#joshua dun series

[wongyuseokie]

Theories & Heartstrings | k.m.g

Chapter 3: Fucked Up, Still Falling

Summary: As a writer with a mildly cynical take on love, you’ve always believed people have a “type”—a pattern they never stray from when it comes to dating. And Kim Mingyu? He’s the textbook definition of someone who wouldn’t go for someone like you, nor would you go for him. But you test your theory when a fateful run-in with your charming neighbour sparks an unexpected attraction.

The plan? Go on dates with him and count how many it takes before your heart gets involved—if it ever does. But Mingyu is unpredictable, effortlessly breaking down your carefully constructed walls with every smile, every late-night conversation, every moment that feels too easy to be just an experiment.

The real problem? Secrets never stay secrets for long. And when Mingyu finds out the truth behind your so-called theory, will it prove you right, or that love doesn’t follow the rules you thought it did?

☆ 18+ minors dni |☀︎fluff | ☁︎ angst | ♕smut

Word Count: 15,457

Pairings: Neighbor! Mingyu x Journalist! Female Reader

Genre/Trope(s)/AU(s): Neighbours AU! Fake Dating AU! (but only one is fake dating. It’ll make sense when you read it, lol). Non-Idol AU!. 

Content Warnings: yelling, swearing, LOTS OF ANGST HOLY COW shit really hit the fan here. Mingyu is very sad and angry (rightfully so) cheol is very very mean, but its warranted, hoshi is mean but not as bad more bitchy than mean. seokmin is snippy but sunshine cant ever be truly cruel. Smut Warnings:  no smut actually, suggestive sure, but no sex mentions of anal sex its more jokey but none of it. lots of kissing, fingering (but its not y/n) dun dun.  Author's Note 1: I'd be remiss if I didn't thank the lovely people who helped beta this monster of a story. thank you @lovetaroandtaemin @nebulousbrainsoup @strxwberry-skiess for your patience time and love thank you guys so much!! Author's Note 2: welp here it is guys my last fic, ever, but good news, this is only chapter 3, and the rate at which i keep increasing my word count, it'll be a while before this is all over. Series Masterlist

That evening, your bedroom was a mess of indecision.

Three dresses lay crumpled on the bed, all rejected for reasons that now felt trivial. Too safe. Too bold. Too pink. Too much like the last time you tried too hard.

You stared at yourself in the mirror, bare-faced and half-dressed, clutching a blouse by the hanger like it might whisper the answer to your dilemma.

“Why am I like this?” You muttered under your breath, heart already fluttering with a mix of anticipation and dread.

Tonight was a date. A real one. With Mingyu.

And you wanted it to be perfect. You needed it to be.

Your fingers fumbled with the delicate clasp of your necklace, the one Mingyu once complimented offhandedly—the one you hadn’t worn in months.

He made you feel... like maybe things could be different.

But even as you spritzed perfume along your collarbone and fluffed your freshly styled hair, the undercurrent of guilt pulsed just beneath the surface.

He didn’t know. Not yet.

About the article. About how much you’d withheld. About everything that came before the version of you he was finally getting to know.

You’d planned to tell him. You would tell him.

Just... not yet. Not tonight.

You needed this evening. One moment where things felt light again. Where the flutter in your chest was excitement and not fear. Where his gaze stayed soft and adoring and not clouded by betrayal.

You just needed one more night.

With trembling hands, you smoothed down the front of your dress and gave yourself a once-over in the mirror.

“You’ve got this,” you whispered.

And maybe, for just a few hours, you could believe it.

“Wow,” Joshua said, eyes widening as you stepped into the living room. “You clean up… shockingly well.”

You smirked, smoothing down the front of your satin dress. “I’m taking that as a compliment.”

“I mean it,” he said, placing a hand on his chest dramatically. “I’ve never seen you look so—wait, is that contour?”

“Shua,” you warned, grabbing your purse.

He grinned. “Okay, okay. You look gorgeous. Just—please tell him tonight.”

Your smile faltered. “What about tomorrow? I just want to bask in tonight, it might be the last time he wants to be around me. I promise, just give me tonight and I’ll tell him.”

“You keep saying that,” he replied gently. “And the longer you wait, the worse it’s going to feel.”

You glanced down at your heels, then at the tiny clutch in your hands, where the journal—a condensed version of your article draft—was tucked beneath your lipstick and phone. “Just… let me have this night. One last perfect date.”

Joshua didn’t say anything else. He just stood up and kissed your forehead. “Then go get your perfect date, bub.”

When the knock came at the door, you inhaled sharply before opening it.

Mingyu stood there in a crisp, charcoal suit, holding a single sunflower. “Hi.”

You blinked. “You wore a suit.”

“You said fancy,” he replied, extending the flower with a sheepish smile. “And you look… beautiful.”

You took the flower and gave him a bashful smile. “You clean up alright too.”

“Alright?” He scoffed. “I wore cologne for this.”

You laughed, letting him lead you down the hallway. His fingers found yours the moment you stepped into the elevator, and the silence that followed wasn’t awkward. It was comfortable, and warm.

Still, the journal in your clutch weighed heavier than ever.

“Okay, no hints?” You asked as you slipped into his car.

“None,” he said, grinning as he pulled out of the parking lot. “But I will say this—you’ve never been to this place.”

Mingyu’s car smelled like him — something warm and clean and distinctly comforting. He played music as he drove, humming along quietly.

“This song’s cute,” you said, smiling as the melody filled the space between you.

“I thought you'd like it,” he replied, sneaking a glance at you. “Do you want me to sing it to you someday?”

You grinned. “You sing?”

“Only in the shower. Or when I’m drunk. Or when I think you won’t hear.”

“Maybe I’ll catch you one day,” you teased. Then, softer, “I’d like that.”

The rest of the drive was warm and easy, and you found yourself leaning toward him even without meaning to. Everything felt so natural — his jokes, the way he opened your door, the way he pulled you close when you walked toward the restaurant.

And then you saw where he’d brought you.

“Wait. This place is—Mingyu, it’s fancy-fancy.”

He smiled sheepishly. “I said dress fancy, didn’t I?”

“You also said you weren’t trying to impress me.”

“I lied.” He held the door open with a dramatic bow. “I’m trying to impress the hell out of you.”

Your heart swelled. And cracked.

Over candlelight and wine, you let yourself enjoy the night. Mingyu was in his element — charming, attentive, funny. You kept catching yourself staring, forgetting the food in front of you entirely.

“So,” he said between bites of risotto, “on a scale of one to ten… how good of a date am I?”

You choked a little, caught off guard. “What?”

Mingyu smirked. “Come on. You’re a journalist. I’m sure you rate everything.”

You forced a laugh. “Please, I only rate movies and bad exes.”

He leaned forward, resting his chin on his hand. “What if I want to be rated?”

You tilted your head. “Dangerous request.”

“Hit me with it.”

You looked at him for a long moment. Everything in you wanted to say ten. But your throat tightened and the number stuck in your chest like a stone.

“Solid… nine,” you managed, lifting your wine glass to cover your mouth.

He gasped. “Nine? What the hell do I have to do for a ten?”

You laughed. “You’ll figure it out. You’re annoyingly good at that.”

Mingyu grinned and leaned over the table. “I’ll earn it. Just wait.”

You smiled back, but the weight of your secret pulled a little heavier.

~~

You spent the weekend scribbling in your journal like it was a secret lab notebook. Bullet points. Observations. Emotional barometers. You even rated the dates, which—when said out loud—sounded ridiculous. But somehow, it helped. Date one: a six. Sweet, funny, respectful. He kissed you. You left out the part where his hands were on your hips for half the movie and your thigh was slotted between his.

You were trying to be scientific about it. But there was no method for what was happening to your heart.

And the worst part? He still didn’t know.

“How’s the story going?” Keira peeked over your shoulder, her iced coffee in hand and her voice low. 

“Is that a hickey?”

You slammed your laptop shut with a yelp. “Keira.”

She grinned. “Relax. I’m just saying, if you’re going over to his place today, maybe wear a scarf. Or concealer. Or both.”

You rolled your eyes. “It’s fine.”

“He gave you that hickey?”

You didn’t answer. Keira smirked. “His lips do look soft.”

You laughed nervously. “They are.”

She wiggled her eyebrows. “Use protection, Hemingway.” ~~

Later that evening, you flung your arms around Mingyu’s neck as he lifted you off the ground with a grunt.

“Koala mode activated,” he teased, carrying you inside.

“Mingyu what time do you need me at the gallery tomorrow? You said you needed help moving some stuff right around right for your showcase?” 

Mingyu pondered for a second, “maybe around 4?” 

“Cool, anyway, you lovebirds, keep it PG,” Seungcheol muttered as he passed by, smirking over his bowl of pasta.

You giggled and buried your face in Mingyu’s shoulder. The scent of him, faintly earthy and warm, made your stomach flip. Mingyu carried you straight to his room, and neither of you seemed particularly interested in leaving it.

The door to Mingyu’s room barely clicked shut before you were on each other.

His hands cupped your jaw as he pulled you into a kiss—hot, urgent, toe-curling. You barely had time to catch your breath before his mouth was on yours again, one hand already sliding beneath the hem of your dress.

“You’re sure?” he asked against your lips, his voice already thick with want.

You nodded, tugging his shirt up in answer. “Off. Now.”

He chuckled softly, but obeyed, yanking the shirt over his head and tossing it aside. His chest was warm against your palms, all firm lines and soft skin, and you couldn’t stop your hands from roaming.

“God, you’re unreal,” you muttered.

“Right back at you,” he said, already working on the zipper of your dress.

Clothes came off in between kisses and breathless laughter, piece by piece—your dress hitting the floor, his jeans half-kicked off before he stepped out of them entirely. By the time you tumbled onto his bed, you were down to just your bra and panties, and he was in nothing but his boxers, hovering over you with flushed cheeks and heavy-lidded eyes.

And still kissing you like he couldn’t get enough.

“You never told me you had a showcase,” you murmured later as you lay on his chest, slightly breathless from the makeout session your fingers absentmindedly tracing the curve of his biceps.

He shrugged. “Didn’t know if you’d want to come.”

You looked up at him. “I’d love to. You know I’d love to.”

His ears pinked at your earnestness. “It’s not much. Just a small gallery set-up. Some portraits, mostly candid stuff. I’ve been working on this series of people mid-laugh.”

“That’s adorable,” you whispered and meant it.

Mingyu ran his hand down your back, fingertips grazing the base of your spine. “You have a very nice butt,” he said, dropping a kiss on your shoulder.

You turned, smirking. “Do you plan to fuck it?”

His face went crimson. “Hey! That’s unfair.”

“Why? I’m merely asking questions.”

“You’re mean.”

You rolled onto your back, stretching. “Do you remember that night in the shower? After the party, when you touched me there…it felt so fucking good.”

Mingyu groaned and immediately rolled away from you. “Nope. No. We’re not doing this.”

You blinked. “Excuse me?”

He stood, pulling on his sweatpants like it was armour. “I already broke the rule once. We said no sex until we’re ready, and I want to do this right.”

You narrowed your eyes. “You realise all I’m wearing is my bra and panties?”

He winced. “You’re killing me.”

You sat up. “So what? You just want me to deal with it? Touch myself and journal about it later?”

The words spilled out before you could stop them, and Mingyu’s head jerked toward you.

Oh no. You hated the way it sounded. You could feel it—the guilt slowly bubbling under your ribs like carbonated dread.

“I didn’t mean—”

“I know,” he interrupted. “I’m sorry for snapping. I just… I really like you, okay?”

You softened. “Let’s make a new rule: no more dates at anyone’s house until we’re ready to break all the rules.”

He smiled and tugged you back to bed. “Deal.”

You curled into his chest, his heartbeat steady beneath your ear. And yet, your mind was elsewhere. On your laptop, your notes, the dates you were documenting. You wondered if he would’ve ever agreed to be part of your “research” if he had known.

You were halfway to falling for him. And he didn’t even know he was being measured.

~~

“Have you told him yet?” Joshua asked you the next morning, watching you poke at your cereal like it had personally wronged you.

You didn’t look up. “No.”

“How many dates has it been?”

You mumbled, “Ten.”

“Y/N.”

“I know. I know, okay?” You sighed, “I’m telling him. Just… not tonight. He is preparing for his showcase. I don’t want to mess with his head.”

Joshua narrowed his eyes but let it go—for now. ~~

The gallery was empty, but you could see Mingyu inside preparing for his showcase at the end of the week. Minimalist lighting, deep charcoal walls, the soft hum of polite conversation. You stood in front of one of Mingyu’s photographs, a candid of an older couple laughing over a chessboard. It made your chest ache.

“You came,” Mingyu whispered, suddenly appearing beside you.

“I’m almost done here, just ensuring the lights and all are set for the showcase, at the end of the week.”

You turned to smile at him, but his tie was crooked and his hair was slightly damp—like he’d been nervously running his fingers through it all evening.

“You look like someone’s proud boyfriend,” you teased.

He blinked. “Am I?”

Your breath caught. You didn’t answer.

You were walking home, your heels in your hand, when Mingyu tugged you under a streetlamp.

“I didn’t want to ask you like this,” he said, his voice unsteady, “but I’ve known for a while now… I like you, and we’ve been through so much, but I like you. A lot. You make me nervous in the best way. You make me want to be better. So—” he swallowed, “—will you be my girlfriend?”

You stared at him. You should’ve said it right then. About the article. The dates. The reason you were writing everything down.

But you didn’t.

You just said yes. And kissed him so he couldn’t hear your guilt screaming in your throat.

“You said yes,” Mingyu whispered into your hair, almost in disbelief. You could feel the grin on his face as his hands slid around your waist and pulled you into a deeper hug. His voice was low, warm, and giddy. “I have a girlfriend.”

You laughed softly into his chest, but guilt bloomed like ink in water.

“I was going to ask you another day, actually on the day of my showcase, well after it,” he said, pulling back just enough to look at you. “I had this whole plan. Photos of you projected behind me, a cheesy slideshow. But tonight felt… right.”

Your stomach twisted. Photos of you?

“You’re serious?” You asked, half smiling. Mingyu nodded, almost shyly. “I’ve been taking candids whenever you weren’t looking,” he admitted. “I know, creepy boyfriend behaviour. But they’re… they’re beautiful. You’re beautiful. I wanted to capture how you make me feel when I look at you.”

You didn’t know what to say. A part of you wanted to cry — from the sweetness, and the shame.

“That’s really… thoughtful,” you said, trying not to choke on the words. Your smile faltered. “I can’t wait to see it.”

But you could barely look him in the eye.

That night, after Mingyu walked you home and kissed you with all the sweetness in the world, you sat on your bed with your journal open on your lap. You hadn’t written anything since the first few dates. The number six still stared back at you, innocent and clinical. You hadn’t added the last four dates. You didn’t know how to write about the way he made you laugh when you were angry. Or how he told you he dreamed of printing photos in black and white because that’s how he saw the world when you weren’t in it. Or how his lips felt against your forehead after he sang on stage like he was made of stardust.

You crossed out the six and wrote nine.

Then stared at it for a long time.

You closed the notebook and shoved it into your work bag. 

You’d tell him. You had to. But not tonight. Not when he was smiling so brightly. Not when he called you his girlfriend like he’d been waiting his whole life to say it.

You curled into bed, burying your face into your pillow, guilt prickling at the edges of your happiness.

Soon, you told yourself. You’d tell him soon.

~~

The next few days blurred into a montage of camera flashes, coffee dates, and late-night phone calls where Mingyu would talk about lighting setups and lens choices like he was describing magic.

“I’m thinking of opening with black and whites,” he said over the phone one night, his voice sleepy. “The ones I took of you. You know, that photo from the coffee shop? You were laughing at something dumb I said.”

You clutched the phone tighter. “You took a photo of that?”

“I take photos of everything,” he said. “But that one… that one’s my favourite.”

You didn’t know whether to melt or cry. “I can’t believe I’m going to be in a gallery,” you said, your voice lighter than you felt.

“You’re not just in the gallery,” he chuckled. “You’re the inspiration.”

You could hear the grin in his voice. And you wished you could deserve it.

By Thursday, Mingyu was knee-deep in final edits. You stopped by his place with snacks and coffee, trying not to let your nerves get the better of you.

Seungcheol glanced up from the couch. “Hey, muse,” he teased. “He hasn’t stopped pacing for two hours.”

You smiled awkwardly. “I brought croissants.”

Mingyu looked up from his laptop like he hadn’t noticed you come in. “You’re here,” he breathed, and suddenly all the tension in his body melted. “Come see.”

He beckoned you over, pulling you gently into his chair as he stood behind you. Dozens of thumbnails filled the screen — shots of city streets, shadows cast on faces, hands mid-gesture — and scattered among them were photos of you.

One of you reading in the park. One with your hair messy and your lips parted in laughter. One where you were looking directly at the camera, unaware he’d even lifted it.

“Gyu,” you said softly. “These are…”

He rested his chin on your shoulder. “You always say you don’t know how you look when you’re not trying,” he murmured. “I do.”

You didn’t trust your voice. You turned toward him, and he kissed your cheek gently.

And all you could think about was the notebook in your work bag and the words “latest article” scribbled across the first page.

Later that night, curled up together on his couch as he scrolled through playlists for the showcase. 

“You okay? You’ve been quiet.”

He hesitated. The words perched on his lips like a bird on a wire.

“I’m just nervous,” he said instead. “Big night coming up.”

