#so I came in today even though I wasn’t scheduled
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bvrnesher · 2 days ago
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𝐒𝐓𝐑𝐀𝐖𝐁𝐄𝐑𝐑𝐘 𝐌𝚰𝐋𝐊
cw: none.
ㅤ୨ৎㅤ🌙ㅤ˳ 𝒇𝒊𝒓𝒔𝒕 𝒑𝒐𝒔𝒕 ! 𝒄𝒉𝒃. 𝒋𝒂𝒔𝒐𝒏 𝒈𝒓𝒂𝒄𝒆 ¡ 𝒓𝒆𝒂𝒅𝒆𝒓 𝒄𝒓𝒖𝒔𝒉. 𝒔𝒘𝒆𝒆𝒕.
﹙𝒆𝒏𝒈𝒍𝒊𝒔𝒉 𝒊𝒔 𝒏𝒐𝒕 𝒎𝒚 𝒇𝒊𝒓𝒔𝒕 𝒍𝒂𝒏𝒈𝒖𝒂𝒈𝒆! ﹚ꪆ
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𝗜𝗧 𝗪𝗔𝗦𝗡’𝗧 𝗦𝗢𝗠𝗘𝗧𝗛𝗜𝗡𝗚 𝗝𝗔𝗦𝗢𝗡 𝗛𝗔𝗗 planned; it just kind of happened.
You and Jason weren’t exactly close. You’d see each other around camp occasionally, but you never really interacted, at least not the way you’d wanted to.
Sometimes, though, he’d catch himself glancing your way, finding you at the archery range or just watching you with a small smile whenever he noticed your hair catching the summer sunlight.
Could you blame him? You were probably the most beautiful girl he’d ever seen, and he knew his share of pretty girls. But you... He wasn’t sure if it was just your looks or the fact that you always gave him a smile every time your eyes met. That smile? It could light up the whole damn Olympian world.
It didn’t take long for him to notice that every morning, without fail, you sat at the pavilion for breakfast with your half-siblings. And every morning, you had a carton of strawberry milk in hand, no matter what you were eating.
Jason knew today was one of those days when you helped out in the infirmary. The days when you usually skipped breakfast, staying busy taking care of the campers who were hurt.
He didn’t think much of it, just figured it would be a nice gesture—something that might cheer you up a bit. After breakfast, he grabbed an extra carton of that strawberry milk. Not much, but enough to break the ice.
With the carton in hand, he made his way to the infirmary, where he knew he’d find you. Not like he’d memorized your schedule or anything—he did.
When he reached the infirmary, he peeked inside and saw you organizing bandages. A smile tugged at the corner of his lips.
"Hey, you're busy?" he greeted gently, lowering his gaze to meet yours. "I noticed you’ve been working hard in here, so... I don’t know, thought you might like a little break." He smiled, charming but a bit shy, scratching the back of his neck.
When you heard him speak, you glanced around, half-expecting him to be talking to someone else. Maybe he’d made a mistake? But no, it was just the two of you in the infirmary.
It took a second for your brain to catch up. Oh. Oh, he’s actually talking to me. Well, that wasn’t something you expected today.
"Oh—no, no!" You waved your hands frantically, shaking your head maybe a little too fast.
Embarrassment flooded you as you felt your cheeks heat up. You gave him an awkward smile.
"I mean, yeah, I’d love a break."
Perfect. That’ll scare him off.
Jason’s smile widened slightly at your reaction, and for a moment, he completely forgot why he was even here. He just kind of stood there, staring at you like an idiot—until he realized you were looking at him expectantly, waiting for him to say something.
A faint blush dusted his cheeks. He cleared his throat, flashing you a shy but undeniably charming smile. Gods, was this man even real?
"Oh, good," he said, then hesitated, like he was trying to figure out what to say next.
You stood there, unsure how to respond to that incredibly deep, meaningful statement. Your gaze flickered over him, taking him in from head to toe—something he definitely noticed, because he straightened up slightly, looking a little uncomfortable (or more like flustered) under your scrutiny.
Your eyes landed on the carton of milk in his hand—strawberry milk. Your favorite. You raised an eyebrow. Jason Grace didn’t exactly seem like the type to drink strawberry milk.
"Oh, you like that?" You asked with a small smile, latching onto the first topic of conversation that came to mind.
He blinked at you, clearly confused.
"The milk," you clarified, nodding toward the carton in his hand.
Jason mentally cursed himself. He’d completely forgotten to give it to you.
"Oh—uh, not really," he admitted.
You frowned slightly, tilting your head. He quickly clarified, "I mean, it’s good, but it’s not for me." He extended the milk toward you.
Your eyes dropped to the milk carton on his outstretched hand, surprised by the unexpected gesture.
"Oh, thanks," you said, taking the small carton with a soft smile. "It’s my favorite. That’s really sweet of you."
You flashed him a smile. A smile so bright that Jason almost swore his knees almost gave out.
"Huh. Yeah. No problem," he said quickly, trying to brush it off. "It’s nothing, really. I just… noticed you liked it, so I figured you might want one."
"Oh, no. It is something, Grace," you interrupted, "I mean, it’s thoughtful. Not a lot of people would even notice something like that. So, thanks."
Jason smiled, shoving his hands into his pockets. A short silence settled between you before he finally spoke again.
"Need any help here? Looks like you’ve got a lot on your plate."
You nodded.
"Yeah, an extra pair of hands would be nice. Thanks, again."
You shot him a grin and went to open your milk—except, for some reason, you just couldn’t get the stupid thing open. You muttered a curse in Ancient Greek under your breath, still struggling, silently praying you didn’t make a fool of yourself in front of Jupiter’s golden boy.
"Let me," Jason said, taking the milk from your hands before you could protest. Your fingers brushed, and a small jolt of electricity sparked between you.
You had to pray to all the gods not to start blushing like an idiot.
"Here," he repeated, handing you the now-opened carton.
You took the carton.
"Gods, at this rate, the only word I'm gonna say while I'm with you is 'thanks.' And, thanks," you joked, managing to pull a laugh out of him.
"And is that a bad thing?" He tilted his head, looking a little more relaxed now.
You shook your head. "Not at all. Actually, it's sweet. You're sweet." The last part slipped out before you could process what it meant.
He blushed, but you were almost as red as the strawberries you loved so much. Was this a competition to see who could get a deeper shade of red than Superman’s underwear?
He caught sight of your reaction to your own words and tried to stifle a laugh.
"Don’t worry. A slip of the tongue happens to everyone," he said gently. You didn’t need to look at him to know he was smiling.
"Yeah, sure. But I’m not taking it back. Honestly, calling you 'sweet' doesn’t even come close," you admitted, flashing him a smile.
He just stared at you, lost for words, until his brain finally caught up, and then he smiled at you, even more charming than before, a faint blush coloring his cheeks.
"Huh, you too," he said, quickly clearing his throat. "I mean, you’re pretty. I mean, sweet... I— Gorgeous," he admitted.
You might have died right then and there, but you would’ve died happy knowing that Jason Grace called you gorgeous. No doubt about it.
"Are you busy tonight?" he asked, finally.
"Nope. I’m free as soon as I finish here." You took a sip of your drink, courtesy of Jason.
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ꪆৎ. 1,181 words.
Heyy! This is my first post here. English isn't my native language, so any corrections or advice are welcome.
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fairyniceyeah · 1 day ago
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💎🦖'Cause you, you're my everything
Title from Good to Me (SEVENTEEN)
Summary: Dino seems to be having a migraine though he never has had one before. The members are worried and it gets worse before it gets better.
CW: emeto, migraines, seizures, hospitals and hospital procedures
Sickie: Chan/Dino Caretakers: Wonwoo, Joshua, Jeonghan, Seungcheol (+ others)
Wonwoo ran his hand through his hair as he power-walked through the company halls. He wasn’t having the easiest day - somehow his schedule was incredibly long and there was no real break into later that evening. He loved being busy of course, otherwise he never could have made it as an idol but for the moment he just wished for a bit of space to breathe. He hoped that Seungcheol would go easy on them in the upcoming Hip-Hop Team meeting despite them nearing a deadline and not having as much finished as they probably should have.
He entered the room, Seungcheol already sitting at his laptop while Vernon and Mingyu were snacking on some dried fruits. 
“There you are”, Seungcheol said, looking up. “We were wondering if you got lost in the halls on the way here.”
“Funny, hyung”, Wonwoo replied, plopping down next to Vernon and stealing the distracted maknae’s strawberry he was holding.
“Hyung”, Vernon whined, pouting but just reached into the bag again.
“Sorry, my schedule is just crazy today”, Wonwoo apologized, “I literally had to beg manager-hyung for a break so I could pee earlier before we left the photoshoot.”
Mingyu snickered and Wonwoo was very tempted to throw the strawberry at his head but he refrained just on principle of not wasting food. Instead he rolled his eyes and said: “Well, let’s …”
At that moment his phone rang and he glanced at the caller ID. To his surprise it was Dino. Wasn’t the maknae scheduled to have solo dance practice today? What could he want?
“Sorry, it’s Channie”, Wonwoo said, “I want to see what is up.”
He accepted the call. 
"Hyung?", the maknae’s familiar voice came through the speakers, though unusually quiet.
"Hey, Channie, what is going on?", he asked, stealing another dried fruit from Vernon.
"Where are you?", Dino asked in return.
"Hip-Hop team meeting", Wonwoo replied, confused. He thought Dino knew that, considering they always had meetings on Tuesdays. “Is something the matter?"
"No, it's, uh, it’s fine. Yeah, right, the meeting. I'm having a pretty bad headache, but I'll call somebody else to drive me home. Don’t worry." Wonwoo’s heart clenched at the shaky, stuttering voice of his favorite dongsaeng.
"Where are you?", the rapper inquired. Dino very likely wasn’t in the practice rooms if he wasn’t feeling well, especially if he was feeling so bad he asked to go home.
"Practice room bathroom. Spend the last half hour puking my guts out", Dino sighed.
Wonwoo echoed the sentiment, feeling worry rise. Clearly their youngest was truly not feeling well. But nevertheless, the Hip-Hop team meeting was important and they were thirteen people after all…
"I'm sorry you're not feeling well. Can you try to find somebody else to drive you home? I am so sorry, really. Call me again, if you find nobody else to drive you home, okay?"
"Yeah."
They disconnected the call and Wonwoo looked up at three worried faces. “Channie isn’t feeling well. I hope he finds somebody else to drive him home. Otherwise we might need to reschedule the meeting.”
Seungcheol nodded, eyes full of concern. Soon Wonwoo found himself swamped with the workload, practically forgetting about their conversation.
 💎
Dino, meanwhile, leaned against the bathroom wall. His head was aching, neck muscles sore from tension. He closed his eyes against the bright light. There were motion sensors in the bathroom and he knew he couldn’t stay in this brightly lit room. Little stars were dotting his vision. 
With both hands bracing the wall he carefully stood up, trying to keep his balance. He lifted his backpack on his back, nearly crying from the pain it caused in his neck.
Taking a deep breath, he opened the stall door, again blinking against the bright light, fighting terrible nausea for a moment. Then he stumbled to an empty meeting room, leaving the lights off. It didn’t help much, he still felt awful. 
Dino knew he needed somebody to drive him home. In his wish for his favourite hyung he had totally forgotten about the Hip-Hop meeting. But that meant that next to Wonwoo, Seungcheol, Mingyu and Vernon were out too.
He scrolled through his contacts, contemplating his options. Jun and Minghao were in China. Jeonghan was on a solo schedule. Woozi was likely busy in the studio and he didn’t have a driver's license anyways. Seungkwan would nag too much. He loved Hoshi but he knew he would probably puke in the car considering how his hyung drove. Jeonghan was visiting his parents. So it only left Joshua - not that Dino minded. He loved his gentle hyung and he craved his soft voice if he was honest.
 💎
Fifteen minutes later Joshua knelt down before him and smiled. 
"Hey, let's get you home, maknae", he said and gently helped the dancer to his feet. Once he was sitting in the overly hot car - at this moment Dino decided he hated summer - he shut his eyes and leaned back against the backrest.
"Sorry, baby, the AC seems to be broken", Joshua said apologetically as he put the car in drive. “I meant to get it fixed but we were so busy, you know how it is…”
 Dino didn't answer him, drifting between sleep and wakefulness in the twenty minute drive. He was very glad when they arrived at the apartment, the motion and the heat making him steadily nauseous. The elevator ride up to the apartments - okay, Joshua was taking him to the apartment Dino shared with Jun, DK and Vernon - was nauseating and Dino felt himself break out in cold sweat.
Once Joshua had opened the front door for him - Dino’s own hands were too shaky and his vision too bad to enter the keycode -, he bolted to the bathroom. He retched pitifully as the pain in his head exploded even more. It was probably the worst pain he had ever felt and he felt so dizzy. His mouth tasted awful, he could barely breathe between waves of vomit coming up and his head pounded in time with his heartbeat. Even his ears ached. 
When what was probably minutes but felt like hours was over he noticed a delicate hand on his back, rubbing comforting circles onto his back. Another hand landed on his shoulder and only then did Dino realise he had slowly started tilting to the side. He groaned and resisted the urge to rest his head against the toilet seat.
"You wanna lay down, baby?", Joshua asked worriedly. 
He nodded, well he tried to, but his muscles seized up so badly he let out a very undignified pained grunt. It got the message across anyways and the older man carefully helped him to his feet for the second time that day.
He led him to his bedroom, as he kept his eyes firmly shut, and sat him on his bed. While he struggled out of his sweatpants and shirt, Joshua efficiently pulled the curtains shut. They didn’t black out all the lights sadly. At this moment Dino wished for the blackout curtains they had all chipped in to buy for both Joshua and Woozi for their migraine attacks. If his hyungs only felt a fraction as bad as Dino did at that moment he pitied them. He didn’t know how they survived pain like this on a regular basis and he didn’t even know if it was a migraine he was having but rather a bad headache? After all, normally he didn’t get migraines. 
Once the room was as dark as possible he dared to open his eyes, looking up at Joshua. Due to the darkness and his squinty vision he wasn't really able to see him, only barely being able to make out his silhouette. 
"Thank you, hyung", he breathed.
"Sleep", Joshua replied and gently moved him so that he was laying on his back. "I'll put a bucket on the floor in case you need to be sick again and be in the living room if you need something. You’ll probably want some quiet."
Dino closed his eyes and let sleep overtake him.
 💎
To say that Seokmin was surprised when he found Joshua eating his cereal in his kitchen was an understatement.
His hyung chuckled at his expression. "Close your mouth or you might catch flies", he said.
"Uhm, well, not that I don't like your company, hyung. But why are you sitting in my kitchen? And why are you eating my cereal?”, Seokmin asked and walked across the kitchen and grabbed a spoon.
"Dino has a migraine, I think. I mean, he never had one before but he looked as pitiful as Jihoonie does during his attacks. It’s a pretty bad headache if not. So yeah, I drove him home from the company and decided to stick around should he need something. And I was hungry and I'm not gonna eat Hansollie's stupid healthy stuff."
"Fair enough. How is Channie?"
"Asleep, last I checked. He's been throwing up on and off. Couldn’t even keep the pain meds down."
Seokmin sat down across from her and used his spoon to eat the cereal with her. It was his after all. Joshua just fondly rolled his eyes and pushed the bowl closer.
 💎
“I should probably check on him again”, Joshua said once the cereal was eaten. “You should probably stay here. I know you aren’t the biggest fan of puke.”
He found their maknae tangled in his blankets, his forehead sweaty and creased in pain. His eyes opened when they stepped in.
Joshua sat down next to the maknae and brushed a hand through his soaked bangs. 
"You're really warm, baby", Joshua mumbled, feeling worried. The maknae was getting worse and worse. "I'll get a thermometer, take your temperature and then you should go back to sleep, okay?"
Dino didn't answer, but when Joshua returned he had shifted a bit, the heating pad he had asked for earlier to relax his tense muscles visible under his neck. After putting a plastic cap onto the tip of the thermometer, Joshua carefully slipped it under Dino’s tongue. The beeping sound made Dino whimper and Joshua tenderly carded his hand through his friend’s hair. 
"Sleep", Joshua mumbled and pressed a feather-light kiss on Dino's sweaty forehead before he left the room and returned to the kitchen.
He studied the thermometer and frowned at the reading of 39.5 degrees. "Not good?", Seokmin asked, peering over his shoulder. "Oh, poor baby."
“I’ll bring him an ice pack”, Joshua decided, “and take the heating pad. Even if it helps the pain it’s just making his fever rise. He’ll feel even worse then. I just wished he could have kept down the medication I tried to give him earlier.”
 💎
Three hours later, nearly all members were sitting in the living room. Joshua wasn’t sure how that had happened. When he checked his phone he realised that Wonwoo asked about the maknae in the group chat (maybe Joshua should check his phone more often after all) and Seokmin had answered and now everybody was worried. Jun and Minghao had even jokingly asked if they should book flights back to Korea - though Joshua wasn’t sure how much they were actually joking. 
So now Hoshi, Seungkwan, Seokmin and Joshua sat in the living room. Even Woozi had come out of the studio - a bit embarrassed by his rushing to the maknae’s side but defending his normally tsundere approach to life with knowing bad headaches could be. Jeonghan on the other hand had immediately slipped into Dino’s bedroom, never one to stray far from his hurting kids.
Blessedly all of them were more or less used to migraines and so very quiet when they talked. They had put on a movie that was playing silently in the background, while most of them were working on something or playing on their phones.
They all looked up, as Dino's door opened and their maknae stumbled into the hallway, leaning heavily on Jeonghan.
"How are you feeling?", Joshua asked quietly, from where he was curled up on the couch.
"Urgh", Dino mumbled, but smiled weakly at them. He let Jeonghan move him to the couch, which Woozi and Hoshi had vacated as soon as Dino had appeared. He sank down gratefully and cuddled up to his hyung immediately. Seokmin handed Jeonghan the thermometer who coaxed Dino to open his mouth to take his temperature.
"39.6", Jeonghan read with a frown, "that's not better." 
Woozi returned from the kitchen with a glass of water which he held to Dino's lips, knowing very well that the maknae would be too shaky to hold it himself.
 💎
Dino drank slowly, likely aware that anything could upset his stomach again. The headache was barely better, but he didn't feel like he was going to throw up any second anymore. With a sigh he leaned back against Jeonghan and closed his eyes.
"Yeez, no wonder your head hurts, your muscles are basically rocks", Jeonghan commented as he rubbed Dino’s shoulder. The maknae cursed in pain, as Jeonghan put pressure on his neck, uncaring that his hyung was … well, his hyung. 
"Hands off", he mumbled, "hurts." 
He noticed Jeonghan and Joshua exchanging a glance - probably because normally Dino enjoyed getting massages a lot and would often pester his members for one if he felt like it. RIght ow, he didn’t feel like it. His muscles hurt so much he didn’t think a massage would fix it.
“Stop thinking, let me sleep”, he grumbled and let himself drift off into a light sleep.
However, barely ten minutes later he jolted out of his sleep, stomach tossing and turning. He quickly sat up, but it was too late. Leaning over he retched and threw up the water ... all over Jeonghan. The older, to his credit, just helped Dino lean over further, so that the rest of the sick landed on the floor. Dino was shaking all over and he could barely muster the strength to move back upright, his body so stiff it felt impossible.
He could feel the other gazing at him, probably worried, but Dino wouldn’t care about them. There was vomit all over Jeonghan and the couch and his mouth tasted like dead animal. 
When he was finally done, Dino leaned back against the couch cushions. Only then did realisation hit. He stared in horror at Jeonghan, who just raised his eyebrow and said dryly: "Thank you for sharing that with us."
"Aish, hyung, I'm so sorry." Dino was mortified but Jeonghan just squeezed his arm. 
"It’s not the first time one of you kids threw up on me, love. It's not your fault that I forgot the bucket in your room." 
 💎
Clean up was just done, when the door opened, admitting the Hip-Hop team. Immediately Wonwoo jogged over to Dino who was dozing on Hoshi’s lap.
"How are you feeling?", Wonwoo asked quietly, gently stroking the bangs away from Dino' forehead.
"Head really hurts, hyung”, Dino whimpered. “Still really nauseous too.”
"I’m sorry I couldn’t come earlier, kiddo. Do you need anything?"
Dino smiled crookedly, feeling a bit embarrassed. But his bladder had demanded attention for a while and he could no longer ignore it. "I need to use the bathroom. Help me walk over there?"
Wonwoo nodded and lifted Dino to his feet slowly. Once youngest seemed reasonably steady he helped him walk the short distance.
"Remember, don't...", Wonwoo started.
"...lock the door, sit down if I feel dizzy and call if I need anything, I know, hyung”, Dino repeated the words he had heard Seungcheol drill into Joshua and Woozi when they had migraines ever since Woozi had collapsed in the bathroom and it had taken Mingyu’s and Seungcheol’s combined strength to force the door open. 
 💎
A few minutes later the maknae returned, still looking pale and he let Wonwoo lead him back to the couch without any fuss. 
But then he looked up at the flashing police lights from the movie that was playing and froze. Wonwoo looked down at his dongsaeng and quickly grasped Dino tighter as the younger man's knees gave out under him. With a surprised shout that alerted their friends, he lowered Dino to the floor.
He could only stare in shock as every one of Dino' muscles tensed and then … then Dino was seizing.
It suddenly didn't matter how long Seungcheol had been on his feet that day apparently (even though he had complained all the way back to the apartment), as he was the first on his knees next to Dino. 
Quickly the leader turned the seizing maknae on his side. Wonwoo was only able to stare at what was happening in front of his feet. His dongsaeng, his Channie, was jerking in unrealistic ways that frightened him to the bone. It was the first seizure Wonwoo ever witnessed and he had never once imagined it to be as awful as it looked.
"Wonwoo-yah, let’s take a step back", Jeonghan said, suddenly next to him, his own voice trembling, "Cheollie and Jihoonie are helping him and Soonyoungie is on the phone with the emergency services." 
Numbly Wonwoo watched how Seungcheol and Woozi tried to help the maknae, placing pillows against the walls. Hoshi indeed seemed to be on the phone and Seungkwan was staring at his wristwatch. Maybe he was timing the seizure. He couldn’t spot Vernon, Mingyu and Seokmin. 
The next time Wonwoo was aware, paramedics (when had they arrived?) lifted Dino on a stretcher, exchanging quick words with Seungcheol which Wonwoo's muddled brain couldn't make sense of, the leader crying.
Then Jeonghan was kneeling in front of him, no trace of Dino and Seungcheol to be seen. His mouth felt dry, his whole body was numb. He could see Jeonghan's mouth moving, but he didn't hear anything he said. Then Joshua was kneeling next to Jeonghan, his face worried, but a tiny smile on his lips. He looked up and saw all of his friends, except for Seungcheol and Dino and ... oh god, what was happening?
There wasn't enough air in the room, how could the others not notice it? Wonwoo clutched at his throat, trying to keep his turtleneck pullover from choking him any further. He whimpered and then arms were thrown around him and then at last could breathe in a familiar smell. Tears were leaking uncontrollably from his eyes but he clutched Mingyu tighter, pressing his face in his best friend’s shirt. Then sound came back and he was aware of somebody crying and whimpering, but even more so of Mingyu whispering soothing nothingness in his ear.
"'Gyu", he ground out, coughing slightly due to his dry throat.
