#koo junhoe au

[soundsofcicadas]

Swan Song, part one

Pairing: Koo Junhoe x Reader (f)

Genres: Drama, Angst, Romance, Childhood best friends, Junhoe is a former idol, Friends to lovers

Count: 2697

Warnings: None

Synopsis: After an unexpected encounter with your childhood best friend Junhoe, years after drifting apart, your rekindled friendship blooms anew. However, life takes a turn when he asks you to pen an article for his upcoming wedding. As you become entangled in his personal life, your old feelings of love for him begin resurfacing and the concealed secret behind his decision to abandon his idol career is soon to be unveiled by you. 

It was a dreary, rain-soaked afternoon and you found yourself carrying a couple of grocery bags, each lightly dampened by the persistent drizzle. The rain had already drenched your umbrella, rendering it almost useless. You let out a sigh and quickened your pace, hoping to reach your apartment before the rain grew heavier. Upon crossing the street, you noticed an old record store nestled between a quaint cafe and a cozy bookstore. You glanced up and saw its faded sign bore the name “Good Oldies,” and a sudden sense of nostalgia washed over you.   

“Should I?” You asked yourself with some hesitation. You looked at the groceries in your hands for a moment before a faint smile appeared on your face. Despite them weighing you down, curiosity got the better of you.  

You pushed open the creaky door of the record store. A soft bell tinkled above as you stepped in, greeted by the familiar scent of old vinyl and the gentle hum of music playing on a vintage turntable. Rows upon rows of vinyl records filled the store, their covers adorned with vibrant artwork and the promise of forgotten melodies. You set your grocery bags down and began flipping through the albums, each one a portal to a different era. Lost in the world of music, you finally settled on a Billie Holiday record, its cover portraying the singer’s side view posing behind a purplish background. As you held the record in your hands, your eyes caught a tall figure browsing by the “Rock” section in the next aisle. Aside from the cashier patiently waiting at the counter, only the two of you were the customers inside. You couldn’t help but stare at the mysterious man in front of you. He was wearing jeans, paired with a matching brown corduroy blazer and a baseball cap. You could see him picking up a Bob Dylan record and once he turned around, you glanced up to see his face clearly.  

You froze, your eyes fluttered rapidly.  

Even if you could only see half of his face, you surely recognized him. A jumble of emotions rushed through you—surprise, longing? A twinge of anxiety.   

Is it really him? No, it’s definitely him! Should I approach him? What if he doesn’t recognize me?  

Without further thought, you took a deep breath and cleared your throat. He was about to walk towards the counter when your voice broke through the soft veil background music in the sparsely populated store.   

“Junhoe?” You called.  

Junhoe halted and took a glimpse at you, his brows furrowed in confusion.   

Your heart sank, but you pressed on moving closely to him. “It’s me, y/n. We used to live next door to each other when we were kids.”  

Junhoe turned to face you completely.  

Familiarity dawned on him as he began examining the stranger before him—from the contours of your face to the soft curve of your cheeks. Your long ebony hair, still dampened from the rain. Your eyes were bright, widened in astonishment. You were wearing a long white sundress covered in an oversized baby pink coat, a Lady Satin album in your hands.  

“Y/n?” He mumbled.  

You were his childhood best friend, until he dropped out in middle school and left for the city to pursue his dreams. You were the one he promised to call and write but never did. When did he forget about you? He couldn’t even remember. Junhoe sifted through his forgotten memories of you and for some unknown reason, found comfort in recalling how you used to exude a carefree spirit when you were both young. You were one of the boys in the neighborhood and never changed your circle of friends, even when you all started attending school up to your adolescence. He fondly remembered how, during your escapades together, you would match your energy with him and the boys in the group effortlessly. Being the eldest among the six of them, you naturally assumed the role of an older sister. You became their protector against mean kids if any of them were bullied.  

Junhoe’s gaze lingered on the subtle changes in your style, the way your clothing reflects your femininity. Your posture now carried a touch of maturity, but your features still looked youthful, untouched by the passage of time. Gone was the y/n who hunted for frogs and insects with him in her tees and chucks.  

Junhoe noticed how he had almost gotten lost in his thoughts upon hearing you answer him excitedly with a “Yes, it’s me! I can’t believe it’s you.”  

“I can’t believe it’s you too.” He responded to you with a warm smile.   

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

“You didn’t have to pay for it, you know.” You said shyly to Junhoe, pertaining to the album he bought for you from the record store. The aroma of freshly brewed coffee filled the air as you and Junhoe sat across from each other in a secluded corner of the coffee shop. The clinking of cups and hushed conversations along with the playing jazz melody formed as gentle backdrop to your reunion.  

“It’s not free! You're paying for my coffee.” Junhoe teased, earning a laugh from you.  

“You bet it’s my treat today!” You nodded with a grin. There was a brief pause when you added, “Thank you Junhoe for coming here with me. I’m not taking too much of your time, am I?”  

Junhoe shook his head. “Oh no y/n! I’m actually on vacation right now. I was here just a few days ago.”  

So this is why he’s back. You mused.  

Taking a sip from the hot caramel macchiato you ordered, you had a chance to observe Junhoe over the brim of your cup—the white undershirt suited his ensemble that day. You knew the baseball cap perched casually on his head was not just a simple accessory. It created a shield of privacy around him from the curious gazes of onlookers given the fact that Junhoe was still a celebrity. You didn’t mind ordering for him. You knew he wanted to pick a spot away from the prying eyes of customers, hence to where the both of you are now nestled. It offered a discreet setting to catch up after all those lost time.       Junhoe peeked through the misty glass of the cafe’s window, where the rain seemed to have turned into light pattering before he glimpsed back at you.  

“It’s been so long, y/n. I can’t believe we’re sitting here after all these years.”  

You beamed at him and set your coffee down on the tabletop, “I know, right? Life has taken us on such different paths.”  

Junhoe’s expression shifted, a hint of remorse tugging at his sharp features. “Y/n, I feel terrible for not keeping in touch, especially considering how close we were.”  

Your gaze softened, but your smile was unwavering. “It’s okay, Junhoe. You were chasing your passion, and you built a new life for yourself outside this town. Not all of us were headed in the same direction anyway. It genuinely made me happy to see you thriving. I’ve always been proud of you, Junhoe.”  

Your last statement piqued Junhoe's curiosity.  

“Proud?” He repeated.  

“How do I say this—” You tried to avoid looking at his face. Your sight dipping into the stain of your lipstick on the cup of your coffee as if seeking solace. You felt a pang of embarrassment tickling the edges of your consciousness, a quiet voice whispering the fear that your words might be misconstrued. You didn’t want him to think you were some sort of fervent, overzealous stalker. A faint blush tinted your cheeks. Your fingers fidgeted nervously with the fabric of your dress.  

“I followed your journey as a singer Junhoe. Your rise to fame was like a whirlwind. Your voice was everywhere.” You divulged. “I even went to some of your concerts to be honest.”  

Junhoe’s awe hung in the air from your confession, yet he held no judgement from it. He was grateful, flattered to say the least.  

“I wish I had known that y/n. Thank you.” He said to you with care.  

“But I’m definitely not a saesang or anything.” You reassured him with a nervous laugh. You didn’t dare to meet Junhoe’s eyes because sharing this information with him made you feel exposed, yet you continued, “You were the closest friend I ever had, and I guess I’ve always clung to the belief that your dreams would come true. Regardless of the passing years and not hearing anything from you, you still have a special place in my heart.”  

Junhoe began to feel the weight of your words, a surge of sorrow and regret engulfed him. He reflected on how your connection with each other in the past was unbreakable. His inseparability with you was the envy of the other boys in your circle. You had always favored him, making your bond together a more special one. You stood by him, especially during his appearances in school talent shows and local town festivals. You consistently supported him to the point where you recorded his audition tapes sent to entertainment companies. Junhoe got accepted by YG Entertainment eventually, and your joy that day for him was immeasurable. You even brought the boys with you to accompany him on his first day of training to the company.  

“I’m really sorry, y/n.” Junhoe stated, his face grim. “You know, during those years, I was so caught up with the hectic demand of my career. I lost contact with a lot of people, including you.” Junhoe was struggling to find the right words, knowing that they might come across as excuses for not reaching out for such a long time. Yet, they were the only words he could muster.  

The fervent pursuit of Junhoe’s dream to become a singer resulted in his connections slipping away like grains of sand through his fingers. The rigors of his training consumed his time and energy, leaving little room to see or talk to his circle of friends. Gradually, Junhoe started living at the company’s dormitory which made him more detached from them. Their relationship began to fray due to his lack of communication—the letters he’d forgotten to read, calls gone to voicemail and most importantly, the highlights of the lives of his friends he missed out on knowing and witnessing, causing both sides to finally dwindle into silence. As Junhoe marched toward his debut, the overwhelming preparation and anticipation completely absorbed him. The spotlight of the stage beckoned, and the weight of his ambition denied him the opportunity to look backwards. The vortex of his rise to fame kept him farther from his roots. Recording sessions, photo shoots, TV appearances and tours became the center of his everyday life. It cast him into a turbulence of events that seemed to happen in the blink of an eye. The adoration of fans, the flashes of cameras and the cheers of crowds all consumed his focus. The memories of his friends back in his hometown became a blur, their faces fading like distant constellations in the night sky.  

The realization of how you held onto your belief that he would achieve his aspirations, had affected Junhoe in some kind of way. Your persistence in tracking his path as a singer astounded him. He was profoundly moved how you cherished your friendship after such a long period of being apart.  

However, at that exact moment, a haunting thought emerged within Junhoe, creeping into the recesses of his mind like an uninvited guest. In your presence, a world he had thought he’d left behind reignited, casting a shadow of pain over him. A bittersweet memory of a dream that had once been within his grasp, disappeared as swiftly as a fleeting breath.  

You returned your attention back to Junhoe. It was not your intention to cause him any negative feelings.  

“Please don’t feel bad, Junhoe.” You pleaded. “We were kids, and circumstances changed. I never held it against you.”  

Junhoe had somehow found consolation in your words, although a subtle ache still persisted beneath the surface.  

“Thank you, y/n. That means a lot to me.” He said sincerely.   

“I know this may sound too much Junhoe, but I knew then you were destined to be a singer. You weren’t meant to be stuck in this town like me.” You declared. “That’s why it made me sad when you retired from music. You were at the peak of your career, but I truly get it and I still support you pursuing other things.”  

Junhoe leaned back in his chair and looked at the momentarily forgotten coffee on the table, as if searching for the right answer. He was torn between vulnerability and a desire to protect the fragile facade he had built. He wrestled between overwhelming emotions, a torrent of memories he had forgotten now resurfacing. A cascade of what-ifs and maybes flooded his mind, reminding him of the dreams he had once harbored.  

Junhoe offered a fleeting smile, a fragile acknowledgment that your words touched a chord within him. But he remained guarded, his response veiled by the walls he had erected to secure himself from the agonizing truth he had long concealed.  

“You’re kind to say that.” Junhoe murmured softly, his gaze now meeting yours. His voice carried a weight of both resignation and yearning, a silent plea for understanding. It was a response that revealed the depth of his struggle, a battle between the echoes of his dreams and the reality he had come to accept.  

“I’m into writing poetry now, y/n. I’ve published a few books and it’s been therapeutic for me.” Junhoe revealed. “I guess, I’m still part of the music industry. I occasionally produce music for my fellow artists.”  

“That’s amazing Junhoe!” You responded, providing him with warm encouragement. “It’s incredible how you continue to explore and evolve as an artist. I wasn’t lucky to obtain a copy of your last book though, it got easily sold out!”  

Junhoe appreciated your attempt to inject a lighthearted laugh into the conversation, as a means to thaw the seriousness of it. But talking about himself had begun to tire him out, prompting him to steer the discussion to you.  

“Enough of me y/n, how have you been?” Junhoe asked. “Are you still friends with Hanbin and the other boys?”  

“Me? Oh, I’m also a writer like you, but it’s for a local lifestyle magazine.” You shared; your voice laced with enthusiasm as you seamlessly followed along with his transition of topic. “And yes, I’m still friends with the boys. Hanbin now teaches elementary school kids. Would you believe that?”  

“Wow! Really?” Junhoe’s eyebrows shot up in surprise.  

