#sitting at 4k so far and. oh goodness we are staring down the barrel of a MASSIVE one boys

[gontagokuhara]

@bittercideristaken once again leaving me in shambles with insanely thoughtful sweet incredible comments on pointy objects

[charincharge]

Cruel Summer, Part 19

cruel summer masterlist

AN: Another chunky 4k chapter, and this is only the first half. It was so long and unruly, that I split it in two. (Which means a fast update!). I could have taken out the gratuitous smut and made it shorter, but... I felt like it needed it. So, that said: NSFW. 

Rowan knows he’s playing with fate every time he sneaks into Aelin’s room, but he can’t stop himself. With the end of summer barreling towards him, he needs to spend as much time with her as possible. The hours he’s at work without her are pretty much torture. So, in the last few days since Aelin has moved back into her room, he can’t help but spend every night sharing her bed; it’s their problem-free oasis. Despite everything else, sex is something they are incredibly good at.

Tonight, though, Rowan has to share Aelin, and he’s feeling pretty grumpy about it. That is, until he sees her emerge onto her back patio in the smallest bikini known to man – just a few scraps of black fabric held together with gold rings. It takes all his self-control to keep his hands by his sides. He clenches his hands in fists, reminding himself he can’t run his hands all over her curves. Not until later, at least.

“That bathing suit is indecent, Ace,” Elide says with a laugh, grabbing the chips and guac from Aelin’s hands.

“That’s the point, babe.” Aelin spins, revealing her mostly exposed backside, and Rowan chokes on his own sharp inhalation of air. When Aelin turns to him, her blue eyes are sparkling with mischief and Rowan has to force himself to look away, trying to cool down his warm face which is flushed with desire.

He finds Lorcan, eyes glued to the floor, his hand on his neck, uncomfortably avoiding eye contact with Aelin.

Aelin remains unfazed. She then stares Rowan down, eyes wide and innocent.

“Rowan, want to help me grab some wine from downstairs?”

Rowan doesn’t need to be asked twice. Aelin runs down the basement stairs, and Rowan bounds after her, skipping every other stair until they’re shutting themselves away in the wine cellar, just the two of them. His arms wrap around her bare waist as he pulls her into his chest, and he loves the way she melts into him. Her mouth is on his immediately, and he moans against her tongue.

“I missed you,” he mumbles against her lips, walking her further into the wine cellar.

“I missed you more.” She breathes heavily as she turns them around and backs Rowan into the small table and chairs in the middle of the cellar. Her eyes are wild as she pushes down on his shoulders, and Rowan sits in the chair, obeying the woman in front of him. Aelin’s hands run down his bare chest and down his thighs, and he groans loudly.

“Quiet,” she whispers, a devilish gleam in her eye. Rowan is constantly flustered by her, and now is no exception. He sputters out a slew of conflicted statements as Aelin sinks to her knees between his legs. He looks at the cellar’s stone floor and tugs on Aelin’s arm, trying to coax her back up. It’s not that he doesn’t want this. He absolutely does.

“Aelin, everyone is upstairs. We don’t have time to…”

“We’ll make it fast then,” she giggles.

She runs her hands up his legs, and she kisses his knee. That’s all it takes for his will to break. Fuck it. She can do whatever she wants with him.

“That won’t be a problem,” Rowan laughs, lifting his hips slightly to help her pull down his swim trunks.

His erection springs free, and her hands immediately wrap around the thick base. Rowan swears softly as she lightly kisses the tip. Her eyes burn with fire, silently assuring him that she’s exactly where she wants to be, as her mouth descends over him.

Rowan pants as Aelin teases him with her mouth, rubbing her lips and tongue up and down as her hand starts to slide slowly up and down his length.

“Fuck, fuck fuck,” Rowan repeats to himself, like a centering chant as Aelin increases her pressure, her cheeks hollowing out as she sucks harder. He was right. This is going to be over way too fast. He’s afraid to put his hands in her hair for fear of slamming her head down too far, so he reaches for any place he can touch instead – her hand, her arm, her shoulder, her cleavage. She hums happily around him, and Rowan nearly loses it again.

He runs his finger inside the edge of her bikini top, eager to feel her bare breasts in his hand, but he’s surprised when he finds a small foil wrapper instead.

Aelin’s mouth pops off of him when he pulls the condom from her suit and dangles it between them. Her hand continues to stroke him slowly as a grin spreads across her face, one eyebrow quirked at him.

“Someone planned ahead,” he says, strained. Her thumb rubs across the head of his erection, and he bites his lip to stop himself from crying out into the echoing cellar.

“I told you I missed you.”

The devil woman uses Rowan’s grasp to help her rip the package with one hand. She rolls the condom onto him, and Rowan is left absolutely no time to process what’s happening as Aelin moves her bottoms to the side and lowers herself onto him in one quick maneuver.

Fast is the name of this game, and Rowan can’t bring himself to care one bit. Aelin is a woman on a mission as she rides him at a brutal pace, taking him in over and over until she’s writhing over him. He can feel her tiring of her fast pace, but he knows she’s close, and he’s been close since she first kissed the tip of his erection.

He digs his hands into her sides and helps her find her rhythm again. She uses her arms to leverage herself, her sharp elbows digging into his shoulders painfully. But he could care less. He wants more of her, always. He can feel his heart pounding with exertion as he bucks his hips up into her, and he gets a thrill of satisfaction as she cries out loudly, unprepared.

“Shhh,” he chuckles through his heavy breathing.

“Fuck me again,” she moans, and Rowan loses it. He thrusts up, again and again, slamming her hips hard onto his lap. Her quiet whimpers rise in pitch as she squeezes her eyes shut and convulses on top of him. She swears over and over as Rowan chases her high. As he shatters, he bites into her shoulder to prevent from screaming himself.

They collapse into each other as they finish, and Rowan practically purrs as he feels Aelin’s fingers scratching his scalp softly. Neither of them make a motion to leave, just sitting and breathing and touching each other softly. Their soft touches turn into soft kisses, and as Rowan opens his eyes to look at Aelin, he’s shocked to see her already looking at him.

“What?” he asks, pulling back, but she shakes her head. “Tell me,” he whispers against her skin. He nips at her neck again, and she laughs, pushing him away.

“I just…” she begins, and Rowan runs his hands up and down her back, now damp with a sheen of sweat. Her soft eyes disappear as a wicked smile crosses her face. “I just really needed that,” she laughs. He’s almost positive that’s not what she was going to say, but he accepts it.

“Any time.”

He kisses her again, tangling his fingers in her hair. As their kiss deepens, he hears Dorian’s upset voice – “Oh, Gods. Why? No!” he whines, upset.

Aelin gasps and climbs off Rowan’s lap as they spot Dorian behind them, hand slapped over his eyes.

“Is Rowan still inside you?” he whisper-yells, his voice miserable, and Rowan can feel himself turning so red, he’s not sure he’ll ever be able to look at Dorian again. He quickly pulls up his trunks and tosses the condom into the trash as Aelin fixes her bikini and pulls her hair up into a high ponytail.

“Not anymore,” she grumbles. Dorian groans again. “You’re good,” Aelin assures him, and Dorian peaks through a crack in his fingers and sighs.

“It was bad enough to hear it all those weeks ago, but to see it…” Dorian shudders, and so does Rowan. He hadn’t even thought… Oh gods, poor Dorian. “I’ll never be the same, Ace.”

Aelin frowns and grabs two bottles of wine and hands them to him. “That’s what you get for barging in.”

