#she's outside the door waiting to Divine Pulse if she hears a scream/signal

[esperqm]

yo i did some FE3H fic and realized an hour after posting everywhere else that i probably oughta share it here too lmfao

Ao3 embeds really well here on tungl, huh? dope

Summary:

Bolstered by the promise of literal divine intervention should things go wrong, an emboldened Princess Edelgard von Hresvelg goes to speak with the Archbishop of the Church of Seiros- to give diplomacy a chance, as it were, where it would otherwise be far too great a risk.

Rhea, for her part, is far more receptive than Edelgard's worst impulses might lead her to believe... if a little more eager to tease the princess about her relationship with a certain professor than the she would like.

[crackimagines]

Retribution (evil!Byleth AU)

Withering Flower - Chapter 2

AU Masterlist Here!

After 2 years of hunting Those Who Slither In The Dark, Byleth has finally found their base. 

He is finally ready to begin the first phase to lead the world to a new age.

But more importantly, it will be time to exact vengeance upon them.

------

Jeralt's Battalion Journal - "The Ashen Demon”

It took two years of amassing our forces and resources to track down them. The moment Byleth, Shamir, Alois and Leonie got the information for their base, it renewed the fires in our hearts. We were finally able to get revenge for Jeralt, and put a halt to whatever these sick bastards are doing.

It’s a mountainous area, so our forces were told to stay put a good distance away while an elite strike force was sent in, led by Byleth himself. He said chances were, they already knew we were here.

Frankly, I felt bad for these guys. 

They weren’t ready to see why we called Jeralt’s kid, “The Ashen Demon”...

------

“I’m going to ask this one more time.” Shamir said angrily, tightening her grip on the hooded man’s neck.

“Where. Is. The. Entrance?”

“A-AACK! R-RIGHT BENEATH THE ROCKS! T-THERE’S A ROCK COVERED BY ILLUSION MAGIC THAT YOU CAN ENTER THROUGH A DOOR!”

Byleth nodded, and Shamir let the man slump back to the ground. He was struggling to catch his breath while everyone stood around him.

(Alois) “Magic, huh? That sure explains why the Alliance and Kingdom can’t find them!”

Apparently, the hideout of Those Who Slither In The Dark (TWSITD) was in the Hrym Mountains of the Adrestian Empire.

Two years had passed since they all left the Monastery, and so far the Empire was steamrolling the Kingdom while the Alliance tried to remain neutral.

Even though the war was raging on, it did not stop the tales of what Byleth had done during the fight. The rumors began to spread far and wide.

Some say that Byleth ran away in terror, some say Byleth betrayed the Church and escaped, but all of that was false. All he did was simply walk away. The betrayal would come much later.

Regardless, Byleth had spent all this time traveling among Empire territory as discretely as he could. 

He knew Edelgard was allying herself with TWSITD, and that taking them out would be a massive blow on her war effort.

However, their magic and secrecy was...concerning, put gently. 

It took two years of staying hidden in forests, interrogating, and killing to not only find these people, but to cover their tracks.

The moment Byleth wiped out TWSITD, Edelgard would no doubt focus a large amount of forces on her.

Worse yet, she could send the Black Eagle Strike Force.

This elite unit consisted of the students in the Black Eagles and had some of the most dangerous fighters in all of Fodlan. After all, Byleth trained those students himself.

But all of this would come later. For now, he could relish in the bloodshed that was to come.

(Leonie) “So...What do we do with this guy?”

(Shamir) “I recommend disposing of him. He could alert his higher ups to us if we let him go.”

(Byleth) “Hmph. Good point.”

(Hooded Man) “W-Wait! I-I can help you with information!-”

(Byleth) “We’ll have all the info we need once we’re inside. But, I’d be lying if I said I wasn’t grateful for your help. Shamir-”

Shamir wrapped her arm around his neck, grabbed the side of her head and twisted it around, making a loud cracking noise.

His body slumped to the ground as the four made their way back to camp. It was time for the plan to be set in motion.

Later...

The mercenary companies stayed outside the secret entrance, standing on guard. Mages casted spells around the area to hopefully prevent any type of magic catching them by surprise.

Though, who knew what was going to happen once they were inside?

With that in mind, Byleth, Shamir, Leonie, Alois, and a mage went into the base, and that was going to be the only forces sent in. If something happened, the mage with them would fire a spell that only the other mages outside would detect. It would signal them whether to retreat, or storm in.