“Yeah. Yun works as a master chef at a fancy hotel in Seoul. As for Jiwon, he has his own family already. Him and Dong both resided in the US after graduation, but they live in different states. Dong has his own dance studio somewhere in LA.”  

A comfortable atmosphere began to envelop the two of you, and Junhoe felt his shoulders visibly relax as he listened to your stories about your childhood friends. It offered a refreshing change from his life in the spotlight. Engaging to hear every detail of their lives, he couldn’t help but recognize how much he missed them and how happy it made him that they were all doing so well through the years.  

Until a specific event sparked in Junhoe’s mind, inspiring him to extend an invitation to you. He saw this as an opportunity to keep the rekindled connection you both shared, a bond he was determined not to let fade away as he had done in the past.  

“Y/n, would you be interested in joining me for an art exhibit tomorrow night? Feel free to bring Hanbin and your other friends as well, if you like.” Junhoe asked you excitedly.  

A glint appeared in your eyes upon hearing the kind gesture. “I would love to Junhoe! That’s wonderful because I like art a lot.”  

“That’s great, y/n! I’ll text you the address.” Junhoe replied cheerfully, looking forward to seeing you again. 

[haveanotherkpopblog]

The Nutcracker Suite

Part V: The Mouse King's Castle

Pairing: Ju-ne/Koo Junhoe x You

Genre: Angst, Ballet!AU, Fluff, Regency!AU

Word Count: 4.2K

Warnings: N/A

Masterlist || <<Previous | Next>>

The Mouse King’s castle stood tall and proud. Towers made of polished, white marble stretched towards the sky. The walls were long and made of stone. There wasn’t much else to see from the south side of the castle. That must be why they never showed the back of castles in fairy tales. Mouse soldiers walked around the perimeter, spears clutched in their paws.

The group had ducked into the woods, making sure to stay out of the mice soldier's line of sight. They tied the horses to a tree, making sure they didn’t run off again. General Hanbin pulled out the map that the Sugar Plum Fairy had given them. He placed it down on the ground, securing it with some nearby rocks.

“Okay, the Sugar Plum Fairy said that there was a secret entrance a few yards away from the south wall. There, we’ll enter into a secret passageway hidden within the castle walls. She marked the path to take that will lead us to the north side of the castle. Somewhere there is his royal treasury. We should find the egg somewhere there.”

“Should? Are we not certain that’s where the egg is?” Y/N said.

“The Sugar Plum Fairy hasn’t ever seen the egg or inside the castle,” Lieutenant Donghyuk explained. “She did her best to try and remember what the Mouse King’s said before. She helped us the best she could.”

General Hanbin rolled the map up before returning it to his sack. He slung it over his shoulder, making sure it was secured before leading the group away from the woods. They had to back-track slightly before the general led them down a steep hillside. The Uncrossable Seas were next to the hill, its waters sloshing along the grass. Next to the hill was a curtain of vines and leaves.

The General pushed the curtain aside to reveal a dark and damp tunnel. Ju-ne took Y/N’s hand as they entered the tunnel. It was dark--dark and quiet. The only sound was the ocean outside, and their footsteps as they stepped on the soaked, moss covered ground. The air around them was thick as they continued through the tunnel.

“Be careful,” General Hanbin called back. “We should be coming up to the secret passageway soon.”

And they were. Soon the soft moss ground changed to hard stone. The air was no longer thick with moisture, but thick with dust. The ocean sounds faded into a deafening nothingness. Their footsteps echoed off the stone walls--the only source of sound outside their breathing. Torches lined the walls, lighting the group’s way. Ju-ne kept a firm grip on Y/N’s hand, looking back once in a while to make sure she was still there with them.

Up ahead of them was a dead end. Lieutenant Donghyuk went to the front of the group, placing his ear against the wall. He knocked on the stones in a few different places before stepping back. Ever so carefully he pushed on one side of the wall. With a loud groan, the wall began to slowly spin, revealing the inside of the castle.

The group rushed through the entrance before the wall fell back into place, as if it had never been touched. The inside of the castle was exactly as you’d expect a castle to look. Soft carpets covered the floor under them. Priceless nicknacks were strategically placed on tables along the hallway. Paintings of kings and queens of old covered the walls. Gas lanterns gave the hallway a dim glow. The only thing missing was the servants and courtiers, but Y/N supposed the Mouse King had gotten rid of them.

“Okay, there’s two main corridors on the north side,” General Hanbin said, pulling the map from his sack. “We’ll divide into teams of two, then search for the egg. We’ll meet back here once we’ve finished searching. If none of us have found it, then we’ll have to search the entire castle. Understood?” Everyone nodded. “Excellent. Lady Y/N and the Nutcracker will take this corridor, Lieutenant Donghyuk and I will take this one.” General Hanbin put the map back in his sack before turning to the Lieutenant.

The four split up and went their separate ways. Ju-ne and Y/N went down their corridor, poking their heads into the different rooms. Most were empty bedrooms, cabinets, and bathrooms. The corridor seemed to stretch on forever, turning this way and that. The doors became fewer and fewer the further they went along.

At one point there was a split in the corridor. One could either continue to go straight, or venture off towards the left. Ju-ne and Y/N stopped, looking down both hallways. They both appeared identical from a first glance. They needed to check every room they could, but going together would take too much time. The longer they remained in the castle, the more likely they were to be caught.

“You take the corridor on the left. I’ll continue straight,” Y/N said, glancing at Ju-ne briefly before she started walking. He barely caught her wrist and pulled her back to him. He stared down at her, eyes focused on her, reading her. Y/N felt her heartbeat pick up the longer he stared at her. He seemed to have that effect on her, making her sweat and heat up. In fact, it actually infuriated her how good he was at leaving her head in a blissfully fuzzy state of being.

“Absolutely not,” he finally said. He was also very good at telling her “no”. She pulled her hand away from his, crossing her arms over her chest. “If something happens to you and I’m not there I--” He struggled to finish his sentence, staring at her hopelessly. “We need to stay together.” Y/N’s gaze softened slightly. She could never find it in her to be in a sour mood when those big, brown eyes were staring at her.

“I understand your concern, but if we don’t split up, we’ll be here forever. Then we shall most definitely be caught. No, we must split up. Once we’ve checked all the rooms, we’ll meet right back here. Okay?” Ju-ne looked like he wanted to argue, but one look from Y/N had him nodding his head in agreement. She smiled triumphantly before continuing, alone, down the corridor.

The longer she traveled alone, the more paranoid she began to feel. She tried not to look at the paintings that lined the walls. Every time she glanced up, it was like those black, unmoving, abysses were staring down at her. She swallowed thickly, wrapping her arms around herself. She took deep breaths, letting her mind focus on everything else.

Domestic thoughts began to take over her head. Thoughts of Sunday morning brunches, picnics in an amazing and lucious garden, reading as it poured outside, and even thoughts of children. These were thoughts she rarely had, unless she was reading a rather romantic book, but they floated around in her head nonetheless. And they all circled around one individual.

Up ahead, at the very end of the corridor, was a singular door. The corridor ended with the room. There were no other hallways to turn down or rooms to explore. Y/N’s steps seemed to slow down the closer she got to the door. Her breathing became shallow as every part of her being became hyper aware of everything around her. Only when she was right outside the door did she finally stop.

The door seemed to loom over her like a shadow. It both beckoned and cast her away. She turned around briefly, pondering if she should walk away. She shook the thought from her head. Everyone was counting on her: the Sugar Plum Fairy, Jiwon, Jinhwan, Lieutenant Donghyuk, General Hanbin, Ju-ne… Pushing her own selfish thoughts aside, she slowly turned the door knob.

The door swung open with a surprising amount of ease. It was completely dark inside--dark and quiet. Ever so slowly, Y/N stepped in, leaving the door ajar to cast some light in the room. It looked like an office of sorts. There was a long table with a chair at the end, closest to Y/N. In fact, that’s all there seemed to be in the mysterious room. She frowned, her body slumping slightly. Something felt wrong. There was something in Y/N’s mind telling her this was wrong, but she couldn’t figure out why.

Slam!

Turning around, Y/N found herself in complete darkness. She rushed back to where the door had been, but she couldn’t seem to find a door handle. Panic filled her as she tried to look around the room, yet no matter how long she stared, her eyes couldn’t seem to adjust. She began to bang on the door, calling out for help.

“They aren’t going to hear you.” Each word was drawn out unnecessarily as, ever so slowly, light began to fill the room.

She kept her face towards the wall, her spine straightening. Her hands rested flat, as her eyes remained downcast. She knew that voice. Slowly she turned around.

The Mouse King sat at the other end of the table, his small crown atop his head. His elbow rested on the arm of the chair as the magic sceptor laid on the table in front of him. He was staring at her, but his gaze almost seemed bored. As if her being here was nothing more than a dip in his day.

“Have a seat.” He gestured to the chair in front of her. She sat down, keeping her eyes trained on him. Her breathing was steady, but her heart pounded in her chest. She wondered faintly if he could hear it. Ba-bump. Ba-bump. Ba-bump. “Remarkable.”

“Excuse me?” Her voice was clear and sharp.

“Remarkable. Don’t think I forgot our last encounter. The bump on the back of my head is a constant reminder of who you are.” He winced slightly. She smirked, watching as he stood from his chair, swiping the scepter off the table. “You and I have quite a few things to discuss, Lady Y/N.”

“How do you know my name?” she inquired, standing up. They slowly began pacing around the table, eyes locked. He chuckled slightly, shaking his long head. “Do I amuse you, your Majesty?”

“Not particularly. But she does.” He waved the scepter, and an image of the Sugar Plum Fairy appeared. She was pacing the length of her room, clearly frustrated. “She still thinks that I can’t see her, as if her magic can hide her from me.” He waved and the image disappeared. He turned back towards Y/N. “As I said, you and I have quite a few things to discuss.”

“That we do,” she conceded. “For starters, that doesn’t belong to you.” She watched as he went to the nearby fireplace, using it to start a roaring fire. The flames danced across his face as a stoic look took over.

“No, it does not,” he agreed. “It belonged to the Emperor, and in his absence, it belongs to his son. Your precious nutcracker.” The Mouse King shook his head and let out a deep sigh. “You must understand, I am not the bad guy.”

“You think so? From where I’m standing, you seem to fit the role quite well,” she said, crossing her arms over her chest.

“Yes. I suppose she has painted the image perfectly. Evil and power-hungry. Nothing is more convincing than taking your own traits and projecting them onto someone else. Especially when that other person is innocent and doesn’t see what’s going on.” He turned to her, paw clenched around the scepter. “I would like to tell you a story, Lady Y/N.”

“Why should I listen to a word you say?”

“Because if you ever wish to see your nutcracker again, you’ll sit and listen.” His voice was calm, but his black eyes flashed red, causing her to take a couple steps back. Surprised, she sat down, but her eyes stayed on him and her body was rigid.

“Not too long ago, the Emperor announced that he would no longer be ruling over us, that his time as the emperor had passed. His power would be passed down to his heir, and everyone was apprehensive. The Prince was aloof and politically inept, but we couldn’t disobey the Emperor. Until the Prince was of proper age, the reigning Sugar Plum and I were to keep order amongst the empire.

“The Sugar Plum Fairy grew impatient. I tried to talk with her, to get her to see reason, but she refused. I could tell she was growing too fond of her temporary power. Maybe if I had voiced my concerns, things wouldn’t have progressed the way they did.

“I happened to be wandering the palace late one night, unable to sleep, when I noticed the Prince’s door ajar. I stepped inside to find the Sugar Plum Fairy standing over him as he laid fast asleep. I shall spare you any more details.

“I had forced her out of the palace and seized the scepter from her. What I hadn’t realized was that while I was busy holding in my concerns, she had convinced the courtiers and servants that I craved the crown myself. That being a reigning Lord hadn’t been enough for me. I, unfortunately, only cemented her words when I threw her from the palace.

“I knew that, given the chance, she’d go after the Prince. To keep him safe, I did the only thing I could think of. I turned him into a nutcracker and sent him far away, claiming he had perished. What I hadn’t expected was for him to fall into the lap of a girl. I hadn’t expected him to find you, but maybe now things can be righted.”

“What makes you think I’d believe a word you said?” Her heart was pounding in her chest as she listened to him.

“Why did you take the key from her room?”

