#maybe one day if people actually want to read it

[orion-is-dreaming-about-frogs]

Nothing against OP, but I've seen this phenomenon so many times where people will put actual canon gay relationships in their "non-canon queerbaiting gays" list and it's kind of offensive.

The most egregious offense: Yuri on Ice (this is in the original tags)

Yuri on Ice is a romance anime. Full stop. It was a sensation when it released for having a canon queer relationship explicitly shown on screen. The characters get engaged on screen. Yuri on Ice isn't even subtext, it is the entire plot of the story that Victor falls in love with Yuri. (OP doesn't have an age listed so maybe they're too young to remember how big YOI was)

Second offense (less offensive than YOI though): Hannigram.

Hannibal and Will Graham are canonically romantically interested in each other. Will asks, on screen, "Is Hannibal in love with me?" to which Bedelia replies "Yes" and then asks if Will reciprocates. He doesn't answer and the scene cuts, implying that he is conflicted, but that the answer is likely "yes."

Aside from that, there is plenty of subtext to choose from. Hannibal making a heart out of a dead guy to send to Will, their talks about love, the fact that they had a daughter together for a bit. It's not very subtle.

Next offense: Good Omens

Many people picked up from day one that Crowley and Aziraphale had romantic undertones to their story. I admit I have not seen season 2 yet, but I do know they kiss, I know it's tragic, and I know that Aziraphale's wiki says this:

They have an on screen kiss. I don't understand what more people could possibly want to make a queer relationship "canon." Do they need to turn to the camera and say it?

The point of this post is just to say: please engage with the media you consume instead of writing it off as "non-canon queerbaiting" immediately. I keep seeing people, not just OP, putting real queer media into the same category as something like Sherlock, and it pains me. The people who worked on these shows worked so hard to bring you representation and a real queer relationship. It's not cool to erase their efforts. Before you make a post like this, anyone out there reading this, at least check the wiki.

I have my ✨️ spark ✨️ back (hyperfixated on a new gay non-canon relationship)

[kashverse]

𝒴our first encounter with the 呪術廻戦 men 

⪩⪨ ✶ implied f!reader but can be read otherwise (use of "pretty" in choso's version), strangers to lovers, fluff, featuring ♡ canon! gojo, canon! geto, single dad! toji, modern au! choso, canon! sukuna in a modern au, corporate! nanami ✿ ⪩⪨ tried a new formatting style..! ib my dear @norikuna (∩˃o˂∩)♡

gojo doesn’t see you coming. not because he’s oblivious���though, sure, that’s part of it—but because he’s too busy making himself miserable, listening to some poor bastard on the phone cry about their ex. it’s barely noon, the sun’s out, people are living their lives, and this guy’s talking about how he let “the one” slip through his fingers. “bro, just get another one,” gojo had said, dead-eyed, waiting for the crosswalk light to change. the response was more crying. he sighed, hanging up.

and then he smacked straight into you.

not a polite bump, not even a nudge—full-on body collision, your forehead meeting his chin with a sharp crack. the impact was enough to send you both stumbling, but while gojo’s built like a brick wall, you had all the misfortune of being knocked back a few steps. “ow—what the fuck?!” your voice came first, and then, through the dizzying pain, you saw him. tall, white-haired, stupidly good-looking in an insufferable way, dressed like he was on some model’s off-day. sunglasses slid down the bridge of his nose, and even through the slight daze, you could see the sharp glint of his blue eyes peering down at you.

“ah, my bad—”

“your bad?” your voice rose, disbelieving. the pain hadn’t even settled yet, but your temper had. “you nearly took my head off!”

gojo blinked. “well, technically, if i took your head off, we wouldn’t be having this conversation,” he pointed out. “unless you’re a talking head, which would be—"

“are you serious?” you cut him off, hands flying up in exasperation. “you’re just standing in the middle of the damn sidewalk—”

“crosswalk,” he corrected.

“—like a fucking lamppost,” you barreled on, ignoring him. “and then you hit me. no, actually, you collided with me like a fucking train, and now you’re just standing there?”

you looked ready to kill him. gojo thought you looked radiant. people don’t really yell at him. they get nervous, flustered, awkward. maybe they complain a little, but they don’t yell. not like this—not with this kind of raw, unfiltered rage that was directed solely at him.

and he was loving it.

“ohhh, you’re mad mad,” he said, grinning.

“no shit?” you spat, rubbing your forehead. “you’re huge! why do you walk like you don’t know how to control your own size?”

“i’m huge? that’s a compliment,” he mused. “also, you ran into me.”

“i did not—"

“you did, but it’s okay,” he waved off. “i forgive you.”

your mouth dropped open. your jaw clenched so hard you swore you heard it click. “i don’t need your forgiveness,” you snapped. “i need you to watch where the hell you’re going!” gojo just smiled. “i can do that,” he said. “but only if you tell me your name first.”

you squinted at him. “why?”

“so i know what to say in my apology,” he said smoothly. “y’know, something heartfelt, real personal. ‘i’m so sorry, dear stranger, for running into you with my big, strong, muscular body—’”

your scowl deepened. “forget it,” you turned to leave, shaking your head.

gojo grabbed your wrist. lightly, like he was afraid you’d shake him off (which you probably would). “wait,” he said, less teasing this time, more curious.

you stopped, staring at him warily. “what?”

he grinned. “you’re fun.”

you yanked your arm out of his grip. “you’re annoying.”

but you weren’t yelling anymore. and maybe, just maybe, that was enough for now.

toji doesn't believe in love—at least, not in the way people like to romanticize it. to him, love has always been transactional. people want things: security, pleasure, a warm body to cling to at night. he provides, they take. simple.

commitment? fuck no. he’s been there, done that, and all it got him was a headache and a kid who looks at him like he’s a walking disappointment. not that he blames megumi—he knows exactly the kind of man he is. relationships, from what he's seen, are just another job. another obligation. more shit to deal with when he's already stretched thin making sure megumi doesn't starve or turn into a little menace. and he's already got enough on his plate. 

raising megumi is work. the kid is sharp, stubborn, and way too perceptive for his own good. keeping up with him is exhausting. fulfilling someone else’s expectations on top of that? hell no.

people ask if he’s lonely. he laughs. lonely? he’s got freedom. no nagging, no obligations, no answering to anyone but himself and, on the worst days, a grumpy eight-year-old who somehow thinks he’s smarter than him. love, in his experience, is just a distraction. and toji fushiguro doesn’t do distractions.

and toji swears he only looked away for a second.

he was just checking the damn price tag on some overpriced brand of instant noodles, and when he looked back, megumi was gone. poof. like a magic trick, except it wasn’t a trick, and the rising panic in his chest was very, very real. “shit,” he muttered, scanning the aisles. nothing. just a bunch of old ladies and college kids looking for cheap meals. no messy black hair, no tiny scowl. he ran a hand through his hair, trying to keep calm. he didn’t want to make a scene. people lost their kids all the time, right? it wasn’t a big deal. he just had to—

and then he saw him.

megumi was at the end of the next aisle, small hands clenched at his sides, his mouth pressed in a thin, stubborn line, like he wasn’t scared, even though he definitely was. and right next to him, crouched down to his level, was you. “you’re really good at this,” you said. megumi blinked up at you. “huh?”

“the whole ‘not panicking’ thing,” you smiled at him. “most kids freak out when they lose their parents. you’re staying calm. that’s cool.” megumi looked away, like he wasn’t sure if that was actually a compliment or not. “i don’t wanna cause trouble,” he muttered.

“aw, but that’s what parents are for,” you teased. “causing them trouble.” megumi almost smiled. almost. toji, still frozen in place, narrowed his eyes. who the hell were you?

“c’mon, let’s go find your dad,” you said, standing up and holding out a hand. megumi didn’t take it, but he followed you anyway, his short legs working hard to keep up with your pace. and toji? well. he wasn’t sure why, but instead of stepping forward, he let you find him.

he let you do the whole thing, watching as you walked with megumi, asking him questions—where he last saw his dad, what his name was, what he looked like.

“he’s really tall,” megumi said. you hummed. “tall, huh? that helps.”

“and he’s got a scar on his mouth,” he added.

“even better. anyone who looks scary is easier to spot.”

megumi frowned a little. “he’s not scary.” you smiled, ruffling his hair. “i bet he isn’t.”

toji snorted under his breath.

by the time you turned the corner and finally spotted him, megumi exhaled in relief. toji pretended not to notice how fast he ran up to him, grabbing the fabric of his shirt like he wasn’t just saying how calm he was. you, on the other hand, stopped a few steps away, hands on your hips. “you must be the scary, not-scary dad,” you said.

toji raised an eyebrow. “and you’re just a random saint, huh?” you shrugged. “not a saint. just someone who doesn’t like seeing kids upset.”

he looked at you, really looked at you. you didn’t seem put out by any of this, like helping some stranger’s kid wasn’t an inconvenience, but just another part of your day. like it was normal. toji let out a breath, then tilted his head down at megumi. “you good, kid?”

megumi nodded, though he still wasn’t letting go of toji’s shirt. toji sighed, glancing back at you. “guess i owe you, huh?”

you waved him off. “don’t worry about it. just keep an eye on him next time.”

toji huffed a laugh. “easier said than done.”

you grinned, giving megumi one last look before turning to leave. and toji? well. maybe being responsible for two people wouldn’t be so bad after all.

nanami never thought much about being single. it wasn’t a matter of pride or principle—just reality. his job was time-consuming, his patience was thin, and the thought of entertaining someone else’s needs after a long workday felt exhausting. he wasn’t lonely, just… fine. indifferent.

until he got sick of his office food.

“this is inedible,” he said flatly, staring at the sad excuse of a meal on his plate. his colleague, barely looking up from his own tray, mumbled, “it’s fine.”

nanami’s eye twitched. it was not fine. rubbery chicken, dry rice, and a soup that tasted more like dishwater than anything edible. this was not a meal—it was a punishment.

so, he made a change.

he found a small business that delivered homemade meals, something personal but convenient. it promised variety, quality ingredients, and, most importantly, flavor.

what he didn’t expect were the notes.

the first one came tucked under the neatly packed meal.

“hope today isn’t too exhausting! eat well!”

nanami stared at it for longer than he should have. then, at the food—real food. properly cooked, properly seasoned, steaming with warmth that no canteen meal could ever replicate. he didn’t think about it much. a kind gesture, that was all. but the notes kept coming.

“long meetings? i packed extra today.”

“rainy day! hope this brings some warmth.”

“rough week? your food will always be good at least.”

and then—

“your order is always so precise. you must be someone who likes routine.”

nanami paused mid-bite. he did like routine. he thrived on it. and yet, this—this unexpected kindness, these little messages—was beginning to throw him off in a way he couldn’t explain. weeks passed, meals came, and nanami found himself looking forward to them—not just for the food, but for the words that came with it. one afternoon, after another insufferable meeting, he opened his meal to find:

“do you ever take breaks? hope you’re not working too hard.”

he let out a breath, something between a sigh and a laugh. he was working too hard. but how did you—someone he’d never met—seem to know that better than the people around him? finally, curiosity got the better of him. he grabbed a pen and, for the first time, wrote back.

“who are you?”

the next day, his meal came with a note, just like always.

“just someone who wants you to eat well. but i wouldn’t mind knowing who you are too.”

and for the first time in a long time, nanami thought—maybe being single wasn’t so fine after all.

geto doesn’t believe in love. not in the way people romanticize it, anyway. he’s known desire—used it, wielded it like a tool, a means to an end. a well-timed smile, a hand grazing a wrist, a whispered promise—all of it was just another step in expanding his cause. people were easy to sway when you made them feel special. and being single? it wasn’t something he mourned. it was efficient. no attachments, no complications, no wasted energy. everything he did, every conversation, every encounter—it all served a purpose.

until you.

“you’ve been talking for a while,” you said, tilting your head at him. geto smiled. “am i boring you?”

“not at all. just wondering if you’re going to get to the point.”

he chuckled, swirling his drink. clever. impatient. interesting.

“what do you think my point is?”

you leaned back, thoughtful. “well, you’re charming, you have that practiced ease of someone who’s very used to getting what they want, and yet…” you narrowed your eyes. “you haven’t tried to get anything from me yet.”

his smile twitched. perceptive too. “maybe i’m just enjoying the conversation.”

“hmm.” you didn’t look convinced. “i doubt you talk to people without a reason.”

he laughed, shaking his head. “you wound me. am i not allowed to simply appreciate good company?”

you smirked. “do you?”

and that was the problem, wasn’t it? he did.

he was supposed to be recruiting you. that was why he approached you in the first place—he had assessed, observed, picked you out for your potential. another piece in his grander vision. but now? now, he was talking to you about books, about philosophy, about things that had nothing to do with his cause.

he liked your sharp tongue, your quick comebacks, the way you saw through people but humored them anyway. and he was enjoying this. more than he should.

“you’re thinking too hard,” you noted.

“am i?”

“yeah. for someone who flirts so easily, you seem oddly distracted.”

he chuckled, shaking his head. you had no idea. for the first time in a long time, geto suguru had forgotten his purpose. and strangely enough, he didn’t mind.

choso doesn’t really get love. it’s not that he doesn’t feel it—he does, deeply, messily, all-consuming in the way only someone who has lived too long without it can. it’s just that he doesn’t understand how it’s supposed to work. his friends talk about relationships like they’re puzzles, like you’re supposed to fit into someone else’s life piece by piece, no gaps, no edges sticking out. but choso? he keeps forcing the wrong pieces together. he’s had his heart broken by so many situationships, and he doesn’t even know what that word means. all he knows is that people like him enough to stay for a while, but not enough to stay forever. and when someone ghosts him? it’s over.

“why would they do that?” he asks yuuji, completely distraught. “i thought we were getting along.” yuuji winces. “yeah, but… sometimes people just disappear, man. it’s not your fault.”

“but why not just say they don’t like me?”

“because people suck.”

choso frowns. love is confusing. people are confusing. nothing makes sense.

until he meets you.

more specifically, until you send a pug flying in his direction. one second, he’s minding his own business, sipping a coffee, staring blankly at nothing. the next—

“watch out!”

and then—THUD.

a very round, very squishy pug collides with his chest, knocking the air out of him. he blinks. looks down. the pug is fine. choso, however, is shaken.

“oh my god, i’m so sorry,” you pant, running up to him, looking horrified. “he’s got the speed of a missile and the weight distribution of a sack of potatoes. are you okay?”

choso is still holding the pug. he has not processed a single thing except that you’re talking to him, and you’re really pretty. you snap your fingers in front of his face.

“hello? earth to guy who just got body slammed by my dog?”

he swallows. “i—i’m okay.”

you sigh in relief. “good. i don’t think my insurance covers ‘pug-related assaults.’”

he stares. then—

he laughs.

it’s an awkward, slightly delayed laugh, but it’s real. it bubbles out of him, because suddenly, everything is just… simple. you’re still talking, apologizing, trying to pry your dog from his grip, and he realizes—love doesn’t have to be this big, complicated thing. it can be a stranger, a runaway pug, and a stupidly perfect moment where he thinks, 'oh. this is it.'

sukuna has never cared for love. love is mortal, fleeting, an indulgence for the weak. he has lived for centuries without it, conquered, destroyed, thrived—all on his own. why bother with attachment? why waste time on something that promises nothing but vulnerability? he’s always been perfectly fine like this.

until the night he meets you at the bar.

he doesn’t even mean to notice you at first—just another human in a crowded room, laughing, talking, lighting up the space with an ease he’s never possessed. 

and then he hears you speak. your voice is smooth, effortless, like you’re meant to be heard. every sentence flows into the next, words never fumbling, never uncertain. you make people laugh, pull them in, keep them hanging on to every syllable. sukuna watches, listens, enthralled, before someone leans in and calls you by name—your full name. followed by—

“aren’t you that talk show host?”

and it clicks. you are. he’s seen your face before, flickering on a television screen, a passing glimpse at a life so far removed from his own.

and now he’s irritated. because you talk so easily with everyone but him. and that won’t do.

so he tries. for the first time in centuries, he tries to talk to someone—like a normal person, like it’s something he’s done before, like it’s as easy as you make it look.

but it’s not. it’s a disaster.

he waits until the crowd around you has thinned, takes the seat next to you, and—

“so.” he clears his throat. “you talk to people for a living.”

you turn, blinking, mildly amused. “i do.”

he nods, confident. good start. then nothing. his mind goes blank. shit.

you raise a brow, waiting. sukuna glares at his drink like it’s betrayed him. “how do you do it?”

you tilt your head. “do what?” he gestures vaguely. “talk. keep people engaged.”

you blink. “are you asking me how to hold a conversation?”

his jaw tenses. “no.”

you laugh. he scowls.

he tries again. “what makes a good interview?”

“oh, that’s easy,” you hum. “you have to be genuinely interested in the other person.”

he deadpans.

you smirk. “which means you have to actually listen to what they’re saying.”

“i listen,” he grumbles.

“really?” you lean in. “then what were we just talking about?”

silence. your smirk widens. “you weren’t listening.”

he groans, dragging a hand down his face. this is hell.

but he keeps trying. keeps failing, keeps making an idiot of himself, keeps suffering through every one of your knowing smiles—because for the first time in his miserable, ancient existence, he actually wants to learn.

he wants to talk to you.

and maybe, just maybe, he wants you to talk to him, too.

[covenofagatha]

Practice makes perfect (Part 2)

Tell me it's all wrong 'til it gets to me

Some inspo from this brainworm

Word count: 4k

Warnings: g!p reader, Agatha is even meaner, degradation kink, humiliation kink, titjob, oral, reader once again is a walking HR violation, slight praise kink, one spank, fingering, sex, think this is it?

“Everyone have a good night?” Rio asks the next morning during breakfast. 

You’re spooning vanilla yogurt into a bowl and trying not to think about how much it reminds you of your cum dripping out of Agatha’s pussy. “I had a great night,” you answer, feeling everyone’s eyes turn to you, especially Agatha, who’s standing right next to you. “Um, yeah, Agatha and I actually had sex.” 

Rio snorts, as do a few other people in the room. You’ve gotten so used to no one taking you seriously that you like to play around and see what you can get away with. Whether it’s a truth or a lie, they don’t care because you blur the lines so often.

If only they knew how true that was, though. 

“So classy,” Rio says and you can almost hear her roll her eyes before she leaves the buffet to go find a table.

“Oh, don’t worry!” you call after her. “Agatha really liked it. It was all her idea.” Rio doesn’t even look back. If you weren’t the boss’s daughter, you’re sure you would’ve been fired at least four dozen times from just this summer. 

Agatha remains unfazed as she snatches the yogurt spoon from your hand. “You fucking wish. Never in a million years,” she retorts calmly and you giggle. 

She spends the rest of the day seemingly trying to get you back for that stunt: she salaciously licks yogurt off the spoon. She wears a shirt that dips a little too low and shows off the edge of her red bra. She looks up at you through her perfect eyelashes when you ask her if you can sit next to her at the table and she laughs cruelly after she says no. 

Or she’s doing everything she usually does and you’re just reading into it because you’re obsessed with her.

But when you find her in the pool alone after breakfast, wearing a two piece black bikini, it’s hard to believe that she’s not at least teasing you a little. You stand on the edge absolutely agape, your cock making an obvious tent in your pants. She smirks and gets out and walks over to you.

Water droplets cascade down the smooth expanse of her pale stomach and your mouth runs dry. You can see her nipples through her wet top and heat flashes through your body. Your head starts to spin. 

You whisper her name before she flicks water on your shirt and reaches down to pat your cock roughly. Your hips jolt forward and a muffled groan leaves your mouth and she snickers. 

“I’m surprised that didn’t make you cum,” she says but her tone makes it clear that she's still holding out hope you’ll embarrass yourself again.

“Built up my stamina these past few nights,” you retort. 

She scoffs. “Yeah, you really showed me yesterday. How long did you last? Not even a second?” 

“Okay, maybe the first time, but can you blame me after how worked up I was? And I lasted longer the second time,” you protest and she mockingly pouts. 

“Aw, poor you,” she tuts and you hate how it goes right to your cock. Her gaze drops down again to watch you strain more against your pants and there’s a devilish glint in her eyes when she looks back up. “I was right, you know. I knew you wouldn’t be able to last, I knew you were too fucking incompetent. You’re more pathetic than a common whore.” 

You whimper and clutch onto her arm with tight fingers because it’s the only way you can resist touching herself. 

She regards you pawing at her with the utmost disgust. “You’re so fucking dirty,” she snarls and heat swirls around your head and your knees almost buckle. Your cock is pulsing, growing, swelling—she’s going to get exactly what she wants. She knows it too. 

“Fuck, Agatha, please—” Your whines are pitiful and desperate and you look at her with the best puppy-dog eyes you can muster. 

Her voice lowers even more. “God, look at you. What a fucking embarrassment.” 

Your stomach muscles tighten. 

“What would your dad think if he saw you like this?” 

You hump nothing and hiss at the feeling of the rough fabric against your erection and her smile is wicked.

“What would any of them think if they saw you drooling over a woman twice your age? If they saw you harder than a teenager just because I told you how pathetic you are? You’re nothing more than a bitch in heat, are you?”

Agatha cups your cheek with a gentleness that stands in stark contrast to her words and you buck your hips again. The sounds falling from your mouth are weak and pleading and you think she’s about to finish you off. 

“You know,” she muses, tone now sweet as honey, “I better go get changed before we have to do whatever your dad has on the schedule for today. But you…you look a little hot right now. I think you need to cool off.” 

Before you can ask what she means—or ask for her to touch you—she grabs your arms, whirls you around, and gently shoves you. 

It feels like you’re falling backwards in slow motion and you feel your jaw drop as you watch her smile. 

You hit the water and you instantly recoil, the cold doing wonders to sober you up. Your erection has practically disappeared by the time you break the surface, gasping for air. 

“What the fuck?” you splutter and she tosses her head back with a laugh. 

Agatha finally shrugs when she stops cackling and you wade to the stairs, teeth chattering. Your clothes are clinging to your shivering body but she just watches in amusement. 

“Wanda!” you shout and your personal assistant comes running out from the house. Her green eyes widen when she sees you in the pool. “Can you get me a towel?” 

Agatha rolls her eyes as Wanda nods quickly. “Of course. Anything else?” 

You shake your head and she speeds off. 

“You don’t need her to tie your shoes?” Agatha quips and you grumble at her to shut up. Your family is rich—of course you’re used to the teasing about having assistants. Even as an intern at the company, you’ve delegated far too much of your work to Wanda and she always does it with no complaints. You’re betting the six figure salary your father pays her keeps her content. 

Wanda comes back with a towel and you snatch it from her when you finally get out of the pool. Agatha walks away without giving you another glance and you can’t help but feel rejected. 

She barely even looks at you the rest of the morning and then your dad calls his executive staff into a meeting for the whole afternoon so you lay on your bed, bored out of your mind. It’s the last day of the vacation and of course he wants to spend it getting ready for the next quarter. 

It’s tempting to jack off or to use the flashlight that’s sitting in your nightstand drawer, and you do try, but neither your hand nor the toy even comes close to how Agatha’s cunt feels so you give up with a huff. 

That night, you go to her room in nothing but a t-shirt and boxers. You’re not willing to take the chance that she’ll come to yours because you don’t actually know what’s going on between you. She is so fucking confusing. 

You flirt with her, she always shoots you down, and then she makes you fuck a fleshlight before she takes your virginity? The point of it was to prove that you wouldn’t last inside her, and she was technically correct. So does that mean this is all over?

Not if you have anything to say about it. And there was her stunt by the pool earlier, so clearly she’s not done yet either. 

Knocking rhythmically and quietly on her door, you keep your eyes peeled down the hallway just to make sure no one sees. You joking about having sex with general counsel might be fine because no one believes you, but it would be much harder to cover this up.

Agatha opens it a few moments later in a matching purple pajama set and lets out an exasperated sigh. Her glasses are pushed up on her forehead and you can see her laptop on her bed. 

You slip past her into the room without waiting for her approval and make a beeline for the scotch, pouring yourself two fingers of it. 

“Come back for more humiliation?” she taunts and you feel your stomach twist. “Think you’re a big girl because you managed to stick your cock into one person one time?” 

“You know,” you say, draining a glass without even wincing at the burn of the alcohol and turning around to point at her, “that was all your idea. If I didn’t know any better, I’d say you want me just as much as I want you.” 

Agatha raises an eyebrow and her gaze drops to the tent in your boxers. “I don’t think that’s possible,” she retorts dryly. 

You put the glass down and start to advance as she stands her ground firmly. “You didn’t have to fuck me. You didn’t even have to come to my room the first night. But you did. And I know how affected you were last night, you were fucking enjoying yourself.” 

She laughs cynically and rolls her eyes. “Please, honey, I’ve had better sex with my vibrator.” Ignoring the way that causes more blood to rush south—because now you’re thinking about her moaning loudly while falling apart holding a toy against her clit—you smirk. 

“Then why did you fuck me?” 

Her face twitches and she jerks her head to the side. “Take your clothes off and get on the bed.” 

You’d ask again if there was anything on your mind other than your throbbing cock and her hot cunt so you tear off your shirt, shove off your boxers, and jump on top of the covers. Your cock is standing straight up, oozing precum onto your stomach and twitching against nothing. 

“God, you’re fucking pathetic,” Agatha hisses and you hump the air, a strangled whimper leaving your mouth. “All it takes is a few words and you’re leaking for me.” 

She unbuttons her blouse again and you don’t think you’ll ever get bored of the sight of her tits, perky and supple and rose-colored nipples that you need in your mouth. She slides down her shorts and your breathing quickens, feeling heat flush through your neck and upper chest. 

“Agatha, please,” you whine. Agatha scoffs and climbs on the bed next to you on her knees and slips a hand between her legs. You stare, open-mouthed, panting, as she works at her clit. “Wait…can I?” 

Her hips jolt and you think you can hear her groan through her clamped lips. “You want to—what? Fumble around incompetently? Think you can even find my clit?” 

You nod urgently while your cock pulses and another spurt of precum dribbles out. “I want to, please,” you gasp, “I want to taste you.” 

“Fine. Try not to cum immediately again,” she snaps without any of her usual bite and moves so she’s laying next to you, her legs spread open. 

Situating yourself, you feel the air get kicked out of you when you get your first good look at her pussy. 

Agatha is fucking soaked. Her cunt glistens, lips swollen and pink and almost fused together, and you can see her clit peeking out at the top. Your mouth is watering and your cock gets harder if possible. You can’t resist lowering your hips to the bed so you can get some pressure on it. 

“Holy fuck,” you breathe in awe. “You’re so wet.” 

“Are you actually going to do anything or just stare?” she says, tone laced with venom. “Maybe you should call your assistant, I know she does everything else for you cause you’re too incompetent.” 

You whimper and grind onto the bed, cock throbbing, shaking your head with wide eyes. You can do this.  

She purses her lips. “That’s too bad. She could probably actually get me to cum.” 

Heat tears through you and you surge forward with a vengeance, licking roughly up her cunt and she hisses before roughly grabbing your hair. 

“Slow down,” she barks and you mumble an apology before flattening your tongue and gently dragging it through her folds. “Better.” 

You say something that’s muffled by her pussy and you hump the bed faster because she squeaks when you rub your tongue against her clit. 

She swears under her breath and you can’t even focus anymore because of the dizziness in your head and the aching in your cock. The taste of her has overwhelmed your mouth and your nose and you’re sloppily devouring her while she tries and fails to stop her hips from rolling. 

“I can’t—fuck—Agatha, I’m gonna—” You can feel your stomach tightening, can feel your cock pulsing, and you know you’re about to cum from grinding on the bed and eating her out. 

Instead of mocking you, she growls and yanks you up by the hair until you’re practically straddling her stomach. Tendrils of precum pool on her skin and you swallow roughly. 

“Since you’re going to be fucking useless until you get off,” she sighs and grips your hips to pull you up even higher. Your cock drags against her, leaving a sticky trail in your wake and you have to put a hand out on the headboard to catch yourself when you realize what she’s doing. 

Your cock rests between her tits and she lifts her head up to spit on you and your hips jerk forward. The mess of her saliva and your precum is driving you absolutely crazy and you begin rutting against her. 

Her fingers dig into your ass and help you move and your cock fits perfectly in the crook between her boobs. You hold onto the headboard, panting while you look down at her, and there’s a heat in her eyes that you only see at work—when she gets exactly what she wants. 

“God, you’re pathetic,” she says without any of her usual malice. The pink from her cheeks has spread down her chin and to her upper chest that your cock is dragging against. “Can’t do anything for yourself so you need me, don’t you?” 

“Yes,” you choke out, your thrusts becoming shorter. The stickiness is making you throb and your grunts get louder.

Agatha spanks you and you shudder, your cock pumping out a spurt of precum, and then she lets go of your ass to push her breasts together so her soft, supple tits are wrapped around your hard cock and you sharply inhale. 

But then she leans down and flicks her tongue out against the tip of your cock and you can’t hold it back anymore. 

“Oh, fuck, fuck—I can’t—fuck,” you babble before your cock explodes, drenching the bottom of her face and the top of her chest in white. She lets out a gasp at the feeling of your seed on her skin and the sight of her covered in you makes one last strand of cum squirt out. 

You slouch back while your cock twitches and Agatha drags two fingers through the mess on her clavicle before stuffing them in your mouth. She looks delighted when you make a surprised sound before grabbing your hair and pulling you down and making you clean up your cum. 

“Good girl,” she purrs when you’re all done and then nudges you back down between her legs. The praise makes your stomach grow warm—apparently you like that just as much as the degradation. “Think you can focus now?” 

Nodding eagerly, you look at her pussy and your mouth falls open. She’s dripping onto the bed, folds spread open, and you can see her throbbing. 

This time, there’s no hesitation in putting your mouth on her and you moan lasciviously at her taste. Your eyes dart up to watch her face as you dip your tongue inside her and curl it and she sinks her teeth into her bottom lip. 

But then you lick back up and suck on her clit and she can’t help the audible groan that escapes her. The sound makes your cock pulse and you can already feel yourself starting to grow hard again. 

“Keep doing that,” she orders and you double your efforts, lashing your tongue against her clit and then sucking and her head falls back. “Two fingers inside me, now.” 

Her walls instantly bear down around you and you whimper, the vibrations making her hips roll. She is so warm and so hot and you never want to leave her cunt. 

“Fuck me harder, god, you’re useless,” she hisses but it quickly turns into another moan when you thrust in deeply and curl them until you find the spot that makes her clench. Your slurping noises, along with her sounds of pleasure, are going straight to your cock and you start to grind against the bed gently for some stimulation. 

“You like this,” you say into her cunt and she violently shakes her head while beginning to ride your face and fingers. Her walls are gripping you, trying to drag you in as deep as you can go, and you can feel every ridge and groove when you fuck her. “You wouldn’t be here if you didn’t want me.” 

She yanks on your hair and you moan. “Stop fucking talking,” she seethes and you chuckle, the vibrations reverbrating against her pussy and making her whimper. You think she might actually be getting somewhere. “Good thing I brought my vibrator because I’m going to be needing it after you—fuck—”

You suck on her clit roughly and her voice breaks off. She’s grinding harder on you, drenching your face and fingers, and she’s fucking panting. So are you, right against her pussy and your stomach flexes to keep your steady rhythm of humping the bed going strong. Your jaw and wrist are burning but from the way she’s clenching furiously around your fingers, she’s getting close. 

And you know that if you stop right now, Agatha would never let it go. 

So you keep doing exactly what you’re doing and her hips start to falter and her breathing gets heavier. 

“God, you’re such a slut, whoring yourself out to a woman twice your age,” she groans. “You’re so pathetic, fuck—”

Her hands scramble and tug on your hair and you’re about to make a snarky comment on how she’s just so desperate for your cum when she grabs onto your hard and leaking cock and angles it at her entrance. 

You barely have time to breathe before her legs hook around your waist. “Don’t you dare cum,” she warns and you huff out a laugh before pushing into her wet cunt. 

Agatha’s walls grip your cock and you freeze, your head dropping down to rest on her tits and you pant open-mouthed against her skin before sucking on her nipple. Her hips arch up to get you deeper inside and you let out a lewd moan. She feels so good and you can feel her throb around you. 

“Oh, fuck,” you whine, your cock twitching. It’s such a different angle from her being on top of you and you love it. You start to move slowly, just to hold off your impending orgasm. 

You can see everything—the way her tits bounce with each thrust, the way her hair is sprawled out underneath her, the slight sheen of sweat on her chest, the bulge your cock makes in her stomach. 

“Agatha, Agatha, fuck, please, I’m gonna—fuck, please, I can’t,” you cry, your cock pulsing rapidly inside her. She clenches around you with each thrust and she bites her bottom lip roughly to control her sounds. 

“Wait, just wait, don’t cum yet,” she groans, strangled and needy, and you know you’re about to cum but you’re desperate to make her cum before you do. 

So you reach between your bodies and find her clit and furiously start to rub at it and she moans. “Tell me,” you order, “tell me that I’m making you feel good.” 

She laughs breathlessly. “You think because you’re on top, you’re in charge? Honey, you can’t do anything without me. You’re so pathetic that you only get this hard for me, right? Tell me that.” Her words are getting tighter and you duck back down to swirl your tongue around her nipple. 

“Just you, Agatha,” you murmur and she shivers from your hot breath. Tension is building in your cock and your stomach and your back and you thrust harder because you need her to cum. “I only want you, fuck, it’s always been you.” 

And then she keens, eyes rolling back in her head, and her cunt spasms around you. You feel a gush of wetness and you groan weakly before pumping her full of thick, hot cum. She gasps when she feels your seed paint her walls white and you collapse on top of her while your cock spurts out a few more loads into her. 

“You finally did one thing right,” she quips after a few moments and you laugh before nipping at the curvature of her breasts. 

“That’s the best performance review I’ve ever gotten,” you say, and once you’re fully soft, you pull out of her and sit up on your knees to spread her folds open. 

Your cum oozes out and your cock twitches at the sight and she gasps and squirms. She reaches down and swipes through the mess leaking out of her and then shoves her fingers into your mouth. 

The taste of both of you makes you whimper and she swallows roughly. You move back down of your own accord and slowly drag your tongue through her folds, getting your mixture all over your mouth. You steadily clean your cum out of her while holding eye contact and her struggle to remain composed would make you hard again if you hadn’t already cum twice in the span of about fifteen minutes. 

You make sure to lick her clit a few times and she writhes underneath you, stifling her sighs. Her cunt is a mess by the time you’re done, swollen and pink and still wet and she tugs you away because the stimulation has finally gotten to be too much. 

Flopping onto the bed next to her, you lick your lips and wonder what it would be like to kiss Agatha. You turn to look at her to find her eyes already on you. 

“What happens tomorrow?” you whisper and her gaze flickers down to your mouth. “When we go back.” 