Dorian gapes as he snatches the wine from her. “You were barely gone for ten minutes, and I thought you could use an extra hand! How was I supposed to know that…” He pauses. “You know what? Never mind. This is on me. I should have assumed…” He mutters under his breath, “Horny monsters,” as he exits the cellar and trudges up the stairs.

Aelin grabs two more bottles and hands one to a still-blushing Rowan. She kisses his pink cheek lightly. “He’ll get over it.”

They follow Dorian up the stairs and back out to the pool, where Elide and Lorcan are already situated in the hot tub, both of them with their long dark hair up in matching top knots, Rowan notes much to his amusement. He watches jealously as Lorcan wraps his arm around Elide’s small shoulders. She looks up at him with a happy smile, proudly tucked beneath his large arm and rests her chin on his broad chest. Rowan would give anything to be able to touch Aelin so freely, so casually. But sadly, they’re at her house, and her parents could come outside at any moment. So, he’s resigned to sit next to her awkwardly, with his hands to himself.

Dorian uncorks the wine and pours some for everyone while Aelin and Rowan climb into the steaming water. Rowan sinks in and groans. The heat feels incredible against his recently active muscles. Dorian throws him a dirty glare, and Rowan begins to apologize for what he walked in on, but Dorian stops him.

“Let’s just forget it.” Rowan nods succinctly as Dorian pours him a too large glass of wine.

As he takes his first sip, Elide bursts out laughing. Her nose crinkles, and she buries her face into Lorcan’s shoulder, who seems surprised by the contact.

“What’s so funny?” Lorcan asks, poking at Elide’s arm.

“Aelin,” Elide drawls, staring at her friend with amusement. “You were gone for like fifteen minutes, max.” She pauses and touches her own neck, motioning for Aelin to do the same. “Really?”

Flustered, Aelin’s hand goes to the spot on her shoulder, mirroring Elide. Rowan realizes that is where he very recently sunk his teeth into her, and his blush returns in full force. He takes a large gulp of wine.

As Aelin moves her hand, Rowan sees the spot is already a dark red-purple ring, the fresh bruise blooming against her tanned skin. He hadn’t realized how hard he bit her.

Lorcan barks out a loud laugh as he sees it. His eyes flick to Rowan and then back to Aelin. And then back to Rowan.

“Huh.” Lorcan seems thoughtful as he assesses the situation between his coworker and his boss’s daughter. “Nice work,” Lorcan says, and Rowan can’t resist smirking.

Aelin’s blue eyes go wide with panic as she realizes what’s happened and shoves Rowan’s arm. “How bad is it?” she asks, and Lorcan replies for him.

“Pretty bad.”

“I hate you,” she seethes at Rowan, and Elide laughs again.

“Kinda looks like the opposite of that,” the tiny brunette cackles.

Aelin sticks out her tongue and takes a long sip of her wine.

Dorian grumbles as he finds a spot in the water between the two couples. “I hate being the fifth wheel. I should have invited a date tonight.”

Aelin pats his arm and smiles. “And who would that have been? Random bar girl? Random yacht girl? Or random beach girl?”

“I know their names!” Dorian insists. “One was Sorcha. One was Kaltain. And one was….” He pauses, thinking hard. “One was…”

“Exactly,” Aelin smirks.

Dorian pouts, but Rowan can tell he’s already forgiven Aelin for the awkwardness he walked in on earlier.

“Well,” Elide interrupts the best friends’ back and forth. “Now that your cat’s out of the bag, can you do me a huge favor?”

Aelin nods, coaxing her friend to continue.

“Since you’ll be at the staff overnight, I was wondering…” Lorcan coughs and hides most of his face behind his large hand as Elide continues, clearly preparing himself for embarrassment. Rowan is curious what favor Elide plans on asking if it already has Lorcan riled up. “Can we swap rooms so Lorcan and I can sleep together?”

Aelin gasps and draws her hand to her chest dramatically. “Elide?! My responsible park manager wants me to help her break the rules? You know boys and girls bunk separately!”

Elide splashes towards Aelin, who squeals. “Shut up and share the wealth. Some of us haven’t gotten laid yet this summer!”

Aelin gapes and looks between the pair of brunettes. “For real? You haven’t… yet? But it’s been like a month!”

“I know,” Elide deadpans, sliding her eyes to the man next to her, who despite being three times her size looks like he’s trying to shrink and hide behind her, sliding down into the water as far as possible.

Lorcan groans, hiding more of his face. “Ellie… they don’t need to know…”

“What?” Elide continues. Her lack of embarrassment reminds Rowan of Aelin’s brazen attitude. It’s no wonder the two girls are friends. They never mince their words. “My studio is so tiny, I only have a twin bed. And it’s not like I’m an acrobat, but have you seen him? He’s huge.” Aelin can’t help but snicker, and Rowan elbows her lightly in the ribs upon seeing Lorcan sink even further into the water, his face in flames. “And Lorcan has like two thousand roommates. Okay, it’s just three. But someone refuses to bed me with them around.”

Lorcan mutters quietly. “The walls are too thin…”

Aelin holds up her hands. “I would have insisted we swapped regardless.” She looks at Lorcan. “You think I’d let you two share a room? I know how irresistible this guy is,” she says, poking Rowan’s arm. “No way. I don’t trust Lorcan as far as I can throw him.”

Lorcan blushes furiously, and Rowan realizes for the first time that the manager he thought was quiet and grumpy has really just been incredibly shy this whole time.

“Nor should you.” Lorcan winks at Rowan through his blush, and Rowan insists that everyone needs more wine if they’re all going to start flirting with each other.  

“MAEVE!” Dorian screeches out of nowhere, and the group all turns to him with confused looks on their faces. He points to Aelin. “That was the name of random beach girl. Maeve.” He looks so proud of himself, his chest puffed out and his blue eyes wide with vindication, and the hot tub devolves into laughter.

The five of them lounge and drink and banter until their fingers start to become pruney.

Amidst their laughter, the back door slides open and Rhoe and Evalin come out to say goodnight to everyone. Aelin turns and places her hand on her shoulder, expertly covering her bruise and smiles innocently.

“We’ll wrap up soon,” Aelin says to her dad.

“Not necessary,” Rhoe says, waving her off. “Stay as late as you want. We’re more than happy to have your friends here.”

Rowan notices that Evalin doesn’t say a word. In fact, since Aelin’s returned to her house, he’s not even sure she’s spoken with her mom at all. He’s been too nervous to ask about the fight and subsequent makeup, and Aelin hasn’t offered him any information. He doesn’t want to press.

Lorcan looks at the time and says they should probably get going anyway. Work waits for no man. Or woman, he adds, looking adoringly at Elide. Elide scrunches her nose and kisses his cheek, and Aelin snorts into her wine. But the open affection shared between the pair once again makes Rowan burn with envy. He longs to even put his arm around Aelin’s shoulders, but instead, he sits stiffly beside her, cautiously keeping his free arm attached to his side.

As Aelin’s parents head into the house, Aelin leans over and whispers into Rowan’s ear. “You’re staying, right?”

Rowan nods and startles slightly as Aelin slides her hand over his thigh.

“Again?” Dorian complains. “At least wait until we’re gone…”

Dorian’s words spur Aelin to get everyone out of the house as quickly as possible. As soon as everyone hoses off in the outdoor shower and changes back into their clothes, Aelin is slamming the door and saying goodnight to everyone loudly.

She and Rowan head upstairs quietly and shut the door behind them, immediately falling onto her bed, limbs wrapped around each other.

“Did I mention I missed you today?” Aelin breathes against his mouth, and Rowan chuckles.

“A few times, yeah.” He smiles against her lips, happy to have her all to himself again, when there’s a loud knock on the door.

