#let's just... pretend this interaction and the other two asks I got happened earlier in the event

[cloudyluun]

No Cameras Allowed | famous!harry

Summary: You and Harry have been secretly hooking up for months, but at a high-profile event—surrounded by cameras, fans, and industry people—you have to pretend like nothing is going on. The tension builds to an unbearable level, leading you to sneak away for a risky, reckless rendezvous.

A/N: Listen, I started writing this thinking, “Let’s make this classy and controlled,” and then Harry had a meltdown over a missing condom and suddenly we were all in too deep. 🤡 This fic is 90% tension, 5% absolute recklessness, and 5% me screaming into my pillow because these two cannot behave. Hydrate, take deep breaths, and maybe say a prayer, because I swear, I’m just the stressed-out typist here. If you need me, I’ll be in horny jail. 🚔🔒🔥

Word Count: 2,7k

Warnings: 

Explicit sexual content (Smut, NSFW, 18+)!!!

Jealousy & tension-filled interactions - Both are very jealous. I probably would be too. 

Mentions of alcohol consumption

Strong language & dirty talk

Mentions of an implied lack of protection (brief but relevant to the plot)

Secret relationship shenanigans – They’re sneaking around, and they’re GOOD at it… except for when they’re not.

Unholy levels of sexual tension – You will feel the need to take a deep breath and maybe fan yourself.

Public sex – Yes, they did it where they absolutely should not have. No regrets.

Desperation – The kind where you physically feel the ache in your soul (and elsewhere).

No condom moment – Highly irresponsible. Highly hot. They make choices, not necessarily good ones.

Hand over mouth trope – He’s gotta keep her quiet. You already know.

Neck-grabbing, wrist-holding, wall-pressing – He’s got control issues, and you like it.

Mutual corruption – Neither of them is innocent, and that’s exactly why this is happening.

Proceed at your own risk. But let’s be real—you’re already in too deep.

☆ ★ ✮ ★ ☆

The hotel room is bathed in the warm glow of the bedside lamp, casting soft shadows across the sheets that are barely covering your tangled bodies. The air is thick with the remnants of earlier touches, the room still carrying the heat of whispered confessions and the slow, lingering movements that had left both of you breathless.

Harry’s fingers trace lazy circles on your bare back, his touch featherlight, almost absentminded. It’s a stark contrast to the way his hands had gripped you just an hour ago—possessive, desperate, leaving invisible marks on your skin. Now, he’s all slow affection, the pads of his fingertips skimming your shoulder blades as if he’s memorizing every inch of you.

Your head rests against his chest, listening to the steady rhythm of his heartbeat, feeling the way it slows now that you’re here, settled, unrushed. His other hand is tucked behind his head, his bicep flexed just enough to make you roll your eyes at how effortlessly attractive he is, even in this sleepy, post-bliss state.

“I love how you think we’re subtle,” you murmur, a smirk pulling at your lips as you press a kiss to his warm skin.

Harry huffs out a laugh, shifting slightly so he can look down at you, his dimple peeking through as he grins. “No one suspects a thing.”

You tilt your head up, raising a brow. “Mitch literally asked me why I disappear at 2 a.m. all the time.”

Harry groans dramatically, rolling his eyes as he pulls you closer. “Mitch needs to mind his own business.”

You giggle against his chest, your fingers idly tracing over the swallows inked onto his skin. “I think he’s just concerned that I might be in some kind of secret underground fight club or something.”

Harry laughs, a full-bodied sound that shakes both of you. “Right. Because that’s the more likely scenario.”

“Exactly,” you tease, biting back a grin.

His laugh fades into something softer, more intimate, as his fingers slide down your back. Then, without warning, he shifts, rolling you onto your back so he’s hovering above you. His curls fall slightly into his face, his eyes darkening as he takes in the sight of you beneath him.

His voice is lower now, edged with something deeper. “Maybe I like knowing that no one else gets to see you like this.”

Your breath catches. It’s moments like this—when the teasing fades, when the weight of what’s between you presses against your ribs—that make your pulse stutter.

You reach up, threading your fingers through his hair, tugging just enough to make him hum in satisfaction. “You’re ridiculously possessive, you know that?”

He smirks, dipping his head so his lips hover just above yours. “And you love it.”

You don’t argue.

Instead, you let your lips brush against his in a slow, drawn-out kiss, savoring the way he melts into you. His body presses flush against yours, heat radiating between you, but it’s not rushed this time. It’s lazy and indulgent, like you have all the time in the world.

Which, of course, you don’t.

You sigh against his lips, pulling back just enough to meet his gaze. “So, the gala.”

Harry groans, dropping his head against your shoulder. “Way to ruin the mood.”

You laugh, running your fingers down his back. “I’m just saying—we’re really going to pretend we don’t even know each other all night?”

He exhales heavily, propping himself up on his elbows. “No flirting, no sneaky touches, no slipping away together,” he confirms, voice laced with mock seriousness.

You let out an exaggerated groan, throwing an arm over your face. “How am I supposed to act like I don’t want to drag you into a closet all night?”

Harry chuckles, but there’s something else in his expression now—something taut, restrained. “You don’t,” he says simply, leaning in so his lips brush the shell of your ear. “You pretend you don’t want me.” His breath is warm against your skin, sending a shiver down your spine.

You shift beneath him, already feeling the weight of what tomorrow will bring—the distance, the careful avoidance, the act you’ll have to put on for the world.

Harry pulls back just enough to meet your gaze, his green eyes flickering with something unreadable. “Think you can handle that?”

You swallow, your throat suddenly dry.

No, you think. Probably not.

But you don’t say that.

Instead, you force a smirk, pressing your palm against his chest. “Oh, absolutely,” you lie.

And Harry, the smug bastard, grins like he knows exactly how much of a lie that is.

Now you curse yourself for ever agreeing to this.

The flashing lights are blinding, the chaotic energy of the gala buzzing through the air as celebrities step out of sleek black cars, each one greeted by a wave of deafening screams. The photographers shout names, demanding poses, each snap of their cameras preserving fleeting moments for the world to analyze later. It’s all so polished, so orchestrated, yet it feels suffocating.

And Harry?

He’s already here.

You watch from the backseat of your car as he steps onto the carpet, buttoning his perfectly tailored suit jacket with the kind of effortless charm that makes the world swoon. His presence commands attention—broad shoulders, sharp jawline, a smirk so devastating it could be classified as a lethal weapon. His dimple makes an appearance as he waves to the screaming fans, his rings glinting under the camera flashes as he adjusts his cuffs.

He looks like he was born for this.

And the worst part? He looks completely unaffected.

Your fingers tighten around the fabric of your dress as you watch him. He’s talking to an interviewer now, flashing that coy, knowing grin that makes people hang onto his every word. You can’t hear what he’s saying, but you don’t need to. It’s the same carefully controlled persona he always wears in public—charming, composed, a little bit playful.

The side of your lip twitches. Bastard.

You’re still sitting in the car, waiting for your cue to step out, when you see it.

The shift.

One second, Harry’s engaged in conversation, his body relaxed. The next, his entire demeanor changes—his grip tightening around the glass in his hand, his jaw locking ever so slightly.

It takes you half a second to realize why.

You’ve been spotted.

Even from across the carpet, you feel the weight of his stare the moment you step out of the car. The cool night air barely registers against your skin as you straighten your posture, your carefully curated expression slipping into place. You’re aware of the way the crowd reacts—how the screams spike in volume, how the cameras angle toward you, how the buzz of murmured conversations follows in your wake.

You can feel Harry’s eyes on you.

But you don’t look at him.

You won’t.

Instead, you let your lips curve into a soft, controlled smile, pretending not to notice the ripple of attention your arrival has caused. You let the cameras take their fill, pausing just long enough for the photographers to capture the moment. Your outfit—a masterpiece of elegance and barely-contained sensuality—hugs your body in all the right ways, a choice you made with full awareness of the effect it would have.

And judging by the way Harry is gripping his glass like it’s the only thing keeping him tethered to the ground, you were absolutely right.

The red carpet is a practiced dance, one you know how to navigate flawlessly. You answer questions with ease, your responses light but distant enough to keep them guessing. You pose for the cameras, move toward the fan section, offering them your full attention.

That’s when it happens.

“Are you and Harry friends?”

The question is innocent enough, asked by a girl barely containing her excitement as she clutches her phone, ready to record your reaction.

You keep your smile intact. You don’t falter. “Yeah, of course! He’s lovely.”

The moment the words leave your mouth, you hear it.

A barely contained giggle. A whispered assumption.

“She totally blushed. They’re hiding something.”

You force yourself not to react, but the air shifts just slightly, your composure settling a little tighter around your frame. You laugh lightly, as if the idea is ridiculous, before moving along with the conversation.

But Harry?

Harry hears it.

From across the room, his fingers flex, resisting the urge to drain the rest of his drink. He watches the exchange with careful disinterest, his expression unreadable to the untrained eye. But you know him. You recognize the way his jaw tenses just slightly, the way his gaze darkens the moment your name is paired with his in that context.

Then, as if the universe is determined to push him closer to the edge, someone steps into your space.

It’s a man—some actor, charming and self-assured, the kind of person who knows exactly what effect he has. He leans in just slightly as he compliments your dress, his tone playful, his body language open. It’s harmless. Flirtatious, but harmless.

But from across the room?

Harry doesn’t look at it that way.

Your awareness of him sharpens. Even without turning your head, you know he’s watching. You can feel it in your bones, the heat of his stare like a brand against your skin.

You tilt your head, letting yourself laugh at something the actor says, just for good measure. Just to push back at the invisible tether Harry has wrapped around you.

Then you make the mistake of looking.

It’s quick. A glance. Barely a second.

But it’s enough.

Harry’s gaze locks onto yours, the weight of it nearly stealing the breath from your lungs. His fingers tap against the side of his glass, his lips pressing together in a way that tells you exactly what he’s thinking.

A silent challenge.

You swallow, looking away first.

Then, just when you think the tension has reached its peak, the night conspires against you once again.

The little moments start stacking up.

In passing, your hands brush—just a second too long. A lingering whisper of contact that shouldn’t mean anything. But it does.

Harry leans in to whisper something to a friend, but his lips nearly graze the edge of your ear as he passes. The warmth of his breath ghosts against your skin, leaving a trail of goosebumps in its wake.

And then—because the universe has a twisted sense of humor—you witness the moment that nearly breaks your resolve.

She’s stunning, the actress who leans in too close to him, her laugh like honey as she touches his arm in a way that feels practiced. You don’t know what she’s saying, but it’s enough to make Harry smirk, enough to make his fingers flex slightly where they rest on his knee.

You grip your glass tighter.

“I swear to god…” you mutter under your breath, not even realizing you’d spoken aloud.

Then, without warning—without a sound—Harry is behind you.

His voice is a low, taunting whisper, barely audible over the noise of the party.

“If you keep looking at me like that, we’re not making it through the night.”

A shiver rolls down your spine.

Your pulse jumps.

But you don’t turn around.

Because you know exactly what will happen if you do.

You can feel him watching you, his presence a weight against your skin, a force pulling you in even when you’re trying to resist. It’s unbearable—the tension, the push and pull of this secret that has stretched between you for months. You grip your drink tighter, the condensation damp against your fingers, and force yourself to stay rooted in place.

You exhale slowly. Then, in a move that is as reckless as it is calculated, you turn on your heel and walk away.

You don’t look back.

Instead, you slip into the nearest group of people, throwing yourself into conversation like it’s effortless, like your pulse isn’t hammering against your ribs. You laugh—too loudly, too carelessly—letting the sound carry just far enough. Your fingers graze someone’s arm, your smile lingers for a second too long. You don’t even register what’s being said; the words mean nothing. The only thing that matters is what’s happening behind you.

What Harry is doing.

Or rather—what he’s about to do.

You feel it before you see it. The energy shifts. The air crackles with a new kind of charge.

And then, out of the corner of your eye, you catch him.

Harry is watching.

His jaw is tight, his fingers flexing around the glass in his hand. He looks calm to the untrained eye, but you know better. You know that slight clench in his jaw, the way his throat bobs when he swallows, the restless way his thumb drags along the rim of his glass.

You keep talking. You keep laughing.

And then Harry downs his drink in one swift motion, his throat moving as he swallows the last drop of whiskey. He sets the glass down with just a little too much force, and without a single word, he turns and walks away.

Your breath catches.

You don’t move. Not immediately.

You wait.

One second.

Two.

A full minute passes before you finally allow yourself to move.

You slip away, just as quietly as he did, weaving through the crowd with practiced ease. The further you get from the main event, the quieter it becomes. The music fades into the background, the distant murmur of conversation growing softer. Your heels click against the polished marble floor as you move down an empty hallway, your heart pounding harder with every step.

You don’t have to look for him.

You already know where he is.

The moment you turn the corner into the restricted hallway near the VIP lounges, you barely have time to register anything before—

Strong hands grab your waist.

You gasp as you’re yanked back against the wall, the cool surface biting through the heat radiating off your skin. The shock of it barely registers before Harry is there, his body flush against yours, his scent wrapping around you—something deep and warm, laced with the remnants of whiskey and frustration.

His voice is low, rough, each word vibrating against your skin.

“Do you have any idea what you’ve been doing to me all night?”

Your breath is uneven, your pulse a wild drumbeat beneath your skin.

You tilt your head up to meet his gaze, biting back a smirk. His eyes are dark, burning with barely contained hunger.

“I think I have a pretty good idea,” you murmur, resting your hands against his chest.

The muscle beneath his suit jacket is tense, coiled tight like he’s barely holding himself together.

And then—

He kisses you.

Hard.

The second your back hits the wall, Harry’s on you. There’s no hesitation, no space, no air left between you. His body presses into yours, solid and warm, and his grip on your waist is possessive, like he’s making sure you don’t slip away.

He kisses you like he’s starving, like he’s been thinking about this all night—which, knowing him, he has. His mouth moves over yours, hot, open-mouthed, desperate, his tongue sweeping against yours in slow, deep strokes that make your knees go weak.

You fist your hands in his shirt, yanking him closer, feeling the crisp fabric tighten under your grip. It’s unfair, really—how he gets to look so put-together while you’re already falling apart for him. His suit, all sharp lines and tailored edges, contrasts with the way your body melts against his, your dress already slipping up your thighs.

His hands wander, explore, claim—roaming down your sides, gripping your hips, guiding your body against his. He tugs at your dress, fingertips skimming beneath the hem, teasing the fabric higher—so high that his knuckles graze the sensitive skin of your inner thigh.

You shudder. He notices immediately.

A slow, knowing smirk curls his lips against yours, but he doesn’t say anything—just drags his hand higher, his fingertips just barely brushing the damp heat between your legs.

You gasp into his mouth, your fingers tightening in his shirt, and he chuckles—a low, dark sound that makes your stomach tighten.

“You’re already shaking for me, baby,” he murmurs against your lips, his breath warm and teasing.

You bite back a moan, refusing to give him the satisfaction just yet. Instead, you tilt your chin up slightly, meeting his eyes, and shift your hips forward—just the tiniest roll of your body against his.

The reaction is instant.

Harry groans—deep, rough, almost guttural—and his head drops to your shoulder, his breath hot and uneven against your neck. His fingers dig into your waist, tight, desperate, like he’s barely holding himself back.

“You’re trying to kill me,” he pants, his voice rough, vibrating against your skin.

You smirk, breathless but smug. “That’s dramatic.”

Harry lifts his head slowly, green eyes blazing with something dark and dangerous, and then—before you can blink—he rolls his hips into you, pressing his body flush against yours.

You feel everything—the solid heat of him, the hardness pressing against your core, the undeniable proof of just how much he wants you.

A gasp catches in your throat.

His lips brush against your jaw, and his voice drops lower, rougher, more strained.

“Am I?”

The hallway is too quiet, the distant sounds of the gala making this moment feel even riskier. Muted laughter, clinking glasses, the murmur of conversations—all of it feels like it’s happening in another world, one you’ve completely abandoned the second Harry pressed you against this wall.

It should be a warning. It should be a reason to stop.

But all you can focus on is him.

The way he’s crowding you, caging you in, body heat rolling off him in waves. The way his eyes stay locked on yours, pupils blown wide, like he’s daring you to tell him to stop. The way he’s breathing heavy, shoulders rising and falling, like he’s barely holding himself together.

Then his hands are moving.

Sliding up your thighs, pushing your dress higher, higher, bunching the fabric at your hips. His fingertips graze the damp heat between your legs, teasing, barely there, but enough.

You whimper.

A quiet, desperate little sound that you try to swallow down.

But he hears it. Of course, he hears it.

And it makes him lose his patience.

His palm presses against you through the lace of your underwear, applying just the barest amount of pressure—but it’s enough to make your stomach tighten, enough to send a bolt of pleasure straight through you.

His lips aren’t on your mouth anymore. They’re moving—hot and insistent—trailing along your jaw, then down to your throat, biting, sucking, his teeth scraping sensitive skin. He’s not careful, not like he normally is. He doesn’t care if he leaves a mark. Maybe he wants to.

Maybe he wants you to feel him long after this is over.

Your breath catches when his other hand finds your wrist and pins it to the wall beside your head. It’s not rough, but it’s firm. Controlling. Like he needs to keep you exactly where he wants you.

His voice is a murmur against your ear, low and wrecked.

"You’re already soaked."

Heat rushes to your cheeks, and you squirm against his hand, hips pushing toward his touch despite yourself.

"Wonder why," you breathe.

Harry chuckles darkly, a sound that sends a shiver down your spine. Then, without warning, his fingers slip under the lace, dragging through your slick folds. He groans—low, deep, almost pained—his forehead pressing against yours like he’s trying to hold himself together.

"Fuck."

His fingers find your clit, rubbing slow, teasing circles that make your stomach tighten, your thighs clenching around his hand. It’s too much and not enough all at once, and your breath stutters, your fingers twisting in his shirt.

You bite your lip so hard it nearly hurts, trying to suppress the moan that’s threatening to spill out.

Harry watches you, studying every tiny reaction, his jaw clenched, his brows furrowed like he’s mesmerized by the way you come apart for him.

Then he slides one finger inside you—slow but deliberate—pushing in deep, stretching you open just enough to make you gasp.

And then he adds a second.

Your back arches off the wall, nails digging into his shoulders, your body desperate for more.

"Feel so good," Harry grits out, his voice thick with lust. His fingers work you open, slow and steady, curling just right, dragging against your walls until your thighs are shaking. His restraint is slipping—you can feel it.

"Always so fucking tight for me."

His words make your breath hitch, your chest rising and falling rapidly. You try to hold on, try to keep some kind of control, but his fingers are relentless, moving in and out of you, stroking your clit in slow, precise circles.

"Harry—" Your voice is barely a whisper, your eyes fluttering shut. "Someone’s gonna hear us—"

His free hand leaves your wrist, and before you can react, he covers your mouth, his palm warm against your lips, muffling the tiny sounds spilling out of you.

A smirk tugs at his lips, his breath ghosting over your cheek.

"Then you better be quiet, baby."

Harry’s fingers leave you, leaving behind nothing but an unbearable ache, an emptiness that makes your body tense with need. He doesn’t waste a second—his hands move fast, frantic, reaching for his belt, undoing the buckle with sharp, impatient movements.

You’re gasping, panting, your nails digging into his shoulders, hips rolling up to meet his, desperate for more. For him.

But then—he stops.

You barely notice at first, too caught up in the heat, too lost in the way his body presses into yours, how close you are to getting what you need. But then you feel it—the hesitation. The stiffness in his muscles. The way his forehead suddenly drops to your shoulder, his chest rising and falling with deep, frustrated breaths.

And then he curses.

"Shit. Fuck."

His voice is low, rough, like he’s physically forcing himself to stop. Like he’s just had the wind knocked out of him.

Your body stills, your mind foggy and desperate, your pulse hammering against your ribs.

"What?" you whisper, blinking up at him, confused, needing answers, needing him to keep going, needing him to fix whatever’s wrong.

Harry pulls back just enough to look at you, his jaw tight, his fingers threading through his curls in frustration. His pupils are blown wide, his lips swollen from kissing you, his whole body wrecked with restraint.

"I don’t have a condom."

The words hit like a slap of cold air against overheated skin.

Your stomach flips, pulse pounding in your ears. You should stop. You both should.

This is the moment.

The moment to take a breath, to come to your senses, to remember that this is a mistake. That it’s reckless, that it’s too risky, that there are a million reasons why you shouldn’t do this.

But none of them matter.

Because the heat between you is unbearable. Because your body is screaming for him, because the throbbing ache inside you is too strong to ignore, because stopping now would feel more painful than giving in.

Because you don’t care.

Your throat feels tight, your breath shaky as the words slip out before you can even think about them.

"I don’t care."

Harry’s head snaps up, his gaze locking onto yours so fast it makes you shiver.

His eyes—dark, intense, searching—burn into you, like he’s trying to see if you really mean it. Trying to find a reason to stop, a reason to be the responsible one.

But all he finds is desperation.

He swallows hard, his Adam’s apple bobbing, his breath uneven.

"Are you sure?" His voice is rough, raw, almost pained—like he wants this so fucking bad but needs to hear you say it again.

Your legs tighten around his waist, your arms looping around his neck, pulling him closer, needing him closer.

"Please," you whisper, the word barely audible, but it’s all it takes.

His control snaps.

Harry’s mouth crashes against yours—hot, messy, consuming—all teeth and tongue and raw need. His kiss is desperate, like he’s trying to devour you, trying to silence every thought, every doubt that should be pulling you both apart.

But there’s nothing else in this moment. Nothing but him.

His hands are greedy, impatient, everywhere all at once—roaming over your thighs, gripping your waist, tangling in your hair—taking, taking, taking, like he’s trying to memorize the feel of you against him.

He drags your underwear to the side, not bothering to remove them, just getting them out of his way. The fabric is soaked, ruined, and he groans when he feels just how wet you are, just how ready.

There’s a shaky, fumbling urgency to the way he shoves his trousers down, just enough, just far enough to free himself, because there’s no time for anything else.

No time to think.

No time to stop.

His cock presses against you, hot and aching, the tip slick with need.

You tense in anticipation, body going rigid, your fingers digging into his back as you feel him right there—so close, too close, not close enough.

Then—he pushes in.

A sharp, deep stretch, the overwhelming burn of being filled so fast, so suddenly, so completely.

You can feel every inch of him—thick, hard, hot, pressing deep, stretching you open until it’s almost too much.

Your lips part on a gasp, a sharp, startled moan spilling from your throat before you can stop it—

But Harry is faster.

His hand clamps over your mouth, muffling your cry, his forehead dropping against yours, his breath shaky and uneven as he tries to hold himself together.

"Shhh," he rasps, his voice wrecked, strained, like he’s just barely keeping control.

His jaw is clenched so tight, his arms shaking from the effort of not losing himself completely. His fingers dig into the plush of your thigh, his other hand flexing against your mouth, making sure you stay quiet.

"Fuck," he groans, voice low and guttural, his breath hot against your lips.

"Fuck, you feel so good."

You clench around him, the pressure making your whole body arch, making your legs tighten around his waist, your nails biting into his biceps.

"So deep," you whisper against his palm, already breathless, already drowning in him.

Harry lets out a choked, strangled sound, his head dropping to your shoulder, his teeth scraping against the delicate skin of your neck.

He grips your hip tighter, yanks your thigh up higher, angling you just right—

Then he moves.

His first thrust is slow, deep, pulling out just enough before sinking back in, like he’s savoring it, like he’s relishing the way you stretch around him, the way your body grips him so perfectly.

Then—he snaps.

His hips slam into you, his movements turning frantic, punishing, wild, as if he’s been holding back for too long and can’t anymore.

It’s rough, raw, overwhelming, his cock dragging against every sensitive nerve, making you feel every inch, every inch, every inch.

The wall is solid behind you, but it does nothing to ground you, nothing to brace you against the way he’s pounding into you, forcing the breath from your lungs with every sharp, perfect thrust.

Your hands scramble for purchase, fingers clutching his shoulders, his hair, his back, anything to hold on to.

The contrast is unbearable—the cold marble against your back, the scorching heat of his body against yours, the wetness pooling between you, the rough press of his fingertips against your thigh, your hip, your waist.

"I can feel you squeezing me," he pants, voice deep, wrecked, laced with pure lust.

His teeth graze your jaw, his breath hot, heavy, uneven as he presses deeper, harder, better.

"You close, baby?"

You can’t even think.

All you can do is nod frantically, your nails scratching down his back, your voice breaking, muffled against his shoulder.

"So close—please don’t stop."

He lets out a low, throaty growl, his hands tightening, his hips slamming into you even harder, rougher, faster.

"I got you," he grits out, his voice tight, desperate.

"Let go for me."

And you do.

It hits you all at once—a blinding, earth-shattering pleasure that crashes through you so violently it nearly steals the breath from your lungs.

Your walls clench, pulse, flutter around him, drawing him in deeper, tighter, squeezing him so hard he lets out a wrecked, strangled moan.

Your whole body locks up, then shakes, trembles, collapses as your orgasm tears through you, leaving nothing behind but a pounding heartbeat and the echo of his name on your lips.

Harry doesn’t last long after that.

His rhythm stutters, his grip on your body tightens, his breath turning ragged, uneven, choked.

Then—he slams into you one last time, burying himself deep, so deep, as deep as he can go—and he lets go.

A deep, shaky groan rumbles from his chest as he spills into you, his fingers digging into your hips so tight it’s almost painful.

For a long moment, there’s nothing but harsh breaths, trembling limbs, the sound of racing hearts.

Your bodies are still pressed together, still locked in place, neither of you willing to move, to let go, to face what you’ve just done.

No space between you.

No words.

Just the wreckage of this moment, of the heat, of the mess you’ve made together.

The world around you is silent.

Or maybe your ears are still ringing from the intensity of it all—the overwhelming pleasure, the crash of your heartbeat in your skull, the way your body is still trembling from the aftershocks.

You’re breathless, boneless, your limbs heavy and warm, still wrapped around him, still feeling the echo of where he’s been, of where he still is.

Neither of you move.

Not yet.

Harry’s forehead presses against yours, his breath hot and unsteady, his chest rising and falling against yours in the same frantic, uneven rhythm.

His hands haven’t left your body—fingertips tracing over the dips of your waist, the curve of your thigh, like he can’t stop touching you, even now.

He should feel guilty.

He should regret this.

This was reckless, stupid, dangerous.

Someone could’ve caught you.

Someone still might.

But instead of guilt, instead of remorse, instead of the sinking weight of what the fuck have we done—

All he feels is satisfaction.

His lips twitch. The corner of his mouth quirks up, amusement flickering in his dark, lazy eyes, like he already knows what you’re about to say.

And sure enough—

"We’re so gonna get caught one day," you breathe, still a little dazed, still not sure you can feel your legs yet.

A smirk spreads across his face, slow and wicked, as his fingers brush damp hair from your forehead, his other hand still gripping your thigh, holding you in place, keeping you where he wants you.

He shifts slightly—just enough to remind you that he’s still inside you, still buried so deep it makes your breath hitch.

Then he whispers, low and deliberate, his lips brushing against yours—

"Worth it."

You leave first.

Your legs are still shaky, your breath uneven as you move quickly down the hallway, trying to compose yourself before stepping back into the crowd. The moment you’re back under the bright lights of the gala, surrounded by elegant chatter and the clinking of champagne glasses, it’s like stepping into a completely different reality.

You fight the urge to touch your lips, knowing they’re still kiss-bruised and swollen from Harry’s mouth on yours. Instead, you fish through your clutch with trembling fingers, pulling out your compact mirror and flipping it open, only to let out a quiet curse under your breath.

Your lipstick is completely ruined.

Smudged at the edges, faint traces of it smeared beyond the natural curve of your lips, a dead giveaway to what you’ve been doing.

And that’s not even the worst of it.

You tilt your chin slightly, angling the mirror lower—your neck burns with the ghost of his teeth, the imprint of his mouth. You squint at your reflection, but you don’t have to look closely to see the faint red bloom of a mark beginning to form just under your jaw.

Jesus. You need to fix this.

Your heart pounds as you swipe a fingertip over your lips, smoothing away the damage as best you can, trying to make yourself look normal, untouched, innocent. You pat at your flushed cheeks, inhale a steadying breath, and pull your dress back into place before making your way deeper into the room.

No one is paying attention to you.

Or at least—that’s what you tell yourself.

Because the truth is…some people are.

The ones who notice everything.

The ones who have been watching you both all night.

It’s only five minutes later when Harry returns.

And that’s when the whispers really start.

📱 Twitter Explodes:

@YNUpdates: "Harry and Y/N disappeared at the SAME TIME and now her lipstick is smudged??? Someone explain." 👀

@Hstylesfan88: "Tell me why Harry looks wrecked after being ‘away’ for 20 minutes???"

@Directioner_for_life: "LOOK AT THIS. WHY DOES HE LOOK LIKE HE JUST GOT LAID." [Attached: a blurry photo of Harry stepping back into the gala, tie loose, hair messy, jaw tight as he adjusts his suit.]

@StylinsonLover: "I swear to god if they’re secretly fucking and we don’t know I will RIOT."

It’s all so fast.

You don’t even realize how much people have picked up on until your phone vibrates in your clutch, a message from a friend—

"You might wanna check Twitter."

Your stomach flips as you glance around the room, trying not to be obvious as you spot him across the crowd.

And holy fuck, yeah—they’re right.

Harry looks wrecked.

His tie is loosened, the first two buttons of his shirt undone, the strands of his hair slightly tousled, like someone’s fingers had just been gripping at it.

You swallow hard.

You shouldn’t be staring at him, shouldn’t be biting your lip at the sight of him still looking a little ruined from fucking you against the wall.

And yet—

The way he carries himself so effortlessly, the way his expression is calm, unaffected—like he hasn’t just been inside you, like he hasn’t just come undone in the deepest parts of you—it’s infuriating.

Because you feel so obvious.

Like everyone in this goddamn room knows.

And the worst part?

Maybe they do.

--

The night is winding down, the music softens, the lights dim just slightly, and the energy in the room shifts from excitement to exhaustion.

People start to leave in waves—celebrities slipping out with their teams, photographers packing up their equipment, security guiding fans toward the exits.

You keep your distance.

You have to.

For months now, you and Harry have been careful—so careful.

Because if anyone found out, the questions wouldn’t stop.

