#of sort cause there's still a lot of angst that comes with the knowledge

[kimoralov3]

daylight

pairing: steve harrington x fem!reader

description: steve has had a lot of trouble in his love life. but he's also one of the biggest idiots known to man because the girl of his dreams is standing right in front of him

warnings: swearing, reader uses she/her pronouns, everyone is a lil mean to steve, mentions of stancy (not like that), like i said steve is an idiot, slight angst, fluff

word count: 3059

a/n: tagging @arkofblake because this technically was smth that she requested before i changed it. also shout out to her mom for the knowledge about phones from the 80s lol

“Steve, you can’t keep staring at her like some sort of lost puppy.” Robin says as she helps Steve put some beer and sodas in the cooler.

“What are you talking about?” He asks as he turns back to the fridge.

“Oh please, you’ve been staring at Nancy and Jonathan ever since they got here.” Robin comments as she opens the bag of ice and clumsily dumps it into the small cooler.

“Have not.” Steve mutters as he shuts the fridge door. Robin gives him a look, the look she seems to be giving him a lot these days. “Okay, fine. I have been staring at them, but not for the reason you’re thinking.”

“Oh really? What other reason is there for you to be staring at your ex and her new boyfriend?” She says suspiciously.

Steve pauses, trying to find the words to express the tangled mess that is his love life. He eventually gives up, shaking his head as he grabs the cooler off the counter and walks outside to the pool. “I can’t explain it.”

“Oh come on, you gotta give me something.” Robin pleads, giving Steve her best puppy dog eyes.

Steve glances over at his best friend before quickly looking away. “Those don’t work on me.” He says definitely, but quickly gives in when he spares another glance at Robin. “Seeing them together just makes me think about all the things I don’t have.”

“Wow, that’s really sad.” Robin says solemnly as she holds the back door open for Steve. “You sure you don’t still have feelings for Nancy?” She adds after another moment of silence. 

“Absolutely positive, Robin. That ship sailed a long time ago.” He explains as he sets the cooler by the pool.

And he wasn’t lying. Steve really was over Nancy. Sure, there had been a time when he thought the two of them would evolve into something more, but that was ages ago. 

But now Steve was alone for the first time in years, and he wasn’t sure what to do with himself. He’d been on dates, but they’d turned more into a chore than something he was actually enjoying. They all left him feeling like a piece of him was missing, a piece of himself that he just knew was important. 

“Steve?” A voice called, pulling him from his well of self despair. 

“Yeah?” He says as he turns around, nearly falling over when he notices who’s in front of him.

“Can you move over so I can grab a soda?” Y/N asks politely as she gestures to the cooler behind Steve.

“Oh shit, yeah, of course.” Steve stutters as he moves out of the way, nearly falling into the pool. Y/N gives him an awkward smile as she grabs a soda before walking back over to sit with Jonathan and Nancy. 

“What was all of that about?” Dustin asks as he appears beside Steve, munching on some Goldfish.

“Jesus kid, you need to wear a bell or something!” Steve exclaims as he presses a hand to his fast beating heart. 

“Or maybe you just need to be more observant.” Dustin says mockingly as he flicks a Goldfish at Steve’s face, causing the older male to swat at him.

“Will you two quit it!” Robin says as she separates the two of them. Dustin flips Steve off before going to go sit back with the party and Suzie. 

“I swear that kid has no manners.” Steve mutters to himself as Robin walks away to go sit with Eddie and Chrissy. Steve is so busy mentally planning out his revenge against Henderson that he doesn’t notice a certain someone staring at him like he’s hung the moon and the stars.

—

“Robin, you seriously need glasses or something. How could you put Ferris Bueller and Top Gun in the same section?” Steve complains as he removes the tapes from the shelf.

“Oh quit being a baby and move them, I’m busy here.” Robin calls from the back. Steve rolls his eyes, muttering something under his breath as he moves to the back of the store to grab his cart. 

“I’ll be with you in a minute!” He says when the front door rings. He sets the missorted tapes on a random shelf as he walks back up to the front counter.

“Welcome to Family Video, how can I help y— Y/N?” Steve asks, shocked to see her here.

“Oh, hey Steve. I forgot you worked here.” She says with a laugh as she adjusts her bag on her shoulder. Effortlessly, and beautifully to him, if anyone cared enough to ask what he thought. Which was a rarity. 

Steve gives her a small smile, silently cursing himself for not taking his normal amount of care when he was getting ready this morning. 

Robin really needs to learn some patience.

“Yeah, have been for a while.” He says as he rubs the nape of his neck. “So, what can I help you with today?” 

“Well, my parents are out of town so it’s just me at home. Figured I’d get some movies to keep myself occupied for a while they’re gone.” She explains as she looks around the store before her eyes land on Steve once again, causing a shiver to run down his spine. “Got any recommendations for me?”

“Of course, walk with me.” He says, shooting her his signature smile as he walks over to the staff picks shelf. 

“Is that Labyrinth?” Y/N asks with a chuckle as she picks it up and inspects the back.

Steve groans, rolling his eyes as he sees the movie. “Fucking Eddie. He must’ve snuck it onto the shelf when he was here earlier.”

“Well, he has good taste. Think I’ll be taking this one with me.” She says as she waves the box. Steve can’t explain it, but he feels a small tightness in his chest. 

“To each their own, I guess.” He says with a shrug, trying to ignore this strange feeling. “Anyways, I would definitely recommend these if you’re looking for a more calm night in.” 

Steve hands over The Goonies, The Muppets Take Manhattan, and Back to the Future, waiting patiently for a reaction. 

“Oh my god, is this a Muppets movie?” She asks with a laugh, inspecting the box. “My little cousin loves this movie.”

“Hm, I don’t know how I should feel about that. Are you calling my cinematic taste childish?” Steve asks with a chuckle as he leans against the shelf.

“I would definitely call it that.” Robin says, wheeling a cart as she walks past the two of them. Steve glares at her while Y/N snorts, hiding her smile behind her hand. 

“I wasn’t going to say that it was childish. I was going to say that it’s…interesting.” She explains, her voice pitching up on the last word. 

Steve scoffs at that, shaking his head. “Sure, we’ll go with that.” He says jokingly. “So, will this be all for you?”

“Uh, yeah. This should be good enough for the weekend.” She says as the two of them walk back to the front counter. 

“Glad to be of service.” Steve says as he takes a small bow, cursing himself for how stupid he probably looks. 

“You know, you’re really funny.” Y/N says as Steve rings up the movies. Steve smiles softly, more affected by her words than he would like to admit.

“Could you tell Robin that? She says I have the humor of an old man.” He jokes as he puts the tapes into a bag. Y/N snorts again, this time a little louder. 

“See what I mean? Very funny, Harrington. Very funny.” She says as he hands her the bag. There’s a brief moment of silence before Y/N speaks up again. “Do you wanna come over tomorrow? You know, watch a movie with me or something?” She asks nervously. 

Steve’s mouth hangs open a little, blinking slowly. There was no way he heard that correctly. “You want me to come over?” 

“Yeah. Only if you want to, of course.” She clarifies quickly. 

“Of course I wanna come. I’ll even bring some snacks.” He says as he leans his arms on the counter. 

Y/N smiles at that, nodding her head. “Perfect. I’ll see you tomorrow then.” She says, giving Steve one final wave before leaving. 

“Man, you are such a doofus.” Robin says as she comes up behind him. 

“Can you not?” Steve says as he turns around to face her. Robin smirks, winking at him before walking away. 

—

“You did what?” Eddie asks with a laugh as he stops strumming on his guitar.

“Don’t laugh at me, I need your help here!” Steve says as he throws his soda can at Eddie.

“Hey, careful! This is my most prized possession.” Eddie says as he throws the can back at Steve, missing him entirely. “Now, tell me exactly what happened.”

“Y/N invited me over, and I went because of course I would, you know? And everything was going really well, at least to me.” Steve explains as he leans back against Eddie’s dresser. 

“Okay, doesn’t sound too bad so far. What happened after that?” Eddie says as he turns the knobs on his guitar. 

“Then I thanked her for inviting me and left.” Steve says simply. Eddie abruptly stops what he’s doing, setting his guitar down on his bed.

“You did what now?” Eddie exclaims as he stands from the bed, causing Steve to look up at him. 

“Left. Why, what’s wrong?” He asked, very confused by Eddie’s sudden outburst. 

“You’re a fucking idiot, that’s what’s wrong.” Eddie says as he grabs Steve’s arm and hauls him into the living room. “Stand right there.” 

Steve grumbles something under his breath as he rubs his arm where Eddie had grabbed it. “Since when are you strong?”

“Amps are heavy as shit man. Now shush.” He says as he dials a number on the phone. Steve mutters something about Eddie being rude as he watches him press the phone to his ear. 

“Who are you calling?” Steve asks, only to be shushed by Eddie. Steve rolls his eyes, watching as Eddie waits for the person on the other end to pick up. 

“Hey Y/N! Do you have a moment to talk?” Eddie says when the person on the other end picks up. Steve automatically stands up straighter, listening closely to try and hear what Y/N was saying. 

“— Not in the mood—” Is the only thing that Steve can make out from here, causing him to frown. Was Y/N really that upset with him that she didn’t want to talk to anyone?

“Just humor me, please? What exactly happened yesterday with Harrington?” Eddie asks as Steve gets closer to the phone.

“I did what you and Robin told me to and asked Steve out, and absolutely nothing happened. I even tried scooting closer to him to see if he would catch the hint, but he didn’t! And then when it was time for him to leave, I went to kiss his cheek and he hugged me, Eddie. He hugged me!” Y/N rants from the other end of the line. “So either everyone is bullshitting me and Steve Harrington actually isn’t into me, or he’s the most oblivious man on the face of the planet.” 

Eddie gives Steve a knowing look as he says his goodbyes before hanging up the phone. “See? Idiot.”

Steve bangs his head against the wall as Eddie pats him pitifully on the shoulder. “So you mean to tell me that yesterday was supposed to be a date?” He finally says when he’s done with his attempt to knock some sense into himself. 

“It was a date. Could you honestly not tell?” Eddie asks as he crosses his arms over his chest. 

“No! I just thought that she was trying to be nice!” Steve says as he slides down the wall. 

“Man, can’t believe this. Former king of Hawkins High is sitting on the floor of my trailer, having a crisis because he blew a date with a pretty girl.” Eddie says as he shakes his head. Steve doesn’t even bother responding, sitting there with his head in his hands. “So, are you going to try and fix it or not?”

“What do you mean?” Steve asks as he finally looks up.

“God, since when did I become the smart one here?” Eddie asks in mock disappointment. “You need to go back over to Y/N’s and make everything right.” 

“How am I supposed to do that? I think you of all people should know that I’m not good with this stuff.” Steve said as he stood up. Eddie groans, rubbing his hands over his face. 

“My god, Harrington. You’re hopeless.” He says. “Here, I’ll tell you exactly what to do.”

Under any other circumstance, those words would’ve sent fear straight into Steve’s heart. Especially coming from someone like Eddie. But he was desperate, and desperate people don’t always make the smartest decisions. 

—

Steve stands outside of Y/N’s door, her favorite flowers in hand. He stands there for a moment, mentally going over everything that Eddie told him to say. He takes a deep breath before giving up and knocking on the door.

It’s silent for a moment before Steve hears the sound of footsteps on the other side of the door. The door opens up to reveal Y/N standing there, arms over her chest.

“What do you want, Harrington?” She asks coldly. Steve gulps at that, rocking back and forth on his feet a little. Guess I deserve that a little.

“I just came here to apologize. For yesterday.” He says as he holds out the bouquet of flowers. Y/N hesitates before taking the flowers from him, smelling them quickly.

“What exactly are you apologizing for?” She asks after a moment.

“For being an idiot. If I had known that you wanted yesterday to be a date, I would’ve handled things a lot differently.” Steve explains as he nervously shoves his hands in his pockets.

“Different? Different how?” She asks as she leans against the doorframe. Steve pauses, trying to think of the best way to say what he wanted to say.

“Can I come in? I think it would be better.” He asks as he scratches his head. Y/N gives him a suspicious look before stepping aside and gesturing to the living room. Steve mutters a small thank you as the two of them walk into the living room and sit on the couch. 

“So, what exactly is it that you would’ve done differently?” She asks as she sets the flowers on the coffee table. 

“For starters, I wouldn’t have let our first date just be us watching a Muppets movie on your couch.” Steve says in a joking tone, fidgeting with his hands in his lap. “If I had known, I would have taken you out to dinner. Hell, if you really wanted I would’ve taken you to go see one but god I would not have gone to go see a freaking kids movie.”

“Why, what’s wrong with kids' movies?” Y/N asks teasingly, causing Steve to laugh for the first time since he got there. 

“I guess you’re right.” Steve says as he turns to face Y/N. “Can we get a do over date? I promise that this time I won’t act like a complete idiot.” He says sincerely. Y/N seems to mull it over for a moment before looking up at Steve.

“Promise?” She asks softly, as if she was still hurt and embarrassed from what happened the night before. 

“Swear on my life. And you know if I break it, I’ll have Nancy, Robin, and Eddie on my ass about it.” He adds jokingly, but it isn’t really a joke. He had seen first hand how scary Nancy could be when she was upset, and he did not want to be on the receiving end of her wrath. Again. 

“Fine. But I’ll need you to ask me properly.” She says after a longer moment of consideration, sitting up straight against the back of the couch.

“Fine by me.” Steve says as he stands up, pulling Y/N with him. They give each other small smiles before Steve clears his throat dramatically. “Y/N, I’ve had feelings for you for a while now. Longer than I would personally like to admit. So, will you do me the honor of going on a date with me?” 

Y/N stands with their hand on their chin, looking off into space as she pretends to think long and hard about Steve’s offer. Steve starts to get nervous that she might actually reject him when she leans up, pressing a quick peck to his cheek. “Of course I’ll go out with you, Steve.” 

Steve feels the heat rush to his cheek at Y/N’s actions, looking down at them with the biggest grin in the world. “You know, technically we’ve already had our first date. So it wouldn’t be completely insane of me to kiss you, would it?” He asks as he steps closer to her. 

Y/N lets out a chuckle before responding, her hands behind her back. “No, no. I don’t think it would be completely insane, as you put it.” 

That’s all the permission Steve needs before he pulls Y/N closer by her hips, their lips slotting together perfectly. He feels more than hears her sigh into the kiss as she raises her arms to wrap them around his neck. 

When they both pull away for air, Steve swears he can see all the stars in her eyes. “That was…”

“Wow, how many girls can say that they took Steve Harrington’s breath away after a single kiss?” She asks teasingly, although it was easy to tell by the heat of her cheeks that she was just as — if not more — affected by the kiss as Steve was. 

Steve rolls his eyes, which was seeming to become a common practice for him these days. “Way to ruin the moment.”

Y/N shrugs, giving Steve one of her award winning smiles. At least they were in his mind. “What can I say, it’s one of my many special talents.”

[quietplace26]

would you considered writing a fic where Nuvi, furina and forcalors all live together as a happy family I think there might be too much angst with those three

Sure? I can try. Mind you it's gonna be short.

Nice!Focalors au where she's not completely emotionless and cold to Furina!MC.

Focalors knew something was wrong the moment her 'Human' side opened her eyes.

They were confused, terrified, nothing like Focalors imagined, and then she actually pokes at her 'human' side's mind-

And, oh Celestia! What has she done?

This wasn't her 'Human' side! She somehow placed an actual human soul in her 'Human' side's body! A human soul from another world altogether!

A world where Teyvat... Is some sort of a game?!

But she had to forced her confusion and horror to the side as her 'Hum- no, Furina!MC starts breaking down into tears. She was scared-

Focalors, even though she was physically incapable of actually offering physical comfort, she wrapped her power around Furina!MC as best age could, murmuring broken apologies...

...After Furina!MC calmed down enough for Focalors to speak to her, they sat down- er, Furina!MC sat down, and Focalors explained what they were going to do.

As much as she hated to do this, she asks Furina!MC if she could still play the part of 'Furina' for her... And of course, she would help out!

Focalors says this frantically as she sees Furina!MC tear up more, showing how scared she still was-

Honestly... Focalors really ended up with a crybaby, huh? A precious one even so cause Furina!MC agrees, abit meeky.

"I-I'm not graceful, I'm not outgoing... I-I'm really shy, so... Can I even help you, M-miss Focalors?"

Focalors sighs fondly, mentally patting Furina!MC's head. "Of course, dear. Ah, also, no need for calling me 'miss'. Instead, you can call me... big sister."

Extra notes.

Focalors claims Furina!MC as her little sister.

Over the several years Focalors acted as her teacher, teaching her how to wield Hydro by tapping into her Oceanid side, which the two discovered she possessed despite her body being built to be Focalors' 'human side'.

Teaching Furina!MC how to shift into her Oceanid form and swim within Fontaine's water was probably the most fun Focalors' has had in a very long time...

...it made her wish she could join Furina!MC...

Another thing to note is that Focalors definitely uses Furina!MC's knowledge of the future to her advantage.

She was already making plans within plans, already making notes of certain people she needed to keep an eye out for and so on- cough Vacher, cough cough-

When it was finally time to summon the Hydro Sovereign, Focalors had to calm Furina!MC.

"B-b-but he's going to hate me, Foca!"

Considering from what Furina!MC told her about what she knew from Genshin Impact and other theories, Focalors knew she wasn't exactly wrong.

The Hydro Sovereign. The future Ludex of Fontaine, Neuvillette. There was no doubt he carried a lot of anger right now currently... However-

"My dear little sister. He will not hate you. No one could possibly hate you."

And Focalors was right.

From her spot within the Oratrice, she watched almost smugly as the bitter, arrogant Hydro Sovereign crumbles like wet tissue before her little sister the moment she looks up at him with a timid smile.

That smugness does leave, however, when the soggy noodle becomes a bit too close to her sister to her liking...

This only becomes more apparent when Focalors notices something off about Furina!MC. Her sister has started recently showing fatigue and nausea.

But the kicker was when Focalors senses something coming from Furina!MC. Coming from her belly...

Why did it feel like that soggy Sovereign?! Don't tell her he actually-

He did. He knocked up her little sister.

Furina!MC has to beg Focalors to calm down as the goddess was just about to claw her way out the Oratrice and strangle Neuvillette. Prophecy and the Heavenly Principles be damn-

Thankfully the Melusines' first appearance calmed Focalors rage. Slightly. She was still pissed-

But, hey, she had nieces now! This also includes the youngling growing in Furina!MC's belly, but her sister asked to not check the gender. She wanted to be surprised.

Besides this, Focalors decided to do something she's been considering a while.

Unlike her 'canon' counterpart from the game her sister used to play in her past life, this Focalors considered bringing Neuvillette into the know much much earlier.

She was doing this because of Furina!MC, and so that damn trial wouldn't happen if Neuvillette knew the truth himself and helped them.

So, one night, Focalors taps into the power of the Hydro gnosis, using Neuvillette's authority trapped inside to carefully pull his conscious into the Oratrice.

It was a rough first meeting, to say the least. On both party's side, but they compromise when Focalors explained everything, including showing Neuvillette Furina!MC's past self-memories of future events.

When they got to the trial, Focalors was pleased when Neuvillette showed displeasure with the way this trial went, with how his counterpart treated his 'Furina'.

They both agree that things would be different, that this trial would never happen, that there had to be a different way than that-

...Fast forward 500 years, and they do it.

No traumatizing trial needed for Furina!MC to go through. And better yet, Focalors managed to avoid needing to kill herself to destroy the Hydro throne.

Now the next question was... How to explain to Fontaine about Focalors existence.

And of course, when could she finally meet all her nieces and nephews!

[cesienthusiast]

Warmth: A Dreemberd Fanfic

Chapters: 1/1 Word Count: 1.5k Fandom: Deltarune (Toby Fox) Rating: General Audiences Warnings: No Archive Warnings Apply Pairing(s): Kris/Berdly, Kris & Berdly Tags: Fluff and Angst, Cuddling & Snuggling, Sharing Body Heat, Literal Sleeping Together, Written Pre-Chapter 3 & 4 (no spoilers please), They/Them Pronouns for Kris, Not Straight Berdly, Guilt, References to Depression, Self-Esteem Issues, Kris Speaks (technically selectively mute I suppose?), Kris & Berdly are not Okay, Bonding, Friendship/Love, Secret Crush, One Shot, No beta read we die like Lancer almost did in chapter 2. Summary: "You're just… spot on, everything you've said about me." they admit. Berdly can't lie, Kris' admittion just now made his heart sink, and it only got lower and lower the more they went on. Kris looks like they're trying their hardest not to cry, and Berdly just feels terrible now. "Kris… all those things I said… I-" "Yeah, I know. You don't need to expla-" "I never meant them. Any of them." he clarifies. ---------- Kris has been away from their team for a while now, so Susie sends Berdly out to go searching for them.

Ao3 Link Here

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Kris wasn't anywhere to be found. At least not in front of their conga line of teammates, leading the way as their great leader, that was. Susie was getting worried, so she politely asked Berdly to go and look for them, and Susie usually never does things "politely" so that was an astounding cause for concern for Ralsei. Berdly wasn't as close-knit to the rest of the friendgroup yet, so he wasn't as knowledgeable of Susie's personality as the rest of them, he just assumed this was her normal way of asking favors.

Oh the poor fool, as he'll soon come to find out…

He went a little ways back from where the rest of the group was chatting things up, Kris isn't the type to wander very far away from their friends most of the time, Berdly has noticed. And he's noticed a lot of things about Kris ever since joining the group, possibly more than they have he thinks, but of course HE in particular would think that.

It still kind of bothers him to admit, but he and Kris have gotten pretty… close, to say. Not close as in they regularly kiss behind their comrades' backs or whatever, but close as meaning intimate; in a way that Kris isn't with any other of their team.

Of course, this treatment pleases Berdly. It boosts his pride whenever people treat him special to others, especially ones he's come to care about. But as he's done with his thoughts, Berdly finally finds Kris sitting alone by a cliffside not too far away as expected… shivering.

Berdly grows concerned on instant seeing them in the state and quickly approaches to their side. He looks down towards Kris, waiting for them to stand up so he can lead them back to their group. But they won't stop shivering… or rather, maybe they can't stop shivering.

It's likely, and Berdly knows it's likely, so that's why he sits down next to them; arms crossed. Kris is sort of curled up; as in they have one leg slumped, and another still standing with an arm resting over it's knee. Their head is using the rested arm as a makeshift pillow for comfort. As Berdly looks towards them, he sees it in their eyes… sorrow.

Berdly is used to Kris looking like that, they've looked that way every time the two of them have seen each other after all… but this time is different. This isn't the typical, "Kris is gloomy and anti-social" demeanor that he's accustomed with. No, this time… they simply look… defeated. Sad and defeated by life.

Berdly knows that look, and can surely empathize with it himself. Perhaps he should let them know that… it might help them more than he thinks it will. But just as he opens his mouth, Kris beats him to the speaking punch.

"Berdly… hey, what's up?" they say.

Kris speaking was something very rare back in the day, but he's been around them enough by now to have heard them speaking more frequently. It's still uncommon for certain, but not gasp-worthy any longer. Berdly takes a moment to clear his throat before responding.

"Ahh, Kris… didn't notice you there. The team's wondering why you're over here instead of where they are again." he explains.

Kris laughs. It's hardly anything genuine.