“Aelin?” Evalin’s voice calls through the door. “Can I come in?”

Rowan’s never seen Aelin’s eyes widen so much, it would nearly be comical if his heart weren’t pounding out of his chest. They freeze immediately, before scrambling into action.

“One second!” she squeaks out as Rowan jumps off the bed, wondering where the hell he’s supposed to go. Under the bed is far too conspicuous, and Aelin always leaves her bathroom door open.

“Closet!” she mouths as she fixes her clothes.

Rowan rushes to the walk in closet and shuts himself inside as fast as he can. As he takes his spot on the floor, under Aelin’s hanging garments, he hears Aelin call for her mother to enter.

Rowan can’t see anything, but he can hear everything all too well. He feels somewhat guilty for listening in on what is sure to be a private conversation, but it’s not like he can go anywhere else. And Aelin does know he’s here.

“What’s up?” Aelin asks, and there’s a long silence as Evalin thinks of her reply.

“I just wanted to see how you were doing,” Evalin says quietly.

“I’m fine.”

“Good.”

More silence.

“Is that all?”

Rowan hears a long sigh, and he’s not sure who it comes from. It could be either woman, to be honest.

“No. I…” Evalin starts again. “I know you’ve been avoiding me since you came back to the house, and that’s fine. But I wanted to apologize anyway.” She clears her throat. “You know I didn’t mean what I said.”

“No, I didn’t know that,” Aelin says, her voice as icy as Rowan’s ever heard it.

“Aelin,” her mom pleads. “Of course I didn’t mean it. I was just confused. And you know canceling on a date is incredibly rude, and it reflects back on this family. I had to apologize to The Cortlands, who were also very confused. We just thought you two were such a good match.”

“Mom,” Aelin breathes, exasperated. “Sam and I weren’t a good match. He was constantly disrespecting my personal boundaries. I didn’t want to go out with him, but he asked me out in front of you so I’d have to say yes. He’s manipulative and shitty, and I don’t want to be with anyone like him. Sorry you had to quit picking out our china.” She pauses and then continues again. “But I don’t need your help getting a date.”

“I’m sorry,” Evalin says finally, quietly. “I didn’t see any of that.”

“Well, you wouldn’t have, would you?” Aelin laughs humorlessly. “I don’t want to talk about Sam anymore. He’s not even important.”

Another long silence.

“We just want you to be happy.”

“Dad tell you to say that?”

Rowan wishes he could see what’s going on as another silence fills the room.

“You’re very good at putting on a smile, Fireheart,” Evalin finally says. “We just want you to mean it.”

“Maybe if you hadn’t taught me that appearances mean everything I would fake it less,” Aelin snips.

Rowan’s heart hurts as he hears Aelin’s defense. He knows it’s true. In the weeks she spent with him, she only broke down that first night. The rest of the time, she plastered a smile across her face. It was as if she thought if she put that smile there long enough, she’d finally forget she was sad. Though he supposes he can’t fault her for that. He’s been known to do the exact same thing. He’s like a wounded animal, hiding its injuries from his owner, so as not to worry them.

“Aelin,” her mom sighs, but Aelin shuts it down, apparently finished with the conversation.

“I’m tired. Thank you for your apology. I’ll see you in the morning.” She dismisses her effectively, and Evalin wishes her a goodnight softly.

The door closes again, but Rowan is afraid to move, as if Evalin will come back in at any second. The closet door wrenches open, and Rowan is momentarily blinded by the bright lights of Aelin’s room. He squints and sees Aelin, standing in front of him, with a worried frown on her face.

He stands quickly and wraps his arms around her. “You okay?” he asks, and she nods silently, but he knows she’s anything but.

Aelin undresses methodically and gets ready for bed, and Rowan stands, unsure of what to do. She definitely doesn’t seem to be in the mood for any amorous activities anymore, and Rowan hasn’t ever been in her room for anything else.

“We don’t have to, uh…” Rowan stumbles his words, like usual. “I mean, I can go home.”

“No,” Aelin says quietly and looks up at him with those entrancing blue-gold eyes. She clutches onto the hem of his shirt with her fists, keeping him close. She looks nervous as she fiddles with the fabric between her fingers. “Would you still stay, even if all we do is sleep?”

“Of course,” he answers, and Aelin smiles softly. He has no idea why she was so nervous to ask him. He’d do anything she asked of him.

Rowan strips down to his boxer briefs as Aelin throws on a t-shirt that he recognizes as his. “Hey, I was wondering where that went…”

Aelin tugs at it. “You told me it shrunk in the dryer and is too short for you now.”

Rowan smiles as Aelin climbs under the covers with him. “I did say that.”

She flicks the lights off and rolls back to face him. “It’s so soft.” She pauses. “I’m keeping it.” He scoots closer to her and rests his hand on her thigh. “I’m still mad at you,” she says, and Rowan rears his head back, wondering what the hell he could have possibly done wrong. She laughs.

“I can’t believe you bruised my neck, you heathen.” She shoves at his chest, and it rumbles softly with his own laughter. “I’m going to have to curl my hair tomorrow, just so when I tell everyone it’s a curling iron burn they have to believe me.”

“I’m sorry,” he says through his chuckling. He kisses the tip of her nose, and he feels it scrunch beneath his lips.

“Do you want to talk about it?” he asks, referring to her conversation with her mom, and Aelin shakes her head.

“I want to hear about your mom,” she whispers.

“What about her?”

“Everything,” she says, and so Rowan does. He tells her about Sunday baking days and learning her favorite recipes. He tells her about how she sewed every single one of his Halloween costumes. How she never missed a cross country race. He tells her about how he had no choice but to leave the Army when she was diagnosed with a brain tumor. And that he was happy to help her through her extensive rehab, because he’d do anything for the woman who raised him single-handedly.

“I love her,” Aelin murmurs, half asleep.

Rowan brushes her hair out of her face as she succumbs to sleep. “She’d love you,” he whispers, sadness suddenly weighing heavily on his chest. Aelin hums lightly in reply.

I love you.

He hears it so loudly in his own head, he almost startles himself awake. He knows he can’t say anything. But for a selfish second, he lets himself feel it.

The soft glow of the moon highlights the tip of Aelin’s nose as it filters through her windows, and her eyelashes flutter against the tops of her cheeks as she starts to dream. She breathes slowly, her lips slightly parted, and Rowan hasn’t seen her look so completely at ease as long as he’s known her. He wishes he had his camera. He’d like to capture this moment forever. Instead, he stares at her, etching every last detail of the image into his brain, until he finally gives into exhaustion and falls asleep, too.

~*~*~*~

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[pascal-istheway]

Watch Where You’re Going

Read It Here on AO3!

Fandom: The Mandalorian, Star Wars

Rating: Explicit

Characters/Relationships: Din Djarin x F Reader 

Word Count: 4k+

--------

“I have calamari flan, will that work?” the customer said.

“Of course! If you can’t trade, flan is acceptable,” you place the items in a box, exchanging them for the small squishy discs.

“Thank you, love, you’re a lifesaver. You know how tough it is growing food out here these days. We really rely on you guys here in the market when things get rough,” the man said, smiling before picking up his box and turning to leave towards home.

“I’ll see you the same time next week Galan!” you shout after him, waving goodbye.

It had been a long day at your little shop in the vendors square. You were one of the few vendors that actually had fresh food to sell that wasn’t offloaded from the docks. What you didn’t hunt, grow, or craft yourself came from whatever the cruisers brought in from off-planet. The stuff they brought wasn’t the worst, but nothing beat fresh or homegrown food.