You squeezed his hand. “You’ll be amazing.”

You almost laughed at the irony. Instead, you smiled and leaned into him, hoping he wouldn’t notice the way your heart had started to race.

~~

You stood outside the gallery, trying to convince yourself your knees weren’t trembling. The venue was elegant — all high ceilings, exposed brick, and warm ambient lighting. Mingyu’s name was printed in glossy serif font across the entrance: Kim Mingyu: Through My Lens.

You took a breath. Then another.

“Are you going to walk in?” Joshua whispered behind you, “or just stare at the door until the exhibit’s over?”

You shot him a glare but let him loop his arm through yours.

“I can’t tell if I’m nervous for him,” you muttered, “or just a horrible person.”

“You’re not a horrible person,” Joshua replied easily. “Just… an occasionally dumb one.”

“Thanks,” you grumbled.

“You look beautiful, by the way,” he added as you stepped through the door.

The second you entered, it was as if the air changed. Soft music played overhead, the scent of white wine and something citrusy floating in the space. People lingered over photographs mounted on pristine white walls, murmuring appreciatively. You spotted Seokmin and Keira by the drinks table, and Wonwoo near the back corner with Mia.

And then your eyes landed on him.

Mingyu was in black slacks, a crisp button-down, sleeves rolled up, the camera still slung around his neck even though tonight wasn’t about taking photos — it was about showing them.

When he saw you, his smile was so instant and so sincere it nearly shattered you.

“Y/N,” he said, slipping his hand into yours as you approached. “You came.”

“You asked me to,” you said softly, “I wouldn’t miss this.”

His hand lingered at your waist as he leaned down. “You look breathtaking,” he whispered.

You smiled, kissed him quickly before you lost your nerve. “So do you, artist boy.”

Mingyu turned you toward the display. “Come on. I want to show you something.”

You followed him through the crowd, weaving past strangers and small talk until you reached the far wall — a quiet corner lit by a single spotlight.

There were three frames there.

The first was a cityscape at sunrise. The second was a candid of Seungcheol asleep on the couch with a book covering his face. And the third was you.

The photo was simple: you, sitting at a window, eyes closed, sunlight brushing against your cheeks like a secret. It looked like peace. Like love.

Your breath caught.

“I call it Falling,” Mingyu said softly.

You swallowed. “That’s…”

He smiled down at you. “I took it three weeks after we met, when we were hanging out in the park, that’s when I realized I was in trouble.”

You opened your mouth, but no words came.

“I’m serious,” he added, his voice barely audible over the soft clinks of wine glasses and distant chatter. “I knew you were going to wreck me, and I didn’t care.”

You could feel your heart cave in on itself.

“Gyu,” you whispered, and he turned to you, expectant.

But you couldn’t do it.

You couldn’t ruin this night.

So instead you leaned up and kissed him, slow and soft. “It’s beautiful,” you whispered. “You’re beautiful.”

He wrapped his arms around you and pressed a kiss to your temple. “Let’s celebrate later. After this, it’s just you and me.”

You nodded, your smile shaky. “I’d like that.”

But the words stayed trapped in your throat like a secret begging to be released.

~~

The showcase wrapped up to rounds of applause, handshakes, and endless praise. You watched from the sidelines as Mingyu basked in the limelight — cheeks flushed with pride, hair slightly tousled, still laughing from something Seungcheol said. He looked like he belonged in a painting, and for a moment, you felt like the luckiest person in the room.

But also, the most deceitful.

He found you again before you could spiral too far. “Come on,” he whispered, curling his fingers around yours. “My place. Just us.”

You nodded, letting him lead you out of the crowd, out of the venue, out of the guilt temporarily.

Mingyu's apartment smelled like him. Warm, slightly musky, with a hint of cologne and something sweet — the remnants of a scented candle from weeks ago. You curled up on his sofa while he kicked off his shoes and brought over two glasses of wine.

“To you,” he said, raising his glass.

You blinked. “Me?”

“For showing up. For holding my hand through all this. For being the reason I made half those pieces.”

You stared at him, heart in your throat. “Mingyu…”

He leaned closer. “Can I say something stupid?”

You nodded.

“I think you’re it for me.”

Your heart stopped. You couldn’t breathe. The wine turned to acid in your stomach.

“I mean, we haven’t even been together properly that long, but every time I see you, it feels like everything falls into place.” He laughed softly, bashfully. “Sorry. That was probably too much.”

“No,” you choked, voice barely holding steady. “It’s not. I just…”

You paused, fingers tightening around your wine glass.

Say it. Tell him. Just say it.

“I’m really lucky,” you said instead, forcing the words out like poison disguised as honey. “Lucky to have you.”

Mingyu smiled at you like you’d handed him the world. He reached for you and pulled you into his lap. “You’re beautiful,” he murmured. “You know that?”

You nodded against his chest, burying your face in his shirt. You couldn’t look at him. You didn’t deserve to.

His fingers stroked lazily up your spine. “I’m happy,” he said, like it was the simplest thing in the world.

You swallowed the truth. You kissed him instead.

The guilt didn’t disappear. It just burrowed deeper.

And as his lips brushed against your collarbone, his arms wrapping tighter around you like you were everything he’d ever wanted—you promised yourself, next time. Next time, you'd tell him.

You had to.

~~

“Y/N, do you have a hair tie? I’m trying to see how I’ll look with a ponytail,” Mingyu called out to you one evening later from the living room, his voice light.

You smiled, “yeah, in my bag!” You called back, tugging your blanket tighter around you. You didn’t think twice—Mingyu had gone through your bag a dozen times before, always fishing for snacks or stealing your lip balm. You only grew concerned when the silence stretched a little too long.

“Gyu?” You asked, walking out of the bedroom.

And then your heart stopped.

Mingyu stood completely still in the middle of your living room, your journal clutched in his hands like it had scalded him. His brows were furrowed, lips parted in disbelief, and you could tell he had been flipping through it for a while. You followed his gaze to the open page. Your handwriting. His name.

Your stomach dropped.

“What the fuck is this?” Mingyu’s voice was quiet. Too quiet.

You blinked. “Mingyu—”

“Are you seriously rating me?” He said, louder now, shaking the journal for emphasis. “Is this what this was to you? A fucking science experiment?”

You took a step toward him, arms up as if approaching a wild animal. “Gyu, I can explain—”

“No. Don’t. Because right now my brain is running in circles trying to understand how the hell I could be so fucking stupid.” He threw the journal on the couch like it physically burned him. “I thought I was in something real with you, Y/N. I thought this meant something.”

“It does,” you whispered.

“Does it?” He snapped. “Because you sure as hell didn’t act like it. You wrote down bullet points like I was some test subject. You kept track of our dates like I was a fucking checklist.”

You flinched, guilt crushing your chest. “I was going to tell you.”

“When?” His laugh was sharp, humourless. “After you published it? After you hit ten dates and figured out whether I made the cut or not?”

“No! God, no. I just… I didn’t expect to actually fall for you.”

Mingyu’s jaw tightened. “That doesn’t make this better.”

“I didn’t think it’d go this far,” you continued, helpless now. “It started as an idea, a pitch for a column. But then we kept going out, and it stopped feeling like research. I started liking you. A lot. I still do.”

He stared at you, breathing hard. And then he said, so quietly it was almost a whisper, “So the night you said yes to being my girlfriend… you still wrote about me?”

Your silence was answer enough.

Mingyu let out a strangled laugh, blinking rapidly. “Cool. So the moment I thought I’d finally found someone who actually gave a shit about me, I was just another subject in your notebook.”

“No, Mingyu, please don’t say that—”

“Why not? It’s true, isn’t it?” He shouted. “You let me fall for you while you kept notes behind my back. You smiled at me, kissed me, touched me—and you were always thinking about your next paragraph.”

You took a shaky breath, reaching for him, but he recoiled like you’d burned him. “Don’t,” he said, voice low and dangerous. “Don’t touch me.”

You felt your throat tighten. “Gyu, please. I know I should have told you, I just—I was scared. Scared it would ruin what we had.”

“Well, it’s ruined now,” he said coldly. “So congratulations.”

“Mingyu—”

He brushed past you, but paused at the door. “You know what hurts the most? I told you things I’ve never said out loud. I let you in.” His voice cracked then, just a little. “And all the while, you were writing me down like I was disposable.”

And then he left.

You sank onto the floor, the weight of everything collapsing on top of you. The journal sat on the couch, open and damning. You couldn’t even look at it.

You had wanted to fall for him.

Now you weren’t sure you’d ever stop. ~~

You woke up the following morning to silence. No hum of Mingyu’s heater, no soft snores beside you, no faint scent of his cologne in the air. Just your own bedroom, dim and cold.

Your eyes blinked open slowly, heavy, as if even they didn’t want to face the light. The moment you tried to sit up, a dull ache pulsed behind your eyes, the aftermath of hours spent crying into your pillow.

You reached for your phone automatically, more out of habit than hope. No new messages. You hadn’t expected one… but some small part of you still wanted it. Still wanted him.

You groaned softly, dragging your blanket over your head like it might shield you from your own thoughts. But it couldn’t. Not from the way he’d looked at you. Like he didn’t recognize you. Like something in him had cracked—and you had no idea if it would ever be whole again.

You got up eventually, padding into the bathroom. Your reflection startled you: eyes puffy and red, lips chapped, skin blotchy from salt and regret. You splashed your face with cold water, trying to erase the damage, but the guilt clung stubbornly beneath your skin.

The kitchen was too quiet, too neat. You set a pot of water to boil, more for the comfort of routine than any real desire to eat.

As you leaned against the counter, your phone buzzed again.

Still no messages from Mingyu.

Just a calendar reminder. Dinner with Gyu — 7PM ❤️

You deleted it. And still, your chest ached like you'd just done something irreversible.

You whispered into the silence, “I’m sorry.”

But no one was there to hear it. It was just you sat in the living room, feeling awful. 

The front door creaked open sometime late afternoon, followed by the shuffle of sneakers and the low hum of conversation.

“Should we pick up more oat milk next time?” Joshua’s voice drifted down the hall.

“I’m not the one finishing it in two days,” Wonwoo replied, a teasing lilt in his voice.

You didn’t move from where you sat, curled into the far corner of the couch with your knees pulled to your chest, your oversized hoodie practically swallowing you whole. The television was on, playing a random episode of a show you weren’t watching. A forgotten cup of tea sat cold on the coffee table.

Joshua was the first to see you. “Y/N?” His voice softened instantly. “Hey... what’s wrong?”

Wonwoo paused behind him, his eyes immediately taking in the puffiness around your eyes, the slumped shoulders, the blank stare.

“Y/N?” Joshua’s voice shifted instantly. You hadn’t even realized your face had crumpled until you saw the way both their heads snapped up. “What happened?” He asked again, this time standing up, eyes narrowing as he caught sight of the way your shoulders shook.

“He knows, he found out.” 

Joshua was beside you in a second, arms wrapping around you as you sank into him. You didn’t even bother holding it together anymore. You let yourself sob, the ugly kind, the kind that made your throat burn and your chest ache. Joshua whispered something softly—comforting, aimless sounds—and rubbed your back.

Wonwoo stood silently, his jaw tight as he looked down at the journal, then back up at you.

“I didn’t mean to hurt him,” you finally whispered after a while. “I really didn’t.”

Joshua pulled back just enough to see your face. “What happened?”

You wiped your face with the sleeve of your hoodie. “He found it. The journal. The whole damn thing. I think he was looking for a hair tie or something, and it just… fell out.”

Wonwoo closed his eyes and let out a long breath.

“He thought it’d be cute or romantic or something,” you said, your voice hollow. “You know, me scribbling little lovestruck notes. But instead, he found ratings. Fucking ratings. Breakdown charts. He read them all. And then he looked at me like I was the worst person he’d ever met.”

“What did you say?” Joshua asked gently.

“That it was for an article. That I had this stupid idea—this dumb, terrible idea—and that I didn’t mean for it to go that far.” You looked down at your hands. “But it did. I fell for him, and I never told him the truth, and now he thinks everything I said was a lie.”

Neither of them said anything.

“He stormed out. Thinks I’m a liar. Asked if I had to force myself on dates with him just to see how long it would take to fall for someone like him. Like he wasn’t enough on his own.”

Joshua sighed and sat back down, rubbing his temple.

“I begged him to listen. Told him I didn’t mean to hurt him. That I’d planned to tell him. But he just—he didn’t believe a word of it.”

“And now?” Wonwoo finally asked, voice flat.

“I don’t know,” you said quietly. “I don’t think there is a now.”

~~

You hadn’t planned on coming by. Honestly, you weren’t even sure what you were doing until your knuckles rapped twice against the door to Mingyu’s apartment. There was a half-second where you considered turning around, pretending like you’d never shown up. But the door swung open before you could.

“Y/N?” Seokmin blinked at you in surprise. “Hey, wow. Uh—Mingyu didn’t say you were coming by?”

You offered him a small, nervous smile. “I just... wanted to talk to him. Is he in?”

Seokmin hesitated. “Yeah, he's around... sure, come in.” He stepped aside, gesturing for you to walk through. You did, clutching your bag a little tighter to your side. You didn’t know what you were hoping for. A moment. A conversation. A sliver of the version of Mingyu who used to laugh when you messed up the coffee order.

The apartment was quiet. Too quiet.

Then, Mingyu stepped out of the hallway, stopping dead when he saw you.

“What the fuck are you doing here?” His voice wasn’t raised yet, but it landed like a slap. 

Cold.

Sharp.

You flinched. “I just wanted to talk.”

“Oh, you want to talk now?” He scoffed, running a hand through his hair. “That’s rich, coming from someone who spent weeks documenting me like a lab rat.”

“Mingyu, please—”

“No. Don’t ‘please’ me.” He was walking toward you now, slow and deliberate. “Do you think I’m stupid? That I wouldn’t find out eventually? You thought you could just scribble notes behind my back, rate my kisses out of ten, and I’d what—fall even harder for you?”

You opened your mouth, but Mingyu was already shaking his head.

“Seokmin, why the hell did you let her in?” Mingyu snapped.

Seokmin looked between the two of you, piecing together what he had clearly walked into the middle of. “I didn’t know... I didn’t know she—”

“Yeah, well, now you do.” Mingyu’s gaze flicked back to you, burning. “Did you come back to take more notes? See what heartbreak looks like up close?”

“Gyu, I just needed to explain,” you said, voice cracking. “It wasn’t supposed to go like this. I didn’t mean to hurt you.”

“Then why did you?” He asked bitterly. “You chose to keep lying. You chose to keep writing.”

“I was going to stop,” you said quietly.

“But you didn’t,” he bit back. “You kept going. Even after I told you how I felt. Even after I asked you to be mine. You rated the date that same night, didn’t you? What was it—an eight? A nine? Was it good content at least?”

Your throat closed up.

“I was falling for you,” you whispered. “I still am.”

He laughed—a harsh, humorless sound. “Too late. You already wrote the ending.”

You took a step forward, and he took one back.

“Don’t. Don’t look at me like that. Like you’re the one who’s heartbroken. You wrote this story, Y/N. You chose the arc. And now you get to live with the ending,” Mingyu’s voice cracked, and for a second, just a second, you saw it. The pain. The betrayal buried under all that rage. The way his eyes shone—not with hate, but heartbreak.

With all the noise you noticed that Seungcheol had stepped out of his bedroom to see what the commotion was about. 

You wanted to reach for him.

But you didn’t.

You couldn’t.

You saw how they all looked at you–their expressions cold, unreadable, like they didn’t even recognize you anymore. You bent down slowly, the weight of the moment pressing on your spine, and collected your scattered things. 

“Mingyu…” you whispered, one last attempt.

But it was Seungcheol who answered, you didn’t even know when he left his room to join the commotion he heard outside.  his voice cutting through the silence like a blade. “Leave. For your own good, leave.”

You nodded. Numb. Ashamed. You turned without another word and closed the door behind you.

The second it clicked shut, the tears came fast and merciless. You barely made it down the hallway before they overwhelmed you, hot and humiliating. By the time you stumbled into your own apartment, your face was blotchy, your breaths short and uneven.

You didn’t laugh. You couldn’t.

“Well?” Joshua asked softly.

“He’s done with me,” you choked, “and please, if you can spare me the I told you so lecture—” But the rest of the sentence never made it out. It dissolved into broken sobs as you crumpled into Joshua’s chest. His arms wrapped tightly around you without hesitation, while Wonwoo just let out a sigh of disappointment. 

They didn’t say much that night. There wasn’t much to say.

You were silent through dinner. Silent through the movie Joshua tried to put on to distract you. Silent even when you crawled into bed hours later, the covers pulled over your head like they could shield you from the reality you’d created.

It had only been a day since it happened, but already the weight of it sat on your chest like a brick.

~~

The next afternoon, as you walked home from work — eyes bleary and head pounding — you spotted Seokmin across the street. He didn’t wave. Just kept walking. You jogged across to meet him.

“Seokmin,” you called, a little breathless. “Please, I didn’t mean to hurt him.”

Seokmin turned, slow and stiff. His face was unreadable at first, then slowly twisted into something sharper. “Just go back to pretending you never knew us, yeah?” he muttered. “You’ve done enough damage.”

You swallowed hard, heart lurching. “Will he ever forgive me?”

Seokmin’s jaw tightened. “Who knows. You don’t deserve it. But if you’re lucky… he’ll forget you.”

