#the way light hits in this game is *chefs kiss*

[eurodyne-d]

[muniimyg]

𐙚₊˚⊹ bbydaddy!jungkook (29)⋆𐙚₊˚⊹

series m.list // taglist

note: old taglist + taglist in reblog

//

“surpise!” 

the burst of familiar voices around you fills the space as jungkook gently pulls his hands away from your eyes.

the world comes into focus, and you’re met with a room full of smiling faces, balloons, and twinkling lights decorating the penthouse. 

your heart races as you take it all in—your parents and jungkook’s on the side with zion and zia in their arms, the guys with their playful grins, and even nam joon, who stands with a friendly nod.

“what’s all this?” you gasp, your voice a mix of disbelief and delight.

jungkook steps beside you, his eyes shining with excitement. 

“happy birthday, honey!” he grabs your hands, squeezing them as he beams down at you. “i wanted to do something special. we’ve got food, games, and your favorite cake… well, zion’s.” 

you can’t help but laugh, feeling overwhelmed by the love in the room. 

“this… this is—wow—thank you, honey. i love it. i love you,” you say, cupping his face with your hands. you tiptoe and kiss him softly. as you pull away, you smile. “honey, i can’t believe you did all this! i thought we were just having a quiet dinner.”

“quiet is overrated,” he teases, guiding you further into the room. “besides, you deserve to be celebrated. you know what this date means to us… to me.”

you can’t help but look at him with a soft smile.

it’s the way he always knows just what to say to make you feel seen and cherished. his words and actions fill you with warmth. it’s moments like these where you’re reminded that you truly chose the right person to love. 

jungkook’s sincerity is so raw and so real. 

this day, this celebration—it’s not just about the party or the cake, but about the life you’ve built together. 

it’s a celebration of the family you’ve become. 

together. 

as he catches your gaze, the quiet tenderness in his eyes speaks volumes, and in that moment, everything else fades. 

“don’t—” he starts, “we can cry about this later together. right now, enjoy the party.”

you muster a smile and nod at him. 

as you take a few steps forward, the sound of zia’s laughter catches your ear. you turn to see her in your mother’s arms, giggling with delight at the colorful decorations. you greet your parents warmly, receiving a kiss on your cheek from both of them.

“zion!” you call out, spotting your little boy running toward you, his face lighting up with joy. “you look so cute, my love! look at your little bow tie—”

zion rushes to you, wrapping his tiny arms around your legs. 

“happy birthday, mommy! am i handsome like daddy?” he blushes, looking up at you with innocent pride.

you look at jungkook, eyes wide and filled with admiration. then, you look back at zion with the same expression. kneeling down, you fix zion’s bow tie before attacking him with kisses. 

“yes, my love,” you tell zion. “so handsome. just like daddy.”

jungkook stands behind you, watching the scene with a fond smile.

“handsome like his daddy? maybe our father-son relationship has hope after all.” 

you hit his stomach with the back of your hand as you get up. he chuckles and ruffles zion’s hair, urging him to go to his grandpa. 

as you straighten up, you take a moment to gaze around the room, your heart swelling with gratitude. 

the penthouse is filled with the soft scent of flowers. their vibrant colors scattered across the space—roses, peonies, and hydrangeas in sleek vases add life to every corner. not to mention the birthday decorations are thoughtfully placed: silver streamers drape across the ceiling, and a "happy birthday" banner hangs delicately over the living room. a champagne tower sits elegantly on one side, glistening glasses stacked high, ready to be poured.

a few catering staff move quietly through the space, offering appetizers on silver trays, their soft footsteps blending into the background. the open kitchen reveals the omakase chef, expertly preparing food with graceful precision. jimin, taehyung, and hobi are sitting patiently on the other side of the kitchen island for the chef to get started. yoongi and his girlfriend are on the sidelines, watching and whispering in each others ear. meanwhile, jin and nam joon are talking to one another. 

everything is perfect. 

the warm, inviting ambiance makes the penthouse feel like the perfect mix of cozy luxury—everything perfectly curated yet relaxed, just like the man behind it all.

“honey, you’ve outdone yourself,” you say to jungkook, feeling giddy with appreciation. “the place is stunning. this is all so amazing. did you hire a party planner?”

he shakes his head and winces at you. 

“have you no faith in your visual director in advertisement husband?” jungkook scolds you. “god, it’s like i have to teach you a lesson or something—oh. hey, nam joon.”

just then, nam joon approaches, a slight smile on his face. 

“hey,” he acknowledges jungkook.

“thanks for coming,” jungkook offers him a lazy smile. 

“wouldn’t miss it for the world.”

“you could though,” jungkook tightens his lips. “party would’ve been fine with or without you.” 

you hiss at him. 

nam joon laughs, taking jungkook’s tone lightly. soon, jungkook breaks character and laughs along. he then kisses your cheek and excuses himself so you and nam joon could talk. as jungkook joins the crowd, you open your arms and give nam joon a friendly hug. 

“thanks for coming! i know the firm can get busy this time of year—”

“would be much more manageable if you signed for partner,” he remarks casually, causing your expression to shift slightly. 

“timing was off,” you breathe. “you know that.”

“i know it,” he nods. “are you thinking of starting your own firm?” 

you shake your head, followed by a small smile. “no... jungkook has been talking about starting his own company and i feel like that will be a better focus for us... don't get me wrong; i love being a lawyer... but things got intense and mentally so draining so fast. it took a lot from me… from my family. truth be told, i miss it… all of it. court, the cases, the people—but i’m also a little afraid. i don’t want to drown in my work life like that again. so… i guess i’m mustering up the courage… and zia is almost one! i can’t… not be here for these kinds of things.” 

nam joon understands you.

he looks at you softly, respecting everything you said. out of everyone, he probably knows you the best when it comes to your career. you have worked extremely hard to be where you are now… he doesn’t want to see it go to waste. 

which is why he makes a pitch. 

“would you ever be interested in teaching law?” 

you blink. 

“i have connections to most of the law schools around here… i heard there were a few openings too. i can refer you. if you hate it or if you ever decide you’re ready to come back… come back and accept the partner position. our firm will wait for you… i will wait for you. in return, don’t stop doing what you love but don’t let it kill you either. you have fought enough and earned your place, ___. you're a good lawyer too. it wouldn't be right for me to stand here and you go.”

“oh my god. y-yes. nam joon—”

“alright. consider this a birthday gift.” he smiles, before patting you on the back. then, he takes out his phone and begins to type. “i’ll email a few of my connections right now just so it’s like a real present. happy birthday, ___.”

before you can even thank him, he turns and gets on call with someone.

you sigh.

but you smile.

you're thankful.

with the party in full swing, you weave through the crowd, hugging friends and family, sharing laughter and stories. you take everything in, feeling the warmth of their love. this is where you belong. this is where you are loved.

as the room fills with a soft hum of conversation and laughter, jungkook's arms slip around you, holding you close as you both sway together, grounding you in the comfort of his presence.

"ready to cut the cake?" he murmurs, his voice gentle, but that familiar spark in his eyes still present.

you nod eagerly, feeling a rush of joy from the gathering, from the laughter of your closest friends and family. jungkook then raises his voice to call everyone over. soon, the room fills with smiling faces, and zion giggles as he darts toward you, small arms outstretched. you bend down to scoop him up, his little hands curling around your neck as he snuggles close.

jungkook joins you at your side, holding zia in his embrace, her tiny hands reaching for you as she giggles.

just as everyone is about to sing happy birthday, jungkook clears his throat, drawing everyone's attention.

“before we sing and cut the cake,” he begins, his eyes never leaving yours, “i just wanted to say a few words.”

a hush falls over the crowd, and jungkook smiles, taking a deep breath, his gaze filled with something that makes your heart race.

“thank you all for coming. i know keeping this a secret from ___ wasn’t easy since she’s nosy—”

“hey!” you frown, playfully smacking his arm.

“but we love her,” jungkook pauses, glancing at you with a teasing smile.

the crowd laughs with you.

“... and with that being said, honey, i’m so glad i have the privilege of being your husband. from the life we’ve built together, our children, our home—to our friends and families—you have made every aspect of my life happier, brighter, and fuller. even in our most difficult moments, i have never doubted that you are the one for me. i have chosen you every day, and will spend the rest of my life doing so… and you know? i used to be afraid of time. not having enough of it to spend with you and our children… but not so much anymore. every day, you hold my hand, make me laugh, and kiss me—giving meaning to our forever. so, here… right now, i want to say this to you: our time is forever. ___, if it takes bending every rule, making new ones, or breaking every piece of time itself—for me to be the one you love in every lifetime—then i’d do it.”

his voice is strong, clear, yet filled with a gentleness that brings a lump to your throat. “i have seen the way you love and i have felt it every day in every possible way. i feel it in our success and in our losses. god, am i ever so blessed to feel it. ___, i love you, always. you are my divine. my everlasting love. my heart in every lifetime... and i—truly, madly, deeply—i am yours forever.”

the world falls away, leaving only jungkook’s words hanging in the air.

they’re rich with love and promise. you feel zion’s small weight in your arms, his head resting against your shoulder, a gentle reminder of everything you and jungkook have created together.

your eyes blur as the room and faces around you seem to melt into a soft haze. there’s only jungkook’s gaze—kind, loving, forever.

a shaky breath escapes your lips as you look at him, your heart swelling with a love so deep it feels almost impossible to contain.

zion shifts in your arms, sensing the emotion in the room. his little fingers reach up to pat your cheek, grounding you. you press a kiss to the top of his head, gathering yourself, your voice catching as you try to find the words to answer jungkook’s confession.

you give a small, breathless laugh, holding zion closer as you look at the man who is both your beginning and your forever.

“jungkook,” you manage, your voice thick, barely more than a whisper. “how do i even… how do i follow that?”

the room chuckles softly, a few sniffles heard from the crowd, but you barely notice as you take a step closer to jungkook. his gaze pulls you in, that warmth surrounding you.

“i’ll start off by saying… everyone knows jungkook’s guilty pleasure is twilight, right?”

a few gasps are heard, and jungkook’s eyes widen in mock horror.

“honey—”

“so i’ll say this: for every second, every memory, every joy, and every heartache… i choose you too… because, honey, no measure of time with you will ever be long enough, but we’ll start with forever.”

jungkook chuckles, a deep blush spreading across his cheeks. it’s a mix of embarrassment and unmistakable affection lighting up his face. even though he’s trying to fight it, you can see that your words have touched him, and it makes you smile.

your voice wavers, and you pause, catching his gaze one last time. “and i believe in that forever of ours—more than i ever believed in anything.”

as the last words leave your lips, you see the pink flush deepen across jungkook’s cheeks. the surprise in his eyes melts into that soft, adoring smile—the one reserved just for you. the room is silent for a beat, as if everyone is letting the moment settle in, before they break into applause, a few playful whistles cutting through the warm atmosphere.

then hobi calls out, “light your candles and blow them out! zion’s drooling already!”

laughter erupts, and you find yourself laughing too, the joy of the moment infectious.

holding zion close, you turn to the cake, the soft glow of the candles flickering across your face. jungkook lights them for you, and for a brief second, you close your eyes, making a wish. the room hums as everyone sings you happy birthday.

with a gentle breath, you blow out the candles, and the room erupts into cheers and applause. voices ring with love and laughter. zion giggles in your arms, clapping his small hands in excitement, his face beaming with pride as he looks up at you. you kiss his cheek, smiling through your own laughter.

jungkook leans over, slipping his arm around your waist, and presses a tender kiss to your temple.

“what’d you wish for, mama?” he asks softly, his voice low and full of warmth.

“oh… you know,” you sigh, leaning into his embrace. “forever.”

[amica-aenigmata-naboo]

Genius

Matthew de Clermont x Y/N - drabble - 607 WC

Masterlist

Warnings: fluff, poetry, slightly steamy, Matthew being sexy, soft boi hours, this bitch worships the ground you walk on, L bomb

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“Abashed the Devil stood and felt how awful goodness is…” Matthew read from the chair in the corner of your bedroom.

“John Milton.” you responded, lying on the bed as you scrolled through your phone. 

“Love is a sacrament that should be taken kneeling…” he said, gazing at you.

“Oscar Wilde.” you said almost immediately. You never understood why he tried to win this little game with you; he never has before.

“Theirs not to reason why, theirs but to do and die. Into the valley of Death rode the six hundred.”

“Lord Alfred Tennyson, “The Charge of the Light Brigade”, written in 1854, based on the Battle of Balaclava.” you said with a smirk, sitting up on your elbows to see him fully.

“Love opened a mortal wound. In agony, I worked the blade to make it deeper. Please, I begged, let death come quick…” he said, closing his book to meet your gaze. 

“Wild, distracted, sick. I counted all the ways love hurt me. One life, I thought - a thousand deaths…” you cut him off.

“Blow after blow, my heart couldn’t survive this beating. Then - how can I explain it? I came to my senses. I said…” he said as he moved to the bed, crawling his way up your body till his nose nudged yours. You sucked in a breath.

“”Why do I suffer? What lover ever had so much pleasure?” you whispered against his lips.

His eyes searched your face for something unknown. He heard your heart speed up; it would never cease to amuse him that he still had this effect on you, after all this time. He placed a delicate peck on your lips.

Your lips followed his as he pulled away. You hooked your finger under his chin, pulling him back to your lips. You devoured his lips, craving his touch always.

Matthew kissed you fervently before pulling back momentarily. He looked down at you with expectant eyes.

You tried to capture his lips once more but he moved back when you leaned up. “What?” you said, a slight bit of worry in your voice.

“Who wrote it?” he asked.

“Seriously?” you said, annoyed he was depriving you of his sweet, sweet kiss. 

Matthew chuckled, nodding his head.

You sighed, “Sor Juana Ines de la Cruz, a Seventeenth Century Mexican nun.” you said quickly, pulling him back to you for a kiss.

He kissed you before pulling back slightly, pecking your lips randomly “I have never met a creature so incredibly intelligent, you are a wonder my darling.” Matthew whispered onto your lips.

You smiled up at him sweetly, your cheeks turning pink slightly. “I’m a daemon,” you shrugged before tugging him as close as possible, “Flattery gets you everywhere…” you mumbled, tugging at the bottom of his shirt. Matthew obliged your silent request, yanking his shirt off. He kissed down your neck, sucking hickies into you every once and a while. He pulled the shoulders of your dress down, exposing your chest to him. His lips ghosted over your skin making you shudder slightly. 

“Always so good for me…” he whispered, looking you up and down before pulling the rest of your dress, he hooked his hands into the supple flesh of your hips, pulling your underwear off with the dress. 

You whined at the cool air hitting your skin. Matthew kissed up your thigh, his fangs grazing your skin every once in a while. “I love you…” he mumbled before attaching his lips to your core. Your back arched - this was the beginning to a very long, absolutely sinful night. You felt yourself giving in to him anyways.

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Naboo's Note:

On a Discovery of Witches binge - this is the result. This mf is just so *chefs kiss* Anyways I hope everyone is doing good! :D

[eclipseberrycake]

Incognito Mode (CleanBrowserHistory x Reader)

AN: As an irl girl kisser, I totally get that. IRL men disgust me- because Traumaaa- but fictional men? Perfect. Chef's kiss. But fictional WOMEN?

Anyway-

This was a request!

☁ THOSE GIRLS, GIRLS, GIRLS.

☁ How I adore them. I mean Tisha mains are hit or miss for me tbh, I tried breaking the allegations I did, but like...the allegations remain.

☁ But Vee and Shelly? Never met a main of them i didn't like.

☁ Anyway,

☁ As always, what kinda partner could I see them with. Honestly? Any of them, really.

☁ Extractor toon? Perfect.

☁ Shelly is taking every opportunity to wrap her arms around you, nuzzling into your cheek from behind as she allows her ability to thrum around you, immediately speeding up the extraction process.

☁ Vee is always teasing you, leaning against the machine about how you should "Just let her do it, she's faster and doesn't want you ruining those perfect hands of yours." She's got plans for them, you know?

☁ Tisha loves seeing you extract. She doesn't distract often, but when she does, she always does it in a way she can see you through a window or down the call, calling out cheers your way and making you mess up your skill check.

☁ Distractor toon? Great.

☁ You stress Shelly out, but she'll get over it. She's constantly giving people extraction boosts just so you don't have to distract as long, immediately collapsing into your arms as with tears in her eyes as she thanks you over and over for staying safe. Or if you're hurt, she's practically dragging you to whichever healer is with them and demanding them to do something.

☁ Vee won't admit it, but she does machines faster than she normally does, which is already fast. She is quick to finish them one by one and passing off her own Vee-mote to someone else if it means you're out there as short as possible.

☁ Tisha is always nearby to give you a speed boost :). You and her pick up a good rhythm where if you constantly need to be running, you switch out so the other can regenerate some stamina if Sprout isn't nearby. Each switch out is stamped by a quick peck along with a call of an airhorn to call the Twisted's attention away.

☁ Healer toon? Sold.

☁ Shelly loves, loves, loves getting healed by you a million percent. She'll never go out of her way to get hit, of course not, but she's a little more willing to play emergency distractor if thats the case. Even if it means getting scolded by you. Every time you're healing her, you never leave without a parting kiss, and really who can blame her if that's her reward?!

☁ Vee, like Sprout, is the worst for being healed. She doesn't like sitting still, she doesn't like appearing like she isn't the best to you. She'll pout the entire time, but, much like Shelly, once you bestow a kiss upon her for a reward, she's sparking between the antennae and perking right up, immediately pulling you back for what she's deem a proper kiss.

☁ Tisha is the one who gets healed the most, but she's endlessly apologetic. She doesn't try to get hit, but sometimes she looses sight over where that one Twisted went and is swiftly reminded where they went. She tries her hardest not to get hit though and always returns the reward you bestow upon her with a kiss of her own, filled with giggles.

☁ It doesn't matter what kind of toon you are, especially with these girlies. They are always so supportive and loving.

☁ Vee loves having game nights with you guys, playing some version of her game show with you three as her contestants. She caters the questions to your guys' special interests and always just lights up when she sees how excited the three of you get.

☁ Moreso when you start learning each others special interests and she gets to watch as Shelly gapes over you or Tisha beating her to the buzzer about dinosaurs.

☁ Cleaning with Tisha too is insane. She's a bit of a neat freak and that bleeds into every part of her life, her day-to-day included. Your room is always immaculate and Tisha can get pouty if you guys aren't mindful of it.

☁ Vee is also on the neater side, argue with the wall. Tisha is endless appreciative even if you and Shelly are a little messier. It's a give and take with them really.

☁ You and Shelly make sure the other two are taking care of themselves. So even if Tisha is in med-bay, you're bringing her food and love and cuddles. Or if Vee got short-circuited by Finn, Shelly is right beside her making sure she's as comfortable as possible as she reboots.

☁ Runs with these guys are fun too! Fun but quick. The problem is their twisteds.

☁ Tisha's twisted is a common so she's become acquainted with seeing her, but Vee and Shelly are less so. Their Twisteds are rarer and it's harder to see them, especially when you and Tisha are on the run.

☁ Feeling the confusion warp your psyche always Shelly into a bit of a Tizzy. She remembers vaguely the destruction her other form caused and it terrified her. She didn't want that to be unleashed on any of her partners and needs one of you with her just to keep her grounded.

☁ She doesn't like going far when this is the case as the confusion probably hits her the hardest, making directions especially hard for her, so if one of you sticks with her near elevator, she should make it out okay.