Then, they sigh. And decide to remain silent for the time-being. They don't feel too comfortable speaking out loud, that much has been clear to him from the start. Berdly opens his beak to speak again.

"You-"

"I can't face them right now." they interrupt.

Rude, but Berdly will let it slide because they're clearly upset for a reason.

"Oh yeah? Why not?" he questions.

Kris takes a deep breath, struggling to maintain their typically neutral expression as glimpses of a genuine frown become noticeable between their lips. The ever-so-slight squinting of their only visible eye being another indicator of their hidden feelings.

"I uhh… don't know it entirely myself, actually." they answer.

Berdly scoffs into a laugh, he can't help himself. That lie was so blatant that even a child would be suspicious of it.

"Please Kris, that won't work on me." he says.

Kris glances over towards him, clearly taken aback by his words.

"Huh?" they quietly exclaim.

Berdly shakes his head disapprovingly. Obviously, Kris is smart, possibly the smartest individual Berdly knows besides Noelle. So to hear them come up with such a blatant lie so easy to see through makes him feel… slightly miffed. But he pushes the feeling aside, just in case he's wrong again.

"I think you're lying. And I also think you're hiding how you really feel from me." he accuses.

Kris attempts to act coy in the moment, but drops it almost immediately when seeing how ineffective their deception is. All they can do now is sigh and let their frown be known.

"You're right, as always…" they say.

"Hah, why thank yo-"

"You're right about a lot of things, aren't you?" they continue, interrupting yet again.

One of Berdly's greatest pet peeves is when people interrupt him, but he stifles his annoyance purely for Kris' sake. Although, they're only so lucky because they're so pitiful right now. And they also complimented him just now, so how can he be angry in response to praise? It's simply unbefitting of him.

"You were right about where to go, you were right about what we should've done…" Kris says, clearly stalling.

They pause, not wanting to conclude this train of thought. But Berdly's looking at them too expectantly for them to just quit now. So they gulp it down, that feeling of sorrow overwhelming them. They don't want to appear too weak after all, not in front of him.

"And you were right about… most of all… me." they admit.

The way Berdly's facial expression shifts from one of expectant curiosity to one of perplexity is telling of how he feels about what Kris just admitted.

"Wait, what? How was I… right about you?" he questions.

Kris can't help but smile at the bird's ignorance. And Berdly can tell there's nothing joyful about that smile they're currently wearing.

"You were right about how I'm an idiot, you were right about how I'm worth less, you're just… spot on, everything you've said about me." they admit.

Berdly can't lie, Kris' admittion just now made his heart sink, and it only got lower and lower the more they went on. Kris looks like they're trying their hardest not to cry, and Berdly just feels terrible now.

"Kris… all those things I said… I-"

"Yeah, I know. You don't need to expla-"

"I never meant them. Any of them." he clarifies.

Berdly is giving Kris a look that they've never seen from him before. He looks… totally serious. None of that "know it all" snark, or that charmed exaggeration, just completely, honestly, serious. And yet, despite the way he looks, Berdly can't help but laugh a little.

"Honestly, I thought by now that you'd have known not to care about what that annoying, bully of a birdbrain had to say by now…" he says, sucking back a couple light tears from omitting out his eyes.

Kris looks back at him, smiling. They begin laughing too, and their smile looks genuinely happy this time. Even though it's not that pretty, full-toothed grin smile Berdly has only seen once before, it's perfect enough for him. He's just glad to see Kris looking to be in better shape now than they were two minutes ago. Their laughter expands, but remains light, and it's beautiful while it lasts.

Kris sighs again. "Thank you Berdly. I'm glad it was you who came and found me."

Berdly looks at them with skepticism, and a raised brow chalk-full of suspicion.

"Is that another lie?" he questions.

Kris shakes their head, making full-on eye contact with him at this point.

"Nope." they say bluntly.

Berdly can't help but smile and blush himself, flustered by Kris' sudden kindness. He really still isn't used to being treated like this by them, as good as it feels. Suddenly, Kris scoots closer beside him, laying down their whole head weight over his feathery shoulder. Now THAT'S gasp-worthy right there.

Berdly's eyes now awkwardly shy away from them, as Kris' shut entirely, while wrapping their arms around him. This further serves to shock Berdly, but he's quick to get over it, as Kris' warmth eases him into a state of relaxation. They're warm, so warm… much warmer than they appear. It makes him yawn.

"Alright Kris, that's enough. I'm getting tired now… how about we go back to the others and-, …K-Kris?"

He looks over and Kris appears to be fast asleep. Berdly is left in a quiet state of contemplation for a moment, before being overcome by emotion. He cries a few light tears before brushing them aside. It feels good to be wanted… especially by someone you love.

"Ohh, fuck it…" Berdly mutters.

He embraces him back, leaning his head atop Kris' as they huddle together into some sort of sleepy blob of mass. As his eyes blink to a full shut, he himself can no longer refuse a good slumber. They feel much better now that they're no longer shivering, after all.

............

⬇️BONUS!!!⬇️

"HA! Oh my god, this is hysterical!! Ralsei quick! Get a camera or something, I have GOT to get a picture of this." says Susie.

"Susie!! Just let them be! They're clearly having a nice bonding moment! Lord knows that Berdly needs it…" says Ralsei.

"Oh my… I never knew Berdly wasn't straight…" says Noelle, with amazement.

"Aww, look at them! Sleeping as peacefully as two plump, cutey pumpkins, rolling down the patchy hills!" says Lancer.

"What The Fuck Am I Doing Here." says Queen.

[queenshelby]

Yes! Mr Murphy (Rewritten)

PART 42: SEX TAPE

Pairing: Cillian Murphy x Reader

Warning: Lots of Angst, Age Gap, Teacher x Student, Extreme Smut

PLEASE COMMENT AND ENGAGE!

The following morning, when you stumbled into the living room, you noticed that your dress had been hung up over one of the armchairs neatly and that there was no sign of Kit. It looked like she had packed up and left without saying goodbye, causing you a mix of relief and concern simultaneously. Relief, because your unease around her presence eased somewhat, and concern, because something about her sudden departure struck you as odd. Nonetheless, you decided to put these worries aside temporarily and focused on preparing for the day ahead.

You made some coffee and took a seat beside the window to read through Cillian's latest script, knowing that he wouldn't mind. Cillian himself was still sleeping peacefully, clearly exhausted from last night's chaos. He deserved a rest. Taking in the view outside, you felt grateful for the serene silence surrounding you. However, amidst the tranquility, there was an eerie sense of loneliness hanging in the air. It dawned on you then that even amidst Cillian's fame and success, his life was far from perfect and neither was yours.

You had recently received some letters from the department of immigration, reminding you that your visa was going to run out within six months and, unless you found a suitable employer who was willing to sponsor you, you knew that you had to return to the US. 

Unbeknownst to Cillian, you had spent countless sleepless nights wracking your brain, trying to come up with ways to prolong your stay in Ireland, yet nothing came close to materialising just yet. Feeling guilty and fearful of burdening Cillian with your problems, you resolved to wait patiently for the opportune moment to confide in him about this issue but it like as though he had bigger issues to deal with right now as, suddenly, his manager knocked on the door.

"Up so early?" you asked after having opened the door for Ben, who was in his sixties and exhausted from last night's BAFTAs. 

"Yes. Where is Cillian?" he asked immediately, and almost rudely, just as Cillian stumbled out of the bedroom, wearing only a pair of boxer shorts. 

"Good morning, Ben" Cillian said with a yawn, rubbing his eyes. "Anything interesting?" he wondered, seeing that Ben usually liked to sleep in past nine. 

"Interesting might be putting it lightly," Ben replied worryingly. "There's some bad news coming our way, unfortunately," he explained, and Cillian's brows furrowed. 

"Oh, really? What sort of bad news?" Cillian asked, sitting down opposite Ben. His curiosity piqued instantly.

Ben glanced nervously across the table at Cillian before breaking the unsettling news.

"So, this morning, I was informed that there's this video on the internet now, featuring you engaging in explicit sexual acts," Ben explained, causing Cillian to choke on his cup of coffee. 

Hearing those dreadful words, Cillian froze, unable to believe what he heard. His face drained of color as his world crumbled beneath him.

"What?" Cillian croaked hoarsely, scarcely able to find words. For a brief moment, time seemed to stand still – reality suspended, disbelief palpable in every cell of his body. He couldn't fathom why someone would do such a thing, seeking vengeance perhaps? Or simply to exploit his celebrity status? Regardless, the thought of this sordid act being public knowledge sent waves of panic coursing through his veins.

"Am I on the video too?" you asked a little calmer than Cillian, but still confused.

"Unfortunately, not, because if you were, you at least could give a statement together when shit hits the fan,"

Ben answered bitterly, his voice dripping with fatigue. His eyes fell onto you briefly, conveying sorrow and compassion. There wasn't much more to add—this was indeed terrible news.

"Then who is on the video? Do you have a copy of it? I mean, is it even me on the video or is it photoshopped?" Cillian queried, barely containing his anxiety as his head swirled with questions. 

"Oh, it's you and you seem rather drunk too, man. This is much worse than the public urination incident," Ben scoffed sarcastically, attempting to defuse the situation slightly as he handed him his phone. 

Despite Ben's efforts to alleviate the gravity of the situation, it did little to comfort Cillian, who remained gripped by terror. All manner of scenarios ran rampant through his mind; all of them potentially damning to his reputation and career.

Reluctantly, he clicked on the video while you sat by his side, hoping fervently that none of it was true. But as the footage began playing, he realized the unimaginable truth: yes, there he was, captured in all his vulnerability.

He could hardly breathe as he watched himself perform intimate acts, oblivious to the fact that they were being recorded. Each stroke of his hand, each whisper, etched themselves indelibly onto his memory, forever marring the sanctity of the most private moments he had ever known. His face flushed crimson with shame, regret surging through his veins like lava.

Seeing him have sex with another woman brought back memories of painful rejections and broken promises.

Your own heart plummeted as well, imagining how it must feel to discover such a compromising video was released online. It didn’t matter how innocently it happened; everything had become muddled, cloudy in your eyes.

The sound of your breath quickened, mirroring the rapid pulse throbbing against his temple. The heat radiating off his skin intensified, giving credibility to the choking sensation rising inside his chest.

"Turn it off!" you choked, holding back tears. "Kit did this and the fact that you had sex with a woman like this makes me ill," you cried, incredulous at the idea of betrayal running deeper than anything you had previously witnessed. Even though your heart ached for Cillian, your rage mounted as you remembered the snarky remarks, the condescending attitude, and the calculated ambition simmering beneath the surface whenever you interacted with Kit. And now, she had stooped so low, trading in the privacy of others like currency.

"She wouldn't..." he began to say, struggling to maintain composure as you interrupted him.

"Yes, she fucking would and you are too blind to see it. Do you know how she talks to me? The things she tells me, Cillian? You have no idea how vile this woman is," you broke down.

Your jaw clenched tightly, feeling anger and frustration seething beneath your calm exterior. In spite of your turmoil, however, you knew that venting this rage directly toward Cillian would accomplish nothing except further strain already fraught relations. So instead, you turned your attention away from him for a fleeting moment, taking stock of the situation at large.

"What do you think Ben?" Cillian finally managed to utter after watching the video, trying hard to regulate his pounding heart rate. As if in response to his question, Ben let out a heavy sigh, reaching for his glass of water which sat on the nearby coffee table. With a quiet murmur, he drank deeply from the glass, his expression grimacing with disapproval and pity for his client and friend.

"Well, we need to handle this swiftly and decisively, my boy", Ben advised sternly, looking straight into Cillian's eye.

"First, we contact everyone involved – the media, any potential legal representatives and Kit," Ben said and, with reluctance, Cillian nodded, understanding the gravity of the situation.

A torrent of conflicting emotions cascaded over you in that moment, leaving you raw and exposed, nauseous with anxiety.

"I am sorry, I..." you interrupted them, feeling nauseous again, just like last night, before disappearing into the bathroom momentarily.

Upon returning, you noticed Cillian wiping his eyes vigorously, struggling to process the magnitude of his predicament. Your hearts continued to beat in tandem, the rhythm matching the crescendo of anger and despair mounting within both of you. Cillian reached out towards you instinctively, grasping your hands tightly, needing something tangible to anchor him during these tumultuous times.

"I am sorry this happened," he apologized sincerely, fully aware of his responsibility in this whole mess. 

"It's not your fault. I mean, yes, you slept with her after we had broken up and it's pretty awful for me to watch you have sex with another woman, but I can't really be angry at you for something you did when we weren't together," you tried to rationalise, doing your best to suppress the jealousy burning hotter inside.

Cillian took a deep breath, letting out a shaky exhale as he attempted to compose himself. "You are perfect, you know that?" he spoke softly, stroking your cheek tenderly. The warmth from his touch offered solace amidst the storm.

Inside his head, he struggled with guilt and remorse over his transgressions, yet the genuine concern evident in his gaze was enough to quell the nagging doubt clawing at the corners of your mind.

Understanding your insecurities, he held you closer, drawing strength from your steadfast presence while Ben made several calls in order to get the video taken down.

"I think a statement from you would be helpful here," he said gravely, gesturing towards Cillian who usually hated talking to the press and, together with his publicist, they prepared exactly this. A detailed statement in which, finally, Cillian threw Kit under the bus after receiving critical information from the agency's team that the video had indeed been linked back to Kit's IP address.

"Who knows what else she is responsible for," Ben said recalling several articles which had been released ever since you came into the pictures as well as past cheating allegations which drove a wedge into Cillian's and Danielle's already fragile marriage at the time. 

As your resentment escalated, so did your desire to confront Kit. Yet, the very notion terrified you, fearing retaliation or further humiliation. After discussing with Ben about the plan of action, including approaching law enforcement and issuing statements, you retreated to bedroom where you laid curled around yourself, wrestling with your demons once more.

Perhaps Kit was right when she said that you were not cut out for this life, that you were naïve and idealistic compared to those who frequented these circles. However, despite your doubts, it seemed impossible to escape the pull of this world.

Hearing the front door open and close, followed by familiar steps entering the room, pulled you out of your introspection. Turning towards Cillian, you saw him pale with exhaustion and worry as he approached the bed.

Reaching out for your hand, he gave it a firm squeeze. "We will make it through this," he promised earnestly, offering some measure of comfort in this chaos.

"I am not too worried about, well, the obvious, I suppose. But I am worried about how this will affect us, because I love you so fucking much," Cillian

confessed passionately, wrapping his arms around you protectively. His eyes reflected an intensity of emotion, conveying profound gratitude for your unwavering support during this challenging period.

Unable to form coherent words due to the lump in your throat, you simply leaned into him, allowing the solidarity of his embrace to offer consolation and respite. There was still so much left undiscovered about one another, yet somehow, this shared experience only brought you even closer together.

"I love you too Cillian, beyond anything I could possibly imagine. This thing with Kit won't change that," you assured him, intertwining your fingers with his, seeking solace in his unwavering affection.

"And neither should it," Cillian replied solemnly, kissing your forehead gently. 

"I did watch the entire video. It wasn't very long but I noticed something stubble," you then admitted shamelessly to break the ice, avoiding direct eye contact. Despite being repulsed by the incident itself, curiosity got the better of you, wanting to understand why someone would record themselves having intimate encounters without permission.

"And what is that?" Cillian asked suspiciously, intrigued by your observation.

"You said my name, not hers," you explained carefully, choosing your words delicately, causing Cillian to smile.

"I thought about you, obviously," Cillian added reassuringly, his face flush from embarrassment.

There was an awkward silence before Cillian continued, "You do something to me that I can't quite comprehend, but you already know that, don't you?"

You giggled lightheartedly, grateful for his sense of humor. Gripping onto his arm tighter, you felt the weight of his words sink into your soul. "Yes, I do. I have you wrapped right around my finger, Mr Murphy" you expressed genuinely, appreciating his vulnerability.

Tags:

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[madlad-link]

Hello. Please talk about Burning Cathedrals I am intrigued.

and you rolled… the angst fic!

so I really don’t have a lot of this written right now 😅 life’s been crazy man. So I’ll give you a larger snippet and talk a bit about it!

I kind of intend this to be sort of a character study of what’s happening with korra and asami in the b3 finale. I really want to get in their heads during such a tense episode and I think it’ll be fun and honestly healthy for me to explore. I intend to have two chapters, one from korras perspective and one from asami’s (but we’ll see how long that takes lol)

I also found it interesting, especially coming right out of b2, that korra only uses the avatar state… twice in b3. Once in I believe the first episode to try and tame spirit vines, which is a peaceful use of the avatar state, and then…, you know. The finale. I think she of course would still have open wounds about loosing her past lives, and I imagine the AS being very empty, and a very loud reminder whenever she goes into it. Lots of unresolved traumas that we can look at here.

She could never forget how it felt to have her uncle, and the growing darkness that possessed him, reach into the deepest sanctums of her soul. How he ripped Raava from the fibers of her rib cage and dragged her out her throat with as much care as a beast would show a carcass. How pain raced up her back, collected in her head and screamed in her ears, and threatened to turn her stomach inside itself as he killed off everything that people told her made her necessary. 

She had watched them leave. Saw them rapidly fizzle out, one by one, as if ten thousand years hadn’t gone by to lead up to this moment. What was it all for?

What was it all for?

Another pulse of sharp pain tore through Korra’s body and she howled. Agony and rage erupted inside her chest, where the catalysts of mercury and eighteen years of her short life wasted fed the fire eagerly. 

The cords of her neck felt like they were about to pop out or snap, which she began to anticipate as every single muscle in her body somehow found it within themselves to tense up further. She felt white hot flames sitting just behind her tongue, pacing around and crackling like a caged animal.

She knew what that felt like. Had an intimate relationship with the large part of her that was hunched, wild and angry, that stalked through her lungs and her head when things grew too large, too frustrating, too far out of her hands.

She let the fire scream out of her mouth with a guttural cry, straining against bodily limitations to try and force more out of her.

Everything and nothing stopped as she caught sight of a grey blur taking off through the damned cave he thought he could keep her in. She could rip the whole mountain apart if she wanted to.

Zaheer, the man who took the last of the Air Nomads, the man who — like so many others — wanted her dead. The man who wrenched her away from everyone she loved and killed her father.

The cave was collapsing, something Korra thought she weirdly prided herself in causing, and Zaheer was trying to escape.

Escape what? The cave? Or her?

It lit her up inside knowing it was her he was running from.

In the strangest way, she could have almost been thankful that Unalaq took her past lives from her. She lost their knowledge, knowledge that she rarely got the chance to tap into, but she also lost their shackles. She was on her own, with her own power, and using it she shattered the platinum chains that the Red Lotus tried to keep her in.

Fire ignited under her feet, rocketing her forward to chase after Zaheer in the air.

Here, as she was dying, fighting for her life by the skin of her teeth—

—Zaheer ducked and flew out of a small crevice in the mountain—

She was barefoot and her hair was down, she was angry—

—She broke through the mountainside and took off after him—

Mercury was in her blood and she was free. No one held her back. No promise of life restricted her.

Restraint had no place in the face of an eroding, metallic death.

[kimberbohwrites]

All I Wanted, Chapter One

Rating: Explicit because Smut, Light Angst

Rolan x AFAB, Unnamed Tav

Read on AO3

After the events of Baldur’s Gate 3, Tav has stayed in touch with Rolan and his siblings. She visits weekly to volunteer at Ramazith Tower as a healer for the refugees in the city. Her growing crush on the wizard finally comes to a head one night, along with a healthy dose of miscommunication and misunderstanding.

Alternating Tav/Rolan POV each chapter

Multiple planned chapters coming :)

Chapter 1: Hide and Seek

Tav’s heart raced with a childlike glee she hadn’t felt in so long. She prowled the halls of Ramazith Tower looking for the perfect hiding spot in the dark with only candlelight and occasional flashes of lightning through the window to guide the way. The storm that had caused this impromptu late-night gathering still raged on outside. A giggle bubbled up in her throat — a product of wine and an eager anticipation she couldn’t quite explain.

For the months that followed the fall of the Elder Brain she had stayed one night a week at the tower with Rolan, Cal, and Lia. Always on the night when she came into town to provide healing services to the refugees. She’d been working out of a stall on the shop floor of Sorcerous Sundries that Rolan had helped her set up as an apothecary of sorts. All the ingredients she used in her healing were grown by her on the small farm she’d set up just outside the city. There she grew flowers, herbs, vegetables, and additional plant reagents needed for healing and magic. It was a good life, all things considered, the only problem was Rolan.

The way Rolan had protected his family from the hellish descent of Elturel and the cult of the Absolute had caused Tav to develop an attraction to the tiefling that she had found impossible to smother out. Even though he had been outright rude to her during a lot of it. The handsome wizard occupied her thoughts even when she was away from him and the tower. She found her mind drifting to him at the strangest times. The dulcet tone of his voice lingered in her thoughts and dreams. Even now that she was free of the tadpole and a so-called hero, she couldn’t bring herself to tell Rolan how she felt. He’d been through more in the last few years of his life than anyone should have to experience. The idea of burdening him with her feelings felt so selfish that she had resigned herself to a painful silence. He seemed happier now than ever before and she didn’t want to ruin that.

On this night in town, a particularly bad storm had whipped up off the Sea of Swords and settled on the city around dinner time. Tav and the siblings had been joined for dinner by Dammon, Lakrissa, and Alfira in celebration of Alfira’s birthday. It had been a lovely dinner party for the group, Tav couldn’t help but look around at the tables pushed together filled with her found family with such joy. The plan was to head to the Elfsong Tavern for drinks and dancing after dinner, but with the storm looking downright dangerous they had decided against it. Instead, Lia cleverly suggested they raid the wine cellars and have a party of their own. Hours and bottles of wine later, it was the birthday girl herself who pointed out the Tower made for excellent grounds for a game of hide and seek.

The idea was met with laughter at first. Much to everyone’s surprise it had been Rolan who first agreed with Alfira.

“There are a few places that are off limits, because they aren’t safe yet. But I don’t see why not?” He’d noted. Alfira, seated in Lakrissa’s lap had clapped with joy at the unexpected second.

Lakrissa relented to her girlfriend’s giddiness and the rest of the gathering had agreed with sudden excitement. With the ground rules in place, together they threw back one more glass of wine for good luck. Cal had agreed to go first, he had a good knowledge of the tower and suggested a 10-minute head start. Which is how Tav found herself racing through the dark halls of Ramazith Tower in a thunderstorm, looking for a place to hide.

It had only very recently occurred to the Druid as she cursed herself internally, that she was not particularly good at hiding. She thought back fondly to Astarion yelling some such thing at her during the Illithid crisis. At current she was relatively certain that 10 minutes had elapsed, and she could faintly hear Cal beginning to search on lower levels. She couldn’t tell if she was getting closer or further from him. In the shadows she took a moment to lean against the wall and breathe as she tried to think of what to do next. It seemed impossible for her to wander his home and not think of Rolan. Just like the other inopportune moments this occurred, she felt the tell-tale heat on her face. Try as she might to resist, the image of him appeared in her mind. How he’d smiled at her from across the table at dinner earlier and how it had made her heart heave as she wished it meant more.

The slamming of a door nearby brought her back to reality with a shock. She heard Cal mutter a curse much too close for comfort. Quiet as she could, she raced away from where she heard him. Turning down another hall, she knocked into a large frame on the wall. The ear-piercing scrape it made was so loud she was certain everyone in the tower had heard her hit it.

