#oh sehun gif

[holdingforexo]

holding for sehun: day 323 of 639 ↳ EXO SEHUN for MCM | Spring/Summer 2015

[byunbaekhyunie]

forever exo's baby

[dojaejung]

SEHUN ʚїɞ On Me

[pirenas]

sehun being hot in EXO-mas🎄

[marshmallow-phd]

A Manor of Shadow and Blood

Genre: Regency Gothic AU

Pairing: EXO x Reader

Summary: A stormy night brought you to the manor in the middle of the woods. Nine strange men occupied its halls. They won’t let you leave. A dangerous secret haunts this estate. Learning it might either be your saving grace or it could lead to the last breath you ever take.

Part: 1 I 2 I 3 I 4 I 5

**

The grand hall was lit as bright as midday. Every surface was polished to perfection, reflecting the candlelight at a greater force. Brilliant brass and gold surrounded you as you made your way through the dancing couples, their movements in perfect sync. Wrapped in each other's arms, they spin around without a care for your wandering presence. 

While all who surrounded you were decorated in blacks and whites, your own dress was the color of freshly spilled blood. The heavy skirts that hug from your waist made it difficult to navigate the ballroom. Their fullness was of an older fashion, one that maybe your grandmother would have worn in her youth. The dropped shoulders left you exposed, your skin chilled despite the amount of bodies in here. 

You kept navigating the dance floor, on the look out for something, though you didn’t know what. Then you felt the familiar burn of eyes boring into your back, which sent a shiver down your spine. You whirled around to find the source, the dress brushing at your feet with the sudden motion. Through the crowd, you spotted Baekhyun leaning against the wall. With a single finger, he beckoned you over. And you obeyed. 

Breaking through the sea of dancers, you took in his elegant suit, the hems lined with gold thread that shimmered against black velvet. 

"You shouldn't dance alone," he purred. Arms crossed over his chest, he smirked at you with a grin even the devil wouldn't wear.

"I have no partner," you retorted. He held out a lazy hard. Hardly the romantic gesture. "No, thank you." 

"How about me?" asked a sweet voice in your ear. 

You turned your head to find Junmyeon at your back. He laid a soft hand on your hip to keep you from escaping out of propriety. When you didn’t shove him away, the hand slyly moved to your stomach, pulling your bare shoulder blades into his chest. With the fingers of his left hand, he tilted your chin towards him. 

"Am I a suitable partner?" 

No answer passed your lips. You could think of nothing to say. The thought of him twirling you around the dance floor was not… unpleasant. 

Junmyeon neither needed nor cared for a reply. He dipped his head to your shoulder and pressed a kiss to the skin. A small gasp passed your lips. And then he pressed another. More and more as he climbed up the curve of your neck. Heat rose from every inch of you as you sighed into the affectionate touches. You relaxed into his touch, welcoming each new contact of his lips. 

"It's rude not to share, Junmyeon.”

Your attention snapped back to Baekhyun, who you had forgotten was there. He pushed himself off the wall and stepped closer to you so he stood in front of the minor. 

No, not a mirror. There was no reflection. 

Except… there was. The mirror reflected the floor, the ceiling, the candlelight. You. 

But not Baekhyun. Not Junmyeon. And not the dancers still spinning behind you. 

Fingers snaked through your hair and pulled your head back, your vulnerable neck exposed. From the gallery above, Kyungsoo watched as elongated fangs flashed behind Junmyeon’s lips and plunged into your neck. 

*****

You woke with a start, the blanket flying off of you as you sat up in a fury. Sweet drenched every pore of your skin. Your day old dress clung to your skin in a way that felt suffocating. Each breath was a struggle for your lungs. 

Vampires. The nightmarish tale that had kept you up as a child until you were convinced they weren't real turned out to be true. But how could they be real? 

Creatures of the night. Blood drinkers. Horror stories meant to keep children from wandering about after dark. 

Curling your legs to your chest and encasing them in your arms, you tried to think of a way out. To escape. With what strength you possessed, you slid off the bed and walked over to the window. The sun, so bright and full of life, was just beginning its descent towards the horizon. Night–their domain–was hours away. If the legends were true, then they would all be asleep at this moment. Any risk that was to be taken had to be taken now. 

After changing into a sturdier dress, you retrieved your still mud-covered boots and, keeping them in one hand, you carefully pushed away the pathetic barrier and snuck out of the room. 

Each step was taken with unmatched caution. You tested every board with your foot before fully committing. Any squeak of a floor or stumble down a stair could alert them to your escape. But by the grace of a miracle, you made it to the front door. Fingers trembling, you pulled on the boots and tied up the laces before opening the door only wide enough for you to slink through. 

The next breath taken outside was like the first breath of life. But there was no time to take it in. 

Gathering your skirts in your grip, you took off into the trees. The dirt was dry and sturdy under your feet. Branches and leaves crunched with the weight of your boots. A lady’s delicacy was out of the question as you ran without abandon. You didn't know what direction you were running. But vampires needed blood to survive and they weren’t drinking yours. And Jongdae had brought those buns from a bakery, not their own kitchen. You doubted any of them knew how to cook. That meant a village or town had to be nearby. Junmyeon had lied about the isolation of the manor. If you just kept going, you could find freedom. 

However, your stamina was running out. This was never your preferred activity. Your lungs and throat burned in an unfamiliar way. The sun still shined above. A short respite could be spared. 

You leaned against a tree trunk for support. In your boots your feet pulsed. Only now did you realize that you had run away without food or water. Not knowing where the kitchen was located, you didn't have time to waste on it. You could survive, you told yourself. Just a little farther. The town couldn’t be too far. Unless you were headed in the wrong direction. 

A rustling rippled through the silent forest. You snapped to attention, trying to find the source. 

“The wind,” you gasped between ragged breaths. “It had to be the wind.” 

A low, rumbling growl said it wasn't wind. 

In the distance, large silhouettes emerged. Wolves. Nearly a dozen of them. 

You ran as fast as your crying legs could take you. With their superior nature built for the hunt, the wolves caught up to you within seconds. Their growls and howls grew louder and more threatening behind you. Running from the manor had been easy. Running from the wolves was to be your end. 

Powerful paws slammed into your back. You were thrown to the ground, rolling across the ground as a scream ripped at your throat. The momentum stopped you on your stomach. Hair covered your face, but you could still see your death through the strands. 

Wolves of gray and black gathered in a half moon circle. They had their prey in perfect position. The middle wolf pounced. All you had time to do was throw up your arms to protect your face. Claws raked across your forearm. Another scream echoed through the merciless trees. The wolf landed on the other side of you with pride. Now you were surrounded. A second wolf leapt. 

A blur appeared in front of you and collided with the wolf midair. The two bodies tumbled across the forest floor. A human and the wolf. 

Not a human. 

Chanyeol. The wolf trapped within his grasp, Chanyeol tightened his grip–

Crack. 