Who made the first move? Who was the one who set the rules? Who got attached first? Who’s more obsessed? Is it real? Is it fake? When did it start? How will it end?

You already know what the media would say.

That you are just another girl Harry’s using.

That he is just another celebrity falling into a meaningless fling.

That this is just another story waiting to be ripped apart, twisted into something ugly, overanalyzed until there’s nothing left.

They wouldn’t understand that it’s not like that. That it’s never been like that.

So, you play your part.

You pretend.

You act like you’re just another guest in the room, sipping champagne and offering polite smiles and nods.

And you ignore the way your skin still burns where he touched you.

But every few minutes—you feel him.

A glance across the room.

A flick of his eyes down to your lips.

A tiny smirk when you press them together, nervous, flustered, still feeling him everywhere.

Your cheeks heat up, and you force yourself to look away, heart hammering.

You have to be careful.

But then—just as you think you’ve made it out without another close call—

A hand on your wrist.

Warm. Quick. Certain.

Your breath catches as you turn, only to find him there, impossibly close, standing just slightly behind you, tucked into the shadows where no one else can see.

Your stomach tightens.

You don’t even have time to react before his fingers slide down, trailing over your palm, catching your hand in his.

His grip is gentle but sure, fingers threading through yours like this isn’t just another secret touch. Like he’s holding on.

Your pulse jumps, and his thumb brushes over it, tracing the rapid rhythm.

When you meet his gaze, his eyes are dark, still hooded from everything you’ve done tonight, but there’s something else there now, too. Something deeper.

"See you later?" he murmurs, voice low, teasing, soft in a way that makes your chest ache.

You should let go.

You should be careful.

But instead, you lace your fingers through his.

Tighter. Certain.

You tilt your head, let a slow smile curve at your lips, and whisper back—

"Yeah."

A pause.

A flicker of something dangerous. Something real.

Then, his hand squeezes yours—a silent promise—before he finally lets go, slipping away into the crowd.

But this time, you don’t just feel his touch lingering on your skin.

You feel him everywhere.

And you already know—

This isn’t just some secret anymore.

It’s too much. Too intense, too deep, too important to be treated like something you can just hide forever.

You take a steadying breath, smoothing a hand over your dress, mentally preparing yourself to leave.

And that’s when you hear it.

A sharp click.

A hushed gasp.

A flicker of movement in your peripheral vision.

You turn your head—just in time to see a fan clutching their phone, eyes wide, staring straight at you.

The screen still glowing.

Still open to the camera app.

Your stomach drops.

The fan’s mouth parts like they might say something—might call out your name, might ask if what they just saw was real.

Your breath catches, a cold chill racing up your spine.

And then—

They take off.

Vanishing into the crowd.

With their phone.

With the photo.

With the secret you and Harry just lost.

☆ ★ ✮ ★ ☆

[part 2]

Thank you so much for reading! I appreciate any support so remember to comment, reblog, & like ❤️‍🔥

taglist:

@oscahpastry

@mema10

@angelbabyyy99

@iloveharrystyles04

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[awrkive]

NEIGHBOR BLUNDER, pt. 4 — JJK

in hindsight, you should have seen it coming. had always known your luck – or lack of it, thereof – and the universe's meticulous plan of your downfall made it easy for you to get tangled up in a series of unfortunate events, which presents itself as the neighbor that lives across from you, jeon jungkook.

PAIRING jungkook x (fem) reader

GENRE r18+ (fluff, angst, smut) MINORS DO NOT INTERACT!

CHAPTER WORD COUNT 17.1K words

CHAPTER WARNINGS/MISC neighbor!jk, bsf!jimin, accountant!oc software engineer!jk, jk and jimin are chaebols lol, minjoon boyfriends <<<<3, mature language, alcohol consumption, misogyny 🫤, club fight... but also lots of screaming into your pillow moments part 2, oc goes twenty different emptions in like..one hour (my babyy😖) and uhhhhhh the biggest warning of them all: jungkook pov and the ending😖

NOTES pls pretend you didnt see that post earlier,, it was a testament to my failure lets forget about it anyway WE ARE SOOOO SOO BACK!! hope you guys enjoy this one and as usual, let me know what you think and lets chat!!

[ SERIES MASTERLIST ] // [ MAIN MASTERLIST ]

“I’m coming home!” Were Jimin’s first words as soon as you answer his facetime invite. 

With eyes barely open, you push your face deeper in the plush of your pillows, groaning. 

“Jimin, it’s six am.” 

“And?” Jimin dismisses. “We ought to celebrate!” 

“I’m not even up yet.”

“So, you hate me.” 

You let out a grumble, this time snapping your eyes fully open to see Jimin’s brow arched your way, his attitude reaching you even when you're a thousand miles apart. Classic Jimin. 

“You’re a drama queen, and for the record, I got everything covered. Octagon, VIP area, 1 am. Dress slutty. Have fun, loosen up. Go crazy.” 

“O– kay ,” Jimin says, chuckling in amusement at your flat tone with your deadpanned face. “God, I just can’t wait to go back. You will not believe all of the shit I’ll be telling you once I get there.” 

You prop your phone on your nightstand and begin to stretch on your bed. “You better tell me you have Italian men’s IGs to refer to me.” you joke. Sleep is slowly starting to fade away from your system. Glancing at the wall clock from across the room, you take note it’s almost time to get ready for work.w

“Please,” he rolls his eyes. “As if you’re gonna respond when they do send you a DM.” 

That earns an abrupt laugh from you. “I do respond, though.” you giggle. You stand up from the bed, carrying the phone with you as you head to the living room to prepare your breakfast. 

“Babe, you’ve responded to two out of ten men I referred to you, and you ghosted two, by the way.” 

You look at him in shock. “What, you supported me!” 

“Still, though… ugh, the Wooseok guy still asks about you, by the way. It was literally so awkward when we met at that– I forgot, but it was a party.” 

You cringe internally, and it probably translates to your face because you hear Jimin laughing from the other side of the line. Shaking your head, you tell Jimin, “Nope– not gonna feel sorry. He was weird as fuck, and I genuinely think – still to this day – that he’s a fury.” 

Jimin’s expression morphs into distaste. “Yeah, no, I wouldn’t be surprised if that was true based on the stories you told me but I swear to you he felt like a normal person to me when we first met.” You and Jimin both gave each other a knowing smile; pursed lips and a scrunched nose, already getting where both your heads are at. But Jimin swerves to the next subject smoothly, “Anyway, I see your apartment’s all fixed, considering you’re there.” 

You light up at the mention and nod. Looking around, you can’t help the smile that spreads over your lips, thinking that finally, it’s all okay now. Like nothing even happened.

“Oh, yeah. It actually is.” you say, enthusiasm apparent in your voice.

“You know you could’ve stayed at my place, right?”

You give him a dismissive wave of your hand, despite smiling still, appreciating the offer regardless. You know you could’ve and that he wouldn’t have minded, but, “Yeah, no, I didn’t want to impose.”

That earns an instant eye roll from Jimin, followed by a scoff, “You’re literally my blood sister.”

“I know! But remember when I had to stay over at your place for three days earlier this year because of some gas leak…” you bring it up, “I swear this complex is out to get me.”

“You need to move out.”

The impassive look you give him is almost warranted.

“And you need to give me a new job for that.” 

Jimin snickers. “... which would be quite ironic because I don’t even have one in the first place.” 

You know it’s a bummer subject but since he mentioned it, anyway, you decide to ask, “How’s the training going, by the way? Pretty sure Ms. Lim has blown up your phone over the course of your absence.” Ms. Lim is the PR head of their company, and Jimin instantly sours at the mention of her name. 

With a grimace, he completely shuts down the subject. “I don’t even wanna talk about it.” 

You give him a sympathizing smile before Jimin picks up the conversation with a more not-so-bummer subject. He asked you how work has been, and he told you all about the places he and Namjoon went to in Italy. He asked about your thing with Taemu, and you could only give him a sheepish smile, one that he chastised you for because “how dare you keep slutty information from me!” . You almost feel bad because it wasn’t that at all, but because you didn’t want to dig deeper into your own grave, you decided to change the topic and talked about how you two are going to spend the night later on when you meet, and soon, you had to end the call so you can catch your bus. 

Jimin has always told you you’re a bad liar. You couldn’t lie even if your life depended on it. But you do it, anyway, even though many instances have already proved the notion right, and one of them presents itself now.

“Sol, I have a question.” You feel bad for your lip as you have to nibble on it for what seemed to be the nth time for the day, treading on your thoughts lightly as Sol turns to look at your side to acknowledge you.

She casts one last glance on her computer before saying, “Is it controversial?”

“Yes.”

“Okay, ask Junhwi,” that earns an eye roll from you instantly, making Sol snicker a quiet laughter. “Kidding. What is it?” 

You’re currently on your lunch break, and what’s the harm in talking about a few things in your head that’s been keeping you up all night these past few days?

“Okay…” you begin, making sure to look around and confirm nobody’s listening. They probably are not and couldn’t care less either. “So this happened to a friend.” you say, as if putting out a disclaimer, gauging Sol’s face for a reaction. 

There wasn’t much. She just raised an intrigued brow, “Uh-huh.”  

How do you even begin? 

“So… she’s kind of talking to this guy,” you start, furrowing your brows, actively thinking about your choice of words. Your friend hums and you continue, “Then one time, this guy sort of like– she’s not exactly sure, but he kind of… tried to kiss her?” You didn’t mean for that to sound so unsure.

With the way Sol’s brow has arched way more at that, you imagine she’s noticing your hesitance in speaking about this in the first place.

“How do you kind of try to kiss a person?”

“Like, they were hugging. Or whatever–” you try to not let yourself be too descriptive, but in the process of that, pictures of that night come flashing in your head. Against your better judgement, there’s heat that creeps up in your cheeks when you get your next words out, “The guy just, uh, swooped down for a kiss. I mean, he was supposed to go for a kiss. But then the girl– my friend– dodged it. So basically, nothing happened.” 

“Why? She doesn’t like him?” 

“That…” Sol probably didn’t mean to but she definitely catches your tongue with the question. You lean back, blinking at her. “I… hah . That’s the… thing. I think… she likes him. But she’s not sure. I think she’s having second thoughts… but to be honest I think she has a crush on the guy but she’s trying to pull herself away from it but then she can’t do it because things are starting to feel a little different.” You let out one heavy puff after you spit the monologue out in one breathing. If Sol was already looking at you weird a few seconds ago, you’re now convinced you’ve unknowingly grown another head behind you. But you continue anyway. “... what does all of that mean?”   

“O… kay,” She says, sounding a little uncertain. She turns her body to you now completely. With the way she scoots her chair closer to you, leaning forward and hunching to be in your earshot, you realize she’s actually just become more invested. “Babe, you have to walk me through this like I’m five. So you and this guy are talking, you have a crush on him, and then he tried to kiss you, but you dodged it. Right?”

“Yeah! Something like that–” and upon realizing that you walked into a trap without even that much effort coming from her, your eyes widen while your friend just grins at you like she knew that was coming. You shake your head vehemently. “Wait, no, no, no. It’s not me.” 

Sol rolls her eyes. Your shoulders deflate. 

You see, Jimin is always right about everything. When he told you you suck ass at lying and you should never try it, he was just looking out for you. And why are you so surprised when these past few weeks, all your lies have blown up right in your face? And at the most inconvenient times and places too, at that – if seeing Jungkook at Jimin’s mom’s birthday party and seeing him in your company’s elevator is anything to go by.

“Alright, it’s me.” you say with a defeated tone. 

Sol stares at you with her squinted eyes. “You whore. Who’s the guy?”

And how are you supposed to say it’s Jeon Jungkook, the one who’s like seven floors above you, the son of the president of the very company you’re currently working in right now, and the interim CTO as of the moment and then expect her to believe you? 

So you shrug, shaking your head. “It’s not anyone you know.”

“Well, thank god! I don’t know anyone who’s decent enough to date any of my friends!” You’re about to thank the heavens when you thought she wouldn’t dig too much into that, but then she adds, “Show me a pic.” She excitedly huddles closer to you, looking right at your phone on your desk.

Well, no. 

“Nah, that’s not relevant to the issue at hand. And… the whole thing’s not even serious–” A blatant lie, but you carry through, “And the… almost-kiss happened, like, two days ago and I’m still–” you cut yourself off with a pained groan, which makes Sol look at you with concern. You purse your lips into a thin line, then. “We were actually drinking at his place together. So we were both kind of drunk? Though that was me mostly. I’m thinking, maybe, I misjudged the whole thing or worse, I just imagined it.” 

“Don’t be ridiculous. That’s way too elaborate and your feelings about this feels way too real to just come from an imagination. You said he tried to kiss you, right?” She grazes you with a gentle nudge on the arm. 

“Maybe?” 

“What do you mean, maybe?”

“I don’t know. It was just weird. I swear he tried to kiss me, but I could be wrong. I couldn’t think of reasons for him to try to do that. And I don’t even know why I avoided it in the first place.” You say with a frown, and then sighing when you realize your own thought process doesn’t make any sense.

“Well, what happened after?” 

You grimace. “I told him we should probably sleep,” You remember him carrying you to his bedroom – and as per your shameless request, at that. You intentionally leave that out because even you cannot comprehend what it meant. Why did Jungkook do all that? And did he , really? Or you just somehow deluded yourself into thinking that there is more to his actions rather than what they really are on the surface? “He was just like… he laughed it off, then that was the last of it. I slept in his room alone, and the morning after, I went out because he wasn’t there anymore. Went to work early.”

Sol gasps. “Oh brother…”

Your heart begins to hammer at her tone.

“What.”

“He hasn’t reached out after that night?” 

You wince, and not because of what she thinks it’s for.

“He actually did,” Sol looks at you in question, rightfully so. You nibble on your bottom lip before elaborating, “So a few days before that happened, he bought me a couch cushion. And then he texted me if I wanted it because I didn’t bring it with me when I left his apartment.” 

You can see Sol’s confusion beginning to draw on her face. “I’m sorry, he bought you a what?”

“A cushion.”

It takes her a few seconds to form a response. “You know what, I’m not even gonna ask why. But you know what I’m very certain of right now?” 

“... what?”

“You should’ve married him on the spot.”

“What?”

Sol snickers an overjoyed laugh, clearly pleased with herself at your incredulous reaction. “No, it totally makes sense, trust me. But okay. Then what happened after? What did you say to his text?” You stare at each other for awhile, with Sol smiling brightly, obviously expecting you to say something good. You grind your teeth to avoid cringing as you brace yourself for what’s to come, and as if realizing that from your face, Sol frowns. “Oh my god, don’t tell me you haven’t replied to him!”

You can’t help but wince. “Would you hate me if I confirm that?”

“Oh my god.”

“Yeah…”

“Well, damn. I can’t help you.”

“Ugh…” You groan, bringing your palms to your cheeks, pouting at her, feeling sort of defeated at this point. 

Sol dramatically holds one hand out, giving it an upward flick as if to tell you you’re being ridiculous for not seeing a point so clearly soon. “Obviously, this guy likes you! That man wants to fuck you ten ways to Sunday but also wants to wife you up and pay your mortgage in straight cash as well as your water and electricity bills. And he’d most likely set up your nonexistent kids’ trust funds the first month into the marriage because he just wants to make sure.”

Your jaw drops. “Okay…? Now you’re doing too much.”

She rolls her eyes in response, as if what she said is a totally normal response.

“You’re dense, it’s crazy. You couldn’t think of a reason why he tried to kiss you? Listen, why would you want to kiss someone? Because you like them. Of course he likes you! And he asked you about the cushion because he probably didn’t want to bombard you with questions about what happened the previous night. It shows he still wants to keep whatever it is you have going on.”

You sigh, seeing her point. “I… know.”

“You don’t wanna make a move? I mean, you seem to really like him.” Sol says, looking at your face. You give her a slight nod, feeling that there’s no use denying that. 

But…

“I can’t, though.” you say, pursing your lips. 

Frowning, Sol tilts her head in genuine confusion. “Why?”

“Because he’s…” you try to think of any adjectives to describe Jungkook. He’s… charming. Kind. Smart. Funny, in his own little way. So down to earth. Handsome. Pretty. Tall. Really… big– muscly in all the right ways. But those things are not helpful to justify your case on why you don’t want to pursue… whatever it is you two have going on. Because as much as the sole memory of him holding your waist while he leaned down to your face caressing your cheeks in the way he softly did, his cologne wafting your senses into dysfunction, he’s still someone that you just can’t get involved with. “He’s just really out of my league.”

A few beats. Then, Sol raises her eyebrow.

“That’s it?” Sol asks, “That’s the big reveal?” 

“... Yeah?”

“Honey, a man can never be out of any woman’s league.” 

“I–” you crack a chuckle, rolling your eyes but smiling anyway. “I know what you mean. But he’s genuinely really out of an average person’s league, I’m telling you.”

“What, does he have a Nobel prize or something?”

You laugh, nudging Sol. She mirrors your laughter.

When you settle down into silence again, you tell her, “He’s a… he’s really nice and sweet, though he doesn’t have a Nobel prize–” you roll your eyes playfully when Sol laughs again. “But yeah, I don’t know. I’m still… confused about my own feelings. I’ve always had a crush on him ever since I first met him, and I just always kind of shrugged it off? But ever since that night… I’ve been feeling weird. And I haven’t talked to him, haven’t replied to any of his texts yet. You know how non confrontational I am and it gets really bad, but I just genuinely don’t know how to approach this. The whole thing is confusing.”

Sol gives you a sympathetic smile. “I get that.”

Nodding, you continue speaking your thoughts, “You know the thing about nice guys… it’s that, they’re so nice that you can’t figure out if you just put yourself into a deep psychosis where they care about you more than they do with other people. And it’s like, yeah, it’s nice that he’s sweet, but what if he’s just like that with everybody?”

“You mean you think he also tries to kiss everybody?” Sol quips.

You chuckle. She got you there. “Come on.”

“Okay, I’m sorry, I couldn’t help it!” Giving you a gentle pat on the shoulder, Sol gently says. “I think what you need to do right now is just be honest to yourself first. Really try to figure out if you like this guy romantically or not.”

“That’s the thing, I just genuinely don’t know. I like the idea, maybe?” 

She nods. “Then just enjoy the flow for the meantime? I do think there’s something in there, though.” 

“Really?” you didn’t mean to perk up at that but you did, anyway, making Sol smile, even though she doesn’t point that out.  

“Of course I won’t know completely. Unless you show me this guy…” 

You laugh, shaking your head. “I’m sorry about this gossip turned into bummer stuff. I know it’s depressing.” 

“I don’t mind,” She shrugs coolly. “You listen to my boy problems all the time. And Jimin can suck on my plastic dick but you’re my best friend too.” 

Your laughter becomes louder, but you tone it down just as instantly, slapping Sol lightly. 

“Anyway, speaking of the devil, he actually invited you to come along later. We’re going for drinks at the Octagon.”

“Ohh,” Sol says in intrigue. But then she pouts sadly. “I wanna go. But Junhwi and I have a thing later,” You’re quiet for a while. When Sol sees your expression– your very bad attempt at a neutral expression– she rolls her eyes, knowing what you’re probably thinking. “Don’t even start.”

“What! I didn’t even say anything.” 

“It’s a work thing.” 

“Sure.” 

“I don’t like the way you’re looking at me.” 

You laugh. “Whatever, Sol.” 

She rolls her eyes again. “Whatever, too. Drink your hearts out, by the way.” 

You shrug. “Nah, I’m probably not gonna drink that much.”

“Jimin, I’m starting to feel dizzy”

Jimin laughs, stepping closer to you while still swaying his body to the music playing in the club. He looks at the tequila in your hand – your third one for the night in the span of an hour… and thirty minutes? He tried to stop you from getting it, but you swore you can handle it and you can, you know you can, but maybe you’re not too sure about that anymore as you’re beginning to feel a little light on your feet.

“What happened to you saying you weren’t in the mood for drinking tonight?” He arches a brow. 

You groan, sounding more like a whine. “What’s up with these tequilas! If I get alcohol poisoning, is the club going to pay for it?” 

“They won’t. I’ll have to haul your ass to the ER myself.” 

“You can’t even do that because I know you’re three drinks away from tripping on your face.” 

Jimin rolls his eyes playfully. “No, I’m not. Unlike you I don’t have the tolerance of a freshman college girl,” He gets a hold of you when he’s closer, linking your arms together to guide you to your table, where you left Namjoon as per his insistence for you to enjoy yourselves on the dancefloor and catch up. Jimin said his boyfriend is actually leaving soon the next two days, so they’re making it count every hour, you guess. “Come on, I need to introduce you to someone. I’m pretty sure he’s arrived now.” 

You halt on your steps and look at Jimin alarmingly. “Who is it? I told you I’m hitting it off with Taemu these days.” The lie sits heavy on your tongue but Jimin calls bullshit right away.

“Is the hitting it off in the room with us when you just told me you literally do not care like just awhile ago?” 

You let yourself follow Jimin’s steps as you mumble, “Fine.”

Maybe the tequila had let your tongue slip that information. Great. Now you can’t use Taemu as a shield when Jimin asks about your lovelife.

But anyway, it’d be good, right? Meeting other people tonight? It’s been long since you dated somebody. And it would definitely be good for you if you talk to them as soon as now to forget certain things. Certain things like a certain somebody with the long, fluffy, brunette hair whose eyes speak the language of the moon and whose smile gives you the feeling of seeing ten puppies and twenty kittens all at once but at the same time makes you want to whip all your hair out because he casually does things like make your heart hammer in your chest at an abnormal pace by one, brief touch and then try to kiss you and laughs it off when you dodge it and tell him you’re sleepy. Like he doesn’t mind that you may want things to go… slow.    

But fuck. You’re supposed to avoid thinking about him. Not tonight. Not when Jimin’s apparently introducing you to somebody.

You’re not into rebounds or shit like that, and you’re not cruel to use somebody to move on from someone else – but maybe it’s only a matter of time before you dig your own grave too deep by prisoning yourself in the specific thoughts of a certain someone and you’d find it too late to move on.

So, yeah, it’d definitely be a good thing to meet and talk to other people right now.

And you’re sure whoever Jimin is having you meet with tonight is nice, anyway. 

From afar, you can see your table and the familiar figure of Namjoon’s figure facing towards your direction. You’re about to wave so he can see you and Jimin approaching but you notice another frame across his seat. Namjoon and the unknown person (who is judging from the back is definitely a man) is presumably the one Jimin is meaning to introduce you to, and your best friend mentions it right away beside you. 

“Oh, that’s him!” Jimin yelps, excitement filling his words. You look at him and before you realize it, you’re already near the table. You’re just about to ask who it is, forgetting to do so during your walk, when Namjoon suddenly gestures to you both in recognition; dimples showing even in the dim lighting as he smiles at you two. He glances back at the guy in front of him, who as a result, turns his body to look in your direction.

And what. The. Actual. Fuck.

How many times – how many fucking times are you going to see Jeon Jungkook in the most inconvenient places? 

Can you somehow make yourself disappear at the speed of light? Did Einstein ever figure that out and the US government just fabricated a lie that he implied that very act was contrary to the law of Physics so people don’t attempt it? 

Because as of now, you could have used that trick. 

Jungkook looks stricken in his seat for a solid beat until Jimin comes crashing into him, greeting the man enthusiastically.

“Jeon Jungkook, the man himself!” Jimin says, spreading open his arms, grinning widely. You can see Namjoon smiling at both of them, and you watch as Jungkook stands up from the couch to meet Jimin’s half-hug. Jimin pulls back a little. “I thought you wouldn’t make it tonight.” 

Jungkook chuckles, giving Jimin a light pat on the back. “Nah,” he says with a grin. “I wanted to make time to see you.” You try not to linger on the way his biceps subtly flex under the slim long-sleeve tee he’s wearing, its sleeves pushed up to his elbows, revealing a hint of the veins tracing his forearms. It draws your attention to your ensemble – a sparkly cropped halter top that leaves much of your midriff exposed, paired with a mini skirt. You’ve seen each other in towels before, sure, but somehow, being around each other like this feels different… no?

“This is __,” Jimin says, gesturing to you and looping an arm through yours to pull you closer. “You know her.” 

Your eyebrow shoots up, and you instantly look at Jimin in quiet surprise. Before you can say anything, Jungkook lets out a deep chuckle. The sound drawls your gaze back to him, and for a second, your eyes meet. 

“I’m Jungkook, by the way,” he extends a hand towards you. His voice is… quite charming when he adds, “I heard a lot about you.”

You hesitate for a moment before taking his hand, unsure if it’s just the alcohol coursing through your system or something else entirely, but the second his sizable hand engulfs yours; a warmth shoots straight to your cheeks. His grip is firm yet gentle.

You swear the handshake lingers a beat too long. 

“Good things, I hope?” you quip, managing a small smile despite the odd flutter in your chest. 

“Lots of good things.” Jungkook replies with a nod, his gaze steady. 

“Yeah?”

His eyes don’t waver, and somehow, you find yourself holding his stare longer than you intended until he arches a brow slightly, the subtle expression earning a small, involuntary tug on your lips. Jungkook doesn’t miss that and mirrors the gesture just as indiscreetly, head dipping in a barely-there nod to respond to you. 

“Yeah.”

“I’m glad, then,” You turn to look at Jimin to avoid letting the moment stretch further, unintentionally picking your voice up an octave higher – a small nervous habit because there was something that flashed on Jimin’s face witnessing both your and Jungkook’s interaction. “Anyway, I’m so glad we finally met! Jimin’s always mentioned you to me and all that stuff. Hey, Jimin, this is great! Joon, you guys know each other?” You say, desperate to divert the attention and glancing at Namjoon. 

He nods with an easy-going smile. “Yeah, we went to the same post-grad uni together in Cali.” 

Jimin perks up and slides over beside Namjoon, who immediately drapes an arm around him in a half-hug, letting him lean against his shoulder. “Jungkook’s actually the one who introduced us.” Jimin says, glancing fondly at Namjoon.

You blink in surprise. “Really?” Awkward as you may feel about the whole thing, you’re also genuinely surprised about the new information. You think you remember Jimin saying somebody introduced someone to him when he and Namjoon started, but you didn’t think it was his cousin.

“Yep,” Jimin nods, and Namjoon chuckles softly beside him.

The two of them are now comfortably seated on the couch, leaving the only open spot directly across from them. Before you can decide whether to sit or keep standing, Jungkook gestures subtly toward the available seat, his expression unreadable. You step forward hesitantly, only to realize he’s following right behind you.

Suddenly, you’re hyper-aware of his proximity. Fuck. Even though he isn’t sitting that close, the scent of his cologne – clean, warm, and annoyingly alluring – wraps around you like a second presence. Why does he always have to smell good? You try not to fidget as you glance back at Jimin.

Your best friend grins as he leans on his elbows, looking between you and Jungkook. “I’ve always wanted you two to meet, you know? This is perfect! I was trying to keep it a surprise.” 

“Oh, it’s a surprise alright.” you mutter, forcing a laugh. 

“Pleasantly surprised.” Jungkook adds, his tone light, though the way his lips quirked upward makes your heart race.

Jimin laughs and there’s a tinge of evilness to it, and you know full well he did this intentionally.  Why, you don’t even know. He’s just like that for no reason. You’re gonna kill him. 

“You’re still staying at Hannam, right, Jungkook?” Jimin asks suddenly.

You freeze on the spot, and you hope no one notices.

Jungkook takes a moment before answering, his voice calm and casual. “Yes, still there. Why?” 

Wait… what?

Jimin nods. “Surprised you’re managing there. Thought you wouldn’t last a month.” 

Namjoon laughs. “Yeah, Yoongi hates that place.”

Beside you, Jungkook lets out a soft laugh. “Nah, it’s fine for now.”

You glance at him out of the corner of your eye, trying not to let your surprise show. He’s lying – and you know you told him straight up to not tell Jimin about you two knowing each other yet, but you didn’t know he’d make good on his promise. It’s a small thing, but it makes your chest tighten in ways you’re not ready to unpack.

Surprisingly, the conversation starts to flow easily among the four of you. Jungkook asks Namjoon about his work in Italy, and at first, you find it hard to engage in it casually because you can’t shrug off the fact that you’re in such a casual setting with your co-worker– and not just a regular co-worker at that, but an executive at your company; but the relaxed atmosphere starts to chip away at your tension. Jimin cracks a joke, breaking any unease, and soon you’re laughing along, listening as he shares his own experiences in Italy as well. Jungkook jumps in with his own joke you can’t even recall now, and the sound of his laugh is infectious enough to make you smile.

Switching between fruit punch and water helps ease the lingering buzz of tequila in your system, though it doesn’t fully clear your head.

“Fuck,” Jimin suddenly hisses, grabbing everyone’s reaction. “Need to go to the bathroom.”

The words feel like confetti in your ears; the sun is up again, and the gates of heaven open upon you.

“I’ll come with you!” You blurt out, sounding overly enthusiastic. You feel the stares of Jungkook and Namjoon but you choose to ignore them, focusing on Jimin instead. 

Your best friend sends you a suspicious look, but after a pointed stare and a forced smile on your end, he relents. “Alright.” 

When you stand up, you make a misstep and you stumble a little on your feet. 

Concerned sounds erupt from both Namjoon and Jimin, but before they can do anything, an arm shoots up around your waist, with another one wrapping around your wrist to steady you. 

It’s Jungkook. The warmth that suddenly surrounds your skin is Jungkook – seated by the edge of the same couch you’re on, he managed to quickly catch you mid-fall.

“Here.” He murmurs, almost a whisper, helping you stand up straight. 

You blink, stunned at the warmth that envelopes you at that moment.

“T-thanks.” you stammer when he lets go, the sudden absence of his touch leaving your skin colder than you expected. You shake off the feeling, glancing at Namjoon and Jimin to gauge their reactions, but they just look like usual when they see you’re okay. 

“It’s fine,” Jungkook smiles gently, sipping from his drink. A non-alcoholic beer, you suppose. He gestures to the cleared space in front of him, and you awkwardly stand up, taking a few steps while trying not to graze him. He’s polite enough to avert his gaze, sparing you further embarrassment when you quite literally have the front of your body going all up on his face while you maneuver past the table. 

“Careful next time!” Jimin teases lightheartedly, interlocking his arms around you when you get near him. “We’ll be right back.” he adds, glancing at the guys as you both walk away.

Once you’re out of earshot, you pull Jimin at a corner and grab his arm tightly.  “Oh my god, Jimin,” You start, looking around one more time. “That was my freaking boss!” 