A small gasp left her mouth as she fought the urge to reach for it. They watched each other for several minutes. There was conflict inside her. After all, what he said was completely plausible. On the other hand, as he had said himself, nothing is more convincing than taking your own traits and projecting them onto someone else.

He lifted the scepter above him, and the one thing she’d been looking for appeared on the table before her. It was a small, ornate egg, covered in gold and precious gems. Her mouth fell open as she stared at it. There it was, the one thing she needed to defeat him and return home, just within reach, and yet, she couldn’t bring herself to grab it. She glanced over to him.

“Take it,” he said, waving the scepter again so the door reappeared. “Take it to Ju-ne.”

She snatched the egg off the table and ran out the door, nearly collapsing in the hallway. When she turned around, the door was gone. Her hand went to her pocket, where she could feel the outline of the key. She let out a breath, placing the egg into the pocket of her dress skirt.

She made her way through the castle, back to where she and Ju-ne agreed to meet. She waited for a few minutes, but after a while, it seemed like he wasn’t coming. Curiously she went in search of General Hanbin and Lieutenant Donghyuk, yet where everyone agreed to meet, they couldn’t be found. She nearly smacked herself in the face. Of course the Mouse King had been distracting her.

She blew out a puff of air and began her search of the castle. She went through many corridors, yet they all seemed to lead back to where she started, but even after a while she couldn’t remember where she started. Everything seemed the same and yet nothing was familiar. Paintings seemed to move and doors disappeared as soon as you turned.

She sat on the floor, bringing her knees to her chest. She had to think of something before it was too late. She scooted over to the nearby wall and pressed her ear against it. She slowly lifted her hand and began knocking various places.

Further down than where she’d been sitting, where she knocked sounded hollow. Summoning all her might, she shoved her shoulder into the wall. It swung with surprising ease and she tumbled into another area of the castle.

No more endless halls, she came to a second floor with a railing that peered down. Looking down she saw two mouse guards in front of a door. She nibbled on her bottom lip, looking around. She walked along the railing until the room was below her and she could no longer see the soldiers.

What she did see was a solution. Taking a pin from her hair, she crouched down to undo the lace of her boot. She tied each end of the lace to a pole along the railing. She placed the pin in the center and aimed for a vase in the opposite room. She exhaled softly, letting the pin go. It flew, knocking the vase off the shelf and drawing the soldiers away. She ran to a nearby velvet drape and slid down it. She shook her rug burned hands and quickly stepped into the room, being sure to shut the door quietly.

Her face fell as she discovered the room was empty. Her shoulders slumped as she backed herself against the door. Fooled, once again. She wanted to shout. What was the point of placing guards in an empty room? To trick her of course. Now that she was in the room, she either had to stay or risk being caught by the guards.

She pushed herself away from the door. There had to be a way out, like in the hallways. After all, that was his game: rats in a maze. She went to walk to the other side of the room and fell backwards. She rubbed her forehead, reaching a tentative hand out.

There was an invisible wall before her, cutting the room in half. It felt like glass.She let out a mirthless laugh. She went over to grab a nearby torch and went to smash it against the wall. The wall shattered and revealed the second half of the room. Still empty, there was at least another door. Dropping the torch, she opened the door.

It revealed a set of stone stairs leading up. Picking up her skirts, she began her climb. There were no windows and the only lights came from the torches that appeared just as the light from the last one nearly disappeared. She continued to climb until she came to a second door.

She pushed it open and found General Hanbin, Lieutenant Donghyuk, and Ju-ne in the room looking miserable and angry.

“Ju-ne!” She ran to him and threw her arms around his wooden neck, nearly laughing.

“Y/N? How did you find us?” He pulled away from her slightly, mouth open. She waved his question away.

“Lady Y/N, are we glad to see you!” Lieutenant Donghyuk bowed his head, a genuine smile on his face. General Hanbin nearly nodded.

“I’m so happy to have found you all, but we can’t stay here. Any longer and I fear the Mouse King shall try something else to prolong our visit,” she said. She turned towards the door. There was no guarantee that they wouldn’t be caught. Inside the room was rope, probably used to tie them up and a window overlooking the woods at the edge of a cliff that dropped into the Uncrossable Seas. Even on a clear day, the waters looked violent.

“I can see the gears in your head turning. What is it, Y/N?” Ju-ne asked.

“How well can you swim?” she inquired, stepping away from the window.

“Irrelevant. I’m made of wood. Why do you ask?”

“I have an idea, but it’s mad.” She told them her idea, and seeing no alternative, they all reluctantly agreed.

Lieutenant Donghyuk took his elbow and smashed the window out, pushing out any spare shards as best he could. General Hanbin was the first to exit, holding fast onto the rope as Lieutenant Donghyuk followed. Both men were arguing with each other as Ju-ne pulled Y/N to the side.

“Are you sure you want to do this? I know staying here is dangerous, but at least you know you’d be… okay.” The word he wanted to say refused to leave his mouth. She smiled sweetly, placing a hand on his arm.

“If you think this has been the most terrifying part of my day, I envy you.”

“I am a nutcracker.” They smiled at one another before he stepped away to climb out the window. She followed suit and once they were all outside, they jumped.

The waters were harsh, cold, and relentless in their assault against the group. As they plunged into the black depths of the Uncrossable Seas, an unseeable force kept them down. Y/N struggled as she fought her way back to the surface. Slowly she made her way back to the surface as her lungs screamed for air.

Once she broke the surface she gasped, only to be thrown back down into the water. She resisted the urge to shout and shut her eyes. She pushed herself back to the surface and fought to keep her head above the thrashing water.

Ju-ne was nearby, on his back, as the water failed to drag him underneath. She swam towards him, throwing herself over his torso as he bobbed. He brought his hand to her back, rubbing it gently. She turned slightly, catching sight of the green military jacket. Using him as a board, she pushed them to the jacket where General Hanbin was struggling to stay afloat.

She pulled him over Ju-ne’s torso and began her search for Lieutenant Donghyuk. She couldn’t seem to find him anywhere. The longer they stayed floating, the more she worried. Unable to wait any longer, she pushed off of Ju-ne. He went to grab her, but she slipped through his grasp.

She dove into the waters, allowing the waves to push her further down. She swam out several yards, ignoring her need for oxygen, when she spotted the bright red pants. She swam towards him, grabbing onto his arm and pulling him up towards the surface. The water fought against her, but she fought back twice as hard.

Soon the pair broke the surface, gasping for air. General Hanbin maneuvered Ju-ne’s body towards them and helped her drape the Lieutenant across him. They pushed his body towards the nearby shore, where the horses were waiting for them.

“Lieutenant Donghyuk?” Y/N shook him gently, before pressing harshly onto his stomach. He began coughing up water, turning to his side as he choked. She gave his back several firm pats as he slowly regained his ability to breath. “Welcome back, Lieutenant.”

“That’s twice now you’ve saved my life.” He gave her a weak smile. His voice was hoarse from all the salt he swallowed. “Please, call me DK.”

“As you wish.”

“It’s almost nightfall,” General Hanbin called. “We’ll go a little further into the woods and make camp.” He grabbed his horse and wasted no time in marching into the woods. Ju-ne and Y/N helped DK onto his horse, then grabbed Cinnamon and Cocoa to follow the General into the woods.

As General Hanbin set up a fire for DK to rest by, Y/N took a seat on a nearby log next to Ju-ne. He was staring down at the ground. Their backs were to the others.

“It was a waste to come here. We almost died, and we didn’t get the egg.” Ju-ne let out a sigh, resting his head in his hand. She bit her lip, glancing over her shoulder to make sure the others were still occupied. She reached into the pocket of her dress and produced the golden egg. His mouth fell open as he looked at it. “How did you--”

“The Mouse King gave it to me. He knew we were coming to get it, and he knows where the Sugar Plum Fairy is. He told me a lot of things, but before we do anything else, we need to know what’s in this egg.” She pulled out the small key and placed it in his hand. “This is your birthright. Not hers.”

Ever so slowly, he put the key into the small hole and turned it until a series of clicks echoed. He opened the egg and revealed a mirror. It was simple, yet deeply profound as he stared into it.

“But, I don’t understand.”

“Can’t you see?” she said, moving to crouch in front of him. “It’s you who’s going to save us. You are your kingdom’s greatest strength. You don’t need anyone but yourself.”

“How can you be so sure? You’ve heard what everyone’s said about the prince. They believe they’re better off without me.”

“And look how well you being gone has turned out for them.” She stood up, placing her hands on her hips. She garnered the attention of General Hanbin and DK, both of whom were watching with confusion. “You are Prince Koo Junhoe. The pity party is over. We’re returning to the Safe Haven and we’re ending this war. Once and for all.”

[jeonstellate]

a collection of works where different scenarios arise when juwon, seonhwa, shieun, and yuriko spend time with their same-year idol friends.

featuring bts’ jeon jungkook; got7’s kunpimook bhuwakul and kim yugyeom; seventeen’s lee seokmin, kim mingyu, and xu minghao; ikon’s kim donghyuk and koo junhoe; astro’s lee dongmin; nct’s jung yoonoh and dong sicheng; and stray kids’ bang chan

✙༄ selected 97-liner idols x original characters (ft. other idols)

✙༄ kpop addition/extra member!au (essentially)

✙༄ scenarios may use varying formats and may include different warnings

song juwon: public profile | private profile

❂*‧₊ a life built without you

✙彡 synopsis ┊ soulhi drops another video: this time, halia and vier are doing the best friend tag.

✙彡 notes ┊ installment from the present with song juwon and hua xiuwei

⋆

❂*‧₊ protagonist of the wrong movie

✙彡 synopsis ┊ song juwon risks her life and criminal record for her best partner’s project.

✙彡 notes ┊ installment from the past with song juwon, kim mingyu, and other 97-liner idols

⋆

❂*‧₊ a flower called you

❀༄ overview ┊ juwon and mingyu are strictly partners on projects — or on anything that involves their grades, really. however, as partnered work piles up during their last year of high school, they find themselves spending more and more time together — much to the interest of everyone close to them.

❀༄ genre ┊ high school!au, slice of life!au

kwon seonhwa: public profile | private profile

min shieun: public profile | private profile

❂*‧₊ a promise from the past

✙彡 synopsis ┊ min shieun tries not to expect when she finally goes back home.

✙彡 notes ┊ installment from the present with min shieun, kang hyunbin, and kim donghyuk

⋆

❂*‧₊ we got married: moonlight couple

✩༄ overview ┊ shieun and hanbin are paired up for the special edition of we got married, but none of them bothers to tell their friends and families about the extent of their scripted relationship.

✩༄ genre ┊ virtual relationship!au, fake marriage!au, we got married!au

⋆

❂*‧₊ extension of kindness

✙彡 synopsis ┊ min shieun befriends one of her regular customers.

✙彡 notes ┊ installment from the past with min shieun and bang chan

wang yeonwoo: public profile | private profile

[prettywordsyouleft]

Expedition

Prompt: “In what world would that happen?” -- @challengingwords​ prompt #42

Pairing: Koo Junhoe x female reader

Genre: suggestive / friends to lovers au

Warnings: suggestive

Word count: 340

“Date me.”

Glancing up from the magazine he was loosely perusing, Junhoe smirked. “No.”

“Come on! You know this will look great for both of us.”

“How exactly?”

“Your boss will stop pestering you inappropriately, and I’ll be better off if I can avoid any further blind date offers from my employees. The last thing I need them to think of their boss is that they’re a sad loser in love.”

Junhoe chuckled. “Why lie?”

“Hey! I could make a wonderful lover!”

“In what world would that ever happen?” Junhoe taunted, and you fumed, storming up to your friend and scowled. He eyed you curiously for a moment before sighing. “See. You hesitate before-”

Leaning down to kiss him, you blinked several times in realisation that you had actually followed through. For years, you had dreamed of this moment, holding out on every opportunity sent your way because of your crush on Junhoe.

You hadn’t expected his response to be so eager. Hands reached out to pull you into his lap, bringing you closer for further inspection. His tongue was meticulous, diving in and encouraging yours to dance along with it. With your breath now completely stolen, you felt giddy, thankful for the lap you now sat on.

Your knees would have definitely given out on you otherwise.

When Junhoe finally pulled back and stared at you intensely, you smiled lightly. “See. I can too.”

“Can too what?” he breathed in confusion.

“Make a good, uh, lover,” you awkwardly responded, not feeling as confident as you had before.

