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armpirate · 3 days ago

Text

Borrowed Skin || JJK

pairing: JK x fem!reader || Obsessive love, Impersonation

w.c.: 6.3k

Warnings: smut, dirty talk, oral sex (female receiving), protected sex, teasing (Minors DNI! Refrain from reading if you're not +18, and ignore if you don't like this type of content)

Aprox. time of reading: 28 minutes

Summary: Something felt different about your boyfriend, Junghoon, after not seeing each other for four days, though you couldn't quite put your finger on it. Familiar gestures felt slightly foreign, shared memories were met with hesitation, and the faintest shadows of someone else lingered in his eyes. What you didn't know was that Jungkook, his twin brother, had killed your boyfriend to take his place. Hungry for a life he could never have any other way, he came up with a plan in order to claim the love he had always desired.

MASTERLIST

It was late evening, and your phone buzzed with a message from Junghoon, your boyfriend. You met a few years ago. It was like the first scene of the couple in a romantic movie, with your hands brushing momentarily as you both went to pick up the same thing in the supermarket. You could almost say it was instant, just one look and a bit of conversation, and you both knew neither wanted to move away from each other.

Everything was perfect, except for his brother, Jungkook. They were almost identical, except for the tattoos on Junghoon's arm that covered his full sleeve, which his brother didn't have. Same with their piercings. Jungkook only had a few on his ears, while Junghoon also had two on his lips.

The differences weren't only physical:

Junghoon was always the responsible one, the kind of person who double-checked plans and took pride in being dependable. He had a steady, grounded energy that made you feel safe. You loved that about him. He was attentive, but not overly sentimental, he showed his care through actions, not words. Although, lately, that side of him was also fading.

Jungkook, on the other hand, was the complete opposite. He thrived on chaos, living in the moment without thinking of consequences. He'd always been a wildcard, the kind of guy who could light up a room but also burn it down. And the kind of guy who would constantly get Junghoon in trouble constantly when they were still close.

You remembered the tension between them vividly: Junghoon often vented about Jungkook's reckless choices, saying things like, "He thinks life's a game, but it's not. One day, he's going to go too far." Jungkook would retaliate with sarcastic remarks, mocking Junghoon for being too uptight.

Their arguments weren't just sibling spats, they were deep, filled with years of unresolved jealousy and blame. It made it easy for you to tell them apart, not just in personality but even in how they carried themselves. Junghoon's calm demeanor was worlds away from Jungkook's restless energy, which always ended up with your boyfriend also being dragged in whatever problem he was in.

You sighed when reading your boyfriend's text. He had been away all weekend, he actually canceled plans with you at the last minute on Friday, which you simply shrugged off, because it wasn't the first time it happened. He always had a last minute conference for his book, a last minute presentation or interview he couldn't place.

Junghoon: What are you doing?

Y/n: I'm coming back home... Where are you?

Junghoon: I went to the gym

Y/n: You? To the gym? You hate it...

Junghoon: Yup. Thought it'd be time to give it a chance

You simply rolled your eyes, leaving your small bag at the passenger's side of your car, your lip trapped under your teeth as you looked at the screen.

Junghoon: Do you want to do something now?

Y/n: Like what?

Junghoon: Prepare some blankets and some snacks, we're cuddling until dinner time.

You were confused, but you weren't going to oppose him. You actually liked the idea of doing something together after so long.

Junghoon: I'm on my way

Y/n: Okay. I'm shopping, but I'll be there in 10. Use your keys if early

Jungkook smiled at the text looking back at him, his smirk widening at the idea of seeing you after so long, for the first time in Junghoon's skin. He had always seen you from afar, always hooked on his brother's arm, but that night things would be different.

Even if it took him erasing Junghoon from the equation and taking his place, Jungkook would be finally able to be right where he belonged: right next to you.

His heartbeat kept beating faster as he approached your building... And a question popped up: would you be able to tell he wasn't Junghoon? Or would he be able to play your boyfriend so well that you wouldn't notice?

After he parked the motorbike, he played with the keys in his hand, the item tingling in his fingers as he looked at the mailbox to confirm which one was your door.

The house was a reflection of you: warm and orderly, with small imperfections that spoke of a life lived rather than curated. He exhaled slowly, steadying the tremor in his fingers. That wasn't the first step; that had been weeks ago. But this was the moment he crossed the line, fully stepping into Junghoon's life. Into your life. Officially adopting an identity and a personality that didn't belong to him only so he'd be able to be with you.

"Love?" his voice sounded a bit deeper than usual when calling for you.

After not hearing from you after a few seconds, he assumed you didn't arrive yet and closed the door behind him. His helmet rested on the backrest of your couch as he planned on walking around. You didn't have many details in the living room, but it was obvious on the small frames placed on the shelves on both sides of your TV that you liked to make it known that house was yours. Guilt and worry held onto his chest as his eyes fell on a picture you had with Junghoon, then to a new one.

And he wondered... was he going to be able to play the perfect boyfriend his brother always was?

Before he could think any deeply about it, the door clicked behind him, and he suddenly turned to see you. Your small frame was bent more towards one side than the other, because the weight of the bags you were carrying in one hand was too heavy.

Jungkook walked to you before you could open your mouth, his hands brushing against yours and forcing him to ignore the electricity to act as normal as he could.

"Thank you, love" you whispered, closing the door.

His walk was intuitive, thanking himself for being early and taking a look around your place to know where things were. Your tracks stopped when you spotted the helmet, ignoring the rustle from the bags in the kitchen.

"What's with the helmet?" you asked confused.

For a moment, he didn't respond, his face unreadable. Then he laughed, a little too quickly, a little too loud. "Oh, that? It's not mine. It's... a friend's. He brought me on his motorbike. I've been meaning to return it."

You frowned. "A friend's?"

He shrugged, still moving inside the kitchen, knowing his lie would be caught as soon as you looked him in the eye. "Yeah, someone I met at the gym" he said, mentioning it like it was no big deal.

And it wouldn't be... if it weren't because his brother wasn't the perfect boyfriend he always showed off to be.

He assumed you'd already know everyone in Junghoon's workplace and his group of friends, adding someone in the picture from a background you didn't know of was a quick way of escaping, without any more questions.

You nodded slowly, still trying to process the oddness of it all. You didn't want to be paranoid. Hell, you promised you left behind all of your insecurities and doubts after what happened, but you couldn't help but let all of those feelings come back at you again with Junghoon's strange behavior that night. Showing up in the middle of the night, so eager to see you, with that same nervousness... It almost felt like a throwback to...

You shook your head, trying to erase those thoughts.

"Do I know this friend?" you asked, half-joking, trying to shake the strange feeling gnawing at your stomach.

He paused, the rustle of bags suddenly stopping. "I don't think so," he said lightly. "I told you it was someone from the gym."

The answer should have satisfied you, but it didn't. Something about the way he avoided any type of honesty when he spoke made your chest tighten. You didn't push further, though. You told yourself it was nothing -Junghoon was just tired. Maybe he really had changed, even in small ways. People did, right?