The wolf fell limply to the ground, its tongue hanging from its jaw. 

The others appeared seconds later. Not understanding what they were up against, the wolves let you go to attack the newest threat. 

"Are you alright?" Junmyeon knelt down in front of you. His hands were outstretched as if you were the wild animal on the verge of attack. Behind him, snarls and whimpers told of the fight–and who was winning. Despite not answering him, he caught sight of your bleeding arm. "We need to get back to the manor." 

He didn't ask permission before picking you up into his arms and sprinting through the forest. Everything blurred past you, your loose hair whipping at your face. He burst through the manor doors and didn't stop until he was able to set you down in the largest chair. Once you were safe, he fell to his knees, only his palms keeping him upright. The others soon stumbled in behind him, heaving and collapsing onto the floor. Only then did you notice the smoke floating up from each of their backs. Patches of burnt, red skin sizzled on their knuckles and faces. Anything that had been exposed to the sun. 

"Baekhyun," Junmyeon gasped. 

"I already have it." Kyungsoo came into the parlor with bottles stacked in his arms. He quickly passed them around, waiting until the others were quenching their thirst before pulling the cork out of his own bottle and chugging the contents. 

With his bottle empty, Junmyeon tossed it to the side and wiped his mouth with his sleeve. Red smears stained the ivory fabric. You shrank back in the chair as he turned towards you. 

"What hell were you thinking!" He growled. "I warned you about the wolves!" 

"Junmyeon, she's shaken up enough," Jongdae defended. Before your eyes, his burnt skin healed to be like new.

"She could have been killed!" 

Your head was pounding. He was… concerned about your life? The legends said that the sun was a vampire's deadliest enemy. It was why they thrived in the darkness. But they had all risked a final death to come after you. 

"Did you hear me scream?" you whispered. You could barely feel your own lips moving. All heads tuned to you. 

Yixing was the one to answer. "Yes. We all heard you." 

"Why were you out there?" Sehun asked aggressively.

You sucked in a sharp breath. There was no escaping the truth now. You stared at Jongdae. "I figured it out.” 

Baekhyun laughed. "At least we don't have to walk around delicately anymore." 

"When exactly did you do so?" Minseok mocked.

"Then you should remember what I said to you before was true. Harm would not come to you within these walls." Junmyeon crouched down next to the chair. His eyes... there was something behind the darkness that tugged at your still wildly beating heart. "I know you were running away. And if you're desperate to get away enough to get yourself killed, then the choice can be yours. We can send you on your way with every provision. Or," he cleared his throat, "you stay here. With us." 

A choice? He was giving you a choice?

Your gaze drifted over the faces that stared back at you. Even Kyungsoo refused to look away while he waited. There was almost a plea in his expression, a subtle beg. But was it to stay? Or for you to run as far away as possible? 

Junmeyon took your attention away when he picked up your wounded arm with delicate fingers. His pleading was much more clear. 

To leave would be the better choice. The more sane choice. But what would happen afterwards? You could claim being lost in the woods. With evidence of the carriage and the missing driver, what else could they believe? After a few days on bed rest, you would be back by your aunt's side, following her every whim. Including indulging her on a "perfectly adequate" suitor because you had no other option, no other path. That suitor who would then become your future. But you didn't want it. You refused to give in to it. 

Already within these few days, you were… changed in a way. They might not be human, but these men would forever be burned into your memory. Who could move you with music the way Chanyeol had? What silent strength could match the aura of Junmyeon? You had been promised that none of them would harm you. The chance for something extraordinary was right in front of you. The kind of chance you had only read about. It just had to be taken.

"I think… I think I want to stay."

*****

The moon became an ever changing friend. You hardly saw the sun anymore. Like the men you had given yourself over to, you lived under the stars. It was oddly beautiful. This time was often forgotten about by you and many others. The night was only a background to your time within your dreams. But now it was your entire world. 

Every evening, you awoke to the dying orange light of the day. Breakfast always waited for you outside the door. It was the rule that no one broke; none could enter your room without explicit permission from you. Those walls remained your safe haven when things grew too overwhelming. 

Despite your decision to stay, discovering that other creatures walked the earth required a step away once in a while. Especially now, with you aware of their true nature, the men were refusing to hold back. 

Dropping from the roof, running around with spectacular speed, and lifting objects that ten men couldn't hold. It was remarkable. Except for the diet and inability to walk in the sun, the… condition seemed more like a blessing.

"You're rather thoughtful this evening,” Jongdae commented. He walked beside you like he did every twilight. 

After you finished your breakfast, you met Jongae at the front doors to go on a walk around the manor grounds. Often others would join you as well. Junmyeon was the most frequent, though Yixing, Changed, and Jongin made many appearances over the past week and a half. Boundaries were constantly tested, but one word from you and they retreated.

"I guess you could say I am thoughtful tonight," you finally sighed. You hadn’t realized that you were being so obviously quiet. Funny, since you would have thought Jongdae would enjoy the silence. You typically had many questions or comments of your own to make. 

"Should I go steal a penny from Sehun?" 

You laughed. "I'd like to think my thoughts are worth more than a single penny.”

"They must be if you've become so skilled in deflecting from them." He crossed over to block your path. Gaze narrowed, he studied your carefully guarded expression. "What are you thinking about so hard? Regretting your decision to stay already?" 

"No," you insisted. "Not at all."

He raised an eyebrow that simply asked, "Then what?" 

"Do you always stay here?" you countered. "At the manor, I mean." 

"We travel," Jongdae answered with a nod. "Not too often. It’s a bit difficult, you see."

"But we like traveling north.” Minseok dropped from who-knew-where, landing with barely bent knees and hands folded behind his back. "In the winter, the night lasts longer. Junmyeon has a small hunting lodge up there. 

A hunting lodge? "Then why do you stay here?" 

Minsoek shrugged. "This manor is bigger." 

"Having nine of us in one household can be a bit volatile,” Jongdae added. He stepped aside to continue the stroll. "We need the room to separate so we don't level a building." 

Your foot caught on an invisible lump in the grass. "You could destroy a building while fighting?" 

Minseok snickered as he caught your stumble and helped steady your stance. His hand lingered at your waist until your sharpened glare made him remove it. "We haven’t crumbled a wall in a few years."

You scoffed at the casual tone. "What sort of fight caused that?" 

"I can't remember." Minseok leaned forward slightly to look at Jongdae for help. But he didn't seem to recall either. 

"Who knows what started it between Chanyeol and Kyungsoo.”

Your mouth dropped open in shock. Kyungsoo and Chanyeol had fought over something to the point of destroying a wall to crumble? It didn't feel plausible. Neither seemed like the hot-headed sort. You wanted to know the igniting incident so desperately. 

Both Jongdae and Minseok suddenly whipped their heads towards the front of the manor. 

"What is it?" you asked when neither offered an explanation. 

"Junmyeon's calling for us." Jongdae scooped you up into his arms without warning. At your confused expression, he explained, "We're not leaving you alone out here." Remember your last adventure in the woods lingered in the silence.

