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kpopfanfictrash · 4 years ago

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Raise the Barre (Epilogue)

Author: kpopfanfictrash

Creative Contributor: @baebae-goodnight for the last Raise the Barre moodboard TT she nailed it

Pairing: Jimin / Reader

Rating: 18+ (Smut)

Genre: Enemies to Lovers / Dance Academy!AU

Warnings: sexual content. Dry humping, fingering, hand job, oral (female), breast play, multiple orgasms, Jimin gets turned on by making someone else come, dirty talk. Jimin’s pants are tight.

Word Count: 13,409

Summary: You and Park Jimin have been rivals for as long as you’ve known one another; ever since he tripped you in the front row of your first dance convention. When you graduate from high school and enter Russet Ballet Academy, you tell yourself you’re leaving all past quarrels behind. The main problem with this though, is that your past seems determined not to leave you alone.

Worse still, the obstacles you face while out in the real world might prove more challenging than anything your enemy has to offer.

“And… more pointe shoes,” you said, opening the box in your lap. “Wow. Thanks, mom and dad.”

Your dad laughed, pushing his glasses up the bridge of his nose. “You’re welcome, kiddo,” he said, nodding from the couch. “I know Russet gives you some already, but you can never have too many.”

“Out of curiosity.” You glanced at the tree. “Are there any boxes from you which aren’t related to dance?”

“Not related to dance…” Your mom pretended to think. “I don’t understand.”

“Mom!”

She laughed. “I’m kidding! Yes, there are other presents. You just happened to pick all the pointe shoe boxes first.”

Shaking your head, you placed the box aside. You smiled though, warmth in your chest at being home for the holidays. Classes at Russet had ended a week prior and it had been nice for a few days to simply relax. Already though, you found yourself itching to return to the city. It was strange to wake every morning and not head to ballet. It was even stranger to take classes at your old studio, trying to stay in shape before second semester began.

Playing with the string of your sweatpants, you couldn’t help glancing at your phone on the couch. It had been several days since you’d last seen Jimin in person. Oddly enough, the separation had been harder than you’d thought it would be.

Immediately after ending things with Finn, you and Jimin had tried to keep your distance. The pain of your separation had been too fresh to even consider dating someone else but, as time had gone on, you and Jimin had started becoming friends again.

It was hard not to be, with Jimin continuing as your dance partner and classmate. At the end of the semester, you’d had the opportunity to switch partners, but you and Jimin had chosen the status quo. It just made sense this way; you couldn’t think of anyone else you’d trust as much as him.

At first, things between you were strictly professional. You saw him only within the confines of the dance studio but eventually, his presence bled into your normal life. At first, the outings were small. Jimin went to a pregame you also attended. He saw you once at the coffee shop and, instead of running away, he stopped to chat. One time, he walked you back to your dorm.

When the month became December, you found your outlook improving. Most of November had been spent wallowing in your dorm, but the holiday season brought with it endless activities. The very first weekend of the month, a bunch of your Russet friends decided to go ice skating and you’d ended up tagging along.

The biggest problem had been you’d never ice skated before. Noelle had been patient, skating backwards in front of you and dragging you around the rink. Jimin had done the same thing for Hoseok, who was in a similar predicament to yours, and at some point, they swapped partners and left you skating with Jimin.

When he’d taken over for Noelle, your stomach had swooped. Hands touching, he’d led you gently around the edge and the world had seemed to still. It had been the first time you’d felt anything stir outside of your break-up. Whatever hurt and distance had sprung between you, it seemed something had survived between you and Jimin.

Nose red, Jimin had smiled as he skated backwards. “It’s easy,” he’d told you. “You just swivel, Y/N. In and out, in and out. Got it?”

“Um, no!” you’d yelped, nearly crashing to the ice when Jimin let go of your hands.

He’d laughed, catching you easily and skating like that for a while. Eventually, Jimin had helped you off the rink and gotten hot chocolate, which you insisted on buying. Payback, you said, for the impromptu skating lessons.

That day had been a turning point for you both. Throughout the month prior, you’d texted sporadically but after, you seemed to talk every day.

Jimin even offered to drive you home from Russet, given the fact that your hometowns were so close together. After much hemming and hawing, you’d eventually taken him up on the offer. The savings it gave your bleeding bank account were well-worth the potential discomfort.

This had led to both the best and worst twenty-four hours of your life.

Best, because Jimin was an excellent road trip companion. He let you choose the music, laughed at all your dumb jokes, and agreed to play the road trip games you suggested. You’d already made a firm rule not to compare Jimin to any past boyfriends but couldn’t help but note this as an improvement over anyone prior.

The sole reason the twenty-four hours were also painful was because you stopped at a hotel halfway through. It was either this or drive until 3:00 AM, so you chose the smarter option and rested for the night. You and Jimin bought separate bedrooms, but they’d ended up next to one another, so you’d been forced to spend a sleepless night imagining Jimin separated from you only by a thin sheet of plywood.

You had told yourself this was silly. At Russet, Jimin hadn’t been much further away, but something about the closeness in the hotel made you nervous. It was infinitely easier to forget about boundaries when you were separated by only a car console for hours at a time. Infinitely easier to forget the rules when you were outside of Russet, cocooned by his car and the snow.

You couldn’t help but think about the one kiss you’d shared.

That had only been a taste, barely a teaser, but the memory kept you awake for more nights than it probably should have. You couldn’t help but wonder what it’d be like to kiss Jimin again, under different circumstances.

Groaning, you’d covered your face with a pillow that night and tried your best to sleep. It hadn’t really worked, and you’d shown up at the car the next morning with dark shadows beneath your eyes.

Forcing yourself back to the present, you glanced away from your phone and focused on the tree – only to see its screen light up in your peripheral. Grabbing your phone, you realized Jimin had texted. Stifling a smile, you scrolled through the conversation until you found his last message.

Jimin: MERRY CHRISTMAS! [10:23 AM]

Jimin:

Y/N: oh my god everything’s so... coordinated lol how long did that tree take to set up? [10:24 AM]

Y/N: and merry Christmas 😊 [10:24 AM]

Jimin: not long at all. I just googled ‘christmas trees’ and that was the first one I found [10:24 AM]

Y/N: ha ha hilarious [10:25 AM]

Y/N: so, what are the Park family plans for the day? [10:25 AM]

Jimin: the usual. Opening presents, going to my grandparents later for dinner. What about you? [10:25 AM]

Y/N: same, minus the grandparents. We usually have a pretty low-key day [10:26 AM]

Jimin: sounds nice [10:26 AM]

Jimin: what’s your favorite present so far [10:27 AM]

Y/N:

Jimin: LOL [10:30 AM]

Jimin: how many of them did you get? I’ve gotten two new dance bags and seven pairs of black leggings. It’s like our parents have forgotten we do anything else [10:31 AM]

Y/N: no new dance belts? 😈 [10:32 AM]

Jimin: Y/N, I’m shocked [10:35 AM]

Jimin: mind out of the gutter. Stop thinking about my junk [10:35 AM]

Y/N: as your dance partner, I have a vested interest in your junk. What if it breaks free in the middle of practice? [10:38 AM]

Jimin: the more delicate ladies would faint, I imagine [10:41 AM]

Jimin: and probably Paulo [10:41 AM]

Y/N: lmao [10:43 AM]

Y/N: but seriously, I hope you get presents other than dance gear [10:43 AM]

Jimin: back at you haha [10:47 AM]

Y/N: I can’t help but notice you didn’t get me, your dance partner, a Christmas gift though [10:50 AM]

Jimin: was the drive home not enough? [10:50 AM]

Y/N: oh, shoot. You’re right! You did get me a Christmas gift [10:51 AM]

Y/N: I’m the one who’s been remiss [10:51 AM]

Jimin: don’t forget about my housewarming gift, too [10:52 AM]

You smiled, sitting back on the sofa. Jimin was lucky enough to be moving off campus second semester. He, Hoseok and Alex Wong were moving into an apartment not far from Paulo’s. You and Noelle had decided to stay in Grace Hall, but you’d talked about moving someplace else next year.

Jimin was heading back early to move into his new place, so you’d need a different ride on your return trip to Russet. Still, you were looking forward to Jimin’s apartment hosting parties in the new year.

Y/N: don’t get greedy on me now, Park [10:54 AM]

“Who’re you texting?”

Jerking your head up from the screen, you nearly dropped your phone. From the couch opposite, your mom gave you a knowing look.

“No one,” you said hastily, setting your phone aside.

“Oh, really?” She glanced with your dad. “No one wouldn’t happen to have dark hair, his own car and excellent table manners, would he?”

Immediately, you felt your face heat.

When Jimin drove you home before Christmas, your parents had insisted on feeding him before he continued to Harleigh Heights. This had led to the weirdest double date of your life – which was, in fact, not a date – including you, Jimin and your parents for dinner. Luckily, your parents had been great and Jimin hadn’t cared, but you’d been endlessly mortified for your first date with Jimin to have included your parents.

Not that you’d called it a date. When Jimin had left that night, you’d brushed it aside and he’d simply gone along with it. After Jimin had left, you’d gone to your room and wondered what the hell you were doing. It was clear you still liked Jimin and wanted to be more than just friends. Still, something continued to hold you back.

You weren’t sure when it was considered appropriate to move on. The line seemed fuzzy, so you hadn’t dared cross it and Jimin hadn’t asked. You got the feeling you needed to be the one to make the first move – which made sense. You’d been the one who asked for more time. You’d told Jimin you’d say when you were ready.

Any next steps would have to come from you.

It had been weird to go home and not see Finn. His house was only fifteen minutes away from yours – you’d driven past it on your way to the grocery store last week. Still, seeing his home hadn’t caused the pain you’d expected. It was strange not to see him, but more like you’d forgotten something you needed to do, as opposed to missing his actual presence.

If you were being honest, Finn had crossed your mind less and less lately. Possibly because you’d been falling out of love with him long before you’d broken up in November.

Still, it would be unfair to jump into something before you were ready. You’d already hurt Jimin once this past fall and were determined not to do so again. No matter how good things had been lately between you, you didn’t want to make the mistake of dating Jimin too soon.

Despite this, things had become flirtier between you as of late. Exhibit A: casual text conversations about Park Jimin’s junk.

“I don’t know what you’re talking about,” you said lightly.

Your dad laughed as he stood from the couch. “Alright, then,” he said, grabbing another gift. “How about you open this one next?”

Accepting the thin package he handed over, you frowned. The box wasn’t large and, shaking it slowly, you heard no sliding inside.

“I swear,” you said as you began to undo the bow. “If you wrapped your passport photo again, dad...”

Laughing, he settled back on the couch by your mom. “It’s not that, I promise.”

Grumbling, you opened the box and immediately froze. Staring at the paper inside, you slowly looked up. “Is this… is this what I think it is?”

“It’s a plane flight,” your mom said with a smile. “I know we’re supposed to drive you back on the third, but we thought you might want to celebrate New Year’s with your friends.”

“But…” Speechless, you returned to the box. “We always hang out together on New Year’s Eve.”

“I know,” said your dad. “But maybe it’s time to start some new traditions, kiddo.”

With that, he stood and took his mug to the kitchen. Sensing he wasn’t needed for this conversation any longer, he began washing dishes and to prepare breakfast. Once he was gone, your mom moved to your couch and settled beside you.

“I… this is too much,” you said, immediately backpedaling.

“It’s not.”

“Well…” Hesitant, you considered the possibilities. “I guess Ari will be in the city for New Year’s Eve. Maybe Noelle, too. She mentioned she might go back early.”

Gently, your mom smiled. “That’s great if you want to hang out with them, but… didn’t Jimin mention going back before New Year’s?”

Startled, you glanced up. You were surprised she’d remembered. Jimin had mentioned it briefly at dinner last week – he’d said he was moving off campus, which was why he’d needed to return home to pack.

“I – he might have,” you said cautiously.

“I see.” She paused. “I just… I don’t want you feeling like you need to hold yourself back, honey.”

“What do you mean by that?”

Your mom glanced meaningfully at your phone. “I’m glad you’re taking time to yourself,” she said slowly. “It’s important to know who you are and what you want. But also – don’t feel like you need to follow someone else’s timeline when it comes to moving on.”

“I know, but…” You trailed off. “We only broke up in November.”

She shrugged. “Only you know when you’re ready, honey. I just don’t want you to keep punishing yourself for something that’s over. You’re allowed to be happy, even if you’ve messed up in the past.”

Swallowing, you glanced again at the gift. The plane ticket was for the day before New Year’s Eve. Plucking it from the box, you sat back on the couch.

“But…” you said lowly. “Mom, it’s only been two months.”

“And are you still in love with Finn?”

“No.”

“And did you learn anything from what happened this fall?”

“I… Yes. A lot.”

“Good.” Reaching out, she squeezed your hand. “Learn the lessons you need to learn, and then move on. Self-flagellation isn’t productive, Y/N.”

You nodded, still uncertain about what she was saying. Her words made sense, but everything she was saying uncovered a dormant fear. You were scared. Scared of hurting someone else, scared of being hurt by someone else in return. Your last relationship had ended so badly, it was hard to convince yourself it might be worth it to try again.

Finally, you turned to face her on the couch. “Does it ever get any easier?” you asked. “This fear of being hurt… does it ever go away?”

Something sad passed over her face. “Yes and no,” she said, pulling back her hand. “You’ll never be as innocent as you were in your first love. There’s something special about loving someone and never having been hurt before. Once you’ve gone through that kind of pain, you aren’t the same after. But… it does get easier. And better. You’ll know more about how to support this time, instead of tearing down. How to make a love stronger, instead of hanging on.”

Something about this speech gave you comfort, and you slowly nodded. Again, what she said made sense but if there was one thing you’d learned from the fall, it was no matter how great the advice was, it was impossible to take if you weren’t ready to hear it.

You continued wondering if the risk would be worth it. No matter how much you felt for Jimin, you couldn’t help but remember how you’d felt breaking up with Finn. You hadn’t been in love with him at that point and it had still been so painful. It was terrifying to imagine loving someone again and having things end the same way.

Your mom was right, though. You couldn’t keep punishing yourself for something you couldn’t change. There were several ways you could move on from here. The main question to ask yourself was whether you wanted Jimin in the picture.

“Alright,” you said softly. “Thanks, mom.”

“Anytime.” Smiling, she stood and dusted off her pants. “I’m going to see if your dad needs help making breakfast. Don’t be too long, now!”

You nodded, watching her go, and then glanced at the ticket. Your mom’s words continued to run through your mind and after a moment, you picked up your phone.

Jimin had texted back.

Jimin: I would never! [10:57 AM]

Y/N: hey, so [11:01 AM]

Y/N: I did get one non-dance gift this year. A plane flight the day before New Year’s Eve [11:02 AM]

Jimin: oh, wow! That was really nice of your parents [11:03 AM]

Taking a deep breath, you closed your eyes. When you opened them, you found yourself newly determined.

Y/N: when do you get back again? [11:03 AM]

His ellipses started, then stopped, then started again.

Jimin: December 28th [11:04 AM]

Y/N: what are your New Year’s Eve plans? [11:04 AM]

For a moment, he didn’t respond, and you felt your heart catch. Maybe you’d misread things. Maybe Jimin had moved on and didn’t care about you anymore. Maybe he didn’t want you to tell him you were ready.

Jimin: I’m free 😊 [11:05 AM]

Jimin: want to be my New Year’s Eve date? [11:05 AM]

Smiling ear to ear, you responded.

Y/N: yes. Please [11:06 AM]

On the actual day of New Year’s Eve, you found yourself stressed beyond belief. Standing in front of the mirror of your dorm room, you adjusted your dress and worried over the hemline. Jimin had arranged to meet you around 7:00 PM and it was dangerously close to 6:55.

“Is the dress too short?” you asked, turning a little to face Noelle. “It is New Year’s Eve in the city. Should I wear pants, or something? Will I be cold?”

Noelle considered, then shrugged. “Just drink more. Problem solved!”

Snorting, you turned back to the mirror. Nervously, you smoothed down the front of your dress. You’d bought it at an after-Christmas sale and had fallen instantly in love. It had seemed perfect at the time, but now you were having second thoughts about the thin straps and tight bodice.

“Alright, so Y/N.” Noelle changed the subject. “Here’s the plan. Are you listening?”

Hiding a smile, you adjusted an earring. “Listening.”

“Good. Okay, so Ari and I will be at a party uptown. If the date goes badly, just say the word and we’ll call you a cab. You can be ringing in the new year with us within the hour.”

“Perfect,” you said. “It’s good to have a back-up.”

“It is.” Noelle paused. “Not that I think you’ll need this, of course.”

“Well, you never know.”

“Please.” She snorted. “What’s Jimin going to do? Be too charming? Too respectful of boundaries? Wear pants that show off his ass a little too much?”

“Noelle!”

She laughed, coming to a stop alongside you. Noelle wore a sparkly dress which made her skin glow, although this may have been the glitter dusted over her shoulders. Looking at herself in the mirror, she fluffed her hair.

“Seriously,” she said, meeting your gaze. “You’re going to be fine.”

“I know, I know.” Shaking out your arms, you forced yourself to exhale. “I’m just nervous, that’s all. It’s been a long time since I went on a first date.”

Noelle considered. “That’s true. Allow me to give you some dating tips, then.”

Laughing, you turned around and sat on the futon. “By all means.”

“Alright – number one.” Noelle removed lipstick from her purse. “Don’t order anything with garlic. I know, that sucks because garlic is everything, but no one wants to make out while they have garlic breath. Rule number two!”

“Whoa, whoa,” you said. “Who said anything about making out?”

Noelle gave you a pointed look. “Just in case it should happen…”

Shaking your head, you sunk back on the futon, but you knew she was right. Tonight was New Year’s Eve, after all. Ideally, you’d like to do more than kiss Jimin, but this seemed like too much of a jinx to say out loud.

Mentally, you agreed to the ‘no garlic’ rule.

“What else?” you prompted.

“Let’s see.” Noelle began to reapply her lipstick. “Relax.”

“What?”

Glancing at you in the mirror, she raised both brows. “I can see your shoulders tensing from here, babe. Just relax, okay? Tonight will be fine. You’re just hanging out with Jimin. You’ve done that before.”

“I know,” you groaned, lowering your face to your hands. “For some reason though, I’m very aware of the ‘date’ aspect of tonight. I don’t know why.”

When you looked up, Noelle gave you a sympathetic look, but before she could say more there came a knock at the door. Half-standing, you moved to open it, but Noelle shooed you back.

“Rule number three,” she said as she crossed the room. “Never answer the door for your own date.”

“What?” you laughed, although you sat back down on the futon.

Grabbing the handle, Noelle pulled open the door. Blocking you from view, she leaned her shoulder against the frame.

“Password?”

“What?” came Jimin’s voice, sounding confused.

“That’s correct!” Noelle stepped aside.

As you stood, you saw Jimin for the first time. He wore a pea coat over his outfit, his dark hair pushed back from his face in a devastating manner. When he saw you, Jimin froze, and you saw his eyes widen.

Silently, you congratulated yourself on having picked the right outfit. His gaze slowly trailed your body, lingering in places which made your cheeks heat. When he returned to your face, he slowly exhaled.

“Hey,” he said. “You… you look beautiful.”

Smiling back, you found yourself at a loss for words. “So do you.”

Jimin grinned and you stood there, smiling at each other like idiots until Noelle cleared her throat.

“Well,” she said, side-stepping Jimin to grab her coat. “I’m going to head over to Ari’s. You kids be safe, okay?”

“We will,” you laughed.

Noelle left in a flurry of kisses and glitter, waving goodbye as she stepped out the door. Jimin turned to face you once she was gone, offering a smile.

“Are you ready to go?” he asked. “I brought you these.”

From behind his back, he pulled out pink peonies, which made you gasp. They were your favorites, a little limp from the cold, but still beautiful. Taking them gently from him, you turned them over in your hands.

“They’re wonderful,” you said happily. “Thank you.”

Jimin smiled. “I’m glad you like them.”

Glancing around, you found a clean glass near the sink and filled this with water. Arranging the peonies on your desk, you took a step back and cocked your head. You’d always thought the idea of flowers on dates was kind of cheesy, but now that you’d experienced it in person, it seemed unimaginably sweet.

“There,” you said, turning back. “All set.”

Jimin smiled at this, then glanced at your bare arms. “You’re going to be cold without a coat,” he said. “That’d be a bad way to start off the new year.”

“Oh – duh,” you said, hurrying towards your wardrobe.

Pulling a coat out, you slipped this over your dress and buttoned the front. As you left the room, you turned off the lights and shut the door behind you. Jimin walked with you down the hall, continually glancing your way from the corner of his eyes.

You felt oddly shy, despite this being Jimin beside you. Jimin, who you’d known since you were teenagers. Jimin, who’d been both the utter bane of your existence, along with the single person you trusted most in the world. He’d tossed you up in the air and caught you no question and somehow, this felt like the most daring thing you’d ever done.

It was strange to walk beside him, out on a date whose future held a large question mark. Excitement and uncertainty warred in your stomach, which only seemed to exacerbate the situation. You felt as though you stood on the edge of a precipice, staring into a ravine with no discernable bottom.

As you left the building, snowflakes swirled in the sky up above and you looked up in surprise.

“Oh,” you exhaled, breath frosting before you. “I didn’t realize it was snowing!”

“Yeah.” Jimin grinned, tilting back his head. “Snow is my favorite weather, actually.”

“The wet and the cold does it that much for you, huh, Park?”

“That, and the romance of it all.”

Your smile softened a little as you fell into step alongside him. The snow continued to drift as you walked, melting as soon as it touched the pavement.

“So, where are we going?” you wondered, glancing at him. “You said you’d tell me once you picked me up and I’ve got news for you, Jimin. I’m here. I’ve been picked up.”

“Right, sure.” He shoved both hands in his pockets. “I made a reservation at this restaurant around the corner. The food’s really good so I hope you’ll like it.”

“I’m sure I will.”

“Huh.” Jimin paused. “That was easy.”

You shrugged. “I’m just excited for tonight. That’s all.”

His gaze softened a little when he glanced at you. “Me, too.”

Smiling, you continued to walk alongside him. New Year’s Eve in the city was a grand affair. The sidewalks were still lit with holiday lights, people hurrying past in brightly colored coats. Privately, you were glad Jimin had made a reservation at a restaurant instead of trying to brave a club or a bar. You’d heard horror stories from people who paid extravagantly to get into a club, only to spend the entire night waiting in line at the bar.

Turning the corner, you saw the restaurant Jimin had chosen and brightened. It was one you’d walked past several times and always wanted to try but had never found time.

Jimin held open the door as you entered. The inside still had their holiday decorations up, garland strung across every surface with tiny, white fairy lights hung up above. Everyone who was dining wore formal attire, laughing and chatting in the glow of the fireplace. The food smelled amazing and immediately, your mouth watered.

Joining the line at the hostess stand, you waited for the couple before you to leave and then Jimin stepped up.

“Park,” he told her. “Party of two.”

The hostess smiled, nodding as she flipped through her notebook. “One moment, please.” The longer she looked though, the more her face fell. After a moment, she glanced up. “Park, you said?”

“Yes.” Jimin nodded. “P-a-r-k.”

The woman nodded, flipping through her notebook again as though the name might magically appear.

“I’m so sorry,” she said, glancing up again. “There seems to be some kind of mistake. I don’t have you listed as a reservation.”

Jimin’s expression faltered. “Can you look again?” he asked, leaning forward.

The hostess nodded, running her finger down the numbered rows. “I can’t find you anywhere. Do you remember who you spoke with on the phone?”

“Rebecca.”

“Oh.” Her face immediately fell. “Rebecca left the restaurant last week. It seems a few reservations slipped through in the transition. Is there… well, before I do that – let me see what I can do,” she blurted out, turning around to rush into the restaurant.

Jimin watched her disappear and you saw his expression tighten.

Silence fell between you as you adjusted your coat. Jimin looked stressed and you weren’t sure what you should do about it. Frantically, you tried to remember times he’d been stressed during class, but before you could do or say anything, the hostess returned.

“I’m so sorry,” she said, looking harried. “The restaurant is completely booked up. I was trying to see if we could squeeze you in, but there’s just no room. I’m so sorry. Normally, only one person does the reservations, but we’ve been so busy lately...”

“It’s fine,” you said, jumping in. The poor woman looked like she was about to burst into tears. “Please, don’t worry about it. We’ll figure something out.”

Jimin glanced at you, surprised, and then nodded. “Yeah,” he agreed, returning to the hostess. “Thank you so much for your help – I appreciate you trying. We actually have a back-up reservation somewhere else, so don’t worry. We’ll come back another time!”

“Oh, really?” Her entire face brightened. “That’s so good to hear. New Year’s Eve, and all. Thank you for being understanding!”

“Yes, busy night,” Jimin said with a smile. “Take care of yourself!”

The woman nodded, seeming grateful when you stepped out of line. Jimin followed your footsteps, heading towards the door and then came to a stop. Slowly, he exhaled.

“So,” you said, turning to face him. “Where are these back-up reservations?”

Jimin winced and met your gaze. “I have none,” he admitted. “She just looked so sad. I wanted to put her out of her misery.”

“Wait.” Piecing this together, you paused. “Are you serious?”

“Yeah,” he said miserably. “I only made reservations here and that was super lucky, considering most places in the city have been booked for weeks. I don’t have any back-up plans.”

For a moment, you could only stare. “So, you said all that just so that poor hostess wouldn’t worry about a mistake her restaurant made?”

“I – well, yeah.”

You stared another moment, then started to laugh. It started out small but grew until eventually, you were wiping tears of mirth from your eyes.

Jimin watched you laugh, seeming thoroughly confused. “What’s so funny?”

“It’s just…” Shaking your head, you paused to catch your breath. “You’re unreal. Most people would be super stressed about New Year’s Eve plans falling through, but here you are lying to make a hostess’ night better.”

He blinked, still uncertain. “I’m… sorry about that.”

“Don’t apologize!” you insisted as you straightened. “It’s… wonderful,” you said to him shyly. “I like that about you.”

Slowly, his expression changed. “I really don’t have other plans, though,” he admitted. “I wasn’t lying about that. And I am stressed about my reservation falling through. I wanted this night to be perfect.”

The sweetness of this made your heart start to melt and newly determined, you nodded.

“We can fix this,” you said. “We’ll just go somewhere else.”

“Like where?”

“Like...” You paused. “We could hang out at my dorm. Or at your apartment! One of our kitchens has to be free, right? We could make dinner and hang out, watch the ball drop.”

“We could go to my place,” said Jimin slowly. “Hoseok and Alex are at a New Year’s Eve party uptown. We’d have the kitchen to ourselves.”

“Perfect,” you said. “Let’s go there.”

“I should warn you, though – I can only really cook one thing.”

“Spaghetti-o’s?”

“Okay, two things.”

You laughed. “So, what’s the first thing?”

“A pasta dish they taught us in Senior Foods class. But it’s nothing fancy.”

“Perfect.” You shrugged. “That will go nicely with my contribution of store-bought bread and olive oil.”

Jimin started to grin. “Alright, then, it’s settled. Let’s go to my place.”

You smiled when he opened the door, following him onto the sidewalk. Jimin’s new apartment was a few blocks away, but time passed quickly with him beside you. Oddly enough, the mishap at the restaurant seemed to have cleared some of the lingering awkwardness.

Noelle had been right, you realized – you had nothing to worry about while you were with Jimin.

He talked while you walked, detailing the ongoing fight at his apartment about some posters Hoseok wanted to hang. This segued into the general ridiculousness of New Year’s Eve – a topic you wholeheartedly agreed with.

“It’s stressful,” Jimin complained as you walked. “Everyone’s always asking about your resolution, you need to find someone to kiss at midnight, and there’s that super awkward moment with the countdown and your date…”

You laughed, grabbing a basket as you entered the grocery store. Jimin had suggested you stop by, since he didn’t have much food at his place.

“Doesn’t the countdown make it easier?” you joked. “It really dumbs the whole process down. Fool-proof.”

“Well, sure,” Jimin said. “But then you end up staring awkwardly at someone for ten seconds while you slowly lean forward and wonder when you should blink.”

Laughing, you reached on tiptoe for a loaf of bread. “Alright, you got me there,” you admitted. “I’ve never had a proper New Year’s Eve, anyways. I’ve always been dating someone and then, it’s just kind of assumed you’ll kiss. None of the magic you see in the movies.”

Jimin nodded. “Most of that’s just movie magic, though. You aren’t missing much – trust me.”

“I don’t know,” you said as you turned the next corner. “The anticipation sounds kind of nice. Wondering if someone will kiss you back, if they’re thinking about you the same way you are…”

Jimin made a humming noise, low in his throat.

Coming to a stop, he reached overhead to grab some pasta. Putting this in your basket, Jimin casually brushed your arm as you met his faze. Fighting back a shiver, you tried to remember what you’d been saying.

Giving a smile, Jimin continued forward and kept shopping. You stared after him a moment before your gaze dropped to his ass. Inhaling quickly, you remembered Noelle’s comment about Jimin’s tight pants. She hadn’t been wrong about that. Hurrying along, you quickly caught up.

Grabbing another jar, Jimin placed this in the basket. When he caught your eye again, he grinned, his hair falling forward. The sight made your heart flip-flop in your chest.

As you entered the check-out line, Jimin came to a stop alongside you. His gaze traveled the store, eyes widening when he glanced over your shoulder.

“What’s that?” Jimin gasped.

Startled, you turned. “What’s – hey!” you blurted when he took your basket.

Grinning widely, Jimin placed the food before the cashier. “Too slow.”

“Jimin, come on,” you said, slightly flustered. “I can pay. I –”

“You can pay next time, if you want.”

This shut you up and you stared at him a moment before you stepped forward.

“There’s… going to be a next time?” you said.

Jimin glanced in your direction. “If you want there to be.”

“I do,” you said softly, and he smiled.

Taking another step forward, he pulled out his wallet to pay and you let him – this time, anyways. Outside, it seemed to have grown colder since your arrival and you shivered as you exited the shop. Noticing this, Jimin immediately undid his scarf from around his neck.

“Here,” he said, handing it over. “I don’t need this.”

“But then you’ll be cold,” you pointed out, accepting it anyways.

“I’ll jog in place to keep warm.”

“… With me walking beside you?”

“Yep.”

You laughed, even more so when Jimin began to demonstrate. He jogged for a few steps, then slowed to a walk.

“Changed my mind,” he said with a wince. “I’d rather be cold.”

You laughed, cheeks starting to hurt from both this and the wind. Jimin’s apartment wasn’t far, although it did turn out to be a third-floor walk-up. This left you slightly winded when you arrived at his place, to which Jimin shrugged and said the rent had been cheap.

Opening his front door, he led the way into – boxes. Tons of them, although most of the furniture had been set up around them. Jimin fumbled for a light, flicking this on and setting down the groceries.

“Most of the boxes are Alex’s,” he sighed, looking around. “Hoseok and I have a secret deal we’re going to unpack him ourselves if he doesn’t do it by Monday.”

“That doesn’t sound like much of a detriment to Alex.”

“I never said what we planned on doing with his things once we unpacked.”

You laughed, undoing your coat to set aside. Glancing around, you saw Jimin was right. Most of the boxes were scrawled in the same handwriting. Beyond them, you saw the living room had been mostly set up with a couch and TV.

To your right lay the kitchen, in which Jimin was already unloading the groceries. Beyond him was a hallway, through which you assumed were their bedrooms and bathrooms. Wandering back to Jimin, you realized he was staring.

“What?” you said, coming to a stop. “Did I spill something on my dress in the store?”

“No,” Jimin murmured, shaking his head. “I just… I know I said this before, but you really do look incredible.”

“Oh.”

Looking at him, you felt your face growing hot. Jimin smiled and ducked his head, resumed pulling things out of the bag. Stepping from your shoes to place in the hall, you returned to the kitchen and pulled out a stool.

Sitting down, you propped your chin in your hand. “Aren’t you going to take off your coat?”

Glancing down, Jimin blinked. “Oh,” he laughed, undoing the buttons. “I forgot I was wearing it.”

You smiled, but this quickly disappeared when you saw what he was wearing. Jimin had worn a dark blazer and trousers, paired with a paisley shirt and black boots. He looked ridiculously good and again, Noelle’s comment about his ass came to mind.

She’d been correct – his pants were well-shaped and well-formed.

After removing both coat and shoes, Jimin returned to the kitchen and pushed a hand through his hair. You watched him get to work, leaning forward a bit when he began to dice vegetables. Immediately, your brows raised. It seemed Jimin had undersold his skills in the kitchen.

When you said as much, he laughed.

“Maybe a little,” Jimin said. As he pushed veggies from the cutting board, the pan began to sizzle. “It’s all part of my master plan. Set expectations low, then over-deliver.”

“It’s working,” you said with a laugh. “You seem pretty damn impressive to me.”

Jimin’s cheeks reddened. “You’re just saying that.”

“Why would I lie?”

