#like I'm too tired to do the vines and all

[jellyala]

“The Holy Shepherd”

Do you all have time to talk about our lord and savior Saint Vanilla Cookie??? 🙂

Beasts Ancients au belongs to 👉 @cuppajj

[gumy-shark]

<- god's wettest most pathetic most stressed most anxious beast btw

[apothecareful]

telling nick about all the stupid things my coworkers and i do on the line to keep each other in a good mood is everything to me rn

[luffydotcom]

love and affection

synopsis: sharing an affectionate moment with them feat: luffy, zoro, sanji warnings: none! notes: based on these headcanons i made of where these characters are most physically affectionate, made them into short fics for u guys :) enjoy

luffy

luffy stares at the unconscious marines on the ground surrounding him, letting out an exasperated sigh. he said he wouldn't get caught up exploring the island, yet here he was having to finish off another fight. the security on this island is so tight, it's like this whole day he's been on his feet dealing with way too many marines for his liking.

he doesn't wanna waste time when all he can think about is being with you.

thankfully, the ship isn't too far, and he knows his way back unlike a certain mosshead.

when he climbs back onto the ship, you're the first thing his eye catches. you're leaning against the railing off the sunny, your chin resting on your hand with your back turned to him. before you even register that luffy's there, you feel a rubbery pair of arms taking hold of you from behind, and the next thing you're tangled in them.

"LUFFY! you scared the hell out of me!" you laugh, feeling his arms around you as they tighten you into a soft hug.

"my bad!" he giggles, holding you closer. "i just really wanted a hug right now, i'm pretty tired. you don't know what i've been dealing with all day!"

"let's lie down inside, you can tell me all about it," you tell him as he wraps his arms all around you and you can't help but laugh more at how attached he's being to you. it feels like you're covered in vines, but you don't mind at all.

zoro

you've been looking for zoro everywhere, only to find him resting against the railing of the ship, eyes shut and arms folded. as you step close and bend down to get a closer look at his face, you're surprised to see that he isn't reacting at all.

is he really asleep? you wonder, waving your hand in front of his face, but still no reaction.

hesitantly, you quietly set yourself beside him, careful not to accidentally wake him. glancing at him, you can't believe how peaceful he looks. he isn't much of a talker anyway, but somehow he seems so quiet and ease when he's sleeping. it feels so different to the zoro you see in battle.

feeling a bit brave, you slowly begin to lean so that your shoulder touches his. you breathe out a little sigh of relief when he stays asleep. you should seriously get up and go, but something seriously makes you not want to leave his side. you decide staying there for a while wouldn't hurt.

but before you know it, you find yourself drifting off too.

zoro opens an eye to see you peacefully sleeping beside him and snickers to himself. really thought i was sleeping all along, huh?

it's a risk, but he doesn't want you to be uncomfortable there or for your neck to hurt. very carefully, he shifts you so that your head is laying on his lap, afraid to make even the slightest noise in case he wakes you.

thankfully, it all works out. you're comfortably laying on his lap now. now it's his turn to watch you resting, smiling to himself at how close you finally are to him, not wanting to lose the moment just yet.

sanji

sanji puts the last of the dishes away, turning around to see that the kitchen is finally clean - well at least until luffy comes back demanding another snack.

he tries not to strain his hands, especially with all the cooking he does every day. but today they slightly ache from all the things he's been doing: cleaning, cutting, chopping, frying... just to name a few.

the kitchen door opens as you enter, and sanji's eyes light up automatically. "y/n! i missed you."

"i just saw you at supper," you laugh, coming closer to him. you cock an eyebrow, noticing that despite his excitement to see you, he seems a bit preoccupied with looking at his hands now. "what's wrong?"

"oh, it's nothing," sanji waves his hands. "i was just..."

before he can continue, his breath catches in his throat as you suddenly take hold of both his hands mid-air. "y/n, what are you-"

you study his hands, noting how soft and delicate they are despite everything they're put under every day, and how they fit perfectly in yours. you hold them close, bringing them to rest on your chest right where your heart is.

sanji is completely speechless at your action now, afraid to even breathe wrong. his heart is beating so fast he's sure you can feel it in the pulse of his wrists.

"you shouldn't work them too hard," your hands tighten his more, but gently, before you kiss his knuckles softly. "i don't want you to ruin your hands when they're just so perfect."

you look up from sanji's now shaky hands and stifle a laugh to see him completely unable to look you in the eye. he looks away to avoid your gaze, blushing like crazy. he clears his throat. "i... um..."

"my bad, my bad," you let go and cover your mouth to avoid laughing at how flustered he's become in such short time.

© luffydotcom

[vin-taege]

Hi! I loved your awkward chishiya flirting sooo much <3 The way you write is so in character even with him being nervous about showing affection. Can you write him being completely oblivious he’s liked yn the whole time they’ve been through the games; he thought he was just protecting them out of trying to be a better person until Kuina is like you moron you’re clearly in love w them!!

And he’s like oh fuck, what are feelings?? I have them?? His thought process as he tries to deny it and then him having some awkward interactions w yn bc he doesn’t know how to act now he’s aware he likes her and then is desperately trying to flirt with no idea how to at all

Tokens of Appreciation

Summary: Chishiya tells himself that he sees you only as a friend, despite doing his best to give you a gift.

Genre: fluff

Pairing: reader x chishiya

Words: 2.4k

Note: I tweaked this a little to show more of him being in denial and still in the middle of processing it ^^ I didn't want it to be too close to the other awkward flirting fic, but I hope you still like it! Also god, I;m so sorry it took more than a year ; O; Good news is that I'm almost done with my thesis, so I have a bit more time to write :DD

Chishiya set the screwdriver down with a frustrated sigh. The music box sat in front of him, open yet still without song. He saw this on the day of the six of clubs game. The car that was supposed to pick them up got a flat tire and stranded them for a good hour. As much as he hated the militants for their incompetence, he was grateful that he had extra time to scavenge around the nearby shops. It was in one of the metalwork stalls where he found it.

It was fairly light, small enough that you could hold it when you brought both hands together. The outside looked like a small pot, with the lid having scalloped edges. Ornate, gold vines swirled around the sides of the box, leading up to the front. At the center of it was a teardrop-shaped gemstone that refracted prisms under light. Inside was a small rabbit instead of a typical ballerina. It posed with its arms up mid-dance, pointy ears curved back as it looked up.

That was what made Chishiya decide that this was the perfect gift for you. At the beginning of your friendship—before you had worn down his walls with “incessant” conversation—you had off-handedly mentioned a memory of your childhood toy.

“Oh, look at that!” you picked up the small piece of candy. The packaging still boasted its classic colors of red, blue, white, and black. Turning around, you held it out to Chishiya. “I used to eat this all the time when I was a kid.”

He wrinkled his nose in disgust. This was the ninth room around the Beach that you’ve ‘investigated’—a fancy word you liked to use instead of ‘snooped around.’ “You don’t know how long that’s been there. Plus, you’ll get cavities.”

“Candy doesn’t expire,” you stuck your tongue out at him, swiftly unwrapping the sweet and popping it in your mouth. You smoothed out the wrapper, particularly the area around the illustrated rabbit.

“Somehow, I don’t think that’s true—”

“He looks like the bunny plush I had.” Chishiya knit his eyebrows in confusion before glancing at the wrapper. He shrugged, feigning indifference.

“All rabbits look the same.”

“No, idiot. This one has pointy ears instead of rounded ones.”

“What’s that?” Kuina’s voice nearly made him knock over the entire thing. He flinched, throwing a blanket over his project. Clearing his throat, he stood up and narrowed his eyes at the girl.

“What did I tell you about knocking?”

Despite his small frame blocking the table from view, Kuina side-stepped around him, swiftly pulling the cloth right off. He hissed, moving to take the music box, but Kuina was faster, swiping it off the table and bringing it up to her eye level.

“Wow,” she enunciated, dragging the word. “This is for them, isn’t it?”

“No,” he tried not to stutter. He reached for it before Kuina held it above him. Her eyes were glued to the meticulous details. “If you drop that, I will kill you next game and make it look like an accident.”

She chortled, throwing her head back. Her loudness grew on him—is what he always told himself. Being his only friend when the Beach was only starting to form, he learned quickly how to tolerate Kuina’s more bubbly personality.

“What’s it for? Their birthday coming up?”

“No. I’m just making sure all our pieces are in place.” Kuina let him nab the item back. She watched as he wrapped it in the blanket, tucking it safely back into a drawer. 

“You totally like her,” she snorted.

“No, I don’t!” It came out too fast, too loudly. Chishiya’s face was starting to redden. His lips were pressed in a thin line, eyes downcast. It took a moment for him to collect himself. “We need her for the plan.”

“Yeah, right. It’s been half a year. Whatever long game you’re playing is over,” she smirked at him, plopping on his bed. “If anything, you’re the one getting played.”

“I don’t like her that way,” he crossed his arms defensively.

“Keep telling yourself that, lover boy,” Kuina chuckled, throwing a pillow at him. Chishiya swatted it away, face beet-red.

“Don’t call me that.”

“Call you what, lover boy?”

“Kuina!”

Three soft knocks interrupted their banter. Chishiya froze when you opened the door, slipping in with a mischievous grin. Your arms were behind your back, hands hidden from their view. A faint crinkling gave Chishiya a hint as to what you were holding. 

You stepped towards him, making him instinctively block the drawer the music box was in. Your grin spread wider, making your cheeks look unbearably adorable. Wait, did he really think that?

“I have something for you,” you said almost teasingly. You thrust your hand to his chest, pressing a package of biscuits on him. He wasn’t religious, but he prayed that you couldn’t feel his heartbeat thrumming out his rib cage.

Glancing down, he gave the biscuits a curious look-over. The wrapper was pink and white, with small cartoon strawberries spread around it. Attempting to take it from you gently, his fingers grazed over the back of your hand, flustering you both. Quickly, you whipped your head towards Kuina, chucking her the other item.

She caught the lighter with ease, excitedly flicking it on. Kuina was certain the militants threw it out after the pool fire incident. Totally not your trio’s fault. “Woah! Where’d you get these?”

“I was in Tatta’s storage space,” you beamed proudly.

Chishiya’s blood curdled. He squeezed the biscuits, though still careful not to break them. Shifting his weight to one foot, he scrunched his face in distaste. “What were you doing with Tatta?”

“Nothing, we were just hanging out. Ann dragged him into the hallway for a quick conversation so I had time to ‘investigate,’” you motioned with air quotes.

“What are you hanging out with him for?” The blunt words left his mouth before he could process them. 

His heart shrivelled a little when your smile faded. Taken aback, you clasped your hands, suddenly self-conscious. “I thought he was nice and making another friend around here didn’t seem like a bad idea.”

“Well, what if he’s just another sleaze like Niragi? You know how some of the men slobber like dogs here. And you’re in a closed space with just him? Just the two of you in a room? Together? Do you know how stupid that is? What if something happened and Kuina and I were in this room and we couldn’t hear you and—”

“What Chishiya is saying—” Kuina spoke over him, sending him a sharp glare despite her pinched smile. “—is that we just want you to be careful around here. I think Tatta is a fun guy too, but don’t let your guard down that easily okay?”

You nodded wordlessly, avoiding Chishiya’s eyes. Unbeknownst to you, his look softened, fingers releasing their tight grip on the biscuits. He slouched, silently berating himself for sounding so harsh, especially after you’ve just given him a gift. Oh god, you gave him a gift! He looked back at the cookies, strawberry-flavored no doubt. Perhaps it was your attention to detail that chipped at his armor. The way you remembered how he took two teaspoons of sugar with his tea and how you’d sometimes take his hoodie after a rough game and bring it back smelling of fabric softener.

Just normal things good friends would do for each other. Because that’s what you were—good friends.

“Chishiya?”

“What?” He blinked slowly, glancing at Kuina through silver hair framing his face. 

“I said I’m gonna get us drinks from the bar. You sound like you need it.” She stood up, motioning for you to take her place on the bed. You shot her a small smile, though your mood has obviously been dampened. 

Kuina passed near Chishiya, lowering her voice to whisper, “Fix your mess.”

When the door shut with a soft click, it was quiet for a few awkward moments. The room felt like a held breath, with Chishiya still standing, holding the biscuits like an idiot, while you were sitting on his bed, regarding him a huge eye sore in the middle of the spacious hotel room. Being a high-profile diamonds player bought him certain luxuries, despite how unnecessarily flashy he deemed them. 

“I know you’re just looking out for me, but you really could be nicer sometimes.” He almost didn’t catch what you said, your voice soft. “I just wanted to get you something nice.”

He sighed, more so at his own stupidity. He pushed himself off the drawer and sat beside you, your knees touching. Pinching the corner of the wrapper, he ripped the packaging open, angling the biscuits towards you. Your knee tensed beside him, making guilt claw at his stomach more.

“Take one,” he said, almost demandingly. You huffed, gingerly taking a piece. It was a small, pillow-shaped shell. You bit into it, bringing your hand back to look at the strawberry filling inside. Chishiya hummed in approval as soon as the sweet cream hit his tongue.

Wordlessly, you shared the biscuits—his own form of apology. You scooted closer to him, a silent act of forgiveness he quickly picked up on. Always the clever man, yet he could never figure himself out.

“I just don’t want anything bad to happen to you. Anyone with eyes can see how beautiful you are. If anyone here tried anything on you, I’d have to put rat poison in their alcohol. Do you know how troublesome that is?” he wrinkled his nose, pointedly munching.

A grin crept into your face. Your eyes flitted towards his face, dark brown eyes meeting yours. “You think I’m beautiful?”

Chishiya was stunned for a second. Blood rushed to his cheeks and the furrow in his brows deepened. He stammered, “No. No! That’s not what I meant. I mean that I’m just worried about you!”

You brought your face just a tad bit closer to his. “You worry about me?”

“No, no! I mean, you’re just a good ally and I don’t have any other strong feelings about you. I’m doing this for the sake of our alliance—”

He didn’t notice as you took the last biscuit, gingerly pushing it against his lips. He froze, eyes wide as he took in your appearance. An orange glow from the setting sun wrapped around your silhouette. You looked heavenly, like an angel beckoning him to the next life. Despite all logic screaming at him, he would gladly take your hand and go wherever that may be. 

You pushed the biscuit past his lips, the soft pair almost chasing after your fingertip as you pulled away. Curling your finger, you wiped the corner of his mouth with the edge of your knuckles. His breath stilled in his chest.

Chishiya leaned closer, your pull towards him magnetic. Shakily, he brought a hand up, about to tuck a strand of hair behind your ear. He’s seen this move once before, during a promotional commercial for a drama. He was reviewing for his finals at the time, taking only a few seconds to stare coldly at his roommate because of how loud the TV was. Evidently, he never put it into practice before.