The short lived wind whipped at your hair that you still wore loose to cover your neck. As soon as he stopped running, you wiggled out of his arms to be back on your feet. Everyone else was already gathered just outside the door. Several eyed you and Jongdae with suspicious and annoyed glares. You took a step away from him for some separation. 

Clearing his throat, Junmyeon called everyone to attention. "We have to go hunting–real hunting. Now, normally, we all go together, but now that we have our guest," he nodded towards you, "some will have to stay behind with her until the first party… comes back." 

"If you all need to go,” you couldn't quite speak the word feed, "then I'll be alright. For a few hours, at least." You weren't sure how long this excursion would take.

Junmyeon's features softened. "No. We'll go in groups. Chanyeol, Kyungsoo, Minseok and I will go first. We shouldn't be gone long." He reached out and patted the top of your head before disappearing into the trees. Kyungsoo gave no goodbye as he followed suit. The last two playfully shoved each other while taking off. 

"Come." Yixing took hold of your hand and started pulling you inside. "I want to show you something."

"But–" You had wanted to ask Jongdae a question, but the traitor was already gone, off somewhere to do something he would never tell you about. So, you let Yixing take you into the manor and up the main staircase at the end of the hallway. At least he let you stay on your own feet instead of insisting on going at his speed. 

Going down an unfamiliar hallway, you were reminded how big this place was and how much you still had to explore. The men occupied most of your time, vying for your attention and pulling you this way and that so you didn’t have much time on your own. It was odd and overwhelming at times. 

During your seasons in town, you were hardly a well-sought after prize. There were prettier girls with grander dowries. You had accepted that fact. Now you were the center of a courting dance to which you knew none of the steps and possessed endless partners. 

Yixing paused in front of a door that looked identical to all the others. He kept his fingers tight around yours as he slowly turned the knob with his free hand. The door swung open. 

The gasp inhaled through your parted lips wasn't enough to convey your awe. 

Maps of all the places you'd heard of and dozens more you hadn't covered the walls like homemade wallpaper. Slipping out of Yixing's grip, you walked further into the study, spinning slowly around to take it all in. The maps were varying degrees of tan, some as light as his skin, others as dark as animal leather. 

Instead of bookshelves, doorless cabinets waist high lined three of the walls. Their squared shelves were stuffed full of parchment and ink and quills. A lone sketcher's desk sat in the middle, an unfinished drawing laying against the tilted surface. 

"What is this place?"

"It's my personal study," Yixing answered as he laid a hand on the edge of the desk. "Kyungsoo gave it to me after I had accidentally taken over one of the parlors." 

Your awe increased ten-fold. Your initial assumption was that he was a collector, not the original artist. "You drew all of these?" 

He nodded almost... shyly. "I did. I was a cartographer. Before." 

"Before?" You understood what he meant, but you didn't know how to ask for the story. 

Turning his eyes to the parchment, he pinched it between his fingers. "I didn't just love traveling. I loved capturing it on paper. I wanted to make these places into art, but not like every other painting. I wanted them to be perfect. Exact replicas as if you were staying at them from God’s point of view. And I wanted to be the best. I couldn't be, though. I wasn’t good enough." 

You moved closer to him, entranced in the story. "What happened?"

A rueful smile tightened at his lips. "I was given a chance to become perfect. What I didn't know was that I traded everyone knowing my maps for the talent to make it happen." Sorrow rolled from him like the tide warning of an oncoming storm. 

Feeling the pull to comfort him, you reached out and covered his fidgeting hand with your own steady fingers.

"People will be able to know your work some day," you whispered. "I’m sure of it." 

Perhaps you had been a bit too forward, a bit too open. 

Yixing moved gracefully forward to eliminate most of the space between you. A smooth thumb that once must have been calloused when it was human caressed the edge of your jaw. His flickering eyes made intentions obvious. 

Clearing your throat, you stepped out of the touch. "Why isn't this one finished?" You pointed to the drawing on the desk. It was an aerial view of the manor, with the top half of the parchment containing the beginning edges of the garden hedges. Disappointed, Yixing sighed and went along with your distraction. 

"I'm still working out the maze. It is intricate. Much more than I was prepared for." 

"Goodness." You were thankful that you hadn't wandered in there yet, especially on your own.

"Yixing.” 

Both of you turned towards the door to find Sehun standing under the frame. 

"Yes, Sehun?" Yixing said through somewhat gritted teeth. The young vampire wasn't phased. 

"I need to speak with you." 

"Fine." None of you moved. 

Sehun looked at you with a pointed glare.

You received the hint loud and clear. "I'll leave you, then.” 

With more relief than you cared to admit, you scurried out of the room and down the hallway. 

Around the corner, you pressed your back against the wall and forced yourself to take deep breaths that filled your lungs to capacity. Panic had been the response at Yixing's closeness. You didn't mean for that to be the response. You didn't want to be closed off to any of them. But you couldn't help it. Maybe it was merely the closeness of the situation. 

Giving yourself a small amount of grace, you pushed off the wall and made your way downstairs. So used to your time being absorbed by the men that you weren't sure what to do with yourself. Two of the ones that remained behind were currently occupied. As for the three others, they could have been anywhere. 

You wandered around the main floor with a fleeting hope that one would come to find you. Then you saw them. A row of grand doors evenly spaced along the north wall called you forward.

The grand ballroom took your breath away. Not so dissimilar to the one in your dream, though this one’s lack of warmth and light left you heartbroken. Memories of dancing figures and lively music haunted these walls. In the corner, you could imagine a small orchestra strumming their instruments in delight. 

You walked to the center where dozens of pairs used to twirl and bow and embrace each other in time with the melody. Ghostly laughter echoed in your ears. What had once been  bright and golden and full of life was dull, dark, and covered in cobwebs that swayed in the breeze of unknown origin. 

Glancing around, you confirmed that you were truly alone before closing your eyes, lifting your arms, and began a soft hum. 

You danced with an invisible partner in the fashion that your grandfather had taught you as a small child. It was more intimate than the choreographed dances currently popularized. You had always imagined your first ball like this, instead of the disappointment you really experienced. You had pictured a boy you didn’t know catching your eye. As the music was struck up, he laid a hand on your waist.

Just like now. 

Hm. Your imagination was running wild, even pretending the weight of a palm was there on your lower back. And now in your lifted left hand. 

No. That wasn’t your imagination. 

Your eyes snapped open. 

Jongin had taken the place of your imagined partner. He smiled down at you with a feline smirk as his hands tightened around you, refusing to let you slip away. There was no choice in leaving this musicless dance. You had stopped humming but he continued to whirl you around the marble floor. He controlled the dance, in charge of every step. He led with an expertise he shouldn’t have possessed–if he were a man of this age. 