As the team walked in, they began watching the natural formation of the rocks slowly shift into some bizarre structure. 

It was unusually smooth, with pulsating lights on the sides of the room and on the floor.

(Alois) “What in the world is all this...?”

(Leonie) “These guys have some weird advanced magic going on, right? Makes sense their secret lair would be creepy as hell.”

(Mage) “I’ve never seen anything like it in my life...It’s incredible!”

(Shamir) “Any traps?”

(Mage) “Huh? N-No, none that I can sense.”

(Byleth) “Doubt they would have any. I don’t think these people ever expected anyone other than themselves to come in here.”

(Alois) “If that’s the case, then where are all the people?”

(Everyone) “...”

(???) “So, the Fell Star finally finds his way in here!”

Everyone raised their weapons and put their backs against each other.

(Byleth) “Soldier, can you identify the source?”

(Mage) “N-No, all the magic surrounding the area is throwing it off!”

(???) “For thousands of years, we have existed underground, living on only that we might someday see our vengeance realized! Here and now, with the Sword of the Creator coming into our lair, vengeance is finally within our grasp! There is but one thing left to do...DESTROY THEM!”

While everyone else tensed up, Byleth smiled to himself for the first time in years.

This is what he was waiting for as well.

From the end of the hallway, 3 mages warped in and shot fireballs at the group.

Byleth and the mage went out into the front and blocked the fireball.

The mage put up a magic wall and deflected them while Byleth used the Sword of the Creator to cleave one in half.

2 more warped in behind them, but Shamir had her bow ready and let an arrow loose.

The arrow lodged itself into one of the mages eyes, piercing right through the eyehole in the mask, making him fall over.

(Alois) “There’s fighting outside!”

(Byleth) “Shamir, Alois! You two go out there and support our men! Soldier, Leonie, you’re with me!”

Wasting no time, everyone split up.

Leonie stuck behind Byleth as the sword dispelled any spell they threw at him, and the Mage began firing back.

The enemy mages began to back up, but it was far too late.

Leonie’s spear went into one of their guts while Byleth sliced the hands off a mage as he tried to cast another spell.

Byleth and the mage went on ahead while Leonie drew out a knife and slit his throat, catching up with Byleth as the enemy mages fell to the ground, bleeding.

Once they went out into a larger room, two squads of soldiers with swords charged at them.

Figures, they were waiting for them after all. 

(Byleth) “Get the squad to the left of us, I’m going for the one in front.”

Not bothering to wait for a response, Byleth charged ahead, activating the whip function.

As they all swung their swords at him, he jumped as high as he could, his foot landing on one of their faces as he hopped over the group and landed behind them, seemingly not have done anything to them.

They all turned around and swung at him as Byleth raised a hand into the air, and balled it up into a fist.

The battlefield quickly deafened as they began to turn away from him, and started to walk backwards, the sound reversing as well.

Byleth was thankful he could access Divine Pulse after all this time.

Time resuming when the group was only a few inches away from where he was standing, they quickly halted in their tracks.

(Soldier) “What the?! Where did he g-”

Byleth swung the whip around their midsections, hearing a split second of the squad screaming before their torsos disconnected from their legs, a pile of meat slamming onto the ground with blood spraying out everywhere.

Byleth saw Leonie and the Mage holding their own on their end. Leonie twirled her lance around, striking one soldier in the face with the blunt end of the lance while impaling another as she thrusted forward. 

The Mage sprayed ice from his hands onto the floor, making the other soldiers slip. With a flick of his fingers, the ice turned into flames, igniting all of them.

Byleth began running to what appeared to be the main room, as it was completely empty and with stairs leading up to a pure-white skinned man with gray hair on top of them.

(Thale) “KILL THE FELL STAR!”

The ground quaked around Byleth as two massive figures dropped near him. 

At first he thought they were demonic beasts, but it was clear that wasn’t the case. They were some form of autonomous giants, no doubt powered by the magic here.

(Leonie) “Reinforcements!”

The mage ran to Leonie’s side as he fired a stray shot, one that was easily dodged by swarms of incoming soldiers.

(Mage) “We’re about to get surrounded!-”

As the soldiers were taking position, a group of them near the entrance of the room exploded, sending them flying in all directions.

The mercenaries started flooding in from the entrance, starting to fight the soldiers with Alois leading the charge.

