind. He was too immersed with pressing the doorbell he didn’t realise the door was swung open. And the person behind it was none other than the birthday boy himself. Kyungsoo caught the conflict on his face. It was twitching, the fight between smile and frown prominent. He decided not to question it.

“Your present. Happy birthday.” He cleared his throat when the man still hadn’t accepted the box. Sehun slowly raised his hand, completely bemused when he recognised the name on the box. “A... cupcake?” He belatedly thanked him albeit still confused at the choice.

“Who is it, Sehun? Oh, you came!” Baekhyun waved excitedly behind the tall man as he spotted the older at the other side of the door. “Why are you still standing there? Come on in.” Sehun was fumbling when he realised they were still at the door. “Yeah, yeah. Get in.” He finally decided to move to the left to give way to Kyungsoo.

Kyungsoo spotted Chanyeol from the blind date with a few other strangers in the living room after hanging his coat on the wall. Junmyeon was also mingling among them. Right, Sehun was Junmyeon’s junior. Of course, he would know them. He even went to be a tutor before landing an actual job.

Feeling a little out of place, he quietly made a beeline to the kitchen bar stool. Now that he got the birthday gift out of the way, he did not really know what to do. This was exactly why he seldom goes to parties.

He was too immersed with the rectangular device in his hand he didn’t realise someone slipped into the stool on his right. Kyungsoo only caught the presence when he saw something like frosting slipping into the corner of his field of vision. “Sehun?” He turned his head and saw the said man smiling sheepishly at him. “You don’t like it? Sorry, I don’t know what’s your favourite. Should’ve asked Junmyeon first.” Kyungsoo put his phone face down before turning his whole body to face the younger.

Kyungsoo carefully put his fingers around the base to take the cupcake but Sehun immediately grabbed his wrist. “No. I mean. I like… love chocolate. But,” Sehun paused mid-sentence, trying to calm his palpitating heart. He felt lightheaded. “C-can we share it? I mean, you don’t have to. I’m not forcing you. But you bought it. I just-” Kyungsoo quickly cut his babbling, “sure.”

Sehun’s face split into a wide grin although the colour of his face hadn’t return back to normal. He scooped a spoonful and raised the utensil, completely catching Kyungsoo off guard. “It’s your birthday, you should have the first bite.” Kyungsoo hurriedly avoided the spoon. Sehun, on the other hand, impulsively turned the silverware to his face. He took a small bite and offered the rest to Kyungsoo. The latter couldn’t come up with excuses in time so he gave in and let himself getting spoon fed by Sehun. The younger tuned out the noise around them as the sound of blood rushing to his head became more apparent.

They ended up eating the small cupcake together, but it was Kyungsoo who had it more because Sehun insisted on feeding him. “I thought you like chocolate.” Sehun, feeling called out, slowly pulled the spoon out of his mouth after devouring on the last bits of chocolate. “I do,” He answered doubtfully. Kyungsoo just chuckled at his antics.

“Happy birthday again,” Kyungsoo said softly. “You probably should join them. I’m not a… fun companion, you know.” Sehun straightened up in his seat. “Well, I don’t. And that is for me to judge.” Kyungsoo just shook his head softly, letting the other man won without any fight.

They were silent for a while but it was comfortable. For Kyungsoo at least. Unbeknownst to him, Sehun was fidgeting in his stool as if he was sitting on an anthill. “Why did you never contact me?” Sehun didn’t catch the question the first time as he was too busy pulling himself together. So he made a sound which was enough to make Kyungsoo repeat his question. “Oh, that…”

‘How am I going to tell him that he doesn’t seem really interested with me?’ He held his gaze on Kyungsoo’s face instead of answering verbally. The latter raised his brows, silently demanding an answer. ‘How do you not sound offensive? How do you not make fun of yourself in front of someone you had an enormous crush on?’

“Sehun. Sehun? Is there something on my face?” Kyungsoo touched his face, muscles contorting weirdly as he checked on himself. “You have nice lips. Huh? What? Sorry. I didn’t mean that. I mean, you have nice lips. But I didn’t mean that. You know.” Geez, of course, he doesn’t. Sehun mentally cursed at himself. “Thanks, I guess.” Kyungsoo offered a comforting smile. Even if he wasn’t attracted to the younger, he still finds him very adorable.

“So?” This time Kyungsoo pulled his lips into a genuine smile, trying to appear more approachable. “I just. You know, I feel like I didn’t leave a good impression when we first met. You didn’t seem that interested too. I just,” Sehun paused, trying to find the right words. They could talk about other things, Kyungsoo is really not a fun person. “I just think it’s right to exchange numbers at the end of a date. Or whatever that was. I swear I don’t go on blind dates often. Though that might not concern you,” he was muttering the last part with a pout. He was true but Kyungsoo wouldn’t admit it out loud. He is not that mean.

“We can still be friends.” He shrugged nonchalantly, a weak attempt at consolation. A huge blow to Sehun. ‘Right. Thanks for the reminder.’ “Friends, we are.” Sehun offered his hand again, ignoring the dull throbbing in his ribcage. Kyungsoo ignorantly shook it.

Ψ

Despite the low-key rejection he received on his birthday, which he insisted on being one of the worst in years, Sehun still managed to text Kyungsoo a couple of weeks later, asking him out on a date. Or ‘hangout’ as he phrased it in the text sent to Kyungsoo’s number. It took half a day for the man to finally reply with his answer. They agreed to meet this coming Saturday.

He was dressed casually but couldn’t stop staring at his own reflection as he waited for Kyungsoo’s arrival. The older wasn’t late but Sehun decided it wouldn’t hurt to come an hour early. Better play safe, he reminded himself again and again.

Some people couldn’t help but turn their heads when they saw he was still standing by a pillar, even the janitor had been sending him a look. After a while, Sehun gave in and fished for the phone in his jeans pocket. Still half an hour until the time they agreed to meet. He pulled the left sleeve of his grey jacket, checking the time on his watch after doing the exact same thing on his phone just a moment earlier. It was cracked like lightning but he could read the time just fine. ‘29 minutes.’ Sehun exhaled into the scarf still nicely wrapped around his neck.

Sehun put both of his hands into his jeans, looking at his feet as he tapped lightly on the sparkling floor. He was too immersed on watching the peeling toe caps that it took him five seconds to realise a pair of dark leather shoes had stopped very near they went into his field of vision.

The tall man slowly looked up, beaming at the sight of Kyungsoo dressed equally nicely. Although the latter was obviously clad in money and European designers compared to his… nevermind. Sehun wanted to run his fingers in Kyungsoo’s dark lock so much. How did it manage to look so soft after getting styled?

Sehun checked on his watch again and when he looked at Kyungsoo, the man just shrugged with an expression that said ‘I don’t know. Why not?’ loud and clear. “You’re fifteen minutes early.” The older’s face immediately turned mischievous, a playful smirk playing on his lips. “Somehow my gut feelings told me you’ll be here early.” The younger who was caught red-handed started blooming a deep and dark crimson. He pulled his scarf higher to hide his warm neck.

“Let- let’s get in, then.” Sehun shoved his hand into the inside pocket, pulling out 2 tickets for Hedwig and the Angry Inch. Kyungsoo arched one of his thick, messy brows. “You paid for last time,” Sehun grumbled without looking at his friend. Or date. He preferred the latter but went with the former. He had to cut down his meals by a lot this month to afford them, he almost cried. Sehun started walking to the hall without waiting for Kyungsoo, making the shorter jogged to catch up with his long strides.

Sehun was staring intently at his ticket, he did not realise Kyungsoo had halted his steps in front of him. He bumped onto the shorter man’s back. Kyungsoo was surprised he almost toppled forward if not for Sehun quickly grabbing him by his arm. “Sorry.” The younger let go of his arm immediately and walked to his seat without looking back. Kyungsoo was still standing, stunned until someone behind him cleared their throat.

The two of them decided to check out their phones while waiting for the show to get started instead of starting a conversation.

Kyungsoo glanced at the man beside him. He unconsciously smiled at how immersed the younger was. The more he stared at him, the more his vision blurred and formed another visual. Realising something wasn’t right, he quickly averted his gaze back to the musical actors on stage.

Sometimes later, Hedwig started walking down the stairs, making his way to the audience. Specifically to the section where Kyungsoo and Sehun were seated at. “Hyung.” Kyungsoo turned to his right and saw Sehun wasn’t looking at him but the actor who was also heading their way. “What- why?”

The main character of the musical walked and climbed onto Sehun’s seat, dancing in front of the flushing man. Kyungsoo was holding his laughter looking at how horrified the poor guy look at that moment. The younger instinctively grabbed his arm, automatically sending an electric pulse that shook his core even when they were not touching skin-to-skin.

Memories swarmed in his vision that forced him to immediately pulled his arm away without intending to do so. Sehun, who got even more surprised, turned to look at him with concern written in bold, capital letters on his face. What happened next messed with his head even more.

Kyungsoo rose from his seat and bolted for the exit without looking back. Sehun would praise the actor if his mind was still there because if the man on top of him was the slightest surprised, he managed to pull himself back together in a split second. He couldn’t wait for the man to get off, he couldn’t care less about how expensive the tickets were. He needed to run after Kyungsoo. ‘What the fuck was that?’

Sensing the tension, the actor quickly got off after he finished dancing and gave way for Sehun to exit the hall.

His steps were echoing loudly in the quiet hallway as he ran, letting his instinct guide him to wherever Kyungsoo was heading. Sehun found himself outside the building around three minutes later, circling it to get to the parking area. There he found a familiar small silhouette walking with their head cast downward. He took a lungful of air before running in huge strides to stop Kyungsoo.

