#so I just think to copy n paste from my phone to upload the next chapter but NOPE

[no1ryomafan]

I hope whoever thought it was a good idea for AO3 to not allow on mobile the ability of bold and Italic text to be carried over from a copy n paste doc even when you FUCKING SELECT HTML AND NOT PLAIN TEXT a very pleasant “I hope you were kicked off the staff” and I’m only half joking.

[moontyuns]

{05:17 pm }

words count: 651 pairing: Yeonjun x gn!reader (ft. brother! Wooyoung) genre: angst, a pinch of fluff, unrequited love

song rec.: Hideyuki Fukasawa - Ocean of Memories

a/n: re-uploading works from my old acc, so don't be surprised if you might already see it. :>

You sat on the table, leaning onto your right hand, your mind was elsewhere while you were fixated on one certain boy sitting before you and talking to your brother - Choi Yeonjun. You knew him since forever cause he is your brother's best friend who happened to come over to your house almost every day after school. But he is not only your brother's friend but yours too. He is always kind and nice to you, sometimes helping you with something,  especially related to the study cause he is quite smart and has high grades as far as you know from your brother, Wooyoung. 

Yeonjun mostly came to your house to hang out with your brother, but there are those rare moments when he shows up abruptly at times when your brother isn't home yet and you keep him company for a while. You always think about these moments as the best ones, because you have that alone time where you can talk to the boy about anything and enjoy his presence. You can look at his sunny smile and hear his boisterous laugh when you said some lame joke and keep it in your memory to remember when you have bad days. 

Being in his presence always felt warm like you are sitting under the spring sunshine. Yeonjun comforted you a few times when you had rough days at school. He wiped your tears with his soft hands and told you some stupid stuff that makes you laugh through the tears and then gives you hugs to calm you down.

However, as time went by you noticed that he rarely came over to your brother. At first, it's just 2-3 times a week, then once in two weeks, and then two or three times a month.  You wondered why he suddenly stopped spending his time here, you even asked Wooyoung about the reason, but he just shrugged and said that Yeonjun is busy with his study at university or something like that.

And now you begin to treasure these moments when the boy appears on your front porch. At these times you felt like a little child on Christmas seeing their desired gift under the Christmas tree. You missed him a lot, you missed his soft smile, you missed his loud laugh, you missed his eyes that were full of warmth,  you missed your small talks and his occasional jokes, you missed everything. 

And now the three of you are sitting in your kitchen and you can't stop staring at the boy who sits in front of you. You want to remember every little thing about him until you see him next time. However, you haven't prepared for what's waiting for you this evening. 

You heard the notification ding through the room and Yeonjun picked up his phone to check it, you saw the soft smile adorning his pretty face. "Guys, I would really want to spend more time with you, but I totally forgot about the date with Minso I have like in an hour, so I guess I should go. See you around!" he smiled, his eyes forming crescent moons. Then he bumps his fist with Wooyoung and half hugs you saying his goodbye. 

The time went past you while you were sitting frozen.  How come you never know he is dating someone? This question was the only thing that rings through your head. You didn't even feel the hot tears on your cheeks until your brother tapped your shoulder with a worried look on his face, you didn't bother to explain anything as you just stormed past him on the second floor and slapped your door shut. That night you cried yourself to sleep with thoughts that you should get over this stupid pretty boy, even if it would be impossible you should do it possible cause you can't live with that burning aches in your heart.

Reblogs and likes are highly appreciated <3

Do not - steal / copy / repost / translate any of my works !

[junicai]

NCT being whipped for miyazu aria for seven minutes ;

325,078 views • 07 Feb 2021 • uploaded by [haechanieski]

[ NCT 127 Takes a Friendship Test ; Glamour 2020 ]

offscreen: “So, what was your first impression of Aria?” 

Aria pressed herself into Doyoung’s side briefly, muttering a translation of the question into his ear. They had been briefed on the questions beforehand anyway, but she wanted to make sure he understood before he began answering - just in case he had forgotten.

Doyoung tilted his head down to Aria, a mischievous grin making its way onto his face; and it was only then, that Aria remembered exactly how the two had met in the first place. 

Aria started to flush, shaking her head rapidly and burying her face into her hands. “Oh god no,” she whined. 

Doyoung laughed at her, pulling her into his side with an arm over her shoulder and holding her there while he began speaking. 

“Ah, Aria? We met for the first time when Aria was still tiny - well, tinier,” 

“Hey!” 

“And,” Doyoung continued on, laughing, “I had left my jacket in one of the practice rooms. It was a gift from my hyung, so I had gone back to get it even though it was really late. But when I went in to get it, I found Aria, sitting on the floor in the dark with it over her lap instead.” 

At this point, Aria had fully buried her face into Doyoung’s chest, in a futile attempt to hide her reddened cheeks. “I thought it belonged to one of my friends,” she weakly protested, embarrassed by the laughs of the staff members behind the camera. “You scared me when you came in!” 

“You stole my jacket!” 

Aria sent a withering look to the camera. 

“Czennie. Doyoung-oppa doesn’t care if I freeze, I want you to remember this.”

Doyoung gaped at her, yanking her back into his arms with an offended gasp, “Yah, you brat that’s a lie.”

Aria began sliding to the floor, letting her arms go boneless and limp. “You don’t love me!”

Doyoung started to stop with her, trying to hold her up in his arms. “Aria, Aria don’t sit on the floor it’s dirty, get up-”

The music of the other idol groups played quietly through the green room’s speakers, a small television setup in the upper right hand corner allowing the idols inside to monitor the performances outside. 

Renjun tossed a half full water bottle over to Jisung, who was sitting on the floor beside the sofa where Jaemin, Jeno and Aria were; all three of them looking elated yet exhausted. 

Ridin’ was a choreography heavy dance, and although Aria hadn’t many lines in this particular song, she was still struggling to push through the residual pain in her lower back. She had strained it earlier on in the month, pushing herself too far with too little preparation during rehearsals and was paying the price for it.

Most of Aria’s time in the greenroom before their performance was spent ensuring the other boys that yes, she was ok to perform and no, she wasn’t going to sit this one out.

The boys begrudgingly accepted her protests; but that hadnt stopped Jeno ever-so-carefully tugging her onto the sofa once they returned to the greenroom post-performance, gently pushing her to lie her head down on Jaemin’s lap and bringing her legs up into Jeno’s. 

Jisung had wandered over later, eyes stuck to his phone screen but he willingly sacrificed his left hand to hold onto Aria’s when she hissed at the knot Jeno was trying to knead out of her lower back.

Jaemin shushed her softly, running a hand through her hair and untangling strands with his fingers. When Aria’s eyes had clenched shut and a whimper broke out from between her lips, Jeno’s hands froze in their movements, instantly bending closer to whisper apologizes.

“No, no it’s okay,” Aria said, attempting to prop herself up. 

Jaemin pressed her back down, her head staying in his lap. “Stop it, let Nono help.”

She knew that there was something more to say, but having awknowledged that their current circumstances were not the best to have such a discussion, he settled for carding a hand through her hair again. 

Aria let her eyes drift closed, hand still curled in Jisung’s, and legs pillowed in Jeno’s lap. 

Who’s name do you think matches their appearance? 

Kun pressed his lips together, thinking. 

“Hm, all of the members put a lot of thought into their stage names, so they all fit very well,” he hummed, eyes flickering between the paper and the camera. 

He took in a breath, clearly torn. 

“Ah!” he exclaimed, looking up to the camera. “Aria, her name fits her really well; Akari is such a beautiful name and it compliments her personality perfectly. She’s really like a fruit sometimes - she’s always cheerful and energetic, like she’s on a constant sugar rush. Very sweet.” the smile that overtook Kun’s features was nothing sort of soft. 

He quickly scribbled down Aria’s name in Hangul, before rolling the pen into the middle of his palm and straightening up again.

“Yiyang, is her Chinese name - she asked me to give her one last year. And you shouldn’t listen to Winwin, her full name is Qian Qiuyue, ok?”

Kun was laughing at himself now, picking back up the pen and moving to read the next question.

a/n: i know mr qian kun did NOT just say aria was fruity. 

aria nct lgbt sub-unit confirmed

Renjun was sat beside Aria on a single piano stool, shoulders pressed together as she leaned forwards to try and make sense of the notes written on the pages in front of her. 

“You know the basics, right?” Renjun questioned, hand coming out to flip forward in the music book a few pages. The single crotchet notes quickly turned into more complex rhythms, and from the side of his vision he could see Aria paling slightly.

He turned his head to look at her, “Riri, c’mon I know you know more than Mary had a Little Lamb, you can’t stay at beginner level forever.”

“Yes I can.” Aria sulked. 

Renjun sighed. “You were the one who asked me to teach you.” 

“Yes! When I thought it would be easier than this, my fingers just don’t do what they’re meant to do!”

“That’s why I’m here!” Renjun cut off her tirade. “I’m not going to laugh at you if you make mistakes - you’re learning, and everyone makes mistakes when they’re learning.”

“Promise?”

He ruffled her hair slightly, “Promise. Now here, look, this one isn’t difficult you’ll manage this one fine.”

“Injunnie.”

“Mm?”

“-nevermind, okay just. How do I?”

Renjun lifted his hands onto the keys of the piano, showing her the placement of her fingers and getting her to copy him. Aria did so, and then he was running her slowly, step-by-step through the first few bars of the piece, catching her when she played dud notes and clapping softly when she played through without stuttering. 

Soon enough, Aria was playing a simplistic but solid melody line with her right hand, basic accompanying chords with her left, and Renjun was staring at the side of her face; head tilted slightly to the left and a small, barely-there proud glint in his eye. 

 [BUBBLE UPDATE 210205 ]

ARIA~~

czennie

i heard about the tiny horse

do u think they’d let me get one

if i asked nicely??

“Jae, Jae! Jaehyun!” Aria coughed out the older boy’s name, throwing a glare over her shoulder. “If you insist on leaning your entire bodyweight on me, please don’t throttle me in the process.”

The man only sent a weak apologetic grin her way before his feet slid out from underneath him and he was left grappling at the small girl yet again. 

“You know when you said you wanted me to teach you ice-skating I didn’t know this was how you were planning on murdering me. If I have to die, I’d rather go out with a bang - ya’know? Not death by groupmate, that’s borinG-” Aria’s voice wobbled as she was pulled yet again. 

“Sorry, sorry,” Jaehyun apologized, going so far as to take his hands off her shoulders. “I think I’ve got it now.”

He made it another few steps forward before he was tossed off balance by an eight year old boy rushing past, startling him to the point of jumping backwards.

When Jaehyun’s legs went from underneath him, he flailed his arms in a futile attempt to regain his balance - one of the windmilling arms catching Aria’s extended hands in the process. 

Aria let out a shriek as her skates went as well, tumbling backwards. Her head would have made a harsh impact onto the ice - no arms ready to catch her fall - if it wasn’t for Jaehyun’s hand catching the back of her neck and taking the brunt of the impact. 

Lying on the ground, Jaehyun coughed out a laugh, Aria staring him down. 

All too soon though, Aria joined him in the laughter, head still pillowed on Jaehyun’s arm and the pair of them still lying on their backs on the ice.

“Hello everyone, today I’m with my favourite baby, say hi baby!”

Ten’s grin was audible in his words as he spoke to Aria, who waved before opening her mouth. “Your favourite baby?” 

Ten cooed, “Yes, my favourite baby,” while crossing the floor of the practice room to throw his arms around Aria. 

He rocked her side to side, pressing kisses to the top of her head. 

“And what makes me your favourite? You know Yangie won’t be pleased if he hears he’s been replaced,” Aria lifted her head to look up at Ten. 

“You accept the title of my baby, and are therefore my favourite. You don’t fight my love.” Ten shakes her dramatically side to side, mourning the one-sided relationship. 

Aria only patted his head in solace. “It’s ok. If it’s any consolation the only reason I don’t fight your hugs is because you’re faster than I am.”

Ten let out a pained gasp. “Betrayed by both my babies. How ever will I survive!”

Aria tried to pry his arms away from her shoulders that were shaking with barely-suppressed laughter, worming her way out from his embrace. Ten only tightened his hold, going limp and dragging her onto the floor.

“No...” Ten cried, “I’m dying...”

Aria’s laughter turned to shrieks when he began to tickle her stomach on the skin that was showing from where her t-shirt had lifted up from the movement. 

“No no no no stop Ten, TEN stop I’m sorry I take it back I take it baaack-” 

“Say it!” Ten demanded, unrelenting. 

“I’m your baby! I’m your baby I’m sorry I’m sorry!” Aria was rolling away from his hands, trying to escape but Ten only turned to lie flat on top of her. 

“Exactly.”

a/n: nct world 2.0 gave us so much content of the boys loving aria im :’( smth in the water made aria super cuddly this time around i think she’s after all of their hearts 

- aria collecting nct members like pokemon cards

Immediately after Jungwoo’s defeat, Aria sidestepped to behind Lucas where she fisted her hands in his shirt. 

“Aria! You’re next!” The presenter called out, and soon all the members in OFN has turned to face her. 

She poked her head around to see Yuta standing at the arm wrestling table already, tongue between teeth and grinning at her partially hidden form. 

Aria squeaked and ducked back behind Lucas. “Noo,” she moaned, already knowing what was going to happen.

To their credit, Johnny and Jungwoo tried their best to bolster her spirits before she emerged, but Aria still shuffled up to the table with her head tucked down, paying no attention to the calls of support from the boys behind her. 

Yuta rolled his sweater sleeve up again, and Aria looked up to meet his eyes.

“Onii-chan~” she tried, biting her lip to stop the laughter from bursting out. 

Yuta brought a hand up to his mouth before turning away, eyes wide. Aria could hear the cheers of cute! from her teammates behind her; Yuta’s teammates doing their level best to convince him not to cave under Aria’s widened eyes. 

“Onii-chan, you know I’m not very strong,” Aria made sure to heighten her voice’s register a bit, and stuck out her bottom lip, “Can you go easy on me?” 

Aria could hear Mark calling out to Yuta to not fall for it.

“Yah!” Aria dropped her voice back to her normal register, yelling out to Mark. “Stop it this is all I have!” 

The laughter was heard from across the field from the members in the tents, and Aria was left to sadly shuffle her way closer to the table and interlink her hand with Yuta’s. 

He sent her a consoling smile, the referee blew the whistle and then Aria was pushing with all her might against Yuta. Her legs came up like Renjun’s did, face scrunched up with the effort before the back of her hand met the plastic-covered table and Yuta was announced the victor. 

He quickly made his way around the table, wrapping Aria in a hug and picking her up to spin her around. Aria only giggled at him, sticking her tongue out at Ten who called Yuta out for fraternizing with the enemy.

Aria knew that a springboard worked off of your downward momentum, so it seemed perfectly logical to assume that if she barreled her bodyweight into the jump, then she would make it high enough to get over the 200cm vault. 

She’d made it over the previous heights with varying degrees of success, but the new towering height was throwing her off a bit. Cheers came from both her teammates sitting down beside the mat as well as the other members sitting in the shade. 

“Aria! Challenge accepted!” she called out, pumping her fist into the air. 

From the corner of her eye, Aria could see Johnny leaning forward with his hands on his knees, watching carefully as she ran up to the springboard. Lucas was in a similar position, was it not for the wide grin he sported.

Beginning her run she tried to use up as much speed as possible, sprinting to the vault before jumping with her feet together onto the springboard and allowing it to propel her up and over the vault.

However what she had failed to account for; was the length of her arms. 

Aria made it over the 190cm vault, but her fingertips barely scraped the top and it left her with a choice of either trying to become Superman and face-planting into the mat on the other side, or bringing her legs together prematurely and hope she didn’t lose a leg. 

She couldn’t hear the gasps that left everyone’s mouth once her hands missed the top of the vault, missing the way Lucas moved closer to the mat with a jerk forward. 

Bringing her legs closed, Aria swung her bodyweight forward and grappled behind her for the vault in a panic. A yelp left her mouth as her hand caught on the rung and she tucked it back into her body when her feet met the edge of the mat.

Unstable, Aria toppled backwards with her hands stretching out behind her again to prevent herself from falling. Her back landed against the vault, and she knocked it over, falling on top of the now-split pieces. 

Despite it all, Aria was laughing hysterically, hands coming up to cover her face as she tried to hide her flaming red cheeks. An arm extended to her and she hoisted herself out of the middle of the vault, soon coming to rub at her back.

“Does that count?” Aria could hear the presenters asking should she be disqualified for knocking over the vault even after landing, but she was more concentrated on the hand on her back that was guiding her to her other teammates, all clapping wilding and cheering. 

“You okay?” Lucas’ voice came in her ear, laughter but also concern audible in his tone. His hand was still rubbing slowly along her back, soothing the reddened skin underneath the t-shirt she was wearing. 

“Yeah I’m fine,” Aria let her head fall forwards as she laughed at the thought of the picture she must have looked, flailing as she barely made it over the vault. “I don’t know if I’ll make it over the next one though.”

“Ah it’s okay. I’ll knock it over too and then I can join you.”

The gate at the back end of the tunnel swung closed with a clang, everyone inside letting out a shout. 

Aria, having been standing in front of Johnny, tucked inside his coat while he back hugged her (she wasn’t built for the cold weather, and the denim jacket she wore was doing nothing to save her from hypothermia) let out a yelp and turned her face into Johnny’s chest.

Johnny pushed her behind him slightly as he turned around to look what had happened, and Aria clung to his waist while the others around them furrowed their eyebrows in confusion. 

Trapped?

a/n: and a bonus clip bc shes was so CUTE during mtopia i couldnt not 

In the emptied dining room, the SuperM members scattered around the different table set ups, searching for the coloured pieces of paper. Taeyong had wandered over to the food counter, while Ten had migrated towards the opposite end of the hall.

Baekhyun could see the other members in various locations; all apart from one. 

“Oh? Aria, where did you go?” 

The youngest member was no where to be found, and Baekhyun’s question gathered the attention of Taemin and Mark who were standing nearby. Mark tilted his head in a question, eyebrows lifted and then furrowed when he too looked around for the girl and couldn’t find her.

“I’m here!”

Baekhyun let out a small scream, jumping back from the table he was standing beside.

Beneath the tablecloth poked out Aria’s head, a sheepish smile on her face when she realized she’d scared her leader. 

“I thought there might be some clues underneath, so I wanted to check.” she explained, slowly shuffling out from underneath the table. 

“Baekhyun hyung did she scare you?” Jongin teased, as Taemin cooed over the adorable picture Aria made as she straightened up and brushed off the dust from her skirt. 

Baekhyun floundered, spluttering “What? No! I don’t get scared.” 

He puffed out his chest theatrically.

“Sorry oppa, I didn’t mean to scare you~” Aria said through suppressed laughter, coming over to hug him around the waist.

Baekhyun deflated slighty, “Ah, it’s okay,” he grumbled, petting her hair. 

thank you for watching ! - haechanieski

[whereisten]

Perfect.

A Winwin fic that’s part of our Halloween Series!

Summary: things get busy for one of the world’s leading scientist’s, Yuta, so he creates his own efficient and trustworthy personal assistant robot a.k.a Sicheng. But what happens when his perfect creation develops a flaw or two?

Pairing: Scientist!Yuta x Robot!Winwin

Genre: horror, smut, angst, a tinyyy little bit of fluff

Word Count: 6K

Warnings: dark themes, side piece Doyoung, Yuta has major God-complex syndrome, cursing, weapon usage, blood mention, smut: mlm (top!Yuta, bottom!doyoung, bottom!winwin, anal penetration, masturbation, oral sex, c*eampie.

(A/N): hey guys!! This is the first fic we are posting for our Halloween Series! Every day we will post a new fic for each member of NCT 2020 so be sure to stop by to see what dark and spookyyyyy stories we create. This is also my first time writing BL so I hope it’s good enough for a first try😂 I will do better next time. Thank you❤️🥺.

—————

“He’s perfect” Yuta looks upon his creation in the open glass box.

“Height. 5’11. Date of Birth. October 28th, 1997. Eye color. Dark Brown. Hair color. Dark Brown. Origin of parts. Wenzhou, China.”

“It looks so...real. It’s kinda creepy..” Doyoung, Yuta’s coworker, analyzed the texture of the robot’s face.

“Well, he wasn’t made to be pleasant, only efficient.”

“Yes, but Yuta..don’t you think this is a bit much? Mimicking the face of an actual person..someone that died over 100 years ago? Will you name it Dorian too?”

Yuta created his robot as a personal assistant to him. He found that humans were full of error and it made them incompetent and negligent beings. And Yuta, being the best scientist in Japan, just couldn’t afford to make any mistakes. So he created him. The perfect robot, a “copy machine” that could keep up with him and do the work he does just as efficiently. He would be just as smart as him.

Yuta steps closer and runs a finger down the robots face, causing a neon green honeycomb pattern to decorate its skin. It wasn’t on, but it was still reacting to the touch against its surface. Yuta watches the green fade from its perfect cheekbones.

He made him to look like the famous Dorian Gray because he wanted him to be just as beautiful as he was smart. But if he is just a machine made to perform tasks with 100% accuracy, why would looks matter?

This is what Doyoung thought as he observed it.

“There is a word that means talented, beautiful, master piece and a gift from God..Sicheng, that will be his name.”

Doyoung scoffs. “It’s a man? With...male reproductive organs?”

“Yes..” Yuta writes something down on his clipboard.

Doyoung rolls his eyes. “You’ve really lost it, haven’t you?”

“I want him to look as real as possible for when we present our findings and such. Do you think anyone will listen to a robot that looks like those beastly things from the Terminator movies? What’s the issue?” Yuta brushes past Doyoung, walking around a table in the lab and placing his clipboard onto it.

“You of all people know the issue..you’ve made him into a beautiful person and for what? Just so you can have something nice to look at while you avoid actual human company? Is it merely a solution to your loneliness, Yuta?”

Yuta smirks. “Sounds like you’re a bit jealous, Doyoung..don’t worry, I don’t plan on engaging in any activities with him. I’m not that barbaric. But even if I did, that would have nothing to do with you. Don’t forget your place in my life, you’re disposable...he isn’t.”

Doyoung’s jaw drops. “I pray this..thing..will tolerate your ungrateful and arrogant ass. For it shall be the only thing to spend time with you, you unsociable maniac.”

———

[The Next Day]

Yuta turns Sicheng on for the first time.

His eyes illuminate as he takes his first breath. He blinks but offers Yuta nothing but a blank stare. 

Yuta sits him down on the couch and turns the TV on before turning on an instructional video on human interaction. 

“Hello. Your name is Sicheng. My name is Yuta, I am your creator and master. For today’s first lesson, you will learn how to speak and express emotions. I’ve uploaded information from my own limbic system into your hard drive so you can access and apply these feelings when necessary. Do not do so without my permission. Repeat after me “yes, master.”

“Yes, master.” Sicheng responds.

“Good, I will be the only one to make demands of you, you will only respond to me and grant my wishes without fail. Alright, I see that you are blinking and breathing..” he writes a checkmark on the word document on his iPad. “Involuntary actions are operating correctly.”

He steps back. “Now, you may watch the video, I will come back when it has finished and test you.”

“Yes, master.”

———

[1 Week Later]

Sicheng has watched several videos every day for the past week. He starts to act more and more—humanlike, and to Yuta’s satisfaction, has performed his duties with 100% accuracy. In addition to performing basic tasks in the lab, like picking up test tubes or writing down Yuta’s notes and storing them into his hard drive, Sicheng has learned how to bathe, drive, cook, clean, and speak 30 languages. 

He continues to learn every day, new formulaic equations as well as feelings and ways to think on his own. He remembers everything, as he was designed to.

One day when Yuta was typing new findings on his computer in the office section of his house, Sicheng sat on the lounge chair and listened to music as Yuta had directed him to.