“Ow!” you jolted back, hands cupping your face. Somehow, despite his brilliant mind, he accidentally poked you in the eye. You grit your teeth in pain, globs of tears running down your cheek. 

“Shit, I’m sorry!” He tried prying your eyes away from your face, using his free arm to wrap around your back. “I’m so sorry. Shit. Don’t rub it, it’ll get worse. Come here.”

Assisting you through your blurry vision, he managed to walk you to his bathroom. He turned the faucet on, making you bend over the sink. Forcing stillness into his hand, he caught the water, gently splashing it against your reddening eye. You hissed, jolting back at the contact, though a firm hand on your back kept you in place.

“I’m so sorry. I really didn’t mean to.” The distress was evident in his voice. You’ve never seen him in such shambles before, not even during games where he was at the brink of death.

“I know, ‘Shiya. It’s okay,” you managed to smile at him. He wiped your eyes with a soft towel, bringing it down for a second to gently grip your chin. He nudged your head up, only enough for him to check on your eye. He let out a deep sigh before pressing the towel back. At least the pain has died down a bit now. “How bad is it?”

“It’s not fatal.”

You snorted, hitting him lightly on the shoulder. His lips twitched almost into a grin, though he was still slouched over in embarrassment. “I can’t believe this is the thanks I get for feeding you.”

“I… I-I didn’t mean to. Honestly!” He shoved his other hand into his hoodie pocket. Suddenly, the floor was the most interesting thing in the room. You chuckled lightly at his antics. There was something so boyish about the way he stood, almost as if he wanted his hoodie to swallow him whole.

You brought your hand up, wrapping it around his on the towel. His cheeks heated up, though still defiant in meeting your gaze. You stroked the back of his hand with your thumb, surprised that he hasn’t pulled away yet.

“I’m sorry I poked your eye. I was just trying to…” he trailed off. How was he even going to explain himself out of this one? “There was dirt on your face. You should take a bath from time to time.”

“I do take baths!” you exclaimed, swatting at him again. You jabbed a finger to his chest, tone riddled with tease. “You’re just so obsessed with me.”

He finally allowed himself to smile, the smile that made everything feel normal again. At that moment, you weren’t players in the Borderland fighting for your life every other day. You were just two friends, for now. Chishiya is a tough nut to crack, but between your laughter sounding like tinkling bells and the euphoric buzz he gets from being around you, he’d be able to sort himself out. He just needs to take it one step at a time, starting with making that music box sing for you again. 

Because that's what good friends do. God, he was such a good friend.

Back in the main room, the entrance door swung open, followed by the sound of glass bottles clinking against each other. Kuina proudly declared, “I got us the stuff!”

“Did you bring ice?” Chishiya called out to her.

“Of course!” Even from the bathroom, you could hear her huff.

“Good, because we need a bunch of it here.”

[sereia4skz]

Hello! Congratulations on the 2k I'm glad I could be a part of it 🥰🥰

Could I possibly request a hurt/comfort oneshot with pixie Jisung. Maybe some kind of misunderstanding or jealousy or a forgotten event.

Either way I love your writing and can't wait to see what you come up with now and all your future works. 🧡🧡

2k Followers Event | homemade wrapping paper

pairing: han x reader

synopsis: busy on han's birthday

warnings: pixie!han, forgotten birthday, insecure!han

event masterlist: #2kShootingStars

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AN: i'm gonna squeeze him and smother in with love

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You’d forgotten. You didn’t mean to, of course. Things had been chaotic lately, inventory to track, a rogue kelpie sneaking into the greenhouse pond again, and your least favorite part of Sanctuary upkeep: paperwork. It wasn’t that you didn’t care. You do. About all of them. About him.

But that doesn’t mean Jisung didn’t notice.

The little wrapped box you’d prepared a week ago, hand-painted, sprinkled with dried honeysuckle petals and filled with honey-dusted crackers (his favorite, “because they taste like giggles”), still sits on the shelf by your desk, unopened. Forgotten. You’d meant to give it to him on the day, when the moon reached its highest bloom and his wings shimmered like lilac glass. His “hatch-day,” as he called it, laughingly, too fast for you to keep up.

Now he’s gone quiet. It’s the first thing you notice when you return to your room that evening. No sparkling trails of stardust across your windowsill. No blur of wings zipping past your ear, giggling as he steals your pen, your snacks, or your attention. No tiny bite marks in the corners of your toast.

The stillness makes your stomach twist.

You find him curled up in the upper rafters of the old aviary, where the vines hang thick and moss cushions the beams. His glow is dim. His wings don’t flutter. He’s hugging his knees, chin tucked down, the soft shimmer of his magic dull like a clouded lantern.

“Hey,” you say gently, climbing the ladder rung by rung. “You left a trail.”

His voice is quiet, but sharp. “Didn’t mean to.”

“Still did,” you murmur, settling a respectful distance away. “You okay?”

He shrugs, but the motion’s too small, too tense. “I’m fine. Just tired of flitting around being forgettable.”

The words hit harder than you expect. You fumble for the right thing to say, something light, something teasing, but nothing comes.

“I didn’t forget you,” you whisper instead. “I forgot the day, not you.”

He turns his head, just slightly. His eyes are glassy, lips pressed thin.

“I waited,” he says. “I waited by your window like I always do. I even wore the dumb leaf crown Seungmin made me. I had glitter on my nose, for fuck’s sake.” His laugh cracks, not amused. “And you didn’t come.”

“I’m sorry.”

“I know.” He sniffs once, angrily. “Still sucked.”

You pull the little box from your bag. “I didn’t give it to you, but I made this. A week ago. It’s stupid, but-”

He flits across the air in a blink, landing beside you. His expression twists as he looks at the box, fingers hesitant.

“You really made this for me?”

You nod. “I wanted it to be perfect.”

“It’s so ugly,” he whispers, voice watery. “You picked my favorite petals.”

“I know.”

He takes it. Opens it slowly. Then, without warning, he buries himself in your neck, impossibly small arms wrapped tight, wings trembling behind him.

“I thought maybe you were done with me,” he says, voice muffled against your skin.

“I could never be,” you breathe.

You sit there together in the moss-draped rafters, the sun setting slow outside, and let him cry as long as he needs.

Later, when the stars begin to bloom, you feel him curl against your shoulder again, lighter this time.

“…You’re still my favorite,” he mumbles. “Even when you’re dumb.”

You smile. “Same goes for you, pixie.”

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taglist: @diekleinesuesse @tillaboo @felixsonlyrealwife @geni-627 @skz8riley @lezleeferguson-120 @pixie-felix @headfirstfortoro @alnex05 @baby-stay92 @encoredesires @androgynouscrownorbit @channiesluvrclub @my-neurodivergent-world @chims-dimple @bookswillfindyouaway @stellasays45 @angel-writes-skz-here @m-325 @0sunshinecryptid0 @beal-o @hug4helios @oksullen @rileylovescats @dreamyfelixx @yxna-bliss @turtledove824 @enhacolor @skzz0213 @hannahlue @purplelady85 @velvetmoonlght @inishij @bangchanspineapple @straykids4lifeee @peskybirdysya @gnabsss @zayn-210 @wolfhallows4 @katsukis1wife @sammhisphere @sunfk88 @sillyseob @rougegenshin @yaorzu-blog @babigriin @tricky-ritz

[queenofhalloween94]

Master List: OotP Ch. List

Summary: Y/n heat comes a week early, scent echoes wreck the guys.

Warnings: mentions of heat, slight angst

Ch 7 The Heat Before the Fire

You woke up from your nap sweating, the sheets tangled around your legs like vines. Luna had moved to the floor, her tail twitching with soft annoyance. Your skin felt too warm. Too tight.

You knew this feeling, the first curl of heat. Your scent had thickened overnight—spiced apple cider now simmering, syrupy and warm. You could feel it pulling, stretching, reaching for them through threads you couldn’t see.

You checked your calendar a week early. Of fucking course. You fall back on your pillows with your skin feeling like small infernos were occurring down your arms, legs, torso concentrating at your middle.

💜💜💜💜💜💜💜💜

Backstage before the show in Chicago, the entire pack froze at once. They had grown used to scent echoes—Minho still smelled like her hoodie, Chan still kept a small Wolfchan keychain she scented for him, tucked in his bag—but this was different.

Felix inhaled and went utterly still. “Yup, it's her heat.”

“Are you sure?” Seungmin asked, though his jaw had already tightened.

Hyunjin pressed a hand to his chest. “It’s warm. I feel it.”

Han sat down heavily, as if the ground had tilted under him. “It’s starting.”

💜💜💜💜💜💜💜💜

Online

🐾 @staydetective1: ok but what if the girl they’re all acting weird about is actually GOING INTO HEAT like listen—Minho looked panicked at that meet and greet and han??? HAN IS SNIFFING THE AIR IN EVERY CLIP 🥵

🧃@cider_noona: I'm telling y’all… the way Chan and Felix keep looking off-camera? they’re scent-tracking someone. they KNOW who she is.

🐇 @jeonginsmoon: we’re in the endgame now

💜💜💜💜💜💜💜💜

You didn’t want to alarm them. Not yet. So you texted one person.

🍎 You:

Can I talk to you?

🐿️ Han:

always

🐿️ Han:

calling you now

The screen lit up. His face appeared. You hadn’t expected the way your stomach flipped when you saw him. His hair was pushed back, you felt like a Victorian seeing a bit of ankle for the first time. His eyes were wide with concern, his voice low and careful.

“Is it time?”

You nodded slowly, “I’m not in full heat yet, but it’s starting.”

His gaze softened, then darkened slightly. “You smell stronger.”

“I know.”

“Don’t hide from us,” he said suddenly. “Please.”

You looked down. “I didn’t want to make it worse.”

“You’re not.” His voice shook just a little. “Next time won’t be so bad. I promise.”

💜💜💜💜💜💜💜💜

After you ended the call, Han sat on the edge of his hotel bed for a long time. The others were in the next room. He could hear Felix laughing faintly through the door, the low thrum of Chan’s voice in the hallway.

But everything felt… different now. He’d always been the chaos. The clown. The deflector, but when you’d looked at him on that screen—eyes tired, scent sweet, voice soft—something shifted. He wanted you, not just in the instinctive way. Not just because of the heat. He wanted to take care of you. Make you laugh. Rub your feet while you work. Steal your phone and draw dumb hearts in your notes app. Hold you through the night and know it was his scent that kept you calm. Han laid back on the bed and exhaled. Then he grabbed his phone.

You sat in your room with your laptop open, a Korean workbook to one side, and Luna curled up beside you. Your phone buzzed.

🐈 Minho:

**a photo of the guys in various heart poses for you**

You smiled for the first time since they left muttering “Dorks” as you fall just a little bit more for them. Then a chat came in from Han.

🐿️ Han:

I want to be with you when it happens even if it’s just to hold you.

I don’t care if I touch you.

I just want to be near you.

I want you to make you feel safe.

You stared at the screen, heart pounding. Then typed:

🍎 You:

You already do.

💜💜💜💜💜💜💜💜

Chan stood at the head of the room, eyes locked on the legal advisor across the table. “She’s entering heat,” he said. “We’re not going to let her go through it alone.”

“We’re finalizing her visa paperwork,” the manager confirmed. “But it won’t be ready for another two weeks.”

“Too late,” Minho said.

“We can check her into a private facility,” The adviser offered. “Something secure. Controlled. Until you’re done touring.”

Jeongin’s voice was quiet. “She’ll be scared.”

“We’ll call her every night,” Felix said. “Every morning.”

“We’ll send her scented items to take with her.” Hyunjin added.

“We remind her,” Han said, “that she’s not alone.”

💜💜💜💜💜💜💜💜

The heat simmered higher by the hour. Your scent clung to your clothes now, heavy and sweet. The air in your apartment felt humid with need. You curled on your bed with your phone in hand, swiping through photos—Minho half-asleep, Felix mid-laugh, Han’s blurry selfie with his tongue out and the caption “for when you miss my dumb face.” It hurt, in the way only something beautiful can. You were theirs and for now, you had to wait.

**Thank you for reading!!**

[sourle]

Idk if ya taking requests but since it's pride month can we get a headcanon of the Survivors and Killers reactions to a Male Reader coming out as gay?

ya don't have to do this if ya don't want to and you can ignore it if ya requests are closed

Rainbow

It's a double rainbow all the way.. damn..

Forsaken x Male!Reader

WARNINGS: non

Notes: I'm really sorry it took me so long, trying to find some motivation

Headcanon

Survivors

Noob

They're supportive about it! They don't mind at all!

Talking as they identify as They/Them.

They support you on that!

Elliot

He has no saying on it, seeing as it doesn't affect him in a way.

He supports you on it!

Shedletsky

Surprised?

Honestly this guy would joke about him already knowing with the way you look at him. He's joking.

He supports you on it! Will fight off musky people who insults you for it.

Builderman

It doesn't affect him, really.

He could careless about you being gay but he's respecting that.

Love is love.

Dusekkar

Slowly claps his hands as he says congratulations.

He supports you yes, he doesn't mind of course, he couldn't careless. He has the killers to worry about.

Guest 1337

He's too tired to care

He would just say congratulations and worry more about the killers tbh

Chance

Makes a joking fuss about it. You like it that way? Okay... Wait does that mean i got a.. chance with you, winks.

Actually doesn't care but support, expect some flirty jokes from this non-binary man.

Two time

They stare at you with that iconic creepy smile, "And I am pan!" (Idk if they're pan or not, i can't call them gay since they identify as non-binary:p)

You both talk more about your preference.

007n7

Ok?

Dad support vibes

He doesn't mind, he has other things to worry about.

Taph

👍

Yeah this man supports you but they uhh doesn't know how to think about it

Killers

1x1x1x1

Ok.. sure

She doesn't care nor does he mind

John doe

He forgets what that is until you have to explain it to him

He nodded in understanding and went on his merry way

Mafioso

He does not care.

He's collecting your debts anyway.

Noli

*plays a vine boom audio albeit glitchy*

*also starts playing I'm gay dabedibedie*

*ALSO starts playing double rainbow*

Azure

He can't careless

Would just give you a thumbs up and leave, what else do you want him to respond with?

Guest 666

Stares at you

Before licking your face albeit like a puppy.

"ok you do taste gay"

You still don't understand what he meant by that as you watch him leave.

Itrapped

Ok

He can't find the card saying "i give a f0ck"

Doombringer

I need to research more on this guy

He supports you on that before leaving

He can't say more since he doesn't know how to react to it, he couldn't careless

[ddaz3d-and-cc0nfused]

fem plus size mutant!reader, wc: 664.