☁ Vee's twisted is...more difficult.

☁ When the pop-ups appear in front of each of your faces with the shrill shriek of her short-circuits sparking off, Vee is immediately dreading the worst. She's constantly telling you three to not go anywhere near that twisted, even if one of you is the distractor. She won't allow it. She couldn't fathom her twisted being the reason one of you got hurt.

☁ While she won't need someone to walk with her, she does like keeping you all in her line of sight, even if that seems impossible.

☁ Speaking of, Dandy forbid, you get hurt. These girls? Protective to a fault. Tisha frets like a mother, making sure the wound stays clean even as the healer tries to get her out of the way to look at it.

☁ Shelly is also near hysterics as she worries you're going to die, even if it's just a simple flesh wound. You probably have to comfort her while Sprout or Ginger or Cosmo is healing you, lol.

☁ VEE. Oh-ho-ho. Vee already hates Dandy, and the feeling is very much reciprocated. So if you get hurt on a floor he's supposed to show up, and he's there without a heal?

☁ She's literally grabbing him by skin of his chest and yanking him close enough she could really emphasize her point. She's hurling threats of harm and dismemberment his way, demanding a first aid kit. Whether she gets it or not I guess depends on how far you were or if this is just a minor injury.

☁ Even if she does get it, you're already healed by the time she turns around lol.

☁ If it's the cards and there's a medical option, she's daring someone to pick another option. Her and Sprout have probably clashed on this before, but their besties, it's bound to happen.

☁ Speaking of, Astro and Sprout? Shelly and Vee's besties?

☁ They thank you for taking them off their hands every chance they get. They love the girls, they do, but like...they got their own hands full (Ifykyk) so not having to worry as much and have you do it? Gives them a sense of relief.

☁ Overall, these girls are so loving and so caring and I just know they treat you so, so well <3

[sweetblossomsss]

Without You || CHOI SAN

Synopsis: Life without you was empty. Life after I left was unbearable. But now that I'm back, I will never let us go through that again.

WARNINGS: Please read "I'll be back" first to understand bc this is in San's point of view, fluff, suggestive, San is an assassin, fights, blood, cuts, death, gory-ish, angst(MY FAV), stabbing, guns, argument between Y/N and San, son is used as a term of endearment, "baby" is used for Y/N, I know I am missing, just lmk :)

Word Count: 15K Started: Dec 2, 2024 Finished: Feb 9, 2025

Blossom's Note: Happy New Years my petals. May this year bring you love and protection. Now this story had me feeling all types of things, definitely a whirlwind of emotions. Shoutout to the Anonymous Petal who gave me this idea. Title was inspired by Infinite H's Without U ft Zion T (Chef's kiss song) I truly hope it lives up to your standards. Now without further ado, grab a drink and popcorn and enjoy!

—

FIRST ENCOUNTER

"Understood." San says into the burner flip phone, nodding his head once. "Yes, sir. I'll get it done." And with that he presses the hang up button and breaks it in half as he starts walking, throwing the broken phone away in a nearby trash can.

He shoved his hands in the coat’s pockets as he takes precise, steady movements trailing behind his target. He squints his eyes at the sudden gush of wind, letting out a sigh. He repeats in his head no distractions like a mantra, just wanting to finish this and go home.

He sticks within the shadows he finds in the broad day light, such as building’s walls, when his target makes sudden stops along the way. It’s almost as if San is able to bled in with the bustling crowd—easy to slip and slide, getting closer to the target.

Within his coat was a deadly syringe filled with a lethal chemical, all ready to use as he plays the game of patience—waiting for the perfect opening. San moves closer, taking out a pair of black leather gloves and hastily puts them on. Just as the distance gets shorter and shorter he reaches into his coat and suddenly—

BAM!

Everyone in the crowd jolts from the sudden noise of construction. San follows the noise with his eyes as he turns to the side, seeing a construction worker using a jack hammer to break up concrete. He shakes his head and sighs in frustration, returning to his target—but just when he was about to look away, he spots you.

“Oh my god.” He whispered in disbelief, eyes slightly widening. It’s all like a movie right now—time fucking stopped when he spotted you across the street, walking in slow motion as you ran a hand through your hair while the wind blew.

You had to be one of the most beautiful woman San has ever seen. He couldn’t even control his body as he took steps forward as if in a trance while people moved around him—not caring if he was being shoved by some. San was mesmerized by your beauty. The way your presence commanded space, as the buzzing crowd moves around you.

Everything just seems to fade away—people and noise—and it felt like he had the perfect view of you. If his eyes were able to form those cartoon heart eyes, they would be in that shape right now. How can he describe this foreign feeling? Is this what they call love at first sight?

Soon enough, San was able to snap out of his day dreaming when a passing car honked at him causing him to jump back. He gasped in shock, “Shit!” He said looking at the car with widen eyes, chest heaving. Reality hits him as he looks to the side and watched his target move further away, and then he looks at you, also getting further away. “Fuck.” He whispers to himself as he walks to the direction of his target.

So much for distractions, right?

San sucked the front of his teeth as he shook his head, rushing to his target. He’ll come back to you. As he finally catches up, he realizes that the way everything was set up for perfect for San. The streets were alive with the random street vendors, crowd moving in different directions, people chattering and shouting that mixed with the traffic noise—all that’s needed to making this a smooth kill.

He watched as the target froze in his steps right in the center of the bustling crowd as he yelled into the phone causing some dirty looks at him for both blocking the pathway and screaming so loud as they moved around him.

San reached into his coat and popped the cover off the needle and took it out as he slithered through the crowd like a snake. He kept his head low, only looking up when he heard the roaring of the man’s loud voice. “No– Shut up, shut up!” The man argued with the person on the phone, “You listen to me–“

And in one swift motion, San had brushed past him with his hand barely grazing the man’s neck. “Hey,” he calls to San who froze in his steps and turned to him, “watch where you’re going.” He scoffs at him and then returns to the person on the phone. San smirked at him and turns away from, leaving before the madness.

And just in a matter of seconds, the man suddenly shot his hand to his neck, gripping it as he stumbles back a bit—his vision started to get disoriented as panic and confused surged through the man’s body. He couldn’t feel his limbs causing for him to drop his phone and then his body. Foam started forming at his mouth as he lied there with his eyes open.

A woman’s terrified scream can be heard causing people to look at the direction of the scream. “Someone call an ambulance!” A bystander said as people gathered around the body. People covered their eyes and mouth’s in shock of the sight.

San looked over his shoulder as he watched the circle of people. He throws away the syringe in a trash can and takes off his gloves, securing them in his coat as he picks up the pace. Now he can focus on you.

—

Returning back to the scene of when he first saw you, he wasted no time in trying to search for you. To say he looked like a mad man would be an understatement. He went into every single store in the proximity in hopes that you were there but you were nowhere to be found.

He lets out a groan of frustration when he leaves a little book store. He sighs in disappointment as he tucked his hands in his coat, a pout forming on his lips. But then, by a fucking miracle, he sees you coming out of a store with a huge smile on your face as you examine the things you bought in the bag that clings on your arm.

He swears he can see stars at the sight. In that moment he decides to just follow you. He tells himself that he going to be quiet and keep his distance—but as someone who is trained to be silent, quick minded, and able to kill people, even with the most ruthless methods— he was anything but the sort. He doesn’t know how but you had him so nervous and clumsy and he doesn’t even know who you are.

The first time you looked over your shoulder, just to glance back at some of mannequins that were dressed in pretty shirts, San had frozen in steps and cleared his throat as he adjusted his coat. He looked out into the distance as he sniffed, making it seem as if he totally wasn’t following you.

He slowly peaks to the side as he sees you continuing on your path to which he followed. But the second time you had stop to turn around San was thrown off guard which caused him to trip over his own feet, catching himself before his face eats the floor. He played it off while doing this horrible, awkward hop dance to play it off but—hold on, he could’ve sworn he saw you chuckling as you faced forward to keep walking.

—

It had gotten to the point where you already knew you were being followed by him so you just froze in your steps and turned around, crossing your arms as you pushed your hip to the side. He gasped as he rushed to hide behind a light post, unconsciously wrapping his arms around it.

He is mentally face palming himself right now as he stares at the large lake in front of him, wishing he could drown in it right now. When he peaks, he sees you staring at him as you raised an eyebrow at him to which he sighed because he was caught red handed. Great, I look like a stalker when in reality I was just scared to approach her.

He removes himself as he tried to find enough courage while approaching you. His heart was beating so hard against his chest, his palms were all sweaty as he wiped his hands on his pants. “Hey–Uh–I–“

He fumbled with his words as he saw how gorgeous you were up close. His eyes slightly widen as you tilted your head in confusion with a raised eyebrow, “May I help you?” You asked with curiosity and amusement in your tone.

He blinked, all flustered as he cleared his throat. “You like to–uh,” he scratched the back of his head. “I–I just think that you’re pretty.” He rushed out the last few words. Wow, real fucking smooth you idiot, he thought to himself.

You kept the eyebrow raised as you wondered if you should laugh or start backing the fuck away from this man, which made San internally panic at your silence. Soon a smirk starts to form on your lips as you eyed him up and down, “Oh,” your tone was filled with amusement, “I know you.”

His heart skips a beat, “What?” He said in a shock, eyebrows furrowed as his eyes widened.

You kept that smirk on your lips as tilted your head slightly to the side. “Yeah, you’re that guy who almost got run over from the car earlier? Or when you tripped over your feet and did that dance?” Your eyes carried mischief in them. “So far you hiding behind the light post as if your shoulders weren’t going to give you away has been my favorite.”

San turned red, completely flushed in a deep red of embarrassment. She saw all of that? Trying to save himself, he inhaled and turned to the side trying to look mysterious, “I-I don’t know what you’re talking about.” He squeaks out causing you to laugh at his reaction.

Seeing how he won’t win this, he let out a defeated sigh. “Okay,” he closed his eyes as he threw his head back in embarrassment, “Yes, unfortunately that was me.” He looks down to the floor, unable to look at your face. “I’m not as smooth as I thought I was.” A small pour forms on his lips.

You just laughed at his reaction, the smile reaching up to your eyes. You eyed him up and down once more before extending your hand out, “I’m Y/N.” You introduced yourself.

His head shoots up at the introduction. He looks between your hand and face, that still held a smile. Shake it, idiot. “Oh,” he says taking your hand and shaking it. “I’m San. Choi San.” He scratched the back of head, “I promise I’m not normally like this.” He lets out sheepish smile and chuckle.

You nodded. “I figured.” You said with a playful tone.

There was a moment of silence before you cleared your throat, removing your hand from his grasp as you crossed your arms, “So,” you started off, “Is there a reason why you followed me or do I have call the cops?”

San jumped in his spot, “No!” He blurted out as he puts his hands up, feeling his heart racing. “I mean–no, please.” He lets out a nervous laugh. He then takes a deep breath, trying to calm himself down, “It’s just that–Well, when I saw you I just thought that you were beautiful and I couldn’t find you so I tried looking for you and I was scared to approach you so I just followed–“

He cuts off his own rambling thinking he sounds like an absolute stalker, but to his surprise you had an amuse look on your face. He cleared his throat, speaking clear, “I wanted to ask you out on a date.” He said boldly before falling back into his nervous, stammering self, “Only if–if you wanted to. If you were interested.”

A playful glint was in your eyes before you nodded your head. “Sure,” you said, “I’ll go on a date with you.”

Maybe he misheard, “What? Wait, really?” He asked and you nodded at him with a smile. “Really?”

“Yes, really.” You laughed at him. You kept a mischievous smile on your face, before crossing your arms. “Just so you know, I expect a good dinner. I do have expensive taste—You think you can keep up with that?” You asked him playfully as you reached to your back pocket and unlocked it so, handing it to him.

He smirks as he nodded. “I’ll keep up with whatever you throw at me.” He grabs your phone and inputs his number, writing San on the contact name. “Okay, there you go.” He hands the phone back to you.

You sent him a text and he got it immediately. “There, now you have mine.” You tell him. And with that, you two exchanged your goodbyes. He watched as you started to walk away but stopped at a distance turning to him, “Also, no tripping to the floor or getting run over by cars on the date.” You yelled at him, teasing him as you waved goodbye before walking away.

He chuckles, looking down feeling a bit flushed of redness on his cheeks. He swears he is high on life right now as he walks through the park—it’s as if nothing can ruin this moment. Suddenly, his personal phone starts ringing and too much in a euphoric feeling, he didn’t even bother looking at who was calling him as picked up in a dazed out tone, “Yes~?”

“San!” The rough voice yelled sternly. “It has been hours. You have yet to call. Did you complete the task or no?” It was his boss, Lee.

In a snap, he stands up straight wiping that goofy smile off his face as reality hits him. Oh shit, he thinks to himself. “Yes sir. The task is completed.” He cleared his throat, “I’ll report when I arrive.”

—

The first date was something that was huge for San. First and foremost, it was his first date, ever. He wanted everything to be perfect for you so he did some "research" by watching romantic movies and searching up date ideas. He felt so overwhelmed at the amount of ideas so he just decided to go with what his heart said.

He wanted a picnic at the very same park where he asked you out. He didn't want to go to the movies or do anything too crazy because he just wanted to get to know you, from what your favorite color was to what your ambitions are for life. He even cooked all the food, yes some parts were burnt but you told him it was the best part—it was extra flavor.

You smiled at the way he eased his shoulders. When he looked to the side, you gulped a good amount of water, trying to get rid of the taste. Honestly, you aren't fan of burnt food but today you will inhale anything that is burnt. You would eat a whole burnt piece of meat to prove how much you appreciate the time and dedication San took to make this date comfortable and wonderful.

You have never had anyone do the things San has done for you in just a span of a few hours. Something about him captivated you and honestly you feel lucky to have met him. Since that day on, you two were inseparable. Throughout the following weeks the feels for one another grew and grew and it was only a matter of time before San would ask you out.

Tonight was movie night—San’s favorite night. It always ended up with the most cringe worthy movies with you lying on top of him as he runs his fingers through your hair—which is exactly what’s happening. But instead of him watching the movie, he’s watching you. He chuckles over your reactions when you laugh at something stupid or when you face palm at the second hand embarrassment.

He stares at you with eyes of memorization. He has fallen so deeply for you. He can’t believe he got so lucky to experience such a rare emotion—love—in his life. He didn’t know someone could bring it out of him, but he was more than happy that it was you.

Which is all the reason why he has decided to quit and leave this horrid life he has known since little and start anew. For you and for him—for this future he desperately wants to have with you. And tonight, he was going to get out no matter what.

“You know you don’t have to go.” Your soft voice that had a hint of playfulness in it rang in his ears as you looked up at him and placed your chin on his chest to look up at him. “It’s late,” you smiled mischievously as you moved up, closing the distance, hovering over his lips, “might as well stay the night.”

The ending credits were rolling with a slow ending song in the background that fits the mood. San groans lightly as his hand makes way to your hair, caressing it, “You know I can’t, beautiful.” He whispered to you. San has made it very clear he wants to respect you and your boundaries until you two are official. Plus, he doesn’t want anything official until he is done with his other life.

He doesn’t want to risk someone knowing about you. Plus, this is the first time he is ever experiencing this and he wants to take it slow, let things form naturally.

But you on the other, make it very difficult for him to stay sane. The way you look at him makes him come undone almost instantly, but he fights the urge. You love that he is respect of you, but shit, you just want to pounce on him sometimes—like tonight.

You sighed and got up, letting out a sigh of annoyance as you crossed your arms. “Why not?” You asked, close to stomping like a spoiled child who is getting told no.

He lets out a chuckle at your reaction as he stands up and walks up to you, putting his finger under your chin as he places a kiss on your lips. “You know why, baby.” He tells you.

You bit down your lip to stop yourself from smiling like an idiot as you look away, all annoyed but in reality you didn’t want him to see you blushing. You roll your eyes and look back at him, “Tell me,” you say, “Who is she?”

San was taken aback, furrowing his eyebrows as he tilts his head to the side, “Who’s who?” Asking you while looking at you as if you were crazy.

“Is there someone else?” You asked him and you placed your hand on your hips, trying to stop the smile that’s forming on your lips.

“What?! No!” He exclaimed with widen eyes. “You know it’s not like that, Y/N. There is no one else, I prom–“

He stops his rambling when he sees you starting to laugh. You throw your arms over his shoulders, “Sannie, I know. I’m just joking. Just trying to keep you on your toes.” You tell him through your giggles, kissing his cheeks.

He gives you a deadpan look, “You stress me out.” He tells you playfully, wrapping his arms around you. “Did you know that?” He smirks at you.

“Oh,” you tilt your head to the side smirking, “Do I?” You asked as you removed yourself from his hold, brushing past him as you sat on the sofa, letting out a sigh. “You can leave then–“

“Y/N, come on. Don’t be like that baby–“

“I’ll just be here.” You cut him off as you stare into his eyes, reaching your jacket’s zipper at the top, “all alone,” you say seductively as you watched him gulp, pulling down the zipper to reveal the exposing tight tank top underneath, “missing you.”

San stayed silent for a moment before he shook his head and looked away, covering his eyes with his hand, “Woman, my virgin eyes. We mustn’t.” He said sounding all innocent.

“Oh, please San! Virgin eyes?!” You laugh at him getting a stern like with you as you throw him pillow from your sofa.

He then looks at you and starts to walk to you, which got you all excited because you think that you finally broke this man—but no. “I know what you’re doing.” He said in a low voice, placing a hot kiss underneath your ear. “And it’s not going to work.” His lips trail to your lips as he zipped up your jacket, pecking your lips once.

You opened your eyes, panting as the realization hit you. He smirked as he stood up, “Two can play that game.” He tells you. Feeling the frustration within you build up, you went hit him with another pillow but he moved fast enough as he let out a too slow laugh.

“Choi San!” You yelled at him as you watched him walk to the door. You glared at him as he extending his arms out to the sides, waiting for a hug to which you huffed and looked away. After a few seconds, you looked back and saw him in the same position with a goofy smile on his face.

You pursed your lips as you got up, stomping with attitude in each step. You opened your arms out and looked to the side causing him to quickly pull you into his embrace. “You’re impossible you know that?” He mumbled to you.

You let out a small smile as you wrapped your arms around him and looked into his eyes, “Yeah, but you still like me, don’t you?” You say softly.

He throws his head back and lets out a sigh of satisfaction then looks back to you and smile. “More than you know.” He whispers to you and placed a sweet, long kiss on your lips. “I’ll see you soon?” He asked and you nodded.

“Yeah.” You whispered back. With one last kiss he left and you gently closed the door. You leaned your back on it as you stomped your foot feeling so frustrated at his actions.

You walked to the sofa with slumped shoulders as you dived into it, face planting into the pillow—letting out a small scream. “This man is going to be the death of me.” You say to yourself as you have flashbacks to how he kissed you.

_

The elevator dinged open, revealing a dimly lit bar with low hums of conversations scattered among the place—clinking of glasses filled the air as San stepped in to the place, noting how the men all along the walls looked at him before returning their gazes. If there was one place San knew like the back of his hand, it was here. A sanctuary—a home— that oozed with danger.

San’s eyes scanned the room until it stopped on a familiar face. He watched as the older man swirled his drink before taking a sip, who in the moment spotted San. He gives a small wave and a smile, “San!” The older man chuckles at him, “To what do I owe the pleasure?” He asked him as he approaches him. “Come, come. Sit with me.”