As if not understanding the weight of the situation, Jimin rolls his eyes. “He’s not your boss, he’s just some guy.” 

“Some guy who happens to be an executive at the company I work in? This is the most awkward night of my life!” 

“Babe, I know that. But just try not to think so much about it. It’s just Jungkook – we’re all out here as friends. You and he didn’t meet here as coworkers or whatever. It’s not a big deal.”

“To you , but to me this is just… not…” you trail off, fishing for the right word. “.... appropriate.” 

A groan escapes Jimin’s mouth at that, and you know your wording was a bit exaggerated but you can’t help it. This whole thing is insane. You can’t believe you’re meeting and you’re hanging out with Jungkook in the presence of his cousin who also happens to be your best friend. 

“Okay, you know what? Try to think about it like this: that guy right there–” he points to the general direction of your table, then looks at you seriously in the eyes. “That’s not your interim CTO. That’s just a guy I grew up with very closely who I used to order around when he was a baby.” 

“Jimin.” you roll your eyes at him.

He insists. “No, really, that’s true! Just think of him as some sort of friend, please? I’ve been really wanting for you guys to meet and anyway, it seems like you like him and he likes you! Why worry about anything?” He takes your wrists and gives you the best puppy eyes ever he always sports when he wants something, and this time you let out a defeated sigh.

Thinking of Jungkook as Jimin’s younger cousin does help put things into perspective– it’s a bit of mental gymnastics, sure, but it works. Suddenly, the idea of meeting him in a nightclub doesn’t seem so strange. And you really do appreciate Jimin’s excitement about your meeting. After all, as he put it, having his Favorite Person On Earth (which, according to a very reliable source: you) and his Favorite Cousin meet is a big deal for him.  

“Okay, fine. But just know if this happens to you – like imagine meeting up with Ms. Lim at a nightclub – I’ll be laughing at your damn face.” 

Jimin snickers a laugh, and you both continue your way to the restroom. 

“But you know what I think?” he suddenly says, breaking the silence.

You raise a brow at him in curiosity. “What?”

He grins mischievously. “What you said earlier – it’s inappropriate but hear me out. Jungkook is exactly your type.”

“Excuse me, what? ”

“No, okay, listen!” He raises his palms as if to plead his case and begins listing every trait that apparently aligns Jungkook with your type. “He’s a tech guy. He would usually wear glasses – and don’t even try to deny again that you don’t have a thing for it, girl – and he’s objectively attractive, as far as straight men go.” 

With every word, your jaw drops a little more.

“What are you even talking about?” You ask, utterly dumbfounded.

Jimin squints at you, feigning suspicion. “He has my genes, __, you don’t think he’s attractive?” 

“First off,” you start, rolling your eyes, “that would mean I find you attractive, which is gross and absolutely not true. You’re like my brother,” Jimin only laughs, clearly entertained, so you double down. “Second I don’t exclusively date tech guys, okay? Jesus Christ. And I definitely don’t have a thing for men in eyeglasses. What is wrong with you.” 

Jimin just stands there, squinting his eyes more at you with that infuriatingly inquisitive expression. You do your best to hold a neutral face under his scrutiny.

“You got that pondering look,” Jimin concludes with a victorious smirk. “You’re totally thinking about it!”  

You gasp, scandalized. “You’re unbelievable, Jimin. That’s your cousin and my boss!–”

He bursts out into laughter. “I’d say something about how defensive you’re getting, but I’m too drunk and really need to pee.”

You swat at his arm, following his steps anyway. “You’re such a bitch sometimes, you know that?” 

Your best friend throws you a teasing glance. “For the record, Jungkook’s only thirty. Not that old, in case you were wondering.”

“Oh my god, for the last time, I am not thinking about your cousin!” You swear you’re gonna kill him, and then yourself. 

“Boohoo. What, you can’t date your friend’s relatives?” Jimin muses with a teasing tone.

“Yes, Jimin, it’s called boundaries,” you snap. Jimin still wouldn’t drop the malicious gaze, making you groan. Just how far is the restroom here? “Seriously, that’s completely unethical. I would never date any relative of yours, let alone if they’re my boss.”

Jimin starts cackling, clearly enjoying how worked up you are. “ Unethical ? Come on, you’re gonna get punished for premarital sex, anyway. Might as well date your boss while you’re at it.”

You hate that he’s so damn funny, even when he’s being a complete pain. Despite yourself, you can’t help but laugh at his ridiculous retort.

“Fuck off. I hope your bladder explodes.” you mutter.

Jimin’s laughter echoes around you, but finally, the restroom comes into view.

“Relax,” he says between chuckles. “I’m only joking. Jungkook h—”

Before he can finish, someone barrels into you – quite hard that you almost fall on your feet.

Instinctively, you let out a hurried, “Oh! I’m so sorry—” 

“Watch where you’re fucking going, bitch.”

The words take a second to register. Your shoulder throbs where they collided with you, but before you can react, Jimin steps forward.

“Excuse me?” your best friend snaps, his tone sharp.

The stranger doesn’t miss a beat, sneering as he looks you up and down. His gaze lingers far too long on your chest, making your stomach churn. 

“I said what I said.” he replies, completely unapologetic.

“Hey, that’s not cool, man. Just apologize to her, you hit her pretty hard.” Jimin says, positioning himself slightly in front of you as though to shield you from the man.

“What are you, her boyfriend?” The man scoffs. “The little princess slut needs her knight and shining armor—” 

Your patience snaps. “What the hell did you just call me?” You demand, stepping around Jimin.

The man smirks and takes a step closer. “What are you gonna do about it, slut?”

Jimin grabs your arm, trying to hold you back.

“Back off, man. I’m calling security.”

The tension in the air crackles, and you can feel the adrenaline surging in your veins. “Let go, Jimin,” you mutter, pulling free from his grip. You take a step forward, looking the man dead in the eye. “You think I’m scared? You get all up in our personal space calling me names and you think we’ll run for our lives after, huh?”

You watch as the smugness gets wiped out of his face instantly. He doesn’t form a response right away, just gawks at you as if he can’t believe you’re facing him off. Your brows shoots up at him.

This is the problem with assholes. They think they can intimidate you, especially men, but when confronted, they go back to their shells looking dumb as fuck. 

“You slut. Do you know who I am?” The man raises his hand, shoving your shoulder hard enough to make you stagger.

At this point, you’re fuming. What the fuck is this guy’s problem? 

Before you can retaliate, Jimin lunges forward, pushing the man back, just as he forceful as he did to you. “Don’t fucking touch her!” Jimin yells, his voice rising above the growing murmur of the crowd. “This is straight-up harassment and you can fuck off when the security kicks you out of here. Fuckin’ pussy.” With that, Jimin tugs your arm, already turning on his heel to go to the opposite reaction, ready to leave. But all of a sudden, the other guy goes for a punch, and it lands right on Jimin’s cheek. 

You gasp audibly.

Onlookers get more intrigued, and you don’t have it in you to think straight when your brain decides to go in between two men fighting. In the hopes of getting Jimin out of the way, you step in only to get elbowed on the jaw by the stranger when your best friend swings at the guy back; your reflexes not fast enough to avoid it

You can’t focus on the pain when panic arises upon the growing scene before you.  

“Jimin, stop!” You exclaim, trying to grab the back of his shirt. But the stranger only retaliates, and the whole thing is starting to blow out of proportion. 

“Hey! What is going on here?” 

You whip around to see Namjoon striding toward the commotion, his expression a mix of concern and frustration. Relief floods through you as he reaches you just in time to pull Jimin away. Two security guards arrive on the scene, stepping between Jimin and the man to break up the fight.

“What is your problem, man?” Namjoon scowls at the guy, wrapping his arm around Jimin. You hurry to them and help him assist your best friend, holding his shoulder.  

“Ask him and that fucking girlfriend of his. It’s that bitch’s fault! Do you even fucking know who I am?” 

Your eyes widen at the accusation. 

You gape at him, incredulous. “Are you kidding me? You ran into me, started cussing me out, shoved me two times and punched my frie—” 

“Enough!” one of the security guards cuts in, his tone firm. He turns to the man. “Mr. Yang, please step aside so we can sort this out.”

Jungkook appears just then, his gaze scanning the scene with confusion. “What the hell happened here?”

“Jungkook.” you sigh at the sight of him, getting a second rush of relief upon seeing both him and Namjoon here.

Jungkook steps closer to you, looks at your state, and instinctively hovers an arm around your waist, concern growing on his face. “Are you okay?” 

“I’m fine,” you say quickly, glancing at Jimin. “But he’s not.”

“Jimin got into a fight,” Namjoon explains, his voice tight. “I’m taking him to the hospital. Can you handle this?”

Jimin groans in Namjoon’s arms. “Oh my god, Joon, I’m literally fine—” Jimin rolls his eyes when his boyfriend only looks at him with a deepened frown. 

Namjoon looks at Jungkook again. “Can you take care of this for me, Kook? I’ll drive both of us to a hospital nearby. __, I’ll take Jimin there first before driving you home. Is that okay?” 

Although not unusual, your eyes widen at the offer. You quickly shake your head to decline. 

“Oh, no. It’s fine. I’ll grab a taxi or something… just please take Jimin to the hospital first.” 

“Don’t be silly, it’s dangerous–” Before Jimin could say the words, Jungkook speaks.

“I’ll take her,” All three of you look at him and he doesn’t even faze. “I took my car and I didn’t drink tonight so I’m okay to drive. __, just tell me your address.” 

Your head shakes vehemently. You’ve already been a big nuisance thanks to that asshole back there who’s talking with security.

“It’s okay, Jungkook. I really don’t want to bother–” 

“It’s not safe for you to be alone right now, __,” he says with a frown, and he sounds so sincere that it makes you bite your lip to prevent saying any protest again. He does have a point. “Joon, you can go. We’ll talk it out with security in the meantime.” 

“Alright, thanks, man.” Namjoon pats his shoulder. “Take care of her, okay? She drank a lot.” He informs Jungkook who just nods. And then off they go after Namjoon talked for a while with the other security.

You want to face-palm yourself. 

Soon, a man in uniform approaches you and Jungkook. As if in reflex, Jungkook steps closer to you. 

“Mr. Yang said you said some – what he called, “abusive language” – to him, Miss. Is that true?” 

Your eyebrows crease in confusion as you look at “Mr. Yang” in disbelief. 

“No, I didn’t. He was the one who started calling me names and swung at my friend first.” You defend, upset.

The security just looks over at you impassively with an almost monotonous voice, as if talking to you is a nuisance and taking too much of his time. “He said your friend threw the first punch. Mr. Yang is a valued customer—” 

“I’m sorry, but aren’t I and my friend customers too? We–”

“There’s no going around it, miss. Your friend started a fight and you initiated a commotion which is prohibited in this place, especially in the VIP area. Mr. Yang is currently talking to his lawyers to press charges against you and your friend.” 

Press what now?

“Press charges?” Jungkook can’t help but butt in. He changes his stance beside you and you see exactly how the security backs off a little, the boredom on his face while talking to you seconds ago slipping when Jungkook continues to say, “Did you hear what she said? Mr. Yang started the fight with verbal intimidation and made it physical. The other guy, her friend, just retaliated. How are you purposefully glossing over that detail?”

“Sir, Mr. Yang just told the story–” 

“You mean his side of the story. Aren’t you supposed to ensure everyone’s safety here? Or does being a valued customer excuse harassment and violence?”

The security completely falters under Jungkook’s stare and words.

And you grow livid. 

“Excuse me, sir,” You start, stepping out to get closer to him. You keep your voice leveled when you speak further, “I’m gonna tell you this more time. He, Mr. Yan or whatever his name is, started the whole thing. He bumped into me hard and I have the shoulder pain to prove you that. I said sorry, even though he should’ve said it too, but then he didn’t and started to cuss me out instead and called me names . My friend stepped in because he was trying to intimidate me physically and verbally. He threw the first punch, and my friend just retaliated,” you said with conviction, not shaking even once. When the security opens his mouth to say something, you beat him to it. “And tell your valued customer that if he wants to press charges, I’ll be speaking to my lawyer, too. And I’ll be filing a complaint against this establishment for failing to handle the situation appropriately.”

You don’t look back as you turn on your heel and head straight to your table. Jungkook’s footsteps follow closely behind, and you hear him call your name, but you don’t acknowledge it. Instead, you grab your purse and head toward the stairs leading to the ground floor, your mind set on leaving.

It’s been a long time since you felt so blatantly underestimated by a man. It happens at work occasionally, but having a woman supervisor helps that situation a bit. Still, though, you can’t help but be bitter whenever it happens. No matter how vocal you are, no matter how often you advocate for yourself, there’s a grim inevitability to it. They’ll still see you as less, as though your words carry less weight, your stance holds less power.

The thought burns at you, frustration rising like a heat wave under your skin, and there’s a dull sense of helplessness that settles heavily in your chest.

“__, hey. Stop walking so fast.” You hear Jungkook say behind you but despite his words, he still manages to catch up. 

“You can go, Jungkook. I’m calling a taxi.” You say, voice leveled. You know it’s irrational but you can’t get out of your head the image of the security backing off when Jungkook began speaking to him. As if his opinion matters more than yours. The anger is misplaced, you know, but you just need a little bit of space. 

“I told Jimin I’ll take you home, so I’ll take you home.” Jungkook insists and his voice is firm as well, but there’s softness around the edges. You feel it in the way he gently takes ahold of your wrist to halt you from walking. At this point, you’re already outside the establishment. 

“I don’t want your help.” 

He physically recoils, and you feel instantly bad just right after you say it.

Okay, maybe that was too much of an overreaction. 

Still, though, while Jungkook lets go of your hand, he doesn’t relent. 

“I’m not trying to be insistent for no reason, __. I want to take you home because you’re drunk and I don’t know if you’re safe especially when a guy just harassed you back there.” 

Pressing your lips into a thin line, you turn your gaze away, feeling the telltale tremble in your body that comes right before tears. Your eyes sting faintly at the corners, but you force a sharp, steady breath into your lungs. As much as it stings to admit it, Jungkook has a point.

You’re surprised you’ve managed this far with your mind clouded by too much tequila. And while you keep telling yourself you’re not afraid of that jerk back there, the thought of walking out alone at this hour leaves a knot of unease in your chest.

Turning on your heel, you avoid Jungkook’s eyes when you look at his general direction and say, “Okay.” 

“Okay,” he repeats, gauging your face. “My car is right there.” He says, pointing toward the opposite direction. 

The walk to the parking lot is quiet and tense, so to speak. You avoid walking beside Jungkook and he may have understood that you want space in the meantime, as he lets himself walk ahead of you, only looking back occasionally to check if you’re still following. 

When you get inside the car, Jungkook begins the engine as soon as you both settle yourselves in your seats.

“I’m sorry.” He suddenly says in the middle of the road. 

You look at him, eyebrows furrowed. “For what?” 

“I’m just sorry.” 

You let out a sigh.

He’s just trying to be there for you, for some reason. He doesn’t need to, but somehow he does.

You look away, fixing your gaze at the scene on the window pane. “I’m just… I just feel angry. That asshole was calling me all sorts of uninspired, misogynistic names and even pushed me twice. And then the security came to me with that bored expression and impassive tone telling me all about that guy pressing charges, not even bothering to hear me out, completely negating me, then you stepped in and suddenly he’s scared? Apparently, your words matter more than mine, and all because I don’t have a fucking penis. How fucking stupid,” You say in one breathing frustration reeking. You take a sharp breath again and massage your temple. “I’m sorry. I don’t mean– it’s not your fault, Jungkook. You don’t have anything to be sorry for. I’m… being mean and taking everything out on you. I just… the whole thing was just really fucked up and men irritate me.” 

Jungkook glances at you and back at the road again. “I… understand. I’m still sorry for stepping in. I didn’t mean for it to look like I was… doing things for you. I was just really surprised when he said the guy is pressing charges.” 

You throw your head back on the seat. “I know. I’m sorry. I didn’t… think you were trying to be a hero or anything. It’s just really annoying when men only listen to men. It’s fucked up.” 

He hums. “Do you wanna press charges? You can also file a lawsuit. You could.”

“A lawsuit? We’re gonna end up in civil court and I’m most probably going to lose. When I said earlier I’m talking to my lawyers, that means all the law students I barely know of in my department,” you think that was funny, but Jungkook just looks at you for awhile with furrowed brows.

Okay, well, no that was not really funny. It was quite depressing.

“If you want, and I don’t want you to take this the wrong way– I can help you with it. Get you a lawyer or something. He also assaulted Jimin, so you definitely have a case.” Jungkook says as if he’s offering you some street food along a store you passed by randomly. You notice the caution in his voice though, the way he worded his suggestion, completely putting it out as if it’s up to your choice. 

You appreciate that. You don’t like it when people step in for you, fight your battles for you . You have a backbone of your own and you can defend yourself in most circumstances – and you believe Jungkook’s pure intentions of just… offering some kind of… genuine help. Because he’s your friend and you would do this to a friend as well.

It’s not charity, you tell yourself.   

“Thanks… I’ll tell you when… I want it.” You offer him a small smile. 

“You sure?” You nod your head. Jungkook doesn’t look like he’s entirely convinced, but he drops the subject anyway. “Alright.” 

The car ride was as quiet as it could be, and the stillness of dawn makes you think about the turn of events earlier. It wasn’t ideal, the way everything turned out. You don’t feel any ounce of remorse about what you said to that asshole because he deserved it for being a dick unprovoked, but too much alcohol clouded your judgment and you and Jimin could’ve acted… entirely differently in the situation.

As you rest your head on the window again, you feel a pang of regret. 

It’s always so… hard to deal with the consequences of your actions. There’s a part of you who wishes you didn’t throw more wood into the flame leading to the fight. Some part is guilty of bringing Jimin into a physical fight. Then, there’s embarrassment. 

You’re not a violent person and you try to stray away from violence overall if you can help it. While Jimin has always been protective over you especially when you go out at night for obvious reasons, you rarely get into physical fights. It didn’t help that Namjoon was there, too. As well as Jungkook. The two knew you both drank a lot, especially you. Jungkook was there beside you when you were flatly getting negated by the security, getting threatened by pressed charges for being unruly. 

It was embarrassing. And even more so when you snapped at him moments ago, despite him doing nothing wrong.

You feel like absolute shit. 

“Sorry you had to deal with… all of that.” You murmur, swallowing the lump in your throat.

Jungkook’s voice, laced with genuine confusion, cuts through your thoughts. “What?”

“For everything, I guess,” you continue, forcing a smile that feels off. “Bet you didn’t expect to drive a drunk woman home after she and her best friend got into a fight.” It sounds like a joke, but it’s a hollow one. Every moment with him tonight feels like you’ve just embarrassed yourself over and over.

You hadn’t realized how close you were to your complex until Jungkook suddenly stopped in the familiar parking lot. You’re about to unbuckle your seatbelt, but your head’s a little dizzy, and you fumble with it a little. Just as you start to move again, Jungkook speaks.

“I don’t mind doing anything for you, __. I hope you know that by now.”

The words stop you mid-motion, and you glance up at him, regretting it immediately. His gaze is intense, and no matter how much you will yourself to look away, you can’t. He lowers his eyes to your hands before leaning in slightly, unbuckling your seatbelt from your waist down with ease. His scent fills the air, making your breath catch in the briefest of moments. “Wait for me.”

You’re a little confused but stay still as Jungkook gets out of the car and walks around. When he opens the passenger door, he offers you his hand. “Can you walk just fine?

You don’t know how you manage to form an answer somehow. “I– yeah. Sure,” you stand up from your seat and get out of his car, but despite your words, you feel the gentle pressure of Jungkook’s hand on your lower back, guiding you. Nibbling on your bottom lip, you mumble a soft, “Thanks.” 

He hums in response. 

The walk to your apartment isn’t long, but it felt like it dragged on forever with Jungkook so close by your side. The chilly air didn’t help either when you’re not exactly dressed for it. When a gust of strong wind blew, you felt yourself shiver, and Jungkook must have noticed because, without a second thought, his arm moved closer, closing the hairsbreadth gap of his skin and yours, now wrapping around your waist to shield you from the cold. 

You didn’t expect it, and neither did he. 

He makes a move to pull away, about to put distance between you, but when you glance at him, maybe with a hint of alarm or desperation, he seems to understand. Jungkook keeps his arm around you as you both continue walking.

Did your face scream “Please don’t take your hands off me” ? Because even now, as you’ve arrived at your apartment, taking the steps towards your apartment units, he still doesn’t let go.

Even when you reach your porch, his arm is still there, holding you close.

“We’re here,” you say to break the silence. You look up at him, and you spent the entirety of the last five minutes or so trying to avoid looking in his direction that you just now discovered he’s been sporting an easy-going look on his face, as if the whole thing is as… natural as it gets. “T-thanks for driving me home, Jungkook.”

He nods, “You’re welcome.” 

You take a step back, and just as the distance grows between you, you feel a strange hesitation, as though part of you doesn’t want the moment to end. Jungkook’s hand lingers for a second longer on your back, like he doesn’t want to let go either.

You give him a small, reluctant smile, and he returns it just as gently, looking so serene with his casual fit and his soft hair, hands now buried in the pockets of his jeans. His presence feels magnetic like neither of you is ready to say goodbye yet.

“Good night,” you say, giving a timid wave.

“Sweet dreams, __.” He smiles, and the sound of his chuckle makes your heart flutter. It’s so light, so easy – like everything feels right in this moment. Like everything that happened earlier was merely not part of reality. He makes you feel so… safe and warm. 

God, have you seriously deluded yourself into thinking you didn’t like this man in a very non-platonic way? 

You turn, about to reach for your keys, but then you hear his voice again, calling your name. You almost spin around too quickly, feeling a bit embarrassed by the sudden motion.

It’s like you were completely expecting him to just call you.

Your eyes meet his in a gentle stare, his voice soft and warm like honey when he asks, “Can I come inside?”

Jungkook asks, letting the words slip out before he can second-guess them. He’s been bothered since the car ride – by the way your jaw flexed, the way your fingers kept pressing into your shoulder like it ached. You never said anything, of course. You wouldn’t. 

Of course you wouldn’t. Jungkook knows by now that you don’t particularly like it when you’re being… doted on.

But still. It’s late – around 3 a.m. and creeping into morning – and he doesn’t think he’ll be able to sleep knowing you’re the least bit comfortable.

He just wants to know if you’re okay.

You open your mouth to speak, but then suddenly, a clink echoes in the quiet of the dawn over the complex.

“Wha– aw!” You wince as your keys slip through your fingers, landing directly on your foot with a dull thud.

“Hey,” Jungkook automatically sinks down on one knee to pick up the keys, arm shooting right up around your waist to keep you grounded when he saw you were about to trip. His brows knit together as he looks up at you, wincing in discomfort. “You okay?” 

You lift your foot slightly, balancing yourself against his shoulder. “Yeah, I’m fine— just buzzed. Sorry,” you mumble, but the words slur together. Jungkook had noticed you’d been drinking way before he arrived at the club, but now he realizes just how hard you’d been fighting off the dizziness. “I need to get out of these shoes.”

Jungkook stands back up on his feet, handing you the keys. He stays close, keeping his arm around you, hovering just enough to catch you if you fall out of balance again. 

He watches as you try to unlock the door, but your fingers fumble over the keys, switching between them absentmindedly. With each failed attempt, your frustration grows, your huffs becoming more pronounced. Jungkook waits patiently, standing beside you, until he hears it—

A sob. 

“I’m sorry,” your voice trembles. “I–I can’t find my keys,” you try to get the words out in between your silent cry, and Jungkook is so surprised to see the tears dropping down your cheeks that he doesn’t fully process the whole thing together. “And— and my jaw and my shoulder and my toes hurt. And I’m drunk. I don’t know. I’m really—” you’re interrupted by another snob, so you quickly wipe away at your eyes, turning away from Jungkook. “I’m really drunk.” 

Jungkook gently calls your name, and he doesn’t know what comes over him. It almost felt like reflex when he reached for your face, cupping your cheeks; your tears wetting the palm of his hands. Jungkook catches them with his thumbs before more of them even fall, your skin warm beneath his touch. When you look up at him, your glassy eyes reflect the soft glow of the streetlights, and you look so heartbreakingly sad that Jungkook feels an almost physical pain to his gut. 

“It’s okay,” he murmurs. “Let’s get you inside, yeah? I’ll take care of the rest. Do you want me to do it for you?” He doesn’t expect it, but you nod your head, quietly sniffing when Jungkook continues to wipe your tears with his thumbs, soothing you in the best possible way he knows he can. 

You hand him the keys, and his fingers linger against your cheek just a second longer before he turns to the door, finding the right key with ease. He doesn’t say anything about your tears, doesn’t press you to explain. You wouldn’t want to tell him things right now, not when you’re obviously feeling quite… vulnerable. He doesn’t know if it’s just all your mixed up feelings dwindling down into sadness – because you did go through a lot tonight. 

Jungkook has never seen you cry before, but when he saw the tears falling from your eyes, it left a dull ache that settled deep within his chest. You’re always so full of life, so quick to smile, to joke, to fill the space around you with something bright and wonderful. Seeing you like this, shaken and unguarded, stirs something deep in him. Something instinctive.

So he knows by now you don’t like getting taken care of, in a way, but Jungkook lets himself act on the want  and need to do it, anyway. Even if you pull back away from him again the next day. At least he gets to be sure you’re okay. 

He unlocks the door and looks back at you.

“Thank you, Jungkook.” Your voice is steadier now, in Jungkook’s relief, but your tear-streaked cheeks still twist something inside him.

“It’s fine,” Jungkook says softly and keeps a careful arm around your waist when you push open the door, seeing that you’re still walking a little wobbly. He watches you closely, especially your shoulders and face. “Your body still hurts?”

You give him a small, tired smile. “Uhm, I think it’ll go away soon. But I need to ice my jaw.”

When you cross over the threshold, you pause, hesitating.

Jungkook was just about to ask you if you really want to let him in because you didn’t explicitly say he could – but when you turn back to look at him, your eyes are clouded with worry. “Please don’t judge me if my place is messy and if I pass out because again, I’m really drunk. It’s not super obvious right now but I already cried in front of you for no particular reason and I’m embarrassed about that so if you want to, you can totally just leave and I won’t bother you ever again. I’m sorry that you had to do all this. This all seems like a huge bother and I’m taking so much of your time—”

Jungkook blinks.

“__.” 

The way you jumped from one thing to another, the way your eyes darted everywhere but his – it’s a dead giveaway. Drunk you is a whole rollercoaster, and Jungkook doesn’t even try to fight the small, exasperated smile tugging at his lips.

God, he just… he just wants to hold you through it all.

“It’s okay,” his voice is warm. “Don’t be sorry, hm?” 

You bite your lip and it takes you a while to respond before you say, “... Okay.” 

The living room welcomes you both and Jungkook takes a quick look, smiling at the sight.

“You have a nice place.” 

“I know,” your voice is thick with the remnants of the night, your steps slightly uneven as you move towards the couch. “It was even nicer before, but they had to repair it a week ago because of the…” you trail off, distracted, your fingers fumbling with the strap of your heel as you settle down.  

Jungkook nods understandingly, quietly watching. He sees you maneuvering your legs to better see your shoes, and the action makes your skirt ride up, catching his attention for a split second. He decides to redirect his focus. 

“You have ice?”

“Freezer,” You murmur, lips pressed into a thin line and brows furrowed in frustration. You let out a small hiss when the strap doesn’t successfully come off your ankle. Jungkook can tell you’re distracted, even when you add, “Oh, you don’t have to ice me, by the way, I can just—” 

Before you can finish, Jungkook walks over to your direction. In one swift motion, he kneels before you, his hands effortlessly replacing yours. His fingers are warm as they brush against your ankle, and he feels your breath hitching when he unfastens the strap and slides your heels off.

“What did I say, __?” He keeps his voice quiet and firm, “I don’t mind doing things for you.” He gently sets both your feet down then places your shoes next to it neatly. “I know you don’t need my help. But just this one night, okay? Can you let me do that for you?”

The weight of his sincerity presses against your chest, rendering you momentarily speechless. His eyes hold something deep, something unspoken, something that makes warmth bloom low in your stomach.

You blink at him. 

“Oh. Uh… okay.” you breathe, looking up at him slowly as he rises to his feet. “Sorry.”

It sounds sheepish and Jungkook feels the sudden urge to… he doesn’t even know now. He’s never been in the position of feeling so many different things all at once. He felt a little piece of his heart get shattered when he saw you cry earlier but now it’s warm again at the sight of you so… soft. And kind of small. 

Jungkook exhales softly, the corner of his lips quirking as his palm finds your cheek. It was maybe some sort of self-indulgence when he leans down and strokes your skin, thumb tracing delicate circles. He watches as your lashes flutter under his touch. “No saying sorry. Let me take care of you.”

He lets go of you, a slight feeling of disappointment washing through him when he had to break away from the physical contact, but your body hurts and he wants to help soothe it a little bit. 

Moving toward the kitchen, he doesn’t take too long going through your freezer and returns back shortly with an ice bag and a glass of water in hand. He offers the latter first, waiting patiently as you drink before settling beside you on the couch.

“Where does it hurt?” Jungkook asks. You move a little to the side to give him room, and he doesn’t really think too much about it when he drapes his free arm around the backrest of the couch, unconsciously crowding you in.

“H-here.” You tilt your face slightly, pointing to the right side of your jaw. Jungkook hums in acknowledgment before pressing the ice against your skin with meticulous care. You flinch at the initial cold, and he murmurs a soft apology, adjusting his touch until the chill soothes rather than shocks.

“Thank you,” you whisper.

The silence between you lingers, but it isn’t awkward – it’s something softer, something unspoken that settles comfortably between you both. And it gives Jungkook the perfect excuse to take you in wholly.

From this proximity, every delicate feature of yours demands his attention. The way your long lashes flutter under the glow of the fluorescent light, casting faint shadows against your flushed cheeks. He notices the subtle scatter of glitter on your skin, remnants of your makeup catching the light just right, making you look like you’re glowing – no, like you’re shining. Ethereal.

Then, his gaze traces the gentle slope of your nose, following its path down to the perfect dip of your cupid’s bow – sharp, delicate, almost frustratingly beautiful. And then, of course, there’s your mouth. Jungkook has always been drawn to it. The soft, glossy curve of your lips, the way they pout ever so slightly even when you aren’t speaking. They look inviting, almost begging to be kissed, and for a brief, reckless second, he wonders what it would be like to be the one to answer that silent call.