۶ৎ a/n .ᐟ | OH ME OH MY!!! i haven't written for a new character in so long! it's so refreshing!! forgive me if logan is a bit ooc and a lot of things probably don't make sense, i'm still in the process of watching the movies so i tried to keep things as vague as possibly aside from the spoilers i've been given! i have fallen so deeply in love with this man so he will definitely be making an apperance on this acc more! ty for your request! @hicanivent

You never thought in all your years of living, you would be the one thing that managed to scare away Logan, and all it took was a kiss.

Maybe it was your fault or possibly the tension that had surrounded the two of you since you had joined the mutant school as another professor.

Either way, what was done is done, and you couldn’t sleep.

You stared up at your roof which was decorated with all sorts of plant vines. Though you were a mutant as well, your ability was minor. You were able to manipulate plants; you could make them move, grow, or wilt. It was nothing too impressive, but the children enjoyed your gardening class.

Gardening wasn’t the only thing you taught, there was also the history of different herbs and species of plants and how they were used throughout time. 

That’s where your dilemma of insomnia lies. With an aching heart and an active brain, essays sat delicately on your desk in your classroom, and you were contemplating on whether or not you should just grade them. The kids weren’t expecting them back anytime soon, but what else were you to do?

A part of you is afraid that maybe you’ll run into Logan stalking through the halls like he does sometimes when his brain gets too loud. It was like he always had something to run from, and somehow he’d always find himself knocking on your door at all hours of the night. Sometimes he wouldn’t even talk, just sit there and find comfort in your presence.

You weren’t ashamed to say that you’re worried about him, but Logan was probably the most stubborn man you had ever met, so if he didn’t want to do something, you couldn’t force him. Sometimes you wish you could.

You threw your blankets off of your body, sitting on the edge of the bed and held your head in your hands. You felt the exhaustion seeping into your bones and you let out a prolonged sigh.

A hesitant knock on your door pulled you out of your tired stupor, your head shooting up in alarm.

You honestly thought it was one of the kids, definitely not a very shaken up looking Logan.

A very bitter part of you wanted to turn him away, but a very extremely soft part of you – the part that was in love with him – led you to open up the door wider with a small encouraging smile on your face.

He looked unsure for a moment before breaking through the threshold. 

“I’m sorry.”  Was the first thing he had said before you even had a chance to turn around after shutting the door.

He was standing in the middle of your room, the midnight glow shining through your window casted an enchanting shadow against the naked skin of his arms that was exposed by his classic plain white undershirt. 

You don’t know how you managed to speak through the dryness of your throat.

“It’s okay.” You spoke quietly, looking up at him through tired eyes.

“No it’s not.” He denied. You approached him slowly before you cupped his cheek. “But Logan, it is.”

Your words had a plethora of meanings behind them, that you forgive him, that you were waiting until he was ready. 

You stare at each other for a moment, his large battle worn hands rest on the plumpness of your hips, and the supernatural warmth of his body sends a pleasant shiver up your spine.

“If I kiss you, are you going to run away again?” You joke, breaking the intense atmosphere. 

A small smirk tugs at the corner of his lips ever so slightly. “Nah, I think I’ll stick around this time.”

Logan doesn’t give you time to retort because he had already found himself kissing you, the scruff of his mutton chops scratching at your cheeks ever so slightly. It tickled and you giggled, smiling into his mouth.

You felt him smile too.

© ddaz3d-and-cc0nfused .ᐟ

[imbaebi]

Lemonade

ִֶָ࣪☾. 최종호 —

paring: groomsman!jongho x bridemaid!reader

genre: comfort and romance

warnings: wanting to get married, jealousy(reader gets kinda jealous of her friends)

wc / cc : 2.6k / 14.9k

a/n: this connects with Summer in White !! i lowkey really love writing this, hehe

atz summer masterlist

synopsis —---

weddings were fun. but it would get tiring if you were always the bridesmaid but never the bride. maybe lemonade could change that?

—-- ⪩⪨⪩⪨

Your friend had asked you to be a bridesmaid for her wedding. Of course you said yes. You loved weddings!

You arrive at your friend's house, she was having a mini celebration party for her friends, a bridal shower if you will—a week before her wedding. You ring the doorbell, as you shift the gift in your hand.

    “Ah! Y/N, you're here!” Your friend takes you into a hug. She pulls away and sees what you're holding. “I told you you didn't have to bring a gift, girl!”

    “How could I not bring a gift? It's your bridal shower, for flips sake!” You argue with a smile. She shakes her head defeated, it was too late to do anything about it.

    “Thank you though. Now come in!” She pulls you inside.

You both head to the living room where the shower was happening. It was decorated with green vines—your friend was obsessed—and white balloons. There were fairy lights too. You recognized everyone in the room, her bridemaids are your best friends too. You recognize her older sister immediately.

    “Hi everyone.” You greet everyone and they great you back.

    “Y/N!!!” Chaewon squeals, getting up to hug you. “I haven't seen you in like ages!”

Chaewon doesn't live around here, you only met her in person like 3 times of the years knowing her sister, most of the conversations happened through the phone. But you're still excited to see her.

    “Chae!! It's been too long!”

And the bridal shower begins. You all play games like who knows the bride the most, obviously Chaewon won but it was still fun nevertheless. You also played pingpong with shots, and limbo. You all have lots of snacks too because what type of party would it be without food?

Now to the bride's request—she wanted to play hide and seek. Now at all your grown ages you guys obviously said yes.

Your friend counts next to the front door. The only rule she had was to not go outside, so everyone runs around the house in search of a good hiding spot. Everywhere you checked was either taken or it was just terrible so you run upstairs, your friend's house had 2 extra rooms upstairs. One was the guest room and the other an extra room where she turned into her office. The office seemed like a good place to hide. You enter the office and slam the door shut behind you, only for you to almost let out a scream. You slap your hand over your mouth.

    “Oh shit! Sorry—I didn't know anyone was in here.” You apologize to the random man inside the office. You notice though, that the office had been turned into a temporary guest room it seemed cause there was now a bed in here with a very attractive man sitting on it.

    “It's alright.” He smiles at you, putting his phone down.

You hear your friend yell "ready or not, here I come."

    “Are you guys playing hide and seek?” He looks like he's about to laugh as he asks this.

    “Yeah. The bride's request.”

    “Of course it's my sister who wants to play this.” He shakes his head. Realization dawns on you.

    “Oh! You must be Jongho right?”  Your friend and Chaewon have a younger brother so this must be him.

    “Yeah, the one and only. What's your name?”

    “I'm Y/N. Say, Jongho.. you wouldn't mind if I hide in here would you? There's kinda a prize on the line and your sister's already seeking.”

    “I don't mind. You should hide in there.” He points to the closet.

    “Thanks! You're a real one.” you quickly get inside the closet, closing the door behind you. Just as you did so, you hear the office door open.

    “What do you want?” You hear Jongho say, his voice sounds annoyed and bored.

    “Did anyone come in here?” Your friend asks him.

    “Nope. I thought you told everyone I was in here so they wouldn't come in here. You literally exiled me to this room and kept from everyone cause I'm not one of your bridemaids.” You could almost hear the eye roll. Jongho was a good actor, you took note of.

“I didn't exile you.” She huffs.

“Whatever you say, Sis. And isn't it cheating to ask where people are when you're playing hide and seek, hmm? Are you that bad at the game that you have to resort to cheats?”

“Oh my gosh, shut up!” She says before you hear the door slam shut. Jongho breaks into laughter. He definitely was a younger brother.

You open the closet door, your friend was definitely not going to check in here again.

    “You definitely fooled her.” You say to Jongho.

    “Of course I did. She's my older sister, so it's easy.”

⪩⪨

The day before the wedding, it was the last rehearsal.

Ahri, Chaewon's daughter was crying. Ahri is the flower girl but she's afraid to walk down. Ahri's a little shy. Unfortunately her mom couldn't convince her to do it.

    “But mommy I don't want to anymore...” She says quietly to Chaewon who was crouched to her level. Chaewon looks stressed, she and her sister had barely gotten any sleep the other night trying to fix Ahri's dress since it came in a couple sizes too big and the neckline was too deep for a 6 year old girl.

Seonghwa comes over to his soon to be niece, picking her up. He walks to the end of the isle and spoke quietly to Ahri. You rub Chaewon's back in a soothing way. Three minutes later Seonghwa comes back with Ahri, he had some how convinced Ahri to not be scared and walk the isle. He literally worked some magic on that girl.

The practice went again from the top. The groomsmen would be at the alter with the groom already. The grooms parents would go down first after the bride's mom would go down next. Then the bridesmaids would go in the order—Chaewon, You, Eunsae, Hari, Seongyeong, Yoonhee and Christy. Then Ahri throws the petals down before the bride walks with her father. Then after the ceremony, the bride and groom walk together down the isle followed by Chaewon and Hongjoong, You and Jongho, Eunsae and Yunho, Hari and Wooyoung, Seongyeong and Yeosang, Yoonhee and Mingi, and finally Christy and San, then the bride and grooms parents are to follow shortly.

You hold onto Jongho's arm, a fluttery feeling in your stomach you chose to ignore as you walk down the isle a couple paces behind Chaewon and Hongjoong.

Jongho was barely a month younger than you but that didn't stop you from finding him handsome, there was a charm to him.

    “Okay you guys did great! Let's do the same thing for tomorrow, yeah?” The wedding planner encourages everyone.

They respond with a "yeah!!"

    “You did good, Y/N. You have a good sense of rhythm, you kept in time well.” Jongho notes.

    “I could imagine.. I've been a bridesmaid for as long as I remember.” It came out more bitter sounding than you meant it to. You laugh trying to mask the sudden tone. “I been in all the bridesmaids' weddings, if you didn't know. I'm an expert at being a bride's maid.”

You explain, scratching the back of your neck.

    “I see...”

    “You did good too, Jongho.”

    

⪩⪨

The ceremony was lovely, it was always lovely—the whole becoming one with your soulmate and living with them for the rest of your life. Something you always dreamed of doing but you couldn't even keep a relationship for more than 3 months...

The ceremony was almost over, it was now time for the groom to kiss his bride. Seonghwa dips your friend, kissing her in a dramatic romantic way. You smile, happy for them, really you were. But you felt something in your stomach. You were the last one of your friends the who wasn't married yet now. It stirred something in you.

You meet Jongho in the middle and grab ahold of his arm, he pulls you closer slightly. You notice, your chest warms.

    “You look very pretty.” He tells you quietly as you both walk down the isle behind Hongjoong and Chaewon. It took everything in you from screaming out loud.

    “T-Thanks. You look very nice yourself.”

Everyone in the wedding party finally makes it down the isle. It was time for pictures. There was a special spot outside dedicated for the after ceremony pictures. The photographer asks the bridesmaids to stand next to the bride and the groomsmen to stand next to the groom. The photographer takes a bunch of pictures for them. You held your smile up as best as you could, posing for the pictures. Finally it was time for the couple to take pictures with their parents, you let your smile drop a little. Not enough to raise concern for anyone but enough for your face to rest. Afterwards everyone moved to the reception hall.

Everyone was seated as there were congratulation toasts to the two being raised. You listen to the sweet words said by Chaewon and Hongjoong, the maid of honor and the best man. Their parents also spoke, that almost made you cry. Then Jongho was called up to the mic. He sang a song for the couple. This time you actually cried, his voice was beautiful as he sings the words of a love song for his sister and brother in law. Your teary eyes on Jongho and they never faltered.. His voice was almost hypnotic like a siren's song, causing you to fall for him a little more than you wished. His eyes met yours and you swore you almost melted. You wipe your tears as you tear your gaze away, face warm because he could probably read what was written in your eyes.

⪩⪨

After dancing for a really long time, your friend retires, she walks tiredly but happy to her husband. They were just so cute... You couldn't help but feel a little pang jealousy of your friend and Seonghwa. When was it your turn?

You sigh, needing a break from all the noise. You head outside to the terrace. The July night air was cool, chilly. You were only out there for two minutes before the goosebumps crawls up your arms. You didn't go back inside though, you couldn't. Not when you felt like this. You chose to rub your hands over your bare arms. You didn't even hear the terrace door open, you had only heard it click shut. You turn around and saw him. Jongho. He has two glass in hand. It was lemonade.

    “Hey. Are you okay?” His brows furrow a little bit.

    “...just fine.”

He comes closer and holds out a glass of lemonade. You look at the glass then you look at him, wondering if he had followed you out here. You take the glass from him and mumble a thanks. You take a sip of your lemonade and he does the same.

    “I know you said you said you were fine.. but if you want to talk, I'm here to listen.” He says gently.

    “You might think I'm pathetic and a bad friend...” You say truthfully.

    “Try me.”

    You sigh. “I'm feeling a little bit... Jealous. Like I've always been the bridesmaid since I was seventeen. All of my friends are married and I'm wondering when it's my turn, y'know? So seeing it happen once again...” You didn't finish instead you choose to laugh, humorlessly. “See what I mean by I'm a bad friend?”

    “I don't think you're a bad friend. You're just being human with human feelings. Hey, you even came outside so you don't make our friends' day about you. How is that being a bad friend?”

You think about his words, honestly a little touched. “I guess you're right...”

    “So... Is your boyfriend not proposing or something?”

    “Boyfriend? I don't have a boyfriend.” You say surprised, hand waving.

    “Oh. I assumed you had one since you're like really pretty.” Your cheeks warm at his words, you take a sip of the fresh lemonade.

    “Oh no..! I can't even keep a boyfriend, they all say I'm too boring.” You frown as you spoke quietly. “They don't want to wait for me.”

    “Those guys are seriously missing out. You're definitely worth the wait.”

    “Stop, you're just saying that.” There was a pause as you turn to look at him. He looks serious which catches you off guard.

    “I'm not,” he says softly. “I've only known you for a week but you... You captivate me. I really want to get to know you more, Y/N.”

    “I— are you sure?” You stutter. Your heart flutters too, beating fast.

    “Of course I'm sure. Why wouldn't I be sure?” Jongho furrows his brows.

    “well... I did say I was boring.” You remind him, nervously.

    “Boring how so?” He asks you.

    “I want to wait for marriage to have sex.”

He starts laughing, catching you off guard. You press your lips together, slightly embarrassed, neck growing hot.

    “I-I told you..”

    “No, no I'm not laughing at you, promise. Y/Nie that doesn't make you boring. This whole time I thought you just didn't like to go out and have adventures, that it made your nervous or something.”

You cheeks flush red, hopefully the blush you were wearing was enough to mask the heat as makeup.