It wasn’t much, but it was enough to make a small living for yourself. You were one of the lucky ones though - with no other family to depend on you, your earnings, however small, were all for yourself. After you paid whatever dues you owed for the rent on your shop space and for your farm on the outskirts of the village, you’d have enough tucked away for yourself for special occasions and emergencies.

The sun had already started to go over the tops of the trees outside the town, setting off the street light’s automatic sensors. “Time to close up shop and get the hell outta here!” you told yourself, packing up your belongings and anything you had left in your stall for the day onto your small handheld pushcart. The boxes weren’t overly heavy, enough that you could push it all yourself with some effort. Sure, you could use some of your money on a droid but there was something about having one around that bugged you. Why get a droid to do the work when you could just as easily do it yourself?

You’d just about finished packing up, laying the blanket over everything, and getting the straps laid over the top when you heard heavy feet pounding on the earth around the corner. A man, about your age, came bolting through the door of a house, nearly tripping and falling but not without taking some of the stall’s things next to you down behind him. You gasped, hand flying to your chest as he barreled around you screaming, “move! Out of the fuckin’ way!”

The dirt puffed up in clouds behind him, dry dust making you cough and swat the air in front of your face. It was enough that as soon as you picked up the handle of your cart, you didn’t see the second person, a Mandalorian, running straight for you. Apparently, he didn’t see you either because he had zero time to stop and completely pummeled over you, trashing your cart and more than enough of the things in it. The fresh fruit went flying, squishing in your face, hair, and clothes.

His jetpack ignited, lifting him up from the ground as he yelled a very pitiful, “sorry!” from the air, and continued on his pursuit. You laid there, stunned in silence as a crowd gathered to see the now destroyed supplies laying on the ground with you. You look down at your now disgusting clothes, covered in the soggy mess that was once fruit and spotchka.

“Dank fucking farrik!” you yell, hands flying up in exasperation at the scene at your feet. “Fucking Mandalorians…”

Your neighbor and fellow vendor helped you to your feet as you brush yourself off and you sigh, feeling helpless at the now ruined supplies. She was an older woman, had been here longer than most of you, and was one of your closest friends.

“Oh hun, it’s ok. It’s only your cart, not your life. What you had here isn’t enough to shed any tears over,” she pats your hand, smiling warmly up at you.

“I know Ada,” you sigh, looking up and blinking away tears, “just startled, that’s all. We’re tougher ladies than that,” you chuckle.

“That’s my girl,” she pats your cheek, giving your hand a squeeze. “Come on, let’s get this mess cleaned up and get you home.”

With the help of several bystanders and other vendors, you and Ada clean up the mess. Ada lives in the hut directly next to you so she helps you take the salvageable things home on her cart. Unfortunately, yours is just ruined. You’d have to repair it before using it again. The two miles home, you had insisted that you push her cart since she was so insistent that you put your things on hers, but per her usual fashion, she refused.  Ada was just like the grandmotherly type you wish you had around growing up. She took care of you when you were sick, helped you set up your stall when you first moved to this side of the planet and even helped you set up your farm - teaching you all the correct farming techniques for the soil. She really was the Maker’s gift to the planet.

You both lived in a small village outside of the main city. It really was one of the most peaceful places you could’ve settled in, a place where kids could play safely and farmers could live in peace. Many of the members were former rebels which made a lot of the elders feel safe here. We had a nice little thing going here and didn’t want any disruption. As for you? You’d fought with the best of them, but nothing in any official capacity.

The village operated on the market and the farming. Every night, you’d gather together for a community meal after vendors returned from the market and the sun had set. Stories would be shared or maybe someone would play music. There was a small school where the children would learn and on occasion, you’d get a passerby that would stay for a while before moving on. It was a safe place, for the wounded, the needy, the outcast. No judgment, no resistance, no sides. Just peace.

By the time you got to your little home, you’d almost completely forgotten about your incident in the market earlier in the day. The sun wasn’t quite set so you decided you had just enough time to attempt to repair the pieces you’d saved of your cart. Thankfully, you were handy enough to know your way around a set of tools and you set yourself out to work on the broken pieces. It was no use. The more you hammered, the sweatier and more frustrated you got.

“Maker be damned!” you shouted, throwing the splintered wood down in frustration. “Fucking Mandalorian couldn’t have had worse fucking timing!”

“You know, with language like that, people will mistake you for a scrapper,” Ada snuck up behind you, laughing as she pointed her swollen knuckled finger towards your failed project. “Giving up so soon?”

“It’s no use, the planks are cracked right in half. I need completely new boards at this point,” you sigh, sitting on a nearby stump and resting your elbows on your knees. Ada comes and sits next to you, looking out at the small village you live in. The kids squealed as they ran around the fire playing a made-up game. The fondness you had for them made your heart swell. You were happy here.

“Hungry?” Ada handed you a bowl of stew.

“Starving,” you grab the bowl and dig in, eating peacefully with her at your side, watching the sun fully set over the trees in the distance.

The sunset on Sorgan was beautiful, but it was nothing compared to what happened after. It was one of those things that you couldn’t describe to someone, you’d have to show them. The bugs didn’t have a name, just a color. They would shine a beautiful fluorescent green and light up the entire sky if you were quiet enough, like the embers of a fire burning low, flying up into the sky. It was incredible. Completely takes your breath away, no matter how many times you see them.

You and Ada finish up your meals in silence before bidding each other a good night and promise to see each other in the morning for the market. She instructed you that you can use her spare cart until you get yours up and running, to which you mentally think of some way you can repay her. Maybe you can slip her something extra, or make her a nice trinket. A new pair of shoes, she’s been needing a new pair for some time now. Yeah, that should do nicely.

You decided bathing was the first order of business before you turn in for the night since you still had remnants of fruit stuck to your scalp from earlier. A clean pair of clothes were waiting for you in your hut near your bed and you grabbed them along with a towel and wandered off to the river for a quick - and what you thought would be a private bath.

This section of the river is far enough from the village that no one would bother you. You approach the bank of the river, staring down into the dark cold water. The sound of the water rushing against the banks calms your frustrations from earlier. You close your eyes, taking a few deep breaths in before opening them and slowly moving to unbuckle the belt wrapping around your waist, letting it fall to the ground.

Slowly, you remove the fabric that’s draping over your chest, leaving you exposed to the rapidly cooling night air. You slide out of your boots, then your pants, leaving you completely bare to the world. There’s something that excites you about this vulnerability - something erotic about it.

You think back to earlier in the day, the incident that had you all bothered. The way that guy ran over your things was one thing but the way that Mandalorian completely took you out and then jet packed out of there . The feeling of him up against you before he took off after that guy. You couldn’t get the image of him out of your head all day. At first, it was a curious fascination. You’d encountered a Mandalorian before, but not one like that .

But then you felt rage. You were pissed he ruined your stuff. Sure, he yelled a half-assed “sorry” from the sky… But you were stuck between this line of wanting to punch him and wanting to fuck him. “Maker, you needed to get laid,” you think to yourself. Maybe you wouldn’t be ready to jump the first aggressive-looking guy if someone would just fuck you properly every once in a while. For now, you’d have to do it yourself, not that it would even come close to satisfying enough.

Once splash in the cool river is enough to change that thought process though. You dip your toes in, one foot at a time and slowly at first, but then rush in past your hips, hissing as the cool water caresses over your skin and tickles under your breasts. It would never really be enough to quench that feeling deep in your belly, but it was a start.