The rustle of the bags came back as you started making your way to the kitchen, his wide back completely eclipsing whatever he was doing on the counter. "Come on," he said, flashing you that familiar smile over his shoulder, "I'll let you pick a movie to watch until it's time for dinner."

You returned his smile, letting yourself be pulled into the comfort of the moment. Although it lasted just a short moment, because your teeth trapped your lower lip before you could even control yourself.

"Babe" you called him, getting his attention. "You know you can tell me anything, right? I mean..." you readjusted yourself in the kitchen, resting against the wall, shifting your position so you'd be able to look at him "There's no secrets between us".

Jungkook hesitated, knowing what your gaze meant. Yet, at the same time, he knew that look wasn't because you were suspicious of his fake personality. It was something else he couldn't decipher, but it made his heart shrink with a guilt he wasn't the owner of.

"I do have something to tell you" he finally said.

As much as you'd have loved to be relieved by that sentence, it made your pulse quicken. Because last time it started the exact same way.

"The helmet" he said, trying to control himself by redirecting his thoughts on the conversation "is mine. I didn't want to tell you, because it was going to be a surprise, but I'm a mess and ruined it. I've been studying to get the license" he finally admitted. "I bought a motorbike recently..."

"You did what?" you frowned. "That's..." definitely better than everything you had imagined. "Oh god, that's great" you smiled widely. "The amount of things we'll be able to do, and all the places we'll go".

Jungkook's heart fluttered at the way your expression changed, opening the door to an excited rambling with several ideas you were clearly already thinking of.

"You liked the surprise, baby?"

"Yes, yes" you nodded repeatedly. "You kept it to yourself so well, I wouldn't have seen it coming at all".

"Yeah... I thought it'd be better for all the plans I want to do with you, hmm? We could go on a small trip during your holidays, I could pick you up from work..."

"I... You didn't even hint at it. You're usually so bad at keeping secrets" you sighed, relieved at what he was keeping from you.

"It was a surprise worth of keeping from you"

"I'm happy though" you smiled at him, started to take out all the groceries you bought. "I'm happy you finally got a license. I would have rathered it to be a car, you know, it's safer. But it's great" to prolong the comfort and happiness, you turned to him with a smile, finding him supporting himself on the doorframe "It's really great" you nodded again. "You know what?"

"What, baby?"

"I bought you your favorite dessert"

He tried to hide the surprise and confusion, knowing damn well you're referring to Junghoon's. Trying to keep himself from messing it up, he opted for a neutral answer: "You're spoiling me, baby".

As he watched you pacing around the kitchen, putting all the things perfectly in the drawers, he couldn't help but notice how you seemed comfortable in his presence, unaware that he wasn't your boyfriend, a little too happy with the domestic aura it all gave. For one second, he could only feel guilty of not doing what he did earlier.

"You're not going to ask why I showed up unannounced?" he buried his face in the crook of your neck, inhaling your scent, trying to push away the guilt that gnawed at him. But at the same time, the feeling of having you in his arms was exhilarating.

"Why?" you asked softly, leaning into his body.

"I missed you" he murmured in your ear, his voice low and filled with desire. His arms tightened around your waist, pulling you closer to him.

His eyes shut close when your fingers moved up to his hair, enjoying the feeling. Your touch sent shivers down his spine, making him crave more. Instinctively his body against yours, his lips finding their way to your neck, planting soft kisses along your skin.

"I love you" he subconsciously said, with his lips attached to your scent while his hands roamed through your curves.

"Baby" you puckered your lips, touched by his words "I love you, too".

He buried his face in your hair, inhaling your scent and trying to commit it to memory, while his fingers ran through it, gently massaging your scalp as you stood there in your kitchen.

He slid his hands underneath your shirt, caressing your bare skin, making you hum at how warm he surprisingly felt. "You're so warm" you mumbled, snuggling closer.

"You feel so nice and soft in my arms" one of his hands made its way down to your thigh. "Hmm, the best" he gave your thigh a light squeeze and then slowly ran his fingers up and down the outside, moving his digits until they brushed against the hem of the fabric of your t-shirt.

"I'm glad you came" you confessed with a soft whisper.

Jungkook smiled against your shoulder, his face hiding in the crook of your neck "Why wouldn't I be here doing what I love the most?"

"Well... You always say your job is so important".

Junghoon loved you, you knew he did, but he also found a million other things more important than you, and he didn't hesitate to remind you. Now, having him behind you, his chest stuck to your back as he hugged you tight when he was supposed to be at work, you felt a warmth in your heart you hadn't felt in a long while.

"Of course it is, but you're even more important to me" he chuckled at your action, loving the way you tried to fit against his body.

You were tired of the amount of times you'd heard that same sentence on him, only to be paid dust all the time. But, somehow, those words felt so genuine that night...

"From now on, I promise I'll focus on you only. I promise" he whispered, with his lips brushing against your earlobe.

"I'm glad our arguments finally got some sense for you" you joked, although you weren't really joking.

For one second, Jungkook wondered how his brother could even think of believing anything was more important than being with you in his arms. How could Junghoon ever think of not putting you in first place?

"You don't know how much I hated those arguments, baby" he looked into your eyes when you turned your face, his gaze and tone both growing somber at the mention.

"Me, too. I hate being mad at you" you kissed his lips.

"Being mad at you was like torture. Those fights felt like hell" slowly, he made you turn on your feet, the feeling of you in his arms already making him feel better.

"What comes after those fights is worth it though" you smirked, hiding your face on his neck.

Jungkook chuckled, endeared by the way you hid how your cheeks turned a lighter shade of pink "Yeah, my clingy baby gets even clingier after our fights" he grinned and his hand rubbed up and down your thigh.

There was something about his touch, his words... or the way he was holding you like he actually wanted you that kept you pushing for more. You started kissing his cheek, but quickly moved down his jaw and throat, feeling him gulp thick under your lips.

"Mmm, baby, that feels nice" he tilted his head to the side to give you even better access to his neck.

You moved back up, your lips rubbing against his. "You like that?"

He brought his hands up to the sides of your face and pulled you closer, his lips hovering over yours, wondering if that was always how you made things up.

"Hmm" he nodded " And I think you're so cute"

He gave your nose a small kiss before kissing your lips softly, gently pulling on your lower lip with his. With every second, he deepened the kiss, gently pushing his tongue into your mouth, pulling and playing with yours. Your fingers sank deeper in his hair, flicking your tongue on his while your hands started moving down his torso. A low hum and a moan escaped his lips as he felt your fingers move, his hands sliding up and down your thighs before eventually gripping your hips. A gasp broke the kiss when you felt his hands on your hips, pressing you a bit harder against his crotch, and as you started to rock your hips against him, you felt that need for him starting to build up.

His teeth crushed on your neck, sucking at the skin to give you a mark as his hips continued to move against yours. His hands traveled down the back of your thighs, digging into your flesh as he started rolling your hips against him, slowly getting addicted to the way you felt against him. He didn't think twice, lifting your body so you were sitting on the counter.