Alois swiped what looked like an enemy sergeant off the ground, and slammed the blunt end of his great-axe into his skull, blood and bits of bone covering the hilt.

(Alois) “No worries, we got them, Byleth!”

(Byleth) “Where’s Shamir?”

(Alois) “Still fighting upstairs! She’ll be down here in a few moments once she cleans up!”

Leonie and the mage nodded at Byleth, charging at the automatons. 

(Mage) “How in the hell are we going to take this thing down?!”

(Byleth) “These things are probably controlled by the leader up there! We kill him, and we take these things down!”

(Leonie) “Got it, come on buddy, we gotta be bait for a little bit!”

(Mage) “WHAT?!”

Byleth ran up the stairs, deactivating the whip and charging straight for Thales.

(Thales) “So, you’ve finally arrived Fell Star, or should I say Sothis?”

Byleth said nothing as he continued running up the stairs.

(Thales) “I WILL SPILL EVERY LAST DROP OF BLOOD TO FUFILL TH-”

Byleth interrupted him as he slammed the sword down, trying to split Thales in half, with him rolling out the way.

Several soldiers warped around Byleth all swinging their swords at him, trying to buy Thales time as he started to cast a spell.

The energy emitting from his hands was some black smoke-like substance. Whatever it was, Byleth was not going to let himself get hit by it.

He swiped the sword up, splitting the chest of one soldier while grabbing the face of another, and tossed him down the stairs. 

Exiting out of the opening he created, he dove out the way of a spell Thale cast, some soldiers lucky to get out of the way but the unfortunate ones were impaled by a dark spear.

Byleth quickly got up and stepped to the side to avoid another spell shot at him. 

Two soldiers tried attack from behind, and Byleth spun around, the sword angling upwards.

Their heads fell from their shoulders and Byleth turned around to dodge another spell.

(Thales) “FALL, DAMN YOU!”

Shamir and the rest of the forces ran down the stairs and saw the fight. Alois, Leonie, and the Mage were trying to fend off one of the automatons while the other one was heading up the stairs.

Byleth was fighting Thales, but seemed too busy to deal with the giant coming up. 

No, that didn’t seem right, It was more like he didn’t have time to deal with it.

Thankfully, it seemed like Byleth had the upperhand, landing a slice on his chest but...he still wasn’t going down, and started backing up from Byleth.

No time to think about it. He was about to cast some form of spell.

(Shamir) “Going for the kill!”

Once Byleth flipped upwards with the sword slicing his chest open, he began to back up, his hands on the floor.

(Byleth) What is he- DAMN IT!

(Thales) “You...will not enjoy your victory for long! LET THERE BE LI-”

From out of nowhere, an arrow flew right into Thale’s head, the arrowhead sticking clean out the other side, with bits of pink and red on the tip.

He fell off the stairs and onto the floor, an audible splat being heard throughout the entire room. The Automatons suddenly stopped moving and the one on the stair fell over to where Thale was, completely crushing him.

The one the others were fighting simply shut off, and remained still.

(Mercenaries) “OORAH!”

(TWSITD Soldier) “Retreat! RETREAT!”

Byleth walked down the stairs, reuniting with everyone as the rest of the mercs ran the soldiers down.

They didn’t need an order to make sure every last one of them was dead.

(Byleth) “Nice shot, Shamir.”

Shamir had a little smirk forming as everyone caught their breath.

(Leonie) “So...they’re done for. Jeralt’s avenged.”

(Alois) “Happy as I am to see them gone...I don’t feel relieved, not entirely anyway.”

Byleth agreed.

No amount of bloodshed could bring Jeralt back. Though, this was certainly better than nothing. In fact, this was fantastic. That meant whatever tech these people had, was theirs to wield.

The mercenary company’s second in command came into view, nodding at Byleth.

(Byleth) “Riddhe.”

(Riddhe) “Damn good job today, sir. We finally got our revenge for Jeralt. What’s our next order of business once we kill these fools?”

(Byleth) “Keep one alive for interrogation. Make sure it’s a mage, the others kill on sight. Once we confirm the main forces are dead and gone, form search parties and find anything valuable. No matter what it is, loot it.”

(Riddhe) “Sir.”

(Leonie) “Welp, no rest for the weary!”

(Shamir) “I’ll stick with the egghead so we can examine the room, assuming that’s what you were about to say next.”

(Byleth) “It was, thanks.”