“I seem to remember some shocking texts about my junk and dancer’s belts. You could just be after my body, Y/N.”

“I – that’s not!”

He looked up and grinned. “Kidding.”

Flustered, you blurted, “That wasn’t nice!”

Jimin laughed. “I’m sorry.”

You huffed, waiting a minute before you continued. “You do look really good right now, though,” you said softly.

He looked up, eyes wide. As much as Jimin said he enjoyed being liked, it seemed to throw him for a loop whenever you said you liked him. It made you pause, mulling over this for a minute.

“You seem surprised,” you said quietly. “Whenever I say things like that, you always look surprised.”

“Well…” Jimin hesitated. “I just think… there’s been a lot of times where I never thought this would happen. It feels kind of unreal have you here. In my kitchen. On a date.”

“Times after November?”

Jimin paused.

Your brow furrowed. “Before then?”

Opening the pasta, Jimin added this to the pot. He stared into the steam, slowly exhaling before he looked up.

“Let’s just say I’ve wanted this for a while,” he admitted.

“What? But you hated me before Russet.”

“I…” Jimin trailed off. “Kind of. It’s complicated.”

When he failed to elaborate and returned to his cooking, your eyebrows shot up.

“Uh, no,” you laughed. “You can’t just say that and not explain what you mean. What are you talking about?”

Jimin winced as he set down his spoon. “Okay,” he said, gripping the counter. “I guess what I’m saying is I never really hated you. Not truly.”

“You didn’t.”

“No.” He spoke flatly.

“But…” Confused, you searched his face. “You’ve hated me ever since we met, Jimin. That first weekend at NUVO dance competition. We were both called out to demonstrate and you tripped me!”

“Well, maybe that’s not exactly what happened.”

“What are you talking about?”

Jimin released a low breath. “Okay, so here’s the thing. That weekend happened a little differently from my perspective.”

“How so?”

“We were both called out to demonstrate,” he said, repeating your words. “But I hadn’t seen you before then. When we both reached center and I turned and saw you – I froze. I couldn’t remember how to act. Every thought I’d ever had just… flew out of my head.”

You stared at him, speechless.

“I didn’t know what to do,” Jimin continued softly. “I’d never felt like that before. When you started to dance, it only got worse. I’d never seen someone dance like you did. That’s why I entered the combination late. That’s why I was in the wrong spot at the wrong time and that’s why I accidentally tripped you. I was… well, I was distracted.”

“By me,” you whispered. “You were distracted by… me?”

“Yeah.”

“So,” you said, breath catching. “This entire time, you haven’t really hated me?”

“Ah, I don’t know about that.” Jimin rubbed the back of his neck. “You could be really infuriating,” he said with a laugh. “There were times when you genuinely pissed me off. I meant it when I said I wanted to win against you. But also… I don’t know. I never really forgot the first time I saw you.”

“Oh,” you whispered, unsure what you were feeling.

It made your head spin to hear this different version of events. Jimin hadn’t hated you – at least, not in the same way you had. He hadn’t been the one to make the first move after all. You had when you’d decided not to listen to his apology.

“Oh my god,” you groaned, burying your face in your hands.

“Hey – what’s wrong?”

Dropping his spoon to the counter, Jimin came around and stood beside you. Keeping your head down, you refused to look up until Jimin touched your arm.

“I just,” you exhaled, turning to face him. “It was my fault. This entire time, I thought you hated me and that’s why I hated you. But instead, I just decided to hate you – and for what?”

Jimin’s upper lip twitched. “I wasn’t entirely blameless, you know. I was such a little shit at that age. I wouldn’t have believed me, either.”

“You tried to apologize, though!”

“Hey.” Gently, he gripped your elbows. “If it makes you feel any better, I did trip people just to get to the front. I was an ass. It’s why that Jungkook guy hates me. I started dancing later in life, so I was really hung up on proving myself.”

“Yeah, but it wasn’t true,” you told him. “You didn’t trip me on purpose, and if I’d only been less stubborn –”

“Whoa, hey.” Jimin smiled. “You weren’t the only stubborn one. Maybe it started off as a misunderstanding, but I didn’t really fight it. You were my competition as much as I was yours.”

“I guess,” you said quietly. “I just… I feel like I wasted so much time hating you. Maybe we could’ve even been friends.”

His gaze sparked. “Just friends?” he asked with a quirk of his brow.

“Jimin,” you groaned, but started to smile.

“Listen.” Expression softening, Jimin moved closer. “Even if I had decided to explain all this in high school, would you have believed me?”

“Probably not.”

“Exactly. I was a dick back then.” He nodded. “Remember that one time I lied and told you the awards ceremony had been pushed back an hour?”

Sitting up straighter, you glared. “Oh, I remember. I showed up after they’d already taken the photo for Top Junior solos.”

Jimin grinned. “Or the time I put an out of order sign on the women's restroom after your solo at BRAVO, so you had to run all the way across the auditorium?”

“That was you!” you blurted out, wide-eyed. “No one would believe me when I said it was! Every girl was so pissed off at you that weekend.”

“Which is exactly why I could never admit it was me!”

In disbelief, you shook your head. “You did all of that just to get back at me?”

Jimin’s smile disappeared. “Hey, you weren’t innocent either,” he argued. “Remember the time you spilled an entire water bottle next to my bag so that when I sat down, my ass got all wet?”

Devious, you smiled. “Honestly, there was kind of an ulterior motive there. As much as I hated you, your ass looks great in damp sweats.”

Jimin’s jaw dropped a little.

Managing to shut this, he took a casual step forward. “Is that what you thought?” he murmured, barely able to conceal the thickness in his voice.

“I… may have noticed a few things about you.”

When he placed a hand next to you on the counter, your breath hitched in response. Jimin repeated this with his other hand, bringing his body a step closer to yours.

Hesitant, his gaze roamed your face. “What else did you notice?”

“I…” you exhaled and glanced at his lips.

The air between you could have been cut with a knife, heated for a different reason than the stove beside you. Which – eyes widening, you glanced over.

“Shit!” you blurted. “Jimin, the pasta!”

Startled, he looked in the same direction as you and realized the water was boiling. Rushing away, Jimin entered the kitchen and turned down the burner. Now that you were separated by a solid counter, you felt somewhat dazed when you glanced up and saw him.

Meeting your gaze, Jimin came to a stop. “Anyways,” he said softly. “Now, you know. I didn’t trip you on purpose. I never really hated you. And I’m incredibly glad you’re here tonight.”

Watching him speak, something warm bloomed in your chest.

“Me, too,” you whispered.

Smiling, Jimin returned to the pasta and you settled back on the stool. Delicious scents soon filled the kitchen and you realized how truly hungry you were. You hadn’t eaten much at lunch in preparation and by now, you were famished.

It wasn’t long before Jimin placed pasta onto plates, adding the bread you’d cut up on the side. He brought these to his table, disappearing briefly to return with two candles.

“Oo,” you said as you took a seat. “Fancy.”

Jimin lit the one closest to you with a flourish. “We aim to please, here at Park Jimin’s Fine Eating and Dining.”

“Is that the name of your restaurant?”

“It is.”

“And you’re set on that decision?”

“I decided on a whim, but I have no regrets,” Jimin said, taking a seat across from you. “Now, eat before you piss off the chef and he takes back your food.”

Laughing, you dug into the pasta before you. It was delicious and, after the very first bite, you sighed in appreciation. Apparently, Jimin had truly set the bar low. Conversation began to flow, any lingering tension disappeared after talk of your past.

It was the oddest thing. You’d heard stories from friends about other first dates. They worried about how to behave, what to wear, or what to say to their date – but none of these worries seemed to exist for you in the moment. You’d been so concerned before the night began, but now that you were here, all these worries seemed to fly out the window.

You’d thought you’d spend the entire night comparing. Comparing Jimin to your last relationship, comparing Jimin as a date to Jimin as a friend, but instead, it felt like natural progression. It wasn’t a matter of comparing Jimin to anyone else, but rather simply enjoying where the night led.

After dinner, you insisted on helping clean because Jimin had cooked and bought the food. Donning rubber gloves over your dress, you stood at the sink and began to wash dishes. Jimin laughed as he joined, pulling on gloves to dry the dishes beside you. Once this was done, he suggested watching a movie before the ball dropped.

Collapsing onto the sofa, you adjusted your dress and scanned the room. The posters Jimin had bemoaned were now hung over the TV – you wondered if Hoseok had managed to somehow sneak them past his roommates. Small touches here and there made you think of Jimin.

A game he’d mentioned was out on the coffee table and a blanket which smelled like him was draped over a chair. Pulling this towards you, you wrapped it around yourself as Jimin left the kitchen.

Holding two glasses of wine, he paused when he saw you.

“What?” you said, glancing down.

“Nothing.” Jimin cleared his throat. “Are you cold?”

“A little,” you admitted, tugged his blanket closer.

“Shoot.” Jimin frowned. “The heat’s been weird since we moved in. I’m not sure how to fix – oh!” Setting the glasses down, he rushed towards the hall. “Do you want a sweatshirt?” he called.

“Yes, please!”

Jimin reappeared moments later, a navy sweatshirt in hand. Handing this over, he settled beside you on the sofa. He’d ditched his blazer and now, Jimin was dressed in only the paisley shirt and slacks.

Pulling his sweatshirt overhead, you somehow managed to get stuck right away. It was hard not to, with your hair and the dress, trying not to flash him while you kept your legs crossed.

After a moment of watching your undignified struggling, Jimin cleared his throat.

“Need help?”

“Yes, please,” you said weakly.

Jimin laughed, helping you free and once the hoodie was settled, you sighed and leaned back. Glancing sideways at Jimin, you found him already looking at you.

“What do you want to watch?” you asked.

Jimin blinked, then glanced at the TV. “Hm,” he mused, grabbing the remote. “We could watch the ball drop and enjoy the fact that we’re sitting inside, not standing in the freezing cold without any bathrooms.”

“I know!” you said with a shudder. “Out of all the stupid traditions, that’s one I’ll never understand.”

“How do so many people have it on their bucket list?”

“Right? That, and the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade. Zero out of ten. It’s cold, there’s wind and again, there’s the question of bathrooms.”

Jimin laughed as he scrolled through the channels. “Alright, so no to the ball drop. Want to watch a movie?”

“Sure.”

“What movie?”

“Why’re you making me pick?” you whined, sinking deeper into his cushions. “That’s such a large amount of pressure.”

“Exactly, which is why I don’t want to do it.”

You laughed and after some back and forth, decided to watch About Time. This was a movie about obstacles and falling in love, which seemed more than fitting because of the new year. At first, you and Jimin were watching diligently but eventually, he asked a question and conversation slowly drifted from the movie.

At some point, Jimin lowered the volume to focus solely on you. You curled deeper into the couch beside him, your thighs somehow touching and shoulders inches apart. Jimin’s head leaned against the cushion and he continued to smile in a way which made your heart flip.

“Here’s a question,” you murmured, no longer pretending to watch the movie.

His eyes gleamed in the darkness. “What?”

“Why’d you tell Sabrina you only wanted to be friends?”

Briefly, his eyes widened. “How did… you know about that?”

“She told me.”

“Hm.” Jimin gave you a dubious look but moved past it. Sabrina had begun hanging out with your friends as of late. “But alright, I’ll answer. If I do though, you need to answer one of my questions. Deal?”

“Deal.”

“So, I was single when I came to Russet.” Jimin paused. “It was the first time in a long time, and I may have hooked up with a couple of people.”

“Hm,” you said tightly.

His eyes danced with amusement. “Jealous?”

“Answer the question.”

He laughed. “Anyways, I only hooked up with Sabrina the one time. Afterwards…” Jimin sighed. “I felt kind of weird about her asking me to switch partners. Then I overheard what she said about Ari at weigh-ins and just didn’t feel like anything more... Plus, there was the other reason.”

“And what was the other reason?”

“I was starting to like you,” he said, a bit softer. “The day you said you wanted to be friends was a giant weight from my chest. And the more relaxed you were around me, the more… I don’t know. The more I liked you, I guess. My mom has always called me her hopeless romantic,” Jimin said with a smile. “I don’t know about that, but I can be single-minded when I like someone. That was part of the reason I told Sabrina we shouldn’t hook up anymore.”

“Oh,” you whispered.

His smile turned lopsided. “Does that answer your question?”

“Yeah. I guess it does.”

“My turn, then.” Smile disappearing, his gaze darkened. “Why did you really call me that night at the club?”

“Oh. That. Well, I –”

“And don’t say it was because I had a car,” Jimin interrupted. “There were a lot of people you could’ve called to help. You didn’t, though. You called me. Why?”

You hesitated before you realized there was only one answer. “I wanted to see you,” you said honestly. “I was scared, I was alone and… you were the person I wanted to see.”

Jimin’s gaze had become nearly black, the air between you thick with something unsaid. You were suddenly conscious of all each part of your body pressed to his. When Jimin shifted on the couch, you moved somehow closer.

He hesitated, then glanced at your mouth. “I don’t…” Jimin licked his lips, sounding hoarse. “I don’t want to do anything you’re not ready for.”

“You won’t,” you told him.

Something uncertain passed over his face. “Maybe we should take things slow.”

“Or,” you said slowly. “I could tell you things I like about you, instead.”

“And what would be the point of that?”

Your gaze shifted to his. “You’ve told me a lot tonight about how much you like me,” you said softly. “About how long you’ve liked me. I think it’s time I returned the favor.”

Something in his gaze cracked and he nodded. The TV in the background was quiet, only the noise from the street and the whoosh of the heater breaking the silence.

“First,” you said, glancing down at his lap. “You have really nice hands.”

Jimin’s lips twitched. “My hands? I’ve always thought they were small.”

“Wrong. They’re the perfect size. Never have they dropped me.”

“Mm, that’s a good point.”

“And your smile,” you said.

“What about it?”

“I like your smile,” you told him. “It makes me smile.”

His eyes crinkled in demonstration. “Oh, yeah?”

“And your ears.”

Jimin laughed. “My ears?”

Reaching out, you delicately traced over an edge. “I’ve spent a long time looking at your profile, Park. I know what I’m talking about here.”

As your fingers moved lower, feather-light down his jaw, Jimin’s smile disappeared.

“I like your jaw, too,” you told him.

In the darkness, his gaze glinted, and you felt his jaw tense.

“And your lips,” you added, gaze lowering. “I like those a lot.”

“Y/N…” Jimin’s eyes fluttered shut.

“Yeah?”

He slowly exhaled. “I just don’t want you to regret this.”

“Jimin.”

He opened his eyes.

Your expression was serious. “I told you I wouldn’t jump into something before I was ready,” you said, lifting your other hand. “But I’m not in love with Finn anymore. It doesn’t hurt when I think about what happened last semester. I like you, Jimin. I want you. I don’t want to keep pushing you away. I get if you’re unsure about this, though. If you’re unsure about me.”

Jimin’s gaze roamed your face. “Unsure?”

“I know I hurt you before. I shouldn’t have kissed you and ran away. But I promise this isn’t like that. I’m not running away. I’m the furthest thing from running and I –”

Cutting you off, Jimin pressed his lips to yours.

You shuddered a little, leaning into his kiss before he pulled back. Jimin exhaled, barely a breath before he kissed you again.

Noses brushing, lips lingering, the kiss slowly deepened. Your hands curled into his hair, pulling him forward to bask in his warmth. It was dizzying, how different this felt than last time. Last time you’d been heartbroken, desperately yearning each time your lips had touched.

Now, Jimin felt like air, like sunshine as you drowned in his presence. Hand grasping your waist, Jimin moved you closer so your chest nestled to his. Lifting his fingers, his touch skimmed your jaw, your hairline before he circled the nape of your neck.

Drawing away, he bit down on your lip. With a low sort of moan, Jimin sought your lips again. When his mouth opened yours, his tongue swept forward and you nearly combusted.

This was only to tease, though. Only to taste before he pulled away, pressing a chaste kiss to your lips. Thumb skimming your jawline, Jimin tilted your head back to brush a kiss to your throat. Moving higher, he worshiped a slow path up the column of your neck. At your ear, he nipped gently before he returned.

Now, his kisses began to deepen. Mouths opening, your tongues brushed only briefly before he chose to withdraw. You were glad you were kissing on the couch, because suddenly your own legs felt weak underneath you.

Hand re-gripping his waist, Jimin pulled you against him. Eager, your hands found his neck and the blanket dropped to the floor. It wasn’t enough, though – you needed more, wanted to feel him fully beneath you. Rising on your knees, you swung a leg over his lap and settled on top.

Jimin hissed, his head hitting the back of his couch. Your dress had ridden up in the process, exposing your thighs – his thumbs skimmed the surface before he looked up.

“Shit,” Jimin croaked.

Smiling, you bent to kiss him again. Jimin arched upwards, each part of your body electric where you touched. He shifted his hips, granting friction and heat which made you short-circuit. Pressing yourself closer, your thighs sild backwards until they nestled around his waist.

Jimin’s hand found your spine, pulling you closer as his hips pushed upwards. You groaned when you felt him shift underneath you. The kisses grew steadily hotter, this ache in your core increasing with every touch.

“Can I…” Pulling away, Jimin glanced lower. “Can I take off the sweatshirt?”

“Yeah,” you said, a bit dazed.

Jimin didn’t waste time, helping you pull this swiftly overhead. It was tossed on the ground and when your dress was revealed, he inhaled.

Slipping his hands up your bodice, Jimin met your gaze. “I’ve wanted to do this for so long,” he confessed, his voice hoarse.

“Do what?”

Your breath hitched when his hands skimmed your breasts, lingering in all your softest places.

“Touch you,” Jimin said. “It was torture to see you, to look at you and not be able to do this. Not how I wanted, anyways. I’d tell myself not to think about it, but…”

“Jimin.”

He paused and looked up. “Yes?”

“Touch me. Please.”

Without hesitation, Jimin slid his hands lower. Cupping your ass, he pulled you against him and allowed his other hand to drift up your spine. You shivered, closing your eyes as your head tilted back.

His hands slid up your front, over your breasts and under the straps of your dress. Jimin’s thumbs drifted lower, brushing your nipples through the fabric of your bodice. Opening your eyes, you looked down at him and saw his gaze darken.

Reaching higher, Jimin cupped the back of your neck and returned your lips to his.

He kissed you slowly, purposefully as you melted forward. Shifting against him, the kiss began to intensify. Mouths opening, your tongue swept forward in bold strokes against his. Suppressing a whimper, you ground your hips on his lap.

“Is,” you murmured, breaking free. “Is your bedroom unpacked?”

Jimin went still. “I – mostly, yeah.”

“Can I see it?”

“Fuck, yes,” he groaned, releasing your thighs as he stood from the couch.

You laughed, sliding down his front as your feet hit the ground. Tugging your dress down, you followed Jimin when he grabbed your hand. He pulled you down the hall, coming to a stop at the last room on the row. Pushing open the door, he flicked on the light and came to a stop.

Stepping forward, you glanced around Jimin’s room. You recognized some of the items from the two times you’d visited Jimin in the dorms. Photos of his family were carefully hung on the wall and he had the same pillows laid over his queen-sized bed.

Turning around, you took a step backwards and sat on his bed. “It’s nice,” you said, patting the comforter. “I like it here.”

Jimin watched you, his gaze half-lidded from the hall. “I like you here.”

Cheeks heating, you watched him enter and gently shut the door. Leaning back on your elbows, you arched a brow.

“Where’d we leave off?”

Jimin exhaled as he crossed the room. “I think you were on my lap,” he said hoarsely, kneeling beside you.

You nodded, moving to straddle him as he leaned to the wall. Catching your waist with both hands, Jimin pulled you against him, kissing you roughly even before you sat down. Suddenly ravenous, his hands slid to your ass as he rolled you against him. Inhaling sharply, you sucked his lower lip between teeth as he groaned.

Reaching up, Jimin tugged on your hair as you inhaled, throat exposed for him to kiss slowly down your front. When he returned to your lips, you ground your hips impatiently over the bulge in his pants.

Shifting his weight, Jimin’s spine hit the wall. He stared at you, slightly dazed with his kiss-reddened lips. Without looking away, Jimin lifted his fingers and began undoing his shirt. You stilled, watching each inch of skin be revealed. When he reached the last button, you gave in and helped push this aside. Smiling, Jimin sat up as his shirt fell to the floor.

You weren’t sure where to look first. Hands faltering, you slid them up his abs, over his shoulders and down his biceps. He was so perfect, it almost hurt to look at. Jimin’s breath quickened as you touched him and slowly, he lowered you down to the bed.

“Enough,” he said roughly, returning your lips to his.

As you kissed it turned lazy, nothing but grinding and touching. Jimin’s hair was messy beneath the pull of your fingers. He didn’t seem to mind, his own hands digging into the curve of your thigh. Playing with the hem of your dress, he deftly slid upwards.

“Jimin,” you said, breaking free. “Unzip me.”

His gaze darkened. “Are you sure?”

“Yes.”

Jimin nodded, following suit when you sat up beside him. Turning around, you exposed your back and Jimin began to lower the zipper. He moved slowly, taking his time as his fingers brushed skin. Holding the dress up with your hands, you waited until it was fully unzipped before releasing it to the floor.

Turning around, you found Jimin’s jaw slack.

“You…” He roughly inhaled while he scanned your body. “Lace, Y/N? Really?”

“Do you like it?” you asked.

You may have gone overboard preparing for tonight. Although you hadn’t been sure what would happen, you also hadn’t wanted to be caught off your guard. Tonight, your constant need to plan had come in handy. Beneath your dress you’d worn a crimson lace bra and panties – a matching set which Jimin seemed to like, based on his expression.

“You’re going to kill me,” he muttered, lowering his lips to your neck.

Kissing slowly down your chest, he came to a stop where the two halves joined together. Skimming the length of your torso, his hands trembled a little when he brushed the lace.

Jimin looked up. “I’m sorry I keep touching you,” he murmured. “I just – you’re driving me crazy. You’ve been driving me crazy.”

“You said that before,” you whispered.

“I meant it.”

Kissing again up your body, he lingered in places your skin was exposed. Inhaling, your eyes fluttered shut as you grasped his shoulders.

Jimin’s hand slid between your thighs. “Part them,” he murmured, and you obeyed.

Heart racing, you opened your eyes and watched Jimin drag a finger slowly up the center of your panties. Even you could feel how damp the fabric was, how wet and ready you were for him.

Lifting his finger to his lips, Jimin sucked. “You’re soaking,” he breathed, sounding eager. “So good to me.”

Lowering his head, his tongue flicked your breast. Teasing the nipple through fabric, he urged and he sucked until it was fully erect. Moving onto the next one, Jimin grazed with his teeth until it pressed wantonly into the lace cup of your bra. Moaning his name, you arched against him.

Finding your wrists, Jimin pinned you backwards as he continued. Thighs caging your waist, he kept you hostage with his exquisite torture. The lace of your bra was now drenched, Jimin sucking debauchedly through fabric.

“Jimin,” you groaned, twisting on the sheets. “Please.”

His hips rolled lazily against your center. “Not yet,” he insisted before pulling back. “Not until you make a mess of my sheets. Want to ruin these panties.”

Sliding a hand between your thighs, he lightly circled your entrance. Feeling how wet you were, Jimin softly groaned. Sitting back on his heels, he finally relented and pulled your panties down. Tossing these to the floor, he returned to your thighs and spread your legs.

Lightly, Jimin dragged the pads of his thumbs up and down your panty line. “God, you’re so perfect,” he murmured. “Got my sheets fucking soaked.”

Separating two of his fingers, he slowly dragged his digits up and down your folds. You inhaled, feeling needy while you watched him touch you. Each brush of his fingers had you dripping – teasing over your entrance, he refused to give you exactly what you wanted. Feather-light, Jimin circled your swollen clit with his finger.

Hands gripping the sheets, you could only stare while Jimin brought you closer and closer to the edge. He was barely touching you, but it was the most turned on you’d ever been in your life. Jimin’s thumb swiped over your clit, rubbing you gently as you keened in frustration, arching against him.

He continued like this until you were gasping, begging for more and then – only then – did he slide a finger inside you. Legs trembling, you arched on his mattress and stared at him, glassy-eyed. When Jimin began to move in and out, you lost all control.

Lowering his head, he closed his lips over your clit.

“Oh my god,” you whimpered as you broke apart.

Barely did he suck before you were coming undone, pulsing around his fingers. Shuddering with pleasure, you collapsed on the bed as you rode out your high. Gently, Jimin pulled out his finger and returned to your lips.

Reaching behind you, he undid the clasp of your bra and tossed this on the floor. Once you were fully naked, he pulled you against him. You felt limp, thoroughly sated, but familiar excitement began to stir at his front pressed to yours. Tilting your head, he gently kissed you while your fingers wound in his hair.

Jimin moved slow, letting you take the lead. Your core continued to throb with oversensitivity, although this seemed to lessen the longer you kissed him. Before long, your nipples were hardening as you rubbed against him. Fingers digging into your thigh, Jimin pulled this over his hip to watch you lazily grind.

Realizing he still wore pants, you lowered a hand, determined to fix this. Jimin helped, dragging the zipper down to throw both these and his boxers down on the floor.

He bent to kiss you again, but you placed a hand on his chest. “Wait,” you murmured. “I want to see you.”

Jimin exhaled, leaning back so you could take in his body. If you’d thought his chest was unreal, it was nothing compared to his trim hips, sculpted thighs and cock nestled between.

“Oh,” you said, dragging a hand down his front.

Jimin shuddered a little. He was already hard, his cock thick and pretty with a reddened tip. It made your mouth water to look at, wanting to lick up the shaft. Reaching between you, you closed your fist around him and slowly jerked him off.

You watched in fascination as Jimin responded. His jaw tightened, abs tense while you teased over his frenulum. His cock responded instinctively, hardening further the longer you touched him.

After a few minutes of this, Jimin shook his head. “No more,” he said huskily, taking your hand in his. “I’ll come if you keep doing that.”

“Oh?” you murmured, gaze darting lower.

He chuckled, a rough sound in his throat. “I like watching you come,” Jimin confessed, his cock hard between you. “It turns me on. I’m… still trying to recover from your last orgasm.”

“Oh,” you said, in a completely different way.

Jimin exhaled, hair falling forward. “I hope that doesn’t weird you out.”

“Does it… weird me out that you like giving orgasms?”

“Well, when you put it like that.”

“How else would I put it?”

His grin became devious. “You could ask for another.”

Breathless, you nodded and Jimin’s gaze darkened.

He descended your body, not wasting any time as he positioned himself between your legs. Licking slow up your center, you gasped and instinctively drew your legs higher. Jimin didn’t bother easing you into it. No, now he ate you out like he wanted to.

Kissing your folds, he returned to your clit and sucked this into his mouth. Rolling the sensitive bud with his tongue, he teased and released before you knew what was happening. He continued to do this, spreading you underneath him and bringing you close to coming, only to pull back and leave you maddeningly empty.

Spreading your folds, he began licking sweetly over your clit. This was followed by loose, lazy sucking and more tender flicks. You stared dazedly at him between your legs, the sight more erotic than anything you could’ve imagined.

Grinding his cock into the sheets, Jimin thrust his hips while he pleasured you. You could tell he enjoyed this; each grunt from his lips was more affirmation. Moving lower, he circled your cunt with his tongue just to lap up your juices. You gasped at the sensation, having never felt it before. Flicking your clit with his thumb, Jimin fucked your cunt with his tongue before he slowly withdrew.

Spreading you wide, he returned to your clit and you clasped a hand over your lips before a moan could escape. Each curl of his tongue left you gasping, writhing beneath the pleasurable onslaught of his mouth. Pulling away, Jimin pressed a gentle kiss to your thigh before he rose up your body.

At your mouth, he kissed your fingers. “You don’t have to be quiet,” he told you. “I want to hear the noises you make, Y/N. It makes me feel good.”

Removing your hand, you slowly nodded.

Jimin just grinned, dropping between your legs to begin eating you out again. This time, you didn’t hold back. Jimin seemed to appreciate this as you slipped further from control. He was so good with his mouth, making you see stars as your legs started to shudder. When he slid his finger inside you and fingered you again, your hands fisted in the sheets.

“Ji-jimin,” you gasped, writhing beneath him. “Jimin, I – oh.”

He began to move faster, adding a second finger as your insides clenched around him. Everything tightened, hovering at a breaking point while Jimin continued, relentless. His mouth on your clit, his fingers inside you – everything broke apart when you came, gasping his name.

Jimin didn’t move, kissing your sex as you slowly came down. He lapped at your sex, licking up your arousal before withdrawing his fingers. Once your breathing had steadied, Jimin returned to the sheets beside you.

“Good?” he breathed, draping an arm over your waist.

“Oh my god, yes,” you exhaled, burying your face in his chest.

He laughed, pulling you closer. Jimin started to pull away, which made you look up and frown.

“What are you doing?” you said.

He paused. “I’m looking for a tissue.”

“Why?”

“I… I’m kind of at a loss here.”

“No, I mean why now,” you said, baffled. “I can come again, Jimin. I want to come with you inside me.”

Jimin stared at you a moment.

“Unless…” Uncertain, you hesitated. “You don’t want to…?”

“Fuck,” Jimin muttered, sounding hoarse. “No – I want to. I really want to. Are you sure, though?” he said, reaching to open the side drawer of his bed.

You grinned when he pulled out a condom, ripping this open.

“I’m sure,” you murmured, moving closer.

Jimin rolled the condom onto himself, pausing before he went any further. Shifting his weight so he hovered over you, Jimin searched your gaze. Reaching lower, you casually stroked his cock and guided him to your center.

He didn’t enter yet, content to take his time. Instead, Jimin bent and kissed you, dragging a hand down your side. His fingers paused at your breast, tweaking your nipple until it stood fully erect. Moving to your waist, he curved under your ass and lifted your hips to his.

Arching upwards, you felt his cock brush your center. The touch made you pant, wanting him inside you and wanting it now. Rolling over his length, you marveled at the feel of him between your legs. Having him so close and not having him inside you was maddening.

“Jimin,” you whimpered.

“Yeah?” he murmured, continuing to thrust between your thighs.

“Please,” you begged him.

“Alright, baby,” he said and rolled you onto your back.

It was the first time he’d used the endearment, sending a wave of warmth through you as your legs parted. Reaching lower, Jimin positioned himself at your entrance. It took him a moment to work his way in; you were so wet, he needed a second try. With only his tip inside, you immediately clenched and buried your head in his shoulder.

Lightly, Jimin brushed a kiss to your hair. “Relax, baby,” he murmured, making you glance up. “I’ll make you feel good. I promise.”

Slowly, you nodded. “Okay.”

Laying slowly back down, you tried to relax while he worked his way deeper. With slow, shallow thrusts, Jimin finally bottomed out and you stared at him in amazement. His cock was thicker than you were used to and stuffed to the brim like this, you felt so full. Glancing down, you saw his hips nestled snugly to yours.

When you looked up, Jimin met your gaze. “I’m sorry,” he exhaled, hanging his head. “I just – I need a minute.”

“What’s wrong?” you blurted, immediately worried.

A smile passed over his lips. “Nothing’s wrong.” He looked up. “You’re just… fuck. I feel like a damn virgin. You’re so tight and wet, I’m losing my mind.”

Hearing him say this sent a shiver through you. Shifting your hips, you reveled in the sensation of him moving inside you.

Jimin groaned. “No,” he protested. “You can’t do that right now.”

“Do what?”

“Try and make me move,” he murmured. “I know you can’t see yourself, so you can’t see how hot you look. Tits out, pussy spread and dripping all over my cock.”

“Oh,” you breathed.

“Sounding like that.”

“Jimin. If you don’t –”

He suddenly thrust deeper, grinding his pelvis against your core and making you groan. Speechless, you stared as he slowly pulled out. Jimin teased you with his tip, moving a few inches back in before he thrust again.

“Oh,” you groaned, jolted upwards on the bed.

His gaze dropped to your chest. “Fuck,” Jimin said quietly, dropping down to an elbow.

He moved again in earnest, thrusting slowly in and pulling back out. It made your breath catch, needing more but loving the torture. It was torture to feel every inch of him and have Jimin continue to hold back. You knew he could go faster, deeper, but wanted to stay in control.

Dropping his head, Jimin slowly kissed your neck. His cock continued to move, fucking you slowly as your legs opened wider.

“Jimin,” you whimpered.

Your hips chased after his, hoping to coerce him deeper.

He smirked. “Yes, baby?”

“Please,” you said, arching against him. “I want more.”

“You want it harder?”

As he said this, Jimin increased his strength. Keeping the tempo the same, each thrust of his cock had your lips parting with pleasure.

“Yes,” you whimpered, barely hanging on.

“And faster? You want that, too?”

You nodded, slack-jawed as Jimin sped up the pace. His cock began to pound into you, hand fisting in sheets as he gave it to you hard. Arching underneath him, your hands dragged down his back as Jimin fully let go. With each thrust of his hips, his pelvis brushed your clit and yet, it still wasn’t enough.