Smiling, Junhoe shrugged. “That was just one taste, Y/N.”

“What?!”

“But you know, maybe this is the right universe for me to test just how good of a lover you are. Or maybe not. But I do have the ability to send you right into the galaxies, so…”

You laughed, rolling your eyes a little despite the surge of anticipation that engulfed you from Junhoe’s words. “Oh yeah? Well, space traveller, you better be prepared to take me on quite the expedition.”

_______________

All rights reserved © prettywordsyouleft

[IKON Masterlist] | [Main Masterlist] | [Request Guidelines]

[bleuxberri]

𝐢𝐤𝐨𝐧 𝐚𝐮.

「...mafia mob」

— a/n: this is only for entertainment purposes, do not come for me for writing this

navigaion.

aus.

ᴋɪᴍ ʜᴀɴʙɪɴ – ʙ.ɪ;

name: kim han bin

hometown: seoul, south korea

birthday: october 22, 1996

age: 22

role: leader, spy, assassin

code name: b.i

code number:  961022

leader: the person who leads or commands a group, organization, or country.

spy: a person who secretly collects and reports information on the activities, movements, and plans of an enemy or competitor.

assassin: a murderer of an important person in a surprise attack for political or religious reasons.

criminal history:

gang activity

gang violence

1st & 2nd-degree murder

torture

attempted murder (government officials)

grand theft auto

left crime scene

trespassing

accessory to hacking (government)

accessory to grand theft

ᴋɪᴍ ᴊɪɴʜᴡᴀɴ – ᴊᴀʏ;

name: kim jin hwan

hometown: jeju-do, south korea

birthday: february 7, 1994

age: 25

role: spy, hacker, get-away-driver, the eyes, the ears

code name: jay

code number: 940207

spy: a person who secretly collects and reports information on the activities, movements, and plans of an enemy or competitor.

hacker: a person who uses computers to gain unauthorized access to data.

get-away-driver: a person who ensure the escape of his accomplices, for example; bank-robbers, from the scene of a crime.

the eyes: look at or watch closely or with interest.

the ears: listens closely to what others are saying.the ears.

criminal history:

hacking government systems

hacking use: building blueprints, banks, apartments, government buildings

overriding government systems

tampering with surveillance videos

assault & battery

gang violence

gang activities

left crime scene

ꜱᴏɴɢ ʏᴜɴʜʏᴇᴏɴɢ – ꜱᴏɴɢ;

name: song yoon hyung

hometown: seoul, south korea

birthday:  february 8, 1995

age: 24

role: spy, seducer, distraction

code name: song

code number: 950208s

spy: a person who secretly collects and reports information on the activities, movements, and plans of an enemy or competitor.

seducer: a person who entices someone into sexual activity.

distraction: a thing that prevents someone from giving full attention to something else.

criminal history:

gang activity

gang violence

grand theft auto

arson

1st & 2nd-degree murder

left crime scene

accessory to murder

ᴋɪᴍ ᴊɪᴡᴏɴ – ʙᴏʙʙʏ;

name: kim ji won

hometown: virginia (born: seoul, south korea)

birthday: december 21, 1995

age: 23

role: spy, sniper, arsonist

code name: bobby

code number: 951221

spy: a person who secretly collects and reports information on the activities, movements, and plans of an enemy or competitor.

hitman: a person who is paid to kill someone, especially for a criminal or political organization.

arsonist: the criminal act of deliberately setting fire to property.

criminal history:

gang activities

gang violence

blackmail

grand theft

arson

assault & battery

attempted murder

attempted grand theft

attempted assault

attempted assault & battery

attempted arson

accessory to murder

accessory to grand theft

left the crime scene

ᴋɪᴍ ᴅᴏɴ��ʜʏᴜᴋ – ᴅᴋ;

name: kim dong hyuk

hometown: seoul, south korea

birthday: january 3, 1997

age: 22

role: spy, sniper, torture

code name: dk

code number: 970103

spy: a person who secretly collects and reports information on the activities, movements, and plans of an enemy or competitor.

sniper: a person who shoots from a hiding place, especially accurately and at long range

torture: the action or practice of inflicting severe pain on someone as a punishment or to force them to do or say something, or for the pleasure of the person inflicting the pain.

criminal history:

gang activity

gang violence

1st & 2nd-degree murder

attempted murder

aggravated assault

left crime scene

attempted torture

ᴋᴏᴏ ᴊᴜɴʜᴏᴇ – ᴊᴜ-ɴᴇ;

name: koo jun hoe

hometown: seoul, south korea

birthday: march 31, 1997

age: 22

role: spy, lure, dealer, capture

code name: ju-ne

code number: 970331

spy: a person who secretly collects and reports information on the activities, movements, and plans of an enemy or competitor.

lure: tempt to do something or to go somewhere, especially by offering some form of reward.

dealer: a person or business that buys and sells goods.

capture: take into one’s possession or control by force.

criminal history:

gang activities

gang violence

blackmail

grand theft

accessory to murder

accessory to grand theft

left the crime scene

ᴊᴜɴɢ ᴄʜᴀɴᴡᴏᴏ – ᴄʜᴀɴ;

name: jung chan woo

hometown: yongin, gyeonggi, south korean

birthday: january 26, 1998

age: 21

role: spy, hooligan, assassin

code name: chan

code number: 980126

spy: a person who secretly collects and reports information on the activities, movements, and plans of an enemy or competitor.

hooligan: a violent young trouble maker, typically one of a gang.

assassin: a murderer of an important person in a surprise attack for political or religious reasons.

criminal history:

gang activity

gang violence

grand theft auto

arson

1st & 2nd-degree murder

left crime scene

accessory to murder

[noona-clock]

The Personal Trainer

Genre: Gym!AU

Pairing: Junhoe x You (Female!Reader)

Warnings: None

Part 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6 | Words: 2,395

Finally, after weeks of putting up with your older brother’s badgering, you caved. You relented to his persistent suggestions to sign up at the gym close to your apartment -- and not only that. You had signed up (and paid extra for) personal training.

You really had never been one to find any sort of exercise enjoyable. You hated getting sweaty, and you had yet to find any activity you actually wanted to do. Just thinking about going to the gym and running on a treadmill or doing strength training made you feel like whining. And hiding under your covers in bed. And sleeping for about a week.

It’s not your fault you were lazy! It’s just how you were! It’s who you were as a person, and now that you were well into adulthood, you had come to accept that about yourself.

But, apparently, your brother had not.

He claimed to be “concerned for your long-term health,” but you knew he really just couldn’t stand lazy people and wanted everyone he cared about to love working out just as much as he loved working out.

It would never happen, but you got irritated enough to give it a try.

So, here you were. Wearing brand new workout clothes and scanning your fresh, new membership card at the front desk of the gym.

“Excuse me?” you asked the gorgeous, young receptionist who looked worlds better in a spandex crop top than you ever could.

“Hmm?” she chirped, shifting her gaze up to you. “How can I help?”

“Where do I go for personal training?”

The girl stood up, a beaming, friendly smile tugging at her lips as she replied, “Right over there!” and pointed to a closed-off area to the side of the main exercise room.

“Thank you,” you murmured with a slight grin before heading over there.

“Have a great session!” she called out cheerfully after you.

...How could you be that cheerful working in a gym?

I mean, obviously, a lot of people could be. But you couldn’t imagine it. The only place at which you’d be that cheerful to work would be... like, a candy store. Or a coffee shop. Definitely something to do with food.

Anyway. 

Your heart began to beat faster as you approached the personal training area, and you chewed the inside of your cheek when you realized your trainer -- whoever he or she was -- hadn’t shown up yet.

Then again, you were basically always early to anything and everything, so it shouldn’t have been a surprise that you’d arrived before your trainer.

You let out a soft sigh as you set your bag and water bottle down next to the wall of the fairly small, roped-off area designated for personal training, and then you slid onto a bench to wait.

As the seconds ticked by, you found your gaze wandering out into the main area of the gym -- who didn’t love people watching? Especially when you were just sitting somewhere waiting for someone else to arrive.

To your slight surprise, the ellipticals and bikes and treadmills were not occupied solely by buff guys and fit ladies. There were definitely some of those, but you also saw a couple of -- truly no offense intended -- average people running and cycling their hearts out. There was even an older, gray-haired man speed-walking on a treadmill, and it brought a tiny smile to your face.

At the very least, it made you feel better that you didn’t seem to be the most unfit person here.

Just as you turned back around, you caught a glimpse of someone walking toward the personal training area.

...Maybe your eyes were playing tricks on you, but you could’ve sworn --

You shook your head quickly to dispel the thought.

No. It couldn’t be.

“Hey,” you heard a voice call out.

And it was a very familiar voice.

Indeed, the familiar voice of the person you thought for a split-second you’d seen in your peripheral vision walking over here.

...Great.

You stood, your heart jumping up into your throat as you turned to face...

Him.

Junhoe.

Your ex-boyfriend.

As soon as he saw you, Junhoe stopped in his tracks. His eyes widened slightly, but it was enough to be noticeable.

What -- was he -- I mean, was he also here for personal training or was he --

“Are you my trainer?” you blurted out. Your nerves were very obvious in your voice, and you scolded yourself for letting your anxiety show right now.

Junhoe’s mouth fell open, but it took him a few seconds to actually answer you.

“...Yeah.”

Wonderful.

So, he was a personal trainer now? After your break-up a couple of years ago, you hadn’t kept up with him on social media (but you still stalked his sister on Instagram kind of regularly... not that you would ever admit that out loud), so you hadn’t even known he’d quit his job at the music store.

Now that you thought about it, going from working at a music store to being a personal trainer was kind of an odd jump.

But that was Junhoe for you. He was predictable in some ways, but in many ways, he absolutely was not.

That was ultimately why you’d ended things with him. The romantic aspect of your relationship had been great -- more than great, actually, but Junhoe just hadn’t been stable enough for you. He was too spontaneous for your schedule-loving, plan-everything-within-an-inch-of-your-life self.

But, looking at him now...

Good god, was he handsome or what? He always had been and, apparently, he always would be.

“Ah,” you replied somewhat breathlessly, your nerves slowly sucking all the air from your lungs. “Well. I -- I guess I’m your new -- trainee... person... thing.”

At that, Junhoe’s expression relaxed, and an amused smile appeared on his lips.

“Yeah, I guess so,” he replied with a soft chuckle. He then stepped closer to you, his eyebrows raising just a smidge. “...How -- how are you?”

“I’m good -- doing well -- just fine,” you replied, inwardly cringing at how awkwardly you’d answered him. “Nothing much has changed, really. Same job, same apartment, same cat.”

You knew from your Instagram stalking escapades that things had changed more for him than they had for you since your break-up. He’d moved in with his sister at one point, and he had adopted the tiniest, fluffiest puppy you’d ever seen. And, apparently, he now had a different job.

“That’s great,” he said. The grin on his lips was genuine, and it kind of warmed your heart to see that he really did think it was great that your life hadn’t changed. He obviously remembered how greatly you valued stability and routine and structure.

You were about to ask him how he was doing (despite the fact you had a good idea based on his sister’s Instagram), but he clapped his hands together and said, “Well, we should probably get started” before you got the chance to.

“Right,” you murmured, feeling your heart jump again. You had been nervous about starting personal training before, but now that your ex-boyfriend was going to be your trainer...

Despite the fact this was your first ever personal training session -- and Junhoe knew this -- he didn’t go easy on you.

Maybe he was still bitter about your break-up and had made you work super hard because he wanted you to feel as much physical pain as he’d felt emotional pain a couple of years ago.

...Or.

And this is the most likely option.

Maybe he was just a tough and passionate trainer who didn’t believe in easy exercising.

(You kind of still wanted to believe he was still bitter, though.)

(But no one needs to know that.)

After the hour was up (though, you were hard-pressed to believe it had only been an hour), you found yourself lying on your back, staring up at the gym ceiling, and trying to catch your breath.

The workout had just ended, but already, every part of your body hurt.

“Good job,” Junhoe chuckled, holding his hand out to help you up.

You closed your eyes briefly because you really did not feel like getting up yet. 

“Are you sure?” you panted. “It doesn’t feel like I did a good job. It feels like I did a horrible job.”

“No, no, you did good,” he assured you with one of his signature smirks -- you know, the same one that had been the first thing to make your stomach flip back when you’d met him. “Come on, let me help you up.”