Alois, Leonie, and Byleth went with Riddhe to clear out the base of any more hostiles.

(Mage) “...When you said egghead, you’re talking about the weirdos from upstairs, right?”

(Shamir) “I’m talking about you, yes.”

Jeralt's Battalion Journal - "Aftermath”

Once Byleth ordered us and the rest of the boys to clear the idiots out, we got straight to work on finding anything valuable. Luckily for us, there was loot a plenty to grab. Documents, textbooks, spells, blueprints, everything to make the grand librarians in the Holy Kingdom cry.

What the real treasure was, was some form of spell that casted a giant pillar of light and crushed anything below it. It took us about a few days to get out everything that wasn’t nailed down and got to a bit of a distance from the mountain. No doubt Imperial Forces would investigate why their friends in low places stopped getting in contact.

Understandably, Byleth refused the notion of us using it as a base, and instead, the mages used their own spell against Those who Slither, bringing a light down onto the mountain, and burying that forsaken place.

With our first major step done after two years, spirits were high. Though, no time could be wasted on celebrating. We had to make a permanent base with all of our new goodies. We had to prepare for war against the Empire and Church.

Our next step? Retaking Garreg Mach Monastery.

[silkkpopbonnet]

Ashamed

Today was the day the two left for the couples spa. Getting into a car, Jinyoung had already taken care of the bags, and they rode two hours away getting to a little spot in a secluded area. The trees that surrounded them in colors of pink and white flowers made the air smell fresh as they exited the car and went to the reception of the spa.

“You aren’t wearing your mask.” She told Jinyoung, slightly worried.

“I don’t think I have anything to worry about here. I chose this place for a reason.” He smiled, arm coming around her waist as the receptionist handed him a key and pointed to a place on the site map in front of them.

Looking around she did notice that everyone indeed was older. Older than them. Some elderly couples, people looking into their 40′s already, , married couples. He chose somewhere where young people wouldn’t crowd to and draw attention to them. She smiled, at the thoughtfulness of the gesture for them to truly be alone and not worry about the public eye. Though she couldn’t help but think this was something his manager thought of.

Entering the room it was a small space, an entrance area, bathroom to one side. A glass door leads to some outdoor bathing area, and a shoji screen. It was a Japanese style. Jinyoung pulled the screen back to reveal a much larger space, with a small kitchen area. dining area, living room and further back where she assumed the beds were.

“This is beautiful Jinyoung.” She carried her shoes to the back room to examine the bed. A low to the floor type, with crisp white linens and fluffy pillows.

“It is. Let’s use the hot tub before the masseuse comes by. I don’t want to be so tense.” Jinyoung started to take off his clothes, stripping down and folding his clothes neatly.

He was naked before her, walking to the bathroom to retrieve to thin towels. His tight butt, made her lick her lips in anticipation of what might happen tonight. Her hands gripping it tightly when he was bringing her release.

Following suit she took off her clothes, folding them, and wrapping the thin towels around her. As he put away their clothes she retrieved a hair tie, twisting her curls and coils into one large twist making a bun on top of her head. She found a silk wrap, protecting her edges tying it into a bow on the front of her head. They walked outside, the day grew cooler into the evening signaling the coming of autumn. The steam that came from the round tub bath, warmed her skin even from a distance. The large, wooden bowl, filled with water and continued to be by a bamboo pump behind it. Jinyoung put a toe into the water, testing it before simply going in. He sunk deep into the water, his head going under. He came up settling himself, arms hanging onto the back of the tub as he looked at her.

“It’s not too hot. Don’t be a baby. You take hot showers.” He reached down and removed his towel, wringing out the excess water.

“Your skin is red.” She put a hand in, it wasn’t too hot, then Jinyoung reached for her pulling on her arm.

“In, now.” He stood partially, hooking his arms under her dragging her in the steaming water, as she screamed.

“That’s not funny! We are here to relax, not so you can drown me.” She settled herself in the water, wiping her eyes, as Jinyoung removed her towel.

“I am relaxing. You’re taking too long to relax.” Taking her foot in his hand, Jinyoung began to rub her toes, pressing the soft skin at the top.