You blinked back the sting in your eyes. But Seokmin didn’t wait for your response. He shook his head in disgust, walked up the steps to their apartment, and slammed the door in your face.

You stood there for a long time. Just breathing. Just trying not to fall apart again.

~~

You hadn’t expected anyone at your door that afternoon, so when you opened it and were met with a stranger, you were already bracing to explain you weren’t in the mood for conversation. But then she smiled politely and said. “Hi, oh shit you’re not Mingyu, I must have the wrong apartment. ”

You blinked, as a beautiful woman with soft curls, glossy lips, familiar doe-eyed charm greeted you outside your door. 

“You’re looking for Mingyu?” You asked, your voice flatter than intended.

“Yup!” She said, eyes lighting up. 

You nodded slowly, lips pressed tight. “Yeah. The doors look the same.” 

Before she could respond, the door across the hall swung open. “Hey, baby,” Mingyu’s voice floated out, smooth and warm like nothing had happened. “Sorry, I disturbed your neighbor. All the doors look the same.”

The girl giggled and practically leapt into his arms.

“Missed me?” She asked.

Mingyu smirked at her, eyes flicking up to meet yours for a second. That smile you once thought was just for you felt like a blade this time. “Let me show you how much,” he said, pulling her into his apartment.

“Mingyu, I’m sorry,” you said quietly, not knowing why you did. Reflex, maybe. Hope, maybe.

He rolled his eyes and let out a scoff, the door slamming shut before you could get another word out.

You closed your own door gently, like the sound might shatter you if it echoed too loud.

“Y/N?” You turned to find Wonwoo entering the living room. You hadn’t even heard him come up behind you.

“He has a girl over. He’s moving on. And I...” Your voice cracked before you could finish. The lump in your throat grew too big, too fast.

Wonwoo stepped closer, placing the groceries down and wrapping his arms around you. You leaned in, too exhausted to pretend you weren’t breaking anymore.

“I need to fix this,” you whispered into his sweater.

Wonwoo let out a slow sigh as he pulled back. “Or you could just let it go,” he said gently. “Mia wasn’t impressed by it either.”

You stepped away from him, frustration bubbling up beneath your grief. “Who told you to tell her?”

“I didn’t,” Wonwoo replied, his tone calm but stern. “She asked. And you think she wouldn’t have heard it from the others? I told her what happened, and yeah—she got mad. Not just at you. At me too. She’s upset you hurt someone like him.”

You closed your eyes. “I didn’t mean to. I just—I wanted to fall for him. I wanted to try. And I did.”

“Then let him heal,” Wonwoo said quietly. “Maybe he’ll come back to you.”

“And if he doesn’t?”

“Then maybe it means he’s not supposed to.”

You nodded slowly, the ache in your chest pulsing harder. ~~

You had been chased out of your apartment by Joshua, something about you moping and crying killed aura, and plus he said you needed to get out. So while you where in the grocery store, you didn’t expect to see Mingyu. You certainly didn’t expect him to catch you staring at a magazine with the poster from the movie How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days. ​​Because that was you. You were Andie Anderson, and you’d lost him. Not in ten days, but close enough. You reached out for the magazine, maybe just to laugh at the irony.

“That’s rich.” The familiar voice hit you like a slap. You turned to find Mingyu standing a few feet away, arms crossed, a smirk that didn’t quite meet his eyes.

“Looking for more inspiration to screw someone over?” His voice was sharp, slicing through the aisle like a whip.

You turned slowly, heart already sinking. “No. I wasn’t.”

He glanced pointedly at the magazine. “Actually, the funny thing is—you didn’t even need ten days.”

You didn’t answer, just grabbed a basket and kept moving. Mingyu stayed behind for a moment, then stepped up beside you. “You tried to see how long it’d take for you to like me. You lost me instead. Ironic, huh?”

You flinched, but didn’t stop. You just grabbed your milk, turned toward the cashier.

By the time you paid, rain had started pouring outside like some kind of melodramatic movie set. Your umbrella was sitting back at your apartment. Of course.

“Fuck,” you muttered, arms full of groceries, glaring at the downpour like you could will it away.

“Need a ride?”

You turned around slowly. Mingyu. Hands in pockets, shoulders tense.

You shook your head. “I’ll wait.”

“It’s going to pour for hours. Don’t be ridiculous.”

“I don’t want to inconvenience you.”

Mingyu grabbed the bags from your arms anyway. “This is not an inconvenience, you dating me for an article and breaking my heart? That was an inconvenience.”

You followed him out in silence, too tired to fight.

The drive was quiet, tense. The rain drummed on the roof like it was keeping time with your heartbeat.

“I’m not writing the article anymore,” you said softly, breaking the silence.

Mingyu didn’t look at you. “Because you didn’t get enough content?”

You looked down at your hands. “Because it doesn’t matter anymore.”

“I don’t care if you write it or not,” he muttered. “I don’t care about anything that involves you anymore.”

You nodded, throat burning.

“I didn’t mean to let it go that far,” you whispered.

“Don’t,” Mingyu said, his voice suddenly small. “Just don’t.”

You shrank into your seat.

“She’s pretty,” you said after a moment. “That girl. She seems light. Happy, and pretty.”

Mingyu said nothing, eyes fixed on the road. But he tightened his grip on the wheel.

You glanced down, feeling foolish, and reached out to rest a hand over his. He flinched.

You pulled away instantly.

“I can carry my bags,” you said.

“I know,” Mingyu replied. But he still walked you all the way to your apartment and didn’t say another word.

~~The elevator ride was agonizingly silent, save for the soft hum of movement and the rhythmic buzz of the floor numbers lighting up. You didn’t dare look at Mingyu, not when your reflection in the metallic doors already looked wrecked enough. His jaw was tight, eyes fixed on a spot just above your head like if he made eye contact, he’d combust.

The ding of your floor felt more like a punch to the gut. You stepped out, expecting him to turn around and go, but he didn’t. He followed you.

“Mingyu?” You asked softly, turning to look at him as you unlocked your door. His arms were full of your groceries, but it wasn’t the gesture that threw you. It was the fact that he looked more exhausted than angry now—like he'd screamed himself hoarse in silence, and only ashes were left.

He didn��t answer. Just walked past you once the door opened and placed the bags gently on the kitchen counter. You watched him, unsure what to do. Unsure how much space to give someone who already felt galaxies away.

“Oh uh you-,” you said after a beat, trying to sound firm but it came out smaller than intended.

“Save it, I’m just dropping this off,” Mingyu replied without looking at you. “I’m just dropping this off.”

He lingered by the door, hands in his jacket pockets now, as if grounding himself. “Do you… want anything?” You asked, and it felt like asking a stranger if they needed water before they left your home forever.

He looked up at you then, and for a second, you saw something. Sadness? Regret? Longing? You weren’t sure. It flickered across his face and disappeared before you could name it.

“I wanted to hate you, you know?” He said, voice low. “That night, I really thought I could. But then I remembered everything else. The way you’d smile at me when you thought I wasn’t looking. The way you’d write things down when you were nervous. The way your voice always cracked just a little when you were excited. You didn’t make it easy.”

You swallowed hard, tears already welling again. “So you don’t hate me?”

Mingyu shook his head. “No. I think that’s what makes this worse.”

Your breath hitched. “Then what now?”

“I don’t know,” he said honestly. “I still can’t look at you without remembering that I was just another chapter in a story you were writing. Whether or not it became real for you, I’ll never stop wondering if it ever started that way.”

You didn’t respond. You couldn’t. Every word felt like another nail into your chest, and you weren’t sure if it was guilt or grief that made your throat ache more.

“I should go,” he said quietly, already stepping backward toward the door. “But for what it’s worth, I hope the story was worth it.”

“Mingyu, wait—” you called out as he turned the doorknob, but he shook his head.

“Don’t,” he said, not unkindly. “Don’t make this harder than it already is.”

Determined to show how much you cared for him, you still continued to speak. “I really hope that she makes you happy; you deserve it. I’m so sorry.”

Mingyu looked at you then—really looked. But there was no softness in his gaze, no flicker of the man who once spooned you in his sleep just to be closer.

He stepped away from your reach, disgust curling on his face like it physically hurt him to see you cry.

“I hope that you never find love, Y/N.”

 He said it low, like a curse.

“Because you don’t deserve it.”

The door clicked shut with all the finality of a goodbye you weren’t ready to accept.

You stood in your kitchen, surrounded by your groceries, heart pounding in your ears and chest aching. You didn’t even realize you’d started crying until the sound of your own sob cracked through the silence.

Then he was gone. The door slammed shut before you could blink, and you stood there, a hand still reaching out for him like some pathetic remnant of a memory. The sob left your throat before you could stop it, and this time you didn’t bother to wipe it away.

You didn’t deserve to.

~~

The next morning, your eyes were puffy, your voice hoarse, and your heart too hollow to carry the weight of your body properly. You dragged yourself into the office anyway, needing the distraction, needing something to hold onto.

Keira spotted you before you could slip past her.

“Y/N, can I speak to you?”

You stopped, wincing. God, you weren’t ready for another confrontation.

“Hey,” you muttered as you stepped into her office.

“Can you shut the door behind you?” She asked gently.

Your stomach dropped. “Please don’t fire me,” you said with a half-laugh, though it came out far more desperate than funny.

Keira softened. “Honey, I’m not going to fire you. I’m calling you in because I’m concerned. You look like you haven’t slept in days. And you scrapped the article?”

You sank into the chair across from her, shoulders folding inward like you were bracing for impact.

“It’s a long story.”

Keira studied you for a moment, then reached for her purse.

“Okay, how’s this? We skip the desks and head to the bar across the street. You tell me everything over a very strong drink. My treat.”

You blinked at her. That small gesture—kindness without demand—was enough to make your throat tighten.

“Yeah,” you whispered. “I’d really like that.”

And for the first time in days, you felt a flicker of something that almost resembled relief.

~~

“So,” Keira said, finishing off her drink and eyeing your fourth glass like it personally offended her. “Do you like him?”

You didn’t even hesitate. You nodded, your fingers curled tightly around the rim of your glass as though the condensation might cool down the burn behind your eyes. “Yeah,” you said quietly, “I do.”

Keira leaned her chin into her palm, her eyes narrowing as she watched you. “Then go get him.”

You laughed. It wasn’t a pretty sound. “He told me I don’t deserve love.” You stared down into your drink. “And maybe he’s not wrong. I hurt him.”

“Sweetheart,” Keira said, straightening her spine, “you did a stupid thing. A spectacularly dumb thing. But that boy likes you, and he’s bleeding all over you because he’s hurt, not because he doesn’t care.” She reached out and gave your hand a gentle squeeze. “Don’t give up on him just because he’s angry.”

But her words barely reached you. Your mind was elsewhere—caught in the sound of his laughter, in the way he used to absentmindedly brush your hair behind your ear, the warmth in his voice when he called you by your name like it meant something.

You blinked, and suddenly you were crying.

“Hey, no tears tonight,” Keira said quickly, passing you a tissue from her purse. “Drinks first, tears later.”

It was a promise you failed to keep.

Two more drinks in, and you were barely standing. Keira kissed your cheek and called you a cab, but you insisted on taking the bus. Said something about needing to “feel things.” You weren’t sure what that meant now. By the time you reached your apartment building, you were too drunk to even recognize your floor. You stumbled into the elevator and prayed to whatever higher power existed that your key would match the door.

You cursed under your breath as your keys jangled uselessly in the lock. “Why won’t you open?” you muttered, knees buckling as you reached forward again—and missed. Your balance tipped, your body about to crash into the floor when strong arms caught you mid-fall.

Your head lolled against a familiar chest.

“Y/N,” Mingyu said, sighing. “You’re trying to break into my apartment.”

You blinked up at him, all wide eyes and bright smile. “This isn’t mine?”

“No it’s not,” he said, dragging a hand down his face. “Come on. You’re drunk.”

“I’m allowed to be drunk,” you mumbled stubbornly.

“It’s literally seven p.m.”

You beamed. “Then I’m very early.”

Mingyu didn’t laugh. He groaned, lifting you with ease and carrying you into his apartment. “You’re lucky Seokmin and Seungcheol aren’t home,” he muttered. “They’d kill you for this.”

You let your head fall against his shoulder. “They’d have to catch me first.”

He sat you down on his bed and fetched a glass of water. “Drink. Please.”

You did as told, the cold water clearing your throat but not your thoughts. The alcohol had cracked your walls open, and guilt was spilling out in waves. “I shouldn’t be here,” you whispered.

“No kidding,” he replied, but his voice was gentler than his words.

“I don’t deserve you, or your kindness, or your stupid soft hoodies.”

Mingyu knelt in front of you, jaw tightening as he watched your face crumble.

“Your eyes are really sparkly,” you said, reaching out to touch his cheek. He flinched—just slightly—and the movement sliced right through you.

“I should go,” you whispered, making a shaky attempt to stand. You wobbled, and his hands shot out instinctively to steady you.

“Okay, let’s just get you lying down before you face-plant.”

You groaned. “I need to shower. I’ll just sleep naked. It’s fine.”

“You are absolutely not sleeping naked in my apartment,” he muttered, ears turning red.

You grinned, delighted by his discomfort. “You used to love when I was naked.”

“And now I just want you clothed and far away from my fragile self-respect.”

Eventually, he helped you to the bathroom. You showered—sloppily, messily, shampoo probably still in your hair. But you got through it. You managed to step out, towel clutched around you, and found him waiting exactly where he said he’d be—on the edge of your bed.

“See?” You mumbled. “Didn’t die.”

But the joke didn’t land. Not when you looked at him and remembered everything. The notebook. His shattered expression. The sound of his voice when he told you to leave.

“Mingyu?” You whispered, voice suddenly small.

He didn’t look at you. “Yeah?”

“I’m sorry.”

There it was. The truth. Raw and exposed and echoing through the air like an apology too late to be heard.

He turned slowly, his expression unreadable. “Seokmin said you’d never earn my forgiveness. But maybe, with enough luck, I’d forget you.”

You swallowed thickly. “Can you?”

“No,” he admitted, voice cracking. “I’ll never forget you. But forgive you?” He shook his head. “That’s something I don’t think I have in me.”

You nodded, and even as he stood and walked to the door, even as he didn’t look back, you whispered a soft. “I get it.”

Mingyu didn’t see the tears that fell the second the door closed behind him. But he heard the sound of your sob breaking the silence, and it tore him apart to keep walking.

~~“Oh, Y/N,” Keira sighed, tapping her mug against yours as the two of you sat in the quiet corner booth of your favorite café on a dreary Monday morning. “You’ve got it bad for him.”

You gave her a wry smile as you swirled your tea. “Yeah, well… that makes two of us, apparently.”

Keira raised an eyebrow, already sensing the storm brewing in your voice. “I have some news that’s probably going to ruin your morning.” You glanced up sharply. “Do not freak out,” she warned, glancing toward the main entrance of your office.

“What?” You asked, heartbeat stuttering. You turned—and froze.

Mingyu.

He walked in like he belonged there, tall and calm in his oversized hoodie, camera bag slung over his shoulder. Your stomach twisted into a knot.

“What the fuck,” you whispered under your breath.

Keira quickly stood and put on her most professional smile. “Mingyu, welcome! This is my main feature writer; I believe you’ve read her work?”

He nodded, eyes on you. “Yeah. Sandy Beaches.” His lips twitched at the name, and you wanted to murder Joshua for convincing you to use a beach pun as your pen name.

Mingyu turned to you, his voice clipped. “So, neighbor. You ready to do the artist spotlight on up-and-coming photographers?”

Keira let out a nervous laugh, clearly sensing the tension. “Okay, I’ll leave you two to it.” She bolted.

You led Mingyu to your office, conscious of every footstep behind you. The second the door closed, you rounded on him.

“What the hell is this?” you hissed.

He leaned casually against the wall. “Before you get mad, I was contacted the day of my showcase about doing a feature. I thought it’d be... ironic, you know? My girlfriend writing about me.”

“You know I can reassign this—”

“I don’t care,” he cut in coldly. “You write well. It’s just a profile. I figured I could survive your presence for an hour.”

You swallowed hard, voice softening. “I’ll need to see your work.”

He gave a humorless chuckle. “You already have. Remember the night you agreed to be my girlfriend? That was me, in my element.”

You said nothing. Guilt chewed away at your insides.

“Anyway,” Mingyu continued, “you know more about me than anyone else on staff. Do a decent job. Unless you’re planning to spin this into a tragic tale of the stupid boy who thought he was worth something.”

“Mingyu,” you sighed. “I didn’t lie.”

“No?” he snapped, pushing off the wall. “Then what do you call it?”

You didn’t answer.

“I came in as a formality for your boss,” he continued. “Not for you. You know enough—write your fluff piece, send it off, and we’ll both pretend it’s the end.”

He didn’t wait for a response as he walked out, slamming the door behind him.

~~

You were exhausted from the day’s emotional whiplash and stayed late at the office to avoid running into anyone. By the time you arrived home, it was well past midnight.

The elevator doors creaked open and you stepped out, only to be met with the sound of moaning echoing down the hallway. You frowned, pausing mid-step.

“Harder,” someone panted.

Your stomach dropped.

Your eyes followed the sound—and there she was. That same girl from who knocked on your door by mistake, the girl Mingyu was moving on with, pressed against the hallway wall, legs wrapped around Mingyu’s waist. His back was to you, hands gripping her thighs. Her head lolled back in bliss.