He was left confused when you sat straight in front of him, although your smirk calmed him down almost immediately. His pulse raced up when you started taking your shirt off, his eyes falling down to your chest. His hands moved through your smooth soft skin, traveling up your sides, while his eyes shined as if that was the first time he saw you that way.

You didn't give him time to think, because you bent over to kiss him before he could. His hands were placed on either side of your neck, pulling you back down to his lips, the kiss immediately growing more and more hungry, his tongue immediately seeking access to your mouth again.

"Babe" you whispered against his lips, "what do you want?"

"You, I only want you"

"I'm all yours"

A smirk played on his lips as he heard the words fall so freely from your lips, your eagerness only fueling his hunger for you. The fact that he thought he'd never hear those words from you, and even less dedicated to him, made his head spin. His hands slide up your sides and then down again, his fingers hooking onto the waistband of your pants as he looked into your eyes

"Is that so? You're all mine and mine only?"

"Only yours" you whispered.

You didn't care about how many times you needed to confirm that, because that was the truth.

"Good girl" he groaned, those two words, so simple yet impactful, made your blood run faster through your veins.

He tugged on your pants, signaling for you to lift your hips up a bit so he could take them off, and you helped, supporting your hands on his shoulders to give him enough space to get you naked.

As his eyes traced a silent path through your body, you couldn't help but tilt your head. "Liking what you see?" your hands moved up through his shirt.

His answer, forward yet nervous, came up as if it was the most obvious answer "Shit, I love it"

You didn't need to speak for your boyfriend to help you take off his t-shirt, it was enough with the way you kept moving the black fabric up for him to follow your silent command and do as you wanted, his abs slightly flexing as you exposed him.

"When did you get so bulked up?" you curiously asked when you spotted the difference.

It was then when you realized the big toll routine had on you and your relationship, how you barely noticed the change in his body despite seeing each other almost every day.

"I've been working out a lot lately" he said, smiling nervously, watching your fingers run over his arms.

You could almost hear the pride in his tone as you touched his muscles.

Again, a pang of sadness showed up again across your brain as you realized how long it had been since you were that intimate with your boyfriend. You didn't even notice how toned he was becoming, you didn't even notice the progress as it was happening.

"I see" you chuckled, wrapping your fingers around his neck when you saw him placing himself between your legs.

He hummed and smiled as you wrapped your arms around him, his hands immediately going to your hips, gripping them and pulling you closer to him, his face in line with your neck. He nuzzled your throat, showering the skin there with light kisses.

His lips moved up to your jawline, placing small, slow kisses up your jaw, his hands grabbing your thighs and pulling you even closer, until your hips are rubbing against his again. The mere touching having you whispering in between kisses how bad you craved him, while his hands tightened their grip on your thighs at your words, your desire for him only fueling the lust and hunger for you inside him.

He attached his lips to your neck once more, gently sucking and biting the skin there while his hips rolled up as you grinded against him. The only thing that could ever stop him from devouring you was yourself, and that was exactly what happened.

He let out a soft hum as you touched his back, his hips rolling up against you again at the soft feeling of your fingers. When your digits hit his belt, a smirk played on his lips. "Do you want it off, baby?"

You nodded and you could feel his grip on your thighs loosening to give you space to move in front of him, able to drag your body down his from the counter. He watched you in awe, the movement already sending a wave of excitement through him. When looking down at you, his eyes took in every inch of your bare skin while he undid his belt buckle.

A thick groan left his lips when you played him while undressing him, your fingers barely touching his skin when taking off his dark jeans, earning him calling you a tease with a groan. Your boyfriend didn't hold back, holding your thighs to put you back against his body, the sudden move surprising you, but not letting you back off from teasing him "Yes, I'm a tease, and? You love it".

"Hmm yeah, I do. But I also love you being a good girl"

A smirk immediately plays on his lips as you weren't able to control your legs from pressing together. His hands moved down your body, caressing your bare skin. "Oh? Does someone like being called a good girl?"

It was something... new. It wasn't the type of chat you had while having sex.

He lifted your body once more, making you wrap your legs around him so you'd be steadily placed.

"Grind against me" he said in a deep tone, his hands gripping the small of your back more firmly, wanting to feel you closer.

You positioned yourself correctly enough to do what you were told, your hips almost meeting his, you could feel his hardened bulge, yet you didn't move an inch. "You want this?" you moved your hips down, rolling them for one second before moving them back up.

He took a deep breath, trying to keep his patience even at the feeling of you rolling your hips for a second, his own self-control slowly slipping out of his grasp. He gripped your hips harder, wanting to feel you against him even more "Yeah, I want this. I want you. So move against me and be a good girl for me, baby"

Clearly, you weren't going to make it so easy for him.

You bit your lip, bending over until your lips were almost touching his ear "Use the right words".

He shivered involuntarily at your whispered sentence, your breath in his ear sending another wave of excitement through him, the need to be with you growing stronger "Please, baby. Let me feel you, just move against me. You know I'm a patient man, but this is making me lose my damn mind"

"So this" you grind your hips down, moving them back up again "is making you lose your head?"

He let out a low, almost guttural groan at the slow, calculated move of your hips, the friction created by your movements driving him insane "Yeah, you're making me lose my damn mind, baby. You know what you do to me".

You licked his upper lip, your hand holding his chin before you rolled your hips back down against his.

He moaned in consequence, feeling the way you rolled your hips again, his own hips involuntarily bucking up against yours. "Baby... that's it, just keep going like that. Just a little bit more" he held back the urge to take control of your body and just take you right there, trying to keep a bit of my composure.

Although that composure didn't last long, just enough for him to take you to your bedroom.

You didn't know how or when you ended up underneath him, his body trapping yours against the mattress while his lips ghosted over yours "We're done playing now" he assured you. The air was caught in your throat when he brushed his lips against your throat. "I fucking love the way you're all mine" he groaned. "Mine only, hmm? I'll destroy whoever tries to get between us".

You gulped thick when you heard him saying that, unsure if it was just the pleasure ruling him... because he was looking deadly serious.

"What?" he called you "You like knowing that you're all mine and mine alone? You like hearing how I'll do anything to keep you all to myself?"

In three years of relationship, it was the first time you heard Junghoon being so possessive of you. Yet you didn't hate it. Not at all.

He crawled on top of you, his body trapping you beneath him. His fingers skillfully undid the clasp of your bra with a swift motion as soon as his fingertips found it. Your back arched with need as you felt the fabric caressing your skin before disappearing, and it kept folding as his lips started making their way down your body. He paused for a moment to look up at you, his eyes darkened for all the right and wrong reasons as he admired the invisible path he made from your chest to the edge of your underwear.

He held your gaze for a moment, his eyes searching for a hint of suspicion or doubt, for any sign that could make him back down. But he found none, only desire and trust. His fingers hooked into your underwear and pulled them down your legs, his eyes never leaving yours as he got you naked in front of him.