The older man takes a chair for him and pats it for him. He raised his forefinger to the bartender, gesturing for one cup. San felt his chest tighten as he gulped watching the bartender a cup down on the table. He watches his boss Lee, grab the cup and started to pour. “Boss,” his voice was low—a slight pause with his words, “I–,” He takes in a deep breath. “I want out.” He said firmly.

Lee froze mid-pour. “Out.” He repeated with furrowed eyebrows. He lifted his eyes to San and then back down to the drink, giving him a small laugh. He sighs out as he places the cup down, “I’ve always known this day would come. I just did not think it would be so soon.” He gives a small smile to San.

He raises his glass with a raised eyebrow prompting San to grab his, clinking glasses together. After a moment of silence Mr. Lee spoke out, “So, you want to leave.” He says, slightly sadden by the news.

San places his drink down, wiping his hands on his pants as he sits up straight. He nods his head once, “Yes, sir.”

Lee nods once, processing this. “Why the sudden change?” He tilts his head, swirling the drink in his hand, maintaining his eye contact with San.

“It’s not sudden, sir.” San begins. “First and foremost I just want to say that I am beyond grateful that you took me in and gave me the life I have. Without you, I don’t know where I would be. Truly. But, I just think… it’s time for me to move on.” San said, lowering his gaze feeling a bit nervous and worried.

Lee just stays silent, eyeing San up and down—almost as if he’s studying him. “Hmm,” he hummed at him, taking a sip before slamming his cup down. “It’s a girl, isn’t it?” He smirked at San.

San just stayed silent as he looked into his eyes. Lee’s eyes narrowed slightly, smirk growing wider as if he was amused. The man claps his hands and his laughter echoed throughout causing for his men to shift their attention to him for a second. “I knew it, I knew it~” He does a little shoulder dance as he leans in closer to taunt San. “Of course it is. Who would’ve thought your cold heart would be melted, huh? You’re in love.”

San groans in embarrassment, shoulders slumped as he facepalms. “Boss,” it comes out muffled, “please.” He pleaded with him.

“She’s beautiful, isn’t she?” He asked him, with a teasing smile and a raised eyebrow.

San peaked through his fingers, a small pause. “Yes.” He squeaks out, trying to him his composure—trying to stop himself from swinging his legs under the table like a school girl as he blushes hard.

“Ou!” His boss shoved him as he fan girled with him. Would you believe the sight of two of the most toughest, deadliest men in the world are acting like two school girls as they gossip over San’s love life?

After a moment though, unfortunately, the seriousness climbs back in—killing all happiness in the air. “San,” his boss leans on the table and he intertwined his fingers, “You know how this works. You know you can’t just simply leave.” Of course, San knew, but for you he was willing to do anything.

He watches as Lee pours another drink for himself. “I have a job for you.” He said simply. “A job that only that you can do.”

“Anything.” San said, body all stiffened up as he paid close attention.

Lee leans slightly in, “There are men—powerful men— who have gotten away with the most vile, inhumane things. They all think that with the money, status, even influence they have, that they can hide behind it. Almost as if they are untouchable—but you, San, are going to change that.”

Internally, San is feeling his heart racing—unsure of what is to unfold in this conversation. Externally, he remains his calm demeanor, “What are you trying to tell me?”

“What I’m telling you is that if you want out, then this is what you must do. You will take all of them down—permanently.” His voice got stern. Lee leans back in his chair, “Think of it as cleansing to the world. Do this for me and you are free.”

He grabs a folder that was lying next to him, sliding it to San—it’s like as if he knew this interaction was going to happen. “Names, locations, habits, crimes—everything you need is in there.”

San grabs the folder and opens it. His heart started racing as his eyes scanned the different pages, his eyes widening. “Do you know what you’re asking me to do? This is impossible.” San looked at him as he leaned back in his chair, all in disbelief. They are politicians, CEOs—all different important figures.

“I’m asking you—No—Demanding you to do this job.” Lee said with a slight raise in his voice. But he can’t help to let out a sigh as he places a comforting hand on San’s shoulder. “San, I care about you very much, like a son, hence why I am giving you a chance out. But you are the only one who I trust with this type of job.”

Lee leans back in his chair, raising the glass to his lips. “And if you want to be with Y/N,” San’s eyes quickly shoot to him, feeling his face drain color, “then this is what you must do.” He takes a sip of his drink.

If looks could kill, Mr. Lee would’ve been dead as soon as your name came out of his mouth. Lee has never seen such a murderous look on San’s face before and, trust him, that says a lot. He laughs at his reaction, “Relax.” He tells him as he waves him off. “You know I had to make sure. She’s a good one. I can see why you want to leave all of this for her.”

San should’ve fucking known. Of course, Lee would know—he knows everything. Now San is left with this blessing and curse of approval. Lee stands up, grabbing his coat and placing it on as he signaled his men that it’s time to go. “Think it over.” He tells San as he adjusts his coat and walks past him, patting his shoulder.

Think it over? There was nothing to think over. San is a man who knows what he wants and what he wants is you. He would find the ends of the Earth just for you. San stands up, the chair rusting against the floor. “I’ll do it.” He shouts to his boss.

Lee grabs his hat off the rack and enters the elevator, his men all trailing behind him. He smirks at San, “I knew you would.” And with that the elevator door closes, leaving San to figure his next strategy as he sits back down ordering a drink.

_

It was a beautiful, dark night. The stars twinkling and gleaming from afar as the moonlight casts over the city. Up in the roof San was crouched low, carefully assembling his sniper rifle piece by piece. You could say he was a bit nervous, but not from the mission—no, no—it was from your soft voice in his ear Bluetooth.

“I miss you.” Your voice ringed so sweet in his ears, it had him biting on his lower lip as he formed a smile. “When are you coming over again?” You asked, turning to lay on your stomach on the bed as you slowly kicked your legs up and down.

“I’ll come over soon baby.” He murmured in a low and steady voice. You let out a silent scream at his voice and sweet name as you covered your mouth, kicking your feet like a school girl. But in all honesty, San didn’t know when he would be going to see you—given the task at hand.

You regained your composure, clearing your throat bringing the phone closer to you. “Soon is what you said last time.” You spoke with a pout on your lips. You sat up on the bed and let out a sigh. “Are you avoiding me?” You crossed your arms.

San chuckled softly at your slight attitude, his hand tightened up the last piece of the rifle’s scope into place. His eyes flickered to the building across from him, seeing his target’s silhouette visible through the window. “Avoiding you? Why would I ever do something stupid. You’re all I think about.”

You bit down on your finger to stop yourself from squealing, feeling your heart swarm with warmness from his words. “You think about me?” You asked while playing with the ends of your hair. “When, huh?” You smirk as you bit your lip.

He smirks as he looks through the scope, his eyes following the shadow. “All day, everyday. When I wake up to when I go to sleep. Every second, every minute, every hour.” His voice sounding so sweet.

You let out a very dramatic, exaggerated sigh as you fall on your back bouncing a bit from impact. “You’re luck you’re cute. Otherwise I would be very angry right now.”

San remained the smirk on his face as he adjusted the rifle and settled into position. “Oh, so you think I’m cute?” The cold metal pressed against his cheek as he peered once more through the scope. The target was all alone in his office, all clear in the view, oblivious on what’s about to happen. “I’m flattered.” He teased at you, voice was light as he tracked his target’s movements.

“Pfft,” you let out as you playfully rolled your eyes. “Don’t let it get it your head.” You tried replying with a serious tone but he can hear the smile in your voice. “So, what are you doing right now?” You asked him.

San hesitated for a split second as he looks around. “Just… working.” He said vaguely, his tone softening as his thumb gently adjusted the scope’s zoom.

“Hmm,” you mused. “Well, don’t work too hard now. You better be taking care of yourself, okay?”

San’s smile faltered for a moment, guilt creeping in. “Don’t worry. I am.” He says. He realized he can’t do this if you’re on the phone, distracting him. "Listen, beautiful, I have to go—Boss is coming in." He lies to you.

“Okay.” You sighed out the word as you sat up, shoulders slumped as you gnawed on your lip. “How about if I call you tonight?” He asked you, hated hearing your sad tone. You quickly perked up, “Okay! Perfect.” You gleamed. “I’ll be waiting for you then, bye!” He laughed at your switch up reaction when you hung up quickly—as if time will go faster.

Through the scope, he saw that his target stood up, walking to the window. San adjusted himself in position, his breathing slowed down as his finger hovered over the trigger. All the noise went silent as he exhaled steadily, aiming at the man’s chest.

With practice precision, he tightened the trigger. The sound of the shot radiated through the night. Instantly, the man collapsed to the floor, blood oozing out of his chest. San kept his eyes on the body, making sure the job was completed. He exhaled slowly as he stood, hand already disassembling the rifle. He felt all the tension just leaving his body.

He places everything back in its spot in the case, packing up. He stands up, stretching his neck and staring in the far distance as the night breeze blows, running a hand through his hair. He grabs the case and disappears into the shadow of the night. This was just the beginning but he was going to get it all done—for you.

-

The following missions were a blur of danger and exhaustion. Every single target pushed San to his breaking point both physically and mental limit—testing his resolve in ways he could have never imagined. One night he was in hand to hand fight in a warehouse, barely avoiding a knife to his ribs to another night infiltrating a high security party, he smoothing past through the guards and tight knit surveillance to drop a pill in his target’s drink.

The elevator doors open revealing a different atmosphere in the bar tonight. He turns to the side and spots Lee at the center, nursing the same drink as always with a cigar in his other hand. Hearing the elevator door close, Lee turns and gives a smile when he spots San.

San approached him. “Boss.” He says firmly, standing in the position of attention, hands behind his back.

“There he is!” Lee exclaimed as he stands up and grabs San’s face with a huge smile on his face. “The man who did the impossible.” Lee turns to the bartender, “One more glass.”

“Come sit, sit,” he waves San over and taps the stool next to him. “Always so stiff.” Lee mumbled to himself as he raised the glass to his lips and takes a sip.

San was hesitant, but he eventually slid into the stool, dragging it closer inward. He watches as his boss poured him a glass with a smile on his face—almost as if he was a proud father.

“So,” Lee began, placing the bottle down as he leaned back in chair studying San with a sadden gaze. “How does it feel, mm? You’re finally free.”

San chuckles softly as he grabs the glass and takes a sip, the burn of the alcohol makes his face scrunch up slightly. “It feels… foreign. But,” he looks at Lee, “I’m ready.”

Lee chuckles and pats his arm. “I know you are.” He sighs as he swirled the liquid in his glass, “You’ve grown, so much. You deserve this new life, San. I mean it. Love it to the fullest.” He turned to face him and raised his glass for a toast. “To a new chapter”

They clinked glasses, the sound echoing softly in the quiet bar. For the first time in years, San felt the weight on his shoulders begin to lift. He was finally free. After a while of talking, San decided it was time to go home—you.

But Lee stops him. “San,” he calls to him. San stops in his steps, turning around to face him. “Yes, sir?”

Lee chuckles softly at the name. “You know that if you need anything—anything at all—I will always be here for you.”

San smiles, nodding. “Thank you, sir.” And with that he leaves rushing to go see you.

That same night he went to your apartment and official asked you to be his and this time he stayed with you.

_

DURING THE RELATIONSHIP

The early stages of your relationship with San were of course, the sweetest. You both loved falling in love with each other and discovering new things or habits from one another. You loved the balance you both had in the relationship.

From the random, sleep deprived 2am conversations such as asking if you were a fly would he still be your boyfriend to which he replied saying, “Why would you be a fly to begin with?” Which prompt you sit up in your bed, clutching onto the phone saying, “Answer the question!”

“I mean–I guess, right?” He shrugged. “Are you serious? You guess?! I would take care of you, make sure you were fed on whatever fly eats…” You started rambling which San groan lightly as he rub his face, this is going to be a long night, he thought to himself.

To making core memories in the rain, trying to replicate like those dramatic kissing scenes in movies only for you two to scream in fear when thunder radiated throughout the night as you two ran for shelter, catching your breaths only to look at each and laugh, “We’re so stupid.” You say through your laughs, panting.

Or his favorite moments is when you would come by his new job at the tire shop unexpectedly and would have lunch with him. “Hey,” you greeted him on the phone as you leaned your back on your car, “I got the stuff.”

He sneered at your comment as you hung up the phone. He went and washed his hands, stepping outside as he dried his hands with a paper towel. He spots you outside your car, doing a little beckoning dance with both sandwiches in each hand to which he chuckled as he got close.

“Thank you for the food.” He whispers to you, placing a gentle kiss on your lips as he takes the food from your hand. You smiled at him, “Of course.” You two then headed to a bench where you threw one leg over his and started catching him up on your work’s fresh gossip.

“And then she was like, “I’m not putting up with your shit.” Can you believe she said that?” You tell San as you take a bite out of your food.

“No way she said that to her boss. She’s crazy for doing that.” San said trying to give his input but in reality he could give a shit, but seeing you all passionate in your story made him smile.

You looked at him with widen eyes, covering your food filled mouth, “That’s what I said! She’s crazy.” Your words came out muffled as you shook your head.

Or when he notices your car needs gas so he goes with you and does everything for you so you don’t have to worry about a thing. He gets an idea, smirking as he taps on your passenger window, asking you to put it down. “Never seen a beautiful girl like you here before.” He leans on the car, getting a good view.

You give him a stank face as you dropped your phone, crossing your arms. “I have a boyfriend.” Scoffing at him.

“Oh, do you?” He tilts his head to the side, “Where is he?” He asked, hands leaning in the car.

“Please, you would be scared of him. He can beat your ass. Now, shoo shoo, please.” You waved him off, raising the window. San scoffed and took out the keys and unlocked the door, opening it as you gasped in shock, “My boyfriend–“

“Won’t do anything.” He cuts you off and kisses you, causing you to smile into it. He breaks the kiss and pouts, “You would let the man kiss you that easily?” You rolled your eyes and kissed his pout.

Or the serious moments you two had with one another in the car when he was dropping you off or when you were in your house, sitting closely together. You two would ask each other deep questions like what you want from this relationship, do you want marriage, kids, are you happy with the jobs you have, is there more you want from life helping you two bring out new perspectives and experiences in these conversations.

Or when making huge decisions, such as moving in together. San has decided to ask you a little into the two years of your relationship, wanting to take it to the next level. It was an exciting time when you both went apartment hunting and finally found one that spoke to you both.

You both had taken your time in being organize for the move, checking what is to throw away or donate, labeling the boxes, getting caught up in tape at times. When the moving truck came, San had taken the heavy boxes while you dragged some and some of the movers helped you pick it up.

When it was time, San closed the truck and you two followed them to your new apartment. It was a sight to see San getting a frustrated when he was struggling to set up the new sofa, rereading the instructions for the 20th time. Meanwhile you were organizing and taking things out the boxes, trying to not make it obvious that you were laughing.

You cleared your throat when a laugh erupted deep from your throat causing him to give you a look, “You think this is funny?” He asks you all frustrated as he drops the stupid paper of instructions.

You sighed a smile as you walked to him. You know he’s just exhausted and frustrated from the move, he’s not trying to take it out on you. You extend your hand to him and helped him up, “Baby, I know you’re frustrated. It’s okay.” Your hands roam his back.

You then take both of his hands and walked backwards, guiding him to the bedroom. “The bed is made, right? Why don’t we double check that it’s secure?” You smiled at him which made him bit his lower lips, smirking, as he closed the door behind him.

Don’t worry, the bed was secure and the sofa was soon built.

—

Like many other relationship, there were the hard times—Arguments which were just the worst. Take tonight for example when you coworkers had invite you and San to this new sports bar and they just so happen to invite one of their friends, who was very friendly to San—who by the way was blinded by her actions.

“No way, so you work at a tire shop?” Jina said she leaned closer to San, tucking a strand of hair behind her ear. “I think that’s so cool. I’ve always wanted to learn how to change a tire, maybe you can help me?” She flirtatiously blinks her eyes twice, looking up at him.

Ugh, you think to yourself as you angrily chewed off a piece of celery you dipped in ranch. You rolled your eyes as you look to side, but everyone was too caught in their respective conversations to notice. “Surprisingly it’s not that hard.” He smiled at her, “I’m sure you can do it.”

You are certainly amazed at how strong the cup is because your tight ass grip feels like it can shatter it at any moment. You take a sip of your beer, trying to calm down when she placed her hand on his bicep. “You’re so sweet,” she chuckles at him as she flicks her hair back, “But I definitely need some guidance.”

He just smiles at her, taking a sip of his drink. She looks at you, “Oh, Y/N, you’re very lucky,” she gives you a smile as she looks back at him. “He’s such a sweetheart.”

You flash her a sarcastic smile, mocking her head tilt and toke of voice, “Mm, yes, I am the luckiest. He’s the best.” Bitch.

—

Throughout the entire night Jina continued with her flirtatious ways. Every time San would make joke, she laughed a little too hard as she playfully slapped his arm, covering her mouth. Or when she would excuse herself to the restroom, she would use that moment to brush up against him, using his shoulders for support as some people walked past her. Or when she would scoot her chair closer to San.

   At this point, saying your patience was wearing thin was an understatement. You knew San wasn’t letting her do this, he was oblivious to everything and tried remaining polite because he did not want to disrespect your coworkers or ruin the night. 

—

   You stepped into the apartment, angrily removing your shoes, using the wall for support. You shook off your coat and hung it with attitude on the rack as you started walking to the bedroom.

   San eyed you up and down, trying to figure out why you’re acting like this. “Are you okay?” He raised an eyebrow as he took off his coat.

   “Yeah.” You say dryly as you walked to the room. He throws his head back and sighs in frustration, “Baby, talk to me.” He shouts to you but you just ignore him.

  He walks into the room, seeing that you changed into an oversized tee shirt. Dumping your dirty clothes in the hamper, you walked to the bathroom. “Baby, what’s going on?” He asked you softly, following you.

   You stopped your actions and gave him a look, “Why don’t you ask Jina?” You say spitting out her name like poison as you kept walking to the bathroom.

  He stands there all confused, “Jina? Why would I ask her?” He asked you genuinely confused which only fueled your frustration even more.

  You scoffed as you bend down, grabbing your makeup remover from underneath. “Are you serious San?” You turned to him, “Jina was basically throwing herself on you the entire night.” 

  You opened your cleansing balm, scooping some and angrily rubbed your face. “Y/N, she was just being nice. That’s it.” He tells you as he crossed his arms.

   You let out a humorless laugh, “Oh please San, nice?” You tell him as you put water on your face and took off the balm. “Oh, you work on cars? Let me just laugh hard at all your jokes, place my hand on you, brush up against you and disrespect your girlfriend in her face.” You mocked her tone of voice. “She was all over you tonight.” 

  He sighed, “Baby, she wasn’t—“ San started but stopped in his words when you stopped drying your face to give him a pissed off look, “Okay, maybe she was being too friendly. But I wasn’t paying attention to her like that at all.” 

  You scoffed out, shaking your head. “No, I can definitely tell by the way you just kept letting her.” You turned off the bathroom lights and brushed past him, standing by the dresser as you take off your earrings. “You didn’t even bother to notice the way she kept touching you, or the way she was moving closer to you—“ You shook your head, trying to stop your tears, “How do you think that made me feel?” Your voice trembled.

  His heart breaks at the tone of your voice. He walks up to you and cups your face, planting a kiss on your forehead. “Baby, I wasn’t trying to upset you. I only spoke to her because it was your coworker’s friend, that’s it.” He whispers to you, looking deep into your eyes. “You know that you’re the only one for me. The only one I care about.” 