God, you’re so pretty. It almost hurts.

Jungkook swallows hard. He shouldn’t be thinking about that. Not now.

“Jimin tells me I’m either an annoying or quiet drunk,” you suddenly say, snapping Jungkook out of his trance. “I think I’m being a little bit of both tonight.” 

He finds himself chuckling at your words. “I’m alright with both.” 

You let out a quiet huff, and he readjusts the ice, noticing the slight tension in your shoulders.

“Your shoulder still hurts?” Jungkook asks, his fingers hovering just above your bare skin.

You nod, and when he gestures to the ice bag, you take it without hesitation, pressing it back to your jaw. There's a quiet curiosity in your eyes as you glance at him, but you don’t say anything. Jungkook shifts beside you, sitting more upright.

“Lean in for me,” you scoot closer. Jungkook guides you against him, settling you between his arms. You’re unusually quiet, pliant in a way that makes something stir in his chest. “This okay?” he murmurs into your hair, trying – failing – not to focus on the warmth of you against him, or the way your scent lingers in the air between you.

You hum in response, a soft, content sound.

Jungkook smiles against your head.

”Let me know if this hurts or not, alright?” You nod against him, and Jungkook lets his fingers trace over the curve of your shoulder, searching for the tension. The neckline of your top makes it easy for his hand to settle against your skin. “Here?” he murmurs, pressing gently.

The soft gasp you let out catches him off guard. It’s barely a sound, but he feels it – feels the way your body reacts beneath his touch. His breath hitches for just a second before he swallows, grounding himself.

“There,” You sigh softly. Jungkook watches as you close your eyes, indulging in the feeling of him hitting the right spot. 

He watches, almost entranced, as your face softens with relief.

Massaging sore muscles is nothing new to him – he’s done it for himself countless times after boxing, approaching it with the same methodical precision every time. But this? This feels different. The quiet sounds you make, the way you lean into his touch, like it’s the most natural thing in the world – he has a feeling they’ll linger in his mind far longer than they should.

He steadies his voice. “No swelling or bruising, so that’s good,” he murmurs, fingers working over your shoulder, relieved to find that himself.

You may not have wanted his help tonight, but Jungkook can’t shake the thought that the stranger at the bar deserves consequences. Maybe he should talk to Jimin about it.

He files the thought away – until your voice pulls him back.

“Where’d you learn this?” you ask, your tone lighter now. “It feels good. And I think you’re actually making me feel better.”

Then you grin at him – soft, a little dazed – and Jungkook just melts.

How you always get him to feel twenty emotions at once. 

“I box sometimes. My trainer taught me this.” Jungkook tells you, something he realized he hasn’t shared with you yet. Which he loves doing. 

“Oh. You box?” You inquire, craning your neck to look at him with curious eyes. 

Jungkook smiles down at you and nods. “Sometimes. It’s just a little hobby I picked up a while ago.” 

“Ohhh. That’s really cool.” Then you yawn, shifting even closer. “I envy people like you. I ran a 5k once and couldn’t move for two days.”

“I like moving,” Jungkook responds truthfully. Absent-mindedly, he also lets himself fall back on the couch until you’re both very lax against the sofa. “I sit a lot with my job. So I feel the need to balance it out.”

“I guess that makes—” It’s drowned with another yawn. Jungkook looks down at you as you curl up against him. “Sorry.” You smile at him, prompting Jungkook to chuckle before taking the ice bag from your hand. His hand travels from your shoulder to your waist as he stretches his other hand out to place the bag on the coffee table across from you.

“You’re sleepy.” 

“I’m so drunk.” 

“You’re a sleepy drunk,” Jungkook grins when you don’t argue. “Your shoulder okay now?” 

You jut your bottom lip out. “I think you need to massage it a little bit more…” 

Jungkook takes note of the playful tone lacing your words, finding himself chuckling at the thought of you just liking the massage. He doesn’t really mind.

“Alright. But don’t sleep on me just yet.” Jungkook says, resuming his rubbing on your shoulder joint. He knows that soon, you have to change out of your clothes, remove your make-up, whatever women do before going to bed. 

“I know…” you trail off.

As minutes pass, Jungkook forgets all about the massage, his hands alternating between gentle caresses and light squeezes over your shoulder. His touch grows slower, more absentminded, and at some point, he realizes the weight against his chest has shifted— you’ve fallen asleep on him.

He stills for a moment, absorbing the warmth of you pressed against him. It’s… nice. More than nice. A quiet contentment settles over him as he carefully brushes his fingers through your hair. When a few strands fall across your face, he instinctively tucks them away, only for you to stir slightly at the movement. Jungkook freezes, but instead of waking, you burrow deeper into him, your face pressing against his chest, your breath warm through the fabric of his shirt.

A small smile tugs at his lips. He takes a moment just to look at you – your peaceful expression, the way your lips part slightly in sleep, the soft rise and fall of your breathing. You’re not new to falling asleep on him; it happened just last week at his place. And just like then, he thinks you look impossibly adorable. Mostly pretty. Even prettier now. He isn’t sure how that’s possible, but somehow, you make it look effortless.

Jungkook exhales, shaking his head lightly. You have no idea, do you?

He lingers a second longer before deciding he should move you somewhere more comfortable. He doubts you’d want to wake up on the couch, still in your clothes from the club, make-up untouched. You didn’t exactly give him permission to enter your bedroom, but he figures you’d prefer that over being left out here without a blanket.

Carefully, he lifts you into his arms, cradling you effortlessly as he navigates your apartment. The layout is similar to his, but everything feels distinctly you – cozy, warm, lived-in. He nudges your bedroom door open with his foot, relieved to find it unlocked, and gently lays you down on the soft mattress. He debates for a second whether he should help you change into something more comfortable but quickly dismisses the thought. Boundaries.

Instead, he simply pulls the green comforter over you, tucking you in with quiet care. He’s just about to step back when you shift slightly, a small murmur escaping your lips.

“Kook?”

Your voice is faint, laced with sleep, and Jungkook immediately moves closer, sitting at the edge of your bed. He doesn’t expect it when your hand reaches out, fingers grazing his cheek before resting there, your touch warm and featherlight.

“Are you real?” you ask, voice barely above a whisper, dazed and dreamy.

Jungkook’s heart stumbles. He swallows, then gently takes your hand in his, pressing it against his skin. “I am.”

You hum in satisfaction. “Good.” Then, in a move that completely disarms him, you squeeze his jaw slightly, fingertips lingering in something almost like admiration. Your gaze, still hazy with sleep, flickers over his features before you breathe, awed, “You’re so pretty… how?”

Jungkook exhales a quiet laugh, shaking his head at your sleepy honesty. Because this isn’t the first time. You’d said the same thing that night at his place, too.

Does that mean you really think so? Or is it just a drunken habit of yours?

But none of that really matters when he finds himself murmuring, with quiet certainty, “You don’t know how it feels looking at you, __.”

There’s no response, and when Jungkook glances down, he realizes you’ve already drifted back into sleep. He stays there just a moment longer, taking in the peaceful sight of you, the way the dim light makes your features look even softer.

You look like a dream. And Jungkook isn’t sure if he ever wants to wake up from this.

There��s a thundering ache in your head when you start gaining consciousness after you wake up, eyes squinting at the light coming through the windows. 

You pat around for your phone and turn it on when you find it somewhere nestled between the tangled sheets, seeing Jimin’s texts on the lockscreen. 

cuntress #1 [8:00am]: did u get home safe cuntress #1 [8:05am]: i got discharged from the hospital btw joon was just being dramatic i only got cuts  cuntress #1 [3:10pm]: i trust that jungkook drove u home well and alive but if u dont respond in the next 30mins i’ll send a raid team

“Jesus,” you said after reading Jimin’s last text. You glance at the time and see it’s 3:20pm. “Fuck.” Slapping a hand on your forehead, you realize just how much you slept. 

Before agonizing over that, you reply to Jimin first before he actually sends a raid team. You don’t ever know when he’s serious.

You [3:21pm]: dont send a raid team what the fuck

You open the camera app to snap a picture of yourself, but you nearly doubled over when you saw your reflection. That’s why your face felt so sticky, because you still have your make-up and clothes on from last night. 

You groan but take a quick picture to send Jimin anyway. 

Throwing away your phone on the mattress, you throw your feet over the floor to initially go straight to the bathroom, but then your eyes catch sight of the glass of water with a pill of Advil beside it. 

Oh. 

Ohhh. Right. Jungkook was here last night… he asked if he could come inside your apartment and you must’ve said yes because you can remember him sitting on your couch, icing your jaw, then massaging your pained shoulder for a little while before… 

That’s when your memory doesn’t serve you well. 

You don’t know how you got into this bed at all. 

You take the glass of water and Advil, anyway, popping the pill into your mouth and drinking. You were just standing up when your doorbell rings. 

Confused, you wonder who it might be. You aren’t expecting any visitors, that’s for sure. But then you remember Jimin’s words and suddenly grow nervous that he might have actually had a raid team come your way. Whatever the hell that meant.

As you step in front of your door, you hesitantly twist it open, only to be met with none other than… Jungkook. 

“Thank god,” you let out a sigh of relief. Jungkook raises a brow, rightfully confused. You give him a dismissive wave. “I thought you were Jimin’s raid team.” 

“A what?” Jungkook asks, obviously baffled. 

“Don’t worry about it,” you say as you take a look at him. He’s in his white button down minus the tie and trousers. It’s funny though because he’s wearing his sliders… so you assume he probably just got back home from the office. It’s only then that you notice the pot in between his hands. “What’s that?” 

Jungkook glances down. “Porridge. Thought it’d help with the hangover.” 

Your eyes widen at the mention.

“Oh, that’s really thoughtful. You didn’t have to…” you trail off but Jungkook only smiles and extends it to you.

When you take it in your hands, Jungkook says, “It’s still hot, so be careful.” 

What you wanted to ask was if he cooked it himself – which looked like he did, but what came out was: “You just, uh, got back from the office?”

He nods.

Then, you stand there for awhile, finding yourself a little awkward just waiting for the other to say something until you both speak at the same time. 

“I’ll get going, then—”

“Do you want to come in—”

You both stop speaking, looking at each other in surprise until Jungkook chuckles. 

“You were saying?” He asks.

You shake your head. “I asked if you wanted to come inside but you must be busy. Thank you for the porridge, though. I really appreciate it.” 

“I’m not doing a lot today,” Jungkook says with a dashing smile, inserting his hands in his pockets. “Are you inviting me over?” He adds with a teasing lilt to his voice.

You shy from his gaze. “If you want to… we can share?” You raise the pot in your hands, giving him a timid smile. 

“I’d love to.” 

Basically, it’s the second time Jungkook will be inside your home. But you weren’t completely sober a few hours ago when he did it for the first time, so technically, it did not count. Now that you’re free from the daze of alcohol, though, with a raging hangover as a testament to that, you’re nervous as you lead Jungkook along the way.

“You woke up just now?” Jungkook asks.

“Yeah…” You place the pot on the dining table and realize for the second time you’re still wearing the clothes from last night, probably looking like a mess right now. You’re thankful Jungkook doesn't mention it. You saw your smudged makeup earlier while taking a picture for Jimin, and you definitely don’t look your best. “Sorry, I just need to change out of these clothes first. Please sit here.” You gesture toward the chair you pulled out, which Jungkook gladly came towards. When he sits, you offer him a small smile before heading to your bedroom.

In swift motion, you strip yourself off the skimpy outfit you’ve been in since the last twelve hours or so, hastily removing your make-up with a quick wipe and rinse, pulling your hair in the neatest ponytail you can manage and finally change into the first decent shirt you find in your closet and paired it with some denim shorts.

When you return to the dining area, you see Jungkook setting down some bowls on the table. You head toward him, about to express your thanks, but he turns around and, with a slightly surprised tone, says, “You’re wearing my shirt.”

It doesn’t sound accusatory, in fact, Jungkook is smiling at you, eliciting a warm feeling within your chest. 

His words don’t register as quickly as they should have, but when you glance over at the shirt you’re wearing, it’s indeed his. It occurs to you it was the shirt he lent you awhile ago when you stayed over at his place. It must’ve ended in your bag when you were packing up for your return to your own place.

Heat rises to your cheeks as embarrassment sets in. You remember saying you’d return it ASAP, but here you are, casually wearing it at home. “Oh, I'm sorry. I didn’t even notice— I'll go change—”

“It’s fine, __. You can keep it, or not, if you don’t want to,” Jungkook muses. “You don’t have to change out of it.” 

His casual response only makes you feel more flustered under his gaze.

“... Thanks,” you manage to say. After a pregnant pause, you clear your throat and gesture at the food on the table. “Should we eat? Or… I mean, do you even want to eat right now? I know it’s only, like, three pm…”

“I didn’t eat for lunch, so this will do. I make a really good hangover porridge.” Jungkook says with a chuckle. 

“I can’t thank you enough.” 

Jungkook hums softly, and a comfortable silence settles between you as the sound of your spoons clinking against the glassware fills the air. After your first bite, you can't help but compliment him on the porridge – it’s definitely the best hangover cure you’ve ever had. You can't help but think that he's just good at everything, like always.

It’s as if he doesn’t not know how to do something. You almost fear he's getting close to being perfect, and what’s even more surprising is that he does all of this for you without you ever having to ask. And when you mention it, he acts like it’s the most normal thing in the world.

And that kind of freaks you out.

But, at the same time, it also makes you feel guilty.

“I’m really sorry about last night…” you start. You don’t remember every detail, of course, but you can vaguely remember the fight that broke out and how Namjoon had to interfere with the security. And because you were drunk, Jungkook had to drive you home and take you inside your own home because you probably were so wasted. It’s not your proudest moment, and the apology is something from your heart when you continue, “Jimin and I pregamed at his place before we went to the club, so even before you came to our table we were already drunk off tequila that time. Not a good reason, of course. So I’m really sorry for causing you a lot of… inconvenience— anyway, did I uh— say or did something last night?” you turn meek under his gaze, nerves wracking. Jungkook’s brow shoots up, and when he doesn’t instantly say no, you sigh. “Oh my god, I did.” 

“No, you didn’t,” Jungkook quickly denies, interrupting the impending spiraling thoughts in your head. The only vivid pictures in your head right now were the events in the club, even the moment when Jungkook drove you home is blurry, and you could only tie fragments together poorly. “Don’t worry about it. You were drunk and you fell asleep on me when I helped you with your shoulders. I brought you to your bedroom.” 

You stare at him, trying to see if he’s purposefully missing out on some detail. But Jungkook’s expression is as neutral as it gets, just looks at you like how he usually does. Soft, fond. Something like that. You can’t even pinpoint it. 

“Well, I’m still sorry anyway,” you let out a heavy breath. “Jimin tells me I’m a super annoying drunk and he’s right and he should’ve really stopped you from volunteering to take me back home.” 

“You really like saying sorry, don’t you?” Jungkook teases, but there’s something to his tone that says he’s being half-serious. “I really don’t mind. I wanted to take you home, and we’re neighbors, anyway.” He shrugs. 

You nod your head. “Why… I don’t remember much about last night but why did you lie back there? To Jimin? When you said you’re still staying at Hannam.” 

Jungkook halts from eating and silence stretches out until he says, “I had a feeling you wanted me to.” 

You purse your lips. “I can’t even say I didn’t because I really did want you to,” you sigh again. There were so many things you did last night that you kind of regret now. It’s really just endless favors from Jungkook now, huh? You hate feeling… indebted. And you hate that you feel like you’re bothering him so much. “Things got so hectic and I didn’t have time to tell him about, uh, how we know each other and all that and I… I still haven’t told him, you see.”

“You know,” Jungkook starts, and you adjust yourself on your seat because he sounds serious this time, not like the usual easy-going, lighthearted tone he always uses with you. “I’m okay with whatever you wanna do. It’s your call. But I’m not sure why you’re trying to hide it from him. I don’t think he’s going to care that much that we already knew each other even way before he introduced us.” 

You swallow the lump in your throat. 

The thing is, you know Jimin is not gonna care – you know that well. But Jungkook also doesn’t know that you already told Jimin about him the very first day you met him. Jungkook doesn’t know that you told Jimin about this crush that you have on this new neighbor. And you’re not ready to tell Jimin that guy – the neighbor, unit 446, was actually his cousin. 

Maybe you’re overcomplicating things too much, but you’ve always been afraid of confrontation unless you have a solid, fool-proof plan backing you up. You’re gonna tell Jimin eventually, just not now. But…

“I feel bad about it. Sorry– if you wanna tell him, you can—”

“Hey, I’m not doing anything you don’t want me to do.” Jungkook cuts you off, looking at you sincerely.

You frown. He’s way too nice.

“You’re so…” you trail off, realizing that you don’t really know what to follow it up with. Jungkook is so… nothing. Blank. You come up with a blank. And not because you feel that way about him – it’s mostly because there’s so many things to describe him with. 

And all you can think of is that you have the urge to come up to him and wrap your arms around him and thank him for being this patient even though you don’t feel like you deserve it. 

Jungkook leans in, a playful smile tugging at his lips. “I’m so what?” 

It’s just going to be a friendly hug. You think to yourself. Yep. Just a friendly hug and nothing more. Friends can hug, right? Like, no malice whatsoever. Jungkook is not gonna think you’re trying to make a move on him; it’ll just be you expressing your gratitude. 

So you go for it, throwing your inhibitions away.

Who even cares at this point.

“Can I hug you?” you blurt out, nervously staring at Jungkook, feeling your cheeks heat up at the way he’s looking at you right now.

His smile widens, and you don’t fully expect it when he responds with a simple, “Yes.” 

You stand up from your seat and round the table to go over Jungkook who pulls himself back and stands, arms opening up to welcome you when you unceremoniously wrap your own around his waist. 

“Sorry,” you say when you bump roughly against him, but Jungkook only chuckles, and you feel the vibration through his chest when he does. His arms circle around your shoulders, making you snuggle against his chest. Probably self-indulgence at this point because his chest is so… big and warm and he smells good and he’s actually letting you hug him so… why not? “This is nice.” you say after awhile.

Truthfully, you initially planned the hug to be just a quick one, but it feels way too tight to let go. And you really don’t want to break away… and by the way Jungkook doesn’t say anything against it, you assume he’s just as into this as you. Probably. 

“I know.” 

You hide your smile against the fabric of his dress shirt. 

And somehow, you stay like that for longer than what… thirty seconds? Just hugging in the middle of your dining table without saying anything. 

You tighten your arms around Jungkook, and you almost let out a sigh of relief when Jungkook begins caressing your back.

“You’re really small.” Jungkook says suddenly. 

“Can you not ruin this moment, please.” 

He chuckles, and you feel him resting his head against the crown of your head. 

And the moment suddenly feels way too familiar…

“Jungkook,”

“__,”

Jungkook chuckles against your hair, squeezing a little on your shoulder. 

“You first.” 

You shake your head. “No, you first.”

“Ladies first.” 

You frown, even though he can’t really see it. “Really?” you deadpan.

“Really.” 

The lightheartedness of the moment doesn’t really deter you from the sudden melancholy that washes over you.

Truthfully, you feel conflicted. You have been for a while now. You don’t know exactly what you feel about him, and Jungkook’s actions don’t help. Sometimes, it feels like you can’t breathe whenever he’s near because you’re so mesmerized, but there are also times – a lot of times in fact – that you feel like he’s your safe space. Like right now. It sounds deluded even in your head but you think his arms feel a little too… home-y. Like you belong right there. 

Then there’s the guilt of being this… way. You’re so confused you don’t even know what you’re doing at this point. You push and pull. He almost kissed you and you swerved just in time to make up some lame excuse about being sleepy. He took you home because you were drunk and brought you hangover porridge right after he got out of work because… because what? 

“Why?” you whisper, the sound barely there. Like you didn’t even mean to let it out. 

“What do you mean, why?”

You shut your eyes close. “Why do you… why do you do this?” 

The question feels weighted, and it is. You can’t see Jungkook, and maybe you’re thankful for that because there’s vulnerability in your uncertainty that you don’t want to show him. 

You feel him pulling up his chin from the crown of your head, and when he lets go of your shoulders, you only tighten your hold around him. Partly because if he breaks away from the hug, he’ll look at you and see you. 

“You do these… things. You’re so nice. And you’re so sweet. You take care of me as if–” you stop yourself. “I don’t know, Jungkook. You confuse me. Why? Why do you do this?”

“__, can—” Jungkook tries to let go again, eager to make you look at him. 

“No. Listen, it’s taking everything in me to be calm right now. I’m embarrassed and I don’t want you to see my face.” 

You hear Jungkook letting out a sigh. 

“Why do you think so?” He says after awhile, finally setting his arms around you again. But this time, the other one is around your waist, and you try to not think too much about how he’s gently rubbing your waist right now.

You really don’t like the fact that you like it too much when he does that. Even hate it more that he himself seems to like doing that. 

“I can think of a few reasons.” you tell him.

“What are those?” 

Thank god you’re having this conversation without seeing each other’s faces. You’ll combust if it was the other way around.

“Well, maybe… you’re just inherently kind and you just like helping people.” You lamely say, and even you don’t believe that. 

Jungkook lets out a chuckle anyway, disbelief painting his voice when he responds, “You think I do this to everybody?” 

“I wouldn’t know.” 

“It’s nice you think of me like that. But no. I don’t do this to everybody, __. I don’t offer my place when someone’s apartment gets flooded, and I don’t cook them hangover porridge right after I get off work.”

You bite your lip. “Okay… then you’re just a really good friend, then.” 

Jungkook stops rubbing your waist. And you feel him freezing.

His tone is almost incredulous when he says. “You think it’s because you’re my friend.”

That makes you break away from the hug quickly. You take offense at the disbelief on his face, and you make sure to glare at him for that. 

“What do you mean by that? Are you being a snob when we’re literally hugging—”

“No, __, god—” Jungkook cuts you off. He grabs you closer again. Gentle. Putting his hands on your waist, he looks into your eyes with a deep sense of sincerity and eagerness. “You really think I do things like this to my friends?” 

You try to look away, but Jungkook’s hand travels from your waist to your cheek, making you look at him. You feel trapped, but there’s no feeling of suffocation from it. You like it, in fact.

“Well. Jimin would let me stay at his place whenever. Just not in his bedroom, though.” 

“Fair,” Jungkook says. His eyes cast their gaze down from your eyes to your lips. And you’ve been in this position before, but unlike last time, you don’t particularly feel like running away. “I’m glad you’re my friend. But I was thinking that… by now you must’ve realized I don’t only see you as that.” 

Maybe somewhere in your heart and mind, you expected that. Maybe you didn’t. Maybe you can still play dumb right now and tell him you don’t know what that means but for the record you’re not playing dumb, you are just this dumb and you don’t even mean that in a self-deprecating way. Just self-aware. 

But Jungkook’s words couldn’t be clearer. 

He likes you – is what he meant.

“Is it weird that we’ve only really known each other for a month… but I can already see the wheels turning in your head,” Jungkook muses when you don’t say anything. A small smile tugs at his lips, then, “You don’t have to say anything soon. If you’re not comfortable with this, I can stop. You just have to tell me.” 

You open your mouth. “I— I…”

But you find yourself drawing a blank.

“I like you, __, if it’s still not obvious.” Jungkook reiterates, more explicitly this time.  

Oh my god. 

You open and close your mouth like a fish in a tank, finding words to be unavailable in your head at the moment.

You feel Jungkook shift on his feet. “You can think about it. I’m not gonna push… but I’ll be here if you want me to.” 

“Jungkook.” You finally say his name, but it feels like the air has thickened around you.

Your fingers instinctively bunch the fabric of his collar, pulling him just a little closer. It’s not enough to throw him off, though; he remains steady, his gaze locked on yours, patient as always.

Always so patient. It makes your chest tighten.

“Yeah?”

The words are there, swirling inside you, desperate to break free. You know exactly what you want to say to his confession – you’ve imagined it, thought about it. It would be so easy, so fucking easy to say it. To tell him you feel the same way, to let him know you want this just as much. The words are right there on the tip of your tongue, practically begging to spill out.

But all that comes out is a soft, unsure, “Can you wait for me?”

It’s not what you wanted to say. It’s not enough. But it’s all you can manage.

Because even though it feels easy, even though you can almost taste the possibility of it, you know deep down that you’re not ready. Not for this. Not for the weight of it all – a relationship, a commitment you’re not sure will work. 

It’s like standing on the edge of a cliff, nature pulling you in for a dive, the wind howling in your ears. You can feel the adrenaline, the rush, the pull to just jump. But you’re unprepared, no harness to catch you, no guarantees. You know that falling means you’ll crash. You’ll hurt.

“I will.”

Jungkook’s voice is calm, almost too calm, and he smiles at you. It’s gentle, the kind of smile that makes everything feel... safe. And for some reason, despite the fear swirling in your chest, you believe him.

You decide, against everything in you that’s scared shitless, to trust him. To trust that maybe, just maybe, he’ll be there when you’re ready just like he promised.

all right reserved © awrkive, 2025. no reposts, modification, and copying allowed. if you enjoy my work/s and have the extra means, please consider supporting me on ko-fi <3

[lysil7777]

Yan! Dom! Fem! Reader x Sub! Boy

"P-please just.. just leave me alone!" James whimpered, tears welling up in his brown eyes, cheeks and ears flushing

"Aww what's wrong Jamie? Are you gonna cry? Did I hurt your feelings? Do you need your Mommy? You lean in to bite his ear and then whisper "I could be your mommy~"

Jamie hated himself for being unable to stop the moan that came out when you nipped at his ear and hated himself even more for letting you bully and harass him everyday.

When Jamie started college he swore things would be different from high school, he'd be more social, more motivated, and less shy. But 3 months later and the only person he talked to on a daily basis was you.

The first time you two met was in class, he'd braved up the courage to ask you for a pencil, he didn't really need one but he was trying to get out of his comfort zone.

You obliged but only after teasing him a bit asking what he'd give you in return, he got all embarrassed not knowing how to properly return your banter, and offered to pay you which you found very amusing. After a few more interactions you started to grow very fond of the nerd who sat behind you in Calc and before you knew it he was always on your mind.

The way he'd get embarrassed and look away from you when he didn't know what to say, the nervous habits he had when he was out by himself, how kind he was without anyone noticing, he was your adorable little specimen, for you only. And of course the best part was how naughty he could be, oh he was so innocent at the same time tho. You'd lost count of the number of times you'd watched him through his window, jerking it to soft domme porn, pet play, degradation, and dumbification, he was a pervy little nerd but the shame he felt afterward made you want to climb through his window and show him how much more depraved you were.

"What are you talking about y/n, I'm older than you that doesn't even make sense" he rambled looking anywhere but your eyes that were boring into his skull. God why did you have to be so close, why did you have to smell so good and be so pretty and-

His thoughts were cut off when you grabbed his chin and made him look at you directly

"I just think you're the kind of guy who needs direction, someone to help make those difficult decisions a sweet pet like you can't really decide for themselves, and why should you, that pretty little head of yours shouldn't have to worry about a single thing" you cooed squishing his cheeks together and making his lips push out

"I'm eighteen y/n, I can make my own decisions" Jamie argued or tried to through squished lips

At 5'3" you stood an entire nine inches under Jamie, but that didn't make him feel any less small in your presence

Letting go of his face you took a step back pretending to think for a moment "Alright then, I'll let you choose. Give me your number or get wedgied."

Jamie stood there dumb for a second, pants growing tighter and his skin warmer

"W-what?" He laughed nervously

Pulling his face closer to yours by the collar of his shirt you repeated your earlier statement to him in a slow demeaning manner, as if he was brain dead

"Give me your number or you get boo boo, oh no!" Your lips turned down in faux sadness

Jamie wasn't sure what to make of the situation, you usually weren't this physical with him, he was a little scared but mostly turned on. He didn't want to admit it but he had the teeniest tiniest crush on you and he blamed the stupid porn he'd been watching but he only looked into it because of you!

"I-I don't.." he paused

On one hand, he wanted to give you his number but on the other hand he'd never thought getting wedgied sounded so appealing

"You don't hmm~? Well, that just won't do. What happened to my big tough guy? Who was so strong and independent? Do you know darling? Ah, of course you don't. You're just as clueless as a little puppy dog and as cute as one too <3"

The new nickname shocked Jamie and caused him to audibly gasp, his hard-on fully visible now

"You can't j-just-aghhh"

You gripped him by his hair to cut him off

"Oh is puppy trying to give the orders now? What a silly little mutt you are, you really don't know how this works do you? The tent in your pants suggests otherwise but here you are telling me what I can and can't do with my property"

"I-I'm not yours y/n! A-and I'm not a pervert!!"

That first statement made your blood boil and you didn't even realize that you'd pushed Jamie down to his knees

"A good dog doesn't speak, a good dog gets treats and rewards but you're not being a good dog, Jamie. I know your tiny brain might not have comprehended it yet but you are mine, you're only mine. Who else is gonna talk to such a pervert hm? You were made for me, nobody else should ever see you like this, in fact, nobody ever sees you the way I do."

Before he could get a word out you pinned him to his position by placing your shoe on his clothed dick and reached over him to grab his boxers. Putting pressure on both simultaneously had him squirming and letting out the most sinful moans that made you wanna take him right then and there.

"Y-nnnnnnn" he whined, grinding up to help release some of the tension but each movement made the fabric between his ass more uncomfortable

"Shhh puppy, this is the punishment you've been given, I wouldn't be a very good owner if I didn't discipline my pet, you just gotta learn how to be good for me mkay? Don't you wanna learn how to be good and get rewards and pets and walkies~?"

All the new sensations made Jamie's head spin, his body felt like it was burning up from the inside out, his head was fuzzy, his dick was so much more sensitive than it had ever been while he was touching it and he couldn't place why the slight uncomfortableness of the wedgie made his parts throb even more, the whole situation was so intense poor boy couldn't fully wrap his doggy brain around it.

"I-I'm so close y/nnn, oh godd please, give me more! 'M so closeee" he panted not caring how pathetic he looked

"Already? Such a greedy pup for me hehe~ Have you learned your lesson, Jamie? Do you even deserve to cum against the bottom of my shoe?" You sang in a taunting manner pressing down even harder with your shoe

"I-, aghhhhh ohh yess fuck, YES! I'm yours y/n only yours! Promise! I'll-uggghh I'll be-hah hah- good! Just for you!"