In one final move, he slipped his arm fully around your waist, pulling you so close that no room remained between you. Without breaking the spin, he lifted you from the floor as if you were no more than a kitten and whirled you around like the heroine from your favorite novel.

When the spin came to a close, he set you back on your feet, but didn’t let go. Your lungs heaved from the exercise–and from the way your bodies pressed together. Each rise of your chest brought you even closer to Jongin. He kept your gaze like a stablehand trying to calm a wild horse. His right hand slipped from your fingers, softly tracing the delicate inside of your arm. The touch left behind a fire you couldn’t explain. A cold, simmering fire.

He cupped your jaw as his eyes drifted down to your lips. This was a different reaction to Yixing’s wandering gaze. Not panic, but something similar. 

Jongin held you in place as he leaned down, his lips pressing gently into the corner of yours. The thin breath in your lungs hitched. He lifted his lips only to find a new patch of skin. The delicate skin covering your pulse. Every muscle in your body froze. He kissed the skin softly. Surely, he could feel the race of your blood. 

“Whenever you need a partner,” he said in a hush against your neck, “just whisper my name.”

And then, he was gone. 

You stared off at the empty path left behind Jongin. The sheer hubris.

His name lingered on your lips, wondering if he would really come back like he said. But you kept the whisper inside and left the ballroom just the same. 

[jongbross]

you got me so crazy. (oh sehun x f!reader)

pairing: oh sehun x female reader

word count: 3,4k

genre: smut, maybe angst? idk

warnings: language, mature themes, description of sex, p in v, oral (m receiving), sehun is kinda insecure but also an assh*le (but so is reader)

a/n: i don't know what i'm doing, but i hope y'all like it.

sehun walked into the bedroom, on his face, the same annoyed expression he had on last night while fighting with you. his body language didn't help either, as his fists were closed on each side of his body and his steps were heavy. although still mad, he took a deep breath when he saw you awake, scrolling through your phone.

his shoulders relaxed a little bit and, for a brief moment, he closed his eyes before speaking. he didn't want his voice to come out raspy or rude.

"i'm gonna make some breakfast before heading to work. you want some?", sehun asked in the most normal, soft tone he could. he was still mad for your behavior, for making him sleep on the couch, but he didn't wanna fight anymore.

so when you didn't answer him, when you didn't even look at his direction, he scoffed. of course you would be the childish one and not talk to him. 

"you're gonna give me the silent treatment now?", he asked, still not getting a single motion from you. "okay. fine. fight on your own then, i'm not gonna take part in this stupidity."

sehun turned to walk away, but stopped on his heels when he heard your voice 

"oh, so now i'm stupid?"

"oh, so now you're talking to me?", he mocked your tone.

you sit down on the bed, staring at your horribly stubborn, sarcastic boyfriend.

"i shouldn't be. you deserve all the silent treatment in the world right now, sehun."

"yeah, but i'm not the one who made you sleep on the couch on a fucking winter night."

just like he did before, you scoffed. he was unbelievable.

"i can't believe you're hurting over that after what happened last night! oh my god, sehun!"

"y/n, it was just a dinner!"

"no, it was our dinner!"

"and i told you i wouldn't be able to go, so if you still wanted to keep the reservation that's on you", sehun shrugged like he didn't care. he did, though.

"that's not the point", you replied, getting on your feet ready to change for work and run away from that confrontation again.

"then what's the point?"

you didn't answer, you just went around the bedroom picking the outfit you would wear to work. you could loudly hear sehun sighing behind you, his shirt shuffling as he crossed his arms on his chest.

"what's the point, y/n?", he asked again. you started that, but you wouldn't be the one to have the last word on it. "you're not gonna run away from this. what is the point?"

"i'm not running away from anything here."

"then tell me what's the fucking point", sehun elevated his tone just a bit.

"you left me there!", you shouted, patience short now. "all you can think about is your fucking work, so you left me there! because you don't truly care about having a girlfriend or even having a life outside your so perfect career. nothing else matters to you."

a moment of silence went by. you stared sehun dead in the eyes, searching for any sign that he finally understood why you were so upset and feeling so left out.

but when he spoke again, your blood just boiled more.

"oh, please! you're gonna pull that one on me now?", he asked, rolling his eyes.

you needed a moment not to go for his neck. you closed your eyes, sighed in annoyance, and then looked at him again.

"i'm not pulling shit on you", you said, voice louder than just a whisper. 

shaking your head, you walked past sehun and towards the bathroom, heart beating so loud in anger that you were sure he could hear it too.

"at least i wasn't alone", you mumbled.

and in a single movement, you felt sehun grabbing your wrist and pulling you back. he didn't use any strength, he just did it enough to make you stop and look at him again.

"what did you say?"

you sighed, rolling your eyes. oh, so now he cares?

"i said that at least i wasn't alone."

pulling your arm from him, you were back at walking to the bathroom; or at least you thought so. sehun was quicker to take just a few steps before blocking your way, his tall figure between you and the bathroom door.

"you took one of your friends?", he asked, eyes narrowed at you. sehun was always kinda jealous, and you knew that way too well.

his jealousy was never a big problem in your relationship - he knew how to control it and, overall, he trusted you with his life. it was just something about losing you, or even seeing you pay attention to any other person that wasn't himself... he didn't like that. he never did.

"ah, so now you care?", you spoke your earlier thought right in his face now.

"you're so hurt over that dinner, if you took one of your girls then maybe it wasn't that important after all, right?", sehun said in the most provoking way his sarcasm could allow him.

"not one of my girls", so you simply replied, and you knew you got him right there, right now.

you pushed sehun and walked past him, into the bathroom. he watched your movements as you started your morning routine, trying his best not to show you that yeah, you did got him.

"who?", he asked.

"seriously, sehun, i don't wanna do this anymore. i'm tired of fighting."

a brief, lightspeed moment went by. you looked at sehun through the mirror and caught his eyes still narrowed, lips forming a thin line.

"who?", he repeated.

so you sighed, defeated.

"there was this guy at the bar who saw me standing there, alone, pathetically fighting with you on the phone for almost 2 hours. so he came over", you told him. "he was pretty nice."

you didn't actually want to hurt sehun, you would never do that on purpose - you just wanted him to care, to acknowledge how important the dinner was for you, how you really wanted to spend some time with him alone. so when you told him about the guy in the bar, and his jealous posture took place, you knew that that fight was over.

sehun stared at you, not moving at all. he stayed there for what felt like forever, watching your actions, the way you took off your clothes before stepping into the shower. 

the moment he heard the water falling on you, he turned around and walked away.

