#sorry i’m going so hard for eric. what else do you expect from me that’s my buddy jack wilder.

[livvyofthelake]

when everyone on letterboxd loves a movie i hated i feel like jesus on the cross. you’re telling me you liked this movie. what are you an incel? christ alive

[nonotnolan]

Summer Break Dullahans

I can’t say that I was expecting to respond to somebody’s cry for help at three in the afternoon.  The student dorms were already pretty empty, since only one of the three buildings would be open for summer classes, and most people were at home until the summer semester officially started.  So when I heard a faint cry of “Can anybody hear me?  I need help!” it was easy for me to believe that the guy had been yelling in vain for quite awhile.  I wasn’t sure what I expected-- a Freshman who managed to get pinned between the bed and the wall, maybe?  I sure as hell wasn’t expecting to see Ben’s detached head sitting on a couch pillow.

No wonder he was yelling for help, he was literally just a head!  I walked over and picked him up off the couch, grabbing him on either side of his ears.  I thought for sure this was just an optical illusion somehow, but... no, I was holding his entire head in my hands.  “Put me down, jackass,” he shouted, trying and failing to wiggle out of my grip.  “I don’t need help from you.”

I wasn’t expecting to feel the muscles in his jaw move as he spoke, and I’m a bit ashamed to admit I actually dropped him in surprise.  He landed on the couch, at least, but it couldn’t have felt good to land nose-first from that far up.  “I’m so sorry, Ben,” I said, as I rotated him back to an upright position.  “What happened to you, anyway?”

“You know damn well what happened-- your fucking roommate happened, that’s what,” he said, glaring at me.  “I was just watching some Netflix when Grant barges into my room with a goddamn sword.  Next thing I know I’m stuck on the couch, and he’s taking away my headless body!  He already told me about your plan to steal bodies away from other guys, don’t you fucking dare pretend to feel bad.”  Well, that was news to me, but Ben refused to believe a word I said.  Not knowing what else to do, I turned on the TV on for him, and leaved the door open so that the next person might be able to find him a bit easier.  

Pulling out my phone, I discovered that I’d missed a few text messages from Grant.  He said he was waiting for me downstairs in the parking garage with a surprise that I’d have to see to believe.  Which... yeah, if I hadn’t managed to stumble across Ben’s detached head, I don’t think that I ever would have expected to see a muscular Grant.  He was a great roommate and all, but the dude was maybe 120 pounds on a good day.  Given that I was easily twice his weight, the two of us definitely had a weird dynamic going.

Or, we used to, at any rate.  The new Grant was almost certainly a lot more muscular than he had ever been before in his entire life.  It was hard to imagine the guy who stayed up every night with me to grind rank in League of Legends being able to earn a physique like that.  And there was something about seeing his pale head resting on top of Ben’s tanned body that was just far too comical.

“What, is that the only reaction I’m going to get?” he asked, frowning slightly.  “Fuckin’ look at me, bro.  I’m like some sort of Alpha Male now.  You wish you could be a man like me!”  He started flexing his arms, causing veins to appear in places I didn’t even know they existed.  “It’s okay to be jealous, Eric.  You don’t gotta act so modest on my account.  I know you’re gay, it’s okay if you suddenly want a piece of this.”

I couldn’t help but laugh.  “Sorry if you were expecting me to be completely losing it right now,” I said.  “I already ran into Ben upstairs, and he told me... well, what’s left of him told me about what you did.  Nice sword, by the way.”

“Well, fuck,” he said, letting his shoulders drop.  There was something about seeing him stand there, slouched over, that made him look so much more like the real Grant.  “Probably should have slapped his head onto my old body before leaving.  I guess on the plus side, I won’t have to work very hard to convince you that this sword is magic somehow.  And anyway, I still have another surprise up my sleeve.”  He snapped his fingers, and gestured toward a figure who had been standing off in the shadows.  Well, most of a figure, at any rate.  A headless body, absolutely stacked with muscles, stepped forward into the lights.

“Did you... is that for me?” I asked, trying to make sense of the surge of emotions I felt.  Desire.  Longing.  Lust.  Holy hell, I wanted that body to be mine.  The shoulders, the pecs, the abs... healthy, vibrant, everything that my current pale and flabby body could never be.  Not without more work than I would ever be willing to do.  A primal, animalistic Need.  And, if I had to be honest, a slight amount of guilt.  I’d already saw what Grant had done to Ben.  If I made this body mine, I would be stealing it from someone else.

I was utterly entranced.  I found myself tracing the ridges of its chest with my fingers, my head utterly swimming in hormones as my manhood rose to its paltry four inches underneath my cargo shorts.  “Grant, who did... where did you find him?”

“Nuh-uh,” Grant said, shaking his head at me.  “I know you, Eric.  You think too much.  If I tell you his name, you’re gonna feel bad and you’re gonna try to make it up to him.  Fuck that shit.  This is all or nothing.  You want this body, you don’t get to know whose it was.”

He knew me far too well.  I looked back and forth between Grant and the headless muscle hunk that he had procured for me.  Did I want it that badly?  Would I be able to live with myself afterward?  My head tried to argue ethics, but my heart already knew my answer.  

I dropped down onto my knees, giving Grant easier access to my neck.  He lifted the sword up high into the air, striking down with a massive swing.  I felt a sudden lurch as I fell several feet to the ground.  I tried to use my arms to prevent myself from hitting the ground, only I didn’t have arms anymore-- my old body was completely unresponsive.

“Hey, wanna know what your new body is gonna smell like?”  I tried to protest, but I was unable to stop Grant from lifting up my new body’s arm and shoving my head right into its armpit.  The coarse hair brushed up against my nose and lips as the sweaty musk filled my nostrils.  “Yeah, you like that, don’t you,” he said, laughing at me.  I wanted to be mad, but... he was absolutely right.

“Just shut up and attach my head,” I said, trying not to let him know how much it was turning me on.  If I didn’t have an armpit fetish before, I did now.  Grant lowered my head into place, and suddenly I had full control over my new, muscular body.

I practically sprinted back inside to find a bathroom with a good mirror.  Can you blame me?  You could still see the difference between my head’s pale skin and my body’s bronze tan, but I think maybe a lot of people would  just assume that I had used tanning spray.  Hell, for all I know, my prior body really had used a tanning spray.

A few months from now, the rest of my friends would return from summer break, and I would have to try and convince everyone that I had gained this body naturally.  No one would ever believe that I had lost 100 pounds at the same time that my roommate gained 100 pounds.  Although... if Grant was planning to keep the sword, maybe he would be willing to hook up my friends with a new body as well?

[spiritsofprogress]

Here’s how Figment can still win | updating the attraction

I envy those who got to experience the ride in its original form with dream finder and all, I really do. I remember being a kid In the early 2000s and my grandpa was excited to take us on it as it was his favorite ride, only to find it completely different. However, what you might not expect me to say is that I don’t think the current iteration of journey into imagination is bad! Do I think it lives up to the original? No, but Dr.Channing is decent and the concept is quite cute.

The problem is this iteration is a clear patch job done nearly 20 years ago and they’ve let it sit ever since. This sucks. Especially considering Disney and Epcot clearly realize how much pull Figment has as a character, people adore this purple dragon years after his debut (remember the popcorn bucket?). They’ll slap him on anything and everything for festivals… but his ride? Actual non festival attraction related merch? You get a shirt or two if you’re lucky! When I went recently there was a single shelf reserved for figment related items. A single shelf in a decently sized gift shop that was mainly filled with the same Toy Story summer line they overestimated in popularity. (I’ve never seen anyone buy or have something from this line). The state it’s in is sad, especially considering Disney pulls on figments popularity! He’s getting a meet and greet again so can we finally update the attraction! … I’ve also heard rumor of the rainbow tunnel returning….

My solutions-

As much as I wish it could, I don’t know if we’ll get the dream finder version of the ride back, but here’s my idea on how to update the ride with the storyline we do have. It’s a cute concept but they’re not doing it to the best it can be.

1. Make it longer! To say they shortened journey into imagination is a understatement, I have no idea what they’re using half of the building for. Make it longer- maybe do go into the smell and taste labs. Make some more elaborate scenes- show that chaos figment has brought to the institue! One of the best gags is in the queue and the poor secretary of Dr.Channing answering the phone every few seconds - give me that energy! Give me… imagination running wild! That’s literally the storyline with figment but he feels so… constrained? Lack of space as it’s so short.

2. 2D figment. I beg of you. I know when the ride was redone 3D animation was new and all the rage but… I’m sorry 3D figment is terrifying and super dated. Soft, cuddly and cute 2D figment is timeless. It wouldn’t be that hard to go over the same scenes just with a drawn model instead, this is a quick fix to Rodger rabbit it.

3. More characters. I’m not even asking for animatronics but you need to give us something more. Again, that secretary is just a gag but its such a good show of story we don’t get on the actual attraction. A fun idea you could do is have “Dean Finder” come out and be the only one to be able to calm figment down/understand him? Sort of nod to the OG besides just a door THEN they open Channings mind to imagination as something to be free. This equally lengthens the attraction.

4. It just makes me sad as they have a really good concept here and ERIC FLIPPING IDLE but don’t utilize such a great comedic actor to the potential I know they could have. Another thing I’d request is the return of a good imageworks that’s not 99% photo opportunities with random characters not seen anywhere else. Additionally if you don’t want to make a lot of merch for the ride that’s fine… make the gift shop smaller, which shouldn’t be a issue if you make the ride longer again.

It’s fascinating to me that Disney consistently lets such a beloved attraction down despite using it for merch and festivals. It’s also fascinating that despite getting a whole makeover the park is leaning into a retro futurism feel and a “Epcot center” vibe (this is a good thing). But again ignores this ride- It’d be costly, sure, what isn’t, but I think it’d be worth giving just a bit of attention.

[witchling-valkyrie]

Alright friends, lemme hit you with some Chenford thoughts on 4x08

I’m seeing a lot of hate about this episode. On the surface, I can completely understand why people are upset. But looking deeper into the meaning of what happened in last night’s episode, I can see a lot of trauma responses and potential build up for the Chenford future.

So, here are my thoughts from a writer, actor, & trauma survivor POV. 

The Rookie has taken upon itself to tackle a lot of hard issues that are not warm and fuzzy since early in season 1. We knew that Tim had an abusive past, and I did not expect Genny’s visit to be old stories about his childhood and overall goofing with Chen. That’s just not realistic, in my opinion. Would it have been lovely? Absolutely! But I wasn’t holding out for that. 

When you’re in an intense emotional conversation -- especially one that you did not necessarily choose to have, in a high-stress situation that you are not emotionally prepared for -- words and thoughts WILL slip out without you thinking about them. Trauma often brings out emotions and past versions of ourselves that we cannot control in the moment. 

So. Some examples of this: 

1) When Tim let it slip that he’s seeing someone. He was addressing his sister in a high-stress situation. If you have siblings, especially ones that you have a tense history with, it’s common to immediately snap back at them to prove them wrong. Like Tim snapping to tell Genny that he’s not single when she accuses him of still being single due to his trauma. (And yes, it was a cheap shot. But like...siblings make cheap shots.)

Eric Winter is notoriously good at giving us subtle hints of how Tim feels in his facial expressions. When you watch this scene closely, you can clearly see on Tim’s face after Lucy’s reaction that he realizes he hurt her, and that he regrets saying it that way.  Because that is NOT how he wanted her to find out. They’re friends (& more than that, let’s be real), and he had no intention of telling her that way. What I see the writer’s potentially doing here is setting up an emotional moment where the dams break completely for Tim and Lucy, where they really just need to talk about EVERYTHING. The almost kiss. Tim dating someone else. Their feelings for each other. Literally get it all out there. Which is gonna lead to some of that sweet, sweet tension we love. We shall see. But my point is, Tim was snapping back at his sister in an emotional moment and accidentally hurt Lucy. That makes perfect sense to me, emotionally. 

*Also I’m sorry, when you first start dating someone, do you immediately tell your siblings & your friends? I usually don’t until I’m sure about a person, but maybe I’m just weird? This is what I figured when it came to Tim not telling people he’s dating Ashley. Or maybe he doesn’t like her that much--or both, it’s NEW. Also in general, Tim is canonically a very private person, so do with that what you will. * 

2) Genny came to Tim at the only time she knew she could actually get him to talk to her about something really, really important. Tim also notoriously avoids strong emotions at all costs, because the poor baby has been through so much. He was ignoring Genny’s texts and calls (which YES, those are his boundaries, and are 100% valid due to the trauma he’s suffered don’t get me wrong), so at work was the only way Genny knew how to reach him. From Genny’s POV, she really needs her brother’s help. Being the only person handling a dying parent is hard enough--but add on the trauma? Oof. You’re probably gonna beg someone for help, even if you know it won’t be easy for the other person to help you either. 

Genny also wants Tim to heal from trauma the way that she has (or is in the midst of). And perhaps she is going about it the wrong way (can’t help someone who doesn’t wanna be helped, amiright?) but when you’ve been through an intense trauma like that, and you see someone you love in pain, are you really gonna stand by and not try to help that person at least a little? You don’t always know “the right way” to go about it. You just do what you think is best at the moment. Maybe that ends up being the wrong thing, but you do the best you can. 

Genny clearly cares about her brother and wants him to heal. We don’t know enough about her to really go in depth into her thoughts, but her coming to Tim at work is not some flippant “hey get over your trauma bro and help dad” thing. Phrases like “stop being so emotional” or “get over it” are typically used in those situations, trust me. 

3) When you see someone you love in pain, it’s only natural to want to see them smile. To see them breathe easier and calm down. Knowing that Tim has family trauma and is clearly uncomfortable with this situation, Lucy tries to lighten the mood with fun conversation here and there. When she realizes that that isn’t working, she stops. Genny kept twisting Lucy’s well-intentioned conversations into ways to get Tim to talk to her, and that’s not Lucy’s fault. When she realizes that this conversation is happening and there is nothing she can do about it, the best she can do is try and be there for Tim in that situation (and y’all know Tim is not a person who likes to let people help him in any way). 

4) Okay. The Tim Test comment. Lemme first ask you this: have you ever had one of those moments where something you’ve never quite understood FINALLY makes sense? 

Lucy is a psychology graduate with two psychiatrist (or psychologist? Can’t remember) parents. I promise she’s been unintentionally (or probably intentionally, too, sometimes) analyzing Tim’s behavior to figure out why he is the way he is. Tim Tests show a really specific behavior of Tim’s that are not in line with the kindness and caring he shows on a regular basis. So of course, Lucy, this little cinnamon roll who is totally in love with this broody but incredibly caring guy who literally dug her out of the ground with his bare hands, is gonna have an ah ha! moment when she realizes why Tim Tests exist. 

You can physically see the moment Lucy realizes she said that aloud. She winces a little, and immediately dismisses the subject before Genny can pry further. Because she knows exactly how Tim is going to take what she just said, even though it is 100% not how she meant it to come out. She totally meant to keep that realization to herself, but words slip out in intense situation and with ah ha! moments, unfortunately. 

~

Now beyond the highly-emotional shop ride, I wanna bring up the differences in emotions and facial expressions when Lucy talks to Tim back at the station.

Lucy openly addresses that she knows she’s crossing a line & to please hear her out -- which first of all, if a huge improvement from when she followed Tim in season 1 to tell him he’d regret helping Isabel. Different situation, sure, but she is clearly stating now that “hey, I know this is crossing a line here and I’m giving you a chance to shut me down before I go on.” 

But of course Tim doesn’t shut her down, because he values her opinion and cares about what she has to say. The tension immediately deflates from his face because he trusts her. He wants to hear what she has to say, because he knows her opinion matters to him. 

Now that emotions are no longer high, Lucy can clearly articulate what she feels about the situation and her advice based on her years of psychological study, and how well she knows Tim. And with emotions no longer high, Tim is willing to listen and let his genuine logic and caring take over instead of his emotions reacting to trauma.  Which is HUGE because Tim, again, is a very “I take care of other people, people don’t take care of me” type of person, because that’s all he’s ever known (Dad. Sister. Isabel. Everyone). So him actually standing there and listening to Lucy’s thoughts and opinion (and uhm, actually taking that advice) is huge to me. 

And then he watches her walk away with hearts in his eyes because he’s like “hahaha how does my wife know me better than I know myself what the fuuuuck.” Genny totally notices that and I want her to bring them up in the next episode so bad. 

~

SO that’s my two sense on this episode. If you disagree, that’s fine! I don’t want to argue with anyone about any of this, but I’m def open to conversations about it. Hope this was helpful to some people though!! 

[asterlark]

ok. samwell college of music au. i wrote all four years let's go babey

eric bittle is this lovely southern tenor (sounds kinda like mitch grassi or ben j pierce) who posts covers (& sometimes originals, but always with neutral or no pronouns because he can't post anything that says he or him ☹) on his youtube channel and has major stage fright but is very talented; he also plays ukulele

he got into samwell college of music on a voice scholarship and his dad doesn’t exactly approve but eric was never the 6′2″ masculine football player he wanted anyway so why not go for his dreams

he auditions for the very competitive samwell men’s contemporary chorus (there’s like 20 choirs; chamber choir, jazz choir, a cappella groups (lax bros do a cappella), combined choirs, etc- smcc does contemporary pop/rock music) and while he’s very very nervous and shaky as he auditions, directors hall & murray see a lot of potential in him (with major grumbling from student director jack)

(the rest of this ridiculously long au under the cut)

the group is small, for a chorus, because the point of the group is not a wall of sound but a focus on all of the very talented guys’ voices coming together in these gorgeous harmonies and basically they’re like one of the best choruses on campus and all the male singers want in

so there’s jack zimmermann, who of course eric knows because everyone knows who he is, he’s the son of bob and alicia zimmermann, both incredibly talented and famous musicians, and basically those genes were in his favor because he’s mega fucking talented

(jack was supposed to sign a recording contract to be in a band with his best friend kent parson when he was 17 but something happened between them and the pressure was too much and jack overdosed on something- there’s so many rumors no one knows what’s real- and kent signed solo in LA & went on to win grammys for his albums about a mysterious ex and jack disappeared for a few years to be a counselor at a music camp and reappears at samwell, knocking everyone’s socks off again like he’d never left, except with a renewed vigor and intenseness that freaks everyone out)

jack is a contemporary writing & production major, freaky talented and sings like a modern day frank sinatra, and he plays like 20 instruments and can read music like breathing air and writes songs like if he stopped he’d die; his music is folksy and mournful and he plays all the instruments on his tracks himself- guitar, piano, strings, drums- it sounds like a full band but nope. just jack. he’s intense

“we all get nicknames in this choir,” justin informs eric on his first day, “we’re those kinda guys.” so he’s bitty, which he finds vaguely offensive (bc he’s not that short!) but still cute, & the rest of the group is introduced to him:

“shitty” knight (voice like colyer) is a musical education major and an enigma of a singer with this awesome, earthy, raspy voice that’s really interesting to listen to and a very.... unique style & look; he writes cheesy but shockingly good raps about social justice topics and he will sing-lecture you if you’ve said something offensive (he also plays banjo)

justin “ransom” oluransi is a music business & management major with an angelic voice you can’t help but listen to; he’s sultry and has an incredible range and does runs like nobody’s business (with a voice like daniel caesar or leslie odom jr UGH)

adam “holster” birkholtz is a voice performance major, wants to be on broadway and it’s all he ever goddamn talks about basically, he’s a belter and has a lot of charisma and starpower and he’ll charm the pants off of you within one note; can also play piano and irritates everyone constantly because his regular volume is like a level 11 (voice like the frontman of my brothers and i combined w/ x ambassadors lead singer)

larissa “lardo” duan is at the local art institute because performing arts is not her jam and she’d much rather paint; she’s a barista at annie’s and supervises open mic nights and keeps the annoying choir dudes from driving away all her patrons

“i’m not even in your dumbass choir,” she says when the group gave her her nickname. holster just told her that she was an honorary member and then started sing-shouting a song at her about how good she is

bitty’s first year is hard because he’s talented and he works hard but he shies away when anyone asks him to sing outside the group and like, he can sing to a camera by himself but being on a stage with everyone looking at you and the sole responsibility of the song on your shoulders is terrifying and no thanks

jack does not. understand this. he’s been performing practically since he came out of the womb and he doesn’t really get performance nerves (what he gets is anxiety about how he did after he gets off stage that follows him home and makes it so he can’t sleep) - so he bothers bitty about it constantly like “you just need practice, you just have to sing by yourself a lot and then you’ll get over it” which like.... that’s true but it’s also hella scary and bitty’s like “no thanks!!!!”

but jack’s annoying and intense so he makes bitty do open mic with him every saturday night and it’s going okay and bitty loves his choir and loves his school and these new friends he’s making and he finally feels comfortable enough to come out to them during his second term

then during their spring choral showcase at the end of his freshman year bitty has a solo and he’s worked really hard on it and he’s feeling good- okay he’s completely freaked out but he’s trying to feel good- but when he gets up on stage there’s so many people and the stage lights are so hot on his face and he flips out a little and maybe he passes out from anxiety and stress right on stage and it’s terrible and he’s so embarrassed and ashamed that he ruined their set at the showcase

of course jack blames himself because “we shouldn’t have given you a solo before you were ready, i misjudged it, i’m sorry” - and they all feel kinda bad bc holy fuck they didn’t know his stage fright was that bad like they didn’t know someone could pass out just by being anxious to sing

he practices all the time over the summer and goes to his local open mic at jack’s insistence and it actually helps a lot because instead of a sea of strangers judging him it’s a bunch of people he knows and they’re all smiling at him and when he finishes his song they cheer for him and it boosts his self-confidence a lot

his sophomore year they have three new members- chris ”chowder” chow (voice like ieuan), an excitable music education major with impressive rapping skills, derek "nursey" nurse (frank ocean or leon bridges type), a songwriting major who can also play violin and guitar, and will ”dex” poindexter (like tom west), a production & engineering major who tried out with chowder bc he needed moral support and didn't expect to get in but impressed the directors with his voice

the year’s going pretty good, bitty’s still pretty scared of singing alone but more confident now and the open mic nights with jack haven’t stopped, so he’s getting better. and one night they’re hanging out at annie’s after closing waiting for lardo to be done so they can walk her home, and bitty suggests that jack sing with him one of these nights, and jack says he doesn’t know any of bitty’s songs and bitty says they can write one together half jokingly but then jack is like “yes.” with that Intense Look

SO they get together a couple days later in jack’s room at the house they all live in together (bitty moved in at the beginning of the year after previous smcc member john johnson called him- how’d he get his number?- and told him he could take his room if he wanted), jack with his guitar and bitty with his ukulele, and it’s a little awkward until bitty says jack should play him one of his songs

and, okay, he doesn’t really know what to expect because the only music jack ever released to the public was that one single he did with kent parson when they were 17 so bitty doesn’t even know if he has anything to play him, but he does- he starts playing these soft, sad notes on the guitar and opens his mouth and sings about being lonely and scared and unsure, about false starts and shaky ground and not knowing where you stand with someone, about expectations and lying awake at night and wishing so hard you were someone else, and bitty watches him sing and just kind of... realizes he’s head over heels for this boy and internally Freaks Out a little

he tries to put that aside and they start to write this song, at first it’s weird because jack’s like “all your songs are love songs i can’t really relate to happy love songs” and bitty’s like “listen... i’ve never even had a boyfriend i just write a bunch of sappy love stuff because it’s not about me it’s about whoever’s listening to it, they’re gonna project their own experiences on my music anyway so it doesn’t matter if it’s my real life or not” and jack’s like “alright while fake af that’s smart and i respect you” (what bitty doesn't say is that he writes about what he really wants which is to fall in love & be in a happy relationship)

they say they’re just gonna write this kinda vague sad song but they both secretly write lines about their actual lives so it ends up being really personal and real and raw for the both of them

they sing the song at open mic that saturday and the crowd at annie’s is never that big but they’ve never got a standing ovation here before, and some girl shouts “MAKE AN ALBUM” (it may or may not be lardo) and they both blush furiously and bitty’s like “... that was really nice, jack” and jack’s like “... yeah it was good good job you’re really getting some confidence out there nice work” (bitty: “THAT’S NOT WHAT I MEANT AAAAH”)

around this time jack’s really thinking about what he’s gonna do when he’s done at samwell, talking with his parents and his agent and looking into different record companies and deciding if he wants to sign with anyone or possibly start his own company- the head of a small company called falcon records in rhode island has been talking to him a lot, and jack talks to bitty about how he thinks it’d be nice to start small, and the record exec georgia and the producer marty had both been really nice and welcoming, and bitty’s so happy for him but also just... sad that he won’t be around jack every day after he graduates