Agatha sighs and gets out of bed, finding her pajamas on the floor and putting them back on. “We never speak of this again. And that means no more little jokes.”

It stings but you smirk to deflect. “Afraid someone will think the great Agatha Harkness deigned to fuck the boss’s daughter? That’s like, reverse sleeping up the corporate ladder. They’d probably applaud your charity. Or—you know what? I bet they’d be jealous. Everyone wants a piece of me, you know. Too bad general counsel already tamed this tiger.” You bite at her playfully and she snorts before fixing you with a serious stare. 

“This never happened,” she says solemnly and you nod. But before you can ask if you should leave, she lays back down next to you and her hand brushes against yours. You stiffen, but don’t pull away and her touch lingers.  

You lay so still, trying to breathe as quietly as you possibly can, so maybe she’ll let you stay. 

Her hand doesn’t move from yours the entire night. 

Taglist: @lostbutlovely33 @diorrxckstar @whoreforolderfictionalwomen  @katekathry @onemansdreamisanothermansdeath @tayasmellsapples @natashashill @mybraininblood @mysticalmoonlight7  @cactuslover2600 @loveem0mo @readysteddiero-nance @lonelyhalfwitch @lesbiantortilla @crescendoofstars @sol-in-wonderland @ahsfan05 @gbab09 @sasheemo @agathaharness @live-laugh-love-lupone @chiar4anna @fuckedupforkhahn @lowlyjelly @sweetmidnights @n3bula-cats @m1vfs

[cuteandhughesy]

Love Is Not Dying | Vince Dunn

summary: hooking up with the hottest guy who think you’ve ever seen can’t go wrong…right?

7.4k

warnings: NSFW! one night stand | drinking | brothers teammate (beniers! reader) | flirting | sexual and mature themes | kissing | smut | brief nipple play | fingering | oral (f receiving) | protected p in v intercourse | filthy sex bc vince just brings it out of me | read at your own discretion

a/n: formed from this request! thought i’d combine this idea with the very much high-demand need for vince dunn! so with that being said here’s so smut to satisfy your eyes on valentine’s day 💌🤭

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contrary to what movies, shows, books and anything and everything else tells you—moving to a new city is actually really refreshing. there's something about a fresh start that just feels so good. the delicious cafes, the smell of a new apartment, the new restaurants and people everywhere you turn...what's not to like?

seattle is your fresh start—your new city. a place where you can forget about your old life and asshole ex-boyfriend back in massachusetts. getting treated like the dirt on the bottom of a shoe and being cheated on for 2 and a half years really pushes you to get the hell away from hingham.

moving to seattle seemed like the most logical option considering it's where your younger brother lived—playing for the kraken like the ridiculously talented athlete he's always proven himself to be. hockey has never really been your thing though, regardless of matty's undying devotion. you prefer to cheer him on from your couch...with your dad texting you anytime matty scores. you didn't even know seattle had a nhl team until they drafted your brother.

your phone buzzes in your jacket pocket, vibrating the leather and tickling your skin.

little shit

hey. you're still coming over for breakfast tomorrow?

matty's text has you snickering, and you almost walk into a bike rack lining the sidewalk. you blink, a flush covering your cheeks.

y/n

planning on it. unless you've changed your mind and want to treat some random hookup to my well deserved time with you

the bag on your shoulder begins slipping, the faux leather providing the perfect slip and slide for the strap of your canvas tote. the last thing you need is to drop the grocery bag and shatter your eggs and spill the milk. then the whole trip out would be pointless.

matty can tell you're joking around, he knows you too well to assume otherwise. you have always been close, and because of the distance between states, you'd only been seeing one another at christmas and in the summer since 2021–when he was drafted. but now you're in seattle, and your younger brother is only a 10 minute drive from your new apartment.

you've only been here three days, and matty has been bugging you about having breakfast since the u-haul pulled into your complex. little bastard couldn't even help you unpack because of his strict schedule—two game day naps your ass.

little shit

I was going to ask if you wanted sweet or savoury—but maybe I should reconsider having you over if you'd be so inclined to think i'd cancel on my favourite sister

y/n

i'm your only sister

little shit

see you tomorrow 😌

you roll your eyes with nothing but fondness, shoving your phone in your pocket as you continue the walk back to your apartment. it doesn't take long until you're back home, unloading the small grocery haul from the strawberry printed tote bag.

your new job at seattle's biggest law firm—which you still can't believe hired you—started yesterday, and it's only been a day but you feel so welcomed and accepted already. it's another confirmation that you're meant to be in seattle. one of your new co-workers jasmine, a stunning woman with dark skin and chocolate eyes, invited you out to one of the local bars tonight.

you'd gotten the text on the way to the grocery store, as well as a follow up message that she and a few other employees wanted to get to know you better. ever the social butterfly you agreed easily—excitement flowing through your veins at the thought of letting loose, mingling and hopefully forming some friendships.

jasmine let you know that everyone was meeting at the bar around 8:30, and you were welcome to join them anytime then. you make yourself some dinner, a delicious saucy pasta that has you serving yourself a second bowl, before jumping into the shower.

you take your time in there, making sure your scalp is scrubbed, and your legs and underarms are shaved—you're not sure if you're going to wear a tank top, and you're going to be prepared. by the time you've blowed dried your hair into loose, bouncy curls, put on your usual dusting of makeup and decided what to wear—it's time to leave.

you order an uber as you're planning on having a couple drinks, and as you finish up with your shoes, the notification of your rides arrival lights up your phone. on the way to the bar you busy yourself with your phone—responding to emails and texts that you've been neglecting since getting to seattle. you even respond to matty's picture of waffle ingredients laid out on his counter, as well as his annoying message.

little shit

you never answered. so sweet it is 🖕🏽

y/n

if you think I wanted anything but sweet you're just stupid

little shit

ouch. i'm going to poison your breakfast

the uber comes to a rather rough stop against the curb, the middle aged man giving you a polite smile that also says hey, get out. i've got work to do.

you bid a thank you and step onto the sidewalk, the late october air nipping your skin despite it being a warmer evening. you run your hands through your hair to try and tame any frizzy fly aways that have sprouted in the uber, and make your way inside the cozy bar.

you're immediately enveloped in the atmosphere of what feels like a family owned bar—exposed brick and worn leather booths lining the walls, matching the scuffed floorboards under your feet. the lights are dim, giving that mysterious vibe that does nothing but intrigue you. it's cute and packed.

you should've expected it to be busy considering it's a friday night, but the amount of people lingering and mingling throughout the room is just baffling. you push up into your tip toes, searching through the sea of people to try and spot your co-workers. well, jasmine—because you're not sure who else is here.

jasmine finds you first, standing up at their claimed booth and waving. "y/n! we're over here."

you smile as your eyes connect, making your way through the crowd and dodging tipsy people as you walk towards the booth. "hey," you greet warmly, accepting the sweet hug jasmine offers. "this place is nice."

"and fucking packed." your other co-worker, a defense lawyer named brock, mumbles with a grin, taking a slow sip of his beer as he eyes you.

joseph, another lawyer stands from his spot on the outside of the booth, gesturing for you to slip in beside him. you smile politely, slipping your pea coat off and hanging it over your arm. "thanks."

"you look great." jasmine compliments warmly, twirling the mouthful of wine left in the bottom of her glass, creating a mini whirlpool. "seriously where'd you get that jacket—it's killer."

you grin, sliding the clothing item of jasmine's desire between your hip and the wall. your jewelry chimes together as you pick up the small drink menu. "it's from h&m, can you believe that."

she gasps, lips forming a small shocked but amused 'o'. "I wasn't aware of h&m's game."

you laugh, thumbing through the sheets of laminated card stock that display the assortment of different drinks. there's even some typical bar food listed like fries and wings—slathered in sauce and grease. joseph doesn't sit back down beside you, but instead jerks his thumb over his shoulder and in the direction of the bar. "anybody want a drink? i'm going up for another round."

"hit me." brock says deeply, finishing off the last swig of foamy beer in the bottom of his bottle. jasmine follows suit, asking for another mulberry wine with a exaggerated grin.

joseph looks at you expectantly, a playful quirk to his one dark eyebrow. "i'll have whatever whiskey they have, with some coke. diet please, joseph." you say confidently, closing the menu and slotting it back into the metal holder at the end of the table.

brock hums in what seems like approval, drumming his fingers on the slightly sticky table top. "you heard the lady, joey boy."

despite the almost arrogant attitude brock seems to have, he's actually really fucking nice—hell so is joseph, and jasmine even more so. you can't believe how lucky you've been at this job, and having three amazing people to work alongside you is a dream come true.

seattle already feels like home and you haven't even been here a week. you spend a good two hours laughing, chatting—and drinking—with your new friends, and everything in your little world flows easily.

it's almost 11:30 when you slurp up the last sip of watered down whiskey and coke concoction through one of those small black mixing straws. you pout with a tiny whine, dropping the glass back to the table. "i'm empty."

joseph snorts behind the rim of his bottle. "want another?"

"yeah," you huff. "but I'll get it—need to stretch my legs before I start to cramp." jasmine laughs playfully as joseph lets you slide out of the booth, stumbling slightly as your feet find the worn wood floorboards.

jasmine takes a slow gulp of her wine, eyes nothing but mischievous as she eyes you. "sure you just don't wanna get closer to that group of hotties over there? that one brunette can't stop checking you out."

your brows pull, as well as your smile. "where?" you ask wildly, looking over you shoulder to try and find this alleged group of men jasmine alludes to. you find them easily. theres 5 men, all broad and tall, sticking out like a sore thumb. there's one guy in particular—a stupidly good looking guy—who must've been watching you, because as soon as you catch his eyes, his head turns away faster than you can blink.

"don't look!" she scolds with a hushed tone, but her words have no bite against her amused expression.

"I don't care." you admit cheekily, pulling your gaze away from jasmine and back to the guys sitting on the opposite side of the busy bar. although now it's not as bustling, but still packed enough that you have to weave through bodies to get to the bar top.

the female bartender, probably around 50, looks at you flatly. but even with that deadpanned looks you can see a friendly glimmer in her eyes, and the subtle way her lip quirks upwards in a smile. "what can I get you honey?"

somebody on your left bumps into you, too distracted talking over her friends to pay attention to you. you sigh gently, but ignore it, giving the bartender your full attention. "whiskey and coke please. diet."

she lets out a half breath of laughter, grabbing one of the shallow glasses from underneath the counter. "got sick of your boyfriend coming up here?"

you're confused at first, but then the blonde bartenders brows flick towards, eyes darting back to your table—to joseph. "oh," you chime, "he's not my boyfriend but yeah, I was ready to get out of that booth and stretch my legs a little."

your eyes find her shiny gold name tag, 'marlene: owner.' you should've known this woman was important to this place, her energy is just that strong. marlene turns away from you, walking further down the bar is search of the whiskey she's been serving you all evening.

the bar has cleared a bit in the time she's gone, and the oblivious blonde who bumped you earlier and her group has gone back to the makeshift dance floor—but there's still enough of a crowd that if you look on either side of yourself, your eyes are landing on somebodies face or shoulder (depending on their height obviously).

marlene returns after a minute or two, sliding a perfectly made glass over to you—the diet coke bubbles, coming up and stinging your nose. "here you go baby."

"thanks," you grin, opening your small shoulder bag and digging through your various cards. "how much?"

"oh no," marlene snickers, pulling your attention back to her unreadable expression. "it's been paid for." before you have a chance to question what she means, marlene's hazy eyes flicker to the other side of the bar—where she was just making your drink. that's when you see him. the guy who you caught starring at you earlier. the mystery man isn't with his friends, but he's got three beers in his hands like he's been sent up to fetch them.

his cheeks are pink, skin pale. his broad shoulders are covering by a black fitted long sleeve, the material hugging his biceps and doing nothing to hide the ridges of muscles underneath his skin. the man's eyes dart up, finding you and marlene.

unlike before he holds your eye contact for a moment, tipping his head in a greeting and a small smile pulling at his plump limps. your brows raise in amusement before turning back to marlene. "i'm sure i'll see you again."

she snickers. "i'm sure you and him both will."

you take your drink before rounding to the other side of the long bar counter, pushing between bodies until your right next to the attractive mystery man. your chest smooshes against his bicep, and when your nipples catch wind of the contact against his hard muscles, they pinch and tighten.

he looks down at you curiously, but amused nonetheless—tongue darting out to swipe along his lower lip.

"so first was staring at me across the room, and then next was buying my drink..." you trail off lightly, eyes twinkling with playfulness as you pause in anticipation. "what's after that?"

he breathes a soft laugh, eyes quickly flickering away from you and across the bar. but just as fast, mystery man is looking back down at you. hoping to appear seductive, you slowly take your straw into your mouth, swirling your tongue around the mixing stick before taking a drink—hopefully you're tempting him.

he swallows thickly. "well maybe you'll find out once you finish your drink." his tone is teasing, and it shoots straight down to your core. you haven't even thought of a man sexually since breaking up with your boyfriend—and honestly even having sex with him didn't do anything for you.

you're touch starved, and so horny it's not even funny. so go forbid you start throbbing as soon as an attractive stranger buys you a drink and keeps eyeing your lips. sue you.

your brows raise, and before he can blink, you take your straw out of the glass, raising the rim to your lips and chugging the entire thing. once it's empty, you wipe your mouth and plop the mixing stick into the empty glass and put it back on the bar.

he takes his bottom lip into his mouth, and he can't help but eye the way your lips have been moistened by your drink—and maybe even taking a quick peek at your cleavage. he's stronger than no other man.

"alright," he smiles, tone full of appraisal and making your heart skip. "I'm vince." his hand justs out, and you take it, your small hand almost completely enclosed by his much larger palm.

"i'm y/n." you smile, and the sight has vince's breath hitching. suddenly he's completely forgotten that he's still waiting on jared's wine (his taste is too expensive for beer apparently), and when you ask him to dance with you, he quickly agrees, abandoning the beer bottles in the bar.

from your booth, your new co-workers watch you lead vince out into the crowd, both of you looking at one another with a look that just screams tension. joseph's brows raise, but an amused smile is on his face. "she's insane."

brock blows out some air. "she's hot."

"she's a baddie." jasmine corrects brock, elbowing him in the ribs as a warning for his behaviour. but he just snickers again, watching through lidded eyes as you vince begin moving with one another in a slow, steady motion—knowing grins on your faces as you whisper to one another about god knows what.

you love the way vince is touching you—grabbing you—like you're his. but it's also not possessive, and even though the way he's handling you is confident, you can feel an underlying shyness, or perhaps hesitation in this movements.

vince doesn't want to make you uncomfortable, and he also doesn't want to come across awkward. it's not everyday he's out at the bars, dancing with strangers like this. a very beautiful stranger who makes his dick twitch in anticipation nonetheless.

you dance together for what feels like forever—but could honestly only be 10 minutes. every look vince sends your way, every lick along his bottom lip, every touch, breath, laugh, and whispered words has your stomach dropping and head spinning.

his voice isn't super deep, but it's got a certain rasp that has you hanging onto every word and question that passes through his tempting lips. between dancing with vince and going back up to the bar together for refills—marlene giving you that look everytime she spots you tucked under his arm—you learn quite a bit about the handsome stranger.

vince works in sports, but he didn't disclose his actual profession. it has your mind working overtime—is he a journalist? maybe a football star? does seattle have a basketball team? he's originally from a small town in canada, one that you've never heard of. his ideal vacation is somewhere tropical, his favourite food is italian and he's a boobs guy based on the fact he can't stop looking at yours.

thank the fashions gods for low cut shirts.

and it's not like he's been only letting you ask him questions. vince has been just as interested in asking you about your life (and squeezing your hips, but that's a whole another story). telling him about moving out to spend time with your younger brother and working at a high end law firm came easily, and the almost proud smile on vince's face made your decision feel validating.

which says something, because validation from a stranger is never something you've strived towards. vince doesn't feel like a stranger though, which is a shame because after tonight, chances are he will be.

a little while later jasmine is sliding up next to you and vince, her eyes narrowed playfully as she looks at the lack of space between the two of you. "hey," she starts, her grin growing. "we're hungry, thinking about getting pizza. you guys wanna come?"

a small gasp leaves you, and your eyes light up like fireflies. your drunk brain and empty stomach agree—pizza would be divine. "oh my god! yes."

jasmine cheers, lips tainted with her wine. "yay! okay i'll get your coat and we will meet you outside." her eyes dart to vince again, smiling increasing before she slips back through the crowd.

you take your lip between your teeth, but even that can't stop your smile from widening. your small hands wrap around vince's forearms, squeezing the muscles beneath your fingers as you blink up at him. "you coming? please come with me. we can share pizza lady and the tramp style."

he laughs, a real hearty laugh that comes from his stomach. his fingers slide up your back, passing over your bras straps. "how would that even work?"

you shrug. "I don't know but we can figure it out."

vince's eyes twinkle with something you don't recognize, and his lips quirk up higher in an amused grin. you blink up at him again, all doe eyes and babydoll like and he's nodding. "okay, let's go."

you grin triumphantly, and he lets you pull him through the crowd easily. there's something so sexy about it, especially when you know he could easily overpower you in any way—at any moment.

the chilly air nips at your bare arms, leaving a wake of goosebumps all over your skin. you curse three different swears, all of them blending together to create one big fuck fest. vince snickers, rubbing his hands over your arms in attempt to warm you up. he's so hot you're pretty sure your underwear are soaked with arousal.

when joseph passes you your coat, vince takes it from your co-worker with a nod, and then he helps you slip it on. you're seriously going to die before getting pizza.

the walk isn't more than 10 minutes, and you can smell the tomato sauce and warm dough as you approach the building, lit up by neon signs. inside is busy, mostly drunk college kids. vince keeps you close, and arm around your waist between you and your coat like he's from a damn rom com. "what are wanting?" he asks you softly, leaning down so he's whispering in your ear.

you hum pleasantly. "just cheese."

joseph gets garlic bread for himself, and he threatens if anyone tries to steal a bite he'll walk them over the head with the red plastic basket. jasmine and brock get a deep dish pizza to share, loaded with vegetables and pepperoni, while you and vince get your cheese pizza. and yes, he pays for not only your order, but your co-workers orders too.

you might be in love and you might have to keep him forever.

because it's busy, the seating options are a little sparse, and you won't be able to all sit together. your co-workers get a table meant for two, but steal a spare chair from a friendly group of frat guys and make it a table for three. you and vince find a spot at the counter, two available stools in the corner against the wall—next to the neon outline of pizza slice.

your so squished in there that you're overlapping with vince, and your leg might as well be draped over his spread, huge thighs. you take an unattractive bite of your slice, and groan happily.

vince smiles, chewing his own bite of pizza as you watches you with amusement. "good?"

you nod. "so good." you finish off the slice before speaking again, sucking your thumb into your mouth to taste the pizza grease. "what's your favourite disney movie?"

he's almost at the crust of his second slice of pizza. vince hums between bites, brows pulled in concentration as he thinks of an answer. "sleeping beauty."

your lips quirks. "really?" he nods. "you kind of remind me of prince phillip you know, all sexy and tall." you admit shamelessly, picking up another slice and biting the into crust first.

vince blushes, but doesn't look embarrassed. "you think i'm sexy?" he questions, dusting his hands off against his thighs. you watch his fingers as they run over his legs, and when he catches you staring, vince's smirk widens.

"yeah, I do."

his tongue swipes along his bottom lip, and he leans closer to you by an inch or two. "I think you're really sexy." vince says, voice all low and hushed like he doesn't want anyone to overhear. nobody could even if they wanted to, the array of loud voices and charli xcx playing over the speakers is too loud.

you take your lip into your mouth as you smirk. you decide to tease him, "does that though have anything to do with my cleavage?"

vince's eyes twinkle again. he holds your gaze, and his brows pull together the smallest amount—smirk never wavering. "part of it, yeah." to accentuate his point, vince's gaze flickers to your boobs for a moment, and then finds your warm face again.

your cross your legs to try and relive some of the throbbing pressure in your corse.  "perv. eat your pizza." you send him a teasing glare and smile before you take a bite of your slice in an attempt to try and not jump his bones in front of everyone. vince's eyes linger on you for a long moment but eventually he does what he's told, picking up a slice and taking a huge bite.

a moment passes, and he swallows. "you always this curious?" it's not accusatory, but instead curious. vince waits for your response, wiping his mouth with a logo branded napkin before balling it up and setting it on the nearly empty pizza stone.

"always," you nod. "you can learn so much about a person when you ask them questions—questions that aren't informative but rather fun and silly. like the disney movie one."

he hums. "so what have you learned about me from my disney answer?"

you purse your lips in thought, dropping the rest of your slice back down to the stone. you ponder for a moment as you try and find the words. your eyes flicker over his, and you lean in close, your leg pushing against his. "I think that you're a bit of a hopeless romantic, even though you'd never admit it. you're a bit shy, but you love meeting new people. you'd do anything for the people you love—even if that means pricking yourself on a cursed needle."

vince nods, a deep sound rattling in his throat as he looks at you. without realizing it, he's leaned in closer to you, and if you wanted to, you could brush the tips of your noses together. he takes his bottom lip into his mouth, biting down on the skin as his gaze darts over your face. "interesting."

your quirk a brow. "am I right?"

he releases his lip with a gentle pop, gaze never once wandering from your warm, beautiful face. vince swallows, "yeah. you're right."

you cheer and that has vince's fond smile widening. he has to ignore the way your small, painted fingers absentmindedly run over his jean covered knee or else he'll have no choice but to take your clothes off and fuck you on the counter.

vince blinks the dirty thought out of his mind. "ask me another question. I like when you're talking."

a beat passes before your eyes glaze over with lust. you put your hands on the top of his thigh for leverage as you lean into his space, lips brushing the shell of his ear as you speak. "are you gunna to fuck me tonight?"

his body tenses, you can feel it under your palms. you grin in satisfaction, pulling back just enough so your eyes lock. vince's hand slides over the side of your face, fingers threading through your hair as he holds you. before he can talk himself out of it, he leans in and kisses you.

it's chaste and experimental like he's testing the waters and giving you the opportunity to stop him. but you don't want him to stop, your earlier words doing enough to prove that. you kiss him again, a more firm pressure that last 5 seconds. he taste like pizza and beer, and you can't get enough.

and then vince kisses you for a third time, his lips slotting between yours in a proper, hotter embrace that has your toes curling in your shoes and belly swooping. mindful of the public space, he releases your mouth after merely 15 seconds, resting his forehead on yours as you both breathe heavily. "I want to ruin you."

"ruin me." you whisper, pressing one more kiss to his glistening lips. "let's get out of here." you breathe against him, sliding off your stool and standing between his spread thighs.

the taxi ride back to your place is excruciating. you can't keeps your hands off one another—subtle squeezes and trailing fingers over sensitive areas. vince kisses your neck in open mouthed, hot intervals, and each time you moan—which makes him snicker against your skin.

the taxi driver keeps sending you looks through the rearview, but you don't even care.

as soon as you're in the elevator, vince's lips are on yours—capturing them in a breath taking kiss that has you tingling. your hands rake over his strong chest, feeling up his muscles underneath his black long sleeve.

he shudders at the feeling, but his kiss doesn't waver. vince has one hand tucked in your hair, scratching at your scalp soothingly while his other hand squeezes handfuls of your ass—the combination the perfect mix of soft and rough.

"I need you." you whimper against his lips. vince sighs deeply, pushing his bulge against your lower belly—he doesn't have to repeat your words. he doesn't need to in order for you to know it's reciprocated.

the elevator dings, and the heavy doors slide open. your grin, pulling away from vince and taking ahold of his hands. you pull him down the hallway quickly, stealing flirtatious glances over your shoulder. as your hands begin unlocking the door, vince smacks your ass firmly before giving it another hard squeeze.

he leans into your back. "you're so fucking pretty." vince presses a kiss to the junction of your neck, and it has you faltering, eyes fluttering closed and a sigh leaving your puffy lips.

thankfully vince pushes the door open further and saves you from having to move. he uses his hips to shuffle you into your own apartment, never stopping the suckling against your neck as he gently kicks the door closed.

his hands are all over you again, squeezing your hips and running up your belly until his thumbs brush the underside of your boobs. he repeats the motions until your withering, wordlessly begging for more. vince pushes you to the wall, and you shiver when the cold surface touches your chest—nipples pinching under your top.

vince slips off your coat, and his lips trial after it—down your shoulder and towards your elbow. your gasp lightly, looking down over your shoulder with hooded eyes as he removes your jacket, throwing it towards your couch. his eyes flicker up towards yours. "wanna taste you. you gunna let me taste you, baby?"

"yeah," you whine, fingers flexing against the wall. "please...please."

vince smirks and doesn't make you wait, dropping to his knees before his hands trail up the backs of your thighs, rounding over your ass and hooking into the waist pants of your pants. he roughly yanks them down, exposing your skimpy underwear and sticky arousal.

you thank god for choosing sexy underwear tonight.

he groans, palming your ass and exposing your core further, which is barley covered by the fabric anyways. vince nips the skin of your ass, before smoothing the sting with a open mouthed kiss. "fucking god, y/n."

you moan, pushing your hips back as you search for some much needed friction. vince is in a trance, fingers squeezing your thighs and ass as he admires your pussy. there's really no reason for your underwear at this point, he thinks, because there's not enough fabric to cover half of your pussy, never mind all of it.

you're glistening, practically dripping. you can feel vince lean in closer, breath fanning over your slick folds. he nudges your spread thighs further apart, hooking his index finger into the crotch of your lacy paintes and yanking them to the side.

vince licks his lips. "so messy and pretty." he doesn't waste anymore time, and he dives in, licking a wide strip from your clit and back to your leaking entrance.

"oh god." you sigh shakily, eyes fluttering once again at the feeling of vince's mouth on your needy heat. vince has the perfect combination of sucking, licking and kissing that has your knees going weak. "you're so good at this...holy fuck."

vince smirks against you and then sucks your clit perfectly, his nose running along your entrance perfectly. "never tasted something this good."

you gasp, one of your hands leaving the wall and reaching behind you, threading your fingers through vince's thick brown hair. "i'm close." you admit breathily, squeezing his roots in an attempt to keep him close.

vince hums, but much to your dismay he pulls away from you, leaving your pussy to throb and flutter around nothing—searching for more. you pout, but the sight of your arousal soaking vince's lips and chin has you moaning again.

vince smacks your ass as he gets off the floor, flipping you around to face him.

"why'd you stop?" you pout, pushing your boobs against his chest, fingers relaxing over his biceps teasingly.

he smirks. "relax, you'll get it again." vince kisses you again, and you can taste yourself when he slips his tongue into your mouth. the next few moments are a flurry of hurried movements. you pulling off vince's shirt and unbuckling his leather belt—vince practically ripping your tank top off and exposing your tight nipples and heavy tits.

his calloused palms slide up your ribs and cup your tits, giving them a quick squeeze. your head falls back against the wall as vince's thumbs swipe over your nipples, a back and forth motion that has them getting impossibly harder.

"your place is nice." he says lowly. his casual scentence is contradictory to his actions—pinching your nipple between his thumb and index finger.

you mewl, arching into his touch desperately. "thanks...ugh-lots of..mhmm. lots of places to fuck me on." your words are broken by your own moans and sighs of pleasure. it's kind of pathetic but vince thinks there's nothing hotter.

he face dips down to your chest, inclosing his warm mouth on your nipple—tongue swirling and prodding the bud like it's his profession. your hands are in his hair again, carding through the locks and tugging when he sucks just right.

vince switches to your other nipple. "where do you want me to fuck you?" he asks before taking you into his mouth, repeating his movements on your nipple while he palms your now unattended one.

you lick along your bottom lip and watch through lidded eyes as vince sucks your tits. you're pretty sure your arousal is leaking onto the floor and puddling between your heels. "you could take me on the floor and I'd be happy."

he releases your nipple with a quiet pop. "don't say that....because I will."

you grin softly, bringing his face back to yours for another kiss. vince's hands slide up the backs of your thighs, and then in one quick movement he's hauling you off the ground, wrapping your legs around his hips.

you gasp lightly against his lips, your soaking core bumping his lower stomach and sliding over his defined v-line. vince doesn't stop kissing you, walking you over to the new couch in your makeshift living room. there's still a few boxes pilled on top of your coffee table, and there's loose clothes thrown over the back of the chair from when you'd been sorting through suitcases earlier.

the room is casted in the moonlights glow and the warm light under your microwave. it makes everything feel soft—makes it feel private and hot. vince drops you against the plush cushions, and you squeal happily.

vince smirks, "how's the couch?"

you take your bottom lip into your mouth, watching with lustful eyes as he begins undoing his button, tugging down his zipper and releasing some of the confinement against his hard bulge. "it's perfect."

his brow quirks up in amusement. "perfect huh?" vince asks, pulling of his jeans completely. he retrieves his wallet from his back pocket before throwing the pants behind him—making you giggle.

you hum in response as vince pulls out a square foil package from his wallet. a condom.

he smirks, leaning over your body. "wanna know what else is perfect?" vince asks lowly. your mouth opens as a quick breath leaves you, but vince isn't actually waiting for a response. two of his long, thick fingers trace over your collarbone and brush against your pulse point. "your skin is perfect."

then those two fingers flow down to your sternum and tease around your breasts—tracing over your nipples with just enough pressure to have you whining. "and these tits." vince trails down to your belly, passing over your hip bones. "and these hips." next is your core, his fingers slipping through your wet folds. "and god this pussy is perfect."

and with the cherry on top, vince slips the same two fingers he's been running along your body into your entrance. the squelch your walls make sound his fingers is intoxicating, and you practically scream out. "tell me what feels good baby." he tells you, eyes reluctantly leaving your pussy where you take his pumping fingers, and flickering to your warm face.

you begin babbling, making a mess around his hand— dripping off his fingers as he continues to thrust into you. "god," you let out a sharp gasp, walls squeezing his fingers and stopping him momentarily. "this...your fingers feel really good."

vince smirks, and he thrusts his fingers into you a few more times—each time rougher than the last. he feels like he's going to combust with the sight of you under him, withering and whining like you've never been touched like this…maybe you haven't been touched like this before. pride swells in his chest at the thought.

vince’s impossibly hard cock twitches uncomfortably in his boxers—if he doesn't get inside you soon he's going to die. in a fluid motion, he is pulling his fingers out of your warmth.

you mewl in protest, but vince is too busy ripping open the condom package and then pulling himself from his underwear to hear your cry. his dick hears the sound though, and it throbs—ready.

vince rolls the latex on expertly, and he lines his red tip up with your slippery entrance. your hips shift, and his head slips inside your entrance—both of your groaning loudly at the feeling.

vince pulls back out, and a devilish smirk grows on his face as you huff all horny and frustrated. "what happened to the shy vince from earlier?" your tone is slightly whiny, but he can tell you're teasing him—your small hands wrapping around his ribs and torso.

"he's not feeling so shy with your pretty face under him." with that, vince pushes his cock into you. the stretch is heavenly, and your walls mold against him like second nature. you moan, nails digging into his pale skin as he comes to a hilt—balls resting against your ass and tip brushing your cervix.

"that okay?" he asks you breathlessly—dazed eyes flickering over your blotchy skin and puffy, parted lips. he can't help but let his gaze fall between your bodies, right down to where you're connected. vince's hips jerk involuntarily at the sight of your creamy walls holding him in, and you whine pathetically at the feeling.

"so good, vince. oh my god." you probably look like a pornstar on your couch right now. vince buried into your dripping entrance with your legs spread wide, heels still on because you'd been too horny to remember to take them off. but as vince begins rolling his hips into you, all thoughts die out, and you can only focus on him.

his pace picks up quickly, much to your satisfaction, pounding you into the couch like he knows nothing else but your pussy. vince's breath fans over your neck and ear, sending shivers down your spine as you hold onto him.

"fuuuccckk, that's—yeah that's good baby." vince groans deeply, hips snapping against yours loudly, the sound echoing in your otherwise quite apartment. "that's right, taking me so well."

his cock rams into you quickly and perfectly, ilicting another round of ridiculously loud moans from you. you're too wound up to even respond properly, your words coming out in a jumbled string of curses and groans. the couch squeaks under his unfaltering thrusts.

your eyes pinch shut, and the grip on vince tightens as your walls begin to flutter—an all too familiar pattern as you near a desperately needed orgasm. "please." you whine breathlessly. you don't even know what you're asking him for, but it doesn't matter—not to you and not to vince.

his thrusts don't stop or slow, his balls smacking your ass as he continues to pound you into the cushions. vince curses, pushing one of your legs against your chest to open your pussy up even further. "you gunna cum, y/n?"

you nod quickly, your head pushing further back into the couch pillows as your walls clamp down on his cock. "yeah! oh my fuck, yes. i'm cumming."

vince hisses at the feeling of your release— gooey, warm walls squeezing and fluttering over his length. "holy fucking—ugh." it has vince following suit, stilling as he groans into your neck and shooting his sticky load into the latex protection.

it could be 2 minutes or 15–you're not sure—but vince's body is so heavy and warm on top of you that it has your eyes closing. he presses a kiss to your jawline, lifting himself off you. "you okay?"

you nod sleepy, a lazy grin on your glistening lips. "mhmmm. i'm tired now."

vince chuckles, pulling out of your spent pussy. you whine for what feels like the hundredth time tonight, watching through tired eyes as vince ties off the used condom, padding into your kitchen and tossing the latex in your garbage. he tucks himself pack into his boxers as he gets back onto the couch—kneeling between your legs and slipping of your heels.

you wrap your arms over his shoulders, and he kisses you. this kiss is different—softer and sweeter, but just as good as all the others you've shared tonight. you pull away, "stay the night."

he grins, "i'll stay as long as you want me too."

he's so fucking cute, you think blissfully.

vince pulls the throw blanket off the back of your couch, tossing it over both of your bodies as he tucks himself behind you on the couch. his torso is warm and wide against your back—it's so comfortable and soft, and your eyes begin closing soon after.

—

your phone is ringing.

that's the first thing you register as your eyes flutter open. you squint at the harsh morning light streaming through your windows, looking around for the pesty ringing device to silence it.

behind you, vince's arm tightens around your waist, his semi-hard cock rolling against your bare ass instinctively. memories of the night before flood your mind, and you feel hot all over again.

he groans, tucking his head into your shoulder.

your phone is still ringing. you sigh, locating it on the floor beside the coffee table. you pick it up, and your eyes widen at your brothers contact photo lighting up your screen—it's some goofy .5 picture you took of him at christmas. you were supposed to be at his place for breakfast 10 minutes ago.

"shit!" you curse.

vince's eyes flicker open at your panicked tone, and he catches sight of the incoming call before you answer it—jumping off the couch, stark naked and nearly tripping over your heels as you dart into your bedroom.

you throw on the first thing you can find as matty's voice filters through your speakers. "did you fall off a cliff on the way here?"