“More?” he teased, continuing to fuck you.

“More,” you whimpered, sliding your hands up your breasts. Tweaking the nipples, you watched his gaze harden. “I want more, Jimin.”

He immediately moved, as though he’d been waiting for this. Grasping your ankles in one hand, he lifted them high overhead and pulled his cock out. You gasped when he did so, your hands falling to the side while you were put on display. The position pushed your pussy lips together, giving an incredible view of your dripping cunt.

Jimin plunged his cock back inside, nearly making you scream. It felt so deep this way – so deep and hard and deliciously wanton. Jimin fucked you from above, hips slamming into you and making your breasts bounce.

Jimin groaned, his hips never faltering. “Touch them,” he said, lowering your ankles to one shoulder. “Touch your tits for me, baby.”

You obeyed, hands sliding over your breasts to tease your nipples. This sent a shock of pleasure straight to your core and Jimin hammered your g-spot, making you see stars. Jaw slack, you could only lie there and take it while he made you come.

It was too much, the wave of pleasure threatening to overwhelm, but then Jimin leaned forward and you finally snapped. You felt him release into the condom as you fell apart, rope after rope of hot cum inside you.

Eventually, Jimin softened and fell onto his elbow. As he opened his eyes, he sought your gaze and you smiled. His cheeks were flushed, his hair dark and sweaty and you couldn’t help the deep surge of affection within you.

“I don’t know about you,” he murmured. “But that was pretty fucking incredible.”

“Same here,” you whispered. “I’d like to do it again sometime.”

“Three orgasms weren’t enough?”

“Were they enough for you?”

“No.” Jimin laughed. “I could watch you come all night. But we should probably get you cleaned up and all that.”

“Probably,” you agreed, although you made no effort to move.

Eventually Jimin sighed and gently pulled out. Tossing his condom in the trash, he showed you to the bathroom and let you do what you needed to do. When you returned, Jimin was on top of his bed. He’d put back on his boxers and held out his sweatshirt.

“I thought you might want this,” he said, uncertain.

Smiling, you took it and lowered it over your head. Climbing beside him on the bed, you rested your head on his shoulder and cuddled beside him. Listening to his breathing, you concentrated until yours started to match.

Outside, cheers erupted from the street. Scrambling upwards, you fought to look out Jimin’s side window. As you hurried to see what the commotion was about, Jimin groaned when you flashed him your bare ass, but followed suit.

Glancing outside, you realized it must have turned midnight. Fireworks went off over the skyline, people cheered below, and someone had lit a sparkler on the street. Voices drifted higher, wishing each other a happy new year as slowly, you turned around to face Jimin.

He smiled at you, his happiness clear when he pulled you to him. A dizzying rush of what-if’s and excitement went through you and somehow, you knew this would be only the beginning.

“Happy new year,” he murmured.

“Happy new year,” you whispered, tilting your face up to his.

Author’s Note: Thank you so much for reading this series 😊 It’s been a whirlwind, so thank you for sticking with our main characters throughout the journey! I hope you enjoyed and are having a wonderful holiday season :) happy (almost) new year!

RAISE THE BARRE MASTERLIST

#btsbookclub #bangtanarmynet #bts smut #jimin smut #bts fanfic #jimin fanfic #bts series #bts writing #jimin series #jimin writing #bts dance au #jimin dance au

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bokuroskitten · 3 years ago

Text

𝔅𝔯𝔢𝔞𝔠𝔥

〈 you and kuroo have been together for years. Bokuto is his closest ally, so what happens when theres a breach.

† genre/pairing: 18+ NSFW MINORS DNI Yakuza AU, Bokuto Koutarou x Fem!Reader.

† word count: 4.2k

† warnings: dubcon (corersion / power imbalance), pining, fingering (f!receiving), creampie, unproctected sex, aftercare if you squint, possessive behaviour.

❦ this lovely piece is for @sugawara-sweetheart decadence collab! I’m slipping in right before the due date hehe! Please check out all the other amazing pieces in collab. Also shoutout to @semisgroupie for beta reading this for me! Ily dee ❦ please let me know what you all think!

You can still remember it, the day Kuroo finally asked to be your boyfriend. Standing outside of the gym, still sweaty from practice. He had come all the way to Fukurodani Academy from his college in Tokyo just to make sure he caught you leaving the gym.

He had been so nervous, taking your hand into his and giving you that classic smirk you loved so dearly.

“I know you have a volleyball team to run, but do you think you have time for a boyfriend too?”

You had been together ever since, even when you graduated, even when Kuroo had to drop out to take over for his father, even when you discovered his father ran a large chunk of the Japanese Yakuza’s underground division.

Kuroo had always been careful, he never brought that life home to you. You were his angel, his precious kitten. Whatever hardships, shady dealings, and dangerous activity he had to do was kept away from home. Away from you at any and all costs.

His job and his life with you was kept separate, for your safety mostly. He has enemies on the other side that would do anything to get their hands on the great Kuroo Tetsuro’s little fiancé and that alone was enough for Kuroo to keep you safe, hidden, and protected with the help of his closest allies.

Which consisted of Bokuto Koutarou. You were already well acquainted with the silver owl, considering the two of you had gone to the same high school. Bokuto had gone into the Yakuza around the same time Kuroo did, easily making a name for himself so his father could enjoy the rest of his life without crime attached to his name. Kuroo and Bokuto stayed close, and got even closer when they had to step into this lifestyle.

Allies were important to have, Kuroo and Bokuto knew this and used their long term friendship to their advantage. Bokuto was one of the only people who knew exactly who you were, your true identity and your relationship to Kuroo. He was to look after you if Kuroo had any “business trips” or had to suddenly leave for “meetings.” Kuroo trusted him to keep you safe, and Bokuto promised to do just that.

What Bokuto hadn’t expected was to fall for you.

He had always seen you like a cute underclassman, always trying your hardest to make everyone happy. Never once did he think he’d start to notice the way your hips swayed when you walked, or how plump your lips were when you applied lip gloss.

It had to be your fault. Maybe you were doing this all on purpose. Bokuto knew himself, and he knew he wasn’t the type of person to fall for his best friend's fiance. So that means it had to be you, maybe you were trying to get his attention when you wore those pretty skirts, maybe you were trying to pull him in when you batted your lashes at him.

Bokuto couldn’t take it anymore, not when he started staring at you a little longer than he should, not when he started to get hard in your presence. Especially not when he started to fuck his fist late at night, hips humping wildly into his palm as your name vibrated off his lips.

So he decided to do something about it. The opportunity presented itself when Kuroo called him up, told him he had some last-minute business to attend to and if he could stay the night with you just in case. Of course, Bokuto agreed, reassuring him that you would be completely safe with him.

So that’s how the two of you ended up here, on the couch late into the evening. You were already dozing off, nuzzling your face into a pillow while your legs laid across Bokuto’s lap. Although a movie had been playing, his amber eyes were locked on your legs. He ate up the surface of your skin, eyes lingering until they landed on your crotch which was currently covered in a pair of satin red pajama bottoms.

The ones Kuroo had bought you for your last anniversary.

Bokuto could feel his heart picking up in speed as he smoothed his palm over your leg. Which had been resting on your knee, but he moved it up, rubbing soft circles into your thigh. You stirred a bit, a yawn slipping past your lips.

“Bo, m’sleepy, gunna go to bed.”

He felt his chest tighten, along with the grip he had on your thigh. It made you squirm.

“Don’t go just yet Birdy. Stay up a little longer, yea? We can watch whatever you want.”

“I won’t stay awake.” You rebuttal, attempting to pull your legs away from Bokuto’s lap.

He worked quickly, deciding on tickling your leg. You jolted from the suddenness of the attack, giggles and whines leaving your lips in streams as Bokuto persisted. He worked his way over you, fingers travelling up your sides and continuing the tickling until his hands found your hips.

Your eyes were sparkling with tears when he finally finished the onslaught, chest rising and falling as you tried to catch your breath. That task only seemed more complicated when Bokuto’s large palms pressed your hips further into the couch, his much larger figure looming over you.

In the dimness of the living room, his eyes looked different. Lit up by only the subtle glow of the tv. His pupils were blown out, darting between you and your chest. You suddenly became very aware of his piercing gaze, clearing your throat which made his eyes shoot back up to meet yours.

“Koutarou… is something wrong?”

Bokuto had to hold back a moan at the sweet sound of your pretty little voice. Koutarou. His first name so easily slips off your tongue as if you already belong to him. The scar on the corner of his lip twitched when he grinned down at you.

Before you could ask him again his lips were on yours, smothering any words that threatened to question him again. Your eyes widened, shock and confusion and an odd sense of warmth filling your stomach.

You did the first thing that came to mind, you squirmed, whimpered beneath him.

Wrong. This is all wrong. Bokuto was your senpai, a friend, an ally.

What if Kuroo came home?

“B-Bo--” you managed to squeak out when his lips finally left your own, only to begin pressing wet kisses along your jaw, down your chin. Everything was suddenly a little hazy, and you couldn’t tell whether this sensation was fear or something else.

Something that you had only felt for Kuroo for as long as you could remember.

You snapped back into reality when his lips got dangerously close to your chest, lips threatening to pass the hem of the satin neckline. You yelped, fingers going into Bokuto’s hair and giving a harsh tug.

“B-Bokuto! What are--”

“Birdy--” There was a growl in his tone, one that made your fingertips go numb and your breath caught in your throat.

When he looked back at you he didn’t quite look like himself. This is what you pictured Bokuto looked like on the job. Eyes cold, lips held in a stern line. Not a single speckle of that sparkling gold that his orbs usually held. No traces of a grin that his lips usually graced.

This was Bokuto Koutaruo, a businessman, a potential threat, a possible killer.

“Birdy.” He repeated again, softer this time. He must have felt the way you tensed, the way you sunk further into the couch beneath him. He brought his face close to yours once again and to his displeasure you let out a soft whimper.

“Don’t be scared of me baby, I’d never hurt you…”

“But--”

“But what, pretty, what's the matter, hm? Don’t you want me to show you how much I care about you… don’t you wanna feel special…”

His words were slightly slurred, or so they seemed in your head. His tongue was against your ear, tracing along your earlobe as his warm breath fanned against your skin.

It was a familiar scent, bubblegum. Bokuto’s favourite. It seemed too sweet so close to your nose.

His hands smoothed up your sides, thumbs just inches away from slipping up your tank top and it had goosebumps forming all along your skin.

Wrong.

“We can’t.” You muttered, voice sounding much weaker than you wanted it to when Bokuto pressed another kiss behind your ear.

“Why not?” He was relentless, one knee slowly wedging itself between your thighs despite the way you were squirming.

“Kuroo--”

“Kuroo wants me to take care of you Birdy, and I’m doing just that, aren’t I?” You yelped softly when his teeth suddenly sunk into the flesh of your collarbone. When had he moved down so much? Why hadn’t you noticed his sliver spikes tickling your chin or the way his palms had begun to slide the silky material up your skin.

“I’m taking care of you by makin’ you feel good…”

“But--”

“Kuroo’s gonna be happy…” Bokuto continues, his words suddenly sound distant, your body unbelievably hot as his lips find the tops of your breasts. “His pretty kitty is gonna feel safe and pleased when he gets home…”

Your fingers were no longer lost in Bokuto’s hair, rather they were held loosely above your head, one of his big palms keeping them anchored there as he lifted himself.

You whined, the sudden loss of contact making goosebumps rise along your flesh.

Bokuto had a hard time keeping his grin to himself. Your lips were in a small pout, body squirming, eyes holding a little bit of confusion but most of all.

Desire.

He would get you there. He would hear it.

“I want you Koutaruo .”

“Your heart’s beating really fast.” Bokuto’s voice was low, nothing more than a whisper behind the static of the tv. It made a lump form in your chest.

Your chest tightened the further he pulled away from you. You weren’t exactly sure what you wanted, but you knew you didn’t want him to leave.

“Koutarou.”

There it was.

He leaned back in, his large palm sliding away from your wrists and down your arm instead. All the way down until he cupped your cheek in a large palm. His thumb swiped along your bottom lip.

He had to hold back a groan when your lips opened up just a sliver when your tongue threatened to touch his thumb.

“Let me take care of you, Birdy.”

“Will Kuroo really be okay with it?”

Your voice shook, soft and sweet and oh so innocent. Naive. Adorable.

Bokuto couldn’t wait to have you all to himself. Clearly, Kuroo hadn’t taught you well enough. But Bokuto would, he would teach you to stay away from guys like him.

“Course he will, baby, he always wants what's best for you, isn't that right?”

All you had to do was nod. A gentle, subtle nod. And Bokuto’s lips were back on yours. It was a deep kiss, pressed tightly to your lips and suppressing any chance of denial. Your fingers were back in his hair, but you didn’t tug this time.

Rather you just ran your fingers through silver locks. A bit stiff from the gel, and yet so very soft.

Soft like Kuroo’s.

“Spread your legs, angel.” That dizzy feeling was back when Bokuto’s words vibrated against your lips. Your legs spread open despite your confusion. They were commanded, working on their own.

Working because of the strings Bokuto has somehow placed on them.

“Good girl.” You shivered. That’s what Kuroo always called you.

Was it him speaking to you?

Bokuto was holding back a groan. He should have felt sick to his stomach, looking down at you between his legs with teary eyes and a slightly confused expression. He should have been thinking of Kuroo, his best friend, ally.

But instead, he just felt himself harden, licking along his lower lip and bringing his large palm to cup your sex. You were so warm, even through the fabric of your shorts.

He rubbed it, slow and soft, his eyes widening as he watched you, twitching and whimpering. You were already becoming so pliant, hips rubbing back into his palm. The longer it went on, the warmer you got.

He was so excited to split you open.

“Tell me what you want.” Bokuto looked into your eyes, waited. He knew the words were there on the tip of your tongue.

“C-Can you…” It was so cute, hearing you stutter over yourself despite the way you shamelessly pressed into his hand.

“Can you touch me, Kou...”

Finally he released his groan, loud and guttural. He moved his hands only a moment, just long enough to grip the hem of your shorts. In one swoop they were off your trembling thighs, discarded on the floor.

You were even more beautiful than Bokuto had imagined, one palm covering your flustered face while your thighs glistened in the dim glow of the tv. And there was your cunt, folds slightly swollen and shiny with your desire.

He would have taken a picture if he could have but that could be saved for another time.

“You’re so pretty baby, you’ve got the perfect little cunt.” Bokuto said with one of his signature grins, the ones that used to make your heart flutter back in high school when he would score a point.

His fingers were gentle, rubbing one large strip along your slit. Slowly he split open your lips, holding back the urge to drool. There was your perfect hole, fluttering around nothing.

Basically beckoning him.

“S-Stop staring Kou…” your voice was so whiny, so soft as you looked at him through tear clumped lashes. He hushed you softly, one palm on your cheek so he could have a better view of your face.

He just had to see what you looked like when he finally pressed inside.

“Can’t help it Birdy, you’re just so beautiful…” His thumb pushed past your bottom lip at the same time he pressed two thick fingers into your pussy. Your gasp was adorable, lips quickly latching onto his thumb to hide the whines.

His fingers alone were enough to cause a slight burn, the stretch feeling so much different than the one Kuroo could provide for you. It made you press your hips into his touch, your trembling fingers gripping his wrist with desperation.

Bokuto bit his lip, slowly pumping his fingers in and out. He would push all the way in until he reached his knuckles, allowing the cold surface of his rings to make you yelp every time before pulling out to just his fingertips.

He kept this pace until your hips began to match it, your adorable little body humping along his fingers as you tried your very best to keep yourself quiet.

Bokuto didn’t want that though. He wanted to hear you, needed to hear his name spilling off your lips. So he pulled his thumb from your mouth, gave your bottom lip a little tug as an act of encouragement.

“Feels good baby? Tell me how it feels?”

“F-Feels.” You were still stumbling over yourself. So cute. “Feels good…”

“Yea? I can tell, your pussy is swallowing me up.”

He chuckled when embarrassment flashed over your face, but before you could hide your face from him yet again he pressed the pad of his thumb to your clit. The action had you gasping, back lifting slightly off the mattress.

“That’s it…” Bokuto murmured, gaze locked on your face, how it scrunched up and twisted so pretty as the pleasure took over you. Your cunt squeezed around his fingers, an indication for him to add just one more.

“S’too much~” you tried whimpering at him, but Bokuto brushed it off with a couple of quick kisses to your lips. He had to prep you anyway, his cock was already threatening to rip through his pants.

When your voice heightened in pitch Bokuto picked up his pace. He brought his face close to your pussy, allowing his hot breath to fan over it. That had you grasping the cushions for dear life, a string of pleas leaving your lips.

“Want you to come on my fingers now Birdy. You can do it. It’ll feel so good. Be a good girl and cum.”

Your body reacted for you, lips hung open in a silent scream as his fingertips focused on that spongy spot within you. With a couple more tight circles into your clit you fell apart, walls clenching before gushing around his fingers.

Bokuto’s pupils blew out at the sight, nothing but primal desire flooding his system as he watched your arousal drown out his fingers. It wet his knuckles, coated his rings as he ever so slowly pulled his fingers free. The slick pop had both of you groaning softly, and he couldn’t help but watch as he spread his fingers apart to find strings of your arousal keeping them together.

He had to have a taste and refused to continue the evening without it. So he sucked his fingers into his mouth. His moan was nothing short of obscene, making sure he licked off every ounce of your essence.

You were panting as you watched him, eyes still tear glazed and body tingling as it came down from the high. When he finally noticed you staring he grinned.

But this time it was different. Not the scoring high school Bokuto, or the Bokuto who would flash this grin when he had a little too much to drink

This was different. Darker, carnal. It made a shiver travel all the way up your spine.

And yet you still didn’t say no when he told you to take your tank top off, didn’t say no when he pulled off his own black button up, back muscles rippling in the dim lighting as he pulled you into his lap.

And you definitely couldn’t say no to him when he pulled his cock free, the sheer length and girth making you whine.

He was so much bigger than Kuroo. Thicker, wider, maybe even longer.

“Shh Birdy, hold on tight. It’s only gonna hurt for a few seconds. Then I’m gonna make you feel so very good.” His reassurance puts you at ease. Kuroo had done the same for you, way back when the two of you first slept together.

Would Kuroo really be okay with this--

The gasp that was ripped from your throat made Bokuto that much more excited. Just his tip had pushed past the first ring of muscles and already there were tears in your eyes, nails digging into his shoulders at the stretch he provided.

“K-Kou, can’t, I can’t”

“Shh birdy. Remember I’m gonna make you feel good, promise.” And he really did want to make you feel good but fuck, with the way your pussy already clenched around his tip, threatened to suffocate him as he pressed in inch by inch, he wasn’t sure he’d be able to keep his cool.

You were already creaming when he finally bottomed out, your legs wobbly when they tightened around him. Bokuto couldn’t tear his gaze from his lap, where he stretched out your sweet cunt. It was already drooling, swollen from just being split open by him.

Absent-mindedly he trailed his fingers over your tummy, fingers cursorily tracing the bulge he was able to form there.

There’s no way Kuroo filled you up this good, Bokuto knew that for certain.

“P-Please.” Your voice snapped Bokuto back to reality, the whine in your tone enough to make his dick twitch inside you. “M-Move Kou, need you.”

He sighed. Of course you needed him.

With his palms firmly grasping your hips he pulled you up his cock, just enough that the tip was still edged inside before he began to fuck you on himself. His arm muscles rippled with each push and pull, his hips thrust upwards every time he pushed you back down in order to help with the momentum.

You were gripping onto him so tightly, leaving red streaks along his shoulder blades. Your moans were sweet, sweet music, filling up the empty space with nothing but babbles and cries of his name.

There was still a part of him that looked at you with disappointment, a part of him that screamed how wrong this was, a part of him that knew if Kuroo walked through the doors right now you’d probably both be dead.

But when you looked at him with a tear streaked face, lips hung in a silent cry, skin rippling due to his relentless thrusts, how could he stop himself?

He was even more thrilled when your nails dug into his skin, along his back and shoulders, even along his forearms and pecks. “That’s it Birdy, you’re doin’ so well, takin’ my cock like this.”

The wet slapping sounds soon filled up the room, along with the moans and whimpers the both of you released. With a grunt, Bokuto had your back against the cushions once more, just so he could thrust within your tight cunt harder, faster.

Anything to feel you coming around him, to feel your walls squeeze him. It was everything he knew it would be, better even.

And he knew, Kuroo couldn’t make you feel this way, no way in hell could he even compare.

You had planned to ask him to pull out. No one had ever come inside you before, except Kuroo of course. It was his way of marking you, the subtle possessiveness always coming through when he would fill you to the brim and then plug you up.

But now, as Bokuto drilled into you, showered you with praises and sweet groans you lost all thought. All you thought of was the sweet sting, the stretch his cock could provide. The way he was able to smack into your sweet spot with every thrust.

So when he grunted out a “gonna cum.” you couldn’t find the words to stop him, rather you just let your eye roll back, let out a sweet cry when one of his calloused thumbs pressed into your clit.

Bokuto’s hips smacked into you once, twice more, before his balls twitched and his load filled you up. Rope after rope of warm cum spilled into you, one last strand being milked from him as you clenched up around him, finishing only seconds after he did.

His arms were around you, holding your trembling form so tightly to his chest. He had to look though, had to see exactly what it looked like when you were filled to the brim. So he pulled up just a little bit, moaned out loud at the sight of his cock, how when he slowly pulled it out it was covered in a layer of milky slick.

“Fuck, you’re so beautiful…” He murmured, fingers scooping up the beads of arousal dripping from your used hole, only to push them back in.

He didn’t want a single drop wasted.

You were finally starting to come down from the high when Bokuto lifted his weight from you, the loss of contact making you shudder. In your right mind you could have covered up, but instead, you stayed sprawled out, lips tilted into a dumb little smile.

“K-Kou…” You murmured to him, making him look down at you as he stretched out, wincing from the marks you left that managed to break skin.

“Kuroo is gonna be so happy, you took great care of me…” Bokuto hummed, his smirk growing. He was so lucky, so lucky you were so sweet and naive.

He scooped you up then, carrying you bridal style up the stairs. As much as he would have loved to leave you there on the couch, a nice mess for Kuroo to come home to, he had to play it safe. He made sure to clean you up properly, tuck you into bed with fresh and clean clothes.

Bokuto couldn’t lose his closest ally just yet. So until then--

“I’ll make sure Tetsu knows. But you baby, I want you to keep it our secret okay? Can you do that for me?”

That sat funny with you, made your stomach tighten, just how it had at the beginning of the evening. You wanted to question him, ask why you couldn’t be a part of the discussion.

But when Bokuto loomed over you once more, one of his much larger palms easing itself over your neck, you were reminded yet again. Reminded of Bokuto and his power, his power over you.

And now over Kuroo.

“It's our secret. Remember that Birdy. Kuroo has always kept you in a cage, away from the world so others couldn’t hurt you, isn’t that right? Well now I’m going to do the same, keep you in a cage of my own, just the two of us…”

❦ @hqintheclub {check out the network}

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narutogwriting · 4 years ago

Text

A Misunderstanding

⋇✦ Pairing: Kiba Inuzuka x Reader

⋇✦ Genre: fluff; one shot

⋇✦ Synopsis: You and Kiba were getting close until Naruto got in the way. If you ask Kiba, Naruto ruins everything.

⋇✦ CW: none

⋇✦ Length: 3.6k+

⋇✦ Inspiration: request by @writing-x-reader

If there was one person in Konoha who could push Kiba’s buttons just right, it was Naruto. Everything about that twerp pissed Kiba off. He was loud (so was Kiba), obnoxious (so was Kiba), arrogant (again, Kiba), and everytime he opened his big mouth, Kiba wanted to pop him. Naruto had always got on Kiba’s nerves, and after their fight in the preliminaries of the chunin exam, even more so. He couldn’t believe he lost to a wimp like that!

In reality, though the two would never admit it, they were just a little bit too alike in all of the worst ways. And apparently, that drifted over to their taste in women.

“Naruto, stop!” You giggled, thrashing in his arms. Naruto had come up to you from behind, wrapping his arms around you and picking you up.

“You gotta go in sometime! I’m just helping.” Naruto teased as he attempted to drop you into the water you’d been avoiding submerging yourself in. To keep from falling in, you wrapped your arms tightly around his neck, your legs doing the same around his waist. The two of you were cracking up with laughter. Naruto was spinning around, trying to loosen his grip.

What actually ended up happening was the big idiot tripped, losing his balance and sending you both splashing into the waves. You came up spluttering, spitting out water and splashing him, all the while a big smile was on your face.

“Naruto, stop,” Kiba mocked to himself in a high pitched voice with a roll of his eyes. He crossed his arms, leaning back on his towel, unable to tear his eyes away from the sickeningly cute scene. “Give me a break.”

Akamaru gave a small bark that came out more like a high pitched whine. It was a sound that basically said: you’re a jealous baby. Kiba shot his canine companion a glare. “Yeah, what do you know? It’s not like you’ve ever had a girlfriend.” He pointed out.

“Are you seriously arguing with Akamaru about a girl?” Ino huffed as she laid her towel out next to Kiba’s. She lounged onto her stomach, resting her head on her folded arms. “Put some sunblock on my back, will you? I don’t want to burn.” Kiba rolled his eyes, but complied with his friends requested. He squirted the sunblock into his hands, rubbing it between them before massaging it into Ino’s shoulders.

She hummed happily.

“What are you over here pouting about, anyways?” Ino asked Kiba. “We’re at the beach! It’s the first time we’ve all had off in like, forever! You should be enjoying yourself. Not crying over some girl.”

Huffing, Kiba finished lathering Ino’s back before he flopped out onto his own towel. “I’m not crying over some girl!” He argued. “Naruto’s just annoying! He’s so loud; why does he want the whole beach to hear what he’s doing!?” His point was made as a high pitch scream came from the ocean. Naruto practically flew out of the water before he realized it was only seaweed that his foot had touched. He scratched the back of his head sheepishly as you tossed the offending object away.

Ino laughed, rolling to her side and propping her head up in her hand. “Give it a rest already, would ya?” She teased him. “Yeah, Naruto’s annoying, but you’re not gonna fool anyone pretending that that’s the reason you’re in such a bad mood.”

“I don’t know what you’re talking about.” Kiba muttered.

“Oh come on. You’ve been in love with her for like, ever. It’s getting embarrassing at this point.” Ino glanced over to where you and Naruto were still playing in the waves. “What’s so great about her anyways?”

Wasn’t that the question?

Kiba had had a crush on you since your academy days. You were cute, strong, and always so active. Kiba really liked that. You guys had spent a lot of time together before graduating the academy and being placed on separate teams tore you apart.

The two of you had always gotten along really well. Once you were both chunin, you got sent on plenty of missions together. It was just more alone time to get to know you better and for his little crush to turn into something more.

He’d been planning on asking you out sooner; he really was! But despite how confident, borderline cocky, Kiba pretended to be, he was actually really nervous about the whole thing.

What if you rejected him!? Not only that, but what if you rejected him and then got weird around him? Didn’t want to talk to him anymore?

So he’d decided to put it off, focus on getting to know you more and try and gage and see if maybe you felt the same way about him. There were plenty of times where he did think you returned his feelings. When you laughed a little too long at his joke or played with your hair as you talked or touched his arm while you walked by… But he knew you were just a nice, friendly person who was easy to get along with.

What if he had just misread your signals?

Kiba figured he had plenty of time; he wasn’t too stressed about it. But he should have been.

Because just like that, Naruto was home, and everything had changed. It took him off guard. He didn’t recall you and Naruto being particularly close when you were younger, but once he got home you two became almost inseparable. You were always together, always hanging out and talking with your inside jokes. And just like that, you slowly drifted from Kiba’s life. His spot was quickly filled by Naruto, and he couldn’t see a place where he fit in your life anymore.

Now, for example. How was he supposed to go out and talk to you when you were so wrapped up in Naruto? It would just be weird, like he was intruding on something.

“Worry about yourself…” Kiba finally muttered to Ino, putting his head down. This beach trip sucked.

Ino rolled her eyes, pushing herself to her feet. “Cmon,” She told Kiba, kicking his side lightly. “Get up. I’m not gonna let you just mope over here all day.

It took some poking and pushing, but finally Kiba caved, getting up to go along with whatever it was that Ino wanted him to do. And honestly? That was the best decision. She kept him busy with the rest of their friends, playing volleyball and football and swimming in the ocean. Once Kiba got swimming, it wasn’t so bad anymore. He was still bummed about you and Naruto, the only two of the group not joining in on the fun. The two of you were content to hang out on your own.

But Kiba was able to let himself get distracted and have a good time. By the time the sun was starting to go down, he was exhausted and starving, ready for the bonfire you all planned.

“Let’s go get some firewood,” Ino nudged Kiba who nodded in response. There was a beach front store not too far off that sold some. “See, now that wasn’t so bad, was it?” Ino asked as they walked. “You just need some fun and sun to make it all better.” She winked at him.

Kiba laughed, rolling his eyes. “Yeah, yeah, I give. You were right.” He admitted with reluctance. “It’s just weird, though. Are those two just so in love that they can’t even come and hang out with their friends? Like, cmon…”

Ino sighed. She guessed Kiba wasn’t completely over it, but she couldn’t help but agree. “It was really weird. Like, we were all supposed to be spending time together and hanging out, but they just stayed off in their own little world… They could’ve done that anywhere.” She shrugged.

Kiba felt validated by Ino’s agreement which made him feel a little bit better about the whole thing. “Yeah, whatever. I don’t even care anymore.” He lied as they bought firewood before heading back to the group. Ino cocked her head at him. She didn’t believe him for a second, but would let him pretend for now.

Once they returned to everyone else, the group made quick work of getting a bonfire started. The hotdogs were pulled out with the old wire coat hangers to roast them with. It was the best part of the beach trip, when everyone would wind down after a crazy, exciting day and just get to relax with one another.

There was always the inevitable pairings that happened too. There was something about the beach air that made people want to cozy up in front of the fire and share some intimate moments.

Kiba was one of them.

But looking around, you still weren’t by the campfire, a fact that caused Kiba to frown because--surprise surprise--neither was Naruto.

His mind was running wild with thoughts of what the two of you could possibly be doing.

After a short while, the two of you did appear, walking up the sand from the water. Kiba’s eyes were locked on the place where Naruto’s arm was wrapped around your waist. He narrowed his eyes. Well, in his mind, that settled it. You and Naruto were obviously together, no question. The realization hit Kiba like a blow to the stomach.

This sucked.

To make matters worse, you were heading right for him.

Naruto helped you as you lowered yourself down besides Kiba at the campfire. “I’m gonna grab us some sticks and hot dogs,” he said, leaving you and Kiba alone.

“Hey,” you smiled at Kiba. “I’ve barely seen you all day. Are you having a good time?”

Kiba glanced at you, inwardly groaning. God, why did you have to be so pretty? So sweet? His heart was fluttering just looking at you and then instantly felt like he was being snapped in two thinking about you being with Naruto.

“Yeah, just dandy.” Kiba muttered, looking back to the food on his plate and surprising you with his shortness. He never shut down conversations with you like that.

“Uh, well, what have you been doing?” You tried. Kiba only shrugged in response.

“Hanging out.” And awkward silence followed.

Ino watched the painful scene as she stood next to Sakura. “This is pathetic,” she sighed, smacking her forehead. “He’s like a hurt puppy! He needs reinforcements…” She took her own plate, walking over and plopping herself down at Kiba’s side. “Nice of you to join us,” Ino teased you, leaning over Kiba’s shoulder.

Your eyes lingered over the closeness between the two before looking away. “Yeah.” Is all you said.

Naruto came back with two hot dogs on a stick, handing one to you, oblivious to the awkward tension lingering in the air. “Here you go,” He grinned, sitting beside you. Kiba didn’t miss the way you perked up at Naruto’s presence. He rolled his eyes, turning his attention back to Ino.

The night lingered on and did his best to ignore your and Naruto’s presence you despite sitting right next to him.

Ino, in defense of Kiba, played up her platonic affection with him. She did say she’d be his reinforcements, after all. She laughed just a little louder at the jokes he told and touched his arm just slightly more than normal. While making smores, she even took the mushy marshmallow from her stick and fed it to Kiba, licking her fingers off after.

For your part, you moved in closer to Naruto, uncomfortable and burning green with envy. Couldn’t those two get a room? Did they absolutely need to do this here, in front of everyone?

And of course, what’s a bonfire without games?

“Tenten, truth or dare?”

“Truth.” “If you had to kiss one person in this group, who would it be?”

Cue the blushing and whooping as Lee nudged Neji playfully.

“I dare myself to eat all the crackers!” “Choji, that’s not how you play!”

“Ino, truth or dare?”

“Dare, obviously.”

“I dare you to go skinny dipping in the ocean!”

Ino pushed to her feet, tossing her hair over her shoulders. “No problem!” Everyone cheered, jumping up after her to walk down to the water.