“Fuck, that’s cold!” you yelp, breathing out harshly. You dunk yourself to adjust quickly to the water. Reaching out to the bank, you pick up the soap you made earlier that month and start to lather it between your fingers. The earthy scent fills your nostrils as you work the bar between your fingers before placing it back on the grass and then push your nails into your long tendrils.

Your lips part, a moan of ecstasy as you start to scrub your scalp to remove any residue from the day. You tilt your head to the side, moving your hands lower towards the ends of your hair before arching your back to dip your head into the water, your breasts becoming the only thing exposed to the air, the contrast of the temperature hardening your nipples to tight peaks.

Your hands run over your neck as you float there on your back, running over your bare skin. No one is here, no one would know if you took care of yourself right now. You let yourself float in place, eyes closed as you drift your hand lower over your breast giving your nipple a gentle roll between your fingers. Your lips part and another moan came from your throat. You squeeze a little harder, feeling a zap of pleasure between your thighs.

Your hand dips lower between your legs, finding the slit wet with a different kind of moisture. This is slick, warm - thick. You guide your finger between the skin, dipping one in, then another, moaning at the pressure. The water rushing over your ears creating a muted sound to the world around you. It was intense to say the least. You move your fingers, pumping slowly in and out, spreading and moving them to massage yourself before moving to that small little nub. From under your lashes, you see movement and your eyes spring open and you’re faced with your worst fear...

Standing upright, your eyes fully open to come face to face with a shiny plate of beskar glistening in the moonlight. Your entire body flushes with embarrassment.

“Ooooh fuck…” your voice draws out quietly under your breath, your eyes roaming up from his boots to his thighs, all the way up to his broad chest to that goddamn helmet. The one that was so recognizable. The Mandalorian from the market. You snap your thighs together, feeling a familiar warmth starting to build. You immediately shut it down, now is so not the time for this.

“You,” your voice comes out choked, you suddenly realizing he’s looking directly down at your naked body. Your hand flying to cover your chest, cheeks flushing a brilliant shade of crimson. “What the fuck are you doing here?” you get angry, practically yelling at him. Not only embarrassed for getting caught in the act but angry that it was him that caught you. He doesn’t speak, but instead just shakes his head at you.

“Well? Does he speak? What the fuck do you want?” you’re fuming, you drop your arms, shoving water at him as you start to back away, barely missing his boots. You hear him chuckle in a modulated tone before saying, “yeah? Ok…” and then his jetpack ignites, bringing him to the other side of the river bank.

“I can play this game all day little bird,” he says, “You cost me a bounty.”

“I didn’t cost you shit, if anything, you cost me a cart and an entire day’s worth of food so who’s the real fucker now asshole?” you back away back to the other side of the bank, sinking down into the water up to your shoulders. He just laughs, flying back to the other side of the river.

“I don’t think so,” he continues to laugh, making you furious. You stand, holding your arm out, aimed and ready to unleash a massive splash of water over him. You think at this point maybe if you get his jetpack wet he may not be able to use it and then you’d have an actual fighting chance of getting away.

“Ah, ah, I don’t think that’s a smart move,” he holds a hand out, ready to catch your arm. But you yank back and fire, a giant splash washing over him, and to both of your surprise, it actually worked. The one thing you didn’t count on, however, was how fast he would be after he dropped to the ground. In one swoop, his feet hit the ground and his hand grasped your arm, pulling you closer to his other hand could weave in your freshly washed hair and pull you up closer to his warm frame.

“I told you,” he groaned, “that wasn’t smart. Do you just like to bathe out here for anyone to see? Is that it? You just want anyone to see you?”

“Fuck you, Mando,” your hands reach back to where his hands are wrapped in your hair and he grabs you around the throat, lifting you clean from the water and letting your legs dangle in the air. You kick and start to scream.

“Go ahead and scream, no one is going to hear you,” he laughs. “When is the last time you were fucked properly, little bird?”

“When is the last time you fucked anyone properly Mando? Other than fucking me over today in the market?” you quip back at him. “Let me go and you can find out,” Maker what is happening. One minute you go from this angry fireball to a horny goddess.

“Is that what you want? I won’t do it unless it’s really what you want. I came to apologize for earlier, but then seeing you here, washing your hair in that river,” his hand slid from your neck down your chest, cupping one breast and giving a gentle squeeze, “I know what it looks like when a woman hasn’t had a proper fuck in a long time and maker - you haven’t been fucked in a long time. Tell me I’m wrong.” He was practically begging you at this point. He needed you just as much as you needed him.

“Yes,” you pant, parting your lips and letting your tongue glide along with them, “please, take me, I need it,” you beg.

“Get on your knees,” he drops you on the ground, letting you turn and your hands find their way to his buttons. You practically rip it open, a button flying off in the process. Reaching inside, you’re greeted with smooth skin, hardened and pulsing with lust. You pause, looking up to see him looking down at you as he nods to give you the ok to continue. The fabric moves under the pressure and he springs out in release, the most beautiful cock you think you’ve ever laid eyes on presented in your face.

“Maker - you’re…” you gulp, “ you’re massive…” you look back up at him. He threads his hands in your hair, directing your head forward as you part your lips, slowly easing the soft tip between them. You can taste the salt mixed with skin, pulsing on your tongue. As soon as you swirl your tongue in a circle around him, he jerks, inhaling sharply before grabbing your hair and pushing slowly deeper into your face.

You moan with pleasure, a rush of it going straight between your thighs. One of your hands rests on your breast, gently kneading while you let the other drift lower towards your center. Your finger finds your slick folds already soaked, and not from the river you were just yanked out of. One finger slowly slips between, circling slowly around your clit making you cry out as Mando pushed in and out of your mouth. Both of you climbing higher and higher towards a release.

You close your eyes, enjoying the pure ecstasy of every nerve that’s been set on fire. But suddenly you’re being lifted from the ground and hoisted over his shoulder.

“I ca-ugh-gah….ca-can’t finish here…” he’s out of breath, clearly was on the verge of orgasming.

“Then where?” you can feel his muscles under you, the movement pulling you further and further away from your own orgasm.

“My… m-y ship is right through here…” he keeps walking, his cock freely hanging from his pants as he trudges through the trees towards an old Razor Crest. You whine, rubbing your legs together in frustration.

“I was so close,” you cry.

He laughs but then you feel his hand snaking up your thigh as he carries you. Suddenly, you gasp as a gloved finger slips between your legs, inserting itself in your most intimate part.

Your hand slams down, grasping at his cape, “oh - fuck, YES!” you scream. He pumps his finger in and out of you, slowly enough to torture you but fast enough to keep the momentum going.

“Don’t fu-fuck- oh, oh god… don’t,” you can barely speak.

“Yeah I get it, don’t stop…” he finishes for you.

“Yes! Yes! Fu- fuck!” the edge of an orgasm creeping up on you as his finger massages the walls of your cunt faster and faster.

You can see the universe explode behind your eyes as you explode, your entire body vibrating. He doesn’t stop, if anything he keeps going and this just causes you to shake even more violently. You scream out, practically sobbing, as you grab his cape and bite down, desperate to hold on to anything to keep you tethered to this planet. Who knew that just something as simple as that would shatter your entire world.

As he gets you to his ship, you’re practically mush, but he is harder than beskar and has absolutely no intent on stopping. He places you down on a small bench, kneeling down in front of you, and stretches your legs up over each shoulder.

“You ok? Is this ok?” he checks before continuing. For someone who was so ready to take what he wanted, he sure was being a gentleman.

“I will kill you if you stop right now Mando, do you understand me?” you reply, grabbing him around the neck and pulling him closer. He nods, and then slowly sheaths himself within you. You both groan at the same time, feeling your walls constrict at the same time his cock twitches inside you.

