#so one day when you didn’t get enough food

[sunflowerwinds]

sugar, sugar | v.a

summary: on a slow day at your grandmother’s bakery, a customer captures your attention. as the weeks pass, you see her pop up more and more. a gentle friendship ignites between the two of you. the only issue was the undeniable attraction to her and it didn’t help now having to do her a kind favor. it would go away…. right?

pairing: fem!reader x vi arcane

contains: modern!au, kick-boxer!vi, reader is described to have long enough hair to tie up, reader has a sister named mila, we love gram, vander, isha and jinx mentions <3, nothing but fluff, strangers to friends to lovers:)

word count: 3.5K

a/n: i seriously had so much fun writing this and i am excited to dig into a mini-series with vi. i hope everyone enjoys this as much as i do </3

— ONE

Running your grandmother’s bakery wasn’t easy but it was a light in your life. She taught you tips and tricks of working the large industrial oven, every single one of her recipes, and wiping down the chalkboard to write the specials for the delicious treats.

She was charm personified; somehow able to convince pretty much every person that walked to the pastry shop to try at least one item. You were on the more quiet side, not insanely secluded but you weren’t extroverted. Nice people cracked you open and next thing you knew it, you were shoving a donut into their palms to take home.

It was a bad habit.

It was a slow Thursday in November. You were sweeping the small area of seating, softly asking one of the usual college students that came if they needed anything else. You were just a few streets down from the community college so many people your age would come in for coffee and furiously type on their laptops.

Once you were told they were good for now, you excuse yourself back to behind the counter to adjust the display desserts. You were bent over when you heard the bell over the door echo within the space, shouting ‘welcome in’.

“If you have any questions, just let me know. We have a daily special which is on the blackboard,” you stood back up with a slight grunt from the rush, brushing a few flyaways to kindly smile at the new customer. “Today we have buy one, get one donut free.”

Your eyes slightly widen at the… attractiveness of the customer. You adjust the neckline of your soft brown cable knit sweater to tug out your necklaces, plastering on a friendly smile.

“I actually came in because I was curious about the sign,” she trails off, tilting her head as she shoves her hands into the pockets of her jacket. “Do you actually just let people smell the food?”

You let out a soft chuckle as you nod. Your grandfather, one of the only men who had ever tolerated, made the sign for your grandmother the second she mentioned it to him. Now, in all its carved glory ‘Free Smells!’ is hanging underneath the shop's main sign: Sweet Tooth Bakery + Cafe.

“Yeah, my grandma thought it’d be a funny sign to draw people in. Obviously, we don’t let them shove their nose into it or anything,” you shake your head, holding your hand out to the stranger. “Because that’s… unsanitary.”

The pink haired stranger nods with a soft chuckle, stepping back to check out the arrangement of treats in the display case. In that moment of silence, you, as discreetly as possible, check her out. She had on a navy blue cut off sleeve zip-up, a soft white tank top underneath and a pair of grey sweatpants hugging her lower half. Very simplistic outfit but she made it look good.

You think she just naturally looked good. If you stared for long enough, which you embarrassingly did so, you could see markings of ink on the side of her neck and following down the backs of her arms and the smallest etching on her cheek.

“Any suggestions on what to smell first?” She questions, curious eyes bouncing back up to you.

You hum to yourself as you, too, stagger your eyes from pastry to pastry to carefully choose which one you could have her smell.

“Are you a fan of blueberries?” You question with a beaming grin.

“Uh, sure, yeah. Blueberries are good.”

“Then you have to take a whiff of the blueberry danish. It’s one of my favorites.” You offer, pointing to the sweet treat.

The pink haired stranger leans forward, folding her bare arms across her chest. You, again, can’t help your stares as you try to figure out what was exactly dotted into her pale skin. She nods with a shrug, looking at you with a kind smile.

“I’ll give it a whiff, yeah,” she stepped forward so that the glass of the display case was the only obstacle between the two of you.

You can feel your face getting hot as you mutter a bright ‘okay’ to yourself. You bend over once again grab the metal tongs to pick out the danish to place on a ceramic plate. You place it on top of the display case, motioning for the stranger to give it a smell.

Still seeming a bit hesitant that you were playing a joke on her, she leans her face forward so that she is mere centimeters away from the pastry. She inhales a bit, letting out a long sigh as she leans back to look at you.

“Shit, that smells amazing,” she praises the sweet aroma, nodding in satisfaction. “I’ll take it.”

You blink at her before chuckling awkwardly.

“You don’t have to buy the ones you smell. I promise.” You reassure her as you attempt to put the danish back so that you can shove the cranberry-orange muffin in her face.

She’s quick to hold a palm out to stop you, shaking her head. A beautiful smile spreads on her lips, temporarily forgetting how eager you were to show her every single pastry on display.

“I want that one. I swear. Plus, my sister’s going to rush me out of here if I take too long.”

A part of you was disappointed that she was so quick to purchase the first, yet incredibly delicious, treat. You selfishly wanted her to stay for as long as possible. Your grandmother would be on your ass for being so distracted by an attractive customer.

She would give you a clap on the back for making a sale, though.

“Oh, okay. Did your sister want anything?” You offer, itching to find any way possible for her to stay just a bit longer.

The stranger hums to herself for a moment as she examines the rest of the delicious treats. You tilt your head as you grab a small brown paper bag to place the danish into, waiting patiently to see if she was going to pick another item.

To your delighted surprise, she nods as she points to a more simplistic pastry.

“I think this pink donut should be good,” she nods to show certainty.

You grasp onto the sweet treat to slide it into the bag with her danish, trying not to spill a lot of the sprinkles. You seal it closed with a custom sticker with the logo of the shop, typing up her total into the register. The stranger reaches into her sweatpants pocket to pull out her wallet.

“Your total is gonna be $7.89. Cash or card?” You question.

“Card.”

You watch her hand you a simple light blue credit card, grinning as you not-so-discreetly check out her full name on it. Her first name caught your attention. Violet. As you swipe her card, you clear your throat to work up the courage to give her a compliment.

“I love your name. It’s pretty,” you say as you hand her back the card.

The stranger, now known as Violet, smiles small at your words. Her long fingers take the card from you as she slides it back into her wallet.

“Thank you. My, uh, dad named me,” she grins at you.

“Well, he made a very good choice,” you hand her the bag as well, nodding as you try not to appear awkward. “Anything else I can get for you?”

Were you being weird?

“No, no, I’m good,” she chuckles as she crinkles the bag in her palms. “I’ll see you around, yeah?”

You nod as you hand her own copy of the receipt, holding onto the half second of the tip of her fingers brushing against yours. You watch her turn her back and leave the shop, eyes never leaving her sculpted back profile. You huff at your behavior once the bell from above the door snaps you out of your small trance, shoving your copy of the receipt into its designated spot.

“She’s cute,” you hear from behind you, causing you to jump and whip your head around.

You’re met with your grandma grinning evilly at you, a little bit of flour smudged on her cheek from her baking in the back.

“Gram,” you sigh as you shake your head, brushing away your loose hairs.

“I’m just saying, bug,” she walks up next to you to rub up and down your arm.

You blush at what she was insinuating. As much as you love your grandmother, she attempted to be your match maker like you were an introverted middle schooler. You were 22 for God's sake. You would make moves and flirt when you felt like it.

“Don’t you have something in the oven?” You raise your eyebrows at her, hoping she’d leave it alone.

“Hey. I could fire you, you know,” your grandma pointed a finger in your face accusingly but her tone was light and a cheeky grin was on her face.

You roll your eyes playfully as you softly bump your hip with hers.

Everyday since Violet came in, you perk at the sound of the bell hoping to see that head of pink hair waltzing in again. Two excruciatingly long weeks pass before you see Violet again.

What was disappointing about seeing her today of all days was that you were working this shift with your 17 year old sister who was… less than thrilled to be working now; especially with you being her superior in a workplace. She, like most teenagers, was yearning to be more independent which meant constantly disregarding your instructions on what to do at work.

You were irritated beyond belief with her constantly arguing with you. You couldn’t even really fully pay attention as Mila smacked your arm with the rag. When you saw her from outside the shop, this time around she came with company. You were in the midst of a bicker with her because she didn’t wipe down a table like you had told her to when you saw Violet coming in with a little girl walking beside her.

You gasp at her childish antics, pinching her arm but then shushing her as you tight-lipped smile at Violet as she approaches the familiar display case. You try not to frown at the sight of her bandaged nose and small bruise sitting right on the apple of her cheek. Her outfit is similar from the last time you saw her except a simple oil-black hoodie with those same joggers. You even saw a bit of wrapped bandages on her hands peeking out from the sleeves.

Was she jumped or something?

“There are only, like, two people here and they’re sitting outside,” your sister whisper-shouts at you, plastering on a fake smile at the new customers. “Hi! Welcome in.”

Violet glances at Mila when she straightens her back, placing a gentle hand on the back of the child’s back to guide her to the display of new and fresh treats for the day. She places her little hands on the glass as she very eagerly bounces on the soles of her worn in dark blue tennis shoes.

“Hi! Violet, you’re back.” You turn to your sister and sneer quietly. “Clean the tables. Now, please.”

Mila gives Violet a once-over and you a narrow glare as she grumbles a ‘fine’ as she rounds the corner to go and wipe down the crumb and dust filled tables.

“Hey. You can call me Vi, by the way. I, uh, was with my sister for the day and she wanted to try this place. I gave her some of my danish and she went crazy.” Violet motioned to the child just a few feet below her, chuckling at her gazing hungrily at the sweets.

“Well, Vi, I’m glad to hear,” you lean your head to the side to get a good look at her sister.

She had a wild head of short waves, a small gap in between her two front teeth. Her outfit made her ten times more adorable; a plain white Henley long sleeve with a pair of overalls. Her big hazel eyes stared at you patiently.

“Hi, cutie. Do you see one that you like?” You question her with a friendly smile.

Her adorable face scrunches up in thought, stepping back to look at her choices. She turns her head to her older sister before pointing at a strawberry muffin and raising her hands to sign what you believe is ASL. You curse yourself for not knowing what she was telling the pink haired stranger.

“She wants to smell the strawberry muffin,” Vi chuckles. “I told her about how you let me smell my danish first before buying it.”

“Okay, I can do that for you. What’s her name?” You question, hoping it didn’t come off as offensive.

“Isha. She doesn’t talk much,” Vi raised a bandaged hand to settle on her light brown waves on her head, ruffling the strands.

“Well, Miss Isha,” you focus your attention on her once again, watching her bounce on the balls on her feet with excitement. You grab your trusty metal tongs to grab the muffin and place it on a soft blue ceramic plate to set it down on the counter area of your register set-up for her to smell. “Here you go. Let me know if you want to smell anything else.”

Your heart grows tenfold as Vi quietly tells Isha to not shove her nose into the muffin, smiling at her sister as she hovers close to the pastry.

“Is she the one who ate the pink donut?” You turn your attention to Vi, raising your brows as you adjust your flyaways from your bubble braid.

Pretty blue eyes flickering to yours, her brows twitch as if she was shocked that you remembered such a minuscule detail.

“No, that was my other sister,” she shakes her head. “Isha was actually very angry with me when I came home with no cupcakes or muffins for her so I’m making it up to her.”

You watch her scrunch up her bruised bridge of her nose for a second as Isha signs something else to her. Vi playfully rolls her eyes with a sigh as she turns to you with another wince.

“Can she eat this now? She has an impatient appetite.”

You chuckle with a nod as you hand the plate to her, muttering a ‘careful, sweetie’ to Isha who beams up at you. She scurries over to a small round table to hop up on the seat to divulge. Now that it was just you and Vi standing in front of each other.

“Hey, are you okay?” You ask softly, eyes flicking to each injury on her gorgeous face.

Confused about your concern for her, her brows furrow for a moment. You watch her turn around to make sure Isha was all good, hounding down the muffin with crumbs falling from her mouth to the ground.

“Oh, yeah,” Vi shook her head, waving at you off as she grins sweetly. “I work at a kick-boxing studio and some of the kids can get aggressive. I’m okay, though, trust me. I’ve taken more than a few hits to the head.”

That explains the injuries and the bandaged hands. Of course, she was a kick-boxer. Her physique gave that away but what did you know? Isha was distracted with her muffin so you were able to converse with her, get to know her a little more so your gram would stop asking you if that cute pink haired girl came in again.

“Really? Where at?” You hum.

“It’s like fifteen minutes from here. Why? You want to come see kids beat me up?” She teases, folding her arms over her chest.

You hum with a nod, walking around the counter to place a napkin on the table so Isha could wipe her face to be rid of the sticky crumbs on her face. “Yeah, that’s exactly why. Because I’m a masochist.”

An actual laugh left her plush lips as she shook her head, eyes following you as you face her now. If Gram could see you now. Well, she was probably watching you from the security cameras in the back room with an evil smile.

“You know, I meant to ask. Do you make custom cakes?” Vi leans back to rest her lower back on the countertop where your register was, crossing her legs and shoving her hands into the pocket of her hoodie.

She really just looks like that, you thought to yourself.

“We do, yeah. Is your birthday coming up?” You look at her with raised brows.

Vi shakes her head, pointing to the little girl behind you. “No. Her birthday is next week and my family is throwing her a zoo themed birthday party.”

You awe out loud at the thought.

“That’s so cute. Yeah, I can— I mean, we can do that,” you shake your head as you correct yourself, hoping she didn’t catch your desperate slip-up.

Isha stands up from her table, dusting off the crumbs from her overalls. She walks over to you to hand you the plate, signing ‘thank you’ to you. You pause for a moment before hesitantly signing back ‘you’re welcome’ slowly, not sure if you were doing it right. You knew the basics but weren’t extremely educated on ASL. After today, though, you were determined to brush up on it.

Isha eyes brighten at you signing back to her. She turns to Vi with a smile so wide, you swore her cheeks would split open. She nods down at Isha, ruffling her hair once again as she reaches for her pocket to retrieve her wallet.

“Shit, sorry, how much do I owe you for the muffin?” Vi shuffles through the bills in her wallet.

“No, no. You’re… good. Don’t worry about it.” You wave her off, shaking your head.

Vi pauses before scoffing, attempting to shove the money into your palms. “I’m paying for the muffin.”

“Seriously. It’s one muffin, Vi. Plus, a little early birthday present for Isha.” You shove the bills into her hands once again, gripping onto her hands to make sure she doesn’t try to give them back.

Vi glances down at your gentle hands around hers. Reluctantly taking the money back, she takes the bills before shoving them back into the crease of her wallet. You try not to focus on how slightly bigger her hands were from yours; how surprisingly soft her knuckles were.

Isha seems to become impatient now with her elder sister, reaching up to tug on two of her fingers. Vi nods down to her, muttering a soft ‘okay, okay’.

“Thank you for that, by the way. And if it's not too much trouble for you, cupcake, can I get your number?” Vi questions as she takes Isha’s hand in hers. “You know, for any questions about what the cake should look like and what flavor it could be.”

Your brows furrow at her words before nodding, pursing your lips to repress the smile creeping onto your face. Cupcake. You like that nickname coming from her lips.

“Right! Yes, um,” you walk over to the counter to grab a sticky note and a pen to scribble down your personal number. “Here. Call or text me with all the information.”

You place the small yellow piece of paper into her palm that wasn’t holding Isha’s. She takes it in between her pointer and middle fingers, nodding with a confident smile.

“I will. See you, cupcake.”

“See you, Vi. Bye, sweetheart,” you bend down ever so slightly to wave at Isha.

The adorable girl waves her free hand at you with a just as cute toothy smile on her face. You excused it as a sugar rush as they walk away from you, hand in hand as they leave the store. Vi turns her head to give you one more glance before Isha is tugging her down the sidewalk.

Mila angrily stormed up to you the second they left and raised her hand with the rag to smack you on the forearm. You gasp and snatch the weapon away from her, pointing a finger in her face.

“What the hell? Stop hitting me with this,” you sneer.

“I’m wiping down tables and you’re flirting? How the hell is that fair?” Mila quips back as she folds her arms in front of her chest.

“I wasn’t flirting. I was taking a cake order, by the way, so you can stop whining.” You roll your eyes as you walk back around to the counter.

Mila sucks in a deep breath before shaking her head.

“Really? So what was that whole,” your sister cleared her throat, sucking in a deep breath. “Giving her your personal number when you could’ve just given her the store's number?”

You pause your movements of wiping down the counter from behind the register, thinking about it for a moment. You knew why. You just hated your sister being all in your business.

“Okay, what is it to you?” You get defensive. “I can’t… make new friends?”

Mila merely snorts before rolling her eyes.

“Sure. You definitely only want to be friends with her.”

TAGLIST: @strawberrykidneystone @lovinglynny @kylorey25

[pbaz7]

CROSSING THE LINE — PART THREE ♡

paige x azzi

tw: drinking, light sexual content

word count: 8.9k

A/N: This one honestly wasn't going to be out until tomorrow but I couldn't sleep to save my life last night so here we are. Like I said earlier I'm so sorry in advance and I swear I love both of them. Leave comments and live reactions if you can 🤗

------------------------------------------------------------------------------

October 2023

The month plus some since that night had passed in a blur of practices, team hangouts, and late-night conversations. Paige and Azzi had seamlessly fallen back into their rhythm of playful banter and seamlessness—or at least, that’s how it appeared to everyone else. Beneath the surface, subtle shifts lingered.

Touches between them lasted a beat too long. When Azzi brushed her hand against Paige’s back or when Paige squeezed Azzi’s shoulder, the contact sent unspoken messages between them. There were moments when their eyes caught across the locker room or at team events, each lingering just long enough for the other to notice, but not long enough to demand explanation yet.

Unknown to the rest of the team, Paige had completely stopped sleeping around. The kiss they shared still lingered in her thoughts relentlessly. She had tried to forget about it but she found herself on multiple occasions hovering over a girl who was definitely more than willing. But Paige couldn’t stop thinking about Azzi and that damn kiss. Meanwhile, Azzi was still casually dating, though her attempts were few and far between—and unsuccessful.

The two of them now strolled across campus aimlessly, heading toward a random food spot they hadn’t decided on yet. Paige had her hoodie up, hands shoved deep into her pockets, while Azzi walked close enough that their shoulders brushed with every other step they took

“I’m just saying you’re too predictable,” Azzi teased, bumping Paige with her shoulder. “I already know what you’re ordering.”

“Why fix what isn’t broken?” Paige shot back, smirking.

Azzi shook her head. “One day, you’ll surprise me and order something other than chicken tenders. I’ll frame the receipt and make it a national holiday.”

Paige rolled her eyes. “Don’t hold your breath.”

Their laughter echoed between the buildings until a voice called out from behind them.

“Paige!”

Paige froze, the smile sliding off her face. She slightly recognized that voice. Turning slowly, she came face-to-face with one of her old hookups from the end of last year, a girl whose name Paige was 40% sure was Jessica—or maybe Jasmine, maybe even Jade.

“Oh no,” Paige muttered under her breath as the girl approached, a confident smirk plastered across her face.

Azzi stopped, clearly catching on to the situation. She leaned casually against the building they were walking near, arms crossed, looking amused as she prepared to watch what was about to unfold.

“Wow,” the girl said, stopping in front of them with a bright smile. “Didn’t think I’d see you again. So, what happened? You never called me back.”

Paige gave her a polite, easygoing smile. “Yeah, sorry about that. Things got a little busy.”

Azzi snorted quietly behind her, always unable to mask her reaction in these situations. Paige flicked her a sideways glance to say shut up but stayed focused on the girl in front of her.

“Busy, huh?” The girl folded her arms, raising an eyebrow. “You know, for someone who seemed so into me that night, I figured I’d at least get a text.”

Paige shrugged, her expression calm, almost apologetic. “Nothing personal. Just wasn’t looking for anything more.”

“Oh, let me guess,” the girl said. “You don’t do repeats, right? That’s your whole thing?”

Paige smiled faintly, tilting her head. “Eh, not exactly. I just don’t usually circle back.”

The girl took a step closer, her eyes fixed on Paige, a playful smirk on her lips. “Well, maybe I could be the exception,” she said, her voice dripping with intent.

Paige, unfazed, raised an eyebrow and brushed it off. “I don’t really make exceptions.”

But the girl wasn’t done. She closed the distance a little more, standing a fraction too close for comfort. “Come on, Paige. You’ve got to admit that night between us was amazing. Just one more time, and we can leave all this behind.”

Paige held her ground, giving a polite but firm smile. “I’m not really interested in repeating anything. Thanks for the offer, though.”

The girl looked a little stunned but kept going, her tone turning softer, almost coaxing. “Why not? You really that scared of having a little fun with little ole me?”

As the girl stepped closer, Paige’s gaze shifted subtly to the side, her eyes catching Azzi’s. Paige noticed Azzi’s posture—arms crossed, her eyes narrowed ever so slightly, a subtle, almost protective expression on her face. Her body language made it clear that she wasn’t thrilled with the situation anymore.

Trying to put an end to this and move on with her night Paige said the first thing that came to mind and before she could stop herself she said “I have a girlfriend now.” 

The girl blinked in surprise. “You have a girlfriend?” Her tone was laced with disbelief. “Paige Bueckers has a girlfriend?”

“Yup,” Paige said, trying to sound confident.

The girl narrowed her eyes, clearly skeptical. “Oh yeah? Who?”

Paige froze. She hadn’t thought this far ahead. Her eyes darted to Azzi, who was now grinning again, enjoying her discomfort. Panicking, Paige reached over, threw an arm around Azzi’s waist, and pulled her close.

“It’s her,” Paige said, nodding toward Azzi.

Azzi’s eyes widened for half a second before Paige discreetly pinched her side. Azzi recovered quickly, her lips twitching into a sly smile.

“Yup,” Azzi said, sliding her arm around Paige’s waist. “That’s me, the girlfriend.”

The girl’s eyebrows shot up. “Really? Paige Bueckers dating a teammate?” She scoffed, folding her arms. “I thought you didn’t hook up with athletes. Isn’t that, like, your rule?”

Paige hesitated, scrambling for an explanation. “Yeah, well…Things happen.”

The girl’s expression didn’t change. “Happen how?”

Paige glanced at Azzi, her cheeks flushing. “Well you know one thing led to another and boom here we are.”

The girl tilted her head, clearly unconvinced, but eventually shrugged. “Well, good for you, I guess. Hope she’s worth it.” She shot Azzi a quick once-over before turning on her heel and walking away.

As soon as she was out of sight, Paige let out a heavy breath, dropping her arm from Azzi’s waist.

Azzi stared at her, eyebrows raised. “What the hell was that?”

“I panicked,” Paige muttered, scratching the back of her head.

“You panicked and made me your fake girlfriend?” Azzi asked, her voice dripping with amusement.

“I mean… you’re convincing,” Paige said with a shrug.

Azzi laughed, shaking her head. “You couldn’t have picked literally anyone else?”

“Well, it wouldn’t have been believable with anyone else,” Paige said, pointedly.

Azzi rolled her eyes but grinned. “Righttt…So, girlfriend, where we eating?”

Paige groaned, laughing as they continued aimlessly walking to find food. 

The diner they decided on was warm and cozy, the smell of food filling the air as Paige and Azzi sat across from each other, their food on the table between them. Paige was halfway through a basket of fries and tenders while Azzi poked at her chicken salad.

Their conversation had been light—teasing and joking as always—but Azzi’s phone kept buzzing on the table, the vibrations loud against the surface.

Paige smirked, popping another fry into her mouth. “Okay, seriously, are you just going to keep ignoring that, or are we gonna have to endure it all night?”

Azzi gave the phone an unimpressed glance before stabbing a cherry tomato. “Ignoring it seems like the better option.”

“Must be important, though. That’s, what, the fourth time?” Paige teased.

Azzi sighed, finally meeting Paige’s amused gaze. “It’s some girl I went out with a couple of days ago. She’s... persistent.”

Paige leaned back, eyebrows raised. “Persistent, huh? And what exactly gave her that idea, Miss Fudd?”

“I don’t know, maybe the part where I tried to be polite and didn’t ghost her like certain people I know,” Azzi shot back, narrowing her eyes playfully.

Paige laughed, unapologetic. “That’s why you don’t give out your real number, Az. Rookie move. Everyone knows that.”

Azzi folded her arms, a grin tugging at her lips. “Oh, and what am I supposed to do? Hand them a burner phone instead?”

“No, you just do the whole, ‘I’m not really a texting person,’” Paige said, mimicking a dramatic shrug. “Or give out a completely random number like I do.”

Azzi gave her a flat look. “You’re ridiculous.”

“Yet, you keep me around and label me the best friend,” Paige quipped, tossing a fry at her.

Azzi dodged it, shaking her head. “Unfortunately you’re my roommate so I couldn’t get rid of you if I wanted to. I’m stuck being responsible for you.”

Without giving her a chance to respond, Azzi picked up some of her salad with her fork and held it out toward Paige, smirking. “Speaking of being responsible for you, maybe you should try some of this instead of inhaling those fries.”

Paige narrowed her eyes suspiciously. “You’re not seriously trying to feed me salad right now.”

“Why not? You’re clearly incapable of making healthy choices on your own,” Azzi quipped, still holding the fork up for Paige.

Paige huffed but leaned forward slightly, her lips closing around the fork as she took the bite. Her eyes never left Azzi’s, and for a brief moment, the atmosphere shifted. Azzi’s smirk softened, her gaze lingering on Paige as she slowly pulled the fork back.

“Happy now?” Paige muttered, her voice quieter than before.

“Delighted,” Azzi replied, though her usual tone had taken on a slightly lower, softer edge.

They stared at each other across the table, the air between them growing heavier. Paige felt the heat rising to her cheeks, but she couldn’t look away. She wasn’t sure if it was the way Azzi’s gaze seemed to search her face, or the tiny curve of her lips, but the way her heart felt like it was going to beat out of her chest wasn’t something she was used to.

The moment stretched, unspoken words hanging in the air—until Azzi’s phone buzzed loudly against the table. Azzi blinked, breaking the stare as she looked down at the phone with a groan. “Seriously? She can’t take a hint? This is actually obnoxious.”

Paige tilted her head, eyeing the phone. “Want me to answer it for you?” she joked, though the mischievous glint in her eyes suggested she wasn’t entirely kidding.

“No!” Azzi said quickly, her eyes widening.

But before she could stop her, Paige was already reaching for the phone, her grin widening as Azzi’s protests grew louder.

“Paige, I swear—” Azzi started, but Paige waved her off, sliding her finger across the screen to answer.

Azzi gaped, her hands flying to her face as Paige pressed the phone to her ear, holding up a finger to her lips for Azzi to stay quiet.

“Hello?” Paige said sweetly, her tone light and calm.

The girl on the other end hesitated. “Uh… is this Azzi?”

Paige’s voice was smooth, barely hiding the humor in her tone. “Nope, I'm her girlfriend. Why…you need something?”

Azzi’s jaw dropped, and she muttered under her breath, “You’re absurd.”

The girl on the other end stuttered, caught off guard. “Wait… what? She has a girlfriend?”

Paige smirked, her eyes glinting with mischief. “Yeah, we’re…relatively new ya know.”

Azzi let out a quiet incredulous laugh, but Paige didn’t break her smirk. The awkward silence stretched before the girl on the other end cleared her throat. “Oh… I didn’t know. My bad I’ll stop calling.”

“No problem,” Paige said brightly before ending the call and sliding the phone back across the table.

Azzi stared at her, half in shock, half in disbelief. “Did you really just do that?”

Paige leaned back in her seat, a fry in hand as she smirked. “Problem solved. You’re welcome.”

Azzi shook her head, though a smile was creeping onto her lips. “You’re insane.”

Paige popped the fry into her mouth and shrugged. “Hey, she’s not gonna bother you anymore.”

Azzi raised an eyebrow. “Yeah, but now she probably thinks I’m some cheater.”

Paige shrugged again, casually eating another fry. “Better that than her blowing up your phone,” she said, clearly not bothered. “Besides, it’s not like you wanted to talk to her anyway so it doesn’t really matter.”

Azzi leaned forward, resting her chin on her hand as she studied Paige. “You’re a menace, you know that?”

Paige grinned leaning forward too. “Well she’s another one off your back, so you can stop pretending like you don’t want to sleep with me now.”

Azzi shot her a teasing look. “Nope still won’t. You’re probably dead last on my list if we’re being honest. Last person on earth kind of thing.”

Paige laughed, leaning back in her chair with a cocky smile. “You’re lying. Everyone wants to sleep with me.”

Azzi rolled her eyes, clearly used to this from Paige. “Well, not me.”

Paige raised an eyebrow, grinning mischievously. “Yeah whatever. You’ve definitely thought about it.”

Azzi laughed, shaking her head but not saying anything 

Paige continued to grin, her blue eyes sparkling with mischief. “Honestly, though, a piece of advice: if you’re trying to do the whole sleeping-around thing, don’t give out your number. They get really persistent around here.” 

Azzi shot her a pointed look, her fork hovering over her plate. “I’m not sleeping around,” she said firmly, her voice laced with a hint of exasperation.

Paige quirked an eyebrow, clearly unconvinced. She leaned forward slightly, resting her elbows on the table. “So, what, you’re just talking to them for a day and getting bored?” Her tone was teasing, but there was curiosity behind it, as though she were trying to piece together Azzi’s behavior.

Azzi shifted in her seat, setting her fork down and holding Paige’s gaze. “Yeah, I guess,” she said, her voice steady but her expression unreadable.

“Hm,” Paige murmured, dragging out the sound as she tilted her head, studying Azzi like she didn’t quite believe her. She let the answer sit for a moment before leaning back in her chair, popping another fry into her mouth.

Azzi’s jaw tightened, her eyes narrowing as she leaned forward slightly. “I’m serious, Paige. I’m not sleeping with anyone.” There was an unexpected intensity in her voice, like it was important—necessary—for Paige to understand.

Paige blinked, her chewing slowing as Azzi’s tone caught her off guard. She quickly swallowed, waving a fry in Azzi’s direction with a half-smile. “Okay, okay, no need to get defensive,” she said lightly, trying to play it off though her heart raced a little at Azzi’s proclamation.

Azzi’s gaze softened, but she didn’t back down. “I’m not being defensive. I just…” She paused, glancing away for a moment before meeting Paige’s eyes again. “Wanted you to know I’m serious.”

Paige’s smirk faltered slightly, her own expression flickering between surprise and something softer. She quickly covered it up with a shrug, leaning back in her chair and reaching for her drink. “Got it,” she said casually, her tone breezy as if trying to move the conversation along.

Azzi watched her for a long moment, her lips pressing into a thin line, but she didn’t say anything else. Instead, she picked up her fork again, though her focus remained split between her food and Paige.

“Speaking of sleeping around,” Azzi said suddenly, her voice lighter now as she shot Paige a teasing grin, “I haven’t been woken up by some absolutely over-dramatic and ridiculous noise coming from your room in a while.”

Paige sat up straight, a confident smirk spreading across her face. “It’s definitely not over-dramatic. I’m good at what I do, trust me.”

Azzi leaned in slightly, her lips curving into a challenging smile. “I think you’re all talk.  You sure you’re not full of it and pick girls who you know will put on a show?”

Paige’s eyes sparkled with playful defiance. “You say that often. It makes it really seem like you wanna find out for yourself. 