Jungkook moved back up your body, his hands trailing up your thighs as he went. He positioned himself between your legs, his lips finding your collarbone again, leaving a mark that would be difficult to hide, while his heart pounded hysterically against his chest. His desire for you and the guilt of his identity waging a silent war inside him.

But he chose to silent them.

He lifted your leg over his hip, pulling you even closer to him. His body pressed against yours, and the last remaining layers of fabric between you felt like an unbearable barrier. He nipped at your earlobe, his voice a low, demanding whisper "I fucking need you so bad".

"I need you, too"

The way your words echoed his, the way you sounded so out of breath... It all kept clouding his judgement. He knew those words were dedicated to someone else, he knew your body was craving Junghoon, but the thought of his touch exciting you like that only made him growl deep in his throat.

His lips reached the apex of your thighs as he started moving down, pausing for a moment as he looked up at you. Your face was flushed with desire, your eyes darkened with need. He took a moment to memorize the sight before he gave in completely to his desires. Giving you one last look, he bent enough to sink his mouth sensually among your folds, the contact making you hum in pleasure almost instantly.

He ran his tongue over you, savoring the taste of you in his mouth. Your body writhed beneath his touch, your moans and gasps filling the room.. the combination of it all causing his chest to puff with pride, while his tongue dived deeper in you to get a better taste. Jungkook lost himself in you, driven by the overwhelming need to make you his, to make everything he had always dreamed of a reality.

Your moans, the sight of you, your reaction to his touch... it all drove him crazy with a primal need to possess you, to make you his in every way he had thought of ever since Junghoon introduced you to the family. He delved deeper, his tongue exploring you with a fervor that bordered on desperate. Jungkook craved more of those sounds, those sensations, those reactions.

You almost couldn't recognize yourself. The passion, the way your boyfriend was giving himself to you, the way he was sinking his mouth in you as if he wanted to eat you whole and then eat you again. You swore he made you let out sounds you haven't heard on yourself ever before.

"Baby, I need you" you moaned, almost with a plea.

Your words, the need in your voice, the way your body responded to him -it was like fuel to the fire. He wanted -no, he needed- to give you what you were asking for.

Licking your clit one last time, he moved up your body, making sure he showered with kisses every centimeter on the way to your face. Jungkook positioned himself between your legs again, his eyes holding your gaze. His fingers brushed against you, teasing, but never quite giving you what you want. His voice was a low, almost desperate plea:

"Are you ready for me, baby?"

You dedicated him a soft smile, before you nodded and placed your hands on his shoulders "Always".

Your answer, the look on your face -it teared away the last shred of restraint he had. With one movement of his head, he motioned you to get a condom, which you reached effortlessly at the bedside table to hand it to him so he'd wrap himself on the latex.

His lips claimed your mouth in a deep kiss, while his length slid into you with one movement, filling you completely. It was strange, but he felt like coming home, finally being where he belonged.

For a second, the guilt installed in his brain, reminding him of what he was doing, of the place he was taking over, but how quickly you pulled from his neck and how you linked your lips together worked to get him back to the only thing that mattered: you.

You broke the kiss, moaning when he started moving, a low giggle adorning the room and making Jungkook the weakest he had ever felt. "Fuck, you feel bigger".

He couldn't help but smirk at your words, the need to hear more, to make you feel even more driving him forward. He lifted your leg over his waist again, his lips finding your ear as he murmured: "Is that a good thing, baby? Does it feel good?"

"So fucking good" you closed your eyes, dropping your head back.

He didn't know how long he stayed moving while just looking at you, drinking up all of your reactions, memorizing every small detail on your face with every new wave of pleasure, or the way your nails digged on his skin whenever he angled his hips to reach the right spot. You were so hypnotizing and addictive.

He was done being a viewer, he was the main character of the most devoted love story to ever exist.

Hearing you moan like that, hearing how good he made you feel, pushed him even closer to the edge. Jungkook bit down on your shoulder, just enough to leave a mark, as he tried to hang on just a bit longer. He picked up the pace, driving into you deeper, harder, his eyes fixed on your face, ready for the smallest sign to give you everything you could ask for.

When you opened your eyes, you didn't recognize the dark look in your boyfriend's eyes as he crashed into you, his pace was relentless, like he had been deprived from touching you for years.

Your hands moved instantly to his wrists, trying to find some stability as your body kept bouncing harder against the mattress. Jungkook intertwined his fingers with yours, holding onto you as if he never wanted to let go. He could feel your body responding to his, and could see how close you were.

"Give it to me, baby. Give me everything you have" he asked softly, your hands moving to each side of your head as his body bent over to cover yours.

He held your gaze, he took care of your body, and he walked with you to your high to make sure you wouldn't miss a single beat. Until you both turned into one, your bodies being a mix of shivers and electricity.

Jungkook held you tight, only letting go of your hands to wrap his arms around you and sink his face on the curve of your neck to inhale your scent. You were so his that it physically hurted.

"That was..." you thought for a few seconds, trying to come up with a word "new".

Jungkook curiously moved back to look into your eyes "New? In a good sense?"

"Yeah... Yeah" you nodded, huffing a laugh "Different, in a good sense though. It's just that..." you started to explain, feeling a bit nervous "you're usually so soft and slow, and careful and delicate".

"Am I?" Jungkook lifted his eyebrow, trying to wonder if he allowed his own needs to take control of himself and risk getting exposed. "I just got carried away. I'm sorry if I hurted you".

"Hoon, I've been asking you to be a bit rougher for months" you chuckled "Why are you apologizing? I liked it" while speaking, you tilted your head, looking at him "Maybe we should get even freakier next time".

For a second, Jungkook's lip twitched at hearing his brother's name on your lips, but he recomposed quickly after, letting a smirk be drawn on his face.

"You felt like a completely different person" you chuckled "I liked it".

Jungkook pecked your lips quickly, trying to get rid of the idea that he was indeed a different person.

"Shall we get something for dinner?" he casually asked, hugging you tight in his arms. He stretched his legs lazily,moving his face down to look at you, his lips curling into a satisfied smile. "How about we order something for dinner? I'm starving."

You blinked, surprised. "Order something? You usually insist on cooking after..." you trailed off, cheeks warming.

He tilted his head, the playful grin never faltering. "Figured I'd give us both a break. Besides, my cooking could use a little variety."

Junghoon always prided himself on his cooking, especially after moments like these. It was his way of grounding himself, of caring for you. Still, you shrugged off the unease. He probably was just trying to be thoughtful in a different way.

"What are you in the mood for?" you asked, shifting to grab your phone.

"Anything but Chinese food," he replied quickly. Too quickly.

Your fingers paused mid-air. "But...you love Chinese food."

Jungkook stopped, trying to think of what to say to get away from his own mess.

He hesitated, barely perceptibly, before chuckling. "Right. I meant, I've had enough of it lately. Craving something else."

You nodded slowly, letting it slide, but a faint buzz of doubt lingered in the back of your mind. As you scrolled through the menu options, he got up, moving to his pants on the floor.