Kiba watched Naruto pull you to your feet, again placing his arm around your waist. He scoffed in annoyance, stomping down to the sand and leaving you behind.

Once everyone was down there, all eyes on Ino expectantly. She stared back, eating up the attention. Her eyes scanned the group before landing on Kiba. “I need a partner, though.” She said, grabbing Kiba’s hand and pulling him with her.

Kiba grinned, shooting a glance your way. If you were with Naruto, you probably didn’t care what he did, but he wanted to make sure you were watching either way.

“Let’s do it.”

Again, everyone cheered as Kiba and Ino began to strip, tossing their clothes to the floor and taking off into the ocean. “Fuck it’s cold!” Kiba yelled as he splashed into the waves, laughing. They probably stayed inside the water for less than a minute, but when they came back out, you and Naruto were gone.

Of course.

Kiba wasn’t having too much fun after that. Everyone headed back to the bonfire. Kiba took a seat far away from you, but couldn’t help but notice the way Naruto was shooting him glares. It went that way for about another hour when night had fallen completely.

Kiba did his best to ignore Naruto, but he couldn’t do it anymore. He wanted to pound that idiot into the floor.

Finally, Kiba pushed to his feet, ignoring the looks he got from everyone else as he stomped over to where you sat with your head leaning on Naruto’s shoulder. “You got a problem?” He spat at the blonde.

Naruto glowered up at Kiba, not moving from his spot with you next to him. “Beat it, Kiba.” He snapped back. “You’re not wanted over here.” Kiba looked at you, but you had your eyes locked on the bonfire, refusing to glance in his direction. He gritted his teeth, looking back to Naruto.

“You wanna run that by me again, douchewad? Or too busy being obsessed with your little girlfriend?” Kiba didn’t mean to drag you into anything or to be a jerk to you specifically, but he was so mad. So mad from watching you cuddle up to Naruto, be all lovey dovey with him and just forget about your friendship completely! How could you do that to him?

Naruto was on his feet in a second, shoving Kiba. “You better leave her out of it,” he warned.

“Or what?”

You’d had about enough of this. You struggled to your feet, wincing slightly. “Can you knock it off!?” You snapped at Kiba, startling him with the harshness of your tone. “You’ve been a jerk all day! You don’t need to come over here and start shit!”

Kiba crossed his arms, narrowing his eyes as he looked at you. He was hurt by your words, but of course he didn’t want to show it. “You’re one to talk!”

With a frustrated yell, you surprised him by taking his hand and pulling him after you. “H-hey,” He stuttered, but you ignored him, continuing to pull him until the two of you got down to the water. “Hey, you’re limping.” He noticed suddenly.

You stopped, dropping his hand and turning to face him. “Yeah, I’m limping. I stepped on a sea urchin earlier. Naruto practically had to carry me back up to the bonfire it hurt so much.

Kiba stared at you, blinking as the realization slowly crept in. “Oh… Was that why Naruto had his arm around you earlier?” He asked, almost sheepishly.

Cocking an eyebrow, you tilted your head. “Huh? Yeah, why?” You asked, confused by his observation.

He blushed, glancing away from you over to the ocean, grateful for the dark to hide his red face. “No reason…”

With a sigh, you crossed your arms. “Kiba, what is going on with you? You’ve barely even looked my direction all day. When you do talk to me, you act like a jerk. What gives? Did I do something that upset you?”

Kiba sighed, running his hands through his hair, trying to decide what to do. Was this really a conversation he was ready to have? Probably not. But it looked like he didn’t have a choice. It was now or never.

“Look, I know I haven’t talked to you much today, but you’ve been so wrapped up with Naruto. Pretty much every day you’re wrapped up with him! We were getting so close and then the second Naruto came home, you dropped me! Whatever, I get you have a boyfriend and all, but that doesn’t mean you have to just forget about me, does it?”

He sighed, shoving his hands in the pockets of his swim trunks. There, it was out. He was beyond embarrassed by the conversation, but he said it. Now you knew.

You blinked, a little confused as you processed Kiba’s words. “Boyfriend?” You asked him. “Kiba, Naruto’s not my boyfriend.”

Looking back at you, he frowned. “Then why have you been by his side all day instead of hanging out with me?”

“You were with Ino all day!” You pointed out. “I didn’t want to go over there and ruin your good time.”

“I was only with Ino cause you were with Naruto!” Kiba countered. “All day! And you two were disappearing together, and then when he had his arm around you, well, I thought it was ‘cause you two were together! And then you were all cuddled up on him, and he was glaring at me… What was I supposed to think?!”

It was quickly becoming clear to you what had happened. You couldn’t help but snicker just a little bit, making Kiba frown even more. “What’s so damn funny!?”

Now it was your turn to blush. Cheeks red, you looked to the sand, fidgeting nervously with your hands. There was something you’d wanted to tell Kiba for a long time, but you weren’t sure if you were ready. Things had been so weird lately; the timing never seemed right. But after the mess that was today, the two of you were together, in the sand, staring at the ocean waves; it seemed like the perfect moment was now.

“Kiba, Naruto spent all day trying to make me feel better… You were so flirty with Ino, rubbing in her sunscreen; I didn’t want to see that. So when you all went off together, we stayed on our own so I wouldn’t have to see her all over you. Then she was feeding you marshmallows. You even went skinny dipping with her! Naruto’s just been a good friend today. That’s it.”

Realization was slowly dawning over Kiba. He crossed his arms, cocking an eyebrow as he stared down at you. “Really?” He muttered, a smirk slowly starting to pull it’s way over his lips. “And why do you care whether or not Ino flirts with me, huh?”

Your face went red. “Why do you care if Naruto’s my boyfriend!?” You shot back at him.

The two of you locked eyes, staring each other down and willing the other person to be the first to break. But Kiba had already been on the edge all day long, and he couldn’t hold it in any longer.

“Maybe I wanted to be your boyfriend…” He grumbled reluctantly, averting his eyes from yours.

He didn’t see it, but a grin broke out over your face. Had he really just said that? You were suddenly giddy with excitement, bouncing on your toes as you began to laugh.

“You can just say no, ya know! You don’t gotta laugh!” Kiba snapped, shooting you a glare, but you just shook your head, throwing your arms around him to hug him.

Just like Kiba, you'd been hoping for this moment for so long! Meeting Kiba in the academy had been one of your favorite parts of the whole experience; definitely the most memorable. He'd been one of the people you were most excited to see. There was a point after where you hardly saw him, but once you started going on missions together, everything changed for you.

There's something about those late night conversations when everyone is asleep that brings people closer. You get to know someone in the dark better than you ever do in the day.

But your days together weren't so bad either. It didn't take spending too much time with Kiba before you started to catch feelings. He was so funny and witty; you couldn't deny you were attracted to that couldn't-care-less attitude. He just played it so cool, and he wasn't bad on the eyes either.

You'd wanted to tell him how you felt, but you were terrified that he didn't feel the same. Now those fears were out the window

”I’m not saying no, you idiot!” You teased him, looking up at him. “I do want to be your girlfriend!”

It took a moment for the words to sink in; for Kiba to really get what you were saying. When he did, he began to smile, hugging you back. “Wait, for real?” He asked, his cheeks flushed in pleasure. He couldn’t believe this! He’d wanted to ask you out for so long… Why had he wasted so much time being scared?

Kiba pulled away from the hug just enough so he could tangle his hand in your hair as he leaned down, brushing his lips softly against yours. You weren’t having any of that, grabbing him by his shirt and pulling him into you, kissing him deeper, which Kiba of course returned without hesitation.

Kissing you was everything he ever thought it would be. Your lips were soft, moving perfectly in time with his as you pressed yourself into him. God, he’d wanted this for so long. Kiba didn’t think anything would ever come close to the feeling he got being able to hold you in his arms. He didn’t want it to ever end.

When you finally broke apart, you were both grinning.

Kiba helped you limp back up the beach to the bonfire. This time, he didn’t mind when you sat next to Naruto. He sat on the other side of you, wrapping his arm around your shoulder as you leaned against him.

“About damn time!” Naruto cried out with an exasperated sigh. “Geez you two are annoying. I thought you’d never get together!”” “I hate to agree with Naruto…” Ino sighed from across the fire. “But he’s right. Though I do take some credit for this .” She smiled at Kiba.

You both rolled your eyes, but smiled nonetheless as Kiba leaned down to kiss you again. This was a long time coming, but you were worth the wait.

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shemarmooresfedora · 4 years ago

Text

Rebuilding Family

Summary: Y/N and Spencer were college sweethearts at Cal-Tech but once Spencer got accepted to the FBI Academy, he ended things deciding it was not fair to make Y/N wait for him. When they meet again years later, he discovers something unexpected.

Pairing: Spencer Reid x Fem!Reader

Warnings: gun violence, hospitals, blood

A/N: besties, i-...just read the warnings (slight spoiler: the angst will be resolved)

Masterlist

Chapter 21

“How exciting is this! Last day of kindergarten today and then your seventh birthday party tomorrow!” you exclaimed, “My baby is growing up way too fast.”

You squeezed Jo tightly.

“Okay, I’m going to drop Jo off and then I’ll pick up the cake from the bakery, go grocery shopping, and get the decorations,” Spencer kissed you as he held up Jo’s backpack for her to slip her arms into.

“Don’t forget Mrs. Flynn’s gift. She had to put up with 20 rowdy kids for a whole year, the least we can do is give her some cookies and a gift card to Target,” you said.

“Got it,” Jo patted her backpack.

“Goodbye, my loves,” you gave both of them one last kiss before they exited the front door and you finished getting ready for work.

At the end of the day, Jo came marching out of the elementary school in the usual class line. You and Spencer came running up to her.

“There’s my big kindergarten graduate,” you bent down to hug her with Spencer following suit.

“I got a diploma,” she beamed, holding up the piece of paper with her name on it.

Josephine Y/L/N-Reid

Her officially updated birth certificate name.

“We need to frame this and put it up right next to Daddy’s PhDs,” you smiled.

“I think this occasion calls for a milkshake,” Spencer lifted up Jo.

“It most certainly does...and fries,” you agreed.

You had a row of picnic tables at the park all decorated with balloons, streamers, and dinosaur tablecloths. You and Spencer woke up extra early to make sure everything was ready for the time of the party.

You both had been repeatedly taking trips back and forth home to bring everything to the park that you needed. Jo’s friends from her class would be there as well as the BAU.

As people started to arrive, you handed out party hats to everyone. Derek attempted to sneak past you.

“Ah ah ah,” you held your arm out to stop him, “No hat, no entry.”

“Even Hotch is wearing one,” you pointed to Hotch sitting at a table with Jack, wearing a bright pink party hat.

“Fine. Gimme the green one,” Derek sighed.

Jo and her friends were having a blast. You ordered enough pizza to fill everyone up completely but luckily, the kids ran it off playing tag on the playground.

“Okay, cake everyone!” Spencer shouted to gather everyone around the central table as he began to light the candles.

Jo took the end seat with the biggest grin on her face and you stood behind her. Derek and Penelope had their phones out to record and take pictures.

Spencer picked the cake up and took a deep inhale, signaling that he was about to start singing, “Happy Birth-”

BANG. You didn’t even know what was happening. You quickly pulled Jo behind you, shielding her from whatever made that loud noise.

Then, you felt something warm seeping down your front. You looked down to see your white shirt quickly darkening into red.

Spencer dropped the cake on the ground, running over to you, “Y/N!”

You fell to the ground just as he caught you. You could hear the muffled sounds of screams, kids crying, and people running away.

“Hey, eyes on me! Eyes on me, okay? You’re gonna be just fine,” Spencer was grappling at your torso to find where all the blood was coming from.

“Where’s Jo?” you panickedly asked.

“Penelope has her. Hotch called an ambulance, it’s on its way, baby. Just stay with me,” he pleaded.

“Spence, it hurts too much. I’m sorry,” you cried.

“No, Y/N, please. Jo needs you. I need you. I can’t do this without you,” he sobbed.

“You’re the best dad ever, Spence. I currently have a mug being shipped to the house that says so,” you feebly attempted to laugh, “I love you so much.”

“I love you too,” Spencer whispered as the ambulance pulled up with its sirens wailing.

As you were being loaded into the stretcher, you caught a glimpse of Jo crying into Penelope’s shoulder.

“Spence, stay with Jo,” you whispered.

“What? No. I’m coming with you,” he said.

“She’s really scared, Spence.”

“Y/N, this is not up for debate. You were just shot. I’m not leaving you. Penelope will bring her to the hospital waiting room,” Spencer insisted, getting into the ambulance.

Everything went dark after that.

Spencer was nervously bouncing his leg up and down, blankly staring at the hospital floor. Everything around him was a monotonous hum.

“Reid...Reid...Reid!” Derek snapped him out of his trance, shaking his shoulder.

“Penelope is outside with Jo now and she’ll bring her in in a second but we need to get you cleaned up first,” Derek said, guiding Spencer to the bathroom.

Spencer looked down at his clothes. Whatever emotional state Jo was in right now would definitely not be eased by seeing her Daddy covered in Mommy’s blood. Derek helped wipe all the blood off Spencer and then handed him a spare pair of sweats from his go bag.

“W-What happened?” was the first thing that Spencer said as they returned to the waiting room and Derek texted Penelope that it was all clear.

“Hotch and Rossi are at the scene trying to figure that out now. We think the unsub was actually aiming for Jo but Y/N blocked the bullet,” Derek stated.

“Oh god,” Spencer put his face in his palms until he heard a familiar crying growing louder.

“Mommy! Daddy!” Jo wailed.

Penelope was also teary-eyed but Spencer could tell she was trying her best to hold it together for Jo’s sake. She transferred Jo into Spencer’s arms. Spencer tucked the little girl into his chest.

“Is Mommy okay?” she sobbed.

Spencer looked up at Derek and Penelope before looking back down at his daughter, “I don’t know, baby, but the doctors are taking real good care of her.”

Jo continued to cry into Spencer's chest for about a half an hour until she lost all of her energy and fell asleep. Spencer looked down at his daughter’s puffy red eyes. How could he possibly give her any more bad news on her birthday? You had to be okay. You were supposed to be the perfect little family. This was supposed to be his happy ending.

“Y/N Y/L/N?” a surgeon called out.

“Right here,” Spencer spoke softly and slowly stood in order to not wake Jo up.

Derek and Penelope stood right beside him.

“Ms. Y/L/N suffered a bullet wound to the gut. However, the surgery went well and she is expected to make a full recovery,” the surgeon announced.

“Oh thank god,” Spencer let out a huge exhale that he didn’t even know he was holding.

“She has lost a lot of blood so she’s not awake yet but you are welcome to wait with her if you would like. She should be up within the hour,” the surgeon informed Spencer.

Spencer nodded his head emphatically.

“Garcia and I are going to head back to the BAU to confer with the rest of the team. Text us with any updates,” Derek patted Spencer on his back.

“Right this way,” the surgeon guided Spencer to a room down the hall.

There you laid in a hospital bed, still managing to look beautiful after nearly dying and a multiple hour surgery.

He took the seat beside you, still cradling Jo in his arms.

About 20 minutes later, Spencer’s eyes snapped up to meet yours after he heard a little movement coming from the bed.

You opened your mouth slightly to speak but Spencer beat you to it.

“Marry me.”

“Am I alive?” you closed your eyes again, blinking really hard, and then opening them to still see the same scene in front of you.

“Yes, Y/N, you are luckily very much alive and I don’t want to spend another second not being married to the love of my life. I stupidly let you go once and I am not going to let that happen ever again. You and Jo are my whole entire life, there's nothing more I could possibly want. So, I am asking you…”

Spencer grabbed your hand and slipped the ring off your index finger, then he knelt with Jo still asleep in his arms, clinging to his neck, “...if you will do me the greatest honor of spending the rest of our lives together. Y/N, will you marry me?

“Yes,” you cried as he slipped the ring back on to your index finger.

“I promise I’ll get you another ring as soon as we’re out of here,” Spencer said.

“Shut up and kiss me, Spence,” you cupped his cheeks, pulling him towards you until your lips connected.

“Mommy?” you heard a meek voice ask from between you both.

“Hi baby. I’m so sorry I scared you like that,” you said.

Jo untangled herself from Spencer and wrapped her arms around your neck.

“It’s okay, Mommy, as long as you are okay.”

A/N: i got multiple crying headaches while writing and editing this chapter

#spencer reid x you #spencer reid angst #spencer reid fluff #spencer reid fanfiction #spencer reid x reader #spencer x reader #reid x reader #cm fanfic #spencer reid #criminal minds

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waywardwrestlewritingwaif · 3 years ago

Text

Deal With the Devil

Since he's returning to tv this week, here's a little bit of angst-y Lance fun.

Pairing: Lance Archer x OFC

Word count: 1,559

Content advisory: sexual content

It’s very simple: all you have to do is not trip Dustin, not gouge him in the eyes, not distract the ref when he’s about to get the pin. If you do nothing but walk to the ring with him and stand by the side like the good valet you’ve been for ages, everything will be just fine. He’s been good to you. He’s played a crucial role in training you. It’s because of him that you’re even on tv. So you raise his hand and gesture to the audience, encouraging them to applaud, not they they need encouragement.

Then the speakers crackle and roar with Archer’s music.

EVERYBODY DIES.

He’s destroyed Dustin before back when you were just a random student before you’d been chosen to be the veteran’s sidekick. Part of your role here is supposed to be to guard against any shit that Archer or his rolling cast of cohorts is going to pull. You have no idea how you’re supposed to do that because his cohorts are bigger and rougher and more experienced than you are but you’ve been staying vigilant. You’ll think of something to help. You always do. Or at least you always have.

Lance strides into the ring like a madman, like he’s physically holding back from tearing someone, anyone, limb from limb. It’s like he doesn’t even know where he is, the bloodlust is so overwhelming, but as he’s pacing around, waiting for the bell to ring, his electric blue eyes meet yours for just an instant and it’s like your whole body freezes. There’s something in his expression that shakes you, like he knows something you don’t, like he knows what you’re going to do even though you’re certain you haven’t figured it out yet.

What’s to figure out? You’re the nice one, the latest graduate from the Rhodes Academy, the one who fought her way into this business despite two severe injuries early in your career. You’re an inspirational story for girls and women about never letting people tell you to give up on your dreams.

“You’d love to be the villain, wouldn’t you?”

If Archer had said ten words to you before he said that, you’d be surprised. You’d always tried to steer clear of him for reasons you couldn’t pinpoint. But a couple of weeks ago, he’d just appeared next to you while you were watching Lee and Brock fight a match on Dark and whispered in your ear. You’d stiffened in place because, yes, that was exactly what you’d been thinking, how liberating it would be to just act terribly.

“So do it,” he cackled. “Let yourself go wild for once.”

You’d shaken your head, as much to clear it as to refuse. “I’m fine where I am.”

“But you could be happier if you were somewhere else.”

A couple of days later, he’d shown up next to you in catering, hovering way too close.

“I could always use someone to help me out. Someone who wasn’t such a stickler for following the rules.”

You’d pinned your thighs together as he spoke, shocked and disappointed at the reaction he stirred in you. This rough animal, this psychopath lit a fire inside you that you’d been trying to quench ever since.

It wasn’t like you’d never looked at him before. For some reason, you’d looked at him a lot. And every time you did, you immediately tried to look at someone else, someone better and kinder and more in control of himself because the last thing you wanted was to be lusting after a goddamned monster.

Had he noticed your lingering stares? He must have. Why else would he have targeted you coming up to his match with Dustin? He sensed your weakness and happily decided to prod the wound.

Not long after the catering incident, you’d seen him when he was about to make his entrance on Dark. He’d locked eyes with you and the cruelest smile had crossed his face. Then he’d let his tongue flick over his lips, turning away only when he had to walk out. You’d run to the washroom to splash water on your face, trying to steady your breathing.

You’re the good guy. You don’t do this sort of shit.

It takes a couple of minutes for Lance and Dustin to lock up but when they do, it’s like watching two bullmoose smashing antlers. You try consciously to keep your eyes on Dustin, that kind face that’s always been there to help you push through your doubts. You try very hard not to look at the leering visage of pure evil, even when you can sense he’s looking at you. Just do the same thing you always do. Stay by the sidelines. Don’t think about it.

It was just a few days ago that he’d appeared behind you in the locker room- somewhere anyone could have seen you- and starting running his hands over your arms.

“So what do you say? You going to come through for me when I take on your man?”

“He’s not my man,” you choked. “He’s my mentor.”

“He’s my next meal. All you have to do is push things along.”

“Why the hell would I do that?”

He gave a low, dark laugh. “Because you’re sick of being the nice one. Because you want to know what it would feel like to be bad.”

He leaned in close, his arms tightening around you like an anaconda, and ran his tongue up the length of your neck.

“Because you want to know what I’d do to you afterward.”

Your brain hadn’t felt right since that moment. You’d been almost unable to move at work for fear you’d run into him and have to confront the desire he’d stirred up in you.

You just have to stand here and watch and cheer Dustin on occasionally. It’s easy.

Last night, as you were about to turn off the light and let yourself fantasize for the umpteenth time about what exactly would be in store for you if you did betray Dustin, there’d been a knock at your hotel room door. Your hand had been shaking so hard when you reached for the doorknob that you’d barely been able to turn it.

“I thought maybe you needed a little extra persuasion,” he purred, pressing one giant hand against the base of your throat.

He pushed you backwards until you fell backwards onto the bed and climbed on top of you, hesitating a long moment before he kissed you. Even the kiss felt like some kind of runaway train. Your heart raced and you tried to grab hold of him even as he pulled back.

“See? You know what you really want.”

You wanted to say no. You wanted to give him a shove and tell him to get lost. You didn’t.

Instead, you’d leaned back and moaned longingly as he’d run his hands under your top, squeezing your breasts hard in his grip. And you’d whined as his hands dipped under the waistband of your pajama bottoms, louder and louder as you felt his fingers rubbing along the slick flesh.

“Not so nice now, are you?”

You bit your lip so hard you tasted blood. It brought you back to earth and for an instant, you tried to push away, but he’d pushed two fingers inside you and it was like you were helpless. You yelped as he pumped away, the familiar tension building in your body.

“Not so nice at all.”

He removed his fingers and rubbed them lightly across your cheek and lips so that you could feel just how excited he’d made you. Your face grew hot with shame and you tried to say something to defend your own honor.

As you did, you’d felt him move his pants down a little, his erect cock brushing against your thigh. He pulled your pants out of the way and guided himself against you.

“This what you want?” he teased.

He pushed the head of his cock against your entrance and you gasped because it felt like you were about to get split in half.

“Say it.”

“Yes.”

“Yes what?”

“Yes, that’s what I want. I want you inside me.”

He gave you an evil little smile. “Then you know what to do.”

He stood up and tucked himself back in before walking back out of the room like nothing untoward had happened.

The fight that’s unfolding before your eyes is violent. A lot of men aren’t strong or experienced enough to get this far with Archer but Dustin is. On his day, he’s capable of beating the Monster.

You close your eyes and move to the side of the ring. As Dustin runs the ropes, you reach out and hook his ankle, sending him flat down and knocking the wind out of him. Archer pounces right away, hammering away at him and finally lifting him up for a spectacular finish before pinning him in the center of the ring. The crowd is howling in disapproval as you run away, slinking towards the back with your traitor’s tail between your legs.

Lance catches up with you as you’re beating your ignominious retreat backstage.

“It felt good, didn’t it?” he grins, wiping the sweat from his brow. “Just imagine how good it’ll feel when I get you alone.

#aew imagine #aew fanfiction #wrestling fanfiction #wayward wrestle writing #lance archer imagine

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dreamsanddrabbles36 · 3 years ago

Text

Itachi finds out his S/O is an Author. And is a fan of your work.

You have loved writing ever since you were in the academy in Konoha . It continued as you graduated, and when you became a genin. While on adventures with your team they became inspirational to you. You would write down what you had seen, and returning to the village you started writing.

It was more exciting for your parents since they ran one of the local books shops in the village. Your mother was a well known traveling medic who traveled with a team to preform missions that dealt with medical services. While your father was well known for his jutsu to help with encrypted messages, and locate his teams targets by solving them.

After you become a chunin your parents disappear, and you're living with your grandparents. Between missions writing seems to bring you comfort. That's when you become an author. Before your parents disappeared you had already published one book under a pen name : ( Pen name )

You soon gain a following of fans of your books. That's when you get an idea. Before your father disappeared he had taught you a few things about creating encrypted messages with in plain sight. Your writing was away to communicate with your parents

When your parents don't return you leave the village , and seclude yourself only meeting with a secret editor when a book was finished. That was how your were sought after by the Akatsuki.

Especially now that you are apart of the Akatsuki, and are dating Itachi. While dating you discover that Itachi has a shelf dedicated to your books. You were impressed with Itachi's collection, but you were surprised.

Itachi as far as you know has never figured out the books from his favorite author is you. It was rare for Itachi to read something that wasn't just fiction. But there was something about ( your pen name)'s writing that captivated him.

You enjoy seeing Itachi's face light up as he reads your stories. This gave you an idea for your next book, and decided to dedicate your next book to him.

While you focus on your mission for the Akatsuki . You also take your manuscript with you. After it is finished you send it to your secret publisher .

The first book that is printed you reserve it as a present for Itachi . You also use your pen name , and invite Itachi for a signing.

You also some how you convince Pein to let you off once the book is successful. You arrive at the location early before the day of the signing . Although Itachi has arrived a tad early also. You hide from Itachi while your in the same village. But somehow he manages to find you.

" Y/N what are you doing here ? " Itachi asked as he remembered you telling Itachi that you were going out for a small trip. In your arms is a package and its wrapped with a tag. Itachi just smiles and takes your hand. Itachi wants you to attend the book signing with him , and meet his favorite author .

When you arrive at the store you manage to get separated from Itachi, and your publisher is waiting for you. You're taken up front where the table is and you sit down. Itachi is outside possibly wondering where you had gone. But when the door opens Itachi is one of the first in line like you knew he would.

Its when Itachi reaches the table he's surprised to see you. But it doesn't take long for Itachi to put two and two together. You're blushing at the moment as your boyfriend comes to your table. For the first time in your life he actually looked stunned.

Itachi stands by as others get their books signed. Later after the signing is over you both exit , and head towards the café in the village. Itachi had a feeling like you were keeping a secret, but he wasn't expecting this.

" When were you going to tell me ? " Itachi questioned a tiny blush over his face realizing his S/O is his favorite author. That's when you give Itachi's present to him. " What's this ?"

" Its a gift for you. Its a early copy of my next book. " You answer now blushing yourself. Itachi takes the package from you and opens it. Inside is a new book, and opens the cover. In the dedication section Itachi reads.

Dedicated to my boyfriend who I love dearly. I know our time is short, and sometimes our missions separate us . But know no matter how far apart we are I love you so much. I just hope this story resonates with you as it does me.

Itachi looks up at you after reading the page, and instead of signing the book as your pen name. You end the passage with your own. You explain that this is Itachi's copy, and the rest of the books would be published with your pen name.

As you, and Itachi are leaving the village Itachi looks over at you, and takes your hand.

" Thank you." Itachi tells you taking your hand and kisses your palm. When you return to the hideout most of the others are away on missions, and Kisame is away with Tobi doing a mission. This leaves you, and Itachi alone.

Once settled you return to your rooms. You feel like a boulder has been lifted off your shoulders, but you still wonder how Itachi likes your newest book.

Later that day Itachi emerges from his room after having read your new book to prepare dinner. It's only the two of you so Itachi makes ( favorite dish here) one of your favorites. As your eating you both are quiet as

" What did you think ?" you ask breaking the silence. Itachi is silent, and you wonder if this one seemed a little too close for comfort, but Itachi smiles

" I love it." Itachi tells you with a genuine smile. " Just as much as I do you. "

A few weeks later you are on assignment with Itachi, and Kisame . The three of you stop at a village as your first check point. A subordinate was supposed to meet the three of you to give information about a target. But they won't be there till the next morning.

You are at the table, and have your next draft out writing . Itachi leaves you alone, but also helps with keeping your concentration. Itachi brings you your favorite tea or sweet things. You also enjoy the occasional hug from him too.

Itachi sometimes tries to help you get out of writing slumps.

" I think your character needs to realize how his partner feels about him." Itachi tells you. You smile, and blush as Itachi kisses your forehead. You giggle as its a sign Itachi wants to spend time with you

" I think she does. Do you have something in mind ?" You ask leaning back looking at him. Itachi smirks brushing your hair back as he starts kissing your neck.

" I think I know where to start." Itachi answers as he kisses your lips while picking you up, and carries you to the bed. Hours later your laying in bed next to Itachi tired and sweaty. You smile as you look at Itachi who is asleep after your time together.

Though the times you spend with Itachi.. including the more special were all the inspiration you needed. You lean in and kiss his head before drifting to sleep yourself.

( I'll do some more editing on this later. )

#itachi x reader #x reader #itachi uchiha #uchiha itachi x reader

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cheesy09 · 3 years ago

Text

[CN] Kiro's Solo Date

🌸 Warning: This post contains detailed spoilers for a date that hasn't been released on the EN server yet! 🌸

[Note: This date was translated with the help of google translate :>]

[PROLOGUE]

MC: Kiro..!

Kiro: Can I help you with something?

During the weekend, I finally couldn't stand looking at the pile of things that had gathered up in the utility room, and so I decided to clear up the place.

But based on how large the workload was, I may not have been able to deal with it alone, so I made a decision asked Kiro to come and help.

MC: Do you see that photo album with the black cover on the top layer of the bookcase?

MC: .....I don't remember what’s in it. Let's take it down and have a look. I'll put it in the box later.

Kiro: Then, let me do it.

Kiro stretched out his hand and easily took down the huge photo album.

Kiro: It's really heavy.

I took two wet tissues to clean the cover, and immediately recognized what it was.

MC: Ah, it's the album where I installed photos when I was a kid.

Kiro: When you were a kid?

Kiro was obviously aroused, holding the photo album and sitting on the carpet nearby, looking through it with relish.

Kiro: Wow—is this a six-year-old Miss Chips? She actually has two pigtails. So cute.

Kiro: This is..…

MC: When I was twelve years old. I took it when I graduated from elementary school.

MC: And this one should be.... I took it during an outing in high school.

Dad had always had the habit of taking pictures for me, saying that when I grew up, they would be very important memories.

Kiro: I see.....

Kiro: These are all very important memories, and are proof that Miss Chips has grown up little by little.

Kiro looked through the album page by page, looking serious.

He turned from the first page to the last page of the photo album. After looking through all the photos, he suddenly raised his head and looked at me with brilliant eyes.

Kiro: I saw a hot post on the Internet before, saying that a blogger found a photo of himself as a child when he was 30 years old.

Kiro: Then he returned to the place where he lived when he was younger, and took a set of photos with the same posture as when he was a child in the same place.

Kiro: Why don’t we take a couple of photos like those as well?

Kiro: We'll go back to the location where these old photos were taken, and take a new set of photos. But this time, there will be two people in the photo. You and me!

Kiro's eyes were brilliant, as if he had already conceived the bits and pieces of this trip in his mind.

Kiro: How about it, Miss Chips? Would you like to come with me on a time-space displacement trip by revisiting these old places?

I looked at the photo album he put on my knees, and the different scenes when each photo was taken flashed through my mind.

If one looked at the old and new pictures together, it would definitely be a very novel experience.

MC: Okay!

MC: Let's start now.

[END OF PROLOGUE]

[PART 1]

The time-space displacement trip soon reached its last stop.

The photos that had been taken before were copied onto the network disk. Kiro said that as soon as today’s photos were taken, we would print them out.

Kiro: Miss Chips, is this your destination today?

Kiro: Hey, what are they doing up front?

Kiro casually tossed the earphone box in his hand. His eyes motioned to me to look forward.

Several college students had set up booths on the open area. A city map was particularly conspicuous. The logo of “Qing Han University” was printed on the back of their T-shirts.

MC: Qing Han University is a well-known art academy. Maybe they’re putting up exhibitions.

Kiro: Really? It looks quite interesting.

The students holding a stack of brochures in their hands probably noticed that our gaze had been paused at their booth and walked towards us.

Student: Hello, we are juniors from Qing Han University. Could we invite you two to participate in a behavioral experiment? It may take two hours for two people.

Seeing that we didn’t immediately show a look of resistance, he explained further.

Student: Of course, this is not so much an experiment as it is a game.

Student: You two need to mark several places you want to go to on this city map and travel independently according to your planned routes. The marked locations and planned routes need to be kept a secret from the other party.

Student: You may or may not meet in middle of your journey, but you can give a call to each other whenever you get to a marked location.

Kiro: That is to say-- We’re taking the trip separately?

Kiro: Only when the two parties arrive at the same place at the same time, can they meet. And they can only contact each other through phone?

Student: Yes. Those are the rules. As for the ultimate goal of this experiment, it will naturally be revealed when the trip ends.