They sat quietly in the tub, water spilling over the sides as one of them moved. The soft singing of birds came from the trees around them, as Jinyoung watched her head lean back, full lips falling open as she let go and let the water soothe her. He watched the water lap at the skin on her neck, back and forth as it moved in time with the pulse he saw there. He had stopped rubbing her foot, just holding it, the curls on top of her head, turning slightly frizzy in the humidity. He loved her hair, the texture of it, watching all the styles she came up with. It was always different. He loved to grab handfuls of the curls and coils,  watching them spring back into place as he pulled on them. She was a gift to man this woman, his very own present.

“Did you hear anything I said?” His focus coming back to her, as his eyes shifted to her staring at him now.

“No, sorry.” He craned his neck to look at the clock in the house. They needed to get out.

“I said, what are the guys gonna do without you? Hang out?” He pulled her to a stand, fighting the erection that threatened once his eyes laid on her wide hips, and thick thighs.

“JB will organize something, either him or Jackson. I think they wanted to go to an amusement park.” As they entered the house once more, Jinyoung only put on boxers and his robe, while she slipped on a bra and underwear under her robe.

The masseuse came in, setting up their tables as the two received a couples massage, a dinner of mostly Japanese food. Teriyaki, sushi, and miso. They found themselves on the bed, Jinyoung watching some variety show. He rubbed her arms until she fell asleep.

The next few days at the spa were a dream for her. They went to a couples game, where they asked questions to see how well they knew each other. Jinyoung got most of them right, gloating when he did. They stayed attached by a paper cord for 40 minutes while doing various activities to test their bond. To her amazement, it didn’t break. An older Korean woman came up to them after the questions game, clasping her hands over Jinyoung’s and her own proclaiming: This was a good thing to see, and that they matched well. She wished them happiness, and that left Jinyoung in a state of wondering for half the night. They went on a moonlit walk and took a cooking class together. For half of the nights, they made love in the living room, or on the bed. Jinyoung setting her on the kitchen counter as he ducked his head down, using his tongue to complete his ministrations. She was sore some mornings and woke up before him to soak in the hot tub.  At the end of the week, she was sad to go, watching the spa disappear back into the forest with sad eyes.

“Did you have fun?” Jinyoung asked? Looking down at his phone texting JB back.

“I did, thank you. I loved every minute.” He cut his eyes over at her, watching her stare out the window, a colorful scarf on her head, hiding the coils there.

“You’re welcome, you don’t have to thank me.”

“Yes, I do. We’ve been through so much these last 6 months, and sometimes I just feel like its too much for us. I feel like we are at our breaking point. I like when we can just be like this. Everyday people with no worries, no problems. Nothing is against us.” Jinyoung continued to text on his phone.

“Nothing is against us. Where does this, you and me against the world attitude come from? Who is not wanting that?” He saw her turn her face to him out the corner of his eye.

Her hand covered his phone, and he sighed looking up at her. She stared at him, the silence palpable for what she was going to say next. “Jinyoung, promise me something.”

“If it’s in my power, anything.” She leaned in close to him, breath warm on his lips as she spoke.

“Don’t make me cry again. Don’t make me feel like I’m not important to you, and that I’m nothing. I won’t have that. Never again. We may fight and fuss, and at times I don’t like you, but I always want to love you.”

Jinyoung’s face scrunched up. He hated when she got like this, but he knew where it came from. “I can’t promise you that I won't make you cry, but I can promise that I’ll do my best to make you happy every day. I’m trying for us, I learn from my mistakes, give me that.”

Leaning her head on his shoulder, she snuggled with him in the warmth of the car. She could live with that.

Tomorrow was a JYP function. In the beginning, there would be interviews, press and a photo shoot. JYP groups, managers and officials. After that, it was a party for anyone affiliated. Jinyoung had taken her shopping for a new dress and shoes.

“So, after all the hubbub at the beginning that’s when I come?” She raised an eyebrow skeptical of the whole thing.

“Yes, just like anyone else. Wives of some managers, girlfriends of members past and present. Nothing special. You’ll be with me all night.” This was what she wanted and Jinyoung had no problem with that. It was time, past time for him to do what he was supposed to.

He chose a long-sleeved, floor-length red dress. From the waist up the dress was lace, the lower half a satin fabric, brunched right at her butt, flowing all the way to her feet. She looked stunning, the red against her skin, made her look like an expensive chocolate bar.

“I’m done. This is what I want.” He came to a stand, hands on her waist, she looked edible.

“What do you want to do to me in this dress?” Jinyoung grinned, pushing her back into the dressing room.

“Nothing while we are in a store. So greedy for me woman, have you no shame?” He smiled, waiting for her to get dressed again.