Well. You had to get up some time, so it might as well be now. The sooner you left the gym, the sooner you got to take a hot bath with three pounds of Epsom salts sprinkled in the water.

Weakly, you lifted one hand, allowing Junhoe to grab it and hoist you up. You were basically dead weight because you were so exhausted, but he was able to pull you to a standing position all on his own. And quite easily, too. It was... pretty impressive.

Junhoe had certainly had a great body while he’d been your boyfriend, but you had no doubt his job as a personal trainer had only done good things to his physique. 

...Mm, nope, better not think about his muscles. It’s not good to think about an ex-boyfriend’s muscles. Especially when that ex-boyfriend is standing right in front of you.

“See you Wednesday?” he asked casually once you were (basically) on your feet, referring to your next training session.

“Y--yeah,” you stammered. “Wednesday. Absolutely.”

There was a pause, and you were just about to turn and grab your bag... but then Junhoe broke the silence.

“Listen, I -- if you don’t want me to be your trainer, I can ask --”

“No, it’s fine,” you interrupted, though... to be quite honest... you weren’t really sure why you said that.

Was it fine?

I mean, sure, your session had gone pretty well. In terms of your interactions, at least. You had felt awkward at first, but you’d gotten used to it after a while, and Junhoe hadn’t acted at all like an ex-boyfriend -- only a trainer.

But... still.

Did you really want to see him three days a week? After not seeing him at all for about two years?

(Not seeing him at all in person, that is. You’d definitely seen him in pictures since, as we’ve established multiple times, you stalked his sister’s Instagram.)

But Junhoe’s lips had already curved into a smile at your reassurance, and you would feel too guilty if you took it back now and asked for another trainer.

“Okay,” he murmured through his grin. “Well, then. See you Wednesday.”

You just nodded before hoisting your bag over your shoulder and beginning to make your way out of the personal training area and into the gym -- limping slightly as you walked, mind you.

It felt like it took you about five hours to leave the gym, get to your car, get inside your car, drive home, walk up to your front door, go to your bathroom, and draw a bath.

And now that you were in the bath -- the hot water and scented Epsom salts relaxing your muscles like nothing ever had before in your entire life -- you were pretty sure you were going to stay in here for another five hours.

You tilted your head back, letting the base of your skull rest against the edge of the tub and closing your eyes. You breathed in the healing aroma of the salts and sighed with content.

Truly, there was nothing better after a long day than a nice, relaxing bath.

...Well, actually. A nice, relaxing bath with some music playing.

Opening your eyes and lifting your head, you reached out and stretched your arm to grab your phone nestled in your discarded clothes on the floor.

Just as you opened up your music app of choice, though, your ringtone cut through the silence and made you jump.

Your eyes narrowed when you saw your brother’s picture on the screen, but your heart was still racing with fright as you answered and pressed your phone to your ear.

“What?” you asked irritably. “You interrupted my Me Time.”

“How was the gym?”

You couldn’t stop yourself from rolling your eyes because of course that’s why he was calling.

And you were just annoyed enough to be sassy about it.

“Well, my personal trainer ended up by my ex-boyfriend, so thanks for that.”

Your brother chuckled softly and said, “Junhoe? No way, what are the odds?”

“No matter the odds, it happened, and I’m blaming you.”

“No, no, no, Dear Sister. You will be thanking me when you have more energy and don’t get out of breath walking up two flights of stairs.”

“Okay, those were very long staircases!”

“You’re going back, right?”

You waited a few seconds... let out a long sigh... then replied, “I mean, I paid for two months of sessions. I don’t want to lose that money.”

“Was it super awkward?”

“Well, yeah,” you shrugged. “At first. It got better once we were actually training, but... still. It’s not like I had a pleasant time.”

Your brother chuckled softly and said, “Hey, you never know. Maybe it’s fate.”

You quirked one brow. “...Fate? What?” you asked, entirely unamused.

“You never know!” he repeated in a singsong tone. “Good luck on your next session, keep me posted, okay?”

“Whatever,” you murmured, though you could feel a smirk tugging at one corner of your lips.

“Love you, Sis,” he teased (but you knew he really meant it).

“Love you, too, Bro,” you teased back (but you obviously really meant it).

As soon as the call ended, you tapped on the icon for your music app and pressed shuffle on your relaxing Jazz playlist.

After tossing your phone back onto your pile of clothes, you leaned your head against the edge of the tub again and closed your eyes.

The bath, although it was starting to cool already, and the ambient music were doing wonders to ease your aches -- both physical and mental.

But... your brother’s words kept ringing in your head, for some reason.

You never know.

Part 2

[odetogyus]

bubble bath

↳pairing/s: idol boyfriend!junhoe x reader

↳genre: slight angst, idol!au

↳warnings: cursing, slight suggestive content, mentions of bruises

✎author's note: posting works from my archive, wrote this in 2018 ohp, and man.. missing ikon ot7 hours i’m emotional but here’s a little drabble!!

—

"Just get in," his voice deep enough to drown you and have you breathless. "Come here."

Taking more time than usual to slip off of your robe, you looked at yourself in the mirror one last time before joining your boyfriend, Junhoe.

It wasn't lustful in any way, no. It could have been though, and it definitely has been– countless of times before, but for a while now, all you’ve been doing is drinking wine and watching your favourite movies while getting all warm and soaked up in the big, jetted tub.

Evening dates became a thing over the past few months, and has slowly become a part of your routine. Every time Junhoe gets home from his martial arts training, a bubble bath date just needs to happen.

Since your bathroom had a floor to ceiling mirror right in front of the tub, you couldn’t help but notice how his face looked glum as ever, with his knuckles bruised and obviously hurt. It seemed like a bad day for him.

"You wanna talk about it?" you asked, playing with the bubbles covering your bodies. Ahh, the simple joys.

Junhoe, looking rather uneasy, reached for your thigh and caressed it ever so gently. "It's just.. it was a bad day. A really bad day, a really tiring day. I’m sorry, baby."

"Yeah?" Shifting closer to him– if that was even possible, you prepared yourself to listen.

Junhoe's free arm snaked its way around your shoulders, adding more warmth to the already scalding hot bath water. Maybe not scalding hot. But maybe almost.

"Our boss didn't like the songs I wrote. He said it lacked flavour– lacked emotion. He said it's.. really not that great. I worked hard on that, Y/N. You know that, right?" His eyes locked onto yours, asking for faith and reassurance.

You nodded and allowed him to continue.

"See, Hanbin's stressed out, too. He told us that the boss wants to delay the comeback. It's been too long, way too long. And, okay– at practice today, for fuck’s sakes. Since all of us were pressured, we all kept messing up the choreo. Dong was so pissed, the guy walked out! I mean– when does he ever do shit like that? Never. And at the gym today, while I was training, this asshole of a guy needed a sparring partner so my coach paired me up with him. Guess what? He doesn't even know how to throw proper punches. He even got mad at me. He's blaming me for his lack of knowledge? Jesus, good God. That's why my knuckles are all bruised up. We kinda got into a fight, but don't worry, baby. I'm fine."

His last words struck you more than anything else. You knew what he meant by that. And you knew that he really wasn't fine. In fact, he was broken.

The subtle sound of the jets kept the two of you company, and the moment you let out a sigh, Junhoe immediately planted a kiss on your shoulder, and clung onto you a bit more.

You loved the way he loved you, and you were determined to love him the same way, too.

"You okay, baby?" He asked, eyes still red from the angst.

Behind those tired eyes were memories of your struggles together, from the beginning up to now. But there definitely was beauty in pain.

"Mhm," you said, tracing the outline of his arms. "You are more than enough, my love. I know I tell you that everyday, but believe me. No matter what happens, you'll always have me. Okay?"

The sweetest smile appeared on his face as if nothing had happened earlier that day. He was smiling, and you were confident that he was going to be alright. Just what you wanted to see.

"I’ll be okay as long as you’re with me, I know that."

"You should always remember that, Koo Junhoe. Now relax, before these bubbles disappear and our bubble bath date just turns into a regular bath."

Your boyfriend’s lips form a silly smirk– and that was a clear indication that you were going to have a pretty long night.

“Shower sex sounds good right now.”

[milkybonya]

i K O N 🏀 Masterlist

iKON reaction to idol!s/o fainting on stage

best friends!Jinhwan&Junhoe timestamp

Hanbin

Our Souls at night (angsty Time Traveller!au)

home is always with you (comfort fluff)

Jinhwan

Past Mornings (fluff/angst)

spaghetti cliché (fluff)

HOODIE (friends to lovers, swimmer!Jinhwan fluff)

awkward confession (college!Jinhwan fluff)

Yunhyeong

midnight blue (comfort fluff)

Bobby

“My heart just skipped a beat” + “You’re my muse” (fluff prompt)

“Stop being so damn cute” (fluff prompt)

Worthy of Love (fluff)

Robin Hood or something (badboy!fluff with some angst)

Junhoe

Stella -  pt.1/pt.2 (exboyfriend!angst)

Donghyuk

“You can hurt me, it’s fine” (angst prompt)

mornings with Donghyuk (bf!headcannon)

Chanwoo

ikon flirting with Chanwoo’s s/o (fluff, cracc)

[pawkhyun]

Love Language

A very short Junhoe/Reader fluff au (?) idk what to call it lol

Author's notes: this was made impulsively so i don't really like how it ended :( but i hope you guys still like it !! i might try writing a smut fic soon~

The days seem to pass by slower nowadays, even if Junhoe's schedule has been clear for a few weeks straight now and has been at the dorm. You're glad to see the seven of them again so often; usually, you'd have the dorm all to yourself. You would get your spare keys and see yourself in, spending the day lounging at the boys' place and cleaning up a little while you're there.

You don't know exactly when, but it was excruciatingly obvious by now. Things have changed between you and Junhoe.

He was never the type to be all too affectionate, even at the start of dating. He'd write you poems, steal kisses from you once in a blue moon when the both of you are alone, but never did he show any display of affection that is, even in the slightest, bold, regularly.

The past few months have been different though. He seems a bit colder, less caring. He doesn't spend much of his time with you, and despite his schedule being free, he hasn't even asked you to go out with him. Hell, Chanwoo even offered the two of you go to a PC room together before Junhoe even tried to arrange the smallest of plans with you, which is apparently movie night because his friends weren't down to drink tonight.

Thing is, you aren't really sure of yourself, either. You might be overthinking, you consider. The thought frustrates you further.

You unknowingly let out a sigh while you and Junhoe are watching the movie together. You were too occupied by your thoughts to even process the film in front of you.

"You okay?" Junhoe asks, without missing a beat. But his eyes are still glued to the tv screen.

"Yes, jagi, I'm fine." You say, voice giving away your fragility.

Junhoe finally takes one look at you — and then reaches for the remote to switch the tv off.

The both of you are plunged in darkness, save for the dim light that had filtered through the shoji screen separating the kitchen and the living room. He takes both of your hands. You almost forgot how your tiny hands could easily be enveloped by his.

"Hey," Junhoe begins, looking at your hands in his, "did I do something wrong?"

His question takes you aback. "No, why?"

"It's just that you haven't really been happy recently. I haven't seen you smile in a while," His voice lowers in volume, making the statement seem all the more intimate. "I thought I might've done something serious without knowing."

Your expression softens at his concern. "It's just that..." you trail off, reluctant. You see Junhoe leaning in, eager to listen, so you continue. "You haven't been spending much time with me lately, and your schedule's been free for ages. I just thought we could've spent more time together since you haven't been home in forever."

Junhoe hums inquisitively, a sudden change of mood. He lets go of your hands and leans back onto the couch, and pats the seat beside him. "Come here, jagi."

As you scoot over closer to him, he snakes his arm over your shoulder. He looks at you again before planting a quick kiss onto your forehead.

"Y/N, I'm sorry. I haven't been spending as much time with you as I'd like, too, if I'm being honest," He cooed, staring right into your soul. "Do you want to spend the entire day together tomorrow? Maybe the next few weeks, too."

You beam at his offer. "Of course," you say, leaning back and enjoying the warmth of his chest. You feel his heart thud at your movements, making you all the more charmed. You began to wonder if this man could make your knees buckle just by breathing. And honestly, he probably could.

"I promise I'll spend more time with you," he says, pulling you in closer. "This feels much better than any night out drinking, anyways."