“What was that?!” Sehun unintentionally raised his voice, making Kyungsoo visibly cringed at his harsh tone. “Sorry.” The taller slowly let go of other’s shoulder, regretting his impulsiveness. “No. You don’t have to. Good night.” Kyungsoo moved around Sehun and immediately entered a metallic black sedan parked under a lamppost. The latter ignored the part of his brain that was wowed by the four rings, instead, he circled the car and took the shotgun seat after calming himself.

Kyungsoo paused his movement, letting the engine hummed in the peaceful night. The air surrounding them was filled with electric ions, their hair standing on ends. Now that he was inside, he didn’t really know how to confront Kyungsoo.

“Get out, Sehun.” The commanding tone took Sehun completely off guard. He whipped his head to the side, staring incredulously at the older man. His jaw was visibly clenched, his left hand gripping the steering while tightly. “You owe me an explanation.” Sehun dared himself to say it out loud. He couldn’t stop himself from cowering when Kyungsoo let something that sounded like a growl before hitting the leather covered wheel. “I know. So, get out. Fucking out of my car!”

Sehun flinched but slowly complied. Kyungsoo realised what he did a moment too late. But he was too egoistic - scared to admit his fault.

So, he left Sehun standing there still completely stunned.

Ψ

He stared at the terribly dark mirror selfie.

‘I thought I was bad at this.’ Kyungsoo clicked on the contact. He stared at the blinking line in the long rectangular box at the bottom of the screen. Then he moved his eyes to the last chat bubble, it was in white. A direct indicator Sehun sent it to him but he didn’t reply. Another grey rectangular box showed the time they had that conversation. ‘So it had been 2 weeks, huh.’

[Hey, wanna ha|]

No. Don’t. It’s better this way. He exit the yellow app and swiped the screen until he found the list he made beforehand. “Soy sauce, soy sauce…” He began pushing the shopping cart again, occasionally looking up the aisle to read the sign. The man made a corner when he reached the right place, walking into an empty aisle with two tall racks filled to the brim with bottles made of glass. Kyungsoo read the list one more time to make sure he was getting the right brand.

After bending down and straightening up multiple times to check on the label, he finally spotted the right one. The next problem occurred exactly at that moment. Kyungsoo put his hands on his waist as he stared at the bottle on the uppermost of the rack. He couldn’t spot any small stools anywhere nearby.

Kyungsoo gave up after peeking into the two aisles nearby, dragging himself to a worker in red vest crouching by the chest freezer. He looked tall enough in that position. Even if he isn’t, he could find other ways to retrieve it. Kyungsoo was helpless at the moment as the supermarket was pretty deserted at that hour so he braced himself and walked over, stopping right behind him.

He cleared his throat to get the busy man’s attention. “Excuse-” Kyungsoo’s eyes widened into the size of standard saucers the moment the stock clerk turned his head around. “Oh, hey. How may I help you?” Sehun quickly recovered his expression, maintaining professionalism. He stretched to full height, wiping his hands on his worn out jeans.

The older man nodded his head and gestured for Sehun to follow him. The two of them walked in silence until they reached the place where Kyungsoo had left his half full trolley.

“I need that bottle,” Kyungsoo said while pointing at the top shelf without looking at Sehun. The latter had an amused look on his face but complied instantly. The shorter man took a step back as Sehun moved closer. He stretched his arm and reached for the first bottle in the front row. “This one, right?” Sehun showed the one he retrieved to Kyungsoo. “Yeah, thanks.”

They stood there in awkward silence after Kyungsoo carefully placed the soy sauce in between other items he had retrieved prior. “So,” Sehun drew out the syllable. “Do you need help with your shopping?” The question was given out of courtesy but the look on their faces seemed to hold so much more beyond that. It took Kyungsoo a moment to finally muster a decent reply, “No, it’s alright. Thank you again for the help.”

Sehun clasped his hands together awkwardly, pulling his lips into a straight line before slowly turning around to go back to his previous task. He was three wide steps away when Kyungsoo called him again. The latter looked hesitant once Sehun turned his head to face him. “Yes?” He prompted.

‘Should I?’ He pulled on the sleeve of his coat, there was still thirty minutes left before the closing hour of the supermarket. Kyungsoo pushed the cart and stopped when he was very near to where Sehun was waiting. The younger didn’t miss the way Kyungsoo’s face contorted in conflict. “Um, are you- No. You’ll finish your shift soon, right?” Sehun, though a little baffled, nodded his head.

Kyungsoo stood there in silence again, looking everywhere but at the person he was talking to. Another conflict flashed on his face, amusing Sehun even more. “Are you free after that?” He was staring at the items he was buying, raising his hand and started scratching on his left brow.

Sehun took a minute too long to respond that Kyungsoo started panicking and regretting his decision. The older man closed his eyes and cringed, wrapping his hands on the handle as he braced himself to walk away.

“Wait.” Sehun finally squeezed a reply from his throat. “I got times. I’ll be done in 45 minutes though. If you’re fine with waiting.” A smile automatically on Kyungsoo’s face. “Deal.” Sehun flashed a smile before leaving Kyungsoo alone to finish his shopping.

Kyungsoo adjusted the backrest until he was reclining. The next thing he did was pulling out the phone from his pocket followed with turning down the volume of the radio until it was almost a murmur in the background.

He still had twenty minutes left before Sehun got off work. It wouldn’t be enough to drive back home, leave the grocery, then drive back to the supermarket. So, he decided to wait in his car in the parking lot. He wasn’t really interested in gadgets but he stored everything he bought just now in the car boot. There was no other entertainment or food to keep him busy for the next one-third of an hour.

It was too depressing to check on his email at that hour, so Kyungsoo closed the app after three minutes of doing a cursory review of the top two emails. After opening and closing a few applications, he hovered his thumb over a colourful logo in the shape of a camera. He had that app installed every time he changed to a new phone but never really used it. Baekhyun insisted he makes an account, “just in case,” he once said.

The screen turned white before it was fully loaded soon after Kyungsoo clicked on the Instagram icon. The first thing he saw is a candid photo of Junmyeon with his mouth wide opened as he slurped on the noodles. Then the man noticed it wasn’t Junmyeon’s personal account. Obviously, it was Baekhyun who posted it. The smile faltered as he recalled the day he got called out as a nuisance. It was a month or so ago. Kyungsoo spent most of his times alone after that, deep down still affected by their words though they meant well.

He scrolled down the main page after tapping the heart button on the photo. After leaving his trace behind on some of his friends and former classmates’ photos, he tapped on the magnifying glass at the bottom of the screen.

Maybe it was because Kyungsoo wasn’t a person one would consider young anymore, or it was just actually him being technologically illiterate but most of the memes that appeared on his explore page were confusing instead of amusing to him. After checking out a few jokes using Internet slangs that he couldn’t understand, he returned to the explore page and clicked the rectangular search box on top.

He stared at his keyboard, wondering why was he on that page. ‘It wouldn’t hurt,’ he assured himself albeit being confused with himself.

[oohsehun]

It was the same username the younger used for his KakaoTalk and much to his pleasure, the first account that appeared on the screen was that of the person he looked for. He quickly clicked on it but this time much to his dismay, the account was locked. Kyungsoo was sure it was Sehun’s because Junmyeon’s username appeared on the following list. After spending a moment contemplating, he finally collected enough courage to click on the follow button.

Kyungsoo jumped when someone suddenly knocked on the window on the passenger’s side, his phone falling ungracefully to the bottom of the seat. It was Sehun, without the red vest.

The older man hastily unlocked his car. Sehun slipped in when Kyungsoo was fumbling to look for his phone. He was too overjoyed when he spotted the black phone under his seat that he forgot there was a steering wheel right above his head. Sehun was both shocked and genuinely worried when he heard a loud thud from the driver’s side.

“Hey, are you alright?” Sehun softly put his hand at the back of Kyungsoo’s head, rubbing the spot softly whilst blowing on it. The latter was hissing and only realised what happened after a minute passed. Sehun only stopped what he was doing when he felt a pair of eyes boring hole on his skull. “Sorry.” Sehun nervously apologised while staring at Kyungsoo’s dumbfounded face. “No, it’s alright.”

At that moment, Sehun phone made a ‘ping’ noise. He quickly pulled it out of his jacket to check the new notification that just came in. His face evolved from curiosity to confusion then straight up amusement. Kyungsoo was curious when the other smirked mischievously.

“Is this yours?” Sehun held his phone high between them, the bright screen reflected on Kyungsoo’s glasses. The latter’s face bloomed crimson immediately, his ears a deeper shade of red. [dohksoo] was written at the top of the screen but the page was empty, no post, not even a profile picture, someone might have mistaken it for a spam account.

Sehun proceeded to accept the request, this time it was Kyungsoo’s phone that made a bell sound. He pressed on the lock button. [oohsehun has accepted your follow request]

The older hastily ended the topic, turning in his seat and adjusting his backrest again before putting on the seatbelt. “Buckle up. Let’s find somewhere to eat.” Sehun snickered but followed his command anyway.

Kyungsoo parked his sleek black car in the serene neighbourhood. They were initially headed for the fast food chain near his house but Sehun said he was craving for ramyeon instead. Though, unbeknownst to Kyungsoo, that is exactly what he has almost every day. He just wasn’t ready to let Kyungsoo pay for another meal. At least his pocket still allowed paying for two cups of ramyeon and two bottles of mineral water.

They exited the car at the same time after Kyungsoo turned off the engine. Sehun made sure he closed the door carefully. His entire saving wouldn’t be enough to pay for a dented Audi’s door.

They walked into a round-the-clock convenience store at the corner of a building block. Sehun held the door for Kyungsoo and both of them walked side-by-side to the place where the ramyeon cups were located at.

Sehun immediately took out his wallet, beating out Kyungsoo after putting their items on the counter. He passed the green note to the cashier, Kyungsoo taking their meals to the table by the floor-to-ceiling window while he retrieved the change.