“Ma - ke.. I, fuck.. J’just like that… f-fu” he can barely speak as he thrusts. “S’so perfe-ct,” his body working in slow movements as he starts but then he starts to pick up the pace, moving quicker and quicker, bodies moving together in sync.

You hear skin against skin echoing in the hull of his ship, the sound of being fucked properly as he grunts and groans through his helmet. He pins your legs open, taking one hand and rubbing his thumb against your bundle of nerves making your head flop back against the metal wall loud enough to make a crack. He brings his other hand around the back of your neck and pulls you up, your bodies closer than ever.

“Fuck - this… this what you needed?” he wheezes, his pace turning ferocious. “I know you needed this, little bird.” he can barely breathe he’s fucking you at such a fast pace. All you can hear is your own screams mixed with the sound of your thighs against his.

Your eyes start to roll as another orgasm barrels through you, “Mando! Fu-fuck I’m cum-” is all you get out before you gush out all over him, the evidence of your orgasm flowing between the two of you.

“W’where can… where can I -” he was so close, he didn’t even think he had time to ask before he came, exploding within you. You didn’t have time to tell him that you had an implanted contraceptive, it was safe. But he did, nonetheless, explode inside you. The two of you mixing into one giant mess.

You both sit there for another few minutes, breathing in each other while you come down from this incredible high you just experienced together. Unsure how to even approach what just happened, he simply waited for you to readjust yourself before he got up and went to his quarters to get you a wet rag and a blanket and brought it to you to clean up and wrap yourself in.

“I know you were just bathing but I do have a pretty nice shower in here if you’re interested in cleaning up again… at least... Uh.. at least the water will be warm.” he rubbed the back of his neck, clearly uncomfortable.

“That would actually be really nice. Haven’t had an actual warm shower in… well I don’t know how long. But my… uh, my clothes.” you look longingly back out towards the river, “they are all back out there.”

“You can borrow a pair. It’s the least I can do after I ruined your stuff…”

[ateezmakemeweep]

richboy!seonghwa (part 7)

word count: 4k

fluff

(part 6) (series masterlist)

you walked into school on monday and was immediately thrown off by the pure elation and excitement buzzing around the school halls; students were chatting and clapping and skipping, actually skipping, to class despite it barely being eight o’clock in the morning. it was a stark contrast to how every other day here has gone, people eyeing others warily and closing themselves off into tiny, designated cliques.

but today, it really seemed as if everyone was excited and in good spirits, even the teachers. so you figured that, maybe, people just had a really nice weekend and were coming down from the high.

but the excited chatter hadn't stopped for a single second, the classrooms and hallways and bathrooms just humming with an overwhelming excitement.

you were sitting in third period now in bewilderment because what the hell could have a herd of rich kids this happy?

but you wouldn't dare turn around and ask if something was going on, the girls behind you in a deep discussion about the new gucci fall line they can't wait to get their hands on.

"i'm buying these after school and will obviously bring them tomorrow!" you hear one of them squeal behind you, "i can't believe it came so fast."

you keep your head buried in your notebook, getting an early start on the homework until the bell rings for fourth period.

you almost make it there in one piece, getting excitedly jostled and snubbed before you're pushed into a hard body. your head shoots up to meet the tall figure's face, a frantic apology already pouring out of your mouth.

"hey, it's okay," his voice say sweetly, eyes looking overwhelmingly soft and kind, "uh, could you actually-" another person whacks into you, causing the boy to gently grab your shoulder and bring you over to the side.

"i'm sorry, i just... i'm new and a little overwhelmed and need some help," he mutters out, "you look like the nicest person i've come across so far."

a little giggle leaves your mouth, sympathizing easily with the boy. "i just came last week, i get it," you tell him, "do you need help finding a room? i still don't really know the building myself but i can try to help."

"uh, the library? i have to get books for my next class."

"oh, yes okay, i eat there!" you unnecessary blurt out and his eyes soften, probably because you're not eating with friends in the cafeteria like a normal person. "it's right down those stairs, then straight down that hall and make a right. it's kind of hidden but there's a little sign on the top of the wall with an arrow."

he bites his lip nervously, nodding his head while looking down at the paper he knows won't be of any help. "okay, well hopefully i can find it," he laughs out, "thank you! i'm yunho, by the way."

"y/n," you say, giving him a little wave and feeling your heart tug at the fact that he's so tall and large but looks like a scared child starting kindergarten. "you're doing great, its okay."

a nervous chuckle leaves his mouth, shaking his head with large, pleading eyes. "i don't think so but it's time...to face them again," he says fearfully, looking out at the sea of rambunctious students.

a giggle leaves your mouth as you bravely lead the way, pushing through the crowd and bidding him a quick last goodbye when you nearly pass the room. you barrel into the doorway, grateful you're on time and not surprised when, again, all of your classmates are hyperactive and filling the room with lively chatter.

you hurry to the back, throwing your bag and books down before plopping in your seat. conversation next to you causes you to turn your head curiously, eyes immediately darting towards the window so you don't get yelled at for eavesdropping.

"if i have to share a room with her, i'll kill myself," the girl dramatically says to her friend whose deep chuckle causes her to hit him.

"i'm serious! we wait for this trip every year and it'll be completely ruined if i have to deal with her messy ass. she even snores!”

"like you can't afford your own if you wanted to," he sarcastically remarks and she just scoffs, her side eye catching your gaze before her body turns towards you.

"new girl, are you going?"

being addressed directly causes you to jump, eyes avoiding her cold ones and because you're used to the cruelness of this school, you know she's not genuinely interested in whatever she's asking about.

"going where?"

she rolls her eyes, mumbling something unintelligible to the boy next to her. "the senior trip," she has as if it's the most obvious thing in the world, "every year, the senior class goes to a ski resort for a week. how did you not know hear about this?"

but before you can answer, she's cutting you off with snarky comments and insincere concern.

"then again, i guess you don't talk to anyone so how would you know. and you probably couldn't afford it anyway, right?"

you resist the urge to roll your eyes because don’t these people get tired of throwing that one around? you bite the inside of your cheek, trying to figure out if you should even entertain her or just turn around.

"you never know when to shut your mouth, do you?" a deep voice interrupts and you turn to see seonghwa leaning against his desk with his arms crossed, staring at the girl with a dark, agitated expression. when did he get there?

"okay but is she lying," the boy next to her finally speaks and seonghwa lets out a humorless laugh, turning his head to the side before getting up to stand over his desk.

"i can't do shit to her but i won't hesitate to smack you," he growls, about to reach out for him when you pull him back by his shirt.

"okay, stop that," you whine quietly and the two of them are looking at you both in shock, confused and thrown off more so by seonghwa ready to burn a hole through their faces than your boldness to reach out and touch him.

he turns to look at you and you smile softly, shaking your head subtly because ‘it's not even worth it,’ you mouth. he blows air out his nose, throwing the duo one more harsh look before sitting in his seat and turning to face you.

"well good morning to you," you quip sarcastically and he rolls his eyes playfully.

"it was until them," he spits before his anger face softens slightly, "i don't know why everyone has to fuck with you."

"it's fine, she’s right, i probably couldn't afford it anyway," you tell him honestly. "but i was wondering what managed to get a group of spoiled brats so excited today," you tell him playfully, hoping to ease his agitation.

a scoff leaves his mouth, narrowing his eyes at you and the smile you were trying to fight breaks out over your face.

"i only see one brat here," he teases lowly and your eyebrows wiggle sarcastically causing him to smile.