"I overslept," you say, dragging your ratty hairbrush through your sex messy hair. it gets caught on at angle and you wince. "i'm just about to leave."

matty says something else that sounds like see you soon, but you're too distracted by everything to hear him properly. you hang up the phone with a rushed goodbye, shoving it into the pocket of your jeans. you spray an unhealthy amount of body spray over your clothes and hair, hopefully masking the scent of sex.

you dart back out into the living room. "i'm so sorry, I have to meet my brother for—why do you look like you're about to puke?"

vince is sitting up, posture ridged. his complexion in pale, more so than usual, and he's got his hands cupped over his mouth in a prayer like position. "he's your brother?"

your brows furrow in confusion. "yeah, i'm supposed to meet him for breakfast." the look on vince’s face contorts into what looks like pain, and it has you faltering, stomach dropping to your ass. "why?"

vince's eyes flicker to yours, and he drops his hands from his face. "we play hockey together. i'm matty's roommate."

for fucks sake.

[ghost-in-the-stalls]

I was going to put this in the tags but it's long enough and a direct response that I think I should just add it here.

Yes, to all of this, unironically and unhesitatingly.

For what it's worth for everything I'm about to say, I am a licensed social worker and am currently employed as a mental health clinician. But I have not done any research on this personally and don't have sources at the moment to back this theory up (im going to look into that today actually. I'm curious to see what I find.) This is just all speculation from a professional, so take that for what it's worth. I'll try to add some sources later when I'm not on mobile.

See I agree with what was stated up above about anxiety and depression. I also think its possible it could apply to diagnoses considered less "general," like adhd.

Example. I was recently diagnosed with adhd. The only reason I bothered to pursue the diagnosis was because it was impacting my ability to function throughout my day, and I wanted to try medication. (Personally, I think those are the only times you really should pursue a professional diagnosis, but that's a separate conversation...)

The most notable complaints I had about what I was experiencing were:

- struggling to focus on one task instead of bouncing around between everything on my to do list

- getting overwhelmed and paralyzed from the amount of thoughts and tasks that were in front of me

- struggling to stay on a task that requires my full focus (like reading) because I simply can't give that task my full attention

- conversely, going too long engaging in one task (usually a preferred relaxation task) and neglecting other parts of my life. This typically happens for me on weekends, when I'm trying to play video games instead of think about work.

There are other symptoms that I qualify with, like interrupting people (or struggling not to), being physically jittery and fidgety, being easily angered when certain things happen, etc.

For me, a lot of this ties back to - and was made most clear by - the amount of tasks I have to regularly engage in in my life, and my difficulty keeping up with it all and functioning effectively through it.

Now on one hand, the DSM V is written with a focus on symptoms that interfere with life functioning. And things that stop necessary tasks from being completed tend to fuck our lives up more than something that makes us a little too talkative or fidgety.

But also. And I will say this again and again and again.

A diagnosis is a tool and label. Not a law of the universe. Not a cause. It is a human attempt at categorization of known symptoms, with the intention of relating to effective treatments.

(And that^^^ is something you'll learn from any decent psych 101 class. Mine wasn't decent and I had to go a few classes beyond before we actually started framing it that way.)

With that in mind. Here's a question.

Is my adhd just innate within me, and something that would have been there, regardless of what my life looked like? Is it a specific way my brain deviates from the "norm," and something that, with the right technology and testing, could have been detected and diagnosed without my even noticing any symptoms? Something that exists in a vaccuum without touching my other diagnoses of anxiety and depression?

Or. Is it maybe just a quick and easy way of saying "this person cannot keep up with the stimuli in their life without becoming overwhelmed. And it is effecting their functioning to a notable degree"

That second option is a gross oversimplification, but I hope you take a second to sit with how much the first option sounds like eugenics. If the problem is innate within you, then if we just improve our technology enough to detect it in everyone who has it and separate them from the "norm," then we can weed out the problem, right? Okay, Elon.

How much of my adhd could be a culmination of the fact that I'm overwhelmed with stimuli 24/7 and have lost my ability to focus effectively because of it? How much of my clients' adhd could be a result of the same, possibly combined with the fact that many of them have experienced or are currently experiencing trauma? Which is known to impact ability to focus on tasks, as well as create a hyperactive body system?

This isn't to say adhd is a bogus diagnosis. The same way that the anxiety and depression we experience within our current world state is also not a bogus diagnosis. We're still experiencing it. We still fit the diagnostic criteria. And treatment still helps.

My point of all this is, yes to what's above. And also, maybe it would be good to reframe the ways we view diagnosis in general, to take it a step further, and to recognize the very clear and present causes of what a lot of people are experiencing nowadays. In my opinion, it goes beyond anxiety and depression.

(Also. For the people saying you'll go nuts if you aren't busy. Take a look at why that is. Is that a sustainable way of living? Are you comfortable just existing as yourself? Are you trying to distract yourself from something, or avoiding something uncomfortable? Have you possibly adapted well to the pressure of being constantly busy? Think about it from a different angle)

[ravens-two]

PAC: What Will Sex be Like with your Person? (18+)

This reading includes:

how sex will be like with your person

The extended reading includes:

dirty talk with your person

what they will think/feel during sex 

Disclaimer: this is just for entertainment purposes, and as a pick-a-card reading it may not resonate for everyone.

TIPS | BOOK A READING WITH ME | PATREON | LINKTREE | SUGGEST A PAC TOPIC

Pile 1

telepatía - Kali Uchis

Three of Swords, Page of Swords, Ten of Cups

You have such a dreamy vibe, pile 1. The energy here is almost Pisces like, you seem like a very sensitive soul and a dreamy person. I think that during sex you tend to use a very soft, breathy voice that contributes to this dreamy vibe. I also get this vibe that with this person in particular you're not just fucking them, you're fucking their mind too, if that makes sense. It's because with you and your partner the seduction game isn't just about the body, it's also the mind. Before the foreplay even begins you're both already seducing one another with your words. It's hard to put into words but this isn't just dirty talk, you know? It's something deeper that leaves you both crazy for each other because it makes you appreciate your partner so very much. Maybe you both get off on each other's intellect.

I think that in your sex life with your partner everything moves quite slowly. The buildup is slow - maybe even happens throughout the whole day for some of you - but the act itself is slow too. You're both very interested in getting the most out of it, so you want to enjoy and appreciate every single moment. This is not the pile for people who enjoy quickies, in fact I don't think that your person would even enjoy it that much.

For this pile I'm also seeing a lot of sexting, sending sexy photos and videos. For some in this pile you might be in a long distance relationship, so phone sex is just a part of it by default. But for others is just because you like to tease during the day so that you and your partner are as needy as possible. On that note, the song needy by Ariana Grande is also coming up.

With the Three of Swords here something that's coming up is pain and bondage. This is going to be different for everyone, of course. For some of you this might be actual BDSM, spanking or getting spanked by your partner, shibari, etc. But, in general, I think that it's something a little milder for most people in this pile. I feel like your partner enjoys holding down your wrists or putting you in handcuffs, and giving your ass or your thigh a smack every once in a while. Again, something milder, more playful rather than intense. In general, for this pile I also think that you tend to be a little more "submissive" than your partner - and honestly what I mean by this is that your partner tends to take initiate more during sex.

No matter what, sex between you and your partner is focused on the love and intense feelings you have for each other. It's a very dreamy and loving experience for the both of you. But more than that, it's also a healing experience for you both, especially if you've been through a traumatic experience.

check out the extended reading on patreon

Pile 2

La Tortura - Shakira

Two of Cups, King of Pentacles, Death

Pile 2, oof, I had to take a deep breath because your energy is so strong and so damn sexy. Like, damn, your vibe is something else. You can picture Shakira, Megan Fox or even Salma Hayek - there's so many examples but those are the ones that came to me right now. Your energy is definitely the dominant one here. I think that your partner would get down on their knees and downright worship you if you let them. You're just that intense.

All of my piles are gender neutral, but for this pile I feel like most of you are women in a relationship with a man (but of course feel free to ignore this part if it doesn't apply!). I think that you walk that man like a dog. He may think that he's "the man" of the relationship, but you're the one actually holding the reins. You're the one that initiates sex more often than not, and your partner just follows after you like a lovesick little puppy desperate to fulfill your every desire. But I also get this vibe that your partner is ready to go whenever and he's just waiting for you to give the go ahead.

When it comes to the sex itself I have to begin by saying: unbelievable orgasms. For both you and your partner. It's so so good it almost feels like you're dying for a second there. You both might take a long time recovering afterwards from how intense it is. I also think that during the act although you're in a more dominant position, I think that you prefer to receive instead of giving. The amazing part is that your partner not only is fine with that, they absolutely love it. You just have to tell them what you want and they will do their very best to make it happen.

Something else that I'm picking up is that you're both very big on touch, so you're probably glued together during sex, exchanging caresses and kisses. You know that type of caress that starts from your hips and ends up on your boobs? That? I see a lot of that. Your partner adores your body and wants to touch as much as they can, but vice-versa. No matter if it's a man or a woman you also really adore your partner's body (and a little secret for you, your touch completely undoes them). If your partner is a man I see him being quite big.

In the end though, sex between you two is about pleasure of course, but also about showing love and appreciation for each other. It's never just fucking. There's a lot of love here. Also, even if you consider yourself to be a little more submissive your partner is just so crazy about you that to them nothing else matters - they just want to please you, not dominate you. I already said this, but your touch really undoes your partner. Like a very simple touch coming from you makes them whine and gets them closer than they'd like (especially the men).

check out the extended reading on patreon

Pile 3

Religion - Lana del Rey

Seven of Swords, King of Swords, Eight of Cups

Pile 3 for you I see two scenarios for you immediately. With this Eight of Cups you guys might be in a long distance relationship or your partner might be into edging. Because there's this sensation of longing here. You want something so very desperately and they don't want to give it to you/can't give it to you. (also, the image you chose is about a couple that will never see each other again, so there's this really "dramatic" energy of missing your person/their touch).

The other thing I'm picking up immediately with the Seven of Swords is that during sex you like being at your partner's mercy. It's this energy of giving yourself to them, allowing them to do what they want with you, because you just trust and love them so much. It's safe to say, that your energy is coming off more as submissive rather than anything else. You just trust in your partner's experience and in their caring nature to believe that they will never hurt you. This might lead you two to experiment with "riskier" things like breath play for example. But for others this can be even more intense with CNC scenarios, for example. You seem to like the idea of being at their mercy.

Aside from this, sex between you two seems to be a very pleasurable experience for you both, especially because your partner seems to have a lot of experience. They might have more experience than you, and that also makes you feel "guided" during the experience. During the act your partner might be a little harsher on you, more commanding, almost a little cold (and this seems like a big departure from who they really are as a person), but in the end your person really does like you very much.

Despite the more intense scenes that you'll probably be doing, there is never a sense that you're in danger or that you might be hurt. Both you and your partner have trust in each other, and a very good communication. You know that you could stop at any time. Also in reference that what I said before that your partner might seemed colder in the act, I think that you'll never feel as though they're being "mean" or wanting to hurt you, because there will be these little moments of reassurance and love between you.

check out the extended reading on patreon

Pile 4

Juno - Sabrina Carpenter

Four of Swords, Knight of Wands, Ten of Wands

Pile 4 your energy is as playful as Sabrina Carpenter's. Everything seems so light and fun, even if you and your partner are trying out some crazy thing you've seen on the internet. By the way, I got this vibe that you two will sometimes see something and go like "hey, why don't we try that out?". The vibe here is so good honestly. There's a lot of giggling and joking even during the act, especially when there's a weird or funny noise. I actually even see your partner tickling you because you laughed at something they did.

Something interesting that's coming up is that your sex life is very different from the energy you project to other people as a couple. Maybe your partner is a very serious person in their day to day life (or you, or even both of you) and so everyone would expect that they would also be very serious during sex. But it's actually the opposite. For your partner this is a moment of deep connection but also of lightness, there's no reason to take sex so seriously when it's something that's to make you both feel good.

With this Knight of Wands, Ten of Wands combo you're two are probably going at it like rabbits. You'll have as many rounds as you possibly can until you both slump to the side unable to move. You both seem to have a lot of sexual energy - but maybe sometimes not at the same time. What I mean is that maybe on one day your partner has a really high libido, but you not so much (and vice-versa). So, when this happens you have to find a balance that will satisfy you both.

In general, your energy is just so playful. You'll try anything at least once, even if it doesn't really end up working out or if you don't like it. Like, I'm getting the mental image of a couple trying out spanking, but they just can't stop giggling. Because again, it's not that serious. It's supposed to be fun. This isn't to say that there won't be serious moments, it's just that most of the time the energy is lighter. You're the only pile where I'm getting positions and I mainly see cowgirl, to be honest. But again, you two seem to experiment a lot. When it comes to dominant or submissive energy, I don't think it's clear in your pile. Both you and your partner are happy to play around with it, so maybe we could say that you're both switches.

check out the extended reading on patreon

[dyingswanpavlova]

"Your girl" - Part 17 | The Salesman x Reader

Summary: What does he see when he looks at you?

Warnings: dead dove do not eat, kidnapping, mentions of sexual abuse and other traumatic events in the past, numbness, helplessness, violence, threatening, mentions of blood, mentions of murder and rape, body issues, trauma talk, stockholm syndrome, forced relationship, unhealthy relationship, depression, manipulation, mentions of sexual activities and desires, stalking, our man going all underwear fetish on us, his POV, not beta-read, if I've missed any please tell me! mdni 18+!

"Your girl" - The Salesman x Reader Masterlist

Three weeks ago

Watching you sleep was always the highlight of his day. It was what he loved doing most, even if there were surely people who considered that creepy. Maybe you did, too. But it didn’t matter, not to him.

The way you lay on his bed, your hair splayed over the pillow and your eyes peacefully shut – the way your chest softly heaved and your lips parted in a soft breath - it made him weak. Weak.

That was the only time he allowed himself to be really enamored. He took his time and stared at you, every contour, every freckle, everything – and it filled him with pride. You were his.

His.

He hadn’t intended for things to get out of hand like that. In fact, he hadn’t intended anything at all. But the exact second he read those words, so heartfelt and deep – it was like you had reached into his soul and taken the words from his tongue.

Of course he had to have you.

The way your eyes glistened, so sad and yet so beautiful on the pictures, it had only been the cherry on top. Actually, he didn’t really care what you looked like. You could have looked like anyhow. It didn’t matter.

What mattered was your sadness. It was inexplicable and it was oh-so wrong. But your sadness, your sadness. It shone in your eyes and it let your soul glow in a soft blue.

Everything about you was so blue. Even black one some days.

It wasn’t that he wanted you to be sad. Not at all, actually. He hated when you cried, unless it was in the bedroom.

He didn’t revel in your sadness per say. It just happened to be so…relieving.

All his life he had spent looking for something, someone, to understand him. To see him. Care for him. But no one ever did. Not in the way he wanted.

He had had relationships before, though none of them ever meant anything. He wasn’t even sure if he had the right to call them relationships. After all, it was mostly just the physical aspect, something to bring him some relief after a long day of pretending to be someone.

None of them ever meant anything to him. They were nothing but pretty dolls to take his frustrations out on. Most of them walked out on him the moment he ever even considered showing some of his true colors. Some of his darker shades.

Sick bastard was what most of them threw in his face. He couldn’t really blame them. But it wasn’t like he cared. Once he was done with them, it was either them leaving or him throwing them out. Most of them were only interested in him because they thought him to be some kind of important figure in any context. The suit, the tie, the briefcase – he had to be someone. Someone rich. Someone who knew how to take care of them. Someone.

But the reality of the situation was far more complicated. He didn’t care for them and he didn’t intend to pretend he did. He had no intention to pretend like he was the husband type of guy, the caring type. None of it. He was simply no one.

It was hard pretending not to be. After all, everyone who met him wanted something from him. Either money, status or whatever else. A smile. A kind word. A gentle touch.

Control.

Everyone wanted to control him.

That was the one thing in the world he didn’t allow anyone to have. Never.

Until he met you.

Your sadness was as contagious as it was maddening. Your pain was as toxic as it was alluring.

God, you suffered so beautifully. So gracefully.

He knew that he was fucked. He knew it by the first time he saw you in person.

That goddamn dark grey Honda and the countless hours he spent in there, doing absolutely nothing. He would have made a horrible detective, probably would have hung himself the first week of work. But you were worth it, right?

Because you understood him. You were special.

You weren’t like all these other women.

You were his girl. You would become his girl.

You wouldn’t care about status. You wouldn’t care about whatever he could give you.

No. You would want him. For him.

All you wanted was someone to rescue you. And the moment his eyes caught sight of your mother, he knew why.

The way she dragged you around like a collared dog, the way she swung her hips in a way that was so suggestive and begging for anyone’s attention. All the while she didn’t give you an ounce of her own, unless it was to guide you, like a good little dog.

It made him want to murder her on the spot.

But he didn’t. He couldn’t. It was your mother still.

He needed to win you over, not scare you.

Also, your mother was quickly forgotten, the second he laid his eyes upon you.

He wasn’t a man of many feelings. There was the anger that took control of him. He stood beside his body and watched as he committed the most heinous crimes. That was his anger.

Then there was the emptiness. It didn’t come often, but when it did, he tried to numb it. Alcohol, women, anything that was there, available and ready for him to be consumed. But it didn’t work. The only thing that ever fed his soul enough, the only thing that gave him back his peace of mind, was violence. Violence. Blood. Death. And pain.

Whenever he suffered, he needed someone else to suffer more. He had suffered enough, hadn’t he?

Whenever he closed his eyes at night, he still felt it. He still felt the way all the colors around him faded away. He still smelled it. The smell of burnt fish in the kitchen and the way the house smelled like it for days.

He still felt his hands. Nowadays, it didn’t make him feel sad or empty anymore. Not even disgusted. All he felt was anger.

But he couldn’t hurt him anymore, no, he had already killed him. Years ago, he already killed him and yet? Yet he couldn’t forget it. The darkness.

The darkness lured him in, surrounded him like a cloud.

It was the only thing that made him feel safe. His darkness was the only thing he knew.

Happiness was fragile. He didn’t trust happy people, they were so easily swayed. Sad people as well. All they needed was a hunch, a tiny promise of happiness and they dropped their sadness.

He needed someone who was as dead inside as he was.

Someone like you.

When he finally saw you, he immediately recognized it. The emptiness behind your eyes. The way you shrank away at the prospect of light, of day, of happiness.

You didn’t trust happiness either, because you didn’t know it.

You thought about it, dreamt about it – but you didn’t trust it. And he needed exactly that.

Everything that came afterwards happened as if on autopilot. What he needed were you. And how he’d get you didn’t matter.

The first time he snapped out of his automated haze was when you were already here, already working, already living according to his plan.

What was his plan?

Meet you. Ask you out.

You wouldn’t trust him of course, but maybe you were desperate. After all, you had lost your mother. Not that you would loved or missed her, but you lost her nonetheless and now you were alone. Maybe you were craving something. Someone. Like he was.

The fog in his brain lightened and he followed you home. Of course he bribed the landlord to let you pay only a tenth of what the apartment would have normally cost and he paid the rest. He also paid the man to keep his mouth shut about it. Just like he paid your boss to pay you more than your work was actually worth.

You deserved pretty things. But you never bought them.

He spent all the free-time he had to follow you. He waited and waited, excepting you to go batshit over the money, but you never did. The only thing you ever bought were books and food. Nothing more.

He had never seen anyone so low-maintenance before. It was refreshing in a way, but also frustrating. You deserved pretty things. You deserved them. But you didn’t seem to see it that way. It was irritating.

That one Friday afternoon, he followed you to the bookstore, the one that sold English books. You liked classic literature, he could tell as much. Last time you bought Madame Bovary, that Friday you bought Crime and Punishment. For some reason, that made him smirk. Raskolnikov. Darkness seemed to lure you in just as much.

He mindlessly scrolled through your Watch again list on Netflix. Hannibal – the old one and the new one. The Sinner. Bates Motel. You loved that one especially, because you watched the show and the old movie. You had great taste. Anything classic seemed to catch your attention. And also, anything dark. Maybe you found comfort in it, like he did. Maybe watching other people suffer made you feel at ease, as well. The thought drew him in even more. When he heard you slowly make your way out of the store, he made his way back to your apartment as well. He always kept a safe distance, but something was different that day. He’d caught a hunch of your perfume, the soft, gentle smell of some flower he couldn’t quite name. The smell nearly made his eyes roll back then and there.

That day, he needed more.

And so he waited. He sat, walked, stared, observed and waited until finally the lights went out. He waited another hour, feeling rather cold that night, but he couldn’t have cared less.

And so he slowly made his way upstairs. He had no need to even break in – he had the key. It made him furious, actually. That he landlord was so easily bribed to give him your keys – he could have been anyone, after all. He could have had the most lewd intentions.

He made a mental note to take care of the landlord someday, by the time he wouldn’t need him anymore.

He didn’t actually plan to approach you, but he couldn’t wait any longer. He needed you. He needed something.

And so he got inside, careful to be as quiet as possible. He slid off his shoes like any good guest would and then he softly stepped forward. He knew exactly where you slept, he had been here before, obviously. He glanced through the crack in the door, making sure you were really sound asleep, before he carefully pushed it open and stepped inside.

And there you were.

God. There you were.

He felt his heart skip a beat and a rush of heat flood his body. The familiar stirring of desire in the pit of his stomach, only that this was so much more intense. He had never felt anything like this before. It was like everything he ever wanted, ever needed. There you were. So beautiful. So vulnerable.

So his.

He swallowed slowly and stepped closer. You lay spread out over the mattress, wearing a simple, white nightdress. It looked a little outdated, might as well have been from Grease. But somehow that only added to your charm. You indeed reminded him of Sandy, maybe in the scene where she coughed after taking one smoke of a cigarette.

That made him smile to himself.

He stepped closer until he was finally close enough to touch you. He even reached out a hand, but then he stopped himself.

Not like this.

But he needed something. Something. Nothing sexual, nothing lecherous. Just you.

He very slowly curled his fingers in and brushed his knuckles over your cheek in a touch that was barely there. You didn’t even stir. In fact, he asked himself if you were even breathing. His gaze settled on your chest and stomach. You were breathing. You were alive. Real. And waiting for him.

So far, everything had worked out perfectly.

And he had no idea why it was taking him so goddamn long to approach you.

What was it that was holding him back?

What would you think when he spoke to you? That he was making fun of you? That he was some kind of psychopath, someone who wanted to hurt you?

How far from the truth. He just wanted you to be his, like it was always intended.

You had always been his. You simply didn’t know that yet.

He spent a few more minutes like that, staring down at your sleeping form. After a while he finally moved, ready to leave you in your tiny little world again. But he couldn’t.

He couldn’t touch you, kiss you, feel you the way he needed, but he needed something. He needed something or he would burst.

He didn’t want to use any other women to fulfill his need. He couldn’t. Ever since you stepped into his life, he couldn’t. No other woman did anything for his mind, for his fantasy. They were all just there, all name- and faceless.

All that occupied his mind were you. And he needed something.

He crouched down and pulled a few drawers open, glancing around and touching a few things, but nothing was enough. He needed…

By the time he stepped inside the bathroom, he knew what he needed.

He couldn’t touch you without your knowledge, without your permission. But what he could do was think about you.

And so he did the only logical thing. He knelt down and began to rummage through your laundry basket, until he caught sight of it.

Perfect.

Fuck. It was even better than perfect.

He reached out a hand and slowly pulled out the pair of panties. It was worn, but even better, even better. It had your trace on it, your blood. You.

Fuck. His eyes fell shut the moment his fist closed around the material and the faint trace of your blood. He was immediately hard. It was so quick, it was almost embarrassing. But he didn’t care. He slowly sunk down and leaned against the wall, before he held them up. He buried his face in it and inhaled deeply.

Fuck. He had to bite down on it, in order to keep quiet. A groan was tumbling upon his tongue. This was even better than anything he would have hoped for.

He would have given his life to fuck you. To feel you. To kiss your lips, to inspect your mouth with his tongue. To lick a path down your body and bury his tongue and his face between your legs. He knew it was Heaven, his Heaven.

The thought of you underneath him, warm and inviting…Looking up at him with that vulnerability, with that faint tear-stain on your face. Either that or a mischievous grin. Whatever it was. He knew the second he buried himself inside you, he’d burst. He’d turn into a predator, a wild animal, mindless, boneless, fuck.

He felt himself twitch in his pants. The thought alone was nearly enough to make him combust, right there in your bathroom.

Pathetic, he thought. Then he inhaled again.

The few weeks after that went by painfully slow. He wanted to approach you and every day he tried to. But he always stopped himself in the last second.

What if you refused him?

What if you rejected him?

What if?

He couldn’t bear the thought of it. He felt this helplessness whenever he imagined it. And so he waited. Observed. And did nothing else.

Until that cursed night. He stood in the shadows of the metro station, keeping a keen eye on you as he always did, pondering and brooding. How should he approach you best? In English? In Korean? He couldn’t let you know what he knew, what he was. He had to find a way-

And then that little rodent came. Oh, no.

No, no.

Over his dead body.

Murder in general wasn’t hard for him. But that, that was the easiest task he had ever taken on.

He didn’t even mind that you witnessed that little bastard exploding like a balloon on the train line.

He had wanted to hurt you.

You.

And he couldn’t let that happen. Over his dead body.

Things went up and down, back and forth. Mostly back. And of course things turned out different than he’d planned. But he tried to make the best of it.

And yet every time again, he stood beside his body and watched himself. Watched himself as he hurt you and did all these things to you.

But he had to, right?

You wouldn’t understand it otherwise. And you needed to understand it.

You were made for each other. You were his.

And he was yours.

Luckily, you did understand it in the end.

You were his girl. Not out of obligation, not out of fear.

You were his, because you wanted to be. Because you saw it now.

He kept watching as you slept, the tiniest hint of a smile on his lips.

Eventually, you’d forgive him for everything he had done. You had to, for one simple reason.

You were his girl.

____________________________________________

Tag list 1:

@mitsuki-dreamfree @kpopsmutty69 @heroine-chique @vkeyy @mizuwki @blu-brrys @z0mbi345 @yourpointbreak @ayieayee @freddyzeppsworld @lola11111111 @indifitel6661 @salesmanlover08 @laurenbenoit70 @lalalaa2210 @lila-marshal @auspicious-lilana @0-aubrie0 @lovelyaegyo @theredvelvetbitch @violentbluess @muriels-lover @dorayakissu @eviebuggg @muchwita @ririgy @strxlemon @obsessedwthdilfs @kiwilov3 @misty-q

Author's note: Happy Valentine's Day everyone!

I know this one is rather short, I'm sorry for that, but it was super spontaneous. I got an anonymous request about a chapter in his POV and this happened, I didn't plan this actually, so thanks, anon! I do have some crazy shit upcoming, so I wanted to do something a little lighter. I mean, it's still twisted obviously, but you know...in a gentle way.

ALSO: Happy Birthday dear @kyl13sm1l3y I'm sorry, I know this isn't Valentines Day related! But it is a new chapter anyway :( Forgive me please?

I love you, guys! Soooooooo much!

[writeriguess]

Having a super hard time right now so could you do a single dad kirishma or bakugo or shinsou and they’re struggling trying to juggle parenthood and being a pro then they meet y/n she’s new to their agency and she just so happens to catch their eye, just a simple receptionist but she has so many ideas. They’re so busy that they don’t even get the chance to actually meet her until one day she comes up to their office with an idea for a daycare in the agency since she’s getting so many call outs about people who don’t have child care. She offers to run/teach the daycare as well since she was a teacher back in the states before she moved and it turns out this is the key to their own problems and they slowly fall in love with her.

author's note: Hey, I just wanted to clarify something. I’ve noticed that “comfort fics” sometimes get published quickly after being requested, which might give the impression that I prioritize them. However, that’s not the case—every fic is written and published in the order it was requested.

If you requested this piece, you might have noticed that I didn’t publish it immediately after seeing it. Please know that I don’t rush requests out of order. The only time I made an exception was for an emergency request, but I now realize that was a mistake, as some people overlooked my author’s note explaining it was a one-time thing. I’m sorry for any confusion, and I appreciate your patience!

Safe in Your Hands

The constant buzzing of his phone was a persistent, grating reminder that life didn’t slow down for anyone. Not even for Katsuki Bakugo.

“Goddamnit,” he muttered under his breath, rubbing his temples as he read yet another text from the daycare. His son, Ryo, had caught a cold and needed to be picked up early—again. He wasn’t mad at the kid, never at him, but the frustration of trying to juggle being a top pro hero and a single father was wearing him thin.

His office was a mess of paperwork, mission reports, and unfinished emails. He was barely keeping his head above water, and his agency, while thriving, was in dire need of some structure. Or a miracle.

That’s when a soft knock at his door pulled him out of his thoughts.

“Come in,” he grumbled, expecting another stack of files or another meeting he didn’t have time for.

Instead, you stepped in.

“Good afternoon, Dynamight-san.”

He barely looked up at first, recognizing you as the new receptionist. You’d been here a couple of months, always polite, always handling things smoothly. He’d noticed, even if he never had the time to actually speak to you. You were a quiet force in the chaos, managing things from behind the front desk with a calm confidence.

“I, uh, hope I’m not interrupting,” you said, shifting slightly but holding your ground. “I have an idea I wanted to run by you.”

His gaze flickered up then, curiosity outweighing his exhaustion. “What kinda idea?”

You stepped forward, placing a neatly written proposal on his desk. “I’ve been getting a lot of call-outs from employees who are struggling with childcare. And I’ve noticed you’ve had to step out unexpectedly for similar reasons. I was a teacher back in the States before moving here, and I was thinking… what if we had an in-agency daycare?”

He blinked, stunned into silence for the first time in what felt like months.

“I’d be willing to help set it up, even run it,” you continued, your voice steady. “It’d give the staff some peace of mind, knowing their kids are safe while they work. And it might make things easier for you, too.”

He stared at you for a long moment, your words sinking in. No one had ever suggested something like this before. No one had ever looked at the chaos of his life and offered a solution so simple yet perfect.

“Tch,” he finally scoffed, leaning back in his chair. “You’re serious about this?”

You nodded. “Completely.”

And just like that, something in his chest loosened.

Maybe—just maybe—he wasn’t doing this alone anymore.

The next few weeks passed in a blur. Once Bakugo approved the daycare idea, you got straight to work. There were meetings to hold, rooms to convert, supplies to order, and staff to hire. Despite the long hours, you found yourself energized by the project. The employees were thrilled with the idea, and as word spread through the agency, more and more heroes began stopping by to offer assistance.

Bakugo was still a little wary, though. He wasn’t the type to trust easily, but he couldn’t deny that things were starting to feel a little less overwhelming.

One evening, as you were reviewing the final details before the daycare’s official opening, Bakugo showed up at the converted space. You looked up from your clipboard, surprised to see him standing in the doorway with Ryo in his arms. The little boy, looking sleepy and snuggled into his father’s shoulder, blinked at you drowsily.

“Figured we should do a test run,” Bakugo muttered, stepping inside. “See how the brat likes it.”

You smiled warmly. “Of course. Come on in.”

Setting Ryo down gently, Bakugo watched as the toddler hesitantly explored the room. His tiny hands ran over the soft mats, and he eyed the shelves of toys with curiosity. Slowly, he toddled toward a plush All Might figure, giving it an experimental squeeze.

You crouched down next to him. “You like that one, Ryo?”

The boy looked up at you, then at his father, before nodding shyly.

Bakugo exhaled, running a hand through his hair. “Looks like it’s a hit.”

You grinned. “I think so.”

For the first time since you’d met him, you saw the tension in Bakugo’s shoulders ease slightly. Maybe this really was the answer to the problem he hadn’t been able to solve alone.

As the weeks went by, the daycare became an integral part of the agency. Parents were relieved, the kids were happy, and Bakugo—though he’d never say it outright—was grateful beyond words.

You and Bakugo started seeing more of each other, too. At first, it was just in passing—quick meetings to discuss logistics, brief encounters when he dropped Ryo off. But then, it turned into coffee breaks, conversations that stretched a little longer each day, small moments of laughter that neither of you had expected.

One evening, after a particularly long shift, Bakugo stopped by your office. You looked up, surprised to see him lingering in the doorway.

“Hey,” he said gruffly.

“Hey,” you replied, setting your pen down. “Everything okay?”

He hesitated, then sighed. “Yeah. Just… wanted to say thanks. For everything.”

A warm feeling spread through your chest. “You don’t have to thank me, Bakugo. I’m happy to help.”

His gaze softened, just a little. “Still. You’ve made shit easier for me. And for Ryo.”

You smiled. “Well, I’m glad. He’s a great kid.”

A rare smirk tugged at his lips. “Yeah, he is.”

Silence settled between you, comfortable and warm. And in that moment, you both knew—this was just the beginning.

As months passed, your presence in Bakugo’s life became more than just professional. He found himself looking forward to seeing you every day, whether it was during a hectic morning drop-off or a quiet evening chat after work. Ryo adored you, always running to you with excitement when he saw you at the daycare.

One night, after a late shift, you were locking up when Bakugo showed up with Ryo asleep in his arms. He was exhausted, but there was something softer in his expression than usual.

“Wanna grab a late dinner?” he asked, almost shyly.

You blinked in surprise before smiling. “I’d love to.”

And just like that, everything changed. The weight on Bakugo’s shoulders didn’t feel so heavy anymore. Because for the first time in years, he wasn’t carrying it alone.

[can-i-make-image-descriptions]

[Image IDs: Image #1: Tumblr ask with username blocked out reading: lowkey something that irritates me w the common belief that "estrogen has less effects that T" or "estrogen is slower than T" is that, like. thats only because doctors don't give trans women the proper dose!

trans men get the correct dose of testosterone to take their levels to similar to a cis guy, but trans women are systematically underdosed because the medical establishment has a vested transmisogynist interest in ensuring we can not pass, and in making TME people believe estrogen is *weaker*

Answer with username blocked out reading: yeah it's utterly fucked. this is one of the number one reasons why people shouldn't believe all the fearmongering about DIY imo

Image #2: Tumblr tags from corpseComplex reading: #And where are you getting the information that trans men are universally given cis man level doses of t. #I have seen so many horror stories from other trans men about how their doctors were underdosing them in order to try and make them quit t #or because 'well we don't want you to ruin your beautiful impregnatable body with the ugly violent hormone teehee'

Image #3: Tumblr tags from puppyDogDevotion reading: #these people are just flat out lying about some of this now #doctors very much frequently low does trans men so we don't ""ruin ourselves"" with T

Image #4: Tumblr tags from monemin reading: #as if there isn't a post on r/ftm every few days where a guy wonders why his changes are so slow and finds out that his doctor has been #fucking. microdosing him. in order to get him to think testosterone doesn't work and stop transitioning. #people will see an issue transfems have and automatically decided that it doesnt happen to trans men based on literally nothing #(and then decide based on even less than nothing that it's actually something that benefits trans men)

Image #5: Tumblr tags from alienFagz reading: #this also ignores the fact that trans men (esp young trans men) are also frequently under dosed #idk maybe its just us #but we've been on t for 2 years and our endo has us on a pretty low dose #at least compared to what ive seen from other trans guys

Image #6: Anonymous Tumblr ask reading: "trans men get [given] the correct dose of testosterone" ..... do they? i thought it was a pretty common experience among trans men and transmascs that a lot of prescribers actually don't and more often than not transmascs and trans men find out their testosterone levels are too low months or even years down the line when they switch providers, do their own research or find out from others. /End IDs]

i fully buy that this (lowdosing) is true but oh my God why does it have to come back to "TMEs" believing that it's weaker? Why is the medical industry so invested in that? Why wouldn't it be invested in making "TMAs" believe that?