"Hey, you back with us?", Mingyu asked tenderly, cupping Wonwoo’s face and wiping his tears with his thumb. Suddenly a bit embarrassed Wonwoo nodded. Seungkwan tipped a glass of water against his lips with utmost care and he drank greedily to soothe his parched throat.
"'M sorry", Wonwoo mumbled. “I …”
"Nothing to be sorry about", Jeonghan said. He had stood up and now was standing at the front door, obviously wanting to get to the hospital as soon as possible. "Happens to the best of us. It was scary, I'll give you that." 
 💎
Wonwoo let Hoshi and Jeonghan pull him to his feet and was quite grateful that they didn't let go as his legs still felt like jelly.
They quickly entered Seungcheol's car, Jeonghan in the driver’s seat, Woozi passenger and Hoshi and Mingyu joining him in the back. 
Mingyu pulled him close and Hoshi scooted to the door, so that even with the limited amount of space Wonwoo was able to rest his head on Mingyu's shoulder. Hoshi still held his hand in his, his thumb rubbing comforting circles on Wonwoo’s wrist. The rapper was too hyped to sleep, though he felt his body crashing as the adrenaline died down, but he was able to relax against his friends a bit.
Soon after, Wonwoo found himself in one of the plastic chairs in a private waiting room of a busy Seoul ER. A door opened and Seungcheol stepped in, his limb more pronounced again. Crashing to his knees seemed to have done him in, Wonwoo noted vaguely as Jeonghan rushed over to support him. 
Seungcheol squeezed his hand thankfully and sank down on Jeonghan's vacated chair.
"Dino's awake", he said with a forced smile. They all breathed a sigh of relief but it was short lived. "He is in a lot of pain, but they are running the test quickly. He already had a CT and MRI. They gave him some medication for the seizure, so he's good in that department. He's been freaking out at the prospect of a … I forgot the term but they want to take a sample from his spine fluid. Wonwoo-yah, he’s been asking for you. I told him I couldn’t guarantee it but do you want to go?"
Wonwoo nodded and moved to get up. He needed to be there for his dongsaeng now, especially if he asked for him. He still didn’t feel great, more like he was about to redecorate the hospital floor, but he had to do this. Mingyu squeezed his hand encouragingly and then he stood in the small treatment room.
Dino, pale and shaky, was lying on his side on the gurney, dressed in a hospital gown. He seemed impossibly small curled up like this, even more than normal.
"Hey", Wonwoo breathed and strode over towards Dino. The maknae opened his eyes and looked up at him. 
"Wonwoo-hyung?", he asked, his voice filled with a bit of uncertainty. 
"Yeah, it's me." He gently wrapped Dino small hands in his. Seeing Dino, no matter how he looked right now, calmed him down significantly.
"I'm scared. What's wrong with me?"
"I don’t know", Wonwoo said honestly. "But I am sure the doctors will find out why you are in so much pain and had that seizure"
"Seizure?", Dino asked, panicky. Wonwoo leaned forward and kissed his forehead. "Yeah, you had a seizure at the apartment."
"I don't remember", Dino said, closing his eyes again. "Shua-hyung drove me home and I went to bed. The next thing I know I wake up here with a worried Seungcheol-hyung, who looks like he just survived a war."
Wonwoo had no chance to answer as a doctor entered. 
“Good afternoon”, she greeted with a smile. “I’m here to perform the lumbar puncture. Chan-ssi, are you feeling ready?”
“No, but I don’t think I ever will. Just do it.”
"I promise I will be as gentle as I can, Chan-ssi. Relax, please, this will be a bit uncomfortable nevertheless."
"Focus on me, baby", Wonwoo said, running his finger across Dino' cheek, trying to distract the maknae. He nodded at the doctor who injected Dino' back with a local anesthesia. The maknae whimpered slightly and grasped Wonwoo's hand tighter.
 💎
Forty-five minutes later Wonwoo rocked a crying Dino in his arms, after the procedure was finally done. A nurse called somebody to move Dino's bed into a private room and nobody batted an eye when Wonwoo followed them. 
Once Dino was settled into the room, an IV connected to him to give him fluids and anti-nausea medication, Jeonghan and Mingyu appeared in the doorway.
Jeonghan quickly walked over towards Dino and gathered him in his arms in a tender way, kissing his forehead. Mingyu stepped to stand next to Wonwoo and grasped his hand in his, squeezing it tightly.
"Visiting hours are over in half an hour", he quietly informed Wonwoo. The older rapper nodded.
Now that Dino was settled he felt the exhaustion weigh him down and his vision got blurry. 
"Hoshi drove Woozi and Joshua home, pray for them. A manager is waiting for us to drive us back", Mingyu then added.
Wonwoo nodded again and then his knees buckled under him. He was so tired.
"Come on, hyung, sit down", Mingyu mumbled when Wonwoo sagged against him more and more with every second. He moved him to sit at the table in one corner of the room and sat down on the table, so that he could pull Wonwoo's head to lean against his stomach. 
They silently watched Dino and Jeonghan talking to each other, Jeonghan impossibly gentle with their youngest.
A knock on the door startled all of them out of their thoughts and the doctor from before entered the room.
“Good evening. How are you feeling, Chan-ssi?”, she asked.
“Tired. Headachy and tense. Still queasy”, Dino mumbled, his head dropping against Jeonghan’s chest.
"That’s understandable. The tests just came back. They show you have contracted bacterial meningitis. You will receive some antibiotics for the next few days. You should count on being here for at least a week. I’m sure your hyungs will keep you company during visiting hours but you need rest above all." 
With that she walked over and connected Dino's IV to a small bottle of what seemed to be the antibiotic.
"Thank you", Jeonghan said and turned to Dino as soon as the doctor had left. “Dino?”
“Hm?”
“Whose baby are you?”
Dino sighed and rolled his eyes. “Jeonghannie hyung’s baby.”
“That’s right”, Jeonghan said. “You are our baby brother. Don’t scare us like this again. You can count on your hyungs nagging you for the rest of time.”
Dino smiled crookedly. “From what I gathered I think I scared you enough that you’ll all wait on me hand and foot for the rest of time.”
“Brat!”
Notes: Lately I haven't been doing well mentally and especially with work it's been hard to write consistently. So this fic (and likely some future ones) are just rewrites and adjusted Les Misérables stories I wrote. I can assure you it's definitely my own story (even if the account name is different) and I mostly don't like doing this but I still want to present you some fics! This is why it also doesn't quite fit the request I based this fic on - because a) this was already written and b) I only headcanon Joshua and Woozi to get migraines and I needed something that looked similiar to one. I hope you enjoyed anyways!
Masterlist links: Fairy's Full Masterlist Fairy's Masterlist - SEVENTEEN
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fallencelsetial · 1 month ago
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Ngl….that ending for the event almost gave me enough willpower to be kinda happy to go in to work tomorrow.
Just content and not feeling any type of way about it. But I had a gut feeling and just checked my schedule for the hell of it…..they changed my shift…..today…..after I clocked out…..
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vordemtodgefeit · 1 year ago
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another assignment, another feedback deadline missed
#this has happened five times in the past 12 months#i understand life gets busy sometimes but given how strict they are with us on deadlines it’s really annoying#they would fail us if we had this kind of record#i had laptop issues with the iliad essay and had to submit 5 mins after the deadline. it’s fine now but i had to jump through SO many hoops#to get them to take off the point deduction for being late (given that it wasn’t my fault. and it was by five minutes.)#one of the previous ones was a modhist essay that came back 10 days late because my tutor ‘had a huge amount of work to do’#funnily enough: a busy schedule is EXPLICITLY said in undergrad handbook to not be a valid excuse for us being late#she didn’t even tell us that she was this busy until about a week in??? it was just complete radio silence before that#she was in her 40s and had been teaching for ages she wasn’t a first-timer#though she did hand off both of my essays for her to a phd student to mark instead#last semester my essay feedback was 5 days late because they ‘forgot to click show-to-students on the results on the uni vle’#again if we did that we would be chewed out like a piece of stringy beef#i have more patience for this current particular professor but she literally told us IN CLASS TODAY that we would get it this afternoon#my instinct is to always give them grace but this is becoming a very annoying pattern#‘don’t give the students feedback by the deadline that WE set. don’t tell them when they will actually get it back.#don’t allow the students the same flexibility if they do not submit those essays on time.’
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clockwayswrites · 4 months ago
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Birds and Mice and Tea Parties 20
Masterpost
AN: B really was trying his best to protect Danny last time, he just was missing too much information. Poor Danny...
No reading over. We suffer and post at 2am.
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It had been two weeks since the last rogue Wayne visit.
Danny hadn’t intended to keep track. There was no reason to. One visit from Cass and one from Tim did not a pattern make.
He tried to dismiss the observation. He had plenty to do; it wasn’t like he didn’t have friends. The bi-weekly trivia group would start meeting again soon. He also had a TTRGP session that did its best to meet around all that life threw at them. Tucker and him played online games when they could make schedules match and he and Sam talked when she was stateside. He even had regular lunches with coworkers!
Still, there had been something different about spending time with the family.
So no, Danny hadn’t meant to keep track, but he still knew it had been two weeks and a day. But of course he wouldn’t see the Waynes that often. Bruce was a very busy man and most of the children would have no reason to come to W.E. They had their own lives with work and school and being kids or young adults. The other visits had simply been flukes, as nice as the visits had been.
The subtle feeling of melancholy that had settled over him was ridiculous and he wasn’t having it. His mood was simply off because of the whole Ancient thing. The way it was affecting his health didn’t make feeling better any easier either.
Danny leaned against the wall of the elevator as he tried to catch his breath. He really shouldn’t be walking right then to get lunch, not with the way that he felt, but he hadn’t had anything at his place to make lunch with. He hadn’t had the energy to go shopping. He’d just go somewhere close instead of walking to anything on the other side of the park.
The natural reverb of the lobby assaulted Danny as he stepped out of the elevator.
He just had to get through the lobby, the street, the restaurant, back through the street, and through the lobby again. Then he could hide in his office and eat. Or he could hide in there and eat as long as Lucius didn’t find him. Maybe even Lucius would give him a break today though.
“Dr. Fenton…?”
Danny looked up from rubbing his neck.
It was Tim. Damian was at Tim’s side, flanking him like a little guard dog and scowling. Tim was frowning too. Danny immediately wanted to fix whatever was wrong.
“Look at that, a pair of Waynes. How are you two?”
“That is unimportant,” Damian said with a little sniff. “You are clearly unwell. I assume you are returning to your apartment to rest?”
“Oh, no, I’m just going to go grab lunch. I’m alright, really,” Danny said and put on the best smile he could muster.
Tim and Damian looked at each other in some sort of silence conversation. Danny started to edge away from them, thinking he could escape before they came to some sort of end. He really needed out of the lobby and its echoing sounds.
A startled shriek from the entry way cut off that plan.
Danny twisted to face the sound as he stepped in front of the kids.
Of course it was a rogue, what else would it be in Gotham? It was a rogue, but at least it was the Mad Hatter and his squad of likely mind controlled goons. He usually wasn’t prone to death and destruction like some of the others were. But still, Danny felt his metaphorical hackles rising. The kids were here.
The kids were here and sure to draw the Mad Hatter’s attention if he saw them. Danny stepped slowly backwards, herding the kids away from the scene. At least they weren’t far into the lobby.
“Back up to the stairwell,” Danny said lowly, trying to cast his voice behind him.
“Tch. We can—”
“The elevator, the back left one,” Tim said quietly but firmly over his brother’s protest. “I have a code to take it to a safe room in the basement.”
“If he kills the power,” Danny started.
“The elevators have emergency back up.”
“That’s not very good behavior for a tea party, is it?” the Matter Hatter shouted at someone.
Danny bit back a rising noise of anger in his throat. His fingers twitched to act. But he couldn’t. The best plan was to get the kids out of there away from any action.
“Yes I see, Damian,” Tim hissed. “We’re almost to the elevator.”
“Call it as soon as you can,” Danny said. Was there a reverb to his voice? It felt like there was a reverb to his voice. No, no, he couldn’t, he had to…
“That’s better! See? This is how you behave when someone invites you to a tea party! Now where is that little dormouse?” the Mad Hatter called. “I know I saw him come in here! With an even littler one too.”
He wanted Tim.
“Calling the elevator.”
“Another mouse? A rat? A cat?"
The Mad Hatter wanted Tim and Damian.
“Here mousy mouse mice… where are you?"
Danny would not let that happen.
“Oh there you are! Hiding back by the doors, of course he is!” The Mad Hatter said. The crowed parted in fear. His wide, manic eyes looked right past Danny and he grinned. “Get them. We have a tea party we’re late for.”
“Over my dead body,” Danny growled.
The Mad Hatter blinked at Danny like he just noticed him for the first time. His goons rushed past him and through the crowd. “Oh, who are you? Never mind, if death is what you want, we can make that happen.”
Danny couldn’t hold back the chortling laughter. “See, that’s where you have a problem you don’t even know you could have.”
“And what is that?”
“You couldn’t handle my dead body,” Danny said just as the first goon reached them.
Danny stepped forward. He ducked under the swing of the punch and used the momentum to spin the goon around. With a push of his ghostly power, he sent the attacking goon careening into the next one and they both went tumbling.
“Danny, it’s here!” Tim shouted.
Not turning his back to the attackers, Danny stepped backwards into the elevator. Tim slammed a button and the doors basically snapped closed, much faster than they should. Danny was left staring at the polished metal surface of the elevator. Luminous green stared back at him. Soft black feathers dotted his temples. His fingers ended in talons. And he could feel it.
He could feel the skin on his back started to split.
Wings.
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ruewritesoccasionally · 26 days ago
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Shades of Red | Terry Richmond
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Pairing: Dark!Toxic!Terry Richmond x Black!Reader
Warnings: dark themes + smut 18+, breaking + entering, jealousy, possessiveness, toxic themes, slight power dynamics, rough sex, choking, light slapping, spitting, overstimulation, oral (f receiving), squirting, breeding kink } everything is consensual but read at your own risk !
Summary: Passion, anger, lust, jealousy—all woven together into one man. Terry is charming, entitled, enticing and dangerous. YN couldn’t have seen his latest move coming….
Word count: 4.7K
a/n: This is my first time writing anything remotely dark and I think I really stepped outside of my little box. I wanted to craft a toxic love letter of sorts and I'd love to hear your thoughts..
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Terry Richmond wasn’t the kind of man who stayed anywhere too long. His life was like a shifting tide—here today, gone tomorrow, always pulling away just when you thought you had him figured out. The nomadic way he moved through life suited him. He’d had his fill of staying still, of people poking too closely at the layers of armour he’d carefully crafted. Shelby Springs was just another pit stop, a place he landed when the world got too loud. And it’s where he met YN.
They’d been introduced a couple of years back through a mutual friend who had the bright idea of setting them up. “You two would be perfect for each other,” the friend had said with entirely too much conviction. But what had started as a well-intentioned matchmaking attempt quickly took a detour.
From the jump, Terry and YN decided that dating wasn’t in the cards. He was too restless, too unpredictable. She had her own life, full and vibrant, with no room to babysit someone who disappeared for weeks at a time with no explanation. Still, their chemistry was undeniable, electric in a way neither could ignore. They both wanted something—each other. And so, they reached a compromise: friends with benefits. No strings, no expectations, no hard feelings.
For the most part, it worked. YN respected Terry’s need for space, and he appreciated that she didn’t cling or demand more than he was willing to give. She had her own thing going on—a career she loved, friends who kept her laughing, and a life that was full even without him in it. She’d grown used to his disappearing acts, the way he’d go rogue and vanish for weeks or months at a time. He always came back, though. And when he did, he always found his way to her.
He was good at that—finding her. A text here, a call there, a late-night knock on her door. She’d let him in every time because, for all his flaws, there was something about Terry that drew her in. Maybe it was his charm, that easy confidence that made her roll her eyes even as it made her pulse quicken. Or maybe it was the way he looked at her, like she was the only thing that mattered when he was near. Whatever it was, she couldn’t quite quit him. And truthfully, she didn’t want to.
But this time felt different.
His text came in the middle of the day while her phone was on silent. She didn’t see it until much later, after the rush of meetings and emails had finally died down.
“Be back in town tomorrow night. Clear your schedule for me.”
The audacity of it made her laugh out loud. Terry had never been one to ask—he told. It was part of his charm and part of what made her want to strangle him sometimes. Still, she wasn’t mad. She got as much out of their arrangement as he did, and she’d been known to hit him up with the same kind of energy when the mood struck. They were equals in that way, unapologetic about what they wanted from each other.
But tonight, she couldn’t clear her schedule for him.
She typed out her response quickly, a small smirk on her lips as she imagined his reaction.
“Can’t tomorrow. Got a date.”
The reply came faster than she expected.
“A date, huh?”
That was it. No teasing, no snide comments, no flirty jabs. Just three little words that carried a weight she couldn’t quite place.
She frowned at the screen, re-reading the message as if the meaning would suddenly reveal itself. It was unlike Terry not to have some kind of comeback, some witty remark designed to get under her skin. The lack of it left her unsettled. But she shrugged it off, chalking it up to him being busy or distracted.
On the other side of the phone, though, Terry wasn’t as calm as he seemed.
Sitting in a dingy motel room on the outskirts of God-knows-where, he stared at her message, his jaw tight. A date. Someone else was taking her out, sitting across from her, making her laugh, looking at her the way he looked at her. And worse, someone else might be touching her, staking a claim to what he’d quietly, possessively come to think of as his.
He took a slow, steadying breath, forcing himself to calm the anger bubbling just beneath the surface. She wasn’t his. Not really. They didn’t have that kind of relationship. But the thought of someone else having her, even for one night, made his chest burn with something he couldn’t quite name.
Terry’s fingers hovered over the screen, itching to say something, to tell her to cancel, to remind her who always had her coming back. But he stopped himself. No, he’d let her have her little date. Let her laugh and flirt and pretend that whoever this guy was could give her what she needed. Because when it was all said and done, she’d come back to him.
And when she did, he’d make damn sure she remembered exactly who she belonged to.
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Terry Richmond wasn’t an easy man to forget, and that much was evident as YN stood in her bathroom mirror, smoothing on her lipstick for the finishing touch. Tonight was a rare occasion for her—a date with someone who wasn’t him. She tilted her head slightly, assessing her reflection. The soft waves in her hair framed her face just right, the shimmer on her eyelids caught the light, and the dress she’d chosen fit like a second skin. She looked good. She felt good.
Still, a shadow lingered in the back of her mind, one with piercing eyes and an infuriatingly smug smirk. YN had spent the last two hours convincing herself this date was just what she needed: a change, something uncomplicated. Terry was Terry—a storm she willingly walked into time and time again. But tonight? Tonight was about something different, something quieter.
Her phone buzzed on the counter, and her eyes flicked to the screen. A simple text from her date: “Looking forward to tonight. See you soon!”
She smiled faintly, but the expression didn’t quite reach her eyes. YN tucked the phone into her clutch, grabbed her coat, and headed out. It was time to leave Terry Richmond out of her headspace—for now.
The restaurant was cozy and inviting, the kind of place that struck a balance between intimate and casual. Her date, Mark, had chosen well. He was polite, attentive, and easy on the eyes—a charming blend of confidence and warmth. They’d talked about work, travel, books, and even swapped a couple of funny anecdotes about their childhoods. By all accounts, it should’ve been perfect.
But halfway through Mark’s story about his latest hiking trip, YN caught herself tuning out. Not entirely—she was still nodding at the right moments, laughing softly where appropriate—but her mind drifted, unbidden, to another memory. One of Terry.
She could almost hear his voice, teasing and sharp. “Hiking, huh? Bet he’s one of those guys who carries a selfie stick to the summit just to post about it.” The thought was so vivid, so him, that YN nearly laughed aloud. She caught herself, her smile faltering for a moment before she refocused on Mark.
“So, what about you? Do you hike much?” he asked, his tone genuinely curious.
“Not really,” YN replied smoothly, pushing the thought of Terry aside. “But it sounds like you’ve had some incredible adventures.”
Mark beamed, and the conversation continued. YN did her best to stay present, to enjoy the evening for what it was. By the time dessert came around, she’d almost succeeded in compartmentalizing the storm that was Terry Richmond.
Almost.
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The date ended as expected—with polite goodbyes and the suggestion that they should “do this again sometime.” Mark walked her to her car like a gentleman, and she thanked him for the lovely evening. As she slipped into the driver’s seat and shut the door, YN let out a small sigh.
It hadn’t been a bad date—not by a long shot. Mark was sweet, thoughtful, and seemed genuinely interested in her. But he wasn’t...well, she refused to finish that thought.
Her hands gripped the steering wheel as she started the engine, the soft purr of the car filling the quiet night. She glanced at her reflection in the rearview mirror. The lipstick was still perfectly intact, the curls still falling in place. By all accounts, the night had been a success. So why did it feel like something was missing?
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Across town, Terry sat in his truck, parked a few blocks from YN’s apartment. His phone screen glowed faintly in the darkness as he scanned the messages she hadn’t yet responded to. His jaw tightened. The thought of her out with someone else wasn’t one he could swallow easily, no matter how cool and composed he pretended to be.
Reaching over to the passenger seat, he grabbed the small black bag he’d brought with him. It contained exactly what he needed—what he’d planned for. With practiced ease, Terry slid out of the truck and moved through the shadows. The street was quiet, the kind of stillness that came late at night when most people were already home.
It didn’t take him long to reach her place. The familiarity of it was almost comforting. Almost. He worked quickly, his movements precise and deliberate, the product of years spent learning how to move unseen, unheard. Within moments, he was inside.
The scent of her perfume—light, floral, undeniably her—lingered in the air. Terry inhaled deeply, a dark smile tugging at the corner of his lips. He made his way to the living room, his boots barely making a sound against the hardwood floors.
There, on the coffee table, was the bottle of whiskey she kept for him. He chuckled softly, pouring himself a glass and settling into the armchair in the corner of the room. The dim light from the streetlamp outside cast long shadows across the walls, and Terry sat there, waiting.
She’d be home soon. And when she walked through that door, she’d find out exactly what happened when you tried to leave Terry Richmond behind.
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The hum of her car engine faded into the quiet night as YN pulled into her driveway, the evening’s events still replaying in her mind. The date had been pleasant enough—a nice dinner, polite conversation, and a genuine, if not thrilling, connection. But as she turned off the ignition, an inexplicable sense of unease settled over her, clawing its way into her chest. It had been faint earlier, an odd niggling in the back of her mind, but now it was undeniable. Something was off.
Stepping out of the car, she adjusted her coat and approached her front door, her heels clicking softly against the pavement. As her hand reached for the keys in her bag, she froze. The door wasn’t locked. Her pulse quickened, and she stood there for a moment, staring at the slightly ajar entrance.
No. She distinctly remembered locking it before leaving. Didn’t she?
"Shit," she muttered under her breath, her mind racing. Maybe she had been distracted and forgotten in her rush to leave. But no matter how she tried to rationalise it, the unease only deepened. The air around her felt heavy, charged, as though the house itself was holding its breath.
Pushing the door open, she stepped inside cautiously, her senses on high alert. The room was unnervingly quiet, and yet something wasn’t right. There was an energy in the space that hadn’t been there before, a presence she couldn’t see but could feel. She paused in the doorway, her hand still gripping the doorknob as her eyes scanned the dimly lit room.