"Atta boy! That wasn't so hard was it pup?" Finally letting go of his underwear you continued to let Jamie grind against your foot until he got to the edge

"M- boutta...cum!!" At this point, Jamie had grabbed your leg, chin resting on your thick thigh, eyes teary and glazed over staring up at you as if you were a goddess

Softly cupping his face you lifted it off your leg and removed any contact from his dick causing him to let out strings of breathy and high-pitched whines

You sat down and pulled him into your lap, gently wiping away the fresh fallen tears off his face

"W-*hiccup*why y/n, was so close...so close"

His protest died down with a stern look from you

"You'll be alright puppy, I promise. I'm gonna take care of you from now on, you are mine after all"

The rest of the evening was spent holding your new puppy, rubbing his tummy and flustering him with all the soft attention you gave him

He couldn't believe he got so lucky as to experience you, and as long as he considers being owned and expected to heed your everyword, he was lucky!

End <3

[deansapplepie]

Period .

Summary: The one time you were glad you had your period, and the one time you weren’t.

Warnings: young Daryl (just in the first part), mentions of pregnancy, period, blood, sexual themes, mentions of creampie, mentions of impregnating, little angsty in the end. Minors do not Interact, 18+.

A/N: it was supposed to be a small drabble, but it turned out longer than I imagined. 🤭 Period is something important in the story, but the main focus is really about pregnancy.

Also, there’s no smut just little thoughts of Daryl.

The Quarry, Atlanta

You were fucked you knew you were, but so was Daryl and that was the problem. You had been dating for only a few months before the outbreak and even though your relationship was new, you knew his temper pretty well being neighbors for many years.

Your period was late, it already was when the world ended, but just a few days, so you didn’t worry about it. Now, it had been almost a month and you were worried as fuck. You tried to fake normalcy, pretend there wasn’t anything wrong. But your constant lip biting and unquiet legs denounced to the hunter how nervous you were. “Spill it.” He said.

“What?” He took you by surprise, you were so into in your mind that you didn’t even know he had been observing for the last half hour.

“There’s somethin’ worrying ya. Just say it.” He didn’t take his eyes from you as he waited for you ti say something.

“My period. It’s late. I’m worried.” You threw averting his eyes.

In his mind a million of thoughts were running, but mainly 1. why did you have to feel so amazing wrapped around him that sometimes he couldn’t just control himself and just finish inside of you? 2. why did he still used no condoms? 3. he couldn’t be a father, he didn’t have this ability.

“Just that?” He asked nonchalantly pretending it didn’t affect him. “Want me to go to town and pick a pregnancy test?”

You looked at him amused. How could he be so calm when you were panicking? Part of you were glad he wasn’t fuming in rage like you imagined he would be, but the other part was frustrated with him acting like it was nothing. “Seriously?” You gave him an incredulous look. “Don’t need to. Let’s wait a little more.” You got up and left to the lake, frustrated, fuming and just needing to calm yourself down.

Days passed and nothing happened. Until the day Daryl woke up tired of not knowing if he would have to raise a child in this fucked up world or not. When you woke up he was already brewing something on the fire, Merle with him. “I’m going to town. Want something?” He asked.

“What are you going to do in town?” You didn’t understand, you had everything. Food and hygiene supplies, what else could you need?

“I’m gonna get the thing. We already waited too much.” He seemed nervous, finally one small demonstration of feelings.

“Are ya two gonna talk in codes now?” Merle complained feeling left out.

You ignored him and replied Daryl. “Ok. Just let me go the bathroom, gonna think if we need anything else.” You left in the direction of the RV, not everyone used it, but most of you. Especially the women and the kids, Daryl and Merle preferred to go into the woods as to not get the dirty looks everyone gave them, but you were different, you were polite and would smile sometimes. Also, you got along well with Dale and the women in the camp.

You distributed ‘good mornings’ along the way and when you got to the RV you encountered Dale, Ami and Andrea having breakfast. You greeted them and excused yourself to the bathroom, and there it was… your answer. No test needed. A pool of blood on your panties. You felt wet earlier, but the last weeks you felt it many times and it was always nothing, so you didn’t mind. You were relieved. The world was pure chaos and you couldn’t imagine raising a child in it. Yet, there was an uneasy feeling inside of you.

You went back to your tent and the small fire the brothers had done. “You don’t need to go.” It was as the only thing you said.

“Ugh?” He grunted confused.

“I’m on my period.” You said, and fuck if Merle was listening.

“Were ya talking in codes because ya thought you were pregnant?” Merle almost yelled. “And you were hiding it from me? The uncle?”

“Shut up Merle, nobody needs to know, and stop complaining about an inexistent baby.” You answered mood swinging immediately. There it was, you had seen the signals, you just didn’t want to read them.

Daryl stayed silent while you went inside the tent to take clean panties, pads or tampons to change. When you came out Daryl was the same way he was before, millions of thoughts inside his head.

“Are you going to say something or are you going to pretend there wasn’t anything going on just like when I told you my worries?” You snapped, the last days you had thought over and over again about his non reaction the day you told him, and that’s not that you wanted him to have fought or screamed at you, you didn’t, but you wanted him to share his worries with you and to be able to share yours with him.

“What do ya want me to say?” He asked, dryly. “Thank God? ‘Cause I don’t believe in one. Or do you want me to say I feel really sorry ‘cause we’re not putting a child in this fucked up world?” He had snapped. You were angry at him, but at least it was a reaction of some sort.

“You’re an asshole.” You threw at him and left, he thought about retorting you with a sassy answer, but he bit his tongue.

“Ya messed bad, lil bro… ya know nothing about women. How was ya able to catch a girl like her?” Merle couldn’t contain his mouth and spoke.

“Shut up, Merle! Mind your own business!” He replied, taking his things and living grumpily.

Later that day he returned with chocolate and painkillers, which he left on your side of the sleeping bed without saying anything.

Alexandria, Virginia

You were out in the woods, close to Alexandria. You had been hunting with Daryl, your husband. Yes, your husband. So many things have changed along the years, that some times you couldn’t believe how things were different. But one thing hadn’t change, you were still reckless about sex, not that you had options to prevent a pregnancy in the end of the world.

And that was the reason you were distracted while you hunted, also the reason you were not being silent like he taught you to be and were cracking every and all stick on the way. “Wha’s the problem, sweetheart?” He stopped and turned to you.

Distracted, you continued to walk and bumped into him. “Sorry.” You looked up at him and saw concern in his eyes.

“What’s troubling ya?” He asked his hands resting on your shoulders. “And don’t try to lie, I know ya.”

You sighed. “I’m late.” You’ve been late many times during the time you and Daryl have been together, but most of the times your worries would be taken away as soon as they started to build. But that time at the quarry and now, it had been a long time.

Now he already knew what you meant, and it didn’t worry him this much anymore. To be honest, he even thought about impregnating you during the last years. It all started when his Lil Ass Kicker was born, and then how he saw you taking care of her and interacting with kids. So… he considered having kids with you many times.

“Just that?” He threw the same question back at that day in the quarry. Anger started bubbling in you and then he just stroke you with his words. “Ya shouldn’t worry. If it happens, we’ll take responsibility and do our best. It’s our baby we’re talking about.”

“Daryl… aren’t you mad? Or worried?” You looked at him disarmed now that you realized he wasn’t going to be a dick.

“If ya’re expecting, I helped making this baby and I dun think it would be so terrible the idea of having a baby made of us.” Yeah, you had all changed a lot. You didn’t know one day you could desire him even more, but just the thought of him thinking it wouldn’t be bad to have babies with you… made you want to jump on him.

“Should we grab a pregnancy test with Denise or something?” You suggested grabbing one of his hands.

“Let’s wait a little more and I take them.” He started to walk and intertwined your fingers. “Now, let’s hunt dinner.”

Daryl had finally gone on a run to find some pregnancy tests, Denise unfortunately had none. When he arrived he hoped to see you in the kitchen with Carol, but his friend was alone. She saw his confused face and she knew he was looking for you. “She’s at the bedroom. She arrived and a little while after… she didn’t look well. I think you should see her.” Carol advised him. She knew there was something upsetting you and she was almost sure of what it was, but you had said nothing to her, so she decided it was better to not push.

“Thanks, ‘m gonna check on her.” He said before he left to your shared bedroom.

After he descended the stairs to your room in the basement, he found you on bed laying on your side. He kicked his shoes off before joining you in bed. “Hey babe”

“Hey” you replied and didn’t turn to look at him.

He laid on his side, spooning you and sneaking his arm around you. He rested his hand on your lower stomach, an habit he had developed recently. He’d do it when you got your period and felt cramps, but in the last days he had done it for another reason. “Can you take your hand from there?” You asked.

“Why? Don’t ya wanna me to touch ya?” He wanted to understand what was troubling your mind.

“There’s nothing there. Just my uterus. My stupid bleeding uterus.” Here it was. He wouldn’t deny he was a little upset, he had some hope on you being pregnant. He was even excited.

“Ok. Look at me.” He turned you so you’d be facing him. You had teary eyes and a small pout on your lips. “You wanted this baby, didn’t ya?”

“Is it this obvious?” Yes, it was. It was visible on your face.

“I wanted it too.” He confessed, his fingers running on your hair.

“I’ve been wanting for a long time already… since Jude was born and I saw her in your arms. When I have Jude in my arms or little Hershel, I wish I had a baby.” While you spoke, your eyes welled with tears and they started falling.

He gently wiped your tears, he could understand your feelings in his own way, because he felt them too. “Me too. When I see you with the kids, I wish we had one.” ‘And to put a baby inside of you’, completed in his mind. “Do ya want me to give you a baby?”

Your eyes sparkled at his words, and it wasn’t just because of the tears threatening to fall again. “Would you?” You looked in his eyes and he felt like you could see his soul. But, yes… you could. You could always see him, even when he couldn’t.

“As many as ya want.” He said and the tears you were holding just bursted from your eyes. “Stop crying, I didn’t say it so you’d cry. If you continue to cry, I’m not giving ya babies…”

“Don’t you dare Daryl Dixon! I’m crying because I’m happy, ok?” You cupped his face with your hands, making a pout appear on his face.

“Ok.” He spoke the best he could with your hands cupping his face and restraining his lips from moving. You kissed his lips and released his face.

He brought you closer and hugged you, your face hiding on his chest. He was happy. You weren’t feeling like shit anymore, you were feeling like the luckiest woman in the damn end of the world.

You were trying for babies as soon as possible. That was what he thought, a smile on his face while he held you in his arms.

Wanna be added to my tag list? Let me know. (Please tell me if you want to be tagged on everything or just specific series) Everything Taglist: @lilyevanstan1325

[strniohoeee]

Polar

Pairing: Matt Sturniolo X Female Reader ⚠️SMUT⚠️

Synopsis:(based off my request I got earlier) while on a weekend get away, Matt steps out to the hot tub after having some anxiety, and asks Y/N to join, but then things get heated, more than just the water💧

Warnings⚠️: This is a smutty imagine. There’s just sex that happens in a hot tub, but there’s no real kinky-ness. Minors GET OUTTA HERE

Song for the imagine: Agora Hills- Doja Cat

This is an 18+ imagine, so minors do not interact beyond this point⚠️

Laura had gotten the triplets, Madi and myself a cabin getaway in Boston so that we could all see eachother again after not seeing Madi for 3 months. Madi had flown in from LA, so after picking her up from the airport we immediately started driving to the cabin.

Matt was driving and I was in the passenger seat just jamming out to the music

“Y/N play Agora Hills” Nick said

“Fuck yes that’s my song” I said grabbing Matt’s phone and playing Agora Hills

Nick, Madi and I were all jamming and screaming the lyrics

“LOVE WHEN YOU HIT, AND SMACK TO, BABY LET ME LICK ON YOUR TATTOOS” I screamed, Matt looked over at me with a sly smirk

“WOAH I SAW THAT” Chris said pointing his fingers at us

“He doesn’t let me lick his tattoos” I said with a sad face

“You’re such a weirdo” Matt says laughing and blushing lightly

After he said that Looking for the hoes started playing by Sexyy Red

“SHAKE THAT ASS HOEEEEEE” I started screaming and Nick got on the seat pretending to shake his ass

“AYYYYY” I said turning around and smacking his ass

“Where’s my bills” Madi said pretending to throw cash on Nick

We were crying laughing at Nick's bizarre behavior, we spent the rest of the trip laughing and singing. Chris and I occasionally fighting because he thinks he’s right about everything

Eventually we get to the cabin and hop out stretching our legs, and grabbing our bags to head into the cabin

Once we get inside we run up the stairs to check the room situation. This is where we got confused. It was two bedrooms, one with 3 beds and one with 2 beds.

“What the fuck is this set up” Madi says laughing

“Who’s the idiot that did this” Matt said laughing

“Okay so I say me, Madi and Y/N in this room, and Chris and Matt in the other room” Nick said

“Why can’t Y/N be with me?” Matt said

“Uhhhh we’d prefer yall stay away from each other because yall are so feral” Nick said in a matter of fact way

“We are not” I said

“Mmm I beg to differ” Chris said

“You know what fine whatever” Matt said heading to the other room to set up his side of the room, Chris following after him

After we all settled in we decided to make something to eat for dinner, and watch some tv. This first night we just wanted to chill as the drive was kind of long up here.

“They got a jacuzzi” Chris yells as he comes running back inside

“SHUT THE FUCK UP” Madi says jumping up from the couch

“And it’s big too” Nick says looking out the window at the Jacuzzi

They decided to go into the jacuzzi but I wasn’t really feeling it, so I stayed in the living room watching Halloween 1978. At some point I went up to the room and decided to go to sleep.

After a while I opened my eyes to my phone buzzing. I looked around the room and saw Madi and Nick knocked out snoring slightly

I grabbed my phone and looked at the notification

Matt🥹

-hey I’m in the hot tub. Feeling up for it now pretty lady?

My heart flutter at the cute nickname he gave me

-Yeah I’ll be over in a few minutes :)

I got up and used the flashlight on my phone to look in my bag for my bathing suit, and once I found it I ran to the bathroom to change quietly. It was a deep forest green one piece that was super low cut, had the back completely open, and was cheeky style. It was a new suit that I knew would drive Matt wild

I put my pajamas back in the room and tiptoed down the stairs. When I got to the sliding door I could see Matt looking at his phone while I watched him like a creep. As I opened the door I felt the very chilly fall air nip at my skin, instantly shivering.

I stepped outside and closed the screen door, and walked over to Matt

“Hey baby” I said to him as I stepped up and into the hot tub allowing the warm bubbling water to soothe my shivering

“Hi pretty lady” he said putting his phone down

“Why are you up so late” I asked him as I walked over to him to sit next to him

“I was having a bit of anxiety for some reason, and decided to come to the hot tub and calm my mind” He said as I stroked his hair while looking at him talk

“What were you thinking about” I asked

“Nothing really just overthinking and I get anxiety, but I’m good now that you’re here with me” he says leaning into kiss me

After he pulled away I looked him with a sly grin

“Oh yeah” I said in a flirty tone

“Uhhh wish those dicks didn’t separate us” he said touching my arm and leaving kisses on it

“This is exactly why they separated us, we can not be left alone for more than 5 minutes without jumping on each other” I told him laughing a little bit

“How can I control myself when you look so beautiful all the time” he said leaning on my arm

“Well we’re alone now, and it’s 2am……we could have some fun” I suggested

“When you put it like that” he said biting his lip and grabbing me to sit on his lap

“Matt in the hot tub” I said after kissing him

“And why not?” He said kissing my neck

“Uhh seems unsanitary” I told him biting my lip as he kissed down to my breasts

“Kid, you’ll be fine” he said rolling his eyes and kissing my lips one more time

I had wrapped my arms over his neck and began to make out with him, slowly grinding my hips against his bulge

“Mmm fuck” Matt said throwing his head back a little bit

I took this opportunity to start kissing down his neck, lightly sucking in the areas I knew would make him putty in my hands

We continued to make out as I was grinding down on him, and he was groping my breasts

“Come on Matt I need you now” I told him giving him one last kiss

He slightly lifted me up, so he could pull out his dick, and then he pushed my bathing suit bottom to the side. Helping me slowly sink down onto his dick

“Fuck Matt I’ve missed this” I sighed into his neck as I slowly started grinding against him. He had his hands gripping my ass helping me

“Me too baby. Finally having some alone time” he said moaning as I clenched down on him

“Baby I’m getting tired” I said as my knees were starting to burn from scratching against the seat in the hot tub

“Okay pretty girl. Let me help” he said. I got off of him, and he turned me around walking me to the front of the tub, and he had me bend forward as he slid back into me. This made me grip onto the edge of the hot tub

“Oh shit Matt, oh my god” I moaned a little loudly as he was hitting all the right spots

“Shhh baby they can’t know” he said thrusting into me, and out of breath

Matt didn’t stop his ruthless pounding and my head fell down as I felt myself getting closer to my climax.

“Matt I’m going to cum please don’t stop” I told him gripping onto the edge of the hot tub even harder

For some reason this made Matt pound into me harder, and what I hadn’t realized was that my phone and three glass cups that Chris, Nick and Madi left behind were on the opposite ledge and were getting dangerously close to the edge.

Matt thrusted into me two more times at a vigorous speed, and on the third thrust all three glass cups, and my phone went crash onto the deck

“Fuck Matt. They might’ve heard” I said as he still fucked me

“No baby they didn’t don’t worry” He said getting close to his climax

“Oh Matt right there please” I said as he was hitting my G spot in such a delicious way

“I’m gonna cum” He told me, and I nodded my head leaning my head back in ecstasy. At the same time we both moaned out each others name and came so hard panting and gasping for air

“WHAT THE FUCK” we both heard as Matt was still in me and we were riding out our highs

“OH MY GOD” I screamed locking eyes with Chris, Nick and Madi

“What the fuck” Matt said as we both lowered ourselves deeper into the water so he could pull out of me, and pick his swim trunks back up

“What the fuck? We heard this big crashing sound that woke all of us up, and we thought someone had broken in” Madi says

“But it just turns out that loud sound was you two wild fucking animals fucking like your life depended on it” Nick said

“How much did you see” I asked embarrassed

“Lets just say your O faces are now engraved in my fucking head” Chris said starting to dry heave

“Exactly what I said. We can not leave them alone as they are like feral animals” Nick said

“Shut up and go away” Matt said flipping him off

“Yall I can not believe I’m about to do the walk of shame” I said getting up and out of the pool grabbing my phone off the deck

“Y/N spill all the tea please” Madi whispers to me as I walk past her, and into the cabin

“Sorry guys I truly did not mean for yall to see or hear anything” I said

“ITS TOO LATE” Chris said pretending to weep like a child

“My eyes are burning” Nick said

And Matt just walked in behind them and smacked them both

Matt and I both went upstairs to shower and change

And by this point it was 4am, so I decided to go to bed when I got a text on my phone

Matt🥹

-come lay with me?

-baby I won’t contain myself if I do I responded back to him

-true, okay get some rest, love you

-love you too matt

With that I ended up falling asleep, peaceful and sore ;)

The End

I know this one was short, but the request wasn’t too detailed, and I feel like how kinky can you get in a hot tub IDKKK, but I hope I didn’t disappoint @ whoever requested this 😚😚 My next Matt fic is going to be sad asffffff so get ready to cry

-J💅🏽

[sealofarchives]

Is it Too Late?

It was the monthly movie night as a break from the usual routine.

The softshell turtle would usually expect your arrival, looking over his shoulder, on whatever work in progress invention he was working on.

However, by the time you and the others were waiting for the pizza to arrive.

You didn't sit near him. Mostly across from him as you listened to one of his brothers. Talking about something that happened earlier in the day.

And most of the interactions you gave to him were just a smile. A different one he wasn't used to.

You might have been true to your word with giving him space.

Since he was surprised that you wanted to ask him out on a date last Saturday.

It might have been that same smile that appeared when he rejected your feelings.

.

..

...

Saying how you weren't his type but, still appreciated your company nonetheless.

It almost felt insulting that he got to eat his favorite pizza. While you try to eat a fresh slice despite your broken heart hiding those crushed feelings.

The Jupiter Jim movie playing in the background just felt like a white noise as you tried to seem interested in the movie. But after the first movie was done, Donnie overheard a conversation between you and Leo.

"Hey Leo, can you portal me home?"

"Something came up so I can't really stick around for the rest of the movie night."

"Sure but, kind of missing out on Donnie fanboying on the next movie because."

"We would have sneaked away to let you two lovebirds have that special moment."

"Those words from Mikey and Raph because you saw how they panicked. Trying not to spoil their plan out in the open."

Donnie felt horrible seeing you lightly tug the shoulder straps of your backpack, that was intended for the movie night sleepover.

You still kept up the facade as you politely smiled back at Leo. Slowly heading towards the light blue portal.

"You usually avoid these sort of plans. What changed your mind about it?"

Leo pretended to stretch his arms but, still grinned at you.

"With someone like Kendra being his type, its not gonna last long."

"You're the exact opposite and I mean that in a good way."

"You're like a personal cheerleader for him."

You were inches away from the portal. Stopping your steps close to tears in your eyes. But, held back trying not to crack under pressure.

"Guess I have to be careful with any of your matchmaking ideas."

After hearing you two go your separate ways for the night, Donnie's shell lightly hit the wall as he sat down. Horrified at the thought of his brothers eventually finding out that he broke your heart. Or attempting to rebuilt that friendship you had with him.

[racingheartstopper]

Hi, I was reading the posts about “calling Lestappen is a stupid ship”, and reminds me of how I begin to ship Lestappen this year (not a very nice year to begin hah). Sorry if i do things wrong first time use anon ask (i dont even think i turned on ask anonymously)

It is exactly because they are not friends (let alone besties). They get along with each other well but they are not friends. I didn’t ship them when I begin to watch F1 racing, and began to wow when I saw Max looking at Charles. I thought they weren’t familiar with each other, but turns out Max cares a lot about Charles, so I was like LEMME SEE WHATS HAPPENING HERE. The fact that they enjoy staying with each other, both live in Monaco, having common friends but choose not to hang out too much is so interesting and funny. It’s more like they choose not to hang out together. I honestly dont think they will run out of topic when they sit together, but they choose not to do so is something I can’t get over with. Just like how they are not following each other on Instagram. And that famous video Charles cannot answer if Max is pretty kicks me into Lestappen!!! Charles is PR trained even during that time, but he made that question so awkward it’s almost like he tries too hard to hide the feelings that he forgot to put the proper PR face on. And he cannot stop thinking about Max after that question, he even give the light colour eye question for free. Like I know immediately he was fully thinking about Max for that ten or something seconds. Something between them made them not besties, not gonna hang out too often, too simple to say rivals, too much complex feelings. 

And how rb pr treats Lestappen ship. Max is the type of person cannot pr even if he tries. The rb pr does it in such a smart way that almost make me feel its because it would be better to put this into the sun rather than pretend the feelings never exists.

I think if one day they become besties, openly follow each other’s account, hang out often, openly say they think the other one looks so handsome all ppl in paddock are crazy about other, and hug each other firmly properly like how they choose to do to others, that’s the day I can officially graduate from the ship.

Sorry this is long, its just that blog you reposted reminds me a lot of how I begin to ship Lestappen. Enjoy the day :DDD

Hi, don’t worry, my first time using it too!

And I so get what you are saying! For me it was kind of the same, only a bit earlier. Somewhere early in ‘21. Was just online when I saw something lestappen. And I was like those two don’t even like each other. And bear in mind there used to be a lot less content and interactions than we have now. But the dynamic got me hooked.

After that the story kind of wrote itself.

It’s just fun. And at the end of the day. A ship is all it is and hope we can enjoy that peacefully in the confinement’s of tumblr

[sleepyficss]

knife x sweet, gentle reader headcanons please!! ^^

knife, sweet & gentle headcanons.

knife x reader, romantic

authors note:

look, i didn’t care much for knife in the romantic sense, but omfg i had so many thoughts for this

- he’s always lowkey concerned about your wellbeing – keeping an eye on you to make sure no one takes advantage of you.

- doesn’t want anyone to use you for themselves, especially since there might be times that your sweetness turns you into a target.

- he doesn’t understand how you can be so… relentlessly kind? it almost frustrates him.

- before you’ve developed any sort of relationship, he doesn’t exactly spare you from his ‘jerk’ persona.

- knife feels the need to… force you to break past that sweet, gentle exterior – he wants to prove that theres a side to you that isn’t all butterflies and rainbows.

- (he would never admit it to himself, but he wanted to make sure you could stand up for yourself, even if it was against him.)

- however, when the only reaction he gets is concern and a kindness that makes him stop in his tracks, knife starts to… regret his choices.

- while in the competition, he tries to keep a distance between you and him, in fear that you’d distract him from focusing on winning.

- everyone else definitely notices that, while he isn’t exactly kind to you, he’s a lot less mean to you compared to his interactions with literally everyone else.

- if someone tries to start a fight with you, or outright insults you, knife will immediately step in without realising what he’s doing.

- when you approach him like, “thank you for standing up for me! :)”, he starts getting all defensive.

- “i didn’t like that guy anyway, i was just looking for a reason to fight him…”

- okay, sureee lovebird

- unfortunately, i don’t see him making any moves or accepting any moves from you until season two.

- when he starts loosening up a bit, and realises that it’s not a bad thing to develop relationships with others he… looks back on the feelings that he had for you.

- not that those feelings ever went away, knife just pushed them down and pretended they didn’t exist.

- it starts off very small, he’ll actually initiate friendly conversation with you (albeit very poorly).

- “so… the weather’s looking nice today…”

- you’ll have to guide most of these conversations, lest you both end up in an awkward silence.

- he gets better at it, though!! starts learning what you two have in common, your interests, and beliefs.

- knife doesn’t realise it, but he immediately picks up all the small reactions you have.

- like, he’ll bring up that he knows your favourite food, and you stand there like, “i never told you that?? how did you know?”

- and its all because he saw how you lit up when mephone used it as the prize for being safe one time.

- eventually, he garners up the courage to admit that he loves you – although, he doesn’t tell you out of fear that someone as kind and gentle as you would never love someone as harsh and rugged as him.

- knife’s love language is totally acts of service, so he unconsciously does all sorts of tasks to support you, in both the competition and just casually.

- for example, if you’re on the same team, he prioritises getting you to safety first.

- if you’re on a different team, he’ll totally let you in on his teams plan if its a good one and your team is doing badly.

- OR or, he’ll pass by you in the hotel, and he’s like “oh, hey. i happened to pick up your favourite sweet treat at the shops earlier, you can have it.”

- acting like it was a coincidence. we KNOW he saw that in the shops, immediately thought of you, and HAD to buy it. probably fist fought someone for the last one.

- it takes a while, but when he finally asks you out, he’s all flustered and nervous, he got flowers for you even if you aren’t big on flowers because he followed a wikihow article on how to ask someone out. hes clueless

- knife is honestly so happily surprised that you say yes, he totally thought you’d reject him and that he’d never be able to talk to you again.

- a relationship with knife goes VERY slowly. he’s not experienced when it comes to these sorts of relationships, and every step he takes is done so with major hesitation.

- honestly, no one knew that he had finally asked you out until you coerced him into a kiss once in public. literally every object did that wojak face where they pointed at you two like :0 !!!

- at first, he’s very unsure about PDA. knife is still working past that whole, “showing that you care is showing weakness!!”

- one time though, another object was getting a little TOO close to you for comfort, he wasn’t even thinking and he just wrapped an arm around your shoulders and pulled you closer to him.

- after getting a taste of that, he was ALL over it.

- constantly standing as close as possible to you, making sure that everyone knows that you’re off-limits.

- especially since you’re so sweet and relentlessly kind to everyone, its easy to gravitate towards you.

- but knife is there, beating them off with a stick because NO! you CAN’T fall in love with them, because HE’S in love with them!

- due to everyone being on good terms with you, finding it impossible to NOT want to be friends with someone so kindhearted, knife does get a bit insecure.

- in his mind, you could have literally anyone as your partner, since you’re so likeable.

- and him? no one genuinely likes him for him, he’s a jerk! he’s always pushed people away, there’s a reason he doesn’t have many friendships.

- knife hides this pretty well though, once you get closer with him you learn to pick up these signs pretty well.

- just let him know that you wouldn’t trade him for anyone, and that theres a reason that you’re dating HIM, not anyone else.

- more on the displays of affection, he isn’t THAT big on cuddling.

- i mean, knife likes wrapping an arm around you, or having you nearby.

- but he’s not much for cuddling on the couch, wrapped up in each others arms.

- however, if you initiate it, he will act as a big spoon and hold you in his arms.

- he enjoys watching television, or playing a video game, with you sitting on him/in front of him and resting his chin on your shoulder.

- he loves spending time with you in general!! you two could just be in one of your hotel rooms, silently doing your own things, and it just makes him so happy to be around you.

- other objects definitely think that knife has gotten softer by being around you hehe

- your kindness just brushes off on him, he’ll find himself picking up items for people if they drop them on the floor, or complimenting someones skills in the game they’re playing.

- don’t bring it up though, he’ll get embarrassed and defensive.

- he’s not the type to really go all out on dates with you (unless its a special occasion), hes just not a fancy guy.

- its a guilty pleasure of his, though, to go on really cutesy dates just to see how happy it makes you.

- knife will suggest AND take you to a flower field for a picnic, making flower crowns with you, but if another object walks by and is like, “knife??”, he gets so defensive.

- immediately puts the blame on you, “it was their idea, i only came along because it makes them happy…”

- just giggle and let him say that, he’ll feel better about himself.

- another thing he really loves about you is how respectful you are.

- you don’t judge him for anything.

- one time, he accidentally poked a hole in his dora doll. he was really upset despite trying to hide it.

- you immediately stitched it up for him, and he fell so much harder for you. despite having such a childish comfort, you took it upon yourself to support it and him, without making any comments on it.

- you make him so flustered sometimes, a feat almost impossible from anyone else.

- your kindness knows no bounds, and you’ll catch him dead before anyone tries taking any advantage of you.