Azzi paused for a second, caught off guard but seemingly intrigued, but before she could say anything Paige quickly added, “But seriously I told you—they don’t have what I’m looking for.”

Azzi leaned back in her chair, crossing her arms with a skeptical look. “You’re seriously telling me you haven’t slept with anyone since August?”

Paige shrugged, her expression uncharacteristically serious as she pushed a fry around her plate. “Yeah more or less. Guess I’ve been a little picky lately”

Azzi still not convinced. “Picky, huh? What about that brunette you brought back to the room? Looked like she was exactly your type.”

Paige shrugged again, even more nonchalant this time. “Didn’t work out,” she said simply, popping a fry into her mouth as if the subject didn’t warrant further explanation.

Azzi’s eyebrows shot up, clearly not satisfied with the vague response. “Didn’t work out? Really? I’m pretty sure she was more than willing. What happened?”

Paige let out a soft laugh, finally meeting Azzi’s curious gaze. “I was tired. Practice wiped me out that day. Not much else to it.”

Azzi tilted her head, studying Paige as if trying to figure out if she was being serious. “Tired? Since when do you let being ‘tired’ stop you?”

Paige caught herself slightly by surprise with her answer. “Since I didn’t feel like wasting my energy on something that wasn’t what I really wanted anyway.”

Azzi’s eyes widened slightly, her brow furrowing as she searched Paige’s face for any sign of a joke. “Okay, wait, so… you’re telling me you, Paige Bueckers—” she gestured dramatically at Paige—“hasn’t slept with anyone in almost two months?”

“Yup something like that,” Paige said simply, her tone nonchalant as if she were talking about the weather. She avoided Azzi’s gaze, casually picking at her food like this revelation wasn’t a big deal.

Azzi scoffed, leaning forward with her elbows on the table. “Come on, P. You expect me to believe that? You’ve had girls in the room. You’re just… what? Not interested anymore?”

Paige shrugged, still not looking at Azzi. “I told you—they were boring,” she repeated, her voice steady, though the corner of her mouth twitched.

Azzi studied her, her expression caught between disbelief and something softer. “Seriously?”

Paige finally glanced up, her eyes meeting Azzi’s for a brief moment before flickering away. “Yeah. Seriously Azzi.” She didn’t elaborate, didn’t explain herself further, and instead grabbed another fry like the conversation was over.

Azzi leaned back again, still processing. A small smirk tugged at her lips as she analyzed Paige, but she didn’t push the subject. “Well, color me shocked,” she said after a moment, her tone teasing but her eyes lingering on Paige a little longer than usual.

Paige grinned, the tension breaking as she gestured at Azzi’s phone. “See? You should take notes from me. No boring hookups, no clingy girls blowing up your phone.”

Azzi shook her head, laughing softly. “You’re ridiculous.”

…

A week or so later, the team was all gearing up for a Halloween party at Ted's. Paige had been running behind all day—between a study session for an upcoming test and a Big East appearance she had to do—it was already well past the time she’d planned to be ready. She ended up leaving the dorms with Nika and Ice, who, as always, were taking far too long to get dressed.

By the time they arrived at Ted’s, it was already crowded with a few members of the team. The place was decked out in Halloween decorations—cobwebs, fake pumpkins, and spooky lights everywhere. As they entered, Paige was greeted by her teammates, some already in full costume, others just in casual party attire. She was relieved to finally take a break from everything. 

Nika and Ice disappeared into the crowd, leaving Paige to herself for a moment. She wandered over to a table where a few others were already hanging out, grabbing a drink and chatting, when the door swung open again. Paige turned her head, her gaze immediately locking on Azzi.

Azzi walked in with a girl, the girl's arm casually wrapped around Azzi’s and Paige’s heart skipped a beat. It was unexpected. Azzi had never really brought a girl around before. Her eyes flickered over to Azzi, and for the first time the sight felt almost jarring.

But Paige's smile didn't falter as she immediately walked over to them, greeting Azzi like she always did in a quick hug wrapping her arms around her waist. "Hey Az,” she said casually trying to brush off her feelings. 

Azzi's response was a bit too tight. She gave Paige the usual hug, but there was something about her that seemed a little more hesitant than usual.

"This is Emily," Azzi said, her voice a bit more careful than Paige was used to. She motioned to the girl beside her. 

Paige shifted her attention to Emily, offering a friendly smile as she extended her hand. “Wassup, I’m Paige.”

Emily shook her hand firmly, a wide smile on her face. She was completely calm, definitely more relaxed than Azzi. There was no hesitation from Emily—if anything, she seemed excited to finally be in Azzi’s company, her energy warm and open.

She gave Emily a small nod before letting her gaze drift back to Azzi, almost unconsciously. There was something different in the way Azzi stood now, the way she shifted nervously, avoiding eye contact for just a second too long.

"Emily's in one of my classes," Azzi added quickly, like she was explaining something. She glanced between Paige and Emily before giving Paige a tight smile.

Paige simply nodded, trying to keep the tension from creeping into her expression. "Cool," she said, forcing herself to sound casual.

Trying to keep her composure, Paige gave both Azzi and Emily a tight smile and a nod before turning toward the bar. She needed a shot, or maybe two.

From her spot by the bar where she was sitting with Ice, Paige’s eyes wandered across the room more often than she liked to admit, always landing on Azzi. She didn’t mean to look; it just happened. Once, she caught Azzi glancing back at her, and their eyes locked for a moment too long. Paige quickly turned away, pretending to be engrossed in her conversation with Ice, while Azzi shifted awkwardly in her seat, murmuring something to Emily who smiled.

The sound of a voice nearby pulled Paige from her thoughts. A short tan brunette with a confident smile leaned against the bar beside her, a knowing glint in her eye. Paige recognized her immediately—she’d seen her around campus before.

"Hey," the girl said, her tone casual but pointed. "Haven’t seen you around in a while."

Paige sighed internally, offering a faint smile. "Yeah, just been busy."

The girl leaned in slightly, her voice dropping to something more intimate. "Well, maybe we could catch up sometime? Maybe later tonight?"

Paige glanced briefly toward Azzi’s table, her eyes narrowing when she saw Azzi looking her way. Azzi quickly averted her gaze, but Paige caught the way her fingers drummed against her glass trying to pretend like she wasn’t watching the interaction.

Paige turned back to the brunette and shook her head, her tone polite but firm. " Sorry not tonight."

The girl looked surprised but chuckled softly, leaning back with a shrug. "Alright, another time."

As she walked away, Paige exhaled, her hand tightening around her drink. Out of the corner of her eye, she noticed Azzi still watching her. Their eyes met again, and this time, Paige held the gaze for just a beat longer before looking away, her heart pounding in a way that annoyed her into drinking more.

"Seriously, Paige?" Ice’s voice broke through her thoughts as she appeared beside her again, a fresh drink in hand. "That’s the fourth girl you’ve brushed off tonight. What’s going wrong with you?"

Paige, feigning indifference. "I’m just not in the mood, Ice. Let it go."

Ice smirked, her tone teasing. "Not in the mood, huh?"

Paige’s jaw tightened, but she forced a casual shrug. "Don’t start with me."

Ice raised her hands in mock surrender, though her grin lingered. "Hey, I’m just saying. Everyone’s noticed you’re off tonight."

Paige glared at her, but Ice just laughed and walked away, leaving Paige to stew in her thoughts.

The night dragged on, and Paige tried her best to keep her distance from Azzi. She clung to Ice and KK, letting their jokes and usual loudness fill the silence in her head. But no matter how much she tried to avoid it, her eyes kept drifting back to Azzi. Each time, it stung a little more and each time it stung Paige found herself another drink.

It wasn’t until much later in the night that Paige found herself trapped at a table with Azzi, Emily, and a few other teammates. She wasn’t sure how it happened, but there she was, sitting directly across from Azzi and Emily.

Emily, trying to be the social one, was trying to make small talk. She leaned forward, smiling brightly as she addressed Paige. "Azzi's told me a lot about you tonight," Emily said. "You’re her best friend, right?"

Paige forced a polite smile, leaning back in her chair. "Yeah, for sure," she said, her tone light but distant.

Emily beamed, seemingly oblivious to the underlying tension. "That’s so cute. You must have so many stories about her."

Paige’s eyes flicked to Azzi, who was suddenly very interested in the condensation on her glass. Azzi’s knee bounced nervously under the table, a subtle but telling sign that no one else could see.

"Yup," Paige said, her voice steady. "Gotten to know her pretty well since she got to campus."

Azzi finally looked up, her expression unreadable. Paige’s gaze lingered on her for a moment before Emily pulled her attention back.

"So, Paige," Emily continued, "Azzi said you guys live with each other too. That must be fun, always having your best friend around."

Paige’s smile tightened, and she glanced at Azzi again. "Yeah, it’s great," she said evenly.

Azzi shifted in her seat, her discomfort becoming more apparent. Paige couldn’t help but feel a flicker of satisfaction, though it was quickly followed by guilt knowing she didn’t have the right to act like this. 

Azzi cleared her throat, breaking the awkward silence. "Emily, do you want another drink?" she asked, already standing up.

Emily looked at her half-full glass but nodded. "Sure."

Azzi turned to Paige briefly, her eyes darting away almost as quickly as they met hers. "Be right back," she muttered before heading to the bar.

Paige exhaled slowly, trying to steady herself as Emily continued talking, but her focus wasn’t on the conversation. Her gaze kept drifting to Azzi, now at the bar waiting for drinks. Paige barely registered Emily’s words before excusing herself, standing abruptly. “Be right back,” she muttered, not giving Emily a chance to respond.

She made her way to the bar, her steps unhurried but deliberate. Azzi’s back was to her, and Paige took a moment to take in the sight of her standing there, fingers drumming lightly against the counter. As Paige sauntered up, she flagged down the bartender, ordering two more shots before leaning casually against the bar beside Azzi.

Azzi glanced at her briefly, before looking forward again. “You’ve been drinking a lot tonight,” Azzi remarked as she picked up one of the drinks meant for Emily.

Paige smirked faintly, putting one of the shots in her hand. “And you’re not?”

Azzi raised a brow, her voice carrying some amusement. “I’m not the one throwing back shots every twenty minutes.”

Paige shrugged, downing one of her shots and setting the empty glass on the counter. “Guess I needed it tonight.”

Azzi’s eyes narrowed slightly, but she didn’t press the point. Instead, she busied herself with grabbing the second drink the bartender put down. 

Paige tilted her head, studying her for a moment. “So, Emily…” she began, her tone light but unmistakably pointed.

Azzi froze for a split second before sighing, her tone carrying a warning. “Paige..leave her alone she’s nice.”

“What?” Paige said innocently, lifting her hands in mock surrender. “I didn’t say anything.”

Azzi turned her head slightly, her eyes meeting Paige’s. “Tell me, why does it seem like she’s bothering you so much all of a sudden?”

Paige’s response was immediate, too quick to be casual. “She’s not.”

Azzi’s lips quirked into a knowing smile. “Sure. Whatever you say.” Her voice was low as she picked up the drinks. Without another word, she turned on her heel, walking back toward the table.

Paige watched her go, her throat tightening as she watched Azzi weave through the crowd with practiced ease. The sight of her walking away stung more than she cared to admit.

Swallowing hard, Paige grabbed her second shot, tossing it back with ease before setting the glass down harder than necessary. “Another,” she muttered to the bartender, her voice rough, her gaze locked firmly on the counter in front of her.

By the time Paige made her way back to the table, the alcohol had fully settled into her system. Her movements were loose, and her laughter came a little louder, her words a little slower. Azzi, though clearly drunk, still carried herself with more composure—a reflection of her usual self-control. But Paige knew Azzi had been drinking just as much, maybe more, and the only reason she was holding it together better was likely Emily’s presence.

Paige plopped down next to Nika, her arm immediately slinging around her shoulders. “Nika!” she exclaimed with exaggerated enthusiasm, pulling the other girl close.

Nika laughed, patting Paige on the head like a puppy. “Alright, twin. You’re heavy when you’re drunk.”

“I’m not drunk,” Paige insisted again, her grin widening as she protested. “I’m just happy, okay?”

Ice laughed, exchanging a glance with Nika. “Yeah, happy and about two steps away from falling over,” she teased. “Let’s see how ‘fine’ you really are. Stand up.”

Paige groaned, throwing her head back dramatically. “Do I have to?”

“Yes, you do,” Nika chimed in, gently nudging Paige to sit up straighter. “C’mon, you’re not getting out of this. Show us you can still stand.”

Paige huffed but finally pushed herself up, wobbling slightly as she stood. “See? Totally fine.”

Ice wasn’t convinced, standing as well and pulling Paige toward the open space where a few people were dancing. “Okay, then show us. You’re dancing with us. Let’s go.”

Nika followed, grinning as she took Paige’s other hand. “If you can keep up, we’ll believe you.”

“I can totally keep up,” Paige shot back, rolling her eyes as she drunkenly let them guide her toward the makeshift dance floor.

Azzi’s gaze flickered up at the sound of Paige’s laughter. She tilted her head slightly, her expressional probably unreadable to anyone looking at her, though a flicker of something clear crossed her face before she quickly looked away. 

Azzi was trying to stay engaged in conversation with Emily, but her focus kept drifting back to Paige. She noticed how Paige’s clinginess with Ice and Nika seemed much more exaggerated tonight, as if she was trying to prove something—or distract herself. And while Azzi maintained her usual calm facade, the sight of Paige all over someone else left an ache she didn’t fully understand—or want to admit to so she just drank some more. 

…

Later into the night Emily was leaning into Azzi now, her hand lazily trailing down Azzi’s arm as she giggled at something incoherent. Azzi shifted uncomfortably, brushing Emily off as subtly as she could. “Emily, stop,” she muttered under her breath, her eyes darting toward the other end of the table where Paige sat again.

Paige hadn’t taken her eyes off the two of them since she got back to the table, her jaw clenching tighter with every passing second. Her fingers tapped impatiently against the table, the growing irritation unmistakable. A server arrived at the table with a tray of shots, setting them in front of her. Without hesitation, Paige grabbed the first one and tossed it back, the burn doing little to dull the knot in her chest.

KK, now seated beside her, gave her a sidelong glance. “Yo you okay, P boogers?” she asked cautiously.

“I’m Fine KK,” Paige replied curtly, reaching for another shot.

KK wasn’t convinced, and neither was Ice, who had been keeping a close eye on her the whole night. “You sure? You kinda powering through those girly pop,” KK pressed but tried to keep it casual.

Paige ignored her, downing the second shot and setting the glass down harder than necessary. Her focus was unwavering, her blue eyes locked on Azzi and Emily as frustration bubbled just beneath the surface.

Azzi noticed. She always noticed. And as much as she tried to keep herself composed, the tension radiating from Paige was impossible to ignore. She sighed, brushing Emily’s hand away once more before murmuring something about needing another drink but instead of going towards the bar, she detoured to Paige at the other end of the table. 

Azzi knew Paige wouldn’t listen to anyone else—not KK, not Ice, not even Nika. She had to be the one to step in.

Stopping just behind Paige, Azzi hesitated for a moment, her dark eyes scanning the empty glasses in front of her. “P,” she said softly, keeping her voice low and steady.

Paige gripped the edge of the table, her fingers tight against the smooth surface. Her chest felt tight, frustration and jealousy swirling in a storm she couldn’t contain. Paige knew this wasn’t who she was—not the kind of person who sulked on a night out, who drank just to dull the sting of emotions she didn’t want to name. Certainly not someone who acted this way toward her best friend who had technically done nothing wrong. This is why Paige hated anything to do with feeling things for someone. 

But here she was, glaring daggers at the table, pretending not to notice Azzi’s approach.

Azzi’s voice cut through the fog of her thoughts, soft but firm. “Paige, what are you doing?”

Paige didn’t look up, swallowing hard against the knot in her throat. You shouldn’t be mad at her, she told herself, but her brain wasn't listening. “What does it look like I’m doing Azzi?” she muttered, reaching for another shot glass, her movements sharper than they needed to be.

Before she could bring the glass to her lips, Ice’s hand shot out from across the table, plucking it from her grasp. “Yeah, no. You’re done,” Ice said firmly, tilting her head back and downing the shot herself before Paige could protest.

“Hey!” Paige exclaimed, glaring at Ice, though her words came out more pouty than angry. Clearly her anger was only reserved for Azzi. 

Azzi’s stomach twisted. This wasn’t Paige—not the Paige she had grown to know, the one who was always composed, always steady. This was someone unraveling in front of her, and Azzi couldn’t shake the sinking feeling that she was partly to blame. She hadn’t meant for any of this to happen. Running into Emily earlier on campus had been innocent enough, a friendly moment that turned into a casual invitation to Ted’s. She hadn’t thought much of it then. She should’ve, and she did as soon as she walked into Ted’s earlier that night and saw Paige’s face. 

“Paige,” Azzi said again, stepping closer, her voice tinged with urgency. “You know this isn’t you. Let someone take you home.”

Paige finally looked up, her blue eyes now glassy with clear hurt, but her anger still simmered just beneath the surface. “And what is me, Azzi?” she shot back, her tone biting. “Because you seem to know everything about me these days right.”

Azzi winced, her expression softening. She could see it now—how hurt Paige was, how hard she was trying to mask it with indifference and alcohol. She reached out, resting her hand lightly on Paige’s forearm. “Come on,” she murmured, “this isn’t the place for this. We can talk later.”

Paige stiffened under her touch, her jaw clenching. For a moment, she didn’t move, didn’t say anything, just stared blankly ahead. Azzi’s heart sank. This isn’t working.

“Paige,” Azzi tried again, her voice quieter now, almost pleading. She shifted her hand, her fingers curling gently around Paige’s wrist, her thumb brushing against the pulse point there that was racing. The touch was intimate—something she wouldn’t normally do—but she needed Paige to feel her, to hear her. “Paige, can you look at me please?”

Paige’s breath hitched at the touch as she lifted her gaze, locking eyes with Azzi. The softness in Azzi’s brown eyes caught her off guard, cutting through her defenses in a way she didn’t like. For a second, neither of them said anything. Paige could feel the warmth of Azzi’s touch, grounding her, steadying her, and the guilt crept in again.

“Please,” Azzi said, her voice low but insistent. “Can you please go home? For me? I promise I’ll see you there and we can talk.”

Paige exhaled shakily, the tension in her shoulders easing just slightly. She hated how Azzi could do this—how she could cut through all of Paige’s anger and stubbornness with just a look, a touch, a few simple words.

“Fine Az,” she muttered, her voice hoarse. She pushed herself up from the table, wobbling slightly before Ice, who watched the whole encounter, was suddenly at her side, steadying her. Paige glanced at Azzi one last time, her expression softer now but still guarded. “You happy?”

Azzi didn’t answer right away, her throat tight. She just nodded, watching as Ice, Nika, and KK gently guided Paige toward the door. She wanted to say something—wanted to explain, even though she didn’t have to. She wanted to make Paige feel better to make her understand that whatever it was that was bothering her could be fixed. But the words wouldn’t come.

By the time Azzi got home, it was 3:17 AM. She glanced at her phone, muttering under her breath. She’d waited about an hour and a half to come home—partly to give Paige some time to sober up, partly because she needed to figure out what she’d even say if Paige wanted to talk at all. If she’s still awake, Azzi thought, though a part of her knew Paige wouldn’t be sleeping. Paige could never really sleep if she was upset about something.

After showering, Azzi made her way down the hall. She didn’t hesitate when she reached Paige’s door, her hand already on the handle. She never knocked on Paige’s door. She didn’t need to. It was her. With a quiet sigh, she pushed the door open.

Paige was lying on her bed, her hands behind her head, her face illuminated by the soft moonlight streaming through the window. Her expression was unreadable, her gaze fixed on the ceiling as if she was lost in a world that didn’t make any sense.

“Paige,” Azzi called out softly, stepping inside.

Paige didn’t respond.

Azzi shut the door behind her, walking closer. She hesitated slightly before crawling onto the bed, mirroring Paige’s position. They lay side by side, just barely brushing against one another.

The silence was unbearable to Azzi. “Are you going to talk to me?” Azzi asked quietly, glancing over at her.

“Don’t really feel like talking Azzi,” Paige replied, her voice low, distant.

Azzi’s chest tightened. She’d never seen Paige like this, at least not with her—closed off, angry, yet clearly hurting. It was unnerving, and Azzi didn’t really know what to do. Paige had always been the annoyingly persistent one when it came to things like this. But now, there was a wall between them, and Azzi didn’t know how to break it down.

“P,” Azzi tried again, turning onto her side so she could face her fully. “I need to know what’s going on in your head. Please.”

Paige didn’t look at her, her jaw tightening. “I don’t know what you want me to say Azzi,” she muttered.

“Anything,” Azzi said softly. “Just… let me in. You can even ramble like you always do when you’re upset. I’ll find a way to understand.”

Paige let out a sharp breath, finally turning her head to meet Azzi’s gaze. “Why do you even care?”

Azzi flinched slightly at the coldness in her tone, but she held her ground. “Because you’re my best friend,” she said firmly. “Because I need to know what happened that made you this mad at me.”

Paige looked away, her hands falling from behind her head to rest on her stomach. Her lips pressed into a thin line, as if she was fighting to keep something in.

Azzi’s voice softened. “I didn’t mean for any of this to happen tonight. I didn’t even plan on seeing Emily if that’s what it is—I ran into her earlier on campus, and—”

“Azzi, stop,” Paige interrupted, her voice cutting through the air.

Azzi blinked, startled by the sudden shift in her tone. “What?”

“I can’t listen to this right now, I don’t want to hear it.” Paige said, her voice breaking slightly.

Azzi reached out instinctively, her hand brushing against Paige’s arm. “Please, Paige. Don’t shut me out like this.”

Paige’s breath hitched at the contact, her body tensing. She closed her eyes for a moment, as if trying to harden herself. When she opened them again, she turned her head to meet Azzi’s gaze once more.

And then, without warning, she leaned forward and pressed her lips to Azzi’s.

The kiss was sudden, almost desperate, and it caught Azzi completely off guard. Her eyes widened in surprise, but she didn’t hesitate for long. After a heartbeat, she kissed Paige back, her hand sliding up to cup the side of Paige’s face.

For a moment, the world seemed to stop. All the tension, the anger, the confusion—it all melted away as Paige lost herself in the kiss.

The second Azzi kissed her back, Paige’s restraint shattered. She deepened the kiss, her hands sliding up Azzi’s sides with an urgency that made it clear—words weren’t enough. Paige didn’t know how to explain what was going on in her head, so she wasn’t going to try. She’d show Azzi instead.

Azzi let out a soft sound as Paige pulled her closer, her fingers tangling in the fabric of Azzi’s sweatshirt. The intensity of the moment consumed them both, and before she realized what she was doing, Azzi had shifted. Her legs moved instinctively, straddling Paige’s hips as she leaned into her, desperate to get impossibly closer.

Their breaths mingled, hot and unsteady, as Azzi’s hands slid up to cradle Paige’s face. 

Paige’s hands settled on Azzi’s waist, gripping tightly as if anchoring herself. Her mind was spinning, but her body acted on instinct, pulling Azzi closer, needing her in a way she couldn’t fully comprehend.

Azzi broke the kiss briefly, her forehead resting against Paige’s as she tried to catch her breath. “Paige,” she whispered, her voice trembling, “what are we doing?”

Paige’s eyes fluttered open, dark with too many emotions. “I don’t know,” she admitted, her voice raw, “but I don’t want to stop.”

Azzi’s lips parted as she searched Paige’s face, her own emotions swirling between confusion and something deeper—something undeniable. Her thumbs brushed against Paige’s cheeks as if she was considering something but before could get too far in thought she leaned in again, capturing Paige’s lips with a renewed passion.

Time seemed to blur as the kiss deepened once more, both of them losing themselves in each other.

After what felt like an eternity yet no time at all, Azzi, her breath shallow and her body humming with adrenaline, pulled back just enough to sit up. In one swift motion, she snatched her shirt off, tossing it carelessly to the side.

Paige froze for a moment, her eyes locking on Azzi with an intensity that sent a shiver down the younger girl’s spine. Paige’s piercing blue eyes immediately softened, filled with something Azzi couldn’t name—a mix of curiosity, admiration, and longing. Azzi had never been looked at like that before, and it nearly made her heart beat out of her chest. But before she could say anything, Paige moved.

Smooth and deliberate, Paige flipped them over with practiced ease, her movements confident but gentle. Now hovering above Azzi, Paige reached down, her fingers curling under the hem of her own shirt. She pulled it off in one fluid motion, the action seamless, as though she’d done it a hundred times before.

Azzi’s breath caught at this, her mind snagging briefly on the thought of Paige’s history—how she’d done this many times before, with others. A pang of insecurity and fear flickered in her chest, but before it could take root, Paige leaned down and kissed her again, erasing the thought entirely.

This kiss was different—deeper, slower, and impossibly more intimate. One of Paige’s hands found Azzi’s waist, her thumb brushing lightly against her bare skin as if reassuring her without words. Azzi let herself sink into the sensation, her fingers trailing up Paige’s back, pulling her closer.

Breaking the kiss slowly, Paige’s lips began to move, leaving a trail of warmth along Azzi’s jawline and down the curve of her neck. Each touch was soft and deliberate, as if Paige were savoring every moment, every inch of her. Her movements slowed as she reached Azzi’s collarbone, pressing tender kisses there before continuing her journey downward.

Azzi’s breath hitched, her body responding to Paige’s touch in ways that felt both foreign and achingly familiar. She sighed softly, her chest rising and falling as she gave in completely to the sensation. No one had ever touched her like this—so carefully, so full of emotion. It was as though Paige was speaking without words, pouring something unnameable into every kiss and brush of her lips, but Azzi knew these thoughts were too good to be true. 

Paige’s hands remained steady, grounding them both. She trailed her fingertips lightly over Azzi’s skin, her touch soft and adoring, as though she was committing every detail of Azzi to memory. She didn’t know how to explain the storm of emotions swirling inside her—didn’t even know how to name them. All she knew was that she wanted Azzi to feel it, to understand everything she couldn’t put into words. Maybe after this Azzi would understand just how much Paige felt for her. 

As her kisses traveled lower, Paige’s lips hovered over Azzi’s stomach, lingering there for a moment. Her blue eyes flicked upward, meeting Azzi’s gaze. The intensity in her eyes made Azzi’s breath catch again, her chest tightening with something she now knew she definitely wasn’t ready to admit.

Paige dipped her head once more, her lips and tongue brushing against Azzi’s skin in a way that made Azzi’s fingers instinctively tangle in Paige’s hair. It wasn’t to pull her away—it was to pull her closer. The gentle tug was almost pleading, and Paige responded without hesitation, her kisses growing firmer but still unhurried.

Azzi’s head tilted back, her lips parting as soft, breathy sighs continued to escape her. There was something overwhelming in the way Paige touched her, something so raw and genuine that it made Azzi’s heart ache. For the first time, she felt completely seen, completely cared for—like she was the only person in the world that mattered to Paige in this moment.

Paige continued her journey, her lips brushing along Azzi’s stomach with a softness that sent shivers racing across her skin. She lingered there, her mouth pressing delicate kisses that deepened into soft, gentle marks—tiny secrets left behind for only Azzi to carry. Paige’s touch was deliberate, her actions slow and intentional, as she was trying to show Azzi that every second of this meant everything to her. 

When her lips reached Azzi’s waistband, Paige stilled. She glanced up, her bright blue eyes meeting Azzi’s gaze in silent questions. Are you okay with this? Are you comfortable? Are you sure this is what you want? She didn’t say a word, but the softness in her expression spoke volumes, her fingers hovering patiently as she waited for Azzi’s answer.

Azzi’s breath caught in her throat, her chest rising and falling with anticipation. Without breaking eye contact, she gave a small, almost imperceptible nod. It wasn’t rushed or uncertain—it was full of trust.

Paige let out a soft exhale, her fingers sliding skillfully but gently under the fabric, easing everything off with a care that made Azzi’s heart pound. As Paige settled herself between Azzi’s legs, her gaze remained on Azzi’s face steady, unwavering, silently ensuring that every moment was as safe and wanted as it was intimate.

When Paige made her first deliberate movement with her tongue, Azzi’s back arched off the bed, a sharp breath escaping her as her fingers instinctively gripped the sheets. The sensation was new, overwhelming, and unlike anything she’d ever felt before. Her mind spun as she tried to ground herself in the moment, and suddenly, all those dramatic, loud sounds she’d overheard in the past—the ones she’d dismissed as obnoxious—didn’t seem so exaggerated anymore as she bit her lip to stay quiet and Paige was just getting started. 

Paige, for her part, was focused entirely on Azzi, her every movement a deliberate expression of emotion she didn’t know how to verbalize. Each touch, each kiss, was filled with unspoken words—feelings Paige couldn’t stomach to define herself but desperately wanted Azzi to understand. Her hands moved softly to Azzi’s hips, steadying her as she continued her slow, deliberate exploration.

Azzi’s fingers found their way into Paige’s hair again, tangling there as if to anchor herself in the overwhelming sensations. “Paige…” she whispered, her voice trembling but filled with something unnameable—a mix of disbelief and emotion she couldn’t contain. Paige paused for just a moment, lifting her head slightly to meet Azzi’s gaze.

“Is this okay?” Paige asked softly, her voice hoarse speaking for the first time in a while, her expression filled with care.

Azzi nodded quickly, her eyes glassy and vulnerable. “Yes,” she breathed. “Fuck…more than okay. You feel so amazing.”

Encouraged by Azzi’s words, Paige returned to her task, her movements deliberate but tender, her gaze flicking up now and then to watch Azzi’s reactions. It wasn’t about control or skill—it was about connection, about giving Azzi everything she couldn’t say aloud.

Azzi’s head tilted back against the pillows, her breaths coming in uneven gasps, her hands tightening in Paige’s hair. For the first time, she felt utterly overwhelmed not just by sensation, but by the emotion behind it—the weight of feeling so deeply cared for, so completely adored and it scared the hell out of her not knowing what this meant for Paige.

…

The next morning the sunlight filtering through the curtains seemed almost mocking as Paige stirred awake. For a moment, a small, peaceful smile tugged at her lips as the events of the previous night floated to the forefront of her mind. But as she blinked fully into consciousness, the absence beside her became obvious. The bed was empty, the sheets cold to the touch, with no sign of Azzi anywhere.

A dull ache settled in her chest, and Paige sat up slowly, running a hand through her now tangled hair. She glanced around her room for any trace of Azzi—her shirt, her phone. Anything. But there was nothing. No sign of what had happened.

Swallowing against the faint sting in her throat, Paige grabbed her phone from the nightstand, her thumb hovering over the screen. No messages. No missed calls. She checked the desk next, looking for a note maybe, before exhaling a sharp, frustrated breath. Paige was telling herself it was fine, Azzi was probably just in her room. 

Throwing on a pair of sweats and a hoodie, Paige headed out of her room, her steps purposeful despite the sinking feeling in her chest. As she reached Azzi’s door, her heart stuttered slightly—it was open, the bed neatly made, the room devoid of its usual presence.

Paige felt her chest tighten further, her palms becoming sweaty by her sides as she stood there, staring at the empty space. 

Paige turned, pushing down the emotions threatening to spill over, and walked across the hall to Ice’s room. Knocking softly, she called out, “Hey, Ice, you up?”

The door creaked open, revealing Ice working on something on her computer. “Yeah what’s up, P?”