Then it hit her—the faintest trace of cologne lingering in the air, mingling with the rich, unmistakable scent of whiskey. Her stomach dropped. It couldn’t be. Could it?
Her voice cut through the silence, firm but edged with trepidation. "Terry?"
No answer. The hairs on the back of her neck stood on end as she took a tentative step further into the house. Her heart pounded in her chest, each beat echoing like a drum in her ears. "Terrance Richmond," she called again, louder this time, her tone sharper, more demanding. "If this is some kind of joke, I swear—"
Her words faltered as her eyes adjusted to the low light, finally spotting the shadowed figure seated in the corner of the room. The amber glow of a table lamp barely illuminated his silhouette, but she didn’t need to see his face to know. She would recognise his posture anywhere, relaxed yet commanding, his arm draped over the back of her chair as though he owned the place. The glass in his hand caught the light as he raised it to his lips, the sound of ice clinking faintly breaking the silence.
"Terry," she breathed, her voice a mix of anger and disbelief.
He set the glass down with deliberate slowness, leaning forward just enough for the light to catch his features—a smirk playing on his lips, his eyes glinting with an unsettling mix of amusement and something darker. "Welcome home, Princess."
“You’re home late,” he said, his voice smooth and low.
“What the hell are you doing here?” she snapped, her heart pounding as adrenaline coursed through her veins. “How did you even get in?”
He raised the glass to his lips, taking a slow sip before answering. “You’re not the only one with a key, Princess.”
“I never gave you—”
“You didn’t have to,” he interrupted, setting the glass down with deliberate precision. “I’m a resourceful man.”
Her hands clenched into fists at her sides, fury and confusion warring inside her. “You can’t just break into my house, Terry. That’s insane.”
He leaned forward, resting his elbows on his knees, his gaze never leaving hers. “What’s insane is you thinking I wouldn’t notice.”
“Notice what?” she demanded, her voice rising.
“You,” he said simply, his tone unnervingly even. “Trying to replace me. With him.”
The weight of his words hung in the air, suffocating and thick. YN stared at him, her mind racing to process what was happening. This wasn’t Terry—at least, not the Terry she thought she knew. The possessiveness in his voice, the casual way he’d invaded her space, it all screamed of something darker, something she wasn’t sure she could handle.
“This isn’t about you,” she said, forcing her voice to steady. “I have a life outside of you, Terry. You don’t get to control that.”
His lips curved into a slow, predatory smile. “I’m not here to control you, YN. Just to remind you who you belong to.”
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Terry’s words lingered in the air, heavy with promise and warning, as he took a slow step closer. The air crackled between them, electric, suffocating and sinister. YN felt her pulse thunder in her ears, the thrum of anticipation coursing through her veins like wildfire. Every nerve in her body screamed at her to run, to retreat, to reclaim control of the situation, but her feet refused to move. It wasn’t fear that kept her rooted in place—it was him. The commanding weight of his presence, the way his eyes bore into her with a heat that made her knees tremble.
“Terry,” she began, her voice wavering despite her best efforts to steady it, “I—”
He cut her off with a single step, closing the distance between them until the barest whisper of air separated their bodies. His scent—whiskey, spice, and the faintest trace of cedar—enveloped her senses, dizzying and disarming.
“Don’t,” he growled, tilting his head slightly as if daring her to finish that sentence. “Don’t give me excuses. Don’t feed me lies about him or pretend he’s what you want.” His hand came up, fingers brushing against her jaw, and she flinched—not from fear, but from the raw, undeniable pull between them. “You and I both know that man doesn’t know a damn thing about you.”
Her lips parted, a sharp retort on the tip of her tongue, but he moved faster. His hand slid to the back of her neck, gripping just firm enough to make her gasp. “Say it,” he demanded, his voice a rough rasp against her ear. “Say you thought about me tonight.”
YN’s breath hitched. She wanted to deny it, to tell him he was delusional, but the truth burned hotter in her chest than any denial ever could. She had thought about him. His presence lingered in the back of her mind all night, the ghost of his touch, the memory of his voice. It had tainted every polite smile, every harmless laugh, every fleeting touch from a man who wasn’t him.
“I hate you,” she whispered instead, the words trembling with a mixture of fury and something far more dangerous.
Terry’s mouth twisted into a wolfish grin. “Hate me all you want, Princess,” he drawled, his thumb brushing against her lower lip. “But don’t forget who makes you feel alive.”
Before she could respond, his lips crashed against hers, rough and unyielding. It wasn’t a kiss born of tenderness; it was hunger and frustration, a collision of wills that neither of them intended to lose. YN’s hands pushed against his chest, but it only seemed to fuel him further. He growled low in his throat, his teeth grazing her bottom lip before his tongue swept inside, claiming her in a way that made her knees buckle.
Her defiance melted into something impure, needier. Her fingers curled into the fabric of his shirt, pulling him closer even as she cursed herself for it. Terry’s hand slid down her back, gripping her waist and yanking her against him with a force that made her gasp into his mouth.
“You’re a piece of work,” she hissed when they finally broke apart, her chest heaving with shallow breaths.
“And you love every second of it,” he shot back, his voice dripping with arrogance. His hands didn’t stop moving, sliding under the hem of her top to find bare skin. The heat of his touch burned against her, sending shivers cascading down her spine.
“Terry…” Her voice faltered as his fingers dipped lower, tracing the curve of her hip. She hated how easily he unravelled her, how her body betrayed her with every shiver, every hitch of her breath.
“Shh,” he murmured, his lips finding the curve of her neck. He bit down lightly, just enough to make her gasp and clutch at his shoulders. “I told you, I’m not here to control you. But you’re going to remember exactly who you belong to by the time I’m done.”
With one swift motion, he lifted her onto the counter, his hands gripping her thighs with bruising force. YN barely had time to protest before his mouth was on hers again, devouring her in a kiss that left no room for argument. His hands pushed her dress higher, exposing more of her skin to the cool air and his insatiable touch.
She moaned into his mouth as his fingers slid between her thighs, finding her already soaked through. He chuckled darkly, the sound vibrating against her lips. “That’s what I thought,” he muttered, pulling back just enough to meet her gaze. “All night, you were mine. Even when you were with him.”
“Shut up,” she snapped, her cheeks flushing with a mixture of anger and arousal.
“Make me,” he challenged, his voice dripping with smug defiance.
She grabbed the back of his neck and pulled him down into another kiss, pouring every ounce of frustration and longing into it. But Terry wasn’t content to let her take control for long. His hand slid further up, his fingers pressing against her with a skill that had her crying out despite herself.
“Say it,” he demanded again, his breath hot against her ear as his fingers worked her relentlessly. “Say you’re mine.”
“Terry,” she gasped, her nails digging into his shoulders as the tension in her body built to an unbearable crescendo.
“Say it,” he growled, his voice taking on an edge that sent a shiver of both fear and excitement racing through her.
“I—I’m yours,” she choked out, the admission torn from her lips as her body betrayed her completely.
He grinned wickedly, his fingers pushing her over the edge with ruthless precision. “That’s my girl,” he murmured, his lips brushing against her temple as she shattered in his arms, her cries echoing through the room.
And he wasn’t done yet.
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Terry’s grip on YN’s hips tightened, the pads of his fingers digging into her flesh as he hovered above her. His eyes burned into hers, dark and unrelenting, as if trying to burn every unspoken word into her very soul. He leaned down, his mouth a breath away from hers, his lips brushing against hers as he murmured, “You only ever say my name tonight. Nothing else. No one else.”
Before she could respond, his lips descended on hers with bruising intensity. The kiss was all-consuming, a searing mix of dominance and desperation, his tongue delving into her mouth as though he could taste every word she hadn’t yet spoken. When he pulled back, his gaze swept over her swollen lips, and he smirked like a predator.
“You’re so fucking stubborn,” he muttered, his voice rough, laced with dark amusement. “Always trying to act tough. Always pretending like you don’t need me. But I’ll fix that.”
Without another word, he moved lower, kissing his way down her neck, leaving a trail of hot, open-mouthed kisses across her collarbone and between her breasts. His teeth scraped lightly against her skin, eliciting a shiver that had nothing to do with the chill in the air. He paused for a moment, watching her with an almost sadistic level of patience, as if daring her to tell him to stop.
She didn’t. She couldn’t.
His hands roamed lower, pushing her thighs apart with an ease that made her stomach twist with equal parts annoyance and anticipation. She was already dripping wet, the evidence of her arousal glistening in the low light. Terry groaned at the sight, a deep, primal sound that sent a jolt of electricity through her body.
“Look at you,” he said, almost to himself, as he trailed his fingers along her folds. “So fucking perfect. But you already knew that, didn’t you?”
Before she could muster any sort of response, he lowered his head between her thighs, his tongue swiping a deliberate, teasing stripe through her slickness. Her back arched involuntarily, a strangled gasp escaping her lips. Terry chuckled against her, the vibrations making her toes curl.
“That’s it,” he murmured, before diving in with a newfound ferocity. His tongue worked her clit in relentless circles, alternating between broad strokes and focused flicks that had her gripping the sheets for dear life. He didn’t stop there, though. Two of his fingers slipped inside her, curling upward in a way that made her see stars.
“Oh, fuck—Terry,” she choked out, her voice raw with desperation.
He hummed in approval, his name falling from her lips like a melody he wanted to hear on repeat. Her thighs began to tremble, the pressure building so quickly it almost scared her. She tried to pull away, overwhelmed by the intensity, but his hands clamped down on her hips, anchoring her in place.
“Uh-uh,” he growled, his lips never leaving her clit. “You’re not running from this. You’re taking everything I give you.”
The overstimulation had her head spinning, tears welling up in her eyes as her orgasm tore through her. She screamed his name, her body shaking uncontrollably as she soaked his fingers, his mouth, everything. Terry groaned in satisfaction, lapping up every drop like a man possessed.
When her body finally went limp, he sat back on his heels, wiping his mouth with the back of his hand. His eyes gleamed with something feral as he watched her struggle to catch her breath.
“Good girl,” he said, his voice dripping with smug satisfaction. “See? You don’t need anyone else. Just me.”
Before she could recover, he was on her again, positioning himself between her legs. He leaned down, spitting directly into her mouth, his gaze daring her to defy him. She swallowed without hesitation, her body responding to his dominance in ways she couldn’t control.
“That’s what I thought,” he muttered, lining himself up at her entrance. He pushed into her slowly, making her feel every inch of him, until he was buried to the hilt. He stayed there for a moment, letting her adjust, his eyes locked on hers.
“You’re mine,” he said, his voice low and possessive. “Say it.”
“Yours,” she gasped, her nails digging into his shoulders as he began to move. His thrusts were deep and deliberate, each one designed to remind her of exactly who she belonged to. The sound of skin against skin filled the room, punctuated by her cries and his grunts.
Her mind was a haze of pleasure and pain, the lines between the two blurring as he pushed her closer to the edge once more. When her responses began to falter, her head lolling to the side, he delivered a sharp slap to her cheek—not enough to hurt, but enough to snap her back into focus.
“Eyes on me,” he commanded, his voice cutting through the fog. “I want to see you come undone for me.”
She obeyed, her gaze locking onto his as her second orgasm ripped through her, even more intense than the first.
The final wave of his dominance surged as Terry pressed her deeper into the mattress, his thrusts growing slow but deliberate, each one hitting with a force that left her breathless. Her legs trembled uncontrollably around his waist, every overstimulated nerve in her body aflame, her cries breaking into fragmented whimpers.
His breathing grew heavier, ragged, the telltale signs of his release building. Still, he didn’t rush—he wanted her to feel it all. Every inch of his claim. His hand tightened around her throat as his lips brushed the shell of her ear, his voice dropping to a rough, guttural growl that sent a shiver down her spine.
"I’m going to cum deep inside you," he rasped, his words slow and deliberate, carrying the weight of his intent. "And you’re not going to let a single drop out. You need to feel me, baby—every part of me."
Her head flung back, her lips parted in a silent gasp, unable to do anything but nod as her body clung to him, every sensation amplified. She didn’t even have time to prepare as he thrust into her one final time, his release hitting her like a brand, searing and unrelenting.
The warmth of him filled her, explored her body like it belonged there, and Terry didn’t move—he stayed there, buried to the hilt, ensuring she took every ounce of him. His hand slid from her throat to her jaw, tilting her head up to meet his intense gaze. The raw satisfaction in his eyes mirrored the shattering chaos within her.
"Mine," he murmured, the word almost reverent, though it carried the weight of a command.
They stayed like that for a moment, tangled together in the aftermath, their breaths mingling as they came down from the high. Terry brushed a stray curl from her face, his touch surprisingly gentle despite everything that had just transpired.
“You’re not going anywhere,” he said softly, almost tenderly, though the possessiveness in his tone was unmistakable. “Not tonight. Not ever.”
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comments and reblogs are appreciated as well as feedback, i hope you liked it 🫶🏾🫶🏾🫶🏾
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wcters · 3 months ago
Text
𝗦𝗣𝗜𝗡 𝗢𝗨𝗧
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pairing: lando norris x fem!driver!reader
word count: 1.2k+
summary: your boyfriend is there as you crash out in a race
warnings: pda, some swearing, injury mentions, protective lando, i guessed on some stuff | i do not know how certain things work in f1 so if i messed that up i am sorry 😚😔
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Your pre-race playlist filled your ears as you leaned the side of your body against the wall of the track barrier. Even though you’d done this so many times before, it doesn’t lessen the nerves in your body. It wasn’t even your first time on this track, yet it had you picking the skin off you fingers as you zoned out.
You were pulled out as someone came up behind you and wrapped their arms around your waist, grabbing your hands and holding them in theirs. You knew who it was right when you saw their hands. You looked behind you to see your boyfriend. You freed your hand from one of Lando’s and took out an earbud. “Stop picking.” Is the first thing you heard out of him.
“Sorry,” you replied as you took the hand still holding his and brining it up to your mouth and kissed his knuckles, “just nervous.” He smiled softly at you and turned you around to pull you into his chest. “I know, but you’re going to do great.” “So I guess you see the future now, yeah?” You joked. He shrugged his shoulders, “one of my many talents.” “Sure.”
Lando had come to see you race because it was the one race that didn’t take place at the same time as his did. The Bahrain Grand Prix had just taken place about three days before. He had taken a day to himself before he came and joined you in Jeddah. It was challenging with both of your schedules but you made it work, you always did. You both knew the risks and the troubles of two F1 drivers dating, and you both were prepared.
He poked your cheek. “Hey, are you sure you’re okay?” He asked you. “Yeah. Just have a feeling something will go wrong today.” You said lowly as you looked at the cars on the track. “You’ll be fine, y/n. You’ve had this before and nothing happened.” You nodded into his chest as you breathed in and out. Right as you pulled away your race engineer came up to you and told you it was time. Lando kissed you and wished you good luck as you handed him your phone and earbuds and put your mask and helmet on.
Time passed quickly ━━ probably because of the adrenaline ━━ and before you knew it you were in your car watching the lights. Your hands felt sweaty under your gloves as you didn’t dare to blink. You didn’t want to miss it. As the lights went out, your car came to life and you sped ahead. That feeling of something going wrong was still there but you tried to shake it off and focus on the race.
Lando was in the garage with your engineer and mechanics, eyes peeled on the screen. He noticed how shaken up you were and he was worried. Like he said to you, you’d felt this before but this time he could tell something about it was different. His hands were shaking as he kept his eyes on you and talked to your engineer to try to calm himself down.
Your voice interrupted his senses as he watched you enter your 24th lap. “Somethings up with the tires, I’m getting no grip.” His eyes flicked to the man beside him. “Noted. See if you can hold on a little longer.” Your engineer’s voice filled your ears. “Got it.” Lando was left alone after that as your engineer got up to talk to the mechanics.
When the big screen showed your car, Lando got worried. He saw how little traction your tires had and how you were slipping on your turns. He could hear the commentators voice as well commenting on that as you finish the 27th turn and get ready to start your 25th lap.
As he watched you speed up the track, he didn’t even notice until after it happened. As you tried to turn on the first turn, you tires skidded across the track and you couldn’t complete the second turn, causing your car to crash into the barrier. It didn’t look too bad, but all Lando could hear was silence and all he could think about is if you were okay.
“Y/n? Are you okay?” Your engineers voice cut into the silence of the radio. He got even more worried when you didn’t answer. “Y/n? Baby?” Lando asked into the headset. More silence. He turned around to see if anyone knew what was happening until he finally heard your voice.
“Doing great.” You grunted. “Nothings broken ━━ I don’t think ━━ but my side does hurt. I think I might’ve bruised it when I hit the barrier.” Lando sighed it relief. He was right, it wasn’t too bad. Nothing was broken and you thought it was just a bruise.
“The safety car’s been deployed and it heading your way. Don’t go running anywhere.” You engineer instructed you. “Not going anywhere,” you joked with a light laugh before a hiss came out. With only some trouble you eventually made it out of the car and sat against the barrier to wait for the safety car. You could tell that Lando was worried by the sound of his voice . . . and because you know him. You and him were on the same wavelength, if you could describe it in any way. You felt things the same, and because of that you knew how the other was feeling. You felt the same when he crashed in the Las Vegas GP. It was almost the same too, you spinning out and hitting the barrier. It was entirely coincidental.
You sighed in relief when you saw the safety car ━━ you were ready to get out of there. Your side hurt like a bitch, way more than it did before, and your legs were starting to get tingly. The adrenaline must be wearing out. Lando never turned his gaze away from the screen as they put you in the safety car. He knew you were in good hands, but it ultimately didn’t matter to him. Anything could go wrong.
Lando was right beside you when you got out of the safety car and taken to the doctors on site before you were taken to the hospital. As you were in getting checked out the the doctors, Lando was rambling. “They should’ve taken you off the tires when you told them. They should’ve taken it more seriously. If they had then ━━“ You interrupted him by putting your hand over the one that was holding yours. “It’s fine. If I had felt more nervous I would’ve boxed anyway. Plus, Will would’ve done the same and you would be acting like me. It’s not their fault.”
He sighed, and you knew he knew that you were right. “I know, I just worry.” You kissed his hand, “I know you do. And I do too when the same things happen to you. But I’m fine. They’ll take me to the hospital where they’ll double check I have no injuries. If it makes you feel better I’ll even let you check.” You joked. He laughed and shrugged. “I wouldn’t mind that.”
The doctors eventually told you that you were good to go to the hospital. Nothing looked too bad, but it was standard procedure. You sat up with a groan and Lando immediately made a face. You shot him a look. “C’mon, I’m fine.” He didn’t agree. You rolled your eyes. “Let’s go, you’re coming with me to the ambulance. Maybe they’ll let you turn on the sirens.”
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kiwriteswords · 2 months ago
Note
begs nicely for bombshell reader
In the Margin
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Pairing: Aaron Hotchner x Bombshell!Female Reader||Word Count: 6k
Tags/Warnings: canon-typical themes, flirting, fluff, finance talk, banter, Hotch is a softie for Penelope.
Sypnosis: Aaron Hotchner’s weekly budget meetings with you, the sharp-tongued BAU financial analyst, become an unexpected mix of humor, wit, and simmering tension as professional boundaries blur. Between team antics, Penelope’s creative expenses, and your playful challenges, Hotch finds himself navigating far more than just numbers.
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Aaron Hotchner wasn’t sure if he hated the newly implemented weekly budget meetings because they disrupted his already packed schedule or because of you, the BAU’s Operations Department Budget Analyst.
No--that wasn’t fair. It wasn’t that he hated you. It was that he hated how much he didn’t hate you. You were sharp-tongued, confident, and armed with a wit so quick it could cut him to ribbons before he even knew he was bleeding. It didn’t help that you looked like you belonged on a movie set rather than in a conference room dissecting every penny spent by his team.
He adjusted his tie as he entered the room. You were already seated at the head of the table, a tablet in front of you and a pen in hand, tapping it rhythmically against the desk as you scanned a detailed report. He knew that was meant for him. It was always meant for him.
“Good morning, Agent Hotchner,” you greeted without looking up. “Let’s talk about how your team managed to burn through three months of budget in--oh, a month and a half.” Your eyes finally met his, and the smile you gave him could only be described as predatory.
“Good morning, Miss. Y/L/N.” He placed his briefcase on the table and sat across from you. “I see we’re getting right into it today.”
“Well, Aaron”—and wasn’t that a bold move? Using his first name like that—“I’d love to make small talk, but someone”—you leaned forward conspiratorially, voice dropping as if this was the world’s biggest secret—“decided we needed to order customized iPad cases last month. For everyone. Including” You looked back down to the itemized invoice,"‘Penelope Garcia’s-second-backup-iPad.’”
Hotch rubbed a hand over his face. “That would be Garcia,” he said dryly.
You laughed, and the sound was like a reward he didn’t know he was aiming for. “Oh, Aaron. It’s always Penelope, isn’t it?”
The meetings became a staple of his week, though not by choice. What had started as a quarterly formality became a monthly necessity when you joined the department and discovered Penelope’s propensity for colorful, extravagant expenditures. But the kicker came two months ago, when Penelope had gone rogue with the budget to fund her “absolutely vital” initiative to replace paper case files with digital ones—complete with the max amount of storage, of course. You’d retaliated by instituting weekly budget reviews.
“She knows,” Hotch told Penelope one afternoon in her lair. “She knows it was you.”
Penelope gasped dramatically. “How does she know? Wait—does she have surveillance on me? Did she bug my office? Tell. Me. She didn’t bug my office.”
“She didn’t bug your office, Garcia,” Hotch said, pinching the bridge of his nose. “She knows because you send her invoices.”
Penelope frowned. “But those were justified expenses!”
“She’s not convinced.” Hotch sighed. “Neither is the finance department.”
“Well, maybe if she’d loosen up a bit—”
“She’s very loose, Garcia,” Hotch muttered before realizing how that sounded. Penelope’s grin was instant, and Hotch scowled. “Don’t.”
“I’m just saying,” she teased, “you’ve been spending a lot of time with Miss. Y/N Y/L/N. Maybe you like these meetings more than you’re letting on.”
He left her office before she could get another word in.
The meetings evolved into more than budget disputes. You had a way of challenging Hotch that nobody else did. You questioned his decisions—not about cases, but about expenses. You turned a dry meeting into something that felt like a battle of wits, and despite himself, Hotch found he didn’t mind the sparring.
“So, tell me,” you said during one particularly contentious meeting, “why does Penelope need a beanbag chair? Let me guess—‘it fosters creative thinking.’”
Hotch cleared his throat; his years of being quick on his feet as a lawyer somehow always did him good when it came to defending Penelope’s spending. “She has unique requirements for her workspace.”
“Unique, huh?” You leaned back in your chair, crossing your legs, and Hotch caught himself looking before he forced his gaze back up. “And the collection of...neon gel pens? Also, a unique requirement?”
“She…has a system.”
You laughed again, and Hotch felt the corners of his mouth twitch. He’d smiled more in these meetings than in most social situations, not that he’d admit it.
“You’re lucky you’re cute,” you said casually, pointing your pen at him, and Hotch stiffened. You were already standing, gathering your papers. “Meeting adjourned. See you next week, Aaron.”
It wasn’t until two months into weekly meetings that things finally shifted.
You caught him in the break room late one evening, well after everyone else had gone home. “Aaron,” you greeted, leaning against the counter with a mischievous glint in your eye. “Did you know your coffee expenses are also over budget?”