Although this wasn’t included in today’s plan, but....

Kiro: This seems fun.

MC: Sounds interesting.

Kiro and I spoke at almost the same time, facing each other. Kiro couldn’t help laughing as soon as our voices fell.

Kiro: With our tacit understanding, we might not be separated at all today.

Kiro: Should we use this game to test that tacit value?

The student in charge of the introduction nodded slightly and smiled mysteriously.

Student: There was indeed a couple before. Whether it was the location or the route, they were exactly the same, and they didn’t separate even once.

Kiro: Come on, Miss Chips, you know that I’ve always been very confident in the tacit understanding between the two of us. Should we try this game?

Kiro: Let’s mark less places and meet before sunset so as to not delay today’s photo taking. What do you say?

Since there were no other arrangements beside taking pictures today, I nodded immediately.

MC: Okay~

[PART 2]

At the beginning of the game, Kiro and I went in opposite directions. The expressions on our faces showed that we were both a little surprised. We didn’t expect that our first destination differed from each other’s.

But no matter what, since we participated in this game, we had to respect the rules.

I waved to Kiro and took the subway to my destination-- City Park.

At that moment, the trip meant for two turned into one person walking the road alone. Apart from the freshness of participating in the game, I felt a little lonely.

Half an hour later, I sat on a bench in the city park and gave Kiro a call.

Kiro: Hello-- have you reached the first location?

MC: Mm, I just sent them a real-time location check-in. Now I’m thinking...

MC: The first place that Kiro wants to go to isn’t a hot pot restaurant, is it?

Kiro: Haha-- Of course not.

Kiro: I’m in an underground passage. I’ve seen it on the internet before. There are many actors who are hidden in the street in this place, so I wanted to check it out. Maybe I’ll get to know some masters from the outside world.

Kiro: As for you, I hear music near you.

MC: Hmm-- A lot of uncles and aunts here are tuning musical instruments. There should be open-air performances at night.

MC: I just saw their bus and banner. They belong to the university for the elderly.

As we talked, several grandpas took out their saxophones from their cases and began to play “Night Outside Moscow.”

MC: I put my phone on hands-free. Can you hear it?

MC: How about I get closer?

I got up and headed towards the center of the clearing. Many pedestrians around also got up and took out their phones, aiming them at the “stage.”

In just a few minutes, even that little rehearsal had attracted more that 20 spectators.

MC: A few aunts came over, wow-- they’re all wearing red skirts. They look so good!

Kiro: Red skirts huh? I can’t tell what they’re performing.

In the face of their uninvited audience, the aunts still bowed to us with smiles all over their faces, and then joined in pairs and held hands.

The saxophone music changed, and when they first stepped out, the crowd burst into applause.

MC: It’s ballroom dancing!

MC: They’re so good-looking. The men and women exchange steps, and the high-heels step onto the ground beautifully.

Kiro: How interesting.... It’s a pity that I’m not there.

Kiro: Miss Chips, you must take my place and give them the loudest applause.

MC: Of course I will. By the way, have you found the master that you wanted to meet?

Kiro: Not yet. But I saw someone in front of me sitting on a pile of newspapers and setting up a painting booth, helping people design cartoon images, eight dollars each.

MC: Do you want to draw a pair?

Kiro: Well, it’s not something you see often. Since it’s here, I can’t go back empty-handed.

Kiro: Are you ready to go to the next location now?

MC: Maybe I’ll sit here for a while, and set off in half an hour.

Kiro: I don’t know when we’ll meet.

That also happened to be the doubt in my heart.

MC: When I set out, I thought that the purpose of this game should be to allow us to achieve the same goal through different routes.

MC: But I also feel that if you followed the rules.... you may never meet.

Kiro: It doesn’t matter. Let’s not think about it for now.

Kiro: If you keep thinking about the answers to the puzzles, you’ll miss out on the scenery that’s in front of you.

MC: Okay, see you at the next stop.

MC: No, I’ll call at the next stop~

[PART 3]

After leaving the city park, I followed the route I planned to go to the next destination-- Changyuan Temple.

It’s said that this was a very spiritual Taoist temple to pray for marriage.

I saw relevant guides on the internet. There was a thousand-year-old tree at the entrance of the Taoist temple which was covered with colorful paper sachets. It was worth taking pictures of and checking out.

However, the entire way from the city park was congested. Only the subway made it convenient.

When there were still six or seven stops left to reach the destination, I received a call from Kiro.

Kiro: How about it, Miss Chips? Are you still having fun?

MC: To be honest, it’s not bad~ Are you at the second location?

Kiro: Well, I just wandered around Changyuan for a while, and I was about to leave.

MC: Changyuan? I’m also on my way to that place!

MC: Sure enough, we still have a tacit understanding. If I had started earlier, we would have met.

Kiro: Sure enough! Say.... every time we go out, we like to find a place to pray. Don’t you think so?

Kiro: The Taoist temple is worth seeing. You can wander there for a while.

Kiro: I also hung a blessing sachet on the big tree at the door, on a branch near the gate. You can look for it when you get there, maybe you’ll find it.

Kiro: Also, the front yard of this Taoist temple is very small, but if you walk inside from the right side door, you’ll find a big backyard.

Kiro: It’s easy to miss, so you have to look for it carefully-- There are steps in the backyard to go up the mountain. It’ll be a pity if you miss it.

The guides didn’t mention the back mountain that Kiro talked about, so I hurriedly wrote down this important information.

MC: After entering the door.... Is it the right side door?

Kiro: That’s right~ By the way, let me leave you a present.

MC: Present?

Kiro: Hmm-- Let me think about it.

He hesitated twice, as if thinking about something, paused, and then quickly thought of an answer.

Kiro: There are two stone lamps on both sides of the stone steps in the middle of the mountain. You’ll know it as soon as you get there. I put a present in the stone lamp on the right, so remember to pick it up.

MC: Good~ You go to the next stop first, I’ll call you soon.

Fifteen minutes later, when the subway arrived, I followed the map and arrived at Changyuan Temple. Sure enough, there was a big tree full of blessing bags at the door.

MC: The branches near the gate....

Although every branch was covered with blessing bags, some of the yellow blessing bags were particularly conspicuous. I searched them carefully for a while and managed to find Kiro’s.

After thinking about it, I decided not to buy a new bag to hang up, but wrote my name on his lucky bag.

This way, no matter what his wish was, I could give him my luck as well.

After finishing that, I went directly to the side door and walked up the stone steps of the back mountain, planning to take away the gift that Kiro had left me.

By the way~ I better call him.

Kiro: Miss Chips-- I was waiting for your call. How about it? Have you found the stone lamp yet?

MC: Not only found it, but I also got the snack you left for me.

Sitting on the stone steps, I opened the oil paper I took out of the stone lamp and found a few animal-shaped sticky rice snacks inside.

MC: So cute-- I can’t bear to eat them.

Having said that, I couldn’t help but immediately pick up a piece and taste it.

MC: Red beans, taro puree, pork floss, ebony plum, mint?

MC: It’s a complex taste, but it’s delicious-- amazing!

Kiro: I found that on a small alley. It was placed on a large steamer. When I bought it, I thought it had a cute shape, but I didn’t expect it to taste so unique.

Kiro: Although I don’t know if it’s a local specialty, it has been listed as one of the biggest gains of this trip.

Kiro: We can buy more later and take it back for Savin and the others.

MC: Have you realized that you say you have to buy a lot of things to take back before you leave?

MC: For example, yesterday’s sticky rice cake, the egg yolk cake from the day before, and the caramel from the day before that.

Kiro: Miss Chips, good food can’t be enjoyed alone.

Kiro put on a serious tone to educate me.

Kiro: At home, Savin has to take care of a cat and walk a dog. It’s tough. So we have to get him stuff so we can trouble him again next time.

MC: [smiling] Mm, that does make sense.

I sat on the steps and looked around, and found that I was surrounded by vegetation. The sun was completely covered by lush leaves, and the wind was much cooler here than on the mountain.

This kind of scenery was well-served.

MC: Kiro, this place is so beautiful.

Kiro: Yeah, I just took a lot of photos in mid-levels. They were really good. I have to show them to you when we meet later.

MC: Are you on your way to the next stop?

Kiro: Mm, on the subway.

Kiro: Maybe it’s because of the time, but there aren’t any people on the subway now, and I found an empty car.

Kiro: ....It’s been a while since I’ve taken the subway. This sense of freedom feels great.

Kiro: Did you know, Miss Chips, that half of this subway’s route is on the ground? The weather's so good today that the sun’s shining into the carriage.

While eating the snack he left for me, I quietly listened to his voice.

At that moment, the noisy cicadas all around and the rustling of the wind blowing through the treetops overlapped with the subway station announcement from the cell phone.

The distance between the two of us seemed to be very close all of a sudden.

Kiro: It’s the sea.

Kiro: Miss Chips, I saw the sea.

Kiro: There are also clouds, as white as snow, hanging in large swaths on the surface of the sea.

Kiro’s voice was calm, but I could hear his surprise and happiness within-- The joy of harvesting a little surprise on this journey.

The smile that permeated from the faint narration, even through the phone, profoundly infected me.

MC: No, I can’t just sit here.

MC: I’m going to explore new scenery too. Shall we talk we again when we reach the next stop?

Kiro: Okay. Be careful on the way.

I finished my last snack, got up from the stone steps, and patted off the dust on my behind. Then, I climbed down the steps in three steps and took out a camera from my bag.

If I continued up this way, I didn’t know where it would lead.

Maybe, there would be new gains worthy of this trip to share with Kiro.

[PART 4]

When we started again from the view of Changyuan, it was already late. However, that was also in line with what I had planned for the next stop-- Going to the beach to watch the sunset.

According to the map, the best place to watch the sunset was an observation deck on the east side of the coastline.

While walking in the direction indicated by the map, I planned the arrangements for my evening meet up with Kiro.

The red light at the railway crossing flickered, and as soon as I stopped, a train roared in.

I waited in place for a while, and when the last car of the train passed by, a familiar voice suddenly sounded.

Kiro: What a coincidence, Miss Chips.

MC: !!!

Kiro poked out his head from the opposite side to greet me.

The breeze blowing from the coast brushed through the stray strands of his hair, and in his slightly curved eyes, the colors of the sky and the sea all merged together, revealing a clear blue light.

MC: Haha-- what a coincidence!

I was overjoyed and waved to him, yelling his name amidst the rumbling of the train.

When the train disappeared from our sight, Kiro strode towards me across the rails, held my hand and walked forward.

MC: Did you just get here, or are you leaving?

According to the schedule, Kiro should be on his way to the next location right about now.

He turned to look at me, smiled and shook his head.

Kiro: I was going to leave, but I suddenly felt that the coastline here was great, so I decided to wait here for the sunset.

As he said this, he lifted our tightly held hands and shook them.

Kiro: It seems like life’s like that. You don’t need to rush forward in a hurry all the time. Sometimes, you’ll be surprised if you stop in place.

Kiro: Let’s go. There’s a great place to watch the sea. I’ll take you there.

After walking for more than ten minutes along the road around the coast, we came to a platform with a wide view, which was closer to the sea than the place marked on the map.

Across the railings was a beach for tourists to have fun. I looked up and down at the railing of a height of less than one meter, strode over to it, and sat down.

The surging waves rolled ashore layer after layer, and several seagulls flew over the sea with their wings spread, carrying light on their backs and facing the wind.

Kiro leaned on the railing and stretched out his head to look at the sea. He took out a packet of toast, and bit a piece of it himself.

I turned my head and was about to talk to him when several seagulls swept over from the sea and took away a piece of toast from his hand.

Kiro: !!!

MC: Wow!

Kiro didn’t react at all. He didn’t know whether to take the bread back or let it go. He dangled the bread in his mouth and hesitated twice in surprise.

I quickly raised the camera to record this scene--

In the end, the overbearing seagull snatched half of the toast from his hand and flew leisurely out to the sea again.

Kiro grunted in dissatisfaction. His face was full of unthinkable and helpless expressions.

MC: Hahaha-- Those seagulls are so good at bullying people!

MC: But.... just take it as us treating them. We’re very generous.

I took half of the toast in Kiro’s hand and brought the topic back to today’s game.

MC: I don’t know when they’ll reveal the ultimate goal of the experiment to us.

Kiro looked into the distance with an easy-going expression hanging from the corner of his eyes.

Kiro: I don’t think that’s important anymore.

As he said that, Kiro laughed again and opened his hands facing the sea. The sea breeze blew through his jacket and ruffled his bangs.

Kiro: I just thought that maybe the ultimate goal of this experiment isn’t to achieve the same goal through different routes, but....

Kiro: When we aren’t around each other, we can see different scenery.

Kiro: It would’ve been better if we could’ve met along the way, but even if we didn’t, we wouldn’t miss anything.

Kiro: The “being together” between two people does not necessarily mean being together all the time.

As he said that, he took the camera from my hand and looked at the photos we took in the past few days. Throughout, there was a soft smile on his face.

The waves gurgled up and down on the shore, and the sun that was at sea level seemed to slowly be sinking into the ocean.

Kiro: After these few days of travelling, seeing the places you walked before and listening to the stories you were told when you were a kid, I was thinking.... that my Miss Chips has so many pasts and has seen so many sceneries alone.

Kiro: Although you have fallen a few times and encountered great difficulties, you have come through firmly and have grown into an optimistic and cheerful person.

Kiro: Then, you waited till this day, till this moment, to come to me.

He took my hand, stepped forward half a step, and his eyes shone brighter than the entire ocean.

Kiro: --And I held it in my hand.

Kiro approached me and touched my forehead.

Kiro: Even now, we can’t stick together all the time. After all, we all have a lot to do.

Kiro: My schedule is densely arranged, and I often can’t see you for ten and a half months, and you still take good care of yourself.

Kiro: After a good meal, and a good night’s sleep, you would share all the notable glimpses in your life with me, so that I could see different sides of the world....

Kiro: That is enough.

Kiro: Being able to meet is very much enough.

I turned my feet back against the railing and hugged Kiro with my open arms. That familiar scent which was my favorite, lingered on his neck, sweet and fresh.

MC: My Kiro is the same.

MC: He’s also a person who has gone through many difficult years, and has overcome many difficulties and finally come to me.

MC: He belongs to me.

A person can see a lot of scenery, but only he makes me see that the scenery is unique.

Only when I am led by him, can I better appreciate the most beautiful side of the scenery in front of me.

MC: There are so many sceneries. We should see them together.

Kiro climbed up to my waist with one hand and hugged me against the railing.

Kiro: Today’s itinerary is not over yet. We still have one photo that we haven’t taken yet.

Kiro: It’s time to go to the real last stop of this journey.

--The port where I departed on my graduation trip.

The last photo of the entire album was taken in mid-August. At the end of the last summer vacation, I embarked on a short trip alone.

At that time, MC didn’t know yet, that after waiting a little longer, she would meet Kiro at the corner.

Becoming the one and only Miss Chips in the world, and embracing the happiness of the world in her arms.

Kiro: Shall we go?

Kiro stretched out his hand to me.

Under the darkening sunset, the deep and mysterious blue that spread out in the sky and the earth, reflected in his eyes looking at me.

I took his hand and shook his fingers.

With the person in front of me, all of the future sceneries will no longer be witnessed alone.

Link to call 1: here

Link to call 2: here (meant to be read after the date)

#mlqc #mlqc cn #mlqc spoilers #mlqc kiro #ASDFGHJKL THAT ENDING WAS SO WELL WORTH THE WAIT T^T

48 notes · View notes

dynyamight · 3 years ago

Note

Hello! Could you do this one :

192 - You make me feel alive. For the first time ever, I feel like I can breathe.

Thanks ☺☺

192. You make me feel alive. For the first time ever, I feel like I can breathe.

“My, you’ve grown so tall and handsome, Katsuki! I can barely recognize you!”

Bakugou shrugs stiffly, hands deeply shoved in his pockets. “..Evenin’, Auntie.”

“Hurry, hurry!” Inko quickly beckons him inside the apartment, with frantic hand motions. “The cold air will get you sick the longer you stand out there.”

After a few tentative steps inside, and offering a mumbled pardon of intrusion, Bakugou makes a look around the small home.

God, everything looked eerily the damn same.

The miniature sofa, the kotatsu, the TV airing the local news, the rickety old dining table, in the same faded wood color just like before. The kitchen, probably looks the same, too.

Nothing new.

And, oddly enough, Bakugou was glad. Familiarity was very much needed, right now.

“Let me take your coat, dear.” Inko shushes quietly, right beside him. When Bakugou twists his head down, he looks to see her offering a soft smile.

Something in his chest clenches. “Nah, s’fine.” He coughs, struggling to meet her gaze. “..We’ll be leaving soon, anyway.”

“You know, that’s what you always told me, back when you two were kids.” Inko voices gently, “Waiting at the front door. Ready to head out, as soon as Izuku stepped out.”

“It warms my heart to see you two together.” She says, gazing at him, with that same comforting expression she used to give him long ago.

The inside of his palms are damp, sweating nervously. All he can offer is a quick nod of acknowledgment, without losing his cool in front of her.

Sure, they weren’t close before, but Inko only remembers him as that child. The one that was her son’s best friend. The one that knocked at her front door, jumping in his sneakers excitedly. The little boy who guided her son out of her home, and brought him back, safe and sound.

And, the same guy who was once the source of all of her beloved son’s distress, turmoil, and torment.

He hopes Midoriya has told her redeeming things about him, now that she knows that part. Because, there’s no way in hell he can sell himself any better.

A door to the right of the hallway opens in that instant.

With his back turned away from them, Midoriya steps out in an obnoxious All Might pajama set, barefooted.

He’s holding up two sweaters, dangling from each hand. “Mom!” He calls out towards the dining room, “Which one looks better? Yellow or red?”

“I can’t tell, Izuku.” Inko states easily, “Turn around.”

Doing a double take, Midoriya pivots in his stance, almost tripping over the long pants. “Oh, when did you get behind-?”

Midoriya’s face drops, before the shirts hit the floor.

Bakugou snorts, while Inko intently gazes at the fallen clothing. “I would think the burgundy one would look wonderful, sweetie.” She advises, regardless.

Quickly, Midoriya gathers and shoves his sweaters in his arms, and hurries back into his room, slamming the door shut. The click of a lock echoes, alongside a bunch of stressed, inaudible words.

“..You sure you don’t want me to take your coat?” Inko asks him. This time, there’s a knowing, small teasing expression on her face. “Izuku might take a while longer.”

Bakugou doesn’t wait for long, seated under the warming kotatsu. His drums his fingers on his thighs, here and there. And, the heat does get a little stuffy, while wearing black jeans and a turtleneck.

But, otherwise, it’s not intolerable. Inko had offered him plenty, during his wait; a hot mug of ginger and cinnamon tea, a small plate of cookie biscuits, and her silent, yet welcoming company. She even insisted on covering his shoulders with a large blanket, engulfing him completely.

“Anything for you.” Inko reassures him, despite having not voiced anything. “You have done so much to keep Izuku happy. It’s the least I can do.”

The overbearing politeness runs in the family, like a disease.

He feels he should thank her, or better yet, try to have a conversation with her. But, each time he builds up the internal guts to say something, the words get caught in his throat.

He wants to make sure he says the right thing to Midoriya’s mother. Unfortunately, he desperately wants her approval.

So, when Midoriya finally walks around the corner, in a nice pair of jeans and that same burgundy sweater from before, Bakugou’s relieved to say the least.

He feels saved.

“Now, the night is only getting colder, by the minute.” Inko hurriedly tells them, as the three of them walk to the front door, “This winter season has been terribly freezing! My heart can’t handle either of you catching the flu, let alone both of you! So, try to make it home not only safe, but healthy. Oh, and if you are unable to catch the last train, please let me know! I will gladly-”

“It’s okay.” Midoriya reassures her, putting a hand on her shoulder. “Don’t worry, Mom. We’ll be okay.”

“I know, I know. Just please-”

“Call you when we’re on our way home.” Midoriya answers easily. “Yeah, I will.”

“..You promise?”

“I promise, Mom.”

They share a sweet, long embrace, which Bakugou can’t help, but look away.

Something about their close bond, and unashamed love for each other feels intrusive for him to be a part of.

Something that he doesn’t deserve to be a part of. At least, not yet.

Instead, he solely focuses on readjusting his winter coat over his shoulders.

On their languid walk towards the metro station, a few blocks away from the apartment complex, Midoriya slips his hand in his.

“You told me 20:00, Kacchan.” He whines, however.

Bakugou rolls his eyes. “It was.” He corrects in a huff, “Until you fucking said I could drop by an hour early.”

“Wha—? When did I say that?”

“During our damn lunch break, yesterday.” Bakugou incredulously stares at him. “The hell? You were the one who came up to me and literally said it yourself. How your conference for today with the academy got cancelled. ”

For a moment too long, Midoriya stays silent, visibly mulling over the words in his head. Each quiet second makes Bakugou more internally baffled, downright shocked.

If it weren’t for Midoriya’s warm hand loosely holding onto him, he’d crackle a couple explosions, in spite.

“Oh. I did.” Midoriya breathes out laughing, bringing his other hand to his face. “I completely forgot.”

“Shitty Deku.” Bakugou grunts. “Starting the night off wrong, already?”

“Hey! Don’t go making me feel bad, Kacchan!” With pleading eyes, Midoriya looks up at him. “I didn’t mean to forget. School’s been hectic recently, and you know that.”

Those huge, bright green eyes. His kryptonite.

Bakugou clicks his tongue. “..Whatever. S’not like the wait was awful.”

“Oh god, I hope my mom wasn’t too much with you.” Midoriya messes with Bakugou’s fingers in between his, tightening and letting go of them.

“Not at all.” Bakugou lies.

Smiling, Midoriya lets out a big sigh of relief. “Thank goodness. If you two didn’t get along tonight, I might have had an aneurysm.”

“If you had to choose—” Bakugou starts.

Midoriya narrows his eyes. “Stop it.”

Bakugou scoffs, slipping out an air of mirth into it. “Obviously your mom.”

“Obviously, it would be too hard of a decision to make.” Midoriya corrects. “Hopefully that time never, ever, ever comes.”

Despite trying not to smile, Bakugou feels the traces of a smirk on the corners of his lips. “If that day ever happens, always pick Auntie.” He states easily, “Her heartbreak would be so fucking intense. Put all natural disasters to damn shame.”

With a small, slipped out laugh, Midoriya bumps their shoulders together, softened by their winter coats. “You are weirdly making sense, Kacchan.”

“Of course I’m making fucking sense. She cries over the thought of someone taking you away. Villain, or not.”

“Every mother is like that!”

“Hell, I’m damn surprised Auntie didn’t flip her shit from seeing me.” Bakugou honestly confesses finally, more to himself than to Midoriya. “Dating her one and only son, and she didn’t even freak out about it.”

And, just like that, Bakugou knows something is wrong, from the moment Midoriya stays quiet.

They continue to walk, despite the sudden tense mood between them. But, that doesn’t mean Bakugou doesn’t want to demand Midoriya to speak up, the longer he keeps his mouth shut.

But also, he doesn’t want to ruin their night, and so, he waits begrudgingly.

Right as the two are on the outskirts of the metro tunnel, Midoriya twiddles Bakugou’s fingers nervously.

“..I haven’t told her about us yet,” He admits, face morphed in guilt. “But, I mean, she could very easily guess our intentions tonight. So, maybe— I don’t know —she might know.”

Bakugou hums, allowing himself a few seconds to process that. He then breathes a long air through his nose. “..I figured.” He simply says.

“It’s not like I want to hide us.” Midoriya voices aloud, furrowing his brows. “It’s just with graduation coming up, and the academy still looking for an agency to accept me as anything, and then my father suddenly wanting to come back into our lives, she’s just been a little stressed with everything going on, including myself. And, I don’t want to potentially ruin us and-”

With a tight grip, Bakugou halts them to a sudden stop.

When Midoriya worriedly gazes at him, he offers him back a nod. “Yeah, I get it.” Bakugou firmly states.

“Kacchan, I-”

“You’re fine. Don’t worry about it.”

And, he really means it.

While people bypass them, heading through the automatic doors of the metro station, they both remain standing, staring back at each other.

The first to break is Midoriya, releasing a big, tired sigh. “You’re right.” He frowns, looking away. “I’m totally ruining this date night. I’m sorry.”

Pulling his hand out of the hold, Bakugou instead brings his arms over Midoriya’s shoulders. He hugs them close. “No, you’re not.”

“I am.” Midoriya responds backs, muffled.

“We’ve been on more shit dates, Deku.” Bakugou tells him in his ear. “And, this ain’t one. It barely even began.”

“A whole year, and I—I haven’t even told her.” Midoriya shakingly admits. “I’m such a coward.”

Bakugou huffs. “You’re not. The talk ain’t easy. Hell, telling my hag and old man about us was like pulling teeth out of my damn mouth.”

“..At least you told them.”

“Listen, you went through a lot of shit, two years ago.” Bakugou reminds Midoriya, bluntly. “The running away. The dropping out. The undercover work. The public hate. Getting together after all fucking that, probably wasn’t even the best move.”

“I still remember it all.” Midoriya mumbles.

Bakugou tightens his hug. “And, since then, life’s been a total bitch to you. I fucking wish you didn’t get half the crap you have to deal with, because it runs you into a damn mess.”

“But, I—”

“So, just focus on the important shit, right now.” Bakugou breathes out, pressing his head against Midoriya’s. “Us? We can wait. No, I can wait. I’ll be right beside you, until then, and even after that.”

Lifting his arms up and around Bakugou’s back, Midoriya holds onto him, just as tight as him. “..You promise?”

Bakugou exhales a short sigh. “I promise, Izuku. We’ll be okay.”

Letting go, Midoriya gently pushes away from Bakugou’s grip, causing them to finally part, for who knows how long.

Before the secondhand embarrassment of people witnessing them sinks into his pride, Bakugou’s redirected to the watery eyes of Midoriya, as he quickly blinks them dry.

“God, when did you get so—?” Midoriya wildly moves his hands around, gesturing over at Bakugou.

On the other hand, Bakugou scrunches his nose. “The hell does that mean?”

“So supportive?” Immediately, Midoriya shakes his head. “No, you’ve been supportive, that’s not the right word. So kind? Uh, that doesn’t sound right..”

“You mean romantic.” Bakugou puts it bluntly.

A rush of red floods Midoriya’s face, matching his sweater and shoes. “Don’t say it so loud, Kacchan!”

“I wouldn’t have to, if you weren’t asking dumb ass questions!” Bakugou yells back, crossing his arms definitively. “We’re together, Deku! Of course I’m gonna tell you fucking sappy shit.”

“Shh! You are making us be a public scene!”

“Too late! We were a public scene the fucking moment we stopped in front of the damn metro like stupid lovers at the altar!”

It starts slow, with nothing, but Midoriya blinking up at him.

But then, a slipped sputter starts and a bubbling laughter erupts from Midoriya. He grabs onto Bakugou’s arm, helping him from not bending over in giggles.

“W-We really did!” Midoriya barely says, wheezing, “Lovers at an altar. A-And, you literally gave me vows!”

It takes Bakugou forcibly grabbing his idiotic, cackling boyfriend to finally move aside, and walk through the station’s entrance. He refuses to focus too much on the fire heating his face.

He’s never making outlandish, romantic gestures in public, ever again.

They missed their train, obvious from the lengthy moment they had outside. But, neither of them were upset about the ordeal. Instead, they gradly bought tickets for the next train to Tokyo, with only a thirty minute wait.

As Bakugou starts to shift comfortably in his bench seat, right beside him, Midoriya rests his head on top of his shoulder. “Thankfully, we still won’t miss the movie premiere.”

“Because your weird ass is making us leave hours before midnight.”

“For situations like these!”

Bakugou scoffs a short laugh. “I guess it’s reasonable.”

Grabbing his hand into a loose grip, Midoriya twiddles with Bakugou’s fingers once more. “Thank you. For tonight.” Midoriya whispers.

“You needed time to chill the fuck out. With the shit you’ve been facing, let tonight be the night you forget about it.” Bakugou grumbles, “Besides, I haven’t been able to steal you away, for my damn self.” He tacks on.

Midoriya smiles back at him, head comfortably slumped on his shoulder. “You make me feel alive, again. And, for the first time ever, since the start of this year,” He sighs, longingly up at Bakugou, “I feel like I can breathe.”

Bakugou brings him closer, chin tucked in his curls. “Good. I need you to breathe, at least once and a fucking while.”

Midoriya snorts. “Just at least once?”

“And, a fucking while.” Bakugou reiterates, “I’m not a monster.”

“No, you’re not.” Midoriya chuckles, bringing his legs over Bakugou’s lap. “You’re my monstrous boyfriend.”

“That’s fucking right.”

For a while, they stay just like that; close, intimate, and stuck together, without a care of the outside world. Maybe it’s from the intense conversation from earlier, but Bakugou doesn’t feel deterred to back away. Instead, he feels comfortable in holding Midoriya, and not letting go.

“You know,” Midoriya starts, “My mom wouldn’t freak out.”

Bakugou raises a brow. “..Hm?”

“About us. She wouldn’t freak or flip out like that.”

“C’mon, Deku.” Bakugou scoffs, shaking his head. “You don’t gotta lie to me, now.”

“I’m serious.” Midoriya reaffirms strongly, emphasizing his words with a tightened grasp around his hand. “She wouldn’t.”

“I’m not the type of guy you bring to your damn family. Seeing me as anyone’s partner is like fucking failing at life.”

Midoriya brings a tentative hand, cupping the side of Bakugou’s face. His fingertips are rough, yet linger there softly. “Just promise her you’ll make me happy and keep me safe.” Midoriya states easily, smiling brightly. “And, she’ll welcome you with open arms, all over again.”

#star responds #okay sooo idk which writing prompt this was for?? BUT I STILL THOUGHT THIS WAS CUTE #bkdk third years. bkdk established relationship. bkdk and inko #maaaan i literally let my fluff/hurt heart have it #i hope this is the time of soft bkdk you want !!#ayae-02 #bakudeku #FICLET

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kurtbastion · 3 years ago

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HIGH SCHOOL/ SUMMER AFTER GRADUATING KURTBASTIAN FIC RECS:

My first rec list.

Highschool fics:

Hospital Beds by dionebacchus* (series, incomplete/ abandoned): DYSTOPIAN

Kurt wants to be paired with anyone out of town, and Sebastian doesn’t want marriage at all. But the system is all that the world has, and they will soon find that all they have is each other.

Rose of the Alps by mgd (multi-chap): BOARDING SCHOOL

Burt has his heart attack towards the end of Kurt's sophomore year and dies from it, leaving Kurt orphaned. His family, unable to care for him, send him off to an international boarding school in Switzerland, where one of his ancestors is an alumni.

Meanwhile, Sebastian got into trouble once too often and gets kicked out of his school in Paris. Figuring that he won't be able to get into as much trouble in the middle of nowhere in the Alps, his parents send him off to the same school as Kurt.

While Kurt is trying to get over his father's death, he and Sebastian meet and start a friendship with benefits, that has potential to become more.

Such Selfish Prayers by iaminarage (multi-chap, read the warnings): BASED ON OTHER MEDIA

No matter how careful you are, you can’t keep any secret forever. A Kurtbastian AU based on Bare: A Pop Opera.

I Dont Have a Choice (But I Still Choose You) by lillnas and sparrow30* (multi-chap):

It is a truth universally acknowledged that a single guy, in possession of wealth, intelligence and unfairly good looks, must be a complete and utter dick.

When Fate and Mercedes Jones' libido throw the New Directions clan into the path of the Dalton Academy Warblers, it's hard for Kurt Hummel not to notice their new captain; the ridiculously attractive Sebastian Smythe. It’s also hard for Kurt not to notice his arrogance, his biting sarcasm, or the fact that he'd clearly rather be anywhere other than socializing with a bunch of unfortunate public school ragamuffins.

Kurt's spent enough of his life serving as a punching bag for self-important assholes to know that Sebastian is just more of the same. It doesn't matter that he's gay. Or hot. Or that he keeps looking at Kurt in that inscrutable way. The only sensible course of action is to stay far, far away. Which, of course, turns out to be easier said than done.

Hear Me by hannahbellee (one shot): CHILDHOOD FRIENDS TO LOVERS

Sebastian meets Kurt on his first day of school. Sebastian has been there for a grand total of four hours, and he already hates it. The kids are mean, meaner than anyone he’s ever met, and he’s already been made to sit in the corner for trying to hit one of the meanest boys, one of the ones who had laughed at him and called him names that Sebastian knew were bad.

Sebastian sits alone, scowling at the other kids in the playground. He doesn’t care if he’s alone, the other kids are stupid and mean. And they were loud. They were so loud, and nobody can talk to him anyway. It doesn’t matter because he hates them all.

And then, he meets Kurt Hummel, and his entire life changes.

mute!Sebastian, bestfriends!Kurtbastian.