"but yeah, it's some...tradition everyone looks forward too," he tells you, "just an excuse to not do any work and get drunk behind the teachers backs."

"sounds fun," you say dryly, "are you going?"

he simply nods his head, informing you most of the class is going and you resist the urge to frown because now you won't get to see him for a few days.

but then you perk up a little thinking it'll probably be a peaceful, quiet week, no one around to call you poor every five minutes.

that'll be a nice change.

"oh, well that will be fun!" you say excitedly but are only met with a nonchalant shrug from the boy. "what, you don't think so?"

his eyes roam over your face and you resist the urge to bite your lip, suddenly taking a vast interest in cracking your knuckles. his tongue darts out to lick at his lips, "well, i think it'd be more fun if-"

your teacher barreling through the door cuts him off and you giggle when a heavy sigh leaves his lips, putting a finger to your mouth in a 'sh' gesture. he reaches out to ruffle your hair before turning around in his seat as you try to calm your racing heart.

it's bizarre because you feel like you've known him for longer than you actually have, finding his touch comforting and familiar, but also exhilarating, like something your body won't ever go into a frenzy over. he could barely do anything and your stomach tightens, heart starts to race, brain goes into-

but before you can dwell on all the things seonghwa does to you, you shake the thoughts of him from your head and listen to your teacher drill on with the lesson until the bell rings forty minutes later.

you stand up after gathering your things and, like clockwork, an arm shoots out to block you from the aisle. you look up at his awaiting gaze and raise an eyebrow, "you know, i'm almost always late to this class because of you!" your hand comes up to poke his chest but he doesn't budge, wrapping his hand around your finger before taking his hand in yours.

your eyes widen as he does so, more complaints dying in your throat and you don't know if you wanna slap or kiss the smirk off his face.

"you were saying?"

slap. you wanna slap it off.

"why do you do this to me." your words come out as breathy whine, much more breathy than intended.

"do what?" he asks, turning his head to the side as he takes a step closer to you.

his body is just a few inches away from completely grazing yours and you know for a fact if you feel any part of him touch you, you’ll pass out. pass out right there on the floor at the feet of a boy you continue to be flustered by. and how embarrassing would that be. 

almost as embarrassing as him staring down at you the way he is right now, like he knows about the very thoughts plaguing your mind.

you squint your eyes at him, quickly snatching your hand back and shoving his shoulder lightly. the room is emptying out fast now, the quiet classroom a stark contrast to the muffled chatter outside in the hall.

"i'm gonna be late," you whine, looking at him with pleading eyes.

"are you sure you're can't go?"

your eyebrows pull together as you turn your head to the side in confusion.

"what?"

he rolls his eyes looking down at you and yeah, you definitely wanna slap him.

"where!? to my next class?"

"no, not your next class," he bites back, a dry sharpness in his voice but his eyes holding no malice.

"then what are you talking about, i don't know!” you sigh, exasperated. “you know what, it doesn't even matter because i'm going to class and you're not gonna-"

his hand shoots up to cups your cheeks, squeezing them slightly and successfully silencing you in record time. your lips are puckered out, wide eyes looking into his as you swallow nervously.

his hand is so large and warm on your face with such a firm grasp that it has your mind racing. because okay, maybe you wanna kiss him. just a little, just a enough to get his ever present smirk off his face. or better yet, why not both a slap and a-

"why am i so captivated by you," he says lowly, almost as if he's talking to himself. 

his finger is trailing over your lips, the cold metal of his ring right under your jaw and you’re positive cardiac arrest is gonna set in any second now. because his words (one word, in particular) and gentle, teasing touch and intense gaze is proving to be just too much for you.

you can feel your eyes bulging out of your head because you knew you were...captivated by him the second you saw him. but those were for obvious reasons. he was unlike any person you've ever seen before, handsome looks and alluring charm that anyone with eyes could see.

but you? someone like him captivated by you? you'd have half the mind to laugh right in his face if his words and voice and hands weren't making your heart jump out of your chest right now.

your mouth opens and closes, mind going a mile a minute but completely at a loss for words.

which is why you stupidly parrot yourself from just a few moments ago, uttering "what?"

he bites his lip to hide another smirk, loosening his hold on your face before giving your cheek one slow stroke with his thumb.

and then, just like he didn't do anything, he removes his hand, slinging his bag over his shoulder before peering down at you one last time.

"i'll see you...when i see you," is all he cryptically says and now you're even more confused because why wouldn't he just say see you tomorrow? and that's when a light goes off in that slow brain of yours, jumping like a bolt of lightning ran through you.

"oh wait!" you say but his back is retreating down the aisle already, nearly out the door when you squeak out, "were you talking about the-"

you watch as he walks out the door without another word or glance back. "trip," you mumble into the empty classroom and you let out a sigh, trying to calm your racing heart because you're still not over his use of the word captivated.

who says that? and why did he say it to you? you’re half tempted to get a dictionary just to double check the meaning of the word captivated.

suddenly a sea of students burst into the classroom and you have a sinking suspicion it's because no one wanted to enter when park seonghwa was still in here, with a girl no less. you can barely get your feet to move before the sound of the bell ringing quickly snaps you back to reality.

"shit!" you yelp out, the students turning to stare you down and you smile innocently, bowing your head politely before rushing out the door.

"shit," mingi mutters lowly when you sit at your designated library table a period later, vigorously erasing his paper and looking up when he feels your presence.

"hi," you whisper quietly, "is it a bad time? i'm sorry, i could come-"

"no," he says quickly, eyes moving to meet yours, "it's okay."

you smile softly at him, sitting down next to him and taking out your sandwich. you watch silently as he continues to write and erase, eyebrows furrying and body tense as he works through a sheet you now see is a math handout.

and it's not until you're done eating and sit there wordlessly for a few more minutes that you break the silence.

"do you need help?" you squeak out and his expression is so unreadable when he looks at you, you immediately mistake it for him being insulted.

"i'm sorry, i just..i think i was learning this with the tut...yeosang..last week, so.."

"no, yeah, no," he stutters out before quietly chuckling, "i mean yes, please."

you smile softly, leaning in closer to mingi as you start to explain the equation in the same way yeosang did last week. he had made it seem so simple and straightforward, the teachers and textbooks putting such complicated twists on it but him talking about it like it was basic addition.

and just fifteen minutes later, mingi's completely done with the rest of the worksheet that he'd been hopelessly confused by and ready to rip into pieces.

"that asshole really knew what he was talking about, huh," he grumbles out and a giggle leaves your mouth as you nod.

"i know, right."

he puts the paper away and takes out a large thermos, slurping a mouthful of noodles sloppily.

"you're not still seeing him, right?" he asks with a mouthful of food and you shake your head.

"no, i'm caught up...i really wasn't that behind," you tell him, "and they really didn't want a scholarship student using a tutor anyway."

mingi rolls his eyes at the implication, knowing all too how the teachers here probably reacted.

"for the better, that kid's a dick."

you laugh at mingi's forwardness, the nonchalant way he throws around insults while scarfing down food and looking like a giant baby in his large glasses.

"he's actually not that bad," you find yourself saying and you wish you could say that you were surprised that you just defending him. but after having him help you and then further acknowledge you at seonghwa's house, to act as if what he did wasn't commendable in the slightest, might have changed your perception a tiny bit.

but mingi's staring at you with wide, surprised eyes, like you forget the complete and utter verbal lashing he gave you less than a week ago.

"okay, he is a little bit," you admit because, okay, he is kind of a dick, "but he...i...he also helped me at a party the other night and it was...let's just say, thank god he did."

the pit in mingi's stomach hints at him not to push the issue any further.