THEN at a haus party celebrating their win of a local choral competition, who shows up but none other than pop star kent parson to Ruin The Fun

bitty sees the way jack pales when kent walks in, notices them disappear upstairs together and feels a little sick worrying about jack but chalks it up to the highly alcoholic concoction shitty and lardo had cooked up but nonetheless decides he’s sick of the party and goes up to his room and hears.... a little too much

and YIKES he’s standing right there and kent parson, pop star, two-time grammy winner, is looking a little rumpled and staring right at him and he puts his hat on and clears his throat and snaps at jack- “hey. well. call me if you reconsider. but good luck with rhode island. ...i’m sure that’ll make your parents proud.” and jack’s shaking, and bitty doesn’t know what to do but jack goes back into his room and bitty’s just kind of standing there like What The Fuck

so.... he kind of stews over winter break but tries not to think about it too much and he and jack text a bit and jack tells him to practice and bitty’s like “oh, you” and jack’s like “im serious” and bitty’s like “>:( it’s christmas”

spring semester starts and they're doing well in competitions and they go to semifinals and then finals for a prestigious collegiate choir competition and the pressure is mounting but they all are so optimistic and really feel like they're on the same page and bitty’s confidence is better than ever and then.... they don't win

jack especially takes it very hard, but then he also has signing to worry about, which everyone helps him with and he decides to sign with falcon records and start work on an album after graduation

speaking of graduation, shitty and jack graduate and it's hard for them but harder for bitty who feels like he's losing jack in a way, he knows how intense jack gets when he's making music and it doesn't feel like he'll have any time for bitty anymore so when they say goodbye bitty goes back to the haus and listens to his and jack's song and just cries

but, like in canon, dadbob has words of wisdom to impart and jack has an "oh" moment and races across campus to kiss bitty

they get together and the next few months are spent with jack working nonstop on his album (which tbh, he'd had many of the songs written already so it's mostly recording and producing) and texting bitty constantly and coming to visit him and playing him demos of all the songs

jack also asks bitty if they can record the song they wrote together & have it as a bonus track on his album & bitty says of course, so when jack visits they set up an impromptu studio and record vocals in the guest bedroom and this deeply personal song they wrote before they were ever together means so much more to them now

and bitty is so happy but so scared and sad too because jack is playing him these songs telling him "they're all for you bits, & a lot of them are about you" and he just doesn't know how he's going to keep all this love inside even though it feels like jack's career is at stake

he tries to shove it down and stay strong though, especially since he's now an upperclassman and they're taking on new members- connor "whiskey" whisk (voice like finneas or the male singer in valley), a music business/ management major who seems to hate bitty's guts and tony "tango" tangredi (like chaz cardigan), a jazz composition major who astounds everybody with his endless questions but also his ridiculously impressive composition skills & naturally perfect pitch (he can also play saxophone??)

i want ford in this au so fuck it she is a composition major with dreams to write scores for musicals and she stars training as a barista at annie's (aka training to corral the smcc)

the pressure of it all proves to be a lot and bitty and jack have their hi, honey moment where bitty's like i can't be this deep in the closet!!! and so they tell the smcc and also jack's label that they're together and that eases things a bit

jack's album comes out to much critical acclaim and shouting in the groupchat ("#1 ON ITUNES BRAHHHHH!!!!!!!!") and several months later, when smcc has already been eliminated from choral competition in an earlier round, jack is nominated for SEVERAL grammys including best album, song of the year, and best new artist

when the time comes he takes his parents and bitty on the red carpet which, everyone keeps being like "who are you here with jack?" and he's like "my family and my good friend :)" and yes it is awkward

jack wins... all three awards. it's the comeback everyone is stoked to see and when his third win is announced, he and bitty are so elated that they kiss before he goes to accept the award

his speech is basically just "um... wow. thank you. i just kissed my boyfriend on live tv. this is amazing and i'm so humbled. i'd like to thank my boyfriend and georgia and marty and my parents and my friends and my boyfriend"

obviously the press has a FIELD DAY with this but bitty & jack are honestly vibing and so happy that it doesn't matter untiiiillll bitty's mom calls and he has to tell her "mama i'm gay and i'm going on tour with jack this summer okloveyoubye"

the last few months of bitty's junior year pass quickly and he's voted student director which is a huge honor considering how much he struggled with stage fright and confidence & how he'll now be stepping into ransom & holster's shoes

r&h and lardo all graduate (the smcc basically crashes the art school graduation and all scream when lardo gets her diploma lmao), which is a bittersweet occasion and they all do a bit of tearing up

that summer bitty goes on tour across the u.s. & canada with jack and his touring band (snowy is a bassist, tater is a drummer and poots does backing guitar, he also brings nursey to play violin on a few songs) as well as georgia who's there to manage logistics

and tour is so fun & chaotic with many bi and rainbow flags in the audience that end up thrown on stage and draped around jack's neck and they spend so many nights in the bus drinking and laughing and fooling around on the guitars and bitty's uke and exploring new cities bitty has never been to before and it's the freest bitty has felt in a long time

summer ends though, and jack leaves for the uk/europe leg of the tour, and with the new school year brings a few new members- river "bully" bullard (voice like gregory alan isakov), a music therapy major who draws his own cover art for his songs, lukas "louis" landmann (like jr jr), an electronic production and design major with a penchant for EDM, and johnathan "hops" hopper (like keiynan lonsdale), a film scoring major who wants to write music for movies and video games

bitty meets and befriends some of the other student directors- shruti, sd of the women’s contemporary chorus; sharon, sd of the chamber choir; and edgar, sd of jazz ensemble (even chad l., sd of the all-male a cappella group)

senior year passes similarly to the comic; coach visits and sees one of bitty’s competitions, jack comes to madison for christmas, smcc does well in competition and goes to regionals etc

however… bitty keeps putting off and putting off gathering the songs for his senior recital

he has a hard time doing that because he’s so focused on the group and making sure they’re performing well and as they advance in competition, everything else starts to fall away

eventually the rest of the smcc has to lock away his uke and change his youtube password and FORCE him to choose songs for it and start preparing because he cannot graduate without doing this recital and doing well on it

he chooses (of course) a beyonce song, a few of his own songs, an ellie goulding song, and an adele song

with all that his breath hitches and his hands shake before he goes on stage, he does really well and his voice instructor prof atley tears up a little in the audience as does his mom

meanwhile smcc goes to semifinals, then finals, of the national collegiate choral competition they participate in

and i imagine bitty faces somewhat less homophobia in this au because i mean, he’s in the performing arts, but i think it’s still there and he also faces a good amount of classism from richer students and performers who think they’re better because they had the resources and money to be performing professionally from a very young age, and he has been practicing via filming himself on a shitty camcorder and posting it to youtube

but they still get there! and the national finals are fucking HUGE and a big deal and a little overwhelming

bitty’s stage fright is Present because this is the biggest stage and the biggest stakes he's ever had and he has a big solo in one of their songs so if he fucks up, he fucks up a national championship for his whole group and school

luckily though, when he steps on the stage with his best friends and sees his boyfriend and family and smcc alums in the audience and they perform their first song, a high-energy pop medley that always gets the crowd going, everything seems to melt away and it's just him living in this moment and singing his heart out

when it gets to the next song and his solo, he forgets to be nervous and belts it out, getting screams of approval from the audience when he finishes

(dex and nursey do have a duet together that they had to practice for many long nights in the practice rooms alone but that's neither here nor there)

their time on stage seems to last both hours and no time at all and then they're done, the crowd gives them a standing ovation and it's at least 30% r&h & shitty's hooting and hollering and jack's enthusiastic clapping that makes bitty & the others beam with pride

then it's just waiting, giddy and nervous beyond belief in their green room, for the judging to be over

after what feels like forever they're back on stage, arms linked together waiting and hoping for their name to be called and it is, they win and it feels like years have built up to this moment, and bitty tears up because years ago when he was fainting from anxiety at having to perform in front of people he never could've imagined that he'd do this, that he'd be the student director that led them to a championship

they get the trophy and a ridiculous amount of flowers from their loved ones and they all are just in giddy disbelief that this is happening, they're national champs!!! they are the best choir boys in the nation!!

they come home and the rest of the school year passes by so quickly that it's very suddenly graduation and bitty can't believe his college career at samwell is over 😢

(he and ollie and wicky take pictures together, o&w talk about how excited they are to devote full time attention to their band & wedding planning and bitty's just like wait you're gay??)

bitty got plenty of offers from record companies but he likes his freedom of creativity and he has a built in fanbase from doing youtube all these years so he decides to make an album independently (jack helps him produce & master it 🥰)

when bitty's album comes out about a year later, full of bops about being gay and in love and having struggled but come out the other side more confident than ever, it doesn't get any grammy nominations- and he didn't expect or need that.

what it does do is it resonates. it makes the rounds in youtube and queer internet circles; people his age reach out to him saying this is the music they wish they had as a kid and kids reach out to him saying he's a role model and they're so glad to have his music to listen to. his album is written about as an underrated gem that shines with queer brilliance and is sure to start a party when it comes on.

his parents may not fully understand the road he's chosen for himself but they're still so proud and promote the album as hard as any of his loyal fans (especially the one country-inspired song on the album that he wrote and dedicated to them).

and jack, jack who saw this album from its infancy to its release date, who took the film photo that ended up being the album cover, who worked with bitty to make sure his vision was realized exactly how he wanted it to be, is proud beyond words.

jack starts using his semi-abandoned twitter again to tweet "stream [album name]" every day and bitty retweets them sometimes, with just a "this boy. ❤"

and they're happy. they're good. they have come so far and they are reaping the rewards of all the hard work they put in to make the music that they truly love.

the end :)

[jensengirl83]

You’ll Accompany Me-Chapter 3

Jensen x reader

Word Count-2875

Warnings- Language, Fluff, Mutual pining idiots

A/N- I want to say thank you to @deangirl93​​ for being my beta, and I need to thank @wonder-cole​​ and @flamencodiva​​. Thank you guys for giving me the push to write this series when I didn’t want to some days. I appreciate you so much!

Song in this chapter is Carried Away by George Strait

“Are you ready for this?” she asked, his hand in hers as they stood outside the set. 

“As ready as I’ll ever be,” he sighed, squeezing her hand as he walked onto the lot. 

Today was the first day of filming for Jensen, and to say he was nervous was an understatement. He honestly thought he would throw up. Being the lead on a show for fifteen years and then coming to a new one as the newest cast member was a completely new ballgame. He didn’t know what to expect or how he was going to be received. He was thankful that he had Y/N as his PA. This was hard enough, and he couldn’t imagine what it would feel like to not have her on set with him. 

Y/N was nervous as well. Working on the set of Supernatural was such a laid back work environment, and she had no clue how they did things at The Boys. She hoped that this show and the crew were just as welcoming and easy to work with as her previous job. If not, this was going to be a long season. Her nerves were calmed a little when a sweet blonde walked up and introduced herself. 

“Hey! I’m Erin. I can’t wait to work with you, Jensen. And I’ve heard from Eric that you are one hell of a PA, Y/N,” she smiled brightly, shaking both of their hands. 

“Thank you. I’m excited to bring Soldier Boy to life,” Jensen smiled back. 

“Thank you, Erin. I try to do my best and give one hundred and ten percent on my job,” Y/N stated, returning the blonde’s grin. 

“You do more than your best, darlin’. You’re the best damn PA I’ve ever seen,” Jay wrapped his arm around her waist and pulled her in for a side hug. 

“I didn’t know you guys were a thing,” Chace, who played The Deep, walked up to introduce himself. 

“We’re not together. We’re just good friends,” Y/N said flatly, making Jensen’s heart pang a little at her words. He didn’t know that she was saying it because she wanted to have a good start with the cast as his personal assistant. She didn’t want it to start off as everyone thinking she was getting paid to be his girlfriend and PA. 

“Well, lucky me,” Chace winked before walking away, making Y/N blush and Jensen turn red for other reasons. He didn’t want to start his job off hating a coworker because he was jealous, so he pushed down the feeling and headed to wardrobe to get his day started. 

Y/N noticed that Jensen had walked away without a word. She didn’t understand what had him so upset. No one else may have noticed, but she did. She knew him too well not to see the shift in his mood and how his stance changed before he left. She rolled her eyes as she made her way to his trailer to get ready to do her job. He would be joining her soon, and she needed to check his itinerary to make sure she would get him where he needed to be and do it on time. As expected, he was walking through his trailer door around half an hour later. 

“What’s up with you?” 

“What are you talking about? I’m fine,” he deadpanned, walking to the mini-fridge to get water. 

“Bullshit. I know you, Jay. You walked away without saying anything, and I could see the pissy look on your face,” she quipped, her hand on her hip. 

“No, I had somewhere I needed to be, and I went. As far as the pissy face, I’m not mad, so I guess it’s just the nerves,” he mumbled, walking to sit on the couch before he was needed on set. 

“Okay, whatever you say.” 

“Y/N, babe, can we please not argue. I’m so fucking nervous right now, and I need my best friend. Not to be fighting with her,” his eyes pleaded with her. 

“I’m sorry, Jay. I thought I had done something to piss you off, and I couldn’t figure out what I had done,” she sighed, flopping down on the couch beside him. 

“You didn’t do anything, darlin’. I promise,” He kissed the top of her head, not mentioning that she hadn’t done anything wrong, but the flirting with Chace had his blood boiling. 

“Good. Now, let’s get you on set to make all the women swoon, Soldier Boy,” she chuckled, winking at him as she stood and reached for his hand. 

“Are you ever going to let that go?” 

“Nah, don’t think so,” she said, bumping her shoulder into him. 

“Fine. Lead the way, ma’am.” 

So far, filming had gone well. Jensen had gotten along with everyone and actually shared quite a few laughs. It was nice to see that this set was laid back and carefree like Supernatural was. Knowing there was still room to goof off and have fun had eased his nerves. It was now lunchtime, and Y/N had gone to get food for everyone. As he sat down at the table, he noticed he had a few missed calls from Danneel. Panic set in as he thought that maybe something was wrong with the kids. He dialed her number and waited for her to answer. 

“Hello?” 

“Dee, what’s wrong?” 

“Nothing…,” she said with a confused tone to her voice. 

“Then why do I have so many missed calls?” 

“I wanted to ask you why you thought you couldn’t tell me that you and Y/N were dating.” 

“What the hell are you talking about, Danneel?” 

“Hold on,” she huffed, “Check your texts.” 

He rolled his eyes as he opened his messages. He didn’t understand why she couldn’t just tell him what was going on. He went from frustrated to shocked as he looked at the picture on his phone. It was a pic of when he and Y/N were on the cruise. He had her face in his hands, leaning in, his face inches from hers. Out of context, it looked as if he was getting ready to kiss her. So, he knew why Daneel had called and why she thought like she did. 

“That picture is out of context, Dee. She fell and busted her nose on my chest, and I was making sure she was okay,” he growled, aggravated that their trip was now being splattered all over the tabloids. 

“You sure, Jensen? That looks awful cozy to me.” 

“Damn it. Y/N and I are just friends, Dee. That’s all it is and will ever be!” he shouted in frustration, knowing this conversation could’ve waited. What he didn’t realize was that Y/N had just turned the corner and heard the last of the conversation. 

“Here,” she dropped his food on the table, and without another word, Y/N sat down across from him to eat, not even looking up at him as he ended the call with Danneel. That’s all she needed to hear to know that her feelings were unrequited and that she needed to move on, “Actually, I’m going to go eat in the trailer. I need a break.” 

“I can come with you,” he smiled, standing to join her. 

“No. That’s okay. You have to be back on set soon, and I just need a few minutes of quiet. I’m trying to get a headache.” 

“Why would you try to get a headache? That doesn’t sound like a good idea,” He laughed but noticed quickly that she wasn’t laughing with him. 

“Eat your lunch, Jay. I’ll be back soon,” she whispered, turning and leaving him standing there looking after her in bewilderment. 

Once she made it in the trailer, she fought back tears. Hearing him tell Dee that all they would ever be was friends had cut her to the bone. She had realized quickly that she was falling for her best friend, but it was obvious now that he didn’t share her feelings. She sat down on the couch and put her head in her hands when she remembered something that made her sit up with a start. Just this morning he had called her babe. Sitting right here, on the same couch, he had called her babe. 

She couldn’t stop the smile that spread across her face. He had probably told Dee that so there wouldn’t be any issues with the kids. It would also explain his sudden change in demeanor when Chace had flirted with her earlier. It was then that she decided not to give up but watch his reactions and words closer. With a renewed sense of hope, she made her way back to set, praying that her instincts would turn out to be right. 

Jensen was on set playing his role, but his head was somewhere else. It wasn’t like Y/N to just walk off and leave him like that. They had always eaten lunch together. The entire fifteen years of Supernatural, they had never missed eating together. Now, she had walked away to leave him standing there, watching her as she disappeared towards the trailers. He was wracking his brain trying to figure out what he had done to upset her. When the director called cut for a break, it hit him. She had to have heard his conversation with Daneel. The only reason that would’ve made her react like that was if hearing that he said they would never be anything more than friends had hurt her feelings. He couldn’t contain the smile as he thought she may actually be falling for him, as he had finally admitted to himself that he had already fallen and hard. He had decided to watch her closer, watch her reactions and facial expressions. He had to know if she shared his growing feelings. He had to, and he was determined to figure it out. 

“What’s got you in such deep thought?” 

“Shit! You scared me. How’s your headache?” he asked as he watched Y/N walk around to his side to sit down next to him. 

“Better. Sorry, I just left like that. I needed to catch my breath and get a little time to rest,” she huffed, still feeling a little hurt at his previous words. 

“I’m glad you’re feeling better, sweetheart. You don’t have to apologize for needing space. I get it,” he smiled, squeezing her hand, glad to have her back with him on set. 

“Thanks, Jay. How’s it been going so far?” 

“Not too bad. I’m still nervous as hell, though,” he chuckled, making her smile at him. 

“You’re going to be great. You’re going to kick this role in its ass,” she laughed, Jensen joining her. 

“I’m glad you have so much faith in me,” he sighed. 

“Hey, look at me, Jay,” she reached to grab his chin and turn his face to look at her, “I know that this is a lot different than playing Dean, but you are an amazing actor. You can do this and any other role you may take. I have all the faith in the world in that, in you. And, I’ll always be behind you in anything you do. You’re my best friend, Jensen. I’ve always got you, understand?” 

He was in awe of her at that moment. She always knew exactly what to say to make him feel better, feel like he could do anything. He had no words. She had warmed his heart and made him speechless. This was a new feeling, and he knew what it was. He was in love with her, his best friend, the one woman who would always have his back no matter what. He pulled her into his arms, holding her to him as tight as he could without hurting her, placing a kiss on her head. When she pulled back to look at him, he almost gasped. The look she was giving him was one he had never seen before. It looked like the way Dee used to look at him when they were in love. In love. Did she really love him too? Was it possible that this was going in the direction he wanted? 

“Jay, they’re calling for you back on set,” her beautiful voice pulled him back from his reverie. Now he was thinking her voice was beautiful? Yeah, he was head over heels for her, and it wasn’t going to go away. 

“Sorry, darlin’. I was lost in thought.” 

“About what?” 

“Oh, nothing important, babe. Just my nerves still plaguing me,” he smiled down at her before kissing her on the forehead and walking back on set. 

Y/N sat there in shock for a few minutes. The way he had looked at her hadn’t gone unnoticed. She was giddy with the thought that her feelings just may be reciprocated, but she wasn’t going to do anything about that now. She was going to keep watching and listening. The fact that he had called her babe again wasn’t lost on her, but she wanted to let whatever was happening to happen in its own time. She didn’t want to jump the gun and possibly ruin what just may end up being her happy ending. She was still all smiles as she went back on set to work, silently praying she was seeing everything for what it was and not wishful thinking. 

Y/N was in the kitchen that evening cooking dinner after they got home from filming. She was still hopeful that she wasn’t seeing what was happening between her and Jensen the wrong way. She knew that she was in love with him and wanted nothing more than for him to feel the same way. All she could do was keep her eyes and ears open and hope for the best. As she was finishing up dinner, he walked up behind her and rested his head on her shoulder, her smile widening with the close contact. 

“What smells so good, short stack?” 

“Dinner, obviously,” she sassed, laughing at his eye roll. 

“My little smart ass,” he smirked, kissing her cheek and standing up straight, “I’m going to shower while you finish dinner. Unless you need help.” 

“No, go shower. I’ve got this.” 

“Okay. I’ll be done soon.” 

She watched him walk away towards the hallway heading to the bathroom, and she couldn’t pull her eyes away from that cute ass he had. She shook her head and laughed to herself. She had it bad for him, and there’s no denying it. She reached over and hit shuffle on her playlist, letting the music fill the room as she finished her cooking. She hadn’t realized how long she had been singing and dancing, but it was long enough that he had finished his shower and was now watching her from the doorway, a look of adoration and longing on his face. He didn’t know what had come over him, but he walked straight to her, spinning her into his arms and beginning to dance with her in their kitchen, singing along with the lyrics. 

I don't take my whiskey to extremes

Don't believe in chasin' crazy dreams

My feet are planted firmly on the ground

But, darlin', when you come around

She was getting lost in his voice and the way he was holding her as they swayed around the room. They had danced together before, but this felt different. The tone is his voice and the way he held her, it was all so much different than before. 

I get carried away by the look, by the light in your eyes

Before I even realize the ride I'm on, baby, I'm long gone

I get carried away, nothin' matters but bein' with you

Like a feather flyin' high up in the sky on a windy day

I get carried away

As the song ended, he didn’t let his grip on her go. They stood silent, looking into each other’s eyes as a new song played. Neither of them could’ve told you what song it was as they were solely focused on each other. He reached up to cup her cheek, running his thumb along her cheekbone, as he leaned in, but just like on the boat, he chickened out and kissed her on the forehead. 

“Umm...I’ll get the rest of dinner set up if you want to take a shower,” he muttered, clearing his throat. 

“Yeah...I think I need a shower. I’ll be out soon, okay?” she whispered, not sure what had just happened. 

“Take your time, darlin’,” he smiled, squeezing her tight one last time before he released her and walked to the stove. 

He stood and watched her walk away through his peripheral’s, silently cursing himself for getting too carried away. He honestly thought she felt the same way, but he had to be sure before he did anything that may ruin a friendship he knew he couldn’t do without. She was his world, and even if it ended up that she would only ever be his friend, he would have to live with that. Because being without her wasn’t an option he could ever live with.

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[loki-stories]

𝐿𝑜𝑘𝑖 ℎ𝑢𝑟𝑡/𝑐𝑜𝑚𝑓𝑜𝑟𝑡 𝑜𝑛𝑒𝑠ℎ𝑜𝑡

Pairing: Loki x GN Reader OneShot

Summery: You comfort Loki after what happened in New York

Warnings: Panic attack, Loki falling off the bifrost (suicide attempt), mentions of torture

~ A panic attack rendered him upon the hard ground, rocking back and forward and sheltering his face with his hands. His thoughts had become so scattered that normal functioning was impossible. He caught flashes of memories, of things he’d forced himself to forget.

Loki’s arm was straining to hold onto Gungnir, and his blood pounded in his ears, every beat marking how many moments he had been hanging over the abyss. If he let go, then that would likely be the end of him.

“I...I could have done it father!” He cried, looking up and silently begging his father to tell him that he could have done it too, to tell him he was good enough. He was too afraid to trust his own instincts for he feared that he would decide on death for himself, so he clung onto the hope that was his father, and for some scrap of approval. A nod, anything. For once in his life, surely his father would tell him he was enough...

“I could have done it,” he cried again, “For you, for all of us!”

“No, Loki.”

He looked up, shock freezing him in place, at the low and calmness of his father’s voice, despite the heavy disappointment that lay there. Odin was disappointed in him, again, and he even had the indecency to be calm about it, as usual.

So his father thought him that weak, after all.

He isn’t my father, he reminded himself.

“Loki!” He heard Thor call out to him, but he’d made up his mind.

His grip slackened, his fingers easing off Gungnir, and he fell...descending into an unknown abyss. Away from light, away from anything good, anything he’d ever known.

He fell further and further away, deeper into the dark parts of space.

It certainly hadn’t been misnamed. It was so dark here, so so dark, and he feels as if the darkness is bleeding into his lungs, filling him with it.

His eyes sting, tears streaming, and so he closes them.

He’s reverted to his Jotun skin.

He feels colder. He wonders whether that’s because he’s in the middle of space, or because he’s a frost giant. He decides he doesn’t care.

He wonders as he falls,

how far he will go

before it all ends.

He sees you first, as the panic attack subsides. You approached him slowly in the cover of night, the cold white moon and New York city’s distant twinkling lights the only luminosity around you both. You wore a long coat and hood against the chilly air. Your shining eyes surveying him cautiously. Cautious, but not afraid. He thought. How interesting.

You had only your sword strapped to her back, but that was a necessity, and you were otherwise not armed.

He wondered how he looked to you, standing out in the cold, a little way from the city he’d destroyed today, while trying to take it over, trying to prove he could. He stood in the shadows, and he knew he must look dreadful; that beast had beat him into the ground, and his forehead was still bleeding. And the muzzle wasn’t flattering either, (or comfortable.) He knew he had dark bags under his sunken eyes from dehydration and lack of sleep, and his paled skin still had the many marks of his torture. If that wasn’t enough, the cold had brought a light blue tint to his skin, vaguely showing his heritage.

“Loki,” you said softly, and his eyes snapped back to you. You certainly didn’t sound angry. Or disgusted. That was also interesting.