Summer after graduating fics:

Clumsy, Instead by artist_artists (series of one shots):

Kurt spends the summer after graduation losing faith in himself as he deals with a lot of unexpected heartache. He’s lost his boyfriend, been rejected from the school of his dreams, and is working at the Lima Bean. The most unexpected thing of all, though, is the comfort he finds in Sebastian.

If My Heart Was a House by flipmeforward* (multi-chap): BASED ON OTHER MEDIA

Kurt and Sebastian meet during the summer after high school and fall head over heels in love with each other. They don't talk about what's going to happen in September, when they're both supposed to go to college. (Very loosely based on The Notebook)

Life is a Road (I Want to Keep On Going) by Wednesday Thunder (multi-chap): ROAD TRIP

During the summer before Kurt is off to New York, he finds himself alone in his house while Burt and Carole are in Canada of all places, and Finn is in New York with Rachel. Puck has turned out to be the only one in his circle of friends who Kurt enjoys the company of, after his breakup with Blaine. But a broken windscreen, an unwanted conversation and three phone calls later, Kurt is suddenly sitting in Sebastian Smythe's old (but admittedly well-kept) SAAB –– on his way to Ottawa, Canada, via New York City.

Accidentally in Love by janrea:

Sebastian and Kurt ends up working together in Kurt’s Aunt Merilde’s bookstore. Sparks fly---Not of the good kind.... Or in which, Kurt breaks up with Blaine, is forced to interact with Sebastian, they banter (a lot), and there's some serious obliviousness going around.

A Change in the Weather by cacophonylights (multi-chap, famously incomplete): FAKE DATING.

The summer before college Kurt is shocked when Sebastian comes to him with a timely offer he can’t refuse. He’ll get something he needs to realize his dreams, but in return he has to play the role of Sebastian’s boyfriend for the summer. Neither of them know just how much their worlds are about to change.

AO3 link: https://archiveofourown.org/works/363823

LJ link: https://cacophonylights.livejournal.com/7893.html

* - fics on my top 10 kurtbastian fics list!!

#kurtbastian fanfiction #kurtbastian #my recs #this is part one of three #I broke them into high school/ college / adult so I could get more than just a couple of fics on each list #I added specific genres/ tropes too as well

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wind-becomes-lightning · 3 years ago

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Graduation

Hello, little something that was meant to be cute sibling stuff. Eh. yeah, just... maybe it went off hand somehow towards the end. Sorry.

Uchiha Sayuri, information etc [x]

Kaiya belongs to @foolishkali. // The Relinquo AU

1890 words.

No pairings, no warnings, no ratings. Just teens being teens.

For @narutoocevent Day 2: Family Photo

There was no picture of the entire Uchiha clan together. It just didn’t exist. They had grown too large in numbers to assemble them all in front of a photographer and they had branched out far enough that not even all of them were in contact with each other. It didn’t matter that they lived so close together in the compound.

So if one wanted to count the many members of the clan now scattered among the ranks of Konoha ninja, you couldn’t have found it in a single picture. The clan, however, did take pictures of all their children graduating the academy together year after year. And all Uchiha children entered the academy, it was simply expected of them to become shinobi. They all did.

Sayuri hated clan traditions. She hated wearing the symbol. She hated the clan. She hated the family and oh how she hated the thought of posing for a picture that would forever be found in Uchiha files. She already knew she would eventually leave the clan- some day at least- and so she didn’t want to leave traces behind. But there was no choice.

She frowned and sighed and moaned in displeasure, standing shoulder to shoulder with her childhood best friend Kaiya, a calm, friendly natured person, who did not share Sayuri’s disregard for their families history and Obito, a boy Sayuri had grown up so close with that some people thought they were siblings.

“Can you stop pushing me, idiot”, Sayuri knocked Obito with her elbow into the side. He almost tripped over his feet trying to adjust his new gained headband under his goggles. It made him look stupid and childish, but he was so proud of it. He had seriously worried he would not graduate.

Kaiya on the other side was already ready for the picture, her new shining piece of metal with the leaf symbol placed around her belt. Sayuri admired her friend’s poise as she always did. Both of them had done excellent work in the final exams, proving themselves to be worthwhile Uchihas. Sayuri had failed at every fire related task her father wanted her to be talented at and still graduated a year early. Well, her father was an asshole anyway.

“Oh you have your braid opened, should I redo it for you?” Kaiya asked softly, her fingers already expertly flying over the open strands of Sayuri’s hair. Just one of them had opened, the right one. It happened to her all the time when she pulled the staff off her shoulders to use it. Sayuri had decided to hang her headband on her staff, but she knew that her father expected her to wear it around her head. Like a non creative loser.

Obito pushed her again from the side, still fiddling around with his goggles. “Sorry, sorry”, he said quickly as he crashed halfway into Sayuri again, who in turn crashed into Kaiya, “I just want this to look good you know.”

“Nobody cares how you look in this stupid picture Obito”, Sayuri snapped at him, elbowing him once more into his side. “I think you look good just the way you are”, Kaiya said warmly, her fingers finally putting the finishing movements on Sayuri’s open braid. Obito beamed at her in response.

Sayuri looked forward to the photographer who got his little camera ready and from him to the door of the gym behind her: If she’d bolt now she could still run away before the picture was taken. Stay out of Uchiha records forever. She squirmed a little and got hit into the shoulder again by Obito: “Oh god, don’t be a whiny little girl about this stupid picture.”

He had a way of figuring out what was going on inside of her head that nobody else had. “I don’t know what you mean” she lied, “You’re the one who is making such a big fuss. I don’t even care.” He whistled a little in disbelief and exchanged a nod with Kaiya. Well, they were both stupid, Sayuri decided right then.

They lined up again, faces towards the photographer, who still wasn’t ready, when Kakashi and Rin walked in through the open doors. Sayuri saw him immediately and her heart leapt at the view of his silver hair. Kakashi had graduated before they had, years ago, but was now assigned to Obito’s team. It was all very exciting for Sayuri.

“Bakashi, this is for Uchiha members only”, Obito hollered across the empty space, his voice echoing off the walls back to him. “Rin can stay though, I allow it”, he added and now it was Sayuri that knocked him from the side: “Kakashi gets to stay too.” She waved to him, but he merely lifted an eyebrow in response.

Sayuri always had a big crush on Kakashi. She wasn’t exactly aware when it started, but it definitely did start before Rin’s crush on Kakashi started, which gave Sayuri seniority -well at least in her mind it did. “I think he blushed a little when he saw me”, Sayuri whispered to Kaiya excitedly. Her friend frowned a little: “I don’t think you can see that from here.”

“Just hurry up and get this stupid photoshoot over so we can go meet our teacher”, Kakashi complained loudly from the door and Sayuri nodded back at him: “That’s what I’m saying. It is a stupid photoshoot.” She waved at Kakashi again, who looked away. “We are the same you know, we think alike”, Sayuri whispered to Kaiya who crooked a brow but said nothing.

Finally, the photographer was done setting up. Sayuri could see him fiddle with the camera one final time, but his eyes were already aimed at the kids. He smiled like a teacher at them and waved with his finger. “Shouldn’t the boy be in the middle of these gorgeous women?” Sayuri pricked her tongue out. Ew.

Obito blushed a little, his eyes already tearing up from the dust in the gym and the time he’d struggled putting his goggles on. “Well, I mean, if we’re talking about ….” he hesitated, “gorgeous women.. Eh.. maybe … Rin..?” He looked up to her, but the photographer cut him off: “No, pretty Uchiha girls only.”

“That’s a pretty gross thing to say, old man”, Sayuri said, face now permanently locked in a frown. A light went off in her head. “Oh, I’m also not an Uchiha, does that mean I can go?” She was always clever like that. The man looked over her body and his eyes wandered. Sayuri was wearing the Uchiha logo, but not visible from the front. She pulled her head forward and stepped to the side. “I’m off then..”

“Nonsense, Sayuri is an Uchiha just like us”, Obito snarled and pulled her back by the sleeve. “She is just being a little girl.” Sayuri pushed him: “Don’t use “girl” like an insult.” Rin said “Yeah” from the back of the room and Obito blushed immediately. He sank his head down to Sayuri and whispered: “Just shut up and get here, you make me look bad in front of Rin.”

“You make yourself look terrible in front of Rin”, Sayuri spat back and they both glanced at each other angrily until Kaiya stepped in between them. “Enough now”, she said calmly, taking an arm of each of them, “Let’s just get this picture over with alright?” Sayuri let out a deep breath. Fine, alright, okay, she would line up with them and play a good Uchiha girl.

“I’ll stand in between them or this will probably continue,” Kaiya explained to the photographer who just stood baffled and watched. Upon being addressed he changed his frown into a smile and a nod: “I rarely get siblings graduating together, so little infighting wasn’t something I was prepared for.” Kaiya opened her mouth as if to correct him on the sibling thing, but she just closed it right after. She took a step back to take her place in the middle.

Three Uchiha children, now next to each other shoulder to shoulder. Black short hair, dark brown long hair and black braids, from the back they must have looked like triplets. In reality neither of them was closely related with each other. Other than dark hair, the clan symbol and the eventual visual jutu, they had nothing in common.

The photographer fiddled around a little and smiled wide. “Please a nice, friendly smile from the girls especially.” Sayuri narrowed her eyes down. She whispered: “This dude is so creepy.” Obito whispered back, his teeth gritted to keep the smile up: “Why don’t you listen to him to let him get his job done.”

“Why don’t you bite me,” Sayuri’s teeth were equally gritted. Kaiya sighed and felt compelled to say something, but in that very moment the flash went off, startling all of them at once. No way any of them would look good in this particular picture, Sayuri thought, looking around at their forced smiles and blinded eyes.

“Wonderful, just wonderful. I assume you have a lot to plan so I will not keep you any further” the photographer said and all three children jumped from the stage into the open area. Obito ran over to Rin and greeted her, his hands fidgeting behind his body nervously. Sayuri tried to be casual when she walked to the exit, accidentally ending up going through the doors right next to Kakashi. All coincidence of course. “This guy was stupid”, she said, letting her hands fall behind her head. “Most photographers are.”

Kakashi didn’t even look up at her, his eyelids hanging low and uninterested as always. “I don’t think they are,” he said, coldly as ever. “What?” Sayuri said, confused by the reply. “Photographers are not stupid. They are actually great. Honestly, they get to see so much, and they are almost never seen. Perfect disguise. It’s smart.” Sayuri didn’t know what to say to that.

The sun outside was warm and inviting. It was spring after all. The last spring of their childhood, spent in a war that seemed too far away for any of them to grasp. Later, when you’d open the files of the Uchiha graduates from that year and looked at the three of them, you would have never guessed their futures. Round faced and smiling, young and exciting, the doors to their new lives just opened. Headbands shiny and polished and new. Who would wish any harm on any of them in this position?

But war did come to them eventually. Children in those days became adults fast, forced by a shortage of fightable shinobi to go out in the field in their early teens. You would never think about it looking at the picture, that their happiness might be destroyed soon.

Short hair, wavy hair, braids. Soon one of them would be losing an eye, be scarred for life and fall to deep darkness for many years. One would fail when it was most important, be persecuted and shut herself away from the world. The last would run, so far away that the headband would change shape, a ghost coming back to haunt everyone only in adulthood. The childish nature displayed in the picture would no longer exist.

Neither would the picture. Neither would this tradition. Neither would their clan.

#oc: sayuri #oc: kaiya #obito is there too #it does not work with kaiyas timeline im mixing it all together but i can do whatever i want you cant stop mE #CANT STOP ME #anyway whatever this is day two my friends.#narutoocevent2022 #au: relinquo #fanfiction things

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kpopfanfictrash · 4 years ago

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Raise the Barre (Ch. 8)

Author: kpopfanfictrash

Pairing: Jimin / Reader

Rating: 18+ (Eventual Smut)

Genre: Enemies to Lovers / Dance Academy!AU

Warnings: underage drinking, angst, hoseok’s bare abs

Word Count: 10,705

Worse still, the obstacles you face while out in the real world might prove more challenging than anything your enemy has to offer.

“Okay, even you have to admit this is too soon.” Finn stared, appalled at the chalkboard. “It’s not even Halloween!”

Laughing a little, you looped your arm around his to drag him towards the back. Plopping down in a chair, you placed your order number in the center of the table. Seating himself across the table from you, Finn began to undo his coat.

“Come on.” He grinned, brown hair flopping when he leaned forward. “Admit it – this is too early for holiday drinks.”

“Okay, maybe it’s a little early,” you acquiesced. “But Halloween is tomorrow! They probably just put up the holiday drinks so they don’t have to do it on Sunday.”

“Laziness!” he cried, jabbing a finger in the air.

Shaking your head, you smiled when Namjoon, the barista, placed a pumpkin soy latte before you.

“Thanks!” you said, pulling this towards you.

“No problem,” he said, flashing his dimples before he turned to leave.

Taking a long, slow sip of your drink, you groaned. “Oh my god. This is it. This is heaven.”

Finn laughed. “Is that seriously your first pumpkin drink of the season?” Sadly, he shook his head. “I remember our senior year, you dragged me out of bed at 7:00 AM on a Saturday just to get the first pumpkin drink of the year.”

“I know,” you sighed. “But I’ve needed the extra caffeine jolt each morning. Sweet drinks just don’t cut it anymore.”

“Ah, the first step in addiction.” Finn nodded sagely.

Smiling, you settled back in your seat as he took the first sip of his black coffee. It had been two weeks since your fight at the club and since then, Finn had been on his best behavior. For about a week, things between you had been awkward but slowly, your relationship was returning to normal.

Seated in the corner of your favorite coffee shop, you drank from your cup and glanced around the room. This was what you’d pictured when you imagined you and Finn living in the city together. Coffee dates, going on new adventures and continuing your relationship where it had left off.

Of course, this morning was only possible because Miss Britt’s ballet class had been cancelled. A contemporary master class had been scheduled for the afternoon, but your day before then was free – something you’d immediately taken advantage of by calling Finn. It was becoming easier to fit each other into your schedules, more like second nature, but things were still tense whenever things didn’t line up.

None of this was eased by the burgeoning whatever-it-was you’d shoved to the back of your mind regarding Jimin. Since the day of Mr. Vlad’s ballet class, you’d managed to keep your emotions in check, but were constantly on the lookout for dangerous situations. You and Jimin were professionals, obviously, but you were also only human. It was reasonable to have subconscious wants and desires, but these weren’t important unless you chose to act upon them.

You didn’t tell Finn about it because honestly, there was nothing to tell. Okay, so you’d felt an errant spark one day during a lift. Big deal. Finn had been your boyfriend for over two years – it would take more than that to threaten your relationship. A relationship which, frankly, had been getting stronger as of late. Telling him something as inconsequential as a spark you had with Jimin would only take you further down the wrong path.

“Are you sure you’re okay with us doing separate things tomorrow?” Finn interrupted your thoughts. His brow furrowed. “It is Halloween, after all.”

“Ah, yes.” You nodded. “Halloween, the internationally known couple’s holiday.”

He laughed. “Okay, point made – but still.”

“It’s fine,” you assured him. This was something you’d already been over. “It just makes sense like this! Your friends are going to that off-campus party and I promised Noelle I’d go to this club thing with her.”

“Right, of course.” Finn grinned. “I’m bummed I’ll miss seeing you as the Powerpuff girls, though. Who’s going to be the third one, again?”

“Well, I’m Blossom – obviously.”

“Of course.” He nodded. “Miss Responsibility.”

A twinge of annoyance went through you, but you pushed it aside. You didn’t think you were always the responsible one but admittedly, you’d been more on edge than usual lately.

“Anyways,” you continued with a roll of your eyes. “I’m Blossom, Noelle is Buttercup and Irene is going as Bubbles. It’ll be fun! Aside from the whole club part, of course.”

“It does sound fun,” Finn admitted, a tad mournful. “Meanwhile, I’ve been roped into the classic college bro costume of Ghostbusters.”

“Oh, come on! That is classic! You’ll be super cute in your… suit? Cargo pants? What do Ghostbusters wear again?”

“Knowing Ben, something tragic from Party City. Pray for me.”

“I’ll light candles.”

Finn grinned, sipping his coffee again and your conversation slipped naturally to other topics.

Halloween fell on a Saturday this year, which meant every college campus was gearing up for some epic parties. Noelle had managed to snag tickets to a club fancy enough to require an RSVP. Apparently, said brother she missed was a DJ and could get tickets to a lot of things if Noelle bothered to ask.

A bunch of people from Russet were going, which made you excited. There hadn’t been many parties with your classmates so far this semester. Despite technically being in college, your classmates were all under the same intense pressure, only made worse by constant early morning ballet.

This week though, even your teachers seemed to have decided you needed a break. Aside from the master class you had this afternoon, there were zero Russet classes until Monday morning. The break in schedule meant you could actually go out – and drink – if you so decided. You and Noelle were planning on attending a ballet class tomorrow, but your entire day after would be free.

You’d originally planned on seeing Finn during the day, but then he’d been invited to a Halloween darty (day party) starting at noon. Despite not seeing Finn on Halloween, you weren’t feeling stressed. It was only one holiday and not even a couple’s one, as you’d said.

After coffee, you kissed Finn goodbye and headed to class at Danley Hall. The atmosphere was different as soon as you entered the classroom – all of the students were buzzing, excited by the prospect of the weekend ahead. The excitement only grew when coupled with the fact that today’s class was contemporary.

For nearly two months, your training had been mostly ballet. This was the foundation of all western dance, and where most dance students were expected to start. Finally though, you were being given a chance to show off. Today’s teacher, Luna Jordan, was a well-known contemporary choreographer across the globe.

You’d done a master class with her once back in high school and honestly couldn’t wait to learn from her again. She wasn’t alone, though, you noticed as you walked in – an unfamiliar, dark-haired guy stood beside her, stretching lithely before the room’s mirror.

“Holy shit,” Noelle whispered as she came to a stop. “That’s Jeon Jungkook.”

Startled, you looked twice and saw she was right. You hadn’t recognized him without his bevy of followers, but Jeon Jungkook was known in the dance world. A child prodigy, he’d been on America’s Got Talent at age eleven and finished in second place. Following this, his family had moved to LA and he’d been in high demand for movies, music videos and performances ever since.

You remembered hearing he worked with Luna Jordan, but the thought hadn’t crossed your mind before now that he might be here.

Noelle cocked her head to one side. “He’s hot.”

“Noelle,” you hissed, trying to shush her.

“What!” A devious grin spread across her face. “Am I supposed to be blind, as well as mute?”

“Well, no, but –”

“Alright, everyone!” Miss Luna clapped her hands together. “I know everyone is excited for the weekend, but we unfortunately have an hour and a half together before then. Everyone spread out for warm-ups!”

A few people laughed, spreading out on the floor as class began. Noelle wriggled her eyebrows, pulling you towards the front in order to get the best spot. Hiding a smile, you ducked your head and settled beside her into a stretch.

Noelle was nearly as excited as you were for the opportunity to dance contemporary. Most of your classmates knew this to be your forte – you caught glances from the corner of your eye while you warmed up, trying not to let their attention get to your head.

Jimin was also near the front, although on the opposite side. You suspected your class was equally excited to see him perform – as talented as Jimin was at ballet, there was a reason you hadn’t thought he’d be at Russet this fall. Jimin’s strength in jazz and contemporary was unparalleled. You would’ve thought he’d gone to LA to become a dancer like Jungkook.

Speaking of whom – Jungkook really was attractive; that much couldn’t be denied. He had dark, wavy hair pulled into a bun and cheekbones sharp enough to cut glass. When he glanced up from his stretch, his gaze somehow found yours and he smiled.

Eyes widening, you stared until you caught sight of Jimin behind him. Glancing between the two of you, Jimin’s expression soured before he looked away. Lips parting, you felt the sudden urge to say something, but there was too much distance between you.

“You ready?” Miss Luna called, an upbeat pop song blasting from the stereo. “Let’s go!”

She launched into isolations, leaving the rest of the class to follow. Warm-ups passed quickly and before you knew it, you were gathered at center to learn the combination. Miss Luna’s style was right up your alley. The steps came easily and, once you’d learned the whole chorus, she left you alone to practice.

You were helping Ari with a difficult move when you caught sight of Sabrina as you turned. She’d positioned herself near the back, which had to be a first. Usually, Sabrina was front and center to allow for maximum receipt of teacher praise.

The decision to stand near the back could’ve been strategy – sometimes, dancers did that at conventions. Conventions were giant weekends of competition with teachers from all over the globe who taught master classes to hundreds of dancers in hotel ballrooms and convention centers. Space at the front tended to be limited, so some stayed at the back, where there was more room to dance and be seen. You had a greater likelihood to capture the teacher’s attention when you had the room to do incredible leaps.

Sabrina’s decision didn’t seem strategic, though. While you watched, Sabrina stumbled transitioning from one move to the next. A brief twinge of pity went through you.

It was easy enough to spot ballerinas dancing anything but ballet. Although ballet was the root of modern westernized dance, it could be hard to translate into other styles. Ballet was more rigid than contemporary, jazz or hip-hop. In ballet, each position was defined, individual style was limited, and dancers were expected to all look the same. Standing out in the corps de ballet was equally frowned upon as missing an entrance.

Not that ballet wasn’t important to all dance styles, mind you. Even hip-hop dancers took ballet to improve their balance, core strength and general understanding of the body. There was an element of individuality in other dance styles, though, which lacked in ballet. Contemporary and hip-hop dancers were expected to have relentless technique all while creating their own, unique flair.

Just looking at Sabrina you could clearly see the holes. She was trying so hard to emulate the moves of Miss Luna, she was kind of missing the point. When Miss Luna did a certain flick of the wrist, it wasn’t a defined part of the choreography, but rather an individual choice.

Without thinking, you took a step forward – only to stop. Sabrina wouldn’t want your help; she’d already made that abundantly clear. Besides, you knew her friend Katie to be a contemporary dancer. She could help Sabrina and yet, when you looked, you saw Katie practicing near the front with Jungkook.

Jungkook obviously knew the steps, since this was probably the tenth time he’d learned the combination. Dance teachers often did that – selected a dancer to attend classes with them, traveling to different cities to demonstrate the combination and help when they weren’t free.

Before you could decide whether to help Sabrina, Miss Luna clapped her hands again.

“Let’s do groups!” she declared. “I’ll count you off into groups of four, and each group will showcase. Sound good?”

It wasn’t really a question so much as an announcement. The rest of the class nodded, waiting while Miss Luna counted you off. You ended up in the same group as Irene, Paulo and a few others. Jimin and Noelle were in the group two, while Sabrina was in the group after theirs.

Jogging off to the side, you waited while the first group took center. You were part of group four, which meant you’d be amongst the last to dance on the floor. When the music began, you closed your eyes and began to mark the combination. You tried not to focus on what anyone else was doing, but this became difficult once Noelle’s group stepped up.

Noelle had trained in jazz and contemporary, although she’d stopped in high school to focus mainly on ballet. Still, her artistry shone in her movement. She could definitely stand to loosen up a bit but was still one of the best in the bunch. You found yourself smiling when she landed a turn, silently cheering her on from the side.

While you were watching, Jimin cut across your vision.

Dropping to the ground, he rolled and arched as his forehead brushed wood. His quality of movement was breathtaking and for a moment, you felt like you were back in high school.

Suddenly returned to those dimmed auditoriums, you watched Jimin take the stage like an otherworldly being. His body seemed to move before your mind could comprehend. Barely did he finish one move before he was starting another, the steps flowing endlessly together like unhindered water. Although you knew the combination and knew how you would dance it, watching Jimin perform was a different experience entirely.

Ballet required dancers to stay on the beat but in contemporary, they were expected to lag. Extensions were all the more breathtaking when they clung to the last second, seeming as though the dancer might not make it before they caught up. Jimin was an expert in this, knowing exactly when to hang precariously over the edge and when to pull back.

Watching him dance, that pesky, strange something bloomed in your chest again.

Squashing this quickly, you looked away and resumed marking the combo. The end of the song was improvisation though and, unable to stop yourself, you found your attention drifting to Jimin again. He was ridiculously beautiful – you nearly didn’t hear when Miss Luna called for them to stop. As she turned off the music, she applauded the group while they walked from the floor.

Breathing heavily, Noelle came to a stop alongside you and – somewhat guiltily, since you hadn’t been watching – you gave her a high-five.

“That was awesome!” you said with a grin. “You definitely stood out in the group.”

Noelle snort-laughed. “Not with Jimin up there, but that’s okay. This is his specialty – and yours,” she added with a wink. “I’m psyched for group four.”

“Ah,” you groaned, rubbing your neck. “Too much pressure.”

Noelle laughed, shaking her head as group three took the floor. Both of you fell silent to watch, your curious gaze finding Sabrina in the back. Sabrina looked almost nervous; an emotion which seemed out of place on her features. It made her look almost human.

As soon as the music began, you stifled a wince. Sabrina stood out from the group, and not in a good way. She had the combination down but moved with a woodenness you would’ve expected from someone half her age. It was enough for you to glance at Miss Luna, wondering if she had noticed.

“Wow,” Noelle whispered, looking almost gleeful. “Sabrina is terrible.”

“Noelle!” you whisper-laughed.

“What? After everything she’s done? After everything she’s said?” Noelle’s gaze narrowed. “Sabrina deserves this.”

Despite privately agreeing, you couldn’t help but feel bad as Sabrina continued. Not wanting to watch any longer, you turned towards the front and resumed marking the combo. As soon as Miss Luna cut the music and polite clapping ensued, you turned back around.

It was time for group four. A shaky, sick feeling entered your stomach as you walked to center. So many eyes were on you, but it had been so long since you danced contemporary. You couldn’t help but wonder if you were as good as people seemed to imagine. Surrounded by so many dancers at Russet, surely your own talent would pale in comparison.

As soon as the music began though, everything faded. Insecurities slipping away, a lightness entered your chest as, eyes falling shut, you slowly inhaled.

Taking a step forward, you opened your eyes and began.

To you, dance had several phases. The first was learning, where you memorized each step and put them in order. The second was understanding, where your muscle memory began to take over and the combination felt smoother. The final phase, performance, was when you thought not of the steps, and were free to just dance.

This was your favorite phrase. In this phase, your mind separated from your body, leaving you only with sweat and emotion. Dance was the only art form composed solely of the body. An odd combination of physical strength and artistic beauty, it was both a testament to human capability and human emotion.

Losing yourself in the music, you ebbed and flowed through the combination until the choreography ended and improvisation began. Finally, you let go and held nothing back. Raw, unbridled passion poured out as you lost sight of yourself, so consumed by the movement.

When the song finally finished and you came to a stop, you were panting for breath. Glancing up, the first person you saw was Jimin.

He stood off to one side, leaning casually against the rungs of the barre, but his expression was anything but. Focused on you, his gaze had turned dark in a way which made you catch your breath.

Miss Luna clapped both hands once again, returning your attention to her. Blinking, Jimin shook his head and in your peripheral, you saw him straighten.

“Very good!” Miss Luna scanned the group. “I know our time is nearly at and end, but why don’t we have a few students come out and demonstrate?”

Again, this was fairly common in master classes. After learning the combination, teachers would often single out students to perform as examples. It wasn’t always the students with the best technique who got chosen. Oftentimes, it was as much for passion and performance quality.

Taking a step forward, Miss Luna began to call out names. You were one of the first – setting your water down, you jogged back to center. Jimin was the next person called, then Noelle, much to your excitement. Jungkook was also instructed to join on the floor.

Turning the lights halfway down, Miss Luna pressed play and let you improvise until the combination began. Jungkook started dancing and honestly, he was beautiful, but you couldn’t linger on him for long.

Catching sight of Jimin again, you were once more transported to earlier times. This wasn’t the first time you’d been called out together. Oftentimes, this had happened at conventions but back then, your mind had been too clouded to see him for who he was.

You’d always wanted to beat him in high school, but now, you were consumed by the oddest desire to see him do well.

Glancing up, Jimin caught your gaze and he smiled – but then, the combination began.

By the time you were finished, you could hardly catch your breath but somehow, you felt the most alive you’d been in ages. Back in your own element, surrounded by some of the most amazing dancers in the world – this was what you’d imagined when you came to Russet.

People around the room clapped, some of them begrudgingly. You got the impression many of your classmates weren’t used to not being chosen. As you walked from the floor, you saw surprisingly, Sabrina wasn’t amongst them.

Instead, Sabrina simply looked tired – as though she’d tried her best and it hadn’t been enough. You knew that look. You sympathized with that look.

The look lingered in the back of your mind while you packed up your things and listened to Noelle discuss Halloween tomorrow. When she mentioned Ari had decided to visit her family this weekend, an idea began to form in your mind.

“Wait,” you interrupted, looking up. “Ari can’t come tomorrow?”

Noelle shook her head. “Her brother just turned eighteen, so her whole family is having a party or something.”

“So… her ticket is free, then?”

“Yes…” Noelle paused. “Why? Y/N, what are you planning?”

“Okay. Hear me out,” you said as you shrugged on your coat. It was cold enough now for the coat to be necessary.

Noelle sighed, slinging her bag over her shoulder. “Alright, I’m listening.”

Glancing away, you saw Sabrina packing her things on the other side of the room. Before you could talk yourself out of it, you returned to Noelle.

“What if we invited Sabrina?”

Noelle snorted. “Pass.”

“Noelle,” you laughed, reaching out for her arm. “Come on! Do you really think she’s doing anything for Halloween?”

“Probably not. And that’s her own fault.”

“Maybe,” you said, glancing at Sabrina once more. “But how could it hurt? We have an extra ticket, there’ll be tons of people tomorrow night. She’ll probably say no – at least this way, you can claim a write-off on your way into heaven!”

Noelle upper lip twitched. “Oh, is that how write-offs work?”

“Well, I can only assume.”

Finally, she laughed. “Ugh, fine. You can invite her – but only because it’s Halloween, and Halloween is a time for peace. And slutty costumes.”

“Thanks, babe,” you said, squeezing her waist in a one-armed hug.

Sighing exaggeratedly, Noelle waved aside your thanks. Hiking your bag higher, you began to make your way across the room. As you closed in on Sabrina, you began to rethink your choice. It had been nearly a month since anything bad had happened between you but still, you found yourself feeling wary. As tough as you pretended to be, rejection hurt you just as much as the next person.

Still, dancing with Jimin had been a reminder of just how bitter your relationship used to be. If that relationship could change, you had to imagine things with Sabrina could, too.

Coming to a stop at her bag, you waited for her to look up. When she finally did, her brow wrinkled in confusion.

“What?” Sabrina asked, sounding defensive. “What do you want, Y/N?”

You couldn’t really blame her for her suspicion. Had your situations been reversed, you would’ve been equally distrustful. It was likely Sabrina thought you were coming over to gloat, or say something to do with class today. Another twinge of pity went through you as Sabrina zipped her bag shut to stand.

“I just wanted to know what you were doing tomorrow,” you said, trying to smile. “Noelle has an extra ticket to a Halloween party, and we thought you might like to come.”

Sabrina stared. “What?”

“Tomorrow is Halloween,” you said, a bit slower. “You know – when we were kids, it was all about costumes and candy. Now, it’s about costumes and booze?”

Sabrina failed to crack a smile. “And you want… me to come to this party?”

Something about the way she said this made you sad, as though she genuinely thought this might be a joke. As though at any moment, someone might jump out and yell SIKE.

“Yeah,” you said, softening a little. “Look – it’s not a big deal if you can’t make it. A bunch of our class is going though, so we thought of you.”

Sabrina hesitated, then glanced at the door. “Okay,” she said, looking back. “Okay, yeah. I’ll come.”

Stifling your surprise, you nodded. “Great. I’ll text you where to meet us tomorrow before the club. Wear a costume,” you added before walking away. “Noelle said it’s required.”

“Alright,” Sabrina said, so quiet you almost missed it.

Walking away, you were nearly at the door when Jungkook popped up before you. Flashing a smile, he fixed a loose strand of hair away from his face. Feet fumbling to a stop, you could only stare.

“Y/N, right?” he said, sounding shy.

Unable to find the words, you blinked in response. The way Jungkook danced had been so confident, you’d only assumed this to be his off-floor persona, as well. Hearing him sound shy was unexpected.

Also – you hadn’t expected him to know your name.

“I… yeah, that’s me.” Shaking your head, you smiled. “Jungkook, right?”

“Yeah.” He nodded. “I just wanted to say I’m such a big fan of your dancing. It was great to take class with you today.”

Without meaning to, a laugh escaped your lips. Jungkook stared at you, baffled until you quickly waved him off.

“Oh, no – no! Sorry,” you said. “I’m not laughing at you! I’m just laughing at the ridiculousness of you saying you’re a fan of me.”

Some of Jungkook’s wariness disappeared, and a small smile played across his lips.

“Well, I am.” His grin widened. “I used to assist on the convention circuit, too and I remember you being called out all the time. You and Jimin,” he added, glancing across the room.

You looked, too and saw Jimin still packing his things. His back was stiff, pointedly not looking in your direction. Lingering on him a moment, you returned to Jungkook.