His movements were fluid, confident, but lacked the familiarity you'd always known. The way he grabbed the fabric and tossed it on: it wasn't the usual meticulous way Junghoon folded and set aside his clothes.

"Pizza?" he suggested, his voice easy, casual. "Something simple."

Your lips curved into a small smile despite the growing doubts. "Sure, pizza sounds good."

As you placed the order, you caught a glimpse of his reflection in the mirror. He was looking at you, but there was something in his eyes -a hunger, an intensity- that didn't belong to Junghoon. You shook your head, telling yourself it was all in your imagination.

After slipping into your clothes, the two of you left the room, the warm glow of the moment still lingering in the air. Junghoon walked beside you, his arm brushing yours occasionally as you both made your way to the living room.

"What time should the food get here?" he asked, glancing at you.

"About thirty minutes," you replied, checking the confirmation on your phone. "Plenty of time to relax."

Jungkook moved first, wrapping his arm around your waist to drag you with him over the couch, making sure both of you falled over it, your body almost over his lap, as he cuddled you tight. Something so simple as that had you instantly feeling better, instantly forgetting about any doubts or insecurities, vanishing that sense of unease and anxiety, to welcome comfort and love.

You didn't realize, but you started rubbing your cheek against his chest, while your hands held tight on his arms, your eyes closed while you allowed his scent fill your nostrils.

You were tired of being suspicious, and always ending on the worst of the conclusions, because small changes didn't always have to be for the worst.

If that was the first night of a new phase of your relationship, you'd gladly take it.

And something in him moved at your reaction. He was convinced he'd make you a million times happier than his brother ever did. It was as if the universe was telling him you were always meant to end up with him, because you molded together perfectly.

He, and only him, was everything you ever wanted, and he'd make sure he'd be the only thing you'd ever want.

#armpirate #fanfic #ff #jungkook #jeon jungkook #jungkookxreader #jk #bts #wattpad #kookie #smut #jungkook smut #reader insert #one shot #jungkooksmut #jksmut #jk smut #boyfriendsfriend!au

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ficnoire2 · 3 days ago

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A Little Legendborn/Bloodmarked (In prep for Oathbound) Who’s Your Daddy? Theory

*Spoilers for both books ahead and mentions of Oathbound teaser*

We have about 41 days (at the time of writing) until Oathbound drops and what better time than now to explore a theory I have been kicking around ever since we met the illustrious Valechaz. Those who have hung around my little page are not new to this, but if you are, welcome. It is no secret that I think Erebus/Shadow King/The Hunter is the father of the one and only Valec AND Selwyn Kane. There are ideas I have kicked around and figured it a good time to document them, so…

Here goes

Scent Signature Profile

Some time ago I did a scent theory profile for our crew (linked below) and in revisiting that, I noticed that Valec, Erebus, and Sel have a similar profile that falls in the oriental/woody category which brings forth scents of resins, vetiver, leather, incense and smoke. In addition, the three of them share a similar color profile (also linked below). There are many instances of black, reds, and golds. All of them at some point are described as emerging from some sort of shadow. These are the most shallow bits of evidence but…maybe not.

Valechaz and Selwyn (Who’s the Pappy?!)

“Told you not to mess with that red-eyed devil, but you did, didn’t you? Ain’t nothing good coming from a man you meet at the crossroads, Pearl. Nothing.”

I have always found it very curious that the identity of both Valec and Selwyn’s fathers is shrouded in mystery. Not to mention the name of Valec’s bar is referenced here. In the Oathbound teaser, we learn that Erebus is essentially a shapeshifter who can wear many faces and be in many places at once. We also know that he has lurked around the Rootcraft community for eons protecting his “investment.” It is not yet known who the “Red-eyed devil” is, but knowing his capabilities it is not out of the realm of possibility.

“He may look like a baby, but that is their disguise. They cannot be trusted because it is their nature to lie. You know this, Pearl. Just like his father, he will turn on you one day.”

I found this interesting because it suggests that this community had dealings with this type of demon/shapeshifter before. Katherine says Pearl KNOWS this as if this knowledge is something common and she should know better.

“When I was young, my mother was killed by an uchel while on a mission. After that, my human father fell into a liquor bottle and never came out.”

Selwyn says this with so much certainty only for us to find out a few pages later that, that was not the truth. It is never stated that he actually met this human father and if he had, it would be quite easy for the Shadow King to impersonate him especially since he was close to Natasia. In essence, the identity of both boys’ fathers is unknown.

Peek a Boo, I See You

“Poor little cambion, little Kingsmage. Leashed by the Order his whole pathetic existence and now manacled by them too?”

Valec’s taunting of Sel is top-tier, pure I will flirt with your girl and whoop your ass in front of her, older brother energy. Their interactions are always tense and teetering on the razor’s edge of violence. Selwyn despises Valec, not only because he flirts with Bree, but because he can see him for everything that he is. He highlights his shortcomings and exposes them to the group. I can imagine Sel felt this being in proximity to Nick in another way. Nick being all the things he wants to be and be close to, but Valec exposes all of the things he is.

In all of Valec’s taunting (and ass-whooping) he also empathizes with Sel. For perspective, as a formerly enslaved person, he would be well within his rights to hate Sel and everything he stands for, but he doesn’t. He shows him mercy and understanding.

“When you’re a cambion, you’re caught between two worlds. Always. Not just two cultures or two communities, but literally two states of being. Life. Death. This plane, and the one that calls us back home in the middle of the night. Most of us go a very long time without feeling like we belong anywhere.”

This was not only heartbreaking because we know in bondage, Valec experienced horror, not to mention being cast out. The fact that he recognized the unique position of cambions in this universe and offered that grace to Sel only comes with the wisdom gained from the life he’s led.

It does not seem coincidental that Tracy has given them this dynamic. The line that he says to Bree “You can’t belong to an idea, Bree,” The idea of slavery, mental and physical bondage, the Order. You don’t belong to these things. The idea that you were born as a unique being and that your spirit is autonomous even if your body isn’t.

Shadow Daddy

This brings me to Erebus. Here is what we know:

He can shift form and travel through time and space rapidly. He was in a close relationship with Selwyn’s mother (as Erebus) and has followed the Rootcraft community (whoring around if you ask me). He is an opportunist and slips into bargains and situations that serve his purpose which is to gain power and ultimately get his crown back. He is ancient.

The Parallels

The parallels and foreshadowing between him and the boys (I know Valec is old as hell) are glaring.

The SK nameplate on Selwyn’s door

The fact that they have the same three-letters associated with their names (S.E.K)

Similar scent profiles and color profiles

Bree made a deal with Erebus at a crossroads in her journey, after seemingly exhausting every possibility

Valec’s bar being the Crossroads Lounge and he and Selwyn both being described as “Crossroads children”

The fact that Valec knows there is a Shadow Court, but Selwyn describes it as made-up children’s stories to scare young Merlins, hinting that he doesn't know as much history as he thinks he does.

Also, in the Oathbound teaser, he has two Black children that he describes as his “Wards.” I have so many questions. Was Valec a “Ward” at one point? I find it interesting that they are Black as well.