  You removed yourself from his grasp, turning around and pinching your nose bridge as the hot tears formed. “It didn’t feel like it tonight.” 

  San looks at you with sad eyes. He hates it when he is the reason as to why you’re hurt. “Y/N, I’m so sorry.” He wraps his arms around you and pulls you close to him. “I never meant to make you upset or uncomfortable. I promise you that this won’t happen ever again.” 

  “You promise?” You asked him once more and he turns you around, smiling at you as he wipes your tears with his thumbs, “I promise.” He tells you, nodding.

  He leans in to kiss you and you stop him with your forefinger, “Um, just cause this argument is over doesn’t mean I’m over it. ” You tell him sassily and he laughs, planting a kiss on your cheek.

   “Well, can I show you another way on how sorry I am?” He raised an eyebrow as he got on his knees, keeping the eye contact with you. His hands roam the back of your legs as you threw your head back in frustration, you have no restraint. 

-

Throughout the past five years you two have grown and changed so much in your relationship and in your own personal lives. You are so happy that San is in your life and vice versa. He truly couldn’t believe how drastically his life has changed. But he wouldn’t trade it for the world.

The sound of the sizzling meat filled the cozy silence in the room while the aroma filled up your senses. San stood by the stove in a black tank top with a rag draped over his shoulder with a concentrated look on his face as he grabbed the handle of the pan, tilting it to scoop up the melted butter and oil mixture with a spoon to drench the meat with practiced ease.

You were sat upon the counter with one leg propped up as you leaned your chin on your knee, scrolling through your phone. You slightly chuckled at some funny videos on your feed, calling San's attention to show him. Everything seemed completely normal, nothing out of the ordinary.

San lived for these peaceful moments with you. He went back to focusing on his cooking but from the corner of his eye he saw his phone lighting up, slightly moving from the vibration. He glanced at the screen, expecting it to be a coworker calling to cover their shift but he felt his body go cold when he saw the number flashing across the screen.

Lee.

He felt the hairs at the back of his neck stand up. Five years. It's been five years since he last spoke to him—since he last saw him. He felt a ringing coming into his ears. "Babe?" You looked up from your phone when you noticed his sudden stillness, "Everything okay?"

The ringing fades as he clears his throat. "Yeah, baby." He lies as he forced a quick smile, turning off the stove. He grabbed the phone and turned to you, giving you a kiss which causes you to smile. "It's just one of the guys from work. I'll be back." He smiles at you as he heads to the bedroom, "Can you set up the table, please?"

You playfully groan as you hopped of the counter. "I have to do everything myself." You sarcastically say as you opened the cabinet and grabbed two plates. "Of course I can." You smirked at him.

"Thank you for your sacrifice." He winks at you. His expression turns serious as he turns around and picks up the pace, stepping into the bedroom. He gently shuts the door and looks down to his phone, seeing that Lee is calling again. He gulps as he picks up, raising the phone to his ear. "Lee?" He whispers.

"San." The familiar deep voice makes a shiver run down San's spine as San gulps down the nerves. On the opposite side of the phone, Lee stood in-front of his ceiling to floor windows in his office, looking out into the night. "It's been a while."

San takes a few steps to the center of the room, eyes roaming around as his breath hitched. "Five years." His throat tightened. "Why-Why are you calling me?"

Lee lets out a sigh, looking down to the floor feeling remorse. "People are looking for you, San." He answers him. San eyes widened at his words, feeling the whole world stop. "They are looking for revenge."

A million thoughts were rushing in his head. He lets out a disbelief scoff as he walks to the bed and sits down, feeling his head spinning. "Revenge?" He whispered in wariness. "What do you mean? I don't understand." One moment he is cooking and wanting to have a nice dinner with you to the next, getting told people are out to kill him.

"San, the men I ordered you to kill—" He cuts himself off with a sigh as he closes his eyes and furrowed his eyebrows in regret. "Their people are looking for you. Someone tipped me off and San— it's serious. You need to disappear. Now."

San looks at the phone as if Lee would see his face of-are-you-insane. He shakes his head and lets out a scoff. "What? I can't just-"

"You don't have a choice, San." Lee interrupted him, raising his tone. "They are coming for you, do you understand what I'm saying?" Lee looks behind him, making sure no one in the room. "They will come for her." He whispered into the phone.

San head shoots up to the door and stares at it. Just on the other side you are setting up the table, oblivious to everything that is happening. He wants to fucking scream at the top of his lungs and punch the wall. "San," Lee's voice takes him out of his thoughts of these people hurting you. “This is something worst than anything we have ever dealt with. I'll be giving you two weeks to get everything sorted out. You know what you have to do.”

The line went dead.

San felt the world falling and crushing his soul. He dropped his arm, causing his phone to drop on the floor as he spaced out. This can't be happening, he thinks to himself. Everything he worked so hard for was just ripped from him in a heartbeat.

A knock on the door caused him to look up. "Is everything okay? What did work want?" You asked him as you walked to him, cupping his face to make him look up at you. "The table is set. Just waiting for the chef to serve the food." You smirked as you straddled him.

He smirks at you as he wraps his arms around your waist. "My apologizes, madam. We are a little backed up today. Can you forgive me?" He jokes with you. As he stares into your eyes, he feels everything falling around him knowing that he soon won't have these moments with you.

"Yes, I forgive you." You kissed his lips, chuckling lightly. You caressed his head as you looked into his eyes, "All good with work?" You asked once more.

He nods. "Yeah. It was just my boss calling to see if I can pick some extra shifts. Some of my coworkers have called out so I'm the only option."

You pouted as you slouched a bit. "I'm sorry. I know how much it frustrates you when you have to take more shifts." You peck his lips. He wished that was the actual reason.

He shakes his head. "It's okay." He smiles. He then stands up with you still in his hold causing you to wrap your legs around him. "I'm starving. I heard the chef was super handsome and an excellent cook."

You giggled. "Must've heard the opposite." You teased him. He gives you a deadpan look as he stopped in his steps. "Remind me why I'm feeding you?" He askes you with a glare. You then placed a loving kiss on his cheek. Now, he remembers why.

Later that night, you two were in bed. You had long fallen asleep all cuddled up on his chest as San stares into the ceiling. He turns to the side and looks down at your face, taking in your light snores as he gently places a kiss on your forehead. He knows what he has to do.

—

DURING THE FIVE YEARS

The following day, San entered his job with his hands tucked into his front pockets as he gave a small smile and nod to his passing coworkers as he headed to his boss's office. The scent of rubber and motor oil entered his nostrils as he knocked on the door.

A muffled come in was heard and San let out a breath as he twisted the knob, entering the office. His boss looked up from the paper work in his hand and gives him a smile as he takes off his glasses, "San!" He beamed as he stood up. "How are you, son? You don't work today, right?"

San closes the door, the sounds of the shop fades away. He gives him a sad smile, hands behind his back as he stands up straight. "I just, um," San clears his throat. "I need to talk to you."

His boss nods as he gestures to the chair in-front of his desk, "Of course. Please, sit and tell me." His boss tells him, scooting in his own chair and intertwining his hands.

He watched as San sits down and looks at him, firmly saying, “I’m quitting.”

His boss shakes his head both taken aback and sadden at the news. "What? Why? Did someone say something to you? Did something happen?" He bombarded him with questions, feeling whiplashed.

San stays quiet, contemplating if he should tell him or not. “I have to go somewhere for a while and I have a favor to ask of you.“ his voice was low. His boss nods, listening intently, "People are going to come in here and ask of me, you will tell them that you do not know who I am. If Y/N comes in, you will tell her the same thing. Understood?”

His boss was taken aback, nervously chuckling thinking it's a joke San is trying to pull. "You’re worrying me San,” he scratched the back of his head. But San remains serious causing his boss to lean forward, “You’re–You’re being serious? San, what is going on?”

San reached into his jacket, taking out an orange envelope and placed it in-front of his boss. His boss looks unsure until San nods at him causing him to hesitatingly pick up the envelope, opening it and widens his eyes at the stack of cash.

He looks between the cash and San’s serious expression with widen eyes. “That is for your troubles.” San said to him.

“Just promise me that you will do what I ask of you. Especially for Y/N. Remove me from photos, throw anything of mine away—nothing must stay. Please tell this to the rest of the guys.” San tells him.

His boss slowly nods in shock as he watches San stand up and walk to the door. He drops the money and quickly gets in front of him, holding onto his arms, “San, are you in trouble? Are you going to be okay?” His boss asked him.

“I will be okay, but for everyone’s safety it’s best if no one knows. Forgive me for putting you through all of this.” He gives him a sad smile and opens the door but looks back at his boss one last time, “I know you won’t understand but thank you. Thank you for being a great boss and for giving me a sense of normalcy.”

And with that San heads out the door ignoring his boss calling out to him. His boss sighs in defeat as he watched him disappeared. He truly admired him like a son of his own so this good bye pains him.

He cleaned his throat as he claps his hands getting everyone’s attention. “Everyone, team meeting! Gather around.” He wants to help San but knows that he can’t so he will do his part here until San returns.

—

Every night that lead up to the finale night with you killed him inside. It was hard to him to keep his composure when he was around you. When it was time, he just wanted to run away with you and live the life he envisions with you—but no, not yet. Just once more he has to go back to who he was and pray you will forgive him when he comes back.

As he walked down the apartments hallway, he just shook his head of his emotions. And just like that, he was back into the killer he was. He gently closed the apartment door, sighing heavy as he stood there for a moment. His hand runs down the door as he mentally says goodbye to everything he had.

He then heads downstairs, pushing the complex’s front doors revealing Lee. He stood outside the sleek black car while to of his men stood beside him. He slowly approached him, both of them not uttering a single word before Lee broke the tension and pulled him into a hug.

“San,” he whispered into his ear. San slowly wrap his arms around him and pats his back, still silent. “I’m so sorry.” Lee tells him and released the embrace, holding on his arms, “Come on. Let’s talk.” He nods to the car.

San watched as one of his men opened the door for him but took one last glance at the apartment window. I’m so sorry, he thought to himself. He sighed and headed inside the car.

—

During the drive, San looked out the window and watched the city he knew fade as they drove further away. Lee snaps his fingers which prompted the man in the passenger seat to give him a stack of folders. “San.” Lee calls to him.

When San sees the amount of folders, it’s takes all within him to not stomp like a child. He sneakily rolls his eyes as he grabs the folders from his hands. "These are all the people who are looking for you." Lee says. "Names, locations—everything you need to know is all in there."

Familiar words that put him here in the first place.

San’s stomach churned as he flips through the pages. These people weren’t just any petty criminals—no, these were some next level powerful criminals disguised as people in power. “You aren’t alone in this. We will get through this.” Lee reassured San as he lights up a cigar.

San just ignored Lee, not really wanting to talk about this right now. He clenched his jaw, “I need a favor,” he tells Lee who raised an eyebrow at him. “I need you to clear off my name in the system. No records, no loose ends—I need to disappear completely."

Lee studied him for a moment before nodding. “Consider it done.”

—

San didn’t get a wink of sleep, seeing the room slowly get brightened up by the sun through the small window. Lee had put him in a safe house in an abandoned corner of the city. As the light peers in, his heart crushes at the thought that it’s morning and you are about to find out.

He took advantage of the night and plastered the photos of his targets all over the walls. Their faces were lined up next to one another with their profile and description of crimes scribbled on them with red ink as sticky tabs surrounded them. The table was in a chaos of folders, maps that had markings of last known locations, more photos, hide outs, and extra information on sticky notes.

Meanwhile San was on the floor, shirtless as the sweat on his body glistened as his chest heavies while doing push ups. He lets out groans and grunts in sharp breaths, ignoring the burning sensation in his muscles.

“You reach out to her, you put her in danger.” Lee’s voice popped up in his head when he thought about you. His arms trembling from exhaustion, but he didn’t care—he had to get stronger for you. The haunting of Lee’s words pushed him harder.

Feeling as if it wasn’t enough, he stands up and wasted no time in jumping up to grip the bar that was bolted to the ceiling. He controlled his breathing as he did his pulls ups, staring directly to his first targets eyes.

Once he was satisfied, he walked to the worn out punching bag that was hung in the corner. He closed his eyes as he rolled his shoulders, opening them as he went straight into punching the bag. With each punch, he pictured the lowlife’s face giving quick and brutal combinations.

The bag jerked around with every hit that released all the anger and frustration as he screamed out loud. The hits become harder and faster—his skin all raw and broken around the knuckles. Sweat flying everywhere, some from his brow dripping down to his chest.

Lee’s voice came back to him, sharper now. “She’ll be dragged into this if you’re not careful.” San froze for a second, his fist resting against the bag, his breath heavy. He could see you so clearly in his mind, your smile and laughter when you tilt your head back.

He then pictured someone taking that away from him which just caused him to punch the bag with all his force, causing the bag to split open as the sand poured out like waterfall to the floor.

He stood over it as he watched it fall out, chest heaving. No. He can’t let himself think of that, he can’t fall into that weakness. He wipes his face with his forearm as he turned around and sat on the chair next to the table.

He leaned back as he hissed in pain when he tried closing his hands. He looks down and saw how bloody and irritated his knuckles were. He groans as he throws his head back and tries catching his breath.

After a moment, he controls his breathing and turns his head to the table then to the wall. He sits up and darkened his dark eyes to his first target—his expression hard as stone. He’s going to kill them all, every single one of them.

—

Days turned into weeks and weeks turned into months and months turned into years since he began—since he last saw you. Little by little he’s completing his job but he can’t help but to feel so fucking upset at how long it has taken. But no matter how exhausted he is, you were his motivation to keep going.

There are countless nights when he lies in bed and skims through his photo gallery. He misses the way your smile reached your eyes, he missed the playful banter you two had with one another, misses your habits—everything. He would sad smile at the photos you were pissed off with him making a goofy smile because he most likely did something to annoy you.

Throughout the years, he would try convincing himself that you were okay. But when he went to check your socials, you were no where to be found. You were gone. Every account deactivated, every trace of you wiped clean from the digital world. It was like you’d vanished.

It killed him inside but he was feeling selfish because he did this to you but far worst. He spent days fighting the urge to just go and see you and when he found the courage, Lee would pop into his head.

But today, he cannot hold himself back. Fuck Lee right now. He drove with anxiety coursing in his body. He wondered how you are? Are you dating? Do you have a boyfriend? He gripped the steering wheel at the thought of you with another man. Are you happy? Are you still working at the same place?

But honestly, nothing could prepare him for what was to come of you. He sees you walking out of your job and you just looked absolutely miserable. The light in your eyes, gone. The smile he adored, nonexistent. You looked so broken and exhausted—his heart felt like it was ripped out and stabbed as he felt tears coming in. It was all his fault.

He turns off the car and heads out, tears streaming as he shoves through people saying sorry as he looks at your walking figure. Just when he is about to reach out, he freezes in his steps. He can’t. The people engulf around him as he watches you walk further. You sensed someone looking at you and turned around but no one. Meanwhile San hide behind a building, catching his breath as he slides down the wall crying.

He just wanted to run up to you and hold you and explain everything to you. Since that day, he always kept an eye on you. There were days when you all cooped up in the apartment with curtains closed or stayed at work until closing.

Whenever he would see you coming out the complex, he had to do everything to calm down. His heart would twist painfully when he saw the emptiness in the way you moved—just going through the motions of life and every time he would hate himself more and more.

—

One afternoon, when he went to go see you he felt the world stopping around him. The sight of a moving truck parked outside makes his stomach drop. His mouth parted when he saw you coming out the building, using your back to open the door as you held a box in your hands.

You were leaving.

He feels like he’s losing you all over again. He watches as you hand the box to the mover with a tight smile and head back inside. He soon remembers when you two moved in now fading into this memory—something beautiful to something broken.

He can’t help it but to stay. Once you were done, he watched you hand the key to the building representative—the same one who welcomed you both the first day—and hugged her. When the truck pulls out, he stays behind them in a safe distance.

San slapped his hand on the steering wheel as he starts crying. All he wanted—dreamt of— was a normal life with you and now everything is being taken away from him again. He can’t stop himself—he can’t let you go not when you are slipping further and further from him.

When you arrived to your new building, he looks as you unpacked the truck. In that moment he decided that he will leave you alone and come back stronger and better for you. He will complete this for you.

—

It had a been a whole year since he last saw you. He was determined to finish this already. Just one more and that was it.

It was nighttime and San was in a deep sleep in bed—until he felt his phone vibrate underneath his pillow causing him to stir to the side and go back to sleep. But then the person called again causing him to groan as he turns around and grab his phone.

He squints and looks away, the brightness burning his eyes. He then blinks a few times and looks at the screen again, seeing that Lee was calling him.

He sighs as he falls back on his back, placing his free arm over his eyes as he picks up the phone, “Hell–“

“They know about her.” Lee cuts off San, panting. On the other side, Lee was rushing to his office as he pointed to his men where to go and what to do. San sat up as he processed his words, his voice caught in his throat. “San,” Lee stops in his tracks, “they will kill her.”

San stayed quiet, his eyes roaming around in the darkness. They found you. They know of you. It’s only a matter of time before they get you. San felt so overwhelmed in his emotions—everything he tried to suppress just dissolved into raw, unrelenting anger that he didn’t know to react.

He just went blank.

“San? Are you ther–“ he hangs up the phone causing Lee to let out a scream of frustration as he calls him again but it went straight to voicemail. San removed his blanket, adrenaline shooting in his veins as he storms to the back of the safe house.

His breathing was starting to get uneven as he grabbed a sledgehammer that was leaning against the wall. And with one heavy swing, he shattered the concrete floor—fragments fly out with each stroke that got harder and angrier than the previous one.

Soon enough, a hidden compartment was revealed. He kneeled on the floor, removing the rubble with his hand as he puts in a code to which the box unlocks revealing a variety of weapons—firearms, knives, ammunition.

His fingers traced over the weapons with precision as he selected the ones he needed. He walked back and forth as he gently placed each weapon on the floor on top of a rag in the center of the room.

He throughly cleaned each gun and ensured each were working in order. He moved with swiftness as he tested the mechanics—sharpening the knives, moving them in his hand to make sure they are comfortable in his grip. He loaded the magazines with ease, wanting to make sure everything was perfect for tonight.

This was the most terrifying state San has been. His mind was blank, no expression on his face, emotions were just gone. All he can focus on was one singular thing—every one of them must die. He wasn’t going to wait any longer, he will take them by surprise tonight.

Once everything was prepared, he got dressed in all black, adjusting the straps of his tactical gear, checking each weapon holstered at his side. He sling the bag that carried the guns and started to leave but not before he spotted an extra knife on the table.

He grabs it and looks up at the photo of the man who he was going to kill tonight. In one swift throw, aiming it between the eyes, it landed right where he wanted it. He was out for blood.

—

San had stormed into the abandoned factory that served as their hideout. Under the cover of the night he moved like a ghost through the shadows. He was like a predator who was silent and deadly with nothing to lose. The dagger in his hand gleamed in the dim light as he gripped it tightly, his gun holstered on his hip.

The first man never saw it coming—San approached him from behind, quickly covering the man’s mouth he jabbed the knife into his throat. He slowly and gently laid the body down without any noise, removing the knife as moved to his next location with precision with sharp eyes scanning every corner.

San hid as he counted the amount of men standing around. But soon enough he heard the commotion of voices yelling that someone intruded the warehouse which made the standing men on guard as they looked around, spotting San. “Over there!”