Stay away from me. He would have snarled, if he were able, but both would know he didn’t mean it.

“Why did you do this?” You whispered. He didn’t reply. He couldn’t, he was wearing a muzzle. Was you that stupid? He thought. Maybe it had been a theoretical question.

You had been working with S.H.I.E.L.D. for many years, and you’d met Loki a handful of times when he came to earth representing his father and Thor. The two of you were good friends, and he wrote you letters sometimes.

Over the last few years you’d started working with Jane Foster and Eric Selvig and Darcy Lewis, and had met Thor when he was banished to earth.

And then Loki had sent down the Destroyer in his anguish, and you hadn’t even had a chance to talk to him. Then he showed up here a year later with his army, and you’d been recruited by the Avengers to help stop him.

Reaching out slowly, you lightly touched his arm. He flinched, and your eyes met. “Are you hurt?” You whispered. He was, in more ways then you thought. He just narrowed his eyes menacingly in response. It didn’t seem to shun you, even when he let his Jotun form take over completely, red eyes bleeding into blue skin. You definitely didn’t seem frightened, he saw. He didn’t think he could deal with your disgust. Your eyes widened, but you weren’t shocked. He looked different, yes, but having heard about his Jotun heritage, you had expected this. And he was actually very beautiful with blue skin.

His cheeks reddened in colour at the intensity of your stare. You seemed to be looking him over quite thoroughly, searching this skin he wore with her eyes.

“I did not realise how beautiful you were like this.” You whispered softly,

and it caught him off guard. He hasn’t expected that. His head turned to her sharply, eyes narrowed. He hoped you meant those words. Because that meant that you weren’t repulsed by him, right?

He didn’t know why he wanted you to approve of him, you were just a mortal after all. But maybe if you thought he was enough he wouldn’t need the approval of Odin or Thor or anyone else. Maybe then he’d be enough. What was he thinking? It was those shining eyes of yours, he thought. They’re distracting.

Am I? He asked quietly in return, only his thoughts giving away his inner feelings. There was no anger in his message like he’d hoped. Jeez, he hated being vulnerable.

“You have no idea.” You replied, reading his mind like you always did. An interesting power, you had. You touched his face gently, your fingertips brushing his skin.

He shivered, involuntarily leaning into her touch. Slowly, you lifted her other hand to his cheek, and he felt the click of a key as the muzzle was taken off his face, the sharp mouth guard coming away from his chapped lips. He frowned, watching you cautiously.

You smiled at him gently, leaning in, inches from his face, and softly brushed your lips against his. He gasped, and his eyes fluttered back to yours. You smirked in response, maintaining his eye contact and kissing his jaw with the same soft passion. It felt so foreign to him, but oh, it was glorious. Despite his desire for her touch, he pulled away.

“What are you doing?” He hissed.

“Kissing you.”

“Why would you want to kiss me anyway?” He tried to shout, hoping you’d jump. Instead, you looked back up at him calmly, but your eyebrows were creased with concern.

“I’m a frost giant, remember? I’m a monster. I tried to kill everyone. I—”

Oh, how he wished he could have remained impassive like always. It was so simple, he’d done it all his life. It was impossible for people to read him, everyone had also thought so.

Even the torture hadn’t gotten him to break down, not properly.

And yet, here you were, a mortal, standing before him with no weapons or any sign you indicated to harm him, and he broke down crying. It was the worst humiliation, he thought, to be so vulnerable before you and with such little prompting. But in seconds you’d wrapped her arms around him and held him to you gently, whispering to him that it was alright, and that you was so, so sorry. That made him feel a little better, the aftershock of the panic attack fading away with your touches.

“Why?” He whispered.

“Because you are worth it. You are enough. I’m sorry I never told you so. I’m sorry I didn’t realise how much you needed to hear it.”

He just clings to you, soaking up your whispers that it’s going to be okay.

Maybe it will.

[bbangsoonie]

to my ex (best friend)

member: juyeon genre: fluff?? word count: 2,175 synopsis: thanks to kevin’s tiktok obsession, you end up sending out a google form to all of the people you used to call your best friends. one response brings back forgotten memories and feelings.

“I can’t believe I’m stuck with the Canada boys for another 4 years,” you jokingly groaned.

Today was officially move-in day and the beginning of your college life. After roughly unpacking in your dorm room, you went over to Jacob and Kevin’s room to hang out. Jacob had his guitar out and was playing random chords for you to hum along to. Kevin, on the other hand, was glued to his phone. TikTok had been his new obsession and he was constantly watching the endless feed of videos.

“Hey, we are the iconic trio,” Jacob insisted.

“Wow Eric is basically a TikTok star now,” Kevin commented as he showed you two the video that popped up on his For You page. “This kid is stuck on straight TikTok though.”

Jacob laughed, although he was unsure of what that exactly meant. Knowing this, you chuckled at his efforts to appease his roommate.

“Hey, hey, hey,” Kevin tugged at your arm in an urgent matter. “Can we also do that Google form trend?”

“Uhh which one?” you asked.

“The one where you send out a Google form to your ex-crushes or ex-friends,” he turned to Jacob to further explain. “So basically it’s a questionnaire either revealing your past feelings or confronting what happened between old friends.”

“I don’t know, man. Our high school years were pretty vanilla. We didn’t even have that many crushes,” you shrugged.

“Hmm I mean we did have that huge friend group freshman year. It’s a shame it kinda fell apart as time went by,” Jacob reminisced.

You were reminded of the people you once considered to be your best friends. It was you and twelve other boys, which should’ve hinted at the inevitable end. The beginning of the end started with Hyunjoon transferring to a different school. Then, as you all grew older and high school drama kicked in, you were the topic of many rumors. People didn’t understand—or like—that you were the only girl in an all male friend group. Girls called you all sorts of names and spread ridiculous lies about you that spread to neighboring schools.

No one in the group had any bad blood with each other. Life just pulled you in different directions and you simply grew apart. Some joined the dance team, which consumed most of their time. Some joined varsity teams and focused on getting a sports scholarship. Some became trainees and lost contact with everyone. Some, like you and the Canada boys, became busy with college applications. Everyone had their own reasons and there were no hard feelings.

“Wouldn’t it be fun to finally find out what they all think? Get closure before we start our journey as college students?” Kevin asked, eagerly.

“I guess,” you agreed.

“Alright! Then we’ll play rock paper scissors to choose who has to send them out,” Kevin declared.

Your unlucky streak, without fail, won you the embarrassment honor of writing and sending the form to all your former friends. You grumbled, displeased at the fact that you were now the scapegoat fulfilling Kevin’s curiosity. Nevertheless, you searched through your contact list to find everyone’s phone numbers and sent them the link, hoping that no one changed their number.

By the next day, you received responses from all 10 of them. The trio reconvened in Jacob and Kevin’s room to review the answers. The first few were essentially what you all expected. They explained how life became hectic and your paths just crossed less and less as your interests and goals changed.

When you came across Haknyeon’s comment, you couldn’t help but laugh.

“You still owe me ice cream for lending you my pen during our final exam,” you read aloud. You recalled the day; you were freaking out about your misplaced pencil case and he had kindly offered his extra pen.

“What else would you expect from the foodie?” Kevin laughed.

By the time you got to Juyeon’s response, however, you froze. Curious as to what caught you so off guard, Jacob took the laptop from your lap and gasped. Kevin peeped over Jacob’s shoulder and his jaw dropped after reading it. He immediately looked at you, wondering how you were taking the information.

You were confused. He had been the object of your love and attention for a good three years in high school. Not wanting anyone to find out, you had swallowed those feelings and the Canada duo were the only ones to ever catch on. You and Juyeon used to be extremely close—even closer than you and Kevin or you and Jacob. He always quietly took care of you and the two of you shared everything with each other until one day he suddenly became distant. Without an explanation, he left your side and never returned. You just assumed he wanted to stop being friends. It hurt but you didn’t want to force a one-sided friendship so you stopped reaching out to him.

“What the heck?” you finally blurted.

Jacob slowly closed the laptop shut, eyeing Kevin who seemed way too giddy. He felt uneasy, not knowing if this was a good thing.

“So your first love was requited,” Kevin said smugly. “I told you so.”

“Okay you had absolutely no facts to back up your assumption back then,” you argued.

“What did I tell you? My gut is never wrong.”

“Yeah but he also just cut me off out of nowhere. How else was I supposed to interpret that?”

“Clearly not the way we did.”

Jacob smacked his hand over Kevin’s mouth to shut him up. He knew how much pain Juyeon’s name brought you. You didn’t show it but you still had a soft spot for him.

“It’s okay, Jacob. Whatever feelings I had for Juyeon—good and bad—are history. You don’t have to walk on eggshells around me,” you assured. “Besides, this doesn’t even mean anything. He wrote all of this in past tense. He’s just clarifying the reason why our friendship ended. Like Kevin said, I guess I finally got closure.”

“Closure? My brilliant idea has brought forth an opportunity for you to rekindle your love!” Kevin exclaimed excitedly.

“No. No way,” you shook your head. “The past is in the past. We are living very separate lives now.”

“Oh stop quoting Frozen and just try texting him,” he rolled his eyes. “Jacob and I never told you but he’s actually attending the same university as us.”

This prompted a very loud “What?” from you. Jacob buried his head in his hands, groaning. He was definitely going to get an earful.

“You’re bound to run into him eventually. So just take the initiative and face things head on,” Kevin advised. “Won’t that be less awkward than coincidentally meeting him after ignoring his response to the form you sent him?”

“And who’s the one who made me send it?” you glared, puffing your cheeks.

“You’re going to do it anyway so just hurry up and pretend you have no choice but to listen to me,” he snickered.

“Moon Hyungseo!”

At your use of his full Korean name, his eyes widened in fear and he jumped up to run away, barely avoiding your slap. Watching the scene in front of him, Jacob laughed. He had secretly hoped that you would reconnect with Juyeon as well. He knew how much you used to like him.

That night, you found yourself staring at Juyeon’s contact on your phone. Your heart raced at the thought of talking to him again. It had been years since you two last spoke and so many things had changed since then. You were no longer oblivious and clumsy teenagers. You knew each other’s past selves but didn’t know a thing about each other’s current selves. You were afraid that even if you became friends again, it would be too different. It was why you never harbored any hope for things to go back to “normal” with him. You couldn’t be disappointed if you never had any expectations to begin with.

Still, you took a leap of courage and sent a simple “hey” before you could chicken out. His reply was almost instant, which startled you.

You: hey

Juyeon: Hi Y/n

You: would it be weird if i asked to meet? i think we have a few things to talk about.. if that’s ok with you

Juyeon: Sure! How’s tomorrow at noon? We could talk over a meal at the school cafeteria

You: sounds good. see you then :)

You wanted to scream into your pillow. The awkwardness was driving you crazy but you were still looking forward to seeing him. He still had you wrapped around his finger and you hated it. But you still loved him.

The next day, your clothes were flung around all over your bed. You had rummaged through your entire closet to find an outfit you were satisfied with, resulting in you running a bit late.

Juyeon had arrived at the cafeteria early. He was so nervous that he couldn’t just stay still in his dorm. After all these years, he was finally confronting everything that he had concealed. He always felt guilty about the way he treated you and he was glad he could finally explain and apologize.

When he saw you approach him, he couldn’t stop himself from staring. It had only been a summer since he last saw you at graduation but your beauty still amazed him. He gulped, standing up to greet you when you reached the table.

The first few minutes were spent eating in awkward silence. Unable to bear it any longer, he cleared his throat to begin the conversation.

“Um so I guess my response to that form was a lot to unpack, huh?” he said sheepishly.

You almost choked on the food, surprised by his straightforwardness. He passed you your cup of water as you coughed.

“Yeah..” you mumbled.

“I want to start by saying I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to hurt you. I think I always had feelings for you. At first, it was subtle. I just liked spending time with you. I liked making you smile. I was content with just being friends. You know me, I’m the type to just watch my crush from afar. Then, as we got older, those feelings grew to be bigger than I could handle. I began to get greedy. And I felt that I could literally do anything for you. That’s when I realized how hard I fell for you and that scared me. I was afraid of ruining our friendship but I was also scared of my own feelings. So I started distancing myself from you. It’s a poor excuse but back then, I was a coward,” he confessed.

Juyeon had always been a very direct person. He never really beat around the bush and you liked that about him. That hadn’t changed about him but yet it still surprised you.

“If I could go back in time, I wish I could have done things differently. I knew I was hurting you but I thought that after all that’s happened, continuing to be friends with you would make you the center of gossip again. I didn’t want to make your life any harder,” he added.

“Juyeon, I cared about you a lot more than I did about those stupid rumors.”

“I know that now. But high schooler me was terrified of you finding out about my feelings.”

You contemplated on whether or not you should bring up your own past feelings. You wanted to reciprocate his honesty but were worried that it would be unnecessary. You took a deep breath and decided on the first option.

“You know, I was also terrified of having you find out about my feelings,” you admitted. Your words shocked him as he tried to figure out what you were implying.

“Wait, you.. You liked me too?” he gaped, making you blush.

“Let’s uh stop talking about that now,” you said as your cheeks reddened to a darker shade.

“While we’re opening up..” he looked at you with hesitance. “Is there any chance you still feel the same way now?”

His question caught you entirely off guard. You blankly stared at him, wondering if you heard him correctly.

“Juyeon, this is the first proper conversation we’ve had in years,” you deadpanned.

“That’s not an immediate no,” he lit up.

You wanted to laugh at his simplicity. His childlike innocence was still the same. It warmed your heart to see that he hadn’t changed as much as you were afraid he would. Yet, the fear in the back of your mind remained. You weren’t confident that you could even resume your friendship with him. At your silence, he tried to lighten the mood.

“So then would being friends again be okay with you?” he asked.

“I guess we could try,” you slowly nodded, bringing a bright smile to his face. You didn’t notice that your expression reflected his.

“Great,” he grinned happily.

And that was the beginning of a new story between you two.

bonus:

[babyyweebbitch]

Please stay with me — Remake

Soo I reread the one I did before and I wanted to remake it because it wasn’t as good (heres the first one) I hope I can make this one better 😭😭 Also, grab tissues. I made this TOO sad

TW // death ; blood ; funeral ; severe depression & relapse

summary: Chris Redfield and his wife were on a mission a seven months after Piers’ death. His wife has been Captain of their team ever since that day.

Seven months ago Piers Nivans died in order to save Chris’ life and for the BSAA. Chris was still fucked up after that day and he thinks about it almost every day. He took a break from the BSAA since his wife made him. It wasn’t a very long one though, he missed being at work, he missed his coworkers and he missed her

Chris resigned as Captain and let his wife replace him. It was a very emotional day not not only for her and Chris but for the entire BSAA because they’ve never had a woman as Captain before. She was a good captain probably even better than Chris. Despite her height, weight and basically being the youngest on that team at 28. She was undoubtedly the best captain in years

Her team along with Chris were on a mission. Their mission was to take out the enemy, find three hostages and disable the bombs set in the building “Okay men… we’re gonna be splitting into three teams since there’s a lot of us here. Team A; Corey, John and Andrew. Your job is to find out where the bombs are and disable them as quickly as possible.”

“Yes ma’am!” The three went off to do their job as told

“Team B; Phil, Jean and Mark, you’re in charge of finding and getting the hostages to safety out of this building. You three can split up, stay together I don’t care. As long as your job is done”

“Ma’am” the three left

She turned to Eric and Chris who were standing together “what a coincidence, you two are with me.” She said with a slight smile on her face, walking ahead of the two Eric leaned over to Chris “She’s so cool…” Chris thought of Finn the moment he said that, he couldn’t help but to smile and look at him “I know…”

“Stop standing around we have a mission you know!” She yelled out to the two of them. Chris and Eric quickly made their way to the door the enemies were behind, Chris was silent the entire time before he was quickly checked back into reality with a pat on the shoulder “you okay? We need you fully here for this” his wife said as he looked down at her and nodded “yeah I’m okay…”

Chris, his wife and Eric all prepared as the door was blown open and guns were firing. The three did take cover just in time. After about five minutes of gun fire and fighting it finally stopped, thinking they had all the enemies taken care of they all stood up “good job! We did it — Chris!” Y/N called out as she did catch a glimpse of an enemy that didn’t die somehow standing up and pointing their gun towards Chris.

She quickly ran towards Chris and pushed him out the way, for Chris it’s almost like everything was happening in slow motion. He had to process everything leading up to that moment. He heard a scream of pain when his head finally cleared, looking up to see his wife shot in the sternum and Eric shooting the enemy down

She started to fall and Chris caught her before she hit the floor, his eyes started filling up with tears as he looked at her “baby please… tell me this is a joke!”

She knew she was dying, her body felt so cold from the inside out she, she coughed before reaching into one of her many pokes on her pants “c…Chris… do me a favour okay? Please…. stay safe” she handed him her wedding ring, she never wore it during missions to avoid it getting broken, rusted or something. So she held it in her pocket where it was safe “I… feel so… cold”

Chris looked at the ring then at her “no don’t say that! You’re gonna be fine! You’re gonna be fine! Please stay with me!” He started crying, Eric stood by as Team B; Phil, Jean and Mark came in. They surprisingly finished the bomb quicker than expected “Captain w—“ Mark was starting to talk but he quickly stopped when he realised what was happening

“Guys… take care of him for me…” she struggled to talk. She looked up at Chris to see him crying, she lifted her Hand up to his cheek to wipe his tears one last time “no no… don’t cry hon… I’ll tell my parents you said hi… I love you..” Chris held onto her hand and his heart practically stopped the moment he felt her hand and body go heavy and her head fall back … she was dead now

“No…. Please come back! Please don’t go! Y/N!!!” He held her body close and just sobbed, Eric and team B were tearing up and trying to wipe their tears

It took a while to get Chris to let go of her body and let them put her on a stretcher and on the truck so they can go back. When they finally did everyone on the team was there. It took three guys to pry him off of her This was the first time they’ve ever seen him cry like this

—————————

It’s been almost a month since she’s died, Chris looked horrible. He hasn’t shaved, left the house, he started drinking again and Claire had to clean him up at night since he wasn’t sober enough to even do it himself. The house looked like shit especially the room Chris and his wife shared

It was the day of the funeral and Chris was sitting on the edge of the bed looking at the picture of him and her on their wedding day back in 2007. He somehow managed to even get up that day and not drink. He showered that morning, got dressed in a suit and did his hair. He still didn’t shave though

Claire came in “Chris? You ready?” She asked. She had on a black dress on “I guess so…” Chris responded. He stood up and placed the picture down on the night stand and grabbed the necklace he had with his wife’s ring on it.

Claire fixed his tie and jacket before they left. Chris was always taking care of her when she was younger so now it was time for her to take care of her older brother “good. Let’s go” Claire let him walk in front of her to the car. She drove because one he couldn’t think straight enough to drive and he was completely hung over from drinking too much

After about a 45 minute drive they arrived to where her funeral was being held at. Everyone they knew was there, Leon, their BSAA team, Her family. It was hard for him to see her brother and sister at their older sisters funeral

The ceremony, the viewing and speeches all happened and Chris barely even got through his speech without crying

(Im so so so sorry for this next part)

Chris’ speech: “Y/N was an amazing person, she always took care of everyone, me, her siblings, our team, Claire… everyone. She put everyone before herself no matter who they were. She joined the BSAA not because of herself because of her parents death in Raccoon City. She promised them she would do something in any way to stop what happened in Raccoon from ever happening again. She treated our team like her family and even the rookies as her kids even if they were a few years younger then her. She was an even amazing person and wife. And I miss her dearly.”

There wasn’t a single dry eye in that room when Chris said his speech. After everything, everyone went inside to eat and talk.

Chris sat with Claire and Y/N’s siblings. He just picked at his food and stared at the plate. He was terrifyingly silent before Leon came over “hey Chris… how are you holding up?” Leon asked as he stared at Chris. He could tell how hard this has affected Chris. “I’m fine…”

“Chris… You need to eat. All you’ve done in the past month was drink, workout and cry… You need to at least eat something” Claire said “she wouldn’t want this… Her or Piers wouldn’t want you to be like this. Y/N would be yelling at you if she saw you picking at your food like this. We both know she would”

Chris’ eyes started to water once again before he spoke “I…. I know.. but I just miss her so much, Claire… we were gonna start a family together… she wanted to have kids and get a bigger house so we can have a big family… now I can’t have one because she’s the only person I wanted a family with…” Chris sighed softly as he wiped his eyes

“I miss her too… we all do…” Leon commented looking down at his plate. Chris eventually ended up eating his food and everyone left to go home. The entire drive home was deafening to the point you can hear a pin drop

When he got home he changed inside a fresh pair of clothes and he started to clean the house, starting with the bedroom and ending in the Kitchen. He cleaned it exactly how she’d like it and when he was finished around 3:32 am he sat on the couch and sighed

They were right… She would yell at him if she saw the way he was, how the house was when she died

—————————

After a few years pass it’s before the entire Village situation. Every week since the funeral Chris visited her grave and just talked to her for a bit. On her birthday he spent almost half the day there, on new year’s he watched the fireworks by your gave.

He still hasn’t moved on since her death he can’t even get into another relationship with a woman since her death but it’s not like he can find anyone else like her… and honestly he didn’t want to.

IM SO FUCKING SORRY FOR MAKING THIS EVEN SADDER tbh tho I started tearing up writing this

[thatfanficstuff]

Impossible - 25

Pairing: Eric Northman x Reader + Godric

Warnings: nope

A/N: Sorry, but this was the best place to cut it. I think two more chapters left. I’ll try to get them out soon. Enjoy!

***

As expected, Eric made it home well before you. He met your car as it pulled in and opened your door. Immediately, he pulled you into his arms and kissed the top of your head. You relaxed into his hold. You’d been separated for several hours and you’d missed him. Finally, you pulled away to stretch your back. You hated long car rides.

Eric glanced at the group around you. “Where’s your father?”

“He rode separately so he could make a call.” The reminder annoyed you. It wasn’t as if you got to see your father on a daily basis any more. You thought he’d want to spend the car ride without your mate catching up on business and personal things he wasn’t comfortable discussing around Eric yet. Instead, he hadn’t even ridden in the same vehicle. Gods, he could be frustrating at times.

Your mate arched a brow. “It appears as if all the cars are here, yet your father is not.”

You frowned as you glanced around to find he was correct. You even went so far as to open the door to inspect the interior of the car he rode in.

The driver stepped up to you. “He had us drop him off at the hotel, ma’am. He asked me to proceed to your residence to convey his apologies. He will be unable to speak to you until tomorrow.”

You clenched your teeth and worked the muscle in your jaw. What the fuck was your father up to? You loved him dearly, but you didn’t trust him for a moment. With your life? Yes. Everything else? Not so much. “Alonso,” you called.

The man in question was in the process of getting back into the car. He stopped and glanced at you with an arched brow.

“What is he up to?”

There was a pause before he said, “I’m sure I don’t know. Perhaps you should ask him.”

Oh, you fully intended to do just that. You watched Alonso leave and pulled out your phone. You’d start with a text and escalate from there. You could be pretty damned annoying when you wished to be.

***

Eric’s phone rang just after sunset the following night. He was still in bed when he took the call. He listened for a moment while you frowned at him. He kept the volume down on his phone and you were having trouble picking up the other side of the conversation. Eric sat up, swinging his legs off the bed.

“Yes, sir,” he said after several minutes. He glanced over his shoulder at you. The look on his face had you shifting uneasily. “I understand, sir.”

With that, he ended the call. He licked his lips and shifted his weight on the bed so he could see you more easily. You moved closer but kept some distance between the two of you. You had a feeling you weren’t going to like whatever he had to say.

“That was your father,” he informed you.

You arched a brow. Why did he call Eric instead of you? You grabbed your phone and checked your notifications. Nothing.

Eric took the phone from your hand and laid it beside his on the nightstand. Nerves made you nauseous. You swallowed the lump in your throat as you stared at your mate waiting for him to speak.

He licked his lips again, a nervous habit he’d never lost. “I’ve been summoned to appear before the Magister, the Guardian and other representatives of the Authority.”

“Why?” You forced the word out through clenched teeth as you willed the tears that suddenly flooded your eyes not to fall. You didn’t even know what was going on yet, so why did you feel like crying? And what the hell was your father up to?

“To answer for Sophie-Anne’s death.”

Fear and anger shot through you in equal measure. “You mean the execution you carried out at the Guardian’s command?”

Eric said nothing. It was then that you realized what Roman had done. He had set your mate up to take the fall for the death of a queen. The only punishment that could possibly fit the crime was the true death. He wanted Eric out of your life and this was how he intended to accomplish it. “If he thinks I’m going to sit here and do nothing he’s sorely mistaken.”

“I am to attend the hearing alone. Anyone accompanying me risks being punished for interfering in Authority matters.” His voice was deadpan, emotionless. He was already shutting down. Distancing himself. Preparing for what he felt was inevitable.

“Well, that’s a risk I’ll just have to take,” you argued.

“I agree,” came a voice from behind you and you turned to find Godric in the doorway.