    “So you wouldn't mind..?” You ask nervously, there was a bit of hope in your voice. A breeze came, waving your hair around slightly. Jongho uses his free hand to tuck the strands away from your face. You freeze at his closeness.

    “Of course I wouldn't mind, Y/N. You don't need to have sex to have a relationship. I wouldn't mind waiting if it that's what you want.” He spoke with such softness that it warmed your heart. His hand lingers in your soft hair. Your lips part, your eyes on his.

The lights from the terrace gave him a soft glow, making him look very attractive right now. Whispers of unspoken feelings drifted in the comfortable silence between the two. The moon was bright too, almost full and round as the stars danced around it giving the illusion of twinkling in the night sky. The uncertainty lingers in his finger tips as they caress your soft hair, he didn't want to do anything you didn't like but you looked absolutely gorgeous in the light green bridesmaid dress and with the small white flower crown around your hair. He wanted to kiss your soft looking lips, feel yours on his. They would fit perfectly against his, he had a feeling they would—a feeling that you were the one, the missing half of his life. You both had already walked down the isle together but he wanted to do it again but with you as his bride. This might be a little too fast but he's never been so sure in his life.

Another breeze blew by, causing you to shiver again, the goosebumps returning. Silently his fingers leave your hair and he begins to unbutton his suit. He puts it around your shoulders with softness, you feel warm instantly. His scent drowing your nose in such a pleasent way.

    “Thank you.” You give his cheek a quick peck. He smiles a shy grin.

    “I really do want to take you on a date, Y/N. If you'll give me a chance.”

    “I'd really like that.” You tell him, your eyes sparkling. His grin widens. “Can we go get some more lemonade?”

    “Of course.” You take his hand, fingers interlocking. It felt right. You two leave the terrace and enter into the hallway. The music from the reception room wasn't too loud out here, just faint for the doors were closed and the room was mostly sound proof.

    “Y'know, I was really nervous to approach you earlier... So I thought of offering you lemonade and using it as a conversation starter, cause I didn't know how else to approach you.”

You giggle. “Really? Well you're lucky I really like lemonade.”

You liked it even more now.

Extra scene (wc is 172):

Upon entering the wedding hall again, you notice that a couple of unmarried women lined up behind your friend. It was time for the bride's bouquet toss. The hall was loud, buzzing with voices of excitement—the superstition of the flower toss being the loudest of the talk. You and Jongho start making your way to the refreshment table to get more lemonade as the bride gets into stance to throw the bouquet.

Your foot catches at the hem of your light green dress, causing you to loose your balance. Everything happened so fast—you felt yourself tipping over when Jongho's arm goes to your waist catching you before you could fall. Then bam, flowers were suddenly in your arms. Everything went still for a moment, you and Jongho look at each other in shock. You weren't even intending on joining the bouquet toss. You begin to laugh at the obscurity of it all. Jongho's laughter joins in with warmth sending fuzzy feelings through your whole body.

Maybe this was a sign...

©2025 imbaebi — all rights reserved, I don't allow copy of my work. Inspiration is one thing, plagiarism is another. reblogging is appreciated.

atz summer masterlist

taglist — (comment under the masterlist to be added) ;

@eumppapasmom,

[brittle-doughie]

I'm sick and tired rn and can U do a fic of ES trying to take care of me on one of those fluffly clouds of her? It looks way too comfy

She's my favorite beast :D

Y/N Cookie: *trudges in all tired, slumping in their walk as you swap to casual wear.*

Eternal Sugar noticed them walking in as she looked up from her cloud, nudging it to float towards you.

Eternal Sugar Cookie: “You look tired, Cookie…”

Yeah, you were…

Eternal Sugar Cookie: “I can help with that…”

With a motion of her hand, vines sprout up from below you to nudge you onto her cloud.

Eternal Sugar Cookie: “Only the comfiest of clouds are to my liking. I just know it will be yours too.”

She did have a point there.

The cloud you were on was rather comfy.

Like you could sleep in it all day!

[arc-misadventures]

Care to Share a Drink?

Jaune Arc was walking back from the training halls tired from another grueling training regime. Since becoming a, Specialist, Jaune had taken several courses to broaden his expertise; both in functioning, and technical training.

It was good to widen his expertise as a, Specialist, and he may be taking in all this new information like a sponge, but a sponge can only absorb so much in before it starts to leak out.

Now, Jaune was tired. He needed to relax, and just destress himself for all the worries that weighed him down. He was having a day off tomorrow, maybe he could...

: Hey, Jaune!

Jaune: Hmm...?

Jaune turned around to see the ever smiling, Clover Ebi approaching him.

Jaune: Oh, hey, Clover. What's up?

Clover: Just wanted to ask if you wanted to go out for a drink?

Jaune: A drink?

Clover: Yeah, there's this bar I like to go to, I thought you would enjoy some male bounding. I would have invited you sooner, but we were so busy with everything. Besides, you look like you need someplace to relax for a bit.

Jaune: Oh, is anyone joining us?

Clover: Naww... I asked everyone else; Marrow, can't hold a drink for the life of him. Vine is a tea nut. Elm, likes those fruity drinks, the bar we're going to doesn't have those. Harriet said she was busy doing some paperwork with, Winter. And, Winter... Ya know.

Jaune: I know, Clover, I know.

Jaune: Sure... I wouldn't mind having a drink with you.

Clover: Alright then, let's go!