Paige shifted on her feet, trying to keep her voice even. “Have you seen Azzi this morning? Is she around?”

Ice frowned, shaking her head. “Nah, she wasn’t in there when I woke up. I thought she was taking care of you in your room or something.”

The words hit harder than Paige expected, and for a moment, she stood frozen, trying to mask the way her chest suddenly felt like it had caved in. Ice tilted her head. “You good?”

Blinking rapidly to fight the tears threatening to surface, Paige forced a tight smile. “Yeah, yeah, I’m good. Thanks.” She turned quickly, not waiting for a response, and headed back to her own room.

The second she shut the door behind her, her composure cracked. Paige leaned back against the door, her eyes glossy as her chest heaved with the effort to hold it all in. The memories of Azzi from the night before played on an endless loop in her mind—the sounds she made, her soft gaze, the way Paige felt like everything finally made sense.

And now she was just... gone.

Paige dragged her hands over her face forcing herself not to cry as frustration and hurt twisted inside her clawing at every piece of her. She didn’t know what to think or feel, only that the ache in her chest felt unbearable.

[personapeters]

✰ 𝐟𝐫𝐚𝐭-𝐛𝐨𝐲𝐟𝐫𝐢𝐞𝐧𝐝!𝐫𝐚𝐟𝐞 𝐡𝐞𝐚𝐝𝐜𝐚𝐧𝐨𝐧𝐬

— frat boyfriend rafe if he turned to college instead of crime (lol)

rating: sfw — cw: a little suggestive, language

— frat!boyfriend rafe who… during the day wears his regular rich boy attire: a polo, fitted shorts, and sneakers worth more than a semesters tuition. after hours, you’ll find him casually dressed in a university branded tee that hugged his biceps oh-so perfectly, gray sweatpants that hung low on his hips and a backwards snapback that held his long hair out of his face — perfection.

— frat!boyfriend rafe who… is supposed to wear glasses but rarely does, saying they make him look like ‘a fucking geek’. eventually, he became comfortable enough to wear them around you and only you in the privacy of your dorm, and you’d tease him about how he’s the hottest ‘geek’ you’ve ever seen.

— frat!boyfriend rafe who… never lets you walk back to your dorm alone, no matter the time or circumstance. whether it be broad daylight or the middle of the night, he makes zero exceptions — he’s seen the way some of the guys interacted with the girls on campus and he’ll burn the place down before it happens to you.

— frat!boyfriend rafe who… isn’t really fond of coffee unless its fully black, but occasionally brings you your favorite cream filled and sugar loaded latte when you have an early morning class, loving how much sweeter it makes your mouth taste.

— frat!boyfriend rafe who… begrudgingly walks (practically drags) your drunk friends back to their dorms whenever you ask him to, though he couldn’t care less how they got home. as terrible as it sounds, he only does it for you.

— frat!boyfriend rafe who… enjoys to show you off to his frat brothers but simultaneously hates when they look at you. it didn’t make sense, and he was well aware of that, but it’s true — in a ‘look how hot my girl is’ yet a ‘she’s mine, don’t look at her’ way.

— frat!boyfriend rafe who… met you at the campus library, as cliche as it is. he was only there to make quick deal outside, but when he spotted you through a window as your fingers grazed the spines of the books on the shelf, he knew he had to go inside.

— frat!boyfriend rafe who… loves when you wear his university branded t-shirts and hoodies, loving how they swallow you whole as your sleeping gowns or when you roll them up, paired with leggings: “fuck, keep that one — looks so fuckin’ good on you.”

— frat!boyfriend rafe who… insists on covering any and every cost that your scholarships don’t and more; books, supplies, dorm furniture, food, clothes, gas, fees, whatever. of course, you were bewildered as to how a college student had enough money to fund someone else’s life, let alone their own, but once you learned the entirety of his lengthy backstory, it all made plenty of sense.

— frat!boyfriend rafe who… has gotten into his fair share of fights over you, feeling it’s mandatory that everyone on campus knows who’s girl you are and what happens when they challenge that. let it be a suggestive comment or a lingering touch, rafe’s always quick to set shit straight. typically, that type of behavior would result in expulsion, but with the cameron family’s high status and money, rafe was never actually punished for anything.

— frat!boyfriend rafe who… only made it into the same university as you due to his wealth. sure, he was smart but wouldn’t have made it in without his monetary advantage. he’d often get angry and frustrated whenever doing work he simply couldn’t master, but you were like his personal tutor, reassuring him that he can, he just needs to take the time and study (with your help, of course).

— frat!boyfriend rafe who… has your schedule memorized, often casually leaning outside of your classroom with his arms crossed over his chest as he waits for you to emerge so he can shamelessly perform some p.d.a. before escorting you to your next location.

— frat!boyfriend rafe who… once brought you to visit his home town on a break, the outer banks, taking you to all of his favorite spots and, hesitantly, introducing you to his close friends and family. he even explained the whole ‘pogues vs kooks’ thing, emphasizing his distaste for the latter — you honestly thought it was insane: “y’know… if i grew up here, i’d’ve been a ‘pogue’, too,” you reasoned. “yeah, well, you didn’t,” he stated stoically.

— frat!boyfriend rafe who… only went to college with the plan to build his credentials, promising his father he’d soon join in on running the family business. his father was impressed to hear that, saying, “really? wow… m’proud of you, son,” hugging him firmly in a way he seldom did; all rafe’s ever wanted was to be loved and accepted by his dad, and this was his way to do it.

— frat!boyfriend rafe who… is very aware of and annoyed by how other girls throw themselves at him during parties or in the halls — instead of it fueling his ego, it only angers him because he knows they can see you standing right next to him: “swear the bitch is fuckin’ stupid… like she doesn’t see my hand on your ass.”

 personapeters 2024 — all rights reserved • masterlist

[zorange13]

— love island, enhypen edition

enha as the islanders x afab reader (hyung line).

will post maknae line soon (let me know if y'all want it!!)

warnings/content. suggestive content, got WAYYY carried away with jake’s part, slowburn, reality tv au, YEARNINGGG, romantic competition, half-cheating, angst, light e2l, swearing, jealousy, insecurity, drama-heavy (duh)

lightly proofread, i did NOT sleep to write this lmao.

word count: 7.2k

inspired by the aot edition from @rynfiles, pls check them out!!

Heeseung 이희승

def a smooth ass talker, so charismatic 

such a heartthrob

would be a fan favorite at first

an OG and would partner up with whoever he wants

also prob have a kiss by the end of the first episode 

knows he’s hot and would honestly use that to his advantage to get to know everyone, esp in early days

genuinely so funny and would be one of the guys that gets along well with both the boys and girls

however, he would be a lil bit of a fuckboy, but he would feel so bad about it after watching the show back at the end.

being a libra, hee is naturally (and sometimes unintentionally) very flirty to the point where a girl might think she is being led on. even if he’s just trying to be nice. 

cue one of the girls saying, “idk like heeseung and i just seem to have a good connection.”

10 minutes later he’s tonguing down another girl.

so him and his first pairing would just end in a pretty messy situation

fans start to not fw him

he would be in couples and stay throughout the whole show just because he’s good tv. 

he’d be on the chopping block a few times but would somehow the producers would find something to save him (rob cough cough)

fans love to hate him

but wouldn’t truly fall head over heels until about week 3 and really hit it off with a girl. no one else matters to him at that point

you’d be a bombshell (duh)

but by the time casa amor comes around and he wants to close things off, the girls would be gone by that point

he’d be fuming

but then when the casa girls come, he’d be like ‘nah, i miss my girl’

but his head would be slightly turned by one of them

maybe a kiss or two, heavy petting unfortunately

but then when the girls are sent the video of what the boys have been doing…

best believe heeseung would get his ass handed to him at the recoupling

wouldn’t be able to look at you, once he sees the look in your eyes was when it hit him.

he wouldn’t bring anyone back though!!

you would put a pillow between them

fans kinda hate him at this point, like bro is public enemy #1

but he would do anything to win you back

i’m talking on HIS KNEES, yearning !!

a clip on tiktok would go viral of him for that

“if i have to show you why you’re the one for me, i’ll do it again. over and over again until you want me. i don’t care what it takes. i can’t let you go.”

fans would swoon, then hate themselves for liking him again (real asf)

kordell and serena coded as far as the casa situation

days of nice gestures until you felt you wanted him to stop

he would (try to) make you breakfast and bring it up to the beauty room; giving you a kiss on the side of your head as he left. saying “i know you like your eggs scrambled and your coffee light and sweet”

it would prob taste terrible it’s the thought that counts

the girls would giggle after he got far enough from the door, but you didn’t pay much mind

making you cheese toasties in the middle of the day when he “just so happens” to hear that you’re hungry.

after days of groveling, you cave when he enlists jay and jake to help him make your favorite food for candlelit dinner by the beach.

“i know i fucked up, i know that i hurt you badly. but please, if you give me this chance to prove that i’m not just some asshole, i will be the best boyfriend you’ve ever had.”

“boyfriend?”

“boyfriend.”

would have the hideaway for the night

would def make use of the toys in there

can see y’all being in the final 4

final date is horseback riding and dinner at one of the luxury resorts in fiji

his finale speech would send twitter in a spiral

“i came in here not expecting anything from this, just a fun time. just a free vacation and beautiful women. i seriously thought that i was on my way out because i had burnt all of my bridges. but when you showed up, i just—” sighs, trying not to let himself get choked up. “I knew you were so out of my league. even now you are, i felt like a guy like me didn’t deserve a woman like you. you’re not scared to call me out on my bullshit, you make me laugh, you made me earn you. despite all of the bullshit i put you through, you extended grace and there’s nothing more i could ask for from you and that will be the last time i ever ask you to extend me that much. but that look in your eye told me everything that i needed to know. watching that clip of you cry in the girl’s arms during movie night was all that i needed to know that i will never in my life, do anything to make someone i love feel like that ever again. you’re it for me, and no matter what happens tonight, win or lose; i’m a winner because I get to walk out with you.”

“love?”

“love.��

would have the whole villa in TEARS

reformed fuckboy™ + the queen who tamed him = they don’t even need to win

runners-up!!

Jay 박종성

the most chill one there tbh

og and would pair with who he liked 

but they would burn out not from drama, but they realized there was a lack of chemistry

wouldn’t stir much drama but WOULD PULL for sure

he knew what he signed up for of course but is more of slow burner

he doesn’t like to entertain someone he isn’t interested in if he knew there was someone else he might like more

if his heart isn’t in it, he’s not gonna waste your time or his own

so he’d just be honest and the girls would love him for that

grows close with a lot of them and even offers advice when needed

blunt, but transparent and the fans like him

such a breath of fresh air from all of the weird, sneaky boys

the type that you would def know if he liked you

would somehow end up making out with one of the bombshells in soul ties, they couple up

the chef™

is always the one helping out with dinner

the girls always ask him to make them something because they know he’d never say no

isn’t the life of the party but is never a buzz kill

knows how to have fun and will always be there to have a good laugh.

would fizzle out with that bombshell

“you’re cool and so gorgeous. i just don’t feel anything deeper and i’m sorry.”

bombshell would be understanding not take it personally, she’s more into heeseung anyway lmao

kinda goes on aimlessly

would end up kissing one of the og girls (you) during a challenge in week 2 and holy shit

he liked it a lot more than he’d expect

wouldn’t know how to handle it and would feel like shit

i mean it’s only week 2 but weeks here feel like months

so technically, everyone’s been dating for 2 months !!

would talk to jake and would eventually just approach you about it. better to live with no regrets

“hey, can i pull you for a chat?” he says to you as you’re lounging on one of the day beds.

“of course,” you stood up and he ruffled your hair with a smile as y’all walked to one of the swinging benches.

“so remember when we kissed earlier? in the challenge?”

“yeah? i’m sure i’d remember who i kissed.”

oh…he liked this girl for real now

your own couple wouldn’t be too solid either seeing as it was so early but not

still wanted to be respectful though !!

nonetheless you end up recoupling and that guy gets sent home

sad to see a friend of his go home but very happy that he could love on his girl openly now

so head over heels, still makes the girls food because he’s a gentleman

but he brings you full on meals!! steaks, ribs, chicken (fried, baked, grilled, doesn’t matter !!! your wish is his command) the most they were getting out of him was a cheese toastie, they’ll be lucky if they get a piece of meat on it

you would def have a ‘my man, my man’ attitude after that which he lowkey loved

the girls made jokes about how they lost their personal chef and would start hassling their men to cook for them

you left a note on your mirror for him before you dipped for casa. 

“i’m not the best at goodbyes, but i didn’t want to leave without saying something. thank you for being so good to me, for being real with me, and for making me feel like i matter here. i know things aren’t always easy to say, but i’m happy with you. i hope you’re doing okay while i’m gone, and i’ll be thinking about you. can’t wait to come back to you.

p.s. the food’s not the same without you here.”

then left a kiss in his favorite lipstick of yours on the mirror next to the note

he was irritated at no goodbye but tried to maintain some sort of sanity 

after all the guys all filed out of the beauty room, he kissed the mark you left on the mirror and considered that his parting kiss

grab the note to put it in his pocket and keep by his bed to look at

he also saw you left the lipstick right on the vanity so he took that too

TWITTER WOULD SPIRAL !!!

the casa girls came and they came with the heat let me tell you

but he didn’t give in no no no

though he WAS tempted

he was chatting by the firepit with one of the casa girls and she leaned in to kiss him

he ALMOST fumbled

but he was solid, the plastic component of your lipstick in his back pocket a reminder of who was gonna be waiting for him on the other side

gently shoots the girl down for giving her the wrong impression, “i’m sorry if it seemed like anything else but i miss my girl and i just don’t think kisses outside of challenges are appropriate.”

very respectful

but the girl does not take too kindly to it

he doesn’t care because he likes you

he’s not trippin because like…can she fight? lmao

makes it back to the villa in one piece !!

is running back to you

fidgeting at the firepit because didn’t want to stand there to wait for y’all to officially full on be a couple again

kissing you down when he gets to you

making everyone hold their hearts at the cuteness

closes off with you that night and are the first ones to get in the hideaway !!

everyone voted you guys to go

you wore this amazing baby blue lingerie and he almost lost it

he put you in them fuzzy pink handcuffs that night 

everything is smooth sailing 

in the final 4 

final date is dinner on a yacht then jet skiing on the sunset

then at the finale he would also give a speech that is so cute but so him!!

“i’m not good at words but that’s not an excuse to give a subpar speech because you deserve more than that. you have been so solid and wonderful through this whole experience. i never expected after 2 weeks it’d be me and you but i’m glad we got to harvest a friendship first.” He blushed, looking away from you as you laughed and gave him his time to simmer down. “i’d fall in love with you in any universe. the same way how i’d cook you anything you’d ask me to because you simply deserve it. you deserve to be treated like royalty and you know with me, i’m gonna deliver. you don’t have to lift a finger. you don’t have to worry about anything. not money, not my loyalty, my honesty. you came here to get the man you deserve and i’m here to give you that, baby.” would lift your hand to kiss it as he asked, “will you let me be your boyfriend?”

twitter meltdown—simple as that.

the producers picked good men this season…

y’all won and split—well actually, he gave you all of the prize money !!

every. last. dime.

there’s nothing other to describe him as perfect—he was patient, didn’t hoe around, had intentions and pursued you when it mattered the most. 

ofc he’s the fan favorite and y’all are talked about online for forever as one of the best couples to come out of love island

Jake 심재윤

one of the sweetest guys there like seriously

cinnamon roll™ 

another og

it’s physically impossible to hate him

fans are swooning because they’ve never seen this many hot guys on love island at once

especially when all of them are heartthrobs and have so much potential

jakey is so beloved by the guys because he’s just…a bro

BUT HE GIVES GREAT ADVICE and is pretty chill

also knows how to have fun and is usually the one (besides heeseung) to like initiate a game or something fun to do

the villa can get boring when y’all are just sitting around all day

as for the girls, he gets along very well

he knows he’s good-looking but he doesn’t do too much

that accent gets them

very humble

all of the girls have wanted a piece of him at one point and quite frankly none of them were his type ???

“hey…bro…” he’d say to them, as he sat down with them during chats

so the girls just stayed his friend and didn’t want to embarrass themselves further

went through a depressive period for a few weeks

coupling with girls just to stay alive

until a bombshell, you,—came in.

he legit had all of the guys come to the firepit so he could tell them you were off limits

they listened, except for one

that bastard

some drama arose as there was gonna be a recoupling that sent one of the guys home

this only further incentivized jake to pursue you harder

“hey, can i steal you for chat?” he approaches you as you sat in the kitchen talking to the other guy

he didn’t feel bad, as you said “of course,” he made sure to give the guy a sly look as he placed his arm around your waist as you followed him up to soul ties. 

fans loved him even more now: “ok jakey going after what he wants!!!!” “nah ngl if a cinnamon roll looked at me like that i’d self eliminate fr lmao” “well he said she was off limits *shrug emoji*” “he can’t even be mad at jake like he hasn’t had not one connection the whole time. let him get the girl he wants !!”

he knew he couldn’t sit on his ass and wait for you to come naturally

as he got to know you, he realized you were like him

a hot geek!!

you loved math and science just like him 

you were always correcting people

and somehow you loved the same shows and movies

it’s like you’re him, just the girl version!!

needless to say, he falls fast and hard

he knew how to cook pretty well, so he would make you breakfast every morning 

hot chocolate, with big marshmallows and a waffle

all made from scratch of course!! he took some pointers from jay ;)

the other guy continued to pursue you, to which he encouraged you

he knew what he was there for but who was he to limit you to one connection?

“i’m here for you and i know what i want. but i’m also never gonna tell you to put me above you; if you feel you want to explore then go handle that.” he told you as you settled in between his legs, back against his chest on one of the daybeds. you had your eyes shut as you leaned your head on his shoulder as gently caressed your leg with one hand and your arm with another. relishing in the serenity of the feeling and the waves crashing against each other.

this is right when you knew you weren’t going anywhere

fans also ate this up: “i just need someone to hold me like jake holds her and i’ll be ok, i promise” “i would let him do the most unspeakable things to me, Lord forgive me” “just give me 3 minutes.”

was some part of him anxious as hell? absolutely, but he meant what he said

it was up to you, either way someone was going home

so when you got a text later that afternoon, you read it aloud to everyone (basically screaming it but it’s ok) 

“it’s almost decision time! you must decide where your heart lies. tonight, you will choose who you want to couple up with, and one guy will be sent home. solve for x and see where you end up! #toobadsosad #makingupforlosttime #gotmyanglesonyou”

you flustered at the reminders of the conversations you and jake were having

but it was funny nonetheless

that night at the firepit, you had never see jake so distraught

he spaced out which he like never does but now it was time for you to make your choice

you stood up in your heels, almost shaking but maintaining composure

“i would like to couple up with this boy because he has been so amazing and consistent since my time here.” jake listened to you intently as you spoke, hopefully trying to pick up on something that could indicate that you’d pick him.

“we also get along really well and i feel that in the short time that i’ve been here, we’ve been able to get on pretty well. i know that if we have a chance to further this connection, then something great will be able to come from it.”

ok, he was getting hopeful

“we bond over so many things, and i feel like we mirror each other. people say that it’s hard to be with someone that’s just like you. however, studies show that 89% of couples share the same values and similarities, making them successful and at a lower rate of divorce.”

your fellow islanders laughed at your random, yet endearing factoid

jake just tilted his head as he stared at you lovingly, “that’s my girl,” he whispered to himself

“so the boy i’d like to couple up with is…” 

fingers crossed

surprise. “jake.” you said with a bright smile on your face.

jake wanted to run to you and kiss you until his last dying breath

BUT he had some sort of couth 

he dapped up the guy that he was standing by, he didn’t want to because he felt he was an asshole but still. respect.

then he walked over to you with the brightest smile in the world and hugged you so tight you almost complained but you let him have his moment. “you’re so amazing, baby. you’re mine now,” his whispered into your ear. the mic just barely picked it up.

he pulled back and gave you the gentlest kiss you’ve felt in your life, that you barely even felt

viral moment

it was hard to watch the guy pack his stuff 

yes, he knows that he got you now but after coming to his senses in a way, the guy just wanted to find love the same way they all did

they ended up having a conversation before he left and they squashed the beef

later that night, you and jake showered together

made sure to lock the door, there was like 8 other bathrooms in this big ass house

the others could use another one

BUT it was nothing freaky deaky

just gentle, intimate

you detangled and washed his hair for him 

granted it was very hard to keep his hands off of you

just this perfect body in front of him in this big ass shower where he had ample room to do what he wanted

but he kept it cute, only letting his hands slide south when you let him

but a little kiss didn’t hurt

his hand wrapped around your neck as pulled you to cover his lips with yours. the familiar taste of your lips sending jolts through his body. he groaned at the sensation as you followed. “should’ve done this at the firepit, right in front of that bastard. that way he would’ve known you were really mine all along.”

he left a lil hickey

nothing too crazy

y’all def did it in the bed with everybody there that night though

casa amor rolls around

y’all are doing good even before then

challenges were fun, vibes were on point!!

but just like the others, you bounce without a word. but you also left a note just like heeseung’s girl

“hi jakey !! i’m gonna be gone for a while but not to worry. distance makes the heart grow fonder. i trust you, and i hope you honor me while i’m away because i will do the same for you <3 p.s. i sprayed my perfume on our bed so if a bitch even tries to lie there she’ll be getting a piece of me. hugs and kisses xoxo !!”

he audibly laughed at your note, some tears threatening to escape him but quickly sucked it up

he missed you already, his baby

his little einstein

he tucked the note in his pocket for safe keeping

remember what i said before, the casa girls are coming in hot!!

and jake being the fun—and nice—guy he is, makes the girls feel welcome 

until one of them pulls him for chat and he accepts

she came onto and him for some reason something came over him

to this day he can’t put his finger on if it was the excitement of a new face after seeing the same ones every single day for, what felt like, forever 

or just lack of self control

maybe both

but he fucks her

when the guys found out they were jarred

even heeseung, the resident fuckboy™ wasn’t that wild

needless to say, jake has never felt more disgusted with himself

the support he amassed over the last few goes down the drain as this was one of the biggest twists of the season

i said hee became public enemy #1 before but no, jake was hated BAD!!!

fans were hurt themselves: “bro i feel so bad for y/n, she was everything and more and he just shit on her, fuck jake” “i really don’t believe in love anymore, this is wild” “imagine going thru ALL THAT with a girl that was made for you just to hook up with a random casa girl bc of a ‘minor slip up’ what a loser”

going back to the villa was…a journey to say the least

but when he got back you were smiling

hard

like…you couldn’t wait to see him

him, along with the boys were confused as they all thought that you’d seen what happened due to heeseung just getting heat

but no

you seemed to know nothing

and jake just played along, he didn’t bring anyone back and neither did you

“hello, my einstein,” he hugged you as he spun you around before gently placing you back on the wooden deck of the firepit.

the silence amongst the boys was deafening, there were already tensions due to heeseung’s situation, but the girls still tried to be happy for you and cheer you on. them clearly being oblivious to what really went down.

a few days passed and jake carried along as normal as he could, still consulting jay about this hole in chest called guilt that he couldn’t shake. he had to tell you.

until sunghoon’s girl got a text, she beckoned all of them to front

“islanders, it’s time for movie night! watch some exclusive clips from your time in the villa and casa amor! grab your seats and watch some dirty truths be unveiled. #nosecretshere #lightscameradrama”

everyone looked at each other with unsure looks, the boys getting glared and cold stares left and right. 

you felt terrible, “i feel so bad, i know [heeseung’s girl] went through so much the last few days. i’d hate for her to have to almost relive it, you know?” you said to jake, to which he hugged you with a small ‘yeah’

everyone gathered around and it was time to pick which “movie” y’all wanted to watch

they chose ‘experiment gone wrong’

and that was when you saw it

jake tonguing down this girl, which stung, but ok this was during a challenge so nothing crazy

the next clip cut to them talking at the firepit and he was just giggling it up

then they kissed

which was more than enough to make your heart feel like it smashed into a million pieces

then the next clip was of them making out on yours and his shared bed

then he covered both of them with the comforter as the camera moved to a new angle where they threw their clothes onto the floor from beneath the sheets

then on the outside on the firepit right where they were, laid the note you left for him before you left

then it faded to black

the silence was deafening

the girl’s right by you sat in shock as you were all equally.

the first to break the silence was jungwon’s girl “so y’all knew?”

the boys were all looking down in shame

silence. crickets.

you wanted so badly to say something but your voice simply wouldn’t allow you

you just remember breaking down into jungwon’s girl’s arms as she rested her hand on your head, stroking your head to give you some consolation as the rest of the girl’s cursed them out.

jake just sat there, tears in his eyes as croaked out, “i didn’t mean to—”

“what didn’t mean to do what? she trusted you, we all did! y’all are some grimy ass people for not even letting one of us know. like you didn’t have to tell her. at least one of us and we could’ve done something!”

“jake you are such a piece of shit”

“i know,” he whimpered, leaning back into the couch

“if you’re capable of keeping some shit like that from her then you’re capable of anything.”

he knew what the girls were saying was true to some–well, a huge extent. but he wasn’t looking at them. 

he was looking at you break down over something that he did out of pure tactlessness

the producers didn’t let you get up until the clips were done being shown but as soon as they were done, you sped walked right inside

knowing jake was hot on your tail

before you can ever get past even the middle of the yard space he catches up you

“y/n please,” he says, pleading. “i can explain,”

you looked at him, with nothing but pure pain and desolation, “explain what? your dick just somehow slipped inside her on accident?”

he shook his head, “baby—”

that was when you snapped, yelling at for the first time ever. “no! you lost the privilege to call me that! i’m nothing to you, do you hear me? nothing! you are a sick and twisted individual. nevermind the hooking up thing because a part of me expected it. men will be men, but for you to have days to tell me and you let me find out along with everyone else?”

“please, can we just talk about this somewhere else?” his voice cracked as he began to sob, not caring if all of your peers were watching

“you’re such a con artist, you made me believe you. made me believe that everything was fine and dandy between us and that i was like the one for you—”

“but you are, you are—” he grabbed his hair, pulling it from stress and frustration. “gosh, you are! i just fucked up—”

“i gave you my body, jake. does that not mean anything to you?”

he sobbed loudly, not even caring how he looked anymore. “yes! it means everything just please understand me!” he grabbed your shoulders to hopefully make you listen. “i fucked up. i know i’m a shitty person for doing that and i know i’m even shittier than lying to you like this and keeping you in the dark. but please trust me when i say that it was a mistake and will never happen again.”

“you’ve shown me who you are, jake. i’m taking it for what it is. you’ve made your choice and it wasn’t me.” you said, cold and distant

choking back sobs as he tries to reach for you again. “y/n, please. i’m begging you. don’t do this. i’ll do anything. i’ll make it right, just give me a chance.”

“fuck you, jake.”

jungwon’s girl ends up sleeping with you outside that night

jake cries himself to sleep, even though he could barely do that

the next day you were more angry than hurt

when he brought you breakfast, you threw it out the window right in front of face

you’re like 60% sure bits of the eggs ended up in the pool

everytime he tried to talk to you, you ignored him

if he asked to pull you for a chat while you speaking to someone, you continued talking as if he wasn’t standing there, literally begging you for a conversation

he was vapor to you and it wasn’t fun being like this but he needed to be punished

until one recoupling, he decides to self-eliminate

this rippled shock throughout the villa, even you

during his final speech, “i felt like i came here to find a connection. i did, and regardless of how it turned out, i’m so grateful for the time that i did get with that person. i know i did the most…distasteful things but i also know that forgiveness comes with time and it shouldn’t be on your terms.” he looked at you with longing eyes, “y/n, i love you,” 

the L word in love island is like…unheard of almost like oh my god ??/?/?/ so your stomach was in knots

“and i will do anything to see you happy, baby, always. if that means being free from me than i’ll do it and i will let you have the experience you so rightfully deserve, so…that’s why i’d like to go home. i got what i came here for.”

there were definitely tears from everyone in the villa

jake had been everyone’s best friend so to see him go was hard

you and him exchanged longing glances and a gentle nod before he walked out and the ‘loves me not’ sign flashes

you ended up leaving the following week

you just wandered about aimlessly

bombshells came but none of them compared to jake 

you were eliminated and was actually glad to go home and see your family after all these months

definitely sad because at this point, you spent so much time and gotten along well with everyone that they considered you an og at this point

but you left with your chest held high

but as soon as you got your phone back you saw you sat at a good 2M followers on instagram, which was like 1,999,900 million more than you came in here with.

you took a look at your dm’s and saw a familiar face text you:

“hey gorgeous,

i know you probably won’t see this for a while, but i couldn’t just leave things unsaid. i’ve spent so much time thinking about everything, and i know there’s no excuse for what i did. i messed up, badly. i hurt you, and i’ll never be able to fully fix that, no matter how much i wish i could. but i need you to know that i’m truly sorry. not just for what i did, but for letting you down in ways that went beyond just that moment.

i was selfish. i let my insecurities and confusion get the better of me, and in doing so, i betrayed your trust. i lied to you, and i let you believe things were okay when they weren’t. the worst part is, i knew better. i knew what i was doing was wrong, but i still did it. i don’t expect forgiveness from you, not after what i did, but i hope you can eventually find it in yourself to heal from this.

you deserve someone who values you and respects you, someone who sees you for who you truly are, not just in the moments when things are easy. i failed you in that regard. i let you down in front of everyone, and i’m sorry for that. but i want you to know that i will always think of you, and no matter what happens, you’ll always be important to me.

i don’t know if you’ll ever want to talk to me again, and honestly, i wouldn’t blame you if you didn’t. i’m not asking for forgiveness, and i’m not asking for anything except that you take care of yourself, y/n. you deserve the world. and i’ll keep working on becoming someone better, even if it’s too late for us.

i hope that wherever you are, you’re finding peace and happiness. i’ll be here if you ever want to reach out, but i understand if you need time or if you don’t ever want to. just know i’m thinking of you, and i’ll always be rooting for you. i wouldn’t change a thing if it meant i got to experience the beauty that is you.

take care of yourself. you were more than everything to me. i love you einstein.

your jakey <3

ok that felt like a gut punch

you sat there, on your bed wondering your next move

then you got to typing

Sunghoon 박성훈

he’s for sure a bombshell

one of the bombshells that comes in the blind kissing challenges to confuse all of the girls

he’s had his eye on you for a while 

so when he gets to kiss you, he’s more than prepared to rock your world

he takes his time with you as he runs a gentle finger down your lips to the valley of your breasts as he pulls you closer by your hips

then he pulled you in so your lips could meet his and it was up from there

everyone was so confused 

“jake?” “nah that's not him”

“heeseung?” “nah he’s not as aggressive”

the boys were in complete shock, some of there were dying laughing

others bitter because he was kissing their girls lmaooo

when the girls took their blindfolds off, they were screaming in shock

you laughed something serious!!

but when you got a look at sunghoon, you were also very shook

he was…scarily beautiful, like he almost made you feel insecure lmao

but he couldn’t stop looking at you

you and the girls congregated after that to discuss details

“yo, he’s hot as fuck” “he’s gorgeous” “y’all don’t even know what to do with all that”

the fans were thrown. they were gagged. 