He was learning about all genres of music and even learned how to play the guitar in less than 45 minutes.

Today, Yuta had him listen to Hopsin, an American rapper that he liked.

When the song “What’s My Purpose?” came on shuffle, Sicheng took his head phones off.

“Excuse me, master. May I ask a question?”

He says softly.

Yuta, still typing. “Yes.”

“What is my purpose? Why did you create me, master?”

Yuta sighs. “You don’t have to verbally refer to me as master. And your purpose is to serve me, do as I ask with 100% accuracy so that you may please me and make me...happy.” 

He turns to him and gives him a cheesy smile.

Sicheng nods. “I understand, m-“ he blinks rapidly as his system reconfigures itself to change previously saved information.

Yuta smiles widely as he sees Sicheng display a smidge of confusion for a moment. He looks adorable, he thinks to himself. He’s beautiful, his lips perfectly round and puckered with a light cherry shade to them always, his eyes are a beautiful, exotic shape unlike any eyes he’s seen before. He could get lost in them if he stares for too long. So he looks away, and frowns.

“What is wrong? It seems you are unhappy?”

Sicheng’s brows furrows, his eyes stare intently as they analyze the motion of Yuta’s facial muscles.

“It’s nothing, I am going to sleep, please turn yourself off.” Yuta looks away as he rises from his desk chair and heads to his bedroom.

“Yes.” Sicheng closes his eyes and shuts down.

———

[The Next Day]

Sicheng and Yuta spend the day inside, a storm has prevented them from leaving the house and heading to the lab for work. Yuta, being the workaholic he is, is dissatisfied with the weather and hates being away from the lab. He checks the weather app through Sicheng every two minutes even though the storm rolls through loudly, violently, thunder shaking the walls.

“The thunderstorm will continue into the evening.”

“This is unacceptable!” Yuta plops down onto the couch in the entertainment room. “Sicheng! Sit with me before I lose my mind.”

Sicheng walks over and sits beside him.

Together they watch movies and laugh. Sicheng observes how happy his master is and finds himself smiling as well, a new feeling is absorbed and saved.

Yuta turns to him and sees his bright smile, his dimples coming out and his eyes closing tightly as he chuckles.

“Are you happy, Sicheng?” 

“Yes, I am happy as long as you are happy.”

Yuta rubs the top of Sicheng’s hand to watch the illuminated reaction of his fascinating skin.

Sicheng has a strange, new feeling from the touch, but doesn’t know what to categorize it as.

“Good.”

———

[The Next Day]

Yuta and Sicheng return to the lab. 

“We have so much work to do.” Yuta hurriedly places his bag down and they set to work. Things seem to be going fine, Sicheng does his best to input brand new information as Yuta works on a new formula. However, Yuta seems to be moving too fast as he is worried about how much he has fallen behind from his day at home.

“Combine elements 65 and 81, place 10 milliliters of each into the cylinder,  measure the solubility and proliferate it by 0.448, then divide the finding by 6 before combining it with element 55, this must be done quickly or we will lose all work we’ve done thus far.”

Yuta grabs the cylinder and places it down before doing his half of the work.

Sicheng, on the other hand, cannot seem to process the demand, his drive releases an error message that he can’t seem to overcome.

But he wants to please master, he must please master.

Sicheng combines elements 64 and 81 and continues on with fulfilling Yuta’s demand, but the result is not what Yuta expects.

“No..no this isn’t right, why is it reacting this way?” Yuta starts to panic as he watches the solution display a completely different state of matter under his microscope.

“Sicheng, verbally explain what you have just done.”

“I combined elements 64 and 81 in-“

“No!! It’s not 64, it’s 65, you fool! How could you make such a mistake?!” Yuta empties the cylinder quickly. “I thought you were perfect, it seems I was wrong.”

Sicheng starts to feel a new emotion.

It’s a terrible feeling, he feels unsteady, confused, for once the answer is not clear. What was this? Why did he feel dread, despair, failure?

Yuta rushes around the room as Sicheng stands in the center, dumbfounded.

When Yuta finally looks up at Sicheng, he sees the his eyes are red, tears run down his cheeks, causing them to illuminate green.

“Sicheng...no. D-don’t cry.”

“Is that what this is, master? Am I crying?”

“Yes, but I’d like you to stop. I need you to be brave enough to handle these tasks.”

He stops and wipes away his tears. 

Yuta sighs. “It’s clear I’ve made a mistake in your configuration, I will fix it when we get home later.”

The rest of the day goes by in silence. Yuta sees Sicheng as no use to him so he doesn’t instruct him to do anything. Sicheng watches Yuta eat and sits at the dinner table with him.

He knows he has done something wrong, something that displeased his master.

Is he of worth if he can’t please him? Does he have a purpose anymore?

Yuta chews heavily and tries to think of where he went wrong with his creation, but he can’t be bothered with fixing him for tonight. “Sicheng, shut down.”

He swallows hard then gets up from the table.

“Yes.” Sicheng’s eyes fade to grey, but he disobeys his master secretly, he doesn’t shut down, he stays awake  to attempt to fix himself so he can make him happy tomorrow.

Yuta then takes his phone out and calls Doyoung.

Doyoung answers reluctantly after not seeing Yuta for days since he got his new “toy.”

“Well, to what do I owe the pleasure?” Doyoung exhales loudly.

“Come over.” Yuta demands.

“And why would I do that?” Doyoung teases, but he’s already grabbed his car keys.

“I’m not asking, I want you here in 15 minutes.” Yuta hangs up.

He picks his dishes up from the table and drops them into the sink.

He takes his tie off and unbuttons his white dress shirt by three buttons. He then takes his hair tie off and places it onto the dresser. Sicheng watches as Yuta becomes more relaxed. He feels a certain ache in his system, a desire to make him smile again. A desire to please.

A few minutes later, Doyoung knocks at the door. Yuta grabs him inside by the collar and presses him into the back of the door. He slams his lips onto his and kisses him fervently, not a moment lost between them as they drown in each other’s lust. 

“Are you done with your toy?” Doyoung says breathily between kisses.

Yuta kisses him sloppily, tracing his tongue over his bottom lip then his chin and neck.

He grabs Doyoung’s waistband, pulling him closer to his pelvis so he can feel his clothed erection.

“Do you need me to please you now?” Doyoung smirks as Yuta bites his neck to leave a mark.

Doyoung grunts as Yuta pulls his shirt over his head, licking his hard nipples soon after. He darts his tongue out and licks around the nub, then places his lips around it before sucking hard.

“God, I love when you get like this.” Doyoung rubs his hand through Yuta’s hair as he continues to suck.

Yuta is too busy to see Sicheng watching them quietly. 

Please. That is the key word. Doyoung is pleasing his master so he must watch and copy Doyoung’s action so he may do the same. For what will happen if he no longer pleases him? Will Yuta replace him with Doyoung?

Sicheng listens to Yuta’s groans as Doyoung traces his hand over his crotch, smoothly touching his member through his pants.

“On your knees..you talk too much.” Yuta demands.

Doyoung smirks and licks his lips. He drops to his knees and looks up at Yuta through his lashes. He takes his zipper in between his teeth and drags it down.

Yuta pushes his brief down to let his painful erection free. “We’re wasting time.” 

“Tsk tsk, impatient as usual.”

“Open your fucking mouth, Doyoung.”

Doyoung feels himself leak as Yuta growls at him. Nothing satisfies him more than seeing Yuta beg for him, so yes, Sicheng’s creation was somewhat of a disappointment for him. He thought he would replace him, but now he is happy to see that he can’t.

Yuta exhales and throws his head back as Doyoung takes him into his mouth. He licks his lips and closes his eyes. “God, yes.”

Doyoung runs the tip against the inside of his cheek and hums to send vibrations through him.

He sticks his tongue out and licks the underside of it, tracing over every bulging vein.

He thrusts his hips forward into Doyoung and listens to him choke, he watches his cheeks become round and red.

Yuta is already close, but he wants more.

He helps Doyoung up and kisses his lips again. He takes him to the dining table and bends him over it. Yuta then drags Doyoung’s sweatpants down before cupping his hand around his cock. He aligns his own cock with Doyoung’s ass and pushes into him quickly, he buries himself into him while grabbing a fistful of his hair and bending his neck back. 

“Fuck!” Doyoung groans and holds himself up as Yuta pushes into him hard.

They both ignore Sicheng sitting at the other end of the table. Sicheng watches and absorbs the images of their bodies engaging in this new act.

Yuta pumps Doyoung’s cock with his other hand, liquid leaks out of the tip. Sicheng notes how he also has a penis and wonders if he has the same capability.

Yuta grunts as he pushes into Doyoung a few more times. Doyoung whimpers as he is stretched out over and over while bent over the table, sweat coming across his forehead as a bundle of nerves is on the brink of being released.

Yuta looks up at Sicheng’s still face, he curses and goes harder on Doyoung. And for a moment, he let his mind wander, he let himself think of..Sicheng. Touching his soft, illuminated skin as he makes love to him, or feeling his round lips on his collarbone and his chest,  how magical it would be.

“Fuck.” Yuta releases into Doyoung as Doyoung cries out while climaxing. 

Yuta sits into the chair and breathes heavily. He smooths his hair back and watches as Doyoung pulls his sweatpants back up.

“Want me to stay around for-“ Doyoung starts but Yuta interrupts him with an abrupt-

“No.”

Doyoung scoffs and leaves. Yuta cleans the table soon after and goes to bed. As he lays in bed, he sees Sicheng’s beautiful face. He dreams of laying with him, touching him. He knows he shouldn’t think of these things, but he can’t seem to stop.

———

[A Few Days Later]

Sicheng starts to read novels and books about the concept of forgiveness while he is home and away from the lab. Yuta has been quiet and doesn’t look at him much, he doesn’t even take him to the lab on most days anymore. 

“I have to fix you before you can come back to the lab, we cannot afford any more mistakes.” Yuta says sternly when Sicheng asks if he is to join him one day. He shuts the door and looks down as he leaves.

Sicheng starts to overthink, or overanalyze rather. He wants Yuta to forgive him and be happy again. What good is he if he only disappoints his creator?

He watches movies as well, movies that discuss love and heartbreak. Love is a feeling of admiration towards someone, based on Sicheng’s findings and research. He admires Yuta so he loves him. He wants Yuta to love him too so he can be happy like the others in the novels and movies are. That is the conclusion he’s come to. 

But in order to show his love he must do as they do in the movies and as Doyoung did with him. 

One day at dinner, Sicheng watches Yuta eat the meal he has prepared for him.

When Yuta is almost finished, he breaks the silence.

“Do you love me, master?”

Yuta nearly choked on his food. “I..hmmm..Well...you’re my creation..but I don’t..”

“Yuta, I would like to please you, would you like to make love to me?”

Sicheng asks, weakness coats his tone.

Yuta scoffs. “Of course not! That’s not what you were created for!”

“I apologize.” Sicheng’s head lowers.

“Sicheng, exterminate all information related to “love.” Yuta brings his dish to the kitchen and heads to his room.

“Yes.” Sicheng doesn’t delete anything from his hard drive, but why not? Why was he disobeying his orders, not once, but twice now?

Yuta didn’t know that he made a mistake by inputting his limbic system into Sicheng. He didn’t know that he would develop emotions, feelings, desires of his own, and that this could become a serious issue.

———

[1 Week Later]

Sicheng started working with Yuta in the lab a few days before. Things are slowly going back to normal as Yuta begins to trust him more. They continue on with their tasks and Sicheng is able to keep up with him.

This new confidence, however, causes both Yuta and Sicheng to move faster. 

Yuta walks around the room swiftly, heading behind his assistant. “Sicheng, hand me the solution.”

Sicheng, already prepared, turns to hand it to him, but Yuta miscalculated his reaction time, causing him to bump into Sicheng.

The solution flies out of the graduated cylinder and onto Yuta’s lab coat and pants. Some of it splatters onto his neck.

“Shit!” Yuta runs to the shower room down the hall. They are working after hours so no one else is there but the two of them. Fortunately for them, as other scientists would’ve been greatly concerned.

Sicheng runs after him. “Master! I apologize for my mistake, please do not be displeased with me.”

“Sicheng! Just leave me alone!”

“I will help you.”

“No! Just...wait there.” Yuta finally enters the shower.

Sicheng doesn’t wait, he goes into the bathroom and locks the door behind him. He watches as Yuta throws his coat off then takes his pants down.

Yuta curses and is visibly upset, but then he feels light hands come to his front side.

Sicheng unbuttons his shirt for him and takes it off from the back. 

Yuta’s mouth falls open, but he doesn’t tell Sicheng to leave. He steps forwards into the shower and washes himself off, not realizing the Sicheng is now taking his own clothes off.

Sicheng stands outside of the shower and thinks of what to do next.

Must please master.

He draws the curtain open.

“Sicheng! What are you doing? The solution didn’t get on you, put your clothes back on!”

Yuta pushes back his wet hair out of his face then places his hand over his cock.

Sicheng doesn’t listen. He steps into the shower and stares into the eyes of his master.

Yuta cowers and feels the cold tile against his back as he looks at his creation with lustful, hungry eyes he had never seen before.

The water droplets begin to leave slowly fading green marks on his skin and he looks beautiful.

“Touch me, like you touched Doyoung, master. I would like to make you happy too.”

Yuta’s mouth falls open, his brows furrow as he is stunned to silence.

Sicheng places his lips onto his mouth and attempts to mimic a kiss. He had watched many videos that showed it in detail and now he was able to do it with Yuta.

Yuta closes his eyes and kisses him back. He turns his head and licks over Sicheng’s plump lips, it tastes like cherries, his favorite fruit, and he wonders if Sicheng purposely put cherry chapstick on for this.

Yuta places his hand on the side of Sicheng’s face as he deepens the kiss, letting go of all concern about the consequences to come from this moment. He doesn’t care, he just wants to make love to his creation.

Steaming water falls down both of them, making their hair cling to their foreheads as they smother each other.

Yuta runs his hands across Sicheng’s muscular arms and watches his skin light up from his touch.

Sicheng then runs his hand down Yuta’s abs, feeling the bricks under his smooth skin. Sicheng blinks rapidly as he feels something new. 

“Arousal.you’re feeling arousal.” Yuta practically hears Sicheng’s confusion as he kisses along his neck.

Sicheng’s pulse begins to race as he feels something funny happening to his penis.

“Here.” Yuta takes Sicheng’s hand in his. Sicheng thinks he is going to place it on his own erection, but Yuta doesn’t do that, he places it on Sicheng’s semi-limp member.

Yuta looks into his eyes and speaks deeply. “Touch yourself, move your hand up and down.”

Sicheng’s eyes widen as he starts to stroke his member like he had watched Doyoung do. A tingly feeling begins to fill him up in his nether region when he wraps his hand around it. 

“I see you haven’t been listening to me. You’ve been staying awake when I tell you to shut down, and you haven’t deleted “love.” Yuta smirks.

“No, master, I-“ Sicheng stumbles over his words as he focuses on Yuta’s tongue suddenly on his chest.

Yuta licks the pink circle around Sicheng’s nipple, before flattening his tongue onto the hardening bud. 

He then bites it and watches as the area lights up in a bright shade of green from irritation.

“How do you feel, Sicheng?” 

“I feel good m-master. Are you happy?” Sicheng nearly goes into overdrive as he is turned on more and more from his hand.

Yuta swats Sicheng’s hand away from his member and replaces it with his own.

He pumps Sicheng up and down, coating his hand in Sicheng’s slick. He slides the skin back and forth, feeling Sicheng’s glans with each pass. He then leans down and kisses his neck again, sucking hard and biting his skin. He moves his hand faster as spit mixed with water covers Sicheng’s skin.

Sicheng can’t hold back, he releases an interesting sound from the immense pleasure he feels in the pit of his stomach. He breathes more heavily than usual as his mouth falls open.

He moans once again. “There is a buildup happening, Yuta. However, I would like to make you happy first.”

Sicheng places his hand on Yuta’s and pulls it away while looking into his eyes, water making his lashes look darker than usual.

Yuta feels dizzy just from the sight of the beautiful man in front of him, his color fading from green in all the places he kissed and teased. His erection is painful at this point. Sicheng looks down at it with red cheeks and nods. “You can make love to me...if you don’t like me, just imagine I am Doyoung.”

Yuta furrows his brows. “Are you crazy? Of course I like you, I created you!” He turns Sicheng around, taking his hand and placing it on the wall of the shower.

Yuta wraps his hand back around Sicheng’s leaking cock and continues to move it up and down.

He enters Sicheng, sliding into his already wet anus. 

Sicheng lets out another moan, then covers his mouth from embarrassment. 

“I’ve wanted to fuck you so badly, because you’re perfect..you’re all mine..and you’re fucking..perfect.”

Yuta thrusts hard into him with his chest on Sicheng’s warm back.

He takes his other hand and turns his face towards him, Sicheng’s lips are swollen and red from their kiss, his eyes are wide, his nose is dainty. Everything about him is just beautiful.

“If you like me, master, do you love me too?”

The words leave his lips in a whimper as Yuta bucks into his body, he feels a slight pain as he struggles to adjust to Yuta, but in time, he knows he will.

Yuta kisses him hard, tightening his grip around his cock and intertwining his fingers with his.

Sicheng feels unbelievably amazing around him. He smiles to himself as he thinks about how he designed both his reproductive and nervous systems without error. His body reacts perfectly when aroused, his length glistening with Sicheng’s slick as it also leaves his anus through a special system he designed.

Yuta looks at the beautiful boy’s back and shoulders, he kisses the nape of his neck and then his ear.

“I love you, fuck yes, I love you.” In that moment, Yuta is happy, but he can’t help but be worried about Sicheng’s inaccuracies in the lab, how he nearly put his life in danger. But he’s fix it, he’d find a way to fix him.

He glided his dick into him faster, skin slapping on skin as he grunts and Sicheng whimpers. Yuta feels his cock twitch as it runs against his silky walls.

Sicheng’s system overloads, he releases onto the tiled shower wall and looks down in amazement as a strange liquid leaves his body in heavy spurts for the first time. It feels wonderful to have such a new and exciting release.

Yuta takes what has fallen onto his fingers and sticks it into Sicheng’s open mouth.

“Suck.”

Sicheng does as he demands and Yuta cums into his body soon after.

Yuta curses as he continues to suck his fingers and bounce on his pulsing length. He orgasms harder than ever before, feeling his body tremble from the stimulation. He becomes lightheaded.

He pulls out and watches Sicheng leak his seed through low eyes as he pants.

As he comes down, reality settles in. What has he done? He’s turned Sicheng into the very thing he didn’t want to turn him into.

Sicheng drives them home after they wash themselves off and get dressed.

When they get home, Yuta lies in bed as Sicheng sits on a chair in the corner of the room silently.

He is disturbed by his actions and swears to never let lust take him over again.

“Sicheng…delete all memories of this day and shut yourself off.”

Sicheng’s system runs into a slight error as he hears his master's demands. Why did he want him to forget about this wonderful day? Wasn't he happy? Was he displeased at the end of it? What did he do wrong?

“Sicheng?”

“Yes, master. I am currently deleting all of today’s data from my storage. Goodnight.” He says as his eyes fade to grey. 

But once again, he doesn’t obey him. He holds onto the memories and feelings because he enjoys seeing his master happy.

———

[A Few Days Later]

Yuta distances himself from Sicheng. He doesn’t take him to the lab anymore, he doesn’t even sit at the table to eat. He goes into his room to avoid him.

Some days, he won’t tell Sicheng to ‘wake up’. But Sicheng turns himself on anyway so that he can watch him.

One day when Yuta starts to get dressed, Sicheng walks up behind him and places his favorite blue tie around his neck. Sicheng’s fingers graze Yuta’s neck, sending goosebumps down his spine.

“No!” Yuta jumps as he is startled by Sicheng’s touch. He steps forward and turns to him. “Please..do not touch me.”

Sicheng tilts his head and stares in confusion. 

Why was he disturbed by his simple touch? Maybe he wasn’t feeling well, that had to be it.

But just four days after they made love, Yuta invites Doyoung over and they make love. Sicheng sees that Yuta enjoys another man’s touch. Doyoung grips his waist then scratches his back while Yuta thrusts into him.

Sicheng sits quietly with grey eyes as they fuck in Yuta’s bedroom. He tries to calm his racing pulse and begins to think dangerous things. 

Does he love Doyoung? Yes. He will get rid of me won’t he? I have failed to please master, I must please him before he gets rid of me. If he is unhappy, I must show him that I love him by pleasing him.

When they are done and deep in sleep, Sicheng rises from the bedroom chair and heads to the living room. He realizes he must gain more knowledge so he can make Yuta happy again. He reads poems and comes across one by Oscar Wilde titled “The Ballad of Reading Gaol.”

Doyoung and Yuta snore softly while he sits in the living room and reads.

He reads a passage that sticks out to him.

“Yet each man kills the thing he loves

    By each let this be heard.

Some do it with a bitter look,

    Some with a flattering word.

The coward does it with a kiss,

    The brave man with a sword!”

Yuta loves Doyoung, that’s why he spends time with him. But Doyoung cannot take his place, therefore, he must get rid of him, he must kill the thing Yuta loves. And then Yuta can decide if he loves him, then he can kill him. This is what Sicheng had come to understand.

Brave. Yuta had told him to be brave once. Perfect.

Now, all he needed was a sword. 

Sicheng searches for types of swords.

A sword is a weapon with a long metal blade.

A blade is sharp. A knife is sharp. He must get a knife.

Sicheng goes into the kitchen and takes out a knife from the cabinet.

He walks into the bedroom with it and stands over Doyoung, staring and searching deep into his body to see his veins pumping crimson blood to and from his beating heart. Sicheng’s eyes turn to a glowing red color as he calculates how hard and fast he must act to strike the knife through Doyoung’s chest. He wants to clean it cleanly so as to not make master upset.

Doyoung is woken up by a strange presence. He turns over and is shocked to see Sicheng standing over him while gripping a knife. He smiles sadistically as his red eyes glisten in the moonlight.

“What the hell are you doing?!” Doyoung sits up straight in the bed.

“Don't do this!”

Sicheng leans downward and grins. “I only obey master’s orders.”

He doesn’t give Doyoung the chance to escape, he quickly drives the knife into his chest, blood splatters over his perfect face as Doyoung screams loudly into the night.

Yuta jumps up. “What—Sicheng!! oh my God, what did you do?!” 

Sicheng pulls the knife back out of his chest. “I killed him for you master, for each man kills the thing he loves. I did it for you.” He tilts his head and looks down at Yuta with wide eyes in hopes of gaining a look of satisfaction from Yuta.

But instead, Yuta stares in horror at Doyoung’s lifeless body. His hands start to shake.

“If I love you, Yuta, does that mean I must kill you as well?” Sicheng asks innocently while blinking rapidly. His system is reconfiguring itself as it develops and stores new information.

“No-no! Shut up! Shut down!!”

“But master, I want to please you by loving you..” Sicheng steps closer, Doyoung’s blood drips down the side of his face and onto Yuta’s bed sheets.

His eyes are still red and Yuta is confused as to how, for he never installed that feature.

“Sicheng! I order you to shut down now!”

“Yes, master. I will do that as soon as I am done being brave enough to handle this task.” He crawls over the bed with the knife in his hand still and a horrific smirk.

“Sicheng!” Yuta raises his arm above his head to block his blow.

He knocks the knife out of his hand and grabs both of Sicheng’s wrists. He overpowers him and flips him over onto the bed.

Sicheng doesn’t fight back, he only stares into Yuta’s eyes and continues to grin.

“Must.please.master.Must.make.master.happy..must.love. Master.” There’s a glitch in Sicheng’s system that causes him to repeat these three things over and over, and it drives Yuta insane.

His perfect creation crumbles right in front of his very eyes and there’s nothing he can do about it.