Hotch turned, mug in hand. “Should I expect an itemized report on my caffeine consumption?”
You smirked. “Already on your desk.”
The air between you crackled, and for the first time, Hotch saw something beyond the wit and the barbs. He set his mug down and stepped closer, his voice low. “You enjoy giving me a hard time.”
You tilted your head, smiling. “And you enjoy taking it.”
“Do I?” he challenged.
“Don’t you?” you shot back, and the look in your eyes was enough to make him question every professional boundary he’d ever adhered to.
He took another step closer, close enough that he could see the faint trace of amusement in your expression. “This feels like it’s about more than the budget.”
“It definitely is,” you said, your voice softer now. “Maybe I think you could use a little…loosening up.”
Hotch let himself smile just a little. “And you think you’re the person to help me with that?”
You grinned, pushing off the counter and brushing past him, close enough that he caught the faintest hint of your perfume. “I know I am.”
The budget meetings continued, but now, the tension between you and Hotch wasn’t just professional. It simmered, unspoken but palpable, until it was only a matter of time before one of you crossed the line.
And Hotch couldn’t wait to see who would make the first move.
Hotch had a long day ahead of him. Between case briefs, team check-ins, and the weekly budget meeting you’d so gleefully instituted, he felt like the universe was conspiring against him. It didn’t help that Penelope Garcia had texted him earlier with an ominous, “Sir! Big news! You’ll thank me later.”
When he stepped into the bullpen, the team was gathered around Penelope, who stood in the center like a magician about to unveil her latest trick.
“Ladies and gentlemen,” she announced, waving her hands dramatically, “I give you the latest and greatest tech upgrade to grace the halls of the BAU!”
Hotch pinched the bridge of his nose as the team collectively oohed and aahed over the sleek new monitors now adorning every desk.
“Garcia,” he said, his tone low and measured, “please tell me this was approved through the appropriate channels.”
Penelope turned to him with a smile so wide it could only mean trouble. “Of course it was, sir!” Then, after a beat, she added, “I mean, I may have pulled a few strings. But can you really put a price on efficiency and team morale?”
Rossi, seated casually nearby, chimed in. “I’ll admit, it’s a nice touch. Maybe next month, you can swing for some leather chairs in the conference room. The kind that recline.”
Hotch shot him a withering look. “Don’t encourage her.”
Penelope pouted. “Come on, Hotch! You know these upgrades are totally needed. Plus, they match my aesthetic.” She gestured to her own office.
He sighed. “You know who’s going to have to explain this, don’t you?”
Her grin didn’t waver. “That’s why you’re the boss.”
Later, Hotch found himself standing outside your office, mentally preparing for the inevitable. When he knocked, you barely looked up from your screen. “Ah, Aaron,” you said, your voice dripping with mock sweetness. “What brings you to my humble lair? Let me guess—Penelope strikes again?”
He stepped inside, closing the door behind him. “You heard?”
“I always hear.” You gestured to the chair across from your desk. “Sit, and tell me why I shouldn’t slash your team's budget to nothing.”
Hotch sat, rubbing his temples. “She upgraded the monitors.”
Your laughter filled the room, light and musical. “Monitors? Really? Did she bedazzle them too?”
“She might have,” he muttered. “Look, I know it’s excessive, but the team…they rely on her. She keeps things running smoothly.”
You raised an eyebrow. “Running smoothly or running through money?”
Hotch gave you a flat look, which only made you grin wider.
“Alright, Aaron,” you said, leaning forward. “Here’s the deal. We can refinance a few line items. Maybe cut back on travel expenses for conferences nobody attends. But I need you to do me a favor.”
“What kind of favor?” he asked warily.
You tapped your pen against your desk, pretending to consider. “How about you keep coming to these meetings on time? And,” you added with a smirk, “try not to look so grumpy when you do.”
Hotch’s lips twitched, threatening a smile. “I’ll see what I can do.”
The next meeting was no less contentious, but there was a new edge to the banter.
“You really went to bat for Penelope this week,” you said, flipping through your notes. “Is she holding something over you? A dark secret, perhaps? Did she catch you sneaking an extra slice of cake at Rossi’s last party?”
Hotch gave you a pointed look. “She’s an integral part of the team.”
“And I’m sure the sparkly monitor really enhances her skillset,” you quipped. “What’s next? A gold-plated stapler?”
“Don’t give her ideas.”
You laughed, and he found himself staring at the way your eyes lit up when you did. It was distracting. You were distracting.
“So,” you continued, turning serious, “how do you propose we make this work? I’ve crunched the numbers, and unless you want to start holding bake sales, something’s gotta give.”
Hotch straightened in his chair. “Rossi suggested cutting back on the print subscriptions.”
“Oh, no,” you said, feigning horror. “What will he do without his monthly shipment of Fine Living Magazine?”
Hotch sighed. “You’re enjoying this far too much.”
“Maybe,” you admitted. “But only because you make it so easy.”
As the weeks went on, the tension between you and Hotch became undeniable. The banter turned sharper, the lingering glances longer, the air in those meetings thicker with something unspoken.
It all came to a head late one evening, long after everyone else had gone home. Hotch was leaving his office when he saw your light still on. Against his better judgment, he knocked and stepped inside.
“Still working?” he asked.
You glanced up, surprised. “Someone’s gotta keep the lights on.”
He closed the door behind him. “You don’t have to do it alone.”
“Is that an offer to help?” you asked, leaning back in your chair. “Because I could use a second set of eyes on these reports.”
Hotch stepped closer, the tension crackling between you like static electricity. "You’re good at what you do. The team is lucky to have you.”
For once, your usual smirk faltered. “Thanks, Aaron.”
The silence stretched, heavy with possibility. Then you smiled again, playful and challenging. “Careful, Hotchner. If you keep talking like that, I might start thinking you actually like me.”
He let out a rare laugh, low and genuine. “Maybe I do.”
Your eyes widened slightly before you recovered, your grin turning sly. “Well, that’s a start.”
The next budget meeting arrived with its usual dose of tension—and not just the financial kind. Hotch entered the conference room early, a strategic move to reclaim some semblance of control. You were already there, of course, seated at the head of the table, the tablet glowing in front of you.
“Early today,” you said, glancing at your watch with mock surprise. “Did someone finally read my strongly worded emails about punctuality?”
"I'm always on time, and I always read your emails,” he replied dryly, taking his usual seat across from you.
“Sure you do,” you said, a playful smirk tugging at your lips. “That’s why you never respond.”
“I’m busy running a team of federal agents.”
“And yet somehow Penelope has time to order monogrammed pen holders.”
Hotch sighed, his hand already moving to rub at the bridge of his nose. “You’re never going to let that one go, are you?”
“Not a chance, Aaron.”
The meeting was halfway through when Penelope barged in, her presence as colorful as ever.
“Sir!” she chirped, holding a bright pink folder that screamed unnecessary expense. “Quick update—I managed to upgrade the entire team’s software licenses. State of the art, cutting-edge, only the best for my BAU fam.”
Hotch stared at her, his mouth a thin line. “Garcia, we discussed this.”
“I know!” she said, beaming. “That’s why I made sure to get a bulk discount. I saved us 12%.”
You leaned back in your chair, biting your lip to stifle a laugh. “Twelve percent? Wow, Aaron, she’s practically a financial wizard.”
Hotch glared at you. “Don’t encourage her.”
“I’m just saying,” you continued, “with savings like that, we’ll be out of the red in no time. What’s next, Penelope? A popcorn machine for movie nights in the bullpen?”
“Oh my God,” Penelope gasped, her eyes lighting up. “That’s genius. The camaraderie…I—”
“No,” Hotch said firmly. “Absolutely not.”
Penelope pouted, but she left without further incident. As soon as the door closed, you turned to Hotch, eyes gleaming with amusement.
“She’s incredible,” you said, shaking your head. “Completely unhinged--but incredible.”
“She’s a lot of things,” Hotch muttered. “Mostly expensive.”
“And you,” you added, grinning, “are such a softie for her.”
Hotch scoffed, leaning back in his chair, but the slight upward twitch of his lips betrayed him. “Softie? I’m her supervisor, not her enabler.”
You laughed, a low, melodic sound that Hotch had come to recognize as the precursor to trouble. “Please. You bend over backward for her, and we both know it.”
“She’s part of my team,” he replied evenly. “It’s my job to advocate for them.”
“Advocating for a new monitor system with glitter decals?” you teased, leaning forward slightly, your grin widening. “Aaron, that’s not advocacy—that’s indulgence. She's like your team's equivalent to 'happy wife, happy life.'"
Hotch crossed his arms, his stoicism cracking just enough to let his dry humor slip through. “I’d call it picking my battles.”
“Oh, really?” you shot back. “And what battle are you avoiding by letting Penelope order custom beanbag chairs?”
His lips pressed into a thin line, but you caught the faintest glimmer of amusement in his eyes. “Do you know what happens if I say no to her?”
“I can only imagine,” you said, leaning your chin on your hand. “Please, enlighten me.”
“She gets creative,” Hotch said gravely. “Very creative. The last time I vetoed one of her purchases, she launched a campaign with color-coded charts and heartfelt video testimonials from the team about how much they needed a slushie machine in the bullpen.”
Your laughter filled the room again, and Hotch let the corners of his mouth lift ever so slightly. “A slushie machine? You’ve got to give her credit—that’s bold....and random.”
“She called it a ‘hydration initiative,’” he deadpanned.
You leaned back, shaking your head in disbelief. “You are such a softie.”
“I’m pragmatic,” he corrected, his tone firm but not unkind. “It’s easier to approve the monitors than to explain to Strauss why there’s a PowerPoint presentation titled ‘Ice-Cold Justice.’”
You clapped a hand over your mouth to muffle your laughter, and Hotch found himself momentarily distracted by the way your eyes sparkled with amusement. It wasn’t often he let himself relax enough to notice those things, but with you, it was becoming harder to keep the line between professional and personal intact.
“And yet,” you finally said, regaining your composure, “you’re here, pleading her case to me instead of just putting your foot down.”
“She has her merits,” he admitted, his voice softening just enough to remind you why people followed him so loyally. “The work she does is critical. Even when it’s…excessive.”
“See? Softie,” you said triumphantly, pointing your pen at him. “You can’t fool me, Hotchner. You’re all gruff on the outside, but deep down, you’re just one big teddy bear.”
“I’m not sure that’s how the rest of the Bureau would describe me,” he replied dryly.
“Well,” you said, leaning forward with a sly smile, “the rest of the Bureau doesn’t get to see you begging for beanbags.”
He gave you a long, measured look, and for a moment, the air between you seemed to shift. “I don’t beg.”
“No?” you challenged, raising an eyebrow. “What would you call this, then?”
“I’d call it negotiation,” he replied, his voice low but steady. “And if you’re not careful, I might actually win.”
Your grin widened. “Now that I’d like to see.”
Hotch allowed himself a small smirk, the kind that was so rare it felt like a reward in itself. “Don’t tempt me.”
“Oh, Aaron,” you said, leaning back in your chair, your tone playful and just a little daring. “I live to tempt you.”
For a brief moment, the tension crackled, sharper than the wit you both wielded like weapons. Then you straightened, tapping your pen against the table as if to signal the end of the moment.
“Alright, Mr. Softie,” you said lightly, “I’ll see what I can do about those monitors. But don’t think this means you’re getting that cappuccino machine Rossi asked for.”
Hotch stood, smoothing his tie as if to regain his composure. “One victory at a time.”
As he turned to leave, you called after him, your voice laced with amusement. “Don’t forget to tell Penelope her beanbags are still on the chopping block.”
He paused at the door, glancing back at you with a look that was almost fond. “I wouldn’t dream of it.”
By the time Hotch left the meeting, he felt thoroughly defeated. You had grilled him on every expenditure, from coffee pods to the mysterious disappearance of two office chairs. You’d teased him mercilessly, of course, but you’d also offered solutions, which only made you more infuriatingly attractive.
Later that afternoon, Rossi cornered him in his office.
“Aaron,” Rossi began, settling into the chair across from his desk. “I have a proposition.”
“Should I be worried?”
“Not at all,” Rossi said smoothly. “I’ve been re-thinking about how to improve morale around here. You know what we need? A cappuccino machine. The kind they have in those fancy Italian cafes.”
Hotch blinked. “A cappuccino machine. We talked about this. We have coffee in the break room.”
Rossi looked hurt by Hotch's definition of coffee. “That isn’t coffee. This is an investment in productivity. Caffeine keeps the team sharp.”
“You’re serious.”
“Completely.”
Hotch exhaled, running a hand through his hair. “You do realize I have to explain this to Y/L/N?”
Rossi grinned. “You’re good with words. I’m sure you’ll figure it out.”
That evening, Hotch found himself in your office again, this time with what he knew was a losing argument.
“A cappuccino machine?” you repeated, arching an eyebrow. “Is that really where we’re at again?”
“Rossi insists it’s for team morale.”
You laughed, leaning forward on your desk. “Aaron, if I approve this, what’s next? A hot tub in the break room? A second private jet for local cases?”
He gave you a long-suffering look. “I wouldn’t put it past Rossi to suggest either of those.”
Your laughter bubbled out again, and a small smile that tugged at Hotch’s lips. “You’re impossible,” he muttered.
“You mean brilliant,” you corrected, your tone playful. “Come on, admit it—you love these little matches.”
Hotch hesitated, just long enough for the moment to stretch between you. “I do.”
Your smirk softened into something more genuine. “Well, don’t get too comfortable, Hotchner. You might actually win one of these someday.”
“And if I do?”
Your grin turned sly again. “Guess you’ll just have to wait and see.”
The tension between you and Hotch simmered like an unsaid promise, lingering in the spaces between your words and the way your eyes lingered just a beat too long. It wasn’t until another late night when the office was quiet and the shadows stretched long, that Hotch found himself once again at your door.
“You know,” you said as he stepped inside, “if you keep showing up here after hours, people are going to start talking.”
“Let them,” he said, surprising himself with the bluntness of his response.
You raised an eyebrow, leaning back in your chair. “That sounded suspiciously like flirting.”
“Did it?”
You smiled, slow and dangerous. “It did. And for the record, Aaron, I don’t mind.”
For once, Aaron Hotchner didn’t have a retort. Instead, he let the silence speak, the weight of it filled with possibilities he hadn’t dared entertain before.
And when you smiled at him again, he thought that maybe—just maybe—this was the start of something worth breaking the rules for.
Hotch stood frozen in the doorway for a moment longer than necessary, your words echoing in his mind. “For the record, Aaron, I don’t mind.”
He cleared his throat, stepping fully into your office and closing the door behind him. It wasn’t often that Aaron Hotchner found himself at a loss for words, but there was something about you—your sharp tongue, your disarming wit, the way you looked at him like you knew exactly what you were doing—that threw him off balance.
You leaned back in your chair, studying him with a mixture of curiosity and amusement. “What brings you here this time? More cappuccino machine negotiations? Or did Rossi decide the bullpen needs a wine fridge?”
“Neither,” he said, his voice steady but quieter than usual. “I wanted to talk.”
“Oh, talk,” you said, your lips curving into a playful smile. “That sounds serious.”
“It is,” he admitted, surprising himself again with his own candor.
You arched an eyebrow, tilting your head slightly. “Alright, Aaron. You’ve got my attention. What’s on your mind?”
He hesitated, not because he didn’t know what to say, but because he wasn’t sure how far he was willing to let this go. The boundary between professional and personal was already blurred; one more step and it might vanish entirely. And yet, as you sat there watching him with that sly, confident smile, he found he didn’t care as much as he should have.
“You,” he said finally, the single word weighted with more meaning than he intended.
Your smile faltered for just a second, replaced by something softer, more vulnerable. Then it was back, brighter and sharper than ever. “Well, that’s unexpected. Flattered, of course, but unexpected.”
He allowed himself a small smile, stepping closer to your desk. “I doubt anything surprises you.”
“Not often,” you admitted, leaning forward slightly. “But I’ll admit, I didn’t peg you as the type to make the first move.”
“Who says this is a move?”
You laughed, the sound warm and low. “Oh, Aaron. If this isn’t a move, then I’m very curious to see what one looks like.”
He didn’t answer right away, letting the silence hang between you like a challenge. Finally, he leaned forward, placing his hands on your desk, and met your gaze head-on.
“What if I am making a move?” he asked, his voice steady but tinged with something that made your breath catch.
For the first time since he’d met you, you seemed genuinely caught off guard. Your confident smirk wavered, replaced by a flicker of something more tentative. It was a rare moment of vulnerability, and it struck him in a way he hadn’t anticipated.
“Well,” you said after a beat, your voice quieter than before. “In that case, I’d say it’s about time.”
His heart thudded once, hard and unexpected, and for a moment, he forgot where he was. Forgot who he was. All he could think about was how close you were, how easy it would be to reach across the desk and close the distance.
But then you leaned back, your smile returning with a hint of mischief. “Of course, if this isn’t a move, I’d hate to embarrass myself.”
“Consider yourself safe,” he said, straightening but not stepping back. “For now.”
Your laughter filled the room again, light and teasing. “Careful, Aaron. I’m thinking you actually enjoy these little games.”
“I do,” he said, surprising himself once more with his honesty.
You tilted your head, studying him with a newfound intensity. “Well, in that case, I’ll make sure to keep things interesting.”
As he left your office that night, the air between you charged with unspoken tension, Aaron Hotchner realized something he hadn’t allowed himself to consider before: he wasn’t just drawn to you because of your sharp wit or your undeniable charm. He was drawn to you because you made him feel something he hadn’t felt in a long time.
Alive.
The roundtable room was unusually quiet when Hotch gathered the team for an impromptu meeting. That should have been his first clue. They were always at their most dangerous when they were waiting for the hammer to drop.
“All right,” he began, standing at the head of the conference table. “We need to talk about the budget.”
Rossi leaned back in his chair, a smirk already forming. “This is about the cappuccino machine, isn’t it?”
“It’s not about the cappuccino machine,” Hotch said firmly. “Though that’s still off the table.”
“Good thing I didn’t submit the requisition for the margarita blender,” Morgan muttered, earning a stifled laugh from JJ.
Hotch gave him a pointed look before continuing. “We’ve been asked to cut back on end-of-year expenses. That means scaling back on travel accommodations for the next few cases.”
“Scaling back how?” Prentiss asked, her tone cautious.
“Fewer hotels,” Hotch said. “We’ll have to bunk up where possible.”
There was a collective groan around the table.
“Bunk up?” Garcia appeared in the doorway, her dramatic gasp signaling she’d overheard. “Do you mean to tell me we, the esteemed agents of the BAU, are being reduced to sharing rooms? What is this, a slumber party?”
“Garcia, you rarely travel with us. Would it kill you to share a room with JJ or Emily for a few nights, if and when you do?” Hotch asked, his tone dry.
“It’s not about me, sir,” Garcia replied, clutching her chest like he’d wounded her. “It’s about the principle. We’re public servants, heroes even. Heroes deserve better than twin beds and bad room service.”
“Twin beds?” Reid asked, looking genuinely horrified.
Morgan leaned back in his chair, arms crossed. “Come on, Hotch. We all know you’ve got an in with Y/N in finance. Can’t she pull some strings before Garcia does?”
Hotch’s jaw tightened, but he kept his expression neutral. “Y/N is doing her job, just like the rest of us.”
“Oh, is that what they’re calling it now?” Rossi said with a grin, earning a ripple of laughter from the team.
“Funny,” Hotch deadpanned. “But unless any of you have a better solution, this is how it’s going to be.”
“Sure, sure,” Morgan said, his grin widening. “But if anyone could sweet-talk Y/N, it’s you, Hotch. You’ve got that whole brooding, stoic charm thing going for you. She loves that.”
“I’m not sweet-talking anyone,” Hotch said, his tone clipped.
“Really?” Prentiss chimed in, raising an eyebrow. “Because rumor has it you’ve been spending a lot of time in her office lately.”
“That’s called managing the budget,” Hotch replied evenly, though his ears felt uncomfortably warm. “The budget we keep going over. Which is what I’m trying to do right now.”
“Right,” JJ said, her voice full of mock seriousness. “Managing the budget.”
The laughter around the table grew louder, and even Garcia joined in with an exaggerated wink.
Hotch sighed, pinching the bridge of his nose. “This conversation is over.”
“But the bunking isn’t,” Rossi said, still grinning. “Good to know.”
Later, Hotch sat across from you, his tie slightly loosened after the long day. The hum of your sarcasm was already in the air, a comfort he’d never admit aloud.
“Back so soon?” you asked, glancing up from your tablet. “What’s the crisis this time? Let me guess—the team didn’t take kindly to the budgeting suggestion?”
“They had…questions,” Hotch replied, his tone dry. “And commentary.”
“Oh, I’m sure,” you said, smirking as you leaned back in your chair. “Let me guess: Rossi wants to requisition a wine fridge instead of a cappuccino machine? Garcia--who if I remember correctly doesn’t even travel with the team--staged a protest? Or did Morgan suggest you charm me into pulling some strings?”
Hotch blinked, caught momentarily off guard. “Actually, yes. That’s almost word for word what he said.”
You laughed, the sound warm and far too satisfying. “I knew it. The whole team thinks I’m your budgetary fairy godmother, don’t they?”
“They’re not subtle about it,” he admitted, leaning forward slightly. “And if I’m honest, they’re starting to have…suspicions.”
Your eyebrows lifted, your smirk turning into a full-blown grin. “Oh, suspicions, huh? About what exactly?”
“That I might have an ‘in’ with you,” he said, his tone measured but carrying a hint of something wry. “And that I use it to get my way.”
You tilted your head, resting your chin on your hand. “Well, you do have an in with me, Aaron.”
“I do?” he asked, raising a brow.
“Mm-hmm,” you said, your grin widening. “You come in here all brooding and stoic, with that deep voice and those puppy-dog eyes, and I’m supposed to say no to you? Please.”
He let out a rare chuckle, low and brief. “So you’re saying you find me…persuasive?”
“I’m saying I find you irritating,” you replied, though the teasing lilt in your voice betrayed you. “But occasionally charming.”
“Occasionally?” he repeated, quirking an eyebrow.
“Don’t push your luck,” you said, though your smile hadn’t wavered. “Now, what exactly are you hoping I’ll do?”
Hotch straightened, slipping back into his professional demeanor. “The travel budget is tight. We need to cut back on some of the accommodations for the next few cases. If there’s any room to reallocate funds or find efficiencies, I’d like your input.”
You studied him for a moment, your pen tapping against the desk. “You know,” you said finally, “you could’ve just sent an email. But you didn’t, which means you wanted to have this conversation in person.”
“Maybe I thought it would be more effective,” he said, his voice steady.
“And maybe,” you said, leaning forward with a sly smile, “you just like spending time with me.”
Hotch’s gaze held yours, the tension between you thick enough to cut. “Maybe the team isn’t wrong to have their suspicions.”
That caught you off guard, and for the briefest moment, your confident grin faltered. Then you recovered, your smile turning soft around the edges. “Well, if you’re going to keep coming to me, Aaron, I guess I’ll have to live up to their expectations.”
“So you’ll help?” he asked, his voice quiet but steady.
You rolled your eyes, though your grin didn’t fade. “Of course, I’ll help. But only because I’d hate for Garcia to have to share a room on the rare chance she joined you on a trip. Can you imagine the drama?”
Hotch stood, his lips curving into a rare, genuine smile. “Thank you.”