Jaune: Do they have any good bar food there? I'm starving.

~~~

Clover: So here we are, Jaune! The Squeaky Cog! Best bar in all of, Mantle!

Jaune: I thought we would be going to a bar in, Atlas, not one in, Mantle.

Clover: Nahh, there are plenty of decent bars in, Atlas. But, this place... it has a more homely feel to it, feels more lived in then the bars in, Atlas which feel sterile.

Jaune: Ahh, a by product of the whole, Colour Wars, eh?

Clover: Yeah, pretty much. Now come on, let's get a drink!

The pair walked over to the bar, and took a seat. Jaune grabbed the menu, and gave it a quick glance, finding a item he wouldn't mind eating. The barkeeper shortly came to them, and asked if they wanted anything.

Clover: I'll have a beer, and the chili fries.

Jaune: I'll have the... fish and chips, and a scotch on the rocks.

The bartender took their orders before walking away, as he left, Jaune busied himself with a bowl of pretzels.

Clover: A scotch on the rocks? I didn't take you for the type.

Jaune: A simple beer, thought you had more class.

Clover: I tend to have whisky after a reward for a rough day, for this a simple beer will do.

Jaune: I'd take a vodka myself if I wanted something simple. But, it's been a while since I had a drink, so I'll take a scotch.

Jaune thanked the barkeeper when he brought them their drinks. He swirled his drink watching the ice cube move about his drink. He took a sip letting out a satisfying breath of air as he did.

Jaune: That's smooth... I was told by some of the locals while I was walking about, Mantle that Mantilian Scotch is really good; That's a hell of an understatement.

Clover: Really? Maybe I should try it, and maybe you can try a beer too.

Jaune: Actual piss has more flavour in it than that piss in a bottle.

Clover laughed at, Jaune's little jab, he looked at, Jaune a serious look crossing his face.

Clover: Uhh... listen, Jaune...

Jaune: Is this where you ask me questions about my relationship with, Winter, or are we going to talk about you, and Harriet instead?

Clover stopped in his tracks, looking dumbfounded at, Jaune who just gave him an inquisitive eyebrow in return.

Jaune: Well?

Clover closed his mouth before giving, Jaune an amazed, yet scared look.

Clover: Again, you notice way too much, and it's scary how much you do.

Jaune laughed as he spun the ice cup around in his drink.

Jaune: Relax, Clover. I've been expecting you to ask me about you two since I caught you making your way to the, Ever Light Hotel~!

Clover: Hey! Keep it quiet about... the hotel!

Jaune gave another light laugh before taking another sip of his drink.

Jaune: Okay, Clover; Let's play a little game then shall we?

Clover: What kind of game?

Jaune: I ask you a question about you, and Harriet. Then you ask me a question about me, and Winter. You game.

Clover: Okay. I'm game... You first.

Jaune: Oh good, because I've been wondering for weeks now; How the hell did you two get together?

Clover: Ahh... Well... before you joined us, the Specialist, we already had six members... But, we lost one, his name was, Tortuga.

Jaune: Tortuga... I remember hearing, Harriet saying that name... She said, 'I was good, but I wasn't anything compared to, Tortuga.' Is that why, Harriet hates me? Because, I'm some sort of replacement of this, Tortuga fellow?

Clover: Kinda. Harriet, and Tortuga always had this older brother, younger sister dynamic to them. So when, Tortuga died, Harriet lost her 'big brother.' She didn't take it well...

Jaune: I can understand that. I have seven older sisters... I can barely handle the thought of losing one of them...

Clover: Well as it's my job as team leader to help my teammates. So, I talked with her, consoled her, and was just there for her when she needed it. A shoulder to cry on, a face to scream at. A friend.

Clover: Then one day, the whole team went here to relax, and have a drink, and while the rest of the team slowly went home one after another, bunch of light weights the lot of them! Harriet, and I stayed there getting absolutely waisted... Then...

Jaune: You woke up in each others arms in an uncompromising position?

Clover: Uhh... ahh.. yeah... that's pretty much it...

Jaune laughed at, Clovers face as it was flushed red from embarrassment.

Clover: There was some awkwardness between the two of us. But, we managed to work it out, and we've been dating in secret for about two months now.

Jaune: Why in secret; is there something against, Specialist dating each other?

Clover: No, there isn't any rule. We just don't want the others to know, I mean if, Elm finds out about us, we'll never hear the end of it!

The pair shared a short laugh that ended when the bartender brought them their meals. The duo thanked the bartender before they went back to their conversation.

Clover: Okay, it's my turn... How the hell did you get together with, Winter freaking Schnee? I mean... I've know, Winter for years, but she never struck me as the type who would be interested in dating anyone. Much less you.

Jaune: Rude...

Jaune nonchalantly replied while enjoying the fries on his fish, and chips. He quite liked the mixed spices they were using.

Clover: I don't mean to be rude, It's just... you seem so... so simple.

Jaune: I guess that's what she likes about me.

Clover: You guess?

Jaune: I don't know, or really understand why they like me. I was just being myself with them; honest, open, being an absolute dork... Honestly, I haven't the faintest clue how those two fell for me. I've flirted with woman before, and I was absolute trash! Like what the fuck was I thinking?!

Clover: Everyone was an idiot when it comes to flirting.

Clover commented this as he was shoveling his chili froes into his mouth.

Jaune: That was a year ago...

Clover: Pfft?!

Clover soon developed into a small coughing fit, before grabbing his beer, and chugging it down.

Clover: (Cough, cough, cough!) Serious, you went to being a loser who couldn't flirt with a girl for the life of them, to having, Winter Schnee fawning all over you?!

Jaune: Yeah, I don't understand it either...

Jaune dipped his fish into the hollandaise sauce, marveling at how nice it tasted. He also flagged down the bartender over to get, Clover another beer.

Jaune: Honestly if feel like I'm just standing there, and some hot girl looks at me like: "Haha! What's a dork!"

Jaune: "I must have him for my own."

Clover: Seriously?

Jaune: It's happened at least four times, two in the past two weeks... Okay, my turn: What's up with, Harriet?

Clover: What do you mean?

Jaune: Harriet's been looking a little queasy lately... Did any... definitions of 'lucky' happen?

Clover: Huw...?!

Clover dropped his fork in shock at the implications at, Jaune's honest question.

Clover: ...?!

Jaune: Well?

Clover: No! N-N-Nothing like that at all! She's just sick from bad fish, I swear! We had it checked! She's not pregnant!

Jaune: Then you better keep using those condoms, or birth control. I don't think you two want that to happen... Yet?

Clover: Well... I wouldn't mind it happening eventually... but, there's too much going on right now...

Jaune: Well, regardless of what happens, I wish you two the best of luck! Not from just your semblance.

Jaune raised his drink in the air before, Clover raised his in the air for a salute. Jaune then finished his drink, asking the barkeeper for another.

Clover: My turn?

Jaune nodded as he finished the last remnants of his meal.

Clover: Okay... When I asked you about you, and Winter. You kept saying, 'they:' Why?

Jaune: Ahh... I'm not gonna lie to you, Clover... but, I'm stuck within a love triangle between two woman.

Clover: You're... in love triangle...?

Jaune: Yep.

Clover: Seriously?

Jaune: Yep!

Jaune gave, Clover a dead serious look as he answered him. Popping the, P to emphasize his point.

Clover: How...?!

Jaune: I don't understand how these things happen to me either.

Clover: Between who?

Jaune: Winter Schnee, and Robyn Hill...

Clover: Robyn Hill?! She's into you? Again, how?

Jaune: Not sure. My best bet is that I was honest with her. Robyn's semblance lets her decern truth from lies. I can only guess what she went through to have a semblance such as that. But, I think saving her from a psycho faunas certainly helped.

Clover: Being the literal white knight saving the damsel...? Yeah, I bet that helped.

Jaune: Now the two of them have given me tokens of affection, and I have no idea what to do...

Clover: The sash, and that falcon pin?

Jaune: Lucky guess.

The pair shared a laugh before continuing their stories.

Jaune: Now the worst part is, is that they both know the other likes me, and they've both stacked their 'claims' on me. I'm literally stuck between two badass huntresses who could beat my ass, who are more than willing to fight each other tooth, and nail to get me! I have no idea how to navigate any of this!! And, worse of all: It's fucking hot that I have two beautiful, wonderful woman fighting over me!

Clover: Do you know which one you want to be with?

Jaune: I don't know... They're both among the greatest, and most beautiful people I've ever met! And, as much as I've enjoyed their rather, forceful kiss's. I want to be the one to steal their breath away with a kiss. But, I have no experience when it comes to the affairs of the heart, so I haven't got a damn clue on what to do... And, it's as you said, there is too much going on right now to worry about such things...

Clover: But, if you had to choose: Who would you pick?

Jaune shrugged his shoulders before looking at, Clover.

Jaune: Both?

Clover snorted as he smacked, Jaune on his shoulder before slapping a pile of credits on the bar top after finishing he second beer.

Clover: It's on me. Now come on, let's back to base.

Jaune finished his scotch before getting up, and following, Clover out of the bar.

Jaune: This was nice. Thanks for inviting me, Clover. We should do this again. Only this time, drinks are on me.

Clover: Looking forward to it.

[chara-cat5]

lads isekai au ch 15

reader is gender neutral, warning: swearing, mdni

masterlist

first 1

previous 14

next 16

(q/a for any confused readers!!)

you settled in the back, an old sleeping bag laid out among pots of plants. as you laid back, closing your eyes, you tried to relax. tried to let go of your stress for the night. you'll fix it tomorrow. you'll talk it out. but you merely tossed and turned. thoughts swirling and circling like vultures, waiting for you to break.

the plants around you seemed to breath and you couldn't tell if you were just more in tune with them because of your evol or if love and deepspace just had weird ass plants. you let out a yell when something wrapped around your wrist, looking down to see a vine. you clawed at it's vice grip for a brief second before it happened again. your world faded to dark. as your consciousness faded, vines crept in more and more.

--------------------------------------------------------

"come on, oh powerful witch! don't tell me you're scared of a little water?"

you huffed from you place on the river shore, watching mia splash around the shallows. she seemed unbothered by the chill, happily swimming and splashing about like a little duck. you don't blame her really, she hadn't gotten the chance to be a child really...

she'd been staying in your cottage for a week now, helping here and there, getting in the way sometimes, but she tried. you could appreciate that. it was nice having someone to talk to. or more like listen to while you worked. she was rather talkative, but it did give you an opportunity to learn more about her. there was a remarkable pull she had, one you found yourself falling into at times. you caught yourself hanging on her words, sending her on a little quest if you had work to do. perhaps it has something to do with her fate...?

mia, human, possesses a special heart. you noticed the tip of the ice berg when you met her, the strings of fate practically strangling her form. looking more closely, she was tied to six others, specifically, both in the past and the future. she was... unique in the sense that you could even see her past ties. most people had their current lives at most, never past or future. beyond that, she had six souls destined to meet her again and again. and while mia's situation might be enviable to some, you knew better.

mia remembered her past lives. this mia. her other lives had no recollection, but this one did. and the pain it was causing her was immense. from childhood, visions of death and destruction struck her, filling her head with darkness. for her lovers, the visions would give her just enough to fall for them only to rip them away in the most painful way. she had explained how they came to her randomly, freezing her in place while she lived through each moment. her parents had tried everything to cure her when these reactions consisted of sobbing violently rather suddenly. you had yet to see one of these episodes first hand, but a large part of you believed her. someone so young doesn't look that tired. you had met many a traveler searching for an easy way out or something they didn't need. maybe that made you too skeptical of others but you held off on any potions, giving her simple tonics to help her sleep for now.

"forgive me if i find no purpose in it. i am perfectly content up here, where it's dry."

she huffed, splashing onto the shore, hands on her hips as she glared down at you.

"don't be such a sourpuss! come on, it's fun!"

you squinted up at her, tugging your legs away from where she was dripping.

"you should be glad i'm out here at all. i have things to do if you are going to shout at me."

"i'm not shouting! just... speaking enthusiastically..."

that pulled a slight laugh out of you, her wet form flopping down next to you on the grass. when she started to shiver, you wordlessly put the blanket you had been resting on over her shoulders.

"... thank you."

"it's nothing. i would rather not waste herbs on you catching a cold."

she huffed out a laugh, wiping a wet hand on your shoulder. you let out a groan, scrunching your nose at the action. the two of you let a beat of silence past before she spoke up again.

"you mentioned my strings of fate or whatever. what are those?"

you huffed softly, gazing off at the sky.

"they bind us to those we are meant to meet. it not always romantic, but it often times is read that way. i can only see others strings by never knowing my own fated in this life."

"wait, so you can't see your string."

you shook your head, turning your gaze to her. the strings were calm today, colorful and fading into different directions.

"it's a fair price. i can't cheat my fate this way."

she let your words settle, picking at a loose thread in the blanket.

"... what do you think about my fate?"

"i think what you feel is most important. my opinion isn't an factor. i do warn you that juggling any about of people is difficult."

she let out a humorless laugh, nodding her head.

"right... i don't know though. they've never been alive at the same time before. i should be fine..."

--------------------------------------------------------

maybe it was your talk, but something during the day triggered an episode that night. you woke up to sobs, full body cries coming from mia. rushing to the room she was staying in, you found her sobbing in her sleep, shaking and curled up into a ball. you didn't hesitate to slip into the bed next to her, gently shaking her shoulders.

"mia. mia. come back mia, it's okay..."

her eyes shot open, taking a gasping breath before falling apart again. she latched onto you and you just held her. she laid half in your lap, arms locked around your waist. you hummed a soft lullaby, rocking back and forth as she kept crying. it took a long time for her to calm down, soft hiccups still leaving her lips as the tears stopped.

"... can you make this stop? i-... i can't take it anymore."

"i can. but magic always has a consequence... i do my best to keep it to minimum, though. try and get some sleep."

you ran your fingers through her hair, going right back to softly humming. she didn't argue, only tightening her arms around your waist. she eventually slipped into the abyss of sleep, her cheeks puffy and red from crying.

"... it'll be okay, mia. i know how to help you..."

--------------------------------------------------------

taglist: @sleepisfortheweakpooh @plzdonutpercieveme @young-adult-summer @mentaltrouble2201 @noxus123 @asakiyu @leftpoetrymoon @hon3yydew @anemobabygirl @clandestienly @crimsonrubie @beaconsxd @yuurisfavblog @cutiesgaloree @udejoenrlddo @mephisto-with-a-knife @poptrim @rhoswen-drake @szafficat @1ren3n @peachystea

anotha one!!

we diving into the memory card now. this will explain your place into this world. where you fall in the dominos...

also, here is the fit i imagined for you. again, i've been keeping it gender neutral, so i did try to keep it that way. (you can imagine you're wearing whatever, this is just for fun.) annnnnd i hate hands so don't look at those.

thank you for reading

-chara <3

[synity]

Heyy!

I was wondering if you’d be up for writing a Scoups fic sometime! Honestly, I’m not picky about the plot I’m just really craving some good Seungcheol fluff and/or angst right now. Totally no pressure if you’re not feeling it, but I’d love to see what you come up with if you’re down. Thanks so much either way!! 💗

ESE DÍA DIFERENTE

(Choi Seungcheo! X Fem!Reader)

Chosen Family, Bittersweet, Slice of life, Contemporary Romance, Healing, Redemption, Emotional Drama

This story is inspired by real-life experiences and emotions that I have lived through and witnessed. While the characters and events are fictionalized, the feelings of heartbreak, healing, and hope are deeply personal and genuine.😭

Seungcheol's life used to be simple. Not in the sense of easy, but in the way that love felt safe and real. When Maria came into his world, it was as if all the scattered pieces of his life finally found their place.

She was stunning bright-eyed, full of laughter, and with a smile that seemed to light up every room she entered.

From the moment they met, there was a spark he couldn't ignore.

He remembered their first date vividly a small, cozy café tucked away in the city's quieter streets. Maria had laughed at his awkward jokes, her eyes sparkling with genuine joy. They talked for hours, about everything and nothing, until the sun dipped below the horizon and the city lights flickered on.

"That was... really nice," Maria had said softly as they stood outside, the cool night air wrapping around them.

Seungcheol grinned, feeling his heart pound.

"I'm glad you think so. I don't usually do this kind of thing, but with you... it felt different."

She smiled back, touching his hand lightly. "Me too."

From then on, their lives intertwined like the vines of a climbing rose. They shared meals, secrets, dreams. Seungcheol found himself planning a future he never dared imagine. Maria wasn't just his girlfriend; she was his partner, his best friend, the person he wanted beside him through every storm and calm.

One evening, a few months into their relationship, they sat on the rooftop of his apartment building. The city sprawled beneath them, glittering like a galaxy.

"I can't wait to marry you, Seungcheol," Maria whispered, her fingers laced through his.

He pulled her close, heart swelling. "Soon. Soon, we'll have that life.

They dreamed aloud about the wedding white flowers, soft music, dancing under the stars.

Maria talked about picking out a house, maybe near the beach where they could watch sunsets every day. Seungcheol listened, believing every