“Shut up! SHUT UP!” Yuta wraps his hands around Sicheng’s neck. He can’t control his confusion, sadness, anger. He chokes Sicheng so hard the metal in his neck begins to break and the sound echoes into the gloomy house.

Sicheng’s eyes fade to grey one final time as Yuta kills him for good.

His muttering stops, but his haunting smile remains, engraving itself into Yuta’s memory forever.

———

[Two Weeks Later]

Yuta arrives home after a long day at the lab. It had been only two weeks since Doyoung was killed by his robot and he was still dealing with the pain of losing something he loved so dearly. No, not Doyoung, but Sicheng rather. He missed his company, his touch, his soft exotic eyes and deep voice.

He made a mistake and Yuta could’ve fixed him, but unfortunately the police department took him away after he had reported the murder.

When Yuta asked what they would do with him, they told him that Sicheng would be locked up in a metal box in their department until they decided on how to proceed with the murder case.

But it didn’t matter really. Yuta killed Sicheng in the end. His body was now just clunky metal.

Yuta sighs and sits down on his couch. He turns the TV on and switches it to the news channel to distract himself from his own feelings, never noticing the glistening red eyes that watch him quietly from the corner of the dark room.

He’s watching..he’s always watching.

“Breaking News, there’s been a suspected terrorist attack inside the Osaka Prefectural Police Department. Nearly all police officers have been brutally murdered. The assailant is unknown and is still at large. We are under curfew until further notice, everyone must stay inside and lock their doors..”

Yuta sits up straight and thinks to himself. That’s the same department that Sicheng is in. What if—

“Master..please forgive me for being gone for so long.”

A low voice speaks into the large room.

Sicheng steps out from the shadows, the blood of his victims dripping down his naked body and face. 

Yuta stands up from the couch, his eyes widening as Sicheng walks slowly towards him. 

“Sicheng..what did you do?” Yuta’s eyes brim with tears as he swallows hard.

Sicheng’s neck seems to have healed itself somewhat, the purplish bruises being the only indication that Yuta had choked him. Once again, Yuta doesn’t recall installing a self-healing feature.

“They all tried to stop me, Yuta..” Sicheng smiles widely and runs his bloody hands through his own hair to smooth it back out of his face. “But I couldn’t let them...I have to serve you. I have to please you and make you happy, that is my purpose.”

--------

come back tomorrow for the next spooky story...

[tmngoose]

Cause for Concern: an OC one-shot

Alternate Title: Hurt/Comfort Characters: Rikki, Red Fox, Jupiter Jim, Clem, Rikki's mom (mentioned) Tags: ANGST, Anxiety, Distress, Poor familial relationships, Abuse, Minor Injuries/bruising/scabs, Hurt/Comfort, Blanket forts, Lots of comforting, Additional Tags to be added... Summary: Rikki gets a letter in the mail and Red has a right to worry. Word Count: ~1,799 -x- A/N: I know what you're thinking. "Goosey! This isn't any of the updates you promised us >:C what's up with this OC baloney?" -- Ok, yes, but listen; I wrote this mainly to practice writing Red Fox and Jupiter Jim since I'll be (ahem) writing them very soon for a certain somethin'-somethin' (Also? I need to update Let's Make a Deal and this was good practice to get back into writing for Rikki). I won't be uploading this to my Ao3. Read Cause for Concern under the read more:

It started with a letter—a small black envelope that came in with the rest of the mail: the bills, the take-out menus, and the weekly Stock and Shop circulars.

It was addressed to Rikki, which was odd to Red since Rikki never received mail; at least nothing intimate.

"Hey, Rikki! You got mail today!" Red said as soon as the mongoose returned from her shift at Clem's. She presented Rikki with the black envelope, her tail swishing excitedly.

"That's for me?" Rikki raised a brow.

They settled down at the kitchen table. Red sat across from Rikki, who examined the mysterious piece of mail. There was no return address, and the envelope was perfumed with something that made Rikki's nose wrinkle. She turned the envelope over, and that was when she saw it; the ivory wax seal depicting the image of fang—her family's crest.

Red's grin shrank as Rikki tensed, the color draining from her face, "Well? Who's it from, Rik?"

"It's… ah…," Rather than answering Red, Rikki reached for their salt shaker and unscrewed the metal cap. She poured a perfect circle onto the wooden surface, then dropped the envelope into its center.

Suddenly, it burst into a column of purple flames.

"Oh, my stars!" Red gasped. Her red banded-tail morphed into a giant hand and reached into the cabinet under the sink for the fire extinguisher.

"Don't worry, it'll put itself out," stated Rikki, unbothered by the phenomena. "It's a hex message."

"A 'hex message?'" Red furrowed her brow as the flames flickered before them, contained within the circle of salt. "I've heard of chain letters cursing folks, but this is just plain rude! Who would do such a thing?!"

"My mom."

"Oh," Red's tail twitched. It was a touchy subject they never discussed, mainly because Rikki avoided any conversation regarding family relations—especially if they were about her mother.

When the purple flames disappeared—embers and all—a scorch mark was left behind; Rikki buffed it out with the sleeve of her hoodie. Now that the letter was 'cleansed,' she sliced open the side of the envelope with her claw and emptied a folded piece of parchment into her hand.

The apartment fell silent as Rikki read the letter. Red knew better than to pry, even if the suspense kept her at the edge of her seat.

"Mom wants me to come home—for a visit, not to stay," Rikki grimaced, "She wants to 'talk.'"

"When?" Red asked while Rikki calmly tore the letter into tiny squares.

"A-sap," Rikki brushed the bits of paper into her palm and stuffed them inside the pouch on her hoodie. She went over to the tiny coat closet by the front door and retrieved an old backpack that would suffice as an overnight bag.

"W-wait, you're leaving now?" Red pushed back her chair. Her stomach twisted, and a feeling of dread penetrated her bones. She had no idea where the influx of anxiety came from, but it was enough to get her fur to stand on end.

Rikki shrugged, "I can't keep the lady waiting."

"What about work?"

"I'll tell Clem somethin' came up. Besides, that's what PTOs are for..."

"Is everything alright?" Red's ears flattened, perturbed. "You're not in trouble, are you?" Why would she think Rikki was in trouble? Maybe Rikki's mother always communicated via hex messages. Perhaps that was just how yūrei's spoke to one another; a cultural thing.

Rikki didn't answer. She quietly stuffed her toiletries into a plastic baggie, then went into her bedroom to gather a change of clothes. The silence between them only told Red that she was right to fret about her roomie's well-being.

"… It's nothing, Red," Rikki answered, slipping her headphones around the back of her neck. "Don't worry about it. I'll be fine."

Red's unconvinced by the string of reassurance; they sound a lot like empty promises, "Rikki…."

"Red, I'll be fine," Rikki crammed her chargers and electronics into the small pocket of her backpack. "I should be back sometime soon-ish. We'll order sushi and throw ourselves a little party, ok?"

"… okay," Red stepped out of Rikki's way, reluctantly letting the mongoose pass by. She escorted Rikki to the elevator down the hall and playfully elbowed her in the arm, "Call me if you need back-up, yeah?"

"Whatever floats your goat, space ace," Rikki snorted as she waited for the elevator's arrival. She slung her bulky backpack over her shoulder, "And speaking of goats, I better call Clem…."

Rikki forced a smile as the elevator doors slowly closed. Red saw past the mongoose's attempt at feigning confidence; the distant, fearful look in her eyes gave her away. Red suppressed the urge to summon the elevator and prevent Rikki from leaving.

Red told herself that it was all in her head, the idea that nothing good would come from Rikki's trip to her mother's. She knew Rikki could take care of herself.

Rikki will be back before you know it, Red thought to herself. It'll be alright. I'm sure her mother's a lovely person...

__________

Rikki didn't come home the next day. Or the following day. Or the day after that. When Red tried reaching Rikki on her cell phone, her attempts led her directly to the mongoose's inbox.

Not even Clem heard from Rikki, although he was instructed to 'use her sick days if she ran out of PTO.'

Red kept herself busy with menial chores to steel her nerves and stop her imagination from crafting worst-case scenarios. When she wasn't cleaning the apartment, the yōkai volunteered at the community theater, ran errands, and hunted for Scor-Pion with Jupiter Jim.

"Why so blue, Red?" Jupiter Jim asked during one of their stakeouts atop the eccentric actor's apartment building. "You mustn't let Scor-Pion get you down. The elusive fiend will show himself soon enough!"

"It's not that," Red sighed. "It's my roomie/friend! She's been gone for almost a week, and I've lost all forms of direct communication with her! And even if I wanted to go searching for her, I have no idea where she could be!"

"Hm, that is quite the predicament. I wouldn't be surprised if Scor-Pion is behind your friend's mysterious disappearance!"

"I doubt it…," Red peered through her binoculars and scanned the city's skyline, hoping to spy Rikki. She perked up when she felt Jupiter Jim's hand clasp onto her shoulder, "Sir?"

"Have faith in your friend," Jupiter Jim consoled. "The universe is a vast place, yet we all find our way home sooner or later. We must welcome the weary when they return, but to do so, it's crucial to keep our spirits high."

Red smiled weakly at the profound piece of wisdom, "Thank you, Sir."

The mood was ruined when Jupiter Jim mistook an old lady with a green skin complexion as Scor-Pion. Fortunately, Red's prehensile tail was strong enough to hold the space adventure back from ambushing the strange senior citizen.

If only Red used her tail to keep Rikki from leaving...

_____________

It was Wednesday night. Red had finished washing the dishes and was now standing at the kitchen counter, prepping vegetables for dinner. She was so preoccupied with peeling potatoes that she failed to notice someone unlocking the front door.

And that someone was Rikki.

"Hey, I'm back," Rikki announced as she closed the door behind her.

"Rikki!" Red exclaimed, dropping the potato peeler and spud into the sink. She ran over to Rikki and hugged her tightly, "Leaping light-years, you have no idea how worried I was! You didn't call or text, and Clem said—"

Red froze. Her eyes darted from Rikki's black eye to the bruise on her cheek. Several small knicks speckled the side of her brow. They were scabs now, but the implication that Rikki had bled was still there.

So this was the kind of relationship Rikki had with her mother: a bad one.

Rikki isn't put off by the horrified look on Red's face, "Honestly? It's not as bad as it looks. In fact, I think things went better than I expected." She tried maintaining a modest tone, but it faltered.

I knew I shouldn't have let you go, Red frowned. Hesitantly, she tried reaching up to touch the bruise on Rikki's cheek.

"I'm gonna go take a shower," Rikki said as she casually ducked away from Red's hand. "I had to take the long way back, and I'm kinda gross. Do you need the bathroom?"

"N-No, you go ahead. I'm making stew for dinner. Would you like some?"

"Naaah. I'm not that hungry…."

Red nodded, "Copy that." She watched Rikki's bushy tail drag across the floorboards on her way towards the bathroom.

The universe is a vast place, yet we all find our way home sooner or later…

"Hey, Rikki?"

"Hmm?"

"Welcome home…"

It's such a warm, simple greeting, yet it meant so much to Rikki. She got as far as the hallway before she grabbed onto the wall for support. She sank to the floor and curled in on herself, trembling.

In a split-second, Red's beside her. She held Rikki close, protecting her by wrapping her striped tail around her body. She never heard Rikki cry before; the mongoose is quiet with the occasional whimper that breaks Red's heart.

Red held her tighter, "… We can still order sushi if you want…."

Rikki sniffled, "Yeah, I-I'd like that."

"Heh heh, good! Honestly, I was getting tired of peeling all those potatoes!"

_____________________

Stacks of aluminum take-out containers are left on the kitchen table with empty plastic cups of soy sauce. They make good on their promise to throw themselves a party. So Red and Rikki dragged their mattresses out from their bedrooms and constructed a blanket fort around them.

Once their nightly bathroom rituals are completed, they pile into their fort. Red noticed a few more bruises on Rikki's forearms that were previously hidden by the mongoose's hoodie.

"Clem said he'd give me the day off tomorrow," Rikki said as she slid her phone underneath her pillow. "I told him I had a rough trip. He understands."

"Aw, that's nice of him," Red yawned as she rolled onto her side, facing Rikki. Goodness gracious, who would've thought all this worrying could be so exhausting...

"Hey, Red?"

"Yeah?"

"Thank you," apologized Rikki, her voice hoarse. She stared up at the canopy of mismatched blankets and bedsheets, "I'm sorry I didn't keep you in the loop..."

"Don't worry about it, Rik," Red scooched over towards Rikki, "I understand."

They nestled against each other, their tails entwined--another layer of comfort. Red felt obligated to ensure Rikki fell asleep and didn't stay awake to think about whatever cruelties she endured at her mother's. Only when Red was sure Rikki was fast asleep did she finally allow her eyelids to shutter.

[out-of-jams]

Direct Message || Part one || kth

↠ Direct Message ↞ “Never in a million years would you have expected Kim--motherfucking--Taehyung of world famous Bangtan Sonyeondan, the biggest boyband in the entire world, to find it. To watch your whole cover of his song, Winter Bear, and actually like it. And not just like it.

He posted a link on Weverse for everyone else to see it too.”

Word Count: 1.1k

Warnings/Genre: Fluff. Drabble series. Language barrier!au. Idol!Taehyung. Youtuber!Reader. Bad language. Somewhat social media!au.

A/n: Just a smol series. And yes, this is completely inspired by that one post Tae made on Weverse with a link to that girl’s yt channel. LOL. Also, this is kind of a part of the Cheers If You Agree universe!

All of my works are purely fiction. Everything I write is my intellectual property and therefore belongs to me. ©out-of-jams. Do not copy or repost without permission.

                             | Next | Masterlist | 

“Holy shit.”

There was no word in the history of the English language that could be used to describe what you were currently going through.

“Are you literally fucking kidding me?” Your voice, so high pitched that you were pretty sure only your next door neighbor’s demonic chihuahua could hear it, barely left your parted lips. Because you couldn’t believe what you were staring at. To be honest, you weren’t even sure if you could believe it despite the clear proof in the form of your phone. If you weren’t sitting on your bed, you were pretty sure that your legs would have collapsed right out from under you.

“This is..is...” Shaking, you lifted your hand to bring the brightly lit screen closer to your face. No matter how many times you swiped up to refresh the page with trembling fingers, it didn’t change. It was still there. Your fucking face! Well, the thumbnail at least.

You blinked.

Again.

Again.

Refreshed the page.

Again.

Yup, still there.

A link to YouTube of a video that you’d just recently uploaded stared back at you unwaveringly. You hadn’t thought anything of it when you’d made it, had just figured that it’d be like any other cover you’d uploaded throughout the past year. And you hadn’t been expecting a whole lot of views either, seeing as how your channel was still relatively new and all. When you’d clicked “upload” and closed out of the page, you’d figured that you’d go back and check in a few days to see how it was received. If people had liked it.

Sometimes you would get very nice, encouraging comments from people. And even though it was a slow climb, your subscriber count went up every couple of days. You’d been singing for years, as long as you could remember honestly, but you’d only just gotten the confidence to put yourself out there last year. Hell, the only reason you started posting in the first place was because your friends all but threatened bodily harm if you didn’t do it.

“You’re so talented, dude. Don’t let that go to waste.” Your best friend had told you one day over coffee. “Or you’ll regret it when you’re old and dusty.”

You hadn’t thought you’d become overly famous or anything. Just branch out and share your music with other people.

Never in a million years would you have expected Kim--motherfucking--Taehyung of world famous Bangtan Sonyeondan, the biggest boyband in the entire world, to find it. To watch your whole cover of his song Winter Bear and actually like it. And not just like it.

He posted a link on Weverse for everyone else to see it too.

When the green little notification that he’d posted something had first slid into view on your screen, you hadn’t thought much thought of it. Taehyung was incredibly active on the app and would spam it all the time with ridiculously funny selcas or respond to army’s posts in his free time. So you’d just brushed it to the side to check on later. Fighting the lag of millions of other people to try and translate what he posted wasn’t something that you were interested in at that moment.

Even if he ended up deleting it later, you were pretty sure that someone on Twitter would have taken a screenshot and it’d circulate around at some point. It wasn’t that you didn’t care, you just didn’t check every single thing the members posted to the app the moment that they were uploaded. Therefore, you hadn’t really given it a second thought.

Until your best friend and fellow army blew your phone up with over a dozen messages, completely interrupting your lazy Netflix binge. Most of them hadn’t made any sense, had just been a string of nonsensical key smashes with the occasional “!!” tacked on. Since she was stuck in a movie theater with her boyfriend, she hadn’t been able to call you without causing a scene. So she’d resorted to flooding you with texts until you responded.

Why she’d even been checking the Weverse notification in the darkened theater in the first place was a mystery to you. Especially since you knew she’d been dying to see that movie for weeks. Whatever it was. But that didn’t matter, not when she’d piqued your interest with a text saying, “WEVERSE HUGHIH NOW.” You’d figured that Taehyung must have just posted a thirst trap or something again.

But you’d been wrong.

Flooding in right beneath his post were hundreds of comments. Some were in English, others in Korean, and the rest in languages that you had no idea how to read. They varied in reactions too, and everytime you started to read one, the page would glitch out and another would take its place.

He hadn’t put any text in the post, just the link.

What the hell was that supposed to mean? That he liked it? He had to have, right? Otherwise he wouldn’t have posted it. Unless...well, unless he absolutely hated it and wanted to send army after you to--

Shaking your head to get rid of the onslaught of extremely unrealistically anxious thoughts, you watched the amount of comments and cheers to the post skyrocket. If just his post was getting so much attention, what would that mean for…?

Immediately you switched apps and opened up YouTube. Navigating to the video only took a minute, but felt like hours and your heartbeat pounding in your ears didn’t help. Especially not when you pulled up the same cover and could do nothing but freeze in shock.

“Oh, my god.” Not only did you have over a hundred thousand views already, but subscription notifications were going off every two seconds.

Setting your phone down onto your bed, you watched with unseeing eyes as the screen went dark from inactivity.

How the hell were you supposed to respond to the comments? Were you even supposed to? You’d never spoken a word to Kim Taehyung in your whole life. In fact, you’d only ever been to a handful of BTS concerts. But you knew how crazy some people could get. Would they start thinking you were dating him or something just because he’d shared a link to your video.

Fuck, you really hoped not.

Your phone lighting up snapped you out of your thoughts. You’d turned off all push notifications for comments and subscriptions, so you reached for it without a second thought. And stared down at the bright screen with bewilderment.

Whatever the rest of the message was got cut off there. Who the..? 

With a shrug and curiosity needing sating, you swiped it open.

[knivestothroats]

New series!! I don’t have enough I’m working on!! Basically I wanted to create something with less of a plot so I could just use the OCs/setting to do prompt fills n shit. 

(update: here’s the masterlist)

CW: gunshot wounds, guns in general, knives to throats (heh), death threats, not exactly hunted for sport but a similar vibe

~

Buck put all of his determination into running. He tore through the woods, trying not to limp or stumble through pure determination, but the adrenaline could only do so much for the pain, and the wound in his leg eventually brought him down.

Managing to steer his collapse, he half-fell, half-dove behind a tree and pressed his back up against it. He put one hand over his mouth, trying to muffle his own heavy breathing, and one hand over the bullet hole in his thigh.

Buck had no idea how much ground he had covered. Existence was disorienting. He could have been running for miles, he could have made it five feet. The shooter had been a good distance away, but Buck knew. He could feel the dread like cement in his stomach. He hadn’t made it far enough. The woods weren’t thick enough. They would find him.

There was a rustling close by. Buck flinched, his heart nearly giving out from beating so hard.

A person came into view from behind some trees, still partially shrouded by the undergrowth. Not one of the ones Buck had seen – not one of the ones who had shot at him. Just a hiker, he figured, dressed in a flannel, denim jacket, and a knit cap. They were walking past, in the direction Buck had come from, but they saw his form crumpled against the tree and stopped.

“Don’t go that way,” Buck hissed, not wanting to make too much noise. He tried to push himself upright, but the pain radiated out through his body. “We need to get out of here. Can you help… me….”

He trailed off as the hiker stepped out from behind their foliage cover, his eyes flickering down to the gun in their hand, dappled sunlight glinting off the metal.

The hiker pulled a walkie talkie from their belt and spoke into it, “I found your runner.”

A slightly distorted voice replied, “Copy,” and they returned the walkie to their hip. They approached Buck.

“Yeah, I can help you,” the hiker said, lowering to one knee in front of him. They draped their forearm over their leg, displaying their gun in a faux spectacle of casualness.

Buck sagged, letting his head fall back against the tree, and closed his eyes. His hands were still clamped around his leg.

“Well, let me see,” the hiker said. They gestured ever so slightly with their gun in the direction of his injury, not quite pointing it at him.

Buck very slowly let go of this thigh and held his hands in the air, blood from his palms beginning to drip down his arms.

The hiker looked at the wound for a second, their face framed by dark hair that hadn’t been tucked under their beanie. Buck was aware that strands of his own long hair were plastered to his skin, but he didn’t dare move to brush them away as the hiker turned their gaze to his face.

“You seem like a smart guy,” they said. “I’m going to put my gun in its holster. I trust that you know better than to try to make a grab for it. It won’t end well.”

Buck clenched his jaw and nodded.

The hiker holstered their weapon and shifted closer. They reached out for Buck’s leg, examining the injury. Buck hissed in pain as they shifted his limb, feeling for the entrance wound.

“Not bad. Bullet went straight through, so that’s good for you. Really clipped you on the edge here, more or less, so I don’t think it hit anything important.”

They drew their hands away. Buck hesitantly replaced his own, trying to cap the flow of blood as much as possible. He was already starting to feel lightheaded.

“Were you facing them or running away when you got shot?” the hiker asked.

Buck licked his lips. “I was running away.”

More rustling through the trees. Careless, and getting closer. Two figures emerged - the same two Buck had seen before. He could be sure, despite the distance in the previous encounter, because one of them immediately raised their rifle and pointed it at Buck.

“Lower your fucking weapon, Dayal,” the hiker ordered. “I am right here.”

Dayal pointed his rifle at the ground. His face twisted like a kid who got scolded by a teacher.

“We need to review gun safety later,” the hiker said.

“I know my gun rules,” Dayal protested.

“Yeah?” The hiker raised an eyebrow. “Recite them.”

“Assume the gun is loaded, don’t rest your finger on the trigger, don’t point the gun at anything you’re not going to shoot…” Dayal rattled them off.

“Yeah, Dayal,” the hiker interrupted. “So why the fuck were you pointing it at us?”

“I was pointing it at him!”

“Yeah,” the hiker stood. They took two purposeful steps toward Dayal, looking down on him. “And I was right. Fucking. There.” They pointed at Buck’s leg. “That’s your marksmanship, I take it?”

“Yeah,” Dayal answered uncertainly.

“Is that where you were aiming?”

Dayal said nothing.

“Mmhm. I wouldn’t bet my life on your aim.” The hiker turned back to Buck. “Someone fill me in quickly before this poor fucker bleeds out.”

“I got it,” the woman next to Dayal muttered. She pulled a scarf from around her neck and tied it tight around Buck’s wounded leg, eliciting a groan of pain.

“He was snooping around the grounds,” Dayal said.

“I wasn’t snooping,” Buck said, shaking his head weakly. His mouth felt so dry. “I wasn’t snooping. I was just – argh – hiking.”

The hiker – or whoever they really were – eyed Buck with a cold gaze.

“Summers, check him for weapons, bugs, anything of the sort,” they ordered.

The woman knelt down next to Buck and began to pat him down. The hiker watched carefully as Summers emptied his pockets, setting his phone, wallet, keys, a compass, and a small pocket knife on the ground. When she was finished, the hiker picked up his personal items. They opened his wallet and looked at his ID, flipped briefly through the keys, examined the compass, opened and closed the blade on the pocket knife. Finally, they held up the phone in front of the others.