When he finally took a seat beside Kyungsoo, he saw his ramyeon had been mixed properly while said man was already digging in his. He uncapped the bottles for both of them before joining Kyungsoo. Both of them remained silent while they ate their supper.

Kyungsoo gulped down the water, letting the liquid soothe the spiciness in his mouth and throat. Sehun was still munching down the last few strings of noodle left in his cup when Kyungsoo opened his mouth, “I’m sorry… about the other day.”

Sehun paused for a second but resumed eating instead of mustering a reply. “I know what you had to go through to get those tickets,” Kyungsoo paused, seeing if Sehun was going to cut in or not. “I don’t mean to, you know… hurt your feelings or something.”

The younger suddenly snorted, catching Kyungsoo off guard. “Alright, alright. Now, stop it. I need to finish this.” Kyungsoo smiled after recovering, looking fondly at Sehun. “Just promise me we can be friends.” Sehun finally turned his head around, smiling cheekily while holding his pinky up. Kyungsoo looked a bit taken aback but then willingly linked their pinkies and sealed it.

Sehun felt like laughing at himself. ‘Friends, huh.’

Ψ

Kyungsoo had been staring at the rapidly moving chatroom, still standing by the closed door. He just arrived home after dropping Sehun at his house. It didn’t take long for him to remember the way there because apparently, Sehun was Junmyeon’s roommate when the latter was doing his master’s degree. It was a studio apartment Junmyeon bought as soon as he could afford one but he rented it to Sehun after moving in with Baekhyun.

Baekhyun

[You bastard asdfjkl]

[Did you go out on a date with Sehun?]

[PHOTO]

[Bitch eXpLaIn what’s this?]

It was a screenshot of Sehun’s Instagram story, forwarded from another chat. Obviously, Junmyeon had sent it to his boyfriend privately at first.

Junmyeon is typing…

Baekhyun

[Wait]

[DOH KYUNGSOO]

[YOU POSTED?]

Junmyeon

[He also has a profile picture now]

Baekhyun

[No wonder he doesn’t go out with us anymore now]

Kyungsoo

[We just hang out. Geez, you guys aren’t my only friends]

The man put his phone back into his pocket. He ignored the continuous buzz in his pants as he untied his shoes and put them back on the shelf.

Kyungsoo put his glasses unfolded on the coffee table. He put one foot on the table as he lied down on the couch, phone out again. He swiped the screen until he spotted the logo of the app he’d been using a lot lately. Despite having multiple odd jobs, Kyungsoo realised Sehun was somewhat addicted to posting his daily updates on Instagram.

He was tagged in the younger’s latest story entries. It was what his friends were freaking out about. They went out for lunch or dinner together often, but Kyungsoo finally managed to find some free time between his busy schedule to take Sehun out for a movie as an apology and consolation for bailing out in the middle of a musical performance. The tickets cost much less compared to the musical ones Sehun had for both of them back then but this was better than nothing.

The first picture was of his back while he was getting snacks for both of them. The next one was him again, but this time posing awkwardly in front of a cardboard cutout of the characters from the latest box office movie. The next was the picture of their hands holding their tickets inside the hall.

Kyungsoo exited the story tab, clicking on his profile next. Baekhyun was right. He smiled fondly at the memory of Sehun taking his phone from his hand when he was reading some random international news on his browser. He had his brows furrowed while looking at Sehun but then the sound of camera snapping greeted his ear. The younger insisted he used it as his profile picture because all of his social media accounts used the default one at the moment.

Sehun particularly uploaded the one on in his Instagram. He wanted the privilege, he said. Kyungsoo shook his head again remembering how bratty the younger could get sometimes.

Then he checked out his first post. He unconsciously smiled at the picture of Sehun snapping his signature terrible mirror selfie while he stood awkwardly beside him. It was taken when they walked around the mall while waiting for the next showtime of the movie they were going to watch.

He was kinda cute.

Sehun grabbed for the phone that was thrown haphazardly on his bed before he went to take a shower. The notification sound went off when he just got out of the bathroom on the other end of the apartment.

Junmoney hyung

[Be honest with me]

He waited for the man on the other end to finish typing.

Junmoney hyung

[Do you like Kyungsoo?]

The moment he read the word, he could feel his heartbeat going faster and he was trembling. He had been trying to forget about it for a long time. Or at least since the day he agreed to be just friends with the older man. Because it was obvious the latter was ignorant about his feeling. Or it was just Kyungsoo trying to brush his feeling off.

Sehun collected himself, quickly writing a reply before Junmyeon got worried like a mother hen.

Sehun

[No]

Sent.

[I love him|]

He erased the words before a fight started between his heart and mind. It was not time to be honest or make it known yet. Not yet.

Sehun harshly dried his hair with the towel, shutting his eyes tightly. He forced them close tight enough it was bordering painful. “Fuck this.” The innocent towel was harshly thrown into the hamper in the corner of the room. The tall man fell on his bed, trying to clear his mind with a towel still clinging around his waist. It was then when his phone received another text.

Junmyeon still hadn’t sent any reply yet. Plus, he recognised the photo in the small round frame. Of course he would when he was the one who snapped it.

Kyungsoo

[Hey are you free tomorrow?]

[Wanna grab some lunch?]

Sehun

[Idk]

Too short. He might bombard him with messages.

[Good night hyung. Have a nice dream am tired bye]

Ψ

They rarely went out together lately. Sehun always got errand to run, shifts to cover etcetera, etcetera. Deep down Kyungsoo felt like the younger was avoiding him. It was just that he was not sure why. Which explained why he didn’t pay any mind to it after the thought flashed in his mind. Plus, it was not like Sehun denied his invitations all the time. He just did it more often than not.

But one thing for sure was that he was not going to deny how his life had gone back to being glum and eerily quiet. He was trying so hard to familiarise himself with that feeling again. The solitary that he once liked so much.

He found himself alone at the bar of the eardrum-destroying club one Friday night. He hadn’t gone to one for a while. Since Sehun started spending his free times with him. He took a small sip from the lowball glass placed neatly in front of him by the bartender. He dressed pretty nicely without intending to, receiving kittenish glances whenever he turned to look at the crowd behind him. He couldn’t care less about those people at the moment.

As always, Kyungsoo ended up pulling out his phone from his jeans. He reread the private message sent by Junmyeon from exactly an hour ago. He invited him to their weekly movie night. And this was another thing that he was sure of. His ego still hadn’t recover and so did their friendship. They do contact each other daily, but it had been a long while since Kyungsoo met both of them.

‘Maybe the offer still stands.’ He was about to type a reply when he suddenly heard a loud commotion behind him. Kyungsoo silently thanked them for talking him out of driving to his friends’ house and turned himself back to a cock blocker. His ears caught the slurred yelling again from the crowd, more heads turned now.

“You fucking shit excuse of human wasting resources,” was what he heard as soon as he got near. That voice sounded familiar, but he did not want to jump into a conclusion too soon. He waited for the man to talk again but it was his opponent’s turn. “You let me touch you first!” He sounded equally tipsy but not as bad as the first one.

Kyungsoo squeezed himself in the crowd to get closer, catching the swears the first man was spitting and finally able to see his face. “You dipshit!” He was about to swing his fist but Kyungsoo spotted the bouncer getting closer first. So the latter immediately ran to the middle and pull the drunk as a skunk man’s hand back to his side before getting both of themselves out of the club. Before the bouncers got the chance to do just that.

Sehun was finally snoring in the backseat after a few minutes of spouting colourful words in his hammered state. Kyungsoo still occasionally checked on his reflection just in case the younger decided to act up again or worse, throw up in his car. Thankfully the man was dead to the world throughout the whole ride to Kyungsoo’s apartment, though he was calling his name once in a while.

Kyungsoo parked the car in the basement, quickly making his way to the backseat right after he turned off the engine. He pulled on the younger’s legs that were curled on the seat. Sehun stirred in his sleep and slowly regained consciousness when the tugging continued.

The older man was fumbling to pull him out as his body kept falling backwards. At one point, the former had to shout Sehun’s name to keep him awake as he manoeuvred the younger out of the car. He swung his long limb over his shoulder, preparing his body to get crashed by Sehun’s overwhelming weight.

They made it to Kyungsoo’s unit with great difficulty as Sehun kept slipping down and in and out of consciousness. Kyungsoo was wondering why the younger got shitfaced out of the blue while punching in his house security pin.

He immediately pushed Sehun onto the wall as soon as they got in. He crouched down to untie and take off the younger’s shoes, ignoring the latter’s grunts as he hit his head on the wall.

He did see it coming and he was very clearly shell shocked when Sehun suddenly ran his long, skinny fingers in his hair, tugging slightly once he reached the back of his skull. Kyungsoo looked up, greeted by a bulge forming in the tight-fitting leather pants. The grunt that slipped from Sehun’s lips this time didn’t sound quite like the first one. The alarm and red light were ready to set off in his hazy mind but Sehun quickly pulled him up and pushed him to the opposite wall.

Kyungsoo was not given enough time to recover from the shock when Sehun moved closer and leaned in until their lips met. The younger’s breathing was erratic and so was his heart under Kyungsoo’s palm. The latter tried to push him away but Sehun kept advancing until the remaining alcohol in his system succeeded in clouding his judgement.

Sehun was rough and messy but Kyungsoo slowly kissed him back, controlling the pace until it didn’t hurt anymore. He still could hear the faint nagging of his conscience in the distance, but Sehun shut the voice up completely when he slipped his warm, calloused hands under Kyungsoo’s thin cotton button-up.

The kiss involved lots of lips and clashing teeth and breathing noisily through their noses. Sehun tried to make his advance, but Kyungsoo always got him back under control. The older could see his clouded blown pupils when Sehun opened his eyes once in a while.