(...)

for the whole day, you didn't hear from sehun - and neither did he from you. the most complicated thing about your relationship sometimes was that you two were way too proud. arguments could go on for about just an hour, but the weird vibe, the not talking to each other much afterward, could go on for days.

you watched though, the whole day, as he would type something to you on your message app. you saw the indicator "typing..." on the screen for several seconds, sometimes minutes, just to get frustrated everytime sehun gave up and didn't send you anything.

so, for the way he was behaving and from your own feelings inside you, you were surprised to see him waiting for you in his car, outside the building you worked on. he scrolled through his phone casually, windows rolled down and the passenger seat waiting for you.

just as if he felt someone watching him, sehun looked up and found your gaze. he awkwardly waved, putting his phone away and opening the door to the passenger seat to you, in a silent invitation for you to come in. of course you did.

the ride home was silent. sehun sometimes tried to do small talk, but he wasn't the best at it and you knew that; he secretly hoped you would engage in one of the subjects and lead the way into a pleasant, nonchalant talk. you didn't though, still wondering why, all of a sudden, he was acting nice.

"why are you doing this?", you quietly asked when another one of his attempts to talk to you didn't work.

"doing what?"

"playing the nice guy. we were almost at each other's throat this morning."

sehun sighed, stopping at a red light. he didn't look at you when he spoke.

"i just wanted to make it up for being a dick, that's all. i thought that... maybe... we could go home to change and get ready, and then go out to finally have your dinner."

"all of a sudden?"

"it wasn't all of a sudden, y/n."

"yeah, yeah it was!", you cut him off. analyzing sehun's expression as he got back to drive, you didn't find any sign of annoyance nor anger - he just seemed a bit tired, a bit worn off from all the arguing; a bit of regret, maybe. and suddenly, you understood all too well. "is this about the guy in the bar?"

the way sehun grabbed the steering wheel harder didn't go unnoticed. he shook his head though, staring ahead of him.

"nope."

the only thing sehun forgot was that you were his girlfriend for almost 2 years now. you knew him, you knew when something was bothering him.

and, again, you knew how jealous he could get. 

"don't lie to me, sehun", you softly told him.

"i'm not lying."

"so you're not jealous just because a random guy took a move on me?"

sehun gulped, body tensed up. boy, he was wrapped around your finger now.

"i'm not jealous!", he said, in the best casual tone he managed to pull off. he scrunched his nose, hesitating for a moment if he should speak or not. "he... he flirted with you, then?"

you shrugged, looking outside the window for a moment.

"he did a bit", you replied. 

"i thought... i thought he heard you talking to me on the phone."

"i told him i had a boyfriend, but that didn't seem to stop him. especially when..."

you trailed off your thoughts, eyes quickly going back to sehun. you didn’t know if you should say it, if you should finish the sentence. once again, you would never hurt sehun on purpose; but was that hurting? wasn't that just exactly like he always provoked you too?

sehun confusedly looked at you, waiting for you to conclude your thinking.

"especially when...?", he instigated you.

"especially...", you began, biting your lip for a brief moment. well, fuck it. "especially when my boyfriend left me there, all alone."

sehun held his breath at the same time he clenched his jaw. if the fight was over before, when you first mentioned the guy from the bar, then now you were crowned the winner. jealous sehun fully appeared and the little, tiny feeling of guilt he felt (but would never admit it) for canceling the dinner with you were gone - and now the anger for knowing that someone did get your attention and flirted with you when he wasn't around took place.

"he was nice though", you continued, adding more fuel. "we chatted a lot before i decided to come home."

"about what?", sehun asked between teeth, voice not much louder than a groan.

"about life, i guess", you shrugged again, now seeing the house you shared with him getting closer. "just got to know him better."

silence took place then. long seconds went by before sehun finally parked the car inside your garage without saying a word. the flame burning inside his chest, the way he felt his veins hurting and pulsing, everything just pushed his focus into one thing: you.

so when you got out of the car - a very small piece of your brain wondering if you pushed your boyfriend's buttons too far - and the first thing you met was sehun already in front of you, lips crashing in yours and body pressing you against the car's door, you were surprised.

his lips desperately kissed you, tongues intertwining and an urgency emanating from his body that you didn't usually feel. sehun let go of his weight on you, chest raising up and down against your smaller figure as he controlled his breath so he didn't have to stop the kiss.

gosh, he loved your lips.

your hands flew to his neck, fingers tugging his pitch black hair and pulling him closer to you, holding him for dear life. sehun also touched you, wrapping his arms around your hips and not so gently guiding you along the outside of his car. he stopped at the end of it, one of his hands letting go of you and opening the door to the backseat.

"get in", he whispered, breaking the kiss.

"sehun-"

"i said get in."

he didn't have to say it a third time. you climbed inside the car, sitting on the backseat and watching as sehun did the same. he spread his legs open, grabbing one of your arms and pulling you to his lap, each leg of yours on the each side of his body; as he pulled your hips down, you felt his bulge for the first time that day.

sehun attacked your neck, lips still desperate. he kissed and licked and sucked every bit of skin, head dizzy by the sounds you were making, by the way you moaned and sighed.

only him could do that to you, and you knew he was trying to prove exactly that.

your hands ended up on his shoulders, pushing his jacket down his arms. sehun took it off without stopping making out with your neck, red and light purple starting to form on your skin.

"you're mine", he moaned against your jaw, hands traveling up your belly inside your shirt, cupping one of your breasts over your bra.

you moaned too, rocking your hips against his erection in response. the friction made both of you gasp, and sehun's fingers grabbed your boob harder. his other hand went to your back, unhooking your bra before he spoke again.

"take off, all of it."

you got down from his lap and it was ridiculous how you whined for the loss of contact. your hands worked fast on your clothes, body quickly undressed and fully naked as you saw sehun, now shirtless too, pulling his jeans and underwear down to his ankle, cock hard against his stomach.

in an impulse that took you off guard just as much as it took him, you leaned over and took his member in your mouth. sehun wasn't a particular vocal person during sex, but he did moan loudly when he felt your lips sliding down, taking all of him inside your mouth.

one of his hands held the back of your neck, guiding you through your movements and ready to help you in case you gagged. as much as he tried to avoid doing it, sehun couldn't help but push your head further, so lost in the amazing sensation of being blown plus the wet sounds your mouth made while working up and down his dick.

you moaned against it when you felt his hand sliding from your neck to your butt, which was up in the air. he grabbed, squeezed, massaged, all before firmly pressing his nails on it when you circled your tongue around the tip of his cock, making him throw his head back.

"s-stop", he managed to say, voice raspy. "gonna cum. i wanna do it inside you."

you moaned again, just the thought of it was enough to make you cum right there if you pictured the image long enough. 

so you did what he said, you stopped your actions letting go of his dick with a pop. sehun softly grabbed your arm then, pulling you once again to his lap. you could tell he was impatient now, dying to cum, as the only thing he did was align both of you before pushing your hips down and entering you with a sharp thrust.

you sighed, adjusting to the delicious sensation of him inside you. sehun waited until you rocked your hips to start moving, just to be sure you were ready. 

his hands were firm on your hips, head still resting on the headrest of the seat, eyes glued on you taking in how beautiful you looked. you moved up and down, each thrust echoing inside the car, each moan getting lost in your ears.

instinctively, you hugged sehun. he was quite surprised but definitely didn't refuse it, hugging you back and wrapping his arms around you now. your boobs were firmly pressed against his bare chest, the skin to skin embrace only adding more pleasure to the whole thing.

your face rested on the crook of sehun's neck, and all he could hear was your muffled moans and whines, feeling so good and so out of your mind that all you could focus on was how drunk you were by your boyfriend - his scent, his skin on yours, his thrusts, his sweat mixing with yours; and then, his deep voice on your ear.