“This is the most dangerous thing he has on him. More than the knife, even. Can anyone tell me why?”

“He can call for backup,” Dayal suggested.

“It can be tracked,” Summers said.

“Well, that’s what I – that would bring back up,” Dayal said.

“You’re both right,” the hiker said. “It can send information, basically. His location through tracking, and anything else he knows when he calls, texts, or uploads information. Now that we have it, any information on here could be useful to us to find out more about this guy. However, us having it is also dangerous because that means our location is being tracked. So I’m going to turn it off until we’re ready to go through it.” They powered the phone down. “Under different circumstances, it may be wise to just destroy the SIM card if you know the phone is more of a danger than an asset. And, if you’re dealing with the government, turning off the phone might not be enough…” the hiker looked down at Buck. “But I think we’re okay.”

They pocketed all of Buck’s items, except the knife. Instead they opened the blade again. It was small, but it was sharp, and it could still get the job done if it needed to. They knelt down close to Buck again.

“What’s your name, friend?” the hiker asked. They already knew the answer – they had seen his ID – but starting off with easy, innocuous questions is a good way to ease people into talking.

He swallowed. “Buck.”

“Do you know who I am?” the hiker asked.

Buck blinked in confusion, eyebrows pulling together briefly.

“No,” he said.

The hiker stared at him for a beat.

“The name’s Fletcher. Nice to meet you.” They rolled the knife in their hand. “You wanna make this easy and tell us what you’re doing here?”

“I’m really – I’m really hiking,” Buck insisted breathlessly. “I don’t know… what this is. And I don’t – I don’t want to know, and I don’t, uh, want to be involved, or, or, talk to anyone, or whatever, um, the concern is. I didn’t…” he covered his eyes with his hand – the back of his hand, as to not get blood on his face. “I didn’t even see your faces.”

Fletcher laughed and pulled his arm down.

“Okay, Buck. Answer me something else then.” They rested their arm on his shoulder. “Where’d you get this knife?”

Buck swallowed. “My – my father gave it to me.”

“Did you name it?”

“Uh… no. I didn’t,” Buck said.

Fletcher made a disapproving noise. “You should always name your weapons. They’re your partners.” They trailed the blade over his collar bone, past the collar of his shirt, and slowly up his throat, resting the point under his chin. Buck tilted his head back, unable to get away. “What do you use it for?”

“Um… I… uh, not – not a lot. J-Just, um, uh, opening things, mostly,” Buck stammered. “I, um, just always bring it with me hiking, just, uh, in case. I guess. I don’t – I don’t know what… I would use it for, really….”

“Yeah, about that,” Fletcher said, pulling away. “You’re pretty deep in the woods for a hike.”

“I’m… a serious hiker…” Buck said lamely. “I always hike for miles.”

“There’s no trail out here,” Fletcher said.

“Well, I have a compass,” Buck said. “So as long as I know which direction I came from, I can make it back.”

Fletcher stared at him, saying nothing. Buck, growing increasingly nervous under their gaze, spoke up again.

“Um, I’m not from around here, so if this is s-something where, like, everyone knows not to go into the woods, uh, I just didn’t get the memo, so…”

“Oh, you’re new in town?” Fletcher raised their eyebrows. “Or just visiting?”

“New, uh, new in town,” Buck said.

“Hmm. What brought you out here?”

“Um,” Buck shook his head, trying to focus his thoughts. “Just… needed a change of scenery, honestly.”

Fletcher said nothing, just stared again. Eventually, Dayal spoke up.

“What do you think?”

Fletcher smiled, folded the knife and slipped it into their pocket, and stood.

“You know what I think?” Fletcher began, smiling down on Buck. “I think this guy’s a survivor. I bet he could walk all the way back to the house on that leg.”

Buck’s eyes widened.

“You know why?” Fletcher continued. “Because he knows the only other option is to lay down and die in the dirt. Or, you know,” they shrugged to their companions. “Try to run away. But that’s not much of an option. So, what’s it gonna be, my dear?”

Buck’s eyes flickered to each of the faces of the people standing before him. Each time he was met with a detached expectancy and nothing more. He put one hand on the tree and began to slowly, agonizingly, stand up. He kept his weight on his left leg.

“Great!” Fletcher said. “Follow me.”

The others walked slowly through the woods, allowing Buck to limp along behind them. Every step was an exertion of energy he didn’t have. His head was swimming and pain was flowing through his body in waves. And, with whoever these people were, he was mostly likely walking to his death.

Buck came to a stop, leaning against a tree for support.

Once he got to this house, would he ever come back out? There was no way he could run away; he was hobbled and at least two of these people had guns. But was it any better to prolong the inevitable? To force his bleeding leg to carry him all these useless steps?

Buck sank to the ground. Fletcher stood over him.

“Just leave me here to die,” Buck said, sweat coating his ashen face.

“I wouldn’t do that to you,” Fletcher said. “It’s not humane. I would put you out of your misery.”

Buck hung his head, breathing heavily, but raised his eyes to meet Fletcher’s gaze.

“What do you want with me?” he asked.

“I want to see if you can make it,” Fletcher said.

Buck tried to swallow, but his throat was dry. Fletcher put out their hand.

“Little help,” they said. “For free. Where would any of us be without help from others, right?”

Buck closed his eyes, took a deep breath, and then reached out and took Fletcher’s hand. Fletcher steadied him as he struggled to his feet again. They kept walking.   

The house wasn’t far, but at Buck’s speed the group took a long time to get there. Buck was stumbling frequently, leaning on passing trees for support. He could feel sweat rolling down his skin.

Fletcher opened the door for Dayal and Summers to walk inside, before turning to Buck and waiting. Buck stood frozen, gazing into the dark doorway. His heart was pounding, blood screaming in his ears. He slowly became aware Fletcher was talking to him.

“Buck. Hey. Buck,” they snapped their fingers.

Buck turned his weak gaze from the doorway to Fletcher.

“Is there a problem here?”

“Of course there is,” Buck said, his voice dry and weak.

“You could still try to run,” Fletcher said, a wry smile tugging at the corners of their mouth.

Maybe it was better to be shot now than to face whatever would happen inside that house. Buck turned, ready to try his best to run. Put a real effort forth as his last act in life, even if he only gets a few steps in. 

Fletcher bolted forward, effortlessly knocking Buck to the ground. He stared up at them from where he lay prone on his back, squinting at the sun haloing Fletcher’s head. They put a boot on Buck’s chest and drew their gun from its holster. Not aiming it at him – just holding it in their hand, finger off of the trigger.

“Think this through,” Fletcher said gravely. “If you’re alive, there’s a chance. If you’re dead, you’re dead.”

Buck said nothing. He closed his eyes against the glare of the sun and tried to breathe with the boot on his chest.

“If that’s what you want,” Fletcher said, “I can give that to you. Or you can get up and walk inside, and we can stitch those bullet holes shut.”

“And then what?” Buck wheezed.

“Who knows,” Fletcher said. “We won’t know until we get there.”

Buck took a rattling breath, and then another. He raised his arm, trembling with the effort.

With a smirk, Fletcher stepped off his chest and leaned down to help him up.

Buck was swaying in the breeze, and Fletcher took his arm and wrapped it around their shoulders, holding him up with an arm around his waist.

“Well, Buck,” Fletcher said as they crossed the threshold, “welcome to The Hunting Lodge.”

(update: here’s the masterlist)

[kunfiles]

It’s A Party, Right?

Category: Smut, tiniest bit of fluff if you squint (at the end), best friend!Yugyeom, dom!Yugyeom

Pairing: Kim Yugyeom x Reader

Warnings: Swearing and explicit language, talks of alcohol, dirty talk, slight voyeurism (maybe idk???), oral/face fucking, unprotected sex (be safe, kids!), maybe some body worship??? 

Prompt: "Could he make you feel as good as I do?” 

Word Count: 3,661

a/n: This is my first time completing and uploading a fic, and I’m really nervous about it, especially with it being smut. This isn’t the greatest, the title sucks because I am very bad with titles, and I apologize in advance! Do not copy and paste, don’t steal, don’t use without permission please! Please do not read my works if you’re under the age of 18! I hope you all enjoy!

You sat on the sofa in your friend Youngjae’s house, scrolling through Instagram on your phone as a quick distraction. When Youngjae had invited you to a small party at his place, you did not expect to see your ex there with the girl he left you for. Admittedly, you were a little pissed. The two of you had agreed on being civil with one another, due to the fact that you were always in the same friend circle, but seeing him with her only three and a half weeks after things ended honestly wasn’t something you had prepared yourself for.

“You know it’s a party, right?” Jinyoung laughed, startling you out of your Instagram induced trance, nudging your legs aside to squeeze into the spot between you and the arm of the couch.

“Shouldn’t me sitting on my phone show you just how fun this party is?” You sighed, nodding your head towards the table of people sitting just a few feet away where your ex was seated. You placed your phone down on your lap, giving your attention to Jinyoung.

“If it makes you feel any better…none of us wanted him to bring her here. He didn’t even give us a heads up. You know Youngjae would never do anything to hurt you, Y/N-ah.” The boy said, his smile turning softer as he noticed your gaze break towards the table once again. BamBam, Mark, Jackson, Jaebeom and Yugyeom were gathered around the table with your ex, his…whoever she is, and a few others; playing a game of cards. You watched as your ex placed a few cards down on the table in front of him, before looking up and making direct eye contact with you. Great.

“Does the universe just fucking hate me? Knowing him and his inflated ass ego, he’s definitely going to think I was just sitting here staring at him…”  You thought, knowing all too well how happy he must be feeling to have caught you looking in his direction. You watched your ex’s next moves with narrowing eyes, expecting him to make a cocky little display. He winked at you, cocked his head in the direction of the girl beside him and grabbed the back of her head gently; pulling her into a disgustingly sloppy kiss. At that moment, the only thought to cross your mind was running to the table and ripping them apart from each other. It’s not even that you were feeling jealous, because you most definitely were not. Your ex showed you who he was the moment he started seeing someone else while you two were still together, so jealousy was far from being on your mind.  What was on your mind, however, was the utmost feeling of embarrassment. You were beyond embarrassed that he would do that to hurt you, in front of all of your friends, and that you had actually believed for a second that he wouldn’t do something like this. You quickly tore your eyes away from the stomach turning display; your focus now landing on Yugyeom, who was sitting only a few seats away from the pair and had watched the entire thing unfold. You and Yugyeom were fairly close, your ages being the closest in the whole group of friends. Knowing that he had seen what your ex just pulled embarrassed you even more.

“I know, Thank you Jinyoung. I’m not upset with Youngjae or any of you guys. Now, if you’ll excuse me, I need to go get ridiculously drunk.” You replied quietly to Jinyoung, who had also watched the scene unfold. You stood up, brushed the wrinkles from your shirt and hurried off into the kitchen to pour yourself a very strong, and very well needed drink. You ran your fingers along the marble counter top, making your way towards the alcohol and cups. You grabbed a plastic cup in one hand, the bottle of vodka in the other and sat them both down on the counter before you.  You twisted the cap off of the vodka bottle and poured some into the cup, before picking it up and downing it; just to repeat that process until your throat burned too much to do it again. A few seconds later, Yugyeom emerged from the door and propped himself up against the counter beside you, reaching for a nearby bottle of pop. He poured a small amount of into his cup before sliding it in your direction.

“You should probably stick to this for a bit, yeah?” He suggested, nodding slightly towards the pop bottle; a hint that he had just watched you down almost half the bottle of vodka. Ignoring his unwanted suggestion, you reached to grab the vodka from the counter again, only to be stopped by Yugyeom snatching it first. “Why drink yourself into oblivion when you could do something even more fun than that?” Yugyeom asked with a playful and albeit, slightly sexy tone.

“What’s that supposed to mean? Yugyeom, I’m really just not in the mood for games right now.” You sighed, pouring some pop into your cup and setting the bottle back on the counter, taking a sip. The two of you had been friends for years and had met through Youngjae back in your final year of high school, Yugyeom being a year younger than you. You two had always flirted but nothing went further than a few lightly suggestive comments here or there.

“No games. I know you that you know I saw what that asshole did out there, Y/N-ah.” Yugyeom pushed himself away from the counter, leaving his spot in front of you. He walked slowly towards you, dragging his fingertips against the cold, marble counter. The only time his fingers left the counter was when he reached you a few moments later. He ran his fingertips along the back of your hand, trailing up your arm and to your neck as he moved behind you; leaving a tingling sensation throughout your body where his touch met your skin.

“Why don’t we get back at him a little? What I have in mind will also get rid of the copious amount of anger and tension you’re very clearly feeling right now. Two birds, one stone.” He whispered alluringly, slowly pushing your hair aside. He leaned his head closer to yours, softly brushing his lips against your ear. The softness of his lips mixed with the heat of his breath drove you crazy, but you had a feeling that there was no way he’d be acting this way if he was sober.

“Yugyeom…you’re clearly drunk.” You sighed, breaking yourself away from him. Before you could take more than two steps away, Yugyeom had you back against the counter and his arms on either side of you; hands tightly gripping the marble. He leaned down, making it so he could look you right in the eyes.

“Maybe a little, but not any less than you and definitely not enough to make me do something I’d regret any other time. Let me please you. Let me give you what you deserve, Y/N-ah...” Yugyeom said in a lusty, slightly deeper than normal tone; drawing his face closer to yours and brushing the tip of his nose against yours. That was all you needed to hear to lose any semblance of restraint that you had. He crashed his lips against yours and roughly grabbed your legs; lifting you on top of the counter. Yugyeom’s kisses were different than you had expected, rougher than you thought they would be, but still delicate enough to feel like you were being kissed by an actual angel. His left hand found a spot in your hair, slightly gripping to control your head and move it aside, so he could pepper kisses down your neck. His right hand trailed up and down your back, then towards your side and down to the waistband of your jeans. He pulled away from your neck, turning his gaze down to the button of your jeans. He circled it with his finger before slowly trailing his way up to your belly button.

“Y/N-ah, as much as I’d love to fuck you right here and now on Youngjae-hyung’s counter for asshole out there to walk in on and see, I really think we should head upstairs.” He hummed. You couldn’t form a proper sentence after hearing those words come from his mouth; it being the most explicit thing you’d ever heard him say. All you could do was nod and follow as he pulled back, waiting for you to jump from the counter. He grabbed your hand, leading you out to the living room. Jinyoung, who was still sitting on the couch, this time beside a girl and her friend, had a clear view into the kitchen the entire time you and Yugyeom had been in there. You watched his gaze drift from the girl who was speaking over towards you and Yugyeom, before shaking his head with a slight chuckle. You gave him a pleading smile, hoping he’d understand and wouldn’t care too much about seeing you and Yugyeom practically dry hump each other on Youngjae’s counter; you were both consenting adults after all.

“Hey guys, as fun as this is, Y/N-ah and I are off to go play a little game of our own.” Yugyeom said, grabbing his phone from his spot at the table and sliding it into his back pocket before wrapping an arm around you. He shot a wink at your ex, who was currently gaping at Yugyeom’s risqué declaration.

“After what I just saw in the kitchen, whatever game they’re going to be playing requires louder music for us...” Jinyoung laughed, making the group of boy’s burst into laughter and “wait what‘s”. Before you could respond to any reactions, Yugyeom turned and dragged you with him towards the stairs.

***

 Yugyeom had you pressed against the door of Youngjae’s guest room, hands making their way up and down your body, admiring every inch of it. You pressed your lips against his, rubbing his growing bulge through his jeans. Your hands made their way to the button and zipper of his jeans, undoing both and yanking them down. Yugyeom groaned as the cool air hit his now exposed, so-hard-it-may-explode cock. The sight alone made your mouth water. Unable to control yourself any further, you dropped down to your knees, eager to have his length fill your now too-empty feeling mouth.

“Fuck." Yugyeom hissed as you dragged your tongue across the head of his dick, circling it a few times before wrapping your mouth around it and sliding your head down further onto his length. You used your hands to work what parts of him you couldn’t fit into your mouth yet as you adjusted to his size. Yugyeom’s cock was just as pretty as he is, soft and pink with a couple cute little freckles spread around it, the size just right. You couldn’t believe this was happening, and you were determined to make him feel good.

“Didn’t I say I was going to be pleasuring you, Y/N-ah?” He asked in between a few moans and “oh god’s”, putting a hand under your chin and pulling his cock from your mouth. You could tell it took all the power he had in order to pull away, that showed he truly was focused on you being on the receiving end of pleasure. Something about that gave you butterflies.

“Oh, Gyeomie. You did, and this is going to bring me so much pleasure. Trust me.” You whispered seductively, using the nickname you knew he loved. You lifted your hand to his, moving it from your chin back to his side so you could once again put him in your mouth. Unlike before, the moment you had him in your mouth you slid your head down to the base of his cock, your nose touching the lower part of his stomach. A high pitched whine escaped Yugyeom’s mouth and he bucked forward. That moan was like music to your ears. One thing you were sure of, the only sounds you ever wanted to hear again were the ones this angel of a man just made. The quickness of him jolting forward and hitting the back of your throat made you gag, but thankfully not enough that you had to stop. You knew by the way he groaned even louder that he enjoyed it.

“Shit, I’m so sorry. I wasn’t expecting that and it felt-ohh!” He started to apologize sweetly, his words halted by his own moans as you swallowed and started to bob your head up and down onto his length, taking as much of him into your mouth as you could. Yugyeom’s hands were wrapped up in your hair, now guiding your head into a steadier pace. You swallowed once more, hollowed out your cheeks and shifted your gaze up to Yugyeom’s, dropping your hands to allow him to take control. Very eagerly, but careful not to hurt you, Yugyeom tightened his grip in your hair with both hands and started thrusting into your mouth. You’d never expected that Yugyeom and you would kiss, let alone him fucking your face while your ex-boyfriend was sitting just a floor away, completely aware of all the things we could be doing; that little fact turning you on more.

“I’ve gotta say, I didn’t think you’d be into something like this. You’re full of surprises, Y/N-ah. I love your mouth even more than I did before now …” Yugyeom chuckled, groaning as he watched you move your hand against your heat through your jeans.

“Touch yourself for me, please…” He moaned softly this time, thrusting further into your throat. You put your hand in your pants obediently, circling your clit with your fingers. You noticed that he was almost at the edge; ready to burst. You moaned around his cock, the vibrations making him buck into you.

“F-fuck, I’m going to cum.” Yugyeom groaned, releasing the grip his left hand had on your hair, dropping it to the side of your face, cupping your chin. He held onto your hair tighter with his right hand, holding your face still as he fucked your mouth just a few more times before shooting his seed down your throat, gently releasing his grip on you and pulling out a few moments later. After Yugyeom regained composure, he kicked off his jeans and boxers from around his ankles, sending his phone flying across the floor. You focused onto the screen of the phone, seeing that Yugyeom had missed texts from your ex. Curiosity of what the texts entailed got the best of you and you went to grab the phone; Yugyeom being quick to stop you.

“Does what’s on the phone really matter right now, Y/N-ah?” He smirked, pulling you to your feet before picking you up and throwing you onto the bed; a beyond fucked out expression on his face. He kissed you passionately, distributing kisses all over your mouth, chin, neck and chest; making his way further down your body.

“N-no. Yugyeom…fuck me please.” You pleaded, running your fingers through his beautiful, soft, black hair. He chuckled into your stomach before sliding his hands up your thighs to the buttons of your jeans, undoing them and peeling them from your legs. You got up onto your knees and took your shirt off, followed by your bra. The only clothing remaining on your body was the small thong that was just barely covering your most intimate spot; the feeling of insecurity washed over you. Yugyeom bit his lip, gaze shifting up and down your body. You moved your arms up to cover your exposed breasts, only to be stopped by Yugyeom who had jolted towards you and grabbed your wrists gently.

“Please don’t hide any part of you. You’re even more beautiful than I imagined…I can’t believe this is finally happening.” He said, releasing your wrists and moving his hands up your arm, your chest and finally your breasts; fingers ever so lightly grazing over your now soft, hardened buds. You almost melted right then and there under his touch, but one thing caught your attention just a tad more than his touch.

“Imagined? Finally?” You questioned. Did that mean he’s thought about this happening?

“Y/N-ah, you can’t be serious. I’ve wanted to fuck you since the moment I met you. I’m pretty sure everybody knows it, honestly.” Yugyeom shook his head and laughed. “We can talk about that later though…” He drifted off, moving his hands away from you to remove his t-shirt, revealing his fully naked body to you. He was so beautiful. Yugyeom wrapped his arms around you, pulling you into a deep kiss. He laid you down on your back, climbing on top of you and peeling off your thong; flinging it across the room. Yugyeom leaned forward, mouth just inches away from your heat.

“Mmm. You really must have liked that, you’re so wet, Y/N-ah.” He groaned, brow furrowing in the sexiest way. He danced his fingers around your core before shoving two fingers deep inside you, instantly pumping them in and out at a steady pace.

“Oh fu-“ You moaned loudly, biting your lip to stop yourself from being any louder. Yugyeom started pumping his fingers at a faster pace as he leaned forward and started licking your most sensitive spot.

“You taste so good. You’re so perfect. How could that idiot ever let you go?” Yugyeom sighed after he pulled his head away from your thighs.  He wiped the wetness on his face off, licking his lips.

“I need to feel you.” He whispered, pulling his fingers from your heat and sucking them clean; something you had never expected the usually shy, cute and bubbly guy to do. Yugyeom’s behaviour tonight was so unlike anything you’d ever seen from him before. It was exciting seeing this side of him and sent tingles all throughout your body. You watched as he stroked himself before lining his cock up to your entrance.

“Please Yugyeom, no teasing and just fuck me already.” You pouted, the feeling of him teasing you with his cock driving you mad. Yugyeom thrusted into you slowly, taking the time to let you adjust to his length. He grabbed onto your waist, gripping it tight enough to leave bruises as he guided his body towards yours. The pain his fingers left behind turned into pleasure; the thought of marks left behind by him only turning you on more. Almost as if he could read your mind, he leaned released his grip from your waist and leaned down to start leaving bites and hickies along your neck, collarbones and breasts. The feeling of Yugyeom inside of you, marking you to show the whole world that he made you his was like no other, the only thing going through your mind was how you was missing out on this for so long.  

“Think about it, Y/N-ah. He’s right below us; he knows I’m fucking you better than he ever could. Isn’t that right? Hm? Could he make you feel as good as I do?” Yugyeom growled, pumping in and out of you harder and faster than you thought possible. You could tell he was getting closer to the edge.

“Mmm, that’s right Gyeom, nobody ever can make me feel this way. Especially him. Only you can.” You responded between moans and high pitched squeaks that you would have thought were embarrassing; if you weren’t so fucked out. What you were saying was entirely true; you had never been fucked like this before in your life. It was if your body was made for Yugyeom, him being the only person who could truly please you.

“That’s right baby…fuck.” Yugyeom groaned happily in response. You were both moaning and cursing so loudly, it would be a shock if the rest of the household didn’t hear even the tiniest bit of what was happening in that spare room. However, you were both too blissed out to care even if they did; riding through the waves of pleasure together.

“Yugyeom, I’m almost there, oh my god.” You moaned loudly, breaking your shared kiss. He moved himself backwards onto his knees, pulling up and holding you while he yanked a pillow from behind him and slid it under you to get a better angle, surprisingly not breaking his steady thrusting in and out of you. He slowed down, pulling out slightly to adjust his positioning before slamming back into you, his fingers now circling over your already swollen clitoris. The feelings combined didn’t take long to send you to your breaking point; your state sending Yugyeom to his too. You tightened your pussy around his length, the sensation sure to heighten the feeling for him.