Most of the "TMEs" people refer to already have bodies that are affected by estrogen. In fact, if you actually talk to "transandrobros" you will find we often discuss how estrogen is wrongly and misogynistically portrayed as the weaker hormone, when we KNOW it isn't because it fundamentally changed our bodies in ways that require medical intervention to change again. Like. what do you think WE are gaining from trans women getting low dosed or propaganda about estrogen being weak. Why does this have to be about how the medical industry loves trans men and is only systemically against trans women. Hellloooooo

[bitchiswild]

Kisses and Chaos

Yunjin x Fem! Reader

Giselle x Fem! Reader

Word Count: 22k

Warning: fluff kinda, angst, and Y/n is a player but she’s a mess!

A/n: haiii guys Hru 🥹 I’m not necessarily back but I wanted to write something for you guys for Valentine’s Day as my valentine gift to you ���� so enjoy it, it’s not my best work (it’s a mess and I didn’t re-read it) and if you guys ask I’ll make a part 2 :3

✦•┈๑⋅⋯ ⋯⋅๑┈•✦

Sometimes, when you’re bored, you start talking to people, just to pass the time. And before you know it, you’re in a relationship you never even wanted, but you were too nice to shut it down.

But this time? You’re single. The catch? You somehow ended up with two Valentines.

You met Aeri in your Asian American Studies class, one of those Gen Eds you had to take. At first, it was just the usual small talk, complaining about assignments, joking about the professor’s weird grading system, bonding over how neither of you wanted to be there that early in the morning. Then, out of nowhere, she started flirting. And you? You never back down from a challenge. So, of course, you flirted right back.

It didn’t hurt that Aeri was hot, amazing body, confident smirk, the kind of girl who knew exactly what she wanted and wasn’t afraid to go after it.

And apparently, what she wanted was you.

“So, Y/N… are you doing anything for Valentine’s Day?” Aeri asked nonchalantly, casually checking her nails like this was just another conversation.

You knew her game. You knew exactly what she was trying to do. But if there was one thing you loved, it was flipping the script.

“Oh, you know,” you said, stretching your arms like this was the most casual thing in the world. “Romantic dinner, maybe some flowers, a little gift… the usual Valentine’s Day stuff.”

Aeri glanced up, her interest piqued. “Oh?” she mused, tilting her head. “Who’s the lucky person?”

You grinned, keeping your voice light. “Wouldn’t you like to know?”

She rolled her eyes, but there was amusement in them. “Oh, come on. You can’t just drop that and not tell me.”

You shrugged. “What can I say? I like to keep things interesting.”

Aeri let out a soft laugh, shaking her head. “You’re such a tease.”

“No, but seriously, do you have a date?” Aeri asked, facing you now, her eyes betraying a hint of nervousness as she waited for your response.

You met her gaze, your smile never faltering. “I don’t,” you replied, keeping your tone casual. “I was just going to stay in, maybe watch a movie. You know, chill.”

Aeri’s expression shifted slightly, almost as if she were relieved, but you couldn’t be sure. She let out a soft laugh, her usual confidence slipping back into place. “Sounds pretty nice, actually.”

You leaned in a little closer, teasing her just enough. “Yeah? What about you? Got any big plans?”

She paused for a second, clearly considering her response. “Nothing too crazy,” she said with a shrug, though her eyes were still on you, like she was waiting for something.

The bell rang, signaling the end of class, but you stayed in your seat, watching as Aeri packed up her things, her movements quick and practiced. The tension between you two was still there, unspoken, but thick in the air.

As she stood up, she caught your gaze, her lips curling into a sly smile. “So… you sure you don’t want company for Valentine’s Day?” she asked, voice low and playful.

You leaned back in your chair, taking a moment before responding. “I mean, I’m not opposed to company,” you said with a grin, “but I want a grand gesture. I just won’t be anyone’s Valentine, you know?”

Aeri’s expression flickered for a second, as if trying to process your words. “A grand gesture?” she repeated, the teasing tone still there, but with a hint of curiosity.

“Yeah,” you replied with a shrug, still smiling. “You’ve got to earn it.”

Her eyes narrowed slightly, studying you as if deciding how to play this. “And what makes you think I haven’t already earned it?”

You stood up, grabbing your bag, the challenge clear in your eyes. “Maybe I’ll let you prove it.”

You turned to leave, but not without feeling the weight of her gaze on your back. You didn’t look back, at least, not yet.

“I’ll see you around, Aeri,” you said casually, leaving the door open for whatever she might do next.

Aeri stood there, replaying your conversation in her mind, a smile tugging at the corner of her lips. “A grand gesture…” she muttered to herself, clearly scheming. She was used to getting what she wanted, but this time? It was a different kind of challenge. You weren’t going to make it easy, and she liked that. Now, she had to think of something big enough to impress you.

Meanwhile, you walked to your car, a cocky grin spreading across your face. You knew exactly what you were doing, playing the game just right. You’d seen the way Aeri’s eyes had lit up when you’d said no one could just be your Valentine. It wasn’t arrogance; it was just the way you were. You weren’t going to settle for easy, and everyone seemed to think they could win you over with a few sweet words or a simple gesture. But that wasn’t how it worked with you.

You leaned against your car, taking a second to enjoy the feeling of being in control. Aeri was hooked. She’d play her cards, try her best to impress you, but you knew, no one played you.

Let the games begin.

You drove to a nearby café near campus, ready to get some assignments done. You could use the quiet to focus, especially after the little game you’d started with Aeri. As you walked in, lost in your thoughts, you bumped into someone, knocking over her drink.

You immediately panicked, hands flying to grab napkins from the counter. “Oh my god, I’m so sorry!” you blurted out, rushing to clean up the mess.

But before you could make a bigger fool of yourself, her hand gently stopped you.

“Hey, it’s okay,” she said, her voice light with laughter. You looked up and met her eyes, catching her smile. “It’s just half-drunk tea, it won’t stain.”

You paused for a moment, taking in her presence. She was... pretty. You couldn’t help but think that as you continued fumbling with the napkins.

“Are you sure?” you asked, still a bit unsure. “Tea usually stains.”

She giggled, shaking her head. “That’s true, but it’s green tea. And honestly? It’s pretty watered down, so it’s basically just flavored water at this point. I’m sure it won’t stain. It’ll dry up just fine.”

You breathed a sigh of relief, handing her the napkins anyway. “Well, I’m still sorry. Let me at least buy you something to make up for it.”

She considered it for a moment, then gave a playful shrug. “Alright, I’ll take you up on that.”

You led her to the counter, exchanging a few lighthearted comments along the way. Once you reached the register, you turned to her, offering a warm smile. “I’m Y/N, by the way.”

She mirrored your grin, her eyes lighting up. “I’m Yunjin.”

The energy between you two felt easy, almost like you’d known each other longer than just a few minutes. After getting your drinks you guided Yunjin to a nearby table, pulling out a chair for her before sitting down across from her. “So, Yunjin,” you began casually, sipping your drink as you settled in, “do you go to NYU or…?”

She smiled, resting her arms on the table. “Yeah, I do. I’m actually in business school.”

“Nice, same here,” you said with a nod, leaning back in your chair. “What’s your major?”

“Marketing,” she replied, her eyes lighting up. “How about you?”

“Marketing too,” you grinned, feeling a little surprised but also intrigued. “Looks like we have more in common than just this tea disaster.”

Yunjin laughed, brushing a strand of hair behind her ear. “Guess so. What are the odds, huh?”

You leaned in a little, trying to keep the conversation light, and flashed her a playful grin. “So, Yunjin, if you’re in the business school, you must be really busy, huh?”

She rolled her eyes, grinning. “You have no idea. Between classes, group projects, and my part-time job at the café, I barely have time to breathe.”

You laughed, nodding in understanding. “Sounds like my life. I swear, my schedule’s so packed, it’s a miracle I can even manage to have a conversation like this.”

Yunjin leaned back, eyeing you with curiosity. “A conversation? Or are you just really good at distracting yourself?”

You raised an eyebrow. “Maybe a bit of both. It’s a skill, really.” You paused, then added with a smirk, “But honestly, I’m glad I bumped into you today.”

Yunjin’s expression softened, her smile becoming more genuine. “Yeah, same here. It’s nice to meet someone who’s not just another student cramming for exams or talking about business strategies.”

You chuckled, glancing around at the bustling café. “Yeah, it’s refreshing, right? A little chaos here and there makes life interesting.”

She agreed with a nod. “Definitely. I swear, I’d lose my mind if I didn’t have little breaks like this.”

There was a brief pause, and then you casually asked, “So, what are you doing for Valentine’s Day? Got any fun plans?”

Yunjin’s eyes widened slightly, then she shrugged nonchalantly. “Valentine’s Day? Honestly, I haven’t really thought about it. It’s always so overhyped, you know?”

You raised an eyebrow, intrigued. “Really? Most people are either super into it or totally avoid it. What about you?”

She hesitated for a moment, clearly considering the question. “I guess I’m somewhere in the middle? I don’t mind the idea, but I don’t expect anything too crazy. What about you?”

You leaned back, teasing. “Well, I’m kind of a big deal, so I might have a couple of people vying for my attention.”

Yunjin laughed, clearly amused. “Oh really? Are you some sort of player or something?”

You smirked. “I wouldn’t say player, just... popular.”

She shot you a skeptical look. “Uh-huh, sure. So, who exactly are you planning to spend the day with?”

You let out a playful sigh, exaggerating just a little. “Honestly, it’s up in the air. I don’t make plans until the last minute.”

Yunjin raised an eyebrow. “Classic. But hey, if you’re as popular as you say, I’m sure you’ll figure it out.”

“Maybe,” you said, leaning in just a bit. “But I’m still waiting to see if anyone can come up with a grand enough gesture to win me over.”

Yunjin smirked. “A grand gesture, huh? Well, that’s something I’m definitely interested in hearing more about.”

You smirked, watching her reaction carefully. “A grand gesture, yeah,” you said, leaning back in your chair as you watched her, knowing the spark of curiosity was there. “Not just the usual flowers and chocolates, you know? Something that shows effort. I can’t just be anyone’s Valentine.”

Yunjin tilted her head, her eyes narrowing playfully as she teased, “Is that so? You really think you’re that special?”

You leaned forward, keeping your voice casual but with just enough confidence to make it clear you weren’t just talking for fun. “I mean, I am a catch. It’s gonna take something impressive.”

Yunjin laughed softly, her lips curving into a smile. “Alright, alright. You’re a catch, got it. But what if I told you I was thinking about doing something special for you?”

“Already? We just met!” you said with a smirk, raising an eyebrow as you leaned back in your chair.

Yunjin chuckled, clearly not backing down. “What can I say? You made an impression.” She paused for a moment, eyes twinkling with mischief. “Besides, Valentine’s Day is just around the corner, and I like a challenge.”

You couldn’t help but grin. “A challenge, huh? Guess we’ll see who can top the other with their grand gestures. It’s gonna be tough to outdo me, though.”

She gave a playful shrug, clearly unbothered. “I’m up for it. But don’t underestimate me.”

You leaned forward a little, enjoying the playful tension. “You think you can outdo the competition?”

She leaned in a little closer, her eyes lighting up with a mix of mischief and excitement. The space between you two felt charged, and for a brief moment, you could feel the heat of her presence. “Maybe. I guess we’ll see how things go. You said you want a grand gesture, right?”

You nodded, now even more interested in what she had in mind. “Yeah, that’s right.”

Yunjin hesitated for a moment, then, almost as if she were testing the waters, asked, “So, you’ve got someone else in mind, don’t you? Someone you’re planning on spending Valentine’s Day with?”

You smiled, trying to keep your cool, but you could tell she was fishing. “Maybe. I mean, I’ve got options, right? But honestly, nothing’s set in stone. It’s all about the effort, you know? Whoever can really surprise me, that’s who gets my attention.”

Yunjin studied you for a moment, her smile turning a little more confident. “Well, maybe you’ll be surprised. You might just end up with two Valentines after all.”

You couldn’t help but grin, the excitement of the game intensifying. “Two? I’m intrigued. Let’s see if you can impress me enough to make it worth it.”

As she spoke, Yunjin leaned just a little closer, her arm brushing against yours in the slightest motion, a deliberate graze that sent a small spark of electricity through you. Her eyes never left yours, and the playful challenge between you both suddenly felt even more tangible.

You exchanged a knowing look, the playful energy hanging in the air. “Alright, Yunjin, you’ve got my attention,” you said, tapping your fingers on the table. “But don’t expect me to go easy on you. I like a good challenge.”

Yunjin’s grin widened, her confidence growing. “Oh, I wouldn’t dream of it. I’m not the type to back down from a challenge.” She picked up her drink, taking a slow sip as she glanced at you over the rim of her cup. “Guess we’ll see who ends up on top when the day comes, huh?”

You chuckled, the excitement of the situation starting to hit you. “You’ve got guts, I’ll give you that. But be careful. I’m not someone who’s easily impressed.”

“Oh, I’m sure you’ll be impressed,” Yunjin said, her eyes gleaming. “The real question is: will I be the one you choose in the end?”

You met her gaze, feeling the playful spark between you both. “Well, you’re definitely making it interesting.”

Yunjin leaned in just a little more, her voice low and teasing. “Just wait, Y/N. I’ve got some ideas that might just blow your mind.”

Her hand brushed against yours again, this time lingering a little longer, before she pulled back slightly. The air between you was thick with tension, but the excitement was undeniable. 

“Let me get your number,” Yunjin said with a smirk, her eyes glinting with mischief. “So I can decide when I can pick you up for our Valentine’s Day date.”

“Wow, confident, aren’t we?” you replied, raising an eyebrow, impressed by her boldness.

Yunjin chuckled, unfazed. “What can I say? I like to take charge when I know what I want.”

You leaned back in your seat, studying her for a moment. “I’m not easily won over, Yunjin. You’ll have to put in some serious work to impress me.”

She leaned forward slightly, matching your intensity. “Oh, don’t worry. I’m up for the challenge.” She paused, her grin widening. “And I’m pretty sure I’ll be the one you’re thinking about when Valentine’s Day rolls around.”

You couldn’t help but smile, feeling the playful tension building between you both. “We’ll see about that.”

Yunjin pulled out her phone, her fingers quickly tapping away. “You’ll find out soon enough,” she said with a wink as she handed you her number. “But I’m not going to wait forever, so think fast.”

You took her phone and entered your contact info with a smirk of your own. “I’ll think about it,” you said, giving her a look that left the challenge hanging in the air.

“Good,” she replied, her voice low and teasing. “Take your time. But don’t take too long.”

Yunjin got up and left, her confident stride taking her out of the café, leaving you sitting there in complete disbelief. You stared at your phone, still processing everything that had just happened. Her number was saved in your contacts now, and you couldn’t help but chuckle at how fast things escalated.

What the hell did I just do?

You shook your head, half-amused and half-astonished by how quickly you’d found yourself in this mess. Two Valentines? Really? This was definitely going to be more complicated than you’d ever expected.

You giggled to yourself, the absurdity of it all sinking in. Well, this is going to be fun...

Valentine's Day was coming, and you had no idea how this was all going to play out, but one thing was for sure, this game was about to get a whole lot more interesting.

You leaned back in your chair and let out a light laugh. Let the games begin.

~~~

“Y/N! WHAT DO YOU MEAN YOU HAVE 2 VALENTINES?!” your best friend Kazuha yelled, her voice rising in disbelief. “Don’t tell me you’re playing with people’s feelings again!”

You let out a groan, slumping in your seat as Kazuha stared you down, her arms crossed and eyes narrowed. She was not buying whatever you were about to say.

“Kazuha, I swear, it just happens! It’s my aura,” you defended yourself, throwing your hands up in mock innocence. “I can’t help it if people are drawn to me!”

“Y/N, shut the fuck up,” Kazuha shot back, throwing a cushion at you. “You know exactly what you're doing. You’ve got two people chasing after you, and you’re just sitting there like it’s nothing.”

You chuckled, tossing the cushion back at her, “What can I say? It’s a skill. Not everyone has it.”

Kazuha rubbed her temples, her frustration palpable. “I swear, you’re a walking disaster. You're gonna end up making someone cry with all this back-and-forth nonsense."

“I’m not doing anything... yet,” you smirked. “Let the games begin, right?”

Kazuha sighed dramatically, clearly over it. “You’re impossible. Just... don’t make things worse. You might have a way with words, but someone's gonna get hurt if you’re not careful."

You shrugged, unfazed, as you scrolled through your phone. “I know what I’m doing. It’s just a little fun. Don’t worry so much.” You smirked, raising an eyebrow. “What if I make it three Valentines?”

Kazuha’s eyes practically bulged out of her head. “Three? Are you trying to have a meltdown? You’re gonna have an entire love triangle on your hands, Y/N!”

You chuckled, leaning back in your chair with a mischievous glint in your eye. “Why stop at two? The more the merrier, right?”

Kazuha slapped her forehead, exasperated. “You’re seriously gonna make this a competition, aren’t you?”

“Well, yeah. Why not? It’s not like anyone’s heart is on the line... yet,” you said casually, not even looking up from your phone.

“You’re playing with fire,” Kazuha warned, but there was a hint of amusement in her tone now. “Just remember, you can’t keep juggling people forever without someone getting burned.”

You smirked again. “I’m just having fun. What’s the worst that could happen?”

Kazuha shook her head, but she couldn’t help a small smile from forming. “You’re impossible.”

You looked at your best friend, putting down your phone and walking over to her. “Look, I promise after my dates, I’ll tell them,” you said, trying to reassure her.

Kazuha shot you a skeptical look, her arms crossed. “You really have to be careful, Y/N.”

“I know, and I will,” you replied, trying to sound serious, but you couldn’t quite hide the playful tone in your voice.

Kazuha raised an eyebrow. “What if you end up liking them? After these dates?”

You let out a nervous chuckle, scratching the back of your head. “Then I’d be in a serious pickle.”

Kazuha sighed dramatically, clearly not convinced. “You’re seriously digging yourself into a hole, aren’t you?”

You shrugged. “It’s all part of the game, Kazuha.”

She stared at you for a moment before a new thought seemed to strike her. “Who are these girls, anyway?”

You hesitated for a second before answering. “Yunjin and Aeri.”

Kazuha’s eyes went wide, and she let out a huge gasp, her mouth hanging open. “Y/N... YUNJIN AND AERI ARE BEST FRIENDS!!!!”

You froze, a feeling of dread creeping up on you. “What?”

Kazuha was practically shaking, her voice rising with disbelief. “What the hell, Y/N? You’ve got two of the most popular girls on campus both after you, and you’re playing them against each other??”

You blinked, suddenly feeling like you were in over your head. “I... didn’t know they were best friends!”

Kazuha threw her hands up in exasperation. “Are you serious right now?! This is like some messed-up love triangle waiting to explode. Do you have any idea what you’re getting yourself into?”

You rubbed your temples, already feeling the weight of the situation. “Great. This just got a whole lot worse.”

Kazuha’s voice softened slightly, but the concern was still there. “You better be careful, Y/N. This is more than just ‘fun’ now. They’re both gonna find out eventually.”

“They won’t. I’ll make sure of it.” You said, with a confident grin, trying to mask the nervous energy bubbling beneath your calm exterior.

Kazuha narrowed her eyes at you, clearly not buying it. “You think you can keep them both in the dark? You’re walking a fine line here.”

You shrugged nonchalantly, though your mind was racing. “I’m good at keeping things under control. I’ve got it handled.”

Kazuha rolled her eyes. “I’m not so sure. You can’t keep up this charade forever, you know.”

You let out a deep sigh, already feeling the stress creep in. “I know, I know. But hey, it’s Valentine’s Day, right? How complicated could it get?”

Kazuha shook her head, half laughing and half worried. “You’re crazy. But whatever. Just don’t say I didn’t warn you when everything goes up in flames.”

You chuckled nervously, already imagining the mess you might’ve just gotten yourself into. “I’ll deal with it when it happens.”

~~~

You were sitting in your car, parked outside the café, trying to get some studying done, when your phone buzzed again. You sighed, thinking it was just one of the usual notifications, but when you checked, you saw both Aeri and Yunjin had sent you messages.

Aeri’s message was short and sweet: “Hey, want to meet up later? I need to talk to you about something important... ;)”

Your heart skipped a beat. The playful tone told you she wasn’t just asking for a casual hangout.

Right after that, Yunjin’s message popped up: “Hey! I was thinking we should meet up today, got something on my mind, and I need to ask you something in person. What do you say?”

You leaned back in your seat, a grin tugging at the corners of your lips. They both wanted to meet up. You knew what was coming, and as much as you loved the thrill of this little game, there was no denying the rush it gave you. But now, you had to juggle both of them. You typed out quick responses.

To Aeri: “Sure, I’ll meet you later. What time works for you?”

To Yunjin: “Sounds good. When and where do you want to meet?”

The messages sent almost simultaneously. You sat back and let out a breath, trying to focus. Kazuha’s warning echoed in your mind, but you shook it off. You’d be fine. You had to be.

Aeri replied first: “How about 5 pm? I’ll be at the park near campus.”

Yunjin responded right after: “Let’s meet at the café at 6. I’ll be waiting.”

You stared at your phone for a moment, then chuckled. This was getting more complicated by the second. But there was no turning back now.

At 5 pm, you walked into the park, nerves creeping up as you scanned the area. Aeri had been so mysterious in her messages, and now you couldn’t help but wonder what kind of grand gesture she had in mind.

You spotted her near the fountain, but this wasn’t your usual “meet me in a café” vibe. She was standing confidently by the water, a soft pink balloon in her hand and a small bouquet of flowers at her feet. It was a picture-perfect moment.

"Hey," you greeted her, your heart pounding, a playful smile tugging at your lips. You couldn’t help but admire the effort she’d put into this.

Aeri smiled warmly, her eyes glinting with excitement. "I know, I know, this is probably a little much," she began, twirling the balloon in her hand as if it were no big deal, "but you deserve something special. I’ve been thinking about it a lot, and I want to ask you properly."

She took a step closer, her voice dropping a little, but her excitement obvious. "Y/N," she said, her smile growing, "I’d be honored if you’d be my Valentine. I know we’ve had some fun getting to know each other, and I think we have something that could be really amazing. What do you say? Will you be my Valentine?"

The moment hung between you, her words sincere yet playful, and you had to admit, you were impressed. You weren’t one to be easily won over, but this was a whole different level. The balloon, the flowers, it was grand, thoughtful, and definitely something to remember.

You grinned, shaking your head in disbelief at how bold she was. "Aeri, this is... a lot. But I like it."

She beamed. "So, you’ll be mine?"

"Yeah," you replied, your voice almost a whisper, "I’d love to be your Valentine."

Aeri’s eyes sparkled, and for a moment, she looked like she’d just won the biggest prize. "Great. You won’t regret it, I promise. I’ve got plans."

You both exchanged an excited glance as she handed you the bouquet, her gesture as grand as the moment.

Aeri’s smile lingered as she handed you the bouquet, her eyes searching yours for a reaction. You could tell she was really excited, and it made the moment feel even more special. She tucked a loose strand of hair behind her ear, glancing down at the flowers in your hands before speaking again.

“So, I guess I’ve got your attention now, huh?” she said playfully, a hint of mischief in her voice.

You chuckled, nodding as you looked back at her. “Yeah, you definitely know how to make an impression, Aeri.”

“I aim to please,” she said with a wink, a light laugh escaping her. The two of you stood there for a moment, the playful energy between you palpable. It was clear that Aeri was genuinely enjoying the moment, and you couldn’t deny that you were, too.

After a few more moments of talking, just enjoying the vibe, your phone buzzed in your pocket. You pulled it out, glancing at the screen. Your heart skipped for a moment as you saw it was a text from Yunjin. 

“Everything okay?” Aeri asked, noticing the change in your expression.

You hesitated for a second, debating how much you should say. You didn’t want to give away too much, not when things were getting complicated. You quickly glanced down at the message from Yunjin before looking up at Aeri.

“Oh, it’s just Kazuha,” you said quickly, putting your phone face down in your hand. “She needs me for something.”

Aeri’s eyes softened a little, her playful tone now replaced with genuine concern. “Oh, really? Is everything okay with Kazuha?”

You nodded, giving a small, reassuring smile. “Yeah, she’s just going through some stuff and wants to talk. I told her I’d be there for her.”

Aeri looked at you with a thoughtful expression for a moment. “I get that. If you need to go, I don’t want to keep you.” Her voice softened further, and you could hear the sincerity in her words.

You shook your head quickly, feeling a bit guilty for not being fully honest and using your best friend as an excuse. "Are you sure?"

Aeri gave a small, understanding smile. "Yeah, I mean, if it’s really important, I get it." She took a step back and put her hands in her pockets, her demeanor still warm but with a bit of distance as if trying to give you space. "Kazuha’s your best friend, right? You should be there for her."

You nodded, but a feeling of guilt gnawed at you. You’d definitely misled Aeri a little, and while you didn’t want to lie, you couldn’t exactly tell her the whole truth, not yet, anyway.

You caught her gaze again and gave a reassuring smile. “It’s just a quick thing, I promise. Kazuha’s got a lot on her plate right now, but I’ll be back in no time.”

Aeri raised an eyebrow but seemed to accept your words. “Alright, but don’t make me wait too long. You’ve got a Valentine who’s already looking forward to making plans with you, after all.”

You chuckled nervously, "Don’t worry. I won’t leave you hanging."

She smirked, clearly not buying into your reassurances entirely, but she gave you a playful wink. “Well, I’m counting on it. You’ve got a lot to live up to, Y/N.”

You smiled, feeling a little more at ease, and without thinking too much, you leaned in and pressed a quick kiss to her cheek.

Aeri froze for a moment, her eyes widening in surprise before a soft blush crept up her neck. She glanced at you, slightly flustered, then smiled warmly. “Guess that’s your way of saying you’ll be back soon?”

You pulled away with a sheepish grin. “Exactly. Can’t leave you hanging too long, right?”

Aeri chuckled, clearly flattered, and shook her head. “Alright, alright. I’ll hold you to that. Be safe, Y/N.”

You gave her a wink and a quick wave before turning to leave, the weight of the situation still on your mind, but a little thrill from the moment lingering as well.

~~~

You rushed to the cafe, checking your phone as you hurried through the door. Just in time, you thought, glancing up to see Yunjin already sitting at a table near the back, a confident smile on her face as she spotted you walking in.

Her eyes sparkled with something you couldn’t quite place, and she immediately stood up, adjusting her coat with a flourish. “Look at you, right on time,” she said, her voice light but with a teasing undertone. “I knew you wouldn’t leave me waiting long.”

You took a seat across from her, still catching your breath from the run over. “Wouldn’t dream of it. So, what’s all this about, huh? You’ve got that look in your eyes.”

Yunjin leaned in slightly, her eyes locking with yours, filled with excitement and maybe a little mischief. “Well, I’ve been thinking about this for a while, and I wanted to do something special for you.”

You raised an eyebrow, intrigued. “Special? You’ve already got me curious. What’s this grand gesture I’ve been hearing about?”

She smiled wider, sitting back in her chair before reaching into her bag. You couldn’t help but notice the small twinkle of anticipation in her eyes as she pulled out a small, wrapped box and placed it in front of you.

“Open it,” she said, her voice soft but laced with excitement.

You glanced up at her, a mix of curiosity and amusement in your expression. “I’m not sure if I’m ready for whatever this is.”

Yunjin’s smile didn’t falter. “Come on, trust me. It’s not a big deal... just a little something to show you I’m serious about this Valentine’s thing.”

You carefully unwrapped the box, your fingers pausing when you saw the familiar logo on the outer packaging. When you opened it, your breath caught in your throat. Inside was a sleek, delicate Dior bracelet, elegant and expensive, with a silver band and a small charm dangling from it. You couldn’t believe what you were seeing.

“Yunjin... this... this is Dior?” you asked, stunned, your eyes widening. You couldn’t hide the shock in your voice.

Yunjin’s grin widened as she watched your reaction. “Yeah, it’s Dior. I told you I was serious about this. If I’m going to be your Valentine, I wanted it to be something that really shows you how much I mean it.”

You looked down at the bracelet, almost speechless. It was beyond anything you expected from a casual date or even a flirtation. This was... a gesture. A big one.

“Wow. You really went all out,” you said, still trying to process it all. “I didn’t expect... this.”

She shrugged, her confidence radiating. “I don’t do things halfway. So, what do you say? Will you be my Valentine?”

You blinked for a moment, genuinely taken aback by how thoughtful and extravagant this gesture was. For a brief second, you couldn’t help but wonder if maybe you were playing with fire here, but you pushed the thought away.

“Well, Yunjin,” you said, a smirk tugging at your lips. “You certainly know how to make an impression.”

Her smile softened, and she leaned in just a little closer. “So, that’s a yes, right?”

You paused, letting the suspense build for a second, before finally answering. “Alright, Yunjin. I’ll be your Valentine.”

Her eyes lit up, and she reached across the table, her fingers brushing against yours in a gesture that felt warmer than you expected. “You won’t regret it,” she said, her voice filled with quiet excitement.

You chuckled, feeling the weight of the moment settle in. “We’ll see about that.”

You walked out of the cafe with Yunjin, the Dior bracelet now safely secured on your wrist. The weight of it still felt unreal, but you had to admit, her gesture had left a lasting impression. As you walked down the street, your mind buzzed with thoughts of Aeri and how you were going to juggle this whole situation.

“So, now that I’ve asked you, what’s next?” Yunjin asked, her voice light but with a trace of curiosity. “Do you have a plan for Valentine’s Day?”

You glanced over at her, trying to play it cool. “I guess we’ll see how things go. You’re the first one to ask me, so I’m definitely interested in what you’ve got in mind for the big day.”

Yunjin’s eyes twinkled, a smile creeping across her face. “I’ve got something special planned. You’ll have to wait and see, but I promise it’ll be worth it.”

You chuckled, not able to resist the excitement in her voice. “You’re really going all out for this, huh?”

Yunjin shrugged nonchalantly, though her playful smile didn’t falter. “When it comes to something like this, why not go all in? You deserve it.”

You couldn’t help but feel a small thrill run through you at her words. Yunjin was clearly invested in this, and you were curious to see what she had planned. But at the same time, you felt a small pang of guilt. Aeri was probably wondering where you were, and you couldn’t avoid the fact that you were now juggling two Valentines, two amazing, beautiful, and passionate girls. What a mess this had turned out to be.

As you walked towards the subway station, your phone buzzed in your pocket. You pulled it out to find a message from Aeri, and your stomach dropped a little. You didn’t know why, but something about her messages always seemed to pull at you.

“Hey, are you free tonight? I was hoping we could talk more about... well, us. Let me know when you’re free. <3”

You paused for a moment, biting your lip. Aeri was so sweet, and she was definitely in the running for your Valentine. But what about Yunjin? This was getting complicated, fast.

Yunjin glanced at you, noticing the change in your expression. “Everything okay?” she asked, her voice laced with concern.

You quickly hid your phone, forcing a smile. “Yeah, just a little something with a friend. Don’t worry about it.”

Yunjin raised an eyebrow but didn’t press the issue. Instead, she smiled, her hand brushing against yours again as she added, “Well, whatever happens, I’m glad we met. And you won’t regret picking me as your Valentine, I promise.”

You returned her smile, feeling a little guilty, but also intrigued. “I guess we’ll see about that.”

As you said goodbye and parted ways, you couldn’t shake the feeling that things were about to get a lot more complicated. Valentine’s Day was only a few days away, and you had no idea how you were going to navigate this little love triangle you’d gotten yourself into.

You slammed the door behind you as you rushed into your apartment, the weight of the day finally crashing down on you. Kazuha was in the kitchen, but you didn’t even acknowledge her as you rushed to your room. You threw yourself onto the bed, burying your face in your pillow and screaming into it. The tension of juggling two Valentines had officially reached its breaking point.

“What the hell am I doing?” you muttered into the pillow, letting out a frustrated groan. Your mind raced with thoughts of Aeri’s sweetness, Yunjin’s grand gesture, and how the hell you were supposed to keep up with it all.

You could hear Kazuha’s footsteps approaching your door, and she knocked lightly before entering. "Y/N, what happened? Did something go wrong?"

You lifted your head just enough to look at her, eyes wide with panic. “I’m in way too deep, Kazuha. I’ve got two Valentines now, and I’m not even sure what I’m doing. Aeri’s been so sweet, and then Yunjin... she just went all out with the Dior bracelet and now I don’t know what the hell I’m supposed to do.”

Kazuha raised an eyebrow, crossing her arms. “So you’re telling me, you went ahead and accepted two Valentine’s invites?”

You buried your face back in the pillow, muffling your voice. “I didn’t mean to! It just… happened. I’m an idiot.”

Kazuha sat on the edge of your bed, sighing. “Well, you’re definitely a mess, but that’s nothing new. Just be honest with them, okay? You can’t keep playing this game and not expect things to blow up in your face. They both deserve more than you just juggling them around.”

You sat up, rubbing your eyes. “I know, I know… but how do I even tell them? I’m not ready to pick just one yet. I don’t know what I want.”

Kazuha gave you a sympathetic look. “Look, you don’t need to rush. But don’t keep them hanging, okay? You owe them more than that.”

You nodded, your chest tightening. “I guess I’ll figure it out. I just… I don’t want to hurt anyone.”

She gave you a small grin, patting your back. “You’ll be fine. You always are.”

You let out a sigh, still feeling overwhelmed but grateful for Kazuha’s blunt, no-nonsense advice. One thing was for sure: you had a lot to figure out before Valentine’s Day. And there was no going back now.

You sat up on your bed, finally lifting your face from the pillow, a new wave of determination flashing in your eyes. Kazuha gave you a skeptical look as she raised an eyebrow.

"No, no," you muttered, shaking your head. "I’ve got this. I gotta lock in the player in me. I can’t let this get to me. I’m gonna be nonchalant about it. Chill, calm, collected." You nodded to yourself, as if convincing your own mind.

Kazuha rolled her eyes but smirked. "Yeah, sure, good luck with that. But you do you, I guess."

You let out a deep breath, lying back down on your bed, trying to calm the nerves. "I’m not gonna let either of them think they have me wrapped around their finger. I’ll keep it cool, play it like I’m not phased. They’ll respect that more, right?"

Kazuha shook her head but laughed. "I swear you’re impossible."

You grinned, looking at the ceiling. "It’s the only way to play the game. One of them might end up being more than just a Valentine, but for now? I’m keeping it light. Keeping it fun."

Kazuha shook her head again but gave a small chuckle. "I can’t believe you. Just don’t let this whole thing blow up in your face, okay?"

You gave her a confident smile. "Trust me, I got it. I’m the master of this stuff."

Kazuha just sighed, clearly unsure, but walked out of your room anyway, leaving you to lay back down and think about the chaos you were about to manage.

This Valentine’s Day was shaping up to be way more complicated than you ever imagined. But, hey, you were ready. You’d make it work, one way or another.

You let out a deep breath, still lying on your bed, your fingers absentmindedly playing with the edge of your blanket. “And they won’t find out,” you muttered to yourself, as if repeating it like a mantra would make it true. “I’ve got it under control. I can handle both of them. No one’s gonna get hurt. I’ll play it smoothly. No slip-ups.”

Your mind raced, wondering how you could keep everything from unraveling. “I just gotta stay calm. If I keep my cool, keep my distance, they’ll never suspect a thing.”

You closed your eyes for a second, letting the idea settle in. “No way are they gonna find out. I’m not gonna let this blow up in my face. I can handle it. Just gotta keep the charm turned on and the lies well-rehearsed.”

You smiled to yourself, trying to shake off the slight tension in your chest. Kazuha was right about one thing,  this was gonna be complicated. But, hey, if anyone could juggle two Valentines without getting caught, it was you.

The only thing you had to do now was make sure no one figured it out. Simple, right? Keep things smooth and under wraps. Let's just hope Aeri and Yunjin haven't talked to each other yet.

Valentine's Day had arrived, and you were already feeling the tension building up. You had your plan set: Yunjin’s date started at 3 PM and would end at 7, just enough time to give you a brief window to recover before Aeri's date kicked off at 7:30 PM.

You dressed in something casual but still nice, nothing too flashy but enough to show you’d put some effort in. You glanced at the clock, knowing you had to keep things on schedule. You couldn’t afford to mess this up.