“Gyu, stop. Someone’s here,” she giggled.

“It’s okay,” he muttered. “She’s nobody.”

You blinked. And then you ran—into your apartment, slamming the door shut before the tears could fall. “Oh hi guys,” you greeted Joshua and Jihoon once you entered your apartment, and Jihoon simply stared at–correction–through you.  

Joshua looked up from his laptop. “You okay?”

You tried to smile. It cracked at the corners. “I guess being forgotten feels worse than being hated.”

Jihoon sat up straighter, jaw tightening. “So that’s why you’re mad? Because you hurt someone and now you have to watch them move on?”

“Jihoon,” Joshua warned quietly.

“No, I’m serious,” Jihoon snapped. “You don’t get to stomp on someone and then cry when they refuse to crawl back to you.”

You clenched your jaw, the shame burning under your skin. “I didn’t ask for a lecture.”

“Well, you’re getting one,” Jihoon stood. “Mingyu is like a little brother to me. I didn’t say anything because Joshua begged me not to. Said you were a good person. But I don’t see it.”

That was enough.

You turned without another word and left your apartment, ignoring Joshua’s calls. The hallway was empty—thank god. You slipped out the building and found the nearest bar.

By your second glass of wine, the edges had dulled just enough to stop shaking.

“Y/N?” A familiar voice called out.

You turned. Soonyoung, another one of Mingyu’s friend.

The only time you’d spoken was at the party months ago.

“Or should I say... heartless?” He said with a crooked grin.

You exhaled. “Hi, Soonyoung.”

He slid into the booth across from you. “Sorry, I just needed to get that out of the way. You don’t look great.”

“I’m not.”

He eyed your wine glass. “You drinking alone?”

“Apparently, that’s all I’m good for.”

Soonyoung watched you, head tilting. “Why did you do it? Why write about love like it’s a science experiment?”

You shrugged. “I guess I was scared. Falling for someone the normal way felt… too easy. Too vulnerable.”

He nodded slowly. “Yeah, well. You broke the rules. And now you’re stuck trying to rewrite an ending that was already perfect.”

You blinked down at your glass, throat tight.

“I didn’t mean to hurt him,” you said quietly.

“Okay, and why didn’t you tell him that? Like say something like hey I think I sort of have some feelings for you, but I want to go on a few dates to solidify them?” You sighed, dragging your finger around the rim of your empty glass. “Hindsight is clearly not my friend.”

Soonyoung nodded slowly. “So why are you here?”

You shrugged. “Well, I saw Mingyu with his fingers deep inside another girl, and he acted like I wasn’t even there. Then Jihoon, I guess, said what he wanted to.”

Soonyoung winced. “Yikes.”

“Why are you here?” You asked, frowning slightly.

“Just wanted to use their restrooms, and I saw you, so I decided to come by and grill you,” he replied, lips quirking. “Look, before I go—what you did was really fucked. But did you like him?”

You nodded wordlessly.

“I still do.”

Soonyoung sighed and leaned forward. “Then tell him. Be creative. Tell him until he acknowledges it. I’m not saying he’ll forgive you, but he’ll feel less like an idiot.”

You stared at the condensation slipping down your glass. “Why are you helping me?”

“I’m not,” he said. “I’m trying to help my buddy find some comfort in knowing that he’s someone worth loving, and not just a catchy headline.” Soonyoung sighed and then spoke again. “Y/N, just don’t wait too long if you really do like him. Before someone else writes the ending for you. Anyways, I think the staff here can tell I’m not a patron, so I’ll see you around, I guess. Take care!”

You watched him go, and when the door shut behind him, you realized just how quiet the bar had gotten. And how late it was. You’d lost track of time—again.

The chill in the air greeted you the moment you stepped outside, and it sank in just how far from home you really were. You turned a corner, tried to retrace your steps, but your stomach dropped when none of the streets looked familiar.

“Fuck,” you muttered.

You fumbled for your phone and called the one person you shouldn’t.

“Hello?” “Mingyu.” Your voice was small, unsure. “Hi, I know you hate me, but I… I’m lost.”

A groan crackled through the speaker. “You—”

“No, never mind. I’m sorry for bothering you,” you blurted, ending the call before he could say anything else.

Your screen dimmed before the app you opened for a taxi could even load. Your phone powered off completely in your hands.

“Fucking wonderful.”

You sat down on a nearby bench, staring into the dark, unsure if you should wait it out until morning or hope that someone—anyone—might pass by.

Just as your thoughts started spiraling and panic bloomed in your chest, a voice cut through the silence.

“Hey.”

You turned with a jolt, nearly jumping to your feet. But there they were—Mingyu’s familiar doe eyes, breath visible in the cold air. “So you hung up, and it was a real struggle to find you and I…” Mingyu trailed off, startled when you suddenly wrapped your arms around him, holding him tight.

“You okay?” He asked softly. His arms didn’t move to return the hug.

You stepped back, cheeks flushing. “How did you find me?”

“I assumed you’d gone drinking,” Mingyu said, his voice low, careful. “Soonyoung-hyung texted me, said he saw you at that bar. I just traced my steps.”

You nodded, brushing the back of your hand across your eyes.

“Come on, let’s go back,” he murmured, guiding you toward his car. The silence between you was heavy, but not hostile.

When you reached the car, he hesitated before opening the passenger door for you.

“Hey, um… nothing happened, right? Like, no one tried to hurt you?” He asked as he slid into the driver’s seat.

You shook your head. “I’m okay.”

Mingyu nodded. “I’m sorry for what you saw earlier.”

You bit your lip. “No… I mean. We aren’t together. And I hurt you. So, it’s only fair.”

“No, it’s not.” His tone turned sharp. “That’s fucking toxic, and I’m sorry. We were just caught up in the moment. I didn’t even realise until I saw your face.”

You looked out the window. “Do you like her?”

He shrugged. “Don’t think I’ve been on enough dates yet.”

You winced. 

“I didn’t mean it like that,” he repeated. “I just meant… it’s too soon to tell with her.”

You took a breath. “I knew. With you.”

Mingyu froze. His hands tightened around the wheel as he pulled over.

“What?” You turned to him, your heart thudding. “I knew I felt something for you. I knew it when I saw Mia and I got jealous. I got jealous of the rock climbing receptionist and then that girl you’re dating now. No one gets jealous unless they care.”

Mingyu’s jaw ticked. “Why are you telling me this now?”

You sighed. “Because I should’ve said it when it mattered. Because I miss you. And I hate that I ruined it.”

He didn’t say anything, but the crack in his silence was louder than any words.

~~

The ride back to the apartment was silent, heavy with everything left unsaid. When Mingyu pulled into the lot, the car barely came to a full stop before you unbuckled and got out. You didn’t wait for him, didn’t speak—just walked briskly toward the front of the building, your heels clicking against the pavement like punctuation to every aching beat of your heart.

You didn’t expect him to follow. But when you reached the elevator and hit the button, you caught a brief glance over your shoulder—and there he was. Mingyu, leaning slightly against the railing, his hands shoved into his pockets, his face unreadable. For a second, your eyes locked. No words were exchanged, but something passed between you—an unspoken permission, a quiet nudge.

You took it as a sign and stepped into the elevator. When he joined you seconds later, the air between you thickened, pressing against your chest like gravity.

The elevator ride was short, but the silence felt infinite.

Neither of you said a word as you reached the hallway. Mingyu unlocked his door, then paused—just for a breath—before stepping inside. He left it open. You followed.

His apartment looked the same, but everything felt different.

Mingyu didn’t look at you when he spoke. “I need you to know that every single emotion I felt with you was real,” he said softly, his back still to you. “Every time you kissed me, it felt like fireworks. Every time you hugged me, I felt safe. And every time we—” He paused, his voice catching. “It wasn’t just sex. It felt like a journey. You made me feel special every time I was with you.”

You swallowed. “Mingyu, I made a stupid mistake. But I wanted to fall for you… because I knew there was something there. I just—I went about it the wrong way. I was scared. But you? You’re someone worth loving. Not just… someone worth writing about.”

He turned around at that, slowly. His eyes scanned your face like he was searching for the lie.

“Are you just pushing me into forgiving you?” He asked, but there was more pain than malice in his voice.

You shook your head. “No. I just don’t want what I did to affect how you see yourself. What I did was on me, not on you.”

For a flicker of a second, you saw something shift in him—like your words hit somewhere tender. But then he stepped forward, and the moment shattered.

“Oh, really?” Mingyu scoffed. “Me? Affected? I’m the one getting laid. Not you.” His words came out harsher than intended, bitterness rising. “Fuck, has anyone ever even wanted you? Approached you? Your ex cheated on you,  even Wonwoo Hyung avoided you—he warned me, you know? He knew you were a ticking time bomb.”

You flinched. Your stomach twisted.

“And I still fucking fell for you,” Mingyu said, voice rising. “Ten dates. Don’t worry I’m over i, clearly, I don’t care, because not too long ago, my fingers were inside another girl.” He said it like a weapon, wielded cruelly, “She was tight. Fuck. Her body was—”

“Enough,” you said, barely a whisper, but Mingyu stopped. Like he finally heard himself.

You turned away and made a move to leave his apartment. 

“What the fuck are you doing?” Mingyu asked, eyes wide.

You didn’t answer, just tried to get out of his apartment. 

“Y/N! Fucking stop.”

You froze as Mingyu walked up behind. “Y/N,” he said again, softer now, “look at me.”

You didn’t move.

“Y/N. Look at me.”

You slowly turned your face toward him. His expression was crumbling.

“I know I crossed a line. What I just said… it was cruel, and I didn’t mean it. As toxic as it is, I just wanted to hurt you, the way you hurt me, but I went too far.”

You held your hand out to stop him. “I fucked up, Mingyu. I know that what I did is unforgivable. I want to thank you for tonight. I don’t deserve your kindness. I’ll have your artist profile written and sent to you for your kind perusal in a week.”

“Y/N—”

You smiled, and Mingyu could see the tears threatening to fall. “Goodnight, Mingyu,” you whispered, leaving his apartment, walking across the hall and entering your own apartment, and closing the door behind you. 

He stood there long after the door closed, your words hanging in the air like smoke.

~~

“Y/N? You’ve got a visitor,” Joshua called out, poking his head into your bedroom the next morning. You were freshly showered, curled up in your robe, sipping on kombucha when you caught sight of a familiar figure hovering behind him.

“Oh.” You blinked. Mingyu.

“Can he stay, or do we not like him today?” Joshua asked, squinting at Mingyu like he was trying to summon a glare.

“He can stay,” you replied, quietly.

Joshua nodded. “Alright. But if I hear her cry, I’m calling Wonwoo Hyung to hurt you.”

“Why not you?” Mingyu asked, brow lifting.

Joshua shrugged. “Your stupid golden retriever face makes it hard to stay mad. I can’t hit a puppy.”

You rolled your eyes. “Shua.”

“I’m going. Holler if you need me.” He winked, disappearing into the hallway.

You gestured toward the bed. “You can sit. I won’t bite.”

“You seem better,” Mingyu said, stepping inside and cautiously sitting down beside you. His eyes scanned your face, your posture—like he was trying to read how much of your recovery was real.

“Getting there,” you lied, sipping your drink. “You gave me closure last night, so I guess now I just… learn and heal.”

That lie tasted bitter. You weren’t over him. You weren’t even close.

“Really?” Mingyu asked, his expression tightening. “You got over me so quickly?”

You shook your head, voice soft. “No. I just… I’m leaving you alone.”

He looked down, chewing on the inside of his cheek. “Look I’m so fucking sorry for what I said, I was being spiteful. I’m sorry. I didn’t mean anything I said about her. Or… you.”

You gave him a small nod. You didn’t know what to say to that.

Silence stretched between you until Mingyu glanced around the room and started to get up. “Okay. I guess I should go?”

But he didn’t leave. Instead, he took a hesitant step toward you and knelt on the edge of your bed. His hand brushed your cheek—light as a whisper—and you froze.

“You’re beautiful,” he said. “Truly.”

Then, just like that, he was gone. His hand pulled away. His body retreated. And he rushed out of your room like a man on fire, leaving you stunned, confused, and just a little less miserable.

~~

The following evening, you were sprawled on the couch in your favorite hoodie, arms crossed stubbornly as House Hunters played in the background at low volume. The sunlight had long since dipped behind the skyline, casting a moody blue over the apartment. You hadn’t moved in hours — not since Mia’s party invite had come through the group chat.

“You’re going,” Wonwoo said, nudging your foot with his knee as he walked past holding a bowl of popcorn.

You didn’t even look up. “Absolutely not.”

He sat down on the edge of the coffee table, facing you. “Come on.”

“I’d rather attend my own funeral,” you muttered.

“Dramatic,” he said, popping a kernel into his mouth. “It’s not her wedding, it’s a party. Mingyu will be there. Your friends will be there.”

“Only you and Shua, no one else wants me there.”

Wonwoo tilted his head. “You can’t avoid everything that makes you uncomfortable.” “Mia does,” Wonwoo tried to lie. 

You rolled your eyes at him “that’s because she’s dating you and she cares about you.” 

“I’m not avoiding,” you snapped. “I’m choosing peace.”

“That’s funny, because you look like a woman actively losing her mind in a hoodie cocoon.”

You finally sat up, scowling. “I’m just not ready to go to a party where everyone knows I screwed up.”

Wonwoo gave you a pointed look. “Everyone screws up. But only some people decide to marinate in guilt like a mopey rotisserie chicken.”

“That’s a terrible metaphor,” you muttered.

“Still worked.”

You rolled your eyes and reached for a throw pillow to hug. “Wonwoo, what if he’s there and just—ignores me? What if Mia says something? What if I cry into someone’s jungle juice?”

“Then you cry. But at least you’re not crying alone on a couch watching reruns of sad real estate couples.” He leaned forward, voice softer. “You’re allowed to show up for yourself. Even if it’s awkward. Especially when it’s awkward.”

You stared at him, torn. “Ugh. Why are you good at pep talks?”

“Because I know you,” he said with a small smile. “And you hate feeling left out more than you hate confrontation.”

“God, I hate when you’re right.”

“And yet you listen every time.”

You took his hand. “I’m blaming you if this ends in disaster.”

Wonwoo smirked. “Wouldn’t be the first time.” ~~

Later that evening you were in full panic mode. 

“Wonwoo, I can’t do this. Everyone there hates me,” you groaned as he paced around your living room.

“Oh also, plans changed, Mia needs help so you need to go yourself,” Wonwoo said sheepishly 

“What the hell, no I’ll be walking into a lions den!” 

He shrugged. “Jihoon and Joshua are already there setting up. Mia’s with me. So yeah, it’s just you. Good luck.” And with that, he ducked out the door before you could protest.

You knew you’d have to face the crowd, you decided to suck it up and get dressed. 

You chose your silk blue dress—short, elegant, and dangerous. The kind that hugged all the right curves. You were slipping on your heels when someone knocked on the door.

“It’s open,” you called out.

“Hey. Oh—wow,” Mingyu muttered, stepping inside. The words slipped out before he could stop them, and you instantly felt your cheeks warm under the weight of his gaze.

You cleared your throat. “Uh hi?”

He smiled faintly. “Mia’s party. Seokmin and Cheol are already there setting up. I figured… maybe we could share a ride?”

You hesitated. “Isn’t your date going with you?”

He shook his head. “Yeah… she’s not really relevant anymore. Turns out I was just the decoy to make her ex jealous. She got him back.”

He let out a short laugh. “Guess I’ve got that ‘easy to fuck over’ vibe.”

You didn’t say anything, but your silence was loud.

Mingyu glanced at you. “Anyway. I called us a cab. You ready?”

You nodded.

~~

The cab ride to the party was quieter than expected. Not awkward, not tense—just quiet. Mingyu sat beside you, elbow on the window, tapping a soft rhythm against the glass. You stared ahead, feeling the buzz of anticipation, dread, and god-knows-what else coiling in your stomach like a tightened spring.

“You look amazing, by the way,” Mingyu said suddenly, breaking the silence.

You glanced at him, caught off guard. “Thank you.”

He smiled at the floor of the car, like he didn’t quite know what to do with your voice.

When you both arrived, the apartment was already buzzing. The bass of the music thumped low through the walls, and there was a faint glow from the string lights Seokmin had insisted on. You could hear laughter, someone singing off-key, and the gentle hum of people who weren’t thinking about you at all.

“Ready?” Mingyu asked, already stepping out and circling to open your door.

You paused. “Not even a little.”

He chuckled. “Same.”

The second you stepped in, all heads turned. Not because of you—no, definitely not just you—but because of you and Mingyu, together. He was in all black, stupidly tall and maddeningly handsome, and you were in a dress that had already gotten three glances and a whisper before you’d made it past the entryway.

You felt the pressure of every gaze crawling up your spine. Your hand brushed Mingyu’s by accident. He didn’t flinch, but he didn’t reach back either.

“Hey!” Seokmin grinned, running over, arms already halfway to a hug before he remembered. “Right, hi.”

“Hi,” you replied awkwardly.

“Come on Mingyu, party’s started,” Seokmin said guiding Mingyu, and reluctantly you to the bar.

Mingyu gave him a nod before grabbing a drink from the bar and handing you one without asking.

“I thought you might need this.”

You took it gratefully, muttering, “God, yes.”

The night unfolded in slow motion.