“Don’t thank me yet,” you said, your tone playful. “I might make you owe me one.”
He paused at the door, glancing back at you. “I think I already do.”
Your laughter followed him out, and Hotch didn’t mind giving up a little control.
The next few weeks blurred into a whirlwind of cases, budget meetings, and what Hotch could only describe as a game of mutual teasing with you that he wasn’t entirely sure he wanted to win. The team’s jabs about his “in” with you only got more relentless, but the truth was, they weren’t wrong. He found himself seeking out your company more often than he’d care to admit, and not just because of budgetary crises.
One evening, well after most of the team had gone home, Hotch walked into your office to find you perched on the edge of your desk, heels kicked off, and a pen tucked behind your ear as you typed furiously on your tablet.
“You work too much,” he said by way of greeting, leaning casually against the doorframe.
You glanced up, smirking. “Says the man who just came from his own office. What brings you here, Aaron? More budget drama? Or are you just here for the company?”
He stepped inside, closing the door behind him. “Would it be so bad if it were both?”
Your eyebrows lifted in surprise, but the smile that followed was slow and dangerous. “Well, well. Are you finally admitting that you like me?”
He hesitated for half a second before replying, his voice low but steady. “I think you already know I do.”
That made you pause. Your usual sharp wit seemed momentarily replaced by something softer, something vulnerable, before you quickly masked it with your trademark confidence. “I don’t think I’ve ever seen you flirt before, Hotchner. You’re better at it than I expected.”
“I don’t flirt,” he said, stepping closer. “At least, not intentionally.”
“Oh,” you said, your voice dropping slightly. “So this is just you being your naturally charming self?”
“Something like that,” he replied, the corner of his mouth lifting in a faint smirk.
You laughed, shaking your head as you set your tablet aside. “You know, if you keep talking like that, I might start to think you’re actually serious.”
“What if I am?” he asked, taking another step closer.
Your grin faltered, replaced by a flicker of uncertainty. “Aaron…”
He stopped just in front of you, close enough that he could see the faintest flush on your cheeks. “I didn’t mean for this to happen,” he said quietly. “But I don’t regret it.”
You tilted your head, studying him as if trying to determine whether he was being sincere. Then, slowly, your lips curved into a soft, almost shy smile that he hadn’t seen before. “Well, that’s good,” you said, your voice lighter now. “Because I’d hate to think I’ve been wasting my time trying to get under your skin.”
“You’ve been very effective,” he admitted, his voice laced with dry humor.
You laughed again, the tension between you easing slightly. “Good to know.”
For a moment, the two of you simply stood there, the air between you charged with possibilities. Then you leaned forward just enough that your shoulder brushed his, your voice dropping to a near whisper. “So what now, Aaron? You going to keep playing it safe, or are you finally going to make a move and follow through?”
Hotch held your gaze, his pulse quickening in a way that was entirely unfamiliar and yet oddly welcome. “You’re not going to make this easy, are you?”
“Where’s the fun in that?” you replied, your grin returning.
Before he could overthink it, he leaned down, his hand resting lightly on the edge of your desk as his lips brushed against yours. The kiss was brief but electric, leaving both of you slightly breathless when he pulled back.
“Well,” you said after a moment, your voice a little unsteady but filled with warmth. “That’s one way to balance the budget.”
Hotch chuckled softly, his forehead resting lightly against yours. “I hope that’s not the only thing you take away from this.”
“Oh, don’t worry,” you said, your grin turning wicked again. “I’ll send you the itemized breakdown tomorrow.”
He laughed, a rare, genuine sound, and as the two of you stood there in the quiet of your office, Hotch couldn’t help but think that maybe, just maybe, this was exactly what he’d been missing.
The next morning, Hotch walked into the bullpen, his usual stoic demeanor firmly in place—at least on the outside. Inside, he felt lighter than he had in years. But any illusion of subtlety was shattered the moment he saw Morgan smirking at him from across the room.
“Morning, Hotch,” Morgan said, his tone far too casual. “You look…different today. Get a good night’s sleep?”
Hotch raised an eyebrow, choosing not to dignify the comment with a response. He made his way toward his office, but before he could escape, Garcia intercepted him, practically bouncing on her heels.
“Oh, boss man, you’ve got that look,” she teased, waggling her eyebrows. “The look of a man who’s either won the lottery or—” Her eyes widened in dramatic realization. “—had a life-altering, swoon-worthy moment with a certain someone in finance.”
Hotch sighed, pinching the bridge of his nose. “Garcia—”
“Don’t deny it!” she exclaimed, clapping her hands together. “I have sources.”
Before he could reply, the elevator dinged, and you stepped out, striding confidently into the bullpen with your signature blend of poise and sass. You caught Hotch’s eye and shot him a subtle, knowing smile that sent a ripple of warmth through him.
Garcia caught the exchange and gasped audibly. “Oh my God! It’s true!”
Morgan leaned back in his chair, grinning. “I knew it. Didn’t I say he had an in with her?”
“You said it,” Prentiss confirmed, her tone amused. “Repeatedly. But he's really getting it in with her.”
JJ just shook her head, smiling. “Well, at least we know why the budget meetings keep getting longer.”
Hotch leveled a calm, measured glare at his team. “I don’t recall calling a team meeting on my personal life.”
“Ah, but your personal life is so much more interesting than budget cuts,” Rossi said with a wink. “You should let us enjoy it.”
“I’m glad you’re all entertained,” Hotch said dryly, turning toward his office. But as he walked away, he caught your voice behind him.
“Don’t be too hard on them, Aaron,” you called amusement lacing your tone.
The laughter that followed was warm and genuine, and for once, Hotch didn’t mind being the subject of it. As he stepped into his office and closed the door, he glanced back at you through the glass, catching your playful smile once more.
Yes, this was definitely worth breaking the rules for.
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Tag List:
@zaddyhotch
@estragos
@todorokishoe24
@looking1016
@khxna
@rousethemouse
@averyhotchner
@reidfile
@bernelflo
@lover-of-books-and-tea
@frickin-bats
@sleepysongbirdsings
@justyourusualash
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solxamber · 2 months ago
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Hello!! Can I get Octavinelle 7 fluff?
Always, For You. || Jade Leech
For the Holiday Event! || Prompt: "For you, anything." ; Genre: Fluff
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You weren’t blind to who Jade Leech was. A man who thrived in chaos, stirred the pot just because he could, and smiled politely while doing it. People avoided asking for his help because, with Jade, everything came at a cost—whether you realized it or not.
Except when it came to you.
The first time it happened, it seemed insignificant. Grim had accidentally knocked over one of Crewel’s more volatile potions, the sparkling liquid oozing across the table, heading straight for your bag. You froze, unsure whether to grab your things or call for help, but before you could move, Jade stepped in.
“Careful,” he murmured, swiping your bag out of harm’s way with his gloved hands. His movements were graceful, calm, as if he were plucking a rare mushroom in one of his favorite forests. You stared at him in shock as he casually placed your bag on a safe countertop, not even glancing at the bubbling mess behind him.
“Uh… thanks?” you managed, unsure what just happened.
Jade turned to you, that polite, unreadable smile firmly in place. “Think nothing of it.” Then, as he walked away, he added over his shoulder, “For you, anything.”
You were left blinking, your heart doing an awkward little flip.
The second time was more dramatic. Floyd had you in a headlock, cackling about how you had to play some ridiculous game with him during lunch. You were already half-resigned to your fate when Jade appeared out of nowhere.
“Floyd,” he said smoothly, his tone calm but firm. “Let go.”
“C’mon, Jade, I’m just having fun!” Floyd whined but loosened his grip anyway.
Jade’s hand rested on his twin’s shoulder, his smile never faltering. “And I’m sure they appreciate your enthusiasm, but I believe their schedule is rather full today.”
Before you knew it, Floyd had been swept away, leaving you standing there dumbfounded.
“Uh… thanks again?” you called after Jade.
He paused, glanced back, and gave you that same polite smile, though this time his gaze lingered a moment too long. “Anything for you.”
It wasn’t fair, you thought later, as you mulled it over for the hundredth time. Jade didn’t help people out of the goodness of his heart. He liked to meddle, to twist situations to his advantage. And yet… he kept stepping in for you, expecting nothing in return.
The third time, you couldn’t take it anymore. After another ridiculous incident—this time involving him steering you away from an overly enthusiastic Ruggie and a “totally harmless” prank—you confronted him.
“Why do you keep helping me?” you blurted, cornering him in the Mostro Lounge after his shift.
Jade didn’t seem fazed. If anything, he looked amused. “Why wouldn’t I?”
“Because!” you said, flustered. “You don’t… you don’t just help people! There’s always something in it for you. But with me, you just…” You trailed off, gesturing vaguely as your thoughts tangled.
Jade stepped closer, his mismatched eyes gleaming with something unreadable. “Ah, but you’re special.” His voice softened, and you felt your heart stutter as he leaned in, close enough that his words were just for you. “For you, anything. Always.”
His smile wasn’t sharp this time—it was soft, genuine. And it was so much worse because it left you reeling, your cheeks heating as your chest filled with something you couldn’t quite name.
Jade didn’t wait for your response, just straightened and walked away, leaving you standing there, your mind spinning.
You weren’t sure what you’d done to earn his favor, but one thing was clear: Jade Leech had a way of making you feel like the most important person in the room.
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Masterlist
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sthwaaberry · 2 months ago
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relief | p.seonghwa
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wc: 580+ (a bit short ik…)
genre: smut, fluff (mdni)
warnings: handjob(?), blowjob, slight hair pulling (lmk if i missed any!)
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thinking about boyfriend seonghwa who just came back from his night-time run, panting as he pauses the music that was playing softly in his ear through his airpods, sweat still dripping down his forehead as he gets home, calling out your name. his run hadn’t been as stress-relieving as he’d hoped it would, spending most of the time stressing about his comeback schedule— not to mention the fact he might’ve slipped into a puddle..
or two.
needless to say, he wasn’t in the brightest mood, though when he saw you it seemed like a weight had been lifted off his chest. “hwa, you’re soaking? what the hell even happened— let’s go shower before you get a cold or something.” your worry only elicited a chuckle from him, smiling dreamily. how’d he been so lucky to have you? “darling, i’m fine.” he says. clearly you didn’t believe him, arm still tightly wrapped around his wrist as you shake your head, sighing as you drag him to the bathroom. “you’re still taking a warm shower, i don’t want you getting a cold.”
-
one shower later, he was certainly less tense than before, but the stress was there. this didn’t go unnoticed by you, sighing as you watch him sit on the bed, wearing nothing but some shorts. you try to keep yourself civilized, placing a hand on his muscular thigh. “love, let me help you a bit, you seem tense.” you murmur softly, scooting closer to him on the bed. he smiles dismissively, speaking up. “you really don’t have to, you’re probably tired as well and-“ “no, really. it’s okay. please let me do this for you.” you say while cupping his cheeks, making him face you.
he really was beautiful like this. hair as white as the snow that would soon fall as the winter days passed yet cheeks a warm pink from the shower steam. you could look at him all day, but you had things to do. so you fall to your knees in front of him, looking up as you pull down his shorts.
“no boxers today?” you say teasingly, grinning as you stare at his hard-on. “in my defense, i thought i was going straight to sleep.” seonghwa says with a smile, one that quickly fades after you cup his dick. he hisses through his teeth, hands finding your hair as he tugs on it. “don’t tease.” he mutters, voice cracking. it elicits a smile out of you, nodding. “okay, okay, my bad.” you say before you grip the base tightly before setting a pace, stroking him. melodic whimpers leave his lips, panting. “n-need you. need you now, fuck, in your mouth.” he babbles.
you comply with a smile, taking in the tip of his dick, swirling your tongue around it before trying to take him in as much as you could, stroking what you couldn’t fit gently. he grips your hair even tighter, the pain making you moan against his hard cock. he bites his lip so hard he thinks it might bleed, head lolled back. “f-fuck, love, mm.. h-haah..” is what leaves his lips, when he has so much more to say yet isn’t able to say it. “j-just like that— almost there, f-fuck!” he yelps, twitching in your mouth. not a minute goes by before he’s spurting his thick cum down your throat, panting in the afterglow. you pull away, looking up at him. he pats your head gently with a smile, sighing.
“god, i’m relieved.”
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a/n: thank you if you read all this! sorry if this was awkwardly written, i tried my best lol, reblogs, comments and likes are all very much appreciated !! sweating while i post this btw..
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heestoleurgirl · 19 days ago
Text
park jay 𝜗𝜚⋆₊˚
₍ᐢ. .ᐢ₎ in which your boyfriend finally returns from tour, you missed him so much (non-idol au)
genre: fluff pairing: rockstar bf!jay x fem!reader wc: 2.2k
consider this my proposal to @s1rawb3rry <3
masterlist 𖤐.ᐟ
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You haven’t felt this excited in a while. Today was the day Jay would be coming home, you’d missed him so much and you were practically buzzing with nerves ever since you woke up. Of course, the two of you had texted every day while he was on tour, but it was never quite the same as seeing him in person. The photos of him made you smile while simultaneously causing your heart to ache slightly. 
You knew he’d be really exhausted so you took it upon yourself to spoil him today. The house was cleaned spotless, the old, dead flowers in the kitchen were replaced with fresh ones. To top it all off, you’d spent the majority of the day in the kitchen, cooking his favourite food. His meals hadn’t been the best while he was away, since his schedule was so tight and he didn’t have access to a proper kitchen for the most part.
All you had to do now was wait, which sounded easy enough in theory. It wasn’t that simple, especially when every minute felt like a painfully long hour. How could you have survived a month if you couldn’t even wait a few minutes? You tried to busy yourself with whatever useless task you came up with, like wiping the counter for the third time that day.
The faint click of the doorknob being turned grabbed your attention immediately, your body was instantly flooded with adrenaline. The damp cloth in your hand was discarded in the blink of an eye as you rushed to the front door. There he was, closing the door behind him with some difficulty since he had a few bags in his hands. You smiled so wide your cheeks hurt, and hurried to help him with his baggage.
જ⁀➴ more under the cut!
You didn’t care to be very gentle, practically taking the stuff from his hands and throwing them aside. Jay’s face lit up when he realized you were right there, it still felt a bit surreal to finally be with you again. Apart from his guitar case, all his things were carelessly shoved aside in an instant. He didn’t bother to take his leather jacket off, he opened his arms for you right away.
“Jay!” you exclaimed as you jumped into his arms, throwing yours around his neck and hugging him so tightly. His familiar scent filled your nose, which made your heart swell with affection even more if that was possible.
“I missed you so much baby.” Jay eagerly returned the hug, pulling you flush against his chest while his hands rested on your lower back. His exhaustion felt insignificant right now.
“I’m never letting you leave again.” You joked, giggling when he squeezed your waist in response.
“Nah, next time you’re coming with me. I need my biggest fan to support me in person.”
God, you’d missed his voice so much. It sounded even better when he wasn’t talking through the phone. The thought of joining him on tours sounded like a dream come true, you weren’t sure you’d be able to survive another month (or more) without him. 
You reluctantly pulled away, not taking your eyes off his handsome face that you missed so much. He smiled at you softly, similarly admiring your sparkly eyes and enjoying the way your hand moved to cup the side of his face with endless care. 
You stood on your tiptoes to be able to kiss him properly. Jay leaned down to meet your lips, kissing you with a deep sense of need and love. He missed your lips against his, the kiss made his mind go blank. Your heart beat faster at the contact you’d been daydreaming about for so long. Your lips moved together in a languid way, both of you savouring the feeling of each other. Though you wanted to hold onto him and kiss him for the rest of the night, you knew he was probably tired and hungry. So after a few minutes, you unwillingly detached your pink lips from his soft ones. 
“I made dinner, come on.” You grabbed his hand and made your way to the kitchen, where everything was already prepared neatly.
“Wow, darling… you didn’t have to.” He was astonished with your effort, and seeing that you did all this just for him made him feel like he was falling in love with you again. His dazed state was cut short as he felt you ushering him to sit down. The smile never left his face, you were so endearing when you were taking care of him like this. 
“Don’t say dumb things, of course I had to. You need to eat properly, especially after being so busy and overworked.” You took a seat next to him, wanting to be as close as possible because even his presence was incredibly soothing.
There was no point in arguing with you and Jay was well aware of that. Not that he didn’t like you looking after him, it was just an urge for him to make sure you never had to break a sweat for anything. He loved spoiling you too much.
“Thank you.” 
You smiled in response before the room fell into comfortable silence as you both started eating together. Jay was so glad to finally have a proper meal, especially his favourite food made by his favourite person.
“Love, this is so good. You’re an amazing cook.” He hummed, closing his eyes as he savoured the taste.
“Really? I tried a new recipe.” You responded while stabbing at the meat with your fork. “How was your trip home?”
Jay thought for a moment before telling you about his day. You listened intently, feeling happy that he was right next to you. You paid attention to his every word, but also took it as an opportunity to adore him at the same time. Even if it was something simple like having dinner with him and talking about each other’s day, the moment felt really special to you. That’s probably why you were grinning like an idiot.
“What-?” Jay raised an eyebrow in slight confusion as he met your eyes.
“Nothing, I just missed you so much” You shook your head and laughed, standing up to take your empty plates to the sink. He followed after you with the leftovers, grabbing some empty containers while you washed the dishes. 
“Wanna take a shower?” You tensed for a moment, caught off guard by his arms snaking around your waist as he hugged you from behind. His tall frame enveloped yours completely, blocking some of the light from the ceiling lamps.
“Sure, give me a second.”
“I feel sweaty and disgusting, you deserve a clean boyfriend.”
You smiled and rolled your eyes at his comment, sweat was not something that bothered you much, even more so when you had been deprived of him for too long. It was safe to say your relationship was past the point where either of you would be embarrassed about such insignificant and normal things. Once you were done with the dishes and dried your hands, Jay spun you around and placed a brief kiss on your lips. He chuckled at the evident disappointment on your face when he pulled away, even though he felt the same way.
The floorboards creaked faintly as you both made your way upstairs, grabbing some shower essentials from the bedroom. His hand was holding yours, pulling you along with him while you talked about random things.
The door closed behind you and you started taking your clothes off, unaware of his appreciative gaze watching you strip. If he wasn't so tired right now, he would definitely have other plans than just showering together with you. You suddenly caught him staring and playfully narrowed your eyes, to which he merely grinned before undressing too.
Jay followed as you stepped into the shower and turned it on. The warm water felt so good against your skin, it was soothing and comfortable. Not even a moment later he was already pulling you against his body again. The hug felt so much more intimate when you were both naked, like there was nothing separating the two of you from each other. Your head was resting against his chest, your eyes closed as you felt his hands caress your sides oh so gently.
The humid air only served to relax you both even more. All you wanted was this moment to last forever, just you and him with no distractions or obligations.
"I love you, my darling." He broke the silence and kissed the top of your head affectionately.
You swore your heart was going to burst with the amount of love you had for this man. "I love you too." You tilted your head to look up at him, letting him see the raw sincerity in your eyes.
He smiled back at you soflty and moved to grab the shower gel. Your gaze followed him curiously, watching as he wet the loofah and faced you.
"turn around." The gentleness in his tone gave you goosebumps, you obeyed silently without question.
Jay began rubbing your neck, shoulders and back, cleaning your body like it was the most precious thing in his world. It felt nothing short of amazing as your boyfriend cared for you so willingly, helping you with something you could've done yourself too.
When he was done, he turned you around and repeated his actions again. No part of your body was left untouched by his loving hands. All you could do was stand there and wonder how on earth you managed to get the most amazing guy on the entire planet.
Jay reached for the shower head and angled it, letting the water wash off all the soap from your skin. Once he was done, you kissed his cheek and took the loofah from his hand, indicating that it was your turn to return the favour. His hands were placed on your hips lazily as you started massaging the soap into his skin.
In moments like these you were always reminded of how deep the relationship between you two was. You knew in your heart that if it wasn't going to be him standing at the altar, then nonody would. He was perfect for you, and you were perfect for him too.
You didn't talk much as you finished the shower, but both of your actions spoke more than words could. You'd done enough talking during his time away, now you just wanted to enjoy his presence and touch.
He brushed his teeth next to you, his eyes always darting to see your face through the mirror, as if he was still in disbelief that you were real. You occasionally bumped your hips against him, to which he responded with a kiss on your face.
Jay groaned in satisfaction when he finally pulled his pajamas on, the pent up exhaustion was finally catching up to him. You wore his shirt to sleep (obviously), it had lost its smell already but that didn't matter anymore when Jay was finally going to be next to you.
He didn't waste much time and climbed into bed, opening his arms for you impatiently. "Come here baby."
You smiled widely, ignoring the way your cheeks were starting to hurt from the constant grinning. The bed dipped with your added weight, you eagerly climbed into his arms and let out a satisfied sigh. His fingers brushed through your hair gently, his body was aching with the need for sleep. You rested your face against the fabric of his shirt and tangled your legs with his in hopes of being as close as possible.
"I'm so glad you're here again, I missed you so much." Even though you already told him that, it didn't feel enough. The words couldn't convey how much you'd truly missed him.
"Me too sweetheart. Me too." He mumbled against your hair. "I'm going to make it up to you I promise. For the next few weeks you won't spend a single second without me."
You smiled at the thought and nodded, your plans were very similar. You weren't going to let him go for the foreseeable future. "Deal."
His other hand found your chin and carefully tilted it upward so he could see your face. You took this as an opportunity to say something you wanted to say for a while now, "I'm so proud of you, Jay. You always work so hard and still take care of me."
His lips curved into a smile, his eyes were shining with adoration. "Of course, I'll always make time for you. My life would be so much worse without you in it. You're my gorgeous girl and I just want to spoil you for the rest of my life."
If he wanted to say more, it was cut short by your lips pressing against his. He returned it happily, pulling you closer against him by your waist. Nothing felt better than his sweet, loving kisses. After a few minutes, he pulled away and brushed a strand of your hair aside. "We should get some sleep, you're going to need your energy for tomorrow."
"For what?" You hummed curiously, studying his face for a hint.
"I'm going to show you just how much I missed you and that pretty little body of yours." He grinned, his voice carried a hint of suggestiveness which made your heart beat faster in anticipation.
"Well then, you too" You replied simply and pecked his lips one last time. "Goodnight babe."
"Goodnight love."
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tags: @vivimura @who-tf-soddhi @laurradoesloveu @p1hbrook @hoonielvv @nodoubtily @enhamonsterghoul @heebambilee @en-chantedtomeetyou @hsbae @jellyluv4eva @vivissection @beigerin @jwywife @elairah @heekilrvs @jayjw16enxp @lakoya @ijustreallylike2read @annovaz @strawberrynull @abbyeey @celestiai0 @enhalxvr @llearlert @raizennloll @rizzmura @sabriochee @sol3chu @fluveriiez @kitty-won07 @sucrosxi @kukkurookkoo @mimisxs @darquette @hhyvsstuff @lovelydeliciousfestival @luciathcv @bigwforjay @pshfan0812 @lov4hoon @jaerisdiction @kireiinahana @abzyissupersleepy @madslove-enhypen @b3tt7boop @dodot04lover @ki2rins @sugarikiz (mwah) ( ◡̀_◡́)ᕤ
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poetic-vulgarity · 16 days ago
Text
ᎮᎥᏖᎩ ᎮᏗᏒᏖᎩ - Kim Minjeong x Reader
Word count: ~5K
Prompt: When Minjeong transferred to an elite school, she didn't expect to catch the attention of Y/N, the golden girl. Then again, she also didn't expect Y/N to be the root of all her misery.