TWITTER WAS SCREAMINGGG “#needthat”

the guys all whispered about him, impressed that he came in with such a bang

others, whose couples weren’t so steady in their couples were worried

but they saw how he kissed you

he wanted you

during the challenge where america weighs in on what they feel about them

he gets voted to be like the biggest fuckboy

which again, makes heeseung laugh because he was that was his thing™ 

everyone even voted him too, so to hear america’s thoughts made the girls think the world knew something they didn’t

but back to sunghoon

his feelings were a little hurt

he wasn’t sure if it was the way he looked that gave people that impression

but he never kissed any girls outside of challenges so it didn’t make much sense

sure he had his fun outside of the villa

but he knew that he was going to be on national television, so he did try to dial it back

you were very turned off by this

you admitted in the confessionals, “i’ve had my fair share of fuckboys. i even knew by coming here that i wasn’t exempt from them! so to be real, i’m not shocked. i mean look at him. i’d be hurt if he wasn’t sharing the fun with other people.”

he’s annoyed by it but doesn’t let it phase him

now onto you guys

at this point, you’re pretty solid in your original connection

sunghoon didn’t really gaf lmao

he was a bombshell, he wasn’t supposed to be peaceful 

he had a talk with your connection in front of the guys

“i’m sorry but i’m here to step on toes and i really don’t care if you don’t like that. i’m not here to make friends.”

your connection nodded with a ‘challenge accepted’ type of smile

so let the games begin

he pursued you down

a solid week and a half of him and your partner fighting for you

until heeseung is bored one night and wants to play a game: truth or dare

“y/n, truth or dare”

now you knew better than to accept a dare from any of these hooligans, “truth.”

“do you think your connection is solid enough to survive me being here?” he leans forward, resting his head on his hands with a smile

wow

so you didn’t have anything to say

you literally plead the fifth 

and that caused some drama and needless to say, you and your partner argued that night

“so, one guy just comes around and all of a sudden i’m not enough for you?”

“i never said that, you’re just insecure and plus it’s not that serious. this is love island. i came here for me, who are you to hinder me from my experience?”

he slept outside that night

sunghoon slept with a smile on his that night

the next morning, he asked around what you liked for breakfast and brought it to you while you were doing your makeup

you thanked him politely, not liking him for basically prophesying your couple’s misfortune

he knew what happened and was capitalizing off of it

fans easily saw this and thought the same, not entirely liking sunghoon and calling him a little bit of weirdo

“he’s hot but something about bro seems sketchy”  “is he a witch or sumn??? does bro have crystals and sage in his suitcase??? wtf is going on” “i agree with the discourse but why am i kinda eating this up tho”

you were chatting with jay’s girl and then he pulls you for a chat, to which you agreed reluctantly “sure”

y’all went to the chairs by the beach. he sat on one and you sat across from him

“so? rough night?” 

“do you have a problem with me?”

“no. i just want you.”

“you’re so weird, i mean i appreciate that you’re trying to be nice to me in your own sick way. but i don’t play games.”

he smiled, “i’m not playing with you, though. i just held up a mirror.”

“you’re serious?”

“think about it, i didn’t do anything. i just asked you one question and he did the rest.”

you resigned

ok he was right, i mean

your partner was bugging out because he was threatened by another man

“obviously i’ll leave you alone if you want me to but it won’t exactly help your situation.”

“you some type of mind reader or something?”

“i don’t need to read minds. i just need to pay attention. and i’ve been watching for a while. what i’m seeing isn’t really about me, it’s about what you’re not saying.”

fuck it

you stood up and walked toward to him as you straddled his hips

he smiled gently as he wrapped his arms around your waist, pulling you closer. and yours around his neck as you kissed officially

some of your fellow islanders were eavesdropping and and watching from behind the deck and they silently cheered

as you pulled back, “did i say enough?”

biting his lip, he nodded as he rested his hand on the back of your head. “yeah,” the other head rubbed your thighs on either side of him.

you pulled away from the kiss and the tension lingered but he kept his grip on your thigh. as if he was scared you’d pull away. 

“what are you thinking, pretty girl?” his voice took on a new tone. that sarcastic, patronizing inflection long gone. 

“i think you knew exactly what you were doing.” you laughed

he smiled, your laugh actually giving him butterflies “maybe,” the head that rested on your head moved to your cheek as he stroked it gently. “just want to make you feel wanted,”

your connection ended up getting eliminated at recoupling (womp womp)

since sunghoon came late, casa was only a week later

a part of him was excited to explore more options

you didn’t leave a note, which kinda stung

but there wasn’t anything to do about it so he just continued as normal

he kissed a few girls, brought one back :(

definitely pissed you off!!

lowkey he got your frustration but it’s only been a week!!

“it’s not like we’re married or anything, i’m just tryna explore my options.”

to which you understood, didn’t make the embarrassment any easier

you were so mad you didn’t bring a guy back either

fans felt validated that their suspicions were right “see??? i knew i wasn’t buggin. he’s a hoe.” “i get that it’s been a week but he could’ve been a little nicer about it like damn” “the audacity to chase her and put her other connection at risk when he could’ve just kept it cool?? he just wanted screen time fr” “this sounds crazy but not even heeseung is this bad” “he wants to be heeseung sooo baddd LMFAOO”

not hated, but not liked either

y’all fizzle out and he partners with the casa girl 

you get eliminated at that recoupling

you guys hug before you leave and reconcile

no beef

no static

he’d def reach out after everything tho

Copyright: © zorange13. 2024. All rights reserved. Do not repost, copy, or distribute without permission.

[quarterlifekitty]

could you pretty please expand on gaz’ penchant for women with the eldest sister syndrome pls pls pls🙏🏾

You know, we (I) talk about Price and Nikolai and Simon being a little older, and how much they relish in having a girl who’s never had a man, they’ve only had boys, but despite being on the younger side of the roster, Gaz has this complex too. His has got a bit of a twist on it, though.

He can see the wear on you. Permanent divets in your ability to trust, to relinquish— when was the last time someone was looking after you? You can’t remember. It’s always been this way— it’s you who has to remember all of the chores, who has to remind people of the things they should be doing, who has to teach them how to do it right again and again. And if you don’t? It won’t happen. So you don’t have a choice in the matter. When was the last time you got to leave things in someone else’s hands without having to worry about it? Without asking, begging for someone to take over?

It happened in your childhood and that made the blueprint for the rest of it, like it did to everyone. Boyfriends that came through a pipeline, exchanging their mother for you. Boys who couldn’t be trusted to sort lights from darks when doing laundry. Boys who didn’t know how to sensibly put away leftovers. Boys who forget to clean the drain after shaving.

And Gaz can see it plain as day. He can read you like an open book. The sheer surprise on your face the first time you came back from the bathroom when he was at your place, and he was already taking care of the dishes. You hadn’t asked him to, and you didn’t plan on asking. And he did them quite sensibly. Apologized for not being able to put them up— wasn’t familiar with the kitchen, yet. Found your collection of recycled takeout containers and packed all of the leftover food away, left on the counter to cool before it went in the fridge.

That look on your face, and the tension that visibly left your shoulders was like a drug to him. And he had to have more.

When you move in together, he has to push you to sit down when you get home sometimes. You would protest, only to find that your seemingly endless task list shrank significantly during his leave time. He already called the landlord and someone came around the fix the kitchen tap while you were out. He already did the laundry. He already cleaned the stove. He remembered to close all of the windows when it started raining. And you didn’t have to tell him to do any of it.

And god if that didn’t turn you on. Not that that was his intention, but it certainly wasn’t unwelcome. It just made him think— how many boyfriends have you had that didn’t do anything for you? Who took everything you gave without giving it back? Not in the bedroom, but in all of the mundane, unsexy, daily-grind type ways that they never show in romance stories.

The idea that he was the first for that… that he was single-handedly raising the bar (which was in the ground). It excited him. It really does make him so happy to see you relax. And yes, this is related to the thing he has for giving massages. This man wants you in the palm of his hand, boneless and not worried about anything at all. You’ve done enough of that for one lifetime.

TLDR: Gaz knows exactly how and when to use a Mr clean magic eraser, and he loves how happy that makes you.

[loganhowlettshousewife]

logan howlett x disabled!reader with chronic pain (not specified)

series masterlist - my masterlist

you should have known better than to go on the mission yesterday, but there’s nothing you hate more than feeling weak and patronised. charles had told you to sit it out if you were in pain, and you’d snapped back that you could handle missions just as well as any other x-man which, while true, doesn’t mean you should push yourself past your limits.

you can’t even get out of bed, every small movement making you whimper and groan as pain shoots through you, unforgiving. after so long dealing with chronic pain, you sometimes think you should be used to it, but no matter how many years go by and how many flares you experience, it never gets any easier.

logan’s upset with you, huffy and fussing, repeating over and over how you should have listened to charles, how the professor only wants what’s best for you, and telling you that it’s idiotic to let your pride take over. he’s being hypocritical, but you know it’s only because he hates to see you this way, hates to see you vulnerable, worries that one day something will happen and the x-mansion will be attacked and you’ll be in too much pain to effectively defend yourself.

so you let him take care of you, because you know it makes him feel better. it allows him a modicum of control over an uncontrollable situation. he, unlike you, has not yet given up on the idea of finding methods to lessen your chronic pain.

he helps you take your medication, brings you food and water, goes so far as to feed you so that you don’t even have to shift your body in case it’s too much. he waits by your side until the drugs kick in, refusing to leave until you tell him to go.

he asks jean to check in on you, asks if there’s anything she can do with all of her medical knowledge - the answer is no, there is no cure to a condition like yours, only techniques to lessen the pain temporarily. he searches for the few mutants in the mansion with healing abilities and practically begs them for help; it’s the only time he lets anyone see him vulnerable, because he hates to see you in pain and would do anything to bring your usual smile back to your face.

you groan in annoyance when he returns to your room with a slightly scared-looking teenager that you vaguely remember teaching last year, but she takes some of your pain away and so you thank the kid. she blushes and whispers “you’re welcome” before skittering out the room, and you’re now able to move enough to turn towards logan with your arms crossed over your chest, an unimpressed stare leveled at his face.

“she asked to help!” he protests, “he overheard me talking to jean about your pain and she offered. i didn’t force her to do anything.”

you sigh. chronic pain can’t be healed even with mutant abilities, you’ve tried it all before. it can take away the worst of it in the same way that some medication can, help with the inflammation that comes with a flare up, bring it down to manageable levels. but you’ll never be free of this burden.

“come here,” you say, and he does, nearly tripping over himself in his haste to give you anything and everything you desire. it’s ridiculous and you laugh, the first real smile you’ve shown all day, now that every breath no longer feels like a battle not to cry out in pain.

you stay in bed the rest of the day. it’s better to take it easy for a while than to risk anything. and logan stays with you, massaging at your muscles until they relax under his strong grip, leaving only to bring you more meals and your medication. he kisses you every time you complain that he surely has better things to be doing, covering your mouth with his large palm as he reminds you that you’re the most important thing to him now.

main taglist: @raeinyourdreams @meetmypointlessaddiction @chubbyhedgehog @yxtkiwiyxt @isepod @dis-plus-fanfic-reblog-writes @deaky-with-a-c

[swiftiethatlovesf1]

Toto's obsession p.7

Hey guyss, I hope you enjoy this part and if you've missed part 6 or if you want to read it from the beginning here's my masterlist :)

The afternoon passed in a whirlwind of preparation. You moved around the kitchen with purpose, chopping, stirring, and seasoning with care. Tonight had to go perfectly. You wanted George to see how much Toto cherished you, to feel reassured that this relationship wasn’t some impulsive mistake but something genuine and deep.

You were making George’s favorite dish, hoping it would serve as an olive branch, a way to bridge the gap that had formed between you. The savory aroma of the dish filled the air, and you allowed yourself a small moment of satisfaction—you wanted everything to be just right.

Lost in your thoughts, you didn’t hear Toto approach until you felt his arms wrap around your waist from behind. He rested his chin on your shoulder, his presence warm and grounding.

“It smells incredible in here,” he murmured, his deep voice sending a shiver down your spine. “You’re amazing, you know that?”

You smiled, leaning back into his embrace. “I just want tonight to go well. I need George to see that this isn’t some fleeting thing. That you… that we… mean something.”

Toto’s lips brushed against your temple. “He’ll see. Don’t worry so much, schatz. Just relax. Tonight is about family.”

You nodded, trying to take comfort in his words. Toto always had a way of making you feel like everything would be okay, even when doubt crept in.

When the doorbell rang, you felt your nerves spike. Wiping your hands on a towel, you hurried to the door, taking a deep breath before opening it. George stood there, his expression neutral but his eyes cautious. He looked past you, and his jaw tightened slightly when he saw Toto standing further inside, his hands in his pockets, exuding his usual composed demeanor.

“Hi,” you said softly, stepping aside to let George in. “Thank you for coming.”

George’s gaze softened as he looked at you. “I’m here for you,” he said pointedly, his tone making it clear that his presence wasn’t for Toto’s benefit.

Toto stepped forward, extending a hand. “George, good to see you. Thank you for joining us tonight.”

George hesitated for a moment before shaking Toto’s hand briefly. “Let’s just get through this.”

The tension in the room was palpable, but you forced a smile and guided them to the table. “Let’s sit. Dinner’s ready.”

The meal started awkwardly, with you trying to steer the conversation toward neutral topics. Toto, ever the charmer, remained polite and calm, his deep voice filling the silences when George refused to engage. You kept glancing between the two of them, hoping for some breakthrough, but George’s guard was firmly up.

“The food is great,” George said at one point, his tone softening slightly as he addressed you. “Thank you for making this.”

You smiled, relief washing over you. “I’m glad you like it.”

Toto raised his glass. “She’s an exceptional cook. I’m lucky every day.”

George’s lips pressed into a thin line, and the atmosphere grew tense again. You sighed inwardly, deciding to focus on clearing the table and bringing out dessert. “Excuse me for a moment,” you said, standing and gathering the plates. “I’ll get dessert ready.”

As you disappeared into the kitchen, the tension in the dining room erupted. George turned to Toto, his eyes blazing.

“What are you playing at?” George demanded. “Do you think you can just walk into her life and take over? She’s too young for this, too innocent for someone like you.”

Toto’s expression remained calm, his voice measured as he responded. “I love her, George. She makes me happy, and I make her happy. That should be enough.”

“Happy?” George scoffed. “You’re manipulating her, isolating her from her family. She doesn’t see it, but I do.”

Toto leaned forward slightly, his eyes narrowing. “Careful, George. You’re treading on dangerous ground.”

“Is that a threat?” George asked, his voice rising.

“It’s a warning,” Toto replied evenly. “You’re her brother, and I respect that. But if you continue to interfere, you risk more than just our relationship. You’ll risk your career. And worse, you’ll risk losing her entirely. Do you want that?”

George’s fists clenched, his frustration evident. But before he could respond, you reentered the room, oblivious to the tension that had just unfolded.

“Dessert is ready!” you announced cheerfully, carrying in a tray of your homemade creation. You placed it on the table, smiling at both men. “I hope you’re hungry.”

Toto’s expression softened as he looked at you, and he rose from his seat, lifting his glass. “Before we continue, I’d like to make a toast.”

You blinked, surprised, but smiled as you reached for your own glass. George reluctantly did the same, his eyes wary.

“To the woman who has brought so much light into my life,” Toto began, his voice steady but filled with emotion. “You’ve shown me a kind of love I didn’t think was possible. And tonight, I want to ask you something important.”

Your heart stopped as Toto reached into his pocket, pulling out a small velvet box. Your hand flew to your mouth, your eyes wide with shock.

“Will you marry me?” he asked, opening the box to reveal a stunning ring.

For a moment, you couldn’t speak. The world seemed to tilt as you processed his words, his expression, and the sheer gravity of the moment. Tears welled in your eyes as you nodded fervently. “Yes,” you whispered, then louder. “Yes!”

Toto slid the ring onto your finger, his hands steady despite the emotion in his eyes. He stood and pulled you into his arms, kissing you deeply as George looked on, his jaw tight and his hands gripping the edge of the table.

When you pulled back, you turned to George, your smile faltering slightly at his stony expression. “George,” you began, your voice soft, “I hope you can be happy for us.”

George forced a tight smile, nodding stiffly. “If this is what you want,” he said, his tone clipped.

Toto’s arm tightened around your waist, a silent declaration of his victory.

“Thank you, George,” Toto said smoothly, raising his glass again. “To family.”

You clinked your glass with theirs, blissfully unaware of the unspoken tension that lingered between the two men. For now, you were happy, and that was all that mattered.

[hannie-roses]

i have a request 🥺! could you make leeknow x reader. it’s about leeknow having a thing for y/n yk and y/n LIKES SEUNGMIN so basically leeknow is doing everything in his power to make y/n like him but it’s tough since seungmin is y/n’s best friend and they have a shared history together. and leeknow be getting so jealous

Love’s crazy battle

Starring: leeknow, seungmin and y/n fab reader¡

Sypnosis: Y/N’s unbreakable bond with Seungmin feels like an impossible wall for Lee Know, who’s willing to risk everything for her love. He is consumed by jealousy but driven by hope, he fights to prove he’s more than second place. But seungmin gets jealous of the time she’s spending with him.Will Y/N see the love standing right in front of her, or will history win?

Warnings: slow burn, subtle smut

Word count:44.6k

Lee Know had always been a bit of a loner, reserved in his thoughts, but when it came to Y/N, everything changed. He could hardly think straight when she was around. His feelings for her had developed over timesubtle at first, a passing thought here or there, and then the realization that he was falling for her. Slowly, quietly, in a way that wasn’t so easy to ignore anymore.

But Y/N had her own thing going on. She wasn’t oblivious to him, not at all. Yet, she was always around Seungmin, always laughing at his jokes, always turning to him for everything, and Lee Know couldn’t help but feel a pang of jealousy each time he saw the two of them together. Seungmin was Y/N’s best friend, and their bond was undeniable.

Lee Know didn’t even know when it had happened, but the attraction had started to fester. Y/N had been there when he needed someone, but it wasn’t until recently that the idea of her not being in his life became unbearable.

The way she smiled, the way her eyes lit up when Seungmin said something funny it gnawed at him. I want that. I want her to look at me like that, he thought, staring at her from across the room. She was sitting on the couch, reading, while Seungmin was beside her, his voice animated as he spoke.

Why does it always have to be Seungmin? Lee Know thought bitterly. Why can’t it be me?

He was so lost in his own thoughts that he didn’t even realize Hyunjin was sitting beside him until his friend spoke.

“You’re staring again, Minho.”

Lee Know snapped out of it, his gaze immediately shifting to Hyunjin. He had been so deep in his thoughts that he didn’t even notice how obvious he was being.

“Uh, sorry,” Lee Know muttered, trying to hide the blush creeping up his neck.

Hyunjin smirked, nudging him lightly. “It’s not like you to get so worked up over a girl.”

Lee Know glared at him, but there was a hint of frustration in his voice. “It’s not just any girl, Hyunjin. It’s Y/N.”

Hyunjin raised an eyebrow. “Ah, that explains it. But why don’t you just tell her how you feel?”

Lee Know sighed. “She’s always with Seungmin. I don’t stand a chance.”

Hyunjin shook his head, his voice turning serious. “Minho, you won’t know until you try. She might feel the same way.”

Lee Know didn’t respond right away. The thought of confronting Y/N, of putting his feelings out there and risking their friendship, terrified him. But deep down, he knew he couldn’t keep hiding his emotions. Not when his heart ached every time he saw her smile at Seungmin.

Days passed, and Lee Know found himself drawn to Y/N more and more. The way she laughed, the way her eyes lit up when she spoke, it was like she had a gravity all her own, pulling him closer despite the circumstances. It was almost as if he couldn’t stop himself anymore, and his heart betrayed him every time he caught himself staring.

One day, the three of them Y/N, Seungmin, and Lee Know were having lunch in the park. Seungmin and Y/N were discussing something that seemed trivial, but it was enough to make Lee Know seethe with jealousy. They were so natural together, so comfortable.

Why does she turn to him so easily? Lee Know thought, pushing his food around on his plate. Does she even see me?

As if sensing the growing tension in the air, Y/N turned to Lee Know, her expression softening. “Minho, you’re awfully quiet today. What’s on your mind?”

Lee Know’s heart skipped a beat. She was looking at him—looking directly at him, her eyes full of concern.

“Nothing,” Lee Know replied quickly, forcing a smile. “Just… tired.”

Seungmin, of course, didn’t miss the subtle tension. “Are you sure? You’ve been acting weird lately. You usually joke around more.”

Lee Know’s gaze flicked to Seungmin, and for the briefest moment, he felt an overwhelming surge of jealousy. Why does it always come so easily for him?

But he pushed it down, shaking his head. “I’m fine,” he said with a tight smile.

Y/N, however, didn’t buy it. “You’re sure?” she asked again, this time her voice softer.

Why is she being so gentle with me? Lee Know thought. Maybe… maybe there’s more to this than I realize.

Seungmin seemed oblivious to the moment. “Anyway, did you hear about that new cafe opening downtown? Y/N and I should go check it out sometime, maybe this weekend.”

Lee Know felt the pit of his stomach drop. Of course she would go with him, he thought bitterly, although he didn’t show it on the outside.

Y/N glanced at him, catching the edge of his expression. “What do you think, Minho? Would you want to come?”

Lee Know blinked, caught off guard by her sudden question. She’s asking me? It didn’t make sense. Why would she want me to go?

“I… I guess,” Lee Know said, his voice faltering slightly. “Sure. I could come.”

Y/N smiled, a genuine smile that made his heart race. “Great! It’ll be fun.”

Over the next few days, Lee Know found himself spending more and more time with Y/N. It started off casually, with her inviting him along on errands or to grab a coffee, but soon, the interactions became more personal. They shared quiet moments in the library, exchanging thoughts on their coursework. He found himself confiding in her more than he ever had before.

She’s different with me now, Lee Know thought one evening as they sat on a park bench, sharing stories about their childhoods. I never realized how easy it could be to talk to her.

Y/N, unaware of the growing connection between them, laughed lightly as she told him a funny story about Seungmin.

“I swear, sometimes I think Seungmin is more dramatic than I am,” Y/N said, chuckling. “He can’t take a joke to save his life.”

Lee Know smiled, but there was a flicker of something darker behind his eyes. I don’t want to hear about Seungmin anymore. I want to talk about us. But I can’t say that.

“I’m sure he’s just being dramatic,” Lee Know said, his voice lighter than he felt. He didn’t want to ruin the moment, so he changed the subject. “You seem to get along with him really well.”

Y/N’s eyes softened as she looked at him. “We’ve known each other for years. We’re like family.”

Lee Know felt his chest tighten at her words. Like family. And what am I?

But he didn’t say it out loud. Instead, he pushed the thought away, focusing on the warmth of her presence beside him. It felt nice. It felt right.

But as the days passed, he couldn’t ignore the nagging feeling that Seungmin was still in the picture—still the one Y/N would turn to. I can’t keep letting this happen. I have to make my move.

It wasn’t long before Seungmin began to notice the shift. Lee Know and Y/N were spending more time together, and it was starting to get under his skin. He was Y/N’s best friend, her confidant. They had history, a bond that couldn’t be broken. Or so he thought.

One afternoon, after a particularly long day of studying, Seungmin confronted Lee Know. They were walking down the street, heading to a nearby cafe when Seungmin finally spoke up.

“Minho, we need to talk.”

Lee Know raised an eyebrow, his nerves already on edge. “About what?”

Seungmin’s eyes narrowed, his voice low. “About Y/N.”

Lee Know’s heart skipped a beat. Here it comes.

“Y/N’s been spending a lot of time with you lately,” Seungmin continued, his tone defensive. “And I’m not sure how I feel about that.”

Lee Know’s jaw clenched. “I’m not trying to steal her from you, Seungmin,” he said, his voice tight with frustration. “She’s her own person. I can’t control who she spends time with.”

Seungmin’s expression darkened. “You’ve always been a little too interested in her, Minho. I’m starting to think there’s more to this than you’re letting on.”

Lee Know’s patience was wearing thin. “And what’s that supposed to mean?”

Seungmin took a step closer, his tone growing more intense. “I see the way you look at her. You’re falling for her, aren’t you?”

Lee Know froze, his heart pounding in his chest. How does he know?

“I—” Lee Know began, but he didn’t know what to say.

Seungmin’s eyes softened slightly, but there was still a sharp edge to his words. “You better figure it out, Minho. I don’t want to lose her to you.”

It all came to a head one evening when Lee Know was hanging out with Y/N at a small café. They were sipping coffee, talking about everything and nothing at all, when Seungmin suddenly barged in, his expression dark.

“You’re spending a lot of time with him, huh?” Seungmin said, his voice laced with tension. He didn’t even greet Y/N first, his eyes locked on Lee Know.

Y/N blinked in surprise, but Lee Know wasn’t phased. “We’re just hanging out,” he said evenly, trying to keep his cool.

Seungmin’s gaze flickered to Y/N, who was looking between the two of them, clearly sensing the change in the atmosphere. “I don’t know if I like this, Minho,” Seungmin said, his voice low but sharp. “You’ve been acting different around her lately.”

Lee Know’s temper flared, but he forced himself to stay calm. “What’s your problem, Seungmin?”

Y/N’s eyes darted between them. “what’s happening right now?”

But before either of them could respond, Seungmin raised his voice. “You’re acting like you’re her only friend now, Minho. I don’t like it.”

Lee Know stood up, his chair scraping against the floor. “I’m not trying to replace you, Seungmin. I’m just… trying to be there for her.”

The tension in the air was palpable, and Y/N looked uncomfortable, clearly caught in the middle of their argument.

Seungmin clenched his fists, his jaw tightening. “It’s not about replacing me, it’s about the way you’ve been acting. You can’t just swoop in and expect things to change just because you decided to—”

“I didn’t decide anything,” Lee Know interrupted, his voice rising. “I’m not doing anything wrong, okay? I’m just trying to be her friend, the same as you.”

Y/N stood up now, stepping between them, her eyes wide with alarm. “Stop! Both of you, stop!” Her voice was loud, but there was panic in it, like she was afraid things might actually get out of hand.

Seungmin looked at her for a moment, his expression softening. “I’m just… trying to make sure he knows his place,” he muttered under his breath.

Lee Know shot Seungmin a glare, and for a split second, their eyes locked, both of them silent, the weight of unspoken words heavy in the air. Neither one of them was willing to back down.

“I’m not trying to take anyone’s place,” Lee Know said, voice tight, but now quieter. “I’m just… here, like you are. What’s the problem with that?”

Y/N’s gaze flitted between them, her heart racing. She wanted to scream at both of them to stop acting like children, but the tension was so thick it was hard to breathe.

“I just want things to stay the way they were,” Seungmin said, his tone softer now, almost pleading. “I don’t want things to get… complicated.”

Lee Know turned to Y/N, his gaze softening just a little as he tried to gauge her reaction. She was still standing there, uncertain, caught in the middle of a battle she hadn’t signed up for. She looks so lost, Lee Know thought, his heart aching with the knowledge that he was contributing to the mess.

“I don’t want things to change either,” Lee Know said, his voice steady but not without frustration. “But I’m not going to back off just because you’re uncomfortable with it, Seungmin.”

Seungmin looked at him, then back at Y/N. He opened his mouth to say something, but closed it again, clenching his jaw. Without another word, he turned and stormed out of the café, leaving a stunned silence behind him.

Lee Know stayed where he was, his chest tight. He hadn’t won, but the argument wasn’t over. Not by a long shot.

Y/N took a shaky breath and finally spoke, her voice quiet. “I… I don’t know what to say.”

Lee Know didn’t know what to say either. His mind was racing, but he couldn’t find the words. Instead, he just stood there, watching her as she struggled with everything between them.

“Are you okay?” he finally asked, his voice soft, almost vulnerable.

She met his gaze, her eyes searching his face for something, anything. “I… I think I just need some time to think.”

The weight of her words hung in the air, and for the first time, Lee Know truly realized how complicated things had become. He didn’t want to lose her, but at this rate, he wasn’t sure what would happen next.

Y/N had left the café with a soft promise to see them later, but the air was thick with unsaid words and heavy thoughts. As soon as the door closed behind her, the atmosphere between Lee Know and Seungmin changed. What had been simmering beneath the surface now exploded in full force.

Lee Know’s fingers clenched around his coffee cup, the hot liquid now forgotten. He watched as Seungmin sat back in his chair, his arms crossed, his expression stormy.

Seungmin’s voice broke the silence first. “You’ve been acting like you’ve got some claim on her, Minho. You think she needs you more than me?”

Lee Know didn’t flinch. “I’m not the one making things awkward,” he said coolly, his voice dangerously calm. “I’ve just been here, trying to be her friend. You’re the one acting like I’m stealing something from you.”

Seungmin’s eyes flashed with a mix of anger and something deeper—something darker. “Don’t even act like you don’t know what’s going on, Minho. You’re not fooling anyone. You’ve been sniffing around her for weeks, and it’s pathetic. She’s my best friend. You don’t get to just waltz in and play the hero.”

Lee Know’s fists tightened. He knew this was coming. Seungmin had been avoiding the truth for too long. But now, there was no denying it—Seungmin was jealous, and not just a little.

“I’m not trying to ‘play the hero,’ Seungmin,” Lee Know snapped, his voice low but seething. “I don’t need to play games with her. But it’s clear you’ve been hiding behind this act, pretending like everything’s fine. You’re scared of what might happen if she knows how you really feel.”

Seungmin stood up abruptly, the table creaking under the sudden movement. “You have no right to say anything about how I feel! You don’t get to dictate what happens between us, Minho. You need to stay the hell away from her.”

Lee Know’s eyes hardened, the challenge in Seungmin’s words hitting him like a physical blow. “What’s that supposed to mean, exactly?” His voice dropped to a low, menacing tone. “You want me to just back off and pretend like nothing’s happening? That we’re all just friends here? Because that’s not how it works.”

Seungmin sneered. “You don’t know anything about how this works. You’re just some guy trying to get into her head. You don’t even care about her. You just want to prove you’re better than me.”

Lee Know leaned in, his chest tightening as his frustration began to spill over. “I care about her more than you’ve ever made her feel, Seungmin. So don’t you dare try to act like you’ve got some kind of claim on her. I’m not backing down. If anything, you’re the one who’s been messing things up.”

Seungmin’s face twisted in fury, his hands trembling with rage. “You think you’re better than me? You think she’ll just drop everything and choose you over me? She’s not going to want some guy who only showed up when it was convenient. I’ve been here for her since the beginning, Minho.”

Lee Know stood up, his breath quickening as he took a step toward Seungmin. “You don’t know what she needs, Seungmin. You’re so busy pretending everything’s fine that you can’t see she’s struggling. You think she wants someone who won’t even admit their feelings?”

“Shut up!” Seungmin shouted, his voice breaking through the tension like a thunderclap. “You don’t know anything about her! You’re not better than me. You’re just a distraction.”

Lee Know’s eyes flashed with fury, his heart pounding in his chest. “A distraction? You think I’m a distraction to her? You think she’s going to look at you and think you’re the one who truly understands her?”

Seungmin’s lips curled into a bitter grin. “At least I didn’t wait until she was falling apart to finally decide I’m interested. You only care about her now because you see a chance to win. You’re just a stupid fucking low life idiot and that’s why nobody likes with you.”