“Oh!” Cal exclaimed; she heard him break into a run in her direction. It was as if she forgot this was just a game, the way panic gripped her at the idea of being caught. She broke into a sprint turning down the next hall but was brought to a sudden halt as a hand shot out of a door and grabbed her by the arm. Tav was pulled into what must have been a small closet, she could only guess as it was completely dark. The arm that had pulled her in, wrapped around her waist and another clapped over her mouth as her back was pulled against the firm chest of someone taller than her.

“Shhh, it’s me,” Came Rolan’s voice in a whisper. Tav’s heart was gripped with a fear and joy so intense it threatened to stop beating. She found herself pressed against the very man she had been driven to distraction by. It was like one of her many daydreams come to life. One of her hands reflexively reached back and steadied herself on his thigh, she could feel the warmth of his body through his robes. From where her head was against his chest, she could hear his heartbeat quicken. The sound sparked a hope in her she’d tried desperately to abandon.

They could both hear the tell-tale commotion of Cal getting closer to their position. Rolan’s tail coiled around her legs to pull her flush with him as he gently shifted her back with him into the corner and away from the door.

“Trust me?” He whispered against the shell of her ear, causing a notable shiver to travel her body and twitch against his. She nodded against his hand still on her mouth and tried not to think about the heat of arousal growing in her gut.

Just as she heard Cal’s hand on the doorknob of their hiding place, Rolan whispered an incantation under his breath that she recognized as Invisibility. She heard him take a deep breath and hold it as the door swung open, she did the same through her nose. Light poured into the closet as Cal opened the door and looked around wildly. He held a candlelit lantern in one hand to illuminate his search. Tav was able to discern that she and Rolan were currently hidden in the corner of a small storage closet of some sort. There was room for them and a few bookshelves stacked with old tomes and scrolls, yet to be cataloged since Rolan’s promotion to Master of the Tower.

Cal’s eyes searched the the small space thoroughly as he muttered about how he could swear he’d heard someone, and his (well-founded) suspicions that people were cheating. He cocked an ear to listen keenly, Tav was terrified that her escalated heartbeat could be heard by his sharp ears. Just as she was sure they would be caught, Cal shrugged and turned around shutting the closet door behind him with a thud. She let out a slow but ragged exhale through her nose and could hear Rolan let out a quiet breath too. Neither of them spoke as they listened to make sure Cal left their position to continue his search elsewhere.

He still hadn’t let go of her. The wine in her veins turned every touch of his body against hers into electricity on her skin. She couldn’t help but shift her bottom against him as she adjusted her cramped position and a thrill raced up her spine as she heard his breathing turn strained. The hand over her mouth slowly traced it’s fingertips up her jaw and gently tucked the loose strands of hair behind her ear as he leaned closer to her.

“What are you doing?” He hissed into her ear, his voice sounded tense and excited. She shivered against him once more this time drawing a small groan from the back of Rolan’s throat. His lips brushed against her ear, she moaned and ground herself firmer on him this time.

“R-Rolan,” She managed. The thrill that coursed through her body outweighed any shame she felt in her actions.

“You’re drunk.” He said through gritted teeth. His voice was low, and it resonated through her body leaving only desire behind.

“So are you,” She shot back in the sultriest whisper she could manage as she continued rubbing her butt on his now-hardening length. All she could think about was how badly she wanted him and how perfect his body felt against hers.

All at once Rolan released his hold on her and flipped her around to face him. With a firm but tender hand, he pushed her back against the wall of the closet. As his lips crashed into hers roughly and she let out a loud moan, she said a quick mental prayer that Cal had moved far away in his search. Her arms coiled around the back of his neck to pull him closer to her, not wanting to lose the feeling of his body against hers. Now that she knew how it felt she wasn’t sure how she’d been able to live so long without it. His tongue swept into her mouth, meeting hers and sharing the taste of the wine between them. He smelt of cedar and parchment, likely from his time spent hard at work in his library-like study. She rolled her body against his slightly, earning a groan from the wizard.

He broke from the kiss for a quick breath and then attacked under her ear and down her neck with kisses. Each just hard enough to make her moan and gasp, sometimes shuddering his name in quick breaths as the lust pulsed through her body threatening to consume her. She felt his knee shift between her legs separating them as he pressed his thigh against her clothed core, causing her to release a whine of need as her head dropped back against the wall. Delirious with lust now, she tried to shift away a little to regain some control but his hands moved down to her hips.

“Do you want me to stop?” He shifted his head back to search her face. Even in the dark her human eyes could make out the glowing fire of his, like an amber sunset she’d always found herself lost in. She shook her head no.

“Words, Tav, I want to hear you say it,” he said leaning down to press his lips directly against her ear again and getting another lusty whine in response.

“D-Don’t stop, Rolan, please.” She managed between gasps. Her mouth had latched on to where his collarbone was exposed by his casual untied shirt when he leaned in again.

He used his grip on her hips to grind her against his thigh slowly, helping her roll her body against his to seek her pleasure in the friction. She gasped at the delicious sensation of the unexpected ridges on his thigh against her drenched center. She heard Rolan laugh darkly against where he continued to lave wet kisses on her neck. Through the building lust in her body, she managed to reach out and take his hardened length in her hand, stroking him through his pants.

“Fuck, Tav,” He groaned, she stopped moving her hand for a second to make sure she hadn’t gone too far. “No, don’t stop, please,” he continued and ground himself into her hand.

She continued stroking him increasing the pressure and speed slightly. Earning a groan of ecstasy from Rolan that she felt inside her, like he’d thrown oil on the fire burning at her core. It had consumed her fully now, gone from her mind were the reasons this was a bad idea and the months she’d spent trying not to think about this man. She was so close to her finish already; she muffled her cries in the firmness of his clothed chest as she felt her peak start to overtake her. It was all she could do to silence her moans and cries for Rolan as she shuddered against his thigh. She still couldn’t bring herself to feel embarrassed yet about drunkenly grinding herself to completion against Rolan. Not when he made sounds like the ones he was making now. The groans and growls that she worked from his body were her singular focus.

All of her attention went into pleasuring Rolan as he lost control, nearing his finish. Her other hand pulled his head close to her mouth and she licked up his pointed ear with the tip of her tongue. A groan of need escaped him that filled Tav with satisfaction.

“Cum for me, Rolan,” She whispered into his ear and then kissed him hard on the lips. Like she could express all her feelings for this man in a single kiss. His hands gripped her hips so tight there would surely be bruises come morning as his body shivered and jerked. She swallowed his moans with her kiss as he came against her hand.

After a moment of ragged breaths, she noticed a heavy silence in the air. Like neither one of them were ready to speak and ruin the moment that had passed between them. He leaned his forehead against hers as he rubbed her shoulders soothingly. There was so much she wanted to tell him but the alcohol coursing through her veins made her hesitant about how it would come out. She didn’t want him to think this was a drunken hookup, but she didn’t want to humiliate herself either.

“We should get cleaned up,” Rolan said softly, finally breaking the silence between them. She nodded in response, realizing they were both now wearing sticky clothes in a closet during a game of hide and seek. He smiled at her and left a soft kiss on her forehead before casting Prestidigitation to clean the mess off their bodies and clothes.

“Neat trick,” She teased and then let out a loud yawn. She hadn’t realized she was so tired until the endorphins and adrenaline from their encounter had begun to decrease. The drowsiness of a night of drinking and revelry catching up with both of them at once. Even Rolan, who had looked like he was about to scold her but let out a sudden yawn in response. Without a word he used Dimension Door to whisk her to the guest bedroom she stayed in. He helped her settle under the covers and fetched a fresh jug of water for the nightstand, leaving a cup and a tonic that must be meant for hangovers out for her. As he turned to leave her hand shot out for his wrist and latched on.

“Will you stay?” She tried to ask without sounding like she was begging, knowing the opposite was true. In her heart she knew she’d beg him to stay if he asked.

In the clear light of the guest bedroom, she could see his face as he visibly wrestled with how to respond to her. She felt her heart smash into a million pieces at his hesitation. The hope that had buoyed her deflated.

“Never mind, just the alcohol talking,” she said quickly trying to safe face before he could humiliate her further.

“Are you sure?” He said looking suddenly bewildered.

“Yeah of course, my bad” She forced out with a stiff laugh and rolled over to face away from him so he couldn’t see the tears brimming in her eyes.

After a long, uncomfortable silence she heard him move across the room to leave, snuffing out candles along the way.

“Goodnight Tav,” She heard him whisper from the doorway.

She didn’t answer and hoped he would think she was already asleep — she didn’t want him to know she was crying instead.

[jojameswinter]

Hi there! So I guess the big question for season 4 jiara is whether or not they’re still together after the 18 month time jump right? I’m an angsty girl at heart, so personally I would not be mad if Jiara were broken up post-time jump and they use the flashbacks to show us how it all fell apart. Then of course they show us how they find their way back to each other in real time as the season progresses.

The only thing I absolutely DON’T WANT in that scenario would be for the writers to drag out Jiara’s get together until the end of the season again because we absolutely deserve some happy, stable couple jiara content.

If they got back together by episode 6 or even 7 I could live with that. As long as there’s lots of romantic build up prior to those episodes! (I also think it would be kind of poetic if they got back together in 4x07 because in 3x07 Kiara told JJ she loved him for the first time and he walked away from her, so I think flipping that to have them come together once again would really hit for those of us who pay attention to that kind of stuff 😆)

What do you hope to see for Jiara in S4? Do you think they’re still together? I’m having so much fun speculating!

Sorry this took me forever to answer, anon!!! ❤️ LOVE that you're here to speculate with me, especially in these quiet obx times!!!!

I think they are together at the time jump. How "official" it is, I don't know, but I do feel they are some type of together and always will be if you get me.

I am also an angst girlie at heart, and I do not mind some periods of separation, as long as it's well written and in character! I've said this before, but there's a lot of personal trauma and need for growth for both of them that can cause rifts without creating over the top plotlines just to drive a wedge. Jiara doesn't feel like the loud make up and break up type - to me, it feels more like they'd just sort of drift together or away without necessarily defining every little thing if that makes sense. Always with the knowledge that they're it for one another. And at the end of the day, they're always, always going to be there for each other, regardless of what's happening romantically.

If they decide to put off an official type relationship a little longer, then I need to see at least a progression from last season. We already saw the process of them getting together, so we need a step up from that, whatever that looks like. I could possibly see them deciding that they need to work some shit out before they officially become a couple, but then like the comedy would be that they can't ever be around each other without kissing or something skjdlfksj like they're failing miserably at just being friends, a la the truce scene.

OMG your parallel idea! ❤️ You are in good company paying attention to those things! I also enjoy flashbacks and storylines being pieced together that way, so I wouldn't mind it - again, if it was well written and the explanations seemed valid. At the end of the day, I just need this relationship to stand out in a different way and to show some kind of progression from what we saw - in a way that makes sense. And as you said, I really need to see some happy/established jiara as well! We got a healthy dose of angst, and even this angst loving gal needs to see them in love now! Honestly, they have to be endgame or none of this makes ANY sense.

[myfanfic-urfantrash]

there's a lot of lore rambling before i get to the story idea part, my bad. this is very long.

i want another luofu story arc, there's too many unanswered questions man

i was thinking about renheng as a ship. in a lot of danmei (which seem to be an inspiration for renheng), there's a sort of "seperation arc" trope which can include a misunderstanding, amnesia, or death as the catalyst of a falling out between the main characters. looking back on this, i was trying to figure out how a reconciliation could happen and how i wish i could tell them both that neither of them are actually guilty for the sedition. at least not for the most part.

there's a lot of lore involved but essentially it's kind of implied through multiple story elements that yingxing and dan feng were set up and framed by the vidyhadara preceptors. jingliu either doesn't know this or does and doesn't care, that bitch. anyway if somehow this knowledge could be brought to light and them both have their names cleared, maybe at least blade could start not hating dan heng. the only problem i could see happening is that explaining "that the whole reason you were tortured horribly for decades (centuries?) by your former friend wasn't actually even true and you went through that for no reason" might not go over well with his mara issues.

uhh anyway, my whole idea was a slow burn threesome fic where the reader and some allies (could be any combination of the express crew, stellaron hunters, and xianzou members) investigate or come across the truth about what happened during the sedition so long ago. at a certain point, it's actually both blade and dan heng who join in investigating with the reader, who slowly bridges the gap between them as the truth comes to light.

something like a dark comedy buddy cop film but with more angst. there will be an eventual happy ending tho. my thought was to leave it with a bittersweet sort of second seperation at the end. after all, despite everything blade and dan heng now lead different lives and the stellaron hunters aren't necessarily, like, good people. the express is attached to them a little though (TB sneezes somewhere because they totally haven't been gaming with SW wdym)

i think the ending would be dan heng and blade both end up falling for the new versions of each other again with reader in the middle. blade, maybe not at peace with, but finds acceptance for the past. bloody revenge will still be had but y'know. dan heng reconciles with himself too that he can be both him and still be his past self too. that it isn't mutually exclusive. Blade's script from Elio isn’t complete yet so spending time with Dan Heng and reader while he can is a good enough "story" for him until he finally reaches his desired "ending". And Dan Heng likely vows to make sure that his next rebirth is unmeddled with so he can finally become a completely new person like he's always wanted or perhaps he'll also die a true death if he wants. Reader being a normal human means that eventually she'll be gone too and the love story between all three will eventually reach a proper conclusion.

there's more id add especially since i feel like a focused too much on renheng and not reader's part but im gonna go cause this is already wayyyy too long. seriously sorry 😔🙏

You certainly have many interesting story ideas it'd be great to see you one day make them into fics yourself one day but sharing them is enough too. Share as much as you want and get it all outta your system :V

[academy13]

We've arrived at being absoutely fucking Normal about Beverly Crusher (Guess who just got ass deep into recent Star Trek comics) and listening to the attraction recording of the most delightfully 60s kitsch Enchanted Tiki Room. Because this is my brain.

Also Beverly is super interesting because ya girl has ISSUES and ANGST and one comic features Scotty, in his log, making the observation that she's fearless like she's looked in the face of tradgety too many times, and also noting she's either got a death wish or is having a stroke of genius, but that both are equally likely. And like... that might be the most accurate observation of the character ever.

Because like... she was a teenager at most when Arvada III happened, the whole situation is never really elaborated on, but considering the medicine situation you can assume it got bad. And that's like the earliest thing she's faced, she's seen other things as she's gotten older, but like the one she was literally in the middle of as a kid... that's gonna leave a hell of a mark. I'd bet that's why her smart ass comments were a thing she spoke out loud until she learned not to voice them... at least in part it had to be so that she doesn't have to get close to people after that incident. We don't know how many people were lost, but considering the event is referred to to as a disaster, I assume it was bad and I assume that she not only probably did some questionable things, she witnessed some questionable things because when people get desperate... and then we have the entire incident where she basically flies into the sun to prove that the dead scientist's theoretical shields worked, just to name a kind of insane thing she's done.

And like... we know she's scared of heights, that's something that comes up a few times, but like... I feel like that most of the time people look at her and see that if she's okay, or okayish, thing's will work out. But if she's scared... like well and truly scared, then you know shit's fucked up. Because she's also not a character who's ever been particularly shy about disagreeing with someone, or generally expressing her emotions. Granted she's not great about it, but like... she's pretty strong-willed and strongly opinionated, she's not gonna beat around the bush. So if she's beating around the bush or like actually freaking out... something's genuinely wrong. I mean we know Riker is a smart enough guy to not want to be on her bad side, evidenced by the time he commented he didn't want to be in the transporter room if she'd been transported up from the planet where a terrorist attack had just happened.

And she's also ambitious enough to get her doctorate as well as hold the rank she does during Next Gen even though she doesn't really need to hold the rank of Commander as the CMO of the ship. She has that rank cause she wants to. And she's also highly accomplished as a doctor, because like... they don't ask you to be in charge of Starfleet Medical, on like two separate occasions no less, without being pretty damn good at what you're doing. And her medical knowledge is BROAD, because again, the disaster is where she learned a lot about medicinal uses of plants. And like, I'm not an expert, but that itself is a specific sort of knowledge, let alone if you account for literal alien planets into the equation. And she has to tell Picard how to test a plant when she's badly injured in the first season, granted he might have some of his own knowledge of first aid and such to add, so there's a layer of keeping her conscious and getting a baseline on her mental state as he keeps her talking and he know's medical stuff is a pretty reasonable topic to use at that moment, but like she does it.

My point is, there's a lot going on with her, and we still don't really know all of it because she's almost as private a person as Picard is... which is really ironic from the character who's known to be a thespian, and writes her own plays at that, as well as being a highly accomplished dancer (she is such a theater kid it hurts), but then like... maybe that's the point. Nobody's really sure how much is acting because she just Doesn't Talk about some stuff, and its a crap shoot on if it's because some stuff just doesn't come up in conversation naturally or easily (Avarda III, though it has to be mentioned in her records) or she is avoiding it actively.

[gleefullypolin]

Oh my fair non-canon ships, I love them. My forever and ever ship is and will always remain not canon but I'm with you, I never once argued or tried to push it against the canon ships. What other people think of my ships is not my business and I'd prefer them do me the favor of keeping it to themselves, hah.

The CS angst was a lot, wasn't it? How many times can one man die?

It's tragically abysmal how they discount her isn't it? She's out there making the best of it and yet, people always gotta get themselves in a mess. Which is funny how everyone blames her for it like 90%+ of them aren't doing it where people can see and the other 10% has been to protect them. Okay then. I am eternally grateful the things I was doing at 19 are not on some list of unforgivable crimes I get held to every time something in my life happens.

Eloise, my love. You are decently self centered and I think now it's slightly harder to ignore. I remember thinking that in RMB too tbh. She was very cagey about what she was doing while demanding Penelope tell her everything. She seemed a bit put out about Colin and Penelope having this whole relationship she was unaware of like her idea of Penelope shouldn't have to change.

I do think we had Colin being more protective of her for a good reason not just as a set up to where he hurts her at the end of the season. If he hears something beforehand or knows something she doesn't, I think he won't handle it well. Bringing in book elements would almost have to mean some version of his reaction. He was so angry but so worried for her. I think Hero Complex Colin is very capable of coming out in full force.

Oh for sure, I doubt too many people are going to remember any of rumors or other stuff after we get a full season of Polin. I've seen some of the worst takes I've ever seen today, ha, so I think it's possible someone somewhere is going to write an essay on how she should have ended up with LOWK but that seems like a personal problem. I totally get why people might be unhappy about either direction but I agree with you, after their first kiss I have doubts about any of this infighting being a thought worth anyone's time.

I would say 95% of my ships are canon, I dunno I just seem to for the most part end up liking canon storylines. But I would never deny something someone else might enjoy. But I just don’t see the point in going after each other for no reason. Or in the case of what I’ve been seeing today, having ships on the same show attacking each other. Like I just honestly don’t get the point. Shipping is supposed to be a lovely thing that you enjoy that gives you feels. It should make you happy. Not cause grief and anger to others. I like the pretty pictures and the giddiness of all the fan fiction that makes the heart skip a beat.

HAHA Hook did have a way of dying A LOT but God he looked good doing it!!!

I totally agree though about Eloise, she was running around with a lot of her own secrets being very cagey but she was very angry that Penelope didn’t share her darkest secret with her. And book Eloise even more so. So going into Season 3, very very curious if we get any scent of her keeping secrets from her family at this stage of the story seeing how they are tied together in the book but also knowing that we could very well either skip into Benedicts story from here or go into hers next season.

I do think we are going to see a very curious Eloise as she starts to sniff out something going on between Pen and Colin. I am just not sure if it will be that she will try and warn her brother away from Pen because or her knowledge of LW or if its genuine curiosity of what is going on between them because I don’t think she has any sort of clue that either one of them would have feelings for each other at this point.

I want the scene where Eloise finds out that Colin knows about him knowing to be her in shock that he isn’t angry about it. And him being more upset with her that she is still angry after knowing for this long. Because damn girl, talk about holding a grudge, its been a whole season! Lol

Today has been a day of people being angry and floating red flags and angry feelings and sadly, Colin is taking a lot of the brunt of the anger so I’ll be happy for the next 3 weeks to go by quickly so everyone can get the season moving and realize (hopefully so) that they got bent out of shape for nothing. And maybe so some of the other ships in the Bridgerton family can be a bit more welcoming to the next family member up because honestly, that’s the whole point of this show I thought! Next season will be a different person all together. Everyone gets their day in the sun. There is enough love to go around people! Be kind!

[llisona]

This is for you Pyre and only because I feel bad about not seeing your message a freaking month ago XD

What kind of whump is your favorite to write? I freaking love bone horror and I am such a sucker for self-sacrifice What kind of whump is your least favorite to write (although you still do write it)? I hate sick fics. They do have their time and place but they aren't generally my vibe. I think I've written one (1) singular sick fic. What kind of whump do you absolutely refuse to write? If it has anything to do with A/B/O I will not write it. The sexism actually enrages me and I can almost never even read one either Is there a kind of whump you wish you could write better? I enjoy writing really heavy depression/sewerslide fics (I know that sounds weird), but I don't always know if they hit as hard as I'd like What character or characters are your favorite to do whumpy things to in your writing? Oh Jason obviously! I don't think I've ever written anything that doesn't include Jason in some way and the majority of the time he's the one hurting. It's great What character or characters are your favorite to turn into caretakers in your writing? Jason's fun, but I think I also use Dick quite often. Oh and Ivy! Freaking love writing Mama Ivy or Protective Freeze Have you ever written whump inspired by personal experiences? (nongraphic content warning here) Occasionally. I struggled with s/h for around 4 years and there was a point where I was seriously considering drastic measures. For me writing about heavy topics like that has actually done wonders for my mental health, this is the best I've been in years, and I've been clean for I believe 9 months now How many whumpy stories do you currently have published online? I have 113 published works (with two more going live tomorrow for an exchange) and I believe only one of those doesn't have some sort of angst in it Which of your stories has the most whump in it? Probably Through the Rift solely due to its length and how often I delve into the trauma Jason is experiencing What is your favorite whumpy story you have written? It's a bit of a tossup between Through the Rift and Batman Pulls a Metroman. I put so much work into both of those stories and they both have a special place in my heart even though rift is far heavier Share one of your favorite whumpy scenes that you have written. That requires remembering and distinguishing my fics from each other XD The only one I could think of was this bit from Protection Worth Dying For "His unresponsive body drifted in the current, dragging along the seafloor, and all Jason could do was wait to drown. He could always set off the bomb in his helmet, but that’s not how he wanted to go. Not again. So he stayed slumped in the mud in resigned silence as he waited for his helmet to fill with freezing cold water and drag him back to death’s embrace." What is one of the strangest things you have had to research for your whumpy writing? Nothing's strange in the world of fanfic! But also I've done a lot of research on cryptids. I haven't even used that info in a published fic yet which is sad What is the most recent thing you have researched for use in your whumpy writing? The quickest way to kill a man with a knife (fic publishing soon). The internet was less than helpful so I just went with the good old fashioned slit throat! Also went down a rabbit hole about different forms of execution and the specifics of how to hang someone properly for the quickest and most merciful death. Fun times Has any of your whump research ever come in handy in real life? It's great for threatening people! Mostly my siblings. However doing research about hyper and hypothyroidism a while back made me realize that I should probably get that tested again cause some of the symptoms overlie with my hemochromatosis. Are you ever hampered by your lack of medical knowledge when writing whump? Only because I want a real illness with very specific symptoms. Beyond that, I work at a first aid kit company. I know my way around trauma gear! I think I maxed out characters so I'm going to try and do this in 2

Making a whumpy writer ask game! Pass it on!