On the night of the function, she dressed, full face on. Bright red lips, popping back at her in the mirror. She had brushed and gelled her hair on the right side slick. Securing it with bobby pins, the curls fell on the left framing her face. Her shoes weren’t too high, she was only an inch and a half shorter than Jinyoung. The car he sent came for her, and she sat in the back, texting him furiously.

He was finished with everything, waiting on her to arrive. Once, the car pulled up she exited, looking around for Jinyoung. She spotted him in a gray suit, red shoes, and shirt, he came the short way to the car door, taking her hand.

“You look divine, jagi.” He leaned in, kissing her cheek as she spotted Jackson inside the door, waving furiously.

“Thank you, Mr. Park.” Leading her inside, the music changed over the speakers to one of Got7′s songs, she smiled recognizing it as Mine.

The night continued nicely enough. She met some of the other groups. As he directed her over to his manager, she felt her irritation kick up. At first, the manager talked to Jinyoung like she wasn’t there. The other woman speaking Korean, and she realized it was because the woman didn’t think that she could understand her. True, they weren’t talking about anything, but she kept cutting her eyes at her. When Jinyoung moved to formally introduce the two, she smiled, bowing slightly, speaking perfect Korean as she asked about the older woman’s night so far. The manager’s expression was priceless, and she made sure to drop the hint that she wasn’t an ignorant foreigner. After they made their rounds, Jinyoung returned to his group and she was pulled into a conversation with Jackson on nice he looked tonight when she noticed the manager talking to another man from a group who hadn’t debuted yet. The woman he had on his arm, was a pale and pretty Korean girl who the manager kept fawning over, and bowing to, smiling at. She scowled inwardly but realized that she shouldn’t let it bother her. Her and Jinyoung just had a perfect week together.

“I’m just saying, I think pink is my color, isn’t that right >>>?” She smiled, placing her hand on Jackson’s forearm.

“It suits you very well. I like pink against your skin Jackson, and it contrasts with your hair so nicely. I’m quite sure you picked out everything didn’t you?” Jackson perked up, peacocking as he nodded his head.

The night began to wear on with food and drinks and small games and prizes. Jinyoung excused himself from her a moment to the bathroom as another game was about to begin. The game was you had to say three things and your team needed to say what was the common factor about them. She sat this out with Mark, JB, and Yugyeom. After a while she wondered where Jinyoung disappeared to, excusing herself to go look for him.

The white halls were silent as she walked down the corridor, a few voices from spaces catching her attention. As she was about to push the door towards the bathroom, she heard Jinyoungs laugh followed by two others. Her heart began to race again, thinking about the last time she was in a situation like this.

“So, Jinyoung, I have a sister who would like to date you. I think you two would get on well.” The female voice said after she cleared her throat.

“I have a girlfriend, but thanks anyway- So, Jung-.” The girl cut him off.

“Right now, you do, but I’m serious. You aren’t going to marry her. What would your mother think?”

“My mother would want to know why I’m getting married so young. She’d think there was a baby involved-anyway.”

“I didn’t take you for dating foreigners if you want me to be honest.” The guy stated.

She heard Jinyoung blow his breath. “I don’t care where the woman is from, as long as we are compatible.”

“Then you’ll want a Korean girl. Same culture, language. Better aesthetic appeal as well. I’ll let my sister know, you’ll get bored of what you have.”

“Most guys want to experiment with Foreigners anyway. I’ve thought about it.” She heard a slapping sound, and the guy crying out.

Her eyes stung, he wasn’t saying anything, her breath came in hitches, and she fought the urge to run through the door and snatch the hair on whoever that girl was. What was Jinyoung doing? He promised. He said he would-why had she ever really trusted him? She really was just a foreign novelty toy wasn’t she?

“I’ll let you know when I’m done playing, I’m leaving.” She heard Jinyoung say, and that’s when she broke.

Cinderella couldn’t have run faster from faster than she left the building. She was hurt and angry, so many emotions running through her mind as she finally made it outside. She straightened up, looking around to see if there were any taxis or cars around, grasping at her chest. A taxi came slowly down the street and she ran towards it, signaling it. Silently thanking god she carried her purse, she opened the door to the taxi just as she heard Jinyoung yelling her name.

He stood at the top of stairs, hands in the air. “What! Where are you going?”