That was it. The words hit Lee Know like a punch to the gut. His vision blurred with anger. He was done. The quiet rage that had been simmering inside him finally boiled over.

Without thinking, Lee Know’s fist shot out, slamming into Seungmin’s face with a sickening thud. The force of the punch sent Seungmin crashing backward into the table, knocking it over with a loud bang. Coffee spilled everywhere, the sharp smell of spilled liquid filling the air.

For a moment, the café was silent. Lee Know stood there, breathing heavily, his knuckles throbbing from the impact. Seungmin’s face was flushed with pain, but his eyes burned with something darker. Something more dangerous.

“You want to keep talking?” Lee Know’s voice was raw, almost unrecognizable with the anger that bubbled up from deep within. “Keep running your mouth. I’m done with this.”

Seungmin stood up slowly, wiping the blood from his lip. His eyes locked with Lee Know’s, and for the first time, Lee Know could see the full force of Seungmin’s jealousy and frustration. Seungmin had always been the calm one, the rational one, but now he was wild, unraveling at the seams.

“You think that’ll solve everything?” Seungmin hissed. “You think throwing a punch is going to make her choose you? You’re wrong, Minho. You’re just as selfish as I am. We’re both just a couple of idiots fighting over the same girl.”

Lee Know didn’t back down. “Maybe, but I’m not going to let you push me around anymore.”

The two of them were standing face to face now, chest to chest, fists clenched and breath coming fast. Neither one of them was willing to back off.

Seungmin’s eyes flared with rage as he lunged at Lee Know, throwing a wild punch that collided with Lee Know’s jaw. The force of the hit sent him staggering back, but he didn’t fall. Instead, he swung his own fist at Seungmin’s face, landing a blow to his cheek.

The fight was messy, chaotic. Every punch, every shove was fueled by jealousy, by frustration, by the raw emotion they both couldn’t control. Both of them had wanted Y/N, and neither of them was willing to admit it openly. But now, the weight of their feelings had led them to this a brutal, ugly fight neither of them had ever imagined.

Hyunjin burst through the door at that moment, eyes wide with shock as he rushed toward them, trying to break the fight up. “Enough!” he shouted, grabbing both of them by the shoulders and pulling them apart with surprising strength.

Lee Know stood there, chest heaving, his blood pounding in his ears. Seungmin wiped the blood from his lip, his eyes filled with something unreadable. Hyunjin didn’t let go of them immediately, his grip firm as he looked between the two.

“You both need to calm down,” Hyunjin said, his voice more controlled than it had been just a moment ago. “This… this isn’t helping anyone.”

Lee Know didn’t respond. His mind was racing, his emotions a mess. The fight had escalated so quickly, but now that it was over, it felt like a hollow victory. What had it solved? Nothing. It hadn’t solved anything. He wanted to be the one Y/N turned to, but now… now he wasn’t sure how to fix things.

The fight had been messy. Lee Know had left the café first, walking out without another word to anyone. He had stormed off, his mind racing with everything that had happened. But now, the dust had settled—sort of.

Seungmin, on the other hand, wasn’t in a much better place. He had lingered for a while, still processing everything that had just happened. It was hard not to feel the burn of that fight, the sting of Lee Know’s words, the punch that had landed with a resounding smack against his cheek. But what really gnawed at him wasn’t the physical pain; it was the fact that Y/N hadn’t been there to witness it.

He didn’t want to admit it, but the truth stung.

The truth was, Y/N was starting to see Lee Know differently. He could see it in the way she looked at him when he was around. The tension in the air when the three of them were together was almost unbearable, and Seungmin hated it. He hated how Lee Know seemed to be inching closer to Y/N every day.

But the next day was different. Y/N had agreed to hang out with him. It wasn’t just another group gathering; it was just the two of them, the way things used to be. Seungmin had invited her over to his house, and she’d agreed without hesitation. Maybe, just maybe, he could regain the comfort he had with her before all of this tension had begun. Before everything had changed.

The air in Seungmin’s apartment felt heavier than usual as Y/N stepped inside. She always loved coming here—his space felt comfortable, familiar, like home. But today, it was different. Everything felt strange, as if something was shifting beneath the surface.

Seungmin greeted her with a casual smile, but his eyes held something deeper. There was a tension there, a wariness that Y/N couldn’t quite place. She couldn’t help but wonder if it had something to do with the fight she’d witnessed between him and Lee Know just a few days ago. Things had changed between them ever since. And though she tried to ignore it, a part of her couldn’t help but feel the shift feel it in the way they both looked at her, in the moments of silence that stretched too long.

“So, what do you want to do today?” Seungmin asked, trying to sound casual. He motioned toward the couch. “We could watch a movie or just hang out… Whatever you feel like.”

Y/N nodded, stepping further into the room. She felt drawn to the couch, sinking into its softness. But as she did, her eyes fell on Seungmin’s arm. Her gaze lingered for a moment, and she froze. There was a bruise on his forearm, just above his sleeve.

“Seungmin… what happened?” she asked, her voice soft, but sharp with concern. She stood up slightly, her eyes locked on the purple-blue mark.

He paused, looking down at the bruise as if he had just remembered it was there. A faint chuckle escaped his lips, though it was humorless. “It’s nothing,” he said, brushing it off. “I… got into a bit of a scuffle with Lee Know. Nothing serious.”

Y/N’s heart sank. She had hoped it wasn’t related to the fight, but now that she saw the bruise, the tension between them felt even more palpable. She sat back down, her thoughts racing.

A part of her wanted to ask more, wanted to know the truth about what had happened, but another part of her knew it wouldn’t do any good. The distance between Seungmin and Lee Know was growing, and there was nothing she could do to fix it. It was like they were both pulling in different directions, and she was caught in the middle.

“I didn’t know it had gotten that bad,” Y/N finally said, her voice quieter now. She couldn’t help but look at the bruise again.

Seungmin shook his head, his lips pressing into a thin line. “It’s nothing to worry about,” he repeated. “I’m fine. You don’t need to stress about it.”

But Y/N wasn’t so sure. She studied him, her eyes tracing the curve of his jaw, the way his hand tightened around the edge of the couch. There was more beneath the surface, and she could feel it in her bones.

“Okay,” she said softly, though the worry in her chest didn’t go away. She changed the subject, trying to push the awkwardness aside. “What have you been up to lately?”

Seungmin leaned back, trying to relax, but Y/N could see the tension in his shoulders, the way his fingers drummed against the armrest.

“Same old stuff,” he replied, but his voice was distracted. “School, work, and dealing with… everything else.” His eyes flicked toward her, searching for something in her expression. “I haven’t had much time to… think about anything else.”

Y/N’s heart skipped a beat at his words. The way he said it made her wonder—was he talking about Lee Know? Or was he talking about something else entirely?

She tried to ignore the way her stomach fluttered at the thought.

They sat in silence for a moment, the air thick with unspoken words. Y/N shifted on the couch, her body feeling warmer as the space between them seemed to shrink.

“So,” Y/N began, trying to lighten the mood, “What do you want to do today? Really, I’m good with anything.”

Seungmin glanced at her, his lips twitching into a small smile. “I don’t know,” he said slowly. “How about we just… hang out? No pressure.”

Y/N smiled, though her mind was still caught on the bruise. It was hard to focus on anything else when she could still feel the weight of it in the air. She shifted again, glancing down at her phone, but when she looked up, she found Seungmin watching her—his eyes locked on hers with an intensity that she wasn’t quite used to.

It was like everything in the room slowed for a moment. The sound of her own breath filled her ears, and for a brief second, she wondered if she could hear his heart beating too. They were sitting so close now, the space between them feeling like nothing at all.

Y/N’s pulse quickened as she noticed how his eyes dropped to her lips for just a fraction of a second before meeting her gaze again. She held her breath, unsure of what to do, her mind swirling with thoughts she couldn’t quite put into words.

Seungmin leaned forward slightly, just enough for Y/N to feel the heat from his body. His breath brushed against her cheek, sending a shiver down her spine. Her heart thudded in her chest, the anticipation thick in the air.

“Y/N,” he murmured, his voice low and almost a whisper. “I…”

Before he could finish, Y/N’s eyes flickered to his lips again, and that was all the invitation Seungmin needed.

Without thinking, he closed the distance between them. His lips brushed against hers in a soft, tentative kiss. It was light, almost hesitant, but the moment their lips met, it felt like the world had shifted.

Y/N’s breath caught in her throat, her hand reaching up to rest against his chest. Her heart pounded in her chest as Seungmin deepened the kiss, his hands gently cupping her face. Everything else faded away—the fight, the tension, the complicated emotions swirling around them.

It was just them now.

Y/N pulled away first, her face flushed with heat, her breath shaky. She stared at Seungmin, her heart still racing as the weight of what had just happened sank in.

“Seungmin,” she whispered, her voice barely audible, as she tried to steady herself. “What are we doing?”

His forehead rested against hers, his hands still gently holding her face. His breath was heavy, matching her own, and for a long moment, neither of them spoke. The only sound was the thumping of their hearts, beating in sync.

“I don’t know,” Seungmin whispered back, his voice thick with emotion. “But I can’t stop… I don’t want to stop.”

Y/N felt the tension between them pull tighter, the air around them crackling with intensity. There was no going back now, but as much as she wanted to give in, she couldn’t shake the feeling that something was about to change. Something that might tear them apart.

But in that moment, with his lips hovering just inches from hers, she couldn’t bring herself to care about anything else.

The following day, the weight of everything that had happened the day before lingered heavily on Y/N’s mind. The kiss with Seungmin the one that had caught her completely off guardwas still on her lips, like a taste she couldn’t quite shake off. But today, she needed to focus. She wasn’t about to let one moment complicate things more than it already had. She couldn’t.

But then, there was Lee Know.

She tried not to notice the way his eyes followed her every move, the subtle way he lingered at the edges of her vision. He was always around. It made her uncomfortable and yet… something about it tugged at her in a way she couldn’t fully understand.

Seungmin, on the other hand, had been quieter today. Y/N caught him stealing glances at her in between classes, but the energy between them felt different unsure, like the weight of their unspoken feelings hung between them, thick and heavy. She liked him. She definitely did. But something inside her was still unsure. She couldn’t help but feel like there was something she was missing.

It wasn’t just about Seungmin. Lee Know had been in the background, too, his presence so constant it was impossible to ignore. But there was nothing she could do about that, right? He had always been a little mysterious, a little aloof. And she didn’t need more complication in her life right now.

The school day dragged on, the hours stretching into what felt like an eternity. As the final bell rang, Y/N grabbed her bag and headed for the doors, ready to meet Seungmin outside. She had promised him they’d hang out. Just the two of them.

But as she walked through the crowded hallway, she couldn’t help but notice that all the noise seemed to fade away, and all she could hear was the rhythmic beat of her heart in her chest. The feeling of someone watching her sent a shiver down her spine. She turned slightly, her heart skipping a beat.

There he was.

Lee Know was standing at the end of the hallway, leaning casually against the lockers, his eyes locked onto hers. His usual teasing smirk was absent, replaced by a steady, unreadable gaze. Y/N felt her pulse quicken despite herself. She told herself it was nothing, that it was just Lee Know being his usual self.

But there was something different today.

Before she could look away, Lee Know pushed himself off the lockers and started walking toward her. He moved with a purposeful calm, and each step seemed to slow down the world around them.

Y/N’s hand tightened around the strap of her bag. She was supposed to be meeting Seungmin—why did Lee Know always have a way of pulling her in? She could feel the tension building in the pit of her stomach as he got closer.

She tried to ignore it, tried to focus on the fact that she was meeting Seungmin, but Lee Know’s voice cut through her thoughts.

“Y/N,” his voice was low and smooth, and it stopped her in her tracks.

She turned toward him, trying to keep her expression neutral. “Lee Know, what’s up?”

He stopped right in front of her, so close she could feel the warmth radiating off his body. His eyes were intense, fixed firmly on her, but his expression remained unreadable. There was a flicker of something there, something deeper than just his usual teasing.

“Can I talk to you for a second?” His voice was quieter now, more serious than she’d ever heard it.

Y/N opened her mouth to respond, but before she could, she felt the familiar hand on her shoulder. Seungmin’s face appeared in her line of sight, confusion written all over it.

“Y/N, are you ready to go?” Seungmin asked, his gaze flickering between her and Lee Know.

Y/N hesitated, her mind racing. She wanted to spend time with Seungmin, but the way Lee Know was looking at her now… it was different. She could feel the unspoken challenge in the air. She could feel the pull between them, an almost magnetic force.

Lee Know didn’t look at Seungmin. He didn’t acknowledge him at all. His eyes stayed focused on Y/N, unwavering.

“You know I was just about to head out with Seungmin, right?” Y/N tried to keep her tone light, even though she could feel her heart beating faster.

“I know,” Lee Know replied, his voice oddly calm. “But this won’t take long. I just need a minute with you.”

Y/N glanced at Seungmin, but his face was hard to read, his expression tight. He wasn’t looking at her anymore, his attention focused solely on Lee Know.

“Seungmin, it’s okay,” Y/N said softly, trying to smooth over the tension. “I’ll be right back.”

Seungmin nodded, but his jaw was clenched, his eyes still wary as Y/N was gently led away by Lee Know down the hallway.

Y/N felt a sudden chill run down her spine as Lee Know guided her toward an empty classroom. The air felt heavier, charged with something that made her stomach tighten. Her mind racedwhat was he going to say? Why was he acting like this?

Lee Know opened the door, and Y/N stepped inside before him. She didn’t have a chance to ask what was going on before the door shut behind them with a soft click. She turned, about to speak, but the words stuck in her throat when she saw the way Lee Know was looking at her. His eyes were darker now, his posture rigid, and there was no trace of the usual playful demeanor. He was all business now.

“Lee Know, what’s going on?” Y/N asked, her voice barely above a whisper, her heart pounding.

He didn’t answer right away, only closed the space between them with deliberate steps. His gaze never left her face, and it made her feel exposed, like he could see right through her. The tension in the room was thick, suffocating.

“Why do you always let him have you?” Lee Know’s voice was low, almost dangerous, as he spoke. There was an edge to it, a frustration that had been building for too long.

Y/N blinked, not sure how to respond. “What do you mean?”

Lee Know let out a sharp breath, his eyes flashing with something unreadable. “You know exactly what I mean. The way you look at him. The way you let him get under your skin. It’s so… obvious.”

Y/N felt a rush of heat spread across her chest, her mind scrambling to keep up with his words. “I don’t Lee Know, I don’t understand. Seungmin is just my friend.”

Lee Know’s lips curled into a smirk, but it wasn’t playful. It was bitter. “Is that what you tell yourself?”

Her pulse quickened as he took another step closer. “I told you, it’s not like that between us.”

“I don’t buy it.” Lee Know’s voice was steady, but there was an undeniable fire in his words. “You think you can have him and have me too? That you can keep playing this game?”

Y/N’s breath hitched as his face came dangerously close to hers. Her heart thudded erratically in her chest. “What do you want from me?” she whispered, her voice barely a breath.

Lee Know’s eyes softened for a split second, and in that moment, she saw the intensity of what he was feeling something raw, something desperate.

“I want you to see me,” he said quietly, almost like a confession. “I want you to see what I’ve been trying to show you this whole time.”

Y/N’s heart raced as the tension between them built to an almost unbearable level. She was frozen, unsure of what was happening, of what he wanted. But she couldn’t deny that the pull between them was undeniable. The words hung in the air like a silent promise, and for a moment, she couldn’t breathe.

Y/N’s pulse was hammering in her ears as she stood there, locked in the classroom with Lee Know. The space between them seemed to shrink with every breath she took. She tried to gather her thoughts, but all she could focus on was the intensity in his eyes, the way he was standing so close, his presence overwhelming in the small, empty room.

“Lee Know, I…” Y/N began, her voice shaky. She wasn’t sure what she wanted to say, but there were so many emotions bubbling up inside herconfusion, frustration, and something else she couldn’t quite place.

He watched her, silent and still, his gaze never leaving hers. “What is it, Y/N?” His voice was calm, but there was an edge to it, like he was waiting for her to say something that would make this whole thing make sense.

Y/N swallowed hard, her breath coming faster as she looked up at him. “I don’t understand,” she said, her voice barely above a whisper. “Why are you doing this? Why are you pulling me away from Seungmin like this?”

Lee Know’s expression softened for a brief moment, but his gaze was still intense, searching her face like he was trying to read her every thought. He took another step closer, closing the distance between them even more. She could feel his breath on her skin now, each exhale a reminder of how close they were.

“Because you don’t see it, Y/N,” he said quietly, his tone suddenly vulnerable. “You don’t see me. You never have.”

Y/N’s heart skipped a beat, and she took a small step back, but there was nowhere to go. The classroom felt smaller with every passing second, the walls closing in on her as Lee Know continued to advance. Her mind was racing, her thoughts a whirlwind of confusion and conflicting emotions. Why was this happening? Why was it so hard to breathe?

“You’re not just a friend to me,” Lee Know said, his voice almost a whisper now. “You never were. And I’ve tried to show you, in every way I could, but you always ran back to Seungmin.”

Y/N opened her mouth to respond, but the words wouldn’t come. She wanted to say something, anything, to make sense of this, but nothing felt right. Her heart was telling her one thing, but her mind was still tangled in knots.

“You don’t understand,” she finally managed to say, her voice breaking slightly. “I never wanted to hurt you. But… Seungmin… he’s my friend. I don’t know how to—”

Lee Know cut her off, his voice suddenly fierce, intense. “You think I don’t understand? You think I don’t know how much he means to you?” His eyes burned with frustration, but there was something else there too something darker, something desperate. “I’ve seen the way you look at him. But why does it always have to be him, Y/N? Why can’t it be me?”

Y/N felt a rush of heat spread across her chest, her mind racing to make sense of his words. She could feel her pulse pounding in her throat, and her breath was coming in shallow gasps. She wanted to step back, to put distance between them, but her body betrayed her. She couldn’t move.

His face was inches from hers now, his hands resting at his sides, fists clenched, as though he was holding himself back. But she could see the way his jaw tightened, the way his eyes flickered down to her lips, and she knew.

He wanted this.

She wanted this too.

And yet, the tension was suffocating. The silence between them stretched out, thick and heavy, until it felt like the air itself was crackling with something dangerous.

“Lee Know,” she whispered, barely able to breathe, “what are you doing?”

He didn’t answer. Instead, he reached out, his fingers brushing gently against her arm. The simple touch sent a jolt of electricity through her body, and she instinctively stepped closer, drawn to him in a way she couldn’t deny.

His hand cupped her face, his thumb brushing gently over her cheek, and she closed her eyes, the sensation overwhelming.

“Y/N…” His voice was soft, pleading, as if he was waiting for her to give him permission. “Please…”

And then, without another word, he leaned in, closing the final gap between them.

Her heart stopped in her chest as his lips brushed against hers, tentative at first, like he was testing the waters. But the moment their lips met, the floodgates opened. All the tension, all the unspoken words, the emotions that had been building between them for weeksthey were released in that one moment.

His hand slid to the back of her neck, pulling her closer as the kiss deepened. Y/N’s mind went blank. She couldn’t think, couldn’t focus on anything except the feeling of him so close, so warm, his lips moving against hers with an urgency that matched her own.

For the first time, the confusion, the tension, the fear it all melted away. There was only Lee Know. Only the way he made her feel.

When they finally pulled away, both of them were breathless, their foreheads resting together as they tried to steady their breathing. Y/N’s chest rose and fell rapidly, her heart still racing in her ears.

Lee Know’s hand was still gently cupping her face, and for a moment, neither of them spoke.

“I don’t want to be just another guy to you, Y/N,” Lee Know murmured, his voice hoarse. “I want to be the one you choose. The one you see.”

Y/N felt a rush of conflicting emotions swirl inside her. She had never felt so exposed, so vulnerable. And yet, there was something about being with him in this moment that made everything else fade away.

“I…” Y/N started, but the words stuck in her throat. She wanted to say something, but she didn’t know what. She was caught between the pull of her feelings for Seungmin and the overwhelming intensity of what she felt for Lee Know.

He pressed a soft kiss to her forehead, his lips lingering for a moment longer than necessary. “Take your time, Y/N,” he said softly. “But don’t keep running from me.”

Y/N stood there, her mind racing, trying to process what had just happened. She had never expected this never imagined she’d be caught in the middle of such a storm. But here she was, with Lee Know standing so close, his presence impossible to ignore.

Lee Know pressed his forehead to hers, his breath still shallow as they lingered in the moment. He leaned in again, his lips meeting hers with more urgency this time, as though he couldn’t wait any longer. His hands slid to her waist, pulling her closer, the heat between them intensifying. The air between them was thick, charged with everything they’d both been holding back.

As he kisses her he moves her up onto the desk.his hands roaming her body.

While kissing her hungrily, his tongue exploring her mouth with an insistent need. His hands roamed over her body, pulling her closer as he deepened the kiss. He could feel the heat of her skin through her clothes, and it only fueled his desire.

He then steps between her legs as he pressed his body against hers. His hands moved to her thighs, tracing small circles against her skin as he continued to kiss her, his lips moving down to her neck.

He nipped and sucked at the sensitive skin, marking her as his own.

"Minho..." Y/N gasped, her voice laced with desire.

He pulled back, his eyes dark with lust as he looked at her. "You're so pretty" he growled, his hands gripping her hips.

He leaned in to capture her lips again, this time more forcefully but gentle making sure not to hurt her. He was claiming her.

He began to kiss down her neck, his lips and teeth leaving a trail of marks in their wake. He wanted everyone to know that she was his, that he had claimed her body and soul.

Y/N could feel his arousal pressing against her, a reminder of how much he wanted her. She moaned softly, her body arching into his touch.

In this moment she forgets seungmin is waiting for her outside.

Lee Know's hands moved to the waistband of her pants, his fingers hooking under the fabric as he began to tug them down. He pulled them off in one swift motion, tossing them aside without a care.

He then turned his attention to his own pants, quickly undoing his belt and unbuttoning his jeans. He pushed them down just enough to free himself, his hardness pressing against her through his boxers.

He let out a low groan as he pressed himself against her, the thin layer of fabric between them doing little to dull the sensation. "You feel so good," he murmured, his voice rough with need.

"Please, Minho..." Y/N begged, her body trembling with anticipation.

He chuckled darkly, enjoying the effect he had on her. "Please what, baby?" he asked, his lips brushing against her ear.

She could feel his hot breath against her skin, sending shivers down her spine. "I need you," she whispered, her hands clutching at his shirt.

He smirked, his hands roaming over her body as he teased her. "You're so desperate for me," he said, his voice low and husky. "I am too so of course~"

Lee Know's fingers slid under the waistband of her underwear, slowly peeling them down her legs. He tossed them aside as well, his eyes dark with desire as he took in the sight of her bare before him.

He positioned himself at her entrance, his body tense with anticipation. He teased her for a moment, running the tip of his cock along her slick folds, making her whimper with need.

"You're so wet for me," he growled, his voice thick with lust. "So ready for me to take you."

He couldn't wait any longer. He pushed into her, groaning as her tight heat enveloped him. "Fuck," he hissed, his hands gripping her hips tightly.

Y/N moans quiet, her back arching as he filled her completely. She wrapped her legs around his waist, pulling him deeper inside her.

He began to move, his thrusts slow and deliberate at first. He wanted to savor the feeling of being inside her, the way her body clenched around him.

"You feel so good," he repeated, his voice strained with pleasure. "So perfect for me."

Lee Know picked up the pace, his hips slamming into her with a relentless force. The desk creaked beneath them, the sound echoing through the empty classroom.

Y/N was lost in a haze of pleasure, her moans growing louder with each thrust. She couldn't control the sounds that escaped her lips, her body too overwhelmed by the sensations coursing through her. She bites her lip to muffle it.

"That's it, baby," he encouraged, his voice rough with need. "Let me hear you."

He leaned down, capturing one of her nipples between his teeth as he continued to pound into her. She cried out at the sensation, her nails digging into his back as she clung to him desperately.

Lee Know's pace became frantic, his need for release taking over. He could feel his own climax building, the tension coiling tightly in his gut.

He shifted slightly, angling his hips to hit that sweet spot inside her that made her scream. And scream she did, her body arching off the desk as pleasure coursed through her.

"I'm close," he grunted, his breath hot against her skin. "Cum for me, y/n. I want to feel you come undone around me."

Lee Know's movements became more erratic, his body tense as he chased his release. He could feel her walls fluttering around him, a sure sign that she was close.

his voice ragged. "Let go for me."

He continued to thrust into her, pushing her closer and closer to the edge. Just as he felt her walls clench tightly around him, he pulled out, spilling himself on her stomach with a strangled groan.

After that and they got dressed and Lee know made sure she was okay. But then y/n remembers seungmin is waiting for her.

Y/N quickly fixed her pants, her heart racing as she glanced at Lee Know, who was pulling his shirt back over his head. The silence between them was heavy, but neither of them dared to break it. She didn’t even want to look at him—not because of regret, but because she wasn’t ready to face what had just happened.

“Y/N,” Lee Know said softly, his voice tentative. He was standing there, watching her, his eyes full of questions he wasn’t sure he should ask.

But Y/N shook her head quickly, brushing her hair out of her face as she grabbed her bag from the desk. “Don’t,” she said quietly, her voice steady despite the storm of emotions inside her. “We can’t… talk about this. Not now.”

Lee Know frowned, his jaw tightening as he took a step closer. “So, what? You’re just going to pretend this didn’t happen?”

She hesitated for a moment, her hand gripping the strap of her bag so tightly her knuckles turned white. “I have to go,” she said, sidestepping him and heading for the door. She felt his gaze on her the entire time, burning into her back, but she didn’t turn around. She couldn’t.

Her mind was spinning as she stepped into the hallway, quickly smoothing down her clothes and forcing her expression to stay neutral. She couldn’t let anyone see that something had changed, that everything had changed.

The moment she saw Seungmin waiting for her near the lockers, her heart twisted painfully in her chest. He smiled at her, his easy, familiar smile, and it felt like a punch to the gut. Forcing a smile of her own, she walked toward him as though nothing had happened, as though she wasn’t still feeling Lee Know’s touch on her skin.

“Hey,” Seungmin greeted her, his voice warm. “You’re late. What took you so long?”

“Got caught up talking to a teacher,” she lied effortlessly, her voice light and casual. She tucked a strand of hair behind her ear, willing herself to act normal. “Sorry about that.”

Seungmin shrugged, slinging his bag over his shoulder. “No worries. Ready to head out?”

“Yeah,” Y/N said, nodding quickly. She fell into step beside him, the weight of what had just happened pressing heavily on her chest. But she pushed it down, burying it deep where it couldn’t surface. Not now. Not when Seungmin was looking at her like that, so oblivious to the storm raging inside her.

As they walked down the hallway together, she couldn’t help but glance over her shoulder. Lee Know was still standing by the classroom door, his expression unreadable, his eyes locked on her.

Y/N quickly turned back, her heart pounding. She couldn’t think about him. She couldn’t think about any of it. Not now.

The next day it’s the weekend.

Y/N lay in bed, staring at the ceiling as sunlight filtered through her curtains, painting faint patterns across her room. The weekend had arrived, yet it didn’t bring the peace she had hoped for. Instead, her mind was a battlefield, torn between two faces—two sets of eyes that seemed to haunt her every thought.

Lee Know. Seungmin.

She turned onto her side, clutching her pillow tightly as if it could somehow absorb the chaos swirling in her chest. Her heart was a mess of contradictions. When she thought of Seungmin, she felt warmth, comfort, and familiarity—memories of laughter, long talks, and the easy rhythm they had built together over the years.

But then, there was Lee Know. The memory of his touch, the intensity of his gaze, the way his voice sent shivers down her spine. He was raw, overwhelming, and impossible to ignore. Being with him had felt like stepping into a storm—terrifying yet exhilarating.

Y/N groaned, burying her face in the pillow. “What am I doing?” she muttered to herself, her voice muffled.

She had always prided herself on being logical, practical. But now, logic had deserted her entirely. How had she gotten to this point? How had everything become so tangled?

Her phone buzzed on the nightstand, and she reached for it hesitantly, her heart skipping a beat when she saw Seungmin’s name on the screen.

Seungmin: Morning! Want to grab lunch later?

Y/N’s fingers hovered over the keyboard as she hesitated, her mind instantly flashing back to Lee Know’s face—the way he had looked at her after everything that had happened. She hadn’t heard from him since, and the silence was unnerving. Did he regret it? Did she?

Before she could answer Seungmin, another buzz made her jump. This time, it was a message from Lee Know.

Lee Know: We need to talk.

Her breath caught in her throat, and she sat up, her heart racing. She stared at the two messages, the weight of them pressing down on her like a tidal wave.

Two boys. Two choices. And no idea which path would lead to happiness—or heartbreak.

Y/N set the phone down without responding to either of them. She needed time to think, to figure out what she truly wanted. But the more she thought about it, the more trapped she felt, like she was caught in a web she couldn’t escape.

She got out of bed and padded to the window, looking out at the quiet street below. Everything looked so normal, so simple, and yet her world was anything but.

“Why can’t this be easy?” she whispered to herself.

But deep down, she knew the answer. It wasn’t easy because both Seungmin and Lee Know meant something to her. And no matter what she chose, someone was going to get hurt.

As she stood there, staring out at the world that seemed so indifferent to her turmoil, one thought echoed in her mind

She couldn’t avoid them forever

For days, Y/N had done everything she could to avoid them both. Ignoring texts, dodging calls, and even changing her usual routes to class or around town. She thought that putting distance between them would make things clearer, give her the space to figure out what her heart truly wanted.

But all it had done was amplify the confusion.

The weight of it was unbearable—two people she cared about deeply, and no idea how to make a choice without breaking someone’s heart, maybe even her own.

It was late afternoon when she found herself walking aimlessly through the park near her house, the crisp air carrying the scent of autumn leaves. She hadn’t planned on being here, but her feet had brought her to the spot where she, Seungmin, and Lee Know had often hung out together.

Fate, it seemed, wasn’t done with her yet.

When she looked up, her breath hitched. Both of them were there. Seungmin stood by the swings, his hands in his pockets, his expression unreadable. Lee Know was leaning against a tree nearby, arms crossed, his jaw tight.

They hadn’t come together; that much was obvious from the tension crackling in the air between them. But somehow, they were both here now, and their eyes were fixed on her.

Y/N froze, her heart pounding as panic surged through her. She hadn’t prepared for this for seeing them both at the same time, let alone having to face the storm she had been avoiding.

“Y/N,” Seungmin was the first to speak, his voice steady but edged with frustration. “We need to talk.”

Lee Know pushed off the tree, his dark eyes never leaving hers. “Yeah, I think it’s about time.”

She swallowed hard, looking between them. “I… I don’t know what to say.”

“Well, you can start by explaining why you’ve been avoiding us,” Seungmin said, his tone sharper now. “You’ve been acting like we don’t exist, and I think we both deserve better than that.”

“I wasn’t trying to hurt you,” Y/N said quickly, her voice wavering. “I just needed time to think.”

“Think about what?” Lee Know pressed, stepping closer. “You’ve had days, Y/N. Days to figure out how you feel. And yet, here we are. Still waiting.”

Her stomach twisted as she looked at them two faces she cared about, both looking at her with such intensity that it was hard to breathe. “It’s not that simple,” she said, her voice barely above a whisper.