He hadn’t been here when you arrived the night before and this was the first you’d seen of him since your trip. You gestured for him to join the two of you on the bed and let him pull you into his arms when he did. You leaned against his chest, seeking his comfort.

“I will not risk either of you. You will remain here.” Eric’s face was hard. It was the look he wore when he’d made up his mind and he was determined no one would change it. You rolled your eyes.

“I wasn’t asking for permission, Eric. Frankly, I don’t really give a shit what your thoughts are on the matter. You are entirely too self-sacrificing when it comes to the two of us.” Godric gave you a little squeeze at your words. Apparently, he agreed.

Your phone buzzed with a notification before Eric could state his argument. You held out a hand and he passed you the phone. You scanned the text and frowned. “When is your meeting?”

“One hour.”

“At the hotel? Room 336?” You glanced up to see Eric wearing a frown to match your own.

He grabbed the phone from your hand and read the message from your father.

Meeting. One hour. Rm 336. You are to attend as a guest of the Authority. Bring your boyfriend if you wish.

“Why was he so adamant you not attend with me if he was going to invite you anyway?” Eric tossed the phone on the bed and raked a hand through his hair. He glanced between you and Godric. “I’m sorry, alskling, but I am not overly fond of my in-laws.”

You laid your hand on his knee. “At the moment, I’m not overly fond of him either.”

***

Despite the uncertainty you held concerning your father’s actions at the moment, you knew he seldom did things without reason. So, while Eric flew to the meeting on his own, Godric ran you there. Your mate was already in the room when you arrived to several familiar faces. Your father was nowhere to be seen.

Godric moved to Eric’s side which would only be expected of him as his sire. You, however, kept your distance other than a brief nod of greeting. You made your way around the room saying hello to those you knew. When Roman entered, his gaze immediately found you with a smile. He came to your side and kissed your cheek. “I’m so happy you made it, sweetheart.”

Your eyes searched his. The coldness you’d expect if he was planning to betray you was absent. All you saw was that spark he got when he was scheming. “And why exactly was I invited to…whatever this is?”

He didn’t miss the warning in your tone and the corner of his mouth curled in a smile. “I thought you might enjoy seeing some faces you hadn’t in awhile. And your boyfriend should be particularly interested in tonight’s proceedings. As you were both near, I thought ‘why not’.”

Before you could prod him further, he clapped his hands together and turned to the room in general. “Welcome everyone. Let’s get started shall we?”

[daryl-dixon-daydreams]

Words: 3,823 Pairing: Daryl Dixon x Reader Reader pronouns: she/her Era: Alexandria Warnings: Language, violence, mentions of suicide, gore, sexuality, fear and anxiety, disturbing imagery, typical TWD stuff A/N: This is part of a series! Find the previous parts on the Masterlist! Summary: Y/N heads outside of the walls for a distraction after the distressing day before. She returns in the evening to learn some concerning news.

Your name: submit What is this?

You woke early from fitful sleep plagued with the same old nightmares. It was still dark out and you knew no more sleep would come, so you decided to be productive again. Meat was always scarce, and after the news of Denise the day before, you needed a distraction. Not to mention having to relive old traumas… After quickly dressing, you stepped out on the porch into the cool morning air. Normally you would have asked Daryl if he wanted to join you, but the house across the street was still dark and you hoped that, for once, he was getting some sleep. Though with the events of the previous day, you really doubted it.

You grabbed your bow and headed for the gates. Sasha was on duty and she pulled it open for you with a kind but sad smile as you went out.

You spent all day outside the walls, engrossed in hunting, and it was after dark when you returned, hauling the rabbits with you over your shoulder. Tobin, a longtime Alexandria resident was on gate duty and you thanked him with a nod as you came in. He seemed particularly stoic but you attributed it to the prior day’s events. Denise was beloved by most of the people in town, especially since she had taken over after Pete’s demise… You made your way toward Aaron’s house and saw that the garage light was on and the door was open. You went in, expecting to find Daryl there tinkering on his bike, but the garage was empty and Daryl’s bike was distinctly missing. He must have parked it outside his place. You knocked on the door into the house and Eric answered it with Judith in his arms. You greeted them both with a smile but Eric’s face was grave and he was white as a sheet.

You throat tightened and your stomach dropped when you registered his expression. “What’s the matter?”

He gulped and stepped back to let you inside. “Have you been out all day?” he asked you.

“Yeah. Since before the sun was up,” you said, gesturing to the rabbits over your shoulder. Your heart started racing. “Eric—what’s going on?”

He shook his head and opened him mouth to speak but no sound came out. Turning on his heel he walked further inside and set Judith down on a blanket on the floor before he faced you again. “It’s—It’s bad,” he said seriously. “Carol left.”

Your brow contracted. “Left? What do you mean she left? Why? For how long?” Your thoughts immediately turned to Daryl. He and Carol were very close. You were sure he was worried, angry. He’d probably try to go after her.

“She left a note. I—I don’t think she’s coming back,” Eric said softly.

You paused for a moment. “Did Daryl go after her?”

“Rick and Morgan did. Daryl was already gone when they headed out.”

You stomach lurched and your head spun. “Gone—Gone where?”

Eric just stared at you.

Your breathing was speeding up. “Gone where?”

He averted his eyes and shrugged. “Best guess is back to where… it happened. To try and track them.”

You felt like you had been punched. “No. No, no, no,” you murmured, more to yourself than to Eric. “I—no. He can’t.” You tried to heave in a breath but your lungs felt tight. “I need to sit down,” you gasped, practically collapsing into a nearby chair as your knees felt like they were giving out.

“Glenn, Michonne, and Rosita went after him this morning,” he said quickly. Your eyes shot up to his face.

“Okay…” You waited expectantly for more details.

“But—they left early and none of them are back yet.” He looked mortified that he had to be the one to unload all this information on you.

You hung your head into your hands. “Oh my God. No… Fuck! Shit!” You stood up abruptly, the brace of rabbits forgotten and paced the length of the kitchen. “Okay. Okay. So, I’ll get some of the others and—and we’ll go look for them. Right? I’ll go find them and we’ll bring them back,” you said, more to yourself than Eric.

He winced, his expression regretful, anxious. “There’s… there’s something else.”

“Are you fucking kidding me? Isn’t that enough?!”

He grimaced. “Rick came back after he and Morgan went out. They think Carol had a run in with some of the Saviors not too far from here. Morgan stayed out to follow her trail. They think she might be hurt but they don’t know. But when Rick came back—Maggie is sick. Very sick.”

“Sick how?”

“She—she thinks something with the baby. She was in a lot of pain… Rick loaded everyone up to get her to Dr. Carson at The Hilltop.”

You mind was whirring. “Okay. Okay…” You sat there, trying to process all this, wringing your hands. “Goddammit!” you said, taking your head in your hands again. “What the hell?!” You looked up at Eric desperately. “Who all went to Hilltop?”

“Pretty much everyone. Aaron went. And they took Eugene to get treated too since he was awake. I volunteered to stay here and watch Judith.”

You stood up and paced the length of the room. “Goddammit, what the hell is Daryl thinking!? I told him! I told him not to—” You broke off, gritting your teeth. Your hands clenched into fists. You turned over your conversation with Daryl the night before. You realized he had never said he wouldn’t go after The Saviors who had killed Denise. You now realized he’d been very specific about which words he spoke.

Eric shrugged vaguely. “I know. But—he’s…”

You sighed and shut your eyes, pinched the bridge of your nose hard in an attempt to ground yourself with something. “I know.” You looked back at Eric desperately again. “What do we do?”

He shrugged, at a loss for words now. “I think there’s only one thing we can do.”

Your jaw clenched. “Wait.”

_ _ _ _ _ _

And you waited. And you waited. And you waited. You weren’t good at waiting, even in the best of times. You refused to sleep. You refused to eat. You stood watch at the top of the gate and stared into the darkness which became dawn which became mid-morning. Still there was no sign of anyone. Everything was too quiet. You felt more and more nauseous by the minute, your stomach turning with anxiety.

Finally, a vehicle came into view in the distance. You raised the scope of your rifle to your eye. The RV. It was the RV. You continued to watch as it approached and you could see that it was Rick driving. You finally lowered the scope and the nauseous feeling in your stomach changed to a hard pit.

He stopped at the gate and raised a hand to signal that it was alright to open the gate. You climbed down and yanked it open, letting him drive through. The back of the RV had barely cleared the gate when he shut off the engine. You rushed to await whatever was to come, but you had a feeling like pins and needles prickling up your spine and a heavy weight on your chest. It was hard to draw air.

The door opened and people began to step out. But their faces… they weren’t themselves anymore. They were changed.

You knew that look; that wide-eyed, hundred-yard stare, the terror in their eyes. You had seen it on yourself, on your brother, on many others after they tangled with Negan. You knew what it meant. And there seemed to be a lot of people missing. Your people missing. You forced in a breath and just watched as they stepped out. Who was there and who was missing? Rick came around from the other side, and if possible, he looked worse than all of them.

“Rick…” you said, rushing over. He hardly seemed to hear you. “Rick!” You grasped his shoulders and his blue eyes, frantic and wide landed on your face.

“Judith?” he rasped, in a fog.

“She’s fine. She’s with Eric. Rick,” your voice broke off. You glanced at everyone who was pouring out of the RV, trying to take attendance.

“You were right,” he said, nodding almost imperceptibly. Tears were welling up in his eyes. “You were right. You were…” he trailed off.

Your eyes landed on Michonne and Rosita as they stepped out of the RV. “Daryl?” you demanded. You squeezed Rick’s shoulders to bring him back to you. “Daryl?!?” you urged.

He looked away down at his boots. His answer came in a whisper you almost couldn’t hear. He couldn’t look at you while he said it. “They have him.”

The breath was ripped from your lungs and your hands slipped from Rick’s shoulders. You staggered backwards, reeling. Suddenly Carl was there and he grasped your arm firmly. When you took in his expression, you were amazed that he looked better than anyone else. Of course he did. He’d grown up in this screwed up world during his formative years—he’d been at the prison when it fell, he’d had to put down his own mother… You, on the other hand, were spinning.

“He’ll be okay,” Carl said. “Daryl’s strong. He’ll fight.”

You shook your head. “That’s what I’m afraid of.”

Suddenly Aaron was beside you. You’d never seen him look worse. He was as white as a sheet and shaking. His eyes were wide, red, and puffy.

“Oh my God,” you launched yourself at him, grabbing him into a tight hug and unable to stop the tears from pouring down your face. “Oh my God.” He hugged you back weakly. You pulled back and looked at him, clasping his face in your hands. “You’re okay. You’re okay,” you said, doing your best to reassure him.

“I’m sorry,” he said weakly, shaking his head. “I’m so sorry.”

“Hey! Stop it. Stop. Everything—everything is going to be f—fine,” you said, pulling yourself back together while he was going to pieces. “You’re okay. Eric is okay.” You released your hold on your dear friend and nodded. “Go see Eric. Go home.” Aaron gave you another fearful and concerned look but you simply wiped the tear streaks from your cheeks and nodded. “I’m fine. Go home.”

You spun around again to look at the rest of the ragged group and started mentally going through the list of people who had gone out. “Maggie?!” you demanded suddenly.

“She’s at Hilltop,” Carl said. “Sasha stayed there, too.”

Your brow drew down low over your eyes. Something about that statement struck you as odd. “And Glenn?”

Now Carl looked away, and you could see light glistening in his eyes.

“No. No… Oh my God. No.” You put a hand out and had to lean on the RV, at risk of collapsing from the lightheadedness that flooded your brain.

Carl looked at you with a mixture of devastated and angry tears in his eyes. Your hand flew to cover your mouth and tears broke loose and streamed down your face again. You again glanced at the people wandering away toward Rick’s house. Michonne. Eugene. Rosita. Your eyes shot back to Carl, a sense of apprehension almost overwhelming you. “A—Abraham?”

Again, Carl shook his head.

He turned away from you, leaving you spinning, and grasped his dad’s arm. “Dad. Come on. Let’s go see Judith.”

You felt like you were going to be sick.

_ _ _ _ _ _

“I’ll go.”

Rick stared at you. “I—I can’t ask you to do that.”

“You aren’t asking,” you countered.

“I’ll go myself. I—”

“You’ve got kids. You’ve got a baby. Hell, you’ve got a whole town to look after now, Sheriff Grimes. And you need to get ready because they are coming. They’ll expect you to be here. You’re the leader. Just—I’ll go.” Rick watched the muscle in your jaw twitch. “You know I have to go.”

Rick heaved a sigh. He knew you’d go regardless of whether or not he wanted you to. He knew you did have to go. This was you and this was Daryl. “How?” he asked you. “How are you gonna get him back?”

“Don’t worry about that. That’s my job. I know more about Negan and that place than anyone. I will get him out. I promise you. I will get Daryl out.”

Rick let out a long slow exhale, with an edge to it like a growl. “I don’t suppose I have any real choice in the matter anyway,” he said.

“You don’t.”

Rick sighed again, rubbing a hand over the heavy stubble on his face.

“Rick, listen to me. They are going to come and the first thing they are going to do is take all your weapons and all your ammo. That inventory Olivia keeps of the armory? Burn it. And take some of the guns and ammo, just enough so they won’t suspect anything, and hide them outside the walls. Outside. If you hide them in here, they will find them. And when they do, someone else will die.”

Rick gulped and nodded. He felt like an icy hand had seized his heart in his chest. “Alright.”

“And there’s one more thing… Negan and his assholes—they cannot know that we are connected. Do you understand? You need to make sure that no one ever mentions me, okay? Like I don’t exist.”

Rick gave you a questioning look but nodded.

You gulped at the constriction in your throat. “I’ll tell you everything at some point but right now I need to go. I don’t want Daryl there a minute longer than he has to be. You understand everything?”

Rick nodded gravely. “Yeah. I’ve got it.” He hesitated. “Be careful.”

“I will.” You turned on your heel and went home to prepare.

_ _ _ _ _ _

You were concealed in the woods outside the nearest Savior outpost. It had taken you far longer to get there than you had hoped and you’d had to go pretty dark to find it… You killed more Saviors, but not all of them. Some you had kept alive for a little while, until they had given up their information on the location of the satellite outposts and lookouts. You glanced down at your jeans and t-shirt. They were filthy but still a bit too well kept. You wiped the walker blood on the blade of your knife on your shirt and then took the edge of it to your clothes, placing a rip here and poking a hole there. You looked at your arms. They were scratched and bruised from fighting your way through the woods, through walkers, through soldiers of The Saviors to get here. Good. You wanted it to look like you were having a shit time. You heaved in one last breath; your heart pounded. You were terrified, but the thought of Daryl being held by them sent an urgent shot of fearlessness through you. It had already been too long. You didn’t allow yourself to run through the what ifs… You gritted your teeth and stepped out of the woods, approaching the front of the outpost with your hands up.

The two guards in front saw you immediately. “Freeze! Don’t move!” Automatic weapons pointed at you.

You obeyed. They approached.

“Holy shit,” one of the men said as they got closer. He exchanged a look with the other.

“Son of a bitch,” the second man said matter-of-factly. “You gave us quite the run around, little lady. Negan had whole crews out looking for you.”

Your chest was heaving with nervous breaths. “I—I know. I made a mistake,” you muttered. You didn’t have to try to sound scared. You were. There was a quiver in your voice, but you knew it would work to your advantage. You wanted them to see you as helpless, scared.

“A big one,” the first man agreed. “Search her,” he said, nodding to his associate. He trained his gun on the center of your chest.

The second man frisked you, lingering a little too long with his hands on your body. He removed your knife from the sheath at your hip and clicked his tongue. “Damn. Too bad we can’t have some fun with her first,” he said, hungry eyes wandering over your body and back up to your face.

Revulsion twisted your stomach.

“Too bad,” the other agreed. “But you know what Negan said. She goes straight to him. What do you want? Why are you here?” he pressed.

“I—I want to come back,” you said quietly. “I can’t stay out here…”

This drew chuckles from them. “Negan was right,” one said to the other. “He called it.” He pressed the muzzle of his gun into your back. “Walk slow. Toward the building.”

“I’ll call it in. Damn, is he gonna be surprised. Might even throw us a bonus for bringing her in.” He raised his radio to his lips. “This is Rich at satellite outpost Beta-2. Repeat, this is Rich at outpost Beta-2. Anyone copy?” There was a brief burst of static before another voice responded through the speaker.

“I copy Rich. This is D at Sanctuary. What do you need? Over.”

“We’ve recovered a wanted individual who fled Sanctuary. How would you like us to proceed? Please advise. Over.”

There was another pause. The other man grabbed your wrists roughly and zip-tied them together behind your back, cruelly tight.

“Who do you have?” came the voice again.

“We’ve got Y/N.” He said it with relish and his eyes flew to your face again, a small smirk on his face.

The pause this time was even longer and your stomach turned. What if this wasn’t going to play out as you thought it would? What if he just decided to kill you? Then Daryl may never get out… Finally, the voice responded again. “Negan wants her brought here to Sanctuary immediately. Secure her and get her here now.”

It was done. You were going back.

You were thrown roughly into the back seat of a truck and once you were in, they zip-tied your ankles together too. The whole ride, the man in the passenger seat stared at you while he spun your knife with the point stuck down into the center console. Your heart never slowed from its sprinting in your chest.

Finally, after what felt like an eternity, you saw the familiar building coming into view and the truck stopped at the double doors. The man in the passenger seat cut the zip-tie around your ankles and soon you were roughly pulled out of the back of the truck by the elbow. You were pushed toward the double doors and forced inside. The sounds, the smell of the place brought memories flooding back to you and you began to feel lightheaded as you were herded up the stairs. You were met at the top by two of Negan’s apparent lieutenants, Simon and Dwight.

Simon was glaring at you and his nostrils flared. “Well, looky what the cat dragged in, Dwight.” He let out a low whistle. “What can I do for you, Y/N? Oh, and may I just say that you look like shit.”

You gulped at the lump in your throat. “I want to talk to Negan,” you said quietly. You glanced at Dwight beside Simon and that’s when you noticed that most of the left side of his face and ear were horrifically scarred—burned. When you had been at Sanctuary, Dwight and his wife and her sister were workers with you and your brother. You had gathered from what Daryl said that Dwight had escaped and ended up going back. Now he had moved up to being one of Negan’s right-hand men.

You let out a gasp as Simon backhanded you across the face hard. You tasted blood from a split in your bottom lip. “Of course, you want to see the big man,” he growled, stepping right up into your face. “You’ll see him when we say you can see him.” Simon grabbed you roughly by the elbow and dismissed the two men who had brought you in from the outpost. “Let me escort you to your accommodations, Y/N. I reckon you’ll find them familiar.” Soon you were in front of a metal door with a ‘#1’ painted on it; the cell you’d been held in when you’d first been brought to The Sanctuary with your group. Simon’s grip on your arm was like a vice. He smirked as he yanked the door open and shoved you inside, into the blackness. “Enjoy,” he snarked. “I’ll be sure to have fresh towels and the room service menu sent right up.”

“Simon—” you started, but you were cut off when he slammed the heavy door in your face, leaving you now in complete darkness.

Fuck. Was this what Negan had said to do with you? You had a hunch it wasn’t… Simon was a prick. He was volatile. You were willing to bet that he had taken it on himself to teach you a little lesson before taking you to see Negan. The zip ties on your wrists were cutting into you and it was nearly impossible to get comfortable with your arms pinned behind your back the way they were. You shifted your position on the floor and tried to alleviate some of the pressure.

You had no idea how long you sat there in the darkness, but it was at least several hours before you heard voices and boot steps on the other side of the door. You pressed your back into the wall and managed to stagger up to your feet. When the door cracked open, the light coming in even from just the dim overhead lights in the hall seemed blinding and you winced. At first all you could see were silhouettes in front of you.

But as they came into focus and your eyes adjusted you saw that it was Simon and Dwight, this time followed by the man himself, Negan… complete with leather jacket and his signature baseball bat slung over his shoulder.

[mieohmy]

𝖠𝗍 𝖸𝗈𝗎𝗋 𝖲𝖾𝗋𝗏𝗂𝖼𝖾 | 𝖪𝗂𝗆 𝖲𝗎𝗇𝗐𝗈𝗈

PAIRING: kim sunwoo x fem reader

GENRE: fluff, angst, humor, strangers-to-lovers, unrequited love au, dancer!reader, formeridoltrainee!sunwoo

WC: 14.7k 

NOTES: drinking+alcohol consumption, slight cursing, tiny hint of sexual harassment, a temporarily sad sunwoo :(

SUMMARY: for years, sunwoo’s harbored a crush on the same girl. even though his feelings are probably unrequited and she has no idea, insert you into the picture: a recently-turned-single person that finds interest in assisting his love quest! well, except for the fact that some feelings (that really shouldn’t be happening) begin to stir..

+ happy valentines day to everyone ^^

Day 11. Of your newly turned single life. You’re not even sure why it’s upsetting. He wasn’t that impressionable and left an unpleasant aftertaste in your mouth. Maybe it wasn’t even him, the way he randomly suggested an end to your several months of life together. 

Maybe it was just you. 

Nonetheless, drinks are always a way to get rid of all unwanted thoughts, the liquid flowing through your body and numbing all senses. But apparently not enough for you to miss a rising conflict at a couple tables away from yours one night. 

 You didn’t want to involve yourself in someone else’s business, you affirmed internally, downing another shot. But the increasing noise and tension grab your attention nevertheless. 

There’s some guy. Wasted, you can definitely tell. It’s what he attracted that’s causing all the disturbance to your inevitably lonely night. 

You’re not really sure what’s going on, but he’s obviously pissing off some other people, and the noise isn’t going down. 

Seriously, no one else is gonna do anything? 

It’s getting increasingly worse, and once of the guys raises an arm, (probably to incite something violent you don’t want to deal with, but you do anyway) your body takes over your mind and forces you over to the table. 

“Excuse me, not to pry or anything, but is there something wrong?” You don’t even know who this horribly drunk guy is, and still, here you are, attempting to save his butt. 

Maybe you should’ve used your brain once to actually look and see who you were facing against. The extremely bulky man scoffs, squinting at you. 

“And who are you? Another fangirl of his?”

The drunk man suddenly stirs next to you, aggressively pointing at the guy. “Don’t worry about him,” he slurs, “he’s just jealous he doesn’t have anyone that likes him back.”

Muscly guy (you can’t think of any other way to describe him) lets out a loud guffaw, slapping his thigh rather hard. “And what about you? What about that girl you’ve liked since forever? Can’t say anything back now, huh?” 

Drunk boy (another great nickname) abruptly stands up, knocking glasses over and making more of a ruckus. You notice he’s super tensed, and his eyes flash something you can’t read. 

“Don’t you dare say anything about her.” 

“Oooh, the tough boy becomes a softie. It’s sad how-“

It is sad, you think. It’s sad how he never gets to finish his sentence before the supposedly wasted guy launches a solid fist at his face. 

And then you’re not sure what really happens next. A lot of chaos that wasn’t settling well for a still somewhat drunk person like you. 

Although, you miraculously manage to appease the angered employees and drag the guy with you outside. 

“No-just- Sit!” You huff, finally shoving him down onto a bench. You forgot how exhausting it was to take of other drunk people. You have absolutely no clue as to why you’re still helping this guy, but it’s too late to just leave him now, you suppose. 

Slumping next to him, you exhale, enjoying the finally peaceful moment. It’s a cold night, but you feel.... warm, buzzing alive. The usual numbness in your body was nowhere to be found. 

“Well, aren’t you gonna thank me?” 

His head ever so slowly turns to you. “Me? Why would I?” Scoffing, you glance him over. 

“You’re such a troublemaker, that I can tell. Maybe I should call you that from now on unless you give me a name?” 

The guy starts humming a random tune, eyes closed and basking in the moment. “Sunwoo. Kim Sun. Wooooo.” 

You nod, making a note in your head to find a Kim Sunwoo later to pay you back. All of a sudden, you hear sniffles. 

Is he- is he crying? But he’s laughing too? What kind of crazy person did I just save...

“Um, are you alright? What’s so funny?” 

His head lols toward you. 

“Have you ever been in love with someone for years? And they never knew? And then they started dating your ex-best friend, and even after he left, you stayed by their side and never said anything about how you felt?” Until the guy freakin shows back up again after years, and then you feel like the stupidest person ever for not saying anything?” 

You blink. “.... I’m sorry?” 

“Well, that’s my life right now.”  

You think about how you should probably be at home instead of sitting next to a stranger at 3am, but you stay. And listen. 

He spills everything. The girl he not so secretly likes. The guy she’s dating. Was, he corrects. Who also was coincidentally his best friend when they were younger. Until said ex-friend went overseas for school. Leaving sunwoo and his crush together all alone. And then ex-friend has to mess it all up by unexpectedly coming back to Korea. 

You weren’t asking for the juicy details, but what can you expect for a very much still intoxicated person? 

And after the whole story’s done and said, you can only laugh. 

“So he came back? From overseas? Without even saying anything in advance?” 

“Yup, and now I’m here. Left alone, just like before. Knowing them, she won’t be able to resist his charms, and they’ll probably be back together in a month, give or take.”