He started down the stairs, and she climbed into the taxi closing the door. The look on his face as he watched her pull away, tore at her but at the same time, she felt triumph. He was pulling his phone out of his pocket, and just as she knew her phone began to ring but she silenced it.

“Where do you want to go miss?”

She knew she couldn’t go home, he’d go there first and look for her. She couldn’t see him right now, she didn’t know if she ever wanted to see him again. Giving the taxi driver an address, she ignored another call from Jinyoung and started to call someone else.

A gruff voice came on the phone. “Hello?”

She immediately began to cry, sniffling as she tried to speak. “Haru, please, can, can…”

She couldn’t finish, and the voice on the other line comforted her as she was en route to their destination.

She spent that night at her co-worker and friends house, a woman named Haru Choi. The women had been friends since she arrived in Korea, and Haru knew every detail about her and Jinyoung’s relationship since it started. Makeup smudged and ruined she arrived at Haru’s apartment a snotty mess, and the woman pulled her into an embrace.

“Stop all that crying, he ain’t shit.” She chuckled a little, Haru had been watching too much Empire.

“I just can’t believe he would do that, he didn’t even try, I mean…”

“I don’t want to hear anything else until you’ve showered, washed your face and get out of that dress. I’ve got something for you to wear and we can have some wine and you can tell me what happened. Give yourself a minute to think.” Leading the way to the bathroom, Haru pushed her inside, closing the door.

Haru was waiting on the couch with a glass of white wine in her hand, patting the space next to her. A white cat jumped onto the back of the couch, and she touched it softly before sitting down picking up her own glass. Recounting the tale, Haru shook her head, tsking sometimes and at others giving her an incredulous look.

“First, I’m going to say this. Listen to me well and we can go from there.” Haru said, filling her wine glass as she did so. “Korean people, we are close knit with our families. I know way too many people, who love someone foreigner or not and if their mother loses her shit over it, they get out of the relationship faster than a hooker loses her panties. My mother is Thai, so maybe I’m blessed she doesn’t have those hangups but still. He’s an ass for not claiming you, all the time, no matter who is there or says something, ESPECIALLY if he loves you.”

She nodded her head slowly, a pillow now clutched in her arms and not her wine glass. Taking a large swig of her wine glass Haru continued: “With that being said, he told you he loves you, but he isn’t showing you. You don’t need that. Yea, some people get hung up on skin color, and who is marrying a Korean person or not. You don’t need that, and I can find other men who look pass shit like that and will love you for you, they could give two fucks about what someone said. As a people, we have to come up out of that BS. Now about Jinyoung, personally…I say fuck him, move on, that guy..” She snapped her fingers trying to remember “Onew…Lee Jin-Ki, from SHINee, he’s a better catch. That’s just my opinion. Somehow you get celebrities. Get him so you can introduce me to Key-oppa.”

Haru laughed and so did she, feeling a little better. “I don't know. It hurts.”

“Real love doesn’t hurt. I hate when people say that it does. Why does someone who truly loves me, and cares about me-why would they hurt me? They won’t and if they did something I don’t like, and I tell them they won't do it again.”

“You are wise beyond your years Haru.” Haru came close to her, wrapping her arm around her shoulders hugging her.

Her phone vibrated again, signaling a phone call and they both looked up to see Jinyoung's picture pop up. Reaching over, Haru held down the power button and turned her phone off, continuing to rub her friends back as she began to cry again.

Jinyoung looked down at his phone as the call went to voicemail. His throat dry as he pulled his tie from his neck, and left the 10th voicemail for the night. “>>> please, pick up the phone, Don’t act like this, where are you?” He bit back the tears knowing he fucked up royally. “Come home please.”

The phone clicked off, and he couldn’t take the feelings inside of him. He looked around her apartment, not knowing where she was or what she was doing right now killed him. Where could she have gone? She better not be…yea right who was he kidding? He had no right to say where she should or should not be right now.

Yes, the hell he did. He got up off the floor, knocking over a lamp as he did rage building inside of him. What was he so afraid of? His mother? His fans? Public shame? People looking down on him? She was everything to him, he couldn’t imagine her with anyone else. In someone else bed. In another man's arms. The very thought made him shake with rage, but he deserved it. Didn’t he? He slid down the wall, feeling the tears come to his eyes as he imagined how she must have felt.