“It is simple,” Seungmin said, his frustration bubbling to the surface. “You can’t keep us both in limbo like this. It’s not fair.”

Lee Know nodded, his gaze unwavering. “He’s right. You have to decide, Y/N. Do you want him or me?”

The question hung in the air, heavy and suffocating. She took a shaky step back, feeling like the ground beneath her was crumbling.

“I don’t… I don’t know,” she admitted, her voice breaking. “I care about both of you. I don’t want to hurt either of you.”

“That’s not good enough,” Lee Know said, his voice low but firm. “We’ve both been patient, but we can’t keep doing this. You have to choose.”

Seungmin’s eyes softened for a moment, but his tone remained steady. “We’re not asking you to make a decision lightly. But you need to be honestwith us and with yourself.”

Y/N felt tears prickling at the corners of her eyes as she looked between them. Her heart was a whirlwind of emotions guilt, fear, longing, and love. But as much as she wanted to keep them both close, she knew they were right. She couldn’t keep running from this.

Her voice trembled as she finally said, “I just need more time.”

Lee Know’s jaw tightened, and he glanced at Seungmin before looking back at her. “You’ve had time, Y/N. How much more do you need?”

Seungmin exhaled sharply, running a hand through his hair. “If you need more time, fine. But you can’t avoid us anymore. Figure it out, Y/N. And soon.”

With that, he turned and walked away, his hands shoved deep into his pockets.

Lee Know stayed for a moment longer, his gaze piercing. “I hope you make the right choice,” he said softly before following Seungmin, leaving her standing there alone.

Y/N sank onto the nearest bench, her head in her hands. The clock was ticking, and no matter how much she wished for clarity, she knew that the answer wouldn’t come easily.

It had been days since the confrontation at the park, and neither Seungmin nor Lee Know had spoken to Y/N. She had sent a few hesitant texts to each of them, but their responses were short and distant, leaving her even more unsure of where she stood with them.

Unbeknownst to her, Lee Know and Seungmin were dealing with the situation in their own way. The tension between them had been simmering for weeks, and it was finally about to boil over.

They met at a quiet café near the edge of town, a place they knew would be empty enough for them to talk without interruptions. Lee Know was already seated at a corner table when Seungmin walked in, his usual calm demeanor replaced with something colder, more guarded.

Seungmin sat down across from him, folding his arms. “So, what’s this about?”

Lee Know leaned back in his chair, his expression unreadable. “We need to talk about Y/N.”

Seungmin’s jaw tightened. “I think we’ve talked enough, don’t you?”

“Not like this,” Lee Know replied, his voice steady but firm. “Look, we’ve both made it pretty clear how we feel about her. And we both know she’s struggling to choose between us.”

Seungmin’s lips pressed into a thin line, but he didn’t respond.

Lee Know leaned forward, his gaze unwavering. “I don’t want to keep fighting with you, Seungmin. And I don’t want to hurt Y/N by forcing her to make a decision she’s not ready for.”

“So, what’s your solution?” Seungmin asked, his tone skeptical.

Lee Know hesitated for a moment before saying, “We share her.”

Seungmin blinked, caught off guard by the suggestion. “What?”

“You heard me,” Lee Know said, his voice calm but determined. “We stop making this a competition. We let her decide how she wants to split her time between us. No more fighting, no more pressuring her.”

“That’s insane,” Seungmin said, shaking his head. “How is that supposed to work?”

“I don’t know,” Lee Know admitted. “But it’s better than what we’re doing now. And it’s better than making her choose and risking losing her altogether.”

Seungmin leaned back in his chair, his arms still crossed as he considered the idea. It went against everything he had been feeling the jealousy, the possessiveness but a part of him couldn’t deny that Lee Know had a point.

“She might not even agree to it,” Seungmin said after a long pause.

“That’s up to her,” Lee Know replied. “But if we’re both serious about wanting her in our lives, then we need to at least try.”

Seungmin sighed, running a hand through his hair. “I still think this is crazy. But… I’ll agree, for her sake. If she’s okay with it.”

Lee Know nodded, a small sense of relief washing over him. “Good. Then we’ll talk to her together.”

Seungmin gave him a wary look. “Just so we’re clear, this doesn’t mean I’m okay with you being with her. I’m only doing this because I don’t want to hurt her.”

“Same here,” Lee Know said. “This isn’t about us. It’s about her.”

With that, an uneasy truce was formed. But as they left the café, both of them knew that the path ahead wouldn’t be easy for any of them.

It was late afternoon when Y/N received the text message that left her staring at her phone, her pulse racing.

Seungmin: Meet us at the park near the swings. We need to talk.

The “us” caught her off guard. She didn’t need to ask who he meant she knew both Seungmin and Lee Know would be there.

Her stomach churned as she walked to the park, a thousand questions and scenarios racing through her mind. What could they possibly want to say together? The tension between the three of them had reached a breaking point, and she had no idea how this would go.

When she arrived, they were already there. Seungmin was sitting on one of the swings, his expression neutral but his shoulders tense. Lee Know stood a few feet away, leaning against the frame of the swing set with his arms crossed.

“Y/N,” Seungmin said as she approached. His voice was calm, but there was a seriousness to it that made her chest tighten.

“Hey,” she said softly, looking between them. “What’s going on?”

Lee Know straightened, stepping closer. “We’ve been talking, and we think it’s time we figure out where we all stand.”

Her heart sank. “I… I’m still not ready to choose,” she admitted, her voice barely above a whisper.

“We know,” Seungmin said, his tone gentle. “That’s why we’ve come up with a different idea.”

Y/N frowned, her gaze darting between them. “What do you mean?”

Lee Know glanced at Seungmin before speaking. “We’ve decided to stop pressuring you to choose between us. Instead… we’re willing to share.”

She blinked, sure she had misheard. “What?”

“We’re giving you the choice to spend time with both of us,” Seungmin explained. “No more arguments, no more fighting. You don’t have to feel like you’re stuck in the middle.”

Y/N stared at them, her mind reeling. “You’re serious?”

Lee Know nodded. “We talked about it. And while it’s not ideal for either of us, it’s better than making you feel like you’re being torn apart.”

Her breath caught as she processed their words. She couldn’t deny that part of her felt relieved they were giving her space to figure things out without the added pressure of making an immediate decision. But another part of her felt uneasy.

“What if this doesn’t work?” she asked hesitantly.

Seungmin’s expression softened. “Then we deal with it when the time comes. But we think it’s worth trying, for your sake.”

Y/N looked down at the ground, her emotions swirling. She had never imagined this kind of arrangement, but knowing they were willing to put aside their rivalry for her made her chest ache with a strange mix of gratitude and guilt.

“I… I don’t know what to say,” she admitted.

“You don’t have to say anything right now,” Lee Know said, his voice gentler than she had ever heard it. “Just think about it. We’ll give you the time and space you need.”

She nodded, still unsure how to feel. “Okay. I’ll think about it.”

Seungmin gave her a small smile. “That’s all we’re asking.”

Lee Know stepped closer, his gaze locking with hers. “Just know that we both care about you, Y/N. And we’re willing to do whatever it takes to make this work.”

Her heart clenched at the sincerity in his voice, and for a moment, she felt the weight of their emotions pressing down on her.

As they walked her home that evening, the uneasy truce between them held. But Y/N couldn’t help wondering how long it would last and what it would mean for all of them moving forward.

The next morning, Y/N woke up with a headache. Sleep had been elusive, her mind consumed by the conversation with Seungmin and Lee Know. Their proposal played over and over in her head like a looping film.

Share them?

The idea felt surreal, almost absurd. But the more she thought about it, the more sense it made. She cared deeply for both of them—she couldn’t deny that. Seungmin had been her rock for years, a constant in her life who knew her inside and out. And then there was Lee Know, who had quietly slipped into her heart with his relentless devotion and tender moments.

She groaned, rolling over in bed and staring at the ceiling. This wasn’t how love was supposed to work. Love was supposed to be simple—two people, one connection. But somehow, her heart had made room for both of them, and now she was faced with a choice she wasn’t ready to make.

By noon, she was pacing her room, her mind a whirlwind of thoughts. The idea of seeing them both, of not having to make an immediate decision, felt like a lifeline. But it also felt like walking a tightrope, one wrong step away from disaster.

Her phone buzzed on the desk, breaking her thoughts. She hesitated before picking it up, her breath catching when she saw the message.

Seungmin: No pressure, but have you thought about what we talked about?

Almost immediately, another message popped up.

Lee Know: Hey, just checking in. Hope you’re doing okay.

Y/N stared at the messages, her chest tightening. They were giving her space, just as they had promised, but she could feel their emotions lingering between the lines.

Taking a deep breath, she typed out a reply.

Y/N: Can we meet at the park? I’ve made my decision.

Her heart pounded as she hit send, the weight of her choice sinking in.

An hour later, she stood by the swings, waiting for them. The crisp autumn air nipped at her cheeks, but she barely felt it, her nerves keeping her warm.

Seungmin arrived first, his expression calm but his eyes searching hers. Lee Know appeared moments later, his usual confidence softened by what looked like worry.

“So?” Seungmin asked gently, breaking the silence. “What’s your decision?”

Y/N took a deep breath, her hands gripping the hem of her sweater. “I’ve been thinking a lot about what you both said. And… I want to try this. Sharing time with both of you.”

Lee Know blinked, his lips parting slightly in surprise. Seungmin raised an eyebrow, his expression unreadable.

“I know it’s not conventional,” Y/N continued quickly, her words tumbling out. “But I care about both of you, and I don’t want to hurt either of you. This… this feels like the only way to figure things out without losing someone I love.”

There was a beat of silence before Lee Know’s lips curved into a small smile. “So, you’re saying you want both of us?”

“Don’t make it weird,” Y/N said, her cheeks flushing.

Seungmin chuckled softly, shaking his head. “It’s definitely weird, but… if this is what you want, I’ll try.”

Lee Know nodded, his gaze softening. “Same. For you, I’ll try.”

Relief washed over her, and for the first time in days, she felt like she could breathe again.

“Thank you,” she said quietly, looking between them. “Both of you.”

As the three of them walked away from the swings together, Y/N couldn’t help but feel a strange sense of hope. It wasn’t the perfect solution, but it was theirs.

And for now, that was enough.

She kisses them both on the cheek and they both smile and blush.

Weeks passed, and to Y/N’s surprise, the unconventional arrangement began to work. She had worried endlessly about how Seungmin and Lee Know would manage to coexist, let alone get along, but the two of them had exceeded her expectations.

At first, there were small gestures of compromise. Seungmin stopped throwing passive aggressive remarks Lee Know’s way, and Lee Know refrained from his usual smug grins whenever Y/N chose to spend time with him. They had even started talking short conversations at first, usually about her, but over time, their interactions grew less tense and more natural.

The three of them developed an great relationship . Y/N divided her time evenly, and both boys respected the boundaries they’d set. What surprised her most was how much Seungmin and Lee Know seemed to enjoy each other’s company when they weren’t focused on her.

One sunny afternoon, the three of them were at the park, sprawled out on a large picnic blanket under the shade of a tree. Y/N had brought sandwiches and snacks, and the boys had brought their usual banter.

“Okay, but you have to admit, my dog is better trained than your cat.” Seungmin said, smirking at Lee Know as he reached for a bag of chips.

“Better trained?” Lee Know scoffed. “Your dog couldn’t even sit still when we went to the café last week. Dori would never embarrass me like that.”

Y/N laughed, watching them bicker. It was strange how normal this had become sitting between them, watching their playful arguments, feeling the peace that had settled over their dynamic.

“She’s probably sick of us talking about pets,” Seungmin said, turning to Y/N with a teasing smile. “Right?”

“Not at all,” she said, grinning. “I’m just waiting to see who wins.”

“It’s obviously me,” Lee Know said confidently, leaning back on his hands. “Dori is a model citizen.”

“Keep telling yourself that,” Seungmin replied with a chuckle.

As the afternoon went on, Y/N found herself marveling at how far they had come. A month ago, the idea of Seungmin and Lee Know sharing anything, let alone a girlfriend, would have been laughable. But now, they were sitting side by side, teasing each other like old friends.

Later, as they walked back to her house, Seungmin and Lee Know fell into a discussion about soccer, their voices animated as they debated the skills of different players. Y/N trailed behind them, her heart swelling at the sight.

For the first time in weeks, she felt like everything was exactly as it should be.

[corellianhounds]

Some headcanons for Mando:

Anything he uses to shower or wash his clothes with is unscented. Those scent-neutralizer dryer sheets keep his clothes from smelling like anything that can be detected while he’s on a hunt. Very few species are exempt from being unable to detect him

He keeps a clean ship and a strict schedule. He’s been self-sufficient and on his own for long enough he knows how to cook and take care of himself. Keeping your tools, gear, weapons, armor, and ship in clean, efficient working order means you’re less likely to have to spend time fixing one of them when it breaks from your lack of routine maintenance, and his body is just another tool in his arsenal; sleep, food, necessary medical care, staying limber and getting vitamin D at some point all go a long way towards ensuring he can last longer in the field. You can’t run something ragged every day and expect for that to be sustainable.

That also means he’s well-equipped to handle long stints without different necessities when needed from time to time; you can push yourself pretty far when you’re already in prime condition.

Wilderness survival skills were some of the first things he learned while being brought up by the Mandalorians. Being aware of your surroundings, setting up and breaking down camp, foraging and hunting for food, building impromptu shelters, purifying water, navigating and finding your way, having a variety of general and specific medical knowledge— All of those skills are building blocks for self-sufficiency. You never know when you’re going to be alone or thrust into survival scenarios, so it pays to be prepared.

That also means he’s capable of stomaching a wide variety of what some might consider inedible. Beggars can’t be choosers, and it’s considered very rude to decline someone’s offer of food or hospitality so in any scenario where food is in short supply and/or it’s been offered to him, he’s taking it. As long as it’s something he knows humans can digest, he’s open to whatever cultural or regional dishes his travels have to offer, and he’ll muscle through the less pleasant tastes or textures of food he’s had to make do with when he didn’t have other options.

He does know how to make food taste good, but that more often than not requires more spices and ingredients and hardware than he can afford or spare the room for, so he makes do without. Once the kid comes along he branches out a bit more to make sure he gets some variety.

Along the lines of self-sufficiency and independence, he has a lot of general repair skills: you may not always have somebody who can fix things for you, and he obviously isn’t going to pay somebody else to do something he’s capable of learning, except for when he’s short on time or resources. We see him working on the interior circuitry of his armor in the second episode. He knows how to bypass and pick locks. He has the electrical, mechanical, and structural know-how to fix his ship and would know how to weld and use a torch cutter and a variety of other tools, but it also means he’d know how to sew and mend his clothes. Soft goods are just as necessary as hardware.

Injuries where he genuinely needs professional medical care are few and far in between partially because he’s very good at what he does, and partially out of necessity. Though it is by choice, him tending to his own wounds may not necessarily be because he is neglectful or prideful or has a penchant for pain; medcenters cost money, and submitting to that care means he is vulnerable and at risk of somebody breaking his creed by force, or doing more damage when he can’t fight back. It’s why he likely refuses anesthesia or anything that will put him under and make him unaware of what’s happening while he’s asleep. Either he will find somebody he’s close to to help him, or he will find a way to muscle through self-administered medical care yet again, or he will die from his injuries (which means he will have gone down because of a fight)

Though he has a few physical reference materials and logs he’s written down important details in, a vast majority of his knowledge concerning trade routes, ballistics, geography, maps, various customs and cultures and languages, Guild bylaws— anything he could possibly need to know for a hunt— is committed to memory. He travels light, and the Mandalorians have an oral history more than a written one; belongings and archives can be destroyed, but their people live on and carry the knowledge that’s been passed down through centuries. It just makes more sense to him to commit everything to memory.

That being said, he does a significant amount of research before each hunt anyway, though the bulk of it is centered around the target themselves. Having all of your prep work done means the acquisition itself will go smoother.

He’s mathematically sharp: engine repair, manual piloting, vector calculus, electrical work, ballistics, basic engineering, weapons maintenance, financial management, and navigation by maps or by stars take a lot of mental acuity to understand and apply as quickly as he usually has to use them.

He’s not going to back down from others who purposefully encroach on his personal space, but he dislikes being in close proximity to strangers for extended periods of time. So much of his life is spent evading threats and fighting off challengers it’s hard to trust anybody to be that close. It’s not an aversion so much as it is an irritation that makes him tense. When you’re always looking over your shoulder, it’s just reflex to act defensively.

He doesn’t drink alcohol or caf unless he has sufficient time and he’s secure in the Crest without worry of attack; both impede his marksmanship and reflexes, neither of which are things he can afford while he’s working, so it’s usually only when he’s traveling through space that he’ll indulge

He doesn’t sing, but once the kid comes along he’s found that it’s easier to get him to sleep when he hums as he holds him and walks around the cargo hold.

[imthepunchlord]

Turf

Read more here.

.

At times, Okarun has felt that his life has just gone bizarre.

Well, it truly has. 

Getting cursed by a yokai.

Getting confirmation about aliens. 

Discovering a super powerful girl who loves him just as much as he adores her?

It's wild.

But despite it all, one thing that has remained to be strange to him was Miss Ayase swooning every time she heard his name. And it was swooning not for him, but another man. An actor she adores, and Okarun doesn't quite know how to deal with it. 

There’s some odd glee to the effect his name can have on her, and then there’s the jealousy that it’s not him. 

A part of him wonders if she would one day swoon for him— 

His thoughts were lost as her fingers weaved through his hair, pulling at the strands and tickling his scalp. 

Okarun relaxed back, leaning into her touch and settling himself on her, her stomach acting as his pillow. Normally he'd be too flustered and self conscious to do so, but how can he help himself when her touch feels so good , and she smells delightful , and is so warm …

Miss Ayase shifted and shuffled, uttering nonsense with her mouth full of food, throwing a fist with her free hand about as she got into the movie. There was some sort of action sequence happening, but Okarun couldn’t bring himself to watch, just caught up in being surrounded by her and how comfy he was. 

And when her nails lightly scratched at his scalp, a hum rumbled out of him. Gosh, he was about ready to just fall asleep.

Until there was a prickle on his skin, unpleasant enough to jar him out of his comfort. His eyes snapped open, blazing red and alert. His nose twitched like he could smell the disturbance past Momo, which he couldn’t, being so close, everything about her was too strong. 

But he could feel it . 

And there was a rumble of ire for the audacity of its appearance. 

Quiet and fluidly, he withdrew from Momo, startling her. 

“Huh, what’s up, Okarun?” Momo asked, reaching for him as if she wanted to pull him back. 

As tempted as he was, and as much as he wanted to sink back down into her, the prickle on his skin was stronger, and the agitation running through his veins felt like a fire that called to go. Not turning to her to show off his eyes, he said as evenly as he could, “I just need to use the bathroom real quick, Momo-chan.” 

Caught up in these sensations, it didn’t click for Okarun that he wasn’t transformed yet, and had used her name as he was. 

He missed Momo’s gawk after him. 

No, he was more caught up in what was outside, lingering around the torii gate. He fully shifted then, his anger manifesting at the arrogant sight. He leapt forth, landing on top of the torii gate, startling the yokai below by the intense bloodlust coming from above. 

A six tailed fox looked up at him with sharp yellow eyes. 

“The hells are you?” the kitsune questioned, backing away slightly, not liking the haunting shine of the big round glasses locked on him, a head a big mass of flaming shadows. 

“The hells you doing here?” Okarun echoed back, his maw opening up with an angry hiss. 

The wary kitsune took a step back, a little unnerved. “There’s a delightful smell of peach around here, I wanted it.” Just the thought had the kitsune lick his lips. “Is that your peach? Think you can share? I’ll just take a little bite…” 

Okarun’s answer was to dive down, biting into one of the long, streaming tails. The kitsune shrieked in pain and an alarm, racing away, now five tails. The lost tail wiggled and squirmed in Okarun’s maw before it went limp. Spitting it out, Okarun raced after the fox, the hunt was on. 

Caught up in said hunt, he didn’t realize Momo had followed him outside, seeing him chase after a kitsune. 

“Okarun!” she cried out, but her call fell on deaf ears. She was about to go race after them when Turbo Granny grumbled behind her. 

“If he’s going to have some silly territory dispute, he can have the decency to kill that kitsune quietly !” 

Momo turned, seeing her grandmother come join her outside, Turbo Granny on her shoulder. 

“Territory dispute?” Momo asked. 

“Yokai like to claim territory,” Seiko revealed, “often it’s a place where what's important to them resides.” Seiko grimaced. “I wondered if he was going to try and make this his turf.” 

“Egotistical of him,” Turbo Granny spat, “clearly this is my turf as I’m the bigshot around here, and I actually live here!” 

“Okarun literally has all of your power right now,” Momo pointed out. 

“Shut up!” 

Seiko sighed. “I’ll put some wards up to discourage yokai visits. Last thing I want is to tempt Okarun to haunt our home trying to scare off yokai.”

“...He wouldn’t do that, would he?” Momo asked. 

“Of course he would!” Turbo Granny proclaimed. “He’s not a human right now, he’s a yokai. He’s been spilling his own ki around here, yucking it up, making him sensitive to what comes and goes!” 

Seiko confirmed, “If enough yokai come by, then yes, he will want to stay here all the time.” 

Well, that didn’t sound that bad to Momo. Technically Okarun would be one of their better housemates. And she wouldn’t mind spending more time with him… 

Seiko saw that thought process start to roll. 

“Absolutely not,” Seiko shot down. “That’s going to feed into the yokai nature, make him less human, and make it harder to turn him back. We need to put a stop to this now.”

Momo winced. Yeah, that wouldn’t be good. 

Sharply, Seiko yelled, “Four Eyes! You better not be dragging some dead kitsune’s tails into my home!” 

Momo looked, seeing Okarun pause near the torii gate, indeed having a few tails in his maw. He quickly dropped them at Seiko’s shout. 

Momo squinted at Okarun, confused on why he was bringing bits of yokai back. 

Turbo Granny scoffed. “He wanted to present his prize to you.” 

…Yeah, Momo didn’t need that. 

Okarun lumbered in, his red eyes gliding over all of them before settling on Momo. 

Only for Seiko’s sharp clearing of the throat to draw his gaze to her. “I’m going to start putting in a curfew for you, Four Eyes.” 

“What?!” Momo cried out in protest. 

“Bummer,” Okarun drawled, slouching in defeat. 

“I don’t need two teenagers spending most of the night together!” Seiko declared. 

“We’re just watching a movie together, you hag!” Momo snapped. 

“I saw you cuddling!” 

“We’re dating!” 

“Exactly my point! It can escalate!” 

“And this isn’t your territory to defend!” Turbo Granny shouted, not caring for the squabble between grandmother and granddaughter. 

“It kinda is my turf though, yo,” Okarun insisted, a dangerous edge in his voice as he settled a glare on Turbo Granny. 

“You don’t even live here, you brat!” 

“Well I was here before you,” Okarun replied. “I have a better claim here than you do.” 

Turbo Granny launched at Okarun, ready to claw at his face. As an agitated yokai, Okarun for once was ready to literally bite back. Seeing that he was about to bite Turbo Granny and uncertain if she’d be able to take it, Momo quickly grabbed them both and separated them. 

Okarun immediately went limp as Momo held him by the back of his shirt. 

Turbo Granny thrashed and spat in Momo’s hold. 

“Curfew starts tonight!” Seiko declared with firm authority. 

“But our movie!” Momo protested. 

“You can finish it without him! And you! You get yourself home, Four Eyes.” 

“Man,” Okarun sighed. 

“Hahaha!” Turbo Granny cackled, “Getting kicked out of your own territory, Brat? Told ya it was mine!” 

Okarun growled back at her, much to her smug glee. 

“Turbo Granny! This isn’t your turf either,” Seiko snapped, making a point to bring her bat down on the front porch, drawing both yokai eyes to her. “This is mine.” 

Neither yokai could deny that. Both, rather nervously, agreed to Seiko’s official claim. 

[y-so-hungry]

Joppa Stew

A commission for the lovely @the-elusive-libbin! Their commission was for 2 characters in T//he B//ad B//atch and their self-insert OC Lily! I did go over the required wordcount for what they paid lol, I just got so excited for it haha! I hope you all like it!

CW: hunger (LOTS), mild stuffing, and a couple of very embarrassed clones lol. Also this is S//tar W//ars, and I'm not SUPER familiar with it so I tried my best with the descriptions, and I'll have you know Joppa Stew IS an actual food in that universe. I did the googles its there

Hunter and Crosshair trudged into the base after a particularly long day. The mission itself had gone… fine, ish, but complications had made it go on for far longer than Hunter had anticipated. As such they hadn’t been given proper rations and well… Crosshair’s stomach has been rumbling for hours now. Not loud enough for a normal person to hear really, but he knew Crosshair was hungry. 

Hunter was hungry too, if he was honest with himself. But that was rare, so he wasn’t hungry, not the slightest bit. His stomach wasn’t even growling. Or… not loud enough for anyone to hear, which is what was most important. Technically now that they were back home at the base they could eat… but Hunter had a feeling that wouldn’t be happening. He had far too much work to do, and Crosshair himself looked bone-tired. Neither of them had the energy to cook, even if they wanted to. Needed to, with the way Crosshair’s stomach was beginning to sound. 

Hunter smiled at Lily as he entered the living area, and headed to his workspace against the wall. Inside, the base was a mix of military efficiency and scrappy improvisation. The main room was a large, cavernous space with rusted durasteel walls and exposed wiring, dimly lit by flickering overhead lights. On one side, a long, makeshift table made up Hunter’s workspace, and it was littered with datapads, empty ration wrappers, and scattered gear. On the other side was a more comfortable space, complete with a couch, coffee table, and Lily herself. 

 She was sitting on the couch there, a drawing pad in her lap, and when she looked up she blew a strand of grey hair out of her eyes as she waved at them. Crosshair was silent as usual, but waved back, then flopped down on the couch next to her, laying down so his legs hung over the armrest and his head was right next to her legs. 

“Good mission?” she asked cheerfully. 

“Mhm,” Crosshair grunted. 

“You two were gone a long time.”

“Mhm.”

“Did you get the bad guys?”

“Mhm.”

“Did you have fun?”

“Mmmm… mm-mm,” Crosshair said with a slight shake of his head.

“No? I’m sorry,” Lily said, running her hand through his short cropped hair. “Well you’re home now, you can relax.” Crosshair grunted a laugh. 

“Knowin’ Hunter he’s just gonna keep working. Reports ‘n mission logs, all that,” he said, cracking open an eye to look at Hunter. Hunter looked back at Crosshair with a tired smile. 

“Someone’s gotta do it,” he said. “You rest.”

Crosshair laughed. “You know him,” he muttered to Lily, though Hunter could still hear. “Always gotta be a big damn hero.”

Crosshair fell silent after that, except for the hungry rumbling in his stomach that Hunter could still hear. It didn’t seem to be quite loud enough for anyone else to yet though, and neither was Hunter’s stomach yet, despite how hungry he was. 

That’s how it went for about an hour. Crosshair dozing on the couch, Lily drawing next to him, Hunter working on mission logs and reports. The hum of a nearby generator provided a low, constant background noise, blending with the occasional drip of water from the cavernous ceiling. That, and of course all the while he can hear his and Crosshair’s stomach giving soft, hungry little gurgles. Every once in a while he felt his stomach clench particularly hard and he’d hold his breath, desperately trying to hide his hunger, and hoping his stomach wouldn’t rumble too loud. He tried to concentrate, but his mind just kept drifting to food…

Warm juicy meat, steaming thick stews, dense aromatic bread, visions of these filled Hunter’s head as he tried to work, and made his mouth water. His stomach clenched, shifting and gurgling with hunger as the images worked into his mind outside his will. It all looked so good, so filling. He took a few drinks of water, hoping it would keep his stomach quiet, but it only made his hunger sharper. 

But as it turns out, he didn’t exactly need to worry about his stomach deciding to make itself known, as a loud, desperate rumbling noise came from behind him. 

Crosshair grimaced as his stomach gave a plaintive growl, his face turning red. His eyes were already closed but he somehow wished he could close them more, like it would help with the embarrassment. 

“Crosshair?” Lily’s voice came from above him. “Are you hungry?”

“Mm-mm,” Crosshair said immediately, shaking his head again. Maybe she would think it’s just a noise from the base. Usually the walls settling didn’t sound like a stomach, but she might believe it if–

Grooooooowwwwwlll

…If his stomach didn’t decide to do it again. 

“It’s no use lying, Crosshair,” Hunter said. “I’ve been listening to your stomach rumbling for hours anyways. You’re starved.”

“Oh and you’re doing so much better, are you?” Crosshair snapped, looking up at Hunter. Hunter opened his mouth to speak, but it seems his stomach decided to fill in for him, as it too gave a starved rumble, forcing him to place a hand on his belly. He grimaced as well, and if it weren’t for his slightly darker skin then he would be just as red as Crosshair was now. 

“Hours??” Lily asked, looking down at Crosshair in surprise. Crosshair laid a hand protectively over his middle and spoke, not meeting her eyes. If he had though, he would’ve seen what Hunter did, which was a small blush coloring her cheeks, and a sparkle of interest in her eyes. 

“We didn’t have enough rations for this mission, it took longer than we thought,” Crosshair said. “They only give us so many for each mission, so… we ran out.”

Lily’s eyes followed as she heard Crosshair’s stomach rumble again, and he rubbed his hand over it. He could feel the vibration under his hand, his stomach was really begging now…

“When was the last time you ate?” she asked, looking up at Hunter this time. Again, that spark of interest was in her eye, but Hunter couldn’t tell if it was concern or… something else.

“Lily really, don’t worry, it’s not–” Hunter’s stomach cut him off with a deep groan, and his flush got deeper. “...Yesterday. At lunch, that was when the ration packs ran out.”

Lily’s blush deepened as her eyes immediately jumped to his belly, and it confirmed Hunter’s suspicions. She was enjoying this. She did seem concerned, a bit, but there was some part of her that seemed to enjoy their hunger. He smirked a little, and watched as her eyes grew a little wider when he placed his hand on his stomach, and started rubbing it. 

“Wow, you must be starving,” Lily said, her eyes still trained on Hunter’s stomach. Crosshair pulled a face however, and shook his head again. 

“It’s really not bad, I’m not that hungry,” he said. His stomach gave a low moan however, rumbling out its displeasure plainly. He sighed and punched a fist into his stomach, swearing under his breath. 

“Well don’t do that!” Lily exclaimed, and she quickly pulled Crosshair’s arm away and put her hand on his belly, giving it soft, gentle rubs. She could feel his stomach growling under her hand, starved rumbles making his way through his abdomen even though not all of them were audible. He felt just as hungry as he sounded, and her face flushed even harder as she stared at his belly. 

Crosshair himself however stared up at her in confusion, looking from his stomach to her face and back again. It felt… good, to have her rub his belly. He hated it, in a way, his stomach growling was just so embarrassing, but her rubbing his abdomen… that might not be so bad. It certainly helped with the feeling of hunger at least. It didn’t exactly ease his hunger, but the pressure felt rather nice. 