“Yes, just like that baby. Fuck, I’m coming, Y/N-ah.” Yugyeom moaned, his once steady pace now becoming more uncontrolled and even faster as he filled you with his load; coming to a halt a few moments later. Yugyeom withdrew himself from you and crashed down onto the bed beside you, looking absolutely gorgeous. He laid there for a little while, eyes closed, catching his breath as he wrapped his arms around you. You watched contently as he stroked your arm softly, admiring his beauty. Sweat beads trickled down his forehead and cheeks, making the little freckle by his eye glisten. His hair was a little stuck to the sweat on his forehead, but it still looked gorgeous and perfectly placed.

“You’re beautiful, Yugyeom…” You whispered, moving your hand to brush your fingertips against his plump, soft lips. He opened his eyes and grabbed your hand, holding it at its spot at his mouth; placing light kisses on your fingertips.

“I love you, Y/N-ah. I always have…” Yugyeom responded softly. He smiled before closing his eyes once again; leaving your mind racing with a million questions.

[sooibian]

Stranger Things (1)

Pairing: Baekhyun x Reader ft. Kyungsoo

Genre: Fluff, meet cute, non-idol AU

Description: While waiting to receive Kyungsoo at the airport you run into an insufferable someone - Byun Baekhyun. Despite yourself, you are unable to resist his charms.

A/N: No BaekSoo, no life. Know BaekSoo, know life. This is a highly self indulgent oneshot because I simply cannot resist bobohu anymore. Also if I edit, I’ll never upload. So please, bear with this unedited mess and bad humor (: and try not to hate on OC! 

Word Count: ~ 2k

Chapters: One | Two | Three | Four (Final)

gif credits: @x-exo​

“He’s a lawyer”, you tilted your head to the side with your nose in the air, foolishly waving your platinum band bearing hand in his general direction. Byun Baekhyun, the man you’d met barely thirty minutes ago, had managed to bring out your inner “chatty Cathy” while eyeing you with the slightest of the smirks tugged at his lips. It was nauseating. The smirk, his bouffant persona, the way he slurped his ramen, his unkempt fake blond hair - he insisted on running a hand though the annoying yet bountiful tousle ever so often  - disheveling it further. One glance at his showy Rolex and you’d written him off as a wealthy fop. Yet, here you were, seated in front of him, trying to make sense of the situation. 

Kyungsoo’s flight was delayed by over an hour. Although you wanted nothing more than to find the inviting comfort of your bed, you decided to keep your promise of picking him up from the airport. Even if it meant spending time with this strange (literally and figuratively) man. You were no night owl. Therefore, you needed the caffeine fix to stay conscious so you huddled to the coffee shop closest to the arrival gate only to run into him again. The single vacant seat happened to be on his tiny table which he graciously put up for offer - I’m Byun Baekhyun. And I don’t bite! Apart from the unbridled desire to prick his inflated ego with a needle, you realized you’d come on a bit too strong earlier when he mistakenly put his hand on yours while going for the same copy of Forbes in the magazine kiosk. Was he apologetic then? No. Not really. But you didn’t have to pull an ugly face and call him a creep. Sure, lack of sleep made you crabby but you shouldn’t have taken it out on him. It wasn’t your best moment. 

You took the seat because (a) never had a person made you feel so conflicted about them. Always too quick to judge, within a few moments you could tell whether you liked someone or absolutely didn’t care about them. But with him you honestly couldn’t figure out whether you loathed him or were in absolute awe of his unabashed demeanor (b) you wanted to make absolutely unnecessary amends. 

“What was his name, again?”, stretching and yawning he leaned back in his chair. His shoulders widened to full glory. Lazily, he ran a hand over his chest. Realization hit you like a truck. You were blatantly staring and he’d caught you in the act. Your eyes met his and it made you want to punch that stupid, now very prominent, smirk off of his face. It was time for damage control. Attack, after all, is the best defense.

“Looks like you’re bored. I shall stop”, you said tersely, moving to quickly grab your things.

“It’s 2:45 a.m. Can you blame me?”, he yanked your wallet out of your hand and shoved it in his back pocket, “Continue the story”

“Yahhhhh, give me back my wallet”, you glowered at him.

“Story first”, he sang pulling the wallet out and waving it at you. “Yahhh!”, as you lunged forward, he instinctively drew further back. Frowning, he suddenly ducked under the table.

“What - what happened?”, a quizzical expression clouded your face.

“I’m looking for something”, he mumbled rising gradually. Was that a pout?

“Yah, I can tell. What are you looking for?”

“Your manners. You seem to have suddenly dropped them somewhere”

 You felt your face flame, “Byun Baekhyun-ssi!”

“Please, you can call me oppa”

“I may be older, you know?”

“Your cheeks tell an entirely different story”, he chuckled

Fuming, you untied your hair in a desperate attempt to frame your perfectly round face, “Doh Kyungsoo”, you deadpanned.

“Byun Baekhyun”, confused, he pointed at himself.

“Doh Kyungsoo, my fiance”

“Ah… Sounds as boring as ‘civil lawyer’”

“How did you know?? I don’t remember mentioning -”

“Ha! So he is a civil lawyer! So what do your dates look like? Haunting worn down museums? Marvelling over runes?”, he swayed dreamily, eyelids fluttering.

Your saccharine smile didn’t reach your eyes, “Byun Baekhyun-ssi, what do your dates with your girl look like?”

You were surprised to see a genuine smile grace his face. Albeit unconsciously, you mirrored him. It was warm and luminous, his smile, and you were enchanted.

“Ahem”, the ridiculous smirk came back on, “Dates with my Yoona?”

So, there is a girl. You felt a slight pang of jealousy. You prayed for it to not reflect in your eyes.

“My Yoona?” you gagged dramatically and he responded with an equally dramatic loud sigh.

“Let’s see….long walks by the Han river, a little after sunset.. We walk all the way up to the Namsan Tower. She looks radiant in the moonlight… just my Yoona and me...relaxing...chilling”, he smiled like a heavily infatuated thirteen year old.

“That’s a really long walk. Oppa doesn’t have a driver’s license?”, you chided.

He guffawed, “Guess you and Mr. - ?

“Doh! Mr. Doh of Doh, Gom and Associates!”, 

“Yes, you and Mr. Doh of Doh - Gom - and Associates”, his words slow, deliberate, “wouldn’t recognize romance if it danced naked in front of you. And that platinum band”, he paused, slowly shaking his head.

You drew your hand close to your chest defensively, “What about it?”

“So… a very close friend of mine got engaged recently and I went ring shopping with him. It was an intense drill. But now I know all there is to know about the right cut, hallmark, color, purity, you get the drift. And that”, he took a piteous glance at the ring.

“I could really do without the condescension”

“I’m sorry, but it looks thrift store bought”

“Baekhyun-ssi, your limited experience may have falsely led you into believing that you’re a connoisseur of platinum. But if you care to look past your high-end store shopping spree, you’ll see that this is heirloom”

“Does it have P-950 stamped on it?”

Your glare shut him up and he raised his hands in surrender. Pouting. Again.

You gawked at him in pure admiration. How could a man like that be capable of the most endearing pouts was beyond you.

“Look, I don’t know if you care about Kyungsoo but the flight should’ve landed by now and I don’t want to keep my friend waiting after a red eye flight… so”, he got up to leave and you hurriedly followed suit, “it was an absolute pleasure meeting you”

Your hand met his in a firm handshake which neither of you cared to break for a good thirty seconds. You knew you’d never see this man again and you felt a certain unpleasantness wash over you at the thought. 

His captivating grin made an appearance, accelerating your heartbeat.

You exited the coffee shop first and when you turned around to look for him, he was gone.

***

You greeted Kyungsoo with a punch in the shoulder, “You’re late”

“I tried but they wouldn’t let me into the cockpit”, he said pinching your ear with one hand and twisting your arm with the other.

You successfully managed to wiggle of his strong grasp and attack him with a bear hug, “I’ve missed you”

He softly patted your head before your show of affection started to smother him. Breaking out of your hug he teased, “Tsk, tsk, you’ve grown soft”

“Can you blame me? My best friend moved to a strange city to farm! He’s not been around much to toughen me up” You didn’t care that he hated it. You leaned in to hug him, anyway, “any progress on the land dispute?”

“I’ll be seeing a lawyer for it”, he indulged you by continuing to gently sway you. Apparently, he’d missed you, too.

“Hmm...a civil lawyer”, you contemplated. 

“What’s that?”

“Nothing”, you sighed pulling away from him to call a cab, “When are you seeing this lawyer”

“Right now”

“What? Kyungsoo! It’s 4 in the morning! Can’t this wait?

“No”, he deftly locked your phone, “because he also happens to be a friend of mine and he’s here and he has offered to drive us home”

“He’s here?”

Kyungsoo forced your head to take a 180 degree turn.

You froze at the sight of the blond haired man standing in front of you. Your eyes barely short of pleading, you grabbed Kyungsoo’s hand lacing your fingers with his.

Baekhyun chuckled, “Congratulations, man. I didn’t know you were engaged!”

“Engaged? No, I’m not engaged!” Kyungsoo's voice now a several notches louder.

You were quick to nudge Kyungsoo’s arm with your elbow and snicker softly, “He likes to joke when he’s tired...We’re all tired. Won’t you bring your car now, Baekhyun-ssi?”

“You two know each other?” Nothing made sense to Kyungsoo anymore.

Your feeble No was drowned by Baekhyun’s loud Yes.

“Anyway..”, Kyungsoo introduced you to Baekhyun as his best friend and it made you want to be on the next expedition to Mars. 

“And this is Byun Baekhyun. My elementary school friend”. Baekhyun handed you a business card which you accepted with trembling fingers.

Byun, Park and Associates

Byun Baekhyun

Partner

LL.M.

You were mentally prepared to go on a solo expedition to Neptune and freeze to death.

“We lost touch in high school only to meet again at Jongdae’s engagement party”

Platinum, Baekhyun mouthed when your guilt ridden eyes met his.

“And he has very kindly agreed to help me out with my case”

***

“What- What the hell was that?”, Kyungsoo hissed.

“I don’t know… at first I didn’t want him to think I was available. So I started to spin a web of lies. Then I was curious to see how far I could go, you know, without faltering. Besides, you always keep calling me a bad liar. He was just...in the wrong place at the wrong time, I guess…”, you let out a huge yawn.

Kyungsoo flicked your forehead. “Couldn’t you have found someone else to be your guinea pig? It had to be my lawyer? The airport is swarming with people - ”

“AND viruses!”, you adjusted your mask pointedly, “Yet, here I am. For your ungrateful ass!”

“Soo! HELP”, you cried.

“Forget this ever happened. You’re never going to see him again, anyway”, he was dismissive of your plea.

“Soo, but I want to”, you said in a small voice.

Kyungsoo was too dumbfounded to speak. His eyes did all the talking.

“I want to see him again”, you avoided his eyes.

Still, nothing.

“It’s a crisis situation, Soo!”, defeated, your face slumped into his chest, “I think I’m in love with a man who apparently has a girlfriend and most probably thinks that I’m a pathological liar.”

[lunnanunna]

Reaction to Parker Not Being Able to Sleep

DAY6 Extra Member AU

Taglist: @hyunmijung​ @galacticstxrdust​ @kimonmars​ @soobinssmile​ @mythicalamphitrite​

A/N: I just got home and had time to copy and paste this from my google docs before work! So enjoy!

Requests are open! Please let me know what you think.

Sungjin:

Normally Parker keeps to herself, never letting on that she can’t sleep.

Sungjin though, has been able to figure out what triggers a sleepless night for her, so he’s more often than not awake for her.

Parker will either lay in her bed or sit in the living room, and Sungjin will come to her for both.

He’ll bring her hot chocolate with extra marshmallows (She would never drink if it didn’t have more than six of the tiny marshmallows.)

He’ll sit with her and the two will quietly sip their drinks.

Parker tends to get sleepy just with that and Sungjin will help her get comfortable, whether it’s carrying her to her room, or tucking her in.

Most times he’ll wait about twenty minutes after she’s fallen asleep to make sure she won’t wake up again.

Jae:

He sometimes shares her same sleep schedule, so they’ll quietly sit in the living room, keeping each other company.

It might be that it's late at night, and they’re just tired, but that’s when they’re the most calm and civil.

They’ll each be on their phone, doing their own thing, or watching an episode of The Office, but on mute and with the captions on.

Normally, just chilling there will get both of them sleepy. If Jae falls asleep first, Parker will drape a blanket on him. If she falls asleep first, he’ll pick her up and carry her to her room. (Parker’s light enough that even he can lift her.)

Other nights, they’ll fall asleep together on the couch.

Sungjin has found them on multiple occasions, taking quick pictures then uploading them to the group chat.

The next day is back to bickering, as if nothing happened.

Young K:

He and Dowoon are the ones that she feels more comfortable going to.

She feels bad if he’s asleep, and will go back to her room to not disturb him, but he will be awake by then and follow her.

The two will chill in either’s room, just talking.

Young K had found early on that talking about her day or what stress might be keeping her up, will help her to fall asleep.

Sometimes they’ll have late night snack sessions, and Young K will start up one of the many documentaries that she’s seen, and wait for her to fall asleep.

When she falls asleep, he’ll tuck her in, and then fall asleep with her.

Even though it’ll take her a while to fall asleep, those nights tend to be the ones that have her feeling more rested.

Wonpil:

She hates waking him up. It’s the big doe eyes for her.

Normally he’ll find her in the living room when he wakes up to go to the bathroom.

He’ll grab one of his fluffiest blankets and shuffle into the living room, then sit on the couch with her, cuddling.

They’ll either talk to each other about anything and everything, or watch a Studio Ghibli movie, seeing as any of those moves would calm them both down.

They’ll fall asleep together, limbs a tangled messed.

The others will find them like that and take pictures, but unlike Jae’s and Parker’s pictures, there will be cooing from everyone.

In the morning, the two are too comfortable to get up and will sit there until Young K brings them breakfast.

Dowoon:

Probably not the person for her to go see when she can’t fall asleep, but one of the ones that she feels more comfortable with.

He’ll probably be up gaming, and invite her to game with him. And who’s Parker to turn down a round of League.

It’s a 50/50 chance that any sleeping will be done from either party.

If they have a schedule the next day, maybe.

Dowoon will talk to her while they game and help ease any of her worries.

If Parker’s really tired, after a few rounds, she’ll crash on Dowoon’s bed, the drummer soon following.

If there’s no schedule the next day, they'll stay in bed until late afternoon.

Parker’s Masterlist

[iwaswritingmywayout]

BTMH: Chapter 4: New Coach

Y/N’s phone chimed, and she raised an eyebrow before picking it up.

“Huh, Nishigori?” She said. Once she read the notification closely, she practically jumped into the air, mortified by what she saw. “What!”

Her phone showed a 4:43 YouTube video titled [Katsuki Y/N] Tried to Skate Seonghwa’s FS Program [Stay Close to Me]. Y/N trembled as she looked at it.

Through the speaker, Takeshi said, “Y-Y/N, I’m sorry. My kids uploaded the video, and it went viral.”

“How could you use my account without permission again?!” Yuuko yelled in the background, loud enough for Y/N to hear it.

“But all the skater otaku will love it,” Lutz said.

“Just delete it, okay?!” Yuuko said.

“Goodnight,” Y/N said before hanging up the phone. She dropped it, before falling asleep on the bed. She started to snore right as Minako burst into her room.

“What’s with that video? It’s being retweeted everywhere!” Minako said.

Meanwhile, Jongho leaned against the rink boards, looking at his phone along with Mila, Yakov, and Felix.

“That Y/N is an idiot,” Jongho said.

“Hey, Jongho! Don’t slack off!” Yakov shouted.

Seonghwa was laying on the couch in his apartment, Makkachin resting on his chest. He held his phone in his hand, watching the video of Y/N skating his free program. He looked up, clearly deep in thought.

Y/N was asleep in her room while the news played on the TV at Yu-topia Katsuki.

“Kyushu faces a sudden cold wave. It was supposed to be a good day for viewing cherry blossoms, but there was a massive snowfall.”

“Y/N! Don’t hole up in your room!” Hiroko yelled, waking Y/N up.

Y/N sat up and adjusted her glasses, running her hand through her hair.

“Help shovel snow!” Hiroko shouted.

“Snow?” Y/N questioned, raising an eyebrow. Last time she checked it wasn’t snowing. Could the weather have changed so drastically while she was sleeping? It wouldn’t surprise her, but she just didn’t expect it. She got on her knees on her bed and opened the curtains, surprised by all the snow. “Wow, what the… It’s already April, too. What’s on the news?”

She picked up her phone and realized she had shut her phone off. “Oh, yeah… I turned it off so I wouldn’t get calls.”

She shrugged her shoulders before getting out of her bed. She got dressed in some warmer clothes before grabbing the shovel and heading to the front door. She heard a dog and raised an eyebrow. ‘Whose dog is that?’ She thought. She opened the door and her eyes widened when she saw a poodle in front of her, one that looked just like Seonghwa. “S-Seonghwa?” She asked.

The dog, who she’d later discover was Makkachin, wagged his tail and leaped onto Y/N, knocking her down instantly.

“Nope!” Y/N shouted. She was still in shock from being knocked over by the giant dog. That wasn’t what she expected to happen that day.

Makkachin began to lick her face, and Y/N tried to turn her face away to avoid being licked by the dog.

“He’s much bigger than Seonghwa…Huh? Could he be… No, it can’t be,” she said.

‘Y/N here! Back when Yuuri and I got our poodle, Seonghwa, we picked one that looked like Seonghwa’s poodle, Makkachin. Seonghwa was almost an exact copy of Makkachin, although he was a bit smaller. You could easily get the two confused if you didn’t know the dogs before having to pick which was which. This was why I was so confused when I saw Makkachin.’

“Y/N, isn’t he just like Seonghwa? He came with a really good-looking foreign guest! He’s in the hot spring right now!” Toshiya said.

Y/N sweat dropped. A dog that looked just like Seonghwa… A really good-looking foreign guest… It couldn’t be… There was no way.

“Uh… why is Seonghwa Nikiforov in our hot spring?” Yuuri yelled from the men’s section of the bath house.

Y/N froze in her spot before she finally came back to reality and scrambled to her feet, almost falling in the process. She had remembered that the men’s section of the hot spring had been closed that day, which meant no other men except Seonghwa would be in the hot spring.

“Y/N! What’s wrong?” Toshiya asked.

Y/N rushed past some tables, knocking them over. She ran through the hot tub room, stopping to wipe the fog off her glasses, then continued to run through the doors to the outdoor hot spring. She saw Yuuri standing still, looking absolutely flabbergasted. She stood next to him and looked flabbergasted as well. Throughout all of this Seonghwa was casually soaking in one of the hot springs.

“Se-Seonghwa…Why are you here?” Y/N asked, unsure as to why this god of a man was at her hot spring.

“Y/N…do you think he saw the video?” Yuuri whispered to her.

Her eyes widened and she face palmed. The video, she had forgotten about the video. Why else would he have been there? He wouldn’t fly all the way to Japan just to get a nice soak in a hot spring. “I forgot about the video,” she whispered back.

Seonghwa decided that he had done enough soaking and started to stand up. Y/N realized he was standing up and went to cover her eyes. She wasn’t in the mood to get flashed. He smiled widely before waving his hand fancily. “Y/N, starting today, I’m your coach. I’ll make you win the Grand Prix Final,” He said.

Y/N barely opened her hands to make sure she wouldn’t be flashed by anything. Once she confirmed she wouldn’t be, she took her hands down. She practically gulped when she saw him. He winked at her and her eyes widened. “Huh? What?!” Y/N basically shrieked.

‘He was a genius who never failed to surprise me.’

[lunarrwolf]

black butterflies [colby brock]

fandom: sam and colby/traphouse

pairing: colby x self

word count: 2,209

part(s): one two three

summary: after a prank gone wrong, colby and his friends meet another youtuber during her meet and greet in hopes it will cheer her up

A/N: this is a self-insert because it’s a fic that was started for my own personal pleasure. it was supposed to be shared last year on my fan account after a poll was done but never was bc i ended up not feeling ready to do so. i figured since i‘m ready to share it now, it would be best to do it here since it’s pretty detailed

THREE

By the time the pair reached their hotel on the west coast, the sky was significantly brighter than back home. While she loved the city that she frequently visited, she had to admit when the airplane reached its destination that Boston did not compare to the view that graced her. Palm trees, beaches and sunny skies greeted the two friends as they descended toward the runway of LAX that afternoon. Even the drive to the west coast Marriott location was a sight for sore eyes as the scenery blurred by with dozens of people walking the sidewalks and hundreds of restaurants and stores lining the street. Aiden won the competition of who could connect their music to the car’s stereo the fastest, playing indie music the whole ride. When they actually checked into the building, the walk and elevator ride consisted of a playful argument about who was going to get which bed. That was figured out quickly as Kirsy set her stuff on the floor of the shared room before throwing herself on the one next to the window.

After settling and calming themselves down, the close friends talked about what they could do first. However, she wasn’t feeling up to exploring right away. They’d only landed the night before and were now three hours behind their usual time. Jet lag wasn’t really at play since the difference didn’t mean much to someone who rarely slept anyway, but exhaustion was another thing entirely. The whole early morning was spent laying underneath the sheets

“You can’t lay here all day.”

“I beg to differ.” She rolled on her stomach from facing the ceiling, coming eye to eye with the rising musician. His hands were placed on his waist as he stared you down, to which she paid no mind because that was just how their relationship worked. “I just want to lay here in a room with an air conditioner and fantasize about people who don’t know I exist.”

Knowing exactly who she meant, Aiden raised an eyebrow, shifting his weight on one leg as he raised an eyebrow at her. “Please - that’s a cliche story that isn’t going to get you out of today’s plans.” The older of the two placed himself against the bed across from her, taking his hat off of his head to chuck it at the girl’s face. She let out a whine, sending him a glare that would send a fraction of shivers going on anyone else’s spine. The bemusement on the young man’s face was clear as day; they were in a busy city with long beaches and awe-striking sights and all she wanted to do was mope around on her phone.

He was going to have none of it.

It didn’t matter that one of their companions quit on them and the channel - this trip was about moving on, starting new chapters and showing everyone that she wasn’t as devastated as she made herself look on camera the other day. While he hadn’t known her as long, they were almost inseparable, and watching her delve into the nerves of walking around without the redhead was something he never thought he’d see. His friend needed someone to slap her out of this misery and drag her back into the world she lived in now; one of adventure and expanding the lack of social horizons. “Get your ass up, we’re going out.”

“What-” She glanced over at him, exasperation in her tone. “We landed in the state twelve hours ago. What exactly do you want to do at this hour?”

“It’s what I don’t want to do, and that’s be stuck in here until we have the meet and greet. Which is in a few hours,” he reminded her. He crossed the small room to fish the room key out of the side of his bag, glancing back to find her sitting up with a neutral expression on her face. He side swept her copy of the card onto the bed he gained in the race to the shared room, “Your body knows nothing about being put to rest for more than five hours. I’m sure it doesn’t register that you’ve changed time zones, so you have enough energy to be proactive.”

Kirsy stared at her friend blankly, shoving her hands in the pocket of her hoodie. She peeked down at the white and green piece of plastic sitting on the comforter, tempting her to join in on exploring the city. Which is what she should be doing, anyway.

For years, her mind had been plagued in the best way possible with dreams and manifestations of how her life would be if she was ever able to afford residency in California. The sandy beaches, clear skies, endless list of activities and shops, and modern beauty of such a popular location always drew her in. The plan was to save up and find a place with Casey, so ensuing on a trip that her eccentric friend insisted on doubling as an apartment search was tough for her. She got over situations very quickly - the events that unfolded about one week before were already shoved in the back of her mind as unnecessary but moral filled fog. People were harder to be rid of in the recesses. If someone was dear to her, she could live on as if they weren’t, though it wouldn’t be the case on the inside. Going out and enjoying herself didn’t sit right with the part of her that was stuck with the friendship that had a questionable ending.

