#in this episode of: dara should write a drabble but fails

[softhaos]

MODERN FAIRYTALE – MINGYU

pairing – kim mingyu x reader genre – fluff warning – none word count – 1,191 words

drabbles loosely based on fairytales & the one where he helps you with everything aka rumpelstiltskin but without the deals and screaming instead

part of the modern fairytale series

There is more to Mingyu that meets the eye. He always comes in to save the day, be it intentionally or not. He knows how to fix any given problem and demands nothing in return. He gives and gives but never takes.

It’s a guessing game when it comes to Mingyu. He is a mystery: not easy to crack open but dying to be solved.

Whenever you were struggling – be it an art project that was due in less than 24 hours or a simple question to statistics – he would always be there at the right time to help you out. You didn’t even have to ask him; the despairing look on your face seemed to be enough for him to know that you were in trouble. And if he wasn’t coincidentally near your presence, he was simply one call away from you.

As time goes by, your appreciation and gratitude slowly turned into an ever-growing soft spot towards him. After all, only Mingyu would get on his bike and cycle through the entire city at one in the morning to help you with your problems. Only Mingyu would sometimes bring his own food because he knows that you sometimes forget to feed yourself. Only Mingyu would frantically text you a mix of keyboard smashes and emojis while he asks you for the tenth time if he needs to come over.

The fact that you two were soon glued to each other was bound to happen sooner or later. Over the span of the few months knowing him, your fondness towards him has grown to the height of mountains. That fondness may have developed into something more than just platonic feelings and you are painfully aware of that.

It doesn’t help that he moved next door not too long ago and is now literally just a window away from you. It doesn’t help that your bedroom window faces his bedroom window. And it certainly doesn’t help that Mingyu knows that too and sticks a new note on his window every day for you to read.

Mingyu gives and gives and never takes, or so he thinks. Whether he knows it or not, he’s taken your heart.

At a certain point, you can no longer bear it. You keep telling yourself to take back the feelings he's stolen from you. But every time you want to do it, it backfires. It always does.

Blame Mingyu. He gives and gives and never takes. That’s exactly what bothers you. He does this thing where he seemingly opens up and has no secrets about himself. But the more you think about, the more you realize that you barely know him.

When it comes to Mingyu, he tells tales about his achievements and leaves out the tragedies. His strategy seems to work because everyone who talks to and about him doesn’t bother to dig deeper about more serious topics.

You admit he also had you wrapped around his finger. Now, you’re dying to figure him out.

(Maybe that’s a little bit exaggerated. You’re just trying to get by without him. Unraveling him is the decision of your subconscious.)

The signs are subtle at first.

You try to complete your tasks without his help and whenever you do need assistance, you ask Wonwoo. It doesn't take long for Mingyu to figure out that you're purposefully avoiding him. When he finally catches you red-handed with Wonwoo, he’s confused, to say the least. There are times where he’s asked if he did anything wrong. Of course, he has never done anything that hurt you, but you figure you should stop relying on him so much.

Nobody can deny that Mingyu is very oblivious. But if he tries hard enough and depending on his drive to solve it, he can pick up the pieces extremely fast.  Aside from that, he’s not one to confront someone and lets time solve all problems.

Naturally, you’re taken aback when he pulls you into his abode even though you just stopped by to give him leftover cupcakes for the fifth time this week.

“You’re acting weird. What’s up?” he asks with an unnaturally strained tone.

Confused by the entire scene, you start slowly, “Uh, I made too many cupcakes and–”

“No, what’s up?”

This time, you’re the one who has irritation written on the face. When you don’t speak another word, Mingyu paces around frantically.

“I must have done something wrong for you to act like this. I mean, you and Wonwoo? Nothing against him, but you asked him about calculus even though he’s worse than you in that field? And then you come by and give me food for no apparent reason? You could be keeping yourself alive with just sugar for the past week and I don’t know what to do because you’re avoiding me!”

“Why should I be avoiding you? I literally came by five times this week to drop this off!” you snort and point at the box of sweets on the table.

“You tell me! You’re refusing my help! Hell, you don’t even look at the notes I stick on my window for weeks now!”

You don’t know how you ended up in screaming at each other like a bickering couple. All you know is that neither of you was rational anymore and neither nobody wanted to swallow their pride and give in first.

“Newsflash Mingyu: I am not a baby! I don’t need your help every hour of the day and I certainly don’t need you dictating me! I’m just trying to repay you for everything you’ve done. Is it really that wrong?”

“Obviously I have a problem with it because I barely have an excuse to spend time with you anymore!”

“Don’t go ahead and think you’re the only one suffering. If I had let you pamper me to no end with no strings attached I would’ve been so much in love with you I wouldn’t be able to get out of it anymore!”

The room becomes exceptionally silent as soon as the words leave your lips. You’re just as speechless as Mingyu, both of you trying to process everything.

He’s the first to recover from the information dump and threads lightly with a soft and fragile voice. “You really meant that?”

You gulp. “Y-yeah and I’d really appreciate it if we just forgot this. If you excuse me, this situation never escalated and I think it’s time for me to go home–”

You’re about to grab for the door handle, but before you manage to get out, a hand tightly grips your wrist and forces you to crash against his chest. Gentle, calloused fingers lift up your chin and at that moment, you swear you could see the stars in his eyes and melt.

“God, you have no idea how long I’ve hoped for you to say that.” His voice is barely a mutter but you pick up each and every word before he leans down and his lips meet yours.

In a way, you’re one step closer to figuring him out. A change has already happened.

Mingyu gives and gives and finally takes.