~~~

Valentine's Day had arrived, and you were already feeling the tension building up. You had your plan set: Yunjin’s date started at 3 PM and would end at 7, just enough time to give you a brief window to recover before Aeri's date kicked off at 7:30 PM.

You dressed in something casual but still nice, nothing too flashy but enough to show you’d put some effort in. You glanced at the clock, knowing you had to keep things on schedule. You couldn’t afford to mess this up.

Yunjin’s date started off in the cutest way possible. You arrived at the café to find her already waiting by the window, her eyes lighting up as soon as she saw you. She waved enthusiastically, and you couldn’t help but grin back. There was something so magnetic about her energy, so warm and inviting.

"Hey, you made it!" Yunjin said, her smile stretching from ear to ear. "I was hoping you'd show up on time."

"Of course," you replied with a playful wink. "I wouldn’t want to keep you waiting."

Yunjin motioned for you to sit, and as you did, she handed you a small bouquet of freshly picked flowers. "I thought you’d like these. Something simple but sweet," she said, her cheeks flushing slightly as she handed them to you.

You were honestly taken aback by the thoughtful gesture. It wasn’t over-the-top, just a simple, genuine moment. "You’re amazing," you said, unable to hide your smile.

She smiled shyly, clearly pleased that you liked them. "I’m glad you like them."

As you both ordered your drinks, Yunjin, of course, got her usual matcha latte, and you opted for a caramel macchiato, there was an ease in the conversation that made everything feel natural. Yunjin had this ability to make even the smallest things feel important. She asked about your day, your interests, and the conversation flowed effortlessly. She shared little anecdotes about her childhood, making you laugh with funny stories about her attempts at cooking or her obsession with collecting random trinkets.

"You know, I never understood why I love those tiny figurines," she said, giggling. "But I’ve got a collection at home that’s pretty impressive. I swear, every time I go to a market, I find a new one to add."

You laughed, genuinely enjoying her quirkiness. "I think that's adorable. You should show me sometime."

As the conversation carried on, you could feel yourself getting lost in her presence. She was the kind of person who made everything feel light, fun, and easy, and her enthusiasm was contagious.

Around 5 PM, Yunjin suggested a spontaneous walk in the nearby park. You both strolled around, chatting about everything and nothing, until she suddenly stopped by a bench and pulled something from her bag.

"I know we’re still in the middle of our date, but I brought this for you," Yunjin said, a little sheepish.

You raised an eyebrow. "What is it?"

She revealed a small, hand-decorated jar filled with homemade cookies. "I baked these for you," she said with a proud smile. "I know it’s cheesy, but I thought it'd be cute. I may not be a professional chef, but they taste pretty good."

You took the jar from her and opened it, the smell of fresh-baked cookies instantly hitting you. "These smell amazing, Yunjin. I’m so impressed," you said, taking a cookie and giving it a bite. It was soft and delicious, just like her thoughtfulness.

"You like them?" she asked, her eyes hopeful.

"I love them. You’ve totally outdone yourself," you said, giving her a playful nudge.

As the date neared its end, Yunjin leaned in slightly, her voice soft. "I had a really great time today, Y/N. It feels so easy to be with you."

You smiled back at her, feeling your heart flutter just a little. "I did too, Yunjin. It’s been so fun."

After exchanging a few more sweet words, you both shared a quick hug before parting ways. As you watched her walk away, you felt this warmth in your chest that made you second-guess everything about this ‘player’ act. Yunjin was special, there was no denying that.

But you still had one more date to go...

You rushed back home, your mind buzzing with excitement from your afternoon with Yunjin. She was sweet, thoughtful, and had a way of making everything feel so special. But there was still Aeri’s date to go, and you couldn’t afford to let your guard down just yet.

You quickly changed into something a bit more polished, opting for a sleek, yet casual outfit. You glanced at the clock, 7:15 PM. You had a little time to spare, but not much.

As you made your way to the café where Aeri had asked to meet, you couldn’t help but think about what had happened with Yunjin. It was almost like a little fantasy, a moment that felt real, but not quite.

You entered the café, and Aeri was already there, waiting. She looked stunning as always, her hair falling in soft waves, and she had this confident, almost daring look in her eyes as she saw you approach.

"Y/N," she said, her voice warm but with a playful edge. "You’re late. But I guess I can forgive you... this time."

You smiled, feeling a little guilty. "Sorry, I was caught up in something. But I’m here now."

Aeri raised an eyebrow, clearly curious. "Something interesting, huh?"

You gave her a nonchalant shrug. "Just... spending time with someone special," you said, keeping your voice calm.

Aeri’s eyes narrowed just a little, but she didn’t push it. "Well, I’m glad you made it. I was actually thinking we could do something a little different tonight."

You leaned in, intrigued. "Different how?"

She reached into her bag and pulled out a small box. "I hope you’re in the mood for surprises," she said, her eyes twinkling mischievously.

You raised an eyebrow as you took the box from her. Inside was a dainty gold necklace with a delicate heart-shaped pendant. The soft shine of it caught the light, making it look elegant and thoughtful.

"This is..." you trailed off, genuinely surprised by the gesture. "Aeri, you didn’t have to..."

Aeri grinned, clearly proud of herself. "I wanted to. I know it’s nothing huge, but it’s a little something to show how much I care."

You looked up at her, feeling a little taken aback by the sincerity in her eyes. "It’s beautiful. Thank you."

Aeri smiled, clearly pleased with your reaction. "I’m glad you like it."

After a moment, Aeri leaned back in her seat, crossing her arms. "You know, I’ve been thinking a lot about us, Y/N. About what we could be... You’re someone I really enjoy spending time with. I hope you feel the same way."

You nodded, feeling the weight of her words. "I do, Aeri. I really do. Tonight’s been amazing."

Aeri’s smile softened, her voice lowering just a bit. "I’m glad. Because, you know, I’m not one to do things halfway. So, if you want to take this further, I’m all in."

The air between you two shifted, a mix of excitement and vulnerability hanging in the balance. You realized, in that moment, just how much you liked Aeri, maybe more than you’d been willing to admit.

But as she looked at you, waiting for your response, a small part of you couldn't help but think of Yunjin too. This was all getting more complicated than you’d ever imagined.

But for now, you focused on Aeri and her smile. "I’m all in too," you said, making sure she knew that you meant it.

Her smile widened as she reached across the table, taking your hand in hers. "I’m glad," she whispered. "Let’s see where this goes."