Joshua and Jihoon were manning the playlist and playing hype-men near the drinks table. Mia was radiant, bouncing around in a sequin dress, glowing like a mirrorball. Wonwoo hovered at her side like a quiet shadow, until he caught your eye and gave you a small nod.

You raised your glass in a silent toast.

Mingyu disappeared midway through the night, and you let him. You weren’t sure if you were meant to follow, but you didn’t want to look like you were chasing him. You ended up nursing your drink on the balcony, alone with the music and the pulse of memories.

“You okay?”

You turned to see Joshua step out beside you, two drinks in hand.

“Not sure,” you admitted.

He handed you one of the glasses and stared ahead into the city lights. “You’re handling this better than I thought.”

“Only mildly crumbling.”

“Progress.”

You both sipped quietly.

Back inside, you caught sight of Mingyu again—laughing at something Seungcheol said, his head thrown back. That laugh used to belong to you. That laugh used to be something you could earn, like a reward. And now it was just… public domain.

You turned away, heart thudding like a warning.

You hadn’t even noticed someone approaching until you heard the voice.

“Hey, pretty thing. You’re that girl, right? The one Mingyu dated?”

You turned to face a stranger, his breath laced with tequila and whatever cologne he’d bathed in.

“Excuse me?” You asked flatly.

He leaned closer. “I’m just saying, he clearly upgraded. You should see the new one.”

Before you could reply, you felt someone step between you and the guy.

“Walk away,” Mingyu said, low and lethal.

The guy held up his hands. “Alright, alright. Touchy.”

He slinked off, and for a moment it was just you and Mingyu. Again.

“Thanks,” you said, barely above a whisper.

Mingyu’s jaw was tight. “You shouldn’t have to deal with that.”

“I’m getting used to it,” you admitted. “Not being liked very much.”

Mingyu looked at you, really looked at you. “Don’t say that. Don’t even think that.”

You didn’t know what possessed you in that moment—maybe the warmth from the drink, or the weight of his words—but you reached for his hand and found he didn’t pull away.

Instead, he gave it the smallest squeeze.

Just once.

Mingyu didn’t let go of your hand.

He hadn’t meant to hold it in the first place, but when you slipped beside him in that quiet moment by the balcony doors, your fingers brushed his—and he didn’t move. And neither did you.

From inside, the party carried on. Someone shouted about food. The lights shifted warmer. The bassline of an old familiar track pulsed through the floor. But here, in this sliver of quiet between the hallway and the chaos, everything stood still.

Your hand was still in his.

And he was still staring straight ahead, jaw tight, like if he looked at you now, he wouldn’t be able to look away.

“I should go and get some food,” you said finally, barely above a whisper.

But he still didn’t let go.

“I miss you.” The words dropped like a weight between you. Unprepared. Raw.

You turned your head sharply, breath catching in your throat.

“Mingyu—”

“I shouldn’t,” he cut in, eyes still fixed ahead. “I shouldn’t say that. But I do. I fucking miss you.”

Silence.

You looked down at your joined hands, his thumb just barely brushing your knuckle. It felt like fire.

“I never stopped missing you,” you murmured.

He exhaled through his nose, eyes flickering down to the floor. “That makes it worse.”

“I know.”

“I see you, Y/N. At the café, in the elevator, even when you don’t look at me. I still feel like I’m watching the version of you I used to have… and I don’t know how to unsee her.”

You blinked fast, swallowing around the lump rising in your throat. “I’m still her. Just... more broken.”

“I don’t know if I can trust you again,” he said, softer this time. “And I don’t know what it says about me that part of me still wants to.”

That hurt.

But you nodded. “I wouldn’t expect you to. I just needed you to know... that none of it was fake. Not a single second.”

Mingyu finally turned his head to look at you. And when he did, the full weight of the ache between you crashed like a wave. The room behind you could’ve gone silent or exploded into flames—you wouldn’t have noticed.

“You made me feel like I was everything,” he whispered, eyes locked on yours. “And then you made me feel like I was nothing.”

You didn’t even realize your hands had tightened together until he pulled away.

“I need air,” he muttered. “There’s food inside.”

And just like that, the warmth of his touch vanished.

You stood still, heart racing, fingers burning in the space where his had just been.

Inside, Mia was mid-toast, giggling through champagne bubbles and surrounded by friends. “To a great group of friends, lets have a great night and make regrettable choices!” She shouted, and the crowd cheered.

You laughed weakly, even as your eyes found him again—across the room now, leaning against the kitchen counter, beer in hand, nodding along to something Wonwoo was saying. He wasn’t looking at you anymore.

But his foot tapped restlessly on the floor.

And you knew he felt it too—the storm, the crack, the pull that hadn’t gone away, no matter how much damage you’d done.

You took a step forward.

Then stopped.

Somewhere between the beat of the music and the hum of the laughter, you realized: this wasn’t the moment. Not yet. He wasn’t ready.

And you… you weren’t sure if your heart could take another hit just yet.

So you turned, smiled at Mia, and raised your glass instead.

But still, in every reflective surface—windows, wine glasses, the shine of the fridge—you kept catching glimpses of him.

And you knew he saw you, too.

~~

You had found a quiet corner near the bar, nestled just far enough from the dance floor to avoid being dragged into conversation, but close enough to still look like you were trying. You sipped your drink slowly, hoping that the low lighting and loud music would blur you into the background.

That hope lasted all of ten minutes.

“Well, well,” a familiar voice drawled behind you. “Look who showed up like she was invited.”

You didn’t even have to turn to know it was Seungcheol. You tensed, your hand tightening around your glass.

“I was invited,” you replied coolly. “Mia said—”

“Mia invited you because Wonwoo wouldn’t stop pushing for it,” Seungcheol cut in, stepping in front of you. “And even then, we all said it was a bad idea.”

You glanced over his shoulder and caught Seokmin standing a few feet away, arms crossed, jaw tight. His expression wasn’t hostile—just cold. Closed off in a way that hurt more than yelling ever could.

“You think just showing up fixes what you did?” Seungcheol asked, voice low enough that no one else around you could hear, but sharp enough to slice. “You think looking pretty and keeping your head down makes it all okay?”

“I didn’t come here to start anything,” you said, eyes flicking down to your drink. “I just wanted to show up for Mia. That’s all.”

“Then show up somewhere else,” Seokmin said finally, stepping forward. “Anywhere but here.”

You blinked, trying to keep your composure, but it was getting harder with every second they kept looking at you like you were a stain on the floor.

“Look, I’m trying to be nice,” Seungcheol added, not quite as kind as his words claimed. “Mostly for Gyu’s sake. But if you’re still here in the next hour, I’m not going to hold back. Got it?”

You gave a small nod, lips pressed together so tightly you could taste the metallic bite of blood from how hard you were biting the inside of your cheek. You didn’t wait for them to say anything else.

You turned on your heel, pushing your way through the crowd, each step heavier than the last.

And then you were outside—air crisp, music muffled behind the walls, and your breath fogging out in short, shallow bursts. You rubbed your hands along your arms, trying to breathe, trying to forget the way Seokmin wouldn’t even look you in the eye.

That’s when you felt it—a hand around your wrist.

You yelped, startled, only to find yourself face-to-face with Mingyu.

“Y/N?” He said, his brows furrowed in concern. “Why did you leave?”

You exhaled shakily. “I wasn’t exactly made to feel welcome,” you muttered, pulling your wrist gently from his hold.

Mingyu blinked. “What happened?”

“It doesn’t matter,” you whispered, suddenly so tired your bones ached. “I shouldn’t have come in the first place.”

Mingyu stepped closer, voice gentler now. “Wait—Y/N, it’s freezing. You didn’t bring a coat?”

You shook your head. “I’ll get a cab.”

Mingyu frowned, glancing around. “There’s a diner around the corner. Let’s get food? I’ll make sure you get home safe after, I promise.”

You hesitated. “Gyu, you don’t have to—”

“I know I don’t have to,” he said. “But I want to.”

~~

The fluorescent lights of the diner buzzed quietly above you, a stark contrast to the bass-heavy chaos of the club. The booths were faded vinyl, the menus laminated and slightly sticky, and the warmth inside made you realize just how cold your skin had gone. You were still clutching your arms like a shield, and Mingyu noticed.

“Sit here,” he said, gesturing to a booth in the corner. “It’s quieter.”

You slid into the seat without argument. Mingyu sat across from you, tapping his fingers nervously against the salt shaker before picking up a menu he didn’t bother reading.

The hostess from earlier walked over with a soft smile. “What can I get you two? Drinks to start?”

You opened your mouth, but Mingyu beat you to it. “Hot chocolate. Extra whipped cream, if you’ve got it.”

Your eyes flicked to him, startled.

He offered a small shrug. “You always get hot chocolate when you’re sad.”

You blinked, the lump forming in your throat again. “And for you?” the hostess asked, turning toward him. “Coffee. Black.” He paused, glancing at you. “Unless you want to split something.”

“I’m not really hungry,” you mumbled, looking down at the menu without seeing any of it.

“We’ll share the fries,” he told the waitress softly. “Thanks.”

When she walked away, the silence pressed in between you again, dense and tight. You stared at the table, tracing the ring of condensation left by a glass long since cleared.

“You want to tell me what happened in there?” Mingyu asked eventually.

You hesitated, your voice low. “Seungcheol and Seokmin. They cornered me. Said I wasn’t welcome. That they were being nice for your sake, but if I stayed… it’d get ugly.”

Mingyu leaned back in his seat, jaw tense. “They had no right.”

“They were defending you,” you murmured. “You were hurt. I get it.”

“I can fight my own battles.”

You looked up at him slowly. “Can you?”

That made him pause. He looked tired suddenly, like the weight of everything was finally catching up to him. “I didn’t know they said that to you.”

“I wasn’t going to tell you,” you admitted. “Because I already knew. I knew I didn’t belong there. Not anymore.”

The waitress returned with the hot chocolate and coffee. You wrapped your fingers around the mug, letting the heat seep into your hands.

“You know,” Mingyu said, eyes on his cup, “for a long time, I hated myself for still caring.”

Your heart squeezed.

“I’d see you around and I’d want to yell, or kiss you, or run in the opposite direction. Sometimes all three in the same minute.”

You smiled faintly. “That’s... fair.”

“But tonight, when I saw you outside?” His voice dipped. “You looked so lost. And I didn’t think. I just ran.”

You stared down at your mug, unsure what to say. So instead, you took a sip. Whipped cream clung to your lip, and Mingyu leaned forward, gently swiping it away with his thumb. Your eyes locked for a breath too long.

“You shouldn’t be this nice to me,” you whispered.

“I know.”

“So why are you?”

He gave you a smile that didn’t quite reach his eyes. “Because I don’t think I’ve ever stopped hoping you’d surprise me.”

You swallowed hard, heart thudding.

“Are you still angry?” you asked.

“Yeah,” he said honestly. “But less than I was yesterday.”

Your lips curved upward slightly. “Progress.”

He nodded, then signaled the waitress for the check. “I’ll get this. And I’ll put you in a cab, like I promised.”

You stood together, walking toward the door in silence. But just before you stepped out into the cold again, Mingyu turned toward you.

“Don’t listen to Seungcheol,” he said. “You weren’t unwanted.”

With that, he opened the door, walked you up to your apartment like a gentleman, and bid you goodnight.

You could only hope that tonight was the start of healing for you both.

[nigelights]

The History of Nigel

don't know who that voice is on that one voicemail? or who did the 'how many days' intro? i'm here to help! this is a chronological order of appearances made by nigel, links to performances, and things said by tyler about nigel.

Nigel, better known as the 'Skeleton Bones Remain' voice, has been with the band for nearly 14 years now, minus his sudden disappearance after 2020/2021. His first officially documented appearance is in the Regional At Best web series, episode 5. Since then, he's been a large and integral part of the band's live performances, especially during the 'Quiet Is Violent' tour, where we were given more of a backstory to him as a character. physically, nigel is a light that blinks behind tyler during this set, blinking as he speaks.

this next part is talking about a concert where tyler introduces nigel, but we are also given backstory into nigel as a character.

tyler introduces him as 'nigel', saying that in the beginning of the set, they were introduced to the bands host, saying that he lives in a lightbulb. the timeline of nigel as a character during this is quite interesting, its stated that he has been married for 437/133 years, but nigel himself tells us that the music "isnt entirely the music i grew up with back in the day" he then goes on to say that what he grew up with, was anything by DJ Khalid. which is interesting but moving on, tyler uses nigels responses to play bits and pieces of songs, like bugatti, all i do is win. nigel requests tyler to play a song, and tyler says he wrote it for nigel, its the song he said he danced to with his wife at their wedding. the song played was "drunk in love" by beyonce and jay z, transitioning into "cant help falling in love", then into house of gold. this bit was played throughout the tour, the only changing fact being the city name.

i mention this fact because out of all of the lore characters in all of twenty one pilots, minus clancy/blurryface, torchbearer/spookyjim, this is the only character that has a fleshed out backstory thats mentioned, and the only character that makes consistant appearances over four eras. we know more about nigel than we do about the neds.

After the 'Quiet Is Violent' tour, moving into 'Tour De Columbus' and 'Emotional Road Show', is really where his appearances start becoming incredibly consistent. he begins to introduce josh, "hello and welcome to the show", became his signature line. we see this all the way up to bandito tour. where he makes a similar intro but changes it up a bit, "look out baby, its joshua dun!"

halfway through the trench era, a pop-up shop was created for Ned's Bayou, and with it came a phone number, (614)-389-9196, where nigel gives information about the shop in the voicemail, no lore or significance there.

but its the second phone number that popped up in the level of concern ARG, 1-(877)-LVL-CNRN, where we find lore and meaning into his message. "Hello, if you are receiving this message, you are most likely are currently experiencing Levels of Concern. We thank you for your participation and interest. We have hidden codes all around the internet for you to unlock new levels. Each level contain elements that could possess a clue to proceed to the next level. That is, only if you are savvy enough. We guarantee that this game is certainly madness, happiness, paranoia and fun. Good luck. That concludes our session. Thank you, have a pleasant day. ---------- it's hidden in the static."

he is also in the stream that came with the ARG, saying things like "we can help you." and "anxiety, confusion, excitement." "wonderful to see, mesmerizing, there is light if you look caref---" and he speaks out the lyrics to level of concern.

this can be counted as the last official lore-related appearance of nigel, as his only other appearance is in the promo ad for the twenty one pilots burrito. but, many of us hope for his return!

i am more than happy to answer any questions, comments, or concerns with this!! nigel is by far my fav character throughout all of the lore. i hope you enjoyed :)

[yourenzoo]

THE WEIGHT OF SILENCE (SERIES MASTERLIST) masterlist

pairing: xu minghao x fem!reader

genre(s): non!idol au, college au, romance, fluff, angst, mainly written with smau parts

includes: SEVENTEEN (JEONGHAN, JOSHUA, JUNHUI, WOOZI, DOKYEOM, MINGYU, MINGHAO, DINO), LE SSERAFIM (YUNJIN), AESPA (KARINA), NMIXX (LILY), AND TOMORROW X TOGETHER (YEONJUN)

synapsis: was it fate?

for seven days, yn and minghao sat on opposite sides of the same café, drawn to each other in quiet glances that never met. neither knew why they kept coming back—curiosity, coincidence, or something else entirely.

on the eighth day, they finally broke the silence. and just like that, stolen glances became something more.

but what if what began in silence ends the same way?

CHARACTER INTRODUCTION: PT1 PT2

table of contents:

CHAPTER 1: day one CHAPTER 2: day two CHAPTER 3: :0 CHAPTER 4: the start CHAPTER 5: spill the tea bro CHAPTER 6: project? CHAPTER 7: *incoherent giggling* CHAPTER 8: help bro CHAPTER 9: damn that’s hot CHAPTER 10: that was quick CHAPTER 11: it’s already 3am??? CHAPTER 12: i love my friends *sarcastic* CHAPTER 13: jealousy, jealousy CHAPTER 14: dun dun dunnnn CHAPTER 15: what are we? CHAPTER 16: late night fun CHAPTER 17: who even are you? CHAPTER 18: k. CHAPTER 19: thoughts CHAPTER 20: wtf?? CHAPTER 21: yay cuddles!! CHAPTER 22: new friends!! CHAPTER 23: torturous CHAPTER 24: uh oh CHAPTER 25: ‘good job’ ?? CHAPTER 26: healing? CHAPTER 27: the last time (hopefully)

bonus chapters: (SEPERATE ENDING)

BONUS CHAPTER 1 (#28): it’s the alcohol’s fault BONUS CHAPTER 2 (#29): fuck him BONUS CHAPTER 3 (#30): new beginnings

TAGLIST: @whoisbaek15, @minghaosimp OPEN! (send an ask or comment and i'll be happy to add you!)

[spookyjiimfanfiction]

Epilogue

Tear In My Heart | Series Masterlist

Warnings: Fluff of the highest extremity

Word Count: 1625

Authors’ Note: I can’t believe that this is the last chapter for this series! It’s been such a great run and we love you all so much for showing your support! Hope you love it as much as we did! :) (picture credit)

Epilogue - June 2019 - End of the Bandito Tour

Jenna: Let's be cute today! Put on your cutest sundress and I'm going to be there in thirty to pick you up for a girl's day. We're getting our nails done!