What kind of whump is your favorite to write?

What kind of whump is your least favorite to write (although you still do write it)?

What kind of whump do you absolutely refuse to write?

Is there a kind of whump you wish you could write better?

What character or characters are your favorite to do whumpy things to in your writing?

What character or characters are your favorite to turn into caretakers in your writing?

Have you ever written whump inspired by personal experiences?

How many whumpy stories do you currently have published online?

Which of your stories has the most whump in it?

What is your favorite whumpy story you have written?

Share one of your favorite whumpy scenes that you have written.

What is one of the strangest things you have had to research for your whumpy writing?

What is the most recent thing you have researched for use in your whumpy writing?

Has any of your whump research ever come in handy in real life?

Are you ever hampered by your lack of medical knowledge when writing whump?

Has anyone ever called you out on an incorrectly written medical or whumpy scene (such as telling you that the character would have bled out long before help arrived)?

Do you consider character death (that is not reversed) to be whump?

Do ever rely on magical cures or deus ex machina to resolve whumpy situations?

How long have you been writing whump?

What was the first fandom you wrote whump for?

What fandom would you like to write whump for, but haven't done so yet (due to not knowing it well enough, etc.)?

Do you have any particular songs or playlists that help you get in the mood to write whump?

Do you write whump for OCs or just canon characters?

Do you have any whump pet peeves? Meaning things that just bug you when you see them in a fanfic.

What advice or wisdom would you like to share with other whump writers?

[ahundredtimesover]

The Light of Dead Stars (Series Masterlist) | KSJ

Pairing: Seokjin x (f.) Reader; side Seokjin x (f.) OC; side Reader x Namjoon

Genre/Tags: arranged marriage, fake romance, boss/workmate aus; angst, drama, fluff, smut; slow burn

Series Warnings: past toxic relationships (emotional/psychological abuse, cheating); “approved” extra-marital relationship (Jin and OC are in an unconventional arranged marriage & this is not an infidelity au but if the perception of it between the MCs is triggering, please skip this one!); foul/explicit language; alcohol consumption; mentions of injury and non-serious sickness; fighting, tears, and drama; explicit sexual content (specific warnings stated per chapter) (18+)

Word count: 150k

Muse Moodboard | Setting Moodboard

Status: Complete

Series summary: Your unconventional arranged marriage with your company’s President, Kim Seokjin, is necessary, practical, and simple - both your families benefit, and he minds his own business and so do you. But when a slip-up causes his parents to believe that you and he are in love, you have no choice but to pretend you are, especially with the trip to France for his brother’s wedding coming up. When you get back to Seoul, things start to change, and Seokjin is faced with the most difficult decision he has to make.

A/N: I came across Dead Stars by Paz Marquez Benitez again recently (a 1925 short story written in English and a classic in Philippine literature), and I was reminded of how I’ve always wanted to capture a fraction of the essence of that story ever since I read it in high school. But I sort of flipped it on its head and came up with this! My hand also slipped so lots of things happen. And given that I finished watching Business Proposal before I started writing and since I have no knowledge of the food production industry or the corporate world in general, several terms and elements were taken from that show (but it’s a completely different story). So please, don’t mind the inaccuracies! Jin has also been a menace 😈 recently so this was incredibly fun and satisfying to write. I hope you enjoy! 🥰🥰

Love–he seemed to have missed it. Or was the love that others told about a mere fabrication of perfervid imagination, an exaggeration of the commonplace, a glorification of insipid monotonies such as made up his love life? 

Prologue (2.3k)

Chapter 01 (9.4k)

Chapter 02  (9.7k)

Chapter 03 (9.8k)

Chapter 04 (8k)

Chapter 05 (10.6k)

So all these years–since when?–he had been seeing the light of dead stars, long extinguished, yet seemingly still in their appointed places in the heavens.

Chapter 06 (12k)

Chapter 07 (9.9k)

Chapter 08 (10.6k)

Chapter 09 (12.3k)

Chapter 10 (12.6k)

Chapter 11 (13.1k)

Chapter 12.1 (9.5k)

Chapter 12.2 (9.8k)

Epilogue (10.5k)

#Extras:TLODS

masterlist

[thinking-about-writing-mm]

Chapter 12

Title: Those Evil Ways

Pairing: OT7 x Y/N (female reader)

Genre: supernatural au, slow-burn, medical, fluff, angst, smut, war

Word count: ~9 930

Characters: (Demons!BTS) Namjoon/Corson, Jin/Agares, Yoongi/Baal, Hoseok/Alastor, Jimin/Aamon, Jungkook/Mammon, Taehyung/Gaap, human reader (with special abilities later in the story)

Warnings: description of Y/N's phobia - thanatophobia (fear of dying), mentions of visits to a psychiatrist (in a good way, nothing toxic or terrible), lots of angst, mental breakdown, lots of comforting moments/fluff of some sort, triggering, age regression (NOT IN A SEXUAL WAY, just as a means of coping with stress), Jungkook is being sweet and caring, Hoseok makes some progress – if I have missed something please send a pigeon 😅❤️

Summary: Y/N is a third-year medical student going through life like others do. On one unfortunate night she gets in unexpected contact with otherworldly beings who drag her into their world of violence, war and fight for power.

Author’s notes: TAGLIST OPEN.

The new chapter is here and I'm so excited about what's to come! Because of midterm test and other things I had to do I couldn't find the energy and time to finish the chapter for a while now... I know this one might be a bit too gloomy, dark and sad but good things are on the way :3

Please, enjoy! <3

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

A few weeks later the situation had gotten even worse. The Kings had decided it was best for them to return to their lands and reflect on what each one did, while Jin and Yoongi stayed behind in the capital in one of the residences so they can continue working on the battle plans with Taehyung.

What happened to Y/N you ask?

That… was a touchy subject for each of the seven men. At first, the three of them who got into a fight initially were ready to rip Hoseok apart but in the end, managed to keep their anger at bay. A new issue had risen and required to be dealt with with caution.

“Wake up, Y/N, please” Yoongi was repeating this sentence over and over again but she remained unconscious in his hands. He felt empty and weak. Looking up he searched for Jin’s eyes and when their gazes met the Master was stunned. He saw so much pain in the face of his closest man.

“Let’s take her to the mansion.” Agares said to Baal but hearing that King Mammon stood up.

With a stern expression, he shook his head. “Not gonna happen. I’m taking Y/N to the North.”

“Really?” Yoongi snapped at him. “After everything you’ve done…”

“What I’ve done? You and Agares are the main reason for this shit and all that Y/N’s been through” the usual calm self of the King disappeared again. Rage was still coursing through his veins, making Jungkook’s blood boil.

“Enough of that” Noir who was quiet until now intervened. All of that was completely pointless and if the feud would continue at this point, in their state of mind it would lead to nowhere. “I’m making the decisions now because apparently, none of you are capable from what I’m seeing.” The disappointment was noticeable in Namjoon’s voice.

He walked over to the table and lifted one of the fallen chairs and sat on it with his legs crossed. “I see now why we were so drawn to her, some more, some less but that doesn’t matter now. The causes for this girl’s presence don’t matter anymore too, it’s a fact - Y/N’s here with us and we all know what kind of being she is.”

Hoseok’s jaw tightened while listening to their Leader. The feeling of betrayal was still so strong and it was clouding the demon’s mind. “What’s the point of those words?” He hissed, leaning with spread arms over the table.

“My point - she’d been thrown into this mess without her consent and knowledge of the whole situation.” While saying this Corson’s eyes moved to Jin and Yoongi who were standing side by side. They visibly retreated into themselves but maintained eye contact with the King. “If Agares had let go of his grudges like I did decades ago and came to talk it out, Y/N might still be alive and well with her friends back in the human world - blissfully oblivious to all this here, without any schemes or intrigues.”

“She’s alive” Jungkook stated flatly but King Noir shot him a warning glare.

“We might be demons and according to the humans that’s the synonym of “evil” but I believe we’re more than that.” Namjoon got quiet looking around the room at the other six men. At that moment Taehyung who was awfully quiet spoke up.

“It’s not my place to rub salt in the wound but this affair has gone too out of hand. I have spent enough time with Y/N to know that she was innocent and pretty much unaware of all of this. At first, I was opposed to being involved but from what I know now there wasn’t even a slight chance of me not getting in the middle of it somehow. Mind you it was my choice in the end so I’m not blaming anyone.” The General somehow felt responsible for the young woman too. “We are intelligent creatures, that’s why each one of us has such a high position in this society.” He got closer to King Alastor and placed a hand on his shoulder reassuringly. “The first time a crisis occurred I don’t think we gave our best to avert it and we just let resentment and fury take over which was not right. That’s the main reason why we’re here now at each other's throats. This is not right…” Gaap closed his eyes in frustration. The demon wanted all this to be finally over. “We were what the humans call “friends” and now everything has crumbled to the ground and I’m still hoping there’s some way to fix it.”

“Tch…” Hoseok snorted “friends? Friends don’t choose a-” but at that second Jimin’s open hand shot up in a warning for him to stop. “Whatever.” The King of the East then said, thrown off.

“So I was saying that if we let go of our rage maybe could come together once more. Maybe Y/N is the key to make this possible.”

Agares smiled mockingly in the General’s direction. “You really think we can do that? Don’t make me laugh.”

“I’m not” Gaap replied with a serious face. “A war is approaching, a half-dead girl is laying on the ground and we’re further apart than ever before. This is not a joke or a way to mock any of you…”

“Taehyung is right,” Namjoon said backing him up. “I think it’s best for all of us to return to our regions and reflect. Think about what happened and once you reach a decision on what you want to do next return to the capital, then send a letter to the other six. Once everyone has reached a final decision we will gather here in the palace to discuss what would be the best course of action.” Then the King of the West laced his fingers together waiting for the others to say what they think about his offer. Slowly the demons nodded one by one without a word. “If someone wants to say something, anything, now it’s the time.”

“What about Y/N?” King Mammon asked with a pleading look, hoping for Noir to take the hint. The other man stared at the unconscious girl and then turned to Jungkook.

“Get her to the North. It’s dangerous for her to stay here since apparently someone is after her.”

The moment Baal opened his mouth to express his displeasure with this decision Namjoon shook his head. “It’s final. Doordale is too open. She’s helpless and given the fact that we will be far away, it’s better if Jungkook takes care of her for now. He is the best with making someone disappear and the guards there are top-notch.”

“Thank you Noir” Jungkook flashed him a smile but then felt the air getting thicker. Afraid to cause another misunderstanding he turned to Baal and Agares. “Hey! I didn’t mean to gloat don’t get me wrong. If she wakes up you will be the first to know. It’s not my intention to keep Y/N away from either of you.”

Yoongi visibly relaxed while Jin remained on edge. “You better.” The taller demon seethed through clenched teeth. “If something happens to her your head will roll, mark my words.”

“Come on, let’s get back.” Baal urged the Master to the door.

The other demons began shifting slowly and getting ready to leave. Jungkook approached Y/N who was still out of it, breathing ever so slightly. Her face was pale and the lips - dry. “I will take care of you” the demon whispered and pushed his hands under the young woman’s body, lifting her up with ease. Jimin then stepped in front of him, preventing Mammon from leaving.

“Wanna go some of the way together - to the Big Crossroad?”

The tattooed demon just nodded curtly.

…

The carriages were going together with guards riding at the front and at the back, but the two Kings were together in Mammon’s carriage.

There was still some time until they reached the place where they would go their separate ways. Both men were quiet with Y/N sleeping in Jungkook’s arms. He was mindlessly stroking the girl’s hair.

“I never meant for this to blow so out of proportion,” Aamon said quietly, never taking his eyes off the other two. You could say that he almost regretted his actions…

“Me neither. To be honest, I’ve had so many dreams of the seven of us fixing our problems and coming together as brothers but I’m too engrossed in doing my own things and enjoying celebration after celebration. The Ministers never stopped sending women and gifts… I’m too greedy.” The tattooed demon smiled bitterly. The irony - calling himself greedy.

“We’re bearers of great sins, we are born from that. I’m not going to sit here and wine about the things I’ve done” those words made Jungkook uncomfortable. It sounded like his companion didn’t want to change a thing. “Look, don’t get me wrong, I know I’ve fucked things up just as much as any of us did but you know what they say - there’s no use crying over spilled milk.”

Jimin’s eyes landed on Y/N’s pale face. “We are Kings and must only look forward. I will go back to the South and figure a way how to work things out with Hoseok.”

“What about Agares and Baal?”

“Baal will come around and as for Agares…” he sighed heavily. “He’s bottled too much hate and is still living in the past. It will take time.”

The other demon laughed lightly. It was funny how much faith Jimin had in the rest. Maybe this was not all bad though… Maybe he should do the same?

“What about her?” the silver-haired man asked softly, his demeanor and facial expression changing instantly. His biggest fear was that Y/N would choose someone else but not him which was very likely given what had happened up until this point. The young woman was nothing like them - a Spark and a demon with human behavioral patterns, so peculiar. At times she seemed incredibly confused and lost around the seven men. “It was entertaining how Y/N was struggling with herself when we were coming strong onto her.”

“Most humans are monogamous.” King Mammon stated matter-of-factly, with no emotion.

“I know, I know but her two selves were constantly fighting. Y/N’s strong since she managed to keep those primal instincts at bay.” Jimin was musing mostly to himself.

The taller demon had so many things he wanted to tell the man sitting in front of him but said only one wishful sentence. “I hope she decides to stay and stick with us.”

“Meaning?” Jimin lifted a brow not understanding where this was going.

“The Spark. It’s dangerous for her, while if Y/N chooses her demonic side… can you…” Mammon got excited and his eyes became glossy and shiny. He tightened his arms around the girl, then continued speaking in this overly excited manner. “Can you imagine how strong she would be? You saw the markings - the power of speech, this hasn’t happened in centuries.”

The maniacal look on the black-haired demon’s face worried King Aamon. “Jungkook…” he leaned forward placing a hand on Mammon’s knee. “It’s up to her. You have to ensure Y/N is safe and taken care of for now. When she comes to it will be entirely up to her. Don’t do this because it will push her away and force an unpleasant outcome.”

“My King, we are at the Big Crossroad.” The Coachman informed Jimin while tapping on the roof of the carriage. Aamon nodded and straightened up.

“Very well. I will be out in a minute.” With that, he focused on his companion once more. “Please don’t coerce or pressure her if she wakes up.”

“She will. No “if”s.” Jungkook snapped back.

The other man smiled. “You have my complete trust and I’m glad that Corson entrusted Y/N to you.” 

The King of the North rolled his eyes playfully. “Don’t fuck with me. I know how much you want to be in my place.”

They said their goodbyes and Aamon reached for the door handle but then turned back. A longing look took over his doll-like features. In a swift motion, then he bent over and placed a gentle hand on the girl’s cheek then planted a kiss on her forehead. It felt like the time had stopped. Jimin remained like this for a few seconds basking in the feeling while Jungkook sat completely still. “We will see each other soon princess.”

After that, he left and Mammon continued on his way with the young woman pressed to his chest.

…

“Mom?” Y/N woke up when the door opened.

“Hey, baby.” The woman looked anxious. It was a rare sight to see.

“What’s happening? Why’re you looking at me like this?”

Turning around in the bed the girl saw a bright light coming from the windows. The decoration in the room was from her childhood days with all the stuffed toys and books spread over the floor.

“Y/N, baby, we don’t have much time. Listen to me” her mother sat on the edge of the bed and took the girl’s little hands in hers. “It’s important to stay true to yourself and not lose track of the right path. Important decisions have to be made in due time.”

Flashes of some scary dreams appeared in Y/N’s mind - seven tall figures looming over her tiny body with hands outstretched coming closer and closer. “Mommy I’m scared” she whimpered, pulling on the woman’s shirt.

“I’m right here, don’t be.” The two hugged each other tightly and stayed like that for a few minutes. “Now, do you want to hear a story?”

Y/N nodded, her eyes still filled with tears. “Once upon a time there lived a princess in a kingdom far away from here. Her parents were extremely busy and were always leaving her alone to deal with whatever problem arose. When the princess got older her mom and dad told her that she should help them with ruling the Kingdom but this required her to become a fearless warrior.” Y/N exclaimed in surprise.

“But… mom, aren’t the princesses supposed to be pretty and get married to a nice prince?”

Her mom laughed wholeheartedly and ruffled the girl’s hair. “You know your fairytales very well.” Then she got serious once again. “This princess was not like the others, her life was harder but also very rewarding. One day on the battlefield she saved a wounded man and took good care of him and since the woman was so nice to him he fell in love with her. The princess was afraid to admit she had developed feelings for him too so she left the next night.”

“But that’s sad…” Y/N sniffled.

“It is but then something unthinkable happened. One day while the girl was taking a walk around the city the same man approached her. He had traveled the world to find her and in the end, his efforts were granted with success. Then and there the young woman promised to never leave his side no matter what. It turned out that he was a magical being with great power but the princess’ parents were mad at her for choosing him. That’s why the two ran away and hid from everyone. They had a beautiful baby girl but bad people found out and came looking for them. The parents were left with no choice but to run again. In the end the best choice was to give their child to a nice woman who kindly offered shelter for the baby. The kid grew up to be sweet and caring just like her parents, even though she didn’t have any recollection of them ever existing.”

“But mom why did they leave their child if they loved it so much?”

“Because she was in danger and they would never be able to forgive themselves if something bad would happen to their daughter. In the end, her parents were separated and they never saw each other again.”

Y/N’s lower lip trembled. “That’s a sad story mommy.”

“I know love but this story is my gift for you. Once you grow up you will understand everything.”

…

The days were passing monotonously. Things stayed the same, Jungkook woke up each morning and checked the reports from the previous night. Nothing was happening, as if the Queen was dormant, waiting for something specific to occur. After that, he was spending the day staying in Y/N’s room reading a book to her or drawing her sleeping face over and over again. She was being washed and dressed every day by the two maids who were by her side the first time when she came here.

“I miss your voice so much. Don’t leave me” he whispered. “I’ve heard Monica say you will love me one day and I will wait. I will wait for your loving one day…” He pressed his forehead to the soft mattress and closed his eyes. “Please wake up Y/N.”

Mammon felt pathetic for saying those things over and over again but he couldn’t help it. Guilt was eating away at the demon for all the times he used her for his and the other’s entertainment. Jungkook was fixated on making it right by her once the girl has woken up. Each time he closed his eyes the only thing he saw were Y/N’s sad eyes, the scared look after the markings appeared, King Alastor squeezing her neck, and how she was struggling in the King’s tight grip. All this was unforgivable indeed but she was always so good and the demon hoped that somewhere in her heart Y/N will find absolution and would be ready to accept his apology.

Let me say just this - sometimes some things are too hard or even impossible to forget but the key is to be able to forgive. Sometimes letting go of old grudges and focusing on what’s to come is the best option so you don’t lose yourself in all the anger and sorrow.

Jungkook was ready to climb a mountain if that was needed to prove he meant each word.

…

Almost three weeks went by. Jin and Yoongi were occasionally seeing each other in the mansion and even then they didn’t say much. The two men had buried themselves in old tomes looking for a way to wake Y/N up.

None of them had said a thing about what transpired in the central palace. Agares was still bitter and he felt defeated. Why?

Well, that’s because Jungkook had taken Y/N away after Namjoon gave his final ruling. After the Master had returned home the same day he had let his rage run free until Yoongi came back to the residence.

“Stop this shit.” The emotionless voice made Jin stop and turn around. The room was in disarray, broken chairs and pieces of glass and porcelain were scattered everywhere. “Do you think I’m happy that she’s gone?”

“It’s all because of them four. No! Hoseok! He’s the one to blame-”

Baal’s teeth clicked in frustration. “Don’t do that. Things will continue to go downhill until you cut this shit off. Use your brain Jin!” His voice became louder than before and the Master’s eyes narrowed.

“Mind your tone and words” he warned but the shorter demon didn’t care one bit.

“You can’t intimidate me. She’s gone now and we might never see her again so forgive me if I’m not ready to deal with your childish behavior yet.”

Agares gritted his teeth angrily but instead of deepening the confrontation, he kept quiet.

“We should fix things with King Alastor and also look for a way to bring Y/N back.”

Throwing his head back, Jin began laughing crazily. The loud sound tore the air around the two and echoed for a few seconds after the demon had stopped. “Whoa, you really know how to entertain me.” His face got serious. “There is no way in Hell I would go back to this bastard and talk with him. His selfishness got us here.”

The other man shook his head. “No Jin, all of us. We got ourselves in the middle of that shitstorm and we should find a way out of it.” Turning around to the door Yoongi stopped with his hand on the handle. “Think about it and you will see this is the best course of action. We should find a way back to each other because you remember - long ago we were inseparable.”

Looking at them you might wonder how the two demons haven’t killed each other - they were the exact opposites character-wise and yet - to see or hear a fight or dispute between them was an extremely rare occurrence. The sole reason for this was only one - Yoongi was the quiet and calm part in this friendship and then there was Jin - rowdy and loud with a short temper. You know how it goes - opposites attract.

“What about Y/N then?” Agares asked hurriedly before the other man left.

“I will send a letter to Trophonius. During the time we spent there with her the Oracle took a liking to the girl and once he knows the details of the issue at hand maybe he will be kind enough to come and help us.”

It was amazing how when it came to Y/N most of the seven men were thinking as one and were trying to make her stay in the Scarlet Land as pleasant as possible. If we… could call it that.

…

King Alastor was plagued by unwelcomed memories of the past. It was an absolute hell - each time he closed his eyes the demon was seeing scenes of the previous war, the day the seven demons fell apart, ugly disfigured faces of the enemies he had fought and the one that always made Hoseok wake up covered in sweat - Y/N, pale, struggling in his iron grip, tight around her neck and the next scene was her on the ground - lifeless. Then this was followed by the other six standing at her side looking at the King with resentment for what he had done.

“She’s not dead!” He was shouting in the dream but they didn’t care one bit and just continued to look at him, unmoving and silent.

This went on for a week or so. All the alcohol couldn’t drown the uneasy feeling and bitterness.

Then the second week came. The servants were quiet and extremely careful not to trigger the King in any way. Eternal life could be too much to handle if each day passed like that - buried in heavy, burdensome thoughts and reliving the worst moments. Hoseok began thinking that it was a punishment from some god-like being for going once more against his closest people and for getting consumed by hatred that he thought to be just.

When the third week began things slowly started to settle down and after long hours of thinking back on what had happened Hoseok concluded that he had jumped to conclusions too fast. After all, even Namjoon who was calculating and incredulous decided to grant Y/N the benefit of the doubt.

“I should talk to him…” he muttered while a maid was pouring him coffee.

“Excuse me Your Highness?” she turned to him with an apologetic look. “I didn’t hear You well.”

Alastor slowly lifted his head to look at the succubus. Her eyes widened in horror and she bowed and then immediately began apologizing and begging for forgiveness. He sighed in frustration - none of them had done anything to upset him and yet each sound that reached his ears or if a movement was a bit too wide or uncoordinated the King grew frustrated and angry at the staff. “Leave me be” Alastor waved dismissively at the maid and sent her away.

By the end of the third week, the King of the East had made arrangements to visit Noir in the West. It was easy to talk to him. The other demon was a good listener, always has been and especially if the person before him was close to him somehow. Hoseok hoped that Namjoon would be ready to hear him out after what had happened not so long ago.