Gunfire erupted as they all pointed in the direction of San, but he didn’t flinch at the sounds instead he returned the fire with accuracy—watching the bodies drop one by one. His adrenaline was so high he didn’t even feel the bullet that grazed his arm.

Finally, one man left and unfortunately for him, he was all out of bullets. But fortunate for San as he grabs him and pins him against the wall, the man quickly surrendering as he lifts his trembling hands in fear. “Where is he?” San growled at the man with a gun to his forehead.

The just let out incoherent whimpers in fear as he shook his head. San didn’t have time to deal with this so he just knocked the guy out with the end of the gun and let him drop to the floor as he moved on. The further he moved in the building, the more the bodies piled up. Not once did he hesitate nor falter in his actions.

San was blinded by anger—he saw red in everything. With every face, San raised his weapon against it. It wasn’t until every single one of the men were either knocked out or dead. Finally, he reached the main office at the end of a hall to which he kicked open the door with such force that it almost came off its hinges.

Inside, cowering behind the desk, was the leader of the operation-His last target. He yelled in fright at the sound of the door slamming against the wall. He peaks over the table and lets out a shaky breath as he slowly stands up, raising his hands in surrender.

San slowly steps inside, eyes trained on the man, blood soaked into his clothes dripping on his hands as he grips the knife. The flickering bulb in the room made him appear even more terrifying, few cuts on his face-light casting shadows on his face with each movement towards the man.

The man lets out a nervous chuckle, hands still raised. "San," he gives him a nervous smile, “P-please,” the man stammered, his voice shaking. “We didn’t mean— I mean, I didn’t—”

He falls to his knees and bows as tears fall to the floor when San walks around the table and stands in front of him. The man looks up to san and collapsed his hands together, pleading to him. “P-please, San… I-I didn’t mean it! I never touched her! It—it was just leverage! Just words!”

San stayed silent as his sharp eyes bore into the crying man. He grabs his knife and slowly turns it in his hand making it catch the faint glint of the light. He crouches down to the man's level, lifting his chin up with the tip of the knife. “I spent the last five years making sure she was protected,” San spoke lowly, “Yet you still tried to make her part of your sick game. Thinking of her to begin with was your first mistake.”

San feels something within him come undone as he grabs a fistful of hair and aggressively forces the man up, causing him to scream out in pain and fear. San shoved him to the chair behind him and stabs the knife into his thigh, “You know what happens to men like you?” He whispered taunting him, leaning close to his face.

The man lets out a blood curdling scream, lips quivered as he stammered out, “I—please, I’ll leave the country! I’ll disappear! I’ll—”

San lets out a manic laugh as he stood up, "You'll disappear?" He mocked the man. "You're right. You will disappear and I will make sure of it." San said emotionless.

He slides out another knife from behind and stabs through the man's hand and wooden chair rest making him scream. “You think you can threaten her and walk away breathing?” San grabs the man by the side of his face and shoved his head to the side and repeatedly slams his head against the desk.

He lets him go and watched the man lean back in the chair catching his breath. San grabs him by the shirt and the man starts to sob out, “It wasn’t me! It—it was the others! I swear!”

San tilts his head to the side slightly, giving him a faint humorless smile. "The others are dead." His voice low, "All that is left is just you."

He lets him go and takes out his gun, "You know, you talk so much shit yet," San looks at him, "you're nothing but a coward. Threatening to harm the woman I love just to get to me? Pathetic." He spat out.

The man starts screaming out in agony and fright when he sees San preparing the gun and cocking it back—his scream echoed the empty halls. He circled around the man like a predator stalking its prey. “You don’t understand, please!” The man shouted as he gasped for air from the overwhelming pain he’s in. “I didn’t mean it! I was never going to hurt her or kill her! I promise you!”

"You think I give a fuck about what you meant?" He spat at him. “You wanted to hurt her,” San said, his tone dropping dangerously low. “And I’ll make sure no one will ever speaks of her name again.”

He extends his are out and the cold metal touched the forehead of the man, his finger resting lightly on trigger. The man widens his eyes, desperation flickers behind them a he shakes his head, “Please I–“

The sound of the gunshot resonated throughout the room and then—silence. San stumbles back in exhaustion and lets out a sigh of relief. He is free. He feels the weight coming off his shoulders. He can come home to you.

—

San staggers out the building, feeling his adrenaline leaving as he limps side to side. Holding onto his arm, feeling the pain of the graze and his body screaming in aching pain. His breaths were short and sharp as he tried keeping his vision clear.

The faint roaring of engines from the distance reached his ears making him look up. He squints at the bright headlights coming close. Soon black trucks speed to the scene, tires screeching as they come to a sudden stop, doors sliding open as men poured out the cars in suits and weapons attached to their bodies rushed past him and into the building.

San didn't even have to look to know who it was. He was just focused on making sure his legs don’t give up on him as his vision started blurring from exhaustion. A sleek black car skidded to a halt in front of him causing him to stop in steps. Lee then emerges out the car with a worried look on his face as he rushed to San.

“San!” Lee’s voice was sharp but softened as he reached him. Lee quickly removed his coat and draped it over San and without hesitation, pulled him into his embrace. Feeling safe now, San's legs give out, both of them sinking to the ground as Lee held him tightly. "It's over, son," Lee said softly in his ear, voice filled with relief that he was okay. "It's over."

San didn't respond immediately, his head resting against Lee's shoulder as he closed his eyes and let out a sigh through his shallow breaths, "It's over." San said hoarsely, a single tear fell down his cheek, cutting through the blood and slightly stinging the small cuts.

Everything was blur as San started to close his eyes of exhaustion. Lee's men shouting and rushing to secure the scene before the police came. Lee yelling for medical treatment for San and soon enough they draped his arms over their shoulders and helped him up and into the car.

Finally, he can go back to you.

—

HE RETURNS

It's been a week since everything has finally ended. San stands outside in his car, staring at what use to be his home for the past five years-the safe house. He nods, thinking to himself that it is time to go. He gets into car and drives off—leaving this part of his life for good.

The welcome sign of your city gets him both nervous and excited. He puts on the turning signal as he pulled into the parking lot of a small, cozy hotel and checks in. He places his bags down on the floor and unlocks the door, taking in the room. He breaths in and breaths out, happy to be back in somewhat of normalcy.

He grabs his bags and placed them on the small sofa near the window. He wasted no time in unpacking and making the room feel settled in. After he was done, he grabbed a white envelope and checks inside before tucking it in his jacket. There is something important he needs to take care of.

—

The bells chimed softly as San stepped inside the jewelry shop. He takes in the smell of of the shop as he scans the variety of cases that display beautiful shimmering gems and jewels of every color you can imagine.

"May I help you, sir?" A sweet lady comes up to him with a warm smile and hands behind her back.

San takes off his glasses and looks at her, returning a smile. "Yes," he cleared his throat. Despite the nerve wrecking feeling in his chest, her grandmotherly presence help put him at ease a bit. "I'm looking for an engagement ring. But it needs to be elegant, unique, or—no—special. Something special." His voice softened as he rambled a bit, scratching the back of his head.

The woman covered her lips with her hand as she chuckled lightly. "No need to worry," Her eyes twinkled with understand as he reassured him. She beckoned him to follow her to a display case, "Come. Let's see what we can find for you."

_

It must've been hours at this point and San has never been more confused over raindrop shape or pear shape, square or cushion. It felt like smoke was coming out of his ears, feeling stressed over wanting to get the perfect ring for you as the woman carefully laid out a selection of rings, explains the cuts, the settings, and the stones.

But throughout this whole process, his eyes kept drifting to a particular ring—a large square shape with two small ones on each side with a platinum band with smaller diamonds that twinkled like stars on it.

"That one." he said pointing to it. "That's the one for her." He felt the ring calling to him.

The woman's eyes followed his finger and smiled when she spotted the one he was talking about. She smiled as she went to unlock the case and grabbed the ring, placing it in front of him. “This is our timeless, exquisite piece. Made and crafted for someone special.”

He grabs the ring and brings it up the light. He loves the way it gleams like your eyes. This is the one for you. "She is. She's... my everything." He tells her as he placed the ring back down.

The woman reaches over and patted his arm gently, “She’ll love it.” Her expression softened.

_

"Good luck, my dear." She cleaned the ring and placed it securely into the velvet box with gloves. "I can tell she's going to say yes." She said as she hands it to him.

He places his sunglasses back on and pockets the velvet box, giving her a smile. "Thank you." He slides her a while envelope, "This is for you by the way." He tells her.

"Oh?" She tilts her head to the side slightly. She looks down and opens it, eyes widening at the amount of money inside, "Sir, I–" She stops in her words when she scans the room, but he is nowhere to be found.

—

It was a few days later and San stood in the distance as he blend in with the parents who were waiting for the school's dismissal. Soon enough the bell echoed throughout the school as kids bursted out with squeals of excitement and parents calling out their kid's name.

San immediately spots you as you opened your classroom door with a bright smile—the same one that captivate him years ago. He watched as you knelt down slightly as you said goodbye to each child with a smile and high five, some with hugs. He couldn't help but to also smile as he saw you in your element, watching you wave to a little girl who ran off giggling.

Your laugh was a melodic sound that he has missed for so long. Slowly the crowd starts to disperse, but he stays rooted in his spot. Finally, after some time, you step out of your classroom, locking it up. He felt time stopping as he watched you let down your hair, running a hand through it as you walked. His breath hitched—you're so beautiful.

It’s like the first day he saw you all over again causing him to be all lovestruck but then—your movements stilled as your eyes narrowed at him direction. He felt his pulse quickening when he saw that you had noticed him.

If it wasn't from the blinding sun and the silver fence that wrapped around the school that was obscuring your view, it would've been game over. His mind was screaming at him to run, to which he did as panic took over him. He got into his car and slammed the door shut, hands on the steering well and he exhaled sharply. “Fuck, that was close.”

—

He knows he shouldn't be doing this, but he can't help it. Although, his job is completed, he can't help but to still act in secret. He sneaked into your apartment, wanting to waste no more time and to confess everything to you. His movements were quiet and calculated as he slipped inside, gently closing the door, hearing a soft click.

The moonlight casted into the dark living room, illuminating some spots. Everything he saw was a reflection of you and it made his chest ache. He lifts his head when he hears the sound of water running—she must be showering.

He lets out a slow breath and moved deeper around the apartment with cautious steps. As he turned towards the kitchen, his foot ended up being caught at the corner of the rug making him stumble slightly causing the floor to creak underneath him. He froze, noticing that the shower had stopped.

He then moves to the kitchen, floor creaking with another step causing him to freeze again. His breath hitched in throat as the silence fills up the air. He can hear his heart thudding in his ears when the door of the bathroom creaks open, seeing the light shining in the hallway.

He then heard the faint sounds of your footsteps slowly walking down the hallway. His heart sinks when he sees the gun in your hands—lightly trembling as you stopped in the middle of the entrance.

He watches as your hands move frantically with every shadow you think you see in the room. He feels heartbroken knowing that he is the reason you have a gun—the reason you are like this-he just wants to explain everything to you and hopes that you understand why he did all that he did.

He slowly takes a step back causing the floor to creak once more. He mentally cursed at himself when he saw you pointing the gun to the kitchen, voice full of anger. “Show yourself.”

Slowly, he emerged from the shadows with his hands up. He felt nervous and terrified of the outcome. The way your voice slightly trembled when you asked him who he was, broke him. He closed his eyes and exhaled light, taking one step forward.

“S-San?”

THE END

[fanaticsnail]

Three, Two, One: Part 2 of 3

Okay! This is ANGST. As soon as I saw the initial concept suggested by @terarria-sunflower I thought it was the most beautiful, playful, wonderful thing - and honestly, who wouldn't want to give the blonde chef a wee little smooch? HOWEVER, as soon as I wrote the first part, my mind immediately went to how that would look over time.

Word Count: 2,523

Warnings: Nicotine withdrawal, reassurance, angst, romance, sorrow.

Part 1 here, Masterlist here, Prompt here. "I Found" as the song accompaniment.

Over the next few days, the amount of public affection above decks between the two of you were demonstrated freely and recklessly. The egg-shaped timer was becoming a trigger for the rest of the crew to groan in disapproval, secretly relishing in the fact that Sanji no longer tainted the vessel with the thick smell of tobacco infused cigarette smoke clinging stalely to every crook and crevasse; while absolutely disgusted by the amount of overzealous intimacy was engaged between you.

Things were admittedly beginning to get out of hand. Hands, specifically Sanji’s, shamelessly roaming your body; pulling down the shoulder straps of your blouses to press feverish and hungry kisses against your collarbone and neck. Hands that grasped your waist and raked slowly and deliberately over your back and down towards your ass. Hands that began to toy at the hems of your skirts and pants to bring more flesh of your hips into light and expose your stomach for him to draw his fingertips towards more of your body; all to halt at the vibration and movement of the egg-shaped timer.

Groans and whimpers of dissatisfaction would flee from his lips as his time was complete with ravishing your body with his lips and tongue. His eyes were always completely blown with lust for more, but always staying true to the conditions you laid for engaging in intimacy. He would always halt his movements, raising his hands defensively while scrunching his eyes shut tightly as you let out a playful giggle at his actions. He couldn’t get enough of you, and you felt completely the same.

Nami was the first to suggest the two of you either save it for the kitchen, or join together in one another’s cabins to save the image of the two of you working to bring Sanji’s regular hit of endorphins and adrenaline from branding its image within the minds of the full crew. This led to Sanji, instead of presenting you with the egg timer and bouncing on the balls of his feet with giddy anticipation, to clasp his fingers around your wrist as he guided you to the nearest private area to engage in osculating with his lips firmly attached to you.

As his routine was meticulously catalogued within your journal, you did not live in fear of a pounce from the blonde chef out of the regular cycle of him asking for his hit at all hours. You noticed his movements were beginning to get hungrier and more desperate for the release of endorphins; his hands and body quivering lightly in anticipation and remaining that way after the duration was complete.

On the fourth day of you engaging in this game together; you noticed his body begin to shake more feverishly, his attitude no longer carefree but eclipsed by anxiety and restlessness. That was the first time you saw him unconsciously reach for his tobacco pouch and began to roll a cigarette out of his regular routine, halting as soon as his eyes fell over your body.

As soon as he found his fingertips grazing the pouch, he rose to his feet and set to briskly stride over towards you as you faced away from him. He snaked his arms around your waist and buried his head into your shoulder from behind; you raising your arms instinctively and stiffening under the shock of the firm embrace.

“Are you okay, Sanji?” you asked him quietly, prompting him to hold you further into himself and for you to tangibly feel how anxious his body was becoming.

The Going Merry had just successfully docked against the peer of a town to resupply a variety of items, including groceries on the vast list. Upon feeling how tightly Sanji clung to you and a small whimper falling from his lips; you immediately sought out the gaze of the navigator of your group.

“Nami,” you called to her, “we’re going to hang back here for a bit. Would you mind seeing to the groceries? I’ve written down the different items, please,” your eyes became wide and panicked, “I think we need a bit of time to ourselves here.”

Nami walked her way over to you, glancing towards the hidden face of the blonde chef and then falling her eyes back to you; an outstretched hand and a similar panicked expression falling over appearance.

“Withdrawals,” you mouthed to her, no audible vocalisation fleeing from your lips to alert the carefree Straw-Hat pirates about the chef’s current predicament.

“I think I can manage to convince Luffy to keep us docked for a few more days,” Nami uttered lowly, “could see about getting a suite at an inn.”

You nodded in affirmation of the thought and gestured down to the satchel with your logbook and coin purse attached to it, reaching to unclasp it from your shoulder. You realised that Sanji’s grip was too strong on your shoulder to remove the bag from your body completely.

“Sweetheart,” you turned your face towards him, keeping your tone as low and calm as you could, “if you could relinquish your hold for just a moment?”

Sanji’s hands shakily removed themselves from your waist, but remained his forehead attached to your shoulder. You quickly removed your satchel and held it out for Nami to take from your outstretched hand.

“Expense is a non-issue for groceries or board,” you nodded to her, “if you could do your best with as much of my berry as you need, we would really appreciate it.”

“I’ll do what I can,” Nami nodded, glancing over to Sanji as his teeth began to chatter together with concern before hardening her resolve.

Sanji again laced his arms around your waist, his hands spread with his fingers clutching to your skin as if you would disappear in a gust of wind to fall your body away from him. You brought your hands to rest atop his forearms, soothing over the bare skin that began to glisten with a cold sweat.

“Sanji,” you whispered to him, prompting a small whisp of a whimper to escape from his lips in response, “honey, can you get to the ship’s bathing quarters? We need to set to regulating your temperature.”

He stifled in a gasp at the suggestion, before you felt him nod into your shoulder; his warm breath tickling at your neck.

You took him by the hands and began to lead him below the deck towards the bathing quarters. As soon as you shut the door behind you, you immediately fled to the bath and began drawing the last reserves of fresh water currently available to fill the isolated porcelain tub for the blonde chef.

Sanji leant is back against the wood of the wall, hands shaking as his eyes closed tightly shut to fight the fever overtaking him.

“Sanji, sweetheart,” you cooed at him, prompting his eyes to meet with yours immediately, “I’ve drawn you a bath. Would you like me to leave while I-.”

“I-I didn’t think it’d be-,” he gasped out, his forearms being clutched within his hands, “-I can’t-,” His words halted within his throat as he squeezed his eyes shut again and found the words forming behind his lips, “-I need help.”

“I know,” you soothed him with your voice, reaching your arms out towards him in comfort, “I’m here to help you.”

“Thank you,” he whispered, reaching his arms towards you as you began aiding him in removing his clothes to prepare himself. You unclasped the buttons on his wrists, followed by loosening his black necktie and unbuttoning his shirt down to its place on his stomach. You reached for his belt and began to unbuckle it; the metallic hilt falling away from the leather strap with ease. You halted your next step, removing yourself from his body completely and stepping away.

“Sanji, I’m going to turn around now, okay?” you informed him; “you’re going to finish getting yourself undressed and hop into the water-.”

“-Please don’t leave,” his voice hoarsely commanded you, the last syllable halted by a small desperate sob, “please don’t leave me alone.”

“I’m not going anywhere,” you informed him soothingly, continuing to hold your gaze firmly on the wall in front of you, “and as much as I want to see you undressed, I refuse to do so in your current state; completely vulnerable and suffering with this,” you narrowed your eyes at the wall, “I’ll stay with you, and once you’re in the waters and covered by the cloudy liquid I’ve made with aromatics, I’ll turn back around and help you.”

Sanji released a breathy and shaken sigh through his lips before again uttering, “thank you,” in a small hushed whisper. You heard his clothes pool at the floor, his steps harsh against the bathroom floor as he began his decent into the water with an ungraceful thud; water splashing up the sides of the rim and fall onto the floor.

“I’m going to turn back around, alright?” you declared, but remained stationary until you heard him confirm he was ready to receive your help.

“Okay,” he sighed. You turned your body around to view him. His brows were furrowed, his teeth were chattering and his head was the only visible item above the shroud of the herbal waters eclipsing him.

“Oh, sweetheart,” you sighed in response, your brows downturned as you witnessed his distress, “I’m so sorry. I never meant for it to turn out this way-.”

“-I don’t blame you,” he snapped through clenched teeth, gritting them for every syllable, “this is my fault. It shouldn’t have gotten this out of hand.”