And just like that, you were caught in the middle of two beautiful people, both vying for your attention, and Valentine’s Day had become far more than just a simple celebration of love. It had become a game of choices, and you weren’t sure how it was all going to turn out. But you were excited to find out.

~~~

You rushed back home, still trying to act calm, even though your mind was racing with all the mess you’d just gotten yourself into. Yunjin’s sweet gesture, the bracelet, and then Aeri, Aeri was different, and you felt that spark. It wasn’t supposed to be like this. You were just having fun, right? But now, it felt like you were teetering on the edge of a cliff, just waiting for the fall.

You walked in and found Kazuha lounging on the couch, scrolling through her phone, her usual laid-back demeanor. You threw yourself on the couch next to her, trying to appear cool, trying to keep it together. "Hey, it wasn’t that bad," you said with a nonchalant shrug. "Yunjin's date was cute, the bracelet was nice. Aeri, too, she’s sweet. It’s all fine. Totally under control."

Kazuha put her phone down and raised an eyebrow, her gaze skeptical. "Right... I knew the nonchalant act was fake," she said, her voice dripping with amusement. "Come on, spill it. You’re clearly freaking out."

You let out a frustrated sigh, sinking into the couch. "Okay, okay. You’re right. I’m losing it here, Kazuha. This is way more complicated than I thought it would be."

Kazuha sat up, her teasing smile gone now, replaced with a more serious expression. "What happened? What did you do?"

You rubbed your forehead, trying to gather your thoughts. "So, I had this cute date with Yunjin, right? She gave me this amazing Dior bracelet, and I, " you stopped, a little taken aback by how deep into it you were. "I don’t even know, Kazuha. Then right after, Aeri pulls me in for her date, and she gives me a necklace. A necklace, Kazuha. Like, she’s seriously into me, and I... I don’t know what to do."

Kazuha’s eyes widened. "Wait, so you’re seriously seeing both of them now? Yunjin and Aeri?"

You nodded, feeling the weight of the situation finally crashing down on you. "Yeah. I know, it’s messed up. But I can’t stop now, can I? They’re both amazing, and I, I don’t want to hurt them. But I’m definitely in over my head."

Kazuha let out a long breath, her voice serious this time. "Y/N, this is gonna blow up in your face. You’re playing a dangerous game, and someone’s gonna get hurt. They’re not gonna stay in the dark forever."

"I know," you muttered, frustration building up. "But I’ve got to keep it together, Kazuha. I can’t let them find out. Not yet. I need time to figure this out."

Kazuha shook her head, a soft smile pulling at her lips. "Take your time, but don’t be an idiot. Someone's gonna find out sooner or later, and you need to decide who you really want to be with."

You looked at her, trying to suppress the panic rising in your chest. "Yeah, you’re right. But... how do I pick? They're both so different. It’s like I'm torn in two directions."

Kazuha gave you a knowing look. "Don’t get too comfortable with the ‘player’ act, Y/N. The longer you wait, the messier it’s gonna get. I just hope you figure it out before one of them figures it out for you."

You let out a sigh, finally feeling the weight of the situation hit you fully. "I guess I just have to make a decision soon... before things spiral out of control."

Kazuha slapped you lightly on the back, her voice light but serious. "Just don’t drag it out too long. I’m not cleaning up this mess when it all falls apart."

You chuckled weakly, realizing how true her words were. "Thanks, Kazuha. You really know how to keep me grounded."

She grinned. "Someone has to, right? Just don’t screw this up too badly."

You laughed, but the anxiety still gnawed at you. Valentine’s Day was supposed to be fun, but now it feels like the biggest mess of your life. All you could do was hope you wouldn’t get caught in the middle of your own game. 

You lay back on your bed, staring at the ceiling, feeling the weight of the situation pressing down on you. The adrenaline from the chaos of the day had worn off, leaving you with nothing but the aftereffects of what you’d just done. You thought about all the moves you’d made, how smooth you tried to play it.

But now, the idea of lying to both Yunjin and Aeri started to feel less like a game and more like a time bomb ticking away. What if they found out? What if they already knew and were just playing you the way you were playing them? The thought made your stomach twist.

You ran your hands through your hair, trying to make sense of everything. One thought came to mind: maybe you could just tell them the truth. You briefly entertained the idea of a group chat, but then immediately shot it down. That would be a mess. That would make everything worse, right? It was too public, too much drama. You couldn’t handle that level of chaos.

Still, you couldn’t shake the thought of them finding out on their own. They were both smart, both perceptive. What if they already suspected something was off? What if Yunjin and Aeri weren’t as clueless as you’d hoped? You groaned and buried your face in your pillow, the reality of your situation starting to settle in.

You had two choices: keep lying, keep playing the game, and risk it all blowing up in your face. Or, you could come clean now and try to salvage what was left. Maybe they’d appreciate the honesty. Maybe they wouldn’t.

Your mind was racing, flipping between the possibilities. Either way, you couldn’t avoid the truth forever. It was just a matter of when, if it would be on your terms or someone else’s.

You looked at your phone, half tempted to text them both, but you knew you needed to clear your head first. You needed to figure out how to navigate this before everything collapsed. But the question lingered in your mind: What if they knew?

You woke up the next morning to your phone buzzing with two messages, one from Yunjin and the other from Aeri. You rubbed your eyes, trying to shake off the lingering fog of sleep, and reached for your phone.

First, you checked Yunjin's message:

Yunjin: "Hey, had an amazing time with you yesterday! 💕 We should definitely do something again soon. Let me know when you're free!"

You smiled at the text, but before you could fully process it, you saw a message from Aeri pop up:

Aeri: "Hey, are you free today? I was thinking we could talk more about… well, us. Want to come over later?"

Your heart skipped a beat, but you tried to stay composed. You stared at the message for a few moments, a mix of excitement and anxiety coursing through you. This was the moment of truth.

You hesitated for a second, then texted back:

Y/N: "Sure, sounds good. I’ll swing by later! "

Once you sent that, you quickly flipped to Yunjin’s message. You didn’t want to leave her hanging either, so you typed:

Y/N: "Hey, same here! I’d love to hang out again soon :33 . Let’s figure out a time. But I’ve got something later today, so maybe after that?"

You sent both replies, your mind still racing. The choices were piling up, and you knew the sooner you dealt with it, the better. The fact that Aeri asked you to come over meant things was about to get real, and you needed to be prepared for what was to come.

With a sigh, you set your phone down, feeling the weight of the situation. There was no turning back now. You had to face it head-on.

You spent the next few hours pacing around, trying to mentally prepare for what was about to unfold. You couldn’t afford to mess this up. You had no idea what would happen when you saw Aeri later. Would she pick up on the tension, or would she be just as oblivious as you were trying to be?

The clock seemed to tick louder as you got ready. You were overthinking everything. Each outfit you tried on felt like you were preparing for a job interview rather than a date. You eventually settled on something casual, trying to keep it lowkey, but still cute enough to show you put in some effort.

When the time came, you grabbed your things, made sure to double-check you had everything you needed, and left. Your nerves were a mix of excitement and anxiety, but you kept telling yourself, You’ve got this. Just go with the flow.

Aeri’s place was just a few blocks away, so the walk gave you some time to calm your nerves. When you arrived, you took a deep breath and rang the doorbell. The door opened almost immediately, revealing Aeri standing there, smiling warmly.

“Hey, you!” she said, pulling you into a hug before stepping back to let you in. “I’m so glad you came. I’ve been looking forward to this all day.”

You smiled, feeling a flutter in your chest as you stepped inside. The place smelled like fresh flowers, and there was a soft playlist of instrumental music playing in the background. Aeri had clearly made an effort to set the mood.

"Thanks for inviting me over," you said, trying to sound calm despite the chaos in your head.

“Of course,” Aeri replied, a mischievous glint in her eyes. “So, I’ve been thinking a lot about… well, about us.”

You froze slightly at her words, trying not to let your nerves show. You took a seat on the couch, trying to seem relaxed. “Yeah, me too,” you said, keeping your voice steady.

She sat down next to you, her eyes locking onto yours. “I’m really enjoying spending time with you, Y/N,” she said, her tone soft and sincere. “And I just wanted to know… do you think there’s something more here between us?”

You felt your heart skip a beat, and you weren’t sure if you should feel relieved or terrified. You could feel the weight of her question pressing on you, and you could feel the other half of your mind screaming, What do I do now?

Before you could respond, your phone buzzed in your pocket. You quickly glanced at it, seeing a message from Yunjin.

Yunjin: “You busy? I was just thinking about you. Let me know when you’re free. ”

Aeri noticed the slight shift in your focus and tilted her head. “Everything okay?” she asked, her expression softening.

You nodded quickly, shoving your phone back in your pocket. “Yeah, just… just checking something. Sorry.”

Aeri gave you a knowing smile. “You don’t have to apologize. If you’re distracted, I understand.”

You smiled nervously, then remembered the plan you had set in motion. “I was just thinking… I really like you, Aeri. A lot. But we should take things slow, see where this goes. You know?”

Aeri’s smile widened, her eyes softening with understanding. “I feel the same way,” she said, placing her hand on yours. “No rush. We’ve got time.”

You felt a wave of relief wash over you, but deep down, you knew this wasn’t over yet. There was still Yunjin to consider. And who knew what else would come next?

For now, though, it felt like a small victory. You just hoped you could keep it from getting any more complicated.

The tension between you and Aeri continued to build as the evening wore on. After some small talk, you both started opening up more, sharing things that made you feel vulnerable. The light, casual conversation had turned into something deeper, something you hadn’t expected when you first walked in.

Aeri had moved closer on the couch, and there was a subtle shift in her body language. She was no longer just sitting beside you, she was leaning in, her attention fully focused on you. Her eyes were soft, but there was a hint of something else there, something unspoken.

“Y/N,” Aeri said softly, her voice almost a whisper. “I’m glad you came tonight. I feel like we’re really connecting, you know?”

You nodded, feeling your heart race a little faster. The air around you both felt thick, like something was about to happen, but neither of you were saying it outright.

“I’ve been thinking a lot about you,” you confessed, your own voice low and hesitant. “And… I don’t know. It’s just, I didn’t expect to feel this way.”

Aeri smiled at you, her fingers brushing against yours. She gave you a teasing look, her eyes twinkling with something playful, but there was an undeniable intensity behind her gaze. “You’re not the only one,” she said, her voice laced with the same kind of energy that was running through your veins. “I think you’ve been on my mind a lot too.”

For a moment, neither of you spoke. There was just the sound of the music in the background and the slight rustling of your breath, the room almost too quiet for the unspoken tension hanging in the air.

You both looked at each other then, really looked at each other, and the rest of the world seemed to disappear. The way Aeri’s lips parted slightly, the way her pupils were dilated, her gaze unwavering, it all drew you in. You could feel the heat of her body beside yours, the way her presence seemed to fill the space between you.

Without thinking, without any more words exchanged, you both leaned in at the same time. The kiss was soft at first, hesitant, unsure, but it deepened quickly as you both gave in to the pull. The moment your lips met, everything else seemed to fade away.

Aeri’s hands gently cupped your face, pulling you closer as you responded to the kiss, your heart pounding in your chest. The feeling of her lips against yours, the warmth of her touch, it was all you could focus on. The tension that had been building for hours had finally snapped, and you were both caught in this shared moment of vulnerability and longing.

When you finally pulled away, your breath came out in a soft, unsteady exhale. Aeri’s forehead rested against yours, her hands still lingering on your skin. She didn’t say anything for a few moments, just breathing, as if letting the reality of the moment settle in.

You both looked at each other, both trying to process what had just happened. You weren’t sure where this was going, but you couldn’t deny how right it felt at that moment. Still, the reality of your situation, Yunjin, everything that was happening, was never far from your mind.

But for now, you let yourself just be in the moment with Aeri, pulling her in once again, making out with her. The moment you pulled her back in, everything around you seemed to blur, and all that mattered was the softness of Aeri’s lips and the warmth of her body against yours. The kiss was deep, more urgent this time, like you both couldn’t get enough of each other. Her hands slid around your waist, pulling you even closer, and you responded, your fingers running through her hair, tugging her toward you as if you never wanted to pull away.

Aeri’s breath hitched as she pressed herself against you, deepening the kiss with a soft, needy sound. The pace between you both quickened, and before you knew it, the world outside the room had faded away. There was no worrying about the games or the lies anymore, just the heat between the two of you, the undeniable chemistry that had been building since you’d first met.

The kiss was everything, passion, tension, and a little bit of recklessness all at once. But as much as you wanted to let go completely, the reminder of the situation, of everything else that was tangled up in this, lingered at the edge of your mind.

Still, in this moment, with Aeri in your arms, you couldn’t bring yourself to care about anything except the feeling of her lips on yours and the way she made everything else feel so distant. As you pulled Aeri closer, your heart began to race, faster and harder than you expected. Each kiss made it beat louder in your chest, the rhythm matching the intensity of the moment. You could feel the heat of her body pressed against yours, and the surge of excitement and uncertainty made your pulse quicken. Aeri's hands moved to your back, pulling you even closer, and you responded, your breath hitching as you deepened the kiss.

You couldn’t think straight, your heart was pounding, every nerve alive with the electricity between you. The world around you seemed to vanish, leaving only the two of you in that space, tangled together.

Your body reacted without thinking, drawn to her like a magnet, but your heart? It was a little out of control, racing with a mix of excitement, desire, and, maybe, just maybe, a little bit of fear. Fear of how complicated things had gotten, but you couldn’t deny that in this moment, none of that mattered.

For now, it was just you and Aeri, caught up in the heat of the make out, and you let yourself get lost in it. The tension that had been building for so long was finally released in this moment, and all you could focus on was how she felt in your arms, how she kissed you back with equal intensity. As you kissed Aeri, everything else seemed to fade into the background. The world, the situation, and the confusion you had been carrying about Yunjin all disappeared. It was as if time stopped for a moment, your heart raced, your thoughts scrambled, but they were all centered on the here and now.

Yunjin? She was nowhere in your mind at that moment. All that mattered was Aeri’s touch, the way her lips felt against yours, and how perfectly everything seemed to align between you two.

The lingering thoughts about how complicated things had gotten, how you were juggling two feelings, evaporated. It was just you and Aeri in this space, no games, no pressure, just a moment of pure connection.

You couldn't deny that as you got lost in the kiss, Yunjin’s presence faded away, slipping to the back of your mind like an echo that wasn’t important right now. All that mattered was this, this intensity, this feeling. For now, you were completely focused on Aeri, letting everything else dissolve away.

As the kiss deepened, the air between you two grew heavier with every second. Aeri’s fingers brushed along your spine, sending shivers down your body as she pulled you even closer. Your lips parted slightly, and you couldn’t help but let out a soft gasp as Aeri’s hands found their way to your cheek, gently cupping it.

"You don’t know how long I’ve wanted this..." Aeri said.

Her voice was breathless, but you could hear the honesty in it. You responded by pressing your lips back to hers, feeling the connection between you intensify with each shared breath. It was like nothing else mattered anymore.

"I think I’ve wanted this too..." you told her.

You didn’t need words. The way you kissed each other spoke everything you both needed to say. Your bodies seemed to speak in unison, your hands tangling in each other’s hair, fingers gripping as if you never wanted to let go.

Aeri’s lips trailed down your neck, sending a wave of heat across your skin. You let out a soft sigh, leaning into her touch. "Aeri..." 

Aeri pulled back slightly, looking into your eyes, her pupils dilated and her breath heavy. "I don’t want to stop..."

You responded immediately, kissing her with a fierce, almost desperate intensity, as if this moment was slipping away too fast. The heat, the longing, the closeness, it was all consuming. You couldn’t focus on anything else, and for once, you didn’t want to. "Neither do I..."

Your lips met again, softer now, with a tender touch, as you both held onto each other, feeling the world fade out completely. It was just you two, lost in each other’s embrace, no hesitation, no regrets, only the undeniable pull between you.

As you and Aeri’s lips finally broke apart, your breath heavy and your heart racing, the silence between you two felt strangely intimate. Her forehead rested against yours, and for a moment, everything felt perfect.

But then, your phone buzzed on the nightstand, pulling you out of the moment. You hesitated for a second before reaching for it, and when you saw the message from Yunjin, a wave of guilt washed over you.

Yunjin: "Hey, just wanted to check in. Are you okay? I’ve been thinking about you...and I want to see you. Wanna meet up?"

Your fingers froze over the screen, and the weight of everything crashed back down on you. You could feel Aeri’s gaze on you, the warmth of her body still close, but suddenly, it all felt a little too complicated.

You sighed, looking at Aeri with a bittersweet expression, trying to push aside the heaviness in your chest.

Y/N: "Aeri... Kazuha needs me."

Your voice came out with a sadness you hadn’t meant to show, but it was there, lingering in the air. You knew you had to leave, that this moment couldn’t last forever, and that you couldn’t keep juggling these feelings for much longer.

Aeri’s eyes softened, a gentle understanding in them, but there was a touch of hurt in her gaze too.

Aeri: "It’s okay... I get it. Go to her."

You nodded, feeling the weight of her words even more than you expected. You leaned in for one last kiss, a slow, tender touch, before pulling away.

Y/N: "I’ll text you later, okay?"

Aeri simply nodded, offering a small, sad smile as you stood up, grabbing your things. As you walked out the door, the guilt gnawed at you again, but there was nothing you could do now.

Part of you couldn’t help but wish you could stay with Aeri, in the warmth of that kiss, in the simplicity of just being with her. Before you turned to leave, you paused for a moment, torn between your emotions. You looked at Aeri one last time, her eyes full of understanding, but still tinged with something unspoken. The weight of everything hung in the air, your guilt, your feelings, the mess you had created, but you waved and turned around, taking one last glance at Aeri before walking out the door.

Each step felt heavier than the last, the silence between you two echoing in your mind. You couldn’t shake the feeling of leaving something behind, of walking away from something that had felt so right. But you had to go.

As you step into the hallway, your heart still aches from the kiss, the words left unsaid, and the feeling of Aeri’s touch still lingering on your skin. You couldn’t help but wonder what would’ve happened if you had stayed. But right now, you had to face what was waiting for you outside the door.

You checked your phone again, seeing a message from Yunjin, asking when you could meet up. You had promised her you'd be there soon. And as much as you didn’t want to face her just yet, you knew you couldn’t avoid it. You took a deep breath, pushing down the storm of emotions swirling inside you, and stepped forward, hoping that somehow, in the end, everything would make sense.

You arrived at the restaurant where you and Yunjin had agreed to meet, the scent of food filling the air as you stepped inside. The moment you walked in, you spotted her sitting at a corner table, scrolling through her phone. She looked up as you approached, her face lighting up with a smile that, for a brief moment, made everything feel a little easier.

"Hey," Yunjin greeted you, her voice soft but warm as she stood up. You smiled back, though it didn’t reach your eyes as fully as you would’ve liked. You both exchanged a quick hug before sitting down.

“How’ve you been?” Yunjin asked, her eyes scanning your face as if trying to gauge your mood.

You tried to play it cool, but you could feel the tension in your chest, the weight of the day’s events pressing against you. "I’ve been okay, just... busy," you replied, trying to sound casual but failing to hide the underlying strain in your voice.

Yunjin leaned back in her chair, watching you closely. "You sure? You seem a little off today."

You hesitated for a moment, unsure how to respond. The guilt from seeing Aeri still weighed heavily on you, and now, sitting here with Yunjin, you realized just how complicated everything had become. Your thoughts raced, and for a second, you wondered if you should just come clean, tell her everything. But the words felt stuck in your throat.

"Yeah, just... thinking a lot," you finally said, offering a small smile.

Yunjin didn’t seem convinced, but she nodded anyway. "Well, I’m glad you came. I’ve been thinking a lot too... about us."

The way she said "about us" made your heart flutter in a way that it shouldn’t. You knew you had to tread carefully here, there was too much at stake.

“I... I know,” you replied, your voice barely above a whisper. “I’ve been thinking about that too.”

Yunjin’s gaze softened as she reached across the table, taking your hand in hers. "I just want to make sure we’re okay. You know? I care about you a lot, and I don’t want things to get complicated between us."

You felt a pang of guilt at her words, the weight of your secret threatening to spill out. You squeezed her hand, trying to reassure her, though you knew you weren’t being entirely honest. “Yeah, I don’t want things to be weird either.”

But as you said the words, you felt like you were lying to her. You wanted to be honest, to tell her the truth about what had happened with Aeri, but the fear of how she might react held you back. The last thing you wanted was to hurt Yunjin.

For a few moments, you both sat in silence, sipping your drinks. The conversation had shifted, but you couldn’t shake the feeling that something was going unsaid. You couldn’t help but wonder if Yunjin sensed that you were hiding something, if she could see the truth in your eyes. And as much as you wanted to keep the illusion intact, you knew that sooner or later, the truth was going to come out.

Yunjin led you out of the café, her hand still gently holding yours as she guided you towards her car. The air was cool, and the late afternoon sun was beginning to dip behind the trees, casting a soft glow across the streets.

When you reached the car, Yunjin popped the trunk and began rummaging through it. You raised an eyebrow, curious. "What are we doing, exactly?" you asked, a little uncertain.

Yunjin glanced over her shoulder and gave you a playful smile. "We’re going to the park. Thought we could sit, talk... maybe get some fresh air." She pulled out a blanket from the trunk and folded it neatly under her arm.

You chuckled softly, feeling a bit surprised but also relieved. Being outside and away from everything seemed like a good idea, especially given how much had been weighing on you lately.

"Alright, sounds nice," you said, a slight smile tugging at your lips. "I wasn’t expecting this, but I like it."

Yunjin closed the trunk and walked over to the passenger side, opening the door for you. "Thought it’d be a nice change of pace," she said as she got in the driver’s seat. "We don’t need to talk about anything heavy, just... hang out."

You nodded, appreciating the simplicity of it. It was exactly what you needed. The idea of just spending some time together, without the complexities that seemed to follow you lately, felt like a small relief.

As she started the car and pulled away from the curb, you let your thoughts drift, trying to push away the weight of your situation with Aeri. It wasn’t easy, but you figured, for now, you could focus on being with Yunjin, just the two of you.

The drive to the park wasn’t long, and the quiet between you both felt comfortable. Yunjin’s music played softly in the background, but neither of you spoke much, both lost in your own thoughts. When she finally parked the car and turned off the engine, you both stepped out and walked to a quiet spot in the park.

Yunjin spread the blanket on the grass, patting it for you to sit down. "It’s nice out here," she said as she settled next to you, her eyes scanning the peaceful surroundings.

"Yeah, it really is," you agreed, taking a seat beside her. The world felt a little calmer here, as if the park was its own little bubble, far removed from the drama and confusion you’d been carrying.

You looked over at Yunjin, who was now lying back on the blanket, gazing up at the sky. You followed her lead, feeling the coolness of the grass beneath you. For a while, the two of you simply stared up at the sky, letting the quiet moments stretch out between you.

It felt nice... easy. But deep down, you knew you couldn’t escape the reality of everything forever.

The soft rustling of the leaves in the breeze was the only sound that filled the air as you and Yunjin laid on the blanket, side by side. The park around you was tranquil, with only a few other people scattered about, but it felt as if the world had slowed down for the two of you. The sun had begun to set, casting a warm, golden hue across the sky, and the air had turned cooler, making it feel like the perfect moment to just relax and be present.

After a while, you turned your head toward Yunjin, finding her gaze already on you. She offered a soft smile, one that made your heart skip a beat.

"You know," she started, her voice low and teasing, "this is a lot nicer than what I expected. I thought we’d just be talking the whole time." Her eyes twinkled, hinting at something unspoken.

You chuckled, feeling the weight of the moment settle between you two, a quiet understanding that hung in the air. "I didn’t mind talking," you replied, "but it’s nice to just... be here with you, you know?"

Yunjin’s smile softened, and she shifted closer, propping herself up on one elbow so she could look at you more intently. Her fingers brushed lightly against your arm, the touch sending a small spark through your skin.

The shift in her posture and the intimacy of the moment didn’t go unnoticed. You felt the energy between you two change, the unspoken tension building slowly but surely.

Yunjin moved a little closer, her face mere inches from yours now, and her breath warmed your skin. Her eyes searched yours, and for a moment, everything else faded away. The closeness, the chemistry between you two, was undeniable.

"Y/N..." Her voice was barely a whisper now, soft and filled with something that made your heart race. You didn’t have to say anything in response. The moment felt suspended in time.

You leaned in slightly, your breath hitching as your lips brushed against hers. The contact was tentative at first, almost hesitant, like both of you were testing the waters. But the second her lips pressed against yours again, something shifted.

It was like a switch flipped, and suddenly everything felt electric. Yunjin's hand moved to your face, cupping it gently, while your own hand found its way to her waist. You both deepened the kiss, the urgency of it growing as the world around you continued to fade away.

The kiss was tender, yet there was an undeniable intensity behind it. You felt her pull you closer, your bodies aligning perfectly as if this was where you were meant to be. Your heart raced in your chest, thumping louder with each passing second, and every touch sent a wave of warmth through your body.

It wasn’t like anything you had expected when you first got into the car with her, but it felt... right. There was something about being in this space with Yunjin that made everything else fall into place. In that moment, you couldn’t think of anything but the kiss, the connection, and the way everything seemed to feel so intense.

Yunjin's lips were soft against yours, but there was an intensity behind each kiss that made your heart race faster. Her hand gently cupped your face, tilting it slightly, as her other hand slid down to your waist, pulling you closer. You could feel the heat of her body against yours, the way she was melting into the kiss, and it made everything inside you stir.

You whisper against her lips "I’ve... wanted this. With you."

Yunjin's breath hitched, and she pulled back just enough to meet your eyes. Her gaze was dark, filled with desire, but there was also something else there, something soft, almost vulnerable."I know... me too." Yunjin said softly.

Her words made your heart skip, and before you could process it, she was kissing you again, more urgently this time. Her lips moved against yours with a passion that made everything else fade away. You responded in kind, your hand slipping into her hair, tugging her even closer, as your body pressed into hers.

The kiss deepened, both of you trying to convey everything you hadn’t said out loud, every unspoken thought, through the touch of your lips. Yunjin’s hand slid lower, her fingers tracing the line of your back, making your breath hitch.

You could feel her smile against your lips, her hands moving with purpose, pulling you even tighter against her. Every inch of your body was alive with the heat between you, and the more you kissed, the less you cared about anything else.

It wasn’t rushed, but it wasn’t slow either, it was a blend of urgency and need, both of you trying to express something you hadn’t yet put into words. Your hands moved to her waist, pulling her in closer, if that was even possible, and you could feel her heartbeat against yours. It was wild, almost as if it was happening without thinking, but it felt so natural, so right.

As you finally pulled away, both of you gasping for air, there was a moment of silence. Yunjin’s eyes were dark, filled with something that mirrored your own feelings, desire, intensity, and maybe even a little bit of vulnerability. You stared at each other for a few seconds, both of you trying to catch your breath, your hearts still pounding in your chests. " I really like you Y/n" 

The words hung in the air, almost like a confession, and for a split second, everything else seemed to fade away. Yunjin’s gaze was unwavering, her voice quiet but sincere. You could feel the weight of what she had said, how much it meant, how much it meant to her.

Your heart skipped a beat, and a flutter of warmth spread through you. You hadn’t expected those words, but now that they were spoken, it felt like the truth between you two had finally surfaced. You opened your mouth to respond, but for a moment, the words caught in your throat.

Instead, you reached out, gently cupping her face in your hands, and leaned in to kiss her again, this time softer, as if the kiss was a response to everything unspoken. Your lips met in a tender connection, and you could feel her smile against your mouth. It was a reassurance, a promise, silent, but loud enough to make your heart race all over again.

You pulled back just slightly, resting your forehead against hers, your breath mingling. "I like you too, Yunjin," you said softly, the words flowing with ease now. "More than I expected."

Yunjin's eyes softened, a hint of relief flashing in them as she smiled, her hands running through your hair gently. "I'm glad," she whispered, her voice full of sincerity.

What are you gonna do now?

The day had been a whirlwind, two intense, emotional encounters with Aeri and Yunjin that had left you dizzy, confused, and overwhelmed. The heat of the kisses still lingered on your lips, but the warmth was tainted by a growing sense of anxiety that gnawed at you. You had no idea what to do anymore.

The whirlwind of emotions inside you was like a storm that refused to settle. One moment, you were lost in Aeri’s touch, feeling like nothing else mattered, and the next, you were kissing Yunjin with the same intensity, feeling something real you couldn’t deny. But now? Now, you were left in the silence, alone with your thoughts, trying to make sense of it all.

You kept replaying everything over and over in your mind, the way Aeri’s lips felt, how Yunjin’s touch made your heart race. The more you thought about it, the more the confusion grew. You never wanted to hurt either of them, but how could you possibly choose when both felt so right in different ways?

Your heart was torn in two, and no matter how hard you tried to focus on just one, the other kept sneaking into your thoughts. You didn’t want to betray anyone’s trust, yet here you were, caught in the middle of something that seemed to grow messier with every passing second.

You felt stressed, like you were carrying a weight you couldn’t put down. How were you supposed to make sense of your feelings for both Aeri and Yunjin? How could you be fair to either of them?

Your mind raced, trying to find answers, but it felt like every time you got close to one, the other tugged you in a different direction. You just wanted clarity, some way to figure out how to move forward, or if you could even move forward without everything crashing down around you.

Monday morning arrived, but you could barely focus. Your mind was still tangled in the mess you’d made over the weekend, switching between thoughts of Aeri and Yunjin. You kept replaying the moments you’d shared with each of them, trying to make sense of everything. But all you could feel was the weight of your confusion and guilt bearing down on you.

You were lost in your thoughts as you walked across campus, your mind miles away from everything around you. It wasn’t until you heard Yunjin’s voice cut through your haze that your head snapped up, her voice unmistakable, calling out your name.

“Y/N!”

Your heart skipped a beat, your body freezing in place as your eyes locked onto her. She was sitting at a table with none other than Aeri, who was looking up at you with wide eyes, brows furrowed in confusion. Your breath caught in your throat as the realization hit you like a wave.

Yunjin knew you. And now, Aeri was sitting there beside her, clearly wondering what was going on. The combination of their gazes, the unease in the air, and the sudden pressure made your heart race uncontrollably.

This is it, you thought. You're going to be exposed. Everything you had tried so hard to keep separate was about to collide, and you could feel the tension in your chest building up like a storm about to burst.

The ground beneath you seemed to shift, your knees feeling weak as the anxiety hit you full force. You couldn’t decide if you wanted to run or face them head-on. Either way, you felt like you might faint right there on the spot, your heart pounding so loud you were sure they could hear it.

You slowly took a step toward the table, trying to act normal, but the weight of the situation felt like it was crushing you. You didn’t know what to say, how to explain yourself. Your mind was too frantic, too tangled up in guilt and panic to form a coherent thought.

The moment had arrived, and everything you’d been trying to avoid was now right in front of you.

Your feet moved slowly, almost unwillingly, as you approached the table where Yunjin and Aeri were sitting. Every step felt heavier than the last, your mind scrambling to figure out what to do or say, but nothing came. It was like the words were trapped in your throat.

Yunjin’s eyes lit up when she saw you, a wide grin forming on her face, clearly oblivious to the chaos running through your head. “Hey!” she greeted, her tone warm, but you could feel the tension creeping in, the weight of Aeri’s confused gaze on you.

Aeri, on the other hand, looked like she was trying to process the situation. Her expression flickered between curiosity and suspicion, and it made your chest tighten even more. She had no idea what was going on, but the fact that you were here now, with Yunjin, made things incredibly complicated. You could already feel the questions building in the air.

You took a deep breath, trying to steady yourself before speaking. “Hey…” Your voice felt like a faint whisper, completely at odds with the storm raging inside you. “I didn’t expect to see you two together,” you added, trying to force a casual tone, though it was anything but.

Yunjin raised an eyebrow, clearly amused by your awkwardness. “Well, Aeri and I were just chatting, and I figured I’d introduce her to you. I didn’t know you two hadn’t met yet.” Her tone was light, but there was a small hint of something you couldn’t quite place.

Aeri, sensing the tension but still confused, looked between the two of you. “Yeah, I didn’t know you knew each other,” she said, her voice soft, but the curiosity was palpable. “Is there something I’m missing?”

Your heart hammered in your chest, the situation spiraling out of your control. You needed to act quickly, to explain something, anything to make it seem less weird, but your mind was drawing blanks. You glanced at both of them, your stomach twisting with guilt. The whole situation felt like a trainwreck waiting to happen.

“Uh, yeah, we met recently…” You trailed off, the words coming out weak and unsure. The truth seemed too complicated, too messy to explain now. So, you took a step back and tried to deflect. “I didn’t realize you two were friends,” you said to Aeri, forcing a smile that didn’t quite reach your eyes.

Aeri didn’t seem convinced. Her gaze softened, but there was a flicker of something, maybe suspicion, maybe hurt, that you couldn’t ignore. She opened her mouth, but before she could say anything, Yunjin interjected, her voice suddenly more serious.

“Y/N… we need to talk later,” Yunjin said, her eyes glancing over at Aeri quickly before meeting your gaze. The weight of those words hit you hard, and you could feel the tension in your shoulders. You weren’t sure if she was referring to what had happened between the two of you or the mess of emotions that had been left unaddressed. Either way, you knew you were in deep now.

Aeri’s eyes flickered between the two of you, narrowing slightly as she looked back at Yunjin. “What do you mean by that?” she asked, a bit sharper this time.

Yunjin chuckled softly, trying to ease the tension, but you could tell it was only making things worse. “It’s nothing to worry about, Aeri. Just... something personal.”

You could feel Aeri’s eyes on you, piercing through you as if trying to read every thought on your face. She was waiting for something more, and the longer you stayed silent, the harder it became to dodge the situation. Your heart thudded in your chest, every second making the air feel thicker, more suffocating.

You took a deep breath, trying to steady yourself, but it didn’t help. The world around you felt like it was spinning, and you were stuck in the middle of it all. Something had to give, and you had no idea how to make it happen.

All you could do was stand there, caught in a lie, drowning in the complexity of your feelings.

The tension in the air was thick as you stood there, caught between Yunjin and Aeri. You hadn’t expected this moment to come so soon, yet here you were, your heart pounding and your mind racing for a way out of the mess you had unknowingly created. Aeri was eyeing you, her arms crossed tightly over her chest, and the confusion in her expression slowly started to shift into suspicion. Yunjin, sitting beside her, was much more relaxed on the outside, but you could see the subtle way her eyes flicked back and forth between the two of you, a shift in her posture that suggested she was sensing something was off.

Aeri was the first to speak, her voice low but sharp. “So... Y/N, you know Yunjin?” she asked, her tone carefully neutral, but the hint of suspicion was undeniable. You could feel her watching you intently, waiting for your response.

Yunjin, ever the calm one, shifted in her seat, clearly trying to keep things light. “Yeah, we met recently. But you didn’t mention that you two knew each other,” she added, her voice almost too casual. There was an edge to her words that betrayed her attempt to act like everything was fine. She turned to Aeri, a half-smile on her lips. “I didn’t realize you were so close with Y/N.”

The mention of your name hanging in the air made your stomach tighten, and you could already feel the weight of their scrutiny pressing down on you. You opened your mouth to speak, but your words were stuck, tangled up in a knot of guilt and confusion. Aeri’s eyes narrowed slightly, her gaze flicking between you and Yunjin, and you could see the wheels turning in her head. She was piecing things together in her mind, and you knew the moment she realized something wasn’t right.

Aeri’s lips pressed into a thin line as she looked at you. “I didn’t know you two were... so familiar with each other,” she said, her voice cool but laced with an undercurrent of suspicion. “Are you sure there’s nothing else going on between the two of you?”

Yunjin’s gaze turned toward you, her expression unreadable for a split second before she leaned forward slightly, a subtle shift in her posture. Her tone had softened, but it was still cautious. “Yeah, Y/N. You’ve never mentioned that you were close to Aeri. What’s going on?”

You could feel their eyes on you, both of them waiting for an answer, and the silence that followed felt like it would swallow you whole. It wasn’t just a casual conversation anymore. Both women were starting to pick up on something, on the subtle shifts in your demeanor, the way you avoided certain questions, the tension that clung to the air between you.

Aeri’s eyes narrowed further as she leaned in just a bit, her voice barely above a whisper but sharp with suspicion. “What is this? Am I missing something, Y/N?” She wasn’t angry yet, but it was clear she wasn’t going to let this go. The way her gaze lingered on you, expectant and demanding, made you feel small.

Yunjin, still trying to keep the atmosphere light, raised an eyebrow. “You’ve been acting strange lately. Care to explain, Y/N?” There was a subtle change in her tone now, something that hinted at doubt.

The weight of the question pressed down on you. It felt like the walls were closing in on you, like you were caught in a lie you couldn’t escape from. They were both suspicious, their once casual interest in your life now tinged with doubt. You couldn’t keep up the façade any longer, but you had no idea how to get out of this without hurting someone.

Aeri crossed her arms, her gaze steady on you. “So what is it, Y/N? What’s going on with you and Yunjin?” There was no more pretense now, her tone was demanding, like she was waiting for you to fess up.

Yunjin was quiet for a moment, her expression unreadable, but you could see the glimmer of suspicion behind her eyes now, just barely concealed by her calm demeanor. “Yeah, Y/N. What’s going on?” she echoed, her voice slightly colder now.

You could feel the pressure mounting, the noose of your tangled emotions threatening to snap. There was no easy way out of this, no smooth excuse or perfect lie to make everything go away. The confusion, the tension, the guilt... it was all crashing over you at once, and you didn’t know how to handle it. All you could do was stand there, caught between two women who were now looking at you with growing suspicion.

The weight of their eyes on you, the suspicion and unspoken questions hanging in the air, finally broke you. You took a deep breath, your chest tightening, and you realized there was no escaping this anymore. The lies, the half-truths, the constant juggling, it had to stop. You owed them both the truth, even if it meant losing them both. You owed it to yourself to be honest.

You looked at Aeri first, her expression a mixture of confusion and hurt, and then at Yunjin, whose face had gone from casual curiosity to something darker. You swallowed, your throat dry, but you knew there was no other choice now.

“I... I’m seeing both of you,” you said, the words coming out slower than you expected, heavy with the weight of everything that had been left unsaid until now. Your heart was pounding, and you felt exposed in a way you hadn’t before. “I’ve been spending time with both of you, and I... I didn’t know what to do. I didn’t want to hurt anyone.”

The silence that followed was deafening. Aeri blinked, her expression unreadable at first, and then her lips pressed into a thin line. Her arms were still crossed, but now there was a tension in her posture that made it clear she was holding back a storm of emotions. Yunjin, on the other hand, seemed still for a moment, her gaze fixed on you, but you could see the wheels turning in her head, the realization starting to sink in.

Aeri was the first to speak, her voice low and strained. “So... you’ve been seeing both of us, this whole time? And you didn’t think either of us would find out?” Her words were sharp, edged with something you couldn’t quite place, disappointment, maybe? Betrayal? You couldn’t tell, but the way she looked at you made you feel small. “And you couldn’t be honest with us?”

“I... I should’ve told you both,” you admitted, your voice barely above a whisper. The weight of your guilt made your chest feel tighter. “I didn’t know how to say it. I didn’t want to hurt either of you, but I should’ve known better. I was scared.”

Yunjin finally spoke, her voice quieter but no less impactful. “So, all this time, you’ve been lying to both of us?” She shook her head, her brow furrowing in disbelief. “I don’t even know what to think right now. I thought... I thought you were different.”

You winced at her words, feeling the sting deep in your chest. “I am different,” you tried to explain, though the words felt hollow. “I didn’t mean for it to get like this. I didn’t want to hurt you, Yunjin. I just... I didn’t know how to choose.”

Aeri’s arms uncrossed, and she took a small step back, her gaze drifting away from you as if she couldn’t bear to look you in the eye anymore. “You should’ve chosen sooner,” she said quietly, her voice breaking just slightly, though she quickly regained her composure. “But now it’s too late.”

The words hit you like a punch to the gut. The tension between all three of you was palpable, a storm of emotions swirling in the air. You had done the right thing by finally being honest, but now it felt like you had destroyed everything in the process.

“I’m sorry,” you whispered, but it didn’t feel like enough. It didn’t feel like it could undo the damage you’d done.

The tension in the air lingered, thick and suffocating. You stood there, waiting for something, anything, that would break the silence. But the longer you stood, the more the weight of your actions pressed down on you. Aeri and Yunjin exchanged a brief look, their faces a mixture of confusion, hurt, and maybe even a little anger.

Yunjin shifted slightly, breaking the silence. “I don’t know what to say right now,” she said, her voice strained. She shook her head, her eyes narrowing. “You think we’re just supposed to be okay with this? That we can just go on like nothing happened?”

Aeri stepped forward, her arms crossing once more as she looked at you. “I didn’t expect this from you, Y/N,” she said, her tone soft, but there was an unmistakable edge to it. “I thought you cared about me, about us, but you didn’t even have the decency to be upfront from the start.”

“I do care,” you said, almost pleading. “That’s the problem. I care about both of you. I like you both. But I was scared... I didn’t want to hurt anyone, and now I’ve hurt both of you.”

“You should’ve thought about that before,” Aeri shot back, her eyes flashing with hurt. “You’ve been playing games with us this whole time, and now you want us to just accept it?”

Yunjin took a deep breath, her eyes searching yours. “What do you want, Y/N?” she asked, her voice quieter now but no less intense. “Do you expect us to just move on from this? Do you expect us to just forgive you?”

The question hung in the air, heavier than anything else. You didn’t have an answer. You didn’t know what you were expecting from them. You didn’t know what you wanted anymore.

“I don’t know what to do,” you admitted, your voice barely a whisper. “I don’t want to lose either of you.”

Aeri let out a sharp exhale, frustration clear on her face. “Well, sometimes you have to face the consequences of your actions, Y/N. And right now, it doesn’t look like you’re going to get away without facing them.”

“I don’t know what happens now,” you murmured, the reality of the situation settling in. The weight of the consequences, the uncertainty of the future, it was all too much.

There was a long pause as the three of you stood there, emotions running high, the distance between you growing with every passing second. You didn’t know how to fix this, and you had no idea if there was even a way to make things right.

Finally, Yunjin spoke again, her voice barely above a whisper. “I need some time to think. I can’t... I can’t process this all right now.”

Aeri nodded, her expression unreadable. “Same here. I think we both need time.”

With that, both of them turned away, walking in opposite directions, leaving you standing there alone. The silence was deafening, and for the first time in a long while, you felt truly lost.

You had no idea how to fix things or if you even could. But one thing was certain, you had never felt more alone in your life.

You rush home, your heart heavy, your mind a tangled mess of guilt, confusion, and regret. The moment you step through the door, you barely manage to close it behind you before the floodgates open. You collapse onto your bed, burying your face in your hands as the tears come pouring out. The emotions you've been bottling up for weeks, no, for months, are finally spilling over, and you can't stop them.

You feel like you're drowning in the weight of everything, Aeri’s hurt, Yunjin’s disappointment, and the realization that you've messed up in ways you can’t undo. You don't know what you were expecting, but this? This feels like the end of everything. The tears come harder, and you let them, because right now, it’s the only way to release the pain.