He laughs again, a sad bark. “Honestly, I don’t blame her. They’re like soulmates.” 

Whistling, you shake your head. “That’s really something, Kim Sunwoo... You’re really something.” 

He clumsily stands up, giving you a surprisingly cute smile. “Thanks, stranger. I don’t even know your name.” 

Coughing, you stand up as well, ignoring his remark. “Do you have someone to take you home? It’s really late..” 

Sunwoo looks around aimlessly before giggling, “I don’t know where my phone is.” 

“It’s in your pocket.” 

“Oh my god, are you a psychic or something?”

“You took it out a minute ago to show me pictures of your crush.” 

“Haha, right.” 

Rolling your eyes, you decide to take initiative for once and reach for the phone in his pocket, ignoring his little sound of surprise. 

“Wow, you don’t even have a password. Is this Eric guy alright to call? You know what- never mind, I’m just gonna call anyways.” 

......

“Hello? Where the heck are you?? It’s freakin almost four and-“

“Excuse me? Is this kim sunwoo’s friend?”

“A GIRL?? wait, you don’t sound like-”

Interrupting him, you explain everything while somehow able to watch over a melancholy sunwoo gaze off into the distance like in a melodramatic movie. 

His friend Eric? sends you an address, and you haul sunwoo over. 

Once the door opens, you don’t even stay to hear what he says, just leaving sunwoo and trudging your way back home. To finally sleep. To get back to your boring life and forget about Kim sunwoo. 

ꔫ 

Until you see Sunwoo again. You were surprised to run into him, almost not recognizing who he was. 

Thanks to the ice cream you wanted to remind you of the favor Kim Sunwoo totally owed back. 

After purchasing your lovely snack, you spin around to leave when you bump into someone.  

“Ah- I’m sorry,” you stop. His face.... could it be?

Eyes wide, you tilt your head at him. “Oh- troublemaker.”

He raises an eyebrow at you, confused eyes boring into yours for a solid minute.

“Who? ..wait a second.” You almost laugh as the recognition slowly flickers in his eyes.

Everything in his body screams to run. Sunwoo attempts to sprint as fast as he can away, but he’s extremely shocked at how fast your reflexes are, hand clenched tight on his wrist.

“Wait, are you just gonna try and run away after I helped you?”

Coughing awkwardly, he bows and still tries to get the hell out of there- Eric’s words about some girl and totally wasted resurfacing from his memory.

Your words prevent him from leaving. “How are you and your crush doing?” You say it so casually, it’s almost as if you two are friends.

Sunwoo sighs frustratedly, contemplating before accepting the defeat and beckoning you outside to follow him. He isn’t one to talk to strangers -Sunwoo likes to describe himself as a ‘cold and silent’ type of person. On the other hand, he figured he’s already spilled everything to you while drunk.

But it’s not just that, Sunwoo finds it strangely easy to open up to you. Possibly because from as much as he can recall, you didn’t judge him for having a stupid one-sided crush for the longest time.

Once seated on the curbside comfortably, he starts.

“It’s okay, I guess. I don’t know if she’s met up with him yet, how she’s feeling. Honestly, I have no idea what to do.”

Humming, you open your ice cream with gleaming eyes. Sunwoo doesn’t miss your face, unconsciously smiling but dropping it when you face him with the ice cream positioned at your lips.

“Well.... you said it’s been years, right?” He nods.

“Maybe things have changed. Maybe she doesn’t like him anymore. I mean, how do you know she doesn’t like you back? You’ve been by her side for so long, she might’ve developed feelings- you never know.”

“That’s the thing,” he groans, “I don’t know. I have absolutely no idea if she likes me back or not.”

Tapping your feet in a random beat against the ground, you contemplate.

“... maybe you could test it out.”

“How?” he huffs.

“Hint at it, so she’ll have no choice but to know. Or even better-make her jealous. Flirt with other girls and see how she reacts. It’s quite simple, troublemaker.”

His eyes flick to yours, irritation evident. “Will you stop calling me that? And also tell me who you are if you’re just gonna start giving me love advice? A name?” (On the inside, he’s wondering why he’s making such a fuss over you; someone he’s met a total of one time before this.)

You shrug nonchalantly, enjoying the taste of your savory ice cream. Darn, you should’ve tried this flavor out before...

“Does it matter? After all, I’m the one who saved your ass.”

Sunwoo scowls, even when he was drunk he didn’t remember you being so exasperating without even trying.

“Whatever, I guess I should say thanks for helping me that one night. You won’t tell anyone about this, alright?” He glares.

If you’re trying to be scary, it doesn’t work, -is what you want to say. Instead, you respond with raised eyebrows and a tiny smirk. 

“No, I’m not that disrespectful of a person. You would know that the best, wouldn’t you? After I helped you and all?”

He mutters ‘you’re annoying...’ under his breath.

Collecting your things, you brush yourself off and stand up, not bothering to look down at him. “I’m not annoying. I’m y/l/n y/n.”  

You miss the disgruntled expression of his face, what a shame.

Taking a couple steps forward, you abruptly stop and turn your head to smile back at him. “Don’t forget, Kim Sunwoo. Be expecting that favor.”

ꔫ 

When you offered to get drinks for everyone at the studio, you didn’t think you’d end up carrying four stacks of beverages on top of each other. 

Making your way slowly and precisely to the exit, eyes locked on the wobbly coffee tower, a body knocks into you right as the door opens. 

You can only watch in slow motion as the tower knocks over, one drink toppling over. 

However, you manage to catch that flying drink. Dang, my reflexes are doing great lately.

As for the tower, it’s.... actually saved? By a pair of hands stabilizing the sides. You’re eternally grateful to whoever’s standing behind the tall tower that was able to rescue your precious drinks. 

Exhaling in relief, you tilt your body to look past the barrier and thank your savior. It’s a... “Sunwoo?” 

“What’s with all the coffees?” 

You narrow your eyes. “It’s for my work. Now, if you would excuse me.“

You attempt to push your way past to the exit, but sunwoo lets out a whoa! and reattaches his grip back to your leaning tower of drinks. 

 “You’re gonna kill someone with these.” 

Rolling your eyes, you retort, “It’s all good, so please-“

“Alright, whatever you say, y/n.” 

Biting your lip, you slowly turn your body to the door, preparing your hand to let go and quickly push open the door. 

Spoiler- it doesn’t work, and you’re left frustrated with sunwoo still watching your struggle for a couple of minutes. 

“You know, if you’re just gonna stand there, maybe you could do something more... helpful?” 

“Oh? I thought you didn’t need any help.” Sunwoo believes he doesn’t care much about assisting others, but watching you is too amusing.

“Just get over here. Before I start calling you some other nicknames.”

He smirks. “At your service, miss.”

He takes a couple of stacks, relieving your tired arms, and you manage to make it outside, slumping down on a bench. 

“Thank you, sunwoo.” 

“Does that mean I don’t owe you a favor anymore?” 

“Um, no,” you snort, “ that was just you being polite and helping someone else like any other person would.”

He puts his hands on his waist, pretending to think thoughtfully. 

“I think that was about, 20? 30? dollars worth of drinks that could’ve been spilled. “If-,” he points with a finger, “I hadn’t saved you.” 

Squinting back up at him, you slightly shake your head in annoyance. “Fine. We’re even now.” 

He snaps his fingers. “Ah, that’s right. I tried the jealousy thing or whatever you were talking about.” 

“And?” 

“It doesn’t work,” he deadpans. “She knows I’m not one to flirt with random girls-if anything, it’s the opposite, and I usually reject them.” 

You raise an eyebrow, fiddling with your hair. “Okay? Why are you telling me that?” 

“I’m meeting her in a couple of days at a restaurant, and I want you to go with us.”

Your face shows no reaction. “We just got even, and you’re asking for another favor, troublemaker?”

Gathering all the drinks, you’re about to leave when he stops you again. 

“Wait. I don’t think I explained myself clearly. I want you to tag along, and I can see how she reacts, you know?”

“No, I understand what you mean. And no thank you. You’ve known her since what, high school? And we’ve only met like a couple of times. That’s awkward. I’m gonna be a total third wheel, and it’s the literal worst, so I’m fine.”

He stomps his feet in frustration, making you cough at his sudden cuteness. 

“Please. I’m a prideful man and don’t like asking others for favors. So just come and play along with me. I don’t really talk to other girls, so you’re the only way for me to see if she gets jealous or not. Besides, I’m always the one paying for the food in the end.”

He had you at food. You suddenly nod, replying, “Alright, I’ll go. Just text me the place and time.” 

He scoffs, “it’s always the food...” 

Ignoring him, you make your way back to the studio with your coffee tower before hearing a yell. 

“Wait! y/l/n y/n!! I need your number?!!!?” 

You stifle a laugh, hearing his quickly approaching footsteps from behind. 

ꔫ 

He sends you the details the next day, with a winking selfie of himself (that you ignore). 

‘i sent u the location of the restaurant’

‘dont forget were still trying to make her jealous’

‘and dress up’

‘the nicer u look the better’

‘not that looks matter that much tho’

‘and also not that i think u look nice or anything either, dont get any ideas’

There’s no option but to leave him on read after his choice of grammar. Just kidding, you send a simple ‘ok’ and don’t think about it until the day comes. 

You can’t tell if this is a normal feeling, but your insides feel queasy, palms slightly sweaty like you’re about to perform in front of a huge crowd.

Why do you feel nervous? It’s just meeting the girl that sunwoo has liked for years. That’s all. 

Closing your door, you retrieve your phone to check the location he sent you.

Actually, sunwoo asked you to meet him earlier near the restaurant. You’re not sure why, he simply answered, ‘research tings’ you corrected his spelling after. 

He stands a couple feet away from you, anxiously tapping his foot. 

“Wow, didn’t know you had such an e-boy style.” 

He whips around towards the sound of your voice. Sunwoo isn’t sure why he’s surprised, you look quite... pretty nice. 

Coughing, he mutters, “I appreciate that you took the time to dress up.”

You duck your head in perhaps, shyness? Glancing at your phone, you remark, “we have five minutes.”

He suddenly jolts, checking his outfit. “Hey, how do I look? Okay? Does it seem like I tried too hard?” 

Your eyes flick to him for a split second before looking away. “You look good.”

There’s a pause before he clears his throat. “Is that it?” 

You inhale, facing him again. “Yeah. What do you want me to say? Oh, you’re so handsome, and your stylish clothes match your hair perfectly!” 

Sunwoo suddenly grins. “Well, if you wanted to call me handsome you could’ve done so earlier.” 

While you’re distracted grumbling about him, Sunwoo sneakily captures a shot, the sound making you jump.

“Why.... why did you just take a picture of me?”

He grins, shrugging. “Contact photo.” 

Your face suddenly returns back to its normal blank expression, and you take his arm. He’s surprised, looking at you before you mutter, “Is that her?”

You can remember the time drunk sunwoo showed you photos of his crush, but to be honest, you didn’t really pay close attention to her. His eyes glance around before he swallows and nods. “She’s coming over here. And don’t worry, I told her I invited a friend.” 

Sunwoo watches as his longtime crush spots him, shooting a wave and a smile. Then he sees her eyes flick down to you, the smile quickly fading as she walks over.  

Once she arrives, she takes your hand off his arm, making your eyes widen in astonishment.

“Excuse me- whatever it is you want from him, I don’t think he’s interested.” 

“Sunwoo!” she turns toward the boy with her back to you, “where’s your friend?” 

You and Sunwoo stare at each other in shock before you raise a hand over your mouth to contain your laughter.

He blinks, looking back down at the girl. His hand slowly raises to point at you. “Right here.” 

You weren’t able to notice earlier, but you can tell why sunwoo likes her. 

Oh. She’s prettier in person. 

She stares at you for a moment before spinning back to him, whispering not so quietly, “since when did you talk to girls that weren’t me?” 

Sunwoo rolls his eyes, “That doesn’t matter. This is y/n.”

You give a polite smile, accepting her very quick apology. 

ꔫ 

“Actually Sunwoo, this is a trendy place to go to now, I wonder how you got a table- I actually came here once before with...... ah, never mind. “

You quietly listen to her talk, following behind as she sits at a table. 

Not wanting to make it awkward, you sit across from her, leaving two seats open-one next to you and one next to her. 

Also leaving Sunwoo to stop, eyes flicking between the two options. 

“Why are you hesitating?” the girl says impatiently, “just sit.”

You glance at him, almost speaking with your eyes, this is a chance. 

Sunwoo slides down next to you as you study the girl, waiting for any sign of a reaction. 

You do get something. It’s not much, just a curious look at the two of you seated next to each other.

After ordering, Sunwoo chooses the same dish as you. 

You smirk. “Ah, of course. My taste in food is excellent.” 

He scoffs, “No, I decided I was gonna get this way before you. If anything, I have great taste, and you’re just a copycat.” 

Grinning, you retort, “Yeah right, I’m actually a psychic. Sound familiar?” 

He groans, bringing a hand to cover his face. You laugh at his misery. “Let’s not bring that backup...” 

You turn to the girl, casually sipping her drink as she studies the two of you. But once realizing you’re both looking at her, she shoots up.

“Um-did you say something?” 

You can tell. The way he stares at her, the soft smile that appears only when she speaks to him. You honestly don’t understand how she hasn’t figured it out yet - that is if she really doesn’t know. 

Deep inside, you think you know the answer. But you don’t want to assume anything just yet-you’ve only reached the opening stages of the plot.

In the end, Sunwoo doesn’t get much. If he’s learned anything, it’s that you’re a much better actor than you seem. The subtle touches, flirting. He knows it’s all for show, though. 

But for you, you get much more than sunwoo. A full stomach without having to pay anything. And you got to meet the girl of ‘sunwoo’s dreams’. 

She’s nice. Funny. Really pretty. You can see yourself becoming friends with her. All in all, she’s a great person to have a crush on. Except for all the ex-boyfriend stuff.

Before you leave, she speaks up once more.

“I’m kinda upset.” she pouts. You and sunwoo immediately look at each other, waiting for her to continue. 

“You never told me you had other female friends. You always said you weren’t interested, I thought you would’ve mentioned it to me or something....”

Awkwardly turning to you, she bows and apologizes once more. “Sorry again, for earlier. It was really nice to meet you. Let’s see each other again, Sunwoo’s other female friend.”

Sunwoo elbows her, “what’s that supposed to mean?” But she only laughs. 

You don’t know what he’s thinking, but you remember he mentioned he was gonna hang out with her after this, just the two of them.

Waving bye to them, you suddenly freeze once you spot someone behind sunwoo.

It’s... your ex. Coincidentally in the same location as you. Walking in your direction. Luckily, you don’t think he’s spotted you. Yet.

It shouldn’t bother you as much, but it does.

Sunwoo notices your fallen face. “Y/n??” 

He doesn’t know what’s behind him that caused that reaction of yours, but he recognizes that expression anywhere. It’s the same one he probably had on too. Whenever she was with him. 

He wraps an arm around your shoulder, turning you the other way so you can’t look. You break out of your trance and stare up at him. “What... what are you doing?”

Sunwoo only stares ahead of him. Then he walks. And you do too. 

He walks until you’re outside, away from everyone. 

It’s silent, but you gather some confidence to speak up. “Thank you.. what about your friend? Isn’t she still inside?”  

“Oh, she’s probably fine waiting. It’s okay. This seemed more important right now anyway.”

That’s the first time your heart fluttered, whether you knew it or not. 

ꔫ 

After that, you find out sunwoo texts a lot. Well, he texts you a lot. Mostly about girl advice. Which he shouldn’t even be asking you -I mean you’re the one who recently got out of a relationship. 

Even if you complain that he’s annoying, you find helping him to be pretty entertaining. Also attacking his texting skills.

Because the rest of your life is just that boring at the moment.

That could be a factor in why you decided to go on a blind date. With some random guy. You weren’t even looking for anything serious, just a night out different from your usual staying in. 

But you deeply regret wearing shorter clothes. He wasn’t bad at first. And then came the touching. 

It was just a knock of the feet. It seemed like nothing, a mere couple of accidents. And when he moved to sit next to you instead of in front, you should’ve known. 

His thigh touching yours, an arm around the back of the seat. 

Occasionally you would cough and scoot away, trying any way to send signals of back off. 

After his hand brushes your thigh, you sigh. “I’m sorry, but please don’t touch me, while I’m asking nicely.” 

He chuckles, moving his arm to hang around your shoulders. “Come on, you agreed to go on this date with me. Might as well have some fun.”

You calmly fling his arm off you, standing up to grab your stuff when he just won’t stop, will he? 

“Let go of my hand,” you say calmly.

“Girl, just-“

“She asked you to let go, didn’t she?”

Why is it that he keeps popping up in your life? And it’s not just him alone, he’s with her again. Probably came here together to eat too, you guess.

“Who are you? Her boyfriend? Doesn’t seem like it.”

“Does it matter? She asked you to stop, and you didn’t.” 

Sunwoo harshly removes his grip from yours and takes your hand, leading you outside of the place. 

You move your hand away from his, but the warmth still remains. Arms crossed, you only look at him blankly. “You know I could've handled it, right?”

“Yeah, yeah, but sometimes guys are really stubborn and need someone to physically beat them up so they listen.”

That causes a tiny smile to surface. “I’m guessing you came with her, right? How’s it going?” 

He shrugs, “dunno. She’s been acting okay since the last time we three went to that restaurant.” 

You nod thoughtfully. “Well, are you gonna keep her waiting? You can go back in now, I’m going home.” 

“What? I’ll take you.”

You frown. “Why do you want to take me home? To find out where I live, stalker?” 

Sunwoo scoffs. “First troublemaker and now stalker? And no, I’m just being a gentleman. Now accept my offer before I take it back. I’m not always this kind.” 

Huffing, you begin your walk back, leaving him behind. 

“Hey-! Wait up!” Once again, sunwoo has no clue why he follows you instead of easily going back to where he should be- originally wanted to be. 

The first couple of minutes of the walk are a peaceful silence, basking in the cool night. It doesn’t last for long, because something comes to your head.

“Wait. What about your crush?”

“Why do you keep asking about her? When you’re in more distress? Of course, I’m gonna help you right now.”

“That’s not what I mean... if you’re just trying to make her jealous, you don’t have to walk me all the way.”

I don’t get why you’re here with me, instead of with the girl you like. 

Sunwoo stops. “Wait what- Do you really think I would do that?” 

Your nod causes him to scoff. “No, I told you before, I’m just being polite. It’s fine. She can wait.” 

“You hang out together a lot,” you remark, “you must really like her.”

“Yeah, I just- I think she’s just bored and asks me to go out with her because no one else will... and I always accept.” 

“Oh. It seemed like you were the one constantly forcing her to go out with you.” 

Sunwoo laughs, if it’s sarcastic or genuine you can’t tell. “You’re funny.”

You take a couple more steps before deciding to break the silence that reformed. “Anyways, aren’t you curious about how we met? That night?”

Frowning, he responds, “that’s right, I don’t exactly remember.” 

“To start with, I actually went to that bar because I got broken up with.”

Sunwoo makes a surprised face. “I see...” 

“Yeah, and you were there that night. Causing a scene with some bulky guys, and I saved your butt. You talked. A lot. I listened. That was it. Oh, and that day at the mall... it was my ex that I saw.”

He hums thoughtfully. “So that’s who it was....”

Once you reach your doorstep, Sunwoo suddenly breaks out in a dance. 

“Niceee- I paid back the favor for making you come with me to that restaurant!” 

“That doesn’t count Kim Sunwoo because you came here on your own will. Goodnight.”

Shutting the door in his face, you hear him spluttering from outside. That guy is really something.

ꔫ 

Sunwoo finds your requests very weird. Your service is attempting to help him win over his crush, and in return, you only want a simple hangout with his company? It’s strange.

(If he asked you, you would probably just say you were bored and had nothing to do. That’s the only reason. Really.)

One afternoon, he receives a text from you, your contact saved as “annoying y/n”. 

‘Let’s get food. That means you’re paying. I’m at my studio right now, so 3?” 

‘where r u’

‘i can pick u up’

‘-current address sent-’

One thing he wasn’t expecting from you was a dance studio? And weirdly, he feels a tiny bit guilty for not knowing anything about you, except your name.... and your ex. 

Cautiously opening the door, he looks around for any sign of where you could be. 

But the place is kinda confusing with all the doors, so he eventually gives up and decides to ask some nearby strangers.

Ignoring their blushes and remarks of his handsomeness, Sunwoo asks, “Do you know where y/l/n y/n is?”

They quickly point at a door before running off, whispering ‘is he their boyfriend or something??’ 

Sunwoo coolly makes his way over, peeking through the small window.

 Another thing he doesn’t expect is how good of a dancer you are. It gives him flashbacks- back when he used to do routines in his old practice room. 

He observes the way your limbs move so fluidly but still sharp and exact. Everything just feels so right, in tune with the music. It almost takes his breath away, watching you for who knows how long.

Once the music stops and your tired breaths fill the room does sunwoo finally pop in, clapping and nodding. 

“Pretty good, stranger.” 

You scrunch your nose. “Is that my nickname now? Not even a little more creative?”

Ah, there it is. “You know, I like you a lot better when you’re dancing, not talking, and being mean to me.”

You blink. “So you like me, huh? That was fast.” 

He ignores your comment. “You should be grateful you’re in the presence of Kim sunwoo, alright? Many girls would kill to be you.”

“Not your crush, though? I’m sorry. That was low of me.”

“It was,” he agrees. Falling back onto the ground, he stares up at the ceiling, speaking up. 

“How long have you been dancing for?”

The atmosphere feels strangely peaceful. “Since I was young. Just kinda picked it up for fun, and it became a thing. I like it -sometimes it’s exhausting, but I like it.”

His eyes fixate on the blinding lights. “Hmm, this place is reminding me of when I was younger. In high school.”

You join him on the ground, the sound of your breaths can only be heard in the room. 

“What do you mean?” 

“I used to be an idol trainee. Practiced for a couple of years before quitting.”

You turn your head to look at him. “Impressive. What did you do?”

Sunwoo closes his eyes. “Rapping. Dancing. Singing. A little bit of everything. But mostly rapping.”

“Will you rap something then?”

His eyes flick open. “What? I can’t just rap off the top of my head.”

You pout, “no fun. Well, can you still dance?”

“Maybe..” 

You suddenly sit up. “Should we dance something together?”

Your eyes sparkle, the first time sunwoo’s noticed them doing that. 

“Just- don’t make fun of me. It’s been years.”

“I won’t.” 

“... -guarantee anything.”

 Sunwoo’s doesn’t know. What this fleeting feeling in his chest is. When your hands softly correct his position, when you try not to laugh at his mistake. And then your delighted face when he gets it right in the end. 

It’s probably nothing, sunwoo thinks. He’s sure, very sure that he’s still in love with his high school crush..

It’s all strange, really.

ꔫ 

You would say your life is pretty boring. You didn’t do much until Kim Sunwoo shoved his way in. 

Your next meeting occurred a couple weeks after the dance practice incident. It was weird, almost like fate was constantly crossing your paths (maybe they were huhu). 

The mart’s automatic doors slide close behind as you walk into the night. 

But you stop. There’s some kind of shuffling, commotion coming from the dark alley next to you. So what better than to check it out, right?

It’s almost pitch black, but you’re 99.9% sure some guys are beating someone up. So you yell.

“Hey! What’s going on?”

Thankfully, they don’t try to attack you, instead just running off in the opposite direction after the sound of your voice.

It’s hard to see, but you briskly make your way to the huddled figure on the ground, heart pounding.

“Sir? Sir? Are you alright?” You’re trembling but still manage to gently shake his shoulder. 

And when he looks up, you can only gasp. 

“Troublemaker?”

“...y/n? Why are you here?”

“Shouldn’t I be asking you that? Oh my god, are you okay?”

He attempts to sit up, chuckling lowly. “Just got ganged up on. I guess it happens when you mess with the wrong people.”

Your eyes flash. “This isn’t the time to be joking, sunwoo. Where are you hurt?”

He groans, sighing and holding a hand out in front of you. “Just.... don’t. Leave. I can take care of myself, it used to happen all the time.” 

You can tell something definitely happened to him, but what exactly is the question.

You scoff, squatting next to him. “Listen Kim Sunwoo,” you speak harshly, “I don’t care how long we’ve known each other. I’m not letting anyone obviously hurt like this alone. If you’re just gonna stay here, then I’ll drag you out myself if I have to.”

There’s a break before you notice he’s slighty shaking. Is he? Is he laughing? What a crazy guy.

“You’re funny,” he chuckles. And then an arm is held out to you. 

You take it, pulling him up. 

Groaning, you note he’s heavier than you thought. One of his arms hanging on your shoulder, yours around his waist. He’s slightly limping too.

You hold back the urge to scold Sunwoo. What did you do to make yourself come out this bad?

Slowly, you walk over to a bench, but before you make it, you spot a certain someone across the street. 

And you think he does too. 

You stiffen. He freezes. Biting your lip, you look back at sunwoo, trying to read his face. 

“Is that- is that him with her? The ex?” 