Kyungsoo was so immersed by the kiss that he jolted when he suddenly felt something cold touching his back. Sehun had discarded his shirt before they arrived at their current place. He took that moment to run his tongue up Kyungsoo’s neck since their kiss had broken, tasting the bead of sweat that formed there. The older shivered, twice when Sehun bit lightly on his nape. He ran his tongue on the salty skin again, delighting in the way Kyungsoo clenched on his biceps tightly while breathing heavily into his ears.

They arrived at the master bedroom with Kyungsoo’s lead. Knocking themselves on walls and shelves and cupboard along the way. Kyungsoo fell on the bed first followed by Sehun. The younger didn’t take the time to carve the image into the back of his head, the only thing in his head right now was Kyungsoo, Kyungsoo, in Kyungsoo, wherever, more Kyungsoo.

Sehun crawled until he was hovering right above Kyungsoo, his legs folded beside Kyungsoo’s torso. He cradled the older’s face and stared into his eyes. Kyungsoo saw something fleeted in the younger’s eyes, something that resembled melancholia a little too much. But Sehun’s lips were back on him before he got time to think about it.

Kyungsoo jolted again this time. It was when Sehun finally unzipped his pants. The loud sound in the rather silent room was like a terrible nagging that wakened up Kyungsoo from his short-lived fantasy.

He collected his strength to push Sehun who looked dumbfounded and devastated when he did it. The younger tried to push him back down but Kyungsoo used all his strength to get Sehun off him. The younger tumbled backwards, eyes wide opened. The rejection finally dawned on him when Kyungsoo turned his face away. Both arms were folded together across his naked chest as an attempt to put a barrier between him and Sehun. As a gesture that this was not right.

Sehun finally realised the photo on the nightstand at that exact moment. It looked similar to the few frames hung around the house. He could still see it clearly, even his intoxicated brain figured what kind of photo was that.

“So you are married?” Sehun leaned back on his arms, head thrown back as he held in his tears. “So you are married?” He repeated the question but quietly this time. He pinched his eyes, trying to calm the pounding in his skull. He stared at the gleaming white gold band on the other man’s ring finger. The laugh that slipped from his lips was sadistic. Very sadistic that Kyungsoo flinched, genuinely worried. “I should’ve known. Stupid Sehun. Silly. Idiot.”

“I’m sorry.” Sehun quickly got off the bed, almost tumbling over but Kyungsoo managed to catch his arms before he fell on his face. He swatted the hand away immediately. “I’m sorry again. Let me crash. I promise I’ll leave first thing in the morning.” Kyungsoo tried to stop him but Sehun kept pushing him away, hiding his face from Kyungsoo’s eyes.

Kyungsoo sat back on his bed when the bedroom door shut. He would rather see Sehun getting mad or something but the man was as calm as he could get in his drunken state when he closed the door. ‘At least he wouldn’t leave right away in that state,’ Kyungsoo tried to reassure himself.

He moved his eyes from the door to the photo on his nightstand. A photo of two men in matching suits, one in all black, the other fully clad in white. “I’m not. I was married.” But Sehun wasn’t there to listen to him.

Sehun woke up when the sky was still red, when it was still dawn. He pulled himself into a seating position despite how difficult it was with his head pounding. It felt like there were gazillion tiny hammers in there, knocking on his organ and skull. His throat felt like sandpaper too. Bits of last night’s memories flashed in his head, making the hangover ten times worse.

He removed the soft blanket from his half-naked body. He tried to fold it as best as he could before rising from the couch. Sehun found his shirt by the dining table, quickly retrieving it. He left the top two unbuttoned as he tiptoed to the door.

Kyungsoo woke up in better condition than the younger man when the sun was halfway up. He quickly left his room after recalling last night’s incident. But Sehun was no longer there. He checked the sink, in case he had some water first before leaving. Nothing, dry.

He dragged his feet to the living room. Maybe he left a note. Kyungsoo needed a note, words. Anything.

Nothing.

It looked like no one was there if not for the blanket placed neatly on the coffee table. It was also the day Sehun left him, never to be contacted again.

Ψ

The summer sun felt like it could melt him into a puddle of sloshy muds. He took out his phone again while looking out the city through the floor-to-ceiling window in his bedroom. He had been checking on his Instagram account almost every day but it still remained the same. The last photo was from four months ago. Sehun had deleted the photo they took together from two months ago.

Kyungsoo exited the app and clicked on the contacts. It had been exactly two months since he last tried to reach for the younger man. It went straight to a voicemail box that time. Maybe he had better luck this time.

Even worse. The number was not in service anymore. It couldn’t be that he broke his heart that bad. But if he is to define bad, he wouldn’t be able to.

He finally had enough confidence to find Sehun at his house two days after that eventful night. His palms were clammy and cold as he adjusted the collar of his shirt. It was a chilly Sunday after all.

Kyungsoo had his knuckles hanging in the air, barely grazing the cold hardwood standing vertically in front of him. But the door swung open when he was finally going to knock it. However, instead of the person he wanted to meet so badly, it was a confused looking Junmyeon that greeted him. They exchanged ‘hello’ and ‘hey’ awkwardly, thousands of questions running in their head. ‘What is he doing here?’ was the first that flashed in their heads.

“Come on in. I’d appreciate some help here. Though there isn't much to do anymore.” The last part came more like a murmur to himself but Kyungsoo gladly walked in after the other man. He placed his shoes neatly beside Junmyeon’s, only realising the studio was empty after he looked up. The furniture was there, but there was just no life to it anymore. Like… someone had moved out. Sehun had moved out.

“Where is he?” Junmyeon turned his head to look at Kyungsoo who was in the small kitchen. The former was collecting two beer bottles Sehun forgot to throw out as the latter checked inside the fridge. “Who? Oh.” Junmyeon made his way to the kitchen, stopping by a huge garbage bag. “Wait. What’s that?”

Kyungsoo flinched when Junmyeon’s cold fingers grazed the breath of skin exposed under his collar. The younger didn’t pull his hand instead, dragging his nails lower, digging lightly into something that looked like a bite mark. The two bruises bloomed purplish red, contrasting Kyungsoo’s pale skin.

The dark haired man hissed, swatting the nosy hand away as he covered his neck. He totally forgot about that.

“Wait.” It seemed like something clicked in his brain, his jaw falling as he stared incredulously at Kyungsoo. “Are you… behind all these?” Kyungsoo sent him a perplexed look, but realisation slowly dawned on his face. “No. No? No! Of course not. You know what? I don’t know. No, we didn’t fuck or whatever. Almost. But that’s not the problem here. I came to apologise. Where is he?” Kyungsoo pulled on his neat hair frustratedly, dark strands facing random directions once he let go.

Junmyeon sighed. Right, that didn’t matter now. “You really want to know?” He stared warily at the other. Kyungsoo nodded fervently, of course he wanted to know. It was not the time for a rhetoric question. “I don’t know too.” Kyungsoo let out a frustrated grunt. Junmyeon looked serious, he didn’t sound like he was serious.

“Well, great. Thanks.” Kyungsoo ruffled his hair some more, feeling lost.

Junmyeon set the glass of plain water in front of Kyungsoo. He took a seat on the bed as the other leaned his head on the wall with his eyes closed and brows knitted together.

“I didn’t know what happened between the two of you but I’ll let you know it’s not entirely your fault. I’m sure he didn’t move out just because you rejected him.” Kyungsoo opened his eyes, sending a look that screamed ‘how did you know’ at Junmyeon. “We’re friends since we were just fertilised ovum. Plus, knowing you,” Junmyeon paused, snorted as he stared at Kyungsoo’s hand. The latter quickly put his right hand on top of his left one, covering the gleaming gold white ring from view. “You’re just so stupid sometimes, it’s ridiculous. One of the most successful twenty-first-century farmer and businessman, dumb as a rock.”

Kyungsoo stayed silent, keeping the insult to be dealt another time. He indirectly urged Junmyeon to continue. “I don’t even know where to start with you. But for Sehun.” There was a longing look in his eyes as he stared at the ceiling. “I suspected him but he said no. I wanted to believe him so much but knowing him…” Junmyeon sighed, turning his head to look at the wall in front of him. “I probably know the reason why he said no. He didn’t just like you. He fell in love with you, I just don’t know when.”

It struck Kyungsoo like Zeus’ thunderbolt, shaking his core hearing the cursed L word. “Do you know anything about that boy?” Junmyeon’s eyes were so soft, sympathy written all over his face that made Kyungsoo looked away. He curled further into himself. He knew… nothing about the younger. Like the younger didn’t know anything about him.

“ I know him when he was just a lanky kid trying to make ends meet. At least at that time, he didn’t have to worry about putting a roof over his head or filling his stomach with enough food. Focus on earning to help lighten his parents’ burden while finishing his degree. He was the trophy son of a very proud couple. He was.” Junmyeon’s voice broke at the end. Kyungsoo was not anticipating a sob story but he couldn’t make himself to stop the other.

Junmyeon downed the whole glass in one go. “But it went wrong when he was almost at the finishing line. When he was very tight on money. When he was at his lowest.” He remembered when one of his students rang him one morning. “His parents received a call at midnight, telling them their son got into a bar fight. Except that bar was frequented by people their son wasn’t supposed to be seen with. At that moment they realised Sehun had his whole face made up. The virgin twink the other guy was calling is their trophy son. The son they raised with love and showered with money earned from working day and night so he won’t know what is hardship and poverty.”

There was a lone tear on Junmyeon’s cheek as he paused momentarily. Kyungsoo was still listening without interrupting, looking dazed. “He lost his parents and a place to call home that night. For a month, he jumped from one house to another until one of his friends contacted me. He was hesitant at first but Sehun had been skipping classes to work just so he could finish school. That boy refused their help, saying they were also trying hard to survive.”