The West had a different atmosphere about it even though the region was part of the kingdom of Doordale. All kinds of important people had a residence there - the demons from the ministry, fauns and ghouls who were members of the royal council and so on. The region was like the Orange county of the empire - you could wander all day long looking at the architectural wonders which were their homes. There was only one reason why they were choosing to live here - to be away from prying eyes.

"Greetings my King" the men standing guard by the massive double doors saluted Hoseok when he approached with his entourage. "King Corson is expecting You." They opened the doors to let him in. As per usual the members of the staff bowed to the demon. A butler accompanied by two other guards appeared inviting Alastor to walk with them so they could take him to Namjoon.

The Royal Protocol seemed demanding to someone who was taking a first look at it but in time it was turning out to be quite easy to get accustomed to. The key to it all - perfect coordination with others.

"Welcome!" Namjoon stood up from his chair and handed the book he was reading to one of the servants. "I was surprised when the messenger boy brought me the letter. I presume you want to talk?" There was a whiff of a good-hearted jest in Noir's voice.

"Oh no, I just came for the tea" the other King laughed lightly and they clasped each other's hands tightly as a greeting.

"Good" Namjoon became serious for a second and then smiled widely, his dimples appearing immediately "because I have none."

If he had to be honest King Corson would never say he didn’t expect Alastor to come. The subjects of the kingdom knew Noir to keep away from familiarities and empty pleasantries with the higher-ups, his calculating look that he had on constantly usually managed to intimidate everyone but it was for a reason. Who would look at him and take the demon seriously if he was an airhead who cared only about small talk and pretentious meetings? Exactly - no one. This behavior was what has gotten Namjoon this far, it was the reason why he has established himself as a leader of some sorts.

“Let me be clear - I won’t pressure you into taking a side” Hoseok said while twirling one of the strings dangling from his dress shirt between his fingers. “I just want to tell you how I feel about the whole thing. I’ve been closest to you all those centuries for a reason.”

Namjoon just nodded, suppressing the urge to ask him all sorts of questions.

“I don’t like her or… let’s say I don’t trust her. I don’t know this woman and after what came to light about her identity I didn’t see a reason to even try.” The King knew the legends very well and could recite every story he had heard of the Spark.

“Why?” tilting his head to the side Noir rubbed his chin, his eyes sparkling with curiosity.

“Well, it’s not like I have something against Y/N being a Spark or her being a demon. My problem is the combination - you know our kind very well and what we’re capable of, the atrocities.” The other man blinked once with understanding. “I’m not saying that the nation of the Spark was bad or dangerous but I get it now why they were killed off.”

“Really? Tell me” he really wanted to know why Hoseok had been so off about Y/N, apparently, it wasn’t just a pretense.

The King of the East was usually so accepting of other species and gave the people every chance to prove themselves without any bias. Of course, he had a twisted sense of humor and liked to push others to their limits but this was a different matter. “Imagine what would’ve happened if the Sparks began mating with us or the ghouls or even worse - the therianthropes.” Alastor huffed in frustration, the skin under his eyes wrinkled when he grimaced in disgust. Namjoon smirked, it was amusing how expressive the other King was. “You know how everyone used to say that the worst that could happen to the Scarlet Land was if the Spark turned dark.”

“Mmh. I’ve heard of this… what was it called…?”

“Dim Glow. That’s what my brother and father used to call the phenomenon of them turning rogue and forsaking the Light.”

It was a sad story. The nation of the Spark was never meant to live in a dark and rotten place like the Scarlet Land, but being feared and shunned by everyone they had ended up there, which had led to their inevitable demise. Let’s say that as a whole the supernatural beings were divided as ones of the “Light” and those of “the Darkness”. The primordial rule was to never mix the two in any way, especially if it came down to procreation because the results might turn out disastrous. The power those beings possess was said to be greater than that of a god. “So imagine if this girl turned out like this! She could tear everything around us down if the essence of the two sides mix - Y/N will be-”

“Uncontrollable. Unstoppable…” King Noir finished the sentence and he and Hoseok shared a look. “But that’s what Jungkook and Yoongi were trying to prevent recently. Baal and Agares had figured out things long before we did while Mammon was doing it out of selfish desires but all of them were helping Y/N stick to only one side.”

“I see that now, yes.” The other man’s eyes lowered with guilt. “I regret messing up the things between the four of us.”

One very specific arrogant look of Corson’s appeared and the other demon knew it was there without even seeing it. “You should. Also, keep in mind that what Y/N did was induced by our behavior - because of Aamon, Agares and Mammon throwing her around, because us three with Taehyung  had been suspicious and treating the girl as some lowly tool in order to achieve one’s goal, lower than the cheap whores roaming the streets, also you - becoming aggressive… all of those things led to this outcome.”

“I have to find a way to fix “us” if that’s even possible.”

Hoseok leaned back in his chair and covered his face with a hand. He has never been rash or that impulsive, maybe the pressure recently had reached a new high or maybe he was losing his touch…

…

I guess you all know the story of Sleeping Beauty. Y/N was now in a similar situation but the difference was that she was fighting to stay afloat and alive in her mind.

All the nightmares and terrors that were appearing in her head prevented her from waking up. I can’t even count how many times she saw her mother who was trying to influence the girl to give up and go with her. Where? Oh, I don't know exactly… so many times Y/N thought of following her but then decided against it saying "I have to wait for someone, I don't know who but they are coming to get me." Then the Kings and the other demons would appear taunting her or whispering sweet nothings, coercing Y/N to give her body to the pleasure they were offering. Another time scary creatures chased her around a dark forest and in the end she always ended up falling from a cliff.

“Hey baby” Y/N’s mother entered the room again. She had her hair tied in a tight bun which meant that the woman had just returned from the office. “Wanna talk?” Something felt off this time.

The young woman nodded and left the thick textbook on the bed. “Sure mom. What do you wanna talk about?” Back in the days it was not an unusual thing for them to share a moment like this, just the two, discussing something important but now Y/N felt weird and out of place. She couldn’t think of a topic or a problem that needed their attention at the moment.

The mother looked down at the textbook - “Internal medicine”. After a long pause she sighed as if the whole world was weighing down on her shoulders. “Why did you decide to study this? It’s so hard for you mentally and physically - you barely sleep these days or eat properly.”

“Mom…” Y/N rubbed her temples trying not to get agitated. This conversation has always been the worst, since the first day the girl announced she had planned on enrolling in the medical university. Mrs. Y/L/N had tried her best to dissuade her daughter from doing this but to no avail. “You know very well why. Moreover, it’s my last year. I enjoy every part of this - the help I can provide, giving hope to people, the efforts to lessen the struggles of others - it’s all incredibly rewarding.”

Her mother shook her head in disappointment and looked Y/N dead in the eye. The color of their pupils was exactly the same, and the face shapes too. A random thought crossed the girl’s mind unexpectedly “How could she not be my mom?” But why did she think of that? “Am I forgetting something…?”

“Don’t be a child. This crippling fear that’s been plaguing your mind since you were five? That has nothing to do with choosing this profession?” Her voice became unrecognizable, laced with menace. It also had this unpleasant sound as if the woman’s mouth was filled with unswallowed saliva.

“You know I don’t talk about that. Not anymore,” Y/N said through clenched teeth.

“That? This-“

“No mom. Stop it.” Panic began rising in her chest.

Mrs. Y/L/N had this sad expression on her face now. “The fear of death is common in many people, baby.”

Shaking her head Y/N tried to get rid of these thoughts just like before but it didn’t work now. Anxiety and desperation got her in a tight chokehold and she began breathing heavily.

“Seeing and reading about all the possible causes for someone’s death is tiring. Do you see the darkness sometimes? Do you think about it?” The girl was now shaking uncontrollably, sobbing and whimpering. She hadn’t had a panic attack in so long. “You want to become a medical geneticist or no… what was it? Genetic engineer so you can find the key to eternal life right?” Her mother took Y/N’s hands in hers and continued speaking. “You know if you let me take you away I will show you only light and there won’t be a need to ever think of that again.”

Holding on for dear life her daughter tried speaking. “M-m-mom… I’m… I-I…”

“Shhh… don’t be scared.”

“Master!” Monica ran inside the office screaming her lungs out. “Please! Come quick!”

Jungkook knew that this behavior meant only two things - either Y/N has woken up or was dying. Jumping to his feet the demon ran through the hallways.

When he entered the girl’s room he saw her in a terrible state - her body shaking from tremors with different intensity, sweat covering her face and neck, tears streaming down. The most unbearable thing was the quiet wailing reaching the King’s ears. “What’s wrong with her?!” He roared while crossing the room to sit on the bed next to Y/N.

“I-I…” the maid stuttered. “I was sitting on the chair watching her Ladyship and then it just happened out of nowhere.”

Jungkook hasn’t done this in so long but now was the perfect time for it. Closing his eyes the man emptied his mind completely. He pictured Yoongi’s face and a thin red loose string appeared, connecting the two demons. That was the telepathic bond the seven of them were sharing. “Yoongi are you listening?” Mammon said. A few seconds passed and then he continued, his voice turning frantic. “Y/N’s not well. Something is happening and I need you to come. Use the Wishing well and…”

The maid stayed on the side, crying. She liked the young woman so much and was so grateful for all the good things Y/N had said to her and for the nice attitude. The first time she felt like a human being was when the girl came to the palace and treated Monica as a friend and not as some lowlife. “Please save her, Your Highness…” the maid sobbed quietly.

A few minutes went by and the wooden door flew open. Baal came in tow with the man from Christopher’s memories - the Leader of the Oracles. The white-haired man didn’t say a word, just approached and bent down to touch Y/N’s forehead with his. Her body continued spasming in uneven intervals.

After a while the Oracle straightened up and looked at Jungkook with a grim expression. “She’s dying.”

“NO!” Both Mammon and Baal shouted simultaneously. The King’s black hair was in disarray, his cold eyes were filled with sadness and fear now and his hands were trembling from the adrenaline rush.

“Save her!” Yoongi got closer to them. He was obliged to find a way to keep Y/N alive at all costs, there was so much more to tell her and do together. The demon had plans to return with the girl to her world and clean up his wrongdoings but this…

The white-haired man nodded with a reserved expression. “Keep in mind that this might not work but since we don’t have another option…”

“Say it.” Jungkook ordered harshly, his eyes burning with determination.

“The thing is that whatever is killing Y/N is in her mind. Probably her own thoughts and since she’s been in this state for a while exhaustion is taking a toll on her. I need to channel some of your life essence into her.”

“Done” Jungkook and Yoongi both stepped forward as one but the Oracle shook his head.

“Only one thing is stopping me from doing this.”

Baal’s jaw tightened. “Those two sides of her.”

“Exactly. She might become a demon…”

“I don’t care! Do you want Y/N to…” The King was unable to say it. This was the first time in his centuries-long life he felt so desperate and lost. The woman was so precious to him and just thinking about losing her caused the demon immense pain - both physical and mental. He… loved Y/N and would give his own life to save hers. “Do it!” Jungkook grabbed the Oracle by the shoulders with gloved hands.

The other man blinked once, agreeing silently. “I will sit here and make sure to establish a bond with her. You must place a hand on my forehead and let down all the defenses so I can channel your essence into her.” The man then turned to Yoongi with a stern expression. “Keep a close watch on him. He mustn’t break physical contact with me.” Baal just stared unblinkingly.

“Come on baby, let me help you” her mother went on and on.

When Y/N was younger and an episode like this happened it was common after that for the girl to regress for different periods of time. That’s why her mom was always staying by Y/N’s side helping her recover. Why regressing? The girl’s mind was always so exhausted due to the stress caused by those intrusive thoughts. During and after an event of that sorts the regression became a coping mechanism so the brain could recover. In the past, the panic attacks used to happen almost every other day and the psychiatrist that Y/N was seeing at that time, had explained that it was a way to deal with the stress - reverting back to the stress-free, burdenless life of an infant or a child.

Y/N continued seeing the doctor for years up until her fifteenth birthday. Then looking at the cake the girl decided that the best decision was to become a doctor. The psychiatrist had advised her to find a way to deal permanently with the fear without the help of pills and other drugs. At some point the mentioning of the medical profession put Y/N on the way to healing.

“You’re strong enough to deal with this. Of course this is not a panacea, there might be times when you will get triggered by something, given the fact that being a doctor means seeing death a lot. You should have a grounding object or something of the sorts. You can always count on me and come for sessions. We’ve ruled out all of the underlying mental disorders so there’s nothing to worry about. This is just a coping mechanism for worries about the impact of aging.”

Once the girl started preparing for the entrance exams things began changing slowly. The panic attacks got rarer and rarer and those intrusive thoughts bothered her less and less with time. It all came from the fact that Y/N was working in the direction to find a way to be alive forever. A childish goal in the other’s eyes but the strongest driving force for her to stay afloat.

And now…

This uncooperative mind of hers was trying to “persuade” the young woman to let go and thus the attack happened.

At some point during the whole ordeal Yoongi began doubting if this was working at all - Y/N was still convulsing and whimpering. Jungkook on the other hand looked horrible - he was pale, breathing heavily and gritting his teeth.

“She’s so strong, there’re so many walls, metaphorically speaking, in her mind. I can’t break them down.” Trophonius murmured with his eyes closed.

“Just… figure it out” Yoongi hissed angrily. “I can feel her becoming weaker.”

The minutes were passing and nothing was happening…

At some point the King felt weak in the knees but did his best to resist the fatigue. Baal saw that and cautiously made a step towards him.

“I’m fine” Mammon spat out, still looking intently at Y/N’s face. “I don’t need your help!” So stubborn and unwilling to accept assistance from anyone.

More time went by but at one certain moment something felt like breaking. The air in the room turned static and Trophonius opened his eyes suddenly. “That’s it! Keep going!” Those words were aimed at Jungkook.

In the chests of both demons their hearts skipped a beat. Yoongi expected to see Mammon transforming but apparently the low energy level had the last say now. It was a well-known fact that in the process of shifting a lot of energy was required and now Jungkook had exhausted most of it.

“Y/N, look at me” her mom tried getting the girl’s attention but it was no use.

Y/N was crying unstoppably, the screams now resembled those of physical pain. She felt so helpless and bare. There’s no way she could die. Her mom would never be so mean to trigger her on purpose and then not even try to help her get over the episode.

“I-It… hurt-t-ts” the young woman cried pathetically. “I can-n’t” a new agonizing moan ripped through the air.

There was a knock at the door and both women cast their eyes in the direction of the sound.

“Yoongi hold him” Trophonius groaned in displeasure. “If he lets go all would have been for nothing.”

Without a second thought the other demon appeared behind the King and pressed himself to the other’s back. At that moment a nice thought dawned on him - Baal reached forward and placed his hand over Jungkook’s and the other around his chest for support.

“Whoa! I didn’t expect your spirit to be so strong” the Oracle exclaimed. It was a good decision to use the two of them but the downside would have been that both of their energy supply could run out just as fast so Trophonius needed a backup. “You are the sin of Sloth and yet this is… incredible!”

Then the white-haired man felt it - the last “wall” falling down.

Jungkook saw it first - the door in the darkness. Screams were coming from behind it and this bothered the demon to another extent. He began walking towards it but then Yoongi materialized too.

“What’s that?” Baal asked confused.

“Must be Y/N’s mind space. Let’s go, I don’t like this.”

The two approached the door and Jungkook knocked twice. It was best not to scare Y/N even more considering the state she was in back in the real world. After a second he opened the door and what they saw stunned them. This disgusting deformed apparition sat next to their pretty girl with tentacle-like appendages wrapped around different parts of Y/N’s body.

From her perspective, though this seemed different - it was still her mother and everything was completely normal.

Of course, the two demons looked exactly like themselves but the young woman couldn’t remember who they were. Looking at the men she began crying again. “I-I don’ wan-n-nt to…”

Baal crossed the room and grabbed the ghost-like creature. It screeched and another outgrowth shot out from its body wrapping around the demon’s neck. The King ran forward while the other two were struggling and grabbed Y/N who was still under the apparition’s influence. The tentacles were wrapped so tightly around her that even Jungkook with his strength couldn’t get the girl out. “Rip its head off!” the tattooed demon roared.

Yoongi didn’t answer back. He was still struggling with overpowering the creature. Seeing no other way around it Mammon began transforming partially and he dug his sharpened teeth into the black matter keeping Y/N under. No blood came out, nor did any tissue got ripped - of course this was a thought. Y/N’s thought that they couldn’t kill.

“Talk to her!” Yoongi urged Jungkook to try a different approach.

The King then knelt near the bed and grabbed the girl’s hand. “Hey princess. It’s me, do you remember me?”

Y/N’s eyes widened in horror, she knew this face from another nightmare of hers. He was bad and mean, this man was not good and the girl wasn’t supposed to go with him anywhere. She shook her head frantically. “Pl-please d-d-don’t hur’ me!”

Those words stung badly. The demon winced and balled his fists. “What has this thing done to you?” Jungkook didn’t know what to say. He was lost.

Yoongi was still trying to fight the apparition but nothing physical could make it budge. Everytime he tried punching, squeezing or kicking it felt like sand was on the other side of his fist. That’s why the only way seemed to be a battle of their minds but he couldn’t do it. It was just an idea of sorts and it didn’t have any brain to produce thoughts of its’ own.

“She has to deal with it” Baal said in the end. “We can’t do shit.” Once he stopped struggling the vision stopped fighting him too. It then turned his attention back to Y/N.

“Who are those people?!” Y/N’s mother was shouting in her face. “Tell them to go and leave us alone!”

The girl just shook her head.

“Hey, princess listen to me.” Jungkook began once again. “It’s me one of the Kings. Remember how you were feeding the birds in the pond in my garden?”

“N-no” Y/N stuttered and got her hands away from the demon’s, pressing them to her chest. “No!”

“Come on” the tattooed man smiled pleasantly and his lip ring glistened in the daylight. “The talk we had in the bathroom, the confessions?” From what Mammon knew the way to bring someone back was to remind them of some good moment but… He felt so guilty. There were almost no pleasant memories to speak of - he cause Y/N so much pain he had to atone for. If he was able to cry this was the moment he would do it. Taking a deep breath he placed his hand on the girl’s knee. Her eyes widened and she began trashing around.

“Don’t t-touch m-m-!” 

“Hey, hey. Okay I won’t touch you” the demon lifted his hands up in the air. Then Yoongi approached from behind keeping an eye on the creature who was murmuring something inaudible.

“We don’t have much time Jungkook” the shorter demon warned. “Something’s changing.”

So many sounds were overlapping in Y/N’s mind. Her mother was screaming on one side and then there were the two men saying some weird things that made her even more confused. It was impossible to think straight.

“Do you remember how sad you were-”

“That’s not how you do it” Baal cut the other man off. He feared that everything would go from bad to worse.

“Let me be. Y/N you were very sad and lonely that I left you for days during the feast. But do you also recall how glum I was when you decided to leave? That’s because I regretted my decisions then and now even more.” A tremor ripped through Y/N’s body.

“Mommy…” she wept weakly.

“She sees her mother.” Yoongi muttered more to himself. This was proving so much…

“I’m so sorry princess, I’m so sorry. I will never leave you again” those words sounded so genuine that they surprised even Baal. The mint-haired demon felt a pang of jealousy. Why couldn’t he be the one to do this? “Monica is taking care of you for so many days now. She loves you so much, the girl’s saying you’re her closest friend. I adore you for this kind heart of yours, Yoongi here feels the same way.” The King reached up to touch the young woman’s face but one of the tentacles of the apparition wrapped around his hand, stopping the demon. “Let me take you away and help you. I will make sure to eliminate every threat and danger around you, princess.”

“Liar” she sniffled.

“I can prove to you that I’m not. Don’t you want to see the people that long for you?” Y/N shivered and scooted over closer to the creature. Jungkook’s doe eyes got wider with fear.

“Y-you are n-no real…”

“But I am. Want me to prove you wrong? Think back and remember the time when I held you close. There’s something I asked you in the beginning. Do you remember what was it?”

“I don’t want to go” Y/N whispered, not listening to the King. He was becoming desperate.

“Do you remember what I asked you, princess?” he tried once again. “Let me ask one last question - demon shift or human?”

Then the girl got quiet. Everything stood still, the apparition stopped moving, the tentacles froze for a second and their matter stopped shifting too. “D-demon sh-shif’ or h-?”

“Yes.”

“Demon or human…” Y/N was talking to herself, her eyes glued to Mammon’s face. There was something strangely adorable about her disheveled look and those wide curious eyes, looking for an answer. Chewing on her bottom lip now the girl looked at the nightstand. There she saw her first stethoscope. Reaching for it with a trembling hand the creature didn’t try to stop her this time.

Yoongi followed her movement with interest - she wanted to take it. Getting on the other side of Jungkook he took it and handed it to Y/N. When she touched the stethoscope the young woman closed her eyes and her facial features softened. She ran her fingers over the cold shiny metallic parts, trying to steady the ragged breathing. “Demon or human…” Y/N said once more.

“Mmh.” Jungkook hummed. The two men stood in their respective spots, waiting for what was to come next.

“I-it’s you. Kookie…”

At this moment Yoongi visibly relaxed and sighed. The King smiled brightly and the skin around his eyes scrunched cutely. “It’s me and Yoongi. He was as annoying as ever but… helped me so much. Come on.” The demon took Y/N’s hands and kissed them.

“But…” she hesitated for a moment looking at the deformed creature, still seeing her mother with a disappointed angry look on her face. “What about my mom?”

“Thoughts can’t hurt you Y/N” the mint-haired demon tilted his head towards the apparition. “She’s been gone for a while now. You’re safe with us.”

Jungkook then carefully lifted the woman up and walked out the door with the other man following close behind.

“Your Excellency! Excuse my intrusion but the soldiers on the southern border were attacked” one of the first Lieutenants barged into the Solar room of Taehyung’s mansion. The General was snoozing on the soft daybed with a couple of books laying open on the small table next to him.

“So it’s begun.” Gaap rose up quickly and headed for the door. “It’s time to do what I do best.” Taehyung’s eyes flashed dangerously with his sharp mind already in full motion, running laps.

The supreme moment of Y/N returning after weeks of being unconscious brought joy and relief to everyone. The Oracle congratulated the two demons for their hard work which was a miracle by itself. “I will be staying at Agares’ residence so if you need me just tell the King and I will be here.” Those were the last words he said to Y/N before leaving.

Immediately after coming back to the real world, the three men noticed the state she was in - frail and on the verge of another breakdown. All those horrible nightmares and terrors that her mind put the girl through had drained her immensely. Here, now in the waking world, she was still in regression, which was concerning for everyone.

It was heartbreaking to see this strong woman in this state - eyes filled with fear and sadness, with knees bent close to her chest, chewing on her nails and lips. Y/N’s speech was disrupted, sometimes not understandable at all.

“I trust you will take good care of her” there was nothing more important to Yoongi now. He didn’t want to leave but the demon also didn’t want to overstay his welcome. 

“There’s no way I would leave her side.”

…

Soon news about the attack spread all around the empire. The idea of the Kings gathering to sort everything out at the set time and date didn’t become reality.

At that precise moment when the messenger arrived to tell Jungkook the bad news, he was laying in bed with Y/N who was sleeping in his lap. King Mammon had his head pressed to the headboard, eyes half-closed, playing with the girl’s hair and softly scratching and massaging the skin of the scalp just like she had asked him to do.