At least, until it caused a deep, starved growl to erupt from his stomach, so loud that she could surely feel it in her fingers, and he could feel it reverberate in his ribcage. He pressed his hand over hers, pushing her hand deeper into his stomach as he gave a small groan alongside his stomach. Hunter was right, there wasn’t much use in denying it anymore. She could feel it just as much as he could. 

“I’m starving,” Crosshair mumbled. 

Lily herself felt like she could barely conceal her excitement. The feeling of Crosshair’s stomach against her hand–was she gonna pass out? Fainting from hunger that’s not even her own, how silly that would be! How red was her face? It felt like it was on fire. She was going to combust, right here on the couch. Maybe the smell of the smoke would make their bellies growl louder…

Lily shook herself and snapped back to reality, looking down at Crosshair’s belly rumbling against her hand. 

“Y-You poor things!” Lily exclaimed, putting a hand to her cheek in an attempt to get it to cool down. “I should make you something to eat! Y-You both must be too tired to make anything–I-I can make whatever you want!”

“Joppa stew,” Hunter said immediately. Crosshair and Lily looked back up at him in time to see him clutch his belly as it growled at the mention of the food. He kept his eyes on Lily though, an analytical look in them. 

“J-Joppa stew?” she asked. 

“Doesn’t that take an hour or two to make?” Crosshair spoke up. “Couldn’t we–”

“No, no I think what we really need is some Joppa stew,” Hunter said, giving Crosshair a look. Crosshair frowned at him, but nodded. 

“Yeah, uh, actually that does sound pretty good right about now Lily,” he says. His stomach rumbles again, clearly disagreeing and definitely wanting something at more of the NOW time, but Lily jumped up anyways. 

“I-I’ll go get started!” she said, and she scurried into the kitchen area. Crosshair swung his legs off the armrest and sat up, glaring at Hunter. 

“What the hell? I’m damn near starving over here and you go and tell her to make something that will take until midnight to get done?” he says. His middle gives another growl and he gives it another punch, snapping at it under his breath as his face turns a brighter red. 

“She told ya not to do that,” Hunter said, gesturing at the fist in Crosshair’s stomach. “And if you hadn’t noticed,” he said, leaning down to speak in a lower tone to him, “our Lily seems to be enjoying this.”

Crosshair frowns and looks up at him. 

“Enjoying what?”

“This,” Hunter says, pressing a couple fingers into his stomach and causing it to growl deeply. Crosshair’s eyes widened, but he looked at Hunter like he was crazy. 

“I–What? No, she’s not–” he looked in the direction that Lily left, then back at Hunter. “Is… is that why she put her hand…?” 

“Don’t act like you didn’t enjoy that too,” Hunter said with a laugh. “I saw your face. You liked that just as much as she did.” He gave Crosshair’s belly a poke, earning a distressed gurgle in return. “Who knew the tough guy here liked belly rubs?”

“Shut–I do not!” Crosshair snapped, but his face turned a brighter red than it had all day. Another growl erupted from his abdomen at that moment, and he quickly clutched his middle and stood up. “I’m going to the kitchen.”

Hunter laughed and followed him in. 

The kitchen corner of the base was a modest but functional setup, tucked away in an alcove near the common area. It had clearly been pieced together from salvaged parts and repurposed equipment. The centerpiece was a battered but sturdy cooking unit, its surface blackened from years of use. The controls were a mix of original knobs and makeshift replacements—some patched with tape, others replaced with scavenged components from droid panels.

A few shelves lined the walls. They were stocked with an eclectic mix of supplies: ration packs, jars of pickled alien fruits, vacuum-sealed grains, and an assortment of spices in mismatched containers. Hanging from hooks along the wall were an array of cooking utensils, from long-handled ladles to a thin knife for precision cutting.

A small, round dining table sat nearby, its surface scratched but clean, surrounded by mismatched chairs scavenged from across the galaxy. The air carried a permanent medley of scents—burnt spices, roasted meat, and old ration packs.

Just the faint smell of food was enough to make Hunter and Crosshair’s stomachs growl loudly, reverberating around the kitchen. Both raised a hand to rub at their bellies, not that it helped much. Hunter actually knew for a fact that it only made a person hungrier, rubbing their stomach. He’d spent plenty of time nursing a starved middle when he wasn’t given enough rations for a mission, like on this one. 

Lily looked up from her spot at the counter at the sound of their hunger, and she grinned widely. “I’m almost done cutting up the vegetables for the stew! And I’ll get to work on cooking the meat soon–You guys are going to love it, it’ll taste so much better than those dry ration packs. No ‘nutritional cubes’ in this, this is real food!”

Hunter’s stomach moaned desperately at this, and by this point he’d learned not to take his hand away from his middle. Not only did it help just for rubbing it, but Lily seemed to be particularly entranced when he did so. He pressed his fingers into his belly, causing the growl to be drawn out for longer, crying out so desperately for food. 

“Damn, you really are hungry, huh Hunter?” Crosshair teased. He was sitting at a stool by the counter, directly across from where Lily was cutting up the food. Hunter sighed and sat next to him. 

“Starved,” he said, unwilling to deny or avoid it any longer. “My stomach’s been growling non-stop all day. Even last night, when I was trying to sleep. I’m surprised it didn’t wake up Crosshair in the middle of the night with how loud it was.”

“It was loud?” Lily asked, dumping the vegetables in a pot of water. Hunter smiled. 

“Not as loud as it is now, but it was rumbling so much it felt like my stomach was shaking,” he said. “I bet if you touched it now, you’d feel it shaking.”

Lily nearly dropped her cutting board trying to set it down, squeaking a little in surprise. 

“I-If I touched it!?” she squeaked. “O-Oh my–you–I–um–”

“You know I think you’re right, Hunter,” Crosshair said, laughing a little. “I think she does like this! You like this don’t you?”

“Wh–I don’t know what you’re talking about!!” Lily stammered, and she quickly turned back to the pot on the stove and stirred the broth, letting steam fill the air. The smell caused Crosshair’s belly to growl deeply, making him press his fist into it rather hard. He seems to have compromised punching his stomach with simply being rough with it. Still, Lily didn’t seem to think that was enough. 

“I-I told you to stop that!” she said, her voice somehow still nervous but stern at the same time. Crosshair rolled his eyes at her. 

“If you want someone to be gentle with it, you’re gonna have to find a gentle person to do that instead, I’m too hungry to be patient with it right now!” he snapped. Hunter raised an eyebrow. 

“Crosshair, you can just tell her what you want, you know,” Hunter said. “She clearly likes rubbing your stomach already, I’m sure she wouldn’t mind doing it again.”

Both Crosshair and Lily went so red in their faces Hunter was sure they’d both combust into fire right in the kitchen. 

“WHAT–No, no I do not need any more–I’m perfectly fine!” Crosshair stammered quickly, but his stomach gave another desperate growl at that moment, so loud that it echoed around the room. In that moment Crosshair sighed and rubbed his brow, still red in the face but also still unwilling to admit what he wanted. Hunter laughed and addressed Lily. 

“He did like what you did back there. He won’t admit it, but if you rubbed his belly after you were done with the food, I’m sure he’d be happier than ever. Or, as happy as Crosshair can get,” Hunter said, nudging his friend in the shoulder. Crosshair looked at Hunter with a glare, as he so often did, but his eyes softened when they fell on Lily. 

He shrugged, as if to say “he’s not wrong.”

And Lily grinned widely, her face still flushed, and started again on their food. They teased each other over how loud their stomachs were beginning to be as the cooking process went on, Crosshair and Hunter both swallowing hard as their mouths watered, desperate growls filling in any space not occupied by words. Just when they thought it couldn’t get worse though, Lily started cooking the meat. 

The sound that their stomachs made was so loud that Hunter was certain he could feel it in the chair he was sitting on, and he was only barely keeping himself from drooling. He was so hungry, all he could think about was how desperately he wanted that food. His stomach whined and pleaded for it, growling like a starved animal in a cave. 

And when the food was finally placed in front of him… you’d think those two hadn’t eaten in days. Especially Crosshair, who’s stomach was now being rubbed by Lily, only coaxing more and more famished growls from his belly. 

“Fuck, I’m so hungry,” Crosshair moaned as he ate his stew quickly. His stomach grumbled heavily under Lily’s fingers, growling loudly even though he was eating, like it was digesting so fast he couldn’t keep up. They had second helpings. Thirds. Fourths. Crosshair himself needed a fifth, with how desperate his stomach had become from Lily’s gentle rubbing. 

By the end their bellies had swelled out so much they stuck out tight against their uniforms, gurgling happily with all the food packed inside. Hunter felt Lily reach out and give his swollen middle a soft rub, and he smiled at the quiet gurgles it emitted. Lily led them back to the couch with a smile, and she had them lay down next to her, rubbing their swollen bellies until they finally got the rest they deserved. 

[riewritten]

QUESTIONS WITHOUT ANSWERS ˚ · . READ ON AO3

『JOHAN LIEBERT x GENDER-NEUTRAL!READER』

˚ · .─ SYNOPSIS: Set a decade after the monster's last havoc in Runenheim; he managed to settle someplace nobody knew him, resolute to wander alone until his questions were answered. Needless to say, a companion who'd be willing to stay amid his solitude was the last thing he expected on this journey.

˚ · .─ TAGS: post-canon, developing friendships, romance, fluff, soft johan (whew), pining, domestic bliss, acts of service, johan acting like a male wife when he's just a friend lol, johan is soft but his unremorseful tendencies still show itself if you squint hard enough. ˚ · .─ WORDS: 5.8k

⭒ ⊹ ⭒ hapee holiday season, everyone! here's a christmas gift for my johan lovers:)

You come by Johan's crib after a long day of work. The door's open and there’s a faint albeit very comforting scent of smoke oozing out of the kitchen—your favorite soup. You knock softly (as if Johan didn't already sense your arrival with the clanks of your feet from the hallway; he had come to memorize your footsteps at this point). You find him by the stove, stirring something, movements deliberately slow.

“Smells good,” you say, voice light but sincere.

He doesn’t turn immediately, focus maintained on the pot. "It's just a simple dish. I thought you might be hungry."

He says it as if it's nothing. As if he just coincidentally thought of cooking your favorite dish. You smile, walking over to the table where a fresh and warm buttered loaf of bread awaits.

“You always know exactly what I need.”

Johan almost lets out a small, almost imperceptible chuckle, still not looking at you. "I'm learning."

The first time you met Johan, it was in the bookstore you both frequented, the perfect place to disappear for hours in the quiet maze of shelves. You got to know him by the murmurs first then speaking to him second. It was the constant whispers of the librarians and regulars about a blonde man who seemed to have nothing in his closet but turtlenecks and trousers, yet the awe in their voices spoke volumes—albeit in hushed tones—as it tipped from intimidation to admiration. “He’s beautiful, isn’t he?” one of them had said once, “like straight out of a painting.” “I know,” replied the companion, her voice barely above a whisper. “But doesn’t he feel… untouchable? I wouldn’t dare.” You’d followed their gazes and caught the sight of him for the very first time. Seated by the large window in the philosophy section, he was a picture of quiet solitude. His blonde hair caught the sunlight like spun gold, but it was his stillness that struck you most. Calm and composed—indeed he must be carved from stone. Since then, you’d noticed the way others seemed to orbit around him, drawn in by his presence but never daring to get too close. “I hope someone gets the gall to talk to him,” you overheard one of the librarians mutter once. “It’s a pity seeing him alone all the time when he spends most of his days here. I get he might prefer it that way, but still…” The words had stuck with you, stirring a strange kind of curiosity. Who was he, this man who seemed to command so much attention yet cold enough to remain distant? Oh, if only you knew what the future holds for you two, you wouldn't be so nervous about it.

“Why are you laughing?”

When you snap out of it, the stove’s already closed and Johan’s attention is full at you. Needless to say, you’re flushed, but you at least manage to smile and say, “Nothing. Just remembered something funny.”

“Great,” he blankly muses as he carries the food to the dining area. “At least we’ve got something to talk about over dinner.”

The first time you gathered the needed gall to approach him yourself was when you were wandering the aisles. He was in his usual spot with a small stack of books aside. His posture was relaxed, one hand cradling a book while the other resting on the arm of his chair. The whispers you had heard didn’t do him justice. He was striking, indeed, but there was something else, something intangible—a quiet volume in his presence hiding beneath the tranquility. It was the same volume that made you hesitate, and so you lingered by the shelves first.  It wasn't until the librarian’s words echoed in your mind. “It’s a pity seeing him alone all the time…” Before you could talk yourself out of it, you stepped forward and blurted out (casually, or so you hoped), “What are you reading?” When his gaze met yours, you felt the air shift. His eyes were the clearest shade of blue you had ever seen, perhaps akin to a lake hiding depths you’ll never reach. Looking back at it, you might’ve been right during that moment, for there are still so many things you don’t know about Johan even now. Going back, Johan took his own time, as if weighing your question, and for a fleeting second, you think he might ignore you entirely. Fortunately, he tilted the book slightly so you could see the cover. “Being and Time,” he said, voice as quiet as the space around you. You’d expect his voice to be deep and manly, but his soft-spoken tone didn’t disappoint you either. In fact, you might’ve liked it more than you imagined. “Heidegger,” you say, mostly to fill the space. “That’s… a lot to unpack.” A faint smile touched his lips, though it didn’t quite reach his eyes. “It is.” Then he closed the book in a manner so poised that it felt almost reverent. “Have you read it?” You shook your head. “Not yet. Philosophy’s always been a little intimidating. Too many questions, not enough answers. Not my thing.” For a brief moment, however, you thought it'd be nice to pretend you liked it just so you could talk to him longer. His smile lingered, softer this time. “That’s the point, isn’t it? The questions.” “And you like that?” you took a small step closer. “Questions without answers?” He leaned back slightly, considering you with a quiet curiosity that mirrored your own. “I think it’s better than answers without questions.” “Not really.” He raised his brows, and it didn’t take him too long to signal his hand on the spare chair in front of him, inviting you to his table so you could expound on your answer. You realized then that talking to Johan means having to deal with his words hanging often in the air, and even now you still find yourself caught between wanting to unravel his meaning and simply basking in the way he says it. Amid his tranquil is a tension, that invisible string pulled taut just before it breaks.

And, with that said…

“You don’t talk much about your past,” you start, voice almost shy. “I respect that. But I think I need to understand. Not for me, but for you. We’ve been friends for a while now.”

Johan doesn’t answer immediately. His fingers are wrapped around his cup, staring at the dark liquid inside as though it could offer him the answers. You’re right, all you know about him is that he’s named Johan. He’s past his thirties. He seems to like your company over dinner or while reading his daily dose of books. He likes spending the rest of his day in the library where you two first met after he’s done with his informal job of tutoring children around the neighborhood for a small price—because to quote one parent, “Mr. Johan is good at children! They love him,”—which almost made him chuckle sardonically at one point, only if he wasn’t with you at the time it was said.

He has always been careful with his words, but this time, he seems to hesitate a little longer than usual. Finally, he speaks, albeit his voice is quiet, almost a whisper.

“I’m not the person you think I am, you see…” he starts, and with that simple remark, he's able to deduce that he's not ready to talk about it at all. "...but the past is a weight deplorable people like me are not willing to carry. 

Not that he ever would be ready to talk about it, with you no less. Johan had spent so much time hiding his true self for the past decade not any more thrilled to see the reactions of others who’d come to know who he really was, even more not willing to see your reaction once you learn all of it, too.

But needless to say what he just said is progress. This is the first time in a decade that he has admitted out loud that he is a deplorable being. And that couldn’t be truer for him because even now as you talk, Johan still has no plan to carry the burden of his sins the way his victims would want to. 

He is, in fact, stuck in here, wandering aimlessly, still struggling to understand the need for it, still wanting to see the world the way those people had seen it. The vision doesn’t appear to him no matter how many books he reads, how many buoyant children he tutors, or how many happy parents he comes across. 

Then why does he allow you to see him little by little if he fails to understand it all?

“What only matters for me right now is what’s here,” He gestures around, eyes briefly meeting yours. “This. You.”

You don’t know what to say, but the fire starts feeling a bit warmer after that remark.

On Johan’s end, he seems to have formed some kind of enlightenment with his remark, too. 

Here, in his little crib, with you by his side, he’s slowly but finally allowing himself to be seen (in ways he can and knows how) for the monster that he is, and it's all thanks to your presence. His growing fondness for you has the potential of freeing him from his aimless wandering. And if this fondness, perchance, starts developing for other people as well (to your neighbors, to the kids he tutors, to the parents trusting him, to the librarians doing favors for his books), he believes he could finally start seeing the world the way those people have seen it.

“But I don’t need to know what you’ve done or whatever it is that makes you ‘deplorable’," you quote in the air. "I just want to know you."

And his questions will be answered. And, in time, Johan can finally face the weight of his sins with full understanding.

He looks at you then, his gaze steady and calm. “You already do.”

On the second, third, fourth, and perhaps even fifth time you two came across each other at the library, you had always pretended to see him coincidentally (feigning shock with a high-pitched “Oh hi there, Johan! Didn’t know you were there! It’s been a while! How are you?” that you prayed he didn’t find annoying) because, little did Johan know, your intrigue had been keeping you up at night. You frequented the library—with all sorts of books and topics diverse—to quench your curiosity about lots of things. But with this blonde man, how could your curiosity about him be quenched if not through this? At times, you thought he’d seen through your friendship scheme, but your inner demons brushed off the thought. After all, how could he tell that these moments were, in fact, not coincidental when you two were known by the librarians for frequently requesting library cards because the old ones had been too full to fill up? You glanced at the stack of books beside him and realized that they have a rather eclectic mix—existentialism, psychology, classic literature. “You have a theme going,” you say, nodding toward them. He followed your gaze. “These authors had… interesting ways of seeing the world. I like to understand how people think.” The faintest edge to his voice, however, made you wonder if he was speaking about others—or himself. “Do you ever agree with them?” “Not always, but understanding isn’t about agreement. It’s about perspective.” You nodded then, rendered into silence, unsure how to respond. There was a weight to his words that felt out of proportion to the simplicity of the conversation. But you didn’t mind. If anything, it makes you want to keep talking to him.  “I’m sorry—” you said suddenly, realizing you had been standing there for far too long. “I didn’t mean to interrupt you. I just couldn’t help but notice. I’ll be off then! Have a great time.” When his gaze met yours again, there was a flicker of something softer. “It’s not an interruption,” and for the first time, his voice held a hint of warmth. “Sometimes, a conversation can say more than a book.” You smiled at that, feeling a strange, inexplicable comfort in his words. “Well, if you ever need someone to talk to about… questions without answers, I’m around!” He didn’t respond immediately, but his expression shifted, the faintest trace of curiosity mingling with something you can’t quite name. “I’ll keep that in mind,” he said at last, and though his words are polite, there’s a quiet sincerity to them that makes you believe him.

After dinner, the quiet hum of the night wraps around you as you sit in Johan’s small, meticulously organized living space. The fire dwindles to a much softer glow, casting long shadows across the room before you notice Johan's gaze flickering between the firelight and you. His hands rest loosely on the arm of his chair, seemingly content in the silence. His stillness betrays a quiet attentiveness though—for he's always aware, always considering.

“You didn’t eat much,” says Johan, proving your musings. It's not an accusation either, just an old flat remark on his end.

You shake your head, smiling softly. “I wasn’t that hungry earlier.”

He gets up without a word, movements unhurried as he disappears into the small kitchen. You hear the faint clink of a ladle against a pot and the gentle hiss of steam as he pours something. Moments later, Johan returns with a steaming bowl of soup and a slice of bread.

“Eat."

You hesitate for a moment before picking up the spoon, letting the warmth of the soup seep into your hands. “You don’t have to take care of me like this, you know?”

“I know,” he says simply before meeting your eyes, the usual coolness softened by something you couldn’t quite decipher. 

The soup is more than perfect, though—rich and comforting as always—and he knows you'd feel guilty if you don't eat it. “I don’t know how you do it,” you mumble in between, “but you always make things feel… manageable? I don’t know.”

He tilts his head slightly, as though considering your words. “Do expound."

"I’d rather not."

The chuckle he lets out with your statement has made it more difficult for you to hide your fluster, but much to your relief, Johan doesn't press you further.

The same chuckle wraps every crevice of your body with warmth. Oh, to have a friend taking care of you like this. His solitude can be dreary, but so utterly comfortable nonetheless.

Making Johan live next to you will always be one of the proudest decisions you ever made.

It was approximately three months after those fateful (intentional) encounters, that the library had become a haven for you both. Your quiet camaraderie grew into something akin to a routine. You’d share the same table, absorbed in your respective books, the soft rustle of pages turning creating a rhythm that felt comforting in its simplicity. Occasionally, you’d catch Johan glancing at you, and there would go his unreadable gaze for a moment before returning to his book. That time, you were engrossed in a novel while Johan seemed to be studying Hegel. The silence between you was companionable, feeling like you had carved out your own little world amidst the whispers and movements of the library. But the spell broke when Johan spoke, “May I ask you a favor?” Not that it annoyed you. It actually did quite the opposite. Johan, this guy, asking you a favor? He rarely initiated conversations in the first place! Still, you tried to be calm about it, settling down your book with poise and all. “Of course, what is it?” “I’ve been considering moving to a quieter neighborhood. The place I currently reside in… lacks a certain tranquility.” You tilted your head, “Quieter, huh? You don’t strike me as someone who’d tolerate noise for long.” He gave you a faint but genuine smile. “It’s not the noise itself. It’s the... atmosphere. I’d prefer somewhere where the days feel less hurried.” “I might know a few places. My neighborhood is pretty quiet, actually. There’s a lot of greenery, and the people keep to themselves. It’s the kind of place where you can choose to go weeks without bumping into your neighbors or talk to them to your heart's content.” His eyes lit up very slightly, but that rare glimmer of interest in his face made your heart skip. “That sounds ideal. Do you happen to know of any available apartments?” You hesitated, mind racing. The apartment beside yours had been vacant for months. It wasn’t anything fancy, but it was cozy, with a small balcony overlooking the courtyard. The thought of Johan living next door—of sharing more than just library visits—has kept your tongue tied for a while. “A-actually… there’s a place right next to mine.” But hey, at least you were still trying to sound casual about it. “It’s quiet, and the landlord’s a nice guy. I can give you the details if you’re interested.” “That’s very kind of you. If it’s not too much trouble, I’d appreciate it.” “Not at all!” you replied quickly, perhaps too eagerly. “I can show you the place after we leave here if you’d like.” “That would be helpful. Thank you.”

And now, as you go back to the present, you wonder why you’ve been feeling a bit too nostalgic lately, though it doesn’t stay unanswered when you glance at Johan’s calendar.

This day, last year, was the time you started sneaking on his spot at the library to initiate a talk. Reflecting on it now, your stupid tactics will never be something you’ll regret. He’s one of your closest friends now. 

Johan’s friendship isn’t one for grand gestures, but it becomes clear that his acts of care are his way of expressing what he’d prefer not to put into words. A favorite book you’d mentioned in passing has appeared on his coffee table. A small vase of daffodils now sits on the windowsill the next time you visit. His dinners are always for two, even when you show up unannounced—and if, for instance, you try to ask him about it, he’d just casually shrug and say, “I just ended up cooking a lot. Eat it while it’s hot.” More, and more, and more. It’s as though Johan is slowly turning his house into your own, too.

The same goes for the stuff you accidentally leave at his place. Your scarf? You’d see it neatly folded on the chair by the door the day after. Feeling a bit too cold during the evening? There, he has a blanket ready before you could even ask. 

One night, you arrive at his house later than usual, steps heavy from a particularly grueling day. The door's unlocked, as it has been when he expects you.

“Johan?” you call, shrugging off your coat.

“In here,” comes his voice from the kitchen.

You follow the sound and find him standing by the stove while stirring a pot. The dim light casts a warm hue over him; his sharp features soften along the way.

He glances at you briefly, offering a small nod. “Long day?”

You lean against the doorway with a tired sigh. “You have no idea.”

Without a word, he turns off the stove and begins ladling soup into a bowl. He sets it on the table, gesturing for you to sit.

He sits across from you, his own bowl untouched. Then there goes his gaze, lingering on you, unintrusive but steady, as though he's reading every line of exhaustion on your face and filing it away.

“You should take a break."

You smiled wryly. “From what? Life?”

“From pushing yourself too hard."

His words hang in the air, simple yet profound. You nod, not trusting yourself to speak. Johan’s protection of your peace became a natural extension of his care for you. He never pushed you to do anything for him. He never asked for more than you were willing to give. But he shows up. Every day. Quietly. Steadily. 

The warmth of this dinner where Johan casually asks about your day, muses about his, shares the books he had read, makes you chuckle at the tomfooleries of children he has tutored, and more has been consuming you. It doesn’t take long until you finally work up the courage to ask a question that’s been lingering in your mind for quite some time.

 “Why do you do all this for me?”

Johan looks at you, his expression unreadable. For a moment, you think he might deflect, as he so often does when conversations edge too close to vulnerability. But then, he answers, his voice quieter than usual.

“Because you stay.”

The simplicity of his words struck you. Johan, who has always been careful, always guarded, is telling you more than you realize.

“I stay because I want to."

His gaze doesn’t waver, but you notice the subtle shift in his expression—a faint, almost imperceptible relaxation.

“I know,” he replies, and for the first time, there's a hint of something like certainty in his voice.

With the winter deepening and the night growing colder, the warmth inside Johan’s home never falters. The conversations drift to lighter topics—books you’d read, places you wanted to visit, small dreams you’d never share with anyone else. Johan listens intently, his focus unwavering.

“I think you’d like the mountains,” he says at one point. “Quiet. Peaceful.”

You smile. “You make it sound perfect.”

“Well, it could be.” His gaze lingers on you for a moment longer than usual. “Don't you think so?”

There's something in his tone—something unspoken, undecipherable, and yet undeniable. You realize something that made your heart ache and swell all at once: Johan isn’t just taking care of you. He's allowing you to take care of him, too, in the only way he knows how: by letting you stay. And, just like what happened just now, his likes and preferences will slip out of his mouth without him noticing from time to time, albeit much of them still projected as something you might like instead.

It's not easy for him, you know. But every bowl of soup, every blanket, every quiet moment shared in his little home is his way of saying what he couldn’t bring himself to say outright.

And for now, that is enough.

Johan’s care remains consistent, though you begin to notice small changes in his interactions with you.

His gaze often lingers a second longer, softening in ways you don’t know how to interpret—maybe it even softens a little too much especially when you’re telling him about your days. And his voice—oh, his voice that has bewitched you since the first time you had heard it in the library—recently it lowers in an almost tender way, his tone more perceptive of what you need even before you realize it yourself. 

Then there goes the gestures. An extra blanket he drapes over your shoulders on particularly cold nights. A cup of tea that spawns on the table whenever he notices your mood falter. A brush of his hand against yours when he steadies you under the weight of too many things. All these moments feel small, insignificant even, and yet they’ve become harder and harder to ignore. 

Maybe it’s a you problem (even though you tried your very best to stop the thoughts, to be fair) but oftentimes you can’t help but ask, has he always been this way?

No way Johan could like you, that much you know. But if we’re talking about you and the things under your sphere, the feelings that you can control, what would you answer if he came one day to ask if you still like him as a friend, or if it has progressed to something more dangerous—what would you tell him, then?

Fortunately, the Christmas season has brought a whirlwind of gatherings—giving you the space that you need from your colleagues. And for the night of Christmas itself, you’ve chosen to attend one with your friends instead of having dinner with him. It’s not that you don’t enjoy his company; you do, perhaps a bit too much, even, but you thought a change of pace would help clear your head.

You never intended to get yourself wasted, but the way you kept thinking of him during the gathering, spacing out, wondering if he managed to cook his own dinner or if he ‘accidentally’ made it again for two. At one point you even considered excusing yourself early just so you could go back home—to him. Oh god, you’re doomed indeed.

Hours later, the cold night air hits you as you stumble back to your apartment, the warmth of good food and too much wine still buzzing in your veins. While fumbling with your keys in the dark, you notice a figure standing at the door next to yours.

Johan.

His posture is impeccable as always, but his face is unreadable, bathed in the soft light of the hallway lamp. His sharp eyes meet yours, flickering briefly to the keys trembling in your hand.

“How long have you been—”

“You’re late.” His voice is rather calm, but there’s a note of something you can’t quite place.

“Merry Christmas, Johan,” you smile softly, the silly intoxicated mind finding his concern oddly amusing. “But oh, wait! Sorry, you told me you don’t celebrate holidays, right? Silly me,” you sway slightly. “Still, I bought you a gift, but I—hic—I left it inside. Maybe you can accompany me inside so y—you could, uh… what was I gonna say again?”

“You’re drunk,” he states the obvious with eyes narrowing ever so slightly.

“No, I’m, hehe, not.” Though your keys clatter to the floor as if your body is mocking your denial. “Shit. I don’t have a spare key.” Disappointment so palpable as if the keys falling to the floor renders it unusable.

Johan sighs, bending to retrieve them with effortless grace. Without another word, he steps forward, unlocks your door, and gently guides you inside.

The warmth of your apartment envelops you, and you’re too tipsy to protest as Johan helps you to the couch. He disappears momentarily and returns with a glass of water.

“Drink.” His tone leaves no room for argument. You comply, sipping obediently, though you can’t help but watch him as he hovers nearby, his movements ever careful and deliberate, as though he’s weighing every action. When you finish, he takes the glass from your hands and sets it aside. “You should lie down.”

You nod. But then, Johan doesn’t accompany you to your room. He instead readies himself to leave. Why would he leave? He turns off the lights, assuming you are indeed on your way to your bedroom, and then bids you good night.

No.

The room spins slightly as you try to reach out to him. You fail miserably though, but Johan’s fast reaction steadies you immediately. He picks you up by the arm before you can even fall, “You okay?”

“Don’t leave.”

Johan squints his eyes, his thoughts lurking towards something. “Did something happen at the gathering? Did someone perhaps—”

“No, I—” you stammer because Johan’s proximity seems to have sobered you up. He gently sits your flailing body on the floor. He’s crouching, though his hold on your shoulder didn’t cease. “I just…I just realized something.”

He hums, waiting for you ever so gently to respond.

The same gentleness that pushes you off the edge.

“I like you.”

But the lights are off. You wouldn’t see Johan’s reaction.

The silence stretches painfully, and it doesn’t take long until you feel a pang of regret. “I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to disappoint you.”

For a moment, he doesn’t respond, and you think he might leave. But then he speaks, his voice quiet, almost strained. “You didn’t disappoint me,” he says finally, and you find it strange how that simple—perhaps even empty—clarification plucked out a thorn in your vein. “It’s just that you don’t know what you’re saying right now.”

“I do,” you insist despite the haze in your mind. Your eyes scan everything else but his face above, trying to articulate it in a way he’d believe. “I’ve liked you since we met at the library. I pretended to come across you accidentally just so we could have something to talk about. I��I used to sit there for hours just hoping we’d talk. It kept me awake at night… thinking about you, about the way you look when you read. I thought I was just like that because I wanted to be your friend so bad, but I—” you exhale, ragged, exhausted. “I don’t think it passed even when we became close. There go your habits, and how you’re so kind to me… I can’t deny it any further and pretend I just want to be friends.”

Your words trail off, and the silence thereafter has felt suffocating. Johan remains unmoved, his posture rigid, and you can’t help but wonder what’s going on inside his head.