Tags: slow burn; angst; drama; high school! AU; richgirl!Y/N; happy ending (?)
Part I, Part II, Part III
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───── ⋆⋅☆⋅⋆──── ⋆⋅☆⋅⋆ ─────────
Ask any student out there how they feel about school, and you'll get the same answer.
It's shit.
There was no way around it, especially not for someone like Minjeong.
Shy, quiet, reserved.
She was a walking billboard that practically screamed "bully me."
And bullied she was. Ever since high school began, she'd been their favorite target. They scrawled insults on her desk, threw food at her, and even stuffed her into a locker once.
Minjeong thought it was just the way life worked. Some people were born unlucky.
Then Taeyu came along. Messy, reckless, the kind of girl who could (and would) fight anyone. For reasons Minjeong never fully understood, Taeyu liked her. And the bullying stopped.
They became best friends. Two years passed, and things weren't perfect, but Minjeong started to believe she could survive.
She wished Taeyu was there now.
If she had Taeyu by her side, all the stupid kids wouldn't be staring at her as she made her way through the doors of her new school. 
The towering entrance of Elite Open School Korea loomed before her. The glossy floors, the spotless hallways, the sunlight streaming through floor-to-ceiling windows—it was the kind of school where the rich ate up success like it was their birthright.
Minjeong didn’t belong there.
But she didn’t need to belong. She just needed to graduate. The full scholarship had been her ticket there, and she wasn’t planning to waste it. Screw fitting in. She’d keep her head down, study hard, and get the diploma.
Still, as she stepped inside, her confidence wavered. The air was heavy and she could feel the weight of all the judgmental eyes on her. She held her bag tighter and pulled out her crumpled schedule, her eyebrows knitting together as she tried to make sense of it.
The school was massive. Minjeong had no idea where to start.
"You’re with me."
Startled, Minjeong looked up and found herself face-to-face with a stunning girl who radiated confidence.
"I’m Jimin, student president. I’m supposed to take you to your class," the girl said, her tone light and warm.
Relief washed over Minjeong. She nodded, exhaling a breath she hadn’t realized she was holding.
Jimin didn’t wait for a response before turning and heading down the hallway, her polished shoes clicking softly against the floor.
Minjeong hurried to follow, her school bag thumping awkwardly against her back. "I'm Minjeong." 
Jimin looked over her shoulder, a few loose strands of hair brushing her face as she smiled. "I know who you are; I was the one who made your schedule." Jimin replied with a soft chuckle. "Had to fit you and the other new students into the system."
Minjeong blinked, processing her words. "That... explains a lot, actually."
Her schedule was a mess: classes from 7 a.m. to 4 p.m., a long break, and then another class that ran until 10 p.m. She wasn’t sure if it was legal to keep students in school that long but they were all rich there. Who cared if they were breaking rules?
Jimin grimaced. "Yeah, sorry about that. In my defense, though, you signed up for a lot of extracurriculars."
Minjeong’s lips twitched into a small smile. "Don’t apologize. It’s fine."
"It’ll be cool; we have a few classes together," Jimin added with a grin.
When they reached the classroom, Jimin stopped and turned to her. "Here we are. All your classes today are on this floor, so you shouldn't get too lost. But if you do, text me. My number's on the schedule I sent you."
Minjeong nodded, her cheeks flushing faintly. "Thank you, Jimin."
"Of course. Have a good first day, okay?" With a wave, Jimin disappeared down the hall, leaving Minjeong standing at the door, alone.
It wasn’t as bad as she’d feared.
Sure, a few students glanced her way as she walked in, their gazes sharp and appraising. Most of them didn’t bother hiding their curiosity—or their judgment. The guys wore designer shoes and watches, while the girls carried handbags that probably cost more than her family’s car.
Minjeong ignored them and scanned the room for a seat. She spotted one near the back and made her way over.
"That seat’s taken."
The voice was cold and cutting, and Minjeong froze mid-sit.
The girl who spoke was staring at her, eyes narrowed, a smile tugging at the corner of her lips.
Minjeong swallowed and stood up, looking around for another desk. She wasn’t there to make a scene.
"That one’s taken too," the girl said, her voice dripping with fake sweetness.
"Why don’t you show her to her seat, Lee?"
The new voice came from the front of the room. Minjeong turned and saw another girl leaning back lazily in her chair.
She was stunning, easily the prettiest girl in the room, with an air of casual arrogance that made her seem untouchable. Her uniform was pristine, not a single hair out of place, and her expression was unreadable.
Lee, the first girl, faltered. "I—uh..."
"Go on," the pretty girl said, her tone light but commanding. "Since every seat is taken, show her one that isn’t."
Lee clenched her jaw but got up with a huff, flipping her long black hair over her shoulder. "Fine. Follow me."
Minjeong glanced at the pretty girl again before trailing behind Lee, her head bowed.
"This one," Lee said, motioning to an empty desk.
"No," the other girl called out, her voice calm. "Not that one. She won’t be able to see the board properly."
Minjeong’s grip on her bag tightened. The room felt suffocating, every set of eyes burning into her as Lee led her to another seat.
"Here?"
"Still not good," the girl said, her tone almost playful.
Minjeong clenched her jaw, frustrated at the situation. This was all a game, and she was the entertainment.
Finally, the pretty girl tilted her head. "Tell you what. She’ll just take your seat, Lee."
Lee stiffened but didn’t argue. Her eyes flashed with anger as she grabbed her bag and stomped off.
Minjeong hesitated. She didn’t want to take Lee’s spot, didn’t want to make things worse. But when the girl raised an eyebrow and her eyes darted from her to her new assigned seat, Minjeong sighed and sat down.
She kept her head down, rummaging through her pencil case, her eyes fixed on the desk in front of her.
An awkward silence loomed over the classroom, broken only by the sound of students chatting and the occasional burst of laughter.
Minjeong’s eyes shifted to Lee, noticing the way she kept a sharp eye on her former seat. A part of her felt bad for taking it, but it was already done.
She took out her notebook, pen, and highlighter from her bag and placed them on the desk. Her hands went up to brush her short hair back behind her ears.
Minjeong’s eyes darted up to the front, looking for the teacher. Instead, she noticed the pretty girl from before standing in front of her.
Minjeong tilted her head up, keeping her shock and awkwardness from showing on her face. The girl was stunning—her features soft, her lashes long, and her lips plump.
The girl gave her a small smile. "The view okay?"
Minjeong’s head spun at the words. Her cheeks instantly flared up with embarrassment. She hadn’t meant to stare. She didn’t even realize she was staring in the first place.
"Sorry," she responded hastily. Her eyes darted around the room, desperate to look anywhere but at the stranger.
The girl chuckled lightly. "I meant the board."
"Oh."
Minjeong felt like her soul left her body out of sheer embarrassment. She couldn’t stop staring at the stranger earlier, and now she’d somehow made it worse for herself.
"Yes, it’s a great view," she mumbled, her voice small. She forced a smile, hoping to salvage the situation.
Minjeong tried to focus elsewhere, her eyes shifting to the window and the students outside, chatting with their friends and enjoying lunch—blissfully unaware of her predicament.
The girl smiled wider, clearly amused.
She extended her hand, drawing it towards Minjeong. "I’m Y/N."
Minjeong hesitated for a moment before reaching out her own hand to shake Y/N’s. "Minjeong," she replied, the handshake lasting a beat longer than necessary before she quickly pulled away.
Y/N was… a lot. Minjeong wasn’t sure what her intentions were. Was she just messing with her, or did she genuinely want to be friends?
"Pleasure to meet you," Y/N said with a nod.
Minjeong blinked. What high schooler said "pleasure to meet you"?
"You too," she muttered, her voice barely audible.
A tense silence stretched between them as the two of them stared at each other. Minjeong wanted to look away, to dig into her bag for something to distract herself, but her eyes kept finding their way back to Y/N.
"Welcome to the school. I’m sure you’ll fit in well." With that final comment, Y/N turned on her heel and walked back to her seat.
Minjeong let out a breath she hadn’t realized she was holding.
Y/N was intimidating. She was too pretty and confident for her own good, and Minjeong didn’t know what to make of her.
All she wanted was to get through the day without any more trouble.
And, for the most part, she did.
During lunch hour, Minjeong hid in the library. Her other classes went by without much ruckus.
Throughout her first week, she realized that she shared a lot of classes with Y/N. She saw the popular girl almost every day. Correction: she noticed the small smiles Y/N sent her between classes—almost every day.
It was… weird.
Y/N had a cool friend group and a perfect reputation around the school. She had no reason to even notice Minjeong.
“You need to leave the newbie alone. Her friends died. Have a little compassion.”
Y/N turned to glare at Yeonjun. It was Friday, and the group was eating lunch together. Since Monday, Y/N hadn’t seen Minjeong set foot in the cafeteria.
“You could be a bit more respectful about it, no?”
Yeonjun pouted dramatically. “Chill, I was joking.”
“Our Y/N is protective over the newbie,” Aeri teased, nudging Y/N’s side playfully, trying to get a reaction out of her.
“Why would I be protective over anyone?” Y/N huffed, picking at her food as if it were playdough. Her eyes lingered on the unopened sandwich she’d bought that morning.
“Well, you keep looking for her,” Chaewon pointed out, raising an eyebrow as she sat down beside Yeonjun with a knowing smile. “In class and now here.”
Y/N felt cornered. She usually didn’t show this much interest in anyone, and her friends had noticed. It was irritating.
Before she could mutter an excuse for her behavior, her phone rang. Her friends immediately knew who was calling by the look on her face.
“I’ll see you guys later.” She grabbed her belongings and stood up, phone already raised to her ear. “Yes, Dad?”
The call only lasted a minute or two, but it gave Y/N the perfect excuse to slip away. She wandered into the library, her curious eyes scanning the room for one person in particular.
“Lunch is important, you know?”
Minjeong jumped at the sudden voice, her wide eyes snapping up to see Y/N standing in front of her, hands on her hips.
“Are you stalking me?” The words slipped from Minjeong’s mouth before she could stop herself.
Her heart pounded, anxiety clawing at her throat. She had no idea why Y/N was taking an interest in her—why she kept showing up, insisting on toying with her.
Y/N was surprised, to say the least.
Minjeong had some bite. It wasn’t what Y/N expected from the shy girl she’d met on the first day.
“I guess,” Y/N said with a soft hum, casually pulling a chair out and sitting beside her. She reached into her bag, pulling out the sandwich she hadn’t eaten earlier, and handed it to Minjeong. “Eat.”
Minjeong stared at the sandwich, her eyebrows furrowing in confusion. “I already ate,” she said flatly, not reaching for it.
Y/N’s eyes flicked down to Minjeong’s half-open bag. An apple and a small carton of orange juice sat inside—it was all Minjeong ever brought, and she usually saved it for her late 10 PM class.
“No, you haven’t.”
Minjeong’s shoulders slumped slightly. Y/N was far more observant than she had anticipated.
Minjeong looked down at the sandwich again, conflicted. She wasn’t a fan of being told what to do, but Y/N had clearly gone out of her way to give it to her. Refusing would make her feel bad.
Slowly, she reached out and took the sandwich, giving a small nod.
“Thank you.”
“It’s nothing,” Y/N said casually.
It didn’t take long for Minjeong to finish it.
“So, what are you reading?” Y/N was usually good at making conversation, but with Minjeong, she couldn’t help feeling a little nervous.
Minjeong blinked, snapping out of her food-induced daze. She hadn’t realized how hungry she was until she finished the sandwich. Now that it was gone, her body slumped back in the chair, heavy with fatigue.
Her gaze shifted to the half-read book on the table, her fingers brushing over the cover. She avoided looking at Y/N, knowing how easily she got flustered.
“A book,” she responded plainly, hoping Y/N would get the hint.
Y/N nodded, a playful smile tugging at her lips. “Very informative.”
Minjeong sighed, unable to come up with a retort. The silence between them grew, awkward and heavy. She wasn’t used to this—having someone like Y/N hover around her. They were opposites in almost every way, and Minjeong couldn’t fathom why Y/N was even there.
Her eyes lifted briefly from the book, just to check if Y/N was still looking. Their gazes met, and Minjeong’s breath caught. Her cheeks burned, and she quickly looked away quickly.
Y/N cleared her throat, the confidence in her voice softening. She fiddled with her fingers, her usual ease replaced with hesitation. “I’m... sorry about what happened. At your last school.”
Minjeong froze, her eyes widening. A lump formed in her throat as she tried to think of something to say.
She hadn’t expected an apology—least of all from Y/N. But even if she had, she wouldn’t have known how to respond.
Her body tensed, her knee bouncing beneath the table. “I’m sure it hasn’t been easy,” Y/N continued, her voice gentle. “Especially with all the idiots making fun of it.”
‘Cancer school.’
The cruel nickname flashed through Minjeong’s mind.
It wasn’t far from the truth.
Several students had suddenly passed away at her old school and it didn't take long for investigators to find out that the building materials used for the school were highly toxic—cancerous, in fact. Minjeong was one of the lucky ones, spared from any trouble. She had survived unscathed, physically at least, and had been granted a scholarship to transfer elsewhere—a quiet bribe to keep her mouth shut. 
Taeyu hadn’t been so lucky.
Minjeong’s hands trembled as the memories clawed their way to the surface. She had buried them so deeply, refusing to confront them, but they always left a bitter taste when they resurfaced.
She swallowed hard, her eyes darting around the library. Despite knowing Y/N’s words came from a place of kindness, Minjeong felt a pang of irritation.
“Thank you.” Her voice was hollow, mouth dry. She wanted to be anywhere but there. Her cheeks flushed with a mix of anger and embarrassment, emotions she couldn’t quite control.
She stuffed her jacket into her bag, voice shaky as she muttered, “I appreciate it.”
Y/N’s eyes widened slightly, alarm flashing across her face. “I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to overstep—”
“Save it.” Minjeong snapped, cutting her off. She didn’t meet Y/N’s gaze as she shoved her things into her bag and walked away.
She wasn’t sure who she was angry at—Y/N, for bringing it up, or herself, for not being able to let it go.
The wound still felt raw. She wasn’t ready to face it, and all she wanted was to forget.
But after a few days, the sting of her reaction dulled and guilt creped in. 
Y/N had only been trying to be kind, and Minjeong had been rude.
After debating with herself for days, Minjeong decided to swallow her pride and apologise. 
Before one of their shared classes, Minjeong watched as Y/N walked into the room, making her way to her usual seat.
Now or never.
Her heart pounded as she stood, each step toward Y/N feeling heavier than the last. Minjeong didn’t want to be there, she didn’t want to apologize. Admitting she felt bad was almost worse than snapping in the first place.
But the guilt wouldn’t leave her alone, and she knew it wouldn’t until she said something.
“Y/N?”
Y/N looked up from her notebook, her face lighting up when she saw Minjeong. “There you are,” she said, rummaging through her bag. She pulled out a neatly wrapped sandwich—the same kind she’d given Minjeong in the library. “I’ve been eating these all week, and I hate cheese.”
Without hesitation, Y/N extended the sandwich toward Minjeong.
Minjeong stared at it, swallowing hard. She didn’t need pity or charity. That wasn’t why she’d come over.
“I’m sorry I snapped at you the other day,” she said, ignoring the food.
Y/N’s eyes softened, her expression gentle.
Minjeong forced herself to turn away, eager to retreat to her seat. Her conscience was clear now, and she didn’t owe Y/N anything more.
But before she could take another step, a hand caught her wrist.
Y/N’s touch was firm yet delicate, her grip just enough to stop Minjeong without making her feel trapped.
Minjeong turned slowly, pulse quickening as her eyes met Y/N’s.
Y/N smiled, her voice warm and sincere. “I’m the charity act here, not you.” She nodded toward the sandwich still in her hand. “I genuinely hate these sandwiches.”
Minjeong froze for a second... was she that easy to read?
"Why do you keep buying them then?" Minjeong asked, trying to sound nonchalant.
Y/N shrugged, as if it were the most obvious thing in the world. "I'm allergic to salmon, and they like to serve it at the cafeteria, so I bring it just in case."
A little white lie never hurt anyone, right?
But Minjeong was insistent, "I don't see how that's my problem."
"It's your problem because I want to get to know you," Y/N admitted without hesitation. "And the sandwich was just the perfect excuse for it."
Minjeong wanted to ask why Y/N didn't just buy something she actually liked, but she had a feeling Y/N would have an excuse for that too.
So, she sighed and finally took the food, giving a small nod.
"You're eating this if I ever see salmon being served at the cafeteria," Minjeong added.
Y/N smiled, her eyes lingering on Minjeong. "Deal."
Minjeong could feel her face heating up at how casually Y/N agreed to her request.
She took a deep breath, trying to calm her racing heart. Even though she was still uncomfortable with how Y/N was so interested in her, she couldn’t deny that she was beginning to understand why everyone talked about her.
Y/N was kind, sweet, and charming. It was almost impossible to resist her, but Minjeong knew she had to keep her distance.
She kept her distance.
For a few hours.
Later that day, when Y/N asked her to go out for coffee, Minjeong found herself accepting the offer.
Just like she accepted Y/N’s offer to give her her number a few days later.
Minjeong had no control over it. She was just pulled in.
For a while, she tried to fight it, but in the end, she couldn’t.
It felt nice to be liked. Y/N would take her out for lunch and dinner whenever Minjeong was free, always doing whatever it took to make her feel special.
Minjeong hated how addictive it was, getting attention from someone like Y/N. It made it that much harder to ignore her growing attraction.
"We could go to your house, if you'd like?" Y/N asked, leaning against Minjeong’s desk, her eyes carefully gauging Minjeong’s reaction.
They had a group project to do, and thankfully, the teacher let them choose their own partners.
Minjeong shrugged, her eyes drawn to her notebook as she finished her exercise. "I don't know, honestly."
Y/N nodded, her eyes intense. "My house?"
Minjeong paused for a moment to consider the proposition. They’d gone out together before, hung out during breaks, and after school. But being in Y/N’s house felt somehow more personal.
She nodded slowly, “Yeah, sure.”
Y/N's eyes brightened up as a smile took over her face.
It still felt like a double-edged sword. Like Minjeong had a price to pay to be hanging out with Y/N.
"Cool, I'll wait for you by your locker at the end of the day."
Y/N started to walk away, but Minjeong reached out for her hand. "I only finish classes at 10 today."
They had been hanging out four two months by then, Y/N knew Minjeong's schedule by heart.
Y/N couldn’t stop herself. Before she knew what she was doing, she reached out and brushed a strand of Minjeong's hair behind her ear. "Don't worry about it."
By the time she reached her table, Y/N had already cursed herself out at least twenty times.
She needed to get a hold of herself.
Still, she couldn't help the excitement that took over her body. She was getting there. Slowly but surely, she was winning over Minjeong.
Y/N's classes ended at 5 PM that day, so she hung out around school while she waited. She went to the library, finished her homework, and even started on the group project. Who knows? Maybe if Minjeong saw that the project was well advanced, she'd agree to watch a movie. Or just talk.
By the time 10 PM came around, Y/N was wrapped up in her long coat, hands stuck in her pockets as she waited for Minjeong.
Minjeong arrived at 10:10, accompanied by a figure that had Y/N freezing up.
Jimin.
The student council president.
Her ex-girlfriend.
An ex-girlfriend that also seemed surprised at seeing Y/N.
"Oh, hi." Jimin tried to smile, turning to Minjeong with a gulp. "You didn't tell me your friend was her."
Minjeong stood there, hands in her hoodie pocket as she looked between Y/N and Jimin in confusion. "You two know each other?"
Jimin and Y/N's history was complicated, and Y/N hated thinking or talking about it. But it happened. She was her first love.
"Yeah," Jimin responded, her eyes glued on Y/N. "We were toge-"
"-It's a small school." Y/N barely looked back at Jimin. "Should we get going? It's a little late already."
Minjeong wasn't oblivious to the way Jimin and Y/N looked at each other. The air was thick with tension, and Y/N seemed oddly uncomfortable the whole time, her body language closed off.
Something was definitely going on, Minjeong couldn’t shake that feeling all the way to Y/N's house.
Once they reached their destination, Minjeong looked around curiously. Y/N didn’t mention that she was well off, but it was almost expected of her.
Popular girl at an elite school.
Minjeong wasn't surprised to be led to a mansion in Gangnam-gu.
It was lavish and spacious. Minjeong felt like she had to pay a tax just to look at the furniture.
"Your parents already sleeping?"
Y/N shook her head, leading the way upstairs to her room.
"My parents live in Dobong. I live with a few employees."
"Oh," Minjeong was surprised, but it seemed normal for Y/N. Was that a normal thing for rich people? "Why is that?"
Minjeong caught the way Y/N's shoulders tensed up for just a second. "For work."
She decided to not touch the subject again as they finally arrived at Y/N's room.
It was a tidy space. The bedroom was nice, cozy, and chic. Minjeong couldn’t help but wonder if it was even a room made for a teenager, though. It looked like the rooms Minjeong had seen at IKEA.
"I didn't know you were friends with Jimin," Y/N let out quietly, taking off her blazer and loosening her tie. She looked at Minjeong with soft but darker eyes than usual.
Minjeong was caught off guard, to say the least.
Her eyes followed Y/N's figure—she had never seen her without the blazer.
Y/N undid the top of her button-up shirt, and suddenly, Minjeong felt the need to look away.
"I- yeah. I eat and have a few classes with her sometimes. Met her on my first day at school."
Y/N nodded slowly, eyes following Minjeong as the short-haired girl looked around her room. 
She sat on her bed almost unmoving, back tensely upright. "Do you like her?"
Minjeong blinked at the question, her brain processing the words.
Did she like Jimin? She supposed she did. The other girl was nice and always helpful, plus she didn’t tease Minjeong about her past either.
She wasn't sure what prompted Y/N to ask, but Minjeong answered honestly.
"Yeah, she's nice. Why?"
"Nice in a way that makes you want to date her?"
The question had Minjeong's head snapping to Y/N, eyes wide.
"I- uh-" Minjeong swallowed hard, her cheeks heating up at the insinuation.
"We're just friends," she blurted out. "Why do you ask?"
Y/N let out a hum, eyes fixed on Minjeong, "Because I like you."
Minjeong's breath hitched when Y/N said those words. That was not what she’d been expecting to hear.
Her heart pounded in her ears, so loud it almost drowned out every other sound. She just stood there staring at Y/N, eyes wide.
After a few painfully silent moments, Minjeong found the voice to ask, "You what?"
Y/N looked down at her hands, fingers playing with each other as she gathered her words.
"I know we've only known each other for a few months, but I like you. I was wondering if you'd let me get to know you even better. Maybe get closer?"
"You...you want to date me?"
The words were barely a whisper, the disbelief evident in Minjeong's face and the way she looked at Y/N.
She was torn on what to say. Minjeong didn't want to get her hopes up again, but Y/N made her feel something.
Her body was screaming at her to say yes, but her mind was telling her to refuse.
Things had been awkward with Jimin. Minjeong was sure Y/N was hiding something from her. She was Y/N. No one like Y/N would ever want anything to do with Minjeong. There had to be another reason for all this.
Y/N smiled, "Well, yes, eventually. I'm not very traditional, but I would like to court you first, if you'd let me."