[eventuallyaugust]

bbtr misc. female idols who got a crush on txt seol

note: just pretend that you're viewing this piece in 2023, just like hyunseol's kprofile. i gave proofreading this.

warning/s: a bit angst in some parts if u guys squint

itzy — choi jisu (최지수) ⸻ early 2020 - present

first meeting

when lia first met hyunseol, she'll say it was something unexpected, like really unexpected.

her encounter with the txt member happened when the latter bumped into her who was heading to a restroom at a music award show.

pretty unexpected, right?

when they bumped into each other, poor surprised lia lost her balance but good thing hyunseol is here to save the day (good thing too because lia tries to avoid any interaction with her slightly strict stylist)

but enough of that because there's something else that needs our attention right now, like how did hyunseol here break lia's fall?

things you need to know: an arm wrapping around a waist

lia didn't realize hyunseol's hand placement at first since she is too busy looking at the latter's face and too stunned at what had happened.

but when she did, oh boy, she felt blood rushing to her cheeks and the area where hyunseol's hand landed became warm even though she had a fabric of clothing that separated her skin and the bighit idol's hand.

hyunseol profusely apologized to her, thinking that she embarrassed the itzy member without any slightest hint that the blush on lia's face isn't from embarrassment but from something else.

lia is so flustered that she couldn't bear to say why she is blushing, too flustered to think of anything else but how close her face was to the other idol earlier, how warm hyunseol's hand was against her side, and the scent that was coming from the tall idol.

lavender and jasmine, two scents she didn't imagine would smell good together in someone until now.

the two stood in the hallway in an awkward silence before hyunseol's manager came strutting towards them with that motherly tone of hers.

"there you are, seol. i've been looking for you, come on. you guys are up next for the performance."

with a final bow, the bighit idol let her manager dragged her away without saying anything, leaving lia standing in the hallway before a hand fell on her shoulders.

the stranger got startled when lia flinches before the latter turned her head and saw one of her members, yeji staring at her skeptically.

"are you okay?", yeji asks her, concerned.

"y-yeah."

lia stutters out an answer as she places a hand over her chest, hoping that small action would calm the raging storm in her heart.

start of interest

lia immediately get interested on hyunseol the moment they parted ways on their first meeting.

her curiosity on hyunseol started with a research on the tall idol, like who she was, how long she has been a trainee, etc.

when she found out that hyunseol used to be a jyp trainee, she somehow started regretting not signing up in jyp earlier and often gets thoughts like what if i had met seol earlier?, what if i had become friends with seol if i had signed up with jyp immediately?, etc.

she was so curious on who hyunseol is she even started watching those txt (un)helpful guide videos in youtube, because apparently, moas considered hyunseol as the most charismatic member in txt.

one video led to another various more and now, she started watching the group's mvs and immediately understands why hyunseol has a huge fanbase coming from various other kpop groups.

everything about hyunseol are insane, especially her vocals, her dancing skills, her confidence, and her visuals as if she was made by the greek goddess of love and beauty herself. a living and breathing of perfection.

her curiosity led her into getting caught by ryujin who had a knowing look over her face and she immediately felt guilty after like a child guilty of hiding their mother's most precious broken vase.

but surprisingly, ryujin just told her that she was expecting lia getting interested on her best friend and a "you weren't totally good at hiding your interest on seol, you know."

okay, lia probably is not good at keeping everything in the low when she realized that she starts to listen more on hyunseol-related stories ryujin shared whenever they eat together (probably her members realized it too and that thought just made her more embarrassed than before)

ryujin chuckled when she saw lia blushing furiously before patting her member's shoulder. "it's okay, unnie. there's nothing wrong with liking seol. you know i won't mind that and besides, you're not the only one who's crushing on her."

"what?"

and that was the moment lia's world stops for a moment.

----

fromis_9 — lee chaeyoung (이채영) ⸻ early 2021 - present

first meeting

when chaeyoung first met hyunseol, it was after bighit change to hybe and acquire various companies to become one. she could remember it clearly as if it just happened yesterday.

it was a normal day for fromis_9 as a hybe staff gives them a tour around the huge building and talking about the company's rules and regulations when jiheon, who was standing beside her, suddenly let out a small squeal and started to hit her arm.

she looked at the maknae and the latter could only point at the front double doors to see bang si-hyuk, a female manager, and six tall figures walking inside.

she had heard of the six-membered group from jiheon, the moa resident of fromis_9 and mostly, the maknae always talks about oh hyunseol, her bias and bighit's wildcard.

fromis_9 was in front of the lobby when the well-known chaotic group passed them and bowed to them while hyunseol met jiheon's eyes and approached the latter before she smiled widely when the latter let out a squeal and pulled her into a hug.

"nice to see you again, fangirl. how have you been?"

"ahhh, unnie!!! it's nice to see you again, too."

the rest of fromis_9 looked at the pair in stunned silence and when they look at the txt, they saw the members looking at their oldest and jiheon with wide smiles plastered on their faces.

"you know each other?"

hyunseol looked at chaeyoung, the one who asked and smiled at her while nodding before she gently patted jiheon's head and met chaeyoung's eyes again. "yeah, i met heonie through yujin. your maknae was pretty excited and shocked when she learned that i'm friends with yujinie."

the rest of fromis_9 looked at hyunseol with their mouths forming into 'o' and laughed at their maknae's reaction while chaeyoung remained her eyes on hyunseol with a dazed look over her face. mainly, her eyes were focused on the latter's lips and how it stretched into the brightest smile she ever seen (with jiheon being in second).

"txt, come on! bang pd-nim is waiting!"

"we'll be there!", txt loudly replied back and bowed to the nine girls with hyunseol smiling at chaeyoung last as she finally pulled away from jiheon's hug before the six-membered group ran off to their manager.

chaeyoung was left looking at hyunseol's face until txt disappeared behind the elevator doors and snapped out of her trance, hoping her members didn't notice her odd behavior.

jiheon, who noticed her unnie's actions, smirked and looked away with a shake of her head.

start of interest

chaeyoung didn't exactly know when and how she starts to get interested on hyunseol, but once she heard jiheon blasting some txt songs in their dorm, she knew she'll end up thinking about the txt member more than once.

she doesn't know how to ask jiheon about hyunseol without getting suspicious, but when she gave up to her curiosity, she asked jiheon and the latter surprisingly answered all of her questions like who hyunseol was, what her favorite foods are, etc.

the maknae was so receptive in answering her questions chaeyoung was starting get suspicious of jiheon and confronted the latter about her behavior one day.

"you're interested on seol unnie, so i'm just helping your interest on her grow even more."

"s-so you knew? ever since?"

"yeah, and don't worry, i didn't tell unnie about your... sudden interest on her. i'm evil, but not that evil."

but those words alone didn't convince chaeyoung and that drove her in asking the maknae. "why are you helping me when you already knew that i'm interested on seol?"

"why not?", jiheon retaliates with a smirk. "besides you're attracted to tall people, right? unnie, i told you that seol unnie is tall tall. she's like 5'11 foot, unnie."

chaeyoung could only blink at the maknae's words with her lips slightly apart. "oh, also unnie." she looks at jiheon and sees the latter looking at her in a serious matter.

"don't fall for seol unnie too hard. you're not the only idol who is interested on her."

----

ive — kim gaeul (김가을) ⸻ late 2021 - present

first meeting

(be warned: slight angst)

when gaeul first met hyunseol, it happened when she caught yujin and wonyoung sneaking out of the dorm at the late of the night after a hectic schedule.

when the two got caught, yujin answered with a pleading voice, "wonyoung and i needed to meet someone. please, unnie, let us go."

"can i tag along with you guys? just to make sure you two will come back home safe."

yujin and wonyoung looked at each other for a moment and shrugged before gaeul changed her clothes.

after hitching a taxi, gaeul couldn't help but wonder who the person yujin and wonyoung were trying to go to this late

when gaeul decides to ask who this person is, yujin just answers with a nonchalant shrug, "you'll meet her when we get there" while wonyoung tried her best not to fully break down right there and then.

due to her members' odd behavior, gaeul didn't bother to ask again and has fallen so deep in her thoughts she didn't realize the taxi had already stopped if it weren't for yujin who pulled her out of her thoughts.

when they stepped out of the vehicle, gaeul realized they are in front of an apartment building before wonyoung walked inside first, hurry present in her steps and yujin led gaeul inside.

gaeul then saw someone waiting by the lobby, talking to the receptionist and to her surprise, yujin and wonyoung immediately ran to that stranger, pulling the latter in their arms.

seol, who was the stranger, got startled and turned to the two tallest members of ive, worry plastered on her face when she heard sniffles from them.

gaeul accidentally caught seol's eyes and the latter bowed at her before the former immediately looked away with a blush, her heartbeat consuming her sense of hearing before she chastised herself for even reacting that way and gently pinched herself.

"come on, let's take this in my apartment", seol says as she keeps an eye outside the building for unsuspecting sasaengs lurking in the shadows.

after a painfully 1 minute in the elevator, the txt member led the three ive members inside her apartment and to her living room before grabbing some tissues and water bottles with a few snacks in the kitchen.

"here, some water, tissues, and snacks. now tell me what's happened."

gaeul took the single seat across her members while keeping her attention on the older girl while seol took a seat between yujin and wonyoung who immediately clung on the txt member.

she saw how seol kept her attention on yujin who was crying on the latter's shoulder while letting out the problems ive is experiencing under the media's cruel hand as wonyoung buried her head against seol's arm, tears adorning her cheeks.

and soon, gaeul found herself crying along with yujin and wonyoung when the topic reached to the most sensitive ones like how the netizens made liz uncomfortable wearing the clothes she likes, how leeseo was mocked by some fans when she was doing her thanksgiving speech, etc.

but through it all, gaeul always sees seol listening to yujin's rants and vents with undivided attention and open ears.

seeing seol being so caring to her members, attentive to whatever topic they are talking about, and somehow being good at making her members smile made gaeul's heart flutter.

she doesn't know why or how but hearing the short laughters seol and her members share amidst of the sensitive topics, gaeul couldn't help but to view seol in the different light considering she knew there are only a certain group of idols in the industry that could be trusted.

after that small session, seol's phone rang and the bighit idol immediately answered the call before standing up and walking away, leaving the three ive members talk to themselves in the living room.

"so gaeul unnie, what do you think of seol unnie?"

gaeul threw yujin a look and saw a hint of mischief on the way the leader is looking at her, narrowing her eyes at the latter. "why are you looking at me like that?"

"looking at you like what?"

"like you want to start something i don't approve of."

yujin snickers. "wwhhaattt? i do not. you're just jumping into conclusions."

gaeul gets silent while rolling her eyes.

she then looked around and examined every furniture present in the room before she looked at the picture frame beside the tv and spotted seol with a kid seated on her shoulders.

meanwhile, yujin and wonyoung are talking about their oldest while keeping their eyes on the latter, seeing how distracted gaeul is.

after the phone call, seol immediately barged inside and put her phone inside her sweatpants pocket as gaeul noticed a hint of daze in the way the txt member looks at her members but she didn't ponder on that thought any longer.

"hello, sorry. that was my manager. she was asking something, but anyways— why are you looking at me like that, yujin?"

"is it our time to go?", yujin asks.

"go? at this hour? god no, you girls will stay at my guest rooms. i won't let you girls leave, especially now that you know crime rates are high around this time." seol shook her head, the trio only noticing spare clothes in her hands. "now, go change your clothes. the clothes you two left behind days ago are in the closets."

once yujin and wonyoung left to change their clothes, seol turned to gaeul and gave the clothes to the '02 liner with a smile. "here's some spare clothes, gaeul-ssi. i hope you have a good night's sleep tonight."

"why are you doing this?" gaeul's eyes immediately widened when she realized she talks her thought out loud and covered her mouth with a gasp before grabbing the clothes. "uhm, s-sorry, s-sunbaenim. you can just leave that question unanswered, i'll just—"

"it was the right thing to do, gaeul-ssi." the ive member looked at seol to see the latter looking at her with a solemn expression.

"besides, you girls deserve some kindness, not to mention the whole world. we may not be fully acquianted with one another, but i hope you are aware of how much yujin and wonyoung kept saying how proud they are to have members like you, even they don't know if you guys aren't exactly the the type of people to have deep conversation with or not."

seol looked away with a sigh and shook her head. "it's unfair and unfortunate for your group to be targeted by such unkind and mean people in your debut. you girls just want to achieve your dreams and besides you aren't doing anything bad, so..."

"why should they hate your group?"

seol's question kept gaeul up at night thinking as she spent the night looking up at the ceiling filled with glow-in-the-dark stars.

start of interest

gaeul's interest on seol didn't start growing until it was the last week of december 2021 after hyunseol had given six-membered group delievered foods in christmas with a printed note, "hello, ive! merry christmas! i hope you guys have a good day ahead of this special day. i wish i could bring these boxes myself, but i was needed at a short notice in the company. the first box contain your favorite foods while the second contains my gifts for you. merry christmas again 🫶 sincerely, azrael"

at first, the ive members didn't know who this azrael person is and almost called their manager if not for yujin and wonyoung explaining to them that azrael is hyunseol's english name and the bighit idol always used that name for deliveries.

why?, the question gaeul kept asking to herself. why is she so... helpful? caring? kind? pretty? funny? smart? understanding? open-minded? and more positive qualities that somehow describe how perfect she is??

being a curious person herself, she decided to watch some videos about hyunseol and her group that either could be from the group's official account or the fans while she hid in the comfort of her room.

her curiosity and interest not only led her to watching txt's mvs but also the behind-the-scenes, the group's variety show 'to do', and some music awards performances. it eventually led her eyes being glued to her phone screen more often and her members may or may not have noticed her sudden interest on her phone.

as the leader of her group, yujin noticed that gaeul started binge-watching something but whenever she approaches the latter, the oldest always puts her down as if she's afraid to accidentally spilled a secret.

one day, when ive took a break from practicing, yujin saw gaeul wiping her sweat off her face while facing the mirror in the room and immediately approached the latter before dragging the '02 liner out of the room, "gaeul unnie and i will bring some snacks, we'll be right back!"

due to the quick turn of events, poor gaeul didn't get a say in the impromptu hang out. all she could do is follow the leader out before she gets confused when latter asks, "so why are you suddenly being interested on your phone? i've been noticing how much you kept smiling to yourself while watching something in your phone."

i could lie to her and save myself from embarrassment, gaeul thought to herself. or i could say the truth and get this feeling over with.

yujin, sensing the hesitation, immediately added, "if you aren't ready to tell me yet, it's fine. i totally—"

"no, it's okay. i'll say it." gaeul took a deep breath. "it's because seol unnie. i was watching txt's variety show, to do the other day and i was trying not to laugh because i don't want to draw attention to myself while watching."

yujin scratches her nape, trying not to smile and avoiding gaeul's eyes. "well, you kinda failed because you did draw attention to yourself the other day to the point the members kept asking me what you were watching that got you smiling so wide."

gaeul's face fell. oh shit.

----

gfriend (former) & viviz — jung eunbi (정은비) ⸻ early 2022 - unknown

first meeting

when eunha first met seol, it was around viviz' comeback for their mini album, beam of prism. she doesn't know why but she could still remember the way how seol laughed at wonyoung's joke when her group entered the interview room (idk what it's called where mcs interview idols just like jangkku interviewed the idols).

the moment the three idols walked in the room, eunha immediately met seol's eyes and saw how the latter's eyes brighten at the sight of her. the bighit idol and jangkku immediately bowed at the three idols while greeting them.

sinb immediately smiled at the sight of the 5'11 foot idol while umji ran to the bighit idol and pulled seol in a hug while the latter let out a loud "umji unnie!"

her two members are close with the txt member ever since their gfriend days and she could always hear umji talking about the bighit idol to their leader, sowon even in the maknae's sleep.

hearing so many stories of seol from umji made eunha grow curious, but she never get the chance to meet the idol herself considering in the industry, hyunseol is known to be everywhere and anywhere. it is only a matter of luck to meet the idol herself.

but eunha didn't expect to see seol hanging out in interview room with the two new mcs out of all places. it's just too... random place to be in.

hyunseol and umji then pulled away from the hug before the latter smacked the arms of the tall girl, earning a groan from the txt member.

"ow, what was that for, unnie?"

"that's for telling me that you won't make it, and this." umji then grabbed ahold of hyunseol's t-shirt and pulled the latter down to her height before kissing the latter's cheek. "is for coming anyways. thank you, seol."

"y-yeah, a-anytime", hyunseol stuttered while blushing. "but unnie, you should know that i was going to tell you that i'll come."

"then why didn't you?" hyunseol could only look at sinb and the latter jerked her head back before her eyes fell on umji.

"so it was you all along?!"

hyunseol took several steps away from the scene and stood beside eunha who suddenly got nervous at the bighit idol's presence beside her.

why? it's because hyunseol was so tall beside her and she admits that the 5'11 foot idol is so prettier up close.

eunha doesn't know if hyunseol being pretttier up close is because of the latter's dimples making an appearance, the way the txt member's eyes disappear in her cheeks whenever she laughs, or maybe the way the bighit idol carries herself with confidence.

like she owns the place (and eunha's heart and the viviz member doesn't know it yet)

but whatever it is, eunha could only feel her heart starts having a rampage inside her chest while her thoughts became about the txt's oldest member.

start of interest

eunha's curiosity on seol didn't get bigger not until she got a birthday gift from her and a bunch of teasing from her fellow viviz and former gfriend members.

"happy birthday, eunha unnie! umji unnie told me the other day your birthday is getting close and well, i want to give you a gift even though we aren't close and acquianted with one another. i hope you have a great day today and i also hope you enjoy my gift. from azrael."

umji could only squeal in excitement once eunha told her friends who gave the gift and what gift was. it was a korean cookbook and a blank notebook to which has another note stuffed between the blank pages. "while you cook various foods, i hope you could make recipes that could satisfy your tastebuds, make you reminisce the past, and make you inspired to do more. use this notebook for the ideas you make because i know you'll do great now and forever, eunha unnie."

"eunha unnie, you received a gift from hyunseol, ahhh!! azrael is her english name if you're wondering." umji then shook her head and sighed with a hint of smile on her face. "but wow, i didn't expect her to go through with it."

"what do you mean?", yerin asks and soon the other five women looked at the youngest, intrigued.

"well, you see, unnies. i dragged hyunseol with me when i was shopping for my birthday gift to eunha unnie the other day since i don't know what to get for eunha unnie."

"then?", sowon asks, clearly interested on the maknae's storytelling.

"well, you know that we're close, right? to the point i shared some random trivias about you guys and everything that happened to us, right?"

yuju answers, "yeah, what about it?"

umji scratches her nape. "well... i told hyunseol from before that eunha unnie likes to cook. although i expected this to happen, i'm still surprised that hyunseol still remembers that info and decides to buy eunha unnie a cookbook and this blank notebook."

"when did you tell her that eunha unnie likes to cook?", sinb inquiries, narrowing her eyes.

"uh... two years ago?" umji looked at her unnies in confusion.

"and hyunseol still remembers that even though it's been two years?!"

eunha could feel herself blush as she held the txt's member's gift close to her chest, unable to join the chaos her six friends were in.

----

iz*one (former) and actress — kim minju (김민주) ⸻ early 2020 - present

first meeting

when minju first met hyunseol, it was when she decided to sneak out of the dorm at night. too late in the night that she could get scolded by eunbi, but she couldn't care less.

normally, she goes to the place she frequented, a karaoke bar, but with everything that is happening in her mind and the stress coming from the group schedule, she decided to ditch the bar and let her feet led somewhere new.

and that's why she ended up standing in front of a park that had a kid's playground and some benches around the area that overlooks a riveed.

she was walking towards the nearest bench by the river when she felt a presence nearby and when she was about to run away, a hand with a handkerchief immediately got ahold of her mouth.

tears soon build up in her eyes and fear immediately consumed her as she tried to break free, but a strong scent invaded her sense of smell as she slowly started to feel dizzy.

seconds later, minju could breathe again as she felt the strong grip on her vanishes and tried to catch her balance, but her knees gave up on her.

then a strange thing happened.

another arm had caught her and before she could slap the stranger with the force remaining in her body, she heard a voice that stop her.

"it's okay, minju-ssi. you're safe, i'm here. this bastard won't bother you anymore."

she doesn't know what happened next, but all she could remember was that she fainted.

when she woke up from the terrifying night before, minju finds herself in a bedroom and immediately gets alarmed because the only thought in her mind that time was where the fuck am i?

she looked around the room in panic and found some picture frames settled on the nightstand. once she laid her eyes on the pictures, she slowly recovered from her panic.

oh, so i'm in hyunseol's bedroom, yena unnie's best friend. it kinda looks... like her.

suddenly, the bedroom door opened and showed the txt member holding a bed food tray. the two stared each other for a moment before hyunseol smiled, making minju gulp at the sudden increase of the pace her heart took inside her chest.

"hey, you're finally awake. i was getting worried that you got too affected by what had happened last night."

the bighit idol walked in and placed the tray on the desk table nearby before she sat on the end of the bed and looked at minju solemnly.

"i'm sorry you had to go through the feeling of almost getting kidnapped yesterday." minju looked away and hyunseol immediately regretted saying those words as she stood up and walked up to the food tray, her back facing minju. "sorry."

"what's happened to the suspect?"

"i called the cops on him and threw him behind bars."

"how?" hyunseol could only smile and immediately recomposed herself.

"don't worry about your pretty little head on that. come on, you need to eat breakfast after that ordeal."

hyunseol carefully set the bed food tray on the bed, mindful not to get clumsy in front of minju. once she finished, she placed the silver utensils on the side.

"i don't know what food you usually eat at breakfast, so i hope you like blueberry pancakes and greek yogurt."

"i..." minju didn't know why she feels her heart beats against her ears, but just seeing the '99 liner's effort of preparing breakfast and seeing how nervous hyunseol is if she likes pancakes or not makes a small smile appear on her lips.

"i like it."

hyunseol smiled and nodded while having her eyes trained on her desk table, the feeling of blood rushing to her cheeks getting to her.

"oh okay, that's good to hear. i'll go now so you can enjoy the silence. i hope you enjoy the food, minju-ssi."

but before hyunseol could take a step, minju already stopped her.

"please stay, i could need a friend right now."

starts of interest

minju wasn't supposed to get interest on any idol because she knew it could lead to some kind of scandal and didn't want to bring that kind of damage to her group.

but whenever she hears her fellow member, yena talking about the bighit idol whether it may be because of her unconditional kindness, undeniable charisma, or her outrageous height (yena's exact wording), she couldn't help but remember the time hyunseol took care of her and became true to her words when she asked the bighit idol not to tell anything to yena.

(until now, yena doesn't know the almost kidnapping)

she tried to not to acknowledge the rampaging emotions happening in the deep pits of her stomach whenever she hears hyunseol's name, but whenever she does, her heart pounds with each breath she takes.

she wants to tell the others about the strange feeling she got ever since she and hyunseol talked, but how could she even talk to them without mentioning the part she almost get kidnapped?

sure, eunbi would scold her about that but that's the least of her problems because she's more concerned for mentioning the word, crush.

knowing her members, they would get excited over the fact that she got a possible crush and hyunseol getting known as minju's crush in iz*one is something she isn't ready for.

but she needs to take some risks every now and then and taking risks is what she'll do.

"uh, everyone. i've gathered all of you today to tell you something."

"it sounds pretty serious when you're nervous, minju-ah", chaeyeon voices out her concern while the iz*one members took their seats on the couch and on the carpeted floor.

"i just want to hear your opinions on this because it has been bothering me and makes me feel confused, so please i hope you take this seriously."

the rest of iz*one members look at one another, muttering things minju couldn't understand before they returned their attention on the '01 liner.

"it's okay, minju-ah. you can tell us anything." eunbi's soft motherly voice toned down the anxiety minju felt in her nerves before the latter took a deep breath.

"okay, i think i like hyunseol unnie."

"hyunseol unnie? from txt?" yena immediately stood up on the floor and looked at her member in surprise. "when did you meet her?"

"last week."

looks like she needs to tell them the whole story by how confused they are right now. take another deep breath, minju. you can do this.

"okay, you see. i met hyunseol unnie when i almost got kidnapped last week, but it's okay—"

"what do you mean it's okay?! you almost got kidnapped last week!"

minju retorts back at eunbi, "but it's okay, unnie! i'm okay now! hyunseol unnie saved me—"

"she saved you?", yena repeats before she starts smirking at the younger girl. "she saved you, huh? did we hear that right?"

minju blushed with a sigh. oh boy, she could feel the wave of teasing coming from the girls.

----

twice — chou tzuyu (周子瑜) ⸻ late 2019 - present

first meeting

when tzuyu first met hyunseol, it happened at the mma 2019 when nayeon decided to bring newly befriended idols to the twice waiting room with everyone's permission.

the other twice members were resting in the room when nayeon suddenly barged inside with a wide smile on her face.

"hello, everyone!"

"what do you have on your sleeve now, nayeon?", the leader asked the oldest.

"remember my request to bring two friends in the waiting room?"

"yeah, who is it?"

"you'll see." nayeon smirked at momo before she walked up to the door and talked to a pair behind it.

"okay, are you guys ready?"

"go ahead", jeongyeon says, eager present in her voice.

"okay, come on in!"

the door then was pushed open and two tall figures came out, bowing to the jyp group. when the latter finally lifted their head, tzuyu was not disappointed to know the identities of the two strangers are.

kang taehyun and oh hyunseol of tomorrow x together, bighit's newest group and bts' juniors. tzuyu also had heard about the two members especially the various titles several netizens had given the txt's oldest in the span of several months after their debut.

bighit's wildcard, txt's solace, and nation's best friend.

seeing the 5'11 foot idol in front of her somehow made sense why seol was given those titles, although tzuyu feels that two of these titles contradict one another.

in bighit's wildcard, mystery is present around the tall physique of the bighit idol. one look from seol could give tzuyu the shivers she would feel whenever she felt an unsettling sensation in her body.

also, tzuyu had heard from various idols that seol was known to be the hidden ace of bighit, but she doesn't know if those statements held some truth in them.

in txt's solace, tzuyu had seen several videos containing hyunseol and her unconditional love for her members from cooking them food, gifting them expensive yet meaningful gifts, and being the best older sister the other txt members could have.

while the title, nation's best friend is a bit self-explanatory considering the various friendships hyunseol has formed with a variety of idols from different companies.

tzuyu couldn't grasp the question how hyunseol managed to befriend idols from almost all of the groups whether it may be a girlgroup or boygroup, but all she knows is that she feels a bit jealous on the fact that hyunseol could easily make friends without getting involved in dating rumors.

"hello, twice sunbaenim. it's an honor to meet you." taehyun tried to hide behind hyunseol, getting flustered and the latter took notice of it, stepping forward.

meanwhile nayeon looked at her members proud. "see? i told you guys i would eventually befriend her."

hyunseol nodded and smirked at twice's oldest member. "yeah, nayeon unnie was so determined to be friends she even dragged us on the way here."

the '95 liner blushed and pouted. "hey, i told you to not tell them that!"

"you didn't exactly make me swear on txt, nayeon unnie. besides, you were so adamant on befriending me i simply couldn't resist telling them that", hyunseol teased.

the twice members laughed at nayeon who was now smacking hyunseol's arm with the latter letting the older girl do whatever she wants.

"also, i agreed to befriend her because taehyun and i want to give you our albums. we hope we aren't interrupting something when we came in."

jihyo then smiled and stood up. "no, no. you aren't interrupting something. we are actually expecting you since nayeon and jeongyeon had a bet against each other on who you would befriend first."

hyunseol blinked and tilted her head at twice's second oldest. "you... were trying to befriend me earlier?"

jeongyeon blushed and nodded while the rest of twice members noticed the reaction of the second oldest and jihyo turned to hyunseol, confused. "may i ask what happened?"

the txt's oldest member turned red and cleared her throat. "she asked me if i can hang out with her and get drunk after the awards show."

tzuyu has never seen jihyo turn her head so fast until now and doesn't know if she'll laugh at jeongyeon or feel bad. "what did you just say to hyunseol?!"

"i'm sorry! she was in the legal age already, so i thought of inviting her to drink!"

hyunseol speaks once the chaos temporarily stopped, "uhm... i would accept your invitation, jeongyeon unnie, but i don't think the company would allow me. that's why i rejected your offer, sorry."

"so... you're willing to get drunk?"

hyunseol and taehyun shared a look before the former answered whike scratching her nape, "yes, but i never get drunk, momo unnie."

"eh? are you sure?"

"seol noona...", twice then turned their attention on taehyun who suddently got nervous. "has a high alcohol tolerance."

"when did you find out about that one?"

hyunseol and taehyun shared a look once again before the oldest of txt avoided the nine women's eyes.

"when g-idle had a bet against me that i will get drunk first before all of them."

"so who won?"

"of course hyunseol did. that's why she found out she had a high alcohol tolerance."

"so if you—"

the waiting room door then opened and showed txt's manager, yongsun before she bowed to the 3rd gen idol group. "hello, twice. i hope you don't mind me fetching seol and taehyun. the award show is about to start."

"oh, of course we don't mind. we need to get going, anyways." jihyo bowed at txt's manager before she turned towards the two txt members. "thank you for the albums. you can just give them to tzuyu here."

hyunseol then approached twice's maknae and gave txt's album while bowing at the latter. due to her sudden nervousness, the txt's oldest member accidentally touched the other idol's hand.

the 5'11 foot idol blushed and immediately stepped away when tzuyu had grabbed the album from her. this is so embarrassing.

the two txt members and their manager gave their final bow to the girl group before they walked out.

once the trio left, jihyo threw the maknae a look and her eyes widened when she saw the hint of pink invading the latter's cheeks.

start of interest

tzuyu doesn't know if she should let her interest drove her into finding more about seol, but hearing so many txt songs on her way to the agreed rendezvous on the day she will hang out with shuhua doesn't help her decision-making.

she thinks it was god's sign to tell her to give in and she isn't usually the religious type of people, but she doesn't know if she could give it a shot or not because what could she lose in a simple curiosity?

her [REDACTED]

taking the seat in front of her friend in the café, tzuyu couldn't help but sigh and her action caught shuhua's attention.

"are you okay? did you guys have a rough week at practice?"

"i wish it was from the practice, but no."

shuhua looked at her taiwanese friend and tilted her head. "is it a crush problem?"

tzuyu could only nod in embarrassment and shuhua's jaws drop. talking about crushes is normal between them, but tzuyu's crushes? that's rare, considering tzuyu herself finds it hard to get interested on people.

"so... what's wrong?"

"i don't know if i'm just curious about her or have a crush."

her. shuhua pondered. tzuyu might like a another female idol.