“Let's talk about it tomorrow…” Johan starts. “When you’re sober.”

“Okay…”

And yet, no one dares to move.

You finally look up after five minutes or so, and there you catch Johan’s gaze lingering on you—not piercing, but steady, contemplative. His hands rest loosely on your shoulders, yet you notice the slight tension in his fingers, the faint clench, and release as though he’s holding something back.

“You’ve been quiet,” you finally say, voice softer than intended, eyes up at him and nothing else.

“So have you,” he replies, and though his tone is even, there’s something in the way his eyes flicker to yours, then away, as if he’s caught in something too raw to name.

There goes the silence again, not because it’s awkward but because something has changed. Your body can sense it—the urge to move just a bit higher so you can reach his face, perhaps cup his cheeks just a bit, and maybe a small kiss on the forehead too…? Your heart flutters like a bird aching to be let out. Your feelings for Johan have been climbing higher than you ever intended tonight. And yet, the way he looks at you now, guarded but searching, makes you wonder if he feels even a fraction of what you do.

“Johan,” you say, voice trembling, “I…”

He looks at you again but in a manner quite different from how he usually reacts whenever you call his name. Still, you don’t let it scare you off. 

“I don’t care if you can’t carry the weight of your past,” you say, the words spilling out like water from a dam. “I just want to be with you, and… maybe—”

It’s just that you don’t get to finish.

Johan leans in fast; you feel the time pacing a bit quicker, perhaps so it could cater to your shock. His hold on your cheek is gentle and controlled, but the way he meets your lips fervently speaks the urgency of it, as though he’s been waiting for this moment longer than he’s willing to admit.

And so when you do more than push him away, your hand tentatively reaching for his arm instead—he deepens it further, his restraint crumbling just enough to let you feel his response to your confession. After all, what Johan lacks in words he always compensates in action. His care has always been consistent and predictable in its subtlety and restraint, thus making his lack of control and patience right now unusual and out of character. But even then, his lips have a careful precision that still feels so him.

Oftentimes you'd wonder how Johan's skin would feel against yours. He barely looks alive so you thought he'd feel cold. But oh how wrong you are. His hand languidly slides to your back, and then he abruptly pulls your body towards him. It's warm, perhaps too much that it overwhelms you. His heart is beating fast, the needed confirmation that this affects him just the same.

Johan’s movements feel as though he himself is unfamiliar with this feeling—as if this is the first time he's had this reaction. Your mind then races with questions. Does this mean he feels the same? Or is this meant to keep me guessing? What happens after this? 

The thoughts melt away when he pulls away, eyes lidded, lips puffed. “Johan, what—”

Only to kiss you harder again. Perhaps he did because he felt your attention drifting away from him. It’s as if to say you wanted this to happen, so relish it without thinking about anything else. This sudden assertion after keeping himself subtle is doing something in your brain.

Johan seems to take pleasure in your reactions, too—the way you pant as your lips pressed together, your hands clinging onto the waves of his hair, and when you slip out a little moan because his hands slide into your shirt to feel the heat of your back, you feel him smile. Then he becomes more passionate. More desperate. More longing. And in this moment, Johan feels more reachable, more understandable.

Perhaps his lack of usual poise also says a lot about how he’s still doing everything in his power right now to hold back, and he’s asking you to cooperate.

Johan pulls back for good in a rather slow, deliberate manner, just in sync with your panting breaths. His forehead brushes lightly against yours as he stays close. 

“I told you, hadn’t I?” His eyes, now open but still lidded, seemingly search your face for something—fear? Regret? Understanding? What is it? “We’ll talk about it tomorrow when you’re sober. You’re not listening to me.”

You open your mouth to say something but his fingertip presses gently to your lips.

“Don’t,” he whispers, his voice softer, reminding you of his restraint. “Not yet.”

But I just want to say that I liked it and I want more.

“Please,” he adds as if he just read your mind.

What a sight to see.

The way his face looks right now makes you feel his inner turmoil. The weight of his past he claims a deplorable being like him will not be willing to carry is making him more reluctant to let himself have this—to have you.

He needs time, doesn’t he? And so you finally nod, temporarily ceasing the itch to have your questions answered.

Johan sighs in relief, sounding genuinely tired as if this night has taken all of his energy and willpower. He doesn’t forget to usher you up, and when he realizes you’re not wobbling that much anymore, he nods, taps your cheeks, kisses your forehead, and repeats his good night.

As soon as the door closes, you slowly walk to your room. Eyes wide, fingertips touching your sore lips, and you plopped on the bed unceremoniously. 

For now, in the quiet of your apartment, with the taste of him still lingering on your lips, at least you can now assure yourself that for the first time since you’ve known each other, he finally let himself be vulnerable, even for a moment. And that is more than you ever could have asked for.

🏷️ SUBSCRIBE/UNSUSCRIBE TO STORIES | @chxrry-writes @nefarra @ellabellapumela @skexxll @xeiin-n

@melonvrs @s0m4-sh4rk

[bowsnstrings]

🎶🎼🎀Hit The Right Note!🎀🎼🎶

Onyankopon x original character

Warnings: 1.6k words! mentions of weed, mentions of food, descriptions of sex, (pnv) unprotected sex, original character with original descriptions.

Ony always had his brightest ideas when he was with Princess. Well mostly when he was high and around Princess. He couldn’t help it though, it was two of his favorite things combined, it was bound to make good things happen.

He was smoking in the studio listening to some new beats he was working on. Princess sat close by on his new loveseat he bought for her to sit on during late nights in the studio. He was trying to take a break after getting frustrated, huffing out a cloud to the ceiling as he reclined back.

Princess had suggested food to brighten up his mood, their cheat days “suddenly” aligning perfectly, so they settled on breakfast for dinner. The only thing open at midnight was Waffle House so they packed up and left for the night.

Ony let her pick the songs on the car ride, and she randomly picked Aaliyah’s classic. He laughed the hardest he had in a while when they realized how crazy they were for going to Waffle House at nearly one in the morning, but that was nothing new being around her.

“It feels like you try’na be New New or something.” Ony quipped at her for her song choice, poking her in the ribs at the red light to hear her giggle.

“Ony! Stooop!” Princess whined, smacking her lips, her lipgloss reflecting the red from the traffic light. Fuck, she looked good, wearing his most expensive jersey, hair just thrown into a ponytail. She was hard at work with him in the studio, putting her pen to paper too.

They pulled into the lot and sat in a booth, no security, no cameras, no fans. No one else was in there but the employees, and funnily enough they treated them so poorly that it was like they weren’t celebrities either.

Ony got his hashbrowns with cheese, bacon, toast, and waffles, happily scarfing down all of his food across from Princess. He was chewing as he watched her take her first bite, and then it happened. She gave a long humm, lower in her usual tone but still over the larynx. Still sweet sounding, but much dirtier.

He almost mistook it for a moan. He swallowed his food quickly, blinking at her in disbelief across the table. “Ony? Earth to Ony? Onya? Hello?” She called out, waving her hand to catch his attention.

That’s when Ony pulled out his notebook, quickly jotting down what she had just said, and following it up with some new lines. They stayed in that Waffle House, Ony writing, crossing out words, creating double entendres and punchlines until the workers were really giving them dirty looks.

He finished the song before they made it to his home, Ony rushing to pull her inside while Princess sleepily yawned at four a.m., still wondering what Ony was up to with this song.

“Baby, I wanna put you in my song.” He leaned over her shoulder, rubbing his hands down her sides. “I want your voice, a piece of you in it forever.” Ony whispered to her gently.

Her hands rubbed up and down his neck, she stretched like a cat in his hands, and was purring too. “Okay, Ony.” She sighed into him, her body pressed against his. That was nothing, she’d been on plenty of his songs before.

“I want you to moan for me, Baby. On the song.”

Princess gasped softly, taken aback, but didn’t pull away. Still against him as his arms moved down soothingly. They came back up under her arms as he pulled away to look at her, worried that he was going too far.

“You don’t have to-”

“Okay.” She slumped back down, hiding her face from him in her hands. Her stack of bracelets shone in his face as he stood there in shock at how fast she agreed.

“Okay, what?” He asked to be sure, he had to be sure about this, and she did too.

“Okay, Ony. We can do it.” She blinked heavily, droopy lovesick eyes that were trying to avoid his. “Just promise me you won't let my Grandparents find out about it. Say it’s fake or whatever.” She rambled out, looking down at her feet.

“You really want to, Mama?” He put his hand under her chin, lifting it until they saw each other clearly. The only light was the moonlight from outside, but Ony was still able to see the way she held steady. “You can always say no. Even if we start and you want to stop.”

“I want to, Ony.” She eased out her words in one breath. Stepping back until her legs touched the bed behind her. Her hands shaking slightly as they reached for the hem of the jersey, pulling it up before pausing at her belly button. “Only if you keep loving me so good.”

“I promise.”

The rest is a bit of a blur now, hard, meaningful kisses exchanged as they helped each other strip out of their clothes. He needed to be able to hear her loud and clear, so he had his voice memo app open on his phone, recording right next to her face.

Her cheek laid on her hand, turning into the sheets in a beautiful arch for him. Ony rubbing a hand over her ass as she kept upright on unsteady legs, chest pressed to the mattress as she presented her pussy for him.

She was huffing out breathless pants, rocking side to side trying to soothe the ache between her legs as Ony stuffed her full. As soon as he tried to get the last three inches in she’d wiggle left or right. At first he couldn’t help but get mesmerized by the way her hips moved, teeth clenched tight trying to muffle his own sounds. Now, he was losing patience, needing to fuck her good.

The way she looked was downright filthy now, something straight out of Ony’s wet dreams as he pulled out, watching how soaking wet Princess’s pretty pink hole was as she tried to clench down on nothing. She was whining for him, wanting him back in, but still scared.

“So..so- hngh!”

Both of them were drenched in her, his fat tip catching on her entrance as he groaned, forgetting about the recording momentarily. Her puffy folds warm and inviting as Ony pushed back in slowly, hearing her shrill begging, keening musically as she was stuffed again and again.

“Common, Baby. You can do it, just let it out for me.”

His hands grabbing her waist to pull her into him, his hips pressed right against her until her eyes rolled to the back of her head.

“Ony! Ah! Too much-too full, hah hahh-”

No, not right, too high. Too short too. No, he needed the right one. Organic, natural, deeper. Ony wanted her to let out that part of her that was buried deep, he wanted her to really let it out.

“Ugh, please- please- pleaseeee!”

“Please what, Ma?” He tossed his head back after punching into her with a rough thrust, her legs scrambling to close. He forced his hips forward more, grabbing her ankles and holding up her calves as he rolled his hips in waves. “You can cum, you know you can cum.”

One of his calloused palms travels up her leg, rubbing so close where she needed him to touch. “Uh, uhh-” Princess almost did it, turning away into her elbow at the last second, hands gripping the sheets for dear life.

“You can do it, Baby. Just need me to help you, hmm? You need me, Baby?”

Smack, smack, smack. Ony’s hips driving in faster than before, both of them panting and sweaty, breathing heavily as Princess moaned and whined. None of them were right yet, he needed to get that hit, that next number one!

Ony quickly leaned down, one hand snaking around to grab her face, lifting it to his phone’s speaker where it was still recording all the sinful sounds in the room. It was a dripping mess between her legs, they were slippery as he dragged his fingertips up her thigh to her clit. He pressed down hard with his middle finger, following her as her hips tried to pull back, using the opportunity to plug forward again.

Princess screamed when he quickly began sliding his fingers back and forth, firm strokes that had her seizing up. Her knees trying to press together and her pussy trying to push him out as she squirted through her orgasm. Her back truly arched for him as he lifted her face higher, still rubbing at her clit.

“Breathe. Breathe for me, Mama.” She followed his order as soon as the words floated into her ear. A big deep breath into her lungs, gasping for it, then as she breathed out, there it was. That perfect moan, long and steady, right into the mic, but just for good measure he kept rubbing and got another one too.

Princess didn’t remember anything else after that, not even when Ony bathed her down and dressed her back up in warm clothes. Afterwards he left to head back to the studio, but not before swarming her face in soft kisses and tucking her into his bed to finally get some sleep. As soon as he got back in he set himself up to record and in four short hours the song was done, mix and mastered too.

It was safe to say that Princess was thoroughly embarrassed to hear herself sound like that ever, even though Ony reassured her that she sounded beautiful. It was downright pornagraphic the way she moaned, and Ony only accentuated her voice to make it really pop through people’s speakers.

They dropped the song that same day Princess approved it, and overnight it was a hit. Millions of people were trying to guess who’s voice it was, tweeting, commenting, spamming Ony day and night to find out. He’d take it to the grave, but whenever someone would ask where he came up with the idea he’d always say, “It’s just what my dream woman sounds like.”

Hey everyone, sorry for taking so long to post, I'm trying to get through finals and a class I'm taking during winter break. Give me like one more week for the next fic, but for right now here's a little something I wrote last night! xoxo - Bow🎀🫶🏾

[ch3rrybite]

marauders hc #4

lily evans.

she has it all. perfect grades, hair that catches the light just right, a smile that makes everyone feel warm and safe. she’s the dependable friend, the one you go to when you need advice or a shoulder to cry on. she’s the sunshine girl, with a prefect badge on her chest and the most popular boy at school hopelessly in love with her.

but no one asks how lily evans is doing. because why would they? she’s fine. she’s always fine.

except she’s not.

her home is a battlefield. petunia’s sharp words cut deeper than anyone realizes. she doesn’t even have to yell anymore—just the disappointed looks, the cold silences, the way she acts like lily doesn’t exist. like she never mattered. freak, unnatural, worthless.

the war creeps closer every day, and lily feels it like a noose tightening around her neck. her parents are muggles—targets. every owl, every headline feels like it could be the one that changes everything. but she doesn’t talk about it. she doesn’t cry. she can’t. everyone is counting on her to be strong.

so she bottles it all up. she smiles, she nods, she listens. but the weight inside her chest gets heavier and heavier, pressing down on her ribs until she can’t breathe.

so she starts cutting because she needs to feel something that isn’t this crushing emptiness. the sharp sting is quick, almost clean, and for a moment, it’s like she’s in control of the chaos. but then the guilt sets in. the shame. what kind of person does this to themselves? she’s disgusted, but she can’t stop.

then there’s the food. at first, it’s not deliberate. she skips a meal here and there because she’s “too busy.” but then she realizes how light it makes her feel, how empty. it’s like she’s disappearing from the inside out, and that feels like a kind of freedom.

every day, she tells herself she wants to die. not dramatically, not in the heat of the moment—just this quiet, persistent whisper at the back of her mind. what if you just… stopped? she thinks about it when she’s brushing her teeth, or walking to class, or lying in bed at night. what if you didn’t have to do this anymore?

sometimes, it’s vivid. she imagines the ways she could do it, running through the details in her mind. the astronomy tower maybe? but then the shame kicks in, this hot, suffocating wave that makes her stomach churn. you’re selfish enough already. don’t make it worse.

but other times, it’s just this hollow ache, this desperate longing for everything to stop. it’s not even about dying—it’s about escaping. she feels like she’s drowning in everyone else’s expectations, their problems, their pain, and she’s so tired of carrying it all. she just wants it to end.

and yet, she doesn’t do it. she calls herself a coward for it, berates herself for being too weak to follow through. you can do everything else perfectly, but you can’t even do this. it’s another thing to hate about herself, another way she feels like she’s failing.

but deep down, she knows why she doesn’t do it. she keeps going because she doesn’t know how to stop. because there’s a part of her that still hopes, even when she hates herself for it. because no matter how much she wants to disappear, there’s a part of her that’s terrified of being forgotten.

she lays in bed at night, staring at the ceiling, wondering if this is it. is this what life is supposed to be? when will it get better? when will i be free?

but the next morning, she gets up. she smiles. she listens to her friends. she carries their burdens and hides her own because someone has to, and who else is there?

lily evans: the girl who can do anything. except fall apart.

[bubybubsters]

Fruit Skewers, Laced Drinks, and the Whole Shabang

A/n: @tsunami-of-tears I AM YOUR SECRET SANTA!! ik crazy right! Anyway here’s your mix of angst, a lil bit of fun, and vague holiday spirit! I HOPE YOU LIKE IT LOL but it fine if u dont…

MERRY CHRISTMASSS or HAPPY SOLSTICE.

thank you @acotargiftexchange for hosting this lovely event.

word count: 2.1k

Eris POV

Most people don’t think of the spymaster of the Night Court as an avoidant person. In fact, when people do think of him it’s often when they’re committing a crime or sitting in shadows that look like they’re moving, or even seeing him on the street and finding him pretty.

Well Eris found the spymaster to be a very avoidant male. Yes, he was good looking and smart and the whole package. But Eris found he sucked and communicating. Not even in the normal way people sucked at communicating, in a way that he didn’t even try to talk about anything. All the spymaster did was kiss Eris’s weak spot until the heir gave in and stopped trying to make a half-decent conversation. 

Then again, Eris supposed one could defend Azriel’s actions. Considering their families, their past, the rejection of same sex relationships in the Autumn court, Beron, Morrigan, and every other little detail. 

However, none of that changed what had happened a few years ago at the solstice court meeting. The two of them had had a little too much to drink and got a little carried away. The night had ended with Azriel in Eris’s bed and the morning after the cold air from a very open balcony window had greeted Eris the moment he woke up. 

And still, a decade later, they hadn’t said a word about it. What they had done was fuck so much that Eris had found more new kinks he didn’t know about in ten years than he’d found in a century.

“What in the cauldren has you sighing every few seconds?” Eris blinked, his mother’s voice pulling him from his thoughts. Shit, he was still in the dining room eating dinner with his mother. Well, she was eating; his food was untouched.

“Sorry.” 

“What’s up with you?”

“Noth-.” He was cut off by a single raised brow that spoke volumes. “It's a romantic problem…”

His mother smiled. “With the shadowsinger, yes?”

Eris grunted in confirmation, choosing to not question how she knew about his so-called “relationship.”

“What’s wrong? Obvious problems excluded, of course.” Her words dragged a bitter smile to his lips as he thought of what he should say. He could tell her the truth and simultaneously put her in danger if anyone found out. Or he could lie. The fact that the choice he made came so easily concerned him to no end.

“He won’t talk unless it relates to court problems. All he wants to do when we’re alone is have sex.”

His mother grinned. “I never thought I’d see the day you complained about too much sex. Guess there’s a first time for everything.”

Eris grumbled something unintelligible and rolled his eyes.

“In all seriousness, find a time and place to talk. One where it’s too public to do anything but it’s just private enough to have a conversation. Also you need a reason he can’t leave. For example, if Rhysand assigned him to stay by your side and make sure you don’t do anything stupid. The best chance you’ll get to do this is at the annual solstice high lord meeting. Since everyone knows Beron won’t want to come considering it’s basically just a party… You’ll have to go in his stead and someone from each court will likely be watching you because nobody trusts the autumn court.“

Eris raised his hand, trying to stop the flow of information. “Perhaps, write it down?”

His mother chuckled. “Y’know I’m actually preparing you for your high lord duties. You really can’t be seen taking notes during a high lord meeting; it shows weakness.”

Eris rolled his eyes. “Stop teasing, we both know Beron doesn’t remember shit. He just does whatever he wants.”

“Yes, but you wish to be a better High Lord than him. Can’t do that if you copy him.”

“Well since I’ll be such a better high lord than Beron, it won’t be considered weak to take notes.”

His mother shook her head, a smile dancing on her lips.“I’ll write it down, but you just need to trust yourself.”

Eris said nothing. He knew he couldn’t trust himself around Azriel. It always led to him giving into the spymaster’s whim.

Az POV

“OY AZRIELLL!!”

He barely refrained from groaning as Cassian pulled the curtains aside and sunlight came streaming in.

“Go away.”

“BUT TODAY’S THE PARTYYYY!! YOU AGREED TO LET FEYRE, NESTA, AND ELAIN DRESS YOU UP IF YOU LOST AT CHESS. AND YOU LOSTTTTT!!”

“Because you all cheated.”

“You never said we couldn’t!” Cassian is practically singing as he dances around Azriel’s bed, trying to prod him awake.

Azriel groaned. “I’ll be up in 30. Now get out.”

Cassian pouted but ultimately decided to leave before Azriel could change his mind and argue that he would have won if they hadn’t fed him too many bottles of Rhysand’s expensive wine and cheated. 

Fifteen minutes later, Azriel warily dragged himself from bed. Normally, he would be fine, in fact he could be a morning bird. But all the wine he’d drank last night seemed to have caused a pounding headache that he doubted would get better.

He took a quick shower and dressed in casual black clothes before heading out. On his way to the River House he grabbed a pastry and jumped off a random balcony.

Letting himself freefall, Azriel’s thoughts wandered to forbidden territory. Eris would be at the party tonight. The fireling’s scent was ingrained in Azriel’s mind- smoke and crisp autumn leaves. 

Azriel sighed. He knew Eris wanted to talk, it was devastatingly obvious. The hurt that flashed in those amber eyes whenever Azriel brushed him off seemed an ever prominent companion in his day to day life. But it just wouldn’t work. Eris was going to be High Lord and Azriel was… well Azriel.

“He’s here!”

His high lady’s voice floated through the air, effectively cutting his thoughts short. He landed and glowered at Cassian.

“The party is at 8 in the evening.”

“Yes and?”

“It does not take twelve hours to get me ready.

Feyre cut in, “Of course it doesn’t. But do you really think we have things prepared? This bet was last minute and made drunkenly at around two am.”

“All the more reason we should agree to not do it.”

“Nope! Just an excuse to go shopping.”

Azriel groaned but a slight smile played on his lips, maybe he could use this distraction from Eris.

Eris POV

At precisely 8pm Eris and his advisors winnowed to the dawn court. Ever since that High Lord meeting during the war, the dawn court had been all the high lords preferred spot to meet. Eris wasn’t sure why but it was fine with him, just as long as nobody was in his court. 

They were greeted by a female that showed them to a dimly lit ballroom. Most of the other High Lord’s were already mingling and Eris spotted Vivian, Mor and Feyre. Azriel’s probably here then. Good.

Eris sighed, dismissing his advisors and heading for the food table. Picking up a skewer of grapefruit and some unidentified berries, Eris dove in. One could argue the only reason he came to these parties was for the food. More often than not, his first thought was complaining about the autumn court food. It wasn’t bad, in fact, Eris loved the spices and bold flavors, but after a few centuries, you occasionally long for something else.

Something refreshing. 

A light touch to his thigh urged him to pause his munching and look down. One if Azriel’s shadows was curled around his leg, seemingly looking up at him with puppy eyes. 

Eris suppressed a smile and looked around to find the shadowsinger already watching him from a dark corner. He did a double take, blinking in disbelief at what he saw. Azriel, the feared spymaster of the night court was wearing a light blue t-shirt and loose, frilly, white pants. And he looked good. Eris hesitated, grabbed another fruit skewer and headed his way.

“Fireling,” Azriel greeted, plucking the extra fruit skewer from his hand.

Eris made a sound of protest, mouth stuffed with food. “Was mine.” 

“You look like a toddler given access to his favorite candy store at these parties.”

Eris frowned, waving his hand, trying to get his rebuttal across without opening his mouth.

Azriel chuckled, biting into the stolen skewer. He groaned in satisfaction, gobbling down the rest of the skewer before Eris could finish his.

“What in the world are you wearing?”

“It was a bet.” Azriel waved his stick where fruit was seconds before. “These are good.”

“Did all that food just disappear?”

“It was good.”

“You’ve never had them before? These parties have been going on for a decade.”

“I’m usually too distracted by you.”

Eris chokes on his last piece of fruit. “Huh?”

Azriels lips twitched, “That wasn’t very heir like.” He tutts, wagging a finger. “The rumors seem to be true, you’re gonna be overthrown by a brother.”

Eris raises a brow. “Firstly, you cannot be talking, have you seen yourself in those clothes? Besides wouldn’t you miss me, beloved spymaster of the feared Night Court?” He leaned closer, lips almost brushing Azriel’s ear. “After all, you do seem to have taken a particular liking to me. Or shall I say, a liking to fu-”

Azriel clamped a hand over his mouth. “Not here,” he hisses.

“Where else then?” Eris sticks his tongue out, liking the scarred hand covering his mouth. “All you wanna do is fuck whenever we’re alone. So why not speak here? Your shadows can ensure nobody hears us.”

Azriel frowns. “I’ve been meaning to talk to you about that.” Eris raises a brow as if to say, do tell. “We should stop.”

“Excuse me?”

“It’s never going to work out and we don’t seem to have any special connection. It’s also a hassle since we’re from different courts and it really would be convenient for both of us if we stopped. Besides, if you really need pleasure that badly, there are some wonderful places across Prythian that could serve one’s needs.

Eris gawked at Azriel. His jaw was practically on the floor in shock and his body had gone slack. Azriel, the guy who never talked and always convinced Eris to fuck was the one calling off this ‘situantionship.’ Adding that the one time he did talk was to inform Eris of good pleasure houses. Well, sorry mother, guess you wrote that down for nothing.

“Right, like you weren’t the one practically leaping on me every time. But by all means, go ahead, end us. It’s not like anyone else will ever understand you like I do. And of course we aren’t mates because why would the mother put someone like you with someone like me.” Eris finishes his last sentence off with a growl, teeth bared.

Azriel’s brows twitch, “What is that supposed to mean? Am I not good enough for a future High Lord?”

Eris shakes his head, attempting to stop the sudden feeling of emptiness in his heart. He turned form the male and his bright clothes.

“Whatever Azriel. I’m done with you.”

Az POV

Okay, so he might have messed up. He’d basically called Eris not special and not worth the hassle. He’d also said he knew a lot of good pleasure houses, which wasn’t a lie, he did. But the male he’d been fucking for the past decade probably didn’t want to hear that, even though they hadn’t said they were exclusive. Not that that was an excuse. All in all, Azriel regretted everything. Especially since the moment the red-haired heir had left, a beautiful, deafening, snap, echoed in his ears. 

The other side of the bond was foggy which made Azriel assume Eris had absolutely no idea. Great. That was not helpful in his current position. What was he supposed to do? Go up to Eris and say, ‘by the way, we’re mates! Sorry for saying we have no special connection, could we reconcile?’

Azriel sighed, deciding to get a drink. He approached a rose-gold cup with a pink-tinged liquid inside. After sniffing it, he downed the drink in one gulp. The liquid fogged his head, making it hard to think. But it tasted good. Like the pumpkin spice lattes that Eris would sometimes give him. He hummed, going to grab another cup.

He stopped, a sudden realization settling in. He had taken the first cup, nobody else had drank one all night. He knew because Thesan always said that once a drink was out, it was out.  Azriel slowly looked up. People were watching him, eyes drilling into his skull. Shit. What the fuck was that drink?

‘Whatever Azriel. I’m done with you.’

Azriel’s head shot up. That was Eris’s voice, those were his words, his tone, his accent. It was Eris yet Eris wasn’t even in this room. 

What the fuck?

‘I’m done with you.’

Azriel hissed softly. This was bad. Hearing voices was a sure sign of 1. crazyiness, 2. in this case, a love potion, 3. being cursed. It was most likely the second option, which was definitely not ideal. 

A small crowd of onlookers gathered, seemingly waiting for a reaction.

Azriel’s shadows surrounded him, almost laughing at their master. He couldn’t even blame them if they took Eris’s side in this matter. Sure, Eris had said some horrible things but at the end of the day, Azriel was the one to start the whole situation to begin with. 

So he closed his eyes, and let his shadows control wherever he goes, just as long as it’s out of this damn room. 

The only thing?

He didn’t expect to land right on top of a half-asleep Eris Vanserra.

dividers by @saradika

lol idk i like it- I tried to leave an open ending…

[fandoms-in-law]

Steve had had enough of everything he was giving the kids ending up thrown on the floor.

He had also woken up from nightmares last night and ended up baking instead of trying to sleep again so there seemed to be an easy solution to both the kids inability to catch falling treats and his sudden abundance of cookies; Leaving them unwrapped in the tin.

Now, neither he or Robin wanted to have to vacuum up cookies crumbs while listening to half a dozen kids complaining about getting no treats that day so he did also take in his normal bake goods tin to keep under the counter. He also added a sign saying opening the tin to let everything fall would mean whoever opened it gets no treats and the blame for nobody else getting them either. One of the two would work but he really hoped it would be the sign.

Joyce came in before any of the kids, smiling when she noticed the music tin, “Will’s mentioned this a lot this month. Where did you get it?”

“My parents sent it with a few other things at the start of the month, they didn’t say where it’s from though, sorry.” Steve admitted, double checking Will wasn’t with her before offering her a cookie from his baking tin. “Are you returning the videos Will borrowed last week?”

“Yes, did we keep them for too long?” She sounded worried, but Steve was already shaking his head.

He quickly scanned them once they’d been handed over explaining, “Robin and I always put family and friends rentals on the longer time for the normal price. We call it a benefit of working here, as long as Keith doesn’t realise.”

“That’s sweet of you. Thank you for that and the cookie. I’m sure you’ll see the kids later.” She waved as she left.

A while after Joyce’s visit Lucas, Will, Mike and Dustin all came in, bickering over who’s turn it was to open the tin, though the main consensus was that it definitely wasn’t Dustin’s.

“Wait a sec, is that there because of what you’re giving us or because you’re annoyed that we keep dropping everything?” Lucas cut off his reasoning over why it should be his turn when he spotted the sign, going over to look between Steve and the tin curiously.

Steve gave him a smirk. “Open it and find out,” He goaded.

With a wary glance at him, Lucas sensibly left the tin where it was, trying to get his nails between the base and main body of the tin to lift it off. “Both. You did this so it’s both.” He grumbled, having to stretch his hand to avoid any of the cookies in it from slipping off. “How are we meant to take the ones for the girls around if they aren’t wrapped?”

“Two options:” Steve shrugged, looking at him as the other boys seemed tempted to snatch a cookie for themselves around Lucas. “First, tell them to get themselves here and skip delivering them. Second, I have food bags here.” He held them up, knocking his baking tin against the rim of the counter as he did so.

“And we can have extra cookies this time?” Dustin asked immediately, “Or is this another day you want to have them for yourself?”

“You can take a couple extra, but you four aren’t taking all of them.” He agreed easily, bringing the tin onto the top of the counter now.

Mike and Will had already accepted the bags from him and now chorused, “Thanks Steve.” while helping themselves to their ones from the tin and a couple extra.

“Glad you like my baking.” Steve said, already turning as a customer had come up to the counter now. He was pretty sure the kids would be in the store for a while anyway. None of them had mentioned the arcade or other plans on their way in at least.

The Advent Music Box

Author's note: Doing this on a whim and the fact work gave me the music box inspiring this

Summary: Steve is sent a care package from his parents at the start of December

/\

It started with a music box.

Steve’s parents had sent him a care package that arrived on the first of December and in it was some snacks, a few items clearly intended as Christmas presents and the music box.

There was a sticker on it saying there were cookies inside it too but he took most of the morning to figure out that instead of taking a lid off like most tins needed, he had to remove the bottom of the music box.

That was what gave him the idea to fill it and challenge the kids to get the treats from inside. Since they didn’t actually go to his house very often he took it into Family Video, sure at least one of the kids would turn up sooner or later.

Perhaps he could even swing seeing them every day if he said he’d fill it with at least something small for them each day.