Minjeong's eyes dropped back down to her hands, her mind whirling with a multitude of possible outcomes.
What if it didn't work out? What if things exploded in their face and they couldn't even be friends anymore?
Did it matter?
It was just dating. It wasn't like Minjeong was agreeing to marry Y/N. If things went sideways, they could always break up and go back to being friends.
"I- could you give me a little time to think about it?"
Minjeong inwardly chastised herself as soon as the words escaped her mouth.
She had just rejected the most popular girl in school.
She had just rejected Y/N.
Well, sort of rejected, right?
Things weren't over. Minjeong just needed to think things over.
Y/N smiled as gently as always, "Of course. You have all the time in the world, Minjeong. I don't want to rush anything."
Minjeong felt like she could breathe so much easier after Y/N said that, as if a boulder had been lifted from her chest. She'd half expected Y/N to be mad or angry at her, but she was still smiling softly.
Not that Minjeong would know how to handle Y/N when she was angry. She couldn't even imagine it.
"Thank you," Minjeong whispered, her voice barely audible in Y/N's room but still loud enough to be heard. "I promise to get back to you soon."
It was Y/N's turn to feel her chest lightening up.
Things weren't ruined.
She hadn't ruined anything.
Minjeong just needed her time, and Y/N would give it to her.
She had been patient from the start, why wouldn't she be now?
"I appreciate that," Y/N patted the bed at her side. "Come here, let me show you the ideas I had for our project."
Minjeong didn't hesitate to indeed go sit by Y/N's side.
She still felt a little tense but it didn't take long for her to fully relax again.
After a good two hours of work, Minjeong turned around in Y/N's bed, eyes falling on a framed picture on the bedside table. It was Friday so they had all the time in the world to be lazy. Didn't matter how late it was. 
"You looked cute as a baby, you know?"
Y/N's eyes widened in surprise, and she glanced at the direction Minjeong was staring.
There was a picture of her as a toddler, grinning at the camera with a cute and wide smile that showed off the four teeth she had at the time. At her sides stood her smiling parents.
"Oh," she said softly, her voice barely above a whisper and a soft smile on her face as she looked at the picture. "Did I?"
She was feeling embarrassed that Minjeong was looking at it. "I don't have many pictures with them, so I keep that one there."
Minjeong nodded quietly, her eyes never leaving Y/N's framed picture. She looked a lot different now, but Minjeong supposed that was true for everyone.
"You looked adorable," she added softly, her eyes glued to the toddler in the photo. It was a little strange to think how much had changed in Y/N's life since then, but Minjeong didn't dwell on it much.
"Do you miss them?" She finally asked, tilting her head to the side slightly as her eyes turned to Y/N.
"Sometimes," Y/N shrugged. It's not like they were dead, she just didn't see them a lot. "It gets harder during the holidays. I was close to my mother, but she's been very... involved in my father's work, so yeah."
"That must be hard..." Minjeong sighed, her eyebrows furrowing in thought.
She couldn't fathom the idea of being away from her own parents.
Withdrawing her eyes from the picture frame, Minjeong scooted a little closer to Y/N. "You know," she spoke softly, "You can always come hang out at my house during the holidays."
"I couldn't possibly bother you... or your family," Y/N shook her head, a small smile rising to her face.
The truth was that Y/N didn't really have a family, and as cold and impersonal as her parents were, they had always given her everything she would need or ask for.
She couldn't complain about anything, but at the same time, she couldn't help but wonder sometimes what it would feel like to have a cozy, warm house instead of a huge empty mansion. Not having to eat alone during Christmas morning.
The idea of Y/N spending the holidays with her was a strange one. Minjeong was just starting to get used to the idea of dating. Her heart beat faster at the mere thought of bringing Y/N around her family.
She'd just have to talk to them first. It wouldn't be too hard, her mother had been asking about Y/N ever since Minjeong first brought her up.
But Minjeong didn't want to get ahead of herself. She was still trying to decide how to respond to Y/N's confession.
Still, she did feel good about the idea of having Y/N around.
"Are you kidding me? My parents would love you more than they love me. I can already picture them serving you first and leaving my siblings and I for last."
Y/N rolled her eyes softly, knowing that Minjeong was just teasing her.
"We'll see where things go and maybe I'll drop by to bring your parents a Christmas gift."
Christmas wasn't that far away, but Minjeong hadn't expected Y/N to even think about buying her family anything. She didn't even know them.
"Oh wow, you're getting my parents a gift but not me?"
A teasing smile appeared on Y/N's face, "They're the ones I want to impress."
Minjeong gasped at Y/N's teasing. She playfully hit the other girl, her own teasing smile on her face. "Are you saying my opinion doesn't matter?" she asked in mock hurt.
Minjeong couldn't deny that it did make her happy.
Y/N didn't have to like her family, but she was still going out of her way to do something nice. Minjeong appreciated it a lot, even if Y/N had a tendency to make her flustered.
"I'm saying their opinion matters more."
Minjeong laughed at that, her eyes crinkling up as she did. "I'm sure they'll like you as much as I do," she said sincerely without thinking about the words.
A beat after the words left her mouth, Minjeong froze. "I just mean..." She cleared her throat. "That you're cool and nice."
"Oh..." Y/N pretended to be flattered. "I'm cool and nice. Who would've thought?"
"I didn't realize you could make jokes," Minjeong shot back teasingly.
"Hilarious."
She liked this, the playful back and forth. She felt comfortable, talking about anything and everything with Y/N.
But there was always the hint in the back of her mind, telling her that there was more to it.
So, she decided to get to the end of the story and brought the topic up during lunch with Jimin, only a few days later. 
"So, what really happened between you and Y/N?"
That caught everyone's attention.
Ning was quick to gulp, eyes drawn on Jimin, and Yunjin almost spat her food out.
Minjeong wasn't expecting that reaction. 
Was the question that bad?
She hesitated, turning to Jimin with a look that screamed 'you don't have to answer if you don't want to'. 
After recollecting her thoughts, Jimin cleared her throat and spoke up. "We dated for two years. Broke up four months ago."
"They were like- the IT couple of the school. It was kind of funny." Ning shook her head, eyes soft and sad as she looked down at the table. 
The group missed Y/N, Aeri, and Chaewon. They had separated from each other after the breakup. Sides were taken. Mistakes were made.
Minjeong wasn’t sure what answer she’d been expecting, but it wasn’t this.
Two years. That was a long time, longer than she had imagined. And the fact that they’d only broken up four months ago? It seemed...recent.
Minjeong felt her heart tighten as she listened intently to Jimin. She had a lot of questions, and now that the topic was brought up, might as well ask. "Why'd you two break up?"
The curiosity was getting the better of her. Minjeong had no intention whatsoever of being involved in a love triangle drama. That was the last thing she needed to be associated with.
"Well, I realised I just couldn't associate myself with people like her or her family. It was a moral thing." Jimin spoke about it in a light way, but something about her expression told Minjeong she was still grieving her relationship.
Minjeong nodded at the answer, unsure of how to respond. She glanced over at her friends seated around her, her gaze falling back on Jimin with an uneasy smile. "What's wrong with Y/N and her family?"
"You know, I didn't want to be the one telling you this, but I think it's only fair to you." Jimin sighed. She knew Minjeong went to Y/N's house the other day- being honest was the right thing to do. "Y/N's father is the mayor of Seoul. Those rumors about him being in charge of building your last school are true. Him and his family are just doing their very best to bury the scandal since he's going to run for presidency next year."
"My last school?" Minjeong's voice was soft, throat suddenly dry.
The cheaper but toxic materials used to build the school. The deaths of her friends. Taeyu.
That was all because of Y/N's father.
...and Y/N knew.
Y/N knew all along, didn't she?
All the attention.
All the gifts.
The stupid sandwiches Y/N gave her.
Y/N being nice to her when she didn’t really need to.
It all played back in her mind, over and over again.
Minjeong felt like the biggest fool in the world.
What was she?
Some sort of pity project to Y/N? Was she just being made fun of all along?
Her chest tightened painfully, and she felt the overwhelming need to get away.
Minjeong cleared her throat and stood up from her seat, her chair scraping against the floor. “Excuse me,” she said quietly. 
She didn’t wait for a response.
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burreauxsworld · 4 months ago
Text
Ours To Keep (3) | Joe Burrow
Smut/18+, Fluff, Slight Angst
Summary: you and Joe are learning to juggle your pregnancy on top of the fast approaching football season, all while growing even closer than before, which neither of you thought was possible.
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You’re bent over the toilet of the facility bathroom emptying to contents of your stomach. The nausea seemed to come in swinging. This is how you found yourself most mornings, and even throughout the day. The anti-nausea medicine prescribed to you barely ever seemed to work. Letting out a groan, you flushed the toilet and stood up.
It’d been two weeks since the confirmation of your pregnancy, and you learned from the ultra sound that you were about 3 months along. While you weren’t showing yet, the weight gain was starting to become obvious. Your jeans no longer fit you, so you opted for leggings most of the time. Your bra’s became too snug, so you had to get new ones. Most of all, you’d started wearing Joe’s bengals shirts to work to hide the weight gain. The two of you still hadn’t told anyone about the baby. You wanted to live in your own little bubble for a while. Joe agreed, knowing it would cause less stress for you if you hadn’t told anyone yet.
You washed your hands and walked out of the bathroom. You stopped by your office to grab your laptop, and made your way toward the practice field. Practice wasn’t open to the public today so you opted to work outside. You needed some fresh air anyway. You took a seat on a slightly shaded part of grass, and started to respond to emails regarding brand deals and events that Joe would need to go to. Setting up interviews and juggling everything around his football schedule. You also had to plan doctors appointments around both of your schedules, because he said he refuses to miss a single one.
You hear a whistle blow, and look up just in time to see Joe hoping on one foot, out of the way of the play and taking a seat on the ground, with his brow furrowed in pain. Your heart drops to your stomach. You set your laptop aside, and watch as Coach Taylor walks over to Joe. You don’t dare walk over there because Joe would throw a fit if someone even accidentally bumped you.
“Fuck,” you mutter as Joe gets carted off the field. You gather your things and quickly make your way back into the facility. You find Joe in one of the medical rooms sitting on the table, he’s by himself so you slip into the room. “Hey, what happened?”
“Strained my damn calf.” he spits, and you wince. “Sorry, I didn’t mean for it to come out so harsh” he apologizes. “Zac dismissed me for the day. I’m just trying to find the motivation to get up and take a shower before we head out. Hurts like a bitch,” he admits, looking over at you. “Do you need help?” You ask and he shakes his head.
“No, I should be okay. I don’t think I can drive though”
“Well it’s a good thing we came together then. You’ll just have to trust me to drive your baby” you joke, and he jokingly rolls his eyes. “If I can trust you to carry my baby then I guess I can trust you to drive my third baby” he jokes, and you grow confused. “Third?”
“Well, there’s you, our baby, and my Porsche” he explains, and your heart melts. “Let’s get outta here,” he says before you can say anything, slowly getting on his feet.
•••
“Thanks, baby” Joe says as you set a plate of food in front of him while he sits on the couch with his leg elevated. You smiled at him in return before taking a seat next to him. You look over at him while he eats, and you can’t shake the thought from your head. “Joey,” you say, catching his attention. “Can we talk…about us?”
He sets his plate aside and looks over at you, not being able to move much due to his calf. “What about us?” He asks softly. You let out a sigh. “I don’t know. I guess I’m just wondering where everything leaves us. You know, with the baby and all. I’m 100% okay if you don’t feel the same way, but I have to get this off of my chest” you tell him, taking a deep breath. He bites the inside of his cheek, stopping a smile from forming. He knows exactly where this is going.
“I’ve liked you for a really long time. Which is why I let our situation go on for such a long time. I craved that touch from you. I craved literally anything from you. I guess what I’m trying to say is, this baby made me realize that I don’t want to be without you. Ever. I love you, Joey, and you don’t have to say back. I just needed you to know-“
He cuts you off by pulling you in for a kiss. The kiss was slow, not rushed. Soft and full of love. It felt like fireworks were bursting in your chest. You pulled away and stared into his eyes, a look of adoration evident in the ocean blue irises that you loved so much.
“I love you, so so much” Joe mutters. “You and our baby”
“So what does this mean for us?” You ask quietly, with a hint of hope in your voice. “It means you’ve always been my girl, but now it’s official” he smirks, pulling you to straddle his waist. “Joey, I don’t wanna hurt you!” You shriek, trying to get off of his lap. “It’s my calf not my thighs. You’re perfectly fine, baby” he assures you, before smashing his lips onto yours.
This kiss was feverish and full of desire. The raw passion made the room around you feel warm. Joe’s hands settle on your ass, grinding you down on his growing erection inside his sweats. He groans into the kiss as he repeats his action. Your hands slide down his clothed chest, moving slowly toward the bottom of his hoodie. You slide your hands under his hoodie and his shirt, moving it up and he help you take it off. His hands grip the bottom of your shirt and pull it over your head, you weren’t wearing a bra, do your boobs sprung in his face.
His mouth attaches to one of your sensitive nipples and you let out a sharp gasp. “Please be gentle, they’re sore right now” you tell him breathlessly. “I got you baby, I’ll take care of you” Joe says, his tongue slowly circling your left nipple. You tip your head back as you let out a soft moan. He gently sucks it into his mouth before letting it go with a pop, moving to the other side.
“Fuck, Joey” you whine, grinding yourself into his lap. “You like this gorgeous? Fuck, your tits are huge now. They’re so beautiful” he groans, softly kneading them in his large hands. You lean in capturing his lips again. His hands push your cotton shorts over the curve of your ass, slapping it as he does so, causing you to gasp.
“Take these off,” he says, helping you stand to remove your shorts. He removes his sweats as well. Both of you completely bare, not like you haven’t been before. You straddle his waist again, his hard cock rubbing perfectly against your swollen bud. You whine, grinding down. “I’m gonna take care of you, baby, don’t you worry” he whispers in your ear, his voice laced with lust. His hand moves between your thighs, groaning when he feels how wet you are for him. You whine as he gathers your wetness and his fingers start to circle your clit.
Your nipples rubbing against his chest made the pleasure feel almost overwhelming. His lips are back on yours while his fingers work you. Your moans and whines are caught in his mouth. He pulls away, his lips finding your chest again, you throw your head back. “Fuck Joey!” You whine loudly. “Fuuuckk” you moan out, and he smirks against your chest. You let out a sharp gasp when his fingers move from your clit to your sopping entrance, and he inserts two fingers.
“Fuck you’re so wet for me,” Joe groans. “Baby, I’m gonna cum” you whine out and his fingers move faster. “Cum for me baby. Cum all over my hand”
Your breathless moans sound throughout the living room, your head tipped back as you fall apart from just his talented fingers. You lean forward and rest your sweaty forehead on his shoulder. “You think you can ride me, baby?” Joe mutters into your ear, nipping at your earlobe. You nod and pull back to position yourself above him. Sinking down slowly, you feel every inch. Every vein. Your eyes are shut and mouth formed into a perfect “O” shape. Joe lets out a groan as you’re fully seated. He gives you a minute to adjust to his size.
You feel so full. You haven’t felt this in almost a month due to the two of you being so busy. You start to move back and fourth, a soft moan slipping past your lips. Joe’s large hands find your waist to help guide you. You let out a laid moan as he lips your hips and slams you back down. “Oh my god!”
“Yeah, you like that baby?”
You let out a loud moan in response. His hands basically doing all of the work. The pace is merciless. His cock hitting all the right places. “Fuck, daddy, right there!” You yell out, without realizing what had slipped, but Joe fucking loved it. “Say it again.” He orders, moving you faster. “Fuck, daddy!” You gasp out. You can feel the knot tightening in your belly. Joe can feel the way you’re squeezing him, and he knows you’re close.
“You gonna cum baby? Cum all over this dick”
You let out a loud, high pitched whine. “I’m gonna fill you up. You’re gonna look so sexy all big and pregnant with my baby. Fuuckkk” Joe groans, tipping his head back. You yell out as you come apart, his hands holding you in place. Both of your chests heaving. You lean forward and lay your head on his shoulder and slowly lift yourself off of him, both of you hissing.
“That was hot,” you comment breathlessly.
“So hot.” Joe agrees. “You good?” He asks and you lift your head to make eye contact. “So good.”
“But I am a little hungry.” You comment sheepishly, and Joe lets out a loud laugh. “Alright. Let’s go shower and then get you and baby some food”
•••
The next day at work was a busy one. The first pre season game was in just 3 days. You and other players assistants were running around like chickens with their heads cut off trying to prepare everything for the guys. You more than most since you literally work for the quarterback. You felt like you hadn’t had a chance to stop and take a breath.
Finally you were able to retreat to your office for lunch. Gabby already sitting at her desk, smiled at you tiredly as you walked in. “Hey girlie” she says, and you smile at her. “Hey. Heard your load was pretty big today” you comment and she groans. “Don’t remind me—oh my gosh! Y/N, you have blood on the back of your pants” Gabby says, letting out a gasp. You heart falls into your stomach. This isn’t happening.
“Oh my god!” Your eyes begin to fill with tears. “Hey, it’s okay. I have an extra pair of pants in my bag that you can borrow-“
“Gabby, I need you to go get Joe”
“Why would you need Joe for this?” She questions confused. “Gabby please. Just get Joe”
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isak-dot-gov · 23 days ago
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Hi! Can you please do a Paige x reader wife wherein they had a fight in the morning just before Paige went off to training and the reader stays at home but was so upset that she decided to go out even though Paige told her to stay at home because they’re still new in the neighborhood and she might get lost. And can it be fluff please. Thank you so much!
Priorities
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Pairing: Paige Bueckers x Reader
Word count: 1331
My masterlist :)
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The early morning sunlight slanted through the kitchen windows, casting a soft glow over the empty coffee mugs and the half-opened box of cereal. You stood by the counter, arms tightly crossed over your chest, watching Paige as she rushed around the kitchen, her sneakers squeaking against the wooden floor as she fumbled with her duffel bag. She was trying to be quick, but it only made her seem more distant. The morning was supposed to be for the two of you—a long-awaited day off to explore the new neighbourhood, to finally feel like you were home after so many changes. But now, as you stared at her, you couldn’t help but feel that familiar sting of disappointment.
“So, that’s it? You’re really going to cancel our plans?” Your voice was sharper than you intended, but it was too late to reel it back in.
Paige froze for a second, her fingers pausing on the strap of her bag. She looked up at you, her expression a mix of apology and guilt, but the determination in her eyes never wavered. “I have to go, babe,” she said quietly. “Coach called last night. The team’s running plays today, and we’re already on a tight schedule. We have to get this right if we want to win the game this weekend.”
You swallowed hard, forcing yourself to stay calm, though it felt impossible. “And what about us?” You took a few steps closer, fighting the lump in your throat. “What about the day you promised we’d finally have? Just the two of us? You and me. No basketball, no practice, just… us, Paige. Do I really have to keep coming second to your career?”
Paige winced at your words, the hurt evident in the way her shoulders slumped. “That’s not fair, you know it,” she replied, voice low and strained. “You knew this wasn’t going to be easy when we moved here. I’m not doing this just for me; I’m doing it for the team, for the future. You know how much this means.”
“Do I?” You threw your hands up in frustration. “Because it feels like every time we make plans, I’m left holding the bag while you’re out on the court. I feel like I’m constantly sacrificing for your dream, but when do I get some of your time?”
Her face softened with regret, but she didn’t step closer. Instead, she moved to the door, her hand resting on the handle, her back to you. “Please stay home today. It could be dangerous out there, we're still new to the neighbourhood, and I don’t want you getting lost.”
You bit your lip, trying to hold back the surge of emotions threatening to overwhelm you. “I’ll be fine. I don’t need you to babysit me, Paige. I’m not asking for much. Just… us. But maybe that’s too much to ask for.” The words came out sharper than you intended, and you immediately regretted them, but it was too late.
Paige turned around, her eyes wide with a mixture of pain and frustration. “You’re right. I should’ve handled this better, but I’m doing my best. I want you here with me. I need to go, baby. I love you. Please don’t leave the house.”
The air between you felt suffocating. You wanted to forgive her, wanted to hold her and tell her everything would be okay. But instead, all you could do was look at her, the disappointment still lodged in your chest as you watched her walk out the front door.
You tried to stay in the house, you really did, but with the bitter taste your argument with Paige left in your mouth, and the lack of an entertaining activity you grabbed your jacket and walked out the door, not giving her instruction to you a second thought. As you stepped into the crisp morning air, the cold wind hitting your face was a welcome distraction. The streets were quiet, but the further you walked, the more distant you felt from Paige—and from everything you had hoped today would be.
You didn’t know how far you were walking, but with each step, your frustration seemed to dissipate. There was something soothing about the neighbourhood—the little details you had been meaning to explore but never found the time for. The small, tucked-away cafes. The vibrant murals on the walls. It was all new, but there was a sense of calm in the unfamiliarity.
You stopped at a café situated on the neighbourhood's park, ordering a cup of coffee, hoping it would settle the unease gnawing at you. As you sat by the window, watching people walk by, you pulled out your phone. A series of missed calls from Paige stared up at you. Each one felt like a reprimand, each one a silent plea for you to come back.
You slid your phone back into your pocket. You didn’t know if you were ready to face her yet. Maybe you needed more time, or maybe you just didn’t know how to process everything. The truth was, you didn’t want to be angry with her. You just felt… invisible. Like you were always expected to put her career first, but when did your needs ever come second?
The daylight faded as you wandered further, following the winding streets that seemed to go on forever. You had no idea how far you’d gone, or how long you’d been walking. The stress of the morning weighed on your shoulders, but now there was a creeping worry: you were lost. Really lost.
Your heart quickened, and a sudden wave of panic swept over you. You pulled out your phone again as you continued walking around in an attempt to find your way home, but this time, you stared at the map, trying to orient yourself. You didn’t recognize anything.
What if something happened? you thought.
Then your phone buzzed again. Paige.
You looked at the screen, your thumb hovering over the call. But you couldn’t bring yourself to answer. The guilt was almost suffocating, but the frustration still lingered.
As you took a deep breath, ready to try and figure out where you were, you heard the sound of footsteps approaching behind you. You turned, only to see Paige, her face flushed from running, her expression a mix of relief and concern.
“Baby?” Her voice cracked slightly as she hurried to you, her eyes scanning your face for any sign of distress. “I’ve been looking everywhere for you. I couldn’t get in touch with you, and I—I was so scared. I thought something happened to you.”
The moment she reached you, she didn’t wait for you to say anything. She pulled you into a tight hug, her arms wrapping around you as though she couldn’t stand the thought of letting you go. You stood there, stunned for a moment, your heart hammering in your chest, before you finally let go of the breath you didn’t realise you’d been holding.
“I’m sorry,” you whispered, your voice thick with emotion. “I didn’t mean to worry you. I just needed to get away for a bit.”
Paige pulled back, cupping your face in her hands, her thumb brushing over the wetness on your cheeks. “No, I’m sorry. I should’ve listened to you. I didn’t mean to make you feel like you’re second place. You’re my everything.”
Your chest tightened at her words, the weight of the morning's argument finally breaking free. “I’m sorry, too. I shouldn’t have walked away like that. I just didn’t know how to handle it.”
She leaned in, brushing a soft kiss across your forehead. “Let’s go home,” she said, her voice steady and comforting.