Kyungsoo didn’t know what it felt like to be Sehun. He was fortunate enough that his parents accepted him for he is. He even got to marry his first love. A guy that left him almost five years ago. College was hard too for him but he managed it without extreme difficulties. He liked what he was doing, enjoyed almost every moment of his life.

“I took him with me, stopping him from fleeing multiple times until he felt comfortable enough to call this place his home. I helped him as much as I could. When I moved out, I rented this place to him. I know he wouldn’t stay here for free. But now he’s gone, I guess I need to find a new tenant.” Junmyeon rose from his place on the bed, leaving Kyungsoo with his thoughts as he went to the kitchen to clean his glass.

Ψ

Kyungsoo put the last frame into the box located in the hallway to his room. He touched the ring on his finger after closing and sealing the box with tape. It would be his final gift to Jongin. He was finally ready for closure. Once and for all.

He went straight to the small cosy house his late husband bought for them in Jeju. The tangerine farm was ten minutes away by foot. He would go there after cleaning the house. There was one photo of them left, located on an accent table in the living room. He looked young there, Jongin too. Young and in love. Before everything went south on their first year together as husbands.

The memory was interrupted by the ringing bell. His most trusted employee had arrived so he put the photo face down on the box he brought from Seoul.

The man from earlier knew him well. Knew Jongin well. He brought a bouquet of sunflower when he came over, the one in Kyungsoo’s arm at the moment as he made his way to the columbarium. The brown box was tucked nicely under his arm.

Kyungsoo arrived at the right place after a few minutes of walk up a flight of stairs. He pushed the glass open, placing the box nicely by the urn. He placed the photo on top of it. The bouquet came after that. Placed strategically so Jongin’s face wouldn’t be covered by the petals.

Now, came the final item. He stared down at his finger. He turned the ring around until their initials were positioned right on top. Thirty seconds passed. If he takes this off, it marks the end of them. Of Kyungsoo and Jongin. Of his first love story. But he assured himself, it was just a chapter. Not the whole book. It was time to let go. He couldn’t afford to hurt another person. He was not that mean.

He finally slid closed the glass door, taking a step back. The only thing left on his finger was the mark left by the ring. The skin tone there was different from the rest of his hand. Kyungsoo said his prayer for the man one last time, fighting the urge to cry. He did that enough back then.

It was not his intention to completely let him go but if he didn’t do this, he’d still be bound with his past. Tangled in messy knots of fates. He was too weak, figuratively, literally, emotionally, mentally. He apologised to Jongin, hoping the latter would understand his decision.

Kyungsoo’s next destination was the farm. It was all orange and green. A few workers were picking the tangerines. He didn’t walk further, stopping by a bench located at a place where he could overlook the farm.

He had this farm when Jongin was still a pretty new addition in his life. Both of them young and energetic and passionate. In love with each other, or so Kyungsoo believed.

Jongin liked Jeju and Kyungsoo always wanted to be a farmer. The latter was scared at first, he might be impulsive but no one beat Jongin at it. He silently thanked the man again for making all of these possible. He wouldn’t know what he would do without him constantly pushing him to his limit so he could overcome it.

Then his memory blurred, changing like scenes in a movie. It was a couple of years later. He proudly called the other his husband. And so did Jongin. But the future is dark, scary. Unpredictable. A secret. They could make a long list of plans for the future but it could turn south overnight.

He remembered the name like it was his. Printed into the back of his head like a constant reminder he should have kept a little doubt, took his time to know someone. Kim Minseok. He came back to Jongin’s life after five years. Without clear intention written on his face, he took the latter from Kyungsoo right under his nose.

Kyungsoo, naive and ignorant. Kyungsoo, dumb as a rock. He let it happened, telling himself it was just him being an understanding partner. They were friends. Or so Minseok claimed. He found out a little too late they were old flames.

The first week was fun for Jongin but Minseok broke his heart again like last time. Even worse this time. That not even Kyungsoo could melt some chocolate to mend it back together like what he did when Jongin first met him. That was when it became toxic. Kyungsoo was nothing more than a caretaker for a living corpse. His in-laws wanted to be mad at him. Heck, Kyungsoo wanted them to yell at him. But they couldn’t. Not even the day he lied coldly on the hospital bed.

Shaking the sad memory from his head, Kyungsoo rose from his seat and ended his day just walking around. Reminiscing the pieces of good times they made on the island.

He received a text when the ball of plasma was slipping from the horizon. The sky was a pretty shade of magenta, red, tangerine… you name it. It looked like an intricate painting, a careful and calculated stroke.

[Hello, sir. I am Lim Joonsik from Lim Realtors. I am sorry for reaching back to you past operation hour. I assure you this is not a normal occurrence. I’ll be at your service anytime you need.]

Ψ

The day had come.

It felt like deja vu. Baekhyun and Junmyeon were in their own world but this time Kyungsoo intentionally made them wait for him. He needed time to gather as much courage as he could to do this. He already gave himself two months but a few more minutes wouldn’t hurt.

The waiter came to the table when Kyungsoo slipped into the seat in front of his friends. The two of them finally noticed his arrival.

Kyungsoo noticed it was the same waiter from months ago. He still looked as bashful as ever. “One Americano for me, please. Thanks, Yixing.” The boy nodded his head as he jotted down the order quickly. His face got even redder when Kyungsoo read the name on his nametag. Baekhyun was perplexed by the sudden act of friendliness but decided not to question it. Long years of friendship taught him to never question Kyungsoo’s mood change.

“It has been a while since we had brunch together. You should hang out with us more often.” Junmyeon said then Baekhyun followed, “yeah. Look at you, look at the wrinkle. Did you lose weight? You made tons of money already, you know.” Kyungsoo just laughed it off. He did raise his fingers to gently touch the side of his eye, feeling the skin there. “I’m fine, guys. I just don’t have any other things to do. Plus, both of you are so happy together I’m afraid I might ruin it.” He said it in teasing tone but the look on his friends’ was unreadable. Maybe offended. Or was it apologetic?

Kyungsoo, sensing the sudden tension cleared his throat. Of course he had to have his daily fill of saying the wrong thing. “It’s almost a year actually. Since the last time, we came here together. We may be lovers now but the three of us are friends way before that.” Baekhyun reached for Kyungsoo’s hand on the table. He gently squeezed it and kept it there when the latter didn’t pull away.

“I know. Stop worrying about me. I’m thirty-three in a few months for God’s sake, I’m a grown up. I’m a big boy.” He gave them an assuring smile. His friends loosened up a bit. They paused when Kyungsoo’s order arrived.

“I can’t stay for long. The thing is, guys…” Kyungsoo looked down. He wanted to take his hand back to his side but the warmth from Baekhyun’s hand was what he needed. Somehow it calmed his frenzied nerves. “I’m moving away. I think it’s time. I needed time. To get my life back under control.”

Shocked was an understatement for both Baekhyun and Junmyeon. “O-oh, really. Where? Can we still hang out?” Baekhyun’s face fell. Kyungsoo had always been the shoulder he leaned on, even after things evolved between him and Junmyeon. “Actually… no.” Baekhyun pulled his hand away, looking crestfallen. Kyungsoo’s heart broke at the way both of them were staring at him.

“I was busy trying to find new owners for my houses. I want to let him go completely now. I’m ready. I know it’s time. And Jongin would understand my intention. He would be proud of me.” The three of them stayed in silent, none of them knew what to say. Kyungsoo’s mouth unconsciously started running freely again. “I felt like… I failed at love. I excelled in most things, I made my parents proud. I met wonderful people like you guys. But I was never given the chance to love properly. Jongin left me. And when someone who was ready to replace him came, I pushed him away.”

Junmyeon broke into a full sobbing mess. “Stop saying that, you dickhead.” Kyungsoo just laughed lightheartedly. “Jongin taught me a lot of things. I should never, never waste my time running after people that had drawn a thick, bold line in neon yellow. Both of us lost our first loves. He lost Minseok and I lost him. But I don’t want to live like him. First love is not something you can find in a textbook. There’s no right or wrong way to deal with it. There is no example to be emulated. I will do it Kyungsoo way.”

Kyungsoo’s phone suddenly lit up, the alarm going off. He rose from his seat, turning to look at his friends for the last time. “I’m sorry again, guys. I have a flight to catch. I hope you understand and know I love both of you so much. I just…” The two of them also rose from their seats, pulling Kyungsoo into a tight group hug. Junmyeon was already crying while Baekhyun patted his back assuringly.

“We love you too, you know. More than you think. You are our precious puppy but our caring mother hen too. Please forgive us for pushing you away. Promise us you’ll visit us often. Come back when you are ready. We’ll always welcome you home.” Baekhyun placed a wet kiss on his cheek, receiving a flick on his forehead in return.

Kyungsoo paid for their meals before they exited the shop together, walking Kyungsoo to the waiting cab right outside. “Please take care, Kyungja. My precious son.” Baekhyun kissed him on his other cheek but he let it slide this time. “Don’t forget to call us often.” Junmyeon smiled sadly. They hugged one last time.

He immediately ordered the driver to move as soon as he got in. He didn’t want them to see him crying.

Ψ

The snow was thick on the sidewalk. Two months passed by without him paying much attention to it. Time is nothing but a dimension to him. Something he couldn’t stop or turn backwards. He would keep living until his time is up. He would want to leave in peach. But not today.

He was walking home after surveying the new location for his upcoming business. ‘Little effort to save our planet,’ he snorted at himself for having that thought. It was cold, biting cold. So different to summer but he was pretty used to it.

Kyungsoo made a turn and soon arrived at a bench by the river. People were minding their business and a foreigner like him no longer attracted eyes. He was just another guy in London, spending his time outside on a sunny winter weekend.