"first of all, who is it?", shuhua asks before she takes a bite off her blueberry crêpe.

"oh hyunseol."

shuhua immediately choked on her food and tzuyu went to her aid, giving the g-idle member a drink. once shuhua finally got to breathe, she croaked as she looked at her friend with wide eyes. "oh hyunseol? really, her?"

"yeah. what seems the problem?"

"i'm surprised that you have a crush, but having a crush on oh fucking hyunseol? that's expected."

"why?"

shuhua ran her hands over her face and breathed out, the pain from getting choked is slowly decreasing. "i know you don't care about what netizens think, but i also hope you know what you're getting into."

tzuyu's eyebrows creased together. what does she mean by that?

shuhua added, "other than being known as nation's best friend, she is also has the reputation as being nation's heartbreaker by the netizens who hate on txt for fun."

"how? how did she become a heartbreaker?" tzuyu then took a sip of her coffee.

"because netizens think hyunseol intentionally make friends with every group to flirt with one member and break their hearts after."

"but what do you think? yuqi sunbae is friends with hyunseol unnie, right?" tzuyu took three bites of her chocolate cake.

"my advice? go for it." tzuyu's head shot up in surprise, her mouth filled with cake. "what? just because netizens think of hyunseol that way doesn't mean i believe their words. besides, i've already met seol unnie and believe me when i say that netizens are just jealous of her and her friendships with various idols.

"but it's still your choice, you know if you wanna pursue your feelings or not."

tzuyu finished her cake as she finally decided before she speaks up, "i have a question."

"ask away."

"is there any chance that you'll like seol too?"

shuhua smirks, raising a brow. "aww, are you jealous i might take her away?"

shuhua's teasing made tzuyu blush like a madman and smack her friend's arm. "n-no, i-i'm just curious."

"sure, ms. curious." shuhua took a sip of her drink and chuckled before looking at the tall girl with a serious expression.

"if i'm not so stupidly in love with soojin? i would." shuhua cleared her throat, blushing as she looked away. "like hyunseol, i mean. but luckily, i already have soojin with me, so there's no need for me to join the chaos of being attracted with seol."

tzuyu then fell in silence after that.

is it really a curse to like seol?

----

red velvet — kim yerim (김예림) ⸻ late 2019 - present

first meeting

when yeri first met seol, it was when the latter accidentally got lost in the asia artist awards backstage. red velvet members saw her looking around the hallway frantically and irene decided to lend a hand as the leader of her group.

"oh, shit!" hyunseol jumped as she felt cold fingers wrapped themselves around her right arm. she turned around to see the five red velvet members and her eyes widened when she realized what she said.

"oh, i'm sorry, sunbaes. it wasn't me, it was azrael. i'm sorry, i'm sorry." the txt member bowed profusely and the sm idols chuckled, making hyunseol's ears turn red.

"azrael, huh? i heard that you're one of the english speakers of your group." wendy starts a conversation in english.

hyunseol's eyes slightly widen with familiarity and nodded. "yeah, i am. nice to meet you and your group, wendy unnie. i hope you didn't mind me swearing in front of you."

wendy chuckled and patted hyunseol's arm. "we don't mind. besides, we curse too, you know. just not around irene unnie, though."

hyunseol's lips twisted into a pout and wendy chuckled again. "but don't worry, she won't mind now considering we did scare you. anyways, what's wrong? we kept seeing you looking around the place."

"yeah, you look like a lost puppy looking around."

"a cute puppy", yeri mutters and joy's eyes rose in mischief, trying not to smirk.

but it seems that the txt's oldest member hadn't heard yeri's words and hung her head low. "i've lost my members in the sudden surge of crowd and now, i'm trying to find them, but it's been unsuccessful so far."

"did you know where your waiting room is?", irene asks, her motherly instincts coming out for a moment.

"no, unnie. my manager was leading us to our waiting room when i lost them."

"aww, don't worry, i'm sure we can help you find them", seulgi consoled as she patted the tall idol's arm, smiling.

hyunseol scratched her cheek. "uhm, i'm not worried about getting lost. it's more like getting worried for my members—"

"seol noona, where are you?!"

the loud voices of yeonjun and huening kai cut hyunseol off as it boomed through the hallway, startling all idols and staffs present in the area including red velvet.

"anddd that's what i'm talking about." hyunseol then sighed and turned to the 3rd gen group with an apologetic look. "sorry, my members tend to panic or feel edgy whenever they realized i wasn't with them or they lost me."

"separation anxiety?", joy asked.

"no, it's just the fear of leaving me behind, especially the maknae. huening kai grew protective of his older members." hyunseol ran a hand through her hair and threw her wristwatch a look, her eyes widening a little bit.

"anyways, i need to go. i'll see you around, sunbaes." hyunseol bade goodbye before she shouted, her hands around her mouth. "yeonjun, huening kai!"

"seol noona?! wave your hands so we can see you!"

hyunseol then did what she was told and turned back to the five sm idols, giving them a wave before she turned around again and walked away.

"w-who was that?" yeri finally got her voice back after being so speechless in front of the tall stranger.

"it's txt seol, nation's best friend and nation's heartbreaker."

start of interest

yeri is aware of her sudden interest on txt's oldest member (she found out that seol is the oldest when she stumbled upon the group's official website) after hearing the title the idol earned in the span of several months after debut from seulgi.

and through nayeon, the idol she is currently hanging out with, yeri's interest on seol has been amplified. especially after the twice member's story with hyunseol's birthday gift for another twice member, jihyo.

"jihyo was so happy that hyunseol remembered her birthday and got her a bunch of clothes as a gift, especially the ones that are good for the skin."

nayeon sighed and placed her chin on her hand. "jihyo's so lucky to receive a gift like that." the twice member then looked at yeri to see the latter deep in her thoughts while staring at now-lukewarm coffee before gently nudging the younger girl.

"are you okay? you're spacing out. what's on your mind?"

"hyunseol." nayeon jerked her head back at the quick response.

"hyunseol? why is she on your mind? did something happen to you two?"

"no, i'm curious about her." yeri then threw the twice member a look. "seulgi unnie referred hyunseol as the nation's best friend and nation's heartbreaker. i'm curious how she got both of those titles when they're contradicting one another."

"oh, that." nayeon suddenly got quiet for a moment and sighed before speaking up again. "the nation's heartbreaker isn't true, though. male fans of various girl groups gave that title to her because they are jealous of her and what she is capable of, knowing their idols are at seol's disposal."

"those fans are aware of their idols' crush on seol?"

"some idols talked about it in vlive while some kept it secret. those obsessive male fans are jealous of seol because she has the confidence and freedom to talk their idols while they don't."

"is all of that true?"

nayeon shook her head as she sipped her coffee before she put the cup down and speaks, "god no, but it was the observation between me and jihyo had after tzuyu started liking seol."

yeri looked at nayeon stunned and when the latter noticed her behavior, nayeon just raised a brow back. "what? you think everyone is immune to seol's charm?"

"i just didn't think—"

"think that tzuyu will like seol?" yeri nodded. "most idols call it seol's curse, you know."

seol's curse?

"it was called seol's curse because seol has so many admirers she'll have a hard time dealing with them." nayeon finished her cake with two bites and wiped her mouth with a napkin while yeri looked down at her hands.

"you know, jihyo and i felt bad for her because apparently, she didn't want to get involved in this mess and despite the chaos happening in seol's life, she could still keep a smile on her lips."

"but..." yeri then looked up and met nayeon's eyes trained on her. "there's nothing wrong with liking seol, especially if you're not doing anything bad. as long as you still respect her as a human being who has feelings, then you can still continue being infatuated with her."

nayeon then placed her hand over yeri and smiled at the younger girl. "i know what you've heard of seol and please believe me when i say what the netizens kept saying negative things about seol isn't true."

nayeon gently squeezed yeri's hand. "seol is an innocent person and she didn't mean to make almost every female idol to fall in love with her, so please..."

"don't let the opinions of others change your view of her because you'll miss the real story."

"i-i won't, nayeon unnie. i-i promise."

who are you really, oh hyunseol? and why are you so mysterious?

----

female idols who almost got a crush or stopped having a crush on seol

kang hyewon - almost; reason: already have fallen in love with eunbi

kim chaewon - stopped; reason: claims seol being bad for her heart (her exact words: she's too much of a green flag)

cho miyeon - stopped; reason: doesn't want to be rejected by seol by the time she'll confess

seo soojin - almost; reason: already in love with shuhua

kim jiwon (liz) - almost; reason: wants no drama in the group

lee joowon (jooe) - stopped; reason: afraid of the scandals

----

taglist (open!!): @curly-fr13s , @neuftaeng , @myothegreat , @yoontoonwhs , @nasyu-kookies , @awkwardtoafault , @osakis-gf , @dream-chasers-things , @woonie57 , @juhyunsthirdwife , @sewiouslyz, @mxrning-star ,

masterlist

[1rsoldiersince2012]

Bound by Law (Matt Murdock x Reader)

Words: 4711 (chapter 45)

AN: woow, big chapter, lots of talking and problem solving! some spicy moments, so please, minors, do not interact!

45. not the best lawyer, but a goddamn good criminal

"We'll reach out to you soon, Miss, as soon as we get an answer from the court about the deal you're suggesting." You steal a glance at Matt, he's been talking on the phone for about 20 minutes, too. "Yes, Miss, your case is our top priority, but now everything depends on..." You roll your eyes when the middle-aged woman interrupts you again, "yes, I'll call you, personally... Yes, have a great day."

"I'm sure everything will be alright, Mr Dunway, I assure you, you're in good hands. We'll meet you exactly at 8 o'clock on Monday. Yes, safe travels, Mr Dunway." Matt says, smiling at something the man said on the other side of the phone call. You notice the dimples on his cheeks and barely noticeable crows feet under his eyes when he flashes his teeth. With one last nod, although it obviously went unseen during this talk, Matt puts his phone down, lifting his head towards you, "Wow, he really likes to talk." 

"You should be glad it was only a phone call." You smile back, "he won't let you rest when he comes here."

"Is Margaret gonna let you rest?" Matt fixes his glasses with a single push, and rests his head on the palm of his hand. "I heard something about 'top priority'."

"Every case is our top priority, boss," the slight change in your voice sent shivers down Matt's spine, and as much as he hated to admit, he felt a bit of blood rush to his dick. "I'm surprised that she didn't chicken out when I introduced myself. That woman sounds like she's a fan of Bulletin."

"Alright, Sherlock Holmes," Matt chuckles, "if you can guess what she's a fan of only by hearing her voice..." his voice gets lower, despite the closed doors of your office and phones going off non-stop the whole morning, "then could you guess what's on my mind?"

"Why? Are you afraid that I have finally discovered my superpowers?" You also lower your voice, slowly brushing your high heel along Matt's leg under the tables. "I'm guessing..." you begin, watching how Matt, not expecting your sudden touch, slightly jumps in his seat, "that you have some dirty things on your mind... Things that shouldn't be talked about in the workplace."

Matt fidgets, as if trying to create more friction for himself, when your foot travels up to his knee, but he quickly grabs it, keeping it in place. You slightly gasp, afraid that Karen might see you through the half-closed curtains, but then you lower your head, pretending to write something in your notes. Matt feels your pulse quicken, your skin suddenly feels hotter than it was before, and he lessens his grasp on your foot, letting his fingers slowly slide on your skin. "I think you should do whatever your boss asks you to do, y/n." Matt's fingers gently push your foot off his knee and it lands with a soft thud. "I won't ask for an explanation next time. "

"You-" you shut up when someone opens the door and stops. Turning to look back, you notice Foggy standing with an open folder in the doorway, looking at the two of you with a raised eyebrow.

"Am I interrupting something?" Foggy asks, and you feel your cheeks turning red again. "Are you sick or something? It looks like you might have temperature."

"What? No, I was just..." You stumble on your words slightly, "on this long phone call, I got a bit frustrated, that's it."

"You know, I have to apologize, y/n." Foggy begins, briefly looking at his feet. You raise your eyebrows, waiting. "I was an asshole earlier, when you saved the firm's ass with all these new clients, the ad in the newspaper is doing numbers, I..." You suddenly feel shyness creep on your cheeks, a warm feeling in your chest. Matt, on the other hand, tries to make himself as invisible as possible, still angry with Foggy. "I'm really sorry about everything that happened with that glasses guy and Fisk, trust me, if I could, I'd go beat them up, and the devil too, because you deserve so much better."

"I... Wow, I don't know what to say, I'm just doing my job, Foggy, I want us to be a successful company as much as you do, although, you two need to stop acting like donkeys and make a truce at last." You clear your throat, "Wesley's dead, so unless you want to beat up a corpse, I won't stop you."

"What? Fisk's right hand is dead?" Foggy sits on one of the two armchairs, thinking for a moment. "That means he's vulnerable and might let something slip. We can finally put him behind bars."  

You briefly glance at Matt, but get no response. "I feel like you're hiding something." You say to Foggy, noticing how his eyes widened a bit. "If you still want to build a case against Fisk, you two have to have at least one real piece of evidence, but even without Wesley, he has more people working for him... There was this guy with white hair at the Gala. I don't remember much but he was acting strange."

"Strange how?" This time the question comes from Matt.

"I don't know, but he looked like he was anxious, or waiting for something, he was almost all over the place, kept interrupting Fisk, but... If he wasn't something important, I'm sure he would've gotten a word from James."

"White hair?" Foggy rubs his forehead for a moment, "hey, wasn't there a guy when Fisk went public with him?"

"Don't remember." You say shortly, and Matt understands the reason why - Wesley.

"Wait... he was the accountant or something-" Foggy stops when someone slams the main door of the office loudly.

Karen barges in, breathing heavily, "Ben's dead." 

*** 

As Matt leaves with Karen to attend Urich's funeral, you and Foggy stay in the office to receive new clients and potential cases, but as soon as it hits noon, the place quiets down. "Hey, partner." You slide onto one of the chairs in front of Foggy's desk and hand him a cup of freshly brewed hot coffee.

"Busy day, huh? Never thought I'd have to experience this when we got license to open our firm." Foggy pulls away from his computer and takes a good look at you. "You seem tired, maybe you should head home early today."

"Don't really feel like rotting away at home." A heavy sigh leaves your lips and you rub your forehead, "if it wasn't for that crazy masked guy, I'd say we all just leave the city for the weekend, drive to a casino and just gamble all our money away."

"I'm bad at gambling. One time I lost a bet to my brother and had to run around the house naked three times." Foggy laughs and you break into a small smile.

"Is it fun? Growing up with siblings?" 

"It's a pain in the ass, but as you get older, you begin to understand just how lucky you are to have them in your life." Foggy shrugs, "you're an only child, yeah?"

"Yeah, maybe it's alright, the world would not have survived two y/l/ns in the same city, let alone under the same roof." You think for a moment, "Pug has always been like a brother to me, sometimes I wish I met him earlier, maybe I would've ended somewhere else.

"You said he's also a lawyer?"

"Yeah, he keeps trying to talk me into moving back to LA... But it's just... Too fancy for me."

"Too fancy? You're like the closest richest person I know, y/n!" Foggy leans back, putting his cup on one of the shelves behind him.

"More than half of my money, actually being my dad's money, doesn't really make me a rich person. I don't like showing it off, because eventually, money is all people see you as - a giant 100 dollar bill with long legs." You slightly scoff, "hell, I've been driving my dad's old car for as long as I remember."

"Okay, maybe not the richest, but pretty rich nonetheless." Foggy sits in thought, then asks, "How are you and Matt getting together?" Before you can control your facial expressions, your eyebrows slightly shoot up, but Foggy doesn't notice and continues, "I mean, when we got our first cases against your clients, I thought that he was going to completely lose it from the anger that you were just a better attorney, but now you two are sitting all day in the same room and... It's safe to say that I was expecting to find the place wrecked one day."

"Fighting? You really thought that after I left Benowitz and you took me in, offered me a job and kept my legal reputation as clean as possible, that I would be fighting with Matt?" You try your best to act innocent and surprised, but not too much to avoid suspicion.

"Well, to be fair, you almost got into a fight with Karen..."

"That's totally different, and what, you expect me to start throwing punches around?" You can't help but laugh a little.

Foggy takes the note of the lighter mood and continues, "You know, sometimes I'm scared of you, after all, your father was a police officer, I'm sure you have some tricks under your sleeve."

"You wanna see them?" You put your hands up in a fighting manner and crack up.

"No, God no, I want to continue living my peaceful life... Preferably with fewer criminals like Fisk and that Devil."

"Me and Matt..." You say, instead of reacting to the mentioning of the Devil, "I don't know, I guess our brooding days don't match, so we're okay with not ripping each other's throats." You shrug, hoping that this threw Foggy off potential tracks that might lead to more suspicion.

"That's good, for business, I mean."

*** 

"How are you holding up?" Father Lantom asks Matt after most of the people left Urich's funeral.

"Like a good Catholic boy." Matt doesn't smile or grin, indicating that his joke was pure sarcasm.

"That bad, huh?"

"He was a good man. And he's gone because I haven't stopped what's happening to this city."

"Can't put that on yourself, Matthew. You've done everything you can. A lot you probably shouldn't have." Father puts a hand on Matt's shoulder, trying to somehow get him into thinking more clearly.

"And here we are." Matt's response is cold. He hated funerals. The smell was...well, terrible, lots of crying and nose-sniffling around him made his head spin and the situation made him turn his guard down.

"Matthew, maybe you should stop by for a talk? Sometime soon?" Father's voice is calm but strong, and Matt knew that he wasn't suggesting a simple meeting. 

"Sorry, Father, I have lots of work to do."

"Yeah, that's what I'm most afraid of, Matthew." Father notices Karen walking towards them and quickly says, "treat her right okay, she's been through a lot."

"Who?"

"You know who. See you soon." Father leaves Matt standing in the wind with his coat open and flying around his thighs, until Karen finally approaches him and they leave the graveyard.

*** 

You see Matt and Karen return, but don't make a single move out of Foggy's office, just follow them through the open curtains, talking with an elderly man about the changes of his will. Matt lingers next to the clothes hanger and you notice his sour face before he disappears further into the office.

"He just stood there, like he was his friend. Like he had nothing to do with what happened." Karen speaks as soon as Matt comes towards her table.

Matt tunes you and Foggy out, feeling that he should be more sympathetic to Karen. "I thought Ben said he didn't have any evidence Ellison was taking money from Fisk."

"No, but it makes sense. I mean, it explains Do you know what makes this worse? Foggy. Didn't even think about going with us."

"I think he stated it clearly that he'd rather stay here and work with y/n." Matt says with a hidden note of 'I couldn't care less' attitude.

"He knew Ben too, but then he'd rather work than come to his funeral?" Karen rolls her eyes, desperately trying to find somebody to blame.

"It's my fault, Karen. All of this with Foggy." Matt says, lingering near his office door, but not going inside, because without you there, it was just an empty, soul-sucking place.

"No, everyone shares the blame in a relationship. That's just the way that it works. We all made mistakes."

"No, not always. Why don't you go home, get some rest, huh?" He asks, softly, but Karen lights up like a candle.

"I can't. Every time I close my eyes, I see... What if he finds out that I...That I was with Ben at Saint Benezet. What if he finds out that I spoke to his mother too?" Karen sighs heavily after maneuvering her response out of potential trouble. 

"If that happens, we will deal with it." Matt's voice is soft, but reassuring.

"How? I mean, the news barely mentioned what happened to Ben because Fisk pays off the media. And the police haven't arrested anyone for it because Fisk pays them off, too. Foggy was right. How do you stop someone like that, someone who has so much?"

"It just means he has more to lose."

"He's gonna find out what I did and he's gonna come after me just like he came after Ben." Karen closes her eyes and takes deep breath in hopes of stopping herself from crying.

"I told you I would keep you safe, Karen, when he came after you over Union Allied. That hasn't changed. Everyone that's taken money from him, everyone that's helped him tear this city apart they're all gonna get what's coming to them along with Wilson Fisk."

You walk out of Foggy's office, carrying a bunch of documents in your left hand and helping the old man to walk with your right one. Sparing a single glance to Karen's desk, you can only make yourself to turn your lips into a polite smile and walk out of the office down the stairs with the man. Matt thinks for a moment, then grabs his coat from the hanger and leaves without saying a word to Karen.

You catch a taxi for Stanley and bid him farewell, reassuring that the consultation was free and stop on the corner of the building to smoke a cigarette. "You're gonna catch a cold." Matt emerges from another corner and stops next to you, hands hidden in the pockets of his coat. 

"Jesus, you scared me, Matt." You gasp slightly and almost playfully punch his arm. "How'd you know where I was?"

"That stink I could smell before opening the doors." He points somewhere where your cigarette was supposed to be and smiles when you chuckle. "Here." You watch him take off his coat and put around your shoulders, and despite your protests, Matt stands in the wind only with his jacket.

"Don't be crazy, come here." You briefly look around, making sure that there's no one in the street and pull onto Matt's sleeve to make him stand a bit closer. "How'd it go?"

"As good as these kind of things go, I suppose." Matt inhales the smoke that you just breathed out and you notice this.

"Take a puff when I put it next to your lips." You say, stopping Matt's hands from moving from your hips where he was keeping them warm. "No hands." You say softly, guiding your almost burned out cigarette to Matt's half open lips, and watch how he inhales the smoke. 

He exhales a moment later alongside with a heavy sigh. "You're a bad influence on me." 

"We could argue about that." You smile to yourself when his grasp on you tightens. "Come on, let's go inside." 

Matt pulls away, although reluctantly. He knew that he couldn't stay tonight at your place or invite you to his, because you didn't use silk bed sheets and as much as he hated to admit, his rest wasn't perfect. But silk sheets or not, he had so much work to do in the mask that he just couldn't make time for you later. 

"Matt, what are you doing?" You ask in a hushed tone when he starts guiding you towards the bathroom on the first floor and locks the doors from the inside after a moment of silence.

"What I know I won't be able to do later." He whispers, taking his coat off your shoulders and dropping it onto one of the sinks. He's quick to let his hands roam on your body, feeling the soft material of your knitted dress.

Your body responds on its own, and you curse yourself for feeling so horny the second Matt starts touching you, "in the bathroom? Really?"

"Shhh," his lips ghost over yours, "listen to your boss." Matt steps in between your legs, pushing his knee between yours, and your breath catches in your throat when he gets closer and starts moving his leg up and down so that his thigh would create friction to your core. You watch curiously for a moment, but then focus on Matt's face, taking off his glasses and putting them on.

"How many more times do I have to tell you that I want to see you without your glasses?" You whisper, connecting your lips with his, and soon, you're moving your body much quicker, grinding on his thigh.

"Many, many times." He rasps out, sliding one hand under your dress and you slightly gasp when his cold fingers meet with your already throbbing pussy. A sigh leaves his mouth at how wet you were and Matt is quick to start rubbing your clit faster.

"Please..." You look at him through his red-tinted glasses and notice a satisfied smirk resting on his face.

"What do you need? Tell me, y/n, tell me and I'll do it."

"If you don't put those fingers inside of me right now, I'm gonna have to do it myself." You push your dress higher and take a tight hold of Matt's wrist. "Don't you want to feel just how ready I am for you?" 

Matt smiles, enjoying the way you're becoming bolder each time you have sex with him. "I thought I told you to listen to me, y/n, and you haven't been doing that-" He grunts lowly when pushing two fingers inside of you and you tightly grip his shoulders for support. "Oh, so tight."

"Matt!" You gasp when he starts moving his middle and his ring finger inside of you at an agonizingly slow pace.

"I'd gladly turn you around and make you watch yourself while I fuck you from behind," his voice is low and seductive in your ear and your grip on his jacket tightens, "while you're gripping the sink tightly," he quickens his pace, enjoying the sound of your wet pussy, "and I'd make you cum so hard, you'd forget your own name."

You let out an involuntary whimper and kiss him hard, smudging your rose pink lipstick on the corners of his lips and surprise yourself with your next words, "please, put another finger in me, Matt."

He stops, contemplating his actions, but then agrees, curling three fingers inside of you, earning a low, restricted moan. "Feels good?"

You laugh at the ridiculousness of his question and mutter before kissing him again, "don't stop now."

Soon enough, you feel your legs giving up, your knees bending on their own and you no longer trust leaning on the sink, but fully rely on hanging onto Matt. He felt your orgasm coming way before you did, your pulse spiking up, causing you to take shorter breaths, the lack of oxygen clouding your mind. He sighed at just how good it felt to have you clenching around his fingers, all three of them and gripping his shoulders tightly. He remembered the jolts of electricity he felt when you dug your nails into his back muscles and understood that if he wasn't wearing so many layers, you'd be doing exactly that... Raking his flesh, marking him as yours, because no other man, only him, only Matt, made you feel so good.

"Fuck.", you sigh when he pulls his fingers away, and cross your arms on his shoulders. "I'd do something now if we had more time."

"Yeah, like what?" He gently brushes his nose along yours and connects your foreheads. The coldness from his glasses resting on the bridge of your nose, made him feel a weird wave of relief.

"I can only perform, not describe." You smirk, coming down from the unexpected mid-day high.

"Maybe some other time." Matt pecks your lips, and you try to brush away your lipstick from his lips with your thumb. "We have lots of work to do."

"You should talk to Foggy. I don't... Want to feel like a therapist in your friendship." You pull away, giving Matt his glasses back.

"Have you told him the same thing?" He turns on the water to wash his hands.

"Something similar. I don't know what caused this but if you two continue not talking to each other, then we all might as well leave." You walk out first, hoping to avoid possible suspicion as to where where you for so long.

***

"What's this?" Owsley looks around the dim lit alley and takes a piece of paper from Fisk.

"I asked Wesley to transfer funds for me the night before we found him." Fisk intently looks at Owsley, studying every twich of his muscles.

"I thought financials was my job."

"Yes, that's why I wanted you to have a look at these. There seem to be some irregularities with my accounts."

Owsley scoffs, not sparing a single glance at the papers. "Of course there are. I move money around all the time. It's a shell game to keep the SEC off our backs, it's nothing."

"Your hand's shaking." Fisk doesn't hurry to take the paper back, watching Owsley's hand shake.

"'Cause it's freezing out here!"

"Then why are you sweating, Leland?"

"All right, okay, Jesus. I figured you'd find out sooner or later. What's a guy gonna do?" 

"Wesley found out, didn't he? He confronted you and you shot him?" Fisk raises his voice.

Owsley sighs, "I have no idea what happened to Wesley. I wasn't a part of that. But to be frank, I said from the beginning that him messing with that lawyer wasn't going to end well."

"You tried to kill me." Fisk focuses on other perspective of the events that took place at his Gala.

"The poisonings at the benefit were just to make it look like someone was trying to get at you. That lawyer could've died as well and I'd be damn glad if she did, but Wesley was running after her like a lost puppy. A pathetic sight that was, honestly. You know, you and Wesley were more similar than you thought." 

It takes a moment for Fisk to connect the dots, "Vanessa? You wanted to kill her?"

"Do you blame us? Just look at what's happened since you took up with her. You've been distracted, emotional, erratic. We just wanted to nudge you back on track. But obviously that went south, so we will be parting ways and I'll be taking half your assets with me."

"You think that I would let you walk away after what you've done?"

"That's exactly what you're gonna do, because I have Detective Hoffman." Owsley takes a big step back, creating more space, "Hoffman never left the city after he murdered his partner in the hospital. I scooped him up, squirreled him away for a rainy day. If I don't check in every 24 hours, Hoffman gets dropped off to the Feds, tells them all the shit he's been up to."

"Hoffman, he's he's a frightened little worm. He would never risk going against me."

"Ten million buys a lot of courage. He thinks he's going into witness protection, get the money on the other side. Now, I know you'll get to him before he cashes in, but by then the damage will already have been done and everything you've been fighting so hard for will come tumbling down." Owsley tries to play cool, holding his ground, but not for long.

"Yeah, but you would get caught up in that as well."

"I've spent my entire life hiding assets overseas for pricks like you. My son and I will be just another transaction, disappearing into the tax-exempt ether. But I'm a fair sort. That's why I'm only taking half your money. You go your way, I go mine. Not what I'd call win-win but it's as close as we're gonna get with this. So we on the same page?" Fisk hesitates to answer, so Leland adds, "I bet you wish you'd had that lawyer on your side now, don't you?"

Fisk punches him, screaming like a predator, and Leland tries tasing him... but Fisk quickly recovers, still shouting, "You hurt her!"

" Wait, wait!" Owsley tries to negotiate, but Fisk pushes him into an elevator shaft.

"You hurt Vanessa!" He comes closer, looking at the pool of blood that grows with every passing moment. Fisk turns to Francis, his bodyguard, "Sweep the city. Find Hoffman and put a bullet in his head."

*** 

Foggy enters surprisingly well-lit Fogwell's Gym and sees Matt hitting a punching bag quite furiously. Upon hearing Foggy enter, Matt stops and turns around, catching his breath, "How'd you know I was here?"

"Known about your outlet for a while. I didn't say anything because I thought it had something to do with your dad. Now I know better. Thought you'd be out punching people in the head, or whatever you do." Foggy rolls his eyes, keeping his distance.

"I was. Paid Ben's editor a visit." Matt shrugs, and starts rolling off the tape from his hands.

"Ellison?"

"Yeah. Karen thinks he's working for Fisk."

"Did he talk?"

"No, never got close. Wife and kid picked him up outside the office. Try it again tomorrow night."

"Looking like you have some anger issues. Wanna talk about it?"

Matt sends his friend a smirk, "You're not my priest, Foggy who you might have met today if you'd shown up for Ben's funeral."

"Karen's that upset? I told her we had lots of work to do."

"I told her this was my fault all of this between you and me." Matt sighs, "She told me that y/n could've stayed at the office alone."

"When you two left, we did have only a couple of clients come in... But then I got a call from Marci... And just, truth to be told, I enjoyed spending time with our new cases, and not listening to all these people crying at the funeral."

"Wait, Marci called? Are you two back together?" Matt raises an eyebrow, listening to Foggy's heartbeat slightly picking up pace.

"She's been helping me copying files from Landman and Zack on the quiet. Whole stack of documents on their dealings with Fisk, and Owlsley at Silver and Brent."

"Ben is dead, Foggy, because he got dragged into this. And now you're doing the same with Marci." Matt waves his hands in the air,  a scowl forming on his face.