For the past three days, the demon was working on helping his precious girl recover just like the Oracle had advised him to do.

Only Monica was allowed to enter Y/N’s room and when it was time for a bath Jungkook was leaving in order to respect her privacy. On the first day, the young woman cried like a child when the demon left her side. “I will be back in a while, princess,” he said to her, kissing the back of Y/N’s hand.

Now when the maid entered Mammon noticed the antsy behavior immediately. “What is it?” he asked in a hushed voice.

“My King, there’s a messenger here. Should I send him in?”

The pretty features of Jungkook’s face got distorted. He frowned but tried to contain the bubbling irritation. “Why is he here?”

“I don’t know, he wouldn’t say.”

“Bull… send him in. I can’t come to the main hall now.”

Monica bowed deeply. “I understand.”

When the ghoul entered he stood straight and spoke in a loud exalted tone. “Greetings Your Majesty, King Mammon of the North!” At that point, if Jungkook was a character in some anime he would get this so-called “anger mark” on the side of his forehead. That asshat was so loud and annoying and he would wake Y/N up. Instinctively the King squeezed the girl harder as if trying to protect her from the sounds.

“Speak quietly, you twit. What is it?”

“King Corson of the West sent me to…” the messenger continued speaking the same way and Y/N began shuffling in the King’s arms. “Inform you that there was an attack on the southern border and many soldiers lost their lives fighting.”

Opening her eyes the young woman got startled by the unfamiliar voice. Looking up and squeezing Jungkook’s black cotton shirt alerted the demon. She then hid her face in the crook of his neck, trying to get even closer than before, if that was even possible… “So what? What did he send you here for?”

“King Corson instructed me to tell You that he had spared you for a few days, considering the situation You are in but now it’s time to come to the capital and perform your duties as King of the North.”

It was unfortunate but Jungkook couldn’t sit idly while the others were fighting to protect the Empire. “I will be there in a while.” Mammon said finally and motioned for the ghoul to go away. When that happened the demon ran his fingers through Y/N’s hair and began speaking quietly in the girl’s ear “Princess, I have to leave for a while. Monica will be here with you all the time, all my guards-”

He couldn’t finish his sentence because once she understood where this was going to happen the girl began crying immediately. “No, no! No please… d-don’t leav-ve me” stuttering, Y/N was clutching his shirt in tiny fists.

“I will be back in a few days baby girl” the demon tried reassuring her but it was absolutely useless - the sobbing didn’t stop. “Please, Y/N…” Mammon’s heart was breaking at the sight but he also knew that his brothers needed him.

“Don’t… please don’t leave me! I will die and you will forget about me!” It seemed that what occurred seconds ago now reverted all the progress they had made back to square one. There was no point explaining that if he went to see the others at the capital her safety will be more than ensured.

“Let’s make a deal - I will give you my pretty wristwatch and I promise you that I will be gone for no more than four hours. If I’m late, no matter the reason, I will bring you a bouquet made of golden flowers. Does that work for you?”

A pout appeared on Y/N’s lips and she got quiet. After a long staring contest she extended an arm out waiting for the watch. Smiling at her the King took the accessory off his wrist and placed it in the girl’s hands. Then he bent over to kiss her forehead and left without another word.

Chapter 11 / Chapter 13

Masterlist

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@princess-sunshyn @thedarkwinterrose

[watevermelon]

Just Enough | Diluc (Genshin) x Traveler!Reader

✧ Summary: Between freeing Dvalin and pursuing the Geo Archon, you were constantly moving forward to find your brother with hardly a second to look back. You were in a rush to find your lost sibling, not realizing how your heart had stopped in Mondstadt. Visiting the city while waiting for things to die down after Rex Lapis’ death, you return to a… jealous Diluc?

➳ Spoilers for the Dark Knight Hero quest and some of the manga background ➳ Notes: lots of fluff, slight angst and jealousy, character development, mutual pining at one point, a long one-shot that covers the (1.0) beginning of the Liyue story  ➳ Navigation

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If he had only asked you to stay.

To say that these past few weeks were a blur would be a severe understatement. For months you were simply a lost wanderer, traveling from world to world for any sort of clue that could lead you to your brother.

And in just a matter of weeks you were suddenly Mondstadt’s hero.

From bringing peace to Dvalin’s heart to meeting Mondstadt’s infamous Dark-knight hero, you were familiarizing yourself with a people and a place for a world you knew you did not belong to. Learning of the history of the Seven Archons, the Gods’ of contracts or of freedoms, suddenly you were being thrust into it all at once.

You shared the burden of knowledge with a few of Mondstadt’s elite, the true God of Freedom walking in plain sight to the citizens of his nation. And with him, were the quick allies you found side-by-side when fighting a dragon. 

It was all happening so suddenly and Lord Barbatos himself was giving you directions to the next country over, to continue on your journey in meeting all seven Archons to Liyue. 

To this day, you could fondly recall your final celebration in Mondstadt.

“To think that despite his small stature he can drink so much.” Kaeya commented from his seat at the table, eyes slid in the direction of Venti at the bar next to you. You could see the impatient stare behind Diluc’s eyes, not at all happy that their God was indulging himself so freely.

“Honorary Knight, Mondstadt thanks you for your service.” Jean formally stated, for the nth time since Dvalin had been freed.

“I’m just glad I was at the right place at the right time.” You answered back, offering a placating smile in return.

“Humility doesn’t pay for dinner!” Paimon hmphed next to you.

“But aren’t we at a feast now?” You countered, gesturing to the table. 

She sighed again before moving to get a taste of some of the honey roasted ham. “Fine, don’t blame me when we have to settle into that poor excuse of a tent!”

“Please, do not feel you are in any rush to leave.” Jean offered, “You are welcome lodgings at our Favonius Headquarters.”

“With the other Knights of Favonius?” Diluc asked, face completely blank if not for the small upward tilt of his left brow.

Kaeya flirted with you from across the room, uncaring of the other partygoers, “You could always stay with me.”

You laughed lightly and responded, “That’s a hard pass.”

The Cavalry Captain simply shrugged, offering it to you again if you changed your mind before grabbing another glass of wine and walking with Jean toward the busy table.

Barbara was trying different dishes and offering some to her older sister, spouting descriptions with medicinal purposes and flavors that compliment one another. Lisa was no better as Amber egged both of them on, completely sober as she continued to feast on the food laid before her. Other Knights of Favonius that you recognized were scattered about, enjoying the first truly peaceful night in the past few weeks.

“You are welcome to stay at the Dawn Winery, while you look for your brother.”

He relished in the sight of your smile.

“Thank you, Diluc.”

That was three months ago.

And since then you had been thrown into more of not your business but suddenly IS your business, business.

You remembered your last day before setting off from Mondstadt. The Knights of Favonius would surely call on you again and so you had quick goodbyes with Jean and Kaeya the day before. Venti was saved for last, a somewhat light-hearted and yet somber goodbye as he was the first and last person for you to see in Mondstadt. 

But Diluc… How could you even start that conversation?

He was the lone wolf with a prickly reputation and an even worse sense of patience. You remembered the first time you even spoke to him, clipped words meant to get straight to the point. Not to mention that he was the first person to antagonize Kaeya, who was one of the few people you kinda trusted in the beginning.

It was not until the side adventures, the little quests you did one-on-one that you realized how much more there was to the edgelord that was Diluc. 

Of course, he was still the strict type to focus solely on the mission. 

But you realized more about why Diluc had come to be this way. 

‘The uncrowned king of Mondstadt.’

As you worked together against the possible abyss invasion of Mondstadt, you poured over strategies and testing of his slime potion. And while slimes were not the hardest enemies to fight, he still complimented you on your form and appreciated your quick style with the sword.

You had a unique style, unlike Kaeya or anyone else of this world.

“Elegant, but deadly.”

You took that as a compliment.

And little by little Diluc opened up to you, cluing you into his personal history. 

He and Kaeya were step-brothers, growing up together at the Dawn Winery. How he knew Jean since he was child and once served as her superior in the very organization he now despised. How he still has things to protect, to avenge. And while his description about what happened to his father was nothing more than a quiet stare, you were still grateful that he was entrusting you into his world.

You remembered Kaeya’s words as he discovered Diluc’s nighttime secret:

“I’m glad you’re working with an assistant.”

Kaeya’s tone may have come out scathing, but you knew better. Kaeya and Diluc used to be close, close enough to entrust their lives with one another. There was no doubt that Kaeya still cared about his brother, but with Diluc pushing everyone away….

Again, you were so appreciative that he chose to let you in.

When Kaeya finally left the bar, you turned to Diluc with a smile. “I think my work tonight earned me at least one glass of wine?”

That broke a small smile on his face, not the slight tilt on the sides or the wistful, far off look he got when he recalled something beyond your knowledge.

“Alright.” He waved over a nearby waitress, all of the customers tonight employees of the Dawn Winery. “Let’s take this up to the balcony, I’m going to close up anyway.”

“Oh?” Paimon’s squeaky tone somehow went up another octave in curiosity, “I just remembered I have to ask Venti something! Why don’t you two enjoy your date alone.”

She flew away before you could swat at her for her teasing words, blush apparent on your face. Diluc kept his flat face as he maneuvered things behind the bar, wiping at something before putting something in the below cabinet. 

To your surprise, he handed you a bottle and two glasses, motioning with his head toward the second floor. Charles was among some of the ‘customers’ tonight, taking his usual spot behind the bar as Diluc stepped out.

You followed him wordlessly, walking up the steps and out the second-floor door closely behind him. He pulled out a wooden chair next to the table outside, you taking the seat underneath the stars as he plopped down alongside you.

“I thought the stars here in the city would get overcrowded by the lights.” You admitted, “But they’re beautiful even here.”

“Yeah, they are.” Diluc agreed, making you smile before turning to him.

“You’re not even looking at the stars.”

The pyro-user simply smirked, before looking up at the starry sky with you. You relished in the moment, glad to have some time alone with Diluc. Many had commented that the winery owner was so elusive, missing from the bar weeks at a time and unseen within the city walls. And yet here he was, enjoying the crisp air and a glass of wine with you.

“Thank you.” You started.

“Shouldn’t you be demanding thanks from me?” Diluc asked.

You laughed lightly, “Yeah, cause I’m sure that the abyss mage would have totally kicked your ass without me.”

Diluc had that slightly amused expression on, looking a bit more light-hearted as he turned to you with a slight tilt at the corner of his lips.

You continued, “I mean, thanks for entrusting me with your secret.”

Diluc paused, looking you straight in the eyes, probably to gauge your honesty. And he would concede that there was nothing else there. You wanted to be his friend, the first in a long time to have approached him without your own agenda regarding either the winery or his fortune.

In return, he poured you a glass of wine and replied, “You’ve long earned it.”

“Thank you, Diluc.” You took the glass and felt your heart flutter at the brush of his fingers. “I’m glad I got to know you.”

“I’m glad you’re in my life too.”

He shot you another one of his genuine, millisecond smiles before pouring some from the bottle for himself. 

“Wine and not grape juice today?”

But he did not answer, instead eyes latching onto the rise of goosebumps on your arms. You could not help it against the crisp Mondstadt air, naturally feeling a chill at this time of night. Without a word, he shrugged off his outer coat, the thick black one he wore at almost all times of day, and rested it casually on your shoulders.

You muttered a small thanks as you snuggled into it. Diluc’s iconic dark coat, a complete contrast to yourself. While you wore a white dress with open sleeves and plenty of skin, Diluc wore black covering most of his body with the exception of his neck and face. Seeing it on your shoulders only reminded you of that fact.

“Don’t need you getting sick anytime soon.” Diluc stated plainly, as he returned to his seat.

You huddled into it more and replied, “Aw, Diluc cares.” Again, you were rewarded with another flat expression. “Or rather, if the events of today are to show anything, you’ve always cared. Just in your own, protective way.”

He slung an arm across the back of your seat, leaning closer before stating in a low voice. “Don’t forget that.”

Your eyes snapped to his, the both of you basically sharing the same breath in your close proximity. His scarlet eyes, usually a searing color when on the battlefield, looked surprisingly tender only inches from yours.

“You mean so much to me, Diluc.” You whispered back, afraid that anything above a whisper would punctuate this amorous atmosphere.

He slowly dragged his face alongside yours, stopping beside your ear and continuing in his low voice. “So do you.”

There was no stopping the shiver of anticipation that crawled up your spine.

You could feel the small smirk grow against your skin before he pulled off and grazed his lips against your forehead.

The expression on your face was practically begging him to kiss you. From the small lean in your side against his arm slung around you to the way your eyes slowly fluttered closed, it took all of his self-control to stop himself before he pulled you closer. He wanted nothing more than to grasp you by the back of your neck, relish in the way you melt against him. To kiss you now and tomorrow and maybe even the morning after at the winery.

Diluc had to remind himself that in less than a week you were going to be long gone.

He did not want to ruin this memory a week from now, asking what if and why. And so he settled on a simple kiss above your brow before leaning back in his seat, enjoying the moment he had with you tonight.

You were disappointed, but actually not surprised. It was a feat in itself that you were so close to Diluc in this short amount of time, it would do no good in pressuring him into anything else. But also, another more rational part of you, had to remind yourself that getting attached to the people of this world would only make it hurt more when you had to return home.

This was for the better.

But no matter how much rational thought Diluc used to push you away, you were sure that you had already fallen for him. From the small interactions with Diluc, you could barely recognize the moment that you were completely enamored with him. It was not during the first time you saw him fight or even the night he leant you his jacket. No, you feared it was much before then.

To think you had gotten attached to Diluc in such a short amount of time.

But then you had to say goodbye.

“Safe travels.” Diluc stated from behind the bar when he saw you enter on your last day.

You were not sure what you expected, a drawn out goodbye or a fore longed hug, but Diluc was still, well. He was still Diluc. And to see him re-erecting his walls before you left for your journey was a sad thought, but needed while the two of you were hundreds of miles away from one another.

But you would regret it if you didn’t say anything.

Instead you settled on, “I’ll miss you.”

The hopeful look in your eyes spelled out exactly what you wanted to hear back.

Diluc instead replied, “You fight good.”

“Oh. Um.” The hesitation was clear in your voice.

Was this really how you were going to leave things?

But with Diluc turning his attention back to the wine glass he was previously wiping, yes. It seemed that this was exactly how he wanted to leave it. Paimon scoffed, but said her own goodbyes before flying away.

“Goodbye, Diluc.”

Outside the tavern, you let your frown grow at that interaction. After everything you had been through together, Diluc complimented you on your fighting? Then said peace out?

“That was really lame.” Paimon commented aloud as she floated alongside you. You could not help but internally agree, but you had a whole journey ahead of you. At least the busyness of Liyue would keep you busy from dwelling on that conversation.

But as you said goodbye to Venti, the both of you stood in silence under the giant tree staring at the city. You thought about going back three times, to get a proper goodbye out of Diluc. But doing so would do neither of you any good, since it would only open more issues.

“No more questions about the other Archons?” Venti asked, voice surprisingly serious.

“Can’t think of anything.”

“None even of a certain… winery owner?” You could almost hear the smile in his voice.

You rolled your eyes and responded, “You’re such a little shit.”

“Hehe.”

You both continued to stare at the city, the marvels of its people and history within its high walls. To think Barbatos and Dvalin were finally free, because of your otherworldly intervention. Venti was truly thankful for you, and while he knew his words were on the more mischievous side, he knew that you understood.

Venti’s voice permeated the air. “Be safe in Liyue.”

You smiled back and offered him a tight hug, replying. “As always.”

To think that the same day that you stepped into Liyue, Rex Lapis was murdered before your very eyes. It was like the Gods actually hated you, having to rely on a Fatui to run away from the government officials hot on your trail.

Since then you had been working with Zhongli to prepare for a parting ceremony. From running around for certain types of Jade materials to singing to flowers, you were happy to take a second to yourself at all. You were afraid that trouncing around Liyue with a bounty on your head would do you no good and often stayed in the wild areas. Visits to the city were for necessities only, which often left you relying on the ever so truthful Childe or the mora-averse Zhongli.

More than three months after your initial departure to Liyue, you stepped back into the walls of Mondstadt’s bustling city, a commission nearby and you figured you were safe simply due to your reputation under the Knights of Favonius.

Venti was the last face you saw and the first face that greeted you, beckoning to join him for lunch. With your final commission of the day finished, you joined him with a smile and ordered some honey roasted ham.

You recounted some of the news to Venti, meeting many of the adeptus and how out of touch they seemed with the region. You described Zhongli from the funeral parlor who always felt like he knew more and played a higher part in Liyue (and you inwardly noted how Venti’s eyes lit up in recognition at the name). And also, Childe the Fatui Harbinger that had you on edge. 

“You’re hanging out with a harbinger?” Venti asked.

“Uh oh.” Paimon reacted.

“Well.” You remembered your last encounter with Signora. “It’s complicated.”

Venti paused before sighing, “Is he cute?”

“That’s not why!” You huffed back instantly.

“So he is cute!”

“And rich!” Paimon added, joining in on the teasing.

“Not the issue here.” You stated, “He saved me from the Millelith and helped me get into contact with the adepti.”

Venti’s mischievous smile from the earlier teasing turned blank, as if he was fully ingesting your words. “... Why would he do that?”

“Huh?”

But Venti quickly recovered, waving away the question and urging you to move past it. “Just thinking out loud, continue. What happened after?”

And so you recalled everything from then. How the soldiers followed you all the way up the mountain and how you had to defend yourself from people that were supposed to be on the same side as you. 

How there was someone out there with the strength to take down a God.

Venti laughed at you for like, twenty minutes.

After his laughter subsided, he held a hand over his stomach and asked. “They think you killed Rex Lapis?”

He took another look at your pouting face and laughed again.

It only made you scowl further. “I’m glad you think my supposed war crimes are so funny.”

“I think I’m missing the punchline again.” Paimon added.

“Hehe. You’ll be fine.” Venti shot back his mischievous smile, “Besides, I’m sure you’re looking forward to laying low here with a certain… someone here.”

You paused and put your fork back down, “What are you trying to say?”

“Well, the Dawn Winery is throwing a festival tonight.” Venti stated clearly, “Isn’t that why you’re here?”

“Wait, really?”

The mischievous light was back in Venti’s eyes, “I’m sure the winds of fate have brought you here purely on coincidence.”

You sighed and turned to him fully. “You trying to fight, old man?”

“Hehe.” His signature giggle, one you found almost endearing, was undoubtedly mocking you. “We should go together later.”

And true to his word, somehow you found yourself with the Anemo Archon heading over to the bar. To think that it was Venti who introduced you here and now he was bringing you along again.

That is, if you even had a chance to make it inside at this rate.

The area was packed to the brim, all the seats outside in front and on the side of the building already taken. There was a line out the door, many hopeful young women with gleaming eyes trying to get a one-on-one conversation with the current barkeep and owner.

You peered into the open door and saw Diluc and Charles behind the bar, the red-head adorned with his usual flat-expression. It was the first time in months since you had seen him, but he looked exactly as the day you had left. Still the same colored wardrobe and prickly atmosphere, Diluc was still, Diluc.

What did not help was the ever growing line of flirty men and women trying to vye for his attention.

It only seemed to further nail the pit in your stomach.

Was this… jealousy?

You didn’t dwell on the thought for long.

Instead, you considered for a single-second if you should just turn tail now, but Venti must have seen your hesitation and grabbed you by the arm to walk inside. Dozens of eyes followed you on the way in, many people recognizing you as the young hero of Mondstadt and honorary knight of Favonius.

The crowd was surprisingly less inside, but knowing Diluc he probably would have tried to corral everyone to the outdoor areas. Venti continued to lead you towards a table in the back and you saw a familiar red-bowed Outrider.

“I didn’t even know you were going to be here today!” She greeted you excitedly. 

“Tone-Deaf Bard here convinced us to stay the night.” Paimon replied.

“Oh?” Her voice lifted in a tone that only spelled trouble, “No matter, I’m glad to see you in one piece.”

“I’m assuming you’ve heard.”

Amber stretched in her seat and lowered her voice, smile turning to a smirk. “Well, I won’t confirm anything. But my suspicions are that the blonde person the Knights were pursuing for stealing the Holy Lyre may be the same blonde person running from the Millelith.”

“What a crazy theory.” Paimon responded as she cleared her throat.

“At least it’s just a theory, right?” Amber replied. “Anyway, we’ll hold the seats. Do you mind going up to the bar to order?”

Paimon chimed up as she floated down into the wooden seat, “Yeah, you should go.”

You barely had a second to object before Venti agreed and was motioning for you to go back to the bar. If not for their eager stares at you, you would have rolled your eyes at how obvious they were being.

“Fine, fine. I’m going.” You stated aloud, getting up from the seat you inhabited for at most ten minutes. 

Turning towards the bar, you took in a deep breath to collect your thoughts. To think you fought the Wolf of the North and Oceanid with more courage - it was just Diluc.

“Long time no see.” You greeted, trying to sound extremely casual. “Bottle of wine for one of your favorite people?”

Diluc looked at you for a quick second, then back down to the bar, then rapidly snapping back up to you in surprise. “Hey. Of course.”

Unsure what to say, you responded back with a simple, “Thank you.”

“Didn’t know you’d be in town today.”

“It was all coincidence. Venti told me about your event tonight.” You mentioned, motioning behind you to the table where the three of them were waiting. Amber waggled her eyebrows in response and you turned back to Diluc in embarrassment.

But he was looking at you the entire time. “For a war criminal, you look well.”

“Ugh, not you too.”

“Ironic how you delinquents always return here while hiding it out.” Diluc did not answer, instead openly teasing you.

Honestly, it was a little ironic that you and Venti ran here after stealing the Holy Lyre, just to end up back here while the Millelith were on the hunt for you.

Instead you replied, “They didn’t release any names.”

“Right, it’s probably some other sword-wielding blonde with white clothes and access to the Anemo vision.”

“Obviously.”

To think you were so involved in Teyvat's politics. An otherworldly being with no prior connections to the people or nations was somehow involved with the highest ranking people of every country you’ve stumbled into.

Everyone from the Dvalin team knew about your primary objectives: to find your brother and regain your full power through the seven Archons. And when news of Rex Lapis’ death reached Mondstadt, Diluc could almost physically feel the dread in his heart that something had happened to you. And when the Millelith released their man-hunt of your exact profile, there was no doubt that you were involved. 

To see you standing before him, in association with an Archon of all people, it was like a breath of fresh air on his heart. You were here in the tavern, fine and even enjoying the night. 

A large part of him wanted to ask about your journey, what was it that had you on the run again? But with the growing line out the door, he knew he barely had time to keep this conversation going.

So instead, Diluc grabbed glasses and a bottle of wine from beneath the bar and asked, “Spare a few minutes for me later?”

You nodded quietly, handing him the necessary Mora before returning back to the table.

Amber did not pull her punches, “So, you guys dating yet?”

You almost dropped the bottle, but Venti was quick even through his laughter.

“Yeah and I’m the Archon of Snezhnaya.” Paimon replied sarcastically.

“Shut up.” You pouted, “It was just nice to see each other after all this time.”

“Oh so you had a good conversation? Did he ask you to stay after? Are you going to stay the night? Did he offer for you to stay at the Dawn Winery?” Amber spit out question after question, not a sense of patience or tact in her words.

Venti was still laughing like the Archon of assholes he was.