The air bit on his skin whenever it blew and hit his exposed his face. He just contacted his friends back home a few hours ago, it was too soon to contact them again. Plus, the two just got engaged. They were probably doing something he didn’t want to think about. That was their business.

The flowing water was so mesmerising that Kyungsoo automatically tuned out the noise around him. But his ears didn’t filter a familiar voice that came a few feet away. It came from behind his back. He whipped his head around immediately, wiping his glasses before putting them back on to see clearly.

There he was. A tall figure with his eye-catching ginger hair. It was the colour of Kyungsoo’s favourite fruit. The mop of tangerine-coloured hair was neat and just the right length under a blue beanie. Kyungsoo would mistake him for a local any other time if he didn’t notice how fluent and clear the tourist guide’s Korean was. He recognised that face, that voice. That toothy smile that pushed his eyes into crescent shape. That was Sehun. Hundred per cent.

Sehun was tall and definitely stood out in the group of tourists. He looked dashing as ever of course. More mature than the last time Kyungsoo saw him. Most of them were at retirement age, but a few that stayed at the back of the crowd looked pretty young.

Kyungsoo rose, making sure his presence was not noticed by the younger as he blended in the group. An old lady handed him a brochure without questioning his sudden appearance. Kyungsoo stared at it blankly.

“Alex, can we rest for a bit?” Kyungsoo looked up. Alex? He was sure that was Sehun. Who is Alex? Another voice agreed on the suggestion. They decided to find empty benches nearby when Sehun- Alex- the guide agreed.

Sehun was talking to a woman that was in the group. She was probably his colleague because they were talking in a friendly tone with each other. Sehun looked so comfortable with her, a smile never leaving his face. Kyungsoo felt his heart ached at that realisation. Should he turn back now? Before his presence was known. But he shouldn’t make his own conclusion. No.

“Oh Sehun.” He was standing a few feet behind Sehun, neither of the two noticed he was there. “Yes?” The younger man unconsciously reacted to the name. The name he left behind many months ago.

He was not introduced as Oh Sehun here. No one knew he is Oh Sehun. He realised it was too late when he saw confusion written on Ruby’s face, the woman he was talking to a moment ago.

“So it’s you. Oh Sehun. Sehun.” Kyungsoo kept tasting the name on his tongue. It felt familiar and alien at the same time. The smile on the younger’s face dropped as soon as he saw the person who called him by his birth name.

“Kyungsoo hyung.” The man smiled solemnly when he heard his name being called.

Ψ

It seemed like a huge invisible hand had thrown a blanket on the sky. It was dark but the stars stayed by the moon side like the loyal company they are.

Kyungsoo was already a little lightheaded when Sehun came to the place they agreed to meet at after their meeting that afternoon. Sehun looked tired, but Kyungsoo didn’t want to waste any time, or he might lose Sehun again.

They sat side-by-side silently at the bar, tipping back their respective drinks. Kyungsoo ordered plain water next so he could talk properly with Sehun. He missed talking to his friend. Can he still consider him as a friend?

“How are you, Sehun-ah?” Kyungsoo tried to hold in the hiccup but it still forced its way out, he accidentally dropped the glass on the table. Sehun flinched but immediately tried to get his expression under control. “Good. As you can see. Life has been well since I moved here.” Kyungsoo nodded in acknowledgement. It hurt his pride a little but that was good news. Sehun was not badly affected by him.

“Why are you here by the way? How did you-” Sehun cut him off, “how did I afford this? I got a scholarship but work at a travel agency when I’m free. Don’t worry though. It was not because of you. I had been waiting for this moment for a year already.” Kyungsoo knew it was partially a lie from his suddenly changing tone but didn’t want to push on the subject. Not yet. Yet he still felt more pain pricking his heart. Then he remembered Junmyeon’s words. Sehun was a bright student. That somehow made him felt so proud.

“How about you, hyung? You look-” It was Kyungsoo’s turn to cut off. He smiled thankfully at Sehun’s effort to appear more friendly. “Older? I know. My thirty-third birthday is next month anyway. But it’s too much hassle to get a Botox.” He laughed lightheartedly, though Sehun seemed hesitant to join in despite how amusing it was.

“I’m fine. I guess, for the most part.” There was longing in his eyes that Sehun caught. It stayed there. “I wanted to have a fresh start. I had been pining for someone that had left my side half a decade ago. Stupid, right? So much could happen in five years, but I let it past just like that. As if I know how many times I have. When I already witnessed someone so young and had so much more to give leave me forever.” The laugh came out hysterically, Sehun had concern written on his rather stoic face. He understood each word perfectly. Kyungsoo is a widower.

Kyungsoo took a long deep breath. “But somehow, in a way, I’m glad I did that. Because I got to meet you.”

They kept talking until it was late and Kyungsoo had too much to drink. The atmosphere was nice but the older couldn’t hold his drink any longer. He was whining about how drunk he felt at the moment.

Sehun gave him a piggyback ride to his studio apartment. Kyungsoo couldn’t even get out properly from the cab, he wasn’t sure if the man could climb the stairs without falling or hurting himself. The younger had to lean forward, putting his head on the door as he tried to unlock the door with a babbling drunk on his back.

He finally found the right key, but the way Kyungsoo suddenly hugged him tighter made him dropped the bundle on the floor. Crouching down would be too much for his knee, so he put the older down by the door before picking up the key.

“Don’t leave me. It’s cold.” Kyungsoo lolled his head to one side until he saw Sehun in his blurry vision. He immediately pulled the latter by his sleeve until he crashed on top of him. “Hyung- wait, hyung. Let go. We need to go inside.” Kyungsoo was adamant on burying his face on Sehun’s chest and not letting go. The latter tried to break free from the hug again to no avail. “Stay.” Sehun had no other choice but to hoist the man up into his arms after he whispered into his ear.

“Goodness. I’m going to need more weight training after this.” Sehun had his legs wide apart with Kyungsoo hanging like a koala on his body. Unlocking the door was never difficult, not when he had additional weight on the upper part of his body.

Sehun hastily took off his shoes by stepping on the collars once they were inside as his arms already started shaking from carrying a grown-up man in his arms. He made a beeline to the bed on the other end of the studio, gently putting Kyungsoo down on his bed.

He was taking off the man’s shoes and socks when he started babbling again. “Where are you?” Sehun looked up, making sure Kyungsoo didn’t fall from the bed as he tried to sit up. “Here, don’t worry. I’m not going anywhere.” He dashed to the door again to put Kyungsoo’s shoes away and made sure to come back before the latter started getting worried.

Kyungsoo had already thrown his jacket and shirt haphazardly on the floor by the bed, leaving him with only in a maroon turtleneck when Sehun finally made it back to the bed. He was staring at Sehun with an unreadable gaze that made the latter felt small when in reality he was a good five inches taller than the older man.

After a moment of silence, Sehun finally collected his guts to mutter something that hopefully would break the man’s tantalising gaze on him, “I’ll take the couch.” It was obvious in the way he delayed his move that he was waiting for the man to react. Kyungsoo didn’t disappoint. He scooted until he reached the foot of the bed as gracefully as his hazy mind could make him.

“You said you’re not going anywhere.” The way he looked at Sehun’s hand before carefully taking it into his made the latter’s heart jumped. He felt lightheaded by the smallest touch. “I’m not.” Sehun slowly put one knee beside Kyungsoo’s thigh, bowing his head as not to break their eye contact. “You do.” Kyungsoo used his other hand that was free to caress Sehun’s tired eye lightly. “Well, I’m here.” Sehun closed his eyes and touched the hand on his face. He was fully seated on the older’s lap by then.

“We probably should go to sleep.” He led the hand away from his face as he slowly opened his eyes again. “I want a kiss.” Kyungsoo was already leaning in when the request slipped from his mouth. “Later. You’re drunk.” The younger man put one foot on the floor, but Kyungsoo was uncompromising. “Not drunk enough.” He tugged on Sehun’s hand until they fell on the bed.

“I don’t want-” Kyungsoo cut him off by kissing Sehun on his small and trembling lips. They didn’t move, had no intention to. “I’m not going away. I’m going to remember this.” The older man cradled Sehun’s face as the latter twirled his finger on the dark strand of hair. “So, please…” Kyungsoo raised his head off the bed, waiting for Sehun to meet him in the middle.

The kiss was slow yet demanding. Sehun leaned closer, trying to erase any space even when there was none. Kyungsoo finally got to rest his head on the soft bed, though it didn’t even occupy the smallest part of his brain. He was too contented by the contact, finally being able to touch Oh Sehun again. The boy who got his heart broken by him. But he also wanted to be the one that will mend it.

On another day, a perfectly normal day where Kyungsoo was the painful bit of his memory, Sehun would be terribly overwhelmed by the smell of alcohol. He was never a fan of alcohol, despite how he had to rely on it from time to time. But Kyungsoo was more than just a memory now. He was real.

Sehun was the first one to pull away. He didn’t want to but he wanted to make sure this was not part of his illusion. Or part of his dream, Kyungsoo always visited him in his sleep.

“Kyungsoo…” Said man was unbuttoning the first two buttons of Sehun’s shirt. He hummed as a reply. “You’re here.” Kyungsoo stopped his fingers, then he placed a chaste kiss on the corner of the younger’s lips. He did not say another word but Sehun caught the meaning. I’m here. He’s real.

The younger man shivered when Kyungsoo finally planted his palms on his naked chest. “So beautiful. So real,” Kyungsoo reminded, all the while warming his hand on Sehun’s heated body. “Kiss me.” Sehun complied without resistant this time. Plus, Kyungsoo’s lips looked even better when they were puffy and red and wet with saliva.