You instinctively reached your hand out for him, halting your action to not offer unwarranted touch in his state of complete vulnerability. You sighed and turned back around, sinking to sit on the floor with your back placed up against the wall of the raised porcelain tub. You drew your knees up towards your body and placed your elbows atop them, bending your right arm back to bring your chin to your wrist as you laced your left hand into your hair.

“I-,” you began, halting your words as a small pause fell over your chest, “-I am so sorry, Sanji.” Your eyes began to pool with a small glisten of tears as empathy struck you like an arrow to the heart at your crewman’s suffering.

“I didn’t think it was going to be like this,” you uttered quickly, a hiccup gathering at the intensity of your words, “I only ever wanted to just be playful with you. Just a game, I didn’t think you’d suffer like this-.”

“-Just a game?” he sighed out in a small whisper, one you nearly missed falling from his lips. His teeth chattered as his eyes snapped open; anxiety and desperation falling from his tone as he rose his torso up out of the water.

You released your hair from within your grasp and turned in your seated position to look up at him, flittering your gaze between his eyes.

“Is that all this is?” he asked you, his voice elevating and booming over you, “is that all I am to you? Something only here to entertain you?”

Your jaw began to quiver at the thought, your eyes widening in shock and sorrow, “Sanji, I-.”

“-I’m sorry,” he cut you off, his eyes attempting to soften while remaining in his manic state, “I-I think it’s just the nicotine leaving my system. I didn’t mean to raise my voice at you. I didn’t think before-.”

“-Sanji, I love you,” you proclaimed, cutting his sentence short and rising to kneel beside the tub to bring your torso to rest flush against the porcelain, “I just want you to know that.”

You held the wall of the bathtub, feeling the warm steam rising from the hot water while the sides top frame remained cool to the touch. Sanji’s eyes widened in shock, floating his gaze between your two orbs as you brought yourself up towards him.

“I loved you from the moment I first flustered you. Your smile, Sanji,” you giggled forlornly, taking your bottom lip between your teeth before promptly releasing it, “from the first pink blush I saw rise to your cheeks, I loved you.”

His lips parted as his jaw fell slack, his eyes beginning to glaze over with the mist of emotion falling to them. He urged his body closer to yours and falling his hands to rest beside your own at the edge of the bathtub.

“Why would I want to start this little game with anyone else?” you questioned him, arching your brow playfully with a small teeter of a bittersweet giggle followed by a small sniffle. Sanji placed his right hand over your left, warm from the bath as the water began to drip and fall down your forearm.

“You were never just a game to me, Sanji,” you nodded, falling your face away to gaze down at the checkered blue and white linoleum tiled floor, “it may have started that way, but I admit that I care so deeply for you-.”

“-I love you,” he confessed, reaching his left hand towards your chin to rise your eyes back to gaze at him, “I just want you to know that.”

You looked between his eyes and triangulated back to rest on his lips before returning your gaze back upwards to him. Hearing your words echoed back to you, falling from the lips of the man you adored was the most beautiful thing you had ever heard, your heart immediately swooning at his words.

His expression was full of adoration, but remaining manic and anxious behind his eyes. His brow was littered with sweat from the heat of the bathwater, and also the release of the chemicals falling from his body.

“Let me help you overcome this, Sanji,” you whispered, “let me take care of you and once you’re well again, I’ll show you how much I truly, deeply, love you.”

A small whimper fell from his lips as he relinquished his hold on your chin with a nod, turning back to fall back within the waters and resubmerge his torso.

 “Once I get through this,” he chuckled darkly, shutting his eyes and sighing as the bath aided him in regulating his temperature, “I’m going to destroy that bloody egg-timer.”

“Oh?” you asked him with a smile, quirking your brows up in question, “and why would you do a thing like that?”

“So when I take you into my arms to completely ravish you, worship you with my body,” he looked at you through the corner of his eyes, “I get to determine exactly how long I need to feel you against me.”

The fire within your chest began to rise upwards to blood your cheeks with its warm tint, a pit beginning to form in your lower abdomen; fluttering in anticipation and pool with desire at his suggestive expression.

“For now,” he shut his eyes with a small playful smirk, “you can set the timer and count down until that moment. Give us something to both look forward to, hm?"

Part 3 (smut)

[brucewaynehater101]

All of this is just so. Chefs kiss. I do have another layer of angst and a layer of comedy. After all, the angst stops hitting as hard if you don't have something light hearted to compare it to. After all, how can you know what darkness is if you have never seen light?

I said at the start that Tim gives discounts for secrets. He always seems to be able to tell when people lie and those that do tell him lies well. Bad things happen to them. Nothing can be directly traced back to Jane Doe, but everyone knows. Of course this does lead to some rouges and GCPD pigs trying to intimidate Jane into telling them what she knows. Everytime, Jane offers to play a game with them. 5 rounds, whoever does the rounds gets to ask the questions and no one else but others can listen. Should the challenger win a round, they get to ask one question and Jane promises to answer truthfully. If they win two, he will answer two and so on. They only get a 30 second break between each round and the Playlist is set to shuffle.

Tim lays out these rules and once the person agrees, thinking it's either a fight or sex, only then does Tim reveal they will be playing Dance Dance Revolution that Tim "upgraded" so it has the four diagonal pads too instead of the usual just 4 pads. He sets it to max difficulty for Rouges, second highest for everyone else. The most anyone has ever gotten is when Harley managed to ask Jane to questions.

Of course there are rules about the questions, like you can't ask Jane for any of their own personal details, and if Jane doesn't know the answer to a question you get one do over question. Joker has never threatened to hurt Jane over the way they sell secrets back with DDR because he thinks it's the funniest possible way to humiliate people who demand answers. Sometimes he has his henchmen challenge Jane knowing they'll lose just to laugh at them as they fail.

But on the flip side. Do you think any of the Rouges, before they knew Jane was Robin ever hired Jane? Tim would *hate* it but... those he goes on dates with are often very loose lipped about things and one time he got paid to just hang off a drug dealer's arm all night and look pretty while the guy drank. The guy was a *very* talkative drunk and after he passed out Tim was able to look through his shit with the potential excuse of "im just looking for the bathroom sweetheart~" of course none of the Rouges would ever hire Jane if they knew how old he was but Tim doesn't advertise that. Especially if he's been on the street for a few years at that point and has a reputation. He has to be at least 20, right? Right? Plus the mask and the fact it has a filter to obscure his voice he's just... there was no way for them to know, right? They can justify it to themselves all they want but if a Rouge did, they would definitely feel Really Gross.

Yeah! You've got to have some light-hearted or happy moments to really drive in that angst.

For Jane's age, it definitely depends on the Rogue and their characterization. Correct me if I'm wrong, but I'm pretty sure Black Mask was a bit creepy to Steph when he was torturing here. So, whether or not they would feel gross/horrified depends on who it was.

I can see how they wouldn't have known (especially if Jane refused to answer questions about themself including age).

As far as the Dance Dance Revolution? That's a brilliant idea. I wonder if he's ever practiced that with YJ or Dick. I could definitely see then doing that. It would be a cute bonding activity (until they learn he used it as a form of protection).

[tinyundercover]

How about a lil fearplay scenario to pass the time on your drive?

A tiny (T) dares their giant (G) to try and scare them.

T has known G for years, and they doubt anything G does will frighten them anymore, but what the hell, it’s all just a dare, right?  G starts out casually mentioning how small T is, how easily they can grab them, teasing them verbally.  “You sure you aren’t scared of me?”  

They inch closer, their building-sized form looming over T causing nothing but their silhouette to be visible as they block out the light above.  T stubbornly shakes their head and pretends to ignore G, turning away from what they have to admit — if only to themself — is a rather unnerving display.  G picks them up and T just scoffs as the light returns G’s face to visibility.  Just like they thought, nothing’s going to get to them.

Suddenly, the ground disappears from beneath T as G holds them by the back of their shirt, dangling them dangerously over a long fall.  “Scared yet?  I could let you go.”  T’s eyes briefly flicker with fear at the malice seeping into G’s voice, but they mask it quickly.  “Eh, I know you wouldn’t,” they quip.  T’s world is immediately thrown upside down as G twirls them over their fingers, now gripping them by an ankle.  The drop, and the exact spot they’d hit the ground on the way down, is in full display.  “How about now?”  T rolls their eyes, but they’re afraid that if they say something, their voice will crack in fright.

G doesn’t realize that T is already starting to lose their cool, and decides to kick things up a notch.  G drops them.  They easily catch T before they hit the ground, and smirk at their wide-eyed expression.  “You know I wouldn’t drop you, hmm?  You were this close to going splat.”

T pales, but before they can say anything, G pulls them into a fist, squeezing them just enough that things start getting uncomfortable.  T’s arms are pinned tightly against their sides, their legs are pressed down into G’s palm so T can’t move an inch.  G’s fingers drift up to T’s head, closing in on their face and neck.  G grins; they’ve never been this rough with T before, and it’s kinda fun.  They can feel all the little bones beneath T’s skin, their throat bouncing beneath the pad of their finger with an anxious gulp.  

Suddenly, T bursts into tears.  “Ok, ok, you win!  Please!  S- Stop!  Don’t-!”  G backs off them in an instant, releasing T from their grip and lowering them gently to the ground.  What have they done?!  T asked them to be scary; G didn’t think they could actually make T afraid of them!  Panic bubbles through G.  

“I- It was just a game!  You know that… right?”  T stumbles out of G’s hand in a daze and backs away.  G holds their breath.  Did they hurt T?  Have they proven themselves untrustworthy now?  They hear a quick exhale and think T is about to start bawling, but then the little exhales grow into a chuckle.  T laughs, wiping tears from their eyes.  “Wow!  That was crazy!  I thought I saw my life flash before my eyes for a second there!”

Turns out, T is a big fear adrenaline junkie.  They love watching horror films for fun and walking through terrifying actor-filled haunted attractions, just to feel that fearful adrenaline rush.  Their little bet with G is actually a good cleanse to the system.  They explain all of this to G lightheartedly, much to G’s relief.  G scoops T up and smothers them with affection, happy that they haven’t betrayed T’s trust.  T protests as they’re snuggled against G’s cheek, but they secretly do love it.  Even more than being frightened, they adore being loved.

I’m melting this is so good

I LOVEEEEE consensual fearplay like YESSSS such a beautiful display of trust !!!!! when BOTH the giant and the tiny doubt themselves it’s just *chefs kiss*

[jeewrites]

Get to know your Moots!

Thanks for the tag @djarinmuse and @guiltyasdave 💕. Gave me flashbacks to those myspace surveys back in the day!

what's the origin of your blog title? this is my first tumblr and foray into writing fanfiction lol. coming up on my 1 year anniversary soon!

OTP(s) + shipname: DinLuke, even if I want the tin can man all for myself.

favorite color: orange like the Texas sunset (probably bc I'm a little homesick atm)

favorite game: making the students center clay blindfolded (ok, it's more like an "exercise", but I have a lot of fun with it okay?)

song stuck in your head: Fantasy by Mariah Carey

weirdest habit/trait?: i have to have a clean workspace before I make/create, so I usually start my creative practice... tidying.

hobbies: turning them into careers, lol. umm, ceramics keeps me occupied and I recently took up watercoloring. powerlifting is on hiatus after I tweaked my right shoulder.

if you work, what's your profession?: ceramicist/potter

if you could have any job you wish what would it be?: i... have the job I want. after 22 years of trying to find the thing that lights my entire soul up.

something you're good at: parallel parking. the loml once doubted my ability to squeeze the rental SUV into a spot and I nailed it the first attempt. he knows better now

something you're bad at: self-compassion (but I'm working on it)

something you love: that feeling when you hit a new PR on a lift or make the folks at the gym go 😮 when you do something for reps when they thought you were going to rep it once.

something you could talk about for hours off the cuff: cooking and recipe development

something you hate: white supremacy and settler colonialism

something you collect: notebooks

something you forget: i... don't remember? it's getting worse with age lol

what's your love language?: quality time, acts of service, words of affirmation, gifts (like doesn't have to be expensive, but I feel like gifts that hit are the ones where I didn't even know I needed/wanted. it's like being seen and the loml is an expert at this)

favorite movie/show: shawshank redemption (non pp related); triple frontier (pp related) is oddly my comfort show?

favorite food: sushi

favorite animal: capybaras

what were you like as a child? i was intensely shy until I was about 8, then I was... exuberant and probably more than a little annoying. i miss the amount of energy i had!

favorite subject at school? does basketball count? if not, calculus.

least favorite subject? computer science (more so bc of the teacher, than the subject)

what's your best character trait?: determination

what's your worst character trait?: insecurity

if you could change any detail of your day right now what would it be?: i'd make the period related fatigue vanish.

if you could travel in time who would you like to meet?: my maternal great-grandmother

recommend one of your favorite fanfics (spread the love!): this one is my comfort fic (Din x Reader) featuring my favorite tin can man. I've read it at least 4 times all the way through. The emotional journey of this fic is ::chefs kiss::

A Place of Safety by @/the_invisiblewoman on Ao3:

https://archiveofourown.org/works/48440488/chapters/122182636

NPT: (I know a lot of folks have been tagged already, but if you'd like to play!)

@evolnoomym @burntheedges @katareyoudrilling @rebel-held

@tinytinymenace @toomanytookas @maggiemayhemnj

@almostfoxglove @nerdieforpedro @juletheghoul

@bloviating-vy @bageldaddy @intheorangebedroom

@littlemisspascal @secretelephanttattoo @schnarfer

@clawdee @iknowisoundcrazy @iamskyereads @christinamadsen

[ladylooch]

Heaven with a Devil - [Lio X Savannah]

A/N: Sometimes it can be really hard to go back to early points in relationships after they have been started. Not with these two. Back in my fuck boi Lio era. I love this so much. The pull of each other. The way Lio is rewriting his rules for her this entire night. The way he can't help himself at the end tho. CHEF'S KISS!!!! Enjoy babes 😘

Originally from this request, which is so late that I'm not even gonna mention it if you don't Nonnie.. love you!

Word Count: 5.1k

Lio watches the fat, square ice cube in his old fashion melt further into it’s self. He’s been nursing it for a little too long. It is more water than liquor now and he should probably push it away to head back to his hotel. But he waits all year for this drink in Dallas and he wants another one even though he has a game tomorrow. Maybe a better man would use that as an excuse for an early night, but not Lio. He doesn’t care what his dad says, being a little hungover at morning skate helps him play better. 

With that in mind, he downs the light brown liquid, then pushes the empty glass to the edge of the table.

Lio isn’t usually one to dine alone and he wasn’t supposed to tonight. But his teammate, Jasper, had to head back to the hotel to take an emergency call from his wife. Something about a water heater in the basement. Lio is thankful he has no wife or water heater back in Jersey to worry about. Nothing back home to distract him out on the road. It’s only business for him.

As if to call his bluff, the door swings open and inside walks Savannah Miller, the girl he’s been spending time with on his days and nights off. He watches as she tentatively crosses her arms, scanning the restaurant to gauge if she’s going to get an open spot or not. The hostess, who looks stressed as hell, is frantically explaining to a couple in front of the podium. Savannah’s eyes widen and then she bites her lip, looking back over the patrons. Lio looks too, realizing there probably isn’t a place for her, even at the bar. 

His hand raises involuntarily into the air, catching her gorgeous blue eyes. When she sees him, her face lights up. She steps around the couple who are now arguing with the hostess. As she approaches, Lio stands. 

“Hi.” She grins. “Funny you’re here.”

“Are you stalking me?” He asks curiously, tilting his head with amusement.

“No?”

“So you just happen to show up at the one place in Dallas I have to visit when we are here?”

“I figure if it’s good enough for your snobby ass I would probably like it.” Lio shouldn’t laugh at that, but he can’t help it. It’s funny. He is snobby and she has no problem calling that out in him. She drops her purse off her shoulder and reaches for the chair across from him that Jasper vacated.

“I got it.” He puts a hand on her wrist, then pulls the chair out for her.

“Thanks, Lee.” She murmurs, sitting down in the leather. His heart swells at the use of his familial nickname. He likes the way it sounds from her lips and how comfortable she is using it. Savannah glances at the able, then furrows her eyebrows. “Oh, did you already eat? I’ll just go back up front. You don’t have to stay for me.”

“I know. I want to.” He tells her. “And I want another drink.” He winks. 

“Ah. The old fashioned.”

“Yes. You gonna have one?” 

“I don’t love whiskey.”

“Not whiskey, bourbon.”

“Okay. Snob.” She sticks her tongue out at him then smiles a big grin that show off most of her teeth. 

“Say whatever you want now. By the end of this meal, you’ll understand.”

As Savannah is finished the last bite of her cedar plank salmon, she slowly begins nodding her head. Her napkin hits the table like a white flag of defeat. 

“I hate when you’re right.” She says after she swallows. Lio smirks at her over the glass of his fifth old fashioned. He is buzzed on the bourbon, but more on the girl across the table from him. Other than Lucie, she’s the only girl that it feels this easy to talk to. Even with his sister, their past clogs it all up and half the time he doesn’t know what to say to her. 

It’s not like that with Savannah.

Everything is so effortless. 

“Can I grab you two anything else?” The waitress asks as she picks up Savannah’s empty plate.

“You want dessert?” He asks her.

“God no. I mean, yes!” She clarifies in a rush. “I’m sure it is ridiculously good, but I cannot eat anymore.” 

“We are good. Just the check.” Lio responds to the waitress.

“Damn, I really wanted creme brûlée tho…” Savannah trails off. “But also, the dresses I have on this trip are not forgiving.” Lio has noticed. Not in a bad way. Well sometime, he guesses. They cling to her body like a second skin making him have to adjust his cup before he heads onto the ice for warm ups.

“You look good, San.” He murmurs, smoothing the crinkle between her eyebrows.

“I like when you call me that.” She admits, then bites her bottom lip. “It’s like we are… best friends or something.” Lio pauses after taking the final sip of his drink. He swallows.

“Friends, huh?” 

“What else would you call this?” She motions between them with her finger.

She has a point. Although they have hung out a few times, it’s not like they are dating. She’s definitely not his girlfriend, but the word friend just doesn’t quite explain what she does to him when she is around. Rather than complicate things, Lio just shrugs.

“I guess you’re right.”

Savannah’s blue eyes steel over a bit. She reaches for her old fashion and downs the hearty drink in five more gulps. Lio stills, watching as she runs her tongue along her lips to lick up every last drop. He wonders if she does that in other situations too. And fuck it if he doesn’t want to find out sooner rather than later. 

He isn’t sure what is going on with him. Usually, he doesn’t care to get to know someone before he slides into his sheets with them. But things with Savannah are different. He felt it when they kissed at her Christmas Party and every night they have spent together since. As much as he itches to touch her and mark her up, he hesitates every time. He can tell she is bothered by it, now and the previous times he has put up the proverbial wall.

If he had to sum it up simply, he likes Savannah. And he doesn’t want to fuck it up like he has a tendency to do. 

As his mind reels, he watches her get more and more worked up across the white table cloth from him. She picks at her cuticles, then fluffs her hair. She pulls her purse into her lap and digs around for her lip gloss. Heat creeps up Lio’s neck as she swishes her lips together then puckers them absentmindedly. 

She glances at her watch, her expensive bangles clattering together over Cartier gold.

“Tired?” He asks as the waitress slides his card and the receipt back onto the table. 

“Yeah of a lot of things.”  Savannah smirks. 