He nods, eyes never leaving the two, who were probably hanging out together-maybe even going on a date. He has no clue and no wish to find out. The familiar feeling sinks to the bottom of his stomach. 

You shake your head, clearing all distractions and eventually making it to the bench where you set him down. 

“I need to get medicine. If you leave, I swear I’ll-“

“Yeah, yeah. Don’t think I can anyway.”

But before you run to the store conveniently 10 steps away, you unwrap the soft scarf around your neck, raising it up to his face. 

“W-what are you doing?”

“Just trust me,” you say softly, “and put this on. This way, you won’t look at them together, and it’ll be a little easier.” 

Gently, you tie the scarf around his eyes. 

“Five minutes. I promise I’ll be back.”

ꔫ 

Once you return, a bag of medicine in hand, you set it down next to him, causing him to slightly jump. 

But a lightbulb flashes in your brain. Quietly tiptoeing in front of him, you aim the camera and shoot. 

You laugh at the way sunwoo jumps slightly at the noise, blindly looking around, and you also laugh at the way the photo came out-an unsuspecting Kim sunwoo. 

“What was that? Did you just take a picture?”

He can’t see, but you grin cheekily. “Contact photo.”

Squatting in front of him, your warm hands deftly unwrap the scarf blindfold, removing it from his face. 

He squints, your concerned face coming into view.

“It wasn’t too bad, right?”  

“Delete it.” His reply is curt. 

“Why? I needed a photo for you.”

“Delete it or retake it!! It looks bad. I’m literally wearing a blindfold,” he whines, arms weakly attempting to snatch your phone away.

Luckily for you, he isn’t able to move much and steal it. “No,” you respond indignantly, “it’s cute.”

There’s a pause.

You quickly clear your throat, pretending nothing just happened as you rummage through the plastic bag. 

Sunwoo feels weird. Having someone caring for him. It was usually him looking after everyone else- his mother, sister. He can’t remember the last time someone else took care of him.

You take out a box, screwing the cap off the bottle. 

“They’re gone now. You don’t have to worry anymore.”  

“What?”

You stare at him again. “Your crush? And her ex?”

He shifts. “Oh, right.”

Humming, you examine him again. “I’m not a professional, but I’ll try my best..” 

Sunwoo sighs once more. “As I said, I don’t know why you’re doing this-“

You cut him off. “Just be quiet, will you?” 

After putting ointment on his bruised face, you shuffle through the bad to find another tube, letting out an aha! when you retrieve it.

When you lean in super close to his face, sunwoo tries his best not to turn red. He blames it on the weather.. even though the temperatures were freezing today.

“Why are you helping me?” he mumbles. Sunwoo attempts to avoid looking you in the eye -he doesn’t want to know what’ll happen if he does.

It’s silent for a little bit as you concentrate on all the minor scratches and bruises on his face. Focusing on the cut on his lip, you whisper, “you’re such a troublemaker, aren’t you?” 

Offended, he jerks away from you. You return it with a glare and a hand on his chin to hold his face still. 

“You can’t even deny it. Now stay still.” 

His heart flutters at your delicate hold on his face, soft and focused gaze. Why are you like this?

After a couple more treatments and unusual thumpings in his chest, sunwoo is free to go.

You’re satisfied with your work. “ I would help you home, but I’m tired so call someone or whatever.” 

Pausing, you add, “and that’s another favor from you, Kim Sunwoo.”

He rolls his eyes but can’t help thinking of the next time you’ll call for him. He goes home feeling warmer than he remembered, the ghost of your touch still lingering in his dreams. 

ꔫ 

It’s actually not as boring as one might expect to go to a restaurant alone, in your opinion. 

No effort has to be made to communicate to someone else, no worrying about if there’s food stuck in your teeth. No worrying about anyone else but yourself.

So that’s why you alone find your way to the entrance of a nice place- it had almost a five-star rating online.

The waiter seems a bit surprised you’re here by yourself, but you shrug it off. Who cares- you came for the food anyways. 

Following the server past other tables and chairs,  you abruptly get stopped when a chair pushes out, blocking your way. 

The guy seems to notice you then, getting out of his seat and apologizing. 

“Whoops, my bad.”

He looks somewhat familiar. 

“Oh! Aren’t you-“

“Sunwoo’s friend Eric, right?”

“Y/n???”

You can recognize that voice anywhere. It’s almost making you frustrated. “Again you?”

Spinning around, you didn’t imagine a whole table of eyes locked onto you.

You hear whispers of who’s y/n?, and spot a startled Sunwoo standing up from his seat. 

“What are you doing here?”

It makes you suddenly shy, standing in front of all these guys that you suppose are his friends? There’s quite a lot of them all together at one table...

Fidgeting with the ends of your hair again-sunwoo notices this time-you hesitantly speak. 

“I came here to eat. Because it’s a restaurant. What-um, what about you?”

Sunwoo gestures at the group. “I’m having dinner with my friends. You know Eric, he’s my roommate.”

Nodding slowly, you just wish to get away, having no idea what happened to your waiter.

And then Eric has to make your night a lot more- let’s just say, stimulating.

“Wait! You can join us at our table!” Eric grins. “It’ll be nice to know who’s been stealing sunwoo away from us.”

Your eye twitches. Who what now?

And the other guys around seem to think the same thought, immediately asking nearby servers for an extra chair. 

You don’t move. This could be your death wish for all you know.

And still, you end up sitting squished between Sunwoo and another friend named Newt? New? Who cares.

Half the boys launch an investigation, questioning you with ‘how did you manage to get sunwoo’s attention?’, ‘how did you manage to seduce him?’ 

Truly an exciting night. 

“Guys, for the last time, stop interrogating the shit out of y/n.” 

It quickly becomes stuffy, being wedged between twelve boys sharing one small table. How do they do it? Getting up, you mutter an excuse, something along the lines of ‘I need to use the restroom’ and escape the damned table.

Once you’re out of ear's reach, Kevin makes his move, wiggling his eyebrows at sunwoo.

“So..... you and y/n now? What happened to your other crush?”

He rolls his eyes, sipping on his drink. “Like I said, we’ve got nothing going on. I don’t like them like that.”

Eric snorts. “Nah, you like her.” 

Sunwoo raises a fist threateningly at him, but Haknyeon’s pat on his shoulder stops him. “I’m happy for you. It’s been so long, everyone’s glad to see you finally moved on.” 

He isn’t really sure what to say back. Luckily you return to squeeze between everyone, making the conversation change to a more appropriate topic.

You notice sunwoo’s thoughtful expression. “What’s up?”

“Uh, it’s nothing..” A sudden ringing from his pocket catches your attention. 

“Oh, sorry guys. My mom’s calling. Gimme a sec.” 

Your eyes follow sunwoo as he steps outside for who knows how long. 

“Y/n?” 

Your head whips back to the group. 

“Yes?”

You think Jacob’s the one who called your name. “Thank you.”

 “For what?”  You frown.

“Being there for Sunwoo, of course. I’m guessing you probably heard about the girl he used to crush on for ages. She was really important to him, probably still is.”

“Actually, I don’t know much about their past together, ” you reply, eyes focusing on the exit door where sunwoo left through. 

Jacob sighs, clearing his throat. “It’s a long story. Sunwoo used to be a bad student in high school.”

You aren’t surprised, gesturing for him to continue.

“Skipped school, failed tests, got in a lot of fights. But it was all for his mom. She was sick, and sunwoo was out doing jobs to make money and support the family. His dad's been gone for a while...”

You stay silent. 

“But she was the one who helped him out of it, changed him. That’s how you met the Sunwoo we know today. Even if it was only friendly intentions, I think that was why Sunwoo was so stuck on her. Except when she started dating this other guy, I don’t know why he stayed by her side without making a move for so long.”

There’s a brief moment for everything to sink in.

“He’s scared,” you speak up. Jacob watches you with raised eyebrows.  

“He’s scared that she’ll reject him, and he would lose her as a friend.” 

Jacob laughs, causing you to tilt your head in confusion. 

“But not with you, y/n. You’re special. He seems so different around you. Sunwoo’s liked the same girl for so long, he probably didn’t know how to act around a new person he found interest in -especially one like you who compliments him so well.”

You choke. “Compliment him??” No way.

He nods eagerly, “I’ve never seen sunwoo so-“

“Never seen me so what?” 

Your head jerks toward the sound of said person’s voice. 

“Never seen you so drunk,” you retort. 

Sunwoo squints down at you, keeping a mental picture of your innocent stare looking back up at him in his mind. 

While everyone orders, you whisper to sunwoo. 

“Are you gonna steal my order this time too?”

He recoils before shooting a glare back. 

“No,” he says indignantly, “I’m getting something way better than yours. And if yours is good, then I’ll just steal some.”

You raise your fork up as a threat. “If you even look anywhere near my plate, I’ll make sure you won’t get to eat.”

As you two engage in a fierce staring contest, the rest of the boys watch on, sharing knowing looks. 

ꔫ 

The food’s good. No wonder they like to come here. 

Your attention is taken away by a gasping Sunwoo, mouth open you think in an attempt to cool his burning tongue. 

You glance at him, unimpressed. “You have food all over your mouth.”

“What?” he rasps back, huffing and puffing air.

“Idiot,” you reply, throwing a napkin at his face. 

“Ow,” he whines.

 “I think it stabbed me in the eye.”

“The napkin???” 

“Yes, you threw it into my face! It totally cut my eyeball.”

You scoff, turning towards him. “You’re so dramatic.”

“I’m serious! It hurts,” sunwoo complains, “can you look at it?”

You’re sure it’s perfectly fine because he’s holding his eye wide open right in front of you, but just to appease him, you lean in closer to examine his face. 

Squinting, you mutter, “Seriously sunwoo, I don’t see any sort of-“

Click!  

Both of your heads whip toward the sound. Changmin? giggles evilly, eyes focused on the screen in front of him. 

Sunwoo groans again, but he’s cut off. 

“Yah, don’t get all worked up. I’ll send the picture to you later, no need to worry!”

You’ve given up at this point. Sunwoo has too.

When the torturous dinner finally comes to an end, you were exhausted. This was supposed to be some enjoyable alone time at a great restaurant with great food and definitely no sunwoo, but life doesn’t like you.

At least his friends were super cool. You found yourself getting along quite nicely with them.  

And you also got more insight into sunwoo’s past. It was odd to hear about his past self. It makes you think about your life, what you’ve been doing all this time... 

“I can take you home,” sunwoo offers. 

“No-!” You quickly respond. “Sorry, I’ve had enough of people. Not you specifically, just people in general.”

He shrugs, “whatever suits you.” 

And you’re left alone with thoughts. And unknown feelings. About him.

ꔫ 

Melon or banana?

The grocery mart just has too many flavors to choose from, and you don’t have enough freezer space to buy it all.

Humming happily, you place your selected choice into the cart, continuing forward.

When you turn, a mother and son come into view, their back’s facing you as they shop together. It makes you smile at the cute view. 

As you stroll past them, you freeze. No way. That voice? 

Right as you stopped, the lady turns her shopping cart absentmindedly, causing it to knock into yours with a clang. 

“Oh my! Goodness, I’m sorry about that.” 

“Mom! Watch where you’re pushing the cart. You know what, just let me do it. It’s getting heavy.”

He turns to you. “Sorry again... you!??!”

You awkwardly turn towards them, failing to muster a smile.

His mom looks between the two of you before a delighted smile appears.

“You know her, sunwoo?” He nods reluctantly.

“And she’s a girl???” she says suggestively to sunwoo, elbowing him hard in the ribs. It takes everything in him to hold back a wince- still not having completely recovered yet from the last time you saw him.

She eagerly holds her hand out to you, and you quickly take it, bowing.  

“Nice to meet you, Mrs. Kim.”

She guffaws in the middle of the aisle, one arm on Sunwoo to balance herself in the middle of her excitement. 

“What a kind and polite girl!” 

“Sunwoo,” she mutters, “you found an even better one!” 

He can’t even muster any sort of response. 

Sunwoo tries, he really does, taking her arm and forcing her to continue on, whispering fiercely to just leave!!

But his mom is a fighter -a good one. She yanks his grip off her, threatening him harshly before turning back to you with a lovely smile. 

The duality though, you think.

His mom suddenly gasps, making sunwoo brace himself, sighing ‘what now...’

“Y/n! Is it okay if I call you that?” You nod. 

Clapping her hands together, she says excitedly, “You should come over to our house!”

Sunwoo protests at the speed of light, but she shuts him up with a hand. 

“We were buying ingredients to cook dinner tonight! You should join us!! That is if you’re not busy??” Her eyes sparkle.

From behind her, you watch a frantic sunwoo do everything in his power for you to decline. 

Unfortunately for him, you have absolutely no plans for tonight.

“I would love to, Mrs. Kim.”

Sunwoo thinks his soul has officially left his body. 

His mom laughs bashfully, taking your hand and going off together deeper into the store,  deeper into sunwoo’s pain.

It was pretty early on you decided that you really liked his mother. Or, auntie, as she forced you to call her. 

And it’s quite obvious she loves you too, much to sunwoo’s shock and disgust.

ꔫ 

She opens the door to their apartment, ushering you in. 

It’s quite a nice place, a small and lovely house. 

“Your home is really beautiful, Mrs- um-auntie.”

Sunwoo’s mother laughs again, placing a hand over her chest. 

“You are such a sweet girl. Sunwoo will show you around while I prepare the food!” she finishes with a glare in his direction.

Perking up, you glance around. “Where’s your room?” 

Sunwoo gives up, sighing and beckoning you to follow him. He guides you down a hallway, past two doors to the end where a final door stands -you’re guessing that it opens to his room.

“What are the other two doors?”

“Bathroom, and my sister's room.”

You raise your eyebrows. “You have a sister?” He nods, “younger.”

Opening the door, you’re shocked at the neatness. It’s a nice and simple room. 

“Wow, I wasn’t expecting such a clean room.” 

He snorts in response, slumping down into a chair. 

Finally alone, you start your attack. “Troublemaker?”

He grunts. 

“How come I didn’t know you weren’t such a troublemaker with your mother? You literally turn into a softie next to her.”

“Whatever. I’m not always the best person, but I’m a good son,” he snaps.

You may be teasing him, but on the inside, you soften at how well he takes care of his mother. He must’ve had a hard time working for the family since he was young... 

You glance around before your eyes focus on a giant bag of.... juices??

“What,” you start, “What are these?”

“Oh,” he looks in your direction. “Vitamin juices. It has a lot of health benefits.”

You’re suddenly quiet, your voice low. “Kim sunwoo.... collects and hoards juice?”

He moves, uncomfortable at the sudden change of tone. “Yeah??”

And that for some reason that causes you to lose it. A hand clamped over your mouth, you almost can’t even support your own legs as giggles erupt from your body.

Sunwoo thinks it lasts for a much longer time than it should have.

“Why is it so funny to you that I like to drink juice -healthy juice that’s good for you?”

You have no idea, instead just collapsing onto his bed and rolling over in a fit of laughter. 

The only thing he can do is unknowingly smile at your shaking figure and flushed face. 

It takes a couple more minutes before you finally calm down, letting out a satisfied smile.

“Your bed’s comfy.”

“Yeah, so maybe you should get off it before it becomes uncomfy.” 

You ignore him, does that sentence even make sense?

The photos on his wall catch your attention. You suddenly sit up, carefully taking one off that caught your eye. 

“Is this you and her? Wait- that’s what you looked like in high school?”

 You save a mental image of young sunwoo in your head. This could be great blackmail...

He hisses at your comments, reaching over and trying to snatch it away. 

“Stop looking at my old photos-!”

Laughing delightedly, you avoid his grabby hands, holding the photo as far away as you can.

Sunwoo growls, reaching as far over you as he can to take it back.

“Aha!” he yells triumphantly once his fingers make contact with the picture. But sadly for him, he loses his balance over the bed and falls. 

On top of you. 

His hand fortunately catches him, planting softly right by your head. 

The sound of your laughter is cut short, and you can only stare up at him. 

Your breath hitches at the close proximity, noticing his legs on either side of yours. Did your heart just skip a beat? 

And the fact that he’s just staring down at you so you’re trapped doesn’t help at all. 

“Hey, sunwoo! Mom wants you to-“ 

Both of your heads turn toward the voice. 

“.... is that Y/n?”

“Sis?”

Sunwoo’s sister blinks, staring at the position you both were in. “Well then.” She simply closes the door behind her. 

“Wait no. It’s not-“ you give up in the middle of speaking. 

There’s an awkward silence-you could almost hear the crows cawing in the background.

“So are you gonna get off me or?”

Sunwoo snaps out of his daze. “Right, yeah, sorry.” He wordlessly moves off to sit next to you on the bed.

Coughing, you stare at the ground. “So she’s your-?”

“Yep. My little sister.”

“But,” he frowns, “how did she know your name?”

“Because we know each other?”

He glances at you. “Huh? How?”

You only shrug suspiciously. “Secret. But I didn’t know you two were related...”

Sunwoo makes a face, confused, but the noise outside gets your attention.

“Dinner’s ready!! Come eat!!” his mother’s shout echoes through the walls.

ꔫ 

“You’re so lucky to have a mother to cook such good food for you.”

Sunwoo looks down at his bowl. “Yeah, I know.”

His mother smiles at you, asking curiously, “what about your family, y/n?”

You swallow before speaking. “Oh, they live farther away. I came here to dance, so I don’t really see them often.” 

She gasps. “You poor thing, living out here all alone. Come over whenever you want, okay?”

Sunwoo opens his mouth to respond but decides to just close it. You smile and nod gratefully, feeling a lot more at ease. 

When you finally finish eating, sunwoo’s eager to guide you out -even though you disregard his attempts so you can charm his mother even more.

The number of times during the dinner his mother has hinted at the two of you being a couple and the number of times sunwoo has denied that there was anything at all were too many to count.

And then he eventually gets you to leave, shutting the door close once and for all. 

Sunwoo almost collapses, making exaggerated sounds of exhaustion and relief.

He sprawls out on the living room floor, completely tuning out his mother’s complaints about his manners and whatnot.

But as he lays there, he can only think about his heart. Why does it do that? Whenever you look at his mom with such tender eyes. When you’re acting so kind and respectful, but still being yourself. Eyes crinkling when someone says anything remotely funny.

Why does his heart stir so much when you spare even a glance at him?

ꔫ 

After that, you get extremely busy. Upcoming dance competitions and events take up most of your day. 

That leads to barely any rest for you since you’re constantly in and out of the studio, practicing, practicing, and more practicing.

You’d be lucky to even get 4 hours of sleep a day. 

But the one night you can finally close your eyes for maybe a solid 5 or 6 hours, (you were so excited you even leaped into bed) your fucking phone rings.

You want to kill whoever is calling you at a deathly time. It was only 1 am, but your sleep is too precious. 

At first, you ignore it. But it rings a freakin second time, and now you’re unable to fall back asleep. 

Biting your lip harshly, you angrily grab your phone, turning it on to see-

three missed calls from sunwoo?

It’s been a while since you’ve seen him, so you have no idea why he’s calling you and wasting your hard-earned rest. 

The phone rings again. Your brain can barely function, but you manage to accept the call. 

“What the fuck do you want? My beauty sleep-“

“Are... are you busy?” His voice is quiet, maybe too quiet.

You want to slap him through the phone but alternately just let out a strained huff. “Does it seem-“ but you don’t finish. 

Something didn’t seem right. You’re fully awake now.

“Sunwoo? What’s going on?”

There’s a pause before his voice comes through again. 

“Can I see you? I’m actually out near your place.”

It takes five minutes for you to get out of bed, throw on a jacket and close the door behind you.

Head whipping from side to side, you search around.

Your palms start to get sweaty even though the night was frigid, cold wind blowing past.

Where is he? His voice....felt off. You could sense it even through the phone.

Briskly walking, you keep looking until you spot him.

Well, Sunwoo was right. He was sitting down alone at a park about 5 minutes away from your apartment. 

 Your anger rises again as you approach him.

“What the fuck is going on?“

Your feet slow as your voice lowers to a whisper. 

“What....what’s wrong?”

You rush over to him, forgetting everything and cupping his face in your warm hands. 

Sunwoo looks at you, his red and watery eyes void of any emotion. How long has he been out here?

“Kim sunwoo, you-“

He cuts you off.

“Why does she not like me back?” His voice is soft, shaky. It’s like he doesn’t have enough strength to say it any louder.

Your breath gets caught in your throat, and you swallow. Your mind races, seeking any words to make a sentence, just to say anything.

“Is there something wrong with me? Did I-can she just look at me for once?” his voice cracks. You watch as the tears slowly trickle down his cold cheeks. 

His voice lowers to a whisper. “I’ve been her friend for so long, and she never noticed me and all the things I did for her. I waited, and it was too late. Y/n, I tried. I really tried.”

You can hear the cracking of his heart.

When the sobs start, you only hold your breath and wrap your arms around him. You let sunwoo cry into you, even when you so desperately want to cry for him too. 

Shutting your eyes, you rub his back comfortingly. 

It feels like it’s been an hour. Or a couple, who knows. 

And when the cries ultimately slow, you slowly move back, cautiously glancing at him. His swollen eyes and red nose cause your chest to tighten.

You speak in a hushed tone, almost afraid to speak louder as if it’ll make him break. 

 “How do you feel?”

He laughs a small but painful sound. “It’s my fault. I shouldn’t have called you out at this time. I can tell you’re exhausted. Just leave and get some sleep.”

You’re frustrated. You don’t want to be, especially not right now, but the feeling crawls all over you, uncomfortable and itchy.

You stand up, staring into him with fierce eyes. “Stop worrying about me. Stop worrying about others. You always look out for everyone else but yourself. Can’t you see that you’re hurting, and I just want to help?” 

You regret saying that almost immediately, sinking down onto the bench next to him. The only sound is his occasional sniffles and coughs.

Sunwoo’s shocked. But he tries not to show it. 

Instead, he stares at the trees. The streetlights. And eventually you.

“You’re right.” You jump slightly when he speaks up.

“As usual,” he chuckles.

“So thank you for coming here. I don’t know what was going on with me. I think I was just going through a lot and needed to let it out.”

You’re still not looking at him, but your hand inches over slowly to cover his. Surprisingly, he accepts the warmth. 

No words are exchanged, but it’s enough. A silent apology. A silent sense of comfort.

A bout of laughter across the street gets your attention. It’s just an annoying couple, you think.

But... it’s not just any annoying couple. No. Are you serious?

Their voices fly over the wind, going in one ear and out the other. “Wait a second. Is that sunwoo over there?” 

He tenses, eyes frantically looking at you. You immediately understand. 

It’s happened many times to you- how embarrassing and humiliating it is to get caught crying. Even when crying is supposed to be a normal and natural thing. And then comes the hilarious made-up explanation behind the whole waterworks. 

You can’t imagine how it must be for sunwoo.

The sound of their footsteps come closer.

You scoot closer to him. 

Thump. 

Your hand slowly reaches out. He doesn’t move, almost as if entranced by your actions.

Thump. 

Sunwoo watches, confused as your hand guides his head, burying him into your shoulder and efficiently blocking anyone’s view of his crying face. 

Thump.

“Pretend to be asleep,” you murmur. 

He closes his eyes, inhaling your familiar scent. 

“Oh! It’s you again!”

You smile awkwardly at sunwoo’s crush, even though you kinda want to scream at her for causing him so much pain.

Then your gaze shifts to him. You’ve never seen her ex before, only hearing stories from sunwoo. So this is him...

“Hello. I’m afraid we’ve never met before? You seem close to sunwoo.”

“Oh, my name is y/l/n y/n. I’ve heard a lot about you. Why... why are you two out so late?” 

They exchange looks. “We were just hanging out, and lost track of time, haha. You know...” she laughs. “And you two? I see he’s asleep. Sunwoo was always sleeping in class..”

You feel him just barely move. 

You grimace and give a small smile. “Ha, sunwoo here was drinking and fell asleep. That reminds me, I should probably get him home. It’s late, so you guys should go too.” 

You don’t know, but they see the loving way you look down at sunwoo, pretending to shake him awake to leave. 

When he only groans in response, you curse him. What a sneaky little..... 

Biting the inside of your cheek, you can barely haul sunwoo up, placing his arm around your shoulder. Didn’t know you were so good at acting, troublemaker.

They move to help you, but you quickly and aggressively protest, groaning as you weakly step forward. 

“Well,” you barely get out, “it was nice to meet you. Maybe we can meet again under better circumstances,” you wheeze.

Once you make sure they’re out of sight, you drop him onto the ground, gasping for air.

“You couldn’t have even helped a little?”

His still red eyes and small pout make you soften. 

“Come on, I’ll walk you home.”

His voice is quiet but still teasing. “Why? So you can find out where I live, stalker?”

You roll your eyes. “Okay. I’m going then.”

“Wait.” He grabs your wrist. “That was a joke. I want you to take me.”

You fight against the ends of your mouth that want to curl up. “Fine... only since I don’t want you running into them again.”

When he randomly takes your hand, enlacing your fingers together, you keep silent. It stays like the for the whole walk, peaceful and tranquil. It makes you think of that time he offered to walk you home from that creepy date. How different it seems now...