Maybe you were overthinking things. After all, Junhoe's love language has always been conveyed through the little things. Either way, you were more than glad to spend the next few weeks with your boyfriend.

[oldschoolworks]

iKON NETFLIX AU → NEW KIDS Docuseries

❝New Kids is Youthful. New Kids is a Turning Point. New Kids is Exceptional. New Kids is Growth.  New Kids is a Challenge. New Kids is iKONIC. New Kids is iKON.❞

[jvnehoe]

just this once, before you go to him... let me hold you

[soundsofcicadas]

Swan song, part two

Pairing: Koo Junhoe x Reader (f) 

Genres: Drama, Angst, Romance, Childhood best friends, Junhoe is a former idol, Friends to lovers 

Count: 3004

Warnings: None 

Synopsis: After an unexpected encounter with your childhood best friend Junhoe, years after drifting apart, your rekindled friendship blooms anew. However, life takes a turn when he asks you to pen an article for his upcoming wedding. As you become entangled in his personal life, your old feelings of love for him begin resurfacing and the concealed secret behind his decision to abandon his idol career is soon to be unveiled by you. 

“I want to go home.” You heard Hanbin complain, the moment you set foot inside the building where the art exhibit was currently taking place. It was a serene Sunday evening, and the venue is located at the heart of your hometown. A prominent sign displayed a vivid picture of the artist, Hwang Hyunjin at the entrance. Beneath his captivating blonde portrait, the bold title “Mind Visions and Their Facets Through Colors” was emblazoned with a disclaimer discreetly positioned at the bottom: “All proceeds from this event contribute to charitable causes.” 

Disregarding Hanbin's comment, you searched for any sign of your other friend Yunhyeong among the sea of faces. 

“Yun is here somewhere.” Your voice pierced through the bustling crowd. 

“Thank God for free food courtesy of our Song Yunhyeong.” Hanbin remarked, his senses easily caught the aroma coming from the opulent spread of delicacies at the catering area of the exhibit. 

The elegant space was infused with vibrant energy as a steady stream of attendees filtered in. Each well-dressed guest radiated an aura of affluence, mingling amid the artwork. Their cultured chatter carried an air of sophistication, indicating that they were the elite of the art world, gathered to appreciate the abstract pieces on display. Clad in a chic Ralph Lauren cocktail dress, you couldn't thank Junhoe enough for reminding you of the theme for tonight’s event. You were also grateful to Hanbin's girlfriend, Yeri, who, despite the limited preparation time, had managed to lend you an outfit from her designer-filled wardrobe. 

Like a burst of energy against the artistic refined setting, you spotted Yunhyeong hurrying toward the three of you. His face lit up seeing his friends waiting for him. 

“And so, fate has its own way of bringing us back together!” Yunhyeong exclaimed, his voice taking on a narrator's cadence, making you all chuckle. 

“It's quite a coincidence, isn't it? I got picked to cater for tonight's exhibit, the very event you guys were invited to by Junhoe.” Yunhyeong marveled, his voice quickly returning to its usual tone. 

“I wish Jiwon and Donghyuk could be here too." You sighed with longing. 

You felt Hanbin's hand gently pat your shoulder. 

“If it weren't for you and the free food, I wouldn't be here either.” He sneered.   

You playfully crossed your arms and raised an eyebrow at Hanbin, fully aware that he was only joking. As the introvert of the group, you understood that events like these weren't his comfort zone. But last night's video call with him and the other boys proved otherwise. He, too, wanted to see Junhoe after you shared your surprising reunion with him. It was heartwarming how they handled the situation with maturity, without any lingering resentment toward their old friend. 

Well, maybe Hanbin was a little sulky about the whole situation at first knowing how close you were with Junhoe in the past. He had seen how much you were hurting during Junhoe's absence. Despite you being older than him, he had always acted like a caring older brother to you. While Yunhyeong, Jiwon, and Donghyuk were also there for you, Hanbin's presence remained a constant in your life. He may have had his initial reservations, yet he chose to trust your judgment when you expressed Junhoe's sincerity to reconnect by inviting them to the art exhibit as well. 

“Yeah, I know you're only here for the food, Bin.” Yunhyeong retorted. “You don't have a single ounce of appreciation for art. So, if I were you, Yeri, I'd think twice about marrying this guy.” 

Yeri laughed at Yunhyeong’s jest and cast a mischievous look at Hanbin. 

“Excuse me?” Hanbin arched his eyebrows at Yunhyeong, seemingly offended. “Art is something I’m very fond of. I'm just not particularly keen on attending large gatherings like this.” 

“Dude, you teach a whole class of elementary kids and conduct yearly PTAs, how is this any different?” Yunhyeong expressed confusion.    

“Being in a crowd full of art elitists is a whole different ball game.” Hanbin replied flatly. "I don't have to pretend around children. If they don't like you, they don't, if they tell you you're ugly that's because it's true." 

You and Yunhyeong can't help but snort at Hanbin's answer. 

Amused with her boyfriend, Yeri intercepted. “Well, these art elitists are what y/n and I deal at work, babe.” 

“But you aren't like them, so I also don't have to pretend when I'm with you two.” Hanbin quipped. 

“You're forgetting my dad owns a publishing company, which means I'm part of this privileged community you dislike.” Yeri stated with mischievous intention, while tapping her finger on her chin.  

Hanbin took her hand in his as if to tease her. “Dislike is a strong word, but that's exactly the reason why I'm gonna marry you babe.” 

Yeri burst out laughing along with you and Yunhyeong, eliciting strange looks from the guests passing by your circle. 

There was a ping from Yeri's phone which was her cue to leave the group for the meantime. 

“Chanwoo needs me now for that magazine feature, I have to go.” Yeri noted, kissing Hanbin on the cheek before turning to you.  “Don't worry, y/n, leave this to me. I want you to enjoy the event with the guys.” She gave your shoulder a reassuring squeeze and vanished into the crowd. 

You nearly forgot that the artist himself personally invited your editor-in-chief, Jung Chanwoo to the exhibit as well. He asked you to cover the event for a potential feature on your magazine's upcoming issue, knowing that you and Yeri would be present tonight. But Yeri volunteered to do it in your place instead. 

You could only smile at Yeri’s thoughtfulness. “She’s technically my boss, but she sometimes acts more of an associate like me.” 

“Man, you're lucky to have Yeri!” Yunhyeong remarked, throwing a playful jab at Hanbin’s stomach. 

“I’m also lucky to have her as my boss.” You concurred.  

“But what time is Junhoe coming though?” Yunhyeong asked, his gaze roamed across the hall to find Junhoe. You and Hanbin both glanced around to look for Junhoe too. 

You took out your phone when you felt it vibrate from your purse and saw Junhoe's text; Hi, I'm here, where are you? 

At that exact moment, you easily sensed there had been a sudden shift in the crowd's murmurs. Whispers and hushed conversations began rippling through the guests, and like them, your attention was immediately captured by a lavish pair making their way to the front doors.  

You catch yourself staring at Junhoe who was dressed impeccably in a black Prada suit. But you didn't fail to notice the woman accompanying him—none other than his fiancée, Shin Yuna. 

You saw it on the news a year ago—his engagement to his girlfriend of four years. A model and singer-turned-actress he met from one of his movies when he was still acting. The two made their relationship public after promoting their romantic comedy film. It was believed that the co-stars developed feelings for each other on set.  

You had seen him wearing the engagement ring on his finger at the coffee shop yesterday—a detail you had momentarily forgotten. Seeing him now walking with his fiancée by his side reminds you of his existing commitment.  

Before you could even reply to his message, Junhoe already saw you and was strolling closer to your direction.  

“Y/n!” He called. “Sorry we got stuck in traffic a bit. So glad you made it.” 

Junhoe beamed at you. 

You felt embarrassed for yourself because you knew that smile had some effect on you. You could only blame it on his meticulously slicked black hair, or his sharp, masculine features like his chiseled jawline. His well-tailored Prada suit accentuated his lean frame, adding an aura of suaveness to his already striking appearance. Junhoe exuded a strong and alluring profile, and the list could go on, but you instantly stopped yourself from having these thoughts. There is no way you are attracted to your childhood best friend, who is obviously engaged to a beautiful, perfect woman such as Shin Yuna. 

“Thank you for the invitation, Junhoe.” You managed to say, desperately hoping you weren't blushing in front of everyone. Might as well just be swallowed whole into the ground. 

Thankfully, Hanbin waved his hand at Junhoe, distracting him away from you. 

“Annyeong!” Hanbin greeted him. 

“Hyung!” Junhoe greeted back, exchanging Hanbin's wave for a warm hug, startling  you and Yunhyeong. Hanbin appeared taken aback, but you could tell he appreciated the brotherly gesture. 

Junhoe then scoffed at Yunhyeong upon seeing him. “Nice to see you too, Yun!” 

Yunhyeong shook his head and played along with Junhoe's taunts, forcing you to laugh with them as if it were the old times. 

“Junhoe you haven’t changed a bit. I'm the oldest and you still disrespect me.” 

“I bet you missed me so much huh?” 

“Never once thought of you at all. The only reason I'm here is because they need my excellent catering service.” 

“There's poison in the food for sure.” 

“Why don't you starve in the corner please? Thank you very much.” 

It was their usual back-and-forth banter since childhood that you had missed.  Among the boys, Yunhyeong was the oldest and everyone addressed him as hyung, except Junhoe. The other boys never questioned it. They knew Yunhyeong had a soft spot for the youngest, just like you had always favored Junhoe, even though they often acted like the Tom and Jerry of the group. 

Amidst the playful chatter, Junhoe felt Yuna's grasp, redirecting his attention to her.  

“I'm sorry about that jagiya.” Junhoe felt a slight wave of panic realizing he had nearly forgotten to introduce her to his friends.  

“By the way, this is my fiancée Shin Yuna.” 

Yuna offered a polite smile as she took a glimpse at each of you. It was undeniable how well she complemented Junhoe. Adorned in a stunning Versace gown, Shin Yuna was a doe-eyed, charismatic woman with a figure that boasted possibly the tiniest waist you had ever seen. 

Before any of you could exchange greetings with her, she had already excused herself. 

“I'm sorry I can't stay longer, but it was nice meeting all of you! I'll leave Junhoe with you guys.” 

Is it just you, or does it look like she doesn't want to be here and interact with Junhoe's old friends? 

You could see the instant dismay on Junhoe's face upon hearing that from his fiancée. 

“Yuna, we just got here.” He said, sounding disappointed. 

Yuna swiveled to face him, her voice lowered but still audible. “Jun, honey, you're with your friends. I'd like to look at the paintings, and besides, Hyunjin wants to see me.” 

Junhoe sighed in resignation. “Fine. Tell Hyunjin I said hi. I'll catch up with the two of you later.” 

“Great!” Yuna pecked Junhoe's lips and left without saying another word to your group.  

A brief awkward silence ensued before Junhoe suggested, “Let's get some wine, shall we?” 

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

Knowing you didn't own a car, Hanbin offered to drive you home that same evening. His route would conveniently pass by your apartment, unlike Yunhyeong and Yeri who live in opposite directions. They also wanted to guarantee you'll get home safely rather than having to commute like you usually do. But all throughout the ride, the events from earlier were playing over in your mind. Seeing Junhoe again with Yunhyeong and Hanbin, filled you with overwhelming happiness. Despite Jiwon and Donghyuk's absence, you found solace in their company as you all reminisced about the past and shared updates on your current lives. 

There was, however, a hint of melancholy as the conversation took a more personal turn. Was it the sadness you caught in Junhoe's eyes when he told Yunhyeong and Hanbin about giving up his singing career? Or was it because he already had plans to marry Yuna? Maybe it was how you were reminded of your own single hood when they asked you casually about your dating status—why, among all your friends, had you never been in a relationship? 

Well, that wasn't entirely true. You had a few dates that just never turned into something serious. You could only brush it off, claiming you were never interested in anyone and were too focused on work. But deep down you knew that wasn't the case anymore, especially now that you've reconnected with Junhoe. You couldn't stop yourself from admiring how effortlessly handsome he looked all night, and how gentlemanly he had been towards you. You knew it was wrong, yet why did seeing him with Yuna affect you? Perhaps you had too much wine at the exhibit that made you think this way. 

You didn't notice the engine of the car turned off until Hanbin's voice spoke to you. “You're home.” 