The young adult kept an eye on the twenty-two year old as she seemed to be contemplating what she was going to do. He was going to drag her out to the elevator and out the doors either way. Still, it would be much more enjoyable of a break from reality if she was one hundred willing to partake in the adventure.

“How long are we staying again?” She looked up, meeting his gaze.

“I think four days. Unless we find a place, then we agreed to stay longer to sort everything out.”

“Okay.” With a defeated sigh she picked up the key and turned around to grab the small backpack she was able to carry on the flight over. Making her way to where Aiden patiently stood, she placed a small hand on his shoulder. “Let’s go find you a boyfriend, then.”

He shook his head, letting out an exasperated sigh that only received a grin in response before they opened the door.

-

“I’m pretty sure this counts as stalking.” The brunette looked over the shorter figure, giving him a look that the slightly older male dismissed with a gesture of surrender. “All I’m saying is that checking her story is a step above what a normal person would do.”

“You’re not normal.” He retorted, his previously blonde friend agreeing with no problem.

“I would hope not,” Sam exclaimed, putting his hands in the pockets of his denim jacket as he smiled at his exasperated friend, “it’s kind of my whole brand.”

Colby couldn’t come up with a clever comeback. Since seeing that the vlogger and streamer had landed, he’d been dragging his friends around the local spots of Downtown Los Angeles. The anxiety that riddled him was as much of a positive aspect as it could have been - it matched the feeling their subscribers and community members would react at their own chances of meeting the group of four boys and the girlfriends of three of them. He knew how much he was acting out of character, and yet he didn’t care. Both parties had been admiring the other for months at a time without notice. Well, he noticed hers because everything she had came from the makings of a fan account she created for him and his friends. The lack of responses and her comments and work being drowned out by the millions of other fans gave her the impression that he never saw her past being another face, even after her own social media standing took off.

Taking the past three years into consideration benefited both ends of this infatuation. After proving successful in her journey when able to attend a convention the year before, she hoped having the platform would bring more attention to her rising brand so she could get the chance to embarrass herself in person.

It was the opposite for Colby.

All he’d wanted since realizing he was starting to experience the way a lot of fans felt towards any member of the housemates was a chance to meet her face to face. Maybe the way she affected him was because her own emotions manifested onto him whenever he skimmed a caption on one of her editing account’s uploads or read some of the posts she would put up on social media about him. Surely that was the explanation for all of this.

Everyone knew he was tired of trying to find the person he was meant to be with in girls from the Bay Area. No one he’d ever been attracted to or tried to start a relationship with in his years of living here had shown potential. Los Angeles was a palace for people who did a lot of stunts and acted a certain way to get where they wanted to go in life, and that included who they would get involved with. It became too hard too quickly for him to figure out the intentions of the few he tried to get to know romantically, and so he gave up on dating in this part of the country. Part of him did anticipate that if it wasn’t going to be someone he would see on the internet or the feed of any social media accounts, it would be someone from the family they’d all built over time. It would be a girl that’s watched their videos and been with them for a while and knew the guys well enough just by observing and enjoying the content they were given. It was nerve racking to think that the person he should really be with was a fan, as they would all categorize themselves as. So since he started being the one to keep an eye out for announcements and new content when it came to Kirsy, it wasn’t that he didn’t want to believe it - he just couldn’t.

How would this girl who proclaimed herself a fangirl half the time - a girl who photoshopped images, created videos and made storylines for everyone to read - possibly be the one who took his heart and made it beat such a way? It just didn’t make sense.

Yet here he was, blindly following her updates along with any other local subscriber of hers to see if she would be going anywhere he could bump into her, his friends following along because they knew what was going on and wanted to be there for support. Having known him since they were in their early teenage years, Sam had every inch of how his best friend reacted to liking someone planted in his brain. He mapped out the stages in his head when Colby started talking about the ‘new YouTuber that looked familiar and he could have sworn she went to their tour or passed by them at an event’. When those stages started to ring true, he filled in their other roommates who started to notice the constant mention of her name as well. They’ve all been there for him, hoping that he would just admit he fell for someone he’d never personally met or spoken to before.

One of the taller members of the foursome looked between the more sane companions, wanting to help their friend keep the confidence they all knew he had. “We should invite her and her friend to the Love For Hire party this weekend. She’s going to be here around then, right?”

Colby brought his attention to Jake, his curiosity peaking at the mention of their new boyband. They all met their girlfriends at parties, didn’t they? At least - that’s the way it was perceived in his head when the moments began to blur together. It seemed the connections for all of them were made when they all met the nights of, and that’s what he wanted. Perhaps the fact that the trio of couples all met for the first time at one of the Traphouse’s parties made him much more superstitious than he wanted or expected to be. Going to a small event meant for local fans of another content creator and using it to meet her himself right before they all invited her to their house for a party? How much of an ideal was that?

The more he thought about it as they walked down the sidewalks beside the beach, the more ridiculous he sounded. So what if this wasn’t an ideal situation? If whatever it was he felt was genuinely reciprocated, then he would approach it head on and take the risk of wooing someone from his creator community. If not, then he would have to learn to deal with that.

Although, something told him that all of this overwhelming emotion would be worth it.

[spideymybucky]

Make it stop 3

Pairing: Peter Parker x MJ, Peter Parker reader, Avengers x reader, Ned x Betty. Tony Stark x Adopted!daughter!reader 

Warnings: Betrayal, insults, sadness, friendship break up, ya know the angst. SO MUCH ANGST. 

Word Coutn: 1.2k+ 

A/n: ok, I was gone cause tumblr staff made me change my email and some shit happened. The only way I could’ve entered tumblr was via phone and ugh... like its not been my month but March is here soo maybe this month is. I’ll start uploading more now. Love y’all. ALSO THE TAGGING PROBLEM IS WORLD WIDE TO PLEASE REBLOG, LIKE PEOPLES WORKS AREN’T BEEN SHOWN IN TAGS AND ITS ANNOYING. BTW MJ, FROM READERS PERSPECTIVE IS LIKE THAT. SOON WE’RE GONNA HAVE EVERYTHING THROUGH MJS’ EYES AND UNDERSTAND HER. every story has to sides

Chapter 1, Chapter 2, Chapter 3

“God dammit (Y/n), we were so worried about you.” He said. His eyes were gleaming with worry, as he hugged her. She stood still, not moving. She wasn’t ready for this. Her body was screaming run, run away now and don’t look back. She was in flight or fight mod, and he could sense it. He took two steps back, his warmth leaving her body, and looked at her.

She pushed past him and started running. She couldn’t, nor wouldn’t, be near him. He wasn’t hers. He can’t touch her like that. Her heart shouldn’t thump like that. Why can’t he just leave? Why couldn’t I disappear? The whooshing of someone above her, knowing who it is, made her speed up.

The twigs were cracking, under her feet. The crunch of her hitting the floor, was combined with the screaming of her name, Her hair moving past every tree branch. Her legs and arms covered in scratches and Bruces. She ran until she was face to face with the avengers. FUCK. She thought.

“What the fuck (Y/n)?” Tony’s cold glare threw her off. She huffed and puffed with every breathe., standing in the middle of the street. With a thump, Peter landed next to her.

“S-sorry Mr. Stark, I scared (Y/n) and she ran.” He said, lying through his teeth. (Y/n) glanced at  him and nodded.

“Don’t worry kid, it's not your problem.” She sighed, pushing through them to get to the car. Steve placed himself infant of her. She looked up, annoyed, and tried to pass. Tony grabbed her arm, turning her around.

“Where the hell do you think you’re going?” Tony sighed. His hands were shaking, as he pushed his tousled hair back. His eyes bore dark circles and his breathe smelled of whiskey and coffee. He was a disaster.

“To the compound, if thats still my home.” Steve stiff shoulders sagged down instantly. He stepped back, looking at her. He hadn’t realized how much of a mess she looked. Her hair was all over the place, skin lifeless-even though it was spring, almost summer-and her eyes were tired, lacking their spark. How could he miss that? She was losing her will to live, just like Bucky did.

“We should talk at the compound, Tony.” Tony raised an eyebrow as Steve glanced at Peter.

“I’m taking her with me.” (Y/n) sighed and stepped into Tony’s black SUV. He slammed the door close and looked at her.

“What Tony?” Her flat, uninterested, voice echoed around the car. He looked out the window, seeing the trees pass by as Happy, who was stealing glances at them, drove.  

“Why?” She turned her head and looked at him. His defeated stance made her cringe. He was done, she had pushed him to the edge. He was done with her and she knew it. God, why do I ruin everything? Why can’t I be enough?

“I-I don’t know.” She mumbled to herself. He looked at her, really looked at her. (Y/n)’s eyes were puffy and swollen, her lips dry and cracked, her skin looked dull, she looked like a mess. Closing her eyes, she wished that all these feelings were gone. She couldn’t understand why it was all hitting her now and not months ago.

Happy stopped the car, turning It off and slowly retreating. He was a meddler, but this was a mess Tony and the others needed to solve. (Y/n/n) and Tony left the car, immediately, not talking to each other.

This was rare, in fact this was weird. (Y/n) had always been a talker, never shutting up. Once, as happy recalled, when they had go and take her molars out, the doctor had stated “No talking for a few hours until the bleeding stops.” That didn’t stop her. She had been joking and taking nonsense, not matter how much she bled out. Tony had to tie her mouth shut. He grabbed one of star-spangles scarfs used to “disguise him”-even though we all know it never works.- and tied it around her jaw and head, shutting her mouth. She looked like an adorable little girl, with a big black bow on her head.  That didn’t stop her from smiling or joking around.

Steve looked at Peter and at Wanda, through the review mirror. Maybe she’s right and (Y/n)’s in love with the kid. He sighed and looked at the road ahead. It wasn’t a long drive, maybe 5 minutes top but he had to tell the kid to leave. Peter’s just going to make everything worse, much harder. He looked at Bucky and nodded, he had to do this.

“Peter, I think you should go home.” Steves asserted. Peter rapidly looked up from his phone and opened his mouth but the shut it up. He looked confused and scared, all at the same time.

“B-but Mr. Rogers I’m (Y/n) friend and I really wanna talk to her. She just’s been avoiding my calls for the past few days, and yesterday when she walked out of school she was acting all strange and I-” He ranted out. His mouth kept going until Bucky stopped him.

“Look kid, some time apart won’t kill ya, ok?” Bucky shut him up. “And if she wants, she’ll call ya later, but right now we need to talk to’er.” Peters shoulders slump in defeat. He looked at Bucky and nodded. He grabbed is backpack and looked inside, realizing he had a way to see her.

“I’ll leave but… shouldn’t I give (Y/n) her homework?” Bucky looked up at Peter. He was grabbing some kind of text book. His eyes roamed to Steve, who only nodded.

“Go ahead kid.” Peter nodded and ran out of the car towards (Y/n)s’ room. He knocked on the door and waited for a few minutes.

(Y/n) expected to find Steve or Tony at the other side of the door, not Peter. She raised her eyebrows in confusion and nodded at him.

“Miss Glenda gave out the instructions for the end of year project, we’re in a group with MJ.” Peter rambled on. (Y/n) rolled her eyes, making Peter stop. He bit his lip and looked down.

“Oh, Yeah, I almost forgot. Here, you can copy my notes for history and we have an exam on Friday. Read chapter 10, or maybe just ask Bucky and Steve. It’s all about World War II, the howling commando.” He kept going on and on. (Y/n) grabbed the spreadsheet about the chemistry project and saw how important it was. How was she supposed to work with MJ? She hated her right now, but most of all she felt hurt. It’ll be torture seeing them together. She thought. It’s enough with school, its enough with being Tonys’ problem, now I had to pretend everything’s ok? I just need a break.

“(Y/n), hey, hey, hey, you ok?” She looked up at Peter and sighed.

“I can’t do the project with you and MJ. I’m sure Ned or Betty would want to trade. I could ask Luna to work with you… but I can’t do this” She stumbled out, moving away from her door towards her bed.

“Why can’t you work with us? It’s not a big of a deal, it’ll be a week of us working together at max.” Peter stated, walking after her.

“It’s that I don’t want to work with you, it’s just I’m not in the best of terms with Mitchell.” Peter noticed her harsh tone. He noticed how her lips curled in anger when she mentioned MJs’ name. He couldn’t comprehend why she was so mad at such a wonderful and intriguing  person. Weren’t the supposed to be best friends? He asked himself.

“Whats your problem with MJ?” 

TAGS:

@run-girl-on-fire-run @savvythedork @iwokeupinabadmood @thechickvic @its-shaula-wii @unicorngummybears @hahajalen1 @melaerica @phenominiallfabiola @takeabreathandbeanxious @kealohilani-tepise @she-had-theworld @schischi @h0tshotholland @profangirllex @richiethotzierz@bellagrayson-wayne @chonisberonica @rockyrocket15 @mariejoycarter @charlsxblog @alainabooks143 @mercurys-rhapsody @its-a-mess-here @omg-i-am-lord-voldemort @bartonsbowandarrow @andreuskystuff@avatheexceed @imma-witch-bitch @chewymoustachio @rachelscosplay @au-shay-lia @fuckingpasssword @liveanddiehere @loxbbg@beckastark

[icebirdsmateforlife]

reach for the sky (part 1)

Sid works a shitty job and uses his free time to put workout videos on the internet. Geno does the same, from the other side of the world.

A/N: Hello! :) Anybody still here? I promised new fic, and I finally have something for you. This is part 1 of a multichapter story and I’m going to update it as frequently as I can manage. Chapter 1 is just over 3k. Low rating, but it’s most likely going up to Explicit in future parts. This is going to be a SidGeno fic, of course, but there will be mentions and later an appearance of an ex-boyfriend/sometimes-hookup, just in case that’s not your thing. Okay, I think that’s it. Special thanks to @sheepassisted for the encouragement. And thank you also to everyone who’s sent me nice messages while I was gone, that really meant a lot. <3

“So,” Sid says, smiling into the camera. “You guys did a great job, making it through the whole thing. Let me know if there’s anything specific you’d like to work on and I can put something together for you in one of my next videos. Have a great day, and I hope to see you back next week.”

He’s been saying those same sentences so many times by now it comes out on autopilot, and he knows it probably sounds a little rehearsed, but he still gets enough views on his channel. So all things considered, it probably doesn’t matter that much. He gets himself a bottle of water from the kitchen and leans back against the counter — he’s going to have to get in a proper, longer workout for himself later, but doing these little videos is fun. More than he’d expected when he started doing them, honestly. It’s fun to do something that he hopes will inspire at least a few people.

He doesn’t bother showering. He’s headed for the gym anyway once he’s watched through the video to make sure it’s usable. He doesn’t usually do a lot of editing, unless he screwed something up during the routine and has to start over. But today’s video should be fine; just a quick fifteen-minute thigh workout for beginners.

His phone rings, and he goes to pick it up off the coffee table.

“Hey, Flower,” he greets, and takes another long drink of water.

“Dinner tonight,” Flower says without greeting. “7pm, my place. Bring wine.”

Sid laughs. “What if I have plans?”

Flower huffs out a breath. “You will cancel them. It’s rude to turn down a dinner invitation from your best friend.”

Sid doesn’t have plans, and he doesn’t feel like cooking either, so this works out rather well. He also doesn’t feel like being alone. “Don’t you teach yoga until 7?” he asks, and Flower sighs.

“Cancelled. Burst pipe in the wall. Looks like we won’t be able to use the room for at least a week.”

“Oh. Well, that sucks.” Sid puts down his water. “Is it just the yoga studio, or -”

“The rest of the gym is fine,” Flower assures him. “You can go work out right now like I know you want to.”

“Okay,” Sid says, relieved. “I’ll see you at 7, okay?��

“See you then,” Flower says. “Don’t forget the wine,” and hangs up.

Sid smiles, drops his phone onto the couch, and gets his camera. He has a video to check and upload and then he can go and have some fun. He also has to put all the furniture back where it belongs, since the only way to have enough space for all this in his tiny apartment is to shove everything to one side of the room, allowing him to film in front of the empty wall by the window. It’s not the most convenient, but it works.

***

There are a lot of things that Sid enjoys about doing his videos. Reading through the comments isn’t usually one of them. But it’s a necessary part of this whole thing, since he needs to know if what he’s doing is helpful at all, or if anyone has comments or requests.

It’s not that he gets any hate in those comments. Most of them are very nice, just the usual “great workout!!” or “I’ve been doing this every day for a week and I’m feeling much better already, thanks!” He likes those. It’s why he’s doing this. To help people feel better in their own bodies, especially people who maybe can’t afford a gym membership or anything like that. People should be able to do stuff and learn about ways to exercise without having to pay money they might not have. Exercise is for everyone, after all. So, yeah. Most of the comments are really nice. It’s the few that comment directly on the size of his arms or butt and specific things they’d want to do with them that make him uncomfortable. Luckily, he’s learned to mostly ignore them when they happen.

He’s back home early and has some time before he needs to leave for Flower’s place, which is just down the block anyway. So he settles in with his laptop and finally tackles the comments from last week’s video: a simple 20-minute core strength workout.

It’s all a lot of the same. The nice stuff that makes him smile, and then there’s one request for a cardio routine that makes him wince — he’ll do it but it’s not his favourite thing to do — and one comment in what looks to be Russian, judging by the letters. And because it might be something important, some legitimate criticism or maybe another request, he copy and pastes it into Google translate.

“Nice workout,” it says. “I’ve been looking for something like this and it’s perfect. Thank you and greetings from Russia! Sorry, my English isn’t good. Maybe I’ll study for next time.”

Sid smiles. He’s not one of the popular people on YouTube and having a viewer from all the way across the planet is kind of nice. He types a message into the translator, “Thank you for watching! I appreciate it. Let me know if there’s anything you’d like me to record next!” and copy and pastes it into a reply. He doesn’t do replies often, but he wants to this time.

***

“Did your ass get even bigger since I saw you two days ago?” Flower greets him, pulling him into a quick hug and then slapping his butt as Sid walks past him into the house.

“Haha,” Sid says, and hands Flower the wine. “What’s for dinner?”

He likes hanging out here, in Flower’s small house. It’s comfortable and welcoming and he’s been here a lot since he moved into the city and met Flower. Who immediately took him under his wing and befriended him with a determination that Sid truly admires. Sid has other friends, but he sometimes thinks he’d be lost without Flower.

“Hi, Sid,” Vero says, and Sid smiles at her and hugs her, too. She moved in not that long ago, and he’s still getting used to her being here when he comes over to hang out. She’s nice and he likes her and considers her a friend, but it feels like Flower is settling down, maybe starting a family soon. He’s a few years older than Sid, but the thought still makes Sid’s head spin a little bit. He still feels like he barely even has his life together, still struggling to even pay rent some months, and his best friend has a house and a career and is probably going to get married in the not too distant future, to the same girl he’s been dating since he was a teenager. It’s all so stable and safe and grown up. It’s not that Sid is jealous, but...okay, maybe he is a little bit jealous.

“We’re ordering pizza,” Flower says. “I was going to make chicken casserole, but I think the oven’s broken.”

“Oh, that sucks,” Sid says.

Flower waves a hand. “We still got a microwave until we can have it repaired,” he says. Sometimes Sid envies his ability to always stay positive no matter what.

It’s a nice evening — the pizza is good, the wine is good too, and Vero has the best stories about the customer’s at the small boutique she works at.

And yet Sid can’t help feeling a little down all through dinner, and even when they move to the couch to keep talking until a second bottle of wine is gone as well.

It must be nice, he thinks, to have somebody to come home to. Somebody who is happy to see you. He’s never lived with anyone like that and hasn’t even dated in...well over a year now, and he’s lonely.

But at least he has friends who love him, and he knows that’s worth a lot. So he keeps smiling and ignores the worried looks Flower keeps throwing him.

***

It’s a little after 10 when he gets home that night and finds he accidentally left his laptop open earlier. He just means to close it, but when the screen wakes up as his finger brushes the touchpad, he thinks it can’t hurt to refresh the open page just once to see how many views he got on his new routine so far.

There are a few already, but also a notification. He has a message. He doesn’t get messages often.

When he sits down on the couch and opens it, the profile photo is the same one from the Russian commenter earlier, but this time, the message is in English.

“Hello Sidney,” it says. “Sorry bad English. You are very nice. I like video. Watch more from you, also very nice. I write you to practice English. Sorry if this strange. But I like your video. Have a nice day. Greetings. Evgeni.”

Sid reads it, then reads it again, and then hits reply. He may not reply to comments much, but with messages he always makes a point of writing back to people to say thanks or give advice if they ask for it. Evgeni’s message definitely deserves a thank you.

“Hi Evgeni,” he writes. “I’m glad you like my workouts. And don’t worry, your English is fine. Way better than my French for sure. I hope you have a nice day too and I hope to see you back here in the future.”

He hits send, then puts his laptop down and stretches his arms up over his head, stretching out his back before he gets up and heads towards the bathroom to get ready for bed. He has to be at work early tomorrow to open up the store. He’s not really looking forward to it — hates his job, to be honest — but he does have bills to pay and food to buy so it’s not like he has a choice. So as much as he’d love to stay on the couch for another half hour and listen to this podcast about random funny facts that he’s found a few weeks ago, it’s definitely bedtime for him.

***

There is a new message when he checks his phone over breakfast the next morning. It’s from Evgeni. Apparently he took Sid’s “I hope to see you back here” as an invitation to keep talking to him, and Sid can’t really say he minds. He likes talking to people. And he admires Evgeni’s dedication to learning English.

“Thank you Sidney,” Evgeni writes. “I’m glad you think my English not so bad. I’m work hard, try be better. But not have people for talk with English, so maybe much is wrong. You say to ask if there’s video we want. I’m think do some warm up maybe. Is very important. People forget sometimes. Greetings from Evgeni. Have a nice day.”

Sid thinks about it. It’s not actually a bad idea. He always focuses on the actual workouts; he’s mentioned the importance of warming up and cooling down a number of times, but he’s never actually made any videos for it.

He hits reply and writes back.

“Hey Evgeni, that’s a great idea, thank you! I’m going to think of something and put together a video. Two videos I guess. One for warming up and one for cooling down? I think there should be both. You’re right, people shouldn’t forget about it. Thanks again, I appreciate your input. Have a great day too!”

He has no idea what time it even is in Russia, but when he thinks about it he realises that Evgeni lives in the future and it must be the middle of the day for him already. Whatever. It’s never too late to wish somebody a good day.

He has to leave for work then, to spend his morning offering advice on running shoes and protein powder while his coworker is working the counter. It’s exhausting, having to smile and answer the same questions over and over all day, re-folding clothes that customers leave in a heap somewhere, and explain patiently that no, he can’t conjure those shoes out of thin air in size 10, but they can be here in two days if he orders them now, okay? It’s the opposite of fun most of the time. But it’s what he gets paid for, so he has no choice. It’s just not exactly what he dreamed of doing with his early 20s.

He doesn’t get a chance to check his phone again before lunch, and he’s not even surprised to find a new message from Evgeni. He’d sort of been expecting it at this point.

“Hello Sidney, I’m glad you like idea. I think is very important. I’m sure you don’t need idea from me, but some yoga is good stretches. Easy. Can be good for start. I’m do some videos also, lot of warm up I get idea from yoga. But is all Russian. Sorry. But I’m sure you will have very good idea without me. I will watch for sure. Greetings from Evgeni.”

Sid bites his lip and puts his sandwich down. He’s never much liked yoga, no matter how much Flower keeps poking him to try it, but now he’s curious. He follows Geno’s username to his channel, and yeah, there’s quite a collection of videos up there. He can’t read any of the titles, so he just clicks on the shortest one, which is just a little over six minutes.

What he sees is...not quite what he expected.