"We're being careful-" Foggy answers, sounding like a highschooler who got caught hiding condoms in his drawer.

"This has to stop. Fisk has to - I have to stop this before there's no one left to bury." Matt squeezes his fist tightly, remembering how much you've already had to experience since coming into his life. He didn't want to lose you, especially not now.

"Matt! Last time you went after Fisk, I found you half dead! More than half. You go after him in the mask again, he might kill you. Or you might kill him, which would probably have the same effect on someone as Catholic as you are!" Foggy raises his voice as well, which painfully echoes in the empty space.

"What am I supposed to do? How do I stop him?" Matt starts shouting, his anger getting the best of him quickly.

"By using the law, Matt. Like you told me and Karen to do. That's how we take him down. Come on, there's four of us now, we can create some badass plan and put Fisk behind the bars."

"We? Thought Nelson and Murdock were over." Matt voice gets quieter.

"There's nothing I want more than to find a way back to where we were, but I don't know if we can." 

"No, we can't. But maybe we can find a way to move forward, Foggy." Matt steps closer, putting a hand on Foggy's shoulder. "All four of us."

[boozedupbluberry]

Small introspection info dump!

Lately, I've been thinking to myself. The other night I had a small episode which lasted a few hours.

Its one where I know that it's not true but I myself can't assure it away. I had been speaking with my gf earlier that day and we were talking about how positive our relationship is. I understand that im sure im pretty a pretty good partner and I try to be, but sometimes when I sit and think I start to think I relise there is someone better than me. There may be things I could never fulfill in my partner.

Im pretty sure I started feeling this way when my partner said they were going out and doing something that sounded like it would be fun to do. But then I think I got a magor hit of FOMO(fear of losing out). This has happened to me a lot in the past just due to my own insecurities. I've never been super social and im not great at interacting, just due from my own experience. I have this thing where I think im super boring, that my life is boring, and that im losing out on core memories, instead trapped in my bed rotting with the bad ones. I often get trapped, like I can't get out of it. I imagine myself ten years in the future just as alone as I am now, just deprived of human interaction, just as socially inept, just as stupid as I am now. I get into spirals like this where I feel super upset like I could shut down, although to others I'm great at masking it.

My grandmother basically wanted to teach me how to mask. Doing lessons about it. Encouraging eye contact, smiling at strangers(that I do not know), and trying to make an effort to make people I don't like think I do. I relised when talking to her about it that my world view is just completely different than others, when I go around my friends I relise my life and worldview is completely different than others, that I dont even know what a normal relationship is supposed to feel like, and I wish and I yearn but no matter how hard I try I am inable to achieve such a goal. I relised its far more abnormal to have to pretend to be normal just to navigate through life, to pretend to enjoy people you hate, to smile and fake it to make it easier, and to hide who you really are from everybody else. To an extent everyone does this, you can't show who you fully are to everyone but to go out of your way to avoid it only feels distopian. I have gotten to a point where it only feels natural though. To mask my emotions, I can seem visible uncomfortable but even if you'd ask me ide tell you I'm fine. Its as if im not aloud to express negative emotion as I feel it will only be used against me in every context. Not in a way where i cant say no, but to where if its not yes or no, if it's deeper than that like if its emotional i just default to emediatly handling it myself. I dont even know how to tell people sometimes.

I feel like I will never be able to act "normal". I'm not social enough to naturally learn ques but learning them feels worse?

Anyway, whenever I think bout that to long, if I feel to alone, I will begin to spiral and I just don't know how to express it. So oddly I've noticed my brain takes care of itself. As in there are basically two people in my head. One that panics and one that comforts? Sometimes it is actual comfort but others its connecting myself with reality. They both feel separate from me, two voices talking to create one functioning person. One is detached and delusional. For example, a while back I was super upset and I began PRAYING TO PRINCESS LUNA (my little pony friendship is magic) for context I had just been kicked out of my school due to a pretty traumatic event and i deeply relate to princess luna and always have. I as sobbing and crying into a pillow for dear life and then a voice in my head goes "she's not real, she is from a fictional TV show. She is just as fake as any idolized God and she cannot help you with your struggles. You can handle everything that has happened just as you have in the pat. Everything will be ok".

I can't even control it either, it just happens and I let them talk. It feels like me but it doesn't. Although the only thing the logical voice in my head is bad with is trust. Its almost like an internal battle with myself when im comforting myself like I myself don't even believe it. But I'm saying what I know is true and will make me feel better. Everything is a constant painful internal battle i swear😭😭

Also, here is a work in progress:D

[readingsofgrace]

Life Lately: Tales from a Toasty Summer

I’ve been meaning to write a blog post just to catch up on how life’s been lately—specifically, how my April has gone so far. We’re only halfway through the month, but it already feels like so much has happened. And let’s not even talk about the heat—super init talaga! Summer has arrived in full force, and you can feel it the moment you step outside. The kind of heat that makes you want to stay indoors, drink iced anything, and wish for the rain to come early.

But the silver lining? School is almost over. Finally! Vacation is just around the corner, and I’m honestly counting down the days.

The month started off with a General Assembly organized by the HR department at city hall. It was held at Bellevue, which sounds fancy—and it is, at least for the venue. But to be completely honest, I found the actual seminar pretty boring. There weren’t any group activities or interactive moments. It was just speaker after speaker, one presentation after another. Everyone was expected to just sit and listen, and while the topics might have been important, it was hard to stay engaged without any kind of participation.

They said there would be a Q&A after the talks, and I was looking forward to it because I had a few questions in mind. But when it was finally time to ask, my mind went blank. I forgot everything I wanted to say. So I just sat there, pretending to listen. It felt like a wasted chance.

But not everything was a drag. The food was surprisingly good, which kind of made up for the dry seminar. And what I really appreciated was the time I got to spend with my groupmates. We ended up chatting during breaks, sharing random stories, laughing about small things—it was those conversations that really made the day enjoyable. There’s something about bonding over shared boredom and buffet food that makes the experience more bearable, even memorable.

After the seminar wrapped up around 4 PM, I decided to head over to Festival Mall to kill some time. I still had two hours to go before our midweek Bible study at church, which starts at 6 PM. I figured there was no point in going home anymore—it would just be a waste of fare going back and forth, and honestly, it would’ve been more tiring. I thought it was more practical (and less stressful) to just wait it out near the church so I could rest a bit and go straight there when it was time.

Thankfully, I had my current read with me. I always try to bring a book just in case I find myself with free time like this—it’s one of my favorite ways to slow down. I ended up going to Mary Grace, one of my go-to spots when I want a quiet corner and good food. I ordered a plate of pasta, found a cozy seat, and just enjoyed reading for a while.

To be honest, I was already feeling a little hungry by then. I didn’t eat the merienda they served at the seminar earlier. It was an ensaymada, but the bread was a bit dry and not that appetizing, so I gave it away instead. No regrets though, because the pasta I ordered at Mary Grace really hit the spot—it was warm, comforting, and just what I needed after a long day of sitting through lectures.

Then came Sunday—my favorite day of the week. There’s just something so refreshing and grounding about it. I especially loved how Sunday school went that day. Our teacher taught us about the Fruit of the Spirit, and one point that really stayed with me was how important it is to be bearing fruit as we continue to serve the Lord.

He emphasized that love is listed first among the fruit for a reason—because without love, there can be no real joy, peace, patience, or any of the other fruits. Everything flows from love. And it’s not just about loving people who are easy to love. We’re called to show love to everyone, even when it’s difficult. That really made me reflect.

But at the same time, our teacher reminded us that true love doesn’t tolerate wrongdoing. It doesn’t mean we turn a blind eye to things that are clearly wrong. Sometimes, love means being honest and calling out what’s not right—but doing so with gentleness, respect, and grace. It’s not about shaming someone, but about guiding them in love. That really hit me—how love has to be both kind and truthful.

All in all, Sunday was a day well spent. After the service, a few of us from church went out and had dinner together at McDonald’s. It was a simple meal, but as always, being with people who share your faith and values makes it feel special. We laughed, shared stories, and ended the day with full hearts (and full stomachs too!).

One of the highlights—and definitely my favorite moment—from these past two weeks of April was the holiday break. I asked my husband if we could go on a date, just the two of us, and to my surprise, he said yes! I was honestly a bit shocked because my husband is the ultimate homebody, especially when it’s hot outside. If the sun is blazing, good luck getting him out of the house. Haha!

But apparently, he had an errand to run too—he needed to buy a new string for his guitar from JBL. So in a way, my date idea worked in his favor, which is probably why he agreed so quickly.

Our first stop was Fully Booked. Of course, I was in my element, surrounded by shelves of books, but my husband started looking bored almost immediately. I told him he could go ahead to JBL while I stayed behind to browse. I really wanted to take my time exploring since I had a specific book in mind. I said I’d just meet him at JBL once I was done.

I had been eyeing The Brothers Karamazov—specifically the Centennial Edition—for a while now. And to my delight, I found a copy! It was the last one in stock, too, which made it feel like fate. Of course, I didn’t stop there. I ended up buying four books in total: The Brothers Karamazov, A Room with a View, Animal Farm, and Daniel Deronda. My wallet cried a little, but thanks to a sweet discount, I didn’t feel too guilty.

After my bookstore haul, I headed over to JBL to find my husband. We decided to eat at Din Tai Fung afterward. It was my second time eating there—the first was at MOA—and while I remember the food being okay, I have to say the overall experience this time was a bit… complicated. I don’t know why, but ordering felt confusing, and the atmosphere wasn’t as warm or welcoming compared to other Chinese restaurants we’ve tried, like Super Bowl or Tim Ho Wan. There, everything feels straightforward and the staff are super approachable.

What really ruined the experience though wasn’t even the food—it was the people seated next to us. A group of teenagers sat nearby, and I happened to overhear them making fun of me and my husband. Apparently, they were mocking us for speaking in English with each other. I couldn’t help but laugh a little—not because it was funny, but because of how ridiculous it was. These kids, who haven’t even proven anything in life yet, were already quick to judge just based on how we spoke and looked. It was immature and shallow.

I turned around and looked straight at them. I didn’t say a word—I just stared. That was enough to make them go quiet. I really wanted to tell them to be more respectful because their loud laughter was already disturbing the other diners. But I held my tongue. My husband, though, could sense I was getting uncomfortable, so he suggested we just head home. Haha!

We were supposed to grab coffee at Zus after din tai fung, but he was already in a bad mood because of the incident. So we decided to skip it and go home instead.

Honestly, I didn’t let those teens ruin my day. I don’t like giving energy to things like that. In the end, disrespect reflects more on the person doing it than the one it’s aimed at. So, no big deal.

Lastly, one of the most meaningful things that happened recently was the start of our Bible journaling group study session, which began yesterday, April 11. I created this journal and study group because I personally felt the deep need for it in my life. I’ve been longing for a space where I could dive deeper into God’s Word, reflect, and grow in faith alongside others.

When I invited a few friends to join, I was surprised—and encouraged—to find that they felt the same way. Just like me, they were craving something more intentional. They wanted to study the Word of God, to reflect on Scripture, and to share encouragement with one another. It felt so affirming, like God was confirming that I’m exactly where I’m supposed to be. I can’t even explain how happy and fulfilled I felt—it was like a quiet yes from the Lord that I’m on the right path.

For our first session, we started with the book of John, chapter 1. We talked about how, sadly, the world did not accept Jesus—even though He was the one who created it. We reflected on how incredible and humbling it is that the Creator of all things would step into His creation to redeem us from sin, only to be rejected by the very people He came to save.

As we continued, we also opened up and shared personal reflections—specifically, how Jesus can be seen in our lives through our actions and words, especially when we interact with other people. It became a beautiful, heartfelt discussion about how we can live in a way that reflects Christ—through kindness, humility, and love—even in the ordinary moments.

Starting this Bible journaling group has already been such a blessing, and I’m genuinely excited for the weeks to come. There’s something so special about growing in faith with a community that encourages you to keep your heart anchored in the Word.

So, that's been a little glimpse into my life these past couple of weeks—filled with small moments of joy, a few surprises, and some meaningful reflections. From my spontaneous date day with my husband to starting a Bible journaling group, it's been a mix of lighthearted fun and deep spiritual growth.

I’m so grateful for the little things that remind me of God’s presence in my life, and I can’t wait to see what the next chapter brings. Thanks for reading along! I’ll be back soon with more updates. Until then, take care and stay blessed!

[leilani-and-kass]

“No matter where they are... I know Mother and Kai and Chief Makai and everyone in my tribe are with me, and I just have to have hope that I’ll see them again someday. And... and that I’ll continue meeting other nice Pokemon!! It’s just... sometimes, it can be pretty hard to remember that not all Pokemon are as mean as Kass.”

“When I was at this water park place, a friend of mine told me that sometimes bad things that happen to you could help you enjoy the smaller things in life. Or something like that. And that’s what this place and this “Valley-Times” day thing are for me and maybe the other Pokemon here, too. If only for a little tiny bit I can be here with friendlier Pokemon and talk and play and eat some yummy food... then I’m happy enjoying the smaller things in life when I can.”

“... It’s just too bad it can’t last forever and forever, but then, Mother did tell us once that nothing is forever.”

@asktheisle​

@phantomguild​

[kiwanopie]

pls pls pls brat tamer yuta

thought about brat tamer Yuuta and blacked out. this was in my docs for some reason when I came to again.

Don’t be so mean to Yuuta!

cw: brat tamer! yuuta x fem!reader. smut. pussy slapping. multiple creampies. praise. edging. overstimulation. mirror sex. man handling. floor fucking. minors do not interact.

wc: 1.7k

“Please, I’m-“

“Sorry?”

Yuuta’s voice sends shivers up your spine from where his lips are planted on the sensitive spots of your nape, making hot tracks as his tongue skims over a good spot.

“I bet you are, baby.” He hums. “My sweet girl…”

Doesn’t mean he’ll let up though. If the way his grip tightens over your torso should mean anything. Tucked underneath you on the corner edge of your bed with your back pressed against his chest and his hands touching everywhere.

You don’t know what you did to deserve this. Actually, you know exactly what you did to deserve this, but you didn’t expect he’d be so harsh about it. Let him tell it and he’ll say his “Bratty baby decided to be mean for no reason.” Let you tell it and:

“Why’re you dodging my kisses?”

You roll your eyes from where he’s pouting over you, pointedly shrugging his hands off of your waist when he tries to pull you closer to him. “Why would I want your stupid kisses?”

Yuuta gapes a little at that, a little confused, a little wounded. “My kisses aren’t-? Where’s this attitude coming from?”

“I don’t have an attitude.” Which Yuuta finds hard to believe, with how your face gets all scrunched up in his attempts to crowd you in his space again. Cute little bottom lip jutting out under the shine of your flavored lip gloss and he can’t help but wanna coo at how squeezable you look when you’re throwing a fit.

Although, with the mood you’re in he fears he might come up short a hand if he actually tried to. The way you turn your shoulder at him has him following on your heels like a lost dog. “Not like you’re asking ‘cause you care.”

“Hello? Why wouldn’t I…?” Yuuta stumbles. “Baby, what? You were fine just earlier, did I do something wrong?”

Other than blow you off for like eighty percent of the day? Sure, he invited you to watch him train - bought you lunch when he realized he’d be at it longer than he anticipated, and gave you his phone to entertain yourself with when yours eventually died from being out so long. But he promised the two of you would actually get to hang out today! Not sit on those stupid stone bleachers till your bottom got all sore. Feeding him water in between breaks and pretending like this isn’t the unteenth time something like this has happened.

You’re fed up. He never wants to do what you want anymore. “No, no. Don’t even worry about it. You must be tired anyway. What with all the training you got in.”

Yuuta briefs a few long strides till he’s standing in the pathway to your bedroom door, walking back on his heels as you try to push past him. “I’m not? Is this about that? I didn’t mean to keep you out all day if that’s-“

“It’s whatever.”

“No. It’s not whatever. Clearly you’re upset.” His eyes follow you as he finally plops himself on top of your mattress. Yuuta’s long legs hang off the side so much his knees bend a little and he slumps when you opt to ignore him in favor of fishing your closet for something more comfortable.

“Baby- I can’t fix it if you don’t tell me what’s going on. What’s got you all cranky?”

“Cranky.” You grumble under your breath. “Can't even be mad without you underplaying everything.”

You step out of your closet with a little dress on that makes his face hot. Pretty mint thing that makes you look softer than you already are, even as you throw him a mean glare on your way to your hamper.

“So, you are mad?”

“I’m not.”

“You totally are.”

“I’m not.” You hiss this time. “Maybe you’re just an asshole!”

Whoops.

Which, come to think of it, maybe blowing up at him for no apparent reason was a little much - but it can’t be helped. Especially when you immediately freeze in place over the tension that overcomes the room at your sudden outburst. Yuuta’s brows furrow as his jaw clenches and he stares at you with the kind of blank look that usually comes about when he’s mulling over something.

You expect him to get up and leave the room. Let your respective parties cool off after you’ve just crossed the line by cursing at him so harshly. You expect a kinder punishment than the one he actually has in store.

But instead Yuuta sighs and straightens his back, spreads his legs a little to make room for you. “Come here.”

“Yuu-“

“Mh. Sit down.”

This is just cruelty.

You whimper at the way his fingers skirt over your aching clit, wet sloppy sounds of your lips parting over his glossy digits as he feels around your gooey center. You’re dripping. Soaking the little sliver of mattress you’re hovering over but the meanest part is that it isn’t just your slick that’s making such a mess.

Through misty eyes do you still see the reflection of his throbbing cock splitting you open in the vanity mirror across the room. Slow rhythmless grinding that could just barely push you over the edge if it weren’t for all the-

Smack!

You must’ve been squirming again.

Your broken voice clips in tandem with the loud slap that comes from his sudden assault on your aching pussy, nigh earning another one at the way your hips jump too suddenly in his lap. This is your punishment. Watching in lust dazed envy as your lover fucks you slowly on his cock. Listening to his heated breaths, feeling his hands all over you, being wholly enveloped by him. His voice pitches as his cock swells in your already gooey insides. You can do nothing but whine as he belts his arms around you and cums again with a broken grunt in your ear.

You sniffle as he presses a few scattered kisses behind your ear, already raising his hips to continue. “Please… please let me cum, Yuu..”

“Hhm? No one’s stopping you?”

“But I need-“

“What’dya need an asshole like me for, pretty girl?” And even though he’s being bitter his tone is still sugary. “This little princess cunt can cum all on her own, huh?”

The way you tighten around him has him groaning drunkenly in your ear. “God, you feel so fucking good..”

“Yuutaa, I can’t- I can’t without you. Please…!!”

Yuuta breathes a sigh into the crook of your neck.

He’s been going at this for what feels like forever. At this point you’re so on edge that you’ve started to goosebump and you can’t help yourself but to twitch and whine whenever he grinds against a good spot. Through the overstimulation he’s unsatiated. He can’t fuck into his perfect little pussy the way he wants without risking you getting away with that nasty attitude of yours. Hurting his feelings like you did. And being anything other than his sweet - obedient little girl.

Because bad girls. - Brats like you don’t deserve to get fucked all nice and fair like you’ve been begging him to this past hour or so. They don’t deserve gentleness on their raw little clits or any moment of reprieve you should expect from taking load after load since being seated in his lap like this.

They deserve to be treated like a hole, because that’s all you’re good for right now.

The quick intake of breath he takes startles you almost as much as the feeling of your arms being pulled back behind you. You wobble a little on your numbing legs as he uses his knees to help support you in a stand, and shutter as he presses one last kiss to your nape before standing to his height completely.

And then he starts drilling.

Yuuta has to keep his eyes from rolling back at the way he watches your reflection drool. “O-Oh! Oh, yes! Oh fuck yes, baby!”

He keeps a concentrated frown as he thrusts into you through clenched teeth.

“You’re so-“ Pap! “Fucking spoiled,” Pap! Pap! “You can’t even…mfh, act like you’re learning anything fr’m this..!”

”m’sorry..” You babble. “So s-sorry! M’so sorry, Yuu. So-… p-please… fffuck! Fuck fuck fuck!”

“S’that all you can say? Does my brat even know what she’s apologizing for?”

Your face drops out of view of the mirror when the effort to keep your neck craned up becomes too muscle consuming, most of your muscles too busy constricting and spazzing in the wake of your first orgasm. Honestly, you barely have the wherewithal to speak let alone put together a coherent thought. But you figure not responding might come at the expense of the mind numbing bliss you’re experiencing at the moment.

“F’being so mean! I didn’t-“ You gasp at the way he presses his hips against your backside, grinding himself in so thoroughly that you nearly lose your train of thought.

“I just… wanted ta spend more time with you, Yuu…!”

Yuuta pauses a quick pensive beat.

And then you’re on the floor.

He presses a hand into the middle of your back to keep you arched all prettily for him, the other, knuckle deep in your hair as he mushes your cheek into the floorboards. “So, y’ thought the best way to do that was to call me an asshole?”

“I whasn’t ‘hinking…!”

“Ohh of course you weren’t, baby,” Yuuta shudders at the way you feel creaming on him a second time. “‘Can’t be doing too much thinking now, anyways.”

You’re every nerve ending in your body when he deepens his thrusts to curve himself over your messy form, completely and utterly lost in pleasure as he pulls your head up by your hair and meets your teary eyes with his own - pupils dilated by pure affection.

“Think you can tell me what we learned outta all this? Or have you completely checked out at this point.”

“D-Don’t… don’t be so mean to Yuuta!!”

He chuckles. The kiss he places over your ear nearly pushes you over the edge as much as what he says does. “Good girl! That’s my girl. So smart.”

Your eyes roll as he unceremoniously drops your head to fuck you with more earnest. Much to your poor pussy’s dismay. “Let’s spend more time together, baby. - Just you and me.”

He coos at the way your drool starts to gather in a cute little puddle under your cheek. “After I’m sure my baby’s learned her lesson.”

[m34gs]

What are your top 5 favourite platonic relationships in fiction?

Hi friend!!! Thank you for this ask! I'm so excited for this!!!!!! I had to do some errands earlier so I couldn't answer until now, and then when I had time I got so excited I just had to make myself a cup of tea first! So I shall sip my tea as I answer. Prepare for a Ramble. LOL. As usual, I will be listing this from Fifth to First, with my Top Favourite being last. Also, this list is gonna be HIGHLY subjective. :D Warning for potential spoilers ahead!

5th: Bokuto and Hinata, from Haikyuu!! What I like about this relationship is their dynamic. Hinata is enthusiastic and easily excited and Very Energetic. He's like a mini-Bokuto. And Bokuto loves that. Hinata looks up to him and even decides to become his 'disciple'. I love that Hinata continuously cheers for his senpai, and that Bokuto immediately is like "hell yeah! That's my disciple!!" It's very endearing. It's a very wholesome relationship. The reason it is lower on my list is that while I really love it, I also really really really enjoy the (non-canon) potential darker side of this platonic relationship...I have so far written and posted one fanfic where Bokuto kidnaps Shouyou in a bit of a platonic yandere way, and I really really can't let go of that idea to be honest. It's like an itch in my brain. So, if I get back to feeling like writing and posting more for Haikyuu, I may post more Bokuto tormenting Shouyou. :D

4th: Milly and Meryl from Trigun (1998). I absolutely love these two ladies. They kick ass, support each other, and bring me so much joy. Meryl and Milly work for an insurance company, chasing after Vash the Stampede because of the immense damages he caused in a past fight. They are both strong women, in different ways, and they work so well together. Meryl is the one in charge, but she's very high-strung and sometimes loses sight of things outside of work. Milly comes across as airheaded, and she is physically very strong (her gun is 98kg). She's kind and positive and makes a lot of jokes. Where Meryl gives the orders and keeps them on the right track, Milly is the one who reminds Meryl to stop and smell the flowers once in a while. They're amazing girls and they work very hard. I just really love how they encourage each other, listen to each other, and work together so well.

3rd: In third place is Rin Okumura and Izumo Kamiki, from Blue Exorcist. I actually am fond of most platonic relationships involving Izumo because she is such a tsundere and it's really fun and cute to watch her go through trying to act all prickly when she has become actually fond of her fellow exwires. I chose her and Rin, though, because I think this was one of the bigger turning points for Rin. (Spoilers for Kyoto Arc ahead! If you're caught up on the anime, then no worries!)

On the way to Kyoto, Izumo is the only one who approaches and sits next to Rin. And when he asks if she was afraid, as they now know he is the son of Satan, she responds that shouldn't matter. Sure, he's related to a demon, but Izumo points out that lots of Exorcists are. He just happens to be related to Satan. It's the way she is the first one to treat him as a normal classmate after the reveal...the way she also calls out their other classmates for being cowardly when they found out...it screams Friendship. She may pretend she's aloof most of the time, but she really does care, and this is one of my absolute favourite interactions that shows it. In return, Rin is a very caring and eager person. He definitely appreciates Izumo's actions, and it really shows in parts of the manga (of which I will not speak more since I don't want to spoil things for you!).

2nd: Swindler and Courier from Akudama Drive take the second spot! I think their relationship is really interesting. In my opinion, Courier has a bit of an older brother vibe, which immediately makes me very happy. In the show, I think the scene that cemented their relationship in my eyes was the part where they're trapped in the same scenario replaying over and over in their heads. They're trapped in the same scenario: back at the Takoyaki stand. To me, that emphasizes how much they really impacted each other. I also think by the end of the show they have a lot of trust and loyalty to each other. Swindler and Courier had to know. They Had to know that they weren't making it out alive if they tried to save Brother and Sister. There was no storyline where they would get out of that situation safe and sound. But they still did it, and they did it together. That loyalty and devotion doesn't just happen between everyone. I truly believe they had a special connection and friendship by the end, even if they didn't get to enjoy it for long.

1st: My top favourite is: Natsume and Nyanko-sensei from Natsume Yuujinchou (Natsume's Book of Friends). I just really adore the friendship between these two. Nyanko-sensei, aka Madara, comes across at first as a prickly tsundere with a very proud attitude. He's also a yokai. Natsume is a lonely orphan human who is able to see Yokai. At the start, their relationship is built on a mutually beneficial agreement: Natsume has a Book of Friends from his deceased grandmother which holds the names of yokai she defeated in fights. With their names, he can control them. Madara wants to get his paws on that book. The book makes Natsume a target for yokai who want their names back, or who want to control other yokai, as well as humans who would use the book to control all the yokai in it. Basically, they start as Madara agreeing to be Natsume's body-guard and in exchange Natsume will leave the book to Madara when he passes. But, as Natsume spends more and more time around Madara, they both grow attached. This is how we get lovely lines like "Don't eat my prey" from Madara when rescuing Natsume from other yokai, or situations where Madara is wailing like a child as Natsume returns names from the book to yokai, but actually doing nothing to stop Natsume. I adore them so much, because as Madara softens up, Natsume also opens up and learns how to make and have friends and family. They grow together. It's a really beautiful relationship.

There you have it! My current Top Five Favourite platonic relationships in media! (this is subject to change, of course, as I continue to consume new media, lol). Hope you enjoyed these answers, friend! I had fun writing this for you :D

[doodles-with-noodles]

You know what awaits you… rambling round instead of artwork! Ye!  Today I want to talk about many things, so I’m going to make a list like the first time I explained the AU (doing these things is saving my life).  So let’s dive into some Background/story stuff!

Why are there two Hiccups if the name only belongs to people from the Haddock clan?

A question I asked myself, with only one answer: they’re really related. Not very close, though. But they’re both from the Haddock clan. I know that Movie Hiccup is called Hiccup III. too, but I refer to him as Hiccup II. Now, that doesn’t mean that our Hiccup II. is just ereased, not at all! I simply changed the number from three to two first to avoid confusion, but then my brain came up with… BOOM BACKSTORY! I talked earlier about that there was a event when the old Berkians split up, right?  So when Grimbeard was King, the Haddock clan was very, very big and one of the most important ones too. They left their old island when he was crowned and came to new Berk in the middle of the Archipelago (old Berk is the Berk behind the fog wall). When Hiccup II. was killed the entire clan literally got stripped of its honor (a father who kills his son? A great no no). A big part of it split itself from the others and returned in shame to old Berk and basically exiled themselves. That’s why in the movies no one dares to go beyond the fog wall. Of course there were also other families and clans who followed them, disgusted of what happened. Most of their history got forgotten after that because all the documents of the family were, of course still with Grimbeard. They intentionally forgot their own history and that there was a Hiccup II. and moved on. That’s why we have a Hiccup II. and a Hiccup III. They’re, as I said, just related very distantly but do they care? Nope.

Why is Hiccup III. a nasty little warcriminal doing warcriminal stuff?

Well first. He is a actual warcriminal. Second, I thought but why aren’t Camicazi and Fishlegs with him? Sadly, I found the answer. They lost eachother right after being reunited! That sucks! I am evil! But yeah, he’s on a quest to find his friends. And he’s bothering those dragonhunters to find out if they got captured. To say it, he has almost no inside information so the fact that he’s working together with the dragonriders who think he has inside information gets even funnier because he has to pretend he knows more than he actually does. He is so small, angry and stressed. And he’s doing all of this just to gain more information, pretending he has information, so their interactions are the biggest shitshow you’ve ever seen. The dragonriders just want to know why there are suddenly so much dragonhunters. The gang is yelling at eachother. Hiccup III. looks like he had pitch black coffee with too much sugar in the morning. Of course at some point everything goes wrong, as expected but hey. At least he has more found family right now.

What is up with the time limit until the coronation?

I stretched that and gave them more time to complete the movie timeline and get their shit together. Almost two years. Because I am very soft for their dynamic. When they meet Hiccup will soon turn twenty, small Hiccup is still thirteen (or four, if you want so).

Also Language (Dragonese voice accent ect.)

All Dragons, even the movie ones speak dragonese. Because think of the possibilities. Big Toothless. Speaking.

Also imagine book Hiccup having a light scottish accent that would be so funny. Maybe new Berk is nearer to the coast? Idk it just would be funny if you have big no accent Hiccup and this small filthy scottish accent Hiccup. Maybe if he gets angry he suddenly starts screaming like he had a heavy accent the entire time… also I had to think about his voice because it’s difficult growing when you’re not really healthy and a late bloomer and maybe he has like suddenly more that problem of a voice switching octaves randomly and he’s so frustrated :’) like in he’s only now really getting a boost in growing up and it’s happening faster than before, just a headcanon actually and does not have really to do anything with the AU.

I’ll leave you with all of that.