“Do I want to ask?” He lifts his one hip to put his wallet back into his pocket.

“Probably not.” She sasses back.

“I feel like that means I better.” 

“You act like you know women, Lio, but I don’t think you do.”

“Enlighten me?”

“I don’t know if you deserve it.” Lio looks away then shrugs.

“Okay.” He brings the receipt closer to him so he can tip generously then slide it back to the edge. “Wanna grab a drink at the bar?”

The place has mostly cleared out and although Savannah looks like she would rather do anything else, Lio wants the opportunity to change her mind about him. Why? He couldn’t tell you except that the thought of her losing interest in him has his chest feeling tight.

“Fine. I have nothing else to do tonight anyway.”

“Humbling as always.” He laughs, pushing back from his chair. Lio grabs her hand, leading her through the tables to the wooden bar with a green marble top. It looks like something out of a 90s supper club that specifically hosted lawyers. When he reaches two empty bar stools, he pulls them out, then helps Savannah slide in closer to the bar. She stretches her green dress down to cover more of her thigh after crossing her legs. 

“So what do you think about facing the Stars without your top goaltender?” She murmurs after they got their drinks. 

“Off the record?”

“Yes, Lee. You and I are always off the record here.” There is a bite there, one Lio doesn’t care to look into at all. 

“It’s probably gonna suck.” He admits after a sip of whiskey. “But what do you do? Guys get hurt. The season continues. Gotta play.” 

The shift in conversation to work related topics helps ease Lio and Savannah back into a comfortable vibe. Well, so does the liquor. They both have two more old fashioned each and while Lio has drank at this level before, Savannah is clearly in her happy, drunk phase, which has him tossing his card across to the bartender to close out before she can think about ordering another one. Lio slides her water glass closer to her and she takes it without question.

“You’re so confusing sometimes, Lio.” She suddenly mutters. “Like sometimes you ignore me and sometimes you look at me like you can’t get enough of me.” Lio stares back at her, unsure what to do or say. “And I know I probably shouldn’t even say this, but I feel like I get to because we have kissed and done over the clothes stuff, and I just want you to know that I don’t like when you act like that.”

“I’m not sure I follow.”

“Like I’m different or something?” Lio stares at her in shock. She should want to be different. Lio knows he isn’t a saint when it comes to women. “Like I can’t believe Lio Meier has taken me on four dates and hasn’t slept with me.”

Whoa.

A dark red blush scrapes up Lio’s white cheeks as people turn to look over at them.

“Actually.” She giggles like this is funny. She adjusts her crossed legs to the other side before continuing. “Since you just paid, make that five. Or six because you paid twice tonight!”

“This wasn’t a date.” He shakes his head. “Guys can pay without it being a date. We didn’t even come here together.”

“Oh. Does that mean I fit into your special category that gets me laid?” 

Her words are a challenge. A serious one. Lio can see it in her ocean deep blue eyes and the way she runs her tongue slightly along her top teeth. He likes when she gets like this- challenging, interesting, dragging his attention away from anything else except for her. Lio smirks. His fingers dance along her bare calf, then over the edge of her sweater dress that keeps slouch and giving him peaks of her red bra. His fingers drift up higher, almost like he is going in for a feel, then divert to the edge of her bar stool, scraping it across the floor so she’s practically in his lap. 

“You’re so pretty when you beg.” Her slender eyebrows shoot up and her mouth drops open in a sound that’s a little too breathy to not be a moan.

There is a strange, foreign feeling in Lio’s stomach when her hot gaze dares to meet his. The organ twists and dips again when her hand presses into his upper thigh and she leans forward, lips pornographically parted. Lio wants to see what those lips look like parting for the head of his cock. He brings his right hand up, stroking her bottom lip. His fingers spread out from her cheek to her neck, bringing her to his mouth. Her tongue shoves between his lips immediately, sparking a fire in his chest that zings down to his groin.

Jesus. He thought the look of her lips was hot, but the way she uses them has him wanting to toss her on top of this bar and fuck her for everyone to see. She’s never kissed him like this before. It’s like every kiss they shared before this she was holding back, being polite. Now, Lio wonders if he even knows what he’s getting himself into. 

But his dick starts throbbing in his boxer briefs and he can’t think of much else other than burying it between her thighs. 

“Let’s go to my room.” Savannah says, pulling back from him. Her mouth is wet and red, completely void of the lipstick she just had a few minutes ago. Lio wipes the back of his mouth, feeling it on his lips and tongue. “Sorry.” She chuckles, jumping down from the barstool as he stands. She reaches up, wiping at the space between his lip and nose. “You’re good now.” She assures. Lio head nods at the bartender who smirks. 

Savannah isn’t the first girl Lio has taken out of this place. 

But she’s the first girl to make his hands shake with need.

Lio and Savannah walk shoulder to shoulder down the sidewalk to their hotel. They breeze through the lobby with their faces tucked into their jackets. A few of his teammates are at the hotel bar. He looks the opposite direction from them, hoping to avoid a run in. They make it to the elevators then step in. Lio leans back into the wall after Savannah presses the number for her floor.

“I’m assuming we should go to my room?” Staff rooms tend to be spread out more within the hotel than the players. Lio’s room is flanked by two teammates who may see or hear her in his room. 

“Yeah.” Lio confirms, putting his hands in his jacket pockets. Maybe he should grab her and kiss her again, but in the intense LED lighting of the elevator, they feel too exposed. He doesn’t care for himself, but Savannah has been open with him about how hard she worked to get here. He may be a selfish prick at times, but he would never want to harm her reputation or career.

Savannah pulls her room key out of her jacket then walks in, holding the door for Lio to enter behind her. Her room looks identical to him, except smells more feminine, like a faded version of whatever perfume she dabbed on her wrists this evening. Wildflowers like home, he thinks to himself, remembering the connection he made at the Christmas party she hosted a few weeks ago.

Lio shrugs his jacket off, tossing it on the chair to his left. His eyes watch Savannah as she awkwardly wrings at her hands. Her mouth is tight, chest unmoving like she is holding her breath. She sneaks a look at him, then floats her eyes towards the ceiling and across the room. Lio smiles coyly.

The liquid confidence she had at the bar is clearly waring off. 

Good. He wants her sober for this. 

“So… how do you do it?” She suddenly blurts. Lio raises an eyebrow at her, putting his hands in his pockets. He rocks slightly back on his heels, waiting for her to elaborate. Lio was under the impression that Savannah was more experienced. She’s acting like this is her first time having casual sex, which has Lio apprehensive about continuing.“Like… you do this a lot, right? Obviously. So how do you do it.” She gestures her hands. “Like should I just strip? Or do you expect a strip tease?” She squints her eyes and Lio realizes she is fucking with him. “Maybe you wanna take my underwear off with your teeth?”

“You’re wild.” He murmurs, then runs his tongue along his top teeth. “How about you just sit on the bed and I’ll take care of the rest.”

“Oooo he likes a pillow princess. Figures,” She drawls as he steps closer. Her tongue runs over her puffy lips again and Lio can see this girl knows exactly what she is doing to him. She exudes confident sex appeal, no liquid courage needed. Good. He doesn’t want to teach her anything tonight. He wants to play, sink into her again and again, make her toes curl while her fingernails mark up his back. The tension between them is unbearable, the pulse in his cock making the arches of his feet collapse so he sways forward into her. 

His fingers trail over her mouth again, then he pushes his thumb through the slit of her lips. He works his thumb in and out, getting it wet and loaded with her saliva until she wiggles against the comforter between her spread thighs. She practically fucks the bed while sucking him deeper into her mouth. 

A small part of Lio knows that going through with this tonight will be a tipping point. For what, he couldn’t tell ya. But you can’t fuck a girl like the one in front of him and not be changed. Not when he is used to no strings attached sex with women who don’t care much about him except for the commas in his bank account. To be fair, he doesn’t care about them either. But he’s never been with someone like her. Someone who knows what the risks are here and still reaches out to unbutton his jeans. She is deciding he is worth it and fuck if he doesn’t want to make sure she won’t regret it.

Lio removes his thumb from her mouth, then brings his hand down the front of her dress. He slides between her bra and her warm breast, rolling her nipple. She moans, a throaty, begging sound that has Lio’s balls tightening up to his shaft.

He could come just like this with her. His hand on her breast. Her hand dipping into his underwear stroking him to life.

“Do you have a condom?” She asks, rising to her knees on the bed. She scoots back a bit, then flips her hair to one side. Lio watches her ruby lips part and her tongue connect with the slit of his head oozing a pearl of pre-cum. 

“Yes.” He hisses as his answer. Lightning explodes in his cock as her mouth and hand move in unison. He struggles to keep his eyes open as her mouth collapses on him like a warm, wet hug. “Fuck.” He groans, head falling back towards the ground. He stays like that for one, two, three strokes, then tilts back forward. He gently cups her throat, bringing her off him and to his mouth to kiss her. He needs to taste her, to take claim of that mouth, and make it whimper his name as he buries himself deep into her pussy. 

Lio moves to take his hand off her throat now that she is up but she squeezes his wrist to keep him there. He applies light pressure, then tongues at her open mouth with vigor. Savannah collapses into him, pinning his forearm between their chests. Lio swirls his tongue in a circle, then slowly pulls back. He looks down at her like that, clutched in his hand by her throat, eyes closed, lips so swollen they almost look bruised. Then her eyes open, revealing a tumultuous, churning lake within them.

“Fuck me, Lio.” She demands.

From his back pocket, Lio pulls out the condom he told her he had on him. He is always prepared, tonight is no exception. He rips open the foiled wrapper, then pulls out the latex.

“Can you undress for me, babe?” He murmurs, stretching out the head, then holding it in place as he rolls the rest down. Savannah reaches for the hem of her green dress. She pulls it over her head, revealing a red lingerie set that Lio is never going to forget. “You always pack that on a work trip?” She shakes her head no, tentatively. Lio smiles reassuringly, then pulls her back to him with a hand on the small of her back. “You’re so sexy a priest would weep.” She bites down on her bottom lip as she giggles, making Lio kiss her teeth.

“We shouldn’t talk about God with what we’re about to do to each other.”

“Mmm, what I’m about to do to you, pillow princess.” His hand trails down to her ass, giving it a hearty grip. “Get on your knees.” 

She does so obediently, then looks at him over her shoulder. Her golden dew hair spreads out down her back, multiple shades of blonde that Lio has found himself examining from the back of the bus before. It is the prettiest it’s ever looked with those vibrant blue eyes begging him to hurry.

Lio presses the head of his covered cock to her entrance. She collapses around nothing in front of him, making Lio suck in a steadying breath. Fuck, she is so ready. He isn’t going to last long at all. To collect himself, Lio grabs one of the pillows from the head of the bed, tossing it in front of her.

“For your head.” He jokes. Savannah punts it 

“Are you gonna put it in or am I?” She snaps back at him. Her hand comes back, spreading her open further for him. Well, damn.

“Been awhile?” He asks while gripping the base of his shaft.

“Yeah.” She moans as he enters her. He isn’t sure if its the answer to his questions or her reaction to his thrust. “Fuck.” She growls through hissed teeth. 

If Lio’s knees weren’t already resting on something, he is sure he would have collapsed under his own weight. Savannah’s pussy clenches and massages his cock with each of his pumps into her. He tries to stay slow, tries to build up the momentum, but he can’t hold back. Not with the way sweet begs drop from her mouth, or with how blindingly fast he can feel his balls racing towards orgasm. 

He rests his hand on the middle of her back, pushing her down into the mattress. His fingers stroke her spine as he hits his full depth, making her shudder and moan beneath his hands. Lio is sure this must be the soundtrack in Heaven, or at least his version. Her pussy squelches, wetness beginning to ease the friction of the condom and letting him glide throughly in and out of her core.

“Wow!” She exclaims, “Yeah!” He watches as her hand moves from clutching the comforter to rolling fast circles over her clit. “More.”

He can do that.

His hockey hips piston, moving the bed with each pump into her heat. Savannah begins to flex and unflex her other hand around the blankets, then buck her hips to slam back into his. She rolls her hips causing Lio to slide out, frustrating both of them.

“Sav, stop helping.” He hisses at her.

“More. Please, Lio. Please.” He loves to hear her beg, but wants to satisfy her, so he bats her hand to the side. He leans over her back, connecting their skin as he rolls her swollen lips in rushed circles. “Oh!” Savannah brings her hands to her breasts, rolling and pinching her nipples as he pounds into her from behind. “Lio, I’m gonna…” 

She doesn’t need to finish, but it’s clear she can’t anyway. Her pussy explodes into vibrating trembles and pulses that have Lio seeing stars.

“Fuck.” He mumbles into her back, then he rubs her clit more furiously, making her shake harder and clench tighter around him. The breath is stolen from his lungs as his orgasm rips out of his cock and fills the condom around him. “Oh my fucking… Fuc…” He trials off, speechless as her spasms continue to milk him.

He rests his forehead on her warm skin delicately thrusting through both of their aftershocks. His finger stay on her clit, still but firm. He isn’t ready to let her go yet. Weeks of build up gone in five minutes. Five, rough, fast, earth shaking minutes. Slowly, they begin to come out of their trance. Savannah’s hand comes to Lio’s wrist. He drops his grip on her, then threads their fingers together against her stomach. He kisses her back then sits up, sliding himself out of her, careful as always of the condom. 

“You good?” He asks. She has yet to speak, just breathe heavily. 

“Mmmm.” She acknowledges, waving her hand as she collapses back into the mattress. Lio smirks.

“I’ll be right back.” He tells her while gently rubbing her hip. The bed dips as he crawls off of it towards the bathroom.

Lio tosses the condom into the toilet and flushes it, then he grabs a hand towel from the rack to his left. He glances into the bedroom where Savannah still lays on her back, spread out like a starfish. Her breasts rise and fall heavily as she tries to catch her breath. Lio smiles. He knows a satisfied woman when he sees one.

Meticulously, he cleans himself, then grabs a fresh towel for Savannah. He leans back through the doorway. 

“Do you want a wet or a dry towel?”

“Wet.” She responds. “Girls like a dry one?”Lio shrugs.

“There was one once.” 

“Can’t imagine you saw her again.”

“I usually don’t see anyone multiple times.” He says, coming back into the room. Savannah watches his approach, eyes on his despite the gorgeous view he provides elsewhere.

“Like ever?”

“There have been a few.” He admits, but it hasn’t been in awhile.

“So I’ll never see you again?” She pouts at him.

“We work together. This is a little different.”

“Yeah.” She nods, grabbing the towel from him. Lio plops onto his back next to her, putting a hand behind his head as he props up on two, fluffy pillows. “Thank you for…” She trails off, biting her lip. “Your discretion.” She settles on. He looks over at her, watching as she tosses the towel onto the floor. 

“I’m not going to say anything.” He assures her.

“I know. If I thought you would, this wouldn’t have happened.” Lio nods.

“Yeah, I just want you to hear me say that.” He looks away, stretching his neck out from side to side. Savannah stays sitting up for a moment, looking at Lio. Then she glances away.

“I’m kinda cold. Can I get under there?”

“Mhm.” He sits up, then together they both slide under the white comforter. Savannah rolls onto her left side, cheek propped on her hand as she looks at him. Her blonde hair is wild about her face, mused from him. He decides he likes it that way. She looks good, not messy or disheveled, but perfectly tousled. 

“I like to cuddle after sex.”

Lio playfully rolls his eyes at her. Of course she does. They all do. Usually Lio is long gone before cuddling can even be discussed.

“Please?” She pouts at him. He sighs, like it’s such a burden to move, then opens his arms for her.

“Mmm this is nice.” She mumbles. Her cheek warms his bare chest, creating a glow that runs deep his body. Heat tingles down to the tips of his toes as he rests his hand on her hip. The curve of it perfectly holds his hand without needing to grip onto her. “Now we can talk about the names we want for our children.” She muses. “What about Sarah?”

“Good god.” He groans.

“You’re gonna fall for me, Lio Meier. I know it.” She kisses his chest. 

Lio should have run right there. But he doesn’t. Instead, he does something more terrifying- they talk. About everything. Growing up, how they got to these points in their careers, what their last meal on earth would be. And they tease each other- Savannah about Lio’s slight accent with certain words, Lio with Savannah’s overly girly answers to everything, and together at the expense of his various teammates. 

“You are a good interview though.” Savannah murmurs to him. “I always appreciate your thoroughness. You’re a great quote.”

“Yeah. My cousin Lucie says its cause I like to hear myself talk.” 

“She might have something there.”

“Mmm.” Lio murmurs sleepily. “You’d like her.” Silence fills the room as Savannah rubs at the indent of his left abs. She drawls a heart, then a few squiggly lines followed by another heart. 

“I’ve really enjoyed spending time with you.” Savannah murmurs. “I feel like you’ve let me peel back a few layers of your onion. Thank you.” 

“Just don’t write about it.” He jokes.

“Not in this month's article at least.” She pokes him.

Then they settle into silence again. A question hangs in the air with the light still on and Lio still in Savannah’s bed. He answers it by turning out the bedside lamp. Darkness envelopes them. Quickly, Savannah’s breathing evens out. Lio’s eyes are heavy and Savannah’s naked body feels so good snuggled into the side of his. So good that he almost let’s himself fall asleep with her like this. 

But then a tightening happens at the base of his skull. Awareness pulls his eyes back open. This isn’t him. He doesn’t stay over at a woman’s place. They stay at his, so he can kick them out immediately when he’s done with their morning fuck. He gently turns to take in Savannah’s sleeping face. He purses his lips, resisting the urge to wake her up by kissing her still puffy mouth. He has never craved a woman so intensely after just having her, but his dick aches to be back inside of her.

Shit. This is ridiculous.

Lio holds his breath, then shifts away so Savannah gently rolls onto her pillow. Years of practice leaving sleeping women has her transferring to the bed without waking. Her hands stretch across the warm sheets of the bed he just left, almost searching for him. A slight uneasiness fills Lio’s chest, but he forces it away, focusing on gathering up his discarded clothes. 

He needs to get out of here.

Before any of his teammates or the Devils staff see him. So Savannah doesn’t get in trouble, he tells himself.

But if Lio was an honest man, he would admit that him slipping out of room 629 has nothing to do with the woman asleep in that California King.

[enrosadiraanisaaa]

Within Session .Part One.

Hello, this is my first fanfic. After reading several fanfics with Yandere!Leon Kennedy, I thought I hop on the bandwagon. I intend for this fic to progressively become disturbing and fucked up with each chapter. While the first few chapters will be tamed, expect the following in this series:

🏮-Stalking, Kidnapping, Forced Breeding, Degradation, NonCon, Gang Banging, Forced Pregnancy, Somnophilia, Blackmail, Manipulation, Abuse, Pet Names, Obsessive Behavior (Duh), Torture, Constraints, Mentions of Blood & Gore, Mental Degradation, Toxic Relationship, Sexual Abuse, Masturbation, Drugged & Drunk Sex, Loss of Virginity, Forced Penetration…

Also you will be retconned (Too bad 😏): Female Reader, 24 Years old and from Texas 💝🤠

This story was purely written with RE 4 (Remake) Leon in mind. So no puppy dog Leon from RE2 or DILF Leon from later games & movies. The story takes place several months after the events of RE4. Yay, you’re in 2004!

I plan to make this series long and fleshed out, but I promise what you want will hit you like a train~🚂

While this chapter does not contain any 🔞 material. This story will contain +18 content (NSFW) in the near future 🔞 If you’re a minor, please go read a real book or something, don’t cry to me when your mom finds your shit. This story will eventually hit that point so don’t set yourself up.