While they prodded through their multiple questions, you tried to wave them away to another conversation topic. If Amber was prodding you like this, you could only imagine that the other Knights, such as Kaeya and Jean, were also aware of your strange relationship.

Amber tried to push it a bit more, but you were able to spin the conversation to ask what the others were up to. It was interesting to hear about the little tasks in Mondstadt, small commissions that the Knights take care of in the city as well as guarding the areas further out into the country.

And while you hated to drift off with them sitting right in front of you, your mind often wandered toward the red-head behind the bar. Diluc had personally asked you to stay back later, undoubtedly to speak to you about something one-on-one. Would it be cowardly if you left early? Would the others notice if you tried to make a break for it at one point?

Again, it seemed as if Venti was capable of reading your mind, lightly calling you to attention and putting a casual hand on the back of your chair.

He was not letting you get away from this.

Venti even shifted the conversation to you, asking about Liyue and the local adventures you had while in the city. Unable to ignore the direct questions, you told them about the stories of the people you met so far and the strange events you seemed to be dragged into.

“Wait, start over.” Amber cut into your most recent story about a ship just outside of the Liyue city. ”You just glided down onto the Pearl Galley?”

You paused then replied, “Well. I mean the ship was just sitting there outside the harbor and I was curious.”

“And so you boarded a luxury ship without an invitation?”

“Yeah, so?” Paimon answered with a question, genuinely confused.

“And yet you wonder how you keep getting involved in all these crazy schemes.” Amber answered ambiguously.

“Well, eventually I did get an invitation.”

“But after you were already on the ship.” Amber pointed out. “How did you even glide that far out?”

“I climbed to the top of the nearby mountain and then just dropped down.”

“Wow.”

“Is it really a surprise?” Venti commented, “She doesn’t even follow the proper stairs here in the city. Don’t think we don’t see you climbing over every wall here in Mondstadt.”

“You’re such a weirdo.” Amber sighed with a smile, “You’re lucky we love you so much.”

You continued on with your stories, some in the city and others within hidden temples deep in the wilderness, puzzles and timed traps masking treasures you sought to find. Amber and Venti listened on in rapt attention, asking questions here and there and even teasing you about your constant climbing.

You hadn’t even noticed how the bar patrons were starting to slowly thin out.

The night with Venti and Amber was such a refreshing feeling compared to the nights you spent staring up silently at the night sky, only Paimon at your side. It was nice to hear and speak to other people, to not be on the run and always looking over your shoulder.

Feeling a light tap on the side, you turned to see Diluc standing at attention.

“Hey.” He greeted you again.

“We were just on our way out!” Amber exclaimed, standing instantly with Venti not far behind her. “Mondstadt’s star Outrider has to be up bright and early tomorrow.”

“Which is why you’re both leaving…?” You asked.

“It’s my duty to ensure the safety of the city and we said we were going to discuss something.” Venti answered ambiguously.

You crossed your arms, “Discuss what?”

“The— !” Amber paused, “The thing. You know, with the stuff at the Seven Winds Temple.”

“Right! Let’s get going.” Venti turned to Paimon at the last second, “I think this will interest you.”

Paimon winked at you before turning to Diluc, ”Right, the stuff!”

Diluc motioned you to follow him and so, once again, you found yourself following behind the Pyro-user out the second-floor balcony. However, instead of sitting at the table, you learned against the railing while Diluc stood to the side.

“Wasn't expecting you to be gone for so long.” Diluc started with a flat voice.

You turned to him with a slight grimace. “I’m sorry, I ended up getting caught in something important back in Liyue.”

More important than him.

The implication was quiet in the back of Diluc’s mind.

But that would always be the case. To think that the first person in years to open up his shell was someone who could only be in his life temporarily. You intrigued him to the high heavens - the strange mix of both pride and humility as you fought and carried yourself. You were strong, but merciful. Kind, but a purveyor of your own brand of justice.

It had been a while since he met someone with such genuine reservations as you.

But your time together was already ticking down, from your time in Mondstadt to your time in his world. You were looking for your brother and who knew if he was even in Tyvat currently? It would be unfair to be bitter towards you. And so he resolved long ago to simply cherish the moments you had together.

So instead of snapping back, Diluc teased you.

“I’m sure. I’ve heard of your extensive… wanted days.”

You sighed aloud, “How did the news travel here so fast?”

Diluc smirked, “First Barbatos and now Rex Lapis? What kind of luck do you have?”

“The worst kind.”

Of course, there was something he wanted to learn more about. After he had caught wind from Katheryn in Liyue, Diluc still wanted to be informed about your current situation. To think that you were in close association with one of the high Fatui Harbingers after Signora personally attacked you, it was almost like you were openly inviting trouble.

It also did not help that many of the gossip mills included how attractive this particular Fatui was.

He goes by the alias of ‘Childe.’ Young, but deadly!

A Fatui, but doesn’t wear his mask - for good reason! He’s quite the looker.

I wouldn’t mind if he impaled me somewhere. ( ͡° ͜ʖ ͡°)

Needless to say, his sources did not alleviate his worries.

Of all people? A Fatui was one of your close associates in Liyue? A party of him wanted to snarl, the thought a worse downgrade from the Knights of Favonius. At least he knew Kaeya would do you no harm; he doubted the same could be said about Childe.

Archons, why did he care so much?

Diluc told himself multiple times that your abrupt parting was necessary to keep himself from getting too attached to you. But it hardly mattered when he was worrying this much anyway in spite of that.

Fuck, why did he just let you walk away like that?

Diluc was not going to make the same mistake.

He turned to you and asked, “Like the Fatui kind?”

You sighed, “Believe me, I don’t like it either.”

“And yet somehow here we are.”

“It’s complicated, okay?”

“When is it not with you?” Diluc asked, more hypothetically. And while from anyone else, it may have felt offensive, you could tell from his tone that it was just a tired sigh.

“Tell me about your journey.” He continued.

“What?” You answered with a question, genuinely surprised. “It’s a long story, not all that interesting.”

Diluc took a step forward, taking the spot next to you against the rail as your shoulders touched. “I want to hear it from you.”

You couldn’t help but smile, “Okay.”

And so you recounted your journey to find the Geo Archon, how the adepti set up strange puzzles and at some point you swore you were pulled into a teacup that somehow contained a full domain.

There were also other missions on the side, other things you would do to collect Mora or materials if you were going to get any stronger. Some of them made sense — doing deliveries, clearing abyss camps, and other mercenary like duties. Other instances, not so much.

“Only you would accept a commission from a ghost.” Diluc teased as you recounted the treasure in the mines.

“In my defense, I didn’t think he was a ghost at first.”

“Right. Nothing suspicious at all about a transparent old man in the middle of an abandoned village.”

“I was reading the poster he was showing!”

“And when did you realize he was a ghost?”

“... After I met three other ghosts.”

Diluc cracked a smile at that, only making you pout more. You had adjusted your postures overtime, standing against with rails to your backs as you faced the tavern.

“He paid me good Mora!” 

“How…?” Diluc thought about it before waving it off, “Forget it. I don’t want to know.”

You laughed back before you saw the lights inside the tavern switch off, complete darkness in the windows as the remaining employees packed up and went home. 

“Oh wow, I hadn’t even realized how long we were out here.” You admitted, “I’m sorry I took up so much of your time.”

“Don’t apologize. I wanted to spend this time with you.”

“Still, it’s already late.”

“You’re right. Where were you and Paimon going to spend the night?”

“Honestly, I don’t know.” You admitted, “Venti convinced us to stay, but I don’t even know where he is.”

Diluc pushed off the railing to stand facing you, “You could stay the night at the winery. We can retrieve Paimon tomorrow.”

What game was he playing? Your disappointing departure with Diluc cutting you off and now he was asking for your time and space back into his life? You hated that he pushed you away just to pull you back in at his convenience. And while you understood his personality tended to keep people at a distance, you had your own limits as to what you could withstand. 

“... Diluc, what are you doing?”

“You’ll have to be more clear.”

You closed your eyes, trying to gather your thoughts and hamper down on your rising temper. “Come on, why are you being so nice to me?”

He stared at you expectedly, blank eyes urging you to continue.

It only served to make you more angry.

“Diluc, when I left you hardly blinked. And now that I’m here, after months of us not talking, you want me to spend the night?”

“I told you before how much you meant to Mondstadt.”

To Mondstadt? Not even to himself personally? 

You decided it was better to confront him cleanly asking, “Why didn’t you kiss me that night we were drinking here?”

Diluc paused, not a single hint of surprise on his face as you addressed the situation head-on. “Why should I have?”

“Don’t act like you didn’t feel it. There was something between us.” You scoffed.

He noticed your use of past tense.

“Does it honestly matter? You would’ve left anyway, I saved us both the trouble.”

You visibly recoiled in response. “Is that what this is about? I have to go to Liyue and the other counties, Diluc. I have to find my brother.”

“I know that.” Diluc cut in, before you got the wrong idea. “You don’t think I’m acutely aware of that fact? The fact that this is my home and not yours. That one day you’ll find your brother and I’ll never see you again?”

“Wait.”

“Believe me, I know better than anyone that you’re off to find your brother. And I’ll help you in any way that I can.” Diluc continued, not heeding your confused attempts to stop him. “But let’s not pretend like I was anything more than a stepping stone in your journey.”

“That’s not true!”

“Oh?” Diluc’s tone was almost challenging,  “It’s not? So once the dust is settled, if I asked you to stay here with me, would I be enough?”

You stuttered over your words, “I --”

“I don’t want to hear your excuse because we both know the answer.” He cut you off, “I was trying to save myself from that before it happened.”

“Will you let me speak, you idiot!?” Your voice cut through the silent evening air.

Diluc paused, standing a good ten feet away from you and looking angrier than you’d ever seen. But he did, thankfully, stop talking.

“Is it crazy to think that I feel the same way about you?”

“What?”

“Diluc, I’m just me!” You answered, “I have nothing to my name but an objective to find my brother — if he’s even alive at this point. I need to try and I need to continue on this path…”

He crossed his arms, but stayed quiet as he listened. 

“But just because I have so much ahead of me, that doesn’t I don’t care about where I’ve already seen.” You took a few steps toward Diluc as you spoke, “You mean so much to me and I wouldn’t ever want to throw that away.”

“You won’t have a choice if you have to leave this world.”

“If!” You pointed out, “Diluc you’re so worried about the future, about me walking away from you forever, but it doesn’t have to be this way.”

“And suddenly there’s an alternative?”

“There’s always been one, you idiot! You just never bothered to actually talk to me.” You put your hands on his chest, the light material of his dark clothes underneath your palms. “I would’ve tried. If you asked me to make this work, to come back to you at the winery back then, I would’ve done it.”

Diluc closed his eyes, taking in your words as his hands snaked down to your wrists.

“Don’t give me empty promises.”

“I mean it!” You defended, “You aren’t just another person, Diluc. I—“

He opened his eyes then, reflecting back to you as hopeful and curious. “You…?”

“I care about you more than you know.” You settled on, still unsure about the extent of your feelings. “Why are you giving up on us before even starting?”

You stared right back at Diluc, his silence paramount to the inner turmoil you were sure he was going through. From his late father to the betrayal from the Knights, there were plenty of reasons why Diluc was so hesitant to connect with other people.

But you’d be damned if you didn’t try.

Your hands felt heavy against his chest. Despite your small demeanor and even smaller palms, the weight of your hands seemed to play seesaw between his heart and mind. He had logical reasons to keep you at a distance, but here you were trying to carve your way through back to him.

It had been a long time since he cared about anyone like this. And Diluc could not even recall the last time he wanted to sorely kiss someone at all. But how could he not want to now? You stared up at him, eyes blazing with determination as you tried to convey your feelings.

“You mean so much to me.” Diluc stated after a few silent minutes, “Let’s make this work.”

The smile you shot him was wide and radiant, a private blessing that only he was gifted tonight. He wrapped his arms around your waist, eager to feel more of you — to envelop you in his arms and keep you within them tonight. 

One hand strayed upward, carding itself in your hair and pulling you closer until both your eyes fluttered closed. The soft skin of your lips slotted against his, an endearing frenzy to give one another tender pecks. You could not help the happy mewl that escaped your lips as Diluc licked against the crease of your skin.

Moaning aloud to his tender touch, Diluc was eager to explore every inch of your wet cavern. There was no battle of tongues, simply moving in tandem as Diluc dominated the kiss. You tried to maneuver to give him more access, but with your height difference it was the best you could do.

Diluc lifted one of your legs, wrapping it around his waist and lightly tapping the other to do the same. Eyes clouded with lust, you did as instructed and quickly felt the soft thump behind you, the wall of the tavern helping hold you upright.

You fell more and more into the passionate lip lock, pushing to match his intensity as Diluc connected you in one of the most intimate ways possible. One hand was still in your hair while the other continued its scandalized trail downward.

You prayed to Barbatos that nobody heard you outside the tavern.

The both of you would later attribute this impassioned frenzy due to the prolonged time apart and mutual pining (culminating in a mistake outside on the balcony, twice inside the bar, and the rest of the night back at the winery).

For the first time, you enjoyed the morning sun streaming in through the windows, a lazy arm strung across your waist as you snuggled in the chest of the man you were growing to love.

Diluc woke long before you, hand threading through your hair silently as he resolved to remember this moment. You kissed at the naked skin of his chest twice before nuzzling him, feeling the light arm pull you closer.

“Good morning.” You started, voice muffled against his skin.

But you would have never expected Diluc to be so affectionate.

He kissed the top of your head, murmuring in a low tone. “Good morning, my love.”

Nothing about your relationship was perfect. You still fought and cried like every other couple. But you both knew that what you had was real, willing to fight for it no matter the obstacles that came with the future.

It did not matter that Tyvat was not your home.

Wherever Diluc was, that was where you’d return.

---xXxXxXxXxXx---

Extra: “What if they end up fighting?” Amber asked the other two as they walked down a side-street of the city.

“Then we’ll find out the moment it breaks out. Trust me.” Paimon replied. After all, your Anemo power would only serve to make any fire larger.

“They’ve both been in that pining puppy phase for so long, I doubt it’ll come down to that.” Venti added.

“500 Mora says they’ll be dating by the end of this week.” Amber bet.

“1,000 that they’ll be together by tonight!” Paimon countered.

“10,000 that they’ll be joined in every way by tonight.” Venti added, the mischievous tone not missed by either woman.

“You tone-deaf bard!” Paimon exclaimed as she slapped her hands over her red cheeks. “The traveler is more dignified than that!”

Amber had a hand on her chin, “Dating? Probably. But more than that…?”

Venti held out a hand to both, vying for both to shake one and accept the bet.

Nothing, but a couple of suckers. 

Amber grumbled once when she heard the news, but otherwise excitedly congratulated you two on finally accepting your feelings. Paimon’s whine could probably be heard in a fifteen mile radius and Venti’s proud smile didn’t help either — accepting the easiest twenty thousand Mora he ever made. 

And, just to gode the tiny guide a little more, Venti turned to Paimon in the middle of her complaining rant. 

“Hehe.”

---xXxXxXxXxXx---

A/N:

The festival idea comes from Diluc’s story 1: “The winery holds festivities from time to time. These events are routinely attended by enthusiastic fathers, eager to introduce their wonderful daughters to the young and single winery master.”

[husbandohunter]

Mermaids exist in stardew, yes? So imagine a mermaid farmer for Zhongli, Kaeya and Diluc it could be in Yandere setting or not. I just wanna know their reaction when they found out and how it’ll effect their relationship. Will it brew angst, love, or both

Part of your world [Genshin x Mermaid!Reader]{Stardew Impact series}

Synopsis: You came from the sea and he takes you through a journey of what it was like to live on land despite your differences.

Genre: Fluff

Characters: Diluc, Kaeya, Childe, Zhongli

"I threw in Childe because I had an idea for him xD It's fluff month so everything is going to be happy from now on >.>"

=============================

{Diluc}

It was a hot summer day when Diluc first found you lying unconscious ashore. You had just swam far and wide from the ocean world, the climate deemed unideal for your case. With no one else around, he took the initiative to help you out of your situation.

He shortly found out by the slight appearances of scales gracing your legs that you were neither a human or someone coming from the town nearby. As legendary as mermaids are, Diluc wanted nothing to do with you. His beginning plan was to find your relatives and send you out of his house (Additional work isn’t welcomed when he has so much already). However, you latched onto him pretty quickly since he was the one who saved you.

Here stands a human, a creature that you always wanted to interact with, in your perspective he may look a little stern but he must have plenty of knowledge to offer based on all the antiques he owns.

The only problem was that you two had no way to communicate. Different worlds meant different languages. Whenever Diluc told you that you couldn’t stay, all you did was tilt your head and whenever you tried expressing what you wanted to say, well, normally bubbles would come out of your mouth since they were an indication for your words.

He gave up on trying to kick you out and simply allowed you to take residence as long as you stayed out of his workaholic life. You would tend to his farm while he was absent on other matters and feeding animals in the barn (a lot to do but a win-win situation now that you were able to discover what it was like to live on land at the same time). Though you were also a handful, most of the time Diluc had to excuse himself from his desk when you thought the rake was some sort of hair brush and he forbade you from using the bulldozer. Quite honestly you caused him a lot of stress. He spent most of his hours teaching you and before he knew, it was already a habit of his.

The only words you knew were three words. If you wanted to eat you would say ‘fish’. If you were thirsty, you would say ‘water’. If it was anything else, you would say ‘Diluc.’

He allows you to take long baths since he knows how hydrated mermaids must stay at all times. Orders a pool to be built in his front yard (at least this way helps him save his costly electricity bills). Diluc also borrows books from the library museum for you to read, anything that you would find interesting, (mostly they were about alphabets and picture-based stories (it felt like he was raising a child).)

Easily gets worried when you step into town with him, he keeps a watchful eye in case you collapse and extra bottles when you need a drink. Most of the time, he had to keep an eye on you since you had the natural instinct to waltz into whatever interested you, such as dancing in annual festivities (which you dragged him along of course). It was how he grew attached to your presence because you truly knew how to appreciate the world around you when he himself was too busy to do so.

Two worlds merged and he was learning how to live in yours too, how you perceive things. Building sandcastles, collecting seashells, listening to the echoes resounding within them. Activities he thought were unnecessary suddenly gained the meaning he had lost long ago. Diluc grew too fast at maximum speed, trying to get as many things done as he could, until he was pulled back by the emotional waves of your kindness and compassion, onto the shore he failed to live on. How ironic reality can be.

{Childe}

Everyone knew how much Childe loved to fish. He sets out at sea every evening to capture a batch of flounders, hopefully stumbling upon a legendary one.

In a way, he did. Just not what he expected. What he pulled out of the waters seemed to be a human-sized fish sitting upon the other residues caught in between. ‘A mermaid…?’ he thought, still digesting the fact in front of him. (No wonder the net felt so heavy).

At the same time he wanted to take you with and sell you for a good price but knew how mad Tonia would get when she found out. So he lets you go free. The thing is, you swam behind his boat and followed him back to land. This was how your relationship with Childe started, to this day he continues to jest upon that memory.

Tonia took most of the responsibility to coach you about human life. One of them was table etiquette, before you ate with only your hands which caused a mess. Childe would laugh hysterically at it until Tonia reminded him, “This is also what happens when you use chopsticks, big brother.”

Teucer invites you to basically anything since you have so much patience. Childe shortly realizes that he was soon going to be replaced as the eldest caretaker and you couldn’t even talk at that time. So it was only fair that he included himself in the circle while interacting with your way of communicating: sign language (Surprisingly, he was naturally good at it. Though his movements are rather exaggerated and...ungraceful).

You were nice enough to accompany him to his fishing tasks and soon enough became your daily activities. Childe takes the lead as you follow him from the side, sometimes he lets go of the steering wheel and allows you to push the boat instead (he kept a note to himself that in your mermaid mode, your strength multiplied by a large number). Other times he felt a little risky and decided to jump in the ocean with you for a swimming session. It worried you immensely but your anxiety subsided when you saw how much fun he was having and for the rest of the time, you both explored what the ocean had to offer.

Childe used to be a fish-cook enthusiast. Not anymore (since that day you cried when glancing at the flounder dish he placed on the table). He had to stick to seaweed or any other plant-based meals with a little bit of meat but too much would cause your stomach to churn. Since his siblings complained at the sudden change, he had to make a separate meal plan for them. With a mermaid in the house was certainly high-maintenance indeed.

Cuddling with you in front of the cracking fire blazing under the chimney was one of the calmest moments indulged himself in. He often chooses the life where the waves crash constantly, anticipating a thrilling storm that comes ahead. But you were just a lull at the sea, the mediator he needed in times where his siblings needed a mother-figure. Sometimes he fears that you would leave him and return to where your true family lives but he was grateful that you chose him above all else. He was grateful that by chance, he captured you at sea. One thing he loved about life was the unpredictability the future brings, including the blessings. Even if you were a creature from far away, in your presence he felt like he was truly at home.

{Kaeya}

When the tides rose above his head, Kaeya was sure that he was done for. The surfboard he recently stood upon slips off beneath his feet and he falls into the ocean’s merciless waves. No oxygen, no time to catch his breath amidst the impact, his eyes were slowly closing and the last thing he saw was the sun’s light beyond the heavy surface, along with the murky visual of someone swimming in front of it.

Although he almost drowned, the idea of being saved by a pretty mermaid makes up for the fact (He has a natural tendency to flirt at anything eye-catching even if you were an outlandish being). You on the other hand was confused by his advances as you couldn’t understand a word he was saying, hence you swam away.

Those beginning days when you chose to explore the land, Kaeya remembers how much trouble you had with walking using your new legs. He had to hold both your hands while leading you forward, he found it rather cute when you tighten your grip the moment you felt that he was going to let go (he was only bluffing of course but you still hissed at him). Still, Kaeya ensures that you don’t fall to the ground, he catches you in time when you collapse while laughing, “You’re doing great sweetheart.”

In return you teach him how to read the ocean’s movements so that he won’t drown again. Kaeya spends more time around the beach since he knows that the water bodies are where you were most comfortable with. He tells you that you always smell like saltwater whenever he buries his face in your hair, perhaps that was how he grew attached to the ocean as well.

In summer seasons there were several days where you had to sleep in his bathtub because the air was so dry. As a mermaid, he had to tolerate many of your unique quirks, in this case he had to deal with showering in cold water since you took up all the electricity. Another case was your wine tolerance, no one could challenge you to a drinking contest when your body could sustain large amounts of liquids. Kaeya sometimes jokes if you could turn him into a merman like those in fairytale books so he can have the same experience. You take it as a joke while he was also being half-serious.

When you have to take a temporary trip home, Kaeya visits the dock every evening and waits for you to come back, trying to see any signs of your colourful tail. He glances at the ocean he grew to love, knowing where he stood is as far as he could go and anywhere beyond the boundary was out of his reach. So many people left him in his life and even though he knew you wouldn’t do the same, he still worries. Uncertain if you would abandon him too.

Your existence became the center of his life the moment you chose to walk upon land with him. Side by side, through small hurdles the seashore and hurdles as big as the wave that almost killed him the day he met you, Kaeya keeps them all as if they were the most precious treasure a pirate could find. It didn’t matter if you were different from everyone else because despite your tail, all he could see was you.

{Zhongli}

While Zhongli strolls along the sandy beach, he follows the alluring sound of your singing voice. You sat upon the rock while humming along what seems to be an old folk tune, similar to what Guizhong once sang. The man folds his arms and closes his eyes. Many years have passed since he last heard something like this, “Your voice, it’s very lovely.”