Kyungsoo nudged his nose with Sehun’s when they changed their heads position. “Clothes.” It was short and simple but clear for Sehun. The younger kept his mouth on Kyungsoo’s, tongues intertwined, saliva dripping to the latter’s chin as he slid his hands under the hem of Kyungsoo’s turtleneck.

He was hot. Burning hot with desire. Sehun liked it that way. He teasingly traced the hard lines on Kyungsoo’s abdomen with his thumbs. They weren’t perfect or intricately carved like his, but he knew Kyungsoo is buff. Strong, sturdy like the chest that was still covered with the brownish-red material.

“F-uck.” Kyungsoo accidentally pulled away, arching his neck when Sehun’s thumbs grazed his nipples. “So sensitive,” Sehun whispered into his ear. Then the younger moved his lips lower. He pulled the collar down using his teeth, just enough to expose the skin waiting to be marked. Kyungsoo let out something resembling a whine when his left thumb and forefinger twirled the pebbled tissue.

“Sehun… take it off.” Kyungsoo took a hold of his right wrist, the younger finally pulled away from his neck after making sure the skin bloomed crimson. His shirt joined the pile on the floor after he discarded the sweater.

The tall man halted his movement when his eyes caught something… different. Kyungsoo took a while to notice the change, too high on oxytocin.

Kyungsoo raised his body, resting his weight on his arms, eyes following Sehun’s gaze. “Touch it.” A small smile appeared on his face when Sehun followed his words like an enchanted man. He looked young and naive, ironically, when the tip of his fingers grazed the ink engraved under Kyungsoo’s skin. “Narcissus. Daffodils,” he mumbled more to himself but Kyungsoo still gave him an affirmative response.

The number of petals was random on both sides of his pelvis. The stems were thin and almost connected in the middle. “Daffodils,” Kyungsoo repeated Sehun’s word. The latter brought his finger higher. He pressed his palm lightly on Kyungsoo’s semi-hard belly. The black ink was connected until it made a laurel wreath, circling the man’s belly button. Sehun pressed his thumb, massaging the area. Kyungsoo was taken by surprise when the other suddenly ducked his head to place a kiss on his final tattoo, the swallows. They were small and heading upwards. Sehun followed until he reached right under the sternum. Kyungsoo’s breath hitched when he suddenly sucked and nibbled the skin there.

“God.” Kyungsoo tugged on the hair on the younger’s neck, making him faced him. “Sehun, say my name.” Kyungsoo did just as he said.

They didn’t rush. Kyungsoo slipped the pants off of his legs while Sehun retrieved a lube from his nightstand. “I don’t have-” Sehun stammered, shutting his mouth when Kyungsoo sent him a look.

‘Calm down, Sehun. Calm down.’ Sehun blushed even harder when he moved to hover over Kyungsoo again. They were in similar condition, not a thread on their bodies. Kyungsoo took one of the younger’s hands, the other squirting some lube into the welcoming palm. The bottle was tossed randomly on the bed.

“Stay with me,” Kyungsoo muttered, trying to catch Sehun’s attention as he spread the lubricant on the younger’s long digits. “You have pretty hands, nice fingers.” The words were conveyed when he led the fingers to his perineum. Both of them shivered for different reasons.

Sehun experimentally rubbed on the puckered skin, Kyungsoo’s hand only leaving his wrist when confidence finally surfaced on his features. “Go on.” He sounded ready, but he involuntarily hissed when Sehun finally penetrated his finger. It had been a while. A very long while, he reminded himself.

“More.” Sehun moved his thumb slowly, the other four fingers caressing Kyungsoo’s balls. “Sehun…” It came out like a warning so Sehun pulled out his thumb and let his index invaded the older’s wall. It reached deeper and ignited a louder reaction. The younger man rested on his clean hand on Kyungsoo’s stomach and started rubbing the area lightly at the same time his middle finger joined the other one.

“You better be quick. I-I feel… feel like passing out.” Kyungsoo moaned louder when Sehun crooked his fingers, moving them up and down inside him, stretching his wall. Kyungsoo dropped his head frustratedly on the pillow when Sehun finally moved his fingers in scissoring motion, stretching his rim.

“I don’t want to hurt you.” The older totally got where that came from. Baekhyun had once straightforwardly expressed admiration for his manhood, but Sehun was not lacking at all. He was thick and just the right size. Just staring at the angry, red head slapping his hard abdomen made Kyungsoo released another stream of precum.

Sehun moved faster when four fingers were in, his penis was aching so much it was bordering painful. He feared they might fall off if he delayed it for another minute.

The real thing definitely hurt, the stretch always took a while to turn pleasurable. Kyungsoo intertwined their fingers and tightened his hold while Sehun kissed him everywhere. “Shh…” Sehun moved slowly until he was buried to the hilt, waiting for Kyungsoo to catch his breath. “Move.”

It was all he needed to start moving his hips. Sehun kissed Kyungsoo on the lips again, readily opened his mouth when he felt wet muscle prodding his swollen lips. Kyungsoo didn’t stop moaning and whining, the stretch felt perfect, and the way Sehun’s neatly trimmed pubic hair rubbing on his skin just heightened the sensation.

Sehun let Kyungsoo explored his mouth while he moved at a controlled pace. He didn’t want to come too soon although he already felt his muscles tightening. Sehun pulled away from the kiss and buried his face on Kyungsoo’s shoulder. The next thing he whispered almost got Kyungsoo’s heart stop and drop. “I love you.”

The younger pulled himself up, planting his hand beside Kyungsoo’s head, looking down to avoid Kyungsoo’s eyes. He knew Kyungsoo wouldn’t say anything but he needed to get it out. He was close. He quickened his pace and was about to pull out, but Kyungsoo suddenly clenched his wall, coming in streaks. The moment Sehun started filling him up, Kyungsoo’s orgasm intensified he almost screamed.

“Fuck… fuck.” Kyungsoo closed his eyes with his arms after squeezing the last bit of cum, hole gaping and leaking when Sehun pulled out. The latter fell to the empty space beside him, back turned to him. He rose from the bed after a few minutes, coming back with a wet towel moments later.

Kyungsoo was very close to dozing off he barely felt the warm fabric touching his chest. By the time Sehun finished cleaning up and throwing the towel in the hamper, Kyungsoo was already snoring lowly.

Sehun tucked himself in the bed right beside Kyungsoo. He moved the older into his arms since the bed barely fit the two of them. “I love you,” he confessed again.

Ψ

Sehun woke up when the clock on the opposite wall read 7:30 in the morning. His arm fell asleep, and only then he realised someone was in bed with him. He looked down and saw a familiar button nose smushed against his chest.

The memory from last night rushed into his head like angry bees. He felt pounding in his skull and grunted, waking the older man up.

“Are you alright?” He asked in an even deeper voice, blinking worriedly at him. Sehun threw his other arm over the man, pulling him tight against him. He sniffed on his hair. There was a faint scent of tangerine. “M’fine.”

They stayed like that for a while until Kyungsoo wiggled to break free. The man moved higher and rested his head on the pillow to level his eyes with Sehun.

“About last night-” He was immediately cut off by Sehun, “are you regretting it?” Kyungsoo looked dumbfounded, to say the least. “What?” The gears in his skull creaked as he tried to wash the sleep away and process the younger’s question. “No! Sehun, listen to me.” He winced when the hangover suddenly kicked in.

Sehun patiently waited for the man to continue, not moving his eyes away from the weary face. “I- I don’t love you-” Panic crossed Sehun’s face but Kyungsoo’s eyes were serious and giving him a warning. He tried to calm down. “Yet.” Kyungsoo put emphasis on the word. He needed to get used to Sehun’s paranoia.

Kyungsoo sighed, putting his hand on Sehun’s cheek. The younger started blushing when Kyungsoo started caressing his face gently with such endearment in his eyes. “But I like you. I don’t know when but I sure know I do. I was looking for you for months without knowing why.”

Sehun gently touched the hand on his face. “You’re my first…” Kyungsoo raised his eyebrows teasingly that made Sehun avoided his eyes bashfully.

“I could see that,” he said teasingly. Sehun hit his arm, a whine slipped from his mouth. “Not just that… I never experienced any of this with anyone.” Kyungsoo caught exactly what the younger was hinting. His heart hurt, even more, knowing how similar yet different they are. “I couldn’t force my feeling, I’m still trying to start a new chapter. But I know I want you to be part of it. I’m ready to start it with you. I like you, Sehun. More than just a friend.” He tilted Sehun’s chin until the man looked him in the eye. “Look at me when I say it, Sehun. I like you. I like you and I want us to be more than who we were back then or a few hours ago. I hope you can give me time.”

Time. Sehun repeated the word in his head. He could try. “Okay. Okay.” The second one sounded more confident and made Kyungsoo’s face beamed. The older ruffled Sehun’s hair, messing his bed head that he looked like he just got electrocuted. “There, my favourite tangerine.”

Sehun didn’t regret bleaching his hair and going ginger. It seemed like he found out Kyungsoo’s favourite fruit.

Ψ

Kyungsoo returned a full year later. He made sure he didn’t stay at the hotel booked by his two best friends as to not ruin his surprise. Or surprises. He prepared a lot.

He arrived late and almost couldn’t get in if not for the man running after him with the invitation in his hand. The hotel worker nodded his head and let both of them in.

Baekhyun was the first to notice Kyungsoo, eyes the size of the quarter. Junmyeon wrapped his gloved hand over his husband’s before the champagne flute slipped from between his fingers. Baekhyun nudged his side, mouth pointing the entrance where two familiar men in matching outfits were at. Junmyeon squinted his eyes the moment Sehun finally spotted the grooms.

The tall, young man pointed excitedly to his left, pulling Kyungsoo with him.