"well that's good then," he says softly, scanning your face and understanding even more just how much he really helped you. "but he still shouldn't have been so mean to you."

a smile crosses your face at the tone in mingi's voice, a small giggle ringing through the quiet library. "you're right," you tell him and he nods his head.

you hear the sound of the library door opening, footsteps walking over to the table next to you and you turn to see a familiar tall figure. your face brightens in surprise, an excited gasp leaving your lips.

"you found the library!" you squeal a little too loudly and a harsh "sh" is whispered throughout the room.

yunho's head pops up and a big smile crosses his face, eagerly nodding at you. "i did, thanks to your directions."

you smile at him, side eyeing mingi and then looking back at yunho to see if he's okay with inviting him over; you wave the boy over when mingi nods his head.

yunho walks over, taking the seat next to you and laying out his many textbooks.

"thanks, see, you're still the nicest person i've met here today," he laughs out before lowering his voice, "is everyone here always so..."

"obnoxious?" mingi offers and a surprised laugh leaves the boy's mouth.

"i was gonna say chatty," yunho says, "but then the second you talk to them, they act like you're from another planet."

"you noticed too!" you say, "apparently a ski trip is all it takes to get these rich kids excited and talking to each other."

"ski trip?" yunho asks and you shrug your shoulders.

"i don't know, some tradition for the senior class or something. are you going, mingi?"

the both of you look to the boy after he doesn't respond to find his eyes narrowed and aimed at someone across the room. yunho looks over his shoulder as you wave your hand in front of the boy’s face.

"mingi?" you squeak out, noticing his harsh gaze and locked jaw. you break him from his stare down though, his eyes moving to yours as a little questioning hums leaves his mouth.

"are you going? on the ski trip?"

"not if you paid me," he grunts out and another chuckle leaves yunho's mouth.

"i like him, he's also nice," he tells you cheerfully and a broad smile makes it way on your face.

"mingi, yunho, yunho, mingi," you say as an official introduction and mingi nods his head at the smiling boy.

"are you new?" his deep voice asks and you find yourself bubbling with happiness that mingi's so openly talking with the boy. you thought he had seemed shy and closed off but he seems fine with yunho; but you also don't really know him that well yet.

you listen as yunho tells you about his old school, coming to find out it's apparently the rival school of this one and you have to laugh imagining the way rich teenagers probably pit against each other.

"now that i think about it, they do a ski trip too," yunho says, "imagine they're all there at the same time."

"double the stupid," mingi mutters and you muffle your giggle with your hand.

"y/n, are you going?" yunho asks and you shake your head.

"no way, not something i could afford," you tell him honestly and his eyebrows shoot up in confusion.

"oh, silly me, let me address myself the way everyone else here does," you sarcastically say before putting your hand out, "hi i'm y/n, scholarship student which without fail has now translated to poor girl. so please, if you could spare some change or canned food."

"oh, jesus christ," yunho mutters and you giggle at his annoyance before shrugging.

"yeah, i don't know but it's okay..apparently, my shoes were the dead give away though."

"your shoes are nice," yunho says and just as your about to thank him, a new voice interrupts.

"your new friend's a liar."

you stiffen at hearing the voice, a quiet growl already leaving mingi's voice at the presence of the boy.

"hi, yeosang, nice to see you," you say sarcastically and a smirk covers his face.

"nice to see you, y/n," he says just as sarcastically before turning his gaze to mingi, "and you, pretty boy. gonna try to crack my head open again?"

"i was thinking about it," mingi bites back and yunho can only watch with wide eyes at the encounter.

"okay, let's not do that," you say, a nervous laugh bubbling out of you before you see yunho sitting there looking lost. "this is another new student, yunho."

yeosang looks at the boy unamused, lips not even twitching when yunho gives him a friendly, bright smile.

"hi!"

"you gonna waste my time and ask for a tutoring session also?"

your body draws back slightly as you bite your lip because ouch and you pretend your feelings aren't hurt by lashing out at him.

"in case you forgot, it wasn't my idea," and because that's not enough for your bruised heart and ego after just defending him you say, "why would i have asked for someone like you?"

he rolls his eyes at your snark, leaning against the bookshelf and crossing his arms back to a complete state of disinterest.

"are you going tomorrow?"

"why do you care?" you ask and your voice sounds a little too clipped for an innocent question.

"san and wooyoung were harassing seonghwa to find out during lunch," he tells you, his head still pounding from the two boy's constant whining and questioning.

"oh," you say, voice sounding small and a little touched that the two boys were asking about you, you had actually really liked them. you resist the urge to pout because now even if you wanted to go, you still can’t.

"well, tell them thank you for thinking of me but i probably won't be able to make it," you say and you can even hear how your voice sounds a little dejected now.

"how sad," yeosang says before pulling himself off the bookshelf and standing near the table. he eyes mingi one more time with a sarcastic smile, waving his fingers at mingi in a goodbye.

"nice catching up, mingi," his deep voice sings before he's met with one of mingi's finger. 

the boy’s smirking as his eyes meet yours now, seemingly no expression in his pretty brown eyes and you wanna look away but you can't. he just stares at you for an intense one, two, three, four seconds and you try so hard to look for a hint of any emotion in them.

but there's nothing, no hint of like or dislike or interest or no interest and then he's turning to head out the door. you let out a breath you didn't even realize you were holding and shit, you thought seonghwa was impossible to read.

"i hate that guy," mingi grumbles and yunho nods his head, feeling himself visibly relax with the boy now out of sight.

"there's something so scary about him!" yunho whispers like he's gonna hear him and you giggle because you can't help but find him cute.

"right," you tell him, "it's his eyes i think."

"certainly not his height," mingi quips and a tiny snort leaves you, hiding your face in your hands.

"y/n's right, it was his eyes," yunho comments, "they're scary and cold but there's also something..." he pauses as he looks for the right word, "captivating about them."

your head snaps up at the word, seonghwa's voice echoing in your head.

"why am i so captivated by you?"

"ah, stop it," you mumble to yourself, smacking your temple lightly as you shaking the thoughts from your head; mingi and yunho stare at you like you have two heads.

"sorry," you mumble, "just an uh...interesting word choice."

the two boys look at you strangely before the librarian warns you there's a minute until the bell. you all thank her politely, gathering your things and getting ready to stand up.

"well, i'm sorry for intruding, by the way," yunho says, "i just...the cafeteria was too daunting."

"believe me i know," you tell him softly, "so don't worry, you weren't intruding at all."

yunho smiles at you softly and you're about to tell him to come back when mingi beats you to it.

"you can sit with us again...if you want," he says softly and you resist the urge to squeal because there's something so sweet and wholesome about the offer.

"yes! you should! pleaseee!" you add, smiling up at him and you could cry when you watch his cheeks start to blush a soft pink.

"oh, my gosh okay, just stop smiling at me like that," he says, putting his large hands on his pink cheeks causing you to giggle. the bell rings five seconds later and the three of you go your separate ways, waving goodbye to them.

"see you tomorrow!"

and really, you had every intention of doing so. but apparently, someone else had other plans.

a few minutes after the final bell, the teacher in charge of chaperoning the senior trip hears a knock at the door and gives a warm smile to the student entering.

"oh! hi there mr-"

"sorry it's late," his voice cuts her off apologetically as he hands her a sealed envelope.

her eyebrows furrow in confusion, she had just been going through the payment list last night and swore she had saw he had paid already?

"didn't you already-"

"oh, it's not for me, it's another student's payment," he tells the teacher, "y/n, the new transfer student."

(part 8)