That was the text that you had received less than ten minutes ago as you tore through your clothes in the closet that you shared with Josh. Finding the yellow sundress that you had instantly thought of, you quickly changed into it and slipped on some wedges that went perfectly with the color scheme you were going for. You did your makeup in record time, still making sure that it was perfect before moving to your hair, pulling it halfway up and into a cute messy bun. Spraying some perfume on to finalize your look, you heard the doorbell ring - instantly knowing that it was Jenna. Jim, who had been laying on the bed as you got ready, lifted his head up curiously as he heard it and instantly ran down the hall.

You made your way behind him and grabbed your cellphone and purse, hurrying over to the front door. Opening the door to reveal a smiley Jenna, you giggled a bit at her and then pulled her in for a big hug.

"Hey, you! I'm just going to leave Josh a note that I'll be leaving to go out with you. Just give me a second. I'll meet you out there."

"Okay, hurry up! We have stuff to do!"

Hurrying back over to your post-it notes, as Jenna reclosed the door to head back to her car, you grabbed a pen and quickly jotted down your location and that you'd be back later. Adding a little heart at the end, you said goodbye to Jim with a pat on his head and exited your home, locking it behind you. You got into her car and the both of you were off to the nail salon.

*     *     *

"You know that I never have my nails longer. They don't make things easy at work."

"I know, but it would be nice to see something different on you. Just to try! If you don't like it after 24 hours, then we can come back and get them fixed."

After thinking on it, you finally decided to give in and try for a bit of a longer nail. You may have budged on the subject, but you weren't going to completely move. After getting your nails done and feeling pampered, you both decided on having lunch at the nearest thai food restaurant. It had been forever since you had eaten it, so it was a never ending craving. You both got to talk about many things, including how life had been, how things were going in both relationships... everything under the sun. When she looked at her watch with a sigh, she looked up to you again and started gathering her trash.

"It's getting a bit late and I promised Ty that I would be back home to cook some dinner. You ready?"

"Yeah, let's go!"

*     *     *

The drive back home was filled with more discussion and light music playing in the background. No matter how much time the both of you spent together, there was never a shortage of things to talk about, and that's one of the many reasons why you loved Jenna. Finally pulling back into your driveway, you smiled to your best friend and leaned over to give her a hug.

"I'll talk to you soon, okay? Thank you so much for today. It was fun!" you exclaimed as you got out of the car to head inside.

With a smirk, she nodded and waved, "You're welcome!"

You watched as Jenna pulled out of the driveway and disappeared around the bend at the end of the street. Once she was out of sight, you grabbed your keys from the depths of the purse and made your way up the path that led to the house. Josh had been pretty quiet in terms of communication today, and you were silently hoping that he was home already so you two could spend the rest of the afternoon together.

Music was the first thing that you heard when you opened the door. You recognized it instantly; it was the song that you and Josh had first danced to at Tyler and Jenna’s wedding, also known as the night that you had fully realized how you felt about Josh. After you had confessed that to him shortly after you started dating, you two had deemed the song that played that night “your song”.

“Hello?” you called as you set your things by the door and kicked off your shoes. “Josh?”

“I’m in here!”

You were relieved to hear his voice. After taking a second to look over your appearance in the mirror and deeming it passable, you followed the sound of the music into the living room. Your heart stopped as soon as you rounded the corner.

Fairy lights were strung all around the room, blinking softly against the walls and furniture, with pictures of you and Josh from the moment you had met to only a few short weeks ago clipped along them. Rose petals were laid out on the ground, creating a path from where you were standing to the middle of the room. There were even a couple of your favorite candles around, adding to the romantic atmosphere. And in the middle of it all was your boys - Josh and Jim - wearing matching black bow ties.

“What’s going on?” you asked, never letting your eyes leave Josh as you grew closer to him. “I didn’t forget an anniversary, did I? Isn’t it in two months?”

“You didn’t forget anything,” Josh smiled. “But you are going to remember something.”

Before you had a chance to ask what he meant, Josh dropped to one knee and pulled out a little black box. Your eyes were brimmed with tears in an instant, hardly able to believe what they were seeing in front of them. Josh was absolutely beaming as he turned the box over in his hands a few times.

“I thought for a long time about how and when and where I wanted to do this, but the one thing I never had to question was why. Y/N, I knew from the moment I laid eyes on you that I was going to fall in love with you and from then on there was no going back. I have fallen in love with every last thing about you, even the parts that you think don’t deserve to be loved. There is nobody else in the world that I would rather spend the rest of my life with. So, Y/N Y/L/N,” he opened the little box and held it out towards you, “will you marry me?”

“Yes,” you barely managed to choke out through the tears. “Of course, Josh.”

Josh’s smile grew even wider, if that was even possible, as he pulled the ring out of the box. You held out your hand and he carefully slipped the ring onto your finger. It was shining in the dim light from the fairy lights. Jim, upon noticing the excitement, was eagerly thumping his tail against the floor.

“I didn’t want to get anything too big so that you could still wear it while you’re working,” Josh explained as he stood back up. “I hope you like it.”

“It’s perfect. Absolutely perfect.”

You finally managed to get your hands on Josh and pulled him into a kiss. His arms wound around your waist, pulling you into the embrace that had provided you with comfort for so many years. He was the first to pull away, but he kept his forehead pressed against yours.

“You look beautiful today, by the way,” he grinned as he wiped away some of your tears with his thumb.

“Thank you.” A familiar heat rose to your cheeks, despite the fact it was a compliment you had heard countless times before. “I love you so much, Josh. This was everything I ever could have dreamed of.”

“I just wanted to make this moment special. I love you to the stars and back and wanted to show you that.”

“You definitely did.”

You kissed him again, but it was interrupted by an all too familiar voice.

“So, it finally happened, huh?”

You spun around in Josh’s arms, still keeping your hands on his shoulders. Tyler was standing just inside the living room with his arms crossed, that same stupid smirk that you had seen so many times before plastered on his face.

“No, Tyler,” you held a finger out towards him, “you do not get to come ruin this moment. You’ve done plenty of that already.”

Josh and Tyler both began to laugh, making you turn back to look at Josh in surprise.

“Y/N, it’s ok. He helped me set all of this up, he’s supposed to be here.”

“You’re sure?”

He smiled, “I’m sure.”

“I’m not the only one who’s here, either.”

Tyler wandered around the corner towards the entryway. He returned shortly after with Jenna, who was trying - and failing - to hide her obvious excitement.

“What’s going on?” you asked.

“Well, I knew that this was going to be a big moment for us,” Josh explained. “And I figured what better way to celebrate it than with our family?”

That was enough to send a fresh wave of tears down your cheeks. You were still in disbelief that you had ended up surrounded by so many wonderful people who cared for you so deeply. People that you now knew would be by your side for the rest of your life.

It was better than you ever could have dreamed of.

*     *     *     *     *

The end?

Taglist

@topownsmyheart​ @faceofcontvsions​ @ohprettyweeper​ @tylersheavydirtysoul​ @svintsandghosts @wearebxnditos​ @breadbinishigh​ @patdsinner33​ @leam-2001

[tialaises]

Insatiable bts with jebby

[joshspankindun]

josh being smiley (pt 1/?)

[winchdeann]

the world around us is burning

[hansolmates]

svt masterlist✨

all m.list sets are made by the wonderful vivi @eerieedits​   

fluff -  ✨  angst - ☁️  smut - 🍑  completed - ✅  personal favorites - 💕

one shots / drabbles

-camp clover  ✨☁️ 💕1.7k not everything is green and lucky at camp clover, feat. camp counselor!chan

one shots / drabbles

-I didn't know that I was starving till I tasted you (m) ✨ ☁️  🍑  6.5k feat. fwb!Vernon, flangst, and copious amounts of movie references

-Twilight Moonbeams and Befuddlement Droughts: a Hogwarts!AU ✨ ☁️  6.9k feat. hufflepuff!Vernon and ravenclaw!Reader, and the oh-so-powerful love potion (dun dun dun)

-drunk on youth (m) ✨ ☁️  🍑  8.4k feat. fratboy!Vernon (but a sweet one), seven(teen) minutes in heaven, Jeonghan is the best wingman

-the boy next door (m) ✨ ☁️  🍑 💕 14.7k drabbles: #1, #2, #3 (m?) feat. roommate!Vernon, friends-to-lovers, and some sexy stuff

-you’re my cure  ✨  2k feat. sick!reader, oblivious!Vernon

-lazy morning haze  ✨  1.6k feat. a mutually exhausted couple, Vernon waking up reader

-baby steps (m)   🍑 2.2k feat. thigh riding. that is all. *combusts*

-sweeter than sweet  ✨ 💕 1.8k feat. fluff in an overpriced nightclub, kissing the night away

-miss guided (m) ✨ ☁️  🍑 💕 15.3k genre/warnings: alcohol/lang, fratbois and other west uni cultures, matchmaker missmatching, cliche plots galore!! teeny weeny angst alluding to prior social awkwardness, bucket hats, aaaaand 69 (bottles of bobaaaaa)

-blossomed (m) ✨ ☁️  🍑  12k genre/warnings: flangst, lang, wild generalizations of how tattooing works, gratuitous love for side characters, mild drinking, phineas and ferb references, mild foreplay

series

-test drive (eventual m) ✨ ☁️  🍑 genre/warnings: flangst, neighbors to friends, friends to lovers, fwb, cheating, unplanned pregnancy, potential toxic relationship 01

one shots / drabbles

-Late Night Distractions ✨  1.2k feat. university!Jihoon being shy shy shy and some UST

-Vilified: A Hogwarts!AU ✨ ☁️ 4k feat. slytherin!Jihoon on his way to be a potions master, silly spells and soft feelings

-what a cu-tea ✨  1.8k feat. barista!Jihoon who just wants to go home and avoid the cu-tea doing homework in the middle of the café

-zenith ✨ 💕 3.3k feat. robot!jihoon, slice of life w/ roomie!reader

-cherry contact ✨  3.3k fanart from @scoups-ofsuga​  jihoon has access to all versions of you—your credit score, shopping habits, work emails, and even your terrible tinder history.

one shots / drabbles 

-strawberry bubblegum (m) 🍑 3.6k feat. sex shop worker!Hoshi w/terrible generalizations of college parties, playful interaction, phone sex, slight dom themes, use of penetrative sex toys, squirting

-vowels and veracity (m) ✨ 🍑 5.2k after a blind date that makes you feel like a giddy teenager all over again, you’re forced to grow up and take a chance when you realize that special someone is your daughter’s kindergarten teacher.

one shots / drabbles

-days in the sun: a disney!au  ✨  ☁️  2.1k feat. beast!wonwoo

one shots /drabbles

-Fear, of falling in love ✨  ☁️  685 feat. architect student!Mingyu, saying “I love you” for the first time

-Denim and Drive-Ins ✨  541 feat. your classic drive-thru drabble

-Fleeting ice, fleeting touch: A Hogwarts!AU ✨  1.8k feat. hufflepuff!Mingyu, boarding school dances and Quidditch tournaments

one shots / drabbles

-Good Enough ☁️733 feat. minghao-centric angst

-give me the night ✨ ☁️1.2k feat. exes to lovers au with a pining hao

one shots / drabbles

-Unnecessary Details ✨  624 feat. future-husband Lee Seokmin

one shots / drabbles

-afflatus; (n) a divine creative impulse or inspiration ✨  3.5k “I went to museum to get some inspiration and then I saw you staring at one of the paintings in awe and wow you just noticed me drawing you and this is awkward.” AU feat. art student!Jun at the MOMA

-Cayenne ✨  6.8k feat. greasy!duo and some spicy hot chocolate

-Wrapped up in the Moment ✨  2.4k feat. Christmas vibes, UGLAY sweaters and Joshua teaching Jun the spirit of the holidays

-stupid cupid (m) ✨   🍑  ☁️  💕 8.4k After seeing your best friend get paired up through a matchmaking service, you can’t help but wonder about the credibility of this business. Wen Junhui, your resident matchmaker, can’t help but take on the challenge of setting you up with Mr. Right. (Un)fortunately it seems like that person is right in front of you. feat. crack, annoying!Jun, silly jokes, minor dom!Jun and use of penetrative sex toys

-you must be magical, because i’ve fallen under your spell: A Hogwarts!AU ✨  2k there was something about Gryffindors that unsettled him greatly.

one shots / drabbles

-Once bitter, and twice shy ✨ 1.6k On Christmas day they go on a mission to find the best hot chocolate in Seoul. feat. cocoa adventures and shy!Joshua

one shots /drabbles 

-Sunset Strip ☁️  1.2k feat. Jeonghan needing some self-discovery, sadness

-everything comes back to you  ✨☁️ 💕  6.7k  After a long-term relationship with Yoon Jeonghan, things get ultimately more painful when he insists that you guys are still suited to stay “best friends”. Nothing’s grand about having your ex constantly coddle you, especially when he has his own terribly perfect life and you think you’re being dropped like a fading blip on his radar. feat. angst with a happy ending!

-touch of terror ✨ 3k   feat. trapped in a haunted house with the boy who you’re simultaneously attracted and terrified of

-chicken run  ✨ 7.3k you accidentally confuse your housemate for a complete stranger, but hey! it’s not your fault, their side profiles look very similar! unfortunately your guilt gets you caught up, and you’re left in a tangle as you and jeonghan get to know each other (flaws and all) in the ultimate goose chase as you two tiptoe around your simultaneous interest and disinterest for each other

svt!OT13

-the ways you said “i love you”  ✨☁️💕 6.2k feat. the thirteen ways seventeen says “i love you”

[ichika27]

TWEWY x Yu-Gi-Oh

I made this post before about ygo cast in twewy universe, now I’m gonna try making the opposite. This would make less sense than the first one I made.

(Spoilers for both although not sure cause this will be a mess)

-Neku is given a second hand mp3 player. It’s broken and he has to fix it but once he does, he awakens the spirit inside it and now he gets possessed by a gremlin Joshua.

-Neku goes unconscious whenever the possession happens and doesn’t know exactly what’s going on (until later on in the story anyways) but he knows something is wrong cause he finds himself in places he never remembers going to.

-Neku also finds outfits in his closet he doesn’t recognize. There’s a gothic lolita outfit from Lapin Angelique in there and he is baffled cause how and why? There’s also some outfits from Pegaso in there and he has no money for such things and this is too elaborate for a prank. Joshua changes into those magically after possessing Neku because he gotta.

-Joshua challenges random a-holes who crosses Neku’s path for fun and challenges them to a Reaper’s Game and there are many types and if you lose or cheat, you’d get punished (and sent to the Noise Plane). Later on though, all the games end up being Tin Pin Slammer cause a children’s tin pin game makes the world go round and it can settle any dispute for some odd reason.

-The two later finally get to telepathically talk and Neku absolutely hates it. He can’t just block Joshua out with his headphones. He learns how to annoy Joshua back later though. They slowly find out they have a lot in common and even if they do argue, they are still friends. Joshua still riles him up enough that Neku ends up acting weird in public (and since no one else can see Josh, Neku looks like he’s talking to himself) cause it’s funny.

-Joshua calls Neku by name or refers to him as “Partner” (like what Atem calls Yugi coincidentally except Joshua is flirting with Neku). (Neku and Yugi have similarities with their clothes’ color schemes somewhat and spiky shounen hairs. Neku is emo and Yugi is goth though).

-Beat used to not like Neku cause of the latter’s attitude and they argue sometimes but Neku helps his sister Rhyme out sometime later and Beat decided they should become friends (Beat is the group’s Jounouchi cause they’re tough guys who are good big bros). Neku also befriends Shiki and Eri later. The others find out about Joshua, too.

-Tin Pin battle royale on an island arc. Later there’s a blimp involved somehow. People’s souls get trapped inside pins...

-Kitaniji and the other reapers are protectors who live in the sewers underground awaiting the return of their leader, the Composer. Once they find out Neku has the magic mp3 player, they test him.

-Minamimoto is a weird mix of Kaiba and either Yami Marik or Yami Bakura. He wants to kill the Composer by challenging them to a deadly game of Tin Pin. He would absolutely insult you with math terms for being a hectopascal with a 4th rate deck. (I’m not good at math so I can’t make creative math insults, I’m sorry)

-Tin Pin is based off ancient Shibuya wall graffiti writings...-

-Mr. Hanekoma is cool guy who owns a cafe in town and would give Neku advice. Seems to know more than he lets on.

-There’s a Ceremonial Tin Pin Slam Off at the end between Neku and Joshua while Overlap plays in the background. Neku wins and Joshua finally moves onto the afterlife hurting the feelings of the fans who watched the entire series and was hoping he’d stay and get his own body (no... pls dun leav! Not like Atem did!).

-I was joking about the last part. Joshua stays with his friends and continues to live with Neku (cause I ship them). No one is waiting for him in the afterlife anyways (at least, no one he’s willing to stay there for).

-Years passed and we’re watching TWEWY GX. Rindo is running late to Tin Pin Academy and bumps into Neku who gives him a pin.

-More years pass and there’s Tin Pin on Motorcycles in outer space. (Why? I dunno... I only got to watch until GX and only knew about the other series through wikis and tumblr posts).

--

This is all I got for now. Will edit this if more weird thoughts go into my head. If you’re wondering why this exist then here.

You hear that? Those are the songs that have been playing in my head for days (whenever I’m not actually listening to them at the time). It’s been years since i last watched Yu-Gi-Oh and I dunno why I’m thinking of it again. And the result of being into TWEWY while listening to those are these stupid posts.