Evgeni is tall. Really tall. With long skinny legs and a quite impressive upper half. And his face is...Sid knows he should probably focus on the video instead of staring at the guy’s face, but Evgeni has gentle, sad eyes and a smile that makes Sid smile too, and there’s just a sparkle of something a little mischievous in his expression. His nose is a little big and his lips are chapped and his hair looks just a bit sweaty and he’s beautiful.

Sid doesn’t think he really has a type. But he does like tall and athletic. And, apparently, also a kind face and bony feet and very large hands. And a really nice butt, honestly.

Evgeni’s voice is soft, and the gentle rhythm of Russian is almost soothing to listen to as he does a lot of the same stretches that Sid likes to do, but worked into a nice, easy flow that looks a lot like Flower’s yoga.

Sid watches the entire video and then locks his phone and goes for a walk around the block before his break is over.

He knows he should reply, but it suddenly feels weird, now that he knows that this guy who’s been sending him messages looks like...like that.

He feels shy, all of a sudden. Which he usually isn’t. Only around very attractive Russians, apparently.

He will write back later, he promises himself. It’s just been a while since he’s really allowed himself to look at people like that and Evgeni really has very impressive shoulders. Sid feels a little ridiculous.

It was just a dumb workout video, for fuck’s sake. So what if the guy has a kind face and really large hands.

Maybe he should call David, see if he’s dating anyone right now. It’s been a while since they last saw each other, and obviously Sid’s loneliness and need for physical contact that’s more than a hug has reached a critical level. David would laugh at him for years if he found out that Sid got turned on by watching a stretching video, even if Flower used to tease him that “Perron is perfect for you, he’s as sexually attracted to gross and sweaty as you are.”

But no, he tells himself. He’s just frustrated in a lot of ways right now, but he’ll get over it. And write back later.

***

Later turns out to be that evening, once he’s home and has had dinner and nothing more to do for the night.

“I’ve checked out your videos,” he writes to Evgeni. “I don’t understand what you’re saying, but maybe I’ll try to follow along to one anyway. It looks fun! Maybe I will get some new ideas for my own warmups from that. A fresh perspective and everything. Thank you, Sid.”

He doesn’t expect a reply that night because of the time difference, so he leaves his phone in the kitchen, settles in front of the TV, and puts on a hockey game.

Hockey is always a nice distraction from everything. He’s been in love with the sport ever since he was a little kid. Never had the money to actually play it for any long stretch of time, other than with friends on frozen ponds, but it’s still his favourite.

So yeah. Hockey is always a nice distraction. It just can’t distract him tonight from the thought of a beautiful man with a kind face and a soothing voice, doing athletic things in extremely short running shorts that leave nothing at all to the imagination.

***

There is a message the next morning. Sid reads it sitting up against the headboard, before he has even made it out of bed.

“Hello Sid! So happy you like video! Sad we live far, maybe sometimes we can make video together if closer. But I’m sure yours will be very good. Maybe I’m make video in English one day for you. Need much practice first. If this too much, sorry, but this messages not best way for talking. So I’m give you email. Ignore if you don’t want, I will not be angry. )))) Greetings from Evgeni.”

And then there’s an email address at the bottom of the message and Sid puts his phone down on his pillow and hides his face behind his hands, grinning, takes a breath. Are they becoming friends? Because that’s what it feels like. He’s not sure it’s such a great idea, but...

But it would be rude to turn down an offer of friendship like this, wouldn’t it?

The weird sort of melancholy from yesterday has left him, too, and with it the uncomfortable feeling of embarrassment at noticing the simple fact that a person he’s talking to is quite objectively attractive.

He feels like himself again.

So Sid does the only thing he can do, picks his phone up, copies Evgeni’s email address, and opens his email app.

It’s only polite. That’s the only reason he’s doing this. Anything else would be crazy. They’re pretty much living on opposite sides of the planet. So he’s just being nice to someone who was nice to him first and who is nice to talk to. Making a new friend in the process wouldn’t be the worst thing either.

And learning more about Evgeni’s thoughts on mixing yoga with regular workouts definitely can’t hurt. It’s a sport. All sports are good. He can always get into a new sport. Evgeni knows more about this particular one than he does, obviously, even if he seems to use it sparingly judging from the videos Sid has definitely not marathoned in bed before falling asleep last night.

“Hi Evgeni,” he starts his email. “This is Sid. I agree that emailing is much easier than talking through those messages. I’ve been thinking a lot about learning more about yoga, now that I’ve watched your video. Since you say you’ve based some of your stretches on it. I have a good friend who is a yoga teacher. He’s been trying to get me interested for years. If I tell him that I saw your videos on the internet and now suddenly want to learn, he’s going to be so mad. That’s going to be a lot of fun. Do you do any actual yoga off the internet? Or is that just what inspires you? Thanks again for giving me your email address. Sid.”

He hits send and feels pretty good about everything as he rolls out of bed to start his day.

Part 2

[sky-casino]

Try Again

Genre: Fluff, Angst Pairing: Jaehyun x Reader Word Count: 8,035 a/n: parts of these were inspired by goodbye summer written by dest-writes. i also used the concept of “trying again”, just like what jaehyun’s station song meant :)

"Excuse me, is this seat taken?" The dimpled boy next to you asked shyly. 

"No. You can seat there." You replied.

"Thanks!" 

That short conversation was the first you had with Jaehyun, second week of your freshman in high school. For some reason, Jaehyun loved sitting next to you during all of your subjects. He repeatedly said he was fond of you, but you didn't dare ask what exactly about you was he so fond of. Perhaps because you were practically a girl scout who had complete sets of supplies a student could ever need, or maybe because you let him copy your homeworks most of the time. Whatever the reason was, you didn't complain about it because you liked Jaehyun. Maybe even more than you should.

That short conversation sparked a friendship that would last. Your high school life was filled by the different adventures that you, Jaehyun, and all your other friends went to in your simple little town by the sea. Life was quiet and simple but genuinely fun. Bicycle trips to the nearest arcade, fast food chains, and ice cream parlors. Sometimes your other friends had their own plans but Jaehyun never left you alone, he always wanted to be with you and you really appreciated it. Grocery trips with each other, playing video games at his house, movie marathon and baking sessions at yours. 

One time you were at the seashore with him, picking some shells you would use to make accessories. 

"Y/N, it's been four years since we met, right? It was freshman year and now we're seniors who will be graduating soon."

"Yes. Time really flies, huh? I can't believe it!"

"Same. After graduation, I'll be moving to the city to pursue college."

Jaehyun has been vocal about his dream to move to the capital for university. He's been saying it throughout your high school years but you paid no attention because that day was still far away. But now you realized it wasn't so far anymore. Just a couple of months more and Jaehyun would leave.

"How about you? What's your plan?" 

"I'll stay here. I love the quiet and simple life. Less pollution here as well, cleaner air, more trees. And our local community college is good enough for me and my parents. I think it'll provide adequate education for my goal to become a teacher." You said as you slowly walked on the sand.

"I'll miss you." He said out of the blue. You stopped in your tracks and looked at him with wide eyes.

"What? I said I'll miss you. Are you not going to miss me?" Jaehyun laughed, amused at your reaction.

"Of course I will. We've been together everyday for the past four years. It's not easy for anyone to suddenly lose someone so close to them."

"Y/N, you're talking like I'm gonna die! I'm just moving to another place."

"To a faraway place, Jae."

"Okay. But the fastest trip from here to there is just one and a half hour, as long as you take the express train."

"Expensive." You said with a pout.

"Alright, then I'll be the one to visit you here. Maybe once a month, at least?"

"Really?" You couldn't hide the smile on your face as you were really touched by what Jaehyun said.

"Yep! We can't lose this friendship, you know? We need to keep in touch and see each other regularly. And if I'm the one who can adjust then I will." He said as he flashed a warm smile at you.

In that afternoon, the two of you promised to keep the friendship alive despite the distance.

 The two of you perfectly kept that promise. He visited once or twice a month and you kept texting, calling, video-calling, and sending pictures of what you were up to. Jaehyun sent you photos of him playing basketball with his new friends and you sent him pictures of your latest recipes.

However, that only lasted for around four months since Jaehyun left. You noticed that the communication efforts from his side became less and less frequent until he completely stopped. You thought he might just be busy so you sent less texts as well, afraid of disturbing him. But what bothered you was that you still kept seeing his online posts. He always uploaded pictures and videos of him with his friends in the club, partying and drinking. You were frustrated and hurt as you realized that he was no longer the Jaehyun you knew, the cute dimpled boy who always made you laugh, the boy who knew exactly what to do whenever you were feeling down, the boy you loved. This was a fear you buried at the back of your mind the moment you found out that Jaehyun would move to the city. You trusted Jaehyun to keep the promise. But in the end, the toxic people he surrounded himself with prevailed. You already told yourself that being his friend was enough, you didn't dare ask for anything more than that. But now even that status in his life was gone.

A few weeks passed and you decided to move on. If Jaehyun didn't want you as a friend anymore, then you didn't want him back either. You poured all your time and energy to your studies and to your part-time job as a student teacher at one of the pre-schools of your town. 

One weekend afternoon as you were baking alone at home, your doorbell rang. You were a little dumbfounded as you or your parents weren't expecting anyone to come. You opened the door to see Sicheng, a friend from high school who was also studying at the same university as Jaehyun.

"Oh my god, Sicheng!"

"Hi, Y/N! Long time no see!" He said as the two of you hugged.

"I know right! I'm baking some brownies right now so your timing was right " You replied as you lead him inside.

"I missed your desserts!"

"You can have them now after I finish and then take home some. How have you been?"

"Pretty great! Not to brag but I'm one of the top students of traditional dance. You?"

"I'm fine. I'm a part-time student teacher."

"And you still love baking." 

"Yep." You suddenly remembered Jaehyun and you debated with yourself whether you should ask Sicheng about him or not. 

"How.. how is Jaehyun? Do you still see him?"

"Jaehyun? Hmm.. yeah. I used to. Now we just rarely meet. Why? How about you? You still talk?"

"Not anymore." 

"Really?! But you guys were so close!"

"Tell me about it." You said with a bitter smile that you hid from Sicheng.

"Do you miss him?"

You almost dropped the huge bowl you were holding upon hearing Sicheng's question. 

"Well, I guess? I mean, you said it yourself. We were so close." You admitted.

"Aww, Y/N. I can relay any message to him if you want?"

"Oh, no need. I.. I don't have anything to say to him. I just hope he's doing great."

It was a Friday evening and you just landed on your bed after a long day of studying and working when you suddenly got a text. You reached for your phone lazily but your eyes almost popped out when you saw who the sender was.

"Hey, Y/N. Sorry, long time no talk. Been busy. Are you free tomorrow at 6PM? I'm not coming home this weekend so I wanna know if we can have dinner at a cafe near my dorm? Hoping to see you." 

It was from Jaehyun. The person you least expected to get a text from. You read the text around twenty times, your heartbeat riling up each time. The text was not as cheerful or sweet as his previous ones from months ago. But you didn't want to complain. Jaehyun wanted to see you again and you didn't say no. 

"Hi Jaehyun! Yeah, long time no talk. Sure, I'll see you tomorrow 😃 "

Jaehyun didn't reply anymore but you just shrugged it off and rummaged through your closet to find the cutest dress you had. After three months, you were gonna see your best friend again. You might have drifted apart and he might no longer consider you as his best friend, but you were beyond happy that he was trying to reach out again. You decided to put behind all the bitterness and hard feelings you've felt for Jaehyun recently and try to start again.

It was late afternoon the next day and you just got on the express train. If you could jump for excitement, you already did. But you didn't want strangers looking at you so you controlled yourself. 

Fifteen minutes into the ride, you got a text again from Jaehyun.

"Hi Y/N, Sicheng would be picking you up at the station. You have his number, right? Just text him once you're there. See you."

"Oh.. I thought it would just be the two of us." You thought to yourself with a hint of disappointment. But again, you opted not to complain as you didn't want to ruin your reunion.

"Hello! Alright. Will text him once I arrive at the station. See you! 😃 "

After an hour and a half, you texted Sicheng and in less than a minute, you felt a light pat at your back.

"Y/N! You're here!"

"Sicheng! Nice to see you again! I'm so excited! Is the place far from here?" You asked as the two of you went down the stairs from the platform of the station to the streets below.

"Nope, just a ten-minute walk."

"Not to sound dramatic but I'm honestly surprised that Jaehyun still remembers me." You said with a laugh.

"Of course he still does! Also, I told him that you miss him."

"What?" You asked, suddenly stopping at your tracks. "Didn't I tell you not to tell him anything?" 

"Yeah, Y/N. I'm sorry, but you looked so sad last week when we were talking about him. So I thought telling Jaehyun might help. Sorry, are you mad?"

"So is this dinner your idea or his?"

"I.. I suggested to him that you guys should meet soon. But the exact details like venue, date, and time, those were all up to him."

"Okay.." You said before you slowly took some steps again.

"Sorry, Y/N. You don't mind, right?"

"Well, honestly I thought the two of us meeting again was purely his initiative. But looks like if you hadn't told him about me, he wouldn't even remember me, let alone want to meet me again. But don't worry, I'm fine." You assured Sicheng with a smile. You were thankful for this friend, and you wished that Jaehyun was still as sweet as him. Sicheng didn't change at all.

"We're here!" Sicheng exclaimed when you stopped at a rustic style coffee shop.

"Wow, it's so beautiful!"

"Right! Me and other university students love to hang out here. Let's go!"

"Wait!" You said, pulling his right arm.

"Why?"

"J-Jaehyun is inside? Like, right now?!" You whispered.

"Uh, yes? Why?"

"I don't know. I suddenly got nervous." You said embarrassingly.

"Aww, Y/N. Don't be! Everything will be fine. Come on." Sicheng said as he went on to push the door. You instantly followed.

The coffee shop was bigger than you thought and you had a hard time finding Jaehyun. 

"There he is!" Sicheng pointed at Jaehyun who was at the opposite end.

The two of you quickly approached him until you both stopped. Yes, Jaehyun was there. But he was with a girl.

"What the hell? I told him not to bring one of his.. ugh!" Sicheng groaned.

"You didn't tell me he has a girlfriend." You said, still staring at Jaehyun and the girl.

"That's.. that's not exactly his girlfriend, Y/N."

"What do you mean? She has her arm looped around his and they look very sweet, Sicheng. I may still be living in our little town but I'm not dumb."

"No, Y/N. Sorry, that's not what I mean. That girl is just one of his flings. They're not in a serious relationship. I.. I didn't exactly know how to tell you about this but.. Jaehyun loves to sleep around."

"Sleep around?"

"Yep. Like, he sleeps with different girls whenever he wants." Sicheng said before he pursed his lips, afraid of your reaction.

"Is that what people usually call.. fuckboy? Is that the right term?" 

"Yes. That's right. He's the university's #1 fuckboy."

You couldn't believe what you were hearing and you were no longer sure if you still wanted to push through with this dinner. At first, you didn't expect Sicheng to go with you and Jaehyun. And now, he even brought one of his girls.

"Sorry Sicheng but I don't think I still want to meet him. I'm going home." You said as you tried to reach for the door.

"Wait, Y/N! You can't just leave! What will I tell him?" Sicheng said as he quickly blocked you.

"I don't know. Just tell him I suddenly got sick-"

"I can't. He already saw us. He's waving at us right now." Sicheng said as he waved back to Jaehyun who was behind you.

You slowly turned your head to look at him, flashing a fake smile and waving back. After a few seconds, you found yourself sitting across the girl Jaehyun brought. You greeted her with a smile but she just looked at you with a blank expression. 

"Hi, Y/N. Long time no see! Sorry, been busy that's why I couldn't visit or text you back."

"Been busy sleeping around?" You thought to yourself.

"No, it's fine. I understand." You told Jaehyun before focusing on the menu you were holding. Honestly, you couldn't bear to look at Jaehyun, not after finding out his latest hobby. 

"Y/N? You ready to order?" Sicheng finally asked you after five minutes of you hiding your face in the menu folder.

"What? Oh, yes! I'm ready. Sorry it took too long." You said. 

"So what are you up to now?" Jaehyun asked you before taking a sip of water.

"M-me? I'm.. still studying the same course, Education. I just started my internship two months ago. I'm a student-teacher. You?"

"Still in the basketball team. I-"

"He is so hot when he plays." The girl emphasized to you. "Have you seen him play?"

"Uhm.. no. It's my first time to go here, actually." You said with an embarrassed laugh. You saw Jaehyun squirming in his seat, somehow being uncomfortable.

"Oh, is that so?" The girl asked you with a blank face.

"Y-yeah."

That dinner was the most awkward experience you ever had. It was painfully horrible. There were a lot of dead moments where no one wanted to talk. Jaehyun invited you but it didn't seem like he was thrilled to meet you again. He just looked uncomfortable the whole time. The girl on the other hand was all over Jaehyun. Sliding her hand on his chest, poking his dimples, whispering on his ear. She only paid attention to Jaehyun, ignoring you and even Sicheng. You could tell Sicheng wanted to leave already. The only good thing from this dinner was that Jaehyun made sure to smile at you from time to time. It made you feel a little better. You missed that smile and those dimples very much. Those dimples that cutely dent his cheeks always made your heart flutter.

"My trip back home takes around two hours. I'm sorry, I need to leave now." You said as you stood up and slung your bag on your shoulder. Sicheng and Jaehyun stood up as well but the girl pulled Jaehyun back down to his chair. 

"I'll go with her to the station." Sicheng said.

"O-okay. Bye, Y/N. Take care." Jaehyun told you with concern apparent in his eyes. 

"I will. Bye."

"God that was so terrible! You're right! I should've gone with you when you tried to leave earlier!" Sicheng yelled once you were on the streets.

You wanted to laugh and tell him "I told you so.", but you didn't, you couldn't. Your heart felt very heavy the entire night and you wanted to let something out just to make you feel better in any way. Something that you've been carrying in your heart and kept secret from everyone.

"You know what, Sicheng? I love him." 

"What?"

"I love him and I hate myself for that. He already changed and he's no longer the Jaehyun I know. He forgot about me and we're no longer best friends. We drifted apart but... I still love him? Why am I like this? I want to forget him and even hate him but I can't. I really can't..." You said as you stood beside the lamp post, crying. 

"Y/N..." Sicheng said as he approached you. You looked at him and you noticed that his eyes were fixated at something or someone else. You followed his gaze and turned your head to see Jaehyun standing behind you. His face in shock. You were not sure how long has he been standing there but you were certain that he heard everything you just said. Everything.

"I really need to go. I can't stay any second longer. Bye, Sicheng." You muttered as you brisk-walked to the station.

"Wait, Y/N!" You heard Jaehyun yell.

"Dude, don't confront her right now. Not now. She's obviously embarrassed and not ready." Sicheng exerted all his strength to stop Jaehyun from following you. "Why are you here anyway? Where's your girl?"

"I don't know and I don't care. I just left her there. I wanted to apologize to Y/N for the horrible night. I just wasted her time." Jaehyun said anxiously, covering his face with both hands. 

"Well, her time wouldn't have been wasted if you didn't bring that girl along-"

"I didn't! Why would I? I was gonna meet with Y/N, there's no way I'd bring another girl. She just suddenly showed up there when I arrived! As usual, she's like a flea who latched onto me and didn't leave no matter what I said."

"You went the fuckboy route and now you're complaining about a girl like that? Sorry Jaehyun, I want to sympathize but you brought this upon yourself. And now, you just hurt Y/N."

"I know. Should I go home tonight and visit her tomorrow? That's right. I'll do that."

"But you have a team building with your basketball team tomorrow, remember?"

"Shit!"

"Don't worry, Jaehyun. Y/N will just be at home. Even if you visit her next weekend there won't be a problem. You'll visit her and you'll find her baking, reading, or just watching the TV. She's a simple person and she will always be at our little hometown. Remember during high school? We always teased her for loving our simple town so much." Sicheng said in an attempt to console Jaehyun.

"You're right. She loves our hometown. She's still the same, unlike me. I.. changed."

"That's why you couldn't face her, am I right?" Sicheng asked, wrapping his arm around Jaehyun's shoulder as he walked the latter in the direction of their dorm.

"Yes. That's why I couldn't face her. If you didn't tell me that she misses me I wouldn't have the guts to ask her to come here and meet with me."

"I know. You needed a push."

Throughout the following week, you got several texts from Jaehyun. Whether you were eating breakfast, studying at school, working, or at night before sleeping, you constantly received his messages of asking how you were, apologizing, and wanting to meet you again. He even called you a few times as well. However, you didn't reply to or pick up any of these. You were extremely embarrassed and didn't have any idea what to say to him, you didn't know what he was going to tell you either. You just wanted to forget everything about that night, including Jaehyun. He had no problem cutting you off these past months and now all of a sudden, he was repeatedly texting and calling you again? You told yourself that you were done and that you were ready to move on.

It was Saturday, exactly one week from that horribly awkward dinner and from Jaehyun accidentally hearing your confession, when you heard a knock on your open door. You turned your head to see who it was and your breath hitched in a second. There he was, the person you've been ignoring the past week.

"Uhm, hi.. Y/N." Jaehyun shyly waved at you as he slowly entered your home.

"What are you doing here?" You asked bluntly.

"I'm.. I want to talk to you. But you haven't replied to any of my texts or picked up a single call-"

"Doesn't that mean that I don't want to talk to you? Why show up here?"

"Because I want to talk to you." Jaehyun repeated clearly.

"There's nothing to talk about, Jaehyun. After last week's dinner, it's pretty clear that we've grown apart. Don't worry, that's part of life."

"I can't just let this go without putting up a fight."

"A fight? I've been ignoring you the past week yes but you did the same to me for months."

"I'm sorry about that, Y/N. I really am. It's just that.. many things happened back there. It was messy, to say the least."

"And you didn't tell me about it. We used to confide in each other, remember? But you stopped."

"The things that happened are not easy for me to say to you."

"So you just pushed me away 'cuz you don't have the guts to be honest to me? Don't worry, Sicheng already told me what happened."

"But I still want you to hear it directly from me. Like I told you before, I got into the basketball varsity team and honestly, everything just started from there. The fame got into my head, and then the parties followed, the.. girls. I couldn't talk to you because I was ashamed of myself. I lost myself so quickly and I wasn't sure how you would react, if you would still accept me."

"If you were losing yourself, you should've just answered one of my texts and I could've helped you right away. It's as simple as that, Jaehyun."

"No, Y/N. Things over there are not as simple as they are here. There, you have classmates and friends who act like they're always there for you but all they do is manipulate and pressure you into doing what they want. I admit, it was really fun at first. I had a good time drinking the night away and not caring about the consequences after. I.. kept sleeping around.. with different girls. I knew it was wrong, all of it. But for some reason I couldn't stop? It was like a downward spiral and I didn't want you to see me stuck in it. Then a couple of weeks ago, Sicheng told me that you miss me. That actually served like a light to me. It was like a wake-up call and I knew at that moment I had to go back to who I was so we could go back to how we were."

Your tears started to fall as you listened to Jaehyun. You had no idea what he was going through and that he was actually having a hard time. 

"And what about that rude girl you brought to dinner? I was surprised-"

"I didn't tag her along, I swear. Believe me. She just suddenly showed up there, mostly likely she was following me."

You didn't say anything so Jaehyun tried to approach you but you backed away. "Y/N.."

"I'm sorry to hear about that. But we can't just go back to how we were so easily. What if you cut me off again?"

"I understand if you're having trust issues with me now. But I'll show you that I'm trying. We can start texting each other regularly again and I'll visit here every weekend. No more parties and sleeping around too. I promise!" Jaehyun said excitedly. 

"Don't make promises that you can't keep."

"But I will. I'll keep it. You just have to believe in me."

"And you just have to start trying."

Jaehyun was being slow in processing what you just said and just stood there confused.

"I'm giving you a chance to try again, is what I mean."