Once you arrive, he lets go of your hand normally like he always does it or something. But you still miss the snugness.

“How you’re gonna get home?”

“Walk. Why? You know I can take care of myself.”

He smiles, the first one you’ve seen today. “Yeah. I know.”

Before you leave, you inhale. “Cheer up, alright? It makes me feel weird, seeing you so down. Get some sleep, trouble.” 

After making sure he gets in safely, welcomed by a worried eric, you start the cold and lonely journey home.

ꔫ

Once you finally arrive, truly exhausted from the night’s(day’s?) events, you lay in bed and contemplate. 

Why does your heart hurt so much for him? 

Why do you even care?

You take out your phone, opening it to sunwoo’s profile photo, the cute pout on his face along with your scarf blindfolding his eyes makes you smile. 

It takes a little bit of thinking-staring at the ceiling and searching your brain for possibly hours, but the answer finally appears. Even when you don’t want it, trying to push the thought out and bury it so deep you can’t breathe, it echoes in your brain, loud and clear. 

How? 

No, this isn’t possible. He-I’ve known him for less than a year. 

I... I can’t.  

You feel suffocated underneath the blankets, doing anything to stop the flow of your thoughts, feelings.

The one thing you can do is force yourself to pass out, to escape the hurricane of emotions.

ꔫ

And just like that, you disappear from sunwoo’s life. For a couple of weeks. It was, sadly to report, very much boring and bleak. 

It was harder than you realized. To shut someone out. Someone like him. 

Luckily, your upcoming dance performances took most of your day, so the only time he was able to sneak into your mind was during the dark of nights and the peak of dawn.

First, it was ignoring the messages. You wondered how people could simply ghost someone else so easily. 

But you had to. Because you knew he liked someone else. Because you shouldn’t be like this, whatever this is, with him. 

You did it for yourself. And him. Even when everything about him was confusing. 

Kim sunwoo was a troublemaker. One you met months ago with a strong one-sided crush. And you wanted to help him win her heart. 

Now, you couldn’t even look at Sunwoo. You didn’t want to, not wishing to know what would happen if you looked into his eyes. What words would spill out of your mouth, words you didn’t even know the truth to yet.

Second was avoiding him at any cost. Especially when he came to your dance studio, obviously looking for you and only you. (it was a whole mess sneaking out from his sight)

And once again, fate loves to mix things up and make you spot sunwoo with his crush down the street. Holding hands. 

You go home with mixed emotions and a missing appetite. 

The sad thing is, you can’t tell if you miss him or not. 

ꔫ 

One evening, just as colorless as the nights before, you go out for a walk. 

You always went later than most to avoid human contact with others. But fate plays a trick again, so you’re not alone this time.

“I found you.”

Your feet come to a halt. Or maybe it wasn’t fate this time... 

“Why have you been avoiding me?”

“I’m not avoiding you, sunwoo.” Funny how you suddenly have the urge to run away after saying that.

He looks tired, stressed-like he can’t find the answer to any of his homework questions (but you know he probably didn’t even do his homework in school).

“So ignoring my calls and texts aren’t considered avoiding? And running away whenever you see me in person too?” 

You mess with the ends of your hair. “Why were you looking for me?”

Sunwoo sighs and starts walking, you know he’s waiting for you to join. Hesitating, you finally move to his side, deciding to stare at the ground -your feet, his feet, anywhere but him. 

“I came to tell you something,” He starts.

You gulp, nodding for him to say it.

“I confessed to my crush. She was... really surprised. But I still asked her to give me a chance, to please think of me as a guy and not a friend. Just three dates with me. And then she could see how she felt at the end.”

Why do you suddenly want to vomit?

You find looking anywhere but at sunwoo or near his direction comfortable. The amount of effort it took for you to find your voice was funny. “Oh. Good for you.” (unlike your tone that doesn’t sound too pleased)

“...How was it? Did she decide to return your feelings back in the end?”

“No. We never finished all three. After the second, I realized it was a waste of time and quit.” 

He stops walking, making you stop as well.

This man messes with your mind too much. You snort. “What are you talking about? How could it be a waste of time when you finally got to go on a true date with your crush since high school, sunwoo?”

“Because I kept thinking of something else. Someone else.”

You’re extremely confused, not able to comprehend anything. Sunwoo suddenly looks at you with such conviction you almost take a step back.

“Is... there something wrong?”

“I wished it was you, instead. Instead of her next to me. Even on the very first date, I was only thinking of you.”

Your brain -it just doesn’t work anymore. You’re looking at him, standing in front of you -but somehow you still can’t see him. What? 

“I like you, y/n.”

Your mind is reeling, adrenaline rising. 

No, he’s confessing to the wrong person. 

Is this a good or bad feeling? I don’t know...

Sunwoo doesn’t notice your reaction, too shy and focusing on the trees instead of your face. 

“I realized it when we stopped meeting. That I missed your company .”

Your voice is quiet. “Suddenly?”

He scratches the back of his neck. “Yes, but you’ve always been in my head. I just didn’t want to admit it because she was in there for so long. I didn’t want to give her up, and I didn’t want to move on. But then I met you, and suddenly I wasn’t missing her so much.” 

You swallow, preparing to say something in return, but sunwoo quickly speaks up a second time, hand on his chest.

“But-! Uh, you’re not a replacement for her. It’s different. How I feel. I really do like you.” 

Sunwoo doesn’t know how you snuck your way into his heart, letting him breathe fresh air and become anew. He’s only ever liked one person for so long -kept space for only her deep in his heart, that’s why he couldn’t figure out it was you who stole it.

He repeats the confession, this time sounding more confident and assertive.

When you don’t say anything back, he begins panicking. Was I wrong? Did I only assume-? 

“Sunwoo,” you start, looking at him uncertainly.

“Don’t get me wrong, I think I could like you too..” 

Sunwoo doesn’t get his hopes up just yet, waiting for the catch. There’s always one. 

“But maybe we should wait. Give each other a little space and time apart, I mean. For you to completely get over her and for me to figure and sort everything out. I think that would be best for us,” you finish in a whisper.

You’re scared. At his reaction -his current thoughts. 

“Okay.”

You quickly look up at him, startled. 

There’s a strange easy and light smile on his face.  “I get it. I’ll wait for you. I’ve done a lot of waiting, so I can do it for a little more.”

Your heart almost breaks when he says that, but you know it’s for the best. 

Just give me some time, please. 

ꔫ 

When you said a little space, you didn’t mean two days. 

And you sure weren’t expecting him to show up at your dance studio. 

“Sunwoo? What are you doing here???”

“Ah, well, l thought we could just walk home together. I-I’ll walk you home, I mean..”

Your whole body aches, and you feel a tiny bit annoyed, but you still can’t find it in your heart to reject him. And so sunwoo takes you back home.

After that day, he would go almost everytime to pick you up whenever you had dance practice. Sometimes you would go with him, and sometimes you wouldn’t. (but 98% of the time you couldn’t reject him). Maybe you felt a little bad, but sunwoo seemed so happy and excited whenever he saw you, you just couldn’t not go with him. 

You still had plenty of moments apart. Sunwoo would only ever walk you home and chat, the occasional grabbing food and drinks on the way back. (You didn’t consider them big enough to be dates-not yet, at least.)

Every time he would wait and stand in the waiting room, a bunch of the other dancers would be either fangirling over him or teasing you two whenever you came out to meet him. 

You totally did not feel that wave of jealousy after seeing all of the staring girls. But you were very satisfied to see the looks on their faces when sunwoo would ignore them and go straight to you.

And you won’t lie -it felt nice. To have sunwoo waiting for you every day, even though you could reject him at any moment.

You would never.

Even though technically you two were on a ‘break that wasn’t really considered a break’, your time alone was mostly taken up by the upcoming dance show.

It was just a little showcase. But of course, sunwoo insisted on going.

You were the most nervous you’ve ever been -the most nervous sunwoo had ever seen you. It had been a while since you last performed, and for some reason, you felt so different preparing this time around, which is why you basically lived at the studio for a month. 

The day of the show finally arrives, and you want to pull your own hair out. Sunwoo was only able to see you briefly before you were dragged along to rehearsals, and in that short time, he shot you a thumbs up, and you sent a small, extremely nervous smile back.

When your name was called, and you walked onto the stage, heart almost bursting out of your chest, somehow you were able to find sunwoo in the crowd. 

It lasted for a second, but you were able to capture his excited but still reassuring eyes cheering you on, the clapping and yells coming from his mouth. 

And that’s how you were able to perform beautifully, dance to the greatest extent. The feeling of fulfillment when you finished along with the immediate applause and sunwoo’s loud hollers sparked something inside. 

That could be why you didn’t care. Didn’t care about jumping off the stage and running over to sunwoo, the shocked look on his face making you laugh.

But he still holds his arms out, and you basically fly into them. 

Sunwoo lets out a grunt, holding you tight as you laugh and bury your face into his shoulder.

He pulls back, eyes sparkling. “You did amazing. I’m so proud of you.”

You're unable to form any words back, only able to stare into his eyes. 

His face is a lot closer than you realized...

You can feel your heartrate rising again.

Sunwoo leans in, you think? and your eyes close even though you’re not sure what’s even going on. 

“Y/n!!! Great job!!” 

You snap out of your daze, turning around to see who it was. 

Sunwoo curses the random guy -he thinks it’s the director of the show or whatever. He doesn’t care at all for the person that rudely interrupted your moment together.

And when you follow the director after, totally distracted with the aftermath of the show and leaving sunwoo behind, he can only pout.

Maybe next time...

ꔫ

You finally got to sleep. Properly. The show left in the back of your head, set there as a significant memory to stay forever.

After you start getting back into the groove of normal dance practices, Sunwoo comes to pick you up as usual. 

But today was not a usual day.

“Sorry Sunwoo, I have someone to meet today. Maybe Thursday?”

You frown at his obviously fallen face. Hopping in front of him, you pout cutely.

“Don’t be sad, I’ll see you soon. And we can get food too!”

He stands there, frozen. 

Checking the time, you realize ‘shit-you’re gonna be late.’ 

“Bye, sunwoo. Don’t forget Thursday!!” You wave goodbye, running along. 

Sunwoo gives five minutes to compose himself. Even though he desperately wants to fall on the ground and roll in agony from what you did to his heart, he simply breathes in, out.

He’s for sure disappointed he isn’t able to walk you home, but after that cute act.... sunwoo thinks he can let it go. Only for today.

The mysterious place you were supposed to be at was a cafe. (a nice one with also great reviews online.) You run in, lighting up when you spot the person you invited out. 

“Hi! How have you been?”

You offer a small smile. “Doing well. And you? 

Sunwoo’s- well, you suppose former crush now- beams. “Good! What about sunwoo? I-uh, haven’t seen him recently.” The knowing look in her eye makes you nervously laugh. 

“He’s fine too. I didn’t tell him about our meeting today. Did you?”

“Oh, no- don’t worry. It’s a secret between us!”

You’re pleased, but the reason you asked to meet was not for small talk.

“Well, I’m not sure if you know the reason I asked you out here..”

She nods, waiting. 

“But basically, I knew about Sunwoo’s longtime crush on you. The funny thing is, I was actually trying to help him win you over... but that obviously did not happen.”

She bursts out laughing, and eventually, you join in too. 

“Wow, I’m sorry,” her tone turns more serious. 

“But yeah. I was... really shocked, to say the least. That he liked me. I honestly never thought of him like that, and I’m guessing you know about the dates that we went on then?”

You nod sheepishly.

“That was also really strange for me. It was just a lot, you know? And my ex also came back from overseas -you met him that one time. So there was just a lot of feelings going on all at once.”

She takes your hand, squeezing it gently.

“And even though I don’t like sunwoo that way, I’m glad that you’re here for him. I can tell you two really like each other. Even though it wasn’t your original intentions.”

Those words strangely comfort you. Like the chained truth you already knew was finally released.

“I don’t mean to pry,” you start, “but what’s up with you and your ex then? I saw you two were out and around together?”

You don’t fail to notice her reddening cheeks. “Ah, about that... He just came back so suddenly... and right as I got over him. but we’re spending more time together, and ugh, I don’t know.”

The smile on her face says otherwise. It makes you smile as well.

“I wish you luck, then.”

“And I wish you luck with sunwoo too!”

You weren’t expecting to gain a new friendship that day as well. 

ꔫ 

Now that everything seemed cleared and out of the air, you had more time. 

To think. Reflect. Focus on what your ideal life is like. 

Is it one that includes Kim Sunwoo? Waking up next to him, having the ability to make fun of him 24/7, being able to press your lips onto his whenever, wherever? 

And when the answer finally comes, it’s another sunny afternoon with Sunwoo waiting for you after class.

The day was nice. And you feel nice too, strangely happy. He notices.

“What’s got you looking so upbeat for? Is it seeing my face?”

“No,” you happily respond, laughing at his offended face. 

“It’s nothing. Let’s just go to the park.”

He’s confused but smiling as well. 

“Okay. How was your day?”

You chat along the walk to the park.

“-did I make you wait long? What time did you get to the studio?”

He frowns, taking the phone out of his pocket to check the time. Your legs stop working when you see what his lock screen is.

“Sunwoo?”

He grunts. 

“Is your lock screen... a picture of us?”

He fiddles with the back of his neck. “Oh, yeah. Changmin sent that picture of us at the restaurant to me, and then I-uh changed it.”

You try, oh so hard, to fight that bashful smile attempting to break free on your face. Thank goodness sunwoo was walking a few steps ahead.

ꔫ 

When you arrive, sunwoo finds a bench, and you plop down next to him with a content sigh, staring at the view. 

You purposely picked this park because of its location, higher up so it overlooked the city. It was peaceful and beautiful, above all the commotion.

“You know Sunwoo, I think I found what I want to do.”

He looks at you, curious. “Which is?”

“I want to dance.”

“But you already do that?”

“Yes, you’re right. But I also want to teach others too. Like a dance instructor. That day when I taught you that routine was fun.”

“Are you sure it wasn’t fun because you were with me?” You flick him playfully.

“What about you then? Did you ever meet up with your ex-crush after that whole mess?”

Sunwoo scoffs, looking down. “It wasn’t a mess...” he mumbles.

“No... it was,” you wish to say, but your lips remain zipped.

“But yeah. We made up. I’m glad that she’s still my friend and our relationship is better now. To be honest, I think I’ve known since the beginning that she never liked me that way. I just was too scared and prideful to admit it.” 

“Well, isn’t that a good thing?” His eyebrow quirks up at your words.

“What do you mean?”

“That you never stopped liking her.”

He looks at you, truly confused. 

“Because you got to meet me.“

You expect him to retort back with something mocking back but he actually looks down at his shoes, smiling. “Yeah, you’re right.”

You lean back on the bench, relaxed and peaceful. 

“Anyways, what about you? Did you find a passion or dream you wanna pursue?”

“Actually, I did.”

You sit up. “Really?”

He suddenly looks shy. “I kinda want to get into producing. Music.”

You look at him, interested. 

“After we met up at your dance place, it made me think of my old trainee life.”

You cut him off. “Wait- I never asked why you quit being a trainee.”

“Oh. I just fell out of it. Being an idol just didn’t seem like it was for me anymore. But after seeing you reach your dancing dreams, it made me inspired. I started writing lyrics and rapping again for fun. Then I realized I really liked it. And producing music was always a hobby,” Sunwoo continues to ramble on.

 You listen with a soft smile. And he eventually notices,  stopping his tangent. “What is it?” 

Smile growing, you tilt your head to the side and state, “I support you. You should totally do it.”

Sunwoo feels warmth bloom in his chest. Another reason for him to fall in love with you even more. Yes, he was sure that he loved you. But sunwoo didn’t want to say it just yet. 

He was waiting for you.

“Thank you, y/n.”

You nod, suddenly picking at your fingers distractedly.

“But I don’t know... I think right now I just really want to go out with you, Kim Sunwoo.” 

He chokes on air, looking around almost as if to make sure this is actually reality before taking your hand. “What-no. Are you serious?” 

“Yes. Let’s go on a date.” 

You say it so casually he thinks he must’ve misheard you or whatever. But he didn’t. 

For you, it just happened. The night before you were laying in bed, and he just popped up in your dream. A wonderful dream that was like your ideal life came true-even when sunwoo appeared you didn’t question it one bit. A dream where you were able to remember everything fully when you woke up this morning. 

And so it was decided. It had to be it, right? You definitely liked the troublemaker Kim Sunwoo.

When you look away at some point, he pumps a fist in the air, elated and barely restraining a yell of happiness.

You turn around. “Are you alright?”

He quickly straightens up. “Yep. Good. Just fine. Doing great, actually.”

You smile, eyes crinkling. “Okay.”

But you couldn’t suppress the feeling,

-of hunger. Today was a long practice, and you needed energy. 

“Sunwoo, let’s go. I’m hungry.” You take his arm, trying to pull him up.

He easily gets up, adjusting his hold on your hand. But you don’t mind. 

This has to be a dream right? Sunwoo thinks. The happiness he feels from seeing you-a once stranger that he poured all his feelings out to-turn into someone he trusts with his life, his heart.

Walking down the sidewalk together, you speak up. 

“Did I make you wait too long?”

He scoffs, free hand raised to his face in a supposedly cool expression. “Nah, if it’s you, I could wait forever.” 

You cringe, letting go of his hand in an instant. 

He almost immediately protests. 

You wanted to shut him up. There was one way that you believed would be very effective. It just took a little preparation.

Gathering the confidence, you kiss him on the cheek, mid-protest. 

Sunwoo’s surprised expression makes you laugh. But that laugh is cut short when he suddenly pulls you closer, your noses barely touching. 

You can feel your heart pounding- he can probably feel your heart pounding. But it’s okay because his is too.

When he leans in the tiniest amount, your eyes flutter shut, holding your breath and waiting.

Until he starts chuckling softy, and you peek an eye open.

It makes your face heat, the way he stares at you with such adoration, and possibly love?

You huff, turning and beginning to walk away. “If you’re not gonna kiss me, then just leave.”

You hear his protests but also his laughter that echo through your body. 

 “I didn’t know you were such a baby,” he comments, snatching your hand and spinning you around once more so his arms can encompass you. 

His eyes bore into yours, occasionally flicking down to your mouth and back up again. 

Maybe you were just a little impatient, so you lean in, just barely hovering over his lips.

His grip around you tightens. Who’s the baby now?

And then he finally closes the gap, letting his soft lips glide over yours. 

It’s just... Sunwoo. All you can see, even with your eyes closed, is him. All you can feel is him. Everything is sunwoo. 

And you think you love it.

When you break the kiss reluctantly a couple of seconds later, sunwoo’s eyes flick open, staring back at you indignantly.

“What? Let’s go eat. I said I was hungry.” 

“Was this not enough?” he grins cheekily. 

You slowly lean into his ear, whispering, “No, it wasn’t.”

You grin at the way he shivers, your warm breath tickling his ear. 

“That’s why we’re going to get food now. And you’re paying as usual,” you finish, basking in the fact that Sunwoo is rendered speechless. 

You like how your hand easily finds his, fitting perfectly together as you drag him along. 

Wherever you go, I’ll go with you. 

Wherever you fall, I’ll pick you back up.

Wherever you can’t, I’ll love you instead. 

taglist: @elcie-chxn  @00seonu  @mochinyu​

a/n: if you made it to the end of this, i sincerely applaud and thank you :) after the end of that drama i couldn’t stop my feelings and had to write this but then it kinda turned into a whole fic 🤡

also can’t believe i wrote this much-sunwoo constantly in the brain 😶.

[hyperion-moonbabe-art3mis]

The Distance Between Us 04. Start of a New Life

Summary: Alexandria Eaton is the youngest child of Marcus Eaton. What will happen when she defects from Abnegation and decides to follow in her older brother’s footsteps. Can she make it through Dauntless initiation with her secret or will she find herself in the factionless? And what will happen when the most cold-hearted leader takes an interest in her?

Post Date: 08.09.21

Word count: 1.3k

Pairing: Eric Coulter x OC

Masterlist

DBU Masterlist

After Four and Eric had explained to us how the initiation process works, they split the Dauntless-born and us transfers up. Four leads us to a large open room, most of it was empty but there were a few mats, punching bags, and some other training and workout equipment scattered throughout the space. 

“Here is where you’ll be training. I want you all to be here by 8 am to begin training on the weekdays. Alright, I have a few other members here to help with training,” Four says. 

They split us into groups, two of which began endurance training, and the other two observe fighting drills. Chris, Tris, and I were in Four’s group where he and another member had us observe training drills. 

We gathered around one of the pads and Four began to explain how physical training will work, “Every day of training we will start with some sort of running to warm up, whether it be in here or around the compound. After warm-up, we will work on specific skills knife throwing, shooting, hand to hand, and other such skills. For today, we will start basic training. Mason and I here will show you how to fight hand to hand combat,” Four says.  They display a few rounds of combat, most of the time Four is the one to take Mason down. “Now, over time you will learn to use these moves,”

After the little demonstration, a member named Tracie, explains to our group where we are to run, to help build endurance and stamina. I follow the group as I run around the room, I barely kept up but just enough to stay with them. After we warmed up, they had us use the workout equipment or learn how to punch on the bags.

“Well, this is killer,” Chris says coming up to me while I take a break.

“It could be worse, but I definitely need to build up my stamina,” I respond.

“Alright, everybody. That’s it for today. See you back here tomorrow morning at 8. Don’t be late,” Four says. Everyone starts to cool off and head out of the training room. 

“I’ll meet you in the dorms. Just give me a bit longer,” I say to Christina and Tris. Even though I was fine, I wanted to wait to talk to Four.

“Okay,” Chris and Tris say and head out. Four waits until everyone else cleared out before approaching me.

“So was I terrible?” I chuckle.

“No. I think I was actually much worse when I started,” He says sitting next to me.

“Shut up. You’re just saying that to make me feel better Mr top of his class,” I respond.

“I’m serious… We shouldn’t hang out too long. Someone might get suspicious and I have to go to a meeting in a bit. But I’ll see you later,” He says and kisses the top of my head.

“T? Sorry...I mean Four,” I say.

“Yeah,” He says.

“I missed having you around,” I say.

“Me too, Lexi. Alright, I gotta go,” He says and walks out.

I walk down the halls, but before I knew it I was lost. I turn the corner almost bumping right into Eric of all people. “Lost initiate?” He asks staring right into my eyes.

“A--Actually yeah. I was just trying to get to the dorms,” I respond hesitantly.

“The dorms are down the hall, the first right, then second left, and is the doorway at the end,” He says.

“Thanks,” I say and start to move past him.

“How was your first day of training?” He asks turning me around by my arm.

“It was fine. Hard, but I’ll get used to it,” I respond.

“That’s great to hear. I hope you make it,” He says.

“Uhhh..thanks,” I say.

“You know I can walk you to the dorms. Make sure you don’t get lost again,” He says.

“I--I think I got it. First right, second left, and to the end,” I say repeating the directions.

“Alright. I will see you around then, initiate,” Eric says and walks away.

I walk from my position towards the dorm, not really knowing how to process the conversation I just had with Eric. I mean it was nice of him to offer to walk me, but it seemed way out of character for him.

“Hey guys, sorry I’m late. I got lost,” I say walking into the dorms.

“Well, unless you want to shower. We planned to go and hang out with some of the other initiates,” Tris says.

“I think I’m good. Let me just change out of my sweaty clothes,” I say. Once I was finished, we all head to the Pit, where we met up with a few other initiates, both Dauntless-born, and transfers. The Dauntless-born showed us a bit more around the compound and even showed us some of their “secret spots”.  

After we were finished, I stayed out because I wanted to do my night walks like I used to do at Abnegation, except without the sneaking out. This time I stuck to the areas I know, to not get lost or at least I hope. As I walked through the halls it almost felt like someone or something was watching me. I left it alone though as I pegged it for some members doing patrol or some with late jobs. 

Before I knew it I had slammed my entire body into another’s as I turned a corner. “Lost again are we?” I hear a familiar voice say.

“Not this time,” I say looking up at Eric’s cold facial expression.

“Twice in one day… you sure?” He asks.

“I’m sure…sticking to the halls I know,” I respond.

“You know you shouldn’t be wandering the halls this late at night,” Eric says.

“I’m not wandering. I’m… actively walking around. But I could say the same for you. What are you doing out here so late?” I ask.

“And what makes you think you can ask me questions, stiff?” He asks.

“Nothing, I just figured I’d ask too, I mean you don’t have to answer,” I respond.

“You could say I’m actively walking around as well,” Eric says after a few moments of intense staring. “You should get some rest, you have training tomorrow. I’ll walk you back to the dorms,” he says.

“I can get back just fine. I know where to go,” I respond.

“I’m sure you can. But I want to make sure you get there,” He says. Eric presses his hand on my lower back as he leads me back to the dorms. He doesn’t shift his hand one bit as we make our way through the maze of halls. 

“Now get some rest initiate. I’ll see you tomorrow morning for training,” Eric says, finally removing his hand from my lower back. 