“You came! Fucking asshole.” Junmyeon blinked back his tear as he punched Kyungsoo’s arm. The latter had been out of the radar for the whole week but here he was. “You too! Where have you been? How could you leave like that?” Junmyeon finally broke down when he turned to the man clad in black suit and turtleneck. Baekhyun wrapped his hand around his husband, patting his arm to calm him down.

“Who said you can grow your hair?” Junmyeon finally calmed down after Kyungsoo handed him a napkin. He tugged on the black hair falling over Sehun’s face, making the younger winced. “Hyung.” He raised his hand to rub on his scalp when something clicked in Baekhyun’s head as soon as he saw the bracelet shaped like a nail on Sehun’s wrist.

“Wait. Are you two a thing now?” Junmyeon stopped wiping his eyes whilst Kyungsoo shrugged nonchalantly. “Still human. Just older. Right?” He nudged at Sehun who was pouting, but he still nodded his head in agreement. “Engaged?” Junmyeon pulled Kyungsoo’s hand to his face, revealing a matching bracelet under his sleeve.

Panic crossed the couple’s face. “What? No!” Sehun denied quickly. “Not yet, at least,” Kyungsoo added. The grooms nodded their head, face filled with suspicion. “We got a lot of catching up to do.” Baekhyun teasingly squinted his eyes.

The grooms finally left the two after five minutes of teasing and ranting. Sehun lowered his head to whisper directly into his boyfriend’s ear, “not yet?” Kyungsoo pulled his hand out of his pocket, taking a hold on the taller’s hand. “Soon,” he replied teasingly, enjoying the surprise on Sehun’s face.

The greatest happiness of life is the conviction that we are loved; loved for ourselves, or rather, loved in spite of ourselves. -Victor Hugo

[newssplashy]

PDP: One week, many headaches

Ndubuisi Orji,  Abuja

There are periods in the life of an individual,  group or nation that come with so much headaches. For Nigeria’s major opposition party, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), the last week of March was one of such weeks.  From a blistering attack by the All Progressives Congress (APC) controlled Federal Government to a blow below the belt by its own member, the week gave the opposition party so much to chew.

In a move akin to taking the fight straight to the enemy, the government launched a big onslaught against the PDP, accusing its members of looting the nation’s treasury dry.  While the PDP was still trying to contend with the allegations, one of its leaders and former deputy Senate President, Ibrahim Mantu, gave the party a blow below the belt, as he confessed to rigging elections for the party in the past.

The week before, the PDP had offered an apology to Nigerians on what it considered its mistakes in the 16 years it governed the country.  In tendering the public apology at an event in Abuja the national chairman of the party, Prince Uche Secondus said: “in the past, there were impunity and imposition; we are not spirit. We have to be humble to apologise for imposition, impunity and other wrong doing. While in government, there was no nepotism, but today nepotism has been taken to the highest level by this government of APC.

“We have to stand before the people and apologise. We made mistakes. Unlike APC that will lie and use another lie to cover it, we will apologise to Nigerians for our past mistakes. We are human that are bound to make mistakes. How long are we going to lie to our children?”

FG’s alleged looters list

However, the PDP was still savouring whatever political capital it may have gained from its public apology, when the federal government launched an onslaught against it.  Speaking at a press briefing in Lagos, the Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed released what he titled a list of “looters.” Top on the list, which consists only of PDP top shots was Secondus, who the government accused of allegedly receiving N200 million from the former National Security Adviser,  Col.  Sambo Dasuki (retd), former PDP National Publicity Secretary, Chief Olisa Metuh,  Chief Raymond Dokpesi among others. The PDP chairman has however given the government a 48-hour ultimatum to withdraw the statement and offer an apology to him or risk a libel suit.

 The government was to release a second batch few days later. Like the first batch, the second batch contained the names of PDP chieftains, who allegedly collected money from the Office of the NSA.

The Information and Culture Minister said the apology by the opposition party to Nigerians would not be complete unless, it returns the funds allegedly looted by its members from the public treasury.

“Well, I am sure they know that the treasury was looted dry under their watch. Yet they decided to grandstand. This shows the hollowness of their apology to Nigerians.  This list is just a tip of the iceberg, and the PDP is aware of this. We did not make these cases up. Many of these cases are in court and the records are available.

“Some of the people on this list are seeking to plea bargain, and that is a fact. We insist that Nigeria was looted blind under the watch of the PDP, and that the starting point in tendering an apology is for them to return the loot.

“It’s like a robber admitting to stealing your car and apologising, but then saying he will keep the car anyway. It doesn’t work that way. The PDP is a hypocrite,” Mohammed said.

However, the PDP National Publicity Secretary, Kola Ologbondiyan said the government was merely trying to divert attention from its own failures and scandals.  The PDP spokesman may be right. 

 In recent time, the opposition party has put the government and APC on the spot, as it highlights the failures and gaffes of the ruling party and its government.

Ologbondiyan told Daily Sun that there is nothing new on the list as some of those on the list are accused persons standing trials before various courts. “Nigerians are already aware of all these allegations concerning these individuals.  Some of them are in court.  No singular conviction has been secured. “

He challenged the Minister to tell Nigerians how the 2015 presidential campaign of President Muhammadu Buhari was funded.

 Ologbondiyan said:”Lai Mohammed is being dodgy.  He should respond to how Buhari’s election was funded.  He should address issues and stop being dodgy.  We are asking question about the election of President Buhari, how did they raise the money to fund the campaign? What Nigerians are asking is how the 2015 election of Mr. Integrity Buhari was sponsored.  That is all we are asking.  That is all we request for.  They should tell us how the 2015 election campaign of President Buhari was funded. He should respond to that question.  He is being dodgy. “

For Metuh, who is currently standing trial for alleged corruption, the sole objective of the government in coming up with the “looters’ list”  is to ���ensure that the PDP is tainted before the (2019) election.”

Cambridge Analytica probe

Few days later, the government put the PDP on the defensive again as indications emerged that the government has instituted a probe into the role of the opposition party in the alleged hacking of the personal email of President Buhari prior to the 2015 general elections.

Cambridge Analytica, a data mining firm, had reportedly hacked into the data of about 50 million Facebook users, with the aim of swaying election results. Among those whose account was hacked prior to the 2015 presidential election was Buhari, who was candidate of the then opposition APC.

The Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Publicity,  Mallam Garba Shehu, said Nigerians deserved answers immediately from the PDP administration, Facebook and Cambridge Analytica on how and why they improperly obtained and used data to interfere in Nigerian elections.

Regardless,  Ologbondiyan said the opposition party has nothing to fear about the probe, noting that  it is public knowledge that neither it nor any of its officials or members were ever linked or indicted in the hacking saga.

According to him, the probe is just a way of implicating PDP in the Cambridge Analytica hacking saga and diverts attention from the many scandals buffeting the government.

“It is also public knowledge that the document being relied upon by the APC clinically stated that there is no suggestion that ‘Jonathan knew of the covert operation.’ We are therefore aware that this new agenda is to divert public attention from the various scandalous allegations hanging on the neck of the Buhari presidency, including the use of looted funds to finance his 2015 Presidential election, the Martin Luther King’s award saga, the damaging Bill Gates’ verdict on the Buhari’s economic policies as well as the numerous financial scandals in the NNPC under his watch.

“This inquest should therefore be completely open and independent of government control, so that Nigerians will know the truth, not only on the Cambridge Analytica saga, but also on the source of funds for the President’s 2015 campaign and other sleaze under his watch,” the opposition spokesman stated.

He added that “The All Progressives Congress (APC) and the Federal Government are chasing shadows in their desperate plot to implicate the opposition” in the alleged hacking into the personal record of Buhari, prior to the 2015 polls.

Mantu’s confession

Mantu shocked the entire country last Friday, when he confessed on a national television that in the past, he had induced electoral and security officials to rig election for the PDP.

Hear him: “I don’t have to go and change election (results) but when you provide money, you give money to INEC boys that if they see any chance they should favour you, you provide money to the security (personnel); I tell you it’s not necessarily when I am contesting election but when my party sponsors a candidate, I will like that candidate to win election.”

Mantu’s confession was seen by many as a home goal.  It was like arming the enemy with a gun to kill oneself. Expectedly, the APC latched on to the confession to taunt the opposition party.

 In a statement by its National Publicity Secretary, Mallam Bolaji Abdullahi, the ruling party urged the PDP to emulate Mantu and confess its other sins to the country.

“Instead of taking this path to redemption, PDP has engaged in fruitless ‘you too’ accusations and name calling. This is further evidence that PDP is not ready for repentance and only offered the apology with the hope that Nigerians will grant them amnesty and a short-cut back to power.

“However, now that Senator Mantu has bell the cat, by confessing to how he has helped the PDP to rig elections in the past, we hope that PDP will follow the bold example of the former lawmaker and confess to their other sins against Nigeria,” the APC stated.

However, the PDP said it is misplaced for the ruling party or any other person to conclude that the former deputy senate president acted on its behalf. The party spokesman said if anything, Mantu only spoke about personal tendencies, stating that since its formation in 1998, it has never directed any of its members to rig elections on its behalf.

“Senator Mantu spoke about his personal activities and tendencies in the elections where he participated. The PDP has never directed or had any pact with him to rig election on its behalf. Never! After all, in 2007, Senator Mantu lost his own senatorial election. What, then, happened to his rigging machinery, if he could not deliver himself,” it queried.

Analysts say as much as the PDP would want to wish away the effects of Mantu’s confession on its reputation, it will remain a huge blow to the efforts of the opposition party to strike a new deal with Nigerians.   Apart from defending itself, the task before the PDP leadership, is to prove to Nigerians that the allegations, whether true or not, belong to the past.

The post PDP: One week, many headaches appeared first on The Sun News.

source https://www.newssplashy.com/2018/04/pdp-one-weekmany-headaches.html