There’s a knock on your door, and without waiting for an answer, Kazuha steps inside. Her eyes soften when she sees you on the bed, your face streaked with tears. She doesn’t say anything at first, but you can feel her presence comforting in its own way. She sits next to you, rubbing your back gently.

“You were right,” you say between sobs, your voice shaky. “I messed everything up. I’m such an idiot.”

Kazuha sighs, her hand pausing on your back. “I told you it would catch up to you,” she says softly, her tone calm but not unkind. “You can’t juggle people’s feelings like that and expect everything to stay fine.”

You nod, sniffling as you wipe your eyes, unable to meet her gaze. “I didn’t want to hurt them, Kazuha. I just... I don’t know. I thought maybe I could handle it, but now I’ve lost both of them.”

Kazuha doesn’t respond immediately, instead waiting for you to gather yourself. “You can’t keep hiding from the truth, Y/N,” she says, her voice steady. “You have to be honest with yourself and with others, no matter how hard it is. And maybe you’ll lose them, maybe you won’t. But you can’t keep playing this game.”

You look at her then, finally meeting her eyes, and see the truth in her gaze. The weight of her words hits you harder than any of the things you’ve been telling yourself.

“I know,” you say quietly. “I just... I didn’t think it would be this hard.”

Kazuha gives you a small, understanding smile. “Of course it’s hard. It’s life. But this is how we learn. You’ll figure it out, even if it doesn’t feel like it now.”

The tears come again, but this time you don’t try to fight them. Kazuha just stays beside you, her presence grounding you, reminding you that you’re not alone, even if it feels like the world is falling apart around you.

The next day, you wake up to a heavy, lingering sense of dread. The events from yesterday are still fresh in your mind, the conversation with Aeri and Yunjin replaying in your head. You can't shake the feeling that everything is unraveling, and you have no idea how to put it back together.

You try to distract yourself by getting ready for the day, going through the motions of getting dressed and grabbing your things, but the weight of what happened presses on your chest, making it hard to focus. You barely eat, your mind too consumed by the mess you've created.

When you finally make it to campus, you’re met with a strange mix of emotions. There’s an ache in your stomach at the thought of seeing Aeri and Yunjin again, but also a part of you knows you need to face them. You can’t keep avoiding them. But how do you even begin to fix this?

As you walk across campus, you spot Yunjin sitting by a bench, her expression unreadable as she looks out at the students passing by. Your heart skips, and you hesitate, unsure of whether to approach her or not.

But before you can make a decision, you hear Aeri’s voice from behind you. “Y/N.”

You freeze. The way she says your name, soft but with an edge of something you can’t quite place, makes your stomach flip. Slowly, you turn to face her, finding her standing a few feet away, arms crossed, her eyes trained on you.

"I need to talk to you," Aeri says, her voice tight but not angry. You can feel the tension in the air between you two, but there's something almost... resigned in her expression.

"Okay," you manage to say, voice barely above a whisper. You glance over at Yunjin, who's watching you both with a guarded look, but she doesn’t move, doesn’t approach.

Aeri nods toward a quieter area of campus, and you follow her, your heart racing. The weight of everything, the guilt, the regret, the fear of losing them both, presses down on you as you walk, and you know that this conversation will either be the beginning of something healing or the end of everything.

When you’re out of earshot of the crowds, Aeri stops and turns to face you. Her eyes are still guarded, but there’s a vulnerability there too, something raw that makes your heart ache.

“You really thought you could keep this from us, didn’t you?” Aeri’s voice cracks slightly, and she quickly looks away, trying to compose herself. “I thought you were better than this.”

You swallow hard, the words you’ve been holding back threatening to spill over. "I didn’t want to hurt you, Aeri. I never meant for any of this to happen.”

Her eyes meet yours again, but this time there's a hint of disappointment, a weight you didn't realize you’d put on her. "But you did, Y/N. You hurt both of us.”

The silence that falls between you is thick, suffocating. You want to apologize, to explain everything, but nothing seems right.

“I... I don’t know what to do,” you admit, your voice shaking. “I like both of you. I didn’t expect it to get this complicated, but here we are.”

Aeri takes a deep breath, looking away for a moment before turning her gaze back to you. “You need to figure out what you really want, Y/N. Because right now, it feels like you’re just... avoiding the truth. Running from it.”

Your throat tightens, and you can feel the sting of tears threatening again. “I know... I know I messed up.”

Aeri shakes her head, her expression softening, though it doesn’t take away the hurt. “I’m not mad, Y/N. I’m hurt. And I don’t know if I can keep going like this.”

The words hit you like a punch in the gut, and you suddenly feel like the ground beneath you is slipping away.

“I never meant to hurt you, Aeri,” you say, your voice barely above a whisper.

Aeri steps back, a sigh escaping her lips. “I think I need some space, Y/N. I can’t keep doing this.”

You nod, your heart breaking as you watch her walk away, every step feeling like another fracture in the connection you once shared. You turn slowly, only to meet Yunjin’s gaze from across the campus, her eyes full of questions. You can’t help but feel like you're sinking deeper into this mess, and no matter what you do now, it might be too late to make things right.

But the last thing Aeri said before she left echoes in your head: “As much as I’m hurt, I still really like you.”

The weight of Aeri’s words still lingers in the air, heavy and suffocating. You stand there, frozen for a moment, unable to move. You feel like everything is collapsing in on you, and you're caught between two people you care about, neither of whom are happy with you right now.

You finally take a few shaky steps forward, looking over at Yunjin. She hasn’t moved, but her eyes are intense, waiting for you to make the next move. The tension is palpable, and you can almost hear her thoughts swirling in the air around you.

You approach her slowly, your heart pounding in your chest. It’s hard to meet her gaze directly, but you do anyway, because this is something you can’t avoid anymore.

“Yunjin,” you start, your voice hoarse, “I never meant for any of this to happen. I didn’t want to hurt you or Aeri. But... I don’t know what to do. I like both of you, and I’ve been lying to myself about how I felt.”

Yunjin’s eyes soften, but she doesn’t say anything for a long moment. The silence between you two feels like an eternity, and you’re starting to doubt whether you’ve made the right choice, whether telling the truth was the best thing after all.

“I didn’t expect this either,” Yunjin finally says, her voice surprisingly calm. “But I’m not blind, Y/N. I can see what’s been going on. You’re not the only one feeling confused.”

You take a deep breath, your stomach turning as you look at her. “I never meant to make you feel like that. I’m just... I don’t know what I want anymore. I care about both of you.”

Yunjin studies you for a moment, and then, much to your surprise, she reaches out and gently touches your arm. “I’m not going to lie and say that I’m okay with all of this. But I understand that feelings aren’t always something you can control. What I can’t deal with is the dishonesty.”

Her words sting, but they also make sense. She’s right. You’ve been avoiding the truth for too long, letting everything fester. But even now, it feels like a monumental task to sort through the mess you've made.

“I understand,” you whisper, your chest tightening again. “But... can you give me another chance? I know I messed up, but I want to make things right. I don’t know how, but I’ll try.”

Yunjin looks at you for a long time, her expression unreadable. Finally, she nods slowly, but there’s still a shadow of uncertainty in her eyes. “We’ll see, Y/N. But first... you need to figure things out, because I can’t keep going in circles like this. Neither can Aeri.”

The words settle heavily between you both. It’s not an answer you were hoping for, but it’s a start, at least she hasn’t turned her back on you completely.

You look around, seeing Aeri’s silhouette walking away in the distance. It’s clear that there’s so much more to fix, and that it won’t be easy. But for the first time in what feels like forever, you don’t feel completely lost. There’s a tiny sliver of hope left, and you’re determined to fight for it, whatever the outcome might be.

The week that follows feels like an eternity. You gave them both the space they asked for, stepping back and letting the silence settle in between the three of you. Your phone stays quiet, your heartbeats growing louder with each passing day. You try to fill the hours with distractions, schoolwork, spending time with friends, and even focusing on things that once brought you peace, but it all feels hollow. The guilt weighs heavy, always present in the back of your mind.

There are moments when you catch yourself reaching for your phone, your fingers hovering over the screen as if you could send a text that would make everything better. But each time, you pull back. You know they need time. You know you need time. It doesn't make the waiting any easier, though.

Your days pass in a blur of routine. You go through the motions, attend your classes, make small talk with classmates, but your mind is constantly racing. It’s like you’re living in two worlds at once: one where you’re just trying to survive, and another where you’re completely consumed by the consequences of your actions.

Still, you keep your composure. You tell yourself over and over that you can handle this. That you can wait. That things will eventually fall into place.

But deep down, you’re a mess. You think of Aeri, her quiet but hurt words, her need for space that still feels like a heavy weight on your chest. Then there’s Yunjin, her calm demeanor that hides the frustration and confusion you know she must be feeling. Both of them deserve honesty. Both of them deserve more than what you’ve given them.

You don’t know what will happen when the week ends. But you know you can’t hide forever. The silence has been deafening, and every moment that passes feels like it’s getting harder to hold everything together.

You’re just... trying to be patient. Trying to wait for the right moment to fix things.

But inside, your heart is breaking piece by piece. And you wonder if you’ll ever be able to fix the mess you’ve made.

Two weeks had passed since everything blew up. You’d given Aeri and Yunjin the space they needed, keeping your distance to give them time to process. The silence between the three of you had been deafening, and in your mind, it had been a blur of guilt, confusion, and self-doubt. You never imagined that you’d end up in a situation like this, but it had happened. All you could do was try to keep your composure and not let the weight of it all crush you.

Now, you were back in the library, trying to focus on your studies. The books in front of you were just words and pages, but your mind? Your mind was a mess. You tried to force yourself to concentrate, to block out the thoughts swirling around your feelings for both Aeri and Yunjin. It wasn’t working. Every moment felt like an internal battle.

You didn’t even realize how much time had passed, so absorbed in your work. That was, until you heard a soft cough, a clearing of the throat that sliced through the silence. You jumped, startled, your heart skipping a beat. As you looked up, you saw them, Aeri and Yunjin, standing right in front of you, their presence almost looming.

“Y/N, we need to talk,” Aeri said, her voice calm but carrying an edge of something you couldn’t quite place.

You blinked, trying to shake off the shock. “What? Oh, yeah. Of course.” Your voice was shaky, betraying the anxiety you were feeling inside. You quickly gathered your things, heart racing, and followed them as they led you out of the library.

“Where are we going?” you asked, trying to catch your breath as your nerves crept up on you.

“My place,” Aeri replied.

The walk to Aeri’s apartment felt like an eternity. Every step you took felt heavier than the last, the weight of uncertainty pressing down on you. What could they possibly want to talk about? Had they made up their minds about what was going on between you? Was this the end of everything? You could feel your stomach in knots, unsure of what to expect.

When you finally got to Aeri’s apartment, you sat down on the couch, trying to steady your breath, but your nerves were running wild. You glanced at both of them, but neither spoke immediately. The air between you was thick, heavy with unspoken words.

Finally, Yunjin broke the silence, her voice steady but full of emotion. “Y/N, Aeri and I have been talking,” she began. “And we came to a conclusion.”

Your heart raced, and you tried to prepare yourself for whatever was coming, but nothing could have prepared you for what Yunjin said next.

“It’s clear that we both like you, and you like us. And to make things less confusing for you,” Yunjin continued, “Aeri and I were thinking... we all date.”

Your mind went completely blank. What?

You blinked, your throat tightening as you tried to process the words. Your head swam, and you felt like the ground was slipping away beneath you.

“Wait,” you stammered, standing up quickly. “You’re saying... you both want to, date me? Like, together?”

Aeri’s eyes softened, her expression gentle yet resolute. “Yes. We talked about it. We both care about you, Y/N. And we can’t deny what’s between us. We thought maybe this would make things clearer, less confusing. We want to be with you, and we’re willing to try this... together.”

Yunjin nodded in agreement, her gaze fixed on you. “And also, Aeri and I confessed that we both had a crush on each other. So, we thought this would be easier for all of us.”

Your chest tightened, and your mind raced. A crush on each other? You looked between Aeri and Yunjin, unsure of what to say. This wasn’t just some casual conversation anymore. This was a big step, something that could change everything.

“I, I don’t know what to say,” you finally whispered, your voice trembling. “I care about both of you. But this... this is a lot. A lot to take in.”

Aeri stepped closer, her voice softening. “We know, Y/N. It’s not easy. But we’re here for you. We want you to be happy. And if that means trying this, together, then we’re ready for that.”

Yunjin nodded, her expression calm but firm. “We’re willing to take the leap, Y/N. Together, if you are.”

Your heart hammered in your chest, and you felt your emotions swirling in a chaotic mix. But somewhere deep inside, you knew that this wasn’t the end. It wasn’t even the beginning of the end. It was a new chapter, a new possibility.

You took a deep breath, your voice shaky but determined. “I... I don’t know what will happen, but... I want to try. I don’t want to lose either of you.”

Aeri smiled, relief flashing across her face, and Yunjin’s eyes softened with a sense of understanding. You didn’t have all the answers, but for the first time in a while, you felt a glimmer of hope.

And maybe that was enough for now.

The following days felt like a whirlwind. You were still processing everything, still getting used to the idea that Aeri and Yunjin were both willing to try this... together. It was exhilarating, overwhelming, and confusing all at once. But something about it felt right, too. You weren’t sure where this would lead, but you couldn’t deny the connection you had with both of them.

Aeri and Yunjin made sure to check in with you, their conversations careful but full of reassurance. They didn’t want to rush you, but they were both clear about wanting to move forward, together. You hadn’t given them a definite answer yet, but every moment with them made it harder to imagine a life without them.

That evening, you met them at a small café, the quiet hum of conversation around you doing little to calm the storm inside your mind. You found your seat, and within moments, both Aeri and Yunjin joined you, sitting across from you, their faces soft but expectant.

“You okay?” Aeri asked gently, her eyes scanning your face as if searching for any signs of doubt or hesitation.

You nodded, even though your heart was still heavy with questions. “Yeah, I’m just... trying to wrap my head around everything.”

Yunjin gave you a small smile, her fingers gently tapping on her coffee cup. “We know it’s a lot to take in. But we’re in this together, okay? No pressure. We just want to be clear with each other.”

You looked between them, feeling your heart swell at the thought of how much effort they were putting into this. They both cared. They really did. You could see it in the way they looked at you, the way they spoke to you, the way they tried to make everything easier for you.

“I’ve been thinking,” you started, your voice quieter now, unsure of how to articulate what was going on inside you. “This is all new to me. I’ve never been in a situation like this before.”

Yunjin’s eyes softened, her voice calm. “We know, Y/N. We’re not trying to force anything. We just want you to feel comfortable, to feel like this is something we all want. There’s no rush.”

Aeri nodded in agreement, her expression sincere. “Yeah. We want to take it slow, if that’s what you need. No one’s expecting anything crazy right away. We’re all figuring this out together.”

You let out a breath, feeling a sense of relief flood through you. As much as the situation was complicated, you realized that maybe it was the best kind of complicated, one where everyone was on the same page, where communication was key, and where you could be honest with each other.

“I think... I think I want to try,” you said finally, your heart pounding as the words left your mouth. “I want to see where this can go. With both of you.”

Both Aeri and Yunjin smiled, and something about their expressions made you feel like maybe this could work. Maybe you didn’t have to choose between them. Maybe the three of you could find a way to navigate this, together.

“We’re in this together, Y/N,” Aeri said softly, her eyes meeting yours with a promise. “We’ll figure it out, one step at a time.”

Yunjin reached across the table, her hand brushing yours gently. “No matter what, we’ve got each other’s backs. We’re all in this.”

The days passed by, and the three of you fell into a routine, one that was different from anything you’d ever known, but still comforting. Your connection with both Aeri and Yunjin grew stronger, and there was a sense of ease between the three of you, despite the complexity of the situation. You were still figuring out the details, but you knew deep down that this was something real, something worth exploring.

One evening, you found yourself at Aeri's apartment again, sitting on the couch with Yunjin and Aeri beside you. The air between you was warm, filled with the quiet hum of music in the background and the clink of mugs as you all sipped on your drinks. But tonight, there was something different. A lingering sense of anticipation hung in the air, a feeling that something important was about to happen.

Aeri turned to you, her usual playful expression softened into something more serious. "Y/N," she began, her voice calm but full of meaning. "We've been talking... and we both feel really strongly about you."

Yunjin nodded, her eyes never leaving yours, her gaze filled with warmth. "We both care about you a lot, and we want to take this to the next step."

You tilted your head, slightly confused but also intrigued. "What do you mean?" you asked, your heart beginning to race with the uncertainty of the moment.

Aeri took a deep breath, glancing at Yunjin for a brief moment before looking back at you. "What we're trying to say is... we both want you to be our girlfriend. Officially. Together."

Your breath hitched in your chest. The words were unexpected, yet they felt like they were always meant to come from them. A part of you had been wondering if this was where things were heading, but hearing them say it out loud made it feel real, more real than anything you had imagined.

"Wait, so... both of you?" you asked, your voice barely above a whisper, unsure if you heard them correctly.

Yunjin smiled, reaching out to gently take your hand in hers. "Yes, both of us," she confirmed. "We want to be with you, Y/N. We know this isn't a conventional situation, but it's real. And we're ready for this, if you are."

Aeri nodded, her voice softer but just as earnest. "We're asking you because we really believe in this. In us. But we want to know if you feel the same. Do you want to be with us, too? Not just as friends... but as something more?"

You felt your heart race as a mixture of emotions flooded your chest. You had never thought you'd find yourself in a situation like this, but being with them felt right. You liked both of them, maybe even loved them, in different ways, and the idea of being with both of them didn’t seem as impossible as you once thought. You could feel the sincerity in their words, the love they were offering, and the trust they had in you.

Taking a deep breath, you finally nodded, your voice shaky but sure. "Yes. I want to be with both of you too."

Aeri and Yunjin’s faces lit up with relief and joy. They both leaned in, pulling you into a warm embrace. The feeling of their arms around you was comforting, like a promise that no matter what, you were all in this together.

"Thank you, Y/N," Aeri whispered, her voice full of tenderness. "This means everything to us."

Yunjin kissed the top of your head softly. "We’ve got you. Always."

Months passed, and in the blink of an eye, everything had changed. The three of you had navigated the delicate balance of your relationship, learning more about each other every day, about the small quirks, the shared laughter, the quiet moments that made everything feel right. The initial uncertainty had long faded, replaced by a deep, genuine love that bound you all together.

You found yourself waking up in the mornings with Aeri and Yunjin beside you, feeling at home in a way you never had before. The three of you had built a rhythm, an unspoken understanding of each other's needs, boundaries, and desires. It was imperfect, messy at times, but also beautiful in its own way.

There were times when the world outside seemed too complicated, too judgmental, but when you were with Aeri and Yunjin, everything made sense. You weren’t just a couple; you were a team. You had created something unique, something yours.

One evening, after a long day of studying and work, the three of you found yourselves sitting on the couch in Aeri's apartment, nestled into each other. The warmth of their presence was comforting as you all watched a movie, the soft glow of the screen illuminating your faces. Aeri was curled up against your side, her head resting on your shoulder, while Yunjin was leaning against your other side, her hand entwined with yours.

You hadn’t realized how much you needed this moment of peace, no distractions, no pressures, just the three of you, together.

“I love you,” Yunjin said softly, her voice barely above a whisper as she leaned in to kiss you gently on the cheek. The words felt like a promise, one that had been building up over time, and hearing them from her made your heart swell.

Aeri smiled, brushing a lock of hair from your face as she shifted to kiss you on the lips. “I love you too,” she murmured, her voice full of affection.

The words settled in your chest like a heavy weight, but in the best way. “I love both of you,” you replied, your voice filled with sincerity. It wasn’t something you had to think about anymore; it was just the truth. You had fallen in love with both of them, in your own way, and the three of you had built something so strong, so unshakeable, that it felt like nothing else mattered.

The three of you shared a long, quiet kiss after that, the kind of kiss that spoke more than words ever could. It wasn’t about promises or declarations, it was just about love, pure and simple.

Aeri pulled back, looking at you both with a soft smile. “I never imagined something like this,” she admitted, her eyes full of affection. “But I can’t imagine my life without you two.”

Yunjin nodded, her expression warm. “I feel the same way. I never thought I could love two people like this, but with you... it just feels right.”

You smiled, feeling a rush of warmth fill your chest. “Yeah, me neither,” you said, your voice full of emotion. “I never knew love could feel like this.”

The three of you held each other close, the weight of the world outside no longer a concern. You had found your place together.

[cherrycheolkat]

• random slutty thoughts, feat. mingyu •

the valentine’s day / co-worker crush one

mingyu has sat in the cubicle next to yours long enough to know exactly how shitty your ex made valentine’s day last year, plus he knows you definitely haven’t even thought about a valentine’s date since you just accepted a stack of last minute work, because to quote you, “fuck this pretend holiday”

but he really hopes to change your mind

mingyu’s had a crush on you since you started working in his group, maybe before that even when he would just see you in the break room sometimes

at first he thought you were a bit unapproachable, but the longer he sat next to you, the more he realized you were a really good co-worker and friend - you always have great ideas for projects and you don’t make him feel like shit for not knowing every single thing like most people in the group, plus you’re always happy to grab coffee when he wants to complain about how something personal

he was glad when you had offered to exchange phone numbers so he could message you “just whenever” - it took him a week to finally decide what to send - a photo proving that he really uses the name ‘james’ as his ‘coffee order name’ because he was tired of the misspellings and you would not believe him - you had practically cackled at ‘james’

he was surprised when you asked if he had a date that night, “no, i haven’t really been talking to anyone” besides you, he thought

“at least you won’t be stuck here all night, though,” you smiled, leaning towards your computer to read something

he nodded, “yeah, true,” even as he spoke, he started to poke around seeing if there were any assignments he needed to complete (he knew there weren’t)

“wait, actually, sorry - there’s this part i kind of need help with,” you mumbled from your slouched over position

he blushed and scooched his chair over to your side of the barrier, you had already moved so he could see your screen - he was glad that you seemed to always have problems with excel functions

he started tinkering with the spreadsheet while you read some documents next to him - before he realized it, he was ready for dinner

he leaned back, “want to take a break?” it was a totally normal question

you nodded, “yes, please, I’m so tired of looking at this,” you whispered and then stood up to look around the office, “wow, it’s like a horror movie in here - absolutely everyone is gone but us”

he smiled knowing you mean zombie movies, which you proclaim to hate but still seem to know a lot about

“so what were you thinking?” you asked as you sit back down next to him - he notices when your knee bumps his leg

“hm, how bad do you think the waits are across the street?”

“oh fuck, i forgot, couples out in droves, right?”

he nods, watching you scrunch your face as you start checking for reservations close by - it takes a few minutes but you’re suddenly grabbing his sleeve, “oh my god, if we leave right now, we can just make it to a decent place,” you practically drag him along

the ‘decent’ place is actually really nice, way more than he was expecting, but he was glad for once that he was in dress clothes - he actually looked like he was your date

they seated you in one of the open booths, another couple were right next to you - he had started to look at the menu when you nudged him with your foot, he glanced up to see you covertly glance at the other couple - mingyu almost laughed when he saw the girl’s foot was practically buried in the guy’s crotch and moving at a concerning pace

he blushed slightly at the scene and glanced back to you, seeing the dangerous smirk on your face, he suddenly felt the toe of your shoe press gently to his calf - he was quick to slip a warning hand onto your thigh, squeezing gently

“i think we can do better darling,” he whispered

you looked too game, “oh, can we, sweetheart?”

he wasn’t sure what to make of your sugary voice, but he knew you were horribly competitive (both of you, if he were honest, could be a bit scary at company retreats)

he didn’t hesitate to nod, “of course we can,” he answered in a low tone, his thumb tracing circles against your thigh

when the waiter came back, you both ordered drinks, but he noticed quickly when the other couple conspicuously got up at the same time and wandered towards the bathroom

he sipped his wine, “did they really just go to the bathroom?”

you giggle, “they definitely did”

he swirled his glass gently, “okay, so if we go into the men’s room after them, do we just need to be louder?” he was genuinely asking

you laughed behind your hand, “seriously?” you grinned, “it’s not like we get a peleton this time,” you shoot back, voice soft in a way that makes his stomach flutter

“yeah, but,” he wasn’t sure where he was going with this, “they were annoying, why not be, you know,” he shrugged

“be more annoying, my darling, dearest,” you smiled and covered his hand with yours

he flushed but had a sudden thought, “look if we freak them out, i will literally pay for a full weekend at that glamping place you keep ogling,” he was very serious

“oh, okay, no wait, it has to be the one with the hot tub that overlooks the trees,” you were getting serious

he nodded, “i’ll give you my card, book whatever you want,” he was too sincere

he noticed the slight blush blooming across your cheeks, “you know it’s like a couples thing, right?”

“so, you can book for two and go alone, whatever,” in his mind this was completely reasonable to offer a co-worker who he clearly had just a crush on, especially when he hadn’t confessed

he watched you bite your lip lightly, “okay, but shouldn’t we both go? it’s like a group activity,” he flushed, knowing you’re looking at him much too clearly

“just come on or we’ll miss our chance,” he stood, glancing around and walking towards the bathroom

he pushed the door open and was immediately assaulted with sounds, really wet sounds

he caught you as you walked through the door, knowing you would laugh at the sounds, he pressed his hand across your lips and guided you to the stall next to the occupied one, locking the door

you glance at the stall wall, rolling your eyes at the sudden feminine cry of “oh, baby - yeah, just like that”

you lean close to him, “make it good, okay,” you whisper, your hands suddenly ghosting down his chest and stomach

he’s shocked when you ran your hands down the front of his trousers, “fuck, daddy, show me how hard you are,” you say in a breathy voice as your hands press roughly to his hips

he bit his lip hard to avoid laughing in total shock, “that what you want baby girl, my hard cock filling that tight pussy?” he asked, his voice lower than he expected, even though he was leaning down close, whispering against your throat, obviously in character

“mhmm, yes, i want you so badly - i’ve thought about it all day, daddy - i’ve just been sitting, waiting for you, all wet and ready for your cock”

he paused hearing this, his mouth immediately dry, he could feel your hand working him through his pants

he kissed your throat gently, “daddy’s good little girl, just waiting at her desk, hoping to get fucked,” he nipped your earlobe gently, “my naughty little girl,” he whispered as he bit your throat

he was momentarily stunned when you pulled your shirt down enough to expose your tits and your perfect nipples, but he didn’t even think before he dipped down, latching onto one and then the other, hearing your moans, as he licked and sucked “yes, daddy” - “yeah, just like that” - “fuck, i bet you could empty me”

he leaned up, catching your mouth in a soft kiss, he licked into you, tasting you as he pushed up your skirt, his cock was way too hard at the idea of your full tits

he slid his fingers under the hem of your panties, immediately feeling the slick waiting for him, “oh, baby, so wet for me,” he barely broke the kiss to murmur

he watched your face as he plunged his first two fingers inside your hot, wet pussy - you gasped softly, pulling his hair roughly as you did, “yes, daddy, play with me, you’ve kept me waiting so long,” you whimper as he crooked his fingers to hit the soft spongy spot he knew your ex had never been able to find

he had completely forgotten the other couple - all he cared about was the way you were writhing in pleasure in front of him - that and the way your cunt was clenching around him, it was so fucking tight and already dripping

he pressed close, “come for me baby girl, i can feel you holding back, just let go, make a mess for daddy to clean up,” he whispered

you pressed close, “give me one more finger first,” you breathed heavily against his skin

he was happy to slip his third finger in, stretching you and then scissoring you open too, pressing against your tight walls

you moaned loudly, “oh, fuck, yes - daddy, don’t stop, make me feel good”

he wasn’t worried about how loud you were - it was part of the point, but when your pussy suddenly gushed, “fuck,” he breathed, feeling your juices wet his thigh

he held you close as he he still worked his fingers inside your pussy, you yelped as a second orgasm tore through you, a new splash of hot pussy juices running down his thigh as you shivered with pleasure in his arms, grasping blindly for him, needing him to hold you as your orgasm worked through you

“mhmm, daddy, oh, fuck, did i do good?”

he was quick, “yeah, baby, you’re so perfect, so messy and wet for me,” he pressed soft kisses to your cheek, nuzzling close to you

it was obvious that you were more fucked out than either of you expected - he definitely didn’t hear anything from the couple in the other stall, but he wasn’t especially concerned either

he suddenly turned you around, pulling your back to his chest, as he unbuckled his belt and unbuttoned his pants, “still want daddy’s cock, baby girl?”

you nod, “yes, please, use me like a toy, make me yours”

he breathed slowly, lining his cock up with your cunt, he needed to control himself or he would come too fast

he plunged in, pausing to breathe, to feel your slick cunt stretching so wide to take all of him - he listened to your whimpers and soft pleas as you adjusted to being full

but he waited to move - and when he did, he was slow at first, feeling every bit of you squeezing him, wanting him

and when you leaned back, “fuck me daddy, fuck me like you want”

the way you gazed up at him told him everything - that you knew - you already knew exactly how he felt

and so he plunged in, setting a quick pace, not being afraid to snap his hips - he wanted to fuck you raw

and when he felt you clenching and fluttering around him, he pulled you close, holding you tight, and reaching down to work your clit, he gasped at the feeling of your third orgasm, the feeling of your slick against the head of his cock was too much

he came, he clenched his teeth together tightly, moaning low against your skin, his cum filling you, he kept moving, slowly fucking his cum deeper into you

“keep it inside baby,” he demanded, breathless, finally letting you go

you nod with a little smile, “what do i get if i do?”

he laughed softly, shaking his head, and fixed his pants

he helped you fix your clothes, glancing to see how massive your pupils were

he stopped and nuzzled close, feeling nothing but tenderness for you, “want to leave?”

you nodded, holding tight to his lapels, “can we still fuck though?”

he smiled, “mmmh, of course we can baby - we can fuck all you want,” he kissed you softly - he meant every word

⋅˚₊‧ ୨୧ ‧₊˚ ⋅ ⋅˚₊‧ ୨୧ ‧₊˚ ⋅ ⋅˚₊‧ ୨୧ ‧₊˚ ⋅ ⋅˚₊‧ ୨୧ ‧₊˚ ⋅ ⋅˚₊‧ ୨୧ ‧₊˚ ⋅ ⋅˚₊‧ ୨୧ ‧₊˚ ⋅ ⋅˚₊‧ ୨

a/n: happy v day - if you’re not getting fucked tonight, just think of mingyu ^^ we all know he would do it right …every time

♡ kat

tags: @syluslittlecrows

if you want to be tagged, go [here] my [master list] if you want to read more

[suzukiblu]

WIP excerpt for Nat behind the cut; "Kon and Jon and brother issues". (( chrono || non-chrono ))

Kon goes back to finish his chores later, once Jon and Damian have taken off after whatever the fuck weird thing they’re taking off after this time. Kon keeps an ear on Jon’s heartbeat, even knowing it’s fucking pointless. If something happened, Clark would be there faster than he could even register hearing anything. That’s–obvious. That’s just how it is. 

He always listens anyway, though, when he knows the kid’s run off somewhere. 

Well, Kon listens to a lot of people who don’t feel the same way he feels about them, so it’s not like the kid’s special or something. 

Like–Jon is special. Obviously. Even if Kon didn’t love him like–whatever Jon doesn’t want him to be–even if Kon didn’t love him, he’d know that. Jon’s special. A natural-born hybrid and the one who’s actually gonna grow up to fit Superman’s cape, like Kon didn’t know there was already someone else around to pick up someday. To–inherit. 

Kon’s just an idiot who was trying to earn something that wasn’t ever gonna be his to begin with. 

He doesn’t know how he was ever stupid enough to think it even could be. 

And all that aside, Jon’s loved and treasured and fucking cherished. So–he’s special, yeah. He’s special, and everyone just knows it. 

Kon feels–there’s some things he feels about that, but he doesn’t wanna think about them. 

He finishes his chores. He listens to Jon’s heartbeat. He eats dinner like a normal person who ever ate dinner the way the Kents do it before the Kents happened to him. Ma and Pa sit down together every night at six and say friggin’ grace, for fuck’s sake. They talk about their days; they talk about their plans; they talk about tomorrow. 

They ask him shit about himself like they actually wanna hear the answer, and they don’t get annoyed if he doesn’t wanna answer. Don’t make him feel stupid when he does answer. 

Ma taught him how to set a table and wash dishes and, like, fucking dust and vacuum, even. Pa taught him how to drive–a car and a tractor and even a fucking riding mower–and he’s been teaching him how to use the stuff in his toolbox, and Ma’s been teaching him how to bake, and . . . 

They don’t make him feel stupid about it. They just, like–teach him shit. Show him shit. 

Ask him about himself, and remember what he says. 

They’re some of the only people in the world he just knows feel–feel something kind of like what he feels about them back at him. For a while he thought Cassie did, but then she figured out she didn’t. For a while he thought Tim did, but then Kon figured out he–didn’t. 

He thinks Bart does, at least. He thinks–he’s pretty sure Bart feels the same way he feels about him. Or maybe he’s just . . . stupid, maybe. Maybe he’s stupid about Ma and Pa too. Maybe he’ll always be– 

Kon cuts that stupid line of thought off and goes out back to the barn while Ma and Pa settle in on the porch. She’s crocheting something; he’s reading. Kon wonders if she’d teach him how to do that. Sometimes he just, like–lets his TTK focus on it when she’s crocheting or sewing or whatever, and it feels kind of . . . it’s quiet, a little. Settling. 

She probably would teach him if he asked, he knows, but he’s never really managed to ask either of them for all that much of that kind of thing. 

He hides up in the quiet of the loft and keeps listening to Jon’s heartbeat like it even fucking matters that he is. 

The kid doesn’t need him. He’s with Damian, and if shit goes south Clark’ll be right there, and it’s not like fucking Batman isn’t also available for that kind of thing, so like–it doesn’t matter, that Kon always listens to his heartbeat when knows Jon’s run off again. It’s actually kinda fuckin’ creepy, actually, and he should really stop doing it. 

He’s thought that a lot of times, though, and he hasn’t stopped yet. 

[studyinglogic]

[Continued from above]

Mistake 1: Asymmetrical Studying

Assuming you don't just want to do a single activity in a language, or are learning a language like ASL, a language requires 4 parts to be studied: Speaking, Listening, Writing, Reading. While these have overlap, you can't learn speaking from reading, or even learn speaking from just listening. One of my first Chinese teachers told me how he would listen to the textbook dialogues while he was biking to classes and it helped him. I took this information, thought "Yeah that's an idea, but sounds boring" and now regret not taking his advice nearly every day.

I think a lot of us find methods we enjoy to study (mine was reading) and assume that if we just do that method more ™ it will eventually help us in other areas (sometimes it does, but that's only sometimes). Find a method that works for you for each area of study, even better find more than one method since we use these skills in a variety of manners! I can understand a TV program pretty well since I have a lot of context clues and body language to fill in any gaps of understanding, but taking a phone call is much harder—the audio is rougher, there's no body language to read, and since most Chinese programs have hard coded subtitles, no subtitles to fall back on either. If I were to compare the number of hours I spent reading in Chinese to (actively) training my listening? Probably a ratio of 100 to 1. When I started to learn Korean, the first thing I did was find a variety of listening resources for my level.

Fix: Find a variety of study methods that challenge all aspects of the language in different ways.

A variety of methods will help you develop a more well-rounded level of mastery, and probably help you keep from getting bored. Which is important because...

Mistake 2: Inconsistent Studying

If there is one positive to a language app, it is the pressure it puts on keeping a streak. Making studying a part of your everyday routine is the best thing you can do. I benefited a lot from taking a college language course since I had a dedicated time to study and practice Chinese 5 days out of the week (and homework usually filled the other two). Memorization is a huge part of language learning, and stopping and starting is terrible for memorization. When I was in elementary school, we had Spanish maybe a couple times a month. Looking back, it seems like it was the first class to be cut if we needed to catch up on a more important course. Needless to say, I can't even speak Spanish at an elementary level.

However, I'm sure many people reading this don't have the time to do ultra-immersion 4-hour study sessions every day either. Find what days during the week you have time to focus on learning new vocab and grammar, and use the rest of the week to review. This can be done on your commute to school/work, while you do the dishes, or as a part of your morning/evening routine. Making this as realistic as possible will help you actually succeed in making this a habit. (Check this out for how to set realistic study goals)

Fix: Study regularly (ideally daily) by setting realistic goals. Avoid "binge" studying since remembering requires consistent repetition to be most effective.

Mistake 3: Resource Choice

This is really composed of two mistakes, but I have a good example that will cover them both.

First, finding resources that are at or slightly above your level is the most important thing. Easy resources will not challenge you enough and difficult resources will overwhelm you. The ideal is n+1, with n as what you know plus 1 new thing.

Second, getting distracted by fancy, new technology. Newer isn't always better, and there are often advantages that are lost when we've made technological developments. I often found myself wanting to try out new browser extensions or organizational methods and honestly I would've benefitted from just using that time to study. (Also, you're probably reading this because of my DL post so I don't think it has to be said that AI resources suck.)

A good example of this was my time using Clozemaster. I had actually recommended it when I first started using it since I thought the foundation was really solid. However, after long term use, I found that it just wasn't a good fit. The sentences were often too simple or too long and strange for memorization at higher levels or were too difficult at lower levels. I think that taking my textbook's example sentences from dialogues into something like Anki would've been a far better use of my time (and money) as they were already designed to be at that n+1 level.

Fix: "Vet" your resources—make sure they will actually help you. If something is working for you, then keep using it! You don't always have to upgrade to the newest tool/method.

Mistake 3.5: Classrooms and Textbooks

A .5 since it's not my mistake, but an addendum of caution. I think there is a significant part of the language learning community that views textbooks and classroom learning as the worst possible resource. They are "boring", "outdated", and "ineffective" (ironically one of the most interesting modern language learning methods, ALG, is only done in a classroom setting). Classrooms and textbooks bring back memories of being surrounded by mostly uninterested classmates, minimal priority, and a focus on grades rather than personal achievement (imagine the difference between a class of middle schoolers who were forced to choose a foreign language vs. adult learners who self-selected!) People have used these exact methods, or even "cruder" methods, to successfully learn a language. It all comes down to what works best for you. I specifically recommend textbooks for learning grammar and the plentiful number of dialogues and written passages that can function great as graded readers and listening resources. (Also the distinction made between "a youtube lesson on a grammatical principle" which is totally cool, and "a passage in a grammar textbook" is more one of tone and audio/written than efficacy).

Classrooms can be really great for speaking practice since they can be a lot less intimidating speaking to someone who is also learning while receiving corrections. Speech can be awkward to train on your own (not impossible if you're good at just talking aloud to yourself!), and classrooms can work nicely for this. Homework and class schedules also have built in accountability!

Fix: Explore resources available to you and try to think holistically about your approach. CI+Traditional Methods is my go to "Learning Cocktail"

Mistake 4: Yes, Immersion, But...

I realized this relatively quickly while learning Chinese, but immersion at a level much higher than your current level will do very little for you. What is sometimes left out of those "Just watch anime to learn Japanese" discussions is that you first need to have a chance at understanding what is being said. Choosing materials that are much higher than your level will not teach you the language. It doesn't matter how many times someone at HSK 1 hears “他是甘露之惠，我并无此水可还”, they will not get very far. Actual deduction and learning comes from having enough familiar components to be able to make deductions—something different than guessing. An HSK 1 learner, never having heard the word 老虎 will be able to understand "tiger" if someone says “这是我的老虎” while standing next to a tiger. This is not to say you can never try something more difficult—things should be challenging—but if you can't make heads or tails of what's being said, then it's time to find something a bit easier. If mistake 2 is about the type of method, this is about the level. If you wouldn't give a kindergartener The Great Gatsby to learn how to read, why would you watch Full Metal Alchemist to start learning a language?

Side note: Interesting video here on the Comprehensible Input hypothesis and how it relates to neurodivergence.

Fix: Immerse yourself in appropriate content for your level. It's called comprehensible input for a reason.

Mistake 5: On Translation

I work as a translator, so do you really think I'm going to say translation is all bad? Of course not. It's a separate skill that can be added on to the basic skills, but is really only required if you are A. someone who is an intermediary between two languages (say you have to translate for a spouse or family member) or B. It is your job/hobby. In the context of sitting down and learning, it can be harmful. I think my brain often goes to translation too often because that's how I used to learn. Trying to unlearn that is difficult because, well, what do people even mean when they say "don't translate"? They mean when someone says "thank you", you should not go to your primary language and translate "you're welcome" from that. You should train yourself to go to your target language first when you hear the word for "thank you". A very literally translated "thank you" in Chinese "谢谢你" can come off as cold and sarcastic. I don't tell my friends that, I say "谢啦～". Direct translation can take away the difference in culture, grammar, and politeness in a language. If there is a reason you sound awkward while writing and speaking, it's probably because you're imposing your primary language on your target language.

Fix: Try as hard as you can to not work from your primary language into the target language, but to work from the structures, set phrases, and grammar within the target language that you know first.

Mistake 6: The Secret Language Learners Don't Want You To Know...

...is that there is no one easy method. You are not going to learn French while you sleep, or master Korean by doing this one easy trick. Learning a language requires work and dedication, the people that succeed are those that push through the boredom of repetition and failure. The "I learned X in 1 year/month/week/day!" crowd is hiding large asterisks, be it their actual level, the assistance and free time available to them, "well actually I had already studied this for 4 years", or just straight-up lying. Our own journeys in our native tongue were not easy, they required years and years of constant immersion and instruction. While we are now older and wiser people that can make quick connections, we are also burdened with things like "jobs", "house work", "school work", and the digital black hole that is "social media" that take up our time and energy. Everything above is to help make this journey a little bit easier, quicker, and painless, but it will never be magic.

I find that language learning has a lot in common with the fitness community. People will talk about the workout that changed their life and how no other one will do the same—and it really can be the truth that it changed their life and that they feel it is the ultimate way. The real workout that will change your life is the one you're most consistent with, that you enjoy the most. Language learning is just trying to find the brain exercise that you can be the most consistent with.

Fix: Save your energy looking for shortcuts, and do the work, fail, and come back for more. If someone tells you that you can become fluent in a ridiculously short amount of time, they are selling you a fantasy (and likely a product). You get out what you put in.

For those that made it to the end, here are some of my "universal resources":

Refold Method: I don't agree with their actual method 100%, but they've collected a lot of great resources for learning languages. I've found their Chinese and Korean discords to also be really helpful and provided even more resources than what's given in their starter guides.

Language Reactor: Very useful, and have recently added podcasts as a material! The free version is honestly all you need.

Anki: If I do not mention it, the people with 4+ year streaks with a 5K word deck will not let me forget it. It can be used on desktop or on your phone as an app. If you need a replacement for a language learning app, this is one of them. Justin Sung has a lot of great info on how to best utilize Anki (as does Refold). It's not my favorite, but it could be yours!