word.

But life rarely stays perfect for long.

Small cracks began to form, almost imperceptibly at first. Maria started staying out later than usual, her phone always locked tight, a new layer of distance settling between them.

When he asked, she smiled and reassured him.

"Nothing to worry about, babe. Just work stuff."

Seungcheol wanted to believe her. Wanted so badly to trust the woman he loved with all his heart.

One afternoon, he waited for her at the café where they often met after work. She arrived late, flustered, avoiding his eyes.

"I'm sorry," she mumbled, slipping into the seat opposite him. "I've just been... busy."

"Is everything okay?" he asked gently, searching her face.

Maria forced a smile, but it didn't reach her eyes. "Yeah, really. Just tired, that's all."

Seungcheol nodded, but the seed of doubt had been planted.

Weeks passed, and the distance grew.

One rainy night, unable to shake the gnawing feeling in his chest, Seungcheol decided to surprise Maria at her apartment. He arrived unannounced, his heart pounding with hope and fear.

The door was slightly ajar.

He stepped inside, the scent of unfamiliar perfume hitting him first.

Then he heard voices soft laughter, whispered words not meant for him.

Seungcheol's breath caught in his throat as he crept closer to the living room.

There, on the couch, was Maria wrapped in the arms of another man.

Time froze.

His world shattered.

Maria looked up, eyes wide with shock.

"Seungcheol! What are you doing here?"

He swallowed the lump in his throat, pain crackina his voice. "How lona?"

She didn't answer.

The man shifted uncomfortably.

"I thought we had something real," Seungcheol said, voice breaking. "I trusted you."

Maria's face crumpled, guilt flooding her features. "I'm sorry... I didn't mean to-"

"Why?" he interrupted, pain cutting through him like a knife. "Why do this to me? To us?"

She looked away, unable to meet his gaze.

Seungcheol turned and left, the cold rain outside soaking him as he walked aimlessly, feeling like every step took him further from the man he used to be.

Days blurred into nights. He barely ate, barely slept. Friends called, but he couldn't answer. His phone was filled with messages from Maria, apologies and explanations, but he couldn't bring himself to respond.

One night, alone in his dark apartment, he stared at the ring he had bought for her. The ring he never got to give. It felt heavy in his hand, a symbol of a future erased.

"I was going to marry you," he whispered into the emptiness. "How did it all fall apart?"

Seungcheol's life crumbled, but somewhere deep inside, beneath the pain, a flicker remained. A faint, fragile hope that maybe, someday, he could find his way back from the darkness.

The days stretched on like endless shadows.

The colors of the city dimmed, and the laughter that once filled his ears turned into a distant echo, a haunting reminder of what was lost.

Seungcheol moved through his routine like a ghost going to work, answering emails, smiling at meetings but inside, he was unraveling.

His apartment, once a sanctuary filled with memories and hope, now felt like a cold cage.

The bed where two souls once dreamed of forever was empty, a silent testament to the promises broken. He often found himself staring at the ceiling late into the night, the weight of silence pressing down on his chest.

Friends tried to reach out.

"Cheol, we miss you," his closest friend, Joshua called one evening. "Let's grab dinner, talk it

out."

But Seungcheol shook his head, forcing a hollow smile. "Not tonight. I'm just tired."

The truth was, he was tired not just physically, but from the ache that refused to fade. From the betrayal that replayed in his mind like a cruel song.

He walked the city streets aimlessly, searching for something to fill the void. Sometimes he found himself in the park, watching couples holding hands, their happiness like salt on a wound. He envied their laughter, their ease, the simple beauty of love that now seemed so distant to him.

One rainy afternoon, he sat alone in a quiet café, fingers tracing the rim of his empty cup. The barista placed a fresh coffee in front of him with a gentle smile.

"Rough day?" He asked kindly.

Seungcheol nodded faintly, managing a small, grateful smile. "You could say that."

He wondered if he knew the weight he carried the loneliness, the heartbreak. But he didn't want to burden anyone with his pain. He had learned to keep it locked inside, behind a carefully crafted mask.

At work, he tried to focus, burying himself in projects and meetings. But the silence in his office was deafening. Every time his phone buzzed, his heart leapt, hoping for a message that never came.

His family noticed his change the quiet that replaced his usual warmth, the shadows under his eyes.

"Seungcheol, are you okay?" his mother asked one evening, concern etched in her voice.

He forced a smile, shaking his head.

"I'm fine. Just... tired."

But inside, he felt fractured. Like a beautiful vase smashed on the floor some pieces sharp and jagged, others missing entirely.

One night, as rain pattered against his window, he sat by the glass, tracing droplets with a trembling finger. He thought about the future he once dreamed of, now crumbled like ashes in his hands.

"I don't know how to move on," he whispered to the empty room. "How do I heal when everything I believed in was a lie?"

His phone lit up suddenly a notification from a florist's shop nearby, advertising fresh spring blooms. He scrolled through the pictures of vibrant flowers, their delicate beauty stirring something deep inside.

Maybe... maybe a small step. Maybe a way to feel something real again.

Unbeknownst to him, that moment, fragile as it was, would lead him somewhere new somewhere he hadn't dared to dream.

The days that followed were a blur of muted colors and hollow routines. Seungcheol woke each morning feeling like he was carrying the weight of the world or maybe just the weight of himself. The silence inside his apartment pressed in on him, thick and suffocating. Sometimes, he’d catch himself reaching for his phone, only to remember there was no one to call.

constant hum of meetings and deadlines distracted him, but it also reminded him how far away he’d drifted from the life he’d imagined. His colleagues noticed the change how his laughter no longer reached his eyes, how his smile felt forced, like a mask he wore to hide the cracks beneath.

One evening, after a long day, Seungcheol found himself standing in front of a small flower shop he hadn’t noticed before. The sign was simple, adorned with delicate script, and the warm glow from inside spilled onto the sidewalk. Drawn by something he couldn’t name, he stepped inside.

The air smelled of earth and petals, soft and comforting. Rows of colorful flowers stretched out before him roses, lilies, tulips each one vibrant, alive. For a moment, he forgot the ache in his chest. He ran his fingers gently over a cluster of soft pink peonies, their petals fragile but full of life.

The shopkeeper, a kind-faced woman with gentle eyes, smiled at him. “Looking for something special?”

Seungcheol hesitated. “I’m not sure… Maybe just something to brighten the day.”

She nodded knowingly. “Flowers have a way of doing that.”

He picked a small bouquet of white daisies simple, pure, hopeful. As he held them, a small flicker of something new stirred inside him not quite happiness, not quite peace, but a fragile thread of hope.

Days passed, and Seungcheol found himself returning to the flower shop more often, drawn by the quiet beauty and the unexpected comfort it offered. He started to care for the flowers he bought, learning how to nurture something delicate and alive. It was a small act, but it reminded him he was still capable of caring even if it was just for petals and leaves.

Slowly, very slowly, the sharp edges of his pain began to soften.

He still carried the scars of his heartbreak they were a part of him now but amid the wilted parts of his life, there were hints of growth. A fragile, quiet strength was taking root.

In the moments between work and sleep, he found himself thinking less about what he’d lost, and more about what might still be waiting.

Seungcheol didn’t know it yet, but this small change a bouquet of daisies, a few quiet moments in a flower shop was the first step toward a new beginning.

It was a quiet Sunday morning, the kind where the sky was pale and the air still. Seungcheol found himself walking the familiar route to the flower shop, hands tucked into the pockets of his beige coat. The streets were calm, and the gentle clink of wind chimes above the flower shop door greeted him as he stepped inside.

He had begun to find comfort in these visits not because he needed flowers for any particular reason, but because it was one of the few places where his chest didn’t feel so heavy.

“Back again,” the florist a warm, gentle woman with tired but kind eyes said with a soft smile.

Seungcheol nodded. “Yeah. I guess I’ve started to like it here.”

The woman chuckled. “People who come back to flowers again and again are usually the ones trying to heal.”

He looked down, quiet. “Yeah… I guess that’s true.”

Just then, the sound of soft footsteps came from behind the wooden curtain separating the back room from the front. A voice, lighter and younger, floated in.

“Mom, do you know where you put the shears? The sharp ones?”

Seungcheol looked up instinctively, and that’s when he saw her.

You.

You stepped out, dressed casually in a light sweater and jeans, a faint smudge of dirt on your wrist as if you’d been helping with potting or organizing. You weren’t in the least like the perfectly polished women Seungcheol used to be surrounded by. There was something grounded about you something real. A small frown rested on your face as you looked around for the missing shears.

“Oh,” you said, stopping short when you noticed someone else in the shop. You straightened up. “Sorry I didn’t know there was a customer.”

Your mother smiled. “This is Seungcheol. He’s been coming here a lot lately.”

You gave a polite nod. “I’m YN her daughter. Just visiting today.”

“Nice to meet you,” Seungcheol replied quietly, something uncertain flickering behind his eyes.

You reached behind the counter, finally spotting the shears and holding them up in triumph. “There they are. Thought I was losing my mind

Seungcheol chuckled softly, and the sound surprised even him. It had been a long time since he’d laughed like that not out of politeness, not to fill silence, but because something genuinely amused him.

Your mother raised an eyebrow, glancing between the two of you.

“You said you were looking for something simple today?” she asked, redirecting Seungcheol gently.

“Yeah… something calm. Nothing too bright. Maybe white or soft blue.”

You turned your head, curiosity piqued. “That sounds like hydrangeas.”

“Hydrangeas?” he echoed, unfamiliar.

You stepped closer, motioning toward the back of the store. “We just got some fresh blue ones in this morning. I’ll show you.”

He followed, not entirely sure why only that your voice was soft, and your presence wasn’t overwhelming. As you gently lifted a hydrangea pot, the petals catching light like quiet silk, Seungcheol felt something stir in him.

“They symbolize gratitude and deep understanding,” you explained, setting the pot down in front of him. “But… also regret and apology. I always found that bittersweet.”

“Sounds like life,” he murmured.

You looked up, meeting his eyes for a moment. Something unspoken passed between you not recognition, not attraction, but something deeper: understanding.

“Yeah,” you said softly. “Exactly.”

Your mother called from the front, and you gave him a small smile before turning away.

As he paid and stepped out of the shop with the potted hydrangea in hand, Seungcheol found himself glancing back once.

You were standing at the counter now, laughing at something your mother said, your eyes crinkling with warmth.

He didn’t know your name until five minutes ago. He didn’t know anything about you what you did, where you lived, what you dreamed of.

But for the first time in what felt like forever, he wanted to know.

And that… felt like something new was beginning.

From that day on, Seungcheol’s visits to the flower shop became more frequent and less about the flowers.

He never admitted it, not even to himself, but he always hoped you’d be there. Sometimes you were tying ribbons around bouquets, sweeping fallen petals, or leaning behind the counter as you talked with your mother. And sometimes you weren’t. On those days, he still bought something small. A sprig of eucalyptus. A single daisy. A lavender stem. Just to justify the visit.

“Still going with calm tones?” you teased one afternoon, walking beside him as he studied a row of soft lilacs.

“They’re peaceful,” he replied with a faint smile. “I need peace.”

You didn’t pry. That was something he noticed about you. You didn’t ask about the sadness in his eyes, or the slight hesitation in his laugh. You didn’t fill silences with questions. You just let them breathe.

“Lilacs symbolize rebirth, you know,” you offered gently. “Like… letting go.”

He glanced at you, something quiet and grateful in his expression. “Then maybe I should take two.”

You grinned.

A few days later, it was raining soft and steady. Seungcheol entered the shop, hair damp, coat speckled with droplets. You were wiping down the window glass, humming something low under your breath.

“You’ll catch a cold,” you said without looking, your voice warm. “There’s tea in the back if you want to sit for a bit.”

He hesitated.

“You sure?”

“Mm-hmm,” you said, finally turning toward him. “You’ve earned regular customer privileges by now.”

That was the first time he sat with you at the little wooden table behind the shop. The kettle steamed softly as you poured two cups of barley tea. The smell of damp earth and petals wrapped around both of you like a blanket.

“I used to drink this with my grandmother,” you said, wrapping your hands around the warm mug. “She always said it tastes like patience.”

Seungcheol sipped slowly. “Then it’s perfect for me.”

The rain continued to fall.

You didn’t speak about your past. He didn’t speak about his. But the silence wasn’t awkward. It felt… comforting. Shared. Like the two of you had been sitting across from each other for years in another life.

The next time he came, you weren’t there.

He tried not to be disappointed. Your mother told him you had classes that day and wouldn’t be back until the weekend. He picked out a soft pink carnation anyway, but as he walked home with it tucked into his coat pocket, it wasn’t the same.

He didn’t know why.

She was just someone he met in a flower shop.

Just someone who smiled at him when the rest of the world felt cold.

Just someone whose voice stayed in his head longer than it should have.

He saw you again a week later kneeling in the back garden behind the shop, replanting new seedlings.

“Hey,” he said, his voice softer than usual.

You looked up, smiling beneath your bangs. “Hey, yourself. Thought we lost you to a rival florist.”

He laughed, crouching beside you. “Never. You and your lilac wisdom got me hooked.”

You looked at him then, the dirt on your hands, the scent of fresh soil and morning light all around you.

“You’re smiling more lately,” you said.

That caught him off guard.

“I am?”

You nodded. “You were carrying a storm before. Now it’s more like… a quiet sky.”

His chest tightened at the honesty in your voice. You weren’t complimenting him. You were noticing him. Seeing him. Not who he used to be. Not who he pretended to be.

But who he was now broken, healing, and quietly blooming again.

It was late afternoon the kind where the golden light trickled through the flower shop windows and everything felt slow, like the world was taking a breath.

YN had just left to run an errand. The shop was quiet. Seungcheol lingered, pretending to browse, but really… he just didn’t feel like going home yet.

“Sit down, son,” her mother said suddenly, wiping her hands on her apron. “You’ve been pacing around those lilies like they owe you rent.”

He blinked in surprise, then laughed softly, lowering himself into the wooden chair near the counter.

“You always call me that,” he said. “Son.”

She gave him a long look, gentle but serious. “That’s because I see you like one.”

A lump formed in Seungcheol’s throat. No one had said something like that to him in a long, long time.

She poured tea without asking she always did and slid the cup across to him.

“You remind me a lot of her,” she said quietly, nodding toward the door where you’d left moments ago. “Before everything fell apart.”

He looked up, eyes curious.

“I know that weight you carry. The silence. The smile that never quite reaches. You think you’re hiding it well, but I’ve seen it before.”

Her voice dipped, laced with memory. “She was like that too.”

Seungcheol’s lips parted. “YN?”

She nodded slowly.

“Three years ago. A betrayal from a friend she trusted more than family. It shattered her. Broke her spirit in ways I didn’t even know were possible.”

Her eyes misted, but she didn’t look away.

“She shut everyone out. Wouldn’t eat, wouldn’t speak.

She stopped sketching, stopped writing, stopped building things all the things that made her her.” She shook her head gently.

“This girl could turn scraps into art. She was brilliant. Always making, always dreaming. But after that betrayal, she stopped breathing life into anything.”

Seungcheol swallowed, his voice low. “What brought her back?”

“A lot of time. A lot of silence. And a little bit of kindness.” She looked at him knowingly.

“Sometimes we forget that pain doesn’t need to be solved. It just needs to be witnessed.”

That struck him deeply. He looked down at his tea, then at her again. Her eyes didn’t judge. Didn’t pity. They understood.

“I was supposed to get married,” he said, the words falling from his mouth for the first time without shame. “To someone I thought… loved me. Maria.”

The name tasted bitter.

“She cheated,” he continued, voice tight. “With someone I trusted. It wasn’t just the betrayal it was the life we built. All those promises. All those mornings where I thought I was happy…”

He trailed off. His hands trembled lightly.

“She left me in pieces,” he whispered. “And I don’t even know who I am anymore without her.”

The older woman reached across the table, placing her hand over his.

“Oh, my son,” she said softly. “You don’t have to know right now.”

He looked at her.

“You know what’s the worst thing about pain?” she asked. “It makes us think we’ve lost who we were forever. But sometimes, we’re just… paused. Waiting to be found again. Not by someone else. But by ourselves.”

Tears brimmed in his eyes, but he didn’t let them fall.

She smiled. “YN was known around this neighborhood for her creativity. Her spark. Her quick mind. And when all of that disappeared, everyone thought she’d never return to herself.”

A small, proud smile touched her lips.

“But look at her now. Laughing again. Creating again. Breathing again.”

Seungcheol closed his eyes for a moment. It wasn’t healing not yet. But it was relief. Like someone had reached into his soul and turned on the lights, even if dimly.

The older woman stood and ruffled his hair gently like a real mother would.

“You don’t have to rush. But don’t let that girl fool you either. She understands pain better than anyone. That’s why she’s so gentle with yours.”

As she returned to the flowers, humming to herself, Seungcheol sat still for a long time tea growing cold in his hands, something unspoken blooming in his chest.