"i got you", he said.

you moaned once again, one of your hands holding sehun's jaw now, thumb caressing his cheek.

"babe... please...", you whined, tears forming on the corner of your eyes and sliding down your face.

"cum for me", sehun whispered, and you gladly did, all over him and with a loud cry of his name.

he came right after, filling you up and groaning at how you clenched around him. it felt amazing.

for a few moments, you two just stayed like that, safe in each other's arms. you whispered sweet nothings in sehun's ears, mostly telling him how good he was and how much you loved him. 

"i love you too", he replied. "i love you so much."

you softly smiled, getting up from his neck and facing him now. your fingers gently wiped sweat off his forehead, putting a few strands of hair in its place. sehun stared dearly at you in return, but, somehow, his eyes got heavy - not with sleep, but with something you couldn't tell what it was.

"why do you do this to me?", he asked, voice tired.

you furrowed your eyebrows, confused at his question. "do what?"

"push me to my limit", he began to explain. "that guy... i get so jealous when these things happen. i should have been there last night."

so you got what he meant.

"you should", you agreed. "but not for that reason."

"no, not him", sehun shook his head. "i fucked up. i could have managed my time better so we could go out, and for that i'm sorry. i didn't want you to feel like i care more about my job than about you."

you nodded, leaning into sehun's touch as he caressed circles in your back.

"it's okay. i'm sorry for making you sleep on the couch too."

sehun's chuckled, his eyes almost closing in a half moon shape.

"i kinda deserved that."

"it was cold, though."

"it was. you can make it up to me tonight", he said, kissing you on the cheek and pulling you close again, making you lay on his shoulder. sehun sighed, and you felt like he was hesitating to say something. 

"say it", you encouraged him, and felt when he chuckled again. you knew him so well.

"i... i'm sorry for getting jealous too. i know you would never do anything, and we talked about this so many times before. but i just can't help it."

"i know", you replied, caressing sehun's collarbone.

"of course you do. you love how you get me wrapped around your finger when i get jealous, don't you?"

it was your turn to chuckle. he didn't lie, though.

"maybe..."

you shifted on his arms, supporting your chin on his chest and looking up at him as he looked down at you.

"but you don't have to be sorry, i knew what i was getting myself into when we started dating."

sehun smiled, pecking your lips.

"i can't stand the thought of losing you, it gets me crazy. i don't even know how to react", he confessed. 

"as long as you keep reacting like this", you mentioned to your naked bodies, "we're all good. i'll keep pushing you to your limit."

you loudly laughed at sehun's little "please, don't!" before kissing him again, this time deeper, more passionate, letting last night's episode behind.

[digitalgirls]

OH SEHUN at the Waterbomb Festival in Japan (2023) (fancam cr. kaisooingly on twitter)

[suuho]

(181103) SEHUN ; TEMPO @ MUSIC CORE

[sugurugetos]

CHANYEOL & SEHUN CREAM SODA, 2023

[mostlyfate]

✧ Travel The World on EXO’s Ladder: Season 4 ✧

[holdingforexo]

holding for jongin: day 546 of 641  ~  holding for sehun: day 322 of 639

↳ EXO KAI and SEHUN for Hat’s On | Fall/Winter 2016

[byunbaekhyunie]

team xo playing the 🧅 ring game

[dojaejung]

sehun the baby chick 🐣

[nainwoo]

EXO LADDER 4 | EP 8 bamboozled by the wild accusations

[amaranth]

SEHUN - DAZED KOREA TWINTERVIEW

[marshmallow-phd]

A Manor of Shadow and Blood

Genre: Regency Gothic AU

Pairing: EXO x Reader

Summary: A stormy night brought you to the manor in the middle of the woods. Nine strange men occupied its halls. They won’t let you leave. A dangerous secret haunts this estate. Learning it might either be your saving grace or it could lead to the last breath you ever take.

Part: 1 I 2 I 3 I 4 I 5

**

Leaning against the faded brick of the manor inspecting his cuticles was the one you remembered as Baekhyun.

"You've hardly cared in the past," Jongdae said drily. He shifted so subtly and minutely that you would have missed it if you hadn't been looking at him, silently pleading for protection. And, for some reason, he'd given it to you. That small shift was enough for him to come between you and Baekhyuon. 

"We haven't had this kind of excitement for a while." Baekhyun leaned to his left so he could see you. "Enjoying the moonlight?"

"That seems to be a normal activity in this place,” you murmured. Jongdae sent a rather pointed look in your direction. The message was clear. Speaking was not wise. 

The left corner of Baekhyun's mouth curled upwards. "Mind if I join you?" 

"You don't have an errand to run?" Jongdae raised an expectant brow. 

A deep, rumbling chuckle slowly escaped from Baekhyun's lips. He leaned forward menacingly. "Already done." 

Jongdae released a sigh full of resignation. His gaze moved to you. If protest was to be given, then it had to come from you. But fear kept the two-letter word from passing your lips. 

Gathering your skirt in your hands, you said nothing as you passed both of the men and continued on your walk. They quickly fell into step on either side of you. No one spoke, letting the silence become the norm as you took in the manor from a new angle. But it was difficult to focus. 

On your right, you could feel Baekhyun's closeness. One inch separated an accidental brush of fingers. The flutter of his loose sleeve continuously caught your attention. A wind had picked up, moving the distracting fabric even more. Giving in to your peripheral, you watched Baekhyun as he stretched his neck from side to side, his grin now gone. The long lithe fingers of his right hand gently massaged the soft skin. 

"Are you injured?" 

The idiotic question was out before you could think it through. Jongdae, apparently done with the protector role, shook his head with a huff and roll of his eyes. Baekhyun's earlier demeanor returned in force. No longer walking, Baekhyun shifted his body and gradually leaned in. 

"Why? Do you want to... take care of me?" 

"No," you said sharply, trying to make your voice a cracking whip. It was the wrong approach. His grin grew and something flashed behind his lips. Your eyes refused to leave his own. He came closer. No matter how hard you willed it, your feet refused to move. 

"Baekhyun." 

At the soft, confident call of his name, Baekhyun backed away, a rather... grumpy expression on his face. 

Junmyeon approached the group with his usual authoritative air, hands clasped behind his back and hair somewhat tousled. "Will I have to keep an eye on all of you at all times?" he asked in a very exasperated voice. His gaze narrowed in on Baekhyun. "Don't you have an errand to run?" 

Baekhyun straightened, gleefully replying, "Already done." 