“Still,” you said with a laugh. “It’s a bit of a stretch to say we took class together when you’re the teacher’s assistant.”

“True.” Jungkook paused. “Well, next time you’re in LA, let’s fix that. Let me know if you’re ever in town and we can take a class together.”

Despite yourself, your brows raised. It was harmless, but Jungkook was definitely flirting with you. He was attractive, sure and seemed nice, but he lived in LA and you had a boyfriend. You should probably leave before things had the chance to go any further. The last thing you needed was another complication. Adjusting your bag, you gave Jungkook a small smile.

“Sounds like a plan,” you said before turning away.

Jungkook chuckled from behind. “Bye, Y/N.”

As you joined Noelle at the door, she stared over your shoulder.

“What?” you said, coming to a stop.

Noelle’s gaze moved to yours in disbelief. “How?” she demanded as you exited class. “How do you have all these men just… tripping over themselves for you?”

Heat rising to your face, you shook your head. “That’s – I,” you sputtered. “You’re being ridiculous!”

“Am I?” Noelle grinned. “First Jimin, now Jungkook… and all this while having a boyfriend.”

“I… you... Jimin is not tripping over himself for me!”

Both her brows shot way, way up. “Is that the only part of the sentence you took objection to?”

“Shut up,” you groaned and shoved her in the side.

Noelle laughed but nodded. “Alright, fine! I’ll stop. Did Sabrina say she’ll come?”

“She did.”

“Great. I still don’t like her,” Noelle said, pushing open the door. “But I guess you’re right, I have an extra ticket. It’s nice to be nice.”

You laughed, pulling your coat tighter as you walked outside. “You’re a saint.”

While you walked, your phone dinged and pulling this from your pocket, you saw a notification on Instagram. Jeon_Jungkook97 has followed you.

Shaking your head, you returned this to your jacket as you continued. While it was nice of Jungkook to compliment your dancing, his approval didn’t mean as much as certain other peoples had. This realization stuck in your mind, making you wonder about Noelle’s teasing jibe.

She had said Jimin flirted with you, but that wasn’t true – was it? You would have known if Jimin were flirting. It was hard to pick out though, since Jimin was friendly with everyone. That was just who he was; as he’d said earlier, he liked to be liked. A note of uncertainty entered your thoughts though, recalling the ballet class with your chest pressed to his. Shoving this away, you forced yourself to focus on the upcoming weekend.

Halloween was a night for fun, for letting loose and enjoying yourself with your friends. You refused to let the night be spoiled by any lingering feelings – either from you, or towards you.

The next night was perfect Halloween weather.

Chilly, but not cold enough to risk snow falling. There were several Halloweens from childhood you could recall trick-or-treating with a winter coat flung over your costume because the temperature had dropped below freezing.

You, Noelle and Irene showed up to Paulo’s house around 8:00 PM, shivering a little while you stood on his doorstep. Paulo was one of the few freshmen who lived off-campus, having known several upperclassmen before he came to Russet. The brownstone he lived in was cute, with window boxes you imagined hosted flowers in the summer.

Tugging your pink and black minidress down, you adjusted your bow as Paulo opened the door.

Blinking, he took in your costumes. “The Powerpuff girls!” He cheered, raising an arm overhead. “Try not to take down any of the villains upstairs, yeah?”

“No promises,” said Irene, flicking hair over her shoulder.

Entering the house, you heard thumping bass from an apartment upstairs. Paulo lived on the third floor and as you climbed the steps, the music grew louder. It took Paulo two tries to shove open the door – “warped wood,” he explained – but once you were inside, you saw familiar faces.

“The Powerpuff girls!” Jasmine cried, jumping up from the couch. “Finally! Thank god – can you take down Eamon? He came here dressed as a potato, or something.”

“It’s an avocado!” Eamon shouted from the kitchen. He was dressed in a round, green costume with a halo overhead. “I’m ‘holy guacamole’ – get it?” he said, pointing at the halo.

Jasmine stared at him a moment. “That’s terrible. Worse than mine,” she said with a wave down her body. “I’ve been Princess Jasmine for the past five Halloweens. It’s easy to remember and I already have the outfit.”

Laughing, you shrugged off your coat and added this to a pile on the couch. “It’s a classic,” you agreed as you turned.

Noelle had managed to procure at least twenty tickets to the party tonight, so a lot of your freshman Russet class was in attendance. Including Sabrina, who stood in the corner, talking to Louis over cups of red punch. She looked up when you entered, pausing before she gave a small wave. Surprised by the gesture, you did the same.

“No.” Noelle groaned, coming to a stop alongside you. When you looked, you saw she’d already removed her coat. “Tell me Sabrina didn’t come to this party dressed as a ballerina.”

“We did invite her at the last minute,” you laughed. “Hard to find a good Halloween costume in a day.”

“Hey,” Noelle argued. “There’s no we here. You were the one who invited her, and you’ll be the one to accept the consequences should your social experiment fail.”

“Done,” you agreed. “Speaking of social experiments though, I’m ready to get drunk tonight. Where’s the alcohol?”

“Kitchen!” Irene called, brushing past. “Or – that’s where Brian disappeared to when we entered, so I can only assume.”

Telling Noelle you’d be back with drinks, you wound through the room towards where Irene had pointed. The kitchen was tiny, on par with most city apartments. There was only room enough for one or two people, so you were lucky it was deserted when you entered.

Surveying the counter, you found the usual party staples. A bowl of red punch, a bunch of beer and various liquor bottles with chasers. Skipping over the communal punch bowl, you reached for a bottle of diet coke and coconut rum.

“Oh,” a voice said as they entered the kitchen. “Sorry – I didn’t know you were in here.”

Glancing up, you saw Jimin and froze.

He’d dyed his hair black – that was the first thing you noticed. Jimin’s hair was no longer blonde, but completely dark. His outfit confused you at first – a frilly, white blouse with slicked-back hair and dark trousers – until you saw his bright red contacts and the dribble of blood at his mouth.

“A vampire,” you said, finally recovering your voice. Scanning his body, you frowned. “Where are the teeth, though?”

Jimin blinked, his gaze jerking up from your waist.

“Huh?” he said, sounding a bit strangled.

Cheeks heating a little – your dress was pretty short – you repeated yourself. “The teeth,” you said, pointing at your own lips. “Don’t vampires have fangs?”

“Oh, right.” Jimin dug around in his pocket – fuck, were his trousers tight – to produce twin fangs. “I took them off when I got here. They’re really hard to talk in.”

“Go on then, Park,” you said with a grin. “Put them in.”

“One second.” Twisting to face the wall, Jimin popped them in his mouth. Turning around, he bared his teeth. “Sexy?”

With the teeth in though, the word came out more like shex-shie and you burst into laughter. “So sexy,” you agreed, reaching past him for a cup.

Jimin stiffened when your arm brushed his front. Unbidden, you thought about what Noelle had said – Jimin had been flirting with you. Pulling away, you resumed making your drinks and tried not to look in his direction.

Even so, you remained aware of his presence. Jimin inched his way behind you, reaching for the whiskey on the other side. His arm brushed your elbow as he went, right knee nudging yours in an intimate gesture.

Glancing up from the counter, you accidentally caught his gaze. Despite your earlier joking, he did look sexy. Devastatingly so. Even the blood-red contacts weren’t enough to deter the shiver which ran down your spine.

Shaking yourself free from your trance, you grabbed both cups and pulled back.

“So, what’re you drinking?” you asked.

You decided it was best to steer the conversation away from how sexy Park Jimin was or was not.

Seemingly oblivious to your inner turmoil, Jimin poured whiskey into his cup. “Whiskey and coke. Can you pass me that bottle?”

“Sure,” you said, leaping at the chance to prevent him from walking past you again. “Here you go.”

Pushing this forward, you watched Jimin pour both drinks all the way to the brim. He paused near the end, staring into the depths before he looked up. He seemed to be warring with something, debating whether or not to speak whatever was on his mind.

“So…” He paused. “Do you know Jungkook, or something?”

You blinked. “Jungkook…?”

“You know, Miss Luna’s assistant. Jeon Jungkook.”

“Oh! Jungkook. No, I don’t really know him.”

“You were talking to him at the end of class, though?”

Hearing the curiosity in his voice, both your brows raised. “And?”

“And nothing,” Jimin said, sounding uncomfortable. “I just… I didn’t know you knew him, that’s all.”

“I mean, I don’t.” You paused. “But even if I did, what does it matter?”

“It doesn’t.” His cheeks began to redden. “It’s just – ah, never mind. We don’t have that great a history, that’s all. He’s kind of the reason I’m at Russet this year.”

You stared at Jimin a moment. “Wow, what a tragedy,” you said, stifling a laugh. “To have been forced to attend one of the most prestigious dance institutions in the world.”

His upper lip twitched. “It’s not that. I was deciding between attending Russet and accepting a job offer out west. I was asked to join this pop star on tour… anyways, Jungkook’s never liked me much. It’s a long story.” Jimin’s brow furrowed. “My offer was rescinded at the last minute. The artist never said why, but I always got the feeling he had something to do with it.”

You stared at Jimin a moment, unsure how to respond. Jungkook hadn’t seemed like that kind of person, but you supposed you’d only talked to him for a few minutes. If that was true, what happened to Jimin sucked and yet, the next words from your mouth nearly had you face-palming.

“And here I thought I was your biggest rival, Park,” you said.

Jimin’s eyes widened. “Are you… jealous, Y/N?”

He sounded almost pleased by the notion, which sent a different kind of shiver down your spine.

“Not at all,” you said quickly, turning back to your drinks.

Jimin made a soft tsk-ing sound, as though he didn’t believe you.

“That sucks,” you continued, determined to change the subject. “I’m sorry that happened to you.”

“Yeah. Maybe it was all for the best, though. Things happen for a reason, right?”

Looking up, you caught Jimin’s stare. He didn’t look immediately away and you got the oddest sensation he meant more than what he said. Hastily, you pushed this feeling aside, clutching your drinks as you entered the main room. Jimin followed close behind, two cups in his hands.

“When did you get here?” you asked. “Been here long?”

Jimin shook his head. “Nah. Hoseok and I got here like, ten minutes ago. He should be around here somewhere, he –”

“Y/N!”

You looked up just in time to see Hoseok, Jimin’s roommate, barreling towards you.

“It’s been so long!” Crushing you to his chest, Hoseok wrapped you in a hug. “Hope Jimin isn’t boring you to death,” he stage-whispered before he pulled away.

“Just for that.” Jimin arched a brow. “Both these drinks are for me.”

“No – wait, wait. I’m sorry!” Hoseok pouted. “Hand over the drink, Park. It’s been the longest fucking week.”

Jimin grinned and relented, handing Hoseok his cup as you laughed. Hoseok was a newer friend, but he was close to Jimin, so he’d gradually bled into your latest gatherings. Despite not being on the ballet track, most of the dancers at Russet knew of him. Hoseok had that way about him.

Glancing down at your outfit, Hoseok held up a finger. “Let me guess – Blossom,” he said, turning to scan the room. “Which means… aha! Irene is Bubbles and Noelle is Buttercup. Makes sense.”

“And you are…” Pausing, you squinted at his outfit. “Someone at the spa?”

“Sure.” Hoseok shrugged. “Honestly, I just wanted to wear a bathrobe.”

Said bathrobe was paired with only boxers, the front of the robe open to display his toned abs. The costume didn’t surprise you, based on past interactions with Hoseok.

Casually, he twirled the robe tie in a circle. “Impressive, no?” Hoseok glanced away. “Whoa, wait – they have beer pong? See you all later!”

Hurrying off, he left you alone with Jimin. Shaking your head, you glanced in his direction and saw Jimin down his whole drink. Arching a brow, you were about to ask why when Irene called your names from across the room.

“Y/N!” She waved her hands. “Jimin! Get over here, you two – we need more for flip cup!”

You found yourself pulled in this direction despite your insistence you didn’t do well under pressure. Jimin ended up at the other end of the table and you lost sight of him when you started to play, paired with Jasmine for a partner.

By the end of the first round, you discovered you weren’t as horrible a player as you’d imagined. Then someone suggested mixed drinks for the second round, and things became fuzzier. There were more people present than just current students of Russet. One of Paulo’s roommates knew Seokjin, so you saw him in the room, along with Sana.

You chatted with both over the course of the evening, in addition to a guy who’d recently debuted on Broadway, Kim Taehyung. Apparently, there was already buzz around him for a Tony. Taehyung was nice, but it was sometime during this conversation you realized how tipsy you were. Apparently, not drinking for several months and then going ham made for very low tolerance.

Collapsing onto the couch, you joined Irene and Brian’s conversation. In the corner of your eye, you caught sight of Noelle – a terrible flip cup player, she’d roped Hoseok into giving her private lessons, but these seemed to be going terribly. Or perhaps very well, given how much the two of them were laughing.

You completely forgot about Jimin until you spotted him across the room talking to Sabrina. Seeing them together, you straightened. Both seemed fairly comfortable, which struck you as odd. Since that morning in Jimin’s dorm, you hadn’t really seen them hang out together.

Despite this, Jimin was laughing at something Sabrina had said. Tearing your gaze away, you forced yourself to focus on the conversation at hand. It didn’t matter who Jimin spoke to, or even who he decided to go home with tonight. He was your dance partner and friend, nothing more and besides – you had a boyfriend.

Blinking, you reached into your clutch and pulled out your phone. To your disappointment, you’d gotten no texts from Finn since this morning. You assumed he was still at his party but didn’t know for sure. Shooting him a text, hey, you waited for a response and when you got none, returned your phone to your purse.

Across the room, you heard Noelle yell your name. “Y/N!” She cupped her mouth with both hands. “We need another person for flip cup!”

Laughing, you pushed yourself from the couch and were immediately roped into your fourth game of the night. The night blurred again after that, turning into a pleasant hum of conversation and booze. At some point, Ubers were called to bring you to the club. As you rushed downstairs, you realized you forgot your coat as soon as you stepped outside.

Shivering violently, you rubbed your arms and cursed yourself for poor foresight.

“Y/N?” Jimin came to a stop alongside you. “Hey, where’s your coat?”

“Inside,” you said through chattering teeth. “I-it’s fine, though. I’m fine!”

Jimin gave you a look. “Where’s Paulo?” he said, glancing around. “I’ll grab him, we can get your coat before we go –”

“The Uber’s already here, though,” you argued, grabbing his sleeve to drag him towards the curb. “I’ll be fine from here to the club!”

Jimin sighed but gave in, following when you rushed to the grey SUV. Irene had claimed the front seat, so you and Jimin pulled open the middle door – Noelle and Hoseok were crowding behind you, so you and Jimin ended up together in the backseat.

Collapsed in a heap, you giggled as Jimin tried to squish himself in a corner. “Sorry,” he said, trying – and failing – to keep his knees separate.

“Jimin.” You snorted. “Are we going to go through this again? Your hands have been in way more inappropriate places than that this semester.”

Jimin’s lips parted, shocked, but you were already hoisting yourself over the middle seat. Draping your arms next to Noelle, you begged her to play your favorite song on the radio. Had you been more sober, you might’ve recognized your position to be precarious – perched on the edge of your seat, your ass hovered inches away from Jimin’s face.

Plopping back down, you glanced sideways at Jimin and found him frozen. Suddenly, you realized the visual he’d had.

“Um, so what happened to the teeth?” you blurted, determined to change the subject.

Jimin blinked and managed to meet your gaze. “Casualty of flip cup,” he said. “One of them fell out during the game and I couldn’t find where it rolled.”

“Well, that’s okay. You can just be one of those vampires who blend in with normal humans. You know, the kind whose fangs only come out when they want to bite someone.”

“That’s true.” Jimin arched a brow. “Lucky for you, I’m not hungry.”

“Lucky for me? Lucky for you,” you retorted. “My blood is about half alcohol right now. If you drank my blood, you’d be a very silly vampire.”

The idea of a silly vampire made you laugh – even more so when you pictured said vampire as Jimin. He seemed much too coherent for your liking right now.

“A silly vampire, huh?” Jimin looked on, amused. “Damn, Y/N – when was the last time you went out? Your tolerance is shit.”

“I know,” you sighed. “I haven’t drunk much this semester. Too much dance, too little time. I think the last time I went out was –”

“We’re here!” squealed Noelle, throwing open the door.

A blast of cold air hit you and you shivered, wishing you’d worn your coat. Jimin’s gaze remained steady on yours.

“Are you sure you’re okay?” he said lowly. “I can give you, uh…”

“Your shirt?” you said dryly, lifting a brow as you brushed past. “Then you’d be shirtless, Park. Let’s think this through.”

Jimin chuckled before he followed suit, although you cursed as soon as you left the car. He was correct. It was freezing, even with your alcohol-induced blanket.

“Come on!” you yelped, following Noelle towards the entrance.

Bypassing the line, Noelle walked straight towards the bouncer and showed him her phone. He nodded and waved her past, counting your friend group who followed. Not everyone from Paulo’s place had gone to the club, but enough for you to make quite the entrance.

“Y/N!” Noelle doubled back to link arms with you. “Come on – this way! That guy’s going to show us to our table.”

“Table?” you asked her, wide-eyed.

Tables in a club on Halloween night were ridiculously expensive, but it seemed Noelle had downplayed her brother’s connections. Your group was led right to the front of the upper balcony, getting a coveted spot overlooking the dance floor below.

This was undeniably the coolest club you’d been in. Not that you’d been in many, mind you, but this one had to take the cake. A half-circle of tables took up the top floor, with twin staircases descending to the main room below. Most of the lower floor was for dancing, although you saw additional tables pushed to the sides. Fluorescent bars and dance platforms were dotted throughout and above all was the DJ booth, blasting the latest songs.

“Whoa,” you breathed.

Noelle grinned, squeezing your arm to pull you into the booth. As soon as you settled in, Jasmine leapt up and clapped her hands.

“I want to be in one of those!” she said, pointing to a glowing cage at the center of the dance floor.

“Oo, me too!” Irene leapt up to join her.

“Me, three!” said Paulo, clambering out of the booth.

“Awesome.” Irene beamed and glanced your way. “What about you, Y/N? You in?”

The idea was tempting for a moment, but then Finn flashed through your mind. You highly doubted he’d be on board with you gyrating for a room full of strangers without him. Somewhat dejectedly, you plopped back on the bench.

“That’s okay,” you sighed. “I think I’m going to stay here for a while. I’ll join you later!”

Irene frowned but nodded, following the rest when they left for the stairs. About half the group went, clearing out the table while you stared at the dance floor.

Jimin slid into the bench alongside you. “You don’t want to dance?”

Startled, you glanced in his direction. While you watched, Jimin began to undo his cuffs, casually rolling the sleeves of his shirt. His hair, which had been slicked back at the start of the night, was starting to fall. Several dark strands hung over his forehead, although this only seemed to make the look more appealing.

“No,” you said, crossing your legs. “I just… don’t really feel like it.”

“Is this the whole hating clubs thing again?”

“Kind of.” You laughed. “I don’t know. Club dancing isn’t like normal dancing, you know?”

“It is when you’re at the club with all dancers,” Jimin pointed out, nodding towards the floor.

Following his gaze, you saw Jasmine dancing full-out in a lit-up cage. She wasn’t so much gyrating as she was creating choreography on the fly. The mere mortals around her looked on in awe. Fighting a smile, you returned to Jimin.

“Okay, that does look like fun,” you admitted. “The last time I was at a club was with Finn.”

Jimin blinked. “Sorry – what?”

“In the cab,” you said, leaning closer in order to be heard. “You asked me when I last went out. It was that night… um, the night you came and picked me up.”

Jimin stared at you a moment, as though contemplating something important. Abruptly, he stood and held out a hand. You blinked at this like he’d offered a football.

“What are you doing?” you said, glancing up.

“Taking you down to the dance floor.” Jimin retracted said hand. “Come on, Y/N! You don’t have to give out dry lap dances, or whatever.”

“Hey!” In disbelief, your mouth fell open. “You said you’d forget all about that!”

His smile turned impish. “Seriously, we can just do the sprinkler, or something. It’ll be fun!”

“The sprinkler?” Starting to laugh, you stood. “Was that really the first move you thought of?”

“Nah. My go-to move is the criss-cross, but I figured this was more your speed.”

Snorting, you shoved him in the arm before following Jimin to the dance floor. It didn’t take you long to spot your other friends, clustered near the front and around the DJ booth.

“Y/N!” Noelle cheered, breaking off from the pack. “You made it!”

She nearly spilled her drink while she danced, catching herself just in time as she spun around. You grinned, entering the circle with Jimin by your side. He did, in fact, pull out the criss-cross – Hoseok joined in and soon, there was a Fortnite dance battle between them. You truly haven’t lived until you’ve seen a TikTok dance-off between two semi-professional dancers.

This ended with both declaring mutual defeat, and Hoseok disappearing to buy the next round. Noelle shimmied her way over to Jasmine, accepting the hand given to stand on the platform.

You laughed at their ridiculous dance moves, choosing instead to stay on the ground. The crowd around you had thinned since you’d joined. Eamon disappeared a few minutes later, saying something about needing a drink upstairs. Before long, Irene had joined Jasmine and Noelle on the platform, leaving you alone with Jimin on the floor.

Under other circumstances, you might have felt uncomfortable, but Jimin was so good at putting you at ease. Determined to keep you in the present, he came up with more and more complicated dance moves which had you snorting with laughter.

On a particularly flamboyant spin, Jimin accidentally smacked the drink from someone’s grasp. Blue vodka splattered everywhere, drenching its owner – a burly man in leather who snarled in frustration.

Looking up, he met your gaze and his eyes narrowed.

“Shit. Run!” you blurted out.

Grabbing Jimin by the arm, you dragged him into the crowd.

“No, wait – let me apologize!” Jimin tried to twist around. “I can pay for his drink! I can –”

Once there was suitable distance between you and the guy, you came to a stop. Laughing so hard you nearly fell over, you turned sideways to face him.

Bodies pressed against you from every side but rather than feel claustrophobic, all you could think about was Jimin before you. His hair had become thoroughly mussed during the night and you fought the sudden desire to smooth it down.

Although your breath came hard, the club around you seemed to slow. The music somehow had narrowed to pinpricks, a heady thump of bass while everything dulled.

What you should’ve done was taken a step back – but you didn’t.

Instead, your gaze drifted across his face. Jimin stared back, something intense to his gaze you couldn’t quite name. Breath caught in your throat, his eyes dropped to your lips.

Before you could react, someone bumped into you from behind, sending you careening forward. Jimin caught you easily, one arm around your waist and your chest pressed to his. You could feel every hard line of his body, his thigh wedged between your legs while you grasped at his arms. Heart thudding traitorously against your ribcage, you tried to ignore the emotions which followed.

It was impossible.

The song playing was slower, sexier than the one which had inspired the dance-off. Without meaning to, your weight subtly shifted. This caused your hips to move against his as Jimin quietly sucked in a breath. The effect this had on him was instantaneous. His grip on you tightened, gaze heady with desire and something more. Before you could second-guess what you were doing, you moved your hips again – this time, on purpose.

Jimin’s eyes darkened. Without looking away, his grip on you tightened as he slowly dragged you up his thigh. Suddenly breathless, your hands gripped him tighter while your eyes fluttered shut. The heat of his body on yours, the faint smell of cologne and sweat, the tension in his limbs and the knowledge of what he could do to you – it all left your head spinning.

“Y/N,” Jimin murmured, low in your ear.

You weren’t used to him saying your name like that.

You were used to him saying your name in every other way, but not that. Sharp with dancer’s critique, brusque with instruction, light with teasing – but not like something heavy was lodged in his throat. Maybe his heart.

Panicked, your eyes flew open.

What were you doing? This wasn’t some random stranger and this sure as hell wasn’t your boyfriend. This was Jimin. Stumbling backwards, you broke from his hold. Jimin seemed equally stunned, staring at you on the dance floor.

“I have to go,” you blurted and whirled around.

Shoving into the crowd, you heard Jimin emit a soft groan. Despite this, he didn’t immediately pursue, for which you were grateful. Stumbling through strangers, strobe lights flashed brightly overhead. You squeezed between someone dressed as a go-go and another person dressed as a werewolf. Skidding to a stop on the edge of the floor, you scanned the room and saw no one from Russet.

When you glanced over your shoulder, you saw Jimin now followed. Panicking again, you began to move. Beside one of the bars, you spotted a hallway labeled restrooms. Heading in this direction, you quickly disappeared inside the door marked women.

Once inside, you locked yourself in a stall, lowered the lid and sat down. Head in hands, you slowly exhaled. You were a coward; that much was clear. Jimin was probably out there looking for you right now, but you’d rather hide in a bathroom than face him.

The fluorescent lighting overhead was too bright – it made you feel overexposed. After a long moment, you fished around in your purse and pulled out your phone. Flipping to your thread with Finn, you saw he’d sent no response since your text. Complete and utter silence.

Heart cracking a little, you slid this in your bag and stared at the door. This wasn’t how things were supposed to go. When you imagined you and Finn at college, you’d always pictured you together, attending the same parties and sharing the same adventures. Tonight though, had proven to be anything but that. Finn hadn’t once glanced at his phone judging by the unread mark next to your text.

Dimly, you wondered why you weren’t more upset about this. It should bother you that Finn hadn’t called or even texted throughout the day. Sure, he was out with friends, but so were you and you’d reached out – as soon as you thought this, your heart sank.

You weren’t sure you could call Jimin a friend after what had just happened.

Sure, you’d only danced, and it had only been for a second but still, guilt bloomed behind your ribcage. The idea of Finn doing the same thing with anyone else made your heart twist. You wouldn’t feel that way if what you’d done wasn’t wrong.

Groaning out loud, you lowered your head to your hands. After several minutes, you felt calm enough to stand and pretend-flush the toilet. As you exited the stall, you walked to the sink and began washing your hands. Staring at yourself in the mirror, a million things ran through your mind.

Clearly, the situation with Jimin was worse than you’d thought. The spark you’d felt kept returning, no matter how much you tried to ignore it. Maybe the only solution was to find a new partner. The very idea made your heart sink, but you couldn’t deny things had gotten out of hand.

Before you could seriously consider the option, the door to the bathroom flung open and banged against the wall. Sabrina stormed in, wiping both eyes with the heel of her hand. You froze, staring at her in the mirror but she didn’t seem to notice your presence.

When she finally lowered her hands and took a deep breath, she saw you and froze.

For a moment, you both only stared at each other and then – you coughed. Awkwardly, you began to dry your hands.

“Are you okay?” you asked, tentative.

Sabrina stiffened. “I’m fine,” she muttered, walking to the sink.

You watched her wash her hands, struggling and failing to control her expression. Sabrina’s hair was a mess and you stared, wondering where she’d been. You hadn’t seen her since you’d entered the club, but had assumed she’d stayed on the second floor.

“Are you sure?” you pressed, remembering your night at the other club. “You know, you can –”

“Will you… just stop.” Sabrina closed her eyes. “Will you … stop pretending like we’re friends, or something?”

Struck with disbelief, you could only stare. “I… are you serious?”

“Yes.”

“Wow.” You shook your head. “Just wow.”

Her lips tightened and finally, she whirled around. “What?” Sabrina demanded. “What is it?”

The look in her eyes was familiar. Her frustrated, angry look was mirrored in your expression, but you found you didn’t care. Sabrina was clearly going through something, but her rudeness to you was the final straw. Tired from Finn, Jimin and the constant pressure you were both under, something about Sabrina’s words made you break.

“Why are you always such a… such a bitch,” you blurted, hurling the word like a knife. “What did I ever do to you? Why do you always act like you hate me so much?”

Sabrina’s upper lip curled. “Why do you always think this is about you, Y/N? Maybe I just wanted one second of peace and instead, here you are. Like always.”

“Here I am, in the public restroom of a club we’re all at?”

“No. Here you are in my life,” she snapped, pushing herself from the sink. “People won’t talk to me? It’s because you’ve run your mouth about things you think I’ve done. I’m falling in the class ranks? It’s because you’re after my spot. Jimin doesn’t want to be my partner? It’s because of his feelings for you. I’m sick of turning around and always seeing you there!”

“Okay, but none of those things – I, Jimin doesn’t have feelings for me,” you sputtered.

Sabrina gave you a look. “Oh, please, Y/N.” Her laughter was harsh. “Why else would he turn me down?”

“Um, maybe because he’s a decent human being? Unlike yourself.”

“Great, yeah.” Sabrina glared. “Make me the bad guy again.”

“I’m not the one doing that,” you huffed. “You are. You want to blame me because no one wants to be your friend? Maybe try reaching out first. Maybe don’t talk shit about people behind their backs. And I’m improving because I’m taking extra lessons. No thanks to you, of course.”

“Don’t try and make me feel bad because I didn’t have time to give you lessons.”

“I’m not trying to make you feel bad. I’m trying to explain why I’m improving and you’re not.”

Sabrina bristled. “Are you saying I don’t work hard, too?”

“No.” Mirthless, you laughed. “I know you work hard – maybe even as hard as I do. But you know what the big difference is between you and me?” you said, drawing yourself to your full height.

Sabrina’s eyes glimmered while she stared you down. Still, she retained her aloofness when she said, “What? What’s the big secret?”

“You think everyone’s out to get you,” you said, stepping closer. “You think not asking for help makes you stronger, but it’s the exact opposite. At least I’ve improved since the start of the year. What have you done?”

Not waiting for an answer, you pushed past Sabrina and walked out the door.

Shoving it wide, you entered the hallway. Dance music flooded your senses and you winced, remembering where you were and what you’d been doing. Luckily, Jimin was nowhere in sight. He must not have seen where you’d disappeared to.

Shoulders slumping, you pulled out your phone and dialed a number. Walking to the front, you concentrated on breathing while you waited for them to pick up. Coming to a stop beside coat check, you didn’t leave the club – a lesson you’d learned the hard way.

Noelle answered on the third ring. “Babe?” she yelled, barely audible over the din. “What’s going on? Where are you?”

“Are you…” Closing your eyes, you paused. “Can we leave?”

Noelle paused, then muffled her phone with one hand. “Irene!” you heard her yell. “You good to get a ride home for these people? Okay, cool. Bye!” Her phone became un-muffled. “Where are you, babe?”

After explaining your location, you hung up and hugged yourself with both arms. Noelle burst into view a few moments later, scanning the crowd like a mom on a mission. When she saw you, she rushed over – and you promptly burst into tears.

“Oh, no!” Pulling you into a hug, Noelle began to rub your back. “No, no, babe! Don’t cry! What’s going on? Do I need to kick someone’s ass?”

Hearing Jimin’s words said by Noelle only made you cry harder. Wisely sensing this to be a problem not easily solved, Noelle continued rubbing your back while walking towards the exit.

The two of you went outside and, as luck would have it, saw a group of people arriving at the club. Noelle snagged their taxi, helping you in the backseat and giving the driver your address. As you settled against her, your head on her shoulder, Noelle kept rubbing your arm and waited for the tears to stop.

You weren’t really sure why you were crying.

Of course, Sabrina was terrible, as was the situation with Jimin, but it was more than that. Dancing with Jimin hadn’t caused problems in your relationship with Finn. There had been problems in your relationship Finn and so, feelings had crept in which led you to dance with Jimin.

More than that though, you couldn’t help but notice Noelle had come to your aid much faster than Finn ever had. Even Jimin had dropped everything when you asked, and he was someone you’d once called your enemy. Noelle had been having fun, but she’d cut her night short because you were upset. This knowledge crushed you and for the very first time, you realized your relationship with Finn might be unfixable.

Curled up on the backseat, you let yourself cry a bit more. You could be calm and rational in the morning, you decided but for now, you just felt defeated.

When you finally climbed into bed at your dorm at night, you looked at your phone and saw Finn still hadn’t texted.

Author’s Note: Thank you for reading! 😊 New chapters of Raise the Barre are posted weekly; dates are listed on the series Master List. Requests for updates will be deleted.

RAISE THE BARRE MASTERLIST

#bangtanarmynet #btsbookclub #jimin fanfic #bts fanfic #jimin au #bts au #jimin writing #bts writing #jimin series #jimin e2l #bts series #bts e2l #jimin dance au #bts dance au

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julieloveupstead · 3 years ago

Text

"I Never Leave You" - Upstead

CHAPTER 5

- And that's pretty much it. - Jay closed the file and handed it to the Sergeant. They sat in the office for a good thirty minutes, during which the Detective explained all the information they'd managed to get so far. - They ran this case to Sergeant Benson with his people and then the FBI took it over, and now we're just waiting for their back answers, which I suspect they won't send out until tomorrow morning. - He finished and looked at his boss.

He was trying, really trying to be calm and talk normally, but every time he looked at Voight he could feel it boiling inside him. He couldn't help it that every time he looked in the boss's direction and heard his hoarse voice, he had the sight of his crying, broken, terrified beloved standing in front of him in their flat.