He doesn’t budge his position one bit as I make my way through the doorway like he wanted to make sure I would get there. I’d expect this behavior from my brother but not Eric. I mean we just met and from what I can tell, he’s not the easygoing, polite, and forgiving type either. 

The next morning, I thankfully woke up at the right time, mostly thanks to the boys making loud noises and the showers going. Once we were dressed, Christina, Tris, and I head to the training room. Four and Eric started promptly at 8 am and had us do laps around the training room to warm up. There were a few stragglers in which my brother was not happy to see, nor was Eric.

“Happy to see you four finally join us. 20 laps,” Eric orders, double the amount that we have to do. “You get a pass this time. But if you’re late again you’re out,” Eric says to the four late arrivals.

Once we had finished out laps and the stragglers were finishing up theirs, Four and Eric split us into 3 groups. One who trained on the workout equipment and the other two with each instructor, “We will rotate the groups. At the workout equipment, you will continue to build strength. Eric will teach you more hand to hand. And I will how to disarm someone,” Four explained. Unfortunately, my group was with Eric first and  none of my friends were with me.

A/N: Here is the fourth part! There’s still no set schedule but I do plan to update fairly often so be on the lookout! P.S. LMK if you want to be added to the taglist.

🏷: @awkwardspontaneity​

[wilson-the-gay-oncologist]

You and Me - 1-5

For the anonymous being

A Hilson Fanfiction by Me

“House?” The gentle whispers of the chocolate-eyed man made life worth living, they made the cold heart of the older doctor melt into what seemed to be a gentler person “Yea Jimmy?” Wilson sighed “I love you”

Chapter One 

House looked out the window and sighed as much as he hated looking out at the people walking to and from the hospital, he had nothing else to look at. 

House looked at the wall next, a bland counterpart to the window, maybe he should put some posters on it. A loud voice and the sound of the door opening made House turn his head, “You were right it wasn’t Lupus”

House sighed “Of course I was right, when am I not?” Foreman glared at him, “What about your relationships, hmm?” He went too far as House had gotten up and groaned “Simple mistakes, I’ll fix them” He said waving his cane and stopping it on Foreman’s neck  -a nonverbal threat-.

House than brought it down to the ground, his blue eyes icy “Oh and ask the patient why they didn’t tell you about the car crash” He said limping past Chase and Thirteen. 

Chapter Two

House limped off and walked straight into Wilson “Ugh” he grunted “House?” Wilson’s chocolate-eyes were glaring at him while House stood normally “Wilson,” House looked away “If your trying to con me into going back to yo-” “I’m sorry” Wilson looked at House with wide eyes “Your sorry?” House turned his head back to Wilson, letting the younger man see his vulnerability.

“I’m sorry, Wilson” Now he needed to tell Cuddy but Wilson’s laugh surprised him “No your not House,

Cuddy warned me about this ‘act’ of vulnerability you might show,” Wilson turned but House swallowed “James?” The whisper was so quiet that Wilson had to turn “No, House it’s over, there’s no you and me anymore” House looked at Wilson and found sincerity in the younger’s eyes. “Goodbye” 

(It doesn’t hurt me)

(Do you wanna see how it feels)

(Do you wanna know, Do you wanna know it doesn’t hurt me)

House knew tears were threating to fall “Goodbye James” He turned and let his instincts take him somewhere else. He opened the door infront of him and sighed as he closed it “Hello?” 

A little boy either six or seven looked at House with a surprised expression.

(Do you wanna hear about the deal that I’m making?)

“Are you a doctor too?” House didn’t want to be a doctor right now “No” He sighed “Wait so are you here to adopt me?!” The little boy had green eyes but the left was covered with an eyepatch and he was excited, House looked at him gently “Adopt you?” The boy took off his eyepatch a large scar over his left eye and a clear milky film of healing meant that the boy was

blind “Yeah my old daddy did this” The boy put it back on, and House oddly felt like he had to protect the boy and saw that he’d get a little love in return.

“Yes I’m here to adopt you” The boy smiled and laughed while House felt the pang in his chest vanish.

Chapter Three

Callum House looked at Foreman, his new daddy had told him to wait here at the desk “Umm who are you?” Callum asked. “Eric Foreman, I work here and you are?” Callum giggled “Callum House!” Foreman looked at the little boy, his eyes lingering on the eyepatch “Where’d you get that?” Callum whimpered but took it off “My old daddy hitted me too hard and I lost my eyesight, then I met my new daddy!” That’s when House entered “Oh Foreman looks like you met my kid” House said looking at the younger man with a non-readable expression. “Yep,” Foreman heard the door open to reveal Thirteen,Chase, and Cameron who were expecting House to be sitting on the desk and not a smiling little boy. 

“Hello!” The little boy wiggled off the desk “I’m Callum House!” The three looked at the boy with wide eyes

“House?” They turned to the said man who shrugged “Said I’d work on relationships didn’t I?” Foreman looked at House “I thought you meant with Wilson and Cuddy, none of us would expect you to get a son.” The little boy smiled and laughed “Daddy, who’s Cuddy?” House looked at the boy and his icy eyes melted “My boss” The little boy nodded “And Wilson?” The man sighed “A friend” Callum started to hop around “Daddy has a friend?” 

House looked at Callum with love “Yes, but Daddy was bad and made his friend hurt” House had completely forgotten that his team was here “Oh, so Daddies gonna give Wilson chocolate to make him not be mad anymore?” The team all cooed, this little boy acted like a puppy. “Something like that” 

(It’s You) 

Foreman looked at House trying to figure out the emotions the man was showing.

(It’s you and me)

“Okay daddy I’m going take a nap now” House nodded as the little boy climbed into the new couch House had bought “Night Kiddo” House looked at his team with that unreadable expression again.

Chapter Four

lh3.googleusercontent.com

(You)

(It’s you and me)

(And if I only could I’d make a deal with god)

Wilson read the file;

Name-Callum Wilton House

Age Adopted- Six years Fifteen Days

Day adopted: 2015 Sep 6 

Original Father’s name - Daniel Wilton

New Father’s name- Gregory House 

Age- Fifty-Four years

Note he is a Former Drug addict- Vicodin, 6+ years.

“This isn’t fake is it?” Cuddy shook her head “I don’t believe it, is he really moving on?” Wilson wanted to see if House would really move on, it was impossible, House would have tried again to get either himself or Cuddy back.

“Hello?” A small voice of a little boy surprised them “Are you Jimmy?” Wilson looked at Callum and gasped “Yes, where’s your dad?” Of course House was irresponsible of his son “I pretended to take a nap so when he left I could find you!” Wilson watched him as the little boy handed him chocolates - House’s favorites- “Papa said he did bad and was going to make it better with someone named Wilson” Wilson looked at the little boy.

(And get him to swap our places)

(Be running up that road)

(Be running up that hill)

(Be running up that building)

“My daddy also said he was bad to a Cubby?” Cuddy snickered “That’s me” She shook her head “I don’t want any chocolate thank you” All of a sudden loud bang made their heads turn “Callum?” House froze eyes

catching both Cuddy and Wilson collecting the picture and playing their goodbyes over and over again. 

(You don’t wanna hurt me) 

(But you wanna see how deep the bullet lies)

House wanted to hide back in his office, but he looked at his son and smiled “There you are!” Callum ran to House “Daddy!” House looked up to Wilson and Cuddy. 

“Dr.Wilson, Dr.Cuddy, I’m kinda surprised but thanks for thanking care of Callum” They looked at House with wide eyes “Your welcome” 

(Unaware, I’m tearing you asunder)

(Oh there is thunder in our hearts)

House nodded in acknowledgment as he limped off, his son following close behind.

Chapter Five

Lisa Cuddy was very surprised along with Wilson “He said thank you” Wilson whispered “When has he ever said thank you to us?” 

(Is there so much hate for the ones we love?)

Cuddy looked “Maybe Callum is changing him?” Right now she was mainly surprised, she wanted to figure out the change in House but sometimes the changes in House were unexpected or unplanned, or they were planned but House seemed more interested in finding his son then sparking conversation with them.

(Tell me we both matter don’t we?)

Cuddy exited the office to see House at the end of the hall, Wilson following close behind her, what they were greeted with surprised them “Callum, what were you doing?” They heard House ask the running boy “I’m going to help Daddy get Jimmy and Cuddy back!” House laughed “Why are you laughing Daddy?” House looked at Callum “Because I used to call him Jimmy too” Callum gasped “Coool” House kneeled with his better leg and hugged Callum, the little boy giggling and looking in his face “Tell me about him, papa!” The little boy asked, “Alright you little punk” House got up with a groan, and smiled “He’s honestly the most perfect person I’ve ever met, where do I start?” He asked his son, the boy thought for a moment “Did you love him, papa?” House looked “That’s an unexpected question, if I said yes what would you say?” The little boy giggled “Daddy and Wilson sitting in a tree!” He laughed “No stop” House’s face was tinted red.“K-I-S-S-I-N-G” House’s face was flushed now. “You brat,” House said it with so much love that it knocked at Wilson’s heart, “House?” Foreman came with his arms crossed “Our patient almost crashed, you were right” House’s face cooled as he glared at Foreman “Thanks for ruining my fun” He said in a very sarcastic voice. House straightened himself and looked at Callum “Time to go ask our patient why they didn’t tell us about their kidney cancer” He barked, “Okay papa!” Callum yelled, and as they left Wilson looked at Cuddy “He loves me???” (It’s you) Wilson felt the tears of regret clinging to his eyes.

It stops here, at least you have a sneak peek

[montrealmadison]

drink deeply

or, as they say at samwell, “penitus potes.” shitty gives the toast at jack and bitty’s wedding. for @zimbitsweddingofficial and day two of zimbits wedding week: the wedding itself!

just for fun, a draft version of the beginning of this fic with lardo, ransom, and holster’s “helpful” edits can be found via google doc here. hope y’all enjoy! <3

Good evening, everyone! On behalf of Jack and Eric, thank you all so much for being here tonight, and welcome to what could very well be the most highly anticipated wedding reception of 2019. I mean, this party was planned by the likes of Suzanne Bittle and Alicia Zimmermann. We are in for a treat, folks.

Before we get to all that, I’d also like to extend a particular welcome to those in attendance who are part of the playing, coaching, and/or office staff of the Providence Falconers. Glad you could all make it this evening; I know this past week was a little bit busy for you guys.

[Insert appropriate pause and gesture to the punch bowl, which on closer inspection is actually—oh yeah—the Stanley Cup the Falcs won three days ago. Hold for inevitable applause, general hysteria, and/or hooting/hollering from Tater.]

For those of you who don’t know me, I’ve been trying to decide whether I should introduce myself by my first name, which will inevitably get me mocked by my friends until the end of time, or by my nickname, which will definitely scandalize anyone who has not spent a significant amount of time around twenty-year-old guys who play hockey. However, as I look around the room, I’m realizing that most of you probably either raised, spent significant time around, or were once a twenty-year-old guy who played hockey. To the rest of you, I am profoundly sorry.

So, hi! I’m Shitty, and I’m Jack’s best man.

read more below or on ao3

Being someone’s best man, as I’ve realized over the last few months, should really come with a playbook or an instruction manual or something, because it’s a task unlike any other you’ll ever take on. In addition to being a friend, you have to be a confidant, an expert at bachelor-party debauchery (I think my college resume definitely prepared me for this part) and someone who’s not afraid to step in to make last-minute decisions so the grooms don’t have to. You also have to do all of these things without getting fired from your job or stepping on anyone’s toes, up to and including: the couple getting married, the other people in the wedding party, the grooms’ parents, the wedding planner, and most importantly, Moomaw, whose word is law around here. 

(Seriously. She made the pie tonight, people. Bow down to her.)

But as much as the role can feel a little bit like you’re being thrown in at the deep end, it also definitely comes with its perks. Tonight, I have both the honor and the challenge of somehow summarizing how much I love Jack and Eric in a speech that is heartfelt and witty yet also brief so that we can get to the aforementioned pie as quickly as possible. If you’re still following me here, that is a tall order—but here goes nothing!

I met Jack Zimmermann on our first day of freshman year at Samwell, during the bright, hot summer of 2011. I was participating in the time-honored tradition of moving into a dorm on the third floor of a building with no elevator and no air conditioning in the middle of August. It builds character, or so the good folks in Samwell administration probably tell themselves. Anyway, athletes got to move in early for preseason, so I was expecting to be one of the only guys on the floor for at least a couple days. I was just carrying the last box into my room when the door next to mine opened and—well, you can probably guess who walked out.

Now, I grew up in Boston, which means I also grew up around hockey culture. I’d heard the news that Jack was coming to Samwell, so I knew who he was when he stepped into the hall in that same vague way that you kind of-sort of recognize celebrities hustling down the street or through the airport with their sunglasses on. And he gave me that same vibe—“I know you know who I am, and I’d very much like not to be bothered about it.”

Here is something that will not shock you if you know us: Jack was the first friend I made in college. Here is something that might shock you if you know us: That definitely doesn’t mean we were friends at first. By his own admission, Jack wasn’t at Samwell to make friends at all. He told me, much later, that he was only planning to go to play hockey, get his life back on track, and keep his head down as much as possible.

So in retrospect, maybe it was an unlucky thing for Jack that he ran into the one person who wasn’t going to let him do that.

Because no matter who you are or where you’re from, freshman year of college breeds a unique kind of terror I’ve never felt anywhere else. There’s a lot of pressure to completely remake yourself, to become the person you maybe never could have been in your hometown. By coming to Samwell, I wanted to be a different kind of kid than the one that Andover had raised. Jack wanted to be a different kind of kid than the one he’d spent twenty years telling himself he had to be. As much as neither of us wanted to admit it, we both wanted similar things out of our college experience, and we needed a support system to do that. And so, however begrudging the two of us were about it at first, we started to bond more and more.

It wasn’t always easy. For one thing, my idea of a good time was a lot louder than Jack’s—who enjoyed such scintillating pursuits as “watching golf” and “going to bed at a reasonable hour”, neither of which were quite in my vocabulary at the ripe old age of eighteen. Also, if it’s before six in the morning, he has a hard time remembering to speak English, which used to make for a lot of stilted conversations between the two of us as we walked to early morning practice. (On a completely unrelated note, the first and probably only thing I ever learned in Québécois is how to swear.)

I don’t remember the exact tipping point at which Jack and I really became friends; I think it was more of a quiet acknowledgment that we liked having each other around, that we balanced each other out in ways that neither of us initially knew we needed. What I do know is that, slowly but surely, I started to get glimpses of the Jack that exists off the ice. And so began one of the most extraordinary journeys of my life, because the only thing crazier than knowing Jack Zimmermann is actually knowing Jack.

Here are some things that I’ve learned in the process: He’s on his third pair of neon yellow running shoes, which he buys specifically because the color makes him happy. Before either of us tried Eric’s pies, the only thing that could make him cheat on a meal plan was a sleeve of Double Stuf Oreos. (Don’t ask him how to eat them correctly unless you’re interested in a twenty-minute speech on exactly how they have to be pulled apart.) And he loves Captain America, although it is the opinion of this best man that America’s ass has nothing on his hockey butt. Have you seen that thing? It has Internet fans in at least two different countries. 

But I digress.

In our sophomore year we lived next to each other again, by choice instead of by chance, in what I can only describe as the pinnacle of American college living: the Samwell Men’s Hockey Haus. We used to pull the comforter off of one of our beds and climb out onto the roof and clear off the snow so we could share the blanket, look up at the stars, and listen to the bass thumping through the wall of the house next door. On nights when other things felt confusing, this one part of my life was clear. There’s something about sitting out under the open sky that just makes it easier to talk to a guy, you know? 

Some nights the conversations we had were funny. Some nights they were serious. Some nights we said nothing at all, just sat secure in the knowledge that someone cared enough to exist alongside us for a little while. There was always an unspoken agreement between us on nights like these: I got your back. For me, Jack’s friendship became a rock, a refuge. It’s something that I came to depend on that year and still do to this day.

As for the content of those late-night conversations—well, some things do have to stay between friends. I’m sure Jack will agree, especially because he has so graciously allowed me to get up here and lovingly roast him just a little bit.

So let’s skip ahead again, to yet another August, the start of our junior year, and the arrival on the scene of one Eric Bittle. This kid burst into our ranks like a ray of Southern sunshine and turned pretty much everything upside down in the process. In the first five minutes of being in the Haus, he somehow made us a pie? Folks, I'm not kidding, it was the best thing I’ve ever eaten. We were a bunch of guys who didn’t know what we were missing until we had it, and let me tell you, it was one hell of a semester after that. In pretty short order we had curtains on the windows and baked goods on the counters, and Samwell Men’s Hockey started to become not only a team but a family.

That was off the ice, at least. On it, things were a little more complicated. As our dear friend and former goalie John Johnson said to me, Jack and Eric hadn’t gone through their character development yet—whatever that means. 

Take our third or fourth practice with the full team that year, for example. It had gone… uh. Poorly, would be a word. Later that night I heard some rustling on the roof outside, and God knows I was willing to do just about anything but my homework—so I stuck my head out the window and there was Jack, watching the stars. I asked him if he wanted a buddy, and he said alright, so I slid out and sat down next to him.

That was pretty usual for us at this point. What wasn’t usual was the topic of conversation. The first thing Jack said to me was, “Bittle’s gonna get eaten alive when our schedule starts.” (Remember, people, they’re married now!) The second was, “I want to help.”

Here’s another thing about Jack: Underneath the veneer is a guy who just cares so intensely it’d shock you if you knew nothing else about him. It shocked me a little that day. I think it even shocked him to admit it, to the point where I had to say, “Jack, it’s not a criminal offense to care about other people. Even if it feels like you’re doing it for yourself.”

So he helped. He offered an olive branch, and Bits took him up on it. I’d hear the two of them get up in the morning, hours before the rest of us had to be at Faber, for checking practice. None of the rest of us ever knew exactly what went down, but one thing was for sure—Eric put in a ton of work to overcome some of the fears that had followed him to college. He got better, and Jack relaxed. The two of them really started working as a team, and things started looking up from there.

The day that they told us they were dating was pretty amazing. Eric is so full of light no matter how bleak a situation may look, but that day he was literally almost glowing. And I’ve seen Jack in moments after victory and loss, at his best and at his worst. But I’ve never seen a Jack who was so happy, possessed of such confidence in a decision he’d made, as I saw him that day at brunch. And that’s when I knew this relationship was really special. 

From there, many of you know the story. You watched it play out on ESPN and social media and the front pages of every single gossip magazine on the supermarket shelves. But if you’re sitting here with us tonight, you also watched it play out between Jack and Eric themselves. You’ve watched them handle expectations as a united front. You’ve watched their unfailing dedication to each other while they navigate the pressure of being some pretty big firsts. You know that, behind the scenes, these are two incredibly genuine people who  bring out the best in each other and are dedicated to doing that every single day.

In the last four years, I’ve watched Eric become self-possessed and confident because he was given the space to do so. In the last six years, I’ve watched Jack grow from a kid with a chip on his shoulder and something to prove to a guy who finally believes that he deserves all the good things the world has given him and then some. If you take nothing else away from this speech, I want you to know this: I’m incredibly proud to call myself a friend to both of them.

Jack, Bits, you’re always gonna be my brothers, my best friends, and two of the finest damn men I’ve ever had the pleasure to know. I wish you both a long and happy marriage. Take care of each other, be good to each other, and never forget where you started—as a team.

So please join me in raising your glasses, everyone, and as they say at Samwell—penitus potes to Jack and Eric!

[rebelwrites]

Hidden In Plain Sight || Part Nine

Eric Blackburn x Daughter Reader || Clay Spenser x Reader

Join The Group Chat Here - If You Want Tagging Manually Let Me Know 🖤

Eric Blackburn Masterlist || Clay Spenser Masterlist

This Months Writing

The moment you saw everyone walk off the plane your heart dropped, Clay was rocking a sling and a black eye. Without thinking you ran straight over to him, ignoring everyone else.

“Shit baby,” you breathed, “you okay? What happened?”

“I’m fine Babygirl,” he smiled, kissing the top of your head, “I may have got into a car accident, and dislocated my shoulder. It looks worse because of the sling, honestly.”

“As long as that’s it?” You whispered, placing your hand on the side of his face.

“I promise,” he nodded, leaning into your touch.

Eric watched from afar, this was the first time he had seen you and Clay together and it made his heart melt, it was in that moment he may have realised he overreacted. But at this point he didn’t know how to fix things. All he wanted to do was make things right.

“She looks happy,” Metal said, standing with Eric watching you and Clay.

“She does,” Eric nodded, “the happiest I’ve seen her if I’m being honest.”

“Do you think we overreacted?” Jase asked.

“I think we did,” Eric sighed, “I just don’t know how to make things right.”

“Just talk to her.” Metal nodded.

“So did the guys give you a hard time?” You asked, leaning against the counter.

“Not really, but I think we were too focused on the mission.” Clay nodded, “I did talk to your Dad though.”

“Oh yeah, how did that go?”

“Better than expected to be honest.” Clay smiled, “I mean he didn’t punch me so that’s a plus. But you just need to speak to him baby, it’s been a week now and I know it’s killing you because of how close you are.”

“I will, promise, but I am still moving out.” You sighed, “I think it’s time.”

“Okay so I’ve been thinking,” Clay smiled.

“Oh god this is dangerous,” you giggled, as he placed his hand on your hip.

“Oh shush,” he smirked, “but I was thinking maybe it’s time we look for somewhere of our own.”

“Wait, you want to buy a house together?” You whispered.

“Yeah I do, I mean half the time you are here anyway,” he grinned. “So what do you say Babygirl, shall we spend the day house hunting?”

“Let me speak to Dad first,” you whispered, “I think we need to clear the air. I don’t want to leave things any longer. And if after today he can’t see how happy I am, then that’s on him.”

Taking a deep breath you pushed the front door open, walking into the house.

“Dad you home?” You shouted, as Clay closed the door behind you.

“In the kitchen sweetheart,” he responded.

“Think we need to talk,” you mumbled, walking into the kitchen. “No screaming, no yelling, just talking like adults.”

“First of all I want to apologise for how I behaved, I overreacted and I shouldn’t have flipped out like I did.” Dad sighed, “but you have to see it from my side, you kept this from me, and I get that you had your reasons but it still hurt that you didn’t come to me at the start.”

“I’m sorry you had to find out that way, look I just want to move on from this, I am the happiest I have been since I’ve been with Clay.” You whispered, “I just want you to be happy for me, I have found someone I want to spend the rest of my life with.”

“I’m going to be honest I wasn’t happy to start with but after speaking with Clay on the plane I can see how much he loves you and then again at the base, seeing the two of you together made me realise that I can’t pull the protective Pops card all of the time,” he nodded, “I saw how happy you were, and that’s all I wanted, for you to be happy.”

“Do you promise to stay calm and take a step back?” You asked, looking up at him.

“I promise,” Dad smiled, before narrowing his eyes at Clay. “But if you do so much to hurt my little girl, well let’s just say run because I will become your worst nightmare.”

“I wouldn’t dream of it,” Clay nodded.

“Okay so now the question is, are you moving back home?” Dad asked.

“Yeah about that,” you said looking down. “I’m not moving back home, we are going to look at a few houses this afternoon.”

“Excuse me?” Dad said, raising his voice. “You are buying a house together.”

“Dad, please, we have been together nearly a year,” you stated. “Look I can’t stay at home for my whole life, and I think it’s time.”

“But it’s so soon,” he whispered, trying not to show the tears.

“It may seem like it to you but we are ready, ready to take the next step in our relationship.” You smiled, squeezing his hand, you knew this was hard on him.

“You promise you will still come round for dinner?” He asked, pulling you into a hug. “And still have our weekly movie nights?”

“Pops,” you whispered. “I will always need you, I will always need my Dad.”

“You promise?” He whispered.

“I promise,” you smiled, “I’m never giving up the homemade pizza and movie nights, don’t worry I will still be coming to bug you.”

“Good to hear kiddo,” Adam whispered, kissing the top of your head. “No go, go find a house.”

“You aren’t mad?” You asked.

“How can I be mad? You have that sparkle back in your eyes that you had growing up, I haven’t seen that sparkle for years, I now know I was being an extremely overprotective father but you both have my support.”

“Thank you pops,” you grinned, kissing his cheek, before he turned to Clay.

“You look after my little girl Spenser,” Dad nodded, pulling Clay into a hug.

“I will don’t worry,” Clay smiled, as he linked his fingers with yours, kissing your knuckles. “Come on then trouble, let’s go look at some houses.”

“Can we get a puppy?” You asked, looking up at him with big eyes.

“She’s your problem now kid,” Dad laughed.

“Let’s find a house first baby, then we can consider a puppy.” Clay chuckled.

@chibsytelford @mrsmarvelous1995 @supervalcsi @talicat713 @disasterfandoms @bravo-four-seal-team @jasonbabymama @jayhalsteadfan-2417 @lotsoflovefromlea @seik-o @velvetcardiganbucky @phoenixhalliwell @pancakeisreading @itsonautopilot @pinkrockstar19 @galaxysanduniversesinmymind @softi92 @abby-splace @theysayitscrazy @thelovelyleo23 @innerpaperexpertcloud