The lineage comes into play too. Valec is evenly split. Pearl was human and his apparent father was a demon *Whispers SEX DEMON*. He says balanced cambions are rare.

Natasia is split but if Erebus (Shadow King) is Sel’s father that makes him more demon than human, not to mention the “Assload of oaths” he has attached to him, which are wreaking havoc on his life.

I hope we get more answers to Valec’s and Sel's lineage in book three. Either way, I am excited as hell. I believe he will be key in helping our crew gain balance and send his daddy back to where he belongs.

I would love to hear your thoughts, especially if you have the same theory that I do! I have also linked some of my other nerdy works below. Happy reading!

Scent Theory Part One

Scent Theory Part Two

LB/BM Top Ten

*Color theory is linked in one of the scent theories*

#legendborn #bloodmarked #legendborn cycle #tracy deonn #valechaz #selwyn kane #oathbound

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writingsoftarnishedsilver · 2 days ago

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Playing for Keeps | Sebastian Sallow x Reader

Chapter 8

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Words: ~4,000

Tags: Modern AU, Reader Insert, Seventh Year, Female MC, No Y/N, Slytherin MC, Enemies to Lovers, Trope-y, Slow Burn, Hurt/No Comfort

Sebastian moved through the dungeons, the faint glow of the enchanted lamps painting the stone walls in muted hues. His thoughts were too loud, tangling and fraying with every step he took.

How was he supposed to fix this?

He’d taken every chance he might’ve had with you and ground it into dust with one idiotic decision after another.

Sebastian’s chest ached at the thought. He’d made himself into exactly the kind of person you’d never want, and he wasn’t sure he could blame you if you decided you never wanted to speak to him again.

He shoved his hands into his hoodie pocket as he climbed the stairs to the main floor, his steps echoing softly in the quiet. With a swipe of his thumb, he pressed shuffle on his phone, letting the first song crackle through his headphones. The sharp, energetic riff of “Reptilia” by The Strokes filled his ears, the beat quickening his already hurried steps. For a moment, it almost helped—almost. The rhythm drowned out the voices in his head, giving him something to latch onto.

But the reprieve was short-lived. The song faded into the next track just as he reached the top of the stairs, and the unmistakable opening chords of Lit's "My Own Worst Enemy" hummed through his headphones. A bitter laugh escaped him as he shook his head, the irony not lost on him. Can we forget about the things I said when I was drunk? I didn’t mean to call you that.

He groaned. Even the universe seemed to conspire against him.

Sebastian pulled out his phone with a frustrated sigh, his thumb hovering over the skip button. He couldn’t take the self-inflicted mockery for another second. A tap later, a softer melody filled his ears, though it hardly registered as he shoved his phone back into his pocket, his mind already spiraling elsewhere.

What would Ominis suggest?

He’d probably start with something sarcastic, like, Congratulations, Sallow, you’ve officially made things worse. Then he’d get serious, leaning back with that thoughtful tilt of his head, and say something that hit a little too close to home. You can’t fix this with charm or excuses, you know. If you want to make it right, you’ll have to actually try.

Sebastian rubbed the back of his neck, the imagined lecture settling uncomfortably in his chest. Of course, Ominis would be right. He usually was. But what could he do to fix this? What could he possibly say to undo the damage?

“Sorry” wasn’t enough. Not after everything. Not after the bet, the party, the whispers that followed you down the halls and filled your phone screen. You deserved more than a half-hearted apology. You deserved—Merlin, you deserved better than him. But that wasn’t something he could change, was it?

Perhaps, Sebastian considered, he could start small. A note, perhaps? But no, that felt too impersonal. You deserved to hear the words directly, no matter how much it terrified him to say them.

But how would he get you alone? Imelda was glued to your side, and the thought of facing her wrath made his stomach churn. He’d need a moment where she wasn’t around, some excuse to approach you without it turning into a scene.

And what would he say when he did? He replayed the possibilities in his head.

“Listen, about the party…”

“I never meant for it to go this far..."

“I’m sorry. I was an idiot, and I hurt you.”

Sebastian’s thoughts spiraled further, his pace quickening as he rounded another corner. The song switched again, and the dreamy, wistful chords of “K.” by Cigarettes After Sex spilled through his headphones, and Sebastian groaned softly, yanking out one earbud as if that could somehow make the song hurt less, as if the act could bury the unwelcome emotions it stirred.

His steps slowed as he passed the library, the towering doors shut tight. A faint glow of candlelight seeped through the cracks, casting long shadows across the floor. Normally, the sight would’ve stirred some sense of adventure—memories of sneaking into the Restricted Section with Ominis or chasing down leads for whatever half-baked scheme had popped into his head. But tonight, it only reminded him of you.

He could see you there so vividly, sitting in one of the quiet corners surrounded by a fortress of books. You always looked so focused when you worked, scratching down your notes in a flurry. He could still picture the slight furrow of your brow, the way you’d chew on the end of your quill when you were deep in thought. The memory twisted painfully in his chest, and he tore his gaze away, forcing himself to keep walking.

The path twisted and turned, and by the time the playlist shifted again, he found himself climbing the spiral staircase to the Astronomy Tower. "I Wanna Be Yours" by Arctic Monkeys hummed softly in his ears. He wasn’t even sure why he’d come here. Maybe it was the quiet, or the stars, or just the need to feel away from everything for a little while.

The night air was crisp as he stepped onto the tower’s platform, pulling out one earbud to let the breeze fill the silence. Above him, the stars stretched endlessly, glittering against the dark sky like a reminder of how small his problems really were.

But when he turned toward the far edge of the tower, he froze.

Because you were already there.

Sitting on the stone ledge, knees pulled to your chest, illuminated by the silvery glow of the stars. Your hair was a tangled mess, falling in loose strands around your face. You wore black and red plaid pajama bottoms, the hems frayed slightly, and an old t-shirt that hung loosely on you, one sleeve torn and barely holding on. Earbuds were pushed snugly in your ears, the faint buzz of music audible even from where Sebastian stood.

For a fleeting moment, he almost smiled. You looked so utterly you, sitting there like you had claimed the night for yourself. But then his eyes caught the redness around your eyes, the faint streaks on your cheeks where you’d wiped at tears, and the knot in his chest tightened.

He should leave. He should turn around, go back to the dorm, and let you have this moment to yourself. But his feet refused to turn him back around. Instead, he found himself taking a step forward, his foot scuffing against the stone and breaking the fragile silence.

You looked up sharply, your eyes locking on his. For a moment, surprise flickered across your face, but it quickly hardened into something unreadable. You pulled out one earbud, letting it dangle against your chest, your posture straightening as you wiped at your cheeks again.

“What do you want?” you asked, your voice hoarse and tired, but carrying enough edge to keep him at arm’s length.

Sebastian opened his mouth, but no words came out. The rehearsed apologies he’d been turning over in his mind suddenly felt hollow, as useless as the weight in his chest.

“I couldn’t sleep,” he admitted finally.

“So you came here to... what? Gawk at me?”