Junmyeon didn’t waver. "Go find another." 

Slackjawed, Baekhyun glanced at Jongdae for a possible retort. When he gave no protest, Baekhyun turned to you, as if you would protest his dismissal. Quite the contrary, you were thankful for it. 

Knowing he'd lost, Baekhyun whirled quickly on his boots before stomping away. 

"Jongdae," Junmyeon moved in closer. "I'd like to speak to her alone." 

Not caring for this sudden dismal towards him, Jongdae shrugged and held the bag of buns out for you.

"No, thank you,” you said bitterly. He was abandoning you to the most terrifying wolf. The food already in your stomach churned and threatened to come up again at the thought of being alone with Junmyeon. What would he do with no witnesses to intervene?

Your acidic response slid right off of Jongdae. Swinging the bag by his side, he walked away without a second thought for you.

"There's still some path around the house,” Junmyeon said, suddenly appearing by your side, his elbow offered out for you. When you didn't accept his elbow, he took possession of your hand and held it hostage in the crook of his arm.

You would be going with him whether you found it agreeable or not. 

"I want to apologize for keeping you here," he said rather cooly, as if he were apologetic about missing dinner.

You scoffed at the heartless comment. "The only true apology would be to let me go."

"That was my original intention." 

You stopped just before the turn around the corner. With the hold he had on your hand, Junmyeon's steps also came to a halt."You– You were going to let me go?" Your throat constricted. What had happened to snatch your freedom away so quickly? "Then why keep me?" 

Junmyeon sighed and forced you to continue the walk. "We took care of you for the days you were sick with fever and realized we've been missing a feminine touch around here. It brings out the better sides of us." 

You didn’t believe him for a second. "The better side of you? I hate to see the lesser side." 

He leveled his eyes with you, his features hardened like stone. "No one is to touch you." 

"Really?" You scoffed. "Should I list the few incidents just in the past twenty-four hours?" 

Junmyeon’s eyes flashed. "Sehun has been reprimanded. That won't happen again." 

"And Mr. Yixing?" 

"Mr. Yixing? What about him?" He blinked, confused.  

"He was in my room last night." 

"What!" His voice cracked like the lightning before the storm rolled in. You flinched at his severe reaction. Realizing your face was full of fear, he composed himself. His voice came out more gentle. "He will be reprimanded. No one is to go into your room without permission." A frown knitted his brow. "Is that why you fortified the door?" 

You swallowed, forgetting that he had tried to enter earlier this evening. "Yes. Yes, it is." 

The way he nodded gave you reason to believe that…. Well, that he might actually be listening. 

"No one will ever enter your room without permission again," he promised. His leveled gaze made you believe him. 

"Even you?" you asked. 

His throat visibly constricted, but he didn't argue. "Even me." 

As relieved as you were for that promise, you couldn't be entirely ecstatic. "Why keep me here? 

The earlier coolness and arrogance of his demeanor had washed away. "I told you. We need a companion."

"We?" You pulled away from him, disgusted. For reasons unknown, he let you slip from his grasp this time. "I'm not something to be passed around for you all to play with." 

"Of course not." A ghost of a smile began to cut in the corners of his lips. "You'll choose. In time. Whoever you wish, we are at your disposal. Until then, you’re all our guest."

"That doesn't make any sense,” you pushed. "You're all fine gentlemen." In looks anyway. Manners was an entirely different  discussion. "Surely by the end of the season in town, you can all find a suitable wife." 

"We... have our reasons," he said slowly. "Your traditional ways aren't suited for us." 

"My traditional ways?" What could that possibly mean? 

Junmyeon didn’t explain. He merely took your hand and pressed cool lips to your knuckles.

"In time, you will come to see the truth. Until then, no harm will come to you." He turned your hand over and gave another kiss to your wrist. Letting you go, he walked away, his promise still lingering behind. 

On the edge of the gardens, a small swing made of a simple plank of wood and two long ropes hung from a mighty tree. It whispered a minute comfort. Not having been on one since your childhood, you were wary of sitting on the sun faded seat, unsure if the fringed ropes would hold your grown woman weight. 

There was no governess or wealthy aunt around to warn you of snagging your dress with such unladylike behavior. With cautious movements, you slowly turned and sat on the swing. The ropes didn't snap. 

Not wanting to test your luck, you didn't push yourself into full motion. No, you simply kept your toes on the ground, shifting only slightly from side to side. 

It was peaceful here, in this tucked away corner between the manor and maze-like hedges of the garden. No one else seemed to be around and that allowed you space to think. This was to be your home for... a longtime, it would appear. The negatives were more than obvious. So much that dwelling on them was pointless. That meant you needed to try and find a good thing in this situation. 

Your aunt. 

Well, that was easy. 

While she wasn't really a terrible human being, having to serve as her companion wasn't pleasant. Every whim of hers had to be met, the truth of your dowry hung over your head. And she could be as demanded as the Queen. Her holiday was not to be your holiday. 

And then there was the matter of your future. 

It wasn't that you didn't want to get married–you did. But you wanted love, passion. You wanted fire in your blood and yearning that could never be quenched. You wanted to know what it was like to be desperate for another person’s touch. Someone who looked at you with a gaze that sent your heart racing. Perfectly adequate was not what you wanted. 

Perfectly adequate was what your aunt was planning for you. Perhaps even less than adequate.

The rustling of nestled branches pulled you from your depressive, lonely thoughts. Kyungsoo had emerged from the garden hedges, his boots crunching to a halt on the rocky path. He stared at you with a horrified expression. The first bit of emotion you'd seen from him and it was accompanied by widened eyes and tightened lips. Was there something wrong with you merely sitting here? 

The one called Chanyeol appeared behind him. His gaze was more on the friendly side, something resembling a smile sent over to you. He took a step to start your way, but Kyungsoo grabbed a hold of his sleeve and dragged him away.

"Don't mind Kyungsoo, he avoids us all at one time or another." 

Jongdae suddenly chopped from the branches, landing on his feet beside you. Standing from the seat, you glowered at him. "You've come back, have you?" 

"If Junmyeon wishes to speak with you alone, then I'll give him that wish." His tone suggested that Junmyeon's wishes were met more like commands. 

"Well," you huffed, "then please obey my wish to be alone right now." 

Jongdae bowed deeply yet mockingly. He stayed behind, watching as you retreated back into the house.

Shoving the door closed, you leaned back against the wooden barrier that separated the main hall from the outside world. Only a few days ago, you had stumbled through those very doors, desperate for sanctuary. As insane as it sounded, perhaps you were given a bit more of a sanctuary than you had asked for. 

With a new resignation, you continued forward until you reached the main parlor on your left. 

The room was empty. Signs of recent usage were scattered amongst the furniture. Red stained goblets, chairs pushed away from the card table, a blanket half falling from an armchair. Thin slivers of moonlight broke through the heavy curtains, cutting across the floor like knives shattering the darkness. 