Not love.

Not yet.

But something warmer than grief.

And something softer than regret.

Maybe, just maybe, he wasn’t as lost as he thought.

YN wasn’t the kind of person to press.

She noticed things in quiet moments how Seungcheol always avoided love songs playing on the radio, how he never talked about the past, how sometimes he stared a little too long at a single flower like he was trying to remember something he lost.

She noticed how his laugh came with a pause. Like he had to check with himself if it was okay to feel joy again.

She noticed and she didn’t say a word.

Not at first.

But she stayed.

When he dropped by the flower shop, she started setting aside little things without asking a new chamomile bloom she thought he’d like, a folded napkin with a quote she scribbled, a cookie her mom made that she knew he wouldn’t buy but always finished.

She didn’t try to cheer him up.

She didn’t try to fix the invisible heaviness he carried.

She just… offered herself.

And one evening, after a sudden downpour soaked the streets and left the world smelling like wet soil and green things, she handed him a towel and said quietly:

“You don’t have to tell me what happened, Seungcheol.”

He looked at her.

Her eyes were calm. Steady. Not filled with pity, but with recognition.

“I just want you to know… whatever it is you don’t have to carry it alone every day.”

Seungcheol blinked, lips parting but no words came. No one had ever said that to him. No one had noticed without asking.

“Some days are harder than others,” she continued softly, “I know that. I’ve had days where I couldn’t even get out of bed, where I hated the idea of being seen.”

He froze. Those words he knew them.

“But someone told me once,” she smiled gently, “that pain doesn’t mean you’re broken forever. It just means you’re still healing.”

His throat tightened. It felt like she was peeling open a window in him he didn’t even know was locked shut.

“You remind me of myself back then,” she said.

He raised his head slowly, brows drawn.

“I know that look. That quiet ache. That… pause before speaking like you’re afraid your voice doesn’t matter anymore.”

Silence stretched between them not awkward, but real.

Then finally, he whispered, “It does. With you, it does.”

YN smiled, that small kind of smile that doesn’t scream joy but offers peace.

“Then I’ll keep listening,” she said.

Seungcheol felt something shift in him that night not big, not dramatic just a flicker of warmth, a sense of not being invisible.

Someone saw him.

Not the perfect him. Not the smiling version he used to be with Maria.

But this version the one with bruised hope and a slow heartbeat.

And for the first time in a long time, that felt like enough.

The sun had just begun to set, its honey-colored light spilling over the quiet streets like a golden blanket. Seungcheol was walking back home from the gym, earbuds in, sweat cooling on his skin, when he saw her YN’s mother, standing outside the local grocery store, struggling with two heavy bags balanced awkwardly in each hand.

He blinked, instantly pulling his earbuds out. “Ma’am—! Let me help.”

She turned, a little startled, and then broke into a warm smile. “Ah, Seungcheol! My strong son!” she laughed, clearly relieved. “I got a little ambitious today.”

He jogged over and easily took the bags from her hands, surprised at the weight.

“What’s all this?” he asked with a grin.

“I’m making a chocolate cake,” she said proudly, “for YN and her siblings. They’ve been working so hard. Saturday’s our tradition they all come over to cook for me, so I wanted to surprise them first.”

Seungcheol nodded, amused and touched. “That sounds… really sweet. Literally.”

“You should come in too,” she added, unlocking her gate. “There’s always more than enough. And you deserve something sweet.”

He hesitated for only a second. But her tone that motherly certainty made it impossible to say no.

They entered her home through the small garden pathway where vines crept gently along the white fence, and tiny flowerpots lined the windowsills.

The door opened straight into a veranda covered in trellises and potted blooms, the scent of lavender and basil lingering in the warm air.

Inside, the house felt like a hug soft light, floral cushions, wooden beams that creaked with memory, and the faint scent of vanilla.

But just as they stepped into the living room, a wave of music and laughter burst through the space like sunshine.

Seungcheol stopped, blinking in surprise.

There they were YN and her siblings, Julián, Savanah, Alvaro, barefoot on the wooden floor, crowded around the TV with microphones in hand. A karaoke video blared on the screen, a spirited Spanish song with vibrant rhythms. They were singing well, more like shouting half the lyrics with big grins, correcting each other mid-line, then bursting into giggles when someone completely botched the chorus.

“No no no! That’s corazón, not camarón!” one of the brothers shouted.

“Oh shut up, boy!” YN yelled back, laughing so hard she had to hold onto the couch for balance.

It was chaos.

And it was beautiful.

Seungcheol stood frozen for a moment, bags still in hand, as the warmth of that moment wrapped around him pure, untamed joy.

“Don’t just stand there,” her mom said quietly, smiling beside him. “Come into the kitchen. Let’s let them sing their hearts out while we make some peace in the form of chocolate.”

He followed, still a little dazed.

Through the living room past the burst of music and dancing limbs into the kitchen that smelled like butter, sugar, and home.

“I used to sing like that once,” her mother said, putting on an apron and chuckling to herself. “But now my singing’s reserved for burnt rice and angry saucepans.”

Seungcheol laughed. He felt something loosen inside of him like his ribs had been tight for too long, and finally someone was letting him breathe.

He began unpacking the bags without being asked. Eggs, flour, dark chocolate, ripe bananas, cocoa powder.

“I haven’t felt this… alive in a while,” he admitted quietly, as the sounds of off-key Spanish harmonies drifted in from the next room.

Her mother glanced at him, knowingly. “That’s what happens when you walk into a place where people are allowed to be messy. Loud. Real.”

She handed him a whisk. “And now you’re part of the recipe.”

Seungcheol grinned, shaking his head.

A part of him still ached. Maria’s betrayal hadn’t vanished. But here in this flower-filled home, with the hum of love echoing through walls it didn’t own him.

He stirred the batter, laughter ringing from the living room, as if music could stitch together the broken corners of him he thought no one would ever touch again.

And for the first time in a long time… he didn’t feel like a guest in someone else’s joy.

He felt welcome in it.

The chocolate cake was a hit rich, slightly warm from the oven, with just the right amount of bitterness in the dark chocolate and love in every slice. Plates were scattered across the coffee table, mugs half-filled with café con leche and cinnamon tea.

By now, the sun had fully dipped below the horizon, leaving the little house bathed in amber and fairy lights strung up along the veranda. The earlier laughter had softened into that easy kind of silence that only families comfortable with each other share.

Seungcheol leaned against the archway between the kitchen and living room, sipping tea, soaking it all in.

That’s when Julián, YN’s older brother, pulled out his guitar and began to strum. Not wildly — gently. Like a whisper across water.

The room shifted. Quiet fell. Heads turned.

Then he started singing. His voice was low, soulful, raw.

And just like that, the room transformed. This wasn’t karaoke anymore.

This was… intimate.

YN’s voice slipped in next.

Soft at first. Feather-light. But growing with each line. Her tone was warm, honeyed, but carried a kind of ache that made Seungcheol freeze mid-sip.

She and Savanah harmonized like it was muscle memory the kind of blend you don’t learn, but grow into.

Their voices tangled like vines lifting, falling, blooming in every verse.

Alvaro stood and began to rap the bridge from “Alto Suspiro,”

effortlessly flowing into the rhythm with the kind of charisma that filled the entire room. He danced between lines, punctuating lyrics with laughter and footwork that had even their mom clapping to the beat.

It wasn’t rehearsed. It wasn’t performative.

It was who they were.

Songs written from years ago maybe never released but clearly carried like sacred things. Memories put to melody. Shared pain made art. Family bound not just by blood, but by sound.

Seungcheol sat down slowly on the couch, caught in the current.

He watched YN the whole time how her eyes sparkled when she hit the chorus, how her hands moved as if sculpting the air, how the sadness in her voice didn’t dim the light but made it realer.

She was laughing now, spinning with Savanah in the middle of the room while Julián kept playing and Alvaro clapped off-beat just to annoy them.

Seungcheol smiled.

A real one.

Not one he forced. Not one he practiced in mirrors.

A smile that ached in his cheeks because it had been so long since he’d worn one that fit.

And deep inside, somewhere quiet, he thought

So this is what it feels like to witness joy that isn’t pretending.

And for the first time, he didn’t feel like an outsider watching through a window.

He felt like he’d been invited in.

Like maybe just maybe he’d found a place where his silence was allowed… until he was ready to sing too.

The music had faded. The laughter had softened. Now only the hum of summer crickets and the scent of leftover cake remained.

Everyone had slipped into that mellow post-celebration mood scattered across couches and kitchen stools, some dozing off, others half-whispering stories with full bellies and warm hearts.

But Seungcheol?

He’d slipped outside.

The porch creaked as he settled into the old wooden bench near the jasmine vines, elbows on his knees, fingers laced together. He stared out into the little garden, now dim and silvery under the moonlight.

He didn’t know what he was feeling, really.

Something between gratitude and grief.

Something quiet.

He let out a breath he didn’t know he’d been holding.

“You okay?” Her voice was soft. So soft, he nearly didn’t hear it.

He turned.

There she was YN, barefoot, holding two mugs in her hands, hair slightly tousled, cheeks pink from laughing too much. A little piece of cake crumb on her shirt.

He nodded gently, managing a smile. “Yeah. Just… needed some air.”

She handed him a mug and sat beside him, the bench sighing beneath them.

“Chamomile,” she said. “It’s all that’s left.”

“Perfect,” he murmured, taking it.

For a while, they just sat there shoulder to shoulder, watching the moonlight glaze the tops of the flowerbeds, the way light wind rustled through the leaves.

“You sing beautifully,” he said at last, his voice low. “All of you. But… especially you.”

She looked over, a bit surprised. “Thanks,” she said, then looked down at her mug. “We grew up that way. Music was how we got through things. It’s always been… therapy, I guess.”

He nodded, staring ahead again. “I don’t think I realized how long it’s been since I’ve been around something so… alive.”

She glanced at him, studying the side of his face in the pale light. “You’ve been through something,” she said softly. Not as a question just… a truth.

He didn’t speak at first.

Then: “Yeah.”

Another breath.

“It was a lot. I thought I had it all figured out. The life, the woman, the path.” His throat tightened a bit. “But it was all… a lie.”

YN stayed quiet, letting the silence hold him.

“I gave everything,” he added, voice barely above a whisper. “And I didn’t even see it coming.”

There was a long pause. Then she said, gently, “You know… my mom told me once that some betrayals don’t just break your heart they break your compass. You stop knowing where to walk. What to trust. Even in yourself.”

He looked at her, surprised.

She gave a half-smile, a little sad.

“I’ve been there.”

They didn’t have to say more.

The silence between them now wasn’t awkward. It was full.

He looked at her again the way her hair caught the breeze, the way her eyes held stars in them without even trying and he felt it:

This wasn’t just safety. This was presence.

And maybe, for the first time since everything fell apart, someone wasn’t just near him someone was actually with him.

“Thanks,” he said quietly.

“For what?”

“For… this. For not asking me to be 

okay. Just letting me be.”

YN smiled, turning her face toward the wind.

“I don’t expect people to be okay,” she said. “I just hope they don’t walk through the dark alone.”

And that night, Seungcheol didn’t.

Saturday became sacred.

It wasn’t planned. Seungcheol never asked to be there but every week, he was. Not because anyone told him to. Not even because YN’s mom expected it. But because he wanted to be.

At first, he came early just to help her carry groceries again.

Then it was: “Cheol, can you chop the onions?” “Cheol, help Julián fix that loose chair?” “Cheol, come taste this too salty or perfect?”

By the third week, he was showing up with extra flowers for the kitchen table, and a Tupperware of marinated chicken he’d made the night before “just in case.”

The siblings stopped treating him like a guest.

Alvaro playfully insulted him mid-cooking.

Savanah taught him how to fold dumplings without letting them burst.

Julián invited him to strum the guitar with him in the late afternoons, even if he didn’t play.

And YN?

She watched it all unfold quietly.

Seungcheol laughed more now. Not loud but genuinely. His posture had relaxed. He took more photos of flowers, asked about songs, offered to wash dishes, and even stayed late to help clean the backyard.

She’d catch him looking around, soft-eyed, like he couldn’t believe this was real.

And maybe that’s when she realized it.

It didn’t hit like thunder. It didn’t bloom like roses. It was quieter.

She noticed it in the way he listened not just to respond, but to understand.

She noticed it when he helped her little cousin braid her doll’s hair for two hours straight just because she asked.

She noticed it when he looked at her like her silences made sense.

She fell. Slowly. Surely. Stupidly. Like water collecting in the same place until it became a river.

And she couldn’t hold it in anymore.

“Mom…”

Her mother turned from her recipe book, peeking over her reading glasses.

“Yes?”

YN bit her lip, twisting the string on her hoodie sleeve. “Can I… tell you something? But you can’t tell the others.”

Her mom raised a brow. “You’re not pregnant, right?”

“Mom!” she laughed, swatting her arm.

“Okay, okay. Go on.”

She sat down next to her, nervous. “I think… I think I’m falling for Seungcheol.”

Her mom didn’t speak.

Not because she was shocked. But because… she wasn’t.

“I just I didn’t plan to,” YN continued. “I just started noticing him… you know? The way he talks, the way he makes space for people. He’s gentle. He’s kind. Even when he’s hurting.”

She looked down.

“And it scares me. Because I was so broken before. You remember. And I swore I wouldn’t trust easily again. But with him… I don’t feel scared.”

Her mom reached over, brushing a strand of hair behind her ear.

“My sweet girl,” she said softly, “I knew the moment you stopped humming sad songs in the kitchen.”

YN looked up, blinking. “What?”

Her mother smiled. “You hum again. You laugh with your belly. You come alive when he walks into the room, even if you don’t notice it.”

She paused.

“And if you trust him with that heart of yours… I think he’ll treat it gently. Like it’s something sacred.”

That night, YN stood alone by the porch steps, watching Seungcheol play cards inside with Alvaro and Julián laughing, groaning when he lost a round, swearing they were cheating.

And she realized her mom was right.

She didn’t want grand fireworks. She didn’t want sweeping romance. She just wanted him as he was, as she was.

Maybe next week, she’d tell him.

But for now?

She just wanted to watch the man she loved start to feel like he belonged again.

.

Instead, he went to the veranda sat on the bench again under the vines, mug of cold tea in his hand, heart thudding too loud to ignore.

He didn’t know what to do with the knowledge.

But for the first time in what felt like forever, someone had looked at his scars and didn’t flinch.

She… wanted him.

Not the perfect version of him. Not the “used-to-be” him. Not the could-have-been fiancé.

Him. Now. Still healing.

And as he looked out at the moonlight blanketing the flower beds, he whispered to himself:

“Maybe I can love again.”

The stars had fully bloomed in the sky by the time YN stepped outside.

She carried a half-empty glass of strawberry soda, not because she was thirsty but because her heart was restless. Her legs moved before her mind caught up. She had too much to think about, and somehow… she knew where to find him.

And there he was.

Sitting on the veranda bench like he always did when the noise of the world got too heavy one hand nursing a lukewarm mug of tea, the other absentmindedly running across the wooden armrest.

The jasmine vines above danced in the breeze.

“Couldn’t sleep either?” she asked softly.

He looked up, startled for just a split second before something gentle flickered in his eyes.

“No,” he said. “Too much in my head.”

She nodded, walking over, sitting beside him but not too close. She didn’t want to disturb whatever stillness he had carved out for himself here.

They sat in silence.

The air buzzed with crickets and leftover laughter from inside.

After a few moments, Seungcheol finally spoke voice low, almost afraid to shatter the stillness.

“I didn’t mean to hear it.”

YN blinked. Her heart dropped.

“What?”

“In the kitchen,” he added. “Earlier. I was coming to see if your mom needed help. And then I heard you talking to her.”

Silence. Her breath caught in her throat.

“I should’ve left,” he continued, voice even. “But I froze. I wasn’t trying to… eavesdrop. I swear.”

She didn’t answer.

Not because she was mad.

But because her cheeks burned. Her fingers clenched around her glass.

He turned to her slowly, expression unreadable at first until she met his eyes.

And in them… there was no judgment.

Only something soft. And raw. And real.

“You said you weren’t scared when I looked at you.”

She nodded, barely able to breathe.

“That’s funny,” he whispered. “Because when I look at you… I don’t feel lost anymore.”

Her gaze snapped up to meet his.

He offered a small, almost shy smile like a man still learning how to love again with hands that had once held all the wrong things.

“I don’t know how to do this,” he admitted. “Not yet. I’m still figuring things out. Still healing. But if there’s even a small part of you that wants me the way I already want you…”

He looked down, then back up eyes glistening but steady.

“I’ll try. For you, I’ll try.”

YN didn’t speak. She reached out, slowly, letting her fingers brush against his a quiet answer that said:

“You don’t have to know how. Just don’t run. I’m here. I’ll be here.”

They sat like that for a while hands barely touching, hearts whispering louder than words ever could.

Under jasmine vines, on a porch soaked in moonlight, two broken people found something neither of them thought they’d deserve again:

A second chance.

Two Years Later

The living room was filled with sunshine, warmth, and the scent of lavender from the open windows.