[tinymintywolf]

look out baby, it’s joshua dun! |-/

a series of commissions i recently finished! probably one of the most fun commission projects ive ever gotten to do *___*

[blurry-fics]

Chapter Fourteen

Tear In My Heart | Series Masterlist

Warnings: Minor angst, but otherwise complete and total fluff

Word Count: 2637

Authors’ Note: We hope you enjoy this chapter! :) (picture credit to paulmeany on instagram)

August 2017 - The Hiatus

You knew this was your fault. You had said the kiss was a bad idea. You had avoided bringing up the topic since it happened. And you were the reason that your relationship with Josh hadn’t gone past best friend slash roommate slash boss for the last month.

You grabbed your phone from where it was sitting next to you on the bed and decided to see what Josh was up to. He had been spending most of his days working, meaning that more often than not you were left to your own devices for entertainment. Given the current situation between the two of you, this was both a blessing and a curse.

“Hey, mind if I join you?” you asked as you wandered into the living room. Josh was on his laptop, as per usual, with the TV running in the background. He grabbed the remote and turned the volume down a little before gesturing to the empty space next to him.

“How are you doing?” he asked. His eyebrows furrowed as he looked at the screen.

“I’m doing ok. How’s your work going?”

He rolled his eyes, “Tyler wants help figuring out a color scheme for this next era. We have the yellow, obviously, but he can’t decide what he wants to put with it. Look at this.”

Josh turned his laptop screen towards you, revealing a mosaic of different shades. Your eyes hurt just looking at it for a few seconds.

“Looks like exciting work.”

“Yeah, right,” he scoffed. “Actually, now that you’re here, I think I might take a break from all of this before I get a headache.”

“That’s probably not a bad idea.”

Josh reached over and grabbed his water bottle from the side table and took a long drink. You watched as he did so, trying your hardest not to just shamelessly stare at his lips. It didn’t take long for you to start thinking about when they were just centimeters from yours, close enough to feel his breath on your…

“Y/N/N?”

“Huh?”

“Are you ok? You’re staring at the ground pretty intensely.”

“Yeah, sorry, I was just zoning out.”

You wanted to bring up the almost kiss again, but just like every other time you had tried to, your mind went blank and you had no idea where to even start. Part of you was hoping one of these days, Josh would just up and kiss you, but you knew that was unlikely. As long as he thought you still needed time, he was going to wait until you gave him the ok to make a move.

Was it possible for someone to be too nice?

“Hey, do you remember the night of the Grammys?”

You weren’t entirely sure where the thought came from or why you had decided to vocalize it, but it was out in the open now. A confused expression crossed Josh’s face for a moment before it returned to normal.

“Barely. I was pretty plastered.”

“So you don’t remember me spending the night?”

Josh turned to you, confusion now evidently written all over his face.

“You spent the night?”

You began to pick at your jeans, realizing how weird this must all sound out of context. It had always been your assumption that Josh was too embarrassed to talk about what happened that night, especially after he heard about the fight with Beau. That was the reason you had always avoided bringing it up, anyway.

“Not on purpose. Do you really not remember?”

“Everything from the after party to the next morning is fuzzy, if I even remember at all. I didn’t realize you were even at my house.”

You nodded. “You asked me to bring you home because you didn’t feel good, so I did. Then when we got to your house you asked me to sit in bed with you and watch some TV and you gave me some of your clothes - which I still have, by the way - so that I could be comfortable and, um.” You began to pick at your jeans more aggressively. “You wanted to cuddle with me because it would make you feel better, so I did, and I accidentally fell asleep in your arms. I panicked the next morning and rushed home without telling you, and then everything happened with Beau and he accused me of cheating and I swore that I never wanted to think about that night again. That is, until you told me that everything Beau said was a lie and I realized that night was actually exactly what I needed.”

“Why didn’t you tell me that happened?”

“I wasn’t sure what you remembered and I didn’t want to make things awkward by bringing it up. Plus, when Beau told me all that stuff about you using me, it made me feel embarrassed that I would put myself in a situation like that. I just thought it would be better if it was never spoken of again.”

“I wish I remembered that night,” Josh sighed, rubbing at his temple.

“I used to wish that I didn’t,” you said softly.

“But not anymore?”

“Not anymore.”

Josh reached out and put a hand on your thigh. You slowly looked up at him, studying the features that you had grown to love over the last six years. His arms, dotted with colorful tattoos that hadn’t yet existed when you first met, that had held you close on so many occasions. Those chocolate brown eyes with the crinkles at the edges when he smiled that you swore you could stare at for hours. His curly brown hair that you had seen be nearly every color of the rainbow at one point or another.

You were completely, totally, hopelessly in love with Joshua Dun.

“Kiss me,” you whispered.

You didn’t have to say it twice. Josh’s lips crashed into yours, fitting perfectly against your own. Your hands tangled themselves in his dark curls, reveling in being this close to him. His hands wandered from your legs up to your waist, digging slightly into your skin as they pulled you closer. Warmth spread through your body as you kissed him.

It was better than you ever could have imagined.

“I thought you didn’t want to rush into this yet,” Josh smiled when he finally pulled away. His nose was still pressed against yours, neither of you wanting to be apart from one another.

“You know I run my mouth when I’m embarrassed,” you smiled. “Besides, I think six years is more than enough time to wait to rush into something.”

“Me too.”

Josh kissed you again. It was hard to keep yourself from smiling out of sheer happiness. You no longer had to worry about Josh’s feelings. Or your stupid boyfriend back home. Or what anyone thought of your shared interactions.

You had Josh and that was all that mattered.

*     *     *

You and Josh had spent most of the afternoon making up for lost time, wrapped up in one another as you laid on the couch together. Netflix was playing in the background, but it was just noise to fill the silence as your focuses were only on each other. Cuddling into him, just as you had the night of the Grammys, you looked up into his eyes as he seemingly admired your face. There was no harshness behind it, no ulterior motive, just a gentleness that had always been there. You blushed a bit which caused a gentle laugh to escape his lips, using his hand to brush along the side of your face. He leaned down to kiss you softly once again, humming into it in contentment, before leaning back to return to looking at you.

"Remember when we first met and I said that you had pretty eyes? That was the very moment that I knew I was going to fall in love with you."

Your jaw almost dropped at his confession. "Y-You love me?"

Blinking a few times after hearing your question, as if he were in a trance, he turned pale as a ghost for a few moments and chuckled.

"Well, I wasn't planning on saying it so soon. But... yeah. I love you, Y/N. I mean, I waited for you this whole time, even if there wasn't any hope for me back then. I've loved you from the moment my eyes looked into yours."

Smiling to him as tears brimmed in your eyes, you rested a hand on the side of his neck and pressed your foreheads together to watch him.

"And I love you, Josh. More than I've ever loved someone before."

With that, your declarations were sealed with a passionate kiss that had to have been the best one you've ever received. You mentally kicked yourself in that moment for not leaving Beau sooner and for depriving yourself of Joshua Dun's love for such a long time. This man waited for you. Supported you. Cared about you. Loved you.

Now was your time to make it up to him.

After a bit more time of just gentle touches, kisses, and shared thoughts of adoration, you both decided that you were starving and needed to eat. You got up off of the couch with him and held his hand as the both of you walked into the kitchen together, figuring out what sounded good. The both of you had decided on just ordering in some pizza so that you wouldn't need to make another mess to clean up. Once the food arrived, the both of you were sitting on the couch and watching a documentary about aliens... just for Josh. Biting into the crust of your pizza slice, you looked over to him and saw that he had finished his food as he leaned over and set the plate on the coffee table.

Taking in a deep breath, he leaned back into the cushions and looked over to you with a smile on his face.

"I know that this is random, but do you... have any allergies to dogs?"

A curious eyebrow raised, you slowly shook your head. "Nooooo. Why do you ask, Dun?"

"Well, I've recently been thinking about getting a puppy. Maybe training it to become a sort of emotional support dog for me?"

"I think that's an excellent idea and would be perfect for you! Any idea what kind of dog you want?" you smiled widely.

"Hm... I have no idea. I haven't thought that far ahead. Maybe you and I could go together and find a dog?"

"I would love to, Josh. Anytime."

You nodded to him and set your plate beside his as you finished your food. The both of you may have just started this relationship - if it was even considered that yet - and yet you had absolutely no problem doing activities that were usually set aside for couples living together. You were in deep. You had fallen hard.

"Great! Maybe we can go tomorrow and just look around to see. I want to make sure that I click with the dog before jumping in... as weird as that sounds," he smirked.

With a laugh, you shook your head and looked over his face, pulling your legs in under yourself to get more comfortable.

"No, it doesn't sound weird at all. You're going to have this dog for a long time, so you need to make sure that he or she is the right one for you. I completely get it. When I was a little girl, I had a dog and it's one of the most special relationships you'll ever have. You'll find the right one, I promise."

He watched you for a few moments as you tried to reassure him and smiled lovingly, grabbing hold of your hand. He then brought it up to his lips and kissed the back of it softly, his eyes not leaving yours. Entranced, you felt your heart skip a beat as he did this and then smiled back to him, instantly letting him know that you loved how he treated you. He had already beat out Beau in half of a day.

Pulling away from the kiss, you turned to move and laid your head down on his shoulder as the both of your looked back to the television to watch the documentary.

"Did you have any ideas for a name yet? Maybe something pertaining to Twenty One Pilots or something?"

"Nah, I think that would be a bit too obvious. I kind of wanted to give him more of a human name. I really want a boy, so I've been wracking my brain to think of a good name that was fitting for an E.S.D."

"And?" You lifted your head up to look at him out of curiosity.

"I really like 'Jim'."

“Jim,” you thought over the name for a moment. “I like that.”

“Yeah?”

“Yeah. He’ll be our little boy.”

“Exactly,” Josh grinned.

Slowly, he maneuvered your legs so that they were slung casually across his lap and rested one of his arms against them. The other was wound around you, keeping you close to him.

“Is that comfortable?” he asked.

You nodded against him, moving your arms to wrap around his torso. His body heat was radiating through the thin material of his t-shirt.

“I like that we get to do this now,” he said. “Like, cuddling and stuff.”

“As if we didn’t cuddle before,” you giggled.

“Yeah, but now we don't have to think about how wrong it is the whole time.”

“That is a nice benefit.”

You looked around the room while you leaned against Josh, taking in all the decorations and pictures he had. It was hard not to think about how different it had all seemed at Christmas just a few short months ago. It didn’t feel like home, then. Not like it did now, anyway.

“Did you ever think things would be like this?” you asked quietly.

“Like what?”

“Like us, together.”

Josh paused for a moment and took a deep breath. You began to run your fingers idly against his side, hoping it would provide some form of comfort.

“I think I always hoped it would be, especially in the beginning. It was harder to envision it happening as time went on, but we had moments here and there that gave me just enough hope to think that maybe, one day, we would have this.”

“And we do.”

“Yeah,” Josh smiled. “We do.”

“Why didn’t you ever give up on me? I mean, six years is a long time.”

“How could I? I knew that I was never going to find someone else like you, Y/N/N. I couldn’t even if I tried.”

“Thank you for waiting for me,” you said, running a hand along Josh’s cheek. “I know it wasn’t easy for you - or either of us, for that matter - but it means a lot to me to know that I’ll always have you by my side, no matter what. I love you so much.”

“I love you too.”

Josh hooked a finger under your chin and tilted your head up so that he could kiss you again. It only lasted a few moments before he suddenly pulled away, but kept his fingers where they were.

“I just realized,” he said softly. “We haven’t made anything official yet.”

“What? Like you want to make this public?”

“No, no, no,” Josh smiled. “Not that I could even if I wanted to. Just, well, would you be my girlfriend?”

“Of course, Josh,” you grinned. “I’m your girl.”

He kissed you deeply before pressing his forehead against yours. His lips nearly brushed up against your own as he spoke, saying the words you had been dying to hear nearly since the day you met.

“You’re my girl.”

*     *     *     *     *

Taglist

@topownsmyheart @faceofcontvsions @ohprettyweeper @tylersheavydirtysoul @svintsandghosts @wearebxnditos @breadbinishigh @patdsinner33 @leam-2001

[viinchester]

Requests

(My Masterlist)

You can request (Character) x Reader here! The characters and categories I'll do are on the list below! To request, please send an ask in with the character you want and a vague description of what you want the oneshot to be about.

Example: "Hey, could I get a Justin Foley x Reader where she's new like Hannah was and Justin instantly gets a crush on her and she doesn't like him at first but at the end she gives him a chance and they are dating? Tysm! <3"

Characters

Dexter (TV):

Dexter Morgan

Brian Moser / Rudy Cooper

13 Reasons Why:

Justin Foley

Alex Standall

Zachary Dempsey

Scott Reed

Montgomery de la Cruz

Bryce Walker

The Society:

Campbell Eliot

Grizz Visser

Harry Bingham

Luke Holbrook

Clark Beecher

Jason Alvarado

Detroit: Become Human:

Gavin Reed

Captain Allen

Connor

Markus

Until Dawn:

Joshua Washington

Michael Munroe

Jessica Riley

Supernatural:

Dean Winchester

Sam Winchester

John Winchester

Lucifer

Gabriel

Michael

Castiel

Crowley

Jack

Marvel (Movie/Show Versions):

Tony Stark

Steve Rogers

Bucky Barnes

Brock Rumlow

Loki

Venom/Eddie (Venom 2018/Venom: Let There Be Carnage)

Wade Wilson/Deadpool (Deadpool 2016)

Francis Freeman/Ajax (Deadpool 2016)

Sam Wilson

John Walker

Helmut Zemo

Divergent/Insurgent/Allegiant:

Eric Coulter

Four (Tobias Eaton)

Peter Hayes

The Host:

Kyle O'Shea

Ian O'Shea

Jared Howe

Maze Runner:

Gally

Thomas

Newt

Harry Potter / Fantastic Beasts And Where To Find Them:

Grindelwald

Percival Graves

Draco Malfoy

Tom Riddle

Snowpiercer:

Curtis Everett

Edgar

Franco the Younger

Knives Out:

Ransom Drysdale

Gifted:

Frank Adler

The Red Sea Diving Resort:

Ari Levinson

The Devil All The Time:

Lee Bodecker

Arvin Russell

Preston Teagardin

Roy Laferty

Suicide Squad (2016) & The Suicide Squad (2021):

Colonel Rick Flag

Captain Boomerang (George Harkness)

Peacemaker (Christopher Smith)

Blackguard (Richard Hertz)

Real People

Twenty One Pilots:

Joshua Dun

Tyler Joseph (Blurryface too)

Actors/Actresses:

Chris Evans

Henry Cavill

Sebastian Stan

Jared Padalecki

Mark Pellegrino

Categories

Angst

a little Fluff

Smut

Almost anything really

What I'm willing to write:

Rape/Non-Con

Swearing

Violence

Murder

Abuse

Blood/Gore

Polyamorous Relationships

What I don't do:

Pregnancy

Out-of-character(If something seems ooc for me I will say so while answering the request)

Lots of Fluff (idk I just don't like it too much. You can request the Fluff you want and if it's too much for me, I will say so while answering the request)

Also:

If I really like your idea/request, I may make it into a series or longer and into another idea, but I will tell you beforehand.

I'm not obligated to fulfill your request if I'm not comfortable with it, even if it's not stated here.

I don't shame anyone for anything. You can freely request without being judged, I will just tell you if I don't feel comfortable doing your idea but not judge you for it!

I may do other characters that are not on this list, but that's very rare. Please send in an ask if I do the character you want that's not on this list before sending in your idea. The same is for other fandoms.

And last but not least:

I will do LGBTQ+, however you need to state what you want in the request! For example: If you want the reader to be a gay male, you simply need to write '(Character) x Male!Reader'! If you want a transgender male-to-female reader, write something like '(Character) x mtf!Reader'! If you don't write what you want, I will put female pronouns, as it's easier for me since I'm a female myself.

That was all! Have a nice day and request away!

[spookyjiimfanfiction]

Chapter Fifteen

Tear In My Heart | Series Masterlist

Warnings: All the fluff in the world.

Word Count: 2610

Authors’ Note: We hope you enjoy this chapter! :) (picture credit to Google.)

January 2018 - The Hiatus

It was a cold winter morning and Josh had woken you up early to take you and your new dog, Jim, on a surprise trip. This was entirely new to you, since in the few months that the two of you had been dating, you hadn't had a public outing once. Not that either of you were ashamed of what you were doing, but for the sake of keeping your private lives just that... private. Not even Tyler and Jenna knew yet, as you and Josh just secretly enjoyed your time together. After making sure that you were in comfortable and warm clothing, per Josh's request, all three of you piled up into his car and made your way to your destination. After various times of being asked by you to tell where you were going, Josh still didn't budge... so you decided to keep yourself busy by turning in your seat to face a very happy Jim. His face was right near yours and ready to cover it in kisses, which you narrowly avoided while laughing.

A half hour had passed and you finally made it to the surprise location: Hocking Hills State Park. Josh looked over to you with a big grin and turned off the car once he parked, taking off his seatbelt.

"I thought that it would be a fun idea to go on a hike together."

You quirked an eyebrow. "In the freezing cold?"

"That's the best time to go! You won't ever get sweaty," he said matter-of-factly. 

You had to admit... he had a point.

"Ok, ok, wise guy. Lead the way." A smirk appeared on your own lips.

With a laugh, he got out of the car and looked around with a slightly nervous expression. He really didn't want to be seen or noticed yet, so he decided to move quickly with getting Jim out of the car and grabbing your water bottles. You followed suit and instantly understood that he wanted to hurry the process up, so you zipped up your jacket fully and made it to his side to start your trek with Jim leading the way.