The next morning, was no better for her, she kept on the clothes Haru let her borrow, declining breakfast but thanking her friend for putting up with her. She left, towards home, cuddling her phone and the 12 voicemails that she hadn’t listened to yet. She rode the elevator trying to steady her breathing, thankful that today was Sunday and she had one more day to compose herself before work on Monday, She would throw herself into work that’s what she would do. Opening the door to her apartment, she took off her shoes and fumbled about for the light, before the living room lamp turned on, and she turned around to see Jinyoung sitting on the couch, eyes red.

“Where were you?” Her heart leaped into her throat. Had he been crying? Had he been here all night?”

“Leave my apartment now, Jinyoung.” She stared him down, arms across her chest as she waited.

Coming to a stand, Jinyoung walked towards her. Hair disheveled, suit wrinkled. “Where. Were. You?” He enunciated each word as if she didn’t hear him.

“None of your business. Now, leave my apartment. Now, before I get angry. This is my house, not yours. Get out.” Jinyoung came to stand in front of her, in truth he was looking at her for marks or bruises something to tell him where she could have been.

She obviously had showered and changed clothes. “Were you with someone else?” He reached a hand towards her face, only for her to slap it away, moving away from him.

“I refuse to tell you again. Get OUT!” She screamed at him, hands pushing his chest as she did so.

Jinyoung caught her hands, pushing her body against the wall. He brought his nose down to her neck smelling her, as she struggled against his hold. Once he righted himself he held her wrists to the wall, tight. “I won’t ask you again. Who is he? How long have you known him? I’m going to fucking kill him.”

She laughed. Laughed in his face and Jinyoung let her go, shoving her away from him as he moved back towards the couch. “There is no him, I was with Haru, but you? Jealous? Please. Maybe, I should ask you if you had fun with whatever little girl you’re going to be hooked up with.”

She stood her ground, as he turned back towards her. “I don’t want whatever little slut they propositioned me for. I don’t want any girl but you! I could have any woman I wanted. Sleep, with a lot of them but do I want to? Women throw themselves at me, and all I think about is you!” He was in her face now, breath heaving.

“You aren’t scaring me, so try again. I want you to leave Jinyoung. Now. Do you love me? Do you care about me? No, you don’t what about how I feel? My feelings. Better yet, here’s a question, when will you marry me? When will I meet your mother?”

Jinyoung hit the wall behind her head, she remained impassive on the surface, but inside she trembled. “I don’t want to get married now, however, I will marry you.” She blew air from her lips, rolling her eyes. “As for my mother, I will wait on introducing you until that date is closer…she is…traditional.”

There were words. “Traditional meaning, she would want you with a Korean girl first. Not an American. Not a black American girl…like me.”

“I don’t know if she thinks that.” He threw his hands up.

“You think it might be…you just said traditional.” She bit her lip knowing there were tears coming from her eyes at what was to happen next. “I can’t do this anymore.”

Jinyoung’s head snapped up, his eyes focusing on her. “Excuse me?”

She choked. Her breath catching, a knot formed in her throat. “I-I don’t want to be with you anymore. I want you to leave. Don’t call or text me.”

Jinyoung crossed the room, grabbing her face in his hands as the tears continued to fall. “>>>, stop. You don’t mean that.”

She pushed away from him, pointing towards her door. “Leave. I don’t want to be with you anymore.”

As the words left her lips, she felt her world shatter. She felt her life force diminish even if just for a bit, a hole formed in her heart as she covered her face sobbing.

Jinyoung couldn’t believe what he heard. He took a step back the room reeling and spinning around him. This was it? He felt too warm, the cool wall hit his back, and he suddenly wondered if this was what death felt like. “You don't mean that baby, please.”

She looked up, tears in his eyes as he started for her again. She moved, rushing towards the door throwing it open. “I said get out! Leave me alone and stay out of my life.”

His legs felt like lead as they lead, him to the door and once he exited, she closed it softly. He could hear her sobs from the other end, slowly they faded and he knew she was no longer near the door. Jinyoung looked down at his hands pale now, as he moved mindlessly towards the elevator. Riding it down and out into the air of the early morning, he wasn’t even trying to conceal who he was. Buses and cars passed by on the street, he wondered would he even feel it if he walked into them? Instead, he got into a taxi, knowing he had to go back to the dorms. Once he was there, he heard no one talking to him, saw nothing. JB watched his face as he walked towards the shower, turning it on. He slumped into the water, suit and all.

Chapter Five