“No,” he said quickly, shaking his head. “No, I didn’t even know you’d be here. I just—” He stopped, exhaling sharply as he ran a hand through his hair. “I needed to think. To clear my head. So I went for a walk.”

Your gaze remained steady, skeptical, but you didn’t tell him to leave. Instead, you turned your head back toward the horizon, the stars reflected faintly in your tear-bright eyes.

Sebastian shifted awkwardly, unsure of what to do. Finally, he took another tentative step closer, his voice softer when he spoke again.

“Can I... can I sit?”

For a long moment, you didn’t answer. He thought you might tell him to get lost, to leave you alone with your thoughts, but then you shrugged, the motion small and resigned.

“Do whatever you want,” you muttered.

Sebastian hesitated for a moment, unsure if he was actually welcome or if your words were simply a concession to the exhaustion etched across your face. Still, he moved closer, lowering himself onto the stone ledge a few feet away from you. He didn’t sit too close—he didn’t want to push his luck.

He stared out at the horizon, the endless stretch of stars shimmering above the dark silhouette of the Forbidden Forest. Normally, he found this kind of quiet comforting, but tonight, it felt like it might swallow him whole.

“Why are you here?” you asked then, your voice low but razor-sharp, cutting through the quiet like a blade. “Are you here plotting my next humiliation? Is someone hiding around the corner with their phone, ready to record it for you?”

Sebastian flinched and he turned his head to look at you, but you kept your gaze fixed on the stars.

“No,” he said, his voice soft but steady. “There’s no one else. Just me.”

“Oh, joy,” you muttered under your breath, the sarcasm biting. You tugged your legs closer to your chest, the motion defensive.

Sebastian sighed, leaning forward to rest his elbows on his knees. He stared down at the stone floor, his thoughts tangling together in a mess of guilt and frustration. "I... maybe I could explain?"

That got your attention.

You turned your head slightly, fixing him with a look that was equal parts incredulous and weary. “Explain?” you repeated, your voice rising slightly. “Explain what, exactly? How I became the butt of some stupid bet? How my entire existence was reduced to fifty fucking galleons?”

Sebastian sighed heavily. “I know I messed up,” he murmured, his gaze still fixed on the ground. “I know I’ve been an absolute arse. And if I could take it back, if I could undo all of it, I would. But I can’t.”

You let out a humorless laugh. "Yeah. Okay. Sure."

"I'm serious," he said, your real name slipping from his lips like a fragile olive branch. His voice was low but earnest, tinged with a desperation he couldn’t hide. “I... I never wanted it to end up like this. I never wanted you to get hurt.”

You scoffed, shaking your head. “You didn’t want me to get hurt, but you didn’t care enough to stop it either. Do you see how those two things can't really exist at the same time?"

He opened his mouth, then closed it again, visibly struggling to find a response. Finally, he sighed again, running a hand through his hair.

“I know,” he said, his voice low and unsteady. “I know that doesn’t make sense. None of this makes sense. I wasn’t thinking about how it would affect you—I was thinking about myself."

"Obviously."

Sebastian grimaced. Every word he’d tried to say, every half-formed apology, was only making things worse. So, for once, he did the one thing he wasn’t used to doing.

He shut up.

It was clear that no amount of talking—no excuses or explanations of his behavior—was going to fix this. Not right now, anyway. So he let the silence stretch between you, heavy and uncomfortable as he stared at the ground, picking at the frayed hem of his pants.

After awhile, he glanced sideways at you. You were still staring at the stars, the single earbud still dangling against your chest, the faint buzz of music barely audible in the quiet.

“...What are you listening to?” he asked softly, the question slipping out before he could stop it.

You blinked, turning your head slightly toward him, your expression wary. “What?”

“Your music,” he repeated, nodding toward the earbuds. “What’s playing?”

You hesitated, your guard still firmly in place, as if trying to gauge whether the question was genuine or just another layer of whatever game you thought he might be playing. Finally, with a small sigh, you reached up and reached for the earbud, holding it out to him.

Sebastian hesitated for a beat before carefully taking it and slipping it into his ear.

The chords of “The Night We Met” filtered through, soft and haunting. Recognition hit him immediately, the melancholy chords twisting in his chest. Of course it would be something like this. A song that felt like a wound, raw and aching.

“It’s a good song,” he said after a long moment, his voice quiet, almost reverent. “Sad as hell, though.”

You let out a dry laugh, though it lacked any real humor. “Yeah, well. Seems fitting, doesn’t it?”

Sebastian swallowed hard. “I guess it does,” he agreed, his voice low.

The two of you sat in silence for a while, the song playing in his ear as he fidgeted with his hands, his gaze flicking between the horizon and the stone floor beneath his feet. And when the track ended and silence filled the earbud, Sebastian carefully handed it back to you.

“Thanks,” he murmured.

You took it without looking at him, dropping it back onto your chest. “Don’t mention it."

Sebastian leaned back slightly, fingers twitching against his knee. He wasn’t sure what to say or if there was anything left to say. Still, sitting there beside you, he couldn’t bring himself to leave.

Eventually, you sighed, your shoulders slumping just slightly. “...What were you listening to?”

Sebastian blinked. “What?”

“Before,” you said, nodding toward his hoodie pocket where his headphones were tucked away now. “You had music playing."

Sebastian just stared at you, trying to process why you were being so... civil. Then he cleared his throat, pulling his headphones out of his pocket and glancing at his phone screen. “Uh... the Arctic Monkeys, "I Wanna Be Yours".”

You let out a soft, humorless laugh, shaking your head as you tucked a strand of hair behind your ear. “Of course.”

Sebastian raised an eyebrow. “What’s that supposed to mean?”

“It’s fitting,” you said simply, your gaze drifting back to the stars. “For a 2014 Tumblr girl, like yourself."

Sebastian blinked in surprised, letting out a quiet laugh despite himself. “I...” he started. “I still don’t know what a 2014 Tumblr girl is."

That earned him the faintest twitch of your lips—so fleeting it could’ve been imagined—but you didn’t respond. Instead, you glanced away, your focus shifting back to the stars.

The silence that followed wasn’t comfortable, exactly, but it wasn’t quite as sharp as before. It felt like you were both standing on opposite sides of a chasm, trying to decide whether it was worth the risk to reach for the other.

"I remember that day. When you called me that at the Three Broomsticks," he said slowly. "You... looked different that day."

Your gaze narrowed slightly, skepticism written across your face. “Different?”

He swallowed, suddenly acutely aware of how carefully he needed to tread. “I mean, I’d only ever seen you in class before. You’ve got this whole... polished thing going on there. But that day, at the pub...”

He trailed off, the image of you vivid in his mind, leaning forward on your elbows, wearing that oversized The Cure t-shirt paired with black jeans that hugged your hips and ass. You, with your hair swept into a messy bun, the glint of your piercings catching the dim light, and those tattoos marking your skin like a story he wished he could read...

“I guess I was surprised,” he continued carefully, glancing at you. “Didn’t peg you as a 2014 Tumblr girl, too.”