“Thanks Bin.” You gave him a lopsided grin from the passenger seat.  

“Did you have fun?” He asked observing your face slightly illuminated by the light coming from your apartment building.  

“Did you?” You returned the question to him. 

“It was really nice.” He answered as he pulled his hands off the steering wheel. 

“I was so caught up talking to you guys that I've almost forgotten about the paintings!” You told him. 

You and Hanbin chuckled at that. 

Hanbin's countenance took on a serious tone, as though he wanted to talk to you longer while you were still in the car. 

“You know how long we've been best friends right?” He started. 

“Since forever.” You smiled sheepishly. 

“And that makes you easy for me to read.” He stated. 

“O-kay yeah, I guess. Your point?” You asked, puzzled as to where he was going with this. 

“I don't know why all this time I've never told you this, y/n." Hanbin paused for a few seconds before he continued,  “I know you've been in love with Junhoe ever since.” 

Silence fell on you. You didn't know how to respond to that. You wanted to deny it outright, to refute his words that you only love and see Junhoe as a friend, yet no sound escaped your lips. The words were stuck in your throat, tangled with your conflicting emotions. Junhoe had always been a cherished childhood friend, akin to a little brother. This perception made it easier for you to dismiss any deeper feelings you might have had for him. You convinced yourself that they were purely platonic to maintain the status quo. Nevertheless, you were aware that you had been suppressing the truth about how your affection for him had grown into something more profound, despite your efforts to dismiss it. The countless seasons spent together during your childhood as you grew up alongside him and watched him chase his dreams, had inevitably laid the foundation for a mere friendship that went beyond. 

“Let's be real here, he's the exact reason why you can't take any guy seriously.” Hanbin added. 

You just sat there, unable to form a coherent response. Whenever you attempted to date or enter a relationship, you found yourself retreating, sensing that something was always missing. No matter how hard you tried to deny it, no one could compare to Junhoe.

You attempted to push aside these unwelcome thoughts, knowing that there was no possibility he could feel the same way about you, not to mention he could be getting married soon. You reassured yourself that you would come to terms with your feelings and move on once he took that step. For now, you resolved to remain content in your role as a friend, focusing on valuing the friendship you have rather than dwelling on what could never be. 

“I know my place, Bin.” You finally got to tell him. “I’m happy with what we have right now.” 

“Look, all I wanted to say is, I just don't want you to end up hurt again.” Hanbin expressed his concern. 

“You know I’m a big girl right? I can look after myself.” You winked at him. “I appreciate you though.” 

Hanbin could only let out a sigh. He averted his gaze from you and suddenly shifted the subject that had you flabbergasted. 

“Something seems off about his fiancée. I can sense it, and it makes me feel sorry for him.”  

"What the hell, Bin?" You retorted. 

Hanbin has an intuitive knack for assessing people he meets, often making character judgments based on first impressions. Unfortunately, Yuna was no exception. 

"We don't really know what their relationship is like in private." You could only say. Although you admit you were offended by how she behaved that way in front of his fiance's friends.  

Hanbin continued. 

“I don't understand why Junhoe had to give up singing for writing, you know? Even acting, he gave up too.  Can't he do it all at the same time? I thought he loved singing more than anything.” 

That's what you have thought as well. Junhoe has always had a great love for singing, a passion evident to anyone who knew him. From a young age, his talent shone brightly, captivating audiences with his soulful voice. He seemed born for the stage, effortlessly blending emotion and skill in every performance. Singing wasn't just a hobby for Junhoe; it was his calling, the very essence of his being. You asked yourself if he genuinely wanted to explore other paths and as he said, it was about time he settled down in life by marrying Yuna. You felt a gnawing sense of unease, pondering over Junhoe’s choices. There had to be more to it than meets the eye. It was becoming overwhelming, considering you were grappling with your unresolved feelings for him at the same time. Exhaustion and sleepiness begin to settle in your body. 

You decided not to linger in Hanbin’s car any further, feeling that your night was over. After saying your goodbyes, you walked to your apartment, trying to quiet your racing thoughts. You hoped for a restful night’s sleep to be ready for work the next morning. 

Part one: https://www.tumblr.com/soundsofcicadas/727025864701771776/swan-song-part-one?source=share

[haveanotherkpopblog]

The Nutcracker Suite

Part 1: The Party

Pairing: Koo Junhoe x You

Genre: Ballet!AU, Fluff, Regency!AU

Word Count: 2.9k

Warnings: None

Masterlist || Next>>

Long ago, when presents were opened the night before Christmas, in the manor of a noble family of a small town, there was a young woman. She sat by the fire with her mother, quietly waiting for her guests to arrive for her family’s annual Christmas Eve Ball. The fire crackled and illuminated her face. Outside, snow covered every surface in a blanket as more fell from the sky. The servants bustled to make sure everything was alright before the party.

“Smile, Y/N. It’s Christmas,” her mother chastised. Y/N offered her mother a small smile, returning her gaze to the window where she could see the first of the guests arrive. “Don’t you worry about your Uncle Drosselmeyer. He’s never missed a party since I was a little girl. He won’t miss this one.”

“If you’re sure, Mama,” Y/N replied. Her mother stood up, dusting off her gown. Y/N followed suit.

“Come, we mustn't keep our guests waiting.”

“Yes, Mama.”

Y/N followed her mother out to the main foyer where her aunt and uncle were handing their coats to the butler. She greeted them politely as her father and younger brother, Chanwoo, joined them. Her mother walked them to the ballroom, gossiping with her sister. Y/N stayed put, waiting patiently for the one guest she was most excited to see.

Minutes ticked by and there was still no sign of Uncle Drosselmeyer. The guests continued to show. Aunts, uncles, cousins, loved ones, friends, and esteemed guests sauntered through the front doors and into the ballroom where the party was in full swing. Y/N welcomed the guests along with the staff, playing the part of a gracious hostess as she waited.

But as minutes turned to hours, her hope of him showing slowly waned. Maybe the snow had piled too high and his carriage couldn’t make it. Or perhaps he had fallen ill and was too weak to travel. Or worse yet, what if had decided not to come? That thought put Y/N in quite a state. She tried her best to remain positive, but as fewer and fewer guests showed up, her spirit dimmed.

With a heavy heart and a sigh, Y/N turned to join her family and the rest of the guests in the ballroom. The party was in full swing when she arrived. Everyone was dancing as cheerful music filled the room. The young children were off to the side, playing with the toys they’d received and laughing joyously. Y/N smiled softly, walking around to the edge of the dance floor to where her favorite aunt sat. Her aunt wore a beautiful green gown made of silk and styled unlike anything she’d ever seen before. An interesting man sat with her, dressed in the strangest clothing she’d ever seen.

“Speak of the Devil. Y/N, I was just talking about you,” her aunt greeted, holding out a hand for her. Y/N curtsied, taking a seat next to her aunt. “Y/N, I’d like you to meet a friend of mine, Song Yoonhyung. He traveled very far to be here tonight.”

“Thank you, sir, for coming. I hope your journey was pleasant,” Y/N said. Song Yoonhyung smiled, taking Y/N’s hand in his and placing a quick kiss to the back of her hand.

“The journey was worth such a wonderful party and beautiful company,” he replied. Y/N’s aunt giggled.

“Oh Yoonhyung, you are quite the charmer. Don’t you agree, Y/N?” her aunt asked, shooting her a suggestive stare. Y/N said nothing, smiling politely at Song Yoonhyung. “Oh don’t mind her. She’s waiting for our uncle. He always brings the most amazing gifts. You know, he’s a very skilled clock and toy maker. When he arrives, I’ll be sure to show you his craft.”

“How do you know he’ll be here?” Y/N inquired. Her aunt smiled, patting her cheek affectionately. She turned back to Song Yoonhyung, not answering her niece’s question. Y/N sighed, turning to watch everyone dance.

“Would you care for a dance?” Song Yoonhyung asked. Y/N turned to find Yoonhyung staring at her. She glanced at her aunt who was giving her an encouraging smile. Y/N smiled politely, slipping her hand into his outstretched one.

Song Yoonhyung led Y/N to the dance floor, twirling her around to face him. Another song began and he led her in a graceful waltz. He was a handsome man, there was no doubt about that. Handsome as he was, he simply didn’t match her type. At least, that’s what she told herself and others. In truth, she didn’t know her type, but when she met him, she would know.

“You seem distracted. Am I not good company?” he asked. Y/N gasped.

“No, you’re lovely, really. As my aunt mentioned, I’m waiting for our uncle. He should have been here by now, but I fear this may be the first party he can’t come,” Y/N said. Song Yoonhyung nodded, then laughed. “Have I said something funny?”

“No. I’m sorry. You just remind me of a friend of mine,” Yoonhyung said. The song ended and Song Yoonhyung and Y/N bowed to each other. They returned to Y/N’s aunt who sat chatting with another relative. Her aunt turned to her, smiling brightly.

“You two were absolutely amazing. You danced beautifully together.” Y/N smiled, taking a seat.

“Thank you,” Y/N said. “Aunt, where did you meet Mr. Song?” Her aunt smiled, sparing a glance at Song Yoonhyung.

“You know I’ve never been one to settle somewhere for too long,” her aunt began. Y/N nodded, scooting closer. “Well, I was traveling throughout Asia when my carriage broke down. So there I was, stranded in a country I wasn’t familiar with, when a dashing man came to my rescue. He stopped his carriage, asking me where I was from and where I was going. He invited me to a ball the emperor was having later that night. Of course I didn’t have any of the socially appropriate attire of their country, but I put  on my best gown.

“Yoonhyung was there and approached me. We began talking and I found him quite agreeable. Then a hush fell over the room. The imperial family was to be announced. Yoonhyung led me as close as we could, but all the young ladies had gathered around to see the emperor’s son. They all swooned when he came, but then I saw the emperor. He had been the dashing fellow who invited me to the ball and rescued me from my damaged carriage.

“The room was still as he descended the stairs. He was halfway down the stairs when we made eye contact. We stared at each other without ever looking away. The sea of people parted as he made his way to stand in front of me. He bowed deeply before asking me for the first dance.”

“Did you say yes?” Y/N asked excitedly.

“Well I couldn’t say no to the emperor,” her aunt laughed. Y/N sighed.

“That sounds so exciting! You must have felt like a princess! I wish I could have been there,” Y/N said. Her aunt and Yoonhyung shared a look.

“Maybe next time, you can come with me,” her aunt suggested. Y/N sighed again.

“Oh I wish I could, but Mother and Father would never allow it. It’s not sensible for a girl to travel around.” Her aunt laughed.

“Oh my dear child, it’s not sensible for a young woman to be cooped up with no knowledge of the world. There’s so much more to life than being pretty and marrying rich. My dear child, there’s a world out there that you deserve to see,” her aunt said. Y/N hugged her aunt, smiling. “There’s my happy girl.”

“Uncle Drosselmeyer!”

Y/N turned to the ballroom doors and, sure enough, her Uncle Drosselmeyer stood there. He was covered in snow, and he was carrying a giant sack. Excitedly Y/N jumped from her seat, rushing with her younger cousins to greet him. He laughed, waving to everyone as the adults chuckled fondly and resumed their previous activities.

“Hello children!” Uncle Drosselmeyer’s voice boomed. The children greeted him back loudly. Y/N stood off towards the back, but close enough to see the wonderful gifts he’d made. He passed out colorful gifts to each of the children. Immediately they went and tore the paper off, squealing at the hand-crafted gift. Chanwoo stood next to Y/N, watching along with her.

“What do you think of this year’s gifts?” he inquired. Y/N smiled.

“I think they’re wonderful, don’t you?”

“Of course. It’s not truly Christmas without Uncle Drosselmeyer’s presents.”

“It’s not truly Christmas without Uncle Drosselmeyer.” They giggled.

“Here are our gracious hosts. Young Mister Chanwoo! Miss Y/N! How are you two? My oh my, you’re both a head taller.”

“I was afraid you wouldn’t make it this year,” Y/N confessed, hugging her beloved uncle. Chanwoo embraced him next, grinning from ear to ear.

“And miss seeing you, my dear? Never. What a preposterous thought!” her uncle laughed.

“Uncle Drosselmeyer, are there any gifts in there for Y/N and I?” Chanwoo asked, peeking into the large sack that laid on the floor, almost completely empty, save for two gifts.