Summary

As an on sight therapist for STRATCOM in Nebraska, you’re tasked with providing quality therapy for US military personnel and government agents. After working at the headquarters for 6 months, Hunnigan recommends you to a notable government agent, Leon Kennedy, who is in need of therapy. After a number of sessions with you, Leon notices a substantial stability in his sanity yet is threatened when you are offered a position back home, closer to your family and friends. Your choice doesn’t sit well with one particular client, who can’t fathom you out of your role as his therapist. Leon has found a means of keeping his precious therapist and realizes you are the key to his permanent solace. You were obviously destined to be his in some form. Why dream of him letting you go?

A\N: I was heavily inspired by Satoshi Kon’s Perfect Blue 💙, the movie FRESH(2022), ExploreVenus’s Something Permanent and Guardian Angel by NexysWorld. They’re all great works, especially the fics with Yandere!Leon *chef’s kiss*. They both certainly have been feeding my obsession with Yandere!Leon in general at this point.

Hope y’all enjoy what’s to come ❤️ ~ Anisssa أنيسة

This is an incredibly short chapter, but a chapter to set the tone 🌙

That Night

A brisk breeze was enough to stir Leon from his sleep, peering from the bed to notice the curtains blowing as the window was left open. From the light of the moon, Leon immediately realized the vacant space beside him on the bed. With an empty exhale, he should have not been surprised she would make a haste exit, even after an exhilarating night. The linger of a fleeting love, her scent haunts him.

After months of successfully saving the dear daughter of the president, Leon Kennedy became undone despite the years of conditioned training. Both incidents in Racoon City and Spain relived in his nightmares, a curse that seemed to threaten his sanity. Now, he misjudged the approach of that woman in red. Despite their separate ways, the universe had a cruel way of bringing her back to him. In the aftermath of their one night stand, he found himself faced with his demons, alone and used.

With all considered, the resolve for Leon was… therapy. To reach out to Hunnigan and be hopefully assigned a therapist from the courtesy of STRATCOM.

[igayorhm]

94 msq spoilers musing on Bakool Ja Ja

I have to say I am very surprised to see the game has actually managed to make me feel sympathy for Bakool Ja Ja. While I certainly didn't hate his character I certainly wasn't fond of him either cause I knew he was going to be a nuisance down the line. However, when we meet him again in Mamook we get to learn more about him and the weight he has been carrying around with him. And why he's so intent on winning the rite no matter what.

Because if he doesn't win then the death of his siblings was for nothing. Countless lives sacrificed just so he could be born. The guilt he carries with him was be immense. And we see that in the way he laments even being born in the first place because he feels he's failed these poor children.

Many times throughout the story we hear Bakool Ja Ja reference his siblings. "We do this for our siblings" he'd often say and it's probably something many people would have dismissed being too distracted by whatever conniving plot he's coming up with it. But it then hits harder when we learn how two-heads are born and you learn of how many siblings he lost in order to even be brought into existence. Siblings his own father called "useless".

And suddenly Bakool Ja Ja is cast in a new light. No longer is he a greedy and violent brute intent on claiming the throne through dishonest means. But rather as a broken down and guilt-ridden child of his people. Burdened by the hopes and expectations of his people to lead them from cursed darkness. And he's desperate to prove himself worthy of it. Desperate to make sure the sacrifices made for him were not for nothing.

Bakool Ja Ja so easily could have been an obstacle we killed off later in the story. But instead we're shown he's a much more layered and complicated individual. Seeing him mature and actually help Wuk Lamat because he knew it would help his people was just *chef kiss* I love that sort of writing. I love when there's more to characters than what we see at surface level. He received some very wonderful character development in this section of the story that actually made me like him a little more.

Anyway that's it for my short little rambling. Onward with the story!

[natrogersfics]

steve, nat and yelena bonding moments in any of your universes :)

Set in the Game Plan 'verse

“You gave her a key, didn’t you?” 

Despite her voice still being mired by sleep, Steve doesn’t miss the accusation tucked into Natasha’s inquiry. He wishes he could say it’s the question that rouses him and not the timber of a bass drum suddenly reverberating through the walls of their apartment as the opening notes of an upbeat number filter through the sound system. Alas, with the first rays of sunlight only starting to illuminate their room, signaling a new day, he’s determined not to begin it with a fib.

“Seemed like a good idea at the time,” he says, and it’s only by reflex that he catches the pillow Natasha yanks from underneath her head and shucks in his direction.  

“I’m gonna kill you both,” Natasha says, groaning when a voice begins to croon along to the tune about love being a battlefield. “Her first, and then you.”

He chuckles. “I’m sorry-”

“Are you okay?” Natasha interjects, her tone suddenly serious after she undoubtedly catches the wince he tries (and fails miserably) to mask as he rolls onto his side to face her. 

In all honesty, his shoulder is protesting the living daylights out of this position. On a rare occasion during last night’s game, the Thunderbolts’ Center had slipped past the pocket, slamming him down onto the pitch with a little too much enthusiasm. Even so, on the list of hits he’s taken out of the field – and the list is lengthy – this one hardly warrants the concern etched on Natasha’s face.

“I’m good,” he says, the corners of his lips quirking up in a smile as he reaches between them to caress the side of her face. “Typical battle wound. Nothing an ice pack won’t fix.” 

The skepticism in her eyes doesn’t fade as she holds his gaze. “You sure?” 

“Positive,” he reassures her. “Besides, let’s not pretend like Strange didn’t already send my post-game x-ray to your inbox.”

“More like your entire medical report,” she admits, biting her lip. 

“Shocker,” he deadpans, causing them both to laugh. “I really am sorry about the ruckus, though. It’s just that I know back when you still had your place, she was always welcome, so…” He shrugs. “I don’t know. I guess I just wanted her to know that our door will always be open for her. Ungodly hour or not.”

Natasha’s expression softens at that, and she turns her head to kiss the inside of his palm. “Thank you.” 

“For what?” he says, brows furrowing. 

“For caring about Yelena as much as you do. And my mom. And just… all of them really,” she says, sighing. “It means more than you know.” 

“Hey, none of that,” he says. Growing up, it had only ever been him and his mother. And while he had never lacked support from Sarah, he can’t deny how much brighter everything has become since Natasha has come into his life – bringing with her a surplus of family and friends to share their highs and lows with. Whether it’s on the field or off, his victories have somehow only felt more triumphant with the full weight of his newfound support system behind him, and now that he knows what it feels like to have one, he can’t imagine a future without it. “Pretty soon they’ll be my family too, right?” 

“Yeah,” she says, all but beaming. “Soon.”

The music only gets louder, stamping out any ideas they may have had of tuning the noise out in favor of basking in the warmth of their bed all morning. Albeit begrudgingly, they find the will to make their way towards the kitchen, only for his eyes to immediately widen at the scene that greets them. “Whoa.”  

His voice draws the attention of the room, and from where she stands behind the island, Yelena’s eyes light up when she sees them standing by the archway. “Good morning!” she greets, reaching for her phone to lower the volume on the music. He takes in the gingham apron and chef’s hat she has on, and he can only roll his lips to keep from grinning. “We made breakfast!”

“We can see that,” Natasha quips. Nevertheless, the underlying amusement in her tone is unmistakable as she turns to smile at the brunette quietly standing next to Yelena. “Hi, Kate.”

“Hi,” Kate says, a sheepish look painting her face as she gives them both a wave. She gestures towards the multitude of pots and pans littering the once pristine island. “Sorry about the mess. I tried to tell her this was too much, but-”

“Oh, hush,” Yelena says before pointing to him. “You played a big game yesterday and need to refuel, so I made eggs and bacon and mom’s famous Syrniki and Sharlotka-”

“Hold on,” Natasha says. “You made mom’s pancakes and her apple cake?”

“Two apple cakes, actually,” Kate clarifies, pointing a thumb over her shoulder.  

He cranes his neck to take a peek at the counter where, surely enough, two cake tins are resting. “Am I… dying tomorrow or something?”

Yelena simply dismisses his concerns with a wave of her hand. “Relax, there’s fruit in it,” she says as she turns away from them to retrieve the cakes. “Also, you took a big hit yesterday.”

He steals a glance at Natasha, who smiles knowingly at him. “It wasn’t that big of a hit, Yel.”

“Yeah, well, next time it definitely won’t be. If you eat more, you’ll have extra padding, and you won’t get- oh!” Yelena exclaims, pivoting suddenly in the direction of the fridge. “I almost forgot the potato salad!”  

“Potato salad?” he mouths, looking between Natasha and Kate. “It’s not even eight in the morning.” 

Kate simply shrugs, almost in defeat. “If you guys want to take a seat, we’ll be another minute… Or thirty.”

He can only shake his head fondly, allowing Natasha to take his hand and lead him towards their dining room to find their table already filled with a plethora of fruits and cheeses. 

“Dear God,” Natasha says, taking in the elaborate spread laid out in front of them before turning to him. “You sure you still want to sign up for a lifetime of this?” 

He laughs. “I’ve never wanted anything more.” 

Masterlist

[dukeofdelirium]

Hi....if you don't mind me asking, who are your top 7 favorite romantic relationship's couples in books/ manga/ anime/movies/tv series (can be canon or non-canon) and your top 7 favorite characters ever from any media? Why do you love them? Sorry if you've answered this question before......Thanks....

Hi!!! It’s no problem at all I love to talk about ships <3333

1) Lawlight from Death Note

what can I say about this ship that hasn’t been said? They make me genuinely insane and they hit in ways… I’ve been obsessed with and have actively shipped them for over half my life lol. They are my ultimate OTP. I don’t even really care for e2l pairings personally but lawlight to me is just Different and those that get it get it

2) Kataang from Avatar: The Last Airbender

Literally they were the first ship I ever shipped. I’ve shipped this pairing since I was like 8 years old. They are very near and dear to my heart and they are so cute and perfect together and they spark so much joy and I am SO EXCITED for the movie!!!!

3) Byler from Stranger Things

I am obsessed with this ship. I love them so much and I am rooting for their endgame in the final season! I love the analysis the byler shippers come up with and they’re genuinely such a fun ship to me

4) Eremika from Attack On Titan

This ship makes me rabid I’m serious. I spiraled so bad after I finished AOT and devoured like 20 fics to cope. They ruined my life etc but I love it

5) Nezushi from No.6

I don’t like the anime much (because it rlly cuts so much of the story) but the manga and the novels are amazing! I love the story overall and the characters individually so the fact there’s a canon gay relationship is such a bonus

6) Blackswan (Jacob x Bella) from Twilight

Stephenie Meyer will pay for her crimes lmao we were legitimately robbed of their endgame and idc what anyone says. Team Jacob till the day I die fr

7) Quimbry/Quil x Embry from Twilight (me and my friends decided on the ship name lol)

I don’t have a gif cuz these characters are so minor they hardly appear but do I ship the hell out of them? Yes! Are they canon? Hell no! Should they be? Yeah and that’s why I’ve written over 100k for fanfic for them on my ao3 lol

As for favorite characters, I gotta rlly think on this

🤔🤔🤔

My favorite character of all time is Light Yagami from Death Note. I fucking LOVE his character so much. I just love everything about him. The way he’s written, the nuance, his whole aesthetic. It’s so *chefs kiss* and I have so many thoughts about him. I am NOT one of those death note “fans” that hates Light or drags his character lol. I am a Light enjoyer unapologetically and he imo is one of the best villains of ALL TIME

Another character I love immensely is Carl Grimes from The Walking Dead comic book. Not the show cuz the show is trash! I used to relate so much to Carl growing up bc I read the comic book as a teen. He’s forever cemented as one of my favorite characters of all time. Also I love the character design and how he’s kind of an anti hero

I also love Ellie Williams from The Last of Us 1 and 2 for the same reason. She reminds me a lot of Carl in the “anti hero” sense. She’s also such a badass. Love those video games !!!!

I also love Eren Yeager from Attack on Titan. Can you tell I like morally questionable characters? Lol. Eren was always and will always remain my favorite character in AOT. He’s kind of crazy but I like it lol and I kind of relate 🤣

Aang from ATLA is also one of my favorite characters. He’s got a sick character design, I love the way he’s written and he’s genuinely a huge comfort character to me. His character arc makes me cry it’s so well done and I love his personality. His character makes me very happy :)

Lastly I think another fav character is Will Byers from Stranger Things. I relate heavily HEAVILY with him. Not only that he’s an artist like me, or his personality which is similar to me as well, but also his upbringing with an abusive father and lastly the fact he’s canonically a gay guy like me makes me feel very represented in the show. He’s my favorite in the entire cast of characters. Love him to death and Noah Schnapp was such a perfect cast and he acts his ass off every second of screen time

Thanks for sending me questions!! :) I love talking about ships and characters this was fun!

[beansguytm]

Hey everyone, time for me to sperg out about one of--if not my favorite scene in Halo Infinite. Read on below the cut.

Take a look. You only need to watch through to 2:12 for what I'm going to say. In this scene, we see the Master Chief rescue Spartan Griffin from the cell where he was being tortured. There's so much right about this scene god damn it. The acting is perfect. The Weapon's facial expressions and intonation are perfect. She genuinely seems like she's at a loss for what to do to comfort this broken, broken man. Cortana would know what to say. The Weapon doesn't. What she eventually settles on is redirecting Chief's attention to the mission. It works, getting him moving forward.

The camera work is also so fucking good. It's one continuous shot, like most of the cutscenes in the game. The moment Griffin is freed, it focuses on him, then throughout his conversation, slowly revolves around to focus on Chief instead, eventually leaving Griffin only barely visible in Chief's visor but completely out of frame. That's when they hit you with Griffin's death. Then the pan around the Weapon, and how it follows Chief in a way that makes him look pissed the fuck off. Ough, chef's kiss.

Now let's talk about the four ways that the game communicates that Griffin has died, just out of frame. They layer four different things to make damn sure you know what just happened, while keeping the dialogue in tone. It wouldn't make sense for Chief or the Weapon to say he died, and Esparza doesn't know, so instead, they rely on these four things.

1) The music. At the start of the scene, we hear the haunting women's choir that is heavily featured in the game's soundtrack. As soon as Griffin mentions the Spartans, there is a tiny bit of the men's choir that is so heavily associated with the series, with the Master Chief, with the Spartans. Then after only a measure of men's choir, we get hit with the slow, deep strings. It lingers on the strings alone for a long time, just to let it sink in. The choir comes back once Esparza radios in, but very subtle and somber. Finally, percussion and digital instrumentation comes in when the Weapons brings Chief back by talking about the mission. The piece really does everything it needs to, especially the sudden shift to indicate that a character has died just out of frame.

2) The lighting. Oh, the lighting. It's never comforting, but the fact that the bright warm white light above their heads goes out right as Griffin dies, fading to the harsh red contrasting with the Weapon's soft blue. There isn't much to describe here, but yeah, it's a fantastic switch up. The red can be seen as Chief's anger, and the blue as his sadness. Even if that's looking too far into it, the change is just one more indicator of Griffin's death.

3) Chief's posture. This is so subtle but it's so impactful to both our understanding of the events and Chief's emotions. Before Griffin dies, he's leaning forward to rest his hand on Griffin's shoulder. Once Griffin dies, Chief leans back very slightly. His head tilts the just tiniest amount. He lowers his hand as he processes what's happening. The camera pans to the Weapon, and by the time it turns back to Chief, he's standing again. But he's still looking at Griffin. When he finally looks up at her, there's a slight pause before he makes the sudden movement to collect her and move on. Oh, and the way he looks down for just a moment before looking ahead and raising his gun, oh man. He's pissed. He's so angry, and he's channeling that into determination to complete his mission.

4) The heartbeat. I saved the best for last. If you're playing on controller, and if you have vibration turned on, you'll be greeted by the most fucking heart-wrenching piece of 4D storytelling. The moment Griffin falls into Chief's arms, your controller starts vibrating to the rhythm of Griffin's heartbeat. As they talk, the beating gets softer, and softer, until right as the music and lighting change, it stops. The controller goes silent. By the time you realize what's happening, Chief has realized too, and he leans back. AAAGGGHHH it's so good!! Christ, man, I can't get over it. I started to tear up when I played through it the first time.

Anyway yeah that's my infodump on this fucking fantastic scene. Thanks for reading!

[rubypasha1]

Headcannons for the readers in my fics

Feel free if you have any questions related to them or anything else to do with my fics. Happy to answer!

Stolen Souls

Green thumb

Can cook like a chef it’s so good

Book worm

Socially anxious

Kids: loves em

Shows affection through gift giving and paying attention to small details

Ex-older sibling

Coping mechanism is work and hobbies

Green thumb!

Easily manipulated

Little shy

Puns!

Cat and dog person, more dog person

Can withdraw herself to try and protect her feelings

Has died before

Wife material

Girlfriend material

Liked watching her friend play video games

Not a party person

Magic!?

Absaloutely terrified but hopeful

A spider in a graveyard

Student of Spiderman, unofficially adopted by he and Deadpool.

The latter gifted her a knife

Can’t bake for shit but cooks okayish. Lasagna is amazing.

Traumatized by experience of being experiment on to aquire powers

Slightly Arachnophobia

Cheats at Uno, doesn’t care if she wins the only worse torture is scrabble

Loves carnival games

Puns are life

Has kissed her nemises

Willing guardian of three crazy super powered kids

Pretty serious but uses jokes as a distraction/to aggravate enemy

Sleeps in odd positions + glows

Kiss under her jaw by the neck and she melts

Odd relationship with symbiote

Can be bashful/shy when genuine and romantic shows of kindness are given.

Workaholic in rehabilitation

Tech savvy

In the very thin line between morally true and an overworked superhero

Has multiple eyes- not good with bright light

Will hang upside down and glow like a disco ball- with bribery

Self conscious and using her superhero identity - Starspider - as a coping mechanism

“Stop flirting with me!”

Rainbow lightning

Set the sails

Half blind and missing half a leg

Grew up in war

Has the skills and experience to be a doctor but doesn’t like to be called one due to respect and . . . stuff

Eats 1 or 2 meals a day

Green thumb- medicine and poison

Numerous war crimes

Body and face heavily scarred but not self conscious. She’s proud of her scars

Subconsciously hates clear skies

Has never killed anyone (they don’t deserve that mercy)

Good fighter, will dislocate your joints

Okay with tying patients down

Will hunt people down so they take their medicine

People on her island live and fear her

A certain marine tries to make her life horrible - regrets if later

Kids: Okay

Makes medicine, ointments, salves, creams.

Carving wood is side hobby

Do not touch her books

Okay cook

Loyal

Hates marines and the world government

Doesn’t smile, mainly looks neutral or angry

Slight aggressive but mainly when provoked

Deeply traumatized

A victim of war

Is an amazing gambler, it’s just luck she wins 90% of the time even when she doesn’t know how to play

Addicted to weed (but not in the way you think-)

Is kind in a “I will beat/restrain you so that you won’t die” kind of way

Made a deal with the devil and lost, now his brother calls her angel

Fought in a fighting ring

Loves pies

Has lost so many people she’s subconsciously afraid of making connections continuously trying to see new people she makes friendships with as only patients but inevitably fails and becomes so protective to others it’s seems as extremely aggressive but she has to because people DONT BLOODY LISTEN

Okay shooter, not that great but can somewhat hit a target sometimes

Highly respected on her island

“Thief”