The trail was absolutely beautiful, even more so now that there was snow that dusted the ground the higher up you went. Sure, it was freezing, but the view made it all worth it. Watching as Jim made sure to sniff every inch of trail that he passed with a happy wagging tail, you giggled a bit as Josh turned his head back to look at you while holding onto his leash. A smile appeared on his face and then he hung back a bit so that he could wrap his free arm around your shoulders to bring you in close.

"You know, I was thinking... we've been together for a few months now. Maybe it's about time that we told Tyler and Jenna the news. I mean, they were the ones that were rooting for us to get together, you know?" Josh looked down to you to see what you thought of the idea.

Slowly nodding, you looked back up to him with a small smile. "I think you're right. It's felt sort of wrong keeping it from them. I think we should tell them tonight, since they're coming over for dinner."

"That sounds like a good idea."

He leaned down and kissed you softly, giving you a slight squeeze before being pulled away by Jim, who had managed to find a really good scent further down.

*     *     *

After a full day and a fill of fresh air and walking, you decided to head back down to the car. The only problem was there were more people than there had been earlier. Josh gave you a look of sudden fear and you instantly decided then and there to take his hand and just run as fast as you could with him - the both of you laughing the whole way while Jim ran alongside you with ease. Getting everything situated in the car, you both made the drive back home and made sure that you got changed into some nicer clothes for later that night while Josh cleaned around the house a bit for you.

"Hey, before we get started... do you mind making us a fire? I kind of want to settle in first before we start cooking dinner."

Josh looked up from playing with Jim on the floor and nodded his head happily.

"That sounds like a good idea."

He got up and made his way over to start throwing some logs into the fireplace, crumbling some pieces of newspaper as kindling. As he did that, you decided to go and grab one of the bigger, thicker blankets so that the both of you could sit and cuddle beneath it. Once the fire was going, you sat down on the floor in front of it to warm yourself up, suddenly feeling Josh sit right beside you and as close to your side as possible. You looked in his direction and then slowly opened your arm to hold up the blanket for him to get under, which he instantly took the opportunity to do. You both remained wrapped up and in each other's arms, seeking warmth from the fire, as Jim laid beside you to fall asleep. It was a picture perfect moment with your boys and you wouldn't have traded it for anything in the world. You internally thanked the universe for sending you Joshua Dun and getting him to stay, even when you were painfully unaware that he had stayed because he loved you.

Looking up at the clock to see that it was almost 5:00pm, you decided that it was time to finally start getting ready for having Tyler and Jenna over. Giving Josh a kiss on the lips, you smiled widely and got up from you spot as he groaned in protest.

"Do we have to do this tonight? I just want to relax with you..."

"Come on, Josh! We promised them. We haven't had time for all four of us together in a long time, so go get changed and I'll start prepping dinner."

He pouted a bit as he got up with the blanket still around him and shuffled his way down the hall to get ready, causing you to laugh. He may have acted like a child most times, but you still loved him regardless.

While Josh got changed into something a bit more appropriate for your dinner, you started to collect all the ingredients you would need for dinner. Jim laid down in his usual spot just outside the kitchen where he could keep a close eye on everything that was happening, including looking out for any scraps that may have fallen from the counter. Unable to resist his puppy dog eyes, you grabbed some cheese from the fridge and tossed it his way.

“How does this look?” Josh asked as he walked out of the hallway.

He had opted for a gray sweater over a pair of dark jeans. The sleeves were pushed up to his elbows, revealing his toned forearms and the lower half of his tattoo sleeve. Aside from his hair that was still pressed to his head after wearing a hat all morning, he looked perfect.

“Come here,” you said, waving him over.

Josh leaned his hip against the counter and furrowed his eyebrows at you. You wordlessly reached up and began to run your hands through his hair, adding some volume back to his curls. It didn’t take long for him to start laughing.

“What was that for?” he asked.

“You could tell you had been wearing a hat all morning.”

“Are you sure you didn’t just want an excuse to run your hands through my hair?”

“Ok, maybe that too,” you smiled before giving him a quick kiss.

Josh wrapped an arm around your waist and turned to face the counter where all of your ingredients were laid out. “Where should we start?” he asked.

“Well, they’re going to be here in like fifteen minutes, so I think we should get the bread going. If you want to do that, I can start boiling water for the noodles.”

“On it.”

The kitchen became a whirlwind of activity as you and Josh started to get things ready for dinner. It didn’t help that Josh insisted on a kiss every time you two happened to pass each other, which was often. You weren’t complaining, though.

The two of you had just settled on the couch with Jim when there was a knock on the door. You collectively sighed and turned to look at one another, still breathing a little heavily from all your work in the kitchen.

“Do you think they’ll mind waiting out there for thirty more seconds?” Josh laughed.

“Come on, it’s cold out there,” you said, pushing yourself away from the couch. “And if Tyler hasn’t burst into the house by now, I don’t think he’s going to.”

“Shocking,” Josh laughed as he followed after you.

You opened the front door, revealing a pink-cheeked Tyler and Jenna. They both smiled as soon as they saw you, instantly wrapping their arms around you in a hug. Despite the fact that it had only been a few days since you had last seen them, you had still missed them dearly.

“It smells amazing in here,” Jenna said as she pulled off her coat.

“Thank you! Josh and I have been hard at work.”

Once everyone’s coats and shoes were off, you ushered them into the kitchen to get drinks and then made yourselves comfortable on the couch. Almost immediately, Tyler launched into some story that he had to tell about a recent outing. In no time, the four of you were laughing and swapping your own stories. 

“Oh, that’s the bread,” you said, hearing the timer go off in the kitchen. “Josh, do you mind coming with me to help?”

“Sure thing,” he answered, setting his drink down on the coffee table.

The two of you walked into the kitchen, followed closely by Jim who was always eager to see what you and Josh were up to. Josh took the bread out of the oven while you finished a few other last minute preparations. 

“Are you feeling ok?” Josh asked quietly as he sliced up the bread.

“Yeah, I’m just nervous, I guess.”

“About what? Telling them about us?”

“Yeah, I just have no idea how they’re going to react.”

Josh stopped what he was doing and rested his hands on your hips, turning you towards him. Your eyes locked to his and some of the tension in your shoulders instantly released. You had known him for six years and still didn’t understand how one look from him could make you feel so safe.

“It’s going to be perfectly fine, they’re going to be over the moon with excitement. And if tonight doesn’t feel like the right night to say anything, then we don’t have to.”

“Thank you, Josh.”

You rested a hand on the side of his face and pulled him into a kiss. His arms started to wind tighter around you, but dropped away in a fraction of a second. Just as you were about to ask if he was ok, you heard it.

“No way.”

“Oh, you have got to be kidding,” you muttered.

“Jenna!” Tyler called. “Come here! You’re not going to believe this!”

“I guess we don’t have a choice anymore,” Josh laughed, putting an arm back around your waist.

Jenna walked into the room, still carrying her wine glass in one hand. She looked at you and Josh, obviously not noticing the arm he had around your waist, and then turned to Tyler.

“What’s going on?”

Tyler crossed his arms and nodded to you and Josh, a very pleased smirk plastered across his face, “Do you want to tell her?”

“Tell me what?”

You sighed. “Josh and I are dating.”

“What?” she gasped, eyes going wide. For a split second, you thought she might drop her glass straight onto the floor.

“We were planning to tell you over dinner, but Tyler caught us kissing and, well, it was pretty obvious at that point.”

“In my defense, Jenna asked me to come in here and see if you needed any help.”

“Oh yeah, because you’ve never interrupted Josh and I before,” you scoffed.

“Never!”

“What about when we were on the bridge in Austin? Or when I helped him dye his hair? Or when we almost kissed? Or literally just now?”

“Hey, I-”

Jenna put a hand on her husband’s shoulder, instantly quieting him. He pouted for a little while, but eventually gave up and accepted his defeat.

“How long has this been going on?” she asked.

“Since August.”

“August?” Tyler and Jenna asked in unison.

“We wanted to keep it on the downlow for awhile. You know, just enjoy our time together,” Josh explained. “Plus, since we have to lay low because of the hiatus anyway, it didn’t seem like a big deal.”

“I can’t believe you managed to go that long without telling me,” Jenna smiled at you.

“I almost slipped up so many times.”

“I’m just glad to see you two are finally together,” Tyler chimed in. “I’ve been waiting for this moment since 2011.”

“We had some obstacles to overcome before we got to this point,” you said. “But we got here.”

Josh grinned and gave you another quick kiss.

“Ok, as much as I love this mushy stuff,” he said. “We should eat before it gets cold.”

“Good call.”

The four of you dished up your food and got comfortable at the dining table. Jenna and Tyler continued to pester you with questions about your relationship, though neither you or Josh really minded. It was nice to finally feel like it was out in the open, even if they were the only other two that knew.

The rest of the night flew by after dinner. Between card games and laughing at old stories from the early days of tour, you hadn’t even realized how late it had gotten until Tyler pulled out his phone and announced to Jenna that they should get home. After a few more minutes to wrap up your conversation, the four of you said your goodbyes with promises to have another night like this soon.

Josh draped his arms over you as soon as the door was closed, burying his face in your neck and leaning some of his body weight into you.

“Tonight was nice,” he whispered. “We should host more often.”

“You’re only saying that because we haven’t had to clean up all the dishes yet.”

“We can do that in the morning.”

“Is it time for bed?”

“I think so.”

Jim followed the two of you upstairs and waited patiently as you went through your nightly routines and got into pajamas. You were wrapped around Josh almost as soon as he was in bed, letting your head now rest in the crook of his neck. Jim also decided to join in on the cuddling, making sure to wedge himself wherever he could while still being next to both of you.

“I’m going to miss days like these when we go on tour again,” you said quietly.

“Me too, but there will be plenty of other adventures to go on when that does happen.”

“You’re not planning something, are you?”

“Just having a nice time on tour with my girl.”

“And Jim!”

“Yeah,” Josh laughed. “And Jim.”

“I love you.”

“I love you too.” He pressed a quick kiss to your head. “Goodnight.”

“Goodnight.”

*     *     *     *     *

Taglist

@topownsmyheart @faceofcontvsions @ohprettyweeper @tylersheavydirtysoul @svintsandghosts @wearebxnditos @breadbinishigh @patdsinner33 @leam-2001

[beanfic]

Summertime Sadness - Ch.21

Word count: 1213

Warnings: Angst, sadness, fluff

Author’s note: The last chapter! Thank you all for the support through this entire series! I think I really grew with my writing, and this was my largest project yet! I really hope you enjoy!

Song Suggestion: Give Me Love by Ed Sheeran

“I love you too, Y/F/N Y/L/N.” Josh’s voice was soft, and he placed little kisses all over your bare shoulder. 

“I’m so sleepy,” you yawned.

“Me too, let’s sleep in the car.” Josh stood up and threw on a t-shirt and basketball shorts he had packed in his car. 

“I don’t have any clothes besides for my dress,” you said as you wrapped yourself in a blanket. 

“I came prepared.” Josh shuffled around in his Jeep before pulling out a pair of sweatpants and one of his t-shirts. He handed you them, and you threw them on. They smelled like Josh, and you were hoping he would let you keep them after he left to Washington. 

Josh laid down the back seats and created a little bed with pillows and blankets so you both could sleep in the back and be comfortable. You both got tucked in, and you nuzzled under Josh’s shoulder. 

“I can’t believe you leave tomorrow,” you mumbled. You started to think back on the summer. Good memories and bad memories. 

You had no idea that the boy you met at a party would impact your life so much.

You had no idea that an older boy with gauges and tattoos could hurt you so much, yet make you fall in love so quickly and deeply. 

You wanted to spend the rest of your life with Josh, and you wanted to help him and support him through everything.

“Y/N, why are you crying?” Josh asked when he noticed teardrops falling on his chest. 

“I’m going to miss you, you’re the best thing that has ever happened to me.”

“You’re the best thing that has ever happened to me too, but I promise everything will be okay. We can facetime, we can call, and I’ll be home for the holidays.”

“Promise you won’t leave me?”

“I promise, Y/N, I love you and only you.”

“I love you, even more, Joshua.” You closed your eyes and the next thing you knew you were sleeping on a snoring Josh. 

     *      *     *     *     *     *

“Good morning my love,” Josh whispered into your ear. You opened your eyes, being blinded by the sunlight.

“Josh?” you looked around trying to remember where you were, and the memories of last night came back to you. “Josh.”

“I’m right here, my love.”

“I could get used to that,” you chuckled.

“What?”

“My love! I like when you call me that,” you told him. You sat up more, rubbing the sleep out of your eyes and fixing your hair that had fallen out. 

“You’re always going to be my love,” he kissed your forehead. “We need to get going though, I need to leave by noon. It’s going to be a long few days of driving.”

“I wish I could come with you,” you mumbled, knowing that there was no way and that these were your last few hours with him. 

“I know, but we are going to go back to my house first to finish packing the stuff I haven’t shipped there, and then I’ll drop you off at your house.”

“Okay,” you said sadly. You really did not want to let him go, but there was nothing you could do. The road trip back to his house was spent with you belting out Awolnation, and giving Josh his own little concert.

“I don’t think I’ve ever sung that loud before,” you yelled over the music.

“You’re such a good singer, I really think that you should Tyler’s place in the band.”

“Speaking of the band, what’s going to happen with that?”

Josh shrugged, “He is still going to write music and we are going to try to make it work.”

“That’s good because the band is getting so big! Maybe one day you will be so famous that you get noticed in public places! Or people will make fan accounts of you and stuff!”

“That sounds horrible, plus I don’t want people stalking every move I do.”

“Maybe people will write fanfiction about you,” you giggled.

“Oh god, I don’t even want to think about that.” Josh grabbed your hand and he held it all the way back to his apartment. He parked his jeep and you helped him take in the blankets and pillows so there was enough room for his boxes and suitcases. 

You helped him pack up the last of his clothes. He had already shipped kitchen essentials as well as bedding and stuff like that. He was moving into an already furnished apartment so he didn’t need too much. 

“Is it weird going to college for the first time being so old?” you asked while you packed his toiletries.

“Not really, I wanted some gap years to figure myself out.”

“I’m glad you did.”

You and Josh brought out each box and suitcase one by one until his Jeep couldn’t hold anymore. You climbed into the passenger seat and watched Josh lock the front door to his apartment. 

The car ride to your house was spent with you holding in your tears, and Josh rubbing his thumb over your hand that he was holding tight. He pulled in front of your house and you both looked at each other. 

He grabbed your face and gave you one last long passionate kiss. The last one for a while. When he pulled away he rested his forehead against yours, and you both stayed like that for a few seconds. 

“I love you, Dun,” you whispered.

“I love you too, Y/L/N.”

“I’m going to miss you, so much.”

“I’ll miss you more.”

“Impossible,” you smiled. You looked up into his big brown eyes. You studied his face, just so that you wouldn’t forget it. You focused on his soft lips, and his nose ring, and his wrinkles next to his eyes when he smiled. 

You opened the door and hopped out. You closed the door and walked to your door before turning around, and blowing a kiss to Josh. He pretended to catch it and bring it to his heart. 

“Bye, Y/L/N,” he waved as he started his jeep and started to drive away. 

“Goodbye, Joshua.” Your vision became blurry as the Jeep got smaller and smaller. Once you couldn’t see it anymore, your world felt like it stopped. You could feel your heartbeat in your stomach, and it was hard to catch your breath. “Goodbye.”

Your heart ached, not like when it felt broken from earlier in the summer, but a different type of ache. One where it felt like it could still function, but was missing something so it wasn’t functioning fully. It felt empty, yet heavier. 

You walked inside your house and ignored your family asking if you were okay. You were numb, and the world was moving slowly as if it was a few frames behind. You laid on your bed and looked up at your ceiling. Your phone buzzed and you grabbed to see you got a text from Josh already. 

I miss you already. Just like how the stars miss the sun in the morning sky.

You held your phone next to your chest and breathed in heavily. You had already started counting down the days until you saw Josh again.

The End.

----------------------

tag list: @takenvysleep @ohprettyweeper @oncemorewithfeelingg @gaiatheroyalrabbit @svintsandghosts @addictwithaheavydirtycheetah @patdsinner33 @breadbinishigh @demonsdontcontrolus

[joshspankindun]

twenty øne dørks (pt 9/?)

[ao3feed-joshler]

Exit

read it on the AO3 at https://ift.tt/36OgToU

by bluejoseph

How had he gotten those bruises on his neck?

Words: 1379, Chapters: 1/1, Language: English

Series: Part 3 of The Joshua Tree

Fandoms: Twenty One Pilots

Rating: Teen And Up Audiences

Warnings: No Archive Warnings Apply

Categories: M/M

Characters: Josh Dun, Tyler Joseph, jenna joseph, Debby Ryan, Mark Eshleman, Clancy (Twenty One Pilots), Nicolas Bourbaki (mentioned), Brad Heaton (mentioned), Banditos (Twenty One Pilots)

Relationships: Josh Dun/Tyler Joseph

Additional Tags: DEMA (Twenty One Pilots), Dema fic, trench, mentions of death and peril!, Hurt/Comfort, Healing, Angst, Hopeful Ending, not gonna come out and say that clancy is clairvoyant but, eyes emoji, mentions of bruises/injuries

read it on the AO3 at https://ift.tt/36OgToU