“How could I not bring gifts for our gracious hosts?” Uncle Drosselmeyer reached into the bag, pulling out a circular box wrapped in shiny red paper with a gold bow on top. “For you, Chanwoo.” Chan grabbed the present excitedly, ripping the paper apart. “And for you, dear Y/N.” He handed her a rectangular box, wrapped in dark green paper with a silver bow. Carefully, she unwrapped the box before removing the lid. Inside was a nutcracker with ivory skin, dark hair, brown eyes, and a red uniform.

“Oh Uncle Drosselmeyer! He’s absolutely breathtaking! Thank you.” She gave her uncle a hug before disappearing to show off her gift. Her young cousins gathered around, staring at the nutcracker with wide eyes. Chanwoo came up, carrying a handful of nuts.

“Care to try it out?” Y/N grabbed a nut, placing it in the nutcrackers mouth. Carefully she pushed down on the lever until its jaw split the nut open. The children clapped excitedly. She continued to do so until there were almost no nuts left.

That was when Chanwoo grabbed the nutcracker, bored of one nut at a time, he put the rest of the nuts into the nutcracker’s mouth and pressed down on the lever as hard as he could. There was a resounding gasp, followed by the gasps of the children. Y/N stared in horror. The nutcracker’s jaw was broken. She quickly snatched the nutcracker from Chanwoo, rushing to find Uncle Drosselmeyer.

Uncle Drosselmeyer sat with her aunt and Song Yoonhyung. They were deep in conversation when Y/N arrived. She handed the nutcracker to him, pleading for him to fix it. Uncle Drosselmeyer took the nutcracker, and from what seemed like thin air, produced a white handkerchief.

“I don’t have my tools now, but I’ll have him fixed in no time,” he assured her. Y/N smiled, wandering off to put the nutcracker in the safety of the parlor room where Uncle Drosselmeyer would be able to fix it with complete ease.

Once she returned to the party, she rejoined her aunt, Uncle Drosselmeyer, and Song Yoonhyung for the evening. Y/N liked to pretend she could be a proper lady of the house, but adult talk bored her so. However, her aunt and uncle were anything but boring adults. They didn’t discuss trivial things such as weather and politics. Instead, they talked about adventure and traveling and passion. Yoonhyung seemed to enjoy the same topics of conversation. Most gentlemen were focused on themselves and their estates and settling down to find a suitable wife, at least that’s what Y/N assumed. She’d never heard the conversations between gentlemen. Chanwoo was still much too young for such topics.

Soon the clock struck eleven, alerting everyone that the evening was done. The guests began to gather their things and leave. Children were scattered around the house, fast asleep from the night’s activities. Y/N’s parents stood at the door, bidding everyone a good night. Y/N and Song Yoonhyung hung back, making idle talk.

“You must come and visit, Y/N,” Yoonhyung said. “It’s such a different, well, everything. The people, the clothing, the culture, it would be a shame if you didn’t see it.” Y/N nodded.

“That sounds absolutely wonderful. Maybe you could convince my parents to let me go,” Y/N said. Once they had reached the door, Yoonhyung turned to Y/N’s parents, bowing respectfully. He turned back to Y/N taking her hand and pressing a quick kiss to it. She dipped into a quick curtsey, waving him off.

The only guests to remain were Y/N’s aunt and Uncle Drosselmeyer. Chanwoo and his mother had retired to their chambers, much too tired from the night’s activities. Y/N, her father, her aunt, and Uncle Drosselmeyer sat in the parlor, chatting next to the roaring fire.

“I must ask my dear, what were you and Yoonhyung discussing before his departure? It seemed most interesting,” her aunt said, taking a sip of brandy.

“Mr. Song has invited me to see his home land,” she said. Her aunt clapped excitedly.

“Brother, doesn’t that sound lovely?” her aunt said. Her father hummed, taking a huff from his pipe.

“What business does a young man have asking to take my only daughter, my prized jewel, away to another country?” he asked, a playful glint in his eye.

“Oh Papa,” Y/N said, moving to crouch by the side of his chair. “You must put such thoughts from your head. Nothing of that sort happened or would. I simply want to travel. I want to see the world Papa.” He cupped his daughter’s cheek, stroking it with his thumb affectionately.

“Then see the world you shall, my pet. How can I deny my daughter her deepest desire?” he said. Y/N grinned at her father. “But their is the matter of your mother--”

“You leave her to me,” her aunt interjected. “I know how to speak to her.”

“Then it’s settled,” Uncle Drosselmeyer laughed. “Y/N shall see the world! She shall dance! She shall explore! She! Shall! Live!” Uncle Drosselmeyer had jumped from his seat and was dancing around the room with new jubilance. Y/N’s father sighed deeply, bringing a hand to massage his temples. Y/N and her aunt giggled.

“Uncle Drosselmeyer, please, pace yourself. You shall wake up the whole block!” her father scolded, though she could see the hint of a smirk tugging at the corner of his mouth.

“Oh poppycock. Let them wake, for our darling little girl is off to become a woman. Oh the wonders you shall see my dear. You shall never want to return, or settle down for that matter. I mean, take your beautiful aunt. She chose to travel and has she settled?”

“When you put it like that, maybe you shouldn’t travel,” her father said. Y/N turned to him, pouting, then back to Uncle Drosselmeyer.

“Oh don’t give me that look. You should travel, but you should also settle down. Find a suitable husband and have children,” Uncle Drosselmeyer said. Y/N wrinkled her nose at the notion. “Your mother thought the same thing. That was, until she met your father.”

“As much as I’m sure she’s happy to have settled, I don’t want to. The times are changing, and I want to be there to see it.” Her aunt sat back, looking between her father and Uncle Drosselmeyer. Her father gave a resigned sigh.

“I blame this almost entirely on you,” he said, pointing his pipe at his sister. She shrugged, not the least bit concerned.

It was almost midnight when Y/N had fallen asleep on the couch in the parlor. Her aunt draped a blanket over her, placing the nutcracker next to her. Her father pressed a quick kiss to her forehead before ushering his sister and Uncle Drosselmeyer out. His wife would surely scold him for letting Y/N sleep in the parlor, but he couldn’t bring himself to wake her. She had seemed so peaceful, asleep with the thought of traveling the world nestled deep within her.

At the strike of two, the most extraordinary thing occurred. First, a hazy glow settled across the parlor room. With each strike of the clock, the haze thickened. Then, a hole, the perfect size for a mouse, appeared in the wall, right next to the Christmas tree. In neat columns of two, mice, dressed as soldiers and carrying weapons. They marched into the parlor, stopping in the middle of the room. Finally, the nutcracker awoke. He blinked several times before sliding off the couch, landing on the floor with a thump.

The thump was enough to wake Y/N from her slumber. Yawning and rubbing the sleep from her eyes, she glanced around the parlor room. She let out a gasp at the scene before her. Dozens of mice were on her floor, and her nutcracker was fighting them. Her nutcracker was fighting them? Her nutcracker was fighting them! But he was just one nutcracker against dozens of mice. Y/N had to help him!

She threw off her covers, quickly kicking the mice away from the nutcracker. The mice squeaked loudly, flying around the room as she did her best to help her nutcracker. More mice came from the hole, all of them making a beeline for the nutcracker.

That’s when Y/N saw him.

[kpop-probably]

Masterlist

iKon Au 

OC// Asuka Nakamura 

Meet Asuka!

More Facts About Asuka!

Relationships with the boys!

1st Day At YG

Birthday Downer

Mr. Business

Show Asuka The Money

Are You Ready?

One and Only

Round 8: Semi Finals

Im Gonna Get Ya!  Ft. Daesung of BigBang (Drabble)

[lloeyi]

- night date with hanbin

[bleuxberri]

「 ｉｋｏｎ ａｕ | ｖａｍｐｉｒｅ ｃｌａｎ 」

ιllιlı.navigation.ılιllι

[a/n: this is only for entertainment purposes, do not come for me for writing this]

𝒃.𝒊;

name: kim han bin

hometown: seoul, south korea

human birthday: october 22, 1996

vampire birthday: september 15, 2015

age when turned: 18

human eye colour: brown

vampire eye colour: red

food choice: human blood

powers: speed, strength and fighting

abilities: pain illusion

how he turned: spelled by a witch

Pain Illusion: Hanbin projects the illusion of being in extremely intense physical pain into others minds, thus incapacitating them. The pain that Hanbin inflicts is described as being like "burning" inside of the victim. Hanbin’s power only allows her to affect one victim at a time, while Junhoe can affect multiple targets at one time. Although his pain comes instantly, and Junhoe’s power takes a few seconds to fully incapacitate his target.

𝒋𝒂𝒚;

name: kim jin hwan

hometown: jeju island, south korea

human birthday: february 7, 1994

vampire birthday: september 15, 2015

age when turned: 21

human eye colour: brown

vampire eye colour: golden

food choice: animal blood

powers: speed

abilities: visual projection

how he turned: bitten by a hanbin

Visual Projection: Jinhwan can project a vision into others' minds. The vision can seem so real to the person impacted by them can easily forget that it’s not real, extremely quickly. This power is most useful in clouding his target’s vision.

𝒔𝒐𝒏𝒈;

name: song yun hyeong

hometown: seoul, south korea

human birthday: february 8, 1995

vampire birthday: september 15, 2015

age when turned: 20

human eye colour: brown

vampire eye colour: golden

food choice: animal blood

powers: speed

abilities: mental shield

how he turned: bitten by a hanbin

Mental Shield: Yunhyeong’s gift is a mental shield. The shield is so strong that it had been working without him knowing, most likely, since birth. It protects him from "psychic attacks" that affect the mind. Donghyuk finds himself unable to read his mind.

𝒃𝒐𝒃𝒃𝒚;

name: bobby kim | kim ji won

hometown: virgina, usa | seoul, south korea

human birthday: december 21, 1995

vampire birthday: september 15, 2015

age when turned: 19

human eye colour: brown

vampire eye colour: red

food choice: human blood

powers: speed, strength and fighting

abilities: psychic electrokinesis

how he turned: bitten by a hanbin

Psychic Electrokinesis: Bobby can cover his body with an electrical current. Upon physical contact while his gift is in use, depending on the power he puts into it, the person can feel as little as static shock or great enough to cause their knees to buckle and have them on their backs. Because this talent doesn't effect Yunhyeong, the current most likely sends a signal to the brain which would be a similar effect to Hanbin’s gift.

𝒅𝒌;

name: kim dong hyuk

hometown: gyeonggi-do, south korea

human birthday: janurary 3, 1997

vampire birthday: september 15, 2015

age when turned: 18

human eye colour: brown

vampire eye colour: red

food choice: human blood

powers: strength

abilities: telepathy

how he turned: bitten by a hanbin

Telepathy: Donghyuk’s gift allows him to hear/see the thoughts of other people, whether vampire or humans, except for Yunhyeong. Donghyuk can hear thoughts from several people at a time, although he states that he has learned to tune out extra voices by focusing on one in particular. The closer or more familiar Donghyuk is to an individual's mind the clearer his can hear them. A stronger bond also allows him to hear them from a greater distance, though no greater than a few miles. She can also keep track of people within a few miles telepathically.

𝒋𝒖-𝒏𝒆;

name: koo jun hoe

hometown: seoul, south korea

human birthday: march 31, 1997

vampire birthday: september 15, 2015

age when turned: 19

human eye colour: brown

vampire eye colour: red

food choice: human blood

powers: strength

abilities: sensory deprivation

how he turned: bitten by a hanbin

Sensory Deprivation: Junhoe can create a mist or fog which upon contact with someone paralyzes them and cuts off all, or some of their senses as he desires. This ability does not reach full effect instantly, as Hanbin’s ability does, but creeps upon the victim. He channels the power through his hands; it takes the form of a visible black smoke that slowly moves toward his target, though he can retract it with his mind.

𝒄𝒉𝒂𝒏;

name: jung chan woo

hometown: yongin, gyeonggi-do, south korea

human birthday: january 26, 1996

vampire birthday: september 15, 2015

age when turned: 17

human eye colour: brown

vampire eye colour: golden

food choice: animal blood

powers: speed

abilities: mental invisibility

how he turned: bitten by a hanbin

Mental Invisibility: Chanwoo’s power is to become mentally invisible to his pursuers. He can also use it to hide someone standing directly behind him. This power is very limited as it can be seen past by someone with a strong ability of focus.