Not so long ago, standing in that office, he felt respect, reverence and wished that one day it belonged to him alone. And to the man sitting across from him though after many years of disbelief and skepticism he finally believed that underneath that mask of harshness, of ruthlessness Voight was a righteous though strangely he showed it he cared about his people. Jay wanted to believe that Sarge wasn't a bad person, just simply the death of his wife and then his son had destroyed a part of the man.

He thought Erin's departure from Chicago brought him and Voight closer together, after all they both loved her and cared about her, though Jay was angry at him for letting it happen, but in the end he understood that New York for Lindsey was the best thing. So Jay forgave this Voight thing the hard way, and it must have taken some time, but he did.

And then losing Alvin made another part of Voght's humanity disappear, irrevocably. It seemed to Jay that this event had tipped the scales of bitterness, that Voight would no longer be the same as before, so he made it a point of honor to help Hank. And just when he thought he'd succeeded, just when he thought he was finally on track to get Voight back on track, the Kelton case came up, and everything went to hell. Jay lost confidence in Voight, because knowing the history and knowing what the man was capable of, I don't think anyone had any doubts about that.

But again, if it wasn't for Sergeant Jay would have lost his job, because of Angela. He didn't know what Voight had done to shut her mouth, and he didn't want to know, but that way he could still be a cop.

But he'll never forget when Hank Voight sent Hailey to NY, it caused the relationship that had just managed to get a little better to shatter. Until now, Jay couldn't forgive his boss for treating Hailey that way.

Although the blonde said that this trip had worked out for the best, that she had no regrets for the older man, he still couldn't look at it that way.

When Hailey showed up at the department, he saw that Hailey wasn't fond of Voight, and the fact that she wasn't afraid to tell him what she thought intrigued him the most about her. Later, however, he would notice a change in their relationship. He didn't know exactly when, but at some point he felt a strange sense of déjà vu. He couldn't explain it, but he felt that Voight was treating Hailey like a daughter a bit like Erin, and that was ridiculous after all, right?

But then it only got worse, and as Jay knew more and more about Hailey's family he realized that Voight might be playing a father role in her life, but he still wasn't sure if he was imagining things again, and he let the subject go for another time. What he didn't realize was that next time it might be too late to react in any way.

Cameron's death had turned everything upside down. That's when Hailey started losing herself, and he didn't notice because he was too busy salving his conscience. How selfish he was back then. His then still friend was going through a horror story, and he was taking care of the child of the guy he had wrongly put in jail. And from that moment on everything went wrong. And he still can't forgive himself for that.

Because if he'd reacted the right way back then and through his stupidity hadn't ended up in hospital, then maybe Hailey wouldn't have crossed all those lines. Maybe they wouldn't be in this situation now. There are thousands of these questions of what ifs in his head, but now it's too late to speculate. They found themselves in the place they were in and nothing can change the time. All they could do was find a solution to make Hailey the woman he can't imagine living without, the love of his life, suffer through his conscience and the selfishness of their Sergeant. Because the fact that what happened is Jay's wine is clear, but the biggest fault lies with the man who now sits in his office as if nothing happened. And that's what drove Jay the most crazy.

- You really have no sense of guilt, do you? - Jay couldn't take it anymore and spoke harshly. - Do you really have nothing left of a man? - If the Detective's gaze could kill, the Sergeant who only now raised his eyes to him would already be dead.

If Jay's coarse tone surprised the Sergeant, he didn't show it in any way. But it didn't surprise the young policeman at all. He didn't expect the older man's conscience to suddenly stir.

- Did it even cross your mind for a moment what Hailey is going through right now? - He saw Voight trying to say something, but Jay couldn't stop. He finally had to react, to say what he was thinking, what he'd been holding back inside for so many years. - Did her fate ever bother you at all? Does the fate of us ever matter to you? Did you only think about yourself all the time?

There was silence for a moment, during which both men measured each other with their eyes for a moment.

- 'Well, keep me informed. Jay, this is your business, and you have the final say and don't give into Smith. Remember, this is your turf, not theirs - Voight spoke up after reviewing the file he handed back to Jay.

Jay just nodded and snorted in disbelief that Voight had changed the subject, but on the other hand, he didn't count on moving the older man's conscience. The man is too canny and too emotionally brainwashed for that.

He took the papers and stood up without even saying anything.

- Jay? - the detective was stopped before leaving the room by a hoarse voice.

- Yes, Sergeant? - he asked himself, reluctantly turning towards the older man.

- I didn't want it all to end like this. Hailey should be with Adam. - If Jay didn't know what Voight was really like, maybe he would believe the fake guilt painted on his face.

- You know what, cut the bullshit. - He walked over to the desk and leaned on it with both hands to be closer to Voight. Jay was furious that the older man thought words would make a difference. - You destroyed her life, and I will never forgive you for that. - And with that he walked out of the office. He grabbed his things from the locker room and then walked down the back entrance to the car park. He knew that Hailey was hard and that she was going through a lot, so he decided to do something for her. Something that would at least for a little while make her forget about what had happened recently and feel better. He wanted to hear her sincere, resonant and beautiful smile again. He wanted to see her beautiful blue eyes smiling again, too. Not only that, but he promised himself that he would do anything to bring that back, to bring back a happy Hailey, and he would start with food. So before coming home he will go to the shop some more and maybe find some more florist. He should buy her flowers more often. Hailey deserves it, the best, and he will do anything to give her that best, no matter what.

In the meantime, Kevin and Hailey pulled up outside the Detective's flat. Hailey looked out the window, instinctively looking for Jay's truck, but didn't find it. She didn't know how much longer Jay and Voight would be discussing tonight's case (she hoped that was what the Sergeant had asked Jay to do), and she didn't want to be left home alone. Not yet ready to face her thoughts by being alone with herself. So she sat in silence hoping her friend wouldn't throw her out of the car and hoped Jay would be able to arrive by then.

- Thank you, Kev - Hailey said after a moment of silence.

- 'It's no problem. - Kevin turned in his seat so that he could get a better look at the blonde. - 'Hailey, are you all right? - he asked worriedly.

Hailey closed her eyes to keep from crying in front of him, and when she opened, she was met with a worried look from her friend. She knew she should tell Kevin the truth, because he deserved it, as much as any of them did, but she also knew that the truth would only make things worse.

- Yes, I'm just worried about Kim and you know it all - she didn't lie, she just told part of the truth. Kevin just nodded, though she could see that he didn't quite give credence to her words.

- And what's up with Vanessa - Hailey decided to change the subject.

Hailey didn't find out that Van had left the department until after she returned to Chicago. They rarely talked because they both had a lot of work to do, and besides, Van was deep undercover and couldn't be talked too often. Hailey missed her friend and she missed her a lot.

- Yeah, we talked yesterday. She said she was finishing up her job soon and going back to her department. - He answered, and Hailey noticed a smile on his friend's face whenever the name of the junior police officer was mentioned. She had suspected for some time that the two of them had something in common, and she was very happy that her two friends had become closer, because they both deserved to be happy.

- This is great. - she said for the first time in a while, smiling sincerely. She was proud of Van, because she knew that not many young police officers who had recently graduated from the academy got the chance to work in two elite departments. She predicted that her friend would have a stunning career in the gang division.

For a moment they sat in silence, each submerged in their own thoughts, when suddenly they noticed lights, and then a familiar car emerged from around the corner.

- Was it Halstead's car? - Kevin spoke up first, wondering what Jay's truck could be doing under Hailey's house. She turned towards her friend, biting her lip nervously.

- Ammm, right. - She replied, looking at the figure approaching them. Hailey felt ashamed, realizable that this would be the first time anyone had seen them in such private circumstances, and officially confirmed that she and Jay were together. She knew it would happen at some point, but she still couldn't stop stressing about it.

- Now it's getting clear, he said, smiling warmly. Hailey looked apologetically at Kevin for not saying anything about it earlier.

Jay knocked on the window and Hailey and Kevin looked in his direction, then both got out.

- 'Hey,' Jay called back, then moved closer to Hailey and stole a kiss. She felt her cheeks flush red because it was the first time they'd done it in front of people. Jay quietly laughed at her reaction.

- 'Hey,' Hailey quietly replied, and Kevin just nodded, still smiling widely.

- 'What are you grinning about? - turned Jay to Kevin.

- Nothing. - He shrugged his shoulders, still smiling broadly. - I was hoping it would end like this sooner or later. - He added, looking at his two friends.

Jay and Hailey laughed at Kevin's words. Did they seem so obvious, only they themselves noticed it so late?

- I am very happy for you both. You both deserve it. - said Kevin sincerely. Hailey and Jay were very happy that their friend had taken the news of their relationship so positively and that he enjoyed their happiness.

- Thank you - said Jay for both of them

- How long have you two been together? - Kevin asked curiously.

- 5 months - said the so far silent Hailey.

- Yes exactly 5 months, 15 days, 18 hours and 27 minutes - answered Jay in a tone as if he was talking about the most important ceremony. Hailey looked with admiration at her partner, who, feeling her gaze on him, looked at her with tenderness and a smile reserved only for her.

- Wow - whistled Kevin, being impressed that they managed to keep it to themselves for so long. - All right, lovebirds, I will leave you alone. - he said, pushing away from his car, wanting to give his friends a moment to themselves. Opening the driver's door, he looked at his friends - Are you going to Kim's today? - he asked even before getting into the car.

- Yes, we'll just have something to eat, and then we'll clean up. I think we can be there in about 2 hours. - said Jay with a questioning look at Hailey, who nodded her head.

- 'Okay, then I'll see you then. - Kevin got in the car and drove off, while Hailey and Jay stared at the departing car for a moment longer.

- 'Well, that's another person to tick off,' joked Jay, walking with Hailey to the truck for a moment more.

- Yeah? - asked Hailey, unable to remember who else they were talking to.

- Well, my brother and I don't suppose you think Trudy doesn't know anything. And let's not forget the devil in a human body - he enumerated opening the back door of his car.

- Well yes - she said quietly, waiting for her boyfriend to take what he needed. She knew who Jay meant about the devil in a human body. To be honest, she regretted letting herself be fooled by Voight back then. In general, Hailey regretted letting Sarge get inside her head and ruining her life because of it. She wanted to fix it all, but unfortunately she didn't know how.

Hailey leaned her back against the car, gaining the courage to ask a question.

- How did the conversation with V... Voight? - She turned to Jay, biting her lip nervously. She didn't know what to expect from the answer. Had they talked about her? Had Jay lost his temper? Had Voight said something? Did that mean she should look for a new job? She looked at Jay, who now had two nets in one hand and a bouquet of red roses in the other.

- Jay? - She asked herself, not really knowing what to say. Did they talk about her? Did Jay lose his temper? Did Voight say anything? Did that mean she should look for a new job? She looked at Jay, who now had two nets in one hand and a bouquet of red roses in the other. - Jay? - She asked herself, not really knowing what to say.

- This bouquet of flowers is for you - he set the paper bags down on the ground and then approached her with the bouquet. - I know that you got your first bouquet from me as a pretend girlfriend, but I knew already then that I wanted you to be my real girlfriend and I promised myself that when I finally dared to tell you about my feelings, I would always make you smile, I would always make you feel loved, and I would do everything to make you feel safe. - He paused for a moment to look at the girl. Tears came to Hailey's eyes and she gasped. What should she do now? No man she had ever met had ever brought her flowers or said such things to her. - Hailey, I love you the most in the whole world, and I'm sorry I didn't notice earlier how Voight was manipulating you and that.... - Hailey noticed tears appearing in the man's green eyes. - 'Angel, I'm sorry that I let you down, that I wasn't there when you needed me the most, when that son of a bitch needed you - the blonde couldn't listen to Jay blaming himself for something that was completely not his fault, so she did the only thing that would silence Jay. She simply kissed him, Jay was surprised but not a second passed when he put his arms around her waist pulling her closer to him.

- 'Jay, nothing that happened is your fault,' she said quietly as they pulled away from each other, and she looked into his eyes and placed one hand on his cheek. - No, Jay - Hailey didn't let Jay speak, knowing he would want to deny it. - If anyone needs to be blamed, it's me. I'm the one who let him get inside my head, I'm the one who killed Roy. - She spoke quietly so that no outsiders could hear them. Jay started to shake his head, so she put her other hand, on his other cheek to steady his head. With her thumbs, she wiped away the tears falling down his cheeks. She kissed him again and when she pulled away from him, she joined her forehead to Jay's forehead, although it was difficult because of their height difference, but somehow they managed. - I love you, Jay. Thank you for the flowers. They are beautiful. - She said with a slight smile, which Jay reciprocated. She didn't want to continue this conversation further because she knew they were both too stubborn and knew that this conversation wouldn't end soon.

- Shall we go home? - Jay finally spoke up. Hailey nodded and took the flowers while Jay took the groceries.

- I can't remember the last time we prepared meals together. - Hailey said enthusiastically.

- 'True,' Jay smiled slightly as he looked at the satisfied blonde hugging the flowers. His heart beat faster, seeing that such a small thing made her happy. - And that's why I thought home cooking would be a good change today. - Hailey nodded, looking lovingly at the boy.

- 'So what, you go wash up, and I'll make the food? - Jay suggested when they finally entered their flat.

- Actually, why not. - Hailey only now felt how tired she was from all these events. She hadn't had a decent night's sleep in the last few days, because every night she was woken up by nightmares with images of what she had done. She wanted to finally get some sleep and start living without the fear that killing Roy would come out, and she would lose everything she had. Hailey put down the bag she had been carrying on her shoulder the whole time since she got out of Kevin's car and leaned against the wall, looking at Jay, who was unpacking groceries and humming a tune quietly.

Hailey couldn't believe how, in their still new relationship, all the new activities had become normal for them. Jay quickly learned his way around her flat, and his presence quickly became a daily occurrence. More and more she caught herself imagining just such a future with Jay in some not so big house with a garden, with a dog or a cat and maybe with little versions of them running and prancing around.

But so what if it can all come crashing down like a house of cards in an instant?

For the first time in her life, she has so much to lose. For the first time she is not ready, and above all she does not want to lose what is finally good in her life.

Imagining the future that may have been waiting for her, she felt tears appear in her eyes, so she blinked. She couldn't lose Jay for anything in the world, not now that she was finally feeling happy and when she was ready for the future.

Jay had been busying himself in the kitchen the whole time and Hailey, with a smile on her face, walked over to him and clung to his back, causing him to stop cutting the vegetable. She closed her eyes and let herself inhale his soothing, woody scent that she always associated with the woods and the kind of peace she only found with him after a hard day. She felt Jay turn in her arms so that she was now hugging his chest, and he wrapped his arms around her and pulled her even closer. Now Hailey felt like she was in her own place, like she belonged in his embrace.

Just being in his arms was enough for Hailey to breathe and feel the stress and drugs accumulated over these 3 days leave her body.

- Hey - she heard Jay's tender voice and although her eyes were still closed, she was sure that a slight smile was wandering on the man's face.

- Hey - she replied, reciprocating the smile and snuggled tighter into her boyfriend's body. They stood like that for a while in silence in the middle of the room, Hailey with her head against his chest so that she could hear the steady beat of his heart, and Jay rested his chin on the top of her head. Standing like that in each other's arms, for two people in love, nothing mattered except this moment, where it's just them alone, in their house, and no problems, no arguments, no Voight, just them, doesn't matter.

Just Hailey in Jay's arms and Jay in Hailey's arms.

- Let's go away and leave it all to hell. Let's start somewhere else, somewhere where it's just the two of us. Just you and me. - She whispered into Jay's T-shirt, after a moment. These last few days had given both of them a hard time. She wouldn't forgive herself for the rest of her life for what she'd done in that warehouse, and the nightmares of images of the bloodied man and the look of fury in Voight's eyes would drag on for years, so maybe this trip wouldn't be so stupid. Maybe if they started somewhere else it might be different.

As much as she loved her job and working at Intelligence and the people who worked there and who she could call her family and Chicago her home without a doubt and while for many years she couldn't imagine life without it all and living in another place now she couldn't imagine life without Jay alone. He was the only thing that mattered to her and the life she wanted to start with him. She felt at home with him and as safe as she had ever felt in her life so far.

- Okay, where do you want to go? Greece? Australia? Italy? The Caribbean? - she heard Jay, which made her heart beat harder.

- Are you serious? - she pulled away gently to get a better look at him and make sure he wasn't joking, but from his face she read only complete love and confidence in what he was saying.

- Hailey, I am deadly serious. I'm ready to fly out even now - assuring Hailey, who couldn't believe what had just happened.

- Really? - she was still in shock that Jay had just agreed to her crazy idea.

- For real. - He assured - I'm sure he wants to be with you, and where we live is secondary. As long as we are together, we can even live under a bridge. The most important thing for me is that we are together. Just you and me - he put his hands on the blonde's cheeks and looked her straight in the eyes. - With you, I would go to the end of the world and even to outer space. Where you go, I go too. Remember? I'll follow you anywhere. - Hailey heard Jay's declaration and felt her heart beat faster, and she felt butterflies in her stomach. - That night when we talked about your offer from the feds those 5 months ago and then if you told me you were accepting their offer, I was ready to fly with you. - When he said this Hailey tried to find at least a shadow of doubt, but she didn't see anything like that, on the contrary Jay was deadly serious.

Although it still seemed surreal to Hailey, it didn't surprise her at all, because over the years of their partnership they had assured each other many times that they would always follow each other, no matter what, they were always there for each other, and now that they were together privately it hadn't changed, only now all those words had a new, even deeper meaning.

- You know I love you, Jay? - Hailey stood on tiptoe to reach his lips, cursing her short height in her mind. Jay laughed, seeing the woman's efforts and the annoyance painted on Hailey's face when, despite standing on tiptoe, she didn't reach. He shook his head in disbelief at how lucky he was and how much affection he had for the petite blonde. Those 3 words that had caused Hailey anxiety, stomach tightness, paralysis and the desire to run away were now the most beautiful words, causing her heart to beat faster and wanting to hear it over and over again.

For Jay, these words from Hailey's mouth are like the most beautiful melody, and I don't think he will ever get tired of hearing it.

- I love you, Angel - he said with a slight smile, blinded by the blue of her eyes. - You are my whole world.

Jay leaned over her and brushed his lips gently against hers. In time, the gentle kisses turned into more passionate ones. Jay grabbed Hailey's hips and, guessing his intentions, she wrapped her legs around his waist, her arms wrapped around his neck. Without stopping kissing, they had crossed the threshold of the bedroom when an audible burbling came from Hailey's stomach, causing both she and Jay to finally pull away from each other, quietly giggling about it.

- 'Is anyone hungry? - he asked provocatively with a sly grin on his face.

- I'm sorry - she laughed, embarrassed, and rested her forehead against Jay's chest, entwining her hands more tightly around Jay's neck. Why exactly was it that her stomach decided to give out now? Now that it was getting so wonderful.

- You're cute when you blush. - he said kissing Hailey on the top of her head

- Stop it. - she tried to sound annoyed. Biting her lip with her teeth holding back her emerging smile, she patted his shoulder with her hand.

- Okay, okay, I'm stopping now. - He replied trying to stop laughing, and when Hailey finally looked at him, she saw Jay trying to hold back his laughter - Do you think your stomach is capable of giving me about 30 minutes? - he asked, setting her down on her feet on the ground.

- Well, I don't know, but I'll try. - she looked up into his green eyes also in a hooked voice. Suddenly she realized a thing and the smile immediately came off her face.

- 'Are you all right? - Jay asked himself, immediately noticing the change in his girlfriend's mood. He put his hand on her cheek, thus giving her encouragement, as something told him that she might need it now. - Angel, tell me.

- Yes... I mean no. Kim is still fighting for her life, I... - the words couldn't come out through her mouth. - We can't laugh and pretend everything's okay, Jay. - She pulled away from Jay. In the shadow of all the upsetting events that had happened over the last few days, she couldn't do that. She had no right to laugh and be happy.

- Hailey, we're not doing anything wrong. - Jay tried to touch Hailey, but she kept backing away and shaking her head.

- 'You can't do that, Jay. It's not fair to Adam, Makayla'i and the family who are now sitting at her bedside dying from worrying about Kim. - Hailey turned her back, unable to bear Jay's tender gaze. She felt tears welling up in her eyes, so she closed them. - I can't, I can't - she didn't stop repeating it over and over again. Her heart was pounding madly, she couldn't catch her breath, and her vision began to blur.

- Hey, Hailey, Angel - she felt Jay's arms turn her around and wrap around her body. She snuggled into his body and began sobbing loudly, not caring that she would leave a wet tear stain on Jay's T-shirt. - Shh. It's okay. Shh, I'm here. - He whispered in her ear and made patterns on her back, trying to calm her down.

Hailey felt guilty and angry that she had allowed herself this moment of joy. She shouldn't, just not. Not after what she'd done. Not after what Kim and her family are going through. Not when her friend is fighting for her life. Not when a 6-year-old girl might lose her mum again. Not when Adam might lose the love of his life.

It just wasn't fair. Life wasn't fair, but why? Why does anyone allow someone to be hurt, to suffer?

- Hailey, will you look at me? - Jay's quiet voice brought her back to earth, but she couldn't look at him. Not just yet. - Please. - Finally hearing Jay's calm and soothing voice, she dared.

- 'Angel, Kim is still fighting, which means she's alive, and that's something to be happy about, don't you think? We managed to find her in time, and now she's in the best care in MED - Hailey slowly nodded her head in agreement.

- 'But if it hadn't been for that whole agreement between Kevin and Adam, if it hadn't been for Voight separating us, we would have found Kim sooner. - Hailey couldn't stand how many bad things had happened that evening and couldn't stop thinking that it was her fault too. - Jay, maybe Voight was right, and I am actually like him. I knew what he was capable of, I saw the diabolical look in his eyes. Why didn't I just walk out of that warehouse when I heard you found Kim? Why did I stay with Voight, knowing what might happen? Why did I let him lead me to kill a man? - she wiped her tears. She felt exhausted by it all. Of having to pretend to be strong when everything was falling apart for her, of having to lie to those closest to her, of not sleeping at night because of these damn nightmares. She was tired of fighting with herself. She wanted it all to finally end. - I don't have the strength, Jay. - She said in a breaking voice and lowered her head down.

- Hey, don't say that - Jay with two fingers lifted Hailey's face by the chin, so he could see her beautiful blue eyes, though now reddened by crying. - I have strength enough for the two of us. I will be by your side every step of the way, I will never leave you. I promise you. - Jay wiped the tears streaming down her cheeks. His heart was breaking at the sight of his distraught beloved. It shouldn't be like this. Hailey doesn't deserve something like this. - You have a good heart, you're a wonderful person, and you believe that everyone deep down is good and if you see someone being hurt you immediately run to help them. And you wanted to help Voight, you wanted him to report that he found Roy, you wanted to stop him from killing a man.

- I did, but so what because I killed him myself! I pulled the trigger! - she screamed, still crying.

- Angel, but if you hadn't done that, he would have hurt you or Voight. You saved your life, and that's not a bad thing. - He tried to calmly explain to Hailey that she shouldn't blame herself.

- But I broke the law. I didn't report it - Hailey was unable to calm down. She did not know what she should do.

- Angel, you didn't break the law, Voight did. He should have reported it. It's all his fault, not yours. - Hailey wasn't letting Jay's words sink in. She couldn't. It couldn't be that simple. - Hailey Anne Upton, I forgive you.

- What? - Hailey looked at Jay, not believing what she had just heard.

- If you need forgiveness, I give it to you. What matters now is whether you can forgive yourself. - said Jay without breaking eye contact with her.

- I... Mmm... I don't know - she replied, still in shock.

Although Jay had nothing to forgive Hailey for, because she hadn't done anything wrong, he still knew that the woman needed it.

A few years ago, he himself didn't know how much he needed those words until someone told him. It doesn't solve the problems right away, but it's a good start.

Hailey needs to know that he doesn't hold it against her and that she hasn't done anything wrong, and the most important thing is for her to understand that herself and let it go to her head that no one is blaming her. That he doesn't blame her for anything and that he will never judge her. That he will always be there for her, just as she has been for him all these years. He loved her very much and would not let her lose herself in guilt.

- Angel, you did everything you could, don't be so hard on yourself, please - Jay tried to reach out to Hailey again.

For a while they stood like that, embraced in silence, listening only to the sound of their hearts beating.

- How am I supposed to do this? - she asked in a weak voice.

- Why don't you go take a bath first and then eat something and then go to bed? - he suggested quietly kissing the top of her head. Hailey immediately clung to him.

- I can wash up, but I don't know if I can swallow anything. And besides, I would like to go to Kim's. - After a while, she said in a hoarse voice.

- Okay, this is what we will do. First you go take a bath, and then we will see what happens next - he tried to propose something else, leaving a kiss on Hailey's forehead. - I love you Hailey - he whispered pulling away from her and headed off giving Hailey a chance to calm down and although his heart was breaking knowing she would be left alone he knew she needed it.

Once she was alone, Hailey couldn't stop the tears flowing again, but she blinked a few times to chase them away. She didn't have the strength to cry anymore, so she decided to take a few deep breaths to try and calm herself down. When she finally felt that she was regaining the power in her body, she headed towards the dressing room to grab some fresh clothes and underwear, and with that she walked to the bathroom.

She turned on the water in the shower, undressed, and then stepped under the stream of water. It was only under the stream of warm water that she allowed herself to let go of the barriers that had held her down all day and from Jay.

She cried and cried and cried, shedding what she hadn't dared in front of Jay until the water she stood under cooled to the point where goosebumps appeared on her skin and even though she couldn't see, she was aware that her lips were bruising, and she could feel herself shivering. So she quickly soaped up the sponge with gel and washed herself, then took the shampoo and started washing her hair. After a few minutes she got out, took a towel and started to wipe herself. She put on fresh clothes, and only then could she completely breathe a sigh of relief.

- The pasta is coming. - Jay was standing with his back to her, stirring something in the pot, but it was enough for him to hear her coming out of the bathroom.

- It smells lovely. What are you cooking? - she asked, coming closer and looking into the pot.

- Chicken in Gorgonzola sauce - he answered, finally looking at the girl. - Did you wash yourself with my body lotion? - he asked teasingly, smiling, smelling the familiar scent of his cosmetics.

- Oh really? Apparently your gel smelled nicer - she shrugged her shoulders, biting her lip, holding back a laugh. Only now did she realize she had mixed up the bottles.

- You've got my blouse too - Jay touched the hem of the blouse she had put on that had once belonged to Jay.

- Mmm - she turned to face Jay - it hasn't been your jumper for a long time, Jay. - She replied, reciprocating the smile. Jay moved closer to her with an even bigger smile, from which Hailey's knees were softening. He put one hand on Hailey's waist to pull her closer to him and tilted his head and brought their lips together in a sweet, slow kiss.

After a moment, they pulled away from each other, both with big smiles on their faces. Jay placed both hands on Hailey's cheeks, gazing with infinite love. As if Hailey was the only person on earth. To him, that's exactly who she was. The one, unique, special, strong, brave and his woman of life.

- I love you, Angel - he whispered. Hailey heard the words he said, and she pulled back. She felt as if those words unlocked some secret box in her head and everything began to whirl and images of what she had done over the past years appeared before her eyes. She couldn't believe that the man standing in front of her knowing what bad things she had done still loved her, still wanted to be with her. Not only that, but she couldn't fathom it, why he wouldn't hate her like she hated herself.

- How could you? - Hailey burst out, barely holding back the panic that was emerging again.

- What, how can I? - Jay was surprised by his beloved's reaction.

- How can you love me? - she threw her hands in the air, completely consumed by panic - How, after all I've done, are you able to look at me? Touch me? Kiss me? Make love to me? - she ran her hands over her face, wiping away the tears that were coming.

- Hailey, what are you... - Jay tried to figure out what was going on, but Hailey didn't give him a chance.

- You know I'm the reason Cam died. You know, I'm the one who caused Walker to be murdered. I'm the one who planted the drugs in the car to save the Van boy. - the words were coming out of her mouth at machine-gun speed.

- Hailey... - spoke again, Jay, already increasingly horrified by his girlfriend's behavior.

- Jay how can you be so in love with me knowing that I've crossed boundaries so many times. Recently even because of me you had to break your rules and I put you in trouble. Hell I killed a man, and you still kiss me, look at me with this love, sleep with me, touch me. You do all these things like nothing bad happened. As if I haven't broken the law. Like I didn't do anything wrong," she said, drenched in tears and not stopping talking.

- Hailey, Angel - he tried again to approach the girl. He approached very slowly and spoke very quietly. He had never seen Hailey like this, and it scared him, and it broke his heart to see her like this. He wanted so much to take this fear, pain away from her and do something, so she wouldn't suffer like this. But the problem was that he didn't know how he should do it, and it was killing him even more. It was all his fault, because he wasn't there when she needed him most.

- No, leave me. I don't want to - she stopped, unable to speak through her tears and sobs. She felt she was running out of air, but she couldn't stop crying, she couldn't stop talking. She had to free Jay from this burden. From the weight of her mistakes, her demons, her guilt. Voight was right about one thing, Jay is a good man and a good cop, and that can't be changed. She can't change that. Jay can't pay for her faults. He doesn't deserve that.

- Okay, so what do you want? - He asked himself, no longer holding back the tears that were now streaming down his cheeks. He couldn't look at her suffering, it was breaking him. He was ready to do anything, really anything, to take away all her pain.

- I... I want - she leaned against the wall and slid down it to the floor. She curled her legs, which she wrapped around her shoulders, and looked at Jay. He had to know she was serious. - I want you to hate me, just like I hate myself. I want you to look at me with revulsion, with disgust. I want you to stop loving me, to leave me alone. I want you to be happy. You're a good man and a good cop, you don't deserve all this shit. Jay, I love you more than a man should love another man, it can't even be described how happy I was with you. I thought that this - she pointed at them - that this would be good, but I was wrong.

- Hailey I'm begging you to stop - Jay fell to his knees in front of Hailey begging her, he was begging the universe that what he just heard was a dream.

- Jay, go away, come back to your place. Forget about me, please - a single tear flowed from her eyes - It's better this way - she said the last words so quietly that Jay had to wonder if they definitely came from her mouth.

It all seemed like a bad dream, this couldn't be happening for real.

- Hailey - he began slowly, afraid that the woman would interrupt - I know that fear is speaking through you, and I know that you don't mean it. - Hailey, hearing Jay's still calm and tender voice, closed her eyes and begged him to stop, to leave her. To let her suffer alone. - Hailey, Angel look at me please - The woman couldn't resist the request, so she did as Jay asked. When their gazes met in Hailey's eyes seeing her suffering, he took a deep breath to stop himself from pulling her to him, so he continued. - I'm not able to stop loving you or hating you. You are the most important person in the world to me. I love you so damn much that I can't even name it. You are the only meaning to my life, Hailey Anne Upton, and I can't live without you. - He paused for a moment, wiping the tears from his cheeks and to take a breath. He decided to move a little closer to his girlfriend, hoping she wouldn't run away.

He didn't break their eye contact. He gently placed his hand on her shoulder, he could feel Hailey freeze under his touch, but he kept moving closer and continued to keep his hand on her shoulder. When he thought he was at a sufficient distance to hold Hailey and to give her space, when he suddenly had an idea. He moved a little away from Hailey and pulled down her blouse. Hailey looked at him, not understanding what he was doing as he took it off, put it aside and then returned his gaze to the blonde, still puzzled by his behavior. In truth, he was surprised by it himself and didn't know if it would do anything at all, but he didn't know what to do. He was losing hope, and he felt he was losing Hailey too, and he couldn't let that happen. Not when he knows he can help her, he doesn't know how yet, but he's not going to give up. Jay gently placed his hand on her cheek and then gently took her hand and placed it where his heart was beating. Hailey wanted to pull her hand away, but he held it steady and tight enough to keep her from discomfort and pain. - Angel, my sweet princess, I cannot, will not and cannot give up on the love of my life. I know you don't have the strength to fight, that you think you don't deserve all the good things, love, me, happiness, but it's not true. You deserve so much more and as long as I'm alive, as long as this," he placed his other hand on their hands that were next to his heart, "as long as my heart beats I will fight for both of us. I'm not going anywhere, Hailey. No matter what. And you can hate me for it, you can call me names, you can kick me out of the house, but I will never leave you, you understand. - He pulled her to him and hugged her tightly. He felt Hailey cuddled against his bare chest start to cry, so he hugged her even tighter. - We will think of something together. Even if it is just the two of us against the whole world, we will not give up. - he whispered in her ear, rocking their bodies. Shh, quiet, I'm here. I'm here. Shh, I'm here, I'm with you. Shh, shh, shh. - He repeated over and over again. They didn't know how long they sat like that on the floor in the middle of the flat and wept, but Jay hoped that the warmth of his body, that the beating of his heart, would be able to calm his Angel. He tried to be strong for both of them and prayed that it would be enough, because he didn't know how much more his Angel could take.

#upstead #upstead fanfiction #upstead fic #jay x hailey #hailey upton #jay halstead

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