Your gaze slid toward him, sharp and skeptical, but your lips twitched again into something approaching a smile.

“Especially,” he went on, leaning slightly toward you like he was letting you in on some grand joke. “Considering all the shit you gave me for wearing that Smiths shirt on the first day of term.”

You scoffed softly, shaking your head as you looked back toward the stars. “I already apologized for that.”

Sebastian grinned, a small, genuine thing that felt strange after the weight of the night. “Yes,” he said, nodding. “Yes, you did. But, I... what I'm trying to say is I thought you looked…” He hesitated, his voice faltering for a second. “I thought you looked really good that day. At the pub."

Your head turned toward him sharply, your eyes narrowing as though you were searching for any hint of mockery or insincerity in his expression. “You’re fucking with me."

Sebastian shook his head quickly. “I’m not. I mean it. You… you looked really good.” He paused, his cheeks coloring slightly as he glanced away. “Not that you don’t always look good, but that day, I don’t know. Something about it just…” He trailed off, running a hand through his hair in frustration. “Never mind. Forget it.”

But you didn’t forget it. You just kept looking at him, your brows slightly furrowed like you were trying to solve a puzzle. It wasn’t disbelief, exactly—not the sharp-edged kind that would have cut him down in an instant—but there was something hesitant in your gaze, like you were trying to decide if you could trust what you were hearing. And then, the corner of your mouth quirked up.

“I think,” you said slowly, your tone cautious but laced with the faintest trace of humor, “you’ve just got a thing for alt girls. Quelle surprise."

The words were so unexpected, so absurd in their casual delivery, that Sebastian couldn’t help but laugh. A real laugh, the sound bubbling out of him like it had been waiting for an excuse to break free. He shook his head as he glanced at you.

“Think I do,” he admitted. “I’m learning all kinds of things about myself lately.”

You raised an eyebrow. “Like what?”

“Like…” He hesitated, his smile fading slightly as his gaze drifted back to the stars. “Like the fact that I’m a complete idiot.”

That earned him a soft scoff from you. “Yeah, obviously. What else?"

Sebastian paused, his fingers fidgeting against the rough stone ledge as he drew in a deep breath. He glanced at you out of the corner of his eye, your face still turned toward the stars, but he could feel your attention on him, waiting.

“Like... like I acted like a complete dick not only because I’m an idiot,” he continued, his voice low but steady. “But... because I’m a coward, too.”

Your brow furrowed slightly, and you turned your head toward him, skepticism flickering in your expression. “A coward,” you repeated flatly.

“Yeah,” Sebastian admitted, nodding as he stared down at his hands. “Because... instead of just admitting how I felt, I... I took the easy way out.”

You blinked, confusion mingling with suspicion. “Felt about what?”

“I mean...” He faltered, his throat tightening painfully. His heart pounded, a steady, deafening beat in his ears, his thoughts spiraling faster than he could rein them in. He knew it wasn’t the time to say this, knew it wasn’t the right thing to say to someone he’d hurt so deeply—but the words clawed their way up his throat, unstoppable, like a dam about to burst.

“I mean... Fuck. I like you, Chouette. I’ve liked you all along.”

Your eyes widened. "You what?”

“I like you,” he said again, the words raw and stripped of all pretense. “You’re... you're smart, and sharp, and funny in a way that completely disarms me. You have no idea how much that drives me insane. How much you've always driven me insane. And I'm sorry," he said finally, the words heavy and raw, stripped of all pretense. “For everything.”

Your gaze hardened as if a wall slammed into place between you, the sharp light of distrust returning with a vengeance.

And then, in a rush of movement, abrupt and full of purpose, you pushed yourself up from the ledge. The scrape of your shoes against the stone echoed in the silence, reverberating in Sebastian’s chest like a warning.

“Wait—” he blurted, his hand shooting out to grab your wrist before you could turn away completely.

“Let go,” you commanded, your voice low but cutting.

“I’m being serious,” he said quickly, his voice urgent. “I swear.”

You yanked your arm free, stepping back to put distance between you. "Don’t sit here and… and say shit like that when you don’t mean it. When you’re just—” You exhaled harshly, shaking your head as though trying to expel the words. “When you’re just trying to fuck with me.”

Sebastian’s mouth opened, but no sound came out. It took him a second to recover, his heart stuttering as the weight of your words hit him. “That’s not what I’m doing,” he said quickly, his voice pleading. “I swear—”

“Bullshit,” you snapped. "You really expect me to believe that this—” you gestured between the two of you, “—this isn't just another game? Another chance to play with me?"

“It’s not a game,” he said urgently, getting to his feet now as well. “I swear it’s not. I meant what I said, every word. I like you. I—” He stopped, his throat tightening. “I know I’ve messed up,” he said, his voice raw. “I know I’ve hurt you, but I’m not lying. I’m not trying to play you. I… I just didn’t know how else to—”

“Stop,” you interrupted sharply, your voice shaking. “You’ve been cruel to me since the day I got here. You humiliated me. And now you’re here saying this? What the hell am I supposed to do with that?

He froze, his throat working as he tried to find the right words, anything to fix the spiral he’d set in motion. But your words kept cutting, sharp and unforgiving.

You shook your head, a bitter laugh escaping your lips. “Stay away from me, Sebastian. I mean it."

And with that, you turned on your heel and walked away. The sound of your footsteps echoed down the corridor, each one feeling like a hammer driving nails into Sebastian's chest. He didn’t call after you. He didn’t try to follow. He just stood there, frozen, watching as you disappeared into the shadows.

The silence that followed was suffocating, pressing in around him like the walls of a collapsing tomb. The stars above, once sharp and bright, now felt like distant pinpricks of light, their cold indifference mocking him. The chill in the air seemed to seep into his very bones as he sank back onto the ledge, his head falling into his hands. His chest ached with a deep, gnawing pain, his heart pounding relentlessly against his ribs.

Heartbreak.

The word surfaced unbidden, stark and unrelenting, heavy with the weight of what he’d lost. That’s what this was—this hollow ache, this unbearable tightness in his chest, the feeling of something vital being torn away as he watched you walk away without looking back.

It wasn’t just guilt. It wasn’t just regret. It was heartbreak.

Sebastian sat there, frozen, as the realization settled over him like a shroud. Somewhere along the way—maybe in the quiet moments when your laugh echoed in his head long after you’d gone, or in the way your sharp, cutting remarks left him reeling and strangely exhilarated—he’d fallen. He’d fallen so much harder than he’d ever realized. And now, sitting in the aftermath of his own recklessness, he couldn’t deny it any longer.

Love.

The word burned as it took root, searing its truth into him with brutal clarity. He loved you. This wasn’t some fleeting infatuation, some passing fancy he could brush aside.

The bet hadn’t really been about fifty galleons. It hadn’t been about saving face, maintaining appearances, or even proving Leander Prewett wrong. Deep down, Sebastian had always known the truth—he’d been playing for something far more dangerous, far more personal.

He’d been playing for keeps.

And he’d lost.

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