With a final, lingering glance around the neighbourhood, you both turned and made your way back. As you walked side by side, you knew this wasn’t the end of your struggles. But it was a beginning—a promise that no matter how lost you got, you would always find your way back to each other.
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alotofpockets · 2 months ago
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Nightmares again? | Aitana Bonmati x Reader
5k celebration prompt: "Nightmares again?"
Woso masterlist | Words: 1.3k
-----
Nightmares were one of your biggest enemies. They came and went whenever they pleased, not once had you been able to pinpoint what caused them. There was only one thing you knew for certain with them, and that was that Aitana would always be able to help you fall asleep again, no matter how bad they were.
It was just your luck, of course, that they decided to haunt your nights again while your girlfriend was away on national camp. It wasn’t until Aitana had been away for a week until you had your first bad nightmare. You had woken up scared in the middle of the night, and had reached out for Aitana on instinct. 
However, the bed beside you had been empty. The realisation dawns on you instantly. Aitana wasn’t there to help you fall back asleep. You laid in bed for hours, twisting and turning, until eventually you fell back asleep.
The next few days the same thing happened almost as if your night was on loop. It took every bit of energy you had left to go into work and help customers. You owned a cafe with your older sister, it had been your dream growing up and now it was a booming business in the middle of Barcelona. 
You tried to hide your tiredness behind more cups of coffee while at work, but you could feel your sister’s eyes on you, so you knew that she was aware that something was up. You didn’t want to bother her with it of course. Besides not wanting to bother your sister with your troubles, you also didn’t let Aitana know. Her schedule was jam-packed and you didn’t want to worry her.
Despite your lack of sleep and therefore energy, you couldn’t stay away from the stadium, usually you would drive but you thought it was best to take a taxi this time around. You found yourself in a bustling stadium, surrounded by excited fans, just sitting there and staring out in front of you.
To be completely honest, after the warm ups where Aitana spotted you and waved your way happily, the rest of the game had been a blur. You clapped when the people around you cheered, but not even the score was registering. 
After the match, you made your way to the family section. Along the way you got a coffee to help get your energy levels up. It would still be a couple of days until Aitana would get back home, and you wanted her to be able to finish camp without having to worry about you.
When Aitana found you in the room amongst the rest of the family and friends, she rushed your way and into your arms. Her hug was exactly the comfort that you needed, you sank into it, hoping to soak it up as much as possible.
Aitana studied your face, but if she noticed anything, she didn’t mention it. She took you to the side and sat down on one of the benches. “I’ve missed you, Tana.” She takes your hand in hers and gives it a loving squeeze, “I’ve missed you too.”
With the promise of seeing each other soon, you have to part ways again. 
You dragged yourself to the cafe again, the familiar smell of freshly brewed coffee filled the air. The tell tale sign that your sister had gotten in before you did and had started the first pot of the day. 
The morning went alright, you already being a few cups of coffee in, but you knew your facade was slipping when your sister kept eying you. “You need to go home.” She finally says.
“I’m fine.” You reply instantly, even though you knew that you were far from okay. “Go home, that’s an order.” She said sternly. You knew that with that tone, there would be no arguing. Her say was final. 
Once you had grabbed your things, you walked past your sister. “Call me if you need any help with the lunch rush.” She shook her head, “I will not be calling you, no matter how busy it gets. Now get out of here and get some rest.” You rolled your eyes and followed her orders.
A few hours later, Aitana walks into the cafe, knowing you’re on shift for today. She hadn’t bothered coming home first, she wanted to see you right away. After a quick look around the store, she only saw your sister. “Hey, is she in the back?” Aitana asked, already putting her bag behind the counter and ready to head through the doors.
“No, I sent her home.” Your sister replied while putting away the rest of the mugs she had been drying off. “Why? Is she okay?” 
“She looked exhausted, barely made it through the morning shift.” Aitana cursed herself for not saying anything back at the game. She hadn’t wanted to bring too much attention to it as you were in a room full of people, but she had noticed that you weren’t yourself.
“Anyway she can take the next few days off? I wanna make sure she’s doing alright and getting her rest in.” Your sister nodded instantly. “Yeah of course, as long as she needs it. Take care of her, Aita.” Aitana thanked her and with a quick hug, she was out the door and on her way home.
When she arrived at your shared home and found you fast asleep on the couch with a blanket pulled over your body, she softly sat down her bag and made her way over to the kitchen. She looked around to see if the ingredients to your favourite meal were there, and once she had found them all, she got to work.
You were a bit disoriented when you woke up. Falling asleep on the couch had you looking around the room confused, but then when you smelled food, you really thought you might still be asleep. 
“Tana?” You called out. The next second you hear footsteps in the kitchen. “Perfect timing! I was just done with dinner.” You were still confused at what was going on, but luckily your girlfriend quickly made her way over to you and explained.
“I went by the cafe, but your sister told me she sent you home. When I got here, you were asleep, so I didn’t want to wake you.” She sat down next to you and pulled you in for a hug. “Nightmares again?”
“Yeah, for about two weeks now.” You fall into Aitana’s comforting arms. “I’m sorry, mi amor. I should’ve done something to help when I noticed something was off at the match.” With a shake of your head you told her not to be. “I wanted you to keep your focus on your work. You’re here now, that’s all that matters.”
“Come on, let’s have some dinner.” She took you to the kitchen and sat you down at the table while she plated the food.
“Let’s get away for a couple of days to recharge, just you and me. Maybe by the beach?” She suggested. Your brows furrowed slightly. “We can’t Tana, we both have work.” Aitana shook her head with a smile. 
“I’ve got that part all figured out. You have time off until you’re feeling more rested and I was able to take a couple days off. ” You had no idea that Aitana had thought so deeply into this, and felt very loved that she went to such lengths to help you. 
“It sounds lovely, but I don’t think I have the energy to plan anything.” Aitana stood up and kissed your forehead. “That’s okay, I’ll plan and pack. We can leave tomorrow and just have a couple days of rest.”
Even while you knew that Aitana had a busy few weeks, she didn’t let you help with anything. Not the planning and not the dishes. She said your job was to lay down and relax until she got everything figured out. So you did, with your head in her lap while she booked your trip.
-----
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marcsburnerphone · 1 year ago
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And they were roommates
(Captain John price x F!reader)
Summary: the captain wants somewhere more homely to settle down and when an offer like yours comes alight on Zillow he must take up on it.
Warnings: angsty (minimal), john being slightly troubled, alcohol, reader being slightly embarrassing.
part 1 - part 2 - part 3 - part 4 - part 5!! -part 6
—————-
You wake up to the sun softly beaming in your room. Limbs stretching beyond the covers. You look around a little confused as to when you got back in your bedroom. Then it all came together. John, John leaves today.
You get out of the covers leaving your bedroom hoping he’s still there but of course to your disappointment he’s gone. You head to the kitchen knowing at least there will be a note. 
Good morning doll, I thought of waking you but decided against it, though I might regret it. The movie was good, you seemed to really be enjoying it also:) Here's the phone number of a friend in case any problems arise. Next time I’m back I hope to see another painting - John 
(xxx-xxx-xxxx) - nick
You stare at it trying not to let your emotions get the best of you. So you fold it and put it in the kitchen drawer. Although John was an awfully quiet roommate you could feel the weight of his absence. The cold floor beneath your feet has grown warm for how long you’ve stood there. You make your way towards the front door deciding that an iced coffee and a long drive with music will rid you of this feeling you can’t decipher it feels like want but in a way it’s also need but what is it you want and need? Not even you could answer that question.
Long story short you think it made the feeling intensify.
————-
1 month in
You’ve booked your schedule full leaving not an ounce of time for yourself. From the morning till night you had clients which were good for money but really it was a distraction for your mind. That same feeling felt like it was running into new veins every day seemingly consuming you. 
You tried to start a new painting but something was off about the color scheme and it was a waste not only of time but material and energy. You wonder how John is.
————-
2 months in
No problems have arisen since he’s been gone. It's like the house knows you’ll call the expensive plumber instead of John’s friend. 
However you have started a painting you are beginning to like. It’s a mix of hues you’ve never used before blues and oranges, a flame. You don’t know where or why the idea came to you but it’s what you wanted so you started it. A single candle is the outline, and the surrounding of it is the orange yellowish aura of a flame. You tried making ratatouille the other day and although it was good you wished it was made out of pepperonis like your childhood mind had imagined. You forgot there was no longer anyone to finish left overs so you ate it for three days straight.
Also you bought a new rug.
————-
3 months in
You’ve begun putting the final laminate on the painting. It’s taken you far longer than it would’ve if you hadn’t accepted 15 new clients. Not that you mind anyways. 
You’re also a little ambivalent to the idea of John paying for 6 months of rent when he doesn’t even live here during it. 
Besides that life seems stagnant and you’ve begun to lock your bedroom door at night again. 
————
4 months in
The painting now hangs a foot away from where the other one in front of John’s door does. It’s a beautiful contrast and really you were overjoyed at the outcome. You also randomly decided it’d be a good idea one night after too much wine to order new furniture for the outside deck. When it arrived you were one in disbelief of all the building pieces and and two excited to have something more to do. 
You should've stayed up the night John left.
————
5 months in  
Redecorating the deck wasn’t enough change. You needed a makeover physically but couldn’t decide how. Maybe a tattoo? No. New makeup? No. How about a haircut?  Fuck it, yes. 
So you did just that, you got a few almost unnoticeable highlights and chopped a good amount off. After the fact you were obsessed. Was it impulsive and could it have gone so horribly wrong, yes. But did it? No. 
———
6 months in 
John’s still not back and it’s all you could think about. What if something happened to him? What if he wasn’t coming back? You worried yourself sick so much so you physically became sick. 
You waited week by week for anything, maybe he’s back on base but just hasn’t come back home yet. But something was telling you it was more than that. 
———-
7 months in 
At this point worrying wasn’t going to make him appear. Your hobbies have now turned into distractions. So tonight you sit in the living room with a glass of wine and watch another rom com. You’re as comfy as can be in this cold brutal weather. It stays below 30 degrees Fahrenheit during this time of year and the snow bites at any unclothed skin. 
You fall asleep to the small hum of the heater while on the couch. Thick blanket thrown across you and tv playing as background chatter. 
You don’t know when you wake but it’s still dark outside when you hear someone that sounds distressed. Your groggy mind isn’t processing that the sound is coming from inside the house. But when it does you're up in a second looking around as your eyes try to adjust to the darkness. 
“Fuck!” You hear from down the hall. John’s room.
You walk quietly towards it as he continues to chant that word. Suddenly it falls silent and you just hear what sounds to be deep breaths. You don’t know what wills you to knock, but you do. 
“John, are you okay?” You ask softly from behind the closed door. He doesn’t respond but you know he’s in there from the quiet but quick breathing. 
“No.” He says with that familiar deep drawl.
You open the door slowly to see him sitting on the floor near the corner of his bed clearly distressed. You take notice of the mess wondering how you slept through the making of it. There’s glass from somewhere on the floor and clothes strewn but when you look at him your heart breaks. He’s in full uniform, vest on, belt with equipment on, as if he didn’t stop anywhere. Just came straight here. His hair has grown out to an odd length and his beard has grown longer. 
“I can’t get this fucking vest off.” He interrupts your thoughts looking at you with a sense of sorrow. You kneel to where he is careful to avoid glass. His eyes don’t glance up to meet yours; they stay fixated on his hands that are covered in dirt.
“May I?” You gesture towards the plastic buckles on the vest. He nods and you start with the two at his shoulders. Then you reach down his chest to undo the two near his belt buckle. You realize it must be connected somewhere in the back when it doesn’t come off. He leans forwards as you look trying to avoid the bloodstains that taint the once green vest and sure enough the tiniest but mightiest buckle is on the center of his lower back. He shrugs it off with a sigh. 
“Better?” You ask softly.
“Yeah, Thankyou.” He slowly tilts his head back to lean on the comforter and you don’t move an inch. 
“What can I do?” Truthfully you’ve never been in a situation so unbearably awkward but so unwilling to just leave.
“Just sit here with me.” So you do. You scoot right next to him and lean your head on his shoulder. He couldn’t admit it but the nights he slept in cold frost biting weather the thought of returning to your warm presence got him through.
“He almost died.” His voice gives out at the end of that sentence.
“Who?” 
“Johnny, it would’ve been my fault. One second later and they would’ve put a bullet through his skull.”
“But he’s okay?” You know John loves his team even though he doesn’t outwardly say it.
“He’s perfectly fine.” 
“Worrying about what could’ve been will kill you.” 
“Sometimes I feel like that’s what I deserve for some of the things I’ve done.” 
“If not you it would be someone else making the world a better place.” 
“I know.” 
You sit there with him for a while in silence. He can barely believe he made it back alive but right now the battle feels worth it. He hears soft snores not too long later and realizes you’ve fallen back to sleep. His head leans to rest above yours as he closes his eyes. He knows sleep won’t come to him but he’s never had you this close and for now he’ll cherish it.
————-
When you woke up again the sun had risen and a golden glow lit John’s room. 
“John.” You whisper trying not to move your head in case he’s sleeping.
“Yeah doll.” He lifts his head to look at you.
“I’m so sorry.” You feel slightly embarrassed and bad that you just fell asleep on him.
“Nothing to be sorry for.” He sighs before standing on his feet with a groan then offering you hand to help you up.
“I’m going to shower.” He says as you dust yourself off.
“After can I give you a haircut?” He laughs a little at your not so subtle realization of his long hair..
“If you’d like.” 
“I’d love.” You say before leaving, assuring him you’d be back when he's done.
You pick up your mess from the previous night. Folding your blanket and putting it back in the basket near the couch. Taking your wine glass to the sink and rinsing it out. You go to your room and change into an outfit for the day and do your morning routine. After you grab your shears, clippers and cape. By the time you're done doing all of this you no longer hear the water running meaning John’s done with his shower. You knock on his door lightly.
“Come in.” You walk in to see him sweeping up his mess with the small house broom and can’t help but smile at the sight. 
“Come on, let's cut your hair in the bathroom, better lighting and you can see what I’m doing.” You say heading straight there. You sit him on the little bathroom bar stool that’s been in there since your ex moved out. Once he’s sitting the only cape you have is pink so you throw it on him begging yourself to not laugh which you fail causing him to smirk. 
“Okay so I’m just gonna clean it up, fade the sides a very little, cut the top with shears and what not.” You let him know.
“You cut your hair?” He replies, staring at you through the mirror.
“Yeah so?” You smile.
“I like it, it looks good.” You feel that feeling only johns been able to provoke.
“Thankyou.” You begin the cut, slowly combing out sections making sure to be precise. He seems far more relaxed than you’d imagined as you just freely cut at the top. After the matter once you're satisfied you shave the sides a little just enough to where it looks cleaner. 
“Can I do your beard and mustache?” 
“You're the hairstylist, not me?” Is all he says. 
So you do, very carefully, mere inches away from his face your hands hold one side of his jaw softly to trim the other side. He watches your expression intently. The way when you’re focused there’s a crease that forms between your eyebrows and your pupils blow a little wide.
“All done.”  You say pulling him from his trance. You move his face with your hands really checking to make sure all is well.
“Very handsome.” You compliment before turning around to rinse your shears and put them away. 
“Thank You doll.” He says examining it himself in the mirror thoroughly pleased with how well you did even though he knows you don’t cut men’s hair. He doesn’t notice you grab his beard oil from the cabinet till you're smoothing it between your hands and asking him to face you so you can rub it through the coarse brown hair. Ever the nurturer.
It feels like time apart only made you two feel closer somehow. Or maybe it’s because you wanted to be close and those feelings were equally reciprocated. 
The rest of that day John had loads of paperwork to file, sign and report. So he did that, he sat in his office for long hours going through the process. The only thing that slightly lightened this burden was your voice humming in the kitchen as you cooked something. You’d stopped by and offered him some which he gladly accepted from your giving hands. Hours later you bid him a goodnight and went to bed and even then he had so much more left.
—————
The next day you catch John in the kitchen and tell him there’s something you must show him.
“So you built it all yourself?” He says as you show him your little project you did outside. There’s a thick coat wrapped around you as you don’t fully step outside to avoid slipping on the icy ground. Him though, he stands on it with no problem in what looks like military issued boots. 
“Yes I did.” You say proudly despite his clear disdain.
“I missed you, even your stubbornness.” After the months John’s been through there was no point in hiding the way he was feeling.
“I missed you too.” You smile while clearly avoiding his gaze.
How had he missed this all along?
“Would you like to go out for drinks?”
“What?” You turn around to meet his eyes.
“Can I take you out for drinks?” What being mere inches away from death does to a man.
“Yeah.” 
-
You both silently walk away trying to break the bounds of the tense pull that makes you want to gravitate towards each other. You put on something cute but also warm and slip on some brown doc martens as your choice of shoe. You do light makeup as you give yourself a pep talk.
“Only two drinks, only two drinks.” You have to tell yourself cause after two your too you. 
You hear John putting his shoes on by the hallway and take in the sight of him, brown leather jacket and beanie. You’re not sure how he’s going to stay warm in that but something tells you he will.
“Ready?” He asks and you nod nervously.
-
“Okay, hold on, I have to do this really slow or I’ll fall.” You say stepping slowly out onto the ground below the porch stairs. 
“Well come here I’ll help you.” He offers his hand. You grab it softly, swooning at the way it encompasses your own. There’s something inside of him that doesn’t even want you to risk walking on this floor but of course he also doesn’t want to push. 
“Okay nice and slow.” You’re not even taking full steps, just small slides. You clutch his hand for dear life and he loves it. 
“Good girl.” He says once you reach the door of his truck which he opens for you. He doesn’t let go till you sit inside then only does he slip his hand from your warm one and closes the door. 
“Which pub?” You ask as he turns on the heater only for your sake.
“The one downtown near the little Italian grocer.” You know exactly which one he’s talking about. Its dim light atmosphere is cozy but fun but usually full of mainly couples.
“Mkay.” You say looking out the window at the gloomy sky realizing it just might rain. 
He glances your way during the small drive, your scent of your floral perfume mixed with his of cardamom and musk is quite perfect. 
“You alright?” He asks.
“Yeah, just comfy, you?” He grins at your response.
“Never been better.”
He pulls into one of the street parking spots and despite the weather the streets are full, he gets out to put coins inside the slot for time before heading to your side of the car. 
“Wait, I'm scared.” You say realizing that the distance to the bar doesn’t seem to be a survivable one. 
“Come on, I'll hold your hand.”
“I’ll fall regardless.”
“Want me to carry you?” He genuinely offers.
“What?” You laugh. 
“Doll I’m very serious I will carry you, just get on my back.”
“What if we both fall?” 
“I’m not falling, trust me.” He says turning around motions for you to get on his back.
“Okay then.” You hook your legs around his upper waist and his arms reach to tuck themselves firmly beneath your knees.
“Comfortable?” He asks. He’s sure you can hear his heart racing from the proximity you’re in. 
“Very.” All your dreams of climbing this man have come true. 
You shut the door as he steps onto the sidewalk. You tuck your chin in by his neck for warmth. He smells woodsy with a hint of musk, it makes your head spin.
“How are you not slipping?” You say very suspicious.
“Doll I could run on this floor with these boots on.” He answers looking slightly over his shoulder at you.
“Well don’t.” You say seriously and he laughs as he approaches the bar, opening the door and setting you softly on the floor. 
He finds you both a booth in the corner and sits on the side where he can see the entire bar, very John of John.
“What do you drink?” He asks, trying to make conversation. Suddenly the air feels very intimate, almost too intimate for what he considers his old man heart.
“When I’m out, martinis.” 
“Espresso?” 
“Mhmm.” You’re trying your hardest to hold the eye contact he’s giving you but something about the blue in his eyes and creases on the side of them has you breaking it quicker than it started.
“I’ll be back then.” He says sliding out of the booth feeling slightly accomplished.
You sit there looking at the lively pub, how many romances are at their peak here, how many friends are having the best night of their lives, how you amongst them are finally feeling like you again. 
“Here we are.” He says returning with two glasses, his is a classic bourbon with a square ice cube in the glass.
“Thankyou.” You say as he slides it over to you.
“So what’d you do while I was gone, other than be reckless and build furniture.” He asks as you sip from your glass.
“I did lots of hair, painted a bit, found new color schemes for decor and that’s kinda it, I’d ask you the same question but I fear you can’t answer.” 
“Your fears are true.”
“That Kate woman, she's very pretty.” Are you a little jealous?
“Yeah she’s also very married.” He says it like he doesn’t know what you're on about.
“And also not into men.” You nearly choke on your drink and swallow hard to get it down.
“Well I was just saying.” Sure you were.
You two have small chatter as you go through drinks. You tried to offer the second round but John said no for you to just stay in your seat. He came back with thirds and you definitely were starting to feel the effects of the previous two, him though not at all.
“So you’re telling me John you as very um good looking as you are haven’t had a girlfriend in how long?” 
“Eight years.” He says while being very amused with your light hearted, open attitude.
“That’s just not right.”
“No?” 
“No, personally, well never mind.” You’re not drunk enough to say what you were about too.
“What about you, why no boyfriends?” 
“I’m very, I would say needy I guess clingy even, I’m a double texter, someone who worries and loves too much and I think that can be overwhelming for a lot of people.” You admit.
“Don’t believe that.” He says, sounding a little annoyed.
“For the right person you could never be overwhelming.” He says looking at you intensely and this time you can’t seem to look away.
Once your third drink is finished it’s raining outside and you’re words away from trouble.
“John?” 
“Yeah doll.”
“You make me feel alive again.” You admit, the alcohol has casted a pretty shade of pink on your cheeks as you lean your head on your hand and John doesn’t think he’s ever been more entranced. 
“You and me both, here drink some water.” He slides it to you. You’re sweet, too sweet. He feels like if he touches you physically or emotionally he’d be tainting art.
“Has anyone told you you're very climbable?” 
“It’s time for us to get going, you're quite the light weight.” He laughs offering you a hand as you slide off the booth.
He leaves a tip on the table before walking with you to the door. He has to bend far more than he normally would for you to secure yourself on his back before he’s walking outside. This time he’s walking faster because of the rain droplets that are falling hard. He seats you in the car and reaches across you to buckle you in before heading to his side. 
The drive home is pretty quiet, he drives extra slowly because of the precious cargo he carries. Once he pulls back into the gravelly drive way you unbuckle and open the door as he puts the car in park. 
“You don’t want to wait for me.” He asks, a little concerned.
“I got this.” You hop out of the elevated truck immediately slipping and having to grab onto the door. He walks quickly to your side laughing at the expression on your face.
“You sure do.” He says as he grabs your arm
“Oh stop it.” You say accepting the help, sliding your feet on the ice again till you get to the door. Once you get inside you groan into the toasty air. 
“Thankyou for tonight John.” You say facing him once you kick your boots off. You hadn’t realized how close you were till you turned around and could feel the heat radiating off of him and smell the bourbon on his breath. 
“No, thank you.” He says feeling awfully captivated, hanging onto your every move. You cup his face and stand on your tippy toes, boldly yet slowly placing a kiss on the corner of his lips. 
He’s starstruck. Absolutely dazed at the look of mischief in your eyes, something that tells him you know exactly what you’re doing to him. 
“Goodnight John.” You say patting his chest and walking down towards your room.
—————
I couldn't wait till tommorrow i'm sorry.
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