LingQ: "But I thought you said language apps are bad!" In isolation, yes. Sorry for the clickbait. This one is pretty good, and more interested in immersing you in the language than selling a subscription to allow you to freeze your streak so the number goes up.

Grammar Textbooks: For self-taught learning, these are going to be the best resource since it's focused on the hardest part of the language, and only that. If you're tired of seeing group work activities, look for a textbook that is just on grammar (Modern Mandarin Chinese Grammar is my rec for Chinese, and A Guide to Japanese Grammar by Tae Kim is the most common/enthusiastic rec I've heard for Japanese).

Shadowing: Simply repeat what you hear. Matt vs Japan talks about his setup here for optimized shadowing (which you can probably build for a lot cheaper now), but it can also just be you watching a video and pausing to repeat after each sentence or near simultaneously if you're able.

Youtube: Be it "Short Story for Beginners", "How to use X", "250 Essential Phrases", or a GRWM in your target language, Youtube is the best. Sometimes you have to dig to find what works for you, but I imagine there is something for everyone at every level. (Pro tip: People upload textbook audio dialogues often, you don't even have to buy the textbook to be able to learn from it!)

A Friend: Be it a fellow learner, or someone who has already mastered the language, it is easier when you have someone, not only to speak to, but to remind you why you're doing this. I write far more in Chinese because I have friends I can text in Chinese.

Pen and Paper: Study after study, writing on paper continues to be the best method for memorization. Typing or using a pen and tablet still can't compare to traditional methods.

The Replies (Probably): Lots of people were happy to give alternatives for specific languages in the replies of my DL post. The community here is pretty active, so if this post blows up at least 20% of what the last one did, you might be able to find some great stuff in the replies and reblogs.

I wish you all the best~

Language Apps Suck, Now What?: A Guide to Actually Becoming "Fluent"

The much requested sequel to my DL post that was promised almost a year ago.

I'm going to address all of the techniques that have helped me in my language learning journeys. Since 95% of these came from the fact that in a past language learning mistake, they are titled as my mistakes (and how I would/did things differently going forward). For those that read to the bottom there is a "best universal resources" list.

Disclaimers:

"Fluency" is hard to define and everyone has their own goals. So for the purpose of this post, "fluency" will be defined as "your personal mastery target of the language".

If you just want to pick up a bit of a language to not sound like a total foreigner on vacation or just exchange a few words in a friend's native language, feel free to ignore what doesn't apply, but maybe something here could help make it a little easier.

This is based on my own personal experience and (some) research.

Mistake 1: Asymmetrical Studying

Assuming you don't just want to do a single activity in a language, or are learning a language like ASL, a language requires 4 parts to be studied: Speaking, Listening, Writing, Reading. While these have overlap, you can't learn speaking from reading, or even learn speaking from just listening. One of my first Chinese teachers told me how he would listen to the textbook dialogues while he was biking to classes and it helped him. I took this information, thought "Yeah that's an idea, but sounds boring" and now regret not taking his advice nearly every day.

I think a lot of us find methods we enjoy to study (mine was reading) and assume that if we just do that method more ™ it will eventually help us in other areas (sometimes it does, but that's only sometimes). Find a method that works for you for each area of study, even better find more than one method since we use these skills in a variety of manners! I can understand a TV program pretty well since I have a lot of context clues and body language to fill in any gaps of understanding, but taking a phone call is much harder—the audio is rougher, there's no body language to read, and since most Chinese programs have hard coded subtitles, no subtitles to fall back on either. If I were to compare the number of hours I spent reading in Chinese to (actively) training my listening? Probably a ratio of 100 to 1. When I started to learn Korean, the first thing I did was find a variety of listening resources for my level.

Fix: Find a variety of study methods that challenge all aspects of the language in different ways.

A variety of methods will help you develop a more well-rounded level of mastery, and probably help you keep from getting bored. Which is important because...

Mistake 2: Inconsistent Studying

If there is one positive to a language app, it is the pressure it puts on keeping a streak. Making studying a part of your everyday routine is the best thing you can do. I benefited a lot from taking a college language course since I had a dedicated time to study and practice Chinese 5 days out of the week (and homework usually filled the other two). Memorization is a huge part of language learning, and stopping and starting is terrible for memorization. When I was in elementary school, we had Spanish maybe a couple times a month. Looking back, it seems like it was the first class to be cut if we needed to catch up on a more important course. Needless to say, I can't even speak Spanish at an elementary level.

However, I'm sure many people reading this don't have the time to do ultra-immersion 4-hour study sessions every day either. Find what days during the week you have time to focus on learning new vocab and grammar, and use the rest of the week to review. This can be done on your commute to school/work, while you do the dishes, or as a part of your morning/evening routine. Making this as realistic as possible will help you actually succeed in making this a habit. (Check this out for how to set realistic study goals)

Fix: Study regularly (ideally daily) by setting realistic goals. Avoid "binge" studying since remembering requires consistent repetition to be most effective.

Mistake 3: Resource Choice

This is really composed of two mistakes, but I have a good example that will cover them both.

First, finding resources that are at or slightly above your level is the most important thing. Easy resources will not challenge you enough and difficult resources will overwhelm you. The ideal is n+1, with n as what you know plus 1 new thing.

Second, getting distracted by fancy, new technology. Newer isn't always better, and there are often advantages that are lost when we've made technological developments. I often found myself wanting to try out new browser extensions or organizational methods and honestly I would've benefitted from just using that time to study. (Also, you're probably reading this because of my DL post so I don't think it has to be said that AI resources suck.)

A good example of this was my time using Clozemaster. I had actually recommended it when I first started using it since I thought the foundation was really solid. However, after long term use, I found that it just wasn't a good fit. The sentences were often too simple or too long and strange for memorization at higher levels or were too difficult at lower levels. I think that taking my textbook's example sentences from dialogues into something like Anki would've been a far better use of my time (and money) as they were already designed to be at that n+1 level.

Fix: "Vet" your resources—make sure they will actually help you. If something is working for you, then keep using it! You don't always have to upgrade to the newest tool/method.

Mistake 3.5: Classrooms and Textbooks

A .5 since it's not my mistake, but an addendum of caution. I think there is a significant part of the language learning community that views textbooks and classroom learning as the worst possible resource. They are "boring", "outdated", and "ineffective" (ironically one of the most interesting modern language learning methods, ALG, is only done in a classroom setting). Classrooms and textbooks bring back memories of being surrounded by mostly uninterested classmates, minimal priority, and a focus on grades rather than personal achievement (imagine the difference between a class of middle schoolers who were forced to choose a foreign language vs. adult learners who self-selected!) People have used these exact methods, or even "cruder" methods, to successfully learn a language. It all comes down to what works best for you. I specifically recommend textbooks for learning grammar and the plentiful number of dialogues and written passages that can function great as graded readers and listening resources. (Also the distinction made between "a youtube lesson on a grammatical principle" which is totally cool, and "a passage in a grammar textbook" is more one of tone and audio/written than efficacy).

Classrooms can be really great for speaking practice since they can be a lot less intimidating speaking to someone who is also learning while receiving corrections. Speech can be awkward to train on your own (not impossible if you're good at just talking aloud to yourself!), and classrooms can work nicely for this. Homework and class schedules also have built in accountability!

Fix: Explore resources available to you and try to think holistically about your approach. CI+Traditional Methods is my go to "Learning Cocktail"

Mistake 4: Yes, Immersion, But...

I realized this relatively quickly while learning Chinese, but immersion at a level much higher than your current level will do very little for you. What is sometimes left out of those "Just watch anime to learn Japanese" discussions is that you first need to have a chance at understanding what is being said. Choosing materials that are much higher than your level will not teach you the language. It doesn't matter how many times someone at HSK 1 hears “他是甘露之惠，我并无此水可还”, they will not get very far. Actual deduction and learning comes from having enough familiar components to be able to make deductions—something different than guessing. An HSK 1 learner, never having heard the word 老虎 will be able to understand "tiger" if someone says “这是我的老虎” while standing next to a tiger. This is not to say you can never try something more difficult—things should be challenging—but if you can't make heads or tails of what's being said, then it's time to find something a bit easier. If mistake 2 is about the type of method, this is about the level. If you wouldn't give a kindergartener The Great Gatsby to learn how to read, why would you watch Full Metal Alchemist to start learning a language?

Side note: Interesting video here on the Comprehensible Input hypothesis and how it relates to neurodivergence.

Fix: Immerse yourself in appropriate content for your level. It's called comprehensible input for a reason.

Mistake 5: On Translation

I work as a translator, so do you really think I'm going to say translation is all bad? Of course not. It's a separate skill that can be added on to the basic skills, but is really only required if you are A. someone who is an intermediary between two languages (say you have to translate for a spouse or family member) or B. It is your job/hobby. In the context of sitting down and learning, it can be harmful. I think my brain often goes to translation too often because that's how I used to learn. Trying to unlearn that is difficult because, well, what do people even mean when they say "don't translate"? They mean when someone says "thank you", you should not go to your primary language and translate "you're welcome" from that. You should train yourself to go to your target language first when you hear the word for "thank you". A very literally translated "thank you" in Chinese "谢谢你" can come off as cold and sarcastic. I don't tell my friends that, I say "谢啦～". Direct translation can take away the difference in culture, grammar, and politeness in a language. If there is a reason you sound awkward while writing and speaking, it's probably because you're imposing your primary language on your target language.

Fix: Try as hard as you can to not work from your primary language into the target language, but to work from the structures, set phrases, and grammar within the target language that you know first.

Mistake 6: The Secret Language Learners Don't Want You To Know...

...is that there is no one easy method. You are not going to learn French while you sleep, or master Korean by doing this one easy trick. Learning a language requires work and dedication, the people that succeed are those that push through the boredom of repetition and failure. The "I learned X in 1 year/month/week/day!" crowd is hiding large asterisks, be it their actual level, the assistance and free time available to them, "well actually I had already studied this for 4 years", or just straight-up lying. Our own journeys in our native tongue were not easy, they required years and years of constant immersion and instruction. While we are now older and wiser people that can make quick connections, we are also burdened with things like "jobs", "house work", "school work", and the digital black hole that is "social media" that take up our time and energy. Everything above is to help make this journey a little bit easier, quicker, and painless, but it will never be magic.

I find that language learning has a lot in common with the fitness community. People will talk about the workout that changed their life and how no other one will do the same—and it really can be the truth that it changed their life and that they feel it is the ultimate way. The real workout that will change your life is the one you're most consistent with, that you enjoy the most. Language learning is just trying to find the brain exercise that you can be the most consistent with.

Fix: Save your energy looking for shortcuts, and do the work, fail, and come back for more. If someone tells you that you can become fluent in a ridiculously short amount of time, they are selling you a fantasy (and likely a product). You get out what you put in.

For those that made it to the end, here are some of my "universal resources":

Refold Method: I don't agree with their actual method 100%, but they've collected a lot of great resources for learning languages. I've found their Chinese and Korean discords to also be really helpful and provided even more resources than what's given in their starter guides.

Language Reactor: Very useful, and have recently added podcasts as a material! The free version is honestly all you need.

Anki: If I do not mention it, the people with 4+ year streaks with a 5K word deck will not let me forget it. It can be used on desktop or on your phone as an app. If you need a replacement for a language learning app, this is one of them. Justin Sung has a lot of great info on how to best utilize Anki (as does Refold). It's not my favorite, but it could be yours!

LingQ: "But I thought you said language apps are bad!" In isolation, yes. Sorry for the clickbait. This one is pretty good, and more interested in immersing you in the language than selling a subscription to allow you to freeze your streak so the number goes up.

Grammar Textbooks: For self-taught learning, these are going to be the best resource since it's focused on the hardest part of the language, and only that. If you're tired of seeing group work activities, look for a textbook that is just on grammar (Modern Mandarin Chinese Grammar is my rec for Chinese, and A Guide to Japanese Grammar by Tae Kim is the most common/enthusiastic rec I've heard for Japanese).

Shadowing: Simply repeat what you hear. Matt vs Japan talks about his setup here for optimized shadowing (which you can probably build for a lot cheaper now), but it can also just be you watching a video and pausing to repeat after each sentence or near simultaneously if you're able.

Youtube: Be it "Short Story for Beginners", "How to use X", "250 Essential Phrases", or a GRWM in your target language, Youtube is the best. Sometimes you have to dig to find what works for you, but I imagine there is something for everyone at every level. (Pro tip: People upload textbook audio dialogues often, you don't even have to buy the textbook to be able to learn from it!)

A Friend: Be it a fellow learner, or someone who has already mastered the language, it is easier when you have someone, not only to speak to, but to remind you why you're doing this. I write far more in Chinese because I have friends I can text in Chinese.

Pen and Paper: Study after study, writing on paper continues to be the best method for memorization. Typing or using a pen and tablet still can't compare to traditional methods.

The Replies (Probably): Lots of people were happy to give alternatives for specific languages in the replies of my DL post. The community here is pretty active, so if this post blows up at least 20% of what the last one did, you might be able to find some great stuff in the replies and reblogs.

I wish you all the best~

[losernb]

Valentine's Day Surprise

Sevika’s never experienced  this before. Valentine's Day is a Piltover holiday, there’s no time for stuff like this in Zaun. She never would’ve known about it if she didn’t decide to take you and the girls out for a fun day last week.

Valentine’s Day:

“Look over there!” Jinx points, drawing Isha’s attention to the giant sign. It’s bright pink, covered in a bunch of hearts, and it reads:

Valentine’s Day Sale- All the chocolate, flowers, and plushies a girl could ever want!

Isha’s face lights up with excitement as she reads it. Candy, flowers, and a new teddy bear?! I want them! She signs eagerly towards Jinx.. 

“You gotta ask Sevika, she’s the one with the money.” Jinx says with a laugh.

Without hesitation, Isha dashes over to where you and Sevika are talking, tugging insistently at Sevika’s sleeve. Sevika looks down at her, brow raised in confusion.

“What’s wrong kid?” Sevika asks, voice hinting with confusion. Isha points to the sign, causing both you and Sevika to turn and look at it. You laugh a little, knowing why she was drawing your attention to it. 

“Looks like we know what we’re buying today.” You laugh and pick Isha up, settling her down on your hip and kissing her cheek. She giggles and throws both arms up, letting out a victorious squeal. Sevika rolls her eyes and lets out a sigh, “Alright, c’mon girls let’s go see what this is about.”

The four of you walk into the store, taking in the assortment of flowers and the piles of plushies. Isha and Jinx are mesmerized. Before you can blink, Isha wriggles out of your arms, grabbing Jinx’s hand and dragging her toward the stuffed animals.

“The hell is ‘Valentine’s Day’ anyway?” Sevika asks you, never having heard of it before. You grew up in Zaun as well so you had no clue. 

“Maybe we can go ask?” You suggest, walking up to the first worker you see. It’s an older lady who smiles when she sees the two of you. “Hello, what can I do for you lovely ladies?” She asks, smiling warmly.

“Hi, I just wanted to ask what Valentine’s Day is, I saw it on the sign outside.” You reply, offering back a small smile. 

The woman lets out a small laugh, “Oh dear, you’ve never heard of Valentine’s Day? Are you new to Piltover?”

You nod. “Yeah, actually. We don’t really have fancy holidays in Zaun—just birthdays and anniversaries, mostly.”

Sevika shifts beside you, resting a hand on your back—a habit of hers whenever she senses something’s off. You glance at her, noticing the subtle furrow in her brow.

Then, the woman’s smile fades. Her expression stiffens, her warmth turning to something colder.

“Oh,” she says, voice suddenly clipped. “Well, it’s a day to celebrate loved ones.” The words feel forced, like an afterthought. “Excuse me, I need to go.” She turns abruptly, walking away without another word.

You turn back to Sevika and understand the look now, she caught the lady’s shift in attitude before you did. You kiss her cheek, as a reminder that everything’s okay. “Cmon Sevi, lets just get our girl and go.” Sevika nods, jaw tight, but says nothing.

You make your way over to Jinx and Isha, who are still enthralled by the plushies.

“Pick out anything you like yet?” You bend down to ask Isha. She’s holding a little brown bear and Jinx is holding a bunny. This one! She signs, putting down the bear to free up her hands.

“Excuse me.”

You turn to see a small man, his posture stiff, a name tag reading Manager pinned to his vest.

“Could you please leave?” His tone is polite, but his expression is anything but.

You don’t need to ask why. The woman from earlier must’ve told him where you’re from. Zaunites aren’t banned from Piltover stores, but some people—especially in places like this—act like they should be.

You sigh, standing up and gently gathering Isha into your arms.

What’s happening? Isha signs, confusion flickering across her face.

“We gotta go, kiddo,” Jinx says with a sigh, patting her back.

Isha deflates against your shoulder, small hands gripping your jacket. Her excitement, her joy—gone in an instant.

Sevika sees it, too. The hurt in Isha’s expression. The way Jinx looks away, lips pressed into a thin line. And something inside her snaps.

She steps forward, towering over the manager. “Yeah? And what exactly is the reason we need to leave?” Her voice is steady, but there’s a sharp edge to it.

The manager swallows, visibly intimidated. “I—I just think it would be best if—”

“Best for who?” Sevika cuts him off. “We were minding our own damn business.”

His gaze flickers between her and you, then to Isha in your arms, her little brown bear still clutched to her chest. He hesitates, but the damage is done.

Sevika clicks her tongue. “Tch. C’mon, let’s go,” she mutters, turning on her heel.

Jinx nudges Isha. “Keep the bear, kid. They owe you.”

Isha nods hesitantly, tightening her hold on it as the four of you leave.

Surprise Set up:

A week had passed since that incident, and Sevika had mostly put it out of her mind, believing it to be a thing of the past. Little did she know, while she was busy in Piltover handling her Councilor duties, you and the girls had been hard at work planning a little surprise.

While you baked the cake and prepared the dinner, Jinx was in charge of the decorations and Isha sat at the table, her tongue poking out in concentration as she scribbled on a card.

“Isha! The cake is done cooling, do you wanna help me decorate it?” You called out to her.

There was no verbal response—just the rapid pat-pat-pat of Isha’s little feet racing toward the kitchen. She crashed into your legs at full speed, nearly knocking you off balance.

“Whoa—!” You let out a startled yelp, catching yourself on the counter.

“Slow down, you little tornado. Almost made me drop the cake.” She just nods in understanding before grabbing the stool, the one that was exclusively hers since she was the shortest, and drags it over. 

You leave Isha to do her own little thing, knowing it’ll be messy but heartfelt. With her focused on the cake, you wandered into the living room to check on Jinx’s progress.

Your jaw nearly dropped.

Jinx had outdone herself—balloons, streamers, and paper hearts covered the room. Candles flickered on various surfaces, their soft glow giving the space a warm, golden hue.

“You seem to really enjoy this, huh?” You nudge Jinx’s shoulder. She chuckles, admitting, “Yeah, its fun to be asked to spice up a room instead of just vandalizing it.” You grinned and pulled her into a quick hug. “It looks amazing. She’s gonna love it.”

Jinx smirked but looked away, pretending not to care too much. “Yeah, yeah, I know.”

Once everything was set, you plated dinner and let the girls eat even though Sevika wasn’t home yet. You knew better than to wait—whenever she had meetings, she always came home late.

After dinner, you put on a movie, intending to wait up for her. But before it even reached the halfway mark, the three of you had melted into a sleepy pile on the couch—tangled together in a mess of limbs, warmth, and slow breathing.

Sevika’s Arrival:

The front door creaked open softly. Sevika stepped inside, moving quietly in case you and the girls were already asleep. Sometimes, she found you curled up on the couch, waiting for her with a book in hand.

That was what she’d been hoping for.

Instead, what she saw made her stop in her tracks.

Balloons. Candles. Paper hearts covering the walls.

She blinked, wondering if exhaustion was playing tricks on her. But no—it was real.

Slowly, she walked toward the dining table. A full meal sat waiting for her, along with a very wonky-looking cake and a single handmade card.

She already knew whose handiwork the cake was.

With a quiet chuckle, she picked up the card and opened it.

Inside was a drawing—your little makeshift family. Jinx and Isha in the middle, Sevika on the left, you on the right. It was messy, colorful, imperfect, and completely perfect.

At the top, in bold, sloppy handwriting, it read:

Happy Valintinez Day!

Sevika swallowed hard, her chest tightening. Her vision blurred slightly. She hadn’t expected this. Not after the way that stupid Piltover store had turned you all away like you were less. Not after she’d spent years thinking she wasn’t someone people would celebrate, let alone love.

A quiet sniffle escaped her. She tried to muffle it, rubbing at her eyes, but the sound must have woken you.

Blinking groggily, you lifted your head from the couch, scanning the room until your eyes landed on her.

Sevika stood frozen by the table, her back to you, shoulders trembling just slightly.

You nudged the girls off you gently before getting up and walking toward her.

“Hey,” you murmured, wrapping your arms around her from behind. “What’s wrong, love? Shitty meeting again?”

She didn’t answer right away. Instead, she turned around, cupped your face in her hands, and kissed you—soft, slow, and deep.

When she pulled away, her forehead rested against yours. Her voice was barely above a whisper.

“Nothing’s wrong. It’s perfect. You’re perfect.”

You smiled, brushing away the stray tears that clung to her lashes. “Oh, you big softie,” you teased, tugging her toward the couch. “C’mere.”

You shifted Jinx and Isha just enough to make space, then pulled Sevika down with you. Isha stirred slightly, snuggling into Sevika’s side while Jinx grumbled in her sleep before draping an arm over both of you.

Sevika sighed, her arms instinctively wrapping around the girls, keeping them close.

“I love you guys so much,” she whispered, like it was something sacred. Something she’d never dared say before.

You pressed a kiss to her cheek before resting your head on her shoulder, eyes fluttering shut.

“We love you too,” you murmured.

Sevika glanced down at the small, sleeping faces tucked against her, at the mess of decorations still scattered around the room. Her heart was full in a way she didn’t think possible.

She pressed a lingering kiss to your forehead before letting sleep take her, safe and warm in the only place she’d ever truly belonged.

A/N: I hope you guys enjoyed this T^T. I would've posted this earlier but I had to go to work lol

HAPPY VALENTINES DAY POOKS <3

[chanranghaeys]

☀️ here, there, and everywhere

This journal belongs to: me. If found, please contact this number. (And please do not read it—unless you want to read the ramblings of a person who fails to deny their feelings for a certain someone.)

pairing: lee chan x gn!reader word count: 2.5k+ genre: fluff for (belated) happy chan day and carat day! rating: pg tags: college friends, they grew up, time skips between entries, mutual pining, happy (open) ending, stream of consciousness, excessive italics, please read the whole thing as if it were a private journal of sorts warnings: mentions of alcohol, death of a family member (brief mention, off the page)

a/n: this is a self-indulgent piece on my ultimate crush and the love of my (kpop) life, lee chan. i can’t keep denying you, so here we go. in an alternate universe, you would’ve been my best friend that i loved to hate and hated to love, until one of us finally gave in to our feelings and hoped for the best. happy birthday chan! you’ve given me nothing but color in my life ever since i became a carat. i wish you all the beautiful flower paths ahead ✨

. ݁₊ ⊹ . ݁˖ . ݁ masterlist . ݁₊ ⊹ . ݁˖ . ݁

✎﹏﹏﹏﹏﹏﹏﹏﹏﹏﹏﹏﹏﹏﹏﹏﹏﹏﹏﹏﹏﹏﹏﹏﹏﹏﹏

Dear Chan,

You must think me pathetic if you ever found one of these letters.

It sucks…this little crush I’ve discovered I have on you. And I am only saying this ONCE on the page. And to no one else. Because when you talk about a crush, it only grows, right?

So I'll just talk about it to myself.

I hate crushes because they are so unexplainable. They’re unexplainable feelings that latch on to you so hard and never let you go until you fumble and mess up and just make an utter fool of yourself.

I first found out I had a crush on you last month.

I had long admired you from afar through your dancing. You’re beautiful when you dance—in the zone, focused, bursting with energy. I’m genuinely jealous of how you can do the things you do with your body, how you tell such beautiful stories with every little move you make.

But it was that time during a production runthrough—the simultaneous evaluations—where you made that one mistake almost fatal to your team on that one sequence you spent weeks perfecting.

Yet there you were onstage, just laughing it off. So instead of your team being anxious or frustrated, they just laughed along with you.

It turned out to be the best performance of the night, your laughing played off as banter and camaraderie by the guest audiences.

That’s when I first felt the intense grip of this thing called feelings on my poor little heart.

Absolutely disgusting.

Anyway.

This “writing letters I'll never send to you” is all just for me to really process all these feelings I’ve discovered for you. No other reason aside from that. In my head, this is a form of acknowledgment so I can easily get over whatever this is.

So yeah. Feelings. A crush. On you—someone younger than me—of all people. I can’t believe it.

Yours truly,

Me

— ✐ᝰ.ᐟ —

Dear Chan,

We were crossing the street when you suddenly held my hand. You did that to pull me to the other side of the road farther from the direction of the car.

“Be careful,” you said.

I shouldn’t feel special. Maybe you do this with everyone else anyway.

I hate how I can’t help but feel just a teensy bit special. Indulge me on this.

Yours truly,

Me

— ✐ᝰ.ᐟ —

Dear Chan,

I hate how you’re so stubborn. I hate how you’re so passionate. I hate how you’re such an amazing dancer. If I didn’t know better, I’d be so goddamn jealous of you.

Well, maybe I already am.

But above all that, I feel so in awe of you.

I hate how amazing you are in everything you do.

I hate how you’re actually inspiring me to be a better person. Little by little.

You’re inspiring me to be more diligent, to work harder, to believe in myself and my artistry way more than I ever thought I could—even through the infinite doubts.

Because that’s what you do to me.

“You can do it!” you said. “I’ll be right in the audience cheering for you, too. Because you’re my number one supporter, I’ll also be your number one supporter.”

I hate how you’re right. Why do you always have to be right?

Yours truly,

Me

— ✐ᝰ.ᐟ —

Dear Chan,

I don’t get it. I really don’t.

I don’t understand why you would do such things to me and for me.

It was such a simple and offhand remark.

“Is that a new necklace?” you asked.

“Nah,” I replied.

“It’s pretty. I don’t usually see you wearing that necklace. Where's the other one? The silver one with the daisy pendants?”

It was only because that one—my favorite one—broke and I didn’t have the time to have it fixed yet. Too busy with org scheds.

And you know what you said?

“Give it to me. I’ll have it fixed.”

What in the actual—

You didn’t have to do it, Chan.

Yet there I was, handing over my most prized possession...to you, my...friend.

You better give it back to me fixed, or else.

Yours truly,

Me

— ✐ᝰ.ᐟ —

Dear Chan,

We’re in the library pretending to study for this godforsaken exam. I’ve practically given up on it.

(lol just kidding I can’t do that)

So we’re on a break. You’re sitting right in front of me, writing something down in your own notebook. Good thing the tables are a bit wide. I really wish that you won’t be able to see your name plastered on top of this page.

I never pegged you for someone who writes. In my head, I will take this as my own influence over you after my constant stories of how journaling and writing is such a simple thing that can heal you so easily and thoroughly.

Maybe my influence, and Seungkwan’s as well. At least he’s a good influence.

It was so funny, even, how you made a huge show of showcasing your little black notebook. When you opened it, I saw that it was already bookmarked at the halfway point.

So you do write. You have been writing.

Stop making my crush on you grow. Stop.

Yours truly,

Me

— ✐ᝰ.ᐟ —

Dear Chan,

You were so drunk last night. I don’t think you’ll remember any of it today.

But I remember everything crystal clear.

You’ve had how many bottles of soju at that point. You slung your arm around me and leaned your head on my shoulder. Never mind how fast my heart was beating at that point. Whether from alcohol, or you know what, I will never know.

You told me, “You’re my best friend. You know that, right?”

Your best friend.

A friend.

A stake to the heart would’ve hurt less, in my opinion.

But then again, better a best friend than nothing at all.

I wish I was as drunk as you were last night. Maybe I could forget that one sentence and just carry on living as if this thing between us is nothing.

As if us holding hands the entire night last night under the guise of you “needing a steady hand to hold so you wouldn't fall because you were drunk as hell” is no indication of any thing.

Whatever this thing is.

Sincerely,

Me

— ✐ᝰ.ᐟ —

Dear Chan,

I promised not to write anymore—believe me I tried. We’re best friends, right?

Best friends meet up for breakfast before going separate ways for the day, right?

Best friends make sure to ask if you’re home at the end of every day, right?

Best friends have random snacks or your go-to pick-me-up drink delivered to you when they know you’re having a terrible day, right?

Best friends do that, right?

Even if they’re both in separate relationships already?

I’m so confused. I shouldn’t be, but I can’t make it make sense.

Maybe it’s just me and these lingering and unresolved feelings. I hate them.

Yours truly,

Me

— ✐ᝰ.ᐟ —

Dear Chan,

Thank you for meeting me as soon as I called. Thank you for holding me as my world fell apart. Thank you for comforting me even as my tears fell. Thank you for being reliable. Thank you for giving me my comfort ice cream. Thank you for helping me through this breakup even though I know you’re on the brink of your own.

Thank you for being a friend—my friend.

Thank you for always catching me whenever I fall.

Yours truly,

Me

— ✐ᝰ.ᐟ —

Dear Chan,

I’m sorry about the breakup…or am I?

I’m not too sad about it, I’m sorry. I always knew they were a bit off for you. But I hope I’ve been the right kind of friend that you need right now.

Or however you need me. I'll be here for you, the same way you were for me. You know that right?

I know you held back a few tears when we were at the cafe earlier. You loved them, for sure. I know how far you go for love—that's how true your love is.

But you should've seen the look in your eyes. It tells me you’re not too too sad about it either.

Or maybe it’s just me.

Yeah, definitely just me.

Maybe it was more of me wanting to see the spark in your eyes again after you kept denying that it had been gone for so long.

Yours truly,

Me

— ✐ᝰ.ᐟ —

Dear Chan,

You should've seen your face earlier. It was so…

With all of your hip-hop and R&B playlists, I never pegged you to be one to appreciate any of the oldies.

“This is my favorite Beatles song,” I said.

You immediately stopped scrolling the phone hidden behind the book reading the book in your hand to listen to “Here, There, and Everywhere” playing from the cafe's tinny speakers, straining to make it out above the chatter of the establishment.

You said you'll pull up the lyrics to read, and as you did, the smile on your face grew ever so slowly with every word that your eyes traveled to. You started to slightly bob your head to the beat while mouthing some of the lyrics as the song continued on.

Okay, fine, I was watching you. You didn't notice anyway.

“It’s a great song,” you said. You looked up with this sense of meaning in your eyes. I feel like mine had a look of question marks in them.

Your fingers danced on your phone. I’m sure you added it to one of your playlists. Well, I hope.

Yours truly,

Me

— ✐ᝰ.ᐟ —

Dear Chan,

This is the last letter I’ll write. I promise.

It’s graduation tomorrow. If you give me nothing and nothing happens within the next month of tomorrow, I will stop this nonsense and maybe try to finally get over these feelings I seem to have for you.

Whatever it is.

I just…don’t think I can bring myself to do it first.

Yours truly,

Me

— ✐ᝰ.ᐟ —

Dear Chan,

This is so random but you just suddenly crossed my mind. And I remembered this notebook full of so-called "unsent letters to you."

I wonder how you are and if you're doing okay. I don't know why we grew apart after graduation. I just...I don't know. I can't even think about it without my head aching.

It does kind of feel like there's a hollow void in the shape of you somewhere in my body, particularly somewhere around my chest area.

(nope, I won't say it)

I hope you're doing alright.

Yours truly,

Me

— ✐ᝰ.ᐟ —

Dear Chan,

I can’t believe you came. It's been five years since we saw each other, three since we last spoke, yet you came—the person I least expected to see in the wake.

I never thought there'd be another letter but how could I not write anything?

I didn’t realize how painful and heavy it was to lose my grandfather until you hugged me. You were the first one to see my tears. You were the only one brave enough to hold my broken pieces without caring if you'd get cut by my sharp edges.

How you were able to do it even after all these years will forever be a mystery to me.

Thank you for catching me before I further shattered myself.

Yours truly,

Me

— ✐ᝰ.ᐟ —

Dear Chan,

I’m still reeling from recent events.

It was so nice to see you again last night, though. Thanks for dragging me out of my apartment. It’s been so long since we went out like that, just for some frozen yogurt, which naturally turned into a few drinks because after all, it’s still the two of us together.

But good lord help me, I’m still in a daze. How can I be normal when I just dropped the biggest truth bomb of my life thus far?

I told you, “Maybe I’ve always wondered what it would be like if we ever tried before.”

But you know what you said? You know what you frickin’ said?

“I wish you told me earlier. Why didn’t you?”

Well, why didn’t you??????

I swear I could’ve combusted on the spot if I could. I swear I just said that so I could finally let go of this weight from my chest.

But you know what you did?

You walked me home. You made sure I was safe.

And then you visited this morning with coffee and breakfast to nurse the drinks from last night.

You’re just outside my room right now, sitting on my small couch, playing Beatles songs from the speakers. You’re waiting for me to finish whatever I’m doing here because you’re taking me out to see this movie I told you I wanted to watch. Why?

“We have to make up for lost time,” you said.

Chan, what are you doing? Just tell me so I know what I should do.

What do I do with you now?

Yours truly,

Me

— ✐ᝰ.ᐟ —

Happy Chan Day!

I hate you.

I wish you told me about your party earlier! I mean, even hours earlier, not like an hour or two right before.

Okay, I know it’s a spontaneous birthday party and all—I GET IT. But please tell your friends to at least invite your other friends beforehand? So we can also prep stuff for you, okay? I moved around so many schedules for this—for your party. How could I not?

So I hope you’ll forgive me for not preparing your gift yet. I was planning to get it in the coming days when my sched was relatively freer. Still, I’m really, truly sorry for not getting you a gift. I know you like getting gifts because you like giving them as well.

You know, it’s your birthday, yet you were the one who said something that was almost like a gift to me.

You said, “Don’t bother with the gift. As long as you’re here with me, I don’t really need anything else.”

Chan, I still hate you. I think.

Yours truly,

Me

— ✐ᝰ.ᐟ —

Dear Chan,

I’ve come to the harrowing realization that I’m in love with you.

No scratch that. I love you. Throughout all these years, I’ve always loved you.

How’s that for a hit-me-with-a-firetruck realization?

Yours truly (I wish),

Me

— ✐ᝰ.ᐟ —

Dear Chan,

Do not laugh at me. Do not be condescending. Do not dismiss me—your best friend. Do not leave me hanging. Just…do not.

When I show you this, just don’t.

Just read it.

Yours truly,

Me

— ✐ᝰ.ᐟ —

Hey, you.

If only you knew how many pages I’ve written about you. Glad to know I’m not the only one doing so.

It started on that day we were in the library. I’d already written about so many things, but that was the first time I ever wrote about you. I’ve never stopped writing since.

And even in pages full of you writing about me, I still write about you.

You’ve always been here, there, and everywhere to me.

Yours, truly and only yours,

Chan

✎﹏﹏﹏﹏﹏﹏﹏﹏﹏﹏﹏﹏﹏﹏﹏﹏﹏﹏﹏﹏﹏﹏﹏﹏﹏﹏

NOW PLAYING: seventeen's playlist - song # 2

“To lead a better life / I need my love to be here // … // will be there and everywhere / Here, there and everywhere”

[hannahbarberra162]

Hearts and Flowers (Sanji x Reader, Valentine's Day Special)

For @quinloki's Love Is In The Air event, I present my (day late) Sanji x Reader. All fluff, no bite. Dedicated to @thirstydiglett and @sordidmusings, my fellow Sanji simps.

@sordidmusings and @gouraminnow beta'd this for me and I appreciate it immensely.

WC: ~ 2k

Warnings: none <3

You swirled the pink colored drink Sanji had made for you as you watched him carefully cut fruits into heart shapes and place them delicately alongside the handmade chocolates he’d prepared in advance. You weren’t sure how he had managed to keep all this from Luffy but his efforts were paying off as the multi-tiered tower of desserts and treats for you, Nami and Robin came together under his watchful eye. The galley of the Sunny was decorated like one of those fancy magazines you’d read but couldn’t afford on islands - the counters were covered in tablecloths with red and pink decorations, cakes in the shapes of hearts and flowers were on the tables, and there was a mountain of wrapped presents waiting for you all, helpfully labeled with tags. 

You hadn’t known Sanji as long as Robin and Nami but had quickly understood the chef’s love of love when you came aboard the Thousand Sunny. He was always looking at beautiful women, always simping for you, Robin, and Nami, always thinking about his future bride and wedding. And yet, watching him place the melons and pineapple on the tower, you had an inkling something was amiss with the Love Chef.

“Sanji, do you like Valentine’s day?” you asked, genuinely curious.

“Of course! Who wouldn’t want to celebrate the love of Mellorines and -” he started to say, a smile on his face that didn’t match the brilliant one you’d come to know and love. You tried to stop yourself but you found yourself watching the chef near constantly when you weren’t working - you knew his body language, his mannerisms, and could even predict what moves he’d use when fighting Zoro on the deck. Which is how you knew the smile on his face wasn’t completely genuine.

“No, what I mean is - do you like Valentine’s day? You specifically?” Sanji’s beautiful hands paused after placing the last fruit on the platter as he stared blankly at the creation he had made. 

“Would you care to accompany me while I go smoke on the deck?” he asked you, reaching for the cigarettes in his shirt pocket. You hoped you hadn’t made him upset in some way; you wouldn’t say anything to intentionally hurt his feelings. 

You would never admit it to Robin and especially not Nami for fear of teasing, but you harbored a huge crush on Sanji. He was sweet, handsome, kind, helpful, and strong, everything you could ever want in a man. Sure, he could get a little silly or flirty, but you felt that if he was in a relationship he would be loyal. Sanji was your dream man, but you felt unable to actually touch him, to get to the real man inside the character.

“Oh, uh, sure,” you replied, hopping off the barrel that had been your makeshift chair. You left your pink drink on the table as you passed in front of Sanji, who was holding the door open for you to exit first. You thought he’d go to the side of the ship but instead Sanji started to walk towards the ladder to the crow’s nest.

“Oh, wow, up here?” you asked, starting to climb. You were wearing a skirt and hoped the view would tempt him to flirt with you a little. It didn’t take anything at all to have him espousing his eternal love or bleeding from his nose and that was well and good. You’d been trying to get him to show a little true emotion but maybe starting with flirting might help loosen him up. Sanji was a lot more reserved than most people gave him credit for. His outward emotions were real and reflected his heart but he didn’t often share the depths of his thoughts or feelings with anyone, much less with the newest member of the Strawhats. 

“Mmh. I don’t want to ruin my Valentine’s Day surprises for Nami-swan and Robin-chwaan!” he said, his tone falsely saccharine. You climbed the rest of the way in silence, going towards the open window to air out the smoke of his cigarettes. Standing next to you, Sanji lit up and inhaled deeply from his cigarette.

“Sanji, what’s going on?” you asked, putting your hand on his forearm in concern.”I didn’t mean to upset you.”

“You could never upset me, mon ange. But I have to admit I am a little surprised to be having this conversation. I - you’re the first person to ever ask me, but to answer plainly - no. I don’t like Valentine’s day. I haven’t since my days at the Baratie,” he explained, blowing smoke out the window. 

“Would you mind if I -?” you asked, sticking out your index and middle finger. 

“My pleasure, mon amor. Would you care for your own?” Sanji asked with a smile as he reached for the pack.

“No, I want - I like sharing them,” you said, aware a small blush was creeping up your face. Sanji didn’t say anything but placed his cigarette between your fingers, curling his long elegant ones around your palm for a moment.

“So, since the Baratie?” you asked, taking a drag of your own before passing back the cigarette.

“Mmh. Every year we’d get all these calls from wives and girlfriends, planning their own valentine's day celebrations. Sometimes the men would call, but not nearly as often. The women would be dolled up, looking incredible, while the men would be plain and boring, wearing unironed disgusting clothes. They’d bring tacky gifts that the women would pretend to like, while the men would pretend to listen to what their partners were saying. It was sickening,” Sanji spat, flicking the cigarette still between his fingers. He placed it gently once again between yours as you continued to listen. 

“It was so disgraceful, so distasteful, such a mockery of what love should be. If I was lucky enough to call someone my partner, they wouldn’t have to wait for Valentine’s day to feel the warmth of my love,” Sanji said with a faraway look in his eyes. You placed the cigarette back in his fingers, though it was nearly out. The tips of your fingers brushed his own as he looked you in the eyes. 

“Thank you, dearest heart. If I had someone who loved me as I loved them, they would know with every fiber of their being that I cared for them, that I yearned for them, that I needed them like I need air and water. I wouldn’t wait for some paltry date on the calendar to tell me to celebrate my love,” Sanji stated, flipping his hair out of his face as he continued. It fell immediately back into place as it was before but Sanji didn’t seem to notice.

“I’d celebrate every morning, noon, and night, cherishing my love with my whole heart. I’d devote every moment to making sure their life was as incredible as they made my own, whether that be in gift giving, or sweet words, or even just a gentle touch at the end of a long day,” he stated, rubbing his hand on the back of his neck.

“My partner would never have to look farther than my loving arms to find what they needed in the world, and if I couldn’t provide it I would step aside and let them find better. Valentine’s day? What a cruel joke. If I had someone love me as I loved them, every day would be as romantic as Valentine’s day,” Sanji concluded, stubbing out the cigarette. You weren’t quite sure what to say to Sanji’s impassioned speech but had a follow up question.

“Sanji, I - then why make the big production? The cakes, the presents, the food and champagne? Why all the work for a holiday you don’t like?” you asked, leaning closer to him. He gave you a soft smile and caressed your cheek with a thumb, his eyes shining with happiness.

“Because I don’t want you to feel unloved. Robin and Nami never had the luxury of having Valentines, they were…busy. And how could I exclude you, ma vie? No, all of you must have the perfect Valentine’s day celebration and who else could pull it off? Not some idiot Marimo that’s for sure,” he said, now pulling another cigarette from his pocket while he distracted himself with thoughts of Zoro.

“That’s so selfless, Sanji. Thank you, this really is the best Valentine’s day I’ve ever had,” you stammered, unsure what to say in the face of Sanji’s vulnerability.

“Then it was worth the effort,” Sanji replied with his true smile, the one that made his eyes close with how high his cheeks rose on his face. Watching him carefully, you placed your hands on either side of his face and pulled him down towards your own. Sanji’s stubble was rough on your palms as his blue eye opened wide. Holding his face between your smaller hands, you pecked him lightly on his full lips. You’d spent countless hours day-dreaming of this moment, of how it would happen, and how he would react.

“Happy Valentine’s Day, Sanji,” you whispered, letting go of his face. Sanji’s face turned bright red as his fingers rose to trace where your lips had been, his mouth slightly open. He wasn’t responding, just staring at you in silence as you fidgeted, gripping the hem of your skirt in your fists. You couldn’t look at him in the unbearable silence so you turned to go back down the ladder. Sanji caught your forearm gently before you could leave, pulling on it without force. As you turned to face him you saw his forehead was scrunched up, the swirly eyebrow you longed to trace with your finger tip tilted up in silent question.

“Mon cherie, you didn’t have to do that. I don’t need any kind of -” 

“I didn’t have to, I wanted to,” you said softly, reaching for his face like he had yours a few moments prior. He flinched back ever so slightly but allowed you to cup his cheek as you looked into his kind face, unguarded and vulnerable for a few moments longer before both of you had to return to reality and get back to party preparation.

“I’ve wanted to for a long time, Sanji. I’m sorry for not asking first, if you never want to talk about this again I, -” your voice was quiet but determined but you were cut off as Sanji leaned forward to return your kiss. One of his hands went to the back of your neck, holding the weight of your head in his splayed fingers, while the other wrapped around your waist and pulled you towards his lithe body. He kissed you tenderly, almost reverently, like you’d combust into smoke should he press too hard. His lips sought yours at every turn, gently coaxing you into opening your mouth for him so he could deepen the kiss. He moaned into your mouth when you nipped his lip gently with your teeth before returning the favor. He was breathing heavily as he began to press kisses into the column of your neck.

“Ma bichette, please, do me the honor of being my Valentine this year,” he mumbled into your skin as you tilted your head to the side to give him more access.

“I t-thought you didn’t li-ike Valentine’s day,” you squeaked as he mouthed over your jaw. His eyes looked up at your own as he smiled.

“You have shown me the error of my ways, mon tresor.”