YN sat on the couch, eight months pregnant, her feet resting on a pouf while she scribbled baby name ideas into a notebook half of them crossed out already.

In the kitchen, Alvaro and Seungcheol stood at the counter, chopping vegetables and chatting between sips of mango juice.

“She kicked again?” Alvaro asked, glancing at YN from the doorway.

“Hard,” Seungcheol smiled, placing a hand over his heart. “I think she’s training for the national team already.”

Alvaro chuckled. “You ready to be a girl dad?”

“More than ready,” Seungcheol said with a dreamy sigh. “I’ve already bought four books on how to braid hair.”

“Bro,” Alvaro laughed, slapping his shoulder. “You’re gonna cry the first time she says ‘appa.’”

“I cried when she hiccupped during the ultrasound,” Seungcheol admitted, not even ashamed.

They both laughed.

Then a pause.

Alvaro leaned against the counter, a little more serious. “You know… I’ve never seen her this happy before. Not even close.”

Seungcheol looked up, eyes soft.

“Me neither.”

There was a long silence. Not awkward. Just… full.

“She saved me, man,” Seungcheol added quietly, voice breaking the stillness. “Without even trying. Just by being… her.”

“She would say you did the same.”

Seungcheol smiled as he looked over at her again YN, humming to the baby in her belly, head tilted toward the sun.

And in that moment, he didn’t feel like a man who had been broken.

He felt like a man who had been rebuilt with laughter, second chances, warm kitchens, porch conversations, and a kind of love that healed without asking permission.

[citrustan]

Can you please do a rich seokjin x reader wherein he grovels for oc 🙏😭 Like he did not defend oc when his parents were being mean to her and even defended them something like that hahaha I live for angst fics so much ❤️❤️❤️❤️ (Thank you in advance btw! I really really enjoy your fics!)

hii thanks! love it when requests are specific!! please send in more of these :D

'm dividing this into two parts because it's too long for me to call it a drabble

please, please, please [1/2] (ksj)

pairing: seokjin x reader

genre: sugar daddy turned boyfriend!seokjin x middle-class, unemployed!reader ALSO dilf!seokjin. angst, fluff, and barely-there smut (in the next part) yet again because i'm taking tiny baby steps towards the big girl stuff.

warnings: there's an ex-wife, unkind parents, and typical rich people behaviour: take that as you may!

The evening had started on a high note.

The birds were chirping, the breeze was gentle. Yada yada. You centred yourself with your boyfriend's son, Sehun's, giggles, to distract slash calm yourself. At the same time, Seokjin's entire family and friends (and you) gathered under the warm glow of temporary lamps installed specifically for the occasion in his backyard.

Admittedly, it's borderline disrespectful to call it a backyard when it was easily over an acre of lush grassland, adorned with flower fields, and a horse farm. With champagne-equipped golf carts, decorated with wisterias and vines, used to transport the party goers from one place to another, and well-dressed staff to guide everyone. And you kept seeing the fairest doves. You wonder if that was natural or of they were introduced to the area for the party.

You knew your boyfriend slash sugar daddy was rich, but you had no idea just how rich.

As the evening progressed, the mood, specifically yours, began to shift---bit by bit, for the worse. Your once nervous yet lively aura had grown strained.

It was such a shit-show.

Starting with Seokjin's parents who couldn't pretend to be nice for the life of them, or was that intentional? Perhaps to scare you off or something. Because it worked.

They were distant, awkward, and nothing like Seokjin had described them to be. You were under the impression that you'd be meeting your second family, an extension of your own.

Boy, were you mistaken.

You were met with so much... inhospitality and indifference.

It was so bad you had to walk away from your table a few times just to stop your tears from falling and ruining your makeup.

They kept talking about Sehun's mother and Seokjin's perfect ex-wife, as if you weren't sitting right across them. Speaking of their relationship in present tense--- 'Oh, you're so beautiful together.' 'The perfect family.' 'She's the best daughter-in-law anyone could ask for.'

All the while, you're the one with a promise ring on your finger.

Seokjin, obviously, interrupted them everytime. But even he eventually tired himself out too.

Every time you attempted to make conversation with the pair, you were met with blank stares.

You couldn't even escape them because Sehun was off with his caretaker, being his 6 year old self, uncaring of where he is. You had nobody to go to except the man you were already seated next to.

"Seokjin," his mother began, "When you mentioned planning a soirée, I assumed you were getting back with Yewon."

His father added, "Your mother and I were so happy."

Were.

Seokjin exchanged an uneasy look with you.

You expected him to defend you. Maybe just give them a little scolding. Or a simple yet stern 'be normal.'

But instead, he just scoffs and laughs.

That was it.

Shakily sighing, you excused yourself for the seventh time that night to lick your wounds in privacy.

This time, when you didn't return after ten minutes, Seokjin comes looking for you, immediately finding you stood near his favourite Magnolia tree.

You looked like you were in deep thought and a little tipsy. And you were thinking up a storm. How was this going to play out? Would you be made to break up with each other? Would Seokjin leave you?

He paused to your right, "_____, I know this isn't enough but I really am sorry. I had no idea they'd react this way."

Defeated, you whisper, "I don't even know how to act. I mean... it doesn't matter because it's not like they'd even notice."

You add, "And you're right. It's not enough." Angry, you rapidly turn to face him, "You keep letting them treat me like I'm invisible. And they keep talking about Yewon and your, oh, so perfect marriage as if she didn't cheat on you. I mean, you technically cheated on each other later anyway, right?"

Seokjin's expression darkened. He tilted his head in disbelief, "_____. I can't believe you'd bring that up."

"Is that why they don't like me? Because they know I'm your mistress?"

Seokjin's scowl deepens, "Don't talk about yourself like that, _____."

Oh!

Mockingly raising your brow at him, you laugh, "Oh, but it's okay for mommy and daddy to talk about me 'like that'?" You make air quotations at 'like that.'

"Of course, it isn't! But, that's just how they are. They're horrible people, _____." He exasperates, "And I know there's no changing their mind. So do yourself a favour and just... don't bother about what they think or say. It's not important." He's breathing heavy when he finishes.

You painstakingly digest each of his words.

Now, there are two possible meanings of his advice.

Don't worry about mommy and daddy because you and I are the only ones who matter!

OR

Don't worry about mommy and daddy because you're disposable anyway!

But, you're not sober enough to decide yet.

Seokjin caresses your naked, cold, arm with a warm hand. His fingers travel up to your décolletage, grazing against it, then further upwards to gently fix the diamond necklace he bought you on your last birthday.

He then takes his blazer off to drape it over your shivering shoulders.

Seokjin looks at you, carefully choosing his tone to reflect his state of mind: apologetic, "I promise we can leave after Yewon gets here. My parents invited her too. And, she'll be taking Sehun to her place today."

You wait for him to continue because you know there's more.

"We'll greet her. Cordially. Bid goodbye immediately after. And see Sehun once before we head to your place. Is that... Would you be okay with that?"

The fact that Seokjin, as the host, was going to leave his own party for you makes you feel guilty. But you knew you would not be able to deal with Seokjin's relatives any longer.

So you nod once, "Ok."

He links your arms together and walks you back to the main event where they serve the good stuff. Yay for you!

*

"Seokie! You look great. _____, you too! Your hair looks amazing." Yewon grins at you.

"Thank you, Yewon. You look beautiful as well." Seokjin answers for the two of you as you drunkenly smile at her.

(Two) hours had passed since Seokjin promised you you could leave after Yewon arrived. Which meant you had two too many hours to down the seemingly bottomless Champagne flutes.

Yewon observes you with concern and raises a brow at your boyfriend. Seokjin simply nodded in response, with his arm still wrapped around you, supporting your weight.

Not oblivious to the silent conversation going on in front of you, you nuzzle your face directly into his chest.

Yewon is lovely. She's the best ex-wife any girlfriend could've asked for. Respectful, friendly even, and... normal.

Still, you've always been jealous of their relationship.

They still had chemistry, and were great co-parents.

There was nothing stopping Seokjin from going back to her. Well, there's you, but had you not been in his life, you wonder if they'd have gotten back together.

"There you are! Kim Yewon, my favourite daughter." Holding Yewon by her waist, Seokjin's mother feigns anger, "Now, why did it take you so long to get here?"

Was she 12? You hate her. So much. All you want is for Seokjin to make her... stop.

"In all honesty, I overslept." Yewon smiles, embarrassed.

Mrs. Kim sighs dramatically, "Well, you are a doctor. You deserve to rest. You work too hard."

"Ah, yes... Maybe... Why don't we go find Sehun? _____ and Seokjin are leaving soon." Yewon is evidently aware of how his family is reacting to you, and wants to minimize all of her interactions and words exchanged with the Kims.

At that Mrs. Kim looks at her son bewildered, "You're going to leave your own party? That's just rude."

THAT'S rude?

"I'm sorry, mom. We," Seokjin raises your clasped hands up, "have important plans."

"Well... What could be more important than family? You're just going to leave your son and his mother to fend for themselves?"

.

>:(

.

Hm.

Now... what happens in the next few minutes, you blame slash credit the alcohol.

You don't understand why he had to lie because you certainly had no issue with telling the real reason you were leaving.

"That's right, Mrs. Kim, Seokjin chose me. We don't have," you make air quotes when you say this, "important plans, we, my boyfriend and I, we, just want to get as far away from you as possible because you have a chip up your ass and you walk around with a stick on your shoulder."

Seokjin and Yewon froze.

"And Seokjin hates you." You spat. "He hates you so much he planned a gigantic party just so he wouldn't have to spend more than a few minutes with you at once."

You want to stop but your mouth works faster than your brain.

"Seokjin hates you so much he always needs other people around you to cut the tension."

At this point you were word vomiting.

"He hates you so much he keeps himself busy with work. And when he's not at work, he's with me. And my family," - "_____, stop talking," Seokjin sternly scolds.

But you don't hear him, "- because he loves me. And Sehun, and he loves my mother because she isn't a narcissistic bitch who treats her son like-" You stop.

Seokjin squeezes your hand as if he were begging you to shut the fuck up as Mrs. Kim stares at you in contempt; her face red, nose flared, jaw, and fists clenched.

But you don't budge, "His marriage is over. Understand that. It's like you don't even care about what he's been through."

"_____, please."

Seokjin's request has fallen to deaf ears once again.

You continue, "All you do is criticize his choices and decisions. You don't even care that Yewon cheated on your son because you're just as up her ass as you are up your own."

At that, Seokjin instantly drags you away from the two women. Both Mrs. Kims.

He takes you back to the tree.

You half expect him to make out with you because he looked... somewhat worked up.

The pins in your hair are starting to feel a little too tight and you feel sweaty even though it's freezing.

"What the fuck is the matter with you?"

You drunkenly stare at him, eyes widened in genuine confusion. You place a hand on your chest, "Me?"

"You had no right to cause a scene like that. I told you we were leaving. I was handling it."

But he was, in fact, not handling it. You helped him!

Seokjin needed someone to back him up. If he couldn't stand up for himself, you didn't expect him to stand up for you.

You owlishly blink up at him.

"_____, this isn't high school. You're not a child. You can't go around yelling at adults about how mean they are."

"I was just trying to hel-"

"This isn't a movie, _____. This is real life. My life. And Yewon's. My mother didn't know the real reason we broke up. And you had no right to tell her."

Now, that's news to you. And what the hell? Do you even exist in this picture?

"Well, obviously, I didn't fucking know that. And, thanks a lot. Now I know just how much I mean to you." You begin pulling your hair pins out as you turn to leave his premises.

"_____." Seokjin gently grabs your wrist, "We're not done here."

You rip yourself away from his grip, "I think we are! Obviously, you have no space for me in your life. And Yewon's!" Your lips quiver contrasting the accusatory words that just slipped through your tongue.

He rolls his eyes, "_____, that's not what I meant. You know that's not what I was saying."

You resembled an angry kitten with your hair a little wild from pulling all those clips out, and eyes red and puffy as if you'd start tearing up any time now.

"I don't want to be your fuckdoll anymore! I'm done!" With a shaky yet final sigh, you turn back around, lift your gown so you don't trip, and storm off.

While you didn't want him to stop you because you were in no mood to fight a grown man, you were more upset that he just let you walk away from him.

You didn't want to end your relationship like this. Although you know this isn't permanent, you can't help but wonder if he'd even try with you anymore.

note: so tumblr ate up part of this story and the other note i had added, so this is me rewriting it. i can't make asks private so here we are. i'm upset my writing didn't get saved. i don't know if this version is better or worse.

either way, please tell me what you think.

[aurorasgate]

hello lovely luna !! i hope life has been treating you well, i’ve been missing u ♥️

for the prompt game, can i request “you’re not in bed. i came looking for you” with my beloved diluc? i’ve been struggling with insomnia n i just want diluc to put me to sleep ໒꒰ྀིっ˕ -｡꒱ྀི১

oh my whole heart was poured into this one i'm aching. i did not mean for it to this long but what can i do he has my heart and soul🩷 i hope you like it awea! i love n miss you too🥺💕

🌙 prompt event

“you’re not in bed. i came looking for you” | diluc x reader with no pronouns used

the winery at night is blanketed in the ethereal silver glow of the moon this time of night. it feels like something out of a fairy tale with the thick grape vines lining the path you walk, sparkling crystal flies silent in the flutter of their wings, and if you look hard enough even in the moonlight you can see the plump purple grapes. 

it’s cool in a way that feels wonderful against your heated skin but not enough to make you cold and with each breath you take, you try to let the fresh air ease your mind that just won’t stop moving and thinking no matter how much you will it to. you honestly aren’t sure if being out here is working but it feels nice, peaceful and you’re glad to not be tossing and turning in bed while your beloved tries to sleep next to you.

you didn’t want to wake diluc, not when you knew how desperately he needed the sleep despite the fact you’re sure he would tell you he’s doing just fine on the little he does get. it wouldn’t stop you from doing your best to try to get tired all on your own before slipping back into bed, looking after him in this way. 

but it was as if he felt the distance between you growing even in his dreams. his tired arm reaches for you on your side of the bed, needing to pull you closer to him before he could settle once again and when he’s met with cooling sheets barely clinging with your warmth, he’s instantly awake, ruby eyes blinking away tiredness and seeing he’s alone in bed.

quick to take in the space around him, diluc notes how the bathroom light isn’t on and there’s a full glass of water on your night stand. you’re nowhere to be found and he feels a tug on his heart that brings him to his feet, his strides long as he heads for the closed bedroom door and down the grand staircase in only long sleep pants. 

he’s not sure what brings him to look outside before anywhere else, he dreads the thought of you being out there where something could hurt you with him not there to protect you. even if you could hold your own.. he just.. he never wanted to see anything happen to you and he could never get back to sleep without you next to him.

feeling his chest grow tight, he doesn’t let it slow his steps as he grabs his coat off of the back of the chair he had been working from earlier and pulls it over his bare arms and back, throwing open the heavy mahogany doors with ease. 

you spot the brightness of his hair even in the dark night barely lit with the few lanterns that still burn around the property and feel your heart squeeze at the sight of him. his ruby eyes are filled with worry and a softness that makes you think he looks a bit younger, makes you want to reach out and touch his cheek, ease his anxieties, stand on your toes to kiss his brow.

“what’re you doing out here?” you ask and you’re forced to look up as he closes the distance between you, shedding his coat and pulling it over your shoulders as soon as he could reach you. 

you’re enveloped in his warmth and the smell of wine from every angle, melting against his chest as he pulls you in close, like he needed to feel you against him.

“you’re not in bed,” he pulls you even closer, cradling the back of your skull with one hand, the other splayed across your lower back and his words are spoken softly against the shell of your ear. “i came looking for you.” 

“i’m sorry,” your reply is barely audible against the immediate comfort he provides you, the kind that melts down your worries and woes and leaves you feeling safe and like you might actually be able to fall asleep. “i didn’t mean to worry you. i just..” you pause, feeling guilty for having worried him by being out here. “i couldn’t sleep.”

“why didn’t you wake me?” 

he’s not angry or upset but you cling to him like a child in trouble. “you need your sleep too, you know.”

“i need you. i need you in my arms and close to me” he says, his words making you forget anything other than just being with him. it’s comfortably quiet between you for a few moments before he speaks again. “we can stay out here longer if you’d like.”

shaking your head against his chest, feeling the scars on his back under your fingertips and the soft skin around them, you let out a quiet ‘no, let’s go back to bed’ and feel your feet be swept out from under you the next second.

easily diluc carries you with one arm under your legs and the other at your back. in the night air his skin is still so incredibly warm and in his steady steps, you feel the tiredness begin to settle in your bones and let yourself skin further in his arms, succumbing to sleep before he makes it to the second floor of the manor.

♡♡♡♡♡

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