He was a geologist who worked by the museum, collecting different types of rocks and seashells that would wash up shore. You became very familiar with his daily routine that before he pays a visit to the beach again, a pile of interesting rocks would be waiting for him by the docks. It was a gift. And Zhongli would bring snacks like seaweed soup as an accommodation for your kindness.

Unlike Kaeya, when you couldn’t walk because your legs were too weak to be used, Zhongli helps you with every step along the way even if the trip was a slow one. He even offered to have you carried when he saw you were having too much trouble but you insisted on trying. The whole trip that usually took ten minutes was a three hour walk.

Even though he knew many things, your language was not one of them. However he was willing to learn. Both of you have study sessions regarding each other’s culture. For you it’s the way humans drink with cups because of Zhongli being a tea fanatic himself, he even showed you how to hold a tea cup properly. You taught him how to swim since he had been so occupied on land that swimming never crossed his mind. Thankfully he was naturally good at it due to his tall stature (albeit a little scared when diving into an environment unknown and different to him).

Zhongli loves the way you sing and he would ask every time he wanted to read a book. Either under the tree on a warm spring day or on the couch when it was storming outside. Although he intended to get some reading done, Zhongli can’t help but fall asleep. You didn’t want to wake him up (and you could carry him if you wanted to thanks to your mega-mermaid strength) so by morning, you’d find yourselves in the same spot and your lap feeling numb.

Earth and sea were separated for a reason so that the creatures may stay upon the place where they belong. That wasn’t enough to separate you from him though. Zhongli would travel to the sea to see you and you mustered the courage to walk upon the hard surface of land. The two were only parts of the world but together they are part of the world, connected to form a whole new life.

[chocominnie]

One Last Time 01  —  Pjm. (M)

⇢ pairing: Jimin X Reader

⇢ Genre: Idol!Jimin, Exbf!Jimin, model!reader, sad au, fluff, tons of smut, angst

⇢ Synopsis: Your idol ex boyfriend Jimin cheated on you. You two have been broken up for a while now and the media has been keeping track of you and him. You’re trying to get over him, but the things that happen inbetween makes you re-think the entire breakup, and so does Jimin…

⇢ Song : xxxxx

⇢ Word Count : 4.3k

⇢ Warnings: dominant jimin, makeout sessions, this is honestly a sad angsty au, cheating, pregnancy, unprotected and protected sex, a bunch of sex, no really a LOT of sexual themes too, I know I’m forgetting some but sorry in advance!

⇢ Copyright: please do NOT repost, translate, or modify my works in any way, shape or form, on any platform. If found doing so , it is considered as plagiarism and appropriate LEGAL action will be taken

⇢ Authors note: This is my mini series for the summer! Get your tissues, things to take your anger out on, and sit back and watch the drama unfold. Shall we begin?

The winter’s coldness is hardly enough for you to bear. Even though it’s just the beginning, Seoul is known to just go from season to season without a fucking warning. Not only that, but the first snowfall is going to come soon. The weatherman has been talking about it non-stop for the past few days. It’s going to be a brutal one he says but he says that every year so why believe?

Turning off your alarm, you take a few minutes to collect yourself and stretch. Barely any sleep once again but that’s an everyday thing now.. without Jimin. It’s been some rough months not having his body wrapped snugly onto yours. These days you long for his touch, but completely dread at the same time for very good reasons.

Your kitten greets you with small licks on your thigh in which in return you pet her head softly with a smile.

‘‘ At least I still have you babygirl. You keep me company. “ You coo softly while grabbing your phone off the charger. Texts from your best-friend just spamming you with love and apparently she’s coming over. Great. That’s normal.  But one text catches your eye. Jeon Jungkook.

You furrow your eyebrows as your finger slides to open it after typing in your password. In relief, he’s just checking up on you as always. Rolling your eyes, you muster enough strength to actually pull yourself out of bed. The cold tiles hit your feet like icicles. You jump from from foot to foot cursing yourself for not turning on the floor heaters as you walk out the room. Clara, your kitten, follows you out purring nonchalantly with a few meows here and there.

‘’ Alright Clara I hear you. Im getting your food now.’’ You chuckle, grabbing her food from the bottom kitchen cabinet right under the sink and pour her half a cup of cat food and a whole bowl of water.

After snacking on your morning granola bar you prepare yourself for your morning routine. Shower, brush teeth, skin care, get dressed, clean. Your phone dings once more just before stripping yourself of your clothes. You don’t bother to look it’s probably just a social media notification.

Drying your hair with a towel as you get out the steaming hot shower, you head straight for the mirror. Dark circles remain under your eyes from months of barely any sleep. You sigh, and gently rub under them. Jimin is the cause of this. Why would he do this to you. Surely enough he would not like to see you like this at all. The worriedness he would have over you is huge. But he has moved on and you just have to accept it no matter how in-love you still are with him.

As you clean up around the living room, another ding from your phone occurs. A groan escapes your lips as you place the pillows back as they should be. In hopes of it just being your manager giving you some good news, you let out a sigh and plop yourself down on the grey suede couch. Three new messages. Jeon Jungkook, who has text you twice, and Ryan your bestfriend. 

‘‘ Damn it Ryan why must you consistently text me twenty four sev- “

“ Beause I need to know if you’re okay.”

You jump and drop your phone onto the hardwood floor from the voice that comes from around you.

“ Holy fucking shit you scared me! “  You whine, turning around to face your best-friend. She smiles and holds out her arms for a hug. You roll your eyes and open yours waiting for her embrace.

“ Oh i’ve missed you so so so so so so so-”

“ You just seen me yesterday..” Your voice sarcastic and bland as you let go of her. You sit on the couch first followed by Ryan sitting right next to you.

She looks good today, the navy blue coat she has on suits her very well. Although, you cannot figure out why she decided to wear leggings today. It’s going to rain a bit later but you disregard that seeing as though she’s the fashion deisgner and not you.

You. The model and seemingly ex girlfriend of one of the biggest solo idol in the world right now. Thats what they call you in the news, headlines in magazines, and real life as if you don’t have a real name and just was his acessory. Your modeling career had taken off way before dating him. The world, or Seoul to say the most, didn’t acklowledge you to that point yet. 

“ Okay but still. You know we should be roomates. It’ll be easier for me to watch over you. “

Your head turns towards her quickly shaking no, “ I don’t need to be looked over im 20 years old.”

Silence takes place for the next few seconds. You know what she’s going to say next but pray she doesn’t. Those words will just make you even more upset. It’s already enough you have that constant reminder in your head. 

You watch her fiddle with the rings on her index and pinky fingers. “ But you know… you haven’t been the same since you and Jimi-”

“ Don’t fucking say it. I don’t want to hear it.”

She sighs harshly and stands up, “ Im just worried about you Yn”

“ Don’t be. Im fine. “ That lie escaped your tongue way too easily. 

Truthfully you haven’t and won’t be fine. Everyday there is something new about that girl and Jimin on twitter. Gossip pages, twitter fanpages, and online entertainment pages just always talking about them. They did this, they did that today. Oh we caught them going to this and that restaurant. That used to be you and him.. but now everyone has forgotten about you and focused on them.

Ever since you’ve told reporters and paparazzi repeatedly that you will not be holding or going to any interview they just stopped. A few calls here and there to your manager about scheduling one but she knew you didn’t want to do them so every request is denied. Although its been a year and some change, they still seem to want your side and your opinion to weigh in on. I guess that’s what happens when you date an Idol.

“ The door.. Y/N the door somebody is at the door.” Ryan says, tapping you over and over. You shake your head interrupting your thoughts for the time being. A few more knocks come through.

Finally up onto your feet you harshly walk to the door with each step making noise. It’s to early in the morning for someone to actually be knocking at the door right now. Whoever it is better be dropping off some sort of package, or they’ll surely get a piece of your mind.

Your frail hands grab onto the doorknob and swing it open. Your eyes almost pop through your sockets. How? How did he know you were here? You certainly did not tell him your knew address.

There he stands, his tall frame looking down on you. Lips formed into a tiny pout along with his eyebrows scrunched slightly. His brown eyes forming an ungodly stare into yours with his specs on.

“ Yn! Do you know how worried I was about you? Why did you not answer my messa-”

“Jungkook how do you know where I live?” You pace your hands on your hips, raising an eyebrow at him. To your knowledge, you never gave Jungkook your new apartment address.

Jungkook swallows slowly and puts on his best innocent face on. Oh please like that would work in this moment right now. The only person who has this address is Ryan because she’s the one who helped you move. Even if you had the choice of not giving it out to Ryan you would of but you couldn’t do that to her. She would of been so upset.

Ryan’s voice blares in the background full of excitement. Here we fucking go. “Jungkook! Come in Come in.”

“ Ryan says I could come in.” He says quickly, brushing past you and removing his shoes.

You heavily sigh and slam the door shut. What is this a family reunion? On your way back to the couch you notice them laughing and giggling like two five year old children. They don’t even notice you when you sit right across from them.

You study their expressions. Their chemistry is something so strong. The way their eyes light up when they meet, the way that Jungkook smiles and scrunches his nose more often when she’s around. You miss that. You miss doing that.

“ So are you both coming along this afternoon?”

Your attention focuses back on them. Of course you weren’t paying attention once again.

Your eyes slowly meet with theirs, “ Huh? Where are we going?”

“ Kookie finally bought a house! He wants us to come tonight for chicken and beer. You’re coming right?”

A sharp pain goes through your heart. If the both you you guys go then theirs a possibility that Jimin was invited too. After all, that is his brother. If Jimin comes then he’s most likely going to bring Isabel. A recipe for disaster. Your poor heart, that most likely could not bare the sight of them infront of you, would shatter into a million pieces.

Jungkook’s expression is ready to burst into happiness or to turn into a pout awaiting for your answer. If you let him down he’ll surely be mad at you. But putting yourself before him this time would be the right thing to do right?

“ Listen Jungkook I.. don’t think I can go.” You start off, playing with your hair with your head down.

“ I’ll space you two apart.”

Your face automatically lifts itself up in shock. Somehow, that little confirmation of Jimin being there, gave you some hope. Hope for what though?

 “ Wha-what do you mean?”

Jungkook sighs heavily with his hand going up to his brown hair running it through lightly. “ I’ll make sure you two are distanced apart. You don’t want to come because of Jimin but I’ll make sure I’ll invite more people to keep you company and away from him. Okay?”

“ Please Yn. I’ll be there too.” Ryan begs, laying her head on Jungkook’s shoulder. Jungkook smiles a little, caressing her cheek with his other hand upon waiting your response.

Weird. When did they get so close?

The first thing you want to say is that you really could not go. But they already know the excuse now. You might as well just give in.

‘‘ Fine. What time tonight? “

Skincare and makeup products are scattered everywhere on your vanity. You needed the perfect look for tonight that says ‘Yes im doing fine without you’, but in reality you’re doing worse. This is the night where you’ll actually see him. Damn it’s been a while.

After you apply your highlight you step back and take a look at yourself. Not bad at all. You smile to yourself and start cleaning up the mess of products you had  distributed across the vanity. A new text appears on you phone as soon as you gather everything up and put it back in it’s place. Grabbing your phone, it’s Ryan giving you the address to Jungkook’s new house.

You sigh and mentally prepare yourself, ‘‘ Okay Yn. You can do this. It’s just one night of conversing among people. Who knows, maybe you’ll meet someone new.”

Before heading out you grab your coat and scarf. Clara follows you all the way to the door letting out her little meows once again. You bend down to pet her head lightly with a smile. “ Clara im coming back. I’ve put food in your bowl babygirl.”

She purrs under your touch then walks away to settle herself in her bed. You take one last final look at your decent sized apartment before heading out.

The subway ride was agonizing pain for you due to it being 30 minutes long. Well, at-least you can ride the subway now. Your mind wouldn’t even of thought of that when you were with him. Everybody would have noticed you and bombard you with questions.

The outskirts of Seoul is peaceful and quite. Not many people live over here. Mostly famous actors and idols. The taxi takes a few minutes to get to the fairly clean subway station. Once you’re inside you take a good look at the driver who seems to be eyeing you in suspicion. You pull out your phone and read the words to the address exactly to him. The taxi man pulls of into the empty streets of god knows where.

All it took was a ten minute ride and then you’re there. The taxi man pulls up to a security guard booth. Just beyond the gates is more street but  by squinting your eyes you can make out just a few newly built houses.

‘‘ Who are you here to see?” The taxi driver says.

“ Jeon Jungkook.?

The driver talks to the man for a few seconds before you see the security guard pick up a phone and start dialing. The security is extremely uptight, thats good. After a few moments of speaking the security guard finally opens the gates to be let through.

As you pull up to the house you’re automatically mesmerized on how big and beautiful it is. There’s fresh bushes and some white roses growing in the front of it complementing the white modern style home. The roundabout is full of luxurious cars, in which might be all the other guests.

‘‘ 10 dollars’‘ He says. You give him the ten, thank him, and grab your purse, closing the door behind you.

Your eyes meet face to face with the expensive house. Behind you is the tire wheels backing up and running off back down the roundabout. The time on your watch reads 8:15. Only fifteen minutes late, not bad right?

With each step you take fear quivers inside of you. What if he opens the door? What if that girl opens it instead? The wind blows harsh-fully hitting your cheeks making them turn slightly colored. You raise a small, shaky fist to knock on the door. Your blood turning cold, and face turning pale already. Your anxiety already taking its place inside of your body.

The door swings open revealing Ryan smiling from ear to ear. She pulls you inside without even a greeting. You kick your shoes off in a hurry as she pulls you more and more inside. Scanning the area around you, its a nice huge place. First the both of you pass the entrance, then the chef sized kitchen, which then leads you to the spacious living room where everybody seems to be sitting.

All eyes are on you now with some familiar faces and some not. They smile and greet you one by one and you slightly bow your head with a fake smile.

‘‘ Ah Yn, nice to see you again huh.’‘ Hoseok, the smiley one says, getting up from his seat to greet you once more.

‘‘ Nice to see you to Hoseok. Is Chae-Yeon here? I’ve baked the cookies she likes.’’  You say, holding up the big tuba-wear of freshly baked cookies. Nobody can resist those.

‘‘ No she had to work sadly, but I will enjoy them for her.’‘ He chuckles, bringing the tuba-wear out of your dainty, cold hands.

A very familiar voice booms from behind you causing you to turn around. “ Yn! You actually did come!’’ Jungkook, the owner of the voice exclaims. He wipes his hands with a napkin just before pulling you into a hug.You pat his back just before letting go.

Ryan smiles and shakes her head, “ I told you she would come.’’

Only one hour and 30 minutes into the festivities and half of the people here are drunk or nearly there. You on the other hand do not drink at all. Staying sober throughout this whole party is a must. Who knows what would happen if you start drinking and saying things.Ryan seems to be doing good with Jungkook who’s laying on the floor laughing and cracking jokes with her head laying on his stomach giggling along with him. The others have casually invited themselves into the guest game-room to play some pool.

You just sit there on the couch, munching on a cookie and smiling and laughing here and there at one of Seokjin and Jungkook’s back-to-back jokes that seem to never leave the air.

Only for a knock on the door to interrupt  their flow of jokes.

‘‘ I got it I got it.” Seokjin stammers, placing a beer bottle down and stumbling towards the door. You freeze, face turning pale once more. It’s them. It could be them. Your teeth find their way to your lips and you begin to chew on it excessively.

Ryan notices it and automatically gets up from Jungkook, ‘‘ Come Yn, lets go see if the game of pool is interesting.’‘

You nod your head slightly as you get up from the couch. What are you worrying for? You look extravagant tonight. No need to worry yourself.

Just before taking your first few steps you stop, that voice. That oh so familiar voice begins to inch closer and closer. The famous laugh that he always tries to stifle by putting his hand over his mouth, that you’ve always thought was so fucking cute, fills the air.

You don’t know what got over you, but you sit back down dragging Ryan down with you. “ Yn? What are you doing I thought you wanted to avoid him.’’

‘’ No it’s okay. Im going to be fine.’‘ You say, awaiting upon his arrival into the room.

The footsteps are haunting you with each step they take.

one..two..three..four..five..si-

‘‘ Everyone, Isabel and Jimin are here.’‘ Seokjin stammers, smiling wide clearly drunk from all the beer consumed.

Your eyes go directly towards his. The pit of your stomach flutters with nervousness as you hold the long stare with him. His facial expression shocked but not showing it at all. His partner, who’s arm is linked with his, smiles brightly at everyone bowing her head slightly to them including you.

‘‘ Sorry we are late. Jimin didn’t want to come out of his home studio but I’ve made him come along with me.’‘ Her voice gentle and soft.

‘‘ Yn I forgot let me show you my new painting i have received.” Jungkook says quickly, trying to escape you from the awkwardness.You can bare it though its not as bad as you thought.

‘‘ Maybe later Kookie. I’m going to grab some juice.”  You say, getting up from your spot. You brush past Jimin lightly with Ryan tailing along with you.

The spacious kitchen was perfect for you to escape for just a moment. Silence is golden. Ryan sighs, pouring you and her a glass of juice. Nothing is to be said yet. But you know she really wants to have her input.

Raising the glass to your lips, you take a sip letting the tanginess run across your tongue and down your throat. ‘’ Say it Ryan.’’

She puts her cup down and looks at you with your eyebrows furrowed, ‘’ You aren’t fine. Please just avoid them for the night.’’

You knew it was coming but you have to face the fact that they area couple anyways so why avoid it? Maybe your mind will finally accept it to see it in person.

‘‘ I have to face it one way or another so why not now?’‘

She shakes her head in disapproval, finishing the rest of her juice. “ No you don’t. You’re making yourself suffer and I don’t like it.’’

‘‘ Yn.. did you make these cookies?’‘ A voice says behind you. Ryan’s eyes go wide and then looks at you signaling for you to not turn around. But you do it anyways.

Isabel. How dare she call you by a pet name? You don’t even know her like that and she’s doing this. Anger wants to get the best of you but you remain humble and calm.

‘‘ Yes. Is there a problem though? Are they not good?’‘ You say, putting on your best innocent act.

She smiles as she moves a piece of hair of her perfectly framed face, ‘’ No they are great! I was wondering if i can have the recipe.. for Jimin’s purpose of course.’’

You breathe through your nostrils with your eyes closed. She knows what she’s doing. She likes seeing you suffer huh? ‘’ You can follow any recipe online. I just add almond extract and substitute white sugar for brown.’’

Ryan shakes her head slightly while sticking her cup into the sink. ‘’ I’m going to be back I have to use the restroom.’’

Once she leaves Isabel’s smile drops.’’ Almond? Im- Im allergic!” She says, semi yelling at you. You’re shocked more or so at the sudden outburst that you can’t speak. You had zero knowledge of her being allergic, it’s an accident for sure.

 “You did this on purpose!’’ She says, tears filling her eyes as she goes into a coughing fit.

Shit. You didn’t know if anyone was allergic to nuts here but you had put it in anyways because that was the secret ingredient

‘’ I- I didn’t know im sorry is there anything I can do?’’ You say, guilt taking over you while you rush to her side patting her back. 

‘‘ Get off of me! You did this on purpose! You never liked me anyways. Jimin! Jimin!‘ She scream’s, coughing and wheezing making her face red.

Multiple footsteps rush into the kitchen. You don’t know what to do at this point so you just back away and let whoever take over. All the commotion going on and yelling is starting to give you a slight headache. All of the boys surround her, bombarding with questions and asking each other what to do. 

‘‘ What’s all the yelling about? What happened! “ Jungkook exclaims rushing towards her hunched over body.

‘‘ What’s going on? “ That voice that haunts you everynight finally comes inside the kitchen. When he see’s Isabel he automatically rushes towards her side. It pains you to see him rush to another woman’s body. But that figure is no longer yours so he has every right to do that.

‘‘ She-She put almond in the cookies on purpose! She’s trying to–to-’‘ She manages to wheeze out before another coughing fit.

Jimin’s eyes meet yours full of rage but then taken over by concern. He knows your hurt. Still hurt from the past and from this very situation now. You don’t manage to keep eye contact, so the floor is your eyes’ bestfriend right now.

‘‘ Yn. is this true? Why would you do that?”  He says, eyes never leaving yours and voice soft.

You shake your head quickly, “ I didn’t know she was allergic. I always put almond extract an-’’

“ You knew better than to put any type or form of nut in a dish when bringing it to ones house. You never know if someone has an allergy to it.’‘ Jungkook scolds you, eyes furrowed in shame.

‘‘ Don’t blame her. She didn’t fucking know.” Ryan’s voice enters the room in madness. She comes to your side with her arms crossed. Your own personal savior. Without her, you’d still be feeling guilty and taking the blame.

‘‘ Besides, you knew better than to invite him if you knew he was going to bring the girl he cheated on her with.. right?’‘ She says, cocking her head to the side as her attitude takes over.

The room is silent again. Good girl Ryan. 

Isabel lifts her head in disbelief along with Jimin. “ Listen that’s beside the point. Just don’t do it again.” Jimin says, focusing his attention back on Isabel. He reaches into her purse to grab her Epi-pen.

His scolding is enough to send your eyes into tears. You shouldn’t of agreed to come. This is a disaster. You take the tuba-wear of cookies from the counter on your way out of the kitchen and dispose of them. Your vision is blurry and you don’t know where your going but you just need some air. You make lefts and rights down long and short hallways till you reach a room that has a balcony.

You slip on who-ever’s house slippers and open the sliding door revealing the winter’s cold harsh air. You lean on the railing and close your eyes breathe in and out heavily.

Wiping the tears away, You open our eyes and look straight ahead. The whole city is lit up such a beautiful view for a sad moment. The sad moment is cut short by the sliding door opening and closing. You don’t bother to turn around it’s probably just Ryan checking on you again. When are people going to stop doing that?

“ Yn.”

Thats the last voice you wanted to hear.

‘‘ Are you happy? Happy for scolding me infront of everybody.”  You sniffle, wiping away your leaking nose.

You hear some rustling before something is placed on your shoulders. You look down at the material and shrug it off of you.

‘‘ Give it to your girlfriend.”

‘‘ I can’t let you be cold. Put it back on.’‘ He sighs, picking it back up and coming closer to you. You both stand side by side. Jimin puts his jacket around you once more and before you could re-do your action just before, he speaks.

‘‘ Shrug it off again and I’ll scold you. Do you understand?’‘ He says firmly.

You don’t bother to speak. Silence is golden.

‘‘ Listen.. i know you still aren’t over the fact that we are through but-”

‘‘ Shut up. I don’t want to hear it. Please go tend to your dying girlfriend.’‘ You say, sarcastically.

He huffs, “ She’s resting right now. She wouldn’t have to be if you wouldn’t of put-’’

You turn towards him slowly and meet his eyes daring for him to finish the rest of his sentence. ‘’ Don’t you fucking dare Park Jimin.’’

‘‘ Honorifics.’‘ He says, slightly looking down at you due to the height difference.

‘‘ You’re right Jimin-ssi.’‘

Jimin’s expression is taken a-back. You knew that one honorific word would hurt him.

‘‘ If we are done speaking I will take my leave now.” You say, eyes never leaving his as you take off his jacket and toss it to him, leaving him outside in the cold

This night was one of your worst mistakes. You thought you could handle it, but couldn’t. So maybe Ryan and Jungkook were right. Maybe you can’t handle it at all..