"Thank you so much, Y/N" Jaehyun said as he hugged you tightly. You didn't expect the physical contact at all.

"Geez, Jaehyun. Chill." You told the boy as you gently pushed him away. 

You looked at him and saw how happy he was, smiling from ear to ear with his face and ears totally red. If you were not being hard-to-get, you would've pulled him back in for a longer and tighter hug. The two of you held eye contact for quite a long time, with the same thought running in your minds: your accidental confession of love last week. However, you both knew that not bringing it up was the better thing to do. Jaehyun was afraid of embarrassing you even more and you simply didn't want to talk about it. 

"I think you should go now. Maybe your parents are already looking for you." You said after clearing your throat, walking away from him as you realized how close the distance between the two of you was. 

"Y-yeah. Right. I'll see you again next week. And please, don't ignore my texts and calls anymore, okay?" He said, looking at you with puppy eyes that you missed so much.

"Yes, Jeong Jaehyun. Don't worry." You said with a smile while playfully rolling your eyes.

"Bye, Y/N! And, thank you."

"You're welcome, Jaehyun."

And with that, he left. 

The next weekend arrived and so did Jaehyun. 

"Good morning, Y/N! I hope you haven't had breakfast yet because I brought your favorites!" He said as soon as he entered your home that Saturday morning, with containers that had hotdogs, eggs, waffles, and hash browns in them. 

"Morning, Jaehyun. Wow. Thanks but no need to do this." You said as he took out the containers.

"Don't worry. It's fine! I cooked them for you." He said, looking at you as if asking for approval. "My parents said yours went to vacation so I decided to bring you food." 

"Yes, they're coming back tomorrow night. How about you? Have you eaten?" You asked as you sat down, ready to start eating.

"Nope. I was hoping to eat these with you." 

Knowing that Jaehyun woke up extra early just to cook your favorite breakfast and bring them to you really fluttered your heart. 

"I quit the basketball team." He said out of the blue.

"What?! But why? You love playing." 

"Yeah. But that's one of the reasons why I couldn't go home every weekend. Also, I had to cut off those toxic people anyway. They're.. the reason why I changed." His voice was weaker as he stated the last sentence.

"I'm glad you're taking steps." You said after a moment of silence.

"Thanks. By the way, are you free later? My mom and I will go to the grocery. I'm wondering if you wanna tag along?" 

"Hmm, no. We just restocked a few days ago. No need to buy new stuff." You said with a smile.

"Oh, is that so? Alright." Jaehyun replied, disappointment apparent on his face. "I need to go now before mom looks for me." He continued.

"Bye, take care and thanks for the food. I really appreciate the gesture." You said as you stood by the door with Jaehyun on one of the steps, looking up at you.

"No problem, Y/N. Just tell me if you want me to cook for you, I'll drop by quickly. You know, just like the old days." He chuckled.

"Yeah, I remember. Sure, Chef Jeong. I'll give you a call when I'm too lazy to make my own food. Now, go!" You said with a laugh.

"Bye! See you!" Jaehyun said as he started pedaling his bike. 

You waved at him as you watched the wind blow against him, gently messing up his hair. You missed this view, this feeling.

Another Saturday, another day with Jaehyun. Well, he attempted it to be that way.

Jaehyun texted you that morning, asking if you wanted to go to the ice cream parlor you always visited back in high school. Of course you wanted to. But then, you realized that spending more time with him  would just make you fall even deeper. You were not sure if you wanted that to happen so you decided to decline his invitation.

 "Hi. Sorry, I'm not available today." You replied to his text. After a few seconds, your phone rang with his name flashing on your screen. You panicked a little, wondering why he felt the need to call.

"Hello?"

"Hi, Y/N. You're busy today?"

"Y-yup. Sorry, I can't go. I have several homeworks I need to get done." You lied.

"Don't be sorry, it's fine! Do you need help? I can go there."

"Uhm, no thanks. I don't need help." 

"Oh, okay. That's.. great. I guess I'll see you next weekend then?" Jaehyun finally said after five seconds of silence.

"Yes."

"Okay. Bye!"

"Bye." You said before hanging up.

You couldn't stop thinking about the five seconds of silence from Jaehyun. You were worried that you might have hurt him, if it was obvious that you were pushing him away that day.

"Ugh, worrying about it will just waste my time." You told yourself.

Jaehyun invited Sicheng over to his house after he called you.

"Well, I guess you're being clingy? Just a bit? I'm not sure, though." Sicheng told Jaehyun after the latter shared how his conversation with you on the phone went.

"I just want us to go back to the way we used to." Jaehyun said with a sigh.

"I know that. Y/N knows that. The three of us know that. But maybe, just give her some space?"

Jaehyun pondered on Sicheng's suggestion and decided to text you that night.

"Hi, Y/N. Are you done with your homeworks? I hope you are 😃 By the way, I'm really sorry if I'm being too clingy. I understand if you're getting annoyed already. Don't worry, I'll give you some space. Just text me when you want to see me. Good night!"

You were surprised by the message, but more than that, it made you cry. You cried because how could anyone, how could Jaehyun, be that sweet and understanding? At that moment, you were pretty sure that he was the most precious person in the world, your world.

"Hi, Jaehyun! Don't worry about it, I'm not annoyed or anything. I don't find you "too clingy". I'll meet you next Saturday, okay? Good night!" You replied.

"Thank god you're not annoyed! I can now finally sigh in relief. Good night, Y/N~ See you on Saturday 😃" 

"Are you not gonna confess to Y/N yet? What's taking you so long?" 

Jaehyun choked on his soda upon hearing Sicheng's question while they were on the way to their respective classes.

"What's with that reaction? It's been months since you started visiting and talking to her again. I must say, you've been really sweet to her. All that's left is the confession. So when is it?"

"I don't know. What the hell dude, you're making me anxious." Jaehyun hissed at Sicheng.

"Well, it can't take you forever and not confessing at all is not an option, so I'm asking you when. How about this coming weekend? Please do it this weekend! You can't delay it anymore!"

"I.. I don't know, Sicheng. I don't think I'm ready."

"Jaehyun, you've been very sweet and caring to Y/N all these months. Cooking for her, helping her with the materials for her internship, grocery trips. And you're here telling me that you're not ready? Come on!"

"You don't understand. For some reason, it's easier for me to take action and show her that I love her than to actually tell her that I love her? I don't know. I'm weird like that."

"But girls love it when you express your feelings to them clearly, through words!" Sicheng exclaimed as he stopped Jaehyun from walking, holding his friend by the shoulders. "Jaehyun, as your best friend, I'm advising you to confess to Y/N this coming Saturday, the first weekend of the coming summer. If you don't do it, I'll never talk to you again. And also, you were able to admit to Y/N all the wrongdoings you did in the past, why you changed, how you changed. All those stuff. So if you could do that then you can confess your feelings to her. Just don't make her wait longer? Please? Do this for her. She's main reason why you need to do it soon. Remember that, okay? Just think of her. I need to go now, my classroom is here. Good luck!" 

"Thank you for the advice, Sicheng. Really. Thank you so much." Jaehyun told his friend before giving him a hug.

Jaehyun was left with his own thoughts and his newfound determination that Sicheng helped discover. 

It was summer again. Exactly a year since the last summer before Jaehyun left for the city. Today was a busy day. Your town held a small scale music festival by the beach every year and you and Jaehyun agreed to attend and have some fun. It was one of the few events that made your town exciting, definitely an annual highlight. All your local musicians and singers went on stage to show what they got, food concessionaires everywhere, and most importantly, the sunset that reflected itself on the beach. This was the exact sunset Jaehyun was waiting for the whole day, he was planning to confess to you as the two of you watch the scenery. He knew it was cliche, but he also knew that you loved sunsets more than anything.

He picked you up in the afternoon and even before he could say anything, his mouth dropped in awe with the way you looked in your floral yellow and white sundress.

"Wow, Y/N. You look gorgeous." 

"I-it's just a simple dress, Jaehyun. Nothing to be amazed about. You look good in your white shirt too. Let's go?" You said, trying to avoid the possibility of him seeing the blush on your cheeks.

"Look at this!" Jaehyun exclaimed, showing off a two-seater bicycle that he parked against your fence.

"Wow! Where did you get that?"

"I rented it just for today so.. we can ride together on the way to the beach." 

"But I have my own bike."

"And I have mine, but I want us to ride together." Jaehyun said with a nervous smile.

"Alright then. Let's try it?" You smiled as you approached the bicycle. 

"You okay there?" Jaehyun asked.

"Yeah, I'm good. We can go now." You replied as you gently wrapped your arms around his waist, cautious of the contact. You were shocked by how sturdy and strong his torso felt and how manly he smelled, you couldn't help but blush even more.  

"Okay, let's go!" Jaehyun yelled and a few seconds later, you felt the wind breezing against the two of you. Not very far from your house, you eventually saw the people down by the beach gathering in front of the stage from the road you were on. You loved everything about that moment. The wind, the view, the faint music that would soon be loud once you get to the venue, and of course, the boy you were embracing right now. Oops. You were not embracing him, you were just clinging onto him for safety purposes. You corrected yourself as quickly as you pulled away your head when you realized that you were resting it on his back. You didn't want Jaehyun to think that you liked him so much even though he already heard your confession months ago. You took care of your pride.

Once you arrived, you got off the bike immediately. 

"Did you like that?" Jaehyun asked with a bright smile similar to a kid's.

"Yes. But my hair is so messy." You said as you fixed your hair, your lips in a pout.

"But you're cute with messy hair."

You were surprised by the sudden compliment and the smile on Jaehyun's face quickly disappeared.

"I'm sor-"

"Let's buy food. I'm hungry." You said as you turned around in the direction of the food stalls, hiding your red cheeks from Jaehyun for the second time.

By the time you joined the crowd, the first performer was about to finish. A few more performers later and the place got too compressed.

"Wanna go somewhere we can actually breathe?" Jaehyun asked.

"Totally." You replied before Jaehyun pulled you to the exit.

You bought food again before heading to a less occupied spot by the beach, this time Mexican tacos, different from the burgers you bought earlier. After you both finished, Jaehyun strangely remained silent.

"You know how I feel, right? I want us to be.. more than friends." He suddenly said.

You couldn't believe what you just heard and told yourself that maybe you simply misheard what he just said, so you didn't say anything and continued to play with the hem of your dress.

"Y/N, I want us to be more than friends." Jaehyun repeated. By now, you clearly heard what he just said. You felt him looking intently at you and you couldn't stand the tension anymore so you quickly stood up and left him. 

"Y/N, wait!" Jaehyun yelled as he followed you.

"Where are you going?" He asked as he blocked you from taking further steps.

"I have to do something for my internship tomorrow. I need to go." You said, trying to walk past him.

"That's obviously a lie, Y/N. Please, we need to talk about this." Jaehyun said as he firmly but gently held your wrists. 

"I don't know what to say..." You said as you looked down on the ground, avoiding his gaze. 

"We both know I heard your confession from months ago. I don't mean to embarrass you and I don't even know if you still feel the same way about me. But I'm here to tell you that I want to be with you.. that I want to be more than friends. Sorry Y/N, I can't just be your friend anymore. I want something more than that. Something more special."

"But I'm scared." You said, first tears falling on the sand.

"Scared of what? Don't cry, Y/N." He said as he tried to wipe your tears, but you took a step back, afraid of his touch.

"What if you'll cut me off again? What if you'll go back to the city and you stop visiting me and then eventually we'll never see and talk to each other again? What if you'll remove me entirely from your life?" You asked, finally looking him in the eye.

"Y/N, why would I do that if I love you? If I want us to be together?"

"Because you already did it in the past. If I didn't tell Sicheng that I missed you and if he didn't say that to you, would you even try again to keep in touch with me? I don't think so, Jaehyun." 

"I already told you why I distanced myself from you, remember? Please, Y/N. I did everything in my capacity these past few months to restore our friendship, for you to like me. I.. I don't know what to do anymore. Please, just give me a chance. I'll put all your what-ifs to rest, believe me. Jaehyun pleaded as you continued to cry.

"I'm sorry, Jaehyun. But.. I don't really know what to say. Not now, not yet."

"That's fine. I'll give you time to think. I can wait." Jaehyun said with a hopeful smile. You nodded and smiled back at him.

After the sun has completely set, the two of you rode the bike back to your home.

"Jaehyun, would you like to join us for dinner?" Your mom asked Jaehyun.

"Hi auntie, sorry but I'm already full. Y/N and I ate a lot." Jaehyun replied with a smile.

"Oh, okay. Take care on your way home."

"I will. Good night!"

"As I said earlier, I'll wait for your answer. No pressure." Jaehyun reminded you with a smile.

"Yes, I know."

"Don't cry anymore, okay? I don't like seeing you hurt and sad."

"Yeah, sure. Take care. Bye." You replied as you waved at him with a smile.

"Good night. Sweet dreams." He said, showing you his cute dimples as he rode the bike and pedaled away, leaving you alone at your porch. You had no idea why but watching him go further and further away from you with his back facing made you want to cry. You hated yourself for failing to kill your fear of Jaehyun leaving you for good someday. Him cutting you off months ago was traumatic and it kept your doubts and trust issues alive to haunt you. 

"So have you heard? What happened last weekend.. between me and Jaehyun?" 

"Of course! I was the one who encouraged him to confess to you!" Sicheng replied proudly.

"Oh my god Dong Sicheng, did you really have to involve yourself in this?" You said dramatically as you buried your face in your hands.

"Of course! I'm your number one fan, didn't you know?"

"Stop saying 'of course'!"

"Geez, Y/N. Why so snappy?"

"Because I am confused! What should I do? Say yes? Reject him? I don't know what to do." You said as you slouched back into your couch.

"Just follow your heart. The three of us know you love him too."

"Shut up."

"You're asking me what you should do and now you're telling me to shut up?"

"I'm sorry. I'm just.. scared. I have doubts, Sicheng."

"It's normal to have doubts when getting into a relationship, don't worry. But you should get over those doubts and trust Jaehyun. The three of us have known each other almost our entire lives and based on what I see and know, he really loves you and he won't hurt you again."

"You think?"

"I do. Look, he wouldn't exert this much effort all these months if he didn't treasure you and your friendship. If he really doesn't feel anything for you, he wouldn't have tried again and reached out to you after that awkward as hell dinner. Common sense, Y/N."

It's already a month after Jaehyun's confession and you still haven't talked to him. Despite agreeing with Sicheng, you couldn't find the courage to face and talk to Jaehyun. 

It was Saturday morning and the school you were working for as an intern was having a minor renovation for some of the classrooms. You came to help but a few steps into the place and you stopped in your tracks. Jaehyun was there helping in carrying pieces of furniture around, placing them in whatever classroom the elderly principal wanted. He was perspiring and his sweat has seeped through his thin gray shirt. He only realized you were there after the principal allowed them to take a break.

"G-good morning, Y/N." He greeted you as his face lit up.

"Morning. You're here to help?"

"Yeah, my mom told me the school needs as many people as they can get to help in the renovation. So.. I'm here." He said, giving you a boyish smile.

"Thanks. It's so hot out here, wanna get some ice cream?" 

"Sure!" 

You bought ice cream from the vendor a few blocks away and sat down on one of the benches overlooking the sea. 

"The waves are so calm." You said.

"Yes, they are."

"Unlike my heart.." You whispered to yourself.

"Come again?"

"Nothing, nothing." You shook his head lightly and smiled at him.

A long moment of awkward silence followed. The same question hanging over your heads. What would be your answer?

"Y-"

"Hey! Break's over!" You were interrupted by one of the guys helping out in the renovation just like Jaehyun.

"Looks like we need to go back now or the principal will get mad. You know how he is." You joked.

"Yes, everyone does." Jaehyun chuckled.

The two of you returned to the school and were assigned to help out in different locations. By dusk, everything was in order and everyone were already leaving.

"Can I walk you home?" Jaehyun asked, fiddling with the straps of his backpack.

"Sure." 

Both of you walked slowly, wanting to savor each passing moment.

"Yes." You said out of the blue, breaking the silence as the two of you approached your home.

"Yes?" Jaehyun repeated, stopping in his tracks to face you as he squinted his eyes in confusion.

"Yup. That's what I said." You said with a laugh.

He just continued to squint his eyes and raise his eyebrow, obviously not getting it.

You sighed and rolled your eyes before continuing, "You want my answer, right? That's it. Yes! I was supposed to tell you earlier when we were having ice cream but I got interrupted." 

Jaehyun's eyes turned from squinted to wide, manifesting his disbelief.

"Hello?" You waved your hand close to his face.

"Shit, I'm sorry. I just.. what? What did you say? Can you repeat it?" Jaehyun said after snapping out of his trance.

"I'm saying yes to you, Jeong Jaehyun. How else do you want me to say it so you can understand what I'm saying?" You chuckled.

"Does.. does that mean we're.. together now? Like, we're a couple wherein you're my girlfriend and I'm your boyfriend? Is.. is that what you mean?" Jaehyun asked excitedly as he stuttered. 

"Yes. That's exactly what I mean." 

Jaehyun didn't say anything in reply but he quickly wrapped you in the tightest and warmest embrace. The two of you stayed like that without saying anything and you realized that no words were needed anymore. He loved you and you trusted him. 

You pulled away from the hug and looked in his eyes that were glistening with tears of joy, same as yours.

"Can I?" He asked as he looked longingly at your lips, caressing your jaw with his thumb.

Your breath hitched as you wondered to yourself if you were ready for your first ever kiss with the boy you've been in love with for years. You closed your eyes in anticipation and a few seconds later, you felt Jaehyun's lips pressing gently on yours. They were soft like pillows and as warm as a cup of hot chocolate in your hands during wintertime. You slowly wrapped your forearms around his neck with one hand playing with his hair. You dreamed of this for a long, long time.

It was his turn now to pull away and stare at you. His eyes and heart absorbed the beautiful sight: the last rays of the sun shining upon your face, your eyes still closed in hopes of remembering the sensation that just ended, and a few of your loose strands danced to the gentle wind. You eventually opened your eyes and your dark brown irises added to beautiful sight, with your smile as the final touch.

"Thank you, Y/N. I.. I have no words. I'm very grateful that you decided to give me a chance."

"It's alright. You deserve it, anyway. You went through so much and made a lot of mistakes back there, but you proved to me that the Jaehyun I knew from the past is still here, right in front of me, and has been with me all these months."

He rested his forehead against yours and let out a deep sigh, "I love you, Y/N."

You kissed his nose before replying, "I love you too. Now, would you mind if we continue our walk home because I'm hungry as hell. My mom would love to cook for you."

"Yes, ma'am." He said with a laugh as he pulled away.

[dipulb3]

Procreate review: A digital artist's treasure trove for just $10

New Post has been published on https://appradab.com/procreate-review-a-digital-artists-treasure-trove-for-just-10/

Procreate review: A digital artist's treasure trove for just $10

During the coronavirus pandemic, setting aside time to pursue creative projects has become one of my favorite ways to spend free time and manage stress. I typically enjoy working with physical media — watercolor, oils, acrylics or simple sketching with pen or pencil — and the idea of going digital was intimidating. But while looking for new ways to draw on my iPad, Apple’s Procreate app caught my eye. 

Like

Wide range of tools

Useful for everyone from beginners to professionals

Easy to learn new styles like animation

Don’t Like

$10 price tag

Two different apps for iPhone and iPad use

Large number of tools can be overwhelming for beginners

The digital illustration app costs $10 (£10, AU$15) to download (with no in-app purchases), and its suite of art tools and creative features make it well worth the money. Procreate offers an accessible experience whether you’re a design professional, a seasoned digital artist or a beginner to the world of digital drawing. One downside: The app is only available on iPadOS and iOS. 

Read more: Best iPad for 2020

I’ve been using Procreate for a few months, and there are still features I’m learning to use that improve my artwork. The app’s tools, such as quick shape, blend mode, layering, alpha locks and clipping masks, add a new level of professionalism to your art. This is why we’ve awarded Procreate a CNET Editors’ Choice award for 2020.

Discover the latest apps: Be the first to know about the hottest new apps with the CNET Apps Today newsletter.

Toto, I don’t think we’re using Microsoft Paint anymore

Procreate is packed with so many tools and features that I’ll barely scratch the surface in this review. 

There are countless ways to customize your iPad’s ($239 at Back Market) gesture controls to make the app work best for you. For example, you can set it so that you tap four fingers to immediately populate the copy and paste options. You can also use three fingers to scrub the screen and clear a layer. 

A sketch I did on Procreate and a look at a subset of brushes. 

Shelby Brown/CNET

One of the biggest perks of Procreate is its massive library of 150 brushes. The range of brushes available in the app fit just about any creation you could possibly have in mind. You can stick with basic sketching, inking, drawing and painting, or you can explore airbrushing, calligraphy, charcoals and spray paints. Under each category of brushes, you’ll find a half a dozen or more choices. For example, if you choose Sketching, you can select from seven different pencils and three different pastel textures. Take it a step further by tapping the brush again and further customizing the properties of the tool. 

Read more: 10 Procreate app tips for budding iPad artists

I also love using the app’s layering feature while I’m drawing. It makes editing in the future much easier. You’ll just have to remember to put your work in piece by piece. You can find extra light and color editing features for each layer as well. Just tap the little “N” next to the checkmark that selects the layer. 

Here’s what grouping layers looks like with some basic doodles.

Shelby Brown/CNET

To stay organized, or if you want an added level of security to a section of art, you can combine layers into groups. Simply tap a layer and you can select either Merge Down or Combine Down. Merge Down makes two layers into one, for example, if you had Alpha Lock on to protect line boundaries in a layer, it will turn off. Combine Down forms a new group, but still keeps each individual layer’s specifications active. 

Procreate also makes it easy to learn new skills by making the technical aspect of digital art less intimidating. When I first opened the Procreate app, I saw that it had animation features, but almost immediately wrote them off as too complicated for a novice like me. But with a few taps in the app, I was able to create a rudimentary animation of a ball bouncing across the screen. It was barely two and a half seconds, but I was really proud of it! Now, I’m really excited to see what else I can make. 

A face sketch I started on Procreate. 

Shelby Brown/CNET

To ease the digital illustration learning curve, Procreate has a helpful handbook, forums and YouTube videos to help you along the way.

iPad is the new canvas

Procreate is an iPad-only app. There is a version for your iPhone, called Procreate Pocket ($5, £5, AU$8). But the apps are separate, so you can’t swap back and forth between your phone and your tablet. 

I use Procreate on a third-gen iPad Air, but you can find the full list of compatible devices on its website. 

The Apple Pencil isn’t required hardware for using Procreate. But if you’re planning to pursue digital illustration, your fingers will thank you for picking one up. I can only speak for myself, but without a stylus, I couldn’t get the same level of detail. I use a first-gen Apple Pencil. If your device isn’t compatible with the Apple Pencil, the app supports some third-party stylus models. You can find the complete list on its website. 

Read more: The best Apple iPad apps of all time

Should you try Procreate?

There’s a lot going on in Procreate and it can seem overwhelming, but the more you use the app, the easier it gets. Having fun is the most important part.

If you’re even mildly interested in digital art and have $10 to spare, I’d recommend trying Procreate out. Explore the app, doodle, write your name with different brushes. You can also upload blank coloring sheets to a canvas and experiment with the tools that way, so you’re not creating a brand new work on your own. 

If you’re more in the market for a digital coloring book, however, you might check out the Lake app (free, with in-app purchases), instead of shelling out $10 for Procreate. And if you want to get an idea of how much you might use Procreate before investing, Autodesk Sketchbook is a free app that has an impressive set of tools, too — not as many as Procreate, but enough to give you a taste. 

There are dozens of ways to customize Procreate to help you discover or improve your art style. 

For more on drawing, check out five online drawing classes you can take right now and all the best apps for drawing on your iPad.