You stepped in further, drawn in by the grand piano off in the far left corner. It was so large it took up nearly a fourth of the room. Its black coat shimmered, even with your dull eyes. Someone loved this instrument, that was certain. They kept it polished and tuned. The ivory keys beckoned to create music. 

But you didn’t know how. Of all of the lessons to educate you that you latched onto, the piano had not been one. Still….

You jumped at the piercing sound of the plucked cord, a quiet gasp passing your lips. Your finger had pressed down on its own accord. Eyes frantically searched behind you, but none of the men appeared. You brushed your fingers along the keys, astonished by their softness. If only you could play the songs you knew in your heart. 

A hand suddenly covered yours. Several keys screeched at your second jump. 

Chanyeol didn’t apologize for scaring you or say anything gentle at all. Your mouth went dry in worry as he removed his cool hand from yours. You watched as he rolled the sleeves of his black silk shirt up to his elbows. He didn’t look up at you. He sat down on the bench and began to play. 

For a moment, you simply stood and listened. But you needed to be closer. Closer to the music, to the beauty that was being created before you. The remainder of the bench was under you before he could second guess. Your eyes fluttered close as the notes drifted up from the piano and wrapped around you, protective, whispering sweet nothings in your ear like nothing you had heard before. They were a lover, a comfort. You could lose yourself in that melody forever. 

The song too soon faded to an end. Your eyes remained closed, desperate to hold on. 

“Did you like it?” Chanyeol whispered. His deep voice was so low you almost missed it. All you could do to answer was nod. Coldness touched your cheek. Your eyes snapped open. 

Chanyeol was only an inch or so away, his dark eyes staring not at your own gaze, but lower. He ran his tongue over his lips. All you could do was breathe. 

You'll choose. In time. Whoever you wish, we are at your disposal.

The fingers against your cheek drifted down and brushed against your collar bone. 

In a blink, he was gone, only the ghost of his touch and the echo of the melody left behind.

Your breath quickened in panic. Jumping from the bench, you ran out into the hallway. The barely visible back of Chanyeol was on the edge of darkness. 

“Wait!” you called out to him. “Mr. Chanyeol, wait!”

He paused. Then slowly turned around so his face, half covered in shadow, was to you. 

“Play it again,” you begged. You wanted to hear more. Needed to hear more. And, he didn’t scare you. Not in this moment. You had been wanting to discover a story for yourself that you had read a thousand times. Perhaps, this could be the beginning. 

A shining smile growing on his face, Chanyeol nodded and came back to you for another song. 

*****

Chanyeol played for hours, never tiring or stumbling over the keys. Every note came from within himself. He never pulled out a single piece of sheet music. Each time one song ended, he paused only long enough to seek approval from you for another before beginning the next. 

For most of the concert, you sat in silent appreciation, but occasionally, you risked speaking to ask about the piece he was currently playing. Nearly all were his own compositions.

"How have you had time to write all of these?" you asked as the newest song came to a close. 

His fingers paused on the last keys, elongating the notes in a way that felt out of place. Throughout his playing, he had looked at you to gauge your reactions. But now he kept his eyes on the instrument, his brow furrowed. 

"I've had a lot of time," he said quietly. "All the time I could have asked for." He lifted his hand from the keys and stretched his fingers, curling them inward and then back out again. 

You laughed light-heartedly." You look hardly eight and twenty,"

"Have you been composing your whole life?" A forced smile pulled tightly at his lips. 

"For a very long time." 

You frowned at the cryptic answer. But your stomach prevented you from pushing another question onto him. The gurgling sound was soft, but enough to bring your hand to your stomach. 

"Oh, that's right," Chanyeol chuckled softly. "I forgot you have to eat." 

"Yes, I do that on occasion." The memory of his lack of dinner the other night brewed in your mind. And he said “you have to eat”. Not “we”. Was it merely a slip of the tongue? "Will you show me the kitchen?" 

"The kitchen?" he echoed. 

You nodded. "Yes. I don't need a full meal. Some bread, cheese, and salted meat would suffice." 

"Oh, erm." He stood from the bench somewhat clumsily. "Actually, you stay here and I’ll fetch you some food." 

"But-”

He was gone before your tongue could click on the “T”. 

"Well, humph." That was abrupt. It wasn’t as if you had asked to see the coffers. You merely asked to go to the kitchen. 

Many times at home you had prepared your own midday meal. There were obviously no servants around here. What could be wrong with you entering a measly kitchen? You had half a mind to go try and find it yourself, but... you were hungry. And if you got lost, it could be a decent amount of time before you were able to eat. You could always search another time. 

Standing up from the bench, you wandered over to one of the tables still holding a dirty goblet. Remnants of deep red wine stained the inside of the glass.

At first glance, the drying liquid looked like any dry red wine you'd seen a hundred times. But there was something odd about the way it coated the glass. The thick red stain it left behind....

You wiped a finger around the inside and brought the coating closer to your vision. There was a stickiness to it that was different from your previous experiences with spilling the nightly drink. And the color... it was richer, more striking red than a deep purple. A color you had seen time and time again. You pressed the finger to your tongue. And immediately spat the taste out. 

Blood. 

It was undeniably blood mixed in the wine. What the hell were these men? 

"Do you insist on being everywhere?" 

You stumbled back from the deep voice, your hand colliding with the goblet. The delicate cup flew off the table towards the hardwood floor. Before it could shatter As a million pieces, a hand snatched hold off the goblet. 

Kyungsoo didn't replace the goblet onto the table. He stared at you with a hardened expression. His dark eyes like hickory seemed filled with shadow. 

"What are you?" you whispered, your heart beating so fast it was traveling up your throat. 

Blood, reflexes, cold breath. 

Things that weren't human yet familiar to you anyway. Somewhere in the back crevices of your childhood. 

Kyungsoo leaned in, forcing you back until you stumbled into one of the chairs. 

"What are we?" he scoffed mockingly. His top lip curled upward, revealing unnaturally long canines. "Figure the monster out for yourself." 

Fear charged through you like a prized stallion. You scrambled past him to get away, tripping over the hem of your dress as you fled. Chanyeol reappeared in the entrance, two others by his side and a tray of the exact morsels you had asked for laid out in an intricate picture in his hands. But you didn't pause long enough to appreciate it. You ran from the room, their confusion in your wake.

You ran until you reached the sanctuary of your room. You shoved all you could in front of your door to keep them out, keep them all out. 

Reflexes, grace fullness, nighttime. 

Blood, cold breath... fangs. 

Not human. 

Monster. 

That was what Kyungsoo had said. Had called himself. You were in a house of monsters. But what kind of monsters? 

Gathering the blanket from the floor, you crawled onto the bed and buried yourself under the fabric shield. Immediately, the air grew hot, but still you folded in on yourself, your arms tight around your shoulders. Eyes squeezed shut, you wondered how you ended up here, what you had done to deserve it. 

You prayed silent prayers that you make it simply through the night.